The Portland daily press., 1882-03-14
GARFIELD TO CHASE.
More About the Controversy with Rose
Grams.

More About the Controversy with Rose
GRAMS
WASHINGTON, March 13-The Star pub
fishes tho following: at is stated in responsi-
bic quarters that the letter written to Ex-Sec-
rotary Chase by Garfield, touching General
Rosecrans, recently made public, was given
out by Jacob W. Sohuckes. Schuckes now
lives in New York city. At the time Chase
was secretary of the treasury he (Schuckesl
lived in Ohio, and was appointed from That
ouently he became Chase's private secretary.
II is also said he had other letters bearing on
the removal of Rosecrans written by Garfield
which will be made public at an early day
The following is the letter referred to above:
[Conidential.l - ~
HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND,
NASHVILLE, July27 1868.
NV Dear Governor: have for long time
wanted to write to you, not only to acknoWl-,
edge your last kind letter, but also to say some
things confdentially on the movements in this
department; but have refrained hitherto lest
/ do injustice to good man, and say to you
things which were better left unsaid We have
now, however, reached point upon which
feel it proper, and also due to that kind opin-
ion which / believe yon have had of me, TO ac-
quaint you with the condition of affairs here.
[ cannot conceal from you the fact that l
have been greatly tried and dissatisfied with
the slow progress that we have made in this
will say in the outset that it would be in the
highest degree unjust to say that the 1852 days
which elapsed between the battle of Stone riv-
er and the next advance of this army were
spent in idleness or triflIng. During that perl
cd was performed the enormous and highly i'm
portant labor which made the Army of the
Cumberland what it ls-in many respects by
far the best the country has ever known. But
for many weeks prior to our late movement
could not but feel that there was not that live
and earnest determination to fling the great
weight of this army into the scale and make its
power felt in crushing the she'll OF the rebel
lion. have DO words to tell you with how res
tive and unsatisfied spirit waited and plead
for striking sturdy blow. could not justly
say we were in any proper condition to advance
till the early days of May At that time the
strings began to draw sharply upon the rebels
both on the Mississippi and in the East. They
began to fear for the safety of Vicksburg, and
before the middle of May they began quietly to
draw away forces to aid Pemberton. L plead
for an advance, bnt not till June began did
General Rosecrans begin seriously to mediate
an immediate movement The army had grown
anxious, with the exception of its leading gem
erals, who seemed blind to the advantage OF
the hour. In the first week of the month
council of war was called, and out OF IL gener-
ais whose opinion was asked II were opposed
to an advance.
l was the only man who urged upon the gen.
eral the imperative necessity of striking blow
at once, while Bragg was weaker and we
stronger than ever before wrote careful
review of the opinions of the generals, and ex.
hibited the fact, gathered from ample data,
that we could throw Is 900 bayonets and sabres
against Bragg's Al 900, allowing the most liber-
al estimates of his force. This paper was
drawn up on the 8th of June. After its presen-
tation and full canvassing of the situation an
advance was agreed upon; but it was delayed
through days, which seemed like months to
me- to the oath, when it was begun and ended
with what results you know. The wisdom of
the movement was not only indicated, but the
IL dissenting generals were compelled TO con-
fess that, il the movement had been made ten
days earlier, while the weather was propitious,
the army of Bragg would, in all human proba-
bility no longer exist. / shall never cease to
regret the sad delay which lost us SO great an
opportunity to inflict mortal blow upon the
centre of the rebellion. The work OF expellng
Bragg from middle Tennessee occupied nine
days, and ended July 3, leaving his troops in a
most disheartened and demoralized condition,
while our army, with a loss of less than LOCO
men, was in few days fuller of potential fight
than ever before.
and the cars were in full communication from
the Cumberland to the Tennessee. have
since then urged, with all the earnestpesS
possess, a rapid advance while Bragg's army
was shattered and under cover, and before
Johnston and be could effect junction Thus
to grasp the situation with strong hand and
make the advantage his own. ] write this
with more sorrow than can tell you, for
love every bone in his body, and next to my
desire to see the rebellion blasted, is my ankle
ty to see him blessed But even the breadth
of my love is not Sufficient to cover this almost
fatal delay. My personal relations with Gen.
Rosecrans are all that l could desire. Official
~ share his counsels and responsibilities even
more than l desire, but beg you to know that
this delay is against my Judgment and my
every wish. Pleasant as are my relations here
I would rather command a battalion that
would follow and follow and strike and strike
than to hang back while such golden moments
are passing. But the general and myself be-
lieve that ] can do more service in my present
place than in command of division, though /
am aware that 1t is a position that promises
better in the way of promotion or popular
credit But if this inaction continues long
shall ask to be relieved and sent sor where
where I can be part of working army
But do hope that you will soon heay that
this splendid army is at least trying to do its
part in the great work. If the war depart
ment has not always been just, it has certainly
been very indulgent to this army. But | feel
that the time has now come when it should
allow no plea to keep this army back from the
most vigorous activity. l do hope that no
hopes of peace or submissive terms OF the part
of the rebels will lead the government to delay
the draft and the vigorous prosecution OF the
war. Timeo Danaos ct dona ferentes. Let
the nation now display the majesty of its pow
or, and the work will be speedily ended.
hope you will pardon this lengthy letter. but
wanted you to know how the case stands, and
I was unwilling to have you think me satisfied
with the delay here. With kindest regards, 1
am as ever your friend, j. A. GARFIELD.
Hon. s. p Chase