Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-10
GARFIELD AND ROSECRANS.
THE FORMER's COMPLAINT AGAINST
THE LATTER.

1t will be remembered how promptly
Gen. Rosecrans resented the intimation in
Blaine's Grafton on Garfield that the Army
of the Cumberland was demoralized when
Garfield became Resecrans's chief of
staff. In making his denial Rosy +"
gave for publication a copy of letter
from Garfield to himself, in which the lat
ter declared as follows II have never
been untrue to you in thought, word, or
deed, Dana or any other liar to the con-
trary Notwithstanding" The Dana I"
referred to was obviously Chas. A. Dana,
of the New York Sun, in whose paper has
been published the following interesting
letter from Gen. Garfield to Hon. s. P.
Chase, which now sees light for the first
time, and which Rosecrans says is evi-
dence of Garfield's duplioity
[Conadential.l
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THEI
CUMBERLAND, NASHVILLE,
July q, 1863. }
My DEAR GOVERNOR l have for lOng
time wanted to write to you, not only to
acknowledge your last kind letter, but
also to say some things confidentialIy on
the movements of this department but l
have refrainsd hitherto, lest do injustice
to good man, and say to you things
which were better loft unsaid. We have
now, however, reached point upon which
l feel it proper, and also due to that kind
opinion which l believe you have had Of
me, to acquaint you with the condition Of
affairs here.
cannot conceal from You the fact that
| have been greatly tired and dissatisfied
with the slow progress that We have made
in this department. since the battle OF
Stone River. l will say in the outset that
it would be in the highest degree unjust
tween the battle of Stone River, and the
next advance of this army were spent in
idleness or trifling. During that period
important labor which made the Army of
.he Cumberland what it is. in many re.
spects by far the best the country has
ever known. But for many weeks prior
to our late movement l 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 shell of the re.
bellion. have no words TO tell you with
how restive and unsatisfied a spirit WAITED
and plead for striking a sturdy blow.
| could not justly SPY 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 Wick s5urg and before the middle of
May they began quietly to draw away
forces to aid Pemberton. plead for an
advance, but not till June did General
ROsecrans begin seriously to mediate an
Immediate movement. The army had
grown anxious with the exception of its
leading generals, who seemed blind to the
advantages of the hour. In the first week
OF the month a council OF war was called
and out Of the eighteen generals whose
opinion was asked seventeen were opposed
to all advance. was tho only one who
urged upon the general the impera-
tive necessity of striking a blow at
once. while Bragg was weaker and
we stronger than ever before. I wrote
careful review Of the opinions of
the generals and exhibited the fact, ,th-
cred from ample data, that We could throw
5000 bayonets and sabres agains tBragg's
41.00O, allowing the most liberal estimates
of his force. This paper was drawn up on
the 9Th of June. After its presentation
and full canvassing Of tho situation, an
advance was agreed upon but it was de.
layed through days which seemed months
to me, until the Gath, when it was begun
and ended with what results you know
The wisdom of this movement was not
only vindicated, but the seventeen dissent
ing generals were compelled to confess
that, if the movement had been made ten
days earlier, while tie weather was propi-
tious, the army of Bragg woald, i'll all
human probability, no longer exist.
shall never cease to regret the sad delay
which lost us SO great an opportunity to
inflict morta! blow upon tho centre of
the rebellion. Tho work of expelling
Bragg from middle Tennessee occupied
nine days and ended July 3, leaving his
troops in most disheartened and demor-
allied condition, while our army, with q
loss of less than 1000 men, was. in a few
days, fuller OF potential fight than ever
before.
On the 18th instant the bridges were re-
built aud tho cars were in full communi-
cation from the Cumberland to the Ten
nessee. have since then urged with all
the earnestness possess rapid advance,
while Bragg's army was shattered and
under cover, ana before Johnston and he
could effect a junction. thus far tho gen.
eral has been singulariy disinclined to
grasp the situation with strong hand
and make tho advantage his own. l 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 desire to see him blessed.
But even tho breadth Of my love is not
sufficient to cover this almost fatal delay.
My personal relations with General
Rosecrans are all that l could desire.
Officially. share his counsels and re-
spOnsibilities even more than desire,
but beg you to know that this delay is
against my judgment and my every wish.
Pleasant as are my relations here, would
rather command q battalion that would
follow and follow and strike and strike
than to hang back while such golden
moments are passing. But tho general
and myself believe that can do more SER
vice in my present place than in command
Of division, though I am aware that it is
a position that promises better in tho way
of promotion or popular credit. But If
this inaction continues long shall ask to
be relieved and sent somewhere whore I
can be part of a working army.
But do hope that you will soon hear
that this splendid army is at last trying to
do its part in the great work.
II the war department has not ALWAYS
been just. it has certainly been very indul-
gent 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 Wig.
OrOuS activity