Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-03-21
THE GARFIELD LETTER.

It'll
The publication Of the letter which the
late President wrote to Governor Chase
concerning General Rosecrans has Great
ed a greater sensation in the East than
apy other event which has occurred since
the assassination of its lamented author.
That an officer occupying the confiden-
tial position Of chief of staff should, at
the close of a brilliant campaign, IN
which General Rosecrans had by a mas
terly movement forced the enemy to
abandon a strong position, and surren-
der all middle Tennessee, seek to under
mine the popularity Of his commanding
General is almost beyond belief. 1t is
said that army officers at Washington
are united in condemnation OF the letter.
The worst enemy of Mr.. Garfield could
not have struck a harder blow at his
memory than the publication of that let
ter dealt. 1t is stated that an old and
warm friend of Mr.. Garfield after read
ing it said, 81 would rather his ene-
mics had resurrected a dozen Credit Mo-
hitler scandals. than to show James A.
Garfield guilty of duplicity. 1t has not
hurt Rosecrans in the least, but ever II
it had damned his reputation forever,
there is no excuse for the letter" But
worse than this is Garfield's denial OF
having written the letter. In a note to
General Rosecrans he says:
81 have never been untrue to you in
thought, word or deed, Dana or any other
liar to the contrary Notwithstanding.
What is apparently designed as an an
swer to this comes now in a letter
marked confidential, and published in the
New York Sun of March l6. The letter,
which is dated Headquarters OF the
Army of the Cumberland, Nashville,
July 81, 1863" is addressed to Governor
S. 2. Chase, and is signed by General
Garfield. The writer says:
have for a long time wanted to write to
you, not only to acknowledge your last
kind letter, but also to say some things
confdentially on the movements in this
department; but I have refrained lest l do
injustice to a good man and say to you things
which were better left unsaid. We have
now, however, reached a 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. l cannot conceal from you
the fact that / have been greatly tried and
dissatisfied with the slow progress that we
have made in this department since the
battle of Stone River. n 4 n 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 rebellion. / have no words TO
tell you with how FESTIVE and unsatisied
q spirit l waited and pleaded for striking
a sturdy blow. n 4 # / pleaded for
an advance, but not till June begun did
General Rosecrans begin seriously to med
itate 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 q council Of war was
called. and out Of eighteen Generals whose
opinion was asked, seventeen were opposed
to an advance. I was the only n who
urged upon the General the imperative ne
cessity Of striking . blow at once, while
Bragg was weaker and we stronger thar
ever before. I wrote a careful review o.
the opinions Of the Generals, and exhibited
the fact, gathered from ample data, tina
we could throw 65 5000 bayonets and so
bres against Bragg's Al ZOO. allowing th.
most liberal estimates Of his force. Thii
paper was drawn up On the Sth OF June
After it's presentation, and q full canvass
ing OF the situation, ar advance wal
agreed upon; but it was delayed through
days which seemed months to me. till til,
Gath. when 1t was begun, and ended witt
what results you know. The wisdom Of
the movement was not only vindicated
but the seventeen dissenting Generals wert
compelled to confess that il the movement
had been made ten days earlier, while thu
weather was propitioas. the army Of Bragf
would. in all human probability, nc Longer
exist. " y n Thus far the Genera
has been singularly disinclined to GRASP
the situation with a strong hand, and
make the advantage his own. ! write this
with more sorrow than / can tell you, fol
] love every zone in his body, and next to
my desire to see the rebellion blasted Is my
deaire to see him blessed. But even the
breath Of my love is not sufficient to cover
this almost fatal delay. My personal rela-
tons with General Rosecrans are all that ]
could desire. Officially I share his coun-
sells and responsibilities even more than I
desire. but / beg you to know that this
delay ia against my Judgment and my
every wish. Pleasant as are my relations
here. ! would rather command 9 battalion
that would follow and follow and strike
and strike than to hang back while such
golden moments are passing.