Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-15
GARFIELD AND RosEcRANs.
The Alleged Letter from General Garfield
to Mr.. Chase. Complaining of
General Rosecrans.
CONFIDENTIAL
HEADe'Rs DEPT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
NASHvIIIE Inlr o7 1863

BEADQ HIS DEP OF THE CUMBERLAND, [
NASHVILLE, July q, 1868
My Dear Governor l have for q long time
wanted to write to you, not only to aeknoE,-
edge your last kind letter, but also to say
some things conhdentially on the movements
in this department; but l have refrained
hitherto, lest do injustice to a good man,
aad say to you things which were better left
unsaid. We have now, however, reached a
point upon which | feel il proper. and also
due to that kind opinion which l believe you
have had of me, to acquaint you with the cen
dition of affairs here.
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 Some river, l
will say in the outset that 1t would be il the
highest degree unjust to say that the 162 days
which elapsed between tie battle of Stone
river and the next advance of this army were
spent in ialeness or tritiipg. During that
period was performed the enormous and
highly important labor which made the Army
of the 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 | could not
but feel that there was not that
live and earnest determination to fling the
great weight OF this army into the scale aud
make its power felt in crushing the shell of
the rebellion. have no words to tell you
with how restive and unsettled 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 on 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 Pembertop. plead for an advance,
but not till June began did General Rose
Grams begin seriously to mediate an immedi.
ate movement. TIE 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 couL.
Gil of war was called, and out of eighteen
Generals whose opinion was asked seventeen
was opposed to an advance. | was the only
one who urged upon the General the i'm.
perative necessity of striking 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, gathered from ample
data, that we could throw 65. coo bayonsts
and sabsrs against Bragg's Al 600, allowing
the most liberal estimates of his force This
paper was drawn up on the Sah of June.
After its presentation and full canvassing
of the situation, an advance was agreed
upon but it was delayed through days which
seemed months to me, till the oath, when it
was begun and ended with what results you
know. The wisdom of the movement was
not only vindicated, but the seventeen dis.
senting Generals were compelled to confess
that, if the movement had been made ten
days earlier. while the weather was propi.
tious, ths army of Bragg would, in all human
probability, no longer exist. l shall never
cease to regret the sad delay which lost US so
great an opportunity to inhict a mortal blow
upon the center of the rebellion. The work
of expelling Bragg from middle Tennessee
occupied nine days and ended July Sd, leav.
ing his troops in most disheartened and
demoralized condition, while our army, with
a loss of less than 1000 men, was, in few
days, fuller of potential fight than ever be-
fore.
On the 18th instant the bridges were re-
built, and the cars were in full communica-
ton from the Cumberland to the Tennessee
l have since then urged with all the earnest
ness / possess a rapid advance, while Brsgg's
army was shattered and under cover, and
before johnson and he could effect junction.
Thus far the General had been singularly dis
inclined to grasp the situation with strong
hand, and make the advantage his own. |
write this with more sorrow than can tell
you, for I love every bone in his body, and,
next to my desire to see the rebellion blasted,
l
the breadth of my love is not sufficient to
cover this almost fatal delay. My personal
relations with General Rosecrans are all that
| could desire Officially share his counsels
and responsibilities 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 battalion that would fol-
low and follow and strike and strike than to
hang back while such golden moments are
passing. But the General and myself believe
that | can do more service in my present
place than il command of division, though
| am aware that it is position that promises
better in the way of promotion or popular
l shall ask to be relieved and sent somewhere
where can be part of working army.
But do hope that you will soon hear that
this splendid army is at least trying to do its
part in the great work.
If 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 vigor-
Gus activity.
do hope that no hopes of peace or SUBJ
missive terms on the part of the rebels will
lead the Government to delay the draft and
the vigorous prosecution of the war. Ti,peo
Dandos ct dona fereRtes.
Let the nation now display the majesty
of its power and the work will be speedily
ended.
1 hope you will pardon this lengthy letter
but 1 wanted you to know how the case
stands, and was unwilling to have you think
me satisfied with the delays here. With
kindest regards, am, as ever, your friend.
j. A. GARFIELD.