The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-03-23
GARFIELD AND RosECKANs.
Letter from Garfield to MIR. CHI ase,
Complaining Against Bosecrans.
CONFIDENTIAL


Complaining Against Bosecrans.
CONFIDENTIAL
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ! |
CUMBERLAND, NASHVILLE, July 81, 1881 |
My Dear Governor:
/ have for long time wanted to
write 10 You. not only to acknowledge |
your last kind letter, but also L" say |
some things cenfidentially on the |
movements in this department; but |
have refraincd hitherto, lest | do in
Justice 10 u good man, and say to you
things which were better left unsaid.
We have now, however, reached a
point upon which | feel il proper, aE'i
also due to That kind opinion which l
believe you have had OF me, to ac-
quaint you with thecondition of affairs
here.
/ cannot conceal from you the fact
that have been greatly trleG and dis
satisfied with the slow progress that
we have made in this department slnce
the battle of Stone River. l viii say
in the outset that it would be in the
highest degree unjust to say that the
162 days which elapsed between the
battle of Stone River and the next adj
vance of this army were spent i'll idle
ness or trifiing. During that period
was performed the enormous and high
ly important labor which made the
Army of the Cumberland what it Is, IN
many respects by far the best the coun-
try 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 making it's power felt in
crushing the shell of the rebellion. ]
have no words totell you with how
restive and unsatisfied a spirit [ waited
and plead for striking a sturdy blow.
I 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 Missippi ana in
the East. They began TO fear for the
safety of Vicksburg, and before the
middle of May they began quietly 10
draw away forces to aid Pemberton. I
plead for an advance, but not till June
began did Gen. Rosecrans begin .eri-
ously to mediate an immediate move
ment. The army had grown anxious
with the exception of its leading Gen
erals, who seemed blind to the advan
tages of the hour. In the first week of
the month council of war was called,
and out of eighteen Generals whose
opinion was asked seventeen were op
posed to an advance. l was the Ouly
one who urged upon the General the
imperative necessity of striking blow
at once, while Bragg was weaker and
we stronger than ever before. wrote
a careful review of the opinions of the
Generals, and exhibited the fact, gath
cred from careful data, that we could
throw 5000 bayonets and sabres
against Rragg's 41,000. allowing the
most liberal estimate of his force. This
paper was drawn up on the 9Th OF June.
| After its presentation, and full can
vassing 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 wealth
er was propitious, the army of Bragg
would, in all human probability, no
longer exist. l shall never cease to re-
gret the sad delay which lost us so
great an opportunity to inf1ict mortal
blow upon the center of the rebellion.
The work of expelling Bragg from
middle Tennessee occupied nine days,
and ended July 3, leaving his troops in
most disheartened and demoralized
condition, while our army, with a loss
of less than 900 men, was, in u few
days, fuller OF potential fight than ever
before.
On the 18th inst. the bridges were
rebuilt, and the cars were in full conf
municatiOn from the Cumberland TO
the Tennessee, / have since then urg-
ed with all the earnestness L possess, u
rapid advance, while Bragg's army
was shattered and under cover, and
before Johnston and he could effect a
junction. Thus far the General has
been singularly disinclined to grasp
the situation with u 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 re-
beiIion blasted, is my anxiety to see
him blessed. But even the breadth Of
my love is not sufficient to cover this
almost fatal delay. My personal rel;.-
| tiuns with Gen. RosecranS are all thai
| could desire. Officially, share his
counseIs and responsibilities even more
than ] desire, but | beg you TO know
| that this delay ia against my Judgment
and my every wish. Pleasant as are
my relations here, I would rather com
mand Il battalion that would follow
and follow and strike and strike, ti,an
to hang back while such golden mo
ments are passing. But the General
and myself believe that can do more
service in my present place than III
command of division, though am
aware that it is a position that promises
| better in the way of promotion or pop
ular credit. But if this inactioH con-
tinues long, ] shall ask to be relieved
and sent somewhere where | can he
part of working army.
But | do hope that you will soon
hear that this splendid army is at least
trying to do it's part in the great work.
If the War Department has not al
ways 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
action.
do hope that no hopes of peace or
submissive terms on the part of the
rebels will lead the Government to de-
lay the draft and the vigorous prosecu-
ton of the war. TinleO daRG0S ct d0Hd
fereHteS.
Let the nation now display the maj
esty of its power, and the work will be
speedily ended.
L hope you will pardon this lengthy
letter; but wanted you to know how
the case stands, and l was unwilling
to have you think me satisfied with the
delays here. With kindest regards.
am, as ever, your friend,
J. A. GARFIELD.
Hon. S. 2. CHASE.
Garfield and ROsecrans.
The letter from Gen. Garfield to Mr..
Chase, written in July, 1868, which