Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-22

my Army HaS Been Whipped and
Routed" Interesting Statement
Of General Stesdman.
MOrtOn's Secretary Wrong.

Toledo Special to Cincinnati Commercial
The following editorial matter, by
General James b. Steedman, will ap-
pear in his paper, the Democrat, to-
morrow morning:
| Among the many statements which
! have been made since the publication
of the Garfield Chase letter, giving
| chapters of unwritten history of the
war of the rebellion, we have seen one
purporting to come from a man at In.
dianapolis, who, it is said, was Gov
ernor Morton's private Secretary,
which we believe contains great deal
that is untrue. That Governor Nor.
ton and Secretary Stanton met at the
time stated is no doubt correct, but
that Stanton was going South at that
time-in October, 1863-to relieve
General Rosecrans is not true, nor do
we believe that Stanton told Governor
Morton that Rosecrans had tele-
graphed to him that our cause was
hopeless. We have good reason to
know that General Rosecrans never
sent any such dispatch. We met
Secretary Stanton at Louisville, at
the Gait House, after the alleged in
terview with Governor Morton, and
had a long conversation with him
about General Rosecrans. He was
very bitter on Rosecrans-unjustly so,
we thought, although we were not
very friendly to the Commanding
General of the Army of the Cumber
land at that time. Among many ex-
ceedingly harsh things Mr.. Stanton
said during our conversation, he
called Rosecrans id coward, pre-
facing the word with an expression
which we will not now repeat, as Mr.. |
Stanton is dead. We defended Rose.
Grams against the charge of cowardice, |
but Stanton was furious and reiterated
the charge, adding that he showed
cowardice in the battle of Iuka, and |
could not be found on the field at a |
most critical time. Mr.. Stanton told
us during our conversation that Rose |
Grams telegraphed him from Chatta |
nooga at 4 o'slock pm, September
20, that his army had been whipped |
aud routed. We did not believe the |
statement, and said to Mr.. Stanton
that he must be mistaken as to |
date or character of the dispatch, |
as Thomas artillery was laundering in |
Rosecrans' ears at 4 o'clock on Sunday. |
the 10Th. i am not mistaken, either |
as to the date or language of the dis. |
patch" Alr. Stanton replied, and |
added: while you are in Washing |
ton, Steedman, call on me at the War
Office. | will show you the dispatch.
We thought at the time that in his
wrath Mr.. Stanton was drawing on his
Imagination, but he was not. His
statement was true. When. in Wash |
ington we called at the War Office and |
after few minutes talk with tie
Secretary we said:
by the way, Mr.. Stanton, that dis |
patch Of Gen. Rosecrans, from Chatta- |
nooga, of September 20?"
Mr.. Stanton rang for an orderly. to
whom be said: Tell Mr.. Schrivcr to |
come here" Mr.. Schriver entered |
in few minutes, and the Secretary
said: "Schriver, bring that dispatch |
Of Rosecrans', from Chattanooga. of
20" Schriver produced
the dispatch, and Mr.. Stanton gave it |
to US to read, and it was as follows:
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. Sent. %.
4 pm Hon. L. NJ Stanton, Secreta.
ryVf War: My army has been whipped
and routed.
IVY. S. RosEcRANs.
Major General Commanding"
This dispatch is in the War Office
now, ii it has not been distracted, and
We have no doubt but what it will be
found there We are certain we have
quoted it correctly. Our object in
making this statement is 10 show that
the dispatch Of General Rosecrans was
not what the Secretary of the Cover.
nor Of Indiana reported it to be. I'll
Mr. Stanton had beer in possession Of
any other dispatch from General Rose
'rans, and. especially such a message