The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-26
ROSECRANS'S GRIEVANCES.
A Number of Sensational Statements
Concerning Stanton and Garfield.
a Charge That the Former Refused to Send
Needed Reinforcements and Intercepted
an Important Political Dispatch.

to the controversy sprung upon the country
about two years ago by the publication OF
certain letters of the late President Garfield,
which it was claimed showed that the latter
had dealt treacherously with his old chief
The publication is in the shape of five-col-
umn interview in the Republican, of this city.
He shows that Stanton was hostile to him, and
did all he could to make his campaign fail
nre. The General then comes to the present
phase of the complication and says: "When
Stanton finally determined to relieve me of
the command of the Army of the Cumber-
1and he found it necessary to defend the act
About that time stories began to be sent out
from Washington that I was a drunkard and
slave to the vice of opium eating. These
base calumnies could not have been sent out
from Washington through the Associated
Press at that time without Stanton's knowl-
edge Horace Greeley and others have as
sured me that such was the case. l have
reason to believe l know who concocted the
nasty lies and l am satisfied from evidence
that came to me that Stanton inspired the
assaults on my reputation. Whitelaw Reid
gave me mint of the name of the man who
did the dirty work. He occupied position
in the War Department at that time and his
brother was prominently identified with the
Chicago Tribune"
1T was after these attacks that the PROPOSE
tion made to you TO go on the presden
tal ticket with President Lincoln, was it
not?'
''Oh. yes; that was in 64"
who made YOU the proposition, and I'M
der what circumstances was it made?"
General Garfield teegraphed me from the
National Republican Convention in Balti-
more, asking me if | would allow my name
TO go on the ticket with Lincoln. aud if So
to answer at once. | was at st. Louis in com
mand of the department of the Missouri |
sent for Chief Justice Drake and Tom Ewing
to whom | showed the telegram"
"'You will accept, of course? said Drake.
"'That is what want to consult you
about l replied.
Il was not at all favoraby disposed to the
proposition, but both gentlemen urged me to
send favorable reply"
"What did you do linally?
81 sent repl We to General Garfield in the
following language, as near as l can reco-
lect: Nothing but the conviction that it lisa
high publicduty could induce me to become
a candidate for political Office. In this case
have no grounds upon which to base such
conviction. The convention must discharge
its high and responsible duties, in view of
the exigencies of the nation, according to its
Judgment and conscience, leaving me to eX-
ercise the same when know its decision. The
nomination of any man acceptable to the
loyal people of the country will satisfy me-"
"What came of liz"
Garfield never received the dispatch. At
least he said he never got it,. l know it left
St Louis ali right, because waited until the
acknowledgement of its receipt at Pittsburg
came have no reason to doubt that Gar
field told the truth about not receiving my
reply. | do not think it ever reached his
hands. l think it was intercepted before it
reached him by somebody who had authority
TO do So"
what do you mean? Who had such au-
thority?'
only two men, Lincoln and Stanton. l
have learned that when General Garfield
called at the telegraph office in Baltimore to
ask if there was message for him, the clerk
at the window said yes, and started back to
look for it. Presently another clerk came
forward and said that no message had been
received Stanton felt that my elevation
meant his downfall, and l have not the
slightest doubt that he intercepted that tele-
gram in the desperate hope that it might be
the means of getting me out of the way"
When asked how he came to make Garfield
his chief of staff, he said: There was nothing
grand or heroic or splendid about it. was
docking about for man to take that place,
when one day Garfield came along. He had
q brigadier-generals commission, and brought
letters from Salmon P. Chase, who was a very
good friend of mine. and for whom | enter
tained warm regard. / asked Thomas Nc
Cook ard Crittehden, my corps commanders
what they thought of Garfield for the place.
They seemed to think he would do, as they
had heard he had a good education, and sup
posed from that he could attend to the liter
airy part OF the duties in a creditable manner,
while they could see for themselves that he
had good address [ watched him closely
for several days that might form judgment
as to his lucdity of comprehension facility
Of expression, and general fitness for the DO
Stion. | finally gave him the choice of two
placeS-the command of brigade or chief
OF my staff He chose the latter. He made
rue fairly good chief of staff. l have seen
worse and have seen much better. The
stories you may have read of the great in
huence he exerted the conduct of the
campaign in which he figured as my chief of
staff are gross exaggerations or absurd rot.
In the very nature of things. his relations
with me were of confidential character,
more or less, but his influence was a minus
quantity. l advised with my corps COM
manders, not with him. Garfield was the
last man would have gone to for counsel in
laying out a campaign or in fighting battle.
THE CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGN
"After Bragg's retreat from Tulahoma
was urged to march directly upon Chatta-
nooga, without delay. l had to make pom
loon bridges, train new pontoon corps,
build and repair a rally way, maneuver Bragg
away from the place intended to cross the
river, and accumulate supplies at the front,
as have before told you, and was not
ready to move To stop the clamor from
Washington, or to give Stanton something
to chew on-as then put it'll directed Gar
field to address, 20 the generals of my army,
series of questions, intended to draw out
their views as to the best course to be pur-
sued. already knew what would be done
If 1 remained in command l said, but it
might be we'll enough for the generals
to write out their opinions and send the
communications to the War Department In
the course of three or four days the answers