Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29

LETTER FROM SECRETARY LINCOLN TO LIEUT..
GEN. SHERIDAN JUST PUBLISHED WHICH
THROWS SOME LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT.
THE STAR some time ago published the state
ment that there was q conflict of authority be-
tween the Secretary Of War and the lieutenant
general of the army, the Secretary questioning
the right of the lieutenant general to issue orders
direct to officers Of the army. The publication
created quite a sensation and was extensively
denied. The STAR had knowledge of the facts it
then presented, the truth Of which is shown by
the publication in the Army and Nary journal
of letter written to Gen. Sheridan by Secretary
Lincoln just before his retirement, copies of
which letter have recently been sent to the gen.
erals commanding the various divisions for
their Information and guidance. The Secretary
refers to O previous communication, wherein he
agreed with Gen. Sheridan in the case of the
confiictine orders that there were mot mot Two two
channels Of command to staff officers serving
with troops" and adds: And wish to invite
your consideration as to whether In making
the order of October %, 1854, to the quarter
master general Qnstead of recommending to
the the Secretary Of War action by him. you have
your remark to the case of the quarternaster
general, who has not been and could not be de-
| Of the Secretary of War, and authorized to obey
the orders OF any officer OF the army whomso-
ever, without an abandonment by the Secretary
by law. He and subordinate officers Of his de-
partment not detailed to serve under command
Ing officers are necessarily under the sole direc
ton OF the Secretary Of War"
he goes on to say that not having heard from
him lSheridan) on the subject, he supposed he
acqutesced in his views. But recently" he
says, 1.-The commisSary general of subsistence
having, in communication to me- taken ex-
ception to receiving an order from the lieuten-
ant general, you remarked thereupOn as fol-
lows: have no further remark to make on
the disrespectful attitude assumed by the COM
missary general Of subsistence gt does not ad-
NIT Of argument) in regard to the relation he
bears to the commanding general of the army
than that he is q part OF the army of the United
States, and that the President placed me in
command of the army by an order dated, War
department, Washington, October 18th, iSS3
do not care to make any point upon the fact
that the only expression of your view on the
subject made after my letter to YOU dispoSes of
my remarks in that letter In SO brief a manner:
put deem 1t my duty to point out to you that
In my opinion your claim to command every
ofncer In the army, as the army is described in
section 1904, Revised Statutes, under the terms
of the assignment to duty under which you are
now acting, is not tenable and that, If 1t were
tenable, 1T would be an imperative duty on the
part OF the Secretary of War to recommend to
the President SUCH a change in the terms of
your aSs1gnmen3 to duty as would prevent the
possibility of such q claim"
AS to the duty of the commanding general
the letter states 1t is to advise the Secretary of
War in multitude OF matters in which. how
ever, the final action must be upon the respOn-
sibtlfty OF the Secretary.
In conclusion the latter says: 81 have no wish
to diminish your command. my personal friend
ship, as we'll rs my high respect for you as an
omcer, would alike prevent such action, but it
Is duty cannot avoid, TO preserve intact the
tons, and customs, to be exercised by the Sec
rotary of War, and to take such measures as
Will without fail accomplish that end. trust
that this letter will be the only measure re-