National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-11

daily the number and positions Of the forces
under your command. Your neglect OF re.
peated orders to report the strength of your
command has created great dissatisfaction
and seriously interfered with military plans.
Your going to Nashville without authority,
and when your presence with your troops was
of the utmost Importance, was matter OF
very serious complaint in Washington, so
much so that j was advised to arrest you on
your return.
On the next day, March 7, Gen. Grant,
at Fort Henry, replied to Gen. Halleck:
Your dispatch of yesterday just received. L
did all could to get you returns OF the strength
of my command. Every move made was re.
have failed to keep you properly posted. I
have done my very best 70 obey orders and to
carry out the interests of the service. II my
course ia not satisfactory, remove me at once
/ do not wish to impede in any way the sue
cess Of our arms. have averaged writing
more than once day since leaving Cairo to
keep you informed OF my position, and 1t is no
fault OF mine If you have not received my
letters. My going TO Nashville was strictly in
tended for the good of the service, and not to
crafty any desire Of my own.
Believing sincerely that ! must hare enemies
between you and myself, who are trying to i'm
lieved from further duty in the department.
On the following day Gen. Hallock
again telegraphed to Gen. Grant:
You are mistaken. There is no enemy be-
tween you and me, There Is no letter OF yours
stating the number and position Of your com con,
Mcclellan has asked for 1t repeatedly with
reference to Interior movements, but could
not give him the information. He ie out OF
all patience waiting for it. Answer by tele-
And Gen. Grant did answer the next
day in these terms;
Your dispatch of yesterday is Just received
will do all In my power TO advance the ex-
petition now started. You had better
FOUNDING rniH Fort Donelson than I had, Troops
were reporting daily, by your order and i'm
mediately assigned TO brigades, There were no
orders received from you until the 2ath OF Fob
ruary to make out returns. aud made every
effort to get them in as early as possible. l
have always been ready to move anywhere,
regardless of consequences TO myself, but with
a disposition to take the best care OF the troops
under my command. l renew my applica-
ton to be relieved from further duty. Re-
turns have been sent.
Before the last abvoe quoted dispatch
reached Gen. Halleck, he wrote to Gen.
Grant, on March o:
Your letter of the 9TH instant, Just received,
contains the first and only information of your
actual forces. II you have reported them be-
fore have not seen them. Gen, Mcclellan
has repeatedly ordered mt TO report 10 him
daily the numbers and positions of your forces.
This could not do, and the fault certainly was
not mine, for telegraphedtoy ou time and again
for the information, but could get no answer.
This certainly indicated great want Of order
and system in your command, the blame OF
which was partially thrown on me, aud per-
haps Justly, us II Is the duty OF every comman-
der to compel those under him TO obey orders
and enforce discipline. Don't let such neglect
occur again, for Il Is equally dlscredItabie TO
graph back to Washington time and again
that was unable to give the strength oil your
command,
/ tl,nR
| should DO sent nm the Tennessee as rap idly as
possible As soon rs these things are arranged
you will hold yourself in readiness to take
| command. There will probably be some des.
be prepared. y ! shall organize and
send you re.eniorcements as rapidly us pos.
sible, and when get them under way ! shall
join you myself,
The next phase of this matter is pre-
scented tersely in a dispatch sent March IL
by Grant to lIalleck, as follows:
Yours of the 9Th instant, inclosing an anony.
nous letter to Hon, David Davis, speaking OF
frauds committed against government, Is Just
received. | refer you TO my orders to suppress
marauding Us tho only reply necessary There
IL such disposition TO find fault with me that
| again ask to be relieved from further duty
until can be placed right in the estimation OF
those higher in authority.
Two days later Con. Halleek made
this comprehensive reply:
You cannot be relieved from your command.
There is no good reason for IT, | am certain
that all which the authorities at Washington
usk Is that you enforce discipline and punish
| the disoTderly. The power In In your hands;
| use it, and you will be sustained by all above
YOU Instead of relieving you, | wish you az
| soon AK your new army Is In the field, TO as
sumo the immediate command and lead II on
to new victories.
This proved "clincher" On the day
| March l4) following Con. Grant thus
acknowledged Gen. Halleck's assurance Of
conhdeaes inland support Of himself:
| After your letter incl6sing aaNv &c anony-