St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-21
GEN. HALLECK AN IMBEOILE
At Least This is the Opinion GEN,
Wallace Entertains.
"Reminiscences OF the Defeat of Union
Troops at Harper's Ferry.

CINCINNATI, Jan. 20.-Gen Lew Wal
lace, in an interview in the Commercial
Gazette. having said that Gen. Halleck was
envious of Grant and would have been will
ing TO allow Washington to have fallen into
Lees hands in order to crush Grant, Gen.
Boynton replied in his Washington cores
pondence, quoting from records tending to
disprove Gen. Wallace's assertion. An
other interview with Gen. Wallace appears
to-day, in which he cites Halleck's treat
ment Of Gen. Grant after the battle of
DOnelsOn, and again after the battle of
Shiloh, TO show that Halleck had deep
feeling against Grant. and that when the
tables were turned and Grant was CON-
mander of all the armies and Halleck only
chief of staff, with close relations with
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton,
Halleck would be in position TO use his
power TO Grants injury. he then goes on
to show how this was done by saying that
Halleck did not notify Grant of the coming
of Early, that he (Wallace) personally
ordered the reconnaissance which discovered
Early's intention, that Gen. Ricketts,, who
as BOynton said was sent by Grant through
Halleck's suggestion to meet Early, was or
and upon learning from Wallace the ap-
preach of Early, put himself under Wal
lace's orders, and with him fought the battle
of MonOcacy. And adds Wallace:
THIS WILL SERVE TO SHOW
several important facts. First-Ricketts was
not sent TO report TO me or in any way OF re-
enforcement. Second-That ! had no knowl-
edge of his coming until his advance was
stopped by my guards at the bridge, and that
inf oaf mt htaF
Ferry. If Halleck believed that Sigel and
we're to be attacked why send but one diviS-
ion of not TO exceed 5000 men TO meet an
army reported at 10000 veterans, unless it
was TO make a show of resistance to the cap
ture of Washington? Rick tts' force with
mine was sufficient to meet raiding party
and that was all The battle of Monocacy
took place on the 9th of July. As was fol-
lowing my troops of the field in retreat about
$3.50 in the evening; stopped and dictated a
telegram informing Hallect of the events of
the day. that / was in retreat, that in NV
Judgment there were about 5000 men who
had been fighting US, that there was still a
large body TO be seen behind them in the vi
cinity of Frederick City, and that the enemy
had been contending for the Washington
pike. concluded with the remark that IL
would require all his energies TO save Wash
ington. / also sent a dispatch by the same
messenger to either Gen. Grant or Secretary
Stanton. My recollection is it was sent to
Grant. While Gen. Ricketts, and myself were
lying in fence corner, trying to get some
sleep about midnight of the battle. we were
awakened By messenger with the telegram
from Hallect directed TO me. / read it my
recollection is. by the light of burning
matches. 1t Informed me, as now remem-
Der, among other things, that was removed
from command of the department., and that
Gen. Ord had been sent down TO relieve me.
This order was not from Gen. Grant, but
from Gen. Halleck. Within few days after
being thus relieved received an order from
Gen. Grant at City Point
RESTORING NE
to the command, and informing me that Gen.
Ord had been instructed to report at Wash
ington and wait for orders Of course. these
orders were obeyed. Gen. Ord went to
Washington and i resumed command. By
mail l received a private note from Gen
Grant inviting mo when my department was
clear OF the rebels to visit Grant for a couple
of weeks at City Point, bringing my horse
with me- which did, spending a connie of
weeks very pleasantly as his guest, riding
with him and observing the operations in
front of Petersburg The point of all this |
stop now to make. Gen. Boynton SAYS IL was
Gen. Grant and not Gen. Haleck who re-
moved me. If the records should substan-
tiate Gen. Boyuton's statement, it will re-
main mystery to me forever why Gen.
Grant should have restored me so soon to the
same command and followed il by an invita-
ton, which was his first friendly unofficial
communication, verbally or in writing, to me
after the battle of Shiloh. The removal was
mark Of disapprobation in the severest
form. The restoration was an unmstakahle
commentator, strengthened still further hy
the private note of invitation. What was
there to disapprove, except that by the battle
the enemy's operation aud movements had
been interrupteds
Gen. Wallace goes on to say that in the
midst of the engagement of McCooks COM
mand in the defenseS of Washington with
the enemy. Halleck permitted President
Lincoln to ride out in his carriage to see
what was going on, showing that the
president had no knowledge of the great
danger overhanging the capital Hemakes
the point. too. that Gen. Grant when really
notified of the danger to Washington did
not stop with sending a single division.
but hurried forward the greater portion of
two army corps. Gen. Wallace closes by
saying:
In my judgment there are but two alterna-
lions which present themselves, under all the
circumstances of the case, as they appear to
me. One that Gen. Halleck was an imbecile;
the other that he was allowing his jealousy to
lead him down TO the serious injury OF his
country.