Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-20
HALLECk AND GRANT.
Gen. Wallace Again Tries to Prove
that Halleck Meant to Sacrifice Wash.
iugtOn.


ingtOn.
an interview in the Commerciat Gazette, having
said that Gen. Halleck was envious of Gen.
Grant and would have been willing to allow
Washington to fall into Lees hands in order 10
crush Grant, Gen. Boynton replied in his Wash
1ngton correspondence, quoting from records
tending to disprove Gen. Wallace's assertion.
Another interview with Gen. Wallace appears
to-day, in which he cites Haleck's treatment OF
Grant after the battle of Fort Donelson, and
again after the battle of Shiloh, to show that
Halleck had deep feeling against Grant, and
was commander of all the armies and Hallecl1
only chief of staff, with close relations with
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, Gen.
Halleck would be in a position TO use his power
to Grants injury.
GEN. RICKETTS, EXPEDITION.
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) person.
ally ordered the reconnaissance which discov-
cred Early's intentions; that Gen. Ricketts,,
who as BoyntOn said. was sent by Gen. Grant,
through Halleck's suggestion, to meet Early,
was ordered to Harpers Ferry to relieve Sigel,
and upon learning from Wallace of the APP
proach OF Early, put himself under Wallace s
orders, and with him fought the battle of
Monocacy. This, he says, "will serve to show
several important facts:
First, Gen. Ricketts, was not sent to report to
me, or in the way of reiniorcements.
second, that had no knowledge of his COM
ing until his advance was stopped by nv
guards at the bridge, and that, in fact, he was
not sent to me, but TO Harper's Ferry. If Hal
attacked, why send but one division 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 capture of Washington.
Ricketts, 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 following my troops off the
field in retreat about half after o'clock in the
evening, stopped and dictated a telegram di-
o.. ILL ;,,g
events of the day; that was in retreat; that in
my judgment there were about Is, 1000 men
VINO had been fighting us, and that there was
still a large body to be seen behind them in the
vicinity of Frederick city; that the enemy had
been contending for the Washington pike.
concluded with the remark that it would re-
quire all his energies to save Washington.
also sent a dispatch by the same messenger to
either Gen. Grant or Secretary Stanton. My
recollection is that it was sent to Grant.
GEN. VILLAGES REMOVAL AND RESTORATION
awhile Gen. Ricketts, and myself were lying
In fence corner trying to get some sleep,
about midnight of the battle we were awak-
ened by messenger with telegram from Hal
leck directed to me. read it, my recollection
is, by the light of burning matches. 1t in
formed me, as now remember, among other
things, that ,7as removed from the command
of the department, and that Gen. Ord had been
sent down to r@iieve me. This action not
from Gen. Grant, but from Gen. Halleck. Within
a few days after being thus relieved i received
an order from Gen. Grant at City Point, re-
storing me to the command and informing me
that Gen. ORD had been instructed TO report at
Washington and wait for orders. OF
course their orders were obeyed. Gen. Ord
went to Washington and resumed command.
By mail received a private note from Gen.
Grant, inviting me, when my department was
clear OF the rebels, to visit him at City Point
for a couple of weeks, bringing my horse which
/ did, spending a couple OF weeks very pleas
antly as his guest, riding with him and observ-
ing the operations in front of Petersburg. The
point of all this stop to make. Gen. Boynton
says it was Grant and not Haleck who re-
moved me. Ii the records should substantiate
Boynton's statement 1t will remain
MYSTERY TO ME FOREVER
why Gen. Grant should have restored me SO
soon to the same command and followed it by
an invitation, which was his first friendly I'M
official communication, verbally or in writing,
to me after the battle OF Shiloh. The removal
was a mark of disapprObation in the severest
commendatiOn strengthened still further by
the private note of invitation. What was there
to disapprove OF except that by the battle the
enemy's operation and movements had been
interrupted? Gen. Wallace goes on to say that
McCook's command 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
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: "ln my judgment
there are but two alternatives which present
case as they appear to income that Gen. Hal
leck was an imbecile, the other that he was al
lowing his jealousy to lead him down to the Sc
rious Injury of his country"