The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-23
AN UNSELFISH ACT.
Logan Might Have Succeeded Thomas
but for His Magnanimity.
An Interview with Mrs. Logan, and Some Inter
esiiHg Letters Bearing Upon the Subiect-Facts
Brought Out by Gen. Buffers Tribute.
Washington Postl

ton. IN which he paid q tribute 10 Gen. John
A loCan's memory, and called attention TO his
manly conduct Just before the battle of Nash
Vile when he might have succeeded 10 the
commend Of the Army of the Cumberland.
According 10 Gen. Butler. after receiving his
order to proceed 10 Nashville and relieve Gen.
Thomas the great volunteer soldier actually
went TO Tennessee and surveyed the field in
person, when he became convinced that Gen.
Thomas would move shortly and in cOnse-
qnencu declined TO carry out Gen. Grants or
der. History records that Gen. Logan got only
as far as Louisville, and wired his declination
from that point, aud this seems TO be supported
by facts, but without detracting in the least
from the magHauimity of his course, or affect
ing the truth of Gen. Buffers estimate of the
man.
Mrs Logan, than whom no one is better pre-
pared to speak upon the subject in question,
Friday made the following statement TO q
fOSt reporter:
Daring the campaign of o." said Mrs Lo-
gan, Gen. Logan came home. at the special
request OF President Lincoln, leaving Atlanta
early in September after the last battle of the
campaign aud siege was fought and when the
army was resting from the fatigue Of the des-
perate struggle. While he was at home in the
canvass, and before the election had taken
place Gen. Sherman began his march TO the
sea Gen. Logan's Corps. the Fifteenth, went
with Sherman. The army, having no enemy
in front Of them, had no engagement of any
consequence during the march. Gen. Grant
telcguphed 10 Gen. Logan, in reply to Gen.
LOgan's request for orders after the election, to
report at City Point, advising him privately
that he had a special duty which he wished
him 10 perform.
Upon his arrival at Gen. Grants headquarters
at City Point, Gen. Grant explained TO Logan
that be was impatient over Thomas's delay in
attacking Hood, and that he was very much
! IL. \
that his Grants plans would be thwarted. lie
therefore ordered him to Nashville TO relieve
Thomas.
/" he was TO inform Grant positively of the
situation, and IL Thomas did not attack i'm
mediately Gen. Logan was TO assume command
and drive Hood out. Gen. Logan obeyed, OF
course, but did not desire 10 snatch from
Thomas the fruits Of the victory, which he felt
could be easily won. Therefore he sent a mes
senger 20 Gen. Thomas 20 confer with him, he
remaining in Louisville. Thomas made the
attack at once aud won the victory.
Gen. Logan, telegrsphing these facts to
Grant, asked TO be relieved from further orders
70 duty IN that Department, and 10 be returned
10 the Fifteenth Corps. Rejoicing as much as
any ore IN Gen. Thomas's victory, Gen. Logan
always felt that he should have been given
credit for his magnanimity toward Thomas,
bat said nothing about il publicly. In 1884 il
was claimed that If Gen. Thomas had been re-
lieved on account Of Gen. Grants impatience
over his hardness that Gen. Schofeld would
have been given the command of the army.
Gen. Logan addressed letters TO Gen. Grant
asking him 10 give his version Of the case, and
received this reply"
Here Mrs. Logan read the following letter,
which has not been previously published:
NEW YORK CITY. Jan. =, 1854.
Gen. JoHE A. LoGAs, Washington, ID. C.
Ny DEAR FRIESD- i recoIect some
A. Ter hell
me u INTENDED his supersedure by your going to
relieve Gen. Thomas, aud that told him had
not. lie was 10 command 81 the Army Of llle Ohio
by assignment Of the President aud Gen Thomas
Was la command Of the Army Of the Cumberland
by a similar assignment. The Two armies coming
together naturally feli under Thomas, who was the
senior. Whether your order. 50 written would
have given you command Of the whole without re-
gard TO seniority is impossible for me 10 say ROW
WIthOut seeing the order. II il did not you would
naturally have commanded the whole by reason
Of seniority, you were the senior, and my Tecol-
lection - you were. Gen. Schofled. ] remen Der,
was appointed a MAjOr-Generai before you were.
bat not confirmed by the Senate. and was not If
ny recollection SERVES me right, confirmed
Magortseneral when took command Of the mill
fary division. but assigned him 10 command OF
the Army Of tie OHIO and he WAS afterward con
hrmed. bat do not know Of what date.
Very truly. yours, L. :. GEANT.
Per Il. i. WooD.
She also produced the following, confirming
al sbe said:
UEITED BASK BUmDrEG Wall AND BROADWAY,
INV YORK, Feb. H. 1854
hon. JOHN A. LOGAN, l.. s. Senate Washington:
DEAE Sir in reply 10 your letter Of the lIth, !
have 10 say that my response must be from mem
CRY entirely, having no data ~ hand 10 refer 10,
bui ia regard 70 the order for you go 10 Louis
vile ana Nashville Tor the purpose Of relieving
Gen Thomas, never thought Of Tie question Of
who should command the combined armies Of the
OHIO aud the Cumberland. ] wac simply dissatis-
bed with the slOwnes- Of Gen. Thomas's moving
and rent you with orders 10 relieve him.
No doubt II the order had been carried out the
INN rfFf
was entitled % Tie combined command, provided
6eD. Schoheld was senior la rank 70 you, which /
do not know that he was. know that his con-
nrfnAtion A. MaJ9r-GenerAl took place long after
yoIrs, but do not know the date OF his commits
siOu.
The question in that case, OF the command Of the
whole would have been settled ia a very few hours
b. the use 81 the telegraph between Nashville and
Washington. was IA Washington when you ar
rived IA Louisville and telegraphed me that Gen.
Thomas had moved and AZ / remember the tele-
gram expressing grail Ecaf ion that le had done 90
wss then on my way 70 Nashville and remained
over DAY ia Washington, hoping that Thomas
btill DligAt move. Oi course Was gratilied when
learned tlat Ae had moved because il was Il very
delicate aud mp eassaut matter 10 remove a man 81
Gen Thomas character and standing before The
country, Dui silli had urged him 80 long to move,
that came 10 think IL a duty.
Of c0urse. ga sending you 70 relieve Gen. Thomas
meant no reflection whatever upon Gen Srno-
Deid. who WAs commanding the Army Of tie Ohio
because thought be bad done very excellent
sefFies lh punlshihg tie entire force under Hood a
lev days before some - miles south of Nashville.
Very truly you're, u. s. GRANT
Mrs. Logan also called attention 70 the fol-
lowing from Gen. Grants memoirs:
Before the battle 81 Nashville ! grew very ina.
patient over, ar b appeared to me. the unueces
sary delay. This impatieuce was increased upon
learning that the enemy had sent force Of cav
ElTy hcTOss Tie Cumberland into Kentucky
feared Hood would cross his whole army aud give
AZ great trouble there. After urging upon Gen.
Thomas Tie necessity 81 Immediately assuming tlie
offensive, started West 10 supcrHteud matters
ceiFed Gen TbOrnass dispatch announcing hir
attack upon the enemy and the result as far az the
battle had progressed. wac delighted. Al fears
and apprehension were dspei.ed.
ava not yet satisfied bot that Gen. Thomas i'm,
neoialeiy upon tie appearance 81 Hood before
Nashville aud before he had time 10 fortffv sLguld
have moved out with his whole force aud ,siyef
him battle. instead Il waiting 10 reGnount his cav
airy, which delayed him until the inclcmeucy o
TIE weather made n impractical 90 attack saFlie
than be did But lis final defeat Of Hood was -
complete that b. viii be accepted az a yindieatiof
81 that distinguished officers judgment.
Gen. Thomas" continued Mrs. Logan
after the War often talked with Gen L0gaI
about the matter, and appreciated Gen Logan
friendship, and ] think that the world viii
admit that ~ was a most remarkable piece o
magnanmlty On the part Of one officer toward
another. Here WAS a brilliant position ofere,
10 Gen. Logan after his unfair treatment IN
being dep0sed from the command Of the Army
O. the Tennessee, when he had won a grca
victory after Mcpherson fell, and the question
Of how the battle would result was in grea
doubt.
lie recognized that the splendid army un
der Thomas would make short work Of ia,
enemy around Nashville But DE knew that
1en- Thomas was a brave and faithful officer