Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-08-24
A TRAITOR TO HIS CHIEF.


ing letter August 15, 1891, In the
Cleveland, CO., Plaindealer, in which
he makes some startling, charges
against the character and war record
of Garfield. AS q contribution to. the
secret history of the war, it tells tale
that should be read by every student,
OF that terrible contest. 1t is as
followss
II thought for many years that /
knew, Garfield. We were, before the
war, in the war, and afterward in the
political arena, intimate as brothers.
! sympathized with and sorrowed over
his struggle for life after being shot
down by a maniac, and cried like
child when the news reached me Of
his cruel death. But sorrow deeper
than this was reserved for me when,
years after, engaged upon the life Of
Gen. George II. Thomas, 1 came upon
Garfelds confidential letter " Sal
mon P. Chase, written from Rose
Grams headquarters at Murfreesboro.
1 was fairly stunned, for my investi-
cations of the events Of that wonder
full campaign gave me an information
that the public was deprived Of. This
letter was the cause Ut the bloody
battle Of Chiokamauga and all the
loss We suffered in the terrible two
days fighting. write this with re-
luctance now. But these are facts
that must sooner or later pass to pub
lie record. = e.. ..tl.
"Garield's crime was this: When
Lieut.-Col. Garusche, Gen. Rose
Grams chief Of ptaff, was killed at the
battle of Stone River, Garfield,
through Salmon P. Chase, made sp-
plication for the position. Secretary
Chase got Rosecrsns to make applica-
ton for the assignment. Now, when
Gen. Rosecrans was assigned to the
command Of the Army Of the Cum
berland, after Gen. Buell. had been
relieved, it was done by President
Lincoln at the urgent entreaty OF
Chase, blcked by the request of
Seward. With Lincoln and Seward
the promotion was made from po-
litical considerations, Rosecruns being
Catholic, and both at home and
abroad that was powerful element
to be, il possible; conciliated Chase
believed in Rosecran's military abil-
ity, while Stanton not only had no
such confidence but believed "Old
Rosy" TO be an imbecile.
ITO understand further the condi-
ton, we have to know that the ad
ministration ut Washington was
strangely ignorant of the importance
Of the Army OF the Cumberland. II
was regarded by Lincoln as a police
sent to Tennessee for the relief Of thu
loyal men, and the body guard o
Andrew johnson, military Governor
General Garfield found this the hare
condition at Murfeesboro. Genera
Rosecrans, like all great men, is OK
tremely frank and simple in his way
and to the last extent contiding to hi
assoc ates and friends. He fount
Garfield positively loyable, for Gar
i.tieldlabored to secure his chiefs con
fidence.
"And yet Garfield in the midst O
these troubles sat down in the solitud
OF his tent and wrote confidential
letter to Salmon p. Chase, in which
hs denounced his General az. I'm i'm
beclio, utterly incapable of cammand
handing such an army us that Of tn
Cumberland,
"Ehe letter in itself was treaoherou
but in it's results it was fatal. 1t hi
Roseorans's one available friend
the Government. Chase WAS ut fir,
stunned and then demoralized. Il
admired Stanton, and anyway felt
reluctance 10 interfere in. his depar
:ment. especially against its head. 4