The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-29

NOT sUnpsrsIss.

There was nothing surprising In the
fact that Gen. Isaac I. Stevens Was
Brsckinridgs Democrat until the firing on
Sumter. Leo and Joe Johnston never re-
signed until after Virginia seeded, April
2ist, 1861. and Lonsstrset did not go over
10 the Confederacy until a. late as June.
1851. Gen. George II. Thomas. of the Union
army. went 80 far - 10 ask employment
Of Virginia after Lincoln was insugu rated
u time when it was plain that Virginia
would secede. In the archives OF the Sec
rotary of the common wealth in the capitol
ut Richmond. Va, there 10 the following
letter In Gea. Thomas handwriting:
"NEw Yosx, March II. Issi
.His Exceliency Gen. John Letcher,
Richmond, Va.--Dear Sir: l received
letter from Maj 0iIham. OF tho Virginia
Military institute. dated the 9th inst. IN
reference to the position OF chief of ord
nance Of the state, in which he informs me
that you had requested him to ask me IL
] wou!d resign the service, and If so,
whether that post would be acceptable to
me- As he requested me to make my
reply TO you direct, have the honor 10
state. after expressing my most sincere
thanks for your very kind offer, that 10 IL
not nav wish TO leave the service OF the
United States rs long as II 10 honorable for
me to remain in II, and. therefore, as long
az my natirc state. Virginia, remains IN the
Union u u my purpose TO remain ~ the
army, unless required to perform duties
alike repulsivs to honor and humanity. l
am, sir, very respectfully your obedient
servant. GEORGE IL. THOMAS
major. U. $. A."
Ii 10 clear from this letter that Mai
Thomas meant to say to Gov. Letoher that
Il was his desire to remain in the army.
at his purpose TO do 80 only so long as
Virginia remained In the Union.
Gen. Thomas was reared in strict
states rights school. and his biographer.
Van Horne. admits (p 81 tina, he was
more decidedly Southern In his senti-
ments than Lee" Ali Of his brothers
served In the Confederate army, a. did his
near kinsmsn on both his fathers and
mothers side.
Tho explanation Of Con. Thomas final
adherence to tho Union IL given by his old
friend and companion in arms, Gen. f. ID.
Keyes, OF the retired list Of the army. On
page i6T of his Fifty Years Observation
ps Men and Events" Gen. Reyes says: ''He
Was strictly conscientious. lie loved fir-
ginia, which was his birthplace. and the
bias OF his affections was toward the South.
He was also warmly attached to the Union,
and he espoused its issue in the war Of the
rehsllion. His wife was q noble Northern
woman, and his Difference for her was
great; and IL II my opinion that it was her
influence, more than any other conssders-
fortunes with Us. Had he followed his
own inctinations he would have joined the
confedera.es aud fought against the North
with the same ability and valor that hs
displayed in our cause"
Gen. Reyes knew Gen. Thomas ~ intl-
Union or Confederate army. Thomas
ssrved under him rs a subaltern two years
and their Intimacy remained unbrokeu
from tstt to isso.
Gen. keyes graduated In 1880 and Gen
Thomas in 1910. and he therefore knew
Thomas during his whole military career
Had Thomas wife been Virginia roman
Of large landed property. as was Lees wife.
Instead OF being Northern woman. prob
ably Thomas would have followed Lee and
Johnston over To the Confederaey. bal
having made bis choice he fought "a hon
sstly and heroically for the Union az Long
street did FOR tho Censsdesacy. although
i.engstreet had no sympathy with seces
sien and never expected ultimate success
The shot a, Sumter divided families, di
vIded staies when il divided the Union.