Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-03-10


One Of the last letters written by
the great commander, General Grant,
was discovered recently in the
archives of the war department, dur
ing 4 search with view to collecting
data in reference to the Nashville
campaign of 1861. This letter had no
reference to the papers among which
it was found, having been written
score of years after the events with
which it could have any connection.
Its recipient, General Logan, was con-
Quoting campaign for reelection to
the United States senate, and some
comment had been created regarding
his actions prior to the battle fought
at Nashville, Tenn. General Grant at
this time was confined to his residence
in New York from the effects of a
fall upon the sidewalk while getting
out of a cab. With a view to
strengthening himself with the peo-
pie in whose hands his election lines
were cast, General Logan addressed a
communication to his former com
mander-in-chief and received the fol-
lowing reply:
NEW YORK, Feb H. 1884 Hon John A Lo-
gan, United States senate, Washington d. G
Dear Sir:-In reply to your letter OF the 18th
have to say that my response must be from
memory entirely, hayin no data at hand to
refer to In regard to the order from you to
90 TO Louisville and Nashville for the purpose
OF relieving General Thomas never thou sht
OF the question who should command the com
bined arm 'es OF the Cumberland ana the Ohio
was simply dissatisfied with the slowness Of
General Thomas moving. and sent you out
with orders to relieve him. No doubt IL the
order had been carried out the que stion would
Immediately have arisen as to who was entitled
TO the combined comm md. provided General
Sehodeld was senior I'm rank to you, which |
do not know that he was / know that his
confirmation as major general took place
long liter yours, but do not know the date
Of his commission. The question in that case.
Of the command OF the whole, would have been
settled in very few hours by the use OF
the telegraph between Nashville and Wash
ington. / was in Washington when you ar
rived in Louisville and telegrdphed me that
General Thomas had moved and as ! remem.
Der the tele ram, expressing qualification that
ne had done 50. l was then on my way to
Nashville myself and remained over a day in
Washington. hoping that Thomas might still
move OF course was gratlded when learned
that he had moved becIuse II was a very deli.
cate and unpleasant matter to remove q man
Of General Thorn IS character and standing
before the country Stlll, 1 had urged him 90
long TO move that I had come 10 think It a
duty OF course, In sending you 10 relieve
General Thomas. meant no reflection what
ever upon General SchOdeld who was com.
manding ths army OF tine Ohio because
thought that nc had done very excellent ser.
vice ia pushint the entire force under Hood
few days before, some twenty five miles south
OF Nashville Very truly yours
s GRANT
This letter General Logan subse-
quently loaned the war department
authorities and it had not been re-
turned to him up to the time of his
death When it was discovered re-
Gently, however, it was promptly
transmitted to Mrs. Logan. who values
it very highly, not only from the fact
that it belonged to her husband but
because it was one of the very last
diciations of the great commander
prior to entering upon his famous
memoirs Of the rebellion. Chicago
Herald.