The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-19
LOST LINCOLN LETTER
Just Come to Light and Now Pub
lished for the First Time.

Copyright, 1897, the S. S. Mcclure Coz
Another remarkable evidence of the
great kindness of heart of Abraham
Lincoln has just been brought to light in
the shape of a long letter which the
''rnartyred president wrote TO General
Daniel Hunter in 1861. We are now able
20 publish it for the first time. Not only
does it show the remarkable insight
which Lincoln had of the character of
his generals, but it also shows his Won
derful command of language, which en-
abled him to sharply reprove and strong
II advise them in a manner which LEFT
them no room TO take personal offense
at his remarks. Lincoln seemed to feel
personally responsible for his officers and
soldiers. His interest was more than that
of a president of the n9ufon; 1t was pa
ternal. The great trusts he reoosed in
them were rendered as from father 10
SON The reproofs he uttered were writ
ten in the same spirit. No word of advice
was said lightly or without sufficient con-
sider3t.on of the true cause OF the pend
ing trouble. His wards perforce were
bound to receive his words in the same
spirit: to respect the motive which
prompted them; to love the man VINO ut
General Hunter was in command of the
department of Kansas at the time this
particular letter was written. 1t seems
he considered himself dishonored by an
appointment to the then rather obscure
rntltiary most, and wrote to the president
protesting against it Lincoln's charac-
teristic reply was as follows:
Executive Mansion,
washington, Dec. 81, 1861.
'.Major-Gener Hunter:
Dear Sir-YOurS of the sd is received,
aNd 1 am constrained to say 1t is difficult
t. answer so ugly letter in good tenn
per- I am, as you intimate. losing much
of the great confidence placed in you, not
from any act or commission OF yours
touching the public service, up TO the
time you were sent to Leavenworth, but
from uhe flood of grumbling dispatches
and letters 1 have seen from you since.
l knew you were being ordered TO Leav-
enworth at the time it was done; and
aver that with as tender a regard for
had for my own, it never occurred to
me that you were being 'hu-
inflated insulted and disgraced;' nor
have 1. uD TO this day neard an lnt-
coming from any one but yourself. No
one has blamed you for the retrograde
movement from Springfield. nor for the
information you gave General cameron;
and this you could readily understand.
if it were not for your unwarranted as
sumption that the ordering to Leaven-
worth must necessarily nave oeen done
as a punishment for some fault
thought then, and think yet, the Dosi-
ton assigned to you is as responsible,
and as honorable, as that assigned 20
Buell. know that General mcclellan
expected more important results from it,
NV impression is that at the time you
were assigned to the new western de-
partment. It had not been determined
10 replace General Sherman in Kentucky:
but of this I am not certain, because
the idea that a command in Kentucky
was very desirable, and one in the far
Their west undesirable. had never oc-
CURED to me. You constantly speak of
being placed IN command of only 5000.
Now tell me, is not this mere i'm
patience? Have you not known all the