Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-06
The LAT. Charles A. Dana in the War Period

ence or mental equipment, to write
more accurately or more interestingly
of events connected with the late Civil
War. than was the late distinguished
editor of the New York Sun, Hon.
Charles A. Dana, whom Secretary
Stanton once declared was 1.-The eyes
of the government at the front" dur
ing that dark and trying period.
The beginning of the war found Mr..
Dana associated with Horace Greeley
in the editorial work of the New York
the most prominent and influential
Republican journal in the country. A
very large share of it's virility and
grasp of affairs, was due to the ability
of Mr.. Dana, who welded then, as in
later years, pen of exceptional
strength and vigor, combined with
power to apprehend, with almost in
tuitive insight, the strength and ten
dency of popular movements. He was,
moreover, an exceptionally good judge
of men, quick to detect sham, and
merciless in exposing it. He was
throughout his long and busy life, an
American of robust type, loyal to his
country's interests, and jealous of its
prestige, at home and abroad. From
the Tribune Mr.ADana became con-
nected with the war department as
assistant secretary. Not long before
his death he prepared a series Of ar
ticles for McClure's Magazine giving
his experiences and observations dur
ing the time he was associated with
the great Stanton, as his confidential
advisor and right hand man.
The first Of these articles appears in
the November number of McClure's.
and, as was expected, is full of in
tense interest. 1t publishes for the
first time a considerable amount of
correspondence between Mr.. Dana and
Secretary Stanton-which in it's direct
ness and frankness, is certainly some
what startling at this day, but which
has all the more value as voicing the
honest sentiments of two men who had
exceptional advantages for observing
men and events, and who were not
afraid to say exactly what they meant.
Mr.. Dana's first article opens with
an account of llow-after fifteen years
of association with Mr. Greeley on the
Tribune, he was informed by one of his
associates that his chief would be glad
to have him resign. This he did. SELL
ing that portion of the paper-one-fifth
which he then owned to his COL
leagues.
| Mr.. Dana says: mr.. Greeley never
| gave a reason for dismissing me. nor
did ever ask for one. know though,
that the real reason was that while
he was for peace 1 was for war, and
that as long as staid on the Tribune"
there was a spirit there which was not
his spdrit-that he did not like"
Soon after this Mr.. Danawas asked by
Mr.. Stanton to take the position of
assistant secretary of war. In relating
the events which led up to this he in
cidentally pays his respects to Ger
eral Mcclellan of whom he says
in February, 1862, that while he
had proved himself an excellent drill
master, he had, at the same time
proved that he was no general at all.
His friends We're loyal. however, and
whatever success our armies met with
was attributed to his generalship.
when the capture of Fort Donelson
was announced, McClellan's friends
) claimed that he had directed ftiby tele.
graph from his headquarters on the
! Potomac. Now. the terminus Of tn.
telegraph toward Fort Donelson was
many miles off from the battlefield
: Besides. the absurdity of genera
directing the movements of a battle {
:, | lLOuSdIO ulll0S O1L, CNCh IL AC Aou III ~
telegraph wires, leading to every par
of the field was apparent. Neverthe
less. McClellan's supporters kept VI
their claim
1t is evident that Stanton, who de
spised sham of all kinds, and who hon
es.ly desir> d to give credit where credi
was due, conceded in this view for, il
, a postscript to a letter dated Febru
airy %, 1862 he says:
WAS it not funny sight to see
certain military hero in the telegraph
Office at Washington last Sunday or
: ganizing victory, and by sublime mill
: tary combinations. capturing For
t Donelson six hours after Grant ant
Smith had taken it sword in hand, an,
o had victorious possession! 1t would b.
4 a picture worthy of Punch"
q Mr.. Dana did not go at once from tn
II Tribune Office into the war depart
II ment. He was at first appointed, Jun