The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
III.

There seems to be no doubt that G en-. Thomas's
mind was poisoned against Gen. Schofeld by
the insinuation that the latter had sought to
supplant his commanding officer. There is
satisfactory evidence that Schofeld could have
superseded Thomas at Nashville, but he was
too loyal to his superior officer to accept tho
post. 1t is certain that Thomas in his reports
gave Schofeld but scant credit for his victory
Mt Franklin and for his conspicuous share in tho
two days fighting before Nashville. Neverthe-
less. the author Of this book speaks of Gen.
Thomas with the Utmost kindness and con-
sideration. He convinces the reader that when,
at Atlanta, he asked for and received orders
to report with the Twcnty.third Corps to
Gen. Thomas in Tennessee, he felt. in the fullest
degree. all the Difference and respect which were
due to Thomas's seniority in years, in rank and
services. when 1 went back" he says, ito
Tennessee. my only anxiety respecting the sit
uation. 30 far as Gen. Thomas's personality af-
fected 1t. was on account of his constitutional
habit Of very deliberate action. I was appre-
hensive that in some emergencies. created by
the action of the daring and reckless, though
Thomas might not be able to determine and act
quickly enough to save from defeat his army,
then understood to be far inferior to the enc.
mys in numerical strength. / had far too high
an opinion of lis capacity as "a General to
doubt for a moment that. with sufficient time
In which to mature his plans to resist Hood s in
yasion. and TO cXecute those plans so far as should
lie within his power. he would do all that
page 242 we read: 81 believe it must now be
fully known to all who are qualified to judge.
and have had, BY personal association or by
study or history. full opportunities to learn the
truth, that Gen. Thomas did not possess in a
high degree tho activity of mind necessary to
military, operations. nor the mathematical talent
required to estimate the relations of time,
lens Of war. His well-known high qualities in
other respects obscnred these imperfections
from the great majority of those who sur
rounded him during the war. and rendered the
few educated soldiers who were able to under
stand his true merits tho more anxious to aid
one. ! am sure. OF his comrades in arms desires
70 delract from the great fame which is justly
mankind, moral qualities, more than ~intellec.
tual. are the Foundation OF n great and enduring
Thomas. who was beloved by the Army of the
Cumberland; and IL 10 the honest. conscientious
patriot; the hrm. unfinching old soldier. not the
General, whose name will be the most respected
in history"
Another equally interesting reference to len.
sion and prejudice b~egotten in the minds OF
Thomas's, soldiers and their friends by injus-
be done, to him by his superlors in rank, have
rendered nn1Iion imposSiblo any calm discussion Of
j. not yet. and probably viii not be- in our life,
time, n proper audience for such discussion.
But posterity will award justice to all II their
deeds have been such as to save their names
and makes. al, things even. Wien ] was a 10y
Ut West Point was conrt-martialled for tolcrat-
ing a9,neyouthfu 'dcviltry 'otmy classmates. in
which took no art myself. and was sentenced TO
be dismissed. Thomas, then already a veteran
soldier, was a member OF the court, and he and
one other were tho only ones of the thirteen
members who declined to that tho
sentence be RENTED. This | learned in 1863,
when l was Secretary of War. Only twelve
years after the courts sentence l WAS able to
repay this then unknown stern denial OF elem
enry TO a youth by saving tho veteran soldiers
army from disaster and himself from the hui
mutation or dismissal from m on the
eve, or victory. Five years later stiil | had the
satisfaction. by interccssion with the President,
or saving the same veteran General from as
slshlncnt TO an inferior command, and of giving
nm Inc military division To which my assign
ilent had been ordorcd. When death had re-
lleved him from duty. and not till then. did
consent to be his SUCCESSOR"