The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-18
LIBRARY Room, WAR DEPARTMENT,

LIBRARY Room, WAR DEPARTMENT, !
WAsHINGoN, ID. G., Jan. 81, 1868 !
To the PRESIDENT:
Since our interview of yesterday ] have
given the subject of our conversation all my
thoughts. and i beg you will pardon my re-
ducing the same to writing.
My personal preferences, as expressed were
to he allowed to return IL st. Louis to resume
my present command, ecause my command
was important. large. suited to my rank and
inclination, and because my family was well
provided for there in house facilities, schools,
living. and agreeable society: while, on the
other hand. Washington was for many to me J
good reasons highly Objectionable, especially
because it is the political capital OF the coun-
try, and focus OF intrigue gossip, and sander.
Yonr personal preferences were, as ex press
ed, to make new department East adequate
IL my rank, with headquarters at Washing
ton and assign me TO its command, to remove
my family here, and 10 avail myself of its
schools etc; to remove Mr. Stanton from his
Office as Secretary OF War, and have me to
discharge the duties.
To effect this removal two modes were in
dicated: to simply cause him to quit the War
Office Building, and notify the Treasury De
partment and Army STAFF Departments no
longer to respect him as Secretary of War !;
or to remove him and submit my name
to the Senate for confirmation.
Permit me 30 discuss these points little, and
/ Will premise by saying that have spoken
to no one on the subject, and have not even
seen Mr.. Ewing, Mr.. Stanbery, or Gen Grant,
! since was with you.
| 1t has been the rule and custom of our
| Army. since the organization Of the Govern
ment that the second officer of the Army
should be at the -ecOnd lin Importance COM
mana. and remote from General Headquarters.
To bring me to Washington would put
three heads TO an army yourself, Cen Grant.
and myself and we would he more han human
/ if We were not to differ In my judgment it
would ruin the Army, and would be fatal 10
one or two Of us.
Gems Scott aud Taylor proved themselves
soldiers and patriots iii the field, but Wash
! ington was fatal TO both This city, and the
| influences that center here, defeated every
army that had its headquarters here from
1861 to 1864, and would have overw helmed
| Gen. Grant al SpOtisylvdnla and Petersburg
| had he not been fortified by Il strong Teputa
tion already hard-eaTned, and because 10 one
then living coveted the place; whereas, in the
! West, We made progres, iiom the start be-
cause there was 10 political capital near
clouSh 10 iti>oh ohi minus anu kiliuie lhtc
iIIe tiiat ciaN iBg. Itc..ng Tor tane which has
killed more good men than bullets.
] have been with Gen. Grant in the mids,
of death and slaughter; when the howls OF
people reached INN alter Shiloh; when mes
seDgers wele speeding 10 and from ..his army
10 Washington bearing ISLANDERS 10 induce his
removal before he took Vicksburg; III Chatta
no0ga, when the soldiers were st aing the
corn oil the starving mules 10 satisfy theii
own hunger; at Nashville, when he was or
dered 10 the "foflorn rope" to command
the Army OF the Potomac, so often defeated
and yet / er saw biia more troubled than
since he has been ia Washington and been
compelled 30 reaG himself a " sneak and de
ceiser. based UD Tep0r.s Of iour of the Cahj
net, and apparently with your knowledge.
If TINS p9iiucal atmosphere can disturb th,