El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-03-12


ne used TO rae out through the camp ana
review and inspect the troops. On such &C
casions his great popularity was evinced by
the rousing cheers with which he was re
ceived His manner at once engendered a
genuine cordiality between officer and men
The latter became convinced that their com
mander took personal interest In their
welfare, although he examined their condi
ton and equipments with the most exact
ing scrutiny
General Rosecrans was keen observer
and be was noted because of the close at
tention he gave to the CONFORMATION of any
section of country through which he might
be passing and the knowledge of it's mill
tary characteristics which he would absorb
He paid great attention to details, and
therein lay perhaps an element of weak
ness, for it took up much of his time and
energy 1t is claimed by his friends that
whatever he did himself was we'll done, and
that all his failures may be traced to the
incompetence or lack of energy of subor-
dinates His critics rejoin that even if this
view be correct it argues a fatal defect in
his makeup-a lack of knowledge of human
nature
How He Told the Story.
Rosecrans did not consult with the mem
bers of his staff as freely as some command
ing generals, but in General Thomas
Pap" Thomas, the boys called him-he
placed the utmost confidence, and with him
he consulted often 1t was General Thorn
as to whom his command was turned over
after Chickamauga, and Rosecrans at a re-
union held in Washington same years ago
told the story of how they met after the or
der to turn his command over came. 1t
was in Rosecrans' tent at Chattanooga that
the interview took place. The relieving
order came at night, and Rosecrans sent for
Thomas He came alone to the tent"
said Rosecrans. 81 handed him the letter
He read it, and as he did SO his breast began
to swell, and he turned pale. He did not
want to accept the command, but we agreed
upon consideration that he must do so.
told him that could not bear to meet my
troops afterward. I want to leave said l,
before the announcement is made, and
will start in the early morning Ipacked
up that night, and the next morning at
about o'clock rode away through the fog
which then hung over the camp. The best
Of relations prevailed between General
Thomas and myself, and as to the stater
ment that he considered himself my supe-
rior and obeyed my orders through a sense
of duty it is not. so -
Rosecrans was much affected as he made
this statement to his old companions in
arms, and his manner carried conviction
with it.
In 1859 he was United States minister to
Mexico. when he became q resident of San
Rafael, Cal, where he possessed large land
ed property. He was afterward engaged In
an unsuccessful attempt to construct a vast
system of narrow gauge railroads in Mexico.
In 1880 he was elected to congress from
California and reelected in 1882 In 1888
President Cleveland appointed him register
of the treasury. In religion General Rose
Grams was q devout Roman Catholic; in
politics, an unwavering Democrat In the
various discussions caused by his military
career he defended himself with a vehe-
mence which drew upon him in turn the de
nunciations of the friends of Mcclellan,
Grant, Halleck and Garfield and led occa-
but when anger had had time to cool the
country did full justice to him. Despite
bitter attack and equally bitter defense all
honor as the man who cleared West Vir
ginia of Confederates-the Zero of Cornth.
[uka and Stone River.