The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-03
CARL SCHURz As A CRITIC.
A Part He Always Undertakes to PIay-An
ILLUSTRATION from His Military Experience.

to obstruct the war. long prior to his letter to
the President OF Nov 20. 1852. which called out
Lincolns scorching answer. printed in THE
SUN of last Monday. In 1851, under the new
regime. this German refugee was a prime
fhvorite with thu Republican leaders. BY his
speeches in 1858 and 1860 Schurz had en-
deared himself to Lincoln. who at once APP
pointed him Minister to Rome. But having
smelt blood In the great European revolution
OF 1913. the outbreak OF our own rebellion inev-
itably drew the adyenturer back TO America as
the needle to the tombstone. He resigned his
diplomatic commission to accept that OF Briga-
dier-General in the Union Army. Given as
Schurz always was and 70 TO opposition. tho
only wonder is that he did not Join the South
ern Confedsracy. Probably. however. his
opposition to slavery was stronger than his
other antagonistic idiosyncrasles.
There Ia no doubt that at this time he was
very close to Lincoln ; ut any rnte. as one OF the
spokesmen for the great Union loving German
population OF the West. he necessarily received
marked consideration. He was assigned to u
command in the Department under Gen John
o. Fremont. whose army had recently come
down out of the Allegheny Mountains. where
II long had been perchsd innocuously. into the
Shenandoah Valley. for the purpose OF cutting
OH Stonewall Jackson's retreat and destroying
by peremptory order from Washington: al
though no had fought two battles. Stonewall
jackson. completely outmanpuvring the
union commander had escaped. The Union
forces converRing upon Jackson had outnum-
oered the Confederate leader two to one
fremont somehow had lost a great oppor-
tunity. and Mt Washington there was dissatis-
faction with his operations. His army ap-
pearod to be demoralized, and all sorts OF
alarms and calls for help. supplies and NUM-
tons came from the Mountain Department
Gen. Fremont was great favorite OF the Ger
man Western element. which had been inclined
to resent his surersedure in the Missouri COM
mand the previous autumn 1t was this known
affinity which probably caused Gen. schurz's
assignment to Fremont's army.
1t was under such circumstances that Schurz
Joined the army at Harrsonburg in the Shen-
andoah valley. on the 9TH Of June. 1852 When
ne lett Washington President Lincoln had 'au-
thoriZed Gen. Schurz 10 send In 'connden-
tial report about tho condition OF things"
WITHIN Fremonts command. Whether Schurz
mad obviously volunteered "conflde ntially" To
inspect his supsrior's army and operations and
report thereon. or whether Mr.. Lincoln had So
lcitri this peculiar service Of him, is lot dis
closed by the records. Howbeit. he made a re-
port 10 the President. and II must be canddly
Fremont. True to himself. he had to antngo.
nize either the Administration or the General:
In tho natural order OF Mis- predictions he os-
poused the cause OF the earning grumblinp
commander who had failed. and assumed the
attitude OF critic toward the Government
which was segrieved by Fremont's military
misadventures
The alleged report Of this new civilian Briga-
oier-deneral was tsdously long. covering
some 1850 words II was not in fact n re-
port. but dsparaging pasquinade against
the policy and orders OF the President. whom
he charged with Ignorance and neglect. and
the strategical blunders" which had resulted
In Fremonts failure to bag" jackson. He
also admonished the President upon his duties
under the new state OF circumstances
This letter from Brir. Gen. Carl Schurz TO
the President. Commander chief Of the
United states Army. il one Of the most Singh
lar documents in all the vast grist OF rebellion
records IL was not strong letter, except in
the features OF Its inpudence and cool effront-
cry OF assumption to knowledge OF the situa-
ton which subsequent events proved that
Gen. Schurz did not possess at all Indeed
having been with Fremont only three days
when he sent Lincoln this remarkable curtain
lecture he was fain to admit that my e1peri-
ence Is therefore short. but In the true Schurz-
''"' H"s'ete'Ihl hUIrlt u" IoIowed This with
the unresrrret assertion that 4" l have already
seen and heard enough TO give a reliable opin-
ION on many points, IL Ia curious common
tnry on Gen schurzs confidence In this regard
that tho more he saw and heard about the
CONDITION OF things In Fremont's army and
the campaign against Jackson the less he had
TO say In fact, he soon altogether ceased to
tax or write about 1t. as will presently appear.
"'hurz letter IA too voiuminous for publica-
'oh IN whole bu' he who cares 10 see the full
text OF this confidential report" will find II at
raee"'" Vol IL. Parts. War Records. Suffice
u 10 say that II bristles with animadvcrslons
upon the Administrators military orders to
fremont. and its policy thereabout. Here is
samples NJ the very outset: 1t is a fact which
ADMITS OF no doubt. that when you ordered
oeh' Fremont TO march from Franklin to
harrisohourg II was absolutely impossible to
carry out the order
Fremont had been ordered by Lincoln to get
across Jackson's line OF retreat and attack
MN. About his failure to do so. Schurz says
10 Lincoln: 1t is undoubtedly a very fortunate
circumstance That Gen. Fremont did not sue
ceed IN placing himself across Jackson's line OF