The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-29
REBUKED SHERIDAN
MILES NOT THE ONLY GENER AL
REPRIMANDED BY WAR
SECRETARY
STANTON AND LITTLE PHIL"
Intereting Correspondence Between
the Two in ISG4-Miles Back
at His Desk, and Will
Do Nothing.
STANTON AND LITTLE PHIL

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-The friends
of Gen. Miles need not be SO much dis
turbed over the reprimand or rebukc
administered by Secretary Root. 1t Is
not the first occasion in which the secre-
tary of war has rebuked general. Sec
rotary Stanton sent rather sharp let
ter to Mai Gen. Phil Sheridan in 1864,
and the general accepted 1t, as became
a subordinate. In December, 1854, tho
governor of West Virginia sent the fol-
lowing telegram to Secretary Stanton,
which was forwarded to Gen. Sheridan
as information he might find useful:
wheeling, w. Va, Dec. %, 1S64.-The
Hon. f. M. Stanton: I have information
from Col Higgins, at New Creek, that
Rosser. with 5000 cavalry, left Peters
burg on the goth inst. by way OF North
western Virginia turnpike in the dlrec-
ton of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad IN
Preston county; supposed to be adVanc-
ing upon Grafton and the Western part
of this state.
IA. l.. Foreman, Governor
Cen. Sheridan seems to have been an
moved at the suggestion in the telegram
from Gov. Foreman, and sent the fol-
having reply to Secretary Stanton:
.sWinchester Va, Dec %, 1854. l1:SO p
n.-The Hon E. NJ Stanton, Secretary
of War: Gov Boreman's telegram re-
ceiyed If l were to make dlsposltloh OF
the troops of my command IN accord
ance with the information received from
the commanders in the Department or
Western Virginia, whom l have found,
as a general thing, always alarming in
their reports and stupid in their duties
and actions I certainly would have my
hands full. I believe many of them to be
more interested in coal oil than in the
public service. 1t was only yesterday
that Rosser was at Carub bottom-ac-
cording to their reports, on which, at the
suggestion of Gen. Crook, 1 sent regi-
ment to Beverly; it was only Two or
three days previous that Rosser was at
Romney, ETC. They have annoyed me un.
til, with your sanction, / would take
great pleasure in bringing some of them
to grief. p. ii. Sheridan,
Major General
This was the cause of the rebuke he
received from Secretary Stanton. Stan
toms letter to Sheridan was as follows:
WAR Department, Dec. %, 1S64.-Maj.
Gen. Sheridan, Winchester: No one that
am aware Of has asked you to make
disposition of your troops in accordance
with the Information received from the
commanders in the Department of Viz
ginia. Gov. Boreman's dispatch was re
ceived in the night, and sent by the op
orator, in accordance with general In
structions, to give military commanders
every report that comes here in respect
to movements of the enemy in their COM
mands. They are expected to form their
own Judgment of its value. 1t has been
supposed that such information might be
useful and desired by you, as it is by 9TH
err commanders who are your seniors in
the service, without provoking improper
insinuatious against the state authorities
on. dicrpSpeetf11 reply
with your subordinate commanders you
will take such action as you please, but
such reports as come to this department
in relation to the movements of the en-
envy will be forwarded as heretofore, and
will be expected to be received with the
respect due the department of which you
are subordinate.
Edwin M Stanton.
Secretary of War"
Sheridan pockated his resentment and
said nothing, but four days later. in a
communication to Lieut.. Gen. Grant, he