The National tribune., 1906-07-26
CHAPTER XXI.
ROSECRANS AND HALLECK.

Halleck and ROaecrHns.
From the moment that Rosecrans as
suued command of the Army of the
Cumberland he came into conflict with
Maj.-Gen. Halleck, Commander-in-
Chief of the Armies of the United
States Their views of what should be
done, and what could be done, differed
most radically, and Rosecrans was not
the man to conduct a correspondence
amicably and automatically that in
volved great differences of opinion
Rosecrans was too obstinate in his own
views. too we'll satisfied with the cor
rectness of his conclusions and too eager
for advantage in debate to disagree in
extensively with his superiors. The first
clash came over Rosecrans's urgent re-
quest for more cavalry and better arms
for what he had. Gen. Halleck treated
this request as il Rosecrans were imi-
tating the commanders of the Army of
the Potomac, and beginning his career
with complaint. Rosecrans resented
this, and in addition committed the in
discretion Of writing about the matter,
over Gen. Halleck's head, to the Secre-
tary Of War as follows:
"Murfreesboro. Feb. 2, 1863.
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Washington, D. c. !:
Il telegraphed the Commander-in-
Chief that 1000 carbines or rifles were
required to arm our cavalry. He re-
piled as IL he thought 1t complaint
i telegraph you also, to prevent mis-
understanding. I speak for the country
when l say 1000 effective cavalry will
cost the support Of nearly $4,000, say,
$4,000 per day; but this is the smallest
part Of the trouble. One rebel cavalry
oxyor -
infantry to watch our communications.
while our progress Is made slow and
cautious, and we command the forage
OF the country only by sending large
train-guards. 1t is q prime necessity
in every poiIt Of view, to master their
cavalry. Z propose to do this, first, by
DO arming our cavalry as to give II its
maximum strength: second. by having
animals and saddles temporarily to
mount infantry brigades for marches
and enterprises. We have now 1000
cavalrymen without horses and 1000
without arms. We don't want revolvers
as much as light. revolving rifles The
matter is SO clearly, in my mind. of
paramount public interest that blush
to think It necessary to seem to apollo
gixe for 1t. / do hope the Government
will have confidence enough in me to
know / never have asked and never will
ask anything to increase my personal
when / went with Blenker's Division
this Nation might have been saved mil
lions Of blood and treasure.
Nv. 8. Rosecrans, Major-General.''
HalIeek's Side Of the Case.
1t must be admitted that Halleck had
much reason on his side, and his letter
to Rosecrans is well worth while repro
ducing as a picture Of the difficulties to
which the War Department was SUBJ
5ected In endeavOring to provide all that
the various commanders were calling
for:
washington d. c.. Feb. 3, 1868.
Maj.-Gen. RoSecrans, MurfreesborO
General: Your recent kilograms have
been couched I'm terms implying a cen
sire upon the Government for not prop
erly supplying you with cavalry and
cavalry arms. You are certainly under
q grave misapprehension You cannot
be more anxious for success than the
Government Is for you to succeed: the
Government Is as desirous Of giving
you the means of success as you are to
receive them; but yours Is not the only
nor the largest army in the field. and
you are not the only General who T.
urgently calling Tor more cavalry an.
more cavalry arms. The supply is linn
tied. and the demands OF all cannot be
satisfied The Government must Judge
for itself what each army is the most in
need of, and how far. with he means
on hand the wants of each can be sup
piled. For example, yourself. Gems
Grant, Sibiey, Banks, Hunter. Foster
Dix and Schenck are all urgently de-
manding more cavalry. OF course, all
cannot be supplied. nor. indeed. the full
demands of any one The Government
has done everything In It's power Il
raise and arm more cavalry, but IL ever,
regiment raised in the last few months
=
you. 10 the exclusion OF all Others your
demands would not have been filed
The only alternative was to give you the
authority which you asked for TO mount
portion Of your infantry. But yot
now bitterly complain OF the want O
better cavalry arms; that unless thu
Government supplies you with 'revolv
ing rifles instead Of pistols. etc, yo,
will not be prepared for coming emer
gencies. You also ask for the 'bes
arms. superior arms etc.
"A few words of explanation will
show how well founded are your com
plants II was alleged, and with goo.
reason. last year that Western troop
did not receive their fair proportion o
coed arms. To avoid any complaint
q this kind In the future the Secretar
Of War, In August last directed tina
the several qualities Of arms should b
Issued to the volunteers from differen
ber in the service, and in this proper
ton assigned to the different armies
To avoid any further abuses or partial
tiles, Assistant Secretary Watson too
the immediate direction Of these issue.
and I learn from him that your troop
have received their full proportion Q
the best arms superior arms etc.
Certainly you cannot expect that yo
can have all the best arms and othe
troops receive only those Of lowe
grade. In regard to revolving rifles
superior arms ETC., every one Is issue
the moment 1t Is received. Those VIII
cannot obtain these must use carbine.
sabers and pistols or muskets. Eve
with these our cavalry Is better arme
than that of the enemy.
Everything has been and will
done for your army which the Govern
ment can do without injustice to tn
other troops. You cannot expect tn
1e& Of arms OK Of anything else to th