The National tribune., 1907-11-14
SOME MORE r1nEsoME F1cTroNs.

lille. Tenn. for October, had an article
which is now being copied extensively
by the pro-Southern papers North ard
South. It is a contribution from Capt
A. L. Resset Of Wilmington, N. c., and
purports to be the result of converse
tions with Judge Robert Ould, the Con-
federate Commissioner of Exchange. In
| this it is said that in January. 1861
Capt. u 8. Grant applied to the Gov
ernor of Illinois for a commission to
raise a regiment, which request was
ignored. He then wrote to Jefferson
Davis asking for a commission in the
Confederate army. Capt. Rosset says
that while in New Orleans he mentioned
this to Col. Chalaron. the Custodian
of the Louisiana Historical Association,
rect, and that he had in his possession
not only this letter from Capt. Grant,
but also similar letters from Capt. Far
ragut and Maj George II. Thomas
These would not be published for a
while, since, in accordance with Mr..
Davis's will, none of the correspondence
could be made public until two years
after Mrs. Davis's death. We need not
wait long for Col. Chalaron to produce
these letters, since Mrs. Varina Howell
Davis. the widow of Jefferson Davis,
died in New York City Oct. Is. 1906,
and the Limitation will be off in few
| days less than year from now.
L. 4.
consideration. We know entirely too
much about Gen. Grants life and his
| family and surroundings to place the
ghtest belief in such a story. Gen
Grant was from the first a Whig; his
| father and all his brothers and rela-
cry. He felt SO strongly on this sub
ject that he had no sympathy with the
Mexican War, and only did his duty in
1t because it was his duty. He belonged
to that class of Army officers who had
little love for Jefferson Davis, and Da-
Wis would have been the last man in
the world to whom Grant would have
applied for anything. Grant never had
the slightest sympathy with or interest
| in the Jefferson Davis coterie of Off
GERS who We're trying to break up the
country.
| AS for Gen. Thomas, the story has
been worked out years ago. In 1860,
while on his way to Washington. Gen.
Thomas was seriously injured in rail-
road accident near Norfolk, Va, and
was unable to travel for six weeks. He
received spinal injuries which followed
him thru life, and was one cause at
least of his slow riding and walking so
noticeable during the war AS soon as
he was able to travel he proceeded to
Washington, and, calling upon Gen
Scott, told him frankly his belief in
Twigg's meditated treachery. He ex-
pressed the same views very strongly
to Gen. Joseph e. Johnston, the Quar-
termaster-General. AT that time Nal
Thomas feared that his injuries would
be such as to prevent his continuance
in the Army. Virginia was then loyal
and making great protestatio1s of in
tentions to remain SO, and Maj. Thomas
wrote the following letter to Col. F. H
Smith. Superintendent of the Military
Institute of Virginia.
New York Hotel. New York City.
Jan. 18, 1861.
"Col Francis H. Smith, Superintendent
| Virginia Military Institute, Lexington,
| Va.
| Dear Sir: In looking over the files
| of the National Intelligencer this morn
ing 1 met with your advertisement for
a Commandant of Cadets and Instructor
of Tactics of the Institute II not al
ready filled, will be under obligations
If you will inform me what salary and
allowances pertain to the situation, as
from present appearances / fear 1t will
/ soon be necessary for me to be looking
4 up some means Of support.
Very respectfully, your obedient SER
want.
| George II. Thomas.
Major. q. S. Army"
At this time all of the Virginia Off
GERS in the Union army were claiming
| to be thoroly loyal with Gen. r. T.
Lee accepting the Colonelcy of the 1si
U. S. Cav. as late as March 80. or more
than two months after Thomas's letter
4 en-, Joseph e. Johnston was Quarter.
master-General of the Army. and pro-
Tossing to be in entire harmony with
that other distinguished Virginian, Win.
field Scott. in preserving the integrity
of the country. This letter is all tine
basis there is for any imputation agains,
Gen. Thomas's loyalty.
The case Is equally clear in regard to
Admiral Farragut. Farragut's loyalty
was so pronounced from the first tina,
the Secession officers found his COM
pany very unpleasant. He never hest.
tated to stigmatize in their proper terms
all thoughts and schemes for breaking
up the Union. and there is no question
that he frequently expressed his senti.
ments so radically as to bring himself
into much personal danger.
There is another overwhelming refu.
tation Of this story. and that Is that II
any of these officers had asked for q
Icommission in the Confederate army
it would have been only too gladl!
granted him. The Confederate Con.
gress had made an alluring bid to ge
the officers of the Army and Navy t.
join the COnfederacy. offering them al
increase in rank for doing SO. Gen
Thomas and Admiral Farragut were
highly esteemed in their respective
branches of the service, and their &c