The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-26
General Geo H. Thomass Attitude Towards the Secession
of Virginia.
duntof Pegms Artney Bauaon
(From the London Saturday Review.
April Ia lg12l

April 10, 1920
III seems scarcely necessary for
US 10 add any predatory remarks to
this article from the Saturday Review.
as Colonel Mccabe. In this "Re1oin.
yer mas tully given the circumstances
unoer winch II was written. 1t may
DO noticed. however, that Major John
white. Z. S. A. (retired). did not
venture to attack any point In Col
onel McCabe's military criticism of
formby's Civil War in America" but
devoted nearly every line of his long
Ietter TO a denial OF Colonel McCabe's
assertion that both Thomas and Far
ragut (uniikc Lee) were rampant
secessionists" until the very hour that
virginia seeded. 1t gems to us that
this "Rejoinder" (much of II as TO
the Second Cavalry being based on
colonel McCabe's investigation of I'M
published records in the War Depart
menp should dennitely stttle the
1homas question for all time, and in
cidentally settle" Major J. c. White,
u S. q. Retired), at the same time
Ed. motel
But for the kindness of an old
friend in England. ] should never have
seen the very heated and rather I'M
derbred communication of Major j. c.
White. L. s. A. (Retired)," which an
ago. when l was out OF town for
several weeks. My friend wrote that
II was "a beastly rude attack" on my
critique of Formby's American Civil
War" published nearly six months ago
in your columns
Within few days after receiving
his letter. marked copy of the Sat
urosy came TO me. and my surprise
on reading the article may he imag-
ined when found that the gallant
Major tall majors are gallant" IN
hetionl had not dared TO attempt any
refutstion of single one of my
structures on Formby's blunders. but
mad devoted himself to denying. ''at
the top OF his voice" my assertion
cat the close ,of ny critique) that
General George II. Thomas and Ad-
rn!ral Farrsgut had both been. up TO
the very eve of the war. rampant
secessionists'; that they had repeated
y declared 10 brother officers their
intention to follow their states" II
these state seeded, and that. when
the crucial test came. they sided with
the North because of their ambition
for promotion.
Thomas was a srea, soldier Gar SUI
perior To Grant. in my opinion) and
Farraeut was great sailor, so no
discussion is involved as to their
ability and courage. But stand by
every word | wrote n to their ex-
pressed purpose to espouse the South
crn side In the event Of separation and
war.
AS the irate Major has devoted al
most hvc-si>ths OF his diatribc to a
disingenuous discussion OF Thomas
case tconfessinR that he does not
possess sucn intimate and personal
knowlcdge'-mark the "personal''-of
farragut's action OF the other). I
shall have to expose him step by step.
in his rambling communication. and
consider at later time what he has
to say touching Farrssut's attitude.
As a matter OF fact. he has no per
sonai' knowledge OF either and the
scraps OF Information that nc has
picked UP from the several biographies
OF General Thomas are presented with
consistent ignorance and inaccuracy.
/. Incidentally. before Staying me
with that osseous weapon which Samp
son welded with such deadly effect
against the PhIlistines. and OF which
the major possesses such an easy and
natural mastery. he rescnts savagely
my speaking of General Sheridan as
"Ir"eracious.' and my oharacterizinB
General John Pope as "braggart"
Perhaps 1t was inconsiderate in me TO
give tho major such long word as
'nveracIous" to struggle with but
! did SO to avoid the shorter and
the uglier word" That ne may have.
however, no doubt as 10 my meaning,
] here set down my deliberate convic-
ton that Philip Sheridan (whom I al
lowed in my article to be an able
oficcr) was the most monumental and
colossal liar since Ananias. Ills field
dispatches and official reports give
ample support 10 this conviction, and
Ills memory. linked with that OF the
Infamous sherman. Is eXecrated
throughout the whole South to-day.
Readers OF the MAJORS letter have.
no doubt, noticed that Colonel Dom
Platt is mis- oracle" In fact. Piatts
Life of Thomas" constitutes the
and forms the backbone OF welluigh
all his arguments CD. Let me com
mend to the majors attention p. l45
OF this precious volume (Which no
Englishman is ever likely to see).
wherein Piatt speaks of the miser-
able misrepresentation OF Sheridan"
along with those OF Grant and OF
sherman.
AS to John Pope, the cpithet of
"braggart' was 80 consistently at
tached TO his name that many South
ern lads grew to manhood before they
learned that "braggart Pope" was not
one word
Such was his reputation in the old
service tsec General Z. p. Alexander's
memoirs lLOnuOn: lgUSl, ana again
we refer the Major to his "oracle".
who. to defend Pope from tho ridi-
Guile he had drawn upon himself Gin
both armies), is driven to invent the
myth that these boastful orders
written at the war Department by
Secretary Stanton were issued over
the name of General Pope. They were
unfortunate. for while they deceived
no one, they placed the new COM
In fol
The new commander" came out Of
the West in July. 1852. to save Wash
tngton," and at once issued the most
theatrical pronunciamentos to the
three armies placed under his COM
mand. His dispatches rivalled those OF
Sheridan for pure lying as to mythical
successes. but within a single month
of the time that "Old Sronaewali,"
with half his numbers, tackled him at
Cedar Mountain" and gave him
what 1.-The Great Duke" was wont to
tam 'd---d Oood liking" this