The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-18


cause he was tho nephew OF his uncle"
'kooert Z. Leo. but because OF sheer
skill and valor on the Held OF battle.
Ntter the war no was made Governor
OF virginia. In regard TO the letter
OF Thomas's former subordinate. FItz
hugh Lee. or the Virginia Dispatch,
! Ono such papeD of APRIL 5s lS5o
4 fiott Opp. So It seqo gives the en-
/ rrhuc statement Of General Thomas
tunt tthe lctterl Is au entire Cabri-
CT Ion not having an atom OF founda-
/ tion.' etc.
Paus tho poor mrddle-headod major.
5h"W could Thomas who died on March
~, ~ pronounce as IAN entire fabri-
cation letter that did not appear
until nearly Il month after he died? If
me major is going to BRING in
sp0oks. the wee acid OF truth" IS
r ussiess General Leo was. as l say.
,,,vtuyttant 20 publish his letter. but tho
Northern papers were loudly nssertine-
tHat Thomas had mover faltered'
Wnen the crucial test came IN 'Gi and
some rev OF his intimatcs urged him
! 10 put on record publicly what ne knew
70 be the truth Here Ia what itz-
hush Ice wrote In the Richmond Dis
patch or April %. 1870: II knew Gem
tral Thomas well-was a lieutenant in
inc cavalry regiment OF which he was
! major before tho war. and stationed
/ at the same post In Texas with him.
re WAS an excellent artillery officer
iserved IN that arm I'm Mexico IAN i'm
different cavalry oflcer-too henvy.
90 slow. The Sew York Tribune. how
ever. and all the Northern euconlums
| tnat have read upon his name and
| fame. lay stress en his being a Nir-
slnlan who mover faltered But they
would better have left that mart of
[ MIS- record out IL is fact that when
war threatened between the two sec
I Tons General ThOmas's feelings We're
southern to an almost bellicose degree.
| II IS TACT that ne told ma in New
! ork city in 1851. az l was on my
way from West Point to Warrington
TO resign my commisa'On rs an officer
/ OF tho United states Army that he,
| too, intended TO resign. 1t is a fact
/ that about this time ne wrote a letter
] to John Letchcr. tho Governor OF Viz
GINA. ana rendered his services TO the
state (Which letter the Governor may
/ nave now lilo wes an upright man
and fought well. though against Us.
Let him rest in peace
The Woman In the Case.
| AS to Mrs Thomas's letter. which
I the major copies from Professor Cop
PEGS General Thomas" / have no do
sire TO make any comment She. TOO.
j Is dead. ana was no doubt u very mas
,erlpi woman. Years ago sitting Mt
luncheon next 10 Ma1or-General Reyes,
~ ;. A., In a charming Northern coun-
llN mousse Ncntnred 10 ask him, as no
was very gracious and n lifelong
| friend OF THOMAS, whether II was true
mat the latter was known as one OF
'"e most pronounced states rights
! men in the army. "Undoubtedlv' he
! replied. III" served under mo two
Years and was most violent In his de-
nunciationS OF tho North" WELL
dnoth ]. TO what do YOU attribute his
going over TO your sldc2" Then that
wiched wicked old warrior whispered.
with a wink, You see. my dear fellow.
/ twas simply another case OF the gray
mares being the better horse" few
years after he published his "F'lfty
Years Observation Of Men and Events
! rASD. In which, after paying "a MOTTO
/ tribute to Thomas. he SAYS. Ills wife
| was noble Northern woman. and his
deference for her was great. and 4 Is
my opinion that IL was her Influence
! moro than any other consideration that
determined MIN to cast his fortunes
with MS HID he followed his own
inciinntions he would have Joined the
! toDfcdorates. and fought against rnc
North with the same ability and yalor
| that he displayed In our cause tp.
1851. Mrs Thomas says in her letter
! that this is decidedly n mistake" and
adds that she does not think that
| they tKoycs and Thomas1 met from
tho time that General Thomas went to
Is cntucky to Join that army until they
met In san Francisco" Here is the
same confusion of mind MS TO the poins
NJ issue. We are not discussing what
General Thomas's attitude was after no
| had joined the enemies of his native
state. but his declared sympathics and
/ purpose before he turned his back on
virginia In her hour OF sorest need.
'"Artioles of war" Included in the
! Army Regulations"