The Washington herald., 1914-07-19

N.BaloyD Smith. or Nermontp command
ing the Eighteenth Army Corps. was re
lieved OF command by Gen. Grant as {
result Of a bitter quarrel between Gen
Smith and Gen. benjamin +. Butler.
The dismissal OF Gen. Smith was th'
cuimination Of dissensions among ON
GERS OF high rank In the Federal forcei
before Petersburg that had caused Gen
Grant much concern.
II Grant had found the corps Of thu
Army OF the Potomac ike "a balk,
team. no two pulling together durinl
the advance across Virginia. he nov
| found his generals even less tractable
Each had his grievance. and while mill
tary discipline In the main prevented ar
open display OF the personal views oi
the generals. there was heaFtburning and
dissatisfaction from the ranking major
general down the line.
Gen. George G. Meade, commanding the
Army OF the Potomac. felt that he was
ovefshadowed by Grant, and was moi
getting credit for all the work he had
done In the campaign. His sympathies
were drifting away from Grant, and
his naturally impatient and irritable
spirit chafed at the position in which
he found himself.
Gen Winfield s. Hancock felt that he
was being assaiied unjustiy by the press
and public for the failure Of fhe Federals
70 take Petersburg when they first ap-
peared before II on June 10, and blamed
Gen. Smith for placing him in q false
light In the matter.
Gen. Smith. smarting under criticism
for not having pressed the attack on
Petersburg. which he handled. blamed
Gen. Meade and Gen. Hancock for not
having supported him. and furiously as
sailed both in his private conversations.
Ia a1s R,,fIa
under whom Gen. Smith served as COM
mander OF the Eighteenth Corps.
The general tension among Gram s
generals and reached 4 breaking point
in the quarrel Of Gen Smith and Gen.
Butler. which was destined to become
historic. Both Gen Smith and Gen
Butler wrote book. in which the sub
ject was treated in detail. Each pre-
sented his side of the controversy with
fierce earnestness. Through both mar
ratives the figure of Grant moves like a
troubled specter.
Butler and smith Clash.
The quarrel between Gen. Butler and
Gen. Smith dated from the advance OF
the army of the James up the James
River in the first week in May. The
choice of Gen. Butler TO lead that force
had not been Gen. Grants, but President
Gen. Butler was the ranking
major general of volunteers and a promI-
nent Democrat. He commanded the
military department embracing the scene
OF operatioGs on the James. Lincoln
felt that Il would not be wise to de-
pose him.
Grant had accepted the situation and
aimed to secure efficiency in the army
Of the James by assigning Gen. Smith 70
command under Butler Gen. Smith, as
chief engineer OF the army for the Cum
berIand, had rendered distinguished ser
vice at Chattanooga under Grants OBJ
servation. He had planned the defenses
OF the place and he organized the means
employed for establishing the bread
line" by which the starving army re-
ceived supplies from down the Tennes-
see. Grant had formed a very high
opinion OF his abilities, both as an en-
gineer and a commander OF troops. al
though his abilities in the former con-
nection undoubtedly were Of the higher
order.
From the moment Gen. Smith came
under Buffers orders the two men
clashed. in spirit, II not outwardly. Gen.
Smith was a West Point man. saturated
with the learning and usages OF the ser
vice. He was Of a contentious nature,
md he bristled with resentment at orders
from Gen. Butler which did not meet
ais views.
Ben. Butler, whose self-esteem would
not permit him to take suggestions from
Zen. Smith, was censorius and dictR-
.oriak When. at the opening OF the
Gen. Smith suggested that a
bridge be thrown across the Appomattox
River from Bermuda Hundred. and that
IN advance be made on Petersburg. Gen.
Butler had retorted that he would build
10 bridge for West Point men TO retreat
,ver." Gen. Quincy A. Gilmore, also
Ierving under Gen. Butler as a corps
had shared in Gen. Smiths
Iuggestion, and in this retort. Thence
orth a state of war existed between
zen. Butler and his two corps command
RS.
An Appeal to Grant.
In the case Of Gen. Gilmore the quar-
el ended in that officers relief from
Gen. Smith held on. in a
rim and truculent mood. The incidents
4 July Is, in which he captured a
art OF the outer works at Petersburg. |
ut did not follow up his success, added
rouble, which came to a head on June q.
On that day Gen. Butler moved troops |
cross Bermuda Hundred-a neck of |
and above City Point-to a bridge |
brown across the James River. He or
cred Gen. Smith to get his troops ready |
o move" at daylight. At 3 that morn |
ng Gen. Butler saw a part Of Gen. |
mith's men marching past his head |
uarters. He wrote an adroitly phrased |
stter to Gen. Smith, declaring his friend |
hip for him, bVt in substance charg- |
lg him with being dpatory. The effect |
{ the letter was d64tless what Gen. |
Iutler wished. 1t brought a fiery retort |
rom Gen. Smith He declared himself |
len. Buffers superior in the matter Of /
troops, and declined to accept |
reprimand except from a court-martial.
Gen. Butler replied in remonstrance in
soothing tone. like an injured friend
rho was grieved, but not angry. Gen. /
mith, who felt he was sure of his
round, on the basis that an order to
ct troops ready to move at daylight was
OF an order to move them at daylight,
ent the first two letters to Gen. Grant.
Grant had seen for some time that he
lust separate Smith and Butler He
ow wrote to Washington duly u, say /
ig that as Gen. Smith was 'one of the
lost efficient officers in the service" he
Id not wish to dismiss him from COM
iand, but that he feared he must II
en-. Butler remained. He then 'suggested /
nat inasmuch as Gen. Butler, "as an
offieer has no SUPERIOR" 4
ew department be created for him.
where there are no great battles to be