Year: 1864

wouId degrade me /; but | had higher
| motive than that. believed that the poll
cy and means with which the war was be-
ing prosecuted were discrediiable TO the
nation, and stain upon civilization and
tha, they would not only fail to restore the
Union, if indeed they had not already ren-
dered iis restoration impossible, but that
their tendency was to subvert The instiiu-
tons under which the country had realized
unexampled prosperity and happiness and
10 sucE work | would not lend my hand.


While there may have been more or less
OF personal ambition mixed up in the move
men, o. secession. as there must generally
be in the management of political affairs,
vet 30 not doubt that il was mainly deter
mined by an honesl conviction in The minds
of those who engaged i'll it, that the control
of the Government had passed permanent
Iy into the hands OF sectional party which
would soon trample on the political rights
OF the South. This apprehension was shar-
ed in by very large portion OF the people
who did not favor secession, and who were
so anxious for The preservation OF the Union
that even coerciVe measures, if tempered
by Justice and mercy, would not have es-
tranged them. Under these circumstances
the use OF military force 10 put down arm
ed resistance was not incompatible with a
restoration of the Union with it's former
glores and affections, provided The means
were employed in such a manner as 10 con-
vince the people that. their constitutional
rights would be respected. Such policy,
therefore, in the use of force, if force must
be Iesorled to- had the manifest advantage
OF weakening The power Of the rebellion,
and strengthening the Government, inde-
pendenily of the moral force which digni-
iy and justice always lend 10 authority.


"A policy which recognized these princi-
pies was wisely declared by Congress in
the beginning OF the war and from fer
vent desire for the preservation OF the
Union, in which pride of country and all
my interests as a citizen centered, not less
than from a natural impulse, | gave that
policy my earnest support. Unfortunately
it was 100 often cheated of its due effect by
the intrusion of sectional rancor, and the
iniudicious or unfailhful acts of agents of
the GoveIemenI and when, al the expira-
ton of year, system of spoliation and
disfranchisement was inauguraied, the
cause was robbed of its sanctty, and sue
cess rendered more difficult OF attainment.


You have in these few lines, al exPla~
nation of The motives OF my conduct while
was in command, as well as of the step
which aher twenty-three years of service
has closed my career as a soldier, and bro
ken up the professional habits and associa-
tions 10 which | was educated, and in
which have passed the larger portion OF
my life. I am very far from casting unfa~
vorable reflections upon the thousands in
the service, who, perhaps, with views sim
liar 10 my own, have not chosen my course.
Jew of them have been similarly situated
and | rather commend the patience with
whey they have struggled on in positions
which must otherwise have been filled by
less scrupulous men, and in which they
might mitigate some of the calamities
which they yet could not wholly prevent


Very truly Yours,