Year: 1870




out war. Should that happen he
must perforce abandon his profes
sion, and seek some other employ
ment. The charge that he ever of
fered or proposed to offer his sword
to Virginia, or to any rebel author
ity, except point foremost, and at
the head of his troops, is utterly
false. Not shadow of proof has
ever been offered, nor can it be. A
few weeks after his first assault Lee
did indeed, publish what purports to
be lctter written by General Tho
mas, dated New York City, January
Is, 1861. Whether the letter is
genuine or not, and if genuine,
whether printed as it was written,
we have no other evidence than OF
our faith in those who received and
published it. But waving the ques-
ton of its genuineness and of the
correctness of the printed text,
appeal to the letter Itself. 1t is not
addressed to Governor Letcher, nor
to any rebel authority, nor does the
writer tender his services to Vir-
ginia, or to any government or per
son. 1t is letter addressed to a
gentleman WHO had advertised in q
newspaper fof some person to fill n
professorship in military college
in Virginia The letter inquiries
what salary pertains to the situation.
1t expresses no intention or willing
ness to resign, and states as the
writer's reason for making inquiry
that from present appearances he
icars it will soon be necessary for
him to be looking up some means
of support. This letter strongly
confirms the views ! have taken of
Gen. Thomas character and feelings.
Since the publication of Lees letters
testimony has come from all quar-
ters which annihilates forever all
ground for this charge.


Now, while the witnesses are liy-
ing, desire 10 put Oh record at
least small portion of their testi
mony. General Hartsuff, now and
for many years q soldier of whom
the nation is proud, writes that he
saw Thomas many times near the
close of 1860 in New York city, and
heard him discuss the state of the
country in company with many Off
GERS who afterward went into the
rebel army. He says '.Gen. Thomas
was strong and bitter in his denun-
Citations against all parties North and
South that seemed to him response
ble for the condition of affairs, but
while he reprobatcd sometimes very
strongly certain men and parties
North in that respect, going as far
as any of those who afterward join
ed the rebels, he never in my hear
ing agreed with them respecting the
necessity OF going with their States !"
These statements of General Hart
suf are abundantly corroborated by
other testimony. Let it be remem-
bered that the question is not what
were General Thomas opinions of
the political causes that led to war,
nor who was at fault in bringing on
the agitation, but it is this: Did he
give any countenance, sympathy or
support to the idea of disunion, or
of war against the government? 1t
is not enough to compare the con-
duct of General Thomas at this trv
ing period with that of Northern
officers who remained true to the
flag. The real measure of his merit
is found by comparing him with
such men as Lee and johnson. If
there had bee, no other sufficient
motive, the religious aspect with
which Thomas regarded his oath
would alone lave prevented him
from following the example Of Lee.


After serving through the brio
of the Shenandoah, Gen
eral Tho las en,ered upon a wider
field of action, and began that ca
reer which his country knows by
heart.


After detailing the opcr.tions OF
the army of the Cumberland, Gen
eral Gar field proceeded: His char
acter was as grand and as simple as
a colossal pillar OF chiseled granite
Every step of his career as a soldier
was marked by the most loyal and
unhesitating obedience to law-to
the laws of his government, and to
the commands of his superiors. The
obedience which he rendered to
those above him he rigidly required
of those under his command. His
influence over his troops grew stead
lily and constantly. He won his as
tendency over them neither BY arti-
flee nor by any one act of special
daring. but he gradually filled them
with his own spirit, until their con-
fidence in him kuew no bounds. His
power as a commander was devel-
oped steadily and silently, not like
q volcanic land lifted from the sea
by a sudden and violent upheaval,
but rather like coral island, where
each increment is growth, an act
of life and work. ..r-


In comparing Thomas with other
soldiers, find none whom he more
strongly resembled than Washing
ton and Wellington. .- .-


His personal resemblance was of
ten the subject of remark even at
West Point. General Rosecrans
was accustomed to call him General
Washington. lie resembled Wash
ington in the gravity and dignity of
his character, in the solidity of his
Judgment, in the careful accuracy of
all Ills transactions, in his incorrup-
tible integrity, and in his extreme
but unaffected modesty. He was
not insensible to praise. and he was
quick to feel wrong or injustice.
While grateful to his country for
the honor it conferred upon him,
and while cherishing all expressions
of affection on the part ofhis friends,