Year: 1870

coin Thought of Him.


FORT LEAvENwoRTH Kansas,l


June IL, 1870. !
To the Editor of the EUening TeIegrdph:-


have Just read a letter from ]. Bankhead Ma
gruder, copied from your paper into the army and
NaUy Journal Of the 4th iDst aud feel constrained
in the interest OF truth and justice to say that have
good reason for believing that Mr.. Magruder is in
error in regard to what did actually take place
between the President and himself about the time
he resigned from the army.


Moreover, have every reason to believe that the
remarks which he attributes to Senator Cameron
are, in all essential particulars substantially
rect, viz. -


''He escorted the President to the White House,
and l heard him say to the President that he adj
mired him and was going to stand by him during the
war. He said that the evening before he went
away"


During the summer OF 1862, commanded the de-
fenses of Washington and had almost daily inter
course with the President, who kind enough to
enter into familiar conversation with me on many
occasions which l shall always remember with
pleasure and pride.


On one occasion, at the request OF the officers of
the list New York Volunteers (Which constituted a
part of my command), the President reviewed that
regiment in its camp near Tenallytown. After the
review we rode back together toward Washington,
until we reached the road divergng toward the
'Soldiers, Home" (where the President was then
temporarily residng), and there we separated.


During that ride, our conversation being of
casual character, something was said which called
up in the mind of the President the conduct of
Colonel Magruder at the time OF his resignation
from the service, and he sad:-"Sturgis' Qt was no
unusual thing for Mr.. Lincoln to adopt this familiar
style), 'I cannot call to mind now any single event
of my administration that gave me so much pain or
wounded me deeply as the singular conduct of
Colonel Magruder on the very night before he aban-
doned u.s."


said, "Why so, Mr.. President?'


Mr Lincoln replied because he came to see me
the very evening before he left and voluntarily sad
while expressing his adherence of secession, 'Sr,
was brought up and educated under the glorious
old fag l have lived under it and have fought
under it, and, sir with the help of God, shall fight
under it again. and, If need be, shall die under it.


"The very next day." the President continued
"Mag1uder abandoned us. SO that at the very
moment he was making to me these protestations OF
loyalty and devotion, he must have had his mind
fully made up to leave! And 1t seemed the more
wanton and cruel in him because he knew that I
had implicit confidence in his integrity The fact is,
when learned that he had gone over to the enemy
and had been completely deceived in him, my
confidence was shaken in everybody, and l hardly
knew whom to trust any more!
AS Mr.. Lincoln said this an expression of deep
sorrow pervaded his features, and for time he
rode along in silence, az Though unable or unwilling
to give further vent to the painful feelings induced
by the mere remembrance of what appeared to him
| an act of base ingratitude.


Now, Mr.. Editor, have taken pains to give you
not only substantially what Mr. Lincoln said on tnat
occasion, but as nearly as l can recall them, his
exact words. And have done so with reluctance
because, as a general thing, am disposed to let
those officers who elected to cast their fortunes
with the Rebellion have the full benedtof whatever
explanation they may choose to offer in justification
or extenuaton of their course. Bnt as Mr.. Ma
gruders letter places the conduct Of the President
fhn fpnrA
issues with which he was then grappling) in trining
and nppant light before the country, do not feel
authorized in Withholding my testimony while SO
much wrong is being heaped upon the memory of SC
| great and so good man.


| am, sir. very respectfully yours,
S. D. STURGIs,
| Colonel Tth Cavalry,
| Maior-