Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1879 — How Lincoln Believed Gen. Rosecrans. [ARTICLE]

How Lincoln Believed Gen. Rosecrans.

Gen. James B. Steedman, familiarly known as “ Old Chickamauga,” was never in happier frame than at the Ford Post reunion the other night, when, with other valuable anecdotes and incidents of the war, he related the following; “Some weeks after the disastrous battle of Chickamauga, while yet Chattanooga was in a state of siege, Gen. Steedman was surprised one day to receive a telegram from Abraham Lincoln asking him to come to Washington. Seeking out Thomas, he laid the telegram before him, and was instructed to set out at once. .Repairing to the White House, he was warmly received by Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln’s first question was abrupt and to the point: “Gen. Steedman, what is your opinion of Gen. Rosecrans?” Gen. Steedman, hesitating a moment, said: “Mr. President, I would rather not express my opinion of my superior officer.” Mr. Lincoln said: “It is the man who does not want to express an opinion whose opinion I want. I am besieged on all sides with advice. Every day I get letters from army officers asking me to allow them to come to Washington to impart some valuable knowledge in their possession.” “Well, Mr. President,” said Gen. Steedman, “ you are the Com-mander-in-Chief of the army, and if you order me to speak I will do SO.” Mt. Lincoln said: “Then I will order an opinion.” Gen. B‘eedman then answered : “ Since you cotnmaiid me, Mr. President, I will say that Gen. Rosecrans is a splendid man to command a victorious army.” “ But what kind of a man is he to command a defeated army ?” said Mr. Lincoln. Gen. Steedman in reply said cautiously: “I think there are two or three other men in the army that would be better.” Then, with his quaint humor, Mr. Lincoln propounded this question: “ Who, besides yourself, Gen. Steedmah, is these ih that army who would make a better comffiandet?” Gen. Steedman said promptly: “Gen. George H. Thomas.” “I am glad to hear you say so,” skid Mr. Lincoln; “ that is my opinion exactly. But Mr. Stanton is against him, and it was only yesterday that a powerful New York delegation was here to protest against his appointment, because he is from a rebel State, and cannot be trusted.” Said Gen. S teed man: “Aman who will leave his own State—Thomas was a Virginian—his friends, all his associations, to follow the flag of bis country, can be trusted in any position to which he may be called.” That night the order went forth from Washington relieving Gen. Rosecrans of of the command of the Army of the Cumberland and appointing Thomas in his place.— Toledo (Ohio} Journal.