John M. Schofield to Samuel R. Curtis, January 3, 1863

Maj. Gen. SAMUEL R. CURTIS, Commanding Department of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo.:

GENERAL: cannot suppress a feeling of surprise and disappoint. ment that my statement of well known facts of great importance to the interests of the service were received by you in the spirit manifested in your telegraphic dispatch of yesterday.

I expressed my belief that the wiser of two arrangements between which it seemed necessary to choose very soon, if not immediately, would be to leave General Blunt in command of his district rather than of a division in the field, and gave as a reason for my belief, ” The operations of the army since I left it have been a series of blunders, from which it narrowly escaped disaster, when it should have met with complete suc cess. At Prairie Grove Blunt and Herrou were badly beaten in detail, and owed their escape to a false report of my arrival with re-enforce ments.” Desirous not to appear as gratuitously censuring any officer, I added, “I state this simply as a fact which it is my duty to let you know, without intending to pass censure upon any officer. This it would be improper for me to do without seeing their official reports, which I have not,” and I might have added, probably will not, as they are made to you and not to me.

In reply, after speaking of “errors” and ” shortcomings” in my official report lately submitted to you, you say “I note also what you say of blunders which transpired in your absence under Generals Blunt and Herron. I do not perceive, as you intimate, any necessity of your anti. cipating their own reports of their own affairs, which, in due time, I trust they will do more fully than they have yet done.”

From this language I must conclude that you regard it as no business of mine that I fiud on my return my command cut up and demoralized by a most stupid “series of blunders,” and that ” their own reports of their own affairs” alone are to decide whether it will be wise or unwise to retain officers of my command in their present, positions.

You cannot fail to recollect that I have uniformly spoken of Generals Blunt and Herron in terms of commendation; that after the battle of Prairie Grove I expressed only regret that their success had not been as complete as I could have hoped for, and that both before and after that battle expressed notonly a willingness, but adesire, to leave to them the opportunity of gaining whatever of laurels were to be won by this army. Now, when better information has compelled ine to modify my tormer opinion, and 1 suggest that the good of the service would be promoted by leaving one of the officers named in command of a district rather

Urar, XXXIV.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION.

than of a division in the field, I am informed in substance that such suggestions are unnecessary and even impertinent.

I certainly desire to do my duty as an officer, and when, in my opinion, this duty requires it, I do not hesitate to state, officially, facts, however disagreeable, concerning those officially connected with me. If, however, my views of what is required for the good of the public service, as connected with my command, are to be received with an intimation that I am meddling with the affairs of others, I must, in self-defense, hold my peace, or at least reserve the expression of my views for those who will treat them with the respect due their sincerity, whether they be wise or unwise, necessary or unnecessary.

Hereafter, general, as heretofore, I shall cheerfully endeavor to carry out to the fullest extent in my power whatever orders you may give me, but I cannot again place myself in position, by making suggestions to my superior, to have my views received with expressions of contempt. I will endeavor, general, to limit my communications to matters which cannot possibly wound the feelings, official or personal, which you may entertain toward any officer of my command.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,