Fort Leavenworth
Jan. 29. 1862.
Hon. E. M. Stanton,
Secretary of War:
Dear Sir: I congratulate our country on your appointment as
Secretary of War. Your predecessor did
me the honor to request that I would communicate fully, freely and frankly with
him; and I think it right and proper that a general commanding should have such
frank communication with the political Chief of the Army. If you think differently, please notify me,
and I will not presume again to address you.
In the expedition about to go south from this Department, I
beg that I may have a large discretion that I may be allowed to strike wherever
I can do the most harm. Selfishness
might dictate a different request, but I do not fear responsibility if I can
injure our enemy. Please let me have my
own way on the subject of slavery. The
administration will not be responsible.
I alone will bear the blame; you can censure me, arrest me, dismiss me,
hang me if you will, but permit me to make my mark in such a way as to be remembered
by friend and foe.
I have the honor to be,
Very Respecty,
Your ob. servant,
David Hunter,
Major General.
SOURCE: Stanton, Edwin Mcmasters. Edwin
McMasters Stanton Papers: Correspondence, 1831 to 1870; 1862; 1862, Jan.
14-Feb. 2. 1862. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of
Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mss41202002/,
Images 216 & 217. (Accessed September 28, 2017.)
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