SAINT LOUIS,
December 18, 1861.
Brig. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Lancaster, Ohio:
MY DEAR GENERAL: Yours of the 12th* was received a day or
two ago, but was mislaid for the moment among private papers, or I should have
answered sooner. The newspaper attacks are certainly shameless and scandalous,
but I cannot agree with you that they have us in their power “to destroy us as
they please.” I certainly get my share of abuse, but it will not disturb me.
Your movement of the troops was not countermanded by me
because I thought it an unwise one in itself, but because I was not then ready
for it. I had better information of Price's movements than you had, and I had
no apprehension of an attack. I intended to concentrate the forces on that
line, but I wished the movement delayed until I could determine on a better
position. After receiving Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson's report I made
precisely the location you had ordered. I was desirous at the time not to
prevent the advance of Price by any movement on our part, hoping that he would
move on Lexington, but finding that he had determined to remain at Osceola for
some time at least, I made the movement you proposed. As you could not know my
plans, you and others may have misconstrued the reason of my countermanding
your orders.
I deem it my duty, however, to say to you, general, in all
frankness and kindness, that remarks made by you, both at Sedalia and in this
city (if I am correctly informed), about our defenseless condition and the
probability that the enemy would take this city, have led to unfair and harsh
comments by those who did not know. I say this merely to put you on your guard
in future.
I hope to see you well enough for duty soon. Our
reorganization goes on slowly, but we will effect it in time.
Yours, truly,
H. W. HALLECK.
_______________
* See Appendix, p. 819.
