Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 09.djvu/63

54 "This is the first time I have heard you blamed or rendered responsible for the unfortunate delay which occurred in the march of the troops to the battlefield of Shiloh on the morning of the 5th. Neither General Johnston, in my presence, nor myself, ever attached such blame to you.

"The reasons you give for the delay are correct, as far as they go: bad roads, due to heavy rains, change of route from that ordered (by a subordinate commander), and the injudicious 'blocking up' of the bark road by troops, wagons and artillery belonging to a different command.

"Colonel Johnston seems to attach, in his book, as little importance to the reputation acquired in the field by an officer as though it had been obtained in some nominal military position in Richmond or elsewhere.

*  *   *   *   *

"(Signed)."

Applying Colonel Johnston's logical rule, is Ruggles's answer "sufficient" for both himself and Doctor Polk?

In a personal interview, subsequently, at San Antonio, Texas, with Colonel H. P. Brewster, Assistant Adjutant-General, and chief of General Johnston's personal staff, November 4, 1878, and on repeated occasion, subsequently there, and at Austin, he stated to me in explicit terms—after having carefully examined the allegations in Colonel Johnston's publication—that his relations with General Johnston were such that had there been any foundation for such an allegation he must have known it, and that no suggestion was made by General Johnston of any fault or failure by my division whatever.

I now make reference to Colonel Brewster personally, and ask if Ruggles's answer is logical and "sufficient."

On the 15th of February, 1879, at Austin, Texas, I received a letter from General L. D. Sandige, now of New Orleans, La., my assistant inspector-general of division at, before and after the battle of Shiloh, bearing date 'February 10, 1879,' in which he says: 'There was no controversy during the march from Corinth that ever I heard of, then or afterwards.'

At Austin, Texas, early in April, 1879, I met General William Preston, of Louisville, Kentucky, brother-in-law of General Albert Sidney Johnston, and a volunteer aid-de-camp during the march and at the battle of Shiloh.

In reply to my inquiries General Preston stated that "his relations with General Johnston were intimate and confidential, and that he had