GeneralsScottandTaylorprovedthemselvessoldiersandpatriotsinthefield，butWashingtonwasfataltoboth。Thiscity，andtheinfluencesthatcentrehere，defeatedeveryarmythathaditsheadquartersherefrom1861to1864，andwouldhaveoverwhelmedGeneralGrantatSpottsylvaniaandPetersburg，hadhenotbeenfortifiedbyastrongreputation，alreadyhard—earned，andbecausenoonethenlivingcovetedtheplace;whereas，intheWest，wemadeprogressfromthestart，becausetherewasnopoliticalcapitalnearenoughtopoisonourminds，andkindleintolifethatcraving，itchingforfamewhichhaskilledmoregoodmenthanbullets。I
havebeenwithGeneralGrantinthemidstofdeathandslaughterwhenthehowlsofpeoplereachedhimafterShiloh;whenmessengerswerespeedingtoandfromhisarmytoWashington，bearingslanders，toinducehisremovalbeforehetookVicksburg;inChattanooga，whenthesoldierswerestealingthecornofthestarvingmulestosatisfytheirownhunger;atNashville，whenhewasorderedtothe\"forlornhope\"tocommandtheArmyofthePotomac，sooftendefeated——andyetIneversawhimmoretroubledthansincehehasbeeninWashington，andbeencompelledtoreadhimselfa\"sneakanddeceiver，\"basedonreportsoffouroftheCabinet，andapparentlywithyourknowledge。Ifthispoliticalatmospherecandisturbtheequanimityofonesoguardedandsoprudentasheis，whatwillbetheresultwithme，socareless，sooutspokenasIam？Therefore，withmyconsent，Washingtonnever。
AstotheSecretaryofWar，hisofficeistwofold。AsaCabinetofficerheshouldnotbetherewithoutyourhearty，cheerfulassent，andIbelievethatisthejudgmentandopinionofeveryfair—mindedman。Astheholderofaciviloffice，havingthesupervisionofmoneysappropriatedbyCongressandofcontractsforarmysupplies，IdothinkCongress，ortheSenatebydelegationfromCongress，hasalawfulrighttobeconsulted。Atallevents，Iwouldnotriskasuitorcontestonthatphaseofthequestion。
ThelawofCongress，ofMarch2，1867，prescribingthemannerinwhichordersandinstructionsrelatingto\"militarymovements\"
shallreachthearmy，givesyouasconstitutionalCommander—in—