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 hope to see you well enough for duty soon.  Our organization goes on slowly, but we will effect it in time.  Yours truly,

H. W. Halleck.

And subsequently, in a letter to Hon. Thomas Ewing, in answer to some inquiries involving the same general subject, General Halleck wrote as follows: 

Hon. Thomas Ewing, Lancaster, Ohio.

Dear sir:  Your note of the 13th, and one of this date, from Mr. Sherman, in relation to Brigadier-General Sherman’s having being relieved from command in Sedalia, in November last, are just received.  General Sherman was not put in command at Sedalia; he was authorized to assume it, and did so for a day or two.  He did not know my plans, and his movement of troops did not accord with them.  I therefore directed him to leave them as they were, and report here the result of his inspection, for which purpose be had been ordered there.

No telegram or dispatch of any kind was sent by me, or by any one with my knowledge or authority, in relation to it.  After his return here, I gave him a leave of absence of twenty days, for the benefit of his health.  As I was then pressing General McClellan for more officers, I deemed it necessary to explain why I did so.  I used these words:  “I am satisfied that General Sherman’s physical and mental system is so completely broken by labor and care as to render him, for the present, unfit for duty; perhaps a few weeks’ rest may restore him.”  This was the only communication I made on the subject.  On no occasion have I ever expressed an opinion that his mind was affected otherwise than by over-exertion; to have said so would have done him the greatest injustice.

After General Sherman returned from his short leave, I found that his health was nearly restored, and I placed him temporarily in command of the camp of instruction, numbering over fifteen thousand men.  I then wrote to General McClellan that he would soon be able to again take the field.  I gave General Sherman a copy of my letter.  This is the total of my correspondence on the subject.  As evidence that I have every confidence in General Sherman, I have placed him in command of Western Kentucky—­a command only second in importance in this department.  As soon as divisions and columns can be organized, I propose to send him into the field where he can render most efficient service.  I have seen newspaper squibs, charging him with being “crazy,” etc.  This is the grossest injustice; I do not, however, consider such attacks worthy of notice.  The best answer is General Sherman’s present position, and the valuable services he is rendering to the country.  I have the fullest confidence in him.