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President Roosevelt informs Acting Secretary of War Oliver that Colonel William F. Stewart of the Coast Artillery Corps should be offered the choice between relief from command or retirement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
This memorandum details the poor conduct and inefficiency of Colonel William F. Stewart of the Coast Artillery Corps in the United States Army using the testimony of a variety of witnesses. Brigadier General Murray recommends relief from command or retirement upon Stewart’s own application.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-16
President Roosevelt encloses a copy of his letter to Senator Isidor Rayner, as Senator Taliaferro is mentioned in it. Roosevelt asserts his authority to deny Colonel William F. Stewart a court of inquiry regarding his being sent to Fort Grant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-12
President Roosevelt tells Francis E. Warren, chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, that he does not believe there is need for a court of inquiry regarding the stationing of Colonel William F. Stewart at Fort Grant. It is within Roosevelt’s authority to do so, and he points out that any punishment in such a posting is incidental to the goal of keeping the best and most efficient officers in command. Stewart has not proven himself fit to command troops.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-14
President Roosevelt provides Maryland Senator Rayner with facts and reports pertaining to the unfitness and misconduct of Colonel William F. Stewart, who seeks to retire as a Brigadier General, and whom Isidor feels has been unfairly punished with a bad posting. Given Stewart’s record and reports of his conduct toward civilians, subordinates, and superiors, Roosevelt stands by the decision that has been made and is unwilling to open a court of inquiry into the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-06
President Roosevelt asserts his right as executive to appoint and dismiss officers in the armed forces. He tells Senator Stewart that Congress thus lacks the power to carry out Senator Joseph Benson Foraker’s proposal regarding his dismissal of African American troops at Brownsville.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-07
President Roosevelt sends Lyman Abbott letters he wrote to various Senators about the Brownsville incident and a matter concerning Colonel William F. Stewart. Roosevelt asserts his executive authority as President to make determinations about the dismissal and stationing of soldiers, citing past precedents. He also provides his rationale for dismissing the Brownsville soldiers and for refusing to grant Stewart a court of inquiry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-10
President Roosevelt encloses copies of correspondence to explain his actions in removing Colonel William F. Stewart from the Coastal Artillery Corps and not renominating William C. Bristol for Attorney General in Oregon. Colonel Steward was a “singularly bad officer” who should not be promoted to Brigadier General. Bristol became “intolerable,” and Roosevelt had serious doubts he was even going to try the land fraud cases at all.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-10
Lincoln Steffens informs William Loeb that after Francis J. Heney visited him in Washington, he is clear on the matters relating to W. C. Bristol, United States Attorney for Oregon, and Colonel Stewart, who has been accused of being unfit to lead. As a potential successor to Bristol, Christian Schuebel’s competence had been questioned, but the suggested alternative, William Simon U’Ren, would not accept the appointment. Regarding Stewart, the president should know that though Stewart’s colleagues may see him as unfit, there is not sufficient evidence for discharge, and he hopes Roosevelt will review General William Penn Duvall’s malicious behavior surrounding the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-28
War Department Chief of Staff Major General Bell was away from Washington, D.C., when a decision was made in the case of Colonel William F. Stewart. Bell informs William Loeb that he knew nothing of the situation, and he asked General William Penn Duvall to prepare the enclosed memorandum about the case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-09
A memorandum detailing the circumstances for the removal of Colonel William F. Stewart from command of the Coast Artillery Corps and explaining the reasoning behind his placement at Fort Grant, Arizona.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-09
Lincoln Steffens encloses a letter written by his friend Charles Stewart defending his brother Colonel William F. Stewart, who has been sent into “exile” at Fort Grant, in the hopes that President Roosevelt will intervene on the colonel’s behalf. Steffens also assures Roosevelt that he is looking into the matter of Supreme Court Justice William H. Moody and District Attorney Francis J. Heney.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-29
Adjutant General Alvord passes on Acting Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver’s response to a letter sent by Assistant District General Cook. Alvord reaffirms the War Department’s decision to reassign Colonel William F. Stewart to an unfavorable post, saying that the reasons for the reassignment were sufficient and had been personally ordered by President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-19
In writing, but not for publication, Charles Stewart presents the facts of his brother Colonel William F. Stewart, to journalist Lincoln Steffens. On October 2, 1907, Colonel Stewart received orders to relinquish his command at Fort Barrancas, Florida. Now he is stationed without command at the ungarrisoned Fort Grant, Arizona. Stewart regards his brother’s situation as forced exile, an unfitting position considering he has not been criminally convicted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-13
Senator Lodge returns the letters President Roosevelt sent concerning General William F. Stewart.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-12
General Duvall informs Acting Secretary of War Oliver that Colonel William F. Stewart of the Coast Artillery Corps is unfit to exercise command in his present office due to the testimony of five general officers under whom he served. Duval and several other general officers recommend that Stewart be transferred to an ungarrisoned post while he awaits retirement and ask that this proposed action be submitted to President Roosevelt for his approval.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-16