Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-13
Mcclellan and his Supplies.

Concerning the alleged want of supplies
for the Potomac army, General Halleck
writes to Secretary Stanton as follows:
'' ''Fgfh-Oh the Tth of October, in a tele-
/ gram in regard to his intended movements.
4 General Mcclellan stated that it would
require at least three days to supply the
First Fifth and Sixth Corps; that they
needed shoes and other indispensable arti-
cles Of clothing as we'll as shelter tents.
No complaint was made that any reouisi-
tions had not been filed, and it was in
| ferred from his language that he was only
waiting for the distribution of his supplies,
sent by rail, which had been delayed. As al
ready stated, agents we're Immediately sent
from here to investigate this complaint,
and they reported that everything had gone
forward. On the same date (the IIth) he
spoke of many Of his horses being broken
down by fatigue. On the 18th he com
planned that the rate of supply was only
" $50 horses per week for the entire army
there and in front Of Washington" i'm
mediately directed the Quartermaster-
General to inquire into this matter and re-
port why a larger supply was not furnish
ed. General Meigs reported on the 18th,
14A1b A4N AbolC VI DVEEE5 ~ OEu6E-
al McClellan's army in the field and in
front Of Washington, for the previous six
weeks, had been ], ,459, per week, or 1854
in all. In addition, that large numbers of
mules had been supplied, and that the
number Of animals with General McCleu-
ans army on the Upper Potomac was over
thirty-one thousand. He also reported that
he was then sending to that army all the
horses he could procure.
"0n the 18th, Gen. Mcclellan stated in
regard to Gen. Meigs' report that he had
filed every requisition for shoes and cloth
ing: "Gen. Meigs may have ordered these
articles to be forwarded, but they have not
reached our depots and unless greater eff
fort to insure prompt transmission is made
by the Department of which Gen. Meigs is
the head, they might as well remain in
New York or Philadelphia so far as this
army is concerned" Immediately called
Gen. Meigs attention to this apparent neg
lect of his Department. On the 25th he
reported as the result of his investigation, |
that $4,000 pairs of boots and shoes had |
been received by the Quartermasler of Gen. |
army at Harper's Ferry, Fred |
erick and Hagerstown; that 10000 pairs
were at Harpers Ferry depot on the 2lst; |
that 10000 more were on their way, and |
5000 more ordered. Col. Ingales, Abide
Camp and Chief Quartermaster to, Gen. Nc
Clellan, telegraphed on the 25Lh: " The
suffering for want of clothing is exagger-
lted, think, and certainly might have been
avoided by timely acquisitions of regiment
i and brigade commanders" On the oath
le telegraphed to the Quartermaster-Gen-
,ral that the clothing was not detained in
,ars at the depots. "Sueh complaints are
yroundless. The fact is, the clothing ar
ives and is issued, but more is still want
d. have ordered more than would seem
from any data furnished me, and
beg to remind you that you have always
'ery promptly met all my requisitions so
ar as clothing is concerned. Our depot is
lot at fault. It provides as soon as due
lOtice is given. foresee no time when
n army Of over one hundred thousand men
will not call for clothing and other articles.