The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-12-11
WITHD RA WAL FROM THE PENN
SU "A.

WHEATLAND, near Lancaster.
Nov. IL, 1862.


BERKLEY. Va Aug. 4.
To Maj. Gen. Haleck, Gcneral-in Chief.
lOlr telegram Of las! evening is reed, -
| must confess that it has caused me the
greatest pain ever cxptritncej, for | am
convinced that the order to withdraw the
army 70 Aquil Creek will prove disastrous
in the extreme to eur Gauss. fear it WI
be fatal bow.
Several days are necessary to complete
the arrangements for so important move
meni thi~, aud, while they are in Prog
ress, bey that care.a cons deraion may
be given TO my statement. This army i
II excellent discipline aud condition. We
hold debouch on boIa banks OF the James
R.ver, 20 that we are free to act in any Iii
rcction. and with the assistance OF the gun
boats, | consider our communication AS
now secure.
We are now twenty five miles from
Richmond, and are not likely to- meet the
enemy in force sufficient t. fight a battle
until We have reached some fifteen or
twenty miles nearer, which brings US prsc
tically within ten miles OF Richmond. Our
longest line of land transportation would
De from this point twenty miles; bat
With the al of qua boats, We can supply
the army b. water during its advance Ger
AIN Y /, within twelve miles OF Rich
mc:iJ.
a. Aqua Creek We woald 6e seventy
I'VE miles from Richmond, with land trans.
porta'ion al the way. From here to
For. Monroe is march of about seventy
miles, for | regard it as impractcable to
withjraw this army and its material, ex.
cept by land. The result of this move
,ment would be 20 march one hundred aud
forty five miles to reach point now only
twenty-five miles distant. aud to deprive
ourselves entirely Of the powerful aid of
gunboats and other transportation. Add
/" these the certain decentralization Of the
arm; which would ensue, the terribly de-
pressing elect upon the people of the
North, and the strong probability tha. it
would influence foreign powers to rccog.
niz our adversarles, and there appear To-
me sufficient reasons to make it my imper-
i've duty 10 argue in the strongest terms
Afforded by our language that this order
may be revoked, and that SO far from re-
calling this army, it may be promptly re
Iniorced 10 enable il TO resume the o!len
i've. II may be said that there are no re-
Inducements available. point to Gen
BurnslJe's forces; 10 those of Gen. Pope.
not necessary To maintain strict defense
ofWashington and Harper, Ferry; To those
portions OF the army oi the West not re
quired for Il strict defense there
lcre, directly in front of the army. i,
The heart oi the rebellion. 1t is Eere that
all our resources should be collected to stri,,
'iIe blow which shall deier,niae the fate of
this nation. All points of secondary i'm
portance should be abandoned, and every
available man brought here. a decided
victory here, aud tho military strength of
the rebellion would be crushed IL mat
iers not whas partial reverses We NAV
m tet with eIsew here, here is the true de
fense of Washington. 1t is here, Oh the
banks of the James River. that the fate OF
tn Union should be decided.
Clear in my convictions of right; strong
in the conciou5nesS that have ever been,
and still am. actuated solely by my love
OF my country; knowing that 20 amb tious
o: selfish motives have influenced mo from
the commencement OF this war, | now do
what | never di! in my lie. | entreat
that that order may be icscinded.
If my counsel does not prevail will
with sad heart, obey your orders to the
utmost Of my power, devoting to the
movement--onc CT the utmost delicacy
and dlficulty--whatever skill may pos
scss. Whatever the result may be--and
may God grant am mistaken in my lore
bodings--l shall at least have TIE inter
nal satisfaction that | have written and
spoken frankly, and have sought to do the
best in my power TO averI disaster from
my country.
('Signed) G.. y. McCLELLAS,
| Major General