Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-12-17
EVACUATION OF THE PENINSULA
important Correspondence.


graph, and in cipher that of Halleck, in
reply, was in manuscript:
ExnBIr No /. Copy in cipher.
BERELEY, Va, Aug. i, 1862
Maj General llalleck, COMMANDMENTS
Chief our dispatch of last evening is
received. ! must confess that it has c0us
ed me the greatest pain | ever experien>
ced, for am convinced that the order to
draw this army to Acquia creek will prove
disastrous in the extreme to our cause.
fear it will be fatal blow. Several days
ara necessary to complete the prepara-
tions for 80 important movement as this,
and while they are in progress | beg that
careful consideration be given to my state.
ment. This army Is now in excellent dis.
clplne and condition, we hold a deboIche
on both banks Of the James river, SO thai
we are free TO act in any direction, and,
with the assistance Of the gunboats, con-
slider o1r c nominations as now secure.
We are twenty five miles from t"..."''moha'
and are not likely to meav the enemy in
force sufficient to fight battle until we
have reached fifteen or eighteen miles,
which brings us practically within ten
miles of Richmond.
Our largest line of land transportation
would be from this point twenty-five
miles, but with the aid of the gunboats we
can supply the army by water during its
advance, certainly TO within twelve miles
OF Richmond. At Acquia creek we would
be severtyNhvc miles from Richmond,
with land transportation all the way
From here to Fort Monroe is a march OF
about seventy miles; for regard it as i'm"
practicable to withdraw this army and its
material except 10y land. The result oi
this movement would then be TO march
one hundred and forty miles TO reach q
point now only twenty. five miles distant
and to deprive ourselves entirely Of the
; powerful aid Of the gunboat5 and water
transportation. Add to this the certain
: decentralization Of this army which would
ensue, the terribly depressing effect upon
the people of The North. and the strong
probability that it would influence foreign
powers to recognize our adVersaries; and
these appear to me sufficient reasons &c
make it my imperative duty to urge, in
the strongest terms Of oar language, that
this order may be rescinded, and that iui
from recalling this army, it be promptly
reintol ced to enabIeit to resume the Of.
fcn,ive. Il may be said that there are rC
endorsements available. point to Gen
; Rurnside's iorce-lo that of Gen. Pope
not necessary to maintain strict defence
in front Of Washington and Harper's Fer
ry-to those portions Of The Army Of tL,
West not required for a strict deseLc'
there. Here directly In front Of this ar
my is the heart OF the rebellion. 1t i
here that ali our resources should be col
, lecicd to strike the blow which will de
termne the fate Of the nation. All point
Of secondary Importance elsewhere shollC
he abandoned, and every available MAJ
brought here. 4 decided yictori here
aud the military strength Of the rebellion
is crushed. it matters not what pariia
reverses we may meet with eIsewhere-
here is the true defence Of Washington.
Ii is here, on the banks of the james
river that the fate of the Union should
be decided. Clear in my convictions o
right, strong in the consciousness that
= have ever been, and still am, actuateC
solely b owe OF my country, knowing tina
10 ambitious or selfish motives have infiu
euced me from the commencement o
this war, do now, what never did il
my life before, entreat that this order MAJ
be rescir ded II my counsel does not pre-
vail, | will, with a sad heart obey your or
ders TO tho utmost of my powers, devo
ting to tie movement, one of the utmos
difficulty, whatever skill | may possess
whatever the result may be; and ma,
God grant that am mistaken in my fore
bodings. shall at least have the inter
nal satisfaction that have written an,
spoken frankly, and have sought to do tn
best in my power to arrest disaster from
r my country.
f Gro. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General.
q Official copy.
: Headquarters Army, Washington, D. c.
: November %, 1862.
, EXHIBIT No. ,
. WAsHINGToN, August G, 1862,
, Major General Mcclellan, Commanding
&C., Berkley, Na.-General: Your dis
: patch OF yesterday was received this morn
! ing,and Immediately telegraphed a brie
reply, promising to write you more full
. by mail.
? You, General, certainly could not hav
been more panied OF receiving my orde
than was at the necessity OF issuing it.
f was advised by high officers, in who's
judgment have great confidence. Io max
the order Immediately on my arrival her
but determined not to do so until
! could learn your wishes from a persona
interview, and even after that interview
o | tried every me. ms in my power to avoi
a Withdrawing your army, and delayed m
= decision as long as dared to delay il.
a assure YOU General, il was not hast
!. and inconsiderate act, but one that cause
J.. me more anxious thought than any othe
4 OF my life. But after full and matur
consideration Of all the pros and cons,
was reluctantly forced to the conclusio
that the order must be issued There wa
Il to my mind no alternative,
# Allow me to allude to few of the fact
n of the case. You and your officers, at ia
d interview, estimated the enemy's force i
I and around Richmond at two hundre
Z thousand mep. Since then, you and 9th
ets report that they have received, an
are receiving, large reinforcements froI
q the South. Gen. Pope's army, now cove
: ing Washington is only forty thoussn
men