, 1863-01-17
4 Chapter in the Secret
History Of the War.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
TO MCCLELLAN, -
The Administration:
Vindicated.
THE ARREARS IN SOLDIERS
PAY,
Test Vote for the Ill. and Mich.
Ship Canal. =.

lest FOte LOT Inc ILL anu Mlcns
Ship Canal. p.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Trfbune.l I
- WARRINGTON. Jan. Is, 1868.
The following important letter from the
President to Mcclellan, which forms part Of |
the correspondence between them, and for
which Congress las called, Was brought out |
to-day in the Mcdowell Court Of Inquiry.
It's importance is 60 great that NC transmit !
1t in full: +;
THE PRESIDENT 70 GEN. MCCLELLAN.
:; - i. WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1863.
Major General Mcclellan:
MI DEAR SIR: Tour dispatches complain-
ing that you arc not properly sustained, while
they do not offend, pain me very much,
Blenker's division was Withdrawn from you
before you left here. You know the pressure
under which did it, and as thought acqui-
esced in it, certainly not without reluct.nee.
After you left ascertained that less than
10000 unorganized men, without 4 single
field battery. were all you designed to be left
for the defense Of Washington and Manassas
Junction. A part Of them were to 60 to
Hooker's old position. Banks' corps which
was designed for Manassas Junction, was
divided and tied up On the line Of Winchester
and strasburg, and could not leave it without
again exposing the upper Potomac and the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line.
This presented, or would present when Nc
Dowel and Sumner should be gone, great
temptation for the enemy to turn back from
the Rappahannock and sack Washington. Ny
explicit direction that Washington should, in
the Judgment Of all commanders Of corps, be
left entirely secure, had been entirely neg
lccted.
It is precisely this that caused me to dctain
Mcdowell
I do not forget that was satisfied with your
arrangement to leave Banks at Manassas
junction, but when that arrangement was
broken up, and nothing even substituted for
1t, Of course Was not satisfied. I was con-
strained to retain something for 1t myself,
md now allow me to ask, do you think I
should permit the line from Richmond via.
Manassas to this city to be entirely open, ex-
cept what resistance would be presented by
less than q, 600 unorganised troops? This is
|
me to eynde.
There is d curious mystery connected with
the number Of troops now with you. I te1e-
graphed You on the 9Th, saying that you had
10000 men with you. + had just obtained
from the Secretary Of War statement, taken
aa he said from your own returns, making
10S, 600 then with you and en- route to you.
Now you say you will have but S., 900 when
oil en- route 70 you shall haye reached you.
How can this discrepancy Of IS, 900 be ae-
counted for? As to Woors command, / un-
| derstana It Is doing for you precisely what :.
like number Of your own would hare to do If
| the command WAS away.
suppose the whole force which has gone
forward to you is with you by this time, and
| if 60, think 1t is the precise time for you to
strike . blow. BY delay the enemy will
readily gain on You. That is, he will gain
faster by Notifications and reinforeemcnts
than you can by rcinforcemcnts alone. And
once moro let me tell you it is indispensable
to you that you strike blow.
lam power1css to help you. You will dc
mc the justice to remember that always
wished you we're not going down the bay in
search Of field instead Of fighting at OF neal
Manassas, as only shifting and not surmount
ing "a difficulty. That VIC would find some
enemy and some equal entrcnchments al
either place.
The country will not fail to: note, is noting
now tnat inc present hesltat!on to move
upon me entrencnnents oi' 'ne enemy Il
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