Evening star., 1863-04-07

railroads, and finally, the Potomac, by Aqua
creek, meet yeu at all points from w Washins.
ton. The same, only the lines heightened
little, if you press closer TO the Blue Ridge part
of the way. The gaps through the Blue Ridge
/ understand TO be about the following dis
tances from Harper's Ferry, to. wit: sestars'
eighteen; Ashby's, twenty-eight; Manassas,
thirty. eight Chester, forty five, and Thornton,
fifty y-three.
nearest the enemy, disabling him to make an
important move without your knowledge, and
compelling him to keep his forces together tor
attack if you should wish. For great part CT
the way you would be practically between the
enemy and both Washington and Richmond,
enabling rs to spare you the greatest number
Of troops frem here. When, at length, run
ming for Richmond ahead of him, enables him
TO move this way: if he does SO, turn and at
tack him in the rear But think he should be
engaged long before such point is reached. 1t
enemy, and it is unmanly to say they cannot
do it. This letter is in no sense an order.
ts9ours, truly. A. LINCOLN.
"Major General Mcclellan"
"Hccdquartcrs Army of the Potomac.
scamp IN Pleasant Fdley, October II, 1862 {
"SIR: Your letter Of the 18th instant reached
me yesterday morning, by the hands of Colonel
Perkins.
~ had sent ont strong reconnois sances. early
in the morning in the direction of fCharIestown,
14eetown. &c, and as sharp artillery firing was
heard, felt it incumbent to go to the front. I
dld not leave Charlestown until dark, so that
have been unable to give to your excellencys
letter that full and respectful consideration
which it merits at my hands.
q do not wish to detain Colonel Perkins be-
yond this mornings train. / therefore think it
best to send him back with this simple ac-
knowie6gement OF the receipt of your excel
lency's letter. / am not welded to any par
hcular plan OF operations. hope to have, to-
gay, reliable information as to the position of
the enemy, whom still believe to be between
Bunker Hill and Winchester. l promise you
that will give to your views the fullest and
most unprejudlced consideration, and ehat it is
my intention to advance the moment my men
are shod, and my cavalry are sufficiently reno
waited 10 be available.
"Iour exceilency may be assured that will
not adopt a course which differs at all from
your views, without first fully explaining my
reasons, and giving you time to issue such IN.
structions as may seem best TO you.
Il am sir, very respectfully your obedient
servant, GEO. Is. MCCLELLAN,
"MalOr General, United States Armyn
"Hls Excellency the President
On the 9th of October. General Mcclellan
telegraphed TO the Pres ident
''Iour Excellency is aware of the very great
reduction OF numbers that has taken place in
most OF the old regiments of this command, and
how necessary it Is to fill up these skeletons
before taking them again into action. 1 have
the honor therefore TO request that the order to
I'LL MP the old regiments with drafted men may
at once be issued
To this the President replirs as follows on
the same day:
sYour dispatch of 3 p. m, of to- day, in regard
TO 1iiilng up old regiments with drafted men, is
received. and the request therein shall be COM
piled with rs far as practicable.
.AHd now l ask a distinct answer to the
question: is 1t your purpose not to go into
action again until the men now being drafted
in the states arc incorporated iii the old regi-
ments.''
The following is General MeClellan's reply.
Af:er referring to previous communications in
fQtif tot lS,,r .
sin the press of business, / then called an
aide, and telling him had conyersed with YOU
upon the subject, l directed him to write for
me dispatch, asking your Excellency to have
the necessary order given. / regret to say that
this officer, after writing the dispatch, finding
me still engaged, sent it to the telegraph Office
without first submitting it to me, under the
| impression that he had communicated my
views. He, however, unfortunately added
'before taking them into action again This
phrase was not authorized or intended by
me- II has conveyed altogether an erro-
neous impression as 10 my plans and inten-
tons. To your EXcellencys question ans yer
distinctly that l have not had any idea of
postponing the advance until the old regiments
are filled by drafted men. / commenced NOV
ing the army into Virginia yesterday, and shall
push forward as rapidly as possible, to endea-
yor TO meet the enemy
1ou committee would say that, in their
opinion, stan officer who could, from negli-
gence or other cause add to Il dispatch from
the general commanding an army TO the Pres
ldent, that which was 'snot authorised or ia
tended" should at least be assigned to some
other duty
The movement Of the army across the river,
which was commenced upon the 26th Of Octo-
Der, continued slowly, until on the 5th OF No
Nember General Mcclellan announced to the
President that the last corps of his army fin
ishcd crossing on the Sd of November lust
four weeks from the time the order to cross
was given.
THE CAMPAIGN OF FFREDEHIcKsBUrG.
The testimony OF all the witnesses before
your committee proves most conclusively that,
mad the attack been made upon the left with
all the force which General Franklin could
nave used for that purpose, the plan OF General
Burnside would have been completely sue
cessful, and our army would have achieved
most brilliant victory.
After the attack on SATURDAY. our army ra
manned in position until Monday night, when
il was Withdrawn across the river without
loss.
Your committee have not considered it
essential to report upon the operations of the
right WIhgof our army in this battle, for the
reason that the success of the movement evil
IDENTIFY depended to very great extent upon
the successful operation OF the left. Although
our troops on the right fought most gallantly
making repeated attacks, the strength Of the
enenys position was such that our forces
were compelled to retire.
General Burnside made up another p!an TO
attack the enemy across the Rappahannock,
but the details were discovered by Rebel
sympathizers in Washington and forwarded
South. 1t was thus frustrated
General Burnside states that, besides the in
ciemeHcy of the weather, there was another
powerful reason for abandoning the movement
viz: the almost universal feeling among his
general officers against it. Some Of these officers
freely gave vent to their feelings in the presence
OF their interiors.
In consequence of this, and also what had
taken place during the battle of Fredericks burg
DC, General Burnside directed an order to be
issued, which he styled General Order No. S.
That order dismissed some officers from the
service, subject to the approval of the Presi-
dent, relieved others from duty from the Army
OF the Potomac, and also pronounced sentence
OF death upon some deserters who had been
tried and convicted
General Burnside states that he had become
satisfied that it was absolutely necessary that
some such examples should be made in order
to enable him to maintain the proper authority
over his command The order was duly signed
and issued, and only waited publication.
Two or three OF the most tr us ted staff officers
represented to General Burnside that should
he then publish that order he would force upon
the President the necessity OF 81 once sanction
ing 1t, or, by refusing his approval, assume an
attitude OF hostility to General Burnside The
publication of the order was accordingly de-
layed for the time.
General Burnside came to Washington and
laid the order before the President, with the
distinct assurance that in no other way could
he exercise a prOppr command over tho rrnv