The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-04-22

proposition is a simple truth. and il too impor-
isn' 70 b. lost sight of tor a moment. In con
isg TO "a. ae tenders Us AZ advantage which Se
skotld not waive. We should Doi so operate
A. TO mer = drive him away. As We must beat
in soncwhere or fail finally. We can do il, Il
az sIl, easier near TO Us than far away. If We
cannot beat the enemy where he GOV ia, We nev
ei c.p, be- -gsn being within the intrencbmenls
of Richmond.
Recurring 70 the idea Of going TO Richmond
on me inside track, the facility Of supplying on
rhe side a~av from the entmv, is remarkable, a.
IL were hv The different spokes Of A wheel, ex
tending from the hub towards the rim, and this
whether YOU move directly by the chord or on
the inside arc, hrgging the Blue Ridge more
closely. The chord iue az YOU see carries you
by Aliie Has market and Fredericksburg. and
YOU see how turnpkes, railroads, and finally the
Potomac, by wav of Aqua Creek, meet you al
al points from Washr gion. The same, only
the lines heightened little, if you press closer
70 tie Blue Ridge part OF the way The gaps
through the Blue Ridge understand to be- about
th- following distances from Harper's Ferry. 10
Wit: Vesiars, FIVE miles; Gregory, thirteen !;
Smokers, eighteen; Ashby's twenty eight; {;
Manassas. thirty eight; Chester, forty-hve and
ThorntOns htIy three. ! should think il prefer
able 10 take the route nearest the enemy, cisa
hing him 10 make an important move without
your knowledge and compelling him TO keep his
forces together for dread OF YOU. The gaps
would enable YOU TO attack If you should wish
For great part of this way you would be prse
tcall7 between the enemy ami both Washing
ton and Richmond. enabling US 70 spare YOU the
greatest number Of troops from here. When, at
leng'h, running for Richmond ahead Of him en-
atl.S him 10 move this way; if be does So turn
anu attack him in the rear. Bat | think he
4 -. ~ - -
reached II is all easy if our troops march a.
vel as the enemy, and it is unmanly to say that
they cannot DO it, This letter is in no seuse an
order Yours truly,
"A. LINCOLN.
Maj. Gen. Nc Clellaa."
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,
Camp in Pleasant Valley, Oct. l., go (
SIR:-Your letter Of the 18th inst. reached
me yesterday morning, By the hands Of Col Per
kus
had sent out strong reconnoissances, early
in the morning, in the direction of Charlestown. D.
Leetown, &c and as a sharp artillery firing was
heard, felt it incumbent TO 60 to the front
did not leave Charestown until dark. so that
have been unable give your Excellency' 5 let
ter that full and respectful consideration which
il merits at my hands.
" do not wish to detain Col Perkins beyond
=
10 send him back with the simple arknOwledg
nent of the receipt of your E1cellency's letter.
am not welded to any particular plan OF ope-
ratiOus. hope to have o-day, reliable informa
ton as TO the position of the enemy, whom
still believe TO be between Bunker Hill and Win
chester. ] promise you that | will give to your
views the fullest and most unprejudiced consid
erstiOn and that it is NV intention TO advance
thr moment my men shod, aud nv cavalry
are sufficiently renovated to be available.
" Your Excellency may be assured that vii
not adopt course that differs at all from your
views, withou; hrst fully explaining nv reasons
aud giving you time 10 issue such instructions a:
may seem best TO you.
% | am sir, very respectfully, your obedieni
servant, GEo. B. MCCLELLAN,
"Msjor Gen L. s Army.
: 'His Excellency the President"
p Gen. Mcclellan continued to ask for reinforce
I ments-ior horsts-saying that the issue TO hi:
T army was only so per week aud for clothing
{ stating that his army needed shoes and other ar
+ tcles Of clothing, and chad for some time pas
a been suffering for want OF It., and that he wa
constrained 70 believe that it was in a gres
G degree owing to the want Of proper action OF
= the part OF the QuarteTmaslers Department.
/ The subject was referred 10 the QusrtermSste
t General, and he was called upon for statemen
L IN regard 10 the matter. There was much cor
: respondence upon the subject between General
Haileck Mcclellan and Meigs, the result of ID
examination is FULLY stated 10 the following com
d muncation Of the Secretary Of War, ou ia al
b Of October, aud the reply of Gen. hale, b., Of
IS the 2Sth OF October:
+ "War Department,
y Washington City, Oct. 27 1852 (
"GENERAL 1t has been publicly stated tina
Al NJ I.ff.
5 ble to move, during the fine weather of this tai
d for want of shoes, clothing and other supple.
: You will please report to this Department upO
IT the following points:
First To whom, and in what manner, tb
acquisitions for supplies to the army under Ger
& Mcclellan have been made since you commando
's as General in Chief, aud whether any requis
D. ton for supplies of any kind has since that tim
e been made upon the Secretary OF War, {
As communication had with him except thFoug
you!
second If you, as General in Chief hav
! taken paius to ascertain the condition OF the a
< my in respect 10 the supplies Of shoes, clOthin,
= arms and other necessares, and whether thrI
= has been any neglect or delay, by any Depar
re meut or bureau, in filing the acquisitions f
)e supplies; and what has been, and is, the cor
e diliOn OF that army, ss compared to other q
mies, in respect to supplies.
H. Third. AT what date after the battle OF Al
n tietam, the orders to advance against the enen
r we're given to Gen. Mcclellan, and how ofte
at have they been repeated?
3 Fourth. Whether in your opinion there h.
H. been any want in the army under General NJ
o, Ciellau, of shoes, clothing a ms, or other equ
( ments or supplies, that ought TO have preveutt
It ITS advance against the enemy when the orr
IN given?
sn Fifth. How long was it after the order 10 a,
e. vance was given to Gen. Mcclellan, before
be Informed you that any shoes or clothing we
~ EAnted in his army, and what are bis means
er promptly communicating the wants Of the arm
G. 70 yOn, or to the proper bureaus OF the W
ad Department. L. ~ STANTON,
"Secretary OF War
Of "Maj. Gen. Haleck, General in Chief"
s- Nv Washington, Oct 2s, 1852
n IR:-ln reply TO the several interrogalio
h contained in your letter of yesleresy, have
III report:
- First. That acquisitions or supplies to {
u army under Gen. Mcclellan are made by |
y staff officers on the chiefs OF bureaus here th
~ Il. for Qdsrtermasters supplies by his Ch
'es Qusrtermaster on the Quartermas5er Geners
no Tor Commissary's supplies by bis Chief Comm
J." sary on the COnmissary GeEeral, &c. No So
eT acquisitions have been, to nv knO~iedge, ma
he upon the Secretary OF War, and none upon I
General in Chief.
9" Second. On several occasions Gen. y
'He Clellan has telegraphed 70 ne that bis army y
a dehcienti IN certain supplies. All these telegra
al we're Immediately referred TO the heads