, 1863-02-27
PAST CONDUCT OF TIE WAR.
MCCLELLAN In & NEW LIGHT.
The Letter Of General Scott to Sec
retary Cameron.
From the House Proceedings OF Taesd1y.1

[Fsom tho House Proceedings Of Taesday.1
Mr.. Stevens Of Penn. said that one great
want Of SUCCESS was suffering BreckinrldEe
Democrats to head our armies. men without
the heart or disposition to crush the rcpel-
liou, When Gen. Mcclellan Was at Yorktown
he was promptly ordered to attack the enemy
and break Lis lines. He never obeyed the or
der When ordered to 1endtroopa to aid Gen.
popc, he s'ood idle eleven days before he
started, aud then at snails pace. nc
never reached the battle-ground. General
Porter was one Of them. and =, vas
,irfes+ asns e'e@'st 4fonA ,ne army for causing
ordered to pursue the enemy invading Ma
5yland. &c had 10000 troops, and moved
1t the rate Of six miles day till be got up
with them. Antictam was 4u0ei victory;
and while In sight Of the rcba army, be slf-
ftrcd the enemy to cEoss into Vipsssina, taking
and shortly after, when ordered By the Com
r1andcr-ln.C Chief to pursue the enemy, he hes
ttatci1 for three weeks, and then took the
South Mountain path. There were four dis
tinct instances oi lieobcdicncc oforders. Mr.
Sterens desired to read. letter from Gen.
Scott to Simon Cameron.
Ar. Mallory inquired where Alr. Stevens
Mr. Stevens replied that it was a copy from
. lette! on file nj the War Department. It
avas read, as follows:
1ETTRR FHoM GEN. SCOTT.
HEADQUARTERS or TIE ARMY.
WAsu1so1oS, Oct. 4, 1861.
Hon. g. Cameron, Secretary Of War:
Sir: Ton are, believe, aware that hailed
the arrival here Of Major Gen. Mcclellan, as
m event Of happy eonseqne1se TO the eoun;
for him, heartily approved Of the sugges
tion, ard gave him the most cordial reception
and support. Hc, however, bad hardly en-
1rret upon his new duties, when, encouraged
ts communica*e directly with the President
and certain members Of the Cabinet, he in (
commander, and has now long prided himscl
7,roG treating me with uniform neglect, run
ming into disobedlcnce of orders. OF th'
Smaller matters, neglects, though In them
speak, il the face Of the following. To sup
1'rcss an irregulartty moro conspicuous /
<;cn. Mcclellan than in any other officer,
publish The following:
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARK1,
WASHINGTON. Sept. Is, 1861.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 17.-The,e are irregular
tics in the correspondence Of The army which nee
prompt correction. 1t Is highly important tht
Junior Officers on duty be not permitted to coHe
der On current otacial business except through i,
1ermcdiate oommarders. And the same rule apple
to correspondence with the President direct,
7c b. the special Invitation Of request Of The Pre-
jdcnt. By command OF Lieut.. Gen. ScoTr.
Ed. TOWNSEND Assistant Ad}t. Gen.
With this order fresh In his memory, Nj
communications to the Secretary Of War, {
respectively the 10Th and Goth Of the san
month, over my head, and how many since
the Secretary, and even to the President I
rect, have not inquired, but many, I ha
no doubt; besides daily oral communicate
At L. Tr%,, fSet,n 1x1{t IN
1ny knowledge
Second, to correct another class Of gra
neg1ccte, I, the same day, caused to be 4
dressed to Gen. Mcclellan the following {
der:
HEADQUARTERS or TIE AnHr. |
WAsn1SaToS. Sept. t6, 1861.
To Major Gen. Mcclellan, U. g, L.. command
Department Of the Poso.nac:
The Commanding General Of the Army Of I
M xaSsS as b 20 Ii sss sad
general headquarters by disiaions, brigades 4
Independent fegiment. OF de.achments, wh
1hev sr7iye. With tie dispositions made Of the
together with al The material changes which \
take place In the saane amy; rz+ ..,
By command Of Lieut.. Gtn. SCOT
ED. ToxNeEND, Asst. Ad1t. General
Eighteen days have now elapsed and
ihc slightest respect has been sAoTn to cit
Of these orders by Maj. Gen. AcClell
Ferhaps lie will say in respect to the latter
Las been difficult for him to procure e1act
1ulns Of divisions, hrigades, etc. No don
Int why not hare given me proximate
INNS, such as he 50 eagerly furnished,
f1es1dcnt and certain Secretaries? Has, III
= senlor no corrective power oyer juI
disobedience. The remedy by arrest ,
trial before court martial yoald proba
Foon cure the evll; but II has been feare'
conflict Of authority near thehead Of the II
wou1d be highly cncouraginzto the enemy
depressing to the friehds Of the iii
Hence my long forbearence, and continn
<though bnt nominnlly} IN duty: I shall
to hold ont TIL the arrival Of Nal. Gen.
3eck, when, as his presence will give me-
creased confidence in the safety Of the Un
and as an unable to ride IN the saddle
WALL, By reason Of dropsy IN my feet
legs md paralysis In the small Of my bac
shall defnitiyely retire from the army.
have the honor to remain, with high
pect, yopr most obedient servant,
WNEHLD aGo1