The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-10-14
.Mlsteuan
A CHAPTER FROM THE SECRET HIS
..r' TORY OF THE WAR. ra
LETTER FROM GENERAL NAGLEE TO
JUDGE KELLEY OF PHILADELPHIA:

JUDGE KELLEY OF PHILADELPHIA:
81. PHILADELPHIA, Sept 27, 1864.
My Dear Sr-Our acquaintance and
all of the relations that have ever existed
between us are confined to two or three
accidental meetings; at one of which YOU
we've pleased to refer to the lasting impress
sion made upon you when Il poor boy, by
the kindness of my father, who always
took you BY the hand and gave you cheer
ing, friendly words of encouragement and
advice. You were pleased to acknowl-
edge to the son, the kind and valuable in
fuences received by you from the father,
and to proffer your friendly services when
ever they would be acceptable. .'s..
Under the above circumstances, you
prepared for me and my friends no ordi.
nary surprise when you deliberately COM
posed, delivered and published in the
Press, Of the 23d inst, voluntary I'M
provoked attack upon me, in the following
words: .'-.' ',--.
at got out that the President was de-
termined to have the army moved, and it
was found that Gen. Mcclellan had. no
plan; and here I may state that we own
the Peninsular campaign to those distin-
guished Senators, Latham of California,
and Rice of Minnesota, and Brigadier in
the column of Joseph Hooker. Gene.
raj McClellan's plan was concocted by
Others and put into his hands. It was
agreed on in council of war. That
plan was submitted to the President. 1t
was submitted IN the presence of Secreta-
ry Stanton. Stanton put them through
strict course of examination. One Gen
eral, Blenker, owned that he did not I'M
derstand the plan, but would sustain it, as
he thought he had to obey the mandates
OF his chief General Naglee was one of
those present, and Stanton observed that
he had but one star. "Sir,' said Mr..
Stanton, ''you have no right here |" 81
am representing General Hooker, said he.
Ii was afterwards found out that General
Nagee was absent without leave, and that
fighting Joe Hooker knew nothing of the
council" [Applause.]
Now my dear sir, this statement is sim
ply false, and on the part of your friend
Mr.. Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War,
maliciously false.
The Peninsular campaign was not indi.
Gated by "Senators Latham, of California,
and Rice, of Minnesota, aud BrIgadier in
the column of Joseph Hooker" as assert
ed by you. General Naglee was at Wash,
ington with proper leave, and with the
full knowledge of General Hooker, and
was member of the council of war by di.
rection Of General Mcclellan, to repre-
sent the division of the army ct Budd's
Ferry, in the absence of General Hooker,
who was too far removed from Washington
to be present. And, unfortunately for the
veracity of MIR. Stanton, the impertincnt
remarks which you ascribe to him could
not have been made, for there were no off.
GERS Of the council of war entitled at thar
time to more than one star.
Now, Judge, you know, or should know,
that the reputation of Mr.. Stanton f,r
truth and veracity is not above suspicion,
and that you may we'll believe anything
that may be said regarding his great incl
Witty and rudeness, for, not excepting
yourself Lhave never seen or heard of an
officer or civilian WIN did not coudemn