The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-10-21

P'ttsburg, Pa.
G7-Attend whore the Sons and Clerks If Bankers
and Business Men graduate
November 8, lsa3-
,,.o..o,. mn. nave raised between US i5r men
own base and selfish purposes. No man haj
ever trqer friend than have been to you,
and shall continue to be. You are seldom alb
sent from my thoughts, and | am ready TO make
any sacrifice TO aid you. Time allows me to
say no more than that pray Almighty God
TO deliver you and your army from all peril
aud lead you on 70 victory.
Yours truly,
EDwIN NJ SrASro4
Now, jadgc, what think You Of this man.
who, made Secretary of Wag by the request
aud influence Of Gen, AcCia Ian, was viii
flying and abusing ard uttering f,lsehocd'
against him, aud who could 1T the same time
sit dowa aid Deliberately write such a letter?
1ou have referred 10 the council of war
held IL Washington IN March Of 862 Eve
ry effort has been made, in vain, 10 bring tie
proceedings Of that council before The public.
A call was made for them in the House of
Representatives, aud was tabled by the Repub-
Ican party. A request made bg the recorder
of that council, Of AIr. Stanton, to allow him
10 have the proceedings made up IN proper
form, was refused in most rude and insulting
manner, and the papers have never been allow
ed to leave his possession since.
Now, Judge, for your especial benefit, I viii
relate hc history Of that important event, that
you may, if you viii, DO justice to all concern
cd
The council of var consisted of Briga1ier
Generals Sumner, Mcdowell, Franklin, f. }
Porter. Mccall, Heintzetntn. Keyes, A. Per
ter, W. + Smith, Bernard, Blenker, Nagee.
Lach entitled TO bat zone star TWAS called
together by order Of General Mcclellan on the
night Of March 7ih, Of 1882, TO convene at 10
q. m, on fhe following day
Gen Mcclellan came into the council room
at the hour appointed, and, placing on the ta-
he iat5e map, explained his proposed Penin-
sulAr Champaign, which before this time be-
heTe to have been known to no ono present <
Porter. Upon retiring, he left UPON the table,
for the consideration of the council, the tolo@-
ing inquiries
l. Whether il IS advisable that the base of
operations shall be changed, the transportation
being ready at Annapolis in all Of next week.
IL Whether 1t i better 10 make an al
vance to the front before changing the base,
should such change b. determine upon.
III Whether a forward movement, with
the obi sct of destroying the river batteries, Is
advisable, and when it can be commenced, and
whether the naval force, witt lhe assistance OF
the Ericsson battery can aloae accomplish that
object.
( After q session Of three hours, the council
? were summoned to appear before the President
He advised them thal.he was quite uRwcii and
exceedingly nervous, that thepressurc had been
intense against Gen. Mcclellan. He expressed
himself gratified to have the opportunity 10 see
and know the officers Of the army and TO be
instructed by them in regard to Amy ma.te'-,
. which were TO him very rnconprehensiOle'
( | informed him that, as recorder oftLe coun-
ell e war which had held It's session by order
Of Gen. Mcclellan, wonld advise him OF the
result Of It's proceedings and then read them
: 20 him 'sWhat" said he, "have the council
decided by a vote Of eight to four--two TO one
in favor of the Peniusular canpalgnF" lie
then asked many questions IN regard to the
same, until MT. Stanton came IN, and pro-
posed 10 read the proceedings TO him. lie re-
pied, .'G!ve me the papers, II read them my
self. aud after reading them over aud prepar-
ing his notes. he, as you say, put them (tne
councilj through the strict course ot eGamilI&-
ton winch YOU refer to. ihlS examination,
made for the purpose Of neutralzing the effect
of the decision of the council of war on the
mind Of the President, and thus carry out the
objects of those who had been insisting upon
the removal Of Gen. Mcclellan, lasted four OF
five hours, during which time it was only inter
rupted by an occasional expression OF the Tres
ident indicating his satisfaction and grauhca'
ton at the MANY explanations of the military
movements contemplated, end which he had
not before been able to comprehend.
1t was now getting dark. Mr Stantoni
questions indicated approaching exhaustion,
and finding there was silence which called fol
a cessation Of hostities on his part Cor the
night, Mr. Lincon expressed himself highly
gratified with the interview, said he wa, i'm.
pressed with the earlestness and intelligence of
the officers present, and :hat he had every con
fdence In them He now determined not K
remove Gen. Mcclellan, as he had promised tt
do, but that he should make his campaign, al
approved by the council of war, under restric-
tions, which he would make known on the fol.
lowing morning, at ten o'clock, when lie desir
ed that none Of them should leave the city.
Before leaving the President, the Records
of the Council approached the Secretary, anC
said 'If you please, Mr. Stanton. permit me
to have the proceedings Of the Council of War
that they may be copied in fair hand, aEC
General Sumner, the President of the Council
will sign them, the Recorder will sign them
and they will then be in proper FORM" "Pn
just as good Judge Of the form as you arc,
was the reply Of your friend.
! OTHER inciVilities have been attempted by
: Mr. Stanten towards me, the manner and re
suit of which he has neither foggettoa nor for