Weekly national intelligencer., 1864-03-17

McCean that his army the rebel was then retreatiDg
across the Potomac The War Committee has taken me q
n compel the attendance and testimony OF every
BODY about Antetam likely TO know OF the interview IL
took place"
Thus far it will be seen that the trail was very
warm. That sly fox, Mcclellan, who had doubt
less planned with Gen Lee to deliver up the Army
ingtou to president Davis" was now to be
unearthed. What q sudden confusion to all
i" Little Macs" hopes of the Presidency was here
/" A thousand hearts beat happily" at the pros
pect. The War Committee, grayest council OF the
nation, paused from its Investigation of the tragic
fair at Oustee. Kilpatrck's raid Richmond
no longer filled their thoughts. The question
whether Grant CT Halleck should command the
armies of The nation was put in abeyance. The
momentous query was, "Will Waldron stand z"
+" Will Waldron swear to what he says" "Can
the plot be demonstrated" 7"
And here the Muse of History is compelled to
mourn the loss Of one Of the most interesting d.
nouenaen's that ever promised to engage her pen.
For, just at this point thevery agony of the swell
ing scene, the whole fabric of the story broke down
and tumbled into ruins. We quote from the
columns of the New York Commercial Advertiser
of the 18th instant, as follows:
"Ths charge that Gen Mcclellan had secret inter
view with Gen Lee the night after the battle of Antetam
has proved to be fiction Of disorder.d brain The per-
who made the astounding statement is Mr. Francis
Wadron Marylander, who is schoolmaster by proes
son aud who has in years past been somewhat add cited
drink He has been in the custody OF the Sergeantat
Arms since Wednesday afternoon but refuses to make
under oath the which he has furnished for pub
Ea an
of which is that he for time employed night
day by Secretary Chase aiding in the preparation
Of new financial scheme, which has no foundation 10
fact"
Nor was this enough. One of our evening con-
temporaries added insult to injury by speaking in
the following terms of man whose I" responsibility
and credibility' were avouched by Gen. Milroy,
according to the correspondents" 1t said in its
evening edition of the 18th instant:
1T now turns out that the whole story the maniaa
potu esion of Francis Wadron resident of Frede
rick county Maryland aud who, it further appears was
never member OF either branch Of the Maryland Legsla
ture We feel it duty to promptly dscountenance the
story it evidently has foundation to give credit
and its circulation have other effect than to make
copperhead capital"
To this we must add the following confession,
found in the New York Tribune of the 14th,
which journal first set this ball in motion:
1T staed that the detectives who have had Wadron
in charge have got from him confession writing that he
WAS drunk when he told the story Of the interview be-
tween Mcclellan and Lee and that he puts John Bar
4ycorn entire blame of troubling the War Department
and the War Committee to investigate the charge"
Alas, alas, SO true is it that the "well-laid
schemes of mice and men gang oft aglee." But sure
ly never was there such ridiculus mus brought
forth before by mountain in labor We will let that
fine speaker, Antonio, in Otway's play Of "Venioe
Preserved, or Plot discovered" point the moral
for unwary patriots
g Antonio. Hum, hum, hah Odd - here's tick
ling speech about plot I'll prove there's plot with
vengeance - Would l had 1t without book; let me
SEQ
Most reverend Senators That there is plot, surely
by this time that hath eyes understanding in
his head will presume 10 doubt; It's plain the light
in the cucumber BO- hold there-cucum-
ber does not come in yet - It's plain the light in
The sun the in the moon, at nOon-day Ii
is indeed pumkn-pot, which just il WAS mellow,
have gathered and have gathered it, prepared and
dress sed it, sba throw it like picked cucumber out
at the window No: that not only bloody horrid.
e.ecrable damnsble and audacious plot but it is
may ssy saucy plot: and all know, most reverend
fathers that which for goose is for
der therefore, say those boodhirsty ganders Of the
conspiracy would have destroyed geese Of the Senate
haneng- Hah, hurry durry - think this will
and the cucumber"