Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-11-24

tso."
GENERAL MCDOWELL on THE CAMPAIGNS
OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Major General Irwin MeD5wsll nais speech
in San Fanciseo on the - 3, Of October, in which
be said
Il was on ths 10th OF JAnuny. 1852, that,
being at aiuner At Arlingtou, received tele-
gram, aud soon after . conf leniisl note, saying
the President wished to see me. | went to the
White House and was ushered into the northeast
room. where found the President aud General
Franklin. The President. appearing to be
greatly depressed iE consequence OF the desper.
ate condition Of the national adlirs-Eith OIL
exhausted tFeasury-ths feeling of hostility Of
foreign nations-the frghtiul condition Of the
national haances -Jacobins in Cougress-the
want Of CO. o-5peraiion between the leading geuer-
ais Of the army-BHell and Halleck correspond
log direct with Washington, would have no cor
respondence with each other -and worse than
oil, The sickness OF General Mcclellan, and the
loug inaolion Of the Army Of ih. Potomac, he
said: "lf ,omething is not doue soon with the
army TO save ihs country, the whole hott)n Of
things will fall out. Loud cheers and laughter
II Geneeal Mcclellan don't intend 10 do some
hing with the Army Of the Potomac, should
like to blrrow II for a while, provided eau see
it can b. made to do something" Cheers Tue
President was most anxious that something
should be done. ICheers II is unnecessary To
enter INTO details Of this conversation. Ia ief-
erenee to the movement OF the army, | favored
il going cut FROM Alexandria. Gen. Franklin
was 10 favor Of its going by way Of York River.
We bad four or i've interviews on this subjec,
| with the President, and was ordered by him to
obtain ell possible information from the off ,ets
Of the staff, 80 as to be able 10 know whether
anything could be done; whether the Army of
the Potomac could be brought into the field
against the enemy. Ga the l0.h o, Jalulry, the
President in person, went TO the headquarters Of
Gen. Mcclellan. but could not see him. Secre-
| tary Seward also went to McClelans headQuar-
ters, but was also refused an auiience because
Mcclellan was so very sick that be could not be
disturbed. But is something singular that in
this desperate sickness Mcclellan was not atten-
led by single member of the army medical
staff. General MeClellan's Chief of Staff was
sick and absent. Here Mcclellan was 80 sick al
to be unable to give information as 70 u the
strength aud position Of the enemy, or Of the
plans Of his own army. Yet il you look to his
own repor. OF the war, al published, you will find
that he states there that on the 9TH Of January
he was writing important dispatches to Genera
Bufnside-on tue TIh, the very time when he
could not be seen by the Pr, sident himself. But
to show the nature OF this sickness Of Genera
Mcclellan, was assured, By a gentleman OF thi
most undoubled veracity. that nc the very tim,
, he refused an interview with the President t
, consult on the safety Of the country, he admit
| ted private citizen mot direct but through
! he influence ofthe reporter Of the New Yorl
Herald. Cheers. AT the end of two or lhre
i days, Mcclellan having got we'll, the Presiden
Informed us that, as be would take charge Of th
army, he wond dispense with further proceed
ings with us, bat wished General franklin au'
: myself to meet him again, with Gen. Mcclellan
, AT this meeting the President explained to bin
!, why he had consulted with General Franklin au
, myself, going over much the same ground he ha
already done with US. General Mcclellan sal
, the case was 50 plain that q Blind man copl
see it,
Al this subsequent meeting, when Mcclellan
a the President, Gen Frsnkln myself and sewers
: members Of the Cabinet were present. The tut
. jeet Of The plans for couductBg The clmp6ig
was brought up. A member Of the Cabin,
asked Mcclellan what be intended to do VITA b
!, army, and when be intended doing il An,
: making very lotg pause, be stated that he VI
. very much aVerse 10 making bis Ilans know
n but would 10 90 il ordered by be President; b
= stated that any movement oil the Atmy Of II
4 Potomac must be preceded by Buel's army
KeRtucky, which was to move through Cumbe
= land Gap to Knoxville, 10 cut OF railrold Gu
4 munieations. And this by this baily supple
. army over two States, Kentucky ard Tennese
= whilst he 0n subsequent occasion, az or ne
- Harper's Ferry, declared himself unable u mot
|, his fine army over the best road more than fro
d twenty to twsni! five miles from 'he iermiur
i Of canal or railroad TApplaute
Jasuaty and part Of February having pass.
:. ~ without anything being attempted By II
n Army Of the Potomac, the iw=lF= geuer.s
10 Division where called together 10 c9uuc.l
e McClellans headquarters to determine on pl
Of action, to be submitted 70 the PRS lea'
=, fourd that the question was u he 4 .termluel
n personal grounds, not OF the merit. Il the -l-
- knew n7thing OF politch clucpses, but Ii
- action then appeared very liss what suppo-,
NJ them 10 be. The generals were taking toge:a
h. IN knots, and trying 10 hsrnonze their views
n General Mcclellan came in aud submitted i
pan, which vas 10 leave the enemy where
=. was and light him where he was Lot u en-
~ bark his army at Annapolis and g. around al
II up the Rappahannock 10 the rear Of the ensm
aud thence into Richmond, befire he could mo
"a his army back to its fence by direct raro
"a Communication. This it was propose 10 DO
50 one week, when afterwards McClelin aver
10 reply TO iia'ltck's structures on account
- tardiuess in coming TO re nforce Pope that
- ~ took lin taree weeks 10 embark hls army
~ Atxaniria. Yet this magnificent scheme inv
~. we'd the emLarkstion Of a large part u The arr
~ with its batteries. oaValiy horses. f9rlge, IL
nitions, siege guns, cOmmissary stores, ANN
4 nitiol, etc, and transportation o, the same
- water and land marches, to the gates OF r.,
~ mond. Four Of US opposed The scheme. | pl
u tested against ii. Our place was 10 60 direct
, the enemy by The shortest route, TIE major
u NJ carried, aud then proposed in the usual mann
y with politics, TO make it unanimous. Laughter
/ refused TO sanction such course We w
y, 81 to the Pros dent in a body. lie said be was
~ =, to see us, for, as be remarked, "Nopoleon ccl
u, ! OF stand still With such an army Idon't ca
VI gentlemen, what plan you have, but just pit
. in" When the scheme was broached TO b
- e. his countensnoe fell, and be said he could
consent to allow Washington to be stripped
~ removing the troops from the front of the enen
~ ~ and fbuch a roundabout course was adopt
nc sufficient force must be left to make washinel
O' secure. Iie favored diFsct advance on
enemy by the shortest route which would all
g blow TO be struck and Washington to be CT
cred al the same time. Finally it was aRrt
y that the movement should be made as McClel
desired, and a. the same time portion Of
army shoald be left for the defence Of the ca
tai Nothing came Of il, however, for tho e
nv had gtaved nj Manassas aa l0uQ AZ il nlao