The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-10-19

a1ter reading tnem over anu pIePaiiuS nis
notes, he, as you say, "put them (the
counciD through the strict course of ex,
animation" which you refer to. This ex-
animation, made for the purpose of neu-
ttralizing the effect of the decision of the
Council of War on the mind Of the Pres
liaent, and thus to carry out the pbjccts Of
these who had been insisting upon the re.
moval Of Gen Mcclellan, lasted for four
or FIVE hours, during which time it was
only interrupted by an occasional express
sion of the President, Indicating his sat.
isfact:on and qualification at the many ex-
plantations of military movements eoutem.
plated, aud which he had not before been
able to comprehend.
1t was now getting dark. Mr.. STAN
tom questions indicated approaching ex-
haustion, and finding there was a silence
which called for cessation of hostilities
on his part for the night, Mr.. Lincoln exr
pressed himself highly gratifed with the
interview, said he was impressed with the
earnestness and intelligence of the officers
present, and that he had every confidence
in them.- He was now. determined not
to remove Gen. Mcclellan, as he had
promised to do, but that he should make
his campaign, as approved by the Council
of. War. under restrictions, which he
would make known on the following
morning at ten o'clock, when he desired
the presence Of all of the officers Of the
council, and until after which time he de-
desired that none of them should leave
the city.
Before leaving the President, the Re-
corder of the Council approach ed the Sec.
retary and said: "lf you please, Mr.. Stan
ton, permit me to have the Proceedings
of the Council of War, that they may be
copied in. fair hand, and General
Sumner, the President of the Council will
sign them, the Recorder will sign them,
they will then be in proper form" "I'm
just as good judge of the form as you
me," was the reply of your friend. Other
incivilities HAYS been attempted by Mr..
Stanton towards me, the manner and re-
suit of which he has neither forgotten nor
forgiven, aud which he may relate to you
whenever he may feel so disposed.
On the following morning, at the ap-
pointed hour, when all the officers of the
Conrcil of War had assembled, Mr.. Lin
coin said II have slept better than for
two weeks. feel relieved of animmense
responsibility. L have determined upon
the following programme, which he sub
nitted verbally, and which was snbstan.
TALLY as follows:
Il will permit Gen. Mcclellan to carry
out his campaign. He shall leave sufi-
cient force to defend the works before
Washington. He shall embark fifty thous-
and men from Annapolis, and then, unless
| the batteries on The Potomac, which you
assure me will necessarily be abandoned
are withdrawn or silence i, shall reserve
my authority to embark other toops." =
He then said, [ have determined to di-
vide Gen. McClellan's army into four
corps, and 1 shall appoint the command
ers of them" ~
And afterwards he promoted the four
otfce,s ,oho had opposed Gen. Nc CTel-
ian's campaign, three Of aohom he ap,
pointed to the command of corps. and,
with the exception Of Gems. Franklin and
Smith; who have been the subjects of con-
slant annoyance and irdignities since, the
Others haze all been dismissed from the
army.
The Penisular campaign was proposed
by Gen MeClcllon whilst commander-in-
chief of the armies of the United Skates,
and was intended to be made with the
forces then under his command in East
ern Virginia, estimated at over 100000
men. 1t was SO accepted by President,
and the movement was commencement
upon that basis. Gen. Mcclellan had
scarcely left v ashington to take the field,
when the Secretary of War relieved him
of all the armies not under his, Gen. Nc
Cleilan's, immediate command, and as
sumed command of them himself. The
troops left in Northeartern Virginia were
placed under the command of Mcdowell,
Banks, Fremont and Sigel, each being in
dependent of each other, and independ-
ent of Gen. Mcclellan, and all subject to
the order of Mr.. Stanton. " hilst the
above division of our army was taking
place, the Confederates concentrated
theirs, until, on the 26th day of June,
Gen. Mcclellan found himself before
Richmond with $4,000 men, Gncluding
McCalps divisiops,) and was attacked by
the Confederate force Of $4,000 at the