Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-10-13
ton being ready at Annapolis in all orncxt


vance to the front before changing the base
should such change be determined soon.
III Nhcthera forward movement, viii
the object at destroying The river batterei
/ Is advisable, and when il can hc commenced
and whei her the naval force. with the assist
ance ot the Ericsson battery, can alone ac
complish that one act
After a session of three hours the counci
were summoned to appear before the pre,i
dent. He advised them that he was quite
unweiI and exceedingly nervous, that the
pressure had been Intense agaiu,t Gen. Me-
Clellan. He expressed himself glatiGed tc
have the opportunity to see and know the
officers OF the army, and to be instructed by
them in regard to army matters which were
to him very incomprcheneible,
informed him that as recorder of the
council of war which had held its session by
order of Gen. Mcclellan, l would advise him
OF the result OF its proceedings, aud then
read them to him. "What, " said he, ''have
the council decided by vote of eight to
four two to one in favor of the Peninsula
campaign lie then asked many question,
IN regard to the same, until Mr. Stanton
came IN, and proposed to read the proceed.
ings to him. He replied Give me the
papers, LII read them myself, and aftcl
reading them over and preparing his notes,
he, as you say, put them the cOuncil)
through the strict course Of examination,
which you refer to. This examination, made
for the purpose Of neutralizing the effect of
the decision Of the council of war on the
mind Of the president and thus to carry out
the objects Of those who had been insisting
upon the removal Of Gen Mcclellan lasted
for four or five hours, during which time it
was only interrupted by an occasional cx-
preston Of the president, indicating his
satisfaction and qualification at the many
explanations of military movements con.
templated, and which he had not before been
able to comprehend. 1t was now getting
dark. Mr. Stanton's questions indicated
approaching exhaustion, and, finding there
was a silence which called for cessation of
hostllities on his part for the night MIR.
Lincoln expressed himself highly grariicd
with the interview, and he was impressed
with the emnestncss and Intelligence Of the
officers present, and that he bad every con
hdcnce 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
~ q. clock, when he desired the presence of
all the officers Of the council. and until after
which time he desired that none of them
should leave the city. Before leaving the
president, the recorder of the council an.
preached the secretary, and 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 and General
sumner. the president of the council will
sign them, the recorder will sign them, and
they Will then be in proper form. Il IN
just as good Il Judge of the form you are, "
was Il he reply olyour friend Other incivil-
tiles have been attempted by Mr. Stanton
towards me, the manner and result ofwhich
he has neither forgotten or forgiven, and
which he may relate to you whenever he
may leel 20 disposed
On the following morning at the appoint
ed hour, when all ofthe officers ofthc council
OF war had semblcd, Mr.. Lincoln said, II
have slept better than for two weeks. | feel
relieved of an immense responsibility. |
.hayc determined upon the following pro.
gramme which he submitted verbally,
and which vas substantially as follows:
Il will permit Gen. McClollan to carry
force 10 defend the works before Washing
ton. He shall embark $4,000 men from
Annapolis; and then, unlos, the batteries on
the Potomac which you assure me will
necessarily be abandoned, are Withdrawn
OK sttcnced, l shall reserve my authority to
embar other troops lle then said: Il
nave determined to divide Gen. Mcclellan $
army INTO four corps, and shall appoint the
commanders OF them, And afterwards he
promoted the iuur officers who had opposed
uen. Mcclellan campaign, three Of whom
he appointed to the command otcorps, and,
with exception OF Gems. Franklin and Smith,
VINO have bacn the subject OF constant annoy
ance and lnd!gntles since, the others have
all been diSmlssed from the army.
The Peninsular campaign was proposed
hy. Gen. Mcclellan W whilG commander in
chiei OF the armies of the United States and
was intended to he made with the forces
then under his commann in eastern Virginia
estimated at over 2O2, 900 men, 1t was SO
accepted by the president and the move
ment was commenced upon that basis. Gen.
Mcclellan had scarcely left Washington to
take the held when the secretary OF war re-
ileved hun OF all the armies not under his
immediate command, and assumed com.
mand OF them himself. The troops left IN
northwestern Virginia We're placed under
the command of McDowell Banks, Fremont,
and Hlgel, each beng independent OF the
other ana OF Zen MeClean, and all sub
lGct to the order OF Mr.. stanton. While
the above DIVISION OF our army was taking
Nf