The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-04
4 SOLDIERS OPINION OF
MCCLELLAN.
Secret History of the Peninsu.
lar Campaign.
ELOQUENT LETTER FROM GEN. H. NJ. NAGLEE,
TO HON. W. ID. KELLEY

,----. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. q, 1864.
Ny DEAR SIR: Our acquaintance and all
of The relations that have ever existed be-
tween us, are confined to two or three &C
cidental meetings, at one of which you were
pleased to refer to the lasting impression
made upon you when poor boy, by the
kindness of my father, who always took you
by the hand and gave you cheering friendly
words Of encouragement and advice. You
were pleased to acknowledge to the son the
kind and valuable influence received by you
from the father, and to proffer your friendly
services whenever they would be accepta
BILE.
Under the above circumstances you pre-
pared for me and my friends no ordinary
surprise when you deliberately composed,
delivered, and published in the Press, Of the
23d inst, a voluntary unprovoked attack
upon me in the following words:
at got out that the President was de>
termined to have the army moved, and it
was found that Gen. Mcclellan had no plan;
and here may state that we owe the Pc
nnsula campaign to those distinguished
Senators, Latham of California, and Rice Of
Minnesota, and brgadier in the column of
Joseph Hooker. Gen. McClellan's plan
was concocted by others, and put into his
hands. 1t was agreed on in council Of
war. That plan was submitted to the Pres
ident. 1t was submitted in the presence Of
Secretary Stanton. Stanton put them
through strict course Of examinati on.
One General, Blenker, owned that he did
not understand the plan, but would sus"
tain it, as he thought he had to obey the
mandates of his chief. Gen. Naglee was
one of those present, and Stanton observed
that he had but one star. "Sir," said Mr.
Stanton, ayou have no right herel" 81 am
representing Gen. Hooker" said he. 1t
was afterwards found out that Gen. Naglee
was absent without leave, and that fighting
Joe Hooker knew nothing of the council" !"
(Applause.)
Now, my dear sir, this statement is sim
ply false, and on the part Of your friend,
Mr.. Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War,
maiciously false.
The Peninsular campaign was not indica
ted by "Senators Latham of California, and
Rice of Minnesota and a brigadier in the
column of Joseph Hooker" as asserted by
you. General Naglee was at Washington
with proper leave, and with the full knowl.
edge Of Gen. Hooker, and was member OF
the council of war by direction of General
Mcclellan, to represent the division of the
army at Budd's Ferry, in the absence OF
General Hooker, who was too far removed
from Washington to be present. And, un-
fortunately for the veracity Of Mr.. Stanton,
the impertinent remarks you ascribe to him
could not have been made, for there were
no officers of the council Of war entitled at
that time to more than one star.
Now, Judge, you know, or should know,
that the reputation of Mr.. Stanton for truth
and veracity is not above suspicion, and tha;
you may well believe anything that may be
said regarding his great lncivility and rude
ness, for, not excepting you'seli ] have
never seen or heard of an officer or civilian
who did not condemn him for the utter
want of all the requisites OF a gentleman
This is not the first time Mr.. Stanton has
been guilty of the most deliberate, mali
cious Misrepresentation, and for your graft,
fication will relate an instance that occur
red upon my arrival in Washington, imme7
diately after the conclusion Of "the seven
days fight in the beginning of July Of
1852, and when was surprised to learn
that during the continuance Of that desper-
ate struggle, and during the time of dread
full suspense, whilst nothing could be beard
Of General Mcclellan and bis gallant army,
Mr.. Stanton had everywhere denounced
General Mcclellan as traitor to his coun>
try, and as incapable Of commanding reg.
inent. learned this from number OF
the members of Congress, who were aston
ished and confounded, and who with pain
eagerly sought from me some exPianation OF
such extraordinary conduct. l could REM
circumstances to General Mcclellan, upon
nv arrival at his headquarters on the FOL.
lowing day, the 9Th Of July. HIS surprise,
Judge, was greater than mine; without ut
r.5... s-....H