The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-02-19

TO bear upon the armies OF the Confederate G
States. Those armies thoroughly defeat
ed, the political structure which they sup
port would soon cease to exist.
In carrying out any system of policy
which You may form, yeu will requno Q a
commander -in>chief OF the arny-one
who possesses your confidence, understands
ysur views, and who is competent to exe-
cute your orders by directing the military
forces Of the nation to the accompl hnent
of the objects by your proposed. am
willing to serve you in such position as
you may assign me, and l will do so as
faithfully as ever subordinate served su~
perior
! g may be on the brink of eternity, and
as hope forgiveness from my Maker,
have written this letter with sincerity
toward yeu, and from love for my country.
Very respectfully, your ob't servant
On the llth General Mcclellan tele-
graphed:
"Weare very strong here now so far as
make US strong enough to advance and
tru it again All in fine spirits"
From this date to the Both, constant ap-
peals for sufficient force To assume the of
iensive We're made by Gen Mcclellan to
the President and to Gen Hallecll In the
night Of August Isl an attempt of the enc
my, with artillery, upon the south bank CT
the James was signaily repulsed
On the day previous Gen. !Iallec< telo~
graphsd report from Gen Pope that the
enemy were evacuatins Richmond, and
ordered Gen. Mcclellan 70 send away his
sick, an order which was interpreted by
that General TO Indicate preparations Tor
MS T.-Irulfir he Oii.L-!yr
On the ith Gen. Hooker defeated the
enemy and occupied Malvern Hill, and
the next day Gen. Mcclellan telegraPhed
" Ny troops have advanced II miles in ono
direction and l. miles in another toward
Richmond.
The next day Gen iilllec1 teIecraphed
Il have no reiutorcement- 10 send you
lie had already, three days before, dis~
patched az order for the evacuation Of
Harrisons Bar aud the removal OF the
army 10 Aqua Creek.
Down to this date Gen. Mcclellan had
been left in entire Ignorance Of tie !nten-
t!ons Of the government He had ear
nestly protested against the removal. a
soon - notified OF II. is certain &c 10 prove
disastrous 20 the cause
His protest thus concludes
" Clear IN my convictions Of right
in the consciousness that / have ever been
and still am actuaicd solely by love Of
my country-hnowIng tGat no ambitious
or selfish Inotiges have influenced me from
the commencement OF this wSr-i do now
what never did in my lie bsfore-I en-
treat that this order may oe rescinded.
e II my counsel does not prevail, will,
with a sAd heart, ouey Your orders 10 the
utmost Of my power. directing to tne
movement, which clearly fo-r-ee will be
one Of the u;mcs: d-.ictcy ana difficulty,
whatever skill ! :nIy possess.
"W hatcyer theresu.t may be-snd may
God grast ! ara mistaken IL my iJrebo-
dins.-I shall a. Least have the internal
satisfaction that have written aad sro-
ken frankly. aud have sought 10 do the
beat Id my power 10 aye-t disaster !solA M
country. "G. Z McCLELL4N.
Major General Commanding
" Maj Gen H. ". UAILECs,
Mai Gen Commanding L. s Army
Gen Hallcek wrote at much leHgth TO
Gen. Mcclellan. giving his reasons Tor in.
sstin. on the removal, aud urging The So
.yqriorI,v Of the Frederick, burg base OF
perat.vns against the rebel capital
Gen. Mcclellan at once Ton the ,th
proceeded 10 ru, n course ei execution
the orie: Of removal - rapidly - the con
dlion Of the transport service woul per
mit-tye batteries Of artilleryeHt Oh III,
morning ot the sth having taken his last
available ;ransport-when on The 9th be
received a telegram charging him with
unsatisfactory delay The next day the
Quarternasteg Department Informed the
General that If lie could cause aIore
speedy return of The steamers s"A. 4"ay
f1f f,.a -. q. 4
ot delay was, however, reiterated 10y tee
srarh on the same dav from y ashiugton
GA the 18th Gen. Hallect: le'rgre PHI t,
that perhaps Ike gogerAnent WAS rIisin
formed as to the stale OF the facts IN re
gard 10 the transport facilities at Hafrl'
sens Bar.
/ On the lith Gea. Mcclellan endeayoreC
to secure a conversation 5y telegraph viii
Gen. naiieca, who briefly replied to hi:
first communication and then left th'
Washington oilIce without notifying h!
interlccut-r Of the fact.
The preliminary movement when naG
begun on the receipt Of the first order
was now followed up 10y the movement .
the whole force by land and wafer. Oi
the 10th Gen. Porter, in the land advance
. reached Williams uurg, where he had beer
/ directed 10 halt iii the who army shoult
have crossed the Ch;ci,ahominy. He IN
tercepted Il rebel dispatch, however, TAIcl
I led him 10 believe ;ha, q heavy force wa
then massing against Gen. Pope, and 2
: once pressed forward on his own respons
Lilitv to Newport News, which he reachsI
ON the 18th, marching his corps sixt
miles throu.h most difficult country II
! three days.
By the 20th the whole army was a
! Yorktown, Newport News and Fortres
Monroe. Great credit Is given TO Pleasal
ten and Averill for the way in which the
covered this important movement
Impressed with the gal.antry. tidelit
and.devotiun of his army, Gen Mcclellan
on the 18th of August, begged Gen. Hal
leck, by telegraph to say a kind word t
the army" which he might repeat IN gen
eral orders To this request no reply what
ever was returned.
On the 23d, Gen Mcclellan reported 70
duty and, as before, orders and iaiorma
ton. He received from Gen. Hallecll tn
following reply: ou ask for information
7 cannot give ! do not know where Gen
| Pope Il. or where the enemy IN force Is
On the 26tn. Gen. Mcclellan was oreiere'
I To Alexandria, whence he next day re
! ported.
For the next few days all was confusion
| in " ashington. and Gen. Mcclellan wa
continually telegraphed to ascertain th
/ .c,cts and take precau;ion. On the 2.li
be r..-eiyed news of the destruction o
| Taviors n..igade, and urgently asked 70
cavalry as WEI rs for authority to use hi
available troops 70" the protection OF " ash
inston. The next day Gen Haiieck teie
g-aphed his fears of a ''car~ Try raia II, IN
night upon Washington" ana ASKED 10
some regular officers TO be sent I'M
On the 29th the President telegraphed !.
| Gen, Mcclellan, asking for news general
ly." The General replied that Pope mus
be relieved, or the capital made safe a
| once, and asked, What are my orders
| and authority / ask for no:hing bu
will obey whatever orders you give" Th,