Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-06

so-udy Nd tHo years ao, ~ ID UulJ pcSauSS snO Des
more Convention happened to re-nominste, as "the
party candidate" man whom he can warmly
support only by ignoring his former convictions
I here are very many who are like-minded with
him.
| Ia the same article from which we have quoted
as above the Times added as follows:
at is for the President designate the successive steps
TO vctoy-to mark out the specific points that to be
occupied and held by the armies of the Union But 10Th
that his interference sa,uld end Neither Gen Ha,ek nor
anu oe man fit to jill that place, should take IL irihot
co ap!ete and absolute authority thing relating TO
tbs MILITARY Operations of the If his advice is to be
asked it should be followed The country demands for
the army what the army itself requires competent ab
soe and head 1t will tolerate no back stairs
con6dant-no military wetnurse for civilian com.
mander ,oheher that ciuan be the Secretary 81 Har OF
the President Of the United States All thoughts of per-
sona etiquette aud of ula dignity must give way to the
supreme necessities of the country
We all know how little the President or Gen.
Halleck fulfil ed the requirements thus suggested
as proper for their guidance in their respective
spheres. The President "meddled" as before
whenever he had mind to do so, and Gen. Hal
leck submitted to be treated by him as somebody
or as nobody ac cordDg to the Presidents pleasure.
The first step of the new titular Gsneral-in-Chief
was to recall Gen MCCLELLAN from Harrison Land
ing that he mi ght take " fresh start against Rich
mond from Fredericksburg 1t was in vain that
Gen. Mcclellan protested and showed the disad-
vantages of the step-disadvantage so mournfully
confirmed by the bitter experience of the country
from that day to this Whether Gen, Haleck
acted at his own instance in this disastrous deter
mination, or whether he was moved to it by the
President, we unable to say
Then followed the rout of Gen Pope's mis-
handled forces, the tumultuous retreat into Wash
ippton, and the second fright of authorities for
their own salty and the safety of the city. In
the mean time, Gen Mcclellan had been left at
Alexandria, uuder orders of the War Department,
with control over nothing but such officers of his
staff as remained with him and few men in camp
On stating this fact to Gen. Halleek, who had
several times insolently carped at him, the latter
WAsHINGToN AUGUST 81 1862
DJa;or Gen George b. Nc Clettan Since receiving your
despatch relating command bave not been able to an
swer any not of absolute necessity have not seen the
order as published but will write you in the morning You
will retain the command OF every thing 10 TINS VIC n not
tempr,rily with Popes army the field ibeg ~ you TO
assist me this crisis Nth your ability and szpe1ence
H. w. HALLECK, Gentral-in. Chief.
1t will be seen that misfortune had at last
brought the Genera-in- Chief to write courteously
and to "beg" for Gen McClellan's assistance in
this "crisis," when it was believed that the enemy
would soon be laundering at the gates of Washing
ton "Help me, Cassiu,, or sink, was the i'm
ploring cry of Gen. Halleck in this extremity. 1t
was one day afterwards, ON the I'd of September,
1862, that Gen Mcclellan was restored to the
command Of the troops who loved him so well.
The order restoring him to the command of the
army, and placing the fate OF the nation in his
hands, was made in writing. 10 Gen. McClellan's
official report this order does not appear. It's
given in foot-note in the New York edition of
Sheldon & Co. 1t was published 10 the National
Intelligencer from official copy on the day sue.
cesdiug its date, aud it was also published at the
same time in the New York and other papers, hav-
ing been sent from this city by telegraph. The
order was as follows:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Adjutant Generals Office,
Washington, Sept 2, 1862
Bu direction of The President, Msj-r General Mcclellan
will have command of the Notifications Of Washington
and Of all the troops for the defence Of the Capital
By order of the Secretary Of Var:
e. townsend, A. A. General
This order seems to have raised q storm among
the enemies of Mcclellan which neither the Presi.
dent nor the Secretary of War cared TO face. Can
it be possible that at this moment when the fate Of
the nation was trembling in the balance, such po-
litical con sideraons controlled the movements Of
the highest officials?
1t would seem so, for the order was re-published
in an amended form, suppressiDg the names of the
President and the Secretary of War, and so far re-
lieving them from any apparent connection with
the restoration of Mcclellan to the command. On
t ne Sd of September despatch was sent from
Washington, stating that the order should read as
follows
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Idjutdnt Generals Office,
ia hyngton, Stpt 2, 1862.
Major General Mcclellan will have command If The for
tfcstons Washington and Of all the troops for the
defruce If the Capital
BY command Of MAJOR General Ha'ieck:
ID 1uwSsEND, A. A g,
We will let the New York Journal of Commerce
tell the remainder of this pitiful episode:
"Why was this order couched in such dubious Ian
gusge? Every remembers that it not till
MIA hv