The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-03-07
Another Page Of History.

Another Page Of History
When, says the Journal of Commerce, on
that memorable I'd of September, 1862,
the President and General Halleck sought
General Mcclellan at his house and begged
him to save the capital and the nation, the
radical faction who had accomplished his
disgrace few days previous, were in the
highest excitement. A curious circum-
stance, which took place that day, may
serve to illustrate the fear of which the
Administration stood of these radicals. We
quote: Sea1.-
sThe order restoring General Mcclellan
to the command Of the army, and placing
the fate of the nation in his hands was
made in writing, probably after the inter
view of the President with him. In the
report this order does not appear. 1t is
given in a loot note, i'm the New York edi-.
tion of Sheldon Co. But the curious
fact is this. The order was telegraphed to
the New York peapers on the evening of
the I'd OF September, 1862.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
By direction ofths President, Major Gen.
eral Mcclellan will have command of the
fortifcation of Washington, and of all the
troops for the defense Of the Capital.
By order offhs Secretary Of War.
D. TOWNSEND, A. A. General.
This order seems to have raised storm
among the radicals which neither the
President nor the Secretary of War cared
to face, for the order was repubhshed in
an amended form, suppressing the name OF
the President and Secretary Of Var, and SO
far relieving them from any apparent con-
nection with the restoration of Mcclellan
to the command. On the Sd of September
dispatch came from Washington stating
that the order should read as follows,
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 1862. }
Mai. Gen. Mcclellan will have command
of the Notifications Of Washington, and OF
all the troops for the defence OF the capital
By command Of
Mai. Gen. HALLECK.
E. d. TOWNSEND, A. A. Ct.
"Can any one assign sensible reason for
this change of plain order except the de
sire to suppress the names ef the President
and Secretary of War in connection with
it, for the sake of preserving favor with the
radical enemies of Mcclellan?
"But mark the astounding truth now
first made plain and public, though our rea
ders will remember that We long ago infer.
ed it from other facts. Under that order,
ingeniously worded, and under no other
order or word of command from President,
Secretary of War OF Gen. Halleck, bearing
no authority but that which this tricked up
form of words doubtfully gave him, General
Mcclellan led the army into Maryland and
Gained the victories Of South Mountain and
Antietam Halleck, it will be borne in mind
expressly tells Mcclellan, in his dispatch OF
Oct. 26, 1862:
Since you left Washington, | have given
You no orders. Neither had any one else,
up to the close of Antietam."
The simple truth was that Mcclellan,
the only man in Washington tit for the oc-
casion. as the inaction of every one else
abundantly confesses, having been charged
with the defense Of the capital, mounted
his horse when be thought the time pro
ner one. and went into the field TO victory
and the salvation of the capital aud oil the
nation. President, Secretary OF War, hal
leck, all We're paralyzed so lar as anything
thew said or did remains TO indicate They
looked idly on while Mcclellan saved them
and the country. Halleck indeed sent
grumbling thunder after him over the wires.
Thus on the 9th Of Sept. Halleck telegraphs;
"Until We have better advice, bout the
number of the enemy at Drainesville, l
think we must be very cautious about
stripping too much the forts on the virginia
side"
"Again onthe 18th he growls: "You are
wrong in thus uncovering the capital =
Again ON the l4tb: "Scouts report large
force still on the Virginia side of the 70
tomac. If so, fear you are exposing your
left and rear" Again on the 10th, at IL;
O3 P. NJ, Halleck telegraphs: 81 think
Won will find that the force of the enemy
in your front has crossed the river. fear
now more than ever that the re-cross at
Harper's Ferry or below and turn your lett
thus cutting YOU off from Washington"
One can imagine the smile OF Mcclellan
as he read that last dispatch amid the
thunder of the canuon on the evening OF the
l6th-the evening before Antietam. And
Halleck after these daily fits Of tremor and
nervousness about McClellan's covering the
canital; after dispatch on dispatch, beg
eine Mcclellan not to get SO far OH from !.
the capital and leave him to the INVASION OF
the rebels; after discouraging every step OF
McClellan,s advance in Maryland, up to the
bonr Of victory at Antietam, thissame Gen.
Hallsck complains OF the slow advance OF
McrIsll.n in MARYLAND talks about the
astonishing fact that be marched only Jew
miles in a dayl-and writes an omcnire-
DE. ossnming the credit of the campaign