The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-01-23
MCCLELLAN AND STANTON.

Thu publication of snatches Of Gen. Nc
Clellaas report, within the last few weeks,
is clearing up good many things which
hitherto remained unexplained, and
among others, the reason why Secretary
STANTON regarded him with sucn a malg-
nant hate. We take it the following
scathins letter, written by Mcclellan inn
-mediately after he had affected bis peril
Gus retreat to Harrisons Landings re-
treat which would have been wholly un-
necessary had not Stanton withheld frosa
McClellan's support the promised aid OF
Nc quite abundant reason
| why Stanton should 5e anxious to get lit
tie Mack out Of thew
BITTER LETTER TO STANTON.
On the night Of the 2Sth, sent the fol-
lowing letter to the Secretary of War:
HEADQUARrERs Army OF THE PoroMAc,
SAyAGE's STATION,
June 2S, lS62-l22O, a. m.
now know the full history of the day
On this side Of the river, the right bank,
No repulsed several strong attacks. On
the left bank our men did all they could
do, all that soldiers could cconPlish, but
they were overwhelmed by vastly superi-
or numbers, even after i brought my last
reserves into action. The loas on both
Be the most desperate battle of tho war
Tho sad remnants of my men behave as
men, those battalions who fought most
bravely, and suffered most, are still in the
best order. Tho regulars we're superb,
/ hat l>ff IN
another battle in company with their gal
liant comrades of the volunteers Had
twenty thousand or even ten thousand
fresh troops to use tomorrow, | could
take Richmond; but have not man in
reserve, and shall be glad to cover my re-
treat, and save the material and personnel
Of the army. II We have lost the day, we
have yet preserved our honor, and no one
need blush for the Army of the Potomac
! have lost this battle because my force
was too small
l again repeat that l am not responsible
for this, and | say it with the earnsstness
Of q General who feels in his heart the
loss Of every brave man who has been
needlessly sacrificed to-day I still hope
to retrieve my fortunes, but to do this the
Government must view the matter in the
same earnest light that l do You must
send me very large reinforcemsnts, and
send them at once.
l shall draw back to this side Of the
Chickahcminy, and think can Withdraw
all our material. Please understand tina.
in this battle We have lost nothing but
men, and these the best we have
In addition to what have already SAID,
only wish to say to the President that |
think he is wrong in regard ng nae as un-
generous. when l said that my force was
too weak-I merely minated a truth
which to day has been too plainly proven.
If, at this instant, could dispose of ten
thousand fresh men could gain the vic
tory tomorrow
l know that few thousand more men
would have changed the battle from
defeat to a victory. AS it is, the Govern,
ment must not, and cannot, hold me re.
sponsible for the result
feel too earnestly Tonight have
seen too many dead and wounded comrades
to feel otherwise, than that the Govern,
ment has not sustained the army. If YOU
do not dc so nov the game is lost
II save thi. army now, | .ell you plain
ly, that owe no thanks to you, or anv
other person in Washington.
You have done your best to sacrifice this
army. G. 3 MCCLELLAN
To Hon. E. NJ. STANTON