Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1865-01-19
Al IHsIDE VIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN OF THE
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

Msior General Mcdowell made spteeh in San
Francisco recently in which be gave some carious and
interesting statements statements never given to the
people before-of the campaign OF the Army OF the
Potomac while under the command OF Mcclellan. The
folio wing is astatement given by him of private in
tervi. he bad with Lincoln while the authorities we're
mapping out the campaign Of the spring OF 1862:
1t the 10th OF January. 1862 that, being at
q dinner at Arlington, received telegram and soon
after confidential NOTE saying the Preside wished to
see / went to tie White uouse, and ushered
into the northeast room where found the President
and General Fra kim The President appeared to be
greatly depressed in consequence OF the desperate con-
ion OF the national afirs with an exhausted treas
ury the telling OF hostility of foreign nations, The
frighfu condition Of he national anance Jacobins in
Congress- the want Of operation between the leading
generals of the army Buell. Haileck, correspond
ing direct with Arlington, would have 90 coriespon
dence with each other, and than oil, the sickness
OF Gen. Mcclellan. and the ors ioaction OF the Army
CT Potomac, be said IF something s Dot done
With tie army to the conatry, the whale bottom
ot the thing will fal out Lsad cheers. AID laugh
.sr.
'I in unnecessary to enter into details Of this COZ
versstion La 1eier-pcs to the movement Of hs army
favored its goiog into Alexandra Ieneral Fraukn
vas 10 favor OF its going By the way Of York river
VS. had four or five interviews ca this subject with the
President, and ordered BY him to obtain all posi-
bic information from the q of the stat, b.
able &c know she,her anything could be done wheth
the Amy OF The Potomac cHald be brought nto toe
field against the eaemy.
Mcdowell here charges that Mcclellan teigaed SICK
ness to keep from seeing the President ..s'# BE-
CAT the ED OF two three days, Mcclellan having
got we'll, the President informed as that be would tak
charge OF the army be would dispense With further pro
ceedngs With u.s. but wished General Franklin and my
self to meet him again, with General Mcclellan. A
this mee,isg the President explained him why he had
consulted with General Franklin and myself, going over
much the same grounds be had done with as. General
Mcclellan said the case Was so plain that blind mar
could Sic it. ~.--@'~ - 81. "
At this subs, qnent meeting, when Mcclellan, the
Pres dent General Franklin, myself and several mem
bers of the Cabinet pr sent, tha subject OF the
plans for conducting tn Campaign WAS brought up.
member of The Cabaet asked Mcclellan what he int
ded to do with the army and when he intended don:
it. After making very long pause, he stated that III
very much averse to making his plans knows, bu
would do it ordered by the President; but STATED
that any m3nt of The Army of the Potion &C mus
be preceded by Bue's army IN Kentucky, which was
to tn ough Cum nrlauI Gap 10 loxvll!e, to cu
of railroad Gum. III cations Aud this, by this bad,
supplied army, two States kentucky and len
nessee-whiist De- suoseq1eu. OCCASION, at or Dea
Harpers Ferry. declared himself uDable 10 move III
fine army The best road, more than twenty O
twenty-five miles from The terminus Of a canal or rail-
road" lAppause