, 1873-12-21
LINCOLN AND MCCLELLAN.


Some secret 1Iistory-StAtementa by
Ex-secrotary Wclles and by y Pnr-
tisan Of - Little Mnc.,'
Fron. the ST. Louss Republican,
Tho following extract IL from IN article in tho
GALAXY magazine for December written by tho
Hon. Gideon Welles, ox-SecretarY Of the Nary,
The period alluded to ig Immediately after The
defeat Of Popo III front of Washington, mud
when the advance Of the victorious cnomy upon
tho National. Capital carried dismay throughout
tho country:
At the stated Cabinet meeting on Teaay, tho I'd Of
September, whilo tho wAoe community WIS stirred III,
thing that Ind previously occurred. santon entered
the council room few minutes In aayanra Of Mr, Lin
coin, and said, with great excitement, he had Just
learned from Gen. Halieck that the President had
placed Mcclellan III command Ut tho forcca IN Waeh-
Of the prevailing excitement uRatst that officer aarln-
1ng Tho President Aoon came tn md, III nnBwcr to
~ inquiry from Mr. Chase confirmed what Stanton had
aomo feeling remarked that TO order to that effect
had Issued from the War Department. The President,
lis and he would bo responsible for 1t to the country
With retreatinG and demorAlizcd army tumbling IN
Wis nesessn1y lie prestdent M sa. int somens
should DO done but there seemed to 10 no oue to do
it.. ue tlerefore hAd directed Mcclellan, who knew
this whole ground who way tho best organizer in to
army, whose faculty to organize and DEFEND md
who would here act upon the lefcusiyo TO take this
dcfeatea and broken army md reorganize It.
We arc able to contribute IN arecdote relating
to this crisis in the history Of tho War, which
will throw now and interesting light upon tile
! events narrated By Mr.. Wollea. Mcclellan,
stripped Of luis command and left more gpecta-
tor OF disasters ho was powerleRs to avert, hal
retired to Washington, and was sitting ono eyon-
ing III his of1ico in company with DeloB 3 Snck-
cit, now Inspector General Of tho army. This
officer had beon on McClellan's staff during the
PonnBular campaign, and was, consequently,
perfectly familiar witl the enbarraaHmentB under
which ho had lahored on account Of tho
persistent aud ill-advieed interference Of
War. The frienda were conyorsiDg together
upon the gloomy Bttuation Of affairs, and indulg-
ing iu thoao epcculations and reflections which,
that situation would naturally give riaa to, when
suddenly there was sharp ring ut the. door,
bell. Tho servant camo III aud announced tho
President and Gen. Halleck. Mcclellan roae at
once, aud seeing Ills distinguished visitors In the
hall uslered tllom into a private reception-room
in the rear. Aftor brief consultation ho ac-
c0mpanied them to carringe in waiting, roturn-
cd to the ofllco aud remarked quietly: "Well,
Sackett, am In command Of the Army OF the
Potomac again." His friend started up in sur
prise, and exclaimed inBtinctively: 81 hopo,
General, you did not accept it without suitable
ther Interference on tho part OF the Executive.
Mcclellan looked ut him with peculiarly solemn
expression lie could nevor afterwards forget, and
said worry slowly and deliberately: stSir, when
tho President Of tho United States tolls mo with
tears In his eyes tint nm tho only man who can
take command Of this army and save the coun-
try, II is no time to ASH for guarantees. We will
light"
They did leave at daylight, aud the campaign
OF Antieta1n did save the country.