Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-01-21
Justice to Mcclellan.

The following is from Gideon Welles,
member of Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet.
While it needs no comment, it con-
firms many things said by us during
the war, and recalls many memories
when Washington came within an
ace of being overcome by the confeder.
ates, and would but for the facts re-
lated below. The period related to
is Immediately after the defeat OF
Pope IN front of Washington, and
when the advance of the victorious
enemy upon the National Capitol car
ried dismay throughout the country :
AT the stated Cabinet meeting on
Tuesday, tho Cd of September, while
the whole community was stirred up
in confusion, and affairs were gloomy
beyond anything that had previously
occurred, Stanton entered the conn
Gil room few minutes in advance of
Mr.. Lincoln, and said, With great ex-
element, he bad just learned from
General Haleck that the President had
placed Mcclellan in command of
tho forces at Washington. The IN
formation was surprising, and in view
of the prevailing excitement against
that officer alarming. The Presi
dent soon came in, and, in answer to
M inquiry from Mr.. Chase, confirmed
what Stanton had stated, General
regret was expressed, and Stanton
with some feeling remarked no order
to that effect had been issued from the
War Department. Tie President
camly but with some emphasis, said
the order was his, and he would be re.
eponsible for it to the country. With
rctreating and demoralized army
tumbling in upon us, and alarm and
panic in the community, it was neces.
sary, the President said, that some
thing should be done, but there seemed
to be no one to do it. He therefore
had directed Mcclellan who knew
this whole ground, who was the best
organizer in the army, whose faculty
was to organize aud defend, and who
would here act upon the defensive, to
take this defeated and broken army
and reorganize it.
The 81. Louis Republican contrib
utes an anccdote relating to this
crisis
Mcclellan, stripped of his command
and left mere spectator of disasters
he was powerless to avert, had retired
to Washington, and was sitting one
evening in his office, in company with
Delos b. Sackett now Inspector Gen
eral of the army. This officer had
been on McClellan's staff during the
Peninsular campaign, and was conse.
quently perfectly familiar with the
ombarrassments under which he had
labored. They were eonversing upon
the gloomy situation Of affairs, and
indul ging in those reflections which
that situation would naturally give
rise to, when there was u sharp ring
nt the door bell. The servant came
in and announced the President and
Gen Halleck. Mcclellan rose at once,
and seeing his distinguished visitors
in the hall. ushered them into pri-
vate reception room in the rear. AT.
ter brief consultation be accompa.
MED them to q carriage in waiting,
returned TO the Office and remarked
quietly: "Well, Sackett, | am in
command of the Potomac again -
His friend started up in surprise, and |
exclaimed instinctively, 81 hope,
General, you did not accept it without
suitable misunderstanding guar
antccs against further interference on
the part of the Executive. Mcclellan
looked at him with a peculiarly sol |
emn expression he could never after
wards forget, and said, very slowly |
and deliberately. "Sir, when the
President of the United States tells
me with tears in bis eyes that / am
the only man who can take command |
OF this army and save the country, it
is no time to ask for guarantees. We
will leave for the front tomorrow
morning at daylight"
They did leave at daylight, and tbe
campaign of Antietam did save the
country.