The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-05-25
Mcclellan, Lincoln, and Stanton.
INNER HISTORY OF THE PENINSULA CAM
PAIGN.

PAIGN.
Gen. VIM. B. Franklin, one of the ablest
Generals of the Army of the Potomac, writes
to the weekly Times the following interesting
account of the criminal interference with
| General McClellan's Peninsula campaign,
which so crippled his plans as to make their
failure sure:
On the Sth of March / was ordered to re-
pair to headquarters. Assembled there were
the General-in-chief, the Chief Engineer of
the Army of the Potomac, and all the divis-
ion commanders, except General Hooker,
who was represented by General Naglee.
General Mcclellan submitted to US his plan
for the movement of the army, and then left
us to ourselves. Upon the question of ap-
proval of his plan, the vote was, l think,
nine for approval to three against it, al
though it has been reported as eight to four
The numbers are not material, as the main
object of the meeting was to obtain con-
demnation of the plan by the subordinate
generals. Immediately after this meeting we
were informed that the President wished to
see US. We went to the White House, and
found there the President and Secretary of
War. They knew the result of our meeting
Each one of us was asked in turn by the
Secretary Of War our opinion of the time
required to transfer the army to the new
base. The general opinion was that a
month would be required, and each one was
asked whether he was willing to have this
suffering country wait month longer before
a blow was inflicted upon the enemy. We
were then asked the question whether we
thought the army ought to be organized into
army corps or not. We unanimously an
swered that we thought it ought to be so Or
ganized. The President then informed us
that he deferred his opinion as to the proper
method of moving the army to ours. He
asked us to use all our energies to help the
country out Of its great dangers, and ended
by saying to us, "If you are faithful to me,
I, on my part will be faithful to you" He
then said he should form the Army of the
Potomac into four army corps, and knowing
bnt little of the capacities of the generals
suitable for the command of these corps,
should assign the commands by rank. The
meeting was then dismissed.
General Johnston having evacuated his
position at Centreville on the Sth of March,
the army was Immediately moved to Fairfax
Court House. Here the assignment to corps
was made, and my division was assigned to
General McDowells corps. Shortly after
ward, about the middle of March, we return
ed to a position in front of Alexandria to
await transportation. 1t was determined
that the bulk of the army should be landed
at Fortress Monroe, and move up the PENN.
sula between the York and James rivers
, and that General McDowell's corps should
land on the north side of the York river
This arrangement required that Genera
McDowell's corps should move last, ant
General Mcclellan with his headquarters
left Alexandria on April l, he supposins
that nothing could occur to change his ar
rangements.
On the 3D. of April was ordered to EN-
bark my division. AT about eleven o'clocl
in the evening I received orders to NOV,
part of the division on the next day, and tc
call at headquarters for further instructions
Going at once to the War Department
found General Mcdowell and Genera
Wadsworth there. General Mcdowell in
formed me that the Secretary of War haC
told him about an hour before that Genera
Mcclellan intended to work by strategy ant
not by fighting, and that he should not hav
= another man from his department, that al
the enemies of the Administration centere
/, around him, and the Secretary accused hin
of political aspirations Also that he ha
=, not left the number of troops to defen
4, Washington that the President required--i
other words, that he had disobeyed the Pre-
sident's orders. General Mcdowell remon
4, strated against the step which was about t
; be taken, arguing that if General McClella
A had political aspirations they would be fol
warded by the very course which the At
> ministration was taking in this case. II
used all of the arguments which he coul
bring to bear to convince the Secretary ths
y he was making mistake in ordering the d
=, tachment of his corps. The result WI
Gen. McDewelPs corps was detached frol
: the Army of the Potomac and was marche
), TO Catlett's Station on the,Orange and Alel
! andrla Railroad, where it could do no poss
BILE good. General McClellan's plan
- turning Yorktown, by the movement
. McDowell's corps on the north bank of Il
. York river was utterly destroyed. The A
my of the Potomac was forced to stay
! whole month on the Peninsula uselessl
- and the capture of Richmond, which in &
human probability would have been MAJ
in the month of May, had General McClt
al lan's plan been carried out was deferred
tn ee years.
Thus was consummated the first great crir
r of the war. A general had been sent fro
le Washington in command Of four army cor
on the most important command possib
Before he had been absent forty eight hou
his largest corps, commanded by his seco
nj in command, containing more than OF
fourth of his army, detailed for duty whi
IN was vital to the success of his campaign, v
ne detached from his command, without cc
sultation with him and without his kno,
:" edge. do not know whether the perpet
ce tors of this crime were punished for it in I.
ad life, but the ghastly account of bloodshed
'r- Virginia for the next three years shows Il
H. the innocent country was punished, in a "
RI that will be remembered by widows and
Tor phans for generation.
to
Is When Daniel Webster was i'll from oy
L .uIArl. hut ol L. L =