The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-11
MCCLELLAN AND STANTON.
The Formers Version of the Hostility Be-
tween Them-Stanton's Alleged Treachery.

Inc OrmerS version oil the Hostility Be-
tween Them-stanton's Alleged Treachery.
Boston Special.
An officer of the Army of the Potomac, under
Mcclellan, quotes the general version of the feed
between him and Secretary Stanton. The con-
versation took place at Bar Harbor, in August,
1854 when the officer visited the General to re-
quest him to be Bostons guest on the 18th OF
September following. The story purports to be,
in General McClellan's words: when President
Lincoln reassigned me to the command after
the second Bull Run, he said: Now, General,
before you leave Washington I wish you would
call upon Stanton and see if you cannot have a
good personal understanding with him.
"'Mr President, l said, I wish never again to
have any personal dealings with Mr.. Stanton,
and speak as much through regard for the men
of the Army of the Potomac, their lives and well
fare. as do on account of any il-treatment of
myself
!" Now, General the President said. at this
crisis in the affairs Of the Nation, consider what
damaging effect it would have upon the people
were it known that the commander Of the army
and the Secretary of War were at swords
points. Don't stop to consider longer / wish
you would see him before you leave for the
field
Mr. President replied, you are the COM
mander-in. chief. AS you order me, I obey; 1
will do so'
When shall send word to the Secretary
that you will be thereq
AT his Office the first business hour of to-
morrow
II appeared next morning at the Secretary's
office. He opened wide his arms to embrace me.
he protested that he had ever been my best of
friends. Others might be my enemies, and had
thwarted him in his efforts to render
me- the support which was so urjustifaby
withheld. 1 have now urged that you should
be recalled again to the command, said Stanton.
You are the only one to US. The army has
unbounded trust in you, and you have conf
dence in it. | want you, General Mcclellan, to
consider that one of your stanchest and
most loyal of personal friends Your being re-,
called again will now enable me. without any
restriction, to back up with all the resources
OF the War Depart ment. Your enemies will no
longer be able to interfere; they cannot, they
will not, pledge you. interfere. Go out to the
field IN the fullest assurance that you shall have
me here to strengthen your hands and supply all
and every need of your army
In response | assured the Secretary that in
my judgment all would be well for the cause if
the army was cordially supported and my efforts
sustained. | left in the trust that would now
celve adequate backing from the authorities.
Well, sir had not been gone out from the pres
ence of that Secretary two hours before he began
his old style of vifcaton of me. Stanton
seemed to have mortal hatred of every general
who stood we'll with the army. who was sue
cessful in the field I was informed of his ira
ducing me by gentleman whose honor could
not be questioned. When General Haleck was
at Washington in command, government and
social circles were scandallzed at times, and at
others amused by the petty spite shown by one
to the other. 1t was not an uncommon thing
for Stanton to tell some mean anecdote of the
General, and end off by avowng that Halleck
was the biggest liar in Washington. Stanton
was a singular compound, and I can only &C
count for much of the peculiar conduct of the
man on the ground that he was filed with some
sort of mad ambition"