The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-02
KIDNAPPING MCCLELLAN.
An Interesting but Highly Improbable Story
of the Early Days of 1862.

of the Early Days of 1862.
w. T. Wilson, in Cincinnati Enquierer
Taking command of the Army of the Potomac
in the spring of 1862, Mcclellan transferred the
First Second, Third. Fifth and Sixth Corps to
the Peninsula, with headquarters at White
House Landing, at the head of York river
The first battle of any importance was at Will
iamsburg. where Hooker and Kearney succeed
ed in driving the confederates from the town.
Gradually advancing, the two armies came to-
gether at Seven Pines, where desperate battle
was fought, Lee retiring behind the Chickahom-
my river, leaving Mcclellan on the east side oe
the river, with his right flank toward Hanover
Court house, and his left on tine north bank of
James river at Malvern Hill. Mcclellan, miss
ing jackson in the late fights, became alarmed
lest that rebel general should leave Gordonsvlie
and follow the Virginia Central road to Hanover
Courthouse and flank him. Dspatching Fitz
John Porter with the Fifth Corps to cover his
right flank, he requested the authorities at
Washington that Mcdowell be allowed to leave
Fredericksburg and occupy Hanover Court house
to watch jackson while he took Rchmand. The
authorities, having wholesome fear of that
rapid moving rebel general refused to allow mis-
request, alleging that Mcdowell must be within
protecting distance of the capital While the
dispute was in progress General j. b. B. Stuart
startled the entire world with the most brilliant
cavalry raid record Crossing the Chick
ahominy river between Porter and McClel-
Ian he started the most destructive
raid of the whole war; burning Savage, Tunstall
anu DlSpdbcn StdGlOQS ana every OrlQSO on LILO
Richmond and York River railroad. and actually
burning the transports at White House Landing,
the base of supplies. Everybody supposed the
the daring raider Stonewall jackson. Sim
ultaneously with the raid Lee impetuously at
tackled Mcclellan who obstinately held his
ground until Porter formed junction with him.
and leaving line of communication broken and
his base of supplies in the hands of Mcclellan
started his seven-days' retreat through the
Chickahominy swamps toward Harrison's Land
inc f1<,,n hacA Nf T@h,
Porter, with the Fifth Corps. covering the re-
treat Fortifying Malvern Hill, Mcclellan
calmly awaited Lee, who, after drawing rein
forcements from Beauregard at Corinth, Miss,
via East Tennessee railroad, through Knoxville
Tennessee; Lynchburg, Virginia. into Richmond,
mpetuously attacked the works ON July q,
and was, with the aid of the feet in the James
River disastrously defeated. losing %, 600 killed.
wounded and missing
The next morning the whole army started to
occupy Richmond A sudden halt was called
when the alarming news ran like wild-fre
through the lines that General Mcclellan had
been kidnapped by General Sumner, brother of
Senator Sumner on an order from Stanton, and
placed in the hold of the iron-clad Galena and
sent to sea, and the command of the army given
to General Sumner, with orders to Immediately
ship the entire army to Washington City via
Chesapeake bay. That night Lee left 5, 500 men
in Richmond and started for Gordonsville and
Washington City. So rapid were his movements
that he mad formed a junction with Jackson, and
had reached Cedar Mountain by Aug 9. where
he met Sigel, Banks and Mcdowell, who had
united their commands for defense A desperate
series of battles followed daily and nightly for
nearly five weeks, ending with the surrender at
Harpers Ferry. Pope, who had been in command
since the 18th of August, proving incapable.
Lincoln, who had always been favorable to Nc
Clellan. insisted on his restoration to the chief
command, and just previous to the battle of
Antletam he suddenly sreappeared at head
quarters, one cool morning, and the tremendous
shouting carried terror into the ranks of the con-
federates, who easily interpreted its meaning.
Next morning. placing Burnside on his left
and Porter in reserve, he led the center and
right wing in desperate attack on Lees army
and routed him, the confederates leaving twenty
thousand dead and wounded the field. He
Immediately received orders from Washington
to hold a council of war, during which Lee
escaped Arriving at Newmarket, Va,
Washington, Mcclellan suggested a winter cam
paign. as Lee had been so long from his base of
supplies that he must be short of ammunition
clothing and rations. The next morning he was
relieved by General Burnside, who arrived at
Fredericksburg four days ahead of his pontoon
train, and was mercilessly slaughtered, a defea
which caused much conversation.