The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01
THE LATE GEN. MCCLELLAN.
Judge Kelley's Expose-The General a Weak
Man in the Hands Of Politicians.
Washington Special.

washington Spoc1al.
General Mcclellan died just as Judge Kelley's
little book is being issued. He must have known
of the intended publication, but it is doubtful if he
saw or knew in detail the contents. Judge Kelley
calls his little work 'Lincoln and Stanton, "but the
principal character in it is George B. Mcclellan.
Inspiration for the publication was furnished by
the article which General Mcclellan wrote for
the May Century. No such excoriation of a
leading character in the late war has appeared
in any of the numerous controversies as this
revelation regarding Mcclellan. The Pennsyl-
vania congressman reveals the truth of history
as known to him and as learned from Lin
coin and Stanton, and he is pitiless in
holding the now deceased soldier
up as a lamentable and conspicuous failure, a
weak man in the hands of designing politicians.
Had the death come sooner, Judge Kelley would
not have written this book, or at least, he would
not have dealt so mercilessly with him. He
narrates conversations with Lincoln and Secre-
tary Stanton to show how they trusted to Nc
Clellan's Judgment and allowed him the greatest
possible latitude, and then he arrays facts to
show how the trust was, if not betrayed, at least
badly abused. There were periods when Nc
Clellan so far forgot the courtesy due the Presi-
dent that he obliged him to come to his head
quarters to learn what was going on. And all
that time the headquarters was the rendezvous
of what Judge Kelley calls the party of mac
ton. There Vallandigham and Pendleton, and
politicians of that stripe, were at home, and
they controlled Mcclellan. On one occasion,
the Judge says, Lincoln was kept waiting
an hour at headquarters before he could
get an audience with his general, who was en-
aged with Vallandigham. AS illustrative of
McClellans lack of forethought, the author tells
how the General planned to temporarily bridge
the Potomac near Harper's Ferry for the pas
sage of his troops by canal boats, and he had a
fleet constructed which, upon trial, were found
to be too wide by several inches for the locks.
and had to be abandoned. The secret history
of the scheme which led to the Pen
insular campaign is given, and in this Mcclellan
appears in the worst position of all his service.
According to the author, the outlines for this
campaign were drawn by General Naglee and
Senators Rice and Lapham, and submitted to
Lincoln and Stanton as McClellan's views before
the General knew anything about them. So
completely was the General in the hands of a
cabal that he went into this campaign as a tool
rather than a leader 1t was represented to the
administration that Mcclellan was we'll acuuaint-
ed with the topography of the peninsula,
while, in truth, he was wholly ignorant
of it. To give the plans the appearance of be-
ing we'll considered, it was proposed that
they be submitted to a council of Twelve division
generals. Mcclellan kept away from the coun-
Gil because he was not sufficiently informed upon
the plans to be able to answer questions. Han
cock was left out of the council for a purpose,
and Mcdowell was made the chairman to keep
him from talking too much. Thus, by a council
which had been packed for the purpose, seven of
the generals being in the conspiracy, this PENN
sular campaign was approved, and the series of
costly blunders was entered upon, all to be
charged up to the deceit p~racticed by Mcclellan
and his controlling clique upon Lincoln and
Stanton. If Judge Kelley's book be what he
claims-the truth of history-Gen. Geo. B. Nc
Clellan must stand henceforth as worse than a
failure, a weak creature, controlled and used by
the enemies of Lincoln and Stanton, if not of
the country.