The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-31
GENERAL M'CLELLAN'S
NOTES OF THE EARLY DAYS OF
THE WAR.
How He Was Relehtlessly Pursued
BY Jealous Hatred, BY the Press
and the Politicians.

oismB OF MS motives ana Wofk, ana
which he heroically preserved mp to
The hour Of his death, will be broken
by his own memoirs on December LIST,
when the press OF Webster & Co. will
rive his volume to the world. 1t ia
not too much to say that this work
will be second in Importance only to
the memoirs Of Gen. Grant himself,
and in many respects 1t will posse,s an
interest not held by that OF the hero
OF AppomAtiox. From its modest pre-
face TO the final pages Of the book the
lamented author has endeavored only
TO trace his own connection with the
war and his impressions Of his asso
GATES in the field, not avoiding the
responsibilities which were the inev-
liable result Of bis position nor seek
ing to attach credit TO his own name
for the work which others performed.
The book is the flank and manly story
OF frank and manly life, told as the
stories OF brave men who have moth
ing 10 defend always are told, in the
hope, not OF wToDgiDg anyone else,
but OF siencing the unjust criticisms
OF political enemies for the benefit OF
a beloved p sterity. Written with
such motive and in no Tesentful
vein, he must be prejudiced partisan
indeed who for any reason withholds
the proper measure OF praise from it
or its famous author.
The preface OF the book explicitly
declares that Mcclellan never sought
either rank or command. Whatever,
ii says, Of that nature which came TO
him came without effort OF his own.
Desiring nothing 30 much as the sue
cess Of the North, he never consulted
his personal comfort or interests, and
consented, in view OF this, 10 maintain
the policy which seemed proper to
him without regard for the abuse
which early began to be his. The
simple and only assertion which he
elected to leave us ON this score is the
obviously truthful declaration that 81
Loyalty served my country in its dark
est hour, and that oilers, who during
their lifetimes have been more favored
than myself, would probably have
done no better under the CirCum-
stances which surrounded me, when,
twice least, l saved the Capital, once
created and once reorganized great
army" Not all his critics have been
30 modest.
As the secret history of that period
has proved Gen. Scott was one OF the
most formidable obstacles to early and
decisive action. OF this there was no
doubt in the mind OF Mcclellan at
least. "Gsn. Scott will not compre-
bend the DANGER he wrote at the
time to his bride of q year. 81 have
10 fght my way against him. Tomor-
row the question will probably be de-
eided by giving me absolute control
Independently Of him. l suppose it
will result in enmity on his part
against me, but / have no choice" OF
the historic September conference at
Gen. SCOTS Office, during which the
rupture between the two occurred,
Mcclellan says: "Before we go.
through the General raised row
with me- In the course OF the con-
yersa,ion he very strongly intimated
that We were no longer friends. Isaid
nothing, merely looked at him and
bowed. He tried to avoid me when
we left, but l walked square up to
him, looked him fully in the eye, ex-
tended my hand aud said; Good
morning, Gen. Scott He had to take
my hand, and 80 we parted. i have
one strong point-that do not care
one iota for my present position"
That it was not his intention to offer
battle until his forces were organized
the General frankly admits. $50 soon
as feel that my army is well organ
lied and we'll disciplined" he wrote,
~ will advances and force the rebels to
q battle in field OF my own selection.
A long Tins must yet elapse before /
can do this, and 1 expect all the news
papers 10 abuse me for delay" Nor
was he much disappointed.
Certainly II there Yves person in
the world 10 whom this chieltain, at
whose youth the President and seri-
Gus Senate marveled, would have COM
planned or murmured had he felt 3D.
inclined, 1t was to the accomplished
woman, then in her youth, who but a
short time before had linked her for
tunes with his. Yet not an unkind
word OF Scott appears in the letters
which he sent her nor even one OF ex-
ullatiUn over his seniors final retire
ment. 81 have already been up once
this morning-that was at 4 o'clock to
Escort Gen. Scott to the depot" he
writes on that eventlul day. II can
easily understand his sensations; and
ii may be that at some distant day
Zoo shall totter away from Washington
o worn out soldier, with naught to dc
but make my peace with God. Should
] ever become vAinglorious remind me
Of that spectacle. i pray" he then
goes on to say, every night and
every morning that i may become
neither van nor ambitious, and that
may keep one single object in view
the goo1 OF my country. At last an
the 'Msjor General commanding the
army | do not feel in the leas'
elated."
These letters II is policy TO remem.
Der we're written in the flush that fol.
lowed his elevation to the highest mil
Tssry office Of the day aud when any
secret hope he entertained would nat
urally have found it's way into his
home correspondence. But 81 re.
ceived letter after leit9," he writes
shave conversation aft3 eonversation
calling on me to save the nation, al.
luding TO the Presidency, dictatorship
etc. As hope one day to he united
with you forever In heaven, have nc
such gspiration.,' Nor was there the
iaintest wish needlessly to prolong the
st,ugg'e. On August Is, 1861, he adds
81 am here in q terrible place; the
enemy have from three to four timel
my force; the President cannot or viii
not sse the true state OF affairs. Most
OF my troops are demorAliEed by the
defeat at Bull Run; some regiments
even mutinous. am weary Of al
this. ! have no ambition only to save
my country and the incapables around
me will not permit it. They sit on thu
verge OF the precipice and cannot re
aliEe what they see. Their reply Il
everything is 'Impo7sible impoSsi
blep How many there were in thiI
broad land al the time who shared il
the delusive hope that the rebellion
was but an Insignificant revolt
Hinder the Tegiraints of A Cabinet n