The National tribune., 1886-06-17

10000 rnw recruits with not single organized bri-
gade. A dash like that made ashort time before at
Winchester would at any time take the Capital OF
the Nation The report Of the force left to defend
Washington and the order of the President were
referred to Ma. Gen. Hitchcock and AdJtGen
Thomas to report
]. Whether the Presidents orders had been COM
Piled with
2 Whether the force len to defend the city Of
Washington was sufficient
They reported in the negative on both points.
These reports we're submitted 10 the President,
who also consulted Gen. Totten. Gen Taylor. Gen.
Meigs and Gen Ripley. They agreed in the Opin-
ion that the capital not safe. The President
then, by written order, directed to retain Of
the army corps for the defense of Washington
either summers or McDowelfs. As part of sum
ner's Corps had already embarked, directed
sIcDowell to remain with his command. And the
reason was approved by the President.
Down TO this period there had never been a
shadow of difference between Gen. Mcclellan and
myself 10 II true that thought his plan of opera
ton Objectionable, the most expensive, the most
hazardous and the most protracted that could have
been chosen, but not n military man, and
while he was in command would not interfere
with ms plan, and gave him every ard to execute
10. But when the case had assumed the form it had
done by his disregard Of the Presidents orders and
by leaving the capital exposed TO seizure by she
enemy, was bound to act even II had not been
required by the specific written order Of the Presi-
dent.
viii any man question that such was my duty2
When this order communicated to Gen.
Mcclellan IT, of course, provoked his wrath, and
the wrath Of his friends was directed upon me be-
cause was the agent Of its execution.
Hthe force had gone forward as he had designed.
believe that Washington would this day be in the
hands of the rebels.
Down to this point moreover there had never
been the slightest differences between the President
and myself But the entreaties Of Gen. Mcclellan
induced the President to modify his orders to the
extent that FranSlin's Division tbeng part of Nc
/ DowelFs Corps that had been retainedl was de-
/ tached and sent forward by boat To Mcclellan
This was against my Judgment because thought
/ the whole force of Mcdowell should be kept to-
gether and sent forward by land on the shortest
/ route TO Richmond. thus aiding Mcclellan and at
| the same time covering and protecting washing
| ton by keeping between IL and the enemy. In this
/ opinion Ma. Gen Hitchcock, Gen. Melgs. and
i Adj teen. Thomas agreed But the President was
| 50 anxious that Gen. Mcclellan should have no
cause for complaint that he ordered the force to be
sent by water. although that route then threat
| ened by the Merrimac 1 yielded my opinion to
Il the Presidents order, but between him and me
there has never been the slightest shadow since l
| entered the Cabinet, and except the retention Of
/ the force under Mcdowell by the Presidents or
ders for the reason mentioned, Gen. Mcclellan has
never made a requst nor expressed a wish that has
/ not been promptly complied with, n IN the power
| OF the Government.
/ To me personally he has repeatedly expressed
his confidence and his thanks in the dispatches sent
me- Now word as TO political motives What
motives / have to thwart Gen. Mcclellan? i
am not now, never have been, and never viii be q
candidate for any office. hold my present post at
/ the request of the President who knew me per-
sonally. bat to whom had not spoken from the
/ ith OF March, 1861, until the day he handed me my
commission. i knew that everything / cherish
and hold dear would be sacrificed by accepting
Office. but thought might help 70 save the coun-
try and for that was willing to perish If wanted
to be politician or a candidate for any office,
would stand between the Treasury and the rob-
bers who are bowling around me? Would pro-
woke and stand against the whole newspaper gang
ia the country, Of every party, who to sell news
would imperil q battle?
1 was never taken for fool. but there could be
no greater madness than for man TO encounter
what do for anything else than motives that
leap time and look forward to eternity.
believe that God Almighty founded this Gov
raafa in afffs 10.
il expect to stand before Him in Judgment. You
will pardon this long explanation which has been
! made to no one else. 10 Is due to you who was my
friend when was a poor boy at school, and had
no claim upon your confidence or kindness. 10 can
not be made public for obvious reasons. Gen. Me-
Clellan - at the head Of our chief army. he must
! have every confidence and support and am will
ing that the whole world shall revile me rather
than to diminish one grain of the strength needed
to conquer the rebels. In struggle like this, JUS
tee or credit 70 individuals is but dust In the bal
ance.
Desiring Office, nor honor and anxious only
for the peace and quiet Of my home suffer no in
convenience beyond that which arises from the
trouble and anxiety suffered by worthy friends
like yourself, who naturally disturbed by the
elamors and ealumnies of those whose interests OF
( feelings are hostile TO me.
The official records will at the proper time fully
1. That have employed the whole power of the
Government unsparingiy to support Gen. MeClel-
/ lsH's operations.
| 2 That | have not inteTfered with or thwaTted
/ them in any particular.
3 That the force retained from his expedition
was not needed and could not have been employed
by him; that il retained by express orders oi
the President upon military investigation aud upon
the best military advice in the country that its
retention required 20 save the Capital from The
danger TO which 10 was exposed by disregard oil
the Presidents positive orders of the 9Th Of March.
A. That between myself and the President there
never has been the slightest shadow Of difference
! upon any point save the detachment of Franklin's
forces, and that point of no significance but
IN which / was sustained by Gems. Hitchcock
Meigs, Thomas and Ripley, while the President
yielded only to an anxious desire to avoid COM
plaint declaring. at the same time his belief thai
the force was not needed By Gen. Mcclellan.
You will. of course, regard this explanation as
being in the stTictest confidence, designed only fO
your information upon matters where you have
expressed concern for me.
The confidence Of yourself and men like YOU is
full equivalent for the railing that has baen
be expended against me- and in the magnitude o
the cause all merely individual questions swal
lowed up.
/ shall always rejoice to hear from you and am
/ as ever truly yours. EDWIN NJ STANTON.
Rev. HAMMOND DYER.
Ask for Ayers Sarsaparilla, and do not TAX,