The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12

credit for honesty or patriotism, and very seldom
| for any ability.
''At some time during the autumn of 1861 Sec
rotary Cameron made quite an Abolition speech
10 some newly arrived regiment. Next day
Stanton urged me 10 arrest him for melting to
naturalization. He often advocated the pro-
priety of my seizing the government and taking
affairs into my own hands.
"As he always expressed himself in favor of
putting down the rebellion at any cost. always
regarded these extreme views the ebullitions
OF an intense and patriotic nature, and some
time wasted more or less time endeavoring to
bring him to more moderate views never dream
ing that all the while this man was in close com
munication with the very MEN whom he 80 vio-
ently abused. His purpose was to endeavor to
climb upon my shoulders and then throw me
down"
Of bis relations with the President, Gen. Nc
Clellan says:
MY relations with Mr. Lincoln were general
ly very pleasant, and seldom had trouble with
him when we could meet face TO face. The diff
Guilty always arose behind my back. / believe
that he liked me personally. and certainly he
was much influenced by me when we were to-
gether. During the early part of my command
in Washington he often consulted with me be-
fore taking important steps or appointing general
officers.
'He appointed Hunter a major-general with
out consulting me, and, day or two afterward,
explained that her did 30 because the people of
illinois seemed to want somebody to be a sort of
father to them. and he thought Hunter would
answer that purpose
when he appointed as general officers, some
of the released prisoners from the first Bull Run,
| he afterward explained to be that he did 1t as a
| recompense for their suffsrings, unaware, no
| doubt that in other armies they would have
| been brought before some tribunal to explain
| their capture.
'Soon after arriving in Washington the Presi-
| dent one day sent for me to ask me my opinion
| of Hooker, who was urged for appointment as a
brigadier-general of volunteers. and stated that
| be wished me to regard the conversation as
strictly confidential. / told him that Hooker had
been good soldier in Mexico, but that common
| report stated that he had fallen il
| California, but that l had no personal
knowledge of this, and l advised him
| to consult with officers who were in California
! with Hooker He, however, gave him the ap-
pointment few days later. Remembering that
! this conversation was sought by the President,
and that he desired me to regard it as confiden-
tial, it was with no little surprise that learned,
after Antietam, that Hooker had been informed
| OF the conversation, except of it's confidential
nature. and that it was sought by the Presi-
| dent
las before stated. when Stanton was made
Secretary OF War; knew nothing of the matter
| until the nomination had already gone to the
Senate. Next day the President came to my
| house to apologize for not consulting me on the
subject He said that he knew Stanton to be
| friend OF mine, and assumed that would be
| glad to have him Secretary of War, and that he
| OF those fellows would say that had dragooned
| him into it.
.It was aparto of Mr.. Stanton's policy-only too
| well carried QUITO prevent PERSONAL interviews
| between the President and myself; he was thus
enabled to say one thing to the President and
exactly the opposite to me- few days later,
on the 9Th of March, 1862, the President sent for
| me at an early hour in the morning. about half
past z, and l found him in his Office. He ap-
| peared much concerned about something and
soon said that he wished to talk to me about "a
I very ugly matter asked him what it was;
and, as he still hesited, l said that the sooner
and more directly such things were approached
/ the better.
He then referred to the Harper's Ferry af-
fair 1.-THE boats being too wide for the lift-locks
etc. y upon which found that the Secretary had
deceived me when he said that the President
was satisfied. I told him what had passed be-
| tween the Secretary and myself at which he
| was much surprised He told me that he had
never heard of my memorandum or of any ex-
PLANTATION on my part. l then gave him my
statement of the matter, with which he expressed
himself entirely satisfied.
He then aGverted to the more serious or ugly
matter, and now the effects of the intrigues by
which he had been surrounded became apparent.
| he said that it had been represented to him
| land he certainly conveyed to me the distinct
| impression that he regarded these representa-
| tions as we'll founded) that my plan of campaign
(which was to leave Washington under the pro-
| lection OF sufficient garrison, it's numerous
weIl-built and we'll Notifications under
| the command of Banks, then in the Shenandoah
| valley, and to throw the whole active army sud-
| denly, by water. from Annapolis and Alexandria
| to the forts on the James river, and thence by
| shortest route upon Richmond) was conceived
with traitorous intent of removing its defend
| ers from Washington, and thus giving over to
the enemy the capital and the government thus
| left defenseless
'1t Is difficult to understand that a man of
Mr.. Lincons intelligence could give ear to such
aoomlnable nonsense. l was seated when he
said this, concluding with the remark that it did
| LOOK much to him like treason. Upon this
| arose, and in a manner perhaps not altogether
| decorous toward the chief magistrate desired
| that he should retract the expression, telling
| him that l could permit no one to couple the
word treason with my name. He was much
| agitated, and at once disclaimed any idea of
| considering me traitor and said that he merely
! repeated what others had said, and that he did
not believe word Of it. l suggested caution in
| the use OF language, and again said that would
| permit no doubt to be thrown upon my inten-
| tions; whereupon he apologized, and disclaimed
any purpose Of impugning my motives"
After the seven days's fight, Mcclellan wrote
| to stanton: I'm addition to what I have al
| ready said only wish to say to the President
| that think he was wrong in regarding me as
uEgenerous when I said that my force was too
| weak merely intiniated truth which to-day
has been too plainly proved. IF, at this instant,
/ could dispose of ten thousand fresh men I
could gain the victory tomorrow.
II know that a few thousand more men would
have changed this battle from defeat to vic
| tory. AS it is, the government must not and
cannot hold me responsible for the result.
II feel too earnestly tonight I have seen too
many dead and wounded comrades too feel 9TH
erwise than that the government has not sus-
tanned this army. If you do not do so now the
+ game is lost
''If / save this army now. ! tell you plainly
that l owe no thanks to you or to any other per-
son in Washington,
You have done your best to sacrifice this
army"
After Antietam, Mcclellan wrote to his wife:
do you know that have not heard one word
from Halleck, the President nor the Secretary
of War about the last great battlel ALL except
fault-indinc, that l have had since leaving
Washington was one from the President about
the Sunday battle, in which he says God
bless vou nd all with Won That 10 oil h.va.