Madison times., 1886-07-10

Il
to this period there had never been shadow
Of difference between General Mcclellan
and myself. 1t is true that l thought his
plan Of operations Objectionable as the most
expensive, the most hazardous and most
prOtracted that could nave b zen chosen, but
was military man, and while he was in
command | would not interfere with his
plan. and gave him every aid TO execute it
But when the case had assumed the form 1t
had done by his disregard of the Presidents
orders and by leaving the Capital exposed
to seizure by the enemy, was bound to act
even if had not been required by specific
written order of the President.
Will any man question that such was my
duty? When this order was communicated
to General Mcclellan 1t, of course, provoked
his WI ath, and the wrath of his friends was
directed upon me because | was the agent
- its execution. II the force had gone for
ward 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 difference
between the President and myself. But the
entreaties Of General Mcclellan induced the
President to modify his orders to the extent
that Franklin's Division being part of Me-
DOwelPS Corps that had been retained)
were detached and sent forward by boat to
Mcclellan. This was against ny Judgment
because thought the whole force Of Nc
DOwell should be kept together and sent for
ward by land on the shortest route to Rich
mOnd, thus aiding McClel an, and at the
same time covering and protecting W ashing-
| ton by keeping between it and the enemy.
| In this opinion Major Gen. Hitchcock, Gen.
Meigs and Adjutant Gen. Thomas agreed.
But the President was so anxious that Gen.
Mcclellan should have no cause of COM
plant that he orc e-ed the force to be sent
by water, alttodgh that route was then
! threatened jv tie MPrrimac.
NEVER A SHADOW BETWEEN THEM.
yielded my opinion to the Presidents
Ordef: but bCtween him aud me there has
never been the slightest shadow since | en-
tered the Cabinet, and except the retention
OF the force u,uer Mcdowell, by the Presi-
dents orLers, for the reason mentioned,
Gen. Mcclellan has pever made reout st OF
expressed wish that has not been prompt
" complied with, if in the power Of the gov
eminent. To me personally he has repeat
edly expressed his confidence and his thank:
in the dispatches sent me. Now. one wore
as to political motives. WHAT motives car
: have to thwart General Mcclellan? 1 an
not now, never have been and never will bt
, a candidate for any Office. | bold my pres
ent post at the request OF the Presideot whit
! knows me personally, but TO whom L ha,
not spoken from the 4th of March, 1881, un
. til the day he handed me my commission.
: knew that everything 1 cherish and boil
t dear would be sacrificed by accepting Office
But thought might help to save the cOur
. try and for that was willing TO perish. i
| wanted to be politician OF canddat
e for any ONCE would | stand between tn
4 Treasury and the robbers who are hOwlin
, around mef Would L provoke and stan
against the whole newspaper gang in Tn
country, Of every party, VINO, to sell new
: would imperil battle3
| was never taken for fool, but ther
could be no greater madness than for ma
: to encounter what do for anything els
S than motives that OverleaD time and loo
h forward to eternity. L believe that God A
:, mighty founded this government, and fC
, my acts in the effort to maintain it expe'
8 to stand before Him in Judgment. You WI
pardon this long explanation, which hs
been made to no one else. IL Is due to yO'
who was my friend when | was poor bO
a at school and had no claim on your frien'
shin or Kindness. 1t cannot be made publ
$ for obvious reasons. Gen. Mcclellan is
< the head of the chief army; he must hay
n every confidence and support, and am vii
: ing that the whole world shall revile II
: rather than to diminish one grain OF Il
g strength needed TO conquer the rebels.
IT a struggle like this justice or credit TO ind
y viduals is but dust in the balance.
d WHAT HISTORY WILL PROVE.
IS Desiring no Office, nor honor, and anxiot
II only for the peace and quiet or my home,
!. suffer no inconvenience beyond that whit
70 arises from the trouble and anxiety suffert
n by worthy friends like yourself, who a
n naturally disturbed by the clamors and ca
a umnies Of those whose interest and feelIr
q are hostile to me. The Official records W
II at the proper time fully prove:
ID FIRST. That have employed the who
ID power of the government unsparingiy
support General Mcclellan s operations.
II SECOND. That Ihave not interfered wi
ne or spared them in any particular.
ne THIRD. That the force retained from
expedition was not needed and could n
ny have been employed by him; that it was
el. tanned by express orders Of the Presldel
"a upon military investigation and upon {
40 best military advice in the country; that
'o retention was required to save the Capt.
m from the danger 10 which it was exposed
I'm a disregard of the Presidents positive
,ts ders on the 9th of March.
FOURTH. That between the Preside
III and myself there has never been the sllg
er- est shadow of difference upon any pol
save the detachment of Franklin's for
and that was a point of insignihcance,
oft in which was sustained by Generals Hit
)v- cock, Meiss, Thomas and Ripley, while
IN President yielded only 20 an anxious des
,is to avoid complaint, declaring at the sa
lie time his belief that the force was not nee
IN ed nv General Mcclellan.
Nv You will, Of course, regard this expla
ri. ton as being in the strictest confidence,
signed only for your information upon m
70 teIs wherein you have expressed conc
TO for me. The confidence of yourself and
at ike you is full equivalent for all the
- ing that has been or can be expended agai
lge me. and in the magnitude OF the cause
nld merely individual questions are swallow
en- up.
OK and am as ever. Truly yours,
m EDwN NJ. SrAHTo1