The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-08

ing placed in command of the Notifications of
Washington and of troops for defense within
them. was really in command of all troops here
at that time. The question was discussed by
the President for two or three days as to who
should take command of the troops that were
to go into the field. The decision was made by
himself and announced to Gen. Mcclellan in
my presence
Mr.. Johnson, in his narrative says the order
restoring Mcclellan to the army for the pro-
lection of the Capital was prepared by Col.
kelton, of Gen. Halleck's staff and was issued
by Adjt-Gen. Townsend as By order of the
Secretary of War" But Mr.. Stanton did not
give such order, and it was irreg gularly
given by the President he Mr.. Stantonl had
it made as "By order of Maj.-Gen. Halleck." ("
Two orders, therefore, were sent to Gen. Nc
Clelan.
Gen. Mcclellan says: II wish to know what
my orders and authority are / ask for moth
ing, but will obey whatever orders you give.
/ only ask prompt decision, that / may at
once give the necessary orders" Mr.. Stanton
on that same day wrote order, which was
issued by Gen. Townsend, defining certain COM
mands in Virginia. In this order Gen. McClel-
lan's command was stated to be " that portion
of the Army of the Potomac that has not been
sent forward to Gen. Pope's command"
Says Mr.. Johnson "As Mr.. Stanton has been
held responsible and has been severely criti-
cised for the terrible snubbing directed to Gen.
Mcclellan in this order, wish to state that it
was issued with the knowledge and consent of
the President and in consultation with him.
1t was that same order which gave Gen. Hal
leck command of all the forces as General-in-
Chief Mr.. Stanton never made an order in
regard to Gen. McClelan's command of any
Importance that did not receive the sanction of
the President. 1t was this very order that Mr..
Stanton had in his mind when. in that Cabinet
meeting he told the President that he had
virtually relieved Gen. Halleck of all responsi
bility under that order-which was the Presi-
dent's-when he put Gen. Mcclellan in COM
mand of the defenses of Washington
The Capital was saved and the battle of An
tietam was fought, but Mcclellan failed to pur-
sue Lee into Virginia and follow up his ad-
vantages. In an account written at that time
the situation and the feeling are thus described:
The President, in his intense anxiety for the
success of the Federal cause, would have well
coined Mcclellan as his own presumptive sue
cessor if he could have won that position by
successful battle. But the Generals inexpli-
cable slowness had at last excited the Presi-
dents distrust. He began to think before the
end Of October that Mcclellan had no real de-
sire to beat the enemy He set in his own
mind the limit of his forbearance. He adopted
for his guidance test which he communicated
to no one until long afterward. on which he
determined to base his final judgment of Me-
Clelan. If he should permit Lee to cross the
Blue Ridge and place himself between Rich
mond and the Army of the Potomac he would
remove him from the command. When it was
reported in Washington that Lee and Long
street were in Culpeper Courthouse. the Presi-
dent sent an order, dated Nov. ), 1862, to Gen.
Mcclellan directing him to report for further
orders at TrentoH, n. j., and to turn the COM
mand of the Army of the Potomac over to Gen.
Burnside"
This order was delivered to Mcclellan at
midnight in his tent by special messenger
from the President 46 days after he had fought
the battle of Autietam. During all that time
his conduct. especially his inactivity, was inex-
plicable to the President, who became inexora-
BILE. 1t is believed that in this final order Sec
,retary Stanton had no hand. He would have
dismissed Mcclellan long before could he have
done SO. Il have no doubt" says Johnson,
who was in position to know, had the Gem
eral fought his army as he ought, and could
have done, Stanton would have put at his
command all the power and resources of the
Government"
McCIellan's removal and the order sending
him to New Jersey occasioned great satisfaction
in the Cabinet and was widely approved by the
country.
All this shows, what was not before we'll
understood, the extent to which President Lin
coin assumed the responsibility in purely mill
tary affairs at most critical period. The pub
licatiOn of the article on Grant, and the terms
on which he accepted the Lieutenant-Gener-
alley, tends to make clear the difference between
him and Stanton at hardly less critical period
of the war, when Grant, by the order of Lin
coin, and against the views of Stanton. was given
the "one-man" power, which resulted in Lees
surrender. 1t can hardly be doubted that there
were still other occasions when Mr.. Lincoln
"t took the responsibility" and overrode STAN
ton. The quality of greatness in both the
President and Secretary was in nothing shown
so plainly as in the exercise of power in great
emergencies by the one, and the acquiescence
and cordial support of him by the other.