The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-25
DANA'S "REMINISCENCES
THE LATE EDITOR TELLS SOME Sc
CRET HISTORY OF THE WAR.
What stanton Thought About McCIeI-
mission to .Size Up Grant.
From Advance Sheets of Mcclure's Maya

IN the Tribune Office with Mcclellan. He
had been placed in command of the Army
OF the Potomac in the preceding August,
and since Nov had been in command OF
all the armies of the United States; but,
while he had proved himself an excellent
drillmaster, he had, at the same time,
proved that he was no general at all. His
friends were loyal, however, and whatever
success our armies met with was attrib-
uted to his generalship.
When the capture of Fort Donelson was
announced McClellan's friends claimed that
he had directed it by telegraph from his
headquarters on the Potomac. Now, the
terminus of the telegraph toward Fort Don
elson was many miles off from the battle
field. Besides, the absurdity of a general
directing the movements of battle thou
sand miles off, even if he had fifty tele-
graph wires, leading to every part of the
field, was apparent. Nevertheless, McClel-
lan's supporters kept up their claim. On
Feb 20, the Associated Press agent at
Washington, in reporting meeting of a
railroad convention at which Mr.. Stanton
had spoken, said
Secretary Stanton, In the course of his
ADDRESS, paid a high compliment to the
young and gallant friend al his side Major
General Mcclellan, in whom he had the ut
most confidence, and the results of whose
Lnlltary schemes, gigantic and Well-ma-
tureu, were now exhibited TO rejoicing
hands, implored Almighty God to aid them
and himself, and all occupying positions
under the government, in crushing out this
did not believe Stanton had done any
SUCH thing, so l sent the paragraph to him.
The secretary replied; :. -.
Dear Sir-The paragraph to which Won
cailed my attention was a ridiculous and
impudently impertinent effort to puff the
general by false publication of words |
never uttered. SaE Barlow one of the Sec
retarieS of the meeting, was it's author as
l have been informed. 1t is too small a
matter for me to Contradict, but / told Mr.
Kimlen, the other secretary, that / thought
the gentlemen who invited me to be present
at their meeting owed it to themselves to
see that one of their own officers should not
misrepreSent what l said. 1t was for them
and due to their own honor to see that an
officer of the government might commune
cate with them in safety And if it was not
done | should take care to afford no other
opportunity for such practices.
THE fact is that the agents of the AS
ISOLATED Press and gang around the fed
eral Capitol appear to be organized for the
purpose of magnifying their idol.
And II such men as those who composed
the railroad convention in this city do not
rebuke such a practice as that perpetrated
in this instance they chnnot be conferred
You will, of course, see the propriety of
my not noticing the matter and thereby CIV
ing it Importance beyond the contempt it in
spires. think you are well enough ac-
quainted with me to judge in future the
value of any such statement.
II notice the Herald telegraphic reporter
announces that / had a second attack of
illness on Friday and could not attend the
department l was in the department or in
Cabinet from a. m. until at night, and
never enjoyed more perfect health than on
that day and at present.
For your kind solicitude accept my
thanks l shall not needleSsly impair my
of nSpflllnoSS Yours truly
EDWIN M. STANTON.
&c. A. Dana, Esq.
certain military hero in the telegraph Office
at Washington last Sunday organizing VIC
tory, and by sublime military combinations
capturing Fort Donelson six hours after
Grant and Smith had taken it sword in
hand and had victorious possession. 1t
would be {. picture worthy of Punch"
From Washington went back to New
York. had not been there long before
Mr.. stanton sent for me to come to Wash
ington. He wanted some one to go to
Grants army. he said to report daily to
him the military proceedings and to give
such information as would enable Mr.. Lin
coin and him to settle their minds as to
Grant. about whom at that time, there
were many doubts, and against whom there
will you go?" Mr.. Stanton asked.
Yes" I said. Very well" he replied.
THE ostensble function 1 shall give you
will be that of a special commissioner of
the War Department to investigate the pay
department in Western armies but your
real duty will be to report to me every day
what you see.'
On March II Mr.. Stanton wrote me the
following letter:
War Department. washington City.
Dear Sir-I inclose you a copy of your
order of appointment and the order fixing
your compensation, with a letter to Gen
erals Sumner.* Grant and Rosecrans, and
draft for $1,000 Having explained the pur-
poses of your appointment to you person
1efr lows
unless specially required. Please acknowl-
edge the receipt Of this and proceed as
early as possible to your duties You, Yours.
&C. A. Dana, Esq, New York
My commission read:
- Ordered, That e. A Dana, Esd, be and
er of the War Department to in
gHfestigate and report upon the con on
western armies All S paym mn saeg and s as
sstant paymasters will furnish to the said
commissioner for the secretary of war in
which he makes inquiry of Them as fully
and completely and promptly as If directly
called for by the secretary of war. Rail-
road agents, quartermasterS, and commits
sioners will give him transportation and
subsistence. All officers and persons in the
service will aid him in the performance of
his duties and will afford him assistance,
courtesy and protection. The said commits
sioner will make report to this department
as occasion may require.
rhe letters of introduction and explana-
ton to the generals were identical
General-CharleS A. Dana, Esq, has been
appointed a special commissioner of this
department to investigate and report upon
the condition of the pay, service in the
Western armies. You will please aid him
in the performance of his duties and COM
municate to him fully your views and wish
es in respect TO that branch of the service
in your command and also give to him
such information as you may deem bene-
fetal to the service. He is specially COM
mended to your courtesy and protection.
f'YourS truly, EDWIN NJ STANTON.'
I at once started for Memphis, going by
way of Cairo and Columbus.
THE DANA CIPHER.
sent my first dispatch to the War De-
partment from Columbus on March 20. 1t
was sent by a secret cipher furnished by
the War Department, which 1 used myself,
for throughout the war 1 was my own
cipher clerk. The ordinary method at the
various headquarters was for the sender to
write out the dispatch in full. after which
it was translated from plain English into
the agreed cipher by telegraph operator
or clerk, retained for that exclusive pur-
pose, who understood it, and by another re-
translated back again at the other end of
the line. So whatever military secret was
transmitted was at the mercy always of at
least two outside persons, besides running
the gauntlet of other prying eyes. Dis
patches written in complex cipher codes
mitted by the operator with the greatest
precision. wrong word sometimes de-
stroyed the sense of an entire dispatch and
important movements were delayed there
by. This explains the oft-repeated Il do
rot understand your telegram" found in the
i0fa of