The sun., 1898-03-09
1IyCoLx AND M,cLEL1AM.
Denial or Lew wniincr's Story OF Lincoin's
Preventing A1eCIeIInn'a guaranteeing.

Preventing MeC1ctinn'a surrenderinH.
Below aro extracts from letter sent to Gen.
Low Wallace on the 9th inst. by Major vii.
liam Howard Mills. formerly Of the Fourteenth
United States Infantry. and now President
of the Washington Society OF the Fifth Army
Corps:
II is with surprise and sorrow that on tho
morning OF the l4th ult. read despatch stating
that in "a speech Mt n banquet at Lebanon on tho
evening OF tho 18th, in honor OF the eighiy.ninth
anniversary of President Lincoln's birthday,
you said: ~ ] was near washington tor and went en-,
o .Ss was sS nat
sick, and was solicitous. / kindly asked him y
he was unwcll. but ho said no., he was we'll
enough. but that he wns anxiously waiting for
the timo to arrive when n boat would start for
Harrison's Landing; that he wanted to 20 and
persuade Mcclellan not to surrender the army
10 Gen. Lee" The despatch also said: WAL
lace added that he had never told the story be-
'oSg YoS SHSe sny wSs near 0 Wilmington have
faithfully cndcnvorcd TO ascertain where you
we're from, June % until July Z, 1862 the day
The records indicate that you assumed com.
nnand OF the troops stationed at the city Of
Memphis. Tenn June ~ 1862 and were granted
leave Of absence June "a, 1862, for twenty days.
the leave being extended to July by order OF
the War "a W. department; ; nothing more; IL you you
dates mentioned, you failed to obey n general
order in not writing your name and address
upon the register kept for that purpose in the
office of the Ad jutnnt. General Of tho army. II
you were hero between tho dates referred to,
VI auvut thut tin u IL you VIII hlnuly uuN iSe III.
at which of the hotels you were entertained, l
will mako an effort to consult its register.
Your word would be acceptable ordinarily, but.
in so serious a matter. the friends of Mcclellan
desire visible evidence, and you may bo assured
that very many of his friends who were your
friends are your friends no more.
When President Lincoln visited the Army OF
the Potomac at Harrison's Landing he found its
commander preparing to renew the contest upon
the south side of the James. Approving Me-
Clellnns plans, he promised all the assistance in
his power to furnish Upon his return to Wash
inRt ton other influences prevailed. and the Army
of the Potomac was withdrawn from the PENN
suln against the protest OF Mcclellan and 10 the
great disappointment OF the army. 1t was an
unfortunate movement.
Gen. Grant says in his memoirs that immcdi-
ately ntter he had been appointed Lieutenant
General, II had Sherman accompany me that
far Nashvillel on my way back to Washington.
which wanted to see him without losing any
more time from my new command thnn was
necessary. Tho first point which wished 10
discuss was particularly about the co0perati ion
ut his command with mine when the spring
campaign should commence. There were also
the great Importance OF the question to be de-
cded by sanguinarv war; the restoration to
duty of officers who had been relieved from i'm
portant commands, namely. Mcclellan, Burn
side. and Fremont in the East. and Buell., Nc.
Cook, Negley. and Crittenden in the Vest
mond he had been over the Mcclellan route
without as great success as Mcclellan. and
passed to the south side of the James as Nc
Clellan advised President Lincoln he was about
to do AS l recently wrote celebrated his
torian 4" Grant was great as Cesar, but simple
rs child History. will vindicate Mcclellan.
WILLIAM IIowARD MuIs