The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05

the DiStrlct OF OOiumDla, approving tle
act of Congress subjecting to confiscation
the property of rebels, and declaring free
such OF their slaves as should take refuge
within the Union lines; that the Federal
Government should be sustained, no mat
ter what Administration was in powerf and
pledging to the President and his Cabinet
| the most earnest. cordial, and determined
support; and lastly. pledgiDg themselves
to make ample pecuniary provision for the
support of the families of such of the citi-
zens of the District of Columbia as were
in the military service of their country
sr. LineoIn's Conservative Views.
resident Lincoln's speech on this oc-
casion was notable for its frank and rea-
sonable discussion Of alleged differences
existing between General Mcclellan and
the Secretary of War. Mr.. Lincoln said, in
part:
There has been a very widespread at
tempt to have a quarrel between General
Mcclellan and the Secretary of War. Now.
/ occupy a position that enables me to be-
lieve at least. that these two gentlemen
are not nearly SO deep in the quarrel as
some presuming to be their friends. Gen
eral McClellans attitude is such that, in
the very selfishness of nature, he cannot
but wish to succeed, and hope he viii be
successful. The Secretary of War is pre-
cisely in the same situation. If the mill
tary commander in the field cannot be sue
cessful, not only the Secretary of War, but
myself. for the time being the master of
them BOTH cannot but be failures. Some
times we hear a dispute about how many
men Mcclellan has had Those who would
disparage him say that he has had a very
large number, and those who would dis
parage the Secretary of War insist that
General Mcclellan has had but very small
number. The basis for this is, that there
is always a wide difference between the
grand total on McClellan's rolls and the
men actually fit for duty; those who would
disparage him talk of the grand total on
paper, and those who would disparage the
Secretary Of War talk of those present ard
fit for duty. a.
General Mcclellan has sometimes asked
for things that the Secretary of War could
not give him. General Mcclellan is not
to blame for asking for what he wanted
and needed. and the Secretary of War is
not to blame for not giving what he had
not to give. And | say here that, so far as
i know, the Secretary of War has with
held nothing from Mcclellan without my
approval, and / have withheld nothing at
any time in my power to give. / have no
accusation against him. / believe he is a
DTdNe anu dDle anu 1 SldHu mere. DIS
justice requires me to do, to take upon
myself what has been charged upon the
Secretary of War as withheld from him.
The first great demand for surgeons and
nurses to care for the wounded at the
front was made in Washington while the
second battle of Bull Run was in progress
(29th, 30th, and Dist OF August 1862.
Fully 1000 persons, employees of the
and others, assembled at the
Nsswtxr =.
Street southwest at o'clock in the after
noon of Saturday, the Goth, expecting
speedy transportation to the battlefield,
but owing to the failure to notify the en-
gineer of the train that civilians were to
have passage on il there was a delay of
four hours in getting started. 1t was not
until o'clock in the evening that the train
left with its load of humanitarians to carry
help and attendance TO the sick and wound
ed. After ride of ten hours they reached
Fairfax station and were unable to pro-
coed the remainder Of the distance owing
to the destruction by the Confederates of
the bridge over Bull Run. A few, more
hardy than the rest. pushed on to the
front. only to be peremptorily ordered back
by the officers in charge. So they all re-
turned to Washington. The following day
John Campbell. medical director of the
District of Columbia published a request
that all who were willing to receive into
their houses convalescent soldiers. in order
to make room for wounded soldiers, would
send their names to him stating the num-
Der they could accommodate.
SamarItans on BatfIefieIds.
The movement thus begun at Washing
ton to send surgeons and other assistance
to the battlefields instantly spread to all
the larger cities of the Northern States,
and all kinds of necessaries and even lux
uries were sent to the fighting men.
On September l. 1862, a rumor ws-s
spread that the Southern troops were about
to make an attack on the city. The same
day q number of wounded arrived and
many clerks from the departments went
dowE TO the Sixth Street wharf to assist
in transferring them TO comfortable quar-
ters. In consequence Of the threatened
danger TO the city. the Government clerks
into military companies for the
defence of the city. In the Interior De-
partment a company was formed contain-l
ing 40 men. under Captain J. NJ. Ed
munds. The Census clerks formed a COM
pany of eighty-fye men; the Patent office, !
one of 100 men. The Postoffice employees !
formed a company containing eighty-seven |
by Capt. R. X. Scott The |
first Lieutenant was C. F. Mcdonald. and |
The second lieutenant. William H Prayer |
The Treasury Department likewise organ |
lied company. but all OF the military or
CARNATIONS were in a measure independent |
Of any control by the War Department !
which was kept very busy at that time. |
The employees of the Government Printing |
Office formed a company containing about |
10 men. The total number of employees of |
the Government organized into companies
for the defence Of the city was thus abUit
!, Se0 men. The National Rifles, about
eighty strong. also rendered their services
Including this latter company there were |
by September 4. eighteen companies organ
ICED, the Interior Department furnishing |
eight. the Treasury FIVE, the Printing Of |
fee two, the Coast Survey one, the lost |
Office one. and the National Rifles another. |
The number was swelled by the arrival |
In the city of the One Hundred and |
New York and the TWEEN |
.ieth Michigan. The German Relief as
ISOLATION. organized to relieve and comfort |
he sick and wounded soldiers, performed |
admirable service at this time. The clerks |
IF the Third. Fourth, and Fifth Auditors
divisions We're organized on Wednesday |
syening, September 3, 1862. with D. II. |
Lush as captain. A. J. Bentley first lieu
.enaat and j. Hackett second lieutenant |
The stoneeutters and laborers at work on
he Caption organized two companies, one
If these being differed as follows: Cap
ain, Richa.d Morgan; first lieutenant. A |
Carroll, and second lieutenant, Joseph |
Sullivan Other employees at work on the
building organized another company, Off
,eTed as follows: Captain, c. II. 1homas:
irst lieutenant. c. Magruder; second lieu