The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-28

Present, the President. Governor Chase,
Governor Seward, Postmaster-G General,
Gen. Mcclellan, Gen. Meies, Gen. Frank
lin, and myself, and, 1 think. the Assist.
ant Secretary of War. The President,
pointing to a map, asked me to 60 over
the plan 1 had before spoken to him Of.
tie at the same time made a brief exple-
nation of how he came to bring Gen.
Franklin and Gen. Mcdowell before aim
| mentioned In as brief terms as possible
what Gen. Franklin and had done under
the Presidents order. what our investiga-
tions bad been directed upon, and what
were our conclusions as 10 going to the
front from our present base. in the way I
have heretofore stated, referring also to
a transfer of a part of the army 70 another
base further South. That we had been In
formed that the latter movement could
not be commenced under month to six
weeks, and that movement to the front
could be undertaken in all Of three weeks.
Gen. Franklin dissented only as to the
time l mentioned for beginning operations
in the front, not thinking we could get
the roads In order by that time. added,
commcace operations in all of three weeks
to which he aSsented. concluded my re-
marks by saying something apoloeetic in
explanation of the position in which We
were. To which Gen. Mcclellan replied
somewhat coidly, IL not eurtly: You are
eatitled to have any>opinion you pleased
NO discussion was entered into by him
whatever, the above being the only remark
he made. Gen. Franklin said that, in Civ
ing bis opinion as to going to York River,
he did il knowing that it was In the direc-
ton Of Gen. McCieIlan's plan. 1 said that
had acted entirely in the dark. Gen.
Melgs spoke OF his agency in having us
called IN by the President The Presi-
could be done, again going over somewhat
the same ground he had done with Gen.
Franklin and myself. Gen. Mcclellan said
the case was SO clear blind man could
see it. and then spoke of the difficulty of
ascertaining what force he could count
upon; that he did not know whether he
could iet Gen. Butler 60 to Ship Island,
or whether he could reinforce Burnside
Much conversation ensued. of rather gen
eneFal character, as to the diacrepancy be-
tween the number of men paid Tor and the
number effective.
M'GEILAN RErIcENr.
The Secretary Of the Treasury then put
a direct question to Gen. Mcclellan TO the
effect as to what he intended doing with his
army, and when he intended dcingr it, 5sAf-
ter long silence, Gen. Mcclellan answered
that the movement in Kentucky was to pre-
cede anyone from this place. and that that
had directed Gen. Buell. If he could not hire
wagons for his transportation, that he must
take them. After another pause he said
he must say he was very unwilling to de-
velop his plans, always believing that in
military matters the fewer persons who
were knewing to them the better; that he
would tell them If we was ordered to do so.
The President then asked him il he count
ed upon any particular time; he did not
ask what that time was, but had be In his
own mind any particular time fixed when
movement could be commenced. He re-
pliel he had. Then rejoined the Presi-
dent, L will 'adjourn this meeting"
Ito be continued