Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-31

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der these circumstances and in view Of the
m0mentous consequences attendant upon
a failure to succeed, did not feel myself
authorized to attack until after l had
made more careful examinations Of the
enemy's position, strength and defensive
works. These examinations are now be-
ing made" To this General Halleck inn
medialely replied, "You are strong
enough to attack and defeat the enemy
before he can effect a crossing. Act up
on your own judgment and make your
generals execute your orders. Call no
councils OF war. II is proverbial that
councils Of war never fight. Reinforce
ments are pushed on ~ rapidly as posi-
Bile. Don't let the enemy escape"
The following morning Mr.. Lincoln's
apprehensions and his prediction were
realized by the receipt Of the following
from General Meade:-
"On advancing my army this morning
with view Of ascertaining The exact
position Of the enemy and attacking him
II the result OF the examination should
justify me, found on reaching his lines
that they were evacuated. Immediately
put my army in pursuit, the cavalry in
advance. Your instructions as to further
movements in case the enemy is entirely
across the river are desired" General
Halleck replied, ssThe enemy should be
pursued and cut up wherever be has
gone. ! cannot advise details asI do not
know where Lees army is, nor where are
your pontoon bridges. need hardly say
to you that the escape OF Lees army
without another battle has caused great
dissatisfaction In the mind of the presi-
dent and it will require an active aud en-
ergetic pursuit on your part to remove the
impression that It has not been sufficient
II so heretofore" Quickly the reoIy
came:-'' Having performed my duty con-
scientiously and to the best Of my ability,
the censnre of the president conveyed in
your despatch OF this day is, in my iudg-
ment, so undeserved that feel compelled
to most respectfully ask to be immediate
" relieved of the command OF this
army To which General HalIeck re-
plied:--" My telegram stating the disap-
pointment OF the president at the escape
OF Lees army was not intended as q cen
sure but as 3 stimulus to an active pnr-
suit. It is not deemed q sufficient cause
for your application to be relieved.w
In q message to General Simon Gamer
on in answer to one from him on the 18th
Of July, 1853, Mr. Lincoln said, 81 would
give much to bs relieved OF the impress
sion that Meade, Couch, Smith and all,
since the battle Of Gettysburg, have striv-
en- only TO get the enemy over the river
without another fight Please tell me, II
you know, who was the one corps COM
mander who was for lighting in the coun-
ell Of war on Sunday night"
Subsequent events undoubtedly re-
moved this impression from Mr.. Lin
coins mind, and bis confidence in 0ener-
al Meade was fully restored.
Late In the afternoon Of August z,
1853, while was alone in the ofice, Mr..
Lincoln came In bringing long message
which be had wriFten with his own hand,
addressed TO Governor Seymour Of New
York. He sat down at the majors desk
aud carefully reviewed It, and then called
me TO sit BY him while be read II over. 80
that might understand II and see that
II was properly transmitted. He ex-
planned to me something Of the occasion
of Il, q special messenger having come
over from New York with q long srgu-
ment from Governor Seymour, urging.
among other things, that the draft
should be suspended until the supreme
court had decided as to the constitution
atty Of the draft law; and he told me a
funny story about q Boston minister who
had been drafted, and his criticism upon
that method Of recruiting the army, The
message to the governor was in part e.
follows:--
"YOur communication Of the third in
slant has been received and attentively
considered. ] cannot consent to suspend
the draft in New York As you request be-
cause. among other reasons, time Is too
/ important.
IL shall direct the draft to proceed in
all the districts, and II you please, agents
Of yours may witness every step Of the
process. Any deficiency which may APP
pear by the new enrolment will be sup
piled BY a special draft for that object,
/ allowing due credit for volunteers who
may be obtained from these districts re-
spectively during the interval. And ct
aII points so far as consistent with practi-
cal convenience, due credits will be given
for volunteers, and your excellency shall
be notified of the time fixed for COM
mencing draft In each district. | do
not object to abide a decision Of the
United States supreme court or Of the
judges thereof, on the constitutionality
Of the draft law. In fact ! should be
willing TO facilitate the obtaining Of il,
but cannot consent to lose the time
/ WHilc IL - DcluA uuthtucus we afc Iou-
tending with an enemy who, as I under
stand, drives every abIe-bodied mal he
can reach into his ranks very much IS q
butcher drives bullocks into slaughter
pen. No time is wasted; no aRgQnent ii
used. This produces an army which will
soon turn upon our now victorious sol
| diers already in the field il they shall not
be sustained BY recruits as they shonld
be. It produces an army with a rapidity
not to be matched on our side If We first
waste time to re-experiment with the vol
unteer system, already deemed by Con
greHs, and palpably in fact. so far exhaust
ed as to be inadequate; and then more
time to obtain n court decision rs Il
whether law Is constitutional which re-
quires part of those not now in the
service to go to the aid Of those who arr
already in it, and still moro time to deter
mine with absolute certainty that we gel
those who are to 60 in the precisely lega
proportion to those who are not to 60.
ssMy purpose is to be in. my action
Just and constitutional, and yet practica
in performing the important duty with