The National tribune., 1909-12-30
ingness to go. 1t was agreed that Ksl-

Iingness to go. 1t was agreed that Kel-
Ter should start at once.
! The next morning the President sent
for Mcclellan. and In the presence Of
Halleck informed him Keller had re-
turned and found conditions much
worse than he had stated to Halleck
| the previous day-that there were &c.
| 600 stragglers on the road. and that
the army was entirely defeated and
falling back on Washington.
Had Mcclellan failed to move Hal
leck to send Keller to the nt-and
Halleck had continued to rely on Pope's
rosy dispatches for "a hours longer
what the outcome would have been can
be easily surmised
/ cite these facts to refute the charges
THAT Mcclellan did not give Halleck
and the Administration proper support
during those perilous days
The President further stated at this
interview that Washington was lost.
and Ha1leck said the same. He asked
Mcclellan if he would under the cir
cumstances. as a favor to him. resume
the command of the army
Prepared for Flight OF President.
Mcclellan accepted at once. and as
sured the President that he would
stake his life on saving the city. 1t
further appears that Secretary STAN
orders to the Commandant of the ar
senal for the removal of all ordnance
stores, and they were being put abroad
a ship to he removed to place of safe
~ to prevent their seizure by the enc
my. Mcclellan had to get the order
revoked before he could get a small
requisition honored for arms and am
munition. Furthermore, vessel had
been prepared for the flight of the
President
In a stormy Cabinet meeting the
same day the President was bitterly ac-
cused and assailed for putting McClel-
Ian in command again by Stanton.
Chase and others, Stanton going so far
as to say that he would sooner see the
city taken than have Mcclellan re-
turned to command.
In spite of all formidable opposition
10 his action, the President remained
firm and mistaken in his resolve. And
this courageous and patriotic action in
the hour of greatest peril to the Ma
ton is one of the brightest gems in the
crown of our evef-lamented and be-
loved President.
Mcclellan, in command once more,
was untiring in his efforts to make good
his promises to the President. The line
of forts around Washington were quick
ly made nonassailable, and the army,
now reformed and terminated by be-
ing once more under the command of
it's old leader, fought the battles of
South Mountain and Antietam, COM
pelling Lee to withdraw across the riv-
er, thereby assuring the safety of the
Capital
Mcclellan pointed out to Halleck the
uselessness of garrisoning Harper's
Ferry, and strongly advised its evacua-
ton and the release of the $4,000
troops, but Halleck would not consent
to it. Therefore, Mcclellan was not to
blame for the loss of those 1900.
Mcclellan always persisted that
direct advance upon Richmond was i'm
practicable on account of its strong
natural defenses. made stronger by
fortiffcations. and was always insistent
that it should operate on the Peninsula
route.
The Administration was even more
so determined that the army should op-
crate from the north, so as to cover
Washington. This variance caused most
of the trouble that ended in McClellan's
downfall.
Was Mcclellan right or wrong in his
determined opposition to moving upon
Richmond on this line?
Fighting on ''This Line''
You will remember that in a dis
patch to the President after q think it
was) the battle of Spotsylvania. in
which Grant had gained some slight
success, Gen. Grant, in announcing
same, said in closing his dispatch. IT
propose to go to Richmond on this
line," prompted, no doubt, as a de-
fiance to the contention of Mcclellan
that the route was impracticable. Let
US see the results of fighting ION this
line" Burnside lost at the battle of
1880 men, against a
loss to Lee of $500. Cen Hooker lost
at the battle of Charlottesville 1000.
against Lees $4,000. Grant lost in ali
in his several battles. ending with the
battle of Cold Harbor, $4,000 men, |
against Lees $4,000. Total Union loss
fighting ION this line" $3.50, against |
a loss by Lee of $1,000. These figures |
are taken from Redpath's Standard |
History.
After Cold Harbor Grant abandoned
this line" and changed his base to the |
James River, and finally settled down |
to the siege operations against Peters
burg and Richmond, confirming Nc |
clellans dispatch to Stanton when pro- !
testing against the order of removal of |
The army from the James, that the |
"a use of the Union should be fought |
Dut on the banks of the James," Nc
Cleilan never was defeated, and ALWAYS |
inflicted a greater loss than he re-
;eived. Mcclellan, with a loss of 15,-
700. drove Lee out of Maryland, and .
he invasion cost Lee 30,O00.-Wm. D. |
Masterson, Bluffs, Ill.