Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-02-15
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Lincoln 5 lntuiitiue
knowledge Of
War
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GORGE B. MCCLELLAN
was "a years Of age when
he was given command Of
the Army of the Potomac
after Bull Run had sent a

frightened huddle Of Union
soldiers back to Washington.
Mcclellan had fought and won bat.
ties in West Virginia, and the people
in Washington, looking for leader
to replace the grave, superannuated,
egotistical General Scott, selected Nc
Clellan. Two weeks after his arrival
in Washington, in letter to his wife,
he said: II receive letter after letter,
have conversation after conversation,
calling on me to save the nation, al
luding to the presidency, dictatorship,
etc. AS hope one day to be united
with ycll forever in heaven, I have no
such aspiration. I would chesrfully
take the dictatorship and agreeEto lay
down my life when the country is
saved. l am not spoiled in my unex-
pected new position" On another oc-
casion he remarked: my relations
with Mr.. Lincoln were generally very
pleasant and seldom had tiouble
with him when we could meet face to
face. The difficulty always arose be-.
hind my back. believe that he liked
me personally, and certainly he was
always much Influenced by ne when
we were together"
There is no denying the fact that he
gave the raw, undisciplined troops ex
actly the sort Of setting-up exercises
and battalion drill they needed When
the Army of the Potomac, which was
his creature, came under the command
of Grant, the war could have but one
conclusion. There is justification for
the statement of General Meade:
"Had there been nc Mcclellan there
could have been no Grant, for the
army made no essential improvement
under any successors"
Mcclellan repeatedly urged that the
government should send him rein
forcements for a decisive assault UP
on Richmond. IF save this army
now," he said in a dispatch to the
secretary of war, II tell you plainly
that owe no thanks to you or to any
persons in Washington; you have
done your best to sacrifice this army. y
Lincoln's answer Of June % illus
trates his sympathetic readiness to
take the other mans point Of view:
"Save your army at all events. Will
send reinforcements as fast as we
can. /. . I feel any misfortune to you
and your army as keenly as you fee
1t yourself.
On the 9Th Of November Mcclellan
was relieved of the command of the
Army Of the Potomac and Burnside
was put in his place.
| d On the Oath of February, after the
Fredericksburg fasco, Burnside was re
moved from chief command and
Fighting Joe" Hooker put in his
place.
Lincoln wrote Hooker: II have
| placed you at the head Of the Army
| of the Potomac OF course I have
done this upon what appears to me-
sufficient reasons, and yet think i
best for. you to know that there are
some things in regard to which an
not quite satisfied with you.
81 believe you to be a brave ant
skilful soldier, which, Of course, like
i also believe you do not mix politics
with your profession, in which you arr
right. You have confidence In your
self, which is a valuable, II not indis
pensable, quality. a You are ambitious
which, within reasonable bounds, doe
good rather than harm. But ! thinl
thet during General Burnside'g com
mand Of the army you have take1
counsel ofGyour ambition solely AM
thwarted him, as much as you could
IN which you did q great wrong to "a
country and, to most meritoriou
and honorable brother officer. I hav'
heard, In such q way as to believ'
It, OF your saying that both the coun
try and the army needed 8 dictator
OF course It was not for, this, but i
spite Of It, that have given You th
command. Only those generals VIII
gain success can set themselves mp 9
dictators. What I ask Of you ~ mil 1ll
tary success, and ! will risk the dictt
torship. The government will suppoI
yon to the utmost Of It's ability, whi y I
8 neither more nor less than Y d