Year: 1862




abandon his position at Harrison's Land
ing, in front Of Richmond, he sent the
following protest to the Government


BERKLEY, Va, August a, 1869.


Major Genera HaNeck, onsmonder-in-
Chig:-Your telegram of last evening is
received. | must confess that it has
caused me the greatest pain ever expert
enced, for am convinced that the order
to draw this army to Acquia creek will
prove disasterous in the extreme to our
cause. l fear it will be a fatal blow -
several days are necessary to complete the
preparations for so important movement
as this, and while they are in progress
beg that careful consideration be given to
my statement. This army is now in ex.
cellent discipline and, condition. We hold
debouchs on both banks of the James
river, so that we are free to act in any
direction, and with the assistance of the
gunboats, l consider our communications
as now secure. We are twenty five miles
from Richmond, and are not likely to meet
the enemy in force sufficient to fight battle
until We hrve reached fifteen to eighteen
miles, which brings US practically within
ten miles of Richmond.


Our largest line of land transportation
would be from this point twenty five miles,
but with the aid Of the gun boats we can
supply our army by water during its ad
vance, certainly to within twelve miles Of
Richmond. Acquia creek we would be
seventy five miles from Richmond, with
land transportation all the way. From
here to Fort Monroe is march Of about
seventy miles; for regard it as imprac-
ticable to withdraw this army and its
material, except by land. The result OF
this movement would then be to much one
hundred and forty miles to reach a point
now only twenty five miles distant, and to
deprive ourselves entirely OF the powerful
aids OF the gun boats and water tran,por-
tatlou Add to this the certain demorali
cation of this army which would ensue, he
terrible depressing effect upon the people Of
the North, and strong probability that it
would influence foreign powers to recognize
our adversaries; and these appear to me
sufficient reasons to make it my Imperative
duty to urge, in the strongest terms of our
! language. that this order may be rescnded
and that far from recalling this army, it be
promptly reinforced to enable it to reas
sumo the offensive. 1t may be SAID that
point to Gen Burnside's forces to that of
Gen. Pope, not necessary to maintain a
strict defence in front of Washington and
Harper's Fcrry-to those PORTIONS of the
Army of the West not required for strict
defence there. Here directly in front of
this army is the heart of the rebellion. 1t
is here that our resources should be col
lected to strike the blow which will deter.
mine the fate of the nation. A Il points
of secondary importance elsewhere should
abandoned, and every available man
brought here A decided victory here,
aud the mi tary strength of the rebellion
is crushed. 1t matt"re nor what partial
rever es we may meet with elsewhere. Here
/ is the true defence OF Washington


1t is here on the banks Of the James
river that the fate of the Union should be
decided. Clear in my convictions OF right
strong in the conciousness that have ever
been, and still am, actuated solely by love
OF my country, knowing that no ambitiou
selfish motives have influenced me from the
commencement of this war, l do now, what
l never did in my life before, entreat that
this order may be rescinded. If my
counsel does not prevail, l will, with a
sad heart, obey your orders to the utmost
of my powers, devoting to the movement
--one of the utmost d fficuty-whatever
skill | may possess. Whatever the result
may be, and may God grant that am mis-
taken in my forebodings, shall at leas
have the internal satisfaction that have
written and spoken frankly, and have
sought to do the best in my power to arres
disaster from my country.


GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN,


Maj jJr General.