Year: 1863

Of the gunboats, consider our commanica-
ttOns as secure. -


We are twenty-five miles from Richmond,
and are not likely to meet the enemy in force
sufficient to fight battle until we have reached
fifteen to eighteen miles, which brings us prac-
tically within ten miles of Richmond. Our
longest line of land transportation would be
from this point twenty-five miles, but with the
aid of the gunboats we can supply the army
CnroR s to
Creek we would be seventy-ive miles from
Richmond, with land transportation all the
way. From here to Fortress Monroe is
march of about seventy miles, for | regard it
as impracticable to withdraw this army and its
material except by land. The result of the
movement would thus be to march one hun
dred and forty five miles to reach point now
only twenty-five miles distant, and to deprive
ourselves entirely of the powerful aids of the
gunboats and water transportation Add to
this the certain decentralization of this army
which would ensue; the terrible depressing ef-
feet upon the people of the North and the
strong probability that 1t would influence for
eign powers to recognize our adversaries and
these appear to me sufficient reasons to make
1t my imperative duty to urge in the strongest
terms afforded by our language, that this order
may be rescinded, and that, far from recalling
this army, it may be promptly reinforced to
enable it to resume the offensive.


1t may be said that there are no reinforce
ments available. point to General Burnsides
force, to that Of General Pope, not necessary
to main ain q strict defence in front of WASH
ington and Harper's Ferry; to those portions
of the Army of the West not required for a
strict defence there. Here directly in front of
this army, is the heart of the rebellion. 1t is
here that all our resources should be collected
TO strike the blow which viii determine the
fate of this nation. All points of secondary
Importance elsewhere should be abandoned,
and every available man brought here. A de-
cided victory here, and the military streng| h OF
the rebellion is crushed. 1t matters not what
partial reverses we may meet with elsewhere,
here is the true defence of Washington: it is
here, on the bank of the James river, that the
fate OF the Union should be decided.


Clear in my conviction of right strong in
the consciousness that | have ever been, and
still am, actuated solely by love Ofmy country,
knowing that no ambitious or selfish motives
have influenced me from the commencement OF
this war: do now what / never did in my
lie before, [ entreat that this order may be re-
scinded. II my counsel does not prevail. |
will. with sad heart, obey your order to the
utmost of my power devOting to the move
ment, which clearly fOresee will be one of the
utmost de.icacy and difficulty, whatever skill
may possess whatever the result may be, and
may God grant that am mistaken in my fore
bodings. L shall at least have the internal sat
lstaction that l have written and spoken
frankly, and have sought to do the best i'll my
power to arrest disaster from my country.


GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major Gen.


The consideration put forth by General
MCCLELLAN, as above, and the failure OF
the Government to reinforce him, will APP
pear all the more remarkable, when it is
remembered that only $4,000 men stood
in the way of his receiving such reinforce
ments; by demanding $4,000, and the
government conceding him only 20,G0U,
which he regarded as ii'sufficien,