THE WAR FOR THE UNION

THE SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IT

THE CIVILIANS WHO DIRECTED IT

AND

HIS RELATIONS TO IT AND TO THEM

BY

GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN

LATE MAJOR-GENERAL COMMANDING THE ARMIES

NEW YORK

CHARLES L. WEBSTER & COMPANY

1887

US 6283.7 (C.A)

Copyright, 1886,

BY ELLEN M. MCCLELLAN,

As Executrix of the last will and testament of Geo. B. McClellan, deceased.
(All rights reserved.)

H. J. HEWITT, PRINTER AND ELECTROTYPER,

27 ROSE ST., N. Y.

CONTENTS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF George BrinTON MCCLELLAN......

INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR..

CHAPTER I.

Causes of the war- -Principles of the Union-State-rights and

secession-Slavery-Immediate and gradual emancipation-

Douglas and Lincoln-War imminent-The South responsi-

ble-A slander refuted-McCleilan always for the Union-

Enters the service-Made major-general of volunteers in

Ohio...

CHAPTER II.

Beginning of the war in the West-Apathy at Washington-

Value of State governments-Incidents in organizing Western

army-Kentucky-Campaign in Western Virginia-McClel-

lan called to Washington...

CHAPTER III.

Private letters of General McClellan to his wife, June 21 to

July 21, 1861.

CHAPTER IV.

Arrival at Washington-Reception by Gen. Scott and the Pre-

sident-Condition of the capital-Takes command of the

Division of the Potomac-State of the army-Numbers, in-

crease, and position of troops..

PAGE

I

27

29-41

42-56

57-65

66-81

PAGE

CHAPTER V.

Private letters, July 27 to Sept. 30, 1861.....

CHAPTER VI.

The defence of Washington-Growth of an army-Foresight of

the magnitude of the war-Memorandum to the President-

Letter to Secretary Cameron...

82-92

93-107

CHAPTER VII.

Organization of the army-What an army is-Infantry, artillery,

cavalry, engineer troops-The staff and its departments-

Details of the creation of the Army of the Potomac....... 108-135

CHAPTER VIIL

Various generals-Scott, Halleck, Hunter, Sumner, Franklin,

Porter, Sedgwick, and others-Blenker's brigade-Scenes in

his command-The Hungarian Klapka-The French prison-

ers-Events in Maryland....

136-148

CHAPTER IX.

Conspiracy of the politicians-Edwin M. Stanton-Interview at

the President's office-Salmon P. Chase-Relations with Mr.

Lincoln-Anecdotes-President's military orders-Reduction

of army...

149-166

CHAPTER X.

Private letters, Oct. 1, 1861, to March 12, 1862...

167-179

CHAPTER XI.

Events in and around Washington-Ball's Bluff-Harper's Ferry

-Stanton's trick-Enemy's batteries on the Potomac.... 180-197

CHAPTER XII.

.....

Review of the situation-McClellan succeeds Scott in command

of all the armies-Their condition; general disorganization;

no plan for the war-McClellan's plans for the whole war-

Simultaneous movements throughout the country-Orders to