...property, political executions of persons ... or forcible abolition of slavery" served as a warning that "a declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present army."69 Bowing to pressure from the radicals, Congress took this admonition as a show of disloyalty...

...for a moment. Military power should not be allowed to interfere with the relations of servitude. ... A declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present Armies." Whether such a declaration would have disintegrated Union armies is doubtful. But McClellan did represent...

...recommendations were that "forcible abolition of slavery should [not] be contemplated for a moment" and that any "declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present Armies," suggesting that Tidball's harsh condemnation of abolitionists may have originated with his general.5...

...forcible abolition of slavery should be contemplated for a moment." McClellan particularly warned that "A declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present armies." Carrying out the policy he had described, he said, would require a specially qualified army head. "I...

...organization of 305 states or forcible abolition of slavery should be contemplated for a moment." Any "declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery,...will rapidly disintegrate our present armies." The letter convinced Lincoln that "McClellan would not fight . . . that if by magic he could reinforce...

...Unless the principles governing the future conduct of our struggle shall be made known and approved, tho effort to obtain requisite forces will be almost hopeless....The policy of the Government must be supported by concentration of military power. The national forces should not be dispersed in expeditions, posts...

...recommendations as the new policy guide, "the effort" to raise fresh troops "will be almost hopeless"; worse, "a declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present Armies." Coming from the mouths of proslavery congressmen in the heat of Capitol debate, those words were simply...

...territorial organization of States, or forcible abolition of slavery should be contemplated for a moment ... A declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present armies." 52 Clearly the general's views were not shared by the president, who had already decided to draft an...

...the Emancipation Proclamation. In July 1862 General George McClellan warned President Lincoln that "a declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present armies." 64 Although McClellan consistently exaggerated the odds against any proposition he opposed, emancipation...

...that destruction of the Confederate army, not the capture of Richmond, should be the main objective: "The policy of the Government must be supported by...power. The national forces should not be dispersed . . . but should be mainly collected into masses and brought to bear upon the Armies of the Confederate...