Maj. Garrard called to speak about North Carolina and Genl.
Foster. Foster has now 3d. N. Y. Cav., and of Infantry, 17, 21 and 25 Mass, 9
N. J., 2 Md., and 5 R. I., supported by Albemarle and Pamlico Fleet, say ten
gunboats. Foster wants reinforcements, — several regiments of Infantry and
another Regiment of Cavalry. Maj. Garrard desires that if another regiment of
Cavalry is sent, Col. Mix should be made Brigadier.
Genl. Keyes and Maj. Bannister, with Genl. Garfield and Maj.
Garrard, formed our breakfast party. Genl. Keyes spoke of the disposition in
the army (McClellan, etc.) to disfavor. Republican officers. Genl. Garfield
mentioned the case of a young Republican officer ordered to Kansas in 1856, who
was told by his Colonel that he would not allow him to remain in the Regiment
if he remained Republican. Genl. Keyes spoke of the chaplain at West Point as
the most perfect specimen of a Northern man with Southern principles he ever
knew, and said that when the new Regiments were organizing under Jeff Davis, as
Secretary of War to Pierce, eleven out of fifteen officers were appointed from
the South, and when he remarked upon it he was challenged to select the eleven
better men.
Went to Department, and with Gov. Morton to see the
President about [furlough] to enable Indiana soldiers in camp to vote; which he
promised. Left the Governor with the President. Saw Col. Hamilton and arranged
interview for him. Met Wadsworth and Cochrane. Asked Cochrane to breakfast.
Genl. Cochrane breakfasted with me, and after breakfast
conversed freely about McClellan. He said McClellan would like to retire from
active command if he could do so without disgrace, which could be accomplished
and a more active General secured by restoring him to chief command, where he
would now act in unison with myself. I explained frankly my relations to McClellan
— my original admiration and confidence—my disappointment in his inactivity and
irresolution — my loss of confidence and conviction that another General should
replace him — my constant endeavor to support him by supplies and
reinforcements, notwithstanding my distrust, when the President determined to
keep him in command — my present belief that I had not judged incorrectly, but
my entire willingness, also, to receive any correction which facts would
warrant; and my absolute freedom from personal ill will, and my entire
readiness to do anything which would insure the earliest possible suppression
of the rebellion. He said that Col. Key had often expressed his regret that
MeClellan had not conferred with me and acted in concert with me. I replied
that I thought, if he had, the rebellion would be ended now; but that I feared
concert between us impossible, our views, dispositions, and principles
harmonizing so little. He said he would talk with McClellan and write me. I
answered that I should be glad to hear from him, and was quite willing he
should report to McClellan what I had said.
At Cabinet, the President spoke of his visit to the Army at
Sharpsburgh, and the battle fields of Antietam and South Mountain. He said he
was fully satisfied that we had not over 60,000 men engaged; and he described
the position of the enemy and our own — the enemy's being much the best, his
wings and centre communicating easily by the Sharpsburgh road parallel with the
stream. He expressed no opinion as to Generalship, nor of results.
Seward asked what news of the Expedition to Charleston?
Secretary Welles [said] the necessary iron-clads could not be ready in less
than a month. I was much disappointed by this statement, remembering that ten
days of a month were up; and said at once that I hoped then we should not wait
for the Navy but at once organize a land force sufficient to take the city from
James Island. Mr. Stanton agreed in the importance of this, and proposed to
order Mitchell's and Garfield's Brigades from the West — send Garfield at once
to South Carolina with these Brigades and two more Regiments—and let Mitchell
go to work immediately. He said also that he proposed at once to organize an
Expedition to open the Mississippi, and give the command of it to McClernand.
The President seemed much pleased with both movements—but Halleck remained to
be consulted. Would he oppose the President and Stanton? I thought not.
I left the Cabinet with more hope than I have felt for
months.
At the President's, I met W. H. Aspinwall and invited him to
come and dine with me; which he did. In conversation, I enquired what he
thought of the idea of selling some $50,000,000 of Five-twenties at about the
market rate? He thought it should be done but doubted whether more than 97½ could
be obtained. I said I hoped to get 99 or 99½. He then spoke of his visit to
McClellan and seemed greatly to desire my cooperation with him. He mentioned
that Burnside had heard that I blamed him for having Porter restored to
command; but thinks I would not if I understood all the circumstances.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 101-4
No comments:
Post a Comment