. . . . The night of the 1st November we went over to
McClellan’s. The General was there and read us his General Order in regard to
Stone’s resignation and his own assumption of command. The President thanked
him for it and said it greatly relieved him. He added: — “I should be perfectly
satisfied if I thought that this vast increase of responsibility would not
embarrass you.” “It is a great relief, Sir! I feel as if several tons were
taken from my shoulders, today. I am now in contact with you and the Secretary.
I am not embarrassed by intervention.” “Well,” says the President, “draw on me
for all the sense I have, and all the information. In addition to your present
command, the supreme command of the army will entail a vast labor upon you.” “I
can do it all,” McC. said quietly.
Going to Seward’s he talked long and earnestly about the
matter. He had been giving a grave and fatherly lecture to McC. which was taken
in good part; advising him to enlarge the sphere of his thoughts, and feel the
weight of the occasion.
Then we went up and talked a little while to the Orleans
princes. De Joinville is deaf and says little. The boys talk very well and
fluently. . . .
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 50-1; Tyler Dennett, Lincoln and
the Civil War in the Diaries and Letters of John Hay, p. 32-3.
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