NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
November-December 1862
From The Missouri Democrat, Tuesday, November 11, 1862.
HALLECK ON M’CLELLAN.
His Captious Delays and Obstinate Disobedience of Orders.
Extracts from General Halleck’s Letter to Secretary Staunton [sic].
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, October 28, 1862.
To Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
SIR: In reply to the general interrogatories contained in your letter of yesterday, I have the honor to report:
First. That requisitions for supplies to the army under Major General McClellan are made by his staff officers on the chiefs of bureaus here; that is, the Quartermaster applies by his Chief Quartermaster on the Quartermaster-General; for commissary supplies, by his Chief Commissary on the Commissary-General, &c. No such requisitions have to my knowledge been made upon the Secretary of War and none upon the General-in-Chief.
Second. On several occasions General McClellan has telegraphed me that his army was deficient in certain supplies. All these telegrams were immediately referred to the heads of bureaus with order to report. There has not been, so far as I could ascertain, any neglect or delay in any department or bureau in issuing all the supplies asked for by General McClellan, or by the officers, or by his staff. Delays have occasionally occurred in forwarding supplies by railroad, on account of the crowded condition of the railroad depots, or of a want of sufficient number of cars.
Third. Soon after the battle of Antietam, Gen. McClellan was urged to give me information of his intended movements, in order that, if he moved between the enemy and Washington, the reinforcements could be sent from this place. On the 1st of October, finding that he proposed to operate from Harper’s Ferry, I urged him to cross the river at once, and give battle to the enemy, pointing out to him the disadvantages of delaying till the autumn rains had swollen the Potomac and give battle to the enemy or drive him South. I said to him: “Your army must move now while the roads are in good condition.” It will be observed that three weeks have elapsed since that order was given.
Fourth: In my opinion there has been no such want of supplies in the army under Gen. McClellan as to prevent his compliance with my orders to advance upon the enemy. Had he moved his army to the south side of the Potomac he could have received his supplies almost as readily as by remaining inactive on the north side.