Abraham Lincoln (1897) (14775492744)

Identifier: abrahamlincol1479coff (find matches)
Title: Abraham Lincoln
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Coffin, Charles Carleton, 1823-1896 Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Sovereign Grand Lodge
Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Presidents
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers



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that you neglected it. The army under McClellan was on its way to Fortress Monroe. Ineighteen days time 121,000 men, nearly 15,000 horses and mules, 1150wagons, 260 cannon, and 74 ambulances were transported from Alexan- PRELIMINARY TO EMANCIPATION. 31( dria, besides provisions, camp equipage, ammunition, and a vast amountof other material. General McClellan left Washington to join the three corps of hisarmy—Heintzelmans, Sumners and Keyess—which had preceded him.McDowells was to follow. Startling information came to the^ ■ President from General Wads worth, informing him that he hadonly 19,000 troops to garrison the forts and defend Washington! Atthe conference of the commanders of the four array corps, held atFairfax Court-house (see page 307), Generals Keyes, Heintzelman, andMcDowell had agreed that if the forts on the Virginia side of thePotomac should be fully garrisoned, and those on the Washington sideoccupied, there must still be left a covering force of 25,000. General
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GK>.EKAL WADSWOKTH. 316 IJFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Sumner, commanding a corps, said that a total of 40,000 must be left.Was not General Wadswortli mistaken ? Could the information be cor-rect? The President directed Generals Hitchcock and Thomas to in-vestigate the matter. They reported it Avould require 30,000 men toman all the forts, Avhich, with 25,000 as a covering force, would makea total of 55,000 to render the capital secure. The requirement of thePresident has not been fully complied with, they said; whereupon Mr.Lincoln issued an order that McDowells corps should remain. In speaking of this action of the President, McClellan says : It frus-trated all my ))lans for impending operations. It made brilliant opera-tions impossible. It was a fatal error.() Yorktown was held by a Confederate force of 11,000 men underGeneral Magruder. His line extended thirteen miles along WarwickCreek. McClellan saw breastworks and fortifications with cannon. Hesent this despatch to the President: