rmy into a mighty fighting machine,
and hurl it against the Confederacy? I said to them: "I don't care what
his religion is, or his politics may be. The question is, not whether I
shall save the Union--but that the Union shall be saved. My future and
the future of my party can take care of themselves"--and I appointed
you.

McCLELLAN

And forced me to march against Richmond before I was ready!

LINCOLN

I ordered you to move, because it was necessary to forestall a great
tragedy. Your army of 180,000 men had gone into winter quarters around
a glittering camp over which a young Napoleon presided. Fools about you
daily advised that you proclaim the end of the Republic and establish
yourself as Dictator. You do not deny this----?

McCLELLAN

No. The fact is well known. Besides, Stanton, your Secretary of War,
was at that time my attorney, and he knew----

LINCOLN

Exactly. I took the bull by the horns and ordered your grand army to
move on Richmond. When you failed and retreated, I refused to dismiss
you against the fierce protest of my Cabinet. I left you in command of
half our men and appointed General Pope to lead the other half.

McCLELLAN

[_Sneeringly._]

And he led them to overwhelming disaster at the second battle of
Manassas----

LINCOLN

[_Quickly._]

For which disaster, you must share the blame. You were ordered to join
Pope. You didn't move. Pope was broken by a deliberate design, that was
little short of treason, sir. But instead of agreeing to the demand for
your trial by court martial, I did the most unpopular act of my life. I
reappointed you to the chief command of the whole army--defied public
opinion, and faced a storm of abuse in my party councils.

McCLELLAN

And when I led that superb, reorganized army to our first victory at
Antietam, you removed me from my command before I could win my
campaign.

LINCOLN

I removed you from your command because, after you had cut Lee's army
to pieces, and he had but 23,000 men left, and you had 75,000--three to
one--you lay down on your arms and allowed Lee to escape across the
river without a blow--while Jeb. Stuart with his cavalry once more
insulted you by riding around your army. Come now, can't we leav