Yes, my son, it removed him from
his command, and that, too, when he was close up with the enemy, and
was expecting every day to engage him in battle. I do not remember
that history records another instance where the commander of an
army, that had just gained a great victory, was so disgraced by his
own government.
The enemy could not have inflicted a more severe blow on our brave
army than was done by this act of our own government. A feeling of
disappointment and sorrow ran through the ranks, and the brave men
who had fought under and loved their commander, wept at the
injustice that took him away from them. It will, in time, be made
clear, my son, that the government committed a great crime against
our army by this act. It cannot be wisdom to remove a commander, so
popular with his army as George B. McClellan was, especially when
that army was on the eve of a battle. Such an act is sure to excite
dissatisfaction, and dissatisfaction destroys discipline. Nor should
such a commander be removed at so critical a time unless the
government were prepared to fill his place with one of equal, if not
superior capacity.
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