Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland) (1808-1873) to Abraham Lincoln
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00776 Author/Creator: Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland) (1808-1873) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 30 August 1862 Pagination: 2 p. ; 26 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Petition to President Lincoln recommending "the immediate removal of George B. McClellan from the Command of any army of the United States," signed by Chase, Stanton, and Smith. These three members of Lincoln's cabinet feel "constrained to urge this by conviction that after a sad and humiliating trial of twelve months and by the frightful and useless sacrifice of the lives of many thousands of brave men and the waste of many millions of national means he has proved to be incompetent for any important military command." Also cites "recent disobedience" and a failure to aid General Pope at the Battle of Second Bull Run as reasons for dismissal. They state "We are unwilling to be accessary to...the imperiling of the Union and the Government itself which we believe must result from the continuance of George B. McClellan in command." Written one day after the Union's thorough and embarrassing defeat at the Battle of Second Bull Run, and weeks after the failure of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign. Lincoln would not remove McClellan from command until November. Signed by Chase as Secretary of the Treasury, Stanton as Secretary of War, and Smith as Secretary of the Interior.
Washington City
August 30th 1862
Mr President:
The undersigned feel compelled by a profound sense of duty to the government and people of the United States and to yourself as your constitutional advisers respectfully to recommend the immediate removal of George B. McClellan from the command of any army of the United States. We are constrained to urge this by the conviction that after a sad and humiliating trial of twelve months and by the frightful and useless sacrifice of the lives of many thousands of brave men and the waste of many millions of national means he has proved to be incompetent for any important military command. And also because by recent disobedience to superior orders and inactivity he has twice imperilled the army commanded by General Pope, and while he continues in command will daily hazard the fate of our armies and our national existence, exhibiting no sign of a disposition or capacity to restore the national honor [2] that has been so deeply tarnished in the eyes of the world by his military failures.
We are unwilling to be accessary to the waste of national resources, the protraction of the war, the destruction of our armies, and the imperilling of the union and the Government itself which we believe must result from the continuance of George B McClellan in command and seek therefore by his prompt removal to afford an opportunity to capable officers, under Gods Providence, to preserve our national existence.
We have the honor to be with great respect
S: P: CHASE
Secy. of the Treasury
Edwin M Stanton
Secretary of War
Caleb B Smith
Secy of the Interior
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