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, District of Columbia 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.
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