July 23, 1862
The new military leadership team gathered at the White House after new General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck arrived from his former command along the Mississippi River. Historian Curt Anders,“Once the [train] cars reached Washington on July 23, 1862, Old Brains soon found himself in a conference with Abraham Lincoln: Edwin Stanton; and, later, Major Generals John Pope and Ambrose Burnside.” Further south, General George B. McClellan writes New York attorney Samuel L. M. Barlow: “I will briefly reply to both [recent letters] at once. I have not been in any manner consulted as to Halleck’s appointment & it is intended as ‘a slap in the face.’ I do not think it best to reply to the lies of such a fellow as Chandler — he is beneath my notice, & if the people are so foolish as to believe aught he says I am content to lose their favor & to wait for history to do me justice. I am in my own satisfied that I will be relieved from the command of this Army, & shall then leave the service.
I am weary, very weary, of submitting to the whims of such ‘things’ as those now over me — I have suffered as much for my country as most men have endured, & shall be inexpressibly happy to be free once more…
From a remark in your last letter I infer that you think that Burnside’s troops are under my control — they are not, he having been withdrawn from my control by the order of the Presdt — I have several times asked for him but cannot get him.
I have not received 10,00 fresh troops since I reached this place — have had none for a long time, am receiving none, & see no chance of getting any except Burnside’s. When the Presdt was here he asked for no explanations, expressed no dissatisfaction — treated me with no confidence, & did not ask my opinion except in three questions —
1st . ‘How many troops have you left?’
2nd. ‘How many did you lose in the late actions?’
3rd. ‘Can you move this Army still further in retreat?
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 
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