Came back and had a long interview with Seward about my “pronunciamento” against General Scott's policy. . . . But the old general always comes in the way. He understands nothing, appreciates nothing.1 . . .General Scott is the greatest obstacle. I have to fight my way against him. To-morrow the question will probably be decided by giving me absolute control independently of him. I suppose it will result in an enmity on his part against me, but I have no choice; the people call upon me to save the country. I must save it and cannot respect anything that is in the way. I receive letter after letter, have conversation after conversation, calling on me to save the nation, alluding to the presidency, dictatorship, etc. As I hope one day to be united with you in heaven, I have no such aspiration. I would cheerfully take the dictatorship and agree to lay down my life when the country is saved. [Become dictator and save the country from what? From a republican form of government; from freedom and liberty,--for what? To retain slavery and reduce the white people to subjection to a despotism,--from whom? From Lincoln and the advocates of freedom for all men?] I am not spoiled by my unexpected new position. I feel sure that God will give me the strength and wisdom to preserve this great nation; but I tell you, who share all my thoughts, that I have no selfish feeling in this matter. I feel that God has placed a great work in my hands. I have not sought it. I know how weak I am, but I know that I mean to do right, and I believe that God will help me and give me the wisdom I do not possess. Pray for me, that I may be able to accomplish my task, the greatest, perhaps, that any poor, weak mortal ever had to do. God grant that I may bring this war to an end and be permitted to spend the rest of my days quietly with you.2 General Scott is the most dangerous antagonist I have. Our ideas are so widely different that it is impossible for us to work together much longer--tant pour cela.3 I am weary of all this. I have no ambition in the present affairs; I only wish to save my country, and find the incapables around me will not permit it.4McClellan had then been only twenty days in Washington. His opinion of himself seems to have risen very rapidly, although in all
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He had been in Washington four days. “Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he is grown so great?”
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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