Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Inflammatory Placards.

attention! Major-General Halleck: The people of the North, West, and East, who are numbered by millions, and who are firm friends of the Administration and Government, have been for months ardently wishing, hoping, praying, and expecting to see some signs of energy and capacity in their rulers, corresponding to the magnitude of the danger that threatens our glorious institutions. They have been disappointed. Being true patriots and idolizing their Government, they have believed the President, his Cabinet, and our generals were animated with the same burning patriotic desires. They have been astonished at the delay of the draft and the death-like torpor [86] that seems to pervade the Administration. They formerly had implicit faith, especially in the patriotism of Secretary Stanton and President Lincoln. The people begin to inquire, to fear, and are perplexed. They suspect you, General Halleck, of imbecility, or something worse. They know that you are the Commander-in-Chief, and hold you responsible. Answer these questions if you can. Two immense armies have been confronting each other for months on the Rappahannock — preparing for a decisive struggle — a struggle which was, perhaps, to decide the fate of a great nation — a mighty empire — to determine whether a free Government could sustain itself. Did you do your whole duty upon that momentous occasion? The people say, No, no. “Why in hell” did you not have the troops about Washington within striking distance? Why were you not on the spot to support the brave General Sedgwick and his gallant troops when they carried the fortifications on the heights of Fredericks-burgh? With the assistance of Heintzelman's army thrown in at the right moment, the whole rebel army could have been completely annihilated and the nation saved from disgrace and humiliation. Instead of this, the rebel army is now invading and desolating the loyal and free States. If you had been equal to your duty and the occasion, the troops at Suffolk, Fortress Monroe, Norfolk, Baltimore, etc., etc., would have been on board of swift steamers — ready before the battle commenced — to have been concentrated and launched at the enemy like thunderbolts from avenging heaven. A few more such fatal mistakes as you made on that occasion and our Government is lost and will break up in anarchy. This is so. Our nation is in or at another fearful crisis. The audacious General Lee, having faith in your imbecility, has boldly invaded one of our most populous States. What are you doing? The people fear you will do as before, and they call upon Abraham Lincoln, Salmon P. Chase, William I. Seward, Edwin M. Stanton, and ask what are you doing? If you repose supinely as heretofore in your chair of office, and let Lee proceed, you ought to be damned, and you will certainly be damned, and you will be of that class whose sins go to judgment beforehand. The great and free people of the North, East, and West will not stand this humbugging any longer! You must conquer Lee or resign! Do you hear this? The people have given you all the guns, ammunition, ships, and money that you can use. They expect and require that you will concentrate all the troops within five hundred miles of Lee's army within the next ten days (as you easily can) and plunge them at Lee on a given day, and the work is done. Unless you do this, you and the nation are undone. P. S.--If you had hung Vallandigham (as you ought to have done) and sent him to be Governor of the copperheads in the infernal regions, you would not have been troubled by the traitorous, cowardly, miserable sneaks and poltroons, who are boring you about him; and who, when they visit Washington, should be impressed into the service of the Government, which they are endeavoring to overthrow — and all the people would say, Amen!