September 5, 1862 (Saturday): "What is my command, and where is it?"

General William B. Franklin

ARLINGTON, September 5, [1862] - 12.05 p. m.
Major-General HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
   I have just received an order from General McClellan to have my command in readiness to march with three days' rations and further details of the march. What is my command, and where is it? McClellan has scattered it about in all directions, and has not informed me of the position of a single regiment. Am I do take the field and under McClellan's orders?


    JNo POPE,
    Major-General.


WASHINGTON, D. C., September 5, 1862.
Major-General POPE, Arlington:
    The armies of the Potomac and Virginia being consolidated, you will report for orders to the Secretary of War.


    H. W. HALLECK,
    General-in-Chief.

CONFIDENTIAL.] WASHINGTON, September 5, 1862.
Major-General McCLELLAN, Commanding, &c.:
    GENERAL: The President has directed that General Pope be relieved and report to War Department; that Hooker be assigned to command of Porter's corps, and that Franklin's corps be temporarily attached to Heintzelman's. The orders will be issued this afternoon. Generals Porter and Franklin are to be relieved from duty till the charges against them are examined. I give you this memorandum in advance of the orders, so that you may act accordingly in putting forces in the field.


    Very respectfully,
    H. W. HALLECK,
    General-in-Chief.

CONFIDENTIAL.] WASHINGTON, September 5, 1862.
Major-General McCLELLAN, Commanding, &c.:
    GENERAL: The President has directed that General Pope be relieved and report to War Department; that Hooker be assigned to command of Porter's corps, and that Franklin's corps be temporarily attached to Heintzelman's. The orders will be issued this afternoon. Generals Porter and Franklin are to be relieved from duty till the charges against them are examined. I give you this memorandum in advance of the orders, so that you may act accordingly in putting forces in the field.
    Very respectfully,


   H. W. HALLECK,
   General-in-Chief.


 Official Records, Series I. Vol. 19, Part 2, Page 188.

It is noteworthy Halleck spells out Pope is to be relieved, while not saying Lincoln ordered McClellan be his replacement.  The administration wanted McClellan back in command because the morale of the army demanded it, but neither Lincoln nor Stanton would commit the order to paper.  If McClellan failed, making it appear to be Halleck's decision would offer political cover against the Radical Republican element of Congress who believed McClellan (at best) incompetent and (at worst) treasonous.  Although both Porter and Franklin had been accused of dereliction of duty by Pope, both would move North with McClellan to Antietam.