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| General Irwin McDowell |
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Camp Winfield Scott, April 18, 1862-11.30 p. M. His Excellency A. LINCOLN,
President:
If compatible with your impressions as to the security of the capital, and not interfering with operations of which I am ignorant, I would be glad to have McCall's division so as to be enabled to make a strong attack upon West Point to turn position of the enemy. After all that I have heard of things which have occurred since I left Washington and before, I would prefer that General McDowell should not again be assigned to duty with me.
G. M. McCLELLAN,
Major-General, commanding.
Official Records, Series I., Vol. 51, Part 1, Page 578.
McDowell, despite the loss at First Bull Run, was a favorite of the Administration. Although McClellan had backed his promotion to Major General, he learned afterward McDowell and his wife had both intrigued against him in Washington. Although McClellan no doubt desired to have his troops back, he no longer had any desire to associate himself with McDowell. On the same day this was written, Secretary of War Stanton sent a letter to Wadsworth, commanding Washington, calling for an immediate drill to assemble all the troops assigned to defend Washington within three hours, simulating an attack. The administration was still gravely concerned McClellan had not left adequate force at the capital. Despite his attempts to regain favor with Lincoln during this period, perhaps rightfully believing McDowell was attempting to undercut him, any confidence Lincoln had in McClellan had long since passed.
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