Member Review Cassius Clay

[tony_gunter]

My understanding is that Cameron embarrassed Lincoln but he was too powerful to simply depose, so Lincoln recalled Cassius Clay from Russia to make room for Cameron.

In return, Lincoln commissioned Clay a major general. What exactly was the purpose of doing so?

From Clay's autobiography, he claims that Chase pitched him to Halleck to assume command over the west. I'm sure Halleck LOVED that

 

[RedRover]

Clay was appointed minister to Russia in 1861, and before departing aided in organizing defenses at the capitol, etc. In 1862 Pres. Lincoln recalled him, and appointed late Sec. of War Cameron to his place.

When Clay returned to the US from Russia, he was appointed a Major General of Volunteers, but was not satisfied with his assignment, etc.

Clay resigned the commission late in 1862 somewhat in protest to being ordered to New Orleans, but also to avail himself of any forthcoming opportunity to resume his agency in Russia.

Clay was re-appointed to the Russian embassy in 1863. He was generally in agreement with President Lincoln's reconstruction of the State governments in the South.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

From Clay's autobiography, he claims that Chase pitched him to Halleck to assume command over the west. I'm sure Halleck LOVED that

I wonder if Clay would have used the cannon at White Hall, the one he fired at people coming up his drive way, to defend his headquarters camp?

 

[tony_gunter]

In his autobiography, Clay doesn't describe the meeting in which he was handed a major general's commission. I don't know if I just missed it, but the first he mentions of it is that he says "I had in my pocket a major general's commission." Has anyone seen an actual copy of this commission? What was the date on his commission? He relinquished command of some forces in Kentucky to Bull Nelson when ordered, so I assume his commission would be dated after Nelson's (July 1862).

 

[RedRover]

In his autobiography, Clay doesn't describe the meeting in which he was handed a major general's commission. I don't know if I just missed it, but the first he mentions of it is that he says "I had in my pocket a major general's commission." Has anyone seen an actual copy of this commission? What was the date on his commission? He relinquished command of some forces in Kentucky to Bull Nelson when ordered, so I assume his commission would be dated after Nelson's (July 1862).

Yes, I seem to recall he went to see Halleck in company with S.P. Chase, and came away convinced he was not going to work well with him. Also didn't like the idea of being posted in New Orleans, with all the yellow fever, etc. I recall he made a speech about that time that in any case, that he was not as enthusiastic about drawing his sword for the Union war effort, unless it included emancipation as a direct war aim.

Clay was appointed a major general of Volunteers on April, 1862, and evidently accepted the commission upon returning to the United States from the embassy in Russia... His resignation accepted about the time he was restored to the embassy in Russia.

 

[tony_gunter]

Yes, I seem to recall he went to see Halleck in company with S.P. Chase, and came away convinced he was not going to work well with him. Also didn't like the idea of being posted in New Orleans, with all the yellow fever, etc. I recall he made a speech about that time that in any case, that he was not as enthusiastic about drawing his sword for the Union war effort, unless it included emancipation as a direct war aim.

Clay was appointed a major general of Volunteers on April, 1862, and evidently accepted the commission upon returning to the United States from the embassy in Russia... His resignation accepted about the time he was restored to the embassy in Russia.

View attachment 541063

Why wouldn't he pull rank on Bull Nelson then? He claims to have feared that Nelson was leading his men to slaughter, and that the correct course of action was to defend the Kentucky River line.

 

[RedRover]

Why wouldn't he pull rank on Bull Nelson then? He claims to have feared that Nelson was leading his men to slaughter, and that the correct course of action was to defend the Kentucky River line.

Major General Clay was in Kentucky, supposedly, at the request of the Lincoln administration relative to the State authorities. He held no military command there in the summer of 1862 by War Department orders.

However, Major General Lew Wallace in command in Kentucky placed Clay in command of some forces moving to the Kentucky River, etc., but was shortly replaced by Major General "Bull" Nelson and his brigadiers. Clay then repaired back to his original mission with the State authorities, etc.

General Nelson was not beholden to any order of General Clay, as the above makes clear.

 

[tony_gunter]

Major General Clay was in Kentucky, supposedly, at the request of the Lincoln administration relative to the State authorities. He held no military command there in the summer of 1862 by War Department orders.

However, Major General Lew Wallace in command in Kentucky placed Clay in command of some forces moving to the Kentucky River, etc., but was shortly replaced by Major General "Bull" Nelson and his brigadiers. Clay then repaired back to his original mission with the State authorities, etc.

View attachment 541077

General Nelson was not beholden to any order of General Clay, as the above makes clear.

Do you know if Lincoln ever confided in anyone what his plans were for Cassius Clay in Louisiana?

The assignment came a month before Lincoln ultimately set upon a course to replace Butler with Banks. I doubt Clay would have assumed command, since Banks raised the army that sailed south. Was Clay to have assumed command of a division under Banks?

 

[RedRover]

Do you know if Lincoln ever confided in anyone what his plans were for Cassius Clay in Louisiana?

The assignment came a month before Lincoln ultimately set upon a course to replace Butler with Banks. I doubt Clay would have assumed command, since Banks raised the army that sailed south. Was Clay to have assumed command of a division under Banks?

Don't know Halleck's rationale.

Major General Clay's orders of September 12 from Halleck were to report to the Department of the Gulf, and Major General Butler, for some assignment there. Clay did not like these orders. Didn't want to serve at New Orleans where fatal illnesses predominated, etc. Thought Halleck was sending him there out of spite perhaps. He visited President Lincoln who suspended the order.

 

[tony_gunter]

Don't know Halleck's rationale.

Major General Clay's orders of September 12 from Halleck were to report to the Department of the Gulf, and Major General Butler, for some assignment there. Clay did not like these orders. Didn't want to serve at New Orleans where fatal illnesses predominated, etc. Thought Halleck was sending him there out of spite perhaps. He visited President Lincoln who suspended the order.

View attachment 541079

The wording of the order makes it sound like Lincoln had a plan for Clay, and had come to an understanding with Stanton and Halleck.

I'm thinking of the timeline.

July: Second Confiscation Act is passed. Lincoln points out Mississippi and Louisiana to Stanton on a map and remarks about how many slaves are controlled by the possession of Vicksburg. Lincoln drafts preliminary emancipation proclamation.

August: Lincoln sends Clay to feel out Kentucky for emancipation. Clay returns end of August with positive report.

September: Clay ordered to New Orleans. Lincoln releases Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, authorizes McClernand to raise army for Vicksburg.

Did Lincoln intend Clay, not Banks to command the southern wing of the Vicksburg effort?

 

[RedRover]

The wording of the order makes it sound like Lincoln had a plan for Clay, and had come to an understanding with Stanton and Halleck.

I'm thinking of the timeline.

July: Second Confiscation Act is passed. Lincoln points out Mississippi and Louisiana to Stanton on a map and remarks about how many slaves are controlled by the possession of Vicksburg. Lincoln drafts preliminary emancipation proclamation.

August: Lincoln sends Clay to feel out Kentucky for emancipation. Clay returns end of August with positive report.

September: Clay ordered to New Orleans. Lincoln releases Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, authorizes McClernand to raise army for Vicksburg.

Did Lincoln intend Clay, not Banks to command the southern wing of the Vicksburg effort?

Could only speculate, but I would rather presume his role at New Orleans would have been more relative to the military authorities over the city and vicinity, etc., as in military government in the region rather than a particular combat command. Throughout the period Clay was making public comments about public matters.

Evidently General Clay, somewhat like General Butler, was not one to hide his light under a bushel... and they are occasionally mentioned in the same journals...

Maybe Halleck figured Clay's interests and skills would have served General Butler in the management of the City of New Orleans, etc., and the affairs there.