Saturday, Nov. 2

Rainy all day.  Several employees settling accounts with William.  Letters from both Ephraim and Rufus.  The Ohio 53' is filling up slowly but expects to be complete soon.  Rufus gives us a picture of the celebrities, DeJoinville, Seward, M'Clellan, M'Dowell, &c. - quite interesting.


Lieut. Gen. Scott in consequence of his infirmities and age has resigned his position as Commander of the Army and that duty by unanimous consent of the Cabinet now devolves upon McClellan.  May God whom he has tried to honor, bless and prosper him.  I believe that he has been raised up to be the instrument of good to this people.


Peggy's comments:
Many people thought that the war would be settled by one large battle.  Gen. Scott, aged 75, thought it would be a long and drawn out conflict.  Union hopes were pinned on General McClellan.  For further discussion on the change in command, see the Civil War Daily Gazette blog.

General Winfield Scott, 1861

General George B. McClellan