"The Bottom Is Out of the Tub"

On Friday, January 10, 1862, the President, in great distress, entered my office. He took a chair in front of the open fire and said, ‘General, what shall I do? The people are impatient: Chase has no money and he tells me he can raise no more; the General of the Army has typhoid fever. The bottom is out of the tub. What shall I do?’

                        --Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs

It was 150 years ago today (according to Montgomery Meigs) that President Lincoln made his famous lament that "the bottom is out of the tube.” At the time, Gen. McClellan was sick with fever, the Army of the Potomac was idle, the armies of the Western Theater were also idle, winter was setting in (thus precluding the prospects of any major action for months), and Lincoln was feeling pretty low.

Meigs responded by suggesting that Lincoln call a war council of his other generals to review the situation and consider a possible action in McClellan’s absence. Lincoln would call that council two days later, which would inadvertently push McClellan into launching his historic Peninsula Campaign.

To prepare for the imminent anniversary of the Seven Days Battles, I am currently reading Stephen W. Sears' excellent To the Gates of Richmond. As April approaches, don't be surprised if the Peninsula Campaign starts to monopolize my attention on the blog.