July 1, 1863, The New York Herald
It became bruited about yesterday morning that General McClellan had been appointed by the President to the chief command of the army, vice General Halleck. The effect of this rumor was really astonishing. Gold went down, while there seemed a general revival of public confidence. The rumor spread over the city with wonderful rapidity. Groups were gathered at all the corners discussing the affair, and on all sides expressions of confidence in General McClellan ability to further the plans of the President were freely uttered.
A spontaneous ovation was made to General McClellan, who happened to come to the city from New Jersey, where he now resides. The moment he was recognized on the ferryboat shouts for McClellan were heard, and when he reached the city he surrounded by crowds of enthusiastic people shouting for him. These scenes are unmistakable evidences of the extreme popularity of the General, and prove how deep seated is the confidence reposed in him by the masses. His appointment to the command in chief would cause an immediate revival of hope in the breasts of those who were even the most discouraged; and we think the President would show great wisdom in giving way to popular sentiment upon this subject. Not even the bitterest enemies of General McClellan can deny that, under similar circumstances as those which now cast so great a gloom over our country, he saved us from the horrors of a rebel invasion, and drove back the very general who has up to the present time advanced with so much daring and success almost up to Washington.
Secure in the removal of the man they feared, the rebels moved boldly on our capital. Should they hear that General McClellan is once more in command, we shall see them betraying more caution. They will bear in mind their disastrous defeat at Antietam, and will understand that for the future their strategy will be met by strategy, and that for all they gain they will have to battle stubbornly. The country will have good cause to rejoice the day that General McClellan assumes the command of our armies; and President Lincoln will likewise have cause to congratulate himself upon the assurance that all his plans will be carried out ably and faithfully. When it becomes known that General McClellan is once more in command we shall have no lack of volunteers. Our people are patriotic, and will flock to our standard when aware that it is upheld by a firm and able hand. The name of McClellan is a tower of strength in itself and will draw in crowds our returned volunteers, who have so pertinaciously demanded the recall of their favorite general. A new era would dawn upon the country, and we should look forward confidently to the speedy retreat of the rebels. “Little Mac” would soon rid us of our enemys.