Radicals were upset not only at Lincoln’s message but also at the conduct of Halleck, McClellan, and Ward Hill Lamon, all of whom appeared soft on slavery. On November 20, Halleck, a conservative Democrat, had issued a general order forbidding runaway slaves to enter Union lines in the Department of the West. Months earlier, McClellan had announced to white Virginians: “Notwithstanding all that has been said by the traitors to induce you to believe that our advent among you will be signalized by interference with your slaves, understand one thing clearly—not only will we abstain from all such interference but we will on the contrary with an iron hand, crush any attempt at insurrection on their part.” Other army officers, including Charles P. Stone, were returning fugitive slaves to their owners, and Ward Hill Lamon was holding some runaways in the District jail.
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃
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