President and Gen. Halleck call at Gen. McClellan's house about 7 A.M. President asks McClellan to take command of troops falling back upon Washington and defend city. McClellan, War for Union, 535.

"By direction of the President Major General McClellan will have command of the fortifications of Washington, and of all the troops for the defence of the Capital." National Intelligencer, 3 September 1862.

Cabinet meets at noon. President announces his decision placing McClellan in command of troops to defend Capital. Secs. Stanton and Chase express heated disapproval. Lincoln dissolves opposition by 4 P.M. Welles, Diary; Gideon Welles, Lincoln and Seward: Remarks upon the Memorial Address of Chas. Francis Adams, on the Late Wm. H. Seward (New York: Sheldon, 1874), 194-97.