Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-12-26
From the Courrior des Etats Unis.
THE ELLET PAMPHLET.

The ELLEI PAMPHLET.
On Thursday, pamphlet was laid on the
desk of each Of the members of the Senate
and House of Representatives, the sense of
which may be expressed in the following
words, which constitute its title: 1.-The army
and it's odd management"
The social and professional position of the
author, Charles Ellet. Jr., give certain
degree of weight to his opinions. His pri-
vate character is. confessedly above suspi-
cion He has had the management Of sew
eral important undertakings, and has also
superintendent, as chief engineer, the con-
tinluation q the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad. The country around Washington
extending in the direction of Richmond is
consequently familiar to him; and, more
over, he has constantly, from his youth up,
been employed in Typographical surveys
between Washington and Harper's Ferry.
which give him a complete acquaintance
with the Upper Potomac. His loyalty and
patriotism are unimpeachable. On the other
hand, tone of disappointment is clearly
distinguishable in parts Of work, which is
not free from bitterness, arising from the
fact that all the fruit of his experience has
never enabled him to procure access to Cen
eral Mcclellan or the Executive Department.
The pamphlet opens with a simple and elo-
quent introduction, dated December 4th,
followed by a long and carefully prepared
letter to the President of the United States,
dated Georgetown, October 9th, 1861.
This letter. says Mr.. Ellet. bears the actual
date of its composition when it was sent to a
New York newspaper and made ready for
the press but the publication was delayed
at the request of the editor of the journal, in
the idea that the programme Of General Nc
Clelan would, in few days be manifested
in movements and results that would give
satisfaction to the country. The contents
of the third part are: "Notes on the calami-
ty at Balls Bluff and the blockade of the
Potomac" It is stated in the introduction
that the letter of October is published now,
because the time which has elapsed has only
confirmed the author in his opinion Of the
incompetency of the General. These long
delays have effected nothing but the blockade
of the Potomac by the Canfederates and the
abortive attempt to cross the Upper Poto-
mac, executed at last, after long prepara-
- s, by t1ieans of one old scow; this duuble
os15race being due to the unmolested pres
cnce of the Rebel army in front of the Fede-
raj lines.
The Courier then gives long quotation
from the pamphlet, in which Mr.. Ellet de-
velops this idea. Disappointed patriots, he
says, conclude naturally that we have un-
derrated the strength of the South But
the South is no larger nor is it any stronger
than it was. The strength of the Union is
quite as great; but it is latent and inactive.
The power of its arms must still remain la
tent until their irresistible strength is put in
action by an acute and energetic intelligence.
The General is the brain Of the army; and
all the men that can be mustered and all the
munitions that can be collected will be less
than useless if they are permitted to remain
idle in camp or to perish by disaster if put
in motion The army has patriotism, bra
very, resources, and all that is necessary,
but the General in command, though re-
spectacle man, is by no means superior
one, and is quite unequal to his task.
The letter to the President continues the
Courier, proves that the fate of the Rebel
army depends entirely on the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad, which furnishes it with
provisions, munitions and reinforcemcnts
Now this road was deficient in locomotives
and rolling stock. Mr.. Ellet, as engineer
OF the road, was acquainted with the most
efficient method of rendering it useless
With the recommendation of the President
and General Scott, he endeavored, but in
vain, to obtain an audience of General Nc
Clellan, for the purpose of laying his views
before him.
The enemy meanwhile took possession of
ten locomotives on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and procured rails enough for his
purposes. Each locomotive thus obtained
was worth to the Confederates at least one
thousand horses
Mr.. Elet adds that the army was recently
encamped within the lines of the fortifcations
near the river. The enemy had closed up,
so that it would have been easy to march
around him and force him to battle on
ground of our own choosing. But, instead
OF that, the Federal troops advanced at a
later period so as to pretty much reverse the
position More ths2 this, not only have the
forts never been put in state of complete
preparation, but months have elapsed with
out any suitable means of communication
with Washington being opened. The Long
Bridge is being repaired, but at least two
more bridges are necessary. If General
Mcclellan had detailed ten thousand men to
open communication, he would easily have
captured the armies of Floyd, Wise & Co.
Without proper communication all the men
and the resources of the North are useless
The ''Notes on Balls Bluff" lay the blame
of this disaster on General Mcclellan
,. Because he made no preparation for an
expedition planned three months before.
Because he refused the offers of expert
enced men to build bridges, boats, &c.
Because his orders to General Stone were
vague and indefinite, &C., &C., &c.
Such is the substance of the charges made
by Mr.. Ellet, and on which he grounds the
opinion that General Mcclellan has not the
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