New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-20
A STRATEGIC BLUNDER OF GENERAL q
SWtEXY COMMITTED AT THE EXfEASE
nE SIEEI,S CORPS.
Prom rAe Sl LoHi. Wo,Hseh Po'f, Jrly 10.

Prom The Sa Ioui. We,eseh Pon Jrlgl3
TIE remarkable feat of newly matching Generai'
of lswyers aod POLITICIANS has been suftdchtly WI
pessea H. the Eastern arwy. But that UDited STATES
Army officers, many o. WHOM, II Is Ir"el rave, ~ ~
short time risen TO az dizzy emBence should be golH
of such extraordinary perfUrman es as might luIcnl
the lives Of Thousands OF brave citizens, We Were baIo-
ly prepared believe Nevethel ss, WE must ,oniets
that the conduct OF Capt Sweeny, or Gcnefoi sweep
ss he is currently culled toward 81 e Ia ordering The
latter search for and attack the enemy gives us an
lie materials for reflections not at all favorable 10 NJ.
Sweeny's capacity for conducting campaign.
Before proceeding TO take look at The inAPs anu ia
form Ourse YES a. 70 the movements If the troois we
cannot belp expressing our surprise ut the ftct thS'
81 el with his command a. been tu o d'ntted
Sweeuy. W. Ia always supposed tha' MaJo'' 'ue
Lyon ,Onioed t. Col. FIR M Site the cOnlWtn9 t"o
regiments tor tie S,uh-~est Expedition giving hih
the power of Il Brigaaer-iener4 but all ut once we
are old by The Missouri DemOcrdt that Sweeiy tS
toe ORDERLY commander Of the troOls, and lii luh
ii st attending to Ills d lties.
Weuow ak oar readers 10 take look at the map
of the se Il o. war; and observe the ros ions taken y
Gen. L,Ou, Mai Jr Sturgis aad Sieis corps IL Is
ear that Cen ~ intended cOnce eutre movement,
with view 10 attaes tie enemy and intercel' ns way
10 ArkGps 8.
The ke.,ls. a-out 600 strong, took potion on
the Lamar and Carthage road, between Barton ahd
jasper Omties, WITH the evident design Oi awning
further essons frOm the soutlern counties vi le
sur the northern counties VI AIkdusasi ana lheh
ihowng gLt.
On tie ih inst Gen. Lyon was in Leesvllie, ara
M-ior Stufcis with tie Kansas tro ps, IN Henry
County a, d the two designed forming Junction ",
Sunday evening the night bank OF ooI'h or.
kIver. After having pas ed this rlyer, ue uH''eo
olces OF Lyon aud Sturgs bad only iour hoie u"!s
march u the Rebel camp.
Now. why did not Gen. Sweeny, who was Ger ann, |
informed Of Cen LYONS advance, take posi ION WIN
his tfooIs on the broad rdge If tue Ozark mountains
bswee1 Springfield and Neo-ho The more 70 De- |
cause il is position naturally iUpregnable, Gominahu
iug and well adapted for protecting TIE wnoie o9un
west with Sprn field Tor "A center, aud cuIIh8 vi 'Uo
enemy from Arkansas. r.. |
IL Was due that Geu. Lyon with his stronger ioiceI
should attack aud roui tie rebels ad that Sgel should
Intercept aUd dispefse the fleeing enemy, cGing t'en
O # from Atkans.s-Or that the two should make |
combined attack but IL ag inst all acknO ledted
lies of war that SigeI should be commanded 10 take
tie INITIATIVE thereby eApoDg hiuselt to the danger
oil being cut np by nu1ericaliy superior enemy.
10 he ability If Siyel alone, upon whose htad d |
Ruer.l hat oud l much better than upon 'rehy :.
a d who iias ALREADY worn it dc tdcto, Is wei as 10
tue yalor of lr We troops, we owe the iao' 'a'
Tie eu tTie cnTps was not erably cut 10 Ieces' go
II s.eus clear under the circumstances that Sigel
sbould order a retreat TO Springfield and now, the
whole naHeuyer should terminate III mere iafce ana
tie Ketels succeed in seal ing TO Akansas, WIZ Ue
r,g,th the f.ult of commander Sweeny, who, az
Biz .der. General If the Home Guards, wood 'erhi''
IN Lp, done better TO stay at home al ehhB u M
orc re,,eiu occupations If nome service a. cum
v4tng better acquaintance Win the men u LIS oo''i-
mdDd. ,.,. ~
Will not The Missouri DsmOerdt undertake The
trapsl lion of the above atcle, under ibe hedahg %
.. Sliit vi the German Soldiers, lDsteah OF 20 ~
.L,,r,.2 OSE SOLDIER TOR MANY.