New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-27
TIRE WAR FOR TIE UNION.
rus ATTACK ON MANASSAS.

eRee shat Gen. Scott organized the columns, dp-
pointed the officers, and selected the time and
poinla of attack at Bull Run. lts importance
hspels us to give it the most conspicuous pup
Betty. Says The Tunes:
$50 far as the preparation Of the Army for the fpecai
ssvyice assigned ia concerned it is undoubtedly true
ent Gen. Scott did have full control. He probably oa
'sranize tho columns and appoint the ofhees; ana 10
NAV have selected th. time and points Of attack az
sfull Run'-aiter that attack had been perempiorny
ordered by his superiors-though we are lncilDeo /"
Ael,eye tha. these details were coniided 70 bfls''
Gen. Mcdowell, who was on the spot, and VINO 'ou'u
hsn, flom personal examination OF the aPpfo'ciieS
uueh better opinion as to the points OF attack than
nsn Scott The fact that both the time and point oil
..,esl we're changed by Gen. Mcdowell proves, IN
deed that in this respect be was LETT to the exercise ol
hs own Judgment The original purpose was TO at
,aea the enemys position ON Thursday afternoon OF
Esday morning, by turning it Oh the south side-and
Gen. Mcdowell went personally with Col. Heinzel-
nauS column to superntend the attack. Bul he found
the roads on that side impractiC,ble for heavy art
iry-and on that account abandoned the plan. Friday
was devoted to survey the other flank, and there
10 found the roads IN such condition TO justify the
attempt the enemys position on that SIDE The
fact that Gen. Mcdowell thus changed the time Of az
tack from Friday to Sunday, and the point Of attack
from the southern to the northern flank, shows that
the control OF these details eontded wholly to him
By Gen. Scott and we presume every one VIII concede
nat this discretion was wkely exercised, and the
change judicous.
But all this leaves the main point untouched. The
question lie, Who decided that he attac. should be
.sade7 Who determined that the road TO Richmond
should be by Manassas Junction. Who is responsible
Cor the plan Of operations by which battle at THIS
point, selected by the Rebels themselves admirably
adapted for defense fortified through three long months
OF incesant labor accessible to their reSnfoeenents
om both directions and in all respects precisely such
position as they might wish to make II, became
matter of necessity The paragraph quoted above for
The purpose of relieving the President and Cabinet,
throws the responsibility upon Gen. Scott. We have
not the slightest desire involve the President and
Cabinet in any responsibility that does not belong to
chem; but on the other hand, we do not intend that
Gen. Scot. shabe loaded with blame for acts which
were done by others We lR0t5 that Gen. Scott was
cpposed to this plan Of the campaign froIl the begun
uirg he deemed it unwse to make Richmond the main
POINT of the movement; but after that had been decided
against him, he opposed TO marching against It by
ske longest and most difficult route through country
every foot Of which would be obstnatey defended and
which must be held by strong force after It had Once
been taken This we know 70 be true-and in spite Of
she deicacy of such disclosures we shall not hesitate
10 state the authority Tor it, 1t tina. OF Gen. Scott
MnpelG
"On the Tuesday preceding the battle, Gen. Scott,
N bis table, in presence Of bis aids and single
guest discussed the whole subject Of this war, in all
he parts and with the utmost clesrness and accuracy
He hsd distinct, aud wel-defned opinion on every
point connected with ii; and stated what his plan
would be for bringing it close, if the management
sf had been left in bis hands. The main object Of
che war he said, was to bring the people of the
belou States 10 feel the pressure Of the Government
30 compel them 10 return 30 their obedience and 10y
ally. And this mast be done with the least possible
expenditure Of life compatible with the attainment Of
the object. No Christian nation can be Justified
he said in wagDg war in such way "a shall destroy
Sol lives when the object of the can be attained
At cost of 500. Every killed beyond the number
absolutely required is murdered. Hence, he looked
upon all shooting Of pekets all scouting forays not
gnred in order TO advance the general object of the
war all destruction Of life, on either side. which aid
contribute TO the general result many acts Of
mjrst6able homicide
eff the matter bad been left to him, he said he
would have commenced by perfect blocksde Of every
Southern port ON the Atlantic and on the Gulf Then
be would have collected large force at the Capital
for defensive purposes, and another largo one on the
Mississippi for offensive operations. The Summer
months during which II Is madness to take troops
roath Of St. Louis, should have been devoted 10
tactical instruction--snd with the first frosts
of Autumn he would have taken column
az $1,000 weldisciphned troops down the Gissis-
sippi-and taken every important point on that
river, Orleans included. IL ooaiG here been dOHe,
he SAID wiA greater case siA less Loss Of life, and
ssh oF more important yeSuAs tkaa 10pId attend tie
sarehirg Of an army to Rieha0Rd. At eight poips
che river would probably have been defended, and
eight battles would have been necessary but in every
Of them sncces could have been made certain for
The Mississippi and the Atlautc once ours the
Southern States would have been compelled
BIZ the natural and inevitsble pressure of
events 10 seek, by return 70 the Union escape from
e ruin that would specially Oyerwhelm them out q Il.
sThs,' said he, was my plan. But l au only sub
ordinate 1t my business " give advice when Il ia
asked, and to obey orders when they are given. 1
slaR do Il. There gentlemen in the Cabinet who
know much more about war than do, snd who have
Ssr greater influence than have in determining the
pkn OF the campaign. There WIGS more just and
upright MAI than the PFssident-neyer one VINO
desired sincerely to promote the best interest Of
the country. Bat there are men among his advisers
who consult their rosentments far more than the
dictates Of wisdom aud experience, and these USA
apyo1obs decade The plan of the eQtapGigH shall do,