Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-08-01
Maj. Gen. mClellan's Military Genius


The command of the army of the Potomac,
as viii be seen by telegraphic dispatch from
Washington, has been transferred to Major
General Mcclellan, who has been summoned
to Washington, his command in Western Vir-
ginia having been given to Gen. Rosencrans,
who has exercised great military skill in car.
rying out the orders of Gen MCleIlan in that
quarter. The correspondent of the Cincin-
natl Commercial who has accompanied Gen
Mcclellan in his Western Virginia campaign,
thus speaks of the military genius he has dis
played
The admirable manner in which this cam
paign vas planned and executed stamps Major
General M'Clehan as q commander of first
class military genas. When we remember
that this entire army had TO be enlisted and
organized ab tHijo, and all its immense train.
the innumerable patty details of administra-
ton, which had to be managed by inexpe-
rienced men, and that the material of the ar
my, and most Of its officers, were utterly nex-
perienced, and without military educaton-a
great many without brains-some of the Gen
erals without energy to execute an 0rder-and
that the lmpOssibiIity of perfecting the trans
portatiOn and subsistence departments were
serious obstacles to rapid progress, it is amaz-
ing that he should so soon, AID so perfectly
have accomplished the great mission of sweep
ing the Confederate armies from the noun
tans of Western Virginia
When we take the map Of the can1naign.
and observe the occupation of each succeeding
position, and each succeeding movement in its
order, remarking the object of each which
becomes apparent after it is made, we cannot
but be struck with admiration at the beauti.
fully skilful game Of war-chess which has lust
been played by a master hand The enemy
opens the game by advancing to Phippa.
Nj Clellan suddenly occupies Parkersburg, and
possesses both lines Of railroad from the river
to Clarksburg and Grafton. Philippa is un-
expectediy snapped up. The enemy fortifes
Laurel Hill, and concentrates at Huttonsville,
Beverly and LeedSvle. 1t is desirable to take
the enemy front and rear A swift movement
to Buckhannon fanks the enemy on the left
Another, to a point under their cannon. within
a mile of Laurel Hill, checks them suddenly at
that point. A third rapid march finds M'Clel
Ian at Roaring Run, and mastery movement
utterly destroys the enemy at Rich Mountain
Beverly is ours. We have Laurel Hill in the
rear, between two powerful wings of our ar
my. Gen. Garnett cannot fght, but flies TO the
mountains, and is caught in the snare laid for
him. Mcclellan moves on Huttonsvie and
Cheat Mountain Pass; Morris moves un the
Seneca Pass, and kills Garnett. The Rail
road Pass at Cheat River had already been
damned by MClelland. The operations in
the kanawha region were mere bye.play, but
some of the movements there were as imPor-
tant as pawn positions in chess. Anybody
by observing the map may discover how spIen-
didly the game was planned and played. But
until they sec these formidable mountain pass
es, they cannot appreciate the proper merits
of the expedition.
Garnett vainly supposed that his rear could
not be turned, "The best laid schemes of mice
and men aft gang aglee.' RoSencrans and
Lander, with the first brigade, found a way to
turn it, Notwithstanding the ''impoSsibility" of
the thing That march was equal to some of
NenophOns marches with the ten thousand
Greeks. And here beg leave to dgress in
order 10 supply an omission in former accounts
of this famous expedition. BurdsalrS dra-
groous, from Cincinnati, PLAYED meritorious
part in it-and, indeed, they almost PLAYED
out" their horses. The typographical feats of
the horses were often astonishing They
climbed mountain sleeps that ordinarily would
be deemed impossible for the best mules The
risk to men and animals was often of the most
hazardous nature, and the journey was con-
stantly harrassng and extremely laborious.
When the dragons could not ride they dis
mountedl land helped their horses along. Dur.
ing the battle they were compelled TO stand
quietly under showers of grape shot and wait
for chance to charge The infantry did the
business so completely their opportunity did
not come.