The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-16

army and bis Introduction of the bayonet ex-
ercise gave proof of his theoretical, as his con-
duct in Mexico had of bis practical, acquaint-
ancs with the art of war. Soon after we find him
the erection of Fort Delaware;
then exploring the Red river; then ordered to
Texas, and then commanding the Western divis-
ion of the Pacific Railroad survey. Returning
from these scientific duties he was engaged In
secret service at the West Indies, and soon after
appointed one of the United States Commissioners
to the Crimea There he addedto his varied ex-
perience all that could be taught by the best
European military talent and upon his return
he published the result of his observations in
an admirable work upon the organization and
conduct of European armies. The slow promo
ton of the regular army and the irksomeness OF
inaction forced General Mcclellan to resign hia
two of the largest Western railroad companies
At the outbreak Of this rebellion he accepted
the command Of the Ohio forces. His appoint
ment to Major Generalship of the regular
army, and to the command of the Department Of
Ohio, was received with the greatest enthusiasm.
The motto of his soldiers was: Remember Bue-
ma VISTA" Their conRdencein him was but the
reflection of the popular expectation of his suo-
cess. The record shows that neither the conf
dence nor the expectation has been disappointed.
How brief and yet how brilliant that record
isl Escaping from the meshes Of the Kentucky
neutrality intrigue, he put himself at the head q
his troops, already flushed with the victories Of
Romney and Philippi, gathered around him most
brilliant and effective officers Rosencrans, Nor
ris. Wallace, Kelly-and issued proclamation
promising his soldiers speedy conflict and
certain success, lie kept his word. He led
them against a rebel army, strongly intrenched.
headed by General Robert j. Garnes''
aud composed Of the crack regiments of Easterr
Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina. In three
days ne mas swept this army from Western Viz
ginia and brought his entire department. again
under the folds of the glorious Stars and Stripes.
His laconic, Napoleonic dispatches to the War
Department, which we publish in another CO.
lumn, tell the whole story. 1t is the "ueni, did,
uic" Of Caesar, skilfully translated. On tho
18th instant he gained the battle of Rich Noun
tain; on the 18th he occupied Beverly, TOOK
one thousand prisoners, and predicted that the
enemy would be totally routed at ST. George;
on the 14th his prediction was verified, the
picked troops of the rebel army were scattered
like chaff, Gen. Garnett was killed, secession
ism was dead in Western Virginia.
To record like that what words can be
added? A series of successes so sudden, 80
complete, so admirably planned and exc
cuted so little due to chance, and 80 evil
IDENTIFY the result of skiful, scientific prescienoe,
has never before been achieved on this CONT
nent We know not which most to praise, The
genius which planned or that which executed.
The victory was so certain, so assured, that
Gen. Mcclellan predicted the very spot where
it would be won, and Gen. Scott in his
Office at Washington, anticipated the very hour
of its occurrence. Its result will be most
glorious for our cause. What Gen. Mcclellan
says of Western Virginia we can safely say q
the whole NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is killed"
The backbone Of the rebellionis broken. Itmads
Virginia its Waterloo, and it has been defeated;
it resolved to test its strength there, and that
strength has proved to be perfect weakness. 7 b
road to Richmond is open, and, with General
Butler in the rear of that city, its capture u
certain. The rout of the rebels at St. George
is but the beginning of their final overthrow,
and the vindication of the righteousness Of our
cause.
This victory, soon to be completed, Gen. Nc
Clellan inaugurated. He is the pioneer of suo-
cess What Gen. Lyon has done for Missouri.
Mcclellan has done for Virginia and the coun.
try. His fame stands foremost and original,
and his name shall be remembered when TO
newed, perfect and glorious Union preserves
the roll of her heroes as now we remember
Warren, Stark, Greene and Allen.
Thurlow Weed, General Wool, the Cata-
line Contract and the Activity OF the
War Department.
Several of our contemporaries have been ef
late devoting considerable space to all manner
Of charges of corruption against the Was
Department and prominent civilians and milf
tafy men. They have specially lahQrsd e
place the responsibility of the Catalina contract
at the door of Thurlow Weed and Gen. Wool;
but the truth of the matter is that neither q
these persons is responsible for that job. Our
readers will find amongst our Washington
dispatches conclusive proof that entirely
another person had control of that particular
class of work, and must be held answerabie -
the public for the Cataiine and similar COR
tracts made at this port. The document which
we refer to is letter from the Secretary a
War, dated Washington, April 81, appointing
Alexander Cummings, Esq, then of the pioui
World. the agent Of the War Department e