New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-18
GEN. MCCLELLAN.

4 clever attack on the military capacity and
strategy Of Gen. Mcclellan, from the pen of
Charles Ellet, Civil Engineer, has recently
been circulated in pamphlet and been copied,
wholly or in part, in several journals. And
this is but one of many recent attempts 10 de-
prcciate the abilities and lower the prestige of
the General-in-Chicf Of our armies
We object to all these structures, as We did
TO those so freely showcred upon Gen. Ere
mont during his brief season OF command in
Missouri. In so doing, we do not at al defer
TO the assumption that civilians cannot wisely
cit in Judgment on the acts OF military men.
a clear headed intelligent man, well acquaint-
ed with history and blessed with common sense,
may perceive and comment on the mistakes Of
generals in the field; but he can only do so
with any safety when familiar with all the
facts. Now none Of us know, or can know,
some facts essential to safe Judgment on the
alleged inactivity of Gen. Mcclellan. Who
knows how many men he has within fifty miles
of Washington Who knows to what extent
he could increase their number within week,
if he desired Who knows how completely his
soldiers are armed with the most effective wea-
ponsl We know that good part Of our
soldiers at Balls Bluff had none other than old
smooth-bore muskets, and were shot down by
the Mimic rifles of the rebels who kept care
fully out of range of our soldiers guns. We
know thst there were, not many weeks since,
whole regiments OF cavalry on the Potomac
without sabers; we trust they have since been
supplied, but we do not know it. We do not
know that Gen. Mcclellan has oil the field
artillery he needs, nor that he has full sup
ply of fit ammunition for his guns. Those who
decided off-hand that Fremont ought 10 have
reinforced Lyon and relieved Mulgan may know
that Gen. Mcclellan ought to have advanced
a month ago; We do not
OF all absurd criticisms, that so freely be-
slowed Oh the frequent reviews, parades sham
fights, on the Potomac, seems to us most pre-
posterous. These are 10 substitutes for actual
hostllities but preparations for it. Had the
two months prior to Bull Run been devoted by
Gen. McClellan's predecessors to such parades,
the disgraceiul panic and flight Of that memoir
able day could never have occurred. Gen.
Mcclellan may or may not be great, but he
surely is diligent commander. Until ready
to advance, he could hardly be better employed
than in drilling his men in all the necessary
maneGvers not only of the regiment and brig
ade, but of the division, the army corps, and
the battlefield.
We wish those who are so free in their crit
icisms on Gen. McClelan's strategy would tell
us in what direction to look for his successor
in case he should be disabled or should, from
whatever cause, relinquish his command. If
we had Radetsky or Mcmahon to put in bis
place, we might regard with more patience the
efforts to supplant him. But, since the conf
dence of his soldiers and countrymen is q very
important portion of any commanders strength
aud efficiency, We trust everything calculated
to weaken Gen. Mcclellan in the public est.
nation will DO fsrbOrne