New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-23
SUICIDAL STRATEGY.

I
lar expectations which their authors had seen
fit to excite, the Grand Army of the Republic
was at length put in motion for the cam
pagu Of 1862, a very large proportion OF those
who had most closely and carefully studied tho
past management of that Army agreed in the
conviction that q change in its command was
desirable. Among those who shared this con-
victiou the Secretary of War, and nearly or
quite every member OF the Congressional JOINT
Committee on the Conduct Of the War. with
out distinction of party, were well understood
TO he most emphatic. Had the matter been
within the proper cognizauce of Congress,
each House would have voted for change by
large majority, wherein The most Influential
and zoalos opponents of the Rebellion, Demo-
Gratis as well as Republicans, would have
uuited
But the President of the United States is
COMMANDMENTS Chief Of our Armies, and be,
after hearing aud considering all that was
urged on both sides, decided sgainst change.
That decision VAS the end OF controversy. To
PERSIST in the discussion which had before
been pertinent wa. henceiorth TO excite dis
trust and promote distraction where unity aud
confidence were Indispensable. Nothing re-
uiained but to intermt criticisms which,
however iust. bad become untimely, aud could
now subserve no good purpose The question
whereon grave differences had arisen had been
decided by an authority from which there ia
no appeal, and nothing remained for those
oyerTuled but to acqu.esce in that decision,
and do their utmost TO endue with strength
aad energy the arm that strikes for the lie OF
1t seems to US that the obligations imposed
by loyalty and patriotism are more compre-
bensTe than some Of our cotemporaries appre-
bend. Gen. Mcclellan, il is settled, is to
direct the operations of tho Union Grand
Army in Virginia; hence j. is improper to
prolong or revive discussions as to bs abilities
or efficiency which are not now in order. But
4 why should those who insist on this view feel
: at liberty to assail Secretary Stanton, Gen.
d Mcdowell, Gen. Fremont, aud wbomsoeycr
beside they may suspect of judging differently
.. from themselves Tue same authority "hicl
r has decided that Gen. Mcclellan shall command
: the Grand Army now operating against the
Q Rebel lines at Yorktown has also assigned tC
Messrs. Stanton, Mcdowell, and Fremont
their respective parts in the struggle now ap
preaching it, crisis. The President, after
: hearing all that their enemies had to offer, has
, determined that Edwin NJ Stanton shall con
tnue to preside over the War Department
that Irwin Mcdowell shall command tho army
corps operating on the Rappahannock, and tia;
John G.. Fremont sball command that whici
threatens the heart of the Rebellion from the
western slope Of the Allcghanies. Wisely OF
unwisely, these points are decided, and pre- not
likely to be now reconsidered. Vascilation
and change at this crisis would be fraught
with peril to the National cause and discourag-
ing perplexily to its defenders.
u Ii Mr.. Diven had not already rendered it
impossible that we should be surprised at any
thing he might do in the way Of grieying his
friends or gratifying his ad'ersaries in the
past, we should certainly have been amazed
by bis recent assault on Gen. Fremont. Ad.
NIT all that will or can be pretended on the
side TO which he has gravtated-say that Cen.
| Fremont was deceived and misled with regard
to the fortiGcatiOn Of 81. Louis--that the work
might have been safely forbone (Which We
think few can belcye), OF that he paid great
deai too lauch for it--what then Have not
similar mistakes been committed by other com.
manders Have not arms been bought at
eytrgagant prices, and sold for song when
nothing that would serve even TO drill with
should have been spared on any terms DO
we not all know that errors Of Judgment, in
volying sericus losses, not only have been but
always ,cW be made, when a country so essen
italy peaceful as ours is summoned " arm it.
self in extreme haste and rush into tho arena
Of War; We have tried bard to prevent or
to limit these losses--we believe they might
have been considerably res.ricted-yet We know
well that nothing less than infalliblc admins.
traitors could have wholly prevented them.
Gen. Fremont did not appoint himself to the
command Of the Department of the Mississippi,
aud We happen to know that his recent assign.
ment to the command of the Mountain Depart
ment was not only unsolicited but wholly un-
expected by lin. Mr. DiIeu, though wo do