M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1862-07-17

grasp, McClellan came ont at tar'rls'
ing from the fight in which lie had
shared the peri!s Of the common sol
dier, with a Napoleonic conception Of
the only salvation for bis army from
annihilaiion by fire, or loss by capture,
He ordered new roads to be instantly
cut through the swamp that separates
US from the Charles City highway.
and communicated to his Generals Ms
purpose to change his base by a rapid
movement tn tho James River, and
while saving his present proximity to
Richmond, to take position where his
connection with Baltimore, Washing.
ton and New York, could never be
cut-where he never could be sur
rounded-and where, peradyenture be
could cover the removal ofthe obstruc
lions in the james River to the ascent
Of our iron.cla1 feet to the duty and
policy of reducing Richmond to ash,
es. Orders bad beon previously les.
ued to ship every pound Of public
property away from White House
Point, and TO send every vessel under
Government charter out of the Pa
munky aud York rivers, around tine
James River and to the vicinity Of
Fort Darling.
We march now through the Whitg
Oak Swamp, to change, in twelve
hours time, the base OF great army
doomed where it was. and having now
but little grace of delay accorded to
it by an active and brave enemy, nu-
merous enough to encircle us at any
point aud outnumber us at all. The
movement is bold, soldicr.like and
brilliant, but eminently hazardous.
1t is made by the light of the burning
Of every one OF the bridges which wB
have 80 painfully thrown across the
Chicahominy, and within hearing Of
the destruction, by our own hands, Of
the railroad which gave US supplies
and was to secur us retreat. The
movement will probably be successful,
Though its trail will be bloody. Tie
wurid' wilivgafd ~aitsas a nfasteffv
strobe of genius. The army will go
regard il, and will feel for its com.
mander the admiration and gratitued
that saviorS Of men ever enkindle in
loyal hearts. But the brilliancy Of
this movement will not for an instant
dazz,e the eyes Of the wronged and
wrathful men of the army ofthe Pc.
tomac, nor will it dazzle the sight Of
the angry people SO as for moment
to obscur their perception Of the crime
against the nation, which has made
this change of base and front imperi.
ously necessary. This crime is the
refusal to re.enforce Mcclellan.
don'S care about the question-which
legislators, soldiers and politicians
have debated of this Generals fitness
to command. The York and James
River Peninsula was not the place for
that discussion. The hour of the juno
tion of Beauregard's and Jackson 3
forces to those of Johnston is not the
time for such a debate. ! care not
for any criticism Of Gen. McUlelIan's
campaign on this Peninsula or on the
Potomac. have blows, but not a
word, for the untimoly casuist, in or
out OF administrative office, who, un-
der the roar of rebel cannon, sweeping
our ranks with shot and shell, meets
the demand for aid to this army with
a chronological measure of delays at
Fortress Monroe, at Yorktown, at
Williamsburg, at Seven Pines. |
don't care whether there were delays
or no delsys-whether they were
McCIellsn's delays, the Quartermaster
Generals delays or the delays Of the
elements! No man, nor party, no in.
terest, shall, with nv assent or my ST.
leDce, be permitted to mix up with
the sacred right Of an outnumbered
American Army to demand help from
their countrymen, and to promptly re-.
ceiveit, collateral questions OF fitness,
of vigor, or fidelity in commanders.
When loyal New York regiments,
lifted from their feet by the fire ofreb.
Ell brigades, cry out Of their wounds
and death for help; when the choisest
of New England and Michigan and
Pennsylvania troops, outnumbered
in front and on both fanks by whole
divisions of the enemy, beg for rein
forcements. Isay the llsckest crime
that Power can commit is to stalk up.
on the field OF peril and say, "SOld.
iers, Ihave no faith in your cammand
erl Let your martyrdom proGeedl"'-
And so says this Army Of the Poto-
mac. And it registers tonight vows
Of vengeance as it marches in the dark
from q position which their diminish
ed numbers disabled them ffcm hold.
ing, but which is consecrated to them
forever by their sufierings, their labors
.l mi