The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-08-28
The Military Administration Of General
Mcclellan.
SDeech Of Hon. n. Chandler
Of Michigan.
(DEIIvERED IN THE o.. s. SENATE, JULY 10th, 1862,
THt - Concluded

eral German thought it not advisabl
for our forces to cross. General Ian
der thought it was, and you felt COZ
0 strained TO adopt General Lander
D view. Do you mean that you felt con
strained in consequence of instruction
Q or orders? ~ f.si.
"AnSaoer: / concurred with Genera
: Lander on account of my instructions
But then it was not an affair that
shonld have planned myself at that time
"Question:: You took your instruc
a tions from General Mcclellan?
"Ansuer. Nv instructions from Gen
Nc cClellan were to cross the river, an6
did SO as far as was practicable. The
!, difficulty was that we had no transpor
ta.ion TO make il safe" ~
So much for the wi o'e sale murder a
Balls Bluff T M
After consultation, it was agreed b,
General Mcclellan that four regiment,
should be furnished, aud the time wa,
fixed for their embarkation. At th.
appointed time the vessels were ready
steam up and transports along side, ant
thus they remained all night, but no
troops appeard. Upon inquiry as t.
the cause, the General.in- Chief inform
ed the Secretary of the Navy that he
did not send the troops because he
feared ti,e arrangements for landing
were not perfe, ted. The Secretary Of
the Navy informed him that when the
Navy aud Army co-operated, 1t was
the duty of the Navy to provide boats
for landing, and that ample provision
had been made whereupon, that night
was fixed upon as the time to embark
the troops. Again the boats were IN
readiness, steam up, and the gallant
sailors and mariners eager for the fray,
but again were they disappointed.
The troops did not arrive whereuron
the Navy Department informed the
War Department that il considered the
refusal To- furnish troops virtual
abandonment of the Potomac TO tine
rebel blncka,l., that the vessels were
required for the southern expedition,
and would at once be sent To their des-
tination; and thus for months was the
nation disgraced hv the blockade Gifts
capital, and many millions of dollars
wasted III expensive transportation,
which small force judici"nsly posted
might have prevented. Mr.. Fox, in
answer to the question whether this
small force would he safe on Matthias
Point, replied, certainly f; our vessels
can shell the PonIt upon both sides for
l.."o distance" Why was this dis
grace sJ long submitted tn ? No man
knows or attempts TO explain. Month
after month one of the most splendid
armies the world had even seen, of two
hundred thousand men, permitting 1t.
sell and the national capital to be be-
sieged by f"rce never exceeding one
half its own number. sii
During the month of December, the
nation became impatient. The time
had arrived and passed when we were
promised forward movement. The
roads were good, the weather splendid.
the army in high condition and eager
for the fray. How Ion. the roads and
weather would permit the movement,
no man could predict; still there was
no movement. The generals, with
great umanimity declared that the army
had reachcdits maximum of proficiency
as volunteers, hut still there was no
movement Under these circumstan
ces, .hc committee on the conduct of
The war asked an interview with the
President and Cabinet, anil urged that
the winter should not be pei mitted to
pass without action, as it would lead
to an incalculable loss of life and treas
ure by forcing our brave troops into q
summes campaign, in a hot aud to them
inhostible climate. The President and
Cabinet were united In the desire that
an immediate advance should be made,
but it was not made, although we were
assured by General Mcclellan that II
would be made veey soon, that he had
,o ;;.ten;;:n of going into winter quar-
,ers and he or, NOT. While the enc
my erected comfortable nus AZ S'e.'''e'
vile and Manassas for their wIit-'
quarters, our brave and eager troops
spent the most uncomfortable winter
even known in this climate, under can
vas. as thousands aad ten of thousands
invalid soldier throughout the length
and bredtl, of the land will attest.
Why did not the army move in all
December, or Wy did it not go int"
winter quarters |? No man knows, nor
is any reason assigned. iH3
On the lst day of January, 1862, and
for months previous to that date, the
armies of the Republic were Occupying
purely defensive position upon the
Whole line from Missouri to the Allan
tic. until on or about the 9th OF Janu-
ary the President and Secretary of
War issued the order foraourd Then,
the brave Foote took the initiative, so
Letting Two thonsand men from llalleck
to hold Fort Henry after he had cap
ltnrcd it with his gunboats. They were
properly furnished, and Henry fell I;
then Donelson with It's fifteen. thousand
iris'iners.; then Ntwbern, and the
country was electrified. Credit was.
gwen where credit was sdue. Do nOfh-
ing strategy gave way to an I" immedi.
ate advance upon the enemy's wm ks"
and the days Of spades and nick axes
seemed to be ended. On the 22d off
February q forward movement upon
orr line was ordered, but did not take