Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-06

believed and denied it; sent batteries and
troops to the right to the center, to the rear
everywhere but where they were wanted
then, in a moment, found himself surrounded
enveloped, crushed, and defeated.
''McDowell was cenSured not less severely
than Pope. With the latter his advice was
said TO have had undue controlling influence.
The only order Pope gave was the order of
retreat Mcdowell fought the battle. Pope
leaned only on his advice-yielded him com
mand throughout. Its useless, said an Off
Ger, to fight under Mcdowell | shall do my
duty as an officer but we shall loose every
battle where he commands. do not know
whether have heard treachery or imbecilty
most frequently imputed to Mcdowell. Per
haps ottenest he is given the benefit of the al
Tentative. l did not hear one suggestion in
his favor-no excuse or palliaton.
''No order of battle was communicated to
generals of any rank. Generals of corps
were not told who supported them, who was
on their right or left, what movements
concerned their own commands or on what
plan the battle was fought. | asked a ques-
ton about the plan Sir, there was no plan.
We knew nothing but what we discovered for
ourselves. do not know to this hour who
was on my right. l asked, is it not usual
to inform generals of corps or divisions on
euNil poiits. USUAL. 1 ne general WHO neg
lects to do it is an imbecile." command
ing hill in our possession was threatened by
hostile movement in force. Gen. Pope was
informed, and asked to send another battery
to holdit. ''If you do not, in fifteen minutes
the enemy will be in possession of the hill"
He refused to send it. In ten minutes. rebel
artillery was playing from that hill on our
troops.
Generals who fought with the most heroic
| courage and the most soldierly ability, whose
praises are in every ones mouth speak of the
battles in which they have just won honest
fame with chagrin and remorse. Their own
efforts became futile from the incompetence
OF their commanding general. Said one to
me, i must seek to be relieved. unless Gen.
Pope is removed. | cannot see my men MUIR
dered.' l met general who had led his di-
vision in the hottest of the fight with heroic
courage and veteran skill. He said, 4 have
lost thousand men; | dare not go into the
hospital and look in the faces of those wound
ed men, who, know, have shed their blood
bravely and in vain. 1t was Carl Schurz.
''The successful movement Of the rebels
upon the flank and rear of Gen. Pope must
be traced not to his want of proper means at
information, but to his refusal to regard the
intelligence that was sent him. He was Off
cially informed of it, but would not believe it,
would not even take reasonable precautions
against its possibility. He actually withdrew
Sigels corps from his exposed flank while the
enemy were turning that point Officers sta
toned in front on the Rappahannock line saw
for three days the constant clouds of dust
which announced the moving columns of the
enemy, but to the eye Of the general they
gave no sign. He persisted inregarding their
success at Catletts as a mere cavalry dash,
and was hardly convinced by Manassas that
the enemy had gained his rear force. From
that hour his movements have been followed
by nothing but disaster"