Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-11-14

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Two documents Of great importance have
just appeared. They will be read with pro-
found interest. One is an official letter to
the Secretary Of War, from Gen. Halleck.
the General-in-chief, and bearing date Oct.
26, 1862. 1t shows how baseless were all
the allegations that the army under Gen.
Mcclellan was prevented from moving against
the enemy bY the remissness of the Quarter
master and COmmissary Departments at
Washington, in forwarding indispensable
supplies. This remissness has been asserted
again and again, and the lying columns oi
the New York Herald, and other papers OF
that stamp, have teemed with charges that
the radicals" at Washington were keeping
back supplies On purpose to embarrass Gen.
Mcclellan Gen. Halleck's letter proves
that all orders were filed with the greatest
Tromptitude that, though in an army Of
100 coo men there will be always some ID
want, 10 this case. if there was any lack, the
fault ' wholly with the officers OF the srny
needing the supplies. 1t is clear, too, that
tie amount OK dsstitution was. in the reports
to the pubic, Greatly exaggerated.
One thing more appears from G-n. Hal
l,ck's letter. A, an early day after the bat
tie IF Antie,am, be urged Gen. Mcclellan to
cross the Potomac at once and give the enc
my battle. ard IN the 9th OF Oct, be issued
to him psrmp'ory order "tJ cross the Po-
tomac and give SIC enemy battle or drive bim
south. Your Amy must move now while
the roads arr good" Yet three We, k alter
the date OF Cen. nalleck's peremptory
order. Gen. NcC elan was sui 90 he north
side OF the Potomac. No good reason for
this positive disregard Of the order Of his
superior officer was given. l; Is pain that
the afais Of the army could not 20 on IN
tins way without insuring speedy ruin to
the nGtionl. cause. TIE removal Of Gen.
McCiel'in had became an inperiOus necessi-
~. TIE Fernando Wood papers may howl
about D.. and rcil IT ,he .'radicals'' as much
as they p.e.se iJF it. Every heartily patri-
otic and sensible man will sustain the re-
moyal. The complaint vill be that it vas
100 long delayed.
The other document is the report Of
the Commission appointed 10 investigate
the afiir Of the Harper's Ferry sur
render by Col. Miles, just before the battle
OF Antietam. The report Of this Commission,
consisting of officers ofbigh rank will be read
with intense and painful iaterest. We do not
neei to give an epItome of ii. The interest |
OF the reader viii not lag as he gees through |
with its entire details. The Commission
consider the surrender in every respect most
disgraceful one. They do not. in express
terms impute :reachery to Col. Milee-he
had gOne to his last account, and where
there was not proof positive Of treachery,
they evidently felt it their duty-the officer
being dead-to keep their verdict within
ture bounds. OF lis gross incapacity
and imbecility-il nothing worse there could
be no mistake and they report eccording-
Iy. We do not see how any one Gao help
believing that tTeacherous feeiing-s vii.
linsness to have the rebels capture the place,
with Its fine army and amp. stores-was at
the bottom of his acts. The whole proceed
ing on his part looked like treachery At the
time, and it looks 80 far more plainly now
than it did then. We do not wonder that
the trooIs considered themselves betra Jed.
The Commission also censure CD. Ford.
who was in command Of Maryland Heights.
lie bad discretionary power given him by
Joi. Miles to evacuate the heights If be
judged it 'est, uud it appears that he strong
y urged Col. Miles to give him aid-with-
'ut effect Bat they say lie could have done
much more than he did do to hold the place
that he yielded his position, apparently
indeed with the aeouiescence Of Col. Miles.
nut when he ought NOT; and they recom-
mend his dismissal from the service for his
ncap city.
Furthermore, the Commission censures Mai.
len. Wool, in some degree, Tor placing 60
Incapable an officer as Col. Miles in com
nand Of 50 important post, aad i. also
ensures Gen. Mcclellan, for his t4rdiness in Q
ending achievements after he was informed '
bat there wes pressing need Of them.