The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-10
Revelations or the Campaign fn vi~~
ginia-Attack ON General Mcclellan.

d
very curious revelations about the campaign
IN virginia, WIN ich must have come from the
War Department or Military Committee of the
| Senate, or, perhaps, from both The writer
frequently reiterates in italics the, assurance
"we know" lest any person should doubt the
authenticity of his statements from the fact Of
their being originated in so obscure journal.
But, as poor Pierce used to say, there was only
one great paper in the world-the Boston Post
to which he sent his official communications,
so probably some other distinguished indi-
vidual who has access to the secrets Of the
War Department regards the Transcript in the
same light. Whether the article has emanated
from Senator Wilson, Senator Sumner or somo
other great man, we need not now inquire.
Suffice it to say that it is defence of the
blunder or series of blunders which resulted
in the recent disaster in the valley of the She
nandoah. 1t is an er parte, one-sided argument,
charging General Mcclellan with being the
cause of the mishap; and in order to be proper
~ appreciated it needs calculation from facts
long in our possession which constitute the
other side of the question.
1t purports to defend Mr. Stanton against the
attacks of the New YORK HERALD; but as we
have never attacked Mr.. Stanton, the article
ought to be regarded as an onslaught upon
General Mcclellan under the guise of defence
of the Secretary of War. We have hitherto
believed Mr.. Stanton. guiltless Of these blum
ders, for he was not a military man, and Of
course would not undertake to regulate q
campaign. But now we are certain; for it
turns out from the semi-oficial revela-
tons in the Boston Transcript that there
has been military manager of the War
Department-Julius Caesar Hitchcock
"skill as strategist and whose powers of COM
bination" are so justly eulogized by our contem-
porary. This gentleman. had been proposed to
Mr.. Cameron as military adviser, but was re-
jected, owing to some old quarrel between
them arising out of Indian affairs But Mr.
Stanton took him into his counsels and was
guided by his military wisdom. It is clear,
therefore, that Mr.. Stanton is as innocent as ON
unborn babe. The Transcript saddles the whole
responsibility upon. Caius Julius Caesar Hitch
cock but it is open to doubt whether so ac-
complished a soldier-one who so distinguished
himself in the Mexican war and was the friend
of General Scott-can thus be made the scape-
goat for such grave military mistakes. His
plans may have been all right, and may have
failed only from the laundering in the execution
by incompetent generals. That terrible blum
ders have been made and that somebody il, re-
sponsible for them is beyond all doubt.
The writer in the Transcript states that when
int ofHo
General Mcclellan virtually directing the
whole war, and fixed in his determination that
no advance should be made until April" and
that Gin this determination he fortified himself
by a. vote Of eight of his generals against four"
This is perfectly true as far as it goes; but let
the whole truth come out. Why was it that
General Mcclellan was fixed in his determine
ton not to advance till April, in despite of the
clamors of the Tribune and other abolition jour-
nails, which daily assaulted his ears? Because
large portion of the Army of the Potomac were
without improved small arms, and some of the
troops without any kind of weapon, while part
of the cannon so essential to success had yet to
be made; and, lastly, the roads would not be
in order for the movement Of artillery
and military stores till April; while every
days delay weakened the enemy, who
had the start in preparation, but whose
twelve months men, to the number Of $4,000,
would probably retire to- their homes, If not
prematurely attacked; whereas the preparation,
the organization and discipline of the Union
army would be rendered more complete by
gaining little time, which would, in the end.
have the effect Of really Fastening the cam
paign to its consummation. The Army OF the
West, too, before the arrival OF General Hallcck,
was in q miserable condition. Nor were the
gunboats ready to play their part in the pro-
gramme. 1t was essential to the plan Of Gene
raj Scott, adopted by General Mcclellan, that
the movements in the Southwest, in Virginia,
and on the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf should
be simultaneous. But, through the influence
and intrigues Of the abolitionists in the Cabi-
net, the Army of the Southwest was forced to.
advance prematurely. The plan Of the cam
paign was thus disclosed too soon. and the rebels
at Manassas, taking the alarm, retreated; where
as, had not the time fixed by Mcclellan for a.
simultaneous movement at all points been an
ticipated by rash precipitAncy, the rebels Ut
Bowling Green and at Manassas would have
been Gagged together, the rebellion would have
been finished at . blow, aud the war would
have been now at an end. The excuse for the
necessity Of IN immediate advance was the
fear of foreign Intervention, which was q
groundless fear, for if Mcclellan had not been
interfered with he would have been successful
before any foreign Power could have intor-
vened.
Instead Of moving in April General McClel-
lan's army was compelled to move in March,
and the Army Of the Southwest had moved even
in February. Owing to the fact that Halleck
had the control aud direction of the whole
Army of the Southwest he was eminently sue
cessf,ri, but would have been much more so