, 1862-05-27
Che GtituuG.
TUESDAY, MAY ~, 1863.
RS WASHINGTON SAFE =

~~NS** !
rs wAsH1NGToN SAFE* |
Gen. Banks has been driven precipitately
}own the Shenandoah Valley and across
he Potomac into Maryland He was sud
lenly assailcd by a vastly superior force,
md only ss7ed his column from destruc-
ion OF capture by rapid retrogade move
nent. Mcdowell may be obliged to fall
,ack to Washington from Fredericksburg,
Uithout delay, to prevent himself from be-
ng outtlanked aud defeated The troops
under Banks and Mcdowell number per-
haps 5000 men. They are unable to de-
Eend the line Of the Potomac against the |
bordes that may be launched upon them.
A sharp, acrimonious dispute occurred |
tctwcen General McClsllan and Secretary
Stanton in relation to the disposition to be |
made Of McDowelrs corps d'asnaes. Nc
C1ellan insisted upon the whole Of it being
sent to him at YorktoWn-insisted in the
most peremptory terms The Secretary
objected, On the ground that it could not
Esfely be spared from the line Of the Rap-.
pahannock. He contended TINT If Wash
1pgton were stripped Of defenders and the
troops we're all sent to the Peninsula, that
while they were pressing on Richmond by
Yar Of the York River, that there would
be nothing to hinder the rebels from Sc.
cretly tliEpatching the main body Of their
forces Northward, aud suddenly fall
ing on Banks Division, routing it, and
pursuing: the flying fragments across tile
Potomac into Washington and Baltimore,
and capturing both cities. He contended
that JEFF. Davis would readily exchange
capitals; that for the sake Of seizing
Washington he would unhesitatingly sac1i-
fec Richmond From the inkling Of the
controversy that has leaked ont, the parties
wa1ed warm, and it was rumored at the
time that Stanton rendered his resiggna-
ton, rs many Of our readers may remember.
The President, perp1exed by this Cross
fire, compromised the matter By giving
Mcclellan half Of McDowe11's corps, and
directing Banks to fal back to Strasburg
and otiid1ing Mcdowell to proceed be-
yond the Rappahannock-as prudential
measrrea After Franklin's division OF
$500 men were taken away from McDow-
eIfdca#ing him scarcely so many, it would
be manifestly unsafe to advance from the
line Of the Potomac.
But Mcclellan was clamorous for more
troops, and the President felt obliged to
scn&him the reinforcements promised to
Hunter and Burnside The whole pro
slavery press Of the country rounaly de.
bounced Stanton for objecting to let all q
McDowelYs corps go to Yorktown, and al
legged that the modve that actuated him
was jealousy Of the Napoleonic genius o
Mcclellan, whom he wanted TO cripple ant
break down! The danger to which
Washington is now subjected was foresee1
by the sagacious Secretary Of War. d
was shenuously opposed to Mcclellan
plan Of the campaign; he objected t
marching on Richmond BY the yorktown
road, for the reason, that it placed the rcbe
arnv betsceen ours and the National Cap
tai, and placed the temptation befor
JEFF. Davis, to make rush on Wasf
irgton while our army was advancin
from the rear On Richmond. The SecretaT
of War advocated movement on Ricl
n,ond by q march from the front, crossin
The Ral,pahannock at Fredericksburg Wit
the main body Of the army. He argue
that by taking this route, the whole fort
on the Potomac, could be employed in c
f,1sive operations, as Washington could n
be menaccd while the army stood betwek
it and the fne. He furthermore conteadt
that, by advancing on the Fredericksbu
road, the army would be able to ou.fla1
the rebels, which On the Peninsula rou
could not be done, But Mcclellan reject
his advice, and insisted on his "plan," al
he has consumed two months IN advanci
fifty miles, as from the nature Of
country, bounded by parallel rivers, he /
not been able 10 operate On the re!
tanks, but has had to bore his way SLOW
against their front, and while engaged
tllis 1a1ar1ous and tedious operatlA
the country is startled by the Ne
that the rebels have suddenly fallen uF
Banks and driven him precipisately O
the Potomac, and placed Washington
great jeopardy-just as Stanton predic
might happen.
But success is the toueh-sts
after all If Washington be sa'
and Richmond taken, and the re
amy driven south towards Danvj
the blunder that so nearly proved +:
will be overlooked. and the blQnderer ,
receive the praise Of the public; While
superior foresight and comprehension
the Secretary gain him NO credit, and
actual peril to which the Nations cap
was exposed will be disbelievcd by
many and soon forgotten by the few '
understood the situation