The Portland daily press., 1862-10-25

ger, WituOut tue ulOst pdfhiui "uuoeS ioiSihs
themselves upon the public mind, and conf
dence being most severely tried. What are
we told2 Why, that the President and his
Cabinet demand an ddudnce of McClelans
army, but now, at this late day, they are found
so lily provided with clothing and comforts
that the Commanding General peremptorily
refuses to advanced The Argus of yesterday
morning puts the alleged fact in the following
form:
Want of drawers, sacks, overcoats, shoes and
blankets, is what keeps Mcclellan tfom advan-
cling. He cares more for the comfort OF his
troops than for the ignorant advice of politi-
clans, aud tcilt not bulge nntil his gallant boys
are properly supplied. The fault is with the
department at Washington. N
We don't believe single word of the desti-
tuition spoken OF. Letters daily received from
Maine soldiers in that army warrant no such
representations. But suppose it be a fact;
why was not the complaint before uttered p
Mcclellan has known that the saason is ad-
vancing and that cold weather is coming on,
and why not forewarn the Department of his
needs, that they might be seasonably provided
for? The statement of the alleged fact is an
unkindness to Mcclellan, for if he had desired
to advance he would have seen to it in season,
that proper requsiton was made for all need
ful supplies; and it is idle to say to the Amer
lean people that his requisition would have re-
manned unheeded. We repeat, we don't be-
believe word of the destitution alleged.
But how it looks on paper, in view of the
uncomfortable, ragged, unpaid wretched con-
dition of the rebel army, to say that our men
cannot bulge" unless loaded down with lux
uries! We don't believe that, any more than
we do the story OF desttuton. Our men are
anxious for fight. All their letters show that
they pray for nothing more earnestly than to
be led against the enemy. They are becoming
dispirted and demoraaized from sheer mac
tvity, and they are no fancy soldiers who
want to 'board at hotel and ride in a car
riage," but they enlisted t, fight, they expect
ed hardships and dangers, and they only ask
all opportunity to show with what pluck and
gallantry they can endure the one-when I'M
avoidable-and meet and overcome the other
But look at another excuse for this unex-
PiohiSN ihSSb''t9. ihS Has bOlu Us
that the rebels are massed in the rich Shenan-
doah valley; that Mcclellan is compelled to
keep his army scattered 30 miles to prevent
their coming into Maryland; that it is impos-
sible for him to move on the enemy in force;
should he attempt such a move the rebels
would recross the river above or below him,
and get back into Virginia before he could
reach them; that heavy rains must come and
raise the river before be can safely move, &c. !!
Now what mere boSh this is to attempt to
palm off upon an intelligent community. 1t
comes, however, from no official source. 1t is
the mere speculation of a newspaper cores
pondent; and only shows the depth of folly
and absurdity that is drawn upon to explain
an unpaatable iact-the total inactivity of
the drmy Mcclellan has the largest army in
the world at his command. As though he
cannot properly guard the Potomac, and have
an army left of sufficient force to send against
the enemy in the Shenandoah As though he
is not as smart as they, and prepared to move
as rapidly. Will not the same heavy rains that
raise the river, at the same time soften the
roads, and render movement almost imprac-
ticable? We repeat the remark, that this alb
surd apology for the non-action of the army,
comes from no source that shonld entitle it to
a moments consideration.
We hope the object of this article will not
be misunderstood. We do not write from feel
ing of hostility or opposition towards any mil
itary man. We have had the most implicit
faith in the commanding General of the Poto-
MIC, and have never failed to resent any as
suit upon him; but, without charging fault to
any particular quarter, or upon any particular
commander, we are not blind to the fact that
the hearts of our people are sinking within
them; that the season is fast advancing; that
to-day we do not occupy SO much of the rebel
State of Virginia as we did one year ago; that
our people have poured out their money and.
their blood without stint; that they are ur-
gent to hear of an active, forward, vigorous
movement. We want the generalship that is
displayed by the rebels; that commands COM
mendation even from the enemy. There seems
to be fault somewhere, and every days delay
only seems to impress the people more deeply
with the fear that this fault is becoming chron-
ic. Who is in the fault, who are responsible
for the waste of time, is question that we are
not competent to decide.