The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-10
stanton aud Mcclellan.

The following from the St Louis Re-
publican of Thursday gives. some insight
into the manner in which Secretary Stan
ton undertook to paralize Gen. Mcclellan.
Happily Mcclellan is likely to carry out
his original plan" in spite of Stanton.
WILLIAMSBURG would seem that the
rebels retreating from Yorktown, have,
for the present, fallen back to the line of
Notifications stretching across the PENN
sula, erected in the first place to repel an
assault upon Yorktown from the rear
1t cannot be so strong defensive position,
as that tina enemy was compelled TO vacae,
and may be used by a portion of John
stons force to cover the retreat Of the
remainder to Richmond. Two redoubts
were taken by Gen Hancock OF Monday,
and the movements are SO rapid on the
Federal side, that it is probable the en-
cmv's designs will be frustrated altogether.
Notwithstanding the singular conduct of
the War Department in Gripping McClel-
lan's army Just at the decisive period,
the General adheres to his original plan, ID
while risking his divisions in front of
Williamsburg to at least keep the rebels
in check there. will transport Franklin 5
and other divisions to West Point, to cut
off the retreat upon Richmond, or attack
the enemy in fark and rear. This, in
deed, is his only resourse TO prevent a
protracted resistance on the part OF john
ston's army to the advance on the seces-
sion Capital
1t appears surprising that while Secre-
tary Stanton is holding back both Banks
and Nc Dowell, he should have Withdrawn
regiment after regiment, and brigade after
brigade from Mcclellan. and left his entire
force inferior to that Of the adversary in
front of him. The country will ask
whether this course Is not more due to
personal jealousy and pique than 10 a
patriotic desire 10 assist IN the early crush
ing out Of the rebellion. II seems TO US
that it is of infinitely more Importance to
destroy the enemy, even though it should
make to the credit of the most incompe
tent man in the service, than to hazard
the success Of grand cause by tying the
hands of the instrument to whom its man
agement is entrusted Yet we believe
, that the army Of tue Potomac will succeed
, in spite of all-agaInst the opposition OF
Gen johnson and the unaccountable pc
! cuIiariti.s of certain officials at Washington.
! The fortified lines of the enemy stretch
across York and James City counties
/ Williamsburg being about midway between
/ the James and York rivers, about hfteen
miles from Yorktown across the road
/ leading TO the ChickahomiHy river. Will
/ lamsburg, fifty eight miles east southeast
of Richmond, stands on elevated ground
and is regularly laid out with streets
intersecting one another at right angles
+ 1t was founded in 1857, and was the capt.
I toll of Virginia until l119, beng the seat
Of the Colonial Government. The ciiebra'
ted William and Mary College eight years
| older than Yale, is located here Not
withstanding the great age OF Williams
burg. the town at the breaking out of the
! REBELLION contained only about two thou
sand souls. 1t is probable that if the
rebels succeed in extricating themselves
from Williamsburg and design TO make
any other stand before. Richmond, they
will fall back to the line of the Chicka-
hominy, some fifteen or twenty miles
| further.
Since the foregoing was prepared, we
have received the pleasing intelligence
that Williamsburg has been taken-the
result of some severe fighting, in which the
rebels suffered great loss. Oar forces, at
the date of the dispatch, were pursuing
! the enemy on the road to Richmond