Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-09


HAVE WE A GENERAL AMONGST US :
The Washington correspondent Of this pa
per says that the question, 81" Have we a Gem
erdl amongst rs p is debated there as well as
in other portions Of the land. Whether Gen.
Mcclellan is or is not what at his appoint
ment he was supposed by the appointing pow
er to be, remains to be seen, so far as field
command is to determine his fitness but if
it can be ascertaned to whom the country is
indebted for what is evidently great and
comprehensive plan for the conduct of the
war, now being crowned with the most en-
couraging measure Of success, it will be uni
versaly conceded that we have person a.
mongst us, with head to conceive the pro-
per plan by which to execute a gigantic pur-
pose. Upt the appointment Of Gen. Nc
Clellan there was evidently no plan Nearly
every movement was accompanied with dis
aster and when Union troops were led like
sheep into the jaws Of death, and the Bull
Run calamity was sustained the fact, which
should before have been an obvious one to
skliul military men, became apparent to all
cool-headed, calculating people, that the war
had been begun without any matured and well
conceived plan SO far as any defined pur-
pose was percepuble. it consisted alone in
driving, pell nell, at the rebels, without or
der, and in defiance Of order, in the belief that
they would flee like foxes before the stars
and stripes. The On to Richmond cry was
an exclamation that has gone upon record as
enduring proof how fully long years Of peace
incapacitated the people of the United States
for rightly judging Of the consequences of
going into battle without any proper prepare
ton.
Transactions since the Bull Run disaster
have been revealing to the people a maturcd,
well conceived plan, the details of which en-
brace every portion Of the States in revolt
Expeditions TO the Southern coast, and into
the Calf Of Mexico, for the purpose Of
seizng upon those States which abut upon the
Gulf; those gganti operations, now being
consummatcd, which contemplated and have
resulted in our possession of the Mississippi
river the severance of rebel forces, by the
seizure OF the great railroad chains the ex-
pulsion Of rebel armies from Missouri, Ken
lucky aud Tennessee a series of movements
on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers,
which, being amongst our early and exhiarat-
ing successes, gave force to the eliminating
tide against rebel power Wrestling Western
Virginia from the rebels and keeping down
combustible elements in Maryland by the ter
ror which powder and ball inspire; these cir
cumstances, which might, with proprety, be
more fully set forth, afford ample proof that
some general Of capacity sufficient to compre-
bend the magnitude Of the Rebellion, to es-
innate the forces necessary to subdue it and
provide for their proper distribution. has been
employed since the Bull Run disaster and the
retirement Of Gen Scott. At some day, with
out doubt, the people will be informed to
whom they are indebted for plan that has
hitherto been attended with successes alto
gether more decisive than even sanguine peo-
pie expected If we have no general amongst
us Of capacity to conceive and execute great
purposes, then it may be said no people ever
thrived well in a gigantic undertaking,
without single controlling mind.