The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-12
The Charges against Cen Mcclellan.

A letter from Gen. Ilalleck, in answer to in
4errogatories from the Secretary OF War, hes
been published, exploding entirely all the charge,
that ten. Mcclellan has not been supplied 18th
everything he asked for, end showing c,nclu-
sively that for scme unexplained reason
Mcclellan has realistically refused to obey or
aers .rom headquarters. Gen. Halleck says;
From all the information | can obtain | am
Of the opinion that the acquisitions from that
army have been filed more promptly, and that
the neu as general rule have been better SAP
aied than our armies operating in the West.
rhe latter have operated at a much greater dis
lance from the sources OF supplies, and have had
Ear less facilities of transportation.
Soon after the battle OF Antietam, Gen. Nc
CleIlan was urged TO give me information OF his
5ntended movements in order that Ii he moved
between the enemy and Washington reinforce
ane0ts could be sent from this place On the
Inst OF October finding dat he proposed to OPP
cate from Harper Ferry, urged him to cross
the river at once anu give battle to the enemy
eSninting to hin the disadvantages of delaying
@insA t!,e autumn rains had swollen the Potomac
xnd imparct the roads GA the 9th Of October
Sse was peremptorly ordered to cross The Poto-
suac aul give battle to the enemy, or drive him
South Your army must move now while the
roads are good. Ii will be observed that three
weeks have elapsed since the order was given.
In INV opi1iOn, there has been no such want
oE supplies in the army under Cen Mcclellan
~ to prevent his compliance with the orders TO
advance against the enemy. Had be moved 10
ahe south side of the Potomac, he could have
received his supplies almost as readily as if re
snainiug inactive on II e north.
The balance of the letter is only in confrma-
eion of these statements, and proves them COM
p,etely.
The charges contained in this communication,
If true, convict Mcclellan of no less crime
than that Of characterization, ard establish
army were, IN military point of view,
mere shams Why Mcclellan should have
resor,ed to such excuses, is left Of cours.
wholly to conjecture. Maj. Keys programme
of prolonging the war until the North become
so wearied as to be prepared to submit to any
terms the South might propose, seems to be thu
only solution now of what otherwise is ar
ipexplicable mystery.
But the charges OF inactivity afer the battle
of Antietam, are not all that Mcclellan has t
answer. The military Commission which haI
Just finished its investigation of the surrender o
Harper's Ferry, very seriously inculpates him
In their report it is directly charged that tn
slow progress OF the army of the Potomac il
pursuit of the rebels in Maryland, was one o
Ihe causes Of the surrender OF Col. Miles and tn
1890 men under his command. Mcclellan
marched bat six mi es day after hc left Wash
lngton as Gen Halleck testifes before tn
Commission, and, in his opinion, McClella
might and should have prevented the captur
of Hsrper's Ferry and he Commission agree
sgith Gen Hallgck in their judgment.
Ii lie alto stated now and doubtless with en-
ssirc truth, that after the refusal of Mcclellan t
obey the peremp,ory orders to cross the Potc
asac and engage Leo, the President, agains
the renonstrance of members Of his Cabinet
visited the army and personally urged an &C
vance with no apparen, result, however, e,
ceps that Mcclellan afterwards, by sending b
messages directly to the President, instead {
10 Gen. Halleck, gradually began to assume
himself ind .pendenc, of subordnation
ANY commands but those of MIR. Lincoln, q
mmsnder-in-Chief.
We are not su prised, in the face Of thes