New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-13
DEFERRED DOCUMENTS.
FACTS THAT SHOULD BE KNOWN
u1s 1ECApACITY DEMONSTRATED
mcClelIan's Only Council Of War
Cou.spondence Of The ~ Y. Tribune.

public credulity, the public confidence III "0u' '
rl.,lsn 70 he used ultimately against those VINO oe'
air. 70 see the rebellion speedily and foreiot! Pu'
80 " ,,,;,h ,;,,ls favor even among The De-
mocracy. many of whom openly expires 'o''
for the crowd of sycOphanis ny WHOM '"''
% surrounded II the parties WHO arc eu"y "
abe eouiyocations, the pervefSiohs' anu in'pu'c''
t,,,s,;ss perpetrated in his behalf, are acuhe
Dc, bs priyity then certainly no charge can
r.. aos,ost him as an nstigator of low political
:-,-;,ua II the laudatiou and defense OF Gen.
Mcclellan by the Pro-Savery press, and ny
usmbers of Congress whose sympathy Wild the re-
bellion lie only thinly disguised-f say TINS con-
,enta neous movement by this element In HE oehs'
without bis cosnizance or encouragement, thenishe
A most unfortunate and deeply'ipjured man. The
championship of Cox Of voorhees,, and OF VAL
lsndipham. of The n. Y. Herald and The Journal
If Com erce ia a concste nation of misfortune from
vb;ch q greater man than be might well cry TO be
delivered. Results are the only criterion that can
be applied to the conduct Of military commanders
aud 10 Judge Of these, when they have become nA'
Ter of history does not require WIDE acquaintance
with textbooks or the ait of war. National glory
rd ua,iopal shame are matters in which the dulIest
NAV have toleIably correct appreheDslons.
hwoud certainly be presumptuous in civilian to
sxpress an opinion upon the military abilities OF
Gen. Mcclellan. One may say that Gen. Lyon pos
ssssed military ability for Springfield bears witness
In boldpe.s of conception snd courage in execution
Fort Douelson and Roanoke testify 10 similar quail
t;es iu Grant and Burnside But in the case OF NC
Clellan, positive data are wanting the elements OF
proof are all negative. Suppose am inclined 10
deny the existence Of great military capacity IN Ids
Instance. urge that quite recently, Mcclellan re-
fased to allow Banks to cooperate with Lahder'
when whole Rebel division was In their clutches
But it il said in reply thai this was part OF NC
Cellans Z" strategy" aid this is unanswernoe' iof
make no professions to knowledge OF the science
recall the fact that Secretary Stanton stated AS one
If the grounds of the arrest Of Gen.StoDe. that ne
Ilowed the erection Of Rebel Notifications when he
sould have battered them down; and further, he
complimenteo Lender in general order, on the
very qualities the display OF which onr late Com
nanderin- Chief reprmanded him, as being 100
xngcestiye and critical" From all which i infer
that Mr. Stanton ,oo is ignorant of that fine science,
strategy" and thinks commander should deal his
enemy blow whenever ne has opportunity.
The whole of the murmurings against Gen.
Mcclellan seem to grow out OF an ignorance among
the people concerning the science Of strategy,
and il must be acknowledged that there have been
many occurrences calculated to try their faith.
The Potomac blockade has been expensive piece
of business both for the Government and the people
Of Washington; and great many think the disgrace
of allowing the great natural highway to the Capt.
tal to be blocked up BY the Rebels worse than the
expense. The more, because there are responsible
parties who lave offered take the job CT raising 1t
on contract Moreover, It is well understood, that
on tsco occasions, tie Nary Department collected
ressels at the Yard IN Washington for the purpose
of taking troops doon tie rioer, and making com
Siaed attack upon the batteries but the men
could not be spared from the grand army OF the Pc
tomac for cooperation. SO the blockade cOntinueI
TO this day.
1t is difficult for the unnitated to see what harm
II would have worked 10 the combinations Of Gen
Mcclellan if Fremont had done in November wha
Curtis and Sigel have done in February; or il Sher
man had taken Savannah or Charleston immediately
after the capture of Port Royal. They puzzled &c
know why, if the army of the Potomac is ready for
forward movement now, it was net ready during the
fine weather of November and December, before q
couple of scores Thousands Of men were withdrawn
from it.
For months, the people were tod from day to day
that the grand army was "almost ready" and for
months they went to sleep every night expecting to he
roused in the morning by the Dews that ts enormous
conc:ns had "crushed ont the rebellion" When at
last it was announced that the "a covered wagons,
with the legend "Comman der-iu-C Chief" drawn by
matched horses, had arrived in Washington, it was
thought that the las. touch Of preparation had been
given. But the rainy season set in anal our hopes
were dashed, and for two months leader was rD-
able to cross the Long Bridge to Writ his devoted and
suffering soldiers
1t is not surprising that civilians unac, Iuanted
with strategy, should have been impatient, and
that they should have bsiled with enthusiasm the ex-
hbitiOn of strong will by Secretary Stanton, even
at the risk of the disarrangeuent Of the sra teec
combinations Of the COMMANDMENTS Chief. Fort Ion
ellon, Fort Henry, Roanoke Island, and the march Of
Curtis and Sige will 90 fan To reconcile US to the
loss of possible brilliant results rom the undsturbe
working out Of those combinations.
The same strong will, aided by other influences, is
ut work to bring on a real forward movement on !
the Potomac. Let those gentlemen who are 20 much
exercised about attacks Gen. Mcclellan" be
assured that no one will be found who will detract
from the merit Of any service he may perform.
Certainly he, Of sll .men, has least reason to CON-
plain. lie was exalted by reclamation to posi IA
to which previous service entitled bin; has been
furnished with a magnificent army, and waited on
with exemplary patience. For more than Blk months,
the whole country has shown wonderful eagerness
70 recognize in him hero, and the whole people
nave stood ready TO throw their caps in air at bis
success. 1t is not strange that, in view Of the cx-
P'o's OF the raw soldiers Of the West, the people