Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-11
WoRC S TER:
TUESDAY. nov. II, 1852.
The Armr of the Potomac.

Aal was removed. me important points III
the statement of the general-n-chief are, lst,
That the peremptory orders of the govern
ment for an advance were repeatedly disObey
ed by Gen, Mcclellan; and ID, That his pre-
text for delay, j. e, the alleged want of sup
plies, was without foundation, inasmuch as
his acquisitions have been fully and promptly
responded to by the appropriate departments.
1t appears that ON the 9Th OF October after
the urgent appeals of the president and gem
eral-in-chief for an advance seemed to have
been wasted, percmptory orders were given
Gen. Mcclellan ito cross the Potomac and
give battle to the enemy, or drive him south.
1our army must move now while the roads
are good" Three weeks elapsed and the
army had not moved. Gen. Haleck declares
that there was no such want of supplies in his
army as to prevent his advancing upon the
enemy in compliance with his ORDERS and
that in his opinion the army of the Potomac,
being nearer the base Of supplies, was better
provided than the armies Of the west-bctter
on the whole than any other army in the
world.
1t also appears that during the season of
deporable inactivity since the indecisiye bat
tie of Antietam the government has been i'm
pressed constantly with the necessity of
prosecuting the war in Virginia with energy
and has not failed to bring its resources and
its arguments to bear upon the general in
command. Its misfortune, or its fault, has
been in trusting too much to him. For the
first furry of winter finds the old story of his
campaigns repeated; the enemy falling back
for several weeks, and, while we were wait
ing on the east bank of the Potomac, making
his retreat Sc cure out of the Shenandoah val
ley, and perhaps securing a comfortable win
ter position for himself and his ragged troops.
This certainly is not pleasant thing to tell
to the country, that had waited SO long and so
patiently f0r-notIing. 1t is said that many
persons high in influence and power, antici-
pating such a result, urged a change Of COM
mand many weeks ago. The president, in the
kindness OF his heart, refused to believe that
an officer would be so neglecttul Of his Obvi-
GUS duty without cause, and one night. against
the protest OF his most prudent advisers and
friends, started for the camps at Antietam to
make personal investigation Of the circum-
stances, and ito beg of Gen. Mcclellan the
obedience which it was his undoubted right to
command" His mission was fruitless. The
month Of October was lost. 1t was necessary
that something should be done. At the last
moment Of endurapce, upon testimony which
it would have been dangerous to the last de-
gree to disregard, the president reluctantly
applied the only remedy in his power, and
ordered General Mcclellan to be relieved.
The opponents OF the administration, who
have during the past year endeavored to
make Gen. Mcclellan the central figure in
their policy, of course protest against his
removal. Though his departure effects no
political change in the command of the army
Of the Potomac, though his removal is made
in accordance with the recommendation of
his superior in command, whose political an
tecedents and sympathies are identical with
his own, they do not hesitate to outrage truth
by pronouncing it political device, and to
provoke disafection by maligning the motive
for the change. The cause Of the country has
been cut to the quick by their persistent and
almost successful efforts to make this one gen
eral seem indispensable to its success. They
forced upon him reputation, when he had
not earned it, under the shadow of which,
whatever he has done OF has failed to do, he
has been shielded from the criticism that has
been mercessly visited upon nearly every
other officer of the government. Gen. Nc
Clellan has received only a temporary benefit
from their injurious friendship. The coun-
try has suffered irreparable injury; and they
alone have been advantaged who hoped to rise
upon the Fictitious reputation they created.
The change comes too late to be of much
service in the prosecution of the fall cam
paign. Tie golden autumn is far gone alrea-
dy. We can only hope that the army of the
Potomac, under its new influences, will coin
the fleeing moments into victories, and prove
by valiant examples, that the policy that dares
is better than the policy that fears. As Gen.
Mcclellan is a loyal man, he submits to his
fortune as better generals have done when
they have fallen under the displeasure of their
governments. We believe, too, that the ar
my which, for fifteen months, he has had the
splendid fortune to command, will vindicate
Its title to the good name it bears, by follow
ing its new leader with earnest and trustful
courage, asking only to be led wherever the
enemy may desire to meet them and to end
this long delayed campaign successfully be-
fore winter paralyzes all their hopes.