Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-11-12
Removal of Mcclellan.

The news that Major General McClel-
Ian had been relieved of his command,
and that Gen. Burnside is appointed in
his stead, is neither unwelcome news. nor
wholly unexpected. The very damaging
and uncontradicted articles upon McClel-
Ian which have appeared from time to
time in Wilkes Spirit of the Times, have
not left his reputation wholly free from
the faint of treason, but whether he real
ly deserves to be charged with such a
crime or not, it is certain that as a Gener-
al, he has made a disastrous and ignomin-
ious failure. The latter is sufficient cause
for his removal. Success is the criterion
which should be applied TO all the high
officers of the army, and whenever n of
them falls short of absolute success. let
him be put aside. There is too much at
stake in this wal to allow the life blood of
the nation to be wasted longer, for the
purpose of pandering to political ends, or
bolstering up the rotten reputation of a
partisan general.
Dispatches to the Cleveland Press, from
Washington, dated 10th inst.-says:
1t is a~scertained that the assignment of
General Burnside to the command of the
army of the Potomac is without limita-
ton. Hence, the reports hat any other
General will take the position recently
held by Mcclellan, are not well founded.
This, at least, is the present state of affairs.
All statements alleging dissatisfaction
in the army in consequence of a change
in the command of the Army of the Po-
tomae are pronounced by those who have
the best means of knowing, to be without
foundation.
The following are extracts from Gener-
al Halleck's letter:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
Washington, Oct. %, 1862.
To E. II. Stanton, Secretary Of Var
SIR-In reply to the general interrogations
contained in your letter of yesterday, /
have the honor to report
Frst-That acquisitions for supplies to
the army under General Mcclellan are
made by his staff officers on the Chiefs of
Bureaus here; that is. the Quartermaster
applies by his Chief Q-uartermaster on
the Quartermaster General for commissa-
~ supplies; by his Chief Commissary on
the Commissary General, &c. No such
acquisitions have, to my knowledge, been
made upon the Secretary of War, and
none upon the Generalin-Chief
SeeoRd-0n" several occasions General
Mcclellan has telegraphed me that his
army was deficient in certain supplies
All these kilograms were Immediately re-
ferred to the heads of bureaus with or
ders to report. There has not been so far
as could ascertain any neglect or delay
in any department or bureau in issuing
all the supplies asked for by Gen. McClel-
Jan or by the officers of his staff. Delays
have occasionally occurred in forwarding
supplies by railroad, on account of the
crowded condition of the railroad depots
or of a van of a sufficient number OF
cars.
TEird-Soon after the battle of Ante
tam, General Mcclellan was urged to give
me information of his intended move
ments in order that if he moved between
the enemy and Washington, the reinforce
ments could be sent from this place. On
the first of October, finding that he pro-
posed to operate from Harper's Ferry, !
urged him to cross the river at once and
give battle to the enemy, pointing to him
the disadvantage of delaying till the Au-
tumn rains. had swollen the Potomac, and
impaired the roads. On the 9th of Octo-
Der lac was peremptorily ordered to cross
the Potomac and give battle to the enc
my, or drive him south. | said TO him
your army must move now while the
roads are in good condition" 1t will be
observed that three weeks have elapsed
since that order was given
F6urtA-In my opinion there has been
no such want of supplies in the army I'M
der Gen. Mcclellan as to prevent his COM
pliance with my orders to advance upon
the enemy. Had he moved his army to
the south side of the Potomac he could
side.