Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-28
THE RETREAT FROM MANASSAS
The Wise and Humane Policy q
Gen. Mcclellan.


The following letter, addressed to a
friend in New York by an officer of the
regular amy, holding All important po-
si,ion in its administration, is published
in the n. Y. Times as an &C. of justice
TO the Commander of the Army Of tn.
Potomac:
"HEApQu ARrEss Army OF TUE Poroa.c,
Friday, March il.
"MY DEAR SIR-A bret parcntnesi>
in the midst Of pressing duties enable
me to seed you line OF acknowledge
mcnt for yours, which | received yesler
day at Fairfax Court House. We ar
rived there on Monday, and the nex'
day went on to Manassas junction. The
whole country is deserted by white anc
bl ack. The junction was smoking with
the parting confsgration OF the rebels
their last division having left the day be
lore our arrival. We found the usual
monuments Of rebel civilization and pre-
sence-houseless cLimneys rising from
the smouIdering ruins. Provisions and
forage, clothing and camp equipage,
we're rccklcssly scattered round in burn
ing heaps, showing the hot haste and
terrible panic in which the traitors had
departed.
"The entire State of Virginia is sur
rendered to the Rapahannock, and we
have thus obtained all the fruits OF a
great victory without the loss of sin
gle life. Those who think that wal
consists only in fighting, and producing
individual suffering and misery instead
Of military results, will of course rave
and Genounce as usual. Those who
have read history and understand it will
think otherwise. Marlborough had ten
campaigns and fought but five pitched
battles, and with comparatively limited
results, while McCIellan's winter cam
paIgn has extended the flag of the
Un,'ed States over $50, 900 miles of ter
n,ory lately held by the traitors.
The wise, intelligent aud humane,
who know that the Union can be re.
stored Only by the least evaporation
and alienation, will applarde the com
mander who achieves for bis countr,
great ends by peaceful means. We
might, it Is true, have fought a grea,
battle at Cen,rev,le, and possibly have
won It. But the place is very strongly
fortified, aud the Quarters, extending 70,
miles around 1t, can accommodate lOO,-
900 men. We might have thus manu-.
featured thousands of widows aud or.
phans in defeating the enemy, with
scarcely a possibility Of capturing any
considerable portion Of them, they bav-
ing two railroads in the rear by which
to retreat, while the effect upon the ter
minaticn OF the war wonld have been no
mole decisive than that now achieved
by STRAIT gy.
The rebels have lost all The rcsour-
ces OF one.,hird Of Eastern Virginia by
orr hloodless victory, and failed to gain
INVITING by their sanguinary success al
Bull Run. The malignant blockheads
who uour their mendacous SANDERS up.
On Mcclellan through the appropriate
tunnel ofthe Tribune capnot compre.
bend the conduct OF war except bv
hannes Q! blood, nor Judge Of its eff;ec I
except as seen and heard in the erie.
and lamentations Of broken. hearted wo
men and children. Let them rail op.
Thus lar McClellar's strategy has bee,
emuently successful, and has exemp! Fl
ed and illustrated the highest qualities
Of a Commander.
Il am writing almost on an electric
wire, but hope you may be able to read
the scra~l. Perhaps you will soon hea,
rom us, and, by the blessing OF God, no,
unfav orally"
AN INTERESTING INcIDENT.-When
Gen. Mcclellan left the city at 6 o'clock
IN the evening, with his father.in-law
and Gen. Marcy, and one other person
the party leaving in four-ho,se ambu
lance, the little child of the Commander.
ln-Ctief, with the young mother, wit.
messed the scene from an upper cham
Der. The infant was wrapped in the
u =.