Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-05-23
WASHINGTON CORRESPOND nee
WAsHINGroN, d. o.
Nav -. 1862.

WAC n lNdlU CUhhESfUNUc NUE.
WASHINGTON, d. @.
May II, 1862.
Gen. Mcclellan and his deeds are naturally
the subjects of discussion here, as elsewhere,
at this time. His exploits of engineering, his
taking possession of Yorktown, his rapid pur-
suit of the rebels, his falling back "to resume
his own plan," his published determination
to ''do the BEST he could, and his subsequent
frequent dispatches, are fully commented
upon. Forney's Press chooses to state,
however, that "there is now no disposition
to criticise or condemn MEG elan, state
ment that any locker on here can positively
and truthfully deny. There is not only
disposition to criticize, but there is the crti-
cism ITSELF l have heard, as hundreds of
others have, the most unreserved expressions
of praise and blame.
His proclamation, made ostensibly to the
Army of the Potomac, is characterized by his
admirers as most admirable. and by others, as
mere buncombe, made for the people to read,
and not for the soldiers. The entertainments
before Yorktown are spoken Of by some as
triumphs of military science and skill. and by
others as monuments of his folly. His sub.
Sequent movements are claimed by his friends
to be marvels of generalship, and by others
as sure proofs of cowardice; and his dis
patches are approved by some, apologized for
by others, while another class say that if he
had any friends here they ought to haYe pre-
vented their publication, as "they show that
he can write if he can't fight" These dis
cussions are going on every hour in the day
in the public places, AMI or the streets, the
friends of Mcclellan giving him unqualified
praise which is met by the decided sneers OF
those who doubt alike the man, and the
claims made for him.
Justice demands for General Mcclellan
just what it did for General Fremont, and
didn't get 1T. G. a fair chance to vindicate
himself 1t is true that Fremont had more
to do and less to do with. He had an army
to create and equip, without treasury to
draw upon, and the State to defend at hall
dozen points widely separated. and to do il
all in great haste While Mcclellan, making
haste slowly, with his army equipped, organ
lied and deciplined, with all the resources o.
the government at his command, has taker
full time to work out his problem at one
point of attack. Whatever grounds of clamol
there may have been against the long delay
of Mcclellan, now that he is on the move t.
Richmond, it is but fair that he be allowed
without let or hindrance to demonstrate his
position. 1t is because McClellan's admirers
| refuse to wait the issue and insist 50 vigor
ously upon browning him before he lays of
his armor, that so much is said to his dispar
agement If much less were claimed fo
him, more would be conceded to him. but thu
violent clamors of praise create the impress
ion that he is being praised for a purpose
The determination to make for him a repu
! tation at all hazards seems to be obvious
and no exceptions to this arc permitted by
| his reputation makers. The truth is Nc
| Clellan can't be made a hero 10y his friends
| The most they can do for him is to make hin
notorious, and all their efforts in this direct
| ion tend to iniurc him, for Generals, like les:
conspicuous and much poorer paid men, arc
| very likely to pass for what they are, not fol
what partial friends claim them to be- Mo-
is mans loyalty to be gagged ly his be
| lief in Mcclellan, as is more than intimate(
| by his injudicious friends, and the effort tt
subdue unfriendly criticism by such init
nations is not more il-advised than it is fool
ish. It is quite possible for a man to low
his country well and warmly, and yet t.
think that the General commanding in Lower
| Virginia is water-logged with Crimean idea:
of fighting. The willingness Of such men tt
recognize his ability, when it is shown, is it
| the fact that Owen Lovejoy was the first t
move vote Of thanks to Mcclellan for late
movements at Yorktown and in "the regions
beyond"
Colonel Vandever left town on Friday
evening to rejoin his regiment He has beer
| to attend to the claim of Legrand Byingtor
fer his seat in Congress The matter was
brought before the House by tie Committee
and it was postponed by handsome MAORI
ty unit. the first " Wednesday in December
The Colonel is looking well, though thinner
and moro bronzed in face than formerly Mr.
Byington, who has been occupying seat or
the for OF the House, by permission of the
Speaker, will return to Iowa.
/ had the pleasure, on Friday, of seeing the
gallant Captains Boggs and Baily, who had
just returned from the gunboat squadron OF
the Mississippi. They were received with
warm greetings by the members of the House
They brought with them from New Orleans
the rebel flag that floated over the City Hall
and very handsome silk flag inscribed
"Chalmetto Regiment" What a gallant
officer Bcggs is He is very modest and
good natured in his bearing aud not at all
formidable in size, being about an inch taller
than Mayor Meason, and resembling him in
build. though he walks more like sailor and
less like mayor. Long live Boggs, and
may his tribe increase! Also, long live the
brave old General Wool, and as he did unto
Norfolk, SO may the authorities soon give
him opportunity to do unto other " cities of
the plain" J. o. W.