Smyrna times., 1862-12-11
MISCELLANEOUS
Gan. Halleck's Report Military Ope-
rations Of four Moaths.

We have Gen. IIalleck's report of the
Union army since he became its command
ing tSeneral--a period of but little over four
months. 1t is n clear, unimpassioned state
ment Offacts, with few comments, and these
merely such as any intelligent reader would
have made for himself 1t has very great
historical value, for it covers the most criti-
cil period of the war-that which followed
Gen. McClellan's retreat from his position
on the Chickahominy in front of Richmond.
extending to the date of his removal from
Command Every reader of this document
will see ut once that it involves and very
seriously inpugns the military reputation of
Gen. Mcclellan.
The first necessity, in Gen. Halleck' Judge
ment, after the retreat of Gen. Mcclellan to
the james River, was to unite his army with
that often. POpe-neither force being strong
enough for either an advance upon Rich
mond or for its own defence against the
re)el army which lay between them and
could attack either at pleasure Gen Hal
lcck vlstei Gen. McClclans headquarters
1"r consultation, aud being unable to send
tien. Mcclellan rs many fresh troops as he
deemed essential for an attack upon Rich
mOnd, he ordered him, on the Sd of August
to withdraw his entire army from the Pc
ninsula to Aquia Creek, for the purpose OF
joining Pope at Fredericksburoh-piy
hum at the same time complete control OF
all the TRANSPORTS in the James River and
Chesapeake Bay. On the 5th. he received
from Gen. Mcclellan protest against this or
DER, IN which he argued with him against it.
wisdom. On the 9th, he replied to it. Boil
documents are appended to the Report. anC
II must be universally conceded that Gen
llalleck's reply, cOuched in calm and mos
respectful language, is complete and over
wheimng rctltation of the arguments which
zen Mcclellan had offered instead of ODE
dience TO the order of his superior. 1t wa
mot until the 18th of August that Gen. Nc
Slellan obeyed the order issued eleven day
before
That interval of eleven days was devote,
by the rebels to preparations for move
snent intended to crush Gen Pope befor
he could be reinforced by the Army Of tn
Potomac. Gen. Burnside, at Newpor
.sews, being ordered on the first of Angus
20 transfer his troops to Aqua Creek, land
ed them there on the night of the Sd. Th
ee.aiis OF Gen. Pope's maneuvres. first t
hefMn the rebels in their advance until h
coald@be joined by Mcclellan. and then +
hold as much of the ground before Wasf
ington as he could, are deeply interesting
and besr. test tlmony to the vigor and enere
of Ten. Pope, and to the skill with whic
ms moyements, when harrassed by the en-,
NY on every side, were planned and execr
teo. The delay Of Gen. Mcclellan in a,
nving made it necessary to change his nlaC n
ot'landing from Aqaia Greek 10 alexanRdr; wa Ri%.
Fitz John Porter, I" for some unexnIa;na
reason, did not comply with an order IF &C. Ga,
Pope directing him to be at Br;stos,.. q, q,
ton on the 27th-and his corps, tberefor ,.'
did not participate in the battles oftba Sa,
and 2eth, which were the decisive enoao, so'
menis of this brief defensive eamps;sss,
6AfoPss forces, however, succeeded