The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-18
smother change of base on the Peninsula.

commencement Of the seven days fighting il
front of Richmond. This movement is made, n
doubt, as part OF the re-cast Of the campaign
and of the attack upon Richmond, which is nov
to be made from the North 1t also proves that
IN Gen. Halleck's judgment, Richmond can b.
betterassaied and more successfully approached
from the North than from the Peninsula, anC
WstIheS, IN some measure, the criticisms upon
the previous conduct OF the campaign. Those
who have 60 Indignantly assailcd Secretary
Stanton, because all the troops ln front OF
Washington were not sent to the Penineula,
may learn from this movement that N hillary
man has decided that forces can I've most sue
cessiuly employed against the rebel capital from
the North. And there is very simple reason
for this. The army there answers the double
purpose of employing its whole strength in an
offensive movement against the rebel army in
Virginia, while its position enables it at the
same time most effectively to defend Washing
ton and the line of the Potomac.
1t has been said, and we believe with entire
truth, that Gen. Halleck wason excellent terms
with Gen. Mcclellan. so that this new dispo-
sitlon of the army Of the Potomac cannot be
fairly said to have originated IN any spirit Ct
meddlesomc Interference with McClellan's plans.
1t must, therefore, be accepted as the calm judg-
ment OF the com!nander-in- chief cutldelnning
the plan Of approaching Richmond from the
Pcninsua ior if with the army in position
on the james River, and the navigation of that
rlyo- open to our transports 20 within fifteen
miles OF Richmond ana the navigation 0f York
river unoIatructed, and with the whole Unlon
amy iii \r: nia,- larger army than even
Mcclellan had las! WATERFALL in the hands Of
Gen. iiaiicuk, that commander makes his base
OF opefdii0n3 Oh the North, and not on the Pc
nin4ula, il is rot difficult to understand thai
that way OF approach would haze heen chosen
by INN at the outset without wasting five
mouths in the swamrs between York and james
rivers.
BY this change VI position the Army OF the
Potomac, Bu1nslde's force, and the Army of
Virginia can work together tor a common OBJ
ject, the capture of the rebel capital. The
rebels. Of course, will mass their army against
ours, but their whole force will not, we trust.
hereafter be allowed to fight fraction Of our
entire strength. They will thus lose ono i'm
inense advantage which they have hitherto had
in the Virginia campaign, and which they have
used with such success. We shall new fight
them on more nearly equal terms, and We be
iieve more successfully. And we shall have
learned, by the disasters of the summer cam
pa1gn on the Peninsula, a lesson, which perhaps
was needed, that no man, whether in civil or
military life, is inlaiible, and that We had bet
ter wait until our generals win their aurcls
before We crown and defy them. Lerea ter We
Shall be less ready ID prai:G men ior what they
promise, and more ready to praise them for
what they accomplish, which is Il very safe rule
for tie people in Republican, Government to
act upon, both iii peace and war.
GENERAL PopE AND THE BATTLE NEAR CEDAR
respondents, and some newspapers, L manifest
purpose TO destroy the confidence of the pub
lie in Gen. Pope, and the battle of Cedar Noun
tain is set down by such papers as an evidence
OF his lack of Generalship. 1t isn't difficult,
however, to see IL close connection between these
attacks on Pope, and the anger exhibited in
some quarters when Pope issued his address to
his army, which was thought to reflect some
what upon the strategy Of another prominent
General. Such critics seem entirely dissatisfied
with activity but If their criticisms are read
with knowledge of the spirit that aninates
them, they can do but little harm. We have
had one style of Goneralship lauded to the skies
for the last six or eight months, with what re-
suit the cali for 10000 more troops most
abundantly testifies, and the people are quite
ready to try the more active and vigorous style
of warfare, at the risk Of an occasional result.
like that at Cedar Mountain, a heavy loss to
the enemy followed by his hasty retreat. Ii Gen.
Pope meets with with no worse luck than that
at Cedar Mountain he will get along III spite
of criticism.
TRE QuoTAs OF THE Towns. II will lie no.
ticed by The latest order from the Adiutant
General of this State, that towns are to have
credit for any excess Of three years men fur
nished by them in the assignment Of their quo,
| tas 0t militia. This is in obedience to the order