The New York herald., 1862-01-04
Mcclellan nd IIis and dArmy-PrePara-
tfOn a nd Its Reaults.

Mcclellan and Tiis Gra nd Army-PrePara-
tion and It's Results.
Unless we are greatly deceived in our antici-
pations, the present month and that which sue
ceeds it will be marked with military and naval
events of the highest magnitude, and those de-
cisve battles shall have been fought which will
bring the war for the Union to q successful
issue. Those factous and mutinous presses
which are raising an outcry against General
Mcclellan because he does not advance on
Richmond, and which would make more vio-
lent demonstration against him if he had obeyed
their blind and ignorant dictation and precpi-
tated his army into another Bull run disaster,
will soon be convicted of the worst palpable
folly, if not of vile treachery to the
cause of the Union. Scarcely have five months
elapsed since Gen. Mcclellan was placed in
command of the army around Washing
ton. He had then scarcely what could be
called an army; for the decentralization
which resulted from the rout of the 2lst of July
rendered the three months men almost useless,
even where they were willing to re-enlist. 1t
was necessary to begin de noro, and organize
and discipline new army. The result is with
out parallel in military history. Never before
in so short time has an army so vast been mus
teredinto service and so well drilled, armed and
equipped. Let us compare his operations with
those of the military nations of Europe in re-
cent war.
During the whole of the year 1858 the Empe-
Tor of the French secretly prepared for the
Italian campaign. He could not altogether
conceal his formidable preparations, including
iron-clad gunboats; but as to the object of them
he rigidly kept his own secret till he was
ready. On New Years day of 1859 he init
mated TO Baron Hubner, the Austrian ambassa-
dor, who had made his appearance at the levee,
that slight change had taken place in his rela-
tons with the Austrian government. ~ regret"
he said, ''that our relations with your govern
ment are not SO good as they were; but / re-
quest you to tell the Emperor that my personal
feelings for him have not changed" Even on
the lst of March he assured the English gov
ernment that his immense warlike preparations
were ''only necessary reforms in the army and
navy, ana did not mean serious disturbance in
Europe But on the sth of April he decided
in council to send an army of $1,000 men to the
frontiers of Sardinia. On the 18th the vast pre-
parations for an immediate struggle were visible
to every eye, troops arriving in Lyons from
north, east, south and west, and the Emperor
ordered out 900 conscripts Meantime the
Austrian troops were marching and taking up
positions on the Sandman frontier. Eighty
thousand were ordered to the banks of the Ticino
making nearly 100000 in Italy. On the 25th
of April French troops passed the western from
tier of Sardinia, and on the 26th the French
''Army Of the Alps commenced crossing Mount
Cenis for Susa. On the same day Sardinia thus
backed and encouraged, rejected the Austrian
ultimatum, insisting upon disarmament. On
the 2sth the Emperor Of Austria issued q decla-
ration of war, and next day his troops crossed
tie Ticno into the Sandman territory.
On the Sd of May Napoleon pub
lished his declaration of war against
Austria, on the 10th he left Paris to join the
army in Italy, and on the 18th he was at Genoa.
Through this port reinforcements, cannon, mu-
nitions of war and supplies were poured from
the French ports Of the Mediterranean, distant
only day or two's sail. On the goth oil May,
or only eight days after his arrival, was fought
the battle Of Mon tebello, on the 4th Of June
the great battle Of Magenta, and on the 24th the
still greater and decisive battle of Solferino.
Thu. in six weeks from the day he set out for
the field Napoleon finished the war. How was
he enabled to do so? BY his long preparations
on vast and extensive scale-preparatons
which were necessary though he had large
standing army, the best in Europe, to begin
with--an army whose organization had been
the growth OF century an army
of veterans who had seen service
in two wars-frst in Algeria and afterwards in
the Crimea-armcd with the most improved
weapons of modern times, and led by generals
whose talents had been developed by expert
ence in active service. In possession Of
powerful navy, Napoleon had also command of
the sea, which enabled him to send forward re-
Inducements and supplies in security and with
out limit. Yet it was a year and six months
from the time he commenced his preparations
till he brought the war to q close by the peace
of yillaffanca.
Now, what is the brief history of the career
of Mcclellan? In April last he was appointed
by the Governor of Ohio Major General in
that State. In May he was appointed Major
General of the United States Army, and the
command Of Western Virginia assigned to him.
For two months he appeared to be doing little
or nothing. and he was scarcely heard of. But
he was silently and quietly making his prepa-
rations and combinations, and on tho 18th
of July he burst upon the rebels
like tornado, put them to fight, and
followed up his victory SO rapidly on the three
follow ing days with other successes that West
ern Virginia was cleared of the insurgents, and
conquered for the Union at a single blow. 1t is
thus. and like Napoleon in Italy, he will strike
in the rebel States when his preparations are