Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-11-01
Gen. Karney's Letter reviewing Nc.
Clellan and the Peninsular Campaign

We publish below the fumous letter
Of Gen. Kearney, about the Peninsular
campaign. Gen. McClellan's friends
have presistently denied that there was
such letter in existence. 1t certainly
bears very hard on McClellan's man
that this letter was written by an officer,
considered one of the bravest and
best in the Union army. Gen. Scott
pronounced Gen. Kearney's death, a
national calamity. SO he is not an un,
known or untried man. His letter will
therefore, be read with deep interest
by all who desire to obtain the truths
Of history. 1t will be perceived that
Gen. Kearney anticipated Pope's dis
aster-because he had too small an
army to stand against the rebel veteran
army.
HARRISON LANDING, 4th August
1662.-DEAR PET-I thank you for
your kind, long letter. You extend to
lie hope. You suggest Withdrawing
me from this ignob5e position. With
Pope's army | would breathe again.
We hoUe no Generals. Mcclellan
is the failure eve: proclaimed him.
lie has been punished, just IS at once
comprehended the moves OF the par
ties. lie scH only get 'ss IN more fok
lies, more ecaste Of blood, fighting by
dribbiets. He has lost the confidence
of all. Nor has he single officer
about him capable of bcttering It's
Sumner is ''bull in china shop"
and sure enough blundcrer.--
lost his corps gratultousIy at Fair Oaks
He is not now in his right place, and
will be much worse. He has a small
brain, ossiticd in a a company" garri-
son. on the frontier. He was not "of
us'' in Mexico, but in a rear column, -
once saw distant flash in a guerrilla
fight. His skill is ny:th-a poetical
version Of his own part at Bal! Run.
Porter is good in nature, but weak as
water-the parent Of all this disaster
for his want Of generaI>hip on the
Chic}ahoininy.--~ and Franklin are
talented Engineers. They might make
good generals if they understood the
power ut elements in their calculations;
IS it is, they are dangerous failures.
When was drunk he had
some few men drowned before York
town. | know of 10 other feat of his.
FranI!iu's battle at West Point was a
most runaway picket fight OF ours.-
Ills part on the ChiclSahominy was un-
pardonable. He sent over division
(his own), was present on that side,
out Of fire, and never intcrfered to pro-
tect them from being sacrificed by
dribblets and rendered prey to their
false position. [ was Mortified at it, as
described by Gen. Taylor, and all 9th
ers. Is it surprising that | want to get
out Of this mess? Besides, they have
sent me Major GeneralShip, like all
these others, dating from 4th July, mud
died into batch Of new and very or
dinary junior officers. Do they forget
that was appointed taoeltth on the
original list? That [, on the heels of
Bulls Run, faced the enemy with a
Jersey Brigade, in advance Of all 9TH
ers, against ALL Mcclellan, Mcdowell,
ct I'D Om1ae genus, nearly forcing me to
come back to the 'Seminary ?" Do
they forget ne at Manassas? My
Jersey brigade that infected with pan
ic the retiring enemy? Has Williams
burg never come to their ears Oh
no! l really feel aggravated beyond
endurance. Discipline becomes deera-
dation if not welded with Justice
Patriotism cannot, amid all her sacri-
fees, claim that Of self-respect. Gene
rails victorious in the past, are not
called on to expose their troops, unless
those brave men are acknowledged
Their identity in their chief promotion,
claims a date Of their own high acts.
Oh, no, am nearer returning to the
home | have given mp, to the interests
I have sacrificed,to my cherished wife,
whose anxiety oppresses me, than /
ever dreamt Of in war for the Union.
! But if the infatuated North are weak
enough to let this crisis be managed
by ''Small men of small motives," I
am not willing to be their puppet.
My dear Pet, | am too lazy, and too
little interested to dive into the future
of this ''ltttle box Of heresies,n so do
tell me-what do the people Of the
North look forward to in the future :?
| fear lest this war will die out in a
rapid imbecility.
For Mcclellan, he is burnt Out
Never once on a battle field, you have
nothing to hope from him as leader of
column. How do they expect Pope
to beat, with very inferior force, the
veterans of Ewell and jackson? But