Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-11-26

be Id up and reinyigorated so as to be in good
condition for the next set-t to. II has been two
months since the battle of Aniietam, and the
Federal army has been recuperating, allowing
the enemy either to be reinforced or TO retreat
at leisure. The second edition OF Balls Bluff,
at Shepherdsfown, the audacious raid OF Stu
art into Pennsylvania and his bold circuit
round the entire army OF General Mcclellan.
We're events which might have happened TO
any army. but which cannot be said to have
been Unavoidable.
Since the battle of Antietam General Nc
Cielian seems to have been indisposed to
move. 1t is obvious, from the letter of Gen
eral Haieck 10 the Secretary of War, that he
had disobeyed orders to advance. His excu-
ses that the army was in want OF supplies have
been denied by the Quartermaster's Depart
ment. He was indisposcd TO march. and
when positive orders TO him, TO move on the
9th ofOctober were given he disregarded them.
Days aud weeks went by and il was nearly
six weeks after the battle of Antietam, and
almost month after the express directions of
the President 10 General Mcclellan to press
the enemy, that the head of the advanced
guard crossed the Potomac at Berlin. In the
meantime precious seIsOn of the year has
been sacrificed, the risk of forcible inteIyen-
tion by foreign nations has been increased,
and the main body OF the rebels under Lee
seems to have marched eisurelv from North
ern Virginia to parts unknown.
These seem to be the circumstances which
have urged the Government to remove Gen
eral McCie lau ; and there may be more which
have not been made public But We do know
that General Mcclellan has disoheyed orders,
and obedience TO superiors is the first duty of
soldier.
In considering this matter. there is much
more political feeling than honest anxiety for
the good of the country among those who are
disposed to stand mp tor General Mcclellan.
right wrong. His political opinions before
the war have made for him many admirers who
make party an object of idolatry before their
country. The dragging of partisan prejudices
into consideration of this question is most
pcrnicious. II is uiterl, indefensible in this
emergency, and more SO when we rccollect
that General Halleck, General Burnside and
Secretary Stanton. are OF the same political
opinions General Mcclellan. II the Gov
ernment had been inudicious to have
made the political opinions of General Nc
Clellan test of his capacity, be would never
have been appointed to command. During
sixteen months he has been allowed to exper
intent as Commander in Chief He has prom
ised much and has fulfilled bat little. The
brilliant sentences of his proclamations led TO
high hopes. which his actions have not real
lied. He had the command of an army as fine
as ever was organized in the world He de-
serves credit for putting it into effective con
dition and inspiring il with spirit which
ought to have made il invincible. That army
has never disgraced itself, but it has been
constantly ontgeneraled and caught in posi-
tions where it had 10 contend against over
whelmiDg numbers This could not always
have been the accident of war; mismanage-
ment must have had something TO do with it,
Ii at length the Government, tired of the eau
tious policy which has wasted men. money
and time without any advantage, has grown
weary of the career OF procras;inatiou, it is
the duty of every good citizen to support IT,
and to aid il by his voice and influence.