The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-16

HeIeWltn, marked EXAlOU NO. 4. ~
reports OF his subordinate officers bav
been submitted.
GEN. M'CLELLAN's STRANGE DELAY AFTE
THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.
From the 18th of September till th
26ih of October, McClollan's main ar
my remained on the north bank of th
Potomac, in the vicinity of Sharpsbur!
and Harper's Ferry. The long inactivi
ty of SO large an army in the face Of
defeated foe, aud during the most favora
BILE season for rapid movements and
vigorous campaign, was a matter o
great disappointment and regret. You
letter OF the 9Th, and my reply on th'
28th OF October, in regard to the alleget
causes Of this unfortunate delay, | sub
NIT herewith. marked Exhibit No. S, il
reply to the telsgraphic order Of the 6tl
OF October, quoted in my letter of th'
28th, above referred to. Gen. Nc Clel
Ian disapproved of the plan of crossing
the Potomac south of the Blue Ridge
and said that he would cross at Harper,
Ferry and advance upon Winchester
lie, however, did not begin to cross til
the Goth Of October, and then at Berlin
This passage occupied several DAYS
and was completed about the Sd of No
vember. What caused him to change
his views, or what his plan of campaigy
WAS, | am ignorant, for about this time
he ceased TO communicate with me il
regard TO his operations. sending his re
ports directly to the President. On The
9th inst. | received The written order o
the President relieving Gen. Mcclellan
and placing Gen. Burnside in command
of the army of the Potomac. This order
was transmitted by special messenger
who delivered it to Gen. Mcclellan a
Rectortown on the 7lh
GEN. BUELL's OPERATIONS.
When | left the Department Of the
Mississippi in July last, the main body
of the army, under Maj Gen. Buell., was
between Huntsville and Stevenson, NOV
ing toward Chattanooga, for which place
they had left Corinth about the 10Th o
June. Maj, Gen. Curtis forces were al
Helena, Arkansas, aud those under Brig
Gen. Schofield in southwestern Missouri
The central army, under Maj Gen
Grant, occupied the line of West Tennes
see and Northern Mississippi, extended
from Memphis TO Iuka, and protected
the railroads from Columbus south, which
were then our only channels of supply
These several armies spread along a line
95aaqs Ct s2ms o S24 rkHsas mss t6 6G2R ap
and occupied strip of country more
than 50 miles in width, from which the
enemy's forces had recently been expell-
I'd, were rapidly decreasing in strength
from the large number OF soldiers sent
nome on account of real or pretended
disability.
On the other hand the enemy's armies
were greatly increased by an arbitrary
and rigidly enforced conscription With
heir superiority in numbers aud disci
plins they boldly determined to reoccu-
py Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and
Kentucky, and, if possible, to invade the
States OF Ohio, Indiana aud Illinois,
the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylva
mia. and an extended Indian iusurreetion
on the Western frontiers. This plan
had very many chances OF success but
the timely order OF he President, Au
gust 4, calling for additional forces, aud
the patriotic response OF the people OF
the Northwest, thwarted the enemy s
well formed calculations.
Gen. Bragg suddenly transferred a
lrage part of his army from Tupelo,
Mississippi, through the States of Ala
bama and Georgia, reached Chattanooga
in advance of Gen. Buell., turned his
left, and, rapidly crossing the State oi
Tennessee, entered Kentucky by Nun
lordssille and Lebanon.
Gen. Buell. fell back upon Nashville
without giving the enemy battle--thsn
followed, or rather moved parallel with
Bragg, who. after capturing our garri-
son at Munfordsville, turned off from
the main road TO Louisville, along which
Gen. Buell. passed-the latter reaching
Louisville without any enga gement
Another column of the enemy had mov.
ed from East Tennessee, after blocka.
ding Cumberland Gap, upon Lexington
and threatened Cincinnati. A sma
| force of our raw troops, which had beer
pushed forward to Richmond, Ky, un,
der Major Gan. Nelson, were met by III,
enemy and completely routed, In tht
mean time every effort had been mad,
10 collect new troops at Cincinnati ant
Louisville, and 10 forlify these places
against coup-ds main
/ To give confidence TO the new layies,
portion Of General Grants army wa,
withdrawn from Mississippi and sent I,
Kentucky and Cincinnati No attacl
Was attempted by the enemy
Major General Buell. left Louisville OF
the lst OF October, with an army OF abou
100000 men in pursuit OF Genera
Bragg The latter engaged q part o
1 General Buell's army at Perryville abou
/ lO O'Clock on the 9th OF October. 4
general battle ensued aud was continu
ed I'LL dark ; il was mainly fought b,
Major General McCook's corps th
enemy retrestsd during the night Tia
losses were heavy on both sides, but n
official reports of the numbers enga re,
or tho losses on either side have been re