Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-12-08
TaE PAOTEas o. ENEMAL Nc.
GILLIAN.

Mcclellan, to the order Of Gen. Halleck
for the Withdrawal Of the Army Of the
Potomac from the Peninsula
Il il most remarkable doc
ument. and the reasons set forth therein
whv the army should not be removed
but be reinforced 90 that il might 60
ahead, are most potent and convincing.
The views Of Gen. Mcclellan ~ to the
best way Of crushing the rebellion by
force OF arms will DO ack nowledged to be
eorrec, by all parties. 1t is the lao
Ruage tina, has been universally used
through the country. The blow should
fall upon Richmond. The concentrated
energies Of the army should have
been eentered there. The history ofthe
past few weeks 10 proving these prem
ises correct the bungling operations Of
the War Department only prove that
Mcclellan was right. Our vast army
1, now arrsyed At the very point from
which Mcclellan did not wish to ap-
proach Richmond. He we'll knew the
the magnitude OF the distractions with
which be would meet. The army-the
same army under Gen. Burnside-is now
reaping bitter experience. Halleck
would not learn Of McCle lan-be mnst
try his own plan-he must have his own
wayne must overslaugh superior in
tellect, condemn superior military talent
ignore common sense and send the
grand army by the route that Mcclellan
his superior in every thing but posi-
tion-had discarded. No wonder he
was alked; no wonder there is talk
about hsngiog the base Of operations.
But the pr,tes,: II TO the public or.
d,rs. proc lnma,ions and reports Of that
officer have been awarded universal
praise as model documel Is cf the kind,
this private despatch, (certainiy not cx-
pected By the writer u meet the public
Rsze,) mus, Re viewed in light highly
creditstle to the IN litary judgment as
we'll ss earnest and unsefi,h patriotism
Of the officer who psnneJ it:
BrHK.,r. V. Aug. 4 lss2-l2N
(Io CIPHER to M.j Gen. n.lleck. Comm ander in
Cni-fD
Your telegram Of last evening is re.
celved. / must confess that It has
caused me the greatest pain | ever *
per,.nced, Tor AN cow need that the
order 10 Withdraw the army to Aqua
Greek will prove disastrous 10 the ex
ttemc to our cause.
tear it will hs a fatal blow. Several
days are ncces gary to crmpl-te the ar.
rangeuent for 50 import mt movement
o. the, and while they are IN progress
big that careful consideration may be
given to my abatement. This army is
now 10 excellent d scipline aud cOndi-
tiur. We hold q debouche on DO b
banks of the James River that We are
free to act in any direction, and with
the assistance OF the gun boats l consid-
er our communication rs uow secure.
We are now twenty five miles from
Richmond, and are not likely to meet
the enemy in force suffic ent to fight q
battle until We have reached fifteen or
twenty miles nearer, which brings cs
practically within ten miles Of Rich.
mond. Our longest line OF land trans.
por,ation would be from this point TWEEN
ty-fivc mites, but with aid Of gunbCats
We can supply the army by water dur
ing its advance certainty to within
twelve miles Of Richmond.
At Aqua Creek We would lie seven.
~ five miles from Iii :hmond, with land
transportation all the way. From here
10 Font Monroe is march OF about sew.
enty-fve miles, for regard it as i,pprao-
ticablc to Withdraw this army and its
material except by land, the result OF
the movement would he TO march 1875
mics to reach point now only twenty
five miles distant. and to deprive our
selves entirely OF the powerful aids OF
gunboats and other transportation, and
to these tn. certain demoraIz alton of
the army, which would ensue, the terri
by depressing effect upon the people Of
the North, and the stern probability
that it would influence foreign powers
to recognize our adversafies. There ap-
pears TO me sufficient reasont to make it
my imperative duty 10 urge in the
strongest terms afforded BY our Ian
guaoe, that this order may be revoked,
aud that so Tar from recalling this army
1t he promptly reinforced TO enable it to
resume the offensive. 1t may &c said
there are no reinforcements available.
point to Gen. Busnside's forces, to that
Of Gen. Pope, not necessary to maintain
. strict defense Of Washington a,
Ha,per's Ferry; to those positions OF
the army Of the West not required tor
. strict defence there.
Here. directly in front Of the army.
10 the heat Of rebellion. 1t is here
that all our resources should be collect
ed to strike the blow which shall d ter.
mine the fate Of this nation. AL 10 nts
OF sec ,ndary Importance elsewhere
should be abandoned, and every avail.
able man brought here. A decided
Victory here and tho m litarv strength
Of the rebellion would be crushed. II
matters not what partial reverses We
may meet with els. where, here is The
true deicnse Of Washington. 1t i. here
on the bank Of the James River that tic
fate Of the Union should be decided.
Clear in my conviction Of right, strong