Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-09-17
The New York Times on Gen.
Mcclellan.
The Times saws

The Times SAYS:
Gen. Mcclellan in a general order, las
sumes command of the fortiications and
of all the troops for the defence OF the
Capital" His appointment to this post
is eminently judicious. The position IS
one which he is especially qualified TO fill
with ability and success. He is confess
edly one OF the most accomplished engln-
GERS in the almy, and has no superior IN
thorough mastery of the science of war
He is vigilant, laborious, careful ot his
troops. and quite certain 10 hold fortl-
I fed position committed to his care. lie
( believes in earthworks and IS pre-eniin-
( emily skilled in in the whole art and
mystery Of entertainments. We have no
| fears for the safety of Washington while
/ il remains under his charge.
/ Some of our contemporaries speak az II
/ Gen. Mcclellan had been invested with
| the command of the whole army. We
| do not so understand it. Last year he
commanded the army which Was TO cap
ture Richmond; now lac commands only
lhosa troops who are held for the defence
I Of Washington. Last year he was at the
! head of an army in the tield-moylng
against The enemy-nOw he commands
only Qualifications and the troop. which
are 20 hold them. The positions are es-
seutially dilferent-and we regard Gen.
/ Mcclellan Us much better adapted to
the post he now holds ih.n to the one as
signed to him last year.
We do not think the country would re-
gard the restoration of Gen. Mcclellan to
/ the active command of a force destined
for offensive operations with entire salts
! faction. He has not vindicated his pre-
/ eminent fitness for such a position by
success-which is the only test possible
! for General. Commander may have
the talents of Napoleon. but unless he
wins victories he IS not the man needed
for the place. The only object Of fight
ing is to conquer. The only inaispensa-
sable qualification in n General Is the
ability 10 whip the enemy. II he does
this, he is the man the country wants.
If he fails in doing it. he is Just the man
country does not want for that 'c1rk--
| though for some other purpose he may
prove to be just the man required. We
regard Gen. Mcclellan as having passed
| through exactly this ordeal He has had
| the finest army this country ever saw,
placed in his hands for Il year for the
purpose of taking Richmond--,nd in
stead of taking it he has barely saved it
/ from destruction This is not success.
| He may have shown great ability he
may have conducted skillfull retreats
he may have repelled with vigor enerset-
/ ic attacks-but he has not taken Rich
mond, and this was precisely what he
was expected and had promised 10 do.
/ There may have been good reasons for
his not doing it-but the country wants
not reasons but success and good gen
/ eral will command success in one way or
another. If one plan won't do it, he viii
devise another. If he is inteIered with,
he will override the interference. He
must conquer eircums tanceS and cut his
own way to victory as he goes along; but
he must go.
We have never joined the assailants OF
Mcclellan. This Journal has done its full
share in enlisting in his support that
public confdeuc and hopeful trust which
he required for the task assigned him.
4 But on the other hand, We have never
/ echoed the laudations lavished on him
/ from political or selfish motives. We
] have always reserved the right TO Judge
him. as every high officer, civil or militia
nv. should be judged, by his acts-by the
results of his service; and judging him
thus, we should be simply trifiing with a
great cause and II great country if we
were TO hesitate in saying that, as a Ge1er-
al IN tie feLi-ckGrged soith the cond'sct Of of
e1aSice ,car-ke had failed But he has also
] deralopea alalit;es which fit him pre-em-
inently for the defensive service 10 wfiTcfI
! he has been asst gned.