The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-03
Prof N1ahan Oh Mcclellan

AN article appears IN the New York
Eveniny Post dated West Point and signed
M" which could have been written by no
no other than Dennis H. Mahan, IL. D.,
Professor of Mathematics and Engineering
in the Military Academy for the past thirty
years and under whom all the officers grad
uated within that time received their in.
structions. This article is rep'7 to the
plamphlet Of Charles Elet recently issued
coudemning Nr. McClellan's generalship,
and it shows the utter nonsence AID fa.lacy
of E!lets writing and reasoning. It is to
Pref. Mahan's opinions of Mcclellan, how-
ever, rather than to what he thinks OF FL.
let, that interest attaches. His ability to
speak and knowledge of all the prominent
officers now in the field on both sides should
lend much weight to his words. We quote
from his article:
With some acquaintance of military bis.
tory. and such elementry knowledge OF the
clements OF the military art as any inteii-
gent reader may acquire from Jomini,
Theirs, and other writer's Oh the subject.
nothing seems more simple than to make
war OF paper. A base of operations is
chosen. lines Of operations marked out,
movements projt cited, battles planned, and,
Invested of all the impedments OF real ope.
rations, the parlor gentleman triumphs
to bis hearts content and with the less
misgiving as to his result as his actual ex.
perience OF war is the less
In General McCelan's whole career thus
far, be has been invariably successful in
what he has undertaken; and his success be
has owed to unyiriDg perseverance in the
prosecution Of bis plans. Admitted into the
Military Academy at an age considerably
below the average mot being sixteen) and
having for competitorsyouths over nineteen,
be maintained among them the highest
s.aLdirs 10 scientific attainmenrs and was
regarded by his instructors as pupil of very
superior abilities.
Prof. Mahan then gives a sketch of
M'Clellan's career, with which every reader
is familiar, and continues:
1t is not now quite five months since Gen.
eral Mcclellan took command of the troops
around Washington, and only little over
six weeks that, having been invested with
the chief command, he has had exclusive
control over them. Called to his new duties
Immediately after the Bull Run disaster, be
found the three months volunteers being
rapidly disbanded and their places being
supplied by raw troops, hurried rapidly from
their homes, in many cases incompletely
equipped, and Differed by men few of whom
were at all conversant with their duties.
Everything in the way of the organization
Of these men had to be done. They had to
be taught their duties to become acquain.
ted with their officers, and their officers with
them. For the commanding general to
have attempted anything beyond a strictly
defensive attitude whilst this state of things
continued would have been sheer reckless
ness and lave argued an utter incompeten.
cy for pcs ton.
1t is we'll known to the writer OF this that
there is nc officer in cur service Tor whose
military capacity and professional acquire
ments Jefferson Davis and tie chief militia.
ry leaders under him have so high respect
as Tor those of General Mcclellan. There
is 10 General in Our service in the face OF
whom these men would act with more cil-
cuuspection than before him 1t is also
known throughout the army that General
Mcclellan erioys, Oh the same grounds, the
entire confidence OF the best educated and
ablGst Cilice:s in cur service. That he hes
Inspired the President aid the members of
bis cabinet with sqaa! confidence YVES
shown by the unanimous voice with which
he was called to the CHEF command on the
retirement OF General Scott
Genera! McCie.ian does rot waste worls
either III talking Or writing. Whatever he
says is to the point. His written orders
thus far axe models OF such papers. lie
does nothing for mere effect.
Judgments pronounced On the mental Cav
pacific Of Diners Gegepd Is much, perhaps,
On the standpoint of the Individual who
pronounces item as on bis qualifications
ior such task. Madame &c Stael, after
an interview with the Duke OF Wellington,
expressed hegseifas greatly Disappointed in
him, snd rather wondered at his fame as q
soldier. Wellington was, nevertheless,
great captain,
When General McClel!an's own plans
have palpably failed, and when it can be
shown that this has happened through his
incompetency fer bis work, then every voice
should be raised for his displacement But
without knowing bis own plans, to denounce
him for virtually not adopting these OF an
ether in preference to his own, is ruthless!y
shaking public confidence in him, without
offering any remedy when the mischief has
been effected. He himself has asked for
patieLce and for confidence in him on the
part OF the public. When we look at the
work before him, consider the tools with
which it has to be performed, and the care
and time which the most competent judges