The Goodhue volunteer., 1862-06-11
Gen. Mcclellan, Plana.

It has been charged Ii the most respec
table journals Of the country that BY an un .
warrsntab)s interiersncs Of the Secretary ii
War, McClsllan's plans were seriously ems
barrassed. and this charge has not been de :
MED BY any papers worthy Of credit. We
arc glad, however. that the most charitable
has been put upon the whole
matter by the New York Tins. Mr.. Ray
mond in his correspondence from Yorktown
sayh:
Gen. McClellan's numtcra have been
strangely over.tated in many quar,ers.-
and ! heard an influential member of Con.
gress who has hecn vehement in his com
plants of McClellan's Inactivity, insist. the
other day, that he had over 100000 men
under his command on the Peninsula. Now
! have the figures for IN exact statement ot
his force by co'ps darm.e, division, and
brigadss, and II it were quite prudent even
yet to state these details Of his force. !
should be very glad to give ,hem by way OF
refutiog this opinion. can say, however,
without improprie.y, that his eff ctice force
is just about one half the number assigned
"a little more, perhaps, but not much
His original plan, as nave already stated
was to send corps Farmes to the rear
|of Gloucestcr,-to reach West Point, @
miles above Yorktown, and then, by com.
binsd attack in rear, in front and on the
flank from our gunbosts. to compel a sur.
render. This plan he was under the ne
cess,ty Of changing when Gen. McDowelrs
corps was withdrawn and sent to tho Ran.
Pahannock because he was then left with
out frce sufficient 10 warrant the detach
ment Of SO large body as this operation
would have required. HIS only resource,
therefore, was to make the attack in regular
forln and by regular siege operation run
ming no risks ofdeisat by undue haste or in
adequate preparation, and making it absoIu
tely certain that he could hold every step
he might take in advance.
And here let me say one word as to the
reasons Of the withdraw Of General Nc.
Dowell from his command This very re.
inarkabls step has been very frequently A.
signed to very unworthy motives on the
part Of General Mcdowell, who is charged
With having desired and sought an indep,n
dant command believe this to he grossly
unjust and utterly untrue. General Nc
Dowell is as honorable and high toned gen.
t!em'n As there is in the army, and BE-
lieve him to be utterly incapable of any such
unworthy conduct. In point Of fact, more
over i happen to know that General Nc
Dowe'l did not seek or desire seperate com
mand-that he desired above all things to
cooperate with Mcclellan in the execution
OF the grand scheme assigned to him, and
that ne was surprised. chagrined and bitterly
disappointed when he received the orders
which detached him from that army. The
reaso" for the change, which was made by
the Secretary Of war with the assent of the
President was fear for the safety Of Wash
'ngton. The battle st Winchester had
startled them BY revealing much stronger
rebel force in their front than they had sup
Posed-and upon inquiry they found that
the troops left for the protection Of the capi-
tai were less effective than had been assumed
1t was thereupon decided that one Of the
two corps remaining, either McDowelrs or
Summers should be withheld and the choice
fell upon the former This is a very simple
explanation Of an affair which has been in
vested ty rumor with a great deal Of polit
lca' importance, and which has occasionei
! good deal Of bitterness Of feeling. But /
believe it to be tho true one. Enough on
this subject for the present.