The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-18


partment that he was outnumbered on the
Peninsula but would do the best be could.
The Secretary is the judge of the matter
that is communicated from Generals in the
field, the publication of which will not pre-
judice the public interests. He gave this
dispatch to the press; and the majority OF
the people, uninformed as to the regula"
tions, supposed Mcclellan responsible for
the publication of the information that he
was outnumbered. The fact is, Stanton
still chung to his notion that we had too
many soldiers in the field, that McClellan
had more than be could use and all that
sort of thing; End he published the VIII
liamsburg dispatch in order to make Nc.
Clellan ridiculous, when, as be presumed, it
would appear the enemy had few soldiers
at Richmond, and when few wooden guns
would be found in the rebel notifications
defending that city.
The advance up the Pamunky river, and
then along the York railroad, was made in
good style. 1t was slow, that the troops
might recover from their fatigues, priva.
tion and exposure on the Peninsula. In the
meantime few rays of light had pierced
the gloom of ignorance, prejudice, intrigue
and jealousy, at Washington. 1t became
evident that the rebels had few troops in
the vicinity of Richmond, and intended to
make stand there. So McDowell's corps
was prepared to advance from Fredericks.
burg to join Mcclellan, who made an admi-
rable disposition of bis forces to prevent the
enemy from attacking them in. detail. He
sent Fitz John Porter to clear McDowell's
front. This was done effectually by the
brilliant little victory at Hanover Court
House. Now, if Mcdowell had pressed on,
the speedy fall of Richmond would have
been insured. What happened Stone
wall Jackson's raid into the valley of the
Shenandoah, which was undertaken by or
der of General Joseph Johnston, for
the express purpose of diverting Gen.
eral McDowel's corps from Richr
mond Secretary Stanton's pusillani>
nous fright played into the hands Of
the rebels. On the same day that be tele>
graphed to loyal Governors of the extreme
peril of Washington, and called for three
months troops, he ordered McDowell's army,
then in superb condition and within an
hour of setting forth for Richmond, to
straggle away into the Shenandoah noun.
tains. This was the most obvious and most
fatal military mistake of the war. If Gen.
Joe Johnston had been directing the move.
ments of our troops in the Shenandoah
Valley and the Department of the Raphan-
mock, be could not for some weeks have
sent them more completely out of the way
Failing to get aid from Mcdowell, McClel-
Lao was compelled to contract his lines. He
crossed the Chickahominy with the left
wing of his ar ny, and the food one day CIV
ing the enemy the advantage, the battle of
Fair Oaks took place, and revealed the
strength and desperation of the enemy even
to the factionists at Washington. Now
another fragment of McDowelrs Army,
McCalls Division, and tie regiments which
had been detained as ornaments at Fortress
Monroe and Norfolk, were sent to McClel-
Ian, and these were all the reinforcements
he received before the enemy had massed
his troops and fallen upon him with
the full intention and fair prospect of cut
ting him off entirely. While babblers at
Washington talked of McClelIan's two
hundred and forty thousand men, be had
actually with the reinforcements 80 penu.
riously doled out, less than one hundred
thousand electives. And while the cry
went forth from Washington that Stonewall
jackson was reinforced with twelve thou
sand men, and was about crushing our en-.
tanglement of Major Generals in indefinite.
Departments south and west of Washington,
and that the rebels, of course, intended to
run away from Richmond, and take Wash
ington, old Stonewall was on the way to
Richmond to take part in the final struggle
Why did not Mcclellan strike quick and
hard before Stonewall Jackson reached
Richmond? We suppose it will be con.
sdered very absurd by politlcosmilitary
strategists, to speak of unfavorable wealth
er. 1t is fact, however, that there were
weeks during which Mcclellan was on the
Chickahominy, that the soil was so satu
rated by daily dashing rains, that it was
Eext to impossible to move artillery, aud
the artillery was the right arm of the army
of the Potomac.
There can be 20 question that the enemy
did outnumber our army during the series
of desperate battles commencing on the 18th
of June. General McOlellan's enemies
with UNUSUAL candOr, admit that. But they
say, why did he wait until they concentrat.
ed The flower of the rebel force was con
centrated 10 Virginia and in front of Wash
ington, before he took command of the ar.
my of the Potomac. He was disappointed
after taking the field in his first expectations
of assistance from the Government. First,
bis plans were deranged by the creation OF
the department of the Rappahannock, which
was nuisance and stumbling block every
dag of its existence. Second, be was placed
In perious position by the diversion Of
McDowelI's army from corporation with
him by the Shenandoah Valley raid of Jack.
son. Third. the authorities at Washington
were miserably beaten in management by
the rebels, who threw their whole force to.
gether at Richmond without fuss, circum.
locution, intrigue. or jealousy, while McClel.
Ian was only reinforced after the nation had
become agitated on the subject, and his
weakness had been advertised by the alarm
apparent throughout the land concerning
him; and not man or gun has been sent
to the army of the Potomac since McCIel-
Ian landed at Fortress Monroe, but the
breaking down of the bitter opposition of
| the Socrotorr of tho Wor NM ;pIiooonco III