Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-24
Special Washington Cor. N. Y Tribun > March 18th.
Bitter Attacl. on General Mcclellan.

Why George B. Mcclellan was cailed to the onerous
and responsible position be has held for the past
months, will never be fully explained. When appointed
Major General of Volunteers by Gov Dennison Of Ohio
be Superintendent of the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad, dapidated concern, which had long been
its last legs 1t is putting it in very soit language
to say that bic standing among railroad managers
not high. Indeed, the truth would bear me out in
Sertiug that it rather mdding, if not decidedly
low. He had put his name to large volume five years
BEFORE as of the American Military Commission to
the Crimea. o. this respectable, though somewhat je
ieune work the public supposed him to be the author
1t was known oOly to few that it merely
pilatiOn and translation from European publications.
that an enterprsiDg bookseller unaware of this facD
had sent good many copies across the Atlantic for
sale which were returned upon his hands because for
egn traders dare not sell them lest they be sued for in
frnging copyrghts-and that in reality he more
the author of the substantial parts of this book than be
was of the Koran. Even IL pretty we-informed cir
cles 1t is still asserted that Captain Mcclellan Sc
ected by the other two members of the Crimean Com
mission (Mal0rs MOrdeca and Deated) to draw up the
report to the Secretary of War. This is error
Each member published a book, and that Of Mcclellan
is the smallest and most nconsiderable of the three
The country appalled, at the disaster OF Bull Run.
It could not be denied that Gen. Mcdowell had failed
War is nexorabl9. 1t sacrifices lives and regulations
with remOrseess hand. PUOlc opinion demanded that
Mcdowell be instantly displaced from the command of
the army Of the Potomac. Neither the President nor
dared resist Jne execution OF Lne decree
1t felt that great injustice done to Mellow
ell. But victim demanded to appease popular
clamOr, and he offered up. In looking around for
bis successor it was found that the selection con-
fined to very range. The oldest and most eX-
perienced Generals in the army excepting WOOL who
was then under mysterious ban, had joined the
rebels. The campain in Western Virginia, where Nc
Clean by virtue of his Major Generashp, senior
officer, had been successful He had sent thrilling tel
egrams, apd written imposing dispatches to Washing
ton describing the successes in his Department.
The public, not then knowing that he had neither
planned nor fought sing one of the battles he de-
scribed, and had not been under fire In Western
Virginia, and that he entitled to no more credit for
any of those victories than the writer of this paragraph
the bewdered and appalled, public, and the horribly
frightened officials at ashington, who in their nightly
dreams visions of Beauegard and the Black Horse
Cavalry crossing the Long Bridge, instantly indicated
Mcclellan as the to supp liant Mcdowell. Precise
ly 1Chy they called him they did not know and fancy
they have not yet found out. But the war had hardly
begun ard his department the only one in which
anything had been done and forgetting how cheap pen
and ink are, they took it for granted that the author OF
such glowing dispatches must in fighting q1alltes be
the ante-ype of Frederick, of Bucher, OF Wellington
and of Napoleon So, click " went the telegraph, and
quick express railway tTaln run, Geo. B. Nc
UeIlan appeared in Washington and assumed the COM
mand of the army OF the Potomac
Having set up an idol, all patriotic men, OF high and
low degree instantly commenced offering incense at its
shrneSthough nobody could tell exactly why, has
anybody yet found out Every body reposed implicit
confidence in him all waited for his nod with reVeren
al aspect his slightest word was treasured M a"d
peated in whispers; his mos casual J. OK WIS s"a
as if big with meaning AMI tnel " 50 silent, SC
| reticent, 81 uucOnmunlCauve There was mystery
about He did MT confer with his subordinate
Generals and they recoected that the great Napoleon
did just so by his Marshals. The newspapers abound
ed with sketches of his PERSONAL appearance, and The
show windows over with photographs of the Ma
or-G General Commanding in all conceivable and incon
CeiVabe attitudes, the most frequent and popular o
which is that wherein be is mounted furious charg
er at the head of bis serried columns leading bis i'm
petuous men, amid tempest of fire straight up to
enemys intrenchments.
Time rolled on the pictures increased but the army
stood still Let the Bull Run panic subside, said every
body. WeII it subsided But the army did not move
Wait, wait, said discreet (your genuine conserva
tives,) till the hot weather passes away And the bo
weather passed away, but the army stood STILL Let th
autumnal rains fall, and the mud dried away. 1t wa
the leaves we mean-when they fall, then So the tree