, 1862-09-15
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.1

Correspondence Of thu Chicago Tribune]
WARRINGTON, Sept. Q. 1852.
In previous letters have suggested some
Of the possible consequences Of defeat. One
word on those of victory which is to-day the
more probable of the two. On Saturday
night several corps marching through the
streets in close order, passed. Gen. McC;ellan's
house and cheered him to the echo, he stand
ing upon his stoop surrounded by courtiers,
among them, am assured, Senator Wilson Of
Massachusetts, to receive their plaudlts. 1n
those cheers, in the enthusiasm which those
who have talked with the soldiers find pcrval-
irg rank and file and officers from colonel down |
in the several corps, are presages Of victory,
even more hopeful than the inspiration which
our soldiers consciousness that at this mo-
ment they, rather the rebels, are defending
home and freside, must give. Then victory
is to be attributed to the reinstatement Of Nc
CIcllan, and his reinstatement to the influence t
of the army. Then it is the army and not the |
president which makes and unmakes generals, |
II an rightly informed, the highest authosi- |
ties, civil and military, acquit Pope and Nc
Dowsn-whether rightfully Or not-of blame |
for the disasters of the past fortnight, and do
not acquit Mcclellan Of blame for dlso5edi-
ence Of orders On several occasions. The
opinions Of the president and Of Gen. Halleck
have not changed; their action has, aud, as
have said before, necessarily, inevitably so. If
the army, or any considerable portion Of twill
fight under one man, and will not fight under
another, what can be done, at this crisis, but
humor thenl2 The country must get fight
mt nf them at whatever sacrifice
But who is responsible for this humiliating
state Of things? Aud to what consequences
are likely to flow from it? The commander
| in-chief is responsible. Had he been com
mander iu-ehief in fact, as in name from be-
| ginning; had he ordered his generals what to
| do and not what to do, and punished tue
! slightest act of disobedience or iusubordina-
ton by them as the most severe discipline
| rians among them, punish their suhor rdinates;
| had he in word shown decision or dignity OF
character IN his rel .tions with military COM
| mauders had he left his foot where he put it
down and not yielded in lesser things, he
would not have been obliged to yield in this
crest one. The last favor it is dill
cult to refuse, when alli.. ut TIE iast
president a long while to make up his mind;
but It takes him much Longer to translate Lbs
conclusion into action. He determined to
remove Fremont soon after the tau OF LeStng-
ton, but it was six weeks before he DID it.
LoEg ago he made up his mind that Mcclellan
was not the nan under whose command 4 great
ar1ny would "attack, pursue, and destroy the
enemy wherever lie could be found" but he
allowed him frequently to disobey orders aud
to add impertinencc to disobed;ence, without
| rCl'uke.
WHAT are the consequences ? One OF Nc
CIrllan's staff officers, on one OF the very
days during which Franklin was held back
IRON going to Popc's relief, aud Fig John
Porter was held back from the field Of battle
+ at critical moment, told the president that
sumed the command Of the army. Aud Il n.
Sicklrs, day later, 5oastiugly said to au
acquaintance: t'uas not my prophecy, that Il
Mcclellan vera removed, it would be qucs
should first gst to Washington, been fulfilled ::
; "Yeu Lave survived the republic, Mr.. presl
dent,' said Gen. 31iiroy, ut the white house
,, 4 day o. two since. TIT is not slavery Whics
l has killed it, ror the reballion; it is Wt5
: Point"
\ Idonot know whether Nlilroy referred t.
tht singular occurrence Of actlon-solne cal
: it cons nsplracy-betwcen Generals Fitz Joaz
: Porter, Alexander and GEiflia il m::uuder
4 standing aud Franklin in delaying to o5e,
orders, upon the successful execution Q
which nany suppose, rightly or wrongly, tha
tie issue Of Fridays and Saturdays battle
turned or to the course OF the president il
J. yielding to Gen. McClsllar'5 request for tn
Il ;,ostpunement Of the court Of inquiry or1tr2t
: TO Investigate those charges and the releas
from arrest of the officers named. Postpone
= mcut they call it and the court has gon
. through the form OF adjourning over. as if
# meaht to sit in earnest some day. u ncFe
will sit. When the President admitted tn
l. force Of Gen. McCiellan's plea that the Oil
Il Gers accused could not be spared from thel
10 respective commands, and at the same tim
tv spared Mcdowell from his corps and sent Ii
accustr to St, Paul, he practically dissolve
III tie court; and in effect determined that 7
II one should be punished, aud tha: Gen. M
Id Dowcll alone, tie only officer, VITO demani
- an Investigation Of his own conduct, shoul
= be d:sgraeed without having an opportunl
It, to set himself right II General Pope
gutGs; Tive as ano4 s op6ortany snf sa
draw his sword at the head Of an army
to srite general order. II the charges viii,
he las filed against the Peniusular genera
Of supported by sufficient evidence, they sho1l
4 be invest tigated for the sake Of the accuse
an ns we'll as Of the country, and punlshln-
W should he meted out according to eTerg ONT
y. deserts No officer should be allowed to
of tain q command, while such stigma re!
ou But West Point rules, as Gen Milroy L
'ls the President. and if it has not yet Killed t
she republic, it has certainly put it IN serio
ed jeopardy:
'Ao CIelian will set the seal OF pernauencs 10 I
reign of West Point. President, Congre
people, will obey its ilse Dirt Every Think
man man can see What government, by ythe gr:
,;a1 OF West Point, means. ssPofitica,Iy,' SAT-
INT distinguished western man, "tne vlcso
~ which McClellen will, as I an persuaded, :
Gu. IN S1ary land, the blow which he Till deal
one rebellion will set us back six months"
nd. have lost that much time in four days.
man who is to WELD the West Point seer
eA" is man Of fixed ideas. II. VOL
the conquer he says, without the eitusion
II, walt
LOT, blood ne Would save Slavery py an NE
h.; s1as,pum1 m'e pum1 ratSod M and asH his swor #
drew it, in roscwater. Like Gen. Buell.
''does not know what We are fighting ft
rn;t The war to him is trial Of professional 81
ung ~ ~. coumtrI i Iiec6inp 4 in sora tranble
incl travail; every man who falls in battle OF
wing camp disease makes vacancy III some u
a world of which be is the centre; that,
e wcrd, war is serious affair, imposing
gravest responsibilities upon all Charged :
ortY leadership he does not realize, Up to that
near ment m adnlircr saw him while looking {
lin the river 1T the hills which had witne
sur twelve hours before the mass
ting Of Balls Bluff, laughing and tals
M sion With General stone sE,,ot ssErar,Sot'y y ln in
eou- Banks corps. on his way into town LIST "
your foo1sore aud furnished, worn with ceast
} pa vigil and ceaseless anxiety during tie d
was trous RappahsEnock campaign, met hlu
Ack. horseback, surrounded D} Inc gay yO
one who form "the staiI'' and was greeted
1 ly- leesly without one word Of sympathy or
sol glance showing appreciation of his yelo1
ling su1rrin3e. Until VIC find leaders with b.
the in them, With holy purposes, with ser
the pGrpos sAtE least, with zeal aud iuht,
:, at will: until irsttad Of connecting excuse
COM failure, VIC marvel at the great matter Of
.nty,- cess which 4 little fire kindleth, VIC shll
and conquer tie South, which has, or what i
same thing, thinks it has, all tAis
1cent< Lxspasep then, if victory perch on our
>1o.,f nefs, ford return Of the .Buurbons. Pei
1''-n the cabinet may be changed; perhaps 1t:
u. v tive members may be co2Ned OF cluobed
four Submission fThe fsoG3ued press rep
~ ~ NJ shas 3Ey7apatd y& that all arc as one
ring, WtfL11xn Eairhet has {ren buried in a c
right English breakfast tes. after which the pi
uIace vas smoked. Gen. Hal1eck aud
President have already disappeared belo'
c,,- horizon.
on~ Perhaps, however, we shall have ne
victory nor d.feat. For two days Sum
ntion, line OF battle Was drawn across the R>c
St., as hills, out Of sight Of tue enemy yes:
,,,,,, your S:h Illinois cavalry entered Poolcs
.~euen' ~ easily driving out the few rebels there =
lover Washington runners had magnitied in
nlua- army 81, 600 strong. The enemy is in oc
n tbe tIon Of Frederick and has made exp2ti
(, who H. in MARYLAND Estimates rsnn. frnm i
made | 120CCO. Who knows? Ihave Just seen
lenau ter from the front, the Intelligent wri
which answers: s'Nobody.'' It is iou
| djf1ic11tt to Obtain trnst worthy informs at