New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-29
Gen. aigc!.

from the West, AT the request of the President
Soon afterwerd on the suggestion of the Secretary
OF War, he presented detailed plan for recruiting
5000 men, designed "a reserve force until thor
oughly organized. At that time very many of the
Governors of the States had offered to recrui, reg
mtuts 10 serve under him. Recruiting was going on
so slowly that il required the magnetism OF popular
name TO enlist men, and the Governors proposed to
make Siges already won reputation OF service in
q at direction.
Gen. Sigel proposed 10 divide his 30, 600 men into
two corps d'ormfe of $1,000 each, organize and dis
ciphue them, and prepare them for seryice-he
promising that lie should not EXPECT to command
the whole 5000, bu; merely one of the corps,
which would be suitable Major Generals COM
maud The Government did not Immediately de-
eide in regard 10 the proposition. In the mean
tme, Jock-ons raid in the valley caused Gen. Sigel
TO be sent 10 lkrper's Ferry, where an Insignificant
Command of raw and demoralize1 troops awaited
hin. However his idea WIS incorporated, 20 some
extent, IN tLe grand scheme for reserve corps, 70
be organized by Gen. Wool which, wanting the
magic IF Sipors name, failed The men were not
forthcoming.
by tie time Sgel bad bic new command well IN
hand, oganst Lis and their wishes. be was trans
fcred TO the command Of the irst army corps Of the
Army of Virginia, with which he passed through
Gen. Pope's camlaign. How bis Goromlship and
their bravery stood the test Of that strangely unior
tlnaie campaign, you have already recordodi bat
yet .ear that it is not generally understood that
Fridays fight on the Bull Ran field, in which we
were victorious compared with the fight Of the next
day. when we were routed, was Ivy lar the lest con-
4 ~. - 10.
b'oodshcd. People jump AT the conclusion that the
GAY OF defeat mus. have been the hardest fought
DAY. II was not so, the loss Of Friday was I'VE
times that of Saturday. The real battle Of Saturday
was lut an hour and twenty minutes long. Friday
it ragged through all the hours Of aylight. Friday
all the enemys resources and Generalship were
tried and foiled. Saturday lie very first mapeuver
was successful. These facts may all be accounted
ior by the other fact, that while Sigel commanded
on Friday The first three.iourhs OF the day actually
and me remainder virtually, another General COM
manded on Saturday.
Popes published report utterly ignores sigol's
part in these battles aud, indeed in the entire cam
pagn. Yet In q speech al Chicago be ayers that he
and Sige are have been, and sre likely TO be, upon
the n, g. cordial terms.
/ When he reached the Washington defenses after
the campaign, sgel asked that his worn and deei-
mated corps might have few days rect, designing
IN that time to reorganize thoroughly. lie needed
horser artillery, clothing and men. None Of these
have been given him. His requests not only
denied, bu, bic expostuations meet with Insult.
Twelve regiments recruited expressly for his COM
maud, by eight different Governor, remain
unassigned to him. -Four OF those lave
reported hers, but lave been scattered to other
commands. The Governors who recruited them
and the Colonies who commanded tnem aud Sigol
himself, in each case have importuned Gen. Hal
.ck and TIE Secretary Of War that hey be asisned
10 Sigels Corps, but hot man hss been given 70
him. -Four other Of these regiments rased for him
have been ordered directly from the camps Where
organized toStler commands in other States. Tic
remaining four are unassigned. Representation and
RECOMMENDATION Of these facis meet with salts
faction Added TO all this, troops are actually taken
from him. Three brigades-tho two Of Cox division
and Pia,ts-are given TO another corps. Moreover,
& bite order changes the number Of Bis corps from
abe First TO the Eleventh, which is not small
matter IN tie mil de Of the privaios.
Now, Gen. Sigs ia too good soldier TO swerve
from straightforward course on account Of mere
GOODNESS and tligbts from Secretary or Commander
fir.Chief Tn to this time lie had conieufcd himself
by emonstrating, bat when general, his junior in
rank came TO be placed over him, what ordinarily
would not have caused second thought, now that
be rad been siudiousy ignored and slghed, lad The
appearance of deep reflection ppon his fitness for
command. Might it not be an intima';on that he
was expected 10 plead sickness and ask 10 bc re-
Il. L.. al. Il -. y
President TO ascertain if he still had the confleIre
Of the Government. The President declared lac
knew rohng abou; it, and expressed surprise that II
jlnior officer should be placed over Sigcl without
nis knowledge, since Lie was the only peron author
lied 10 give jLrrPrs a ranking command. Sigel then
called upon The Secretary Of War, who was equally
gnoran, and surprised. lie then called on Iialleck,
WHO refused TO listen to him, and backed out of his
Office, leaving Sge standing there amused as well
a. as.ounded.
1t will be remembered that in Missouri, after Sigel
Lad organized The expedition againa Price, llalleek,
ihtu In command at 81. Louis, sent Curtis 70 super
eeds hn, Notwithstanding which Sigel continued TO
Command his own division, and, in common with
Iod"' sre cher buboidllAtes, woa the battle Of
I,a R6.~, in apne NJ; or hr' o. Curl
Were Sigel man ha.,y to take umbIage, be would
have demured at being superseded, after having be-
come acquainted in three separate campaigns with
tlat whole country, by Central totally new TO it.
If bic friends protest against thee. later sgts it Is
because they are not only reflection upon bis sorv
ices Lis nationally, and his military qualifications,
but upon his individual honor.
EIGHTH WARD AWAKE l--On Saturday evening