Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-24

bare as flock ei p!ucked turkies. But the army
mained in fall feather aud didn't 60. Let the enemy
tegln the attack-ana 10 they began it at Balls Bluff
Then was exhibited fearful amount of ncompetency,
oE slaughter Of treacry-but the Ii ajorGtneral Com
mandug, after Banks had crossed the Potomac, ordered
As return ard refused to accept the battle rendered by
the foe long, lingering Indian summer. with roads
more hard and skies more beautiful than Virginia had
seen for many year followed carrying October, with
its dry soil and bamy SUM- onward, till December melt
ed into January. This seemiDg special invitation OF
Providence for an onward movement, instead of being
accepted, whed away in ostenatious parades and
galadaJ sham fights where the sOldery mount
ed their white gloves and the Major General Command
| ing bestrode his avorite charger the unthinking
crowd gaping with wonder WI lie bellies from the North
ern cities showered their sweetest smiles all the
scene
AS the new year approached. why don't be move?'
said impatient observer infatuated with the delu
sion that fighting He is waiting for some
thing to turn upp responded grave believers in strate
gy. Well, it did turn up at Mill Spring. Why don't
he now? He is waiting for Burnside. His plan
contempates general onset upon the foe all along the
lines from Hatteras to Kansas. When they ready
at the eXremles, the centre will fall with crushing
weight upon Manassas, and the rebellion will be ended
Be patient BY ard by, the gallant Burnside, after
counterng and mastering obstacles mmeasurably
than all The mud that can b. piled between the Poton-
and the Rappahannock opens fire at Roanoke n the
East, while Fort Henry the Tennessee, and Donel
son the Cumberland, their brave assailants waOw
tntlT pltS III te SEM eC0O D2ch 10
| lbemarle
Mitchell catching the inspiration, bullets sleet and
storm, and by forced marches seizes Bowling Green,
while Sege falls suddenly upon Spring gfield, Curtis
chases Price quite down into Arkansas gunboats
penetrate beyond Pulaski and threaten Savannah, and
Ben Butler burres off his regiments and transports to
the Gulf for attack via Ship Island, upon New Or
| leans Does this mounting In hot haste, this cleaning
OF hayOnes and bursting Of shells all around from Pick
springfield disturb the equanmity or ioste the
sell trnI ot thp Main opHfp Not
bit of it. Like Massena, Of whom Napoleon said,
His head is cool as when thousand cannon
are hundeins in his ears,' Field Marshal poss
ses his soul n peace ard directs the teegraphic
to reiterate the chronic fact All is quiet along the
lines of the Potomac
And so the army has stood through the winter, but
without being permitted to 60 into winter quarters
The Ma jOr General Commanding has enjoyed his
luxurious apartments at these headquarters, and has
retired nightly to his dOTny pillow while the leaders
of divisions and brgades have dwelt under breezy
vas, and the soldiers have slept their pallets
OF straw, often spread tie tage ground. A noble
hearted gen raj said to me, My camp has been full Of
agues, intermittent5 and typhoids Ii winter. / havl
done nothing but issue orders for COfins And now
just the malaria approaches, to move
Southwark Believing in the full intent of the Naoy
General Commanding not to one red this winter
it has been famously cruel to forbid the army going
into hus, and putting up OTHER suitable protection incl
dent to winter qaarterng. But all attempts at this
have been promptly arrtsed and rowned down. Facts
freely circulated this point which should make
the blood Of humanity boil with Indignation.
But, at last, the army is going to move! Why p
When the people began to learn that this gorgeous
pageant the Potomac had already cost them about
$500 O0000O and was involving them in annual tax
of $40 900 OOO and running debt that their
greatgrand children would not the cad Of they
menced to Inquire whether this attempt to make a
colossal military chiealn ont of a second-rae railroad
superintendent not costly experim and
they began to hint at change. Acting upon this
hint robust official Opeuel his mouth aud spake. He
presented to the Major General Commanding the
alternative either to move his army, to him
self either to take bis columns away from the Poto
mac to yield up their lead to other hands. Will be
, move? think be will, and at an early day. Where
: If knew, would not tell Will he fnd the foe
am not sure that he will soon fad him in large mum
bers
If be meets him, viii he corq1er him There is no
a doubt of it, With such troops, we'll armed, anC
with such ponderous masses OF artillery, and LED hy suci
experienced officers to Seinz3lman, Mcdowell, Frank
+ liD Sumnr, Hooker, smith, Mccall, Casey, Doubl,
day, and their associates WHO have service,
such recruits from civil lie Banks WadSworh, Mar
tndale COchTane and others who are eager TO distin
: gush themselves the grand army of the Potomac
l. whether its nominal head be Mcclellan, Mcdowell, OF
G Haleck Fremont, the President OF tue Uulte(
States its Constitutional Commander-in- Chief) or
with concert of action if it have nominal BIT ad
Will know such word as fail Its weight is grea
that if it be hu let loose and preciptaed upon the foe
. 1t Will grind him to powder.
S In a word, the army will move and will win. Bu
t no thanks to the Major General Commanding" II
If will go forward because he could not help it if he
r to try.
= assert, upon the most trustworthy authority that
= in the opinion OF the best informed army officers Gen
Mcclellan is not entitled 70 the slightest credit for an
of recent victories at the East and the West no
l. the ghtcst assert, and defy contradiction and con
: sequences that all the cal and acting MaO General
under bis command in the army OF the Potomac, Will
t two or three exceptions, at the most, have not th
slightest confidence 10 his capacity stTaegist or
military leader and that they scout his preensons t.
+ superiority with and contempt
What would the people say if they were to know ba
- the of events surprising in magnitude any tha
have occurred during this war, Commanding Genera
of the Army of the Potomac should call a special coun
Gil of war, to be composed of his principal generals
that at the time appointed chiefs of divisions from
all parts of the army attended at his headquarters tt
: confer upon matters OF the welghtest COncernment
that after simple shake OF the hand all round, he re
: tired leaving his faher-inaW, member of his stat
and recently paynaster in the army, to represen
him in the council he, tie Maj General Commanding
never appearing tor one moment among. them durlE9
this protracted sitting? Would they think be wa
either one OF tie greatest of the smallest me-
- that commanded a vast army the of gran
~ =, onward movement? Aud remembering that war ha
,' produced an Alexander, Hannibal, a Caar a Eu
y gene, Marlborough, Frederick, Wellington, and
- Napoeon, would they not promptly assign him to th
latter category? And would they hesitate to believ
that OF these commanders oil divisions left th
council with undisgused contempt Tor their pretentiou
- - chief?
" 20 wish it understood that [ make these statement
it upon my responsibility and upon ample evidence Az
yet, for the already given, Mcclellan will
forward and if he finds the Zoe, his columns will col
q au-r k;,s The historian 0e t!;s Rebellion will do biz
20 ad ary al jus ,ce, awarding lureIs to those wh