New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-13

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WIN Tpr TnIaurE ALLOW me 20 utter plain wordr
sbou, The state of public opinion here at the Capital
concerning the Army Of the Potomac and ~ com
osnderl DO not ask il 10 indorse what say, nor
10 hold itself responsible for any Of my facts or
sentiments.
Wtv George Il. Mcclellan was called 10 the ontr-
ems .nd reepopsibe position lie has held for the pari
segen month";, will never he fully explained. When
appointed Major-General of Volunteers by Gov.
Dennson of Ohio, he was Superintendent Of the
Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, dapidated concern,
which had long been on iis last egs. IL sputtng
in very loft language to say that his standing among
railroad managers WAS lot high. Indeed, the truth
would bear me out in asserting that II was rather
uiddliug. If not decidedly low. He bad put LIS
n ne TO large volume five years before, az one OF
the American Military Commission TO tie Crimea
Of this respectable, though somewhat lelune WORK
The putlic supposed him to be the author. IL was
known only TO few that it was merely compiia-
tor and ,ran.laiion from European publications
that an enterprisng bookseller unaware Of this fsc
had sen, good many copies across the Atlantic Tor
ssle. which were returned upon bis hands because
foreign traders dared not sell them, lest they be sned
for infringing eopyrghts-and that in reality he wnf
no more the author OF the substantial parts OF ths
book. than be Was of the Koran. Even IN pretty
we'll informed circles is sill asserted that Captain
Mcclellan was selected by the other two members OF
the Crimean Commission Majors Mcrdecai and
Delafeld to draw mp the report 10 the Secretary oil
War. This il an error. Each member published
book and that Of Mcclellan is the smallest and most
uncomfortable Of the three.
The country was appalled, at the disaster OF Bull
Run. II could not be denied that Gen. Mcdowell
had failed War is memorable. 1t sacrifices lives
and regulations with remorseless hand. Public opii-
ion demanded that Mcdowell be instantly disp placed
from the command of the Army Of the Potomac.
Neither the President Gen. Scott dared TO reslsi
the execution of the decree. Ii is felt that great
Injustice was done 10 Mcdowell. But, victim wac
demanded TO appease popular clamor and he was
offered up. In looking aronnd for bis successor,
was found that the selection was confined to very
narrow range. The Oldest and mos, experienced
Generals in the army, excepting Wool, who was then
under some mysterious ban, had joined the Rebels
The campaign in Western Virginia, where NcClel
Ian. by virtue of his Major Generaship, was senior
officer, had been successful. He had rent thrilling
kilograms, and written i'm osing dispatches To Wash
ington. describing the successes in hs Department
The public, not then knowing that no had neither
planned nor fought single one Of the battles be
described aud had not even been under IRE in West
ern Virginia, and that be was entitled to no more
credit for any Of those victories than the writer %
this raraerapb-,be bewdered and appalled, public
and the horribly frightened officials at Washing
ton, who in their nightly dreams saw vsion'
Of Beauregard and the Blaek-Horse Cavalry
crossing the Long Bridge, instantly Indicated
Mcclellan NJ the man to snpplant Mcdowell. Pre-
cisely rhy they called hm they did not know, END
I fancy they have not yet found out. But the Wal
lad hardly begun, and BIS department was the only
one in which anything had been done; and, forget
ting how cheap pen and ink are they took II ioI
granted that the author Of such glow ing dspatcte'
must, in fighting qualities be the aHte-tyPe Of Fred
erck, of Blucher, Of Wellington, and Of Napoleon
So. "cck went the telegraph, and quick ~ al
express railway train can run, George b. Mcclellan
appeared in Warrington and assumed the command
of tho Army Of the Potomac. Having set ny I'm idol
all patriotic men Of high ard low degree, instantly
commenced Offering incense Al i,s stine-thongh no
body could tell exactly tly, nor has anybody YET
]
in him; all waited for HE nod with reyerrntis as
pect; his slightest word was treasured up snd re-
peated in whispers; his most casual look scanned
Al IL big with Dieaning-and then lac was 20 silent
40 re,icent. so uncommunicatve There was uys
terry about him. He did rot confer will lis snbor
dnate Generals, and they reoDllecied that the gea
Napoleon did just 30 by his Nsrsnas. The newsra
pes abounded with sketches Of hs personal appear
ance, and the shop windows ran over with pholo
graphs Of "the Major-General Commanding in al
conceivable aud inconcevable attitudes, the mos
frequen, and popular Of which was that wherein he i
mounted ON furious charger, at the head OF bis ser
ried columns, leading his impetuous men, amid
tempest of Are, straight up 10 the enemys in,rench
ments.
Time rolled on; the pictures increased; but th'
army stood still! Let the Bull Run panic subside
said everybody. Well, 1t subrided. Bat the arm.
did not move. Wait wait, said dscreet men (you
genuine conservatives), till the hot weather Parse
away. And the hot weather passed away. But th'
army stood still. Let tho Antumnal rains fall au'
the mud dry up! And they fell, ard the mud dret
away. II was the ieores meant-wbeD Hey fall
then 10 the trees over the Potomac shed tLeir 70
lisge, till they looked bare loc, of pluckec
turkies. But the army remained ia full feather ant
did nj go. Let the enemy begin the attack-ahd 10
they began it ii Balls Bluff. Then Was exhibited a
fearful amount Of incomIetency, of slaughter, o.
treacbery-but the Msjor-General Commanding, afel
Banks had crossed the Potomac, ordered bic return
and refused accept the battle rendered by tie foe
A long, lingering Indian Sumner wtb roads moIc
hard and skies more beautiful tlan Virginia had
seen for many year, followed, carrying October
with its dry soil and balmy sun, onward, i'll Deem
Der melted into January. This seemingly special IN