The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1862-03-19
Ger. McCicllan', Address TO the Army
of the Potomac

When Gen. Mcclellan took command o
the forces Of the United States they were
little better than \ mob, without arms, un.
drilled, and entirely undisciplined They
had but recently been drawn up before q
we'll disciplined army Of the enemy, and
there slaughtered like sheep, until disheart.
ened. whipped ard panic stricken they fled
IN direful confusion, only saved from i'm
mense slaughter by the enemy, by their fear
to follow, lest the sudden retreat Of our
army might be trick to draw them out OF
their entrenchments.
The first work Of a competent General
usrarisuch circumstances would be to or
gsuizs and discipline the army. That was
the FIRST thing to which General Mcclellan
gave his attention. About the first author
itative words he spoke were there will be
no more Bull Run affairs" .
To the task Of fitting the army for the
carrying out Of the great plan Of the cam
paign, he has given his whole attention, and
NEST successfully has been his efforts.
Last December it was determined, after
careful examination Of the various depart
ments'of the army and navy, that an advance
could, be made as early as the 22d Of Feb
rusry, and not sooner. It was determined
that Gen. Mcclellan should be relieved o.
the great responsibility Of the command Of SC
largo an army, inasmuch as he designed to
lead the army Of the Potomac in person.
We'll, on the 22d Of February the army did
move, aud with what result let the victory
laden moments Of the last two Or three
weeks speak and tell. ,..
The army Of tho Potomac moved also,
and the retrea,ing foe demonstrated the
wisdsm.of the thorough preparation Of our
army. and the tr"thfulness Of McClellan's
prophecy that {" there would be no more
Bull Run'afIairs." And his own proclama-
ton, elsewhere published, from which few
extracts are here taken, shows tho conf.
dsnce with which Their thorough discipline
inspirss their comma nder, he SAYS: : +: ~
."Fsr.A lvng time ! have kept you mac
tive. but not without = purpose y. +,
tsYou "wsreto be disciplined, armed and
insssuc,sd.{ Il The formidable artillery you
have. Ihad 70 b created Other armies were
to move and accomplish certain rcsults.''
s'Ihavs held ron back that you nigh.
give the death tio,O to the rebellion
"Tbese preliminary results are now &C
oompl,shsd. The army Of the Potomac is
now atrsal army. Tho moment for action
has arrived, and I k'D.e can trust you to
save Your country. The period Of inaction
hss,passsds Xviii bring you now face TO
aass with the rsbels, and only pray ths. God
may dafsnd The, right a.a> * Ss<<t 81 8.
We need quote no more, enough has bsen
s1<rseeed 70 show that all these long months
ths ss'n,u,andsr Of the army has not been
inacsive-that his plans are working wall,
and ,hss the decisive hour il It hand
There may b ammo. and indeed We know
thsre ~ thoss vko' cannot camprehsod
thas il takes asy time - prepare large
army sr sc:ivs 6sld dotys Such are per-
sons who are mu~s pso:oandlt ignorant Of.
alt shat perrains . M army. and whoss con-
tRactsd ondsrs,andinss cannot ,aks il my
sailiiaIy esganisatinn larger o. more expen-
siys than ,hs irsc,ioa Of single ,cempaay
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Pslbsina Dard % havs hssa ths chief.
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vhoh var tot g : person q csmnoa IN /
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