, 1862-09-04

Why was It that the column of Gen, Fank-
lin, ordered to move from Alexandria as early
as Wednesday night, did not get uadez way,
as We learn, until la:e on Saturday afternoon?
Eur three days large and effective division
Of veterans. who might have rendered either
OF the battles OF Friday or Saturd " decisive,
were held in their camp near Washington,
theugh every member Of the government,
every officer OF the army, and every newsboy
in tie Streets Was perfectly well aware that
q severe, p:otracted and critical contest
VAS then raging within O DAVIS forced
march Of the capital. H2llscx is said to have
repeated the order for the march Of that col
umn no less than three times, and General
Mcclellan ie also aaid to have found occasion
Tor delay every time. We do not know how
this may be; bu; We do know that the peo-
pie will demand Of the president full and
explicit statement Of the reasons OF this ex-
traordinary failure. It Halleek, who is COM
mander-in- CHIEF, has failed to perceive tue
emergencies Of the position, let q more y;si-
lent and active commander be put in his
place; if Mcclellan has allowed his habtQaI
Incidence or any other motive to Interfere, let
him be cashered; or if any other suborai-
their duties, let the same example be made of
them that was made of Colonel Mason and the
officers who surrendered Gainesville, Ten
ne6see. 1t is trifling with the dearest hopes
Of the country. TO regard the position or favor
OF any man who, in this time Of extreme
[Ffcm the New York Times, al
We haVe 10 disposition to canvass the re-
ports concerning Gen. Mcclellan, which were
rife in the city yesterday. If they ara true.
ana ne has intentionally withheld any aid
which he could possibly give to our gallant
eololsss struggling within mon shot OF bis
camp, there is no need Of anticipating ths
punishment which will be inflicted upon him
By an outraged and indignant nation. FOR the
present, grave as are the appearances against
BIN, ne prefer to believe that this delay in
moving forward has been due TO other causes
than his Own.
1t will be seen that the government has qir-
tually deprived him Of any actual participation
IN the pending conflict, as it has restricted his
command to that portion Of the army Of
the POTOMAC which is not ordered to join
Gen. Pope"
As nearly the whole effective portion of th IT
army has already joined Gen. Pope, his com
Dand will be limited to very fe y Thousand
meN, and will be without importance, The
government would scarcely have taken this
step without seme serious dereliction Of duty
on his part.
Gen. MeCIe11an's career has been one of
the most remarkable incidents of the war.
We shall have in due time, as q matter of
course, full exposition Of it, with all the
documents essential to a just interpretation
Of his relations with The government. Until
that time any decisive Judgment upon It
would be premature. But be has utterly % To- It
the confidence and high consideration which
he once enjoyed at the hands Of the American
people.
Washington, sept.1 Cor. N. 7. Tr1bune1
Gen; Mcclellan is universally and bitterly
blamed for this reverse. Ii his troops hid
BEEN sent forward when they were ordered,
Pope would have not have been compelled to
fight with half his army against the whole
I rebel fcrcce.
Sumner and franklin, who only reached
the field last night, too late for The fight,
should have been There three days ago.
| Mcclellan Was three times ordered to move
and refused, and by general order this morn
| ing is removed from the command of all
! troops, except those remaining ia Alexandria.
t WEen applied 10 hy Gen. Pope on Friday
! to send supplies to his starving army, he re-
tnrred word that he would not send them uu-
| And at this time all 1fcCle}lan's forces we're
held idle at Alexandria.
[From Another Correspondent
Gen. Reno said that the real cause of our de-
feat Was the want Of supplies. The horses
had had barely anything to eat for from three
to tive days, and the men had Jared little bet
ter, His words we're borne out by the voracity
with which staff officers, who usually havethe
best opportunities to secure what is to be had,
dtyoured their breakfasts to-day. In spite of
this, however, in spite Of all drawbacks, to
some of which it i5 not yet time to allude, Gen.
Reno apn a1 the o1hceEs With whom my lntor.
mant talked, agree that q column OF 10000
fresh troops would have changed the fortunes
OF the day "Where is Franklin 81 IS W mere
| is Summer" was the questions. The answer
I have Given you in a previous letter. Frank.
| 11n's officers said they were ready to march
on Tuesday, and were expecting the order.
On Wednesday they were allowed day'e
leave. On Thursday aud Friday they were
kept in camp, momentarily expecting an
order. That it came and kept coming from
Gen. Halleeh, and WAS count=rmanded By Gen
Mcclellan, you already know.