Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-02-05
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
ON THE LATE CHANGE OF COMMANDERS.

We copied, day or two ago, the animadversions
of the New York Commercial Advertiser on the
recent change of commanders in the Army OF the
Potomac, and to day subjoia the following com
ments of another influential Administration journal
on the same topic.
From The Br6alo Commercial Advertiser Of January 9Th
The scenes have again been shifted, aud new act is
about to be produced in the military drama being per
formed in Virginia. The telegraphc announcement OF
yesterday startled not less by its positive assertions
than by the gave and the grave specuatons in
voyed in them. We told that conference was bad
ON Saturday evening at the White House, at which
change Of administrative policy agreed upon Follow
ing close upon this have the announcement Of the
mova of Burnside and the appointment of Hooker in his
place This is followed by the retirement of sumner and
Franklin in favor of Couch and Smith
All these changes have been made Unexpectedly and
suddenly that they startling The whole North was
eagerly listening for the clash of and full of
renewed hope OF victory The disposition of affairs
involves, delay and uncertainty, and possible change of
operations which opens the field of speculation The
question at arises whether there bs any connection
between the future administration of The army of Virginia
aud that Of the Government If SO, what is it to be
Experience has taught the folly Of allowing ourselves to
become attached to any General or to place any undue
of mind 10 relation 10 the Virginia campaign made up in
nearly equal proportions OF faith and hope, aud confess
to an inability to give for either Virginia has
been the birth place and the burial place Of hopes
and fears than women have" It's climate has
proved peculiarly unlavolabe Generals 1t is too
Washington.
With regard to the removal of Burnsde-for such is
the substance of his resignaton-we have especial
fault to find. We have come to esteem him more
man than General We admire lis manly bearing,
his lack Of ostentaon and sefusfcation, and above all
his freedom from ambition evnced by his repeated ten
ders of his resignation As to the extent of his military
exploits believe be has done all that could have been
accomplished by any other General under similar circum
stances.
The great difficulty with which Burnside has had to
contend, and which every successor of his will also en-
counter, emanates fir the building at the left of the
White House. and not from any defect of military capa
city We do not believe that campaign be success
fully conducted by military bureau distant from the
field which controls the action of the commanding General
Neither do we believe that it be done while diverse
military counsels allowed to appeal to the department,
and Influence its action in opposition to the plans adopted
in the led We know that this has been DONE and that
such unmilitary conduct has been listened to and acted
upon at Washington, and that the counses at Falmouth
have degsr Grated into csbal
1t is useless to attempt to disguise the fact there
among the officers of the army of Virginia powerful and
active Mcclellan party, who desire to him restored
and Wind Gated OF course this cannot be done without
admission by the Administration OF having wronged him.
which would he neither desirable nor proper now Hence
it follows that the acts and influence Of these champions
of Mcclellan are simply miscbieyous and demorazng and
should speedily be put at an end Sumner and Franklin
of that party and it therefore became necessary
Hooker to rid himself of them in order to insure future
harmony of action and counsel We believe this be the
true explanation of their being relieved.