Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-12
MORNING NGLEADER.
SATURDAY MORNING. DEC. IQ, 1sRa



nsetion with the Army Of the Potomac,
has net the sudden revulsion from hope for
the success of the recent campaign, with an
equanimity which might almost be con-
strued into indifference, were we not as
sured Of the fact that it is only stoically pa
tent. It is sad spectacle for the nation
to ses an army, which in all its appoint
ments is the best On the continent, and
which, for stubborn vslor and endurance,
challenges the admiration Of mankind,
bufeted like football between Washing
ton and Richmond. It is not enough to
say that General Lee acts on the defensive;
that be is powerfully entrenched among
the many hills and streams and wilder
nssses Of South Eastern Virginia, and that
therefore, no army can drive him from his
stronghold and bring the naughty rebel
capitol low. The public have learned to
pity the man who is called to the head Of
that army. They hope nothing from him
e the army is at present organized And
the announcement that that magnificent
ly caparisoned array of men Of war has
sgain assumed the offensive, produces but a
ripple on the wave of popular excitement.
Il is true, that in the struggle for Rich
mond and Washington, we are left ahead
that the enemy occupies q more confined
ares; that his winter months will be spent
In his entrenohments south of the Rapi-
dan; snd that, in the meantime we may
make scns serious diversion in other d.
reotions.
But yet ell this does not satisfy the na-
ton. The people of the Eastern and Mid
die States are becoming powerfully con-
scious Of the fact that in the magnificent
triumphs Of our arms, with which the
pages Of our history are to be emblsEoned,
they have but little to Offset against the
Nspoleonic rapidity aud success Of our
Western campaigns. In the estimation OF
postsrity, the war, if closed now, would
leave the East in the possession Of about
the same soil, excepting its acquisitions
on the Atlantic border and in the South,
which It had in the beginning. The East
feels under a sort of moral obligation to
the West to cspture Richmond. The West
is more anxious for the annihilation Of
Lees 40. 900 followers than for the possess
sion Of a few buildings on the James
River. So the whole country is interested
In the question How shall the army Of
the Potomac be saved from the dread ia
tality which hangs over it3
ELet us have q new Commander" say
some. We hear it reported thst Pleassn
ton Is to succeed Meade. This policy has
been tried long enough. We want two
things. We want an army Of defense for
Washington, leaving the present Army Of
the Potomac to operate against Richmond
from any base It may choose, and not be
obliged to provide at the same time for the
defense of Washington. The loss Of Wash
ington would be the loss Of q seat Of Gov
srnment and consequent loss Of prestige in
the eyes Of Europe The capture Of Rich
mend would be the capture Of not very
important town. As it is now, it would
slmost seem that the capture of Richmond
is the exchanging Of CapitOls. We can
not afford this. Another thing we want
is the change Of corps commanders. We
want men whose hearts are in sympathy
with the war. We want no COpperhead
Generals. We want no Generals there
eaten up with an insane jealousy of their
Chief. We do not want men whose lack
Of cooperation lest us an overwhelming
victory at Gettysburg, and allowed Lees
demorslized army to escape bsck into Vir-
Einia. We want no men who are more
anxious that their military sun shall not
be eclipsed, that they shall not fall back
into the Regular Army as Majors and
Captains, than they are for the success of
that army. We know not the immediate
cause Of this new setback of General
Meade but more than suspect the cause,
- from the beginning is chiefly due to
the Corps Commanders. Let Congress de-
mand reorganization Of the Army of the |
Potomse. Let rs have men whose hearts |
ere in the work, and then this proud |
spirited, magnificent Army Of the POtO-
mac, the favored one Of the nation, will |
not play the part Of a pawn on the chess
board Of selfish military ambition and tri-
fling, which in the eyes Of the world and |
Of csmiDg times will be branded ss the
ehisfest Of military crimes.