The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-27
Burnside and the Army of the Potomac

move the Army Of the Potomac seems to have
been the weather, though from the resignation
of Gen. Burnside, Immediately following it, we
are fully of The opinion that there were obsta
cles in the way besides the war of the elements.
At the last moment, and when the troops were
actually in motion, the storm and the mud, no
doubt, neatraized all efforts and rendered futile
all plans. But what influences were at work
previously to postpone action, while pleasant
skies and firm earth favored, we may not, per
haps, learn until the end of court martial.
Whose ever fault il was, however, we do not
believe it was Gen. Burnsides. Whatever the
military skill Of that officer may be, whether
he is equal to commanding an army as large
as the one now on the Rappahannock or not,
we are fully persuaded that he has believed in
Sighting treason immediately and continuously
And we believe the secret history Of the few
weeks, during which he had the supreme com
mand in Virginia, will show as persistent and
determined efforts though, perhaps less bare
faced--on the part Of some Of his subordinate
-efseers, to prevent his winning great victories
ms signalixsd the conduct of Gems. Porter and
Franklin, when they left Pope to fight alone the
whole rebel army, at the second battle of Bull
run. IL is this hostility on the part Of officers,
high in military positi5n in his army, this re-
fxsal to heartily co operate in plans for moving
immodiately on the enemys works, this cold
mess and indifsrence-to call it by no harsher
name--to the success of our armies unless
some particular General can reap the glory of
che victory, or some particular party can shape
the policy Of The campaign, that we believe
have been the dead weights too heavy for Gen.
Burnside to lit, and haze, at last, forced him
70 give up the command which he took reluct-
rntly at the outset and has retained less from
his own wishes, than from the controlling de-
srss u his superiors at Washington. To Gen.
Burnside belongs praise for trying to crush
partially at least, on other shoulders than lis.
Harpers last Weekly has an illustration in
which President Lincoln appears as stage man
ager before the foot-lights, and announces that
the tragedy Of the Army of the Potomac, on
account OF quarrels between its Generals is un-
avodably postponed. There is bitter truth
in the biting sarcasm. In that army for more
than wear pro-slavery politicians have worked
and mined to make it an rument IN the
hands az the Democratic party to control the
Government In it has been begun, fed and
strengthened, day by day, a hatred Of Congress,
of Secretary Stanton, of every body and every
policy that did not exalt and magnify Mcclellan.
T he immense power that Mcclellan had in the
ARMY was all used to that end. Democratic pa
y 3rs were circulated largely in the camps, while
Republican papers, unless they joined in praise
of mastery inactivity, were excluded, or such
obstacles put in the way of their circulation as
to efectually shu, the door against them. By
such instrumentalties, peIsistently employees,
the Array was made to think that Mcclellan
was wiser than President or Congress or people,
and that unless the Army could make che poll
az Of the war, and choose its leader, at would
not eight We are rejoiced to know that this
feeling was not universal but the disclosures
in the recent trial Of Gen. Porter show
how far this poison had worked last
sumwsr. and what disastrous consequences
had then resulted from its insidious progress.
At that time and since, the army has unques-
ticnabIy been divided into two parsles,-one
earnestly desiring to fight treason under the
Generals that should soonest bring them face to
face With the enemy, and the other sullen' hos