New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-06

once week, even when be knew they could
not be sent, until he was removed.
| Yorktown was evacuated, as Manassas had
been, without the knowledge or suspicion of
Gen. Mcclellan. and just before he was ready
to open fire. Pursuit Of the retreating enemy
commenced leisurely five or six hours after the
evacuation was known and was vigorously
pushed by Gems Stoneman and Hooker. 1t
resulted in the battle Of Williamsburg, which
was fought while Gen. Mcclellan was far in
the rear, attending to unimportant details.
BY the time he appeared on the field, most of
the fighting was over, the enemy having been
repulsed by the determined gallantry Of Hooker
against largely outnumbering forces. Here
again several of the Generals testify that, had
the Rebels been pushed, they could have been
followed right into Richmond; but they were
not, and so the second chance to end the cam
paign was suffered to pass.
Three or four Days delay at Williamsburg
was followed by march to tho line of opera
tons on the ChckahOminy not more than fit.
teen miles distant, but consuming two weeks OF
time. Gen. Keyes's corps crossed that now
famous stream on the lat OF May. Just at
this time, and while Mcclellan was daily call.
ing for McDowes corps TO be sent him, oc.
CURED the Shenandoah raid of Jackson, against
which, but for the presence Of Mcdowell, says
the President, Washington would have been
utterly helpless.
The battles Of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks
were fought on the 3lst of May and LIST
of June, Gen. Mcclellan as before being far
from the field. We were badly beaten the first
day owing to the previous unwise disposition
of forces By Gen. McClellan's orders, but Fair
Oaks was q decisive rctreval Of tho disasters
OF Seven Pines. Hooker reconnOltered next
morning to within four miles Of Richmond, and
be, and other officers engaged, agree in the
opinion thnt the road to the Rebel capital was
then, as twice before, open to an immediate
advance; but, as twice before, there was only
hesitation instead of action, and Richmond was
for the third time saved by McClellan's delay.
On the Goth of June. by the returns Of Gen.
Mcclellan, it appears that the strength Of his
army was 1856, S3S men, yet upon receiving in
formation that an attack was contemplated by
the enemy on bis right and rear, he telssraphs
to the Secretary of War that he is out |
numbered, and expects to be defeated, but
will "die with his army and share its fate,
without, however, accepting the responsibility
for that two-fold catastrophe. This question OF
responsibility seems to have been never end
ing trouble, for as often as he calls for more
troops or expects an engagement, Gen. Me-
Clelsn is careful to reassert that he must be
hold accountable for nothing. IL is more than
painful to find manifested throughout his dis
patches his overmastering solictude in his own
behalf
The Seven Days Battles began with the
contest at Mechanicsville on the 18th Of June,
In which the enemy was repulsed, bat which
was followed By our retreat ct night To
Gaines's Mil. The sansuinary battle known
BY that name was fought on the 9th. Porter, |
with about 30, 600 men, was left TO resist toe
whole force Of the enemy; nor can Gen. Nc !
Clelan give any other reason for this exposure,
anu the defeat which followed it, than that he /
hoped TO save his left flank and rear by sacr- |
Gcing his right wing The experiment cost us
a terrible defeat and 1900 men, and the re-
treat Of the whole army was, in consequence.
resolved on. So desperate did Gen. Mcclellan
consider his condition to be- that no had nc.
tuany had printed general order for the de-
struction of the baggage, tents and equipage
Of his whole army, but was dissuaded from is.
suing it.
Concerning the retreat aud the actions of
Sayage's Station, Glendale and Malvern which
were fought while it was accomplishing, the
Committee say that "Me baftiss nere fought,
the troops handled nep dispositions made and old
ones changed entirely by corps commanders Nth.
out directions from The commanding General
Yet, even in such retrcet, aud abandoned
by its General, the Army Of the Potomac
fought with heroic courage, aud bloodiy con-
tested the ground which it was forced to sur
render. Forced, not by the enemy-for his
attacks were again and again successfully re-
pulsed-but by tho determination of Gen. Nc
Clellan to place himself under cover of tho
punboats' fre Let Malvern Hill be witness
now again tue possibility of success Was flung
away.
1t was fought July /. and was the fercest
contest on the Peninsula. Gen. Mcclellan left
the field, as usual in the morning and did not
return till late in the afternoon. The enemys
attack was continued till after dark, but he
was beaten at every point and so severely
was he punished that again it is the opinion
Of numerous officers who were examined by
tho Committee that tho Rebels might have