The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-04-24

pose his immediate advance, and by tho tos.
timony of Senator Bowdon of Virginia, thon
within tho rcbol lines, they did not decide
to strengthen their forces till It was appa.
rent that Mcclellan meant to begin rogu.
lar siege of Yorktown. A prompt and do.
tcrmined attack at that timo, it is now agreed.
would have driven tho rebcls back at onco
upon Richmond, aud instant pursuit would
havo carried our army to the robo capital.
This was tho first opportunity of tho Pen
insula lost.
During tho sioge OF Yorktown McClollau's
appeals for ro endorsements wero constant /;
aud we may remark once for all, that they
continued to bo made on an average about
once week, evon when no knew thoy could
not bo sout, until he was removed.
Yorktown was evacuated, as Manassas had
been, without tho knowledge or suspicion
of Con. Mcclellan, and just before no was
ready TO open fire. Pursuit of tho rotreating
onomy commenced loisuroly five or six hours
after the evacuation was known, and was
vigorously pushed by Sioneman aud Hooker.
1t resulted in the battle of Williamsburg,
which was fought while Gen. Mcclellan was
far in tho rear, attending to unimportant
details. By tho timo he appeared on the
field, most of the fighting was over, the enc.
my having boen repulsod by tho determined
gallantry of Hooker against largely out
numbering forces. Horo again several of
the Generals testify that, had tho rebels
been pushed, they could havo boen followed
right into Richmond bu. they we're not,
and so tho second chance to end tho cam.
paign was suffered to pass.
Throe or four days delay at williamsburg
was followed by march to tho limo opera
tions on tho Chickahominy not moro thar
fifteen milos distant, but consuming two
weeks of time. Con. Reyes corps crossed
that now famous stream on the lsl of Nav
just at this time, and whilo Mcclellan wal
daily calling for McDowol's corps to be SEN
to him, occurred the Shenandoah raid O.
jackson, against which, but for tho prosoncc
of Mcdowell, says the President, Washing
ton would have been utterly helpless.
The battles of Seven Pines and Fair Oak,
woro fought on tho 3lst of May and Is, o.
Juno, Gen. Mcclellan as before being fa,
from the fold. We wore badly beaten the
first day, owing to tho previous unwise dis
position of forces by Con. McCiellan's or
dors, but Fair Oaks was decisive retrieva
of the disasters of Seven Pines, IIooke
rcconnoitered next morning to within fou
miles of Richmond, and ho, and other off
Gers engaged, agree in tho opinion that th
road to the Robel capital was then, rs twic
bofore, open to an Immediate advance but
as twice before, there was only hesitation
instead of action, and Richmond was for tn,
third timo saved by McClollan's delay.
On the Goth Of June, by the returns o
Gen. Mcclellan, it appears that tn,
strength of his army was 1856, 1888 men
yct upon receiving information that an a!
tack was contemplated by the enemy OF
his right and rear, he telegrapbs to iht
Secretary of War that he is outnumberct
and expects 10 be defeated, but will "di,
with his Amy and share its fate," with
out, however, accepting the responsibility,
for that two-iold catastrophe. This ques
ton of responsibility seems 10 have beel
a never ending trouble, for as often as h
calls for more troops or expects an en-
gagement, Mcclellan is careful to re
assert that he must be held accountabl,
for nothing. 1t is more than painful t,
find manifested throughout his dispatche
his overmastering solicitude in his OWL
behalf.
The Seven Days Battles began will
the contest at Mechanicsville on the 26tl
of June, in which the enemy was repulsed
but which was followed by our retreat a
night to Gaines Mill. The sanguinary
battle known by that name was fought OF
the eth. Porter, with about 80, ,oO(
men, was left TO resist the whole force O
the enemy 4; nor can Gen. Mcclellan Civ,
any other reason for this exposure, ant
the defeat which followed il, thar that h
hoped to save his left flank and rear b,
sacrificing his right wing The experi
ment cost us terrible defeat and 9,00'
men, and the retreat of the whole arm,
was, in consequence, resolved on. s.
desperate did Gen. Mcclellan consde
his condition 10 be, that he had actual,
printed a general order for the destruction
} OF the baggage, tents and equipage of hi
, whole army, but was dissuaded from is
suing it.
Concerning the retreat and the action
: Of Savage's Station, Glendale and Nal
, vern, which were fought while it was &C
complishing,t the Committee say that "th
battles were fought, the troops handled, net
: dispositions made and old ones changed
entirely By corps commanders, aithoM al
n reetiOns from the commanding General"
9 Yet in such retreat, and abandone
8 by its General, the Army of the Potoma
fought with heroic courage, and bloodil
o contested the ground which it was force
' TO surrender. Forced, not by the enem
!. for his attacks were again and agai
successfully repulsed--but by the deter
mination of Gen. Mcclellan to place him
: self under cover of the gunboats' fire.
Let Malvern Hill be witness how agai
; the possibility of success was flung away
It was fought July /, and was Ii
fier:est contested on the Peninsula. GeI
: Mcclellan left the field, as usual, in th
/ morning, and did not return till late in h
5 afternoon. The enemy's attack was col
, tinued till after dark, but he was beate