The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-30
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Relation of the Army and the Government.
- 2saaAs
Condition and PrOspocts OF the Army.


| Under the above headings, the New
| York Times Of last Friday, prints letter,
four columns long, from its correspondents
with the Army of the Potomac. 1t gives
the most saddenlng account of the demon
alization which prevails that we have yet
seen in print, but carefully avoids stating
the prime cause, viz, the removal of Nc
CLELLAN and the attachment for and ador-
alton of him, which still exists and can ne
yer be extinguished. The nation has been
beguiled long enough with reports from the
army that all was well, since MCCLELLAN's
removal. The Times correspondent now
admits that call delusion is fatal, that
truth is, after all, the best" and adds
1t pains me infinitely to write it. but in re-
gard to the army-its condition, relations,
spirit, prospects, soldiers and leaders-every-
thing is in melancholy muddlc 1t is obvious
that we have reached that crisis that Il change
is inevitable. The military problem has ceased
to be the primary one. The primary question
is now ola political order-llsing that word in
its wide original sense Of government, organi-
zation, and leadership.
He goes on to show the relations between
the government and the army, and the
disposition to count it out in prospective
operations the coming winter:
It is no secret that there is want of harmony
between the Washington authorities and the
army. The Administration looks with distrIst
upon the Army of the Potomac. 1t might be
added the Army of the Potomac looks with dis
trust on the Administration: but of that anon.
Gen. Hallecl thinks it disafacted, dangerous
! report adds another word, which hope he did
not use. e1isl0ynj army of the Potomac" said
he lately to General who used the phrase,
"Ihe 4rmy Of tie P0tomac hts ccosrt to criSi
And so far is this from being mere figure OF
speech, that Il projec5 Tor its ACKNOWLEDGMENT
was actually on the official slate at the time.
Sumner was to be sent to St. Louis to supersedo
Curtis Hooker to be dispatched to North Car
DINA. while Franklin should essay TO hold the
line of the Rappaiannock without any attempt
at active movement.
1t is needless to 90 over the retrospect of
causes that have bred this ill-fteling toward the
Army Of the Potomac in the minds ofthe Wash
ingtOn rulers 1t is enough to know that there
are those i'll high places make no secret Ofthcir
hostility toward it, who cannot speak OF it but
with irritation, and who are aiming to break it
up. Such sentiments are generally reciprO-
| cal.
luc alliillOSiiN III NaSiiil1lOn tONttiU tlc
army is amply repaid by the bitterness OF the
army toward the Cabinet make no attempt
to 90 to the root OF the mattcr--liO attempt TO
decide on the justice or injustice of the feeling
/ merely record its existence, as an Open pal
pabe fact. which every one here haous. And
it pervades the whole army. Commanding Cen
erals and high officers have their own griev-
ances against the central military authority at
WashingtOa and the private soldier, though
, he may know none of the secret Inducements,
knows, at least, that for months and months
five six some even nine-hc has not beeA l,xi1 !;
and that, while in Washington authorities IN
dcrtakc to manage military affairs, they arc
[ badly managed for him. Some Of the charges
; would appear to you incredible if | should
mention them. 1t matters not what the reality
may be: if the army thinks the Administration
capable of the things with which it charges it.
it is, to say the least, most depOrable, and must
90 far to take the very heart out OF it.
. The writer we'll says that while such q
state of things exists, there can be no CO.
operation between the army and the cen
trail authority, especially when that au-
thority undertakes the actual direction Of
the campaign. Three fourths of the prac-
teal power OF the army is neutralized and
rendered abortive by the coil and clash be-
tween those who plan in the Cabinet, and
those who execute in the field
The letter states that BURNSIDE has twice
rendered his resignation, and urged per-
) sonally its acceptance, without success :;
and that he is left with the black cloud OF
: the horrible disaster at fredericksburg
hanging over him, and held, hopeless an
helpless. The writer says that in BURN
SIDES letter eXculpating the Washington
authorities from al blame, there is moth
ing his but his signature. and to which his
good-nature. not his conscience. con-
sented," and that he
viii retire from the command without blame
for q failure for which it will some day be known
he was net as responsible as he has tried to make
it appear, and without having forfeited the re
spect OF the nation for his many fine qualities
both man and soldier. At the same time
it will have to be conceded that his own jtldg-
ment upon himself was correct. 1t is suhstan-
tally the feeling of the arrnv He has no con-
fidencc in HIMSELF how is it to be expected that
others are to have confidence in him His only
ShOrtcoming is in the order of positive intellec-
tual power his only lack is of that comprehend
sive mental grasp and fertility OF resources in
QlSpenSaDlo TO the leader Oh armies Unnapplly
they are Indispensable. Were they not, Burn
side must have succeeded; for he has every
other quality.
: The evils of the army organization are
spoken of, and the notorious and scandal
Gus chickering's, enmities and floutings Of
the leading Generals, which make any
f fruitful concord or cooperation among
, them impossible, and all this is occasioned
| by the removal of MCCLELLAN, and every
one seeing himself thereby placed in the
line ofsuccession of the supreme command.
But we cannot quote what is said on these
points, and return to the spirit Of the sol
dierS: ... ,o. -.1 li.a.. GA
That the n,oraSe OF the Army Of the Potomac
be not what it should be to be effective it
would be folly and delusion to deny General
Sumner, who has perhaps more personal con-
Is tact with, and knowledge of, his MEN than any
D. other Commander in this army, acknowledged
i in his testimony before the Congressional