The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-04-15
Gen. Mcclellan.

- Il
,Fhe Journalof~ Commerce in a. review
Of the report of the Maryland Campaigns,
thus refers to thesetwo counts in the ABB
olition Indictment against General Me-
Clellan; n;frst, that he.did not support Pope
with alacrity; and secondly, that he was
responsible for the loss of IIarpers Ferry.
There is an overwhelming cioquence in
the sisple description Of the late COM
mander of the great army on the PENN
Isula, at Alexandria on the Both August
with only hundred men under his com
mand, having exhausted all the means at
his disposal to forward supplies to Gen.
Pope, even to his own headquarter teams
which he had dispatched on that service.
Those few days in August and September
last, will in future years be material for
song and stirring description in story
| The sound Of the conflict was visible on
the distant horizon. The men that he
loved-and saddcr still, that loved him
were going to death in the tempest of war;
but he might not be with them, for he
was sitting, forgotten by his Government,
in his tent by the Potomac, his services
ignored, his, sword declined, his loyalty
even impeached by base and ignoble par
#tizans, whose motto had all along been
'.the Union is league with hell" up
on the unfortunate issue Of that campaign"
OF Gen. Pope (McClellan does not tell US
iitwas only the day after he thus sat de-
prived of command, disgraced and alone)
he received an intimation that his ser
vices were desired" He was still din
structed that he had nothing to do with
: the, troops under Gen. Pope" but the
very next day made it necessary for the
nation to call on him to take command of
all those troops and save the Capital
There are nearly a hundred thousand men
living to-lay who, if they survive the
war Gas God grant they may,) will de-
scribe to their Children and children s
, children the exulting JOY of the army
when the news flew from regiment to regi-
ment over the Virginia hills that George
was in the field The NAME of the young
T General, himself the very heart of the
army, saved the capital. The shout went
rolling down the columns, it crossed the
q breaks in the shattered masses, it rang
: through the forests, it sped from hill to
| hill, until the rear guard caught it up
f and it was heard by the euemy far in the
j rear, by the old fields OF conflict toward
Mauasses. The tide Of battle was stayed
in its flow. The soldiers besousht leave
to turn back. They were gifted with new
\ life. They were no longer a flying horde
but they were again an army Who can
, doubt it, whom thirteen days later they SC
CALAMITY carried the crest OF South Noun
tain, and two days atterward won the
9 bloody field OF Antietam, against the
same enemy before whom they had beer
retreatng on Washington?
/, 1t appears clearly that General McClel
5 Ian had nothing whatever to do with
Harpers Ferry. He advised the govern
ment nevertheless what course ought It
be pursued, but General Halieek declines
; his advice, and Harper's Ferry was lost
+ + 1t has been said he should have relieved
+ Harper's Ferry After all his conmuni-
cations therewith were cut off, on the 18th
| be was authorized to take command O.
e. that place. Was his advice pursued, there
o would either have been no garrison there
. or they would have been securely posted OF
n MARYLAND Hsights. Instead of this, i
Al was in the hands of untrustworthy men
o and all that he could do was to send Frank
: lin to fight his way through Crainpton'
j Pass and relieve the beleagued garrison
n Franklin did his work bravcly and we'll
5 On the same dry that Burnside carried
e South Mountain, right gloriously Frank
e lin swept through the lower pass, drove
: the enemy before him, and the next day
while pressing down. the valley to the re
lief of Hdrper's Ferry, learned of its dis
graceful surrender by the cessation Of tb'
cannon to which he had been liatening a
to the voice Of brave comrades calling fo
r aid but gallantly maintaining their owl
: against the foe 1t does not concern u'
now to say who was chargeable with thu
loss of Harper's Ferry. The Presiden
:, has seen fiji to remove the disgrace of dis
. missal FROM the officer whoi was inculpst
ed. 1t is not necessary to ask who a
Washington was responsible for not tax
= ing Nc c'UIellan's advice at FIRST, and fo
subsequently keeping the position out .
: General Mc'Glelian's control or orders
II until the 18th, when he exerted ever,
nerve to save it, and would have saved i
i but for the cowardicc or treachery o
s some one Enough that General Mc'Clel
: lanhas no shadow of responsibility il
: the matter.
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