Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-30
THE ARMY OF THE PoroMAc-A REVIEW, No.


When we commenced our review under this
head, on the 1lth ultimo, the Army Of the Poto-
mao had suspended its active operations and, with
the exception Of the cavalry forces, was lying idle
at Falmouth. We then stated that if our retro
spect of what this same army had done during the
period covered by the Enquiries" of the War
Committe' /" should at any time be interrupted
by renewal of hostilities between Gen. Hooker
and Gen. Lac, it would be easy for us to resume it
gain, and to pursue our investigations of Gen
McClellan's condact under the additional advan-
tsge Of comparing it with that of Gen. Hooker, as
evidenced by still other achievements than those
which sgnalized the campaign Of Charlottesville
In the progress Of events, it happened that Gen.
Lee succeeded in turning the position Of Gen.
Hooker, and in doing this he SO masked his move
ments that, in march Of about two hundred
miles, during which his fanks were exposed to at
tack, he finally succeeded in placing his whole
army in Pennsylvania without having encountered d
any resistance from the body of the Army of the
Potomac. 1t has been said that Gen. Hooker was
not "surprised" by any Of Gen. Lees movements,
and that he suffered the Confederate commander to
invade Pennsylvania for strategic reasons" "
These who remember the first count on which Mr..
Secretary Stanton ordered the military commission
raisei in the case Of Gen. Buell. to inquire into
that officers conduct in the West will at dis
miss such hypothesis That military commission
was ordered to make inquiry in reference to Gen.
Buell's suffering the State of Kentucky to be in
vaded by the rebel forces under Gen. Bragg. "
Why no such inquiry has been ordered in refer
ence to Gen. Hooker's suffering the State of Penn
sylvania to be invaded by the r,bel forces under
Gen. Lee" we are unable to say, unless it is, as we
believe that the results of the investigation order
ed in the case Of Gen. Buell. have served to con-
vince the President that the rsfuent tides of wal
are not always subject to the control Of even the
ablest and most energetic officers.
We adopt this explanation of the different
course pursued towards Gen. Buell. and Gen.
Hooker because nobody can have failed to perceive
the gratifying effect Of recent event. in modifying
mems military judgments, and in allaying some
chronic prejudice. Military partisanship has been
compelled to hide its heSd in the presence Of re-
ruts which have elicited the gratitude and chal
lenged the admiration of the country. Men of all
opinions have joined in awarding to Gen. Meade
the credit that was due to him for the successful
resistance made by our army under his command al
Gettysburg, and nobody ha, bl,ned him for wait
ing thirty-six hours after the desperate battles al
that point before renewing the conflict, and nobody
has inveighed at him for allowing the enemy te
escape "under the cover Of the night" precisely
as at Antietam.
The present General-in- Chief, after the battles
disappointed by the unsatisfactory results of the
campaign that he seems to have thought the less
said Of it the better. At any rate, Gen. McClel
Ian, in writing to Gen. Halleck five days after the
battles Of South Mountain, and two days after The
battle Of Antietam, held the following language: :
~ regreat that you find it necessary to couch every
despatch have the honor To receive from you in spirit
OF utRndng and that you have not oani leisure to
one word in commendation Of the recent achievements
this army, tn allude 10 them. have abstainet
from giving the number Of guns coors small arms, pri
souers DC captured until could do so with
racy hope by tomorrow evening TO give at least al
approximate statement"
After the battles Of Gettysburg, whatever MAJ
have been Gen. Hallcck's reticence towards Gen
Meade, (about which we know nothing,) We do
know that in communicating with others ne wal
unstinted in the bestowal Of his just commenda
tions on that officer. In despatch to Gen. Scho
field, sent from this .ity, under date of July .,
9 o'clock and ten minutes p. M, three days afte
the close Of the battles at Gettysburg, and when
was known that Lee had effected his escape "unde
cover Of the night" Gen. Halleck wrote as follows
WASHINGTON, July 60 10 P. M.
To Major Gen. ScHoFIELD,
Commanding Department Of the Missouri.
The three days. battles Of Major Gen Meade at Getiy
burg (Pa) have resulted n complete and uncquis
victory The defeated rebels under Lee in full
and viii be properly pursued The details Of these ba
tes have not been received but enough ia known to ju
tjIv the OF complete and decided victor
by the Army Of the Potomac under Cen Meade.
H. w. HALLEcK, Genera-in- Chief.
Those who must always find a dishonorable me
tive for an honorable act will Of course be swift
say that the difference betrayed by Gen. Halleck'
estimate Of the conduct Of Gen. Mcclellan at An
tietan and of Gen. Meade at Gettysburg spran
from his hatred" Of the former officer. We ar
aware that Mr.. Wendell Phillips ascrbes to tn
Generalin-C Chief, as the single redeeming "gree
spot" in his cutter ino.paoity," that "he hate
Gen. Mcclellan" but we are not in the habit Q
.ooent;n0 Mr. PhlIips's factsO or his dedut