, 1863-04-14
FIcCLELLAN'S STRATEGY


We make the following extracts from the
Report Of the Congressional Committee on
the Conduct Of the War, concerning the
retreat to James River:
THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS,
During the battle Cen. Sunlrcr, whose corps
was On the left bank Of the Ch1ckahonliny,
was ordered By Gen. Mcclellan to hold his
forces in readiness to ctoas. Gen. Sumner
not only did that, bnt at once called out his
forces, and moved then, until tile heads of
the columns were ut the bridges ready to
cross, thereby saving between ono and two
hours. When the order came to cross he i'm
u.ediately moved his forces in the direction of
the field Of battle, came up with and engaged
the enemy, and relieved the pressure upon
the troops engaged on his LETT.
Thc next day, the 1st Of June, the enemy
attacked General Sumner at Fair Oaks. Gen.
Hooker, who lad been ordered forward the
day before by Gen. Gcintzelman with one.
half Of his division, hearing the firing Of the
enemy upon GcpeEl Summers forces, pro.
ceedcd Mt once in that direction and engaged
the enemy. In 4 short time the enemy was
repulscd, and fell back in confusion. There
was no communication between the forces un-
der Gen. Sumner and thost under Con. ueint-
zelman, {IIooker's) but cach fought as hc
deemed best under the circumstances. Gen.
Mcclellan was with the main part Of the army
on the left bank Of the Chickahominy. After
bank Of the river.
On the morning Of Monday, Gen. Hciutzel-
man ordered Gen. Hooker to mike recon-
noi=sancc in force, which lie did, advancing to
within four miles Of Richmond. meeting with
10 resistance, except little from the enemy's
pickets. ETon being Informed byGen. Heintze!-
ian Of what he had done, Gen. Mcclellan Or
dcrCd the troops TO be recalled and occupy
the position that had been held By Casey's d.
vision.
The officers engaged in that battle, who
have been examined, testify that tue army
Richmond with little resistance; that the en-
my were very much broken and demor;uized,
throwing away arms, clothing, ETC., that
might impede their flight.
The returns Of Gen. Mcclellan to the Alju-
tant Generals Office, give the followin., rs the
strength Of the army on the Peninsula on the
20th Of June: Present for duty, 1l5, 102: spe-
cial duty, sick and in arrest, L. absent,
% ,51l-total, 156, SIS.
TILE BATTLE OF GAINES MILL.
On the eth the battle Of Gaines Mill was
fought, principally by the troops under Gen.
Porter: 0nr forces there engaged were from
1900 to M, coo; the force Of the enemy being
from two to three times that number. TIE
enemy were in such superior force that, al
though our troops fought with exceeding
bravery, they were driven back, with loss Of
ahent ?,ooo men, in killed, wounded and
missing.
Gen. Mcclellan was questioned rs to the
policy Of leaving the right wing, consisting OF
only about 90, COO men. to meet the attack ut
the superior force Of the enemy. instead OF
t withdrawing 1t to the right bank Of the Chick.
| ahominy, before the battle Of Gaines. Mill.
| The rep1y was lame and shabby. His treacll-
cry was exposed, and he had no sul1lciant ex,
cuse to make.
THE RETREAT TO TIE JAMES RIVER.
+ During the nisht after the battle Of Gaines
| Mill, all our forces were concentrated on the
| righ, bsuk Of tho Chickahominy, aud the next
| day the movement to the James River was de,
| tcIMined upon. Gen. Heintzelman tcetifle:
that the night after that battle he WAS sent fol-
by Gen. Mcclellan; that he found everything
I packed, ready to leave: that Gen. McCiellaI
said there were two things to be donc-te
concentrate his forces and risk ali on battle
| or to withdraw to the JAMES River; th:t i
he risktd n battle there, and was beaten, ths
army was destroyed. Gen. Uc:ntzclman al
| cum>tancce, for II that army was lost thu
cause would be lost; that it Was better to C
to the Janlcs River and await reinforccneAts
Gen. Mcclellan replied that he was of tha
opinion himself, ard that was determined up
+ Ian tclesraphs TIC Secretary Of War tlat b
iGcn McCiel1aD) is not responsible ior the &c
eult, but feels that the Government has no
sustained his army.
| To this the President replies. on the 2sth
'slf you have had drawn hattie, or q rcpalse
It is the prico We pas for the enemy not bcsu
in Washington. We protected Washington
! aAd thc encmy concentrated on you. Had r