Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-30

I
Washington and the capture Of Richmond
| can only imagine thai Mcclellan deemed
the Presidents plan unpracticable, because Of
the difficulty Of supplying his army overland
from Washington. This would have been
diffcblt and costly until he had destroyed tho
rebel army at Nandssds, which would have
been quickly done when their supplies had
been cut off But it is not necessary to spec
ulate. For some reason, the President and
Mcclellan did not agree, and Manassas was
not taken. Here is the evidence Of the disa-
greement. How pat, pointed, is the Presi-
dent Like a sharp.shooter, be hits the very
centre Of the bulls eye.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WksHiHGTuN, FEB. 3, 1852.
Major General Ne Cieiians
Ny DEAR sra. You and have distinct and different
plans for movement Of the sfly Of the Potomacyours
70 be down the Chesapeake un he Rappahannook TO Ur-
bsna and land 20 The terminus of the railroad
York ver-mine 10 move directly to point on the rail-
road southwest Of Manassas. II you viii give sasfac-
tory answers to the following questions shall gladly
yield my plan TO yours
l. Does not your plan involve greatly larger e1pen-
dilure Of time and money than mine
Wherein is victory more certain by your plan
than mine
Wherein ia Avictoy more eaiuabe by your pan
In fact, would it not be less valuable in this that
it would break no great line Of the enemy's oommunioa-
ton, while mine would
In Of disaster would not safe retreat be more
difficult by your plan than by mine
Yours, truly, A. LINCOLN.
Probably by the evacuation of Manassas by
the rebels this plan Of the President was set
aside perhaps by McClellans reasons the
President yielded to tie attack on Richmond
by way Of Yorktown. At any rate, on the
eighth of March, 1862, ordered that no
change in base Of operations should be made
without leaving Washington safe that no
more than fifty thousand troops should be
moved for the new base yorktown or the
peninsula,) until the Potomac had been clear
ed of rebel batteries, that the movement
should begin by the 10th Of March, and 1.-THE
General-in-chief shall be responsible that it
so move as early as that day and that the
army and navy cooperate in clearing the Po-
tomac of the enemy The letter, which you
have already published, followed, and was a
review of the points OF difference ending in
the President submitting to MoClellan's plan,
but insisting that he should act, ac', and
promptly, and efficiently, for his own sake
and for the oountry's sake. 1t seems to me
that there can no longer be any complaint of
the President in respect to his treatment of
Mcclellan. 1t is to be remembered that Nc
Cellan himself has never uttered a word
against the President why should nybody
else
The intercepted rebel correspondence, re-
Gently captured with Geo. Sanders, Ia copper
mead ircm New FORK Guy, IN reOel service, J
has been published IN part5 enough to make
sensation in both Europe and America.
For instance: the rebel government suspects
France Of purpose to take Texas,or to make
it an independent nation, charges its repre-
sentative in France (S!idell) to investigate
that matter, and orders its minister to Eng
land Mason, the original "copper-head,' " to
play off Napoleon's scheme upon England's
fears. That is decidedly interesting, to say
the least. Again the correspondence shows
that the rebel government is greatly disturb
ed by the slavery question, and Lincoln's pol
icy in respect to it. Still again: the names
of the rebel financial agents in Great Britain,
and of British citizens who have contacted
to furnish ships to prey upon our commerce,
are revealed facts of the utmost importance
to us, as they will bring the British Govern
ment directly to the point on the question OF
supplies to the rebels. Finally, the financial
scheme of the rebel government is revealed
it being to raise money in Europe on cotton.
So much for the official papers. Private let
ters were also seized, and these are interest
ing one of them, at least, shows that the
rebels are on the point of despair; fact in
curious contrast with the buoyant diplomatic
letters of the Confederate Secretary of State
the Jew, Benjamin, whose reputation for
veracity was not unquestioned in former days.
We are all rejoicing at the great success of
McClernand's army at Arkansas Post. |
specially rejoice at the good fortune of an as
socate in official service here, and none the
less because have not been over-confdent
as to his military qualifications. The Lord
be praised, for it is a great victory--seven to
ten thousand rebel prisoners, and very little
loss of men on our side. Oh that we may
speedily have many more.
Many officers of the army we're seized yes
terdsy, and sent to their regiments under ar
rest, for being here without leave-more than
fifty during the last week. Disgraceful to
the officers, but good for the government
trust there was not Vermonter among them
| have heard of them.
My eyes have been rejoiced at the sight OF
Daniel Baldwin, direct from Montpelier, with
members of his family l can make large
| Montpelier party here at almost any hour
and such casually are frequent. All well ex-
cept myself, and am doing well and greatly
/ encouraged.
The New York Tribune Of the 18th, con-
tains a very suggestive revelation of Stone
wall Jackson to Federal prisoner-a revela-
ton of the perfect sympathy between the reb-
els of the South ard the copper-hsad demo
Gratis of the North. Appropos an old dem
ocrat Of Vermont called upon me a few days
ago, and we had free conversation on true