The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-29
The Army OF the Potomac-Have We .
Great General Among Us!

The Army or the Potomac-Have We .
Great General Among Us.
Major General Burnside, recently relieved
at his own request from the command Of
the Army of the Potomac, has arrived in
this city. Major General Hooker, appointed
to succeed General Burnside, is busily en-
gagged in selecting his staff and recognizing
the army according to certain plans of his own,
preparatory to another grand movement upon
Richmond. The list of the changes of com
manders in this favorite army now resembles
the genealogical table Of the first chapter Of
Matthew. General Scott too aged to take the
field, transferred the command to Mcdowell.
Mcdowell, defeated at Bull run, was super
seeded by Mcclellan. Mcclellan, sacrificed
by Stanton and the radicals was succeed
ed by the triumvirate, Banks, Mcdowell
and Fremont The disaster to Banks
corps in the Shenandoah gave the command to
Pope. Pope, forced to pay more attention than
he anticipated to his lines of retreat, yielded to
Mcclellan again. Mcclellan, dismissed be-
cause Of the pique against conservatives, made
way to Burnside. Burnside, confessing his in
ability to lead so large an army, insisted on re-
signing. This brings the record down to
Hooker, and suggests the query, have we
great general among us?
The idea that any American can command
an army is as prevalent among certain classes
as the influenza. Looking at the con-
duct of the war from a strictly military
point Of view, we find in this popular de.
fusion the basis Of the philosophy of our
failures When this war began thousands Of
citizen soldiers rushed to arms; but we
had not competent officers enough to command
this force. The consequence was that almost
every officer was placed in position several
grades too high for him. The paltry politician
or the ex-tailor, or the beardless son Of some
wealthy merchant, obtained captaincy because
he had drummed up men enough for
company, when he should have joined his
own company as high private. The militia
captain, who had never smelt gunpowder fla
vored with lead except on target excursion
where the best shooting was done with All au-
ger, aspired to be a colonel at least. The colo
mel OF a militia regiment considered himself
entitled to brigadier generalship er Qtfcio
and no politician Of any tact and brass would
consent to accept q lower rank. The major
generals were appointed from among the higher
classes Of politicians, with few of the best Off
GERS of our little regular army and a few of the
graduates of West Point who had retired to
civil life added to the list. General Scott was
of course, the COMMANDMENT Chief Now, from
Scott himself, who had previously had control
of not more than thirty thousand men, down to
the rawest brigadier general who has assisted
to make his title byword and laughing
stock for this generation, scarcely one of these
officers was at all competent for his position.
Men who should have been privates were Off
GERS. Men who would have made excellent
captains were bad colonies Good colonies
were spoiled to make miserable brigaders.
Major generals who could have commanded
corps could not command an immense army.
With raw leyies and incompetent officers the
natural result was defeat. Bull run democrat
ized the army, and it rushed back to Washing
ton disorganzed mass Of brave but inexperi-
enced troops. .,..a.-. .....
In the midst Of the panic and confusion which
followed General Mcclellan was called TO
Washington. General Mcclellan had graduated
at West Point, taken his degree in Mexico,
studied the art Of war practically IN the Cri-
inca, pnd was so much of u soldier, heart and
soul, that he could not attend to his business a.
civilian while the Italian war was in progress,
but spent his time in planning and mapping out
that campaign. With small force he had
gained us great victories in Western Virginia
BY unanimous consent he was hailed as the
American Napoleon. His military knowledge
taught him that an army cannot be made in a
day. For month after month he was engaged in
reducing the mass of soldiery from chaos to
system. His parades, reviews and inspections
were constant and his labors indefatigable.
While no was training his army Of one hundred
and fifty thousand men he was also training
himself 10 command this army AT the same
time he matured comprehensive plan, by
which, advancing in three grand divisions, we
should sweep the rebels down TO the Gulf Of
Mexico. AT last McClellan's preparations were
nearly completed. He had formed an army Of
the finest soldiers the world ever saw He had
fitted himself TO control and manage his immense
force. The Army Of the Potomac started for the
peninsula and encamped before Yorktown.
simultaneously a new enemy developed himself
at Washington, and gave both Mcclellan and
the army more annoyance than the rebels. The
dsgraceful story Of the peninsular campaign
is well known Reinforcements held back,
Mcdowell compelled to remain useless on the
Rappahannock, and the rebels allowed TO con-
centrate all their forces at Richmond, our gal
liant army was left 10 be butchered. and when
McClellan's genius had saved it from utter do
struction, and transferred il to Harrison "a aud
ing the newly appointed Gencral-in.C Chief re.
called IL 10 WASHINGTON. and thus, bS the only