North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-02-11
FRIEND D. y % o. .:

FRIEND s~a&@:
Your favor of Goth.
inst, was duly received, for which in these
times of doubt and uncertainty, am, think
sufficiently thankful.
The last of the pontoon boats which accom-
panied the grand surprise party" got up
| about week ago, by Gen. Burnside, were
| removed from the neighborhood of our camp
to-day-whither ain unable to say. The
"surprise party" was rather costly affair,
but owing to the unfa7orable state of the
weather, failed to make the intended impress
sion upon those for whom il was especially
arranged and, indeed, had not the elements
interposed, am little doubtful whether it
would have had the desired effect, as our
neighbors across the river are pretty wide
awake chaps, and are seldom caught mapping.
II they had the least intimation that the af-
fair was on the tapis the party would, un-
doubtedly, have received warm reception !;
ndsthus the prestige Of the "surrrise," and
its natural and desirable consequences-the
novelty, for instance-would have been lost
However, that affair is over with, and, like
many another seven days wonder, has almost
ceased to be topic of conversation.
I, in common with my fellow soldiers of
every grade, have no antipathy to Gen. Burn
side. On the contrary, believe him to be
a brave soldier, and good mana man who
would do honor to position requiring from
him only the attributes of subordinate
general; but he is certainly lacking many of
the elements of greatness which should mark
the General in command of so great an army
as is that at present occupying the left bank
of the Rappahannock and indeed, there are
few men in the world who have the genius to
make its ponderous movements successful
ones. hear that he has resigned. While
| would like to see him at the head of the
old ninth Army Corps,"-his old command
i am glad that his good sense, and the
evident innate modesty and truthfulness of
his character, have induced him to give up a
place for which he has no positive fitness.
Supposing that Burnside, and whatever
claims he may have had upon the Admins
tration for further trial, are thus disposed
of, the natural inquiry arises to the mind of
every rejecting soldier, who is to be his sue
cessor ?" In the army all hearts turn to but
one man-all lips echo the name Of but one
man, and that is GEN. GEc. B. MCCLELLAN !!
"Public clamor" at home, succeeded in hav-
ing him removed from his command. "Pub-
lie clamor" in the army, now demands his
restoration to that command. Which shall
be the potential power2 We who have our
lives, our honor, our all, invested in the
CO untry's cause, or you, who have only the
sacrifice of your party prejudces to make,
and the acrimonious hatred with which you
have pursued the man?
We find no fault with you for remaining
at home while we are absent in the field
though we have suffered much-endured
much but we do blame you for joining in
the clamor with which unscrupulous partizans
have effected their miserable purpose in OBJ
tanning the removal of MCCLELLAN from our
command. Is it asking to much that we be
permitted to have q voice in this potential
power which SO readily makes and unmakes
the Generals, upon whose genius we are de-
pendent for the soldiers chiefest pride
victory2 We are no less citizens now than
we were before we left our homes and fire.
sides to fight our country's battles. We
have the same thoughts, feelings and emo
tions now that we had then. We are just as
competent in judgement now as we were
then; and, in sacrificing our individuality,
and consenting for time to become the ma
chimes through which another acts his will,
we have not delegated the right to think for
US to those that remain at home. We claim
that in proportion TO the population" there
is just as much intelligence in the army as
there is out of it-tfiat we, being the party
more Immediately interested, are more COM
petent to judge of the fitness of our leaders
than those who have never seen squadron
in the field, nor marched to the music of the
battles deafening roar.
Give the army the leader it trusts and
confdes in, and you will restore its morale :
revive its esprit, and the dash and spirit
which leads men to victory, and nothing can
withstand its courage and the devotion with
which it will fight. Continue TO depress it
with the 'Jerrymandering" process which has
heretofore been practised, and it will soon
become a dangerous and disunited power
little better than mob-ready for mutiny,
or the vile purpose ofthe first ambitious lead
er who has the daring to proclaim for the
overthrow Of the Government. You may
think that this is putting the case pretty
strong; but were you so well acquainted
with the feelings pervading the ranks of the
army as am, you would not wonder at the
thought. The masses of the army are intel
ligent, rejecting, peaceable and quiet citizens
They have been accustomed to enjoy the lar