New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-24
GENERAL McCLELLAN AND TEE
DEFENsE OF WASHINGTON.
Impcrtan. Letter from muior-Gen. Hitch.
cock.


The following letter by Major-Gen. f. A. Hitch
cock, Advising General OF the War Department
was called out by erroneous and inaccurate publ
cation Of the testimony given by him before the
Mcdowell Court Of luquiry;
T. n, EDITOR i The DAILY Ct,onier
SIR: re n. \. 1'im0 81 yesterday con'nne
what wss designed 10 DO received BY Tie public ia
report of nv testimony before the Mcdowell Court
now in session in this city, but u is 70 full OF erfors
and inaccurac.es of all sorts mispacemenls OF wloie
p2sssges md in ono material particular directly re-
yersiug INV statement that beg TO request that You
will afford space "a your columns for an accurate
pubicaton 81 TIA. testimony, together WIN the
documents exhibited with II, which can doubtless
Do had a. tie Courtroom , e.,
II ID, testInony was worth pull hipg at all II
ought 10 have been published A gave II. IL was
the duty Of tue Court To determine the luesinns
should be Gale upon 10 answer, and mine only 70
rtgte the truth, sworn 70. The eour, asked my
opinion touching iLe Tcspols0iIlts III care Oh uls-
oLed.eucs Oh orders by Gen. Mcclellan, III mol IeaV-
iug for the security Of Washington the force desi2
na,ed by toe four commanders Of tho four array
cofls com pOslIg the Army OF tue foOinoc.
fl ANSWERING "a question, placed tie respons-
bii'y where lnilite'y law and army usage has Al
wGyr placed it--with the officer who, r. Was rs
suned IN the question, Lad disObeyed Tie orter-t0
Wit, with Gen. McCleilHn and not with The irrsi-
cent, who IN makog good bis ryiual order, by The
detention OF q past Of AcDowel Corps IN ifont Of
" atblngtOn, merely took nee hsaiy nlep 10 repair
a mischief committed by Gen. Mcclellan al nBei, Ia
not tending TO the order OF tho 9th OF March,
which wav reiterated through tho Secretary oil War
on the 1871 Of tie fame month.
In The Times report Of my testimony tLis portion
oil IL is inverted, and Am put iorward--l am bound
to suIpOse by aCcdent-as placing the responsibility
with the Prcsi1ont, AID not with Gen. Mcclellan.
Ny opinion was, and war 80 stated 10 tine Court,
that Gen. Mcclellan, III Gihobty NJ the orders oil the
resident. took upon himself The responsibility for
I'll the consequences that might follow such Dis
obedience. This ia q plain military principle, which
every rOdier understands.
! will add here that Gen. McClellan's proper
course under the orders Of The Prehideut, irs.
% obey the orders punctuaily and precisely and
tLen 10 consider whether be bad sufficient 'Oce lef
for the execution OF his plan Of going to Richmond
via Yorktown Ind me Pcnastla. IL rot, nc should
have reported - ;he President before surfing on
liz eXreGi,iOn IT, in that case, Ito president raa
required him 10 proceed ia the execution of lie
plans all The world would have PLACED tho rospon-
sibiliiy 1t The door OF the President. Gen. McCl l.
Ian did not do tuls.
He commenced Ais expedition neglectpg" tie
point 20 "txpici,ly" ordered rs thc rrctdeut aud
put "a lai.e part Of III. force ia i1Oaon iOr ,h.
Isthmus before inc Pfceidrn knew OF thar
"no1 lect" and thus took upon himself ,he entire
responsibility for all that lofowcd.
K brilliant srccefs has often protected an officer
from Ito penalty affixed by lAWsee tao 9th Auc,e
OF Wnr-tO dis0bel fence Ut orders; but 1t viii TO II
new feaiu.s IN military history when failure, result.
inv from departure oi plans and ofdrrs, shail be
visited upon the superior, "hose plan was not fol-
lowed and whose orders were "neg lected."
Resloctiuly, Sc, y. a. HITCHCOCK
Wa,linsioa CIy, u. O.. jan. q. 1868.