The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-19
The Courts Martial mt WashingtOn-The
President Now on Trial.

ErcsluemQ NOW on trial.
The turn which the courts martial at Wash
'ngton have now taken is one Of the most singu-
lar features in the strange, eventful history OF
the war. Major Generals Porter and Mcdowell
were put on trial. not because their accusers
believed there was anything agaias: them but
in order to assail General Mcclellan by a side
wind. The testimony has long since established
their innocence. Yet the investigation in tho
case Of General Mcdowell is being protracted,
while the services of s. many general officers
are sorely needed in the field.
For some time it has been made apparent to
the country that the man who has been really
on trial is General Mcclellan, and that trial
purely er paafe one; for h1nAd not the
opportunity to defend himself because, nomi-
nally, other generals were being tried. But the
evidence insidiously introduced to damage
him has completely failed to do so. and only
adds fresh Iaurels to his military reputation.
Every attempt to detract from his merits has
rccoicd upon the heads Of his malignant
enemies. For example, il has come to light
that he was cheated out Of $4,000 men by some
hocus pocus in the War Department, which
persuaded Mr.. Lincoln that he had taken with
him 100000, when he had only $4,000. The
$4,000 thus held back from hin, and which
were essential to the plan of tho campaign a.
agreed upon before General Mcclellan started
for tue field, would have enabled him TO sue
coed; and even without them it is shown that
he would have succeeded had not Mcdowell
been positively ordered not to cooperate with
him. Again: the testimony we published yes
terday, giving an account of coancil OF war
held by Mcclellan and his generals at Manas-
sas last spring, after the rebel army had re-
treated to Gordonsville, shows that that coun-
Gil were unanimous in their opinion that the
best route to Richmond was from Fortress
Monroe and up the peninsula, between the York
and James rivers. Yet the unmiltary men at
Washington who controlled the armies insisted
that it was not, aud embarrassed the movement
from first 10 last by not complying with the
conditions necessary to render the peninsular
campaign successful. One of these indispeasa-
BILE conditions. as stated in the unanimous
resolution of the council Of war. was that 'the
Merrimac must be neutralized.' II Is we'll
known that this was not done; and yet
General Mcclellan was peremptoriy ordered
TO advance at latest on the 18th OF March. and
held Irresponsible that the army move as early
as that day. Had the Merrimac been captured
or destroyed before Mcclellan was thus ordered
to move, the James river would have become the
base OF operations and Richmond would have
been undoubtedly taken before the enemy had
time to concentrate his forces there. Ii is a GU
rious aud instructive fact that Commodore
Goldsborough, who not only did not destroy the
Merrimac, but allowed her to surprise and de-
stroy two Of our finest frigates in Hampton
Roads was rewarded for thus rendering the ex-
petition against the rebel capital failure by
being promoted to the position Of rear admiral.
The case against Mcclellan having complete
ly broken down, the radicals have now put tina
President on trial. In order to relieve them
selves and the War Department from all re-
sponsbility, they produce dispatches and
orders OF the President, for the purpose Of
placing the onus entirely upon him. whiie it 10
notorious that Mr.. Lincoln acted by their adj
vice and that of their military subordinates
at Washington. II is no wonder that campaign
after campaign should fail Success under such
circumstances would be next to miraculous.