The New York herald., 1863-10-24
The Government and the Relieved
Generals.


negative in the removal OF generals, 1t can
of 1t. Remarkable. enough in other respects,
the list of generals who have been "relieved"
from positions, OF which they were not in all
cases weary, has become somewhat remarkable
in respect to its size.
General Fremont was 'relieved" very early
in the war, but not too early. Though it does
not appear that he was tired of the position he
held, we must consider that the word "relieved"
Is correct one in his case, inasmuch as we
ought always to assume that every position
must be painful to man who is utterly and
completely unfit to occupy it. But Fremont's
removal was less a positive act than the recanta-
ton of an error. No greater charlatan than
this man ever lived, and, like other charlatans,
he was famed to be great genius Upon that
fame he was over hastily given a position,
which proved him to be a very common place
parsonage; so the President uttered his official
peccapi, and down went Fremont History will
excuse his existence, on account of the magnif-
cent joke that the President was enabled to
perpetrate in his appointment to the "Moun-
tain Department"
Fremont was succeeded by Hunter Hunter
has been relieved twice since then. He be-
lieved in the Niger; but even that could not
save him. He issued proclamations, and it is
probable that he drew his pay regularly; but if
he ever did any more than this we never heard
of it,
From the Army Of the Potomac Mcdowell
was first relieved" and we forget how many
times he has been relieved since. He was
known in the old army by nickname that did
not suggest the preponderance of his brains.
Perhaps that name was true one; but, ii Gene
raj Mcdowell has the ordinary proportion Of
brains, he is one of the most unlucky men that
the world ever saw. General Mcclellan has
been virtually relieved twice-once in the
regular way, and once by the addition Of his
army to another army-with hardly polite
reference to his existence. General Pope sue
ceeded to the command of that army in one in
stance, and General Burnside in the other.
Both of these generals have since been re-
lieved-suffsring common fate-though they
were remarkable contrasts each to the other.
Burnside, bold and large hearted, with kind
of mental breadth of shoulders that gave
greatness to many of his acts, resolute even
in his errors; Pope, vainglorious, boastful
and empty. Fitz John Porter was relieved
from the command of corps in that army
on very remarkable charges. If not guilty
of them he ought not to have been re-
moved. If guilty he ought to have been shot.
General Hooker has been relieved from the
command of the same army. At the battle of
Charlottesville he had some difficulty with
post, as to the result Of which authorities do
not agree Some declare that the post knock
ed down General Hooker, and others maintain
that General Hooker knocked down the post.
We suppose the men at Washington had some
positive information or opinions on this point;
30 Charlottesville was Hooker's last battle.
"Contraband" Butler has been relieved, and
we fancy he rather likes it. Buell., q soldier Of
unquestioned ability, has suffered the same
process, and finally General Rosecrans is gone.
With much very poor timber in this list Of
the more prominent men removed, the country
and the world at large will acknowledge that
there is also much military ability. Gaines
Mill, Malvern Hills, South Mountain, Antietam,
Murlreesboro and Corinth are but few of the
battles that will answer for the abilities of
the men named in it. Yet in all these re-
mOvals the government has given its reasons
has stated its case, in only one instance. In the
case Of Fitz John Porter the government gave
reasons elaborately, and the country believes to-
day that Gen. Porter was not justly removed
How many plausible reasons the govern
ment might give for many more Of these re-
movals we cannot say But we know that the
government itself has blundered fearfully at
every step Of tho way. We know that il has
caused the failure Of dozen campaigns by its
disposition to meddle with details that should
war had been left to the generals In the field
the rebellion would have been pounded to
pieces year ago. Besides all this we know
that 1t is the tradition Of all governments that
disasters must have victims. All countries re-
quire that some one should be responsible.
Shall the government be responsible for its
own awful blunders! That might do very well
in Utopia. Such q government may exist in
the Fortunate Isles" Of Diodorus, or in the
Atlantis Of Plato; but we suspect that in all
those material countries that we find in the
biographies, and especially in this country,
no government will be found to bear the re-
sponsibility Of its blunders, when it can so
much more easily sacrifice general, and need
not give its reasons.
But meanwhile the people look on quietly.
They form their own opinions, and every now
and then comes their time to perform Official
acts. Let the government look we'll to its own
record in these matters, or we shall learn some
day before great while that the people have
relieved the administration, AND have found
new commanders chief for the armies and
nayics of the United States.
PRESENT Position or THE POLISH QUESTION
England France and Austria, alarmed at