Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-24
From the Ohio Statesman.
The Potomac Arny----ticn"'"
NcEreIfan's Policy,

McCIeIinn's Foley
Wa think in not inopportune to pub
isb tho following letter from General
Gooree n. Mcclellan to Gen. lIallcck,
dated August the 4th 1862 Had his
protest been regarded at that time and his.
suggestions needed Richmond would hnvo
been in our possession moro than q year
ago, and thus the whole face of thin gs
changed. But fanaticism ruled the hour,
and Mcclellan did not suit the mad fan.
atics, and hence he must be deposed,
though by so doing thousands Of lives
and hundreds of millions of money should
be lost. Mcclellan was deposod, and
what has since occurred fully demon
strates the wickedncss Of the act :.
BERKELEY, Va, Aug 4, ~ NJ,
Major General Hoiieck, Commandcr-in-
CHIEF
"Your telegram Of last evening is re.
ceivcd | must confess it caused me the
greatert pain ever experienced, for
am convinced that the order to with
draw this army to Acqnia Creek will
prove disastrous in the extreme TO our
cause, fear it will be fatal blow. Sew
cral days are necessary to complete the
preparations for so important position
as this, and while they are in progress,
| beg that careful consideration may be
given to my statement. This army is
in excellent discipline and condition.
We hold 9ebouch on both banks of the
James River, SO that we are free to act
in any direction and with the assiston
of the gunboats, ! consider our commu-
nications as secure.
We are 20 miles from Richmond, and
are not likely to meet the enemy in force
sufficient to fight battle until we have
marched 15 to 49, miles. which brings
us practically within ten miles of Rich.
mond. Our largest line of land trans
transportation would be from this point
% miles, but by ,he aid Of the gunboats
we can supply the army by water, during
its advance, certainly to within II miles
of Richmond. At Acquia Creek, We
would be 70 miles from Richmond, with
land transportation all the way From
here to Fortress Monroe is march of 7C
miles, for regard it a, impracticable to
withdraw this army and its material ex
cept by land The result of the move
ment would thus be to march 145 miles
to reach point now only 25 miles dis
tant, and to deprive ourselves entirely o
the powerful aid of gunboats and waite
transportation. And TO this the certain
Generalization of this army which woul,
ensue. the terribly depressing effect upol
the people of the North, and the stron|
probability that it would influence foreigl
powers to recognize our adversaries; anC
these appear to me sufficient to make il my
imperitive duty to urge, in the stronges
terms afforded by our language, that thi,
order be recinded, and that far from re
calling this army 1t may be rromptlyyo
inforced to enable it to resume the often
sive.
1t may be said that there are no rein
forcements available. point to Gener.
al Burnside's forces, to those of General
Pope, not necessary to maintain stric
defense in front of Washington and Har
per's Ferry; to those portions of the Ar
my Of the West not required for stric
defense there. Here. directly in front O
this army is tho heart of the rebellion. -
1t is here that all our resources shoul,
be collected to strike the blow which will
determine the fate of this nation. Al
points Of secondary Importance elsewher
should be abandoned, and every availa
BILE man brought here. a decided victo
ry here and the military strength of tn
rebellion is crushed. 1t matters not wha
partial reverses we may meet with else
where; here is the true defense of Wash
ington; it is here on the banks of tn
James River that the fate of the Unio
should be decided
Clear in my conviction of right, stron
in the consciousness that | have ever bee
and still am actuated solely by love {
f my country, knowing that no. ambition
n or selfish motives have influenced m
from the commencement of the war, d
now what never did in my life before
g entreat that this order may bo roscindec
+ 1t my counsel does not prevail, | wi
| with'a sad heart obey your order to I'll
s utmost of my power, devoting to tt
movement-one Of the utmost deicacy
whatever skill | may possess, and ma
God grant that am mistaken in my fore
bodings. | shall at least have the intel
nal satisfaction that have written an
spoken frankly, and have sought to d
, the bes. in my power to arrest disast,
from my country"
GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN.
Maior-General.