The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-21
NEW SERIES-NO. 507

when this war began was, which OF our
inexperienced officers IS capable of hand
ling on the field hundred thousand men?
Mcdowell, though with SCOTS assistance,
failed. So did Pope. So, till Antietam,
did Mcclellan himself. So did Hooker
at Chancellorsvile SO did Burnside.
Many insist that the battle best fought on
our side since the war began was at Get
tysburg. TO Meade's skillful handling of
his forces on that field, even more than
bis prompt and judicions selection of the
ground, they think our splendid success
there due. And the progress of the army
since has displayed the ablest military
skill. What mistakes have occurred?
What brigades of ours have been trapped?
Everywhere are to be seen unmistakable
signs of sleepless energy and skillful
hand. The enemy has been everywhere
foiled, harrassed, defeated. True, he has
escaped, but his escape was unavoidable.
When has not an army with its rear open
been able to get away from an enemy?
Think of t4ef Peninsula army and its
Wanted seveE \. days retreat. Think of
the first and Fecond Bull Run. Think of
Fredericksburg, Charlottesville - espe-
cially the latter, where Our army was three
miles from the river, did not start till after
midnight, and yet by Z A. M, the whole
hundred pieces of artillery, SNas laeross,
without losing man or horse. This
retreat, we believe, was covered by Gen.
Meade and the Fifth corps.~ Think of
Corinth, where Beauregard Slipped off be-
tween night and morning. Then there
was Jackson the other day, where John 8.
ston escaped Sherman; and Tullahoma,
where Bragg escaped Rosecrans, and got
off it is hardly known where. The war is
full of such instances. The Potomac is
too long line to cover, else, perhaps, a
force on the south might have interrupted
Lee. But Meade, compelled on one side
to cover Washington and Pennsylvania,
could not cross and cut off Lees retreat
Lee was too strong.
Some who blamed the escape Of Lee
from Antietam regard the conduct Of mat
ters on this last occasion as equally dila-
tory. But were not the cases entirely
dissimlar? The question at Antietam
was pursuit at once, the day after the
battle, by reserve amounting to one
ly been at all engaged, and when the po-
sitiOn of the enemy had been thoroughly
known. With Meade it was attack OF a
rested enemy, very strongly posted in a
manner unknown and impossible then to
understand. In the one case there was
every apparent probability of success; in
the other there was no such probability
apparent. In the first case subordinate
commanders blamed, in the second they
approved the delay. The question at An
tietam had its true parallel at Gettysburg.
Then pursuit was instantly made by cav
airy and infantry. So, too, when the Ro-
tOmac was crossed-at Antietam, we Hff
fered severely from mismanagementi in the &!
late pursuit instituted, and then spent
weeks in the mountains while the Presi-
dent was continually urging an advance.
Meade manGuvering with great rapidity,
endangering Lees line of retreat, and
compelled him to quit the Shenandoah
Valley, suffering no loss, but inhicting
much. Without decrying McClellahs
management, it is certain that Meades
tactics have excelled in promptness. decis-
ion and energy, If not skill. Under no
leader have our troops marched as rapidly
II
scribed as excellent.
We shall be nearer eventual success
when the people, sitting an anxiety for the
end of our troubles which half crazes them,
shall bold commanders responsible, not for
actual but for comparative success. Acct
dent may give triumph to the poorest plans
and the most contemptibly unskillful leader.
The ablest General and the most splendid
strategy may, through circumstances, be
prevented from attaining all that he de-
sires. If he does all he can, and especially
if with skill adequate to the situation he
shows that his whole motive is sense of
duty, all good men should yield him their
hearty praise and cooperation.
1t seems to US that in Gen. Meade more
desiderota combine than in any former
commander of the Army of the Potomac.
Of mature age, and with a previous expe-
rience which all others lacked, thor.
oughly educated soldier, man of loftv
character, loyal to the core, yet unknown
to party cliques, embarrassed by no mill
tary jealOusies, prompt, active, untiring.
yet discreet, displaying skill as a field officer
hitherto unprecedented, soldier, and onlv
a soldier, and exhibiting in his dispatches
and official conduct modesty and sens.
of duty as rare as commendable, we cannot
help hoping much from him, and are will
ing to trust much to him; especially as
there looks out from all his conduct one
quality in which he stands alone, an hum
BILE recognition that victory is of the Lord
and that to Him belongs its glory. I-
Mr.. Incoln's order of retaliation has
been forwarded to the Confederate GOV