The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-03-13
One Leaf OF the Secret History
OF this War.

In the trial of Gen. Mcdowell a
Washington, evidence has come out thai
must make every patriot blush with shame
at the imbecility and political chicanery
of the war managers at the Capitol
One Of the charges against Mcdowell
is, that he wilfully defeated McClellan'l
peninsular campaign.
The New York Herald, in a review
of the evidence, says:
"The testimoney proves exactly the
contrary, that he never sought to have
an independent command, and that be
did his utmost to effect a junction with
Mcclellan, but was prevented by posi-.
tive written orders from the War De.
partment, which he produced before the
court. General Mcclellan and General
Hitchcock, of the War Department, both
equally acquit Mcdowell of any respon.
sibiiity in failing to join the Army of
the Potomac. On the Gath Of April he
received at Falmouth o dispatch from
the War Department mot to throw his
force across the Rappahannock at pres.
ent." After earnestly soliciting permiS.
sion to cross over to Fredericksburg he
received another dispatch from the War
Department, dated April 80, telling him
that "he can occupy Fredericksburg with
such force as in his judgment may be
necessary to hold it for defensive pur.
poses, but not with o view to make a
forward movement.
Meantime, Mcdowell, with the old Of
his troops and the trees cGs down by
them, rebuilt the railroad bridge over
the RappahaGnock, six hundred feet
long and sixty-fVe feet high, and that
over the Potomac creek, four hundred
feet long and eighty feet high The
latter, which vas built iu nine days, was
most remarkable, and elected the admi.
ration of distinguished foreign officers.
1t was structure which ignored all the
rules and precedents Of military science
as laid down in books, and even Napol.
cons bridge builders never accomplished
such work. On the 18th of May in.
structions were issued from the War
Department that, on being Joined by
General Shields division, he should move
to Richmond. He had forty thou and
men and one hundred pieces of artillery,
and he was ready to advance. Shields
army, which was without "Shoes, trows.
ers and ammunition, &c.," now Joined
him. The needed articles were supplied.
But it was found that all the artillery
ammunition furnished was bad, and was
condemned by an inspector of ordnance
from the War Department, and new am.
muniton was ordered; but the transport
grounded near Alexandria, and lost
day. Everything was ready for the marci
ou Sunday; but another day was lost by
an objection on the part Of the pious
authorities at Washington as to the des-
ecration Of the Sabbath. Bat on Sun
day (the 25th of May) he received an
order from Washington ITO lay aside for
the present the movement on Richmond,
and put twenty thousand men in motion
at once for the Shenandoah" Jackson
was now in pursuit of Banks, and the
alarm at the capital was great Ord's
division was ordered by the War De.
pertinent to Washington aud Alexandria,
and Shields division was sent back to
the valley via Oatlett'S Station. A ter
rible rain storm, which carried away the
bridges, prevented the junction Of the
forces of Shields and Fremont; and
Jackson, after driving Banks to the Pc.
toGac, made good his retreat. and march
ed rapidly to the assistance of Lee on
the Chckahominy, while it was firmly
believed by Banks, Fremont and the
wiseacres at Washington that he was
about to return iuto the valley with re-
Inducements.
Thus McDowell's army was kept in
the valley by Jackson's ruse de guerre;
but at length, on the 9Th of June, Nc.
Dowell was ordered to send McCall's di.
vision from Fredericksburg to General
by water, down the Kappa.
hammock. Had 10000 more men been
sent at that time, Mcclellan would have
been in Richmond in less than week.
Mcdowell had telegraphed Mcclellan
on the 10th Of June that he would be
with him in ten days, and he adds that
if be had been permitted to withdraw
his forces from the valley at the time he
issued bis orders (June 81 be would have
formed a junction with him by the Goth,
or by the time McCalls division reached
him by water from Fredericksburg.
Thus not only were Mcdowell and
his army made football of, to be kick.
ed about from place to place by polite.
ians, but Mcclellan and his army were
FF!!ccttiiaGiiized by the imbeviiity which rules
at Washington, after which Pope and
his arGy were sacrificed in turn by the
same ignorant folly and mis.manag sment.
The next victims we're Burnside and his
army, whose defeat was caused by the
delay of the pontoons. Such continuous
and disastrous laundering is without
parallel in the wars of any other nation.
By the result of this investigation Nc.
Dowell is vindicated, and Mcclellan is
bat the War Department is
damned to everlasting fame. ~