The Portland daily press., 1863-05-11

and we have no disposition to say hard things
of him, or to revive unpleasant "reminiscences.
But as the copperhead papers are beginning
to make invidious comparisons between him
and Hooker, and are evidently bent on exalt-
ing him at the expense of those upon whom
rests the responsibility of present army move
ments, we feel called upon to lay before our
readers some things we have heldia allegiance,
because we would not say an unpleasant word
of Mcclellan, unless the indiscretion or dlsloy-
atty of his protested friends shouldrender such
a course necessary. 1t is more important now
to inspire confidence in men in command, at
the head of the army, than to vindcate ana
aggrandze those who have dropped out oil
command.
In the outset we do not hesitate to say that
more forbearance was shown to Mcclellan by
the Administration and by the people, than
has ever been shown towards any other man.
The history of the world probably does not
afford a parallel In this regard. Who can
name another military commander who was
ever permitted to retain his command in the
face of such succession of failures as those
which resulted in bringing him to Harrison's
Landing? The facts are now well known
that he FILTERED away precious weeks before
Manassas, until the enemy withdrew in safety,
taking all his material of war and subsistence
stores with him, when he might have made an
almost unobstructed progress into Richmond.
1t is also an established fact that he sat down
before Yorktown, with 10000 men, and COM
md fhraw I'M
breastworks, when that place was garrisoned
by less than 10000 men, and while he was pre-
pairing for siege which never took place, he
lost more men by death, and disease contract
ed in the malarious swamps in which he was
encamped, than he could have lost by storm
ing and carrying the rebel works.
1t is fact that at the gallant affair at Will
liamsburg, one of the most holly contested
fights of the Peninsula, he was long way be-
hind, and did not make his appearance till the
battle had been fought and the victory won;
won, too, by the daring, dashiug gaantry of
Hooker aided by Berry and others, who, in
the absence of orders. cut McClelan's red
tape, and saved the waning fortunes of the
day. 1t is now beyond question that after the
battle of Fair Oaks, the rebels expected the
capture of Richmond, and but for his being re-
called by his superior, Hooker would have
gone into the city, which he had approached
within less than four miles. 1t is well settled
that at Antietam, Hooker attacked the rebels
on the right, early in the morning, with the
understanding that the left and center were to
be simultaneously attacked; that he actually
gained the great advantage of the day before
he was wounded and carried from the field,
while the attack on the left was not made till
afternoon, and the attack upon the center was
not made at all the enemy being left to con-
centrate his strength against Hooker's single
corps These things are not suppositions, but
the substantial facts of history; and yet an
attempt is now made by papers of justly sus-
pected loyalty, to dispararge Hooker, who has
partially famed once, by exalting at his ex-
pense, man who never ventured to make an
attack, and whose greatest skill has been re-
vealed in conducting retreats. If the indis-
Greet friends of Mcclellan are determined to
do so, they can provoke disclosures in relation
to the workings of his "caution"-which was
practically but little better than cowardice-
which otherwise would be allowed to pass in
to forgetfuIness. No one objects to his hav-
ing all the credit that belongs to him, but the
reputation Of other commanders is as dear to
the country his, and should not be mali
ciousy assailed in order to cover up or to
gloss over either his blunders or his matchless
inefficiency.
1. olxnr.s a. 1<~.l-
on Mcclellan, and what they think of the eff
ficiency of his campaigns, we introduce the
following testimony. The Boston Transcript
was not long since allowed to make an ex-
tract from letter written by well known
Bostonian, who with friend was voyaging
among the West India Islands. The letter
was dated March 23d, and refers to passage
on the English steamer from Havana to st.
Thomas. The writer says:
There was only Northern man on board be-
sides ourselves and twelve fifteen Southerners in
Guiding two officers of the rebel army, one of whom
wounded We were soon identified as Boston
men, and politics brought into discussion ! advo-
Gated the views do at home, to the best of my
ability. admitted disasters but told them their
defeat finally certain. 1t only question of
time They did mot IKE this perhaps ,h s oeeanse they
sengers were very intelligent gentlemen, and re-
viewed the frankly. Every one said he
tonshed at the msmanagement of onr Generals,
particularly Mcclellan, at Manassas and on the Pc
nnsua. They argued that at Manassas the South
army was badly organized. small in numbers,
and entirely unable TO cope with army. We
neglected to follow them closely, and they gained
every day.
On the Peninsula they calculated on our taking
Richmond Had we attempted it, and, without de-
lay, followed them and attacked them as Hooker did
at Williamsburg. Richmond would ceainly have
been taken. While men waiting and dying
in the swamps of the Chicahominy. growing weaker
and weaker, they gained in numbers and equipments
till they ready to attack gentleman from
Charleston remarked that the Mcclellan style of
warfare has proved the greatest blessing the rebels
When he first brought the armies of the United
States against wanted everything, and we
who knew the situation best doubtful and des-
ponding; but now we are prepared; we have all the
arms want, and troops equal TO yours
They speak also of the withdrawal of Mcdowell by
the Administration inexcusable blunder our
side. They ridicule the idea Of speaking or compar
ing Mcclellan TO Lee, saying he was boy in his
hands
As the especial admirers of Gen. Mcclellan
have insisted, over and over again, that he
was the only federal general for whom the
rebels entertained any fear, or whose wisdom,
sagacity and military genius baflled their skill
and caused them to trembe with alarm, we
are disposed to entertain our readers with a
few extracts from the Richmond Wing of April
21st. The article from which we quote was
entitled "The late George b. Mcclellan" and
ran as follows:
ynuog Nanoieans Ia dead-deaa ha,,,ra