New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-06

Il.
Wherein |. victory more certain By your plan than
q Wherein 1, victory valuable By your plan than
80 In fact would not be ie valuable Il this that Il
would break great line Of tho snsms's communication
In case Of disaster would no. safe retreat be more
daieals BY your plan than ,n, Dy m'ns "AIINC6LN
Major.0en. MCCLELLAN"
Your Committee have no evidence, either oral or
Of the discussions that ensued OF the
arguments that were submitted to the consideration
Of the President that led him to relinquish his own
line Of operations and consent to the one proposed
by Gen. Mcclellan except the result Of council OF
war, held In February, 1862. That councii-tne
first, so far rs your Committee have been able TO
ascertain ever called by Gen. Mcclellan, and then
by the direction of the President-was composed Of
twelve generals, as follows: Mcdowell, Sumner,
Heintzelman, Keyes, Fitz-Jobn Porter, Franklin,
w. +. Smith, Mccall, Benker, Andrew Porter,
Barnard, and Naglee from Gen. Hookers Division).
To them was submitted the question whether they
would indorse the line of operations which Gen.
Mcclellan desired to adopt. The result OF the DC
liberation was a vote of eight TO four In favor
OF the movement by way Of Annapolis, and thence
down the Chesapeake Bay, mp the Rappahannock,
landing at Urbanna, and across the country 10 hlcn
mond. The four Generals who voted against the
proposed movement were Gems. Mcdowell, Sumner,
HeInirelman aud Barnard. Gen. Keyes voted for
it with the qualification that no change should be
made until the enemy were driven from their bate
ries on the Potomac.
At tins point it may be well to consider the prn-
cpal arguments for and against the movement upon
Richmond direct from Washington, and the move
ment by way Of the Lower Chesapeake, including
that first proposed by way Of the Rappahannock
river, and the one hually adopted by way Of For
tress Monroe and the peninsula.
In expressing opinions upon this and other sub
jects relating immediately to military opera
t.l1 ID ali
10 form aud express opinions OF their own, but
content themselves with setting forth those ex'
pressed In their testimony by military men whose
education and experience entite them to speak con-
6denty upon those subjects pertaining TO their pro-
fessioa.
WHY THE DIRECT ROUTE WAS BEST.
The arguments in favor Of the direct and against
the lower route 70 Richmond were many ant
weighty Some Of them are most tersely expressed
ia tie letter of the President 10 Gen. Mcclellan Of
February 3, 1867 before referred to. Beside those
the direct movement enabled the largest amount
troops TO operate actively In the held as the army
in its movement Immediately covered Washington
and thereby rendered the presence Of large foIcs
here unnecessary. by the adoption Of the lowe
route division Of the army was rendered impera
tve in order TO provide for the safety Of tue Capita
against any attack from the enemy. Thus, TO U.S.
the language of Gen. Mcclellan himself, IN refer
ence TO she movement proposed against the enemy
while at Manassas, committing the error Of dIvid
ing our army by q very dificult obstacle, and by
distance too great " enable the two portions 10 cup
port each other, should either be attacked by TIE
masses Of the enemy whils the other Is held II
check"
The army In moving direct from Washington
avoided all the delays and disorder consequent upon
the embarkation aud Decentralization OF 50 large q
force with all its materel. Aud by investing Rich.
mond on the north and northwest, we cut them OF
from one Of their great sources OF supply, the Shen
L.. vf.If
raids through that region Of country, which 80 par
slyked oil efforts 10 send he few troops left IN
Washington to tho assistan &c Of the army on the
peninsula.
Gen. Mcclellan states in his testimony that by
adopting the route by way Of Annapolis and the
Rsps.hannock, he hoped. IL proper socresy was pre-
served, 10 be able to reach the vicinity OF RiehuAond
before the Rebel army at Mana ssss could DO con en-
,sassd there for its defense. Whatever pfooabi MY
there NAV have been for the realization Of sue d
bops a. the time the Rappahannock route was de-
cided upon was entirely reno yea when the enc my
evacuated Manassas, before any actual movements
was made by our army. AMI Gen. Mcclellan at
once relinquished the RappGbanlock route, and 'e-
cidod with the concurrence OF bis corps coinmar ID
ers, 70 ~ by way Of Yorktown ind the peninsula.
one great objection W tie peInnsniA route, as IN
dicated by the testimony of all the witnesses wi 10
testify upon that point, including Gen. hcCleils
himself was the total want OF information III re.e-
ence TO tue nature OF the country there the KIND al
.
&c. The difficulties and euibarrsssments our srrn
labored under from the beginning OF that campaign
from that want OF information, are very evident
from the testimony.
DECISION OF THE COUNCIL.
The decision OF the council of twelve Generals IN
February was to move by way III Annapolis ano
thence 10 the Rappahannock. The question OF
reopeninQ the navigation Of the Potomac,
by driving the enemy from their batteries
uoon the river, was discussed. 1t was, however,
finally decided that the enemy should be lett IN pos.
session OF their batteries, aud the movement should
by the testimony and also by tho reeond paragraph
OF the order OF tho President, dated March 0, 1907
as follows:
Executive MANSION March 8, 1852
- Prendsafs GeaeydI Hdy order No. .-te...
OyaetL Thai change Of the base Of opennons o. lhe
ARMY Of tue Potomac snail be made without leaving IN ana
about ia the opinion Of the Gene;
hiof aud the Commanders Of all the Army Corps sha
THAT no more than two Army Corps about my thousand
oop Of said Army Of inc %s ,bs Of the Poo
mas from Ws.hngen to tho Chesapeake Bay shall Dc nsed
from tue enenys batteries and obstruciions or until the
President shall bsIesftef give express PERMISSION
Trut any movement aforesaid On route Tor anew Dase OF
operations which may be ordered by the Generain
ss, .hai begin 70 move upon Bay carly the lsh
March insi tho Gensralin Chief shall DO fssponADio
G,ds,sd That tho Army aud Navy cooperate In an i'm
mediate effort TO capture tho enemys batteries upon the
f''''''0 '''" ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
al. THoxAs, AdjI Gen"
Before the movement by way of Annapolis could
be executed, tho enemy abandoned their batteries
upon the Potomac. and evacuated their position at
Cent,sve aud Manassas retiring to the line OF the
Rappahannock.
MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY.
When Gen. Mcclellan, then in the City OF wash
pg.on, heard that the enemy had evacuated Manas-
ana, he proceeded across the river and ordered a
general movement of the whole army IN the direc-
lion Of the position lately occupied BY the enemy
The enemy moved on the morning OF the tV.a Oh
March, the greater part Of 1t proceeding no further
than Fairfax Court.tIouse. A small force Of ne
aymv proceeded to Manassas and beyond TO the line
81 lie Ranuahannock ascertaiping that the enemy