The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-04-17
From the n. Y. Tribune'l
GEN. MCCLELLAN.

The Congressional Report on the Con-
duct Of the War, which We printed yes
tcrduy In, full, is remarkable us dealing
not with opinions, or arguments, or the
orics, but mainly with facts. 1t is a
historical statement of the epidenes on
certain important points. We have al
ready presented in these columns an inn
partial summary of this evidence (; let us
cndcuvcr TO note now more briefly the
conclusions which il establishes. We
will try TO slntc them in such way that.
however they may conflict with person
al pnrtalitics or prjudices, they shall
not be controycrtiblc us matters OF fact.
The Army of the Potomac was or
lganizcd by Mej Gen. Mcclellan. BY
the first of October, 1861, II numbered
1855 900 men, and was In all respects fit
for immediate service. The Rebel army
at Manassas, which was opposed to It,
was less than 10000 strong. But the
Army of the Potomac nevcrless remain
ed inactive during the whole Winter of
lS6l-2, and did not move till the Rebels
voluntarily evacuated Manassas in March.
A victory that Winter would practically
have unnihilated the Rebellion. 1t is
not now disputed that our nrlny would
have won victory If il had been tried,
for that Gen. Mcclellan is solely rcspon
sblc for its failure TO try.
Secondly: The Blockade Of the Poto-
mac might have been prevented or rais-
ed at my time during that Winter by ma.
val force with the cooperation OF 1000
troops. Gen. Mcclellan withdrew the
troops ond is solely responsible for the
continuance OF the blockade.
Thirdly: Tho Peninsular Campaign
was Gen. McClellun's own plan, reluc-
family ucquiesced in by the President.
aud undertaken by Mcclellan on the ex-
press condition that be should leave a
force sufficient in the opinion Of all his
corps commanders, for the defense of
Washington. They fixed the number OF
that force at 10000. But Gen. McClcll-
an, in violation of his agreement and Of
the orders of the President withdrew all
but $4,000 troops from the Capital, part
even of these being raw. and no light
artillery left them. Tho President,
therefore, ordered tho corps Of Mcdowell
to remain for the defense Of Washing
ton, and even including this corps the
sp, cited number of troops was not made
up. Yet this is what is termed an in
reference with Gen. McClellan's pihns,"
and is in substance the only ground Of
complaint against the President, aud the
'onIy excuse offered for the failure Of the
Peninusular Cnmpuin.
Fourthly Mcclellan took with him to
the Peninsula more than 100 900 troops.
The Rebels had less than 20 90 TO re-
sist his occupation Of Yorktown. But he
sat down TO beseige il |; the Rebels con.
cludcd to re-enforce and resist, and after
a months delay the place was evacuated
by the Rebels without firing gun, just
as Mcclellan was ready TO open his bat
teries. Meanwhile part Of McDOwell's
corps had been rent him. IL is now
known that Yorktown might have been
taken at once, and that Richmond would
have fallen with il. For the delay and
allure Mcclellan alone is responsible.
FUthly There were three other oc-
easioDs when, il Mcclellan had imprOv.
ed his advantage, Richmond might have
been taken by the troops who conH at
once have been moved against il viz:
uitCt thN bdtAttc VI w
Pines, Malvern Hill. Each time he hes
italed to advance till il wos to late, and
the Rebel capital saved.
Sirthly; The reteent Of the Army of
the Potomac after and during the Seven
Days Battles was precipitate and pre-
mature. The battles were all fought
by the Corps commanders, General Me-
Clellan's only share in the operation be-
ing to order and superintend the unne-
cessary retreats by night. And when,
finally, after the splendid victory Of NAL
vern Hill, won in his absence, he again
fell back TO Harrison's Bar he despaired
Of his army, mrde no preparations for de-
fense for twenty-four hours after, had re.
solved on surreudering his whole army
IL again attacked, and was only saved
from that disgrace by rain which pre-
vented the enemy from moving his artil.
lery.
Serenihiy All possible rccnforce-
mems were sent TO Mcclellan while he