The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-02-27
one Leaf OF the Secret History
Of this War.

Washington, evidence has come out that
must make every patriotblush withshame'
It the imbecility and political chicanery
If the war managers at the Capitol
One Of the charges against Mcdowell
is, that he wilfully defeated MeClellan's
peninsular campaign. ?
The New York Herald, in a review I
of the evidence, says:
"The testimOney proves exactly the
contrary, that he never sought to have
an independent command, and that he
did his utmost to effect 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.
sibility in failing to join the Army of
the Potomac. On the Gath Of April he
received at Falmouth dispatch from
the War Department mot to throw his
force across the Rappahannock at pres.
eut." After earnestly soliciting permiR-
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 view to make a
forward movement"
Meantime, Mcdowell, with the aid Of
his troops and the trees cGs down by
them, rebuilt the railroad bridge over
the RappahaHnock, 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 was built 10 nine days, was
most remarkable, and elected the admi.
+ ration Of distinguished foreign officers.
1t was q structure which ignored all the
rules and precedents of military science
. as laid down in books, and even Napol.
e cons bridge builders never accomplished
such a 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
i to Richmond. He had forty thou ant
r. men and one hundred pieces of artillery
n and he was ready to advance. Shields
. army, which was without "shoes, trows
y ers and ammunition, &c." now ioine'
el him. The needed articles we're supplied
y But it was found that all the artiller
10 ann unition furnished was bad, and wa
ir condemned by an inspector of ordnanc
!. from the War Department, and new am
" munitiou was ordered; but the transpor
w grounded near Alexandria, and lost
We day. Everything was ready for the mare
n. ou Sunday; but another day was lost b
an objection on the part of the pio'
authorities at Washington as to the de-
''e ecration of the Sabbath. Bat on Sur
m day (the 25th of May) he received o
cir order from Washington ITO lay aside fc
i'd the present the movement on Richmon'
hv and put twenty thousand men in motto
- at once for the Shenandoah. Jacksc
nu was now in pursuit of Banks, and I'll
1e, alarm at the capital was great Orc
division was ordered by the War D
os- partmeut to Washington aud Alexandri
,.h and Shields division was sent back
~ the valley via Catlett'S Station. A te
els ribe rain storm, which carried away Il
is bridges, prevented the junction of t
the forces of Shields and Fremont; al
bv Jackson, after driving Banks to the P
nf torac, made good bis retreat. and marc
~ y, ed rapidly to the assistance OF Lee
the the Chickahominy, while it was hru
the believed by Banks, Fremont and
18th wiseacres at Washington that he W
no about to return iuto the valley with
Inducements.
Thus McDowel's army was kept
IN the valley by Jackson's ruse de guer'
ave but at length, on the 9th of June, N
ace Dowell was ordered to send McCall's
-, vision from Fredericksburg to Gene
1 Mcclellan by water, down the RapE
Anu hammock. Had 10000 more men be
bells sent at that time, Mcclellan would he
'ub. been in Richmond in less than we
ood Mcdowell had telegraphed McClel
Tor on the 10th Of June that he would
W. with him in ten days, and he adds t
re- if be had been permitted to withdl
opt his forces from the valley at the time
lone issued his orders (June 81 be would b
the formed a junction with him by the q
Ill or by the time McCalls division reac
'a'' him by water from Fredericksburg;
cir- Thus not only were Mcdowell
reen his army made football Of, to be 1
emo. ed about from place to place by poll
,ion, ians, but Mcclellan and his army
r!cttiiaGiiiized !!ctiGiized by the imbevliity which
ms! at Washington, after which Pope
bling his arGy we're sacrificed in turn by
s,ors same ignorant folly and mis.mauageu
o w The next victims we're Burnside an
oI'on army, whose defeat was caused by
Stan delay of the pontoons, Such contin
aisers and disastrous laundering is with
Den. parallel in the wars of any other ma
- By the result of this investigation
'""e Dowell is vindicated, and McClell'
es' all vindicated; bat the War Departm
re op- damned to everlasting fame, " y ......