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

In the trial Of Gen. Mcdowell at
Washington, evidence has come out that
must make every atriotblush withshame,
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's
peninsular campaign. aa
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 he
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.
sibility 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 bis
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 q
forward movement.
Meantime, Mcdowell, with the did Of
his troops and the trees cls down BY
them, rebuilt the railroad bridge over
the RappahaEnock, six hundred feet
long and sixty-five feet high, and that
over the Potomac creek, four hundred
feet long and eighty feet high. The
latter, which vas built 10 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 a work. On the l7th 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 we're supplied.
But it was found that all the artillery
ANN unition furnished was bad, and was
condemned by an inspector of ordnance
from the War Department, and new am.
munitiou was ordered; but the transport
grounded near Alexandria, and lost a
day. Everything was ready for the marcl
ou Sunday; but another day was lost by
an objection on the part Of the pioua
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-
partmentto Washington aud Alexandria,
and Shields division was sent back to
the valley via Catlett'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 Chickahominy, 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 McCal's di.
vision from Fredericksburg to General
Mcclellan 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 wo1ld be
with him in ten days, and he adds that
if he had been permitted to withdraw
his forces from the valley at the time he
issued his orders June 81 be would have
formed ajunction 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 a football of, to be kick
ed about from place to place by polite
ians, but Mcclellan and his army were
F!!ccttiiaGiized by the imbeoiiity which rule,
at Washington, after which Pope anc
his arry were sacrificed in turn by tht
same ignorant folly and mis.manag ement
The next victims were Burnside and hi
army, whose defeat was caused by tn
delay of the pontoons Such continuou
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 i
! Vindcated; bat the War Department
: damned to everlasting fame.