The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-08-10

@h4COlOhou,Ou thCJ ndNO dloO ldHCd " PiOi-
it by the bitter experiences of three years
of war. Time aud again have the rebel
armies surged up the Shenandoah valley,
carrying desola:ion TO the homes of the
people of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and
striking terror throughout the whole North
to this day even the slightest precautions
have not been taken tc guard against this
disaster. Every time the rebels have ad-
vanced upon the valley they have not only
not been impeded, but, through the most
profound stupidity, the administration. has
collected stores of all kinds at Mar:insburg
for their special accomm odation. We be-
leve ii can be proved that in their various
raids up the valley the rebels have been
able to procure stores TO the amount of ten
millions of dollars at tha: one point. The
northern gate of The valley has never had
sufficient force to guard it, or a compe-
tent General TO retard the progress of the
rebel armies. There is probably not in all
military history SO marked an instance OF
prescience as that which General McClel-
Ian displayed before the campaign opened,
or so conspicuous an example of downright
stupidity as has oeen shown by the admin
isIraiion in not guarding the Shenandoah
valley as TO prevent an invasion Of the
Northern States.
This quality of foresight as to the con-
duct of the war marked all of General Nc.
CIellan's military acts. If the reader will
peruse his instructions to Butler, be will
aiely upon the capture of New Orleans, to
put his army in motion, and take possess
sion of Jackson, the capitol OF Mississippi,
and fortifY it. If Butler had obeyed Gener-
al McClelIan's orders, and had then taken
Jackson aud fortified it, the counlry can un-
derstand what fearful losses would have
been saved in the subsequent campaigns
against Port Hudson and Vicks5urg. In
the very irsl year OF the war, The trans-Mis
sissippi region would have been cut off
from the confederacy, and all ihe cattle aud
stores of Texas would have been lost to The
rebel armies. But Butler preferred 10 stay
in New Orleans, and quarrel with women
and foreign consuls; and 10 him is to be
treasure which the capture of Yicksburg
and Port Hudson subsequently entaied. In
the orders to General Buell. it will also be
noticed that General Mcclellan pointed out
TO him the importance of seizing as soon as
be could Eastern Tennessee, and that the
capture oil Knoxville and Nashville was of
The first moment. The orders TO Genera
Sherman touching what he was expecie1 TO
do at Port Royal reads like a prophecy
What General Mcclellan said should be
done was done, simply because he foresaw
that it was the only thing lhaleesfd be
done.
We call attention TO these facts because
we realize how keenly the country has suf-
tered since that soldier-sta;esman has been
Withdrawn from the military service of the
country. Every rebel victory in Maryland
and the waste of treasure and life it costs
to drive the enemy from that State, is an
Indictment filed with the most damning
specifications against the present military
administration al Washington.
Old Abe fought magnifcenily and des-
perately in the trenches of Washinetou last
week. So his lickspitlIes say, although it
is not yet known whether he really at the
time, was aboard gun-boat in the Poto
mac, or at Philadelphia or Harrisburg
Nevertheless, his fauciiul exploits would
supply the subject matter for a splendid
epic poem. Who will grasp a immortality
BY writing il One OF his positions is said
Sleeves and pants rolled up. hat and boots
lost, big black bottle near by behind a
stone, the right eye blnked and arms Abe
Linco. A couiraband guarding the "Big
Black" and ''proxy" volunteer reading the
original emancipation proclamation to the
rebels ten miles eff, make up the back
ground OF the picture When the s'fight'
was over Old Abe called for a "negro
song" after which the Government was
made Major General on the spot by the
President. The contraband was elowed
to keep the boule-iis contents having dis
appeared, as relic of the ''times that tried
The ''proxy" threat
ened 10 follow up :he rebels and slaughter
them, but was di ssuaJed, and appointed 10
hunt Abe's hat and boots, TO do which he
received a commission of Brigadier Gener.
aI.-Lebdnon AdUertiser
PUNcTUALITY.--Wben Hamilton was
Secretary be was ordered 10
meet the CommanGer.in Chief one morn
ing at sunrise. Washington was first on
Inc spot, and waited five minutes before
Hamilton appeared. The Secretary apollo
gized by saying that ''something was The
matter with his watch" Another appoint
ment was made Tor The next morning which
was similarly broken. Hamilton again
covered his negligence with a complaint
against his watch, TO which the punctual
soldier replied
Then, sir, yon must either get a new
watch or must get new Secretary"
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