Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-22

directors, with as little, perspicacity as oula,
have shown themselves to possess, would
not for the fourth time permit niismanage-
bling and rock of offense in the way of
the campaign. And yet the illustration we
have just had of the want of forecast which
has been signalized by the conduct of the
war In this quarter surpasses in its proper
tions anything we have yet been called to
witness, Let us analyZe the elements of the
invasion which has just ended in the rais-
ing of the siege of Washington s,I,i,,
1t is obvious to the most unmilitary mind
that in order TO guard the side approach to
Washington via the Shenandoah valley, a
post of observation should be selectad at
such point in or near the valley as shall en-
the approach OF danger In time to guard
against the descent of the blow and to cal
culate its probable weight wherever it may
fall. Before starting out on the campaign
against Richmond in the spring of 1862,
General Mcclellan was careful to take pre-
| cautions on this score. Under date of March
| l6, in that year, he wrote to General Banks
(whO had been selected to watch the valley)
as follows: r... ..--..-
Your first care will be the rebuilding of
the railway from Washington to Manassas
and to Strasburg, in order to open your
communication with the valley of the
Shenandoah. AS soon as the Manassas Gap
Railway is in running order intreneh
brigade of infantry, say four regiments,
with two batteries, at or near the point
where the railway crosses the Shenandoah.
Something like two regiments of cavalry
should be left in that vicinity to occupy
Winchester, and thoroughly scour the
country south of the railway and up the
Shenandoah valley, as well as through
Chester Gap, which might perhaps be ad-
vantageously occupied by detachment of
infantry, well intrenehed. Block-hou.es
should be built at all the railway bridges.
Occupy by grand guards Warrenton june
tion and Warrenton ITSELF and also some
little more advanced points on the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad, as soon as the
railway bridge is repaired.
Great activity should be observed by the
cavalry. Besides the two regiments at Ma
nassas, another regiment of cavalry Will he
at your disposal. to scout toward the Deco
quan, and probablya fourth toward Lees
burg.
To recapitulate the most important points
which should engage your attention are as
follows: .. ....... .........
l. A strong force, well intrenched, in the
vicinity of Manassas, perhaps even Center
vile. and another force Ga brigade), also
well intrenched, near Strasburg.
2. Block-hOuSeS at railway bridge.
3. Constant employment of the cavalry
well to the front.
4. Grand guards at Warrenton Junction,
and an advance rs far as The Rappahannock,
if possible.
! 8. Great care to be exercised to obtain
full and early information as to the enemy.
G. The general object is to cover the line
of the Potomac and Washington.
We all kH6,o hOW these prudential arrange
menS Of General 1lcClelldn were broken up Jy
he military poeco'S irliich M,dertOOk the dtrec-
hon Of Me ,ear otter he had been ren'Qced from
his preriOuS control Of lis operations. And
since that date these prudential measures, as
respects the Shenandoah VdlleH hare nerer
been re-eStdLliShed. for no other reason, as far
as arc can perceire, than that TO re-estdbliSh
| them might be construed Jy somebody into u
| tribute to General Mcclellan $ military sdgdcity
! in selecting point of observation like
Chester Gap, midway on the eastern border
of the valley, whIre the approach of dan
| ger would be perceived in time to meet and
check it at Harpers Ferry, instead OF some
point on the Upper Potomac, where, with
such officers as the military administration
habitually stations there, the approach of
| danger is known to the country only by q
| SUdllIpcuc VI OuI lOlCtS lIOul w lHCHtSItI'
| WillamspOrt, or llarper's Ferry, and by a
panic of the authorities at Washington.
who. knowing nothing with regard to the
movements or magnitude of the invading
| forces, fall an easy prey to every idle and
vagrant rumor which veXes the atmosphere
in a time of alarm and uncertainty. The
unknown is always portentous. In the alb
sence of the definite coniigurations reveal
ed to the mind by assured knowledge, the
startled Imagination. willie blindly cropping
in the dark, peoples all space with "gorgons,
| hydras and chimeras dire" Even so brave
heart as that Of King Richard, in the play
of our great dramatst, was appalled, by
shadows" as he exclaims
.p.,..
Have v nns turroT 10 INV so ~ Rcbard
Than can the substance Of ten thousand soldiers
Armed in proof. .....
And so, during the last few days we have
seen the administration starting at specters,
uttering panic cries of alarm, and with its
hands palsed by imaginary terrors, simply
because it had neglected to take the most
ordinary precautions for properly watching
and occluding the Shenandoah valley. In
competent officers have been stationed at
points actually occupied, and points which
should have been occupied for purposes of
observation have been left without any
guard whatever. Military incompetence
on the Upper Potomac has been reinforced
by military Incompetence in Baltimore, as
illustrated by Major General Lew. Wallace,
who Is retained in command just long
enough to lose the battle OF Monocacy, and
then superseded by a capable officer In the
neld, While he is neeuleSsly relalncu III COM