The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-11

anu III WuOth bC hoo OOnAoCHSOs AZ ACPIy
to the assertion that during the battle Of
Malvern Hill General Mcclellan was on 6
gunboat, he emphatically denied it. Upon
what authority does the Senator make the
statement? General Mcclellan was pres.
ent during the engagement, and personally
superintendent the disposition of the forces
in this great battle, which not only COW
cred the Army of the Potomac with glory
but added hstre to the arms of the United
States. The Senator had stated that Gen
Meade had ordered a retreat just previous
to the battle of Gettysburg. There was
nothing on the files of the War Depart
ment, or there had been nothing commu
nicated to US by the executive, showing
, that such was the case. This proves thai
it was never given.
Mr.. Johnson deprecated this attack upon
tie officers of the army. They peril theil
lives and reputation as much as the men,
and deserve to enjoy with them the sue
cesses of the war The honorable senator
tells Us this might have been done, and
that might have been done, and he places
him on some OF these matters upon the
authority of Gen. Hooker. He (Johnson)
would not question the patriotism and
courage of Gen. Hooker, nor his ability
to lead division or a corps, but he had
yet to learn that he commanded an army
with more success than General Meade.
Though his command was an unrestricted
one, what was the result? A movement
which, however well devised and success
ful in the beginning, resulted finally in la
mentable disaster He did not suppose il
could be avoided. The senator also as
sailed the Army of the Potomac, not on
account Of any disloyalty, but on account
of the inetficiency of its officers Why,
the honorable senator closes his eyes to
what has been done in the past two years
He says they have done nothing. Done
nothing? The North had been saved
twice from being made the theater of war.
If General Meade had failed, Philadelphia
would have been at the mercy of the en-
envy in less than ten days. Then again,
Maryland was invaded, and a dispirited
and demoralzed army who fed from Vir-
gnia were placed under Gen. Mcclellan,
who organizing, fought the battles of South
Mountain and Antietam, and the result
was, that Lee was driven across the Poto-
mac boctless to his home If Lee had OBJ
tanned possession of Baltimore, what
would have become of Washington =? The
senator himself would Rave been obliged
to fee for safety. What would have been
the effect upon foreign nations to have
had the seat of government in the ene-
my's hands? And he would almost have
despaired of the existence of the govern
nent. When the gentleman tells us the
Army of the Potomac has failed, he goes
against the history of the day. If it has
not accomplished all that was expected of
it, it has twice saved Washington and the
North. and the State of Maryland. The
Army OF the Potoma: has not always been
under the command Ct Mcclellan, Burn
side, Hooker, and Meade Gen. Burnside
was brave man, and yet we know his
ard General Hooker's defeats nearly lost
rs the confidence of the governments of
Europe.
Mr.. Anthony, adm, r. l. said when
the facts of General Burnside's campaign
were fully known, it would be evident to
every one that it was we'll planned, and
only failed on account of the failure Of Of
uCeIo " OUty MS OruCrS.
Mr.. Wade, adm, O. } believed that the
battle of Fredericksburg was lost by Buru-
side on account of the failure of officers
high liz command to obey orders.
Mr.. johnson, Opp, Nd had read the
defense OF one of the officers complained
Of, and he thought he made a clear case.
Who placed Burnside in command and re-
moved him The President Who Wis.,
ted the army from time to time for the
purpose of directing its movements? The
PRESIDENT Generals came to Washington
rom time to time for the purpose of hav-
ng interviews with the President and car
ying out his orders. The honorable sem
'tor from Maine said truly, that when the
gentlemen charged disasters to the Army
If the Potomac, he should recollect that
ne man who managed the Army of the
potomac was Western man-;hat man
vas the President. When tnat army stood
IN It's own resources, it had always been
uccesstul; but when it acted under the |
orders CT the President, from some cause
'r other, it has always met disaster. Who
planned the campaign in Florida? Not
Mcclellan, Meade, Burnside, Hooker, or
Gilmore. Who then?
Mr.. Wilson (Adm., Mass asked if the
senator could tell.
Mr.. johnson said he could not. Gen.
Gilmore was successful leader, and the
public supposed it was planned here or
had the sanction of the President, whether
Justly or not he could not say. :.
Mr.. Wade said the President was charged
aniustly with planning the peninsula cam
paigns If the Presidents plans had been
carried out there would have been no
trouble about it, Before he allowed Gen.
Mcclellan to 60 he had made it prece-
dent condition that Washington should be
amply protected. Mcclellan violated the
Presidents orders and lett no sufficient
number Of troops for its defence; and yet