Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-07
Gen. Mcdowell on the Campaigns of
the Army of the Potomac.

His Opinion of AeCIeItdn's Generalship-
| The Long Delay of the Army in front ~
Washington Explained.
Major. General Irwin Mcdowell made a
speech in San francisco on the 2lst of Oc-
tobeE, in which he said: @ ..
1t was on the 10th of January, 1862,
that, being at dinner at Arlington, re-
eeiYed telegram and soon after a conf
dental note, saying the President.wished
to see me. went to the White House,
and Was ushered into the northern room,
where L found the President and General
Franklin. The President appearing 70 be
greatly depressed in consequence of the
desperate condition of the national affairs
with an exhausted treRsury-the feeling
of hostility of foreign nations-the fright
full condition of the national finances
JRcObins in Gongress-the want of coop.
Grafton between the leading generals of
the army-Buell and Halleck correspond.
ing direct with Washington-would have
no correspondence with each other-and,
worse than all, the sickness of General
Mcclellan, and the long inaotion of the
Army of the Potomac, he said: If some
thing is not, done soon with the army to
save the country, the whole bottom of
things will fall out. IfGenersl Mcclellan
don't intend to do something with the Ar
my of the Potomac, I'should like to Dor.
row it for while, provided 1 can see it
can be made to do something, The
| President was most anxious that
something :, should be done. 1t is
unnecessary to enter into the details of
this conversation. In reference to the
movemant.nf the army. / Eagosad it going
UuT from HIe1andrta. Gen. FranRtIn was
| in favor of its going by the way of York
4 Wa had fonR Eva fnfaRRiaWa m
this subject with the President, and was
ordered by him to obtain all possible in.
| formation from the officers Of the staff, so
as to be able to know whether anything
could be done; whether the army of the
Potomac. could be brought into the field
against the enemy. On the 10th of Janu-
ary, the President, in person, went to the
headquarters of General Mcclellan, but
fcould not see him. Secretary Seward also
went to McClellan's headquarters, but was
also refused an audience because Mcclellan
was so very siek that he could not be dis
turbed. Bnt it's something singular that
in this desperate sickness Mcclellan was
not attended by a single member of the
army medical staf. General McClellsn's
chief of Staff was sick and absent. Here
Mcclellan. was so sick a. to be unable to
give Information as to the Strength and po.
sition of the enemy, or of the plans of his
own army. Yet If you look ts his own
report or the war, as published, you will
find that he stated there that on the 7th of
January he was. writing important des .
matches to General Burnside-on the
7thu the very time when he could
not be seen by the President him
self. But to show the nature OF this
sickness of General Mcclellan, was as
i snred by a gentleman of the most undopbt-
ed yeracity, that at the very time he refused
an interview with the President TO consult
on the safety of the country, he admitted
a nriyate citizen-not direct, bnt through
1.-THE influence of a newspaper reporter. AT
lthe end of two or three days, Mcclellan
lhayfny got we'll, the President informed us
lIhat. "a he would take charge of the army,
be would dispense with; further proceeds
linrs with us, but wished General frank
him and myself to meet him again, Wltf
| General McC Clellan. At this meettug the
President explained to him why ne mac
4 consulted with General Franklin and my
self going over much the same ground h'
I'd. I'D ssireaiy done with lhs. General Nc
Osl,an said tho case was 90 plain that
| Mind man could see It.. At this sqose'
Il J,onent meeting, when Mcclellan, the Rres-
;Ssnt General Franklin, myself anc
ssversl members of the Cabinet were
4 5resent. the subject of the plans LOT CON
Snc1finott tho catnpaign wefe brought up
a member of the, Cabinet asked McCleltaE
4 iTbs,, he intended to do with the army
and when he intended doing It. Attel
making very long pause, he stateal Ips
he Was very much aYeFse 70 maklpg III
plans known. but would do It II orqereS
: by the Presidents but stated that an!
I movement OF the Army of the Pot9me'
kmqst be preceded by Buell's army u
; Kentucky, which was TO move througi
!. i0nmberland Gap to Knoxville, TO cut O
! raiIroad Communications, And this b
this badly supplied army over two State
LKentucky and Tepnessee-whhe he, o
suhsAhuent occasion, al or nHaI Harper
= 1Ear-v- deolared himself unable TO mov
hfs iine army over the best road more tha
Iron twenty 70 twenty-five miles nom tn
I | termiuus' of canal or raliroa1' llAl
nIsnse.l January and part OF Feofusr
HAVING psssed,by without anything Pein
| | lattsmptsd by the Army of the Potoma
1 the twelve generals Of divisions were cal
ed together In council at Mcolellan's heat
> Innarters TO determine on plan OF actor
n be submitted to the President. toun
, that the question was to be determined g
: Enersonaf grounds, no5 on the merits Or 81
J case. Know nothing of political cancnl
IS. buti the action then appeared to be va
n like what suppose them 20 be- 5Fhe gel
; erals we're talking together Ia knots 81
h irving to harmonic their views. sHener
/ McoiSllan came in and submitted his Pla
It wTbieh was TO leave. the enemy where
was and fight him where he Was not; to eG