Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-06

oohtouiHeIs VI experience ana science IN military
affairs" the President issued an order on the 27th
OF January, 1862, commanding that the 22d o.
February, 1862, should be the day for genera
movement of the land and naval forces of the Uni
ted States against the insurgent forces" The
PRESIDENT seems to have assumed that the ami
Versary of the birthday of Washington would be a
good day for commencing military operations All
considerations Of weather and of the condition of
the roads at that season of the year were left out
OF account Gin the following years the same ar
my, under the command successfully of Hooker
and Of Grant did not begin to move until the
month of May)
On the 3lst of January, 1862, the President or
derei that all the disposable forces of the Army
OF the Potomac, after providing for the safety of
Washington, be formed into an expedition for the
immediate object of seizing and occupying point
upon the railroad southwest of Manassas Junction" !"
On the I'd of February, drawing, we presume,
on what Mr.. Raymond calls his " military expo
rience' IN the Black Hawk war, the President
wrote to Gen. Mcclellan as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, Fe6rnary 2, 1862
MAJOR General McCLELLAN-siy Dear Sir: You and /
have distinct and different plans for movement of the
Army Of the Potomac Yours TO be done by the Cbesa
peaks the Rappahannock Urbana and across and to
the terminus of the railroad the York river MINI to
move directly to point on the railroad southwest of Ma
nassas.
you will give satisfactory answers to the following
questions shall gladly yield n,y plan to yours
Isl Does not your plan Involve greatly larger expen
dltufe OF time and money than mine? I'd Wherein Is
victory more certain by plan than miae7 3d. Where
10 Is victory more valuable BY yonr plan than mine? Alb
n sc would It not be less valuable ia this that it would
DreaK no great line OF the enemy communications, lchc
mine ooud 5th In case of disaster, would a re-
treat Do mo. difficult by your plan than mine?
Yours, truly, LINCOLN.
On the Sth Of March, 1862, the President or
dered Gen. Mcclellan to organize that part of his
army destined for active operations into four army
corps, under Gems Mcdowell Sumner. Heinzel-
man, and keyes; and ordered further that Gen.
Wadsworth take command Of the forces left for the
defence of Washington.
On March llth, by order Of the President, en-.
Mcclellan was relieved of command of all the army
except the " Department Of the Potomac" and the
Mountain Department was created for Gen. FIRE.
mont, and large division of McClellan's army |
was taken away from him to be placed under FIRE. |
mont's command This was the first change in the |
Generals plan.
just as Gen. Mcclellan was about embarking for |
Fortress Monroe, having previously sent his army
thither, he received the following note from Mr.
Lincoln, written, it will be seen, under /" pres
sure" Notwithstanding the latter had, few days
before, promised not to do what was ordered in the
note:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington March 81, 1862.
Maor General MCCLELLAN
MY DEAR SIR: This morning felt constrained TO order
Bkers division to Fremont; ard will write this to
asur you that do so with great pain, rstandng ha
PRESSURE Of he case am cOnuiaced you cohd ustyy
even beyond amere acknoweds that the
in.chieI may order what he pleanes
You're very truly, A. LINCOLN.
1t was under such omens that Gen. Mcclellan
proceeded to the Virginia Peninsula
Before he left Washington an order had been
issued by the War Department placing Fort Mon
and its dependencies under his control, and au-
thorizng him to draw from the troops under Gen. |
Wool division Of about ten thousand men, which |
was to be assigned to the First Corps. During the
night Of the Sd Of April he received telegram
from the adutant general Of the army stating that
by the Presidents order, he was deprived Of all
control over Gen. Wool and the troops under his |
command and forbidden to dctach any Of that Gene-
rails troops without bis sanction.
This order left Gen. Mcclellan without any base
Of operations under his own control
1t was part of Gen. McClellan's plan to use
McDowelPs corps for flank movement, which
would have made the immediate evacuation Of York
town necessity, even if did not enable him to
capture the enemy there. While under fire before
Yorktown he received the intelligence that Mellow
ell was ordered to remain before Washington
This was done on the 4th Of April The
troops composing the advance Of each column
we're, during tho afternoon of that day, under
a warm artillery fre-the sharpshooters even of the
right column being engaged, when covering recon
noissances IL was at this stage and moment Of
the campaign that the following telegram was sent
to Gen. Mcclellan
ApJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE, APRIL A, 1862
Gen MCCLELLAN BY direction # the President, Gen.
McDowels army corps has been detached from the force
under your immediate command, and the General is to re-
port to the Secretary Of War; letter by mail
l. THOMAS, Adjutant General
Did ever General enter on a campaign under
such malgn auspices
1t was at thissame date that the following change
in the Military Departments in Virginia was or