The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-29


tbrouqk kentucky into Eastern Tennessee foI
the purpose at once of assisting the Union
men of that region and of seizins the rail-
ways leading from the Mississippi to the
East. ,-s'@.a a11r2A 1T5Ea 1.a'
| % The importance ofavaihng ourselves as
far As possible in every case of water trans.
portation was strongly urged, as we'll as OF
naval diversions against the leading cities
of tho southern coast. The importance OF
these points was shown to be much enhan-
ced by the existence of the great railway
system of the South. which would enable
the enemy te concentrate rapidly upon in
terror lines: and the inference was drawn
that the operations of the main army ought
to be strictly connected with ell subsidiary
operations wherever undertaken.
| One ofthese subsidiary operations through
Nebraska and Kansas into Western Texas
in connection with movement tothe same
end from the Pacific through Arizona and
New Mexico, was especially designated tor
its Importance IN political as well as in a
military sense, and it was suggested with
far reaching sagacity that an intimate ALI
ance with Mexico might be effected winch
would materially facilitate the results OF
such combined movement.
To effect these grand objects General Nc
Clellan estimated would require an army OF
about 100000 men, to be thus distributed
Mo;n oruv ..27 .273,O 900
Defense of Washington. n................. :. IO,SOU
Western advance, (Ky. being loyalO O... 0'O00 O0O
Line Of Potomac. lV,ooo
Baltimore and Fortress Monroe. .....-... S,OOO
Total, Sl,OOU
With this force, acting under the control
of a policy strictly protective of private
property and merciful to private soldiers
taken in arms, General Mcclellan was ofthe
opinion tha. the organized strength of the
rebellion might be overwhelmed, and the
populations of the South compelled to re
cognize the futility and folly of persisting in
an attempt to resist government which
designed simply to hold them to their con-
stitutional obligations, and to respect its
own constitutional limitations while per-
forming its constitutional duties.
At the time when these suggestions were
submitted to the President the all absorb
ing thought of the government was the
safety of Washington. No plans for general
operations were considered, and it was be-
lieved by the majority of those whose coun
sells swayed the administration that the pol
icy of the government ought to be simply a
concentration of force around the capital
and an advance against the army of the
Confederates before Richmond.
CONDITION OF THE ARMY IN AUGUST 1861.
Gen. Mcclellan found the army at Wash
ington thus constituted
Infantry -...-...--.--.--- .-....oOOou
Cavalry. MISREPRESENTATION. lUOO
Artillery ...-........--. ooo
lotal- .-- -. -. .. ot'ooo
with nine imperfect feld-batteries Of thirty guns
This force was scattered through the en-
virons of the CITY with no general organiza
ton, and with 40 regard to purposes of in
struction or defense The city was defend.
ed by a few insignificant earthworks, and
"there was nothing to prevent its being
shelled from heights within easy range which
could be occupied by hostile column al
most without resistance. The morale of the
army was miserable, and desertions were the
general order of the day"
ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
Steps were at once taken to restore order
in the city of Washington. Camps of in
struction were located and filled with the
new levies; fortiEcations were pushed for
ward under systematic plan.
By the 18th of October the number OF
troops in and about w ashington was as fol
lows:
Present for duty .ioo 0a o0a
Sick ....--.---.----..-.- S,IsC
In confinement. l,Ioo
Total ...--...---.''''' 81.
Making with absent troops. ............. o4o4
A Grand totalof .l52,o5l
8 By thief the first of March 1862, this total had
been raised to. --.-... .@zl,so'
From this number the defenses OF Wash
ington, the projections of its communlca>
tiOns, and the main operations against Rich
mond, strong and central defensive posi-
ton of the enemy protected by an army in
Virginia of at least 100, 900 men, were to be
supplied.
General Mcclellan shows that the Army
of the Potomac proper, subsequently reach
ed at three different periods the following
totals:
April gu. .-........--..--...... i1sSIa
June 20. Sae
July lO. Observation-Disclosures. .........'.A11'Sso
The history of the progressive organlza-
of the Amy is given at length, from its first
formation into brigades to the adoption,
under the direct authority of the executive,
of the organization into army corps, OF which
the general observes: "Though | was al
ways in favor of this organization, as In alb
stract principle, did not desire to form
them until the army had been for some
little time in the Held, in order to enable
the general officers first to acquire the re
ouisite experience as division commanders