Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-09-16

en9 Opll pict 'lClUIl kAutu OftI tut tuelll.
Just a week later occurred the hsrd-fought
battle Of Fair Oaks, which was also q victory for
our troops. Our loss was Eve thousand seven
hundred and thirty-seven; that of the enemy, six
thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.
For some time no battle occurred, owing TO
the heavy rains which had fallen and were falling.
Gen. Mcclellan, in response 70 urgent calls for
reinforcements. received McCalps division on
the 9Th Of June Twelve days later June Is
occurred the battle of Oak Grove which resulted
in another victory of the Union forces. This
was in reality the beginning of what are known
as the seven days battles. Their memory is so
fresh in the minds of the public that il will not
be necessary to give, in this connection, any de-
tailed statement concerning them. Suffice il to
say that, after series of most holly contested
battle. with a force superior in number, the
Army of the Potomac moved directly across the
York peninsula and took up strong and advarl-
tageous position At Harnson's bar, on the james
nyer, having lost in the seven DAYS previous
15.249 men. killed, wounded and missing
THE PENINSULA RoUTE ABANDONED.
II was now July 3 The army was we'll worn
ont with the labors Of the past few days, but in
good spirits, and firm in it, confidence in its
leader. AT almost every step the commander
had been disastrously interfered with by the
Washington authorities, and bis appeals for re-
Inducements either disregarded or niggardly re-
sponded to. How keenly Gen. Mcclellan felt
for this sacrifice Of his army by those whose ac-
tons he could not control is shown in the dis
patch to Secretary Stanton which the repulse at
Savage's Station, June IS, wrung from him.
We quote portion Of il.
II have lost this battle because nv force was
too small l again repeat that 1 am not respon-
sible for this and say it with the earnestness OF
General who feels in his heart the loss of every
brave man who has been needlessly sacrificed to-
day. still hope TO retrieve our fortunes; but to
do this the Government must view the matter in
the same earnest light that lido.
! know that a few thousand more men would
have changed this battle from n defeat TO a vic
tory. AS il is, TIE Government cannot hold me
responsible for the result.
81 feel too earnestly tonight. Ihavc seen too
many dead and wounded comrades to feel
otherwise than that the Government has not sus-
tanned this army If | save this army now,
tell you plainly that / owe no thanks TO you or
to any other persons in Washington. You have
done your best to sacrifice this army"
And he did save it, despite Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr. Stanton Holding safe position at Harri-
sons bar, protected BY the gunboats which lay
near by on the James, General Mcclellan urged
upon the Administrator the necessity of strength
ening his army preparatory to fresh attack OH
Richmond. While at this point he addressed
that memorable letter to theIPresident containing
his views on the conduct of the war, which is now
known by the title of the "Harrisons Bar Let
ter, which we print elsewhere under the title of
General McClcllan's Platform" Meantime
General Halleck was appointed General-in- Chief.
On the Sd of August he telegraphed General
Mcclellan TO withdraw his army. to Acquia
Greek. The latter demonstrated against this
movement as far as il was proper for him to do,
but 20 effect. All speed was used. the army
safely embarked on board transports, and on the
oath General Mcclellan who was the last TO
leave Fortress Monroe, reached Acquia Greek
and reported to General Halleck for orders.
GENERAL VI CIELLAN WITHOUT COMMAND.
As If not vet satisfied with its attempts TO in
jure General McClellan's reputation the admin
istration kept him at Acquia Creek during Gen.
Pope's series of defeats, and ut one time he had
barely one hundred men under his command.
Every fresh dispatch from Gen Pope brought
sad tidings: the brave men of the Army of the
Potomac who survived the Peninsula campaign
were hurried into battle only to be sacrificed, and
the General whom they loved. and in whom they
trusted so implicitly, was kept in his tent almost
within sound of their guns because Of the Wash
ington strategists AT last Mcclellan could re-
strain bis feelings no longer, and in dispatch to
:
wrote these words:
II cannot express TO YOU the pain and NORTH
cation / have experienced to-day in listening to
the distant sound of the firing of nv men. AS
can he Of no further use here, respectfully ask
that if there is probability of the conflict being
renewed to. morrow / may be permitted TO go TO
the scene of battle with my staff merely TO be
with my own men, if nothing more; they will
fight none the worse for nv being with them. If
il is not deemed best to entrust me with the COM
mand even of my own army, simply ask to be
permitted 10 share their fate on the field Of bat
tie.
Please reply TO this tonight
GENERAL MCCLELLAN AGAIN N coMMAND.
That same day, unknown 10 General McClel-
Ian. an order had been issued by the War De-
partment placing him in command ofthe troops
not sent forward TO General Pope's command,
and at 10 O'Clock on the following evening, Gen.
Halleck, in dispatch TO him, besought his aid
in these words:
Il beg of you TO assist me in this crisis with
your ability and experience"
On the lst of September he repaired to Wash
ington. The shattered remains of Gen. Pope's
army fell back to the Notifications Of that city,
and Just Mt this time news came that the rebels
were crossing the Potomac. General McCle-
lAn collected as speedily as possible the frag-
ments of the army, and on the eth of Septem-
Der, left Washington TO find Lees army and de-
feat ii.
THE INVASION OF MARYLAND AND THE VIC
TORY AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
By series of forced marches he occupied the
strategic points along the line of the Potomac,
and compelled Lee to retire from Frederick CITY
on the 18th. On the l4th occurred the fight at
Champions Pass, which resulted so gloriously
for our forces. which were commanded by Gen.
Franklin The same day General Mcclellan
was fighting the battle of South Mountain. The
position held by the rebels was strong by nature,
but after a most obstinate resistance, they were
driven from it, Our total loss in killed. wound
ed and missing was one thousand five hundred
and sixty-eight. That of the enemy was not
known beyond the one thousand and five hun
bred prisoners that fell into our hands.
THE VICTORY AT ANTIETAM.
Orders were issued the night before the battle
of South Mountain for an advance at early
dawn of the next day; but the enemy fled during
the night, and took up strong position on the
nights on the west bank Of Antietam creek The
10th was spent in getting our forces into proper
position for attack, and early on the morning of
the 18th the battle was opened by the skirmish-
ers of the Pennsylvania Reserves. All day long
the battle ragged with varying success, till at last
the enemy was forced back. and our troops
slept on the field which their valor had won. -
Our total losses were 20l0 killed, 9,4l6 wounded
and lO43 missing. The rebels left 400 of
treir dead on the field and we captured 10 guns,
SO colors. over Is 900 stand Of small arms. and