The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15
assas was estimated at $4,000. with 500


field guns and 800 siege guns. Gen. Mo-
Clellan reached the Peninsula with IS, 900
electives early in April. He gives his
reasons for not assaulting the works at
Yorktown, describes the battle of Will
liamsburgh, with special praise of Gen.
Hancock, and recites the advance to Rich
mond. The siege of that city is narrated
at length, and the "change of base," with
its attendant battles. at Mechanicsville,
fought June 26, to Malvern Hill, fought
July 81, 1862. "This closed" says Gen.
Mcclellan, "the hard fighting which had
continued from the afternoon of the 26th
of June, in series of engagements wholly
unparalleled on this continent for deter
minatiOn and slaughter on both sides. :"
July 4 the General telegraphed to the
President that he occupied, at HarrisOn's
Bar, positions (which could be carried
only by overwhelming numbers" "The
spirit of the army" he added, els excel
lent; stragglers are finding their regi-
ments, and the soldiers exhibit the best
results of discipline. He sums up the
results of the brief but fierce campaign:
81 cannot now approximate to any state
ment of our losses; but we were not beat
en- in any conflict. The enemy were
unable, by their utmost efforts, to drive
us from the field. We have lost
no guns except twenty-five on the field of
battle, twenty-one of which were lost by
the giving way of McCall's division, under
the onset Of superior numbers. When all
the circumstances of the case are known,
it will be acknowledged by all competent
judges that the movement just completed
by our army is unparalleled in the annals
of war. Under the most difficult circun,-
stances we have preserved our trains, our
guns, our material, and above all our hon.
Or" To this the President replied: BE
assured the heroism and skill of yourself,
officers, and men is, and forever will be,
appreciated. If you can hold your pre-
sent position we shall hive the enemy yet. +"
On the 7lh Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed:
eff not attacked to-day l shall laugh at
them. Flag Officer Goldsborough is conf
dent he cen keep open my communica-
tons by the James" Expecting an attack,
he says, as necessity to the enemy, and
feeling the critical nature of the position,
Gen. Mcclellan ON the same day addressed
to the President the following letter:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAC,)
CAMP NEAR HARRIsON's LANDING, VA,
Monday, July Z, 1862.
Mr.. PRESIDENT-YOu have been fully in
formed that the rebel army is in our front,
with the purpose of overwhelming us by at
lacking our positions or reducing us by block
aiding our river communications. 1 cannot but
regard our condition as critical, and earnestly
III,
to lay before your Excellency, for your private
consideration, my general views concerning
the existing state of the rebellion, although
they do not strictly relate to the situation of
the army, or strictly come within the scope of
my official duties. These views amount to
convictions, and are deeply impressed upon my
mind and heart. Our cause must never be
abandOned-it is the cause of free institutions
and self government. The Constitution and
Union must be preserved, whatever may be the
cost in time, treasure or blood. If secession
is successful, other disSolutiOns are clearly to
be seen in the future. Let neither military
disaster, political faction nor foreign war shake
our settled purpose to enforce the equal opera
ton Of the laws of the United States upon the
people Of every State.
The time has come when the government
must determine upon a civil and military policy
covering the whole ground of our national
trouble. The responsibility of determining,
declaring, and supporting such civil and mill
tary policy, and of directing the whole course
of national affairs in regard to the rebellion,
must now be assumed and exercised by you or
our cause will be lost. The constitution gives
you power sufficient even for the present ter
rble exigency.
This rebellion has assumed the character Of
war; as such it should be regarded, and it
should be conducted upon the highest prin-
ciples known to Christian civilization. It
should not be q war looking to the subjugation
of the people of any State on any event. It
should not he at all a war upon population
but against armed forces and political organiza-
ton. Neither con6scatiOn of property, politi-
cal executions of persons, territorial organize
tons OF States, or fOrcible abolition of slavery
should be contemplated. fer q moment. In
prosecuting the war all private property and
unarmed persons should be strictly protected,
subject only to the necessity of military opera
tons. All private property taken for military
use should be paid or receipted for; pillage
and waste should be treated as high crimes, all
unnecessary trespass sternly prohibited. and
offensive demeanOr by the military toward citi-
zens promptly rebuked. Military arrests should
not be tolerated except in places where active
hostilities exist and oaths not required by en-
actments cOnstitutiOnally made should be nei
ther demanded nor received. Military govern
ment should be confined to the preservation of
public order and the protection of political
rights. Military power should not be allowed
to interfere with the relations of servitude
either by supporting or impairing the authority
of the master except for depressing disorder,
as in other cases. Slaves contraband under the
act of Congress, seeking military protection,
should receive it. The right of the govern
ment to appropriate permanently to its own
service claims of slave labor should be asserted
and the right of the owner to compensation
therefor should be recognized. The principle
might be extended upon grounds of military
necessity and security to all the slaves within a
particular State, thus working nanumissiOn in
such State; and in Missouri, perhaps in West
ern Virginia, also, and possibly even in Mary
land, the expediency of such q measured is only
question of time.
A system of police thus constitutional and
conservative, and pervaded by the influences of
Christianity and freedom, would receive the
support of almost all truly loyal men, would
deeply impress the rebel masses and all foreign
nations, and it might be humbly hoped that it
would command itself to the favor of the AL
mighty. Unless the principles of governing
the future conduct of our struggle shall be
made known and approved. the effort to obtain
the requisite forces will be almost hopeless. A
declaration of radical views, especially upon
slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present
armies.