Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-02

General Mcclellan was of the opinion that
he organized strength Of the rebellion might
be overwhelmed, and the populations of the
South compelled to recognize the futility and
folly OF persisting in an attempt 10 resist
government which designed simply 10 hold
them to their constitutional obligations, and to
respect it, own constitutional limitations while
its constitutional duties.
At the time when these suggestions were
submitted to the President the all-absorbing
thought of the government was the safety OF
No plans for general operations
were considered, and it was believed by the
majority of those whose counsels swayed the
that the policy of the govern
ment ought to be simply concentration OF
force around the capital and an advance
against the army of the Confederates before
Richmond.
CONDITION OF THE ARMY IN AUGUST, 1861.
General Mcclellan found the army at
Washington thus constituted:
lniaitry.. ........... ..............3O uUO
Cavalry. ..........--... luO"
ARTILLERY 65o
Tot,l. 81 65n
with nine imperfect feld-batteries of thirty
guns.
This force was scattered through the enyi-
rons oft the city, with no general organization,
and with no regard to purposes OF instruction
or defense. The city was defended by few
insignificant earthworks and ''there was moth
ing to prevent Its being shelled from heights
within easy range, which could be occupied
by hostile column almost without resist
ance. The morale of the army was misera-
bic. and desertions were the general order of
the day"
ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
Steps were at once taken 10 restore order
in the city OF Washington. Camps of instruc-
ton were located and filled with the new
levies; Notifications were pushed forward I'M
der systematic plan.
By the 10Th of October the number of
troops in and about Washington was as fol-
lows:
Present Tor duty. .l33 2lll
SICK. ....... 49,. @9u
Ia confinement. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. LOT
Total. ..................... 1851
Making. with at- eat troops. ...... e,4O4
----
A grand total Observation-Disclosures. l52 05l
By the first oi Mncn 1869. this total had
been rsi-sd Observation-Disclosures. 22i ,9o7
i. From this number the defences OF Wash
ington, the protection of It's communications,
and the main operations against Richmond, a
strong and central defensive position of the
enemy. protected by an army in Virginia of
al least one hundred and twenty thousand
men, were TO b. supplied
General Mcclellan shows that the Army
of the Potomac proper. subsequently reached
at three different periods the following totals:
April 80. .l26. 3s7
June - $3.50. l4J .ci3
july l"....... ............ .........i4ic co
The history fthe progressive organization
OF the army is given at length, from its form
alton into brgades to the adoption, under the
direct authority of the Executive, of the or
ganization into army corps, of which the
General observes. Though | was always in
fayor|of this Organization, as an abstrac, prir-
ciple, did not desire to form them until the
army had been for some little time in the
field, in order.to enable the general officers
first to acquire the requisite experience as
division commanders in active service" He
dwels also upon the great difficulty of devel-
oping the artillery and cavalry arms to the
state of efficiency which would justify risking
the fortunes of the nation upon a grand and
trying campaign. He bestows special praise
upon General Barry. Chief of Artillery, and
the artillery officers of the regular army, for
their inestimable services IN relation to this
Supremacy important part of his great work;
and upon the zeal and intelligence with
which the volunteers availed themselves of
the instruction and example of these officers.
TOD
gust 4, 1861.
The divisional organization was effected
October 10, 1861.
The organization into army corps. BY spe-
cial order of the President. was made March
s. 1862, the army not having taken the field
in body at all.
OF the important organization OF general
staff, Gen. Mcclellan states that it was begun
in September, 1861, by the appointment of
Gen. Marcy as Chief of Staff
The history OF the various departments of
the army is then rapidly but fully sketched,
with details which show how vast was the labor
to be performed in perfecting them, and with
due mention made of those who, in the dis
charge of their duties in the Engineer, Med-
cal, Commissary and Quartermaster's Depart
mcnts. especially signalized themselves by
llclF skill, nueuiN anu "DcT9N.
General Me- lellan particularly dwells upon
the sanitary state of the troops, which Is de-
clared to have been on the whole "better than
that of any army ofthe United States and
this, Notwithstanding the trying nature of the
campaign OF the Peninsula and the haste with
which, after the battles of the seven days, the
troops were removed from Harrison's Land
ing to Alexandria, leaving behind them all
manner OF necessary hospital stores and ac-
commodatons.
The remarkable development of the tele-
graph corps Is also noticed. and the impor-
lance OF the services rendered by the Aero
nautic Corps which accompanied the army.
PLANS OF ACTION IN OCTOBER, 1861.
Early in October. 1861. General McClel-
Ian addressed letter TO Secretary Cameron.
at the request of the President. in which he
set forth the then position of affairs, and the
course open 10 the government and himself.
In this letter he showed that the force
under his orders was greatly inferior to that
asked for by him in August for the prosecu-
ton of vigorous and successful invasion of
the South. He urged the concentration OF
the national forces on Virginia for the purpose
OF striking the rebellion at the heart" He
showed that for the defence OF Washington
there would be required. according to Gems.
Barnard and Barry of the
a.