Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-08


Ambrose E. Burnside.
| Three days afterwards Pleasanton was at
tackled by Longstreet and Stuart.
Gen. Mcclellan thus concludes his report:
"This report IS in fact the history of the
Army of the Potomac. During the period
occupied in the organization of that army it
served as barrier against the advance of a
lately victorious enemy, while the fertilization
of the capital was in progress, and under the
discipline which it then received, it acquired
strength. education, and some of that expert
ence which is necessary to success in active
operations, and which enabled it afterward to
sustain itself under circumstances trying to
the most heroic men. Frequent skirplshes
occurred along the lines, conducted with great
gallantry, which Injured our troops to the re-
alities of war.
The army grew into shape but slowly, and
the delays which attended on the obtaining of
arms, continued late in the winter of 1862,
were no less trying to the soldiers than to the
people of the country. Even at the time of
the organization Of the peninsular campaign
some of the finest regiments were without RI
fes, nor were the utmost exertions on the
part of the military authorities adequate to
overcome the obstacles to active service.
"When at length the army was in condition
to take the field, the peninsular campaign was
planned and entered upon with enthusiasm
by officers anG men. Had this campaign been
followed up as it was designed, cannot doubt
it would have resulted in q glorious triumph
to our arms, and the permanent restoration of
the power of the government in Virginia and
North Carolina, if not throughout the revolt
ed States. 1t was, however, otherwise or
dered, and the Army of the Potomac was re-
called from within sight of Richmond and in
corporated with the Army of Virginia. The
disappointmcnts of the campaign on the Pc
ninsula had nos damped their ardor or dimin-
ished their patriotism. They fought well,
faithfully, CALAMITY, under Gen. Pope; yet
were compelled to fall back ON Washing
ton, defeated and almost demoralized. The
enemy, no longer occupied in guarding his
own capital, poured his troops northward, en-
tered Maryland, threatened Pennsylvania,
and even Washington itself. Elated by his
recent victories, and assured that our troops
were disorganized and dispirited, he was con-
fdent that the seat OF war was now perma-
nently transferred to the LOYAL States, and
that his own exhausted soil was to. be relieved
from the burden of supporting two hostile
armies. But he did not understand the spirit
which animated the soldiers of the Union.
Sllll MOI, nor CdL Il, iOT1tl Ludt Mucll
was ordered to the command of the troops for
the defence of the capital, the soldiers with
whom | had shared so much of the anxiety
and pain and suffering of the war had rot
loss their confidence in me as their COM
mander. They sprang to my call with all
their ancient yigor, discipline and courage. |
led them into Maryland. Fifteen days after
they had fallen back defeated before WASH
| IL. Lo1 h., IL
rugged heights OF South Mountain, pursued
him to the hartl-fought field of Antietam, and
drove him, broken and disappointed, across
the Potomac, into Virginia.
"The army had need of rest after the ter
rible experience of battles and marches, with
scarcely an interval of repose, which they
had gone through from the time of leaving
the Peninsula the return TO Washington, the
defeat in Virginia, the victory of South Noun
tain, and again at Antietam. 1t was not sur
prising that they were in a large degree des-
titute of the absolute necessaries 10 effective
duty. Shoes were worn out and blankets lost /;
clothing was in rags; in short. the army was
unfit for active service, and an interval for
rest and equipment was necessary,
sWhen the slowly-forwarded supplies came
to us, led the army across the river, reno
waited. refreshed, in good order and discipline,
and followed the retreating foe TO position
where | was confident of decisive victory;
when in the midst of the movement, while nv
advanced guard was actually in contact with
the enemy, | was removed from the COM
mand + Instead of
reporting victorious campaign it has been
my duty to relate the heroism of a reduced
army. sent upon an expedition into an enc
my's country, there to abandon one and orig
mate another and new plan of campaign,
which mghNand would have been successful
if supported with appreciation of It's necessi-
ties, but which failed because of the repeated
failure of promised support at the most crit
cal and, as it proved, the most fatal moments.
That heroism surpasSes ordinary description.
Its illustration must be left for the pen of the
historian in times of calm reflection, when the
nation shall be looking back to the past from
the midst OF peaceful days. For me now IL
is sufficient to say that my comrades were VIC
tors in every field save one, AMI there the
endurance of single corps accomplished the
object of its fighting, and, by securing to the
army its transit to the James River, left to
the enemy ruinOus and barren victory.
Il am devoutly grateful to God that my
last campaign with this brave army was crown
ed with victory which saved the nation from
the greatest peril it had then undergone.
Il have not accomplished my purpose if, by
this report, the Army of the Potomac is not
placed high on the roll of the historic armies
of the world.
ats deeds ennoble the nation to which IL
belongs. Always ready for battle, Away:
firm, steadfast and trustworthy, never called
on it in vain, nor win the nation ever have
cause TO attribute its want of success, under
myself or other commanders, to any failure Of
patriotism or bravery in that noble body Of
American soldiers.
'No man can justly charge upon any portion
of that army, from the commanding general &c
the private, any lack of devotion to the serv-
ice of the United States Government and to
the cause of the Constitution and the Union
They have proved their ftalty, in much sor-
row, suffering, danger, and through the very
shadow of death. Their comrades dead on all
the fields where we fought, have scarcely more
claim to the honor of nations reverence
than their survivors to the justice of a nations
gratitude"