Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-04-26
IfFUW E1Ic LDUT3FITT" JNHIH4I.I
MR.. LINCOLN AS 4 GENERAL.

The President is the. constitutional Cnnmun
der irl>Chi.f but Sc have had so IEany heads a.
Washington that it has been difficult eNactly 10
locate the inspiring genius of the war, and il is
to be fearsd that tina glare Of military glory on
crcling tlc forms Of the il!u.:riDus lTalleck and
impertnrbablc Stanton dimmed the more modest
light of Mr.. Lincnln's merit AS General. ThanlS
to General McClellan's report tho evidences OF
the Presidents talent rs a commander have been
rescued from oblivion. and placed or record side
by side with The weaker Indications of McCie-
Ian, forming such striking contrast that, after
reading them no one would hesitate for moment
in his selection as 10 the proper mind to guias
our national affairs through the storms Of the
coming four years.
An unparalleled power Of military cnmhina-
ton was early in the war cvinced h7 Dir, Lin
coin. On the 27.h of january, i"iil, ho issued
his first great war Order No. | which launched
like u thunder-bolt frnm the "E.. cutivs MAJ
sion - seemed enough III itself completely 10 an
initiated the rebellion. In .i:s order i WAS ii
rected that tho 22i day Gl February, lct;2, ba
the day for general murcn;nt for the band
and naval forces of the United States against tho
iusurgont forces" What glorious inspiration
must it have been that suggested tho birthday
OF the immortal Washington ns tho time for the
commencement nf cr,I4hins out this wicked ie-
belliuII.
OOSCTV6, lUU lue Sdcao Vi thS
plan; it WAS directed especially that the army
vt about Fortress Monroe, the Army Of the Poto-
mac. tho Army Of Western Virginia, the army
near Munfordsville, Ky, tho army and noti!la ~
Cniru and naval icrca in the Cult Of Mexico,
be ready 10 muve Oh that day and, with tha:
self reliance which is the characteristic Of genins,
all of this plau was conceived without III. assist
| tsnce of single mind even Gen. meCl,llan,
! then Commander-in-Chie says this "ordcr was
issued without consultation with me ; and n"t
ons CT tho Generals commanding the armies
therein mentioned wss even asked if his arn'y
would be ready to move on that 'iay.
IL is pleasant to discover among these greater
virtues others of less magnitude. bu. Gqaally
important to the successful director OF armias.
In War Order No. 3, the President exhibited n
decision and promp.ness of action thereon Which
was truly admirable. Iu tl:..t osder il YVES an.
! nounced, that "Msjo jor Gun. NJ Clellan ha3ing
personally taken the field ut the head of the
Army Of Che Potomac until otherwise ordered, ho
is relieved from the comrnsud OF the other miit!-
ry departments
This important event WAS Published TO ihe
country the moment it WAS ieciie1 upon. BY
| accident one of Gen. McCle;!aan staff officers
| was in Washington ut the tim,, aud, wh!le wait
ing for his breakfast ut WlIard's, glanced over
| the "Nstionsl Intelgencer. and therein saw tha
| document which deposcd his chief Thinking
| that poss ble Gen. Mcclellan might take soma
| interest in the new arrangement, be Mt once. rs
the Genera. says in his report. informed him
thorugh the telegraph That snch IN order had up
pered in the National Intelliseucor.' This vas
the only notification the deposed General re-
| oeived, and ut the time of its reception hs WIS
| rs he says, "unawRre of the Presidents in'entio"
to remove him from the position OF General-ih-
| Chief"
In tho carly part of the month Of june lSH2
| Mcclellan was on IT," Chickahomlny, making
every effort to brid7h ~. otreanl, and aExionsly
watching every ii.:stion in connection with it
| From the npr,.,. r Of times and the deplOrabc c
accounts Mcclellan wrote 70 Washington con
| earning tits stream, ono you'll suppose that
the subject of the ChichShomiuy WIS hbont eS-
hausted. But Mcclellan, thinking that every
one tnok rs much interest i'll it Us himself, per
sisted in his teIegramg and, OIL June ]. te!s
grnphed to the Secretary OF War: 81 sm in
strong hopes that the Chickahominy will fnl
sufficiently TO enable me to cross this night
We have had :: terrible time with ohr coni-
munications-bri and causeways, built will
great care, having been washel away by th,
sudden freshet. The raius here referred tt
had extended to Washington. The day follow
ing the reception OF this telegram WAS dart
and gloomy one and the rain pattered aSains
the windows OF the Executive Mansion, wherein
Mr. Lincoln WAS closeted wi th his maps and re
ports, studying out the plan of campaign for tn
Army Of the Potomac. The Presidents huge