The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-07-01
An Opinion from a Reliable Source.

The New York Irish american contains
the following criticism of Gen. GRANTS
recent battles in Virginia. The American
has done more than any other paper in
the North 10 furnish troops to the war,
and was the friend of CoRcoRAN, MEA-
CHER, SHIELDS, and other Irish American
soldiers. lis opinion therefore il entitled
to great weight:
"The army Of Gen Grant has been NOV
ed to the south bank of the James River,
and the scene of operations is at length
transferred to the field on which Gen.
Mcclellan proposed to act after the battle
of Malvern Hill, but from which he WAS
peremptorily recalled by President Lin
coin, in order that "my (Mr. Lincoln's)
plan 4" nj ght be tried, in opposition to
those Of the General who not only under
stood the ars of war in its most abstruse
and scientific details, but knew thoroueh~
ly the courage and capacity of the men he
commanded and those opposed 20 him. as
we'll as the natural difficulties presented
bv the country in which he was fighting
We do not propose to criticise here the
manner in which the campaign has been
carried on under Gen. Grant, though. IN
common with most Of the community, we
have 10 mourn the loss of many dear and
valued friends, and though the question
might be fairly started, whether, with a
smaller sacrifice Of life, all the advantages
NJ
men,s so far, might have been secured
We believe that. if he be properly second
ed and not meddIed with bv the Admins
tration. Grant will eventually accomplish
the only apparent object of the present
campaign, the capture OF Richmond and
though that event will not bring us per-
| ceptibly nearer the termination Of pro
fliess and desoating war, in the light Of
its success the stamp of approval will be
set upon operations which failure or re>
verse would have rendered the subject of
the severest animadversions; even as the
first Napoleon is regarded as the greatest
Captain of his age, though his military
policy, in the end, sen. HIM prisoner to
die on the rock Of St. Helena, and reduc-
ed France to a condition of exhaustion
from which she has only recovered within
a few years past. Our purpose, however,
! is not to enter into the merits Of the gen
eralship of the present leaders Of the I'm
ion armies, but. in view Of our return to
the position We occupied nearly two years
since, to consider the responsibility that
re.ts on the heads of President Lincoln
aud his advisers, for the misery and loss
inflicted on the country during those
twenty-three months.
I" 1t is not necessary to 60 over the old
story of the difficulties thrown in the way
of Gen. Mcclellan from The very onset Of
the Peninsular expedition, OF the indltfer-
ence shown TO his demands for adequa e
reinforcements, and his requests tha. even
a portion of the troops originally promised
might be supplied him. All is summed
up in the fact, that, after fighting ito way
to the very gates of Richmond the Ad>
ministration of Mr.. Lincoln allowed the
| Army Of the Potomac to bs overwhelmed
BY superior numbers, while over 600
troops were kept almost idle in and
around Washington. Then came the
withdrawal of the army from Harrison's
Landing, against the urgent entreaties Of
Gen. Mcclellan, and bis own removal
from its command The short and disas
trous campaign under Hooker followed,
and Mcclellan was again restored to com
mand, by the fears, not the good will, of
Mr. Lincoln and his Cabinet, only to be
again displaced after be had won glori>
Gus victory and was on the high road to
Che capture of the rebel capital and the
destruction of its principal defensive army.
Since then, how many thousands of ou,
brave soldiers have been slaughtered, how
many millions of the public money have
been wasted in desperate experiments, un-
der various commanders. to find another
route 10 Richmond, so that the Admins
lration might escape being convicted Of
the wrong which they did to the nation
and the army when they recalled McClell-
an and deprived him of the command of
the men he had inspired and led 80 often
to victory. The campaign under Grant
has proved this truth; has splendid!y vim
dicated the foresi ght. patriotism and gen.
eralship of George B. Mcclellan, and
shown that A Abraham Lincoln and his ad-
visers are directly responsible for two
years unnecessary prolongation of our un-
happy strife, and the consequent burdens
imposed on the people,