The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-06-24
A Change Of Base.

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I. must be fact in the highest degree
Notifying to those gentlemen wLo have
treated Us to two whole yesrs Of denunca-
ton and Misrepresentation Of Mcclellan
to know that Grant is following precisely
in The footsteps Of the Grave digger Of
the Chickabominy." Grant, by much
more costly route than that taken by Nc
Clellan, put himself exactly upon the
ground occupied by Mcclellan, and fol-
lowed his footsteps SO closely that he
fought two battles on the same ground,
and so anxious was he to initiate the
great example Of Mcclellan that he fought
one battle not only On the same ground,
bu. on the same day of the month.
It is undoubtedly true thai. had Grant
been permitted By the administration, he
would have approached Richmond by way
Of Yorktown and the York and Psmunky
Rivers, precisely as did Mcclellan. This
will explain Why he marched overland, in
stead OF going by water.
Gen. Grant having reached the same
ground that Mcclellan did, and having
Tough. battles on The same ground and the
same dav Of the moon. is now abou. to
follow McClellan's example by changing
his base TO James River. Abolition jour.
n.is having ,umbled daily grea. cart
loads of abolition censure on Mcclellan
for changing his base to James River,
what will they ssy-whst can they find
mean enough to .ay-of Grant for doing
precisely the sama thing? We fear that
with all their pre-sninent ability to ssy
mean things, aboi'ionists will, in the pre-
sent case, find themselves at loss for
terms in which to properly designate this
movement Of Grant, this accurate imiia-
ton of Mcclellan.
The consideration has additional force
when we reflect upon the difference in the
Of ihe two commanders
Mcclellan changed hia base to James Riv.
or because his right flank and his cemmu-
nications were exposed by the adminis,ra-
ton withdrawal of Mcdowell In this
and with only some rs. 900
men, it was essential for Mcclellan to
move himself 20 James River, whore his
his communications would be safe. Blu,
for doing th. he was removed by Lincoln,
and has been pursued ever since by the
laQuevs of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who
publish newspapers and those who hold
office and wish to retain them by serviitv
and those who wish to get office through
an obsequious imitation Of all the acts Of
Ny. Lincoln.
Grant, however, has nearer two than
one hundred thousand men; his tanks are
not in danger, nor are his lines Of supply
And vet, be is about 10
change his base-ahout to do ss McClell-
an did-about to follow willingly what
WAS done By necessity by the Grave-dig
ger of the Chickahominy about 10 90
% James River.
What con abolitonism do now We
await the bursting of the storm with curl
osi,y. Grant is doomed. Grant will be
rlddled with abolition arrows Grant
will be smothered with abolition stink
pots.
The Times Of the 10Th again referred 10
Sen. GRANTS position. II sad
As indicated in the Times two DAYS
,ince there has been another change Of
base 5y the Army Of the Potomac, and
;his time to James River. 1t is also prob
able that, as in the case Of Mcclellan. this
movement TO James River has not taken
place without. considerable fighting, IN
ess Grant-which is scarcely pcssibe-so
his movement from tie enemy
hat it was accomplished without their
If there has been anv fight
ng, it is probably unfavorsbIe to US, for
lie reason that We have heard nothing
about it. Secretary Stanton is always
prompt to give US everything that may
possibly be construed as a success, while
re is equally prompt in conceaing every
hirg that Is actually, or akin TO, di}as>
er.
In making the James River the base Ct
lis future operations, Grant has done the
cry best thing dat he could DO under
he circumstances 1t is from this stream
hat he can operate, against Richmond
most efectually, while, at the same time,
le possesses a short and secure line of sup
'lies. To besiegc Richmond from any
,'her point than the South is a task whose
magnitude makes It's accomplishment
Yearly or quite An impossibIi:y. It's on
Y when Federal srmy stretches itself
cross the two lines OF railroad leading
rom Richmond tc the South aut South
vest that the siege of Richmond can prop
rlr be said to be begun. This operation
t once cuts off all sources Of supply, ard
he surrender of the place thereafte, de-
lends simply upon the amount of provis-
ons in possession of the besieged.
Therefore, we do not regard the move
nent Of Grant to James River as al unfor
innate one. Reasoning a priori, its ad
antages are substantial, while its wisdom
as been guaranteed by its having been
dopted by that great master in strategy.
ieneral George B Mcclellan. Following
o exactly in McClelan's footsteps, the
eople will rest contented in the assurance
hat in so doing Grant Is adopting the
est plan that can be presented for The cap
ure of Richmond.
If people blame Grant a. all. a. some
nthinking minds may do, it will be be-
ause he did not follow McCIellan's plan
-om the beginning; and that he orlv
dopted il, and identified himself with it
ompletely, after having suffered enormous
osses. But be should not be blamed for
his for had he been left to himself, be