The weekly Butte record., 1864-01-09
Gen. McClellan's Vindica,ion.


True genius, real merit are sure to vindicaie
themselves in the long run. The machination;
Of ualice, the plottings of envy, the viDdict
iveness Of power hurl their shafts at them in
vain They will rise superior to all, prooI
against every wicked assault. We have al
instance Of this in Gen McClellau's case. His
abilities as a General were so preemineut, The
qualities of bis character so popular with the
army that bis greatness and bis power were
envied feared. The smaller men, clothed with
a little brief authority. sought to remove the
lion from the path of their aspirations, and
forgetful of the coun,ry's need Of his services,
| for this purpose sent him from the field TO re
tirement.
Vain attempt. Short sighted mortals. Had
they permitted him 10 remain in command, the
lators Of campaigns of the casualties Of battles
might have rid them of him but retirement
does not erase the record: which his genius has
made or obllterate the affection or admiration
which the exhibition of it has inspired. Gen.
Mcclellan lives to day in the hearts Of bis
conntrymen as truly as when conducting the
gallant army of the Potomac through the
ever memorable peninsuar campaign or at
South Mountain or Antie,am: while every dav
is bringing to light the evidences o: bis wisdom
aad foresight Below we copy one of these
evidences. II is his letter of instructions to
Gen. Butler in regard 10 the operations Of the
expedition commanded by the latter. which no
one can fail to admire for its simplicity scope,
fullness and precision of statement.
1t is well known. scys the Eastern Argus,
that while Generalin-chief, he planned the
operations of our army in the west and South
west, aud the uninterrupted successes achieved
while be had the direction, will not soon be
forgotten. Even Gen. Halleck then voluuta
rily recognized in public documents, the credit
nue to Gen. Mcclellan for planning wnat had
been accomplished. His plans even contem-
plated all the movements that have since been
more tardily executed in that section. though |
he expected that the capture of Chattanooga
and Atlanta, thus cutting rebeldom in twain,
would be effected sooner than the opening of
the Mississippi
Gen. Burnside, with equal frankness &C
the master mind OF Mcclellan in |
framing the plans of operations in North Car
olina, which contemplated the capture Of i'm
por.ant positions n that State, and then coop
GRAFTON with the army OF the Army Of the
Potomac in the capture of Richmond His
from the Office of Generalin Chief and /
the Interference with his plans, by withdraw
ing his troops for the glorifcation Of Fremont, /
the nnvarying success that previ- /
ous,y attended their execution, and brought |
the disasters which the country too well know
and vainly lament.
The publication of Parton's History of /
Gen Butler in New Orleans now brings to
light the instructions to Gen. Butler above re- /
ferred to and yerfes the pertinent remark Of
the Journal of Commerce that little by little, /
in spite OF the efforts at Washington to sup
press them. we get at the details of the work /
done by Gen. Mcclellan, and the greatness of
the debt Of gratitude which the country owes
to him"