Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-27
General GcCieIian'S gcpOrt-Great
Wants of the Army heGreat Blum
of The war.

General r. ctieIian'S EcpOrt--Great
Wants of the Army he Great Blum
of The war.
We print herewith Tie concluding pages of
Gen. MoCLELLAN's report
II would be impossible TO participate in opera
tons such a. those described in he foregoing pa
ges without forming fixed opinions upou subjects
connected with the organic stiOns OF our armies
AMI the general conduct of military operations
This report would be incomplete without a
brief alluslon 10 some general considerations
which have been firmly impressed upon me by the
events which have occurred.
To my mind. the most glarng defect in our
armies is the absence of system; in the appoint
Bent aud promotion OF general and other officers.
and the wint OF means for tie theoretical in
sffuction of the mass of officers The expansion
OF the army WIS 50 great and SO rapid AT the com
mencement OF tie existing war. that it was. per
haps impossible, IN the great scarcity OF instruct
ell Officers. to have adopted ether course than
/ that which pursued, bur the time has arrived
when measures may be initiated To remedy ex-
i~'ing defects. and provide against their recur-
renee
! | think that the army should be regarded as
permanent one; thst is to say lis affairs should
be administered precisely il all who belonged
To it hal de Il their profession tor life and
those rules for pIomotiun, &c. which have been
found necessary in the best foreign armies To ex-
cite honorable emulation. produce an esprit de
corps. and procure efficiency, should be followed
bv
All officers aud soldiers should be made to feel
that mert-ihnt : to say, courage. good conduct.
the knowledge and performance OF the duties of
their grades. and fitness to exercise those of the
superior gtade-will insure ia them advance
ment in their profession, and can alone secure il
for them.
Measures should be ado pted to secure the
theoretical instruction of staff officers. at least,
who should. as far IA possible be selected from
officers having military education, or who had
seen active service in the field
The number of cadets at the Military Academy
should he M once increased To the greatest ca
pacity IF the Institution. The regular army
should he increased and manned complete in
numbers ami efficiency.
we'll organized system OF recruiting aud
of depots Tor instruction. should be adopted, IN
order to keep the ranks of the regiments full. and
supply promptly the losses arising from battle or
disease
This is especially necessary for the artillery
and cavalry arms of the service. which. from
tie beginning ct the war. have rendered great
services. and which have never beeu fully appre-
ciited hy any but their comrades We need.
also. large bodies IF we'll instructed engineer
tfoUis
In the arrangement and conduct OF campaigns.
the direction should be lett 10 professional sol
diers. \ Statesman may, perhaps, be more com.
petent than soldier to determine the political
objects and direction Of campaign; but, these
once decided upon, everything should be left 70
the responsible military head. without interfer
cnce with civlilns Ia no other manner Is sue
cess probable The meldling of individual
members of committees of Congress With sub
9 ~
course Incapable ct compreheuding, and which
they are too ap. 20 view through the distorted
mciium OF partisan or political prejudice. can 10
no good aud i. certain 10 produce iucaleulab!c
mischief
cannot omit the expression of my thanks 60
the President for the cons. ut evidence given me
OF his sincere personal reg ,rJ ani his desire to
sustain the military plans which my judgment
led me TO urge for adoption and execution.
cannot attribute hi- failure - adopt some of those
plane, and to give that support 10 Others which
was necessary to their sueccss. 10 any want of
confidence in me; aud il utly remtins foe me 10
regret that other counsels rame between the con
stitutional Commanier- in-Chct and the General
whom he had placed az the head Of hi. armies
counscls which resultel ia the failure of great
campaigns
II the gation possesses no Generals IN service
competent t. direct ~ military alats. without
the hlu or supervision OF poNittin- TIC sooner u
finds them aud places them in position the better
viii u be for IL fortunes
| may bc ptrtoncd for calling attention To the
memorandum submitted nv me 10 the President
on the tn ct August. 1861 NV letter to him al
Juy I. le62. aud other similar communication.
to Him and 10 the Secretary OF War | have
seen nu reason to change. 10 any material regard.
the views then expressed
After y calm. impartial aud palicn, considers
Il Ia
closes though, on the pr, Of every true lover of
ms country. tm convinced that. by the proper
employment ct our resources, Il ). entirely
possible 10 brihg this war TO successful military
Issue
/ believe th,t necessary preliminary 10 the
te-c,tsblishment of The Union, j. the entire de-
feat 81 virtual Destruction OF the organized mill
lary power OF the COutederiies, ami that such q
result should bee accompanied aud followed by
coneiiatory measure aud That by pursuing the
polilica coarse have always advised, Il Is possi
bic 20 bring about a permanent restoration OF the
Union. areuaiuu toy which the rights OF both sec
tious SHALL Toe preserved. aud by which both par
ties shall preserve their respect while they re
spect each othef
For NE nov il is saif Client 10 say that my com
rades we're vie,ors on every field save one. aud
then the endurance OF but little more than
single corps accomplished the object of the
lighting. and by securing To the army is tran
Ill 10 the James river, lett 10 the enemy n
ruinoas AMI buren, victory
The Army OF the Potomac was irst re
duced hs the withdrawal from NV clmmand Of
the divisiun 81 General Blenker which VAS or
iete,! q the Mountain Department under Gen
Fremont. We had scarcely landed on the
Peninsula. when il Wis further reduced by
dispatch revuking a previous oEier giving me
command AT FORTRESS Monroe aud under which
| hid expected to take ten thousand men from
that point to all ia operations Then. when
under fe before the desenses OF \ oIktown. We
received the news of the Withdrawal of General
MrDcweIl's corp<, OF about 10000 men This
compile ed the overthro~ Of the original plan OF
the campaign. About one third 81 nv entire