The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-09-09

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that is universally misunderstood. 1t has
been customary among all classes TO re-
gard the week Of battles which succeeded
the change Of base 10 the James River as
one OF defeat and disgrace to the Federal
aims. Never was there a greater error
than this; and never in the history of bat
ties, IN this or any country, have there
been, than in these greater exhibitions of
heroism On the part of soldiers, general
ship on the part of commander, and sue
cess in the endeavor to accomplish a GER
tain end. There is not to day, in all the
glorious occurrences Of this war, an event
which reflects SO much credit upon the
military genius Of American generaship !;
there is no success in our career which
CLEANS with as bri ght light as the move
men: bv the Army of the Potomac from
the ChickaEominy TO the James River
And yet it is almost universally misunder-
| stood save by those who rise above part-
IAN prejudice and view this thing with a
dispassionate eye.
1t is very easily understood. Owing to
the jealousy of Stanton ana Lincoln and
the impairment aud constant interference
Of the latter, Mcclellan found himself
without sufficienr force to sustain his posi-
ton in front Of Richmond. Reinforce
ments had been constantly promised him
and as constantly not sent. lie was re-
ceiving his supplies from White House on
the Pamunky River, and to retain this
base he depended upon the troops under
Mcdowell, who guarded his right flank,
| and thus prevented the rebels from s;rik-
ing his rear. The President at this mos
ment withdrew Mcdowell in the direction
of Washington, and thus left McClellan's
rear exposed. He had no troops to re-
place those under Mcdowell Lincoln
could not or would not send him any rein
forcements. What should he do? Re-
main where he was and allow his right to
| be TURF ed and the safety of his entire army
endangered, or change his base to some
point where his line of supplies could be
secure, and Richmond be menaced the
same as ever? Ofcourse the latter alter
native had to be chosen.
Every body knows that change of base
with an enemy in front is one of the most
difficult problems in military SCIENCE
Where one forcee will succeed in doug
il, there will be a dozen cases Of failure
Suffice it that Mcclellan executed this
man9uyre-that he transferred his entire
army to new base on James River with
out the loss OF wagon or gun-thas
he did this in the face Of the most tremen-
duous attacks of a superior force continu-
ed from day to day-and that finally, after
having repulsed every attack, no reached
his new base with his army and material,
having inflicted upon the enemy twice Or
thrice the loss in men experienced by
himself And yet there are men stupid
and bigoted enough to pronounce this IN
equaled feat disgrace, disaster.
1t is unnecessary 10 follow McClelan's
career in detail much further. The pub
lie knows it all. 1t is known how he
was removed from command how he
took the disordered and defeated frag-
men's Of Pope's army, placed them in the
pathway Of the triumphant rebel hosts at
Antietam and drove them back into Vir
GINA. Blu. for Mcclellan at that critical
moment Washington would have been
captured, the North overrun, and Davis
would have dictated at Faneuil Hall terms
Of peace to 81 Inundated North. There
was but one man in all the North who at
that moment could infuse confidence into
| the disputed fragments of the ederal
army-who could fuse into solid, resist
ing mass, the scattered elements of the
Army of the Potomac. Bus one single
man in that hour could oppose the rebel
army OF inyasion-who could resist sue
cessfully the occupation of Philadelphia,
The plumber of New York, and the over
running of the entire North That man
was Mcclellan. He had just been dis
graced, humiliated, and would have been
justified in allowing the administration to
be overwhelmed by that Tnln which it has
so richly merited. He magnanimously
forgot and forgave. lie came forward,
placed himself in the breach, saved the
North from invasion, drove back the ihva
der, and in little while was once more
disgraced by the ungrateful government.
Such is in brief an outline of the mill
tary career of one whom to day is second
to no military genius of this or any other
country. His political life, although not
as full OF interest as his military career, has
been as consistent in every respect. AL
ways a democrat, he has ever been true 10
the principles Of that party, carrying them
with him not only in local and national
politics, but being governed by their die
tation in all his military enterprises. ],
was democracy that taught him that wal
should not be conducted against mere
opinion--that citizsns should not be dis
turbed in their property-that the insti-
tutions of States should not be interfered
with, and that the force Of the Federal
government should be directed against
those only who were in arms. To Illus
trate this feature in his character, and as
fitting close 20 this sketch, we cannot DO
better than give an extract from Gen.
McClellan's letter 20 the President, dated
at Harrison's Landing, July 7lh, 1862
1t shows at once the character of states
man, soldier, Christian, and a gentle
| man.
"This rebellion has assumed the char
acter of war; AS such i: should be re
garded, and it should be conducted upon
the highest principles known to Christian
civilization. 1t should lot be war look
ing to the subjugation Of the people OF