Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-06
MR.. LINCoLN's RECORDING III.

The opening of the spring campaign IN 1862
had been crowned by food-tide of military sue
cesses, won in pursuit of the plans that had been
deliberately marked out by Gen. Mcclellan. After
he was removed from the control of our military
affairs, and the Administration undertook to direct
the movements of our armies by i" orders " from
Washington, confusion gded into our counsel',
and all the operations most subject to its super
vision because nearest to Washington were brought
to nought Instructed by this bitter experience of
disaster the President, it was hoped, would cease
t. middle with matters too high for him, notwith-
standing his experience in the Black Hawk war 50
highly prz.d by Mr.. Raymond in writing Mr..
Lincoln's biography. And this hope was confirmed
when in July, 1862, it was announced that Gen.
Hallcck had been appointed General in-Chief "to
command the whole of the armies of the United
States" When as yet this announcement was
mere rumor, Mr.. Raymond wrote as follows in the
New York Times of July %, 1862:
The rumor that Gen. HaIleck has been summoned to
Washington and to be made mmander-n chief Of the
national armies has done something TO revive the public
hopes If it proves 10 be true and is not counersced by
rash and unwse experiments other directions, it will
contribute largely that resurrection Of the public faith
which ia essential to success toH giuc the country
that at last 10 haze sometcherc ~ the SUI
prsme mil ta'y councils Of the nation pho kao,oS
sOmctng Of the theory and practice Of Thus far AL
though the country been for year. the
preme command Of the army, both IN general and de-
til has been in the hands Of eUiGans IL will also give
the country ground TO hope that unity Of military eounses
and action ,o at last be practically recognised abs0
aey esscntiat 10 the Of military operations The
most cousummate skill may be thwarted by the interior
Of Petent supenors, and the most dsuntess
bravery may b. rendered useless by the dissipation aud
waste Of conf citing councils
That the President ha, long felt this necessity ia su
GENTLY proved by the fact Of his having undertaken to
supply it himself For the last few months no has been
the actual well theoretical commander in. chief of
all our srmIesdrectiDg their movements adjusting their
relative strength fixing aud ordering their combined
on aud supervising their detailed operations in hi,
person We have too much respect for Mr.. Lincoln's
good suppose that be undertook this task from
conviction OF his superior fitness for ts performance No
man knous better than himself that he IS soidr,
ei her bv education By natural genius and aptitude.
Nor there aoy in the country less likely to thrust
himself dlessy into position involving the most fearful
responsibilities, which the most vena aud unscrupu-
of bis stterers could not pretend that he quail
he'd 10 MI. Inc fTeSlueDI necessity
unity in the military councils If the nation and in default
any else he undertook TO give them hst unity him
self He must feel hat the experiment. has not succeeded
The decsiUe test generaishp IS success The army that
wins the les is the army that has the best
General at its head And judged by this standard the
rebels thus far have the advantage Of the Union forces
They have deceived escaped us, and beaten What
they lacked 10 numbers they have made in stra-
tgy In vgor Of movement in rspidy Of concentration,
in the conceAment Of their plans until thsy ripe for
execution in striking heavy blows weakest points
and in Withdrawing their forces from every blow
aimed them the rebels judged by results have shown
themselves masters in the art Of The Of
this doubtless IS that THEIR President IS soldier"
This, be it remembered, is the deliberate criti-
cism Of Mr. Lincou's biographer before Mr.. Lin
coin was the Republican candidate for reelection
to the Presidency. In the year 1862 Mr.. Raymond
could see what mischief had ensued to the national
cause because the President had undertaken to
manage affairs for which he was not fitted {" either
by education or by natural genius and aptitude. !"
In 1862 Mr.. Raymond saw the advantage. in a
time Of war, Of having President who is d sol.
der And if be does not see these things As clearly