The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-10-28
The Imaginary and the Real Mcclellan.

lue Imaginary auu Lu6 utdl mOOiciiaus
From the Chicago Tribune.l
Never did mortal man have greatness so
thrust upon him US George b. Mcclellan.
Without examining hismilitary record, which
was destitute OF interest, without even a
glance at his fsco. which shows him equally
destitute Of intellect Of any high order,
without stopping to weigh the fact that ono
who could pass through tho Mexican war
with no other promotion than brcvot lieu.
tenancy. who could bO used by JEFF. Davis
on a secret and unlawful fllibustcring spy
service against Cabs, who could claim the
glory without participating in either the ro.
spousiblity or the danger Of the battles in
West Virginia, had no elements of the hero;
yet the country so needed hero, tho war 50
needed representative, the people 80 needed
de,nigod upon whom to lavish tho great
American disposition for hero idolatry, that
all united in crowning Mcclellan with
paper crown, and mailing him us our Gen.
al.in.chef before he has led squad into a
skirmish, or rendered any othor service than
to telegraph the battles in West Virginia
which, Rosecrans planned ind fought. omit.
ting the name of Rosecrans FROM the dis
patches. This veteran OF thousand cheers
and not single charge, greeted by Napo-
leon s huzzas, though innocent Of Napolcon's
battles. this calico hero, this knight In pan.
talettes. did tho people of tho North, with.
out distinction OF party. and their President
yielding to their voice, to their everlasting
shame DC II spoken, prcdes,inate to begin his
military career ut q greater exaltation OF
fame than that to which the worlds greatest
Geuerals---its Marlboroughs. Wellingtons.
and washingtons. have been content to climb
through long succession Of hard.carncd
victories. Ever since that date, the people
have been separating tho imaginary from the
real Mcclellan, and as fhs. rs that which is
imaginary is removed, that which Is real
sinks into insignifcance. ~ L'
The imaginary Mcclellan Is u fercc look.
ing youth. with an eagle eye, Roman nose,
compressed lip, and the expression Of a
hero. The real Mcclellan has mild eye,
pug nose, an ahimal lip, and tho mediocre
expression of man not to bo trusted with
any other than very ordinary issues. The
imaginary Mcclellan fought brilliant bat.
tlc a, Rich Mountain. Tho real Mcclellan
sent subordinate TO 6ght tho battle while
he remained to sign the dispatch. The i'm.
aginary Mcclellan organized the army OF the
Potomac according to the most approved
modes Of warfare. Tho real Mcclellan. for
uino months. refused to organize 1t or to pro-
mote any Of his Generals beyond Brigsdier-
ships. for fear Of elcvatins rivals who might
outshine him. Tho imaginary Mcclellan
was In the front Of the battle at Williams
burg. on fiery black charger, leading tho
troops on to victory. The real Mcclellan
was at Yorktown, seven mites to the rear,
under shed, waiting for It to stop raining.
and responsible wholly Tor their defeat. Tho
imaginary Mcclellan was always contend'ng
against u superior force, and thwarted In all
his efforts to- obtain roinf,rcemente. Tho
real Mcclellan had at Washington $4,000
to contend against from 10000 to $4,000
Yorktown, lO7 900 against 1000; at vii.
liamsburg, 80, 900 against $4,000. AT Fair
Oaks, Gaines Mill, and other battles, ho
had force largely outnumbcring that Of
the rebels, OF which he brought from third
to fourth into battle; while ho failed in
every battle 10 50 handle his force as to uso
more than small fraction OF 1t. Other de-
partments wero stripped Of tho forces which
Mcclellan had certified 10 DO necessary TOR
their protection. TO provide him with rein
foroements, when hs already had In every
battle many times moro than he know how
10 put into tho fight. The imaginary mo-
ClcIlau had dcsp personal sympathy WI"
the common soldier. Tho real Mco'ci'sn
lad ,bom without. any other plan than to
.vo,a hattie. into swamps, where no lost In
. f.v months from thirty to forty thousand
man bv disease and BY descrtion. without
sr,pr \ gun At the enemy. The imaginary |
Mcclellan desired "only 10 share the fate Of
his soldiers on tho Geld Of hattlo. '" hcrcal
Mcclellan never. FROM Yorktown 10 Autic,l