Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-01-16

GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN.
Early in August the army was ordered !
to leave Harrisons Landing, on james
river, contrary to the opinion Of Gen. Nc
Clellan that the road to Richmond was by !
way Of the Peninsula. On that occasion |.
he addressed Gen. Haleck the remarkable |
letter, under date of "Berkley, Va, Au-
gust 4th," which was rcpublishcd in yes
terday's hteiljgeuoer.
The condition of affairs at Washington
during the campaign of Pope is graphical
ly desribed.
September 2, the President directed
General Mcclellan to take commend Of his
own and Gen. Pope's armies and find the
enemy. On the 18th of September Antie-
tam was fought, South Mountain and
Champions Gap having been already won
by US. Not " single gun or color was lost
by US in these battles, and our total loss in
men at Antietam is stated by Con. Nc Clel-
Ian at II 400.
The advance into Virginia after Antie-
tam is related, with an account Of the eau
ses by which that advance was delayed.
On the night of Nov. 9TH Gen. NJ Clellan
was relieved, and the command transfer
red to Gen. Burnside.
Gen. Mcclellan thus describes his own
report:
"The report is in fact the history of the
army Of the Potomac. During the period
occupied in the organization ofthat army
it served as barrier against the advance
Of lately victorious enemy, while the for
tifcation of the capital was in progress,
and, under the discipline which it then
received, it acquired strength, education,
and some of that experience which is nec-
essary TO success in active operations, and
which enabled it aherward to sustain it.
self under circumstances trying to the
most heroic men. Frequent skirmisheS
occurred along the lines, conducted with
great gallantry, which Injured our troops
to the realities OF war.
"The army grew into shape but slowly
and the delays which attended on the OBJ
tanning Of armr, continued late into the
winters of lS6l-62, were no less trying
to the soldiers than to the people of tht
country. Even at the time of the organi
zation Of the Peninsula campaingn some
of the finest regiments were without rifle
nor were the utmost eXertons Oh the par
of the military authorities adequate t.
overcome the obstacles to active service.
when at length the army was in con
dition to take the field the Peninsula cam
paign was planned and entered upon wit
enthusiasm by officers and men. Hat
this campaign been followed up as it wa
designed, cannot doubt il would have re
suited in glorious triumph to our arm
, and the permanent restoration of the pow
er OF the government in Virginia and i
= North Carolina, if not throughout the re
voltod States. 1t was, however otherwis
, ordered and the Army of the Potoma
: was recalled from within sight of Rich
= mond and Incorporated with the Army {
Virginia. The disappointments of tn
campaign on the Peninsula had not dan
a pened their ardor or diminished their pa
: triotism, They fought well, faithfully
g gallantly under Gen. Pope, yet were CON
: PEELED to fall back on Washington, defea
u u ed and almost demoralzed. The enemy
q no longer occupied in guarding his ow
a capital, poured his tooops northward, er
tered Maryland, threatened Pennsylvani
y and even Washington itself. Elated b
4 his recent victories, and assured that oil
?. troops were disorganized and dispirited b
Fl was confident that the seat of war WI
IL now permanently transferred to the 10y
- States, and that his own exhausted SC
10 was to be relieved from the burden
e supporting two hostile armies. But
% did not understand the spirit which al
3 mated the soldiers Of the Union.
81 shall not, nor can |, living, iorg
that when was ordered to the commal
,e OF the troops for the defence of the eapit
y the soldiers, with whom | had shared
'e much of the anxiety aud pain and sufferil
W of The war, had not lost their confden
If in mo as their commander. They spra,
tie to my call with all their ancient vigor,d
t. cpline and courage. l led them in
p Maryland. Fifteen days after they HI
- fallen back defeated before Washingt,
a they vanquished the enemy on the rugg
10 heights of South Mountain, pursued to {
is hard-fought field of Antietam, and drs
VI onJ J;sorpointo onroeo ~