Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-03

throat. But with what matcnleSS coOlneSS
he tells Halleck that all his promises through
out the two previous days to send Franklin
forward, were unvarnished falsehoods! ~
should not haze naoved hina 5ast for y0ur press
ing orders Of last 7sighti"
Economist your patience, though, gentle
reader, and restrain your profanity, if YOU
have any weakness in that direction, for here
is something that will sorely try both
At y ~, Mcclellan telegraphs Halleek:
Do you wish the movement of Franklin's corps
to continue? H. is without reserve ammunition
and without trans portation.
The man who makes himself hoarse vainly
calling by the hour some lazy shirk of a ser.
want who, finally, comes asking with placid
ease, did you call, sir, may have some faint
idea of Gen. Halleck's feelings when he re-
eeiyed that dispatch.
Pray notice the statement that Franklin is
without transportation. 1t is a remarkable
one in the light of facts well known at the
time to Mcclellan, which We shall presently
develop.
At II NJ, Mcclellan telegraphs to Halleck
Franklin has only between 10 ,O00 and II. 00C
ready for duty How far do you wish this force tc
advance?
And again at l o'clock:
Shall do SIS seems best to me with all the troop;
in this vicinity, including Franklin, who I really
think ought not, under the the present circumstan
ces, proceed beyond Anandale7
The writer Of that dispatch has solemn,
declared in an official report that he "com
pletely carried out the order to reinforce Gen
Pope that he had sent everything; that he
only retained camp guard OF one hundred
men" Judge for yourself reader.
Ats NJ, Gen Halleck, who must certain,
ly possess an angelic disposition, musters nerve
to tell the Young Napoleon:
T1cant Franklin'S corps to 90 far enough to .f1d
out something about the enemy. Perhaps he may
get such information at Anandale as to prevent
his going further; otherwise, he VIII push to-
wards Fairfax. Try to get something from the di-
reeion of Manassas, either by kilograms through
franklin s scouts. Our people mast move ore
actively, and find out where the enemyis. I am
tired of guesses.
O1Ar people mast f,ad oaHt mteye tie eneaqy u.s. "
During the entire days Of August 29th and sob
the thunders of nearly three hundred pieces
of artillery shook the ground under McClel-
lan's feet. All Alexandria knew precisely
where the enemy was and where the fighting
was. But General Mcclellan could not make
the discovery.
There is one grand, overruling and guiding
military principle that overrides conflicting
orders or supplies their total absence. 1t is
the Napoleonic MAXIM March to the sound
of the cannon" The neglect of it by Grouchy
cost the Emperor Waterloo. Has it never
been heard of by General Mcclellan
Every drummer boy in Franklin's, Sum
ners and Cox's corps knew the situation,
knew that the enemy had concentrated, knew
that Pope had been fighting them for two
days. Gen. Mcclellan alone, of all his army,
did not know it, could not see it so Hal
Il S last dispatch remains unanswered.
And now we are about to present the most
remarkable-we weigh and emphasize the
words-the most remarkable dispatch framed
by man wearing a soldiers uniform! We
pause a moment before doing it, that our
readers may prepare for a sensation at once
novel and painful-a pang Of shame for our
country and our humanity-a feeling Of pro-
found horror and contnmpt for a man who
could perpetrate it. At 2:45 P. NJ, Gen. Nc
Clellan, IN answer to a dispatch from the
President asking "what news from direc-
ton Of Manassas Junction" telegraphed-
The lastEnews received from direction of Manas-
sas was from straggers, to the effect that the
my were evacuating CentreViIle and retiring toward
Thoroughfare Gap. This is by means reliable.
ed First-to concentrate all of available
forces to open communication with Pope. Second
TO teGUe Pope to get ont of has Scr0pe and at
use all our means to make the Capitol perfectly
safe. No middle course will now answer. Tell me
what you wish me to do. and will do all in my
power to accomplish it. l wish to know what my
orders and authority l ask for nothing, but
will obey whatever orders you give. l only ask a
prompt Ok cision that may at once give the necs-
sary orders. 1t will not do to delay longer.
Comment there can be none. Nothing
short of the power of Macauley would
avail here, to do this infamy justice And
we can only feebly indicate-pointing TO the
bad eminence" on which it stands-the
more striking point of its wickedness. The
man is satisfied what he hopes, he would
fain believe-that Pope is or will be defeat
ed. He suggests two courses, which, after
all, are substantially one and the same, for he
well knows that Lees junction with jackson
is certain. He can trust Porter for that. In
either case, he is sure "to le00e Pope to get out
Of his Scrape."
Consider the latter part Of the dispatch in
the light of the previous two days transac-
tons.
"Tell me what you wish me to do" WHY,
for two days and half the wires have not
ceased their monotonous throbbings under
the reiterated order to send Franklin forward.
Task for nothing, but ~M obey mhateyer or
ders you gjue." 10.
He asks for nothing! Oh, certainly not
when just one hour and half agone he in
sinuatingly dispatches" shall do as seems
best to me aoiM all tie troops IN NaS vicinity 2D
He seems to have been left entirely with
out orders, too! 81 IRISH to know w1sat ma or
der8 and authority are. No middle course agiU
noag 011Sarer. 1t aciH not do to de7ay lonqey.n
This is the sublime of impudence, and,
g. astly work as it is, we cannot help smiling
at its GOODNESS. --
But what scraie" of his own was Pope to
get out of? Let US see. Is he deserter,
straggler, or some incompetent soldier who
has rushed into Or against orders d? How
came he where he is? Thus: With small
army of $1,000 he threw himself down on the
Rapidan-into the heart of the enemy, tear
ing out his very vitals-to compel him to loose
his hold on the once noble and dispirited Ar
my of the Potomac. He did it. McClellan's
army of 81 900 effective troops was freed
The entire rebel force was precipitated on
the devoted Pope. He fought them for sew
enteen days in seven large battles, and skir-
mishes innumerable, and with but small aid
Of troops and food for his starving men and
horses, would have strangled the rebellion at
Manassas. He was denied men, rations and
forage. Now we see. That was the g scrape"
Pope was left to get out of
At 1850 P. NJ, Halleck discovering that
Franklin still loiters, tells Mcclellan
" You will Immediately send construction train
and guards to repair the railroad to Manassas. Let
there be no delay in this. I have just been told
that .Franklin's corps stopped at Anandale, and
that he was this evening in Alexandria. This is all
contrary to my orders. Investigate and report the
facts OF this disobedience. That corps must push
forward, directed, to protect the railroad and
open our communication with Manassas"
And one hour afterwards is answered by
him: .-e ..-. t..... ........ . :
It was not safe for Franklin to move beyond An
andale under the circumstance, until we knew what
was at Vienna. Gen. Franklin remained here
til P. NJ, endeaVoring to arrange for supplies for
his command. 1 am responsible for both these