The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-02

dertakc or foster European war. We shall
doubtless see England and France settling the
disputed point between Denmark and the Ger
manic Confederation, and thus peace will be
preserved. Still ell Europe will fear the out
break of war 80 long a. France and, In tact, all
the great Powers, keep up suoh formidable ar
mamcnts This fear il chronic 10 Europe. just
a. at Washington there ever exists chronic
dismay lest Davis may invade add capture that
capital To conclude, we anticipate no imme-
diate war in Europe. as the general interest in
that country Is against its occurrence. Still,
as mems passions often override their reason
We by no means assert that war cannot take
place there. A very short time will settle the
question, as from late accounts the antagonists
were almost face to face.
Out of these troubles and complications Ma
poleon evidently aims ct tho accomplishment
Of his great design II Is not at ell unlikely
that to Prevent open hostilities in the duohies,
which would lead to general war. the EN-
peroc may succeed ia compelling England and
the other Powers TO meet him In Congress In
Paris, for tho settlement of the troubles of
Europe and grand territorial reconstruction.
Ths Five Hundred Thousand n1en-The
Management OF tho War.
The President. by an order dated February l.
consolidates the last two calls for men, aad re-
quires that by March 10 they shall together
reinforce our armies TO the extent of five hun.
dred thousand men. Such an aggregate, added
to the men now under arms, will give us total
force of nine hundred and eighty one thou
sand, or, 10 round numbers. million Of men,
Threefourthg Of this immense army will be
veterans-men used to fro and trained to
soldiers life. Never before in the history of
the world did so many men fight together
under one banner; and, az the country is now
expected to put this immense force into the
field, it may be'well to inquire what ia to be
done with 80 many men. Nations thus rich in
men are inevitably lavish of their lives; aud
that is kind of extravaganza that the country
has seen extensively INDUCED in this war. But
we think that the country has seen enough of
it. Through the plumbers of the Washington
directory fifty per cent Of the lives lost in this
war have been wantonly wasted, and it ought
to be known whether this waste is to stop now.
Would it not be we'll for Mr.. Lncola from
tbc date Of this draft forward. to leave the man
agcment Of the war aloneg Four grand ad
vances against Richmond have ended in terri
BILE disaster to our arms; and for every disaster
Mr. Lincoln is alone responsible. He also is
principally responsible for Rosecrans' failure
at Chickamauga, and for numberless other fail
ures great and small, in all parts of the coun-
try as is proven by the report Of the Committee
on tho Conduct of the War, by the report OF
General Hallcck and by the report of General
Mcclellan. In 1862 General Mcclellan had
planned an advance against Richmond. Mr..
Lincoln had made plan for the same purpose,
which was embodied in the annexed letter.
EXECUTIVE MAynoS. WASHINGTON. Fob 5, 1861
Major General McCLE,L9a:-
Lfr Dian sn-You and hsvo Distinct and diGorent
plans for m0vccnt OF tho Army OF tho Potomac Yours
70 no down tho Chesapeake up Tho Rsppahannock Ur
bAnna and land 10 the terminus Of the York
west Of Aanassas you give satisfactory answers
10 tho following questions shall gladly yield ny plan
l. Does ne. yoar plan involve greatly Larger esps0d
turc Of time and money than mines
Wherein Is victory moro certain ~ your plan than
> wherein is victory more valuable by yoar piao
& In fact would It not DO css valuable in this that It
would break no grcat limo OF tho cncmys communicative
while %lno would IN case Of disaster would not safc
Yours, truly, A. LINCOLN.
General Mcclellan was permitted to start for
tho fulflment, with some notifications. of his
own PLAN but when this had brought him
within view of the spires Of the rebel capital,
and while ell looked we'll for the speedy cap
turc Of that city, tho President came up with
his plan and ruined all Devoted to his little
plan, he kept tho troops that should have been
with Mcclellan in the Valley OF Virginia. Our
force was thus In two parts. Tho enemy got be-
tween tho two parts, and was ablo to 6ght
either at his leisure. Our complete failure on
tho peninsula, the destruction Of Pope, and
Lees advance into Maryland, were thus tue
result Of Mr.. Lncolns FIRST great attempt to
manage the war.
Considerably later there was great trouble
about the Mississippi The rebels had closed
it by tho fertilization Of yicksburg, and we
wished 70 open it, All sorts Of plans were
suggested and tried. With uniform failure
Finally General Grant went down. ran the
batteries. landed his troops below the city.
beat the encmys troops Ia the opea country,
and was prepared TO march upon The enemy's
fortified position from the rear. And just at
that moment, when Grants position in relation
to vicksburg was exactly analogous to what
McClcllans position had boon in relation to
Richmond, the President wished to repeat on
Grant the interference by which he had de-
stroycd the plans OF Mcclellan. SO much he
tells us Ia this letter.
Exncunvs MAssos. wAanSoros, July IL. 1859.
To Major General GRANT
My Dssa CgssaAf1-l DO not remember that you and
evcr mot personally. write this grateful
acknowledgment for The hr.