The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-21
THE ARsaY Of THE POTOMAC.
Mr. +. @. ChapmaA's Despatch.
HsAperARIFRs, Army or THE PoronAc,
March 10, 1884.

To one who had not the ability 10 into tho compiler
tions OF this great machine there would TO DO
going on gigantic work Of rejuvenatiou. Change,
change, change appears be the order Of the day;
everything 10 changed or changing except the
pure, patriotic sentiment Of our troops and the
universal clamor for action. We have nothing but
change In every department, and It would take
aD immense amount OF dvination to discover SUM-
cient landmarks about present by which
to identify the old tried veteran Army OF the Potomac
We are shorn down from magnificent proportions
10 wreck Of former SELF Where once we embraced
tho Frss, Second Third Fth Sixth. NINTH Eleventh
Twelfth corps-s lch an army OF itse-wc now have
The and substance OF all but the Second Third
SIXTH the rest having gone the tomb Of the Capules
and buried deep in that receptacle Of defunct
bamsy that extra day OF resurrection, with array
Of Gntrs would be unequal to the task Of again bring
ipe them 70 slasmodic ldo. r
We times pasi, too, killed of large number Of
our al officers ether than those who have ellen by the
shell sabre stroke" OF the robels and sup
pied their places with men; but still we are the
"Army OF the Potomac and proud Of this fact
as was the rsbman Of the knife his grandfather left,
which, though had bad six new blades aud half dozen
handles, Pat declared IL the came .'oud" heirloom.
But started out 10 write OF recent changes; and,
though the matter will not be new 10 your readers, IL
may be interesting TO know what feeling pervades the
army concerning them. First then the change in the
command OF this department. which will inaugurate the
spring campaign. When say that the soldiers hail with
Joy tbe commander must not be understood i'm
plying that thoy have To-Day less confidence General
eade they had the OF the Fourth OF July,
1863 after bis superior military genius had taken them
successfully through three days OF the fight
ing OF the age. But tho troops know that General
Meade has his enemies in the army and out or it, 10 Con-
gress and OF IT, with the press aud elsewhere
they think that the advent Of hero like General Grant,
coming fresh the victorious fields Of the Southwest
coming with the plauds and huzzas of his victorious 10
gons, coming possessed OF the highest confidence OF
trusting public, viii operate greatly to their advantage
in the coming campaign. But General Meade will not
leave the army he has so Ing and so ably commanded;
but he win aid and advise the commander,
until when General Grant shall find it necessary to take
the active Geld another quarter ho will BIO rensated
In his former position.
The consolidating OF the I've corps into one will neces.
sary involve s further changes which will be mourned
over by the veterans with heartfelt II will
not be expected that general who has long commanded
q corps will go back to the command Of a division.
Hence Newton and French must be temporarily sheved
be transferred 10 other department. The First
corps will part with General Newton almost as reluc.
family as they will with their designating badges and
corps colors and will be long getting reconced to the
loes OF either General French has reviewed bis corps
for the last tinne and the wondering IL Warren
will lead and leave them better than he They had Just
got reconcIed to the loss OF Sickles and getting
their soldery affection ast transferred to French when
this change came upon them. But know thoy win le,rn
to love Warren as we'll either. II is impossible that
they should not for soldier worships brave SUPERIOR
aud Drawer better kinder corps commander does
not exist In the Army Of the Potomac.
hardly think that Sykes will leave the army. He is
too strongly identified with and It's welfare He too
many old associations 70 suddenly break them he can
avoid ~, and he is too patriotic 10 tear himself from his
counirys service he has been deprived OF
msnd. possesses wonderful extent that spirit OF
devotion country expressed BY General Mcclellan after
he ordered to Washington from the Peninsula during
tie Pope campaign. When asked by a friend what he
would do n deprived Of bis command, he replied :sWhy,
sir shall try to do my duty II the government thinks
mo incompetent command army, will take a corps
il that is beyond my capacity will load a division II
that too much for me, brigade, regiment
pany and my country's rulers think unsnied for
any command let them strip Of my ssions AID
VIII take my place in the ranks and there eight until the
rebellion is crushed death ends my career earth"
But these though The principal changes attendant upon
the opening Of the spring campaign, by the
most deeply regretted There other departments OF
usefulness the army whose chiefs the lees
mourned lost, though thoe chiefs not double sin
ae starred caged eaved, barred strapped aal
And OF these first chsest because Of its Importance
the transportation dcpar known tho United
saies Military Railroad Yoa have often referred to
this grcat work In tho HERALD that il would be a
work 0, supererogaton to treat 1t lenghly; but
Cannot close tins letter without saying word about
some OF the hitherto connected with whom the
dy OF changes whired OF into other places associa
tions AMI pursuits.
General Tsupt has shelved for some reason aud
has gone into the vao Of retiracy.
Colonel .. C. McCalum takes his place the head OF
government military railroad matters because the adj
mnistation could not get along without him Colonel
McCalum has had experience 10 the management o.
railroad matters second to the American con.
tnent As general superintendent OF the New YORK and
Erie Railroad. no perfected sySem OF railroad manage
which has become the ground FOR a the other
systems which have placed this country At the head Of
nations in the item OF locomotive transportation. He Il
who ast conceived the idea OF using the telegraph
in connection with the running OF trains, aud demon
strated By practice the ability single track d. BY
the assistance Of this handmad, that which was hni
versaily considered only 10 be done by double track
along the whole lins. Besides being manager, he Is q
thorougbgolg mechanic the overarching structures
the BROOKS raynes and along tho Erie road
viii testify. Mctaiiums bridges will remain niouu.
Of mis- geaius long visducss used
upon our national highways With such mea as Grant at
meats and Mccaium "a tie executive head o. the Bureau
or Transrortaton, success N Ia certain es
any other foresone conclusion Both changes 10
purpose.
But OF tie next 10 importance and usefulness-Co J
II. Dovereaux must say more because have, my two
years connection with the Potomac army, OF
him than OF the others, aud learned 10 appreciate his
worth and usefulness Colonel Deycreaux came bis
position OF superintendent Of the government railroads
shortly alter the breaking out OF the lie found all
the railroads 10 Virginia In the most deplorabe condition.
but be has brought order out Of confusion and re esao
lishcd the several lines upon footing equal 10 any in the
country. To tell all he has done would be 10 write a
book but can tell what no has not dCuc words
Although entrusted with tho whole management Of tncsc
great works be has not been accused Of suge act which
has not been for his country good lie left tho road
the inst TO take the general superiotendency OF the
Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad, with which he was
formerly connected Colonel Deveteaux has been the
recipient OF maDy testimonials from his employees.
year ago he received beautiful silver tea set valued at
twelve hundred dollars Oo the evening before he lett
for Cleveland the Conductors engineers called upon
him "a abody and assured him OF their respect and ap
Ann an.la. II. oasunn