The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-11
THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
Major-General Senator Wilkinson
on Mcclellan and Meade.
The Military BlunderS and Who
are Responsible for Them

In the Senate, March ,. al interesting
debate occurred, which we publish in full ::
MR.. wILKINsoN-A "pERsONAL ExpLANA-
TON
Mr.. Wilkinson (Adm, Mimi rising to
personal explanation, read from the Bos-
ton pOSta recent speech of Governor An
drew in Faneuil Hall, criticising a recent
speech Of his in the Senate chamber in
reference to the comparative merits of the
eastern and western armies. He denOunc-
ed the sketch of this speech from Cover
nor Andrew, quoted, as CARRIED, and said
that he should have been assured of its
authenticity. before arraigniug him for. hav-
ing spoken a word in derogation of the
troops fiOm the East Mr.. W. then read
from the Globe the remarks in the Senate
the other day, in which he imputes the re-
peated want OF success Of tue Army of the
Potomac to the want of capacity on the
part OF the officers, and not to any want
OF courage on the part Of the men. He
read from the evidence of the late Senator
Bowden Opp, Va }, before the Committee
on the Conduct of the War, in reference
to the force at Yorktown-which is placed
at from eight to ten thousand and yet
General McCl, Han set down before it, and
caused brave Massachusetts and other SOL
diers to die, for months, without winning
distinction or glory read an extract from
the Richmond Sentinel, in which some OF
the recent movements of General Grant
are styled "atrociOus laundering" What
would we not have gained if General Nc
Clellan had possessed grain of Grants
atrocious laundering? He then proceeded
to review the entire campaign of the pc
ninsula, commenting severely on the fact
that Hooker was allowed to fight whole
day at Williamsburg, while an army of
thirty-fve thousand men lay under the
commandment chief within five miles,
without coming to their relief; also, to
the fact of General Casey having been
thrown far in advance of the main army
at Fair Oaks, where lie was obliged to
stand the shock of overwhelming numbers
until relieved at late hour in the after
noon by Summers forces who tn aid them,
swan the Chickamauga.
Mr.. Wilkinson repeated the charge that
while the great victory of Malvern was
being won, Gen. Mcclellan was safely en-
q IL.
blunderIDg audacity would have reaped
the full fruits of victory. He also advert
ed Oh the course of the commanders of
the Army of the Potomac during General
Pope's second Bull run fight He was in
formed that before the battle of Gettys-
burgh, which he considered the greatest
battle on record, the order had been issu-
ed for retreat, which would have been
carried out if one Of the corps in advance
had not already become engaged, render
ing retreat impossible This battle was
fought as no battle ever was fought be-
fore, and victory more honorable was
won than any ever gained by Napoleon.
Lees army could then have been annihi-
lated, and the soldiers would have done
it, but the army was halted ON the banks
of the Potomac, while Gen. Lees army
was left to cross with only eight rounds of
cartridges per man, which would have
lasted but four minutes. He believed
General Meade pure and patriotic man 4;
but for the honor of the army and coun-
try it should be known that the want of
success is Cue not to the men, but because
the army has not been managed as the
conquering, victorious army of the West
has been.
Mr.. johnson Opp, Md would not
have said word in reply to the Senator
from Minnesota, if he had not, in making
his personal explanation, gone out Of the
way to attack others not concerned. He
has assailed officers in whom the people,
ard in some of whom the President, has
confidence, and one of whom the execu-
tive still retains in an important command,