Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-11-05

| you are not so unFeaaonaD!e az 20 suppose
| that am going 20 sacrifice my failure voters
| to save John Pope and-my country, he
would have added, "but amen stuck in his
throat" But with what matchless GOODNESS
he tells Halleck that all his promises through-
out the two previous days to send Franklin
| forward. were unvarnished falsehoods! ~
] should not hays sogea him bat for y0ttr press
Z. inc orders Of last night - -
Economise your patience, though, gentle
reader. and restrain your profanity, if you
have any weakness in that direction, for here
i is something that will sorely try both.
At IL NJ, Mcclellan telegraphs Halleck:
Doyou wish the movement of Franklin's corps
| to continued He is without reserve ammunition
| and without transportation.
The man who makes himself hoarse vainly.
calling by the hour some lazy shirk OF SER
want who, finally, comes asking with placid
ease, Ibid you call, sir, !" may have some faint
idea of Gen. Halleck's feelings when he re-
ceived that dispatch.
Pray notice the statement that Franklin is
without transportation. 1t is remarkable
one in the light of facts well known at the
time to Mcclellan, which we shall presently
develop.
1 At y NJ, Mcclellan telegraphs to Halieck:
Y Franklin has only between 40 900 and 1900
ready for duty. How far do you wish this force 20
| advance 2
And again at l o'clock:
Shall do as seems best to me with all the troops
in this vicinity, including Franklin, who really
think ought not, under the the present circumstan-
ces, proceed beyond Anandale ts't Gi.T
The writer of that dispatch has solemnly
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 a camp guard of one hundred
men - Judge for yourself reader. -
4 Ats p NJ, Gen. Halleck, who must certain
ly possess an angelic disposition, musters nerve
to tell the Young Napoleon:
IpGnt Franklfn's corps togo far enough to find
get such information at AnandaIe: as to prevent
his going further; otherwise, he will push on to-
recion Of Manassas. either by teieTrsms or through
| Franklin's scouts. Our people must move lore
actively, and find out where the enemy is. l am
tired of guesses. '
!" Or people mast ind oatt oClere Tie enemy IS
During the entire days of August 29th and 3Oh
the thunders of nearly three hundred pieces
of artillery shook the ground under McClel-
lan's feet. All Alexandria knew precisely
F 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 Napoeonc 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
ner's 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
lecks last dispatch remains unanswered
And now we are about to present the most
I remarkable-we weigh and emphasize the
words-the most remarkable dispatch framed
by man wearing a soldiers uniforml We
pause a moment before doing it, that our
readers may prepare for sensation at once
novel and painful pang of shame for our
country and our humanity feeling of pro-
found horror and contnmpt for a man who
could perpetrate it. AT. 2:45 P. NJ, Gen. Me-
Clellan, in answer to a dispatch from the
President asking "what news from drec-
ton of Manassas Junction." telegraphed-
The last.news received from direction of Manas-
sas from stragglers, to the effect that the enc
my evacuating Cent-eviIle aud retiring toward
| Thorou ghfare Gap. This is by means reliable.
am clear that one of two courses should be adopt
| ed First-to concentrate all of our available
forces to open communication with Pope. Second
To LEAVE Pope to get ot of has Scrdpe, and at once
! use all our means TO make the Capitol perfectly
/ safe. No middle course will now answer. Tell me
power to accomplish it. 1 wish to know what my
orders and authority are. TASK for nothing, but
will obey whatever orders you give I only ask
prompt decision that 1 may at once give the necs-
sary orders. IL will not do to delay longer.
Comment there can be none Nothing
short of the power of a 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 satisfaction 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 teaye Pope TO get ont
| of hiS ScrdPe."
Consider the latter part of the dispatch in
the light of the previous two days transac
tions.
"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
81 ask for nothing, bit 'cH obey 'obatecer or
ders yoU gi0e." r.+..
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 rih all the troops IN tbs eicinity9"
He seems to, have been left entirely with
out orders, tool I irish to knolg utat nly or
ders and authority are. No middle course aeiR
nor ansacer II 1cW not do to delay longer"
This is the sublime of impudence, and,
CHASTITY work as it is, NC cannot help smiling
at its GOODNESS.
But what "serape" Of his own was Pope to
get out of? Let US see. Is he deserter, a
straggler, or some incompetent soldier who
has rushed into or against orders? How
came he where he is? Thus: With small
army of 35, 900 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 " 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 rep air the railroad to Manassas. Let
| there be no delay in this. L nave just been told
that he was this evening in Alexandria This is all
contrary to my orders. Investigate and report the
facts of this disobedence. That corps must push
forward, directed, to protect the railroad and