, 1864-01-09
REPORT OF GEN. M'ctELtAN,
Abstract and Analysis In AdVance
of Publication.
The Campaigns Of the Peninsula and
Of Maryland:

ponts on winch controversy might be made
and whenever time shall be ripe, no doub
need be with the main facts and most inter
esting documents which 1t contains.
The report Is dated New York, August 4
1st3. It begins with IN al1us1ou to The re
suits Of the victories In Western Virginia
which, We learn, were won not ut all In con
snection with any general co-operatiye pla,
yal Of the General At Washington after Bul
Run; the organization Of the army Of the 20
tomnc; the grand plan laid out for the gcne
raj campaign of 1861-63; the final invasion O.
Virginia in 1862; the Peninsulcr movement
the seven days battles; and the short but
glorious Maryland campaign of September
On the 1st of November, General McC1ellau
was appointed to the chief command Of ali
the forces Of the Union, and at once began
active operations. =
Passing orer General McClellan's full and
elaborate account Of the consultations and
opcrntfons which preceded the adyancc to
Manassas, March 9, 1862, we find TINT this
advance was intended by him merely to occ1,-
Pr the troops during the preparations for tile
Peninsula campaign, then fully decided upon.
The enemy's force at Manassas was estimated
1T 116, ECO with 500 field guns and 800 siege
guns.
Gen. Mcclellan reached the Peninsula with
s5,cCo cnectiycs early In April He gives his
town, describes the battle Of Williamsburg
With special praise Of Gen Hancock, and re-
cites tue advance to Richmond. The siege Of
tlat city is narrnted ut length, and the
"change of base with its attendant battles
fiom Mechanfcsyille, fought June 26, to NAL
ycIn Hill, fought July i, 1869.
"This closed" says General Mcclellan,
n inn had
the afternoon Of the 26th June, in series Of
engagements wholly unparalleled on this con
tineut for determination and slaughter, on
both sides.''
July 18th, the General telegraphed to the
President that be occupied ut Harrison's Bar,
overwhelming numbers.
The spirit Of the army" he added, ''is OK
ccllcnt; strngglcrs are finding the regiments,
and the soldiers exhibit the best results OF
discipline" He thus sums up the results Of
the brief but fierce campaign:
can not now approximate to any state
u1ent Of our losses; but we were not beaten
in any conflict. The enemy were unable BY
their utmost efforts to drive us from the
field. 4 We have lost no guns except
twenty-five on the field Of battle, twenty-one
Of which were lost by the giving way of Nc
Calls division under the onset of superior
numbers. When all the circumstances of the
all competent Judges that the movement just
completed by our army is unparalleled in the
annals Of Wnr. Under the most difficult cir
cumstances We have preserved our trains,
our guns, our material, and above all, our
lonor.n
To this the President replied: 49,.
- Be assured the heroiem aud akiil Of yourself
have the enemy YETI
On the 7th, Gen. Mcclellan telesrnphed:
"Ifnot attacked to-day. I shall laugh at them.
Keep open my communications by the james,
Expecting IN attack, he says, as necessity
to the enemy, und feeling the critical nature
of the position, Gen. Mcclellan on the same
day addressed to the President the following
letter:
HEADeuARTEns AnxF or TUE PoToMAc,}
Monday, July I, 1851.
Mn- PHEs:nZHT: you have been fully Informed
that the rebel a.my Is IN our front, with the p1r-
reGaens oaa eE eSs
N unicationa. cannot but regard our condition
q critical, and earnestly desife In view of pos
for your. private consideration, my general views
the existing state Of the rebellion, a.
Though they do not strictly relate to the situation
o dues Thsae Views aout naS sftops e seo. ..
vfctione. and are deeply impressed upon mind
.. naa d heart Our cause must never be abandoned
ment. The Constitution and the Union must be
preserved, whatever may be tho cost IN time treas
'1re, and blood. II secession is successful, other
Let neither military disaster, political fact1on nor
foreign war ehake your settled purpose to eaiorco
the equal operation Of the laws Of the United
The tine has eoms Wien s'd1s t 9sSfe Government mus.
determine upon civil and military policy cover
lng ihe whole ground Of oaF national trouble: The
porting such civil and military policy. md Of di
'ccttng the whole courze Of naionai affairs in re-
gard TO the rebellion, must now be assumed and
Constitution glxcs you power sniaclent even for
This rebellion has assumed The character Of war;
conducted upon the highest principles known TO
Christian civilization. It should not Be- nar
looking to the eabiugari9n oi the people Of any
upon population, but against armed forces and po-
lltcal Organization. Neither conascation Of prop
ery pofttcai executions Of persons Territorial o.
ery should be contemplated for moment.
3na n1s9s5;a; sas5%sa R RS5sess & ssoaa b ssiss.
ts e sgsS oDZ 1e pvate ae propsf
ty taken for military use should be paid or
recepted for; plllagc and waste should Be traated
prohibited, and offensive: demeanor By the militia
n towards citizens promptly -rebuked. Military
arrests should not heAole{ntcd except In places
qaired by enactments constitutiouallr made should
be neither demanded nor received. Military gov
ernment should be confined 70 the preservation Of
Military power should not be allowed to interfere
with the relations Of serEtude, either by support
ing or impairing tho Authority OF the master, e1-
Slaves contrabacd under the act Of Congress- seek
fisht olthe eoystnmentt to aPprepriate permanent;
he asserted and the right OF the owner to compen-
sat,on therefor should be recognized.
THE principle might be extended upon grounds
within partitn!ar state, thus working manumis-
sion IN such State; and In Missouri, perhaps In
Western Virginia, also and possibly even in Mary
iand, the expectancy e OF sueh q measure is only =
system Of policy thus constitutional and con
serTntEe. and peryadcd BY the influence Of Chris
almost al Truly loYat men, would deeply Impress
the robel masses and all foreign nations, and It
might be humbly hoped that i would commend
Unless tie p1nses tho future con-
duct Of our struggle shall be made known and ap-
proved the effort to obtain requisite forces wilt be
especially upon s.avery, vii 1apialy disintecrsts
our present armfcs.
The policy Of the government mast be supported
by concentration % of pilitaty power: The nation-
should be main1y collected into masses and brought
to bear upon the armies OF the Confederate states
structure which they support wonld soon cease to
exist.
II carrying ont any system Of policy which you
may form, you will require commander. r.in-chief
understands your views, and who is competent to
execute your orders BY directing the military
forces otthe nation to tie accomplishment Of the
objects b ygu pIopess;sa ps; Ido not ask tnat place
eltion as you may assign me, and will do 80 as
faithfully as ever subordinate served superior.
I may be on the brink Of eternity, and, as hone
en- om ~ Maaez havs written this
Early il August the army mas ordered to
Aqua. The condition of atfairs at Washing
ton during the campaign Of Pope is graphl-
ca1ly described. September ed, the President
directed, Gen. Mcclellan to take command Of
enemy. On the 18th Of September Antfetam
was fought, South Mountain and Crampton's
Cup having been already won By u.s. Not a
single gun or color was lost By US in these
battles, and cur total loss In men at Ante
tam is stated By Gen. Mcclellan ut L, 400.
Tie advance into Virginia after Antietam
Is related, with m account Of the carses by
which that advance was delayed. On the
night Of Nov, : Gen Mcclellan WINS relieved,
side.
Gen. Mcclellan thus describes his own re-
ttTh1s report is in fact the history Of the
army Of the Potomac. During the period
occupied in The organization Of that army, it
served IS barrier against the advance Of
lately victorious enemy, while the forti1ca-
ton Of the capital Tas IN progress, and un,
der the discipline which It then received, It
Arrrfrp6 zfrpnpth n1nrnffnr and anra of