The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-09-06
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The ArmY 81 thc Potomac.

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The Army 81 the Potomac
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700 have beard, ere this, tha, there
y great stir IN the army, that corps
are marching and concentrating
and great events arc impending. We
are all On the qui rfrs, and rumors
sparkle and disappoint us, ike the
fluctuations Of an Apr,l day. The ar
my u IN good spirits, and believes In
Gen Grant. Not a word or thought
o. censure Is spoken or emit rtained.
Some blame Meade, and others Burn.
side, lor laundering IN details, bul una,
seral praise Is accorded 20 Grant for
TIE grandeur aud comprehension Of
hi- plans. Bot the true secret OF our
discomdlaru before Petersburg. the
other day, was the old damnation OF
this army jealousy. The officers arr
Jealous Of each other, and the white
troops o. the niggers. "Ihis is Burn
sides fight said an officer on that day,
".et him have IL cut. The oh corps
is in bad odor ia the Potomac army,
and II is quite possible that il may 60
with lis General TO another and indie.
pendent field The white troops we're
greatly disailected with the proml-
hence given to the black soldiers on
that day, and felt that il was equiva-
leul to an invidIous comparison. The
white troops were drawn up as spec
lators Of The negro proves, and wer e
led TO believe that II WAS intended to
take the forts with the black troops If
possible, and ascribe to them the glory
of opening the door TO Richmond. -
Aud when il became evident that the
tide was against US, and The negroes
were being repulsed,the white soldiery
were only too willing 10 see them pun
ished for their temeriiy But am
told by many competent witnesses who
participated in the fight that the few
white soldiers who were engaged were
the first TO break and run.
WHY THE POTOMAC ARMY FAILS.
However, If We must confess the
whole truth, and il is too notorious and
lamentable Tor Discrimination, the Po-
tomac army is not a unit, and It Gen.
Grant does not always succeed as We
could wish, il must be remembered
that his materials are uumanageable.
There have been too many command.
ers OF this army; and too many are
conscious OF their ability TO command
II. Too many piques and predilec-
tons have been nourished, and there
are too many personal aud partisan
purposes 10 gravity. 1t would be u
blessing to this army il many, perhaps
most, OF Us old prominent commanders
were relieved. But even Gen Grant
with all the prestige Of his unparallel.
ed success in the past, has not the
courage nor the ability TO do this. The
soldiers and the people would not up
hold lim and simply because they
do not seem 10 understand that a gen
erid may under certain circumstances
be very efficient, and other circum
stances be actually worthless. This
believe to be The case with some Of
these Generals, and although | have
unbounded confidence ia Burnside 5
ability, los atty, patriotism and c1ur-
age, | am nevertheless glad Ire is gone
and only wish he might be accompan-
led witli others.
LIQUOR IN THE ARMY.
And now chat may complete my
criticism let me speak OF liquor, Il j.
said, and II is not secret, that Gen
Ledie, who has been recently relieved
is very incorporate man; 80 much
so lhrt Tie soldiers complain bitterly
that they should be led 10 slaughter It
appease his whlskey courage. There
are other division Commanders, ONT
from Pennsylvania, whom | woull
particularly mention, whose drunken.
ness is so notorious thai his troops ex.
pcct to find him sntoxicaled on every
occasion. His orderly is fr, qpently
obliged 10 take his horse by the reit
and turn him away from the purpose
ofhurllng himself madly into the hands
OF the enemy. Is it any surprise tha
such men make brutal and yindictivt
commanders. ana that thro n such in
hucnces tie soldier comes to be treat
ed like dogs
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