The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-11-02
A Sketch of Mcclellan.

While now and then relieved and dis
loyal officer of the army may be found
impudcut and brazcn. faced enough to
attempt to bolster up an incorrigible do
nothing, it is pleasant to see plain,
blunt man tear off the mask from windy
pretendcr. Our readers will, therefore,
prchaps, bc as much gratiied as VIC were
when they scan the following tongue:
sketch Of the hero Of the swamps, given
by the Hon. John Covode, at the grand
Union mass meeting recently convened
in Pittsburg: -. .i.,. >.
Hon. John Covode said he had been
upon the Committee on tho Conduct OF
the War, whose duty it was to watch
Mcclellan, and he would therefore, date
his remarks from the arrival Of Little
Mac at Washington. He was brought
from West Virginia, where he had the
reputation of doing great things, to
Washington, to rcorganizc the army oi
the Potomac. His staff looked like q
cavalry regiment, and rode out every
morning to tho hills around the city,
and returned again in the evening, look
ing wise. They would 60 out for the
avowcd purpose Of gaining knowledge
Of the movements and strength Of, the
enemy: and when they came back they
could tell nothing. The Committee
knew that Gen. Mcclellan had an army
Of 25O, 900 men, and he told the Com
mittec that the Rebel army numbered
over 200 900. -..
When asked where ho got his inlor'
nation, he said o gentleman, friend oi
his, from Beaurcgard's camp, had dined
with him, from whom be received the in
formation but he could not tell how
the aforesaid gentleman camc to dine
with him, or whether he returned to the
camp Of the enemy. .'.' >" -
The speaker churgcd that Gen. Stone
had been arrested and imprisoned to Gov
cr up the iniquitics. Of Gen. Mcclellan
lie declared that testimony before the
Committee showed that the Rebels nev-
cr had an army before Washington ,ol
over sc, 900 men. Gen. Mcclellan nev
cr commanded his men in person, nor
was he ever under the fire Of the enemy
Every entrcaty to get him to move a
gainst the enemy proved in vain, q" Tho
Potomac was held by the enemy, and he
was urged TO cooperate with the navy
in opening it. lie promised to do SO
but did not. '''.' e.. .,.'..'''.. a." ":'' +,
. o. a second time he promised to do"so
but second time he failed. The speak
cr called upon the President and told
him that il his Generals could not OIL
would not open the'potomac, he would
take the job by contract and do it in
less than o week. McClelIan''"at at .,las
moved, and fixed hiY head quarters at
Fairfax Court House, aud had grand
moonlight parade. Centreville was be-
fore him, and he pronouncedit i,uprcg'
nable as Sabastopol,. und would no
march against it,. But fBayard Taylor
who went out in. defiance of orders an(
rcconuoitcrcd the place, testified before
the Committee that there was not SER
viccablc gun in in the Notifications Sal
were Quaker guns" aud there wcro mol
25, 900 men in the place, while McClcl
Ian had 250, 1000. ,H'.:' "a, ..!r r..
At last he, concluded: to-. move, :;ane
marched his army to yorktown, ane
commenced besicgins Richmond before
he got within one hundred miles Of The
place. Magruder was in his front, ane
tho first known of, his departure was
through u newspaper reporter. The ar
my then marched on to Williamsburg
where Hooker whipped the enemy
Mcclellan was not present, md Coy
Sprrasue was sent back to bring him up
when he arrived just in time to orde1
tho fighting to ,cease. He next got: hi
army astride the. Chickahomioy, where
Sumner whipped the Rebels soundly, af
ter which the army was ordered to fal
back, the officers and men being impa
ticnt to pursue them into Richmond.-
Colonel Alexander was sent to. beg. o
Mcclellan to allow an advance on Rich
mond, but he refused, stating that OF
order had been prepared directing th'
men to destroy all they had, and &C
away as best they could. - 'l':- =,