The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-10-04
Gen. Mcclellan and the Army of the
Potomac,

Gen. Mcclellan and the Army Of the
Potomac.
Soon after the first Bull Run battle, on the
21st of July. 1851, Gen. Mcdowell was super
seeded in the command of the army of the Po-
tomac by Gen. Mcclellan. Attention had been
directed to him by reports from Western Vir-
ginia, the victories occurring there being as
cribed to him, though subsequent revelations
proved that he never was under fire in the
campaign of that region; never was within
dozen miles, more or less, of the field of con-
flict, and that those splendid victories should
be placed to the credit OF Gen. Rosecrans.
1t is sufficient for the purposes of this arti-
Gle that he came to Washington under circum-
stances of high favor, and had opened before
him field for glory such as had been vouch-
safed to few men of his age. Owing to the in
firm condition ofthe Lieut.. General, Scotland
his great age, more authority was conceded to
the new commander of the Potomac army,
perhaps, than otherwise would have been. In
fact, he soon became, to all intents and pur-
poses. not simply the commander of that ar
my, but the general-in-chief of all the armies
of the Union, being second only to the Presi
dent himself. The Army of the Potomac be-
came his pet. Remaining in Washington, he
kept that army near at hand, passing through
series of reviews and dress parades, until ii
became swollen In numbers and perfected in
discipline to such degree that it challenged
the admiration Of the military men Of the
world. 1t was Gen. McClellan's purpose to
make it such. For eight long months it fought
no battles, and saw no hard service. The bat
tie Of Bulls Run was fought, as we have said,
lily 81, 1861, and until after the arrival OF the
ar ny at Yorktown, in the latter part of Marth
1882, it never was put into single general en-
gagement.
We're troops required for active duty? They
had to be raised independently of this large
force. Every energy of the government and
all the resources OF generous and patriotic
people were freely and lavishly placed at the
disposal of Gen. Mcclellan in order to enable
him to organize an army upon which the
hopes of the nation might repose. The gene
rails in charge ofimportant expeditions, But
Ter, Burnside, Sherman and others, were COM
PEELED to look elsewhere for troops to compose
their commands. Not man was spared from
the army OF the Potomac for either of the great
expeditions to Hatteras, Roanoke or PORT
Royal.
When Congress met in December, official
reports showed that this immense army, indie
pendent of the command of Gen. Dix at Bati-
more, numbered 5000 strong; such an army
as never had been gathered on this continent.
as had seldom been seen in modern times on
any continent. So unwilling was Mcclellan
to have even fragment diverted from his pei
sonal supervision, that when the Navy De-
partment solicited the cooperation of only
1900 men to occupy the rebel posts on the Po-
tomac as fast as the naval vessels should cap
ture them, he contrived to defeat the move
ment, and so allowed the Potomac to be block
AIDED by rebel batteries. We shall have more
to say on this point in another article. Suffice
1t to say now, that his backing and filling and
vascilation SO disguised one of the most gal
liant commanders in the navy, that he threw
up his command and asked to be sent to sea,
saying that, by remaining at home subject to
such drawbacks as he experienced through
McClellan's agency, he would ruin the reputa-
ton he had already acquired.
In February, 1862, Mcclellan was ordered |
to advance upon Manassas, where lay rebel |
army OF perhaps 100000 He then had force
of $4,000 men. He disregarded the order Of
his superior, making one excuse after another,
but when hard pushed, and the orders to ad- |
vance became so peremptory that he could no |
longer remain stationary, he concluded to
move, and what did he find? He found the
Notifications of Manassas evacuated and the |
ramparts bristling with wooden guns There
is testimony on this point, but we will not de. |
lay to introduce it.
1t was now March, 1862. Mcclellan had
taken the field in person. He was to lead the
columns. The dreaded stronghold of Man.
nassas was an abandoned field. Then he be- |
came valiant. There was no enemy in front; |
none to be feared Then it was that he issued |
his bombastic address to his army, outrivalling |
the subsequent efforts of Pope or any Other |
commander in the way of high promise and big |
resolve. As the special friends of Mcclellan |
III Iuclf TlulCulo vi OPC
Tor saying ne should have no more base lines, /
MS headquarters would be in the saddle, &C.,
we invite them 10 read the following address of
Mcclellan to his army, and see if it does mot
throw into deep shade all the bombast of 9TH
er commanders:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAo1 l
Fairfar Court House, March IA. /
SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE PoToM Az.
For a long time have kept you inactive.
but not without a purpose. You were to be
armed and instructed. The for
artillery you now have, had to be ere
ated. Other armies were to move and accom-
push certain results. have held you back
snat you might give the death blow to the re-
Delllon that has distracted our once happy |
country. The patience you have shown and /
your confidence In your General are worthy
OF dozen victories. These preliminary re-
suits are now accomplished. feel that the
patient labors OF many months have nroduced
their fruit. The Army of the Potomac il now
a real army, magnificent in material. admire.
BILE in discipline and instruction, and excelIart.
" equipped and armed. Your commandars
are all that could wish. The moment for ac.
lion has arrived, and / know that can trns,
IN you to save our country. As ride through
your ranks, see in your faces the sure prestr
ge of victory. 1 feel that you will do what
ever ask of you. The period OF inaction has