Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-09-28
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and
Mcclellan,

uIOSG OfuIidF1 fcduST " HO mas OFSH "
spell half his words, can form an ade-
quate judgment of results after such
movements have been made. The or
ators who have taken Mcclellan into
their special care and keeping since his
nomination, have a great deal to say
about his projects, fighting battles
which were never fought, and an abun-
dance of what be @DuId, could and
should have done, had not something
always been in his road. AS we stated
some weeks ago, the official documents
show that he had the largest, best
equipped, and we might add patriotic
army that has taken the field since the
war began, and that he lost more men
and effected less in his peninsular cam
paign than any other officer who ever
had command of large body Of troops.
Those who will recall to mind his own
dispatches and the silly twaddle of
thousand correspondents who were
daily turning his head by manufactu-
ring a paper hero out of what he IN
tended to do, need hardly be told that he
lacks the principal forte of great gen
eral in want Of quick resolves and
speedy action in following up an adj
vantage. This was shown at York
town, at Williamsburg, at Fair Oaks,
at Malvern Hill, and several other
points, where, had he pushed forward
the full strength of his forces, even on
the days following those battles, Rich
mond would have been taken as easily
as Grant took Vicksburg after it had
been invested, Sherman Atlanta, or
Sheridan Winchester. So too at An
tietam, where as usual after decided
advantage he sat down and commenced
a formal quarrel with the government
officers about Tom, Dick and Harry be-
ing without shoes, and somebody else
without clothing, and other matters
equally frivolous after u march or a
battle, for we venture to say there are
some men in every army who on like
occasions are destitute Of such articles.
Had he, instead of being thus occupied,
brought up Il large reserve force which
arrived on the evening Of the battle in
the immediate neighborhood. would it
not have looked more like the act of
great general? If our troops were
wearied out, were not the rebels equal
ly so? If ours were destitute of GER
tain articles, were not the rebels more
so? Now compare Sheridans late
campaign with McCleIlan's. For weeks
Sheridan's army had been marching,
counter-marching, digging entrench-
ments, and throwing up earthworks;
their proximity to Early's troops rem
dered watchfulness doubly necessary.
At last they move, attack the enemy,
drive them back, and follow. We dare
say many of his men were shoe
less, hatless, &c, but he does not an
noy the government with complaints
respecting matters he knows to be un-
avoidable. On the contrary, we hear
shortly that he is at Winchester, fol
to'0'''g up an advantage, then at Flint
Hlil, and then quite unexpectedly the
telegraph announces the third defeat
OF Early's army at Fishers Hill, with
the loss of Is pieces of artillery, and
OF course other important captures.
6et0een 30 and 60 miles from. the point
lohere the first battle acos fought, AND ALL
THIS WITHIN WEEK! We think the
most obtuse intellect in the county can
not tail to perceive that this is gener-
alsh1p OF practical kind. Had Nc
Clellan been in command, and taking
the precedents set by him on other oc-
caslons, how long would it have taken
hlm to get ready to pursue Early after
the first battle? He wouId no dopbt
have remained at Winchester at least
q week, and by that time Early would
either have been far away, or so strong
" reinforced as to turn agg,essor and
drive back Mcclellan. Again, Sher-
ldan fought his whole command. He
did not tell the 9th Corps to go into
the fight and keep the 10Th as a look
er-on; Crook was not sent to make a
charge for AverilPs ediication, but the
whole fighting force pitched into the
work and did it we'll This also was
contrary to McClellan,s neneraIsh;.on