New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-18
Gen. sigei'. Ea,s Expedition.

SIR: BY the courtesy Of friend, am ena-
bid lay before your roscrs the fncrs relating tie
campaign Of Gen. Sigel. communicated by officer
Of his command. in private letter Of Int date.
Those who know Cen Sigel best refuse TO belisrs
him Incompetent the earlier reports OF the actions u
Western yirgnia would lead " believe, and IL bAs
occurred many that officer OF less reputation thsa
zen sigcI would have had large forco OF Retels
sent against him. tue result Of which " keep
eufoIcmeuts from Lee
extract ffon the letter.
The Gonerai has again been 'Halscked' or. II
ot O. words lie has been sacrificed TO tie West PV.at
cement wnich is dl.coDrolDy. In this Instance ~
srelns me. and to- those erSut with the fsc4,
to bs nstfuu- piece Of iD'quty. IL Is worse than
cu-hlood.,. nutder 1t Is all attempt ~ destroy the
haId.w rrpAtaion Of on officer IN the miast %
bril- iant iiad he made mistakes In admins
traitor. met with disaster In bnte there wosld have
boon apparent FOR the IN lstice and injury
done: hut On the accomplishment VI one oi &c
best conccye0 aud meet successfully executed strategic
81 viii gife you few facts and leave you to Judge
When tho General took command VI the Department "
West VIsinia. the troops were scattered over tie iiDe
Of ID. Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad hut partially
equipped. disciplined or bii:adei The st,f WIS vsrZ
dec.tyc in appointment. And tie troops f"r wait u
disc pine AMI employment we're in measure aen.os
sized hut little siOft had been made ~ trtify the
principal plIoes ia the department., ana generaly.
things Ia than confused conditiai Seaios-
~ b,d lie bched this ciotic ste uf things before -
wins order Ell ~ it out expcdioBs uncer officers
VIII. we're lie largely. II rot nr,GeiLer indet
q him. Without nufmur lie devoted day aud nigga.
bis energies the Organization discipline. clothing,
euip,shc hrgndng. and lO wnrdlng these Troops ana
transportation To The points designated.
"heGr he hal entii ely eompotcd bis task II became
apparent that thes0 expci Dls were mp ictosOls
aud modified materially, 40 as v, cDpIorpi IN
plan presented b! Gru. SIe, VITO was Instructed -
exeeute tAls lev paa. tie feature of which va
m expe tion under Gearr.l Crook. to destroy pr.
ton VI tho Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. the sat
works az. Noss 81 the est Troops IN tAe Departments
wee sent 10 General Cr,OA and c.lcc.le lie enely,
another small rxpc ton was tilted out az i'e'ory Ice
OF the troup1 were Concentrated at MatinsorrI
e. akc demonstration up tho SHENANDOAH sai.ey -
g. u.,ide tie cIriay and thus secfe tr}ond cuht2-
sncy tue success OF Crook (inciudng Averiiis Cav
lIyI
cers but his applications Reused. although ;hs
uicois asked for unemployed lie vas tsereaoIe
Obliged 10 take such officers ar We're In the department
oi.cos without Lcd experience. bs staff. aud with
these he decided ~ share tie depiyatons and dangers
of TIE collnin ~ the Valley.
. lie lad scarcely stTtd with this column before
Ges aely Sas app'ntsd 10 the command OF the no0ps
II he baltimore aud Ohio iihroGd. making hiia II
Tact independent In bis command. 80 that Gen Sied
u - Bearule dependent upoa his goodwill foI ~
oorcemcnt. Ac. Ills. too. sabnlits. TO w.,h.St
mutuiuI. About tbs time he notified Gen. GIsa&
tast ~ order ~ tiksand occupy Stauaron. 500 sdi
iunll Infantry necessary. nut was to.u that he
not cI pcctd Ia proceed further than Cedar Creek.
" bile otncr Generals and Department commanders
Kept Informed VI the movements OF TIE army. Gen.
Sigl T.. left In isnoincv III regard 10 Il. ants nave
meats. Lees movements his own an< all other move
menls. ho did uoI know Whist lad oecons vi CTooE
nor whether Grant successful defeated. lie
obliged ina every taiag fr hui.e. lie becaas
very soie.tgs about Ctook. aAd. ia order 10 lears
definitely aad AID lin II ssble. lie continued TO ad,
up the va.loy. Had he not done this. DrecAis.
ridges forces, uG.Iod you'd have fleu Crook and
cIu,lei him. cad could thea have turned Oh Sgel and
d,i~td him. and then hive gune to tho aid Of Less
out tAe aayanee up tho Valley divided the enemy,
secured the success OF Crook le end aimed att aud
proven cd re-enIoroonsats to Leo
" Tue battle gt Newmarket was fought by GeA
"a lees nst ar a
nine thousiEd Of the enemy. or This six thousand
more than two thousand were oavahy. posted taS
extreme len and not IA tho center. has been
serted. which were uatgustwortly. and Indeed worse
thu nothing, They might have routed tie enemy bs4
lacy ehsised on one or two DECISIONS but instead "
this they gave way before tho inaatry Of the encnv
nd obliged ten. sre to fall back TO aaohcr position.
Il was however oaly a! the rTa position where there
was any serious f.Lt.ng The enemy was t,o badly
crippled to follow up 10 the second position. Desas
his there were two regiments Of infantry In vuS
that we're not brought ~ although Gen Sisel had
b,ongit up. They were uader Con. sullivan tson-lA.
low OF hey) aud bad tie! como up Ia time or a. ~
v I'll Lave defel ted and driven Il % enemy.
lin order guard his TRAINS aud project his wcande@.
II Was urcessag! for Gen. aisol either To divide ife
forces. which would leave him 900 weaA 90 stand agur.t
IT, cAemy, or ~ Withdraw ali has troops lie decided
20 ith.aw a. aud did So in perfect orer and GIo-
Tested. As soon his trains (ha,ing ast
nothing whs,c,erl he commenced TO advance arsin,
bug lAd scarcely commenced when he was supiTsedeA
'"Thus. after OIL his tolls and dangers indicated,
with god poet uf sUcCess. aud who the cUnbtrp
vas rejoicing AT tho triumph ~ his column uades Gen
Crook which tho only object Of his expedition. no
vas dhsraocd. Il ho bad met with disaster 5eea
defeated.
As matters now stand. Hunter will reap the benefit
Of Cen ~ ,cs llbois and successes He has already
received tho Genor.cmrEts the Goncrsl had ordered
nd ao Las u,u ccd 10 occupy tho position and fUI n
tac Junction VITA Cro,h which Sige Nou have dvnst
lie VAL have OF tho best equ.ppod and ossani1ek
co,,,s the army With which Sigoi would have done
much.
Il should Be understood ttat nj the time Gen. Srel
sl hrcs he bud large tram since BE- bad with him AZ
hat was ,s-cutia! to completely equipped corps. and
much mOIe IN pop rt0n t,an would belong 10 TIC lille
column no Lad with him in the valley. no that II va
irportas ~ guard it properly and secure its safety.
This npletc equipment designed tor tho two ooh
usns n,scr Crook and Stale when they were united.
and Nefe banded over In aatt, to Hnntvr.
" Ia regard 10 the approaching canpa Gen. Siee b
of necessity dcuIcd i.h any liberal moveTcut which
eae.lp plates tia destruction Of the Rebellion. and zoe
overthrow Of oil clucs parties antagonstlo 10 IVA
Democratic, republican Institutions.
lie has tsk the personal ann"yanoo OF the arbitrary
Military ruIe and espionage Gnel the direction oil ss
lrck Wet voint. now Acknowledging. and whose cea
tral point l. at Washington. lie cannot bal behrve
tat the tendency " tins Is the suhugation Of rho no
the word rcgaI.s The sabjngation Of France D, NaPe
lenn-thc only differences. II any. Is Tint fr,n.r ~
h ID IN suhjeciion by man. The United sta'oS oy
a clique" Nc York, June ID, isdl. q.
Gen. Sherman having asked the SuperlnteNd-
emf of construction trim whit time wond take hiu
~ renl,ce Tie brr 60 Kesaca- ana having hces
told thtt would take AZ least four days iepl"di Sir,
1--WE yOS toTy-ei'ht honrs or reuon ID the ront