The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-01

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I, Gen. Mcclellan replied. with what infor,
nation be possessed, and added: ~ 4 regret
that YOU iHndit necessary to. .eDReh every
dispatch have the honor to 5receiye from
you in q, spirit Of fanlt finding, and that
you have noe yet found time to say one
word in 5commendation of the recent
achieyements of this army, or even to al'
lude to themn e1sa-1Al
Gen. Mcclellan then goes onto paint the
condition, after its victories, of this heroic
army, hastily reorganized after the crush .
ing defeats it had sustained under General
pope. and far from its base Of supplies on
the Upper Potomac. In three weeks from
the day when the command of the shatter-
ed legions had been hurriedly thrust into
his hands Pennsylvania and Maryland had
been delivered, the capital saved, and the
triumphant enemy driven back beyond the
river in defeak 70 have followed that en-
emy would, in the circumstances, have been
sheer madness. Gen. Lee had taken up
positions and was receiving reinforcements
in Virginia. Gen. Mcclellan at onee pro-
ceeded to urge the rapid reorganization of
his own forces to enable him to resume the
offensive in the enemy's own country. 'If
am reinforced all ask" he telegrsphed,
':and allowed to take my own course, will
hold myself responsible for the safety of
Washington"
The reinforcement of the army and the
forwarding of supplies went on, however,
most slowly. Clothing ordered to Hagers-
town on the 7th October, for instance, did
not arrive till the 18th, nor did the cloth
ing of one corps reach that corps till the
end of the month. Horses were deficient in
great numbers for both artillery and cavalry
The President visited Gen. Mcclellan in
person during this delay and reiterated the
strongest assurances of his trust in him, and
bis confidence that ell would be done that
could be; and Gen. Mcclellan winds up his
sketch of the difficulties in the way of his
movement with calm and full assertion OF
his own superior competency, as COM
mander, to determine the facts in regard to
the fitness of his men to enter upon great
campaign in a hostile country over the
"General in Chief in his Office at Washing
ton"
Late in October the advance began. On
the 9th of November the army was massed
near Warrenton, in Virginia, ready TO act
in any direction. Longstreet Was in the
immediate front at Oulpepper, jackson,
with Hill, near Chester and Thornton's
Gaps, and everything gave promise of a
speedy and decisive opening of the cam
paign.
On the night of the 7th, General kMcClel
Ian was relieved of the command of the Ar
my of the Potomac, which was transferred
to General Ambrose E. Burnside. rs.
Three days afterward General Pleasanton
was attacked by Longstreet and Stuart
q General Mcclellan TINS neenclndes his
sThis report Is in fact the historg Of she
Army of the Pesemac. DariRge the period
occupied in the organization of that army
it served as . barrier against the advance
of lately victorious enemy, while the for
tification of the capital was in progress, and
under the discipline it then received, il &C
quired strength, education, and some OF
that experience which is necessary to sue
cess in active operations, and which ena-
bled it afterward to sustain itsfelf under
circumstances trying to the most heroic
men. Frequent skirmishes occurred along
the lines, conducted with great gallantry,
which Injured our troops to the realities OF
war,
"The army grew into shape but slowly
and the delays which attended on the OBJ
tanning of arms continued late into the
winter Of 1862, were no less trying to
the soldiers than to the people of the coun-
try. Even at the time of the organization
of the peninsular campaign some Of the
finest regiments were without rifles, nor
were the utmost exertions on the part OF
the military authorities adequate to over
come the obstacles to active service"
when at length the army was in con
dition to take the field the peninsular cam
paign was planned and entered upon with
enthusiasm by the officers and men. Had
this campaign been followed up as it was
designed, cannot doubt it would have re
suited in glorious triumph to our arms,
and the permanent restoration OF the pow
er Of the government in Virginia and North
Carolina, if not throughout the revolted
states. 1t was, however, otherwise order
ed, and the Army of the Potomac was re
called from within sight of Richmond and
with the Army of Virginia.
The disappointments Of the campaign ON the
peninsula had not damped their ardor or
diminished their patriotism. They fought
wei, faithfully, galantly, under General
Pope; yet were compelled to fall back on
Washington, defeated and almost demor-
allied
The enemy, no longer occupied ill guard
ing his own capital, poured his troop, moth
ward, entered Maryland, threatened Penn
sylvania, and even Washington itself -
Elated by his recent victories, and assured
that our troops were disorganized and dis
pirited, he was confident that the seat Of
war was now permanently transferred to
the loyal States, and that his own exhaust
ed soil was to be relieved from the burden
of supporting two hostile armies. But he
did not understand the spirit which anima
ted soldiers of the Union | shall not, nor