Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-11
NUMBER 4,2OS.

would have got Not many Democrats or con
servative Republicans But, IS might well b,
foreseen. rs the war has been suffered 10 linger
and drag Its slow length along, some mems pas
sions have become aroused others have become
Indifferent as TO how the is pushed, so il goe:
. forward with prospect Of an early end; and al
this time all the power and patronage of the
General Government is brought 10 bear 20 ineul-
cate into the Northern mind this one idea, viz
that slavery was the cause of this war, and
therefore slavery must perish with it. So, the
President said TO the Chicago Clergymen 10 the
effect that the public mind was not vet ripe for an
abolition effort. Feelers had been thrown out
Fremont was sent west he issued an abolition pro-
elamation; II was too soon. Ii startled the public.
He withdrawn. Hunter was sent TO Hilton
Head; he issued like manifesto. From Its effect
it was the public mind still required be vet
more wearied out with the war He therefore
Withdrawn. In the meantime our armies in the
field were not properly supported. They might
do things too quickly. II they had, at an early
day, crushed be armed porer of The rebellion, the
question would Immediately have arisen TO
the re-establishment of government in the Sc
ceded States. Eighteen months ago the admin
istration would not have ventured upon the
avowal that "no State should return without
first abolishing slavery" 1t is thought the pub
lie will stand ii, and it is now made a test
of loyalty, in the States that attempt TO return,
and in citizens of the North.
Lest some NAV suppose these are mere
crude notions. not supported by facts, we VIII,
for little while turn facts, written by Off
GERS of the administration, to-wit: Letter of the
Secretary of War to the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, and report of Gen. McClel-
Ian in regard to the organization and operation
of the army of the Potomac. as printed by the
Senate.
The battle of Bull Run was fought on the 2lst
of July, 1861 On the 22d Mcclellan was or
dered TO Washington, and on the 27th assumed
command of the army of the Potomac; and
from that until in March. 1862 he was employed
in organizing army. On the Sd of February,
1862, (see p. 43,l in letter TO the Secretary OF
War, he pointed out the peninsula as the proper
ground for campaign towards Richmond, start
ING from Urbana. upon The Rappahannoc. and
l 10 to 100000 the proper number of troops.
On the 18th of March, 1862. at council of war,
il was determined that force of p 600 was suf-
fcient to leave to protect Washington, in addi-
iion to those in the forts. Page GO. This was
approved bv the President Id. On the 3lst
the President took from him Blcnkcrs division
ten thousand troops-for Fremont 3,456
men and l09 pieces light artillery were left for
the defense of Washington and Its approaches,
(pages 65. sc. when Mcclellan started on this
|
next day after he sailed on the campaign, the
President wrote him,
And now 10 You really think allow me ask should
permit the line from richmond cia Manassas Junction,
10 this city be entirely open except what resistance
could be presented by l than twenty thousand unor-
gained troopSl
On the Sd of April. the troops of Gen Wool,
to the amount of ten thousand men, at Fort
Monroe, were taken from him by order of the
President. Page IS. On the 4th. General Nc
DowelPs corps of 80 900 men were taken from
him and detained in front of Washington. Page
az. He saws: "To me the blow was dis
couraging. 1t frustrated my plans of operation.
1t fell when | was too deeply committed to with
draw. 1t compelled the adoption of another, a
different and less effective plan of campaign. Ii
made rapid and brilliant operations impossible.
II fatal error" (p. ~ and who commit
ted that error? the President. See also a letter
from Gen Keys to Senator Harris, of April 9Th
This army being reduced by Is troops, Of them
among The best in the service and without the support Of
the navy the pAnto which We are reduced leaves scarcely
any resemblance to the one voted for. Page 90.
After Mcclellan had got into the enemy's coun-
trv to-wit in front of Yorktown, in this crippled
condition, the President wrote him the
9th of April, in which this threat Is conveyed
And once more let me tell you, ii is indispcn-
sable to gou that you strike blow Page 81.
With all these threats he could not force The Gen
era TO precipiatc his raw soldiers upon the field
works and cntrenchments of the enemy, where
they would have met a certain death. But he
overcame all obstacles at Yorktown and at Will
liams sburch. On the 10th, and again the l4th
of Nav. from the banks of the Cinckahominv he
wrote 10 the Secretary of War and TO the Presi-
dent saving he would eight the whole rebel
army with whatever force | may have" No
troops should be now left unemployed" IF i
am not reinforced, 1t Is probable will be obliged
TO fight nearly double my numbers (7O,OOO),
strongly entrenched" Pages "a, 95.
On the 18th of Nav, the Secretary OF War re-
Piled: The President is not willing to uncover
the capital entirely. and then, at some length,
explans that Mcdowell i ordered to advance
and cooperate with tiirty-iive to forty thousand
men bv wav of the Pamunkey. Thi, again COM
l pelled change OF base from the James River 10
the Pamunkev (p. 96). Again, on the oath, the
President assured him Mcdowell would start on
the Doth: bur al later hour on the same day
} notified him that he had Suspended Gen. Nc
Dowells movements to Join him (p. 99) On
the 2sth of Nav, Mcclellan again wrote the
Secretary of War: 1T l. the policy and duty
of the Government to send me BY water all the
well drilled troops available" (p iO4). No rein
, forcements were sent and then. the 3lst of
Nav and 1T of June, the battle Of Fair Oaks
wa, fought. in which we lost 7,0c0 men tp. ll2,
ll4l On the 4th of June the General again
wrote: please inform me what reinforcements,
If anv. can count upon" (p. ia, TO which he
received on the 5th answer 8 / will send YOU
, five new regiments" and there was a vague pro-
mise of "as many as YOU want" (p. ll5) On
the 10th of June, he asked TO have part of
Halleck's forces" sent to him Up. ll6) On the
25th he wrote
The rebel force is stated a; 100000. regret
my great inieronfy IN numbers but feel that in 10
way responsible of il, have filled represent
repeatedly the necessity for reitfurcements.
fet that asking again Tor them lp. l2i)
No renforcements were forwarded until after
the seren dags' fighting before Richmond, and then
ONLY 1000 men at Harrisons Landing lp. 1881.
During the progress of this seven days hight to-
w.t. on the 2sth, the General makes use of the
expressions in letter to the Secretary of War,
which have hecn so severely criticised
81 now know he fnll history of the day.
The loss o. 10th sides terrible p" The sad
remnants ms men .ehave men. Had
twenty Thousand. ten tlou-snd fesn troops %
use morrow. could tak- l.hm have
lot th.s battle because ns foice small
Yoa mus very lsr-e r.uf rrcments, and send
theIa At once feel too earnestly 10 night.
have see too many dead wounded comrade, feel
otherwise than tns the ha, SUSTAINED
II save ths army now tell yoH plainly il . ow- no
Iou haze dane y0ar t.s to sacrifice nis army " ~.
1872
On the first, and again on the third of July,