The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-01-22
Il II f. PHO T..
Gen. McClellan's Letter from Harri
sons Bar.

Harr!-oD'- Bar. immediately aiIef TIE orpa
battles OF the Seven lays, is one Of the
mos, remarkable documents in the history
OF the var. It forecasts with statesman
vision the sound political as we'll as the
eound military policy upon which the wal
should lave been conducied-a policy up,
on which. at the time the later was writ.
ten, no one will deny that vast majority
OF the loyal North were cordially united
The sound solution Of the perplexins prob
lens which had then engaged the atten
1on Of the government and OF those which
emerged in sub-equen, events, are here
given with marvellous brevity and pres
1ience:
IIEADoC4tTERs AMY y THE Por M'c
1AaP NEAR iiasEf>oS sLANDING "
Monda.. Juiy 1852. J
Mn. PRe.IpEy have been fully '
Informed that the rebel army i ~ our
front. with ihe purPo-e "f Overwhelming
us hy attacking our position ar reducing
US hv hIockaiiug our river c"m'"u'I-
cartons. cannot Int regard our condl-
ton A. critical. aud earnestly desire. ~
view OF po>.ihe conIir genries to lay Be
fore ynur excellAurt for Your private con
sileration nv general views COZ cern'ng
the Existing sta = of the rebellion although
they do no, strictly relate 10 the situation
Of The amy. or strictly come within the
scope Of my offirial duties. These views
amount 10 convictions. An! are deeply I'M
pressed upon nv mind and heart pnr
t.suSa tpnst never he abandoned. II IS lhr
cause Of free institutions AMI self govern
men,. Tie Constitution aud Union must
be pre>eIved whatever may he the coSI
in time treasure and blood II secession
;s snrcessful other di>-oi lTions are clearly
to b. s-An in The future. Let nelFher
military disaster, political faction nor tor
eion war shake our settled pHrpo>e - en-
force the rqnai op"rallnn OF The laws "'
the Unrei States upon the prope ol eF-
ery .,a,p. The time has come when IA"
Government mn-, determine upon civ,i
snd military policy covering the whole
ground of onr national tr0ub e. he res
%pon,biTi, Of determining. debating and
sunnorring such civil aal military pohcN .
and of directing the whole course OF ma
sional aft .irs in regard To The rebellion
must now he assumed and exercised bi
Won ar our eaas4 will hr lost. The Con
s,itution oives Won power sufficient even
for the present terrahe exlgency. his re-
belion has assumed the character OF war ;
"a surh !, should b. rega-i4i. and II
shouIj b.. conducted upon ihe highest
nr;nrirl.S known TO Christian civilization
I, .i,or'I ~ hp = var looking 70 The sub
i,r,,,nu nf the i,aop'e IF any sac On ANY
avar., l. ,bantl 90, I've A. Al war np
on popnlaion bur agrlnst armed f"'cf~
and poliiic4l organizations Neither con
fisr,,ion of property. political executions
Of persons. territorial organlztlon, "f
s,ares Or forcihle abolition of slavery
should be contemplated for a moment -
In pro>eru,iug the war all private proper
~ and unarnei uer~ons should be strict
ly prn'ertel. -uhj tct ONLY TO rhe necessity
Of military operations AL private pro-
perty taken for military use should be palf
or receip'ei for. pillag~ and waste sh"ul'
be treated a high criin1S. All unnecessary
trpspas- s,rrnly prohibited. aud offensive
dem.anor bv ,he military towards cl ZEN
promptly rpbtkel Military arrests Ss"aI'I
no, b.. tolerated px,.~iI IL places where A.
tive hu-rilitie, exist. and oarh~ not reqnfr-
al bv eoartlnent- cnr~ii utiona " mad"
ahould BE- neither demanded nor received
Military government should be cohilnei
70 The prpServa.iou If pnnlic order and the
Drotecrinn of political rights Military
mower -hnul1 not la allowed to interfere
with tn. relations # >ervtn lie. either h'
supporting ~ Inpaiilng the authority a.
ihe master, except for depressing disorder,
As in other cases Slaves cOntraban nn-
der The act Of Cnngre>s, seeking military
protection. should receive it The right
OF the government 10 appropriate perma>
nentv to its own service claims "t slave
tabor shouid be asserted and the right of
he owner 10 compensation theref"r
Should be racognizei This principe
might he extenei upon groun Is ot mill
tarv nrcc->ity aud security 10 All the slaves
within a partlcnlrr STATE ihn' working
IN AnUif's~lbl III Ntl'''i S'''F' "h'i ~
ri. perhaps IN Western Virginia. a-", and
possibly even in Narvland The eXp~firrncI
Of such measure is only a question ~
time A system Of policy thus con>tiin-
tinnal and conservative aud p-rvaiei by
the inf Fences af Christianity and freedom
would receive the support of almost AL
truly loy al mn wout deeply impress the
rebel masses aud all foreign nations. and
1t might he hnmbIv hoped thai II world
commend ;'seif IL the 'avar Of the A
mighty Unle>s the principles be mad"
known and approved, ,he effort 20 obtain
requisite forces will be almost hopal"s- -
A declaration Of radical views e>prc ais
upnn slavery. will rapidly fi>inirgrate "u'
presen, armies The policy fthp govern
men, mnSt hp supported hv e. nrenrra'i"n,
of military power. The national fnres
should NOT re di>ppr,ei in expeditions
posts nf occupation and numerous armies.
bur should be mainly colIecred into masses
and hrouph, Ia bear upon the armies
Of the !, hfadara;e Safes. Those armies
iir,-on2 his .iefeslei. the political structure
which they support would soon cea-e la
exist In carr, inr ou' anv system ofpnh-
CIV wh,.h Won mRv farm YOU will require
a Cotnmanaer Chief NJ the army, one
who posses ee rour confidence. understands
ycur views. and who is competent 10 exc