The Portland daily press., 1864-10-07
Point, &C., and intrench themselves under tne
protection of the gunboats, until they Snouio
be able to hold the positions.

Point, &C., and intrench themselves unuer 'ne
protection of the gunboats, until they should
be able to hold the positions.
After repeated efforts, Gen. Mcclellan
promised 1000 men to be ready at a time
named to proceed down the river. Captain
cravens of the Navy-the same officer who
90 calamity went down with the Tecumseh in
Mobile bay few weeks since-acting upon
this promise, collected all the gunboats of his
aotilla al Matthias Point at the time agreed
upon, but the troops dad not arrive. When
Mcclellan was called upon officially for expla-
nation of this disregard of his promise, he
said, "his engineers were of opinion that so
large body of troops could not be landed,
sand therefore he had not sent them" When
reminded that the landing was matter for
which the Navy had become responsible, and
for which they had made preparation anu
that he had assumed the responsibility OIL
thwarting an important movement WiInou' a
word of information to the cooperating naval
officers. he finally agreed that Inc troops
should be sent the next night. Capt Cravens
"was again notified, and again had his flotilla
sin readiness for the arrival of the troops,
.but no troops were sent down at that time.
s.nor were they ever sent down for that pur-
"pose." M
McClelans only reason for again violating
and thwarting so important an arrangement,
and playing fast and-loose with the Naval
Department, was, she FEARED IL might
"brtng on general engdgementw
The President, who had united with the
Navy Department in urging this measure,
manifested great disappointment when he
learned of its failure, and Capt. Cravens threw
'up his command on the Potomac, and applied
ito be sent to sea, saying that by remaining
''here and doing nothing. he was but losing
"his reputation, as the blame for permit
sting the Potomac to be blockaded would be
Imputed to him and the flotilla under his
command"
Mcclellan, with $4,000 well disciplined
troops, was afraid to spare 1000 men to open
and keep clear the Potomac-the great water
communication with the capital-lest gener-
al engagement should be brought on! Was
he COWARD, or did he wish to have the Po-
tomac barred by rebel batteries against ves-
sells bearing the flag of his country?
Such is one of the brilliant chapters in the
military career Of man who is now before
the American people, claiming their suf'rages
for the highest position known to a free peo-
Pile. With all the powers of the Government
to back him, with twenty millions Of people
to encourage him by their magnetic sympa-
thies, with the prayers of all good men to
nerve his resolutions, we find him, from first
to last, exhibiting weak, yascillating, hesi-
tating, undecided spirit, never ready to move,
never willing to strike, always behind in CO.
operating with the powers of the Government,
always promising but never accomplishing,
jealous of his own reputation, suspicious OF
others and constantly fault-fnding, and reach
ing the acme of his valor and proves by re-
fusal to detach 1000 men from his command
to free the great water avenue to the national
capital from rebel Instructions, through fear
that it would bring on a general engagement
between 10000 of the enemy, and 1sl 900 of
his own well disciplined troops!