Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-01-30
The end of Another Virginia
Campaign-McClellan.

seventeen months ago Tue army OIL tue
Potomac, 80, 600 strong, lay within twenty
miles of the rebel citadel, while I50, 900
men-nearly the whole strength of the.
Coniederacy-werc gathered in front to
resist its advance. The Peni usula was
abandoned, and with it the opportunity OF
the army for usefulness and success. It's
career since then has been long struggle
with a great mistake. 1t has marched,
countermarchcd, advanced, rotreated,
fought, dug, labored endured, and blsd
simply to demonstrate that the mind which
directed its movements was possessed by
huge blunder. Ten times over that dem
onatration has been made, but the blunder
has been still! persisted in. Spite has ad'
ded siubborness to stupidity, and the army
Of the Potomac has paid the heavy penal
ty. In July, 1862, MCCLELLAN on the
James river gave occupation to almost the
entire force Of the rebellion. Since that
time, with the army moved to the front OF
Washington, a third of the rebel force
has sufieed to keep it at bay, and twice
has been strong enough to drive it north
i of the Potomac. This result was clearly
foreseen by the best military men in the
country, and we ask attention now to the
impressive words in which Gen. MeCLEL.
Ian implored HALLECK to rescind his fa-
tai order, Withdrawing the army from the
James,
The following is McCLELLAN's letter.
BERKLEY, Va, Aug. 4--I2 NJ.
Maj, Gen HaAeck, Commandments Chief:
Your telegram of last evening is received
l must confess that it has caused me tho
greatest pain | ever experienced, for ana
conuinced that the Ortter TO a0uldraO this
arnty 10 Aqaia Greek scW prore Disastrous
III tie ertrG03e TO our cauSe. IJear IL WI
be Jatal biolc. Several days are peces
sary to complete the preparations for SO
important movement as this, and while
they are in progress, beg that careful
consideration may be given to my state
ment. This army is now in excellent dis
IClDlluC ullu CCuUltlOLs We uOlu u NS-
bouchee on both banks Of the James River,
so that we are free to act in any direction
and, with the assistance of the gunboats,
consider our communication as secure.
We are twenty-five miles from Rich
mond, and are not likely to meet the ene-
my in force sufficient to fight battle un.
til we have reached fifteen to eighteen
miles, 1yhicG briSgS as pr0cticuly aOithia
ten miles Of Richmond. Cur largest line
Of land transportation would be from this
point twenty five miles, but with the aid Of
the gunboats we can supply the army by
wprter, during its advance, cer;ainiy to
within twelve miles of Richmond. At
AGuia Creek We would be seventy five
miles from Richmond, with laud trauspor.
tation all the way. From here to Fortress
Monroe is a march of seventy miles. for
regard it as impractible to withdraw this
army and lis material, except by land
The result Of the movement would thus DO
to march 145 miles to reach point now
ouly 20 m,,es distant, and to deprive our.
selves entirely Of the powerful aid OF the
gunboats and water transportation. Add
to the certain decentralization Of this army
which would ensue, the terribly depressing
effect upon the people of the North, and
the strong probability that it would inau.
ence foreign powers to recognize our ad-
versares; and these appear to me Gv:tic-
lent reasons to make it my imperative duty
to urge, in the strongest terms afforded by
our language, that this order be recnded,
and that 80 far frcm recalling this army,
it may be promptly reinforced, 10 enable
it to resume the offensive.
It may be said that there are no rein
lorcemeuts available. point to General
Burpside's forces. those of Gen, Pope, not
necessary to maintain strict defense in
front Of Washington npd Harpers Ferry
to those portions Of the Army of the West
not required for a strict defense there
Here, directly IN front ofMiS araIg, is tie
heart Of he Rebellion. d IS here hat al
or resources 8houM be Collected 10 StJ9ke
he bi0W Which WW determine tie tate of
the notion. .4h points of secoadry inpOr.
tance cLSephere ShouM be abandoned, an4
eus,y auaHaJle man brought here, and ths
Rebellion as eru8he3. II matters n0t acha
partial revsrSfS ,ce 0,ay meet wih ess
wliere here is tie true defense Of Hash
ington; 1! is here on he banks Of the
James River that the fate Of The UHis1
S4orM be decided.
Clear in my conviction of right, strong
in the conciousness that have ever been,
aud still an actuated solely by love Of my
country, knowing that no ambitions or
selfish motives have influenced me from
the commencement Of this war, I do now,
what never did in my life before, l en-
treat this order may be recinded. If my
counsel does not prevail, l will with a sad
heart obey your order to the utmost of my
power, devatng to the movement, one of
the utmost dellcacy and difficulty, what.
ever skill may possess, and may God
grant that | mistaken in my forebodings,