The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-16
wade and Chandler vs.. Meade and McClel-

~~~~~ ~~~ WV
The committe on the conduct of the war
has deemed it q part of its duty to condemn
General Meade and sustain General Butler.
To effect this. the failure at the Petersburg
mine was attributed to the former, while the
latter was exonerated for his failure to attack
Fort Fisher. In order further to injure the
reputation OF General Meade, the committee
inquired of sundry generals known to be I'M
friendly to him, concerning the estimation in
in which he was held by the army of the Pc
tomac. The testimony ELECTED upon this
point will be found of interest upon another
not directly connected with it:
ssGen. Pleasanton stated that the cavalry under
his command did not retain confidence in the
ability OF Gen Meade. Gen. BIrney states the
same about his corps, stating that, while General
Meade was rather liked as man, he was not
regarded man of resolution, or one who was
willing to assume the responsibility required by
the position he occupied. Gen. Howe states that
in his opinion the rams ana file of the army do
not regard Gen. Meade as possessed ofthat zeal,
activity and energy oecessary to carry offens-
i've warfare generally, but he admits that most of
the corps commanders would probably say that
Gen. Meade was eminently qualified for the COM
mand he now holds. Gen. Howe qualities, how
ever, by stating that, so far 90 he has observed
principal officers of the army of the Potomac
including the commanding generals, are governed
by the same sympathes, feelings and cons dera-
tions which had been infused into the army by
the commander during the Peninsula campaign.
Gen. Birney says that many OF the principal Off
GERS believed that Gen. Mcclellan was the only
general who should command this army, although
there is not as much of that feeling now form
erly. Gen. Doubleday says that there has always
been great deal of favoritsm in the army of the
Potomac. No man who is an anti-slavery man,
or antiMcClellan, can expect decent treatment
in that army as at present constituted"
Among the three generals in the army who
were found willing In their testimony to
deny the capacity of General Meade to fill
his present position, one of them is frank en-
ough to admit that "most of the corps COM
manders would probably say that General
Meade was eminently qualified for the posi-
ton he now holds" Why were not the opin
ions of these corps commanders placed on rec
ord against those of Pleasanton, Howe and
Birney, If the committee wished in its report
to show the estimate in which Meade is held
by the army of the Potomac? The promin-
ence given TO their unfavorable estimate OF
him can hardly escape the attention of the
most casual reader, while the admission OF
Howe, showing that estimate to be the excep.
ton AMI not the rule, In that army, might
very easily escape the attention, or be slight
ly regarded, in the connection in which
1t stands. The report herein indicates
the fashion in which the committee have been
connecting history.
1t was, however, compelled to record what
was, to 1t, very unpalatable truth in rela-
ton to the feeling yet entertained in the ar
my of the Potomac for Mcclellan Not all
the efforts OF the committee, and of the ad
ministration and its party, desperate as they
were, frequently dirty, and In most instances
criminal could prejudice the minds of that
mat ha nylr Rod onlA, n
humane and generous gentlemanwho first or.
ganized it and led it to victory. How few oil
that old army of the Potomac, who were left
alive after the seven days battle, and the
less glorious, but more imposing trium ph OF
Antietam, are yet included in it's present or
ganization! Yet, in the memory of the sur
vivors, the skill and virtues of Mcclellan have
been kept so fresh and green that they have
leavened the opinions of all su bsequent add.
| tions. They felt the loss of their chief in the
slaughter of Fredericksburg. and mourned IL
| blood and bitterness the absence of his geniu;
in the carnage of Chancellorville. A mistak
en- belief in his presence reused them to meet
the enemy at the most perilous crisis of the
battle at Gettysburg, and in the march from
| the Rapidan to the James they were painful
! ly conscious of the useless sacrifice. We d.
not recur TO losses CccaSioned by his removal
| from command, because we wish now aud
here to cast no censure upon any subsequent
commander of that army but when his op
pOneDts in IL testify To the strength of the ut
tachment yet felt for him in in its ranks, be-
fore a congressional committee which has
pursued him in the deepest hatred, simple
Justice requires that public attention SHOULD
be pointedly called to the fact Chicag6
| Times.
The wicked persecution of General McClel-
Ian. simply because, in politics, he differed
from the administration, will not be forgotten
by the people. Mr.. Lincoln yielded to the
pressure, and thus McCiellan's plans were
thwarted, his promised reinforcemeDts with
held. land himself finally removed. His treat.
ment by the administration was shameful be.
yond any precedent. 1t cost the country
thousands of precious lives, millions upon
millions of dollars, and two years prolong
alton of the war, which would all have been
saved had Mcclellan been sustained as Grant
was.