Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-21
From the Press
The Early Campaigns of the War.
GEN. PATTERSON AND THE CAMPAIGN OF
TIE SHENANDOAH

hE SHENANDOAH.H
The early campaigns of this war havO gone
into history, and men speAk OF the battles Of
Bull Run and Balls Bluff with almost the same
reverence and mystery with which they speak
Of MareHg0 or BuenR Vista. These actions
belong to the past, and, in many respects, the
mep who commanded in these carly DAYS are
almost as absent from the public eye as Napo-
leon or Taylor. Winfield Scott has laid aside
the sword and adopted the pen. johnson is in
retirement Mcdowell is far of 10 California .
their subor linates are now commanding depart.
ments and armies aud men who filled Obscure
positions on their sihifs are now among the most
eminent warriors Of the world One of the
generals then iu command, now living in retire-
menti is beloved AMI respected feliow-towns-
man. He has carried his couutry's sword In
three wars, and by some sad freak OF fortune
tior We think We can use this phrase in the sense
We have written it,) upon bic name is showered
much OF the reprosch Of our early military
failures. So long General Patterson was
content 10 remain silent, aud bow before tbis
opinion, II did not become US TO speak, espeeialv
as all information en- the subject was looked
away 10 bis own archives aud those Of the War
Department The time has come for him 10
speak, and, with his Narrative before us. the
time has come for US 10 express our opinion Of
the merits or dement's q his Shenandoah cam
paign, We welcome the opportunity, for how
evet much We may disseut from the opinions Of
General Patterson, or take exception /, his
political afhnites his fame as a soldier Of
Fennsyl1a1ia is very dear TO the people of our
State The soldier Of three wars-this general
commanding Pennsylvania troeps-this friend
ana iellOW eitlEen' whose history is to such
great extent the history Of cur Commonwealth
has every claim to our just consideration. and
We shall simply be jus, in our criticism tbis
morning.
General Patterson" said the President a,
The close Of an interview that lasted for hga
hours al have never found fault with or cen.
sured you; have never been able 10 SEQ tbat
you could have done anything else than YOU did
90 Your hands were tied you obeyed orders,
ana dil your duty, aud | am satisfied with YOU. y
After carefuly reading this Narrative va 6nd
no Iiihculil in endorsing MIR. Lincoln's opinion,
We have before US the story Of colder, wiz
entered the war with an unusually extensive
experience lie had been an officer in The vsr
OF 1872. lie had held q high command Ii
Mexico, where he Distinguished himself Il r dis.
creton and bravery. When the rebellion brosa
out he was assigned 10 the command Of ,bs
Fenusylvania militia, who were called out bv
the President. While engaged in the dutv n
organizing these ttoops, General Patterson was
placed by OeneTal Scott 10 command Of wbat
was then called "The Department Of Ws,hins-
ton" embracing the States Of Pennsylvania
Delaware, and Maryland, and the District of
Columbia. At that time no military Command
was more important The Rttempt 70 mass ,ba
Massachusetts soldiers through Baltimore bsS
led 10 a memorable and bloody riot. and tha
uprising Of the secessionists in Maryland ha5
entirely severed all Communication Letwssn MI
national capitol aud the loyal States, Here was |
position Of great embarrassment. Patterson. |
BY the mere accident Of circumstances. became /
as it were, the only available general OF 1bs |
county. lie held au independent command 10
al in'ents and PURPOSES, and in this eztraor- J
dinary position acted "A th great decision and
promptitude. To him must be given the credit
of opening cnumuncatiou with Washington
Taking Butler as the 6tst instrument he sen,
him to Annapolis 10 occupy that point. and
secure the route TO the capital. These orders
Butler obeyed The importance Of Annapolis
new, aud the peris We should have incurred II
the lne Of railtoad from the Jdnction ID WaSb-
ingtcn had been destroyed, will phos copclu-
sively, we th,uk, that IA this first act OF lila
embarrassing administration General Patterson
behaved like d soldier and a statesman. Ii NAV
not be too much for US to add that if cou9l
and sagacty had been ut iha, time
shown by other men in high command, many Of
The early mistakes Of the war would have been
avoided
In the carly part Of the war many Of our dis.
'h6 6N'oHSN ihen "ete VI tue aIluluD tnut u would
De temporary iusurree'ion, and might be
EASILY suppressed with a small military force
eW.elear headed men, who saw the real bearing
If this war thought differently, and among tbis
number We must pace General Patterson. lie
iaTly hehesed that large army was necessary
lnd although tia Government overruled H.
conviction, he made many applications for power
10 raise regiments for ''Ihe war" No one nov I
doubts that this would have been the true policy.
he esl!ei ior twenty-five thousand men. and
Fhen communication was opened the cali Was
'yerrued by the military authorities The men
Who answered to Lis call afterwards BECAME tbe
great PennsylSauia Reserve Corps, whose elori. |
'us career General Patterson truly says "iorms ,
me Of the brightest pages in the history Of he
var" Having administered, with great iaip- ,,
nent, the affairs Of his department, General
Patterson took lhs Geld, al the head Of a small
,ojy Of men, for the purpose Of a.tackinS
Harper Ferry. His plan was Submitted 10 /
ieneral Scott and approved. General Palterson ,
Idvanced towards the Potomac, and Johns,on
Eho held HarPer's Ferry, abandoned that poin,
.ndfeil back 10 Bunker llill, position eoui- ]
Instant between Martinsburg and Winchester
)nr army then did not consist Of ten thousand
"A Narrative o, the CampAga 10 the yslsv AZ f,,a
hehA1do ~ 10 1887 By kotsn Patterson, M maicr
shsrai M ., sSiua'ssfs' PhiiadsThA shsH1An g. | {