Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-02-02
General Butler.

General Butler has made grayo mistake
In his farewell order to the Army of the
James he says. Il have refused to order
useless sacrifices Of the lives of such sol.
diers; and am relieved of your command. "
Does he really believe that he has been re-.
moved because he would not slaughter his
soldierR lie is uni ust to himself and 10
the Government in permitting himself to
utter such al insinuaton.
or the patriotism, ability, and energy of
Gen. Butler there can be no doubt. But
Of the fact that, from Great Bethel to VII.
mington, the purely military movements
which he has directed have not been suc-
cessful there is also no doubt. Certainly il
is no shame to SO effective military COVER.
nor that ho should be proved to be no sol.
dier A mans qualities, however eminent.
are not necessarily equal in every direction;
and his removal from military command
is really no more discreditabe to him than
the Withdrawal from the chair of mathe.
matcs OF q professor who had no taste Of
algebra.
When the war began, and there was nm
imperative need of soldiers they were moi
to be found. The few rrgularly-educated
ofisers were all employed, while the demand
for thousands more was unsatisfed. The
Government was compelled, therefore. ia
call civilians to the service; and those who
had shown general intelligence, fidelity, ca.
pacity. and promptness, and who from their
antecedents and positions were likely to in.
spire general confidence, were naturallv and
properly selected. Among such no one
was more conspicuous than General But.
Ter. He was the earliest hero of the war.
His decision and comprehension and rapid.
ity gave us Annapolis and Baltimore; but
they were moral rather than military vic.
tories When Farragut took New Orleans
the same qualities made General Butler an
unsurpassed head Of the government ofthat
city. But in all these instances he shone
by the force Of his executive and admins
trative skill rather than by distinctive mil
itary superiority. Yet such was the pub
lic admiration Of his services and capacity
that his recall from New Orleans and bis
replacement by Gen. Banks were felt to be
misfortunes.
That his campaign before Petersburg was
public disappointment will not be denied.
That he had not cut off reinforcemen nts from
Richmond, as he supposed, is clear; and
that the subsequent military operations in
his department, down to tho failure at VIII
mington, have not been successful, is inds.
putable. 1t is merely the truth to say that
the public faith in his purely military abil.
ity is shaken, and that his retirement FROM
a purely military command can not be con
sidered public misfortune. The war has
winnowed our soldiers. The genius of
Grant, Sherman, Thomas, and Sheridan
has been established. Their nanes certify
success. But whom the reverse is the case,
there can ba no general complaint of the
mere fact OF removal.
1t is very foolish and untrue, therefore.
to spesk OF the removal of General Butler
as in itself disgrace. II il no more dis.
graceful to him than it would be TO General
Grant to be found out Of place on shin of
the line, Nor isit just or wise to assume
that his removal is due to any kind Of iesi.
ousy, When there are fair and obvious
reasons for an action, there is no need of az.
suming foul aud obscure ones. IfThemas.
or Sheridan. or Sherman were removed
from military command at this time tbs
country would justly demand to knew The
reasons, and there might we'll be suspioion
Of intrigue or doubtful purpose. Rut with
the military career az Gen. Butler plsinly
before us 1t is not dificult to see that III
removal dees net necessarily imply discrsdit
either 10 himself Or to tie Goyernment