Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-07-06
ILsoN. ABBEvILLE, S. c., FRIDAY, JULY 6; 1866

Il hlDA j u ULY y, lSOt
meet him, and these he should have rushed
upon and overwhelmed at whatever cos. :.
Cautious, and wishing to spare tho blood
Of his men, lie commenced regular siege
at Yorktown, giving his enemies time to
concentrate sufficient numbers and drive
him back. Ms a nagnanimous enemy he
respected Mcclellan, but thought ho had
been promoted too rapidly for his own
good-before lie had ripencd in command
and gained the experience requisite for the
supreme position. Had he been kept in
subordinate capacity the two first years
of tho war, rising from division to a
corps, and thence to command in chief, he
would have beon the'greatest of our SOL
diers. lie had the best natural gifts and
highest intellectual training, and was just
becoming fitted, and best fitted, for his po-
sition when removed .IEad he been sup
ported by the government he might have
taken Richmond two years earlier, and it
was with joy Mr.. Davis heard Of his removal
after the battle Of South Mountain and
Antietam. Such sacrifices of officers to
the ignorance of an unwarlike people, anx-
ious to find in him a scapegoat for their
own lack Of discipline or endurance, were
unavoidable in the early stages of every
popular war. ....
Pope, while Secetary of War, he had
never been able to mako serviceable, and
Pope held his own gallantly. His mind
was not less inflated than his body. He
was kind of American gascon, but with
scientific attainments. Summer and Sedg-
wick were gallant and able soldisrs-excel.
lent commanders in action, courteous and
reliable n all the relations of life. Hun
ter, of whom asked him specially as one
of my old commanders, was his beau ideal
Of the military gcntleman-tho soul of in
tegrity, intrepidity, true Christian piety,
and honor. Mr. Davis had long been asso-
ciated with him, both in the service, and
socially, and believed Hunters want OF
success duo in great measure to his un-
willingness to bend to anything mean or
sinister. lie was rash; impulsive man
Of action rather than thought; yielding to
passions which he regarded as divine in
stincls or intuitions-tho mental temper of
devotcc or fanatic. .4 = :,
uIs ESTIMATE OF CONFEDERATE GENERALS.
Of tho officers of the Confederate side.
Mr.. Davis spoke in high terms OF Geuer-
al Lee, as great soldier, and pure, Chris
tian gentleman !; also, in praise Of Bragg
and Pemberton, though tho two latter,
from unavoidable circumstances, and ,lle
hostility Of the party opposed to Mr. Da-
Fvis had not been accorded the position due
to their talents by public opinion in either
section Pemberton made splendid do
fence of Vicksburg, and might have been
relieved if the officer commanding the
army sent to relieve hint General Johnson1
had not failed to-obey the positive orders
to attack General Grant which Mr.. Seddon
then Secretary Of War; had sent. If the
same officer,w was upheld in command
By. the anti.administration party, had wig
orouslyr attacked Sherman at Atlanta
when directed, the fortunes Of The war
would have been, changed, a6d7 Sherman
hurled back TO Nashville, over 4 sterile and
wasted country-his retreat little less dis>
7astrous than: Napoleon's from Moscow.
he did not do 50, aud; was relieyed-Gen-
,eral Hood, a true and spirited soldier, taking
his plaee-but the opportunity was: then
gone; and TO- this delay, more than to
any other cause, The Southern people will
attribute their overthrow, when history
comes to .be:truiy written; 3. =, ~: :, :. :,
Brsgg's victory over Rosscrans at1chic-
amapga Mr.: Devils regarded as one of
tue most; brilliant achievements Of the
war. eopsideripg the disparity ofthe forces.
The subsequent concentration Of Grant and
Hooker With Roses ahz and the victory
fM M !ks5 combined forces ii: lI,sakes
L s; sesal, aeaH saadssss1
sa M yi, q lyi7iisss5 5<spsaaS5tf
ssa ii dsas wasf
sBsase "a ths immeguabb lIiity ;pf lis posi-
4pa, h6tinmsdiataly aahef Ehieamauga. .llet T
astashed Long street; With sle, 900 imen5-l
iabont. a third ef. bis entire. force--to smakal
"a, IL e.