New-York tribune., 1868-04-07
NEW-YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE. TUESDAY, A

Mcclellan who was supposed 70 nave mao tnc ihnu-
ence Of that extraordinary junto in his elevation 10
the chief command of the army. This presumption
be thinks was countenanced by McClelan's poltlcal
conduct under various circumstances especially dur
ing the presidential campaign of 1864, when he was
the deplorable candidate of the deplorable party OF
peace and compromise" However that may have
been. during the Winter OF lS6l-62, Gen. Mcclellan
was the man on whom was placed the dearest hopes
of the war. His popularity, though founded on the
authorization of confidence rather than any plausi-
BILE grounds none the less assured him the supreme
mower of the moment BY dint Of the daily dithy-
rambics which the press chanted in his praise he had
been made kind Of god and savior for the people,
and an irresistible conqueror for the army. mus
far, however, he had done nothing to sustain me
rank of idol but TO submit to alteration lie hved In
a snmptuous mansion in Washington where he heiu
his court. There he received the Homage winch ID
always poured around the source Of power and ac-
cepted the opportunities Of officers who solicited Oh
favor what was lacking in merit To the rest OF tho ar
my he never showed himself except st grand reviews
He never visited our encampment lie never, 10 my
knowledge attempted TO gain an exact account OF
the state of discipline, the military knowledge ana
the comfort of the troops whom 10 was 10 ieaa
against the enemy In this respect Ae was satIshed
with the official report"
Nj. de lrODIlAnu taxes IItpuSiO o'N'oi"' "
speak of Gen. McClellan's military character,
and as an officer under his command, and an
eyewitness of his prowess his remarks on this point
are no less suggestive than piquint. The bril-
liant picture of the battle of Williamsburg is shaded
by the somber figure of Mcclellan. who was nursing
his doubts mt distance from the battlefield, and his
pernicious influence the snccess OF our arms IS
strikngly set forth during the gloomy interval be-
fore the retreat of Malvern Hill. The crisis OF that
time furnishes occasion for IN uadiiuted criticism
on his imbecile career. 1.-THE disastrous result
of the Seven Days was the logical completion
of that sad campaign which Will forever bear
testimony against the military iucapacity, tho
political blindness, and the denqnencies of every
kind of Gen. Mcclellan In this series OF rcverses
nothing can be ascribed 10 chance nothing TO any OF
the accidental circumstances which can derange the
most skilfully combined Notwithstanding to
any of those disproportions of fore which necessa-
rly crush resistance II is the general-n-chief alone
who Is responsible, and always will be responsible
for the revcrses which were his work. We ought
then to have conquered. Every general Of ordinary
capacity in the command of an army would have led
ns 10 Richmond and the anniversary of our national
independence would have been celebrated IN the con-
quered rebel capital We only needed for this to use
the advantages we had for acting with pr6mptness
and vigor 10 resolutey attack the enemy and over
whem him under our numerical force to pursue
him with the sword i'm his yitals; and We
shonld not then have had To creep on our bellies
10 disodge his government which had already begun
10 pack up lis baggage merely on the news OF our
victory at Williamsburg. But Mcclellan had neither
promptness nor yig0r. Ia his timorous brah so
hisnted by phantOms, our advantages were trans
formed into adverse chances. His troubled look never
saw the enemy but with fantastic eXaggerations nor
his own army but in eXtravagantly diminished pro-
portions so far from attacking, he knew not even
how 10 defend HIMSELF We can follow no further
this searching examination Of the conduct of McCeI-
Ian. which is fortified by singular minuteness and
exactness Of detail never dealing IN vague genefa-
tiee or impassioued appeals, but backing up every
statement with conclusive array Of facts, and leav-
ing the reader in state of vibration between con
tempt for the gcnerai-n-chef and admiration for the
army. which, in spite of everything wronghtout its
own salvation by itsclf, struggling with equal con
stancy both against and against things. and not
permitting itself to be destroyed either by Robert l.
Lee or George Il. Mcclellan
The personal OF the author, which rs no less
honorable 10 his gaanry than his Patriotism, Is IT.
lated with eqna frankness and simplicity He makes
no attempt 10 cxtol the merits Of his own services,
nor TO depreciate the well deserved renown OF his
comrades he writes in fair and impartial splnt,
apparently free from prejudice although ms nara
tive derives n fresh and brilliant coloring from the
profound carnostness Of his convictions. The de-
scrption of the battle Of Williamsburg, in which his
regiment was first brought under fire. and his own
military talents signaIly tested mastery piece Of
oomposition. and cannot be followed even by the
most cold booded reader without thrill OF excite
ment M de Trobriands services in his successive
campaigns were fully appreciated by the Gov
ernment, which showed its sense OF his ability
and deyotcdness by appointments 10 various
posts of honor and responsibility, and promo
tion TO the highest rank in the army OF
volunteers. He has established n new claim to the
gratitude and admiration of the country by the
present work which combines the loftiest sentiments
OF American patriotism, with the kcenness subtety,
and vivacity Of French literary art aud which, 1t IL
70 be hoped win bo speedily given 10 the public at
large in an adeauate English translation.