The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-15
ROBERT E. LEE.
From the Edinburgh Review. for April, 1881

From the Edinburgh Review for April, 1881
! tconcuded.)
Before leaving the subject of the first re.
lief, Of Richmond, so brilliantly accomplish.
cd by the victory on the Chickahominy, 1,
10 necessary to follow McClellan's retreat
not only for the story's sake, but In order Ia
do justice to commander whose i'll suc.
! cees Before Richmond has diminished in the
worlds eyes the great services he performed
for the cause of the Union, both before and
after that fatal check. 1t has been said tbas
sne Federal general had decided before the
Chickahominy to the James. Of this there
can be no manner Of doubt. Nor 10 there
any that The decidipg causes-the failnre of
the hope OF support to his exposed rioht
wing from Mcdowell at Fredericsburu, and
ehe alarm caused by the havoc which Stuart.
In his raid o few days before, produced on
the Federal communications with York ri var
were very sufficient reasons for the pro.
posed change OF base. Unhappily fer. Nc.
Cfe!ian's reputation, he had not, ss before
noticed, issued his orders for the novemeut
when Lees stroke fell on his right. re was
quickened the Federal commander in his in. |
tended operation but it Is hardly less ma.
turai that when the world learnt from bis
dispatches that the severe defeat on the
was followed at once by tire |
retreat to the James, the one was directly |
and wholly ascribed to the other; 40 that
declaration that the uovement
through White Oak Swamp was but "a etra. |
tegic change of BASE" only caused his er.
preston to be caught up and used as a
tsunt against himself, and became q Droverb
10 All cases where beaten general excuses
kha naNaaAikv IF
words.
II Mcclellan deserves sharp criticism for
not having sooner made up bis mind and
IT'LL more for HE failure to discover and nae
he absence of the ConEederates In his front,
Hhere bis advance in MACS, according to :
opinion, "would have incurred bis success. 7.
md the occupation of the works about !
and consequently the citv:n hia
40 commander never shone 40
rightly as In the hour Of disaster and dan. !.
'er when Porter's wing was driven In upon
. whole has caused his conduct az this |.
risis to be done scant justice to. Rut
here 10 NO military reputation in the world
which would not be increased by the man
eF IN which he conducted his retreat 70 f.
he James from the moment it began, His i
Eoops were 90 demoraliaed by the shock of ,
he two days unsuccessful fighting "a to be- .
IN their retreat, according to the testimony =
Hooker, one Of the oldest officers present, =
like parcel Of sheep for few shots =
rom the rebels would have paaicstrickeu .
he whole "-expressions strong enough at =
nee to show the Importance Of this first ),
ictOry of Lees, which some writers have =
poken lightly Of and to give the more
redit to Mcclellan for what followed. On G
ne very evening of his defeat he assembled q
is chiefs Of corps, explained his plan for re- q
ceating to the shelter Of the f3eeS, and made z
is arrangements for covering the move =
rent. The roads leading through White
AK swamp direct to the JSmes were bad, .
nd crossed by many others which the Con- :,
'derates might advance on. Their Outpoats .
the ChickahomiDy were close to his own:
heir confidence as high as that Of his own q
oops was depressed; aud the flrst TnOva- .
lent OF retreat discovered would bring them y
a In ardent pursuit, Lees only doubt nov
eng as TO which way his adversary would 7
tempt TO draw on. Nevertheless Mcclellan .
lcceeded In concealing his design duriD9
10 whole Of the 18th whilst his trains were
owing on; and when the pursuit waa Ia b
On up on the morning of the 2otb. his b
orst danger was already over. Moreover. q
70 eOoiDess and self-posseasion OF the Fed. &
commander not merely stood himself in Of
BOD stead, but had its natural effect onhie II
and through theSo be9an tn Il
ach his discouraged men. Step sY SEN he "a
y back, uSing his heavy artillery with great 81
I'LL to guard the dangerous approaahea 70 Ia
. Hanks by the crossroads through the "a
'amP: Fighting soon ensued; bnt as nei- g
eF side could form any front it wac never 81
..lons, ana the advantage naturally on the 70
De OF the defenders. So the retreat STonk ca
day after day. In vaio did Loagssrset, sli
Ileved IN hts turn By Jackson, pEes8 on the Sls
'defal rear In vain MsgFuder threw hia -
oopss eagoF 60 share "a she nowly.won do ~
= 81 eassE c0aE1aeas alshg each aRPEolsals :