The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-03

llteness, and, without unnecessary exPenulsutoS
OF enth usiasm, promised his assistance. Since
the war, Mr.. Stephens has again been, and 10 |
now, Representative in Congress; He has
the satisfaction to know that, unlike the rebel |
brigsdiers," his presence is not rock OF o4ense
to the loyal mind. No gallery OF portraits. |
however humble, but should include that OF
this eminent person, who, for q quarter OF
century, has filled an Important place In the
councils of his county
Pursuing the ''even tenor of his way" John
ston rapidly increased the efficiency OF his
army. Furlougbed men returned In large
numbers, and before their " leaves" had terci-
mated, many bringing new recruits with them.
Divisions were formed, and officers selected to
command them. Some islands of dry land
pesred amid the yea of mud, when the move
ment of the Federal forces in our front changed
the theatre of war, and opened the important
campaign of 1862.
When overtaken by unexpected calamity,
African tribes destroy the idol previously wor-
shipped, and with much noise sock some new
" "fetich," in which they can inearnate their
Manassas. the North pulled down great old
veteran, Scott, and his lieutenant Mcdowell,
aud set up Mcclellan, who caught the
public eye at the moment by reason OF
some minor successes in Western vir'
ginia, where the Confederate commander,
General Robert Garnett, q promising othoer,
was killed 1t is but fair to admit that the
South had not emulated the wisdom of Solo
mon nor the modesty of GodO,phin. The cap
ture of Fort Sumter, with it's garrison of fifty;
| six men, WAS hardly Austerlitz, yet 1t would
put the grandiloquent Mdalgos of Spain on their
mettle to make more clatter over the downfall
of the Cross of st. George from Gibraltar.
very god of war; in his latest avatsr. While
this was absurd, and in the end Injurious to
Mcclellan, 1t was a service to his Government,
for it strepgthened his ions to the sasa seaeas s
| ability, and requiring the influence of demi-
| god. A great war was to be carried on, and q
great army. the most complex OF msshines,
which the art of war is based are few and I'M.
change in this the code of
morality; but their application varies as the
| theatre of the war, the genius and temper OF
| the people engaged, and the kind of arms en-
ployed. The United States had never possessed
| great army. The entire force engaged in the
| war against Mexico would scarcely have made
| q respectable corps darmee, and tor tudy the
organization of great armies aud campaigns, a
| recurrence to the "Napoleonic era was neces-
| sary. The governments of Europe had, for q
| half century, been engaged in improving arma-
ments and changing the tactical uuit OF torma-
| tion and mar Guvre to correspond TO such I'M
| proyement. The italian campaign of the third
Napoleon established some advance in field
| artillery, but the supreme Importance OF
breech- leaders was not admitted until Sadowa,
! in 1866. All this must be considered in deter
mining the value of .McClellans work: TAX
inv the ra W material intrusted to him, he con-
verted it into great military machine, com,
plete in all its parts, fitted for its intended
purpose. Moreover, he resisted the natural
impatience of his Government and people, and
the follies of politicians and Newspapers and
for months refused to put his machine at work
before all it's delicate adjustments were per-
footed. Thus, much to it's own despite, the
Nor tn obtained armies and the foundation OF
|, success. The correctness of the system adopt
ed by Mcclellan proved equal to all emergen-
oies and emaned unchanged until the close
of the war. Disappointed in his hands, and
suffering painful defeats in those OF his imme-
, diate successors, the Army of the Potomac y
always recovered, show ing itself vital organ
, ism and iually triumphed. Mcclellan organ
, lied victory for his section, and those who
l .,F . kh<a ITrtnF thn HrRf
of earthly dutiee, and, judging from their
readiness to violate the commandments" oi
heavenly also, should not cease to do him
reverence. 1 have here spoken of Mcclellan
i, not as a leader but @ an organizer of armies
as such be deserves to rank with the von
Moltkes, Soharnhorsts and Louvois OF the Old
, World. The constant struggle against the
\ fatal interference of politicians with bis mill
tary plans and duties separated McCleIlan from
| the civil department of his Government, and
l led him to adopt policy OF his own; Inc
, military road to Richmond, and the only one
: as events proved, was by the Peninsula and
the James River, and it was his duty 30 tc
advise. He insisted, and had his way, but not
, for long. A little of that selfshness which
f serves lower intelligsnces as an instinct o
self preservation, would have shown him thai
) his most dangerous enemies were not in hi!
r front. The Administration at Washington hac
? to deal with people blind with rage, an Ignorant
, and meddlesome Congress, and wolfsn horde
of place hunters. A sudden dash of the Con
federates on the capital might change the at
, titude of foreign powers. These political con
siderations weighed heavily at the seat o
{ government, but were OF small moment to the
! military commander. In a conflict between
+ civil policy and military strategy, the latter
must yield. The jealousy manifested by thu
Venetian and Dutch Republics toward theiI
= commanders has often been criticised but /
i. should be remembered that they kept th!
, military in strict subsection to the civil
D power, and when they were overthrown' 1t wa
by foreign invasion, not by military us9rPa
f ton. Taolr annals sfford no example of the
9 decla- alton by their generals that TIE sPeois
:. civil order and enforce civil law.
r After the battle of Chickamauga, in 1868
y General Grant was promoted to tie com mant
i of the armies of the United States, and callet
o to Washington. In a conference at the wa
g Office between him, President Lincoln, anl
e Secretary Stanton, the approaching campaign
:. in Virginia was discussed. Grant eaid tn
a advance on Richmond should DO made by tn
$ James River. 1t was replied that the Govern
d ment required the interposition of an arm!
q betw cen Lee and Washington, and would no
o consent, at that late day, to the adoption of I