The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-11-27

''1,, MOI, r,1Av AND HOOKER.
i. lton OF THE EKoUIRER.

connection with which occurred some
severe structures upon the military ca
.reer of General Mcclellan. The ground
has been covered so frequently in debate
and criticism that il might be supposed
our journals would lay aside such mat.
ters for future generations. But when
called up by 80 popular writer as
"GAth," the old story will be widely read
with interest. 1t is to be regretted that
the lapse of years las probably led your
brilliant correspondent into some errors
that ought to be corrected in justice to
all parties After waiting some weeks
the writer ventures to undertake the
task which others neglect.
"Gath" alludes first to Hooker's crti
cism upon McClelan's "inexpicabe
slowuess" 1t is not to be wondered at
that snch criticism was popular and
wide spread at the outset of the war
when Mr. Seward was conf lent that
few months would terminate the strug-
gle, aud when it was conclusive evidence
of completely with treason for any lesser
light to doubt the accuracy of the Pre-
mier's prediction. But since years have
passed, let us remember that Mcclellan
marched further and faster than any
commander the Army of the Potom C
had Onitting maneuvers and counter.
marches, during the 460 days of McClel.
lan's command, the mass of the army
moved over 750 miles, or nearly one and
two third miles per day. Burnsides, in
so days made 40 miles, or One half a mile
per day. Hooker Fighting Joe, ,"in his
1853 days made l25 miles, or over three.
fourths of II mile per day. Meade, from
his accession to command, June 2S b,
1868, to the advance of Grant in person
May 81, 1864, into the Wilderness, 80
days, made three fJurths of miles day,
while Grant, with the Army of the Pc.
tomac, from May 81, 1864, to April 8 h,
1865, the date of Lees surrender, march.
ed some what over 25l miles IN 32l days,
or over three. fyurths of mile, on an
average, for every day in command. So
that, if ceerity be admitted to be safe
test, which is not always true, Mcclellan
more than doubles his best successor.
Bat Gath" criticises his doubtful
line of operations" Generals Mcdowell,
Burneide, Hooker, Meade and Grant,
with the entire Army of the Potomac, as
well as General Pope, with his forces,
tried to crush Lee and take Il chmond
by u line of march leading by Freder.
icksburg on the centre, or by Gordons.
vile on the right, and all were uniform
ly beaten back with heavy loss The |
only one who came within 80 miles of
RiChmOnd, or who took a position rom
which he was not driven, was Mcclellan |
on the Peninsula route, which was thor.
oughly discussed and detailed bv that |
General in his communication of Febru
ary 3 1862, and 80 carefully planned |
and 30 faithfully followed out as to DIS
pose of this branch of criticism of is own |
force, 1t may be added that although |
General Grant announced his intention |
to pursue another line "if it took all sum
mer," he WAS ultima ely forced to place
himself upon the James river, within
stone throw of MCClelan's position, aud |
fought aud won his decisive battle on
that line
Can it be a matter of surprise that
since all these commanders were there
under han. in one station or another,
Mcclellan was not always "wllnng to
stooD To learn from any equal or lnfe
rioIP" The final result Concius Vely W
tabliIhes the correctness of his plans, il
not their absolute necessity to our sue
cess. ...
AS to the allegation that he was ali
"arstoCrat of arlst0Crats," the thousands
OF soldiers who served under Mcclellan
know the facts to be as stated by every
correspondent of the day that Mcclellan
was a q riet. unassuming worker, rather
OF the tttern of Graut and Tnomas than
OF General Scott, or many of the brave
but shOwiIy uniformed and precise IN n
tinets who held subordinate C0mmands
Omlttlng the many minor ard spite u
carpngs, whose manner makes evident
the real INSULT 3ienCy of their matter, we
pass 10 The allegation that the South
was expected to return and lake mp tie
conservative military chiefs of the N rtn
and make them great This paray ze I
the arm Of he war, and assisted to nod
back the E,stern army from any move
ment unll Jne Western army had moved
from Belmont and DJnelsou to Nashville
and Snlloh"
l. The reverse of Belmont, in the
West, on NV. 7th 1862 is much over
balanced by the splendid victory of the
Eastern forces. who, GU the same day.
captured Fort Royal South Caroiqr; the
brilliant stfiF OF D'gss;iinesville Dec 20 h,
IN which General Ord dis inguished Nun
self aud GOmmand. was month earlier
than the battle of Mill Springs, General
Thomas's first battle, and the Il hrst success
achieved ia the entire West. The can
ture of Fort Henry, February 6 H. 1862
is balanced by the capture of Il an0kt
Island the next day. While Grautstor,us
DOnelsOn, Joseph b. Johnson and Lee
retire before Mcclellan, and abandon tue
strong pnsptiOn of Mauasses without
blow. Before Grant is surprised at Shi.
lob McClelldn has begun his famous
Peninsusr campaign, and, instead of
being saved frUm unforeseen disaster by
Buell. G7neral Mcclellan ia left win
hardly half the force promised for his
movement to rely upon his own resources
Happily, they proved sufficient for hin
but they we're not sufficient to avert thrre
years Of disIres1 ere the logic of events
forced reluctant aud hosti Al minis
tratlon to adopt McClellan's plans TO con-
qnpr the rebellion.
2 j. will be noted that up to March
llth, 1862 the movements of Generals
Batter, Dro)w N-w Orleans; T. W. Sher.
man, at P,rt Royal, and Burnside 10
North GArutiuA WerA dirpntlv undpr Mr