Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-10
Gen. Mcclellan Painted by Himself.


The ninth volume of the official record.
of the war for the Union, Just published
contains n somewhat curious letter from
Gen. George B. Mcclellan 10 Gen. Burn
side. in the spring of 1862. In it he says
II feel very proud of Yorktown; it ant
Manassas will be my brightest chaplets il
history for know accomplished every
thing in both places by pure military skill
! am very proud and grateful to God tina,
lie allowed me to purchase such grea,
success ut 80 trifling loss of life, We
came near being badly beaten at Williams
burgh. arrived on the field at 5 p. NJ
and found that all thought we were whip
ped and in for a disaster. You would
men cheered and Frightened up when they
saw me. In five minutes after reached
the groudd possible defeat was changed
into certain victory.
| expect TO fight desperate battle In front
of Richmond and against superior numbers
somewhat intrenched. The government,
have deliberately placed me in this posi-
ton. If win. the greater the glory II
| lose they will be damned forever both
by God and men.
The crisis cannot long DO deferred.
pray for Gods blessing on our arm, anl
rely far more on his goodness than dc
on my poor intellect. sometimes think
now that can almost realize that Mohom
ct was sincere When see the hand Of
God guarding one SO weak as myself,
can almost think myself a chosen instru
nent to carry out His schemes. Would
that better man had boen selected"
This is all written from the head quar-
tiers of the army at Tunstal's station
May 2lst, 1862. 1t seems to have been
a private letter; ard probably General
Mcclellan never expected to see it in
print; but it appears 10 have been filed
with the oflicia! records and being pub
lshed, it is fair subject for comment as
an indication of the character of the man
who wrote it. The things that must
strike every reader of it, are Gen. McClel.
lan's sweet innocence, Inconsistencies
and simple piety. He owns to himself and
his friend, that he is very proud of the
pure military skill" he had exhibited a.
Manassas and Yorktown. What then
were the achievements which were TO be
General McClellan's "brightest chaplets
in history?" At Manassas he had permit
ted Gen. Joe Johnston, with $4,000 men
to hold him back all winter. though he
had under his command u we'll appointed
army of 100000! His "pure military
skip consisted in waiting-waiting even
after Mr.. Lincoln in despair preemptorly
and repeatedly ordered an advance; and
then allowing his enemy to retire, unhurt,
in his own time and own way, behind
the Rappahannock without hostile valley
being fired!
In front of Yorktown. Gen. Mcclellan
permitted Gen. Magruder, with $1,000
men, to keep him and his army of $4,000
men back for month, during which
Mcclellan was calling for achievements
and getting up siege trains which were
not to be used.
Having remained at Yorktown as long
IS suited their purpose, the enemy evacu.
ated Yorktownand retired up the peninsu-
la, TO the utter surprise of Gen. Mcclellan
and of the entire Union army hese are
facts of history, as well established rs
relating to the war. The rebel
generals had every reason to be satisfied
with the result of Manassas and York
town. If General Mcclellan was also
sui ed, then he was easily satisfied.
AS for Williamsburgh, where General
Mcclellan as good as saysthat his presence
turned the tide of battle from defeat to
victory, it is enough to say that the battle
was over before General Mcclellan came
on the field. Gen. A. S Webb. who was
on Gen. McClelan's staff. in his account
of the battle in his history of the peninsu
la campaign, shows distinctly that Gen.
Mcclellan knew nothing acout the battle
except that it was in progress all day from
hall past seven A. NJ, till four z. NJ, and
that he was nowhere near it till 1t was
OVER, though the presence of Il commander
in chief was greatly needed for his subor
were fighting without concert of action.
All that Gen. Mcclellan did, after his
arrival in the field, Gen. Webb shows,
was to make 1.-The necessary dispositions
for more united action on the following
day. The following day the enemy wa,
not there to fight or to be fought. For
him, his safe retirement was Il success
For Gen. Mcclellan 1t ought to have
been bitter disappointment and morti
hcation.
This ultimate collapse of the military
reputation of a general who could plume
himself on such achievements rs these,
and who, after such pitiable failures to
improve his immense advantages, could
see in himself an instrument chosen OF
God to overthrow the rebellion, is easily
understood. Gen. McClellan's uufounded
and unhounded self concet has been
mode apparent in many other ways; but
in not many other documents does he
posture more distinctly in the role OF
Little Jacky Homer, than in this letter TO
Burnside. Press.