The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-11-06
GENERAL MCCLELLAN DEAD.

Announcement of the death Of General
Mcclellan comes as a great sorrow to the
hearts Of all his old soldiers. II recalls the
time when he was 10 them their ideal SOL
der and commander, when he was In the
eyes Of all the world central figure, and In
the affections Of the Army Of the Potomac
had place no other filled until perhaps
Grant did In the last days Of the war. Nc.
Clellan organized and commanded that
army when It's enthusiasm and devotion
were fresh and ardent. 1t amounted almost
to iiolatry, and 1t continued until be was
relieved. Even then no one who did not
serve therein can realize how II wrenched
the hearts of his soldiers-at least those who
we're In the field and knew little but what
they saw of the progress Of the war-to
know that he had been set aside. The de-
votion of q soldier TO his chief Is something
that may not be measured by political affil-
iations or his capacity or success. 1t does
not anslyze and deliberate. 1t may be
Unreasonable and absolute. Mcclellan
made the Army Of the Potomac. We doubt
II better organizer of an army ever lived.
He had all the learning of the schools made
practical by observation OF the greatest
European armies In actual service. He
came TO the Army of the Potomac with the
laurels of bis West Virginia campaign fresh
upon him and he took an hundred thousand
Of the buoyant, enthusiastic, patriotic young
civilians Of the north to organize into an
not have alone attempted to carry the works
Of Manassas, nor one, a large percentage of
which would not have loaded their guns ball
first. He had scarcely a regiment that had
been under fire, or off soft bread, or long
enough under discipline TO know that every
man was but part of great machine the
control of which must be absolute and I'M
questioned. He took these hundred thou
sand patriot boys from field and workshop
and Office and In year made them an army
that in the Seven Days Battles surpassed for
endurance, steadiness and discipline In that
deadly struggle, in an unprecedented move
ment Of continuous battle, anything that
history has recorded. He had made an
army of veterans of them almost while they
were learning the man ual of arms, and they
fought for him with a heroism unsurpassed.
But withal, as leader of an aggressive, in.
vad!ng army he was not successful. He sp.
pears to have been by nature, as we'll as by
education, an engineer, and while the flank
movement in front of Richmond and burn
ing of the railroad bridge between bis army
aud the White House were bold and bril-
liant strategies, they were In q manner de-
fensve. 1t was proclaimed as rallying
cry on the battlefie of Gaines Mill, "The
left wing of the army is in Richmond" and
as was believed then, and Is demonstrated
by history since, 1t could have gone in with
less effort and loss than was required to
reach Harrison's Landing.
Mcclellan has not always done as his old
soldiers would have wished, and he alienated
many to whom he was still endeared by
actions within the past few months; but he
was patriot In the dark days of '6l and
probably felt that he was mistreated by
others In authority. He bad been adulated
until it would have required one of more
than mortal mould to resist the effect upon
his mind, and when the Administration felt
that he was not the man to conquer the Re-
bellion and displaced him, he was aggrieved.
He is dead now, and has Joined that ever
increasing throng beyond the River who
warred so strenuously more than twenty |
years ago. May he rest In peace.