The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-11-20

| 1885, the following communication bayin
been read and filed, that the same be offe,
ed the Bloomsbury papers for publication
| RICHARD STTLEs, U. II. ENT.
Post Commander.j Adiu,ant
To THE COMMANDER OFFICERS AND MRN
BERs oP Posr No. 25O GRAND ARMY o
RRPUBLIo
| DEAR COMRADES. knowing as | do tina
you as band of patriots are ever read
to ch erish the memory of the illustriou
dead who fought in their country's from
ranks for the maintenance of free govern
ment therefore beg leave to pen a few
thoughts of coincidence to your late veteran
comrade and leader Gen. Geo. b. McClel
Ian, who | am pleased to term the hero OF
Anlictam, the Waterloo of America. cal
you comrades because your organization
| was amongst the first to extend the right
hand OF fellowship to fellow-solders with.
| out regard to race, color, religion or poll.
tics regret, however, that there are
many persons throughout this broad land
without regard to politics who entertained
the highest regard for Gen. Mcclellan as
a loyal citizen and gentlem an OF high
standing and man of great military
science, and yet would not say one word
or do anything that would tend to perpe-
tuate his memory. Many who agreed with
him politically or endorsed his conduct as
soldier would not for fear that their mo-
tives would he criticised as beingIpolitcal
rather than patriotic, while others who op-
posed him politically, would not do so in
order to be consistent with themselves. BY
these two extremes the fame of great
man is tarnished, and his memory permit
ted to fade away. ask the question in
the language of the Psalmist, "How long
Oh Lord" will we allow our manhood to
be lowered and the efficiency of our gov
ernmcnt to be impaired through the de-
grading influences of political prejudice.
My fellow comrades, have always ad-
hered to the principle of having free men
and free government. My politics how
ever are not my religion. My faith is not
welfare OF my race, (the African), in max
Ing it intelligent and prosperous and to the
common interest of my country IN raising
1t to the high sphere intended by the AL
mighty when He inspired the mind of Col
umbus to sail westward, making it the
great centre of civilization and the worlds
index to prosperity. A word more on be.
half of your illustrious comrade | spoke
of him as the hero of Antietam and that
memorable battle as the Waterloo of Anne
Iica. We all know that at that time there
was strong reaction of sentiment against
the government, which amounted to almost
an open revolt in some of the large cities
we all know that Gen. Mcclellan has been
largely censured as acting upon selfish and
political motives. We will suppose that to
be .rue,o or we will suppose it not to be true,
either way you are mind to have it; we
viii suppose also that he and all others in
the old army of the Potomac of the same
political belief would have fallen out of
ranks, and said they would no longer con-
tinue an Abolition crusade. If that had
occurred who could say that the prediction
made by Alexander Stephens that the Con-
federate flag would float upon the breeze
from the dome of Faneui Hall, the old
Abolition headquarters in the City of Bos-
ton, and the prediction of Robert Toombs
that che would call the rol Of his slaves
at the foot of Bunker Hill," would not
bavc been fulfilled The old army of the
Potomac went into the fight at Gettysburg
inspired by the knowledge that they once
drove the enemy across the Potomac when
they were led by George b. Nc Clelan,
when they confronted the tugs of war that
fought so stubbornly under Stonewall
Jackson, to establish a government based
upon African seryitude. The cry rang
through the mountain Businesses, .a,my of
The Potomac ARMY OF THE PoToMAo. thus
their greetings seemed to be kind of Joy
mingled with regret, although they expect
ed to be graphing in death the next NOM
cnt wit. their old foes, yet they regarded
them as being worthy of their steel.
1t is claimed by some tnat Gen. McClcl-
Ian, by nature, was unfit to be field COM
mander that his over cautiousness amount
ed to scruples in regard TO destruction of
human life. This may have been true to
some extent all military men have
erred more or less in their Judgment since
the days of Joshua, Alexander and Nap
oleon and yet their names will be handed
down to the latest generation. 1t is claim
ed by some Of the best military men in
Europe, that Gen. McClelan's slow ap-
proach to Richmond and his retreat down
the Peninsula and his failure to cross the
potomac and follow up his victory, were
all based upon sound military principles
rs originally laid down by the French Gen.
Strater This part of the subject how
ever, | will leaYe for the pen of the impair
tial historian. He did not succeed, ,.neither
would Washington or Wellington if they
had lived and commanded theIUnion Army
at that time, for the reason that Providence
did not intend success for it, until he had
worked out his righteous purpose. My
this expression of mine will be
looked upon as one of those popular super
sui lous dltilDulcu W my IdCt' lucrC are
said to be tribe in South Africa who be-
lieye that the Almighty has SO many worlds
to look after that lac has forgotten ours,
cannot, however, share the belief with my
South African brethern, that we are drift
ing upon the rough sea of chance. be-
lieve that the mind of man is inspired by
this guiding influence to-day as when he
appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush,
and as in the days OF Nebuchadnezzar, when
he locked the jaws of the lions. One thing
more will say in conclusion in regard to
the Fitz John Porter affair, about which
there has been too much said perhaps for
the good of the country. We could dispose
Of that subject best, perhaps, by consider
ing the frailness of human nature, and
" hat we might have done ourselves under
such trying circumstances.