The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-11-05
Gencras Mcclellan Dead.

deace in New Jersey. In the pop
ular estimate he had as many years
before him as any general officer OF
. the Civil War; his compact and
sturdy frame. mental self poise and
regular habits were all conducive
to long live. He lacked but month
of completing his fifty ninth year.
He was a native of Philadelphia,
and of al honored Pennsylvania
family. He graduated at West
Point in 1916, served in the MeXi-
can War. then in the engineer corps
in the construction of public works.
The outbreak Of the Civil War in
the spring of 1861; found him the
President of the Cincinnati and 81.
Louis Railroad. His first services
were in West Virginia, which he
pretty effectually and speedily
cleared of Confederates. His sue
cesses were in contrast TO the Bull
Run disaster of Mcdowell, that he
was called to command the Army
of the Potomac, and remained at
its head, with the brlcfinterlude of
the Pope fiasco, until af:er the bat
tie of Antietam, when he was re
lieved from command in November,
1862.
In this period of active service of
a little over a year on the Peninsu
Ia and on theP Potomac, are grouped
the stirring events that have led to
SO much controversy. On one point
all competent pu,borities are agreed
that Mcclellan was the greatest or
ganizer of the Civil War. Ho ere
ated the Army of the Potomac
Meade declared that without Nc
Clellan's work Grants success |
would have been impossible, The
criticism most common is that he
was slow, and believed in the spade
as much as the bayonet, but before
the war closed the spade held a high
place in the operations offensive and
defensive. He had bitter enemies
in Washington that frustrated his
plans, although Lincoln was his
steadfast friend until opposition be-
came too aggressive and formidable
for him. Stanton, Chandler, Wade
and their malignant faction want
ed no successes won by Mcclellan.
At the critical point of the PENN
sular campaign, Mcdowell, who
was to have joined McClellan's
from Fredericksburg, was moved on
a wild goose chase to the valley,
Ieaveniny an opening for Lee and
Stonewall Jackson to swoop down
on McCleIlan's weakened lines
The masterly retreat across the
Peninsula to Harrison's Landing
followed. 1t was seven days of
fighting. After the final and decis-
i've repuIse of the rebels at Malvern.
he was stripped of his command,
and his army ordered to the Poto-
mac, with Pope as it's chief. In
vain Mcclellan protested, and
maintained the one way to advance {
on Richmond was on the line Of the {
James. In 1864 Grant fought his
way to the same base that McClel]-
an had urged Stanton to retain, at
a cost of nearly one hundred thous-
and mon. After Pope had nearly
destroyed the morale of the Army
Of the Potomac. and it was little bet
ter than mob, Mcclellan was re =
cal led to command to save Wash
ngton. The Army came together
in efficientIshape, under the iuspira- ,
ION Of his leadership, as if by mag
c, and the battles of South Noun
ain and Antietam followed, driv-
ing Lee out of Maryland. The
politicians soon regained
heir venom, new intrigues were ,
set on foot. and just as Mcclellan
was preparing to take the field on /;
\ we'll devised campaign, he was re-
,eved. The hutchery of Freder- .
and laundering at Chan ;
followed, but McCleIl
ans military career had ended.
He was as true patriot as ever
lived. We have little question
what the final judgement will be on
his great merits as an organizer
md commander. The army that =
be took hold of after the first and
second Bull Runs, was very differ
snt from The seasoned. and disciplin-
ID corps Grant succeeded to- Grant t
ought.. the rebels in Virginia in the v
days of their waning and Of our h
greatest power. Mcclellan had the t
Army of the Potomac in its forma-
i've period, and met the rebels in .
he flush aud pride of the strength, /
With abundant resources and their {
chiefs. He was loved by
MS soldiers as no other commander
# the Civil War, and in every part
If this broad land there will be sol
l;erIy grief that Little Mac has o
TO the last call.
The Lancaster Eagle OF last Y
week pays this handsome and de- "
served compliment to our mex; a
representative: 6
The true Democracy Of Hook
ng county elected that gallant .
-oung Democrat, Car! Baerhaus, ),
50, to the House Of Representa- =, -
;rnS .,4.nr Ito n,nct Innnr,ta no