Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-04
POST STANDARD, @. A. X.
Eulogies of General Mcclellan by Lieu
tennnts Henry ballard and q. I. Raw.

tenants Henry Ballard and u. i. Ray.
The special meeting Friday evening at
Grand Army hall by Stannard Post, to do
honor to the memory of General George
b. Mcclellan, under whom so many Yer
mont soldiers served was well attended,
the seats all being filed. A number of
ladies were among the audience.
Commander Trick presided and intro
duced Lieut.. Henry Ballard, in fitting
terms.
MIR. Billiards. Remarks.
Promising that the calls upon his time
had been such that he had not been able
to prepare II formal address for the oc-
casion, Mr.. Ballard proceeded to remark
that in his opinion full Justice had not
been done to General Mcclellan. "Noth-
ing succeeds like success, and this is
especially true in military matters. The
hasty Judgment of Mr.. Mcclellan was
that he was a failure. He has suffered
by comparison with Grant on the point
of success Then Mcclellan was the can
didate of party for president and was
the worst beaten candidate, in the history
of his party But in coming time, he will
take his place in history among the great
leaders Mr.. Ballard sketched the promi-
nent facts of General McClelan's life
previous to his taking command of the
army. He pictured the immensely of the
task committed to him. Mcclellan had
no such army of veterans as Grant took
command of. The army was little better
than an armed mob when he assumed
command. -Four well appointed cavalry
regiments could then have taken
Washington He had to organize
the army with untried men for
his subordinates. He had no such
veterans as Sherman and Thomas and
Sheridan and Hancock for his lieuteuants
lie was himself young and comparatively
inexperienced. But he proved to be the
man for the place and time. He grasped
the situation mt the outset, and in letter
to the President early sketched the gen
eral plan of operations which was follow
Ell during the four years Of the war, and
by which the Coufederacy at last was
crushed. He was Il great organizer, al
ways conservative of life. He was charged
with slowness, but those who charge it
do not realize the magnitude of the OBJ
stacles. He was Il genuine patriot, al
ways loyal hearted and magnanlmous.
Mr.. Ballard recounted the leading facts,
familiar to all, of McClellan's military
record, down to Autietam. Impartial his
tory, he said, will recognize him as the
great organizer, and give his work the
right place. 1t is not fair to say that he
failed. And among the leading names of
our generals that of George b. Mcclellan
Will always be remembered with honor
and gratitude. Mr., Ballard spoke for fifty
minutes with his customary fluency and
force. He held the close interest of his
audience and was cordially applauded.
Comrade o. p. Ray was next called on
He declined to make any extended re
marks, but spoke interestingly and with
feeling of the attachment of the men of
the old Vermont brigade to Gen. Nc
Clellan. They felt that he appreciated
them. They valued his praise above all
price. They would have marched into
the very jaws of death at his command,
and of all the commanders of the army
they loved him best.
After receiving with pleasure the an
nouncement that Il paper might be eX-
pected at future meeting, from Rev. +.
p Gould, formerly major of the 59th
Massachusetts, the Post adjourned.