The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-13

mature advance, the effect of which must be-
either to commit as to the overland Iute or
TO minimize the advantages OF the Or5sns
movement. / wished to mold the enemy at
Manassas to the last moment-if possible
until the advance from Urbsna actually
commenced, for neither the reopening OF the
railroad nor the destruction OF the batteries
wss worth the danger involved.
The positive order of the President, prob
ably issued under the pressure OF tae Sscre-
tery of War, forced me to undertake the
opening OF the railway. For this purpose |
went to Hsrper's Ferry in February, intend.
ing TO throw over force sufficient 20 occupy
Winchester. To do this it was necessary to
have reliable bridge acress the Potomac to
insure supplies and prompt reinforcsments.
The pontoon bridge, tbrow n as q prelimi-
nary, could not be absolutely trusted on
river so liable to heavy freshets; therefore it
was decided 10 construct a canal boat brid &c.
1t was discovered, however, when the at
tempt was made that the lift-lock from the
canal to the river was too narrow for the
boats by some four or i've inches, and L
therefore decided to rebuild the railroad
bridge and content myself with occupying
Charlestown until its completion. postpon-
ing to the same time the advance on Win
chester. had fully explained my intentions
to the President aud Secretary before leav-
ing Washington, providing for precisely such
q contingency. While at Harper's Ferry /
learned that the President was dissatisfied
with my action, and on reaching Washing
ton laid full explanation before the Sac
Rotary, with which he expressed himself en-
tirsly satisfied, and told me that the Press
dent was already so, and that it was unnecss-
sRry for me TO communicate with him upon
The subject. l then proceeded with the prep
araiions necessary to force the evacuation of
the Potomac batteries. On ths very day APP
pointed for the division commanders to come
TO headquarters to receive their inaI orders.
the President sent for me. than learned
that he bad received explanation
OF the Harper's Ferry affair, and that
the Secretary was not authorized to make
the statement already referred to; but after
my repetition of it the President became
fully satisfied with my course. he then,
however, said that there was another Every
ugly matter" which he desired to talk
about, and that was the movement by the
lower Chesapeake. He said that it had been
suggested that / proposed this movement
with the ''tTaitorous'' purpose of leaving
Washington uncovered and exposed I'd at.
tack. 1 very promptly objected to the
coupling of any such adjsctivsTwith my pur
poses, whereupon he discaimed any
intention of conveying the idea that
he expressed his own opinion, ss he
merely repeated the suggestions of Others.
After showing that the civilizations OF
Washington were amply sufficient to pro-
tect it sgainst assault, and the frequent
Withdrawals Of troops for its defense we're
as unnecessary as they were fatal to the sue.
cess of his campaign, General Mcclellan
closes mis- article with a description OF the
seven days fighting, and says:
No praise can be too great for the officers
and men who passed through these ssven
days of battle, enduring fatigue without
murmur successfully meeting aud repelling
every attack made upon them always IN tbs
right place at the right time. aud emergiog
ffom the fiery ordeal a compact army of vet
Grams, equal to any task thar brave
and disciplined men eau be called
upon 10 undertake. They needed now
only a few days OF well earned re.
pose, a renewal of ammunition and supplies,
and achievements TO ill the gaps made in
their ranks by SO many desperate encounters,
70 be prepared to advance again, with entire
confidence, to meet their worthy antagonists
in other battles. 1t was, however, decided
by the authorities at Washington, against my
earnest rem onstrances, TO abandon the posi-
ton on the James, and the campaign. The
Army OF tie Potomac was accordingly with
Drawn, and it was not until two years later
that il again found itself under its last COM
mander at substantially the came point on
the bank of the James 1t was as evident in
1862 as in 1865 that there was the true de-
Tense of Washington, and that it was on the
banks of the James that the fate OF the
Union was to be decided.