Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-04-03

Richmond, his army greatly reduced
from the seven days fight and in no
condition to attack General Lee be-
hind his intrenchments. Earnestly
he explained his position and request
ed to be reinforced NcDowell's
corps was then at Fredericksburg with
In three days march of McClellan's
army-with that force he could have
taken Richmond.
| Afterwards before committee on
the conduct Of the war, and before a
military court enquiring into the
transaction, General Mcclellan under
oath stated that he had no doubt that
the army of the Potomac would have
taken Richmond had not the corps of
General Mcdowell been separated
from it, and that had the command of
General Mcdowell in the month Iof
May joined the army of the Potomac
by way of Hanover Court House, we
would have had Richmond week
after; but, he added, evidently with
reference to the President and Secre-
tary of War, Il do not hold General
Nc Dowell responsible for a failure to
join me on that occasion.
General Mcdowell was anxious to
go to the aid of Mcclellan but was
prevented from SO doingby being or
dersd on a wild goose chase after
Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah
valley. He telegraphed to the Sec. of
War s'The Presidents order is a
blow to u.s." I can effect nothing in
trying to cut off Jackson in the valley;
[ shall gain nothing for you there,
and shall lose much for you here It
is, therefore, not only on personal
grounds that l have a heavy heart in
this matter, but I feel that it throws
us all back, and from Richmond north
we'shall have all our large mass par
alyzea, and shall have to repeat what
we have just accomplished.
Had Mcdowell been allowed to pro-
ceed, as he no doubt wished and as
McCielland confidently expected, he
would have reinforced the army of the
! potouaa fol ~ saisscls. on Lee, while
J j5sc:ss<:fs u Is away III the valley. By
! the unfortunate diversion ordered by
M !,ncoln precisely the reverse oc-
cured
jackson in his inimitable way went
around the whole army-scared Wash
ington and Harpers Ferry, and re-
turned in season to aid Lee in crush
ing Mcclellan, while Mcdowell, Fre-
mont, Banks and Sigel were aimless-
ly marching in some remote part of
Virginia
Blaine in his 20 years in congress
says: ''The President was led into
this course by the urgent advice of
the Secretary of War: When McClel-
Ian went to the field Mr.. Stanton un-
dertook personally to perform the du-
ties Of General in Chief in Washing
ton. This was evidently an egregious
blunder. Neither by education, tenn
per, temperament nor by any other
trait Of his character, was Mr.. Stanton
fitted for his duty. He was very pos
itively and in high degree untitled
for it. With three Major Generals
Banks, Fremont and Mcdowell exer-
cising independent commands in the
Potomac valley, with their movements
exercising direct and important in
f1uences upon the fortunes of the
main army under Mcclellan, there
was especial need of a cool headed,
experienced General at the capitol.
Had one Of the three great soldiers
who have been at the head Of the
army since the close of tie war then
been in chief command at Washing
ton, there is little hazard in saying
that the brilliant and dashing tactics
of Stonewall jackson would not have
been successful, and that if General
Mcclellan had failed before Rich
mond, it would not Have been forlack
. OF timely and adequate re- reinforce
msnt."
The event OF timely aid aud ade-
quate reinforcement, and in order to
save the army caused Mcclellan to
fall back to the James river and await
support at Harrison's landing. On
the Oath July, General Halleck arriv-
ed there from Washington and issued
an order for the transfer of the army
lof the Potomac to Acgnia Creek.
General Mcclellan warmly protested
against such movement.
| sThis army" said he, ''is now with
in twenty-five miles of Richmond and
with the aid of gunboats we can sup
ply it by water during its advance to
within twelve miles of the Confederate
capital"
| AT Acgnia Greek we would be sew
snty miles from Richmond with land
4ranSecrt.,tiou all tho NAV think