New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-12
final advance to South Mountain and Antietam

As the time had now arrived Tor the army 10
advance, and had received no orders to take
command Of it. but had been expressly told that
the assignment OF q commander had not been de-
cided determined to solve the question for my
self and when l moved out from Washington
with my staff and personal escort left my card
with p r. c. written upon 1t, at the White House.
War Office and Secretary Stewards house. and
went on my way.
was afterward accused Of assuming command
without authority, for nefarious purposes and, in
fact, fought the battles Of South Mountain and
Antietam with halter around my neck for IL
tho Army Of the Potomac had been defeated
md had survived would. no doubt have been
tried for assuming authority without orders, and,
in the state Of feeling which unjustly con-
demned the innocent and most meritorious Gen
eral f. j. Porter. I would probably have been
condemned to death l was fully aware OF the
risk ran, but the path Of duty was clear and
tried TO follow IT..
This is a curious narrative. Still the circum-
stances when fresh seem not to have struck the
general with the same force as when he recalled
them after tho lapse Of nearly quarter Of a cen
tIry 81 leave here this afternoon to take COM
mand of the troops in the feld' he wrote to Mrs.
Mcclellan "Tne feeling Of the Government
toward me, I am sure, is kind and trusting. l
hope with Gods blessing, TO justify the great con-
fdence they now repose In me, and win bury the
past in oblivion We need not follow Mcclellan
through all the incidents Of his last campaign,
the justification Of his failure to relive Harpers
Ferry tho description of South Mountain and
Antietam, and the explanation OF the long in
action which permitted Lee to retire in safety
and led to McClellan's final removal from the
command While there is probably nothing in
these pages to settle the old controversies upon
which they touch they make it plain that Nc
Clellan performed military task at this time
-1..v
admiration and gratitude. lie reorganzed and re-
animated with extraordinary rapidity @ badly
beaten army, and fought with it two brilliant
battles which delivered tho North from invasion
and saved the capital from imminent peril. That
the results Of Antietam were not greater per-
hans not McClellan's fault. He had barely won a
victory after an eXhausting struggle; and it is
now known that his troops were suffering for
clothes and his cavalry. artillery and trains were
all more or less disabled by the breaking down
Of his horses Still the world will always believe
that if Grant had fought the battle Of Antietam,
with Sherman and Sheridan TO aid him. the story
would have been somewhat different. The tenn
perament OF the commanding general is a mighty
factor in q campaign.
Mcclellan writes with extreme severity Of the
conduct of Burnside in this battle, ascribing the
most pernicious effects to his delays and feeble
ness. "If Porter or Hancock had been in his
place. the town OF Sharpsburg would have been
ours. Hill would have been thrown back into the
Potomac. and the battle Of Antctam would have
been very decisive in its results He contradicts
some of Burnside's testimony before the Com
mittee ON the Conduct of the War. adding; Il
cannot. from my long~ acquaintance with Burn
side. believe that he would deliberately lie but
think that his weak mind was turned; that he
was confused in action and that subsequently he
really did not know what had occurred. and was
talked by his stan into any belief they chose.
He wrote to Mrs. Mcclellan;
ought to treat Burnside very severely, and
probably win yet hate to do 1T. lie is very
slow is not fit to command more than a regi-
ment If | treat him as be deserves he VIII be
nv mortal enemy hereafter. If | do not praise
him as he thinks he deserves, and as / know he
does not he viii be at least very lulIewaIm
friend.
But now. while the country was waiting eagerly
for the Army Of the Potomac to resume operations
Mcclellan. instead Of planning an advance, seems
to have been considering whether he should con
sent to any longer a Government which was
disposed to NEEDLE with tne slaves. The victory
of Antietam made the occasion for the first
proclamation of freedom. Mcclellan wrote to his
wife from Sharpsburg at is very doubtful
whether / shall remain in the service after the
rebels have left this vicinity The Presidents
late proclamation, the continuance Of Stanton
and Halleck in office, render it almost mrossbe
for me to retain my commission and selfrespect
at the same time" That this was not momen-
tary outbreak of pet,l ance is shown by
another letter ten days later in which he appears
still undecided whether "self-respect' will allow
him TO serve a Government which cmancipates
secessionist gentlemen's niggers
Mr. Aspnwall is decidedly Of the opinion that
it is my duty to submit to the Presidents procla-
nation AMI quietly continue doing my duty as a
soldier | presume he is right, and am at least
sure that he Is honest In his opinion l shall
surely give his views full consideration.
Just at this time Mr.. Lincoln visited the battle
field Of Antietam. and Mcclellan repeated his Uar-
rison's Bar performance, urging the President ito
follow a conscrv alive course. '-"and l supposed
from the tenor of his conversation" continues the
General, shat he would do so.' The truth
probably is that this, the earlier occasion,
when he put the Harrison's Bar letter into his
pocket with q brief "much obliged for your opin-
ions" Mr.. Lincoln did not choose to discuss politics
with the General, and Mcclellan failed to appre-
ciate his reticence. Mr.. Chase was quite right in
doubling McClellan's loyalty TO the Administra-
ton and that there were men around him whose
disloyalty went much further than his was made
manifest in remarkable way when he was re-
moved:
The order dcpriving me Of the command created
an immense deal Of deep feeling in the army-so
much so that many were in favor Of my refusing 10
obey the order. and OF marching upon Washington
to take possession Of the Government My chief
purpose in remaining with the army as long as
did after being relieved was TO calm this feeling
in which succeeded.
Some of McClellan's estimates OF other generals
are interesting. and it will be noticed that where
| a. into
did his praise is most cordial for those whose quail
| ties were like his own. Hunt he regarded as the
best living commander of field artillery. eoually
Dustin gulshed as an organizer and a fighter. Sum-
ner was as brave as a man could be, conscientious,
laborlous and of the highest value in new army,
| Franklin was one of the best officers Mcclellan
| erar had nm admirahle Gonna com naan4o. .rall