New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-14
MCCLELLAN SUMMED UP.
MELANCHOLY WASTE. OF GREAT RESOURCES
AND OPPORTUNITIES.

AND OPPORTUNITIES.
From advance sheets of Nicolay Hays Lincoln" IN
when 4 was reported IN washington that Leo and
Longslree were at Culpeper Court House. the Pfesuc
sent an order dated the 9th Of November to Sone, ,
directing him to report for further orders az Irehon
New-JeIsey and to turn the command Of the Army OF
the Potomac to General Burnside. OeucfSi
EushRSha delivered his messSs s % isnt Me-
Ceian SAYS in his memoirs that with the eyes OF tho
two generals upon him he read the papers Win
sme but when they Were GSnss ne Sa ne Sa
felt ejaculation, Alas for my poor oouDus !. a no
took credit himself In after years Tor not nes sso
OF my refusing 70 obey the order and OF marching upon
Washington % take possession oil S Gsorge rnton
Mcclellan Now that the fierce passions Oh me war;
its suspicions and its animostes nave Rsss ee
Justly than was possible amid that moral ana naterai
tumult and confusion. He was as iar nom Oclns sIo
traitor and craven that many thought hm, rs Irom
boIng the martyr and hero that Others would nhe 70
have him appear 1t would DO unfair 70 deny thas ne
rendered 10 the full Of bis capacity, sincere
and honest service TO the Republic. His technical
Tnovledee was extensive, his industry m arng'
bis PySissO eaar saS w the private lie to Which
ba retired he carried with him the general respect ana
esteem and the ssSlqR s s nas O Sewa csd to
the exercise OF Important official functions, every
oice he bsd he adorned with the highest civic virtues
and aecomplishnents. No one now can doubt MS
Ssioism Or his honor and The fact mat L was once
donbted Illustrates merely the part when .ne oacheeS
sS picons play in great civil war, and the stress
40 which the pubic mind was driven IN the en nt
10 account for the lack Of results ne gave lne i
IN return for the vast resources which were 50 law
lshly placed in his hands ,,,, % rso cr.at means
10 great ends that his failure as general ay. IL,
was IN his temperament TO exaggerete tne oDs.aSo
I'm front OF him, and this. added 70 his
Aversion to prompt decisions, caused those endless
delays which wasted tho army 20, tno atr
no bs plans and constant opportunity for executing
them His lethargy OF six months "a A rth "a Sn
,,gton 10 the wonder and scorn OF the eouthern kG
nrsiS his standing at gaze at Yorktown. halted win
Ms vast army by Magrlders men IN pusAIa ,L IN,
hnoTshb sl wonld not give up Richmond without
Gebt. his station astride tho ChlckahomlnV WaunB
for tho enemy Sraye soldiers We're fading spoctrs with
no marsh fevers his refusal - assume the enenslvo
after rosal Of the a9oFs Of tho Of
when Lee took his army north Of the Ghichahom ~,
VIZ pdrter fought him all day with lltuo more thdh
anu cnrns hut with splendid courage his starting for
tbs lanes in this crisis Of his fate when he snouSi
have marcnSS he dnsi retreat from Malvern Hill to
hnsrsos Landing breaking the hearts Of the soS n
IsSo lad won on that field victory so complete ana
Wio na,sall these mistakes proved how utterly 10,
sSpsble he was of leading great army N Ssne
waf, optsnes and they continued TO be offered 20
ilh oppo, The end When Pope had drawn away me
from R5~ DnS tS na sv With MN vao
s H~es sTmy before which at last ne was forced
70 give way for the want o. e Tenoi Meeiean the
pESssident, msgnanimously ignoring M S ss
causes 81 cd af GnSrG eonorced by Popo and
once more LII an enemy who, In contempt for
his antagonists acquired In tne LIS sm TS' in half
lns crownInc favor of chance this was made Mown
n Mcclellan and even this incacaisoio ,ht housS
nc Thcb TO call In hs Scattered battaiens A1,sr
lntietnH for six long weeks OF pea9V 1t pa,nan
eSer he constant pressure Of the en- per
srasIong and afterward, under e asn ~, 9 nrs,,e
unable to make up his mlnn 10 puIsue
ana GO long as he could nd excuse Tor delay
In missing shoelaee or IrV he rcceiycd rom his
Inc was strange when consider how lseh nd
Se Was in those qualities which generally oStn,e he
mtaSSn red in front OF his lines at savages stan9R
h nav White hair blowing in the wind Wnen rn,i
Kearney who ma 90 ,3s buIlss with his relns HIS
rode IN his his sword in his right hand, there
was something " more than far more serious
their xoud have done But one eyer saw Cen
oral Mccene,n Teloie amt while Hooker and Elear
d Hancock we're In the thick OF the eonnen ns was ~
the wharf At v b v0r day Of Fair Oaks he spent
r The north side OF the river when a. De"ro i,s9 ~,
Greek end Gsp r saSsa on s the south bank during the
the nor the James he was far In advance selecting
with his Intelligent engineer o es ~ cbl their dsiiy
SStaies and even in the fury and hunaer oi maSIn
nthe splendid feat s o. Srs Which man With he
s",e soldier blood in his veins mlSnt give ms ,io
spent the greater par y IL sn'' booming IN bis
inc in his camp at Haxalls, or on board inc gun
boats cody and calmly msmnS az copsraton Of the
Nie and ar Anetam the only battle whore he really
saw his own troops attacking me enemy, no
that .srd The middle OF the afternoon, when all
,ha aebtlng was over on the high ground near frys
.ne nsp vhssre he had some glasses strapped 10 tne
house. Wn tbst he could look in different directions"
lv make no mputaon on his courage 10 was prave
man hui no was too much numbered Win oner 'a'ns'
ha"r Ia mart ip hts own battles. ,,, A..
10 wtb such limitations % these u Is not nney ina
nostsrty win rank him among the Leading sensran Oh