The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-11


emergency as had now seemingly arisen by
reason of Jaekson's proximity to the Capital
Then, too, the President had already supplied |
Mcclellan with more men than had been agreed
upon, and he now numbered before Richmond
about double his adversaries, Lee and Johnston
and although he so greatly outnumbered the
elemy, he was starting at shadows, conJuring
up in his vivid imagination dangers which had |
no reality and stood halting in trembling IN
decision-"t the cancer of war and begging for
more men, while taxing his ingenuity for ex-
cuses, and taking advantage of every drop of
rain as pretext for delay; wanting, in his sell
fish fears for himself about all the men in Yir-
ginia, even at the risk of jeopardizing the
Capital. In consequence Of his opportunities,
the President was spurTing and goading Nc"
DOWell to go to his assistance, who, however,
when Jackson arrived upon the scene was only
talking of moving.
The Presidents patience was wellnigh mex
haustible,
But PATIENCE HAD CEASED TO BE VIRTUE,
aud he determined for a time to take the role
Of General upon himself, trusting TO his sub
Ordinates to execute; make diversion in Nc
Clellan's favor, as well as send him reinforce
ments, and put an end, if possible to Stonewau
Jackson FOR good and all. With this in view,
he ordered Mcdowell, on the day of his order
to Fremont, to put 10000 men in motion at
once for the Shenandoah by Front Royal or
any shorter route, :" to capture the forces of
Jackson and Ewell, either in cooperation with
Gen. Fremont or alone" should the latter from
any cause be unable to cooperate, and at the
same time informed him that from the reports
received at that moment Banks was fighting
with Ewell eight miles from Winchester"
and that he could count on receiving no
assistance from Banks. He also suggested to
Mcdowell that with the residue of his forces,
he should push through and join Porter, who
commanded McClellan's right wing, about 80
miles away. Mcdowell, most of the time under
McCiellan's orders, had been idle since his de-
feat at Bull Run in the preceding July, and
unfortunately, though q regularly educated
officer was ill-ftted for any active or impor-
tant command; indeed, of the conspicuous i
characters in the tragedy, he was one Of the
most pitiable of all, which is abundantly proved
by the disclosures during the war and more
manifestly in the records and elsewhere long
afterwards.
The Presidents sagacious and important sug-
gestion he eyaded and delayed. The order he
proceeded to execute with his customary wrong
headedness, inertness and seeming apathy, and
Endorsed it for a staff officer in these words:
Order Gen Shields to take up his line of
march tomorrow for Catletts." Shields's Di-
vision had Just reached Fredericksburg after
their fatiguing 1O0-mile march. Large num-
bers of the men were without shoes, and many
were even without trousers generally thought
Indispensable, and facing about marched about
noon the day following in bare feet and in
petticOats made of their gum blankets. To
make up the complement of 10000, or nearly
so, Mcdowell moved later and tardily Ord's Di-
vision, which, in his own words, was new
and but imperfectly organized and provided
IN the next few days excitement and commo-
ton prevailed generally throughout the North,
including the majority of our Generals in Vir-
ginia.
BANKs's RUNAwAYs AND MALINGERERs,
which have ever formed an element in the
bravest aud best-trained armies, reaching, in
advance, Harper's Ferry all proTagated false
hoods and brought exaggerated and alarming
accounts of StoneWall Jackson's numbers ap
preaching, and but few miles away; Of great
disaster to Banks's army-cut to pieces, in fact;
Of black flags, and prominent officers and men
being put 20 death in cold blood even the sick
and wounded in the hospitals at Winchester;
and Banks himself arriving at Williamsport
though announcing the safety of his little
army, reported Jackson as reinforced and about
to cross the Potomac for Washington. Gen Sax
ton. at Harper's Ferry, with small and badly
trained force sent like intelligence Longstreet,
too it was said, with 0,000 men, had entered the
Valley and was moving northward to join jack
son, whose force was estimated by some as
high as 10000, and in reality large enough to
capture Washington. Mcdowell allowed about
$4,000 of the enemy to leave his front and move
J
also reinforcing Jackson, and so reported by
Gen. King, Of McDowelrs army, and was
/ examining deserters to find out, and OF
! his own motion started another 10000
men, under Gen. King, for the Valley,
/ though they only proceeded a part of the
way, perhaps as far as Catiett's, and in trepida-
! tion ordered the division of Gen. mcCall--who,
without fault Of his own, got raped over the
! knuckleS by the President for causeless panic
! to eyacuate Fredericksburg aud recross tie
! Rapp2hannock for safety, instead of moving
/ toward Richmond. Only short time before,
/ too, when Jackson was at Mcdowell, Mcdowell
1 reported him al his own front, south of Fred
( ericksburg. A force was also reported moving
4 from Staunton to reinforce Jackson. Gen.
+ Geary, in the direction of Front Royal, with
+ perhaps, 2,500 men, reported large numbers Of
/ the enemy-he thought 10000 men-under
/ Jackson pouring through the gaps of the Blue
Ridge and moving eastward for the Capital,
and at the approach Of some struggling cav
4 airy took flight in panic toward Manassas,
/ damaging and breaking down bridges after
/ him and destroying and abandoning public
/ property. Even Gen. Crook, at Lewisburg,
I w. Va, became alarmed, and wrote: Gen.
| Banks's defeat renders my position very un-
safe, consequently l fall back to Meadow
! Bluffs to-day"
In Roane County, w. Va, an agreement was
4 signed by the opposing leaders for a suspension
/ of hostilities for eight days at the advice of
/ Judge Brown to enable him to hold the Circuit
! Court there; bat Gen. Kelly put an end TO the
/ truce, and the court had TO adjourn. About
! this time Gen. Rosecrans wanted wire sus-
/ pension bridge built for him across the Poto-
mae Then, too, Gen. Mcclellan, from whom
so much was hoped, in fear for the safety of
his great and brave army behind their forti-
/ fcations from the overwhelming numbers he
| incorrectly represented as with the enemy,
trcmbled and called for help, and soon began,
in truth, to shake at the name of StoneWall
Jackson.
Somewhat Of Lincoln's perplezities may be
imagined The suspense continuing, at 6 a. m.
Of the 30th, Mr.. Stanton, as CLEAN of encour-
agement, wrote to Mcdowell: Dispatches just
received from Harpers Ferry state that we are
still in possession there, and the pickets only
were driven IN" But at II a. n. affairs were
not so hopeful, when he wrote: Z" telegram
from Mr.. Watson, Assistant Secretary of War,
with Gen. Saxton. just received, states that
the enemy are advancing OH Harper's Ferry
that our troops are demoralized, and some OF
them have already run away"
Doubtless MT. Stanton's active and energetic
mind was considerably exercised during these
days, as well IS the minds Of the loyal Govern
ors of the North and others, for the safety OF
the Capital. But when it is considered that the
alarming reports came through those who were
in position to judge best of their truth, and
whose opinions were entitled to the most weight
lT a.. 4 !