The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-16

Tomorrow ss Philadelphia mon-
ument to Gen. George b. McCleI-
Ian will be unveiled with appro-
pirate ceremonies. Il IL thirty-swo years
since MeClelian fought his last battle; IL
is nearly nine years since bis death; his
just rank IS military commander 10 a.
fair = supjec. for historical inquiry as that
Of Washington. Wellington. Lee. Grant or
Sherman.
MeCiellan's frst military campaign was
in Western Virginia Gen. J. ID. Cor, who
served under describes McCisllan's
dispatches. proclamations and cor
respondencs in this irifiing campaign
ss ''marked by turgid rhetoric
and exaggerated prstenses. lie appeared
10 be In morbid state OF mental exalta-
ton: was disposed TO copy Eapoleon's
bulletins and even his personal bearing.
and photographers got him to stand with
folded arms and in the historic pose.
The assumed dash and energy of his first
campaign made the disappointment in the
reaction more painful. when the excessive
caution OF bis conduct in command Of the
Army OF the Potomac was seen. But the
Rich Mountain affair, when analysed,
shows the same characteristics, which be-
came well known later; the same over
estimate Of the enemy: the same tendency
10 interpret unfavorably the sights and
sounds In front; the same hesitancy to
throw in his whole forus when be knew
hts subordinate was engaged. If Garrett
had been as strong as Mcclellan believed
him he would have had ample time and
means 10 have overwhelmed Morris when
Mcclellan delayed attacking Pegram.
Aud this wretched little campaign of Rich
Mountain was described by Mcclellan IN
proclamation in which he announced to
his troops that they had "annihila.sd two
armies commanded by educated soldiers
intrenched in mountain Businesses, forth
fed at their leisure"
Rosecrans Was sent by Mcclellan with
200o men to attack Pegram in the rear,
With the understanding that upon the
sound Of the engagement Mcclellan would
attack In front. Rosecrsns attacked the
noise Of the engagement was clearly heard
In McClellan's camp. but he did not attack
aud his failure was never explained. He
lett Rosscrans 10 win bis own battle or
get cut of his hole as best he could; and
yet on the strength Of this laundering,
cowardly campaign. which Rosecrans'
success saved from disaster, Mcclellan
was appointed 10 succeed Mcdowell in
command of the Army OF the Potomac.
This analysis OF MeClellan's military
weakness Is the work of an able lawyer.
an able soldier. who entered the army as a
colonel in May. 1861, and rose TO be major
general Of volunteers. commanding the
Twenty-shird army corps. Gen. Cox sub
seQuent 10 the war was governor of Ohio,
and secretary of the interior during
Grants fret term. Cox was distinguished
at Antietam aud Fredericksburg fought
with ability In sherman's Atlanta cam
paign, was promoted for gailantry and
good conduct At Franklin and Nashville,
and served under Sehodeld in the last
campaign against Wilmington. His meas
ure OF Mcclellan Is that Of an able, expert
enced soldier and an able lawyer trained
to traverse and weigh evidences.
His estimate OF Mcclellan has thus
far stood the Test OF historical criticism
and Is likely to stand for ell time to come.
And yet there is far more trenchant
criticism Of Mcclellan, and that Is "Me-
CIsllan's Own Story" which is 80 much
worse than anything that was ever uttered
IN bis depreciation by hostile pens, that he
may bs said Ito use an Irish BULL 90 have
committed historical bari kari after death
oy authorizing the publication of this
poEerful indictment Of bis own capacity
and consequences. prepared by his own
hand His own story is the confessions
Of man absolutely sick unto
desth with self-lovs and self-con.
ceat and self-dslusion. Whenever
he got near enough 20 Lees army to ex-
anime il he always looked st il through =
magnifying glass; he wss always fghting
invisible thousands; his men IN buck
ram" we're not like Jack FalstAff-s. merely
part Of grand masquerade Of cool men,
dacisy, bat they we're the vast crowd that
always peoples the study Of timid, ir-
resoluss. faltering soldiers Imagination
lie saw double through his Geld glass
when he rated Lees strength before Rich
mond At $50. 90 men; he saw double when
be looked AZ Lees dTe&dially shattered
lines 81 Antiessm, and from Erss TO
lass be takes OF his hat and cheers
himself whether he occupies an
evacuated mole bill or ahaadons
What By comparison is al snsrenohed
mountain. when assaulted By = force =
third less than his oss splendid army.
lie eoufessss having outraged al sense Of
military dscsncy and dasy By hisinsulting
Impeachment Of Lincoln aud Stanton as
mere tools Of the internal zoolitsonists. -
meaning the Republican party, who
plotted his raia, because they did not
want the war 20 end too sooa, aud in bis
letters 10 his wife. which tell his story. be
wrises himself down a poor. vain. weak.
hampsloas. representative. fractions nan.
WAC from the start 81 YorksoSn before
hs had iagsht battle, assumed that his