The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-15

1t is impossible to resist the con-
clusion that Miles, in this affair." acted
the part OF a traitor. He had been
ordered, one month before his sur
render, TO fortify Maryland flights; -
which he totally neglected to do He
refused or neglected TO serd the axes and
spades required by Col. Ford, giving 10 re.-
son thereon. He paroled, on the 18th, Is
rebel PRISONERS, authorizing them 10 pass OUT
of our lines into those or the enemy, thus
giving the Rebel commanders the fullest
! knowledge OF al wherewiIh ours should have
wished TO keep them ignorant
Another Re sci, an officer named Rouse, who
had been captured and had escaped, being
retaken, was allowed a private interview by
Miles and thereupon paroed to go without
our lines. he, still under parole, appeared
in arms at the head OF his men, among the
first to enter our lines after the surrender.
As to Gen. Mcclellan, his most giaring
fault iii the premises would seem Ia have
been his designation of Col Miles, after his
shameful behavior at Bull Run, 10 the COM
mand oil post 50 important as Harper 5
Ferry. 1t is easy now 10 reproach him with
the slowness OF his advance from Washington
to Frederick. bat 1t must be borne in mind
that his force consisted OF the remains OF two
beaten armies-ii- own and Pope's-nOt 50
much strengthened as sWeiled by raw troops
hastily levied for al emergency: while op-
posed 10 him was an army If veterans IN
ferior indeed III numbers, but boasiing OF a
succe ssI0n OF victories iron 1r5t Bull Run
onward, ana proudly regarding itself as in
yinci1.c
Pcrplexed as to Lees intentions, and ham
peTed 10y the necessity OF covering at once
Washington ana Baltimore. Mcclellan moved
slowly, indeed, bat only "A great military
genius, or a rash, headstrong fool, would
have ventured to DO otherwise After he
learned at Frederick that Lee had divided
his army, in his eagerness to clutch the
tempting prize. Mcclellan Numbered sadly in
not hurting his army at once on McLaws,
and thus cutting his way swiftly to the
Ferry; yet, with all his mistakes. he moved
vigorously enough TO have seasonaby re-
lieyed Miles, had that officer evinced loyalty
and decent fitness for his position or had
Ford defended Maryland flights with vigor
and tenacity.
Halleck's insisting that Harper's Ferry
should be held, after he knew that the rebel
army had crossed into Maryland, is one of
those puzzles so frequently exhibited in that
strategy Of that Generalissimo, which must
find their solution in some higher, subtier
and more leisurely existence.
MCLELLAN's OPPORTUNITY.
Gen. Mcclellan, at 3 Il. III. OF the 18th
was aware-ior he telegraphed TO HaIleck-
that he had been lighting the forces OF ID. H.
Hill and Longstreet; that they had disap-
peared from has front, ANA that Franklin had
likewise been completely successful ut
Champions Gap, OH his left. He says III
this dispatch:
THE enemy disappeared during the night ;
our troops are now advancing in pursuit"
AT a. m. he teleGraphcd again, still from
Bolivar, at the foot OF Turner's Gap:
Il have just learned from Gen. Hooker in
! the adNance-who stat unat the Information
! IS perfectly relIaDle-that the enemy is making
Tor the ri or IN Il perfect panic, ana Gen. Lee
/ last night stated publicly that nc must admit
| they had been shockingly whipped. 1 am hur-
| rying everything forward 10 enueayor TO press
their retreat TO the utmost"
Had even the last sentence of this dis
patch been literally true, Lees destruction
was imminent and certain
1T was now too late TO save Harper's Ferry.
for 1t had that moment fallen, but not too
late TO snperbly avenge it. With Lees
| order in his hand Mcclellan must have