The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-02-18

The brilliant historian of the war in the
Spanish Peninsula lays down the ma kin
that military operations are SO depend
ent upon accidental circumstances, that
to justly censure. it should always be shown
that an unsuccessful General has violated
the received maxims and established prin-
ciples of war" Now, as Gen. McClel-
lan's offensive movement toward Rich
mOnd really ended with the establishment
of his army on the Chickahominy, and as
the narrative of events to follow. will show
the enemy in an offensive attitude, and the
army whose proper role was the aggressive
reduced TO the defensive, and finally COM
pelied TO retreat, it will be in place to fol-
low attentiyely the course and causes of
action with the view to discover whether
the untoward events that befell the Union
arms be traceable to any departure from
those established principles of war;. the
violation of which furnishes just ground
of censure.
Upon McClellans arrival on the Chick
ahominy, there were two objects which he
had to keep in view; to secure a firm foot
ing on the Richmond side of that stream
with the view of carrying out the primal
purpose of the campaign, and at the same
time to SO dispose his forces as to insure
Fredericksburg with the force before Rich
mond. The former purpose was accom-
plished by throwing the left wing of the
Army of the Potomac across the Chicka-
hominy at Bottoms Bridge, which the Con-
federates had left uncovered. Casey's Diyi-
sion of keyes's Corps crossed on the 10th
Of May. and occupied the opposite nights.
Heintzelman's Corps was then thrown for
ward in support, and Bottoms Bridge was
immedia tely rebuilt.
To secure the second obiect, Mcclellan
extended his right wing well nOrthward,
and on the 24th carried the village of
Mechanisyille, forcing the enemy across
the Chickahominy at the Mechanicsvifle
Bridge, which the Confederates after erogs-
ing destroyed He then awaited the march
Of Mcdowell to join him. in order to iniT
tIate operations against Richmond. must
now turn aside to show in what manner
the object of this movement was balked
by the skill of the Confederates and the
folly of those who controlled the operations
OF the Union armies.
DIVIDED AND NoN-cooPERATIvE.
At the time the Army of the Potomac
was toiling painfully up the Peninsula
toward Richmond, the remaining forces
in Northern Virginia presented the extra
ordinary spectacle of three distinct armies,
planted on three separate lines of opera
tons, under three independent command
ers. The highland region Of West Virginia
had been formed into the Mountain De-
partment' under command of Gen. Fre-
mont; the Valley of the Shenandoah con-
stituted the Department of the Shenan-
doah," under Gen. Banks; and the region
covered by the direct lines of approach to
Washington had been erected into the DE
partment of the Rappahannock," and as
signed TO Gen. Mcdowell at the time his
corps was detached from the Army of the
Potomac. About the period reached by the
narrative of events on the Peninsula. these
armies were distributed as follows: Gen.
Fremont with a force of 10000 men al
Franklin, Gen. Banks with a force of about
1900 men at Strasburg and Gen. Mellow
ell with force of 10000 men at Fred
ericksburg on the Rappahannock. 1t need
hardly be said that this arrangement, the
like of which has not been seen since Ma
poieon scandaized the Austrians by de-
srroying in succession half dozen of their
armies distributed after precisely this fash
ion-nor indeed was ever seen before, save
in periods of the eclipse of all military
judgment-was the violation of the true
principles of war. One hardly wishes to
inquire by whose crude and fatuitous in
was the spectacle presented by the Union
forces in Virginia; the main army already
held in check on the Chickahominy, and
these detached columns inviting destruction
in detail. Not to have taken advantage of
such an opportunity would have shown
Gen. Johnston to be tyro in his trade.
MOVEMENTS OF M'DowELL.
1t came about, after the commencement
Of active operations on the Peninsula had
drawn towards Richmond the main force
of the Confederates and relieved the front
of Washington from the pressure of their
presence, that the Administration, growing
more easy touching the safety of the Cap.
ital, determined, in response to Gen. Nc
Clellan's oft-repeated appeals for reinforce.
ments, to send forward McDowell's Corps
not, indeed, as he desired, to reinforce him
by water, but to advance overland to attack
Richmond tR corporations with the Army
of the Potomac. To this end, the division
Of Shields was detached from the command
of Gen. Banks in the Shenandoah Valley
and given to Gen. Mcdowell; and this ad-
difion brought the latter's force up to
41,O00 men and 100 guns Gen. McClel.
Ian had received official notification Of this
intended movement and on the march from
Williamsburg to the Chickahominy, as has
been shown, he threw his right wing well
forward, SO as to insure the junction ol
McDowell's force, when it should move for
ward from fredericksburg After .nu
merous delays, the time Of advance Of thi,
column was at length fixed for the 26th ol
May, date closely coincident with the ar
rival of the Army of the Potomac on thu
column had already been pushed eight mile,
south of Fredericksburg and Mcclellan
to clear all opposition from his path, sen
forward P0rter's Corps to Hanover juno
ton, where he had sharp encounter witt
a force of the enemy under Gen. Branch
whom he repuised with a loss of 200 kille,
aud 100 prisoners, and established the righ
of the Army of the Potomac within II
miles. or lone march, of McDowell's var
Mcdowell was eager to advance, and Nc
Clellan was equally anxious for his arrival
when there happened an event which frus
trated this plan and all the hopes that ha
/. Nopier: History of the Peninsul
War, vol. /, p. 8.
2. 1t should not be forgotten that thi
was the controlling consideration in th
choice by Gen. Mcclellan of the line Of ai
vance by the Pamunkey, instead of swinl
ing his army across TO the James imme
diately after the battle of WILLIAMSBURG
and the destruction of the Merrimac I'm
mediateiy thereon-a course the adoptio
OF which would, in all probability, hay
Filtered the entire character of the can
spaign.