The National tribune., 1904-02-04

Gen. Mcclellan Immediately began his
preparations in accordance with these in
structions. The duty of covering the line
of the Potomac and Washington he as
signed to Gen. Banks, commanding the
Fifth Corps, and at this time holding the
Shenandoah Valley. Gen. Banks was or
dered to post the bulk of his command. well
intrenched, at Manassas; from thence to
repair the Manassas Gap Railroad to Stras-
burg-to be held by force intrenched- !
thus reOpening communication with the
Shenandoah Valley; this general line to
be held with cavalry well to the front (21)
just as Gen. Banks was about to move his
corps to Manassas, however, there occurred
series OF events that compelled him to
retain the greater part of his force in the
Shenandoah Valley. At the time of the
evacuation of Manassas by the enemy,
Stonewall Jackson, with his division OF
about 5000 men, was posted at Win
chester-the Union troops occupying
Charlestown; but on the advance of
Gen. Banks's force, on the 10Th Of March,
he retreated; and, pursued by the division
of Shields, retired 20 miles south of Stras-
burg. Under cover of this advance, the
First Division of Banks's Corps was, on
the 10th. put en- route for Manassas. and
Shields fell back to Winchester. Jack
OF the troops from the valley, but exag-
gerating its extent, returned upon his steps
and, on the afternoon of the 23d, attacked
Shields near Winchester. Jackson met a
severe repulse,. after which he made his
way southwark. This affair caused Gen.
Ranks TO return himself, as also to recall
the division then on the march for Manas-
sas: and after this events so shaped them
selves that Banks's command was retained
in the Shenandoah Valley, and Gen. Wads-
worth was placed in command of the
ferces for the protection Of the National
Capital.
DEFENSE OF WASHINGTON.
To provide for the security of Wash
iEgton was Gen. McClellan's next care.
and for this purpose he left behind a force
of above 10000 men, with 100 pieces of
light artillery. These troops were not. it
is true, all concentrated at Washington.
but they were all available for it's de.
fense (22)
Meantime, the task of collecting water
transportation, and embarking the troops
for the proposed expedition, was being
pushed forward with the utmost energy.
unhappily, however, while everything
rences took place that marred the auspi-
ciOns circumstances that should have at
tended the expedition.
M'CLELLAN's FORCES REDUCED.
Upon the evacuation Of Manassas. Gen.
Mcclellan. who had, since the retirement
of lieut.-Gen. Scott in the preceding No
vember, exercised the functions of General
in-Chief, was relieved from the control of
the armies in the field, and relegated to
the command of the Army of the Potomac.
At the same time, the troops in Western
Virginia were placed under Gen. Fremont.
who was assigned to what was called the
"MOuntain Department" Now. q few In ys
before he sailed for Fortress Monroe. Cen,
Mcclellan had been informed by the Pres
ident that q strong pressure" had been
brought to bear at Washington to procure
the detachment Of Blenker's Division of
10000 men from the Army Of the Potomac.
in order that it might be added to the
force under Gen. Fremont The President
apparently fully alive to the impolicy OF
dcpriving him of so considerable a body OF
men, on whom he had relied in forming his
plan OF campaign. assured Gen. Mcclellan
that he had decided TO allow the division
to remain; nevertheless, the very day he
fore that officer left Alexandria, he received
note from the President, stating that he
had been constrained, by the severity OF
the pressure, to order the division of Rienk.
er to Fremont. (23l 1t will. moreover
presently appear, that scarcely had tbe
army landed on the Peninsula, when. not.
withstanding the Presidents emphatic as
surances that no more troops should he
detached from McClellan's command the
whole OF McDowell's Corps. whose arrival
nc Was Ihpaliehtiy awaiting, for the pur.
pose OF making with it turning movement,
| on Yorktown. was taken from him. and
Cen Mcdowell with his troops assigned Ia
| the. new Department of the Rappa han.
mock. The reason assigned for this meas
20. derive these facts touching the
| ston himself
Il. Instructions to Gen. Banks: Report
| d. 60.
L
| %. The troops left behind by Gen. Nc
Clellan were as follows:
| In garrison and in front Of Wash
ington ................... 1s,OOt
At Warrenton ................~ 7,7Sl
AT Manassas ................... 10,S5f
In the Shenandoah Valley. ....... 35, ,467
on the lower Potomac ........... 1856
| In ali I3,4Oe
%. Report, p. G3.