The National tribune., 1904-03-10

Note-The building with bah and yane Is the Court
this time been recalled from his Western
field Of operations and placed in supreme
command Of all the armies in the field by
his appointment to the Office Of General-in-
Chief-an office which, to the incaIculable
obstruction of the conduct Of the war and
the intolerable annoyance Of every Cen
cral commanding the Army Of the Poto-
mac, he continued to hold till pushed
from his STOOL by the elevation, two years
afterwards, Of Gen. Grant to the Lieu
tenant-GeHeralship.
MCCLELLAN TuwARTED By HALLEcK.
Gen. HalIeck added his strident voice
i'm favor OF the withdrawal of the army
from the Peninsula, although, owing to a
sincere anxiety now cherished by Mr.. Lin
coin that Gen. McClellaa should be allowed
his "own way" he was not at first able to
make the order imperative. The President
in response to Gen. McCleilan's appeals for
re-enforcements to enable him to renew
operations against Richmond, had prom
ised him an addition to his strength or
10000 men, to be drawn. from Burnside's
command in North Carolina and Hunters
command in South Carolina. With this
reinforcement, Mcclellan expressed his
readiness to renew operations, and he had
proceeded to make reconnaissance in
force with the divisions of Hooker and
Sedgwick, who advanced and reoccupied
Malvern, when he was met by telegram
from the new General-in-Chief, dated Aug.
3, ordering him to withdraw the entire
army from the Peninsula to Aquia Greek,
there to make a junction with Pope. After
an urgent appeal from this order, Gen.
Mcclellan proceeded to carry out his in
structions.
The judgment Of the act that removed
the Army Of the Potomac from the PENN
sula must turn on the one fact, whether
or not it was really designed to re-enforce
that army. Ii it was not designed to re-
enforce it to an effective that would en-
able it to Immediately recommence active
| operations, then undoubtedly the wisest
| course was to withdraw it from the Pen
| Insula; for q cOncentra ton of the divided
forces was so prime a necessity, that il q
junction OF the two armies was not to be
allowed on the James, junction In front
Of Washington was preferable to their
continued isOlation-a situation in which
neither could operate with much effect 6)
II however. there had been on the part
| OF the Administration any intention Of Civ
ing effect to the views Of Gen. Mcclellan,
by furnishing such accessions to his
| strength as would permit his moving upon
Richmond, the army should assuredly have
remained on the line of the James.
LEE, TOO, WISHED MCCLELLAN AWAY.
Now, 1t is curious circumstance, that
at this time there was another person full
| as anxious as Gen. Halleck to have the
Army Of the Potomac leave the Peninsula.
That person was Gen. Lee. And il there
be any force in that military ma kim, which
admonishes never to do what the enemy
wants you to do," this notable coincidence
should raise grave suspicious touching the
1 wisdom OF measure in which the oppos
ing chiefs were in such entire harmony.
To dislodge the army from its threaten
Ing position on the James, Lee determined
to menace its communications; and with
this view he moved force to the south
bank Of the James, seized Q position imme
placed 43 guns in position, and on the Bis
j 8. Report on the Conduct Of the War
vol. !, p. 279.
i 9. Ibid.,- p. 279.
1 Z. There is another consideration tha
prompted certain officers Of the army Il
; urge the removal OF the army from tn.
! Peninsula, il 1t was not to be REINFORCED
and that is the unhealthy situation II
which the army would find itself lying II
! inaction amid the swamps OF the james
during the hot months Of August ans
:. September. This was the reason why sev
!. eraIof the officers OF the Army Of the Pc
tomac-among them Gems. Franklin ani
Newt0n-expgessed to President Lincoln
!. during visit he made to McClellan'
camp in July, 1852, an opinion In favor O.
withdrawing the army from the Peninsula
s make this statement on the authority o.
the officers named. III re>enforcemenf,
] were to be expected, they were altorethe
lin favor OF remaining.