The National tribune., 1908-01-09

warding supplies by rail on account OF
the crowded condition of the depots or
of a want of cars, but whenever notified
Of this agents have been sent out to
remove the difficulty. Under the ex-
cellent superintendent of Gen. Haupt
think these delays have been less fire.
quent and of shorter duration than is
usual with freight trains. Any army
of the size of that under Gen. McClel-
Ian will frequently be for some days
without the supplies asked for, on ae-
count of neglect in making timely requi-
sitions and unavoidable delays in for
warding them and in distributing them
to the different brigades and regiments.
From all the Information 1 can obtain
1 am of opinion that the acquisitions
from that army have been filled more
promptly and that the men, as a gen.
eral rule, have been better supplied
than our armies operating in the West.
The latter have operated at much
greater distances from the sources of
supply. and have had far less facilities
for transportation. In fine, / believe
campaign have been more promptly or
better supplied than ours.
"Soon after the battle of Antietam
Gen. Mcclellan was urged to give some
information of his intended movements,
in order that If he moved between the
enemy and Washington reinforcements
could be sent from this place. On the
1st of October, finding that he purposed
to operate from Harper's Ferry, 1 urged
him to cross the river at once and give
battle to the enemy, pointing out to
him the disadvantages of delaying till
the Autumn rains had swollen the Po-
tomac and impaired the roads. On the
9Th of Octboer he was peremptorily or
dered to cross the Potomac and give
hot 10. tn 1xa Iii L..
Your army must move now, while the
roads are good 1t will be observed
that three weeks have elapsed since
this order was given.
I'm my opinion there has been no
such want of supplies in the army un-
der Gen. Mcclellan as to prevent his
compliance with the orders to advance
against the enemy. Had he moved to
the south side of the Potomac, he could
have received his supplies almost as
readily as by remaining inactive on the
north side.
Ne Lack of Horses.
"On the 7th of October. in a tele-
gram in regard to his intended move
ments, Gen. Mcclellan stated that it
would require at least three days to
supply the First. Fifth and Sixth Corps;
that they needed shoes and other indis-
pensable articles of clothing, as well as
shelter tents. No complaint was made
that any acquisitions had not been filled.
and it was inferred from his language
that he was only waiting for the dis
tribution of his supplies.
"On the 11th he telegraphed that a
portion of his supplies sent by rail had
been delayed. AS already stated. agents
were Immediately sent from here to in
veStlgate this complaint, and they re-
ported that everything had gone for
ward. On the same date (the 11th)
he spoke of many of his horses being
broken down by fatigue.
"On the 18th ile complained that the
rate of supply was only $50 horses per-
week for the entire army there and
in front of Washington I Immediate
ly directed the QuaFtermaster-Ge General
to inquire into this matter and to re-
port why a larger supply was not fur
nished. Gen. Meigss reported on the
18th that the average issue of horses
to Gen. McClellan,s army in the field
and in front of Washington for the pre-
vious six weeks had been 1850 per
week. or S,I54 in all; in addition, that
large numbers of mules had been sup
piled, and that the number of animals
with Gen. McClellan's army on the Up
per Potomac was over 81, 900. He also
reported that he was then sending to
that army all the horses he could pro-
cure.
ION the 18th Gen. Mcclellan stated.
in regard to Gen. Meigs's report, that
he had filled every requisition for shoes
and clothing:
Gen Meigs may have ordered these
articles TO be forwarded. but they have
not reached our depots, and unless
greater effort to insure prompt trans
mission is made by the Department of
which Gen. Meigs is the head they
might as we'll remain in New York or
Philadelphia so far as this army is con-
cerned'
II Immediately called Gen. Meigs's
attention to this apparent neglect of
his Department On the 25th he re- |
ported, as the result of his investiga-
tions, that 4s.e09 pairs of boots and
shoes had been received by the Quar-
termaster of Gen. McCiellan's army at