Year: 1862




first came on here all was joy and hope. Young
America was TO lead our eager troops 10 to the
victorious charge. We were promised there
should be no more Bull Run campaigns We
were told to wait for the cool nights Of autumn.
The mellow light Of October weather was to
witness great things. The General told his
troops to stick to him and he would stick to
them, but they should stick to him first Well
they did stick to him, and he sticks TO the Po-
toinae, and the whole army here now is most
beautifully stuck in the mud.


Both Gen. Mcclellan and Mr.. Lincoln were
told more than four months ago that this would
happen, but to all warning parties Mr.. Lincoln
would invariably present the commanding Gen.
erals great pldn;-from this plan there seemed
to be no appeal.


Let us examine the various parts Of this great
plan which have already come to our notice and
see whether we have much to expect from the
whole when it shall be carried out.


| The FIRST move that Gen. Mcclellan made was
a capital one; that was to sweep the soldiers out
of this city to their camps. This was quite an
improvement on the administration Of General
Scott, but then while he did this good turn he
need not have swept the gun boats off the Po-
tomac and give the rebels chance TO blockade
the river. The river is blockaded up to this
very hour and yet no effort has been made to
raise the blockade, because undoubtedly this
blockade is part of the great plan. For this
part of his plan he has received curses long and
deep from those in the city who are suffering
for fuel and forage for their animals.


The next item we notice in his progress is the
Balls Bluff matter. The proper authorities have
Investigated the whole affair and it may be pub
lished some time. From the bloody tragedy
enacted in that battle turn away with horror
As General Mcclellan has not disavowed it, W,
may consider it part of the great plan.


The next feature of the great plan is the Sher.
man expedition to Port Royal. How that ha'
resulted your readers all know. When public
anxiety late in the Summer was beginning to
ask "what we were waiting forf" the universal
answer was Gen. McClellan's great plan, and his
toadies would, if any one said delay" frown
the inquirer down and thrust into his face this
everlasting plan, telling him to wait till the
Sherman expedition got started and then seel-
Well we did wait and we did see; but what did
we see? another feature of the great plan.
The mountains, Il mean the United States mil
itary mountains, of which Gen. Mcclellan il
the heght) did labor, and did bring forth a ri.
diculously mousng result.


Endless patience is not one of our nationa
characteristics, and very soon the public begai
again to enquire "why something was not donef


Hereupon the same army of toadies set up tn
old cry and we were told "to wait, the gree


plan was not yet yet quite matured; to stop ou


bother and noise till the Burnside expeditio


got ready" Well, what then2 III tell yo,


Mr.. Editor; if Gen. Burnside goes ahead, il vii


be in spite of the plan and not by the help off


Why were not Lander and Kelly permitte,
E to bag Jacksonf Because it was not part o
s the plan.


r Why does Gen. Hunter supercede Gen. Lane
because it Is part Of the plan.


:. Every thing that remains undone, or that i
. done, is part and parcel of this great plan"
Who knows whether the removal of Fremon
: was not part of this "great plani"
e Our army lies supinely on the Potomac; ou
n National Treasury is fast becoming empty; ou
: Capital remains in a state of seige; we are fas
: losing prestige in Europe and inviting foreig
n invasion therefrom;-but no matter, 80 long a


these things happen in conformity with tn
: "greatp


e When destruction shall have broken US
: fragments; when our institutions shall exist n
S where only on paper; when the wall for our los
o rights begins to go up, what sorry comfort


will be to know that these things have com
e upon us by means of GREAT PLAN.


h E.G. c.