Year: 1864

MIR. LINCOLN'S RECORD No H.


In few weeks after the opening of the conflict
precipitated by the bombardment of Fort Sumter
the New York Tribune, which thus early showed
itself to be the power behind the President strong
er than the President himself demanded that /" the
war should be closed in triumph within one year
from the time it was commenced" These were
the words it held on the 10Th of juno, 1861:


" On the advent of the next spring peace should assert
its bengnant rule labor and industry should return to
their fields and their shops trade and should
resume their accustomed channels learning genu and
virtue should once more pursue the tenor of their
way and our civil Institutions restored to their firm
datoDs should receive than the wonted regard and
affection of our people, because of the trying ordeal
through which they have passed Whether to accomplish
half million OF and five hundred millions OF money,
we know not"


In the same article it said


" In subduing revolt if Government allows the con-
test to becoms equal between the loyal forces and
the insurgents what would otherwise have termna ed
single short sharp but thorough and fna collision,
pands into the proportions of campaign with its skr
mishes and seges and their alternating and t
umphs And this equilibrium Of forces is permitted to
continue through many months, rebellion which might
have been crushed BY prompt battle widens into
on gigantic scale"


This theory was entirely correct, but, as in tae
case with the most of the Trbunes theories, it was
wrongly applied to the facts of the case. Presum-
ing that rs 900 three months men were quito able
to bring on single "short and sharp but tho
rough" collision which would end the rebellion,
the Tribune began at once to raise the cry Of " on
to Richmond" Gen. Scott resisted, knowing the
want Of preparation the part of our authorities
for an offensive movement, but the more he resist
ed the more vehemently did the Tribune shout
/" on to Richmond" Such was the phrenzy raised
by the cuckoo-cry throughout the country, and
such the effect of its reflex action on an Admins
tration which takes its impulse from external "pres
sure," that, in the end, the President and Gen
Scott both yielded, and the battle of Bull Run
was fought on Sunday, July q, 1861, to appease
the clamors of the Tribune. 1t was the first fruits
Of the "pressure" which has since brought forth
other fruits after its kind, in the shape of civil and
military disaster.


Five days after the disaster and rout of Bull
Run the New York Times in its issue of July 26,
1861, wrote as follows:


"The question is ,oho decided that The attack should Be
nade7 Who determined that The road to Richmond
should be by Manassas Junction Who is responsible for
the plan Of operations by which battle at this point go
eced by the rebels Themselves admirably for de-
fence fortified through three long months Of ncessant
labor accessible to their renforcemens from both drec
tons, and in all respects precisely such position they
might wish to make It, became matter Of necessity The
paragraph quoted above for the purpose OF relieving the
President aud Cabinet throws the responsibility upon
Gen Scott We have not the slightest desire to involve
the President aud Cabinet in any responsibility that does
not belong them but the other hand, we do not in
tend that Gen. Scott shall be loaded with blame for acts
which were done by others. We knop that Gen Scott
was opposed to this plan OF the campaign from the begin
ming; he deemed it unwjse to make Richmond the main
point Of the movements but after that had been de- cded
against him. he opposed to marching against il by the
longest aud most difficult route, through country every
foot of which would be obsnaely defended and which


must be held by strong force after it had once been taken
This know to be trueand in spite of the decacy of
such disclosures shall not hesitate to state author.
ity for it, Ii is that of Gen. Scott himself.


"on the Tuesday preceding the battle Gen Scott al his
table, in presence OF his aids and single guest dis
cussed the whole subject Of this in all it's parls and
with The utmost clearness and accuracy He had dis
tnct and well defined opinion on every point
with it; and stated what his p would be for bringing il TO


close If the management of had been lett in his hauds


The main object Of the war; be SAID was to bring the peo
pie OF the rebeous States to feel the pressure the Gov
ernment to compel them 10 return 10 their and
loyalty. And this must be done with the least possible
expenditure OF lie, compatible with the attainment of the
object No Christian nation be justified he said IN
wagng in such way shall destroy Ave hundre
aud lives when the object Of the be- attained
cost Of FIVE hundred. Every killed beyond the
number absolutely required is murdered. Hence. be
o ked upon all shooting Of pckes all scouting forsys moi


required in order to advance the general object of the
all destruction Of lile either side, which did not con


tribute TO the general result as so many Of uDusta
BILE homicide.


lf the matter had been left TO him, he said he would
have commenced by perfect blockade Of every Southern
port on the Atlantic and the Gulf Then he would have
taA laran EaFna at tho koI l.r-


poses and another large the Mississippi for often
operations The months, during which il /.
madness To take tr ops south of st LOUIS should hav,
been devoted to tactical instruction. and with The raj


ross Of autumn, he would have taken column OF 80 0OC
weldiscplined troops down the Mississippi and taker
every important point that river New Orleans ncud


could hare been done he said ,ch greater ease ,oiA les
loss of life, and 'th far important results than ,oou


attend The marching Of an army to Richmond At eiQh


points the would probably have been defended AM


eight battles would have been necessary but every on