2

McClellan's Army

The people should not be impatient in regard to Gen. McClellan's movements. They should remember that he has a greatly superior force, in point of numbers, to contend with, and that a failure would be very disastrous to the union cause. They should remember that the orders of the president, as commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, to the commanding generals, are — run no risks, make no ventures, but let every movement be sure, and every blow a victory. Generals McClellan and Halleck are acting in accordance with these orders, and inasmuch as they are scientific military men, who have made the art of war the study of a great portion of their lives, we can trust to them the conduct of the advances against the enemy, and to make sure that every blow will be a victory. The wonderful success of McClellan at Yorktown, and Halleck at Corinth, shows that no risk should be incurred — no rash venture made. The occupation of the rebel capital would be worth more to the cause of the union in its military, moral and national effect, at this time, than any other success that could be achieved; while, on the other hand, a great defeat before Richmond would be a disaster that it would be difficult to retrieve, and might entail upon our government sad and terrible consequences that it is now impossible to calculate. If Richmond can be taken for a certainty by a month's siege, it is vastly better to take it in that way than by a precipitate attack with a doubtful result. We have confidence that McClellan is making "a sure thing" of Richmond — and we shall patiently and calmly await the final issue.