We learn from the
New York Herald that that branch of the great Yankee nation, of which Greeley
is the organ, is very much dissatisfied with the generalship of McClellan, and
an agitation is on foot to compel him to resign. His dilatory proceedings are
sharply commented on, and incompetency and treachery both assigned as reasons
for the slow progress in subduing the Rebels. In the number of soldiers, field
artillery, rifles, muskets and ammunition, they have (says the Tribune,) twice
as many as the rebels—and surpass them in discipline, valor and all the
essentials for successful war, except rulers and officers. In this latter
particular it is admitted that the Rebels outstrip them. McClellan’s pretense
that the Grand Army is not ready to advance is pronounced a falsehood. The
whole Yankee nation is eager for fight—and is only restrained by the cowardice or
venality of their officers. These last are directly charged with prolonging the
war for the sake of high pay. “They don’t mean (Greeley says) that the Rebels
shall be too severely whipped.” What suits them best is a war, all expense and
little or no fighting, until the loyal States shall be exhausted, discouraged,
disgusted and ready to buy a peace of Jeff. Davis by almost any possible
surrender. The Government is said to be on the verge of bankruptcy by the
preparations already made—tho’ no decisive result has been reached. The
philosopher is convinced that without a change of men and measures, there is
very faint prospect of any decisive result being attained at all. The removal
of Cameron is a change in the wrong direction, and tends rather to inflame the
spleen of the philosopher.
There is some show
of justice in Greeley’s complaints. With all their vaunted resources the
Yankees have achieved very little. It is not for us to point out the blunders
of their strategy. But their failure so far corroborates the opinion we have
long entertained, that they are not capable of public affairs or the conduct of
a war.
SOURCE: “Discord at
the North,” Richmond Daily Whig,
Richmond, Virginia, Tuesday Morning, January 21, 1862, p. 2 col. 1
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