Latest from the North.
Northern advices of the 13th have been received, and are highly interesting, giving as they do further details of the removal of
General McClellan, and the facts incident thereto, with reference to the chances of the ‘"Great Decapitated"’ for the next Presidency of the
United States.
We give the words used by ‘"
Prince"’
John Van Buren in his speech in New York.
Referring to the Administration, he said, ‘"if they desire to restore the
Union and to make
McClellan the next
President, then they have done the very enact thing they should do,"’* * ‘"And that
McClellan will be the
President of the whole Union under an amended Constitution."’
Further particulars of M'Clellan's removal — his Parting Address — Burnside's Opening Salutation — Tears on the Young Napoleon's "classic features"--Lincoln's order.
On the 10th
Gen. McClellan and staff, accompanied by
Gen. Burnside, to bid farewell to the army, visited in succession the several army corps.
As
Gen. McClellan rode through the ranks the torn and tattered banners of the veterans were dipped to greet him, while the thousands of soldiers gave vent in continuous rounds of applause to their feelings.
So says the telegraphic correspondence of the
Associated Press.
Senator Harris, of New York, has written to
McClellan, and pronounces his removal a mistake by the Administration.
The New York Democratic meeting announced, through
John Van Buren, that they believed
McClellan was removed because he was a Democrat, and that
Burnside is put in as a mere intermediate between
McClellan and some Abolition General that is to be put at the head hereafter.
[A voice--‘"
Fremont."’]
Van Buren Fremont, as the gentleman suggests; then it is for him (
Burnside) to consider how far it is proper for him to be made an instrument in the displacement of
McClellan.
The news of M'Clellan's removal.
It was nearly midnight on Friday, the 7th inst., when
Gen. Buckingham handed the order of the
President to
Gen. McClellan relieving him from command of the Army of the Potomac, and directing him to report to him at
Trenton, N. J. The New York
Heralds correspondent writing from
Warrenton, says:
‘
"It was entirely unexpected by everybody here." It was difficult to decide which was most affected —
McClellan or
Burnside. "Tears coursed down
McClellan's classic features, and
Burnside, with his stout and heavy frame, wept like a sorrowing child.
There they sat and wept" "
Burnside was at first disposed to decline assuming the command. "
’
His farewell Address to the Army
Headq'rs Army of the Potomac.
Camp near Rectertown, Va.,Nov. 7, 1862.
Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac An order of the
President devolves upon
Major General Burnside the command of the Army.
In porting from you I cannot express the love and gratitude I hear to you. As an army you have grown up under my care.
In you I have never found doubt or coldness.
The battles you have fought under my command will proudly live in our nation's history.
The glory you have achieved, our mutual perils and fatigues, the graves of our comrades fallen in battle and by disease, the broken forms of those whom wounds and sickness have disabled — the strongest associations that ever can exist between men — unite us still by an indissoluble tie. We shall ever be comrades in supporting the
Constitution of our country and the nationality of its people.
The Effect on his officers.
On Saturday the mournful news was known throughout headquarters.
His staff officers were not less amazed than
McClellan was himself.
In answer to inquiries propounded to himself,
McClellan simply said: "All I know about it is that I received the order, dated on the 7th, immediately after the results of the
State elections were announced.
The
Washington Chronicle--semi-official — says that the order relieving
Gen. McClellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac ‘"was the result of long and patient consultation on the part of our (Federal) highest military authorities, and must be regarded as a military question."’
The main reason of his removal, however, is evident enough.
It is because he failed to move on
Virginia with alacrity and do up the job of subjugation with dispatch.
General Halleck replies to some half a dozen questions sent him by
Secretary Stanton.
The purpose seems to be to throw off all blame from each of these parties and fix it on
McClellan.
The first and second queries relate to the demand for supplies for the Army of the Potomac, and the responses show the readiness with which those supplies were furnished.
Gen. Halleck says:
‘
"On the 6th of October
Gen McClellan was peremptorily ordered to cross the
Potomac and give battle to the enemy or drive him South.
Your army must move now while the roads are good."
’
It will be observed [continues
Halleck to
Stanton, on the 28th October ] that three weeks have elapsed since that order was given.
Gen. Halleck further says:
‘
"In my opinion there has been no such want of supplies in the army of
Gen. McClellan as to prevent his compliance with the orders to advance against the enemy."
’
Gen. Halleck then goes on to speak of the supplies of shoes and clothing sent the army, and of houses furnished it. The creme of the letter consists of dissatisfaction with
McClellan because he had not pushed into
Virginia.
The New York
Tribunes, commenting on the removal, says that
‘
"the report of the Military Commission touching the surrender of
Harper's Ferry, contains facts which form a part of the
Cass against the superceded
Major-General."
’
The removal of
McClellan has certainly produced a good deal of excitement in the
North.
The
Tines' Washington correspondent heard a
Lieutenant Colonel my publicly, that if by fighting another hour he could put down the rebellion, he would not do it.
Much feeling was evinced in
Philadelphia and New York on the reception of the news.
A dispatch in a New York paper, sent on Sunday, asserted that the supersedure of
McClellan created great excitement and dissatisfaction in the army.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Washington, Monday night, denied it. Everybody knows that the Associated
Press Agent is under the immediate control of the Administration, and that he dare not telegraph anything but what it permits.
From the Federal Army.
Gen. Burnside's headquarters were at
Warrenton on the 9th.
Sickles was on his way on the 9th to Rappahannock station, with artillery and infantry, to hold the important bridge there past peradventure, with the assistance of
Bayard's cavalry.
Gen. Geary made a reconnaissance with 2,500 men, on the 8th, from
Harper's Ferry.
Charlestown was occupied and searched, and about 20 prisoners made.
The Federal went to within five miles of
Berryville, where they say the reconnaissance ended, and where ‘"two
Virginia regiments of infantry and
Chew's rebel battery assisted the rebel cavalry to run without offering any opposition."’
The Federal, under date of headquarters, November 11, says that
Gen. Bayard still remains at Rappahannock station, where the rebels are in force on the opposite side of the river, and that
Jackson still holds
Chester and Manassas Gaps.
There is no confirmation of the report that a change in
Lincoln's Cabinet is anticipated.
It is said that Reward and
Chase say none will take place.
The following is a copy of the order removing
McClellan:
War Department, Adj't Gen.'s office, Washington, Nov. 5.
General Orders, No. 122.
By direction of the
President of the
United States, it is ordered that
Major-General McClellan is relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that
Major-General Burnside take the command of that army.
The following order was issued by
Gen. Burnside on his taking command of the Army of the Potomac:
In accordance with General Orders No. 160, issued by the
President of the
United States, I have-by command of the army of the Potomac
Patriotism and the exercise of my every energy in the direction of this army, aided by the full and hearty co-operation of its officers and men, will, I hope, under the blessing of God, insure its success.
Having been a sharer of the privation and a witness of the bravery of the old army of the Potomac in the
Maryland campaign, and fully identified with them in their feeling of respect and esteem for
Gen. McClellan, entertained through long and most friendly association with him, I feel that it is not as a stranger that I assume their command.
To the 9th corps, so long and intimately associated with me, I need say nothing.
Our histories are identical.
With diffidence for myself, but with a proud confidence in the unswerving loyalty and determination of the gallant army now entrusted to my care, I accept its control with the steadfast assurance that the just cause must prevail.
The Alleged Pursuit of the "290."
It has been stated in the New York papers that dispatches have been sent by the
British Consul at that city to
Admiral Milne, commander of the
West India squadron, in reference to the destruction of British property by the Confederate steamer
Alabama, and also that three British war vessels have been sent in search of her. The
Express says:
‘
Upon inquiry at the proper sources, we learn that the simple fact of the destruction of British cargoes by the
Alabama has been telegraphed to
Admiral Milne, of the
West India squadron, by the
British Consul in this city.
The story that already three British war sloops have put out for the
Alabama is pronounced entirely untrue at the
Consul's office.
A very late dispatch from
Halifax makes no mention of any vessels-of-war having been ordered out. The fact of the destruction of British property is true, as the entire cargo of the
Lafayette belonged to British owners, but we are assured no definite action has been taken by the
British Admiral.
’
