174

JEALOUSY AMONG OFFICERS.

occasioned solely by the jealousy of military officers, and not through incapacity on the part of Gen. Pope. No sooner was he appointed to the command of the Army of Virginia, and large forces placed under him, than an emulous spirit manifested itself among the Generals of the Army of the Peninsula. When he issued the injudicious address to his troops, announcing that his headquarters were to be in the saddle, and that they were not to be employed in seeking out lines of retreat, this spirit was still further developed. Finally, when the Peninsular forces were recalled to the capital and placed under Pope, and Gen. McClellan left in command of the fortifications simply, several of his Generals deliberately, we believe, plotted the new leader's ruin. Gen. Porter was unquestionably the most guilty one of the number, and merited a severer punishment than has been meted out to him. This was the general opinion entertained in the army, outside of his own Corps. However much they loved and admired Gen. McClellan, the troops came to regard his pet, Gen. Fitz-John Porter, with distrust and suspicion. Had he obeyed orders, Gen. Pope informs us that the enemy would have been completely routed.

No satisfactory reasons have ever been given for the late advance and slow march of Gen. Franklin's Corps from Alexandria to the scene of operations, when it was so much needed. The fact of his never having been called to account for it, is, however, sufficient reason for asserting that Gen. Franklin was not responsible for the delay. He was too much of

INJUSTICE DONE TO GEN. FRANKLIN.

175

a patriot, too much of a soldier, to be guilty of any machinations against a brother officer and his country. Great injustice has been done him by associating his name with Gen. Porter's.

The conduct and correspondence of Gen. MeClellan all go to prove that he neither shared in nor countenanced that spirit of rivalry which cost the country so much blood and treasure. Gen. Pope's plans were well conceived, and if they had been carried out, would doubtless have resulted in a substantial victory. However questionable his veracity, we cannot withhold from him the meed of having displayed good generalship in the East as well as in the West.

176

INVASION OF MARYLAND.

CHAPTER XIX.

General McClellan Restored to Command.-Re-organization of the Army.-Advance of the Enemy into Maryland.-March from Washington.-Battle of Crampton's Pass.-Harper's Ferry Sur

rendered.

SOON after the troops fell back, Gen. Pope was relieved, at his own request, and Gen. McClellan re-instated as Major General commanding. He immediately commenced the labor of re-organizing the army. The lull which followed, and absence of the enemy from our immediate front, boded no good. The news, therefore, which soon reached Washington, that the rebels had made their appearance near Edward's Ferry, was not wholly unexpected. Friday night, Sept. 5th, they crossed the Potomac and occu* pied Frederick City with a heavy force, destroying the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for several miles, and cutting off communication with Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg, where considerable bodies of our troops were stationed. Gen. Lee's plan, he afterwards stated, in crossing the river, was to threaten Baltimore, Washington and Harrisburg at the same time, thereby diverting the attention of our authorities while he encircled and captured the above forces. Gen. McClellan immediately pushed forward to meet him.