the usual suspects

A Democrat newspaper in from a small town in New York state digests the information that Lee’s army retreated from Gettysburg and made it south of the Potomac largely unscathed. It has to be the Republican administration’s fault. Everything was going great until communication between Washington and the army was restored after the battle.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in July, 1863:

The Escape of Lee’s Army.

LEE has made good his escape across the Potomac with all his arms and munitions of war. This last achievement of the rebel General, retreating in good order across a swollen and unfordable river, in the face of a victorious army outnumbering him three to one, is unquestionably a master piece of generalship. The result of the invasion of Pennsylvania by the hosts of LEE is really humiliation. From the boastings of the telegrams sent over the wires by the War Department, the people were led to believe that there was no possible escape for the Confederate army. But the authorities at Washington were not at all anxious to intercept the flying legions of LEE. During the severe fighting at Gettysburg the wires were down and communication cut off between Washington and Gen. MEADE. The latter, unmolested, repulsed and punished the enemy at all points. But, no sooner was communication restored, and our victorious army put within reach of the scheming men of Washington, than all hope of success faded away. The consequence of all this is before the country. LEE’s army has escaped, and contractors and spoilsmen rejoice that the war is to be prolonged for another year.

It sure wasn’t President Lincoln’s druthers that Lee’s army get south of the Potomac, as can be seen from this telegram to Simon Cameron, Lincoln’s  Secretary of War until January 1862.

From The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Six:

TELEGRAM TO SIMON CAMERON.
[Cipher.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, JULY 15, 1863.

HON. SIMON CAMERON, Harrisburg, Pa.:

Your despatch of yesterday received. Lee was already across the river when you sent it. I would give much to be relieved of the impression that Meade, Couch, Smith, and all since the battle at Gettysburg, have striven only to get Lee over the river without another fight. Please tell me, if you know, who was the one corps commander who was for fighting in the council of war on Sunday night.

A. LINCOLN.

The recipient of Lincoln’s telegram was a man who allegedly knew a thing or two about “contractors and spoilsmen”. Simon Cameron “was widely criticized for favoritism in awarding departmental positions and contracts, and was censured by the House of Representatives for contract manipulations …”

Robert Knox Sneden’s map of the upper Potomac is misleading because Lee’s army was unable to cross at Williamsport on July 7th.