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pression of the rebellion. "Fellow citizens," said he in conclusion, "amid all the discouragements which surround us, I have still an unfaltering faith in human progress and in the capacity of man for self-government. I believe that the blood which the true lovers of our race have shed on more than a thousand battlefields has borne fruit, and that that fruit is the Republic of the United States. It came forth on the world like the morning sun from his chamber. Its pathway has been a pathway of light and glory. It has brought blessings upon its people in the brimming fullness with which the rivers pour their waters into the sea. I cannot admit into my bosom the crushing thought that, in the full light of the Christian civilization of the nineteenth century, such a government is fated to perish beneath the swords of the guilty men who are now banded together for its overthrow. I cannot, I will not believe that twenty millions of people, cultivated, loyal, courageous, will ignominiously suffer their institutions to be overturned by ten millions, nearly half of whom are helpless slaves with fetters on their hands. Let us, then, rouse ourselves fully to this great work of duty. If it is to be done well, it should be done quick

of peace, still carry bullets as well as ballots in their pockets." Of the sentiment of the North he said, speaking from his observations in a recent tour through the region, he had "nowhere found any feeling of exasperation against the people of the South-no bluster, no threatening; but at every point a solemn determination to uphold the Government, connected, at the same time, with a sadness and with a depth of tenderness I would in vain endeavor to describe. Strong and brave men, when speaking to me of the unhappy distractions which rend our country, have wept in my presence, and I have honored these men for this unwonted exhibition of deep feeling, for if a brave man cannot weep over the threatened ruin of such a country and such a Government as this, where is there a catastrophe or a sorrow that can touch his heart? Everywhere, and in all places, the people seem now to realize the fact that this is not a war upon the people of the South, but a war undertaken for their defence and for their deliverance." In accordance with this earnestness and sympathy was the speaker's appeal to the sense of duty of the North to play their part manfully in the conflict for the preservation of the Government of their fathers-while foreign nations ly. If we would economise both blood were looking to its destruction. "How gladly," he exclaimed, "would the enemies of freedom behold a monument of us in the skies, could they see inscribed upon it these words: In memory of the great Republic of the United States, founded by Washington and destroyed by Toombs, Twiggs and Floyd!" With equal scorn he denounced disloyal men at the North who would, by sowing dissension, weaken the force of the Government, which stood pledged to the sup

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and treasure, we should move promptly, we should move mightily. At this very moment, were it possible to precipitate the whole physical force of the loyal States on the fields of the South, it would be a measure not only of wisdom, but of economy and humanity also."

On the 20th of August General McClellan formally entered upon command of the army of the Potomac, which, as at that time constituted, comprised the troops serving in the former departments

GENERAL MCCLELLAN'S SABBATH ORDER.

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shall be made on that day; that the men shall, as far as possible, be permitted to rest from their labors; that they shall attend Divine service after

tion, and that officers and men shall alike use their influence to insure the utmost decorum and quiet on that day. The General Commanding regards this as no idle form. One day's rest in seven is necessary to men and animals. More than this, the observance of the Holy Day of the God of mercy and of battles is our sacred duty."

of Washington and North-eastern Virginia, in the valley of the Shenandoah, and in the States of Maryland and Delaware. The following officers were attached to his staff: Major S. Williams, the customary Sunday morning inspecAssistant Adjutant - General; Captain Alexander V. Colburn, Assistant Adjutant-General; Colonel R. B. Marcy, Inspector-General; Colonel T. M. Key, Aide-de-Camp; Captain N. B. Swetser, 1st Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp; Captain Edward McK. Hudson, 14th Infantry, Aide-de-Camp; Captain L. A. Williams, 10th Infantry, Aide-de Camp; Major A. J. Myers, Signal Officer; Major Stewart Among other camp incidents which ocVan Vliet, Chief Quartermaster; Cap-curred while the army on the Potomac tain H. F. Clarke, Chief Commissary; was in formation, was a visit on the 10th Surgeon C. S. Tripler, Medical Director; of September of President Lincoln, acMajor J. G. Barnard, Chief Engineer; companied by Secretary Cameron, GovMajor J. M. Macomb, Chief Topographi- ernor Curtin, and others to the Pennsylcal Engineer; Captain Charles P. Kings- vania regiments. After the ceremony bury, Chief of Ordnance; Brigadier- of presentation by Governor Curtin of General George Stoneham, Volunteer a set of flags, provided by the Cincinnati Service, Chief of Cavalry; Brigadier General W. S. Barry, Volunteer Service, Chief of Artillery."

As a further and most important means of raising the morale, and adding to the efficiency of the army, General McClellan, on the 6th of September, issued the following order, enjoining the special observance of the Sabbath in the camp: "The Major-General Commanding desires and requests that in future there may be a more perfect respect for the Sabbath on the part of his command. We are fighting in a holy cause, and should endeavor to deserve the benign favor of the Creator. Unless in the case of an attack by the enemy, or some other extreme military necessity, it is commended to commanding officers, that all work shall be suspended on the Sabbath ; that no unnecessary movements

Society of Philadelphia, to the brigade under command of General McCall, the distinguished party crossed the river by the Chain Bridge, where a scene occurred at one of the new forts which is remembered by the few words, often recited afterwards, addressed by General McClellan to the troops: "Soldiers," said he, "we have had our last retreat. We have seen our last defeat. You stand by me and I will stand by you, and henceforth victory will crown our efforts."

Words like these, incidentally spoken, were eagerly caught up by the public and treasured as sure promises of the success of the young General, upon whom the expectation of the war was now placed. At this early period of the contest there was certainly no ground of complaint of the want of confidence in those entrusted with its conduct, on the part

66

of the people. They yielded all frankly regard is rather saturnine, and, if not and freely to those in authority, and so melancholic, is of a grim gayety; Mcfar from withholding credit where it was Clellan is genial even in his reserve. due, were rather disposed, so sure were The density of the hair, the squareness they of results, of paying the tribute of of the jaw, the firmness and regularity fame and admiration in advance. Gen- of the teeth, and the outlines of the feaeral McClellan, in particular, was ac- tures, are points of similarity in both, cepted as the hero of the future; the which would be more striking if Beaurenewspapers eulogized him; the print gard were not of the true Louisianian shops were filled with his portraits: Creole tint, while McClellan is fair-comeverything was hoped from his conduct plexioned. Beauregard has a dark, dull, of the war. Se strong was this impres- student's eye, the dullness of which sion that the correspondent of the Lon- arises, however, from its formation, for don Times, Mr. Russell, whose letters it is full of fire, and its glances are quick were reprinted everywhere, presented and searching. McClellan has a deep, his portrait at full length to the world, clear eye, into which you can look far with a minuteness of description and and deep, while you feel it searches far personal detail applied usually only to and deep into you. Beauregard has long-established and well-tried celebri- something of pretension in his mannerties. 'When I had the pleasure," he not hauteur, but a folding-armed, mediwrote, in an ingenious parallel between tative sort of air, which seems to say, the two most talked-of men in the North- Don't disturb me; I'm thinking of miliern and Southern armies, "of conversing tary movements.' McClellan seems to with General McClellan for the first time be always at leisure; but you feel at the he asked me several questions, with evi- same time that you ought not to intrude dent interest and friendly curiosity-not too much upon him, even when you seek unusual on the part of Generals in refer- in vain for the grounds of that impresence to their antagonists respecting sion in anything that he is doing or sayGeneral Beauregard. In his case there ing. Beauregard is more subtle, crafty was all the more reason for such in- and astute; McClellan is more comprequiries, in the fact that they were old hensive, more learned, more impressionfellow-students and class-mates. To my able. Beauregard is a thorough soldier; mind there is something of resemblance McClellan may prove he is a great genbetween the men. Both are below the eral. The former only looks to military middle height. They are both squarely consequences, and disregards popular built, and famed for muscular power manifestations; the latter respects the since their college days. Beauregard, indeed, is lean and thin-ribbed; McClellan is full and round, with a Napoleonic tendency to embonpoint, subdued by incessant exercise. Beauregard sleeps little; McClellan's temperament requires a full share of rest; both are spare and Spartan in diet, studious, quiet. Beau

opinions of the outer world, and sees political as well as military results in what he orders. They are both the creatures of accident, so far as their present positions are concerned. It remains to be seen if either can control the current of events, and if in either the artilleryman or the cavalry officer of the old

GENERAL MCCLELLAN'S HEADQUARTERS.

United States' army there is the stuff around which history is moulded, such as that of which the artilleryman of Brienne or the leader of the Ironsides were made."

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and sundry gentle Cerberi bar the entrance to his presence, nor is he destitute of the art of making himself invisible when he pleases. His staff are excellent men, I am told, and most "General McClellan's headquarters courteous and gentlemanly I know, so are in a pleasant house at the corner of far as my personal experience goes, nor a square-not unlike that of Gordon or could any commander be served more Euston. By day, the door and windows efficiently than the General is by such are open; a sentry in blue tunic, blue men, as Brigadier-General Vanvliet, or cap, blue trowsers, all without which are Colonel Hudson, notwithstanding the called facings, brass buttons, with a dis- absence of a good deal of the stiffness tracted eagle thereupon, and a waistbelt which marks the approaches to some with a brass buckle inscribed 'U. S.,' headquarters, as General McClellan found walks up and down, generally with a when he and his brother Commissioners pipe or cigar in his mouth, and his fire- sought in vain to obtain access to Marlock carried horizontally over his should-shal Pelissier in the Crimea. The Gener, so as to bring the bayonet on a level eral, a short time ago an employeé on the with any eye of which the unwary owner Central Illinois Railway, but still with may be coming round the corner. Sev- so much of the old spirit in him that he eral dragoon horses are hitched up by studied closely all the movements of that the rail and the trees along the pave- short Italian campaign of which he is not ment, standing patiently and good-na- doomed to give a counterpart in this part turedly, as American horses are wont to of the world, is a nocturne, and at the do, or, at most, stamping and flicking off close of long, laborious days, works hard the flies which in the United States try and fast late into the night till sleep purpatience and temper so very hardly. sues and overtakes him, when he surrenAt the door are ready orderlies, two ders readily, for he has one of those naquick, intelligent young men, who are tures which need a fair share of rest, cacivil without being servile, and who, in pable though they be of great exertion being so, afford some contrast to the va- without it on occasion. He works hard, rious very independent soldiers lounging too, in the saddle, and, when the business or sitting on the steps reading news- of the morning has been dispatched, off papers, and waiting for answers to their he goes, attended by a few officers and a messages. There is a sort of Open small escort of orderlies and troops, Sesame' air about the place which does across the Potomac, visiting the camps, not prevent the secrets inside being well examining positions, eating where forkept. In the parlors are seated officers tune spreads the board, and returning, and visitors smoking or talking. The generally after nightfall, to look over the tables are covered with a litter of reports, to issue orders, to baffle little papers and journals and torn envelopes, politicians, and to stand on the defensive and the clacking tongue of the telegraph against those of larger dimensions. Here instrument resounds through the build- he is natural, but vigilant-candid, but ing. The General is generally upstairs, prudent, tobacco ruminant or fumant, full

of life, and yet contemplative-of a temper, indeed, which seems to take some of its color from that of the accidents of its surroundings in time and place."

screened by the woods from Lewinsville, and a few hundred yards from the place, I sent forward, under Major Terrill, a portion of his command, stealthily to On the 11th September a reconnois- reach the wood at a turn in the road, and sance was made to Lewinsville, four or reconnoitre beyond. This was admirafive miles from Camp Advance at the bly done, and the Major soon reported to Chain Bridge, by General William F. me that the enemy had a piece of artilSmith, commanding the brigade at that lery in position in the road just at Lewpost. He had with him the 79th High- insville, commanding our road. I directlanders, New York State Militia, battal-ed him immediately to post his riflemen ions of Vermont and Indiana volunteers, so as to render it impossible for the canand of the 1st United States Chasseurs, noneers to serve the piece, and, if possia cavalry company, and Griffin's West ble, to capture it. During subsequent Point battery-in all about 2,000 men. operations the cannoneers tried ineffectA topographical survey was accomplish-ually to serve the piece; and finally, ed, and the party was about returning in the afternoon, when they were attacked by a body of the enemy-the 13th Virginia Volunteers, 305 men; a section of Rosser's battery, Washington Artillery; and a detachment of the 1st Cavalry; the whole under command of Colonel J. E. B. Stuart. The dispositions of the enemy, who were favored by the ground, were skillfully made, their battery being placed so as to command the road over which the Union troops were returning. 'My intention," says Colonel Stuart in his report of the affair, "was to surprise them, and I succeeded entirely, approaching Lewinsville by the enemy's left and rear, taking care to keep my small forces an entire secret from their observation. I at the same time carefully provided against the disaster to myself which I was striving to inflict upon the enemy, and felt sure that, if necessary, I could fall back successfully before any force the enemy might have; for the country was favorable to retreat and ambuscade. At a point nicely *Correspondence of the London Times, Washington,

October 7-20, 1861.

after one was shot through the head, the
piece was taken off.
While this was go-
ing on, a few shots from Rosser's section,
at a cluster of the enemy a quarter of a
mile off, put the entire force of the enemy
in full retreat, exposing their entire col-
umn to flank fire from our pieces. Some
wagons and a large body of cavalry first
passed in hasty flight, the rifle piece and
howitzer firing as they passed; then
came a flying battery, eight pieces of ar-
tillery (Griffin's), which soon took posi-
tion about six hundred yards to our
front and right, and rained shot and
shell upon us during the entire engage-
ment, but with harmless effect, although
striking very near. Then passed three
regiments of infantry at double-quick,
receiving in succession, as they passed,
Rosser's unerring salutation, his shells
bursting directly over their heads, and
creating the greatest havoc and confusion
in their ranks. The last infantry regi-
ment was followed by a column of caval-
ry, which at one time rode over the rear
of the infantry in great confusion. The
field, general, and staff officers were seen
exerting every effort to restore order in

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