Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-08-10
Maj. Gen. McClellan's Military &C.


The command of the army of the Potomac
ss will be seen by q telegrapbic dispatch from
Washington, has been transferred to Major
General Mcclellan, who has been summoned
to Washington, his command in Western
Virginia having been given 10 Gen. Rosen.
Grams, who has exercised great military skill
in carrying out the orders OF Gen Mcclellan
in that quarter. The correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial, who has accompanied
Gen. Mcclellan in his Western Virginia
campaign, thus speaks of the military genius
he has displayed:
The admirable manner in which this cam.
paigu was planned and executed stamps
Major General Mcclellan as a commander of
first class military genius. When we remem.
ber that this entire army had to be enlisted
and organized al iniliO, and all its immense
train. the innumerable pretty details Of ad.
ministration, which had to be managed by
inexperienced men, and that the material of
the army, and most Of its officers. we're utter.
ly inexperienced, end without military educa.
tion-a great many without brans-some of
the Generals without energy TO execute an
order-and that the impossibity OF perfect
ing the transportation and subsistence de.
partments were serious obstacles TO rapid
progress. it is amazing that he should so
soon, and so perfectly have accomplished the
great mission Of sweeping the Confederate
armies from the mountains of Western
Virginia.
When we take the map of the campaign.
and observe the occupation ofeach succeeding
position, and each succeeding movement in
its order. remsrkng the object of each.
which becomes apparent after it is made, we
cannot but be struck with admiration at the
beautifully skilful game of war chess which
has jnst been played by master hand The
enemy opens the game by advancing to
PhiIlppa. Mcclellan euddenly occupies
Parkersburg, and possesses both lines of
railroad from the river to Clarksburg and
Grafton. Phillippa is unexpectedly snapped
up. The enemy fortiies Laurel Hill, and
concentrates at Huttonsvlle, Beverly and
Leedsvilc. 1t is desirable to take the
enemy front and rear. A swift movement
to Buckhanpon flanks the enemy ou the left.
Another to point under their cannon,
within mile Of Laurel Hill. checks them
suddenly at thot point. A third rapid march
hnds Mcclellan at Roaring Run, and q mas.
terly movement utterly destroys the enemy
at Rich Mountain. Beverly is ours. We
have Laurel Hill in the rear, between two
powerful wings of our army. Gen. Garnett
is caught in the snare laid for him. MCel.
Ian moves on Huttonsvle and Cheat Moun.
tain Pass; Morris moves up the Seneca
Pass, and kills Garnett. The Railroad Pass
nt Cheat River had already been damned by
Mcclellan. The operations in the Kanawha
region we're mere bye-play, but some of the
movements there were rs important as pawn
positions in chess. Anybody by observing
the map may discover how splendidly the
game was planned and played. But until
they see these formidable mountain passes.
they cannot appreciate the proper merits of
the expedition.
Garnett vainly supposed that his rear
could not be turned, "rhe best laid schemes
OF mice and men aft gang aglee." Rosen.
Grams and Lander, with the first brigade,
found way TO turn it, notwithstanding the
'1mpossibllity" of the thing. That march
was equal TO sonic of Xenophon's marches
with the ten thousand Greeks. And here 1
beg leave to digress in order to supply an
omission IN former accounts OF this famous
expedition. Burdsal's dragons, from Gin.
cinnati, played mertorious part in it-aud
indeed, they almost "played out" their horses
The Typographical feats of the horses were
often astonishing. They climbed mountain
sleeps that ordinarily would be deemed i'm.
passabe for the best mules. The risk to men
and animals were often of the most hazardous
nature, and the journey was constantly har-
RAISING and emtremely laborious. When the
Dragons could not ride they dismounted and
helped their horses along. During the battle
they were compelled to stand quietly under
showers of grape shot and wait for chance
to charge. The infantry did the business
SO completely their opportunity did not
come.