Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-11-08

|
ton TO the London Times, October q,
1861.
Russell's last letter from Washington to
the London Times makes FIVE columns in
the New York Tribune of Monday. We
make some extracts from it:
AND GENERAL BEAUREGARD.
When had the pleasure of conversing
with General Mcclellan for the first time,
he asked me several questions with evident
| interest and friendly cnriosity-not unusu-
al ou the part of Generals in reference to
| their notwithstanding Gen. Beau
regard. In his case there was all the more
reason for such inquiries, in the fact that
| they were old fellow-studcnts and class
mates. To my mind there is something of
resemblance between the men. Both are
below the middle hight. They are both
| squarely built, and famed for muscular
power since their college days, Beaure-
! gard, indeed, is lean and thiu-ribbed; Nc
| Clellan is full and round, with Napole-
onic tendency to emGGMpOiut, subdued by
| inCessaut exercise, Bcauregard sleeps lit
le; McClellan's temperament requires "a full
| share of rest; both are spare aud Spartan
| in diet, studious, quiet. Beaur'%n"'l is
rather sulurine, aud, if not mci"nrholic,
is of a grim gayety; Mcclellan is genial
even in his reserve. The density of the
hair, the Suuureuess of the jaw, the firm
ness and regularity of the teeth, and the
outlines of the features, are points of sim
iIarity in both, which SVould be more stri-
king if Beauregnrd were not of the true
! Louisiana Creole tint, while Mcclellan is
! fair cOmplexioned. Beamrcgard has
/ dark, dull, students eye, the dullnesS Of
which arises, however, from its formation,
for it is full OF fire, and its glances are
quick and searching. Mcclellan has a
deep, clear eye, into which you can look
far and deep, while you feel it searches far
and deep into you Bcnuregarl has some
thing of pretentiou in his mHnner-not
hauteur, but a folding-armed, meditntive
sort of air, which seems to say, "Don't
disturb me; I'm thinking of military move.
ments." Mcclellan seems 10 be always at
leisure; but you feel at the same time you
ought not to Intrude too much upon him,
even when you seek in vain for the grounds
of that impression in anything that he is
doing or saying. Beauregard is more sub
tie, crafty and astute; Mcclellan is more
comprehensive, more learned, more impress
sionable. Beauregard is thorough SOL
dier; Mcclellan may ptOve he is n great
General. The former only looks to milita-
ry consequences, and disregards popular
manifestations; the latter respects the
opinions of the outer world, and sees pO-
litical AS well MS military results in what
he orders. They are both the creatures of
accident. so far as their.present positions
are concerned. 1t remains to he seen if
either can control the current of events,
and if in either the artillery man or the
cavalry officer of the old United States Ar
my there is the stuff around which history
is nodded, such as that of which the artil-
lery man OF Brienne or the leader Ut the
IroDsides was made.
DIFFICULTIES OF GENERAL M'cLELLAN's Po-
sITIoN.
The more look at the situation, the
more the difficulties of Ger McGlellan's
position grow upou me. He has not sutfi
cient troops, considering their inexperi-
ence, to divide his army just now into two
bOdies-one to proceed against the enemy,
the other adequate to hold the works
round Washington, and to make them
quite safe in case of reverse or regular
assault. 1t is quite certain that tile Con-
federates have tnllen back upon Manassas,
and are there in very great force. 1t is
liz impossible for Mcclellan to move an ar
my out on either flank without bringing
ON an action which must lead him to face
the old position of The Confederat4s from
Bull Run and Manassas to the hills on
their left, covering the approaches to
Richmond. Although the Marylanders
may be discontinued, there would be nc
manifest inconsistency in Beauregard re-
naming still and inviting attack. whereas
the programme of the North must be
carried out by offensive operations by
an invading army. Sooner or later Nc
Clellan must begin TO move, aud
think that in eight or ten days from this
time he will make demonstration ia
feel the force of the enemy, which may
lead to a general action, or may decide him
TO try the fortune of war by changing his
position and operating in another quarter
An English subject, who has just arrived
from Richmond, says that there has been Il
good deal of sickness amoug the troops
but they are rapidly recovering, that the
food is plentiful, and that the men are well
clad, in the best spirits, and perfectly con
fdent of victory. The talk in the army
indicates anadvance against Newport News
and against Fortress Monroe from Hampton
Tue latter must prove n tremendous blum
der. Nothing short of siege can reduce
the work. The Norfolk Navy Yard was q
scene of great activity; all the sunken YES
sells had been raised, and nearly all were
fit for service, and it was expected they
would run past the fortress, and get oul
to sea, where they may operate serious
diversion. Certainly, ii they do, the United
States officers must have lost the art Of
"keeping a bright lookout" for which they
are not undistiuguished. The escape oI
d the steamer Bermuda from Savannah, il
true, is another instance of the neglect o.
the officers. Her cargo was invaluable .te
the Conffderates; among other necessaEiei
we're 20 tuns Oti gunpowder, thesurphe: