New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-14
The WAR FOR THE UNION.
FROM WAsBHNGTON.
A Review and n skirnrish-IIc CIcilaH- The
President.
Prom Our Boston Correspondent.


Hsbed an account Of the encounter between our men
and the enemy, which took place on Monday, me
18th, but Of which the features did not come 10 be
known till some days later. Having scarcely pauseo
in nv communication 10 take breath, will tell you
how that matter looked, from nearer point OF view
than Mnnson's Hill. u Brigade Drill Of ten thour
,and men had been announced for that day, among
whose few spectators were those Of our party. ISe
ground was beyond Upton's Hill, where we stopped
at zen. Wadsworth's headquarters, TO ENJOY the wei
come hospitality Of q cup of tea. Tue surge0n and
other officers kindly waited upon rs, and brought our
carriage 20 "a position from which we could easily
follow all the uaneuvers. Gems. Mcdowell and
WsdswoFth were there on horseback, experimenting
the review. The infantry evolutions be gan and pro-
seeded without interruption for perhaps half an nour
whon scout came riding up IN haste TO the Com
mander-n-Chef reporting a scrpise and surround
ing of the Brooklyn fh not far beyond Falls Church
Doctor, ride to headquarters, and fetch your
Instruments" was the FIRST order we hesrd. Then,
almost us quickly as one sell Of it, large deach
ment OF cavalry moved past rs, followed by nfsn'ry
at double quick the faces Of ali eager and glad for
the fight. OH bow our hearts longed to follow
them We could almost have flown without
wings upon their footsteps. The whole body
OF the troops present was pervaded by one
electric thrill. The whole expression Of the
field had changed, Ike the lighting up Of d
conference from the emptiness of a parade 10 the
funess Of an action. Death at a distance only made
their thoughts greater. We stopped at Fort Bullock
which was within three miles OF the spot where the
fight was going on. The soldiers every where were
IN great excitement. There is fun going down
there said they; YOU can see the smoke-there'n
be work tonight" And, mounting on the ramparts,
we saw the smoke Of the firing as it Lifted and lifted,
after every round BY and by as far as we could see,
came the troops of Reinforcement crossing the
road at the bottom of the distant hollow. This was
little enough TO see, bat 10 excited magiDations
how much il seemed We were in the presence of
the vailed deity Of wsr-we could guess at his terri
bic features we could interpret his stern commands.
With the consciousness of these things came great
uplifting of heart. How easy to go with these men
How easy TO fly to their front, to die, leading them
on When could death have go little consciousness
such forgetfulness OF pain 2 Bah mere twinge
and then the marble sleep of glory. And should
like for one, to 90 to God with that heroic front,
with that mighty pressure Of justice behind one,
making ones rashness dJttiful. Instead Of painfully
cOntesting step by step, the weak intrenchments Of
our life we should leap, full-amed, into the bosom
of immortality. Never was pageant OF state, or
church or theater, half great in my eyes, as that
little, distant cloud of smoke which stood for the
struggle Of mighty principles, confded to feeble
hands but strong in the heart of God We looked,
and looked and wept, and spake not, our negro
coaehmsn keeping sympathetic company, and
when at dusk we reluctantly drove homeward, We
rang the triumphant hymns of the Methodist persua-
sion, in which faith and feeling conquer fear. AL
our way was encountered By soldiers marching from
the review. welcome interruption. AS it grew
darker the picket fires beside the road with the little
groups about them, made glowing pictures for us
and where one Of these had caught the windings Of
q dry water-course, filed with fallen leaves and
brush we saw creeping Iivulet of flame, beaut-
fal indeed. Night. the dark night which enveloped
as before we reached Wizards, seemed the only fit
sequel 10 such a soemnty.
telegraphc report OF the dag doings had reached
Washington before us, and the matter of the s,ir-
mish was treated very lightly. Even the Comman-
der-in. Chief, whom visited that evening, told us
that the reinforcement had found no enemy aid but
one wounded man. But day or two later, when
more extensive reconnaissance came 70 he made, they
found number Of dead bodies, and two, Is you
will remember, whose battered skulls bore horrible
marks Of the barbarfy Of those who 10 introduce
civilization from the South among us.
Having mentioned the Conmander-in-Chief, you
will perhaps ike 10 hear Of the impression his pres
enoe makes-with his photograph you must be ia
mlar He looks great, thoughnot large; hispersoni is
powerful and symmetrical his simply gracious.
IL. ofo ges attention. a
bright, earnest eye, firm, not grim mouth, smile
more of the whole face than Of the lips 1t is face
beautiful in its unbending, and that may look ter
ribe IN The concentration of its wrath. Seii-posses-
sion. presence Of mind, would seem the most pre-
dominant of McClellans secondary qualities. OF hs
primary gifts should be inclined 10 predicate gem
crosby and genius. He looks like man who would
ALWAYS have his wits about him, and whose con
illusions would not follow their premises by the next
train. OF course, one only sees him fer moment
ia private, az his time and bis thoughts are occupied
ia adding up certain gigantic columns OF figures, IN
whore results you and are deeply interested. For
the talent of war; you see is akin 20 the talent Of
arithmetic and great general is a great mathemat-
eian with the inspiration of courage and the power
OF command superadded. But TO see him for mo-
nent is thing one does not easily forget.
Very different is the impression made by the Pres
,dent Of this country. Length is the Characteristic
of bis person, longanmiiy and patience of his tenn
permanent He has an intelligent, not very tangible
face one does not easily recall any of bis features
save the mild eve, Of sapphire gray but without the
sspphires brllianey. The Commander-in-chief is
all close packed and gathered up; the President il
spread ont and long drawn out, bat he looks both
kind and honest and there ia rs often strength in