The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-08-28
Character If Gen. Mcclellan as a Commander

( sSSHeIdi NcNlelan, ana Inc soldiers serving
under him
The only portion of the forces who have
achieved the late victories under General
Mcclellan, that came to this city with him,
is company of thoroughly drilled rifle
men, mostly from Chicago, Illinois, called
the Stnrges Rifles, who act as the body
guard of The General. They are under The
command ofCapt Steele, of Chicago, and
number S3 men, all of whom have been
through The entire victorious campaign in
Western Virginia, have been in all the bat
ties, and have been tried in the fire and
have never ainched.
Gen. Mcclellan is regarded by these men
as invincible- they say he never made
mistake, and | verify believe these SO men
would cheerfully march forth TO night,
alone, 10 attack the entire Rebel army at
Manassas, if Gen Mcclellan should give
The order and lead the attack Col. Lander,
the aid of the Commanding General, now
here, is also highly esteemed by the men,
thorough soldier, and an admirable lead
er of an army.
Gen. Mcclellan is one of the least pre-
tentious of men-ae generally wears the
simple blouse of the riAemen, with not
even the starred shoulder-straps 10 denote
his rank-a man who never wastes time
who is nefatigable lin his pursuit AMI attack
of'the enemy, and equally untiring in his
efforts 10 secure the utmost comfort of his
men, compatible with the circumstances of
soldiers life. When his line is on the
march, he is ever among the men, with
kind cheering word for every company;
a pleasant look, or kind salute, or hearty
grasp of the hand tor every officer or pri-
vate with whom he is brought on speaking
terms By business; and in fight he is al
ways at the front of the column, in the
thickest OF the danger, encouraging his men
by cheering word and fearless deed He
takes soldiers fare with the rest, asking no
better food, and no more luxurious bed than
the newest recruited private under his COM
mand. If he sees a man without proper
shoes or cIothiug, he has that man with
his captain sent TO his own quarters, where
the man is served with the garments he
needs and The captain receives a reprimand
that leads him TO look more closely after
the comfort of his men in future.
That such a man should be the idol Of his
soldiers is not surprising. The measure of
their alteration for him words fail 10 ex.
press, though the following slightly prolane,
but uncommonIy emphatic statement Of
one of his men, will, perhaps, approximate
it, eve would, every one of us, fight for
old Mac till hell froze over, and then die on
the ice," which frigid sentiment was cor
daily indorsed by all who heard il uttered.
OF The battles of Rich Mountain and L4u-
rel Hill the men say that some of the reb-
els fought well, but the majority runaway
early in the action, and appeared 10 be
stricken with astonshment that the Union
men could fight at all They had been led
10 believe that The Federals would never
stand fire, but would run away al the first
shot, Their chief care seemed 10
be, after each defeat, TO get their dead men
out of sight of their own men aud of our
forces
An interesting incident OF the surrender
oil Col pegram is thus related. When Pc
g ram advanced TO hand his sword to Major
Laurence Williams, each Instantly fecogui-
zed the other, and both were moved TO
Tears and turned away unable TO speak for
several minutes. They had been college
classmates and had met, thus, for the first
time in many years.
One. captain of gun, which had given
our men much annoyance, held his ground
after every one OF his men had deserted him
and, by his own unaided exerlions, he
loaded and fred the piece three iimes.-
Col. Lander called TO one oil his men TO
load rifle for him, which the rriaa did, |
and gave it into his hands. The Rebel. gun
ner was preparing TO fire the fourth time
he was alone, and Col. Lander, 10th TO kill
SO gallant foe, cried 10 him 10 surrender
the captain refused, and continued loading
his piece "a six-pound cannon, when Col. |
Lander reluctantly yielded TO The necessities
Of the case, and shot his brave enemy dead. |
In every instance did Gen. Mcclellan and |
Col. Lander behave with similar gaIIanlry, |
being always the foremost in making dam
gerous reconnoissances, or in leading haz- |
ardous advances, and always the first to /
grieve with men who had lost friends, and |
always anxious 10 give them every feasible
opportunity for rest and recreation, though /
always insisting on and maintaining the
most strict and thorough discipline.
Is il any wonder that such officers should
have snch men Though they have been
here bu, TWO or three days, the city is reas-
'nredi the utmost confidence is expressed
a the new commander. and even nos the
evidences of the masters strong hand are
,iaihle In the rerlaci crdar nr.a sarvesd In ths.