Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-17
FIELD NOTES.

1916. The following account OF his military
career viii be read with great interest:
Until the Mexican war, he had no oppor
tunity OF distinguishing himself, and then Tor
gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles
of Contreras and Cherubusco, he was brevet
ted first lieutenant. For his gallant conduct
at the battle of Moline del Rey, on Seplem.
Der Sth, 1847, he was offered brevet captain
cy, winch he declined, but subsequently was
advanced Tor like galiantry displayed in the
battle oil Cheputepec, and received the com
mand of a company OF sappers, miners and
pontoners in May, 1913.
At the close of the Mexican war he returned
to West Point where he remained on duty
with the sappers and miners until 1851. Dur.
ing this time he introduced the bayone exer.
else into the army, and translated and adapted
a manual which has since become a text book
for the service. During tine summer and fall
of 1851 he superintendent the construction of
Fort Delaware, and in the succeeding spring
was assigned to duty in the expedition for the
exploration of the Red River. Thence he
was ordered to Texas, as senior engineer on
the staff OF Gen. Perster +. Smith, and was
engaged for some months in surveying the
| rivers and harbors OF that state. In 1853 lie
was ordered to the Pacific coast, in command
OF the western division of the survey of the
North Pacific Railroad route.
He returned to the east in 1854, on duty
connected with the Pacific survey and was
| engaged also III secret service to the West In,
| dies. The next year lie received Il commits
! sion III the first regiment OF cavalry, and was
appointed a member of the commission which
went to the war in the Crmea and in northern
Russia. Major AlcCleilan's report on the
Organization of European armies and the
operations OF the war"-a quarto volume,
embodying the result OF his observations in
the Crimea-greatly enhanced his reputation
as scientific soldier.
In January, 1857, weary of inaction, he re-
signed his position in the army to become vice
president and engineer OF the Illinois Central
railroad, which post he held for three years
when he was offered and accepted the presi-
dency of tile Ohio and Mississippi railroad, OF
which he was also general superintendent.
| When our domestic troubles assumed formida.
bic dimensions, Major McClalan's services
were at once called into requsitioh. He was
offered aud accepted the command of the Ohio
forces. On May IA he received commission
as mai II general in the United States army,
and now has command of the department OF
Ohio, which comprises all the states of Illinois,
Indiana, and Ohio, and that part of Virginia
lying north Of the Great kanawha River and
west OF Green Briar River and the Maryland
| line, with 50 much of Pennsylvania as hes
west of a line drawn from the Maryla line
to the northeast corner of Mexican county.
SKETCH OF THE REBEL COLONEL PEGRAM.
There appears TO be considerable doubt as
to the exact identity of Col. Pegram, of the
rebel forces, who surrendered his command
TO Gen. Mcclellan. There are two Pegrams
who have been connected with the United
States army. One, John Pegram, was a first
lieutenant IN the second regiment of dra-
goons, and whose name still appears in the OF
| fetal army register The other Geo H. Pc.
gram, is, almost beyond all peradventure, the
individual who has surrendered his penitent
regiment to our victorious general. He was
born in Virginia, and entered the military
academy at West Point in 1929 in 1888 he
was brevetted a second lieutenant of the first
regiment United States infantry For two
years-from 1886 TO 1S39-he was adiutant,
and in July OF that year was promoted to
| first lieutenancy. Soon atter-in September
of the same year-he was appointed abide.
camp to Gen, Scott, which position he held till
August 1910, when he was made captain. On
the Both of April, 1850, after the close OF the
Mexican campaign, he resigned his commits
sion. He then turned his attention to civil
pursuits, and subsequently was chosen secre
tary and treasurer of the New Jersey Central
Railroad Company, which office he held for
several years.
| THE BATTLE OF LAUREL HILL.
The Wheeling fntelligeneer says 1t is
stated that Laurel Hill, where Gen. Mcclellan
had the late engagement, is not mere knob,
| but long ridge or rib OF the AlleghanieS, ex.
tending for at least hundred miles in length
| The Baltimore and Ohio railroad pierces it by
| means OF the celebrated Kingwood tunnel. 1t
stretches down in direction little west of
south, to the head waters of the Kanawha,
| NJ,
turnpike leading to Stanton, over which
Wise's army passed from eastern Virginia,
runs along Laurel Hills base. Leadsviile
Beverly and Huttonsvle are situated on that
| turnpike. The Virginia troops which McClel
Ian defeated were portion OF Henry A. Wise's
army, and commanded by Captain Pegram,
who resigned his commission in the army soon
after the Mexican war. Captain Pegram is
supposed to have retreated to Huttonsville
| ten miles distant, where Major Garnett's Iii
vision of Wise's army was intrenched. Gov
ernor Wise was at last accounts at Charleston
Kanawha county, over one hundred miles from
Laurel Hill, with about two thousand men,
and Q. Jennings Wise at Ripley, about one
| hundred and fifty miles distant, with seventeen
| hundred men.
REPORTED DEATH OF HENRY A. WISE.
| The Wheeling Inteigencer of the 18th
inst. has the following MIR. Star, of Mason
county, who arrived in this city last evening,
reports that it is reliably ascertained that
Henry A. Wise, if not actually dead is so
badly wounded that there is no hope Of his re-
covery. Wise and his body guard, as before
stated, were going to fill an appointment at
Sissonsvllle Some forty Union men, who,
not feeling safe at their homes, had been spend
ing most OF their time in the woods, armed
with ordinary rifles, heard Of Wise's coming,
and secreted Observation-Disclosures in the
regular way-and upon their approach each
man fired at his man, when the assailing party
retreated to the top OF high hill. Wise and
Patton, together with about so or 40 others,
were seen to fall. The Union men, after
reaching the top Of the hill, saw those who
escaped carrying off the dead aud wounded.
Several persons recently arrived from Charles.
town say that there is no mistake about Wise
being wounded, and us he has been suffer-
ing from disease it is supposed he cannot re