The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-09-13
NO.. XXXVIII.

to the city Of Mexico The company left
this city May %, 1913, marched to veIa
Cruz, and arrived at West Point on tho 22d
of June.
Lieut.. Mcclellan was brcvettcd Captain
for gallant and meritorious conduct in the
battle at Chepultepcc, and the following
year (ls4s) saw him commander Of thisgrcat
company Ofsappep and miners and ponton.
iere. He continued here until 1851, but the
military routine was not enough for him.
During this period he translated from the
French, which he knows thoroughly, man.
ual which has become the textbook OF the
service, and introduced the bayonet exercise
into the army.
Capt. McClellan's next service was to su.
pcrintend the construction Of Fort Delaware.
in the spring OF 1851; in the spring Of 1852
he was assigned to duty under Maj. Marcy
in the expedition that explored the Red
River; and then ordered as senior engineer
to Texas, on the staff Of Gen. p. F. Smith,
with whom he was engaged in surveying the
rivers and harbos Of that State.
Capt. Mcclellan, in the next year, was one
of the engineers who were ordered to make
explorations and surveys to ascertain the
most practicable route for a railroad from the
Mississippi River to the Pacific OCEAN; and
among other duties, he made the rcconnois-
ance Of the Yakima Pass among the Rocky
Mountains and the most direct route to Pu-
get Sound. lie was associated in the explor-
alton Of tho forty.scventh and forty-ninth
parallels of north latitude with Gov. Stevens
of Oregon. The Secretary Of war, Jefferson
Davis, in his official report to Congress, says
OF McClellan's services: "The examination
of the approaches and passes of the Cascade
Mountains, made by Capt. Mcclellan, Of the
corps Of engineers, presents u reconnaissance
Of great value, and though performed under
adverse circumstances, exhibits all tho in
formation necessary to determine the practi-
cability Of this portion of the route, and re-
fleets the highest credit on the capacity and
resources of that officer" Nor was this the
whole service Of this indomitable public ser.
want. In this report, its closing words,
Secretary Davis says; "Capt. Mcclellan, Of
the corps Of engineers, after the completion
OF his field operations, was directed to visit
various railroads, and to collect information
and facts established in tho construction and
working ofexis,ing roads, to serve as data in
determining the practicability Of construct.
ing and working roads over thcseveral routes
explored. The results of his inquiries will be
found in very valuable memoir herewith
submitted"
To this tho engineering service succeeded,
for three years, other duties which largely
raised the reputation of Capt. Mcclellan
After executing secret service in tho West
Indies, and receiving commission in the
United States Cavalry. he was appointed one
Of military commission OF three officers, to
proceed to the Crimca and Northern Russia
for observation on the existing war; and his
report "On the Organization Of European
Armies and the Operations Of the War"
evinccd 50 much graspo the subject us to add
to the reputation Of brave and efficient Off.
Ger in the field, that Of a large comprehen-
sion of the science Of war.
And now US there was no call by his coun.
try for services in the field, hc resigned (lS57)
his position in the army, and became sim.
plo American citizen; but still kept, rs 1t
were. in the line Of his profession Of engin-
Ger. for he became Wee President and Engin-
Ger of the Illinois Central Railroad. llav-
ing served here three years. so much valued
were his services that he became General
Superintendent OF the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad, in which capacity he was acting
when the present unhappy strife broke out,
and hc was rendered the place OF Major Gen.
eral of the Ohio State forces, and u little Ia
ter Gov. Curtin, Of Pennsylvania, also en-.
dcayored to secure lis services in organizing
the volunteers OF that Slate. He accepted
however, tho earliest offer Of OHIO, and he
very promptly organized the militia Of that
State in u manner 50 original and efficient rs
TO elicit the warmest encomiums; and per.
hans no State In the Union has citizen SOL |
diery bidding fairer to keep the people true
to the duties Of both citizen and soldier at
the same time as Ohio under this system.
But 50 thoroughly has Gen. Mcclellan
that he was scientific soldier,
that on the 18th day Of May be was tender
ed a commission in the United States Army
as Major General and he was assigned the
Department Of Ohio, with wide district,
including Western virsinia. lswork since
the 9TH Of May, when, with n portion Of
his command, he entered Virginia, is too
well known to need moro than passing ref. |
erence. Ills success has been rapid and com.
plcte. while the noble words that he uttered
in his proclamations have been admirably
calculated to appeal to that mysterious pow.
er, which In the long run, must be the arbi.
ter in this coun.ry-public opinion.
Such is the record which an oficer-yct
but 35-has made Of service to his country.
It shows indomitablc energy. uniiring indus
try, and rars fertility Of resource. Bot