The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-09-13


mands for its aid SO incessint, that every
man may hc said to have been constantly on
duty with scarcely q moment for rest and rc-
freshment.' Capt. Swift was still too Ill Tor
such labors, and died soon afterward; but
Col. Totten remarks, the other oficersdirect-
ed 'thc operations of the seise with un'ur'
passed intelligence and ZEAL Such Is the
plain and truthful record Of the earliest war
experience, at the age Of twenty,of the noble
soldier who is now the General OF the army
of the Potomac, and whose star is fIed in
the American constellation.
Let the next stage forward bo related iu
the official words Of Col. Tottcn: Severe
labors followed the surrender Of Vera Cruz
and its castle, and accompanied the march to
the battle Of Cerro Gorio,in which the COM
pany displayed, in various parts Of the field,
its galantry and efficiency. 1t entorcd the
city Of Jallapa with the advance Of Twigss
division, and Pucbla with the advance Of
Worth's. During the pause at the latter
place, the instructions OF the company In its
appropriate studiesand exercises was resumed
by its persevcring and jealous officers, and
assistance was given by all in the repairs of
the dcfences. Marching from Pucbla with
Gen. Twigs's division, the company was
then joined to Gen. Worth at Chalon, and
arrived in front of San Antonio on the 18th
of August, having greatly assisted in clear.
ing the road Of distractions placed by the
enemy
The company on the 10Th was ordered to
take the head of Gen, Pillows column at St..
Augustine. The service OF the company was
now noble. and is specified all along in the
official reports. Before the day of Contreras,
Gen. Twiggs, on discovering his enemy in q
naturally strong position, with breast-works
that commanded approach in every direction,
dispatched the engineers to reconnoiter, one
OF whom was Lieut.. Mcclellan. They were
stopped by the Mexican pickets, had their
horses shot under them, and were compelled
to return. The action soon commenced
the battle of Contreras-in which Lieut. Nc
Clellan was with Magruder's battery, rendered
splendid service. After mentioning McClel-
Ian several times in his official report, Gen.
Twiggs thus writes: "Lieut. G. B. McClel-
len, after Lieut.. Calender was wounded,
took charge Of and managed the howitzer
battery with judgment and success, until it
became ID disabled as to require shelter. For
Lieut.. McClellan's efficiency and callantry
in this all,iir,I present his name for the favor
able consideration Of the Gcncral.in-C Chief. )
After a night of exposure to a pitiless storm,
the army fought the next day, August 90,
the battles of Cherubusco, and that Emo
soldier, Gen. Pesilcr T. Smith, thus com.
pletes the record Of McClellen 'Lieut. G.
w. Smith, in command of the engineer CON-
pany, and Lieut.. Mcclellan, his subaltern,
themselves throughout the
whole Of the three actions. Nothing seemed
too bold to be undertaken or too difficult to
be executed, and their service Us engineers
were as valuable us those they rendered in
battle at the head Of their gallant men, For
such conduct on that day Mcclellan was
brcvetted First Lieutenant.
Lieut.. Mcclellan was brcvctted Captain
for gallant and mcritorious conduct in the
next battle, Fl Molino del Rcy; but declin-
ing, he was still Lieutenant on the great day
of Chcpultepec, and the General.in. Chief
naming him with four others, uses these
words: Those FIVE Lieutenants Of engineers
won the admiration of all about them His
name appears in the Official reports in con-
nection with variedand most arduous service.
On the night Of the llth ofSeptember, Capt.
Lee and Lieu,cnants Tower, Smith, and Nc
Clellan, with company OF sappcrs, were
employed in establishing batteries against
Chepultcpec, which were actively served dur
ing the next day (l2th,) which was the day
belre the assault.
Lieut.. Mcclellan long before daybreak of
the 18th was in the field, and Maj. Smith,
Of the engineer corps, thus says Of his morn
ins's work: AT three o'clock party ofthe
sappers moved to the large convent in ad.
vance, and found 1t unoccupied. Lieut..
Mcclellan advanced with party into the
Ala,aanda, and reported at daylight that no
enemy was to be seen. The sappers then
moved forward. and had reached two squares
the Alamada, when they were recalled.
This company was under senior Lieut.. Smith,
and was engaged during the day in street
fighting until three o'clock in the afternoon,
and particularly in breaking into houses with
crowbars and axes. Maj. Smith says:
Lieut.. Mcclellan had command OF q com.
pany for time in the afternoon, while Lieut..
Smith was searching for powder to be used
in blowing up houses from which our troops
had been fired upon contrary to the usages OF
war. During this timo while advancing the
he reached q strong position, but
found himself opposed by a large force Of the
enemy. lie had conflict with this force,
which lasted some time but the advantage
afforded by disposition enabled him at length
to drive !, OF, after having killed moro than
twenty of its number.
Such is the official record Of Mcclellan, 90
far rs brilliant special service Is concerned.
This however. can convey no just idea Of the
labor and skill that are required, in order
that lasting honor may be conferred on the
country. 1t is theovery-day life oftbe officer
that is keenly watched by the mon I; and
. al.a A