Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-03
GENERAL, MCCLELLAN.

The Atlantic Monthly for July contains
delightfully."- pleasant paper "chicay about War
Matters" written "by Peaceable Man." The
The "peaceable man" is Mr. Hawthorne. We
take from the article the following description
of General Mcclellan;
"The General was dressed in a simple dark
blue uniform, without epaulets, booted to the
knee, and with cloth cap upon his head and,
at first sight, you might have taken him for
corporal of dragons, of particularly neat and
soldier-ke aspect, and in the prime OF his age
and strength. He is only of midding stature,
but his build is very compact and sturdy, with
broad shoulders and look of great physical
vigor, which, in fact, he is said to possess,-he
and Beauaegard having been rivals in that par
ticuar, and both distinguished above other
men. His complexion is dark and sanguine
with dark hair. lie has a strong, bold, soldierly
face, full of decision Roman nose, by no
meads thin prominence, but very thick and
firm and if he follows it, (Which should think
likely,) it may be pretty confidently trusted to
guide him Alright His profile would make a
more effective likeness than the full face, which,
however, is much better in the real man than
in any photograph that have seen. His fore
head is not remarkably large, but comes for
ward at the eyebrows it is not the brow nor
mot a natural student, | mean, or abstract
thnker) but of one whose Office it is to handle
things practically and to bring about tangible
results. His face looked capable of being very
stern, but wole, in its repose, when l saw it,
an aspect pleasant and dignifed it is not, in
its character, an American face, nor an English
one. The man on whom he fixes his eye is
conscious of him. In his natural disposition,
he seems calm and self-possessed, sustaining
his great responsibilities cheerfully, without
shrinking, or WEAKNESS, or spasmodic effort, or
damage to his health, but all with quiet deep
drawn brea rs just as his broad shoulders
would bear up heavy burden without aching
beneath it.
After we had had sufficient time to peruse
the man, $50 far as it could be done with one
pair Of very attentive eyes,) the General rode
off, followed by his cavacade, and was lost TO
sight among the troops. They received him
with loud shouts, by the eager uproar of which
now near, now in the centre, now on the out
skirts of the division, and now sweeping back
towards us in a great volume of sound-we
could trace his progr IS through the ranks.
If he is a coward, or traitor, or humbug, or
anything less than a brave, true, and able man,
that mass of intelligent soldiers, whose lives
and honor he had in charge, were utterly de-
ceived, and so was this present writer for
they believed in him, and so did and had
stood in the ranks, | should have shouted with
the lustiest of them. OF course may be mis-
taken my opinion on such point is worth
nothing, although my impression may be worth
little more neither do | consider the Gen
erals antecedents as bearing very decided tes-
,imony to his practical soldiershp. A thorough
knowledge of the science of war seems to be
conceded to him he is allowed to he a good
military critic; but all this is possible without
his possessing any positive qualities of great
general, just as a literary critic may show the
profoundest acquaintance with the principles Of
epic poetry without being able to produce q
single stanza of an epic poem. Nevertheless,
shall not give up my faith in General Me
Clellan's soldiership until he is defeated, nor
in his courage and integrity even then"