Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-06
From the Wisconsin State journal.


New York, November 10, 1862.
From the Wisconsin State Journal
From the Army of the Potomac.
Scenes the Return of Union Men-Nc Clellam
and B"rnside-Decastations Of the Army
WARRENTcN, Va. Nov. 10.
We have advanced into Virginia as far
as this place-too slow, doubtless, as it APP
pears to tue country, but faster than sup
plies could be transported without railroad
facilities.
Loudon county, through which we have
passed, IS much favored in its scenery, and
is better cultivated than most of northern
Virginia. and, what is remark able for this
recreant. wretched State, some of its in
habitants arg genuine Union men. who
generally are either of German descent or
Q1akers. l witnessed the almost sacred
scene Of the return of one of these to his
family after an absence of some weeks in
Maryland, where so many fled from the
conscrip-io while the rebels held pos
session of this district What glad tears
were shed, and what tender kiss pressed
the face OF the little sleeper, all uncon-
scious in its cradle of the tramp of success
sive armies, and the blasting sorrows of
horrid war.
To-day, General Mcclellan has taken
leave of the army, receiving their fare
we'll cheers as he rode before them. Dur
ing the Mexican war, when Gen. Scott
was called home to appear before court
OF inquiry, be would not permit the like.
" No demonstrations; it will set you
against the government" But the chief
w n b.
able wholly to repress in his men the man
Hesitation of enthusiastic devotion to their
injured leader.
One cannot help asking, what is gained
by removing Mcclellan and putting in his
place his we'll trusted counselor and friend
his other self. That such have been
their personal relations, will not be ques-
toned, | think, by any person who has
seen them together, and observed their
manner towards each other. The familiar
" Mac" with which the senior ia wears
addressed his first in command. could
hardly mean less than this.
But it is to be borne in mind that il is q
diversity of traits that cements our friend
ships. 1t may be that Mcclellan ard
Burnside agree so well precisely because
they are not entirely alike. There is much
evidence that Burnside is free from Nc.
Ciellan's fatal fautt-anaction 1t is said
that while the latter would not move of
himself, and could hardly be pushed for
ward by the Federal Executive, except by
bis faVorite Peninsular route, the former
says, we must strike now Or never
And you read the same 10 that large, mus
cular form, $50 evidently charged with en-.
ergy throughout. To look at him, one
would think that be would need to slay
some Goliath before breakfast for exercise.
We have not been able to transport the
immense supplies which the arlny re-
qulles fast enough, and have been for
several days almost without bread. The
soldiers have supplied themselves some
what from the stores of the Inhabitants.
which in this vicinity were quite reduced
by the rebel army before Us. Such a
necessity is to be regretted. as destroying
the discipline Of the army, and also bear
ing hard on persons comparatively limo.
cent and inCfansve.
L am acquainted with the case of poor
man, more than eighty years old, who
served in the war of 1912, and had re-
celved pension until the rebellion, and
lad never voted for secession, whose small
corn field, and garden, aud ben roost were
Plllaged, leaving nothing for himself and
daughter to subsist on during the winter.
L Will give another instance somewhat
different from this. A strong Union man
in Bnrkitsville, Nd, who is a small me-
chanlc, and is quite advanced in years,
had cleared few acres on the mountain
near, where, IS be expressed it, he might
" scratch living" when his eyes should
fail. Gen. Frankiin's men encamped on
his land and appropriated his wheat, corn
and clover. They used, as is customary,
his fence for fuel, and as they were with.
out tents, cut his chesnut trees to form q
obliged to sell one of his hogs to enable
him 10 buy corn to latten the rest His
fences are gone and be has no timber with
which to replace them. He is without
seed tor another year, or protection for
crops. Gen. Franklin's corps lett before
he made application for receipt for dau.-
sges, and it was net in the power OF the
officers of any other corps to make COM
pensation.
1t is an easy matter to talk fippantly or
bitterly about guarding retel property,
but the subject has many aspects, aud is
embarrassed by many difficulties. We
would gladly have the monotony of the
soldiers fare varied by some luxaries from
The table Of the well-to do secessionist, but
any army would abuse the license to ''help
themselves " in a manner which would
occasion unnecessary suffering to the poor,
and be fatal to military discipline. Ali
such supplies should, as far as possible, be
through the agency of the Quar-
ternaster. Our supplies failing to reach
rs here, the Qusrtermasters ia our brigade
took possession of mill and of some corn
and set the miller at work, allowing him
one bushe in eight for grinding his own
grain. If be proves his 10y atty, of which
there is small probability, he will be paid
by the Government.