Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-11-22

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were martialled in magnificent array on
the right Of the road, and those in General
Couch corps on the left. Butterfetd s,
Sykes and Humphreys divisions, in Por.
ter's corps, were disposed in order, the
banners of each command appearing in
the centre, close on the road. Bancock's $,
Howard s and French's divisions in Couch's
corps we're arranged in somewhat SINH
lar manner, with the artillery of both com.
mands planted on prominent positions.
AS had been done in other instances,
McClellan's farewell address to his sold.
iers was read to them just before he passed
to personally bid them farewell. AS he
rode along the turnpike, with head uncov-
cred, between the lines of troops, and fol-
lowed by the gittering array of officers,
fifty thousand Of his devoted soldiers, with
hearts aud voices in perfect unison, and all
with one accord burst forth into the most
tumultuous cheering. Along the lines he
rode amidst the continued acclamations of
fifty thousand, while from the distance, he
would occasionally catch as though it were
an echo, the sound from the troops we had
left behind, and who were cheering yet,
long after the General had gone away
from the immediate vicinity of his head.
quarters.
The banners borne by the various regi-
ments we're held near the road on either
I side, and their tattered fragments were
fully exposed to view when the general and
party passed through the lines of troops.
Some Of the standards had little but the
gold and silver trimmings and the siIken
tringes left. A greater portion of many Of
tho flags had been shot awGy under the
gallant leadership of Gen. Mcclellan
Those tattered banners, having inscribed
| upon them the names of the battles in which
the troops had fought VIGOROUSLY beneath
their sllken folds, were mute yet most elo.
quent memorials of the mighty struggles
which McClellan's soldiers have passed
| through. Whilst he rode along, the bat
teries fred salutes, the bands played, and
| the soldiers checred the smoke from the
artillery hoated in among the perforated
| banners, and the acclamations of the troops
mingled with the martial music of the
bands and guns. l cannot recall from
my experience any occasion on which the
enthusiasm manifested by these soldiers
has been surpassed.
Passing the eud of Portor's aud Couch
lines, Geueral Mcclellan and party pro-
ceeded four or FIVE miles further to the
place where Frankins corps were encam.
ped. On the way, soldiers followed and
| cheered him. He was soon near Frank
Inns corps. His arrival was net expected
quite so soon, and the troops were not
formed to receive him. But, when the sol
ders saw him approaching their cncamp-
ment, the color bearers Of the various reg
imcuts grasped the Stars and Stripes and
the regimental standards, and came dash
ing down the hills, and across the fields,
the members OF the regiments, without
arms, dashing wildly after them. Mo lei
Ian passed through this mass ofsoldiers to
General Fransln's headquarters, where
be, Burnside and Franklin, while the
latter troops were being collected and
disposed, had a protracted interview.
This ended, the company mounted their
horses again, and rode among the troops OF
Frauklin's corps, Smiths division, part
formed in line of battle and part in column
greeted Mcclellan with great enthusiasm
Brooks division came rushing across the
valley in one grand, solid column, with
flags floating in the breeze, to meet the re
tiring General. They focked around him
discording entirely everything concerning
the rules of military formation, aud, in
the most feeling manner, bade him an aft
ectionate farewell. The troops in New
toms division, formed further on, were NO
less decided and enthusiastic in their dem,
onstration 1t was really wonderful to
see how deep was the expression of feeling
by the soldiers on this occasion.
Having passed through the lines Of all
the troops in the vicinity, General McClel
Ian turned his horse's head to 60 back to
his headquarters, whence he Intended
proceeding to the train which was waiting
to convey him to Washington. Now we
witnessed the most affecting scene of all
Until this moment, it hardly seemed that
their favorite General could leave them.-
But now he was going from among them
he had already gone. The moment that
they fully realized it, all those soldiers an
imated by one universal impulse, ran after
him, some weeping aloud, and shouted in
the most touching and appealing manner,
"Fotch him back. fetch him back !" and
ooh, come back to US, come back to us
Mcclellan"
As he rode along the turnpike on his
retrun from FrankIn's corps, troops under
Couch and Porter, which he had passed il
regular formation few hours before now
rus he'd out from their camp around, ant
thronged the roadside, anxious to take
another last look at their beloved General
Many Of them were melted to tears, and
after cheering him again and again Joined
in the universal supplication, "Come bacl
to us, como back to US, Mcclellan"
PARTING AT FITZ JOHN PoRTER's HEAD
QUARTERS.
Riding up to General Fitz John Porter
headquarters, he was met by delegation
composed of several hundred officers il
Porter's command. After the party haC