The Shasta courier., 1862-05-03
SH ASTA COURIER.
General Mcclcllan,s Dream.


sketch, written by the same author, at the
commencement of our National difficulties,
was widely copied by the press, and com
mended by Hon. Edward Everett, as teach
ing highly important lesson to every true
lover of his country
Two o'clock of the third night after Gene
raj Mcclellan s arrival in Washington to take
command of the United States army, found
that justly celebrated soldier poring over sew
eral maps and reports of scouts. As the hour
came tolling through the night, together with
the dull rumbling of army wagons and ar
tillery wheels, the wearied hero, pushing
from him his maps and reports, leaned his
forehead on his folded arms upon the table
before him, and fell into sleep so deep that
even the occasional booming of the heavy
guns, being placed on the entrenehments,
was insufficient to disturb it.
~ could not have been slumbering thus
m-re than ten minutes, said the General to
an intimate friend, to whom he related the
strange narrative . when | thought the door
of my room, which | had carefully locked
was thrown suddenly open, and some one
strobe to me, and, laying hand upon my
shoulder, said. in slow, solemn voice.
General Mcclellan, do you sleep at your
post? Rouse you, or ere it can be prevented,
the foe will be on Washington
% Never before in my life have l heard
voice possessing the commanding and even
terrible tone of that one that addressed me
these words And the sensation that passed
through me, as it fell upon my ears, and
coweringly shrunk into myself at the thought
of my own negligence | can only compare
it to the whistling, shrieking sweep of a
storm of grapeshot, discharged directly
through my brain | could not move, how
ever although tried hard to raise my head
from the table As sense of my willing
ness, and yet helpless to make an answer to
the unknown intruder, oppressed me, | once
more heard the same slow, solemn voice re-
peat
General Mcclellan, do you sleep at
your post?'
There was a popularity about it this time;
it seemed as though Ia mere atom of water
was suspended in the center of an infinite
space, and that the voice came from hollow
distance all around me. As the last word
was uttered, | regained by some felt and
yet unknown power, my voliton. and with
the change, the grape-shot discharge sensa-
in my brain ceased, and strange but new
one seized my heart, one as if huge rough
icicle was being sawed back and forth through
and through me.
- started up, or rather | should say |
thought l started up, for whether l was
awake or asleep was utterly unable to de-
eide. My first thought was about my maps
and, before my eyelids had half opened, my
hand was grasping them. But this was al.
The table was still before me and tho maps
oil erumpled in my tightening clutch were
still before me. but everything else had dis
appeared. The furniture was gone, the walls
of the apartment were gone, the ceiling was
not to be seen. All saw was the tableau
am about to describe to you.
"My gaze was turned Southward, and
there, spread out before me, was living
map, yes. a living map, that is the only ex
preston can think of as befitting the scene.
In one grand coup d'9il, my eye took in the
whole expanse Of country. as far south as the
Gulf of Mexico and from the Atlantic ocean
on the east to the Mississippi river west
wardly
s. Before fully fixing my attention upon the
immense scene. however, | thought of the
mysterious visitant. whose voice had heard
but moment previous, and | looked toward
him. An apparltion stood on my left, some
what in front, at distance of about six feet
from me. | sought for his features. hoping
to recognize him. But | was disappointed.
for the statuelike figure was naught but a
vapor, a cloud, having only the general out
lines of a man. This troubled me. and was
turning the matter over in my mind when
the shadowy visitor, in the same slow. SOL
emn tone as before, said -
'''General Mcclellan. your time is short I.
Look to the Southwark
q | felt unable to resist this command. even
had | wished to do so, and again, therefore,
my eyes were east upon this living map.
''O Out on the Atlantic | saw the various
vessels Of the blockading squadron looming
up with the most perfect distinctness in the
bright moonshine, that illuminated every
thing with strong, but mellow light saw
Charleston harbor and its forts, wit. its pac-
ing sentinels, and the sullen looking barbette
guns. My eyes followed the ocean line all
the way round into the Gulf, to New Orleans.
and thence to the Mississippi, Fort Pickens,
and, in fact, every fortifcation along this
water boundary, beheld with as much dis
tinctness as you, sir, see that eorporal's
guard passing there.
The sight filled me with delightful sur
prise; but it would be utterly impossible
Tor me to describe the ecstatic amazement
that followed, as, within the limits | mention,
my eyes took IN, in minute, but lightning
ike detail, every mountain range. every hill.
every valley, every forest, every meadow,
every river, every city, every camp, every
tent, every body of men, every sentinel. eve.
ry earth work, every cannon and. 1 may snv
dispensing with further detail. everv living
and every dead thing, no matter whatits bulk
or weight.
My blood seemed to stop in its channels.
with JOY, as | thought that the knowledge.
and thereby advantage, thus given to me.
would insure a speedy and happy termina.
nation of the war. And this one idea was
engrossing my mind. when. once more. that
slow. solemn voice said
50 General Mcclellan. take your man. and
note what you behold. larry not YOUR
time is short.
. started, and glancing at the unearthly
speaker, saw him extend his arm and point
Southwardly.
. Still L saw no feature. Smoothing out
the largest and most accurate one of nv
maps, | seized pencil. and once more bent
my gaze ever the living map. As looked
this time. a cold, thrilling chill came over
me, and the huge rough icicle began its saw
ing motion through my heart. For as. pen-
cii In hand, | compared the map before me
with the living map. / saw masses of the en-
emy's forces being hurried to certain points
so as to thwart movements that. within dav
or two, l intended to make on these identical
points while on two particular approaches
to Washington heheld heavy columns of the
foe posted for concentrated attack. that |