The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-05-01
IGEN. M'CLELLlN'S DREAM.
BIZ WEsLtY RRAhsoHw.

Two o'clock of the third night after
General MoClellan's arrival in Wash
iDgton, tn take command of the United
States army, found that justly eminent
soldier poring over several maps, and
reports Of scouts.
AS the hours came toiling through
the night, together with the dull rumb-
ling of army wagons and artillery
wheels, the wearied hero, pushing aside
his maps and reports, leaned bis fore,
head on his folded arms upon the table
before him land fell asleep so sound that
occasional booming of the heavy guns,
being placed in position upon the en-
trenchments was insufficient to disturb
It.
~ could not have been slumbering
thus more than ten minntes," said the
General to an intimate friend. to whom
he related the narrative. "when thought
the door Of my room which I had care
fully locked was thrown suddenly open,
and some one strode' up to me, aud lay
ing hand upon my shoulder, said, in
slow, solemn voice:
"General Mcclellan, do you sleep Mt
your post? Rouse you, or ere it can be
prevented. the foe will be on Washing
ton"
"Never before in my life have I
heard voice possessing the command
ing and even terrible tone of the one
that addressed me these fearful words.
And the sensation that passed through
me, as it fell upon my ears, and / cow
ardly shrunk into myself as I thought
of my negligence, can only compare
it to the whistling, shrieking sweep Of
storm of grapeshot dscharging di-
rectly through my brain.-I could not
move, however, although 1 tried hard to
raise my head from the table. As
sense of my willingness and yet help
lessness to make an answer to the un-
known intruder oppressed me, once
more heard that SLOW, solemn voice re-
peat: ...
General Mcclellan, do you sleep at
your post2"
"There was peculiarity about it
this time; it seemed as though Ia
mere atom of matter--was suspended in
the centre of an infinite space, and that
the voice came from a hollow distance
all around me. AS the last word was
uttered | regained by some feh and
yet "nhno'on power, my volition, and
with the change the grape .shot.dis-
charge sensation in my brain ceased,
and strange but new one seized nv
heart; one of rough icicle being sawed
back and forth through and through
me.
81 started mp, or rather I should say
1 thought started up, for whether
was awake or asleep, I am utterly una
BILE to decide. My first thought was
about my maps. and, before my eyelids
had half opened, my hand was grasping
hem. But this was not all The ta-
BILE was still before me, and the maps
Ill crumbled in my tightening clutch,
we're still before me, but everything else
had disappeared. The furniture was
gone, the ceiling was not to be seen.
All saw was the tablcau 1 am about
10 describe to you.
"My gaze was turned Southwark, and
there spread out before me was living
map, yes living map, that is the only
expression can think of BETTING the
scene. In one grand coup a. @H my
Eye took in the whole expanse of coun-
Try, as far South as the Gulf of Mexico,
md from the Atlantic Ocean on the
East, to the Mississippi river West
Harlly.
"But before fully fixing my attention
lpon the immense scene, however, I
thought Of the mysterious visitant,
whose voice heard but moment pre-
'ious, and | looked toward him. An
'pTariciOn stood on my left, somewhat
n front, at distance of about six feet
rom me. | sought for his features,
hoping to recognize him. But l was
for the statue-like figure
vas naught but vapor, cloud, hav-
ng only the general outlines of a man.
"Tbis troubled me, and [ was turn
ng the matter over in my mind, when
he shadow visitor, in the same slow,
olemn tone as before said:
General Mcclellan, your time is
hortl Look to the Southwark
"I felt unable to resist his command,
wen had l wished to do so, and again,
therefore, my eyes were cast over the |
living map.
"On the Atlantic saw tho various
yessels of the blockading squadron
coming up with the most perfect dis
nctness in the bright m 100 onshine, that
Illuminated everything with a strong
,ut mellow light, / saw Charleston
larbOr and its forts, with their pacing
entinels, and their small looking bar
,ette guns. My eyes followed the
,cean line all the way around into the
9ulf, to New Orleans, and thence up
he Mississippi. Fort, Pickens. and, in |
act, every forti6catiou along this wa
ier boundary, l beheld with as much
listinetness as you, sir, sec the Corpor-
lps guard passing here.
"This sight filled me with delightful |
surprise, but it would be utterly impos-
,ible for mo to describe the ecstatic
that followed, as within the limits
mention, my eyes took in, in minute,
but lightning-like detail, every forest,
every meadow, every river, every camp,
every tent, every sentinel, every earth
work, every cannon, and, may say,
with further detail, every
living and dead thing, no mat.
ter what its height or bulk.
"My blood seemed to stop in its chan.
uels with joy. | thought that the
knowledge, arr thereby advantage, thus
given to me would insure a speedy and