The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-08-23
War News of the Week.
0kx. McCLrLLAx's Army.

dEE. MCCLELLAN ARMY
The great event In McClellan's aImy,
since our last, is the evacuation OF har-
rison's Landiug-in short. the entire with
drawal of the Army Of the Potomac, as
it has been called, from the james River
and its position south of Richmond, 10
new "base," ITS exact location still unset
tied, but generally believed to be IN 'he
region of Fredericksburg, to operate, In
conjunction with Gen. Pope and Burnside
against Richmond from the north. "The
movements" says correspondent on the
ground, "was rendered absolutely neces.
sary by the situation of affairs, looking to
the preservation of the army. for future
use in the suppression of the rebellion
With It's streagth gradually but steadily
being reduced by sickness, the ranks ener-
vssed Ly the terrible heat of the climate,
and with the impossibility of strengthen
ing the situation by the addition OF fresh
troops, which experience has demonstrated
cannot be safely sent to this Penensula in
August, there was but one course left for
the government to pursue-bnt one which
the country could approve, viz: To rescue
the army from its present inactive and un-
satisfactory position as soon as possible,
and await the developement of events
But in view of previous experience, and
the we'll known dangers always attendant
upon q retrograde movement in the face
of powerful enemy, how to undertake it
without mourning the most fearful haz
yards" Mcclellan did undertake it, and
accomplished it with a success that must
ever shine as one of the marvellous achieve
ments of this war. AS early as the 9th
instant, he commenced the work, yet up
to Friday morning, the 18th, although the
evacuation was steadily going on, SO far
from the enemy knowing it, even the
general officers in McClellan's own COM
mand only began to suspect it. Then,
however, every tent was struck. and the
last man of the army put in motion, most
of the infantry going on foot across the
peninsula to Williamsburg and thence to
yorktown, and the transports to Hampton
Roads. So we'll was the whole affair exc
,cuted, tibet not.e gun was fred, not even a
scouting party menaced his rear. A DIES
tpatch of the 18th thus announces the sue
cess of tho undertaking:
Marrison's Landing is evacuated withou,
a struggle-without a blow-wishout even
the loss of a single man. The immense
SC ~
bag and baggage stores, tents, horses
ammunition aud .contrabands, are now far
away from Harrisens Landing, leaving i!
deserted and desolate.
All agree that the whole affair was ad
mirably executed On Monday last, Nc
Calls Division received orders to strike
tents, provide six days rations, and b,
ready to move at moments notice at
o'clock at night The whole division ar
s-riued at the wharf and embarked auickly
on steamers end left the landing some
time during the night for Aqua Creek, as
is supposed, via Fortress Monroe
An order was issued that no more yes
sells loaded with supplies should proceed
further than Fortress Monroe, and on
Wednesday ten days rations were served
to the army, which was required TO be in
readiness to move at an hours notice.
On Thursday the army commenced
.evacuating. All the siege guns were re
moved Fl ON the front and safely embarked
on Thursday and yesterday, on board
.harges and schooners. Porters Corps led
the van Of the overland portion of the
army. Thursday night and Friday morn
ing every tent was struck, and then, fol
,the first time, was it generally known that
the whole army was about evacuating Har
~, H., g Il,
3 IL vessels left the different wharves, load
ed with stores, and yesterday the remain
der of the stores were placed on boats and
steamers by the contrabands''
All the cavalry that remained before the
final departure of the land forces acted as
pickets, and strong rear guard of infantry
and artillery was placed to protect the
baggage trains. The sick and wounded
who remained at the different hospitalt5
were placed on board of the aegular steam
boat belonging 70 the Sanitary Commission
at the long wharf. and were among the
first to move out in the stream. Contra
bands" were shipped on schooners, barge:
and pontoon boats.
The destination of McCIellan's army is
still a secret, but with the news from Cul.
pepper, it will not remain secre. much
longer. Everything now Will be strained
to the utmost to reinforce the "army OF
Virginia Indeed the latest dispatches
leave no doubt but that McCleIlaa's whole
army is already at Aqua Creek, if not on
the Rappahannock. ..-
From GEN Pores Army.
For several days after the battle of Cedar
Mountain. the dispatches brought regular