The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-15
Military HOnors TO the Memory Of the Late
Ex-President Van Buren,.
Effect of McClellan's Recent
General Order.
Return Of Generals Mccall and
Reynolds and Other Union
Officers from Richmond,
&c., &C., &c.


August L. 1907. }
Ronors % the Memory of Tie Late EsPresiiem Van Ba-
re,-GmeraI McCleltan's Recent General Ordr-Iko'o
RIs Recsicea--7he Sentiments of ~ General Command
ing Are the Sentiments of His AymyUniwrsa, Sa.isfas-
ton of the Soldiers, DC, dc.
The memory of tho late President Martin Van Buren,
is to be pepetuated in she army so far as appropriate
memorial exercises by the troops the wearing of Grape on
the left and their swords by officers, and the
covering tho colors OF the several regiments with the
sable emblem can perpetuats his memory. In ac-
cordance with tho order promulgated the 25th umo
by present patriotic President the soldiers Of the
Army of the Potomac participated extent In the
simple ceremonies which had been prescribed for the
casion Tho national flag in front of the several head
quarters was displayed halfmas throughout the day
Wherever regimenta coors and the Stars and Stripes
carried by regiments were shown, 1t was an interesting
and suggestive sight to see displayed the rdded banners
which had been borne In beauty and triumph on so
many battle fields. At the frst dawn OF day
salute of thirteen guns-onc for each State in
the old confederation--wss nred and afterwards
one gun every half hour between the rising and
the setting of tho In the evening national saue
Of thirty four guns fred aud that concluded the
morabe ceremonies Tho enemy in front Of us the
other side Of the battle line when he heard that salute Of
thirty -four guns, must have been reminded
that do deem the Union yet dissolved When the
purposes for which this grand army organized shall
have been accomplishments they surely wllths ny
will learn in much more rorcble manner than by
salute OF blank cartridges that the dissolution of the
Union the consequent destruction of this government
utterly impossible 0 love for the Union stronger
now than ever, because Il Is imperilsd
Tho order just promulgated by Major General Mcclellan
in which he directs the attention of the officers and sol
ders of the Army Of the Potomac executive order
issued by the President the 22d ult respecting the
seizure and OF private property and the employment
CT contrabands, and In which the General Commanding
defines his own position has me with decided approval
as far as ! have seen and heard, throughout the
army. In thus clearly setting forth his own views
General Mcclellan has given fitting expression to the
sentiments entertained by an oyerwhel ming majority
his troops. Everybody will Immediately acknowledge
the truth OF his first remark, whore he says that the
of the President substantially with the
uniformly pursued by his troops this PENINSULA
in oh ,dience To his express command that aerai
change the future conduct and government OF his army
will be necessary. While he announces that property
CURED for the successful accomplishment of the purposes
OF The army will continue 10 be seized as heretofore
he also distinctly safes that in obedience to his uniform
practice receipts for the kind and quantity OF property
thus appropriated viii be given whenever circumstances
admit OF SO doing He touches sympathetic chord in
the hearts of all high.mndcd men when he dcnounces
the idea which has obtained In quarters that
private property may be pundered with mpunity. In
these important sentences of his own web chosen
language, he saysMarauding degrades as men and de
moralZes soldiers all who engage in It, and returns
them TO their homes unified for the pursuits honest
industry This army is composed mostly Of young men:
and the General Commanding, TO whose they
trusted 1t TO the parents who have their sons
and the communities who have the flower of their
youth, into the military service Of their country, warn
and restrain them from an evil Ierniciousn He
nesy enions all commanding officers to ut.
most vigilance TO prevent such practices the paragraph
in which he st provides for the fun protection of women
and children who remain peaceaby at their homes is
cxtolcd equally with that in which he reminds
his officers and men that this is not a war of
rapne revenge subjugation, not contest against
populations but against armed forces in the field that we
engaged in supporting the constitution and the laws OF
fne nil and
against their authority, and that il such
noble ONE the war should be conducted the highest
principles known to Christian civilization His position
on the contraband question is also that assumed By tho
majority of his army. While he employs all negroes who
within our lines he promises permanent protection
to such against any compulsory return to condition of
servtude. In reference to this subject me observe
that have found an increasing indignation among our
soldiers at the growing Importance which the negroes
are assuming and the aboltonsts claiming for the
negro question in the progress Of this II is
matter frequent remark among our troops that they
lett their comfortable homes and cherished friends,
cheerfnly volunteered in the service Of the United
states, and chose TO undergo al the pcris OF the
pagn on the peninsula, while thousands them have
poured out their life blood in crimson streams on its
rantable rebellion arans. the government Of these
United States Better they say tina, all the negroes in
ss Be s 's Be- s 1
many bitter animostes engendered between brethren
who should live in love and peace in common
country. The conrabands now within lines
win not work unless they are constantly watch
co. while many are sorry that they have left
North. On Sunday morning last heard the colored
FOUNDER OF the Gospel preach to the negroes the
traband quarters, and in the of his observations
the text, These they who have come out great
tribulation," he incidentally remarked that many OF
those before him had told him they sorry they had
left their masters in the South, and wished they
back the ancient estates again. When he alluded
the subject there very dec ded audible expression
from many Of the negroes, indicating that they
sorry for having left and onged to 50 much for
the contraband question. In brief entire order Of
General Mcclellan has given universal satisfaction his
troops, and will undoubtedly have important and
henltul influence in softening the aspecs which ether
influences may have awakened in the Southern heart,
and in pointing people to that humane spirit digni
fed bearing and elevated aim which should he
prominent traits in the American character.