Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-19

/ past can bury its dead. 1t was spectacle
/ worked up to its utmost dramatic effect The
men were drawn up in line for the last review.
/ The farewell order was read to them. The
outgoing and incoming generals, with their
! long 9etnues, rode by; Salutes were fred !;
! colors were dipped; officers swung their hats,
and gave the order TO cheer, and the men
cheered right vigorously. In Gen. Franklin's
corps, which was caught without preparations
1 they rushed down to the road and did it spon-
taneously and enthusiastically.
But there were whole brigades, mainly of
new troops, which stood in stolid silence. In
spite Of the injunction of irrepressble staff Of
/ ficers in the cavalcade to "Give good one for
I Little Mae" they did not send up a single
/ cheer. And did you notice that Burnside's
/ old corps (the NINTH was not visited at all,
while every other was A few days before
Burnside and Mcclellan ohanced to ride
through that corps, and an officer who was
present, assured me that while the cries and
cheers for Burnside" were deafening, he
did not hear even a single voice shout ''Mc-
Clelan" And that may explain the neglect.
The leavc-taking, in many particulars, re-
minded me Of another which | witnessed a
year ago-the withdrawal of Fremont from
his Missouri army. On the whole the exhi..
bition OF affection toward Mcclellan, was one
OF which he may justly be proud but it fell
far short of that displayed for Fremont. STILL
the two cases had several features in common.
Both generals were removed unexpectedly,
while their armies were in motion, and in the
face Of the enemy.
But there were sharp contrasts as well.
Fremont had been tried three months, Me
Clelian seventeen. Fremont steadtastly re-
fused to bid adeu to his army, lest tine cere-
Il
ganizaion, but stole away at daylight
/ Mcclellan took his leave with the most i'm
preSsive and imposing display. Fremont was
relieved by an antagonist; but in his touching
farewell order to his soldiers he said: Con
| tlnue as you have begun, and give TO my sue
cessOr the same cordial and enthusiastic
| support with which you have encouraged
| me. Mcclellan was relieved by warm
personal friend, his most highly esteemed
lieutenant; but in his farewell order, mod
eled in every other respect upon the first, he
could not devote a line or even Il word to
the new commander.
McClelan's principal strength was with the
rank and file. He had the affections Of the
men-not without exception, or to an unpar-
alelled extent-but still in general. But so
far as can judge a vast majority of his brig
AIDE, division, and corps. commanders are
gratited at his removal. | never heard so
severe reflections upon him out of the army
as | have in it, day after day. Again
and again l have heard the opinion ex-
pressed by officers of high rank, not only
that Mcclellan was disastrIlsly slow and
timid, but that the country was dying of Nc
Clellan.
Personally all held him in warm regard. In
his high office he bore himself modestly and
fifty; and though his removal took away
Il paralyzing incubus, probably there is not a
single man in the army of the Potomac who
cherishes aught but personal good wishes for
its late commander. AD.R