Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-07-23
From McClellan's Army.
Interesting Details OF the Situation.

HARRIsoN's LANDING.

This new miliatary depot, or base of op-
erations, the James river, IS some six or
seven miles below City Point, and about
forty-seven miles below Richmond by wa
/ ter and half as far by direct line. The
camp is established on the farm or estate
of DIR. Powhaton B. Starke, whose man
sion and outbuildings are being used as
| hospitals The estate is a very fine one,
and once belonged to BENZ. Harrison, a
signer of the American Declaration of
| Independence, and the father of the late
William Henry Harrison, President of the
United States, who was born in this man
sion. The present proprietor inherited
| the estate by marriage with Miss Orgain,
who is a decendent of the Harrison fan1i-
| ly. Starke being a rank traitor, deserted
his place several weeks ago, taking most
/ of his human chattels, of whom there
were large number on the plantation.
and leaving directions with his overseer
to burn and destroy everything rather
than permit anything to fall into the
hands of the id Yankees" which he
didn't do. The mansoin gives indica-
tions of taste and refinement on the part
of its late occupants also of hurried de-
parture, the furniture-which is substan-
tial and elegant-being left behind, while
the family pictures were cut from their
frames that still hung on the walls.
THE SCENE AT THE LANDING
Presented as l landed July 2d) defes
all description. Under some trees which
lay around in clusters, our men were
crouched. They looked as if they were
to the crown of their heads with mud,
|, f,oc- anA oil l1taral l1r- =
ed. while their shoes and boots had
several pounds of the nasty yellow stuff
stuck into and all around them. Whole
regiments were immersed to their knees,
many up to their waists in the yellow riv-
er, with branches of trees and pieces of
stick washing and scraping off the dirt
Cavalry men were out so far trying to get
a ''clean wash" that the water reached
their saddles while they vigorously scrap
ed themselves and their weary steeds,
many of the men had not had dry bis
cult for twenty-four hours. met an Off
Ger who was wounded in the eye, his face
covered with blood and mud. He was
vainly offering five dollars for something
to eat. l moved up the hill through aw
full pools of mud, sinking down to the
knees at every step. passed house
lidu duCC vi hetNAnS OCCA
deserted by the owner, as there were no
doors or windows visible. This house
was so crowded with sick and wounded
poor miserable men, that a doctor who
cIme up while | was there could not pos
sibly get in. A great crowd was assem-
bled around the doors who seemed to en-
Wy the more fortunate ones inside. On
the top of the hill there was rather q fine
II. 80
was our general hospital, and was cram
med full to its utmost capacity. con-
versed with many brave men who had
fought their way with our army through
no ofrebels. They were not dismayed or
frightened. Quite the contrary. In a
calm and cool manner-not noticing the
torrents of rain falling on their heads
there they stood telling of the vast hordes
of rebels by which they were outnumber-
ed. l stood in the centre of MANY q
great group of privates who gathered
around me to learn the news from the rest
of the world-for they saw by my clean
linen that got among them by some 9TH
er route tffan Savage statfUn.-1 did net
hear from these men one single murmur
or complaint. They said, "We are ready
when reinforcements arrive to go at them
AT LIlS LlCEC Was u SClEOOACT
at the end of the wharf, and gang of
at least three hundred contrabands were
in line, each having box of biscuit on
his shoulder, carrying them ashore. The
river along the wharf is very shallow, and
only one vessel of light draught can come
alongside the end of the wharf.
THE MORALE OF THE RECENT MOVEMENT.
Those persons who are unfamiliar with
military movements will, perhaps be lit
tie puzzled to reconcile the fact of our re-
pulsing the rebels so frequently, SO uni
versally, with the fact that our army con-
tinued to retreat after every contest, and
that in such haste as to leave behind, on
the field, our dead and such of the wound
ed as were unable to walk, thus abandon
ing them to the enemy. The explanation
is this:
The Commanding General, finding his
brave and heroic army on the field before
Richmond overborne by the pure force of
numbers, the rebels constantly pouring in
hordes of freinforcements, finding his right
flank turned, and being satisfied that
it would be difficult if possible, to hold
his position, he very naturally determined
to change it to one which could be more
easily defended. He decided upon the
point now occupied by his army (where
he can have the cooperation of the gum
boats) and having so decided, the next
thing to be done was to march his army
to the point desired, in good order.
The rebels followed and attacked him
as matter of course. But as oftenas they
attacked, the loyal troops repulsed them,
not without considerable loss, however,
In order to gain his point, viz: to take
up the position he desired on the james
river, in order and without stampeding or
panic in his ranks, after each repulse of
the rebels, he was obliged to hurry on to
his destination with the greatest praoti-
cable speed, to do which he was compel
led to leave the severely wounded on the
field. The march, or retreat, or whatever
else you choose to call it, is regarded here
as a remarkably successful one, and the
present position of the army as entirely
safe from rebel attack.
THE FEDERAL FLoTILLA.
While the attention of the country is
centered upon the important operations
of the army of the Potomac during the
momentous stragetic movements of the
past six days, the no less important oper-
ations of the gallant and effective naval
feet under Commander John Rogers, of
the Galena, should not be overlooked or
forgotten In the feet are the iron-clad
Galena, the flag ship; the Monitor, Capt.
Jeffreys; the gunboats Mauritania, Capt.
T. H. Stevens; Port Royal, Capt. George
Ii Norris; Mahaska, Capt. Harrison; Ar
ostook, Capt. Beaumont; Satellite, Capt. |
Gibson; Jacob bell, Capt. McRae; South |
field. Capt. Burr. The Stepping Stone,
Island Belle and others, the names of
which do not now occur to me, have been |
exceedingly active in attacking batteries,