Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-07

Perhaps one Of the nobIest sp

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Perhaps one Of the noblest speetacles in
martial history, was improvised in Fitz
John Porter's camp, when his veteran vol
unteers were ordered 10 the battle field
They had eaten nothing for thirtv-six
hours. Thursday some Of them had fought.
Friday they fought all day long and into
night. That night they marched across the
river. Next day they marched again. That
night they kept watch in White Oak
Swamp. And Monday they marched again.
The hery sun had parehed their feet, hun
ger and thirst and labor had enfeebled
their bodies, but Monday afternoon when
orders came to move again TO the field, the
eolor-bearers stepped to the front with their
proud standards the drums beat a rally
ing rat-a-plAn, and those devoted followers
Of the "banner Of beauty and glory"
swung aloft their hats and shouted with
lsoul-stirring enthusiasm. The eyes Of
their Generals flashed fire as their faces
| lighted up with sudden glory, and officers
stepped together in clusters and swore SOL
emnly that life should be sacrificed before
that flag should fall. "My life" said one.
is nothing if have no country" And
again the noble fellows shouted their war
notes. Weak as they were, I saw them
move to the field at double quick. When
they fly, the army Of the Potomac will be
no more.
Night seemed 10 bring little more re-
lief. The enemy could not press us teen.
But would he tomorrow 1t was believed
he was massing all his power to crush us
in combined attack. Oh, that our soldiers
could rest day, even. Alas, they could
not rest at night Their salvation it SEEM
ed depended more upon their labor now
than upon their guns. Into the trenches,
ye braves, and work till morn summons
! you 10 battle. And so they labored, some
! dropping listlessly in the trenches, exhaust
/ ed nature refusing to endure more.
But there was another picture l had al
most forgot. In such a march struggling
was unavoidable. The sick made a long,
sad procession, dragging along the road
/ feebly and painfully at every step, until at
! last the goal of safety was attained. But
beside these were hundreds who were as
feeble from fatigue as the sick were from
infrmity. But it was essential that they
should fight that day. l saw brigade of
| them organized and marched out. "Who
of you viii fight? ? No answer, but perfect
| Indifference. One steps out, 3" may as
well die fighting as die Of exhaustion. -
Those men we're heart-broken. They had
fought bravely, would fight again, but they
needed rest SO sorely. Reader, it was age.
nizing to look upon such scenes. NO man
whose sensibilities had not been hardened
into steel, could check a sigh, or even a
tear, in such presence. And now 20 with
me under the river bank and look at the
suffering braves, mangled and torn by shot
and shell. But no, the cup is full.
TUESDAY AND BATTLE.
Tuesday, the lst Of July, was not q
cheerful day. The prospect was not hap
by. The Prince de Joinville, always gay
and active as lad, and always where there
was battle had gone The Count de Paris
heir to the Bourbon throne, and the Duke
de Chartres, his brother, the two chivalric
and devoted aids to Gen. Mcclellan, on
whose courage fidelity, intelligence and
activity he safely relied; who served with
him to learn the art Of war, suddenly,
without previous warning, took passage on
a gunboat and huttered softly down the
river. Why did they go? Two officers of
the English army, who had accompanied
Gen. Mcclellan to study the art of war,
and who had intended TO remain with the
army until Richmond was ours, announced
their intention to depart on the first boat.
The troops were intrenching the hill and
standing to arms The enemy were re-
ported massing their forces. We were pre-
pairing to repel them. Atnoon silence was
broken by hostile cannon in the extreme
front. As afternoon wore away the bonn
bardment increased. At five clock there
was a battle, and the Arostook was hurl-
ing shell into the woods At about seven
o'clock the firing was heavy, but it was
driving the enemy from his batteries. Our
boat pushed from the landing At dark
we moved from Harrison's Landing, seven
miles below. The army had not moved
there The trains had Soon after we
steamed into the channel the bombardment
grew heavier. The gunboats were thun-
dering into the forests
When l left the prospect was cheerless.
That night we met reinforcements. Before
morning the army was strengthened Pray
God it was made strong enough-to go to
Richmond
People, you may still rely on General
Mcclellan, until further displays Of capac-
ity. His retreat was mastery. He carried
all that army and all his trains success
fully through one narrow road while en-
cOmpassed by enemies two-fold as strong
as his army. W. B.