Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-06

VI lilCiI pOllGy.
p ''Having by such movement as that when
Harrison's Landing and our shipping were
shelled, and by throwing quite a body of
troops on the right bank of the James, Great
ed the appearance of hemming in Mcclellan.
and drawn the great body of our troops in the
field to this section of the country, the rebel
policy would be to make a dash toward Wash
ington and the upper valley-a trap into
which some of the New York journals have
fallen. But it will not succeed. Gen Nc
Clellan's force will take care of itself Wheth-
er, in view of these things, Burnside has gone
to reinforce Pope, or to some other point-a
new move on the board-the country will
soon enough find out. An immense number
of transports are lying at the Landing, SEEM
ingly for no purpose, but doubtless for an i'm
portant one. The fleet has been moored so as
to make a clean track should another attempt
be made to shell the camp"
THE BoMBARDMENT.
''Thc rebels appear to have left immedi
ately after their Smelling episode Thursday
night. Preparatory to the shelling and as
part of the plan, they sent down a number of
gunboats from Richmond, which raised hue
and cry about the coming of No. 2 and other
rams, and had the effect to draw the entire
fleet of gunboats, with the exception of two
or three steamers below, away from the Land
ing, up the river, so that for upwards of an
hour the rebels had their own way, at the
end of which time the gunboats below came
up, and the guns on shore got ready to open.
About the latter there was an unaccountable
delay, which seems to have no proper eXpla-
nation. The guns were in position, but for
an hour they could not be fred and our men
and shipping had to stand and take it with
81, .f,,,lr- l. cpfI fln
who had the key to the magazine was away
and had to be hunted up; but this would seem
to be too frivolous an excuse, though the best
given.
had good chance of observing the posi-
ton of the rebel batteries, which were three
in number, one being directly opposite the
mail boat landing, another about a mile fur
ther up, and the third opposite our lower for
age wharf | should think each battery con-
sisted of about ten guns, all of which were
and l2-pounderS. They were worked well
and had the range nearly exact, but more than
three fourths Of their shells did not explode.
Terrified crowds of contrabands and civil
ians ran hither and thither in dire confusion,
while officers mounted in hot haste and gal
l0ped toward our camps in front. In the
midst of the cannonade the long roll was
heard, but for nearly one hour not shot was
fired from our side, as we were completely
surprised, and had no preparations made to
repel an attack from the other side of the
river. The whole of our gunboats except one
were away up the river some miles above the
headquarters of Gen. Mcclellan. The flag
ship, Wachusett, was the nearest boat to us
in that direction; the boat that was below was
the Cimerone, which was the first that came
up and engaged the battery opposite the mail
In c,,ln -I,, l.
broadside into the seceSh. Soon after the
joined the fray, and her monster
guns sent their blazing contents into the cow
ardly foe that never attacks us except by
stealth and surprise. Now the gallant men
Of the first Connecticut artillery (Col. Tyler's
siege train) arrived from their encampment
more than half mile away. There was only
a guard left over the guns, the men being en-
camped the above distance from them, and in
a few seconds the 32-pounders and the SPLEEN
did WhitwOrths blazed away at the rebels,
producing an electric effect and in few
rounds completely silenced the rascals who
ran for their life miles away out of range.
GEN. sIGEL's COMMAND.
letter from Warrenton SAYS :-"Since
Gen. Sigel assumed command at Middle
town, l have been with his forces, and, in the
absence of exciting events, have been a care
full observer of their daily Improvement The
march from Middletown to Sperryville was
the only interruption to the routine of camp
life. How orderly was that march l have
related in former letter; but let me repeat
that the progress of the division which | ac-'
accompanied, Gen. Schurz's, was model of
good marching and good discipline Whole
brI cd in, o+ ir1t Il,
same numbers which they counted in the
and it repeatedly happened that at
roll call after the march not a single man was
missing. Plundering by the way was effectu-
ally checked, unless the liberation of gather
ing cherries be an exception, and they grow
so thickly, and the soldiers were so much in
need OF change in diet, that it was a really
welcome supply, and the license was excusa-
BILE. | again mention the good order of these
troops, part of which once belonged to the
notorious Blenker DIVISION as a proof that
excuses of that division were the fault of its
commander, and not of their nationality.
During the fortniglrt's encampment at Sper-
ryville, the discipline of the Germans has
been as good as that of any other troops.
"My immediate connection with Gen. ST.
gels command is at an end, but | cannot close
its record without expressing very positively
my opinion of the work he has accomplished
1t Is unnecessary to say anything of his mill
tary fame in the more public and conspicuous
duties of a commander. There has been no
opportunity for their display, for there has
been no battle, and the campaign has been
hardly begun. But the month has been spent
IN the interior work of organization, disci-
pine, and drill, operations of detail, upon the
thoroughness of which largely depend the eff
tppTVpnpsS of no a.
neid. The industry, patience, energy, and
system with which lie has pursued these la
bors, are, perhaps, not less evidence of his
capacity as a commander than his brilliant
exploits In the west; and in these DAYS when
incompetence or deficiencies in military edu-
cauon are painfully common, they equally de-
serve to be recorded and initiated He has
been fortunate in the cordial and intelligent
cooperation of division and brigade com
| manders, without which l suppose a thorough
| supervision OF regimental affairs would be
| impossible. 1t is evident enough that with all
the help thus offered, Gen. Sigel has his full
share of labors and responsibilities, and the
most careless observer cannot fail to see that
he is absorbed in them, and devoted to his
work to an unusual extent"
Gen. Sigel impresses me with being an ear
nest able, and energetic commander. With
out the least ostentation or bluster everything
under his command moves like a delicate and
sklltully constructed piece of machinery. He
is the only commander of a corps d'armee |
have yet met who has been able to make him
self popular with the generals under him, and
| inspire them with confidence in his ability.
In few weeks, | have not the least doubt,
the first corps of the army of Virginia will
be ranked among the first in the army of the
Union. 1t has been called the Botany Raw