The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-21
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT q

it has ever been my fortune to behold.
The troops of Gen. Fitz John Porter's
corps were martialed in magnificent array
on the right of the road, and those in Gen.
COUGHS corps on the left. Butterfield's,
Sykes, and Humphreys divisions, in
POrter's corps, were disposed in order, the
banners of each command appearing in
the centre, close on the road. Hancock's,
Towards, and French's divisions, in
COUGHS corps were arranged in some
what similar manner, with the artillery of
both commands placed on prominent posi-
lions. AS had been done in the other in
stances, McClellans farewell address to his
soldiers was read to them just before he
passed to personally bid them farewell. AS
he rode along the turnpike, with head I'M
covered, between the lines of troops, and
followed by the glittering array of officers,
fifty thousand of his devoted soldiers, with
hearts and voices in perfect unison, and
all, with one accord, burst forth into the
most tumultuous cheering. Along the
lines he rode, amidst the continued accla-
nations of fifty thousand, while, from the
distance, we would occasionally catch, as
though it were an echo, the sound from the
troops we had left behind, and who wer.
cheering yet, long after the General had
gone away from the immediate vicinity f
his headquarters The banners borne By
the various regiments were held near the
road on either side, and their tattered
fragments were fully exposed to view when
the General and party passed through the
lines of troops. Some of the standards
had little but the gold and silver trimmings
and the silken fringes left. A greater por
ton of many of the flags had been sho-
away IN battle under the gallant leadership
of Gen. Mcclellan. Those tattered ban.
ners, having inscribed upon them the
names of the battles in which the troops
had fought VIGOROUSLY beneath their silken
folds, were mute, yet most eloquent memo
rails Of the mighty struggles which Nc
Clellan's soldiers have passed through.
Whilst he rode along, the batteries fired
salutes, the bands played, and the soldiers
cheered; the smoke from the artillery
tlOated in among the perforated banners,
and the acclamations of the troops mingled
with the martial music and guns. / cannot
recall from my experience any occasion on
soldiers has been surpassed.
Passing the end of Porter and Couch S
lines, General Mcclellan and party pro-
creded four or five miles further, to the
place where Franklin's corps was en-
camped On the way, soldiers followed
and cheered him. He was soon near
Franklin's corps. His arrival was not ex-
pected quite so soon, and the troops were
not formed to receive him. But, when the
soldiers saw him approaching their en-
campment, the color-bearers Of the various
regiments grasped the stars and stripes
and the regimental standards, and came
dashing down the hillsand across the fields,
the members of the regiments, without
arms, dashing wildly after them. McClel-
Ian passed through the mass of soldiers to
General Franklins headquarters, where
he, Burnside and Franklin, while the lat
ter's troops were being collected and dis
posed, had protracted interview.
This ended, the company mounted their
horses again, and rode among the troops
of Franklin's corps, Smiths division, part
formed in line of battle and part in CO.
lumn, greeted Mcclellan with great en-
thusiasm. Brooks division came rushing
across the valley in one grand, solid CO.
lumn, with flags floating in the breeze, to
meet the retiring General They focked
arouud him, disregarding entirely every
thing concerning the rules of military for
nation, and in the most feeling manner,
babe him an affectionate farewell. The
troops in Newton's division, formed far
Their on, were no less decided and enthu-
siastic in their demonstrations. 1t was
really wonderful to see how deep was the
expression of feeling by the soldiers on this
occasion. r 'o'
na Having passed through the lines of all
the troops in the vicinity, Gen. Mcclellan
turned his horses head to go back to his
headquarters, whence he intended proceed
ing to the train which was waiting to con-
vey him to Washington. Now we wit
messed the most affecting scene of ALL
Until this moment it hardly seemed that
their favorite General could leave them.
But now he was going from among them
he had already gone. The moment that
they fully realized it, all those soldiers,
animated by one universal impulse, ran
after him, some weeping aloud, and shouted
in the most touching and appealing man
ner, "Fetch him back, fetch him back! -"
and "Oh, come back to us, come back to
us, Mcclellan!
As he rode along the turnpike on his re-
turn from Franklin's corps, troops under
Couch and Porter, which he had passed in
regular formation few hours before now
rushed out from their camp-ground, and
thronged the roadside, anxious to take an
other last look at their beloved General.
Many of them were melted to tears, and,
after cheering him again and again, Joined
in the universal supplication, "Oome back
to us, come back to us, Mcclellan.
PARTING AT F1Tz JOHN PoRTER's HEAD
QUARTERS.
Riding up to Gen. Fitz John Porter's
headquarters, he was met by delegation
composed of several hundred officers in
Porter's command After the party had
dismounted, and Mcclellan had reached
the portico of the house where the officers
were assembled, the division Generals of
the corps being close beside him, Gen.
Butterfield, in a few well chosen words,
alludQd IN tho bo%x,oor