Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-04-02
GEN. McCLELLAN's DREAM.

! Sorrow dies and joys immortal.
sz1Ezszslszszz-nzls.
GEN. McCLELLAN'S DREAM.
The following is from the pen of Wesley
Bradshaw, Esq, and makes fitting com
panion to "Washington's Vision. whicl
sketch, written by the same author. Al
the commencement of our National diff
culties, was widely copied by the press
and commended by Hon. Edward Everett
as teaching 4 highly important lessor
to every true lover of his country. "-Er
change.
Two o'clock of the third night after
Gen McClellan's arrival in Washington tC
take command of the United States army
found that justlycelebrated soldier porine
over several maps and reports of scouts
! As the hour came tolling through the
night, together with the dull rumbling oi
army wagons, and artillery wheels. the
wearied hero, pushing from his maps and
reports, leaned his forehead on his folded
! arms upon the table before him, and fell
into sleep, so deep that even the occa
sional booming of the heavy guns, being
placed in position on the intrenchments
was insufficient to disturb it.
Il could not have been slumbering thus
more than ten minntes," said the General
to an intimate friend, to whom he relat-
ed the strange narrative, ''when | thought
the door of my room, which | had care
fully locked, was thrown suddenly open,
and some one strobe to me. and. laying
hand upon my shoulder, said, in slow,
solemn voice Ha
General Mcclellan, do you sleep at
your post? Rouse you, or ere it can be
prevented, the foe will be in Washing
toni"
Never before in my life have l heard a
voice possessing the commanding and
even terrible tone of the one that address
ed 10 me these words. And the sensation
that passed through me, as it fell upon
my ears, and l coweringly shrunk into
myself at the thought of my own negli-
gence, can only compare, to the whist
ling, shrieking sweep of storm of grape
shot, discharged directly through my
brain: l could not move, however, al
though tried hard TO raise my head from
the table. As a sense of my willingness,
and yet helplessness to make an answer
to the unknown intruder, oppressed me,
| once mere heard the same slow, solemn
voice repeat:
General Mcclellan, do you sleep at
your post?"
There was a popularity about it this
time; it seemed as thoughI-amere atom
of matter-was suspended from the cen
tire of an infinite space, and that the voice
came from hollow distance ell around
me: As the last word was uttered, re-
gained by some felt and vet unknown
power, my volition, and with the change,
the grape-shot-discharge sensation in my
brain ceased, and a strange but new one
as if huge, rough icicle ives being sawed
back and forth through and through me.
l started on, or rather l should say
thought started up, for whether l was
awake or asleep, am unable to decide.
Ny first thought was about my maps, and
before my eye lids had half opened, my
hand was grasping them. But this was
all. The table was still before me, and
the maps all crumpled in my tightening
clutch, were still before me, but every
thing else had disappeared. The furni-
ture was gone, the walls of the apart
ment were gone, the ceiling was not to be
seen. All l saw was the tableau l am
about to describe to you.
My gaze was turned Southwark, and
there, spread out before ME, was a living
map; yes living map; that is the only
expression l can think of as benefting the
scene. In one grand coup a al, my eye
took in the whole expanse of country, as
far south as the Gulf of Mexico. and rom
the Atlantic Ocean on the East, to the
Mississippi river westwardly.
Before fully fixing my attention upon
the immense scene, however thought Of
the mysterious visitant, whose voice / had
heard moment previous, and | looked
toward him. An apparition stood on my
left, somewhat in front, at distance of
about SIX feet from me. | sought for his
features, hoping to recognize him. But
was disappointed, for the statute-like fig
ure was nought but vapor, cloud, hay-
ing only the general outlines of a man.
This troubled me. and | was turning the
matter over in my mind. when the shad-
Owy visitor, in thesame slow, solemn tone
as before, said:
Gen. Mcclellan. your time is short
Look to the Southwark"
| felt unable to resist the command,
even had wished 10 do so, and again,
therefore, my eyes were east on the living
map.
Out on the Atlantic | saw the various
vessels of the blocbading squadron loom
ing up with the most perfect distinctness
in the bright moonshine, that illuminat-
ed everything with a strong, but mellow
light. | saw Charleston and its forts. with
their pacing sentinels, and their sullen
looking barbette guns. Ny eyes followed
the ocean line all the way round into the
Gulf, to New Orleans, and thence up the
Mississippi, Fort Pickens, and in fact.
every fortifcation along this water bound
ary. beheld with as much distinctness
as you sir, see that corporal's guard passing
there.
This sight filed me with delightful sur
prise; but it would be utterly impossible
for me TO describe tho ecstastic amaze
ment that followed. as within the limits
| mention, my eyes took in, in minute.
but lightening-like detail every noun
tain range every hill, every valley. every
forest, every meadow, every river, every
city. every camp. every earthwork, every
and may say. dispensing with
further detail, every living and every
dead thing, no matter what its bulk or
height.
Ny blood seemed to stop in its channels,
with joy, as thought that the knowledge.
and thereby advantage, thus given to rne.
would issue a speedy and happy termina-
ton Of the war. And this one idea was