Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-07-28

ID. I'll. Hill take u InOusFnO obIHy iheH, oi
the road to White Oak River. Some 500
mules we're also turned over to the rebel
Col. Munford, to add to the difficulties of
the forage question with the enemy. Find
ing that the rebels Jackson and Hill were
close behind NE, | tore up The bridge at
White Oak river and l resolved to give
them BATTLE at long taw. This is a pop
ular mode Of fighting with my men, when
their long-range guns are out of reach 81
the balls of the enemy. But, while we
were having a fine time at ~ f~ayorite
game at White Oak river, the everlasting
Longstreet and A. P. Hill struck me IN
flank and killed and captured a great num-
Der of my men. My great master, Gen.
Scott, could not stand a fire in the rear
and front, nor could | be expected to stand
a fire in flank and rear. | therefore fell
back and tolled the rebels on. None OF
the Generals at Sebastopol acted so Unfair |
~ as did these four rebel Generals.
| had now tolled the rebels to the worry
place | wanted to get them, Melvin Hill"
a magnificent height, defended on the
TANKS by the gunboats, and only approach
able by ~raviues swept by my artillery.
anticipated a glorious time in slaughtering
the rebels. The rebel troops Of Jackson,
Huger, Magruder, D. Fl. Hill, and Viii
ting, swarmed around me all day. They
came up to my batteries yelling and shont-
ing, and | moved them down with grape
and canister at half range. 1t was a gio-
rious victory f; but | could not persuade
our men that it was a glorious victory Jor
them. l therefore yielded to the wishes
Of nv heroic boys and resolved to toll the
rebels on. When the belligerents at Sc
bastopol gained a brilliant battle they held
the field; my abandonment of Melvin
Hill was, therefore, different from anything
done at S~ebastopol,%1 fatter myself that
l have seriously crippled the enemy by
leaving another large lot of sick and wonn-
ded in his hands. [ had almost forgotten
to state that | have abandoned in all about
fifty of my magnificent Parrot and Napo-
leon guns. The enemy will be compelled
to feed large number of horses to trans
port these guns, and tits difficult to mag
inc how starving rebeldom can support
such a burden. 1t is very gratifying to
report the excellent health of my men,
Notwithstanding their fatigue. A report
; on the LIST July that Stuart's cavalry was
in our rear, developed the fact that ou1
, untiring boys could march five miles in al
A hour! That they might march with great.
. or ease, all threw away their knapsacks
:, and overcoats, and several thousand tire"
away their gsns. Nothing Of this KIM
was done at Sebastopol.
4 I am now on the banks Of the majestic
James; whales and catfish are disportine
t in it's yellowisa waves; the ~gnnbosts and
feet float proudly % is CLASSY bosom ; tn
a soft zephyrs gently fnsnie It's surface. TIL
t mosquitoes and the frogs unite in a dnlce
symphony with the owls and %whippoor-
9 wills. The dense dark foliage speaks elo
$ quently of rebel sharpshooters. In fact
all nature is redolent with grandeur, mag
nifcence, magniloqnence and glory.
| feel inspired, elevated, sublimated, etheri
allied by the great scenes through which
have passed. Ny victories have won m
eternal fame Immortality is mine, immol
tality is mine. l have not taken Rich.
mond, but l have taken the gunboats.
" have not " pushed Johnston to the wall,
G but I have pushed myself against the Of
r~edoubtable Stoncwall Immortality
rs mine! Immortality is mine!
'r With lofty sentiments of exalted e
TEEN, | abide,
lie G. B. MCCLELLAN,
to Maj. Gen'l Compg near the Gunboat
i P. ST. omitted to state that forty-sl
n of the rebel regiments were from Mort
Carolina. l have told you before OF tt
Ill strong Union sentiment existing anon
ny the troops from that State. From IL
Sc, cIoseness with which they followed me,
" is now demonstrated beyond all peradve
'rt ture that they desired to establish intima
relations with my brave and noble reserve
hc Had not the Tar River boys kept shootll
ne bullets the sweetest intimacy might ha
beeen established between us.
le Sincerely, u. b. McC,
ain Near the Gunboa