Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-14
FROM 5AmRs RIVER.
Gen. MoCIcIIam Sets Contrabands to
Work-The President's Visit to the

EbhIhbGo nAONhOEt buiy
The arriyalof the President at HarrisOu's
Landing yesterday, took everybody by sur
prise. Salutes were fred and demonstra-
tions of respect and qualification were
freely indulged in. The President was at
once waited on by Gen. Mcclellan, and be-
was preparing to visit the line of defeuses
and the army.
Probably mauy, inside as well as outside
of the army, will be not little astonished
to learn that Gen. Mcclellan has sent all
the way to Burnside for 500 negro laborcrs,
aud that a Vessed dispatched for them some
days since is now absent. The immense
advantage which the rebels have all the
while had over us, and never before so much
as in these hot days, in having negroes to
labor while their soldiers were preserved
and drilled, cannot longer be resisted
Why u vessel should be dispatched to North
Carolina for negroes when thousands could
be had for the asking right at home, can
not say. Some may add the suggestion, il
tue negro is useful with spade, now that
You have broken down the barriers that
kept him from being servicenbIs to the
union cause, why not try him with mus
ket?
After week of battles, during which
our troops fought six of European magni-
tude, the wearied men, without being per-
mitted scarcely an hour 5 rest, were reqair-
ed to lay down the musket, take the spade,
aud go to digging trenches; and here they
have been working by the thousand, with
scarcely an opportunity to rest, adding to
the fearful list of bruized and broken
down men; while the enemy rested, an
army of blacks doing the digging. All
theories of 6ne-spun objections break down
uuder arguments like this aud the fact is
too important to Ge lost sight of, that meas
ures have been taken to relieve our soldiers
by employing negroes to bnild forti6ca-
tious. confess that l have not yet Yield
cd to the arguments of the Tribune in favor
OF Rrming the blacks; but as an observer
and chrOIicler cannot forbear to mention
the progress of the ideR within the last two
weeks. cannot say that tue arguments
OF the Tribune, or those it represents, find
Endorsement; bnt l have heard officers of
the army formerly opposed to such a course,
assert the same conclusion, and declare
themselves in favor of employing al! the
agencies within reach to put down the re-
bellion. don thinkl the negro eau be
made trust worthy soldier, but he can
labor and beOf the greatest service with
the spade. This latter conclusion appears
to have been adopted in the army of the
Potomac, and there is no saying that the
negro's adaptation to the musket may not
yet be discovered by those whose business
1t is to get soldiers and fight our hattles.
By the Warner, from Hunters Landing,
learn that on the arrival of the steamer,
with President Lincoln and Postmaster
General Blair on board, Gen. Mcclellan,
with several other military gentlemen, vis-
tied him on board, after which the Presi-
dent and the General held u private confer
ence for about half an hour. They then
proceeded in an ambulance to Gen. Sum-
r's..headquarters, when they took to horse,
with the view OF visiting the line of in
trenchments. When the PresidentsgviSitl
became known there was on all hands the
liTeliestinterest manifested to see him. aud
wherever he went he was greeted with the
widest enthusiasm.
Coming into the trenches the President
dismonnted, aud, ascending the ramparts
ofthe newest ratification, briefly addressed
the soldiers. He said ne had come to see
for himself and to know the Situation of
affairs, and that be should go back satisfied.
1t was said they had been whipped. Il
was not so, and never would be. He knew
the men he saw around him would prove
equal to the task before them, and never
give up without going into Richmond
He had beeu unable to sleep from anxiety,
but after he had seen and heard, he should
go back to Washington satisfied that it was
all right ,Dith The Arnty Of The Potomac He
declared his confidence in thearmy and its
commander, in all the men and all the of
fcers, were all alike, men deserving the
confidence of the country.
The President said he did not come to
make speech. but he could not resist say
ing few words, He was cheered at every
sentence. s1
Remountiug, the Presidential party con-
tinRed their ride along the lines, and at 9
o'clock in the evening returned to General
MeGlellan's headquarters, after having gibeen
in the saddle seven hours. 7a