The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-08-28
EVucuatiou of Harris0n's Landing...Full
Particulars.

on the way from Fortress Monroe to
Harrison's Landing, in the mail boat ].
A. Warner, was convinced that the
evacuation had already commenced,
from the fact that steamer after steam
er and vessels after vessel passed,
steaming or sailing in the direction OF
Fortress Monroe, laden heavily with
horses and stores. All agree that the
whole affair has been admirably well
planned and executed. For wonder,
everybody did not know everything
that was to take place before an order
was given, and for still greater won
der after an order was given no one
knew the result; for if it related TO the
movement Of brigade or division,
men and officers, Colonies and even
Generals, speculated as to the meaning
of the move, such as " What does 1t
mean ?'' Z" Where are we going?'' Is
the whole army going to move ?" &c.
and even at this moment your reporter
is asking the two former questions at
Fortress Monroe, without being able to
obtain more than superstition for an
answer.
/ have said that this movement had
been in contemplation some time, but
the first intimation of it took place on
Monday last, when McCall's division
received orders to strike their tents,
provide six days rations, and be ready
to move at moments notice,
At o'clock at night the whole divis-
ion arrived at the wharf and embarked
quietly on steamers; left the Landing
sometime during the night for Aquia
Greek, as was supposed ,Svia Fortress
Monroe. An order was next issused
that no more vessels loaded with sup
plies should proceed further than Fort
ress Monroe and on Wednesday ten
days rations were served to the army,
which was required to be in readiness
TO move at an hours notice. All the
knapsacks of those who were ordered
to march by land, were placed on board
barges and schooners, for the humane
purpose of relieving the men of their
weight and incumberance during the
hot and weary march. On the same
day Gen. Mcclellan and Col. ingalls,
left Harrison's Landing for the War
Department as to future movements, re-
turning the following day.
On Thursday the army commenced
evacuating in earnest. All the siege
guns were removed from the front, and
safely embarked on Thursday and yes
terday on board barges and schooners.
Porter's Corps led the van ofthe over
land portion of the army on Thursday
night. On Friday morning every tent
was struck, and then for the first time,
was it generally known that the whole
army was about evacuating Harrison's
Landing. On Thursday night fifty
sail of vessel left the different wharves,
loaded with stores and Yesterday the
remainder of stores were placed on
boats and steamers by the contrabands.
All the cavalry that remained before
the final departure of the land forces
acted as pickets, and a strong rear
guard of infantry and artillery was
placed to protect the baggage trains
The sick and wounded who remained
at the different hospitals were placed
on board the regular steamboats, be-
longing to the Sanitary Commission at
the Long Wharf, and were among the
first to move out into the stream. Con
trabands where shipped on schooners,
barges and pontoon-foats, and it was
an amusing sight to see the long line o.
boats with their ebon freight pass the
different steamers and wharves, to take
their places among the others anchored
in the stream, or hear the questions
answers, and jokes which passed be
tween the two parties, amid the ha
has " of the white men and the "ya
ya's" of the black.
Gen. Mcclellan and most of his stat
went by land, and yesterday afternoon
Col. ingalls, and Capt. Rankin started
across the Peninsula on horseback
Capt. Sawtelle remains to direct thu
operations at the Landing, and grea
praise-is due him for his energetic anC
indefatigable exertions and excellen
management throughout.
At o'clock last night / went OF
shore for the last time from the mai
dock. On the pier and the bank abov'
but few barrels and boxes remained
to be shipped and, with the exception
of the Provost, guard this was all that
remained on shore of the Army of the
Potomac. Far as the eve could reacl
nothing could be seen but a might,
plain of desolation and ruin. Th'
ground was strewn the whole distanc
with mere rubbish for here, there, anC
everywhere, large fires burned, and any
thing that could assist the rebels eve
30 slightly, was fast becoming hea
of charred and blackened ruins, or la
useless by destruction upon the ground
Old tents and bags either fed til
flames or lay about, torn into shreds
boxes and barrels were broken; in fact
nothing remained that could be of use I
the enemy, except thousands {
cool and shady bowers, built by on
soldiers from limbs and boughs ofsree
in lien of tents, which were kindly lie
standing to WOO the rebels on their OF
ward march to Washington, and re'
their weary limbs and cool their her
spirits down.
All being now safely embarked o
board the different vessels. Col. Butte
commandant Of the depot guard, Gale
In his sentinels, who were on duty &
the different wharves, and embarked hi
regiment on board the North Americ:
His regiment, the 93d New York, hay