The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-08-01

needed reinforcement of ten thousand
excellent troops, and being in addition
required TO father the results of cam
paign whose plan was not his own, re-
spectfuliy asked to be relieved from COM
mand, if his Instructions could not be
modified, remarking that it was not in
his power: nor the power of auy other
General, to do what was required of him
with his limited force, and still be sue
cessful in the main object of pursuing
and defeating the rebel urmy.
The President aeceded to the request
of Gen. Hooker, and, wi the order
assigning Gen. Meade to command came
a dlscre tlonary power from Gen. HalecL
author zlng the commanding General to
abandon Maryland Heights or not, just
as he saw fit.
These are the precise circumstances
attending the removal of Gen. Hooker,
which was, and perhaps still is, shrouIed
with much mystery
Gen. Hooker took leave without any
show of Formally, save feeling address
10 his S;atf, and Gen. Meade stepped
into command, and found everything so
we'll matured for immediate action that
he was enabled to move on without an
hours delay. The next day the army
was in mo ion again, and the marches,
which were planned by Gen. Buttcrlield,
were made with the same degree of vigor
and promptness which had previously
characterized them.
The various corps moved by several
divergent routes from Frederick, the
course of the left wing being due north,
while the center and right wing DETECTED
to the eastward, soon placing large
force between the enemy and Baltimore.
On Wednesday, July l, the left wing,
under Gen. Reynolds, reached, Gettys-
burg, and then began the conflict which
for three days ragged so furiousIy, and
finally result ed so successfully to the
National arms. The history of these
battles, and the subsequent march to the
Potomac, is yet fresh in the minds Of
the people, and needs no rcitcra ion here
Before closing, l wish to allude to
one Bureau in the organization of the
Army Of the Potomac, which has lately
been the subject of several unjust asper-
sons, totally wi hout cause. refer to
the Bureau of Secret Service. My ex-
perieuce with the army of the Potomac
qualities Inc to say that at 10 time since
is organization has SO much and so reli-
able information concerning the enemy
been furnished to the commanding Cen
oral as during the past six months aud
instead of being poorly paid, the reliable
men have been richly paid. know that
as high as $4,000 has been paid for a
single item of service, and many other
sums i'll proportion. The records Of this
Bureau, could they be properly revealed,
would slartle the country. The very
nature of the service requires the ut
most secrecy in every respect, and but
for The purpose Of correcting misap-
prchcnsiOn, it might be questionable to
say even so little as this. People must
not imagine because they do tot get daily
bulletins about the operation the enemy
that the commanding General kno VS.
no hing about him The very objects
sought to be obtained by the service
would be Defeated if not enyeloped in
mystery and used with great caution. -
In Virginia, the service has been very
v'gilant and efficient. In Pennsylvania
not as much eyerton was made, because
the citizens were relied on to bring infor-
nation, but am sorry to say they were
quite as useful to the enemy as to us
many cases Of where they gave volun-
tary information to the enemy being dis
covered and great apathy existed in
regard TO promptly reporting the enc
my's movements to our commanders.
Thus much in defense Of the Bureau
Of Secret Service. which, under the
management of Col. Sharpe, pepu v
Provost Marshal General, has recorded
a secret history of the rebel army which
would astoni.h even the rebel leader
himself.
The compact, systematic organization
OF the Army Of the Potomac is striking
ly illustrated by the fact that a sudden
change of its commanding General nvoI-
we'd no delay in a movement so import
ant as 9siFt=1aFe one IL PurSutiT-off the
rebel army. 1t is very mild justice &c
say that no army in existance ever had
more efficient chiefs of departments than
such men as WIlliame, Warren, Hunt,
ingalls,, and Clark, the administrative
heads of the Adjntant- Generals, Engi-
neer, Artillery, Quartermaster, and Com
missary Departments.
In retiring from the field, for time
at least, desue to return my thanks to
the gentlemen of General Plcasonton's
S'atf, with whom | have been thrown in
daily contac for the past few weeks, and
whose courtcsies are most highly appre-
ciated Their efficiency and vigor arc
invaluable to the cavalry corps, which
has achieved its great celebrity under its
present commander. L. l.. CROUNSE
TOILET SoAp.-We take the follow
ing from the correspondence of tho
Rural .New YORKER One and one.
fourth gallons clear wa,er; 5 lbs. Of
opodeldock soap !. do. sal soda 2
tabiespoonfuls alcohol; 2 do. spiris Of
ammonia !, ! DO. turpentiue l do. cam
phene l do. powdered borax. Shave
the soap fine, then boil all together until
dissolved. If, after 1t is cold. you find
l.