The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-11-02
General Mcclellan on the Galsna.


The following communication from an
officer on board the Galena gives some &C.
count Of the persons who were aboard that
vessel during the battle OF Malvern. and
what they did Il comes 70 Ms with A re-
sponsiole name. that Of the author, who ap-
pears 10 have remembered more than Cen
eral Mcclellan did concerning that event.
ful day:
AT Malvern Hill on the SOth day OF June
there was more or less heavy skirmishing.
In which the gunbOats were not active,
they were not needed lust then.
About four o'clock. perhaps little ear
Her. We noticed the increase Of artillery FIR
inG. and that The action was really growing
into q battle. The widest rumors were flv-
ing about Dusty and weary aids were
hurriedy coming and going between the
Generals headquarters near the r.yerD aud
The country where the lighting was.
Several dusty, bronzed men like boosters
Tor roughneSsl. accompanying a general
whose neatneSs OF uniform even the dust
could not disguise, stepped on board the
Glaena from little steamer and We were
soon under way for Malvern Hill These
We're General Mcclellan and his staff. The
principal flag or signal officer accompany
ing the party was an old gentleman. az this
.
New York city. He was 10 occupy a most
important position during the day. and well
did he perform IL.
The General and his staff Of ex-priuces
made themselves comfortable and finally
settled down under the quarterback avn
ing, with their segars. As we neared NAL
vern the noise showed that a great battle
was commencing. BY the time we reached
Turkey bend the roar of battle was very
grand In our eagerneSs TO secure posi-
ton we ran ashore. but easily got OF and
came 10 anchor, with the starbOard broad
side 10 bear
The rattle of musketry gradually gave
way 70 the deeper baying OF artillery The
French princes mounted the top. where the
old nag officer was. Our own first heuten-
ant was above them all, perched on the top
gallant-mast glass In hand.
The roar was terrible-so incessant as 10
resemble infantry firing Our men, eager
10 fire, dallied impatiently with their guns
and watched the quiet hillside, two miles
from the battle, or the fiutter of the little
signal flags, as they received and sent I'VE
supposed messages from the General. who
was smoking unmovedly upon the quarter
deck
During this most fearful battle our only
communication save onceJ was entirely by
by signal or flag; and even that was much
interrupted. The low hanging smoke or
battle often Obscured the signal party on
shore Our own fire was quite often sus-
pended 50 as 10 allow the smoke 10 clear
away otherwise We might have fred into
our own army One OF our gunbOats tho
Mahaska, IL was said, did have the evil for
tune 10 send shell into one OF General
POrters batteries Frequently. TOO. we
ceased firing 10 allow the signals 10 be
made between ship and shore.
About ?. NJ. the roar OF artillery was
frightiul-sO incessant and rapid that the
air seemed deadened bl the successive con-
cussiOns. Wild cheers could be heard some
times, while the shells from either army
would be seen bursting above the tree tops
and the hills which shut the deck from view
OF either friend or foe
About i've or half past, an officer came
10 the river, approaching from the stern
Eve were iring three or four points or the
bow. Seeing his signals we ceased nring
one moment, and mOmentary lull ashore
occurring al the same moment we heard
him yell, q Is General Mcclellan aboard your
vessel some said. ths Major hailed For
Gods sake, Is General Mcclellan aboard
your snip =. but ! only distinguished the lat
Ter part. We sent "a bOat-he came aboard
communicated and returned as be came,
alone This was the only direct communl-
cation which saw
was al the foot Of the foremast on the
upper deck during the whole action-being
a civil officer
By seven or half-past the rebels acknowl-
edged their repuise by retreating.
About the time Of Magruder's charge.
one OF the French Princes coming bungling-
ly down the rigging near me- asked him
how was our IRE. Ia the highest spirits be
cried, En- bien. il is splendeed-splendeed
and away he went aft skippingly. During
the entire action, General Mcclellan never
ascended 10 the top-neyer ief the quar-
ter-deck except for refreshments. Neither
did be go on shore at any time. but return
ed 10 HaXalls farm with us"--N l. Er-
eHing Post.