Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-09-24
MCCLELLAN BEFORE RICHMOND.

Tie North Americas Philadelphia) of the
10Th has the following statement from a
gentleman lately in the service Of the War
Department. 1t corrobora;es many intima-
tions already before the public with regard
to the Chickahominy campaign.
To tie Members Of tie Natj0aoL Union Chb.
Pi'od,iphid: GENTLEMEN: | am in pos
session of your note, i'll which you ask me
If | remember having made certain assertions
ut the rooms of the National Union Club in
January last, on my return from the Rebel
lines, in regard to Gen. Geo. B. Mcclellan
and Clement l.. Nalandigham, and desiring
to know if would reiteate said statement.
| recollect perfectly well having made
certain statements in regard to the two per-
sons named, and in presence of several mem
bers of the Club.
In response to your inquiry if would re
peat said statement, | will answer you by
saying: First. That while the battle before
Richmond, Virginia, in 1862, was still pro-
crossing, and Immediately after Gen McClcl-
Ian had fallen back from before that city,
in company with friend an officer in the
Rebel service, who was prevented from
joining his command in the fight in qucs-
tion, on account of II wound received Mt the
battle of Seven Pines, and beng provided
with n special permit from the War De-
partment at Richmond, visited the FORTH
cations around Richmond, and advanced to
IA distance of about two miles north of that
city, where We met Col. Gayle, of the 18th
Alabama (RebeD regiment, who was a
particular friend of the officer IN whose
company was also Licut-Col. pickcns, of
the same regiment, with whom | had the
advantage OF IA personal acquaintance. The
colonel was experimenting the disbursement
of number of eases of |. :. rifles, which
lay buried in the ground, and in rows the
soil heaped over them as ii they were graves.
-Four of the cases of rifles were already I'M
buried when reached the spot, and | had
the TO me unpleasant satisfaction OF hand
ling some of those guns, which hat already
been taken out Of the cases.
heard Col Gayle say that the intermcnt
OF these guns Was known al the War De.
partment ltehch even before McClcllans re-
tleat from before shat city,
On the inquiry of my friend and Dr. Kelly,
of the Rebel army, from Col, Gayle, 1t hc
thought il had been intended that said guns
should fall into the hands of the Cunltle-
rates, the Colonel answered in the ailirma-
tive, and concluded by saying, "Macs all
right"
Not more than hundred yards distant
from this spot, l.iet. Col, pickcns pointed
out 20 me number OF amhulancvs two
hundred AMI ten in number aud said he
had assisted at their capture, ana that, when
captured, the horses belonging to said aVl-
balances were hltched, some to irrrs and
SOME 90 tho rear OF the amhuanccs. As |
Nas then la the employ OF the tniled STATES,
u Was my business o. gather as much Ia
formation Ia regard 10 military matters Ne
eossible, and on my inquiry of Col. fickcns
u he thought lheae ambulance had heen
latendud a. be la ihe same bargain AZ The
rihes, he said Il dont SEQ Nhal else they
should have hecn Intended ioE lur they
were iust Nhcru you 800 them, aud the
horses hilched AZ you 500 thum, Nhile the
lght Ma going un right here
Presently snnlg shiskry Was handel
loan'l, and Nv al dlank 4 tuasi % Little
Ne,
Aboui ihe manih ~ Apdl of tho sans
leaf, AZ | Nst Hoiug num k.rhmnai o.
Noodle, la ooupany WllA LifH Mlhs and
De- knefi nfhlssauIi, Hnd hf funiirfub,
% Nllglnls. the tao hfifi genl'fmFa tslnH
"a iha lirlsl 0gHFial rripfa alsu, aa nifi
siih higa,ilrl iipnrlal Msltsa I'd Ati,sns
usn. Nslion saii 10 ~ pi,,.nFq ihai ihsn,
~ sny uus silsl Chs ssl, ls eaa.i giFs