East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-09-14
position among the best military minds
on both sides Of the Atlantic.

Early in 1857 he resigned his posi-
ton in the army and removed to this
city, and for three years filed the re-
sponsible position of Vice President
and Engineer of the Illinois Central
Railroad. In 1860 he resigned his
position on the Illinois Central Rail-
road and removed to Cincinnati, where
he was appointed General Superin-
tendent of the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad. A little later he was made
President Of the Eastern Division of
the same road, which position he oc-
cupied at the breaking out of the pres
ent rebellion.
In May, 1861, the States Of Ohio,
Indiana, and Illinois were placed in
the department of the Ohio" and
its command given to Major General
Mcclellan, who had thus been com
missioned in the Ohio Volunteers by
the Governor Of that State. He at
once entered upon the duties of his
new position, and as fast as possible
proceeded to the organization of the
nine months Ohio Volunteers. The
same month several bodies of rebels
made their appearance in Western
Virginia, and threatened the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad. Gen. Nc
Clellan at once took measures to pre-
vent the threatened interruption.
That Gen. Mcclellan, in thus enter
ing zealously upon the war, did so
from a sincere desire to prevent the
disruption of the country, is undoub-
ted. His first address to the Union
men of West Virginia shows that he
in no wise entertained suspicion OF
the fanatical purposes to which the
war was now to be perverted by the
administration. In this address he
says:
81 have ordered lruups 10
cross the river. They come as your
frionds and your brothers-as enemies
only to armed rebels who are preying
upon you. Your homes, your fami-
lies, and your property are safe under
our protection. All your rights shall
be religiously respected.
Notwithstanding all that has been
said by the traitors to induce you to
believe that our advent among you
will be signalized by interference with
your slaves, understand one thing
clearly-not only will we abstain from
all such interference, but we will, on
tho contrary, with an iron hand, crush
any attempt at insurrection on their
part"
AT the same time he issued an ad-
dress to his army, in which he says:
81 place under the safeguard of
your honor the persons and property
of the Virginians. Iknow that you will
respect their feelings and all their
riaats.. a.. Preserve the strictest disci-
and Of the Union.
"If you are called upon to over
come armed opposition, l know that
your courage is equal to the task; but
remember that your only foes are thu
armed traitors, and show mercy ever
to them when they are i'll your power
for many of them are misguided"
Thus early did Gen. Mcclellan in
dicate that he entered upon the war
not to subvert the institutions of th'
South, or to conduct a crusade agains
unarmed citizens, but singly and sole
" to crush treason in arms. VIII
doubts that had this policy been ad
hered to the rebellion would to da
have been thing of the past and tn
Union to day stronger than it was er
the attempt had been made to disruI
il?
|. The campaign in Virginia and Il
complete success are SO well know
that we need not give its details spe,
ial attention. Suffice il that 10y Jul
14th, in less than two months, b
:. completely cleared West Virginia
rebels, having killed, captured an
dispersed all tho opposition that he
that portion of the State, with mo
insignificant loss to the Federal force
1t was one of the most mastery car
!. paigns of the present war For
:. special object it was originated, al
that object in little more than
: month was accomplished, includiI
every single detail 1t evinced
;, much mastery ability that the col
: mander at once achieved a nation
!. reputation, and in response to III
" yersal demand he was called to Was
ington to assist in repairing the disa
;. ter Of Bull Run, which just then h
- fallen with crushing effect upon {
nation. He was at once givon I
- command of Washington and the l.
7. . partment of Northeastern Virgin
= and he Immediately set to work
- = bring order out Of the chaos that th'
y y prevailed, and an army out OF the
= - wieldly mob then as now known
r the Army Of the Potomac. BET
80 taking leave of the Department
'' West Virginia, it may be added, &
- Mcclellan urged upon the administ
!" 90 ton the building of gunboats on
30 =, Mississippi River, which suggest
80 ~ was afterwards carried into effect, "
90 :. a result whose benefit is so well kno
90 90 than nothing more than nero a
ID sion to it is necessary.
as Upon assuming command at Wa
ret inpton, Gen. Mcclellan at once |
mt posed comprehensive plan to
President. 1t was first to drop
th- attempts save those directed aga,
the rebels in arms, and, second
as raise an army of two hundred
in eight thousand men, which should
eld a given time, strike the rebellion
ob- dozen different points, and thus ci
zen il mt once. At that time the II
,ne Confederate army was at Manos
ur- rebellion was not a universal thin
vas the South, and had Gen. McClell
de- plan been pursued, the rebcllio
It that early day would have been
II He x,clta