The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-02-03

the smoke stacks look familiar, while every
| rail, cord, line and stay stands out as plain
as life. Peavy is an artist Of uncommon
| merit, and his pictures are highly priced.
The design is to represent where the
boats lay. The Keokuk Is about three
hundred yards from shore, and about five
hundred from the McGregor landing
The Favorite has since been got out
| The rough ice about the keokuk leads US to
| think that winter has hugged things as
close 10 that vicinity as Rev. Mr.. Hager,
the hugging minister Of Chicago did the
| ladies OF his church
! Gen. AIcClellan's Report:
The following letters, written by McClel:
Ian on the Peninsula at the places indicated
by their dates, are taken from McClellan's
official report:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAc,l
In front of Yorktown, April Z, 1862;
Hon. b. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
Your telegram, of yesterday, arrived
here while was about examining the enc.
my's right, which did pretty closely. The
whole line of the Warwick, which really
heads within mile Of Yorktown, is strong.
ly defended by bitches, redoubts, and 9th.
er fortifications, armed with heavy and
light guns. The approaches, except at
Yorktown, are covered by the Warwick,
over which there is but one, or, at most,
two passages, both Of which are covered
by strong batteries. 1t will be necessary
to resort to the use of heavy guns and some
siege operations before an assault.
All the prisoners state that General j. e.
Johnston arrved,at Yorktown yesterday,
with strong reintorcements. 1t seems clear
| shall have the whole force of tire enemy
on my hands, probably not less than
900, ,000) one hundred thousand men, and
| probably more. In consequence Of the
loss Of Dlenker's division and the 1st corps,
my force is possibly less than that of the
| enemy, while they have all the advantage
Of position.
| am under great obligations to you for
the offer that the whole force and material
Of the government will be as fully and as
| specially under my command as heretofore.
or as if the new department had not been
| created.
Since my arrangements weec made for
| this campaign, at least go, ,000) fifty thou
sand men have been taken from my COM
mand. Since my dispatch Of the 5th inst
| five divisions have been in close observation
of the enemy, and frequently exchanging
shots. When my present command all
joins, shall have about $1,000 men for
| duty, from which large force must be ia
ken for guards, scouts, &c. With this
| army, could assault the enemy's works,
and perhaps carry them; bat were | in
possession Of their intrenchments, and as
sailed by double my numbers, should
have nc fears as to the result
Under the circumstances that have been
developed since we arrived here, feel full
ly impressed with the conviction that here
is to be fought the great battle that is to
decide the existing contest. | shall Of
course commence the attack as soon as I
can get up my siege train, and shall do all
in :ay power to carry the enemy's works.
hut to do this with reasonable degree Of
Certainty, rcQulJes in my Judgment, that
should, if possible, have at least the lst
Corps to land upon the Severn river, and
attack Gloucester in the rear.
My present strength will not admit of a
detachment sufficient for this purpose;
without materially impairng the efficiency
Of this column. Flag officer Goldsborough
thinks the works too strong for his avala-
bic vessels, unlsss can turn Gloucester.
| send, by mail, copies Of his letter, and one
from the commander Of the gunboats here.
UEo. Ii. MCCLELLAN, Maj Gen.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,l
Savages Station, June %, 1862.
III row know the full history @f the day.
On this side of the river, the right bank,
we repulsed strong attacks. On the left
bank our men did all that men could do,
all that soldiers could accomplish, but they
where overwhelmed by vastly superior
numb rs, even after brought my last reI
serves into action. The loss on both sides
is terrible. believe it will prove to be the
most desperate battle Of the war; The sad
remnants OF my men behave as men those
battalllons who fought most bravely. and
suffered most, are still in the best order
The regulars were supyrb aad count
upon what are left 10 turn another battle in
company with their gallant comrades Of the
volunteers. Had | (20,000) twenty thou.
sand. or even Q0,000l ten thousand fresh
troops to use to morrow, | could take Rici-
mond but have not a man in reserve
and shall be glad to cover my. retreat and
save the material and personnel OF the ar
my. If we have lost the day, We have yet
preserved cur honor and no one need blush
for the Army Of the Potomac. l have lost
this battle because my force was too small
81 again repeat that am net response.
bic for this, aud say it with the earne stness
| Of General who feels ia his heart the loss
Of every brave man who has been needless
sacrificed to-day. still hope to retrieve
cur fortunes, but to do this the government
must view the matter in the same earnest
light that de. You must send me very
large reinforcements, and send them at
once.
IL shall draw back to this side the Chick
ahominy, and think can withdraw all
our material. Please understand that in
this battle we have lost nothing but men,
and those the best we have.
"In addition TO what have already said
only wish TO say to the President that
think he is wrong in regarding me as un--
generous when said that my force was
too weak - merely intimated truth
which to-day has been too plainly proven.
Ii at this instant. could dispose of ten
thousand fresh men, could gain battle
to. morrow.
II know that few thousand moro men
would have changed the battle from de.
feat to victory. AS it is, the government
must not, and cannot hold me responsible
for the result.
81 feel too earnestly Tonight have
sem too many dead and wounded COM
rades to feel otherwise, than that the gov