The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-10-18

Of the Surgeon OF the Jacob Bell.-Full state
ment OF the Matter Copied fr0m his Journal
Written at the Time.
We give below letter written from
Dr. 0. j. Bissell, late Surgeon Of the
United States steammer Jacob Bell,
and q copy of portion Of his Journal.
The letter is addressed to one of the
most prominent and respected citizens
Of this State, who knows the writer
well, and vouches for his truth and re-
spectability. More than this, the wri-
ter of the letter made the same state
ments to other gentlemen of high char
acter in this State and elsewhere, soon
after the occurrence of the eveuts to
which it refers. Read this transcript
from his journal carefully, and then say
if you can that Fernando Wood is
wrong in saying that "intelligent and
honest peace wen do not concur in the
opinion that Mcclellan will continue
the war, if elected:"
GRAND RApIrs Oct 3. 1854.
DEAR SIR: Agreeably to your re-
quest / have made copy of my jour-
nal os June 3Oth, 1862, which l read
to you some days since, | cannot con-
sent to let the original, " hich you desir-
ed, to pass from my possession, al
though any person may have the privi-
lege of seeing it by calling on me-
All the material facts wrote to my
wife at the time, but the letter was
hunded to different persons and now it
cannot be found, although those who
read it recolleet the facts.
also in October, 1862, gave tie lead
ing facts to Gen. Garfield and Secreta-
ry Chase, and several others. l will
make affidavit to the statements uade
in the journal, and the log-book Of the
Jacob Bell contains the evidence of all
the facts.
! am, sir, youI most obe1't servant.
o j. BISSEIL
Late Surgeon Of U. s. S. Jacob Bel
Ex rset from the letter referred 20 in the forego
ing letter.
JlyE 30,'2.
Soon after our arrival at City Point,
we learned that Gen. Mcclellan, with
his army, had arrived at Turkey Bend,
and we got under weigh and stood up
the river, arriving at Turkey Bend about
noon. The North bank of the river
was lined with soldiers washing and
bathing, or filling their cantecns. In
the distance was heard the thunder Of
cannon.
Lieut.. McCrea inquired of some of
the soldiers where Gen. Mcclellan was.
He was informed that his headquarters
were about half mile distant. McCrea
called for his gig and went on Shore
In about an hour the Cockswain re-
turned and told the steward that the
Captain wanted him he wanted doz-
Ell bottles of whisky. The whisky was
given the Cockswain in basket. AT
about p. NJ. the firing became very
brisk, and soon McCrea hailed the u.
S. steamship Galena, toat was sent
and the Captain, with Gen. Mcclellan,
the Prince de Joinville, Prince de Par
in, Count Duke de Chartres and an
officer who l understood was Chief of
Artillery The was not in unitorm) came
on board the Galena. The U. S. steam
ship Jacob Bell mt the time was turning
the Galena's bow up stream, as we were
about starting up the river to shell the
Charles City road.
The Gaiena, Jacob Bell and Aroos-
took stood up the rivor to point from
which we could reach that road with
our shell, The Galena occupied the
centre of the stream, with the Jacob
Bell Tapped upon her stern. All our
guns were brought to bear upon the
road, signal officer being on the look
out Of the Galena, giving and receiving
signals from the shore, iii order to give
the proper direction to our guns. Gen.
Mcclellan was on the "Lookout
short lime. At about 4 T. NJ. the fire
in that direction began to Stacked, and
the vessels stood down to the point
from which we started, the old ferry
Before we got on board, Gen. Nc
Clelan with the Princes came on board
the Jacob Bell. After an introduction
of the General and staff to the officers
of the Jacob Bell present, Mcclellan
said, "my army is demoralized, and l
shall be compelled to surrender or ca
nitulate this afternoon or tonight, and
/ must hnve gnnboat to take the
Princes to Fortress Monroe Immediate
ly''-that it would not be safe to send
them on transport. McCrea replied
that Capt. Rogers said he could not
spare a gunboat. The General and
Prince insistsd on gunboat. Much
conversation took place between the
Princes and McCrea, myself being
present, and part of the time n cor
respondent of the New York Times, MS
l afterwards learned. Mcclellan and
the Princes agreed that the Federal
cause, as they called it, had failed, and
they would have to acknowledge the
Southern Confederacy. The result, if
Il princes should be taken prisoners,
owing to their European relations, was
also discussed; and finally it was agreed
to make another attempt 20 induce Capt.
Rogers to send gunboat with the
Princes to Fortress Monroe. This was
more earnestly insisted on as they all
agreed that the surrender of the flotil-
In would certainly follow the surrender
of the army; and Gen. Mcclellan said
the authorities Washington would be
responsible for that result. AT this
time, about p. NJ, letter was brot
to Gen. Mcclellan, which he said was
from his Chief of Staff, and gave its
contents: "The enemy is repulsed and
our army safe" He then remarked,
"Hc wishes me to come to the front"
after reading the letter, the General aud
the rest Of the group left the hurricane
deck for the quarter deck. The General
D.;,,oo 10. Jo;uy;Ilo an1 McCrqa went