Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-13

evidence mas accumulated IN regard TO 1t that
we cannot withhold it from our readers, as il
Illustrative of the character of the man whom
it is sought to elevate to the Presidency, and
whose chief stock in trade is the glory of
successes which were really won by others,
and showing that in all the attributes of a
brave man, as well as physically, mentally,
morally and militarily, the Copperhead can
didate is well entitled to the sobriquet of
little MAC.
In reference to this matter it is instructive
to notice, in connection with the testimony,
Gen. MCCLELLAN's treacherous memory, to
call it by no harsher name. He admits that
he was in the immediate vicinity of the gun
boats during the battle, but does not remem-
Der whether he was on board Here is his
testimony before the Committee on the Con-
duct of the War:
Question At what hour in the morning were
you the field, at the time OF the battle of NAL
vern Hill, and at what time did you leave?
Answer: was on the ground very shortly after
daylight and, presume, occupied some four hours
in riding over the position. | again the
ground IN the afternoon-l should think sOmewh ere
about two or half-past two o'clock-and was over
Question: Had the fighting commenced an the
morning before you left?
Answer No, Sir no enemy in sight.
Question At what point points you
from the time you left the field until you returned
Answer was at headquarters, near HaxalPs
House.
Question Were you down to the river, or on
board the gueboatS during any part Of that day,
bstCeen the time you left the fed end your retu'n
toit?
Answer: I do not remember; it is possible that /
river.
Question How far was the gunboat from Hax-
al's?
Answer There were generally some gunboats in
rha immediate vicinity CT Haxall's.
question How far was that from where the
heaviest fighting was during the day?
Answer: From HaXall's to the point where the
heaviest fighting was, suppose, t10O miles and
half or three miles. There were parts OF our line
that were within half mile probably, or less than
that, of the headquarters.
Gen. BARNARD, in his review Of the PENN
sular Campaign, in which he was Engineer
in Chief and at McCLELLAN's right hand, says,
when speaking of the great battle of the
30th at White Oak Swamp:
Kit eventful day and eventful poin 3;
central, too, to the general position of the army
Where the Commanding General during this
battle At the extreme left, and for considera-
bic portion OF the time on gunDoat.'
MCCLELLAN, in his report, confirms this
statement. He does more. He says:
sit was very late at night before my aids return
ed to give the results of the days fighting along
the whole line, and the true position of affairs"
&C. 1t may well be doubted" says his disgust
ed Engineer-in- Chief, in abiding to this,
whether, in all the recorded dispatches of
military commanders, parallel to this extra
ordinary avowal eau be found. We supposed
| it the especial business of General to know,
at each moment, the true position Of af-
fairs and to have some agency in ruling it..
Here we find the days fighting all done, the
results-for better or worse-accomplished,
and 'very late at night the Commanding General
just learning about Mon!"
DR.. MARKS, an eminent Minister of the Old
School Presbyterian Church, has published a
work entitled "The Peninsula Campaign in
| Virginia." in which the following will be
| found:
ssThis vast body of men, well trained, fully
| equipped, and equ aling in courage any army which
the world has seen, eager for the fight, asking
| but for Generals to lead them on to victory, was
| after having almost knocked at the door of ths
| Rebel stronghold, retreating in haste-at the com
| mand of one man-who, however distinguished fol
|
erery hour of danger 9oGS child, and in every grea
emergency aUdS oppressed Ut conscious Incapacity
| After the enemy was repulsed at the battle o
| Savage Station General Sumner sent to Genera
Mcclellan for, as he expressed himself, orders tt
! push the enemy into the Chickahominy.' Genera
McClellan's reply was, that the rear-guard would
follow the retreat of the main body of the army.
| On the reception of this command the Creates
| CONSERVATION ard displeasure reigned among bott
| officers and men. Many openly rebelled-they
| wished to sacrifice themselves in any way rather
| than by a disgraceful retreat"
DR.. MARKS gives additional proof, at leas
Of circumstantial kind, of MCCLELLAN's alb
sence on the gunboat on the occasion of thu
battle of Malvern Hill. We quote:
sIt may not be inappropriate to say that NJ
small part of the praise for the successful retrea
| OF our army is due to Gen. Sumner.
The disposition of the troops at the battle of Nal
| vern Hill was known to have been made by him
and an the absence Of General Mcclellan, Gen. Sum
| aaeT dnTang the most Of that memorable day, com
| handed the army
Speaking of the disgraceful retreat after
| the battle of Malvern Hill, he says:
" In silence and gloom our victorious army com
menced retiri ing from an enemy utterly broken
scattered and panic stricken. And when there was
not foe within miles of US, we left our wounded
behind to perish, and any with ssing the wild
eagerness of our retreat would have supposed thai
we were in the greatest peril from vigilant and
triumphant enemy"
Again, the worthy Chaplain declares post.
lively that MCCLELLAN was on the gun.
boat on the day of the battle of Malvern
Hill, and produces the testimony of DR.. JAS.
RODGERS, who was On the same boat, the same
day, in proof of what he declares. He saws:
Mcclellan remained on board until a late hour
IN the afternoon. DIR. James Rodgers Bri-
gade Surgeon of Robinson's Brigade who had been
Iii Win fever Tor several days, likewise on this
steamer, and afterwards related to me the events
and scenes of that day as they came under his eve
he said Gen. Mcclellan was evidently Iaborinp I'M
der the deepest depression, and apprehended the
worst results But about N a dispatch cam from
Gen. Marcy, saving that our army was holding the
enemy at Day at all points, and in all probability
would drive him from the field. This message
seemed TO LIT an immense burden off the heart of
the General, and he arose and walked the deck
with buoyant step, and from this time evidently
listened TO the battle with new hope.'
McCPELLAN's departure from the boat at
late hour in the afternoon is explained by DR..
MARES IN the following paragraph:
General Heintzelman had sent to him a mes
sage oa the troops noticed his ABSENCE and it agas
soT,hsns aeprssstng influence on them, and he
49, ~ aus" erable for the conse quen ces if he
action and danger" = . > .'-''
An ex-otflcer of the gunboat Galeaaa, who
Is Fouched for by the New York Tribune,
sends that paper letter, from which we take
the following statements:
zen. Mcclellan has denied his remembrance -of
having been on board Of the unboats 49, L %
examined before the Commission -7 was
NOV solennly declare that during the most
elI,ca ana perIous time Of that last days battle
at Malvern Hill, Gen. George B. Mcclellan with
ms stan, ,he French Prnces,) was on board of our
vessel. also affirm that the aforesaid General
nan 60 on BOARD during the time the heaviest
Tph Il
asseVerate that only oncs during that time did
message pass between him and the bleeding, sIaE'
I'm IN shnrn llntb