Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-10-14
c. R. CoBURN,

While circumstantial evidence shows that Gen.
Mcclellan was on a gunboat q ring the battle Of
Malvern Hill, there is positive testimony that he
was on a gunboat during the terrible battle Of
White Oak Swamp or Glendale, the day before
June 30); and that when the battle of Malvern
Hill was fercely raging, he was several miles from
the scene, selecting, as he himself tells US, the
final position Of the army and its depots, when
as he expected it should be defeated. We sum-
mon his Chief Engineer General Barnard, (now
Chief Engineer of the Army of the Potomac be-
fore Petersburg, and the Rev Dr. Marks, an eye
witness and one of AIcClellan's S army friends to
assist his defective memory.
Gen Barnard, in his review of the Peninsular
Campaign, in which he was Engineer in Chief,
and at Mcclellan right hand says, on page Al,
when speaking of the great battle of the 30th;-
1T was an eventful day and an eyentful point
central, too, to the general position of the army
Where was the Commanding General during this
battle? At the extreme left, and for considera-
bic portion Of the time on gunboat.
Mcclellan in his report, page l35, confirms
this statement He does more. On page l3S he
says
ssIt was very late at night before my aids re-
turned to give me the results of the days fighting
along the whole line, and the true position of af-
fairs
ut may be well doubted, says his disgusted
Engineer-in- Chief, in alluding to this, whether,
in all the recorded dispatches Of military comman-
ders, a parallel to this extraordinary avowai can
be found. We supposed it the special business
of General to know at each moment, the true
position of affairs, and have some agency in rul-
ing it. Here we find the days fighting all done,
the resuIts-for better or for rse-accomplish-
ed, and very late at night the Commanding Gen-
eral just learning about them r
Let us hear what Rev. DR.. Marks says of the
Commander-in-C Chief on this eyentful day, in his
sketch of the Peninsular Campaign in Virginia, y
On page 29S he says:
'Thc Commander-in-C Chief was evidently OPP
pressed with the deepest solitude, for he accom-
panied the Prince [de Joinville, and his nephew,
to the war-steamer, and remained on board until
late in the afternoon, communicating his orders by
signals and couriers. Dir. James Rogers, Brigade
Surgeon of Robinsons Brigade, who had been Ill
with fever for several days, was likewise on this
steamer, and Afterwards reldbeu W lho ohe 9
vents and scenes of that day as they came under
his eve. He said Gen Mcclellan was evidently
laboring under the deepest depression, and appre-
hended the worst results. But about clock a
dispatch came from Gen. Marcy, saying that our
army was holding the enemy at bay at all points,
and in all probability would drive him from the
field. This message seemed to lift an immense
burden off the heart of the General, and he arose
and walked the deck with buoyant step; and
fr,m this time evidently listened to the battle
with new hope. But about o'clock the Com
nanding General rode into the lines Of our army,
and remained until the action closed. Gen. Heint-
zelman had sent to him message that the troops
Noticed his absence, and it was exerting depres-
sing influence on them, and he could not be an
sv-erable for the consequences if he longer held
himself 50 for aloof from the scene OF action and
Of danger
Commenting in this battle, Gen. Barnard says,
page 46
'aThe army was saved in spite Of General MeClel-
lar's ignorance Of the position Of affairs and re
suits of the days fighting, and consequent inca
paeity to give intelligentordor,
Speaking Of the battle Of Malvern Hill, th'