The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-11-03

en- bottles Of whiskey. The whiskey
was given the coxswain in basket.
At about 3 p. NJ. the firing became
very brisk, and soon McCrca hailed the
United States steamship "GaIena," a
boat was sent. and the Captain, with
Gen. Mcclellan, the Prince de Join
vile, Prince de Paris Count, Duke
do Chartrcs, and an officer who | un-
dcrstood was Chiefof Artillery (hc was
not in uniformJ, came on beard the
"GaIena.' Tho United States steam
ship Jacob Bell" at the time was
turning the GaIcna's" bow mp stream,
as we were about starting up the riv-
cr to shell Charles City road.
The "Galena," Jacob Bell" and
"Aroostook' stood up the river to a
point from which we could reach that
road with our shell. The Gale
ma occupied tho centre of the stream.
with tho Jacob Bell" lapping up her
stern, All our guns were brought to
bear upon the road, signal officer
being on the lookout of-the "Galena."
giving and receiving signals from the
shore, in order to give the proper di-
rection to cur guns. Gen. Mcclellan
was on the lookout short tirne.
At about 4l p NJ. the fire in that di.
rection began to slacken, and the yes
sells stood down to the point from
which VIC started, the old ferry. Be
fore We got under weigh, Gen. McClel.
Ian with the Princes, came on board
the ".Jacob Bell"
After an Introduction of the Gen.
and staff to the officers of the "Jacob
Bell present, Mcclellan said, nm
army IS dcmor0lised, and ! sh0H he com-
( pciicd TO surrender or copiiuiafe this nf-
ternoon or Tonight, and / must hare n
GnnJodt to tale tie Princes to Fortress
/ Monroe immedidteiy".-that it would
not be safe to send them on q trans
( port. McCrea replied that Capt. Rog-
crs said he could not spare a gunboat.
The General and Princes insisted On
gunbOat, Much conversation took
place between the General and the
Princes and McCrea, myself being
present and the part Of the time a cor
respondent OF the Ns,c York Times.
as afterward learned. McCIlidn and
tie Princes agreed that the Federal c use
as they called it had toHed. anil the
! Government w0vld hare to acknopledge
/ the Southern CORfederdcv.
The result. if the Princes should be
taken prisoners, owing to their Euro
pcan relations, who also discussed; and
finally it was agreed to make another
effort to induce Capt Rogers to send
gunboat with the Princes to Fortress
Monroe. TAis was the more earnest
ly insisted on, as they all agreed that
surrender Of the flOtiIla would certain
ly follow the surrender of the army !;
and Gen. Mcclellan said the authUri-
ties at Washington would be RESPONSE
lie for that result. At this time, about
6 P NJ, letter was brought to Gen.
Mcclellan, which he said was from
his Chief of staff, and gave its con-
tents: The enemy is repGlscd and
our army is safe" He then remarked,
He wishes me to come to the front"
After reading the letter the General
and the rest of the group left the
hurricane.deck for the quarter deck.
The General, Prince dc JoinvilIe and
McCrca went aft the deck and con
versed some minutes, and then re-
turned, and the General left, after
bidding the Prince farewell, for the
army. The Jacob Bell then got nm
der weigh and stood down to City
Point to order up some Of the trans
ports, and then returned to Turkey
Bend.
We got under way after the Princes
baggage could be brought on board
and had a pleasant trip to Old Point,
where we arrived at s o'clock P. NJ,
=, July !, and the captain had the honor
of the correspondent Of The NNc YorL
Times as passenger in his gig from
the vessel to the wharf.
There We're some things connected
with this days events which surprised
me very much. There seemed from
the conversation of Gen. Mcclellan
and the Princes. an apparent desire tc
surrender the army on the prctcxt Of
an unsuccessful campaign, tLrOlriHg
horeyeF, the responsibility Upon the an.
| tb0ritics at Washington. l may be mis-
taken in this. But | could not other
wise interpret their conversation, es
peciallv as their remarks about sur
rendering the army were coupled
with the acknowledgment of the
Southern Confederacy, and the re-
sponsibility of the authorities at Wash
ingto1.
Another fnct which struck me was
the free, not to say excessive use o
whisky. The whiskey- bottle was pass
ed three times while they occupied The
huricane-decll, each time General Nc
Clellan, the Princes and McCrea drink
ing, This struck me the more for
cibly, us | had understood the Genera
; was strictly temperance man.
The effect OF the whiskey was quit,
manifest on the tall slim Prince( Count
as he required material aid, in th,
shape OF man at each side, to pas,
) from the hurricane to the quarter
deck; and after u little time, being
unable 10 keep his position in hi
chair, McCrca proposed that he occu
py his bed in the cabin, which he die
) by the assistance Of McCrea and on,
Of the Princes. " '