The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-03
M G L E L L A N

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| Welcome 20 tho Hero Of Antictam-IIIs Old
Soldiers In Line Of March-Ma olson square
| AbIaze.
The grand reception to Major General George B.
Mcclellan, whose return TO the United states after
prolonged sojourn In Europe was duly chroncled In
the course Of the past week, given as previously
announced II would be- last evening by the National
Mcclellan Legion the members OF which turned out
by thousands and marched and countermarched past
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Madison square, for nearly
| two hours amidst the almost continuous shouts
OF an enthusiastic assembage, which In num-
| bers surpassed similar gatherings on pre-
| vious occasions In the same place. the nut
| tering OF banners, the burning Of fireworks
the display OF long lines Of torches and illuminated
Lanterns and the waving OF handkerchlefs by the
hands OF beauty, while inspiriting strains OF music
filed the air as the seemingly never ending columns
OF the legion dehled past the hotel on the balcony Of
which, supported by several gentlemen OF the Conn.,
mttee OF Arrangements. stood the General somewhat
thinner In body and paler In complexion than when
he departed for Europe, but with eyes as bright and
look as resoute as when on the bloody field OF An
tietam he led his soldiers to victory-givlng to the
rebellion that day Of doubt, Of despair to the re-
public its first and deepest mortal wound.
WITHIN THE HOTEL.
At IN early hour In the evening the Fifth Avenue
Hotel and the space Immediately In front OF 1t ex-
tending from the Worth monument to Twentythird
street, ana Fifth avenue and Broadway, and within
and half way across the square began to I'LL up with
those who desired to witness the procession OF the
National Mcclellan Legion and to participate in
doing homage to the hero Of Yorktown.
At half past eight O'Clock the space Immediately
in front OF the house was densely packed by an
orderly. well dressed and intelligent class OF citizens
wh iIo xvithi cfrr tha all
| vestibules, galleries and parlors were filled with
ladies and gentlemen, many OF the former being In
| full evening Dress AT twenty minutes past nine,
accompanied by one or two citizens and unoStenta-
tiousy attred, General Mcclellan entered the vestt-
bule on the second story and quietly, almost unno-
iounging therein and awaiting his arrival. and
| tered room number forty, which had been engaged
minutes subsequently the Metropolitan Club, COM
posed OF about fifty gentlemen and with badges on
the left lapels OF their coats passed the ROOM the
door OF which opened for the occasion, and near
which the guest Of the evening Stood and repeatedly
bowed as they acknowledged his presence, and then
slowly moved onward.
/ ON THE BALCONY.
At quarter to ten O'Clock several gentlemen, de-
cOrated with sashes OF ''S0lferino color, surround
| ed the General and accompanied him to the large
| parlor Immediately behind the balcony. police
officer preceded the procession and succeeded IN
! opening passage way to Of the windows OPEN
ing on It, through which he Immediately passed and
stood confronting the vast assemblage beneath him,
who with upturned faces. instantly recognizing his
burst into cheers that sweed and roared along The
columns like great waves beating In solemn cadences
| upon u rock bound coast.
TIE WELCOME.
For several seconds these cheers from the throats
of lusty men-whose hearts beat Loyalty as they
greeted Of the old soldiers OF the legion and
| OF the vast majority OF the peope-conlinued, and
| lights placed near the north ana south ends OF the
| square were turned first on the popuace and them
for moment, on the face OF him whom they had as
sembled to honor, while the bands sent forth sono-
rous notes Of welcome The spectators could not
longer contain themselves but In very JOY renewed
their OF wec0metheir cheers for the savior OF
the Union the organizer OF Its armies, out OF whose
| discipline came eventual victory.
have satisfied MIN thai he vel retains tne affections
OF the people, who have not forgotten his sacrifices
In the cause OF liberty and unity, ana VINO cannot
planted him In the field or In the hearts OF the loyal
men OF the republic.
| diers and felnw-citzens-I have the pleasure to
| Introduce to you General George b. Mcclellan the
| great commander OF the army OF the Potomac.
| REMARKS BY GENERAL MCCLELLAN.
General Mcclellan having acknowledged by fire.
quent bows the homage OF the people, addressed
them IN few words lie said
know, my trends you win not expect a speech
from me tonight. (Crcs OF "L0uder.'D l am sure
you will be content with the expression OF my sincere
and hearty thanks for this kind and cordial welcome
on my return hOme-tcheers)-a welcome q thousand
times greater than had right to expect. / know
you Will excuse me from making speech.
On o signal from the Marshal the procession then
resumed its march, the General standing and re-
|
they marched past with bands Of music and numer-
Gus torches.
| the hotel. As the rear Of the body marched past
Colonel PersOn presented himself on the platform and
addressing the concourse said:-General Mcclellan,
through me- thanks You for this grand demonstration
you have given him tonight. He Is now about to
retire and propose that we now give him nI three
cheers, which were kept up cheer after cheer, for
| some time.
rhe General then left the balcony, and was
escorted TO his ROOM where he shut In by those
having him In charge from further intrusion for the
night. After the disappearance OF the General the
| immense concourse OF people quietly dispersed.
PRELIMINARY SCENES AT HEADQUARTERS.
AZ an early hour ascene 81 oas m animation and
headquarters at Masonic Hall. In Thirteenth street.
| Outside the street was densey crowded, and above
| the uproari0us tumut OF many voices Numbered
4 cannon, while the ncessant shooting OF rockets
into the regions or the upper air gave pyroechnic
! noisy outside II was more compact and noisy In
| side. surging throng crowded about the head
veIoped that there was scarcity OF torches Chinese
/ lanterns and corps nags. It was found that
those who came first would not only be first
4 served. but that3those who came last would
not be served af all. There was some tall swearing
among the officers to keep the besegers patient and
there was some tall swearing among the besegers at
the dlatoriness In dealing out the articles voce-
rously In demand. The whole thing was managed
been done under the circumstance. Pent
| up irate feelings on either side did not
4 doing the best we CAM continually reiterated the
officers; and the clamorers for torchlights and Chi
nese lanterns and corps nags soon found and their
| irascibty gave way to anability and pleasing
1 disposition to accept the situation and what was
| given them. The preliminary chaos resolved itself
into substantial order. After hour so the sup
ply or the hundred accessories TO the forthcoming
| procession, though by no means coming up TO the
| demand, was exhausted, the crowd inside surged
outside and began to form In readiness for the
| procession.
FORMING INTO LINZ
This neither an easy nor expeditions undertake
/ ing. There was I'm the outset good deal OF una
voidable confusion The marshals had their hands
full supervising and directing the formation and
both they and their aids gallopng about on
their horseswith somewhat OF the velness incident
to forming q grand battle line. AT length the DIFF
ferent organizations were ranged In their respective