The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-08-19


FRIEND TREAT:-Although my health
is slowing improving, | do not yet feel n
the mood of writing any lengthy cores
ponaence for the dear old PILoT. The hay
crop in this vicinity, which is only ten
miles west from Oshkosh, and about sixty
miles from Manitowoc, in the same direc-
ton, has all been saved in good condition,
and most OF the farmers will commence
crop promises to be good one, although
the harvest is two weeks later than last
year.
In locking over an old paper to-day l
came across the following account of the
taking leave of Gen. Mcclellan Of his army
in the fall Of 1862, when he was relieved of
his command by Gen. Burnside, by order
Of Mr.. Lincoln, when the latter and his
friends were afraid that Little Mac
would capture Richmond, and which he
assuredly would have done had not his
political enemies prevented him By recall
ing him from the troops he lored and who
ddored him The article is from CORES
pondent of the New York Herald, is dated
and published in that paper in November,
1862, and | hope will interest all of your
readers as much as it has me- 1t is as
follows:
This morning It was arranged that Nc
Celan should visit the troops near by, and
proceed to Washington by special train in
the evening. When just about to 90 he
SAID, Il can hardly bear 90 see my soldiers
again" Then accompanied by his officers
and escort, magnificent caValcade, he rode
off to take a last farewell Of his troops.
The infantry aud cavalry attached to his
headquarters were tastefully disposed on
an adjacent hill. They presented u very
soldierly appearance. Mcclellan rode
along the lines, and as he passed enthuS-
lastic cheers spontaneously arose from the
ranks. The soldiers could not restrain
their controlling admiration for their Gen-
eral After he had passed along the lines,
and was returning toward the bib, Gen.
Patrick commanding the provost guard at
headquarters, dashed up the crest, and,
with cap in hand, led the whole command
in three additional tumultuous cheers tor
Gen Mcclellan. The Sturgis Rifles,
which have been : ith him from the time Of
his first campaign in Western Virginia,
gave an extra complimentary cheer, aud all
he men turned their heads around, and
gave one long, last lingering look, while
lie rode away to bid q similar adicu to
other commands.
he then Passed through the camps of the
reserve artillery The b ttcrie3 were all
arranged in convenient positions, the can
noneers standing by their guns The men
presented sabres, while the music mingled
with their cheers as he passed. The mag
nlficent artillery reserve Of the army Of the
Potomac, which Mcclellan had organized
with so much care, he seemed reluctant to
leave it now, when there was an immediate
prospect of its efficiency being fully dis.
played on the field.
Ii was while riding from here that Burn
side, ACCOMPANIED by brilliant staff, came
dashing ACROSS the field and joined him.
They shook each other cordially by the
hand, and rode together during the re-
mainder Of the day
When we reached the turnpike, on
either side Of which troops are encamped,
we witnessed one of the gIaudest and most
effective demonstrations 1t has ever been
my fortune 10 behold. The troops IN Gen.
IN magnificent array on the right Of the
read and those in Gen G. uch corps on
the left. Buterield's Sykes's, and Huns
phrey's divisions, in Porter's corps, were
disposed in order, the banners of each com
mand appearing in the center, close on the
road. Hancock s. Howard 5, and French
divisions, in Couch corps. were arranged
in somewhat similar manner, with the
artillery Of both commands planted or
prominent positions. As had been done
III other instances, McCie!lan's fare well ad-
dress to his soldiers was read to them just
before he passed to personally bid them
farewell. As he rode along the turnpike,
with head uncovered, between the lines OF
troops, and followed by The ghtlerlug array
ot officers, fifty thousand Of his devoted
soldiers, with hearts and voices in perfect
unison, and all with one accord, burst
forth iu,o the most tumultuous cheering.
Along the lines he rode, amidst the cou-
unued acclamaticn of the fifty thou
sand, while from the distance we
would occasionally catch, as though
it were an echo, the sou md from the troops
we had left behind, and who were cheering
yet, long after the General had gone away
| from the immediate vicinity of his heads
/ quarters. The banner borne by the various
| regiments were held near the road on either
! side, and their tattered fragments were
| fully exposed to view when the General
and party passed through the lines of
| troops. Some of the standards had little
but the gold and silver trimmings and the
si!ken frlnges left A greater portion OF
many of the flags had been shot away in
battle under the gallant leadership OF Gen
eral NJ ClelIan. Those taltered banners.
having inscribed upon them the names Of
the battles in which the troops had fought
victoriouely beneath their silSen folds, Eere
mute yet most ELOQUENT memorials of the
mighty struggles which VI Clellan soldiers
have passed through While he rode along
tic batteries fired salutes, the bands played.
and the soldiers chcered the smoke from
ths artillery foa,cd in among the periora-
ted banners, and the acclamatioB OF the
troops mingled with the martial music of
the bands anu guas. | canuot recall from
my experience any occasion on which the
enthusiasm manifested by these soldiers
has been surpassed.
Passing the end of Porter's and Couch :
lines, General NJ Clellan and party proceed.
cd four or five miles further to the mace