The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-11-08

sebastopol as he ia now among those to whom he Is
an ensampie OF the oflcer and gentleman; and
Herbert Stewart, with hgh-brcd face, he seemed to
wear the look OF ono fatcd 10 die by bullet blade,
his gallant soul went up TO Heaven through the
battle smoke on the banks Of old Nile year ago and
morc and others whose names are Inscribed in that
history that only could be written by nation on whose
nag the sun never sets. In this group there was ono
who from the Difference paid him seemed to be |
man Of mark. lie was small man, at his best not
more than i've foot seven. lie might have stepped |
from picture from one OF Watteau's last century |
scenes. His face was as delicate az that OF mar.
chioness OF the olden times. It was the softcst,
da'nliest OF pink IN hue and his hair was like spun
glass In Its slken softncss and wilderness. As he
was In the uniform OF n field marshal, knew he |
must he parsonage could hear his voice. II was !
as soft and low as ladys, and observed that his
mouchofr was as delicate and fine as though II had |
belonged TO the Princess Royal herself. When he |
tnrned toward my companion TO exchange q few |
graceful words there was langud lisp In his tone
i remarked that the left breast Of his coat was
covered with decorations that knew could only
have been won for the most brilliant service In the
Held BY this time my curiosity was fairly excited.
"who Ia that oficer7" said to general who had
made his mark when mere hoy in India by the
most desperate courage and the most audaclous ar-
Ing. "why don't you know 2" said he. "Itis Lord
Strahnairn
So this dainty, soft-voced little old man was the
bravcst OF England's generals! had heard from
old troopers such stories of Sir Hugh Rose, of how
he was absolutely trcess In the field anl without
emotion In the hottest action; how, when his stan
were absolutely worn out with fatigue and loss of
sleep he seemed to be alert fresh and az unlrlng
as though he had just stepped out OF his bed room;
how, when the odds were most terrible aal the
infuriateu mutineefs Knowing they would receive no
quarter died In desperate silence like wolves this
dauness soldier was always TO the forc and how, in
battle after battle, when tho odds were fifteen TO one
he was always victorious, he seemed to the covering
ilndoo to be the Incarnation Of English vengeance
as nc sat calmly on his horse, and leader after
leader OF the mutineers blown into bits from the
| muzzles OF heavy guns, and how at ono time he
shot three hundred OF the rank ami ne, standing by
meantime to see that 1t was thoroughly done, anu
followed this up with lightning strokes OF vengeance
| until his name was terror throughout all InlIa,
anu 80 invulnorable did he seem that they thought
ne was under the special favor and protection OF
silva the Destroyer. All these things come into my
mind as looked at the dainty, clear eyed, smooth
faced, old man, who'as soldier AMI ruler, had the
most romantic and wonderfully successful career of
his time.
"Lord strathnalrn," said a general onlcer who
served with him In the mutiny, "coull have come
back from India In 1858 with clo 900, 900 sterling had
he cared at all for money. lie was offered the
k0hinoor at one time, with other diamonds nearly
as valuable, and could have Kept IT, too. with honor
but he caused II to be turned over to the govern
| ment, aud they gave II to the Queen lie had no,
less than nifty aShs OF rupees offered him presents
by various native princes after the close OF the mu
tiny You zee nearly all those people were impli.
Gated In the affair one way or another, though they
did not take the 1cld with Mana Sahib. When Sir
Hugh Rose with his officers stamped 1t ont these
princes were dreadfully uneasy. They could not
tell how much Gen. Rose knew, and his movements
were 80 sudden that no one could tell where he
meant TO strike until the blow fell. with the SUPER
stilton OF their race, when the mutlneers found he
could not he defeated in battle shot by assassius
and In vain they tried to poison him, they gave II up
| aud called him "the vengeance of the Engshman's
God" with Strathnairn the race OF Indian heroes
OF the olden time has become extinct. Few men
have had such career, for his lie was one long epic
| The death OF Gen. Mcclellan 50 soon after That
of Gen. Grant revlves many memories aud incidents
of the first year of the great war. "Afer Col. Lee
| declined the command Of the army that was being
raised to put down the Confederacy," said an old
| officer OF the United States Army, "Gen. Scott was
very anxious about its commander. lie felt that he
was too old to take the eld himself, and that some
one should be placed In command who would he able
to mobilize the newly raised force OF volunteers at
once and ut them for service. Gen Scott was much,
greved at Col. Lees declinaton. Indeed, 1t must
have been great temptation. Lee was In his prime,
and was regarded by all who knew him as the abcst
Officer OF his age in The service. Alter much con-
sideration and consultation CT n. Scott asked the ven
cradle f. p Blair, ST. to visit Col Lee and say to him
that as he Gen Scoi was too old and feeble TO take
the field In person, II Lee would accept the position,
| lie would recommend that he he made a general
officer AMI given the highest position open in the
| United States Army. At ono step, therefore, he
could have attained the summit OF soldiers ambl.
| ton. Well did John Daniel say that siuce Christ
| stood upon the mountain no human being had ever
undergone more trying ordeal or met 1t with
| higher spirit of heroic sacrifice than did Robert
1ee' II he succeeded, conquerors crown awaited
him, and, win lose, he would have been the fore
most man OF mighty nation" "Did Mr. Lincoln
know OF Gen. SCOTS oTer?" 1 asked. "He must
have known and approved" was the reply, " for
Gen. Scott would never have made 1t without the
consent OF the highest authority. Very early-it
must have been day or two after the proclamation
calling out 10000 men-a delegation of prominent
Ohloans called on the Governor OF that State In be-
half OF Gen. Mcclellan. The first regiment of Ohio
volunteers had Just been accepted, and II was mecca
o"ly W Sohiliiosou sOIhc GENERAL OUlCeTS. IHcSc
gentlemen were large stock-owners In the line of
| railway from Cincinnati to st. Louis, which Nc
clelan was president of. They told the Governor
think 1t was Dennson, but am not sure-about
the ex-capain of cavalry, of his capacity and ability
IN organization. lie Is just the man you need,'
they said, as they concluded, and so effective was
their presentation OF his case that they took back to
Cincinnati George d. McCiellans commission as a
| major general OF Ohio troops.
"Gen. Scott had lost sight of Mcclellan after he left
the Army, but his success In West Virginia recalled
to the venerable Gencral-n-C Chief his former epgi-
| neer nide.de-camp. One hot July afternOon-I do
not know the date, but remember the incidents
perfectly-Gen. Scott went over TO The President.
He seemed very pale and feeble he left his Office
'Mr. President, he said, " the army which we are
gathering here Is to do anything 1t must have man
at its head capable Of quick effective organization.
| have gone over the Army List very thoroughly,
and, while there are many able men !eft there Ia no
one whom can recommend for the place. have
thought anxIously over the matter, and I recon.
mend that Gen. Mcclellan be ordered here TO under.
take this work. After consultation with the sccre-
| fary OF War, Mr.. Cameron, who knew nothing of
military matters, but wished to do what was hest,
the President wrote despatch, directing the young
ohioan, who was then major general, to come to
washington at once, The rest is history.
| "Whcn Mcclellan came here In 1861 his first act
was to select his stan. lie had the whole army to
draw from, and his selections were made with his
characteristic good judgment, and when organized
II Ia doubtful II an ADLER or more effective military
staf was ever got together this continent "Can
you remember who the officers were ?" the writer
asked "Wcll,t can name good many Of those who
were most prominent was the answer. "Lct me
see. As Adjutant Generals he had Colborn and Seth
Williams, both ranking as colonies, with McMalon
from the Volunteers, as an assistant. Gen. Marcy
was the senior Inspector, with James II. Harde as
| second. Gems. Rucker and Ingalls, were his Quar-
termasters. c. +. Kingsbury was his Chief Ord
nance Onicer, and Gen. j. N. Macomb, then a major,
was his Engineer aud under him were ID. T.. Wood.
bury and b. s. Alexander, while Edward Mex.
Hudson, then captain In the new Fourteenth H.
fantry was senior adedc-camp. This Is the list as
well as l can remember. You see have had
good deal 10 think OF since them and all this was
quarter OF century ago.
"of aides-de-camp Mcclellan had score. l shall
never forget their mess one cold winter evening