The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-06-25

So sustaining one whole
week OF solid thrash
ing before he knew that he could never
enter Richmond.
"On to Richmond!' had been the
cry; "back to the gunboats" soon be-
came the mot d'ordre. Mcclellan was
q good soldier aud he saved his army
when he re:reated from Richmond in
the face Of Geographic growls from
Washington, and protests daily and
hourly from his own corps command
'ers. He was a singularly misjudged,
ill-treated man, both at this time and
after. Nothing on earth could have
whipped Lee and Jackson then, for
they had men (veterans), money,
food, clothing, high spirits and plenty
xof ammunition, and the confederate
capital, with the enemy in full view
from the housetops, was the gayest OF
gay cities at that time. We just
couldn't have been whipped then. 1t
would take two more years OF awful
'carnage-two more years OF isolation
from the world, two more years ofun-
paralleled suffering and starvation for
Grant to strike down the wan and
wasted apparition at Appomattox,
iwhich called itself, still proudly, the
army OF northern Virginia.
Mcclellan knew too we'll that no
- force the North could summon at that
time could then take Richmond. His
loss by shot and sickness was ire
mendous, and that each day added to
his danger. A week more and he
would be surrounded and forced to
the humiliation Of a surrender. Patri-
OF that he was, he preferred the CEN
sure OF the war department to the sac
ritice OF his splendid army-and like a
wise and good commander he did the
best thing he could do under the cir
cumstances-her etreated. Heretreat-
ed, but heretreated as the dying grizzly
retreats when shot to death, slowly,
sullenly-but still full OF danger and
feroclty. Malvern Hill, Think, showed
that, and Magruder-well, all men
make mistakes: Our boys fought as
they always did, but they couldn't
storm the very gates of hell.
Less than As, 900 men trying to as
sail hill triple-croWnel with over 100
guns and defended by nearly 100, 900
veterans. It was madness, and vet
after his victory Mcclellan made all
haste to get under cover OF his gun
boats. His officers demonstrated.
They wanted to turn back on our
shattered ranks and march straight
20 Richmond. But "Little Mac"
Judged better than they; he knew that
Lee and jackson and plenty of fresh
troops lay in the way between him
and the confederate capital, and he
said to them:
'"No, gentlemen, let us get to our
base and reform for another attempt:
III we were to pursue the enemy now
we should be inevitably whipped. We
had the choice OF position here, and
Magruder was an old fool to attack
us; but who shall say what may hap
pen II we venture to attempt with a
diminished and demoralized army
what we could not do in the full flush
OF our vigor before Richmond. No.
let the order be given at once for an
orderly retreat. We have hit them
too hard to fear pursuit."
But still his officers protested, and
Philip Kearney, holding up the stumr
OF his arm when Mcclellan had gone
exclaimed passionately to the Of
'ncers around him: II, Phil Kearney
an old soldier, did most solemnly pro
test against this most cowardly and
~disgraceful retreat" -
But time approved Mcclellan iudg
ment Q
He had done the wisest thing tc
do, and he had done it we'll.
#
1t was during these exciting DAYS
that the Incidents OF my story tool
place.
l had only recently reioined my regi
"nent, the Seventh Georgia, when
was ordered, being still weak from 6
wound received some five months
5previous, to have my name carried
again on the roster, but for week OF
two to report to the commissariat de
apartment for clerical duties, being az
Il was good penman and accountant
MY duties were arduous, and sucf
ENHANCEMENT as we got into some
Tunes would paralyze professional
accountant. Not that it was oul
ffault, though we were literally "cussec
"out" Tor 1T, but because requisition;
We're sent in in such strange forms ane
ln,so many irregular ways. We hac
all necessary blanks, but they seemed
OF small use to the men to whom W,
sent them. A requlsition for calome
sand hay, bedding and opium, stirrup.
Sand cartridges, .digitalis and SOW