The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-02
"Ihc Century Var Book"

Part V. of 1.-THE Century War Book"
now ready. has. among other articles one
upon what was known as The Peninsula
Campaign" written by Major General
George B. Mcclellan. who was then in
command of the Union army.
The following interesting description OF
thhe feeling entertained Tor General Nc
Clellan by his soldiers was written by
George kimball. who was a member of
the command;
Though quarter of century has
passed since those darkest days OF the
war l still retain vivid remembrance
of the sudden and complete change which
came upon the face of affairs when Cen
eral Mcclellan was restored to command.
At the time / was serving In Company a.
Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteers, at
tached to Ricketts, division of the First
Army Corps. The announcement of Nc
Clellan's restoration came to us i'm the
1862. just after reaching Halls Hill. weary
from long marching and well nigh dis
heartened by recent reverses. The men
were scattered about In groups, discuss
ing the events of their ili-starred cam
paign, and INDUCING In comments that
were decidedly uncompimentary 10 those
who had been responsible for its misman-
agement We did not know. OF course
the exact significance OF all that had
happened as we afterward learned It. but
being mainly thinking men. We were able
where the real difficulty lay. Suddenly,
while these mournful consultations were
In full blast mounted officer. dashing
past our bivouac, refined up long enough
the road, boysv The scene that followed
can be more easily imagined than de-
scribed. From extreme sadness we passed
in u tyinkling to a delirium of delight.
delVerer had come. A real rainbow
of promise had appeared suddenly in the
dark political sky The feeling in our
division upon the return of General Nc
lellan had It's counterpart in all the
others for the Army OF the Potomac
loved him as IL never loved any other
leader. In a few days we started upon
that long march into Maryland, and
whenever General Mcclellan appeared
among his troops. from the crossing OF
the Potomac al Washington TO the Crap
Pile with Lee at Antietam. IT was the
thusiastic cheering l ever listened to or
participated in. Men threw their caps
high into the air and danced and frolicied
like schoolboys 80 glad were they 10 get
their old commander back again. Ii Is
true that Mcclellan had always been for
tunate In being able 10 excite enthusiasm
among his troops, but demonstrations at
this time took on an added and notice
able emphasis from the fact that he had
been recalled to command after what the
army believed 10 be an unwise and un-
be reached, however, at Middetown,
where we first caught sight of the enemy
Here. upon our arrival. We found General
Mcclellan sitting upon his horse in the
South mountain, mile or two beyond
Reno and Hatch were fighting, and the
smoke Of their guns could be seen half
way up the mountain. as each organi-
"a ton passed the General, the men be
came apparently forgetful OF everything
but their love for him. They cheered and
cheered again. until they became So
hoarse they could cheer no longer II |
seemed as II an intermission had heen |
declared in order that a reception might |
be rendered TO the General-in- Chief A |
great crowd continually surrounded him
and the most extravaganza denonstratjons |
were INDUCED In. Hundreds even hinged |
the horses legs and caressed his beed |
and name. While the troops were mus
surging by. the General continually point9
I'd with his finger 10 the gap In the noun
ain through which our path lay. Ii WAS
Ike a great scene In a play, with the roar
Il the guns for an accompa inment. An.
,ther enthusiastic demonstration Thar
occurred In the afternoon ~
he nth at Antietam, when the General
ode along our line OF battle The chseTs
ouid not have been heater than tbey
we're. General Mcclellan may have bsJ
pponents elsewhere; he had few. IL any
mong the soldiers whom he Command.
This is one OF the many interesting mar
atives contained In The Century War
Iook." Terms upon which Il NAV be i
blamed Will be found elsewhere In this