The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-22

. Dlllu tneT lntTcncn0entS- ne dTS O
the enemy were in sight. Washington
was in a state of siege, and not a trans
port coulG ascend the river without run
ming the gauntlet OF the rebel batteries
In his address Gen. Mcclellan announced
the reasons for inactivity as follows
Soldiers of the Army Of the Potomac
For a long time | have kept you inactive
but not without purpose. You were to Et
Disciplined, armed and instructed. The
formida bic artillery you now have had Il
be created. Other armies Were to move
and accomplish certain results. ] have
held you back that you might give the
death blow to the rebellion that has dis
tracted our once happy country. The
patience you have shown and your con
fidence in your General are worth d dozen
victories.
These preliminary results are now ac-
cOmplished. feel that the patient labors
of many months have produced then
fruit The Army of the Potomac is now
real army, magnificent in material, ad-
mirable in discipline and instruction, eX-
cellently equipped and armed. Your com
manderS are all that | could wish. The
moment for action has arrived, and
know that can trust in you to save our
country. The period of inactiOn has
passed. will bring you now face to face
with the rebels, and only pray that God
may defend the right
MARCHlNt AOAlN.
Marching orders were issued once more
to the Army of the Potomac. The sick
were sent off, camp broken up, and all
stood prepared for another encounter with
the enemy. The bitter remembrance OF
the defeat at Bull Run still ranked in the
minds of The men, and now they were anx-
ious for an opportunity to retaiiate upon
the foe, and win back the iaurels they
had SO ingloriousiy lost upon that dis
astrouS field.
Various speculations were INDUCED in
with regard TO their destination. One
prophesied that they were going to Rich
mond by way of Fredcricks burg; another
was positive that they were to 90 by the
way of Manassas, and a third declared
that il was down the Shenandoah Valley
TO take Richmond on the fank and rear;
but, to the utter establishment of all, they
were ordered 10 Alexandria to embark for
Fortress Monroe. Regiment after Tegi-
ment was huddled together on board I'M
I'll every foot of room was occupied, and
there remained but little prospect OF COM
fort for either officers or men.
AS soon as each transport received its
cargo of men, horses and provisions it
foated out into the stream, Will e another
steamed up to the wharf in its place until
the whole feet lay side by side, freighted
with over 100, 600 human lives, and await
ng the signal TO weigh anchor.
The troops were eager for campaign.
They had lain inactive so long while
victory Numbered ali around them, that
they were becoming impatient to strike
another blow at rebellion and blot out
the remembrance of the past. Roanoke,
Pea Ridge Newbern. Winchester and Don
ciSon were a succession OF victories which
had been achieved and the Army Of the
Potomac had not participated in them.
The men felt this and were prepared for
anything but inactivity.
Everything being i'm readiness the signal
was given and the whole feet was soon
moving in the direction of Fortress Mon
roe, with the Stars and Stripes floating
from every masthead, and the music of
national airs awakening the slumbering
echoes as we swiftly ciided over the quiet
waters Of the Potomac.
The first real object OF interest which
presented itself was the Monitor" lying off
Fortress Monroe. 1t reminded me Of what
| once heard a man say to his neighbor
about his wife; said he, "Neighbor, you
might worship your wife without breaking
either Of the 10 commandments" How
is THAR asked the man. Because she
is not the likeness of anything in heaven
above or in the earth beneath or in the
waters under the earth"
So thought of the Monitor. There she
sat upon the water glorious, impregnable
battery; the wonder of the age, the ter
rOr of rebels, and the pride of the North.
We arrived at Fortress Monroe in
drenching rein, Immediately diSembarked.
and proceeded at once TO Hampton, former
| iy a beautiful little village containing
about 500 houses, many of them elegant
brick buildings, but which now lay a
blackened mass of ruins, having been
burned a few months previous by order of
rebel Gen. Magruder. The village was
about three miles from Fortress Monroe.
and situated on the west side of a creek
or arm OF the sea called Hampton River.
the Yorktown road passing directly through
its center.
II was a great relief to the troops to dis
embark from the filthy, crowded trans
ports, notwithstanding they had to march
through the mud and rain, and then pitch
their tents on the wet ground. Fires were