The National tribune., 1905-12-14

the same HHlCauOHS as MS army ca.
reer, and not even his best friends &C.
counted him Napoleon in civil affairs.
4 l regret to say these plain things OF
my first communicable was so good
la soldier and SO nice gentleman.
But 1 must state the truth of history,
is how Gen. Mcclellan always i'm
pressed me (and many others of his
comrades) in those historic war days
Our Southern friends still account him
the greatest Yankee General" But
when you ask them how soon he would
have conquered their rebellion, and
ended our war for the Union, they only
look wise and venture no reply.
His losses on the Peninsula were GER
tainly appalling: but it appears diff
Official Report" Aug. 1868. does
not agree with his army Returns in
Official Report" Aug. 4, 1863, does
rot seem able to give the facts pre-
cisely. At least this is the reply
received to two different letters sent
the Peninsula April 2. 1862. His Re
turn for April 80. 1852 (before York
town., shows his strength present for
duty, including Franklin's Division
(still on transports), as 1882: his
special duty, sick, and in arrest $3.50;
being total of 1922 present, be-
sides 1916 absent making a total
aggregate of 130,378. About June IL he
was reinforced by McCall's Division of
| Pennsylvania Reserves. 9,501 strong,
increasing his total to 1889.
Strength and Losses ON the Peninsula.
His losses in action April to June
"a, including Yorktown, Williamsburg,
Fair Oaks. etc, were 1913 killed, g.
TAG wounded, and 1917 captured or
missing; a total of s,476. His losses,
in action, from June 25 to Aug. % (the
date he left the Peninsula), including
the Seven Days Battle" etc. is given
| by the War Department as 1850 killed,
S,122 wounded, and 6,100 captured or
missing; total of 1922. This would
make his total losses in action 24.448.
His "Tri-Monthly Return" for July
10, 1852 Cat Harrison's Landing), gives
his present for July as 99.776, and his
| total aggregate (present and absenD
as 157.03s. Add to this "99,776 pres
ent," his losses in action, as above CIV
en-, and we have total Of 124,224.
But his total strength on the PENN
sula, or men received in all while there,
as above given. was 139,879; which
would leave only 1865 as his losses
from sickness and disease. This seems
small, when one remembers our fright
full sickness both at Yorktown and Fair
Oaks, as we'll as Harrison's Landing.
| However, even this would make his
total losses both from battle and dis
ease 40,103.
] On July IS. 1862. Mr.. Lincoln tele-
| graphed him from Washington: II am
told that over 100000 men have gone
into your army. When 1 was with you
the other day Cat Harrison's Landing)
we made out $500 remaining, leaving
1880 to be accounted for. I believe
23,5O0 will cover all the killed wound
ed and missing in all your battles and
skirmishes; leaving $4,000 who have
left otherwise. Not more than 5000 of
these have died, leaving $4,000 of your
army still alive and not with it,
On July Is Gen. Mcclellan answered
this from Harrison's Landing, question
ing whether he had received $50, 900"
present for duty as 8S,665. and his
present and absent as 144,407. He gave
his sick as 1863, and his absentees as
about 10000"
fer from his Return" of July 10
(above quoted) by about 1900 men
present. But Mr.. Lincolns estimate Of
"23, 500" as his losses in action does
not vary much from mine above GA
448); though I think his guess of "5,-
600" as having died from disease is
more than twice too small. The "ab-
sentees" were not all deserters, by a
long shot. But thousands Of them
were good officers and men, who had
gone home on furlough or "sick leave"
or otherwise, after our bloody and ex-
!,
because of the want Of hospital accom-
modations, medical attendance, ETC.:
and they never returned because of
death or prolonged disability, incapac-
itating them for further service.
Fairly Accurate Figures.
From all which. after much search
ing of the records and my own actual
experience there, and much talk with
others there. I think it fair to con-
clude as follows:
!, McClellan's total strength on
the Peninsula, or men actual
1y received, at least. ....... 100, 900
His losses in action. -. %, 900
His losses from disease rs, 900
- $4,000
Remaining ...... -. 10000
Present July Is, as per his
above report to Mr.. Lincoln. 1866
Absentees ...... ......... 21,3s5
1t is true that Mr.. Lincoln puts these
; "absentees' at AS, 900" and McClel-
. Ian at about 10000" But It is be-
lieved that, with the foregoing explain
: ations. the above figures Of 1885 are
more nearly accurate.
, This makes his total losses, then,
/ from both battle and disease, as 50,-
900. instead of "4O1O3," as above fig
,, ured out: and this 1T is believed can
not be far wrong. In other words,
, Gen. Mcclellan lost one-third of his
, army on the Peninsula. and gained
nothing whatever; the Army of the Po-
, tomac returning again to Alexandria in
, August, whence 1T moved late in March.
Even as. ingloriously,
1.-The King Of France, with fifty thous-
a and men,
Marched up the hill, and then marched
down again."
Well might Robert E. Lee air his some
time Latin, and serenely sing, "Partur-
iunt monies nascitur ridiculus mus"
The 4th Wis. Cav.
Editor National Tribune: Will you
kindly give in The National Tribune a
, brief history Of the 4th Wis. Cav, and
greatly oblige-Henry B. Fay, Rumsey,
MINI.
The 4th Wis. Cav was organized al
Racine. July 2. 1861, as the 4th Wis,
and its designation changed to the 4th
, Wis. Cav, Aug. %, 1863. Two new
companies were organized I'm the Spring
! of 1864, and assigned as Cos. L and M
The regiment was mustered out May