The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-06-07
MCCLELLAN IN CHICAGO.
Impress Of the Young Omcer on tho
Military Affairs Of the City
in 1891.

away from the city by business. In
looking about for his successor mem
bers OF the company and citizens in
terested IN military Affairs turned to
George B. Mcclellan. who had resigned
from the regular army 10 become chief
engineer OF the Illinois Central rail-
road.
Mcclellan was at that time about
80 years old. He was. through his visit
TO the CrImea and his book. published
soon after his return. one OF the best
known OF the younger officers OF the
regular army. The light guard was
then the crack military company Of
the northwest. and Il was natural that
the men should turn TO the former
army officer who had just located in
Chicago and who carried himself Ike
a thorough soldier.
Mcclellan did not remain long
enough in Chicago 70 leave his i'm
press on the local companies. When
the war came In 1851 the light guard
was not in existence as a military or
~ganization. and Mcclellan entered the
service as commander and organizer
OF the Ohio troops and was appointed
major general in the regular army be
fore the real work Of the war had be
gun. Most Of his old military friends
In Chicago went into service early in
the western regiments. Turch!n going
to the Nineteenth Illinois. Barker 70
the Twelfth Illinois cavalry. Forsyth
and others 10 the Eighth cavalry.
"Of all the old military circle Of
1857 and 1855. Capt Barker. Of the
Chicago dragons. was the only one
10 be closely associated with Capt Nc
Clellan Of the light guard, In the early
months OF the civil war. After partici-
pating In the Cairo expedition Bark
er. through the Intervention Of Nc
Clellan. took the dragons east TO be
come the escort or bodyguard Of Lit
tie Mac" the most popular soldier Of
the day. After three months service
the dragons scattered into various
regiments. several going to Farms
worth's Eighth cavalry. A score or
more Of the dragons, who served with
Mcclellan. became commissioned Off
GERS and won distinction.
"McCleIlan's acquaintance in Chi
cago Che had been here before the
Mexican war, and attended the first
meeting Of the St Andrew society,"
took another Chicago military com
pany east for special service early In
1851. This was the Sturgis guards.
armed and equipped as sharp shooters
by solomon Sturgls, and assigned TO
duty as McClellan's bodyguard In the
army Of the Potomac. II would be en-.
terestinr 20 trace the influence OF Nc
Clellan's military experience Ga Chi
cago on HIS acquaintance here I
wonder n there Is anyone living who
can do ~"
III Ellsworth had lived a few
months longer. said the colonel. "a
good many OF the who went
into Turchin's regiment would have
gone east. The story OF the military
companies ln existence ia the several
states In 1850 Is a curious one But
IN no state was the history OF such or
ganizations more highly spiced with
romance than in Kentucky During
the excitement preliminary 90 the
outbreak Of hostilities IN 1861 com
pauies In many counties were organ,
lied for both armies In Lexington
John Morgan. captain OF a crack com.
pany. went into the confederate sery.
Ice. Sanders D. Bruce. captain Of the
Chasscurs. another crack company OF
Lexington. went into the union serv.
ice.
Bruce was given command OF the
Twentieth Kentucky. and later OF a
brigade under Nelson Morgan was
given an Important cavalry command.
ana made several raids Ia Kentucky.
In 1858 he surrounded one battalion
Of the twentieth Kentucky with 5000
men. and after a stubborn fight cap
turcd e. This gratihcd him exceed.
lugly. but the several Kentucky cav.
airy regiments ghllopcd after him
through Kentucky and Ohio. and in
turn captured Morgan and his immedi.
ate command
II saw those Kentuckians whvn.
after their long ride, they made their
last charge on MurEan's men. aud 10
was worth remembering In an my
var experience { never saw men SO
eager 20 make a capture Al were these
Kentuckians some Of them MorEau's
old noiEhbors, They were not maleyo
lent In their own language. they
simply wanted TO take John In out OF
the Wet" but they went az Il IN a
way 90 make Morgan feel hat ne
would like 10 surrender 10 somebody
elsa
Has 4 War-Iima Ralic