The National tribune., 1907-07-11

of the ditch to the top of the parapet-
in some instances as much as rs feet.
In front of this line of works the
timber was cut down for the distance
of a mile to form abatis Experience
had taught that earthen banks We're
much stronger against modern fire than
anything else, and these forts were all
of this type, with no masonry anywhere.
The gorge or rear was sometimes closed
by stockade. In the larger forts there
were bomb-proOfs to shelter part of
the garrison. The armament was main
ly made up of "a and 32-pounders on
sea-coast carriages. with q limited pro-
portion of 24-pound siege guns, rifled
PARROTS and light field guns.
Before the war was to end this line
of fortifications was to include GS in
closed forts and batteries. with an ag-
gregate perimeter of 1880 yards, or
13 miles, with nearly 1000 heavy guns
and mortars besides field guns The
forts rere connected by 35.711 yards, 20
miles, of rified trenches and three block
houses. Computing two men per yard
of front to one man per yard of rear, it
would require 25, 600 infantry to garri-
son the works. besides at least 5000 ar
tillerymen and 5000 cavalry for outpost
duty. Thirty-two miles of good military
roads were constructed to connect the
streets of Washington with these forti-
fications.
Making the Army.
Mcclellan certainly worked hard in
the creation of his army out Of the
forces which were so literally supplied
him. For the first weeks he showed all
the industry, all the energy, all the zeal,
all the methodical, painstaking atten-
ton to detail which had been expected
of him. His heart vas thoroly in his
work; he had noble ambition to build
UP the finest army the world had ever
seen, and the people were only too glad
to give him everything he asked for.
Mcclellan had the ill-judgment too
frequent among men of ability, TO write
a book, in which he said much worse
things about himself than any of his
enemies ever alleged: that is. he pub
lished the intimate letters which he
wrote from day to day to his wife. Nc
| Clellan was devoted husband, no man
ever more SO, and in these letters he
| opened his very soul to his wifes in
spection. They show how quickly the
deadly canker of ambition begins its
work. At first he was all humility over
| powered by his success and the atten-
ton which people paid him, astonisbed
as to being hailed as the savior of the
country, and listened to with such def
erence by the highest in the land. His
letters reveal boyish delight in hay-
! ing the President wait upon him. and
|
| with eagerness to his words. Soon. all
too soon. he begins to think all this his
right. and to find fault with the veteran
Gen. Scott, who had the hardihood to
disagree with him and actually criticize
| MS plans. The next step is to find that
Scott is an obstructionist, who must b.
gotten out of the way. and all at once
he begins to talk about putting aside. as
a matter of conscience, the urgings thai
he become Dictator and save Tho conn.
try. The following letter to his wife
under date of Aug. 4, 1861, shows
this feeling amazingly developed Within
a few weeks after he had been called Il
Washington:
Il receive letter after letter have
conversation after conversation, calling
on me to save the Nation, alluding tC
the Presidency, Dictatorship, etc. AS
hope one day to be united with you in
Heaven l have no such aspiration.
would cheerfully take the Dictatorship
and agree TO lay down my life when thf
country Is saved. / am not spoiled b,
my unexpected new position | fec
sure that God will give me strength
and wisdom to preserve this great Ma.
ton. but j tell you, who share all m,
thoughts, that l have no selfish feeling
in this matter. j feel that God ha.
placed a great work in my hands
have not sought it,
i The letters to his wife show in 9
wonderful degree his untiring industry
which stopped at nothing to accomplish
the perfecting of the organization of hi.
army. There began at this time also
that astonishing exaggeration of the
forces Of the enemy and the diminutioT
Of his own which characterized McClel.
lan's career. We know now, and It Ger.
tainly seems that man Of McClelland':
ability. with the means he had Of pro-