The National tribune., 1907-04-25

The high grade which Mcclellan had
attained brought him commission in
the Engineer Corps, and he was at once
assigned to the duty of organizing a
company of sappers and miners for the
Mexican War. He was then a hand
some, spirited, vigorous boy of 20, with
charming manners. His first duty was
helping trace the lines of investment
before Vera Cruz under Capt. Robert
E. Lee, First Lieut.. p. GOT. Beaure-
gard and Second Lieut.. Gil w. Smith.
Col Totten, the head of the Engineer
Corps reported that they had rendered
engineering services of inestimablc
value At Cerro Gordo his command
cleared the way for the assault of Gen.
Pillows columns, and while reconnoit-
ering at Pueblo he captured a Mexican
cavalryman. At Mexicalcingo Lieut..
Beauregard saved him from capture,
and at Contreras he mad two horses
killed under him while posting batteries,
and was finally knocked down by a
spent grapeshot striking the hilt of his
sword In the assault upon the City OF
Mexico he was before the San Cosme
Gate, and dug thru the walls of the
adobe houses TO reach the rear of a
Mexican battery, where he fell full
length into a ditch of water in which
he was nearly drowned. He received
brevets for gallant conduct at Contre-
ras, Churubusco and Chaputepec. He
was SO well liked in the Army that the
dispensers of honOrS gave him another
breVct, which he showed much spirit
and right feeling in refusing, for the
reason that he had not been present at
the battle for Moline del Rey. He re-
turned with his company to West Point,
and was employed for some time in ac-
lively drilling it. The French army was
then regarded as the model one of the
world. and Mcclellan took an enthu-
siastic interest in it. translating from
the French a manual of bayOnet exer-
else which it was supposed was going
to be of immense importance in future
fighting. He became a Captain in the
LIST u. S. Cav, had some service under
Capt. Randolph B. Marcy in exploring
the Indian frontier, and then was en-
gagged in soundings and harbor surveys
along the Texas coast. He was put in
charge of an exploring expedition
among the Cascade Mountains of Ore
gon and Washington. which was part of
the general scheme Of explorations for
a route for the Pacific Railroad. While
engaged in this he built wonderful
wagon road, which Is still pointed out
by the settlers in that country as an il
lustration of excellent and costly road
building over route which no one
cares to follow. He reported having
mountains in the Columbia River coun-
try. On his return from this duty he
was sent on Il secret mission to the
West Indies to select a coaling station,
and made a most judieioUs choice of
SANTANA Bay in Haiti. Secretary of War
Jefferson Davis. who regarded him
highly, selected him as the third mem
Der of a commission to visit Europe and
study the art of war as illustrated in
the Crimea. on his return he published
d book on the cavalry service. on which
arm he had become an enthusiast, but
the critics pointed out thatdt was most
ly compilation from aother books, and
had little in it of PERSONAL lobservation.
He was now 80 years OLD and seemed
to have gotten tired of military life and
TO feel that his talents could be en-
ployed in more congenfAl work He re-
signed from the Army January, 1857, to
receive an appointment as engineer OF
the Illinois Central Railroad. He seems
to have commended himself,to the man.
agement. for shortly afterward he was
elected Vice President and continued in
this employment for three years, still
approving himself to those around him.
for in 1860 he was elected President of
the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, run
ming from Cincinnati to ST. Louis.
2 In May, 1860, when SO Years old, he
married Miss Ellen Marcy, the daughter
of his old Captain, and the married life
of the couple was singularly harmonious
and happy
At the outbreak OF the war Gov. Dem
nison, of Ohio, a man of peace, a law
yer and a fine orator, found himself
overwhelmed with military matters and
questions of which he knew nothing.
He was in the railroad business himself
and thus had become acquainted with
Capt. Mcclellan, for whom he tele-
graphed. asking him to aid in the or
ganization of the Ohio militia. The
Legislature passed law under which
Capt. Mcclellan was appointed Major
General and Messrs. Schleich, Cox and
Bates Embellishments of Ohio Mill
tia Volunteers. May IA, upon the adj
vice of Gen. Scott. Capt. Mcclellan was
commissioned a Major-General in the
Regular Army with John c. Fremon5,
an act that Eade much bitterness
among the older Army officers. who
found themselves jumped by one very
much their junior and who II Id left the
Army for more profitable lines of en-
ployment. Among those jumped were
Brig Gems. Harvey and Wool, who had
spent their lives in the Army.
Gen. Mcclellan entered upon the
work of organizing the militia of the
State. and one of his first acts was to
enter into negotiations with Gen Buck
hcI, COMMANDING tne Iilliltid Oh heIi-
lucky, and make the strange agreement
with him that the territory of Ken
lucky should be respected on the part
of the United States even tho the
Southern States should occupy it, Gen.
Mcclellan afterward denied this agree
ment, but the documents supported it.
Union Troops Enter West Virginia.
Col. B. +. Kelley, a New Hampshire
man, but long a resident of Wheeling,
was among the leaders of the Union
element in that city, and at the first
call had begun the organization of Il
regiment at Camp Carlisle, named in
honor of the loyal Congressman from
the State, across the river from Wheel
ing. He speedily had LOO men en-
rolled in the LIST Va, as it was then
called, which subsequently became the
1st w. Va, and had started in upon the
organization of second regiment Gen.
Mcclellan, becoming alarmed by the
measures taken to secure possession of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, issued
orders for the troops along the river to
cross into Virginia, which they did with
in few days succeeding the advance
from Washington. May 26 Col. Kelley
was ordered with his own regiment and
four companies of the I'd w. Va to
cross the river at Wheeling and ad-
vance along the Baltimore & Ohio Rail
road toward Grafton, guarding the
bridges as he proceeded. Kelley began
his advance about o'clock on the
the 10th Ohio, crost at Bellair and
moved in support of Col! Kelley Col