Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-26

IHE KUN 1SL4 N L
Of our visit 1 very pleasantly said
that 1 should be glad to learn it.
whereupon Buckingham handed me
the two orders of which he was the
bearer.
81 saw that both, especially Buck
ingham, were watching me most in
tently while / opened and read the
orders l read the papers with a
smile, Immediately turned to Burnside
and said, Well, Burnside, / turn the
command over to you"
The movements of troops that had
already been begun were completed on
the Sth and 9th at General Burnside's
General McClellan's plans stopped.
Burnside turned to the left and massed
his army on the Rappahannock. oppo-
site Fredericksburg; Lee conformed to
this movement, called in Jackson, and
concentrated on the opposite heights.
On the 10th Mcclellan babe farewell
to the army OF the Potomac. AS he
rode between the lines, formed almost
of their own accord to do honor for
the last time to their beloved comman-
der, grief and disappointment were on
every face and manly tears stood in
many an eye that had learned to look
on war without a tremor.
History" he said to the officers
who crowded around him-"history will
do justice to the Army of the Potomac
even If the present generation does
not. 1 feel as If had been intimately
connected with each and all Of you.
Nothing is more binding than the
friendship of comprehensive in arms.
May you all in future preserve the
high reputation Of our army and serve
all as. well and faithfully as you have
served me-"
Excitement Among the Troops.
On the 18th, at Warrenton Junction,
he entered with his staff a railroad
train that was about to start toward
Washington Here there was station
ed detachment of 1000 troops. They
were drawn up in line, and a salute
was he u1Cn lncu OLOhc lnC1l
ranks, surrounded the car in which he
was seated, uncoupled 1t from the train
and ran it back, insisting wildly that
he should not leave them and utter
ing the bitterest imprecations against
those who had deprived them of Their
beloved commander.
The scene has been described by an
officer who was present "as one OF
fearful excitement The moment was
critical One word, one look of encour
agement, the lifting of a finger, would
have been the signal for a revolt
against lawful authority the conse.
quences of which no man can measure
Mcclellan stepped upon the front plat
form of the car, and there was instant
silence" His address was short. L
ended in the memorable words. 'StanG
by General Burnside as you have stood
by me and all will be well" The
soldiers were Gained. They rolled thu
car onward. recoupled it to the traiI
and with one long and mournful huzz,
babe farewell to their late commander
In all that these brave men did, il
all that they suffered, and great wer,
their deeds, unspeakable their suffer
ings, never, perhaps, were their devo
ton and loyalty more nobly provet
than by their instant obedience to thi
order. unwisely wrung fromthe presi
dent as many of them believed 1t T.
have been, yet still for them. as Amer
lean soldiers. as American citizens, Al
implicit mandate.
General Burnside called a council o
the corps commanders present, o
whom there were six, and made know
some of els plans. He had decided I
form greater units by combining tw
corps under one leader The arm,
would proceed rapidly to Fredericks
/ burg and there cross the river.
! General Mcclellan had already di
rected that a train of pontoons 70
! bridging the river be forwarded a
once. The boats were then-Nov. g.
in a bridge on the Potomac, near Han
pers Ferry. The history Of the move
ment turns on the late arrival Of tn
train. Burnside waited for the boats
| "GlG Jul 1C" J.
Fredericksburg. and its seizure woul
have been an easy matter. In fact, ne
Their Burnside nor his generals expect
ed that possession Of the town woul
be disputed
Other Events of the Week.
While the armies of General W.
Rosecrans and General Braxton Brag
were maneuvering for the advantag
in Kentucky and northern Tennessee
Confederate force was threatenin
Nashville. General ]. G. Breckinridg
commanded the troops engaged in th
so called siege Of this Important pos
! Nashville was Indispensable to th
Federal plan Of campaign in Tenne
see and General n. B. Forrest. the VII