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Gen. Mcclellan--what His Men Say Of Him

Gen. Mcclellan--what His Men Say Of Him image
Parent Issue
Day
9
Month
August
Year
1861
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Corresponrlence of the X, Y. Tribune. Washington, July 2'J, 1661. Tho only portion of tho forcea who have achieved the late victories untler Gen. McClellan, that camo to this city with hitn, is a company of thorouglily drilled ritlemen, mostly lrom Chicago, 111, called the Sturgcs Rifles, who act as a body guard to the General. They aro under the command of Oapt. Steel, of Chicago, and number 83 men, all of whom have been through the entire victorious campaigti in Western Virginia, have been in all the battles, and have been tried ia the fire and have never fiinched. Gen. McClellan is regarded by these men aa iüvincible - they say he never made a mietake, and I verily believo these 83 men would cheerfully march forth to night, alone, to attack the ontire rebel aimy at Manassas, ii Gen MoGlcllan should give tho order and lead the attack. Col. Lander, the aid of the commanding Genera!, now hero. is also highly esteemed by the men, who say he is tho most fearless of mortals, a thorough soldier, and an drnirable leader. üen. McClellan is one ol the loas pretentious of men - he generally wears the simple blouse of the riflemen, with not even the starred shoulder-strups to denote his rank - a man who nevei wastes time - who is indefatigable in his pursuit and atcack of the tneiny and equally untiring in his efforts to secure the utmost comfort oí his men compatible with the circumstances o] a soldier's life. When his line is on the rnaruh, he is ever among the men, with a kind and cheering word for every company ; a pleasent look, or kind salule, or hearty grasp of the hand for every officer or private with whom ho is broughton speaking tenns by buisness ; and in a fight he is always at the front of the column, in the tbiokest of the danger, encouraging his soldiers by a cheering word and fearless deed. He takes soldier's iare with the rest, asking ro hettor food, and no more lüxurious bed than the newest recruited private under his command. If he seea a man without proper shous or clothiog, be has that maa with his eaptafn sent to his own quarters, where the man is served with the garments he needs, and the captain receives a reprimand that leads him to look more ülosely aitcr the comfort of his noen in future. That such a man should be the idol of his ioldiers is not surprising. The measuro of their adoration lor hirn words fail to expresa, though the following slightly profane, but uncotnmonly emphatic statement of one of his meD, willperhaps approxituate it : 'We would every ooe of us, tight for old Mac tiil heil iroze over and then dio on the ice," whloh frigid sentiment was cordially indorsed by all whoheard it nttered. The who have served him so faithfully asert that a prominent characteristic of Gen. McClellan:s movements is their unexpeetedness. He keeps his own counsel till the last, the very kst moment, and the plan is only fully cotnprehended when the blow is struck. At one time he hired a full fleot of steamboats, consisting of eight. Evorybody expected, of course, a water expedition; the troops embarked, sailed a few miles as a blind, were suddenly taken on shore and marched overlanrï, and a decisivo land battlo was the result. Meanwhile, the eagor spies, who had seen the troops go on board, had carried the intulligeoco to the point on the Kanawha, or Ohio, to which they assumed the attack was to be direoted; a concentration of rebel troops thero was efftícted, whilo tho real attack was made elsewhere. It would indeed be curious, if, b a masterly strategy, Richmond should be taken, wbile the rebels prepare in vain to oapture Washington.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus