mand that leads him to look more closely after the 
comfort of his men in future. 
The task before McClellan is one which will put 
his Generalship to the severest test. The misfortunes 
of others have made It easier by proving its magni¬ 
tude and showing some ways, at least, in which it can 
not bo done. We trust he will discover how to do it. 
This thing is certain, and this only as yet—that he 
has thus far been more successful than any other 
officer who has beeu vested with important command 
in this department, in impressing those who have 
met him with a sense of his energy, prudence, and 
presistent genius. We have so long and sadly felt 
the want of a leader that we are willing to believe in 
our “Young General,” and may be pardoned for 
making much of him. 
You have proved that Union men who licht for the 
preservation of our Government, are more than a 
match for onr misguided and erring brothers. More 
than this, you showed mercy to the vanquished. You 
hove Ih'.ule Jong and arduous marches with insuffi¬ 
cient food, frequently exposed to the inclemency of 
the weather. 
1 have not hesitated to demand this of you, feeling 
that I could rely on your endurance, patriotism, and 
courage. In the future I may have still greater de¬ 
mands to make upon you and still greater sacrifices 
for you to offer. It shall be my care ta provide for 
you to the extent of my nhility, but T know now that 
by your valor ami endurance you will accomplish all 
that is asked. Soldiers. I have confidence in yon, 
and l trust you have learned to confide in me. Re¬ 
member that discipline and subordination are quali¬ 
ties of equal value with courage. I am proud to say 
that you have gained the highest reward that Ameri¬ 
can troops can receive—the thanks of Congress, and 
the applause of your IVllow citizens. 
0. B. McClellan, Major General. 
The disaster to the federal Army before Manassas 
soon followed, and threw its cloud over the triumphs 
in the Western portion of the "Old Dominion.” 
When our troops came back to Washington, weary, 
dispirited, defeated, the question uroso:—“Who will 
gather together the fragments, and complete the 
work of re organization aud re-oonstruotion?” It 
was evident that there had been a looseness of dis¬ 
cipline, a laxity of regulation, and some one must 
be put in charge who, while Kinking each soldier 
feel the strictness of military life and the necessity 
for self-denial, would Inspire to lofty heroism all with 
whom lie came in contact. All eyes turned to the 
young hero, and he came to bring regularity and 
precision out of the chaos which prevailed. With 
what measure of success his efforts met, may be in¬ 
ferred from n single paragraph in the correspondence 
Of the N. Y. Baptist Examiner. Under the caption, 
“A week of McClellan,” that journal said:—“As 
to the army, it is hardly the same body of men who 
returned with disordered ranks and broken spirits 
from before the masked batteries of * Bloody Run.’ 
Better one week of McClellan, than a whole year 
of the red-tape ollioials who preceded him. The 
rapidity with which he has restored good order, 
strict discipline, and confidence, is almost miracu¬ 
lous. We are almost willing to look upon our 
repulse as a blessing in disguise, while considering 
this portion of its consequences. Never was the 
army in better spirits, or so anxious to he brought 
once more face to face with its rebel opponents. 
When or where that opportunity will be given, we 
can only conjecture. Wo in Washington are as 
much in the dark as are you in New York, as to what 
may he occurring on the southern bank of the 
Potomac. No more strolling crowds of new Hedged 
lieutenants retail the orders of the day, ‘in strict 
confidence,’ to admiring and loose-tongued inti¬ 
mates.” 
One evening quite recently the newspaper re¬ 
porters in aud about Washington received the follow¬ 
ing epistle: 
" Washington, August 5. 
“ Gen. McClellan’s compliments to the gentlemen 
of the Press, and he would be pleased to see them at 
headquarters, corner of Nineteenth street and Penn¬ 
sylvania Avenue, at'.) o’clock this evening.” 
Of course such an iuvitation could not well be 
declined, and one whose politeness would not permit 
him to absent himself on such an occasion thus 
describes “ ^he Mao of our hope”: 
“A writer would err in describing Gen, McClellan 
if he should adopt Sterne's method of presenting the 
that of leaving a blank 
(Jen. Butler ou Contraband*. 
Early the present month Gen. Butler, then iu 
command of Portress Monroe, addressed a letter to 
the Secretary of War, asking for information relative 
to the. disposition of the slaves then flocking to his 
quarters and claiming his protection. We have 
delayed its publication in order to present the query 
and the response of Secretary Cameron together, 
and now lay both before our readers. Both are well 
worthy of an attentive perusal: 
Hbaihiu.miters Department op Vikoinia, ) 
FomtuksS Monrok, .tiitv 80,18*51 i 
Hon. Simon CaMKHOn, Sec«8TARY of War— Sir: 
By an order received on the morning of the 26th of 
July, from Major General Mix, by a telegraphic order 
from Lieut.-Gen. Scott, 1 ivits commanded to forward 
of the troops of this department, four regiments and 
a half. Including Col. Baker’s California regiment, to 
Washington via Baltimore. This order reached me 
at, 2 o’clock A. M., by a special boat from Baltimore. 
Believing that It emanated because of some pressing 
exigency for the defence of Washington, I Issued iny 
orders before daybreak for the embarkation of the 
troops, sendlug those who were among the very best 
regiments I had. In the course of the following day 
they were all embarked for Baltimore, with the 
exception of some 400, for whom I hud not transpor¬ 
tation, although I had all the transport, force in the 
hands of the Quartermaster here, to aid the Bay line 
of steamers, which, bv the same order from the 
Lieutenant-General, was directed to furnish trans¬ 
portation. 
Up to and at the time of the order, I had been pre¬ 
paring for an advance movement by which I hoped 
to cripple the resources of the enemy at Yorktown, 
and especially by seizing a large quantity of negroes 
who were being pressed into their service In building 
the entrenchments there. T had five days previously 
been enabled to mount for the first time the first 
company of Light Artillery, which I hsd been em¬ 
powered to raise, and they had hut a single rifled can¬ 
non — an iron six pounder. Of course everything 
must and did yield to the supposed exigency and the 
orders. This ordering away the troops from this 
department, while it weakened The posts at Newport 
News, necessitated the withdrawal of the troops from 
Hampton, where I was then throwing up intrenched 
works to enable rap to hold the town with a Bmall 
force, while 1 advanced up York or JameB river. In 
the village of Hampton there were a largo number of 
negroes, composed In a great measure of women and 
children of the men who had fled thither within my 
lines for protection, who had escaped from maraud¬ 
ing parties of rebels, who had been gathering up 
able bodied blacks to aid them in constructing their 
batteries on the James and York rivers. I had em¬ 
ployed the men in Hampton in throwing np intrench 
wants, and they were working zealously and efll- 
ciently at tl.at. duty, saving our soldiers from that 
labor under the gleam of the mid-day sun. The 
women were earning substantially their own Sub¬ 
sistence in washing, marketing, and taking care of 
the clothes of the soldiers, and rations were being 
served nut to the men who worked for the support of 
their children. 
But by the evacuation of Hampton, rendered neces¬ 
sary by the withdrawal of our troops, leaving me 
scarcely 5,000 men outside the Port, including the 
Heaven's blessings upon it? Its stars never shone 
With a luster so pure and so warm; 
Like a beacon’s calm ray. pointing out the safe way, 
They gleam through this gathering storm. 
Their heart cheering light led our fathers aright 
Through all the dark peiils they knew; 
The same magic glow shall lead ns to the foe, 
And guide us to Victory, too!” 
ROCHESTER X. Y., AUGUST 31, 1861 
invasion, from threats and schemes of vengeance or 
conquest from the North,” it remarks, “but the ends 
which a defensive policy was designed to accom¬ 
plish, if we are not mistaken, are now attained. 
Enough has been done to vindicate the purity of 
motive which inspires the South, and to exhibit the 
rage for conquest and thirst for blood which actuate 
the North in the present war. Enough has been done 
to give the North time to panse and reflect on the 
threshold, and beyond the threshold, and open the 
door to a Just settlement of the controversy, without 
forcing us to the necessity of undertaking to conquer 
a peace as peace only can bo conquered when one 
nation wantonly persists in warring upon another 
nation. The action of the Federal Congress now in 
session, proves that the Northern people have not yet 
drank sufficiently of the bloody chalice. Since that 
body has indorsed Lincoln's military usurpations, 
and proclaimed a war of extermination, or worse 
than extermination, against the South, no medicine 
but the bitterest dregs of that cup can cure the North 
of its insane thoughts and horrid purposes of hos¬ 
tility. Its people should be made to feel, and feel 
sharply, at lea*t a portion of the desolation they 
would inflict on us. We should follow the power 
that has been let luose for our destruction to its own 
fastness, and there straugte it till It Is prostrate aud 
helpless in our grasp. No Potomac border, no 
invisible boundary line, no false neutrality of terri¬ 
tory, shonld stay the energy of our arms directed »o 
the speedy conquest of peace. Where the first blow 
will be struck, and how it will he struck, it is uot for 
a Southern journal at this moment to ask or to 
answer. That is a matter which we can well afford 
to leave to the vigilance and sagacity of our Govern¬ 
ment anil its Generals. Two Confederate armies ary 
already in Missouri: another may shortly be in Mary¬ 
land, with the Federal Government a fugitive before 
it, seeking safety iu Pennsylvania. But we need not 
anticipate events or special points of strategy. The 
public may well be content to remain in doubt, if the 
enemy is kept in perplexity.” 
A M At'N I Ft CENT Programme, —The Richmond Dis¬ 
patch of the 10th argues against the policy of taking 
Washington, and urges the movement on Philadel¬ 
phia. We quote: 
Determined to wage this war with proper vigor, 
the Secretary of War has urged the raising of live 
hundred thousand men at once. Responding to 
the call, our people will eagerly rush to arms at once, 
and by the loth of September, at latest, an army of 
one hundred and twenty-five thousand men could he 
concentrated upon the Maryland border, leaving fifty 
thousand men to guard the approach to Richmond, 
and appropriate forces to defend Acquia Creek, Nor¬ 
folk, and all other needed points. Our column could 
then take up its march, not for Washington, but for 
Philadelphia. Let ns strike at the fountain head, the 
vast receptacles of Northern stores, and the work¬ 
shops from which they fit out their armies. It would 
he far easier for us to take Philadelphia than 
to capture Washington. Even if we should give 
them notice of our intention to pursue this 
course, they would not believe us, and our army 
would be far on its road through Pennsylvania 
spring was assigned to duty iu the expedition for the 
exploration of the Red River. Thence he was ordered 
to Texas as senior engineer on the staff of Gen. Prr- 
si per F. Smith, ami was engaged for some months 
in surveying the rivers and harbors ol that State. In 
18153 he was ordered to frtie Pacific coast, iu command 
of the western division of the survey of tho North 
Pacific Railroad route. He returned to the coat in 
1854, on duty connected with the Pacific survey, and 
was engaged also in secret service to the West. Indies. 
The next year lie received a commission in the first 
regiment of cavalry, and was appointed a member of 
the commission which went to the war in the Crimea 
and in Northern Russia. Major McClellan's report 
on the “ Organisation of European Armies, and the 
Op »rations of the War ” — a quarto volume, em¬ 
bodying the result of hi* observations in the Crimea— 
greatly enhanced his reputation as a scientific soldier. 
In January, 1857, weary of inaction, he resigned 
his position in the army to become vice-president and 
engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad, which post 
ho hold for three years, when he was offered and 
accepted the presidency of the Ohio and Mississippi 
Railroad, of which he was also general superin¬ 
tendent. When our domestic troubles assumed for¬ 
midable dimensions, Major McClellan's services 
were at once called into hequiaition. tie was offered 
and accepted the commaml of the Ohio forces, On 
.May 1 Ith, he received a commission as major general 
in the United States army, and assumed command of 
the Department of Ohio, which comprised till the 
States of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and that part of 
Virginia lying north of the Great Kanawha River and 
west of Green Briar River and tho Maryland line, 
with so much of Pennsylvania as lies west of a line 
drawn from the Maryland line to the north-east cor¬ 
ner of McKean county. 
It is nut. necessary I bat we should review his career 
in connection with the Ohio Department. Suffice it 
to say that in a few weeks he put an end to secession 
in Western Virginia, h id routed and cut up the army 
of rebels with a celerity of movement, a brilliancy 
of action and effectiveness of execution, that indorsed 
him as “the right man iu tho right place.” His 
proclamations to the soldiers of the “ Army of the 
West,” as exhibiting the character of their young 
General, will hear re-pnblication: 
Soldiers o f the A run/ of the West ' 
Yon are here to support the government of your 
country, and to protect the lives and liberties of your 
brethren, theatetied’ by a rebellious and traitorous 
foe. No higher or nobler duty could devolve ou you; 
and T expect you to bring to its performance the 
lady iu ‘Tristram Shandy 
page for each one to impress with the portrait, of his 
own ideal, for the young commander does not in tho 
least fulfill tho conditions of a conventional military 
hero. Those who attended tho Press reception found 
themselves in tin ante-room, where a soldier stood 
before them, so rough in fatigue dress, and iu every 
way so unassumiug that they of course supposed 
him to be the General’s orderly iu waiting. But 
when, to their surprise, ho was announced as the 
ollieer they had como to see, he must have half re¬ 
pented of his invitation, since ft man was never more 
instantly beset with a more curiously interested 
throng. He had been riding for hours, on a recon 
noissanee up the Potomac, and bad just returned, 
covered with perspiration and dust. 
Bo the party found themselves conferring with an 
officer wearing a loose blue fatigue coat, and with no 
insignia of his rank; a man hardly up to the medium 
height, hut very muscular — almost thick-set — so 
strong and wiry that you would trust him to bend a 
gun-barrel across his knee, or pass forty-eight hours 
without food or sleep, aud then win a battle. Dark 
brown hair and moustache were scarcely iu contrast 
with the complexion of his face, tanned by a two 
months’ exposure to sun and storm. As for liis eyes, 
they are said to be of that impassive gray which of 
late has been deemed the special prerogative of men 
of arms and “ destiny.” All were struck with his un 
imposing and youthful appearance, agreeing that the 
thirty-four years claimed for him in the army record 
seemed to many by half-a-dozen. 
Before the general had spoken twenty words be 
quite won the hearts of his guests- rueu familiar with 
all sorts of pretenders and a few real heroes —by the 
straightforward common sense with which he gave 
their profession its due, and desired Its co-operation 
in the labors before him. In the West, he said, a few 
newspaper correspondents bad been his campaign 
companions; they had conformed to his notions, and 
he had found no cause to regret their acquaintance. 
The gentlemen present knew, much better than him¬ 
self, what should be published and what not. lie 
would confide the whole matter of transmitting news 
to their own hands, aud hoped they would take soma 
Buell action as would be an example for adoption 
elsewhere. As for the actual campaign, he didn't 
want a dozen civilians passing through the lines, and 
runniug into cross-fires without orders or organiza¬ 
tion. On the whole, he thought he might take a few 
correspondents of leading newspapers on hi3 staff, 
fit them out respectably, and consider them part of 
the regular service.” 
Among the soldiers Gen. McClellan is one of the 
least pretentious mortals. He generally wears the 
simple blouse of the riflemen, with not even the 
starred shoulder-straps to denote his rank — u man 
' who is indefatigable in his pursuit and attack of the 
1 enemy, and equally untiring iu bis efforts to secure 
the utmost comfort of his men, compatible with the 
circumstances of a soldier’s life. When his line is 
on the march, he is ever among the men, with a kind 
and cheering word for every company; a pleasant 
look, or kind salute, or hearty grasp of the hand for 
every officer or private with whom he is brought on 
i speaking terms by business; and in a fight he Is 
\ always at the front of the column, in the thickest of 
; the danger, encouraging his Boldicrs by cheeriug 
1 word and fearless deed. He takes soldiers’ fare with 
5 the rest, asking no better food and no more luxurious 
l bed than the newest recruited private under his com- 
■ mand. If he sees a man without proper shoes or 
[ clothing, he has that man, with his captain, sent to 
f his quarters, where the man is served with the gar- 
. tnents he needs, and the captain receives a repri- 
property, <>r is it a mixed relation? What their 
status was under the constitution and laws wo all 
know. What has been the effect of rebellion atid a 
state of war upon that, stains? When T adopted tho 
theory of treating the able-bodied negro fit to work 
in the trenches as property liable to he used in aid of 
rebellion, and so contraband of war, that condition 
of things was iu so far met as I then and still believe, 
on a legal and constitutional basis. But now a new 
series of questions arise. Bussing by women, the 
children certainly cannot lie treated on that basis; If 
property, they must be considered the incumbrance 
rather than tin- auxiliary of an army, and, of course, 
in no possible legal relation could be treated as con¬ 
traband. Are they property? If they were so, they 
have been 1 pft by their masters and owner *, deserted, 
thrown away, abandoned, like tho wrecked ve-sel 
upon the ocean. Their former possessors and own¬ 
er* have causelessly, traitorously, rebelliously, and, 
to carry out the figure, practically abandoned them 
to be swallowed up by the winter storm of starvation. 
If property, do they not become the property of 
the salvors? But we, their salvors, do not need and 
will not hold such property, and will assume no such 
Ownership; has riot therefore all proprietary relation 
ceased? Have they not become thereupon men, wo¬ 
men, and children? No longer under ownership of 
any kind, the fearful relicts of fugitive masters, have 
they not by their masters’ acts, and tire state of war, 
assumed the condition, which we hold to be the 
normal one, of those made in God's image. Is not 
every constitutional, legal and moral requirement, as 
well to tho runaway master as tbeir relinqiiMiod 
slaves, thus answered? I confess that, my own mind 
is compelled by this reasoning to look upon them as 
men and women. If not free born, yet free, manu¬ 
mitted, sent forth from the hand that held them, 
never to be reclaimed. * 
Of course if this reasoning thus imperfectly set 
forth is correct, my duty as a humane man is very 
plain. I should take the same care of these men, wo¬ 
men and children, houseless, homeless and unpro¬ 
vided for, as I would of the same number of men, wo¬ 
men and children who, for their attachment to the 
Union, had been driven or allowed t** flee from the 
Confederate States. I shonld have no doubt on this 
question had I not seen it stated that an order had 
been Gutted by Gen. McDowell in bis department sub¬ 
stantially forbidding all fugitive slaves from coming 
within his lines, or being harbored tliero. Is that 
order to be enforced in all Military Departments? If 
so, who are to be considered fugitive slaves? T* a 
slave to be considered fugitive, whose master runs 
away aud leave* him? Is it. forbidden to the troops 
to aid or harbor within their lines the negro children 
who are found therein, or is the soldier, when his 
march has destroyed their means ol Subsistence, to 
allow them to starve because he ha* driven oil the 
rebel master? Now slmll the Commander of a regi¬ 
ment or hattaliion sit In judgment upon the question, 
whether any given black man has fled from hla mas¬ 
ter, or bis master lied from him? Indeed, how are 
the free-born to distinguish? Is one any more or less 
a fugitive, slave because he has labored on the rebel 
entrenchments? If he ha* so labored, if 1 under- 
Major-General McClellan. 
In the issue of the Ecral for June 15th, while 
making pen-and-ink sketches of the more important 
army officers which the National difficulties bad 
thrown to the surface, we remarked that, time alone 
could determine whether “the trial would bring out 
its controlling genius,—a Washington, a Napoleon, 
a Jackson, a Gakiealiu, or a second Scott,” —and 
we take great pleasure in presenting the portrait of 
the man who has already been dignified as the 
American Napoleon, — Major General Gkobgk U. 
McClellan. 
Our hero was born in Philadelphia, December 3d, 
182(1. His father was a distinguished surgeon. At 
sixteen, young McClellan entered West Point, and 
graduated in the class of 1840, a second lieutenant 
of engineers. Until the Mexican war, he had no 
opportunity of distinguishing himself, and then for 
gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Con¬ 
treras arid Chtrubusco, be was brevetted first lieuten¬ 
ant. For his gallant conduct at the battle of Molino 
del ltey, on .September ftth, 1847, be was offered a 
brevet eaptuincy, which he declined, but subsequently 
was advanced fur like gallantry displayed in the bat¬ 
tle of Cbepnltepoc, and received the command of a 
company of sappers, miners, and pontoniers, in May, 
