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398 N.C. Department of Archives and History
little, for we were within five hundred yards of the fight when
Gen. Ransom's89 N.C. Brigade gallantly charged, and took one of
the enemy's batteries. We were under fire on Monday evening
from the enemy's gun-boats, and light artillery, but had no one
hurt in our Company, and only one or two in the Regiment.
We reached Camp about two or three o'clock last night, having
marched ever since sundown in the rain, and mud about ankle
deep. I do not feel it at all this morning, except that my feet are
a little sore. McClellan90 has been beautifully whipped, and I
think the Yankees have found out that they cannot get to Rich-mond
any easier this way, than they did by the way of Manassas.
The loss on both sides has been very heavy, and we have lost
many a gallant man, among them, Col. R. P. Campbell, of the 7th.
N.C. Regiment, from Statesville, and Col. C. C. Lee, of the 37th.
N.C, formerly an instructor in the N.C. Military Institute at
Charlotte.
We can hear very little news from the scene of the conflict, and
I expect that you hear more about it than we do.
89 Robert Ransom, Jr., (1828-1892), of Warren County, a graduate of West Point,
who, after an active army career as cavalryman, resigned in 1861, soon becoming
colonel of the First North Carolina Cavalry. He was promoted to brigadier general
in 1862 and major general in 1863. He commanded a North Carolina brigade in the
peninsula campaign to which this letter refers. He was a farmer and engineer after
the war. His brother, Matthew Whitaker Ransom, was also a Confederate general.
Boatner, Civil War Dictionary, 679.
90 George Brinton McClellan (1826-1885) was born in Philadelphia of Scottish
parentage. He attended the University of Pennsylvania but graduated from West
Point in 1846, second in his class of fifty-nine. Assigned to the engineers, he proved
to be an outstanding officer prior to his resignation in 1857 to become chief
engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1860 he was named president of the
Ohio and Mississippi. Soon after the Civil War began, McClellan was appointed
major general and given command of the Department of Ohio. He was instrumental
in keeping Kentucky in the Union before moving east where he achieved his most
notable successes and failures. A great organizer and administrator, he commanded
the Army of the Potomac, which he fashioned into an efficient military unit. His
master plan called for a move up the Virginia peninsula which would result in
the capture of Richmond. His moment of destiny came in the spring of 1862; but
this army was turned back by Johnston and Lee, and, although still intact, was
withdrawn at Lincoln's command. He commanded again at Antietam but failed
to follow up his advantage and was relieved of command. Advocating a negotiated
peace, he was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1864. After the war he was an
engineer. He was governor of New Jersey, 1878-1881. As a soldier he approached
greatness but never matured, perhaps because major responsibilities were thrust
on him too soon. Lost opportunities plagued him. Reluctant to engage, he over-estimated
the enemy numbers consistently. Unlike Grant, McClellan was never
willing to use an imperfect tool, regardless of the unpreparedness of the enemy.
One of his most serious weaknesses was a lack of awareness of the political realities
confronting the Lincoln government. Nevertheless, Lee considered McClellan his
ablest adversary. Oliver L. Spaulding, Jr., "George Brinton McClellan," Dictionary
ofAmerican Biography, XI, 581-585.
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| Title | Page 426 |
| Full Text | 398 N.C. Department of Archives and History little, for we were within five hundred yards of the fight when Gen. Ransom's89 N.C. Brigade gallantly charged, and took one of the enemy's batteries. We were under fire on Monday evening from the enemy's gun-boats, and light artillery, but had no one hurt in our Company, and only one or two in the Regiment. We reached Camp about two or three o'clock last night, having marched ever since sundown in the rain, and mud about ankle deep. I do not feel it at all this morning, except that my feet are a little sore. McClellan90 has been beautifully whipped, and I think the Yankees have found out that they cannot get to Rich-mond any easier this way, than they did by the way of Manassas. The loss on both sides has been very heavy, and we have lost many a gallant man, among them, Col. R. P. Campbell, of the 7th. N.C. Regiment, from Statesville, and Col. C. C. Lee, of the 37th. N.C, formerly an instructor in the N.C. Military Institute at Charlotte. We can hear very little news from the scene of the conflict, and I expect that you hear more about it than we do. 89 Robert Ransom, Jr., (1828-1892), of Warren County, a graduate of West Point, who, after an active army career as cavalryman, resigned in 1861, soon becoming colonel of the First North Carolina Cavalry. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1862 and major general in 1863. He commanded a North Carolina brigade in the peninsula campaign to which this letter refers. He was a farmer and engineer after the war. His brother, Matthew Whitaker Ransom, was also a Confederate general. Boatner, Civil War Dictionary, 679. 90 George Brinton McClellan (1826-1885) was born in Philadelphia of Scottish parentage. He attended the University of Pennsylvania but graduated from West Point in 1846, second in his class of fifty-nine. Assigned to the engineers, he proved to be an outstanding officer prior to his resignation in 1857 to become chief engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1860 he was named president of the Ohio and Mississippi. Soon after the Civil War began, McClellan was appointed major general and given command of the Department of Ohio. He was instrumental in keeping Kentucky in the Union before moving east where he achieved his most notable successes and failures. A great organizer and administrator, he commanded the Army of the Potomac, which he fashioned into an efficient military unit. His master plan called for a move up the Virginia peninsula which would result in the capture of Richmond. His moment of destiny came in the spring of 1862; but this army was turned back by Johnston and Lee, and, although still intact, was withdrawn at Lincoln's command. He commanded again at Antietam but failed to follow up his advantage and was relieved of command. Advocating a negotiated peace, he was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1864. After the war he was an engineer. He was governor of New Jersey, 1878-1881. As a soldier he approached greatness but never matured, perhaps because major responsibilities were thrust on him too soon. Lost opportunities plagued him. Reluctant to engage, he over-estimated the enemy numbers consistently. Unlike Grant, McClellan was never willing to use an imperfect tool, regardless of the unpreparedness of the enemy. One of his most serious weaknesses was a lack of awareness of the political realities confronting the Lincoln government. Nevertheless, Lee considered McClellan his ablest adversary. Oliver L. Spaulding, Jr., "George Brinton McClellan," Dictionary ofAmerican Biography, XI, 581-585. |
