Page:Once a Week Volume 7.djvu/606

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598
ONCE A WEEK.
[Nov. 22, 1862.

this may be a hint to gastronomes), to dress a fresh haddock is to stuff it with a veal stuffing, boil it, and afterwards serve it up with slices of lemon, and a port or claret sauce. Some use shrimp or lobster sauce; but the above is preferable.

The annual revenue of the “long-lining” cannot, of course, be estimated, but it is something very large; and the value of the cod caught on the British and Dutch coasts alone averages a great many thousand pounds sterling. The capital employed in the fishery is great, and as the “hands” of the cod smacks are usually paid good weekly wages, successful or not, the owners run considerable risk. In some boats the men are paid no wages, but take a share in the profits; but this is not usual. The expenses also, for bait, harbour-dues, wear-and-tear of lines, &c., &c., are very great; but, on the whole, the speculation is usually a good one for employer and employed. Of course much might be said of the Newfoundland fishery, which is quite a feature in itself, and of the various ways of curing and disposing of the fish, but the writer has already exceeded the limits he proposed.

Astley H. Baldwin.




THE AMERICAN GENERALS.


This week we resume and conclude our biographical sketches of the generals whose names of late have been most conspicuous in the records of Transatlantic war.

FEDERALS.

George B. Maclellan, of Pennsylvania, a cadet of 1842, won, as a lieutenant of Engineers, some credit and two brevets in Mexico; first organised the corps of U. S. Sappers and Miners; translated from the French a Manual of Bayonet Exercise for the use of the army; was, on account of his scientific attainments, despatched by the Executive to watch the operations of the Allied Armies in the Crimea; and, after criticising them somewhat harshly, subsequently left the service and engaged in civil engineering. I can add nothing as to his personal appearance to that which the able Special Correspondent of the “Times” has already told; and his recent military career is a sufficient criterion of his ability as a general.

John Pope, of Kentucky, a cadet of 1838, and afterwards of the Topographical Engineers, was twice brevetted during the Mexican campaigns. In 1861 he was an undistinguished captain of his corps, and I am at a loss to imagine how he attained to his recent eminent command, since daily observation of him during some months in 1845 and 1846 gave me no reason to conceive him possessed of any remarkable ability.

Henry Wager Halleck, of New York, a cadet of 1835, and of the Engineers; for a time one of the professors of the Military Academy; author of two works on “Bitumens,” and on the “Elements of Military Art and Science;” obtained a brevet for military services in California when that state was wrested from the Mexican Federation; was Secretary of State under the military government which followed its acquisition, and afterwards one of the convention which framed its state constitution in 1849. The political eminence which he had attained in that state led to his retiring from the army several years ago, and he has only resumed his sword at the call of the Federal Government.

Irvin McDowell, of Ohio, a cadet of 1834; as a lieutenant of the 1st Artillery served in the Mexican campaign, received a brevet, ere the close of the war was transferred to the Staff, and in 1861 was a brevet-major and assistant-adjutant-general. His name, previous to the present troubles, was known to me only as one of the Staff, and was not associated with any military achievement.

John Ellis Wool, of New York, entered the 13th Infantry in 1812, during the war with England; was present at the battles of Queenston and Plattsburgh; commanded a division of General Taylor’s army in Mexico; and was brevetted a major-general for having been present at the battle of Buena Vista. He is now a very old man, distinguished only by rank and long service, being generally regarded by the army to which he belongs as an imbecile.

Jos. J. K. Mansfield, of Connecticut, a cadet of 1817, served through the Mexican war as an Engineer officer; was once severely wounded, and once brevetted; and in 1861 was a colonel and inspector-general of the army. He wrote a common-place work on the Mexican campaign, and was a mild, kindly, old gentleman, never accused of any special ability.

Don Carlos Buell, of Ohio, an Infantry cadet of 1837, was present as a subaltern at all the battles in the valley of Mexico; once wounded, and once brevetted; and in 1861 was a brevet-major and assistant-adjutant-general. He has the reputation of being a very gallant soldier.

Edwin V. Sumner, of Massachusetts; entered the army in 1819, without passing through the usual preliminary instruction, as a lieutenant in the 2nd Infantry, and was Major of the 2nd Dragoons during the Mexican war. He was engaged in all the battles in the valley of Mexico; once wounded, and twice brevetted. During the Freesoil troubles in Kansas he was in military command there, was popularly known as “Old Bull of the Woods” from his shaggy beard and bluff equanimity, and acted throughout that struggle with great discretion. In 1861 he was colonel of the 1st Cavalry. He is esteemed an excellent Cavalry officer.

Jesse L. Reno, of Virginia, a cadet of 1842, subsequently of the Ordnance, was highly distinguished in command of a battery during the Mexican campaign, wherein he was severely wounded and twice brevetted. He was for a time mathematical professor at Westpoint, and in 1861 was junior captain of his corps.

Joseph Hooker, of Massachusetts, a cadet of 1833, afterwards of the 1st Artillery; received three brevets during the Mexican war; and retired from the army in 1848. Where he has been in the interim I cannot ascertain.

Philip Kearney, of New York, entered the 1st Dragoons in 1837; while yet a captain, commanded his regiment in all the engagements in the valley of Mexico, and lost his left arm from a wound received while pursuing the routed enemy