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OF  TH1 
UNIVERSITY 


UNITED  STA 


HISTORY 


OP  THE 


UNITED    STATES, 


PROM 

THE  EARLIEST  PERIOD 


TO   THE 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHNSON. 


J.  A.  SPENCER,  D.  D., 

JIHMBEE   OP  THE    AMERICAN    ETHNOLOGICAL    SOCIETY   AUTHOR   Of   "EGYPT   AND   THB    HOLY 

LAND,"   ETC.,   ETC.,   ETC. 


foitjj  {fufljlir  Jfmrsjjrir  StctI  <£ttigrsijm0s, 


INCLUDING 


HISTORICAL  SCENES  AND  FULL-LENGTH  PORTRAITS, 

FROM   ORIGINAL  PAINTINGS   BY  LEUTZE,    WEIR,   POWELL,   CffAPPEL,   NAST, 
AND    OTHER   AMERICAN  ARTISTS. 


VOLUME  IV. 

IJUfo-  fork 

JOHNSON,  FRY  AND  COMPANY, 

27    BEEKMAN    STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  ot  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundre-1  and  sixtj-six, 

BY    JOHNSON,    F°T    &    COMPANY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  ior  the  Southerr  District  of  New  York. 


Add  to  Lib* 
Ci^A 
GIFT 


73 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    IV 


BOOK    EIGHTH. 


FROM  THE  INAUGURATION  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  TO  THE  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 


CHAPTER    I. 

1861. 
THE  NEW  ADMINISTRATION  :    ITS  DETERMINATION. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  journey  to  Washington 11,  12 

Inaugural  address  and  cabinet 12-14 

Cheerless  prospect  before  Mr.  Lincoln 14 

General  Scott's  plans,  excitement,  etc 14,  15 

Hesitancy  of  the  administration 16 

Confederate,  secession  assumptions 16,  17 

Fort  Sumter,  bombardment,  etc 17,  18 

Rebel  boasting,  feeling  at  the  North 18 

Call  for  75,000  troops 19 

Davis  calls  for  privateers 20 

Blockade,  Davis's  "  Let  alone,"  etc 21 

CHAPTER    II. 

1861. 
PROGRESS  OF  EVENTS  :    UPRISING   OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

Position  of  Virginia. 22 

Secession,  attack  on  Harper's  Ferry 23 

Navy  Yard  at  Norfolk,  great  loss 24 

Eagerness  to  attack  Washington 25 

Baltimore,  passage  of  troops,  riot,  etc 26,  27 

General  B.  F.  Butler's  energetic  course 28 

Habeas  corpus  suspension 29 

Patriotic  speeches,  etc 29,  30 

President  calls  for  more  troops 31 

Activity  of  the  rebels 31 

Ellsworth  killed  at  Alexandria 32 

Davis  and  rebel  Congress 33 

Skirmishes,  Fairfax  Court  House,  etc 34,  35 

Loyal  troops  on  the  Potomac 35 

Spirit  of  the  people,  Senator  Douglas's  death 36 

CHAPTER    III. 

1861. 
POSITION  OF  AFFAIRS  IN  THE  BORDER  STATES. 

Kentucky  and  Governor  Magoffin's  course 37,  38 

Anderson,  Grant,  Sherman 39 


Missouri,  Lyon's  activity 40 

Governor  Jackson  calls  out  the  militia 41 

Western  Virginia,  convention  at  Wheeling 42 

General  McClellan's  course 43 

Rebels  at  Beverly,  Laurel  Hill,  etc 44 

Eastern  Tennessee,  loyal 45 

Sufferings  of  the  people 46 

Andrew  Johnson 47 

Relative  position  of  loyal  and  rebel  states 47,  48 

CHAPTER    IV. 

1861. 
CONGRESS  IN  SESSION  :    BULL  RUN  DISASTER. 

Thirty-seventh  Congress,  extra  session 49 

President's  message,  etc 50,  51 

Army,  navy,  treasury  reports 51,  52 

Resolute  determination  of  Congress 54 

Confiscation  bill,  etc 54 

Rebel  Congress,  Davis's  spirit,  etc 55,  56 

"  On  to  Richmond  !"    Paterson's  course 56 

General  McDowell  and  the  Grand  Army 57 

Battle  of  Bull  Run 58-60 

Numbers  on  the  field,  losses,  etc 60,  61 

Effect  of  the  disaster  in  the  loyal  states 61,  62 

CHAPTER    V. 

1861. 

FOREIGN    RELATIONS    AND    POLICY  :    PRIVATEERING  : 
TRENT  AFFAIR. 

Importance  of  relations  with  England,  etc 62,  63 

Feeling  in  England  and  France  not  friendly 64,  65 

Belligerent  character  accorded 65,  66 

Efforts  of  Yancey,  Rost  and  Mann 66 

Neutrality,  Louis  Napoleon,  etc 66,  67 

Friendly  spirit  of  Russia 67 

Privateering  question,  difficulties,  etc 67,  68 

Rebel  privateers,  Tillman's  heroism 70 

Mason  and  Slidell  in  the  Trent 1 .     71 

Captain  Wilkes  captures  them 72 

Rebel  commissioners  given  up 75,  74 

(iii) 


M8005G3 


IV 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  IV. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

186L 

NAVAL  AND  MILITARY  OPERATIONS  DURING  LATTER 
HALF  OF  THE  TEAR. 

Expedition  to  Hatteras  Inlet 75,  76 

Reduction  of  the  forts — valuable  success 77 

Fort  Pickens  and  rebels  at  Pensacola 78 

Bombardment  of  Barrancas  and  McRae 79 

Ram  Manassas  in  the  Mississippi 80 

Dupont  and  Sherman  at  Port  Royal 81 

Bombardment  and  success 81,  82 

Efforts  to  secure  the  cotton 83 

Affairs  in  Missouri 83,  84 

Sigel  and  Lyon — forces,  plans,  etc 84 

Battle  of  Wilson's  Creek— Lyon  killed 85, 86 

Fremont  in  Missouri 86 

Cairo  and  Bird's  Point  reinforced 87 

Fremont's  proclamation — Goes  after  Price 87 

Superseded  by  Hunter,  who  retreats 88,  89 

General  Grant  and  Belmont 89 

CHAPTER    VII. 

1861. 
AFFAIRS  IN  VIRGINIA  :    ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

Wise,  Floyd,  Carnifes  Ferry 90 

Lee  and  his  plans 91 

McClellan's  labors,  sabbath  order,  etc 92 

Memorandum,  extracts  from 92,  93 

Review,  condition  of  the  army,  etc 94 

Military  arrests,  etc 94 

Ball's  Bluff— Colonel  Baker  killed 96, 97 

Scott  retires  :  McClellan  general-in- chief 97 

Dix,  Ord  and  Stuart 98 

McClellan  not  ready  to  move 98 

Rebel  Congress,  Davis,  etc 99, 100 

CHAPTER    VIII, 

1861. 
MEETING  OF  CONGRESS  :    CLOSING  OF  THE  YEAR. 

Thirty-seventh  Congress,  second  session 101 

President's  message,  reports,  etc 101-103 

Slavery  question — Debates,  etc 104,  105 

Confiscation  bill 105 

State  of  affairs  at  close  of  1861 105,  106 

Public  sentiment — McClellan's  delays 106 

Exchange  of  prisoners 106 

Foreign  policy — Rebel  position 107, 108 

CHAPTER  IX. 

1862. 

OPERATIONS  IN  THE  WEST:   MILL  SPRINGS,  FORT 
DONELSON,   ETC. 

Buell  in  Kentucky 109 

Johnston,  rebel  commander 109 

Garfield  pursues  Marshall 110 


Zollicoffer  and  Crittenden  at  Mill  Springs 110,  111 

Iron-clads,  mortar  boats,  etc Ill,  112 

President's  war  order ...  112 

Capture  of  Fort  Henry 113 

Strength  of  Fort  Donelson 114 

Attack  by  gunboats  unsuccessful 114,  115 

Fort  Donelson  captured,  great  success,  etc 115, 116 

Nashville  taken  possession  of 116 

Andrew  Johnson,  military  governor  of  Tennessee.  116 

Columbus  abandoned  by  the  rebels 117 

General  Curtis  pursues  Price 118 

Curtis's  address — Three  days'  battle 118, 119 

CHAPTER  X. 

1862. 
BURN8IDE  EXPEDITION  :    OPERATIONS  ON  THE  SOUTH 

ERN  COAST. 
Expedition  under  Burnside  and  Goldsborough. . . .  120 

Delays,  bad  passage,  etc 121 

Capture  of  Roanoke  Island 121,  122 

Address  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina 123 

Expedition  against  Newbern — Success,  etc 124 

Successes  of  Rodgers,  Dupont  and  Wright 125 

Edisto  Island  occupied 1 26 

Washington's  Birthday,  celebration  of 126 

Jeff.  Davis's  inaugural  address,  etc 127, 128 


CHAPTER    XI. 

1862. 
OPERATIONS  IN  VIRGINIA:   MERRIMAC  AND  MONITOR. 

McClellan's  delays,  and  the  war  order,  etc 128,  129 

The  rebel  Jackson's  attack 130 

Manassas  abandoned,  rebel  shrewdness 131 

McClellan  relieved  of  command  in-6hief 132 

Important  contest,  Merrhnac  and  Monitor 133 

The  Cumberland  and  Congress  destroyed 134 

The  Monitor  arrives — Victory  gained 135,  136 

Shields's  success  over  Jackson 137 

Troops  embark  for  the  Peninsula 137 

Blenker's  troops  and  McDowell's  corps  detached  .  138 
Siege  of  Yorktown — President's  letter,  etc. . .  138-140 


CHAPTER    XII. 

1862. 
ISLAND  NO.  10  :    SHILOH,  OR  PITTSBURG  LANDING. 

Rebel  defences  on  the  Mississippi 140,  141 

General  Pope  takes  New  Madrid 142 

Bombardment  of  Island  No.  10— Captured. . .  142,  143 

Advance  of  Grant's  troops 143,  144 

Beauregard  at  Corinth,  Miss 144 

Battle  of  Shiloh,  or  Pittsburg  Landing 145 

Tremendous  conflict — Buell  arrives 145,  146 

Congress  in  session,  action  of,  etc 147-149 

Slavery  abolished  in  District  of  Columbia 148 

Rebel  Congress,  its  notions,  etc 149,  150 


CONTENTS   OF   VOL.  IV. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

1862. 

NAVAL  OPERATIONS  :    CAPTURE  OP  NEW  ORLEANS. 

pAai 

Fort  Pulaski,  bombardment,  surrender 150-152 

Fort  Macon  assaulted  and  taken 152,  153 

Mississippi  blockade,  Ship  Island,  etc 154 

Gen.  B.  F.  Butler  and  Admiral  Farragut 154 

Bombardment  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip. . . .  155 
New  Orleans  taken,  the  mayor's  letter,  etc. . . .  157-159 
Mortification  of  the  rebels 159 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

1862. 

CAMPAIGN    BEFORE    RICHMOND  :     BATTLE    OF    SEVEN 
PINES. 

Pursuit  of  rebels  from  Yorktown 160 

Rain  and  muddy  roads,  slow  advance 161 

Capture  of  Norfolk— Drury's  Bluff,  etc 161,  162 

Approach  towards  Richmond 163 

Chickahominy  crossed,  Casey  in  advance 163,  164 

F.  J.  Porter  at  Hanover  Court  House 164 

Rebel  plan  to  keep  back  McDowell 165 

Battle  of  Seven  Pines,  fierce  and  bloody 166, 167 

CHAPTER    XV. 

1862. 
BANKS   AND  FREMONT  IN   THE   SHENANDOAH  VALLEY. 

Banks  in  command — Jackson,  etc 168,  169 

Banks  retreats  across  the  Potomac 170,  171 

Fremont  and  Mountain  Department ...  171,  172 

Battle  at  Cross  Keys,  the  bridge,  etc 174 

Rebel  success — Fremont  resigns,  etc 174, 175 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

1862. 
MITCHEL  IN  TENNESSEE  :    CORINTH  :    MEMPHIS. 

Halleck's  and  Beauregard's  positions 175 

General  Mitchel's  movements  and  strategy.. .  176, 177 

Occupies  Huntsville,  Ala 177 

Halleck's  advance — Corinth  invested 178, 179 

Beauregard  pursued  by  our  troops 180 

Fort  Pillow  abandoned  by  rebels 180, 181 

Naval  battle — Memphis  surrenders 181 

Expedition  up  the  White  River 182 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

1862. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF  :    EVENTS  ON  THE 
MISSISSIPPI. 

Butler  in  New  Orleans,  state  of  affairs,  etc 183 

The  poor  of  the  city,  steps  taken 184,  185 

New  Orleans  women,  conduct  of. 186 

The  famous  order  No.  28,  effect  of 186,  187 

Farragut  on  the  Mississippi 188 


Baton  Rouge,  Natchez  and  Vicksburg 188 

Batteries  passed,  ram  Arkansas,  etc 189 

Lafourche  district,  Weitzel's  success 190 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

1862. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH  :    CONGRESS  IN  SESSION. 

Hunter's  proclamation  of  freedom 191 

Perplexities  of  the  question,  etc 192 

Small's  exploit — arming  the  negroes 192,  193 

Operations  against  Charleston 193 

Issue  of  treasury  notes  and  tax  bill 194 

The  Homestead  act— Pacific  Railroad  act 194,  195 

Act  to  punish  polygamy  in  Utah 195 

Confiscation  act,  adjournment,  etc 195.  196 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

1862. 

THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  BATTLES  :  RETREAT  FROM 
THE  PENINSULA. 

McClellan's  hopes,  etc. — Lee's  activity 196 

Stuart's  raid — Jackson's  movement 197,  198 

Oak  Grove  and  Mechanicsville 198 

McClellan's  change  of  base,  j  udicious 199 

Attack  by  the  rebels,  fierce,  etc 200 

McClellan's  plans,  White  Oak  Swamp,  etc 201 

Savage  Station  encounter — Glendale 202 

Malvern  Hill — McClellan's  generalship 203 

Southern  views,  etc 203, 204 

CHAPTER    XX. 

1862. 
GENERAL  POPE'S  CAMPAIGN  IN  VIRGINIA. 

Army  at  Harrison's  Landing 204 

McClellan's  plans — Adverse  influences,  etc. 205 

McClellan's  entreaty— Superseded 206,  207 

Pope's  address — Rebel  plans,  etc 207,  208 

Cedar  Mountain — Pope  on  the  Rappahannock. . . .  209 

Jackson  nearly  caught 211 

Attack  on  rebels  at  Groveton 212 

Second  Bull  Run  battle,  losses,  etc 213,  214 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

1862. 

KENTUCKY  :    WESTERN  TENNESSEE  :    IUKA  AND 
CORINTH. 

Position  of  our  forces  under  Grant,  etc 215 

Murfreesborough  taken  by  Forrest 216 

John  Morgan's  raid— Pursuit  of 216,  217 

Kirby  Smith  enters  Kentucky 217,  218 

Guerrilla  robbers  and  murderers . . . , 219 

Bragg  marches  into  Kentucky 220 

Bragg's  retreat — Invasion  a  failure 221,  222 

Western  Tennessee— Battle  of  luka 222,  233 

Van  Dorn  and  Price  attack  Corinth 224 


VI 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.  IV. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

1862. 

LEE  IN  MARYLAND  :    SOUTH  MOUNTAIN  AND  AN- 
TIETAM. 

McClellan  recalled  to  command 226 

Lee  enters  Frederick,  Maryland 227 

McClellan  enters  Frederick 229 

Valuable  paper  found  by  McClellan 229,  230 

Rebels  gain  Harper's  Ferry 230 

Lee's  position  at  Antietam  creek 232 

Battle  of  16th  and  17tli  of  September— Result  .232-234 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

1862. 

CLOSE  OF  M'CLELLAN'S  CAREER  :  BURNSIDE'S 
CAMPAIGN. 

Views  and  plans  of  McClellan— Delays 234,  235 

Advance  into  Virginia — Superseded,  etc 236,  237 

Burnside,  and  change  of  plan 238 

Mr.  Lincoln's  order  as  to  the  Sabbath 239 

Doubts  where  to  cross  the  Rappahannock 240 

Pontoon  bridges,  sharpshooters,  etc 241 

Fredericksburg  occupied— Sumner's  attack.. .  241,  242 

Terrible  loss  and  failure— Effects,  etc 243 

Hooker  takes  the  place  of  Burnside 244 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

1862. 


THE     SOUTHWEST 


VICKSBURG, 
ETC. 


MURFREESBOROUGH, 


General  Schofield  in  Missouri 245 

State  of  affairs,  guerrilla  bands,  etc 246 

Rebels  under  Hindman— The  Sioux 247,  248 

Sherman's  attack  on  Haines's  Bluff 249 

Rosecrans  advances  against  Bragg 251 

Plan  of  battle  of  Murfreesborough 251 

Rebel  attack— Result,  etc 252-254 

Foster  in  North  Carolina 255,  256 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

1862. 

CLOSE    OF    THE    YEAR  :     HABEAS    CORPUS,   EMANCIPA 
TION,  ETC. 

Position  of  affairs  at  this  date,  etc 257,  258 

Military  arrests,  etc , , 259 

Policy  of  the  government 260,  261 

Mr.  Lincoln's  emancipation  plans , 262 

Congress  in  session , ,    263 

Message,  action,  reports,  etc , 263,  264 

Financial  measures — Foreign  relations 265,  266 

Case  of  piratical  cruisers 267,  268 

Public  opinion  in  England 268,  269 

Louis  Napoleon's  attempt 269,  270 

APPENDIX  TO  CHAPTER  XXV 271,  272 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

1863. 

OPENING  OF  THE  YEAR  :    WEST  VIRGINIA  :    GENERAL 
HOOKER. 


New  state,  West  Virginia 

Wheeling  convention,  etc 

Rebel  Congress,  Davis's  complaints 

The  Navy — Loss  of  the  Harriet  Lane,  etc 

Hooker's  plans,  movement,  etc 

Advance  to  Chancellors ville 

Lee's  course,  demonstration,  etc 

Jackson's  movement — Panic  of  the  llth  corps 

Jackson  killed  by  his  own  men 

Battle  of  Chancellorsville 

Stoneman's  cavalry  raid,  etc 


....  273 

273,  274 
275,  276 

277,  278 
279,  280 
....  281 
281,  282 
.282,283 
. ...  284 
285,  286 
287,  288 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

1863. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE   SOUTH  :    BANKS  AND  PORT 
HUDSON. 

General  Hunter  at  Port  Royal 289 

Iron-clads  in  the  Ogeechee 290 

Attack  on  the  blockading  squadron 291,  292 

Projected  attack  on  Charleston 293 

Bombardment  by  the  fleet 295 

Banks  at  New  Orleans,  address,  etc 297,  298 

Farragut  runs  the  batteries  at  Port  Hudson 299 

Operations  west  of  New  Orleans  300,  301 

Siege  of  Port  Hudson— Surrender 302,  303 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

1363. 

OPERATIONS  IN  THE  MISSISSIPPI  :    FALL  OF  TICKS- 
BURG. 

Arkansas  Post,  Fort  Hindman 303,  304 

Running  the  Vicksburg  batteries 305 

Plans  for  approaching  Vicksburg 306,  307 

Attack  on  Grand  Gulf. 308,  309 

Grant's  daring  plan 310 

Jackson,  Mississippi,  captured,  etc.. 311,  312 

Rebel  defeat  at  the  Big  Black 313 

Porter's  operations 313,  314 

Assaults  on  Vicksburg — Siege  operations. . . .  314,  315 

Pemberton  surrenders 316 

Grant's  report,  etc 317 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

1863. 

CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  POTOMAC:    BATTLE  OF  GETTYS 
BURG. 

Rebels  resolve  to  invade  the  North 319,  320 

Lee  sets  out  for  the  purpose 320,  321 


CONTENTS   OF  VOL.  IV. 


vn 


Winchester  and  Martinsburg 322 

Ewell  enters  Chambersburg,  etc. 324,  325 

Army  of  Potomac  advances — General  Meade 326 


Opening  of  the  battle,  July  1st 327,  328 

Little  Round  Top  secured,  next  day 329 

Battle  of  July  3d— Terrible  struggle,  etc 332-334 


BOOK    NINTH. 


FROM  THE    DEFEAT  OF  LEE  AT  GETTYSBURG,  TO  THE  DEATH  OF  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN  — 

1863-1865. 


CHAPTER    I. 

1863. 
DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  OHIO  :    MORGAN'S  RAID  :    ETC. 

General  state  of  affairs — Peace,  etc 337,  338 

Burnside's  general  order — Vallandingham 339 

Morgan's  raid  into  Kentucky,  etc 341,  342 

Exciting  race— Caught  at  last 343,  344 

Burnside  marches  to  Knoxville 345 

Position  of  our  forces,  etc 346,  347 

CHAPTER    II. 

1863. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND  :    CHICKAMAUGA. 

Rosecrans's  army,  rebel  activity,  etc 348,  349 

Moves  for  Chattanooga  in  August 350,  351 

Chattanooga  evacuated 352,  353 

Battle  of  Chickamauga 354,  355 

Grant  put  in  chief  command 356 

CHAPTER    III. 

1863. 

GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN  :  CHATTANOOGA  :  KNOXVILLE. 

Bragg  invests  Chattanooga '. 356,  357 

Chattanooga  relieved — Grant's  plan 358 

Battle  begun,  NOT.  23d 359 

The  two  following  days — success 360,  361 

Burnside  besieged  in  Knoxville — Relieved  . . .  362-364 

CHAPTER   IV. 

1863. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH  :   SIEGE  OF  CHARLESTON. 

Rebel  ram  Atlanta  captured 365 

Morris  Island — Charleston  alarmed 366,  367 

Assault  on  Fort  Wagner,  etc 367-369 

Fort  Sum ter— Charleston  bombarded 370,  371 

Quantrell  and  his  ruffians 373,  374 

CHAPTER    V. 

1863. 
DRAFT  RIOTS  :    MR.  LINCOLN'S   COURSE  :    ETC. 

Diplomatic  circular,  enrollment,  etc 375,  376 

Draft  unpopular — Riot  in  New  York 377,  378 

Riots  attempted  elsewhere 380,  381 

Proclamation  as  to  habeas  corpus 382 

Volunteers  called  for— General  Meade 383,  384 

Bristoe  Station — Mine  Run  move 384-386 

Rebel  piratical  exploit 387 


CHAPTER    VI. 

1863. 
THIRTY-EIGHTH  CONGRESS  :    CLOSE  OF  THE  TEAR. 

Opening  of  Congress — The  message,  etc 388,  389 

The  army  and  navy 390-392 

Report  on  the  finances,  resolutions,  etc 892-394 

Reiume  of  affairs  at  date 395 

Course  of  England  and  France,  etc 396.  397 

APPENDIX  TO  CHAPTER  VI 397-399 

CHAPTER    VII. 

1864. 
OPENING   OF  THE   YEAR  :    MILITARY  EVENTS. 

Work  to  be  done,  preparations,  etc 400,  401 

Seymour's  disaster  at  Olustee,  Fla 402,  403 

Sherman  advances  to  Meridian 404 

Attempts  on  Newbern 405 

Kilpatrick's  expedition 406,  407 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

1864. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF  :   FORT  PILLOW  MASSACRE. 

Military  and  naval  operations 409,  410 

Red  River  expedition 411,  412 

Battle  at  Pleasant  Hill 412,  413 

Steele  in  Arkansas — Porter,  etc 414,  415 

Fort  Pillow  massacre 416-418 

Plymouth,  N.  C.,  taken  by  the  rebels 419 

CHAPTER    IX. 

1864. 
GRANT  OPENS  THE  VIRGINIA  CAMPAIGN. 

Grant  placed  in  supreme  command 420,  421 

Position  of  our  forces — Meade,  etc 423,  424 

Army  crosses  the  Rapidan 425 

Battle  of  the  Wilderness 426,  427 

Battle  at  Spottsylvania  Court-House 429 

Sheridan's  expedition — Success. .    432,  433 

CHAPTER    X. 

1864. 

GRANT'S  ONWARD  MOVEMENTS. 

Movement  to  the  North  Anna ...  434,  435 

Crook,  Averill,  Sigel,  etc 436,  437 

Bloody  attacks  on  the  rebels 438,  439 

Change  of  plan — Hunter's  operations 440,  441 

Sheridan's  raid,  Grant's  views,  etc 442,  443 


Vlll 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.  IV. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

1864. 
OPERATIONS  IN  VIRGINIA  DURING    THE   SUMMER. 

FAOI 

Assault  on  Petersburg,  unsuccessful 411  116 

Early  in  the  Valley— The  Monocacy 447,  448 

Mine  explosion  at  Petersburg. 450,  451 

Battle  at  Ream's  Station— Result 453.  454 


CHAPTER    XII. 

1864. 
POLITICAL  AFFAIRS  :    ACTION  OF  CONGRESS. 

Condition  of  the  country — Election,  etc 454,  455 

Lincoln  nominated 457 

Complaints  against  the  government 458 

Peace  longings — Greeley,  etc 460,  461 

Action  in  Congress,  measures,  etc 463-466 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

1864. 
BHERMAN  IN  GEORGIA  :    ATLANTA  OCCUPIED. 

Sherman's  important  command 467 

Moves  in  May,  in  three  columns 469 

Johnston  retreats — Hood  supersedes 470,  471 

Attack  on  Sherman — McPherson's  death 472 

Sherman's  flank  movement 473-475 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

1864. 
KEARSARGE  AND   ALABAMA  :    FAHRAGUT,  ETC. 

The  noted  cruiser  "  290,"  or  Alabama 477 

The  Kearsarge  goes  after  her — Victory 478,  479 

The  Florida  destroyed 479 

Mobile  and  its  defences — Farragut,  etc 480,  481 

CHAPTER    XV. 

1864. 
TENNESSEE  :    FROM  ATLANTA  TO  SAVANNAH. 

The  raider  Forrest's  doings 483 

Hood  moves  on  Allatoona 484 

Hood  invades  Tennessee 486 

Routed  at  Nashville  by  Thomas 487 

March  of  Sherman's  right  and  left  wings. . . .  487-489 
Fort  McAllister  captured,  etc 491,  492 

CHAPTER  XVI 

1864. 
SHERIDAN    IN    THE  VALLEY  :     ARMY  OF    THE   JAMES. 

Sheridan's  beginning — Defeat  of  Early 493,  494 

Rebel  attack,  Oct.  18th,  at  Cedar  Creek 494 

Sheridan  arrives — Victory  over  Early 495 

Grant's  plans — Fort  Harrison — Hatcher's  Run  496,  497 


Wilmington  and  Fort  Fisher 497 

Expedition  under  General  Terry — Victory 499-501 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

1864. 
CLOSING  OF  THE  YEAR :  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION,  ETC. 

The  approaching  election,  canvassing,  etc 502,  503 

Lincoln  re-elected — Jeff.  Davis,  etc 504,  505 

Thirty-eighth  Congress,  second  session 506 

Price  invades  Missouri — Failure 508 

U.  S.  Sanitary  Commission,  report  of 509,  510 

Attempt  to  fire  New  York  city 511 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

1865. 
PEACE  PROPOSITIONS  :    INAUGURATION  OF  LINCOLN. 

F.  P.  Blair  goes  to  Richmond — Rebel  agents.  512,  513 

Rebels  vote  to  arm  the  slaves 514 

Constitutional  amendment  abolishing  slavery 515 

Mr.  Lincoln's  inaugural  address 517,  518 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

1865. 

SHERMAN'S  MARCH  :  CHARLESTON  AND  WILMINGTON. 

Grant's  orders  to  Sherman,  etc 519,  520 

Columbia  burned — Charleston  taken 521 

Fort  Anderson — Wilmington  captured 522 

Movement  on  Goldsborough 524 

Conclusion  of  Sherman's  march 525,  526 


CHAPTER    XX. 

1865. 
FALL  OF  RICHMOND  :    SURRENDER  OP  LEE. 

Grant  anxious  as  to  Lee's  movements 526 

Sheridan's  successful  raid 526,  527 

Battle  of  Five  Forks— Petersburg 530,  531 

Petersburg  and  Richmond  occupied 532 

Davis  runs  away  from  Richmond 533 

Lee  hotly  pursued — Surrender 534-537 

Other  rebel  surrenders 537,  538 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

1865. 
MURDER  OF  LINCOLN  :    ACCESSION  OF  JOHNSON. 

General  state  of  feeling  in  the  country 539 

The  fatal  day  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  14th 541 

Shot  by  J.  W.  Booth,  in  the  theatre 542 

Andrew  Johnson's  accession 544 

Close  of  the  present  work 544 


still 


FROM  THE 

INAUGUEATION    OF   ABEAHAM  LINCOLN 

TO   THE 

BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBUEG. 
1861-1863. 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


CHAPTEE    I. 
1861, 

THE    NEW    ADMINISTRATION;  ITS     DETERMINATION. 

President  Lincoln — Journey  towards  the  capital — Rumors  of  danger  to  the  president — Passes  through  Balti 
more  by  night  —  Inauguration  —  Inaugural  Address  —  The  cabinet  —  Sad  and  cheerless  prospect  before 
the  new  president  — Abraham  Lincoln  as  yet  comparatively  unknown  —  His  policy  and  views  —  Fernando 
Wood  and  New  York  as  a  free  city  —  Seeming  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the  government  —  Confederate  com 
missioners  in  Washington  —  Result  —  Delegates  from  peace  convention  in  Virginia  to  the  president  —  Fort 
Sumter  ordered  to  be  reinforced  —  Beauregard  bombards  it  —  Fort  Sumter  surrendered  —  Major  Ander 
son's  note  to  the  war  department — -Rebel  boasting  —  Feeling  at  the  North —  President's  proclamation  for 
75,000  troops  —  Answers  of  governors  to  the  call  —  Davis's  p  reclamation  inviting  privateersmen  —  Presi 
dent  orders  blockade  of  ports  in  seceded  states  —  Privateers  to  be  treated  as  pirates  —  Address  of  Davis  to 
Confederate  Congress  —  Asks  "  to  be  let  alone  "  — Position  of  affairs  at  this  date. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the  newly  elect 
ed  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
called  to  his  work  at  an  eventful  period 
of  our  history.  The  condition  of  public 
affairs,  since  his  election,  was  such  as  to 
cause  perplexity  and  apprehension  in 
the  bosom  of  every  lover  of  his  country ; 
and  we  know  that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  his 
full  share  of  anxiety  and  doubt  as  to 
the  impending  dangers  in  his  path. 

Early  in  February,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  son,  he  left  his 
home  in  Springfield,  Illinois, 
purposing  to  proceed  slowly,  and  to 


IMil. 


arrive  in  Washington  in  due  season  for 
his  inauguration.  Up  to  this  time  he 
had  maintained  a  quiet  reserve  with 
respect  to  his  views  or  plans  as  to  the 
momentous  crisis  in  national  affairs; 
but  now,  as  he  went  on  his  way  toward 
the  capital  of  the  Eepublic,  he  not  only 
found  it  impossible  to  keep  silence,  but 
he  yielded  to  the  frequent  calls  of  the 
people  and  public  bodies,  and  made  a 
number  of  addresses,  all  more  or  less 
bearing  on  public  matters,  and  all 
marked  by  mingled  simplicity  and 
shrewdness.  He  passed  through  In- 


12 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  YIIL 


dianapolis,  Cincinnati,  Columbus,  Pitts- 
burg,  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  and  Albany, 
and  reached  New  York  on  the  19th  of 
February.  His  reception  on  the  route 
Was  cordial  and  gratifying,  and  he 
showed  himself  ever  willing  to  speak 
to  the  hundreds  and  thousands  gathered 
together.  On  the  22d,  Washington's 
birthday,  he  was  in  Philadelphia,  and 
by  request  raised  the  national  flag  on 
Independence  Hall.  Here,  too,  he  ad 
dressed  the  people ;  but,  as  elsewhere, 
he  did  not  attempt  to  set  forth  any 
definite  line  of  policy,  further  than  that 
he  meant  to  strive  for  peace  and  har 
mony  to  the  extent  of  his  power. 

Thus  far,  the  journey  of  the  president 
elect  had  been  free  from  unpleasantness 
or  apprehensions  of  danger;  but  in 
Philadelphia  he  received  information 
that  it  would  be  unsafe,  even  to  the 
risk  of  his  life,  if  he  attempted  to  pass 
through  Baltimore  in  the  day 
time,  or  made  any  stay  in  that 
city.  He  determined,  therefore,  to  fol 
low  the  advice  of  General  Scott  and 
others ;  and  so,  after  visiting  the  legis 
lature  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Harrisburg, 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  22d  he  took  a 
special  train  for  Philadelphia,  and 
travelling  thence  all  night  he  passed 
through  Baltimore,  and  reached  Wash- 

o  / 

ington  early  on  Saturday  morning,  the 
23d  of  February.  This  sudden  change 
of  purpose  excited  surprise  among  the 
people  generally,  and,  as  it  was  an  easy 
thing  to  do,  many  of  those  inimiciil  to 
Mr.  Lincoln  indulged  themselves  in  ill- 
natured  remarks  and  sneering  comments 
on  the  event.*  It  was  affirmed  that  he 


ISttl. 


*  "  The  prudence  of  this  step  has  since  been  abun 
dantly  demonstrated  ;  but  it  wounded,  at  the  time,  the 


1S6I. 


ought  to  have  braved  every  danger, 
and  treated  with  contempt  the  threat- 
enings  and  plots  against  his  safety  and 
his  life.  But,  it  is  to  be  remember 
ed,  that  in  this  he  acted  upon  the 
advice  of  those  who  knew  and  felt  the 
vast  importance  of  his  reaching  the 
capital  in  safety,  and  entering  upon  the 
weighty  duties  of  his  high  office. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  Abraham  Lin 
coln  went  through  the  usual  ceremonies 
of  inauguration,  and  delivered  his  in 
augural  address  in  the  presence  of  a 
crowd  of  deeply  interested  listeners.* 
The  address  was  a  carefully 
prepared  paper,  evidently  the 
result  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  own  study  and 
reflection,  and  characterized  by  a  tone 
of  firmness  and  decision,  as  well  as  by 
an  anxious  desire  to  avoid  the  dire 
calamities  into  which  secessionists  were 
hurrying  the  country.  It  is  too  long  to 
be  given  in  full  here  ;  a  few  passages 
will  serve  to  evince,  in  part  at  least,  its 
spirit  and  purpose. 

"  I  take  the  official  oath  to-day  with 
no  mental  reservations,  and  with  no 
purpose  to  construe  the  Constitution  or 
laws  by  any  hypercritical  rules,  and 
while  I  do  not  choose  now  to  specify 
particular  acts  of  Congress  as  proper 
to  be  enforced,  I  do  suiro-est  that  it  will 

7  OO 


sensibilities  of  many  friends,  who  would  have  much 
preferred  to  form  an  escort  of  100,000  armed  men  to 
see  him  safely  through  Baltimore,  than  to  have  him 
pass  through  it  clandestinely  and  like  a  hunted  fugi 
tive." — Greelcy's  "  American  Conflict,"  vol.  i.,  p.  421. 

*  It  was  thought  possible  that  some  disturbance 
might  be  attempted  on  this  occasion  ;  but,  if  any  were 
contemplated,  it  was  put  a  stop  to  by  the  course  pur 
sued  by  General  Scott ;  who  had,  by  considerable  ex 
ertion,  got  together  about  six  hundred  national  troops> 
and  was  prepared  to  maintain  order,  even  at  the  point 
of  the  bavonet. 


Cn.  I.] 


LINCOLN'S  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS. 


13 


be  much  safer  for  all,  both  in  official 
and  private  stations,  to  conform  to  and 
abide  by  all  those  acts  which  stand  un- 
repealed,  than  to  violate  any  of  them, 
trusting  to  find  impunity  in  having 
them  held  to  be  unconstitutional.  .  . 
.  .  .  A  disruption  of  the  federal 
Union,  heretofore  only  menaced,  is  now 
formidably  attempted.  I  hold  that  in 
the  contemplation  of  universal  law  and 
of  the  Constitution  the  union  of  these 
states  is  perpetual.  Perpetuity  is  im 
plied,  if  not  expressed,  in  the  funda 
mental  law  of  all  national  governments. 

It  follows   from  these 

views  that  no  state,  upon  its  own  mere 
motion,  can  lawfully  get  out  of  the 
Union;  that  resolves  and  ordinances  to 
that  effect  are  legally  void,  and  that 
acts  of  violence  within  any  state  or 
states  against  the  authority  of  the 
United  States,  are  insurrectionary,  or 
revolutionary,  according  to  circum 
stances.  I  therefore  consider  that,  in 
view  of  the  Constitution  and  the  laws, 
the  Union  is  unbroken,  and,  to  the  ex 
tent  of  my  ability  I  shall  take  care,  as 
the  Constitution  itself  expressly  enjoins 
upon  me,  that  the  laws  of  the  Union 
shall  be  faithfully  executed  in  all  the 

states I  trust  this  will 

not  be  regarded  as  a  menace,  but  only 
as  the  declared  purpose  of  the  Union, 
that  it  will  constitutionally  defend  and 
maintain  itself.  In  doino;  this  there 

O 

need  be  no  bloodshed  or  violence,  and 
there  shall  be  none  unless  it  is  forced 
upon  the  national  authority.  The  power 
confided  to  me  will  be  used  to  hold,  oc 
cupy  and  possess  tlie  property  and  places 
belonging  to  the  government,  and  collect 
the  duties  and  imposts ;  but  beyond 


what  may  be  necessary  for  these  ob 
jects  there  will  be  no  invasion,  no  using 
of  force  against  or  among  the  people 
anywhere." 

He  concluded  his  address  in  the  fol 
lowing  words  :  "  If  it  were  admitted 
that  you  who  are  dissatisfied  hold  the 
right  side  in  the  dispute,  there  is  still 
no  single  reason  for  precipitate  action. 
Intelligence,  patriotism,  Christianity, 
and  a  firm  reliance  on  Him  who  has 
never  yet  forsaken  this  favored  land, 
are  still  competent  to  adjust,  in  the 
best  way,  all  our  present  difficulties. 
In  your  hands,  my  dissatisfied,fellow- 
countryrnen,  and  not  in  mine,  is  the 
momentous  issue  of  civil  war.  The 
government  will  not  assail  you.  You 
can  have  no  conflict  without  being 
yourselves  the  aggressors.  You  have 
no  oath  registered  in  Heaven  to  de- 

O 

stroy  the  government;  while  I  shall 
have  the  most  solemn  one  to  '  preserve, 
protect,  and  defend '  it.  I  am  loath  to 
close.  We  are  not  enemies,  but  friends. 
We  must  not  be  enemies.  Though  pas 
sion  may  have  strained,  it  must  not 
break  our  bonds  of  affection.  The 
mystic  cords  of  memory,  stretching 
from  every  battle-field  and  patriot-grave 
to  every  living  heart  and  hearthstone 
all  over  this  broad  land,  will  yet  swell 
the  chorus  of  the  Union,  when  again 
touched,  as  surely  they  will  be,  by  the 
better  angels  of  our  nature." 

The  oath  of  office  was  then  adminis 
tered  to  Mr.  Lincoln  by  the  aged  Chief- 
justice  Taney,  and  the  new  president 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office. 
He  selected  for  his  cabinet  the  following 
gentlemen :  William  H.  Seward,  of  New 
York,  secretary  of  state  ;  Salmon  P 


14 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  VIII. 


Chase,  of  Ohio,  secretary  of  the  trea 
sury  ;  Simon  Cameron,  of  Pennsylvania, 
secretary  of  war;  Gideon  Welles,  of 
Connects  jut,  secretary  of  the  navy ; 
Caleb  B.  Smith,  of  Indiana,  secretary 
of  the  interior  ;  Montgomery  Blair,  of 
Maryland,  postmaster  -  general ;  and 
Edward  Bates,  of  Missouri,  attorney- 
general.  The  next  day,  March  5th,  these 
appointments  were  confirmed  in  the 
Senate,  assembled  in  extra  session.* 
Considerable  debate  was  had  on  the  all- 
exciting  topics  of  the  day,  but  without 
any  result  of  moment ;  and  the  Senate 
adjourned  towards  the  close  of  the 
month. 

Sad  and  cheerless,  for  the  most  part, 
was  the  prospect  which  Abraham  Lin 
coln  had  before  him  as  James  Buchan 
an's  successor.  Seven  states  were  already 
ranged  under  the  flas;  of  rebellion. f 

O  O 

Several  others  on  the  borders  between 
the  free  and  slave  states  were  almost 
wild  with  excitement,  and  strongly  in 
clined  to  join  the  disunionists  in  their 
fratricidal  attempts  against  the 

1861. 

life  of  the  nation.  The  whole 
country  was  in  a  state  of  unparalleled 
ferment,  not  knowing  what  a  day 
might  bring  forth.  At  the  North  and 
West  the  people,  as  a  whole,  were  quite 
unable  to  realize  tbat  the  Republic  was 
on  the  eve  of  war  in  its  direst  form, 
and  were  full  of  anxious  solicitude  as 
to  the  course  which  the  new  president 
would  adopt  in  the  existing  crisis.J 


*  Among  the  principal  diplomatic  appointments 
were,  Charles  Francis  Adams  to  England,  William  L. 
Dayton  to  France,  and  Cassius  M.  Clay  to  Russia. 
These  gentlemen,  with  the  others  sent  abroad  in  their 
country's  service,  were  active  and  energetic  in  the  dis 
charge  of  their  several  duties. 

f  See  note,  vol.  iii.  p.  556. 

J  General  Scott,  in  a  note  to  Mr.  Seward,  March  3d, 


At  the  South,  the  secession,  revolu 
tionary  element  was  overriding  every 
thing,  and  the  minds  of  the  majority 
were  inflamed  more  and  more  with  fu 
rious  eagerness  to  rush  into  the  contest. 

O 

The  forts  and  strongholds  and  public 
property  of  the  United  States  were 
seized  upon  everywhere,  in  the  seceded 
states,  without  scruple  or  hesitation. 
In  the  loyal  states  there  was  no  prepa 
ration  for  war ;  there  was,  with  few  ex 
ceptions,  no  belief  in  the  near  approach 
of  war.  There  were  thousands  pledged 
to  oppose  and  embarrass  the  incoming 
administration  in  every  possible  way. 
There  was  little,  if  any,  unanimity,  or 
concord,  or  agreement,  as  to  what  the 


named  four  plans  for  Mr.  Lincoln's  consideration  in 
the  present  emergency :  "  I.  Throw  off  the  old  and 
assume  a  new  designation — the  Union  party.  Adopt 
the  conciliatory  measures  proposed  by  Mr.  Crittenden 
or  the  peace  convention,  and  my  life  upon  it  we  shall 
have  no  new  case  of  secession  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  an 
early  return  of  many,  if  not  all  of  the  states  which  have 
already  broken  off  from  the  Union.  Without  some 
equally  benign  measure,  the  remaining  slave-holding 
states  will  probably  join  the  Montgomery  confederacy 
in  less  than  sixty  days ;  when  this  city,  being  included 
in  a  foreign  country,  would  require  a  permanent  garri 
son  of  at  least  thirty-five  thousand  troops  to  protect  the 
government  within  it.  II.  Collect  the  duties  on  foreign 
goods  outside  the  ports  of  which  the  government  has 
lost  the  command,  or  close  such  ports  by  acts  of  Con 
gress  and  blockade  them.  III.  Conquer  the  seceded 
states  by  invading  armies.  No  doubt  this  might  be 
done  in  two  or  three  years  by  a  young  and  able  gen 
eral — a  Wolf,  a  Dessaix,  or  a  Hoche — with  three  hun 
dred  thousand  disciplined  men,  estimating  a  third  for 
garrisons  and  the  loss  of  a  greater  number  by  skirm 
ishes,  sieges,  battles  and  southern  fevers.  The  destruc 
tion  of  life  and  property  on  the  other  side  would  be 
frightful,  however  perfect  the  moral  discipline  of  the 
invader.  The  conquest  completed  at  that  enormous 
waste  of  human  life  to  the  North  and  Northwest — with 
at  least  $250,000,000  added  thereto,  and  eui  lono? 
Fifteen  devastated  provinces !  not  to  be  brought  into 
harmony  with  their  conquerors,  but  to  be  held  for 
generations  by  heavy  garrisons,  at  an  expense  quadru 
ple  the  net  duties  and  taxes  which  it  would  be  possible 
to  extort  from  them,  followed  by  a  protector  or  an  em 
peror.  IV.  Say  to  the  seceded  states, — Wayward  sis 
ters,  depart  in  peace  1" 


CH.  I.] 


MR.  LINCOLN'S  POSITION  AND  TRIALS. 


15 


emergency  really  was,  or  how  it  was  to 
be  met.*  War,  it  was  felt,  was  a  ter 
rible  alternative;  war  must  be  avoid 
ed,  if  it  were  possible  ;  and  even  up  to 
the  very  last  moment,  even  when  South 
Carolina  stood  ready  to  fire  the  first 
gun,  and  initiate  the  horrible  struggle, 
there  were  those  who  would  not,  who 
could  not  believe,  that  war  was  the  in 
evitable  issue,  and  that  by  force  only 
could  the  rightful  supremacy  of  the 
Constitution  be  maintained.  Truly, 
it  was  a  gloomy  picture  to  look  upon, 
and  it  well  mio;ht  unnerve  the  stoutest 

O 

heart  to  feel  that  the  responsibility  of 
decision  and  action  rested  now  almost 
wholly  upon  one  man. 

Abraham  Lincoln  had  never  as  yet 
been  a  prominent  man  in  national  af 
fairs.  He  was,  comparatively,  little 

known  throughout  the  country; 

and  having  been  taken  up  by 
the  republican  party  as  their  candidate, 
rather  as  a  compromise  than  because  he 
was  the  ablest  man  in  their  ranks,  the 
people,  after  his  election,  were  deeply 


1861. 


*  Mayor  Wood,  of  New  York,  offers  a  curious  illus 
tration  of  the  state  of  things  at  the  beginning  of  this 
year.  Under  date  of  January  6th,  1861,  he  addressed  a 
message  to  the  Common  Council,  in  which  he  speaks 
of  "  dissolution  of  the  Union  as  inevitable,"  of  "  our 
aggrieved  southern  brethren  of  the  slave  states,"  of 
the  "  fanatical  spirit  of  New  England,"  etc.  Although 
not  quite  ready  to  recommend  extremes  or  present  vio 
lent  action,  he  nevertheless  dared  to  use  such  language 
as  the  following  at  the  close  of  the  message  :  "  When 
Disunion  has  become  a  fixed  and  certain  fact,  why  may 
not  New  York  disrupt  the  bonds  which  bind  her  to  a 
menial  and  corrupt  master — to  a  people  and  a  party 
that  have  plundered  her  revenues,  attempted  to  ruin 
her  commerce,  taken  away  the  power  of  self-govern 
ment,  and  destroyed  the  confederacy  of  which  she  was 
the  proud  Empire  City  ?  Amid  the  gloom  which  the 
present  and  prospective  condition  of  things  must  cast 
over  the  country,  New  York,  as  a  Free  City,  may  shed 
the  only  light  and  hope  of  a  future  reconstruction  of 
our  once  blessed  confederacy." 


interested  in  everything  which  tended 
to  indicate  what  were  his  qualifications 
for  the  high  office  he  was  about  to  as 
sume.  They  were  naturally  very  de 
sirous  to  know  in  how  far  he  was  fitted 
to  take  the  helm  of  state  at  a  time 
when  was  to  be  tested  the  ability  of 
the  Constitution  and  Union  to  weather 
the  storm  just  ready  to  burst  in  every 
direction.  Up  to  this  date,  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  became  fully  invested  with  the 
powers  of  the  presidential  office,  his 
sentiments  and  views,  so  far  as  made 
known,  pointed  clearly  to  a  policy  of 
conciliation,  and  a  desire  to  yield  on  all 
points  where  it  was  possible  to  yield, 
in  order  to  preserve  peace  and  the  in 
tegrity  of  the  Union.  There  were 
many  who  were  not  satisfied  with  this 
course.  There  were  men  who  longed 
for  the  fiery  energy  and  action  of  An 
drew  Jackson  in  the  presidential  chair ; 
and  who  repeated  the  contemptuous 
sneers  of  southern  demagogues  and 
traitors,  that  the  North  could  not  be 
kicked  into  a  war.  On  the  other  hand, 
sober  and  reflecting  men,  appreciating 
to  some  extent  the  greatness  of  the 
questions  involved,  were  willing  to  see, 
in  the  utterances  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  clear 
evidences  of  spirit  and  determination  to 
maintain  the  integrity  and  completeness 
of  the  Union,  peaceably  if  possible,  if 
not,  by  every  other  means  legally  in 
his  power.  And  so,  they  were  measur 
ably  content  to  wait  patiently  the  issue 
of  events,  hoping  and  trusting,  even 
amidst  the  excitement  and  ferment  all 
around,  that  the  honor  and  unity  of  our 
country  would  not  suffer  in  Mr.  Lin 
coln's  hands. 

For  a  month  or  so,  after  the  inaugu- 


16 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


ration,  the  new  administration  gave  no 
clear  or  distinct  indications  of  its  line 
of  policy.  Secession,  encour 
aged,  no  doubt,  by  what  seemed 
hesitation  or  inefficiency  on  the  part  of 
government,  "'as  bold,  active,  haughty 
in  its  course  and  pretensions.*  Not 
only,  as  we  have  before  said,  were  forts, 
arsenals,  dock-yards  and  public  property 
taken  possession  of  without  scruple,  but 
also  a  loan  of  $15,000,000  was  author 
ized  by  the  Confederate  Congress,  and 
other  measures  resolved  upon  in  view 
of  war,  which  might  speedily  be  ex 
pected.  Early  in  April,  however,  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  his  cabinet  decided  upon 
the  course  to  be  pursued,  and  thence 
forward,  though  tardily,  bent  all  their 
energies  to  preserve  the  Union  un 
broken,  and,  if  need  be,  to  put  down 
ti  eason  and  rebellion  by  force  of  arms. 
Acting  upon  their  assumed  position 
as  an  independent  government,  the  so- 
called  confederate  authorities  sent  three 
gentlemen  to  Washington,  for  the  pur 
pose  of 'arranging  and  settling  all  points 
of  difference  growing  out  of  the  acts  of 
the  seceded  states.  They  reached  the 
capital,  March  5th,  and  soon  after  at 
tempted  to  obtain  recognition  of  what 
they  thought  to  be  their  rank  and  obli 
gations.  The  government  acted  with 


*  Russell,  in  "  My  Diary  North  and  South,"  p.  118, 
under  date  April  18th,  18G1,  at  Charleston,  gives  a  good 
deal  of  chit-chat,  showing  the  feelings  of  the  people  lie 
met,  on  the  subject  of  the  North  and  the  association 
with  northerners  by  the  southern  chivalry  and  cava 
liers  :  "  They  affect  tho  agricultural  faith  and  the  be 
lief  of  a  landed  gentry.  It  is  not  only  over  the  wine 
glass  that  they  ask  for  a  Prince  to  reign  over  them  ;  I 
have  heard  the  wish  repeatedly  expressed  within  the 
last  two  days  that  we  could  spare  them  one  of  our 
young  Princes,  but  ne^sr  in  jest,  or  ia  any  frivolous 
manner." 


1861. 


great  forbearance,  and  allowed  them  to 
remain  in  Washington  in  pursuit  of 
plans  and  objects  striking  at  the  very 
root  of  its  power  and  majesty. 
Mr.  Seward  declined  all  official 
intercourse,  and  frankly  but  plainly  told 
these  rebel  commissioners,  that  what 
had  taken  place,  in  various  parts  of  the 
South,  was  only  "  a  perversion  of  a  tem 
porary  and  partisan  excitement  to  the 
inconsiderate  purpose  of  an  unjustifi 
able  and  unconstitutional  ap-oression 

Oo 

upon  the  lights  and  the  authority  vest 
ed  in  the  Federal  Government,  and 
hitherto  benignly  exercised,  as  from 
their  very  nature  they  always  must  be 
so  exercised,  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
Union,  the  preservation  of  liberty,  and 
the  security,  peace,  welfare,  happiness 
and  aggrandizement  of  the  American 
people."  This  was  under  date  of  March 
15th.  Several  weeks  elapsed  before  the 
gentlemen  just  alluded  to  inquired  for 
the  secretary  of  state's  communication  ; 
and  then,  with  some  violence  of  Ian 
guage  about  "accepting  the  gage  of 
battle  thus  thrown  down  to  theni,': 
and  an  expression  of  pity  for  the  "  de 
lusions  "  of  the  government,  they  gave 
up  the  attempt  to  force  themselves  into 
official  relations  at  Washington. 

The  convention  of  Virginia  being  in 
session  at  this  date,  sent  Messrs.  Pres 
ton,  Stuart  and  Randolph  as  delegates 
to  call  on  President  Lincoln,  and  to 
"  ask  him  to  communicate  to  this  con 
vention  the  policy  which  the  Federal 
executive  intends  to  pursue  in  regard 
to  the  confederate  states."  The  presi 
dent's  reply,  April  13th,  reaffirmed  his 
previously  expressed  determination  "  to 
hold,  occupy,  and  possess  the  property 


Cn.  I.] 


FORT  SUMTER  BOMBARDED. 


17 


and  places  belonging  to  the  govern 
ment,  and  to  collect  the  duties  and  im 
posts."  While  disclaiming  any  pur 
pose  of  needless  invasion,  or  infringe 
ment  upon  the  rights  of  others, 
Mr.  Lincoln  distinctly  gave  these 
gentlemen  to  understand,  that,  if  neces 
sary,  in  consequence  of  conduct  like  that 
of  the  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter.  he 
would,  "to  the  best  of  his  ability,  repel 
force  by  force." 

The  government  having,  to  this  ex 
tent  at  least,  determined  upon  its  course, 
orders  were  given,  early  in  April,  to 
send  vessels  and  men  for  the  purpose 
of  reinforcing  Fort  Sumter,"""  and  also 
to  save,  if  possible,  Fort  Pickens  at  the 
entrance  of  the  harbor  of  Pensacola, 
Florida.  But  the  leaders  in  rebellion, 
knowing  how  important  it  was  to  them 
to  ''•strike  a  How"  as  some  of  them 
phrased  it,  and  to  gain  a  victory 
of  some  kind,  resolved  immediately 
to  compel  Major  Anderson  to  sur 
render.  On  the  5th  of  April,  Beaure- 
rrard,  who  had  deserted  the  flas;  of  his 

™  7  O 

country  and  taken  service  under  the 
confederate  authorities,  stopped  all 
supplies  for  the  garrison  heretofore  re 
ceived  from  the  city.  The  government 
resolved  to  send  provisions  '  to  Major 
Anderson  and  his  men,  and  accordingly 
announced  the  fact  to  the  governor  of 
South  Carolina,  on  the  8th  of  April ; 
whereupon  the  rebels  insisted  upon 
the  immediate  reduction  of  the  fort. 
Every  preparation  had  been  made  for 
this  contingency  on  their  part.  Numer 
ous  batteries  had  been  constructed,  and, 
apart  from  the  question  of  starvation, 

*  See  vol.  iii.  pp.  563,  3,  for  the  position  of  affairs  in 
regard  to  Fort  Sumtor  up  to  this  date. 
V<  )L.  IV.— 3. 


there  was  no  possible  chance  that 
Major  Anderson  and  his  handful  of 
brave  men  could  long  withstand  the  as 
sault.  On  the  llth,  a  brief  correspond 
ence  ensued  between  Beaure- 

1  ufj  « 

gard  and  Anderson.    The  latter 
agreed  to  evacuate  the  fort  on  the  loth, 

O  7 

unless  otherwise  ordered  by  his  govern 
ment  ;  but  this  was  not  wThat  the  hot 
bloods  of  the  day  wanted ;  and  when 
the  Harriet  Lane  arrived  off  the  harbor 
with  supplies,  on  the  evening  of  the 
10th,  they  pushed  matters  to  an  im 
mediate  extremity.  All  considerations 
of  the  awful  character  of  what  they 
were  about  to  do,  were  thrown  to  the 
winds ;  and  at  half-past  four,  on  Friday 
morning,  April  12th,  the  first  gun  was 
fired  upon  Fort  Sumter.  The  United 
States  vessels,  just  outside,  could  give 
no  help,  owing  partly  to  bad  weather 
and  to  the  batteries  in  all  directions, 
but  were  compelled  to  wait  the  inevit 
able  result,  when  the  stars  and  stripes 
should  be  lowered.  The  cannonading 
was  furious  and  incessant.  Major  An 
derson  and  his  men  bravely  withstood 
and  replied  to  the  onslaught,  and  the 
guns  of  the  fort  were  served  with  all 
the  vigor  and  spirit  possible  under  the 
circumstances ;  but  ere  long,  being  with 
out  provisions  and  the  fort  partly  in 
flames,  surrender  was  the  only  thing 
left  to  them.  They  gave  up  the  con 
test,  so  unequal  and  useless  to  continue , 
and  having  been  allowed  to  embark  on 

O 

board  the  United  States  steamer  Baltic, 
Major  Anderson  and  his  company  reach 
ed  New  York  on  the  18th  of  April. 
Immediately  official  notice  was  sent  to 
the  war  department,  as  follows  : — "  Off 
Sandy  Hook,  April  18th,  1861.  Having 


18 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VI11. 


defended  Fort  Sumter  for  thirty-four 
hours,  until  the  quarters  were  entirely 
burned,  the  main  gates  destroyed  by 
fire,  the  gorge  wall  seriously  injured, 
the  magazine  surrounded  by  flames 
and  its  doors  closed  from  the  effects  of 
the  heat,  four  barrels  and  three  car 
tridges  of  powder  only  being  available, 
and  no  provisions  but  pork  remaining, 
I  accepted  terms  of  evacuation  offered 
by  General  Beauregard,  being  the  same 
offered  by  him  on  the  llth  inst,,  prior 
to  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  and 
marched  out  of  the  fort,  Sunday  after 
noon,  the  14th  inst.,  with  colors  flying 
and  drums  beating,  bringing  away 
company  and  private  property,  and 
saluting  my  flag  with  fifty  guns. — Ko- 
BERT  ANDERSON."  * 

Great  and  loudly  expressed  in  South 
Carolina  and  elsewhere  was  the  exulta 
tion  over  the  bombardment  and  sur 
render  of  Fort  Sumter.  Governor  Pick- 
ens,  who  had  for  some  time  professed 
himself  ready  to  "  strike  the  blow,  let 
it  lead  to  what  it  might,  even  if  it  led 
to  blood  and  ruin,"  now  dared  to  say, 
"  Thank  God !  the  day  is  come ;  thank 
God  !  the  war  is  open,  and  we  will  con 
quer  or  perish."  Mr.  L.  P.  Walker,  the 
rebel  secretary  of  war,  at  Montgomery, 
Alabama,  burst  forth  in  words  like 
these: — "No  man  can  tell  where  the 


*  According  to  rebel  accounts,  not  a  life  was  lost 
during  the  whole  progress  of  the  siege  and  assault.  It 
was  also  stated  that  none  were  killed  in  the  fort  by  the 
enemy's  fire.  If  these  accounts  are  correct,  of  which 
there  seems  no  good  reason  to  doubt,  the  assault  and 
defence  of  Fort  Sumter  were  among  the  most  note 
worthy  of  their  kind  in  the  history  of  modern  warfare. 
For  the  rebels  had  fourteen  batteries  in  action,  mount 
ing  forty-two  heavy  guns  and  mortars  ;  2,3(50  shot  and 
980  shells  were  thrown  ;  and  in  the  works  were  3,000 
men,  and  between  4,000  and  5,000  in  reserve 


war  this  day  commenced  will  end  ;  but 
I  will  prophesy,  that  the  flag  which 
now  flaunts  the  breeze  here  will  float 
over  the  dome  of  the  old  Capitol  at 
Washington  before  the  first  of  May. 
Let  them  try  Southern  chivalry  and 
test  the  extent  of  Southern  resources, 
and  it  may  float  eventually  over  Faneuil 
Hall  itself!" 

Language  cannot  portra}T,  in  fitting 
manner,  the  painful  anxiety  with  which 
the  news  of  the  bombardment  of  Sum 
ter  was  looked  for  at  the  North,  during 
Saturday  and  Sunday,  the  13th 
and  1 4th  of  April.  ' '  The  start 
ling  and  apparently  improbable  state 
ments  received  by  the  telegraph  of  the 
danger  to  the  fort,  which  had  been 
pronounced  impregnable,  and  the  se 
curity  of  the  besiegers  who  seemed  to 
bear  a  charmed  life  in  the  midst  of 
fiery  perils ;  the  expectation  of  succor 
from  the  fleet  dashed  by  the  waves  of 
the  storm  which  prevented  its  action  ; 
the  successive  messages  of  disaster  with 
the  strange,  almost  incredible,  announce 
ment  that  the  fort  was  in  flames,  end 
ing  with  the  final  word  of  surrender, 
produced  a  strange  feeling  of  perplex 
ity  in  the  minds  of  the  people."  *  But 
now,  the  deadly  stab  having  been 
made,  there  was  no  longer  time  for 
hesitation  or  mere  words.  Up  to  this 
point,  threats,  and  bravado,  and  pillage 
of  public  property,  and  such  like,  had 
been  endured  ;  but  now,  when  traitor 
ous  sons  dared  assail  the  flag  of  our 
country  and  its  defenders,  it  was  felt 
instinctively  that  the  life  of  the  nation 
was  at  stake.  Action  must  be  taken ; 


*  Duyckink's  "  War  for  the  Union,"  vol.  5.,  p.  125. 


CH.  I.J 


THE  PRESIDENT'S  PROCLAMATION. 


i9 


immediate  action  must  be  had  to  assert 
and  enforce  the  "  supreme  law  of  the 
land." 

President  Lincoln  was  prompt  and 
decisive  in  this  great  emergency,  and 
immediately  issued  a  proclamation  in 
the  following  words  : — 

"  WHEREAS,  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  have  been  for  some  time  past, 
and  now  are  opposed,  and  the  exe 
cution  thereof  obstructed,  in  the  states 
of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama, 
Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and 
Texas,  by  combinations  too  powerful 
to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary 
course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  by  the 
powers  vested  in  the  marshals  by  law  : 
now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 
President  of  the  United  States,  in  vir 
tue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws,  have  thought 
fit  to  call  forth,  and  hereby  do  call 
forth,  the  militia  of  the  several  states 
of  the  Union  to  the  ag'STeorate  number 

o^—*        O 

of  ^5,000,  in  order  to  suppress  said 
combinations  and  to  cause  the  laws  to 
be  duly  executed.  The  details  for  this 
object  will  be  immediately  communi 
cated  to  the  state  authorities  through 
the  war  department.  I  appeal  to  all 
loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facilitate,  and 
aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor, 
the  integrity,  and  existence  of  our  na 
tional  Union,  and  the  perpetuity  of 
popular  government,  and  to  redress 
wrongs  already  long  enough  endured.  I 
deem  it  proper  to  say,  that  the  first  ser 
vice  assigned  to  the  forces  hereby  called 
forth,  will  probably  be  to  repossess  the 
forts,  places,  and  property  which  have 
been  seized  from  the  Union ;  and  in 
every  event  the  utmost  care  will  be 


observed,  consistently  with  the  objects 
aforesaid,  to  avoid  any  devastation,  any 
destruction  of,  or  interference  with,  pro 
perty,  or  any  disturbance  of  peaceful 
citizens  of  any  part  of  the  country ;  and 
I  hereby  command  the  persons  compos 
ing!;  the  combinations  aforesaid,  to  dis- 

O  ' 

perse,  and  retire  peaceably  to  their 
respective  abodes,  within  twenty  days 
from  this  date. 

"Deeming  that  the  present  condition 
of  public  affairs  presents  an  extraordin 
ary  occasion,  1  do  hereby,  in  virtue 
of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the 
Constitution,  convene  both  houses  of 
Congress.  The  Senators  and  Kepresen- 
tatives  are,  therefore,  summoned  to  as 
semble  at  their  respective  chambers  at 
12  o'clock,  noon,  on  Thursday,  the  4th 
day  of  July  next,  then  and  there  to 
consider  and  determine  such  measures 
as,  in  their  wisdom,  the  public  safety 
and  interest  may  seem  to  demand. 

"  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereun 
to  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the  seal  of 
the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington, 
this  15th  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-one,  and  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States  the  eighty-fifth. 

"  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 

Accompanying  the  proclamation  were 
requisitions  from  the  war  department 
upon  the  governors  of  twenty  -  four 
states,  the  seven  seceded  states  being 
omitted,  and  California,  Oregon  and 
Kansas  being  passed  over  as  too  dist 
ant.  These  were  called  upon  to  furnish 
their  respective  quotas  of  militia-men 
for  three  months'  service.*  The  replies 


*  The  largest  apportionments  \vere,  to  New  York 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


K.  VIIL 


of  the  governors  indicated  the  general 
sentiment  of  the  people  on  the 

1§61.  .  , 

momentous  issues  at  stake. 
From  the  northern  and  western  states 
the  answers  came  promptly,  and  evinc 
ed  the  loyalty  and  determined  spirit 
existing  in  the  bosoms  of  those  who  lov 
ed  and  were  determined  to  sustain  the 
Union.  The  governors  of  Maryland 
and  Delaware  endeavored  to  hold  a 
middle  ground,  and  wrere  not  prepared 
to  act  very  decidedly ;  but  in  the  other 
border  states,  there  was  no  attempt  to 
disguise  their  sentiments  and  their  de 
termination  not  to  aid  the  government 
in  any  way  whatsoever.  Governor 
Letcher,  of  Virginia,  wrote : —  "  The 
militia  of  Virginia  will  not  be  furnish 
ed  to  the  powers  at  Washington  for 
any  such  use  or  purpose  as  they  have 
in  view.  Your  object  is  to  subjugate 
the  southern  states,  and  a  requisition 
made  upon  me  for  such  an  object — an 
object,  in  my  judgment,  not  within  the 
purview  of  the  Constitution  or  the  act  of 
1795 — will  not  be  complied  with.  You 
have  chosen  to  inaugurate  civil  war; 
and  having  done  so,  we  will  meet  it  in 
a  spirit  as  determined  as  the  Admin 
istration  has  exhibited  toward  the 
South."*  Governor  Jackson,  of  Missouri, 
spoke  even  more  strongly :  "  No  doubt 
these  men  are  intended  to  make  war 
upon  the  seceded  states.  Your  requisi 
tion,  in  my  judgment  is  illegal,  uncon- 


13,280  ;  to  Pennsylvania,  12,500  ;  to  Ohio,  10,153 ;  the 
least,  to  eleven  of  the  less  populated  States,  was  780. 
*  W.  H.  Russell,  the  London  Times'  correspondent, 
writing  in  his  "  Diary,"  Charleston,  April  20th,  1861 
(p.  123),  says  :  "The  secessionists 'are  in  great  delight 
with  Governor  Letcher's  proclamation,  calling  out 
troops  and  volunteers ;  and  it  is  hinted  that  Washing 
ton  will  be  attacked,  and  the  nest  of  Black  Republican 
Vermin,  which  haunt  the  capital,  be  driven  out." 


stitutional,  and  revolutionary  in  its  ob 
jects,  inhuman  and  diabolical,  and  can 
not  be  complied  with.  Not  one  man 
will  the  state  of  Missouri  furnish  to 
carry  on  such  an  unholy  crusade."  Gov 
ernor  Magoffin,  of  Kentucky,  replied : 
"  Your  dispatch  is  received.  In  an 
swer,  I  say,  emphatically,  Kentucky 
will  furnish  no  troops  for  the  wicked 
purpose  of  subduing  her  sister  south 
ern  states."  Governor  Ellis,  of  North 
Carolina,  expressed  himself  in  no  mod 
erate  terms :  "  I  can  be  no  party  to 
this  wicked  violation  of  the  laws  of 
the  country,  and  to  this  war  upon  the 
liberties  of  a  free  people.  You  can 
get  no  troops  from  North  Carolina." 
Governor  Rector,  of  Arkansas,  was 
equally  violent  and  peremptory  :  "  In 
answer  to  your  requisition  for  troops 
from  Arkansas,  to  subjugate  the  south 
ern  states,  I  have  to  say,  that  none 
will  be  furnished.  The  demand  is 
only  adding  insult  to  injury."  Gov 
ernor  Harris,  of  Tennessee,  replied : 
"  Tennessee  will  not  furnish  a  single 

o 

man  for  coercion,  but  50,000,  if  neces 
sary,  for  the  defence  of  our  rights  or 
those  of  our  southern  brethern."  * 

Immediately  following  upon  Presi 
dent  Lincoln's  proclamation,  Jefferson 
Davis,  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  on 
the  17th  of  April,  professing  himself 
convinced  that  the  United  States  were 
about  to  invade  "  this  confederacy  with 


*  "  The  proclamation  was  received  at  Montgomery 
with  derisive  laughter ;  the  newspapers  were  refreshed 
with  the  Lincolniana  of  styling  sovereign  states  '  un 
lawful  combinations '  and  warning  a  people  standing 
on  their  own  soil  to  return  within  twenty  days  to  their 
'  homes  ;'  and,  in  Virginia,  the  secessionists  were  high 
ly  delighted  at  the  strength  Mr.  Lincoln  had  unwit 
tingly  or  perversely  contributed  to  their  cause  " — "First 
Tear  of  the  W«r,"  p.  59. 


CH.  I] 


DAVIS'S  PRIVATEERING  PROJECTS 


21 


an  armed  force,  for  the  purpose  of  cap 
turing  its  fortresses,  and  thereby  sub 
verting  its  independence,  and  subjecting 
the  free  people  thereof  to  the  dominion 
of  a  foreign  power,"  issued  a  proclama 
tion,  marking  out  the  deadly  plan  he 
had  in  view,  and  "inviting  all  those 
who  may  desire,  by  service  in  private 
armed  vessels  on  the  high  seas,  to  aid 
this  government  in  resisting  so  wanton 
and  wicked  an  oppression,  to  make  ap 
plications  for  commissions  or  letters  of 
marque  and  reprisal,  to  be  issued  under 
the  seal  of  these  Confederate  States.'"' 

This  insolent  proposition  was  met 
by  another  proclamation  from  President 
Lincoln,  April  19th,  declaring  a  block 
ade  of  the  ports  of  the  seceded  states, 
and  subjecting  the  privateers  in  the 
rebel  service  to  the  laws  for  the  preven 
tion  and  punishment  of  piracy.  Some 
ten  days  afterwards,  Davis  addressed 
the  Confederate  Congress,  and  affected 
to  doubt  whether  the  proclamation 
were  authentic  or  not.  He  stigmatized 
Mr.  Lincoln's  course  in  no  measured 
terms,  and  could  not  bring  himself  to 
believe  that  President  Lincoln  was  pre 
pared  to  "  inaugurate  a  war  of  extermin 
ation  on  both  sides,  by  treating  as  pi 
rates  open  enemies  acting  under  commis 
sions  issued  by  an  organized  govern 
ment."  He  also  stated,  that  there  were 
19,000  men  in  the  various  places  seized 
upon  by  the  rebels,  and  16,000  more 
on  their  way  to  Virginia,  and  that  in 
view  of  the  present  exigencies  100,000 
men  were  to  be  organized  and  held  in 
readiness  for  instant  action.  It  was  in 
this  address  that  Da  vis's  desire  "to  be 
let  alone"  occurs,  and  we  quote  the 


IMil. 


passage — the  last  of  all — as  a  memora 
ble  specimen  of  mingled  assurance  and 
audacity :  "  We  feel  that  our  cause  is 
just  and  holy.  We  protest  solemnly, 
in  the  face  of  mankind,  that  we  desire 
peace  at  any  sacrifice,  save  that  of  honor. 
In  independence  we  seek,  no  conquest, 
no  aggrandizement,  no  cession  of  any 
kind  from  the  states  with  which  we 
have  lately  confederated.  All  we  ask 
is  to  be  let  alone — that  those  who  never 
held  power  over  us  shall  not 
now  attempt  our  subjugation  by 
arms.  This  we  will,  we  must  resist,  to 
the  direst  extremity.  The  moment  that 
this  pretension  is  abandoned,  the  sword 
will  drop  from  our  grasp  and  we  shall 
be  ready  to  enter  into  treaties  of  amity 
and  commerce  that  cannot  but  be  mu 
tually  beneficial.  So  long  as  this  pre 
tension  is  maintained,  with  a  firm  reli 
ance  on  that  Divine  power  which  covers 
w^ith  its  protection  the  just  cause,  we 
will  continue  to  struggle  for  our  inher 
ent  right  to  freedom,  independence,  and 
self-government." 

Up  to  this  point,  the  government  had 
decided,  in  part  at  least,  upon  its  course 
of  action,  and  had  begun  to  make  some 
preparation  for  the  inevitable  issues  at 
stake.  How  imperfect  this  preparation 
was,  how  inadequate  the  appreciation 
of  what  was  before  our  country  to  do 
and  to  endure,  how  insufficient  the  sense 
entertained  of  what  the  rebels  meant, 
and  wrere  able  to  accomplish,  the  rapid 
progress  of  events  ere  long  demonstrat 
ed.  We  may  reverently  thank  God, 
that,  in  this  hour  of  bitter  trial,  neither 
government  nor  people  were  found 
wanting. 


22 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


CHAPTEE  II. 
1861. 

PROGRESS    OF  EVENTS:    UPRISING  OF   THE  PEOPLE. 

Position  of  Virginia  at  this  date  —  Efforts  and  success  of  secessionists  —  Virginia  lost  to  the  Union  —  Harper's 
Ferry  —  Attack  on  by  rebels,  and  burning  of  arsenal  by  order  of  the  government  —  The  Navy  Yard  at  Gos- 
port  —  Its  value  and  importance  —  Great  loss  of  property,  etc.,  to  the  United  States  —  Exultations  of  the 
rebels  —  Eagerness  to  attack  Washington  —  Preparation  on  part  of  the  government  —  Baltimore  —  Riot, 
and  attack  on  the  troops  —  The  New  York  Seventh  —  Gen.  Butler  and  Annapolis  —  His  energetic  course  in 
Maryland  —  Conduct  of  Gov.  Hicks  —  Gen.  Cadwalader  in  Maryland  —  Habeas  corpus  suspension  —  Chief- 
justice  Taney's  course  —  Gen.  Banks  in  command  —  His  action  —  Gen.  Dix  succeeds  —  Immense  gathering 
in  New  York  —  Speeches  by  Prof.  Mitchel  and  others  —  Patriotism  of  our  countrywomen — Affairs  during 
month  of  May  —  Proclamation  of  the  President  calling  for  more  troops  —  Activity  of  secessionists  —  Move 
ment  of  troops  into  Virginia  —  Ellsworth's  death  at  Alexandria  —  Rebels  alarmed  at  attitude  of  the  North 
—  Davis  and  his  schemes  and  efforts-1- His  Address  to  Confederate  Congress  —  Intended  uses  of  it  — 
Action  of  Confederate  Congress  —  Davis  goes  to  Richmond  —  His  speech  —  Beauregard  in  Virginia  —  His 
insolent  and  abusive  words  —  Efforts  to  prepare  for  advance  of  Union  troops  —  Skirmishes,  etc.,  —  Lieut, 
Tompkins  at  Fairfax  Court  House  —  Rebels  routed  at  Philippi  and  Romney  —  Harper's  Ferry  abandoned  by 
rebels  —  Gen.  Butler  and  Big  Bethel  —  Failure  of  the  expedition  —  Negroes  contraband  of  war  —  Gen. 
Schenck  at  Vienna  in  Virginia —  Forces  on  the  Potomac  at  close  of  the  month  of  June  —  Spirit  and  expec 
tations  of  the  people  at  the  time  —  Closing  scenes  in  the  life  of  Senator  Douglas. 


THE  position  of  Virginia,  as  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  important  of  the 
border  states,  rendered  it  especially  de 
sirable  for  the  rebel  conspirators  to  se 
cure  control  over  it,  and  to  gain  all  the 
prestige  arising  out  of  connecting  her 
destinies  with  those  of  the  new 
confederation.  This  was  by  no 
means  easy  of  accomplishment.  Vir 
ginians,  as  a  body,  were  proud  of  the 
Union,  and  anxious  to  preserve  it. 
They  had  always  frowned  upon  dis 
union  and  the  political  demagogues  who 
had  at  various  times  broached  so  vile  a 
heresy.  Their  true  interests,  as  they 
well  knew,  consisted -in  keeping  close 
the  bonds  which  united  them  to  the  loy. 
al  states ;  and  it  is  almost  beyond  doubt, 
that,  could  the  people  of  Virginia  have 


expressed  their  sentiments  and  wishes 
freely  and  deliberately,  they  would 
have  cast  their  lot  with  the  supporters 
of  the  Constitution  and  laws.  But 
Davis,  and  his  fellow  laborers  in  a  bad 
cause,  were  determined  at  all  hazards 
to  prevent  any  such  result.  By  auda 
cious  falsehoods,  by  intimidation  and 
blustering,  by  getting  control  over  le 
gislative  action,  they  aimed  at  forcing 
the  state  into  the  ranks  of  secession ; 
and  unhappily  they  succeeded  in  accom 
plishing  their  ends. 

The  convention  of  Virginia  had  been 
elected  by  Union  votes,  and  the  legis 
lature  had  taken  care,  in  authorizing 
its  consideration  of  this  matter,  to  pro 
vide  that  no  ordinance  of  secession 
should  have  any  effect  without  being 


CH.  II.] 


VIRGINIA  FORCED  INTO  SECESSION. 


23 


ratified  by  the  people.  At  the  opening 
of  the  convention  in  Richmond,  a  ma 
jority  of  its  members  were  decidedly 
opposed  to  the  secession  of  their  state  ; 
bnt  the  conspirators,  stopping  short  at 
nothing,  resorted  to  secret  sessions,  and 
to  deriding  the  weaker  members,  bul 
lying  the  timid,  cajoling  the  wavering, 
and  firing  southern  pride  and  passion 
in  every  possible  way ;  so  that,  three 
days  after  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter,  they  gained  their  purpose,  and 
Virginia  was  lost.*  Although  the  law 
required  the  vote  of  the  people  before 
secession  could  be  ratified,  there  was 
no  waiting,  no  scruple  on  the  part  of 
the  rebels.  "  For  mutual  defence,"  as 
Mr.  Mason,  late  Senator,  wrote,  May 
16th,  "immediately  after  the  ordinance 
of  secession  passed,  a  treaty,  or  '  mili 
tary  league'  was  formed  by  the  con 
vention,  in  the  name  of  the  people  of 
Virginia,  with  the  Confederate  States 
of  the  South,  by  which  the  latter  were 
bound  to  march  to  the  aid  of  our  state, 
against  the  invasion  of  the  Federal 
Government.  And  we  have  now  in  Vir 
ginia,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  at  Norfolk, 
in  face  of  the  common  foe,  several  thou 
sand  of  the  gallant  sons  of  South  Caro 
lina,  of  Alabama,  of  Louisiana,  Georgia, 
and  Mississippi,  who  hastened  to  fulfil 
the  covenant  they  made,  and  are  ready 
and  eager  to  lay  down  their  lives,  side 
by  side,  with  our  sons  in  defence  of  the 
soil  of  Virginia." 

Everything  was   assumed   as  being 
con  iplete.     Members  of  the  Confederate 

*  The  vote,  at  the  last,  was  88  to  55  ;  a  majority  in 
creased  both  by  the  means  above  spoken  of,  and  by  the 
provision  noted  on  a  previous  page  (see  vol.  iii.  560,) 
that  Virginia,  unless  she  joined  the  rebels,  would  be 
?.ut  off  entirely  from  a  mnrket  for  her  slaves. 


Congress  were  appointed ;  troops  were 
sent  into  the  state  from  further  south ; 
and  when  the  23d  of  May  arrived,  the 
voting  was  only  to  support  a  foregone 
conclusion ;  union  men  were  not  safe  in 
casting  their  suffrages ;  of  course,  seces 
sion  was  carried,  the  actual  vote  being 
128,884  for  secession,  to  32,134  against. 
Virginia,  mad  and  foolish,  joined  the 
foes  of  law  and  order ;  and  bitterly  did 
she  afterwards  find  occasion  to  repent 
of  her  action."' 

As  we  have  said  above,  there  was  no 
waiting,  no  delay  in  entering  upon  ac 
tive  measures  of  hostility.  Within 
twenty-four  hours  after  the  convention 
had  done  its  work,  not  only  were  the 
Custom  House  and  Post  Office  at  Rich 
mond  seized  upon,  but  an  attack  on 
the  United  States  arsenal  at  Harper's 
Ferry  was  made.  The  possession  of 
this  latter  was  of  prime  importance  to 
the  rebels.  Situated  at  the  junction  of 
the  Shenandoah  and  Potomac,  some 
sixty  miles  above  Washington,  it  con 
stitutes  the  outer  gate  to  the  great  val 
ley  of  Virginia,  and  offers  the  readiest 
mode  of  approach  from  the  east  to 
Winchester  and  the  inner  region.  In 
addition  to  the  armory  with  its  weapons 
of  war,  it  contained  a  large  number  of 


*  "  The  second  secessionary  movement  "  as  the  rebels 
termed  it,  which  was  begun  by  Virginia,  added  three, 
other  states  to  the  confederacy.  Tennessee  seceded  May 
6th,  1861 ;  Arkansas,  May  18th  ;  North  Carolina,  May 
21st.  Thus,  eleven  states  were  arrayed  in  hostile  attitude 
against  the  Constitution  and  laws.  (See  note,  vol.  iii.  p. 
556.)  In  regard  to  Tennessee,  however,  it  may  here  be 
stated,  that  she  was  never  carried  into  the  position  of 
rebellion  by  the  will  of  the  majority  of  her  people.  On 
the  contrary,  it  was  only  by  the  audacity  and  unscrtf- 
pulousness  of  disunionists,  that  the  secession  act  was 
forced  upon  the  people.  Andrew  Johnson  was  appoint 
ed  military  governor,  March  4th,  1862,  and  in  Septem 
ber,  1863,  the  rebel  government  was  quashed  entirely, 


24 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


shops  for  the  manufacture  of  arms. 
The  arsenal  was,  at  the  time,  in  the 
charge  of  about  forty  riflemen, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Jones,  who  was  instructed,  in  case  of 
attack,  not  to  surrender,  but  to  destroy 
the  works.  Receiving  information  that 
bands  of  state  militia  were  prepared  to 
seize  upon  the  arsenal,  Lieut.  Jones 
caused  all  the  arms,  some  15,000  in 
number,  to  be  heaped  up  ready  to  be 
burned.  When,  on  the  night  of  the 
18th  of  April,  the  invaders  approached, 
the  trains  were  fired,  and  in  three  min 
utes  the  buildings  were  in  flames,  and 
•  nearly  every  thing  was  destroyed. 
Lieut.  Jones  escaped  with  his  men  by 
the  bridge  leading  into  Maryland,  and 
reached  Carlisle  barracks  in  Pennsylva 
nia  the  next  afternoon.  For  this  good 
service  he  was  duly  thanked  and  pro 
moted. 

Simultaneously  with  this  attack  on 
Harper's  Ferry,  the  rebels  took  active 
measures  to  get  possession  of  the  Navy 
Yard  at  Norfolk.  This  large  and  very 
valuable  depot,  with  its  vast  stores  of 
provisions  and  materials  for  naval  pur 
poses,  its  shops  and  manufactures,  was 
situated  at  Gosport,  adjoining  Ports 
mouth,  on  the  Elizabeth  River,  opposite 
Norfolk.  It  covered  an  area  of  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  in  length  and  a 
quarter  in  breadth,  and  it  had  a  dry- 
dock  of  granite,  with  ship-houses,  naval 
hospital,  etc.  There  were  twelve  ves 
sels  in  the  yard,  but  most  of  them  were 
dismantled  and  in  ordinary.  The  Mer- 
rimac,  a  flrst  class  frigate  of  forty  guns, 
was  the  most  important  of  all.  Her 
machinery  needed  repair,  and  steps  had 
been  taken  to  put  her  in  order  as  speed 


ily  as  possible.  On  the  17th,  she  was 
ready  to  be  moved,  and  yet  Commo 
dore  McCauley  refused  to  allow  her  de 
parture.  His  excuse  was,  paltry  enough 
too,  that  he  relied  on  the  honor  and  ve 
racity  of  his  junior  officers,  who,  by 
the  way,  when  they  had  got  through  at 
Norfolk,  coolly  resigned  and  went  over 
to  secession.  Commodore  Paulding  was 
sent  with  the  Pawnee,  and  some  Mas 
sachusetts  troops,  on  the  2()th  of  April, 
to  save  what  he  could  and  destroy  the 
remainder.  When  he  arrived,  he  found 
that  the  powder  magazine  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  insurgents,  and 
that  the  ships  were  scuttled  and  sink 
ing.  Commodore  Paulding  had  them 
set  on  flre,  and  destroying  as  much  ol 
the  public  property  as  was  possible,  he 
took  the  U.  S.  ship  Cumberland  in  tow, 
and  sailed  down  the  river.*  By  a 
strange  fatuity  of  the  government,  in 
not  making  proper  provision  in  order 
to  gave  public  property  from  the  hands 
of  thieves  and  robbers,  the  confederates 
gained  2,000  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance, 
300  of  the  guns  being  of  the  Dahlgren 
pattern,  and  in  stores,  furniture,  etc., 
property  to  the  amount  of  $1 0,000,00  O.f 


*  Mr.  Pollard,  of  Richmond,  with  various  flourishes 
of  rhetoric,  terms  what  was  done  by  order  of  the  gov 
ernment.  "  acts  of  ruthless  vandalism,"  and  winds  up 
his  paragraph,  giving  an  account  of  the  matter,  in  these 
words :  "  In  the  midst  of  the  brilliance  of  the  scene 
(i.  e.,  the  conflagration  of  the  ships,  etc.)  the  Pawnee 
with  the  Cumberland  in  tow,  stole  like  a  guilty  thing 
through  the  harbor,  fleeing  from  the  destruction  they 
had  been  sent  to  accomplish." — "First  Tear  of  the 
War"  pp.  65,  66. 

f  The  Senate  committee  (April  18th,  1862)  speaks  of 
this  whole  matter  with  very  great  and  deserved  se 
verity.  The  hope  of  good  and  true  men  at  Norfolk, 
who  greeted  the  arrival  of  the  Pawnee  with  cheor  on 
cheer,  "  was  cruelly  disappointed  by  the  hasty  attempt 
to  destroy  the  yard  ;  and  the  government  afforded  tha 
loyal  men  at  Norfolk — as  indeed  every  where  else  at. 


CH.  II.] 


EAGERNESS  TO  ATTACK  WASHINGTON. 


25 


It  was  a  painful,  mortifying  event, 
and  rendered  all  tlie  more  so  by  its  crip 
pling  the  government,  strengthening 
the  secessionists,  prolonging  the  contest, 
and  giving  the  enemy  .so  abundant 
ground  of  rejoicing.  It  was  bad  enough 
to  meet  with  losses  such  as  those  just 
named;  but  to  have  the  guns  stolen 
from  us  turned  against  us,  in  Virginia, 
North  Carolina  and  the  West,  was  par 
ticularly  aggravating.  Mr.  W.  H.  Pe 
ters,  a  person  appointed  by  the  gov 
ernor  of  Virginia  to  make  an  inventory 
of  the  property  acquired  by  seizing  upon 
what  belonged  to  the  government,  illus 
trates  clearly  the  position  of  affairs  on 
this  subject.  He  writes  in  this  strain  : — 
UI  had  proposed  some  remarks  upon 
the  vast  importance  to  Virginia,  and  to 
the  entire  South,  of  the  timely  acqui 
sition  of  this  extensive  naval  depot, 
with  its  immense  supplies  of  munitions 
of  war,  and  to  notice  briefly  the  dam 
aging  effects  of  its  loss  to  the  govern 
ment  at  Washington ;  but  I  deem  it  un 
necessary,  since  the  presence  at  almost 
every  exposed  point  on  the  whole  south 
ern  coast,  and  at  numerous  inland  in 
trenched  camps  in  the  several  states, 
of  heavy  pieces  of  ordnance,  with  their 
equipments  and  fixed  ammunition,  all 
supplied  from  this  establishment,  fully 
attests  the  one ;  while  the  unwillingness 
of  the  enemy  to  attempt  demonstrations 
at  any  point,  from  which  he  is  obviously 
deterred  by  the  knowledge  of  its  well- 
fortified  condition,  abundantly  proves 
the  other — especially  when  it  is  consid- 


1801. 


that  time — every  possible  reason  for  the  conviction 
that  the  rebellion  was  the  winning  side,  and  that  de 
votion  to  the  government  could  end  only  in  defeat, 
loss,  and  death." 


ered  that  both  he  and  .we  are  wholly 
indebted  for  our  means  of  resistance  to 
his  loss  and  our  acquisition  of  the  Gos- 
port  Navy  Yard."  * 

For  some  time  past,  the  hjot-bloods  of 
the  South  had  been  crying  out  for  an 
attack  upon  Washington.  Its  capture, 
they  thought,  would  be  no  difficult  mat 
ter,  and  its  importance  to  them,  as  giv 
ing  them  a  sort  of  credit  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world,  they  valued  very  highly. 
Various  and  alarming  reports  came  up 
from  all  quarters  of  the  seceded 
states,  and  the  newspapers,  as 
well  as  the  speechifying  demagogues, 
urged  an  immediate  advance  upon  the 
capital.  "  The  capture  of  Washington 
city,1'  said  a  Richmond  paper,  April 
23d,  "  is  perfectly  wkhin  the  power  of 
Virginia  and  Maryland,  if  Virginia  will 
only  make  the  effort  by  her  constituted 
authority  ;  nor  is  there  a  single  moment 
to  lose.  The  entire  population  pant  for 
the  onset.  There  was  never  half  the 
unanimity  among  the  people  before,  nor 
a  tithe  of  the  zeal  upon  any  subject  that 
is  now  manifested  to  take  Washington 

O 

and  drive  from  it  every  Black  Repub 
lican  who  is  a  dweller  there.  From  the 
mountain  tops  and  valleys  to  the  shores 
of  the  sea,  there  is  one  wild  shout  of 
fierce  resolve  to  capture  Washington 
city  at  all  and  every  human  hazard. 
The  filthy  cage  of  unclean  birds  must 
and  will  assuredly  be  purified  by  fire. 
The  people  are  determined  upon  it.  and 
are  clamorous  for  a  leader  to  conduct 
them  to  the  onslaught.  That  leader 
will  assuredly  rise,  aye,  and  that  right 
speedily." 

Doubtless,  from  what  is  now  known 


*  See  Richmond  Enquirer,  February  4th,  1862. 


26 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


of  the  defencoless  condition  of  Wash 
ington  at  the  time,  it  is  quite  possible 
that  the  rebels  might  have  seized  upon 
the  city.  Happily,  they  did  not  make 
the  attempt,  and  the  government  was 
roused  to  provide  for  the  emergency. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  a  body  of 
troops,  about  500  in  number,  arrived 
from  Pennsylvania,  unarmed,  it  is  true, 
but  ready  to  take  their  places  at  the 
post  of  clanger.  A  few  days  brought 
troops  from  Massachusetts  and  New 
York,  and  in  a  few  weeks,  under  the 
patriotic  exertions  and  energy  of  the 
venerable"  General  Scott,  Washington 
was  placed  in  a  position  which  rendered 
it  safe  against  rebel  assault. 

It  was  not,  however,  without  toil  and 
exposure  to  outrage  and  insult  that  this 
result  was  accomplished.  Maryland, 
one  of  the  slave  states,  and  having 
among  its  population  many  ardent  sym 
pathizers  with  secession  and  its  ex 
cesses,  was  so  situated  as  to  make  it 
necessary  to  march  the  troops  through 
her  territory  in  order  to  reach  the  capi 
tal.  Baltimore,  through  which  the 
great  line  of  railroad  communication 
between  the  North  and  South  passed, 
was  a  city  of  not  too  good  reputation, 
where  political  questions  and  discords 
were  concerned ;  and  there  were  in  this 
city  not  a  few  disorderly  and  unscrupu 
lous  characters,  who  were  ready  to  com 
mit  outrage  and  violence  to  any  extent, 
when  urged  on  by  passion  and  self-in 
terest.  This  was  made  evident  by  the 
scandalous  riot  of  the  19th  of  April,  in 
Baltimore,  the  particulars  of  which  we 
put  on  record,  not  so  much  because  of 
any  importance  in  the  riot  itself,  as  to 
show  forth  the  detestable  spirit  existing 


at  the  time,  and  the  calm,  determined 
manner  in  which  it  was  met  by  the  loyal 
men  of  Massachusetts.  On  the  18th 
of  April,  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  regi 
ment  passed  through  New  York,  where 
it  was  warmly  greeted  and  cheered  on 
ward  in  its  noble  wTork  in  defence  of 
the  common  capital  of  the  TInion.  It 
reached  Philadelphia  the  same  day,  and 
the  next  morning  was  forwarded  to  Bal 
timore.  The  cars  reached  the  depot,  on 
the  northern  side  of  the  city,  about  ten 
o'clock,  and  the  troops  expected  to  pass 
without  difficulty  in  the  horse-cars  to 
the  station,  where  they  were  to  embark 
for  Washington.  But  a  crowd  was 
found  awaiting  them,  which,  like  all 
crowds  under  excitement,  needed  but 
to  be  set  in  motion,  in  order  to  proceed 
to  any  extreme.  Hootings,  jeerings, 
abusive  epithets  were  freely  employed ; 
but  these  were  comparatively  harmless, 
and  the  troops  regarded  them  with 
silent  contempt.  In  a  little  while,  stones 
and  other  missiles  were  used,  and  the 
leaders  of  the  mob  exulted  in  witnessing 
the  patience  with  which  these  too  were 
received.  Some  of  the  cars  were  at  last 
got  through,  but  four  companies  yet 
remained  in  the  rear  cars.  Soon  it  be 
came  known  that  the  rails  were  blocked, 
and  passage  was  no  longer  practicable. 
In  the  emergency,  the  Massachusetts 
men  determined  to  proceed  on  foot  and 
join  their  companions  at  the  depot. 
They  formed  in  close  order,  and  started ; 
when  immediately  the  mob,  with  terri 
ble  threats  and  denunciations,  began 
anew  the  assault  with  brickbats  and 
stones.  Not  content  with  this,  shots 
were  fired  at  them  from  the  streets  and 
houses  ;  whereupon  the  commanding 


CH.  II.] 


SCANDALOUS  RIOT  IN  BALTIMORE. 


officer  ordered  his  men  to  protect  them 
selves  and  return  the  fire.  Amid  this 
shocking  and  outrageous  attack,  the 
troops  fought  their  weary  way  for  more 
than  a  mile,  and  finally  rejoined  their 
comrades.  Three  of  the  soldiers  were 
killed  and  eight  wounded ;  eleven  of 
the  Baltimorians  were  killed,  and  a 
large  number  wounded.  Other  troops 
from  Pennsylvania,  being  without  arms, 
after  a  furious  assault  upon  them  by 
the  populace,  were  finally  sent  back  in 
the  cars  to  Philadelphia. 

Law  and  order,  for  the  time,  seemed 
to  be  lost.  Mayor  Brown  and  police 
marshal  Kane,  were  virtually  helpless,  as 
well  as  in  sympathy  with  the  rebels,  and 
the  city  to  all  appearance  was  given 
over  to  mob  law  and  unutterable  dis 
grace.  The  gun  shops  of  the  city  were 
plundered  at  night,  and  the  city  author 
ities,  under  an  impression  of  its  neces 
sity,  and  also  its  helpfulness  to  the  cause 
of  secession,  the  same  night  issued  an 
order  for  the  destruction  of  the  railroad 
bridges  on  the  northern  routes,  as  the 
only  means  of  impeding  the  arrival  of 
the  Pennsylvania  troops  on  their  way, 
and  preventing  a  repetition  of  the  con 
flict  of  the  day ;  and  the  order  was 
promptly  executed.  The  great 
est  excitement  and  apprehen 
sion  prevailed  throughout  the  city. 
The  most  violent  secession  sympathies 
were  openly  avowed,  the  flag  of  the 
Confederate  States  was  seen  in  all  di 
rections,  and  the  glorious  Stars  and 
Stripes  were  shamefully  insulted.  No 
more  troops,  this  was  their  determina 
tion,  should  pass  through  their  city.* 


*  "  Baltimore  was  a  secession  volcano  in  full  eruption  ; 
while  the  counties  south  of  that  city  were  overwhelm- 


On  the  afternoon  of  this  same  19tli 
of  April,  the  gallant  Seventh  Kegiment 
of  New  York,  a  regiment  which  stands 
high  in  popular  favor  in  the  Empire 
City,  set  out  on  its  way  to  Washing 
ton.  They  were  aware  of  what  their 
countrymen  from  Massachusetts  had 
just  met  with  in  Baltimore;  but  they 
faltered  not ;  they  were  prepared  to  go 
through  whatever  was  before  them. 
The  enthusiasm  of  the  city,  as  they  de 
parted,  was  raised  to  its  highest  pitch, 
although  no  man  knew  how  soon  that 
noble  band  of  soldiers  would  meet  with 
deadly  enemies  in  their  path.  On 
reaching  Philadelphia,  and  finding  it 
impossible  to  go  by  way  of  Baltimore, 
the  seventh  embarked  in  the  steamer 
Boston,  to  find  their  way  to  Washing 
ton  by  water.  At  Annapolis,  thirty 
miles  south  of  Baltimore,  they  found 
General  Butler  with  the  Eighth  Mass 
achusetts  regiment.  He  had,  on  the 

O  ' 

20th  of  April,  reached  Perry sville,  on 
the  Susquehanna,  when  ascertaining 
that  the  bridges  were  burned  and  that 
there  were  no  cars  to  proceed  with,  he 
seized  the  railroad  ferry  steamboat 
Maryland,  and  early  the  next  morning 
arrived  at  Annapolis.  The  seventh 
joined  the  troops  under  Gen.  Butler, 


ingly  in  sympathy  with  the  slaveholders  rebellion,  and 
their  few  determined  Unionists  completely  overawed 
and  silenced.  The  counties  near  Baltimore,  between 
that  city  and  the  Susquehanna,  were  actively  co-operat 
ing  with  the  rebellion,  or  terrified  into  dumb  submis 
sion  to  its  b  hests.  The  great  populous  counties  of 
Frederick,  Washington,  and  Alleghany,  composing 
Western  Maryland— having  few  slaves — were  pre 
ponderantly  loyal ;  but  they  were  overawed  and  para 
lyzed  by  the  attitude  of  the  rest '  of  the  state,  and  still 
more  by  the  large  force  of  rebel  Virginians — said  to  be 
5,000  strong — who  had  been  suddenly  pushed  forward 
to  Harper's  Ferry,  and  threatened  Western  Maryland 
from  that  commanding  position." — Qreeley's  ;  Ameri 
can  Conflict,"  vol.  i.,  p.  463 


28 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


1861. 


and  after  enduring  hardships  of  no 
light  kind,  from  heat,  exposure,  want 
of  food,  and  the  like,  took  the  cars  at 
Annapolis  Junction,  and  reached  Wash 
ington  on  the  25th  of  April. 

Anxious  to  secure  peace  while  calling 
for  aid,  the  president,  by  advice  of  Gen. 
Scott,  favored  the  sending  of  troops  by 
way  of  Annapolis,  or  around  Baltimore, 
instead  of  forcing  a  way  through 
that  city.  Gen.  Butler  was  es 
pecially  serviceable  in  this  emergency. 
lie  not  only  took  post  at '  Annapolis, 
but  he  held  it.  He  secured  to  the  gov 
ernment  the  noble  old  frigate  Constitu 
tion,  "  Old  Ironsides,"  and  saw  it  safely 
conveyed  away  from  danger.  Pie  was 
prepared  to  enforce  the  rights  of  those 
called  by  the  president  to  go  to  Wash 
ington  and  defend  the  capital  from 
invasion.  Governor  Hicks  protested 
against  his  landing,  or  remaining  in 
Annapolis ;  but  the  general  was  firm 
and  decided.  The  legislature  of  Mary 
land  met  at  Frederick,  on  the  27th  of 
April,  and  the  governor  endeavored  to 
assume  and  claim  for  the  state  a  neutral 
position,  helping,  as  he  wished,  neither 
side,  but  in  effect  cutting  off  the  capital 
from  the  loyal  states.  On  the  5th  of 
May,  General  Butler  advanced  a  portion 
of  his  command  to  the  Relay  House, 
about  nine  miles  from  Baltimore,  and 
on  the  14th,  he  entered  the  city,  took 
possession  of  Federal  Hill,  and  issued  a 
straightforward  proclamation,  insisting 
upon  the  observance  of  law  and  order, 
and  expressing  the  determination  of  the 
government  to  sustain  all  good  citizens 
in  their  rights  and  privileges. 

The   way   through    Baltimore    was 
again  open  from  the,  Noith,  and  troops 


passed  freely  through  the  city.  Union 
men  were  at  liberty  to  express  their 
sentiments  without  molestation,  and  to 
act  in  accordance  therewith  ;  and  sedi 
tion,  though  not  dead,  was  held  in  abey 
ance  at  least.*  Governor  Hicks,  on  the 
14th  of  May,  on  the  last  day  of  the 
meeting  of  the  legislature,  issued  a  call 
for  four  regiments  to  serve  for  three 

o 

months  in  Maryland  or  for  the  defence 
of  Washino-ton.t  The  savino;  of  Marv- 

O  O  i- 

land  from  the  evil  designs  of  those  who 
would  have  hurried  her  into  secession, 
was  due,  in  measure,  to  the  active 
and  judicious  movements  of  Gen.  B.  F. 
Butler, — a  name,  by  the  way,  which  ac 
quired  some  considerable  notoriety  in 
the  course  of  the  great  rebellion. 

Ha  vino;    been    ordered   to    Fortress 


*  For  some  instructive  details  in  regard  to  the 
movements  on  the  part  of  the  police  authorities  in  Bal 
timore  and  also  of  the  legislature  of  Maryland,  see  Mc- 
Pherson's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion,"  pp.  392-398. 

f  The  Hon.  Reverdy  Johnson,  one  of  the  high-toned 
patriots  of  Maryland,  in  a  speech  at  Frederick,  May  7th, 
thiis  expressed  himself :  "  What  is  there  in  the  modern 
history  of  South  Carolina  which  should  recommend  her 
teachings  to  Maryland  ?  What  is  there  in  the  intel 
lects  of  the  Rhetts,  the  Yanceys,  the  Cobbs,  et  id  genus 
omne,  to  make  them  our  leaders  ?  They  did  all  they 
could  to  achieve  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  hailed 
its  accomplishment  with  undisscmblod  delight.  They 
thought  they  saw  in  it  the  realization  of  their  long-cher 
ished  hopes — the  precipitation  of  the  cotton  states 
into  a  revolution  ;  and  then  fancied  exemption  from  the 
worst  of  the  perils — and  they  now  seek  to  effect  it — in 
the  intervention  of  the  other  slave  states  between 
them  and  the  danger.  Short-sighted  men  !  they  never 
anticipated  the  calamities  already  upon  them,  and  the 
greater  certain  to  follow.  Besides  relying  on  the  fact 
just  stated,  they  also  counted  securely  on  a  large  in 
fluential  support  in  the  free  states.  Little  did  they 
know  the  true  patriotic  heart  of  the  land.  .  .  . 
Where,  in  the  past,  the  South  could  count  its  friends 
by  thousands  and  hundreds  of  thousands,  not  one  is 
now  to  be  found.  The  cry  is,  the  government  must 
be  sustained ;  the  flag  must  be  vindicated.  Heaven 
forbid  that  the  duty  of  that  vindication  should  be  for 
gotten  by  Maryland  "' 


CH.  II.] 


GREAT  UNION  MEETING  IN  NEW  YORK. 


29 


Monroe,  on  the  22d  of  May,  Gen.  Butler 
resigned  the  charge  of  matters  at  Bal 
timore  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Cadwala- 
der.  This  officer  acted  with  that  pru 
dence  and  conciliatory  spirit  deemed  so 
important  at  the  time;  yet  he  was  not 
lacking  in  firmness  on  an  important 
question  which  came  up  for  decision  a 
few  days  after  Gen.  Butler  left.  This 
was  the  suspension  of  habeas  corpus, 
or  the  prevalence  of  martial  law.  The 
president,  taking  the  ground  of  neces 
sity,  had  authorized  Gen.  Scott,  April 
27th,  to  suspend  the  writ  above  named 
any  where  between  Philadelphia  and 
Washington,  which  was  extended,  July 
2d,  to  any  where  between  New  York 
and  Washington.  A  wealthy  Mary- 
lander,  John  Merry  man,  was  arrested 
by  military  authority,  on  25th  of  May, 
charged  with  treasonable  practices,  etc. 
Merryman  applied  to  Chief-justice 
Taney  for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  to 
test  the  legality  of  the  arrest.  It  was 
granted  at  once,  and  efforts  made  to  en 
force  it  against  Gen.  Cadwalader ;  but 
to  no  purpose.  Taney  then  delivered 
his  opinion  adverse  to  the  president's 
action,  condemning  him  and  it  in  no 

/  O 

measured  terms.  Other  authorities, 
quite  equal  to  the  chief-justice  in  weight 
of  character  and  legal  acumen,  sustain 
ed  the  course  which  Mr.  Lincoln  had 
felt  himself  compelled  to  pursue,  such 
as  Prof.  Parsons,  Horace  Binney,  Attor 
ney-general  Bates,  etc. ;  and  the  people 
generally  acquiesced  in  the  result,  as 
inseparable  from  a  state  of  war  and 
insurrection.""" 

General  Banks,  on  the  10th  of  June, 

"'  For  the  legal  opinions  referred  to,  see  McPhersou's 
"History  of  the  Rebellion."  up.  155-162. 


succeeded  Gen.  Cadwalader  in  com 
mand.  On  the  27th,  he  ordered  the 
arrest  of  police  marshal  Kane,  and 
broke  up  the  Board  of  Police  in  Balti 
more,  on  the  ground  of  complicity  and 
agreement  with  traitors.  The  two  pro 
clamations,  which  Gen.  Banks  issued, 
show  clearly  the  basis  and  the  necessity 
of  his  action  in  behalf  of  law  and  order. 
By  these  vigorous  means  Maryland 
was  saved  from  the  evil  purposes  of 
secession  and  rebellion,  and  retained  her 
rightful  place  in  the  Union.  Gen. 
Banks  being  called  to  supersede  Patter 
son  on  the  Potomac,  Gen.  Dix  took  his 
place  in  Maryland,  at  the  close  of  the 
month  of  July. 

The  noble  and  manly  spirit  of  the 
people,  which  was  aroused  by  the  out 
break  of  the  rebellion,  was  manifested 
in  all  parts  of  the  loyal  states,  but 
more  especially  in  the  large  cities.  A 
vast  and  imposing  assemblage  gathered 
at  Union  Square,  New  York,  on  the  20th 
of  April,  the  glorious  flag  of  our  country 
waving  in  all  directions,  and  the  eques 
trian  statue  of  Washington  being;  in 

o  o 

the  midst.  All  party  distinctions  were 
ignored;  they  stood  there  as  citizens 
of  one  common  country.  The  meeting 
was  addressed  by  prominent  speakers 
from  various  regions.  Gen.  Dix,  Col 
onel  Baker,  Professor  Mitchel,  and 
others  (some  thirty  in  all),  poured  forth 
eloquent  words,  adapted  to  the  fearful 
exigency,  and  appealing  to  every  heart 
to  stand  by  and  uphold  the  Constitu 
tion  and  laws  of  the  United  States. 
We  cannot  pretend  to  give  even  a  sum 
mary  of  their  words  ;  one  short  extract 
must  suffice  from  Prof.  Mitchel's  speech, 
wrhose  language,  though  not  noted  at 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


the  time,  was  almost  prophetic  :  "  The 
rebels  and  the  traitors  in  the  South,  we 
must  set  aside ;  they  are  not  our  friends. 
When  they  come  to  their  senses  we  will 
receive  them  with  open  arms ;  but  till 
that  time,  while  they  are  trailing  our 
glorious  banner  in  the  dust,  when  they 
scorn  it,  condemn  it,  curse  it,  and  tram 
ple  it  under  foot,  then  I  must  smite. 
In  God's  name  I  will  smite,  and  as  long 
as  I  have  strength.  I  will  do  it.  O, 
listen  to  me,  listen  to  me  !  I  know  these 
men;  I  know  their  courage;  I  have 
been  among  them;  I  have  been  with 
them ;  I  have  been  reared  with  them ; 
they  have  courage;  and  do  not  you 
pretend  to  think  they  have  not.  I  tell 
you  what  it  is,  it  is  no  child's  play  you 
are  entering  upon.  They  will  fight, 
and  with  a  determination  and  a  power 
which  is  irresistible.  Make  up  your 
mind  to  it.  Let  every  man  put  his  life 
in  his  hand  and  say,  '  There  is  the  altar 
of  my  country ;  there  I  will  sacrifice  my 
life.'  I  for  one  will  lay  my  life  down. 
It  is  not  mine  any  longer.  Lead  me  to 
the  conflict.  Place  me  where  I  can  do 
my  duty.  There  I  am  ready  to  go,  I 
care  not  where  it  leads 'me." 

But  it  was  not  in  words  merely,  that 
the  loyalty  of  the  nation  was  manifest 
ed.  Money  as  wTell  as  men  were  most 
liberally  furnished.  The  subscriptions 
of  individuals,  corporations,  banking 
institutions,  towns,  cities,  and  the  leg 
islatures  of  the  northern  and  western 
states,  freely  offered  for  the  purchase  of 
arms,  the  raising  and  equipment  of 
troops,  and  the  support  of  the  govern 
ment,  in  a  fortnight  after  the  day  of 
the  attack  upon  Sumter,  reached  a  sum 
estimated  at  over  thirty  millions  of  dol- . 


lars.  The  appropriations  of  the  states 
of  Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  Ohio, 
reached  the  sum  of  three  millions  each, 
and  others  were  quite  as  liberal  in  pro 
portion  to  their  wealth,  if  they  did  not 
in  some  instances  exceed  them.  Con 
necticut  contributed  two  millions,  and 
Illinois  the  same ;  Indiana,  Maine,  New 
Jersey,  Vermont,  a  million  each ;  and 
the  corporation  of  the  city  of  New  York 
an  equal  sum,  which  was  speedily  more 
than  doubled  by  the  subscriptions  of 
the  citizens.  Cincinnati  kept  pace  with 
New  York,  and  the  great  West  gener 
ally  throughout  its  border's  was  as 
prodigal  of  its  resources  as  the  wealthy 
East.  Patriotic  women  also  took  their 
share  in  the  good  work,  and  especially 
in  providing  articles  of  every  kind  for 
the  wants  of  the  soldiers,  such  as  hos 
pital  stores,  haversacks,  delicacies  for 
the  sick,  and  the  like.  Many  an  one, 
too,  though  bred  in  luxury,  gave  her 
services  in  the  good  cause,  quietly  and 
unostentatiously,  but  none  the  less  ac 
ceptably  ;  and  were  the  full  record  ever 
to  be  made  up,  it  would  show  such 
acts  of  personal  devotion  on  the  part 
of  our  countrywomen  as  have  never 
'been  surpassed.* 

The  month  of  May  found  the  coun 
try  actively  engaged  in  preparations 
for  the  conflict  of  arms.  Forces 
were  mustering  into  service; 
officers  were  busy  at  recruiting  stations  ; 
companies  were  forming ;  men  were  en 
listing  in  favorite  regiments  •  private 
contributions, as  well  as  legislative  loans 


1861. 


*  On  this  subject  may  be  consulted  to  advantage 
"  THE  TIUBUTE  BOOK,  a  Record  of  fiie  Munificence, 
Self-sacrifice,  and  Patriotism  of  the  American  people 
during  the  war  for  the  Union."  By  Frank  B.  Goodrich. 
New  York,  18G5,  pp.  572. 


CH.  II.] 


REBEL  PLUNDERING  AND  SPOLIATION. 


31 


or  grants,  were  freely  supplied ;  and 
early  in  May,  there  were  at  least  100,- 
000  men  in  active  preparation  for  the 
field.  The  promptitude  and  enthusi 
asm  of  the  people  were  ably  seconded 
by  the  governors  of  the  states,  and  it 
was  a  truly  noble  and  inspiriting  spec 
tacle  to  behold  the  heartiness  and  un 
selfishness  of  those  who  had  resolved 
that  the  Union  should  never  perish 
through  their  neglect  or  lack  of  devo- 

O  O 

tion  to  its  best  interests.* 

On  the  3d  of  May,  the  president  is 
sued  a  proclamation,  calling  for  troops, 
to  serve  for  three  years,  unless  sooner 
discharged.  Forty-two  thousand  vol 
unteers  were  thus  called  for,  while  the 
regular  army  was  directed  to  be  in 
creased  by  the  addition  of  eight  regi 
ments  of  infantry,  one  of  cavalry,  and 
one  of  artillery,  making  an  aggregate 
of  nearly  23,000  officers  and  men. 
Eighteen  thousand  seamen  were,  at  the 
same  time,  ordered  to  be  enlisted  for 
the  naval  service  of  the  United  States. 
Having  stated  that  these  requisitions 
and  acts  would  be  submitted  to  Con 
gress,  as  soon  it  assembled,  the  presi 
dent  said  : — "  In  the  meantime,  I  earn 
estly  invoke  the  co-operation  of  all  good 
citizens  in  the  measures  hereby  adopted 
for  the  effectual  suppression  of  unlaw 
ful  violence,  for  the  impartial  enforce 
ment  of  constitutional  laws,  and  for  the 
speediest  possible  restoration  of  peace 

*  The  activity,  zeal,  and  courage  of  the  governors  of 
'he  loyal  states,  deserve  especial  mention.  Not  only  in 
the  older  states,  but  in  the  great  West,  these  qualities 
were  nobly  exemplified.  In  Indiana,  for  instance,  Gov 
ernor  Morton  called  for  the  troops  apportioned  to  that 
state  by  the  president's  proclamation.  In  less  than 
eight  days,  njore  than  12,000  men,  three  times  the 
number  asked  f  )r,  tendered  their  services  in  behalf  of 
their  country 


and  order,  and  with  those,  of  happi 
ness  and  prosperity  throughout  our 
country." 

It  was  not,  however,  in  the  loyal  states 
alone  that  active  and  energetic  meas 
ures  were  pursued.  The  southern  lead 
ers,  who  had  long  before  marked  out 
their  course  of  proceedings,  pushed  for 
ward  operations  in  every  direction.  The 
work  of  public  spoliation,  which  was 
begun  at  Charleston,  Savannah  and 
New  Orleans,  was  also  vigorously  car 
ried  on  in  other  regions  of  the  country. 
Within  a  few  days  of  the  fall  of  Sumter, 
the  steam  transport  Star  of  the  West, 
loaded  with  provisions,  sent  for  the 
relief  of  the  United  States  troops  in 
Texas,  was  treacherously  seized  at  In- 
dianola  by  a  body  of  insurgents,  under 
Colonel  Van  Dorn;  the  arsenals  at 
Liberty  in  Missouri,  Fayetteville  in 
North  Carolina,  and  Napoleon  in  Ar 
kansas,  with  stores  of  arms  and  ammun 
ition,  were  plundered  by  the  rebels ; 
Fort  Smith,  in  Arkansas,  wras  taken  pos 
session  of  by  Colonel  Solon  Borland, 
the  leader  of  a  volunteer  band  of  seces 
sionists.  In  consequence  of  the  var 
ious  acts  of  robbery  and  violence  in 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  defeating 

O  /  O 

the  exercise  of  the  proper  powers  of  the 
federal  government,  President  Lincoln, 
on  the  27th  of  April,  by  proclamation, 
extended  the  blockade  of  the  southern 
coast  to  those  states.* 

As  Washington  was  now  considered 


*  On  the  20th  of  May,  the  United  States  marshals, 
by  order  of  the  government,  seized  upon  all  the  dis 
patches  and  communications  in  the  leading  telegraph 
offices  in  the  North.  This  was  done  in  order  to  dis 
cover  secret  confederate  allies  and  sympathizers  in  the 
loyal  states,  and  thus  to  defeat  their  plans  and  pur 
poses. 


32 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


to  be  safe  from  any  rebel  attack,  it  was 
but  natural  that  some  active  steps 
should  be  called  for,  in  order  to  put  an 
end  to  the  insolent  pretensions 
of  secessionists  and  violators  of 
the  law.  Arlington  Heights  might  be, 
and  probably  would  be,  taken  posses 
sion  of  by  the  rebels,  if  time  were 
allowed  them  ;  and  then,  what  roused 
the  blood  of  many  a  patriotic  citizen 
and  soldier,  there,  just  across  the  river, 
in  full  sight  from  the  capital,  the  seces 
sion  flag  was  displayed,  as  if  in  mockery 
of  the  majesty  and  dignity  of  that  gov 
ernment  which  the  father  of  his  country 
gave  his  whole  life  to  uphold.  It  was 
therefore  resolved  to  make  a  forward 
movement  into  Virginia.  This  was  ac 
complished  on  the  night  of  the  23d  of 
May,  under  the  direction  of  Gen.  Mans 
field.  The  force  which  crossed  the  Poto 
mac  consisted  of  some  13,000  in  all,  and 
immediate  possession  was  taken  of  Ar 
lington  Heights  and  of  Alexandria. 

o  o 

At  this  latter  place,  Colonel  Ellsworth, 
with  his  noted  New  York  Fire  Zouaves, 
arrived  by  water,  very  early  in  the 
morning  of  the  24th  of  May.  His  first 
impulse  was  to  destroy  the  railroad 
communication,  and  to  seize  upon  the 
telegraph  office,  both  of  them  measures 
of  importance ;  but,  as  he  was  on  his 
way  to  the  office  of  the  telegraph,  he 
espied  flying  from  the  Marshall  House, 
a  second  class  hotel,  a  confederate  flag. 
Although  accompanied  by  only  three 
or  four  persons,  Ellsworth,  with  more 
enthusiasm  than  discretion,  rushed  into 
the  house,  mounted  to  the  roof,  cut 
down  the  flag,  and  having  wrapped  it 
round  his  body  was  coming  down  the 
stairs.  The  proprietor  of  the  house,  a 


man  by  the  name  of  Jackson,  met  him, 
and  seeing  what  had  been  done,  fired 
into  his  bosom.  Ellsworth  fell  dead, 
and  Jackson  immediately  after  was 
killed  by  one  of  the  zouaves  in  com 
pany.  The  funeral  ceremonies  in  con 
nection  witli  Ellsworth's  death  were 
impressive  and  largely  attended,  both 
in  Washington  and  New  York.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  southern  press  laud 
ed  Jackson's  act  as  a  noble  deed,  arid 
worthy  of  perpetual  memory."""  At  the 
North,  Ellsworth  was  looked  upon  as 
having  been  assassinated /  at  the  South, 
Jackson  was  called  a  hero  and  a  martyr. 
However  the  incident  may  be  viewed, 
it  certainly  indicated  at  the  time,  that 
there  was  likely  to  be  a  terrible  earn 
estness  on  both  sides;  that  the  contest 
was  a  real  one  which  was  now  inau<2f- 

O 

urated ;  that  the  day  of  words  had 
passed  ;  and  that  the  hour  for  deeds  had 
arrived. 

The  determination  of  the  government 
to  use  such  force  as  was  at  its  command, 
in  order  to  suppress  the  rebellion,  caused 
no  little  alarm  to  the  secession  leaders ; 
and  notwithstanding  much  boasting  on 
their  part  as  to  their  superior  prowess, 
it  was  felt  that  the  North  was  now  fully 
roused,  and  settled  in  its  conviction  in 
regard  to  the  duty  owed  to  our  native 
land  in  this  hour  of  trial.  All  the 
hopes  and  expectations  based  on  the 
alliance  and  aid  looked  for  from  north 
ern  sources  were  futile  and  valueless,-]- 


*  See  Duyckinck's  "  War  for  the  Union,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
195  to  202,  for  a  full  account  of  Ellsworth's  death  and 
the  circumstances  attending  it.  For  the  "  fire-eating  " 
statement,  overflowing1  with  furious  words,  see  Pol 
lard's  "  First  Year  of  the  War,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  72-76,  and 
the  "  Charleston  Mercury,"  of  that  date. 

f  Franklin  Pierce,  formerly  president  of  the  United 


OH.  ii. 


DAVIS'S  APOLOGY  FOR  REBELLION. 


33 


and  if  the  rebel  states  were  to  fight  at  all, 
they  found  that  they  must  rely  on  their 
own  resources  in  the  present  emergency. 
Jefferson  Davis,  the  astute  politician  and 
fit  leader  in  a  bad  cause,  was  well  aware 
of  all  this ;  and  consequently,  every 
effort  was  made  to  nerve  the  deluded 
people,  who  had  been  drawn  into  sec 
ession  and  rebellion,  to  enter  with  all 
their  might  into  the  contest.  At  Harper's 
Ferry,  Manassas,  Hampton,  and  Rich 
mond,  the  rebels  were  strongly  posted, 
and  it  was  the  plan  of  the  leaders  to 
make  Virginia,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
battle-ground  on  which  to  test  the 
cause  they  had  adopted,  against  the 
force  of  arms  wielded  by. Union  hands. 
Davis  and  his  co-workers  knew  that,  on 
every  account,  it  was  important  as  well 
as  desirable  for  them  and  their  so-called 
government  to  be  in  Virginia ;  and  ac 
cordingly,  they  made  arrangements  to 
this  effect  as  speedily  as  possible. 

At  the  close  of  April,  (see  vol.  iii. 
p.  562,)  the  Confederate  Congress  met 
at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  Davis, 
in  his  address,  made  an  elaborate  apol 
ogy  for  southern  secession.  It 
was  prepared  with  undoubted 
ability  and  skill ;  but,  like  all  papers 
of  the  kind,  emanating  from  that 
source,  it  was  based  upon  the  necessary 


1§68. 


States,  wrote  to  Jefferson  Davis,  January  6th,  1860,  en 
couraging  him  and  others  in  their  fell  designs,  in 
language  such  as  this :  "  Without  discussing  the 
question  of  right,  of  abstract  power  to  secede,  I  have 
never  believed  that  actual  disruption  of  the  Union  can 
occur  without  blood ;  and  if  through  the  madness  of 
northern  abolitionism  that  dire  calamity  must  come, 
the  fighting  will  not  be  along  Mason's  and  Dixon's 
line  merely.  It  will  be  within  our  otin  borders,  in  our 
own  streets,  between  the  two  classes  of  citizens  to 
whom  I  have  referred.  Those  who  defy  lav/  and  sacred 
constitutional  obligations,  will,  if  ever  we  reach  the 
arbitrament  of  arms,  find  occupation  enough  at  home." 
V<  >L.  IV.— 5. 


sophism  of  sovereign  state  rights  and 
the  secession  of  any  state  at  pleasure, 
the  Union  being  a  mere  rope  of  sand. 
The  apology  was  intended  for  effect 
abroad  quite  as  much  as  at  home  ;  and 
subsequent  events  showed  that  Davis 
had  made  his  calculations  to  good  pur 
pose.  On  the  6th  of  May,  the  Mont 
gomery  Congress  formally  declared  war 
on  the  United  States,  as  a  foreign  power. 
An  enlistment  act  was  passed ;  an  issue 
of  $50,000,000  treasury  notes  was  au 
thorized  ;  debtors  were  forbidden  to  pay 
their  northern  creditors,  etc.  By  re 
quest,  Davis  appointed  a  fast  day,  and 
on  the  21st  of  May,  the  congress  ad 
journed,  to  meet  July  20th,  in  Rich 
mond,  Virginia,  which  was  henceforth 
to  be  the  capital  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America.  Immediately  Davis 
left  Montgomery,  and,  on  arriving  at 
Richmond,  on  the  28th,  was  received 
with  due  honor  and  attention.  Some 
of  his  words  may  be  quoted  here,  as 
manifesting  the  spirit  which  actuated 
the  head  of  the  rebel  organization. 
Speaking  of  the  loyal  population  in  the 
free  states,  he  said:  "They  have  al 
lowed  an  ignorant  usurper  to  trample 
upon  all  the  prerogatives  of  citizenship, 
and  to  exercise  powers  never  delegated 
to  him;  and  it  has  been  reserved  to 
your  own  state,  so  lately  one  of  the 
original  thirteen,  but  now,  thank  God, 
fully  separated  from  them,  to  become 
the  theatre  of  a  great  central  camp, 
from  which  will  pour  forth  thousands 
of  brave  hearts  to  roll  back  the  tide  of 
this  despotism.  Apart  from  that  grati 
fication  we  may  well  feel  at  being  sepa 
rated  from  such  a  connection,  is  the 
pride  that  upon  you  devolves  the  task 


34 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VHL 


of  maintaining  and  defending  our  new 

O  O 

government." 

Beauregard  readied  Richmond  a  few 
days  afterwards,  to  take  command  in 
Virginia.  Before  leaving  Charleston, 
lie  gave  expression  to  the  disappoint 
ment  and  spite  entertained  at  the  South 
towards  Gen.  Scott,  because  the  brave 
old  hero  held  to  his  loyalty  without 
wavering.*  On  the  5th  of  June,  Beaure 
gard  issued  a  proclamation,  which,  for 
its  ridiculous  bluster  and  foul-mouthed 
insinuations,  was  not  surpassed  by  any 
of  the  southern  rebels,  military  or 
otherwise.  "  A  reckless  and  unprinci 
pled  tyrant  has  invaded  your  soil. 
Abraham  Lincoln,  regardless  of  all 
moral,  legal,  and  constitutional  re 
straints,  has  thrown  his  abolition 
hosts  among  you,  who  are  murdering 
and  imprisoning  your  citizens,  confisca 
ting  and  destroying  your  property,  and 
committing  other  acts  of  violence  and 
outrage,  too  shocking  and  revolting  to 
humanity  to  be  enumerated.  All  rules 
of  civilized  warfare  are  abandoned,  and 
they  proclaim  by  their  acts,  if  not  on 
their  banners,  that  their  war-cry  is, 
4  Beauty  and  Booty  /'  All  that  is 
dear  to  man — your  honor  and  that 
of  your  wives  and  daughters — your 

*  See  Beauregard's  letter  to  Gen.  Martin,  May  27th, 
1861 :  "  Whatever  happens  at  first,  we  are  certain  to 
have  triumph  at  last,  even  if  we  had  for  arms  only 
pitchforks  and  flint-lock  muskets  ;  for  every  bushand 
hay-stack  will  become  an  ambush,  and  every  barn  a 
fortress.  The  history  of  nations  proves  that  a  gallant 
and  free  people,  fighting  for  their  independence  and 
firesides,  are  invincible  against  even  disciplined  mer 
cenaries  at  a  few  dollars  per  month.  What,  then, 
must  be  the  result  when  its  enemies  are  little  more 
than  an  armed  rabble,  gathered  together  hastily  on  a 
false  pretence  and  for  an  unholy  purpose,  with  an  octo 
genarian  at  its  head?  None  but  the  demented  can 
doubt  the  issue." 


fortunes  and  your  lives,  are  involved 
in  this  momentous  contest."  With 
this,  and  more  such  like  stuff  Beaure 
gard  entered  upon  his  work  in  Vir 
ginia.  Troops  from  every  quarter  were 
gathered  together,  and  generals  and 
other  officers  of  various  grades,  who 
had  forsworn  themselves  by  desert 
ing  the  flag  of  the  United  States, 
were  busily  engaged  in  fortifying  vari 
ous  points,  and  in  bringing  the  troops 
into  as  high  a  state  of  discipline  and 
efficiency  as  was  in  their  power. 

The  rebels  saw  no  opportunity  now 
of  assaulting  Washington,  or  carrying 
the  war,  as  they  had  been  led  to  hope, 
into  the  loyal  states.  Their  main  efforts 
were  now  directed  to  the  sustaining 

o 

and  holding  the  positions  already  occu 
pied,  and  to  the  repulsing  the  advances 
of  the  Union  troops.  Numerous  skir 
mishes  and  collisions,  of  no  great  mo 
ment,  occurred  at  several  points  in  Vir 
ginia  ;  and  the  gunboats  began  to  prove 
their  value  at  Sewall's  Point,  Acquia 
Creek,  Matthias  Point,  etc.  On  the 
1st  of  June,  Lieutenant  Tomp- 
kins  with  a  company  of  cavalry, 
made  a  bold  dash  into  Fairfax  Court- 
House,  and  defeated  a  detachment  of 
the  enemy  whom  he  found  there.  Two 
days  later,  a  camp  of  some  1,500  seces 
sionists  at  Philippi,  Barbour  Co.,  in 
Western  Virginia,  was  assaulted  by 
Union  troops  under  Colonels  Kelly 
and  Dumont.  A  heavy  storm  interfer 
ed  with  their  operations ;  Col.  Kell} 
was  dangerously  wounded  ;  but  thfe 
rebels  were  routed  and  ran  away,  leav 
ing  everything  behind.  A  spirited  ad 
vance  of  an  Indiana  regiment,  under 
Colonel  Wallace,  was  made  on  the  llth 


1861. 


CH.  II.] 


BUTLER'S  BIG  BETHEL  FAILURE. 


of  June,  in  a  rapid  march  across  Hamp 
shire  County ;  a  body  of  secessionists  at 
Romney  was  dispersed  and  compelled 
to  retreat.  On  the  9th  of  June,  Gen. 
Patterson  at  Charnbersburg,  Penn.,  ad 
vanced  towards  Harper's  Ferry  with  a 
considerable  force;  the  result  of  which 
movement  was,  that  on  the  14th,  the 
rebels  abandoned  that  position,  after 
having  burned  the  railroad  bridge  over 
the  Potomac,  destroyed  all  the  proper 
ty  they  could,  and  torn  up  the  track  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  for 
about  twelve  miles  from  the  Ferry. 

Gen.  Butler,  having  in  command,  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  about  6,000  men, 
learned  that  the  enemy  had  fortified 
themselves  strongly  at  Big  Bethel, 
some  twelve  miles  from  the  fortress.* 
A  secret  expedition  was  thereupon  pre 
pared  to  drive  them  out.  Late  on  the 
nij^ht  of  the  19th  of  June,  boats  con- 

O  ' 

veyed  troops,  under  Col.  Duryea,  across 
Hampton  Creek,  to  take  the  advance. 
These  reached  Little  Bethel,  a  few  miles 
from  Big  Bethel,  about  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  made  prisoners  of 
a  picket  guard  of  the  enemy.  Every 
thing  promised  success  ;  but  unhappily, 
the  main  body,  consisting  of  two  regi 
ments,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night  mis- 

*  The  facilities  afforded  to  the  rebels  by  slave  labor 
in  erecting  fortifications,  etc.,  brought  up  a  novel  and 
rather  difficult  question.  At  Hampton,  when  the 
whites  fled,  the  negroes  came  into  camp  near  Fortress 
Monroe.  What  was  to  be  done  with  them  ?  Gen. 
Butler  could  not  think  it  right  to  send  them  back  to 
their  masters  to  work  against  the  Union  and  its  cause  ; 
so,  with  great  cleverness,  he  pronounced  them  contra 
band  of  war.  When  a  certain  lawyer,  named  Mallory, 
sent  for  three  fugitives,  the  above  was  the  answer  he 
received ;  with  the  privilege,  however,  of  coming  in, 
and  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance,  receiving  back 
his  slaves.  The  government  sustained  the  action  of  Gen. 
Butler,  whose  letter  to  Gen.  Scott,  May  27th,  is  worth 
reading  even  at  this  day. 


took  each  other  for  enemies,  and  fiied 
both  musketry  and  cannon,  killing  two 
and  wounding  nineteen.  The  rebels 
received  warning  of  the  approaching 
expedition  and  profited  by  it ;  so  that, 
when  towards  noon  the  assault  was 
made  by  the  Union  troops,  it  proved 
unsuccessful,  and  the  order  was  given 
to  retreat.  Major  Winthrop  and  Lieut. 
Greble  were  killed,  together  with  quite 
a  large  number  of  the  troops,  and  the 
expedition  turned  out  to  be  a  failure. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  Gen.  Schenck, 
by  order  of  Gen.  McDowell,  went  on  a 
reconnoitring  expedition  with  the  1st 
Ohio  regiment.  The  troops  left  Alex 
andria  in  the  cars  on  the  Leesburg 
Railroad,  and  soon  after  reached 

1  Qfil 

the    little    village    of  Vienna. 

O 

Here  a  masked  battery  was  opened 
upon  them  with  fearful  destructiveness ; 
and  although  the  Ohio  men  stood  their 
ground  bravely,  they  were  at  last  com 
pelled  to  retire.  Their  loss  was  five 
killed,  six  wounded  and  seven  missing ; 
the  enemy,  it  was  reported,  suffered  no 
loss  whatever.  At  the  same  date,  June 
16th,  Gen.  Thomas  crossed  the  Potomac 
at  Williamsport,  Maryland,  but  was 
ordered  to  recross  on  the  18th,  which 
o;ave  the  rebels  a  fresh  chance  for  des- 

O 

truction  at  Harper's  Ferry.  General 
Patterson,  in  command,  crossed  at  Wil 
liamsport  on  July  2d ;  and  it  was  esti 
mated  that  at  the  close  of  the  month  of 
June,  there  were  on  and  near  the  Poto 
mac  a  hundred  thousand  troops,  more 
or  less  ready  for  active  service.  The 
rebel  force,  as  nearly  as  could  be  ascer 
tained,  was  supposed  to  be,  though  it 
was  not,  equal  to  ours  in  number. 
With  such  and  such  like  evidences 


36 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


IBs.  VIII, 


of  the  uprising  and  spirit  of  the  people, 
there  was  good  ground  to  hope  that 
they  would  manfully  sustain  the  Union 
and  the  integrity  of  the  nation.  Few. 

O          v 

very  few  probably,  appreciated  at  all 
fully,  the  vastness  and  fearfulness  of 
the  struggle  now  at  hand  ;  and  it  was 
not  till  many  months  had  rolled  by, 
that  the  loyal  supporters  of  the  govern 
ment  understood  the  greatness  of  the 
work  imposed  upon  them,  and  the 
many  and  peculiar  trials  and  hardships 
yet  to  be  undergone  by  those  who  were 
determined  to  sustain  the  Constitution 
and  laws  of  our  country. 

In  concluding  the  present  chapter, 
we  may  fitly  make  mention  of  the  clos 
ing  scenes  of  Senator  Douglas's  life  and 
career.  This  distinguished  statesman, 
though  defeated  in  the  presidential 
election,  and  though,  as  a  democrat,  far 
too  obsequious  to  the  South  and  its 
politicians,  was  nevertheless  too  good  a 
patriot  and  too  sincere  a  lover  of  the 
Union,  not  to  give  all  his  support  to 
the  new  administration  in  its  effort  to 
put  down  secession  and  rebellion. 
Having  left  Washington,  after  the  ad 
journment  of  Congress,  he  was  fre 
quently  called  on,  on  his  way  home,  to 
address  the  people.  On  the  1st  of 
May,  at  Chicago,  he  spoke  freely  and 
at  large.  A  sentence  or  two  will  give 
evidence  of  the  spirit  of  the  man : 
"That  the  present  danger  is  immi 
nent,  no  man  can  conceal.  If  war  must 
come — if  the  bayonet  must  be  used 
to  maintain  the  Constitution — I  can 
say  before  God  my  conscience  is 
clean.  I  have  struggled  long  for  a 
peaceful  solution  of  the  difficulty.  I 
have  not  only  tendered  those  states 


what  was  theirs  of  right,  but  I  have 
gone  to  the  verv  extreme  of  rnagnani- 

O  */  O 

mity.  The  return  we  receive  is  war, 
armie-i  marched  upon  our  capital,  ob 
structions  and  dangers  to  our  naviga 
tion,  letters  of  marque  to  invite  pirates 
to  prey  upon  our  commerce,  a  concerted 
movement  to  blot  out  the  United  States 
of  America  from  the  map  of  the  globe. 
.  .  .  The  conspiracy  is  now  known. 
Armies  have  been  raised ;  war  is  levied 
to  accomplish  it.  There  are  only  two 
sides  to  the  question.  Every  man 
must  be  for  the  United  States  or  against 
it.  There  can  be  no  neutrals  in  this 
war — only  patriot-?  or  traitors." 

On  the  10th  of  May,  being  too  un 
well  to  leave  his  room,  he  dictated  his 
last  letter,  reiterating  his  often  ex 
pressed  sentiments;  in  this  letter  he 
said  :  "  My  previous  relations  to  them 
(Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  party)  remain 
unchanged ;  but  I  trust  the  time  will 
never  come  when  I  shall  not  be  will 
ing  to  make  any  needful  sacrifice  of 
personal  feeling  and  party  policy  for 
the  honor  and  integrity  of  my  country. 
I  know  of  no  mode  by  which  a  loyal 
citizen  may  so  well  demonstrate  his  de 
votion  to  his  country  as  by  sustaining 
the  Flag,  the  Constitution,  and  the 
Union,  under  all  circumstances,  and 
under  every  administration  (regardless 
of  party  politics),  against  all  assailants, 
at  home  and  abroad." 

Uttering  such  sentiments  as  these 
Stephen  Arnold  Douglas  died,  on  the 
3d  of  June,  1861,  in  the  49th  year  of 
his  age.  All  political  animosity  ceased 
on  his  death,  and  the  country  generally 
mourned  his  loss  in  the  existing  crisis 
in  its  affairs. 


CH  III.] 


ATTEMPT  AT  NEUTRALITY  IX  KENTUCKY. 


37 


CHAPTEK    III. 
1861. 

POSITION    OF    AFFAIRS    IN    THE     BORDER    STATES. 

Kentucky  wishes  to  be  neutral  —  Gov.  Magoffin's  proclamation  —  Neutrality  impossible  —  Magoffin's  letter  to 
the  president  —  Reply  —  Legislature  in  session  —  Grant's  course  —  Efforts  of  rebels  —  Anderson  in  com 
mand  —  Contests  in  Kentucky  —  Condition  of  Missouri  —  Governor  Jackson  —  F.  P.  Blair  —  Ca,pt.  (General) 
Lyon's  zeal  —  Breaks  up  Camp  Jackson  —  General  Harney's  doings  —  Lyon  in  command  —  Gov.  Jackson 
calls  out  50,000  militia  —  Lyon  at  Jefferson  City  and  Booneville  —  Western  Virginia  —  Population,  charac 
ter,  etc. — Secession  denounced  —  Meeting  at*  Clarksburg  —  Convention  at  Wheeling  —  Its  action  —  Address 
of  Governor  Pierrepont  —  Meeting  of  the  legislature  —  General  McClellan's  activity  —  Attacks  rebels  at 
Beverly,  Laurel  Hill,  Rich  Mountain  —  Surrender  of  Pegram  —  Death  of  Garnett  —  Eastern  Tennessee  — 
Feeling  of  the  people  —  Position  of  this  part  of  the  state  —  Convention  at  Knoxville  —  Vote  of  Tennessee  on 
secession  —  Convention  at  Greenville  —  Declaration  of  Grievances  —  Sufferings  of  the  people  in  East  Tennes 
see  —  Andrew  Johnson  —  The  appeal  to  the  sword  —  Relative  position  of  the  loyal  and  seceding  states  in 
respect  to  population,  claims  of  law  and  order,  habits  and  education  of  the  people,  means  of  defence  and  of 
fence,  preparedness  for  war,  importance  of  cotton  to  the  world,  foreign  sympathy  and  aid,  etc. 


the  "  State  Guard,"  under  Gen.  S.  B. 
Buckner's  command.  This  person  re 
cruited  all  he  could  and  dispatched 
them  as  soon  as  possible  to  join  the 
rebel  army ;  and  when  he  had  corrupt 
ed  as  many  Kentuckians  as  he  was  able 
to  reach,  he  followed  them  into  the 
camp  of  treason,  ready  to  imbrue  his 
hands  in  the  blood  of  those  who  loved 
and  meant  to  uphold  the  Union.  The 
government,  on  its  part,  was  not  prepar 
ed  to  give  up  its  rights ;  and  the  Union 
men  in  Kentucky  sought  the  aid  of 
loyal  troops  to  keep  down  secession 
plans  and  movements  in  their  state. 
The  legislature  met,  April  28th,  and 
Gov.  Magoffin,  asserting  that  the  Union 
was  dissolved,  called  on  the  members 
of  the  legislature  to  summon  a  conven 
tion  of  the  people,  that  process  by 
which  disunionists  and  traitors  had 


our  attention  to  the  South 
west,  we  find  matters  of  interest  and 
importance  transpiring  in  Kentucky  and 
Missouri.  We  have  spoken  on  a  pre 
vious  page  (see  p.  23)  of  Virginia  and 
Tennessee,  and  the  means  resorted  to 
by  secessionists,  not  only  to  crush  out 
Union  sentiments,  but  to  force  those 
states  into  joining  Davis  and  company. 
In  Kentucky  and  Missouri  similar 
efforts  were  made,  and  it  was  from  no 
want  of  exertion  on  the  part  of 
the  rebels  that  these  states  were 
saved  from  being  dragged  into  the  vor 
tex  of  disunion.  Kentucky,  by  advice 
of  the  governor  and  secession  sympa 
thizers,  was  asked  to  take  the  ground 
of  neutrality  between  the  loyal  and  in 
surrectionary  states  ;  a  ground  which, 
from  the  nature  of  the  case,  could  never 
be  maintained.  Gov.  Magoffin  placed 


1361. 


38 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


heretofore  effected  so  much  mischief. 
The  legislature  declined  any  such  meas 
ure,  and  refused  to  sanction  the  gov 
ernor's  views,  as  set  forth  in  his  procla 
mation,  May  20th.  In  this  document, 
he  speaks  of  "  standing  aloof  from  an 
unnatural,  horrid  and  lamentable 
strife,"  of  u  resisting  and  preventing  en 
croachment  on  the  soil,  rights,  honor 
and  sovereignty  of  Kentucky,"  and  goes 
on  to  declare  :  "  I  hereby  notify  and 
warn  all  other  states,  separated  or  unit 
ed,  especially  the  United  and  Confeder 
ate  States,  that  I  solemnly  forbid  any 
movement  upon  Kentucky  soil,  or  occu 
pation  of  any  post  or  place  therein  for 
any  purpose  whatever,  until  authorized 
by  invitation  or  permission  of  the  legis 
lative  and  executive  authorities.  I  es 
pecially  forbid  all  citizens  of  Kentucky, 
whether  incorporated  in  the  State  Guard 
or  otherwise,  making  any  hostile  demon 
strations  against  any  of  the  aforesaid 
sovereignties,  to  be  obedient  to  the  or 
ders  of  lawful  authorities,  to  remain 
quietly  and  peaceably  at  home,  when 
off  military  duty,  and  refrain  from  all 
words  and  acts  likely  to  provoke  a  col 
lision,  and  so  otherwise  conduct  them 
selves  that  the  deplorable  calamity  of 
invasion  may  be  averted ;  but  mean 
while  to  make  prompt  and  efficient  pre 
paration  to  assume  the  paramount  and 
supreme  law  of  self-defence,  and  strictly 
of  self-defence  alone." 

As  might  have  been  foreseen,  the  at 
tempted  neutrality  of  Kentucky  could 
not  be  maintained  for  any  length  of 
time.  Volunteers  entered  the  Union 
service,  and  others  took  positions  in  the 
confederate  armies.*  The  authorities  of 


"  Men.  munitions,  and  supplies  were  openly,  and. 


Tennessee  interfered  with  the  opera 
tions  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
Railroad,  and  prevented  traffic  over  it 
for  general  purposes  of  commerce,  es 
pecially  for  provisions  and  supplies. 
This  roused  the  Union  men  to  greater 
efforts,  and  a  small  encampment  of 
Federal  troops  under  General  Nelson 
was  formed  in  Garrard  county.  This 
wras  denounced  by  Governor  Magoffin 
as  a  violation  of  the  neutrality  of  the 
state,  and  he  sent  by  the  hands  of  two 
"  commissioners  "  a  letter  to  President 
Lincoln,  demanding  the  withdrawal  of 
the  troops.  This  was  under  date  of 
August  19th;  a  few  days  afterwards 
the  president,  in  pretty  sharp  terms, 
declined  of  course  to  have  anything  to 
do  with  the  Kentucky  governor's  com 
missioners,  and  refused  to  order  the 
Union  troops  to  leave  the  state.  Jeffer 
son  Davis  also  was  addressed  and  asked 
to  do  the  same  thing  with  the  rebel 
troops  ;  but  Davis  replied,  that  he  was 
sorry  to  say  that  he  was  compelled  by 
necessity  to  seize  upon  points  of  moment 
to  prevent  their  being  taken  possession 
of  by  the  Union  forces.  Previous  to 
this,  Tennessee  troops  had  invaded 
Kentucky,  and  carried  off  six  cannons 
and  1,000  stand  of  arms. 

The  legislature  met,  September  2d ; 
it  was  very  decidedly  Union  in  its  com 
position,  and  not  at  all  disposed  to  favor 
Magoffin's  views  ;  on  the  contrary,  the 
legislature  resolved,  Sept.  9th,  that  the 


almost  daily,  dispatched  to  the  mustering  rebel  hosts 
in  the  South  and  South-east ;  while  for  months,  nothing 
was  done  by  Kentucky  for  the  cause  of  the  Union. 
The  first  regiment  of  Kentuckians  raised  for  the  Union 
armies  was  encamped  on  the  free  side  of  the  river,  in 
deference  to  urgent  representations  from  professed 
Unionists  and  to  Kentucky's  proclaimed  neutrality." — 
Greeley's  "  American  Conflict,"  vol.  i.,  p.  493. 


Cii.  III.] 


CONDITION  OF  MISSOURI. 


39 


invading  secession  forces  should  be 
expelled  by  calling  out  all  the  troops 
of  the  state,  that  aid  be  asked  from  the 
United  States,  and  that  Gen.  K.  Ander 
son  be  requested  to  enter  upon  his 
command  immediately.  Hickman  and 
Chalk  Bluffs  had  been  seized  upon  and 
fortified  by  the  confederates.  General 
Grant,  alive  to  the  importance  of 
prompt  action,  marched  a  force  from 
Cairo,  Sept.  6th,  and  took  possession  of 
Paducah,where  he  found  every  thing  pre 
pared  for  rebel  arrival  instead  of  for  him 
and  his  men.  He  issued  a  proclamation, 
simple  and  straightforward  in  its  terms, 
stating  that  his  business  was  to  deal 
with  armed  rebellion,  and  nothing  else 
would  be  interfered  with.  Columbus 
was  occupied  by  the  rebel  General 
(Bishop)  Polk,  Sept.  7th.  Zollicoffer, 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  had 
some  days  before  seized  upon  Cumber 
land  Gap,  on  the  same  plea  of  military 
necessity,  and  he  further  said  he  meant 
to  hold  it  for  the  rebels. 

Gen.  Anderson  assumed  command 
of  the  district  allotted  him,  on  Sept. 
20th.  Union  volunteers  were  called 
for  to  drive  out  the  invaders  and  sup 
port  the  cause  of  our  common  country. 
Zollicoffer  advanced  to  Barboursville, 
and  captured  a  Union  camp.  A  month 
later,  October  21st,  he  marched  upon 
Camp  Wild  Cat,  where  Gen.  Schoepf, 
in  command  of  the  forces,  repulsed  him 
with  severe  loss.  A  rebel  force  at 
Piketown,  in  Eastern  Kentucky,  was 
gathered  under  Col.  Williams.  Gen. 
Nelson  marched  to  disperse  it,  Nov.  8th, 
but  Williams  succeeded  in  getting  off, 
and  retreated  to  Pound  Gap.  Gen. 
Anderson,  finding  his  health  unequal  to 


the  task  of  public  service,  resigned,  and 
General  W.  T.  Sherman,  in  October, 
took  command.  From  henceforth 
Kentucky  showed  herself  to  be,  and 
remained,  heart  and  soul  in  the  Union. 
In  regard  to  Missouri,  it  deserves  to 
be  noted,  that  her  position  and  influence 
with  reference  both  to  the  older  states 
and  the  vast  territory  of  the  United 
States  beyond  her  limits,  were  of  prime 
importance  to  the  cause  of  the  Union. 
Elements  of  discord,  it  is  true,  existed 
in  her  midst,  and  there  were  not  a  few 
secession  agitators  in  the  state;  but, 
on  the  other  hand,  there  were  noble 
and  active  loyal  men  in  Missouri,  able 
and  ready  to  meet  and  counteract  the 
plans  of  the  governor  and  all  his  helpers. 
Governor  Jackson  tried  to  persuade 
the  state  to  cast  in  her  destiny  with 
those  who  had  seceded.  He  advocated 
an  armed  neutrality ;  got  the  police  of 
St.  Louis  entirely  under  his  control; 
and  expected  to  be  able  to  help  dis 
union  in  this  way.  and  sooner  or  later 
to  get  Missouri  into  the  secession  ranks. 
But,  under  the  clear  sighted  intelligence 
and  action  of  Col.  F.  P.  Blair,  in  St. 
Louis,  a  volunteer  military  guard, 
largely  composed  of  Germans,  was 
raised,  which  became  the  nucleus  of  a 
national  army  on  the  soil  of  that  city. 
Captain  (afterwards  General)  N.  Lyon 
was  also  an  efficient  helper  in  the  good 
cause.  He  was  in  command  at  the 
arsenal  in  St.  Louis,  and  dur 
ing  the  absence  of  General 
Harney,  was  in  charge  of  the  entire 
department.  He  had  served  under 
Gen.  Scott  in  Mexico,  and  was  a  fine 
specimen  of  a  loyal,  brave,  and  ener 
getic  soldier.  Acting  under  instruc- 


40 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


tions  from  Washington,  Captain  Lyon 
delivered,  on  the  25th  of  April,  a  large 
quantity  of  arms,  some  20,000  or  more, 
to  Captain  Stokes  of  Chicago,  who  had 
been  sent  with  a  requisition  from  the 
secretary  of  war  to  convey  these  arms 
to  Springfield,  Illinois.  The  transfer 
was  not  effected  without  considerable 
danger  from  the  excited  crowd  of  seces 
sionists  in  St.  Louis ;  but,  by  zeal  and 
courage  combined,  the  arms  were  saved 
from  falling  into  the  hands,  of  those 
who  did  not  scruple  to  steal  United 
States  property,  as  in  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  and  other  states. 

Being  entrusted  with  further  powers 
by  the  president,  to  enrol  10,000  loyal 
men  if  needed  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  authority  of  the  United  States  in 
St.  Louis  and  Missouri  generally,  Cap 
tain  Lyon  proceeded  to  vigorous  mea 
sures.  He  resolved,  with  Colonel 
Blair's  help,  to  break  up  Camp  Jack 
son,  as  it  was  called,  where  the  State 
Guard  were  gathered,  waiting  their 
opportunity  to  give  help  to  secession 
and  rebellion.  Early  on  the  morning 
of  May  10th,  with  some  6,000  men 
and  artillery,  Lyon  appeared,  wholly 
unexpectedly,  at  the  camp.  He  de 
manded  its  immediate  surrender,  as 
being  made  up  of  elements  hostile  to 
the  government  and  in  open  communi 
cation  with  the  southern  confederacy. 
General  Frost,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  state  troops,  had  no  alternative. 
Lyon  was  resolute  and  peremptory. 
Everything  was  surrendered ;  20  can 
non,  1,200  new  rifles,  a  large  amount  of 
ammunition,  etc.  On  the  return  to  St. 
Louis  with  the  prisoners,  the  troops 
were  mobbed  and  grossly  insulted  by 


the  enraged  secessionists;  shots  were 
fired ;  and  the  soldiers  returning  the  fire 
at  last,  killed  and  wounded  some  forty 
to  fifty  persons.  Great  excitement  was 
produced,  and  threats  of  vengeance 
made ;  but  it  was  evident,  that  the 
United  States  commander  was  in 
earnest  and  not  to  be  trifled  with. 
Capt.  Lyon's  course  was  highly  approv 
ed  at  Washington,  and  he  was  at  once 
raised  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general 
of  the  first  brigade  of  Missouri  Volun 
teers. 

General  Harney  returned  from  the 
east  on  the  12th  of  May,  and  resumed 
command  in  Missouri.  He  issued  two 
proclamations,  giving  the  governor  and 
legislature  to  understand  that  he  would 
maintain  the  authority  of  the  United 
States  against  all  secessionary  move 
ments.  A  week  or  so  later,  however, 
Gen.  Harney  entered  into  a  sort  of  truce 
or  compact  with  Gen.  Sterling  Price, 
who  had  been  placed  by  Governoi 
Jackson  in  command  of  all  the  state 
militia.  The  professed  object  of  this 
arrangement  was  to  restore  peace  and 
good  order,  and  to  put  a  stop  to  mili 
tary  movements  of  various  kinds  in  the 
state.  "  We  do,  therefore,  mutually 
enjoin  upon  the  people  of  the  state  to 
attend  to  their  civil  business,  of  what 
ever  sort  it  may  be;  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  unquiet  elements  which 
have  threatened  so  seriously  to  disturb 
the  public  peace,  may  soon  subside,  and 
be  remembered  only  to  be  deplored." 
But,  as  notwithstanding  this  so-called 
truce,  Union  men  in  Missouri  were 
hunted  down  and  maltreated,  and  as  it 
was  evident  the  compact  was,  as  it  was 
meant  to  be,  by  secessionists,  of  service 


Cu.  III.] 


GEN".  LYOX'S  ACTIVITY  IX  MISSOURI. 


41 


1861. 


and  protection  to  treason  only,  General 
Hartley's  course  was  promptly  re 
pudiated  at  Washington,  and  General 
Lyon,  on  the  1st  of  June,  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  department.  This 
active  and  energetic  officer,  at  an  inter- 

O  ' 

view  with  Governor  Jackson  and 
General  Price,  on  the  llth,  positively 
refused  to  agree  to  any  measures  other 
than  those  which  he  had  thus  far 
steadily  been  carrying  out.  He  put  no 
faith  in  the  professions  of  the  governor 
and  his  sympathizers,  and  he  would 
not  listen  for  a  moment  to  any  proposal 
which  looked  towards  giving  up  the 
vantage  ground  alreadv  held 

O         O  */ 

by  the  government.  He  fur 
ther  demanded  the  disarming  of  the 
state  militia  and  the  rejection  of  the 
obnoxious  militia  bill,  and  insisted 
upon  the  full  and  unrestricted  right  of 
the  government  to  take  any  steps  it 
deemed  necessary,  in  order  to  protect 
Union  men  and  repress  insurrection. 

Governor  Jackson,  thinking  these 
terms  to  be  "degrading,"  as  he  phrased 
it,  issued  a  proclamation,  calling  for 
50,000  state  militia  to  repel  federal  in 
vasion,  and  to  protect  life,  liberty  and 
property  in  Missouri.  He  acknow 
ledged  that  the  state  was  still  one  of 
the  United  States,  and  to  a  certain  ex 
tent  bound  to  obey  the  government; 
but  he  closed  in  the  following  words, 
which  show  plainly  the  animus  at  the 
bottom : — "  It  is  my  duty  to  advise 
you  that  your  first  allegiance  is  due  to 
your  own  state,  and  that  you  are  under 
no  obligation  whatever  to  obey  the 
unconstitutional  edicts  of  the  military 
despotism  which  has  enthroned  itself 
at  Washington,  nor  to  submit  to  the 

VOL.  IV.— 6. 


infamous  and  degrading  sway  of  its 
wicked  minions  in  this  state.  No  brave 
and  true-hearted  Missourian  will  obey 
the  one  or  submit  to  the  other.  Rise, 
then,  and  drive  out  ignominiously  the 
invaders,  who  have  dared  to  desecrate 
the  soil  which  your  labors  have  made 
fruitful,  and  which  is  consecrated  by 
your  homes." 

Gen.  Lyon,  in  carrying  out  his  in 
structions  from  headquarters,  not  only 
issued  a  proclamation,  denouncing  the 
action  of  the  governor  as  set- 

a  1  fel*  V 

ting  at  defiance  the  authori- 

O 

ties  of  the  United  States  and  consum 
mating  his  treasonable  purposes,  but 
he  also  resolved  to  arrest  the  rebel  au 
thorities  and  break  up  their  military 
preparations.  He  moved  at  once  on 
Jefferson  City,  which  was  reached  on 
the  15th  of  June;  but  he  found  that 
Jackson  had  retreated  some  forty  miles 
above,  to  Booneville,  cutting  off  the 
telegraph  and  destroying  the  railroad 
bridges  on  the  route.  Gen.  Lyon  fol 
lowed  him,  and  two  days  afterwards 
defeated  and  dispersed  the  hostile  forces. 
At  the  same  time,  in  a  proclamation 
the  next  day,  he  avowed  the  most 
liberal  and  conciliatory  policy  towards 
all  quiet  and  orderly  persons  in  Mis 
souri. 

It  is  interesting,  in  this  connection,  to 
take  note  of  the  position  of  affairs  in 
Western  Virginia  and  Eastern  Tennes- 

O 

see.  Virginia,  as  previously  related, 
(see  p.  22)  had,  through  its  unscrupul 
ous  governor  and  legislature,  been  car 
ried  into  the  arms  of  secession.  But 
there  was,  notwithstanding,  a  large 
portion  of  the  people  who  abhorred  the 
course  which  had  been  forced  upon  the 


42 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


state,  and  who  resolved  to  resist  to  the 
utmost  the  designs  of  the  rebels,  and  t.o 
stand  by  the  Union  in  its  integrity.  Espe 
cially  was  this  the  case  in  Western  Vir 
ginia.  In  the  counties  west  of  the  Bine 
Ridge  there  were  some  10,000  slaves, 
while  in  those  on  the  east  the  number 
reached  to  nearly  half  a  million.  The 
white  population  wras  decidedly  more 
numerous  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state  than  elsewhere,  and  rapid  ad 
vances  were  being  made  in  the  develop 
ment  of  its  agricultural  and  industrial 
resources,  in  comparison  with  the  stag 
nation  in  the  counties  more  favored  in 
many  respects  on  the  seaboard.  That 
extensive  western  region,  bounded  by 
the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  the  Ohio 
River,  and  bordering  on  the  north  upon 
Pennsylvania,  had  little  indeed  in  com 
mon  with  the  slave-holding,  slave-trad 
ing  interests  and  southern  sympathies  of 
the  eastern  division.  Thus  socially  and 
industrially,  as  well  as  geographically, 
situated,  they  felt  the  pressure  of  taxa 
tion  to  be  very  unequal  as  compared 
with  the  more  favored  slave-holders,  and 
they  were  not  prepared  to  give  them 
selves  up  to  joining  the  secessionists  in 
their  mad  and  wicked  purposes  against 
the  very  life  of  the  Republic. 

Acting  on  their  convictions,  these 
patriotic  Virginians  denounced  the  pro 
ceedings  of  Governor  Letch  er  and  the 
secession  leaders.  A  meeting  was  held 
at  Clarksburg,  in  Harrison  county,  on 
the  22d  of  April,  and  the 
initial  step  was  taken  to  sepa 
rate  Western  Virginia  from  any  part  or 
lot  in  the  evil  counsels  prevailing 
throughout  the  rest  of  the  state.  Dele 
gates  were  chosen  from  the  various 


1*61. 


counties  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  and 
a  convention  was  held  at  Wheelino;, 

O  * 

May  13th,  to  consider  and  determine 
upon  the  action  requisite  in  the  exist 
ing  crisis.  Resolutions  were  passed, 
condemning  the  ordinance  of  secession, 
as  "  unconstitutional,  null  and  void," 
and  declaring  the  annexation  to  the 
southern  confederacy  "  a  plain  and 
palpable  violation  of  the  constitution 
of  the  state,  and  utterly  subversive  of 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  good 
people  thereof."  Provision  was  also 
made  for  a  convention  of  representa 
tives  of  the  people,  to  be  held  at 
Wheeling,  June  llth,  in  case  the  ordin 
ance  of  secession  should  be  ratified,  as 
was  proposed,  on  the  23d  of  May, 
(see  p.  23). 

On  the  day  appointed  the  convention 
assembled.  Forty  counties  (five  to  the 
east  of  the  AJleghanies)  were  •  repre 
sented,  and  the  delegates  entered  upon 
their  work,  first  taking  an  oath  to  sup 
port  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the 
United  States.  It  was  maintained,  that 
the  government  at  Richmond,  having 
violated  the  constitution  of  the  state, 
its  authority  was  thereby  annulled,  and 
that  the  offices  of  all  who  adhered  to 
the  usurping  convention  and  executive 
were,  ipso  facto,  vacant.  After  a  few 
days'  discussion,  this  view  was  found 
to  prevail,  and  a  declaration,  setting 
forth  the  motives  of  the  decision,  and 
an  ordinance  for  the  reorganization  of 
the  state  government,  were  passed  by 
a  nearly  unanimous  vote.  The  declara 
tion  was  forcible  and  clear  in  its  state^ 
ments  as  to  the  necessity  of  energetic 
action.  The  ordinance,  reorganizing 
the  state  government,  provided  for  the 


CH.  III. 


WESTERN  VIRGINIA'S  COURSE. 


43 


appointment,  by  the  convention,  of  a 
governor,  lieutenant-governor,  council, 
•and  legislature,  composed  of  the  dele 
gates  to  the  general  assembly  chosen  in 
May,  and  the  senators  entitled  under 
existing  laws  to  seats  in  the  next  gene 
ral  assembly,  who  should  qualify  them 
selves  by  taking  a  prescribed  oath, 
pledging  their  support  to  the  Constitu 
tion  of  the  United  States  and  the  laws 
made  in  pursuance  thereof  as  the 
the  supreme  law  of  the  land,  anything 
in  the  ordinances  of  the  Richmond 
convention  to  the  contrary  notwith 
standing,  and  to  uphold  and  defend 
the  government  ordained  by  the  con 
vention  at  Wheeling.  F.  H.  Pierrepont 
was  chosen  governor,  and  inaugurated 
the  next  day,  June  20th. 

In  the  governor's  inaugural  address 
he  took  occasion  to  speak  very  plainly 
of  the  conduct  of  the  secessionists,  and 
also  of  the  imperative  need  of  the 
course  which  had  been  adopted  by  the 
loyal  inhabitants.  "  We  have  been 
driven  into  the  position  we  occupy  to 
day,  by  the  usurpers  at  the  South,  who 
have  inaugurated  this  war  upon  the 
soil  of  Virginia,  and  have  made  it  the 
great  Crimea  of  this  contest.  We,  re 
presenting  the  loyal  citizens  of  Virginia, 
have  been  bound  to  assume  the  position 
we  have  assumed  to-day,  for  the  pro 
tection  of  ourselves,  our  wives,  our 
children  and  our  property.  We,  I  re 
peat,  have  been  driven  to  assume  this 
position ;  and  now  we  are  but  recurring 
to  the  great  fundamental  principle  of 
our  fathers,  that  to  the  loyal  people  of 
a  state  belongs  the  law-making  power 
of  that  state.  The  loyal  people  are 
entitled  to  the  government  and  govern 


mental  authority  of  the  state.  And, 
fellow-citizens,  it  is  the  assumption  of 
that  authority  upon  which  we  are  now 
about  to  enter." 

The  legislature  met  on  the  22d  of 
July  ;  the  new  government  was  recog 
nized  by  the  president ;  two  senators, 
Messrs.  J.  S.  Carlisle  and  W.T.  Willey, 
were  chosen  to  take  the  place  of  the 
seceders,  Mason  and  Hunter  (which 
they  did  on  the  13th  of  July) ;  and 
various  enactments  were  made  suitable 
to  the  present  condition  of  things.* 

Previous  to  this,  General  McClellan, 
having  resigned  his  connection  with  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  in  order 
to  serve  in  the  army,  had  been  ordered 
by  the  president,  to  take  charge  of 
military  operations  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies ;  consequently,  the  defence  of 
Western  Virginia  was  promptly  looked 
after.  On  the  26th  of  May,  immedi 
ately  subsequent  to  the  vote  on  the 
secession  ordinance,  General  McClellan 
issued  a  stirring  proclamation  from  Cin 
cinnati,  Ohio,  setting  forth  his  inten 
tions,  and  urging  the  people  of  Virginia 
to  join  the  Union  standard,  f  Forces 


*  Governor  Letclier,  on  the  14th  of  June,  issued  a 
proclamation  to  the  people  of  North  WTestern  Virginia. 
Among  other  things,  he  besought  them  to  join  him  and 
the  secession  party,  in  such  phrase  as  this : — "  By  all 
the  sacred  ties  of  consanguinity,  by  the  intermixtures 
of  the  blood  of  East  and  West,  by  common  paternity, 
by  friendships  hallowed  by  a  thousand  cherished  re 
collections  and  memories  of  the  past,  by  the  relics  of 
the  great  men  of  other  days,  come  to  Virginia's  ban 
ner,  and  drive  the  invader  from  your  soil."  But 
John  Letcher's  appeals  were  in  vain ;  the  people 
rallied  under  the  old  flag  and  defended  it  on  every 
occasion. 

f  One  passage  from  this  proclamation  may  here  be 
quoted,  as  bearing  on  a  subject  of  great  perplexity  to 
the  government: — "Your  houses,  your  families,  and 
property  are  safe  under  our  protection.  All  your 
rights  shall  be  religiously  protected.  Notwithstanding 
all  that  has  been  said  by  the  traitors  to  induce  you  to 


44 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


1861. 


were  pushed  forward,  and  in  conjunc 
tion  with  Virginia  troops  entered  upon 
active  operations  against  the  rebels. 
Colonel  Kelly's  movement  upon  Graf- 
ton  and  Philippi  we  have  already 
noticed  (see  p.  34),  as  also  that  of 
Colonel  Wallace  across  Hampshire 
County. 

Gen.  McClellan  ascertaining  that  the 
enemy  had  taken  post  at  Laurel  Hill, 
near  Beverly,  so  as  to  command  the 
road  to  the  southern  part  of  the  state 
and  secure  supplies,  determin 
ed  to  drive  them  out,  and  if 
possible  capture  the  enemy's  forces. 
His  plan  was  to  occupy  the  attention 
of  the  rebels  under  Gen.  Garnett  (for 
merly  a  United  States  officer),  by  seem 
ing  to  make  a  direct  attack,  while  a 
strong  force  was  marching  round  to  his 
rear,  in  order  to  gain  possession  of  the 
road  above  spoken  of.  On  the  7th  of 
July,  Gen.  Morris,  taking  about  4,000 
men,  moved  from  Philippi  to  Bealing- 
ton  in  front,  Gen.  McClellan  having 
previously,  with  the  main  body,  con 
sisting  of  10,000  men,  advanced  from 
Clarksburg,  by  way  of  Buckhannon, 
from  the  west,  so  as  to  attack  the 
enemy's  left  at  Rich  Mountain.  This 
was  on  the  1st  of  July.  Skirmishing 
ensued  for  several  days  in  various 
directions  and  with  varied  success. 

On  the  llth  of  July,  General  Me- 
del]  an,  making  his  way  toward  Bever 
ly,  was  encamped  with  his  forces  a  short 
distance  to  the  west  of  Rich  Mountain, 


believe  that  our  advent  among  you  will  be  signalized 
by  interference  with  your  slaves,  understand  one  thing 
clearly :  not  only  will  we  abstain  irom  all  interference, 
but  we  will,  on  the  contrary,  with  an  iron  hand,  crush 
any  attempt  at  insurrection  on  their  part" 


in  front  of  the  rebel  entrenchments  on 
the  road.  So  well  was  the  enemy's 
position  defended  by  art  and  natural 
advantages,  that  a  direct  attack  was 
considered  impracticable  without  the 
certainty  of  great  loss.  Colonel 
Rosecrans,  with  about  3,000  men,  was 
then  sent  across  the  hills  southeasterly 
to  attack  the  enemy's  rear,  while 
McClellan  was  to  attack  the  front,  so 
soon  as  he  heard  from  Rosecrans. 
Colonel  Pegram,  the  rebel  commandei 
did  not,  however,  wait  for  the  assault, 
but  moved  off  in  the  night,  hoping  to 
join  his  forces  to  those  of  Garnett.  On 
finding  his  rear  entirely  exposed  by  this 
retreat  of  Pegram,  Gen.  Garnett  eva 
cuated  his  camp,  intending  to  reach 
Beverly  in  advance  of  McClellan,  and 
to  withdraw  by  the  road  to  Southern 
Virginia.  This  was  soon  found  to  be 
impossible,  and  escape  was  sought  in 
another  direction.  Col.  Pe«ram  surren- 

o 

dered  with  his  entire  force,  on  the  12th 
of  July ;  and  Gen.  Garuett,  striving  to 
cross  the  mountains  into  the  valley  of 
Virginia,  was  hotly  pursued,  on  the 
13th,  by  the  Union  troops  under  Captain 
Benham.  At  Carrick's  Ford,  on  the 
Cheat  River,  the  enemy  attempted 
to  make  a  stand ;  but  Gen.  Garnett 
was  killed,  and  his  forces  were  routed 
completely,  only  a  small  proportion 
out  of  several  thousands  making  their 
escape.*  "  Our  success,"  says  General 


*  Pollard,  in  his  "  First  Tear  of  the  War,"  p.  84, 
estimates  Qarnett's  force  at  less  than  5,000  infantry 
with  four  companies  of  cavalry,  and  Pegram's  at  about 
l.GOO  men.  McClellan  is  stated  to  have  had  with  him 
a  force  of  20,000.  Some  Union  writers  make  Garnett's 
force  to  have  been  nearly  10.000,  and  Pegram's  about 
2,000,  while  McClellan's  is  set  down  at  10,000.  We 
give  the  numbers,  on  what  appears  to  be  tho  best 
authority,  without  vouching  for  their  accuracy. 


Cn.  III.] 


POSITION  OF  EAST  TENNESSEE. 


45 


McClellan  in  his  dispatch,  July  14th, 
u  is  complete,  and  secession  is  killed  in 
this  country."  ' 

On  the  19th  of  July,  McClellan  issued 
an  address  to  his  soldiers,  full  of  glow 
ing  and  encouraging  words,  inciting  to 

O  O        O  '  O 

future  victory.  On  the  22d,  however, 
(the  day  after  the  Bull  Run  disaster), 
he  was  summoned  by  the  president  to 
command  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  the  army  of  occupation  in  Western 
Virginia  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Rose- 

O  o 

crans.  By  the  activity  of  McClellan 
the  Cheat  Mountain  Gaps,  which  form 
ed  the  key  to  Western  Virginia,  were 
entrenched  and  held  by  a  strong  force 
of  loyal  troops. 

In  regard  to  Eastern  Tennessee,  it 

O  / 

was  not  unnatural  or  unreasonable  to 
find  there  a  spirit  and  determination 
similar  to  those  prevailing  among  loyal 
Virginians.  The  inhabitants  were 

o 

mostly  agricultural,  and  less  dependent 
upon  slave  labor  than  those  in  the 
western  portion  of  the  state,  and  they 
were  ardently  attached  to  the  Union 
and  its  privileges.  In  both  Virginia 
and  Tennessee  there  was  a  hostile, 
dominant  power,  and  both  were  betray 
ed  by  the  arts  and  treachery  of  those 
who  held  the  supremacy  in  local  affairs. 
The  situation,  however,  of  Eastern  Ten 
nessee  was  less  advantageous  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  liberties  of  the  peo 
ple  than  that  of  her  northern  neighbor. 
Each  had  a  bold,  unscrupulous  governor 
and  legislature,  ready  and  willing  to 
act  the  traitor,  and  force  the 
state  into  the  embraces  of  seces 
sion.  The  one  had  its  Letch er,  a  man 
thoroughly  versed  in  political  arts 
and  appliances  ;  the  other  had  its 


Harris,  equally  reckless  and  far  more 
tyrannical.  In  both  states  there  was 
indeed  a  show  of  submitting  the  ques 
tion  of  secession  to  a  popular  vote,  but 
in  both  instances  a  treaty  was  formed 
with  the  rebel  government,  and  the  mil 
itary  resources  of  the  state  were  placed 
at  the  command  of  Jefferson  Davis  be 
fore  the  vote  was  taken.  Of  course 
coercion  and  terrorism  prevailed  alike, 
with  a  deeper  shade  of  malignity,  how 
ever,  in  Tennessee,  in  proportion  to  the 
nearness  of  that  state  to  the  seat  of  the 
rebel  government.  Eastern  Virginia, 
though  deriving  part  of  her  wealth 
from  the  raising  and  selling  slaves  to 
the  cotton  planters,  was  yet  dependent 
upon  the  skill  and  labor  obtained  from 
the  North  for  developing  her  capacities 
of  improvement ;  while  Western  Ten 
nessee  was  not  simply  related  to  the 
South  in  manners  and  culture,  but  might 

'  O 

be  considered  an  integral  part  of  the 
South  itself.  It  was,  consequently,  a 
much  harder  task  for  the  mountaineers 
of  the  Cumberland  to  contend  with 
the  wealthy  slave  proprietors  on  the 
Mississippi,  than  for  a  vigorous  rural 
population  bordering  on  Pennsylvania 
to  hold  their  own  against  the  dwellers 
on  the  James  and  the  Rappahannock.  It 
the  chances  in  both  cases  had  been  equal 
within  their  borders,  the  contiguity 
of  the  more  southern  state  to  the  des 
peradoes  of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Ark 
ansas  and  Louisiana,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  refugee  enemies  of  the  Union  in 
Kentucky,  would  have  turned  the  scale 
against  the  efforts  of  the  patriots  of 
East  Tennessee. 

The  loyal  citizens  of  this  region,  un 
willing  to  give  up  their  birthright  with- 


46 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION 


out  an  effort  to  preserve  it,  met  in  con 
vention  at  Knoxville,  May  30th.  More 
than  a  thousand  representatives  assem 
bled  to  take  counsel  in  regard  to  the 
present  crisis.  The  Hon.  Thomas  Nel 
son  was  chosen  president,  and  addresses 
were  made  by  Gen.  Arnold  and  Senator 
Johnson.  The  proceedings  were  mark 
ed  by  earnest,  intelligent,  outspoken 
patriotism.  Secession  was  denounced, 
an4  the  people  throughout  the  state 
were  besought  to  resist  it  and  vote  it 
down  on  the  day  appointed,  June  8th. 
The  people  of  the  eastern  counties 
responded  nobly  to  the  appeal  of  the 
convention.  In  twenty-nine  counties 
the  vote  reached  32,923  against  seces 
sion,  while  in  its  favor  were  cast  14,780, 
but  these  were  made  up  fully  one-half 
by  the  rebel  troops  voting  without  any 
rio-ht  whatever.  The  vote  of  the  entire 

O 

state,  as  proclaimed  by  Gov.  Harris, 
stood  104,019  for  separation;  47,238 
against.  The  entire  vote  in  February 
had  been,  for  no  convention,  70,000, 
against,  50,000,  and  but  three  secession 
ists  had  been  elected  in  the  state. 
Yet,  in  only  four  months,  Tennessee 
apparently  underwent  so  marvellous  a 
change  ;  fit  illustration  of  what  political 
dernaoformes  and  schemers  can  and  will 

o    o 

do  to  accomplish  their  wicked  ends. 

The  convention  was  again  called  to 
gether  at  Green ville/  June  17th.  A 
declaration  of  grievances  was  adopted, 
in  which  was  a  full  recital  of  the  course 
pursued  by  rebels  and  traitors.  In  no 
part  of  the  state  but  East  Tennessee,  it 
was  set  forth,  was  the  recent  election 
free,  and  no  where  else  was  the  Union 
allowed  to  be  spoken  of  and  advocated. 
Loyal  men  were  overawed  by  the  tyr- 


[BK.  VIII. 

anny  of  the  military  power,  and  the 
still  greater  tyranny  of  a  corrupt  and 
subsidized  press.  In  Memphis,  for  in 
stance,  out  of  more  than  5,000  votes, 
only  fivre  freemen,  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives,  cast  in  Union  votes.  Numerous 
other  statements  were  made,  showing 
how  little  of  fairness  or  honesty  had 
been  practised  by  the  leaders  in  dis 
union  and  rebellion. 

But  there  was  now  almost  no  oppor 
tunity  for  redress,  or,  as  was  contem 
plated,  for  separate  action.  The  state 
was  in  the  vortex  of  secession,  and  noth 
ing  could  rescue  it  but  the  strong  inter 
position  of  the  United  States  govern 
ment.  So  far  from  upholding  the  inde 
pendence  of  their  mountain  region,  the 
loyal  men  of  Eastern  Tennessee,  after 
an  ineffectual  struggle,  were  hunted, 
imprisoned,  and  driven  into  exile. 
Thousands  crossed  the  mountains  by 
stealth  to  serve  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Union  army,  that  they  might  return  to 
their  homes  under  the  flag  of  the  Re 
public,  and  rescue  their  families  and 
friends,  from  the  intolerable  tyranny 
which  oppressed  them.  The  brave  and 
much  enduring  men  of  this  region  were 
compelled  to  bide  their  time  •*  yet  it 
was  not  wholly  in  silence ;  for  Eastern 
Tennessee  had  men  who  were  able  and 
willing  to  raise  their  voices,  as  well  as 
their  arms,  in  her  defence.  Besides 


*  When  Gen.  Schoepf  repulsed  the  rebels  at  Camp 
Wild  Cat  (see  p.  89)  the  East  Tennesseeans  expected 
him  to  come  to  their  aid.  Deceived  by  the  rebel  re 
ports  of  their  great  force  at  Bowling  Green,  Schoepf, 
after  advancing  two  or  three  days  in  the  direction  of 
Cumberland  Gap,  retreated  towards  the  Ohio,  strew 
ing  the  road  with  wrecked  wagons,  dead  horses,  etc., 
and  leaving  East  Tennessee  to  her  fate,  much  to  the 
disappointment  of  those  who  loved  the  cause  of 
loyalty  and  devotion  to  the  common  interests  of  our 
country. 


CH.  III.] 


POSITION  OF  LOYAL  MEN  AND  REBELS. 


Brownlow,  Nelson  and  others,  Andrew 
Johnson  stood  prominently  forward. 
The  high  position  attained  by  this  last, 
in  consequence  of  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln,  in  1865,  will  justify 
a  brief  notice  here  of  his  life  and  career. 

Andrew  Johnson  was  born  at 
Raleigh,  N.  C.,  in  1808.  While  very 
young  he  lost  his  father,  and  was  de 
prived  of  all  advantages  of  education. 
He  was  apprenticed  to  a  tailor,  and 
served  out  his  full  term,  seven  years. 
In  1826,  he  removed  to  Greenville, 
Tennessee,  where-  he  served  in  several 
local  offices.  Having,  by  the  severest 
labor  and  determination,  improved  him 
self  in  every  possible  way,  reading  and 
studying  at  night,  he  was  advanced 
still  further  in  popular  favor.  In  1841, 
he  went  into  the  state  senate;  two 
years  later,  he  entered  Congress;  was 
elected  governor  of  Tennessee  in  1853, 
and  again  in  1855  ;  and  in  1857,  was 
chosen  United  States  Senator  for  the 
long  term,  six  years.  In  politics,  John 
son  ranked  among  the  old  Jacksonian 
democracy;  and  when  the  rebellion 
broke  out,  he  took  his  stand  firmly  on 
the  side  of  law  and  order. 

Evidently,  the  sword  was  now  fully 
drawn.  The  question  at  issue  was  to 
be  settled,  not  by  words,  not  by  appeals 
on  either  hand,  not  by  menaces  or 
threatenings,  not  at  all,  in  fact,  but  by 
the  stern,  fearful,  last  arbitrament,  that 
of  blood.  They  who  loved  their  coun 
try,  and  its  honor  and  integrity,  had  no 
alternative ;  they  had  but  to  accept  the 
issue  thrust  upon  them,  or  see  the 
Union  rent  in  pieces,  and  national  pros 
perity  swallowed  up  in  the  abyss.  The 
leaders  in  the  southern  conspiracy  had 


prepared  themselves  for  this  issue  by 
many  years'  laborious  efforts  ;  they  had 
forced  it  upon  the  loyal  supporters  of 
the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United 
States;  they  had  driven  up  to  the 
point  of  fury  and  hatred  the  larger  por 
tion  of  the  people  of  the  South,  and  had 
compelled  them  to  face  the  inevitable 
result.  And  now  it  was  to  be  tested, 
whether  this  great  Republic  was  worthy 
of  its  name  and  place  in  the  family 
of  nations,  or  whether  it  was  to  be 
broken  in  pieces,  and  become  a  subject 
for  scorn  and  contempt  among  the 
enemies  of  freedom  throughout  the 
world. 

Such  being  the  issue,  and  such,  as  all 
men  now  saw,  being  the  only  mode  of 
settlement,  it  may  be  well  here  to  note 
briefly  the  relative  position  of  the  par 
ties  concerned  in  this  memorable  con 
flict,  and  to  seek  to  form  a  clear  concep 
tion  of  the  prospects  of  those  who  had 
ranged  themselves  on  the  side  of  law 
and  order,  and  on  the  side  of  disunion 
and  revolution. 

As  regards  population,  according 
to  the  census  of  1860  (see  vol.  iii., 
p.  553),  the  free  states  and  territories 
contained  nineteen  millions,  the  slave 
states  something  over  twelve 

1  Wrf*  1 

millions.  In  addition  to  all 
the  free  states,  which  were  for  the 
Union,  of  course,  Delaware,  Mary 
land,  Kentucky  and  Missouri  were 
ranked  in  the  same  connection;  the 
population  of  the  loyal  over  the  sece 
ding  states  was,  consequently,  rather 
more  than  two  to  one.  In  the  arts  of 
industry,  in  commerce,  trade,  manufac 
tures,  shipping,  etc.,  the  free  states  were 
largely  superior.  In  these  lespects,  and 


AHUAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


in  the  universally  recognized  claim 
which  all  established  governments  have 
upon  the  fealty  of  their  people,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  loyal  states 
stood,  not  only  before  the  world,  but  in 
fact,  in  the  position  best  calculated  to 
command  sympathy  and  enforce  the 
requirements  of  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land.  But,  while  all  this  was  true,  and 
no  less  important  than  true,  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind,  that  the  so-called  "  Con 
federacy  "  had  several  very  decided 
advantages  over  the  Union  and  its 
defenders. 

The  people  of  the  South,  principally 
owing  to  the  fact  of  their  being  slave 
holders,  were  not  only  bred  up  in  aris 
tocratic  notions  of  superiority,  and  in 
contemptuous  disregard  for  labor  and 
its  adjuncts,  but  were  trained  from  boy 
hood  in  the  use  of  fire-arms,  and  in 
various  kinds  of  exercises  fitting 
them  for  military  life  and  its  excite 
ments.  In  the  war  of  1812,  and  in 
that  with  Mexico,  the  South  furnished 
nearly  twice  as  many  soldiers  as  the 
North.  So  long  as  the  system  of 
slavery  prevailed,  and  the  class  of  labor 
ers  was  such  as  rendered  it  degrading, 
in  their  eyes,  for  a  white  man  to  work, 
the  masters  were  of  course  at  liberty  to 
devote  themselves  to  the  fascinating 
employments  of  hunting,  racing,  con 
tests  of  skill,  and  the  like ;  and  "  the 
chivalry  "  of  the  South  was  rarely  de 
ficient  in  zeal  and  spirit  where  its 
peculiar  qualifications  had  room  for 
display.  At  the  North,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  great  mass  of  the  population 
were  engaged  in  the  peaceful  avocations 
of  life,  and  had  no  time,  even  if  they 
had  the  inclination,  to  devote  attention 


to  those  particular  things  in  which 
southern  men  excelled.  The  citizen 
soldiers  were  excellent  in  their  way 
but  they  were  bred  in  time  of  peace, 
and  never  expected  to  be  employed 
otherwise  than  in  the  customary  dis 
plays  in  time  of  peace. 

To  this  must  be  added  the  fact  of  the 
vastly  superior  position  of  the  "  Con 
federacy"  for  self-defence,  for  direct 
communication  with  each  and  all  its 
parts,  and  for  facility  of  intercourse  by 
means  of  railroads  and  telegraphs. 
The  secessionists  had  long  been  pre 
paring  for  the  contest ;  they  understood 
thoroughly  the  topography  of  the 
country ;  they  had  made  their  calcula 
tions  with  great  shrewdness  and  abil 
ity  ;  and,  counting  largely  upon  the 
sympathy  and  co-operation  of  many  in 
the  North  as  well  as  in  the  old  world, 
they  were  ready  to  enter  with  all  their 
heart  and  soul  into  the  war  for  disunion 
and  separation  from  those  whom  they 
professed  to,  and  probably  did,  hate 
and  despise.  The  North  was  wholly 
-zm-prepared  for  war ;  the  government 
had  everything,  almost,  to  learn  , 
armies  had  to  be  created,  in  fact ;  and 
the  vast  distances  between  various 
points  of  attack,  where  to  pierce  the 
confederacy  and  break  down  its  mili 
tary  power,  increased  immensely  the 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  his  advisers.  And  further,  believ 
ing,  as  the  rebels  did,  that  "  cotton  was 
king,"  they  were  so  persuaded  of  its 
importance  to  the  world,  especially  to 
England  and  France,  that  they  expected 
the  great  powers  of  Europe  to  break 
up  directly  any  blockade  which  might 
be  attempted  to  be  put  in  force  by  the 


Cn.  IV.] 


THIRTY-SEVENTH  CONGRESS,  FIRST  SESSION. 


49 


United  States.  It  is  true  that  this  re 
sult  did  not  take  place,  as  they  confi 
dently  looked  for;  but  it  is  equally 
true,  that  the  South  obtained  a  great 
amount  of  sympathy  and  help  from 
abroad,  and  the  government  was  very 
seriously  hampered  and  injured  by  the 
doings  of  the  partisans  for  disunion  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

We    need    not,    however,     enlarge 
further   on   this   topic    at    this    time. 


On  subsequent  pages  we  shall  have 
occasion  to  speak  more  fully  of  several 
points,  which  require  careful  examina 
tion  in  order  rightly  to  comprehend  the 
state  of  affairs  in  this  great  struggle 
for  national  existence.* 


*  See  Greeley's  "  American  Conflict,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
498-516,  in  which  is  a  carefully  prepared  estimate  of 
"  the  relative  strength  of  the  opposing  parties  about 
to  grapple  in  mortal  combat."  The  reader  will  find 
these  pages  worth  consulting  and  examining. 


CHAPTER    IY. 
1861. 

CONGRESS    IN    SESSION;     BULL    RUN    DISASTER. 

Thirty-seventh  Congress,  extra  session  —  President  Lincoln's  message  —  Extracts  from  —  General  object  of 
message  —  Concluding  words  —  Reports  from  the  secretaries  as  to  the  army,  navy,  and  treasury  —  Spirit  of 
Congress  —  Special  points  of  interest  —  Debate  on  the  army  bill  —  Resolution  of  the  House  and  Senate  after 
Bull  Run  defeat  —  Bill  for  confiscating  the  property  of  the  rebels  —  Enacting  clause  approving  the  president's 
acts,  proclamations,  etc.  —  Adjournment  of  Congress  —  Confederate  Congress  —  Da  vis's  message  — Its  bitter 
tone  —  Various  measures  adopted  — "  On  to  Richmond !" —  Impatience  of  the  people  —  Gen.  Patterson  and  his 
course  —  Gen.  McDowell  in  command  of  Army  of  the  Potomac  —  Force  under  his  command  —  March  of  the 
Grand  Army  from  Washington  —  Tyler  at  Blackburn's  Ford  —  Change  of  plan  —  Vexatious  and  fatal  delays 

—  Extracts  from  McDowell's  report,  describing  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  —  Jefferson  Davis  on  the  field  —  Num. 
bers  of  the  troops  engaged  on  both  sides  —  Losses  at  Bull  Run  according  to  the  Union  and  rebel  accounts  — 
Beauregard's  and  Johnson's  reasons  for  not  pursuing  the  routed  army  —  Rebel  outrages  —  Effect  of  the  dis 
aster  at  Bull  Run  —  Depression  and  discouragement  —  Criticism  on  the  battle  —  Mr.  Greeley's  statements 

—  Bitter  but  salutary  lesson  for  the  future. 


ON  the  4th  of  July,  1861,  in  compli 
ance  with  the  president's  proclamation 
(see  p.  19),  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress 
met  in  Washington  for  its  first  session. 
Senators  from  twenty-five  states  were 
present,  soon  after  the  opening ;  in  the 
House  159  representatives  ans 
wered  to  their  names ;  and  Mr. 
Grow,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  elected 
Speaker,  on  the  second  ballot.  In  both 
the  Senate  and  the  House  there  was  a 

VOL.  IV.— 7. 


1§61. 


large,  working  majority  of  republicans. 
The  next  day,  Mr.  Lincoln  sent  in  his 
first  message  to  Congress.  It  was  a 
document  looked  for  with  no  ordinary 
interest  in  every  part  of  the  country, 
and  was  eagerly  read  and  commented 
upon.  In  it  the  president  discussed,  at 
some  length,  the  questions  requiring 
speedy  attention  and  action,  and  on  ac 
count  of  which  this  extra  session  of 
the  national  legislature  was  called.  A 


50 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


review  of  matters  connected  with  the 
outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  and  a  brief 
statement  of  the  policy  of  the  new  ad 
ministration,  were  given  in  clear  precise 
terms.*  Inasmuch,  however,  as  the 
secessionists  were  determined  to  force 
upon  the  country  the  issue,  "  immediate 
dissolution  or  blood,"  he  stated  distinct 
ly  what,  in  his  judgment,  Congress 
ought  to  do.  "  It  is  now  recommended 
that  you  give  the  legal  means  for  mak 
ing  this  contest  a  short  and  decisive 
one ;  that  you  place  at  the  control  of  the 
government,  for  the  work,  at  least  400,- 
000  men  and  $400,000,000.  That  num 
ber  of  men  is  about  one  tenth  of  those 
of  proper  ages  within  the  regions  where, 
apparently,  all  are  willing  to  engage ; 
and  the  sum  is  less  than  a  twenty-third 
part  of  the  money-value  owned  by  the 
men  who  seem  ready  to  devote  the 
whole.  A  debt  of  $600,000,000  now, 
is  a  less  sum  per  head  than  was  the 
debt  of  our  Revolution  when  we  came 
out  of  that  struggle ;  and  the  money 
value  in  the  country  now  bears  even  a 
greater  proportion  to  what  it  was  then, 
than  does  the  population.  Surely  each 
man  has  as  strong  a  motive  now,  to 

*  In  view  of  the  objections  made  by  Chief-justice 
Taney  and  others  (see  p.  29)  on  the  subject  of  suspend 
ing  habeas  corpus,  Mr.  Lincoln  briefly  argued  the  legal 
ity  of  his  course  on  the  ground  of  pressing  necessity  : 
"  The  provision  of  the  Constitution  that  '  the  privilege 
of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  suspended  un 
less  when,  in  case  of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the  public 
safety  may  require  it,'  is  equivalent  to  a  provision — is 
a  provision — that  such  privilege  may  be  suspended 
when,  in  case  of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the  public  safety 

does  require  it The  Constitution  itself  is 

Bilent  as  to  which,  or  who,  is  to  exercise  the  power  ; 
and  as  the  provision  was  plainly  made  for  a  dangerous 
emergency,  it  cannot  be  believed  that  the  framers  of 
the  instrument  intended  that,  in  every  case,  the  danger 
should  run  its  course,  until  Congress  could  be  called 
together ;  the  very  assembling  of  which  might  be  pre 
vented,  as  was  intended  in  this  case,  by  the  rebellion." 


preserve  our  liberties,  as  each  had  then 
to  establish  them.  A  right  result,  at  this 
time,  \vill  be  worth  more  to  the  world 
than  ten  times  the  men  and  ten  times 
the  money.  The  evidence  reaching  us 
from  the  country  leaves  no  doubt  that 
the  material  for  the  work  is  abundant ; 
and  that  it  needs  only  the  hand  of  legis 
lation  to  give  it  legal  sanction,  and  the 
hand  of  the  executive  to  give  it  practi 
cal  shape  and  efficiency." 

The  latter  part  of  the  message  was 
devoted  to  arguing  again  the  question 
of  secession  and  rebellion,  and  the 
president,  in  characteristic  terms,  de 
nounced  the  folly  and  wickedness  ol 
those  who,  for  thirty  years,  had  been 
drugging  the  public  mind  with  the 
sophism,  "  that  any  state  of  the  Union 
may,  consistently  with  the  National 
Constitution,  and  therefore  lawfully 
and  peaceably,  withdraw  from  the 
Union,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Union  or  of  any  other  state."  "  The 
states,"  as  he  justly  said,  "  have  their 
status  IN  the  Union,  and  they  have  no 
other  legal  status.  If  they  break  from 
this,  they  can  only  do  so  against  law 
and  by  revolution.  The  Union,  and 
not  themselves  separately,  procured 
their  independence  and  their  liberty. 
By  conquest,  or  purchase,  the  Union 
gave  each  of  them,  whatever  of  inde 
pendence  and  liberty  it  has.  The 
Union  is  older  than  any  of  the  states, 
and,  in  fact,  it  created  them  as  states. 
Originally  some  dependent  colonies 
made  the  Union,  and,  in .  turn,  the 
Union  threw  off  their  old  dependence 
for  them,  and  made  them  states  such 
as  they  are.  Not  one  of  them  ever  had 
a  state  constitution  independent  of  the 


On.  IV.] 


ARGUMENT  OF  MR.  LINCOLN'S  MESSAGE. 


51 


Union What  is  now  combatted, 

is  the  position  that  secession  is  consistent 
with  the  Constitution — is  lawful  and 
peaceful.  It  is  not  contended  that  there 
is  any  express  law  for  it ;  and  nothing 
should  ever  be  implied  as  law  which 
leads  to  unjust  or  absurd  consequences. 
The  nation  purchased,  with  money,  the 
countries  out  of  which  several  of  these 
states  were  formed.  Is  it  just  that  they 
shall  go  off  without  leave,  and  without 
refunding  ?  The  nation  paid  very  large 
sums  (in  the  aggregate,  I  believe,  nearly 
a  hundred  millions),  to  relieve  Florida 
of  the  aboriginal  tribes.  Is  it  just  that 
she  shall  now  be  off  without  consent,  or 
without  making  any  return  ?  The  nation 
is  now  in  debt  for  money  applied  to  the 
benefit  of  these  so-called  seceding  states, 
in  common  with  the  rest.  Is  it  just, 
either  that  creditors  shall  go  unpaid,  or 
the  remaining  states  pay  the  whole  ?  A 
part  of  the  present  national  debt  was 
contracted  to  pay  the  old  debts  of  Texas. 
Is  it  just  that  she  shall  leave,  and  pay  no 
part  of  this  herself?  Again,  if  one  state 
may  secede,  so  may  another ;  and  when 
all  shall  have  seceded,  none  is  left  to  pay 
the  debts.  Is  this  quite  just  to  credit 
ors  ?  Did  we  notify  them  of  this  sage 
view  of  ours  when  we  borrowed  their 
money  ?  If  we  now  recognize  this  doc 
trine  by  allowing  the  seceders  to  go  in 
peace,  it  is  difficult  to  see  what  we  can 
do  if  others  choose  to  go,  or  to  extort 
terms  upon  which  they  will  promise  to 
remain The  principle  (of  se 
cession)  is  one  of  disintegration,  and 
upon  which  no  government  can  possibly 
endure.  If  all  the  states,  save  one, 
should  assert  the  power  to  drive  that  one 
out  of  the  Union,  it  is  presumed  the 


whole  class  of  seceder  politicians  would 
at  once  deny  the  power,  and  denounce 
the  act  as  the  greatest  outrage  upon 
state  rights.  But  suppose  that  precisely 
the  same  act,  instead  of  being  called 
'  driving  the  one  out,'  should  be  called 
'the  seceding  of  the  others  from  that 
one,'  it  would  be  exactly  what  the  seced 
ers  claim  to  do;  unless,  indeed,  they 
make  the  point  that  the  one,  because  it 
is  a  minority,  may  rightfully  do  what 
the  others,  because  they  are  a  majority, 
may  not  rightfully  do." 

In  concluding  his  message,  Mr.  Lin 
coln,  aware  of  the  prospect  before  him 
at  so  eventful  a  crisis,  used  words  of 
solemn  earnestness:  "In  full  view  of 
his  great  responsibility,  the  executive 
has,  so  far,  done  what  he  has  deemed 
his  duty.  You  will  now,  according  to 
your  own  j  udgment,  perform  yours.  He 
sincerely  hopes  that  your  views,  and 
your  action,  may  so  accord  with  his  as 
to  assure  all  faithful  citizens,  who  have 
been  disturbed  in  their  rights,  of  a  cer 
tain  and  speedy  restoration  to  them 
under  the  Constitution  and  the  laws. 
And  having;  thus  chosen  our  course, 

o  • 

without  guile  and  with  pure  purpose, 
let  us  renew  our  trust  in  God,  and  go 
forward  without  fear  and  with  manly 
hearts." 

The  accompanying  reports,  from  the 
secretaries  in  the  several  departments, 
gave  full  and  accurate  information  as 
to  the  position  of  affairs,  and  the  de 
mands  which  were  to  be  made  upon 
the  country  in  the  emergency 
then  existing.  The  entire  army 
force  was  thus  computed  :  regulars  and 
olunteers  for  three  months  and  the 
war,  235,000  ;  regiment  of  volunteers 


1§61. 


52 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION 


[BK.  Till. 


accepted  and  not  yet  in  service,  50,000 ; 
new  regiments  of  the  regular  army, 
25,000  ;  making  a  total  of  310,000. 
Deducting  the  80,000  three  months 
volunteers,  230,000  would  be  left  for 
the  effective  national  army  for  the 
war,  and  the  speedy  crushing  out  of 
the  rebellion. 

Secretary  Welles,  of  the  navy,  re 
ported,  that,  on  the  4th  of  March,  there 
were  69  vessels  of  all  classes,  in  the 
navy,  mounting  1,346  guns.  The  ves 
sels  in  commission  were  mostly  on 
foreign  stations,  with  about  7,500  men, 
exclusive  of  officers  and  marines.  The 
home  squadron  consisted  of  12  vessels, 
carrying  187  guns,  and  about  2,000 
men ;  added  to  this,  was  the  demorali 
zation  among  navy  officers  (259  re 
signed  or  were  dismissed  the  service 
between  March  4th  and  July  4th),  al 
though  to  their  honor  be  it  recorded, 
the  crews,  like  brave  and  loyal  men, 
stood  by  the  flag  of  the  Union,  and 
were  not  to  be  seduced  into  betraying 
or  deserting  it.  Necessity  compelling 
immediate  action,  the  navy  department 
had,  previous  to  the  meeting  of  Con 
gress,  secured  transport  steamers,  and 
given  out  contracts  to  build  23  gun 
boats,  each  of  about  500  tons  burden, 
as  well  as  larger  vessels.  Eight  sloops 
of  war  were  put  in  forwardness  at  the 
navy  yards,  and  seamen  were  being  ac 
tively  recruited.  The  effective  force, 
at  this  date  (July  4th),  consisted  of  the 
squadron  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  under 
the  command  of  Flag-Officer  S.  H. 
Stringham,  consisting  of  22  vessels, 
296  guns,  and  3,300  men — and  the 
squadron  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  under 
the  command  of  Flag-Officer  William 


Mervine,  consisting  of  21  vessels,  282 
guns,  and  3,500  men.* 

The  secretary  of  the  treasury,  Mr. 
Chase,  in  view  of  the  vast  increase  of 
expenditures  consequent  upon  the  crisis 
into  which  the  country  had  fallen,  esti 
mated  the  coming  years  outlay  at 
$300,000,000.  To  meet  this  expendi 
ture,  custom  duties,  direct  taxes  and 
loans  were  recommended;  and  the  se 
cretary  set  forth  at  large  that,  in  his 
judgment,  the  people  would  sustain 
the  government  in  its  call  for  funds  to 
crush  the  rebellion.  Startling  as  was 
the  prospect  of  passing  from  the  ordin 
ary  outlay  of  $60,000,000  a  year  to 
five  times  that  amount,  the  government 
found  by  experience,  that  the  loyal  sup 
porters  of  the  Constitution  and  laws 
were  fully  equal  to  the  demands  then, 
or  at  any  time,  to  be  made  upon  them.f 

Congress  addressed  itself  to  its  duties 
with  energy  and  determination.  It  was 
a  fixed  fact,  that  the  Union  must  be 
maintained,  and  the  legislature,  by  its 
votes,  proved  what  was  the  spirit  of 
the  people  on  this  subject.  The  army 
was  increased  by  authorizing  the  enlist 
ment  of  500,000  volunteers ;  the  navy 
received  its  proportional  increase;  a 


*  To  assist  the  secretary  in  the  labors  of  the  de 
partment,  the  president  was  directed  to  appoint  an 
assistant  secretary  of  the  navy.  This  office  was  con 
ferred  upon  Lieutenant  G.  V.  Fox,  a  gentleman  of 
great  practical  experience  and  sagacity,  and  at  the  time 
chief  clerk  in  the  navy  department.  His  promotion 
was  hailed  with  pleasure  as  a  promise  of  increased  vigor 
in  the  service.  See  Dr.  Boynton's  "History  of  the 
Navy  during  the  Rebellion,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  in.,  pp.  5G-69. 

f  About  a  month  after  the  adjournment  of  Congress, 
Mr.  Chase  issued  a  circular,  appealing  to  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States  for  subscriptions  to  the  two  hund 
red  and  fiity  million  loan.  The  appeal  was  promptly 
met,  and  the  secretary's  circular  did  good  service  in 
setting  forth  the  ability  and  resources  of  the  country 
for  so  critical  a  condition  of  affairs  as  the  present. 


CH.  IV.] 


PREVAILING  SENTIMENT  IN   CONGRESS. 


53 


1861. 


loan  of  $250,000,000  and  $50,000,000 
issue  of  treasury  notes  were  authorized ; 
import  duties  were  increased ;  taxes 
were  laid,  collectable  at  a  future  day ; 
etc.  Here  and  there,  there  were  men 
like  Vallandingham  of  Ohio,  B.  "Wood 
of  New  York,  Burnett  of  Kentucky, 
and  such  like,  who  made  every  sort  of 
opposition  to  the  means  proposed  in 
order  to  sustain  the  government ;  but 
they  were  a  small,  and  on  the  whole, 
insignificant  minority,  and  Congress 
went  on  vigorously  with  its  work,  des 
pite  their  efforts  to  the  contrary. 

Without  attempting  to  go  into  de 
tails,  we  may  notice  a  few  of  the  pro 
minent  points  of  interest  at  this  extra 
session.  On  the  9th  of  July,  Mr.  Love- 
joy  of  Illinois,  offered  the  following  re 
solution,  which  was  adopted  by 
the  House:  "Resolved,  That  in 
the  judgment  of  this  House,  it  is  no 
part  of  the  duty  of  the  soldiers  of  the 
United  States  to  capture  and  return 
fugitive  slaves."  This  bore  more  or 
less  directly  upon  the  views  set  forth  in 
Gen.  McClellan's  proclamation  in  May, 
(see  p.  43,  note),  on  the  subject  of  sla 
very  and  insurrection  of  the  slaves,  and 
what  he  and  the  army  would  do  in  such 
a  state  of  affairs.  On  the  10th  of  July, 
Mr.  Clark  of  New  Hampshire,  moved 
the  expulsion  from  the  Senate,  on  the 
ground  of  their  being  engaged  in  a  con 
spiracy  against  the  Union,  of  Messrs. 
Mason  and  Hunter  from  Virginia, 

o 

Clingman  and  Bragg  from  North  Caro 
lina,  Chesunt  from  South  Carolina, 
Nicholson  from  Tennessee,  Sebastian 
and  Mitchell  from  Arkansas,  Hemphill 
and  Wigfall  from  Texas ;  which  was 
accordingly  don*1 


The  army  bill  was  very  ably  and 
warmly  debated  in  the  Senate,  on  the 
18th  of  July,  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  the  sentiments  and  views  express 
ed  by  eminent  men  in  Congress,  just 
before  the  humiliating  repulse  at  Bull 
Run,  and  when,  on  the  loyal  side,  there 
was  a  general  and  confident  expectation 
that  the  rebellion  would  speedily  be 
subdued.  Mr.  Sherman  of  Ohio, 
avowed  that,  in  his  view,  there  was  no 
intention  of  subjugating  any  state,  or 
interfering  with  slavery.  Mr.  Dixon  of 
Connecticut,  declared  emphatically,  that 
if  the  question  was,  either  let  the  gov 
ernment  or  slavery  be  destroyed,  then 
of  course  slavery  must  perish.  Mr. 
Browning  of  Illinois,  uttered  words  of 
similar  import :  "  If  the  South  force 
upon  us  the  issue,  whether  the  govern 
ment  shall  go  down  to  maintain  the  in- 

O 

stitutions  of  slavery,  or  whether  slavery 
shall  be  obliterated  to  sustain  the  Con 
stitution  and  the  government,  for  which 
our  fathers  fought  and  bled,  and  the 
principles  that  were  concentrated  in 
their  blood, — I  say,  sir,  when  the  issue 
conies,  if  they  force  it  upon  us,  that 
one  or  the  other  is  to  be  overthrown, 
then  I  am  for  the  government  and 
against  slavery,  and  my  voice  and  my 
vote  shall  be  for  sweeping  the  last  ves 
tige  of  barbarism  from  the  face  of  the 
continent."  Other  senators,  who  took 
part  in  the  debate,  while  they  held  that 
slavery  did  not  produce  the  rebellion, 
and  deprecated  sentiments  like  those 
just  noticed,  were  still  ready  and  will 
ing  to  give  heart  and  hand  to  the  put 
ting  down  disunion  and  rebellion. 

In  the  House,  Mr.  Crittenden,  of  Ken 
tucky,  on  the  19th  of  July  offered  a 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[En.  VIIL 


resolution  declaring,  that  the  present 
war  was  forced  upon  the  country  by 
southern  disunionists,  and  that  Con 
gress,  disclaiming  all  intention  of  inter 
fering  with  the  rights,  or  institutions  of 
the  states,  and  all  purpose  of  conquest, 
would  prosecute  the  war  to  defend  the 
Constitution  and  preserve  the  Union. 
The  resolution  was  laid  over  till  Mon 
day,  the  22d,  and  then  passed  almost 
unanimously.  The  same  resolution 
was  adopted  "by  the  Senate,  July  24th, 
on  motion  of  Andrew  Johnson.  It  may 
be  set  down  to  the  credit  of  the  nation 
al  legislature,  that,  notwithstanding  the 
gloomy  and  disheartening  condition  of 
affairs,  on  this  memorable  Monday,  the 
members  went  on  steadily  with  their 
work ;  and  the  House,  unanimously : 

"He-solved,  That  the  maintenance  of 
the  Constitution,  the  preservation  of  the 
Union,  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws, 
are  sacred  trusts  which  must  be  execut 
ed  ;  that  no  disaster  shall  discourage  us 
from  the  most  ample  performance  of 
this  high  duty  ;  and  that  we  pledge  to 
the  country  and  to  the  world  the  em 
ployment  of  every  resource,  national 
and  individual,  for  the  suppression, 
overthrow,  and  punishment  of  rebels  in 
arms."  Three  days  later,  the  Senate 
adopted  a  resolution  to  the  same  effect, 
which  lacked  only  one  vote  (Brecken- 
ridge  of  Kentucky)  to  render  it  unani 
mous. 

On  the  24th  of  July,  the  Senate  con 
sidered  a  bill  to  confiscate  property 
used  for  insurrectionary  purposes  by 
persons  engaged  in  rebellion,  to  which 
Mr.  Trumbull  moved  an  amendment : 
by  this,  slaves,  if  employed  by  their 
masters  to  aid  in  rebellion,  were  thence 


forward  free,  any  law  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding.  It-  was  opposed  by 
some  senators  as  irritating  and  alarm 
ing  ;  but  it  passed  by  a  large  vote.  In 
the  House,  this  bill  was  earnestly  de 
bated.  It  was  opposed  by  the 
venerable  Mr.  Crittenden  and 
others,  as  unconstitutional  and  danger 
ous  ;  but  it  was  strenuously  and  for 
cibly  advocated  by  various  members, 
as  needful  in  the  present  state  of  affairs, 
and  as  perfectly  within  the  province 
of  the  legislature  to  determine  upon. 
The  bill  was  finally  agreed  to  by  a  vote 
of  60  to  48. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  session,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Wilson  of  Massachusetts, 
a  clause  was  added  to  the  bill  increas 
ing  the  pay  of  soldiers,  by  which  it  was 
enacted,  "  That  all  the  acts,  proclama 
tions  and  orders  of  the  president  of  the 
United  States,  after  the  4th  of  March, 
1861,  respecting  the  army  and  navy  of 
the  United  States,  and  calling  out  or 
relating  to  the  militia  or  volunteers 
from  the  states,  are  hereby  approved, 
and  in  all  respects  legalized  and  made 
valid,  to  the  same  intent,  and  with  the 
same  effect,  as  if  they  had  been  issued 
and  done  under  the  previous  express 
authority  and  direction  of  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States."  The  bill  was 
agreed  to  by  the  House,  and  Congress 
adjourned  on  the  6th  of  August,  after 
a  session  of  only  thirty-three  days.* 


*  Just  at  the  close  of  the  session  a  joint  resolution 
of  the  two  houses  was  unanimously  adopted,  asking  the 
president  to  call  upon  the  people  to  supplicate  God's 
mercy  and  forbearance  towards  our  country.  The 
president  acted  upon  the  recommendation  of  Congress, 
and  on  the  12th  of  August  issued  a  very  earnest  pro 
clamation,  appointing  September  26th  as  a  national 
fast-day.  The  people  observed  the  day  in  every  part 
of  the  loyal  states. 


CH.  IV  J 


DAVIS  AND  THE  REBEL  CONGRESS 


55 


The  Confederate  Congress  (see  p.  43) 
met  for  the  first  time  in  Richmond, 
July  20th,  the  day  before  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run.  The  message  of  Davis  was 
of  the  usual  length,  but  characterized 
by  an  acrimonious,  irritable  spirit 
against  President  Lincoln,  and  what  he 
had  said  in  his  message  to  Congress, 
July  4th.  Davis's  language  indicated 
quite  clearly,  though  undesignedly,  that 
he  as  well  as  his  co-workers  in  rebellion 
were  not  at  all  pleased  at  the  energy 
and  determination  manifested  by  our 
government  and  people  ;  and  whether 
he  intended  to  deceive  the  people  of 
the  South,  or  make  capital  abroad,  he 
stopped  at  nothing  in  order  to  accom 
plish  his  purpose.  A  passage  or  two 
may  be  quoted  as  illustrating  the  chief 
rebel's  views  and  statements.  "The 
rapid  progress  of  events,  for  the  last 
few  weeks,  has  fully  sufficed  to  lift  the 
veil  behind  which  the  true  policy  and 
purpose  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States  had  been  previously  con 
cealed.  Their  odious  features  now  stand 
fully  revealed.  The  message  of  their 
president,  and  the  action  of  their  Con 
gress  during  the  present  month,  confess 
their  intention  of  the  subjugation  of 
these  states  by  a  war,  by  which  it  is 
impossible  to  attain  the  proposed  result, 
while  its  dire  calamities,  not  to  be 
avoided  by  us,  will  fall  with  double 

severity  on  themselves These 

enormous  preparations  in  men  and 
money,  for  the  conduct  of  the  war,  on 
a  scale  more  grand  than  any  which  the 
new  world  ever  witnessed,  is  a  distinct 
avowal,  in  the  eyes  of  civilized  man, 
that  the  United  States  are  engaged  in  a 
conflict  with  a  great  and  powerful 


1§61. 


nation.  They  are  at  last  compelled  to 
abandon  the  pretence  of  being  engaged 
in  dispersing  rioters  and  suppressing 
insurrections,  and  are  driven 
to  the  acknowledgment  that 
the  ancient  Union  has  been  dissolved. 
They  recognize  the  separate  existence 
of  these  Confederate  states,  by  an  inter- 
dictive  embargo  and  blockade  of  all 
commerce  between  them  and  the  United 
States,  not  only  by  sea,  but  by  land ; 
not  only  in  ships,  but  in  cars ;  not  only 
with  those  who  bear  arms,  but  with 
the  entire  population  of  the  Confede 
rate  states.  Finally,  they  have  re 
pudiated  the  foolish  conceit  that  the 
inhabitants  of  this  confederacy  are  still 
citizens  of  the  United  States ;  for  they 
are  waging  an  indiscriminate  war  upon 
them  all,  with  savage  ferocity,  unknown 
in  modern  civilization." 

Davis  announced  his  purpose  and 
plan  of  retaliation  on  account  of  the 
privateersmen  captured  by  the  United 
States,  and  on  trial  for  piracy.  With 
congratulations  at  having  escaped  all 
connection  with  the  loyal  states,  he 
called  for  increase  of  the  array,  lauded 
the  devotion  of  the  people  of  the  South, 
and  wound  up  with  a  glorification  of 
the  "  calm  and  sublime  devotion"  dis 
played  on  all  hands. 

Various  measures  were  adopted  by 
the  rebel  congress,  principally  looking 
to  financial  difficulties,  which  already 
began  to  press  heavily  upon  the  seces 
sionists,  and  were  among  the  most  per 
plexing  to  manage  in  the  existing  state 
of  affairs.  Beside  the  "  produce  loan," 
treasury  notes  were  authorized  to  the 
extent  of  $100,000,000 ;  a  war  tax  was 
imposed ;  etc.  The  army  was  reported 


56 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


at  210,000  men  in  the  field.  Davis  was 
authorized  to  increase  this  number  by 
400,000  more,  and  also  to  add  to  the 
so-called  navy.  An  act  respecting 
alien  enemies  was  passed,  ordering  them 
to  depart  out  of  the  confederacy,  and 
another  sequestrating  their  properly, 
intended  as  retaliatory  for  the  confisca 
tion  act  of  Congress  (see  p.  54).  After 
a  short  session,  the  Confederate  Con 
gress  adjourned,  September  2d,  to  meet 
again  in  November. 

At  this  period  of  the  contest,  when 
the  impression  largely  prevailed  in  the 
North,  that  the  rebellion  could  be 
crushed  by  rapid,  decided  action,  the 
cry  became  quite  prevalent,  "  On  to 
Richmond !  "  People,  unacquainted 
with  the  science  of  war  and  its  mani 
fold  details,  were  incapable  of  fathom 
ing  why  it  was,  that,  with  so  large  a 
force  as  that  now  in  the  field,  nothing 
apparently  was  being  done,  no  victory 
of  moment  was  gained,  the  rebels  were 
not  at  once  put  down,  etc.  In  their 
lack  of  acquaintance  with  this  subject, 
they  cast  aside  all  considerations  of  the 
time  and  drilling  needed  to  make  good 
and  efficient  soldiers  out  of  new  recruits, 
and  the  complicated,  weighty  difficul 
ties  connected  with  furnishing  military 
stores  and  supplies,  at  proper  times 
and  places,  for  an  army  of  50,000  to 
100,000  men.  The  pressure  was  urgent, 
and  the  troops  were  expected  to  make 
a  brilliant  campaign  of  three  or  six 
months,  and  speedily  reduce  the  rebels 
to  submission.  Military  men,  having  a 
clearer  conception  of  what  was  to  be 
done,  and  the  material  in  hand  to  work 
with,  were  rather  doubtful  as  to  the 
expediency  of  attempting  a  great  battle 


1861. 


just  at  this  time ;  but  the  people,  im 
patient  and  in  general  unreasoning, 
were  calling  for  action,  the  soldiers 
wished  for  action;  action  seemed  one 
of  the  easiest  things  in  the  world  ;  the 
enemy  was  undervalued  ;  and  a  battle 
must  be  fought,  on  such  a  scale  and  in 
such  wise,  as  to  prove  the  superiority  of 
our  forces,  and  the  insignificance  of  the 
rebel  hosts. 

As  stated  on  a  previous  page  (see  p. 
35),  General  Patterson,  at  the  begin 
ning  of  July,  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
Williamsport,  with  a  force  of 
about  20,000  men.  The  rebels 
retired  on  his  appearance ;  and  on  the 
loth  of  July,  he  moved  forward  to 
Bunker  Hill,  nine  miles  from  Winches 
ter,  and  occupied  it  without  resistance. 
On  the  17th,  instead  of  advancing  on 
the  direct  road,  he  turned  to  the  left 
and  marched  to  Charlestown,  twelve 
miles  eastward  and  near  the  Potomac ; 
thus,  as  it  turned  out,  leaving  the  road 
open  for  Johnston,  the  rebel  general  at 
Winchester,  to  carry  his  entire  force  to 
Manassas,  and  do  his  share  in  the  de 
feat  of  our  army  at  Bull  Run.  The 
reasons  for  this  course  are  not  at  all 
clear,  and  the  testimony  on  this  sub 
ject  elicited  by  the  committee  on  the 
conduct  of  the  war,  is  very  damaging 
to  the  character  of  General  Patterson. 
Although  urged  by  General  Scott  to 
do  something  efficient,  he  remained  at 
Charlestown  under  an  idea  that  he 
was  checking  Johnston's  advance;  in 
reality,  it  was  to  no  purpose,  and  on 
the  22d,  he  fell  back  to  Harper's  Ferry 
where,  on  the  25th  of  July,  Genera. 
Banks  took  his  place. 

General  McDowell  was  in  command 


CH.  IV.] 

of  the  department  of  North-eastern  Vir 
ginia,  an  able  and  excellent  officer,  to 
whom  was  committed  the  charge  of 
making  an  assault  upon  the  enemy, 
who  were  strongly  entrenched,  under 
Beaureo-ard,  at  Manassas.  His  force 

O  / 

consisted  of  about  forty-five  regiments 

v  O 

of  volunteers,  chiefly  from  New  York 
and  the  eastern  states,  with  several 
from  the  West,  a  large  portion  of  the 
whole  being  called  out,  under  the  re 
quisition  of  the  president,  for  three 
months  only.  The  remainder  were 
three  years'  volunteers;  but,  having 
come  into  the  field  later,  they  had  en 
joyed  but  slightly  the  advantages  of 
military  drill  and  discipline.  With 
them  were  mixed  a  few  of  the  regular 

O 

infantry,  some  companies  of  United 
States  cavalry,  and  several  light  bat 
teries  of  the  United  States  artillery. 
The  general  staff  and  field  officers  in 
cluded  a  number  of  the  most  meritori 
ous  officers  of  the  regular  army;  the 
company  officers,  being  mostly  taken 
from  civil  life,  were  of  course  less  ex 
perienced,  and  much  less  able  to  dis 
charge  the  duties  imposed  upon  them. 
The  Grand  Army,  as  it  was  called, 
began  its  march  from  Washington,  on 
the  16th  of  July.  Gen.  Tyler's  column 
took  the  advance,  and  spent  the  night 
at  Vienna,  a  few  miles  from  Fairfax 
Court  House.  General  Hunter  march 
ed  with  the  central  column,  on  the  di 
rect  road ;  and  Gen.  Miles  advanced  on 
the  extreme  left.  General  McDowell, 
who  was  with  the  centre,  arrived  at 
noon,  the  next  day,  at  Fairfax  Court 
House,  the  enemy  retiring  and  evidently 
avoiding  a  conflict.*  On  the  18th, 


THE  GRAND  ARMY  MOVES. 


57 


*  Oar  troops  were  guilty  of  some  excesses  here,  sucli 
VOL.  IV.— 8 


Gen.  Tyler,  having  passed  through  Cen- 
treville,  found  the  rebels  strongly  posted 
at  Blackburn's  Ford  on  Bull  Run,  where, 
under  Gen.  Longstreet,  they  resisted 
the  further  advance  of  our  troops.  The 
conflict  was  mainly  with  artillery,  and 
was  well  sustained ;  it  proved  clearly 
that  the  rebel  army  had  taken  position 
between  Centreville  and  Manassas  Junc 
tion,  and  intended  to  remain  there. 
The  loss  on  the  Union  side  was  between 
80  and  90 ;  the  rebel  loss  was  reported 
at  somewhat  less.* 

Gen.  McDowell  was  convinced,  on  ex 
amination,  that  the  strength  and  posi 
tion  of  the  rebels  rendered  it  unadvis- 
able,  without  a  diversion,  to.  risk  the 
main  attack  directly  in  front,  or  to  make 
the  attempt  to  gain  Manasses  by  an  ap 
proach  from  the  east.  Above  Stone 
Bridge,  however,  the  ground  appeared 
more  practicable.  The  stream,  Bull 
Run,  might  readily  be  forded,  and 
though  there  were  no  good  roads  lead- 

O  O 

ing  from  the  camps  in  that  direction, 
the  country  afforded  no  serious  obstacle 

as  breaking  into  empty  houses,  pillaging,  and  commit 
ting  other  offensive  acts  ;  but  this  disgraceful  conduct 
was  immediately  repressed  and  steps  were  taken  to 
prevent  any  recurrence  of  similar  outbreaks.  Gen.  Mc 
Dowell's  stringent  order  on  this  subject  manifests  the 
spirit  and  determination  of  the  commanding  officers  of 
our  army.  Compare  with  this  the  vile  insinuations 
and  falsehoods  of  Beauregard's  proclamation,  quoted 
on  p.  34. 

*  Beauregard,  who,  as  he  says,  was  "  opportunely  in 
formed,"  i.  e.,  by  the  numerous  spies  and  traitors  in 
and  about  Washington,  of  McDowell's  purpose  to  ad 
vance  upon  Manassas,  claims  it  as  a  stroke  of  policy 
that  his  men  retreated  and  thereby  deceived  McDowell 
as  to  his  ulterior  designs  at  Bull  Run.  Major  Barnard, 
chief-engineer  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  has  criticis 
ed  this  costly  reconnaissance  by  Gen.  Tyler  in  severe 
terms,  and  pronounces  that  the  affair  had  a  bad  effect 
upon  the  morale  of  our  raw  forces.  Swinton  terms  it 
"  silly  ambition  "  on  the  part  of  Tyler  to  do  as  he  did 
— '  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  47. 


58 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bs.  VIIL 


1861. 


to  the  movement  of  troops.  It  was  ac 
cordingly  resolved,  by  a  flank  move 
ment,  to  turn  the  enemy's  position  on 
their  left  with  a  sufficient  force,  which 
should  co-operate  with  a  direct  attack 
on  their  position  at  Stone  Bridge,  and 
thus  open  the  turnpike  road  from  Cen- 
treville,  and  cut  off  the  railroad  commu 
nication  of  Manassas  with  the  army  of 
Johnston  in  and  about  Winchester. 
McDowell  intended  to  make  the  attack 
on  Saturday,  July  20th,  but  was  hin 
dered  by  delays  in  receiving 
proper  supplies,  which  did  not 
reach  him  till  Friday  night,  at  Centre- 
ville,  about  seven  miles  to  the  north-east 
of  Manassas.  Rations  were  distributed 
and  issued  ;  and  in  order  as  far  as  pos 
sible  to  avoid  marching  in  the  heat  be 
fore  the  fight,  orders  were  given  to 
move  at  half-past  two  o'clock,  on  Sun 
day  morning,  the  21st,  expecting  to 
open  the  battle  at  all  points  at  six,  A.M. 
Delays  occurred,  owing  to  the  inexperi 
ence  of  the  officers  and  men,  so  that  it 
was  some  three  hours  later,  in  one  of 
the  hot  July  mornings  in  Virginia,  that 
the  troops  crossed  at  Sudley  Spring, 
and  soon  after  were  engaged  in  battle.* 
Full  details  are  beyond  our  limits ; 
and  we  must  content  ourselves  with  an 
extract  or  two  from  Gen.  McDowell's 
report,  which  will  suffice  to  render  the 

*  Gen.  McDowell,  speaking  of  his  reasons  for  fight 
ing  when  he  did,  declared  that  he  could  not  push  on 
faster,  nor  could  he  delay.  The  best  part  of  his  troops 
were  three  months  volunteers,  whose  term  of  service 
was  just  expiring.  They  refused  to  stay  an  hour  be 
yond  their  time.  McDowell  and  the  secretary  of  war 
pleaded  with  them  (volunteers  from  Pennsylvania  and 
New  York),  but  in  vain.  They  insisted  on  their  dis 
charge  that  Saturday  night.  It  was  granted  of  course  ; 
"  and  the  next  morning,  when  the  army  moved  forward 
into  battle,  these  troops  moved  to  the  rear,  to  the  sound 
of  the  enemy's  cannon." 


general  course  of  procedure  and  the  re 
sult  sufficiently  clear  to  our  readers. 
As  events  turned  out,  McDowell  term 
ed  it  "a  great  misfortune"  that  delays 
occurred,  as  noted  above.  The  wood 
road  from  the  Warrenton  Turnpike  was 
longer  than  was  expected,  and  the  up 
per  ford  was  not  reached  as  speedily  as 
was  desired.  General  Tyler,  in  front 
of  Stone  Bridge,  commenced  with  his 
artillery,  at  half-past  six,  A.M.,  but  the 
enemy  made  no  reply,  rendering  it 
doubtful  as  to  his  plans.  Other  brig 
ades  moved  forward,  and  Tyler  was  di 
rected  to  advance,  as  large  bodies  of  the 
enemy  were  passing  in  front  of  him  to 
attack  the  division  which  had  crossed 
over  under  Burn  side. 

"  The  ground  between  the  stream  and 
the  road  leading  from  Sudley  Spring 
south,  and  over  which  Burnside's  brig 
ade  marched,  was  for  about  a  mile  from 
the  ford  thickly  wooded,  whilst  on  the 
right  of  the  road  for  about  the  same 
distance,  the  country  was  divided  be 
tween  fields  and  woods.  About  a  mile 
from  the  road  the  country  on  both  sides 
of  the  road  is  open,  and  for  nearly  a 
mile  further  large  rolling  fields  extend 
down  to  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  which 
crosses  what  became  the  field  of  battle, 
through  the  valley  of  a  small  water 
course,  a  tributary  of  Bull  Run."  The 
enemy  opened  fire  upon  our  troops, 
who  stood  the  shock  well,  and  on  being 
reinforced  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the 
wood  and  across  the  road  up  the  slopes 
on  the  other  side. 

"  While  this  was  going  on,  Heintzel- 
man's  division  was  moving  down  the 
field  to  the  stream,  and  up  the  road 
beyond.  Beyond  the  Warrenton  road, 


CH.  IV. 


BATTLE  OF  BULL  RUN. 


59 


and  to  the  left  of  the  road,  down  which 
our  troops  had  marched  from  Sudley 
Spring,  is  a  hill  with  a  farm-house  on 
it.  Behind  this  hill  the  enemy  had, 
early  in  the  day,  some  of  his  most 
annoying  batteries  planted.  Across  the 
road  from  this  hill  was  another  hill,  or 
rather  elevated  ridge,  or  table  of  land. 
The  hottest  part  of  the  contest  was  for 
the  possession  of  this  hill  with  a  house 

on  it Rickett's  battery,  which 

did  such  effective  service  and  played 
so  brilliant  a  part  in  this  contest,  was, 
together  with  Griffin's  battery,  on  the 
side  of  the  hill,  and  became  the  object 
of  the  special  attention  of  the  enemy, 
who  succeeded — our  officers  mistaking 
one  of  his  regiments  for  one  of  our  own, 
and  allowing  it  to  approach  without 
firing  upon  it — in  disabling  the  battery, 
and  then  attempting  to  take  it.  Three 
times  was  he  repulsed  by  different 
corps  in  succession,  and  driven  back, 
and  the  guns  taken  by  hand,  the  horses 
being  killed,  and  pulled  away.* 

"  The  enemy  was  evidently  disheart 
ened  and  broken.  But  we  had  been 
fighting  since  half-past  ten  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  it  was  after  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  men  had 
been  up  since  two  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  had  made  what,  to  those  un 
used  to  such  things,  seemed  a  long 
march  before  coming  into  action,  and 
were  without  food.  They  had  done 


*  The  rebel  general,  T.  J.  Jackson,  was  of  especial 
service  at  this  period  of  the  battle.  Coming  up  with 
his  brigade  of  fresh  troops,  and  displaying  great 
steadiness,  one  enthusiastic  South  Carolina  officer 
shouted,  "  Look,  there  is  Jackson  standing  like  a  stone 
wall!"  This  epithet  was  considered  a  happy  one,  and 
was  very  generally  attached  afterwards  to  Jackson's 
name. — See  Cooke's  "  Life  f  Jackson,"  pp.  68,  77. 


much  severe  fighting.  Some  of  the 
regiments  which  had  been  driven  from 
the  hill  in  the  first  two  attempts  of  the 
enemy  to  keep  possession  of  it  had  be 
come  shaken,  were  unsteady,  and  had 
many  men  out  of  the  ranks. 

"  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  enemy's 
reinforcements  came  to  his  aid  from  the 
railroad  train,  understood  to  have  just 
arrived  from  the  valley  with  the  residue 
of  Johnston's  army.*  They  threw 
themselves*  in  the  woods  on  our  right 
and  towards  the  rear  of  our  right,  and 
opened  a  fire  of  musketry  on  our  men, 
which  caused  them  to  break  and  retire 
down  the  hillside.  This  soon  degener 
ated  into  disorder,  for  which  there  was 
no  remedy.  Every  effort  was  made  to 
rally  them,  even  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  enemy's  fire,  but  in  vain.  The  re 
treat  soon  became  a  rout,  and  this 
soon  degenerated  still  further  into  a 
panic.  Finding  this  state  of  affairs 
was  beyond  the  efforts  of  all  those  who 
had  assisted  so  faithfully  during  the 
long  and  hard  day's  work  in  gaining 
almost  the  object  of  our  wishes,  and 
that  nothing  remained  on  the  field  but 

O 

to  recognize  what  we  could  no  longer 
prevent,  I  gave  the  necessary  orders  to 
protect  their  withdrawal,  begging  the 
men  to  form  in  line,  and  offer  the  ap 
pearance  at  least  of  organization.  They 
returned  by  the  fords  to  the  Warrenton 
road,  protected,  by  my  order,  by  Col. 
Porter's  force  of  regulars.  Once  on 


*  Beauregard,  in  his  elaborate  report,  made  some 
considerable  time  later,  states  that  the  balance  of 
Johnston's  force  arrived  under  Kirby  Smith,  about 
three  P.M.,  having  left  Manassas  by  railroad  at  noon. 
It  was  just  at  this  critical  moment  that  4,000  fresh 
troops  came  to  their  help,  and  the  rebels  were  enabled 
10  gain  the  day. 


60 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  V1I1. 


the  road,  and  the  different  corps  coming 
together  in  small  parties,  many  with 
out  officers,  they  became  intermingled, 
and  all  organization  was  lost. 

"  By  sundown,"  as  General  Mc 
Dowell  states,  in  conclusion,  "  most  of 
our  men  had  gotten  behind  Centre- 
ville  Ridge,  and  it  became  a  question 
whether  we  should  or  not  endeavor  to 
make  a  stand  there.  The  condition  of 
our  artillery  and  its  ammunition,  and 
the  want  of  food  for  our  men,  who  had 
generally  abandoned  or  thrown  away 
all  that  had  been  issued  the 

1  S  ft  1 

day  before,  and  the  utter  dis 
organization  and  consequent  demorali 
zation  of  the  mass  of  the  army,  seemed 
to  all  who  were  near  enough  to  be 
consulted — division  and  brigade  com 
manders  and  staff — to  admit  of  no 
alternative  but  to  fall  back.  On  send 
ing  the  officers  of  the  staff  to  the  differ- 
to 

ent  camps,  they  found,  as  they  reported 
to  me,  that  our  decision  had  been 
anticipated  by  the  troops,  most  of  those 
who  had  come  in  from  the  front  being 
already  on  the  road  to  the  rear,  the 
panic  with  which  they  came  in  still 
continuing  and  hurrying  them  along. 
At  about  ten  o'clock,  the  rear  guard 
(Blenker's  brigade),  moved,  covering 
the  retreat,  which  was  effected  during 
the  night  and  next  morning." 

Jefferson  Davis  left  Richmond  by 
railroad  on  this  eventful  Sunday  morn 
ing,  and  reached  the  field  of  battle 
about  4  P.M.,  when  the  contest  was 
virtually  decided.  He  telegraphed  the 
welcome  news  to  the  Confederate  Con 
gress  that  same  night,  stating,  truly 
enough,  that  it  had  been  "  a  hard  fought 
field."  but,  with  needless  mendacity, 


asserting,  that  the  Union  army  was 
beaten  by  a  force  less  than  half  their 
own  number.*  Davis  was  in  favor  of 
immediate  pursuit  and  a  dash  at  the 
capital,  which  course  indeed  was  the 
natural  one  to  be  adopted  in  order  to 
reap  the  fruits  of  victory ;  but  it  was 
evident  that  the  rebels  were  in  no  con 
dition  to  avail  themselves  of  their  op- 
portunity.f 

Beauregard,  though  boasting  of  his 
great  success,  gives  as  his  excuse  for 
not  following  up  and  destroying  the 
enemy,  that  his  men  were  worn  down 
by  a  long  fight  in  a  July  day,  and 
were  hungry  and  thirsty;  also,  that 
the  next  day  it  rained  steadily,  and  he 
had  no  cavalry.  Johnston  accorded 
with  this  view  of  the  subject,  and 
said,  in  addition,  that  the  certainty 
that  General  Patterson,  if  needed, 
would  reach  Washington  with  his 
army  of  30,000  men  sooner  than 
they  could,  prevented  any  serious 
thoughts  of  advancing  against  the 
capital.  From  all  which,  it  may  safely 
be  inferred  that  the  ability,  not  the 
will,  was  wanting,  and  that  the  rebels 
acted  judiciously  in  not  making  a  futile 
attack  upon  Washington. 

The  losses  at  Bull  Run  were,  accord 
ing  to  General  McDowell's  report,  481 


*  Beauregard's  army  numbered  not  less  than 
30,000,  and  was  fully  equal  in  numbers  to  that  under 
command  of  General  McDowell,  and  yet  Davis  und« 
took  to  say,  as  above,  "  our  force  was  15,000 ;  that 
of  the  enemy  estimated  at  35,000."  See  Beauregard's 
Report,  and  Pollard's  "  First  Year  of  the  War,"  p.  101. 

f  See  "  Stonewall  Jackson ;  a  Military  Biography," 
(New  York,  1866)  by  John  Esten  Cooke,  a  profound 
admirer  of  the  man  who  had  attained  so  singular  a 
sobriquet.  According  to  Mr.  Cooke,  Jackson,  as  he  sat 
on  his  horse  looking  at  the  retreating  Union  troops, 
exclaimed,  "  Give  me  ten  thousand  men,  and  I  will  b« 
in  Washington  to-night !" 


CH.  IV.] 


EFFECTS  OF  BULL  RUN  DEFEAT. 


61 


killed,  1,011  wounded,  1,216  missing. 
Beauregard  reported  the  rebel  loss  at 
269  killed,  1,533  wounded,"  in  all  1,852. 
Johnston  made  the  number  of  killed 
378,  but  agreed  with  Beauregard  in  the 
general  result.  No  notice  was  taken 
of  some  two  or  three  hundred  prison 
ers  made  by  our  army  in  the  early  part 
of  the  battle  and  sent  to  Washington. 

O 

Beauregard  claimed  as  prisoners  not 
less  than  1,600  Union  soldiers,  and 
estimated  our  loss  at  4,500.  Probably 
the  nearest  approximation  to  the  ex 
act  truth  now  possible  is,  rebel  loss 
over  2,000 ;  Union  loss  over  3,000. 
Beauregard  also  claimed  as  the  spoils 
of  the  day,  28  pieces  of  artillery,  about 
5,000  muskets,  nearly  500,000  cartrid 
ges,  a  garrison  flag,  and  10  colors  cap 
tured  in  the  field  or  in  the  pursuit ; 
and  besides  these,  64  artillery  horses 
with  their  harness,  26  wagons  and  much 
camp  equipage,  clothing,  and  other 
property  left  behind. 

Our  limits  do  not  admit  of  dwelling 

O 

upon  particular  instances  of  valor  and 
spirit  on  the  part  of  the  great  majority 
of  our  officers  and  men,  or  of  noticing 
the  lack  of  .these  soldierly  qualities  and 
instincts,  which  were  expected,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  from  all  our  troops. 
Neither  are  we  able  now  to  spare  time 
in  narrating  well  authenticated  cases 
of  barbarity,  Vruelty  and  outrage  to 
wards  the  dying  and  the  dead,  after  the 
battle  was  over.  The  conduct  of  the 
rebels  on  this  occasion  was  marked  by 
ungovernable,  blind  fury,  and  was  dis 
graceful  in  the  last  degree  to  themselves 
and  our  common  humanity.* 


*  See  Duyckinck's  "  War  for  the   Union,"  vol.  i., 
pp.  402-416  ;  Senator  Wade's  Report  to  the  Senate,  in 


1861. 


The  effect  of  the  disaster  at  Bull 
Run  was  astounding.  The  news  at 
first  from  the  field  -of  battle,  as  made 
known  by  reports  and  telegraphic  com 
munications,  had  been  cheering,  and 
promising  certain  and  great  victory. 
The  next  news  told  of  utter  rout  and 
disgrace  ;  and  Monday  and  Tuesday, 
the  22d  and  23d  of  July,  saw  the 
streets  of  the  capital  thronged  with 
panic  stricken  crowds  of  those  who 
had  literally  fled  when  no  man 
pursued.  In  the  great  cities, 
and  throughout  the  country,  as  the 
wildly  exaggerated  telegrams  made 
known  the  overthrow  of  our  army,  the 
people  were  in  a  maze,  and  could  with 
difficulty  credit  the  unwelcome  reports 
of  disgraceful  defeat.  High-spirited  and 
self-confident,  never  supposing  defeat 
possible,  men  at  the  North  ran  into  an 
opposite  extreme,  and  for  the  moment 
looked  Tipon  what  the  rebels  had  done 
at  Bull  Run  as  a  virtual  guarantee  of 
their  final  success.*  But  the  depression 
and  discouragement,  wonderful  as  they 
seemed,  were  only  temporary.  Bitter 
as  was  the  lesson  of  that  memorable 
wTeek  at  the  close  of  July,  it  was  a 
salutary  lesson.  It  showed  loyal  men 
what  was  before  them ;  that  it  was  no* 
holiday  undertaking  of  a  few  weeks  or 
months  to  put  down  rebellion  or  trea 
son,  organized  as  they  were  on  a  scale 


behalf  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
War  ;  April  30th,  1862. 

*  Military  critics  (such  as  Major  Barnard  and  others) 
are  agreed,  that  General  McDowell's  plan  of  the  battle 
was  well  laid  and  would  have  resulted  in  a  decisive 
victory,  had  it  not  been  for  delays,  above  noted,  on 
Friday  and  Saturday,  and  the  escaping  of  Johuston'a 
four  or  five  thousand  men  from  Patterson's  watching, 
thereby  causing  a  panic  among  a  portion  of  the  Union 
army  just  at  the  critical  moment. 


62 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  Vlli. 


of  magnitude  and  power  undreamt  of 
heretofore ;  and  that,  if  the  Union  was 
to  be  sustained,  it  must  be  by  united, 
steady,  unflinching  energy  and  devo 
tion  in  its  behalf.  The  resolution  and 
spirit  of  Congress  we  have  already 
noted  (see  p.  54).  The  people  of  the 
loyal  states  likewise  speedily  nerved 
themselves  to  avenge  the  losses  at  Bull 


Run,  and  to  hold  up  the  hands  of  the 
government  at  any  cost,  in  crushing  the 
mad  and  desperate  attempt  to  destroy 
the  life  and  integrity  of  the  nation. 

We  shall  see,  as  we  proceed  in  our 
narrative,  how  thoroughly  the  noble, 
manly  qualities  of  our  countrymen 
were  roused  up  into  efficient  action  in 
this  their  hour  of  trial. 


CHAPTER    V. 
1S61. 

FOREIGN    RELATIONS    AND    POLICY  — PRIVATEERING -TRENT    AFFAIR. 

Position  of  foreign  nations —  Course  of  England  and  France,  how  affecting  the  United  States  —  Importance  of 
foreign  relations  —  Secession  efforts  abroad  —  Feeling  towards  the  United  States  in  Great  Britain  and  France 

—  Hostility  to  the  Union  —  British  government  hastens  to  acknowledge  belligerent  character  of  Southern 
Confederacy  —  Queen's  proclamation  —  How  looked  on  in  America  —  Neutrality  enjoined  —  111  success  of  the 
rebel  agents  abroad  —  Louis  Napoleon's  course  —  Diplomatic  notes  and  courtesies  —  Friendly  spirit  of  Russia 

—  Articles  of  Congress  of  Paris  (1856)  on  privateering  —  Offer  of  the  United  States  on  the  subject  —  Proviso 
of  Earl  Russell  —  Privateering  carried  on  —  The  Savannah  taken  —  Trial  of  the  privateersmen  ;  are  they 
pirates  or  not  ?  —  Da  vis's  threats  and  acts  —  Government  abandon  the  prosecution  —  Privateering  only  mo 
derately  successful  —  The  Petrel  and  the  St.  Lawrence  —  The  Jeff.  Davis  and  her  end  —  The  negro  Tillman's 
heroism  —  Public  feeling  at  this  date  —  Mason  and  Slidell  new  agents  to  go  to  Europe  —  Reach  Havana — • 
Sail  in  the  Trent,  English  mail  packet  —  Capt.  Wilkes  in  San  Jacinto  stops  the  Trent  and  captures  Mason 
and  Slidell  and  their  secretaries  —  Public  applause  —  Attitude  of  the  government  —  Excitement  in  England 

—  Rebel  commissioners  demanded  —  War  apparently  imminent  —  Mr.  Seward's  argument  and  decision  — 
Mason  and  Slidell  given  up  —  Chagrin  and  disappointment  of  the  rebels  and  their  friends  at  home  and 
abroad  —  Pungent  remarks  of  the  London  Times. 


THE  position  of  foreign  nations  and 
the  probable  course  to  be  pursued  by 
them  in  regard  to  the  United  States, 
was  a  matter  of  very  grave  importance 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion.  Eng 
land  and  France,  especially,  were  so 
situated  as  to  render  their  line 
of  action  of  the  utmost  moment, 
whether  for  good  or  evil,  to  the  Great 
Republic.  If,  acting  out  the  noble, 
manly  part,  which  becomes  sincere 


I  §61. 


friends  and  well  wishers  of  our  country, 
they  should  so  direct  their  policy,  and 
should  assume  such  ground,  as  that  the 
weight  of  their  influence  would  be  given 
to  the  support  of  the  Union  and  the 
crushing  out  the  rebellion,  the  case 
would  be  rendered  more  easy  of  settle 
ment  by  means  of  the  United  States 
power  on  the  land,  where  alone  the 
rebels  had  succeeded  in  organizing  any 
effective  resistance  against  the  authority 


r,H.  v.] 


ANXIETY  AS  TO  COURSE  OF  FOREIGN  NATIONS. 


63 


of  the  government.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  great  maritime  nations,  like 
England  and  France,  should  see  fit, 
more  or  less  openly  to  encourage  the  so- 
called  confederacy  in  its  ambitious  de 
signs,  and  in  addition  to  recognizing  its 
belligerent  character,  should  aid  in  fur 
nishing  it  not  only  with  supplies  of 
various  sorts  but  also  with  the  means 
of  preying  upon  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States,  they  certainly  had  the 
power  so  to  do,  while  holding  a  profess 
edly  friendly  attitude  to  the  government 
which  they  were  virtually  helping  to 
undermine  and  destroy.  And,  in  such 
an  event,  the  rebellion  would  be  all  the 
more  likely  to  protract  its  existence,  if 
not  finally  to  succeed  in  accomplishing 
its  ends. 

Of  course,  the  government  of  the 
United  States  felt  an  unusually  deep 
interest  in  the  views  which  might  find 
predominance  among  foreign  nations, 
who  were  watching  with  profound  con 
cern  the  incipiency  of  our  great  nation 
al  struggle ;  and  was  well  aware  how 
much  depended  upon  the  course  which 
they  might  think  best  to  adopt.  It  was 
consequently  seen  at  once  to  be  of  the 
highest  importance,  that  our  country 
should  be  represented  at  foreign  courts 
by  the  ablest  and  most  energetic  men 
which  could  be  obtained.  Happily, 
Messrs.  Adams,  Dayton,  Clay,  Motley, 
Marsh,  and  others  were  selected,  and 
by  their  labors  at  their  several  posts, 
they  soon  gave  evidence  of  the  wisdom 
which  had  led  to  their  appointment. 
Our  country  had  abundant  reason  to 
be  satisfied  that  her  interests  were  com 
mitted  to  the  hands  of  some  of  her 
noblest  sous. 


The  leaders  in  the  seceded  states  were 
also  profoundly  interested  in  the  con 
dition  of  affairs  abroad,  and  the  manner 
in  which  their  present  attempt  at  a 
breaking  up  of  the  Union  might  be 
looked  upon  by  the  great  powers  of 
Europe.  If  England  and  France  should 
favor  their  cause,  directly,  or  at  least 
indirectly,  it  would  greatly  facilitate 
matters,  and  would  almost  ensure  suc 
cess  to  the  rebellion ;  but  if  the} 
should  refuse  entirely  any  countenance 
to  this  proposed  rending  in  pieces  of 
the  Union,  and  should  look  upon  the 
outbreak  as  an  insurrection,  which  the 
lawful  government  of  the  land  was  able 
to  and  would  in  due  time  suppress, 
then,  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  the 
confederates  would  be  sadly  curtailed 
of  their  fair  proportions,  and  theii 
chances  of  final  success  very  consider 
ably  diminished. 

Fully  alive  to  the  importance  and 
necessity  of  securing  foreign  sympathy 
and  aid,  the  astute  leaders  in  secession 
and  revolution  had  given  very  careful 
attention  to  the  subject  from  the  begin 
ning.  Agents,  admirably  adapted  to 
the  work  in  hand,  such  as  Yancey,* 
Host,  Mann,  and  Butler  King,  had  been 
sent  abroad  to  leaven  the  public  opin 
ion,  to  excite  prejudice  against 
the  government,  to  gain  the  ear 
of  politicians  and  men  in  power,  to 
misrepresent  the  origin  and  aim  of  the 
rebellion,  to  enlarge  upon  the  advanta 
ges  they  had  to  offer,  in  a  commercial 
point  of  view,  to  foreign  nations,  and 
such  like ;  and  it  must  be  confessed, 
that,  by  persistent,  unscrupulous  state 
ments,  by  activity  and  zeal  worthy  of 

*  See  McPherson's  "  Iliutory  of  the  Rebellion,"  p.  27 


1361. 


64 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


a  Letter  cause,  and  by  using  the  power 
of  the  press,  a  considerable  portion  of 
which  was  hostile  to  the  Union,  they 
had  been  able  to  produce  a  decided  im 
pression  upon  the  public  mind,  and  to 
excite  hopes  of  the  speedy  intervention 
of  European  powers  in  American  affairs. 
But  governments  move  slowly,  as 
becomes  the  gravity  of  their  position, 
and  in  modern  times  at  least,  they  re 
quire  to  be  well  assured  that  the  peo 
ple  will  sustain  them,  before  they  take 
any  step  of  great  importance.  England, 
for  various  reasons,  had  no  special  re 
gard  or  affection  for  the  United  States. 
England  was  rather  annoyed  and  dis 
pleased  that  so  powerful  a  rival  should 
have  taken  the  position  in  wealth  and 
rank  which  our  country  holds  after  so 
brief  a  period  of  national  life.  England 
was  and  is,  from  the  nature  of  the  case, 
not  in  love  with  republican  institutions, 
and  was  and  is  willing  to  see  them 
broken  up  and  perish.  Yet  not  all  of 
England,  by  any  means.  There  were 
ardent  philanthropists  and  able  states 
men,  who  were  as  capable  as  they  were 
willing  to  cast  aside  foolish  prejudices 
and  jealousies,  and  to  do  their  share 
towards  enlightening  others,  towards 
battling  for  the  right,  and  towards 
extending  their  sympathy  and  good 
will  to  the  United  States.  And  these 
could  not  be  ignored ;  they  made  their 
voices  heard ;  and  with  the  help  of 
several  influential  journals,  they  proved 
that  the  present  fratricidal  attempt  of 
the  secessionists  was  as  wicked  as  it 
•was  unprecedented  in  the  history  of 
mankind.  The  English  government, 
therefore,  whatever  its  inclinations  may 
have  been,  hesitated  to  venture  upon 


a  step  which,  if  wrongly  taken,  would 
be  direful  indeed  in  its  consequences  * 
France,  also,  under  the  despotism  of 
Louis  Napoleon,  was  not  altogether 
pleased  at  being  called  upon  to  witness 
our  rapid  strides  in  national  wealth 
and  power.  France,  too,  was  more  or 
less  jealous  of  the  United  States,  and 
was  quite  willing  to  stand  by,  and  see 
the  Union  broken  up,  and  its  power  and 
pride  humbled ;  but  there  were  friends 
of  America  in  France,  friends  who  did 
good  service  by  their  pens  as  well  as  in 
other  ways,  in  behalf  of  our  country's 
honor  and  good  name ;  and  more  than 
this,  France  was  ruled  by  a  man  who, 
however  unscrupulous  as  a  politician, 
was  far  too  sagacious  to  comn.it  himself 

O 

hastily  to  an  undertaking  whose  suc 
cess  was  by  no  means  assured ;  he  had 
had  too  large  experience  in  the  uncer 
tainty  of  political  scheming  to  give  aid 
to  experiments  which,  so  far  as  he  could 
see,  were  as  likely  to  be  failures  as  any 
thing  else.  Consequently,  France  was 
not  willing,  or  prepared,  to  go  to  the 
lengths  which  the  secessionists  wished 
or  expected ;  and  France,  like  England, 
preferred  to  wait  awhile,  and  see  what 
the  future  might  bring  forth. 

Doubtless,  we  think,  the  general  dis 
position  in  Europe  was,  to  consider  se 
cession  and  disintegration  of  the  Union 


*  Mr.  C.  M.  Clay,  at  the  time  en  route  for  his  em 
bassy  at  St.  Petersburg,  wrote  a  spirited  letter  to  the 
London  Times,  May  17th,  setting  forth  the  views  and 
determination  of  Union  men  on  the  subject  of  rebellion 
and  treason.  Mr.  Motley,  also,  our  minister  to  Austria, 
published  in  the  same  journal,  a  week  later,  a  calm, 
clear,  convincing  statement  as  to  "  The  Causes  of  the 
American  Civil  War."  Mr.  John  Stuart  Mill,  the  well 
known  and  able  advocate  of  freedom,  published,  some 
months  later,  an  article  in  Eraser's  Magazine  on  "  The 
Contest  iu  America."  He  was  also  seconded  by  men  of 
the  stamp  of  llichard  Cobden,  John  Bright,  etc. 


Cn.  V.] 


REBELS  ACKNOWLEDGED  AS  BELLIGERENTS. 


G5 


as  necessary  results  of  progress  in  our 
case.  The  people  had  heard  so  fre 
quently  of  this  view  of  the  subject  from 
advocates  of  state  sovereignty,  as  well 
as  haters  of  American  constitutional 
government  and  liberty,  that,  at  first, 
and  for  a  long  time,  they  were  ready  to 
acquiesce  in  disunion,  and  rather  to  re 
joice  in  view  of  its  beneficial  results  to 
themselves.  To  counteract  this  unfriend 
ly  feeling  and  hostile  judgment  of  affairs, 
if  it  should  exhibit  itself  in  diplomacy, 
and  prevent,  if  possible,  its  adoption 
and  incorporation  in  the  public  policy 
of  leading  European  nations,  was  the 
arduous  work  before  the  secretary  of 
state  at  Washington.  Mr.  Seward  de 
voted  himself  to  the  task  with  indefati 
gable  zeal  and  earnestness;  and  his 
successful  efforts  in  behalf  of  his  coun 
try  deserve  and  have  received  the  high 
est  praise. 

The  British  government,  influenced 
by  mixed  motives  probably,  acted  in  a 
manner  that  could  hardly  be  called 
friendly.  With  unusual  haste,  within 
less  than  a  month  after  the  news  had 
arrived  of  Fort  Sumter's  bombardment, 
and  before  the  arrival  of  our  minister, 
Mr.  C.  F.Adams,  Her  Majesty's 
advisers,  Lord  John  Russell  at 
the  head,  had  determined  that  "the 
Southern  Confederacy  of  America,  ac 
cording  to  those  principles  which  seem 
to  them  to  be  just  principles,  must  be 
treated  as  a  belligerent."  The  queen's 
proclamation,  agreed  upon  in  Privy 
Council,  was  issued  on  the  13th  of  May, 
the  day  of  Mr.  Adams's  arrival  at  Liver 
pool,  and  before  he  had  any  opportuni 
ty  of  speech  or  action  on  the  subject. 

After  the  usual  preamble  and  state- 

VOL.  IV.— 9. 


1§GI. 


ment  of  a  determination  to  be  entirely 
neutral  between  the  secessionists  and 
the  United  States  government,  the 
queen  said:  "  And  we  do  hereby  strict 
ly  charge  and  command  all  our  loving 
subjects  to  observe  a  strict  neutrality 
in  and  during  the  aforesaid  hostilities, 
and  to  abstain  from  violating  or  contra 
vening  either  the  laws  and  statutes  of 
the  realm  in  this  behalf,  or  the  law  of 
nations  in  relation  thereto,  as  they  will 
answer  to  the  contrary  at  their  peril." 
The  provisions  of  the  Foreign  Enlist 
ment  Act,  59  George  III.,  having  been 
recited,  the  proclamation  was  concluded 
in  the  following  terms :  "  And  we  do 
hereby  declare,  that  all  our  subjects 
and  persons  entitled  to  our  protection, 
who  may  misconduct  themselves  in  the 
premises,  will  do  it. at  their  peril,  and  of 
their  own  wrong,  and  that .  they  will, 
in  nowise,  obtain  any  protection  from 
us  against  any  liabilities  or  penal 
consequences,  but  will,  on  the  contrary, 
incur  our  displeasure  by  such  miscon 
duct." 

This  actio'n  of  the  British  govern 
ment,  while  it  accorded  entirely  with 
the  plans  and  purposes  of  Louis  Napo 
leon,  was  felt  in  the  United  States  to 
be  very  unhandsome,  to  say  the  least, 
and  to  indicate  a  hostile  spirit,  which 
it  was  not  easy  to  forget  or  forgive. 
The  necessity  of  any  such  action  could 
hardly  be  pretended,  seeing  that  the 
"  confederacy  "  had  thus  far  done  noth 
ing  but  make  loud  and  arrogant  as 
sumptions,  and  had  not  a  single  port  of 
entry  at  its  command,  free  from  block 
ade  ;  the  real  effect  was,  and  was  meant 
to  be,  to  open  the  door  for  the  rebels 
to  get  privateers,  and  prey  upon  Aineri- 


66 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  VIII. 


can  commerce.  As  it  turned  out, 
England  furnished  largely  the  means 
by  which  the  rebellion  was  able  to 
lengthen  its  existence,  and  to  do  im 
mense  injury  to  our  commerce. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  a  royal  order 
was  issued,  interdicting  the  armed  ves 
sels  and  privateers  of  both  parties  from 
carrying  prizes  made  by  them  to  ports, 
harbors,  roadsteads  or  waters  of  the 
United  Kingdom  or  any  of  Her  Ma 
jesty's  colonies  or  possessions  abroad. 
At  the  same  time  it  was  announced, 
that  the  government  wished  and  meant 
to  observe  the  strictest  neutrality  in 
the  contest;  the  further  question  of 
direct  recognition  was  postponed, 
neither  England  nor  France  caring 
just  then  to  engage  in  a  war  with  the 
United  States,  which  would  certainly 
have  resulted  from  recognition  of  the 
"  Confederacy.7' 

The  rebel  agents,  Messrs.  Yancey, 
Rost,  and  Mann,  at  the  beginning  of 
May,  urged  Lord  John  Russell  to  re 
cognize  their  so-called  government  at 
once,  and  presented  various  reasons  of 
policy  and  interest  to  England  therefor, 
especially  that  of  free  trade,  without 
the  offensive  tariffs  of  the  North.  But 
the  British  prime  minister  could  not 
be  persuaded  to  go  further  than  the 
proclamation  of  entire  neutrality.  To 
their  remarkable  perversions  of  the 
truth  on  the  subject  of  the  war,  charg 
ing  Mr.  Lincoln  with  fighting  in  order 
to  keep  the  slaves  in  slavery,  and  with 
a  purpose  by  and  by  of  exciting  a  slave 
insurrection,  Lord  John  Russell  rather 
quietly  answered,  August  24th,  that 
the  British  government  did  not  pre 
tend  to  enter  into  the  merits  of  the 


1861. 


question  "  between  the  United  States 
and  their  adversaries  in  North  Ameri 
ca  ;"  but  that,  regarding  the 
contest  as  constituting  a  civil 
war,  the  policy  of  neutrality  would  be 
strictly  adhered  to.  "Her  Majesty 
cannot  undertake  to  determine,  by  an 
ticipation,  what  maybe  the  issue  of  the 
contest,  nor  can  she  acknowledge  the 
independence  of  the  nine  states  which 
are  now  combined  against  the  Presi 
dent  and  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
until  the  fortune  of  arms,  or  the  more 
peaceful  mode  of  negotiation  shall  have 
more  clearly  determined  the  respective 
positions  of  the  two  belligerents."  Thu  s 
far,  the  rebels  had  accomplished  but  a 
small  part  of  their  purpose,  and  they 
were  deeply  chagrined  at  their  want 
of  success. 

France  having,  by  agreement,  adopt 
ed  the  same  line  of  policy  wi^h  England, 
a  decree  was  published  in  the  Moniteur, 
June  llth,  proclaiming  that  "  His  Ma 
jesty,  the  Emperor  of  the  French,  taking 
into  consideration  the  state  of  peace 
which  now  exists  between  France  and 
the  United  States  of  America,  has  re 
solved  to  maintain  a  strict  neutrality  in 
the  struggle  between  the  government 
of  the  Union  and  the  states  which 
propose  to  form  a  separate  confedera 
tion."  In  addition,  it  was  stated,  that 
the  same  restrictions  were  in  force 
which  had  been  imposed  by  the  Bri 
tish  government  as  to  fitting  out  priva 
teers,  violations  of  neutrality,  etc.* 
Intercourse  with  the  French  govern- 

*  Spain  and  Portugal  also  issued  royal  decrees,  pro 
hibiting  all  their  subjects  from  taking  service  on 
either  side,  the  entrance  of  privateers  or  armed  ships 
with  their  prizes  into  any  of  their  ports,  the  acceptance 
by  their  subjects  of  letters  of  marque,  the  fitting  out 


CH.  V.] 


FRIENDLY  SPIRIT  OF  RUSSIA. 


ment  was  very  friendly,  and  in  the 
main  satisfactory.  Mr.  Dayton,  our 
minister,  was  received  with  cordiality, 
and  M.  Thouvenel,  the  foreign  minis 
ter,  expressed  himself  with  especial 
frankness  and  good  feeling.  In  allusion 
to  some  opinions  uttered  by  Mr.  Day 
ton's  predecessor,  Mr.  Seward  wrote  very 
decidedly : — "  The  United  States  wait 
ed  patiently  while  their  authority  was 
defied  in  turbulent  assemblies  and  in 
seditious  preparations,  willing  to  hope 
that  mediation,  offered  on  all  sides, 
would  conciliate  and  induce  the  dis 
affected  parties  to  return  to  a  better 
mind.  But  the  case  is  now  altogether 
changed.  The  insurgents  have  institu 
ted  revolution  with  open,  flagrant, 
deadly  war,  to  compel  the  United 
States  to  acquiesce  in  the  dismember 
ment  of  the  Union Tell  M. 

Thouvenel,  with  the  highest  considera 
tion  and  good  feeling,  that  the  thought 
of  a  dissolution  of  this  Union,  peace 
ably  or  by  force,  has  never  entered  into 
the  mind  of  any  candid  statesman  here, 
and  it  is  high  time  that  it  be  dismissed 
by  statesmen  in  Europe." 

It  is  interesting,  and  for  a  time  was 
surprising  to  our  people,  to  note  the 
outspoken,  hearty  sympathy  of  Russia 
in  our  affairs.  We  thought  we  had  a 
right  to  expect  offices  of  friendship 
from  England  and  France,  but  had 
hardly  counted  on  any  special  regard 
from  Russia.  In  both  cases  we  were 
disappointed;  the  former  adopted  a 
course  as  detrimental  to  our  interests 
as  was  possible,  short  of  open  war ;  the 
latter  gave  us  every  assurance  of  good 

of  vessels  with  a  hostile  purpose  in  their  harbors,  and 
generally  enjoining  complete  neutrality. 


will  and  earnest  desire  for  our  prosper 
ity  and  national  honor.  A  passage  or 
two  from  Prince  Gortchacow's  dis 
patch  to  the  Russian  minister,  July 
10th,  1861,  may  be  quoted  as  illustrat 
ing  the  Emperor's  regard : — "  For  more 
than  eighty  years  that  it  has  existed, 
the  American  Union  owes  its  independ 
ence,  its  towering  rise,  and  its  progress, 
to  the  concord  of  its  members,  conse 
crated,  under  the  auspices  of  its  illus 
trious  founder,  by  institutions  which 
have  been  able  to  reconcile  union  with 
liberty.  This  union  has  been  fruitful. 
It  has  exhibited  to  the  world  the  spec 
tacle  of  a  prosperity  without  example 

in  the  annals  of  history Give 

them  (the  government  and  others)  the 
assurance  that,  in  every  event  the 
American  nation  may  count  upon  the 
most  cordial  sympathy  on  the  part  of 
our  august  master  during  the  impor 
tant  crisis  which  it  is  passing  through 
at  present." 

We  need  not  enlarge  upon  the  efforts 
of  our  ministers  abroad,  as  well  to  dis 
abuse  the  public  mind  of  ignorant  pre 
possessions  and  incorrect  views,  as  if 
express  clearly  the  position  and  detef 
mination  of  the  government.  The/ 
were  as  successful  as  could  be  expectvd 
under  the  circumstances,  and  their  zeal 
and  ability  were  highly  approved  at 
home.  One  point,  however,  deserves 
notice  in  this  connection.  Certain 
articles  were  agreed  upon  at  Paris,  in 
1856,  by  the  principal  powers  of 
Europe.  The  understanding  between 
the  contracting  parties,  Great  Britain, 
Austria,  France,  Russia,  Prussia,  Sar 
dinia  and  Turkey,  was  : — 1st,  that 
privateering  is  abolished ;  2d,  that  the 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BE.  VIII 


neutral  flag  covers  enemy's  goods,  ex 
cept  contraband  of  war ;  3d,  that  neut 
ral  goods,  with  the  same  exception,  are 
not  liable  to  capture  under  an  enemy's 
flag ;  4th,  that  blockades,  to  be  binding, 
must  be  effective.  The  United  States, 
Mr.  Pierce  then  being  president,  did 
not  accede  to  the  propositions,  desiring 
to  have  added  a  provision  exempting 
the  private  property  of  belligerents  from 
seizure  on  the  high  seas.  On  Mr.  Lin- 

O 

coin  becoming  president,  and  in  view 
of  the  importance  of  the  matter  at  the 
present  juncture,  Mr.  Seward  opened 
the  subject  again,  and  offered  to  accept 

the  original  articles  without  the  desired  ! 

• 
addition  just   named.      England   and ; 

France  favored  the  settlement  of  the  | 
subject ;  but  it  was  kept  in   abeyance 
some   two   months,  when,  with   great 

'  •  O 

coolness,  these  governments 
declared,  that  whatever  they 
might  now  do  must  be  prospective,  and 
not  invalidate  anything  already  done. 
That  is,  having  recognized  the  belliger 
ent  position  of  the  rebels,  they  were  not 
going  to  do  anything  which  might  pos 
sibly  interfere  with  the  business  of 
privateering,  which  Jefferson  Davis 
was  already  engaged  in.  Mr.  Seward, 
in  calm  but  unmistakeable  tone,  put  a 
quietus  upon  the  whole  matter,  and 
gave  foreign  powers  to  understand,  that 
he  both  knew  and  was  prepared  to 
maintain  the  rights  and  dignity  of  the 
United  States. 

Privateering,  in  the  existing  condi 
tion  of  affairs,  was  of  course  a  matter 
of  great  moment  to  the  rebels,  as  it 
afforded  them  the  opportunity  of  doing 
immense  mischief  to  our  commerce. 
Davis,  as  we  have  seen  (p.  21),  called 


1861. 


for  persons  to  do  this  kind  of  work; 

and  in  a  few  months  a  large  amount 

~ 

of  property  was  destroyed.*  Af 
the  beginning  of  June,  the 
Savannah,  a  schooner  of  54  tons,  was 
fitted  out  as  a  privateer,  having  a  single 
18-pound  pivot  gun  and  a  crew  of  22 
men.  She  managed  to  slip  out  of  the 
harbor  of  Charleston,  and  started  on  a 
cruise  after  merchant  vessels  traffic-kino- 

O 

between  Northern  ports  and  Cuba. 
The  next  morning,  she  fell  in  with  the 
brig  Joseph,  of  Rockland,  Maine,  which 
was  immediately  taken  possession  of; 
in  the  afternoon,  she  fell  in  with  the 
United  States  brig  Perry,  Lieutenant  E. 
G.  Parrott  commanding.  All  attempts 
at  escape  proved  useless,  and  about 
eight  P.M.  she  was  captured  Lieut. 
Parrott  reported  bis  success  to  Flag- 
Officer  Stringham  in  the  Minnesota, 
which  was  then  blockading  Charleston 
harbor.  The  Savannah  was  sent  with 
a  prize  crew  to  Xew  York,  and  her 
officers  and  crew  were  taken  by  the 
Minnesota  to  Hampton  Roads,  whence 
they  were  brought  in  the  Harriet  Lane 
to  New  York,  and  there  placed  in  keep 
ing  of  the  United  States  marshal  in 
close  confinement  in  the  city  prison.f 
A  bill  of  indictment  for  robbery  on  the 
high  seas  was  promptly  found  by  the 
grand  jury,  and  on  the  23d  of  July,  the 
prisoners,  thirteen  in  number,  were  ar 
raigned  for  trial,  which  was  set  down 

O  * 

for  the  October  term. 

As  Jefferson  Davis  had  threatened, 
early  in  July,  and  had  taken  steps  to 

*  The  report  of  seizures  of  vessels,  made  by  the 
the  rebels,  at  the  close  of  1861,  was : — off  the  different 
ports,  13  ;  in  port,  30  ;  steamers  captured  on  the  Mis 
sissippi,  15  ;  total,  58. 

f  Under    date  of  July   6th    1861,   Davis   wrote   a 


CH.  V.] 


QUESTION  AS  TO  REBEL  Plii  v  ATEERSMEX. 


69 


carry  into  effect,  certain  severe  measures 
of  retaliation,  in  case  the  privateers  re 
cently  captured  were  convicted  and 
condemned  as  pirates,  according  to  the 
declaration  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  proclama 
tion  (see  p.  21),  when  the  trial  came 
on  it  was  found  to  involve  grave  ques 
tions  of  law,  as  well  as  expediency. 
The  trial  lasted  a  week  and  the  jury 
disagreed.  Learned  jurists  discussed 
the  subject  at  large ;  it  was  even  thought 
necessary  to  take  notice  of  the  matter 
in  parliament ;  and  finally,  under  all 
the  embarrassments  of  the  question,  and 
the  certainty  that  numbers  of  our  offi 
cers  and  men  in  the  rebels'  hands  would 
be  put  to  death  in  case  the  piratical 
privateersmen  were  hung,  the  govern 
ment  abandoned  the  prosecution,  and 
thenceforward  treated  them  simply  as 
prisoners  of  war.* 

The  vessels  fitted  out  by  the  rebels  as 
privateers  were  chiefly  the  coasting  and 
gulf  steamers  lying  in  the  southern  har 
bors,  which  the  blockade  had  rendered 
useless  for  their  usual  purpose ;  several 
revenue- cutters,  the  property  of  the 
United  States,  which  had  been  seized 
in  the  ports ;  a  number  of  schoon 
ers  and  pilot- boats — a  motley 
fleet,  not  exceeding  some  fifty  in  all,  in 
the  early  months  of  the  war.  At  first 
their  movements  from  New  Orleans, 


letter  and  sent  it  by  a  special  messenger  to  Washing 
ton.  It  was  addressed  to  President  Lincoln,  and  stated 
in  plain  terms  that  if  the  privateersmen  were  hung, 
he  should  hang  in  return  an  equal  number  of  officers 
and  men,  prisoners  at  the  time  in  his  hands.  On  the 
9th  of  November,  after  a  man  named  Smith  had  been 
found  guilty  of  piracy,  by  the  jury  in  Philadelphia,  the 
r«bel  war  department  sent  an  order  to  Richmond,  to 
select  by  lot  an  officer  of  the  highest  rank,  to  be  dealt 
with  as  Smith  might  be  by  the  United  States  authori 
ties,  and  also  thirteen  others  to  be  held  in  place  of  the 
privateersmen  then  under  trial  in  New  York.  The 


Charleston  and  other  ports,  were  ex 
ceedingly  annoying  to  the  merchant 
service  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  ad 
jacent  waters ;  but,  as  our  government, 
with  a  speed  unparalleled  and  astonish 
ing,  created  a  navy,  so  as  to  render  the 
blockade  efficient,  the  privateers  were 
soon  deprived  of  places  of  refuge,  and 
found  many  obstacles  thrown  in  their 
way  in  the  West  India  Islands.  With 
a  few  exceptions,  as  the  Sumter,  Nash 
ville,  etc.,  the  privateers  were  unable  to 
execute  the  terrible  threats  of  destruc 
tion,  on  the  result  of  which  they  count 
ed  so  largely  at  the  outbreak  of  the  re 
bellion.  Prizes  were  indeed  made, 
marine  insurance  rose  to  a  high  point, 
and  it  was  feared  that  the  Aspinwall 
steamers,  with  the  gold  products  of 
California,  would  Ml  into  the  hands  of 
the  privateers  ;  but  the  results  were 
not  at  all  equal  to  the  expectations  and 
hopes  of  the  confederates. 

Among  the  vessels  seized  by  the  reb 
els  in  the  southern  ports,  was  the  rev 
enue-cutter  Aiken,  which  was  taken 
possession  of  in  Charleston  harbor. 
Suruamed  the  Petrel,  and  fitted  out  as 
a  privateer,  she  ran  the  blockade,  and 
immediately,  July  28th,  fell  in  with 
what  appeared  to  be  a  lumbering  mer 
chantman,  trying  hard  to  make  its  es 
cape.  This  was  the  United  States  fri 
gate  St.  Lawrence,  then  on  a  cruise 


order  was  of  course  obeyed,  and  several  of  our  unfortun 
ate  officers  were  treated  as  felons  of  the  lowest  class, 
until  finally  the  government  abandoned  the  ground  it 
at  first  had  taken. 

*  "  Are  the  Southern  Privateersmen  Pirates*"  A  let 
ter  to  the  Hon.  Ira  Harris  ;  by  C.  P.  Daly,  Judge  of  the 
Common  Pleas,  New  York.  This  is  a  pamphlet  of 
thirteen  pages,  under  date  of  December  21st,  1861, 
and  may  be  consulted  to  advantage,  to  show  the  ground 
taken  by  those  who  desired  to  see  the  privateersmen 
regarded  as  prisoners  of  war  and  not  as  pirates. 


70 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


along  the  Atlantic  coast  in  quest  of  pi 
ratical  craft  of  the  enemy.  To  disguise 
her  real  character,  her  port-holes  were 
closed  and  her  men  kept  carefully  out 
of  sight.  The  commander  of  the  Pe 
trel,  misled  by  the  deception,  bore  down 
upon  the  innocent-looking  vessel,  eager 
to  secure  the  prize.  Presently  a  couple 
of  shots  from  the  Petrel  were  fired 
across  the  bows  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
followed  by  a  discharge  of  canister 
striking  the  rigging.  The  frigate  di 
rectly  after  threw  up  her  ports,  and 
opened  fire  upon  the  Petrel.  The  des 
truction  was  instantaneous.  A  shell 
struck  the  galley,  entered  the  hold,  and 
exploded,  tearing  the  vessel  fearfully, 
and  bringing  her  to  a  sinking  condition. 
Part  of  the  crew  threw  themselves 
overboard,  or  sought  refuge  in  the  life 
boat,  holding  up  a  flag  of  surrender. 
The  boats  of  the  St.  Lawrence  were  im 
mediately  lowered;  and  the  survivors 
were  rescued  and  brought  on  board  of 
the  frigate.  Four  of  the  privateer's 
crew  thus  perished  with  the  sinking 
vessel,  and  thirty-six  were  captured  and 
carried  into  Philadelphia. 

The  Jeff.  Davis,  early  in  June,  ap 
peared  on  the  north-eastern  coast,  and 
running  in  as  near  as  the  Nantucket 
shoals,  made  on  her  cruise,  prizes  esti 
mated  at  some  $225,000.  She  was 
formerly  the  slaver  Echo,  a  full-rigged 
brig,  with  a  crew  of  260  men  and  six 
guns,  and  in  general  appearance  not 
likely  to  alarm  a  vessel  at  first  sight. 
On  the  4th  of  July,  when  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  Sandy 
Hook,  she  captured  the  schooner  J.  G. 
Waring,  on  a  voyage  from  New  York 
to  Montevideo.  The  captain,  mates, 


and  two  seamen  were  taken  out  and 
five  of  the  Davis's  crew  put  on  board. 
The  colored  steward,  W.  Tillman,  was 
left  on  the  Waring,  and  the  schooner's 
course  was  directed  towards  Charleston. 
Tillman,  terrified  at  the  prospect  of 
being  sold  into  slavery,  in  case  he  were 
taken  into  port,  resolved  upon  desper 
ate  measures.  Watching  his  opportu 
nity,  and  with  the  aid  of  one  of  the 
seamen,  he  killed  the  prize  captain  and 
mates,  secured  the  other  two  men,  and 
made  directly  for  New  York.  After  a 
devious  voyage  from  within  fifty 
miles  of  Charleston,  and  guessing  their 
way  northwardly,  they  reached  Sandy 
Hook  on  the  21st  of  July,  and  were 
safely  piloted  into  the  harbor.  Tillman 
was  awarded  salvage  for  his  resolute 
conduct  in  saving  the,  vessel. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  the  Jeff.  Davis  cap 
tured  the  schooner  Enchantress,  on  her 
way  to  Cuba.  Several  men,  with  the  col 
ored  cook,  were  put  in  charge  of  the  ves 
sel  to  go  to  Charleston,  where  the  cook 
was  expected  to  bring  a  good  price. 
Not  long  after,  they  met  the  Albatross 
of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  and  attempting  to 
deceive  her,  the  negro  jumped  over 
board,  and  gave  information  which  led 
to  the  vessel  being  retaken,  and  the 
freedom  of  the  cook  preserved.  Some 
weeks  later,  Sunday  morning,  August 
18th,  the  Jeff.  Davis  was  wrecked,  in 
attempting  to  cross  the  bar  at  the  en 
trance  to  the  port  of  St.  Augustine, 
Florida.  Her  heavy  guns  were  thrown 
overboard  in  the  effort  to  relieve  her 
and  save  the  supplies  which  she  had 
captured.  The  crew,  however,  escaped, 
and  were  congratulated  on  their  dash 
ing  success  amongst  the  Yankees. 


Cn.  V.] 


MASON  AND  SLIDELL  CAPTURED. 


71 


It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  de 
tails  of  the  operations  attempted  by  the 
rebels  in  regard  to  privateering.  For 
reasons  above  given,  added  to  the  ener 
getic  action  of  our  government  compel 
ling  neutrality,  as  far  as  possible,  on  the 
part  of  foreign  nations,  the  rebels  met 
with  only  partial  success.  The  cruises 
of  some  of  the  privateers,  like  the  Sum- 
ter,  Nashville,  and  others,  were  remark 
able,  and  will  be  noted  on  a  subsequent 
page.  The  actual  loss  to  our  merchants 
from  the  depredations  of  privateers  was 
undoubtedly  great,  and  more  or  less 
severely  felt ;  but  the  chief  evil  result 
was  deeper  and  more  lasting  than  the 
destruction  of  property  alone  could  pro 
duce.  The  course  pursued  by  the  Eng 
lish  government,  professing  the  strictest 
neutrality,  and  being  on  terms  of  amity 
with  our  country,  was  such,  nevertheless, 
as  to  bring  conviction  to  our  people, 
that  that  government  was  not  unwilling 
to  permit,  under  the  thinnest  disguise, 
vessels  to  be  built  in  English  shipyards, 
and  fitted  out  to  a  large  extent  in  En £- 

O  O 

land,  to  serve  in  rebel  hands  as  priva 
teers,  and  prey  upon  the  commerce  of 
the  United  States.  The  loyal  people 
of  our  country  entertained  strong  feel 
ings  of  resentment  against  England  for 
what  had  taken  place,  and,  at  a  later 
date,  questions  of  grave  importance 
came  up  for  settlement. 

Although  it  is  a  little  in  advance  of 
other  parts  of  our  narrative,  we  may 
here,  most  conveniently,  give  the  record 
of  an  affair  which,  at  the  time,  made 
great  noise,  and  seemed  likely  to  involve 
a  serious  collision  with  Great  Britain. 
On  a  previous  page  (see  p.  66),  we  have 
noted  that  the  rebel  commissioners  had 


met  with  indifferent  success  abroad. 
As  it  was  evident  that  the  hopes  of  the 
new  "  confederacy  "  were  based  largely 
upon  foreign  recognition  and  assistance, 
the  leaders  in  revolution  knew  that 
every  effort  must  be  made  to  secure 
these  at  the  earliest  moment.  Conse 
quently,  as  the  present  agents 
in  Europe  had  virtually  failed, 
a  fresh  attempt  was  set  on  foot,  under 
the  sanction  of  the  rebel  Congress,  and 
the  prime  mover  in  the  whole  matter, 
Jefferson  Davis.  Two  persons,  J.  M. 
Mason  and  John  Slidell,  both  in  former 
days  members  of  the  United  States 
Senate,  and  well  known  to  be  ardent, 
thorough-going  secessionists  and  haters 
of  the  Union,  were  selected  for  the  new 
and  difficult  work  to  be  performed,  and 
were  charged  with  the  imposing  com 
mission  of  ambassadors  from  the  "  Con 
federate  States  of  America  "  to  England 
and  France.  The  arrogance  and  pre 
sumption  of  Mason,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  bold,  unscrupulous  character  of 
Slidell,  on  the  other,  gave  to  their  ap 
pointment,  and  the  mission  they  had 
undertaken,  more  than  usual  import 
ance.  The  government  resolved,  if  pos 
sible,  to  intercept  them,  and  prevent 
their  reaching  Europe.  A  strict  watch 
was  ordered,  and  several  vessels  detail 
ed  to  keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  the  new 
agents  in  revolution.  Mason  and  Sli 
dell,  however,  with  their  secretaries  and 
a  number  of  others,  took  the  small 
steamer  Theodora,  and  about  midnight, 
October  llth,  escaped  the  blockade  at 
Charleston,  and  made  their  way  safely 
to  Nassau,  New  Providence.  Thence, 
the  Theodora  carried  the  party  to  Cuba, 
where  they  waited  for  the  regular  West 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


India  steamer  in  order  to  proceed  to 
England.  None  of  the  vessels  sent  out 
by  government  were  fortunate  enough 
to  meet  with  the  persons  of  whom  they 
were  in  search ;  it  was  reserved  for  a 
ship  returning  from  the  coast  of  Africa 
to  accomplish  the  capture  of  these  dan 
gerous  rebels. 

Captain  Charles  Wilkes,  of  the  San 
Jacinto,    a   first   class   screw    steamer, 
mounting  13  guns,  having  learned  at 
Cienfuegos,  in  Cuba,  that  the  Theodora 
had   run   the   blockade    and    reached 
Havana,  resolved  at  once  to  secure  the 
rebel  "  ambassadors  "  so  soon  as  they  set 
out  for  Europe.     He  reached  Havana, 
October  31st,  and  found  these  gentle 
men   enjoying   the   hospitality  of  the 
British  consul  and  other  sympathizing 
friends,  and  waiting  for   the   English 
steamer   Trent,   which   was    to    leave 
November  fth,    for   St.  Thomas,  and 
tranship  her  passengers  there  for  South- 
hampton.     Acting  on   his  own  convic 
tions  of  the  legality  of  his  coutemplat- 
.  ed  act,  Captain  Wilkes  made  all  need 
ful  preparation,  and  left  port  on  the 
2d  of  November,  to  keep  strict  watch 
for  the  Trent,  and  carry  out  his  design 
of  making  prisoners  of  the  men  who 
were  engaged  in  treasonable  practices 
against  the  government.     The  San  Ja 
cinto  took  up  a    position  in  the  old 
Bahama  channel,  some  250  miles  from 
Havana,  and  about  nine  miles  from  the 
light-house,  Paredon  del   Grande,  the 
nearest   point   of  Cuba   at   the   time. 
At   noon,   November   8th,   the   Trent 
made  her  appearance ;  two  shots  were 
fired  across  her  bows  ;    and  she  was 
speedily  brought  to  by  the  San  Jacinto. 
Lieut.  Fairfax  was  sent  on  board,  with 


I§61. 


a  proper  force  in  waiting;  he  conduct 
ed  himself  as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman 
through  a  very  unpleasant  scene,  min 
gled  with  expressions  of  decided  hos 
tility  on  the  part  of  the  officers  and 
others  on  the  English  vessel;  and 
Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell,  with  their 
secretaries,  Messrs.  Eustis  and  Macfar- 
land,  were  taken  on  board  the  Ameri 
can  steamer.  The  families  of  Mr. 
Slidell  and  Mr.  Eustis  preferring  to  re 
main  on  the  Trent,  that  vessel  proceed 
ed  on  her  voyage.  Captain  Wilkes 
ran  into  Hampton  Roads,  on 
the  15th  of  November,  and 
reported  immediately  his  doings  to  the 
authorities  at  Washington.  The  next 
day,  he  sailed  for  New  York,  and  thence 
by  order  to  Boston,  where  his  prisoners 
were  safely  lodged  in  Fort  Warren, 
November  24th. 

Captain  Wilkes  prepared  an  elabor 
ate  dispatch,  setting  foith  the  grounds 
on  which  he  justified  the  seizure  of 
"the  embodiment  of  dispatches,"  as  he 
shrewdly  termed  Mason  and  Slidell ; 
he  also  stated,  that  he  would  have 
made  a  prize  of  the  vessel,  had  it  not 
been  for  an  unwillingness  to  inconve 
nience  the  passengers  on  the  Trent,  who 
were  certainl}'  innocent  of  any  offence. 
"  I  concluded,"  said  the  gallant  captain, 
in  bringing  his  dispatch  to  a  close,  "  to 
sacrifice  the  interests  of  my  officers  and 
crew  in  the  prize,  and  suffered  the 
steamer  to  proceed,  after  the  necessary 
detention  to  effect  the  transfer  of  these 
ommissioners,  considering  I  had  ob 
tained  the  important  end  I  had  in  view, 
and  which  affected  the  interests  of  our 
ountry  and  interrupted  the  action  of 
that  of  the  confederates I  may 


THE  TRENT  AFFAIR  SETTLED. 


add  that,  having  assumed  the  responsi 
bility,  I  am  willing  to  abide  the  result." 

CaptainWilkes  was  highly  lauded  by 
the  press  and  the  people  generally,  was 
feted  by  various  public  bodies,  received 
the  special  thanks  of  Secretary  Welles 
of  the  navy  department,  and  a  vote  of 
thanks  from  Congress.  Various  legal 
authorities  supported  his  action,  and 
the  country  at  large  was  assured  of 
not  only  the  legality,  but  the  positive 
merit  of  his  conduct  on  this  occasion. 
It  was  observable,  however,  that  the 
president,  in  his  message,  early  in 
December,  said  nothing  about  the  sub 
ject,  and  Mr.  Seward,  secretary  of 
state,  equally  kept  himself  free  from 
committment,  until  the  news  from  Eng 
land  should  manifest  the  spirit  in 
which  that  government  was  disposed 
to  view  the  matter.  The  wisdom  of 
the  secretary's  course  was  soon  after 
abundantly  verified.  He  wrote  to  Mr. 
Adams,  stating  the  facts  as  narrated, 
and  also  that  Captain  "VVilkes  had 
acted  without  instructions  in  what  he 
had  done;  and  expressed  the  hope 
"  that  the  British  government  would 
consider  the  subject  in  a  friendly  tem 
per,"  being  assured  of  the  willingness 
and  best  disposition  of  the  United 
States  so  to  consider  it. 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  affair 
produced  no  little  excitement  in  Eng 
land,  and  the  rebels  and  their  friends 
endeavored  to  make  the  most  of  it.* 
The  law  officers  of  the  crowrn  pronoun 
ced  Capt.  Wilkes'  act  unjustifiable,  and 


the  English  government  determined  to 
demand  peremptorily  the  restoration 
of  Mason  and  Slidell  to  British  pro 
tection.  Earl  Russell  sent  a  special 
messenger  to  Lord  Lyons,  Her  Majesty's 
minister  at  Washington,  with  a  dis 
patch,  dated  Nov.  30th,  denouncing 
what  had  been  done  as  u  an  act  of  viol 
ence,  which  was  an  affront  to  the  Bri 
tish  nag,  and  a  violation  of  interna 
tional  law  ;"  declaring  that  "  the 
British  government  could  not  allow 
such  an  affront  to  the  national  honor  to 
pass  without  full  reparation."  Lord 
Russell  insisted  on  the  giving  up  of 
Mason  and  Slidell  and  their  secretaries, 
with  "  a  suitable  apology  for  the  ag 
gression  which  had  been  committed.'1 

o 

War  preparations  were  begun  at  once, 
the  fleet  in  American  waters  was  or 
dered  to  be  largely  increased,  and  in 
every  way  the  spirit  of  the  English 
government  and  people  was  aroused,  in 
apparent  expectation  that  war  with  the 
United  States  was  the  only  alternative. 
Mr.  Seward,  who  had  been  courte 
ously  addressed  by  the  ministers  of 
France,  Russia  and  Austria,  deprecat 
ing  the  sustaining  the  action  of  Capt. 
Wilkes,  communicated  with  Lord 
Lyons  in  the  latter  part  of  December. 
He  went  over  the  whole  matter,  cor 
recting  Earl  Russell's  dispatch  as  to 
the  facts,  and  discussing  at  large  the 
principles  and  views  which  governed 
the  United  States  in  the  course  the 
president  had  determined  to  pursue. 
The  final  result  at  which  Mr.  Seward 


*  The  English  press  fairly  overflowed  with  abusive 
denunciation  of  Captain  Wilkes,  Secretary  Seward, 
and  the  "  Yankees  "  generally  and  in  particular.  For 
a  more  full  account  of  the  seizure  of  the  rebel  commis 
sioners,  and  the  style  and  manner  of  abuse  indulged 


in  on  the  other  side  of  the  water,  see  Duyckinck's 
"  War  for  the  Union,"  vol.  ii..  pp.  124-150.  Mr.  Rus 
sell  also  in  his  "  Diary,"  p.  573,  infra,  gives  a  lively 
account  of  the  current  opinions  and  talk  of  the  day 
on  this  subject. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  VIH 


arrived  was,  that  as  Captain  Wilkes 
had  proceeded  on  his  own  convictions 
of  duty  without  instructions  from  the 
government,  as  he  had  not  brought  the 

O  '  ^ 

Trent  in  as  a  prize  and  to  be  judged  of 
by  the  proper  court,  and  as  what  was 
claimed  by  England  was  precisely  what 
the  United  States  had  always  been 
contending  for,  the  rebel  ambassadors 

O  ' 

would  be  placed  at  once  at  the  disposal 
of  the  British  minister.  This  was  done 
at  the  close  of  the  month,  and  the  great 
and  formidable  difficulty  arising  out 
of  the  Trent  affair  was  settled  without 
resort  to  hostilities  between  England 
and  the  United  States. 

The  disappointment  to  the  rebels 
was  extreme.  They  had  exulted  in  the 
prospective  advantages  sure  to  come  to 
them  in  case  war  were  to  break  out 
between  tbe  two  countries.*  "This 
outrage,"  says  Pollard,  "when  it  was 
learned  in  the  South,  was  welcome 
news,  as  it  was  thought  certain  that  the 
British  government  would  resent  the 
insult,  and  as  the  boastful  and  exultant 
tone  in  the  North,  over  the  capture  of 
the  commissioners,  appeared  to  make 
it  equally  certain  that  the  government 
at  Washington  would  not  surrender  its 
booty.  War  between  England  and  the 
North  was  thought  to  be  imminent. 
Providence  was  declared  to  be  in  our 
favor ;  the  incident  of  the  Trent  was 
looked  upon  almost  as  a  special  dispen 
sation,  and  it  was  said,  in  fond  imagi 
nation,  that  on  its  deck,  and  ia  the 
trough  of  the  weltering  Atlantic,  the 


*  "  The  bubble  has  burst.  The  rage  of  the  friends  of 
compromise,  and  of  the  South,  who  6aw  in  a  war  with 
Great  Britain  the  complete  success  of  the  confederacy, 
is  deep  and  burning,  if  not  loud  ;  but  they  all  say  they 


key  of  the  blockade  had  at  last  been 
lost.  These  prospects  were  disappoint 
ed  by  the  weakness  of  the  government 
at  Washington,  in  surrendering  the 
commissioners  and  returning  them  to 
the  ^British  flag.  The  surrender  was 
an  exhibition  of  meanness  and  cowar 
dice  unparalleled  in  the  political  his 
tory  of  the  civilized  world,  but  strongly 
characteristic  of  the  policy  and  mind 
of  the  North."*  This  same  writer  in 
dulges  in  various  other  paragraphs  on 
this  subject,  berating  Secretary  Seward 
for  his  "  unexampled  shamelessness," 
his  "  contemptible  affectation  of  alac 
rity,"  etc. ;  but  we  need  not  quote 
further.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
the  course  pursued  by  the  government 
grievously  disappointed  our  country's 
enemies  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  language  of  the  London  Times  (January  11, 
1862),  as  illustrating  to  some  extent  the  prevailing 
tone  of  feeling  in  England  in  regard  to  these  rebel 
commissioners,  may  fitly  be  given  in  closing  the 
present  chapter : — "  We  do  sincerely  hope  that  our 
countrymen  will  not  give  these  fellows  anything  in 
the  shape  of  an  ovation.  The  civility  that  is  due 
to  a  foe  in  distress  is  all  that  they  can  claim.  We 
have  returned  them  good  for  evil,  and,  sooth  to  say, 
we  should  be  exceedingly  sorry  that  they  should 
ever  be  in  a  situation  to  choose  what  return  they 
will  make  for  the  good  we  have  now  done  them. 
They  are  here  for  their  own  interest,  in  order,  if  pos 
sible,  to  drag  us  into  their  own  quarrel,  and,  but  for 
the  unpleasant  contingencies  of  a  prison,  rather  dis 
appointed,  perhaps,  that  their  detention  has  not 
provoked  a  new  war.  When  they  stepped  on  board 
the  Trent  they  did  not  trouble  themselves  with  the 
thought  of  the  mischief  they  might  be  doing  an  un 
offending  neutral ;  and  if  now,  by  any  less  perilous 
devices,  they  could  entangle  us  in  the  war,  no  doubt 
they  would  be  only  too  happy.  We  trust  there  is 
no  chance  of  their  doing  this,  for  impartial  as  the 
British  public  is  in  the  matter,  it  certainly  has  no 


never  expected  anything  better  from  the  cowardly  and 
braggart  statesmen  who  now  rule  in  Washington."— 
Russell's  "  My  Diary  North  and  South"  p.  593. 
*  "  First  Tear  of  the  War,"  p.  208. 


CH.  VI.] 


IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  NAVY. 


prejudice  in  favor  of  slavery,  which,  if  anything, 
these  gentlemen  represent.  What  they  and  their 
secretaries  are  to  do  here  passes  our  conjecture. 
They  are  personally  nothing  to  us.  They  must  not 
suppose,  because  we  have  gone  to  the  verge  of  a 
great  war  to  rescue  them,  that  therefore  they  are 
precious  in  our  eyes.  We  should  have  done  just  as 
much  to  rescue  two  of  their  own  negroes  ;  and  had 
that  been  the  object  of  the  rescue,  the  swarthy  Pom- 
pey  and  Caesar  would  have  had  just  the  same  right 
to  triumphal  arches  and  municipal  addresses  as 
Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell.  So,  please,  British 
public,  let's  have  none  of  these  things.  Let  the 


commissioners  come  up  quietly  to  town  and  have 
their  say  with  anybody  who  may  have  time  to  listen 
to  them.  For  our  part,  we  cannot  see  how  anything 
they  have  to  tell  can  turn  the  scale  of  British  duty 
and  deliberation.  There  have  been  so  many  cases 
of  people  and  nations  establishing  an  actual  inde 
pendence,  and  compelling  the  recognition  of  the 
world,  that  all  we  have  to  do  is  what  we  have  done 
before,  up  to  the  very  last  year.  This  is  now  a  sim 
ple  matter  of  precedent.  Our  statesmen  and  law 
yers  know  quite  as  much  on  the  subject  as  Messrs. 
Mason  and  Slidell,  and  are  in  no  need  of  their  infor 
mation  or  advice."* 


CHAPTEK    VI. 


1861. 


NAVAL  AND  MILITARY  OPERATIONS  DURING  LATTER  HALF  OF  THE  TEAR. 


The  Navy  —  Expedition  to  Hatteras  Inlet  under  Stringham  and  Butler  —  Its  importance  —  Reduction  of  the  forts 

—  Valuable  results  of  the  victory  gained  —  Repression  here  of  blockade  running —  Fort  Pickens  —  Rebels 
at  Pensacola — Operations  there  —  Wilson's  Zouaves  attacked  —  The  rebel  batteries  and  works  bombarded 

—  Result  —  Mouth  of  the  Mississippi  —  Semmes  and  the  Sumter  —  Ram  Manassas  —  Attack  on  our  ships  — 
Capt.  Hollins'  report  —  Great  preparations  for  another  expedition  —  Sails  under  Dupont  and  Sherman  for 
Port  Royal  —  Bombardment  of  the  forts  at  Hilton  Head  —  Tremendous  force  and  effect  of  our  firing  —  Com 
plete  success  —  The  "  stone  fleet  "  —  Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman  in  South  Carolina  —  Efforts  to  secure  the  cotton  — 
Negroes  and  plans  for  their  improvement — Sherman's  expedition  against  Port    Royal  Ferry  —  Affairs  in 
Missouri  —  Colonel  Sigel  —  Battle  near  Carthage  —  Result  —  Sigel  retreats  before  Price  to  Springfield  — 
Gen.  Lyon  determines  to  meet  Price  —  Insufficiency  of  his  force  —  Rebels  driven  at  Dug  Springs  —  Return 
to  Springfield  —  Plans  of  the  generals  —  Sigel's  movement  —  Lyon  fights  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek  or  Oak 
Hill  —  Lyon  killed  —  Severe  loss  —  Gen.  Fremont  in  Missouri  —  Activity  and  zeal  —  Cairo  and  Bird's  Point 
reinforced  —  Fremont's  proclamation  and  course  —  Battle  of  Lexington  —  Fremont  marches  after  Price  — 
Superseded  by  Hunter  —  No  battle  —  Pursuit  abandoned  —  Retreat  —  Halleck  in  command  —  Proclamation 

—  Success  of  our  troops  —  Gen.  Grant  and  Belmont  —  The  attack  and  result  —  Rebel  success  and  boasting 

—  General  effect  beneficial  to  cause  of  the  Union. 


THE  navy  of  the  United  States,  wliich 
had  become  already  quite  numerous 
and  formidable,  was  increased  as  rapid 
ly  as  possible,  and  was  henceforth  des 
tined  to  exercise  a  powerful  influence  in 
the  great  struggle  for  national  preserva- 
tion.f  The  government,  in  carrying 
out  its  plans  for  crushing  the  rebellion, 

*  See  McPherson's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion,"  pp. 
338-343. 


and  for  recovering,  so  soon  as  might 
be,  the  several  points  of  importance 
alono*  the  coast,  which  had  been  seized 

O  7 

upon  or  occupied  by  secessionists,  fitted 
out  expeditions,  at  an  early  period, 
which,  in  their  results,  were  of  the 
greatest  service  to  the  cause  of  the 
Union.  This  service  was  not  only  in 

f  See  Dr.  Boynton's  "II'Mory  of  the  Navy  during  the 
Rebellion,"  vol.  i.,  p.  89,  etc. 


76 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


VIIL 


1861. 


what  was  actually  accomplished  against 
the  rebels,  but  also  in  demonstrating 
the  power  of  our  ships  in  operations 
against  forts  on  the  land,  as  well  as  the 
excellent  general  efficiency  of  the  navy. 
During  the  mouth  of  August,  an  ex 
pedition,  partly  military  and  partly 
naval,  was  fitted  out  at  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  the  destination  of  which, 
for  obvious  reasons,  was  kept 
secret.  It  consisted  of  nearly  900 
troops,  well  supplied  and  under  com 
mand  of  General  Butler,  who  had,  on 
the  13th,  been  relieved  at  the  fort  by 
General  Wool;  the  naval  portion  of 
the  expedition  was  three  large  steam- 
frigates  and  some  eight  or  ten  other 
vessels,  with  Commodore  Strino-ham  in 

'  O 

command.  Its  destination,  as  it  turned 
out,  was  Hatteras  Inlet,  one  of  the 
most  important  entrances  to  the  exten 
sive  series  of  navigable  waters  on  the 
river  coast  of  North  Carolina,  through 
the  long  range  of  sand  islands  which 
here  serve  as  a  barrier  against  the  wild 
waves  of  the  Atlantic.  There  were 
several  of  these  passages — a  shallow 
one  above  at  New  Inlet,  a  near  ap 
proach  to  Albemarle  Sound ;  another  of 
more  consequence  below  at  Ocracoke ; 
but  this  at  Hatteras,  hard  by  the  light 
house  at  the  Cape,  was  of  most  value. 
It  was  guarded  by  two  protecting  forts 
— Hatteras  and  Clark — recently  erected 
by  the  rebels,  and  its  deep  harbor  had 
become  notorious  as  a  refuge  for  priva 
teers,  and  an  entrance  for  various  trad 
ing  vessels  running  the  blockade. 
Evidently,  it  was  necessary  to  deprive 
the  rebels,  as  soon  as  possible,  of  so 
convenient  a  place  for  trade  and  supply 
ing  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  with 


essential  articles  of  foreign  production 
and  utility. 

The  expedition  sailed  from  Hampton 
Roads,  August  26th,  and  the  next  after 
noon  anchored  off  the  Inlet.  At  day 
light,  on  the  28th,  arrangements  were 
made  for  landing  the  troops  and  for  at 
tacking  the  forts  by  the  fleet.  A  heavy 
swell  upon  the  beach  prevented  the 
landing  of  any  number  of  the  soldiers 
that  day.  About  ten  A.M.,  the  fleet 
opened  fire  on  Fort  Hatteras  and 
continued  it  till  half-past  one,  P.M., 
when  both  forts  hauled  down  their 
flags,  and  the  rebels  deserted  Fort  Clark, 
which  was  taken  possession  of  by  our 
men  and  the  Union  flag  raised.  Later 
in  the  day  and  early  the  next  morning, 
the  bombardment  was  resumed,  and 
told  fearfully  upon  Hatteras.  The  rebel 
firing  was  of  no  great  account,  most  of 
their  shot  falling  short,  and  the  gun- 

O  /  O 

ners  being  evidently  wanting  in  skill. 
About  eleven  o'clock,  a  white  flag  was 
raised  from  the  fort,  and  Capt.  Barron, 
at  the  time  in  command,  though  form 
erly  an  officer  in  our  navy,  offered  to 
surrender  on  condition  of  being  allowed 

o 

to  retire  with  the  garrison.  Such  terms 
were  of  course  refused,  and  as  the  case 
was  hopeless,  Barron  concluded  to  sur 
render  on  Gen.  Butler's  proposition, 
which  was  to  give  up  everything  and 
be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  The 
result  was,  the  capturing  of  615  men, 
with  Barron,  at  that  date  acting  secre 
tary  of  the  confederate  navy,  and 
Major  Bradford,  chief  of  the  confederate 
ordnance  department ;  also,  1,000  stand 
of  arms,  31  pieces  of  cannon,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  provisions  and  stores. 
Our  loss  was  trifling  ;  and  so  well  had 


CH.  VI.] 


REDUCTION  OF  FORTS  IIATTERAS  AND  CLARK. 


77 


the  secret  of  the  expedition  been  kept, 
that,  for  several  days  thereafter,  block 
ade  runners  from  various  quarters  came 
into  the  Inlet,  and  were  readily  taken 
by  our  vessels. 

The  success  of  this  expedition  was 
cheering  in  the  extreme  to  the  friends 

O 

of  the  Union.  The  secretary  of  the 
navy,  under  date  of  September  2d, 
congratulated  the  officers  and  men  on 

o 

their  gallantry ;  and  it  was  universally 
felt  that  the  naval  arm  of  the  service 
was  about  to  be,  as  it  proved  to  be,  of 
the  utmost  importance  and  efficiency  in 
putting  an  end  to  the  rebellion. 

The  forts  were  held  and  garrisoned 
by  our  troops,  the  steamer  Monticello 
and  the  steam-tug  Fanny  being  retained 
at  the  Inlet  to  keep  off  the  rebel  gun 
boats,  and  capture  vessels  attempting 
to  run  the  blockade.  Fort  Ocracoke, 
on  Beacon  Island,  having  been  aban 
doned  by  the  rebels,  was  destroyed 
entirely  by  our  men,  September  16th. 
Colonel  Hawkins,  then  in  command, 
having  been  reinforced,  sent  a  body  of 
men  to  break  up  the  works  of  the  enemy 
at  a  point  about  twenty  miles  north 
east  of  the  Inlet,  and  to  afford  protec 
tion  to  the  professed  Unionists  in  that 
quarter.  The  Fanny,  on  her  way  with 
supplies,  was  attacked  and  taken  by 
rebel  vessels,  October  2d.  It  was  then 
determined  to  try  and  capture  the 
troops  under  Colonel  Brown,  who  made 
a  hasty  retreat,  losing  some  fifty  strag 
glers  on  the  road.  This  was  on  the 
4th  of  October ;  but  the  next  day  the 
Monticello  came  upon  the  rebels,  who 
were  severely  punished  by  the  shells 
thrown  amons1  them  and  into  their  ves- 

O 

sels  for  several  hours  in  succession. 


The  government  speedily  sent  500 
additional  troops  to  Hatteras,  under 
Gen.  Mansfield,  who,  soon  after,  was 
succeeded  by  Gen.  Thomas  Williams. 
Excellent  services  were  rendered  to  the 
blockading  squadron  ;  the  illicit  com 
merce  of  the  enemy  was  checked,  and 
an  occasional  prize  taken.  But  the 
most  prominent,  if  not  the  most  im 
portant  event  at  Hatteras,  was  the 
political  assembly  of  the  loyal  inhabit 
ants  of  the  island.  Though  necessarily 
but  a  limited  demonstration,  and  quite 
insignificant  as  an  encroachment  upon 
the  vast  area  which  secession  had  gotten 
hold  of,  yet  it  attracted  attention,  and 
was  the  means  of  arousing  the  sym- 

*/ 

pathies  of  the  North.  We  may  men 
tion,  that  a  convention  of  delegates  as 
sembled  and  proclaimed  their  loyalty 
to  the  Union;  and  some  4,000  of  the 
poorer  people,  mostly  fishermen,  on  the 
narrow  strip  of  land  on  the  coast,  claim 
ed  the  aid  and  comfort  of  Union  men 
at  the  North.  In  November,  a  provi 
sional  government  was  formed,  and  a 
representative  to  Congress  elected. 
That  body,  however,  did  not  see  fit  to 
admit  him  among  its  members. 

The  importance  of  Fort  Pickens  to 
the  cause  of  the  Union,  and  the  gallan 
try  by  which  it  had  been  preserved  from 
falling  into  rebel  hands,  we  have  already 
noted.  (See  vol.  iii.,  p.  563.)  Colonel 
Harvey  Brown,  an  excellent  and  ex 
perienced  officer,  arrived,  April  16th, 
with  reinforcements,  and  by  the  close 
of  the  month,  the  fort  was  garrisoned 
with  about  900  men.  Diligent  and 

O 

persevering  labor  was  bestowed  upon 
strengthening  the  works  in  every  respect 
possible.  New  reinforcements  arrived 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bii.  VIII. 


at  the  end  of  June,  consisting  of  "  Billy 
Wilson's  "  Zouaves  ;  so  that,  with  seve 
ral  vessels  of  the  blockading  squadron 
at  hand,  the  fort  was  in  such  a  state 
of  readiness  as  to  meet  any  attack 
the  rebels  might  venture  upon.  They 
had  gathered  a  formidable  force  of  some 
eight  thousand  men  at  Pensacola,  under 
Gen.  B.  Bragg,  and  apparently,  were 
only  waiting  an  opportunity  to  drive 
out  or  capture  our  troops.  Weeks  and 
months,  however,  slipped  by,  and  en 
tertaining  a  salutary  apprehension  of 
the  ability  of  Fort  Pickens,  the  rebels 
undertook  almost  nothing  offensive; 
and,  in  due  time,  abandoned  Pensacola 
entirely. 

On  the  part  of  our  officers  and  men, 
there  was  a  strong  desire  to  do  some 
thing  more  than  merely  act  on  the  de 
fensive,  which  latter  was  ordered  by 
the  government.  Early  in  September, 
the  dry  dock,  which  had  been  placed 
by  the  rebels  so  as  to  obstruct  the 
channel,  was  set  fire  to  by  a  small  but 
resolute  force  and  completely  destroyed. 
Soon  after,  Lieutenant  Russell  with  a 
picked  force  of  a  hundred  men,  at  half- 
past  three  A.M.,  made  an  attack  upon 
the  Judah  which  lay  off  the  navy  yard 
and  was  being  fitted  out  as  a  privateer. 
Proceeding  in  four  boats,  they  boarded 
the  schooner,  set  her  on  fire,  and  escap 
ed  with  a  loss  of  three  killed  and  twelve 
wounded.  This  successful  feat,  occupy 
ing  only  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  was  pro 
nounced  by  the  rebels  themselves,  a 
thousand  of  whom  were  quartered  at 
the  navy  yard,  as  the  most  daring  and 
well-executed  achievement  of  the  year. 
The  gallantry  of  our  men  seems  to 
have  stirred  up  the  rebels  to  attempt 


something  at  least.  Accordingly,  on 
the  night  of  the  8th  of  October,  they 
started  with  1,200  men  to  make  an  at 
tack  on  the  camp  of  Wilson's  Zouaves, 
situate  about  two  miles  from  Fort 
Pickens.  The  attack  was  well  planned, 
and  they  came  upon  the  camp  long  be 
fore  daylight,  and  roused  the  sleeping 
Zouaves  out  of  their  apparent  security. 
The  rebel  force  succeeded  in  burning 

O 

nearly  all  the  tents;  but  the  Zouaves 
speedily  rallied,  and  with  the  aid  of 
some  companies  from  the  fort,  soon 
drove  the  rebels  back  in  great  confu 
sion.  At  daylight,  the  pursuit  was 
continued,  and  the  invading  force,  in 
fearful  disorder  and  consequent  loss 
from  the  well-directed  attacks  of  our 
men,  skillfully  taking  advantage  of  the 
protecting  sand  hills,  and  familiar  in 
equalities  of  the  ground,  was  driven 
off  to  their  landing  place,  where,  em 
barking  in  their  boats  they  were  further 
pursued  by  the  rifle  shots  of  the  regu 
lars,  thrown  among  their  solid  masses. 
The  enemy's  loss  was  severe,  a  hundred 
or  more  being  killed  and  wounded ;  on 
our  side,  the  loss  was  about  fifty,  14 
being  killed  and  the  rest  wounded. 

Colonel  Brown,  indignant  at  the  at 
tack  recently  made,  and  feeling  assured 
of  his  ability  to  assault  the  enemy  to 
good  purpose,  called  upon  Flag-Officer 
McKean  to  co-operate,  and  determined 
to  open  fire  on  the  22d  of  November. 
The  flag-ship  Niagara  and  the  sloop  of 
war  Richmond  took  part  in  the  bom 
bardment,  although  owing  to  want  of 
sufficient  depth  of  water  they  were  not 
able  to  render  all  the  service  otherwise 
in  their  power.  A  few  minutes  before 
ten,  on  the  day  appointed,  Col.  Brown 


CH.  VL] 


OPERATIONS  AT  PENSACOLA. 


fired  his  first  gun,  a  signal  for  the  ship 
to   come   into    action.      They   quickly 
obeyed  the  summons,  and  in  a  shor 
time    the    engagement    was     general 
The  line  of  forts  and  batteries,  to  which 
Fort  Pickens  and  the  ships  were  no\\ 
opposed,  extended  four  miles  round  th 
bay  from  the  navy  yard,  on  the  north 
east,  to  Fort  McRae  on  the  south-west 
Besides  the  old  works  of  Forts  Barrancas 
and  McRae,  there  were  now  erected  no 
less   than  fourteen  separate  batteries 
mounting  from  one  to  four  guns  each 
many  of  them  ten-inch  columbiads,  and 
some  twelve  and  thirteen-inch  sea  coast 
mortars.     These  powerful  fortifications 
were  defended  by  some  eight  thousand 
men,  while  Col.  Brown  had  under  his 
command  at  Fort  Pickens  but  one-sixth 
of  that  number.      The  bombardment 
continued  till  night,  and,  resumed  again 
the  next  morning,  was  very  effective, 
and  silenced  fort  McRae  and  the  navy 
yard,   and  very  materially  lessened  the 
firing  of  Fort  Barrancas  and  other  bat 
teries.      The    village    of    Warrino-ton 

O  O 

took  fire,  and  both  in  it  and  the  navy 
yard  a  large  number  of  buildings  was 
destroyed ;  a  rebel  steamer  at  the 
wharf  was  also  abandoned.  The  firing 
was  continued  till  dark,  and  occasion 
ally  during  the  night  with  mortars, 
when  the  combat  ceased.  Fort  Pickens, 
as  Colonel  Brown  stated  in  his  official 
report,  "  though  it  has  received  a  great 
many  shot  and  shell,  is  in  every  res 
pect,  save  the  disabling  of  one  gun 
carriage  and  the  loss  of  service  of  six 
men,  as  efficient  as  it  was  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  combat ;  but  the 
ends  I  proposed  in  commencing  having 
been  attained,  except  one,  which  I  find 


to  be  impracticable  with  my  present 
means,  I  do  not  deem  it  advisable  fur 
ther  to  continue  it,  unless  the  enemy 
think  proper  to  do  so,  when  I  shall 

meet  him  with  alacrity Our  loss 

would  have  been  heavy  but  for  the 
foresight  which,  with  great  labor,  caused 
us  to  erect  elaborate  means  of  protec 
tion,  and  which  saved  many  lives.  I 
lost  one  private  killed,  one  sergeant, 
one  corporal  and  four  men  (privates) 
wounded,  only  one  severely." 

The  blockade  of  the  mouths  of  the 
Mississippi  was,  from  the  nature  of  the 
case,  very  difficult,  and  for  a  consider 
able   time   it   was  evaded   with  more 
or  less  success.     On  the  1st  of  July, 
the  famous  privateer  Sumter, 
Raphael  Semmes  commander, 
passed  out,  made  a  dozen  or  more  cap 
tures   of  merchantmen,   and  ran   into 
Nassau,  where  British  sympathy  and  aid 
were  freely  extended.     Sometime  after, 
Sernmes,    continuing    his    devastating 
course,  brought  the  Sumter  into  Gribral- 
:ar,  where    the   Tuscarora   found  him 
and  kept  him  in  durance,  till  the  priva- 
;eer  captain  and  company  were  tired 
out,  and  sold  their  vessel  to  escape  cap 
ture.      But  the  blockade,  though  by 
no  means  perfect  or  complete,  was  suf- 
iciently  so  to  be  very  vexatious  to  the 
ebels  in  New  Orleans,  and  roused  them 
;o  make  efforts  to  break  it  if  possible. 
A.  steam  ram  was  constructed  during  the 
ummer   for  this  purpose,  at  Algiers, 
opposite    New    Orleans.       Taking    a 
trong,  old  tow-boat  as  a   foundation, 
ron  plating  was  put  on  the  vessel,  and 

prow    of   timbers   and    iron,   very 
trong,  projected  about  ten  feet,  and 
was  calculated  to  produce   a   terrible 


80 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


JK.  VIIL 


blow  on  the  side  of  any  vessel  against 
which  it  might  strike. 

Confident  of  the  destructive  power 
of  the  ram,  Manassas,  it  was  determin 
ed  to  attack  the  blockading  fleet  which, 
early  in  October,  was  stationed  at  the 
head  of  the  Passes,  protecting  our  men, 
who  were  engaged  in  erecting  fortifica 
tions  at  the  point  where  the  Mississippi 
diverges  into  five  mouths,  and  where 
a  well  arranged  fort  would  command 
the  entire  navigation  of  the  river. 
Late  on  the  night  of  the  llth  of  Octo 
ber,  as  the  steamer  Richmond  was  lying 
at  the  south-west  pass  receiving  coal 
from  a  schooner,  suddenly  the  Manas- 
sas  was  discovered  in  close  proximity, 
attended  by  gun  boats  and  barges  laden 
with  combustibles.  A  tremendous 
blow  was  inflicted  on  the  fore  part  of 
the  Richmond,  tearing  the  schooner 
from  her  fasts,  and  forcing  a  hole 
through  the  ship's  side.  The  ram 
passed  aft,  and  tried  to  breach  the 
stern  of  the  Richmond,  but  her  works 
getting  deranged  she  failed  in  this,  and 
having  received  the  fire  of  the  steamer's 
port  battery,  she  was  glad  to  draw  off. 
In  a  few  minutes,  the  Preble,  Vincen- 
nes  and  Water  Witch  having  slipped 
their  cables  passed  down  with  the  cur 
rent,  the  Richmond  following  and 
covering  their  retreat.  The  Yincennes 
and  Richmond  grounded  on  the  bar, 
the  others  passing  over  free ;  and  the 
fire  rafts  were  entirely  avoided.  This 
was  about  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  of 
the  12th,  and  the  enemy's  five  gun 
boats  opened  fire,  which  was  continued 
for  two  hours  without  any  particular 
effect,  when  they  sailed  back  up  the 
river.  The  damage  to  the  side  of  the 


Richmond  was  repaired,  temporarily, 
and  the  army  transport,  McClellan, 
coming  up  early  in  the  afternoon,  assist 
ed  in  getting  the  Richmond  off  the  bar. 
This  was  successfully  accomplished  on 
the  morning  of  the  13th,  and  the  after- 

o  / 

noon  of  the  same  day  the  Vincennes 
was  also  got  afloat,  when  the  entire 
fleet  was  carried  without  further  injury 
down  the  pass.  Not  a  single  life  was 
lost  from  the  rebel  attack. 

As  communications  were  not  very 
frequent  with  our  squadron,  the  first 
news  of  this  matter  at  the  North  was 
through  the  high  sounding  telegram  of 
Capt.  Hollins,  the  commander  of  the 
expedition  and  formerly  of  the  U.  S. 
navy :  "Fort  Jackson,  Oct.  12th,  1861 : 
Last  night  I  attacked  the  blockaders 
with  my  little  fleet.  I  succeeded,  after 
a  very  short  struggle,  in  driving  them 
all  aground  on  the  South-west  Pass  bar, 
except  the  Preble,  which  I  sunk.  I 
captured  a  prize  from  them,  and  after 
they  were  fast  in  the  sand,  I  peppered 
them  well.  There  were  no  casualties 
on  our  side.  It  was  a  complete  success." 

It  was  some  satisfaction,  soon  after, 
to  get  at  the  truth,  as  above  narrated, 
and  Capt.  Hollins'  "peppered  them 
well,"  (which,  by  the  way,  was  done  at 
a  safe  distance  and  with  very  indiffer 
ent  results,)  was  found  to  be  rather 
poetical  and  extravagant  than  worthy 
of  any  credit. 

In  carrying  out  the  policy  of  the  gov 
ernment  with  respect  to  points  of  im 
portance  on  the  southern  coast,  the  navy 
department  appointed,  in  June,  a  special 
board  of  army  and  navy  officers  to  con 
sider  and  report  upon  the  whole  subject. 
The  commission  gave  full  and  careful 


CH.  VL] 


SUCCESSFUL  ATTACK  AT  HILTON  HEAD. 


81 


attention  to  the  matter,  and  made  vari 
ous  recommendations  in  regard  to  future 
operations  in  behalf  of  the  Union,  and 
for  cutting  off  the  means  derived  by  the 
rebels  from  running  the  blockade.  Ac 
cordingly,  an  expedition  on  a  larger 
scale  than  heretofore  attempted  was 
fitted  out,  the  destination  of  which  was 
kept  secret  up  to  the  last  moment. 
Gen.  Thomas  W.  Sherman,  a  brave  and 
accomplished  officer,  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  land  forces,  numbering 
about  15,000  men  ;  while  the  naval 
portion  of  the  expedition,  consist 
ing  of  the  steam  frigate  Wabash, 
twenty -two  first-class  and  twelve  small 
er  steamers,  and  twenty-six  sailing  ves 
sels,  was  commanded  by  Commodore 
S.  F.  Dupont,  one  of  the  ablest  officers 
ii:  the  service. 

The  expedition  sailed  on  the  29th  of. 
October,  from  Hampton  Roads,  and 
met  with  very  stormy  weather.  Several 
transports  were  disabled  and  four  lost 
entirely,  and  it  was  not  till  the 
night  of  Nov.  3d,  that  the  expe 
dition  arrived  off  Port  Royal,  South 
Carolina.  Soundings  were  carefully 
made,  it  being  found  that  the  rebels  had 
removed  the  buoys  marking  out  the 
pathway ;  the  next  day,  a  reconnaissance 
in  force  was  made  to  gain  information 
respecting  the  batteries  on  shore,  their 
strength,  position,  etc.  It  was  ascer 
tained,  that,  at  the  south-easterly  point 
of  Hilton  Head  Island,  stood  Fort  Wal 
ker,  and  on  the  opposite  land  of  Bay 
Point  or  Phillip's  Island,  was  Fort 
Beauregard,  both  being  works  of  scien 
tific  construction  and  mounting  some  20 
tguns  each. 

The  flag  ship  having  passed  safely 

VOL.  IV.— 11. 


through  the  channel,  and  all  the  arrange 
ments  having  been  effected,  on  Thurs 
day,  Nov.  7th,  the  weather  proving  fa 
vorable  and  perfectly  clear,  the  armed 
vessels  of  the  fleet  advanced  over  the 
tranquil  waters  to  the  deadly  encounter. 
The  transports,  freighted  with  thous 
ands  of  soldiers,  remained  behind,  yet 
within  sight  of  the  grand  movement. 
The  loss  of  the  ferry  boats,  which  had 
been  provided  to  transport  the  troops 
over  the  shallow  waters  to  the  shore  in 
the  rear  of  the  forts,  had  compelled  a 
change  of  plan,  by  which  the  co-opera 
tion  of  the  military  wras  abandoned, 
and  the  whole  responsibility  of  the  at 
tack  was  thrown  upon  the  navy. 

It  had  been  ascertained  by  the  recon 
naissance,  that  Fort  Walker,  on  Hilton 
Head,  was  the  most  powerfully  armed 
of  the  defences,  that  the  greater  part  of 
its  guns  were  presented  on  two  water 
fronts,  and  that  the  flanks  were  but 
slightly  guarded,  especially  on  the 
north,  where  an,  attack  was  less  to  be 
expected.  The  "  mosquito  fleet,"  under 
Tatnall,  formerly  of  the  U.  S.  navy, 
consisting  of  seven  small  steamers,, 
kept  at  a  very  safe  distance  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  harbor.  Under 
these  circumstances  our  fleet  made  its 
advance. 

The  Wabash  led  the  way,  the  gun 
boats  following,  steaming  slowly  up  the 
bay,  and  receiving  and  returning  the 
fire  of  the  rebel  forts ;  then,  turning 
southwardly,  they  passed  nearer  the 
stronger  work,  and  delivered  fire  with 
fearful  effect.  By  this  arrangement,  no 
vessel  became  stationary,  and  the  rebels 
could  not  gain  by  experiment  and  prac 
tice  anything  like  a  perfect  aim.  Not- 


82 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  YIIL 


withstanding  the  impression  in  favor  of 
land  batteries  over  ships  when  not  iron 
clad,  and  notwithstanding  the  rebels, 
confident  of  success,  fought  bravely  and 
worked  their  guns  in  the  best  manner, 
the  terrible  storm  of  shot  and  shell 
from  our  ships,  which  passed  five  times 
between  the  forts,  was  beyond  all  en 
durance.  At  half-past  eleven,  the 
enemy's  flag  was  shot  away,  and  an 
hour  or  so  later,  they  gave  up  the  fruit 
less  contest  and  ran  away.  Numbering 
some  2,000  in  all,  they  made  a  rapid  re 
treat  to  save  themselves  from  capture 
by  our  troops.  In  the  course  of  the 
afternoon,  Fort  Walker  was  taken  pos 
session  of,  and  a  large  body  of  troops 
landed ;  and  as  the  other  fort  was  found 
to  be  abandoned,  the  stars  and  stripes 
were  hoisted  on  its  flag-staff,  the  next 
morning  at  sunrise.* 

o 

Our  success  was  complete.  The  losses 
were  few  and  not  important  (eight 
being  killed  and  twenty-three  wound 
ed)  ;  forty-eight  cannon  and  large  quan 
tities  of  ammunition  and  stores  were 
taken ;  and  the  rebels  were  astounded 
at  the  defeat  they  had  met  with.  The 
day  following  the  engagement,  the  Se- 
minole  was  sent  on  a  reconnaissance  up 
the  river  towards  Beaufort ;  she  met 
with  no  obstructions,  and  with  three 
gun  boats  had  no  difficulty  in  reaching 
Beaufort.  The  village  was  found  to  be 
entirely  abandoned,  only  one  white  per 
son  being  left,  and  he,  to  the  disgrace 
of  the  "chivalry,"  was  drunk.  The 


*  A  general  order  was  issued  by  the  secretary  of  the 
navy,  expressing  the  high  gratification  of  the  depart 
ment  at  the  brilliant  success  of  the  expedition. 

f  On  the  20th  December,  the  "  stone  fleet,"  as  it  was 
called,  gathered  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina,  and 
eixteen  old  whaling  vessels,  carefully  prepared  for  the 


negroes  left  in  possession  had  already 
begun  to  pillage  and  destroy.  "The 
whole  country  have  left,  sir,"  said  an 
intelligent  mulatto  boy,  "and  all  the 
soldiers  gone  to  Port  Eoyal  Ferry. 
They  did  not  think  that  you  could  do 
it,  sir."  On  the  12th  of  November, 
Dupont,  Sherman,  and  other  officers, 
visited  Beaufort,  and  found  every  thing 
in  a  sad  state  of  confusion  and  disorder, 
the  negroes  being  left  to  work  their 
will  on  property  of  all  descriptions. 

The  government  in  this,  as  in  the  case 
of  Hatteras  Inlet,  had  not  made  provi 
sion  for  pressing  the  advantages  which 
had  been  gained.  Had  Gen.  Sherman 
been  provided  with  light  draft  steamers 
and  other  facilities,  there  seems  no 
reason  to  doubt  that,  under  the  terror 
caused  by  the  rebel  defeat,  a  successful 
attack  might  have  been  made  upon 
Charleston  and  Savannah ;  but  delays 
occurred.  Gen.  Sherman  set  to  work 
fortifying  his  position  at  Hilton  Head. 
He  did  not,  occupy  Beaufort  until  De 
cember  6th ;  nor,  although  Tybee  Is 
land,  commanding  the  approach  to  Sa 
vannah,  was  taken  possession  of  by 
Commodore  Dupont,  Nov.  25th,  did 
Gen.  Sherman,  or  his  successor,  do  any 
thing  effective  for  some  time  later. 
This,  together  with  the  unwillingness 
to  use  the  negroes  in  work  of  every 
kind,  for  which  they  were  much  better 
fitted  than  the  northern  troops,  helped 
to  delay  matters,  and  some  of  the  fruits 
of  our  victory  were  thus  lost.f 


purpose,  were  sunk  off  the  harbor  of  Charleston. 
Others,  a  few  days  afterward,  were  sunk  in  an  other 
spot,  the  idea  being  to  embarrass  or  perplex,  not  des 
troy,  navigation.  A  great  outcry  was  made  by  foreign 
newspapers,  hostile  to  the  Union,  and  Lord  Russell  even 
undertook  to  remonstrate  with  our  government  upon 


CH.  VI.] 


EFFORTS  TO  SECURE  THE  COTTON. 


83 


Tn  order  to  secure,  as  far  as  possible, 
the  valuable  product  of  the  country,  i.e., 
cotton,  an  order  was  issued  by  the  secre 
tary  of  the  treasury,  Nov.  30th,  prescrib 
ing  the  appointment  of  agents  at  the 
ports  or  places  occupied  by  the  forces  of 
the  United  States, who  should  secure  and 
prepare  for  market  the  cotton  and  the 
products  and  property  which  might  be 
found  or  brought  within  the 
lines  of  the  army,  or  under  the 
control  of  the  federal  authority.  The 
negroes  were  to  be  employed  in  this 
work,  and  the  cotton  when  gathered, 
it  was  directed,  should  be  shipped  to 
New  York  and  there  sold  by  regularly 
appointed  agents,  and  the  proceeds 
paid  to  the  United  States  government. 
On  receipt  of  these  orders  at  Port 
Royal,  General  T.  W.  Sherman  distri 
buted  his  forces  to  give  the  required 
aid  to  preserve  what  the  torch  of  the 
rebels — which  was  every  night  of  im 
punity  employed  with  greater  vigor — 
had  left  of  the  crops  in  the  vicinity. 
The  organization  of  the  negroes,  aban 
doned  by  their  masters,  or  throng 
ing  in  numbers  to  the  Union  lines,  was 
a  matter  of  no  little  difficulty.  The 
general  superintendence  and  direction 
of  the  plantations,  with  a  view  to  their 
preservation  and  the  care  and  regula 
tion  of  the  negroes  at  work  on  them, 
was  assigned  by  Secretary  Chase  to 
Mr.  E.  L.  Pierce,  as  special  agent  of  the 
treasury  department,  a  gentleman  every 
way  qualified,  and  who  entered  on  his 

an  act  so  dreadful  as  destroying  one  of  the  harbors  of 
the  world.  His  lordship  was  quietly  informed  of  the 
real  object  had  in  view,  and  also  reminded  that  even 
after  the  sinking  of  the  ships,  the  port  had  been  enter 
ed  and  the  blockade  broken  by  an  English  trading 
vessel. 


work  with  zeal  and  discretion.  The 
results  were  encouraging,  and  gave  pro- 
niise  of  future  improvement  in  the 
negro  race. 

The  first  movement  of  any  conse 
quence  in  General  T.  W.  Sherman's  de 
partment  after  the  occupation  of  Beau 
fort,  December  6th,  was  a  joint  military 
and  naval  expedition,  directed  against 
a  fortified  position  of  the  enemy  on  a 
mainland  at  Port  Royal  Ferry.  Ac 
cordingly,  at  the  end  of  December,  a 
method  of  attack  was  settled  upon  by 
General  Sherman  and  Captain  Dupont, 
in  which  their  forces  were  jointly  to  co 
operate.  The  command  of  the  naval 
operations  was  assigned  to  Commander 
C.  R.  P.  Rodgers ;  the  military  move 
ments  were  conducted  by  Gen.  Stevens. 
The  preparations  of  both  were  made 
with  the  greatest  skill,  and  carried  out 
with  remarkable  accuracy.  The  bat 
teries  of  the  enemy  were  destroyed  and 
the  houses  of  the  vicinity  burnt. 

As  stated  on  a  previous  page  (see 
p.  41),  Jackson,  the  rebel  governor  of 
Missouri,  had  been  put  to  flight  by 
Gen.  Lyon  at  Booneville,  whence  he 
retreated  to  the  south-western  portion 
of  the  state  to  get  aid.  Gen.  Lyon 
continued  the  pursuit  vigorously;  the 
rebels,  however,  were  met  in  Jasper 
county,  by  a  force  of  some  1,500  Union 
troops,  under  Col.  Franz  Sigel,  a  brave 
and  spirited  officer,  who  was  pushing 
forward  to  prevent  a  junction  of  Jack 
son's  force  with  that  which  was  hasten 
ing  to  his  assistance  from  another  quar 
ter.  Sigel,  on  the  4th  of  July,  found 
the  rebels  at.  Brier  .Forks,  near  Carth 
age,  with  a  force  more  than  twice  his 
in  number,  and  professing  themselves 


84 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


eager  for  a  fight.  The  rebels  were 
largely  superior  in  cavalry,  while  Sigel 
was  much  better  supplied  than  they  in 
artillery.  The  battle  began  about  half- 
past  ten  in  the  morning.  The  enemy's 
large  body  of  cavalry  gave  them  great 
advantage,  and  seriously  endangered 
Sigel's  position  more  than  once;  but 
nothing  could  withstand  the  force  of 
our  artillery  and  the  charges  of  the  in 
fantry.  The  rebels  were  driven  at 
various  times  'and  occasions,  but  rallied 
again ;  and  Sigel  retreated  to  Dry 
Fork  Creek,  and  thereby  saved  his  bag 
gage  train.  With  his  men  in  complete 
order,  but  greatly  wearied  with  heat  and 
fatigue,  Sigel  first  took  position  on  the 
heights  beyond  Carthage ;  thence,  after 
another  severe  struggle  with  the  rebel 
cavalry,  he  continued  his  march  to 
Sarcoxie,  fifteen  miles  eastward.  Our 
loss  was  thirteen  killed,  thirty-one 
wounded ;  the  rebel  loss  was  estimated 
at  fifty  killed,  150  wounded. 

As  during  the  night  and  next  day, 
Gen.  Price  brought  several   thousand 

O 

Arkansas  and  Texas  troops,  under  Mc- 
Culloch  and  Pierce,  to  join 
Jackson,  it  was  well  that  Sigel 
retired  when  he  did.  Indeed,  it  be 
came  necessary  for  him  to  leave  Sar 
coxie  and  proceed  to  Springfield,  where, 
on  the  13th  of  July,  he  took  his  place 
under  Gen.  Lyon's  command.  This 
devoted  soldier  and  patriot,  as  above 
noted,  with  a  force  of  less  than  3,000 
men,  but  men  who  could  and  would 
fight,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
determining,  as  every  way  the  wisest, 
to  strike  the  blow  himself  rather  than 
wait  to  be  attacked.  He  crossed  the 
Grand  Kiver  on  the  7th  of  July,  and 


l§61. 


was  joined  by  3,000  troops  from  Kan 
sas,  under  Major  Sturgis.  El  news  in 
regard  to  Sigel  had  reached  him ;  but  up 
on  reaching  Springfield  he  was  cheered 
to  find  Sigel  and  his  men  comparatively 
safe. 

The  storm  of  war  was  lowering 
heavily  over  Missouri,  and  Gen.  Lyon 
was  but  inadequately  furnished  with 
men  and  means  to  meet  the  rebels. 
His  numbers,  small  enough  at  best, 
were  daily  growing  less  by  the  expira 
tion  of  the  time  of  enlistment  of  the 
volunteers.  The  rebel  preparations 
were  amons;  the  most  formidable  of 

O 

their  many  attempts  in  this  quarter 
during  the  war.  Their  army,  collected 
from  various  quarters,  at  Cassville,  to 
the  south-west  of  Springfield,  near  the 
Arkansas  line  of  Missouri,  included  a 
large  body  of  Missouri,  Arkansas  and 
Texas  troops,  under  command  of  some 
of  the  most  talented  officers  in  the 
south-west.  Advancing  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  McCulloch,  they  en 
camped,  on  the  6th  of  August,  at  Wil 
son's  Creek,  a  position  ten  miles  south 
west  of  Springfield.  The  object  was 
the  investment  and  capture  of  the 
Union  forces  of  Gen.  Lyon  at  that 
town. 

Lyon,  however,  thinking  it  best  to 
meet  the  detached  bodies  of  the  enemy 
before  they  were  concentrated  in  their 
new  position,  set  out.  on  the  1st  of 
August,  from  Springfield,  advancing 
about  twenty  miles  south  -  westerly, 
and,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  2d,  after 
a,  forced  march  under  a  burning  sun, 
encountered  a  part  of  the  rebel  forces, 
under  Gen.  Kains,  at  Dug  Springs. 
The  engagement,  though  not  long,  was 


Cir.  VI.] 


GEN.  LYON  AT  WILSON'S  CREEK. 


sharp  and  decisive.  It  was  principally 
fought  by  our  cavalry,  which,  with  un 
equalled  spirit,  succeeded  in  driving 
back  a  force  ten  times  theirs  in 
number.* 

A  forward  movement  was  made  to 
Curran,  but  it  was  soon  thought  best 
to  retire  to  Springfield.  This  was 
done,  and  Gen.  Lyon  proposed  to  at 
tack  the  enemy  on  the  night  of  the 
7th  of  August.  Circumstances,  how 
ever,  prevented;  he  was  very  greatly 
'n  need  of  reinforcements  and  supplies ; 
and  he  pleaded  earnestly  to  have  men 
sent  to  him,  or  he  must  run  the  risk 
of  being  overpowered.  A  council  of 
war  wTas  held  to  determine  whether, 
with  a  force  of  about  5,000,  he  should 
undertake  to  meet  the  rebels,  number 
ing  over  20,000 ;  the  troops,  too,  of  Gen. 
Lyon  were,  man)  of  them,  freshly- 
raised,  inexperienced  recruits,  who  had 
been  hastily  summoned  to  take  the 
place  of  the  three  mouths'  volunteers 
who  had  gone  home. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  it 
would  probably  have  been  more  judici 
ous  to  retreat ;  but  in  the  present  case, 
Gen.  Lyon  knew  too  well  the  prodigi 
ous  effect  such  a  course  would  have  for 
harm  to  the  Union  cause.  It  was  re 
solved,  therefore,  to  make  a  stand,  at 
an y  cost,  and  to  meet  the  enemy  at  the 
earliest  practicable  moment.  Friday, 
the  9th  of  August,  was  fixed  upon  for 
an  advance ;  the  rebels  had  the  same 
purpose  in  view,  and  meant  to  march 
on  Springfield  that  night,  in  four  sepa- 

*  The  day  was  an  exceedingly  trying  one  ;  the  heat 
and  dust  were  oppressive  in  the  extreme ;  no  water 
was  to  be  had  at  any  price  ;  and  stricken  down  by  the 
eun  and  exhausted,  the  men  were  very  grateful  when 
evening  drew  on  ard  they  could  gain  some  relief. 


1861. 


rate  columns,  so  as  to  surround  and 
attack  it  at  daybreak;  but  they  did 
not  do  so.  Gen.  Lyon,  on  his  part, 
made  all  his  dispositions  on  Friday 
afternoon,  for  an  attack  on  the  enemy 
on  Saturday  morning  at  daylight ; 
Lyon  attacking  on  the  left,  and  Sigel 
on  the  right.  During  the  night  they 
approached  the  rebel  encampment  at 
Wilson's  Creek,  ten  miles  south  of 
Springfield,  and  the  battle 
was  begun  at  dawn  of  day.  It 
was  fought  gallantly  and  nobly  by  our 
men;  but  the  great  disproportion  of 
numbers  very  soon  became  evident,  and 
seemed  to  show  that,  in  dividing  his 
troops  into  two  columns,  he  committed 
an  error.  Sigel  at  first  drove  the  rebels 
before  him,  and  secured  a  good  posi 
tion  for  his  battery.  But  with  only  a 
scant  force,  Sigel  was  assailed  by  two 
batteries  and  a  column  of  infantry. 
His  men  were . thrown  into  confusion; 
the  cannoneers  were  driven  from  their 
pieces,  the  horses  killed,  and  five  guns 
captured ;  and  most  of  the  force  under 
Sigel  fled,  leaving  the  brunt  of  the 
battle  to  fall  upon  Lyon's  column. 

This  part  of  our  little  army  was 
speedily  at  work.  Totten's  and  Du- 
bois's  batteries  were  very  effective,  and 
our  infantry  won  great  honor  by  their 
steady,  unflinching  maintenance  of  their 
ground  against  immense  odds.  The 

O  O 

rebels  were  repeatedly  driven  back  in 
confusion,  but  our  men  were  too  few  to 
follow  up  their  advantage.  Lyon, 
brave  almost  to  recklessness,  was,  as  is 
supposed,  fighting  this  battle  against 
his  real  convictions;  his  horse  was  kill 
ed,  and  he  received  a  wound  in  ,the  leg 
and  one  in  the  head.  He  walked 


86 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


slowly  a  few  paces  to  the  rear,  and  said 
despondingly,  "I  fear  the  day  is  lost." 
A  horse  was  immediately  offered  him, 
which,  in  a  few  minutes,  he  mounted, 
and  swinging  his  hat  in  the  air,  called 
to  the  troops  nearest  him  to  follow. 
The  2d  Kansas  gallantly  rallied  around 
him,  headed  by  the  brave  Col.  Mitchell. 
In  a  few  moments  the  colonel  fell,  se 
verely  wounded ;  about  the  same  time 
a  fatal  ball  was  lodged  in  Gen.  Lyon's 
breast,  and  he  was  carried  from  the 
field  a  corpse.* 

Major  Sturgis  now  took  command, 
and  after  a  three  hours'  fight,  the  rebels 
were  forced  from  their  camp  and  the 
field;  while  our  men,  almost  without 
ammunition,  and  considerably  reduced, 
slowly  took  up  their  march  for  Spring 
field,  which  they  reached  at  five  o'clock, 
P.M.  The  enemy  did  not  venture  on 
any  pursuit ;  but,  as  it  was  evident 
that  Springfield  could  not  be  held 
against  the  force  the  rebels  possessed, 
Col.  Sigel  conducted  the  retreat  to 
Holla  with  the  remnant  of  his  army, 
his  baggage  train,  and  $250,000  in  spe 
cie.  So  far  as  appears,  he  was  not  at 
all  molested,  and  reached  Holla,  Aug. 
19th.  Our  loss  in  the  battle  at  Wilson's 
Creek  was,  in  all,  1,236.  The  rebel  loss 
was  reported  as  1,347. 

The  rebel  authorities  endeavored  to 
magnify  this  battle  into  a  victory, 
which  it  certainly  was  not.  In  fact,  it 
checked  rebel  operations  under  Price 
and  McCulloch,  and  prevented  their 

*  Pollard,  in  speaking  of  Gen.  Lyon,  indulges  in 
great  bitterness,  calling  him  a  "  dangerous  man," 
"  without  a  trace  of  chivalric  feeling  or  personal  sensi 
bility,"  etc..  at  the  same  time  acknowledging  his  abili 
ty  and  decision  of  character. — "  First  Tear  of  the  War," 
p.  140 


doing  anything  for  more  than  a  month. 
In  reality,  it  was  a  triumph  to  the  Union 
cause,  though  a  triumph  dearly  bought 
at  the  sacrifice  of  Lyon's  life.* 

Early  in  July,  Gen.  J.  C.  Fremont 
was  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  west 
ern  department,  embracing  the  state  of 
Illinois  and  the  states  and  territories 
west  of  the  Mississippi  and  east  of  the 
Kocky  Mountains,  including  New  Mex 
ico.  In  many  respects,  no  more  popular 
appointment  could  have  been  made  for 
the  West,  wrhere  Fremont's  name  carried 
great  weight  with  it,  and  would  be  cer 
tain  to  enlist  much  enthusiasm  and 
earnest  support.  Gen.  Fremont  hasten 
ed,  at  an  early  day,  to  the  field  of  his 
labors,  and  as  very  much  was  left  to  his 
discretion  and  judgment,  he  entered 
with  unusual  zeal  and  energy  upon  his 
Avork ;  so  great,  indeed,  that  it  was  not 
long  before  he  came  into  collision  with 
the  authorities  at  head  quarters.  One 
great  object  which  he  was  directed  to 
have  in  view  was,  to  accomplish  the 
descent  of  the  Mississippi;  for  which 
purpose  he  was  to  raise  and  organize  an 
army  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  prospect  of  affairs  was  gloomy 
enough  in  Missouri.  The  state  was 
largely  hostile;  the  disaster  at  Bull 
Run  depressed  the  Union  men  while  it 
gave  the  secessionists  cause  for  exulta 
tion  ;  faction  prevailed ;  the  recruits 
were  badly  supplied  and  badly  paid ; 
and  the  rebels  had  some  50,000  men  in 


*  Gen.  Lyon's  loss  was  universally  deplored.  His 
body  was  recovered  from  the  field  and  entombed  at 
Springfield.  Subsequently  his  remains  were  removed 
to  his  native  village,  Ashford,  Conn.  Every  honor 
was  bestowed  upon  his  name  and  memory,  and  Con 
gress,  at  its  session,  in  December,  passed  joint  resolu 
tions  expressive  of  their  sense  of  his  eminent  and  pa 
triotic  services. 


CH.  VI.] 


arms  on  the  southern  frontier.  Gen. 
Pope  was  in  North  Missouri;  Gen. 
Prentiss  was  at  Cairo  with  a  few  regi 
ments  ;  the  troops  which  Gen.  Lyoii  had 
commanded  were  in  the  condition  above 
narrated;  and  altogether  a  very  unprom 
ising  scene  lay  before  Fremont.  But  he 
lost  no  time  in  attempting  to  do  what  he 
could.  He  immediately  reinforced  Cairo 
and  Bird's  Point,*  carrying  with  him 
for  this  purpose  eight  steamers  and 
3,800  men.  Happily,  Fremont  was  in 
time,  for  the  rebel  General  Pillow  had, 
at  New  Madrid,  a  few  miles  below,  a 
force  estimated  at  nearly  20,000,  and 
might  readily  have  seized  upon  this  im 
portant  strategic  point.  Fremont  next 
undertook  to  secure  the  defence  of  the 
state  on  a  comprehensive  plan,  by  for 
tifying  Girardeau,  Ironton,  Rolla  and 
Jefferson  City,  with  St.  Louis  as  a  base, 
holding  these  places  with  sufficient  gar 
risons,  and  leaving  the  army  free  for 
operations  in  the  field. 

It  soon  became  clear  that  Fremont 
did  not  mean  to  allow  ordinary  difficul 
ties  to  obstruct  his  path.  This  was 
shown  by  his  compelling  the  United 
States  treasurer  at  St.  Louis  to 
furnish  funds  to  pay  the  troops ; 
his  proclaiming  martial  law,  Aug.  14th, 
and  suppressing  two  newspapers  in  St. 
Louis;  and  on  the  30th,  his  issuing  a 
proclamation  of  great  stringency,  de 
claring  the  whole  state  under  martial 
law.  One  passage  in  this  we  quote, 

*  Cairo,  situate  in  Illinois,  at  a  point  of  land  formed 
by  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers, 
175  miles  below  St.  Louis,  was  early  seen  by  the  Union 
men  to  be  of  great  importance  to  keep  possession  of ; 
Bird's  Point,  in  Missouri,  commands  Cairo  and  could 
easily  shell  the  place.  Illinois  troops  were  in  Cairo  as 
early  as  April  25th,  and  Gen.  Grant  bestowed  much  at 
tention  in  strengthening  and  holding  it. 


1SGI. 


evidencing  that  Fremont  was  prepared 
to  cut  the  Gordian  knot  instead  of  wast 
ing  time  in  trying  to  untie  it :  "  Real  and 
personal  property  of  those  who  shall  take 
up  arms  against  the  United  States,  or 
who  shall  be  directly  proven  to  have 
taken  an  active  part  with  their  enemies 
in  the  field,  is  declared  confiscated  to 
public  use,  and  tlieir  slaves,  if  any  they 
have,  are  hereby  declared  free  men." 

This  was  going  quite  too  fast  and  too 
far ;  Union  men  in  the  border  states 
protested  against  it ;  the  government 
had,  as  yet,  no  fixed  or  enlarged  policy, 
especially  of  such  a  kind  as  was  after 
wards  adopted ;  and  the  president  re 
quired,  in  a  letter  to  Gen.  Fremont, 
Sept.  llth,  that  his  proclamation  or 
order  be  annulled  in  its  most  striking 
features.* 

The  town  of  Lexington,  on  the  Mis 
souri,  300  miles  above  St.  Louis,  was  a 
point  of  great  importance  to  be  held 
against  the  rebels.  On  the  9th  of  Sep 
tember,  Colonel  Mulligan  arrived  at 
Lexington  and  took  command,  having 
less  than  3,000  men  under  him.  After 
three  days,  Mulligan  was  besieged  by 
a  very  large  body,  under  Price,  some 
20,000  or  more,  and  on  the  17th,  the 
besieged  were  cut  off  from  a  supply  of 
water,  and  were  compelled  to  surrender 
on  the  20th  of  September. 

The  large  numbers  under  Sterling 
Price,  Ben  McCulloch,  and  others  in  the 
western  and  southern  parts  of  the  state, 
rendered  it  a  matter  of  necessity,  in 
Fremont's  opinion,  to  pursue  Price  and 


*  The  rel>el  Gen.  Jeff.  Thompson  was  very  violent  at 
Fremont's  proclamation,  and  issued  a  counter  one  from 
the  south-western  part  of  the  state,  threatening  dire 
vengeance,  and  a  determination,  as  he  phrased  it,  to 
"  retaliate  ten-fold,  so  help  me  God  1" 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VHL 


his  marauding  forces,  until  he  caught 
and  routed  them.  Hence,  while  the 
gun  boats  were  being  got  ready  for  the 
descent  of  the  Mississippi,  Fremont 
turned  his  whole  attention  to  the  work 
before  him.  His  army,  of  which  he 
took  the  head,  was  composed  of  five 
divisions,  respectively  commanded  by 
Gens.  Hunter,  Pope,  Sigel,  Asboth  and 
McKinstry,  the  entire  force  numbering 
about  39,000.  They  were  a  hardy, 
serviceable  race  of  men,  but  there  was 
great  lack  of  arms  and  equipments,  as 
well  as  of  means  of  transportation. 
The  movement  was  made  southerly,  to 
wards  Springfield.  By  the  middle  of 
October,  Fremont,  and  his  staff,  with 
three  companies  of  his  famous  "  body 
guard,"  and  the  divisions  of  Sigel  and 
Asboth,  were  at  Warsaw  on  the  Osage 
River,  which,  running  parallel  with  the 
Missouri,  divides  the  central  from  the 
southern  portion  of  the  state  on  its 
western  side.  While  delayed  here  a 
few  days,  a  substantial  bridge  was 
built  for  the  passage  of  the  army. 

Springfield  was  reached  by  the  ad 
vanced  divisions  on  the  28th  of  October. 
A  few  days  previously,  the  brave  Hun 
garian,  Major  Zagonyi,  and  his  squadron 
of  cavalry,  pushed  forward,  and  with  a 
force  of  a  little  over  300,  attacked  the 
rebels  numbering  nearly  2,000,  and 
drove  them  out  of  Springfield.  Fre 
mont,  directly  after  his  arrival,  having 
three  of  his  divisions  with  him,  made 
preparations  for  a  battle  with  the 
rebels. 

Just  at  this  crisis,  when  the  army 
was  eager  for  the  contest  and  every 
thing  seemed  to  promise  success,  an 
order  arrived,  Nov.  2d,  superseding 


Fremont  and  directing  him  to  turn  over 
his  command  to  Gen.  Hunter.  This, 
although  a  mortification  to  Fremont, 
was  not  altogether  unexpected  ;  for  his 
relations  with  the  department  were  not 
satisfactory,  and  both  Secretary  Came 
ron  and  Gen.  Thomas,  who  had  made 
a  visit  to  the  West,  in  October,  to  in 
quire  into  matters,  gave  an  impression 
decidedly  unfavorable  to  Fremont  and 
his  doings.  Others  also,  like  Col.  F 
P.  Blair,  had  made  various  charges 
against  him;  and  his  extravagance, 
incompetency,  and  the  like,  were  freely 
spoken  of;  and  so,  whether  wisely  or 
not  just  at  this  juncture,  his  command 
was  taken  from  him. 

Gen.  Hunter,  who  arrived  on  the  night 
of  the  3d  of  November,  put  off  any  at 
tempt  at  engaging  Price's  army ;  he  also, 
on  the  7th,  repudiated  an  agreement  just 
formed  between  Fremont  and  Price  in 
regard  to  protecting  peaceable  citizens 
of  Missouri.  After  a  few  days,  Hunter 
began  a  retreat  in  the  direction  of  St. 
Louis,  and  as  he  retired  Price  followed.* 
On  the  18th  of  November,  Gen.  llal- 
leck  reached  St.  Louis,  and  took  com 
mand  of  the  western  department.  On 
the  21st,  he  ordered  that  no  fugitive 
slaves  should  be  permitted  to  enter  the 
lines  of  any  camp,  or  of  any  forces  on 
the  march,  on  the  ground  that  import 
ant  information  had  been  conveyed  to 
the  enemy  through  their  means.  On 
the  23d  of  December,  he  issued  an 
order,  fixing  the  penalty  of  death  on  all 

*  Greeley,  in  his  "  American  Conflict,"  vol.  i.,  p.  594, 
severely  criticises  the  abandonment  of  Springfield,  the 
giving  up  Southern  Missouri  without  a  blow,  and  the 
"  sneaking  back  to  our  fastnesses  along  the  lines  of 
completed  railroads,  and  within  striking  distance  of  St 
Louis." 


CH.  VI] 


GEXERAL  GRANT  AXD  BELMONT. 


89 


persons  engaged  in  destroying  railroads 
and  telegraphs ;  and  on  the  25th,  he 
declared  martial  law.  The  rebel  Gen. 
Price's  plan  was  to  approach  from  the 
borders  of  Kansas  and  destroy  the 
track  of  the  northern  railroad,  so  as  to 
cut  off  communication  with  St.  Louis. 
Halleck's  activity,  however,  together 
with  excellent  strategy  displayed,  pre 
vented  Price  carrying  his  plan  into  exe 
cution.  Gen.  Pope,  who  was,  on  the 
7th  of  December,  placed  in  command 
of  all  the  forces  in  Northern  Missouri, 
projected  an  expedition  against  Price, 
which  was  rapidly  and  successfully 
carried  out.  On  the  15th,  Pope  en 
camped  near  Sedalia;  on  the  16th,  he 
pushed  forward  and  occupied  a  position 
between  Warrensburg  and  Clinton; 
and  from  thence  operated  against  the 
enemy,  who  were  entirely  defeated  by 
Col.  J.  C.  Davis  at  the  mouth  of  Clear 
Creek.  Following  upon  this  was  an 
excursion  of  Union  troops  to  Lexing 
ton,  where  a  large  foundry  and  several 
rebel  craft  on  the  river  were  destroyed. 
The  substantial  result  was,  that  almost 
the  entire  region  between  the  Missouri 
and  Osage  Rivers  was  cleared  by  the 
25th  of  December,  and  Price  was  glad 
to  retreat  to  the  borders  of  Arkansas 
to  find  subsistence  and  safety  for  himself 
and  his  men. 

During  the  last  two  weeks  of  Decem 
ber,  the  Union  army  captured,  in  vari 
ous  skirmishes,  2,500  prisoners,  in 
cluding  ten  commissioned  officers,  1,200 
horses  and  rnules,  1,100  stand  of  arms, 
two  tons  of  powder,  100  wagons,  and 
an  immense  amount  of  stores  and  camp 
equipage.  As  evidencing  the  import- 

VOL.  IV.— NO.  12. 


ance  of  Missouri  at  this  date  to  the 
insurgents  as  well  as  the  Union  cause, 
we  may  mention,  that  not  less  than 
sixty  battles  and  skirmishes  were  fought 
on  its  soil  during  1861. 

In  this  connection  may  be  noted 
Gen.  Grant's  attempt  to  break  up  the 
rebel  encampment  at  Belmont,  on  the 
Missouri  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
opposite  Columbus,  Kentucky.  This 
latter  was  the  headquarters  of  secession, 
General  (Bishop)  Polk  being  in  com 
mand.  Gen.  Grant  was  at  Cairo,  Illi 
nois,  and,  aided  by  Gen.  Smith,  with 
Union  forces  at  Paducah,  Kentucky, 
making  a  feint  of  attacking  Columbus, 
he  set  out  for  Belmont.  With  about 
4,000  men,  mostly  Illinois  troops,  he 
embarked,  November  6th,  in  four 
steamboats  convoyed  by  two  gun  boats, 
to  Island  No.  1,  within  eleven  miles 
of  Columbus.  The  next  morning  he 
proceeded  to  Hunter's  Point,  a  few 
miles  above  Belmont.  The  troops 
were  landed  on  the  Missouri  shore, 
reached  the  camp  at  eleven  o'clock,  and 
after  a  sharp  contest  drove  the  rebels 
out,  burned  the  tents,  etc.  After  some 
hours  fighting,  with  victory  just  at 
hand,  the  rebels  received  reinforcements 
in  large  numbers,  and  Grant  and  his 
men  were  compelled  to  cut  their  way 
through  to  their  boats.  This  they  ac 
complished  about  five  P.M.,  and  escaped 
with  a  loss  of  about  600.  The  rebel 
loss  was  computed  at  800.  Although 
forced  to  retreat,  Grant  accomplished 
the  main  result  of  his  expedition  :  the 
camp  at  Belmont  was  broken  up,  and 
various  rebel  plans  for  operating  west 
of  the  Mississippi  were  defeated. 


90 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION 


[BK.  VIII. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1861. 

/ 

AFFAIRS    IN    VIRGINIA  — ARMY    OF    THE    POTOMAC. 

Wise  and  Floyd  in  Virginia —  Carnifex  Ferry  —  Rebel  General  Lee  —  His  plans  against  Reynolds  —  Rosecrana 
at  Gauley  River  —  Kelly's  dasli  on  Romney  —  Milroy's  attempt  —  End  of  the  season  —  Rosecjans'  address 
to  bis  troops  —  McClellan  at  Washington  —  His  efforts  to  improve  the  army  —  Public  sentiment  towards 
him  — Sabbath  order  —  "  Memorandum  "  for  the  President  —  Extracts  —  Active  exertions  —  Rebels  retire 
from  vicinity  of  Washington  —  Grand  review  —  McClellan's  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  army  at 
end  of  October — His  views  as  to  forward  movements — Attacks  on  newspaper  offices — Grand  Jury  on  freedom 
of  the  press  —  Military  arrests  —  Passport  system  —  Government  circular  as  to  coast  defences  —  Col.  Geary 
at  Bolivar  Heights  —  Reconnaissance  ordered  —  Gen.  McCall  at  Dranesville  —  Gen.  Stone  and  his  proceed 
ings  —  Orders  troops  to  cross  the  Potomac  —  Philbrick's  report  —  Stone's  orders  —  Col.  Devens  crosses  — 
Attacked  by  the  enemy  —  Col.  Baker  ordered  to  sustain  him  — Miserable  lack  of  means  of  crossing  the  river 
—Disaster  at  Ball's  Bluff—  Baker  killed  —  Heavy  loss  —  Who  is  responsible  ?—  Severe  trial  to  loyal  people 
—  Effect  on  the  rebels — Scott  retires — McClellan  general-in-chief — His  plans  —  Gen.  Lock  wood  marches  to 
"  Eastern  shore  "  —  Good  result  —  Gen.  Ord  defeats  Stuart  near  Dranesville  —  Navigation  of  the  Potomac  — 
Rebel  batteries  — McClellan  not  ready  to  move  —  Order  as  to  fugitive  slaves  in  Washington  —  Confederate 
Congress  —  Da  vis's  message  —  General  tone  of  it  —  Proceedings  of  rebel  congress  of  no  great  moment. 


1801. 


TURNING  our  attention  again  to  Vir 
ginia  (see  p.  44)  we  see  that,  by  the 
end  of  July,  the  Kanawha  Valley  was 
freed  from  secession  troops,  and  that 
Wise  (formerly  governor),  having  de 
stroyed  all  the  bridges  he 
could,  and  carried  off  wagons 
and  teams  of  the  people,  had  decamped. 
A  month  or  more  of  comparative  quiet 
was  spent  in  repressing  insurgent 
marauders  in  the  mountainous  regions. 
Early  in  September,  however,  J.  B. 
Floyd,  whose  reputation  for  honesty 
was  none  of  the  best  (see  vol.  iii.,  p. 
564),  and  who  was  now  in  command 
of  rebel  troops,  occupied  a  high  hill  at 
Carnifex  Ferry,  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  Gauley  River,  a  position  of  con 
siderable  value.  On  the  26th  of  August, 


he  had  surprised  Col.  Tyler's  7th  Ohio 
regiment  at  Cross  Lanes,  near  Summers- 
ville,  and  routed  them  entirely.  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  who  had  a  force  numbering 
nearly  10,000  under  his  command,  de 
termined  to  attack  Floyd  at  once,  and 
his  determination  was  carried  into 
effect  on  September  10th.  The  rebel 
commander  had  some  3,000  to  5,000 
men,  and  sixteen  field  pieces  in  position, 
and  was  inaccessible  on  either  flank  or 
rear,  his  front  being  masked  with  jungle 
and  forest.  A  spirited  attack  was 
made  in  the  afternoon,  and  Gen.  Rose 
crans  ordered  the  men  to  sleep  on  their 
arms,  ready  to  assault  the  post  in  the 
morning  ;  but  Floyd,  deeming  discre 
tion  the  wisest  thing  for  him,  silently 
made  off  in  the  night,  and  by  destroy. 


CH.  YIL] 


AFFAIRS  IN  WESTERN  VIRGINIA. 


91 


ing  the  bridge  and  the  ferry  boats,  he 
put  the  Gauley  River,  with  its  rushing 
tide,  between  him  and  Rosecrans'  army. 
Floyd  retreated  some  thirty  miles  to 
Bis:  Sewell  Mountain,  and  thence  to 

O  ' 

Meadow's  Bluff,  out  of  harm's  way  for 
the  present.  Wise,  who,  it  was  expect 
ed,  would  help  Floyd,  remained  at  Big 
Sewell,  and  called  his  position  by  the 
sounding  title,  "  Camp  Defiance." 

Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  a  person  subsequently 
of  much  note  in  the  rebellion,  arrived 
from  the  northward  with  a  force  of  9,000 
men  and  some  eight  or  ten  pieces  of 
artillery ;  he  took  command  of  Floyd's 
and  Wise's  troops,  which  raised  his 
numbers  to  20,000  men.  While  on  his 
way,  in  August,  he  found  Gen.  Rey 
nolds  in  command  at  Cheat  Mountain 
and  Elk  Water.  His  plan  was,  if  pos 
sible,  to  capture  Reynold's  forces  by 
strategy,  and  for  that  purpose  he  push 
ed  forward  two  bodies  to  take  our  men 
in  front  and  rear.  For  three  days,  Sep 
tember  12-1 4th,  there  was  skirmish 
ing,  more  or  less  sharp,  going  on.  Col. 
John  A.  Washington,  one  of  Lee's  aids, 
and  recently  proprietor  of  Mount 
Vernon,  was  killed,  with  about  100 
other  rebels.  The  Union  loss  was 
probably  about  equal. 

Gen.  Rosecrans  having  taken  post 
at  Gauley  Mount  on  New  River,  Floyd 
planted  himself  on  the  opposite  (south) 
side  of  the  river,  and  opened  fire  on 
the  Union  troops  and  others  in  sight. 
Rosecrans  tried  to  flank  and  surprise 
him ;  but  a  sudden  rise  in  the  river 
rendered  it  impassable,  and  Gen.  Ben- 
ham  failed  to  get  in  the  rear  and  cut 
off  Floyd's  retreat.  On  the  14th  of 
November,  Floyd's  rear  guard  was  at- 


1861. 


tacked  and  driven  by  Benham,  Col. 
Croghan,  its  commander,  being  killed. 
Floyd  retreated  to  Peterston,  more 
than  fifty  miles  distant. 

In  the  north-east,  Gen.  Kelly,  who 
was  guarding  a  part  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad,  started  from  New 
Creek  on  the  night  of  Oct.  25th,  and 
advanced  to  Romney.  In  this  spirited 
dash  he  drove  out  the  rebel  battalion, 
captured  two  cannon  and  sixty  prisoners, 
and  a  variety  of  valuable  stores. 
Gen.  Milroy,  who  succeeded 
Gen.  Reynolds  at  Cheat  Mountain,  at 
tempted  a  similar  dash,  Dec.  12th,  on 
the  rebels  in  his  front,  strongly  posted 
at  Alleghany  Summit,  twenty-two  miles 
distant  on  the  turnpike  to  Staunton 
Over  3,000  men  went  on  the  expedition 
but  it  failed  of  success. 
'  On  the  approach  of  winter,  Gen.  Lee 
was  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the 
southern  coast  defences ;  Wise  was  or 
dered  to  Richmond ;  and  all  the  rebel 
forces  were  withdrawn,  except  a  small 
one  under  Floyd.  Soon  after,  in  De 
cember,  Floyd  was  removed  to  Tennes 
see,  for  service  there ;  and  thus  ended 
the  operations  of  the  season,  the  Union 
army  being  left  in  full  possession  of 
Western  Virginia. 

Gen.  Rosecrans  also,  the  campaign 
having  been  brought  to  a  close,  issued 
a  stirring,  earnest  address  to  his  troops. 
Among  other  things  he  said :  "  Your 
patience  and  watchings  put  the  traitor 
Floyd  within  your  reach,  and  though 
by  a  precipitate  retreat  he  escaped  your 
grasp,  you  have  the  substantial  fruits 
of  victory.  Western  Virginia  belongs 
to  herself,  and  the  invader  is  expelled 
from  her  soil." 


92 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


Gen.  McClellan,  as  previously  stated 
(see  p.  45),  on  the  call  of  the  govern 
ment,  proceeded  at  once  to  Washington, 
and  entered  upon  the  work  of  no  light 
magnitude,  in  the  existing  crisis.  "  I 
found,"  he  says,  in  a  letter  to  the  secre 
tary  of  war,  "  no  array  to  command ;  a 
mere  collection  of  regiments  cowering  on 
the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  some  perfect 
ly  raw,  others  dispirited  by  the  recent 
defeat  (at  Bull  Run).  Nothing  of  any 
consequence  had  been  done  to  secure 
the  southern  approaches  to  the  capital, 
by  means  of  defensive  works ;  nothing 
whatever  had  been  undertaken  to  de 
fend  the  avenues  to  the  city  on  the 
northern  side  of  the  Potomac.  The 
troops  were  not  only  undisciplined,  un- 
drilled  and  dispirited ;  they  were  not 
even  placed  in  military  positions.  The 
city  was  almost  in  a  condition  to  have 
been  taken  by  a  dash  of  a  regiment  of 
cavalry."* 

Gen.  McClellan  came  to  his  work 
with  much  prestige,  and  great  things 
were  expected  of  him  on  all  hands. 
He  began  by  enforcing  military  disci 
pline  in  the  camps  at  the  capital,  issu 
ing  an  order  to  this  effect,  July  30th ; 
officers  of  all  grades  were  required  to  be 
at  their  posts  and  attend  to  their  duties; 
and  a  board  was  appointed  for  examina 
tion  of  the  officers  of  volunteer  regi 
ments.  Congress,  as  we  have  seen,  au 
thorized  the  president  to  call  for  500,- 
000  volunteers;  and  the  loyal  states 
nobly  responded  to  the  call.  The  les 
son  of  the  defeat  at  Bull  Run  was  now 

*  "  Report  of  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  upon  the  Or 
ganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  its  Cam 
paigns  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  from  July  26th,  18G1, 
to  November  7th.  1883." 


beginning  to  be  learned  and  appreci 
ated 

The  government,  as  well  as  the  peo 
ple,  were  disposed  to  regard  Gen.  Mc 
Clellan,  though  comparatively  a  young 
man  (bora,  1826),  as  worthy  of  almost 
unlimited  confidence ;  and  he  was 
eulogized,  for  a  time,  in  terms 
which  formed  a  painful  contrast 
to  subsequent  exhibitions  of  popular 
feeling.  On  the  20th  of  August,  he 
formally  entered  upon  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  which,  as  at  that 
time  constituted,  comprised  the  troops 
serving  in  the  former  departments  of 
Washington  and  North-eastern  Vir 
ginia,  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah, 
and  in  the  states  of  Maryland  and  Dela 
ware.* 

At  the  president's  request,  McClellan 
prepared  a  paper,  which  he  called  a 
u  Memorandum,"  and  on  the  4th  of 
August,  submitted  it  to  Mr.  Lincoln. 
A  passage  or  two  may  be  quoted  as 
giving  the  views  of  one  who  was  en- 


*  On  the  6th  of  September,  the  following  order  was 
issued  :  "  The  Major-general  commanding  desires  and 
requests  that  in  future  there  may  be  a  more  perfect  re 
spect  for  the  Sabbath  on  the  part  of  his  command. 
We  are  fighting  in  a  holy  cause,  and  should  endeavor 
to  deserve  the  benign  favor  of  the  Creator.  Unless  in 
the  case  of  an  attack  by  the  enemy,  or  some  other  ex 
treme  military  necessity,  it  is  commended  to  com 
manding  officers,  that  all  work  shall  be  suspended  on 
the  Sabbath ;  that  no  unnecessary  movements  shall  be 
made  on  that  day ;  that  the  men  shall,  as  far  as  possi 
ble,  be  permitted  to  rest  from  their  labors  ;  that  they 
shall  attend  Divine  service  after  the  customary  Sunday 
morning  inspection,  and  that  officers  and  men  shall 
alike  use  their  influence  to  insure  the  utmost  decorum 
and  quiet  on  that  day.  The  General  commanding  re 
gards  this  as  no  idle  form.  One  day's  rest  in  seven  is 
necessary  to  men  and  animals.  More  than  this,  the 
observance  of  the  Holy  Day  of  the  God  of  mercy  and  of 
battles  is  oar  sacred  duty."  At  a  later  date  (Nov.  27th), 
this  order  was  directed  to  take  effect  in  all  the  camps 
of  the  United  States  Army. 


CH.  ^VIL 


McCLELLAN'S  MEMORANDUM. 


93 


trusted  with  the  important  and  respon 
sible  position  of  commanding-general, 
and  who,  at  this  early  period  of  the 
struggle,  seemed  to  have  entertained  a 
strong  conviction  of  the  powers  of  re 
sistance  possessed  by  the  rebels. 

"  The  object  of  the  present  war  differs 
from  those  in  which  nations  are  enga 
ged,  mainly  in  this :  that  the  purpose  of 
ordinary  war  is  to  conquer  a  peace,  and 
make  a  treaty  on  advantageous  terms; 
in  this  contest  it  has  become  necessary 
to  crush  a  population  sufficiently  nu 
merous,  intelligent,  and  warlike  to  con 
stitute  a  nation.  We  have  not  only  to 
defeat  their  armed  and  organized  forces 
in  the  field,  but  to  display  such  an  over 
whelming  strength  as  will  convince  all 

O  o 

our  antagonists,  especially  those  of  the 
governing  aristocratic  class,  of  the  utter 
impossibility  of  resistance.  Our  late 
reverses  make  this  course  imperative. 
When  we  have  re 
organized  our  main  army  here, 
10,000  men  ought  to  be  enough  to  pro 
tect  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
and  the  Potomac,  5,000  will  garrison 
Baltimore,  3,000  Fort  Monroe,  and  not 
more  than  20,000  will  be  necessary  at 
the  utmost  for  the  defence  of  Washing 
ton.  For  the  main  army  of  operations 
I  urge  the  following  composition :  250 
regiments  of  infantry,  say  225,000  men ; 
100  field  batteries,  GOO  guns,  15,000 
men  ;  28  regiments  of  cavalry,  25,500  ; 
5  regiments  of  engineer  troops,  7,500  ; 
total,  273,000.  This  force  must  be  sup 
plied  with  the  necessary  engineer  and 
pontoon  trains,  and  with  transportation 

for  every  tiling  save  tents 

The  force  I  have  recommended  is  large ; 
the  expense  is  great.  It  is  possible 


1§61. 


that  a  smaller  force  rnight  accomplish 
the  object  in  view,  but  I  understand 
it  to  be  the  purpose  of  this  great  nation 
to  re-establish  the  power  of  its  govern 
ment,  and  restore  peace  to  its  citizens, 

in  the  shortest  possible  time 

Every  mile  we  advance  carries  us  far 
ther  from  our  base  of  operations,  and 
renders  detachments  necessary  to  cover 
our  communications,  while  the  enemy 
will  be  constantly  concentrating  as  he 
falls  back.  I  propose,  with  the  force 
which  I  have  requested,  not  only  to 
drive  the  enemy  out  of  Virginia  and  oc 
cupy  Richmond,  but  to  occupy  Charles 
ton,  Savannah,  Montgomery,  Peusacola, 
Mobile,  and  New  Orleans;  in  other 
words,  to  move  into  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country  and  crush  the  rebellion 
in  its  very  heart." 

For  several  months,  McClellan  was 
busily  engaged  in  getting  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  into  shape,  and  in  render 
ing  it  fit  for  active  operations.  The 
new  levies  were  recruited  and  pressed 
forward  with  great  rapidity ;  arms  and 
equipments  were  manufactured  and 
supplied  as  fast  as  possible;  and  the 
general  voice  of  the  people,  full  of  pa 
triotism  and  sanguine  of  success,  was  in 
favor  of  immediate  advance. 

As  the  army  gained  strength  and 
greater  adaptedness  for  the  work  before 
it,  the  rebels,  who  seem  to  have  been  kept 
well  supplied,  by  spies  and  traitors, 
with  information  in  respect  to  matters 
in  and  about  Washington,  called  in 

O  ' 

their  advanced  pickets,  and  seasonably 
retired  from  their  posts  of  observation 
near  the  capital,  and  from  our  powerful 
force  gathered  there.  A  grand  review 
of  artillery  and  cavalry  was  held  on  the 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


ii.  V11I. 


8 tli  of  October  ;  it  was  an  imposing 
affair,  and  seemed  to  furnish  evidence 
of  the  spirit  and  energy  of  the  army, 
and  its  capability  soon  to  march  against 
the  enemy.  There  were  6,000  cavalry 
and  112  guns,  with  an  artillery  force  of 
1,500  men ;  and  the  president  and  other 
celebrities  were  present. 

At  the  close  of  October,  McClellan 
submitted  a  "  statement  of  the  condition 
of  the  army  under  his  command,  and 
the  measures  required  for  the  preserva 
tion  of  the  government  and  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion." 
In  this  statement,  inferring  from  what 
had  been  learned  through  spies,  prison 
ers,  etc.,  that  the  rebels  had  a  force  on 
the  Potomac  not  less  than  150,000 
strong,  wrell  drilled  and  equipped,  ably 
commanded  and  strongly  entrenched,* 
McClellan  expressed  his  opinion  that 
the  army  was  not  powerful  enough  to 
advance  with  any  prospect  of  success. 
Holding,  too,  that  the  salvation  of  the 
country  depended  on  the  army  he  was 
commanding,  be  was  indisposed  to 
move  until  he  had,  beside  150,000 
men  for  advance,  some  00,000  more 
for  garrison  and  guard  duty,  and  until 
he  Lad  200  more  guns  at  least,  and 
everything  else  requisite.  The  actual 
force  at  this  date  (October  27th)  he 
stated,  was  only  76,000  fit  for  an  ad 
vance,  and  about  200  guns.  Possibly, 
he  thought,  the  army  might,  by  special, 
persistent  effort,  assume,  this  present 
season,  offensive  operations ;  and  in  his 
judgment,  the  advance  ought  not  to 


*  This  number  was  greatly  exaggerated,  as  we  now 
know,  since  the  rebel  force  in  Virginia  at  this  date 
amounted  to  less  than  70,000  men  ;  in  drill  and  discip 
line  the  rebels  were  also  far  inferior  to  McClellan's 
army. 


be  postponed  beyond  Nov.  25th,  or  a 
few  weeks  from  the  date  at  which  he 
was  writing. 

During  the  summer  there  were  vari 
ous  exhibitions  of  violent  angry  feeling 
at  the  North,  in  attacks  upon  some 
newspaper  offices  and  editors  who 
sympathized  with,  and  tried  to  advo 
cate,  the  cause  of  secession  and  rebel 
lion.  The  grand  jury  of  the  United 
States  Circuit  Court,  sitting  in  New 
York,  presented  several  papers  as  "dis 
loyal  presses,"  "  encouraging  the  rebels," 
and  injuring  the  interests  of  the  Union. 
The  government  sanctioned  this  view 
of  the  subject,  and  held  that  the  neces 
sities  of  the  case  required  some  limit 
to  be  placed  on  the  present  unbounded, 
licentious  freedom  of  the  press.  This 
same  plea  of  necessity  was  put  forth 
to  justify  the  numerous  arrests  of  per 
sons  of  influence,  who  were  suspected 
of  disloyalty,  or  known  to  be  rendering- 
assistance,  in  different  ways,  to  the 
rebel  machinations  against  the  govern 
ment ;  and  it  was  ably,  if  not  satisfac 
torily,  argued,  that  these  and  all  per 
sons  acting  in  a  hostile  manner,  open 
or  secret,  to  the  lawful  authority  of  the 
land,  must  be  arreste.d,  and  restrained 
by  the  supreme  executive  of  the  United 
States* 

On  the  14th  of  October,  a  circular 
was  issued  by  the  government,  directed 
to  the  governors  of  the  northern  states 
on  the  seaboard  and  lakes  ;  and  atten 
tion  was  asked  to  the  improvement 

*  Nearly  200  persons  were  committed  to  Fort 
Lafayette  during  the  three  months  from  July  to  October, 
1861.  For  a  discussion  of  the  "  War  Powers  under  the 
Constitution  of  t\e  United  States,"  seethe  volume  with 
this  title,  by  W:?liam  Whiting,  Esq.,  Solicitor  of  the 
War  Department ;  pp.  342. 


CH.  VII.] 


STONE'S  ORDERS  AND  MOVEMENTS. 


95 


and  completion  of  the  defences  of  the 
loyal  states  at  the  earliest  moment. 
The  ground  taken  was,  that  though  the 
rebel  efforts  had  not  succeeded  abroad 
to  the  extent  they  desired,  yet  they 
were  very  active ;  and  it  was  "  neces 
sary  now,  as  it  has  hitherto  been,  to 
take  every  precaution  that  is  possible 
to  avoid  the  evils  of  foreign  war,  to  be 
superinduced  upon  those  of  civil  com 
motion,  which  we  are  endeavoring  to 
cure." 

Gen.  Banks,  as  stated  on  a  previous 
page  (see  p.  56),  having  superseded  Gen. 
Patterson,  at  the  close  of  July,  our 
troops  evacuated  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
crossed  the  Potomac  again.  This  course 
seemed  needful  in  view  of  the  outlying 
enemy  in  Virginia.  Various  skirmishes 
took  place  during  the  summer,  gener 
ally  with  marked  success  on  the  part 
of  our  troops.  On  the  16th  of  Octo 
ber,  Col.  Geary,  with  about  600  men, 
who  had  been  seizing  upon 
some  20,000  bushels  of  wheat 
a  few  miles  above  Harper's  Ferry,  was 
attacked  by  the  rebels  at  Bolivar. 
Heights.  The  assault  was  very  spirited ; 
but  our  men,  after  a  few  hours'  fighting, 
gained  a  complete  victory. 

Early  in  October,  Gen.  McClellan 
ordered  a  reconnaissance  to  ascertain 
the  enemy's  strength  on  the  right,  in 
the  neighl  orhood  of  the  Potomac. 
Gen.  Stone,  having  his  headquarters  at 
Poolesville,  was  within  easy  striking 
distance  of  Conrad's  and  Edwards' 
Ferries,  which,  some  four  miles  from 
one  another,  afforded  the  means  of 
crossing  the  Potomac  at  this  part  of  its 
course.  Intermediate  between  the  two 
ferries  was  Harrison's  Island,  about 


1861. 


two  hundred  yards  in  width  and  three 
miles  in  length,  unequally  dividing  the 
stream  between  the  two  shores.  Con 
rad's  Ferry  was  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
Island.  The  river  was  much  swollen 
by  the  autumnal  rains,  having  risen,  in 
a  few  days,  some  ten  or  more  feet  above 
the  fording  point. 

Gen.  McCall,  in  accordance  with  in 
structions,  moved  forward,  on  the  19th 
of  October,  and  occupied  Dranesville, 
seventeen  miles  west  of  Washington, 
in  Fairfax  county,  Virginia.  This 
being  accomplished,  Gen.  McClellan 
sent  a  dispatch  to  Gen.  Stone,  inform 
ing  him  of  McCall's  purposed  reconnais 
sances,  in  all  directions,  against  the 
enemy,  and  adding :  "  The  general  de 
sires  that  you  keep  a  good  lookout 
upon  Leesburg,  to  see  if  this  movement 
has  the  effect  to  drive  them  away. 
Perhaps  a  slight  demonstration  on  your 
part  would  have  the  effect  to  move 
them."  On  receiving  this  from  Gen. 
McClellan,  Stone  began  at  once  a  move 
ment  which  resulted,  next  day,  in  the 
disaster  at  Ball's  Bluff.  He  proceeded, 
early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  20th,  with 
Gorman's  brigade  and  some  companies 
of  troops,  to  Edwards'  Ferry.  He  or 
dered  Col.  Devens,  of  the  15th  Massa 
chusetts,  to  ferry  over  his  regiment  to 
Harrison's  Island,  using  some  flat  boats 
from  the  canal  for  this  purpose.  At 
the  same  time,  he  ordered  to  Conrad's 
Ferry,  Col.  Lee's  battalion,  of  the  20th 
Massachusetts,  and  other  regiments 
from  Rhode  Island  and  New  York. 
Several  additional  regiments,  including 
Col.  Baker's  California  regiment,  num- 

O  / 

bering  in  all  about  3,000  men,  were  left 
as  a  reserve  a  few  miles  in  the  rear. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


A  small  body  of  the  enemy  appear 
ing  in  the  direction  of  Leesburg,  Gor 
man  was  ordered  to  d3ploy  his  forces 
in  their  view,  a  feint  being  made  of 
crossing,  and  shell  and  shot  being  dis 
charged  from  the  battery  into  the  place 
of  the  enemy's  concealment.  Three 
boat  loads,  about  thirty-five  in  each, 
crossed  and  recrossed  the  river  in  trips 
occupying  six  or  seven  minutes.  At 
dusk,  Gorman's  brigade  and  the  Michi 
gan  troops  returned  to  camp.  The 
other  forces  at  Harrison's  Island  and 
Conrad's  Ferry  remained  in  position. 
Late  in  the  afternoon,  Stone  sent  to 
McClellan  a  dispatch,  in  which,  beside 
what  has  just  been  related,  he  spoke 
of  his  means  of  transportation  at  hand. 
"I  have  means,"  he  said,  "of  crossing 
125  men  once  in  10  minutes  at  each 
of  two  points.  River  falling  slowly." 

At  ten  P.M.  word  was  brought  to  Gen. 
Stone  at  Edwards'  Ferry,  that  Captain 
Philbrick,  of  the  13th  Massachusetts, 
who  conducted  the  reconnoitring  party, 
sent  out  about  dark  by  Col.  Devens, 
had  returned  to  Harrison's  Island,  hav 
ing  been  within  a  mile  of  Leesburg, 
and  discovered,  as  he  thought,  a  small 
encampment  of  the  enemy.  Immedia 
tely,  Stone  issued  special  orders  to  Col. 
Devens  to  cross  over  and  surprise  the 
rebels ;  Col.  Lee  was  ordered  to  Har 
rison's  Island  with  his  force  to  cover 
Devens's  return  ;  and  Col.  Baker  was 
directed  to  take  his  California  regiment 
and  be  at  Conrad's  Ferry  at  sunrise. 
These  orders  were  duly  received,  and 
Col.  Devens  with  650  men  reached  the 
top  of  the  bluff  at  daylight.  On  ad 
vancing,  the  rebel  camp  was  found  to 
have  no  existence;  Lee  halted  in  a 


wood,  and  sent  for  further  orders. 
About  seven  A.M.  on  the  21st  of  October, 
some  riflemen  and  cavalrj  appeared 
on  the  road  to  Leesburg ;  whereupon 
Devens,  about  an  hour  later,  fell  back 
towards  the  bluff,  where  he  was  directed 
by  Gen.  Stone  to  remain,  with  the  as 
surance  of  being  supported.  About 
noon,  he  was  attacked  by  musketry 
from  the  woods  and  fell  back  some 
sixty  yards,  to  obtain  a  better  position ; 
and  again,  at  one  o'clock,  he  retired  still 
nearer  the  bluff,  where  soon  after  rein 
forcements  arrived. 

Colonel  Baker,  who  had  now  reached 
the  Virginia  shore,  had  been  roused  up 
at  two  o'clock,  A.M.,  and  speedily  got 
his  brigade  ready  for  a  march  to  Con 
rad's  Ferry.  Here,  the  means  of  cross 
ing  to  Harrison's  Island  were  anything 
but  sufficient,  and  the  means  of  getting 
from  the  island  to  the  shore  across  the 
rapid,  swollen  current  wTere  still  worse. 
A  narrow  and  difficult  ascent  also  led 
to  the  bluff  and  the  field  where  Col 
Devens  and  his  men  now  were.  Hence, 
after  a  most  tedious  and  vexatious  pas 
sage,  it  was  between  one  and  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  instead  of  six 
hours  earlier,  when  Col.  Baker  reached 
the  scene  of  action,  probably  the  worst 
position  which  could  have  been  contri 
ved  for  our  men,  and  dangerous  in  the 
extreme.  Colonel  Baker  took  command, 
having,  all  told,  1,900  men,  while  the 
enemy,  in  large  numbers,  were  posted 
securely  in  the  thick  woods.  He  had 
had  left  to  his  discretion  by  Stone,  to 
reinforce  or  withdraw  Deveus's  men: 
but,  as  before  he  arrived  the  attack  had 
begun,  he  concluded  to  fight,  even  at 
so  fatal  a  disadvantage. 


OH.  VII.] 


DISASTER  AT  BALL'S  BLUFF. 


97 


Two  hours  or  more  the  battle  raged 
with  fierce  energy  on  both  sides,  but 
with  terrible  havoc  among  our  men, 
owing  to  their  uncovered  position. 
Between  four  and  five  o'clock,  P.M.,  Col. 
Baker,  whose  daring  bravery  amounted 
to  recklessness,  fell,  shot  through  the 
head,  and  cheering  his  men  to  the  last. 
A  scene  of  disaster  followed.  Our  men 
rushed  down  the  side  of  the  bluff,  and 
tried  to  cross  in  a  flat  boat,  but  were 
shot  by  the  rebels  and  drowned  by  the 
sinking  of  the  boat.  Fully  one-half  of 
Baker's  entire  force  was  lost ;  while  the 
rebels  escaped  with  a  loss  of  about 
200* 

This  lamentable  affair  at  Ball's  Bluff 
was  criticised  every  where  with  sever 
ity  and  indignation,  and  the  question 
was  frequently  asked,  \vho  is  responsi 
ble  for  the  gross  bungling  and  blunder 
ing  which  exposed  our  troops  to  almost 
certain  destruction  ?  Why  was  a  force 
of  less  than  2,000  men  allowed 
to  be  placed  in  the  perilous  po 
sition  that  this  was  ?  Why  were  there 
only  such  paltry  means  of  communica 
tion  as  these  flat  boats ;  and  why,  if 
the  movement  was  necessary,  was  it 
not  adequately  supported,  when  there 
were  40,000  of  our  men  only  a  few 
miles  distant?  The  subject  came  up 
before  Congress  for  inquiry,  and  efforts 
were  made  to  ascertain  and  fix  the 
blame  where  it  properly  belonged ;  but 
to  little  purpose,  for  it  has  never  yet 
been  satisfactorily  explained  why  this 

*  Col.  Baker's  death  was  very  generally  lamented. 
The  Senate,  of  which  lie  was  a  member,  devoted  a  day 
(Dec.  llth),  to  the  commemoration  of  his  talents  and 
virtues ;  and  Gen.  McClellan,  Oct.  22d,  issued  an  order, 
speaking  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  gallant  deceased. 
VOL.  IV.— 13. 


1861. 


fatal  result  was  not  prevented  by  those 
in  command  at  the  time.* 

This  second  defeat  on  the  soil  of  Vir 
ginia,  added  to  that  at  Bull  Run,  in 
July,  was  a  severe  trial  to  the  loyal 
people  of  the  country  ;  it  gave  rise  to 
much  complaint ;  but  it  did  not  lessen 
their  determination  to  put  down  the  re 
bellion.  The  effect  upon  the  rebels  was 
similar  to  that  produced  by  Bull  Run ; 
their  conceit  was  inflamed,  and  their 
confidence  in  their  invincibility  magni 
fied  to  an  absurd  degree. 

The  veteran  General  Scott,  conscious 
of  the  infirmities  of  increasing  age,  as 
well  as  mortified  at  the  disastrous  re 
sult  at  Bull  Run,  begged  to  be  allowred 
to  retire  from  active  service.  This  was, 
of  course  granted,  and  the  highest  en 
comiums  were  heaped  upon  him  from 
all  quarters.  Gen.  McClellan, 
whose  popularity  was  now  in 
the  ascendant,  and  for  whom  president 
Lincoln  entertained  strong  personal  re 
gard,  was  made  his  successor,  and  on 
the  1st  of  November,  he  assumed  the 
position  of  general  -  in  -  chief  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States.  Aware 
of  the  weighty  duties  imposed  upon 
him,  McClellan  felt,  as  he  says,  that 
"  the  direction  of  the  campaigns  in  the 
West,  and  of  the  operations  on  the  sea 
board,  enabled  him  to  enter  upon  larger 


1§61. 


*  Gen.  McClellan  repudiated  all  responsibility  in  the 
matter,  saying  in  his  report :  "  I  did  not  direct  Stone 
to  cross,  nor  did  I  intend  that  he  should  cross  the  river 
in  force  for  the  purpose  of  fighting."  Early  in  Janu 
ary,  1862,  Gen.  Stone  was  severely  spoken  of  in  Con 
gress,  during  debate.  A  month  or  so  later,  he  was  ar 
rested  by  order  of  the  war  department,  on  charges  of 
disloyalty,  involving,  among  other  things,  his  conduct 
at  Ball's  Bluff.  He  was  sent  to  Fort  Warren,  and  de- 
:'ained  there  till  late  in  the  summer,  when  he  was  re- 
eased  without  trial. 


98 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


combinations"  than  he  otherwise  could 
have  undertaken.  He  addressed  letters 
of  instruction  to  Gen.  Burnside  in  North 
Carolina,  to  Gen.  Halleck  in  Missouri, 
to  Gen.  Buell  in  Kentucky,  to  Gen.  T. 
W.  Sherman  in  South  Carolina,  and  to 
Gen.  Butler,  who  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  land  forces  to  operate 
against  New  Orleans.  McClellan's  in 
tention  was,  that  the  several  undertak 
ings  against  the  enemy  "  should  be  car 
ried  out  simultaneously,  or  nearly  so, 
and  in  co-operation  along  the  whole 
line;'1  but,  various  circumstances  inter 
fered,  and  his  plan  was  modified  and 
virtually  given  up.  The  coming  into 
office  of  a  new  secretary  of  war,  Mr. 
Stantou,  had  a  marked  effect  upon  our 
military  operations  from  this  date ;  and 
Gen.  McClellan  soon  found  that  he  had 
a  different  officer  from  Mr.  Cameron  to 
deal  with,  and  one  disposed  to  yield  to 
the  popular  call  for  more  active,  speedy, 
forward  movements. 

On  the  13th  of  November,  Gen.  Dix 
ordered  4,000  troops  under  Gen.  Lock- 
wood,  to  march  from  Baltimore  into 
Accomac  and  Northampton  Counties, 
Virginia,  and  occupy  them.  This  part 
of  the  state,  forming  the  "  eastern  shore," 
as  it  is  called,  is  east  of  Chesapeake 
Bay  and  joins  Maryland.  By  a  procla 
mation  Gen.  Dix  assured  the  people 
that  the  rights  of  persons  and  property 
would  be  respected,  and  "  the  condition 
of  any  person  held  to  domestic  servi 
tude  "  was  not  to  be  interfered  with.* 


*  It  is  curious  to  note  how  slowly  people  learned  to 
call  a  spade  a  spade.  It  took  years  before  the  awk 
ward  periphrasis  or  euphemism  of  the  Constitution, 
about  "  persons  held  to  service  or  labor  "  was  abandon 
ed,  and  negro  slaves  were  designated  by  their  true 
name,  negro  slaves. 


The  advance  was  attended  with  excellent 
results.  A  body  of  some  3,000  insurg 
ents  laid  down  their  arms  and  dis 
banded  ;  and,  in  March,  1862,  a  repre 
sentative  was  chosen  and  sent  to  Con 
gress. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  Dec.  20th, 
Gen.  Ord  was  sent  by  Gen.  McCall 
from  Camp  Pierrepont,  on  the  Potomac, 
towards  Dranesville,  to  capture,  if  pos 
sible,  the  rebel  force  there,  and  collect 
forage.  Between  4,000  and  5,000  men 
were  placed  under  his  command. 
When  near  Dranesville,  he  was  attack 
ed  by  the  enemy  under  Gen.  J.  E.  B. 
Stuart  with  a  force  of  2,500  to  3,000 
men.  The  fight  began  at  one  o'clock, 
and  lasted  only  an  hour,  the  victory 
being  entirely  on  Ord's  side. 

McCall  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to 
pursue  the  enemy,  but  brought  back 
with  him  to  camp  sixteen  loads  of  hay 
and  twenty-two  of  corn.  Although  the 
victory  was  of  no  special  moment,  it 
came  acceptably  at  the  time,  there  still 
being  great  soreness  in  the  public  mind 
as  to  Ball's  Bluff,  and  the  unaccount 
able  —  as  it  seemed  to  outsiders  —  delays 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  making 
any  forward  movement. 

Gen.  McClellan,  professing  his  earn- 
est  desire  to  move  against  the  enemy 
in  Virginia,*  still  both  showed  by  his 
action,  and  gave  it  as  his  mature  judg 
ment,  that  the  army  was  not  sufficiently 
numerous,  nor  in  the  proper  state  of 
readiness  to  advance  at  the 


*  McClellan  advised,  in  August,  sending  armed  ves 
sels  to  hinder  the  rebels  from  constructing  batteries 
along  the  Potomac.  In  September,  Gen.  Barnard  made 
a  reconnaissance  of  the  rebel  batteries  as  far  as  Mat 
thias  Point.  He  reported  adversely  to  the  plan  of  at 
tempting  to  carry  these  batteries  by  assault. 


CH  VII.] 


REBEL  CONGRESS  AT  RICHMOND. 


99 


of  December.  He  preferred  to  wait 
till  the  winter  was  passed.  Mr.  Stan- 
ton,  the  secretary  of  war,  at  an  early 
date  urged  upon  McClellan  to  take  im 
mediate  steps  to  secure  the  reopening 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
and  to  free  the  banks  of  the  lower 
Potomac  from  the  enemy's  works,  which 
seriously  annoyed  passing  vessels.  The 
people  generally,  not  fathoming  the 
causes  or  reasons  for  matters  relating  to 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which,  ac 
cording  to  McClellan,  required  u  minds 
accustomed  to  reason  upon  military 
operations,"  were  eager  for  some  for 
ward  movement,  or  something  which 
looked  like  it  at  least ;  and  it  was  hard 
to  persuade  them  that  time  was  not 
wasted,  and  opportunity  let  to  slip  by 
without  profit. 

Complaints  having  been  made  that 
various  rebels  had  recovered  their  fugi 
tive  slaves  at  Washington,  through  the 
connivance,  it  was  supposed,  of  officers 
of  the  army,  the  secretary  of  state,  on 
the  4th  of  December,  addressed  to 
Gen.  McClellan  an  order,  calling  his 
attention  to  this  subject,  and  stating 
that :  "  By  the  fourth  section  of  the  act 
of  Congress,  approved  August  6th, 
1861,  entitled  an  act  to  confiscate  pro 
perty  used  for  insurrectionary  pur 
poses,  such  hostile  employment  (in  the 
rebel  army)  is  made  a  full  and  sufficient 
answer  to  any  further  claim  to  service 
or  labor.  Persons  thus  employed  and 
escaping  are  received  into  the  military 
protection  of  the  United  States,  and 
their  arrest  as  fugitives  from  labor  or 
service,  should  be  immediately  followed 
by  the  military  arrest  of  the  parties 
making  the  seizure." 


The  Confederate  Congress,  according 

o  /  O 

to  adjournment  (see  p.  56),  met  at 
Richmond,  Nov.  18th.  Members  were 
present  from  six  of  the  seceded  states, 
sufficient  to  form  a  quorum,  and  tha 

next  day  Jefferson  Davis  sent 

•    i  •  J4.  i  186t- 

in  his  message.     It  was  a  docu- 

O 

ment  prepared  with  care,  and  evidently 
intended  to  produce  effect  abroad 
quite  as  much  as  at  home;  its  tone 
was  very  confident,  and  its  presentation 
and  treatment  of  various  topics  skilful 
and  shrewd,  even  for  Davis.  "  We  are 
gradually  becoming  independent  of  the 
rest  of  the  world  for  the  supply  of 
such  military  stores  and  munitions  as 
are  indispensable  for  war,"  was  one  of 
his  statements.  Further,  he  said,  "  a 
succession  of  glorious  victories  at 
Bethel,  Bull  Run,  Manassas,  Spring 
field,  Lexington,  Leesburg,  and  Bel- 
mont,  has  checked  the  wicked  invasion 
which  greed  of  gain  and  the  unhallowed 
lust  of  power  brought  upon  our  soil." 
The  state  of  the  finances  was  pronoun 
ced  good  ;  some  smart  remarks  were 
made  upon  the  Trent  affair,  evidently 
in  the  hope  that  England  would  go  to 
war  about  it;  and  a  sort  of  loftiness 
was  assumed  on  the  subject  of  the  re 
cognition  of  the  rebel  states,  as  much 
as  to  say,  if  foreign  nations  can  do 
without  us,  we  can  get  along  very  well 
without  them.  Davis  also  indulged  in 
some  spiteful  words,  scorning  any  idea 
of  ever  again  having  aught  to  do  with 
the  people  of  the  loyal  states ;  e.  g., 
"  our  people  now  look  with  contemptu 
ous  astonishment  on  those  with  whom 
they  have  been  so  recently  associated. 
They  shrink  with  aversion  from  the 
bare  idea  of  renewing  such  a  connec- 


100 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


tion.  When  they  see  a  president  mak 
ing  war  without  the  assent  of  Congress ; 
when  they  behold  judges  threatened  be 
cause  they  maintain  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus,  so  sacred  to  freemen ;  when 
they  see  justice  and  law  trampled  un 
der  the  armed  heel  of  military  author 
ity,  and  upright  men  and  innocent  wo 
men  dragged  to  distant  dungeons  upon 
the  mere  edict  of  a  despot ;  when  they 
find  all  this  tolerated  and  applauded 
by  a  people  who  had  been  in  the  full 
enjoyment  of  freedom  but  a  few  months 
ago,  they  believe  that  there  must  be 
some  radical  incompatibility  between 
such  a  people  and  themselves.  With 
such  a  people  we  may  be  content  to 
live  at  peace,  but  the  separation  is 
final,  and  for  the  independence  we  have 
asserted  we  will  accept  no  alternative."""" 
The  proceedings  of  the  rebel  con 
gress  were  of  no  great  interest  or  im- 

o  ~ 

portance.  The  evident  impression  was, 
that  the  loyal  states  were  resolved 
upon  breaking  down  the  confederacy, 
and  were  making  preparations  accord 
ingly  ;  still,  so  far  as  words  went,  and 


*  There  were  also  some  paragraphs  expressing 
Davis's  astonishment  and  horror  at  what  he  called  the 
savage  barbarism  with  which  the  government  of  the 
Union  was  trying  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  The  words 
are  not  worth  quoting ;  Davis  probably,  if  not  certainly, 
knew  them  to  be  false  ;  if  he  believed  them  himself 
he  was  more  ignorant  than  anybody  ever  supposed. 
It  is  not  meant  to  be  asserted  that  instances — alas,  too 
many— of  acts  of  cruelty  and  inhumanity  cannot  be 
produced,  war  not  being  at  any  time  ths  condition  in 


perhaps  so  far  as  their  convictions 
reached,  the  rebel  leaders  held,  that 
they  were  abundantly  able  to  maintain 
the  ground  they  had  taken.  Kentucky 
and  Missouri,  by  a  piece  of  foolish  as 
sumption,  were  voted  into  their  ranks. 
A  resolution  was  adopted  refusing  to 
make  any  advance  to  planters  or  pur 
chase  their  produce,  surprise  being  ex 
pressed  that  such  application  should 
be  made.  About  $60,000,000  were 
appropriated  for  the  army,  and  $4,000,- 
000  for  the  rebel  navy.  One  signifi 
cant  feature  was  noted  at  the  time,  and 
was  held  up  to  public  indignation  in 
the  loyal  states,  viz.,  that  most  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  rebel  congress  were 
conducted  in  secret  sessions ;  which 
was  certainly  a  curious  commentary  on 
their  pretensions  to  superior  liberty  as 
representatives  of  a  free  people. 

The  Provisional  Confederate  Con 
gress  continued  in  session  during  the 
winter,  and  reached  its  end,  Feb.  17th, 
1862.  It  was  immediately  succeeded 
by  the  "  permanent "  congress,  which 
began  its  session  on  the  next  day. 

which  the  virtues  of  justice,  moderation  and  gentleness 
especially  flourish ;  but  it  is  affirmed,  and  the  history 
of  the  war  proves  it,  that  no  one  but  a  slanderer  and 
falsifier  of  the  truth  can  charge,  as  Davis  and  com 
pany  do,  the  government  and  officers  of  our  army  and 
navy  with  intentional,  systematic  violations  of  the 
laws  of  humanity  and  right.  On  the  contrary,  they 
strove  to  mitigate  the  horrors  and  excesses  of  war  in 
every  way  that  was  in  their  power. 


Cn.  VIII.] 


THIRTY-SEVENTH  CONGRESS,  SECOND  SESSION. 


101 


CHAPTER    VIII. 
1861. 

MEETING  OF  CONG  RE  SS  —  CLO  S  ING  OF  THE  YEAH. 

Thirty-seventh  Congress,  second  session — President's  message  —  Character  of  its  contents  —  Extracts  relating 
to  finances,  judiciary,  colonization  scheme,  etc. — Notices  of  army  and  navy  operations — Reports  of  the  secre 
taries  —  Secretary  of  war's  views  —  Secretary  of  the  navy's  views  —  Secretary  of  the  treasury's  statements 

—  National  debt — Questions  in  Congress  for  discussion  —  Subject  of  slavery  and  what  to  do  with  the 
negroes  —  Difficult  to  agree  upon  —  Course  pursued  in  the  House  —  Warm  debates  had,  various  acts  passed, 
etc.  —  In  the  Senate,  motion  made  to  appoint  commissioners  to  settle  difficulties  with  the  Confederate  States 

—  Laid  on  the  table  —  Bill  for   confiscating  the  property  of  rebels  and  giving  freedom,  to  their  slaves  — 
Other  action  in  the  Senate  —  Review  of  the  state  and  condition  of  affairs  at  the  close  of  1861  —  Feelings 
and  views  of  the  people  in  the  loyal  states — Successes  of  the  army  and  navy  cheering  —  Army  improving 
under  McClellan —  The  drawback  in  McClellan's  case  —  Estimate  of  numbers  of  rebels  in  the  field  —  Pro 
bably  exaggerated  —  "  All  quiet  on  the  Potomac  "  —  Question  as  to  exchange  of  prisoners,  perplexing  — 
Left  to  the  generals  and  officers  —  Steps  taken  —  No  settlement  —  Foreign  policy  of  the  United  States  — 
Situation  of  the  rebels — Causes  of  inactivity,  according  to  Pollard,  and  abuses  in  administration,  etc.  — Sum 
of  the  review  as  a  whole. 


ISttl. 


Ox  Monday,  the  2d  of  December, 
the  Thirty-seventh  Congress  met  for  its 
second  session.  Senators  and  repre 
sentatives  from  twenty-five  states  were 
present,  and  the  national  legis 
lature  entered  at  once  upon  its 
important  duties.  The  next  day, 
President  Lincoln  sent  in  his  message, 
in  which  he  laid  before  Congress  a  clear, 
carefully  prepared  review  of  the  posi 
tion  of  the  government  and  the  pro 
gress  of  the  war.  "  In  the  midst  of 

o 

unprecedented  political  troubles,"  were 
the  opening  words,  "  we  have  cause  of 
great  gratitude  to  God  for  unusual 
good  health,  and  most  abundant  har 
vests."  The  president  then,  in  a  few 
brief  paragraphs,  touched  upon  our 
foreign  relations,  and  upon  the  efforts 
of  the  rebels  to  induce  other  nations  to 


side  with  them  against  the  Union.  In 
the  belief,  however,  that  foreign  nations 
would  be  clear  sighted  enough  to  per 
ceive  where  their  true  interests  lie,  he 
gave  it  as  his  conviction,  "  that  we 
have  practised  prudence  and  liberality 
towards  foreign  powers,  averting  causes 
of  irritation,  and  with  firmness  main 
taining  our  own  rights  and  honor." 
At  the  same  time,  the  president  recom 
mended  that  ample  measures  be  adopt 
ed  for  maintaining  the  public  defences 
on  every  side,  the  great  lakes  and 
rivers  as  well  as  the  sea  coast  being 
included. 

The  financial  condition  of  affairs  was 

"spoken  of  in  encouraging  terms :   "  The 

revenue    from    all    sources,    including 

loans  for  the  financial  year  ending  or» 

the  30th  June,  1861,  was  $86,835,900, 


102 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  VIII 


and  the  expenditures  for  the  same 
period,  including  payments  on  account 
of  the  public  debts,  were  $84,578,034. 
For  the  first  quarter  of  the  financial 
year  ending  on  the  30th  September, 
1861,  the  receipts  from  all  sources,  in 
cluding  the  balance  of  July  1st,  were 
$102,532,509,  and  the  expenses  $98,- 

239,723 It  is  gratifying  to 

know  that  the  expenditures  made 
necessary  by  the  rebellion  are  not  be 
yond  the  resources  of  the  loyal  people, 
and  to  believe  that  the  same  patriotism 
whicli  has  thus  far  sustained  the  gov 
ernment  will  continue  to  sustain  it  till 
peace  and  union  again  bless  the  land." 

Various  matters  connected  with  the 
judiciary  and  its  arrangements,  and 
other  topics  of  domestic  policy,  were 
referred  to  Congress ;  among  them  the 
project  of  a  military  railroad  connect 
ing  the  loyal  regions  of  East  Tennessee 
and  Western  North  Carolina  with 
Kentucky  and  other  parts  of  the  Union. 
"  The  territories  of  Colorado,  Dakotah, 
and  Nevada,  created  by  the  last  Con 
gress,  have  been  organized,  and  civil 
administration  has  been  inaugurated 
therein  under  auspices  especially  grati 
fying,  when  it  is  considered  that  the 
leaven  of  treason  was  found  existing  in 
some  of  these  new  countries  when  the 
federal  officers  arrived  there." 

Reference  was  made  to  the  confis 
cation  act  of  the  recent  session  of  Con 
gress,  and  was  noticeable  for  its  sug 
gestion  of  a  measure  which  became 
afterward  a  prominent  subject  of  dis 
cussion — the  furtherance  of  a  system 
of  colonization  for  the  disposal  of 
negroes  liberated  by  the  war  or  by 
concert  with  some  of  the  slave-holding 


states ;  while  the  suggestion  with  which 
it  was  coupled  of  remuneration  by 
Congress  for  the  slaves  set  free,  paved 
the  way  for  the  plans  of  compensated 
emancipation  afterward  strongly  urged 
by  the  president. 

The  progress  of  the  war  was  briefly 
noted,  and  due  commendation  bestowed 
upon  our  gallant  navy  and  army.  Not 
only  Maryland,  but  Kentucky  and 
Missouri  had  furnished  40,000  troops 
in  all,  and  were  warmly  and  decidedly 
in  favor  of  supporting  the  govern 
merit ;  and  the  various  successes,  espe 
cially  of  the  navy,  "  demonstrated,"  in 
the  opinion  of  the  president,  "  that  the 
cause  of  the  Union  was  advancing 
steadily  and  certainly  southward." 
Gen.  Scott's  retirement  was  appropri 
ately  noticed,  and  high  expectations 
were  founded  on  the  appointment  of 
Gen.  McClellan  as  his  successor.  The 
proceedings  of  Davis  and  his  coadjutors 
were  denounced  as  evidencing  a  liking 
for  and  a  return  to  despotism ;  and  it 
was  ably  argued  that  u  labor  is  prior  to, 
and  independent  of,  capital ;"  conse 
quently,  the  dignity  and  honor  of  labor 
against  southern  aristocracy  and  pride 
were  to  be  understood  and  maintained. 
With  words  of  gratulation  in  regard 
to  the  population  and  prospects  of  our 
country  in  general,  the  president  closed 
his  message  as  follows  : — "  The  struggle 
of  to-day  is  not  altogether  for  to-day; 
it  is  for  a  vast  future  also.  With  a 
firm  reliance  on  Providence,  all  the 
more  firm  and  earnest,  let  us  proceed 
in  the  great  task  which  events  have  de 
volved  upon  us." 

The  reports  of  the  several  secretaries, 
referred  to  in  the  message,    contained 


CH.  vni.j 


ARMY,  NAVY,  AND  TREASURY  REPORTS. 


103 


numerous  and  valuable  details  for  the 
information  and  guidance  of  Congress. 
The  secretary  of  war  estimated  the 
strength  of  the  army  for  suppressing 
the  rebellion  at  660,971,  and  cited  this 
as  an  evidence  of  the  wonderful  vigor 
of  our  institutions,  seeing  that  this  vast 
military  array  was  procured  without 
conscriptions,  levies  or  drafts.*  The 
secretary  also  discussed  the  questions, 
which  began  now  to  be  pressing,  as  to 
what  we  were  to  do  with  the  slaves 
abandoned  by  their  masters ;  he  urged 
the  economical  view  of  the  matter,  and 
asked,  "  why  deprive  the  rebels  of  sup 
plies  by  a  blockade,  and  give  them  men 
to  produce  supplies?"  The  whole  sub 
ject  was  commended  to  the  earnest 
attention  of  Congress,  nothing  doubting 
that  they  in  their  wisdom  would  dis 
pose  of  it  properly  and  safely. f 

The  secretary  of  the  navy  reported 
the  vessels  of  all  ranks  as  212  in  num 
ber,  half  of  them  or  more  being  steam 
vessels  ;  while  fifty-two  others,  steamers, 
were  in  process  of  construction.  The 
seamen  in  service  were  22,000.  Secre 
tary  Welles  spoke  also  of  the  course, 
in  his  judgment,  to  be  pursued  in  regard 
to  fugitive  slaves.  His  remarks  were 
sensible  and  to  the  point,  viz.,  that  if 
fugitives  came  on  board  any  of  our 
ships,  and  if  they  were  free  from  any 
voluntary  participation  in  the  rebellion, 


*  Gen.  McClcllan,  in  his  report,  estimated  the  rebel 
force  in  Virginia  at  115,500  men,  with  over  300  guns 
for  field  and  siege  service.  One  of  the  journals  of  the 
day  set  forth  the  entire  rebel  force  at  not  less  than 
500,000  men.  Later  writers  and  critics,  with  more  re 
liable  means  of  information,  have  shown  that  the 
above  numbers,  given  by  McClellan,  are  greatly  ex 
aggerated,  and  that  'the  rebels  at  no  time  had  more 
than  60,000  encamped  in  our  front. 

f  Secretary  Cameron's  report,  as  originally  prepared 


I  §61. 


and  sought  the  shelter  and  protection 
of  our  flag,  then  they  should  be  cared 
for  and  employed  in  some  useful  man 
ner,  and  might  be  enlisted  to  serve  on 
our  public  vessels  or  in  our  navy 
yards,  receiving  wages  for  their 
labor.  The  difficult  and  import 
ant  work  of  the  navy  was  clearly  pointed 
out ;  due  honor  was  bestowed  upon 
what  had  already  been  done  at  Hatter- 
as  and  Port  Eoyal,  and  by  Captain 
Wilkes;  and  the  highest  expectations 
were  freely  entertained  of  the  valuable 
assistance  yet  to  be  rendered  by  the 
navy  in  crushing  the  rebellion. 

The  secretary  of  the  treasury  discuss 
ed  fully  and  carefully  the  condition  of 
the  finances,  the  probable  income  of  the 
treasury,  and  the  steps  necessary  to  be 
taken  in  order  to  provide  for  deficien 
cies.  Mr.  Chase  reported  that  his  ex 
pected  income  of  July  preceding  had 
fallen  short  some  $30,000,000,  and  he 
asked  for  $200,000,000  additional,  to 
meet  the  expenditures  growing  out  of 
the  vast  increase  of  the  army  and  navy ; 
thus,  making  the  outlay  for  the  year, 
from  June,  1861,  to  June,  1862,  about 
$543,500,000.  The  probable  wants  of 
the  fiscal  year,  ending  in  June,  1863, 
were  set  down  at  about  $475,000,000, 
to  provide  for  which,  with  the  supply 
of  the  previous  year's  deficiencies, 
would  necessitate  an  aggregate  of  $655,- 
000,000  in  loans.  On  the  1st  day  of 
July,  1860,  it  was  stated,  the  public  debt 

(and  printed  in  advance  in  the  newspapers),  dwelt 
much  more  fully  and  pointedly  on  this  subject;  tha 
president  modified  it  more  considerably.  Other  sug 
gestions  were  also  made  in  the  report,  respecting  the 
"  expediency  of  a  reconstruction  of  the  boundaries  of 
the  states  of  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,"  but 
they  do  not  seem  to  have  met  with  favor  or  counten 
ance. 


104 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


was  less  than  $65,000,000  ;  on  the  1st 
day  of  July,  1863,  supposing  the  war  to 
continue,  it  was  estimated  it  would 
reach  $900,000,000.  This  amount 
seemed  almost  incredible  to  a  people 
like  ours,  who  had  heretofore  lived  in 
freedom  from  national  debt  and  its  bur 
dens;  but  no  one,  probably,  at  that 
day  could  have  contemplated  without 
shuddering,  that,  before  the  rebellion 
should  be  finally  crushed  out,  the  debt 
would  mount  up  to  some  four  times 
that  amount,  or  over  three  thousand 
millions  of  dollars  ! — thus  putting  us  on 
a  footing  with  the  nations  of  the  old 
world  in  a  particular  least  of  all  to  be 
desired. 

During  the  present  session  of  Con 
gress,  various  and  important  questions 
came  up  for  discussion  in  relation  to 
slavery  and  its  concern  with  the  rebel 
lion,  and  also  as  to  the  position  of  the 
government  in  the  struggle  now  going 
on.  As  is  evident  from  what  we  have 
noted  on  previous  pages,  and  from  the 
suggestions  and  statements  of  the  secre 
taries  of  war  and  the  navy,  the  subject 
of  slavery  and  what  to  do  with  the  ne 
groes  was  perplexing  and  very  difficult  of 
settlement.  The  opinions  of  the  people 
were  divided,  and  by  no  means  in  har 
mony.  Some  held,  what  was  thought 
to  be  the  more  extreme  view,  that  sla 
very,  being  the  primal  cause  of  the  re 
bellion,  ought  to  be  clone  away  with  at 
once  and  forever.  Others,  considering 

'  O 

themselves  as  more  conservative  in  their 
views,  wished  to  have  the  war  conduct 
ed  irrespective  of  the  question  of  sla 
very,  as  not  interfering  with  it  at  all, 
and  even  going  so  far  as  to  sustain  it,  to 
the  evident  benefit  anc  advantage  of  the 


rebellion.  The  ground  taken  in  the  be 
ginning,  and  persisted  in  for  a  long 
time,  by  the  national  authorities,  was, 
that  the  insurrectionary  states  were  to 
be  brought  to  submission  to  the  Consti 
tution  without  regard  to,  or  interference 
with,  state  institutions,  and  especially 
that  the  abolition  or  destruction  of  sla 
very  was  in  no  respect  a  part  of  the  pur 
pose  of  the  government.  The  progress 
of  events,  ho\yever,  and  the  necessity  of 
dealing  with  the  negroes  on  something 
of  a  settled  plan,  compelled  a  change  or 
modification  of  public  sentiment;  and 
as  we  shall  see  on  subsequent  pages, 
slavery  was  doomed  to  universal  and 
complete  destruction. 

In  the  House,  slavery  was  denounced 
as  the  cause  of  the  rebellion,  and  move 
ments  were  made  looking  to  the  imme 
diate  emancipation  of  slaves  who  had 
left  their  masters.  A  bill  was  intro- 
ed,  Dec.  5th,  "  to  confiscate  the  proper 
ty  of  rebels,  to  liberate  their  slaves,  and 
employ  or  colonize  the  same,  and 
for  other  purposes,"  which  was 
referred  to  the  committee  on  military 
affairs.  Gen.  Halleck's  order  (see  p.  88) 
was  severely  commented  on  by  some 
members,  and  defended  and  explained 
by  others  ;  the  resolution  respecting  it 
was  laid  on  the  table.  A  discussion 
was  had  on  the  general  question,  with 
various  disagreements  as  to  facts  and 
the  purposes  of  the  government.  A 
motion  was  made,  Dec.  IGth,  to  raise  a 
volunteer  force  to  protect  Kentucky. 
It  was  opposed  by  many  members  ;  it 
passed  the  House,  however,  but  it  fail 
ed  in  the  Senate.  On.  the  20th.  the 
committee  on  the  judiciary  was  instruct 
ed  to  report  a  bill  amending  the  fugi 


On.  VIIL] 

tive  slave  law  of  1850.  The  committee 
of  investigation  was  engaged  in  looking 
after  disloyal  persons  employed  as 
clerks,  etc.,  in  public  offices.  Further 
debates  were  had  early  in  the  new  year, 
in  favor  of  conducting  the  war  so  as 
to  destroy  slavery,  root  and  branch ; 
a  course  which  the  majority  were  much 
disposed  to  pursue  in  regard  to  the 
question  at  issue. 

In  the  Senate,  Dec.  4th,  Mr.  Sauls- 
bury,  of  Maryland,  made  a  motion  to 
appoint  commissioners  to  meet  gentle 
men  who  might  be  named  by  the  con 
federate  authorities,  so  as  to  adjust  ex 
isting  difficulties  peaceably,  without 
fighting  ;  but  it  was  laid  on  the  table  ; 
the  day  had  passed  for  any  such  mode 
of  settlement.  The  next  day,  Mr.  Trum- 
bull  introduced  a  bill  "for  the  confisca 
tion  of  the  property  of  rebels,  and  giv 
ing  freedom  to  the  persons  they  held  in 
slavery ;"  it  was  referred  to  the  commit 
tee  on  the  judiciary.  A  resolution  was 
offered,  Dec.  16th,  to  inquire  into  ar 
rests  made  by  the  government,  the 
liabeas  corpus  being  suspended ;  this 
was  also  referred  to  the  committee  on 
the  judiciary.  Papers,  certifying  that 
Mr.  B.  F.  Stark  of  Oregon,  was  appoint 
ed  to  take  the  place  vacated  by  the 
death  of  Col.  Baker,  were  presented  and 
read,  Jan.  6th,  1862;  objections  were 
made  by  several  senators  on  the  ground 
of  Mr.  Stark's  disloyalty ;  he  was, 
however,  permitted  to  take  his  seat  for 
the  balance  of  the  present  session.* 

*  The  Senate  took  measures,  early  in  the  session,  to 
purify  that  body  by  removing  several  unworthy  occu 
pants.  J.  C.  Breckenridge,  of  Kentucky,  was  expelled, 
Dec.  4th,  1801 ;  W.  P.  Johnston  and  Trusten  Polk,  of 
Missouri,  were  expelled,  Jan.  10th,  1862  ;  and  J.  D. 
Bright,  of  Indiana,  was  expelled,  Feb.  6th,  1862. 
VOL.  IV.— 14. 


ACTION    IN   CONGRESS. 


105 


Deferring  for  the  present  the  further 
consideration  of  the  proceedings  of  Con 
gress,  it  may  be  well  to  take  a  brief 
review  of  the  state  and  condition  of 
affairs  at  the  close  of  the  year  1861. 
Such  a  review  is  not  only  interesting 
in  itself  considered,  but,  if  duly  weigh 
ed,  will  prove  instructive  in  a  high 
degree.  The  people  of  the  loyal  states, 
for  the  most  part,  entertained  confident 
expectations  in  regard  to  the  active, 
energetic  and  successful  prosecution  of 
the  war  for  the  Union.  In  general, 
excepting  the  few  serious  reverses  at 
Bull  Run,  BalFs  Bluff,  etc.,  our  military 
success  was  decidedlv  encouraging ;  and 

«/  o       o  t 

the  brilliant  exploits  of  the  navy 
cheered  and  animated  all  hearts. 
Western  Virginia  was  almost  wholly 
in  our  hands.  The  prospects  in  the 
West  were  growing  brighter.  The 
people  at  large  were  ready  and  willing 
to  any  extent  to  furnish  means,  as  well 
as  men,  for  putting  down  effectually 
this  rr n-Kc-J.  rebellion;  and  there  was 
such  self-reliant  strength  in  the  Union, 
that  no  resort  was  had  to  foreign  aid 

^j 

in  taking  our  national  loans,  or  in  find- 

o  / 

ing  recruits  for  the  army  and  navy. 
The  army  was  steadily  on  the  increase  ; 
discipline  was  becoming  more  and  more 
complete;  and  our  men  were  growing 
stronger,  day  by  day,  and  better  fitted 
for  the  work  before  them.  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan  was  engaged  in  making  pre 
parations  on  a  scale  of  magnitude 
which  showed  that  he  meant  to  sweep 
everything  out  of  his  path,  when  he 
deemed  it  best  to  set  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  in  motion. 

The  drawback  in  McClellan's  case 
seemed  to  be,  and  it  provoked  abuud- 


106 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


ant  criticism,  that  lie  was  waiting  quite 
too  long  before  making  a  forward  move 
ment,  and  that  something  ought  to  be 
done  during  the  autumn  or  winter ; 
and  it  was  charged  that  the  rebels,  who 
had  proved  themselves  most  skilful  in 
deceiving  our  generals  and  other  officers 
in  regard  to  their  numbers,  had  im 
posed  on  McClellan  also,  making  him 
believe  that  they  had  from  120,000  to 
150,000  in  East  Virginia,  while  Gen. 
Wadsworth  affirmed  confidently,  from 
information  gained  from  "contrabands" 
and  deserters,  that  60,000  was  the 
highest  number  they  ever  had  encamp 
ed  in  front  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
(see  p.  94).  The  autumn  passed  away 
with  its  fine  weather ;  the  winter  set 
tled  down,  and  u  all  quiet  on  the  Poto 
mac  ;'  was  the  regular  response  to  in 
quiry  as  to  our  grand  army  and  its 
doings.*  The  army  was  wTaitiug  at 
the  end  of  the  year,  exposed  in  tents  to 
winter's  discomforts  and  severe  trials ; 
yet  it  was  waiting  in  hope  of  soon  being 
called  on  to  move  for  its  appointed 
work. 

One  question  had  proved  perplexing 
and  annoying  in  the  early  part  of  the 
rebellion,  we  mean  that  relating  to 
prisoners  and  what  to  do  with  them. 
Naturally,  the  government  was  reluct 
ant  to  admit,  even  in  appearance,  any 
belligerent  right  as  due  to  the  rebels 
by  exchanging  prisoners  with  them ; 
yet,  under  the  circumstances,  there  was 
no  help  for  it,  and  the  government  can 
hardly  be  said  to  have  acted  wisely  in 

*  Mr.  Swiuton  points  out  clearly  and  forcibly  the 
mistake  of  Gen  McClellan  in  delaying  his  movements, 
and  giving  so  little  satisfaction  to  the  universal  call 
for  activity  and  energy  against  the  rebels.  See  "Army 
oj the  Potomac"  TUX  68-74. 


the  course  which  was  pursued.  It 
would  not  do  to  hang  or  shoot  those 
taken  on  land  or  sea,  because  there 
were  so  many  of  our  men  in  the  hands  of 
the  rebels  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
that  they  could,  as  no  doubt  they 
would,  have  retaliated  to  the  fullest  ex 
tent.  The  government,  on  its  part, 
seemed  disposed  to  ignore  the  matter, 
leaving  exchange  to  be  agreed  upon 
and  conducted  by  the  commanders  and 
officers  as  they  deemed  best.  Quite  a 
number  were  discharged  informally  on 
both  sides,  on  parole.  Early  in  Sep 
tember,  Colonel  Wallace  exchanged 
some  prisoners  with  Gen.  Polk.  A 
mouth  later,  this  rebel  general 
proposed  to  Gen.  Grant  to  ex 
change  prisoners  with  him  on  the  same 
basis.  Grant  replied  that  he  was  not 
authorized  to  do  anything  of  the  kind, 
as  he  neither  knew  nor  recognized  any 
such  thing  as  a  "  Southern  Confeder 
acy."  Three  prisoners  were  sent  by 
Gen.  McClernard  from  Cairo  to  Colum 
bus  ;  Polk  sent  back  sixteen  to  Mc 
Clernard.  On  the  8th  of  November, 
after  the  battle  of  Belmont,  Grant  and 
Polk  had  further  correspondence  on 
this  subject,  but  without  any  additional 
result  as  to  settling  the  point.  Gen. 
Fremont  (as  noted,  p.  88)  established, 
November  1st,  an  agreement  with 
Price  in  regard  to  exchanges;  but  it 
was  repudiated  by  Gen.  Hunter.  At 
the  close  of  the  year,  and  early  in  the 
new  year,  in  compliance  with  public 
opinion  and  action  in  Congress,  the 
secretary  of  war,  Mr.  Stanton,  appoint 
ed  two  commissioners  to  proceed  to  the 
confederate  states  and  inquire  into  the 
condition  of  Union  prisoners  there ; 


CH.  VIIL] 


AFFAIRS  AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  YEAR. 


107 


but  they  were  refused  admission  into 
Richmond ;  and  the  subject  remained, 
at  the  end  of  1861,  unsettled  as  before, 
so  far  as  any  clear,  defined  principles 
were  concerned.* 

Our  foreign  policy  was  ably  conduct 
ed,  and  we  stood,  at  this  date,  in  such 
relation  to  the  principal  powers  of 
Europe  that  there  was  little  or  no  dan 
ger  of  direct  intervention  in  our  affairs 

o 

on  their  part.  The  giving  up  of 
Mason  and  Slidell,  and  the  settling 
the  Trent  difficulty  on  terms  acceptable 
to  England,  showed  the  good  sense  as 

o  '  O 

well  as  statesmanship  of  our  govern 
ment  ;  and  the  secretary  of  state  made 
it  so  plain,  that  there  was  no  misunder 
standing  it,  viz.,  that  the  rebellion  was 

O          /  / 

purely  a  domestic  matter,  and  that  no 
outside  interference  would  be  permitted 
for  a  moment. 

As  for  the  rebels,  they  were  only  too 
glad  to  maintain  the  appearance  of  a 
sort  of  siege  of  Washington,  and  to 
give  the  impression  of  their  great  and 
powerful  numbers,  and  of  the  immense 
risk  to  be  run  in  attacking  them.  They 
had  not  yet  enforced  a  general  conscrip 
tion,  as  was  soon  after  found  necessary  in 

*  We  may  mention  here,  as  most  convenient  for  the 
reader,  that  the  rebel  authorities  were  desirous  to  ar 
range  some  terms  for  a  general  exchange  of  prisoners. 
Two  persons  were  sent  to  Norfolk,  and  an  agreement 
was  entered  into  with  our  commissioners  for  an  equal 
exchange.  Gen.  Wool,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Feb.  14th, 
1863,  informed  Gen.  Huger  at  Norfolk,  that  he  was 
charged  with  full  authority  to  settle  upon  terms  of 
proposed  exchange.  Our  government  agreed  to  re 
gard  privatecrsmen  as  prisoners  of  war.  Howell  Cobb 
met  Gen.  Wool  and  terms  were  arranged.  Exchange 
went  on  for  a  while  ;  but  March  18th,  Davis  charged 
the  U.  S.  government  with  "  infamous  and  reckless 
breach  of  good  faith,"  with  regard  to  the  privateers- 
men,  and  the  prisoners  taken  at  Fort  Donelson.  So 
far  as  appears,  our  government  carried  out  its  agree 
ment  lion  Drably  and  fairly  ;  it  released  3,01)0  on  parole, 


the  rebel  states ;  and  though  they 
helped  along  volunteering  in  a  rather 
forcible  way  oftentimes,  still  they  were 
in  reality  weaker  than  was  supposed, 
and  were  growing  weaker,  while  our 

O  O  / 

armies  were  improving  and  becoming 
stronger.  They  were  but  poorly  sup 
plied  with  various  needful  articles,  and 
the  blockade,  much  as  it  was  abused 
on  the  score  of  inefficiency,  cut  them 
off  from  obtaining  aught  but  casual 
and  unreliable  help  from  abroad. 

Two  causes,  according  to  Pollard, 
conspired  to  reduce  the  southern  cause 
to  a  critical  condition  of  apathy :  viz., 
"  the  overweening  confidence  of  the 
South  in  the  superior  valor  of  its  peo 
ple,  induced  by  the  unfortunate  victory 
of  Manassas  (or  Bull  Run),  and  the  vain 
delusion,  continued  from  month  to 
month,  that  European  interference  was 
certain,  and  that  peace  was  near  at 
hand."  No  gun  boats,  we  are  told, 
were  built  for  interior  navigation  and 
service ;  the  privateers  proved  almost  a 
failure,  and  did  not,  as  was  predicted, 
cut  up  or  destroy  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States ;  no  naval  preparations 
wrere  made,  though  they  had  the  best 

taken  at  Roanoke  Island,  but  refused  to  do  the  same 
with  the  Fort  Donelson  prisoners.  Much  disputing 
took  place,  and  ill  feeling  in  abundance,  with  crimina 
tion  and  recrimination,  was  manifested  In  the  latter 
part  of  July,  Gen.  Dix  and  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill  arranged  an 
agreement  for  exchange,  based  on  the  cartel  of  1812, 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  Ex 
changes  again  commenced,  and  were  carried  forward 
for  some  time ;  but  new  troubles  arose,  and  fierce 
threats  of  retaliation  were  made  by  Davis,  outlawing 
Gens.  Hunter  and  Pope,  and  all  officers  concerned  in 
helping  to  arm  the  negroes.  The  whole  subject  waa 
complicated  and  perplexing  ;  and  all  through  the  war 
there  was  much  of  annoyance  and  trouble  with  regard 
to  prisoners.  For  a  fuller  account  of  this  subject,  with 
documents,  see  Ap,>  cton's  "American  Annual  Cyilo- 
pcedia,"  for  1802,  pp.  710-710. 


108 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


navy  yard  on  the  continent ;  "  King 
Cotton  "  was  little  better  than  a  sham, 
and  did  not,  as  it  was  confidently  said 
it  would,  "  bring  Europe  to  its  knees ;" 
and  the  political  measures  of  the  South 
amounted  to  almost  nothing.  "  They 
are  justly  described  as  weak  and  halting 
responses  to  the  really  vigorous  acts  of 
the  northern  government,  in  its  heartless 
but  strong  and  effective  prosecution  of 
the  war.  While  the  Washington  govern 
ment  protected  itself  against  disaffected 
persons  and  spies  by  a  system  of  mili 
tary  police,  extending  over  the  whole 
North,  the  provisional  Congress  at  Rich 
mond  was  satisfied  to  pass  a  law  for  the 
deportation  of  l  alien  enemies,'  the  exe 
cution  of  which  afforded  facilities  to 
the  egress  of  innumerable  spies.  The 
Washington  government  had  passed  a 
law  for  the  confiscation  of  the  property 
of  rebels.  The  Congress  at  Richmond 
replied,  after  a  Aveak  hesitation,  by  a 
law  sequestrating  the  property  of  alien 
enemies  in  the  South.  The  Washington 
government  was  actually  collecting  an 
army  of  half  a  million  of  men.  The 
Richmond  Congress  replied  to  the 
threat  of  numbers,  by  increasing  its 
army,  on  paper,  to  four  hundred  thou 
sand  men  ;  and  the  Confederate  govern 
ment,  in  the  midst  of  a  revolution  that 
threatened  its  existence,  continued  to 
rely  on  the  wretched  shift  of  twelve 
months'  volunteers  and  raw  militia, 
with  a  population  that,  by  the  opera 
tion  of  conscription,  could  have  been 


embodied  and  drilled  into  an  invincible 
army,  competent  not  only  to  oppose  in 
vasion  at  every  point  of  our  frontier, 
but  to  conquer  peace  in  the  dominions 
of  the  enemy." 

Bitter  complaint  also  is  made  by  Pol 
lard,  as  to  "  the  policy  of  monotonous 
defence,"  and  the  leaving  the  Union 
army  to  arrange  and  perfect  its  plans 
without  hindrance.  Added  to  all  this, 
he  notes  various  abuses  and  defects  ex 
isting  in  the  management  of  southern 

O  O 

affairs  ;  and  altogether  gives  a  discour 
aging  view  of  the  prospects  of  the  so- 
called  "  Confederate  States  of  America." 
The  result  of  our  review,  brief  as  it 
is,  seems  to  be  this  much  at  least, — that 
the  position  of  the  government  and 
people  was  such  as  to  lead  to  cheering 
hope  and  expectation*  that  the  war 
would  speedily  be  brought  to  a  close, 
especially  as  Gen.  McClellan  said,  more 
than  once,  that  when  he  did  strike,  he 
meant  to  strike  at  "  the  heart,"  and 
crush  the  rebellion  entirely  thereby. 
How  it  happened  that  these  bright 
forecastings  of  the  future  were  doomed 
to  disappointment,  and  the  rebellion 
was  able  to  drag  out  a  lengthened  exist 
ence,  will  be  made  plain  to  the  reader 
who  watches  the  progress  of  events,  as 
detailed  in  subsequent  pages  of  our  his 
tory. 

*  The  financial  condition  of  the  government,  it  must 
be  noted,  however,  was  not  satisfactory.  More  or  less 
distrust  prevailed  as  to  public  credit ;  and  on  tha 
last  day  of  the  year  1801,  the  banks  suspended  spoci« 
payments. 


CH.  IX.] 


STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  IN  KENTUCKY. 


109 


CHAPTER    IX. 


1862. 

OPEBATIONS  IN  THE  WEST:  MILL  SPRINGS,  FORTS  HENRY  AND    DONELSON,  ETC. 

Gen.  Buell  in  Kentucky  —  Johnston,  the  rebel  commander,  and  his  plans  —  Affair  at  Munfordsville —  Garfielc 
pursues  Marshall  and  routs  his  forces  near  Prestonburg  —  Zollicoffer  and  Crittendon  at  Mill  Springs  —  Gen 
Thomas  advances  —  Defeat  of  the  rebels  —  Value  of  this  victory  —  The  iron-clad  gun  boats  on  the  Mississippi 

—  Mortar  boats  —  Commodore  Foote  in  command  —  President's  general  war  order  —  Foote  and  Grant  ad 
vance  against  Fort  Henry  —  Bombardment  and  capture  by  the  gun  boats  —  Lieut.  Phelps' expedition  up  the 
Tennessee — Union  sentiments  —  Fort  Donelson  —  Its  strength  and  importance  —  Pillow  in  command  — 
The  fort  invested  by  Grant  —  Severity  of  the  weather — Attack  by  the  gun  boats  unsuccessful — Rebels  at 
tempt  to  cut  their  way  out  —  Length  and  severity  of  the  battle  —  Floyd  and  Pillow  decamp  —  Euckner  sur 
renders  to  Grant  —  Large  number  of  prisoners  —  Chagrin  of  Davis  and  company  —  Bowling  Green  evacu 
ated  —  Commodore  Foote  ascends  the  Cumberland  —  Nashville  taken  possession  of — Panic  of  the  inhabitants 

—  Andrew  Johnson  military  governor  —  His  course  —  Columbus  abandoned  by  the  rebels  —  Gen.  Halleck's 
order —  Alarm  in  the  South,  and  extreme  measures  — Gen.  Curtis  in  Missouri  —  Price  retreats  from  Spring 
field  —  Pursued  into  Arkansas  —  Poisoned  food  —  Gen.  Curtis's  address  to  the  people  of  the  South-west  — 
Price  reinforced  largely  —  Amount  of  forco  on  each  side  —  The  enemy  begin  the  attack  —  Three  days'  battle 

—  Defeat  of  the  rebels  —  Employment  of  Indians  by  the  rebels  —  Southern  view  of  the  result  of  the  battle 
of  Pea  Ridge,  or  Elk  Horn. 


THE  year  1862  opened  with  various 
encouraging  evidences  of  activity  and 
energy,  in  the  West  especially.     The 
forces  under  McClellan  were  maintain 
ing  their  position  undisturbed, 

1862 

and  continued  to  do  so  for  some 
time  after  the  year  began  ;  but,  in  Ken 
tucky,  our  army  was  more  actively  em 
ployed.  Gen.  Buell,  an  able  and  ener 
getic  officer,  was  in  command  in  this  de 
partment,  having  succeeded  Gen.  "W.  T. 
Sherman,  in  Nov.,  1861.  The  rebels 
were  commanded  by  Gen.  A.  S.  John 
ston,  formerly  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  array.  He,  having  got  together 
bodies  of  troops  from  various  quarters, 
strengthened  Bowling  Green — a  point 
of  great  importance  in  Kentucky — by 
Hardee's  division,  from  South-eastern 


Missouri.  Polk  also  received  additions 
to  his  force,  which  was  already  large ; 
wrhile  Zollicoffer  (see  p.  39),  having 
secured  the  pass  at  Cumberland  Gap, 
was  taking  up  an  important  position  in 
the  midst  of  the  rich  mineral  and  agri 
cultural  district  on  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Cumberland.  Johnston,  in  the  lat 
ter  part  of  December,  issued  a  procla 
mation  to  the  people  of  South-eastern 
Kentucky,  in  which,  with  considerable 
nourish  of  rhetoric,  he  declared  that  he 
was  come  to  repel  "  those  armed  north 
ern  hordes  who  were  attempting  the 
subjugation  of  a  sister  southern  state." 
He  asserted,  also,  though  he  himself 
knew  that  it  was  a  slander,  that  the 
avowed  object  of  the  North  was  to  set 
the  slaves  at  liberty,  and  to  put  arms  in 


110 


ABKAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


their  hands  to  be  used  against  their 
masters. 

The  day  following  this  proclamation, 
there  was  a  spirited  engagement  on  the 
south  side  of  Green  Kiver,  opposite 
Munfordsville,  at  Hewlett's  Station, 
where  the  troops  were  restoring  the 
railroad  bridge  which  had  been  des- 

o 

troyed  by  the  rebels.  Our  force  was 
largely  outnumbered,  but  bravely  re 
pelled  the  enemy.  Falling  back  to 
wards  Bowling  Green,  the  Gibraltar  of 
Kentucky,  as  it  was  called,  the  rebels 
concentrated  a  large  force  there,  under 
Johnston,  while  McCook's,  Nelson's  and 
Mitchell's  divisions  of  Buell's  army 
threatened  the  position  in  front. 

At  this  time,  early  in  January, 
Humphrey  Marshall  had  gathered  a 
force  of  some  3,000  rebels  in  the  extreme 
eastern  part  of  the  state,  on  the  Big 
Sanely  Kiver,  and  had  entrenched  him 
self  in  the  neighborhood  of  Paintville. 
From  hence  he  expected  to  sweep  East 
ern  Kentucky,  take  possession  of  Frank 
fort,  and  set  up  the  secession  "  Provi 
sional  "  Governor,  G.  W.  Johnson. 
Gen.  Buell,  however,  sent  Col.  Garfield 
after  him  with  a  brigade  of  infantry 
and  some  300  cavalry.  The  march  was 
one  of  great  difficulty  and  toil,  owing 
to  the  deep  mud  in  the  roads  and  the 

wet,  inclement   winter   season. 

Marshall  hastily  retreated,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  closely  pursued  by 
Garfield' s  troops.  On  the  9th,  at  noon,  a 
reinforcement  having  arrived,  the  enemy 
were  further  pursued  toward  Preston- 
burg.  Night  coming  on,  when  near  the 
town,  they  slept  on  their  arms  on  the 
field,  and  early  the  next  morning, 
moved  on  Marshall's  main  body  at 


1862. 


Middle  Creek  Forks,  three  miles  be 
yond  Prestonburg.  Marshall's  force 
was  about  2,500  men,  with  three  can 
non,  planted  on  a  hill.  Garfield  had 
less  than  2,000  ;  but  the  fight  was  con 
ducted  with  so  much  ability  and  brav 
ery  on  his  part,  that  the  enemy  was 
driven  from  all  his  positions.  Our  losb. 
was  only  two  killed  and  twenty -five 
wounded. 

By  this  decisive  battle,  Kentucky 
was  freed  from  Marshall  and  his  force  ; 
and  Gens.  Thomas  and  Schoepf  were 
left  at  liberty  to  look  after  Zollicoffer. 
On  the  borders  of  Wayne  and  Pulaski 
County,  Zollicoffer  held  an  advantage 
ous  position  on  both  sides  of  the  Cum 
berland,  which  he  fortified  with  great 
skill.  The  spot  which  he  had 
selected  was  at  Mill  Springs,  a 
bend  of  the  Cumberland,  where,  at  its 
junction  with  the  White  Oak  Creek, 
was  afforded  water  protection  on  three 
sides.  In  this  area,  on  a  range  of  hills 
several  hundred  feet  above  the  river, 
and  supporting  one  another,  Zollicoffer 
had  built  his  works,  and  he  had  encamp 
ed  there  some  12,000  men,  with  about 
800  cavalry  and  fifteen  pieces  of  artillery. 
Zollicoffer  was  joined,  early  in  January, 
by  Gen.  G.  B.  Crittenden,  son  of  the 
venerable  senator  from  Kentucky,  who 
took  command,  and  issued  a  proclama 
tion  after  the  usual  style.  In  front  of 
the  rebel  position  was  Gen.  Schoepf, 
with  about  8,000  men,  while  Gen. 
Thomas  was  stationed  with  his  division 
some  distance  to  the  north,  at  Lebanon 

In  this  position  of  affairs,  Gen. 
Thomas  was  charged  with  the  important 
duty  of  dislodging  and  defeating  the 
enemy.  On  the  17th  of  January, 


Cri.  IX.] 


BATTLE  AT  MILL  SPRINGS. 


Ill 


Thomas  reached  Webb's  or  Logan's 
Cross  Roads,  about  ten  miles  north  of 
Zollicoffer's  position,  and,  on  conference 
with  Schoepf,  made  arrangements  for 
the  attack.  The  roads  were  almost  im 
passable,  and  the  movement  was  conse 
quently  somewhat  less  rapid;  on  the 
19th,  however,  the  battle  took  place, 
Crittenden  having  found  himself  in  such 
a  position  of  affairs  that  he  must  either 
be  stormed  out  and  run  away,  or  make 
an  advance.  He  chose  the  latter,  and 
probably  thinking  that  the  Union  force 
was  less  than  it  proved,  he  expected  to 
gain  a  victory  without  difficulty.  This 
was  on  Sunday  morning,  and  after  a 
severe  contest  of  four  or  five  hours,  the 
rebels  were  driven  back  to  their  en 
trenchments.  During  the  night,  they 
abandoned  everything  and  retired, 
burning  the  ferry  boats,  and  being  in  a 
very  demoralized  condition.  Twelve 
pieces  of  artillery  and  a  large  amount 
of  ammunition  and  stores,  together  with 
1,000  horses  and  mules,  fell  into  our 
hands.  Zollicoffer  was  killed,  and  the 
rebel  loss  was  very  heavy  ;  our  loss,  in 
all,  was  232. 

The  news  of  this  battle  at  Mill 
Springs,  or  Logan's  Cross  Roads,  was 
received  with  enthusiasm  at  the  North. 
It  furnished  complete  evidence  of  the 
courage  -and  perseverance  of  our  troops, 
and  their  ability  to  meet  the 
rebels,  who,  it  had  been  as 
sumed,  were  superior  in  a  hand  to  hand 
contest.  This  decisive  victory  broke 
up  the  enemy's  line  in  Kentucky,  open 
ed  the  path  into  East  Tennessee,  and 
proved  the  commencement  of  a  series 
of  successful  military  operations  in  the 
progress  of  the  war  in  the  "West. 


1§62. 


At  the  same  time  that  these  move 
ments,  just   detailed,    were  going   on, 
Gen.  Halleck  was  busily  engaged   in 
making     preparations     for    operating 
against  the  left  of  the  enemy's  line  on 
the  Mississippi  and  the  northern  boun 
dary  of  Tennessee.     The  navy  depart 
ment,  during  the  autumn  and  winter, 
had  pushed  forward,  at  St.  Louis  and 
Cincinnati,  the  getting  ready  the  gun 
boats    and    mortar    fleet ;    these    had 
gathered  at  Cairo  for  an  onward  move 
ment  down  the  Mississippi.     The  iron- 
covered  gun  boats  were  specially  con 
structed  for  the  service.      They  were 
broad  in  proportion  to  their  length,  so 
as  to  sit  firmly  on  the  water  and  sup 
port  with  steadiness  the  heavy  batteries 
for   which   they  were  intended.     The 
largest  were  of  the  proportion  of  about 
175  feet  to  50,  drawing  five  feet  when 
loaded.     They   were  firmly    built   of 
oak  with  extra  strength  at  the  bows 
and  bulwarks,  and  were  sheathed  with 
wrought  iron  plates  two  and  a  half 
inches  in  thickness.     To  ward  off  the 
shots  of  the  enemy,  the  sides  of  the 
boats,  both  above  and  below  the  knee, 
were  made  to  incline  at  an  angle  of  45°, 
so  that  they  could  be  struck  at  right 
angles  only  by  a  plunging  fire.     These 
boats   were  so   built   that,   in   action, 
they  could  be  kept  "  bow  on,"  and  use 
their  bow  battery  and  broadsides  with 
tremendous  effect.      Seven  out  of  tho 
twelve  gun  boats  were  iron-clad,  and 
carried     armament     of    the     heaviest 
character.      The   mortar   boats    (some 
thirty  or  more  in  number)  were  about 
60  feet  long  and  25  wide,  and  were 
surrounded  on  all  sides  by  iron-plate 
bulwarks  six  or  seven  feet  his-h.     The 


112 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK. 


huge  mortar  which  they  earned,  bored 
to  admit  a  13-inch  shell,  with  17  inches 
of  thickr.ess  from  the  edge  of  the  bore 
to  the  outer  rim,  weighed  over  17,000 
pounds ;  while  the  bed  or  carriage  on 
which  it  was  placed  weighed  4,500 
pounds.  From  this  formidable  engine 
shells  might  be  thrown  a  distance  of 
two  and  a  half  to  three  and  a  half 
miles.  Each  boat  was  manned  by  a 
captain,  lieutenant  and  twelve  men, 
most  of  the  men  being  western  boat 
men  and  volunteers,  familiar  with  navi 
gation  and  the  peculiar  service  in  which 
they  were  to  be  engaged.*  Commo 
dore  Foote,  a  veteran  but  energetic 
officer,  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
flotilla. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  month, 
January  27th,  President  Lincoln  issued 
his  "General  War  Order,  No.  1,"  as 
follows : 

"  Ordered,  That  the  22d  day  of  Feb 
ruary,  1862,  be  the  day  for  a  general 
movement  of  the  land  and  naval  forces 
of  the  United  States  against  the  insur 
gent  forces.  That  especially 
the  army  at  and  about  Fortress 
Monroe,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the 
army  of  Western  Virginia,  the  army 
near  Munfordsville,  Kentucky,  the 
army  and  flotilla  at  Cairo,  and  a  naval 
force  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  be  ready 
to  move  on  that  day.  That  all  other 
forces,  both  land  and  naval,  with  their 
respective  commanders,  obey  existing 
orders  for  the  time,  and  be  ready  to 
obey  additional  orders  when  duly  given. 


18G2. 


*  For  a  full  discussion  of  the  subject  of  the  con 
struction  of  new  vessels  for  the  navy,  the  iron-clad 
navy,  the  monitors,  etc.,  together  with  valuable  statis 
tics,  see  Dr.  Boynton's  "  History  of  the  Navy  during 
the  Rebellion,"  vol.  I,  pp.  117-243. 


That  the  heads  of  departments,  and 
especially  the  secretaries  of  war  and 
of  the  navy,  with  all  their  subordin 
ates,  and  the  general-in-chief,  with  all 
other  commanders  and  subordinates  of 
laud  and  naval  forces,  will  severally  be 
held  to  their  strict  and  full  responsi 
bilities  for  prompt  execution  of  this 
order." 

Eager  to  anticipate,  if  possible,  the 
wishes  of  the  president,  Commodore 
Foote  and  Gen.  Grant,  with  the  appro 
val  of  Gen.  Halleck,  determined  to 
make  an  attack  upon  Fort  Henry,  at 
the  beginning  of  February.  The  Ten 
nessee  River,  in  consequence  of  an  un 
usual  rise  in  the  water  at  this  time, 
offered  a  very  favorable  opportunity 
for  navigation  and  transport  of  troops ; 
and  the  expedition  consisting  of  four 
iron-clad  gun  boats,  and  a  fleet  of  trans 
ports  with  the  land  forces,  set  sail  from 
Paducah,  on  the  4th  of  February,  at 
daylight.  Fort  Henry  wras  distant 
some  65  miles  by  the  river,  and  in  the 
afternoon,  the  flotilla  reached  a  point 
about  four  miles  below  the  fort,  where 
a  body  of  troops,  under  Gen.  McClern- 
and,  was  landed.  The  object  was,  to 
make  a  detour  and  take  the  work  in 
the  rear,  while  the  gun  boats  made  the 
attack  from  the  water.  Gen.  Grant 
having  brought  up  additional  troops 
the  next  day,  the  land  and  naval  force 
advanced  to  the  attack  on  Thursday, 
Feb.  6th.  Some  15,000  of  the  troops, 
under  Gen.  C.  F.  Smith,  proceeded  by 
the  left  bank  on  the  Kentucky  shore, 
to  take  and  occupy  the  heights  com 
manding  the  fort.  About  an  equal 
number  moved  across  the  country  to 
the  rear  of  the  fort,  on  the  road  to  Fort 


FORT  IIEXItY  CAPTURED 


113 


Donelson,  the  design  being  to  prevent 
reinforcements  to  Fort  Henry,  or  the 
retreat  of  the  garrison,  or  to  attack  it 
on  receipt  of  orders.  The  army,  how 
ever,  owino-  to  the  badness  of  the 

/  o 

roads,  and  necessary  delays,  was  not  in 
time  to  share  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Henry ;  it  was  accomplished  by  the 
naval  force  alone. 

About  ten  o'clock,  the  gun  boats 
moved  towards  the  fort,  and  when 
within  a  mile,  commenced  the  assault. 
This  was  a  little  after  noon,  and  the 
firing  on  both  sides  was  rapid  and 
steadily  continued ;  but  the  boats  were 
too  much  for  the  fort.  Within  an  hour 
and  a  quarter  the  rebel  nag  was  hauled 
down  and  the  fort  surrendered.  The 
troops  in  the  fort,  numbering  some 
4,000  or  5,000,  escaped  before  General 
Grant  could  intercept  them.  Eighty- 
thrce  prisoners  were  taken,  Gen.  Tilgh- 
man  being  one;  there  was  also  a  large 
amount  of  stores,  which  fell  into  our 
hands.  The  chief  casualty  of  the  day 
was  produced  by  a  shot  which  pene 
trated  the  boiler  of  the  Essex,  and 
caused  the  wounding  and  scalding  of 
twenty -nine  officers  and  men,  including 
Commander  Porter. 

This  victory  was  regarded  with  much 
satisfaction  at  the  North  ;  the  dispatch 
of  Commodore  Foote  was  read  in  both 
Houses  of  Congress ;  and  the  thanks 
of  the  people  were  conveyed  to  our 
gallant  naval  force  which  had  done 
such  good  service. 

Directly  after  the  surrender,  Lieuten 
ant-Commanding  Phelps  proceeded,  by 
order  of  Commodore  Foote,  with  the 
gun  boats  Conestoga,  Tyler  and' Lexing 
ton,  some  200  miles  up  the  Tennessee 

VOL.  IV.—15 


River.      The  expedition  was    entirely 
successful.     The  railroad  bridge,  about 

O      ' 

twenty-five  miles  above  Fort  Henry, 
was  partly  destroyed,  so  that  the  enemy 
could  not  use  it;  the  boats  proceeded 
as  far  up  the  river  as  Florence,  Ala 
bama,  forcing  the  rebels  to  burn  six  of 
their  steamers  and  much  valuable  pro 
perty  ;  two  steamers  were  captured, 
together  with  a  gun  boat  partly  finish 
ed,  and  a  large  supply  of  excel 
lent  lumber.  Lieut.  Phelps 
met  with  many  cheering  evidences  of 
the  loyal  feelings  of  the  people  in  Ten 
nessee  and  Alabama. 

The  fall  of  Fort  Henry  opened  the 
way  for  an  immediate  advance  upon 
Fort  Donelson,  on  the  Cumberland 
River.  This  imposing  fortification  was 
situated  near  the  boundary  of  Tennes 
see,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  about 
100  miles  from  its  mouth.  It  was  con 
nected  by  a  direct  road  with  Fort 
Henry,  and  served  as  an  out-post  or 
river  defence  of  Nashville,  some  eighty 
miles  above.  By  the  aid  of  railroad 
communications,  reinforcements  had 
been  hurried  to  Donelson,  and  warned 
by  the  fate  of  Fort  Henry,  the  rebels 
determined  to  retain,  if  possible,  so 
important  a  barrier  against  the  ap 
proach  of  our  army  into  Tennessee. 

Two  days  after  Fort  Henry  fell, 
Gen.  Pillow  took  command  of  Fort 
Donelson,  and  added  in  various  ways 
to  its  defences.  Naturally  it  was  a 
strong  position,  being  on  a  sloping  ele 
vation  over  a  100  feet  high,  with  other 
hills  and  ravines  densely  wooded  all 
around.  Two  water  batteries  were 
added,  supplied  with  heavy  ordnance ; 
on  the  summit  were  trenches,  01  rifle 


114 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


1§62. 


pits,  protected  by  abattis  of  felled 
trees  and  interlaced  brushwood;  and 
in  every  suitable  spot  howitzers  and 
field  pieces  were  stationed.  Its  gar 
rison  amounted  to  nearly  20,000  men, 
so  important  was  it  deemed  by  the 
rebels  to  hold  the  place.  Floyd,  who 
arrived  with  reinforcements  on  the  13th 
of  February,  was  chief  in  command, 
and  was  aided  by  Pillow,  Buckner,  B. 
K.  Johnson,  and  others. 

Nothing  daunted  at  the  prospect, 
Gen.  Grant  and  Commodore  Foote 
hastened  forward  preparations  for  the 
attack,  although  there  was,  as  there 
always  seems  to  be,  delay  at  a  moment 
when  time  was  precious.  Foote, 
with  his  gun  boats,  was  to  at 
tack  the  water  batteries ;  while  Grant 
was  to  invest  the  fort  on  land.  The 
latter  was  first  on  the  spot.  He  left 
Fort  Henry  early  on  the  morning  of 
the  12th  of  February,  with  a  force  of 
about  25,000  men,  in  two  divisions, 
commanded  by  Gens.  McClernand  and 
C.  F.  Smith.  The  weather  was  mild 
and  spring  like,  and  by  noon  the  ad 
vance  was  reported  to  be  within  two 
miles  of  the  works  at  Fort  Donelson. 
As  our  troops  came  up  the  enemy's 
pickets  were  driven  in,  and  a  semi 
circular  line  of  investment  was  formed 
before  the  fortifications.  Gradual  ap 
proaches  were  made  to  the  works,  with 
occasional  sharp  skirmishing  along  the 
line,  the  enemy  retiring  to  their  defen 
ces  beyond  the  ravine  which  separated 
the  two  armies. 

During  Thursday,  the  13th,  no  gene 
ral  attack  was  made  upon  the  rebel 
entrenchment,  General  Grant  being  in 
waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  gun  boats, 


and  for  additional  troops  under  Gen. 
Wallace.  The  investment,  however, 
was  drawn  closer,  and  there  was  some 
heavy  firing  of  artillery.  Several  move 
ments  were  made  against  special  points, 
and  the  greatest  bravery  was  displayed 
by  our  men ;  but  when  night  came,  the 
troops  occupied  the  same  position  as  in 
the  morning.  In  fact,  it  became  evident 
that  the  present  was  a  far  more  serious 
undertaking  than  the  one  which  was  so 
speedily  settled  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Henry. 

In  the  evening,  the  gun  boats  and  re 
inforcements  arrived,  and  the  morrow 
was  to  test  the  question  at  issue. 
Meanwhile,  the  mild  arid  beautiful 
weather,  under  which  the  army  had 
left  Fort  Henry,  changed  suddenly  to 
winter's  severity  and  keenness.  A 
heavy  rain  set  in,  which  turned  in  the 
night  to  a  storm  of  snow  and  sleet ;  and 
many  of  our  troops,  being  without 
blankets  or  tents,  were  exposed  to  the 
utmost  rigors  of  the  situation ;  while, 
if  they  lighted  a  fire,  they  were  imme 
diately  exposed  to  the  enemy's  guns. 
The  sufferings  of  our  troops  that  night 
will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  Once,  the 
rebels  made  a  sortie  and  strove  to  cap 
ture  one  of  our  batteries ;  but  the  20th 
Indiana,  lying  in  the  woods  below  it, 
repulsed  them,  after  a  sharp  and  brief 
skirmish.* 

About  midnight,  Commodore  Foote 
arrived  in  the  immediate  neighborhood 
of  the  fort,  and  early  the  next  morning, 
Feb.  14th,  on  conference  with  General 


*  Pollard  takes  comfort  to  himself  in  the  remark, 
that  the  men  who  fought  so  well  at  Fort  Donelson 
were  all  Western  men,  not  one,  he  says,  of  the  hated 
"  Yankees  "  being  present. 


ClL  IX.] 


CAPTURE  OF  FORT  DONELSOJST. 


115 


Grant,  a  joint  attack,  the  same  day, 
was  determined  upon.  Grant,  by  the 
addition  of  some  8,000  troops,  under 
Wallace,  felt  strong  enough  for  the  as 
sault  by  land  ;  and  Foote,  though  not 
fully  confident,  did  not  hesitate  to 
undertake  his  part  of  the  work.  Be 
tween  two  and  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  the  conflict  began  with  four 
iron-clad  gun  boats  in  advance  and  two 
wooden  ones  in  the  rear ;  but  though  J 
bravely  handled,  they  were  unable  to 
keep  up  the  contest  for  more  than  an 
hour,  and  having  become  unmanageable, 
they  drifted  slowly  down  the  stream. 
Grant  now  thought  it  advisable  to 

O 

invest  Fort  Donelson  as  completely  as 
possible,  and  await  repairs  to  the  gun 
boats.  His  purpose,  however,  was 
frustrated  by  the  enemy.  They  saw 
and  felt  the  danger  of  being  surround 
ed,  and  determined  at  once  to  make  an 
effort  to  fight  their  way  out.  Accord 
ingly,  they  resolved  to  begin  at  day 
light,  on  the  15th  of  February,  and  cut 
open  an  exit  for  their  troops  into  the 
interior  of  the  country.  The  assault 
was  made  at  the  time  specified,  on  the 
right  of  our  whole  line,  and  for  seve 
ral  hours  the  rebels  fought  with  des 
perate  bravery  and  resolution.  They 
gained  some  advantage  during  the 
fight,  but  were  in  turn  repulsed,  with 
fearful  loss  on  both  sides,  and  were 
driven  behind  their  inner  works. 
When  night  came  on,  our  troops  held 
the  position  they  had  gained,  and  re 
mained  under  arms  till  morning,  in 
tending  at  dawn  of  day  to  recommence 
the  attack. 

Satisfied  that  they  could  not  hold  the 
fort  without  reinforcements,  Floyd  and 


1862. 


Pillow  passed  the  command  over  to 
Buckner,  and  during  the  night,  embark 
ed  about  5,000  troops  in  steamboats, 
and  made  their  escape.  The  next 
morning  early,  Buckner  sent  a  flag  of 
truce,  asking  for  terms,  etc.  Grant  was 
short  and  sharp  in  his  reply  :  "  no  terms, 
except  unconditional  and  immediate 
surrender,  can  be  accepted,"  he  said. 
Buckner,  protesting  against  Grant's 
u  ungenerous  and  unchivalrous  terms," 
gave  up  the  contest,  and  on  Sunday 
morning,  Feb.  16th,  the  Union 
flag  waved  over  this  strong 
hold  of  the  rebellion. 

Our  loss  was  severe,  being  446  killed, 
1,735  wounded,  and  150  prisoners; 
total  2,331.  The  rebel  loss  was  231 
killed,  1,007  wounded,  and  13,829  pri 
soners;  total  15,067.  In  addition  to 
the  large  number  taken  prisoners,  there 
fell  into  our  hands  about  fifty  cannon, 
3,000  horses,  20,000  stand  of  arms,  and 
a  large  quantity  of  commissary  stores.* 

This  important  victory  was  pecul 
iarly  gratifying  to  loyal  men  every 
where.  Gen.  Grant  congratulated  his 
troops  for  the  triumph  over  rebellion 
gained  by  their  valor,  and  for  their 
readiness,  during  four  successive  nights, 
without  shelter,  and  exposed  to  the  bit 
ter  inclemency  of  the  season,  to  face  the 
enemy  in  the  position  chosen  by  him 
self.  On  the  other  hand,  as  can  readily 
be  imagined,  Davis  and  the  rebel  au 
thorities  were  deeply  mortified  at  the 
fall  of  Fort  Donelson.  In  a  message  to 
his  Congress,  March  llth,  he  pronoun 
ced  Floyd's  and  Pillow's  reports  "  in- 


*  Some  southern  writers  say,  that  the  number  sur 
rendered  was  only  about  5,000,  and  assert  that,  all  told, 
the  troops  at  Fort  Donelson  amounted  to  only  13,000. 


116 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VII  I. 


complete  and  unsatisfactory,"  and  pro 
fessed  himself  in  the  dark  as  to  the 
reasons  for  their  movements.  He  ac 
cordingly  suspended  them  from;  com 
mand  for  the  present. 

The  fall  of  Fort  Donelson  hastened 
the  crisis  in  rebel  affairs  in  the  West. 
The  rebel  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnston  had  be 
fore  this  seen  that  Bowling  Green, 
Kentucky,  was  untenable,  and  orders 
were  given  to  evacuate  it.  This  was 
done  on  the  14th  of  February,  when 
Gen.  Mitchel  took  immediate  possession. 
By  a  forced  inarch  of  eighty  miles,  the 
rebel  force  reached  Nashville  on  the 
16th,  and  under  Johnston's  command 
passed  on  to  Murfreesboro,  thirty-two 
miles  distant,  on  the  Nashville  and 
Chattanooga  Railroad.  Commodore 
Foote  with  his  gun  boats  ascended  the 
Cumberland,  destroying  the  extensive 
iron  works,  six  miles  above  Dover,  and 
reaching  Clarksville  on  the  19th  of 
February.  The  enemy  had  fled,  and 
great  alarm  was  manifested  respecting 
the  purpose  of  our  advancing  force. 

Of  course,  Nashville  followed  the 
fate  of  Donelson.  Without  the  latter, 
it  was  defenceless;  and  hence,  when 
the  news  came,  on  Sunday  forenoon, 
that  the  fort  was  lost,  the  city  was 
thrown  into  consternation.  Floyd  des 
troyed  the  bridges  over  the  Cumberland, 
and  hastened  away.  "  An  earthquake,'; 
says  Pollard,  "  could  not  have  shocked 
the  city  more.  The  congregations  at 
the  churches  were  broken  up  in  confu 
sion  and  dismay  ;  women  and  children 
rushed  into  the  streets,  wailing  with 
terror  ;  trunks  were  thrown  from  three- 
story  windows  in  the  haste  of  the  fugi 
tives  ;  and  thousands  hastened  to  leave  ; 


their  beautiful  city  in  the  midst  of  the 
most  distressing  scenes  of  terror  and 
confusion,  and  of  plunder  by  the  mob." 
On  the  24th  of  February,  the  Union 
forces  reached  Nashville,  which  was 
formally  surrendered  by  the  mayor 
into  Gen.  Buell's  hands.  A  general 
order  was  issued  congratulating  all  who 

O  o 

loved  the  Union  on  the  success  of  our 
arms,  and  promising  protection  and  sup 
port  to  all  peaceable,  well  disposed  citi 
zens.  Andrew  Johnson  was  soon  after 
appointed  military  governor  of  Tennes 
see,  and  early  in  March,  arrived  at 
Nashville,  and  entered  vigorously  upon 
his  new  and  difficult  duties.  The 
newspapers  were  placed  under  military 
supervision.  The  municipal  officers 
were  required,  on  the  26th  of  March,  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  The  cit} 
council  refused;  the  mayor  and  some 
others  were  arrested,  and  the  city  coun 
cil  men  ejected  from  office.  Numerous 
other  arrests  were  made,  and  Gov.  John 
son  used  the  strong  hand  in  repressing 
disunion  practices  in  Tennessee. 

As  by  the  taking  of  Nashville  Colum 
bus  was  seriously  endangered,  orders 
were  issued  by  Beauregard  and 
Johnston,  on  the  18th  of  Febru 
ary,  to  destroy  part  of  the  track  and 
bridges  of  the  Memphis  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  preparatory  to  a  removal  of 
the  forces  at  Columbus  to  Island  No. 
10,  about  forty-five  miles  below,  on  the 
Mississippi  River.  This  was  soon  after 
accomplished ;  and  on  the  4th  of  March, 
when  an  armed  reconnaissance  was 
made  as  far  as  Columbus  by  the  gun 
boats  and  transports  with  troops,  it 
was  found  to  have  been  abandoned  by 
the  rebels,  as  wholly  untenable. 


1861. 


Cii.  IX.J 


GENERAL  CURTIS  IN  MISSOURI. 


117 


General  Halleck,  in  command  of  the 
department,  issued,  Feb.  22d,  an  order 
for  the  regulation  and  behavior  of  the 
troops.  Among  other  things  he  said, 
"it  does  not  belong  to  the  military  to 
decide  upon  the  relation  of  master  and 
slave.  Such  questions  must  be  settled 
by  civil  courts.  No  fugitive  slave  will, 
therefore,  be  admitted  within  our  lines 
or  camps,  except  when  specially  ordered 
by  the  general  commanding." 

The  successful  operations  of  our  army 
produced  much  excitement  in  the  South, 
and  the  leaders  in  the  rebellion  be^an 

o 

to  understand  better  what  a  gigantic 
struggle  it  was  in  which  they  had  en 
gaged.  Every  man,  young  and  old, 
was  called  for.  Boards  of  police  in 
every  county  in  Mississippi  were  ap 
pointed  preparatory  to  drafting ;  and 
the  governor  of  Arkansas,  by  proclama 
tion,  drafted  into  immediate  service 
every  man  in  the  state  subject  to  mili 
tary  duty,  requiring  him  to  respond 
within  twenty  days.  In  this  way,  and 
under  such  pressure,  was  begun  that 
system  of  measures  which  resulted  in 
the  passing  of  a  conscription  act  by  the 
Confederate  Congress,  April  16th,  and 
the  raising  a  lar^e  force  during1  the  en- 

O  o  o 

suing  summer  months.* 

In  a  previous  chapter  (see  p.  89)  we 

*  By  this  act  all  over  eighteen  and  under  thirty  were 
conscripted  for  the  war,  and  none  were  allowed  exemp 
tion  who  were  at  the  time  in  service,  whether  under  eigh 
teen  or  over  thirty-five.  All  this  was  irrespective  of 
state  laws  and  regulations.  In  September,  1862,  an 
other  act  of  conscription  was  passed,  calling  out  every 
man  between  thirty-five  and  forty-five,  and  all  youths 
as  soon  as  they  became  eighteen  years  of  age.  The 
work  was  carried  on  with  unrelenting  vigor  and 
energy,  and  every  means  resorted  to  in  order  to  collect 
and  have  ready  for'  use  a  military  force  sufficient  to 
meet  the  immense  army  our  government  was  bringing 
into  the  field. 


1862. 


have  spoken  of  the  movements  in  Mis 
souri,  and  the  general  result  up  to  the 
close  of  1861.  Sharp  skirmishing 
took  place  at  Mount  Zion,  Dec.  28th, 
and  at  Fayette,  January  8th ;  but  with 
out  material  result.  Our  forces  under 
Gens.  Sigel  and  Asboth,  and  Cols.  J. 
C.  Davis  and  Carr,  combined  at  the 
close  of  the  month,  under  com 
mand  of  Gen.  S.  K.  Curtis,  a 
distinguished  officer  of  the  U.  S.  army. 
Early  in  February,  these  divisions 
puslied  rapidly  from  Rolla,  the  termi 
nation  of  railroad  communication  with 
St.  Louis,  toward  Springfield,  where  the 
rebel  General  Price  had  taken  up  his 
headquarters  and  secured  supplies  for 
his  men.  He  had  raised  an  army  of 
4,000  men,  built  huts,  and  was  in  a 
rather  comfortable  position,  as  he 
thought ;  but  the  approach  of  Curtis 
warned  him  of  danger.  A  sharp  skir 
mish  took  place  near  Springfield ;  and 
Price,  on  the  12th  of  February,  during 
the  night,  decamped,  the  U.  S.  troops 
entering  the  town  early  next  morning. 
Immediately  the  pursuit  after  Price  was 
begun,  and  continued  a  hundred  miles 
or  more  from  Springfield  into  Arkansas. 
On  the  18th,  the  state  line  was  crossed ; 
on  the  19th,  Price,  having  had  some  re 
inforcements,  attempted  to  make  a  stand 
at  Sugar  Creek ;  but  was  speedily  de 
feated.  On  the  23d  of  February,  Curtis 
entered  and  took  possession  of  Fayette- 
ville,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners, 
stores  and  baggage.  The  enemy  burnt 
part  of  the  town  before  leaving  on  their 
flight  over  the  Boston  Mountains.* 


*  Gen.  Halleck,  in  a  dispatch,  made  mention  of  a 
shocking  exhibition  of  the  malice  of  the  rebels  :  "  forly- 
two  officers  and  men  of  the  5th  Missouri  cavalry  w<  fe 


J18 


ABRAHAM  LIXCOLX'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


1§62. 


On  the  1st  of  March,  Gen.  Curtis 
issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
South-west.  It  was  called  forth  in 
great  measure  by  the  studied  misrepre 
sentations  and  falsehoods  which  the 
rebels  used  every  where  in  respect  to 
the  object  had  in  view  by  our 
troops,  and  it  entered  into  the 
subject  fully,  clearly  and  cogently. 
"  The  only  legitimate  object  of  the  war 
is  peace,  and  I  adhere  to  this  legitimate 
object.  Peaceable  citizens  shall  be 
protected  as  far  as  possible.  The  flight 
of  our  foes  from  their  camps,  and  the 
imitation  of  their  conduct  by  the  citi 
zens,  in  fleeing  from  their  homes,  leav 
ing  their  effects  abandoned,  as  it  were, 
for  the  victors,  have  much  embarrassed 
me  in  my  efforts  to  preserve  discip 
line  in  my  command,  as  these  circum 
stances  offer  extraordinary  temptations. 
The  burning  of  farms  and  fields  of 
grain  in  Missouri,  and  extensive  bar 
racks  and  valuable  mills  in  Arkansas 
by  the  enemy,  has  induced  some  resent 
ments  on  the  part  of  my  troops,  which 

I  have   severely  punished We 

come  to  vindicate  the  Constitution,  to 
preserve  and  perpetuate  civil  and  reli 
gious  liberty,  under  a  flag  that  was 
embalmed  in  the  blood  of  our  revolu 
tionary  fathers.  Under  that  flag  we 
have  lived  in  peace  and  prosperity  until 
the  flag  of  rebellion  involved  us  in  the 
horrors  of  civil  war." 

Although  Gen.  Curtis  had  succeeded 

poisoned  at  Mud  Town  by  eating  poisoned  food  which 
the  rebels  left  behind  them.  The  gallant  Captain 
Dolfert  died,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Van  Deutzh  and 
Captain  Schwan  have  suffered  much,  but  are  now 
recovering.  The  indignation  of  our  soldiers  is  very 
great,  but  they  have  been  restrained  from  retaliation 
upon  the  prisoners  of  war." 


in  driving  Price  out  of  Missouri,  he  wras 

O  / 

well  aware  that  it  would  require  a 
severe  struggle  to  maintain  the  advan 
tage  he  had  gained.  Price,  though 
actively  pursued,  had  escaped  without 
much  loss,  and  his  ranks  having  been 
considerably  recruited  and  continuing 
to  increase,  he  expected  soon  to  be  able 
to  drive  the  Union  army  out  of  Ark 
ansas  and  regain  his  lost  ground  in 
Missouri.  Curtis  estimated  the  rein 
forcements  received  by  Price  to  be 
some  sixteen  regiments,  which,  with  the 
Arkansas  volunteers  and  companies, 
placed  him  in  command  of  at  least 
30,000  to  40,000  men,  in  and  near  the 
Boston  Mountains. 

On  the  other  hand,  Curtis's  force  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy  in  these  early 
days  of  March,  deducting  the  troops 
required  for  garrison  duty,  along  his 
extended  line  of  communications,  be 
sides  a  constant  moving  force  to  guard 
his  train,  left  him  ready  for  the  field, 
surrounding  or  in  the  vicinity  of  Sugar 
Creek,  where  he  had  established  his 
headquarters  at  the  time,  not  more  than 
10,500  infantry  and  cavalry,  with  forty- 
nine  pieces  of  artillery,  including  a 
mountain  howitzer.  Early  on  the 
15th  of  March,  a  cold,  wintry ish  day, 
with  snow  on  the  ground,  Van  Dorn, 
the  rebel  commander,  advanced 
to  make  an  attack.  The  seve 
ral  divisions  of  our  troops  were  ordered 
to  take  position  and  meet  the  enemy 
at  Sugar  Creek  as  soon  as  possible. 
Gen.  Sigel,  in  bringing  up  his  force 
from  the  vicinity  of  Bentonville,  set 
out  at  two  A.M.,  on  the  6th  ;  he  advanced 
slowly,  fighting  and  repelling  the  enemy 
in  front,  on  the  flanks  and  rear,  for  five 


1SG2. 


Cn.  IX.] 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PEA  RIDGE. 


119 


and  a  half  hours,  when  he  was  reinforc 
ed  by  Gen.  Curtis.  By  this  movement, 
Sisrel's  division  was  brought  to  the 

O 

west  end  of  Pea  Ridge,  where  lie  form 
ed  a  junction  with  Gen.  J.  C.  Davis 
and  Col.  Carr.  The  men  rested  on 
their  arms,  on  the  night  of  the  6th,  in 
waiting  for  the  coming  day's  fight, 
which  all  knew  was  to  be  a  serious 
and  trying  one. 

At  daylight,  on  the  7th  of  March, 
the  battle  was  renewed,  and  with  slight 
exception  continued  to  rage  furiously 
the  whole  day.  Van  Dorn  had  moved 
round  Curtis's  flank  by  the  road  cross 
ing  Pea  Ridge,  in  order  to  cut  off  his 
retreat  in  case  the  rebels  were  success 
ful.  This  had  necessitated  a  change  of 
front,  so  as  to  face  the  road  on  which 
the  enemy  were  still  moving.  The  new 
line  was  formed  under  the  enemy's  fire, 
the  troops  moving  in  good  order  and 
with  gallant  bearing.  In  the  centre, 
the  battle  was  carried  on  with  great 
fury,  as  also  on  the  left  wing ;  but  our 
men  nobly  withstood  the  fierce  assaults 
of  the  rebels,  who  lost  two  of  their 
best  generals,  McCulloch  and  Mclntosh. 
Gen.  Curtis  having  brought  all  four  of 
his  divisions  to  face  the  position  which 
had  been  held  in  check,  the  troops 
bivouacked  another  cold  and  cheerless 
night  on  the  field. 

Again,  at  sunrise,  on  the  8th  of 
March,  the  battle  was  begun  by  our 
men.  The  enemy  fought  desperately, 
furiously ;  but  they  were  completely 
routed.  Sigel  pursued  them  for  several 
miles  towards  Keetsville,  and  the 
cavalry  still  further.  The  rebel  loss 
was  estimated  at  3,000  killed  and 
wounded,  besides  more  than  1,000 


prisoners.  Van  Dorn,  however,  with 
out  specifying  particulars,  makes  his 
loss  less  than  1,000  in  all.  The  aggre 
gate  loss  of  the  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  of  all  ranks  on  our  side,  was 
given  by  Gen.  Curtis  at  1,351. 

A  novel  feature  in  the  battle  of  Pea 
Ridge,  or  Elk  Horn,  as  the  rebels  named 
it,  was  the  employment  of  Indians, 
some  2,500  being  under  command  of  the 
rebel  General  Pike.  They  proved  ot 
little  service  to  those  who  had  seduced 
them  from  their  proper  allegiance,  and 
in  their  wild  fury,  they  were  guilty  of 
acts  which  Gen.  Curtis  severely  cen 
sured  afterwards  in  a  note  to  Van  Dorn. 
Many  of  our  soldiers,  as  he  said,  were 
found  "  tomahawked,  scalped,  and  their 
bodies  shamefully  mangled,"  and  he 
expressed  a  hope  that  the  rebels  were 
not  going  to  carry  on  their  resistance 
by  means  of  a  savage  and  barbarous 
warfare.  Van  Dorn  made  the  best  he 
could  of  the  matter,  in  reply ;  hoped 
it  was  not  true ;  and  retorted,  that  pri 
soners  had  been  murdered  in  cold  blood 
by  the  German  troops  in  our  army. 
Quite  probably  here,  as  elsewhere,  acts 
of  cruelty  were  committed  which  could 
not  be  justified ;  but  certainly  the  in 
troducing  of  Indians  was  calculated  to 
aggravate  war's  horrors  and  abomina 
tions. 

Southern  writers  and  chroniclers  sof 
ten  this  defeat  all  they  can,  and  claim 
that  the  substantial  fruits  of  victory 
were  with  the  rebels  under  Van  Dorn. 
It  was  rather  cold  comfort,  under  the 
circumstances ;  but,  such  as  it  was, 
they  were  allowed  to  enjoy  it  to  the 
fullest  extent,  without  let  or  hind 
rance. 


120 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


K.  VIII. 


CHAPTEE    X. 
1862. 


BURNSIDE     EXPEDITION:   OPERATIONS    ON    THE    SOUTHERN     COAST. 

Expedition  under  Burnside  and  Goldsborough  —  Size  and  extent  —  Sets  sail  —  Rough  and  dangerous  passage 

—  Tedious   delays  —  Enemy  strengthen   their   position  —  Attack  on  Roanoke  Island  —  Surrender  of  the 
rebels  —  Mortification  of  Davis  and  secession  —  Expedition  to  Elizabeth  city —  Success —  Edenton  and  Win- 
ton  —Address  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina  by  Burnside  and  Goldsborough  —  Governor  Clark's  addross 

—  Spirit  of  these  —  Importance  of  Newbern —  Expedition  against  —  Bravery  of  our  troops  —  Burnside's 
congratulatory  order  —  Other  operations  on  the  southern  coast  at  this  date  —  Exploration  of  interior  pas 
sage  to  the  Savannah  River  —  Batteries  planted  —  Fort  Pulaski  isolated  —  Reconnaissance  of  Little  Tybee 
River  —  Operations  of  Dupont  and  Wright  on  the  Florida  coast  —  Fernandina,  Jacksonville,  St.  Augustine, 
etc.  —  Union  feeling  in  Florida  —  Edisto  Island  —  Washington's  birth  day  —  How  celebrated  in  1832  in  the 
loyal  states  —  Davis   and  confederate  government  —  Davis  inaugurated  —  His  address  on  the  22d  of  Febru 
ary —  Extracts  from,  illustrating  tone,  temper,  etc.  —  Davis's  message  to  Confederate  Congress  —  Admits 
serious  disasters  — •  Estimated  size  of  the  rebel  army  —  Financial  condition  of  the  confederacy  —  A  glimpse 
at  the  nature  and  terribleness  of  the  struggle  now  going  on. 


DURING  the  latter  part  of  1861, 
active  preparations  were  being  made 
at  New  York  for  fitting  out  another 
combined  military  and  naval  expedi 
tion,  to  operate  against  an  important 
point  or  points  on  tlie  southern  coast. 
Everything  was  furnished  which  could 
in  any  wise  tend  to  secure  success ; 
abundant  material,  a  disciplined  and 
gallant  force,  numbering  16,000  men, 
accomplished  and  well  trained  officers, 
etc.  The  military  part  of  the  expedi 
tion  was  under  command  of  Gen.  Burn- 
side,  the  naval  under  Commodore 
Goldsborough.  The  three  army  bri 
gades  composing  this  force  were  com 
manded  by  Gens.  J.  G.  Foster,  J.  L. 
Reno,  and  J.  G.  Parke.  Commodore 
Goldsborough's  squadron  consisted  of 
eighteen  light  draught  steam  gun  boats, 
with  an  armament  of  fifty  rifled  can 
non  ;  it  was  divided  into  two  columns 
for  active  service;  led  by  Commanders 


1862. 


S.  F.  Hazard  and  S.  C.  Rowan.  The 
special  service  the  expedition  was  to 
accomplish  was  on  the  shores  of  North 
Carolina,  within  the  waters  of  Pamlico 
and  Albemarle  Sounds;  and 
for  this  purpose  all  the  arrange 
ments  were  made  for  the  most  effi 
cient  co-operation  of  the  naval  and 
military  departments ;  the  guns  were 
so  equipped  as  to  be  used  on  the  water 
or  the  land  ;  there  was  a  thoroughly 
organized  signal  corps ;  two  extensive 
pontoon  trains,  etc. 

Thus  prepared  for  its  work,  the 
Burnside  expedition  set  sail  from  Anna 
polis  on  the  9th  of  January.  Owing 
to  dense  fogs  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay, 
incident  to  the  season,  it  did  not  reach 
Fortress  Monroe  till  midnight  of  the 
10th.  The  next  day  without  detention, 
the  order  was  given  to  sail,  and  Sun 
day,  the  llth,  saw  the  fleet  at  sea. 
As  had  been  generally  supposed,  while 


Cn.  X.] 


ROANOKE  ISLAND  CAPTURED. 


121 


the  vessels  were  collecting,  that  they 
would  be  employed  inside  of  the  capes 
of  Virginia,  but  little  anxiety  had  been 
felt  respecting  their  sea  going  qualities. 
But  now,  when  the  well  known  dan 
gers  of  Ilatteras  were  taken  into  ac 
count,  there  was  considerable  apprehen 
sion  entertained,  and  the  result  prov 
ed  that  this  apprehension  was  well 
founded. 

The  first  day  out,  there  was  much 
embarrassment  from  the  fog  on  the 
coast,  which  greatly  impeded  progress. 
Monday  was  clear,  with  a  heavy  wind 
and  roucrh  sea,  which  caused  the  vessels 

o 

to  labor  very  heavily ;  by  noon,  how 
ever,  most  of  them  were  inside  of  the 
bar  at  Ilatteras  Inlet,  their  first  south 
ern  destination,  in  time  to  escape  the 
unusually  severe  gale  of  Monday  night 
and  Tuesday.  The  anchorage  was  bad 
and  the  vessels  jostled  together.  Some 
of  the  vessels  were  grounded  and  lost ; 
others  had  to  be  sent  back  to  Fortress 
Monroe.  Weeks  were  spent  in  striving 
to  secure  passage  through  the  narrow, 
perplexing,  and  violent  channel.  At 
length,  however,  by  patience,  mutual 
help,  and  unwearied  assiduity,  General 
Burnside  and  Commodore  Golds- 
borough  saw  the  flotilla  fairly  embark 
ed  on  Pamlico  Sound,  and  ready  for 
action. 

Meanwhile,  the  rebels,  aware  of  the 
purpose  of  the  expedition,  took  occa 
sion  to  strengthen  the  defences,  and 
gather  a  large  body  of  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia  troops  at  Roanoke  Island 
a  position  which  commands  the  chan 
nel  separating  the  waters  of  Pamlico 
and  Albermarle  Sounds.  There  was 
besides  a  fleet  of  gun  boats,  and  ready 

VOL.  IV.— 16. 


means  of  reinforcements  by  railroad 
communication  with  Virginia  and  the 
northern  part  of  the  state. 

As  it  was  a  matter  of  necessity  to  dis 
lodge  the  rebels  at  Roanoke,  the  expe 
dition  set  sail  from  Hatteras  for  that 
purpose,  on  the  5th  of  February. 
Fifteen  gun  boats  led  tr  e  way,  followed 
at  an  interval  of  a  mile  by  the  armed 
transports,  and  side-wheel  steamers. 

The  naval   vessels,  placed  un- 

1.869 
der   the   immediate   command 

of  Commander  Rowan,  were  formed  in 
three  separate  columns,  and  as  the  day 
was  clear  and  the  wind  favorable,  the 
entire  fleet  of  seventy  vessels  presented 
a  striking  picture  as  they  slowly  ad 
vanced  toward  Roanoke.  At  sunset 
they  anchored  within  sight  of  the  is 
land.  The  next  day  being  foggy  and 
wet,  nothing  was  undertaken  beyond  a 
reconnaissance  of  Croatan  Sound,  as  the 
passage  is  called  which  separates  Roan 
oke  from  the  mainland.  Friday,  the 
7th,  was  foggy  in  the  morning,  but 
about  10  o'clock  it  cleared  up  sufficient 
ly  for  the  advance.  -  An  active  bom 
bardment  of  Fort  Bartow,  at  Pork 
Point,  on  the  upper  part  of  the  island, 
ensued,  doing  some  damage  to  the 
enemy's  works,  while  another  portion 
of  the  gun  boats  was  engaged  in  firing 
at  the  rebel  vessels  at  long  range. 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  the 
army  transports  came  up,  and  after 
considerable  difficulty,  our  troops  were 
safely  landed.  The  process  was  tedious 
and  comfortless,  the  men  having  to 
wade  through  water  and  mud,  and 
a  great  part  of  the  night  being  thus  oc 
cupied  ;  added  to  this,  a  cold  rainstorm 
made  the  position  of  our  troops  exceed- 


122 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  VIII. 


ingly  cheerless  during  the  night.  But 
the  morning  found  them  ready  for  ac 
tion.  General  Foster  promptly  got  his 
men  in  order,  and  after  marching  a 
mile  and  a-half  came  in  sight  of  the 
enemy's  position.  It  was  capitally 
chosen,  protected  on  the  right  and  left 
by  a  morass  deemed  impassable,  and 
stretching  across  nearly  the  entire 
width  of  the  island.  A  bayonet  charge 
was  undertaken  by  the  Zouaves,  which 
so  frightened  the  rebels  that  they  aban 
doned  their  guns  and  ran  away  This  as 
sured  the  entire  defeat  of  the  enemy, 
and  though  they  made  a  stubborn 
resistance,  they  surrendered  uncondi 
tionally,  and  Roanoke  Island  became 
ours,  with  its  heavy  guns  and  batteries, 
and  eight  steamers,  each  mounting  two 
guns. 

The  complete  success  attained  by 
our  arms  on  this  occasion  was  equally 
surprising  and  mortifying  to  the  au 
thorities  at  Richmond.  Jefferson  Davis, 
in  his  message  to  the  Confederate  Con- 

O 

gress,  Feb.  25th,  expressed  the  hope 
that  matters  were  riot  so  bad  as  they 
appeared  to  be  in  regard  to  the  "  dis 
comfiture  at  Roanoke  Island  and  the 
fall  of  Fort  Donelson."  He  was  wait 
ing  for  further  information,  but  at  the 
same  time  confessed  :  "  enough  is  known 
of  the  surrender  of  Roanoke  Island  to 
make  us  feel  that  it  was  deeply  humili 
ating,  however  imperfect  may  have  been 
the  preparations  for  defence.'1* 

The  victory  at  Roanoke  Island  was 

*  Pollard  speaks  with  unusual  bitterness  of  this  re 
sult,  which  lost  to  the  rebels  a  position  "  only  second 
in  importance  to  Fortress  Monroe."  He  details  at 
length  the  urgency  of  the  confederate  General  Wise 
for  reinforcements,  and  the  curt  manner  in  which  he 
was  treated  by  J.  P.  Benjamin,  rebel  secretary  of 


1§62. 


immediately  followed  up  by  an  expe 
dition,  under  command  of  Captain  Row 
an,  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  fleet  of  the 
enemy,  which  had  fled  up  the  Albe- 
marle  Sound,  a  distance  of  some  thirty 
or  forty  miles,  into  Pasquotank  River, 
toward  Elizabeth  City.  Captain  Row 
an  sailed  from  Roanoke  on  the  after 
noon  of  Sunday,  and  arrived  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  at  niovht. 

O 

The  following  morning,  the  10th  of 
February,  the  fleet  ascended  the  river, 
and  at  eight  o'clock  caine  upon  the 
enemy's  gun  boats,  consisting  of  seven 
steamers  and  a  schooner  armed  with 
two  heavy  32-pounders,  drawn  up  in 
front  of  the  city.  A  brief  but  spirited 
contest  ensued ;  the  enemy  set  their 
boats  on  fire,  and  the  crews  escaped  as 
best  they  could;  the  fort  on  Cobb's 
Point,  mounting  four  guns,  was  aban 
doned;  and  in  less  than  an  hour  the 
rebels  were  entirely  defeated,  and  the 
flag-ship  Delaware  was  moored  to  the 
wharf  at  Elizabeth  City.  After  the 
gun  boats  were  deserted,  the  rebels 
commenced  setting  fire  to  the  principal 
buildings  in  the  city,  most  of  the  people 
having  fled.  Captain  Rowan,  however, 
by  prompt  action,  succeeded  in  check 
ing  this  wild  proceeding. 

Elizabeth  City  was  taken  possession 
of  by  the  Union  forces  the  day  after 
the  engagement.  On  the  12th  of  Feb 
ruary,  Edenton,  at  the  west  end  of  Al- 
bemarle  Sound,  was  visited  by  a  por- 


war  (no  favorite  with  Pollard,  by  the  way),  and  he 
lays  upon  Benjamin  and  his  fast  friend  Davis  the  wholo 
blame  of  the  disaster,  "  which  unlocked  all  North-east 
ern  North  Carolina  to  the  enemy,  and  exposed  Ports 
mouth  and  Norfolk  to  a  rear  approach  of  the  most  im 
minent  danger."—"  First  Year  of  the  War,"  pp.  227- 
234. 


Cn.  X.] 


OPERATIONS  AGAINST  NEWBERN. 


tion  of  the  flotilla  ;  on  the  approach 
of  which  to  the  town,  a  body  of  flying 
artillery  ran  away  with  all  speed. 
Eight  cannon  and  one  schooner  on  the 
stocks  were  destroyed.  Two  schooners, 
with  4,000  bushels  of  corn  were  captur 
ed  en  the  Sound,  and  six  bales  of  cot 
ton  taken  from  the  custom-house 
wharf.  The  next  day,  Lieut.  Jeffers, 
proceeded  with  several  vessels  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Albe- 
inarle  Canal,  and  driving  away  some 
rebels  there,  sunk  two  schooners  to  ob 
struct  navigation,  and  burned  all  that 
remained  above  water.  A  few  days 
after,  a  reconnaissance  was  made  by 
Capt.  Rowan  up  the  Chowan  River  as 
far  as  Winton.  the  capital  of  Hereford 
Co.  Information  had  been  given  that 
there  were  several  hundred  Union  men 
there  who  desired  protection ;  but 
when  the  Perry  approached  Winton,  it 
was  greeted  with  volleys  of  musketry 
from  the  high  bank  on  the  shore.  The 
town  was  shelled  in  retaliation,  and  the 
buildings  destroyed. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  Commo 
dore  Goldsborough  and  Gen.  Burnside, 
issued  a  joint  proclamation  in  reference 
to  the  objects  of  their  mission.  It  was 
addressed  "To  the  People  of  North 
Carolina,"  and  in  earnest  terms  entreat 
ed  their  attention :  "  The  mission  of  our 
joint  expedition  is  not  to  invade  any 
of  your  rights,  but  to  assert  the  author 
ity  of  the  United  States,  and  to  close 
with  you  the  desolating  wTar  brought 
upon  your  state  by  comparatively  a 
few  bad  men  in  your  midst.  Influen 
ced  infinitely  more  by  the  worst  pas 
sions  of  human  nature  than  by  any  show 
of  elevated  reason,  they  are  still  urging 


you  astray,  to  gratify  their  ttiiholy  pur 
poses.  They  impose  upon  your  creduli 
ty  by  telling  of  wicked  and  even  diabol 
ical  intentions  on  our  part ;  of 
our  desire  to  destroy  your  free 
dom,  demolish  your  property,  liberate 
your  slaves,  injure  your  women,  and 
such  like  enormitiei ;  all  of  which,  we 
assure  you,  is  not  only  ridiculous,  but 
utterly  and  wilfuliy  false." 

The  governor  of  North  Carolina,  H. 
T.  Clark,  also  issued  a  proclamation, 
Feb.  22d;  but  it  was  couched  in  the 
usual  violent  aid  extravagant  language 
of  southern  officials,  and  charged  a  ava 
rice  and  ambition  "  upon  the  govern 
ment  and  supporters  of  the  Union,  as 
well  as  "  a  spirit  of  vengeful  wickedness 
without  a  parallel  in  history,"  etc.  In 
the  preset  t,  as  in  other  cases,  the  con 
trast  is  vary  marked,  and  every  dispas 
sionate  leader  cannot  but  be  struck 
with  it,  and  the  conclusions  to  which  it 
necessarily  leads. 

In  consequence  of  the  favorable  re 
sults  of  the  expedition  thus  far,  Gen. 
BunLside  turned  his  attention  to  an 
other  portion  of  the  state.  Washing 
ton,  on  Pamlico  River,  and  Newbern, 
on  the  Neuse  River,  were  the  chief  de 
pots  in  this  quarter  for  lumber,  tar, 
turpentine  and  naval  stores  of  the  coun 
try.  Newbern,  in  its  size  and  position, 
was  one  of  the  chief  cities  in  the  state, 
and  its  population  exceeded  that  of  the 
capital,  Raleigh,  by  several  hundreds, 
and  was  second  only  to  the  seaport 
Wilmington.  It  was,  moreover,  by 
the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Rail 
road,  immediately  connected  with  Beau 
fort  _on  the  ocean  forty  miles  below, 
aud  with  Goldsboro'  sixty  miles  in  the 


124 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Biv.  VIII. 


interior,  the  chief  station  on  the  Wil- 
minorton  and  Weldon  Railroad.  Situa- 

O 

ted  at  the  junction  of  two  rivers,  the 
Trent  and  the  Neuse,  once  gained,  it 
might,  without  difficulty,  be  held  by 
gun  boats.  On  every  account,  it  was 
felt  that  its  possession  was  of  the  first 
importance  to  our  cause. 

Early  in  March,  the  troops  intended 
for  the  expedition  against  Newbern 
were  embarked  from  Roanoke  Island, 
and  were  ordered,  with  the  na 
val  force,  to  rendezvous  at  Hat- 
teras  Inlet.  Captain  Rowan  was  in 
command,  Goldsborough  having  been 
recalled  to  the  Chesapeake.*  The  mili 
tary  force  was,  in  all,  about  8,000,  divi 
ded  into  three  columns  ;  the  naval  force 
consisted  of  six  gun  boats,  with  the 
transport  vessels  for  the  troops.  On 
the  evening  of  the  12th  of  March,  the 
vessels  anchored  off  the  mouth  of 
Slocum's  Creek,  about  eighteen  miles 

/  O 

below  Newbern.  The  next  morning 
the  landing  was  effected  under  cover  of 
the  gun  boats ;  the  roads,  full  of  mud 
and  mire,  were  in  a  fearful  plight ;  and 
only  twelve  miles  were  gone  over  by 
night,  when  the  column  halted,  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  the  rebel  stronghold. 
The  gun  boats  shelled  the  woods  and 
protected  the  troops  on  their  march ; 
the  enemy's  works  on  the  river  were 
generally  abandoned  without  fighting. 
At  seven  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of 
the  14th  of  March,  our  troops  were  in 
motion,  Gen.  Foster  being  charged  with 
the  duty  of  attacking  the  enemy  on  the 
left,  Gen.  Reno  on  the  right,  and  Gen. 

*  For  a  more  full  account  of  the  operations  against 
Newborn,  see  Woodbury's  "  Burnnide  and  the  Ninth 
Army  Corps,"  pp.  51-G8. 


Parke  in  front ;  the  latter  also  was  to 
act  as  a  support  to  the  other  brigades. 
For  details  reference  must  be  had  to 
the  reports  of  the  commanders;  it  is 
sufficient  here  to  state  that  the  engage 
ment  was  severely  contested ;  for  four 
hours  our  troops  fought  bravely  and 
steadily;  and  the  rebels,  who  stoutly 
endeavored  to  repulse  their  onslaughts, 
were  at  last  compelled  to  yield.  The 
enemy's  line  of  breastworks  was  very 
extensive  and  formidable,  and  was  man 
ned  by  about  G,000  men.  Of  course 
the  capture  of  these  works  decided  the 
fate  of  Newbern. 

Gen.  Burnside,  the  next  day,  issued 
a  congratulatory  and  well  deserved 
order,  concluding  with  these  words : 
"The  General  commanding  directs, 
with  peculiar  pride,  that  as  a  well-de 
served  tribute  to  valor  in  this  second 
victory  of  the  expedition,  each  regiment 
engaged  shall  inscribe  on  its  banner  the 
memorable  name,  NEWBERN." 

The  enemy,  who  had  fled  in  co:i'u- 
sion,  burned  and  destroyed  the  bridges 
and  the  draw  of  the  railroad  bridge  over 
the  Trent,  which  prevented  pursuit  by 
our  troops.  Two  hundred  prisoners 
were  taken,  beside  several  vessels,  and 
a  large  quantity  of  ammunition  and 
stores.  Gen.  Foster  was  appointed  mil 
itary  governor  of  Newbern  and  its 
neighborhood.  A  week  later,  a  force 
was  sent  up  Pamlico  River,  as  far  as 
Washington,  where  our  men  were  well 
received,  and  Union  sentiments  were 
freely  expressed. 

Other  operations  of  a  naval  and 
military  character  on  the  southern 
c;,ast,  early  in  1862,  may  here,  proper 
ly  be  noted.  On  a  previous  page  we 


CH.  X.J  SUCCESSES  OF  RODGERS,  DUPONT  AXD  WRIGHT. 


125 


called  attention  to  Captain  Rodgers'  suc 
cess  on  the  Chowan  River.  The  next 
movement  of  interest  took  place  in 
the  month  of  January,  and  deserves 
honorable  mention.  The  city  of  Sa 
vannah  is  about  fifteen  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  situate  on  the 
southern  or  right  bank.  The  approach 
by  water  is  defended  by  Fort  Pulaski,  on 
Cockspur  Island,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  and  Fort  Jackson,  four  miles  be 
low  the  city.  Along  the  left  bank  of 
the  Savannah  is  a  succession  of  islands, 
and  large  and  numerous  ones  interrupt 
the  channel.  Turtle  and  Jones  Islands 
are  two  of  these,  the  latter  being  bound 
ed  on  two  sides  by  the  Mud  and  Wright 
Rivers,  and  on  the  other  by  the  Savan 
nah  River.  A  daring  reconnaissance 

O 

was  made  by  night,  under  the  guidance 
of  negro  crew  and  pilots,  through  the 
intricate  passages  between  the  island 
and  mainland.  The  depth  and  bearings 
of  the  channel  were  ascertained,  and  it 
was  discovered  that  gun  boats  could 
pass  by  the  Wright  into  the  Savannah 
River.  By  unremitting  night  labor  all 
the  obstructions  were  removed,  and  a 
passage  way  secured. 

On  the  26th  of  January  Capt.  Rod 
gers  made  a  reconnaissance  in  force  up 
the  Wright  River.  The  rebel  commo 
dore,  Tatnall,  appeared  with  gun  boats 
and  scows ;  but  was  easily  driven  back. 
Capt.  Rodgers  not  deeming  it  prudent 
to  pass  into  the  Savannah,  near  Fort 
Pulaski,  our  boats  returned  by  the  way 
which  they  went.  A  battery  at  Venus 
Point,  on  Jones  Island,  was  erected, 
quietly  but  securely,  notwithstanding 
the  severity  and  tediousness  of  the 
work ;  another  battery  was  planted  in 


1S62. 


a  similar  manner  on  Bird  Island,  oppo 
site  Venus  Point;  so  that,  to  the  aston 
ishment  of  the  rebels,  Fort  Pulaski  was 
cut  off  from  communication  with  the 
city  of  Savannah  early  in  February,  and 
the  stronghold  in  which  they  so  confi 
dently  trusted  was  exposed  to  siege  and 
assault  by  the  Union  forces. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  Capt.  Davis, 
with  eight  vessels,  and  transports  car 
rying  some  2,400  troops,  under  General 
Wright,  made  a  reconnaissance 
of  Little  Tybee  River  and  the 
adjacent  waters,  for  the  purpose  of  car 
rying  out  the  object  proposed  above, 
viz :  the  isolation  of  Fort  Pulaski.  Tat 
nall,  with  five  vessels,  made  an  attack 
upon  the  expedition,  when,  after  half 
an  hour's  fight,  two  of  the  enemy's  boats 
were  driven  back,  and  the  others  ran 
under  the  guns  of  the  fort. 

At  the  end  of  February,  an  expedi 
tion  sailed  from  Port  Royal,  under  Capt. 
Dupont  and  Gen.  Wright,  with  the  in 
tention  of  reoccupying  the  principal 
points  on  the  east  coast  of  Florida. 
Fort  Clinch,  St.  Mary's,  and  Fernan- 
dina  were  captured  March  2d  and  3d  ; 
Fort  Clinch  on  Amelia  Island  was  taken 
possession  of  and  garrisoned.  Fernan- 
clina,  which  was  almost  deserted,  was 
occupied  by  the  Union  forces ;  so  also 
was  St.  Mary's ;  at  both  places  the  pre 
parations  for  defence  were  extensive, 
but  the  rebel  troops  were  not  there. 
Brunswick,  in  Georgia,  was  found  in  a 
similar  condition,  March  7th ;  and  at 
Jacksonville  and  St.  Augustine,  Flo 
rida,  no  opposition  was  offered  to  the 
advance  of  our  troops. 

Commodore  Dupout  next  visited  Mos 
quito  Inlet,  fifty  miles  further  south. 


126 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII, 


His  object  was  to  establish  an  inside 
blockade  and  cut  off  the  rebels  from 
external  help.  Union  sentiments  and 
views  were  manifested  on  several  occa 
sions,  and  secession  despotism  was  sub 
mitted  to  because  of  inability  to  resist  it. 

The  only  movement  of  any  conse 
quence  towards  Charleston  was  that  by 
Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman,  on  the  llth  of  Feb 
ruary,  when  Edisto  Island  was  occu: 
pied.  This  island  is  about  twelve  miles 
long  and  nine  broad  ;  it  is  also  some 
ten  miles  from  the  mainland,  twenty 
miles  from  the  Charleston  and  Savan 
nah  Railroad,  and  forty  miles  from 
Charleston.  The  rebels  had  deserted  the 
island  entirely,  leaving  nothing  but  the 
negroes,  and  some  cotton  which  was 
not  burned  before  they  ran  away. 

Turning  from  the  narrative  of  naval 
and  military  operations,  let  us  devote  a 
few  moments  to  another  topic,  not  less 
interesting  or  important.  The  name  of 
WASHINGTON,  the  father  of  his  country, 
has  always  been,  and  always  will  be, 
held  in  the  highest  reverence  and  es 
teem  by  the  American  people.  He  is 
one  of  the  few,  the  very  few  great  men 
in  the  world's  history  whose  name  is 
pure  from  aught  that  is  unworthy  the 
patriot  and  the  Christian ;  and  it  is  one 
of  the  best  signs  for  good  that  our 
countrymen  look  upon  him  with  affec 
tionate  admiration,  and  uniformly  point 
to  his  life  and  career  as  the  bright  and 

O 

glorious  example  to  themselves  and 
their  children,  in  all  time  to  come.  The 
birthday  of  Washington  has  become  a 
national  holiday,  and  is  observed  as  such 
every  where  and  by  all.  When  the 
22d  of  February,  1862,  arrived,  it  was 
felt  to  be  especially  appropriate,  in  the 


loyal  states,  to  pay  marked  attention  to 
it,  and  in  every  city,  town  and  village 
the  day  received  more  than  its  accus 
tomed  honors,  and  the  hearts  of  the  peo 
ple  were  cheered  and  encouraged  there 
by.  Both  Houses  of  Congress,  with  the 
principal  officers  of  the  government,  met 
at  noon,  in  the  chamber  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  and  listened  anew 
to  the  Farewell  Address  of  Washington, 
as  read  by  Mr.  Forney,  the  secretary 
of  the  Senate.  Besides  reading  the  Ad 
dress  public  orations  were  delivered  in 
the  larger  cities,  and  there  were  military 
displays,  ringing  of  bells,  illuminations, 
and  other  festal  observances. 

It  was  not  in  the  loyal  states  alone 
that  the  22d  of  February  was  observed 
and  made  much  of.  Davis,  and  his  fellow- 
laborers  in  a  bad  cause,  took  occasion 
to  consummate  a  part  of  their  plans  on 
this  famous  day.  The  "  provisional "  ar 
rangement  of  the  confederate  govern 
ment  had  been  brought  to  a  close,  and 
on  the  22d  of  February,  Jefferson 
Davis,  as  head  of  the  "  permanent " 
government,  was  inaugurated  president 
over  the  "  Confederacy."  An  inaugural 
address  was  also  delivered,  in  which  the 
chief  leader  in  the  Great  Rebellion 
spoke  of  the  position  of  affairs  with  a 
calm  assurance  and  a  confident  certainty 
of  ultimate  success,  mingling,  at  the 
same  time,  with  his  remarks  a  large  in 
fusion  of  bitterness  and  disappointment 
at  the  energy  and  resolution  of  the 
loyal  people  in  the  North  and  West. 
A  passage  or  two  may  not  inaptly  here 
be  quoted  : 

"  On  this,  the  birthday  of  the  man 
most  identified  with  the  establishment  ol 
American  Independence,  and  beneath 


CH.  X.] 


DA  VIS'S  INAUGURAL  AND  MESSAGE. 


127 


the  monument  erected  to  commemorate 
his  heroic  virtues,  and  those  of  his  com 
patriots,  we  have  assembled  to  usher 
into  existence  the  permanent  govern 
ment  of  the  Confederate  States. 
Through  this  instrumentality,  under  the 
favor  of  Divine  Providence,  we  hope  to 
perpetuate  the  principles  of  our  revo 
lutionary  fathers.  The  day,  the  me 
mory,  and  the  purpose  seem  fitly  as 
sociated When  a 

long  course  of  class  legislation,  directed 
not  to  the  general  welfare,  but  to  the 
aggrandizement  of  the  northern  section 
of  the  Union,  culminated  in  a  warfare 
on  the  domestic  institutions  of  the 
southern  states — when  the  dogmas  of 
a  sectional  party,  substituted  for  the 
provisions  of  the  constitutional  com 
pact,  threatened  to  destroy  the  sover 
eign  rights  of  the  states,  six  of  those 
states,  withdrawing  from  the  Union, 
confederated  together,  to  exercise  the 
right  and  perform  the  duty  of  institut 
ing  a  government  which  would  better 
secure  the  liberties  for  the  preservation 
of  which  that  Union  was  established. 
Whatever  of  hope  some  may  have  enter 
tained,  that  a  returning  sense  of  justice 
would  remove  the  danger  with  which 
our  rights  were  threatened,  and  render 
it  possible  to  preserve  the  Union  of  the 
Constitution,  must  have  been  dispelled 
by  the  malignity  and  barbarity  of  the 
northern  states  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  existing  war. 

u  Although  the  tide,  for  the  moment  is 
against  us,  the  final  result  in  our  favor 
is  not  doubtful.  The  period  is  near  at 
hand  when  our  foes  must  sink  under  the 
immense  load  of  debt  which  they  have 
incurred ;  a  debt  which,  in  their  effort 


to  subjugate  us,  has  already  attained 
such  fearful  dimensions  as  will  subject 
them  to  burthens  which  must  continue 
to  oppress  them  for  generations  to 
come. 

"  Never  has  a  people  evinced  a  more 
determined  spirit  than  that  now  animat 
ing  men,  women,  and  children  in  every 
part  of  our  country.  Upon  the  first 
call  men  fly  to  arms ;  and  wives  and 
mothers  send  their  husbands  and  sons 
to  battle  without  a  murmur  of  regret. 

O 

"  We  are  in  arms  to  renew  such  sa 
crifices  as  our  fathers  made  to  the  holy 
cause  of  constitutional  liberty.  At  the 
darkest  hour  of  our  struggle  the  provis 
ional  gives  place  to  the  permanent  gov 
ernment.  After  a  series  of  successes 
and  victories,  which  covered  our  arms 
with  glory,  we  have  recently  met  with 
serious  disasters.  But,  in  the  heart  of 
a  people  resolved  to  be  free,  these  dis 
asters  tend  but  to  stimulate  to  increas 
ed  resistance." 

In  his  message  to  the  Confederate 
Congress  (see  p.  100),  Davis  admitted 
that  a  events  have  demonstrated  that 
the  government  had  attempted  more 
than  it  had  power  successfully  to 
achieve.  Hence,  in  the  effort  to  protect, 
by  our  arms,  the  whole  territory  of  the 
Confederate  States,  seaboard  and  inland, 
we  have  been  so  exposed  as  recently 
to  encounter  serious  disasters."  His 
allusion  was  to  the  losses  of  Fort  Don- 
elson,  Eoanoke  Island,  etc. ;  but,  not 
deeming  it  possible  "  that  anything  so 
insane  as  a  persistent  attempt  to  sub 
jugate  these  states  could  be  made,"  he 
did  not  disguise  the  strong  probability, 
"  that  the  war  will  be  continued  through 
a  series  of  years,"  Without  undertak- 


128 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


ing  to  present  "  an  accurate  statement " 
of  the  confederate  military  strength,  he 
said  that  it  was  some  400  regiments  of 
infantry,  with  a  proportionate  force  of 
cavalry  and  artillery,  making  in 

1802. 

all  about  half  a  million  of  men. 
In  regard  to  finances,  Davis  spoke  in 
highly  congratulatory  terms,  asserting 
that  the  expenditure  for  the  past  year 
was  only  $170,000,000,  and  that  "the 
enemy  had  wasted  three  times  as  much 
in  vainly  striving  to  conquer  the  con 
federacy. 

With  such  sentiments  as  these,  mak 
ing  such  representations  as  the  above, 
and  well  understanding  that  the  struo-- 

O  o 

gle  was  no  light  one  in  which  he  was  en 
gaged,  Davis  tried  to  sustain  his  own 
hopes  and  to  infuse  additional  life  and 


activity  into  the  "  Confederacy."'  It 
was  now  a  matter  of  life  or  death.  It 
was  evident  that  the  loyal  states  were 
resolutely  determined  to  crush  the  re 
bellion  at  any  cost ;  and  that  Davis  and 
those  who  worked  with  him  were 
equally  determined  not  to  submit,  so 
long  as  they  were  able  to  make  any  re 
sistance  whatsoever.  Terrible  alterna 
tive  !  There  was  no  help  for  it ;  the 
battle  had  to  be  fought  out,  even  to  the 
bitter  end  ;  and  the  awful  responsibili 
ty  for  shedding  of  blood,  for  carnage, 
cruelty,  suffering,  distress,  and  the  thou 
sand  evils  attendant  upon  war,  must 
rest  upon  the  men  who,  without  any 
just  or  reasonable  cause,  began  the  re 
bellion  of  1861,  and  persevered  in  it  for 
four  weary,  desolating  years. . 


CHAPTEE    XI. 


1862. 

MILITARY  OPERATIONS  IN  VIRGINIA:    THE  MERRIMAC  AND  THE  MONITOR. 

General  McClellan's  preparations  —  Delays  —  War  order  for  the  campaign  —  McClellan's  plan  —  Army  corps 
ordered  —  Jackson's  attack  on  our  troops  at  Hancock—  Lander's  success  —  Col.  Geary's  march— Winchester 
evacuated  —  Rebels  fall  back  —  Manassas  abandoned  —  Our  troops  occupy  it  —  Public  feeling  —  McClellau 
relieved  of  command-inc-hief — New  departments  formed  —  McClellan's  address  to  the  troops  —  Advance  by 
way  of  Fortress  Monroe  determined  on  —  Importance  of  the  contest  between  the  Merrimac  and  the  Monitor 
-The  arming  of  the  Merrimac  —  Inactivity  of  the  navy  department  —  Merrimac's  attack  on  our  ships  — 
Success  —  Fearful  blow  of  the  ram  — The  Cumberland  sunk,  colors  flying— The  Congress  surren 
ders  —  Set  on  fire  and  blown  up  —  The  Minnesota  not  attacked  that  day  —  Gloomy  Saturday  night  —  The 
Monitor  arrives  —  Peculiarity  of  build,  etc.  —  Reappearance  of  the  Merrimac,  Sunday  morning  —  The  Moni 
tor  meets  her  —  The  encounter  —  The  victory  —  Gen.  Shields's  success  over  Jackson  at  Winchester  —  Troops 
embarked  for  the  Peninsula  —  McClellan's  expectations  as  to  his  force  —  Disappointment  —  His  plan  in 
general  — Movements— McDowell's  corps  detached  —  McClellan's  views  —  Question  as  to  number  of  the 
troops  — Siege  of  Yorktown  —  President's  letter  to  McClellan  —  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith's  exploit  —  Fredericks- 
burg  taken  —  New  Market  also —  Rebels  determine  to  evacuate  Yorktown,  and  retire  in  safety. 

engaged,  as  we  have  seen  (page  92-3). 
in  making  vast  and  extensive  prepara 
tions  for  a  campaign  early  in  1862. 


GEN.  MCCLELLAN,  in  following  the 

'  O 

plans  which  he  had  adopted  in  regard 
to  offen-ive  operations  in  Virginia,  was 


Cir.  XL] 


McCLELLAN'S  PLAN  OF  CAMPAIGN. 


129 




Estimating  the  rebel  forces  at  150,000, 
and  supposing  them  to  be  well  discip 
lined  and  thoroughly  entrenched  and 
supplied  with  artillery  (see  p.  94),  Mc- 
Clellan  was  unwilling  to  advance  upon 
Manassas  during  the  early  part  of  the 
winter,  notwithstanding  severe  censure 
was  cast  upon  him  for  delay  and  in 
explicable  tardiness.  The  president 
did  not  pretend  to  know  much,  if  any 
thing,  about  military  science,  and  the 
secretary  of  war,  though  bred  to  the 
law  and  full  of  zeal  and  spirit,  was  not 
probably  better  able  to  judge  than  Mr. 
Lincoln  of  the  reasons  which  weighed 
so  strongly  with  the  geueral-in-chief 
against  what  he  considered  to  be  pre 
mature,  unprepared  action. 

Although  the  roads  previously  had 
been  good,  yet  towards  the  close  of 
December,  1861,  they  became  unfavor 
able,  and  grew  more  and  more  so  as  the 
season  advanced.  Early  in  February, 
McClellan,  affirming  that  he  could 
"  fix  no  definite  time  for  an  advance,'7 
declared  that  "the  roads  have  gone 
from  bad  to  worse ;  nothing  like  their 
present  condition  was  ever  known  here 
before ;  they  are  impassable  at  present." 
About  the  middle  of  January,  McClellau 
recovered  from  a  severe  illness,  and 
goon  learned  how  anxious  the  govern 
ment  was  for  an  immediate 

1§62. 

movement.  The  general-in 
ch  ief  wished  to  attack  Richmond  by 
the  Lower  Chesapeake;  which,  how 
ever,  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  approve,  and 
issued  a  special  war  order,  January 
31st,  directing  that  a  point  on  the  rail 
road  southwest  of  Manassas  Junction 
be  seized  and  occupied,  the  troops  to 
move  on  or  before  February  22d. 

VOL.  IV.— 17. 


The  president  put  various  queries  to 
McClellan  in  regard  to  the  comparative 
values  of  the  two  plans,  his  and  Mc- 
Clellan's  ;  to  which  the  general-in-chief 
answered  in. a  lengthy  paper,  February 
3d,  given  in  his  Report,  urging  strongly 
that  the  base  of  operations  by  the 
Lower  Chesapeake  "  afforded  the  short 
est  possible  route  to  Richmond,  and 
struck  directly  at  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  power  in  the  east."  A  ma 
jority  of  the  general  officers,  who  met 
at  McClellan's  headquarters,  approved 
of  his  plans  to  move  by  the  Chesapeake 
and  Rappahannock,  ascending  to 
Urbana  on  t,he  Rappahaunock,  and 
thence  crossing  to  Richmond,  between 
forty  and  fifty  miles  westwardly. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  at  one  time  convinced 
by  interviews  with  McClellan  that  the 
plans  of  the  latter  were  the  best,  at  an 
other  quite  confident  that  his  own  and 
his  secretary's  were  preferable,  hesitat 
ed  in  his  action,  and  seemed  to  assent 
with  reluctance  to  any  of  the  proposi 
tions  of  the  general-in-chief.  On  the 
8th  of  March,  the  president  issued  his 
"  General  War  Order  No.  2  ;"  by  which 
it  was  directed  that  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  be  organized  into  four  army 
corps.  The  first,  consisting  of  four 
divisions,  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Mc 
Dowell  ;  the  second,  consisting  of  three 
divisions,  to  Gen.  Sumner ;  the  third 
and  the  fourth,  consisting  each  of  three 
divisions,  to  Gens.  Heintzelinan  and 
Keyes.  Gen.  Wadsworth  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  troops  for  the  de 
fence  of  Washington  ;  and  a  fifth  army 
corps,  consisting  of  two  divisions,  was 
assigned  to  Gen.  Banks.*  On  the  same 

*  Gen.  McClellau  complains,  in  his  Report,  that  this 


130 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


day,  a  third  war  order  was  issued,  re 
quiring  that  no  operations  be  entered 
upon  without  leaving  Washington 
entirely  secure,  and  without  clearing 
the  navigation  of  the  Potomac  from  the 
enemy's  batteries  and  other  obstruc 
tions.  The  mo  vement  upon  the  Chesa 
peake,  as  McClellan  wished,  was  also 
ordered  to  move,  as  early  as  the  18th 
of  March,  or  earlier,  if  possible. 

Meanwhile,  events,  some  of  them  of 
great  importance,  had  occurred  at  vari 
ous  points  in  Virginia,  since  the  begin 
ning  of  the  war.  These  may  properly 
here  be  noted,  as  having,  to  a  consider 
able  extent,  modified  Gen.  McClellan's 
plan  of  the  campaign. 

Early  in  January,  the  rebel  Gen. 
Jackson,  who  had  been  purposing  for 
some  time  to  move  from  Winchester  to 
the  northwest,  left  that  place, 
and  advanced  towards  Hancock, 
some  forty  miles  distant.  Arriving  at 
Bath,  through  a  pitiless  storm  of  snow 
and  hail,  he  drove  out  four  companies 
of  our  troops,  who  retreated  to  Han 
cock,  across  the  Potomac,  and  made  a 
stand  on  receiving  reinforcements  there. 
Jackson  followed  and  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  town ;  but  Gen. 
Lander,  who  was  in  command,  refused 
peremptorily.  Firing  across  the  river 
was  tried  by  both  parties,  but  to  little 
purpose.  Jackson  moved  westwardly, 
and  Lander  made  his  preparations  to 
cross  into  Virginia  soon  after.  Colonel 


order  was  issued  hastily,  without  consultation  at  all 
with  him.  He  affirms  that  he  had  always  been  in 
favor  of  the  principle  of  organization  into  army 
corps,  but  he  did  not  think  that  the  time  had  come  as 
yet  for  this.  "  These  views  had  been  frequently  ex 
pressed  by  me  to  the  president  and  members  of  the 
cabinet ;  it  was  therefore  with  as  much  regret  as  sur 
prise  that  I  learned  the  existence  of  this  order." 


Dunning,  at  Kornney,  made  an  attack 
on  the  enemy  stationed  at  Blue's  Gap,  a 
strong  position,  sixteen  miles  distant, 
on  the  road  to  Winchester,  and  routed 
them  completely.  Lander  joined  Kelly 
at  Cumberland,  and  went  thence  to 
Romney ;  but  finding  that  Jackson  had 
nearly  surrounded  him  with  a  large 
force,  he  marched  all  night  to  Spring 
field.  Jackson  did  not  follow  him,  but 
retired  to  Winchester.  Subsequently, 
Moorfield  was  captured ;  and  by  a  spirit 
ed  dash  upon  the  rebel  position  at 
Bloornery  Gap,  Lander  took  the  enemy 
completely  by  surprise,  several  officers 
and  men,  in  all  seventy -five,  being  made 
prisoners.  On  the  llth  of  February, 
Lander  telegraphed  to  McClellan  that 
the  district  was  cleared  of  the  enemy. 
The  war  department  (February  17th) 
acknowledged  the  activity  and  valuable 
services  of  Gen.  Lander;  but  he  was 
compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  ill 
health,  and  died  on  the  2d  of  March. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  Colonel 
Geary  (of  Banks's  command,)  crossed 
the  Potomac,  and  took  possession  of 
Harper's  Ferry,  which,  half-burned  and 
plundered  by  the  rebels,  was  mostly 
deserted  by  its  inhabitants.  The 
heights  being  secured,  a  strong  force  oc 
cupied  Charlestown  on  the  28th,  on  the 
advance  to  Winchester.  Martinsburg, 
an  important  town  on  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad,  \vas  occupied  on 
the  3d  of  March,  and  Smithfield  on  the 
6th.  The  enemy,  in  the  direction  of 
Winchester,  were  evidently  falling 
back  ;  and  it  was  expected  that  a  stand 
would  be  made  at  that  place  by  Jack 
son.  Geary,  meanwhile,  advanced  with 
his  force  and  occupied  Lovettsville,  and 


CH.  XI.J 


MANASSAS  ABANDONED  BY  THE  REBELS. 


131 


was  very  successful  in  driving  before 
him  a  body  of  Mississippi  troops,  station 
ed  at  the  town  ;  these  presently  retired 
to  Hillsborough.  Leesburg  was  oc 
cupied  on  the  8th  of  March,  the  rebels 
under  Hill  having  hastily  evacuated  it. 
Sixty-seven  prisoners,  over  one  hundred 
horses,  and  a  quantity  of  stores  were 
captured. 

Jackson  evacuated  Winchester,  March 
llth  ;  it  was  immediately  taken  posses 
sion  of,  the  next  day,  by  our  troops, 
under  Gens.  Hamilton  and  Williams. 
The  fortifications  at  this  place,  which 
had  been  supposed  to  be  formidable, 
were  found  to  be  hastily  constructed 
and  of  no  importance.  The  brigade  of 
Gen.  Shields  was  now  quartered  at 
Winchester,  where  Gen.  Banks  also 
established  his  headquarters. 

This  movement,  threatening  as  it  did 
the  left  flank  of  the  rebels,  hastened 
their  retirement  along  the  entire  line 
from  Aquia  Creek  to  the  Shenandoah. 
Well  advised  of  the  progress  of  vast 
military  preparations  on  the  Potomac, 
and  aware  that  one  large  force  was  be 
fore  them ;  that  another  was  fast  gather 
ing  from  Harper's  Ferry,  on  their  flank ; 
and  that  probably  speedy  movement 
would  be  made  by  the  Chesapeake  in 
their  rear,  the  rebel  leaders  resolved  to 
decline  a  battle,  which  had  been  for 
months  eagerly  expected  by  the  people 
of  the  loyal  states.  Retreat,  at  the  pre 
sent,  was  their  policy,  and  retreat  they 
accomplished  in  the  coolest  and  most 
scientific  manner.  The  heavy  artillery 
at  Manassas  was  leisurely  re- 

1§G2.  .  .  J  . 

mo.vecl,  the  railroad  leading 
south  answering  the  purpose  of  trans 
porting  men  and  munitions  to  any  ex 


tent  ;  and  so  skilfully  was  all  this  per 
formed,  despite  Gen.  McClellan's  "  secret 
service  force,"  to  give  information  of 
the  rebel  doings,  that,  when  our  army 
reached  Manassas,  there  was  not  a  gun 
left  to  be  captured,  or  hardly  a  straggler 
to  betaken  prisoner.  On  Sunday  even 
ing,  March  9th,  the  last  of  the  rebel  force 
abandoned  Centreville,  retreating  in  per 
fect  order,  leaving  the  formidable  line 
of  fortifications  on  the  ridge  entirely 
empty,  save  a  few  wooden  painted  logs, 
which  had  been  placed  in  the  embra 
sures.  The  famous  stone  bridge  over 
Bull  Run.  and  another  over  Cob  Run, 
were  destroyed  in  the  retreat. 

Gen.  McDowell,  with  the  advance  of 
the  army,  arrived  at  Centreville  on  the 
10th  of  March,  and  dispatched  a  cavalry 
force  the  same  evening  to  Manassas, 
whence  the  last  of  the  rebel  troops  had 
departed  in  the  morning.  Nearly 
everything  of  value  had  been  removed, 
and  nothing  remained  but  the  refuse  of 
the  camp,  the  lines  of  rude  huts.  etc. 

It  was  a  mortifying  confession,  but  it 
had  to  be  made,  that  the  rebels  had  got 
the  better  of  us,  and  that  their  retreat- 
on  this  occasion  was  equivalent  to  a 
victory.  It  required  all  the  public  con 
fidence  heretofore  placed  upon  Mc- 
Clellan  and  his  forthcoming  victories,  to 
escape  the  conviction  that  the  number  of 
the  rebels  had  been  greatly  over-estimat 
ed,  and  that  we  had  given  them  an  ad 
vantage,  especially  in  the  way  of  pre 
paring  for  defence  against  our  advance, 
which  was  likely  to  protract  the  con 
test  far  longer  than  any  one  as  yet  had 
contemplated. 

McClellan,  having  entered  upon  the 
active  duties  of  commanding   the  ad- 


132 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


vance  movement  of  tlie  army,  did  not 
expect  certainly  that  any  change  would 
be  made  in  his  official  position  as  gene- 
ral-in-chief.  By  the  war  order,  however, 
which  was  issued  on  the  llth  of  March, 
it  was  ordered :  "  Major- General  Mc- 
Clellau,  having  personally  taken  the 
field  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  until  otherwise  ordered,  he  is 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  other 
military  departments,  he  retaining  com 
mand  of  the  Department  of  the  Poto 
mac."  By  the  same  order,  Gen.  Halleck 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  Mississippi,  and  Gen.  Fre 
mont  in  command  of  the  Mountain  De 
partment,  i.  £.7<the  region  west  of  the  De 
partment  of  the  Potomac..  Each  of 
these  commanders  was  ordered  to  re 
port  directly  and  frequently  to  the 
secretary  of  war.* 

Although  not  a  little  mortified  at  the 
course  which  had  been  pursued  towards 
him,  McClellan,  three  days  afterwards, 
issued  a  spirited  address  to  the  soldiers  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  which  he  de 
clared,  that,  though  he  had  held  them 
back,  it  was  to  discipline  them  and  fit 
them  to  "  give  the  death-blow  to  the 
rebellion."  He  also  assured  them,  that 
he  was  ready  to  share  all  dangers  and 
trials  with  them,  and  that  he  held  it  an 
honor  to  belong  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  f 

*  McClellan,  in  his  Report,  states  that  the  first  know 
ledge  he  had  of  this  order  was  through  the  newspapers. 
He  addressed  a  note  to  the  president,  cheerfully  ac 
ceding  to  the  disposition  thus  made  of  his  services,  and 
declaring  that  no  consideration  of  self  would  in  any 
manner  interfere  with  the  discharge  of  his  public 
duties. 

f  The  rebel  batteries  on  the  Potomac  at  Cockpit 
Point  and  other  stations  were  abandoned  soon  after  the 
retreat  from  Manassas,  and  the  river  was  once  more  free 
from  annoying  and  vexatious  obstructions. 


At  a  council  of  the  generals  com 
manding  army  corps,  held  at  headquar 
ters,  March  13th,  it  was  deemed  most 
expedient,  Washington  being  properly 
secured  against  attack,  and  Manassas 
being  occupied  in  force,  to  proceed  to 
the  advance  upon  Richmond  by  way 
of  Fortress  Monroe.  The  president  and 
war  department  approved  this  plan  of 
operations,  and  urged  immediate,  ener 
getic  action. 

Before  proceeding  further,  however, 
with  the  narrative  of  military  opera 
tions  in  Virginia,  we  must  call  the 
reader's  attention  to  the  celebrated  en 
counter  between  the  Merrimac  and  the 
Monitor,  not  only  because  of  its  general 
effect  upon  the  progress  of  the  great 
contest,  but  also  because  of  its  marked 
importance  in  the  history  of  naval  war 
fare  in  modern  times.  Certainly,  noth 
ing  which  has  ever  occurred  in  connec- 

o 

tion  with  ships  of  war,  and  with  at 
tempts  to  render  them  invulnerable,  is 
more  remarkable  and  more  significant 
in  its  results  than  this  memorable  en 
counter. 

It  will  be  remembered,  that  when 
the  rebels  seized  upon  the  navy  yard 
at  Norfolk  (see  p.  24),  the  U.  S.  steamer 
Merrimac  was  one  of  the  vessels  which 
was  scuttled  and  abandoned  by  Capt. 
Macaulay.  Subsequently,  she  was  rais 
ed  and  placed  in  the  dry  dock,  and 
special  care  was  bestowed  upon  fitting 
her  out  in  such  wise  as  to  be  invincible 
to  all  attack,  and  consequently  able  to 
act  as  a  universal  destroyer.  Her  hull 
was  cut  down,  and  a  bomb-proof  cover- 
in"-  of  wrought  iron  put  over  her  main 
deck.  Her  bow  and  stern  were  sharp 
ened  and  clad  in  steel,  with  a  projecting 


a 

63 


I 

32 


GIL  XL] 


THE  ONSET  OF  THE  M-ERRLMAC. 


133 


angle  of  iron  to  pierce  any  adversary  in 
her  path.  Her  engines  were  stated  to 
be  510  horse-power,  and  all  her  ma 
chinery  was  below  the  water  line. 
Armed  with  ten  guns,  80-pounders, 
rifled ;  with  a  furnace  for  heating  shot ; 
manned  by  ten  lieutenants  and  350 
picked  men  ;  and  presenting  the  appear 
ance  of  a  submerged  house,  with  the 
roof  only  above  water,  the  Merrimac,  or 
as  the  rebels  re-named  her,  tile  Virginia, 
was  a  formidable  antagonist  indeed  for 
the  doomed  vessels  then  blockading  the 
entrance  to  Norfolk,  and  the  mouth  of 
the  James  River.*  Buchanan,  the  com 
mander,  after  forty-five  years  connection 
with  the  navy,  had  deserted  the  flag  of 
his  country,  and  was  now  ready  to  do 
all  in  his  power  for  the  new  master 
whom  he  was  serving. 

On  a  pleasant  sunshiny  day,  Satur 
day  the  8th  of  March,  the  Merrimac 
left  Norfolk,  and  about  noon  was  seen 
coming  round  Craney  Island,  accom 
panied  by  two  gun  boats,  and  heading 
for  Newport  News.  Several  other 
armed  steamers  joined  and  followed  in 
her  train,  and  were  prepared  both  to 
give  aid  and  share  in  the  confidently  ex- 
Dected  victory  of  the  Merrimac.  With 
nothing  visible  but  her  smoke-stack 


*  The  navy  department  was  quite  freely  censured 
for  not  being  more  attentive  to  the  critical  condition  of 
affairs  at  Hampton  Roads.  It  was  well  known  that  the 
Merrimac  was  all  prepared  to  do  her  work  ;  Gen.  Wool 
had  sent  a  carefully  drawn  up  statement  to  the  authori 
ties  at  Washington  respecting  the  monster  ram,  affirm 
ing  aa  his  conviction  that  nothing  in  the  Eoads  could 
withstand  her  onset ;  and  yet  apparently  no  steps  were 
taken  to  save  the  splendid  vessels  in  the  harbor,  beyond 
ordering  the  Monitor  to  the  scene  of  action.  Providen 
tially,  the  Monitor  arrived  before  it  was  quite  too  late, 
and  also  proved  equal  to  the  fearful  emergency.  But 
*ee,  for  a  defence  of  the  navy  department,  Boynton's 
"  History  of  the  Navy  during  the  Rebellion,"  vol.  i.,  p. 
317,  etc. 


and  the  confederate  flag  flying  from  a 
staff,  she  steamed  directly  for  the  frig 
ate  Congress  and  the  sloop-of-war  Cum 
berland,  which  were  stationed  off  James 
River  to  guard  the  blockade  and  pro 
tect  the  camp  on  the  shore  at  Newport 
News.  Both  of  these  were  sailing  ves 
sels,  and  had  consequently  no  oppor 
tunity  of  manoeuvring  in  presence  of  so 
formidable  an  adversary  as  this  massive 
steam  ram.  The  other  vessels  in  the 
Roads,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  were  signal 
ed  to  the  aid  of  the  Congress  and 
Cumberland.  They  were  the  flag-ship 
Roanoke,  the  frigates  Minnesota  and 
St.  Lawrence,  and  some  half  dozen 
gun  boats,  which  were  employed  in 
towing  the  frigates  into  position, — the 
Minnesota  not  having  full  steam  on  at 
starting,  and  the  Roanoke  being  dis 
abled  by  a  broken  shaft. 

Whilst  these  noble  vessels  were  get 
ting  under  way,  the  Merrimac  moved 
slowly  onward  on  her  mission  of  des 
truction.  The  Congress  and  Cumber 
land,  meantime,  prepared  to  meet  the 
assaults  of  the  Merrimac.  The  former 
mounted  fifty  guns ;  the  latter  twenty- 
four  of  heavy  calibre.  The  Cumber 
land  opened  fire  at  about  a  mile  distant ; 
but  the  iron  roofed  monster  gave  no 
sign,  until  within  100  yards  of  the  frig 
ate.  The  broadsides  of  both  the  ships 
bounded  harmlessly  from  the  mailed 
sides  of  the  Merrimac.  Equally  una 
vailing  were  the  shots  fired  from  the 

O  • 

powerful  battery  at  Newport  News. 
Six  or  eight  times  the  Cumberland  re 
peated  these  broadsides  from  her  mas 
sive  guns,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  a  single 
shot,  however,  from  the  Merrimac  kill 
ed  five  of  her  men. 


134 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


Then  came  the  fearful  moment  of 
trial.  The  Merrimac,  sure  of  her  prey, 
plunged  headlong  into  the  side  of  the 
helpless  frigate.  The  iron  horn  or 
ram,  striking  her  just  forward  the  main 
chains,  made  a  deep  gash,  knocking  a 
hole  in  the  side  near  the  water  line  as 
lars;e  as  the  head  of  a  hogshead,  and 

O  O  / 

driving  her  back  upon  her  anchors  with 
great  force,  while  the  water  ran  into  her 
hold.  Slowly  drawing  back,  the  Mer 
rimac  poured  a  broadside  into  the  sink 
ing  ship.  Still  the  Cumberland  main 
tained  the  unequal  contest.  Officers 
and  men  without  a  single  voice  of  dis 
sent,  resolved  never  to  surrender  to  the 
rebels.  They  stood  by  their  guns  up 
to  the  last  moment ;  the  dead,  and  the 
dying,  and  the  wounded,  strewed  all 
around ;  the  shots  of  the  enemy  pour 
ing  in  upon  the  sinking  frigate ;  the 
vessel  on  fire  in  the  forward  part ;  all 
hope  gone ;  yet  the  Cumberland  waved 
no  white  flag  of  surrender.  Down  she 
sank,  her  hull  grounding  fifty-four  feet 
below  the  surface;  but  her  glorious 
flag  still  streamed  at  the  topmast  above 
the  waves,  and  remained  there  long 
after  the  ram  had  departed.  At  the 
last,  the  men  saved  themselves  as  best 
they  could  ;  but  many  were  drowned 
before  a  small  steamer  arrived  from 
Newport  News  to  their  relief.  Out  of 
376,  officers  and  privates,  117  were 
known  to  be  lost,  about  twenty-three 
were  missing,  and  the  rest  were  saved.* 
The  Merrimac  had  expended  only 
about  forty-five  minutes  in  destroying 


*  Lieut.  Morris  and  the  brave  officers  and  men  under 
liis  command,  received  the  special  acknowledgments 
and  thanks  of  the  navy  department  for  "  their  courage 
and  determination  under  the  most  disastrous  and  ap 
palling  circumstances." 


1862. 


the  Cumberland,  and  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  she  was  ready  to  com 
plete  the  destruction  of  the  Congress 
and  the  other  vessels  not  far  off.  See 
ing  the  fate  of  the  Cumberland,  the 
commander  of  the  Congress  set  the  jib 
and  topsail,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
a  gunboat,  ran  the  vessel  ashore. 
The  Merrimac  took  a  position 
astern,  at  a  distance  of  about  150 
yards,  and  raked  the  Congress  fore  and 
aft  with  shells,  while  one  of  the  smaller 
steamers  kept  up  a  fire  on  her  starboard 
quarter.  The  two  stern  guns  of  the 
Congress  were  her  only  means  of  de 
fence.  These  were  soon  disabled,  one 
being  dismounted,  and  the  other  having 
its  muzzle  knocked  away,  by  the  ter 
rible  fire  of  the  enemy. 

Between  four  and  five  o'clock,  Lieut. 
Smith,  in  command,  was  killed,  and 
Lieut.  Prenderorast,  deeming  it  utterly 

O  O  •' 

useless  to  protract  the  fight,  where  his 
men  were  being  slaughtered,  and  not 
a  single  cmn  could  be  brought  to  bear 

o  O  O 

against  the  enemy,  hauled  down  his 
flag,  and  surrendered  to  the  Merrimac. 
A.  small  tusr  came  alone;  side,  and  all 

O  O  / 

were  ordered  out  of  the  ship,  as  she 
was  to  be  burned  directly.  Some  of 
the  troops  on  shore  kept  up  a  fire  on  the 
tug,  and  succeeded  in  driving  her  off; 
whereupon  the  Merrimac  poured  an 
other  broadside  into  the  Congress, 

O  / 

although  the  white  flag  was  flying  at 
her  peak.  With  this  inhuman  act,  the 
Congress  was  left  to  her  fate;  hour 
after  hour  she  burned,  lighting  up  the 
harbor  till  past  midnight,  when  the 
magazine  exploded,  and  the  fragments 
of  the  lost  frigate  were  scattered  in 
every  direction.  There  were  434, 


CH.  XL] 


THE  MONITOR  MEETS  THE  MERRIMAC. 


135 


officers  and  men,  on  the  Congress;  136 
were  lost ;  the  remainder  were  saved. 

The  Minnesota,  one  of  the  first-class 
vessels  in  the  navy,  was  the  next  object 
of  the  Merrimac's  attention.  Late  in 
the  afternoon,  accompanied  by  two 
steam  tugs,  she  bore  down  upon  the 
Minnesota.  Fortunately,  there  was 
not  sufficient  depth  of  water  to  allow 
of  her  coming  very  near ;  so,  taking  a 
position  a  mile  distant,  on  the  starboard 
bow,  she  opened  fire,  but  did  not  ac 
complish  much  by  the  operation.  The 
Minnesota  lay  aground  about  two 
miles  from  Newport  News ;  and  the 
St.  Lawrence,  also  anxious  to  join  in 
the  contest,  was  grounded  near  by. 
As  there  was  no  chance  of  these  vessels 
getting  away  that  night,  and  as  the 
evening  had  already  set  in,  the  Merri- 
uiac  steamed  back  to  her  anchorage, 
satisfied  with  what  she  had  done,  and 
waiting  for  the  next  day's  light  to 
prove  further  her  powers  of  destructive- 
ness.  Two  were  reported  to  have 
been  killed ;  Buchanan,  the  commander, 
and  seven  others  wounded. 

That  was  a  gloomy  Saturday  night, 
not  only  to  those  in  the  vicinity  of 
Fortress  Monroe,  but  to  every  part  of 
the  country  whither  the  electric  tele 
graph  conveyed  the  astounding  news 
of  the  Merrimac's  doings.  The  Cum 
berland  was  sunk  in  the  waters,  the 
Congress  lay  wrapped  in  flames,  the 
Minnesota  was  helplessly  imbedded  in 
Jie  sand,  nothing  appeared  to  be  safe, 
for  nothing  on  land  or  water  seemed  to 

O 

be  able  to  meet  the  terrible  assaults  of 
the  Merrimac.  It  was  at  this  point, 
when  hope  was  well  nigh  gone,  that 
the  Monitor  appeared  on  the  scene  of 


action ;  and  providentially  brought  that 
help  which  none  other  was  able  to 
afford. 

Untried,  unknown,  regarded  with 
much  doubt  by  many  who  were  thought 
to  be  wise  in  such  matters,  this  remark 
able  vessel  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
about  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening.  In 
every  way  a  novelty;  in  appearance, 
not  unlike  what  the  Norfolk  rebels 
termed  her,  "  a  Yankee  cheese-box  set 
on  a  raft ;"  and  with  hardly  anything 
visible  but  a  flat  iron  deck  on  the  sur 
face  of  the  water,  surmounted  by  a  low 
round  tower,  pilot  box,  and  smoke-pipe, 
few  supposed  the  Monitor  capable  of 
performing  what  the  next  day  fully 
proved  her  ability  to  do.  With  a  hull 
impossible  to  be  injured,  and  with  a 
tower  only  ten  feet  high  and  twenty  in 
diameter,  revolving  readily,  and  mount 
ing  two  11-inch  guns,  the  Monitor  was, 
in  fact,  a  bomb-proof  fort,  of  immense 
power  and  effectiveness.* 

The  Monitor  was  now  emphatically 
on  her  trial  trip.  She  had  just  been 
completed,  had  left  New  York  under 
orders,  on  the  6th  of  March,  and  had 
arrived  in  Hampton  Roads  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  8th.  The  passage  was  ex 
ceedingly  rough  and  stormy,  but  the 
Monitor  proved  to  be  a  capital  sea  boat, 
and  all  on  board  of  her  were  eager  to 
test  her  capabilities  in  a  deadly  grapple 
with  the  Merrimac.  Captain  Worden 
was  directed  to  lay  the  Monitor  along 
side  the  Minnesota,  which  he  accord- 

*  For  a  full  and  carefully  prepared  account  of  ironed 
or  armored  vessels,  in  reference  both  to  our  own  and 
to  tlie  navies  of  other  nations,  see  Appleton's  "Ameri 
can  Annual  Cyclopaedia,"  pp.  604-028.  See  also  the 
first  volume  of  Boynton's  "  Hhtory  of  the  Navy  during 
the  Rebellion." 


13'd 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


K.  VIII. 


ingly  did,  reaching  that  position  at  two 
o'cloc  k  on  Sunday  morning. 

At  daylight,  the  Merriraac  was  astir 
again,  ready  to  sweep  from  her  path 
every  obstacle,  and  expecting  probably 
to  clear  the  Roads  entirely  of  the  block 
ading  fleet,  if  not  to  bombard  and  take 

O  ' 

Fortress  Monroe  itself.  She  had  numer 
ous  attendants,  even  those  who  came 
merely  to  look  on,  and  enjoy  the  sight 
of  what  the  monster  ram  was  to  do  in 
the  way  of  ruin.  The  Monitor  took 
her  position  at  once  in  front  of  the 
Minnesota,  and  discharged  one  of  her 
11-inch  Dahlgrens  upon  the  Merrimac. 
It  was  an  astounding;  challenge,  like  a 

O  o     / 

pigmy  assaulting  a  giant ;  but  a  hund 
red  and  sixty-eight  pound  shot  was  not 
to  be  despised,  come  from  where  it 
might,  and  so  the  Merrimac  prepared 
to  make  short  work  of  her  diminutive 
assailant.  It  was  soon  found,  however, 
that  the  Monitor  was  not  easily  to  be 
beaten.  Broadside  after  broadside  pro 
duced  no  effect  upon  her;  it  was  of  no 
avail  to  attempt,  as  the  Merrimac  did, 
to  run  her  down,  and  crush  her  in  that 
way ;  the  active  Monitor,  with  her  re 
volving  battery  ever  pointing  full  upon 
the  ram,  poured  forth  shot  incessantly 
upon  the  sides,  at  the  bow  and  the 
stern,  seeking  some  vulnerable  spot. 
The  contest  raged  for  hours,  when  the 
Monitor  withdrew  for  a  space  to  hoist 
more  shot  into  her  turret.  This  being 
done,  the  fight  was  renewed ;  but  the 
Merrimac  was  glad  ere  long  to  retire 
towards  Sewall's  Point.  It  needed  no 
words  to  express  the  fact  that  she  was 
badly  beaten,  and  compelled  to  stop  in 
her  career.  The  Monitor  did  not  pur 
sue  the  fleeing  vessel;  she  was  under 


orders  to  act  on  the  defensive  ;  and  as 
the  lesson  just  given  to  the  rebels  was 
a  severe  one,  it  was  thought  that  it 
would  probably  answer  for  the  present.* 

The  Merrimac  was  seriously  injured, 
but  to  what  extent  was  not  made  pub 
lic  ;  the  Monitor  came  out  of  the  contest 
unharmed,  except  by  a  tremendous 
blow  from  a  shot  striking  the  pilot 
house.  Capt.  Worden,  who  was  in  the 
pilot  house,  directing  the  movements  of 
the  vessel,  was  stunned  by  the  concus 
sion,  and  for  a  time  partially  blinded. 
On  rallying,  he  was  greeted  with  the 
cheering  news  that  the  Minnesota  was 
safe,  and  the  Merrimac  driven  off  to  her 
rebel  home.f 

Gen.  Shields,  with  his  division  at 
Winchester  (see  p.  181),  having  ascer 
tained,  March  19th,  that  Jackson  was 
strongly  posted  near  Mount  Jackson, 
resolved  to  try  and  draw  him  out  by  a 
feigned  retreat,  and  thus  fiolit 

,  .  S  -,  1§G2 

him     to     greater     advantage. 

O  o 

The  troops  were  sent  off  towards  Cen- 


*  Mr.  A.  C.  Stimers,  chief  engineer  of  the  United 
States  service,  was  on  board  the  Monitor  as  govern 
ment  inspector.  He  wrote  a  spirited  letter  on  the  day 
of  the  fight  to  Captain  Ericsson,  the  inventor,  lauding 
the  Monitor  in  high  terms  : — "  I  congratulate  you,"  lie 
said,  "  upon  your  great  success.  Thousands  have  this 
day  blessed  you.  I  have  heard  whole  crews  cheer  you. 
Every  man  feels  that  you  have  saved  this  place  to  the 
nation  by  furnishing  us  with  the  means  to  whip  an 
iron-clad  frigate,  that  was,  until  our  arrival,  having  it 
all  her  own  way  with  our  most  powerful  vessels."  For 
an  interesting  account  of  Mr.  Ericsson's  life  and  labors, 
see  Duyckinck's  "  War  for  the.  Union,"  vol.  ii.,  pp. 
308-312. 

\  In  order  to  complete  the  history  of  the  Merrimac's 
career,  we  may  mention  here,  that,  on  the  llth  of  April, 
she  appeared  again  in  Hampton  Roads,  and  captured 
a  few  email  vessels ;  and  on  the  llth  of  May,  she  was 
blown  up  by  her  officers  in  the  Elizabeth  River,  to  pre 
vent  her  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Union  forces. 
The  Monitor,  to  the  deep  regret  of  all  loyal  men,  was 
lost  in  a  violent  gale  off  the  coast  of  North  Carolina, 
Dec.  31st,  1862. 


Cn.  XL] 


SIIIELDS'S  SUCCESS  OVER  .JACKSON. 


137 


treville,  leaving  Ashby's  cavalry,  who 
were  on  the  lookout,  to  suppose  that 
Winchester  was  being  evacuated.  On 
the  22d  of  March,  a  skirmish  took  place 
near  Winchester,  during  which  Shields 
was  badly  wounded  in  the  left  arm. 
.'Durino;  the  ni^ht,  a  strong  force  was 

o  O         /  O 

placed  in  advance,  on  the  Strasburg 
road,  in  a  masked,  admirably  protected 
position,  near  Kernstown.  The  next 
day,  Jackson's  troops  made  an  attack 
upon  our  men,  endeavoring  to  turn 
Shields's  left  flank ;  but  they  were  re 
pulsed  after  a  severe  struggle.  An  at 
tack  was  then  made  on  our  right,  with 
desperate  energy  and  determination ; 
it  was,  however,  met  with  equal  spirit 
and  bravery ;  Tyler's  brigade  dashed 

o     '  i/  O 

forward  to  carry  the  enemy's  batteries, 
and  hurl  his  left  flank  back  upon  the 
centre.  Jackson,  with  his  supposed 
invincible  stone-wall  brigade  and  the 
accompanying  brigades,  were  compelled 
to  fall  back  upon  their  reserve.  They 
made  an  attempt  to  retrieve  the  fortune 
of  the  day ;  but  were  not  able  to  stand 
the  fire  of  our  men.  They  speedily  fled 
in  disorder,  leaving  Shields  in  possession 
of  the  field,  the  killed  and  wounded, 
300  prisoners,  two  guns,  four  caisons, 
and  1,000  stand  of  small  arms. 

Too  fatigued  to  pursue  the  enemy 
that  night,  Shields  prepared  for  the 
next  day's  work,  whether  a  renewal  of 
the  fio'ht  with  Jackson  reinforced,  or  a 

O  7 

driving  him  into  flight.  On  the  24th 
of  March,  the  rebels  retreated,  and  dur 
ing  the  following  week,  were  pursued 
to  Woodstock,  and  thence  to  Eden  burg, 
about  twenty  miles  beyond  Strasburg. 
Skirmishing  was  kept  up  byAshby's  cav 
alry,  which  protected  Jackson's  retreat. 

VOL.  IV.— 18. 


This  victory  was  highly  commended 
by  the  authorities  as  "  auspicious  and 
decisive,'7  and  it  served  to  elevate  the 
spirits  of  the  people  in  view  of  the 
campaign  now  just  being  entered  upon. 
Gen.  Shields's  force  was  between  7,000 
and  8,000;  his  loss  was  103  killed,  440 
wounded,  twenty-four  missing.  The 
rebels  numbered  about  10,000;  their 
loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  over 
1,000. 

In  carrying  forward  the  plan  of  the 
campaign  indicated  on  p.  120,  troops 
were  embarked,  during  the  latter  part 
of  March,  from  Alexandria  for  Fortress 
Monroe.  The  transports  supplied  were 
found  to  be  insufficient,  and 
therewras  much  delay  in  getting 
the  troops  to  their  destination.  Ileint- 
zelmairs  corps  led  the  way,  and  landed 
on  the  Peninsula,  March  23d.  Other 
detachments  followed,  as  rapidly  as 
means  of  transportation  allowed.  Gen. 
McClellan,  expecting  to  have  the  sup 
port  of  the  four  army  corps,  directed 
that  the  first  corps  (McDowell's),  be 
embarked  last,  intending  to  use  it  in 
mass  on  either  bank  of  the  York  River, 
according  as  seemed  best.  He  left 
Washington,  April  1st,  and  arrived  at 
Fortress  Monroe  the  next  day.  Blen 
ker's  division  of  10,000  men  had  been 
withdrawn,  despite  his  protest,  March 
31st,  to  reinforce  Fremont ;~::"  at  the 
same  time,  McClellan  was  allowed  to 
detain  him  a  while  at  Strasburg,  until 
Jackson  was  disposed  of.  As  an  offset 

*  Under  date,  March  31st,  the  president  wrote  to 
McClellan,  "  I  fejt  constrained  to  order  Blenker's  divi 
sion  to  Fremont ;"  and  some  days  later,  April  9th,  he 
wrote,  " you  know  ihcpressurc  under  which  I  withdrew 
Blenker's  division."  What  the  constraint  or  pressure 
was,  in  how  far  it  was  political,  personal,  or  otherwise,  is 
not  explained.  The  reader  must  judge  for  himself. 


138 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


to  this,  some  10,000  men,  under  Wool 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  were  placed  at  Mc- 
Clellan's  disposal,  at  first ;  but  on  April 
3d,  he  was  forbidden  to  use  them  with 
out  Wool's  sanction.  "This  order," 
McClellan  remarks,  in  his  report,,  "  left 
me  without  any  base  of  operations  under 
my  control,  and  to  this  day  I  am  ignor 
ant  c/f  the  causes  which  led  to  it." 

Very  little  information  was  obtained 
at  Fortress  Monroe  as  to  the  position  of 
affairs  on  the  Peninsula,  and  the  topo 
graphy  of  the  region  had  to  be  learned 
by  experience,  rather  than  by  previous 
surveys  or  maps.  The  navy  also,  it  was 
found,  was  too  busy  in  looking  after  the 
Merrimac  and  rebel  gunboats,  to  be  able 
to  give  any  of  that  support  on  which  Mc 
Clellan  had  counted,  in  operating  against 
Yorktown  and  Gloucester.  His  plan 
was,  as  he  says,  by  rapid  movements  to 
drive  before  him  or  capture  the  enemy 
on  the  Peninsula,  open  the  James  Biver, 
and  press  on  to  Richmond,  before  the 
rebels  should  be  materially  reinforced 
from  other  quarters.  But  McClellan's 
plans  were  not  carried  out  as  he  intend 
ed,  because,  as  he  asserts,  the  means 
necessary  were  taken  away  from  him. 
The  army  was  put  in  immediate  move 
ment  against  the  enemy's  works,  at 
various  points  between  Fortress  Mon 
roe  and  Yorktown.  Heavy  rains  had 
made  the  roads  bad,  and  although 
the  rebels  abandoned  some  points,  yet, 
when  Gen.  Keyes  reached  Lee's  Mills, 
he  found  the  post  too  strong  to  be  car 
ried,  as  he  had  been  directed,  by  assault. 
Heintzelman  arrived  in  front  of  York- 
town  on  the  afternoon  of  April  5th; 
both  columns  having  been  exposed  to  a 
warm  artillery  fire  during  the  advance. 


It  was  at  this  point,  while  thus  en 
gaged,  McClellan  received  an  order, 
dated  April  4th,  from  the  president,  de 
taching  McDowell's  corps  from  his 
command.  Although  done  under  the 
impression  that  it  was  essential  to  the 
safety  of  Washington  against  rebel  as 
saults,  it  proved  a  severe  disappoint 
ment  to  McClellan  ;  it  rendered  him 
powerless,  as  he  says,  to  turn  Yorktown 
by  West  Point,  and  left  him  no  choice 
but  to  attack  the  place  directly  in  front 
with  such  force  as  he  had  under  his 
command.*  In  his  report,  McClellan 
affirms  positively  that  Mr.  Lincoln, 
when  withdrawing  Blenker's  division, 
had  assured  him  that  no  other  interfer 
ence  of  any  kind  would  be  made  with 
the  proposed  operations  on  the  Penin 
sula;  and  he  goes  on  to  say  that  he 
was  shocked  at  this  order,  that  it 
marred  all  his  expectations,  that,  in 
short,  u  it  was  a  fatal  error.''1  Careful 
reconnaissances  were  made  for  several 
days,  and  developed  the  serious  difficul 
ties  in  the  way  of  our  advance,  as  it  had 
to  be  forced  through  dense  forests,  deep 
swamps,  flooded  roads,  and  the  like,  j 
On  examination  by  McClellan  himself,  it 
was  concluded  not  to  risk  an  immediate 
assault  upon  the  extensive  fortifications 
which  protected  so  fully  Yorktown  and 
Gloucester.  From  the  first  arrival  of 
our 'troops  before  Yorktown,  there  was 

*  There  is  a  curious  question  as  to  a  matter  of  fact, 
which  one  would  suppose  not  difficult  to  settle.  It  is 
instructive  as  well  as  curious,  and  may  give  the  reader 
an  idea  how  hard  it  is  to  attain  positive  accuracy  where 
numbers  are  concerned.  The  president  and  secretary 
of  war  said  that  McClellan,  according  to  his  own  re 
turns  had,  April  7th,  108,000  men  for  the  peninsular 
campaign.  McClellan  declared  that  at  that  date,  8~>,000 
was  the  extent  of  his  force  all  counted.  Rather  a  large 
difference  that  of  23,000  ! 


CH.  XL] 


SIEGE  OF  YORKTOWN. 


139 


more  or  less  skirmishing  of  the  sharp 
shooters  with  the  enemy  in  their  en 
trenchments  in  front  of  the  Union  line. 
Heavy  rain  storms,  unusual  for  the  sea 
son,  aggravated  the  ordinary  difficulties 
of  a  campaign  in  a  strange  region  ;  and 
the  ground,  imperfectly  drained,  would 
have  rendered  an  advance  entirely  im 
practicable,  had  not  some  Maine  and 
Michigan  regiments  constructed,  with 
great  toil,  a  series  of  corduroy  roads, 
over  which  the  artillery  could  be  trans 
ported. 

The  rebel  General  Magruder  had 
some  10,000  men  at  Yorktown,  and 
could  be  reinforced  at  any  time  directly 
from  Richmond,  and  was  reinforced 
largely  so  soon  as  our  army  appeared. 
It  was,  therefore,  prudent,  if  not  neces 
sary,  on  McClellan's  part,  to  take  the 
course  which  he  did ;  although  there 

7  O 

were  many  wrho  held,  that  a  bold  dash 
at  the  outset  would  have  given  him 
possession  of  Yorktown. 

The  impatience  of  the  public,  demand 
ing  greater  activity  and  speedy  results, 
was  shown  in  various  ways.  The 
president  was  deeply  affected  by  it,  and 
under  date  of  April  9th,  closed  an 
urgent  letter  to  McClellan 
as  follows  : — "  I  suppose  the 
whole  force  which  has  gone  forward  to 
you  is  with  you  by  this  time,  and  if  so, 
I  think  it  is  the  precise  time  for  you  to 

strike  a  blow Let  me  tell  you 

that  it  is  indispensable  to  you  that  you 
strike  a  blow,  ./am  powerless  to  help 

this The  country  will  not  fail 

to  note — is  noting  now — that  the  pre 
sent  hesitation  to  move  upon  an  en 
trenched  position  is  but  the  story  of 
Manassas  repeated.  I  beg  to  assure 


1862. 


you  that  I  have  never  written  you,  or 
spoken  to  you,  in  greater  kindness  of 
feeling  than  now,  nor  with  a  fuller  pur 
pose  to  sustain  you,  so  far  as  in  my 
most  anxious  judgment  I  consistently 
can.  But  you  must  act"* 

Siege  operations  were  pushed  for 
ward  vigorously  and  as  rapidly  as  pos 
sible  ;  batteries  were  erected  to  silence 
the  enemy's  guns,  and  drive  them  from 
the  works  at  Wynn's  and  Lee's  Mills ; 
and  active  reconnaissances  were  kept 
up  continually  in  every  direction.  On 
the  16th  of  April,  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith, 
with  a  brigade  of  Vermont  troops,  ad 
vanced  to  a  point,  thought  to  be  the 
weakest  of  that  part  of  the  enemy's  lines, 
about  a  mile  above  Lee's  Mills,  where 
there  was  a  dam  covered  by  a  battery. 
The  rebel  fort  was  silenced  in  about  two 
hours;  and  an  attempt  was  made  to 
cany  the  entrenchments ;  but  without 
success.  On  the  18th  of  April,  a  por 
tion  of  McDowell's  corps,  under  Gen. 
Augur,  made  an  advance  upon  Fre- 
dericksburg,  and  drove  the 
enemy,  some  3,000  in  number, 
a  running  fight  being  kept  up  at  the 
same  time.  The  rebels  burned  two 
bridges  and  a  number  of  vessels  on  the 

o 

Rappahannock;  and  the  authorities 
formally  surrendered  the  town.  The 
same  day  an  advance  was  accomplished 
by  some  of  Banks's  force,  who  took 
possession  of  New  Market,  near  Ma 
nassas. 

*  McClellan,  in  his  report,  is  confident  that  the 
president,  if  he  knew  the  actual  position  of  affairs, 
would  not  deem  an  attack  at  all  safe,  at  that  time. 
He  also  says,  "  still  less  could  I  forego  the  conclusions 
of  my  most  instructed  judgment  for  the  mere  sake  of 
avoiding  the  personal  consequences  intimated  in  the 
president's  dispatch." 


140 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


The  steady  progress  of  the  siege 
works,  under  the  superintendence  of 
Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter,  and  the  certainty 
that  within  a  few  days  the  assault 
would  be  made  with  success,  led  the 
rebels  to  the  conclusion  that  Yorktown 
must  be  evacuated.  With  their  usual 
skill  in  concealing  their  designs,  keep 
ing  up  a  vigorous  and  noisy  fire,  during 
the  early  days  of  May,  they  made  their 
preparations,  and  on  the  3d  and  4th  of 
the  month  abandoned  all  their  works. 
The  next  day  McClellan  purposed  to 
assault  Yorktown,  which  now  became 


needless.  The  advantage  was  on  the 
enemy's  side,  they  having  stopped  our 
progress  a  whole  month,  and  having 
had  the  opportunity,  meanwhile,  of 
strengthening  their  position  in  and 
about  Richmond. 

Thus  far,  certainly,  the  president's 
earnest  and  peremptory  injunction  to 
McClellan,  "  you  must  act,"  had  not 
resulted  in  the  successes  which  the 
public  voice  called  for,  and  which  the 
government  was  exceedingly  desirous 
to  attain,  at  the  earliest  possible  mo 
ment. 


CHAPTER    XII. 
1862. 


ISLAND  NO.  10  :  SIIILOII,  OR  PITTSBURG  LANDING  :  CONGRESS  IN   SESSION. 

Rebel  fortifications  on  the  Mississippi  —  Importance  of  the  river  —  Island  No.  10  —  Strongly  fortified  —  Gen 
Pope  at  New  Madrid  —  Works  there  —  Occupies  Mount  Pleasant  —  Attack  on  New  Madrid  —  Rebels  re 
treat —  Commodore  Foote  and  his  flotilla  —  Begins  bombardment  of  Island  No.  10  —  Pope's  plans  and  ope 
rations — Canal  made  for  crossing  peninsula  —  Very  toilsome  work  —  Gunboat  Carondelet  runs  the  enemy's 
batteries  —  Bombardment  continued  —  Pope's  troops  cross  the  Mississippi  —  Rebels  give  up  in  despair  — 
Surrender  —  Chagrin  of  rebel  authorities — Vast  amount  of  supplies,  etc.,  taken  —  Foote  and^  Island 
No.  10  —  Advance  of  Grant's  army  in  Tennessee  —  Beauregard  at  Corinth,  Mississippi  —  The  two  armies  — 
Confederate  line  of  defence  —  Grant's  army  at  Pittsburg  Landing  —  Beauregard  and  Johnston  determine 
to  attack  him  before  Buell  arrives  —  Battle  of  Shiloh,  or  Pittsburg  Landing — First  day's  fight  —  Union 
army  nearly  ruined  — Buell  arrives  at  night  —  The  next  day  the  rebels  beaten  and  driven  back  to  Corinth  — • 
Hugeness  of  the  conflict  and  terrible  slaughter —  Thanks  to  the  army  —  Halleck  assumes  command  —  His 
plans  —  Congress  in  session  —  Tone  and  spirit  of  the  majority  —  Slavery  abolished  in  District  of  Columbia 
—  The  bill  and  message  of  the  president  —  Slavery  abolished  in  the  territories  of  the  United  States  —  Mr. 
Lincoln's  views  as  to  compensated  emancipation  —  President  authorized  to  take  possession  of  roads,  etc.,  in 
certain  cases  —  Great  financial  measure  —  Legal  tender  question  —  Issue  of  treasury  notes  —  Confederate 
Congress  at  Richmond — Its  proceedings,  views  of  its  members,  etc. 


As  has  been  already  pointed  out,  the 
confederate  leaders  clearly  perceived 
the  importance  of  the  Mississippi  to 
their  plans,  and,  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
they  had  carefully  and  skilfully  forti 
fied  all  the  principal  strategic  points 


from  the  Ohio  to  the  Gulf,  a  dis 
tance  of  nearly  1,000  miles.  Beginning 
with  Columbus  in  Kentucky,  at  Island 
No.  10,  dividing  the  stream  at  the 
northern  border  of  Tennessee,  at  Mem 
phis  and  its  vicinity,  at  Vicksburg,  and 


CH.  XIL] 


POPE  OCCUPIES  NEW  MADRID. 


141 


1862. 


elsewhere,  to  New  Orleans,  above  and 
below  that  city,  the  rebels  had  been  at 
work,  excavating  the  hill-sides  for  bat 
teries,  throwing  up  trenches,  mounting 
cannon  on  the  heights,  preparing  mines 
on  the  banks  and  torpedoes  for  the  chan 
nel  ;  and  using  every  possible  means  to 
obstruct  the  advance  of  our  armies.  It 
was,  therefore,  a  matter  of  necessity  on 
our  part  to  open  the  Mississippi,  as  well 
for  the  commercial  interests  of  the  great 
West,  as  to  cripple  most  effectually  the 
purposes  of  the  leaders  in  rebellion. 

The  energy  and  activity  of  our  mili 
tary  and  naval  forces  under  Buell, 
Grant,  Foote,  etc.,  had  driven  the 
rebels  to  abandon  not  only  Nashville 
and  Bowling  Green,  but  also  Columbus, 
"  the  northern  key  to  the  Mississippi 
delta,"  as  it  was  called.  Still, 
our  success,  great  as  it  had  been, 
was  only  a  step  in  the  onward  progress 
down  the  Mississippi.  Island  No.  10 
was  the  next  formidable  obstacle  in  the 
way  of  further  advance ;  and  the  rebels 
were  determined  to  make  here  a  bold 
stand.  This  Island  No.  10,  about  forty 
miles  below  Cairo,  is  situated  at  the 
bottom  of  a  great  bend  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  where  the  stream,  in  a  sharp 
curve,  sweeps  around  a  tongue  of  land 
projecting  from  the  Missouri  shore,  and, 
pursuing  thence  a  north-westerly  course 
to  New  Madrid,  on  the  western  bank, 
descends  past  a  similar  narrow  promon 
tory  of  Tennessee  soil,  on  its  great 
southerly  track.  The  distance  across 
the  upper  end  of  the  first  promontory, 
four  miles  above  the  island,  to  New 
Madrid  is  six  miles,  and  by  the  river  is 
fifteen.  The  passage  across  the  second 
promontory  is  five  miles,  while  by 


water  it  is  twenty-seven.  On  the  Ten 
nessee  shore  was  a  great  swamp,  cut 
ting  off  communication  with  the  interior, 
so  that  the  garrison  at  the  island  had 

O 

to  depend  mainly,  if  not  wholly,  for  its 
supplies,  reinforcements,  and  way  of 
escape,  if  necessary,  upon  the  river. 
All  help  from  the  Missouri  shore  was 
cut  off  by  our  troops,  under  Pope,  hav 
ing  occupied  and  secured  it. 

Pope  began  his  march,  Feb.  2 3d, 
from  Commerce  above  Cairo,  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  and  after 
a  slow  and  painful  advance,  owing  to 
the  deep  mud  and  sloughs,  arrived  at 
New  Madrid  on  the  3d  of  March.  He 
found  the  place  occupied  by  regiments 
of  infantry  and  several  -companies  of 
artillery.  The  fortifications  consisted 
of  earthworks  mounting  over  twenty 
guns,  with  lines  of  entrenchments. 
Six  gun  boats,  carrying  from,  four  to 
eight  heavy  guns  each,  were  anchored 
along  the  shore  between  the  upper  and 
lower  redoubts.  As  the  country  was 
level  for  miles  around,  and  the  river  so 
high  that  the  guns  of  the  boats  looked 
directly  over  the  banks,  Pope  found  the 
approaches  to  the  town  commanded  for 
some  seven  miles  by  direct  and  cross 
fire  from  at  least  sixty  guns  of  heavy 
calibre. 

Point  Pleasanc,  twelve  miles  below, 
was  first  occupied  by  direction  of  Pope, 
so  as  to  blockade  the  river  from  below. 
This  was  accomplished  by  Col.  Plum- 
mer,  despite  the  cannonading  of  the 
enemy's  gun  boats.  The  rebels  made 
great  efforts  to  strengthen  New  Madrid, 
in  order  to  hold  Island  No.  10 ;  but  so 
soon  as  Pope  got  his  heavy  siege  guns, 
(March  12th),  they  were  placed  in  posi- 


r 


142 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


tion,  and  in  the  course  of  a  day's  can 
nonading  proved  that  the  town  niusl 
be  given  up.  The  rebels  hastily  re 
treated  during  the  night,  leaving  behind 
a  large  quantity  of  stores,  artillery,  etc. 
On  the  same  day,  March  13th,  that 
New  Madrid  was  captured,  Commodore 
Foote  left  Cairo  with  a  fleet,  including 
seven  iron-clad s  and  ten  mortar  boats, 
and  having  been  joined  at  Columbu 
by  Col.  Buford  with  his  regiment  and 
other  troops,  some  1,500  in  all, 

1§62.       ,  ,V  ,      '    . 

he  moved  down  the  river,  and 
took  possession  of  Hickman,  on  the 
Kentucky  shore.  The  next  day,  the 
expedition  approached  Island  No.  10; 
reconnaissances  were  made  alons;  the 

O 

shores  ;  the  mortar  vessels  were  placed 
in  position ;  and  everything  was  pre 
pared  for  the  attack.  A  bombardment 
was  begun,  on  Sunday  the  16th  ;  but 
with  no  particular  result,  except  trying 
the  range  of  the  guns  on  both  sides. 
The  next  day,  another  vigorous  attempt 
was  made  by  the  gun  boats  and  mortar 
vessels,  which  kept  up  a  continuous 
fire  all  the  afternoon  upon  the  island 
and  water  batteries  of  the  rebels.  The 
day's  work,  however,  was  not  encourag 
ing,  and  it  became  quite  evident  that 
Island  No.  10,  and  its  bulwarks,  could 
not  easily  be  taken  by  assault  from  the 
gun  boats ;  other  help  was  needed  from 
another  quarter  before  the  place  could 
be  captured. 

Pope's  operations  were  expected  to 
render  this  aid.  His  object  was  to  cut 
off  the  escape  of  the  rebels  by  the  only 
way  left  to  them,  viz.,  across  the  Ten 
nessee  peninsula,  a  few  miles  to  Tipton- 
ville,  below  New  Madrid,  whence  they 
might  readily  reach  Memphis  or  its 


vicinity.  To  accomplish  his  object, 
Pope  needed  only  the  means  of  crossing 
the  river,  and  bringing  his  forces  face 
to  face  with  the  enemy  from  below. 
At  first,  a  road  was  thought  of  through 
the  swamps  to  a  point  on  the  Missouri 
shore  opposite  Island  No.  10.  This 
being  impracticable,  a  canal  was  pro 
jected,  by  which  steam  transports  could 
be  brought  from  above  across  the  Mis 
souri  peninsula  to  New  Madrid  below. 

The  canal  was  a  serious  piece  of  work- 
and  occupied  a  much  longer  time  than 
was  expected ;  but  Colonel  Bissel  and 
his  regiment  of  engineers  overcame  all 
difficulties,  and  finally  succeeded.  It 
was  twelve  miles  long,  six  of  which 
were  through  very  heavy  timber,  requir 
ing  great  exposure  and  privation  in 
cutting  the  way  through.  It  was  com 
pleted  April  4th,  and  was  highly  prais 
ed  as  a  monument  of  enterprise  and 
skill. 

Foote,  meanwhile,  was  not  idle  or  in 
efficient.     The  firing  was  regularly  kept 
up,  and  on  the  night  of  April  1st,  in 
the  midst  of  a  furious  storm,  battery 
No.  1   of  the  enemy,  which   had  been 
particularly  annoying  to  our  boats,  was 
taken  by  assault.   The  rebels,  however, 
retreated  without   contesting  the  pos 
session  of  the  fort.     On  consideration, 
Foote  determined  to  allow  one  of  the 
gun  boats  to  run  the  batteries.    On  the 
night  of  the  3d  of  April,  in  a  furious 
torrn   of  lightning  and   thunder,    the 
gun  boat  Carondelet,  Captain  Walke, 
passed   the  entire  series  of  rebel  bat- 
:eries,  without  returning  a  shot,  and  re- 
seivino-  their  concentrated  fire.  Strange 

O  O 

o  tell,  the  Carondelet  passed  in  safety, 
and  was  received  with  much  enthusiasm 


THE   CAPTURE  OF  ISLAND  NO.  10. 


143 


by  our  troops  at  New  Madrid.  Three 
days  afterwards,  another  gun  boat  ac 
complished  the  same  feat  in  safety.  On 
the  morning  of  the  4th  of  April,  the 
heavy  floating  battery  of  the  rebels  at 
Island  No.  10,  having  been  fired  upon 
for  more  than  an  hour  by  three  of  our 
boats,  cut  loose  from,  its  mooring,  and 
drifted  two  or  three  miles  down  the 
river. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  Paine's  division, 

in  the  stearn  transports,  preceded  by 

the  ffun  boats,  crossed  the  Mis- 

16AO 

sissipi.  The  rebels,  finding  the 
case  hopeless,  attempted  to  retreat  dur 
ing  the  afternoon  and  night ;  but  early 
on  the  8th,  ascertaining  that  they  were 
completely  cut  off,  they  laid  down  their 
arms,  and  surrendered  at  discretion. 
Colonel  Elliott  proceeded  at  once  to 
take  possession  of  the  works  on  the 
Tennessee  shore,  opposite  Island  Na  10, 
and  to  save,  if  possible,  several  steam 
ers  belono-in^  to  the  rebels.  This  he 

o       o 

accomplished,  and  brought  in  besides 
some  200  prisoners. 

Pope,  in  his  report,  dilates  upon  the 
greatness  of  his  success.  "  Three  gene 
rals,  273  field  and  company  officers, 
6,700  prisoners,  123  pieces  of  heavy  ar 
tillery,  all  of  the  very  best  character  and 
latest  patterns,  7,000  stand  of  small 
arms,  an  immense  quantity  of  ammuni 
tion  of  all  kinds,  etc.,  are  among  the 
spoils.  The  conduct  of  .the  troops  was 
splendid  throughout,  as  the  results  of 
this  operation  and  its  whole  progress 
very  clearly  exhibit.  We  have  crossed 
the  great  river,  the  banks  of  which  were 
lined  with  batteries  and  defended  by 
7,000  men  ;  we  have  pursued  and  captur 
ed  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy,  and  all 


his  supplies  and  material  of  war ;  and 
have  again  recrossed  and  occupied  the 
camp  at  New  Madrid,  without  losing  a 
man  or  meeting  with  an  accident." 

Foote,  on  his  part,  was,  on  the  7th  of 
April,  visited  by  some  rebel  officers, 
who  surrendered  Island  No.  10  to  the 
commander  of  the  fleet.  Immediate 
possession  was  taken  of  the  island. 
Communication  was  then  had  with 
Pope,  and  a  safe  opportunity  was  afford 
ed  for  investigating  the  extent  of  the 

O  o 

military  preparations  of  the  enemy,  the 
forts  and  batteries,  which  it  had  requir 
ed  twenty-three  days  of  persistent  ef 
forts,  on  land  and  water,  effectually  to 
overcome.* 

In  pushing  forward  operations  in  the 
South-west,  it  was  of  prime  importance 
to  effect  a  junction  of  the  forces  under 
Gens.  Grant  and  Buell,  on 

1869 

the  upper  waters  of  the 
Tennessee  River,  so  as  to  cut  off  the 
rebel  communications  with  the  South 
and  East.  Nashville  had  been  occupied 
as  we  have  seen,  (p.  116),  Columbus 
had  been  evacuated,  and  Island  No.  10 
was  certain  -to  be  captured  in  a  short 
time ;  hence,  by  advancing  our  forces 
to  Corinth,  in  Mississippi,  where  was 

*  Pollard  states  that  Beauregard  was  charged  with 
preparing  the  defences  for  Island  No.  10,  and  the  Mis 
sissippi  River  generally.  He,  and  the  South  everywhere, 
were  sure  that  the  position  was  impregnable,  and  th« 
daily  bulletins  respecting  the  progress  of  affairs  a 
the  island  confirmed  that  notion.  When  the  news  of 
its  fall  did  come,  it  came  upon  the  southern  people 
from  northern  sources,  and  the  mortification,  astonish 
ment  and  keen  appreciation  of  their  loss  are  forcibly 
depicted  by  Pollard.  "  There  could  be  no  excuse  for  the 
wretched  management  and  infamous  scenes  that  attend. 

ed  the  evacuation No  single  battle  field 

had  yet  afforded  to  the  North  such  visible  fruit  of  victory 
as  had  been  gathered  at  Island  No.  10."  Pollard  states 
that  the  total  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  not  moia 
than 2,000.—"  First  Year  of  theWar,"  pp.  291-294. 


144 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


the  junction  of  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston,  and  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 
Railroads,  the  conquest  of  Memphis 
would  be  greatly  facilitated,  and 
another  valuable  point  on  the  Mis 
sissippi  River  secured.  A  bold  step  it 
was,  indee'd,  from  Bowling  Green,  in 
Kentucky,  to  the  northern  boundaries 
of  Mississippi  and  Alabama.  Yet  it 
was  accomplished,  and  in  the  course  of 
a  month,  Tennessee  being  firmly  held  by 
the  Union  army,  our  energetic  com 
manders  in  the  West  were  advancing 
against  the  new  lines  of  the  enemy's  de 
fence  in  the  states  bordering  on  the 
Gulf. 

Beauregard,  aware  of  the  momentous 
issue  at  stake,  concentrated  all  his 
available  forces  at  arid  around  Corinth, 
with  Gens.  A.  S.  Johnston,  Polk,  Bragg 
and  Hardee  to  aid  and  support  his 
plans,  and  with  an  army  more  than 
40,000  in  number,  in  the  highest  state 
of  efficiency,  to  resist  the  progress  of 
our  advancing  host.  It  was  not  un 
natural  that  he  should  expect  to  be  able 
to  rout  the  Union,  army  at  Pittsburg 
Landing  before  it  could  be  reinforced 
by  Buell.  Grant,  who  had  in  charge 
the  important  movement  now  on  foot, 
had  also  a  number  of  distinguished  of 
ficers  in  his  command,  as  W.  T.  Slier- 
man,  McClernand,  C.  F.  Smith,  Wal 
lace,  etc. ;  his  army,  too,  numbering 
about  30,000,  was  as  brave  a  body  of 
troops  as  could  be  desired,  when  work 
was  to  be  done  which  required  steadiness, 
and  the  higher  soldierly  qualities.  On 
the  llth  of  March,  the  transport  steam 
ers  began  to  arrive  at  Savannah  on  the 
Tennessee  River,  with  the  advance  divi 
sion  of  the  army.  The  gun  boats,  the 


next  day,  proceeded  some  forty  miles 
up  the  river  to  reconnoitre,  going  as  far 
as  Eastport,  and  finding  the  rebels  en 
gaged  in  erecting  for trficat ions  wherever 
they  could. 

The  enemy's  line  of  defence  had  for 
its  base  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad,  the  preservation  of  which 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  enable  the 
rebels  to  hold  Northern  Mississippi, 
Alabama,  and  Georgia,  East  of  Corinth 
were  several  important  points  on  this 
road,  as  Chattanooga,  Huutsville,  Tus- 
cumbia,  Florence,  etc. ;  westwardly,  the 
road  runs  in  a  direct  line  to  Memphis, 
ninety- three  miles  distant.  The  Union 
line  was  the  Tennessee  River,  extending 
from  Paducah  in  Kentucky,  to  Eastport 
in  Mississippi.  The  gun  boats  were 
kept  moving  up  and  down  the  river  to 
prevent  the  erection  of  batteries  by  the 
rebels,  and  were  of  special  service  to 
Grant's  plans. 

By  the  middle  of  March,  all  of  the 
troops  under  Grant  had  arrived  at 
Savannah,  when  an  advance  was  made 
seven  miles  to  Pittsburor  Landing. 

O  O 

Wallace's  division  landed  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  marched  to  Purdy, 
about  fifteen  miles  to  the  west,  and 
destroyed  the  railroad  bridge  and  part 
of  the  railroad  from  Humboldt  to  Cor 
inth,  cutting  off  a  train  laden  with 
rebel  troops.  On  the  night  of  the  IGth, 
an  expedition  started  for  the  purpose 
of  intercepting  communication  on  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad. 
They  met  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  the 
woods,  and  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued ; 
after  which  our  men  returned  to  Pitts- 
burg  Landing. 

Buell,  not  being;  able  to  advance  into 

/  O 


CH.  XII.] 


BATTLE  OF  SIIILOH,  OR  PITTSBURG  LANDING. 


145 


Northern  Alabama,  in  columns,  as  he 
proposed,  was  ordered  to  join  Grant 
and  co-operate  with  him  in  attacking 
and  driving  Beauregard  out  of  Corinth. 
Buell  left  Nashville  on  the  28th  of 
March,  and  his  army  took  the  road 
overland  from  Columbia  to  Savannah, 
some  eighty  miles  distant.  By  the 
junction  of  his  forces  with  those  of 
Grant  there  would  be  an  army  of  about 
100,000  men,  ready  to  crush  any  resist 
ance  the  rebel  leaders  might  be  able  to 
offer. 

Beauregard,  as  we  have  intimated, 
felt  the  necessity  of  striking  a  blow  be 
fore  Buell's  arrival.  He  did  every 
thing  he  could  to  rouse  the  spirit  of  his 
troops  ;  as  did  also  Johnston,  who  took 
command  of  the  entire  force  at  Corinth, 
numbering  between  40,000  and  45,000 
men.  Some  delays  occurred; 
but,  early  in  April,  hearing,  as  he 
phrases  it,  "  from  a  reliable  quarter,"  that 
Buell  was  near  at  hand,  it  was  resolved 
to  hurry  forward  the  movement  against 
Grant.  Johnston  issued  an  animated 
address  to  the  troops,  filled  with  the 
usual  incentives  to  action,  and  urging 
them  to  "  march  to  a  decisive  victory 
over  agrarian  mercenaries,  sent  to  sub 
jugate  and  despoil  them  of  their  liber 
ties,  property  and  honor."  The  troops 
were  arranged  in  three  corps,  under 
Polk,  Bragg  and  Hardee,  Beauregard 
being  second  in  command. 

Pittsbursr  Landing  is  about  eighteen 

O  O  O 

miles  from  Corinth,  and  it  was  expect 
ed  by  Johnston  and  Beauregard  that 
they  would  be  able  to  reach  the  Union 
lines  and  make  an  attack  early  on  April 
5th ;  but  the  badness  of  the  roads 
hindered  their  advance  considerably, 

VOL   TV— 1Q 


and  it  was  not  till  the  next  morning, 

O/ 

Sunday,  April  6th,  that  the  rebel  army 
began  the  assault.  The  five  divisions 
of  Grant's  forces,  numbering  between 
30  and  40,000  men,  were  posted  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  in  a  semi 
circular  outline  around  Pittsburg  Land 
ing,  waiting,  with  some  anxiety,  for 
Buell's  arrival. 

Before  daylight,  the  pickets  were 
driven  in,  and  the  rebel  columns  press 
ed  forward  upon  our  men.  Sherman, 
with  his  widely  extended  brigade  in 
the  front,  bore  the  brunt  of  the  attack. 
Advised  of  the  enemy's  approach  by 
their  assault  upon  his  advanced  guard, 
he  ordered  under  arms  all  his  division, 
and  sent  word  to  McClernand,  asking 
him  to  support  the  left;  to  Prentiss, 
giving  him  notice  that  the  enemy  was 
in  force  on  the  front,  and  to  Hurlbut 
asking  him  to  support  Prentiss.  The 
four  brigades  of  Sherman's  division 
were  stationed  to  the  right  and  left  of 
Shiloh  Church,  which  he  regarded  as 
the  centre  of  his  position.  Two  batter 
ies  of  artillery  were  posted,  one  at 
Shiloh,  the  other  on  a  bridge  to  the  left, 

/  O 

and  some  cavalry  and  infantry  were 
placed  in  a  large  open  field  to  the  left 
and  rear  of  the  church. 

Hour  after  hour  the  raging  contest 
went  forward.  The  rebels  pressed 
heavily  upon  the  Union  left,  and  push 
ed  it  back.  Soon  the  same  result  hap 
pened  to  the  front  and  right.  In  some 
cases,  our  troops  became  panic-stricken, 
and  brought  discredit  upon  their  name 
and  position;  but,  as  a  whole,  they 
fought  stubbornly,  and  resisted  the 
enemy's  assaults  with  all  their  might. 
Yet,  they  were  not  able  to  withstand 


146 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


the  force  of  the  rebel  attack.  Prentiss, 
and  2,000  of  his  men,  were  made  pris 
oners  ;  the  camps  of  every  division  ex 
cept  Smith's,  commanded  by  Wallace, 
were  occupied  by  the  rebels;  nearly 
half  the  field  artillery  was  lost;  and 
our  whole  force  was  pressed  back  upon 
the  ravine  near  the  Landing,  where,  by 
one  final  rush,  the  enemy  hoped  to  push 
them  into  the  river  and  compel  them  to 
surrender.* 

This  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
afternoon,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
opportune  aid  afforded  by  the  gun 
boats,  which  brought  their  fire  to  bear 
upon  the  rebel  batteries,  and  also  for 
the  arrival  of  the  advance  of  Buell's 
army,  late  in  the  day,  it  is  almost  cer 
tain  that  Grant  would  have  been  utter 
ly  routed.  As  it  was,  however,  night 
came  on  ;  the  battle  ceased ;  the  rebels 
were  worn  down  with  fatigue ;  and 
Grant  and  Buell,  with  new  and  fresh 
forces,  prepared  for  the  morrow.  Hav 
ing  the  ability  now,  they  determined  to 
reverse  the  order  of  the  day  previous, 
and  become  the  attacking  instead  of  the 
attacked  army. 

Very  early  on  the  morning  of  the 
7th  of  April,  our  forces  were  in  motion. 
The  men,  reinspirited  by  new  troops 
being  brought  into  the  field,  resolved 
to  redeem,  on  Monday,  the  losses  of  the 
day  before.  The  rebels,  though,  as 


*  Beauregard,  in  his  report,  sharply  censures  a  por 
tion  of  hia  army  for  their  unworthy  conduct,  when  the 
Union  camps  fell  into  their  hands :  "  some  officers,  non 
commissioned  officers,  and  men,  abandoned  their  colors 
early  in  the  first  day,  to  pillage  the  captured  encamp 
ments  ;  others  retired  shamefully  from  the  field,  on 
both  days,  while  the  thunder  of  cannon,  and  the  roar 
and  rattle  of  musketry  told  them  that  their  brothers 
were  being  slaughtered  by  the  fresh  legions  of  the 
enemy." 


Beauregard  says,  "  not  in  condition  to 
cope  with  an  equal  force  of  fresh  troops, 
armed  and  equipped  like  our  adversary, 
in  the  immediate  possession  of  his  de 
pots,  and  sheltered  by  such  an  auxiliary 
as  the  enemy's  gun  boats,"  still 

.  1862. 

made  a  determined  resistance. 
They  fought  bravely  and  steadily 
throughout  the  earlier  part  of  the  day. 
The  victory,  however,  could  not  long 
remain  in  doubt ;  most  of  the  camps 
were  recovered ;  the  artillery  again  fell 
into  our  hands;  and  the  insurgent 
leaders  gave  up  the  contest.  Early  in 
the  afternoon,  they  began  to  retire,  and 
by  four  o'clock,  they  were  driven  from 
the  field.  The  pursuit  was  kept  up 
until  night  came  on,  when  our  men  re 
turned  to  camp. 

In  this  hotly  contested  battle  of 
Shiloh,  or  Pittsburg  Landing,  the 
slaughter  on  both  sides  was  fearful. 
The  rebel  General  Johnston,  with  a 
number  of  other  officers,  were  killed ; 
Beauregard  gave  as"  their  total  loss, 
1,728  killed,  8,012  wounded,  959  miss 
ing  ;  total,  10,699.  On  our  part,  the 
losses  were :  Gen.  Wallace  mortally 
wounded,  besides  a  number  of  other 
officers  killed  and  wounded,  1,614  kill 
ed,  7,721  wounded,  3,963  missing ;  total, 
13,508.  The  rebels  left  between  2,000 
and  3,000  dead  on  the  field  when  they 
retreated ;  the  bodies  were  buried,  by 
order  of  Grant,  at  the  same  time  that 
our  own  dead  were  consigned  to  their 
graves. 

The  war  department  issued  a  bulletin, 
April  9th,  highly  praising  "  Generals 
Grant  and  Buell  and  their  forces,  for 
the  glorious  repulse  of  Beauregard  at 
Pittsburg,  in  Tennessee ;"  and  the  pre- 


On.  XII.] 


ACTION  IN  CONGRESS  ON  SLAVERY  QUESTION. 


147 


sident,  the  next  day,  appointed  a 
thanksgiving  for  the  "  signal  victories 
of  the  land  and  naval  forces  engaged  in 
suppressing  an  internal  rebellion,"  and 
called  upon  the  people  to  "  invoke  reve 
rently  the  Divine  guidance  for  our 
national  counsels."  Beauregard,  on  his 
part,  endeavoring  to  make  the  best  of 
matters,  issued  an  address  to  his  sol 
diers,  in  which  he  spoke  in  exalted 
terms  of  their  bravery  and  their  great 
success. 

Halleck,  directly  after  the  news 
reached  him  of  this  important  victory, 
set  out  from  St.  Louis,  and  on  his  arri 
val  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  took  com 
mand  of  the  army.  On  the  22d  of 
April,  Gen.  Pope  with  his  division, 
numbering  25,000,  arrived  at  the  Land 
ing,  from  New  Madrid.  The  army  was 
thus  increased  to  108,000  men,  and 
Halleck,  placing  Grant  on  the  right 
wing,  Buell  in  the  centre,  and  Pope  on 
the  left  wing,  made  preparations  for  an 
immediate  advance  upon  Beauregard  at 
Corinth ;  the  narrative  of  which,  how 
ever,  we  shall  defer  to  a  subsequent 
chapter. 

Meanwhile,  amid  the  din  of  war  and 
the  terrible  lessons  of  the  battle  field, 
Congress  (see  p.  105)  had  been  pursuing 
its  work  with  an  earnest  purpose  rightly 
to  fulfil  its  high  mission  in  the  existing 
crisis.  The  war,  of  course,  in  its 
various  aspects  and  relations, 
formed  the  main  subject  of  discussion ; 
and  Congress,  as  expressing  the  voice 
of  the  nation,  gave  clear  evidence  that, 
whatever  differences  there  might  be  on 
minor,  subsidary  questions,  whatever 
sacrifices  there  might  be  demanded,  one 
result  alone  would  be  satisfactory  to  the 


I  §62. 


people,  viz.,  the  suppression  of  the  re 
bellion,  and  the  restoration  of  the  supre 
macy  of  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
the  United  States. 

We  shall  not  attempt  to  go  into  de 
tails  ;  we  have  no  room  to  quote  from 
the  speeches  of  the  members  of  Con 
gress  on  the  all-engrossing  topics  of  the 
day ;  we  can  but  sum  up  the  chief  re 
sults,  and  refer  the  reader,  who  is  curi 
ous  as  to  what  was  said,  to  the  volumes 
containing  the  debates  in  Congress  dur- 
.ing  the  present  session.  The  republi 
cans,  being  largely  in  the  majority, 
never  seem  to  have  lost  sight  of  the 
anti-slavery  portion  of  their  avowed 
political  principles.  The  members  from 
the  border  states,  being  slave-holders 
themselves,  and  convinced  of  the  law 
fulness  of  the  institution  and  its  neces 
sity  to  the  interests  of  the  South,  re 
sisted  strenuously  every  movement 
looking  towards  interference  with,  or 
extinction  of  slavery.  Senator  Trum- 
bull's  bill  for  the  confiscation  of  rebel 
property,  and  giving  freedom  to  their 
slaves,  was  a  decided  step  forward  ;  and 
before  the  session  closed,  it  was  follow 
ed  by  others  still  more  significant. 

A  bill  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in 
the  District  of  Columbia  was  introduced 
into  the  House,  early  in  the  session,  and 
having  been  referred  to  the  committee 
on  the  District,  was  reported  favorably 
upon,  March  12th.  The  Senate  also 
took  iip  the  same  subject,  which  was 
referred  to  the  committee  on  the  Dis 
trict,  who  reported  a  bill  with  amend 
ments,  in  February.  This  was  discussed 
during  the  following  month.  The 
usual  arguments  on  both  sides  were 
gone  over ;  the  border  state  members 


148 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  YIIL 


opposed  it  vigorously  ;  efforts  were 
made  to  fasten  on  to  the  bill  a 
compulsory  colonizing  of  the 
negroes,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  the  major 
ity  were  resolved  upon  their  course,  and 
would  not  agree  to  any  such  restriction.* 
The  bill  passed  the  Senate,  April  3d, 
by  a  vote  of  29  to  14 ;  in  the  House 
discussion  was  not  protracted,  and  on 
the  llth,  it  passed  by  a  vote  of  92  to 
38.  As  thus  adopted  by  both  Houses, 
the  bill  declared  the  immediate  aboli 
tion  of  slavery  in  the  District ;  provid 
ed  means  for  the  colonization  of  the 
free  blacks,  if  desired  by  them ;  and  ap 
propriated  $1,000,000  to  compensate 
the  owners  of  slaves,  at  a  rate  not  ex 
ceeding  $300  for  each. 

On  the  16th  of  April,  President  Lin 
coln  sent  a  brief  message  to  Congress, 
expressing  his  approval  of  the  act  or 
bill,  and  especially  "  that  the  two  prin 
ciples  of  compensation  and  colonization 
are  both  recognized  and  practically  ap 
plied  in  this  act."f 

Following  upon  emancipation  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  was  the  passage 
of  an  act  removing  slavery  from  the 
territories  of  the  United  States.  It 
was  introduced  into  the  House, 
March  24th,  as  a  measure  to 

*  For  Senator  Sumner's  "  Resolutions  declaratory  of 
the  relations  between  the  United  States  and  the  terri 
tory  once  occupied  by  certain  states,  and  now  usurped 
by  pretended  governments,  without  constitutional  or 
legal  right,"  offered,  February  llth,  see  Appletou's 
"  American  Annual  Cyclopaedia,"  1862,  p.  345. 

f  Action  was  speedily  taken  for  the  benefit  of  the 
negroes  thus  made  free  ia  the  District.  Educational 
measures,  especially  primary  schools,  were  organized, 
as  soon  as  possible,  there  being  more  than  3,000  child 
ren  to  be  provided  for.  Every  thing  which  was  proper 
was  done,  on  a  liberal  scale,  to  secure  them  the  advan 
tages  which  the  blacks  had  long  enjoyed  in  the  free 
states.  See  McPherson's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion," 
PP.  211-212. 


1862. 


render  freedom  national,  and  slavery 
sectional;  and  was  taken  up  for  discus 
sion,  May  9th,  in  the  midst  of  exciting, 
encouraging  news  from  New  Orleans. 
Pr,o-slavery  sympathizers,  like  Cox  of 
Ohio,  groaned  over  "  the  whole  negro 
business.  Heaven  is  sick,"  he  exclaim 
ed,  "  and  earth  is  weary,  of  this  damn 
able  and  dangerous  iteration."  On  the 
12th  of  May,  the  bill  passed  the  House 
by  a  vote  of  85  to  50 ;  the  Senate 
passed  the  bill,  January  9th,  by  a  vote 
of  28  to  10.  As  finally  adopted  it  was 
"  An  act  to  secure  freedom  to  all  per 
sons  within  the  territories  of  the  United 
States." 

President  Lincoln,  feeling  deeply  the 
pressure  of  the  slavery  question,  and  as 
yet  not  being  able  to  see  his  way 
out  of  the  difficulty,  was  anxious  to 
make  trial  of  a  system  of  compensated 
emancipation,  especially  in  the  border 
states,  in  the  hope  that  through  them  a 
powerful  influence  might  be  brought  to 
bear  upon  the  states  further  south.  It 
was  his  hope  also,  that  the  war  would 
sooner  come  to  a  conclusion  by  adopt 
ing  such  a  course.  On  the  6th  of  March, 
he  sent  a  message  to  Congress,  asking 
the  following  resolution  to  be  passed  : 
"JZesolvecl,  That  the  United  States  ought 
to  co-operate  with  any  state  which  may 
adopt  a  gradual  abolishment  of  slavery, 
giving  to  such  state  pecuniary  aid,  to  be 
used  by  such  state  in  its  discretion,  to 
compensate  for  the  inconveniences,  pub 
lic  and  private,  produced  by  such  change 
of  system."  The  resolution  was  ad 
opted  in  the  House,  March  llth,  in  the 
Senate,  April  2d,  by  large  majorities. 

At  the  close  of  the  month  of  January, 
the  bill  authorizing  the  president  of  the 


CH.  XII. 


REBEL  CONGRESS  IN  SESSION. 


149 


1862. 


United  States  in  certain  cases  to  take 
possession  of  railroads  and  telegraph 
lines,  was  taken  up  and  debated.  It 
was  strongly  urged,  on  the  one  hand,  as 
a  military  necessity,  essential  in  the  pre 
sent  juncture ;  on  the  other,  it  was  re 
sisted,  as  giving  the  president  a  despotic 
power  dangerous  to  place  in  any  man's 
hands.  The  bill,  however,  passed, 
January  31st,  and  became  a  law.. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  the  bill  for 
the  issue  of  treasury  notes  came  up  in 
the  House.  This  was,  and  was  felt  to 
be,  a  very  important  measure,  and  it 
was  long  and  ardently  discuss 
ed  by  some  of  the  ablest  mem 
bers  of  the  House.  Many  denied  en 
tirely  the  power  of  Congress  to  make 
paper  money  a  legal  tender,  and  much  elo 
quent  declamation  was  bestowed  upon 
the  un constitutionality  of  giving  the 
treasury  notes  this  character  and  value. 
But  the  majority  in  the  House  thought 
otherwise,  and  they  argued,  just  as 
strongly,  that  the  measure  was  a  wise, 
judicious  and  excellent  one;  and,  more 
over,  as  the  government  could  not  be 
carried  on  without  money,  it  was  a  ne 
cessity  to  give  it  the  power  sought  for 
in  this  bill.  The  bill  was  accordingly 
passed  by  a  vote  of  93  to  59.  In  Feb 
ruary,  the  Senate  took  up  the  bill.  A 
motion  was  made  to  strike  out  the  legal 
tender  clause,  but  it  did  not  prevail ; 
and  the  bill  finally  passed,  February 
25th,  by  a  vote  of  30  to  7. 

By  this  important  financial  measure, 
there  was  authorized  the  issue  of  $150,- 
000,000,  of  United  States  notes  of  de 
nominations  not  less  than  five  dollars 
each,  not  bearing  interest,  and  creating 
the  same  a  legal  tender  in  payment  of 


all  debts  public  and  private,  within  the 
United  States,  except  duties  on  imports, 
and  payments  by  the  government  of  in 
terest  on  bonds  and  notes,  which  waa 
required  to  be  paid  in  coin.  This  new 
"  circulation  "  was  to  be  received  by  the 
government  in  payment  for  any  loans 
which  might  be  negotiated  by  the  secre 
tary  of  the  treasury.  To  fund  the  debt 
thus  created  and  enlarged,  the  issue  of 
coupon  or  registered  bonds,  to  the 
amount  of  $500,000,000,  bearing  six 
per  cent,  interest,  and  redeemable  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  United  States  after  five 
years,  and  payable  twenty  years  from 
date,  was  authorized.  All  bonds,  stocks, 
and  other  securities  of  the  United 
States,  held  within  the  country,  were, 
by  the  act,  to  be  exempt  from  taxation 
by  or  under  state  authority. 

In  connection  with  the  proceedings 
of  the  national  legislature,  we  may 
briefly  note  here  what  the  Confederate 
Congress,  at  Richmond,  was  doing  at 
this  time.  The  ten  states  actually  in 
rebellion  were  represented  ;  there  were 
also  persons  professing  to  represent 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Missouri. 
Vice-president  Stephens  presided  in  the 
Senate ;  Mr.  Bocock,  of  Virginia, 
was  elected  speaker  of  the  House. 
All  the  important  measures  in  this  and 
subsequent  sessions  of  the  Confederate 
Congress  were  discussed  and  determin- 

o 

ed  on  with  closed  doors,  and  no  reports 
of  speeches  or  votes  were  made  public. 
Occasionally,  however,  an  open  session 
was  held,  and  the  views  and  opinions 
of  some  of  the  members  became  more 
or  less  known. 

Some  members  of  the  rebel  congress 
urged    the     "carrying    the   war    into 


350 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  VIII. 


Africa,"  as  the  only  pathway  to  success, 
and  were  very  severe  upon  the  policy 
of  defence  alone.*  Others  thought 
that  the  government  knew  best  what  to 
do,  and  were  fully  competent  to  manage 
matters,  and  so  they  were  in  favor  of 


*  The  rebel  General  Jackson  advocated  an  invasion 
of  the  North  as  the  speediest  and  most  effective  way  in 
which  to  gain  southern  independence.  His  plan  was, 
before  the  North  had  time  to  recover  from  the  disaster 
at  Manassas,  to  march  into  Pennsylvania,  winter  at 
Harrisburg,  and  in  the  spring  of  1862  advance  directly 
upon  Philadelphia.  He  was  very  confident  of  success, 
and  proposed  his  plan  to  the  Richmond  authorities,  who 
gave  it  very  curt  treatment.  Mr.  Cooke  says  that 
Jackson  never  approved  the  defensive  policy,  and  that 
"  invasion  of  the  North  was  his  possessing  thought,  and 
became  the  dream  of  his  life." — See  Cooke's  "  Life  of 
Jackson,"  pp.  86-88. 


leaving  the  entire  conduct  of  the  war 

O 

in  the  government's  hands.  Strong  re 
solutions  were  passed  to  continue  the 
contest  without  flinching ;  and  the  cot 
ton  question,  and  how  to  deal  with  it, 
excited  long  and  sharp  debate.  Gen- 
Huger  and  J.  P.  Benjamin  were  censur 
ed  for  the  defeat  at  Roanoke.  Ap 
propriations  were  made  for  naval  pur 
poses  ;  the  conscription  act  was  passed, 
April  16th,  (see  p.  117) ;  England  and 
other  powers  were  spoken  of  with  dis 
gust,  because  of  their  not  recognizing 
the  "  Confederacy,"  etc.  On  the  21st 
of  April,  the  session  closed,  and  the 
rebel  congress  adjourned  to  meet  again 
in  August. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 
1862, 

NAVAL  OPEEATIONS:  CAPTURE  OP  NEW  ORLEANS. 

Fort  Pulaski  —  Preparations  for  bombarding  it  —  Gen.  Gilmore's  order  —  Fire  opened  on  the  fort—  Surrendered 
the  next  day  —  Rifled  ordnance  —  Privateer  Nashville  slips  out  —  Fort  Macon  —  Assault  determined  on  — 
Batteries  erected  —  Surrender  demanded  —  Fire  opened  — Fort  taken  — Gen.  Reno's  advance  upon  Camden, 
or  South  Mills  —  Blockade  of  the  Mississippi  —  Importance  of  opening  the  rirer  and  taking  New  Orleans 
—Ship  Island  occupied  —  Value  of  this  spot  —  Gen.  Phelps  and  his  proclamation.  —  Biloxi  occupied  —  Other 
troops  under  Butler  arrive,  some  14,000  in  all  — Farragut  in  charge  of  naval  part  of  the  expedition  — 
Size  and  extent  of  his  force  —  Rebel  preparations  —  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  —  Strength  of  the^forts  — 
The  mortar  flotilla  under  Porter  —  Bombardment  begun  —  Chain  across  the  river  broken  —  After  six  days 
steady  firing,  Farragut  determines  to  run  past  the  forts  —  Two  divisions  of  six  gunboats,  one  for  each  fort 
—  Farragut's  statements  —  Great  panic  in  New  Orleans  —  Farragut  sails  up  the  river  and  anchors  opposite 
the  city  —  Excitement  and  behavior  of  the  authorities  and  people  —  Mayor  Monroe's  letter  —  United  States 
flag  hoisted  on  the  mint  —  Pulled  down  by  a  man  named  Mumford  —  The  man  afterwards  hung  —  Further 
operations  against  the  forts  —  Butler  and  his  troops  —  Both  forts  surrendered  —  Infamous  conduct  of  rebel 
naval  officer — Immense  importance  of  the  capture  of  New  Orleans  —  Value  to  the  cause  of  the  Union 
Seventy  of  the  blow  to  the  rebels. 


FORT  PULASKI,  of  whose  position  we 
have  spoken,  on  a  previous  page  (see 
p.  125),  is  a  very  important  fortification 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah  River. 
It  has  five  side*  or  faces,  including  the 


gorge  ;  is  casein ated  on  all  sides ;  has 
walls  seven  and  a  half  feet  thick,  and 
twenty-five  feet  high  above 
high  water ;  and  is  surrounded 
by  a  wet  ditch  forty-eight  feet  wide. 


1862. 


On.  XIII.] 


CAPTURE  OF  FORT  PULASKI. 


151 


At  the  time  of  the  siege  the  fort  con 
tained  forty-eight  guns,  of  which 
twenty  bore  upon  the  batteries  on 
Tybee. 

Gen.  Gilmore,  who  had  superintend 
ed  the  engineering  operations  thus  far, 
was  now  ordered  to  Big  Tybee  Island, 
to  complete  the  investment  by  stopping 
the  water  communication  from  the 
south,  and  to  commence  operations  for 
the  bombardment  of  the  fort.  A  bat 
tery  on  a  hulk,  in  a  creek  forming  the 
inner  boundary  of  Tybee  Island,  served 
the  purpose  of  cutting  off  rebel  inter 
course  from  below.  On  the  21st  of 
February,  ordnance  and  stores  began 
to  arrive  in  Tybee  Roads;  and  from 
that  time  until  the  9th  of  April,  all  the 
troops  on  Tybee  Island,  consisting  of 
several  regiments  of  infantry  and  ar 
tillery,  were  constantly  engaged  in 
landing  and  transporting  ordnance, 
ordnance  stores,  and  battery  materials, 
rnakino-  fascines  and  roads,  etc.  With 

o  ' 

immense  labor,  patiently  gone  through 
with  by  the  men,  eleven  batteries,  hav- 
an  armament  of  thirty-six  large  and 
very  heavy  pieces  in  all,  were  placed  on 
the  northern  side  of  the  island,  at 
points  from  a  mile  to  two  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  landing  place ;  the  bat 
teries  were  also  at  distances  from  the 
fort  varying  from  3,400  yards  to  1,650, 
the  Parrott  and  James  guns  being  at  the 
shortest  range. 

Gen.  Hunter,  who,  March  31st,  suc 
ceeded  Gen.  T.  "W.  Sherman  in  command 
of  the  department  of  the  South,  and 
also  Gen.  Benham,  commanding  the 

'  o 

northern  district,  were  present  and 
superintending  operations.  Gilmore, 
who  was  in  immediate  charge,  issued 


his  general  order,  April  9th,  with  res 
pect  to  the  bombardment.  Carefully 
estimating  the  strength  of  his  batteries, 
and  also  the  work  they  were  to  perform, 
his  directions  were  minute  in  relation 
to  the  time  of  firing,  the  charge  of 
powder,  and  the  like. 

The  next  morning,  April  10th,  at 
sunrise,  Hunter  sent  an  officer,  under 
flag  of  truce,  to  demand  the  surrender  of 
Fort  Pulaski,  in  order  to  save  needless 
effusion  of  blood,  etc.  The  rebel  com 
mander  answered  briefly  but  spiritedly ; 
"in  reply,  I  can  only  say,  that  I  am 
here  to  defend  the  fort,  not  to  surrender 
it."  At  eight  o'clock  the  first  shot  was 
fired,  and  in  the  course  of  an  hour 
all  the  batteries  were  in  operation. 
Steadily  through  the  day,  and  partially 
through  the  night,  the  bombardment 
proceeded,  our  men,  though  inexperi 
enced  in  the  use  of  artillery,  doing  ex 
cellent  service  ;  the  rebel  firing  was 
accurate  and  well  sustained,  without, 
however,  doing  any  injury  to  either  our 
men  or  the  works. 

Early  on  the  llth  of  April,  the  bat 
teries  were  again  in  full  operation,  aid 
ed  materially  by  a  detachment  of  sailors 
from  the  Wabash,  then  in  the  harbor. 
The  rifled  guns  were  particularly  effec 
tive,  and  penetrated  deeply  into  the 
brick  face  of  the  wall.  By  noon,  the 
fort  was  so  severely  injured,  that  Ben- 
ham  was  preparing  to  take  it  by  a 
storming  party,  when  a  little  before 
two  P.M.,  a  white  flag  wras  raised  and 
the  firing  ceased.  Gilmore  received  the 
surrender  of  the  fort,  and  allowed 
honorable  terms  to  the  officers  and  men 
found  therein.  Forty-seven  guns,  large 
quantities  of  stores,  ammunition,  etc., 


152 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


and  360  prisoners  were  taken  ;  and  onl} 
one  of  our  men  was  killed.* 

The  scientific  skill  displayed  in  pre 
paring  and  carrying  through  this  attack 
brought  prominently  into  notice  the 
value  of  the  new  rifled  ordnance,  in  al 
cases  of  a  similar  kind.  The  opinion 
was  freely  expressed,  by  Hunter  and 
others,  that "  no  works  of  stone  or  brick 
can  resist  the  impact  of  rifled  artillery 
of  heavy  calibre." 

Great  apprehensions  were  felt  in 
Savannah,  that  an  immediate  advance 
would  be  made  upon  the  city ;  but 
owing  to  the  inadequacy  of  force,  the 
Union  commander  was  unable  to  do 
more  than  hold  what  had  been  acquired. 
The  blockade,  however,  was  thenceforth 
effective,  so  far  as  Savannah  was  con 
cerned. 

About  two  weeks  after  the  capture 
of  Fort  Pulaski,  another  marked  suc 
cess  was  attained.  On  a  previous  page 
(see  p.  120),  we  have  recorded  General 
Burnside's  operations  on  the  coast  of 
North  Carolina,  and  the  taking 
of  Newbern,  in  March,  1862. 
Beaufort,  which  was  only  forty  miles 
distant  by  railroad,  was  next  of  impor 
tance  to  be  secured.  By  the  possession 
of  Newbern,  Beaufort  was  effectually 
cut  off  from  communication  by  laud 
with  the  interior,  and  it  was  even  re 
ported,  soon  after  the  taking  of  New 
bern,  that  the  rebels  had  burned  the 
privateer  Nashville,  and  blown  up  Fort 
Macon.  The  story  was  in  advance  of 
the  facts.  The  Nashville  managed  to 


18G2. 


*  It  was  considered  noteworthy,  that  the  day  on 
which  Fort  Pulaski  was  surrendered  was  the  same  on 
which,  one  year  before,  the  rebels  had  opened  fire  upon 
B  ort  Sumter.  and  thus  inaugurated  the  great  rebellion. 


slip  out,  on  the  night  of  March  17th, 
and  escaped  to  Georgetown,  South 
Carolina,  and  Fort  Macon  was  not  given 
up  without  an  attempt  to  hold  it.  This 
fortification  was  a  regularly  constructed 
work,  hexagonal  in  form,  mounting  two 
tiers  of  guns — one  in  casemated  bomb 
proof,  the  other  en  barbette.  It  is 
situated  on  the  eastern  extremity  of 
Bogue  Island,  in  full  command  of  the 
channel  to  Beaufort,  distant  a  mile 
and  three  quarters  across  the  bay  in  a 
north-easterly  direction. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  Gen.  Parke, 
in  compliance  with  orders  to  that  effect, 
advanced   with   his    brigade    towards 
Beaufort.    The  railway  had  been  almost 
destroyed  by  the  rebels,   so  that   the 
passage  of  the  troops  was  partly  by 
water  and  partly  by  marching  overland. 
The  rebels  retired  within  the  fort  on 
the  approach  of  Parke's  brigade.     Sur 
render   was   demanded,   but    refused; 
whereupon,  siege  material  was  brought 
from  Newbern,  and  ferried  across  the 
shallow  water  to  a  point  some  four  or 
five  miles  west  of  Fort  Macon,  on  the 
island  or  spit   of  sand  on  which   the 
fort  was  built.     The  marshy  character 
of  the  ground  to  be  passed  over  in  order 
to  reach  the  place  where  the  batteries 
were  to  be  erected,  rendered  the  work 
toilsome  as  well   as   tedious ;    but   it 
proceeded  with  as   much   rapidity  as 
was  practicable.     Three  batteries  were 
ompleted,  within  1,200  and  1,400  yards 
of  the  fort,  and  were  furnished  with 
beavy  armament,  especially  three  Par 
rot  t  guns,  rifled,  which  kind  of  ordnance, 
as  we  have  already  noted,  proved  effec- 
ive  in  the  very  highest  degree. 
Burnside,  on  the  23d  of  April,  arrived 


Cn.  XIII.] 


FORT  MACOX  CAPTURED. 


153 


from  Newbern,  brinsnnt*  with  him  two 

7  O        O 

barges  fitted  up  as  floating  batteries. 
In  addition  to  these,  the  gun  boat  Ellis, 
with  a  IOC-pounder,  and  the  vessels  of 
the  blockading  fleet,  were  to  take  part 
in  operations  against  the  fort.  Another 
demand  was  made  for  its  surrender,  and 
Burnside,  in  his  anxiety  to  save  useless 
expenditure  of  force  and  prevent  loss 
of  life,  met  Col.  White,  the  rebel  com 
mander  at  the  fort,  and  tried  to  induce 
him  to  yield ;  but  he  preferring  to  try 
the  fortune  of  war,  the  bombardment 
was  begun,  very  early  on  Friday  morn 
ing,  April  24th. 

In  an  hour  or  two,  the  proper  range 
for  the  guns  was  obtained,  and  the  iron 
missiles  were  hurled  from  the  batteries 
upon  the  doomed  fort.  Hour  after 
hour  this  was  kept  up ;  and  it  became 
evident,  ere  long,  that  the  contest  could 
not  be  maintained  by  the  garrison  in 
the  fort.  Hence,  about  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  a  white  flag  was  hoisted, 
and  Fort  Macon  passed  again  into  the 
hands  of  the  government,  from  which 
it  had  been  unlawfully  wrested  in  the 
previous  year. 

While  Parke  and  his  brigade  were 
engaged  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Macon, 
Reno  was  sent  from  Newbern  to  the 
upper  waters  of  the  Albemarle  Sound, 
in  the  rear  of  Norfolk.  Taking  a  con 
siderable  force  with  him,  he  left  on  the 
]  7th  of  April,  reached  Elizabeth  City 
on  the  19th,  and  disembarking,  proceed 
ed  at  once  against  South  Mills,  or  Cam- 

O  ' 

den.  After  a  sharp  contest  near  the 
town,  a  return  to  the  boats  was  ordered 
late  in  the  evening,  Reno  having  ac 
complished  the  principal  object  he  had 
in  view,  which  was  the  conveying  to 

VOL.  IV.— 20. 


the  enemy  the  idea  that  the  entire 
Burnside  expedition  was  inarching  upon 
Norfolk.  The  courage  and  endurance 

O 

shown  by  the  troops,  notwithstanding 
the  intense  heat  and  fatigue,  were  justly 
and  highly  praised  by  the  commanding 
general. 

The  blockade  of  the  mouths  of  the 
Mississippi  (see  p.  79),  was  kept  up 
with  vigor  and  a  fair  measure  of  suc 
cess,  during  the  autumn  and  winter  of 
1861 ;  but  the  government  and  the 
people  were  by  no  means  content  to 
maintain  a  blockade  simply.  The  path 
way  up  the  Mississippi  must  be  opened, 
and  that  mighty  river  cleared  of  rebel 
obstructions  as  speedily  as  possible.* 
We  have  narrated  the  operatic  us  which 
resulted  in  capturing  Island  No.  10 
(see  p.  143).  We  shall  now  ask  the 
reader's  attention  to  the  energetic  meas 
ures  taken  to  reopen  the  Mississippi, 
and  by  the  capturing  of  New  Orleans, 
to  restore  the  authority  of  the  Union  in 
the  most  valuable  city  which  had  been 
seized  upon  by  the  rebels. 

The  first  important  step  was  the  oc 
cupying  of  Ship  Island.  Lying  inter 
mediate  between  Santa  Rosa  Island 
and  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi,  near 
the  entrance  to  the  interior  water  com 
munication  with  New  Orleans  by  Lake 
Borgne  and  Lake  Pontchartrain,  this 

*  Mr.  Parton  relates  an  interesting  anecdote  connect 
ed  with  the  fixing  upon  Xe\v  Orleans  as  the  place  to  be 
captured  above  and  before  all  others  :  "  One  day  (about 
the  10th  of  January,  1862),  toward  the  close  of  a  long 
conference  between  Gen.  Butler  and  the  secretary  of 
war,  Mr.  Stanton  suddenly  asked  :  '  Why  can't  New  Or 
leans  be  taken  ?'  The  question  thrilled  Butler  to  the 
marrow.  '  IT  CAN  !'  he  replied."  Thenceforth,  he  gave 
his  days  and  his  nights,  till  he  was  ordered  to  march 
with  the  troops  against  New  Orleans. — Parton's  "  Gen. 
Sutler  in  New  Orleans,"  p.  191. 


154 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Ex.  VIII. 


was  one  of  the  roost  valuable  stations 
along  the  coast.  It  was  sixty  miles 
distant  from  New  Orleans,  and  about 
the  same  distance  from  the  northern 
most  pass,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Missis 
sippi.  The  value  of  this  spot,  as  a  de- 
fensh  e  position,  had  been  appreciated 
by  the  government,  and  a  light-house 
had  been  erected,  and  a  fort  partly 
completed,  in  1859.  The  rebels  des 
troyed  these  at  the  outbreak  of  the  in 
surrection,  in  1861 ;  and  although  some 
efforts  were  made  by  them  to  fortify  the 
island,  yet  they  abandoned  it  entirely 
in  September. 

Early  in  December,  1861.  some  2,000 
troops  of  Butler's  recent  levies  were 
landed  on  Ship  Island,  under  command 
of  Gen.  J.  W.  Phelps.  He  was  an  ac 
tive  and  spirited  officer,  and,  apparently, 
having  nothing  better  to  do  just  at  the 
time,  he  signalized  his  arrival  by  issu 
ing  a  rather  remarkable  proclamation, 
addressed  "  to  the  loyal  citizens  of  the 
South-west."  It  was  a  straightforward 
business-like  document,  advocating,  in 
plain  terms,  "here  and  every  where, 
and  on  all  occasions,  free  labor  and 
working-men 's  rights?  Its  circulation, 
however,  was  almost  entirely  confined 
to  the  island,  and  it  was  admired  rather 
for  its  zeal  than  for  the  discretion  of  its 
author. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  year  1861, 
Biloxi,  a  small  town  in  Mississippi,  about 
ten  miles  from  Ship  Island,  was  visited 
by  a  part  of  the  squadron  and  some  of 
the  troops.  It  was  found  that  most  of 
the  men  here  had  enlisted  in  the  rebel 
service,  leaving  the  women,  etc.,  at  home. 
Other  troops  arrived  at  Ship  Island  in 
January,  1862  ;  and  Butler,  on  the  25th 


1862. 


of  -February,  sailed  from  Hampton 
Roads  to  assume  command  of  the  land 
forces  intended  to  operate 
against  New  Orleans.  At  the 
close  of  March,  he  had  14,000  men  at 
the  island,  mostly  new  recruits.  By 
the  middle  of  April,  he  succeeded  in 
embarking  8,000  troops  for  the  Mis 
sissippi,  which  were  to  co-operate  with 
the  naval  force  which  was  there,  and 
which  was  being  pushed  forward  with 
zeal  and  energy. 

Captain  D.  G.  Farragut  reached  Ship 
Island,  February  20th,  having  in  charge 
the  naval  operations  of  the  United 
States  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Though 
somewhat  advanced  in  years,  Farragut 
(since  rear-admiral,)  was  highly  esteem 
ed  in  the  service,  and  the  navy  depart 
ment  placed  entire  reliance  upon  his 
bravery  and  skill  in  carrying  forward 
the  important  work  with  which  he  was 
entrusted.  "  There  will  be  attached  to 
your  squadron/7  said  Secretary  Welles, 
(January  20th,)  in  his  letter  of  instruc 
tions,  u  a  fleet  of  bomb  vessels,  and 
armed  steamers  enough  to  manage  them, 

O  O 

all  under  command  of  Commodore  D. 
D.  Porter,  who  will  be  directed  to  re 
port  to  you."  With  this  powerful  flo 
tilla,  Farragut  was  directed  to  proceed 
to  New  Orleans,  and  take  it,  and  then 
to  aid  in  opening  the  river  above. 

Farragut  proceeded  to  organize  his 
squadron  at  the  earliest  moment  after 
his  arrival  in  the  Gulf.  Difficulties  and 
delays  occurred,  especially  in  getting 
the  large  ships  over  the  bars  at  the 
mouths  of  the  Mississippi ;  so  that  it 
was  not  until  the  first  week  in  April 
that  the  large  steamers,  Mississippi  and 
Pensacola,  were  over  the  bar,  and  the 


CH.  XIII.] 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  JACKSON. 


155 


mortar  boats  were  ready  to  move  to 
their  appointed  stations.  Butler  re 
ceived  instructions  to  forward  his  land 
forces,  and  serious  work  was  evidently 
expected.  The  entire  force  of  Farragut 
consisted  of  seventeen  steamers  and 
gun  boats,  Porter's  mortar  fleet  of 
twenty-one  sailing  vessels,  with  seven 
steamers  of  light  draught,  and  the 
troops  under  command  of  Butler  in  the 
transports,  of  which  two  only  were 
steamers.  The  aggregate  armament, 
counting  boat  howitzers,  placed  in  the 
main-tops,  was  about  300  guns  and 
mortars. 

The  rebels,  on  their  part,  had  bestow 
ed  especial  attention  upon  fortifying 
the  approaches  to  New  Orleans.  Be 
sides  providing  some  twenty  armed 
steam  rams  and  gun  boats,  they  had 
taken  especial  care  to  strengthen  in 
every  way  the  two  important  forts, 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  on  the  right 
and  left  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
about  twenty-five  miles  from  its  mouth 
and  seventy-five  from  New  Orleans. 
The  united  armament  of  the  two  forts 
was  126  guns  of  long  range  and  heavy 
calibre.  Fort  Jackson,  the  stronger  of 
the  two  works,  and  the  first  to  be  en 
countered  on  ascending  the  river,  was  a 
regular  peutegonal  bastioned  fortifica- 
tion,  with  an  outside  water  battery, 
mounting  seventy-five  guns  in  all,  in 
cluding  thirty-three  32-pounders  on  the 
main  parapet.  Fort  St.  Philip  consisted 
of  a  main  work  with  two  batteries  at 
tached,  fully  commanding  the  bend  of 
the  stream.  A  strong  chain  was  ex 
tended  across  the  river,  here  half  a 
mile  wide,  buoyed  by  eight  hulks  from 
fifty  to  eighty  yards  apart.  Within 


these  defences  the  rebel  flotilla  was 
gathered,  including  the  ram  Mauassas, 
under  Hollins,  (see  p.  80),  and  the 
Louisiana,  a  formidable  iron-covered 
battery,  of  great  size  and  heavy  arma 
ment,  on  which  the  rebels  placed  much 
reliance  for  the  defence  of  the  city 
There  were  also  various  gun  boats  and 
vessels  prepared  as  fire-ships  to  be  sent 
against  the  approaching  Union  fleet. 
Gen.  J.  K.  Duncan  had  charge  of  the 
coast  defences,  and  Gen.  Lovell  (both 
graduates  of  West  Point),  was  in  com 
mand  at  New  Orleans,  with  several 
thousand  troops.* 

On  the  1 6th  of  April,  Farragut  hav 
ing  completed  his  arrangements,  ascend 
ed  the  river  with  the  fleet.  The  mortar 
flotilla,  which  was  intended  should 
commence  operations,  was,  after 
a  careful  survey  of  the  region, 
placed  in  position,  by  Porter,  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  river,  in  line  under 
the  lee  of  a  thick  wood,  closely  inter 
woven  with  vines,  the  foremost  vessel 
at  a  distance  of  2,850  yards  from  Fort 
Jackson.  Fire  was  regularly  opened 
from  the  mortar  batteries,  on  the  18th, 
upon  Fort  Jackson,  each  vessel  firing 
every  ten  minutes.  No  very  perceptible 
effect  was  produced  during  the  first 
day's  bombardment,  though  1,400  shells 
were  fired,  and  the  citadel,  a  structure 
of  brick  and  wood  in  the  centre  of  the 
fort,  was  set  on  fire,  and  clothing  and 
stores  in  it  destroyed.  The  rebel  fire 

*  So  confident  was  tho  rebel  press  of  New  Orleans 
that  the  Mississippi  could  not  be  ascended  by  our 
ships  and  New  Orleans  captured,  that  one  of  the  news 
papers,  April  5th,  indulged  in  bravado  of  this  sort : 
"  Our  only  fear  is  that  the  northern  invaders  may  not 
appear.  We  have  made  such  extensive  prepp.rations  to 
receive  them  that  it  were  vexatious  if  their  invincibla 
armada  escapes  the  iate  we  have  in  store  for  it." 


156 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VI1L 


was  spirited  and  effective,  and  two  of 
the  mortar  boats  were  penetrated  by 
shots  from  the  fort. 

The  second  day,  one  of  the  mortar 
boats  was  sunk  by  a  rifle-shot,  while  on 
the  other  hand,  serious  injury  was  done 
by  our  fire  to  the  officers'  quarters  in 
the  fort.  During  the  night,  Capt.  Bell 
was  sent,  with  a  proper  supply  of  ma 
terials  and  two  gun  boats,  to  break  up 
the  chain  barrier.  This  was  accomplish 
ed  successfully,  and  a  passage  was 
opened  for  the  fleet.  On  the  third  and 
fourth  days  there  were  some  delays, 
caused  by  sending  for  fresh  ammunition. 
The  mortar  boats,  however,  kept  steadily 
at  work,  and  though  apparently  slowly 
were  yet  surely  accomplishing  the  re 
duction  of  Fort  Jackson.  On  the  fifth 
day  the  rebel  fire  was  especially  annoy 
ing,  they  having  attained  the  range  of 
the  bombarding  vessels ;  still  Porter 
did  not  desist,  and  poured  shell  into 
the  fort  at  the  rate  of  1,500  during  the 
twenty-four  hours. 

For  six  days  the  steady  firing  of  the 
mortar  boats  was  continued,  when 
Farragut  determined  to  carry  out  a 
plan  he  had  formed  for  passing  the 
forts,  and  advancing  at  once  upon  New 
Orleans.  The  passage  was,  on  exami 
nation,  found  to  be  open  for  the  fleet, 
and  every  possible  precaution,  which 
ingenuity  or  experience  could  suggest, 
was  taken  to  prepare  the  vessels  for 
their  perilous  enterprize.  The  fleet  was 
arranged  in  two  divisions,  to  each  of 
which  was  assigned  six  gun  boats. 
Captain  Bailey  was  in  command  of  the 
first  division ;  Captain  Bell  of  the 
second ;  and  the  Hartford  was  the  flag 
ship  of  Commodore  Farragut. 


1§G2. 


About  three  o'clock  A.M.,  April  24th, 
the  fleet  got  under  way,  Capt.  Bailey 
leading  the  right  with  his  gun  boats  to  at 
tack  Fort  St.  Philip,  while  the 
other  division  of  the  ships  was 
to  aid  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Jackson. 
"  The  enemy's  lights,"  says.  Farragut  in 
his  report,  "  while  they  discovered  us 
to  them,  were,  at  the  same  time,  guides 
to  us.  We  soon  passed  the  barrier 
chains,  the  right  column  taking  Fort 
St.  Philip,  and  the  left  Fort  Jackson. 
The  fire  became  general,  the  smoke 
dense,  and  we  had  nothing  to  aim  at 
but  the  flash  of  their  guns  ;  it  was  very 
difficult  to  distinguish  friends  from 

O 

foes."  Farragut's  ship,  at  one  time  was 
set  on  fire  by  a  fire-raft ;  but  the  flames 
were  extinguished.  Fort  St.  Philip  was 
soon  silenced,  and  eleven  rebel  gun 
boats  destroyed.  The  forts  were  pass 
ed,  and  the  victory  gained,  winding  up 
with  the  making  a  total  wreck  of  the 

o 

rebel  ram  Manassas. 

Farragut  having  sent  the  cheering 
news  of  his  success  to  Porter,  directed 
him  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
forts.  He  also  informed  Butler  that 
the  way  was  open  for  him  to  land  his 
forces  at  Quarantine  Bayou,  as  previ 
ously  'arranged.  Leaving  two  gun  boats 
to  protect  the  landing  of  the  troops, 
Farragut  continued  his  progress  up  the 
river,  and  reached  English  Turn  about 
half-past  ten,  on  the  morning  of  April 
25th.  Evidently,  a  panic  had  already 
seized  upon  the  people  in  the  city  and 
vicinity,  for  cotton-loaded  ships  on  fire 
came  floating  down,  together  with  other 
indications  of  the  greatest  fright,  and 
hasty  destruction  of  property  of  all 
kinds.  The  fleet  met  with  brief  cleten- 


Cu.  XIII.] 


NEW  ORLEAXS  CAPTURED  BY  FARRAGUT. 


157 


tion  at  the  earthwork  forts,  six  miles 
below  New  Orleans ;  but,  after  some 
sharp  firing,  they  were  speedily  silenced; 
and,  passing  through  burning  vessels, 
fire-rafts,  and  the  like,  Farragut,  at  one 
P.M.,  anchored  with  his  squadron  in 
front  of  the  city. 

The  levee  was  one  scene  of  desola 
tion.  Ships,  steamers,  cotton,  coal,  were 
all  in  a  blaze,  and  it  taxed  the  ingenu 
ity  of  our  men  to  avoid  the  floating 
conflagration.  Capt,  Bailey  was  sent 
on  shore  to  demand  the  surrender 
of  the  city.  Great  excitement  prevail 
ed,  and  the  mob  insulted  Bailey  and 
his  party  in  the  grossest  manner. 
Lovell,  the  rebel  commander,  having 

7  /  O 

left  the  city  with  his  troops,  some  3,000 
or  more  in  number,  the  mayor  and  com 
mon  council  positively  refused  to  pull 
down  the  Louisiana  flag  and  hoist  that 
of  the  United  States.  The  next  morn 
ing,  April  26th,  Farragut  wrote  to  the 
mayor,  J.  T.  Monroe,  announcing  that 
the  rights  of  persons  and  property 
would  be  held  secure,  and  peremptorily 
demanding  u  the  unqualified  surrender 
of  the  city,  and  that  the  emblem  of 
sovereignty  of  the  United  States  be 
hoisted  over  the  city  hall,  mint,  and 
custom  house,  by  meridian  this  day, 
and  that  all  flags  and  other  emblems  of 
sovereignty,  other  than  those  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  removed  from 
all  public  buildings  by  that  hour."  He 
closed  his  note  in  yery  plain  terms: 
u  I  shall  speedily  and  severely  punish 
any  person  or  persons  who  shall  commit 
such  outrages  as  were  witnessed  yester 
day,  armed  men  firing  upon  helpless  wo 
men  and  children,  for  giving  expression 
to  their  pleasure  at  seeing  the  old  flag." 


1§«2. 


Mayor  Monroe's  answer  was  both  in 
flated  and  arrogant  in  its  tone ;  e.  g., 
"  To  surrender  such  a  place  (as  New 
Orleans)  were  an  idle  and  unmeaning 
ceremony.  The  city  is  yours  by  the 
power  of  brutal  force,  not  by  my  choice 
or  the  consent  of  the  inhabitants.  It  is 
for  you  to  determine  what  shall  be  the 
fate  that  awaits  her.  As  to 
the  hoisting  of  any  flag  not  of 
our  own  adoption  or  allegiance,  let  me 
say  to  you,  sir,  that  the  man  lives  not 
in  our  midst  whose  hand  and  heart 
would  not  be  paralyzed  at  the  mere 
thought  of  such  an  act ;  nor  could  I 
find  in  my  entire  constituency  so  des 
perate  and  wretched  a  renegade  as 
would  dare  to  profane  with  his  hand 
the  sacred  emblem  of  our  aspirations. 

You  have  a  gallant  people  to 

administrate  during  your  occupancy  of 
this  city;  a  people  sensitive  to  all  that 
can  in  the  least  affect  their  dignity  and 
self  respect.  Pray,  sir,  do  not  fail  to 
regard  their  susceptibilities." 

By  order  of  Farragut,  the  United 
States  flag  was  hoisted  on  the  mint, 
early  in  the  morning,  and  some  of  the 
people  ventured  to  cheer  it,  despite  the 
threats  of  the  mob.  The  flag  was  pull 
ed  down  and  dragged  through  the 

oo  o 

streets  by  one  of  those  desperate  charac 
ters  in  which  New  Orleans  abounded  ;'"" 


*  The  man's  name  was  W.  B.  Mumford.  Three 
other  persons  were  with  him,  and  the  act  was  perform 
ed  on  Sunday  morning,  April  27th,  during  the  time  of 
religious  service  on  ship-board.  Early  in  June,  when 
Butler  was  in  command  in  New  Orleans,  Mumford  was 
tried  by  military  commission,  convicted  of  treason,  and 
sentenced  to  be  hung.  Butler  approved  the  sentence, 
and  Mumford  was  executed,  in  the  presence  of  a  large 
crowd,  on  the  7th  of  June.  He  was  thenceforth  added 
to  the  roll  of  southern  "  martyrs  ;"  and  Jeff.  Davis,  in 
December,  issued  a  proclamation,  denouncing  Butler 
as  an  outlaw,  to  be  hung  instanter,  as  soon  as  caught. 


158 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


this  touched  the  old  commodore  to  the 
quick,  and  he  felt  so  outraged  at  the 
conduct  of  the  mayor  and  people  that 
he  declared,  if  it  were  persisted  in,  it 
would  subject  the  city  to  the  fire  of  the 
fleet  at  any  moment.  After  receiving 
another  insulting  note,  Farragut,  on  the 
30th  of  April,  declined  all  further  in 
tercourse  with  J.  T.  Monroe  and  men 
of  his  stamp. 

Porter,  who  had  been  left  with  his 
bomb  vessels  to  secure  the  reduction  of 
the  forts,  proceeded  actively  with  his 
work.  A  demand  was  made  for  their 
surrender,  which  at  first  was  refused ; 
Porter  thereupon  opened  fire  upon  them 
again,  and  sent  six  of  his  schooners  and 
cut  off  the  supplies  and  means  of  escape 
in  the  rear  of  Fort  Jackson.  Butler 
also,  having  landed  at  Quarantine  in 
the  rear  of  Fort  St.  Philip,  cut  off  rein 
forcements  from  that  quarter.  The  re 
sult  was,  that  the  men  in  the  forts 
showed  evident  signs  of  mutiny,  and 
Duncan,  on  a  second  demand,  concluded 
to  accept  Porter's  terms.  This  was  on 
the  28th  of  April.  Porter  understood 
that  the  three  steamers  and  the  Loui 
siana,  an  immense  iron-clad  battery  of 
4,000  tons,  which  Farragut  had  unwit 
tingly  left  behind  him,  had  also  surren 
dered,  or  were  ready  to  surrender ;  but 
instead  of  that,  the  person  in  command 
of  the  vessels,  named  Mitchell,  behaved 
most  dishonorably,  by  setting  fire  to 
the  battery  and  sending  it  to  explode 
in  the  midst  of  our  fleet.  Providenti 
ally,  the  battery  blew  up  when  near 
Fort  St.  Philip,  and  our  ships  escaped 
without  injury.  Porter  denounced  the 
act  of  Mitchell  as  infamous,  and  on  cap 
turing  the  rebel  steamers,  he  refused  to 


parole  the  officers,  and  sent  them  to  the 
North  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  army 
officers  and  men  were  paroled,  and  con 
ducted  themselves  with  a  propriety  in 
striking  contrast  to  the  behavior  of 
Mitchell  and  others  in  the  rebel  navy 
on  this  occasion.  Fort  Jackson  was 
greatly  injured  by  the  bombardment, 
nearly  2,000  shells  having  been  thrown 
into  it,  besides  some  3,000  in  the 
ditches  and  outer  works.*  Fort  St. 
Philip  was  but  little  injured,  as  its  fate 
depended  on  its  companion  across  the 
river;  when  Jackson  surrendered,  St. 
Philip  fell  as  a  matter  of  course.  By 
order  of  Butler  the  forts  were  garrison 
ed  by  the  26th  Massachusetts,  he  him 
self  proceeding  with  the  rest  of  his 
troops  to  take  possession  of  New  Or 
leans  ;  which,  we  may  here  state,  he  did, 
on  the  1st  of  May. 

The  entire  casualties  in  the  fleet  dur 
ing  the  bombardment  and  ascent  to  the 
city  were  40  killed,  and  177  wound 
ed.  The  rebels  reported  their  loss 
in  Fort  Jackson  at  14  killed,  37 
wounded;  probably  their  loss  as 
a  whole  was  larger  than  was  ever 
acknowledged.  The  rebels  lost  six 
forts,  Jackson,  St.  Philip,  and  Chal- 
mette,  on  the  river ;  Livingston,  on  the 
Gulf;  and  Pike  and  Morgan,  on  Lake 
Pontchartrain ;  beside  two  large 
earth  works  above  the  city. 
Some  1,200  prisoners  were  taken. 


1SG2. 


*  Pollard,  quoting  Duncan's  purposely  exaggerated 
statement,  says  that  25,000  shells  were  thrown  by  our 
mortar  boats  without  injuring  Fort  Jackson  to  any  ex 
tent.  Duncan  "  had  no  alternative  but  to  give  up  the 
place.  He  surrendered  in  fact  to  his  own  garrison. 
The  post  probably  could  have  been  held,  if  the  men 
had  stood  to  their  guns.  He  stated  this  in  an  address 
on  the  levee  to  the  people,  and  while  stating  it,  cried 
like  a  child."—"  First  Tear  of  the  War,"  p.  319. 


On.  XIII.] 


HEAVY  BLOW  TO  THE  REBELS. 


158 


Eighteen  gun  boats,  including  three 
iron  rams  and  other  expensive  works, 
were  taken  or  destroyed.  The  rani 
Mississippi,  on  which  some  $2,000,000 
had  been  spent,  was  blown  up  to  pre 
vent  its  falling  into  our  hands. 

The  importance  of  this  great  victory 
over  the  rebels  cannot  be  too  highly 
estimated.  Its  effect  was  deeply  felt  in 
the  loyal  states,  as  well  as  in  those  which 
were  in  arms  against  the  government. 
It  taught  a  lesson  to  enemies  as  well  as 

O 

friends  at  home  and  abroad.  The  rebels 
were  unwilling  to  credit,  nay,  had 
scouted,  the  possibility  of  the  capture 
of  New  Orleans.  The  supporters  of 
the  Union  had  hoped  and  wished  for, 
rather  than  confidently  expected  suc 
cess.  On  the  one  side  were  shame, 
mortification,  rage,  hatred  ;  on  the  other 
a  lofty  exhilaration,  a  deep  and  profound 
assurance  of  the  ultimate  if  not  speedy 
triumph  of  law  and  order.  It  was 
breakino-  the  back-bone  of  the  rebellion, 

o 

as  Porter  said.  It  was,  as  the  London 
Times  phrased  it,  "  putting  the  tourni 
quet  on  the  main  artery  of  the  confe 
deracy."  It  was,  as  a  southern  writer 


1§62. 


confesses,  a  disaster  which  astounded 
the  South,  shook  the  confidence  of  the 
world  in  the  boasting  "  confederacy," 
and  led,  by  unavoidable  steps,  to  the 
abandonment  of  the  great  Valley  of  the 
Mississippi.  And  though  it  is  true 
that  other  strong  points  on  the  Mis 
sissippi,  as  Port  Hudson,  and  especially 
Vicksburg,  were  not  taken  for  more 
than  a  year  after  the  fall  of 
New  Orleans,  yet  this  was  the 
heaviest  blow  of  all,  and  this  de 
monstrated  both  the  energy  and  power 
of  the  loyal  states,  and  their  settled  de 
termination  to  restore  and  preserve  the 
integrity  of  the  Union,  at  any  and  every 
cost.* 

*  New  Orleans  was  "  a  city  which,  was  the  com 
mercial  capital  of  the  South,  which  contained  a  popula 
tion  of  170,000  souls,  and  which  was  the  largest  ex 
porting  city  in  the  world.  The  extent  of  the  disaster 
is  not  to  be  disguised.  It  was  a  heavy  blow  to  the 
confederacy ;  it  annihilated  us  in  Louisiana  ;  separated 
us  from  Texas  and  Arkansas ;  diminished  our  resources 
and  supplies  by  the  loss  of  one  of  the  greatest  grain 
and  cattle  countries  within  the  limits  of  the  confederacy, 
gave  to  the  enemy  the  Mississippi  River,  with  all  its 
means  of  navigation,  for  a  base  of  operations  ;  and  finally 
led,  by  plain  and  irresistible  conclusion,  to  our  virtual 
abandonment  of  the  great  and  fruitful  Valley  of  the 
Mississippi."—"  First  Year  of  the  War,"  p.  321. 


160 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


CHAPTEE    XIV 


1862. 


CAMPAIGN    BEFORE    RICHMOND:    BATTLE    OP    SEVEN    PINES. 


flie  rebels  retreat  from  Yorktown —  Pursuit  by  our  troops  towards  William  sburg — Attack  on  the  enemy  — 
Victory  over  the  enemy  at  Williamsburg — '  Advance  towards  Richmond  —  Rain  and  niucl  —  Capture  of  Nor 
folk  —  Destruction  of  the  Merrimac — Fortifications  at  Cransy  Island,  aal  Gosport  Navy  Yard  abandoned  — 
James  River,  and  affair  at  Drury's  Bluff —  The  rebels,  and  line  of  the  Chickahominy  —  Bottom's  Bridge  — 
Importance  of — Encampment  at  White  House  —  Approach  towards  Richmond — Views  of  the  rebels  as  to 
holding  it — Chickahominy  crossed  by  Keyes'  and  Heintzelman's  corps  —  Casey  in  advance  at  Seven  Pines — 
Bridges  to  be  built  —  Rise  in  the  river  —  Porter's  victory  at  Hanover  Court  House  —  Plans  of  Johnston  to 
prevent  McDowell  joining  McClellan  —  McDowell  ordered  to  go  to  Banks's  help  —  Very  unfortunate  for  Mc- 
Clellan  — Johnston's  hopes  in  the  attack  —  Violent  storm  —  Attack,  May  31st,  at  Seven  Pines  —  Johnston's 
forces  —  Keyes  and  Casey's  condition  —  Casey  driven  back — Fierce  onslaught  of  the  enemy  —  Sumner's  op 
portune  arrival  —  Night  ends  the  conflict  —  Renewed  early  next  morning,  June  1st  —  Severe  fighting  for 
several  hours  —  Rebels  put  to  flight  —  Losses  on  both  sides  heavy  — Pollard's  statements  —  Prince  do  Join- 
ville's  remarks. 


EARLY  on  Sunday  morning,  May 
4th,  1862,  McClellan  entered  Yorktown, 
and  the  flag  of  the  Union  was  planted 
upon  the  vast  and  formidable  works 
just  abandoned  by  the  rebels  (see  p. 
140).  It  was  mortifying,  certainly,  to 
have  been  thus  kept  at  a  stand-still  for 
a  whole  month,  and  to  have  been 
so  effectually  deceived  by  the  rebels,  as 
that  they  were  allowed  to  escape  Avith- 
out  harm  or  loss,  and  to  carry  off  with 
them  everything  except  such  bulky 
articles  as  could  not  be  moved.  But 
the  commanding  general  did  not  waste 
time  in  useless  complaining.  He  im 
mediately  sent  off  all  his  cavalry, and 
horse  artillery  in  pursuit,  supported  by 
infantry.  "  No  time,"  he  said,  in  his 
dispatch, "  shall  be  lost.  The  gun  boats 
have  gone  up  York  Eiver.  Gloucester 


is  also  in  our  possession.     I  shall  push 
the  enemy  to  the  wall."* 

The  retreating  forces,  it  was  found, 
had  taken  the  direct  road  from  York- 
town  to  Williamsburg,  some  12  miles 
nearer  Richmond.  There  was  another 
road  on  the  left,  which  crossed  Warwick 
River  at  Lee's  Mills,  and  unit. 

1862< 

insc   with   the   former  made    a 

O 

fork  near  Willianisbnrg.     At  this  point 

the  rebels  had  erected  a  strong  bastioned 

~ 

*  McClellan  denounced  the  fiend-like  behavior  of 
those  who  were  so  constantly  asserting  that  the  Union 
army  was  a  horde  of  savages,  and  the  like :  •'  The 
rebels  have  been  guilty  of  the  most  murderous  and 
barbarous  conduct,  in  placing  torpedoes  within  the 
abandoned  works,  near  wells  and  spri  ngs,  and  near  Hag- 
staffs,  magazines,  telegraph  offices,  in  carpet  bags,  bar 
rels  of  flour,  etc.  Fortunately,  we  have  not  lost  many 
men  in  this  manner — some  four  or  five  killed,  and  per 
haps  a  dozen  wounded.  I  shall  make  the  prisoners 
remove  them  at  their  own  peril." 


CH.  XIV.] 


VICTORY  AT  WILLIAMSBURG. 


161 


earth-work,  flanked  by  a  line  of  re 
doubts,  protected  in  front  by  dbattis ; 
extending  across  the  isthmus  of  dry  land 
to  the  swamps  on  either  side.  Here 
the  enemy  remained  in  force,  evidently 
determined  to  oppose,  to  the  fullest  ex 
tent,  the  advance  of  our  troops.  Sfcone- 
man,  with  the  cavalry  and  four  batter 
ies  of  horse  artillery,  took  the  lead  in 
the  pursuit,  the  divisions  of  Hooker 
and  Kearney  following  as  rapidly  as 
possible.  Stoneman  made  an  attack, 
with  no  special  result.  Gen.  Hooker 
came  up  in  the  course  of  the  night,  and 
early  the  next  morning,  attacked  the 
rebel  works,  Fort  Magruder  and  the 
rest;  but  after  a  hard  fight,  was  com 
pelled  to  give  way.  Kearney  and  his 
division,  having;  arrived  on  the  field 

/  O 

about  four  P.M.,  dashed  into  the  battle. 
The  rifle  pits  were  taken ;  the  enemy's 
rear  was  gained;  and  they  lost  the 
day.  The  victory  was  complete,  the 
rebels  retreating  in  great  haste  ;  but 
our  loss  was  very  heavy,  there  being 
456  killed,  1,400  wounded,  372  missing, 
total,  2,228.  The  committee  on  the 
conduct  of  the  war  were  rather  tart  in 
speaking  of  this  battle,  asserting  that 
"there  was  no  controlling  mind  in 
charge  of  the  movements  ;  there  was 
uncertainty  in  regard  to  who  was  in 
command  ;  each  general  fought  as  he 
considered  best." 

The  miserable  condition  of  the  roads 
rendered  pursuit  by  cavalry  of  little 
avail,  and  the  commanding  general 
found  his  hands  full  in  the  urging  for 
ward  the  bringing  up  supplies  of  vari 
ous  kinds,  provisions,  ammunition,  for 
age,  etc.  This  had  to  be  done  princi 
pally  by  water.  By  degrees,  though 


slowly.  McClellan  advanced  towards 
the  capital  of  the  "  confederacy." 
Franklin's  division,  with  others,  wore 
sent  by  water  from  Yorktown  to  the 
right  bank  of  the  Pamunkey,  in  the  vi 
cinity  of  West  Point.  Early  on  the 
7th  of  May,  when  Franklin  had  disem 
barked,  the  rebels  determined  to  attack 
him,  in  order  to  gain  all  the  time  pos 
sible  for  retreat,  and  for  the  strength- 

'  O 

ening  the  various  works  about  Rich 
mond.  The  action  was  continued  for 
several  hours,  and  the  rebels  were  fin 
ally  driven  off  the  field. 

By  the  16th  of  May,  despite  the  rain 
and  mud,  the  different  divisions  of  the 
army  were  concentrated  at  White 
House,  on  the  Pamunkey,  a  few  miles 
above  West  Point.  A  permanen  t  depot 
was  at  once  established  at  White 
House,  with  reference  to  future  and  im 
portant  operations.  By  the  26th  of 
May,  the  railroad  was  in  working  order 
as  far  as  the  Chickahominy,  and  the 
railroad  bridge  across  that  stream  was 
nearly  completed. 

Meanwhile,  an  important  event  in 
Eastern  Virginia  had  occurred,  in  the 
capture  of  Norfolk.  Hopes  had  been 
entertained  for  some  time  that  this 
capture  would  be  accomplished ;  but 
as  yet  nothing  of  moment  had  been 
done.  A  few  days  after  the  fall  of 
Yorktown,  Gen.  Wool  took  command 
of  an  expedition  from  Fortress  Monroe, 
landing  at  Willoughby's  Point,  about 
eight  miles  from  Norfolk,  at  daylight, 
on  the  10th  of  May.  The  rebel  troops 
abandoned  the  place,  and  by  the  tele 
graph  of  that  same  night,  the  cheering 
news  was  announced  to  the  country 
"  Norfolk  is  ours." 


VOL.  IV  —21. 


162 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


Very  early  the  next  morning  (Sunday, 
May  11  th),  a  bright  light  was  observed 
from  Foi-tress  Monroe  in  the  direction 
of  Craney  Island,  which  was  supposed 
at  first  to  be  a  signal  of  some  descrip 
tion  from  the  Merrimac  or  Vir 
ginia.*  It  was  closely  watched 
from  various  quarters,  and  at  half-past 
four  o'clock  an  explosion  took  place, 
which  made  the  earth  and  water  tremble 
for  miles  round.  In  the  midst  of  the 
flames  which  shot  up  in  the  distance, 
the  timbers  and  iron  of  the  monster 
steamer  could  be  seen  flying  through 
the  air.  A  naval  reconnaissance  being 
made,  it  was  found  that  the  rebels,  in 
order  to  secure  the  aid  of  Gen.  Huger 
with  his  troops  (some  18,000),  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  Richmond,  had 
abandoned  the  powerful  fortifications 
at  and  near  Craney  Island,  destroying 
all  they  could  by  fire  at  the  Gos- 
port  navy  yard,  the  shipping,  steam 
boats,  etc.,  and  leaving  behind  large 
quantities  of  powder  and  other  articles 
of  especial  value  to  the  secession  cause. 

The  James  River  being  now  open, 
by  the  abandonment  of  the  land  batter 
ies  at  the  entrance,  several  United  States 
vessels  were  sent  to  reconnoitre  the 

*  We  have  before  alluded  to  the  destruction  of  the 
Merrimac  (p.  133).  We  may  also  state  hore,  that  Tat- 
nall,  the  officer  in  command,  was  censured  severely  for 
his  action  in  the  matter.  Pollard  says  that  it  was  "  un 
necessary  and  wanton,  and  occasioned  an  amount  of 
grief  and  rage  in  the  confederacy  such  as  had  not  yet 
been  exhibited  in  the  war."  "  The  vessel  was  destroy 
ed  in  great  haste  by  Commodore  Tatnall,  who,  in  the 
dead  hour  of  the  night,  aroused  from  his  slumbers,  and 
acquainted  with  the  decision  of  the  pilots  (that  they 
could  not  carry  the  vessel  above  the  Jamestown  Flats), 
ordered  the  ship  to  be  put  ashore,  landed  his  crew  in 
the  vicinity  of  Craney  Island,  and  blew  to  the  four  winds 
of  heaven  the  only  naval  structure  that  guarded  the 
water  approach  to  llichmoad. ' — "  Second  Tear  of  the 
War,"  p.  27. 


river  as  far  as  was  possible.  Three 
iron-clads  and  two  steam  gun  boats 
pushed  their  way  cautiously  up  the 
James,  and  arrived,  on  the  14th  of  May, 
within  about  ten  miles  of  Richmond. 
Two  miles  further  on,  at  Ward's  or 
Drury's  Bluff,  resistance  was  made  to 
their  advance  by  a  heavy  battery  and 
obstructions  in  the  river.  After  a 
spirited  but  unsuccessful  engagement, 
our  vessels  gave  up  the  contest.  The 
gun  boats  continued  to  hold  possession 
of  the  extended  line  of  navigation  be 
low,  but  the  advantage  gained  was  for 
the  present  of  less  importance,  while 
the  York  River,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  peninsula,  was  made  the  exclusive 
channel  of  communication  with  the  ad 
vancing  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

After  the  retreat  from  Yorktown,  the 
rebels  gradually  withdrew  within  the 
line  of  the  Chickahoniiny,  with  the 
evident  purpose  of  making  a  most  stren 
uous  effort  to  repulse  McClellau  from 
the  vicinity  of  Richmond.  The  York 
River  and  Richmond  Railroad,  runninor 

/  O 

nearly  due  east  and  west,  crossed  the 
Chickahoniiny  near  Bottom's  Bridge, 
about  eleven  miles  distant  from  the 
capital  of  Virginia.  It  was  on  the  left 
or  southerly  bank  of  the  river,  and 
alona;  the  line  of  the  railroad,  which 

O  / 

separated  here  from  the  river  at  an 
acute  angle,  with  the  apex  at  the  bridge, 
that  several  of  the  most  important  bat 
tles  of  the  campaign  were  fought. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  McClellan  had 
gathered  the  several  divisions  of  his 
army  iu  the  large  plain  at  Cumberland, 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  Pamunkey, 
where  a  vast  encampment  was  formed, 
covering  some  20  square  miles.  White 


CH.  XIV.] 


THE  CHICKAHOMINY  CROSSED. 


163 


House,  about  five  miles  above,  on  the 
river,  at  the  head  of  navigation,  with  a 
connection,  by  the  York  River  Railroad, 
with  Richmond,  had  been  abandoned 
by  the  rebels  a  few  days  before,  on  the 
approach  of  General  Stonemau,  who 
took  possession  of  the  place.  It  thence 
forward  was  used  as  a  permanent  base 
for  the  landing  of  supplies  during  the 
campaign, — supplies,  which,  we  may 
here  mention,  to  the  disgrace  of  those 
concerned,  were  furnished  with  a  lavish- 
ness  and  prodigality  hard  to  explain  or 
excuse. 

On  the  morning  of  Monday,  the  1 9th 
of  May,  our  army  directed  its  course 
westward  towards  Richmond,  the  cap 
ture  of  which  was  so  eagerly  and,  in 
measure,  unreasonably  longed  for  at  the 
North,  and  the  defence  of  which  was  so 
fixedly  resolved  upon  by  the  rebels  who 
held  it  under  their  sway.  It  was  too  im 
portant  to  their  interests  lightly  to  yield 
it ;  and  hence  men  like  Jeff.  Davis,  Gen. 
Joe  Johnson,  and  Stonewall  Jackson, 
gave  all  their  ability  and  all  their 
energy  to  devise  ways  and  means  for 
repelling  the  advancing  forces  under 
McClellan. 

"  Recent  disaster,"  it  is  true,  as  Davis 
said,  "  has  spread  gloom  over  the  land, 
and  sorrow  sits  at  the  hearthstones  of 
our  countrymen  ;  but  a  people,  consci 
ous  of  rectitude  and  faithfully  relying 
on  their  Father  in  heaven,  may  be  cast 
down,  but  cannot  be  dismayed."  Fort 
Pulajki  had  been  lost.  New  Orleans 
was  captured.  Norfolk  and  Yorktown 
had  been  abandoned.  The  Merrimac 
had  been  destroyed  by  their  own  hands. 
In  almost  every  direction  gloom  and 
despondency  seemed  to  preponderate  ; 


but  Davis  and  his  aiders  and  abettors 
were  not  disposed  to  yield  an  inch. 
Davis  declared  "  that  if,  in  the  course 
of  events,  Richmond  should  fall — the 
necessity  for  which  he  did  not  see  or 
anticipate — that  would  be  no  reason 
for  withdrawing  the  army  from  Vir 
ginia.  The  war  could  still  be  success 
fully  maintained  on  Virginia  soil  for 
twenty  years." 

The  left  wing  of  the  army,  formed  of 
the  corps  of  Keyes  and  Heintzelman, 
led  the  way,  as  above  stated,  on  the 
19th  of  May,  toward  the  Chickahominy 
at  Bottom's  Bridge ;  the  centre,  Sum- 
ner's  corps,  followed  the  line  of  the 
railroad  ;  and  the  right,  consisting  of 
Franklin's  and  Porter's  corps,  pursued 
a  course  to  the  northwest.  Stoueman, 
with  his  cavalry,  was  in  the  advance. 
The  bridge  over  the  Chickahominy  was 
partly  destroyed,  but  there  was  no  re 
sistance  made  to  the  crossing  of  Stone- 
man,  who  reconnoitred  the  country 
above,  preparatory  to  the  right  wing's 
advance.  On  the  20th,  the  centre  and 
left  .were  at  the  Chickahominy,  near 
the  railroad  bridge,  and  the  next  day 
the  right  encamped  at  Coal  Harbor, 
where  McClellan  established  head-quar 
ters,  about  three  miles  from  the  river, 
at  New  Bridge. 

On  the  -25th  of  May,  Keyes'  and 
Heintzelman's  corps  had  crossed  the 
river,  while  on  the  right  an  important 
reconnaissance,  followed  by  the  capture 
of  the  place,  had  been  pushed  to  Me- 
chanicsville,  a  village  near  the  Chicka- 
homiuy,  five  miles  west  of- Coal  Harbor, 
and  about  the  same  distance  from  Rich 
mond.  The  corps-  of  Keyes  on  the  left 
held  the  advance  beyond  the  Chicka- 


164 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


hominy,  being  encamped  on  both  sides 
of  the  railroad,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sev7en 
Pines  and  Fair  Oaks,  and  the  corps  of 
Heintzelman  was  in  their,  rear  also  along 
the  railroad,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Savage's  Station. 

In  the  advance  in  this  quarter,  Casey 
held  the  front,  with  his  division,  about 
4,000  men,  nearly  all  raw  troops.  His 
force  was  stationed,  the  last  week  in 
May,  in  the  immediate  presence  of  the 
enemy,  within  six  miles  of  Richmond, 
his  pickets  extending  to  within  five 
miles  of  that  city.  Couch  s  division  of 
Keyes'  corps  was  next  behind  on  the 
railroad.  A  line  of  pickets  was  ex 
tended  across  the  narrow  angle  made 
by  the  railroad  and  the  river,  the  gene 
ral  lines  of  the  left  and  right  wings  of 
the  army  to  the  vicinity  of  New  Bridge, 
the  distance  across  between  railroad 
and  river  being  about  three  miles.  To 
secure  the  communication  between  the 
two  wings,  a  large  number  of  the  troops 
skilled  in  such  labors,  were 
actively  engaged  in  building 
bridges  across  the  Chickahominy, 
which  separated  the  two  portions  of  the 
army.  The  labors  in  this  service  were 
excessive,  and  pursued  under  peculiar 
difficulties,  from  the  uncertain  nature 
of  the  stream,  liable  to  sudden  increase 
from  rains,  and  always  embarrassing 
from  the  swamps  and  quicksands  in 
which  the  structure  must  be  built.  The 
weather  was  bad,  the  roads  muddy  in 
proportion,  and  the  water  was,  for  the 
season,  unusually  high  in  the  river.* 

*  McClellan,  in  his  report,  says  :  "  In  view  of  the 
peculiar  character  of  the  Chickahominy,  and  the 
liability  of  the  bottom  lands  to  sudden  inundations,  it 
became  necessary  to  construct,  between  Bottom's 
Bridge  and  Mechanicsville,  eleven  new  bridges,  all  long 
and  difficult,  with  extensive  log-way  approaches." 


I  §62. 


Everything,  however,  was  pushed  on 
diligently,  and  only  the  completion  of 
the  bridges  was  waited  for  in  order  to 
secure  a  perfect  co-operation  of  the 
whole  army,  and  thus  bring  the  enemy 
to  a  decisive  engagement.  A  general 
order  was  issued  by  McClellan,  on  tho 
25th  of  May,  requiring  the  troops 
beyond  the  Chickahominy  to  hold  them 
selves  in  readiness  for  battle  at  a  mo 
ment's  notice.  Just  on  the  eve,  how 
ever,  of  the  approaching  great  contest 
near  Richmond,  McClellan  received  in 
formation  respecting  a  rebel  force  in 
the  vicinity  of  Hanover  Court  House, 
which  might  seriously  endanger  our 
communications,  or  interfere  with  Mc 
Dowell's  expected,  and  anxiously  look 
ed  for  junction.  By  the  commanding 

o-eneral's  direction,  Fitz  John  Porter  set 

~  ' 

out,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of 
May,  to  dislodge  or  defeat  this  force, 
said  to  consist  of  North  Carolina  troops 
from  Newbern,  under  the  rebel  Gene 
ral  Branch.  Near  Hanover  Court 
House  Porter  drove  the  rebels,  who, 
having  been  reinforced,  made  an  attack 
on  the  rear  of  our  force.  Porter  then 
faced  about  and  routed  them  complete 
ly.*  The  rebel  force  was  estimated  at 
8,000,  of  which  more  than  200  were 
killed  and  between  700  and  800  made 
prisoners.  Our  loss  was  reported  at 
53  killed  and  300  wounded  and  miss 
ing.  McClellan  spoke  in  the  highest 
terms  of  Porter's  success,  as  not  only 
having  dispersed  Branch's  division,  but 
more  especially  as  clearing  and  entirely 
relieving  the  right  flank  of  the  army. 

*  The  railroad  bridge  over  the  South  Anna  was  de 
stroyed  by  our  men  on  the  27th  of  May.  This  was  on 
the  direct  line  of  communication  between  Fredericks 
burg  and  Richmond. 


dr.  XIV.] 


MCDOWELL  WITHDRAWN  FROM  MCCLELLAN. 


165 


McClellan  had  felt  all  along,  very 
keenly,  the  being  deprived  of  McDow 
ell's  support,  (see  p.  138),  and  he  was 
now  hoping  every  day  to  have  that 
general's  aid  and  co-operation  in  view 
of  the  direct  assault  to  be  made  upon 
Richmond.*  The  government,  on  the 
17th  of  May,  ordered  McDowell,  with 
Shields's  division  taken  from  Banks,  to 
move  toward  Richmond  and  join  Mc 
Clellan  ;  at  the  same  time  he  was  to 
keep  careful  watch,  and  be  ready  to 
meet  any  sudden  dash  or  attack  upon 
Washington.  The  rebel  General  John- 

o 

ston  and  his  advisers  seemed  to  under 
stand  the  position  of  affairs  very  well, 
and  they  knew  that  it  was  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  them  that  Mc 
Dowell  should  be  kept  at  a  distance 
from  Richmond.  With  great  shrewd 
ness,  they  resolved  to  dispatch  Jackson 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  bold  and 
rapid  raid  upon  Banks,  being  assured, 
apparently,  that  this  would  so  frighten 
the  authorities  at  Washington  that 
McDowell's  further  advance  would  be 
immediately  stopped,  and  McClellan's 
calculations,  based  upon  his  co-opera 
tion,  rendered  void. 

The  rebel  plan  was  well  laid.  On 
the  24th  of  May,  McDowell  was  order 
ed  to  hasten  to  the  help  or  rescue  of 
Banks.  He  obeyed  of  course  ;  the  same 


*  The  Prince  de  Joinville's  remarks  on  the  grievous 
mistake  in  preventing  McDowell's  advance  are  werth 
quoting  : — "  It  needed  only  an  effort  of  the  will  ;  the 
two  armies  were  united,  and  the  possession  of  Richmond 
certain  !  Alas,  this  effort  was  not  made.  .  .  .  the  fatal 
error  was  on  the  point  of  being  committed.  Not  only 
did  not  the  two  armies  unite,  but  the  order  came  from 
Washington  to  burn  the  bridges  which  had  been  seiz 
ed.  This  was  the  clearest  way  of  saying  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  and  to  its  chief  that  in  no  case  could 
they  count  on  the  support  of  the  armies  of  Upper 
Virginia." 


day  he  wrote :  "  the  president's  order 
has  been  received,  and  is  in  process  of 
execution.  This  is  a  crushing  blow  to 
us"  Mr.  Lincoln  sent  him  word  that 
"every  thing  now  depended  on  the 
celerity  and  vigor  of  his  movements," 
to  which  McDowell  answered,  plainly 
expressing  his  doubt  as  to  the  success 
of  the  proposed  movement. 

President  Lincoln,  in  virtue  of  his 
office,  was  commander-in-chief  of  the 
army  and  navy  of  the  United  States  • 
and  though  he  had  no  acquaintance 
with  military  or  naval  science,  yet  he 
was  full  of  anxious  care  on  the  subject. 
He  was  eager  in  urging  forward  mat 
ters,  and  was  greatly  distressed  in  re 
gard  to  military  movements  in  Virginia, 
just  at  this  time.  There  was  a  sort  of 
terror  hanging  over  him  and  others  at 
Washington,  lest  the  capital  should  be 
suddenly  assaulted  and  taken  by  the 
rebels,  and  notwithstanding  his  deep 
regard  and  respect  for  McClellan,  he 
did  not  trust  to  the  judgment  of  the 
commanding-general,  and  his  positive 
assurance  that,  if  McDowell 

•  • 

came  at  once  to  his  assistance, 
Richmond  was  sure  to  fall.  On  the 
25th  of  May,  Mr.  Lincoln  sent  to  Mc 
Clellan,  saying  :  "  I  think  the  time  is 
near  when  you  must  either  attack  Rich 
mond,  or  give  up  the  job,  and  come  to 
the  defence  of  Washington."  McClel 
lan  gave  every  assurance  of  his  readi 
ness  and  determination  to  go  forward, 
greatly  vexed  and  disappointed  though 
he  was  at  McDowell's  withdrawal.  He 
was  making  all  his  preparations  to  fight 
the  enemy  with  such  force  as  he  had, 
and  the  bitter  struggle  was  now  at 
hand. 


I6G 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


Hardly  had  Porter,  and  his  brave 
band  returned  from  Hanover  Court 
House,  when  the  right  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy  became  famous  for  the 
hard-fought  battle  of  the  Seven  Pines, 
or  Fair  Oaks,  so  called  because  of  the 
localities  at  two  important  stages  of  the 
conflict,  its  beginning  and  its  end.  On 
the  rebel  side  were  the  divisions  of 
Hill,  Longstreet,  Huger  and  Smith ; 
and  on  ours,  were  the  corps  of  Keyes 
and  Heintzelman,  with  a  portion  of 
that  of  Sumner.  Johnston,  well  aware 
of  the  critical  position  of  affairs,  and  an 
xious  to  strike  a  blow  which  should  be 
felt,  took  note  of  the  advance  of  Casey's 
division  (see  p.  164)  at  and  beyond 
Seven  Pines ;  and  probably  supposing 
that  the  corps  of  Keyes,  to  which  it  be 
longed,  was  the  only  one  which  had  yet 
crossed  the  Chickahominy,  he  thought 
by  massing  his  forces  in  one  furious  on 
set,  to  break  the  Union  lines,  and  de 
stroy  this  section  of  the  army  before  a 
junction  could  be  made,  by  the  com 
pletion  of  the  bridges,  with  the  troops 
on  the  other  side  of  the  stream.  On 
the  night  of  the  30th  of  May,  there  was 
one  of  the  most  violent  summer  rain 
storms  known  to  the  country.  Torrents 
of  rain  drenched  the  earth,  and  the  light 
ning  and  thunder  were  fearfully  grand. 
From  their  beds  of  mud,  and  the  pelt- 
ings  of  the  storm,  our  men  rose  to  fight 
the  battle  of  the  31st  of  May. 

In  this  state  of  things,  the  roads  con 
verted  into  mud,  the  swamps  flooded, 
and  the  river  threatened  with  an  un 
usual  rise,  it  appeared  to  be  a  compara 
tively  easy  thing  for  the  rebels  to  des 
troy  the  exposed  wing  of  the  divided 
army.  Accordingly,  orders  were  given 


by  Johnston  to  his  several  division 
commanders,  to  move  to  the  assault  at 
daybreak,  on  the  day  appointed.  With 
every  facility  of  communication  with 
Richmond,  and  with  the  various  divi 
sions  occupying  the  roads  commanding 
the  Union  position,  had  the  rebel  plan 
of  attack  been  effectively  carried  out, 
backed,  as  it  was,  by  a  greatly  superior 
force,  it  could  hardly  have  failed  of 
entire  success.  The  heavy  rains,  how 
ever,  which  aided  their  purpose  in  one 
way,  hindered  it  in  another.  If  rein 
forcements  could  not  be  readily  brought 
across  the  river  to  the  Union  lines, 
neither  could  the  enemy  take  the  field 
as  early  as  was  intended.  The  divisions 
of  Smith,  Hill,  and  Longstreet,  how 
ever,  were  in  position  to  commence 
operations  by  eight  A.M.  Huger,  en 
tangled  with  his  artillery  in  the  mud 
and  swamps,  was  not  at  hand,  and 
Longstreet,  who  had  the  direction  of 
operations  on  the  right,  was  unwilling 
to  go  into  action  without  his  co-opera 
tion  ;  hence  the  attack  was  deferred  till 
early  in  the  afternoon. 

Meanwhile,  Keyes  had  not  been 
unobservant  or  inactive.  Expecting 
an  attack  at  any  moment,  he  watched 
earnestly  the  indications  of  hostile 
movements  brought  to  him  on  the  morn 
ing  of  May  31st.  Cars  had  been  heard 
coming  out  from  Richmond,  and  an  aid 
of  Johnston's  had  been  taken  prisoner 
by  our  pickets.  About  eleven  A.M.,  a 
body  of  the  enemy  was  reported  ap 
proaching.  Casey  prepared  for  imme 
diate  action  ;  and  at  one  o'clock  was  as 
saulted  by  the  rebels  with  tremendous 
force  and  energy.  They  endeavored  to 
crush  his  division  utterly  before  help 


Cii.  XIV.J 


BATTLE  OF  SEVEX  PINES. 


167 


could  be  brought,  and  the  troops  fell 
back  upon  the  second  line,  held  by 
Couch's  division.  Couch  tried  hard  to 
regain  the  lost  position ;  but  without 
success  ;  and  he  was  driven  back  to 
wards  Fair  Oaks. 

Our  troops,  with  rare  exceptions,  be 
haved  excellently  well,  and  a  sort  of 
line  of  battle  being  formed  across  the 
woods,  perpendicularly  to  the  road  and 
the  railroad,  assault  after  assault  was 
steadily  resisted.  Our  left  was  protect 
ed  by  the  morasses  of  the  White  Oak 
Swamp,  but  our  right  ran  the  risk  of 
being  surrounded.  A  strong  column  of 
the  enemy  advanced  against  the  right, 
and  if  it  had  succeeded  in  getting  be 
tween  Bottom's  Bridge  and  our  troops 
who  held  beyond  Savage's  Station,  the 
left  wing  would  have  been  lost.  But 
at  this  moment,  six  P.M.,  Sumner,  who 
had  been  ordered  by  McClellan  to  be 
ready  to  move  to  the  scene  of  action, 
appeared,  and  effectually  put  a  stop  to 
rebel  progress.  Instead  of  merely  pre 
paring  to  move,  this  brave  commander 
advanced  directly,  and  saved  an  hour 
of  time.  He  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
river,  and  marched  upon  Fair  Oaks, 
where  he  found  Couch  with  his  men. 
The  rebels  made  a  fierce  assault  upon 
Sumuers  command  ;  but  they  were  re 
pulsed,  and  fled,  thus  closing  the  contest 
for  that  day.  Night  put  an  end  to  the 
battle;  but  dispositions  were  made  for 
its  early  renewal  on  Sunday  morning, 
June  1st.  Before  sunrise,  the  rebels 
were  pressing  forward  the  attack.  They 
appeared  in  large  force  from  the  woods 
in  front,  opened  a  heavy  fire  of  mus 
ketry  at  short  range  along  the  whole 
line,  and  seemed  determined  to  carry 


1862. 


all  before  them  by  one  sweeping  blow. 
The  attack  was  met  by  our  troops  with 
steadiness  and  unflinching  determina 
tion.  Notwithstanding  the  fierce  on- 

o 

slaughts  of  the  enemy,  renewed  again 
and  again,  our  men  stood  nobly  to  their 
posts.  Led  on  by  brave  and  experienc 
ed  officers,  and  freely  using  the 
bayonet,  toward  midday  they 
finally  and  entirely  repulsed  the  rebel 
force.  These  fled  in  confusion  and 
haste  ;  but  unhappily,  if  we  may  rely 
on  McClellan's  opinion,  the  state  of  the 
roads  prevented  any  effective  pursuit 
on  our  part.  All  that  was  accomplished 
at  the  time  was  the  re-occupying  the 
lines  held  previous  to  the  battle. 

The  losses  on  both  sides  were  very 
heavy.  McClellan  reported  a  total 
loss  of  5,737  ;  a  few  days  afterwards  he 
reported  that  the  number  would  be  at 
least  7,000.  The  total  rebel  loss  was, 
according  to  their  reports,  nearly  7,000. 
Pollard's  statement  for  the  rebels  is: 
"  We  had  taken  ten  pieces  of  artillery 
and  6,000  muskets,  besides  other  spoils ; 
our  total  loss  was  more  than  4,000  ;  that 
of  the  enemy  is  stated  in  their  own  news 
papers  to  have  exceeded  10,000,  an  esti 
mate  which  is  no  doubt  short  of  the 
truth."  * 

*  Prince  de  Joinville's  remarks  on  the  battle  of  Seven 
Pines  may  here  be  quoted :  "  Sucli  is  the  history  of 
this  singular  battle,  which  although  complicated  by 
incidents  superior  to  human  will,  must  not  be  taken 
otherwise  than  as  a  type  of  American  battles.  The 
conflict  was  a  bloody  one,  for  the  North  had  lost  5,000 
men,  the  South  at  least  8,000 ;  but  the  results  were 
barren  on  one  side  as  on  the  other.  Although  the  losses 
of  the  enemy  were  much  greater  than  those  of  the 
Federals,  the  result  was  especially  distressing  to  the 
latter!  They  had  lost  a  rare  opportunity  of  striking  a 
decisive  blow.  These  occasions  did  not  return,  and 
therefore,  in  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were 
placed,  the  result  was  against  them." 


168 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


CHAPTER    XV. 
1862, 

BANKS  AND  FEEMONT  IN  THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY. 

Banks  takes  command  —  Bridges  over  Shenandoah  protected  —  Jackson  driven  out  of  the  Valley  —  Doubts  as 
to  his  further  intentions  —  Effect  of  Banks's  movements  —  Position  of  our  forces  in  Virginia  —  Jackson  as 
sumes  the  offensive  —  His  plan  to  capture  Banks  —  Kenly's  disaster  at  Front  Royal  —  Banks's  position  and 
danger  —  One  of  three  courses  before  him  —  Determines  to  retreat  to  Winchester  —  Affair  at  Middletown  — 
Activity  of  the  rebels  —  Battle  at  Winchester  —  Retreat  to  Martinsburg  and  thence  to  the  Potomac  —  Saved 
by  crossing  the  river  —  Losses  on  the  retreat  —  Success  of  Jackson's  plans  —  President  calls  for  more  troops 
— The  Mountain  Department  and  General  Fremont  —  His  labors  there  —  Movements  at  Monterey,  Romney 
Lewisburg  —  Fremont  ordered  to  go  to  Banks's  help  and  to  cut  off  Jackson  if  possible  —  Fremont's  plan  — 
Crosses  the  mountains  —  Advance  comes  up  with  enemy  near  Strasburg  —  Ewell's  attack  on  Harper's 
Ferry  —  Jackson's  sudden  retreat  —  Fremont  a  day  too  late  —  Jackson's  policy  as  to  fighting  —  Rebels  re 
treat  through  Woodstock,  etc.  —  Encounter  at  Harrisburg  —  Ashby  killed  —  Battle  at  Cross  Keys,  losses,  etc. 
—  Jackson's  position  critical  —  Colonel  Carroll  and  his  advance  movement — Attack  of  the  rebels  in  force  on 
Shields's  advance  —  Battle  of  Port  Republic  —  Success  of  the  rebel  plans  —  Fremont  and  Shields  retire  — 
Army  changes  —  Fremont  resigns. 


Lsr  a  previous  cnapter  (see  p.  136) 
we  have  spoken  of  Gen.  Shields's  active 
movements  in  Virginia,  and  bis  success 
over  Stonewall  Jackson  near  Winches 
ter.  This  was  towards  the  close  of  the 
month  of  March.  Gen.  Banks, 
who  was  in  command  of  the 
army  corps  which  comprised  his  own 
and  Shields's  divisions,  arrived  on  the 
battle-ground  just  before  the  close  of 
the  engagement  described  on  p.  137. 
The  rebels  continued  their  retreat,  and, 
whenever  possible,  burned  the  bridges 
on  the  road.  At  Edenburg,  a  halt  was 
made  by  the  advance  under  Shields,  so 
as  to  allow  time  to  build  the  bridge 
over  the  creek  there.  Ashby's  cavalry 
gave  occasion  for  some  sharp  skirmish 
ing  ;  but  Banks,  on  the  17th  of  April, 
entered  Mount  Jackson,  pursuing  the 
eneny  beyond  to  New  Market,  of 
which  he  took  possession  the  following 
day. 


On  the  19th  of  April,  Banks  went  in 
force  to  see  to  the  protection  of  the 
bridges  on  the  south  fork  of  the 
Shenandoah  in  the  Masanutten  Valley. 
He  succeeded  in  his  purpose,  although 
the  rebels  made  vigorous  efforts  to  de 
stroy  the  bridges ;  from  such  informa 
tion  as  he  could  collect,  he  was  of 
opinion  that  Jackson  had  left  this  val 
ley.  On  the  22d  of  April,  Banks 
wrote  to  Washington,  announcing  that 
"the  rebel  Jackson  has  left  the  Valley 
of  Virginia  permanently,  and  is  on  the 
way  to  Gordonsville,  by  the  way  of  the 
mountains."  Two  days  after,  a  recon 
naissance  was  made  towards  Staunton ; 
the  town  was  entered  without  opposi 
tion.  The  Shenandoah  divided  Jack 
son's  rear  guard  from  our  forces  at 
Strasburg  and  other  points  of  the  val 
ley,  and,  apparently,  the  troublesome 
enemy  had  taken  his  final  departure. 

The  position  of  affairs  was  not,  how- 


CH.  XV.] 


JACKSON'S  PLAN  TO  CAPTURE  BANKS. 


169 


evei,  without  its  anxieties.  It  was  very 
difficult  to  get  any  reliable  information. 
The  "  contrabands  "  here,  as  elsewhere, 
were  useful  in  this  respect,  and  from 
them  and  some  refugees  it  was  learned, 
that  Jackson  was  posted  eighteen  miles 
from  Harrisonburg  on  the  other  side  of 
the  south  fork  of  the  Shenandoah.  His 
force,  including  Ashby's  cavalry,  was 
thought  to  be  more  than  8,000,  and 
among  other  reinforcements,  Ewell's 
brigade  was  said  to  be  on  its  way  to 
join  him.  With  some  10,000  men  in 
hand,  well  supplied  with  artillery  and 
cavalry,  it  was  quite  probable  that 
Jackson  would  speedily  assume  the  of 
fensive. 

Banks's  success  thus  far  was  of  no 
material  value.  He  was  expected  to 
occupy  Staunton,  and,  at  least,  threaten 
the  enemy  on  the  line  of  the  Virginia 
Central  Railroad ;  but  from  necessity 
or  policy,  early  in  May,  his  main  force 
fell  back  to  Strasbursr,  whence  a  large 

O7  O 

portion  of  his  command  was  withdrawn 
for  the  reinforcement  of  the  army  in 
Eastern  Virginia.  The  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  under  McClellan,  had,  as  we 
have  seen  (p.  137),  embarked  for  the 
Peninsula ;  while  Fredericksburg  had 
just  surrendered  to  the  forces  of  Mc 
Dowell,  who,  having  been  detained  for 
the  defence  of  Washington,  and  wish 
ing  to  co-operate  directly  with  McClel 
lan,  had  pushed  his  corps  to  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  where  he  was  ready  for  either 
movement. 

The  rebels,  meanwhile,  were  not  in 
active.  Ewell  was  gathering  his  men 
for  service  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
valley,  while  Jackson  further  south 
crossed  the  western  boundary  of  the 
VOT,  TV— 22 


valley,  attacked  Milroy  in  Highland 
County,  and  compelled  him  and  Schenok 
to  retreat  to  Franklin  with  great  haste 
and  much  loss.  At  Franklin,  however, 
by  the  aid  of  Gen.  Fremont,  a  success 
ful  stand  was  made.  Towards  the  lat 
ter  part  of  the  month  of  May,  Jackson 
commenced  more  directly  ag 
gressive  movements,  having  in 

O  /  O 

view,  no  doubt,  the  important  end  to 
which  allusion  has  been  made  on  a  pre 
vious  page  (see  p.  165).  He  determin 
ed  by  a  bold  dash  to  attempt  the  cap 
ture  of  Gen.  Banks  and  his  entire  force. 
Accordingly  a  heavy  column  was  sent 
up  the  valley,  between  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  Massanutten  Mountain  range  to 
Front  Royal,  where  the  Manassas  Rail 
road  crosses  the  Shenandoah,  twelve 
miles  from  Strasburg.  The  plan  was  to 
capture  Col.  Kenly,  with  a  force  of  about 
1,000  men,  and  then  pushing  on  to 
Winchester,  to  get  in  the  rear  of  Banks. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  the  enemy  were 
found  to  be  advancing  in  force,  and  our 
men  had  the  alternative  either  to  run 
away,  or  attempt  a  stand  against  over 
whelming  numbers.  Kenly  chose  the 
latter,  and  for  two  hours  fought  bravely 
against  the  rebels.  He  then  fell  back 
across  the  Shenandoah,  destroying  one 
of  the  bridges ;  before  the  larger  one, 
however,  could  be  burned  he  was  flank 
ed  by  the  rebels  in  great  numbers  and 
crushed  entirely. 

That  same  evening,  at  Strasburg, 
Banks  received  the  news  of  Kenly's 
loss.  He  speedily  ascertained  by  scouts, 
that  Jackson  was  advancing  with  at 
least  15,000  or  20,000  men,  and  divin 
ing  at  once  that  the  rebel  commander 

O 

must  be  intending  to  occupy  Winches- 


170 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  VIII. 


ter  and  cut  off  all  supplies  and  reinfor 
cements,  and  thus  compel  liis  surrender, 
he  promptly  decided  upon  liis  line  of 
action.  One  of  three  courses  was  open 
to  him  :  either  a  retreat  across  Little 
North  Mountain  to  the  Potomac,  or  an 
attack  upon  the  enemy's  flank  on  the 
Front  Royal  road,  or  a  rapid  movement 
direct  upon  Winchester.  The  two  for 
mer  were  out  of  the  question  ;  so  there 
was  no  alternative  but  to  start  at  once, 
and  if  possible  occupy  Winchester  in 
advance  of  Jackson. 

The  advance  guard  was  called  in 
long  before  daylight,  May  24th.  The 
disabled  men,  left  by  [Shields,  and  the 
wagon  train  were  ordered  forward  to 
Winchester.  Gen.  Hatch,  with  the 
cavalry  and  artillery,  undertook  the  de 
fence  of  the  rear,  and  between  nine  and 
ten  o'clock  the  column  was  on  the 
march.  Our  men  had  marched  only  a 
few  miles  when  the  enemy  attacked  the 
train  in  front,  instead  of  the  rear.  The 
troops  were  ordered  to  the  front,  and 
encountered  the  rebels  in  force  at  Mid- 
dletown,  thirteen  miles  from  Winchester. 
Our  men  fought  bravely,  and  drove  the 
enemy  back.  This  episode,  with  the 
change  of  front,  occupied  nearly  an 
hour,  but  it  saved  Banks's  column. 
Had  the  enemy  vigorously  attacked  the 
train  while  at  the  head  of  the  column, 
it  would  have  been  thrown  into  such 
dire  confusion  as  to  have  made  a  suc 
cessful  continuation  of  the  march  im 
possible. 

Various  and  energetic  efforts  were 
made  by  detachments  to  join  the  main 
column,  but  in  every  case  they  were 
prevented  by  the  enemy,  who  pressed 
steadily  and  vigorously  upon  our  men 


At  five  o'clock  P.M.  the  advance  guard 
reached  Winchester,  where  the  strength 
and  purpose  of  the  enemy  became  more 
fully  known  to  Banks.  Jackson's  force 
was  probably  not  less  than  25,000,  and 
it  was  expected  that  an  attack  would 
be  made  at  daybreak.  Banks  deter 
mined  to  test  the  strength  of  the  enemy, 
and  ordered  the  men  to  prepare  for  bat 
tle,  his  entire  force  being  only  about 
6,000.  About  four  o'clock  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  25th  of  May,  the  artillery 
opened  fire,  which  was  continued  to  the 
close  of  the  battle.  The  enemy's  force 
was  massed  apparently  on  Banks's  right, 
and  their  manoeuvres  indicate  1  a  pur 
pose  to  turn  him  upon  the  Berryville 
road ;  but  the  steady  fire  of  our  lines 
held  them  in  check  for  several  hours. 

The  large  force  of  the  enemy  render 
ing  it  unwise  to  attempt  further  fight 
ing,  the  retreat  was  continued,  in  the 
direction  of  Martinsburg,  in  three  paral 
lel  columns,  each  protected  by  an  effi 
cient  rear  guard.  The  enemy  kept  up 
the  pursuit  promptly  and  vigorously; 
Banks's  movements,  however, were  rapid 
and  without  loss.  At  Martinsburo;  the 

o 

column  halted  two  and  a  half  hours 
and  arrived  at  the  Potomac  at  sundown, 
forty  eight-hours  after  the  first  news 
of  the  attack  on  Front  Royal.  It  was 
a  march  of  53  miles,  35  of  which  were 
performed  in  one  day.  Fortunately 
the  enemy  did  not  appear.  The  single 
ferry  over  the  river  was  occupied  by 
the  ammunition  trains,  and  the  ford  by 
the  waojon  trains.  Several  boats  be- 

O 

longing  to  the  pontoon  train,  brought 
from    Strasburg,    were    launched    and 
given  up  to  the  use  of  the  soldiers,  and    ; 
the  crossing  was  achieved  with  entire 


: 


Cu.  XV.] 


FREMONT  AND  THE  MOUNTAIN"  DEPARTMENT. 


171 


success.  "  There  never  were  more  thank 
ful  hearts,"  says  Banks,  with  true  feel 
ing,  "  in  the  same  number  of  men,  than 
when,  at  midday  on  the  26th  of  May, 
we  stood  on  the  opposite  shore.7' 

Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  etc., 
was  short  of  1,000.  All  the  guns  were 
saved ;  the  wagon  train,  nearly  500  in 
number,  was  almost  all  saved,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  supplies  were  pre 
served. 

The  retreat  of  Banks,  in  face  of  the 
serious  difficulties  in  his  way,  was  held 
to  evince  talent  of  a  high  order,  and  he 
received  the  warm  thanks  of  the  s;ov- 

O 

eminent  for  what  he  bad  done.  Jack 
son  had  made  special  efforts  to  capture 
Banks.*  He  did  not  indeed  accomplish 
that ;  but  the  other  and  more  impor 
tant  part  of  his  scheme  was  entirely 
successful.  As  we  have  seen  (see  p. 
165),  McDowell,  on  the  24th  of  May, 
was  ordered  to  march  to  the  help  of 
Banks,  and  of  course  to  deprive  Mc- 
Clellan  of  his  expected  aid  on  the  eve 
of  assaulting  Richmond.  He  obeyed 
the  order  so  positively  given,  and  the 
authorities  at  Washington  were  startled 
and  almost  terrified  at  finding  the  rebels 
under  Jackson  once  more  on  the  banks 
of  the  Potomac. 

The  governors  of  the  loyal  states 
were  urgently  called  upon  for  more 
troops,  and  in  order  to  facilitate  their 
transportation,  the  president,  by  author 
ity  of  Congress  (p.  149),  took  military 
possession  of  all  the  railroads 
in  the  United  States.  This 


1S62. 


*  Jackson,  at  Winchester,  on  the  28th  of  May,  issued 
a  general  order  characterized  by  his  usual  peculiarities, 
and  lauding  the  troops  which  had  "  finally  driven  the 
boastful  host  which  was  ravishing  our  beautiful  country 
into  utter  rout." 


was  on  the  25th  of  May.  The  gover 
nors  of  the  states  responded  promptly 
to  the  call  of  the  president,  and  set  to 
work  at  once  to  furnish  the  troops 
required. 

It  will  be  recollected,  that  President 
Lincoln,  'by  his  war  order,  March  llth, 
(p.  132),  had  created  a  new  military  de 
partment,*  called  the  Mountain  Depart 
ment,  and  had  placed  Gen.  Fremont  in 
command.  It  included  the  entire  range  ot 
Western  Virginia  and  a  part  of  Tennes 
see.  Fremont,  it  was  hoped  and  expect 
ed,  would  be  of  material  service,  as  occa 
sion  offered,  in  outflanking  the  rebels  in 
Southern  Virginia,  in  cutting  off  the 

O  /  O 

Richmond  communications,  or  in  occupy 
ing  important  points  in  Eastern  Tennes 
see  ;  but  the  raid  of  Jackson  turned  his 
energies  in  a  different  direction. 

Two  months  were  passed  in  prepar 
ing  and  organizing  his  corps,  under  seri 
ous  difficulties,  owing  to  the  insufficient 
provision  made  for  the  new  department. 
The  first  movement  was  in  Highland 
County,  where  Milroy,  at  Monterey, 
had  a  sharp  skirmish  with  a  body  of 
rebels  who  attacked  his  camp.  A  few 
days  latter,  April  23d,  a  party  of  our 
men  from  Romney,  had  a  sharp  en 
counter  with  a  body  of  guerrillas ;  and 
on  the  8th  of  May,  a  sharp  fight  occur 
red  twelve  miles  beyond  Monterey.  After 

*  Mr.  Swinton  speaks  with  great  but  not  undeserved 
severity  of  the  folly  and  violation  of  the  first  principles 
of  war,  in  having,  as  was  now  the  ease  in  Northern 
Virginia,  three  distinct  armies,  planted  on  three  sepa 
rate  lines  of  operation,  under  three  independent  com 
manders.  "  One  hardly  wishes  to  inquire  by  whoso 
crude  and  fatuitous  inspiration  these  thingw  were  done  ; 
but  such  was  the  spectacle  presented  by  the  Union 
forces  in  Virginia  ;  the  main  army  already  held  in 
check  on  the  Chickahominy,  and  these  detached 
columns  inviting  destruction  in  detail." — "  Army  of  the 
Potomac,"  p.  123. 


172 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


a  marcli  of  three  days,  they  reached 
Franklin,  Laving  lost,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  233.  On  the  20th  of  May, 
Col.  Crook,  in  command  at  Lewisburg, 
made  a  successful  dash  through  Coving- 
ton  to  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad, 
burning  the  bridge  at  Jackson  River. 
He  was  attacked  by  Heath,  with  a 
large  force,  but  routed  him  entirely. 

It  was  on  the  night  of  May  24th^ 
that  Fremont  received,  at  Franklin,  the 
president's  order  to  march  to  the  relief 
of  Banks,  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenan- 
doah.  His  entire  force,  numbering  11,- 
500  men,  consisted  of  Blenker's  division, 
the  brigades  of  Schenck  and  Milroy, 
and  a  light  brigade  of  Ohio  and  Vir 
ginia  troops,  under  Col.  Cluseret,  a 
French  officer  in  the  service.  Fremont's 
army  at  this  time  was  by  no  means  in  a 
good  condition  to  move.  They  were 
in  a  region  cut  off  from  proper  supplies, 
and  their  morale  was  anything  but  en 
couraging.  Fremont  was  unwilling, 
however,  to  lose  a  moment's  time  in  the 
present  emergency,*  and  the  troops, 
promptly  and  cheerfully,  took  the  road 
to  Petersburg  the  next  morning.  Fur. 
nished  only  with  ammunition  and 
rations  for  three  days,  they  pursued 
their  way  through  Moorefield,  by  forced 
marches  over  mountain  roads,  rendered 
unusually  difficult  by  the  inclement 
season.  In  the  course  of  a  week  the 
advance,  under  Col.  Cluseret,  came  up, 
near  Strasburg,  with  Jackson's  forces, 


*  Fremont  has  been  criticised  with  some  severity 
for  not  marching  to  Ilarrisonburg  in  stead  of  taking  the 
course  he  did.  If  he  could  have  done  so,  which  has 
been  pronounced  by  some  as  impossible,  he  might  have 
got  so  far  in  Jackson's  rear  as  effectually  to  have  cut 
him  off.  The  distance  from  Franklin  to  Ilarrisonburg 
was  about  60  miles,  while  Strasburg  was  100  miles 
distant. 


already  having  begun  their  hasty  re 
treat  up  the  valley. 

On  Bauks's  retreat  to  the  Potomac  (p. 
170),  Gen.  Saxton  was  put  in  command 
of  the  forces  sent  to  Harper's  Ferry  to 
maintain  that  position.  Sharp  skir 
mishes  occurred,  but  without  advantage 
to  the  rebels.  On  the  night  of  the 
30th  of  May,  Jackson  ordered  Ewell 
with  his  men  to  storm  our  position. 
The  attempt  was  made  about  dark,  and 
continued  for  an  hour  ;  and  again  about 
midnight ;  but  to  no  purpose. 

The  next  day,  Jackson  was  in  full  re 
treat  up  the  valley,  which  it  was  Fre 
mont's  design  to  intercept  when  he 
crossed  the  mountains  at  Strasburg. 
Ewell  followed  and  joined  Jackson, 
June  1st.  Fremont  came  upon  the 
enemy's  rear  the  same  day,  near  Stras 
burg,  on  the  road  to  Winchester. 
Jackson  declined  all  offers  of  battle; 
his  policy  was  to  avoid  fighting;  arid  so 
he  pushed  on  through  Strasburg,  and 
succeeded  in  passing  between  McDow 
ell's  advance  on  the  one  side  and  Fre 
mont's  on  the  other.  Thus  the  rebel 
general  proved  himself  too  active  for 
his  pursuers. 

Fremont  was  joined  at  Strasburg  by 
a  body  of  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Bayard, 
which  formed  a  portion  of  McDowell's 
corps,  and  came  very  opportunely  to  his 
aid.  Pursuing  the  rebels  through 

O  O 

Woodstock,  Edenburg  and  Mount 
Jackson,  they  making  every  resistance 
possible,  burning  bridges,  etc.,  Fremont 
crossed  the  Shenandoah,  June  5th,  on  a 
pontoon  bridge,  and  came  up  with  them 
beyond  New  Market.  A  sharp  en 
counter  attended  the  arrival  of  our  ad 
vance  the  next  day  at  Harrisonburg,  and 


CH.  XV.] 


BATTLE  OF  PORT  REPUBLIC. 


173 


the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  town. 
During  the  afternoon,  severe  skirmish 
ing  was  kept  up  with  varying  fortune  on 
both  sides.  After  dark,  the  rebels  con 
tinued  their  retreat.  Their  loss  was 
estimated  to  be  very  severe,  and  during 
the  evening  many  of  them  Avere  killed 
by  shells  from  a  battery  of  Stahl's  bri 
gade.  Ashby,  of  the  rebel  cavalry,  who 
was  especially  serviceable  to  Jackson  on 
the  present  occasion,  was  among  the 
killed.* 

Very  early  on  the  morning  of  Sun 
day,  June  8th,  Fremont  left  Harrison- 
burg,  with  about  10,000  men,  in  pur 
suit  of  Jackson.  Having  advanced 

O 

Borne  seven  miles  on  the  road  to  Staun- 
ton,  he  found  the  enemy  at  Cross  Keys, 
in  a  well  selected  position  in  the  woods 
to  the  left  and  front.  Jackson,  it  ap 
pears,  had  thought  it  best  to  fight  at 
this  point,  and  thus  check  Fremont's 
pursuit.f  An  extended  line  of  battle 
was  formed,  skirmishing  having  com 
menced  about  nine  o'clock,  and  the 
whole  line  moved  forward  at  noon. 
Schenck  had  command  on  the  right, 
Stahl  on  the  left,  and  Milroy  in  the 
centre.  Blenker's  and  two  other  brig 
ades  formed  the  reserve.  The  battle 

*  Pollard  in  speaking  of  Ashby  can  hardly  find 
words  of  laudation  strong  enough  for  his  purpose.  He 
was  the  "  young  Paladin  of  the  South ;"  on  one  occa 
sion  he  is  said  to  have  cut  his  single  way  through  300 
Vermont  men,  repeated  the  operation,  seized  the  flag 
and  taken  75  prisoners  with  his  own  hand ;  "  he  com 
bined  the  virtues  of  Sir  Philip  Sydney  with  the  dash 
of  Murat ;"  his  life  "  was  a  beautiful  poem,  a  sounding 
oration,  a  sufficient  legacy  to  the  virtue  of  his  country 
men." — "  Second  Tear  of  the  War,"  pp.  55-58. 

f  According  to  rebel  accounts  only  a  part  of  Jackson's 
army  was  at  this  battle.  Ewell  with  some  5,000  men 
was  left  to  check  Fremont's  advance,  while  Jackson 
with  his  main  body  purposed  to  march  to  Port  Repub. 
lie,  cross  the  river,  defeat  Shields,  and  then  rejoining 
Ewell  to  fight  with  Fremont. 


soon  became  general,  and  was  fiercely 
contested  for  several' hours.  Without 
going  into  details,  we  may  mention 
that,  along  our  whole  line,  the  artillery 
was  served  with  great  vigor  and  preci 
sion,  and  the  final  driving  of  the  rebels 
back  was  largely  due  to  its  effect. 
Fremont's  forces  encamped  that  night 
on  the  field  of  battle,  with  the  expecta 
tion  of  renewing  the  fight  at  any  mo 
ment.  The  night,  however,  passed 
without  further  conflict,  and  in  the 
morning  the  march  against  the  enemy 
was  renewed,  when  they  were  found  to 
be  in  full  retreat  for  Port  Kepublic, 
five  miles  distant,  where  the  bridge  is 
by  which  the  south  fork  of  the  Sheuan- 
doah  is  crossed. 

The  loss  on  both  sides  was  severe. 
Fremont  estimated  his  loss  at  125  kill 
ed,  and  500  wounded.  The  rebels  give 
300  as  the  number  of  their  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  asserting  at  the 
same  time,  with  singular  untruthful- 
ness,  that  "  they  (the  Unionists),  stated 
their  loss  to  be  2,000." 

Jackson's  position  was  now  somewhat 
critical.  He  must  secure  the  bridge 
over  the  Shenandoah,  nullify  Fremont's 
further  efforts  by  destroying  all  means 
of  crossing  the  river,  and  then  defeat 
and  drive  back  Shields  from  Port  Re 
public.  Jackson's  main  body  arrived 
opposite  Port  Republic  on  the  night  of 
Saturday,  June  7th,  and  the  next 
morning  he  ascertained  that  Shields's 
advance  was  rapidly  approaching  the 
town.  Col.  Carroll,  with  his  brigade 
of  about  1,600  men,  soon  after 
appeared,  and  his  cavalry,  with 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  dashed  into  the 
towa  and  tcok  position  at  the  southern 


1§62. 


174 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


entrance  of  the  bridge.*  Most  unfortu 
nately,  Cajroll  did  not,  or  could  not, 
immediately  set  to  work  to  destroy  the 
bridge,  and  thus  cut  off  Jackson's  only 
mode  of  escape.  The  astute  rebel  com 
mander  took  steps  at  once  to  secure 
this  important  bridge.  He  ordered  a 
large  force,  on  Sunday,  June  8th,  to 
charge  directly  upon  Carroll's  men 
holding  the  bridge  ;  this  was  done,  and 
our  troops  were  driven  back  some  two 
miles.  Being  reinforced  by  Tyler's 
brigade,  making  our  force  about  3,000 
in  all,  a  spirited  stand  was  made,  and 
the  next  morning  the  battle  of  Port 
Republic  was  fought,  one  of  the  most 
sanguinary  of  the  war.  The  rebel 
troops  largely  outnumbered  ours  ;  they 
charged  fiercely  upon  our  men ;  after  a 
terrible  conflict  and  loss  of  life,  they 
captured  the  chief  battery ;  and  they 
finally  succeeded  in  compelling  Tyler 
to  retreat  to  the  main  body  of  Shields's 
division  up  the  valley. 

Fremont,  meanwhile,  followed  Jack- 
sou  and  his  retreating  force.  Ewell, 
having  clone  his  work,  as  above  stated, 
viz.,  kept  Fremont  in  check  at  Cross 
Keys,  on  Sunday,  June  8th,  rejoined 
Jackson,  and  the  entire  rebel  army 

*  Esten  Cooke  tells  a  curious  and  marvellous  story 
in  regard  to  the  hero  of  his  book.  It  appears,  that 
when  our  cavalry  and  artillery  had  taken  possession  of 
the  bridge  over  the  Shenandoah,  Jackson  and  his  staff 
were  on  the  south  side,  his  army  being  on  the  north 
side.  Jackson's  audacity  alone  saved  his  being  caught. 
Cooke  says  :  "  He  rode  toward  the  bridge,  and  rising 
in  his  stirrups,  called  sternly  to  the  Federal  officer 
commanding  the  artillery  placed  to  sweep  it :  '  Who 
ordered  you  to  post  that  gun  there,  sir  ?  Bring  it  over 
here !' "  Mr.  Cooke  goes  on  to  say,  that  this  remark 
able  specimen  of  an  officer  actually  bowed,  limbered  up 
the  piece  and  prepared  to  move.  Jackson  and  his  staff 
seized  the  lucky  moment,  and  dashed  across  the  bridge 
before  the  gun  could  be  brought  to  bear  to  any  effect 
upon  them. 


crossed  the  Shenandoah  on  Monday 
morning.  Fremont,  just  too  late,  reach 
ed  the  river  during  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  June  9th ;  the  bridge  was 
destroyed  ;  and  any  attempt  at  further 
pursuit  was  useless.*  The  campaign 
was  ended.  There  was  nothing  left 
now  for  Fremont  but  to  retire,  which 
he  did  almost  immediately,  to  Mount 
Jackson,  and  subsequently  to  Middle- 
town.  Gen.  Shields  also  fell  back  to 
New  Market. 

It  is  rather  mortifying  to  be  compel 
led  to  confess  it,  yet  it  is  evident  that 
Jackson  outgeneralled  the  distinguished 
Union  commanders  who  were  in  pur 
suit  of  Mm,  and  obtained  advantages 
for  the  pj)el  cause  of  incalculable  value. 
"  Without  gaming  a  single  tactical  vic 
tory  Jackson  had  yet  achieved  a  great 
strategic  victory,  for  by  skilfully  man 
oeuvring  15,000  men,  he  succeeded  in 
neutralizing  a  force  of  60,000.  It  is 
not  perhaps  too  much  to  say  that  he 
saved  Richmond."  f  Esten  Cooke, 
speaking  of  the  closing  contest  at  Port 
Republic,  says :  "  It  was  the  final  and 
decisive  blow  struck  at  the  Federal 
campaign  in  the  valley.  It  crushed,  in 
exorably,  in  a  few  short  hours,  the 
hopes  and  aspirations  of  the  two  leaders 
who  had  so  long  and  persistently  fol 
lowed  Jackson.  It  disembarrassed  the 
confederate  commander  of  his  adversa 
ries  in  that  direction,  and  enabled  him 


*  "  Fremont  appeared  on  the  northern  bank  of  the 
Shenandoah,  and  is  said  to  have  been  furious  at  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  been  outwitted  and  Gen. 
Shields  defeated.  The  bridge  had  been  burned,  and  as 
the  Shenandoah  was  greatly  swollen,  it  was  utterly 
impossible  for  Gen.  Fremont  to  come  to  the  assistance 
of  his  coadjutor." — Cooke's  "  Life  of  Jackson,"  p.  191. 

f  Swinton's  "  Campaigns  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,"  p.  128. 


Cn.  XV.] 


GENERAL  MITCIIEL'S  MOVEMENTS. 


175 


to  make  his  swift  march  against  the 
rio-lit  flank  of  Gen.  McClellan  on  the 

o 

Chickahoiniuy,"  (see  p.  165).  Fremont, 
in  an  address  to  his  troops,  endeavored 
to  make  the  most  of  what  had  been 
done  by  them ;  but  it  was  rather  use- 
Jess  under  the  circumstances.  Though 
they  had  punished  the  rebels  severely 
on  the  road,  yet  they  had  missed  catch 
ing  and  making  prisoners  of  Jackson 
and  his  men. 


Various  changes   at  this  time  were 

o 

made.     On  the  20th  of  June,  Gen.  Pope 
called    to   the   command    of  the 


was 


Army  of  Virginia,  including  Fremont's, 
Banks's,  and  McDowell's  corps.  Un 
willing,  for  various  reasons  relating  to 
military  etiquette,  and  the  like,  to  be 
placed  in  this  subordinate  position, 
Fremont  requested  to  be  relieved  from 
his  command,  and  his  resignation  was 
accepted. 


CHAPTER    XVI 


1862. 


MITCHEL  IX  TENNESSEE :  EVACUATION  OF  CORINTH :  FORT  PILLOW,  AND  MEMPHIS. 

Ualleck  at  Pittsburg  Landing  —  Beauregard  at  Corinth  —  Mitcliel's  movements  —  Starts  southerly  with  10,000 
men  to  cut  railroad  communications  of  rebels  —  March  towards  Huntsville  —  Place  taken  by  surprise  — 
Effective  strategy  of  Mitchel  —  Enemy's  efforts  against  him  —  Bridge  over  the  Tennessee  at  Decatur  destroyed 
—  Affair  at  Bridgeport  —  Crossing  of  the  Tennessee  secured  —  Mitchel  not  reinforced  —  Effect  —  Halleck 
prepares  to  advance  against  Beauregard  —  State  of  the  troops  —  Large  army  gathered  —  Distinguished 
officers  —  Advance  of  the  army  —  Slow  progress  on  account  of  roads,  nature  of  the  country,  etc.  —  Siege 
determined  upon  —  Affair  at  Farmington  —  Progress  of  the  siege  —  Corinth  evacuated  by  Beauregard,  May 
29th  —  Halleck's  dispatch  —  Colonel  Elliott  sent  to  Booncville  —  Success  —  False  charge  against  him  — 
Sherman's  congratulatory  address  —  Beauregard  pursued  by  our  men  -r-  Hallcck's  statement  of  Pope's  doings 
—  Beauregard  resents  it  —  Pope  and  Halleck  leave  the  West  —  Cumberland  Gap  —  Com.  Foote  sets  out  to 
attack  Fort  Pillow  or  Wright  —  Capt.  Davis  takes  command  —  Rebel  attack  upon  our  flotilla  —  Result  in  our 
favor  —  Fort  Pillow  abandoned  by  rebels  —  Col.  Ellet  with  his  rams  in  advance  —  Arrives  near  Mempn.. 
Naval  battle  on  the  6th  of  June  at  Memphis  —  Lasted  an  hour  or  more  —  Rebels  defeated  —  Memphis  sur 
renders  —  Position  of  affairs  in  Arkansas  —  Expedition  up  th«  White  River  —  Batteries  taken —  Curtis's  expe 
dition  to  mouth  of  Arkansas  River —  Success  —  Troops  at  Helena —  Curtis  leaves  the  department. 


TURNING  our  attention  again  to 
operations  in  the  West  and  South,  we 
resume  the  narrative  at  an  interesting:; 

o 

point.  It  will  be  recollected  that  early 
in  April  (see  p.  14G),  the  hotly  contest 
ed  battle  of  Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Land 
ing  was  fought,  with  important  results, 
both  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and  the 
weakening  the  rebellion.  Gen.  Halleck, 

O  / 


j  towards  the  close  of  the  month,  ar 
rived  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  took 
command  of  the  army,  which  number 
ed  at  that  time  over  100,000  men. 
Beauregard  had  retreated  to  Corinth,  a 
village  in  Northern  Mississippi,  some 
twenty  miles  from  the  battle- 

J  .  1862. 

ground  at  Shiloh.    Situated  at 

the  junction  of  the    Mobile   and  Ohio 


176 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


and  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroads, 
it  was  a  point  of  strategic  value  which 
required  to  be  secured  as  speedily  as 
possible  by  our  army.  Nashville,  on  the 
one  hand,  was  endangered  so  long  as 
the  rebels  held  Corinth  ;  on  the  other 
hand,  while  this  state  of  things  existed, 
operations  against  Memphis  could  not 
be  undertaken  to  any  purpose.  Halleck, 
therefore,  saw  at  once  that  he  must 
give  this  matter  his  earliest  attention. 

Previously  to  this,  however,  and  as 
greatly  assisting  the  purposes  of  Hal 
leck,  we  must  note  the  active  and 
energetic  movements  of  Gen.  Mitchel. 
This  noble  specimen  of  a  loyal  general 
had,  on  the  departure  of  Buell  from 
Nashville,  (March  28th,)  proceeded  with 
his  division  of  about  10,000  men,  by 
the  direct  southerly  line  towards  the 
main  stations  of  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad,  in  Northern  Ala 
bama.  The  valuable  points  of  the 
route  in  this  direction  were  at  Steven 
son  or  Bridgeport,  on  the  east,  and  De- 
catur  on  the  west,  at  each  of  which 
places  the  line  crossed  the  Tennessee 
River  in  its  winding  course.  With  the 
destruction  of  the  two  bridges,  the 
communication  of  the  rebels  with  the 
eastward  would  be  effectually  stopped. 
As  the  enemy  had  destroyed  extensively 
the  railroad  and  other  bridges  on  the 

o 

line  of  his  march,  and  as  it  was  neces 
sary  to  keep  open  communication  for  ob 
taining  supplies,  Mitchel's  force  was 
employed,  as  he  proceeded,  in  recon 
structing  the  bridges.  Having  built 
1,200  feet  of  heavy  bridging  in  ten  days, 
he  reached  Shelbyville,  on  the  9th  of 
April,  fifty-seven  miles  from  Nashville 
and  about  the  same  distance  from 


Huntsville,    Alabama.      Usinsr   extra- 

/  ^ 

ordinary  activity,  and  with  the  hearty 
co-operation  of  his  men,  Mitchel,  in 
two  days'  march,  arrived,  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  10th  of  April,  within  about 
ten  miles  of  Huntsville.  Preparations 
were  made  with  great  care  to  capturo 
the  city  before  the  morning  dawned. 
By  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
whole  column  was  in  motion,  advanc 
ing  silently  but  rapidly,  and  not  long 
after  they  marched  into  the  city.  The 
greatest  consternation  prevailed;  men, 
women  and  children  were  suddenly 
roused  out  of  their  sleep,  to  find  the 
dreaded  and  hated  u  Yankees1'  in  pos 
session.  For  a  time  the  excitement  is 
said  to  have  been  indescribable. 

On  the  llth  of  April,  Mitchel  tele 
graphed  to  the  war  department  his 
brilliant  success  in  "  cutting  the  great 
artery  of  railroad  communication  in  the 
southern  states."  Stevenson  and  Deca- 
tur  were  both  entered  the  next  day. 
The  bridge  at  the  latter  place,  which 
had  been  set  on  fire  by  the  rebels,  was 
saved.  From  Decatur,  our  troops  ad 
vanced  by  the  road  and  occupied  Tus- 
cumbia.  Hence,  "in  three  days,'-'  as 
Mitchel  said  in  an  address  to  his  sol 
diers,  on  the  16th  of  April,  "  you  have 
extended  your  front  of  operations  more 
than  120  miles,  and  your  morning  gun 
at  Tuscumbia  may  now  be  heard  by 
your  comrades  on  the  battle-field  re 
cently  made  glorious  by  their  victory 
before  Corinth." 

The  extension  of  Mitchel's  lines  in 
order  to  hold  the  railroad,  rendered  his 
situation  somewhat  precarious.  The 
enemy  began  to  gather  in  force  and 
threaten  him  at  various  points.  Colo- 


CH.  XVI.] 


MITCHEL'S  VALUABLE  SERVICES. 


177 


1§62. 


uel  Turchin  lield  Tuscumbia  till  the 
24th  of  April,  when  he  retired  to 
Jonesborough,  a  station  on  the  railroad 
near  Decatur,  in  the  face  of  a 
strong  body  of  the  rebels,  ad 
vancing  from  the  direction  of  Corinth. 
It  was  the  enemy's  expectation  to  cap 
ture  a  large  quantity  of  supplies  —  a 
100,000  rations—  sent  by  Halleck,  by 
way  of  Florence,  a  few  miles  distant 
on  the  Tennessee  River,  under  convoy 
of  a  gun  boat.  A  considerable  portion 
of  these  was  burned,  the  rest  was 

saved.       Turchin   crossed    the   bridge 

~ 

over  the  Tennessee  at  Decatur.  Tt  was 
a  costly  structure,  2,200  feet  in  length, 
and  while  it  was  burning,  the  rebel 

O' 

cavalry  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank. 
As  this  was  the  only  crossing  of  the 
Tennessee  east  of  Florence  and  above 
the  head  of  navigation,  and  west  of 
Bridgeport  near  Chattanooga,  its  des 
truction  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  rebel 
purposes  in  that  quarter. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  Decatur  being 
evacuated,  our  troops  returned  to  Huuts- 
ville,  and  hastened  to  Bridgeport,  where 
the  rebels  were  now  making  a  stand  at 
the  bridge.  Col.  Sill  with  the  advance 
brigade,  crossed  the  creek  beyond 
Stevenson  by  means  of  cotton  bales  and 
planks  fastened  together.  He  was  joined 
by  Lytle's  brigade,  and  on  the  29th  of 
April,  Mitchel  took  command  in  per 
son.  Having  ascertained  the  position 
of  affairs,  he  ordered  an  attack  upon  the 
enemy  and  drove  them  back  upon  the 
Bridgeport  road.  They  attempted  to 
blow  up  the  bridge,  but  failed,  and  our 
men  secured  its  possession.  Having 
now  control  of  the  crossings  of  the 
river  from  Chattanooga  westwardly,  the 


whole  length  of  his  line,  with  communi 
cation  by  railroad,  while  the  only 
enemy  to  be  apprehended  were  on  the 
southern  side  of  the  river,  Mitchel 
closed  his  report  to  the  secretary  of 
war,  under  date  of  May  1st,  saying : 
"  This  campaign  is  ended,  and  I  now  oc 
cupy  Huntsville  in  perfect  security, 
while  in  all  of  Alabama,  north  of  the 
Tennessee  River,  floats  no  flag  but  that 
of  the  Union." 

During  the  month  of  May,  several 
expeditions  were  sent  out  by  Mitchel 
against  the  enemy,  and  did  good  ser 
vice  ;  but  the  want  of  reinforcements, 
none  of  which  were  sent  to  him,  pre 
vented  Mitchel  accomplishing  very  im 
portant  results ;  such  as  securing  and 
keeping  possession  of  Chattanooga,  ad 
vancing  to  Gunther's  Landing,  and 
thence  proceeding  to  Rome,  in  the  north 
western  part  of  Georgia,  and  destroying 
the  large  and  valuable  foundries  aixl 
armories  of  the  rebels  there.  Blows 
like  these  would  have  told  with  terrible 
severity  upon  the  insurgents,  and  had 
the  government  promptly  furnished 
Mitchel  with  the  men  necessary,  he 
would  almost  certainly  have  hastened 
on  the  doom  of  rebellion.  As  it  was, 
after  various  encounters  during  May 
and  June,  our  troops  were  compelled  to 
retire  from  the  outposts  of  which  they 
had  so  resolutely  taken  possession,  yet 
were  not  able  to  continue  to  hold.* 

While    Mitchel    was   thus    cutting 
off  the   rebels   at  Corinth   from   their 


*  Gen.  Mitchel  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  major- 
general  of  volunteers.  In  July,  1862,  lie  was  relieved 
of  his  command,  Gen.  Rousseau  succeeding  him  ;  on 
the  17th  of  September  following,  he  was  appointed 
commander  of  the  department  of  the  south,  where  lie 
was  making  preparations  for  the  campaign,  when  he 
fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow  fever. 


,  TV—  23 


178 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


1*62. 


eastern  communication,  Halleck  was 
busily  engaged  in  making  his  prepara 
tions  for  an  advance  on  Beauregard  at 
Corinth.  The  troops  were  not  in  the 
best  condition,  many  of  them  being  sick 
and  suffering  from  exposure  in  the  late 
series  of  battles.  Halleck,  therefore, 
sent  for  Pope  and  his  men  at  New 
Madrid  (p.  143),  and  summoned  avail 
able  forces  from  every  portion  of  his 
wide  department.  The  army  being  thus 
strengthened  and  re-organized,  Halleck 
gave  orders,  April  27th,  that  it  should 
hold  itself  in  readiness  for  immediate 
movement.  Pope,  with  his 
division,  was  on  the  left,  Buell 
held  the  centre,  and  Grant,  with  his 
force,  was  on  the  right.  Besides  these, 
there  were  other  distinguished  officers, 
holding  different  positions  under  Hal 
leck,  such  as  Gens.  W.  T.  Sherman, 
Thomas,  McClernand,  Lewis  Wallace, 
J.  C.  Davis,  etc.  The  entire  army  oc 
cupied  a  semi-circular  line  of  six 
miles,  and  numbered  over  100,000 
men.  The  force  of  the  rebels  was 
estimated  to  be  about  the  same  in 
number.* 

On  the  29th  of  April,  the  army  be 
gan  its  advance,  gradually  but  steadily. 
Day  after  day,  a  division  or  brigade 
moved  forward,  and  our  outposts  were 
extended.  Gen.  Sherman  took  posses 
sion  of  Monterey,  May  1st,  a  place 
about  midway  between  Pittsburg 


*  Beauregard's  real  anxiety  at  the  state  of  things  in 
the  South  was  shown  in  a  brief  address  to  the  planters, 
published  in  the  Memphis  papers,  April  27th :  "  The 
casualties  of  war  have  opened  the  Mississippi  to  our 
enemies.  The  time  has  therefore  come  to  test  the 
earnestness  of  all  classes,  and  I  call  on  all  patriotic 
planters  owning  cotton  in  the  possible  reach  of  our 
enemies  to  apply  the  torch  to  it  without  delay  or  hesi 
tation." 


Landing  and  Corinth.  A  few  days 
previously,  the  rebels  at  Purdy,  some 
twenty  miles  west  of  Pittsburg  Laud 
ing  were  dislodged,  and-  the  railroad 
bridge  connecting  Corinth  with  Jackson 

O  O 

was  destroyed. 

Halleck  continued  his  advance  steadi 
ly  toward  Corinth,  and  on  the  3d  of 
May  was  within  about  eight  miles  of 
the  beleaguered  city.  His  army  now 
amounted  to  108,000  men ;  the  forces 
in  the  field  were  newly  organized ; 
the  command  of  the  army  corps  on  the 
right  was  given  to  Thomas ;  Buell  con 
tinued  to  hold  the  centre,  Pope  the  left, 
while  the  reserve  was  assigned  to  Mc 
Clernand.  Grant  was  second  in  com 
mand  under  Halleck.  From  the  nature 
of  the  ground,  the  roads  were  in  a 
wretched  condition ;  progress  was  slow 
and  toilsome;  and  Halleck  moved 
cautiously.  His  plan  was  to  approach 
the  works  on  the  front  by  regular  siege, 
securing,  as  he  advanced,  all  available 
points,  and  send  out  movable  forces  to 
cut  the  railroads  on  the  enemy's  flank 
and  rear. 

Pope  advanced  his  forces  on  the  left, 
some  ten  miles,  by  extraordinary  ex 
ertions,  and  ordered,  May  3d,  a  recon 
naissance  towards  Farmington,  a  com 
manding  position,  four  miles  to  the  east 
of  Corinth,  on  the  edge  of  the  swamp. 
The  rebels  were  found  to  be  between 
four  and  five  thousand  in  numbers,  with 
artillery  and  cavalry,  occupying  a  strong 
position  near  the  town.  They  were 
driven  out  by  assault;  on  the  9th, 
the  rebels  retook  the  town ;  but  a 
few  days  afterwards  they  were  again 
expelled. 

Halleck    commenced    regular    siege 


CH.  XVI.] 


BEAUREGARD  EVACUATES  CORINTH. 


179 


operations,  on  the  20tb  May,*  investing 
Corinth  on  the  north  and  east  at  about 
four  miles  distant,  the  interval  being 
gradually  narrowed  by  second  and 
third  parallels,  until  our  forces,  on  the 
27th,  well  protected  with  batteries  and 
heavy  guns  were  within  1,300  yards  of 
the  rebel  works.  On  the  28th,  a  gene, 
ral  reconnaissance  was  made,  feeling  the 
enemy's  position,  and  unmasking  his 
batteries. 

The  next  morning,  Pope  opened  his 
heavy  batteries  upon  the  enemy's  en 
trenchments,  and  soon  drove  them  from 
their  advanced  battery.  Sherman 
established  another  battery  in  the  after 
noon  of  the  same  day,  within  1,000 
yards  of  the  rebel  works,  f  and  skir 
mishing  parties  were  sent  out  at  day 
break  the  next  morning.  On  the  30th 
of  May,  Halleck  communicated  several 
times,  by  dispatch,  with  Washington, 
fctating  that  the  rebels  had  fallen  back 
i;o  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Kailroad ;  that 
our  advanced  guard  was  in  Corinth; 
that  the  enemy's  works  were  very 
strong  in  front  of  the  town  ;  that  they 
had  destroyed  an  immense  amount  of 
public  and  private  property,  stores,  pro 
visions,  etc. ;  and  that  some  2,000  pri- 
joners  and  deserters  had  been  captured. 

On  the  same  day  that  Corinth  w^as. 
evacuated,  an  expedition,  under  Col. 
Elliott,  was  sent  by  Pope  to  Boonesville, 

*  On  the  13th  of  May,  Halleck  issued  an  order,  en 
joining  commanders  of  army  corps  and  divisions  "  to 
eee  that  their  camps  are  cleared  of  all  unauthorized 
hangers  on,"  under  the  severest  of  penalties.  The 
newspaper  correspondents  protested  publicly  against 
this,  but  Halleck  was  not  to  be  moved ;  he  had  suffer 
ed  from  spies,  and  he  would  have  no  civilians  of  any 
Bort  in  the  camp. 

f  For  various  interesting  and  valuable  details,  see 
Gen  Sherman's  official  report,  quoted  in  Duyckinck's 
"  War  for  the  Union,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  440-443. 


on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad.  By 
forced  marches,  he  reached  the  place, 
and  destroyed  the  track  both  south  and 
north  of  the  town,  together  with  the 
depot,  locomotives,  cars,  supplies,  etc. 
The  enemy's  attempts  to  prevent  his 
movement  were  wholly  unsuccessful.* 
On  the  30th  of  May,  Sherman  issued 
a  congratulatory  order  to  his  troops, 
which,  which  among  other  things,  point 
ed  out  unsparingly  how  far  short  the 
enemy  had  fallen  of  their  boastful  and 
defiant  proclamations,  in  hastily  leaving 
Corinth,  as  they  did.  "The  whole 
country  from  Richmond  to  Memphis, 
and  Nashville  to  Mobile,  runs:  writh  their 

7  O 

taunts   and   boasting  as  to  how  they 
would  immolate  the  Yankees  if  they 
dared  to  leave  the  Tennessee  River.  .  . 
.  .  .  We  yesterday  marched  unopposed 
through  the  burning  embers  of  their 
destroyed  camps  and  property,  and  pur 
sued  them  to  their  swamps,  until  burn 
ing  bridges  plainly  confessed  that  they 
had  fled  and  not  marched  away  for  bet 
ter  ground." 

The  pursuit  of  the  enemy  was  imme 
diate  and  active.  The  cavalry  were 
especially  diligent.  Gen.  Granger  left 
Farmington,  May  30th,  on  the  Boone- 
ville  road,  and  the  same  day  came  up 
with  the  rebel  rearguard  atTuscumbia 

*  Col.  Elliott  was  charged  by  Beauregard  with 
cruelly  destroying  four  sick  persons  in  a  building  he 
fired  at  Boonesville.  Gen.  Granger,  who  led  the  pur 
suit  from  Corinth  with  a  body  of  cavalry,  pronounced 
the  charge  an  infamous  falsehood.  He  stated  that 
Col.  Elliott  found  2,000  sick  and  convalescent,  who 
were  in  a  most  shocking  condition ;  the  dead  and  the 
dying  lying  side  by  side  ;  neither  surgeons  nor  nurses  , 
and  without  water  or  food  for  more  than  a  day.  Col. 
Elliott  had  them  all  removed  to  places  of  safety,  by 
his  own  men,  and  then  set  fire  to  the  depot  and  cars 
(26  in  all),  as,  said  Gen.  Granger,  can  be  proved  by 
hundreds  of  witnesses. 


180 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


Creek,  eight  miles  south  of  Corinth.  The 

retreat  and  pursuit  were  continued  for 

several  days,  with  sharp  skirmishing  at 

various  points.     Halleck  wrote 

1  fif£t) 

to  the  secretary  of  war,  June 
4th,  that  Pope,  with  40,000  men, 
was  thirty  miles  south  of  Corinth,  push 
ing  the  enemy  hard,  and  that  he  re 
ported  already  10,000  prisoners  and 
deserters  from  the  enemy,  and  15,000 
stand  of  arms  captured.* 

On  the  10th  of  June,  Baldwin  and 
Guntown  were  occupied  by  our 
troops,  and  further  pursuit  was 
given  up.  The  rebels  fell  back  to 
Tupello,  some  fifty  miles  by  railroad 
from  Corinth.  Buell  remained  in  Cor 
inth  till  the  10th  of  June,  when  he 
moved  along  the  line  of  railroad  to 
wards  Chattanooga.  Soon  after,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  move  on  Louis 
ville,  in  order  to  counteract  Bragg's  de 
signs  in  Kentucky.  Grant  with  his 
army  occupied  the  line  of  West  Ten 
nessee  and  Mississippi,  from  Memphis 
to  luka,  protecting  the  railroads  from 
Columbus  south,  which  were  at  that 
time  their  only  channels  of  supply. 
Toward  the  close  of  June,  Pope  left  the 
West  to  take  command  in  Virginia. 
Halleck  also  resigned  command  of  his 
department  in  July,  and  on  the  23d,  by 
order  of  the  president,  assumed  the 
duties  of  general-in-chief  of  the  army  of 
the  United  States.  Cumberland  Gap 


*  Beauregard  calls  Pope  a  lying  braggart,  and 
affirms  that  he  must  have  dreamed,  or  worse,  when  he 
said  he  had  taken  10,000  prisoners  and  15,000  stand  of 
wms.  Beauregard  declares  that  less  than  200  prison 
ers  or  stragglers,  and  some  500  damaged  muskets  were 
all  that  Pope  got.  The  arithmetic  of  the  generals  is 
curiously  at  fault  in  this ;  10,000  versus  200 ;  15,000 
versus  500. 


was  occupied  by  Gen.  G.  W.  Morgan, 
on  the  18th  of  June,  and  held  by  him 
until  the  autumn,  when,  Kentucky 
being  invaded,  he  was  compelled  to 
retire. 

Commodore  Foote,  who  had  done 
excellent  service  at  Island  No.  10  (p. 
143),  left  New  Madrid,  April  12th,  and 
proceeded  down  the  Mississippi  with 
his  mortar  boats  and  transports  follow 
ing.  His  purpose  was  to  attack  Fort 
Pillow  or  Wright,  which  was  situated 
at  the  Chickasaw  Bluff,  near  Islands 
Nos.  33  and  34,  and  about  seventy 
miles  above  Memphis.  A  combined 
attack  was  purposed  to  be  made  by 
Foote  with  Pope's  aid,  but  the  latter 
was  called  away,  as  we  have  seen  (p. 
178)  to  assist  in  operations  against 
Corinth.  The  fleet  remained,  however, 
watching  the  enemy,  with  almost  daily 
firing  on  and  from  the  fort ;  Commodore 
Foote,  who  was  suffering  from  a  severe 
wound  received  at  Donelson,  was  re 
lieved  of  his  command,  May  9th,  by 
Captain  C.  H.  Davis. 

On  the  following  morning,  the  rebel 
gun  boats  and  ram  made  an  attack 
upon  our  flotilla,  lying  at  the  time  tied 
up  to  the  bank,  three  on  the  eastern 
and  four  on  the  western  side  of  the 
-river.  The  ram  advanced  to  run  down 
the  gun  boat  Cincinnati,  Capt.  K.  N. 
Stembel,  giving  her  a  severe  blow  on 
the  starboard  quarter,  and  apparently 
uninjured  by  the  broadsides  of  the  gun 
boat.  The  engagement  became  general. 
The  ram  succeeded  in  damaging  the 
Cincinnati  so  greatly  that  she  soon  after 
sunk.  The  other  vessels  did  excellent 
service.  After  an  hour  at  close  quar 
ters,  one  of  the  rebel  boats  being  sunk 


CH.  XVI] 


CAPTURE  OF  MEMPHIS. 


181 


1SG2. 


and  two  being  blown  up,  the  enemy  re 
tired  hastily  and  in  bad  condition  under 
the  guns  of  the  fort.  Capt.  Sternbel 
was  dangerously  wounded,  our  total 
loss  consisting  in  four  wounded. 

The  fleet  now  took  a  nearer  position, 
and  were  preparing  to  make  a  vigorous 
attack  upon  Fort  Pillow,  when  it  was 
found  that,  on  the  night  of  the  4th  of 
June,  the  fort  was  evacuated. 
The  operations  of  Halleck  be 
fore  Corinth,  and  the  evacuation  of 
that  place,  had  compelled  the  with 
drawal  of  the  rebel  forces  from  their 
advantageous  position  at  Fort  Pillow. 
The  works  here  were  of  the  most  for 
midable  and  extensive  character ;  but 
the  rebels  had  left  nothing  which  they 
could  destroy,  when  they  fled  down  the 
river  towards  Memphis. 

Lieut.-Col.  Ellet,  with  a  fleet  of 
rams,  led  the  advance,  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy.  At  Fort  Randolph,  twelve  miles 
below,  he  caused  the  Union  flag  to  be 
raised,  the  place  being  entirely  aban 
doned,  guns  dismantled,  etc.  Every 
where  cotton  was  seen  floating  on  the 
water,  it  having  been  thrown  into  the 
river  to  prevent  its  capture.  On  the 
5th of  June,  the  squadron  arrived  within 
two  miles  of  Memphis,  and  anchored 
for  the  night,  awaiting  the  decisive 
en  ^  a  Cement  which  was  to  take  place 

o     O  * 

with  the  rebel  gun  boats  the  next  day. 
Soon  after  daylight,  on  the  6th  of 
June,  the  battle  began.  Our  fleet  con 
sisted  of  five  gun  boats,  Capt.  Davis  in 
command,  together  with  two  of  the 
ram  fleet,  under  Col.  Ellet's  command. 
The  rebels  had  more  vessels,  but  a  less 
number  of  guns  ;  all  of  their  gun  boats 
were  fitted  to  be  used  as  rams  as  well 


as  for  other  purposes.  In  an  hour's 
time,  however,  it  was  plain  that  the 
rebels  were  defeated,  and  that  Memphis 
must  be  given  up  to  the  control  of  the 
United  States  authorities.* 

Captain  Davis  demanded  the  surren 
der  of  the  city,  which  was  ungraciously 
made  by  Mayor  Park.  Col.  Fitch  took 
military  possession,  a  provost  marshal 
was  appointed,  and  the  city  was  as 
quiet  and  orderly  as  could  be  expected, 
under  the  circumstances. 

This  was  the  third  stage  in  the  pro 
gross  down  the  Mississippi,  Memphis 
having  followed  the  fortunes  of  New 
Madrid,  Columbus  and  Fort  Pillow. 
Having  now  the  control  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  as  far  down  as  Vicksburg,  the 
way  was  open  for  our  forces  to  attack 
the  enemy  in  Arkansas,  by  means  of 
the  principal  rivers,  viz.,  the  White 
River,  descending  in  a  south-easterly 
course  from  Missouri,  and  the  Arkansas, 
penetrating  its  central  portions.  The 
battle  at  Pea  Ridge  in  March  (see  p. 
119),  had  given  the  Union  troops  under 
Curtis  a  firm  footing  in  the 
north-western  quarter.  The 
army,  some  14,000  strong,  left  Bates- 
ville,  on  the  upper  wraters  of  White 
River,  on  the  24th  of  June,  with  twenty 
days'  rations,  and  passing  through 
Jacksonport,  Augusta  and  Clarendon, 
by  a  series  of  adventurous  forced  mar- 


*  Col.  Ellet  was  the  only  one  wounded  or  inj  ured  in 
any  way,  in  the  portion  of  the  fleet  under  his  command. 
He  was  shot  by  a  musket  ball  above  the  knee,  which 
was  not  at  first  considered  alarming,  but  proved  fatal. 
He  was  carried  to  Cairo,  where  he  died  on  the  21st  of 
June.  Eminent  for  scientific  attainments,  and  one 
who  had  successfully  carried  to  a  completion  his  long 
cherished  views  as  to  the  value  and  importance  of 
steam  battering  rams,  his  death  was  a  public  loss* 
deeply  to  be  lamented. 


182 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


ches,  arrived  at  Helena,  on  the  Missis, 
sippi  River  on  the  llth  of  July. 

About  the  10th  of  June,  an  expedi 
tion  was  fitted  out  at  Memphis  to  de 
scend  the  Mississippi  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Arkansas,  and  thence  up  to  the 
White  River,  clearing  it  of  obstructions, 
to  Batesville.  The  expedition  consisted 
of  the  gun  boats  St.  Louis,  Lexington, 
Conestoga  and  Mound  City,  under 
Capt.  Kilty's  command,  and  an  Indiana 
regiment  under  command  of  Colonel 
Fitch.  The  fleet  reached  the  mouth  of 
White  River,  170  miles  below  Memphis, 
on  the  14th  of  June,  and,  cautiously 
ascending  the  stream,  on  the  morning 
of  the  17th,  came  upon  the  rebel  works, 
on  a  high  bluff  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Charles, 
about  85  miles  from  the  Mississippi. 
The  Mound  City  and  St.  Louis  received 
the  fire  of  the  first  battery  without  in 
jury  ;  when,  passing  on  to  another  bend 
of  the  stream,  they  encountered  a 
second  battery,  which  proved  of  a  more 
formidable  character.  Col.  Fitch  landed 
two  miles  below,  so  as  to  take  the 
batteries  in  the  rear.  At  this  juncture 
a  shot  from  the  battery  struck  the 
Mound  City  on  the  port  side,  and  pass 
ing  through  the  iron-lined  casemate, 
entered  the  steam  drum. 

The    explosion  and  its  effects  were 
fearful,  large  numbers  being  scalded  to 


death,  and  but  few  escaping  by  plung 
ing  into  the  river  through  the  portholes. 
Meantime,  Col.  Fitch  reached  the  rear 
of  the  upper  battery,  and  carried  the 
works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Six 
field  pieces  and  three  heavy  siege  guns 
were  taken,  together  with  a  number  of 

/  O 

prisoners.  After  the  action  a  part  of 
the  fleet  proceeded  up  the  river,  but 
was  soon  obliged  to  return  by  the  low 
state  of  the  water.  Thus  the  expedi 
tion  was  unsuccessful,  and  failed  to  open 
communication  with  Curtis. 

We  may  mention  in  this  connection, 
that  Curtis,  towards  the  close  of  July, 
started  with  a  body  of  troops  on  tran 
sports  to  look  after  a  rebel  force  under 
Price,  which  it  was  reported  were  cross 
ing  the  Mississippi  between  Napoleon 
and  Vicksburg.  On  the  27th,  he  de 
stroyed  the  steam  ferryboat  at  Napo 
leon,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas 
River,  together  with  16  other  ferry  and 
flat  boats  which  had  been  withdrawn 
up  the  White  River.  The  expedition 
returned  soon  after  to  Helena.  In  Sep 
tember,  Curtis  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Department  of  Mis 
souri,  containing  the  states  of  Missouri 
and  Arkansas  and  the  adjacent  Indian 
Territory.  Helena  continued  to  be  oc 
cupied  by  our  troops,  but  active  milit 
ary  operations  were  suspended.  This 
closed  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Curtis. 


CH.  XVII.] 


STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  IN  NEW  ORLEANS. 


183 


CHAPTEK    XVII. 
1862. 

DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  GULP:  NAVAL  AND  MILITARY  EVENTS   >N  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 

Gen.  Butler  in  New  Orleans  —  State  of  affairs  —  Butler's  proclamation  —  Feeling  of  the  people  —  Proclamation, 
how  printed  —  The  poor  of  the  city — Necessity  of  providing  for  —  General  order  on  the  subject  —  Further 
steps  of  Butler  to  cleanse  the  city,  etc.  —  Mode  of  raising  funds  —  Trouble  with  the  consul  of  the  Nether 
lands  about  $800,000  —  Result  —  Conduct  of  the  women  in  New  Orleans  —  The  famous  order  No.  28  —  Ita 
effect  —  Vile  sense  put  on  the  order  —  Anger  of  the  rebels  and  others  —  Fierce  tirades  —  Execution  of  four 
persons  for  burglary,  etc.  —  Butler's  activity  and  zeal  —  Farragut  on  the  Mississippi  —  Visits  Baton  Rouge 
and  Natchez  —  Arrives  at  Vicksburg — Strength  of  the  place  —  Farragut  passes  the  batteries  —  Butler's 
scheme  for  isolating  Vicksburg  —  Rebel  ram  Arkansas  —  Reaches  Vicksburg  despite  the  fleet  — Farragut 
repasses  the  batteries  and  tries  to  destroy  the  Arkansas  — Baton  Rouge  attacked  by  Breckenridge  in  August 
—  Gen.  Williams  killed  —  Rebels  defeated — Ram  Arkansas  destroyed  near  Baton  Rouge  by  Porter  —  The 
Lafourche  district  —  Expedition  into,  in  October  —  Weitzel's  success  —  Butler  recalled  —  Banks  hia 
successor. 


1862. 


IN  giving  an  account  of  the  capture 
New  Orleans  (see  p.  154,  etc.),  it  was 
stated  that  Gen.  Butler  with  his  forces 
took  possession  of  the  city  on  the  1st 
of  May.  The  position  in  which  he  was 

placed  was  not  one  to  be  envied. 

The  impertinent  language  of 
Mayor  Monroe  to  Commodore  Farragut 
(p.  157),  the  insulting  conduct  of  the 
great  mass  of  the  people,  the  prevalence 
of  mob  rule,  the  wretchedly  reduced, 
almost  starving,  condition  of  the  poorer 
classes,  and  the  malignant,  unquenchable 
hatred  towards  Butler  and  the  United 
States  authority,  which  the  wealthier 
rebels  exhibited,  all  these  afforded  in 
dications,  not  to  be  misunderstood,  that 
it  would  be  no  easy  task  to  maintain 
the  authority  of  the  government  and 
provide  for  the  necessities  of  the  case, 
as  they  were  certain  to  rise.  Evidently, 
it  required  a  man  of  special  qualifica 
tions  to  fill  this  position ;  a  man  of 
nerve  as  well  as  sagacity ;  a  man  quick 


to  act  and  determined  in  his  action ;  a 
man  who  could  and  would  crush  insub 
ordination  or  revolt  at  a  blow ;  and,  at 
the  same  time,  a  man  who  both  knew 
and  would  respect  the  rights  and  privi 
leges  of  all.  Butler  who  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
New  Orleans  being  his  headquarters, 
had  now  an  opportunity  to  prove  his 
fitness  for  ruling  such  a  city  and  its  sur 
roundings  as  was  the  Crescent  City  of 
the  South  iu  May,  1862. 

The  first  step  of  the  commanding 
general  was  to  issue  a  proclamation, 
clearly  stating  the  position  of  affairs, 
and  his  determination  to  restore  order, 
maintain  public  tranquility,  and  enforce 
peace  and  quiet  under  the  laws  and 
Constitution  of  the  United  States.  It 
was  a  business-like  document,  concise, 
and  straightforward  in  its  meaning. 
"  The  sum  and  substance  of  the  whole," 
as  Butler  said,  in  reading  it  at  his  head 
quarters  at  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  to  the 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


mayor  and  several  otbers,  "  is  this :  I 
wish  to  leave  the  municipal  authority 
in  the  full  exercise  of  its  accustomed 
functions.  I  do  not  desire  to  interfere 
with  the  collection  of  taxes,  the  govern 
ment  of  the  police,  the  lighting  and 
cleaning  of  the  streets,  the  sanitary 
laws,  or  the  administration  of  justice. 
I  desire  only  to  govern  the  military 
forces  of  the  department,  and  to  take 
cognizance  only  of  affairs  committed 
by  or  against  them.  Representing  here 
the  United  States,  it  is  my  wish  to  con 
fine  myself  solely  to  the  business  of  sus 
taining  the  government  of  the  United 
States  against  its  enemies.1" 

This  conciliatory  view  of  the  position 
of  affairs  and  of  the  determination  of 
Butler  to  be  the  ruler  in  his  place,  ac 
cording  to  his  ability,  was  by  no  means 
acceptable  to  the  mayor  and  inhabit 
ants  of  New  Orleans.  They  pretended 
to  call  themselves  "  unconquered  ;"  they 
were,  they  said,  merely  submitting  to 
"brute  force;"  they  were  accustomed 
to  having  their  own  way,  and  indulging 
in  riot  and  disorder,  with  the  attendant 
drunkenness  and  street  murderings ; 
they  were,  in  fact,  savage  in  their  fury 
at  being  put  under  constraint,  in  not 
being  allowed  to  insult,  spit  upon,  or 
assassinate  our  men ;  and  in  having  a 
muzzle  put  upon  the  rampant,  seditious 
newspaper  press,  which,  day  by  day, 
was  striving  to  "  fire "  the  southern 
heart. 

In  this  latter  respect,  immediate 
action  was  called  for.  On  sending  to 
the  several  -papers  of  the  city  to  print 
the  proclamation,  they  all  refused ; 
something  must  be  done  at  once ;  the 
gentlemen  owning  and  publishing  news 


papers  must  be  taught  a  salutary  lesson ; 
so  a  guard  was  sent  to  the  office  of  the 
True  Delta;  they  took  possession  of 
the  place,  and  some  half  dozen  of 
their  number  being  printers,  they 
speedily  put  the  proclamation  in  type 
and  printed  it  off.  There  was  no  in 
terference  with  the  office  or  its  affairs, 
except  for  the  business  on  which  they 
came,  and  when  that  was  accomplished 
they  quietly  retired. 

The  most  pressing  duty  which  fell 
upon  Butler  was  to  provide  food  for 
the  starving  population  of  a  city  con 
taining  150,000  inhabitants,  nearly  half 

O  '  *• 

of  whom  knew  not  where  to-morrow's 
bread  was  to  come  from,  or  whether 
to-morrow  might  not  be  actual  starva 
tion.  The  business  of  the  city,  being 
mostly  in  connection  with  the  cotton 
trade,  was  virtually  dead  ;  the  mecha 
nics  and  working  classes  were  without 
occupation ;  the  wealthy  rebels,  with 
hearts  of  stone  as  it  seemed,  would  not 
contribute  one  cent  to  the  relief  of  the 
poor,  but  were  studying  all  the  time 
how  they  might  give  aid  to  rebel  bands 
outside  the  city ;  and  Butler  saw  and 
felt,  that  immediate  action  must  be 
taken ;  the  poor  must  be  fed,  and  the 
rich  must  contribute  towards  doing  it. 
The  weather  was  hut ;  the  streets  were 
extremely  filthy  ;  the  terrible  yellow 
fever  might  soon  be  expected  ;  and  not 
a  day's  delay  could  be  justified.  Hence, 
the  commanding  general,  on  the  9th  of 
May,  issued  a  general  order, 
which  gave  evidence  of  his 
spirit  and  purpose  in  the  existing  state 
of  affairs.  Speaking  in  deservedly 
severe  terms  of  the  hard-heartedness 
of  the  wealthy  rebels,  and  their  indif 


CH.  XVII.] 


BUTLER'S  MUNICIPAL  MEASURES. 


185 


ference  to  the  sufferings  of  the  poor, 
lie  announced  that,  to  the  extent  pos 
sible  within  his  power,  he  would  see 
that  the  hungry  were  fed  and  the  dis 
tressed  relieved  with  provisions.* 

Finding  that  the  city  government 
was  intentionally  neglectful  of  the 
streets  and  the  general  sanitary  condi 
tion  of  the  city,  Butler  determined  to 
take  steps  by  which  the  poor  should 
have  work  and  the  city  be  purified. 
Col.  Thorpe,  appointed  city  surveyor, 
at  once  employed  2,000  men — 1,000 
more  were  afterwards  added — in  sweep 
ing  the  streets,  purging  the  canals,  re 
pairing  the  levee,  removing  nuisances, 
and  in  every  kind  of  work  which  could 
reiader  New  Orleans  clean,  decent  and 
fit  to  live  in,  despite  the  threatened 
yellow  fever,  which,  the  rebels  declared, 
with  much  apparent  satisfaction,  would 
make  short  work  of  their  hated  op 
pressors. 

The  question  immediately  arose, 
where  were  the  funds  to  come  from  to 
support  the  thousands  of  men,  with 
families  dependent  on  them,  thus  set  at 
work  by 'authority  of  the  commanding 
general  2  Butler's  plan  was  bold  and 
ingenious ;  it  was  set  forth  in  a  general 
order,  issued  August  4th,  in  which  he 
declared,  that "  those  who  have  brought 
upon  the  city  this  stagnation  of  busi- 

*  Butler,  desirous  to  do  well  by  the  working  men, 
was  gratified  by  the  result.  Despite  the  impertinent 
protests  of  the  Spanish,  French,  Belgian,  and  one  or 
two  other  consuls,  against  requiring  an  oath  of  allegi 
ance  to  thg  United  States  from  all  who  desired  protec 
tion,  not  less  than  14,000  of  the  bone  and  sinew  of  New 
Orleans  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  within  a  month 
after  Butler's  arrival.  Thirty-five  thousand  persons, 
too,  were  daily  fed,  through  Butler's  management,  of 
whom  only  some  3,000  were  natives,  and  out  of  more 
than  10,000  families  thus  kept  from  starving,  less  than 
one-tenth  were  Americans. 

VOL  TV— 24 


ness,  this  desolation  of  the  hearth  stone, 
this  starvation  of  the  poor  and  help 
less,  should,  as  far  as  they  may  be  able, 
relieve  these  distresses."  Certain  per 
sons,  subscribers  to  the  million  and  a 
quarter  loan,  in  the  hands  of  a  commit 
tee  of  public  safety,  for  rebel  defence 
of  New  Orleans  against  the  United 
States,  were  assessed  in  proportion  to 
their  subscriptions,  this  assessment 
yielding  nearly  $313,000.  Certain  cot 
ton  brokers,  who  had  advised  planters 
not  to  send  cotton  to  New  Orleans, 
were  assessed  $29,000  ;  making  in  all, 
for  this  charitable  necessity,  $342,000.* 
It  appears,  that  there  were  some 
$800,000  in  specie,  at  the  office  Ig62 
of  the  consulate  of  the  Nether 
lands.  On  the  10th  of  May,  Butler 
ordered  the  money  to  be  seized,  on  the 
alleged  ground  that  it  was  placed  there, 
and  held  under  cover  of  a  foreign  con 
sulate,  in  order  to  aid  and  benefit  the 
rebels.  The  consul,  M.  Couturie,  took 
high  ground  as  to  inviolability,  free 
dom  from  search,  and  such  like  ;  but  as 
he  refused  to  give  up  the  key  of  his 
vault  when  it  was  demanded  by  the 
United  States  officer,  it  was  forcibly 
taken  out  of  his  pocket ;  the  vault  was 
opened,  and  there  were  found  to  be, 
beside  a  number  of  other  things  which 
had  no  business  there,  160  kegs,  each 
containing  5,000  Mexican  dollars.  They 
were  removed,  and  placed  the  next  day 
in  the  United  States  mint  building;. 

o 

Immediately  all  the  consuls  in  New 
Orleans  (except  the  Mexican),  nineteen 
in  number,  prepared  a  strong  protest 


*  In  December,  1862,  the  funds  were  exhausted. 
Butler  renewed  his  general  order,  and  the  same  assess 
ments  were  laid  upon  the  same  persons,  much,  we  may 
well  believe,  to  their  indignation  and  disgust. 


186 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  VIII. 


against  Butler's  action,  as  a  violation 

~  i 

of  treaty  rights,  etc.  The  reply  was 
somewhat  sharp  and  decisive  in  tone, 
and  gave  these  gentlemen  to  understand 
that  they  must  mind  their  own  proper 
business,  and  not  undertake  to  give  aid 
in  any  way  to  the  rebel  cause.  M. 
Couturie  wrote  to  Washington,  and  the 

O  / 

Netherlands  minister  made  loud  com 
plaint  as  to  the  indignity  to  which  the 
consul  had  been  subjected ;  whereupon 
Mr.  Seward  sent  the  Hon.  Reverdy 
Johnson  to  New  Orleans,  as  a  special 
commissioner,  to  investigate  the  whole 
matter.  On  his  report  the  money  was 
given  up  to  those  who  claimed  it  as 
foreign  property,  and  Gen.  Butler  had  a 
great  deal  of  trouble  with  very  little 
satisfaction.  The  consuls  generally  in 
New  Orleans  made  themselves  tho 
roughly  disagreeable ;  but  they  soon 
found  that  Butler  was  a  man  who 
would  put  up  with  no  nonsense  or  pro 
clivities  towards  rebellion.* 

The  intensified  bitterness  of  feeling 

o 

on  the  part  of  the  New  Orleans  rebels, 
and  the  daily  mortification  which  came 
upon  their  pride  and  haughty  boast 
ings,  we  have  before  alluded  to.  This 
feeling  cannot,  in  fact,  be  described ;  it 
can  hardly  be  imagined.  Open  acts  of 
violence,  as  they  occurred,  were  prompt 
ly  punished ;  and  the  men  for  the  most 
part,  abusive  as  they  might  show  them 
selves,  had  to  satisfy  their  hatred  by 
mutterings  and  a  sort  of  sullen  black 
guardism.  The  women,  however,  es 
pecially  the  women  in  good  circutn- 


*  Mr.  Parton  gives  a  long  and  interesting  chapter, 
•with  documents,  respecting  the  foreign  consuls  and 
their  conduct  in  New  Orleans.  See  Parton's  "  Gen. 
Butler  in  New  Orleans"  pp.  354-406. 


stances,  the  well  dressed  young  girls, 
the  women  of  old  wealthy  families, 
these  manifested  such  spitefulness  of 
temper,  and  behaved  themselves  to 
wards  our  officers  and  men  in  such 
wise  as  that  it  speedily  became  alto 
gether  intolerable.  No  indignity  that 
could  be  thought  of  by  these  New  Or 
leans  "ladies"  was  left  untried;  such 
as  insulting  gestures,  upturned  noses, 
minute  rebel  flags  on  their  persons,  even 
at  last  spitting  in  the  faces  of  the  Union 
soldiers  and  upon  their  uniforms.  Of 
course,  such  a  state  of  things  could  not 
be  allowed  to  continue ;  it  must  be 
stopped  at  once,  and  that  effectively. 

But  how  to  do  it,  was  not  so  easy  to 
determine.  The  women  could  not  be 
subjected  to  the  same  or  similar  punish 
ments  with  the  men  ;  and  Butler,  after 
considerable  study,  prepared  his  gene 
ral  order,  No.  28,  which,  as  it  became 
somewhat  famous  afterwards,  we  give 
to  the  reader  in  full  :  —  "  As  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  United 
States  have  been  subject  to  repeated  in 
sults  from  the  women  (calling  themsel 
ves  ladies)  of  New  Orleans,  in  return 
for  the  most  scrupulous  non-interference 
and  courtesy  on  our  part,  it  is  ordered, 
that  hereafter,  when  any  female  shall, 
by  word,  gesture,  or  movement,  insult, 
or  show  contempt  for  any  officer  or  sol 
dier  of  the  United  States,  she  shall  be 
regarded,  and  held  liable  to  be  treated, 
as  a  woman  of  the  town  plying  her 
avocation."  That  is,  every  woman  of 
the  town,  behaving  as  every  such  miser 
able  being  does,  was  liable,  according 
to  the  laws  of  New  Orleans,  to  be  ar 
rested,  imprisoned  for  the  night  in  the 
calaboose,  and  next  morning  to  be  fined 


CH.  XVII.  J 


BUTLER'S  FAMOUS  ORDER  No.  28. 


187 


$5  "by  the  magistrate.  No  decent  wo 
man  would  for  a  moment  expose  herself 
to  such  degradation.  Whatever  may 
be  thought  of  Butler's  choice  of  phra 
seology,  the  effect  of  the  order  was 
immediate ;  and  its  success  complete. 
Thenceforward,  the  "  ladies  "  of  New 
Orleans  found  it  best  to  confine  the  evi 
dences  of  their  feelings  of  enmity  with 
in  bounds,  and  to  behave  themselves  in 
the  streets  and  in  public  with  tolerable 
propriety.* 

Unfortunately,  as  it  turned  out,  there 
was  a  bad,  vile  sense  which  could  be 
put  upon  the  language  of  the  latter 
part  of  the  order,  by  such  as  wished  to 
do  so,  as  if  Butler  had  deliberately  or 
dered  his  officers  and  troops  to  commit 
the  grossest  outrage  which  can  be  con 
ceived  of.  The  order  became  famous 
all  over  the  country ;  Mayor  Monroe 
was  immediately  horrified,  and  wrote 
in  the  greatest  haste  to  Gen.  Butler  ;f 
others  joined  with  him,  for  the  purpose 
of  getting  the  order  rescinded ;  which  re 
sulted  in  the  sending  his  Honor,  and 


*  It  deserves  to  be  stated,  in  this  connection,  that  in 
no  instance  was  the  order  misunderstood  on  the  part  of 
the  troops,  and  not  one  arrest  under  Order  No.  28  was 
ever  made. 

f  Butler's  note  addressed  to  the  mayor  requires,  as  a 
matter  of  justice,  to  be  quoted  :— "  Sir— There  can  be, 
there  has  been,  no  room  for  misunderstanding  of  gene 
ral  order  No.  28.  No  lady  will  take  any  notice  of  a 
strange  gentleman,  and  a  fortiori  of  a  stranger,  in  such 
form  as  to  attract  attention.  Common  women  do. 
Therefore,  whatever  woman,  lady  or  mistress,  gentle 
or  simple,  who,  by  gesture,  look  or  word,  insult?,  shows 
contempt  for,  thus  attracting  to  herself  the  notice  of 
my  officers  and  soldiers,  will  be  deemed  to  act  us  becomes 
her  vocation  of  common  woman,  arid  will  be  liable  to 
be  treated  accordingly.  This  was  most  fully  explained 
to  you  at  my  office.  I  shall  not,  as  I  have  not,  abated  a 
single  word  of  that  order  ;  it  was  well  considered.  If 
obeyed,  it  will  protect  the  true  and  modest  woman  from 
all  possible  insult.  The  others  will  take  care  of  them 
selves.  You  can  publish  your  letter  if  you  publish 
this  note,  and  your  apology. " 


others  like  him,  to  Fort  Jackson,  and 
placing  the  city  under  martial  rule. 
Beauregard  seized  upon  the  opportunity 
and  almost  surpassed  himself  in  the 
proclamation  which  he  issued ;  the 
governor  of  Louisiana  discoursed  upon 
so  stirring  a  theme  as  guarding  "  the 
chastity  of  our  women,"  and  "  recoil 
ing  in  horror  from  the  pauderer  to  lust 
and  desecrator  of  virtue;"  in  various 
parts  of  the  North,  Butler  was  sharply 
and  bitterly  criticized ;  and  even  our 
very  neutral  friends  in  England  felt 
bound  to  call  the  order  "  infamous,"  and 
to  sneer  expressively  at  "  the  model 
Republic."* 

On  a  previous  page  (see  p.  157),  we 
mentioned  the  execution  of  Mumford 
for  an  act  of  daring  outrage  upon  the 
United  States  flag,  on  the  27th 
of  April.  The  execution  took 
place  on  the  7th  of  June,  and  it  is  note 
worthy  as  the  first  instance  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  government,  of  a  military 
trial  and  conviction  for  such  an  offence. 
This  severe  meting  out  of  justice  was 
followed,  a  few  days  afterward,  by  the 
execution  of  four  persons,  named  Clary, 
Roy,  Crage  and  Newton.  Clary  had 
been  second  officer  of  a  United  States 
transport,  Crage  had  been  first  officer 
of  the  ship  City  of  New  York,  Newton 
had  been  a  private  in  the  army,  and 
Roy  belonged  to  New  Orleans.  These 
men,  with  several  others,  formed  an  or 
ganized  gang  of  thieves,  who,  under 
pretended  forged  authority  of  Gen.  But- 


1862. 


*  Pollard's  language  is  unusually  violent  about  "  the 
Beast,"  the  "  vulgar  and  drunken  Butler,"  the  "  order 
which  stigmatized  as  prostitutes  the  ladies  of  New  Or 
leans,"  the  infamous  plundering,  lying,  harlotry  and 
the  like,  by  our  officers  and  soldiers,  etc.,  etc.—"  ticcond 
Year  of  me  War,"  pp.  17-21. 


183 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


ler,  and  disguising  themselves  in  uni- 

7  O  O 

forms  of  United  States  soldiers,  entered 
and  searched  various  houses/ and  stole 
all  the  money,  jewelry  and  everything 
else  they  could  lay  hands  upon.  On 
being  arrested,  they  were  tried  and 
convicted,  and  Butler  sentenced  them  be 
hung.  The  sentence  was  carried  into  ex 
ecution  on  the  16th  of  June.  The  effect 
was  salutary  upon  the  minds  of  both  re 
bels  and  Union  men  in  New  Orleans. 

Abating  none  of  his  zeal,  Butler  was 
diligent  in  enforcing  the  confiscation 
act  of  Congress,  July  17th ;  he  seized 
upon  6,000  arms  of  various  descriptions 
in  private  hands ;  and  he  made  numer 
ous  efforts  to  benefit  the  blacks — res 
pecting  whom  the  government  had  not 
yet  adopted  a  definite  line  of  policy 
—by  enlisting  many  of  them  into  the 
United  States  service,  etc.  Outside  of 
the  city,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  de 
partment  of  the  Gulf,  he  strove  to 
accomplish  something;  but  the  lack  of 
reinforcements,  and  the  reverses  to  our 
arms  in  Virginia  during  the  summer,  pre 
vented  his  doing  all  that  he  purposed. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Commo 
dore  Farragut,  immediately  after  the 
capture  of  New  Orleans  and  its  occu 
pation  by  Butler  (see  p.  158),  availed 
himself  of  the  desired  opportunity  to 
advance  up  the  Mississippi.  He  sent 
detachments  of  his  squadron  to  take 
possession  of  the  principal  places,  and 
to  clear  the  way  for  the  opening  of  the 
river  throughout  its  entire  course.  This 
was  to  be  accomplished  by  co-operation 
with  Commodore  Davis,  who  was  ad 
vancing  from  above  Memphis  towards 
Farragut's  fleet  below. 

At  Baton  Rouge,   140  miles  above 


New  Orleans,  the  national  flag  was 
raised,  with  expressions  of  Union  feel 
ings  on  the  part  of  a  portion  of  the  in 
habitants,  and  the  arsenal  and  other 
public  property  were  taken  possession 
of  by  Capt.  Palmer  of  the  Iroquois,  on 
the  8th  of  May.  On  the  12th,  Natchez 
was  visited,  but  as  it  was  a  position  of 
no  military  importance  no  steps  were 
taken  to  occupy  it.  About  a  week 
later.  Commander  Lee,  with  the  advance 
of  the  squadron,  arrived  near  Vicks- 
burg,  and  under  orders  from  Commo 
dore  Farragut  and  Gen.  Butler,  demand 
ed  the  surrender  of  the  place 
and  its  defences.  This  was 
peremptorily  refused  by  the  city  autho 
rities.  Farragut  arrived  shortly  after, 
with  a  body  of  troops  under  General 
Williams,  and  was  followed  by  an  ad 
ditional  naval  and  military  force,  includ 
ing  Porter's  mortar  flotilla,  which  had 
been  withdrawn  from  its  proposed 
theatre  of  operations  on  the  Gulf.  The 
fortifications  at  Vicksburg,  consisting 
of  an  extensive  range  of  batteries  on 
the  heights,  the  town  being  built  on  a 
bluff  rising  to  a  considerable  elevation 
above  the  river,  were  not  very  readily 
to  be  assailed  by  the  guns  of  the  squad 
ron.  In  fact,  the  reduction  of  the  place, 
which  was  capable  of  easy  reinforce 
ment  from  its  railroad  connections  with 
the  interior,  was  speedily  ascertain 
ed  to  be  an  undertaking  of  no  slight 
difficulty.* 


*  Butler's  scheme,  by  which  the  Mississippi  was  to 
be  turned  from  its  course  and  Vicksburg  made  an  in 
land  town,  was  a  failure.  Vicksburg,  it  will  be  re 
membered,  is  situate  opposite  a  peninsula,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  some  three  miles  long  by  a  mile  wide, 
formed  by  the  Mississippi  doubling  on  its  own  course. 
Butler's  plan  was  to  cut  a  canal  across  this  peninsula 
and  persuade  the  river  into  a  hew  channel ;  but  the 


OH.  XVII.] 


DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAM  ARKANSAS. 


189 


Farragut  determined  to  pa§s  the  bat 
teries  at  Vicksburg.  Accordingly,  on 
the  28th  of  June,  he  did  so,  early  in 
the  morning,  and  eight  out  of  the  ten 
vessels  under  orders  reached  a  part  of 
Davis' s  fleet  above,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Yazoo  Biver.  Davis  joined  Farragut 
at  once  above  Vieksburg.  The  rebel 
ram  Arkansas  had  been  carried  up  the 
Yazoo  River  in  May,  and  Col.  Ellet 

went  to  look  after  and  if  possible  de- 

•i 

stroy  her ;  but  he  was  'unsuccessful. 
On  the  loth  of  July,  the  Arkansas, 
completely  iron-clad,  and  with  ten  guns, 
steamed  down  the  Yazoo,  dashed  in 
among  our  gun  boats  and  other  vessels, 
and  finally  arrived  in  safety  under  the 
fortifications  of  Vieksburg. 

Annoyed  at  this,  Farragut  the  same 
evening,  repassed  the  batteries,  intend 
ing  to  bombard  the  Arkansas  in  pass 
ing;  but  the  darkness  prevented  his 
carying  out  his  plan.  As  the  water  in 
the  Mississippi  was  falling,  Farragut 
dropped  down  the  river  and  reached 
New  Orleans,  July  28th.  Davis  sailed 
up  the  river,  and  in  conjunction  with 
Gen.  Curtis,  made  a  successful  expedi 
tion  up  the  Yazoo  River. 

For  the  present,  at  least,  nothing  fur- 
tW  could  be  done  with  Vieksburg,  and 
the  rebels  determined  to  regain  posses 
sion  of  Baton  Rouge.  The  ram  Arkan 
sas  was  to  attack  our  few  gun  boats  at 
the  place,  while  Breckenridge  from 
Camp  Moore  was  to  assault  it  by  land. 
Our  force  at  Baton  Rouge,  at  the  be 
ginning  of  August,  was  weak,  not  more 


soil  of  tough  clay  and  the  low  state  of  the  water  show 
ed  that  the  plan  was  impracticable.  Vieksburg  there 
fore  remained  as  it  was,  a  formidable  rebel  post, 
requiring  iinmense  effort  and  labor  to  subdue. 


than  2,000  effective  men,  Gen.  William's 
being  in  command. 

Aware  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
on  the  4th  of  August,  Gen.  Williams 
placed  his  troops  in  position  outside  the 
town,  and  the  next  morning  the  rebels 
appeared.  The  ram  Arkansas,  having 
repaired  damages,  was  a  short  distance 
above,  expecting  to  take  part  in  the 
encounter.  The  attacking  force  was 
estimated  at  6,000  men ;  Williams  had 
only  about  one-third  that  number  in 
good  condition,  but  many  of  those  on 
the  sick  list  joined  their  comrades  on 
the  field,  and  fought  with  their  accus 
tomed  bravery.  Oar  limits  do  not 
admit  of  giving  details ;  suffice  it  to 
say,  that  for  five  hours,  under  a  blazing 
sun,  the  battle  raged,  and  with  the  aid 
of  the  gun  boats  the  rebels  were  defeat 
ed.  Exhaustion  and  the  intense  heat 
rendered  it  impossible  to  pursue  the 
enemy  to  any  purpose.  Gen.  Williams 
was  killed  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight, 
and  our  entire  loss  was  reported  to  be 
nearly  300. 

The  ram  Arkansas,  part  of  her  ma 
chinery  being  out  of  order,  did  not 
engage  in  the  fight ;  but  the  next  morn 
ing,  Commander  W.  D.  Porter,  in  the 
Essex,  determined  to  make  another 
effort  for  her  destruction.  Accordingly, 
as  he  writes  in  an  off  hand  way  to  Far 
ragut  : — "  This  morning  (August  5th) 
I  steamed  up  the  river ;  and  at  ten  A.M. 
attacked  the  rebel  ram  Arkansas,  and 
blew  her  up.  There  is  not  a  fragment 
of  her  left.  Her  engines  having  given 
way,  the  ram  was  backed  on  shore  and 
set  on  fire,  and  the  crew,  to  the  number 
of  about  200,  escaped." 

The  district  of  Lafourche,  southwest 


190 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


VIII. 


of  New  Orleans,  which  has  been  termed 
the  garden  of  Louisiana,  for  its  richness, 
was  occupied  by  staunch  secessionists, 
who  hated  the  United  States  heartily, 
and  utterly  detested  the  commanding 
general  of  the  Gulf  department  and  his 
doings.  In  the  month  of  May,  Col. 
Kinsman  visited  Lafourche  district,  and 
gave  the  people  significant  warning  of 
what  was  in  store  for  them  if  they  re 
sisted  the  authority  of  the  United 
States.  Col.  Keith,  at  a  later  date,  was 
in  the  same  region,  hunting  after  those 
wretches  known  as  guerrillas,  and  by 
his  promptitude  in  administering  justice, 
repeated  the  warnings  previously  given. 
In  the  latter  part  of  October,  it  was 
determined  by  Gen.  Butler  to  send  an 
expedition  into  this  region  and  bring  it 
directly  under  his  control.  General 
Weitzel  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
forces,  a  brigade  of  infantry  and  the  re 
quisite  artillery  and  cavalry.  By  rapid 
movements,  a  spirited  and  successful 
action  at  Labadieville,  and  some  less  im- 


1862. 


portant  combats,  Weitzel  obtained,  in 
some  four  days,  complete  possession  of 
the  entire  district.  Butler,  with  his  usual 
promptitude,  applied  the  confisca 
tion  act  of  July,  1862,  to  the 
Lafourche  district,  and  by  this,  as  well 
as  other  measures,  caused  the  United 
States  authority  to  be  felt  and  respected 
by  the  inhabitants. 

For  some  reasons  never  made  public, 
but  not  difficult  to  imagine,  the  govern- 

^— ;  O  f  O 

ment  had  cretermined,  early  in  Novem 
ber,  to  recall  Gen.  Butler,  and  place 
Gen.  Banks  in  command,  adding  Texas 
to  the  department  of  the  Gulf.  Butler, 
unaware  of  this,  was  as  busy  as  ever, 
hoping  and  praying  for  reinforcements ; 
but  on  the  evening  of  December  14th, 
Gen.  Banks  arrived  at  New  Orleans, 
and  made  known  to  Butler  that  his 
services  were  no  longer  required  in  the 
department.  On  the  24th,  Butler  left 
New  Orleans  and  returned  to  the  North ; 
Banks  having  entered  upon  his  duties 
on  the  16th  of  December. 


CH.  XVIIL] 


MR.  LINCOLN'S  VIEWS  ON  EMANCIPATION. 


191 


CHAPTEK    XVIII 


1862. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH:  PROCEEDINGS  OP  CONGRESS. 

Hunter  in  command  of  the  department  of  the  South  — Smallness  of  his  force  —  His  proclamation  —  Excitement 
produced  —  Perplexities  of  the  question  —  President' Lincoln's  views  —  Repudiation  of  Hunter's  proclama 
tion —  Treatment  of  the  blacks  —  Robert  Small's  exploit — Subject  of  arming  the  negroes  —  Diversity  of 
opinion  and  action  —  Military  operations  attempted  against  Charleston  —  Some  fighting,  but  with  no  suc 
cess  to  the  Union  cause  —  More  troops  wanted  —  Mitchel  succeeds  Hunter  —  His  zeal  in  his  work  —  Several 
expeditions  projected  —  Sickness  in  the  army  —  Death  of  Gen.  Mitchel  —  Closing  proceedings  of  Congress — 
Act  authorizing  additional  issue  of  treasury  notes  —  Three  important  bills  acted  upon,  the  Homestead,  the 
Pacific  Railroad,  and  the  one  condemning  and  punishing  polygamy  in  Utah  —  Navy  arrangements  as  to  the 
grades  of  officers,  etc.  —  Confiscation  act  —  Its  significance  —  Congress  adjourns. 


GEN.  HUNTER,  on  the  31st  of  March, 
took  command  of  the  department  of 
the  South,  comprising  the  states  of 
South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Florida. 
His  force  was  insufficient  for  any  ag 
gressive  measures  against  the  rebels, 
and  he  was  principally  occupied  in 
watching  their  movements.  This  of 
ficer,  being  considerably  in  advance  of 
public  sentiment  on  the  perplexing 
question  of  slavery  and  what  to  do 
with  the  negroes  in  the  insurrectionary 
states,  issued  an  order  from  Hilton 
Head,  in  which  he  said,  "  slavery  and 
martial  law  in  a  free  country  are 
altogether  incompatible.  The 
persons  in  these  three  states, 
Georgia,  Florida  and  South  Carolina, 
heretofore  held  as  slaves,  are  therefore 
declared  forever  free:'' 

Public  attention  was  at  once  aroused. 
Hunter's  course  was  applauded  by  some, 
and  denounced  by  others.  Some  re 
joiced  at  the  prospect  of  the  speedy 
extinction  of  slavery ;  others,  secession 
sympathizers  at  the  North  especially, 


1862. 


were  enraged  at  this  bold  interference 
with  the  rights  of  property,  especially 
property  in  slaves. 

As  for  the  government,  its  position 
was  by  no  means  an  easy  one.  The 
president  and  his  cabinet  were  distress 
ed  and  even  anxious  on  this  subject. 
The  pressure  upon  Mr.  Lincoln  from 
almost  every  quarter  was  exceedingly 
severe  and  constant.  He  did  not  know 
what  to  do  or  say,  so  as  to  satisfy  his 
own  conscience  and  deal  justly  -with 
the  several  parties  concerned.  Sincerely 
desirous  to  do  what  was  right,  the  pre 
sident  for  a  long  time  urged  the  gradual 
emancipation  of  the  slaves,  the  compen 
sating  the  owners  for  making  them  free, 
and  also  the  sending  them  away  out  of 
the  country,  to  South  America  or  else 
where.  But  the  necessity  of  some 
definite  line  of  policy  was  pressing 
heavily  upon  the  government;  the 
question  could  not  much  longer  be 
delayed,  in  the  midst  of  our  mighty 
struggle  for  the  supremacy  of  law  and 
order.  Loyal  men  differed  widely  on 


192 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  Vin 


the  subject.  Some  urged  the  presid 
ent  to  take  decisive  steps  at  once; 
while  others  opposed  and  denounc 
ed  any  such  course  in  strong,  even 
fierce  language.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  repu 
diated  Fremont's  attempt  in  1861  (see 
p.  87 ),  to  emancipate  slaves  in  Mis 
souri.  The  president  dared  not,  as  yet, 
to  go  to  the  length  which  Fremont  and 
Hunter  had  gone.  It  may  be  doubted, 
indeed,  whether  or  no  the  country 
would  have  sustained  him  just  then. 
At  all  events,  whatever  the  future  might 
develop,  he  felt  called  on  to  issue  a  pro 
clamation,  under  date  of  May  19th,  in 
which  he  expressly  disclaimed  the  ac 
tion  of  Hunter,  and  refused  to  pro 
nounce  any  decision  upon  the  vexed 
question  of  freeing  the  slaves  in  the 
rebel  states,  at  the  present.* 

Although  the  president  had  seen  fit 
thus  to  decide  upon  Gen.  Hunter's 
order  in  regard  to  the  slaves  in  the  de 
partment  of  the  South,  he  did  not  in 
terfere  with  various  efforts  which  were 
being  made  to  improve  the  condition  of 
the  negro,  and  render  him  available  for 
service  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  against 

*  Mr.  Lincoln  pleaded  earnestly,  in  tliis  same  procla 
mation,  for  the  policy  of  emancipation.  "  You  cannot, 
if  you  would,"  he  said,  addressing  the  people  of  the 
border  states,  "  be  blind  to  the  signs  of  the  times.  I 
beg  of  you  a  calm  and  enlarged  consideration  of  them, 
ranging,  if  it  may  be,  far  above  partisan  and  personal 
politics."  On  the  12th  of  July,  he  held  a  conference 
with  the  members  of  Congress  from  Maryland,  Dela 
ware,  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  and  begged  of  them  to 
press  the  subject  upon  the  attention  of  their  constitu 
ents.  The  measure  recommended  by  the  president  in 
eucli  earnest  terms  was  discussed  in  the  states  just  nam 
ed,  but  not  adopted  by  any  one.  We  may  mention  in  the 
present  connection,  that  at  a  later  date,  September  22d, 
Mr.  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  was  plain 
ly  foreshadowed  the  conclusion  at  which  the  govern 
ment  arrived,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1862,  upon  the 
subject  of  emancipation.  See  McPhersou's  "  History 
of  the  Rebellion,"  pp.  227-228. 


1862. 


the  rebellion.  Hunter  was  certain  that 
the  blacks  would  make  good  soldiers, 
if  properly  instructed,  and  he  bestow 
ed  much  attention  upon  giving  them 
the  opportunity  of  fitting  themselves 
for  the  work  sooner  or  later  before  them. 
On  the  13th  of  May,  a  slave,  named 
Robert  Small,  who  had  been  acting  as 
pilot  for  some  time  on  board  the  steam 
tuo-  Planter,  in  the  harbor  of  Charles- 

o 

ton,  succeeded  in  bringing  the  vessel 
out  from  under  the  batteries  of  the  forts, 
and  delivering  to  the  Union  blockading 
squadron  a  rebel  gun  boat  which  was 
employed  in  military  service  in 
the  bay.  The  Planter  Avas  a 
high-pressure  side- wheel  steamer,  armed 
with  two  guns,  and  had  on  board  four 
large  guns  under  way  for  Fort  Ripley, 
in  the  harbor.  Small,  who  had  the  en 
tire  management  of  the  matter  in  his 

O 

hands,  embraced  the  favorable  moment 
when  the  officers  had  gone  on  shore, 
and  taking  with  him  8  men,  5  women 
and  3  children,  all  negroes,  he  passed 
Fort  Sumter  very  early  in  the  morn 
ing,  giving  the  proper  signal,  and  steam 
ing  rapidly  out  of  range  of  the  guns. 
The  rebel  colors  were  hauled  down,  a 
white  flao-  was  raised,  and  Small  and 

O  ' 

his  company  were  soon  under  the  pro 
tection  of  the  stars  and  stripes.  In  ac 
cordance  with  the  recommendation  of 
Commodore  Dupont,  Congress  passed 
an  act,  giving  Small  and  his  companions 
the  benefit  of  their  having  transferred 
the  rebel  steamer  to  the  Union  autho 
rities.  One  half  of  the  value  of  the 
Planter  and  the  property  on  board  of 
her,  as  per  appraisement,  was  appor 
tioned  among  them,  they,  for  the  pre 
sent,  receiving  the  interest,  until  such 


Ca.   XVIII.] 


OPERATIONS  AGAINST  CHARLESTON. 


193 


time  as  it  might  be  expedient  to  pay 
the  principal  sum. 

The  subject  of  arming  the  negroes 
excited  no  little  attention  among  the 
people  generally,  as  well  as  in  Congress. 
Hunter,  in  reply  to  a  resolution  of  in 
quiry,  said  that  this  arming-  of  the 
blacks  was  "  a  complete  and  even  mar 
vellous  success."  The  loyal  portion  of 
the  community  were  evidently  tending 
to  the  view  which  finally  prevailed, 
viz.,  that  the  necessities  of  war  requir 
ed  the  employment  of  the  negro  in  help 
ing  to  put  down  the  great  rebellion. 
Various  precedents  were,  on  search, 
found  for  such  employment ;  in  the 
revolution,  in  the  war  of  1812,  in  Jack 
son's  New  Orleans'  campaign,  etc.  The 
governors  of  Ehode  Island  and  Massa 
chusetts,  on  the  new  call  for  300,000 
mei.,  caused  the  blacks  to  be  enrolled 
in  these  states.  The  governor  of  Ohio, 
however,  refused  to  accept  their  servi 
ces  ;  and  in  the  army  generally,  there 
was  a  dislike  to  the  bringing  in  the 
blacks  and  placing  them  by  the  side  of 
white  soldiers.  In  fact,  the  question 
was  beset  with  peculiar  difficulties,  and 
it  required  not  only  a  modification  of 
popular  feeling  but  especially  time  to 
bring  it  to  anything  like  a  settlement. 

As  we  have  before  stated,  Hunter's 
force  was  too  limited  in  number  for  any 
military  movement  of  importance.  An 
attempt  was  made,  however,  in  June,  in 
the  direction  of  Charleston.  Gradual 
approaches  in  this  quarter  along  the 
coast  had  been  made  by  vari 
ous  naval  reconnaissances,  and 
by  the  occupation  of  Edisto  Island  under 
Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman's  command.  In 
May,  circumstances  appeared  favorable 

VOL.  IV.— 23. 


1862. 


for  an  attack  upon  Charleston.  The 
information  brought  by  the  pilot  Small, 
of  the  state  of  the  fortifications,  the 
troops,  and  means  of  defence  in  and 
around  the  harbor,  encouraged  the  at 
tempt,  and  an  approach  to  the  city 
seemed  practicable  from  below  by  the 
Stono  River.  Accordingly,  on  the  20th 
of  May,  several  gun  boats  were  sent 
by  Commodore  Dupont  to  that  river ; 
occupation  was  taken  of  the  inlet  by 
the  squadron,  and  preparations  rapidly 
made  to  lodge  a  force  on  James  Island, 
with  a  view  of  gaining  possession  of  its 
batteries,  and,  in  case  these  were  suc 
cessfully  overcome,  pushing  to  the  Ash 
ley  River,  where  Charleston  might  be 
assailed  out  of  reach  of  the  powerful 
forts  in  the  harbor.  On  the  29th  of 
May,  an  unsuccessful  effort  was  made 
to  destroy  the  rebel  line  of  communi 
cation  by  the  Charleston  and  Savan 
nah  Railroad  at  Pocataligo.  On  the  2d 
of  June,  Hunter  and  Benham  were 
landed  on  James  Island,  waiting  the 
arrival  of  Gen.  Wright  with  cavalry, 
artillery  and  additional  infantry  from 
Edisto  Island.  Severe  storms,  bad 
roads,  and  insufficient  means  of  crossing 
the  river,  delayed  operations  materially, 
and  gave  the  rebels  an  opportunity  to 
obtain  reinforcements.  During  a  week 
or  more,  sharp  skirmishes  were  frequent ; 
and  on  the  16th  of  June,  an  attack  was 
made  by  order  of  Benham,  upon  the 
entrenched  works  of  the  enemy.  Our 
troops  fought  gallantly,  but  after  a 
severe  struggle  failed  of  success,  having 
lost  some  TOO  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing.  The  forces  on  James  Island 

O 

soon  after  returned  to  their  quarters  at 
Hilton  Head. 


194 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Ex.  VIII. 


Hunter  Laving  been  relieved,  at  his 
own  request,  Mitchel  was  sent  as  his 
successor,  and  arrived  towards  the  end 
of  September  at  Port  Royal.  Im 
mediately  on  his  arrival  he  entered 
with  great  zeal  upon  his  duties.  Al 
though  unable,  from  lack  of  reinforce- 

O  / 

ments,  to  attempt  any  movements  of 
importance,  Mitchel  projected  a  number 
of  minor  expeditions,  the  details  of 
which  need  not  here  be  given.  The 
climate  soon  began  to  tell  upon  the 
health  of  the  troops.  The  sick  list  in 
several  of  the  regiments  was  increasing 
to  an  alarming  decree.  As  the  month 

O  O 

wore  on,  cases  of  the  yellow  fever  oc 
curred  at  Port  Royal.  Several  of  the 
officers  fell  victims  to  the  disease,  and 
Mitchel,  sickening,  was  removed  to 
Beaufort,  where,  as  we  have  before 
noted,  he  died,  on  the  30th  of  October, 
a  noble  specimen  of  a  brave  and  skilful 
officer,  as  well  as  a  true  patriot  and 
Christian. 

The  principal  proceedings  of  Con 
gress,  during  its  present  session,  have 
been  detailed  on  previous  pages  (see  p. 
148).  We  may,  however,  here  briefly 
notice  its  further  action  until  the  ad 
journment.  On  the  llth  of  July  an 
act  was  passed  authorizing  an  additional 
issue  of  $150,000,000  of  notes  not  bear 
ing  interest,  similar  to  those 
before  described,  of  which.  $35, 
000,000  might  be  of  less  denominations 
than  five  dollars,  but  none  of  the  frac 
tional  part  of  a  dollar.  The  legal  ten 
der  clause  in  this,  as  in  the  former  act 
(see  p.  149),  met  with  much  opposition 
in  the  protracted  discussion  on  the  bill 
in  Congress ;  but  the  demands  of  the 
war  were  urgent,  and  it  was  adopted  as 


1882. 


the  only  practicable  method  of  meeting 
the  public  necessities.  Gold,  as  a  con 
sequence,  rose  in  value,  and  the  price 
of  gold  regulated  the  price  of  commodi 
ties  in  general.  The  facilities,  however, 
given  to  trade  and  credit,  lightened,  for 
a  time,  at  least,  the  financial  difficulties 
produced  by  the  war. 

To  provide  internal  revenue,  to  sup 
port  the  government,  and  to  pay 
interest  on  the  public  debt,  a  volumin 
ous  tax  bill  was  passed  and  approved 
on  the  1st  of  July.  It  embraced  a 
comprehensive  system  of  excise  duties, 
licenses,  special  tax  on  articles  of  luxury, 
as  carriages,  yachts,  billiard  tables,  and 
plate  ;  a  widely  extended  system  of 
stamp  vduties,  legacy  and  inheritance 
duties,  and  an  annual  tax  of  three  per 
cent,  on  all  gains,  profits  or  income,  of 
every  person  residing  within  the  United 
States,  exceeding  the  sum  of  $600.  In- 

/  o 

comes  exceeding  $10,000,  and  those  of 
citizens  residing  abroad,  were  taxed  five 
per  cent. 

Besides  the  several  acts  heretofore 
noted,  there  were  three  bills  which  may 
be  mentioned  as  important  at  this 
period  of  our  national  legislation.  OQ 
the  20th  of  May,  was  passed  "  An  act 
to  secure  Homesteads  to  actual  settlers 
on  the  Public  Domain."  By  this  act 
any  loyal  person,  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  or  one  who  has  legally  declared 
his  intention  to  become  such,  or  of  the 
age  of  21,  was  given  the  privilege  of 
entering  upon  160  acres  of  land,  the 
full  title  to  which  would  be  secured  by 
five  years'  residence  and  cultivation. 
This  measure  looked  to  a  future  increase 
of  emigration,  by  which  the  wealth  of 
the  greatWest  had  been  largely  develop- 


CH.  XVIII.] 


IMPORTANT  ACTS  OF  CONGRESS. 


195 


ed,  and  which  at  the  time  was  proving 
an  important  aid  in  maintaining  the 
the  war. 

A  second  important  step  taken  by 
Congress  was  the  passing,  July  1st, 
"  An  act  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a 
Railroad  and  Telegraph  Line  from  the 
Missouri  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
and  to  secure  to  the  Government  the  use 
of  the  same  for  Postal,  Military  and 
other  Purposes.'7  For  the  details  relat 
ing  to  this  great  undertaking,  which  is 
allowed  until  July,  1874,  for  its  com 
pletion,  we  must  refer  the  reader  to  the 
act  itself.* 

The  third  of  the  measures  alluded  to 
above,  was  in  relation  to  a  state  of  things 
which  had  been  existing  for  some  time 
to  the  shame  and  disgrace  of  our  country, 
and  its  civilization  and  religion.  We 
mean  the  passing,  July  1st,  "  An  act  to 
punish  and  prevent  the  Practice  of 
Polygamy  in  the  Territories  of  the 
United  States,  and  other  Places,  and 
disapproving  and  annulling  certain 
acts  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of 
the  Territory  of  Utah."  By  this  act 
the  crime  of  bigamy,  in  a  territory  or 
other  place  within  the  exclusive  juris 
diction  of  the  United  States,  was  to 
be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding 
$500,  and  by  imprisonment  for  a  term 
not  exceeding  five  years.  Certain  spe 
cified  ordinances  and  all  other  acts  of 
the  legislative  assembly  of  the  territory 
of  Utah  were  disapproved  and  annulled, 
so  far  as  they  establish,  protect  or 
countenance  "  the  practice  of  polygamy, 
evasively  called  spiritual  marriage, 
however  disguised  by  legal  or  ecclesi 
astical  solemnities,  sacraments,  cere- 

*  See  the  '  National  Almanac, '  for  1863,  pp.  255-257 


monies,  consecrations,  or  other  con 
trivances." 

In  order  to  put  the  navy  on  its  pro 
per  footing,  especially  as  regarded  the 
rank  of  its  officers,  Congress,  on  the 
16th  of  July,  passed  "  An  act  to  estab 
lish  and  equalize  the  Grade  of  Line 
Officers  of  the  United  States  Navy." 
This  law  provides  that  the  active  list 
of  the  officers  of  the  United  States 
navy  shall  be  divided  into  nine  grades, 
taking  rank  according  to  the  date  of 
their  commission  in  each  grade,  as  fol 
lows  : — 1.  Rear- Admirals.  2.  Commo 
dores.  3".  Captains.  4.  Commanders. 
5.  Lieutenant-Commanders.  G.  Lieu- 
tanants.  7.  Masters.  8.  Ensigns.  9. 

o 

Midshipmen.  The  act  further  provides 
that  the  relative  rank  between  officers 
of  the  navy  and  the  army  shall  be  as 
follows,  real  rank  only  to  be  consider 
ed  :  rear-admirals  to  rank  with  major- 
generals;  commodores  with  brigadier- 
generals  ;  captains  with  colonels  ;  com 
manders  with  lieutenant-colonels ;  lieu 
tenant-commanders  with  majors ;  lieu 
tenants  with  captains ;  masters  with 
first  lieutenants;  ensigns  with  second 
lieutenants.  The  number  of  rear-admi 
rals  on  the  active  list  was  limited  to 
nine  ;  of  commodores  to  16  ;  of  captains 
to  39;  of  commanders  to  90;  of  lieu 
tenant-commanders  to  144. 

The  act  to  suppress  insurrection,  to 
punish  treason  and  rebellion,  and  to 
seize  and  confiscate  the  property  of 
rebels,  was  passed  on  the  last  day  of 
the  session.*  This,  with  other  action  of 
Congress,  showed  that  the  people, 

*  For  the  president's  message  in  regard  to  this  im 
port-ant  act,  see  Appleton's  "American  Annual  Cyclo- 
pcediafor  1862,"  p,  374;  and  M'Pherson's  "  Histwy  of 
the  Rebellion,"  p.  197. 


196 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


through  their  representatives,  were 
steadily  advancing  towards  a  practical 
solution  of  certain  difficult  questions, 
which  were  earnestly  and  ably  discuss 


ed,  and  which,  as  we  shall  see,  were  in 
due  time  disposed  of.  The  second  ses 
sion  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress  was 
closed  on  the  17th  of  July,  1862. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 
1862, 

THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  BATTLES:  RETREATFROM  THE  PENINSULA. 

McClellan's  hopes  and  expectations  —  Obstacles  in  the  way  —  Rchel  activity  under  Lee  —  Stuart's  cavalry  raid 

—  Boldly  planned  and  executed  —  Jackson's  flank  movement  —  McClellan  daily  expecting  a  battle  — Ad 
vance  movement  —  Oak  Grove  —  Critical  state  of  affairs  —  Repulse  of  rebels  at  Mechanicsville  —  Alterna 
tives  before  McClellan  —  His  choice,  change  of  base,  prudent,  if  not  bold  —  Position  of  Porter  and  his  men 

—  Necessity  of  fighting  the  enemy  —  Attacked  by  the  rebel  army  in  large  force  —  No  reinforcements  from 
south  bank  of  the  river  —  Porter  nearly  cut  to  pieces  —  Saved  by  opportune  help  and  darkness  —  Rebel 
exultation  —  The  Chickahominy  crossed  and  bridges  burned  during  the  night— McClellan's  skill  in  masking 
his  plans  —  Crossing  the  White  Oak  Swamp  by  the  different  corps — Lee  sets  out  in  pursuit — Magruder 
repulsed  at  Savage  Station  —  Jackson  stopped  by  our  batteries  at  White  Oak  Swamp  —  Battle  at  Glenda^e 
or  Turkey  Bridge  —  Severe  and  bloody  contest  —  Our  troops  withdrawn  during  the  night— Lee  determines 
on  a  general  engagement  —McClellan's  position  at  Malvern  Hill  —  The  rebels  completely  defeated  in  this 
battle  —Our  troops  reach  Harrison's  Bar  on  the  James  River  —  Heavy  losses  —  McClellan's  generalship  — 
Southern  views  and  feelings  —  McClellan's  Fourth  of  July  words  of  promise  and  encouragement. 


1862. 


IN  a  previous  chapter  (see  p.  167), 
we  have  given  an  account  of  the  battle 
of  Seven  Pines  or  Fair  Oaks,  which 
was  fought  on  the  31st  of  May  and  1st 
of  June.  It  was  marked  by  great  loss 
of.  life  on  both  sides,  but  yielded  little 
if  any  advantage,  either  to  the  rebels 
or  to  our  army  advancing  to 
the  capture  of  Richmond.  Mc 
Clellan  seems  to  have  meditated  an  im 
mediate  movement  upon  the  enemy. 
Writing  to  the  secretary  of  war,  the  day 
after  the  battle,  he  said,  "  I  only  wait 
for  the  river  to  fall,  to  cross  with  the 
rest  of  the  force,  and  make  a  general 
attack.  Should  I  find  them  holding;  firm 

o 

in  a  very  strong  position.  I  may  wait 
for  what  troops  I  can  bring  up  from 
Fortress  Monroe.  But  the  morale  of 


my  troops  is  now  such  that  I  can  ven 
ture  much.  I  do  not  fear  for  odds 
against  me.  The  victory  is  complete, 
and  all  credit  is  due  to  the  gallantry 
of  our  officers  and  men." 

It  soon  became  evident,  however, 
that  these  eager  aspirations  of  McClel 
lan  were  doomed  to  disappointment. 
The  roads  and  the  around  generally 

o  «/ 

were  totally  unfit  for  active  movements; 
the  water  in  the  Chickahominy  continu 
ed  so  high  that  he  could  not  transport 
the  whole  of  his  army  across  the  river ; 
bridges  had  to  be  built ;  encampments 
and  entrenchments  had  to  be  formed  in 
the  swampy  woods ;  and  above  all,  pro 
bably,  there  was  considerable  uncer 
tainty  as  to  being  able  to  maintain,  in 
safety,  the  necessary  connection  with 


Cn.  XIX.] 


J.  E.  B.  STUART'S  CAVALRY  RAID. 


197 


his  basis  of  supplies  at  the  White 
House.  Added  to  this,  the  midsummer 
sun,  with  its  intense  heat,  told  severely 
upon  the  health  of  the  troops,  and  in 
flamed  the  pestilential  influences  of 
crowded  camps  and  noxious  marshes 
into  active  and  virulent  diseases ;  and 
during  the  long  weeks  of  inactivity  in 
what  was  called  the  siege  of  Richmond, 
not  only  thousands  sickened  of  fever 
and  died,  but  the  very  name  of  the 
Chickahominy,  with  its  deadly  swamps, 
became,  to  the  country  at  large,  asso 
ciated  with  suffering  in  its  most  dread 
ed  forms. 

The  rebels,  meanwhile,  were  streng 
thening  their  forces  in  and  about  Rich 
mond,  under  the  command  of  General 
Robert  E.  Lee,  who  had  succeeded 
Johnston,  and  whose  name  became  some 
what  famous  in  the  further  efforts  and 
struggles  of  the  rebellion.  They  also 
entertained  hopes  and  expectations  of 
speedily  assuming  the  offensive,  and 
crushing  McClellan  and  his  entire 
army.*  A  bold  and  dashing  expedi 
tion  was  set  on  foot,  for  the  purpose  of 
penetrating  the  Union  lines  and  making 
a  full  and  thorough  reconnaissance  of 
the  position  and  strength  of  our  army. 
It  was  successfully  carried  out,  and 
among  other  things  it  helped  to  demon 
strate  the  danger,  just  now  alluded  to, 

*  In  a  dispatch  from  Secretary  Stanton,  June  llth, 
he  used  the  following  strong  language,  to  encourage 
and  cheer  McClellan  in  the  difficult  position  in  which 
he  was  placed  : — "  Be  assured,  general,  that  there  never 
has  been  a  moment  when  my  desire  has  been  other 
wise  than  to  aid  you  with  my  whole  heart,  mind  and 
strength,  since  the  hour  we  first  met ;  and  whatever 
others  may  say  for  their  own  purposes,  you  have  never 
had,  and  never  can  have,  any  one  more  truly  your 
friend,  or  more  anxious  to  support  you,  or  more  joyful 
than  I  shall  be  at  the  success  which  I  have  no  doubt 
will  soon  frj  achieved  by  your  arms  " 


i  Mia. 


of  the  position  of  McClellan  with  re 
gard  to  his  supplies. 

The  expedition  was  undertaken  by 
Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  with  some  1,500 
cavalry,  selected  especially  for  this  ser 
vice.  Leaving  Richmond  on  the  12th 
of  June,  Stuart  took  the  Charlottesville 
turnpike,  bivouacked  for  the 
night  at  Ashland,  and  at  the 
dawn  of  day  cautiously  approached  and 
penetrated  the  Union  lines.  Near 
Hanover  Court  House  a  small  force  of 
our  cavalry  was  met  with,  and  speedily 
put  to  flight ;  and  the  rebels,  having 
excited  alarm  and  wonder  by  their  ap 
pearance,  dashed  forward  and  destroyed 
all  that  they  could  from  Ashland  to 
Tunstall's  Station  on  the  York  River 
Railroad.  Stores  of  various  kinds  were 
seized  and  burned,  and  some  prisoners 
and  horses  were  secured.  A  train  of 
cars  coming  up  at  the  station  was  fired 
into,  but  it  made  its  escape  with  trifling 
loss.  Having  sent  a  detachment  to  de 
stroy  whatever  could  be  found  at  the 
lauding  on  the  Pamunkey,  Stuart  as 
sembled  his  force  at  New  Kent  Court 
House,  and  halted  till  midnight.  Not 

7  O 

daring  to  venture  a  return  by  way  of 
Hanover  Court  House,  Stuart  took  a 
road  by  which  he  was  not  likely  to  be 
pursued,  and  making  his  way  across 
the  Chickahominy,  near  Forge  Bridge, 
within  five  miles  of  our  pickets,  he  suc 
ceeded,  on  the  15th  of  June,  in  reach 
ing  safely  the  rebel  lines  near  White 
Oak  Swamp.  About  165  prisoners 
were  taken,  together  with  some  300 
mules  and  horses,  etc.  Stuart  had  thus 
passed  entirely  round  and  in  the  rear 
of  our  army,  having  accomplished  a 
cavalry  raid  which  not  only  astonished 


198 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bs.  VITL 


the  army  and  people  by  its  audacity, 
but  also  set  the  example  for  future  ex 
ploits  of  a  similar  character. 

The  condition  of  affairs  was  fast  be 
coming  such  that  it  was  felt  on  all 
hands  that  something  must  be  done ; 
Richmond  must  be  captured,  or  if  that 
were  not  possible,  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  must  be  extricated  from  its 
present  dangerous  embarrassment.  The 
enemy  were  gaining  in  strength,  and 
Lee  determined  to  avail  himself  of  the 
services  of  Jackson,  who  had  obtained 
distinguished  success  in  the  Shenandoah 
Vallev.  He  resolved  to  do  this,  too,  so 

•/  ii 

secretly  and  quietly  that  the  first  an 
nouncement  of  Jackson's  withdrawal 
from  the  valley  should  be  the  blow 
struck  upon  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Accordingly,  on  the  17th  of  June,  his 
force  being  now  about  25,000  men, 
Jackson  began  his  march,  and  so  skil 
fully  was  it  managed  that  no  one  of 
our  generals  knew  of  his  approach  till 
he  was  within  striking  distance  of  the 
right  wing  of  the  army.  Lee  intended, 
by  this  movement,  to  open  the  way  for 
crossing  the  Chickahominy  to  join  Jack 
son's  column,  and  then  to  sweep  down 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  toward 
the  York,  and  lay  hold  of  McClellan's 
communications  with  the  White  House. 
The  commanding  general,  expecting 
again  the  co-operation  of  McDowell, 
was  looking  forward  to  a  battle  which 
might  occur  on  any  day.  The  bridges 
had  now  been  built  in  sufficient  num 
bers  to  connect  readily  the  two  wings  of 
the  army ;  our  lines  had  been  pushed  for 
ward,  defensive  works  had  been  erected 
to  secure  safety  in  case  of  a  repulse ;  and 
there  was  an  earnest  wish  in  the  army 


1862. 


generally  to  be  led  into  action.  On  the 
18th  of  June,  McClellan  wrote  to  the 
president,  "  A  general  engagement  may 
take  place  at  any  hour.  .  .  .  We  await 
only  a  favorable  condition  of  the  earth 
and  sky,  and  the  completion  of  some 
necessary  preliminaries."  A  week  later, 
he  said,  "  the  action  will  occur  to-mor 
row,  or  within  a  short  time,"  etc. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  Heintzelman 
holding  the  advance  before  Fair  Oaks, 
was  ordered  to  push  forward  his  pick 
ets,  and  drive  the  enemy  from  the 
woods  in  his  front,  and  in  this  way  to 
relieve  his  men  from  an  un 
wholesome  position  in  the 
swampy  ground,  and  to  bring  them  to 
an  open,  clear  space  beyond.  The 
movement  was  preliminary  to  the  gene 
ral  action  which  McClellan  had  now  re 
solved  upon.  Hooker's  division  bore 
the  brunt  of  this  encounter,  and  found 
their  advance  was  sharply  contested  in 
the  woods.  McClellan  came  upon  the 
field,  about  noon,  and  personally  direct 
ed  this  movement  at  Oak  Grove,  which 
in  the  course  of  the  afternoon  was 
entirely  successful. 

Apprehending  the  possible  approach 
of  Jackson  with  his  force,  and  warned 
of  danger  by  the  successful  raid  of 
Stuart  in  his  rear,  McClellan  had  already 
been  contemplating  a  change  of  base 
from  his  present  position  to  the  James 
River,  and  had,  with  a  view  of  future 
events,  ordered  a  number  of  transports 
with  stores  and  supplies  to  the  James 
River.  Being  assured  of  Jackson's  ar 
rival  at  or  near  Hanover  Court  House, 
and  divining  Lee's  plan  and  purpose  in 
concentrating  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy,  he  hastened  at  once  to 


CH.  XIX.J 


ALTERNATIVES  FOR  McCLELLAN. 


199 


the  can\a,  of  Fitz  John  Porter,  who  was 
in  command  of  the  right  wing  of  the 
army,  and  a  part  of  whose  corps  held 
the  strongly  entrenched  position  of 
Beaver  Dam  Creek. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  26th  of 

O 

June,   the    rebels    crossed    in    several 
columns,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mechanics- 
ville  and  Meadow  Bridge,  and  attacked 
McCall.  who  was  in  position  at  Beaver 
Dam  Creek.     Our  troops  were  conceal 
ed   by    earth   works,  commanding  the 
Mechanicsville  road,  on  which 
the  rebel  divisions  under  Lons;- 

O 

street  were  advancing;  and  when  the 
enemy  had  approached  within  short 
range,  they  opened  a  very  destructive 
fire  of  artillery  and  musketry  in  the 
faces  and  on  the  flanks  of  the  foe,  driv 
ing  them  back  in  great  confusion.  The 
slaughter  was  terrible,  the  rebels  having 
lost  between  three  and  four  thousand, 
while  the  Union  loss  was  inconsiderable. 
Another  effort  was  made  by  the  enemy 
in  the  morning,  but  without  success; 
Jackson,  meanwhile,  ha  vino;  passed 

*  /  O         J. 

Beaver  Dam  Creek  above,  turned  the 
position,  and,  of  course,  rendered  it  un 
tenable  for  our  troops.* 

It  now  became  a  question  requiring 
immediate  decision  on  the  part  of  Mc- 
Clellan,  what  was  to  be  done ;  whether 
to  cross  with  his  entire  army  and  fight 
the  rebels  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy,  or  to  concentrate  his 
troops  on  the  south  bank  and  march 


*  It  is  a  curious  question  why  McDowell,  who  was 
remaining  inactive  at  Fredericksburg,  did  not  make  a 
demonstration  along  the  Richmond  road.  Had  he  done 
so,  of  which  Lee  was  afraid,  Jackson's  flank  march 
would  have  been  entirely  impracticable.  The  author 
ities  at.  Washington,  with  their  insane  terror  in  regard 
to  rebel  assaults  upon  the  city,  will,  if  ever  the  history 
of  the  rebellion  is  fully  written,  have  much  to  answer  for. 


direct  upon  Richmond,  or  to  transfer 
the  right  wing  to  the  south  bank  and 
make  a  change  of  base  to  the  James 
River.  The  first  course  just  named 
was  too  full  of  risk,  and  in  case  of  re 
pulse  the  entire  army  would  be  destroy 
ed.  Some  critics,  like  Mr.  Swinton,  are 
of  opinion  that  the  second  of  these 
alternatives  was  both  bold  and  brilliant, 
in  fact  too  much  so  for  McClellan,*  and 
that  it  might  have  been  tried  with  good 
prospect  of  success.  The  last,  the 
change  of  base,  was  judicious,  and 
though  attended  with  serious  difficulty 
and  danger,  was  probably  the  safest 
under  all  the  circumstances.  The  dis 
tance  from  Fair  Oaks  to  the  James  River 
was  about  seventeen  miles,  and  there 
was  only  a  single  road  by  which  bag 
gage  and  stores  could  be  moved ;  but 
the  activity  and  steadiness  of  our  troops 
were  such,  that  the  purpose  of  the  com 
manding  general  was  nearly  completed 
before  it  was  at  all  comprehended  by 
the  rebels.  The  wagons  and  heavy 
guns  were  withdrawn  during  the  night 
of  the  26th  of  June,  and  united  with 
the  train  which  was  to  set  out  the  next 
evening  for  the  James  River.  At  the 

O 

same  time  Stoneman  proceeded  with  a 
flying  column  to  the  White  House, 
which  depot,  all  the  stores  along  the 
railroad  having  been  re-shipped  or  de 
stroyed,  was  evacuated.  Stoneman 
having  successfully  accomplished  his 
work,  fell  back  upon  Yorktown.  The 


*  "Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  147.  Mr.  Swinton  also 
quotes  from  the  report  of  Magruder,  who  says  :  "  I  con 
sidered  the  situation  of  our  army  as  extremely  critical  and 
perilous.  The  larger  part  of  it  was  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Chickahominy,  the  bridges  had  been  all 
destroyed,  but  one  was  rebuilt,  and  there  were  but 
25,000  men  between  his — McC'lellau's — army  of  100,- 
000  men  and  Richmond." 


200 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


rear  guard  of  McCall's  division,  con. 
eisting  of  Seymour's  brigade,  was  at 
tacked  by  the  enemy,  who,  being  sharp 
ly  repulsed,  did  not  attempt  further  to 
molest  the  movement  of  our  men. 

Under  the  circumstances,  with  the 
rebels  threatening  various  parts  of  the 
centre  and  left,  it  was  felt  to  be  impos 
sible  for  Porter  to  cross  to  the  south 
bank  of  the  Chickahominy  by  daylight. 
Jackson  had  turned  the  position  of  the 
right  wing  at  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  and 
McClellan  deemed  it  absolutely  neces 
sary  to  engage  him  with  Porter's  corps 
and  with  whatever  reinforcements  could 
be  sent  from  the  south  bank.  The  enemy 
were  so  close  upon  Porter  that  there  was 
no  alternative.  He  must  be  met  and 
repulsed;  for,  in  any  event,  the  aban 
donment  of  Porter's  position  at  that 
time  would  have  placed  the  right  flank 
and  rear  of  our  army  at  the  mercy  of 
the  foe.  It  was  a  case  of  necessity  to 
fight  the  rebels  where  our  men  stood, 
and  to  hold  the  position,  at  any  cost, 
until  night  (this  was  the  27th  of  June), 
and  in  the  meantime  to  perfect  the  ar 
rangements  for  the  change  of  base  to  the 
James  River. 

The  position  now  occupied  by  Por 
ter,  between  Coal  Harbor  and  the 
Chickahominy,  was  well  chosen,  and 
Ms  force  was  so  arranged  as  to  make  an 
effective  resistence  to  the  attacks  of  the 
enemy.  About  two  P.M.,  on  the  27th 
of  June,  A.  P.  Hill,  with  the  ad 
vance  of  Lee's  column,  began 
the  attack.  Jackson,  who  was  to  form 
the  rebel  left,  had  not  yet  come  up,  and 
Longstreet  awaited  his  arrival  before 
going  into  action.  Hill's  attack,  though 
furious  and  persistent,  was  met  with  the 


1862. 


greatest  firmness  on  the  part  of  our  men, 
and  after  several  hours'  desperate  efforts 
he  was  compelled  to  retire  in  the  great 
est  disorder  and  with  heavy  loss.  Long, 
street  now  began  an  attack  on  the  left 
of  the  Union  position,  and  Jackson's 
corps  having  come  up,  a  general  ad 
vance  from  right  to  left  was  made  at 
six  o'clock.  Porter  had  called  for  re 
inforcements,  and  had  received  in  re 
sponse  only  Slocum's  division,  making 
his  entire  force  about  35,000  men.* 

The  assault  now  made  was  fierce  and 
tremendous.     Our  right  held  its  ground, 

O  o  7 

and  repulsed  the  enemy  with  great 
steadiness  and  bravery.  Our  left  show 
ed  equal  valor,  but  being  worn  down 
by  fighting  nearly  all  day,  and  furiously 
charged  upon  by  Hood's  Texan  troops, 
it  gave  way;  confusion  and  derange 
ment  ensued,  and  great  disorder  from 
the  commingled  cavalry  and  infantry  J- 
Jackson  carried  the  height  on  the  left 
by  a  rush,  capturing  14  pieces  of  artil 
lery  ;  and  defeat,  if  not  destruction, 
seemed  to  have  fallen  with  crushing 
weight  upon  Porter  and  his  men. 
Happily  two  brigades,  sent  across  the 
river  by  Sumner,  appeared  just  in  time, 
and  under  the  influence  of  their  vigor- 

O 

ous  and  spirited  help,  the  stragglers 
were  stopped,  and  the  troops  finally 
rallied  and  were  reformed.  The  dark 
ness  fast  coming  on  prevented  Lee  from 
pushing  his  advantage.  He  did  not  yet 

*  Swinton,  speaking  of  the  position  of  matters  at  the 
time,  says  that  Magruder's  "  great  show  and  move 
ment  and  clatter,"  kept  all  our  commanders  occupied, 
and  they  declared  that,  no  troops  could  be  spared 
"  And  thus  it  happened  that'  while  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Chickahominy  80,000  Union  troops  were  being  as 
sailed  by  70,000  Confederates,  25,000  Confederates  on 
the  south  side  held  in  check  60,000  Union  troops." — 
"Army  of  tJia  Potomac," p.  151. 


CH.  XIX.] 


CROSSING  OF  WHITE  OAK  SWAMP. 


201 


comprehend  McClellan1  s  plans,  and  he 
and  his  officers  exulted  in  the  thought 
that  now  our  army  would  be  inevitably 
captured  or  destroyed. 

During  the  night  the  final  withdrawal 

O  O 

of  the  rio-ht  win  %  across  the  Chickaho- 

o  O 

miuy  was  completed,  without  difficulty 
and  without  confusion,  a  portion  of  the 
regulars  remaining  on  the  left  bank 
until  the  morning  of  the  28th.  Early 
on  that  morning  the  bridges  were  burn 
ed,  and  the  whole  army  was  thus  con 
centrated  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy.  The  loss  on  the  Union 
side,  though  severe,  was  never  accura 
tely  estimated ;  the  rebel  loss  was  pro 
bably  not  short  of  10,000. 

In  striving  to  secure  his  change  of 

o  O 

base  to  the  James  River,  McClellan  dis 
played  much  skill  and  ability.  He 
masked  the  retreat  of  his  troops  by 
holding  the  line  of  works  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Chickahominy,  and  comple 
tely  deceived  Ma<rruder  and  Huo-er  re- 

**  <~-  O 

specting  what  was  going  on.  It  was 
not,  in  fact,  till  the  night  of  the  28th  of 
June,  that  Lee,  having  ascertained  what 
had  taken  place  on  the  York  Eiver,  and 
disappointed  in  his  expectations  as  to 
supplies,  etc.,  in  that  direction,  fully 
divined  the  purpose  of  McClellan,  who, 
meanwhile,  had  gained  24  hours,  which 
were  of  very  great  value  and  import 
ance  to  him  in  his  difficult  uudertaki  112;. 

O 

In  the  course  of  the  night  of  the  27th, 
Gen.  Keyes  was  ordered  to  cross  the 
White  Oak  Swamp  with  the  4th  corps, 
arid  take  up  a  position  to  cover  the  pas- 
sage  of  the  trains.  Measures  were  also 
taken  to  increase  the  number  of  bridges 
across  the  swamp.  The  trains  were  set 
in  motion  at  an  early  hour,  and  con- 

VOL.  IV.— 26 


tinued  passing  night  and  day  until  all 
had  crossed.  There  was  the  long  train 
of  5,000  wagons  and  2,500  beef  cattle, 
which  all  traversed  the  morass  in  safety 
by  the  single  narrow  passage  provided. 
On  the  28th,  Porter's  corps  was  also 
moved  across  the  White  Oak  Swamp, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  took 
up  a  position  covering  the  roads  lead 
ing  from  Richmond  towards  White 
Oak  Swamp  and  Long  Bridges.  Dur- 
the  night  of  the  28th  and  29th,  the  divi 
sions  of  Slocum  and  McCall  were 
ordered  across  the  White  Oak  Swamp, 
and  were  placed  in  position  to  cover  the 
passage  of  one  remaining  divisions  and 
trains.  In  the  course  of  the  same  night, 

O         / 

the  corps  of  Sumner  and  Heintzelman 
and  the  division  of  Smith  were  ordered 
to  fall  back  so  as  to  cover  Savage  Sta 
tion  on  the  railroad.  They  were  order 
ed  to  hold  this  position  until  dark,  and 
then  to  retire  across  the  swamps  and  re 
join  the  rest  of  the  army. 

Lee,  on  the  morning  of  June  29th, 
hastened  to  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  re 
treating  army.  Magruder  and  Huger 
were  to  take  the  Williamsburg  and 
Charles  City  Roads ;  Longstreet  was  to 
cross  the  Chickahominy  at  New  Bridge 
and  move  down  near  the  James,  so  as, 
if  possible,  to  intercept  the  retreat ;  and 
Jackson,  passing  over  Grape  Vine 
Bridge,  was  to  make  his  way  down  the 
south  bank  of  the  Chickahominy. 

Sumner,  having  ascertained  that  the 
rebels  were  crossing  the  Chickahominy 
and  marching  toward  Savage  Station, 
moved  his  troops  from  Allen's  Field  to 
that  place,  and  united  with  Smith's 
division.  Hemtzelmau,  who  was  on 
Sumner's  left,  fell  back  entirely,  and 


A.'^IAUAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIU 


crossed  White  Oak  Swamp.  This 
left  tlie  brunt  of  the  attack  by  Magruder 
to  be  borne  by  Simmer  at  Savage  Sta 
tion  ;  and  bravely  was  it  borne.  Jack 
son  did  not  arrive  to  aid  Magruder,  in 
consequence  of  having  to  rebuild  the 
bridge  over  the  Chickahomiuy ;  and 
Magruder  impetuously  attacking  Sum- 
ner,  met  with  a  bloody  repulse.  During 
the  niglit,  the  second  corps  and  Smith's 
division  crossed  the  swamp  in  safety, 
with  all  their  guns  and  material,  and 
brought  up  the  rear  of  the  wagon  train. 
The  pursuit  undertaken  by  Lee  was 
made  in  two  columns,  Jackson  proceed 
ing  by  way  of  the  White  Oak  Swamp, 
and  Longs treet  by  the  roads  skirting 
the  James  River,  so  as  to  cut  off  our 
column  on  its  march.  Jackson,  delayed 
by  the  necessity  of  restoring  the  bridge, 
found,  on  attempting  to  cross  the 
swamp,  that  our  batteries  effectually 
stopped  his  passage.  Consequently,  he 
was  unable  to  advance  arid  join  Long- 
street  in  the  battle  at  Glendale  or  Tur 
key  Bridge,  which  took  place  on  the 
afternoon  of  June  30th.  Longstreet, 
on  reaching  the  intersection  of  the  New 
Market  and  Quaker  Roads,  by  which 
latter  the  army  and  its  trains  were 
hurrying  towards  the  James  River, 
found  this  important  point  covered  by 
McCall's  Pennsylvania  troops,  support 
ed  by  Simmer  and  Hooker  on  the  left, 
and  Kearny  on  the  right.  About  three 
P.M.,  the  fighting  was  begun  by  Long- 
street  and  Hill,  who  made  desperate 
efforts  to  force  the  position,  but  were 
repulsed  by  the  terrible  fire  of  artillery 
and  musketry  on  the  part  of  our  men. 
The  brunt  of  the  attack  fell  upon  the 
division  of  McCall,  who  was  taken  pri- 


1862. 


soner,  and  the  battle  was  continued 
until  night  brought  it  to  a  close. 

The  rebels  having  been  thus  severely 
handled,  left  our  men  free  to  act  without 
molestation  until  the  following  day. 
Accordingly,  the  last  of  the  trains 
reached  Haxall's  Landing  during  the 
evening,  and  under  cover  of  the  night 
the  troops  quietly  withdrew,  and  arriv 
ed  in  safety  at  an  early  hour  the  next 
morning,  to  occupy  a  new  and  very 
strong  position  on  Malvern  Hill.  Lee, 
finding  this  to  be  the  case,  determined 
to  attack  McClellan  on  the  1st  of  July, 
not  without  hope  that  an  army 
which  ha'd  gone  through  what 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had,  day  after 
day  for  nearly  a  week,  could  be  beaten 
in  a  general  engagement.  But  the  re 
sult  showed  how  greatly  he  erred  in  his 
calculation.  McClellan  promptly  placed 
the  army  in  position  to  meet  the  enemy, 
should  he  a^ain  attack  the  left  of  our 

O 

line ;  a  brigade  was  posted  in  the  low 
ground  to  the  left  of  Malvern  Hill, 
watching  the  road  to  Richmond ;  and 
the  line  of  our  troops  then  followed  a 
line  of  heights  nearly  parallel  to  the 
river,  and  bending  back  through  the 
woods  nearly  to  the  James  on  our  right. 
The  attack  by  the  rebels  was  fierce  and 
determined  ;  but  it  was  met  with  heroic 
steadiness  by  our  troops,  and  our  artil 
lery  fire  was  fearfully  destructive  to 
the  enemy.  Late  in  the  evening,  the 
rebels  fell  back  and  gave  up  the  battle. 

It  being  necessary  that  the  army 
should,  as  soon  as  possible,  reach  its 
supplies  and  a  place  of  rest,  McClel 
lan  left  Malvern  Hill,  and  the  troops 
retired,  during  the  niarlit  of  the  1st  and 

7  O  O 

2d  of  July,  to  Harrison's  Bar,  on  the 


CH.  XIX.] 


CLOSE    OF   THE  CAMPAIGN. 


203 


James  River.     Lee,  having  ascertained 

7  O 

that  McClellan  was  too  strongly  posted  to 
make  it  safe  to  venture  further  attack, 
took  up  his  march  some  three  or  four 
clays  after,  and  returned  to  Richmond- 

The  losses  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  in  these  Seven  Days'  Battles 
were,  on  the  Union  side,  over  15,000  ; 
on  that  of  the  rebels,  considerably 
greater,  being,  according  to  some  autho 
rities,  more  than  It), 000 

There  was  much  of  disappointment 
and  grief  in  the  loyal  states  at  the 
failure  of  the  campaign  against  Rich 
mond,  and  the  disastrous  retreat  to  the 
James  River.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
freely  admitted  that  McClellan  display 
ed  generalship  of  a  high  order  in  this 
retreat,  and  accomplished  successfully 
one  of  the  most  difficult  and  hazardous 
of  the  operations  of  war,  and  that  the 
heroism  of  the  army  was  worthy  of 
perpetual  memory.  In  his  report,  un- 
.der  date  of  Julv  15th,  McClellan  avows 

*/ 

himself  willing  to  abide  by  the  candid 
decision  of  competent  and  trustworthy 
judges.  "To  the  calm  judgment  of 
history  and  the  future,  I  leave  the  task 
of  pronouncing  upon  this  movement, 
confident  that  its  verdict  will  be  that 
no  such  difficult  movement  was  ever 
more  successfully  executed  ;  that  no 
army  ever  fought  more  repeatedly, 
heroically,  and  successfully  against  such 
great  odds ;  that  no  men  of  any  race 
displayed  greater  discipline,  endurance, 
patience,  and  cheerfulness,  under  such 
hardships.  My  mind  cannot  coin  ex 
pressions  of  thanks  and  admiration 
warm  enough,  to  do  justice  to  my  feel 
ings  toward  the  army  I  am  so  proud  to 
command. i: 


Pollard,  as  representing  the  state  of 
feeling  in  the  rebel  states,  is  quite  jubi 
lant  over  the  enforced  retreat  of  McClel 
lan  ;  yet,  at  the  same  time,  he  is  com 
pelled  to  acknowledge  the  ability  and 
energy  displayed  by  both  the  command 
ing  general  and  all  under  his  direction, 
and  to  confess  that  little  real  advantage 
was  gained  to  the  cause  of  secession  by 
all  that  Lee  and  his  army  accomplished. 
If  McClellan  and  his  army  could  have 
been  routed  utterly,  then  the  rebellion 
might  have  entertained  hopes  of  ulti 
mate  success;  but  as  he  parried  the 
blows  of  Lee  with  great  skill,  and  dealt 
equally  severe  blows  in  return,  effecting 
finally  the  transfer  of  his  force  in  safety 
to  the  banks  of  the  James  River,  it  is 
evident  on  reflection,  that  the  advantages 
obtained  were  more  apparent  than  sub 
stantial,  and  that  whatever  might  be 
the  feelings  of  the  moment,  the  loyal 
states  would  not  yield  to  disappoint 
ment,  but  would  prosecute  the  war  to 
the  complete  crushing  of  the  rebellion.* 

On  the  5th  of  July,  Davis,  at  Rich 
mond,  issued  an  address  for  the  purpose 
of  rousing  the  energies  of  his  followers 
and  of  the  troops  under  his  control.  Gen. 
McClellan  also,  on  the  national  holiday, 
July  4th,  in  an  address  to  the  "  Soldiers 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  uttered 
words  of  encouragement.,  and  promise. 
"  On  this,  the  nation's  birthday,  we  de 
clare  to  our  foes,  who  are  rebels  against 
the  best  interests  of  mankind,  that  this 
army  shall  enter  the  capital  of  the  so- 
called  Confederacy  ;  that  our  National 
Constitution  shall  prevail ;  and  that 


*  "Second  Year  of  the  War,"  pp.  73-76.  Pollard 
is  very  severe  on  the  blunders  and  bungling  work  of 
those  in  command  at  the  time  in  Richmond. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


the  Union,  which  can  alone  insure  in 
ternal  peace  and  external  security  to 
each  state,  '  must  and  shall  be  preserv 
ed/  cost  what  it  may,  in  time,  treasure, 
and  blood."* 

*  Mr.  Swinton,  remarking  upon  the  close  of  the 
Peninsular  campaign,  justly  says  :  "For  the  comman 
der  to  have  extricated  his  army  from  a  difficult  situa 
tion,  in  'which  circumstances,  quite  as  much  as  his  own 
fault,  had  placed  it,  and,  in  presence  of  a  powerful, 


skilful,  and  determined  adversary,  transfer  it  safely  to 
a  position  where  it  could  act  with  effect,  was,  of  itself, 
a  notable  achievement.  For  the  army  to  have  fought 
through  such  a  campaign  was  creditable,  and  its  close 
found  inexperienced  troops  transformed  into  veteran 
soldiers.  And,  if  alone  from  the  appeal  which  great 
sufferings,  and  great  sacrifices  always  make  to  a  gener 
ous  people,  the  story  of  that  eventful  march  and  ardu 
ous  retreat,  when,  weary  and  hungry  and  footsore,  the 
army  marched  by  night,  and  fought  by  day,  through  a 
whole  week  of  toil,  and  never  gave  up,  but  made  a 
good  fight  and  reached  the  goal,  cannot  fail  to  live  in 
grateful  remembrance."-"  Army  of  tJie  Potomac"  p.  1G5 


CHAPTEE    XX 


1862. 


GENERAL     POPE'S    CAMPAIGN     IN    VIRGINIA. 

Army  of  the  Potomac  at  Harrison's  Landing  —  McClellan's  views  and  plans  as  to  operating  against   Richmond 

Adverse  influences —  Pope's  and  Halleck's  opposition  —  McClellau  ordered  to  leave  the  Peninsula  —  Re 

monstrance  of  no  avail  —  Gen.  Pope  put  in  command  of  "  Army  of  Virginia  "  — Concentrates  his  force- 
Pope's  address  to  the  officers  and  army  —  His  several  orders  in  July  —  Plans  of  the  rebels  on  McClellan's 
retirement  from  the  Peninsula  —  Pope  reinforced  —  Jackson  crosses  the  Rapidan  —  Battle  at  Cedar  Moun 
tain  —  Result  —  Pope  on  the  Rappahannock  —  Lee  attempts  to  cross  —  Stuart's  raid  on  Catlett's  Station  — 
Mano3uvring  —  Jackson's  march — Stuart  a-t  Manassas  Junction  —  Destruction  of  supplies  —  Pope  abau 
dons  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock  —  Determines  to  cut  off  Jackson  — Action  at  Kettle  Run  —  Jackson's 
perilous  position  —  Gives  Pope  the  slip  —  Blunder  of  Pope — Serious  injury  resulting  —  Jackson  attacks 
King's  flank  —  Sharp  contest  —  King  retires  —  The  way  left  open  for  Longstreet  to  join  Jackson  —  Sigel's 
attack  on  Jackson  at  Groveton  —  Aided  by  Reno,  Hooker,  Kearney— Result  —  Pope's  condemnation  of  Por 
ter's  course  —  Doubts  as  to  its  justice  —  Porter  court-martialed  and  cashiered  —  Pope  unwisely  tries  an 
other  battle  —  The  second  Bull  Run  or  Manassas  battle  — Terrible  struggle  —  Losses  not  known,  but  very 
heavy —  Lee's  course  —  Jackson's  further  attempt  at  German  town  —  Stevens  and  Kearney  killed  —  The 
army  withdrawn  and  placed  within  the  defences  of  Washington  —  Fredericksburg  and  Aquia  Creek  eva 
cuated  —  Brief  estimate  of  Gen.  Pope  and  his  campaign. 


IN  the  preceding  chapter,  we  have 
given  as  full  a  narrative  as  our  limits 
admit,  of  the  movements  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  under  McClellan,  up  to 
the  beginning  of  July,  1802.  Being 
now  in  comparative  security,  the  troops 
were  permitted,  during  the  ensuing 
mouth,  the  repose  so  much  needed,  and 
the  opportunity  of  recuperating,  and  of 
being  fitted  in  due  time  for  active  opera- 


tions  against  the  enemy.  The  position 
which  they  now  occupied  was  advan 
tageous  in  a  military  point  of 
view ;  they  were  protected  by 
batteries  on  the  adjacent  heights,  while 
the  depth  of  water  in  the  James  River 
afforded  every  facility  to  prompt  sup 
port,  if  needed,  from  the  gun  boats,  and 
a  ready  access  to  the  transports. 

In    effecting   a   "  change  of  base,1'  it 


Cu.  XX.] 


McCLELLAN'S  VIEWS  AND  PLANS. 


205 


appears  to  have  been  McClellan's  de 
sign  not  only  to  save  the  army  from 
defeat  and  ruin,  but  also,  as  soon  as  the 
troops  were  in  proper  condition  and 
suitable  reinforcements  had  been  ob 
tained,  to  undertake  operations  against 
Richmond,  by  crossing  the  James  and 
advancing  by  way  of  Petersburg. 
With  the  aid  of  the  navy  to  keep  the 
river  open  as  a  line  of  supplies,  McClel- 
lan  felt  convinced  that  by  the  projected 
route,  he  could  most  effectually  threaten 
the  communications  of  the  rebel  capital 
and  prevent  Lee  from  aggressive  move 
ments  northward.  Consequently,  he 
called  earnestly  and  constantly  for  rein 
forcements  to  carry  his  plans  into  effect. 
He  had  brought  with  him  to  Harrison's 
Landing  nearly  90,000  men,  and  he 
besought  the  government  to  furnish  him 
with  50,000,  or  at  least  30,000  more  ; 
with  this  force  he  was  certain  that  Rich 
mond  could  be  taken,  and  the  military 
power  of  the  so-called  "  confederacy  " 
completely  broken  up. 

Writing  to  President  Lincoln  on  the 
12th  of  July,  McClellan  says :— "  I  am 
more  and  more  convinced  that  this 
army  ought  not  to  be  withdrawn  from 
here;  but  promptly  reinforced,  and 
thrown  again  upon  Richmond."  Again, 
on  the  18th  of  July,  he  telegraphed, 
u  it  appears  manifestly  to  be  our  policy 
to  concentrate  here  everything  we  can 
possibly  spare  from  less  important  points 
to  make  sure  of  crushing  the  enemy  at 
Richmond,  which  seerns  clearly  to  be 
the  most  important  point  in  Rebeldom." 
To  the  same  effect,  at  the  end  of  the 
month,  only  still  more  urgently,  he  beg 
ged  the  decision  of  the  authorities  at 
Washington,  and  persisted  in  the  hope 


that  they  would  reinforce  his  army  at 
once. 

There  is  good  reason  to  believe  that 
the  president  not  only  favored,  but 
would  have  heartily  supported,  McClel 
lan's  views  in  regard  to  the  advance  on 
Richmond  by  the  route  he  proposed ; 
but  there  were  several  adverse  influen 
ces  bearing  upon  the  question,  which 
ere  long  completely  nullified  all  the  as 
pirations  and  plans  of  McClellan.  There 
was,  as  usual,  the  fear  lest  the  capital 
might  be  exposed  to  danger  of  assault, 
and  some  dashing  rebel,  like  Jackson, 
might  suddenly  pounce  down  upon  it. 
Besides  this,  it  is  to  be  noted,  that  the 
commander  of  the  newly  formed  "Army 
of  Virginia,"  Gen.  Pope,  confident  of 
being  able  to  march  upon  Richmond, 
by  an  overland  route,  and  to  put  the 
enemy  to  flight  as  readily  as,  he  affirm 
ed,  he  had.  been  in  the  habit  of  doino- 

'  O 

in  the  West,  scouted  the  idea  of  rein 
forcements  to  McClellan  where  he  now 
was.  Halleck,  too,  who  had  recently 
been  placed  in  the  position  of  general-in- 
chief,  the  duties  of  which  he  assumed 
July  23d,  was  decidedly  opposed  to 
McClellan's  views,  and  insisted  upon 
the  withdrawal  of  the  army  entirely 
from  the  Peninsula. 

The  "  pressure  "  consequently  became 
too  great  for  Mr.  Lincoln.  He  had 
been  quite  willing  for  McClellan  to  take 
20,000  men  from  Buruside's  and  Hun 
ter's  command,  and  make  an  aggressive 
movement,  as  he  desired ;  and  McClel 
lan,  hoping  that  his  plan  might  prevail, 
had  gone  so  far  as  to  make  a  reconnais 
sance  in  force  with  Hooker's  and  Sedg- 
wick's  divisions,  driving  the  enemy 
from  Malvern  Hill  and  reoccupyiug  it, 


r 


206 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


on  the  4th  of  August ;  but  he  was  not 
allowed  to  proceed  further.  The  policy 
of  Halleck  was  adc  pted.  On  the  3d  of 
August,  McClellan  received  a  telegram, 
stating  that  the  decision  had  been 
made  ;  the  army  was  ordered  to  with 
draw  from  the  Peninsula  to  Aquia 
Creek,  and  to  unite  with  Pope.* 

McClellan  strove  to  have  this  order 
rescinded.  He  wrote  to  Halleck, 
August  4th  :  "  to  withdraw  this  army 
to  Aquia  Creek  will  prove  disastrous 
to  our  cause.  I  fear  it  will  be  a.  fatal 

blow Here,  directly  in  front  of 

this  army,  is  the  heart  of  this  rebellion  ; 
it  is  here  that  all  our  resources  should 
be  collected  to  strike  the  blow  which 
will  determine  the  fate  of  the  nation- 

....  I  do  now,  what  I  never  did  in 
my  life  before,  I  entreat  that  this  order 
may  be  rescinded.'1  Halleck  sent  a 
long  reply,  giving  his  views  quite  at 
large,  and  stating  his  determination  to 
unite  the  divided  portions  of  the  army 
into  one.  Of  course  there  was  no  alter 
native,  and  McClellan  proceeded  at  once 
to  obey  the  orders  he  so  thoroughly 
disliked.  The  needful  steps  were  taken 
directly ;  the  sick  and  wounded  were 
sent  off  as  rapidly  as  the  means  of  trans 
portation  allowed;  and  the  entire  army 

*  It  is  interesting  as  well  as  instructive  to  note  the 
fact,  that  Lee  was  watching  with  great  anxiety  the 
probable  course  which  McClellan  would  pursue,  and  he 
took  every  available  means  to  lead  him  to  withdraw 
his  army  and  free  Richmond  from  any  danger  of  attack 
by  way  of  the  James  River.  So  long  as  it  was  probable 
that  McClellan  would  be  reinforced  and  enter  on  a  new 
campaign,  Lee  dared  not  move,  he  could  not  undertake 
elsewhere  operations  of  any  account.  It  is  curious  to 
see,  in  this  instance  of  forcing  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
away  from  its  present  position  threatening  Richmond, 
how  fully  Halleck  was  in  accord  with  Lee  ;  how — 
most  strangely — they  were  both  eager  for  the  same 
thing. 


having  left  Harrison's  Landing,  crossed 
the  Chickahominy,  marched  to  Wil- 
liamsburg  and  Yorktown,  and  on  the 
20th  of  August,  embarked  for  Aquia 
Creek,  some  forty  miles  from  Washing 
ton.  In  his  report,  McClellan  speaks  of 
the  various  services  he  was  called  on  to 
render  afterwards,  in  connection  with 
Pope's  movements,  and  claims  that  all 
the  way  through,  "  he  left  nothing  in 
his  power  undone  to  forward  supplies 
and  reinforcements  to  Gen.  Pope."* 

It  will  be  remembered  by  the  reader 
that,  in  various  operations  in  the  West 
(see  p.  142),  Major-Gen.  John  Pope  had 
shown  himself  possessed  of  zeal,  energy 
and  perseverance  to  a  high  degree,  and 
while  acting  under  Halleck's  command, 
had  been  very  successful  in  his  attacks 
upon  the  enemy.  The  qualities  which 
he  displayed  seem  to  have  struck  the 
attention  and  won  the  applause  of  the 
directors  of  militarv  affairs  at  Washinar- 

«/  O 

ton.     The  president,  it  is  true,  was  a 
Avarm  personal  friend  and   admirer  of 
McClellan,  and  would   probably  have 
been  both  willing  and  glad  to  have  let 
him  have  control  of  warlike  movements 
against   the   rebels;    but   there  was  a 
strong  opposition  to    McClellan    from 
the    beginning,    and    his    policy   was 
sharply  criticised,  subjected  to  ridicule, 
and  condemned  in  no  measured  terms 
by  those  who  had  the  management  of 
the     army    operations.      When,   then 
McClellan  failed  in  the  peninsular  cam 
paign,  it  was  determined  to  put  him 


*  On  the  other  hand,  Pope,  in  his  report,  affirms, 
that  a  "  small  fraction  of  20,500  men  was  all  of  the 
91,000  veteran  troops  from  Harrison's  Landing  which 
ever  drew  trigger  under  his  command,  or  in  any  way 
took  part  in  that  campaign  "  which  he  conducted 


CH.  XX.] 


POPE  TAKES  COMMAND  IX  VIRGINIA. 


2C7 


1862. 


one  side,  and  to  try  some  other  com 
mander  ;  it  was  determined  to  seek  out 
a  general  who  should  show  a  more 
active,  aggressive,  "  go-a-head "  spirit 
than  McGlellan  had  ever  manifested, 
and  who  should  not  fail  to  march 
straight  into  the  rebel  capital.  Pope 
seemed  to  be  the  very  man,  and  Pope's 
bold  style  of  talking,  his  open  censur 
ing  of  McClellan's  course,  and  his  avow 
ing  a  purpose  of  conducting  the  war  in 
Virginia  in  a  way  quite  different  from 
that  heretofore  employed,  gave  rise  to 
great  expectations  as  to  what  it  was 
that  he  said  he  was  about  to  do. 

Pope  had  been  sent  for  in  June,  and 
was  directed  to  assume  command  of  the 
u  Army  of  Virginia."  The  force  thus 
named  was  made  up  of  the  corps  of 
Fremont,  Banks  and  McDowell, 
numbering  in  all  about  38,000. 
The  cavalry,  an  arm  of  the  service,  as 
the  country  was  effectually  taught,  too 
much  neglected  in  these  operations  in 
Virginia,  did  not  exceed  5,000,  and  was 
for  the  most  part  badly  mounted  and 
armed,  and  in  poor  condition  for  service. 
Pope  was  enjoined  by  the  government 
to  have  special  regard  to  covering  the 
city  of  Washington  from  any  attack 
from  the  direction  of  Richmond,  to 
secure  the  safety  of  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  and  to  operate  against  the 
enemy's  lines  of  communication  in  the 
direction  of  Gordonsville  and  Charlottes- 
ville.  The  rebel  commander  being  just 
now,  at  the  close  of  June,  fully  occupied 
in  the  defence  of  Richmond,  where  Mc- 
Clellan  was  operating.  Pope  was  at 
liberty  to  place  his  troops  in  position 
such  as  he  might  think  best  for  the 
next  campaign.  He  accordingly  brought 


his  troops  together  into  such  a  position 
as  that,  if  the  enemy  descended  the 
Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  he  thought 
he  could  interpose  between  their  ad 
vance  and  main  army  and  cut  off  the 
retreat. 

McClellan's  plan  of  operations  on  the 
line  of  the  James  River  having  been 

o 

condemned,  it  was  resolved  to  strength 
en  the  Army  of  Virginia  as  much  as 
possible,  by  reinforcements  drawn  from 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  else 
where.  There  was  also  now  an  oppor 
tunity  afforded  to  Pope  not  only  to  cope 
with  the  astute  rebel  chief,  Lee,  and  to 
drive  him  before  him,  but  also  to  test 
the  worth  of  his  bold  words  and  assur 
ances. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  Pope  issued 
an  address  to  the  army,  which  was  noted 
for  its  inflated  style,  its  bad  taste,  and 
its  boastfulness  of  tone,  and  which,  as 
a  matter  of  course,  on  the  close  of  his 
brief  campaign,  brought  down  upon  its 
author  a  full  measure  of  ridicule  and 
scorn.  "  I  have  come  to  you  from  the 
West,  where  we  have  always  seen  the 
backs  of  our  enemies — from  an  army 
whose  business  it  has  been  to  seek  the 
adversary,  and  to  beat  him  when  found 
— whose  policy  has  been  attack  and 
not  defence.  I  presume  that  I  have 
been  called  here  to  pursue  the  same 
system,  and  to  lead  you  against  the 
enemy.  It  is  my  purpose  to  do  so,  and 

that  speedily Meantime,  I  desire 

you  to  dismiss  from  your  minds  certain 
phrases  which  I  am  sorry  to  find  much 
in  vogue  amongst  you.  I  hear  constantly 
of  taking  strong  positions  and  holding 
them — of  lines  of  retreat,  and  of  bases 
of  supplies.  Let  us  discard  such  ideas. 


203 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


The  strongest  position  a  soldier  should 
desire  to  occupy  is  one  from  which  he 
can  most  easily  advance  against  the 
enemy.  Let  us  study  the  probable 
lines  of  retreat  of  our  opponents,  and 
leave  our  own  to  take  care  of  themselves. 
Let  us  look  before,  and  not  behind. 
Success  and  glory  are  in  the  advance. 
Disaster  and  shame  lurk  in  the  rear." 

Several  orders,  dated  July  18th,  in 
dicated  the  manner  in  which  Pope  pro 
posed  to  conduct  the  campaign.  He 
announced,  that  henceforth  the  troops 
should  subsist  on  the  country  in  which 
they  were  operating,  compelling  the 
people  to  furnish  supplies.  In  order  to 
put  a  stop  to  the  guerrilla  mode  of  war 
fare,  he  declared  that  the  people  in  the 
vicinity  should  be  held  responsible  for 
any  damage  done  to  railroads  or  trains  ; 
that  they  should  be  compelled  to  repair 
all  such  damage;  that  if  a  soldier  were 
fired  upon  from  a  house,  such  house 
should  be  rased  to  the  ground;  and 
that  any  person  detected  in  these  out 
rages  should  be  shot  without  waiting 
civil  process.  By  another  order,  dated 
July  23d,  he  directed  com 
manders  to  arrest  all  disloyal 
male  persons,  and  if  they  refused  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  to  conduct 
them  south  beyond  our  lines,  and  to 
warn  them  that  if  found  within  them 
at  any  time,  they  would  be  subjected 
to  the  severest  punishments.'55' 

*  Those  orders  were  supposed  to  allow,  and  were  cer 
tainly  followed  by,  extensive  pillaging  and  various  dis 
graceful  outrages.  The  ire  of  the  rebel  authorities 
was  greatly  roused,  and  on  the  1st  of  August,  they  not 
only  used  the  stereotyped  language  about  "  the  unjust 
and  aggressive  warfare  hitherto  waged  with  savage 
cruelty  against  an  unoffending  people,"  but  they  threat 
ened  the  fullest  retaliation.  Pope  and  his  officers 
were  not  to  have  any  benefit  of  exchange,  in  case  of 


1S02. 


When  the  rebels  became  satisfied 
that  McClellan  and  his  army  would 
give  them  no  further  trouble  by  way 
of  the  Peninsula,  they  were  much  elat 
ed,  and  resolved,  by  a  rapid  and  ener 
getic  movement,  to  march  upon  Pope, 
crush  him  and  his  force  by  sudden  and 
overwhelming  blows,  and  then  invade 
Maryland,  preparatory  to  a  general  in 
vasion  of  the  loyal  states.  Never  be 
fore  had  so  advantageous  an  opening 
been  presented,  and  Gen.  Lee  was  not 
the  man  to  let  it  slip  away  without 
using  it  to  the  fullest  extent."*  Steps 
were  taken  directly  for  the  advance, 
and  as  the  entire  rebel  force  in  and 
about  Richmond  was  now  probably  not 
less  than  150,000  men,  it  is  evident 
how  fiercely  and  confidently  the  assault 
would  be  made  upon  Pope  and  his 
army,  the  only  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
removing  the  battle-ground  from  the 
soil  of  Virginia,  and  of  carrying  fire  and 
sword  into  the  loyal  states. 

In  this  condition  of  affairs,  it  was 
all-important  to  strengthen  Pope  imme 
diately  and  as  greatly  as  possible. 
Burnside,  on  the  1st  of  August,  left 
Newport  News  with  his  troops,  and 
reached  Aquia  Creek  on  the  3d.  Gen. 
Cox  was  also  ordered  from  Western 


being  made  prisoners,  and  further  it  was  declared,  that 
if  any  person  or  persons  suffered  under  Pope's  orders, 
one  or  more  of  our  imprisoned  officfrs  was  to  be  hung 
instanter. 

*  Mr.  Swinton  quotes  a  passago  from  Lee's  report, 
which  is  worth  noting  : — "  The  corps  of  Gen.  Burn&id*: 
had  reached  Fredericksburg,  and  a  part  of  Gen.  Me 
Clellan's  army  was  believed  to  have  left  Westovc-r 
(Harrison's  Landing)  to  unite  with  Pope.  It  therefore 
seemed  that  active  operations  on  the  James  were  no 
longer  contemplated,  and  that  the  most  effectual  way 
to  relieve  Richmond  from  any  danger  of  attack  from 
that  quarter  would  be  to  reinforce  Gen.  Jackson  and 
advance  upon  Gen.  Pope." — S«o  note  on  p.  20G. 


Cn.  XX.] 


BATTLE  AT  CEDAR  MOUNTAIN. 


209 


Virginia  for  the  same  purpose,  leaving, 
for  the  time  being,  the  line  of  the 
Kanawha  open  to  invasion  by  the 
enemy.  McClellan  also  was  urged  and 
pressed  by  Halleck  to  hasten  forward 
reinforcements  from  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  to  afford  every  assistance 
in  his  power  to  the  general  in  com 
mand  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,*  With 
his  army  thus  strengthened,  and  num 
bering  between  50,000  and  60,000,  Pope 
took  the  field  in  person,  at  the  close 
of  July.  The  forces  of  Banks  and  Mc 
Dowell  were  pushed  forward  beyond 
the  Rappahannock.  and  on  the  7th  of 
August,  numbering  about  28,000,  were 
assembled  along  the  turnpike  from 
Sperryville  to  Culpepper.  Gen.  Bu- 
ford's  cavalry,  five  regiments,  covering 
the  front,  was  advanced  to  Madison 
Court  House,  with  his  pickets  along 
tl}3  Rapidan  on  the  right ;  and  Gen. 
Bayard's  cavalry,  four  regiments,  was 
extended  on  the  same  river  on  the  left. 
Jackson,  who  was  at  Gordonsville, 
having  been  reinforced  by  Lee  on  the 
2d  of  August,  crossed  the  Rapidan  on 
Thursday  the  7th,  at  Barnett's  Ford, 
and  advanced  towards  Culpepper  and 
Madison  Court  House.  Bayard,  who 
was  guarding  the  fords,  fell  back  slow 
ly,  delaying  the  enemy's  advance  as 
much  as  possible.  The  forces  of  Banks 
and  Sigel,  and  one  of  the  divisions  of 
McDowell's  corps,  were  rapidly  concen 
trated  at  Culpepper  during  Friday  and 
Friday  night,  Banks's  corps  being 

*  On  the  4th  of  August,  by  direction  of  the  presi 
dent,  it  was  ordered,  that  a  draft  of  300,000  militia  be 
immediately  called  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
to  serve  for  nine  months,  unless  sooner  discharged. 
The  call  was  responded  to  with  the  usual  readiness 
and  zeal  of  the  loyal  states. 
VOL.  IV.— 27 


pushed  forward  five  miles  south  of 
Culpepper,  with  Ricketts's  division  of 
McDowell's  Corps  three  miles 
in  his  rear.  The  corps  of  Sigel, 
which  had  marched  all  night,  was  halted 
in  Culpepper  to  rest  for  a  few  hours. 
On  Saturday,  Aug.  9th,  the  enemy  ad 
vanced  rapidly  to  Cedar  Mountain,  the 
sides  of  which  they  occupied  in  heavy 
force.  Banks  was  instructed  to  take 
up  his  position  on  the  ground  occupied 
the  previous  day,  and  also  to  defend  it 
against  the  enemy's  assaults. 

About  five  o'clock,  P.M.,  the  rebels 
pushed  forward  a  strong  force  in  the 
rear  of  their  own  skirmishers,  and 
Banks  advanced  to  the  attack.  By 
six  o'clock,  the  engagement  became 
general,  and  for  an  hour  and  a-half  was 
furious  and  unceasing;  but  Banks, 
though  at  great  sacrifice,  was  able  to 
hold  his  position.  Darkness  put  an 
end  to  the  contest,  although  the  artil 
lery  fire  was  continued  at  short  range, 
without  intermission,  until  midnight. 
Our  troops  rested  on  their  arms  dur 
ing  the  night  in  line  of  battle;  but 
the  action  was  not  resumed.  For,  at 
daylight  the  next  morning,  the  rebels 
fell  back  two  miles,  and  retired  further 
up  the  mountain.  Owing  to  fatigue 
and  excessive  heat,  the  men  were  allow 
ed  to  rest  and  recruit  on  Sunday,  Aug. 
10th,  and  the  next  day  was  spent  prin 
cipally  in  burying  the  dead.  On  Mon 
day  night,  Jackson  retreated  from  the 
field,  not  being  strong  enough  to  re 
main  where  he  was ;  whereupon  Bu- 
ford  was  sent  with  a  cavalry  and  artil 
lery  force  in  pursuit ;  he  followed  the 
enemy  to  the  Rapidan,  over  which  they 
passed  about  ten  o'clock  the  next  morn- 


210 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


ino\     Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and 

O  ' 

missing  was  about  1,800,  besides  a  1,000 
or  more  stragglers ;  the  rebel  loss  was 
not  reported,  but  was  probably  fully 
equal  to  that  on  the  Union  side. 

A  few  days  after  Jackson's  retreat  to 
Gordonsville,  he  was  joined  by  the  van 
of  Lee's  army,  under  Longstreet,  with 
Stuart's  cavalry.  Pope,  having  receiv 
ed  considerable  reinforcements,  held  the 
line  of  the  Rapidan,  with  Sigel  on  the 
rio-ht,  McDowell  in  the  centre,  at  Cedar 

O  '  ' 

Mountain,  and  Reno  on  the  left. 
Banks's  shattered  corps  was  at  Cul- 
pepper.  It  being  presently  ascertained 
that  the  enemy  were  advancing  in 
greatly  superior  numbers,  Pope  retired 
with  his  forces,  on  the  19th  of  August, 
to  the  north  bank  of  the  ftappahan- 
nock,  in  the  vicinity  of  Kelly's  Ford 
and  Rappahannock  station,  on  the  rail 
road.  "  This,'7  says  Mr.  Swinton,  "  was 
a  judicious  measure  on  the  part  of  Gen. 
Pope ;  but  it  was  not  carrying  out  his 
own  principles.  In  expounding  before 
the  war  committee,  a  month  before  this 
time,  what  he  proposed  doing,  he  held 
the  following  language :  '  By  lying  off 
on  their  flanks,  if  they  should  have  only 
forty  or  fifty  thousand  men,  I  could 
whip  them.  If  they  should  have 
seventy  thousand  or  eighty  thousand 
men,  I  would  attack  their  flanks,  and 
force  them,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  me, 
to  follow  me  out  into  the  mountains ; 
which  would  be  what  you  want,  I 
should  suppose.  They  would  not 
march  on  Washington  with  me  lying 
with  such  a  force  as  that  on  their  flanks.' 
Now,  though  the  force  which  Lee  had 
at  this  time  did  not  exceed  the  smallest 
of  these  hypothetical  numbers,  and  the 


force  with  which  Pope  proposed  this 
operation  had  been  increased  by  the 
addition  of  Reno's  command,  he  did 
not  attempt  to  carry  it  out,  finding  Lee 
less  impressed,  than  he  should  have 
been  with  the  apparition  of  Pope  'ly 
ing  off  on  his  flanks.'  '•  * 

Lee,  having  advanced  his  forces  to 
the  Rappahannock,  attempted  to  cross 
the  river,  but  Pope  covered  the  fords 
effectually,  and  prevented  this  move 
ment.  An  artillery  fire  was  kept  up 
for  two  days,  the  21st  and  22d,  across 
the  river,  but  to  no  material  purpose. 
Lee  then  left  Longstreet  opposite  the 
fords,  in  order  to  make  a  turning  move 
ment  by  Jackson  on  Pope's  right  by 
way  of  Warrenton. f  Pope  thereupon 
determined  to  recross  the  Rappahan 
nock,  and  "fall  furiously,  with  his 
whole  army,"  upon  the  flank  and  rear 
of  the  enemy's  long  column  which  was 
passing  up  the  river.  A  severe  storm, 
however,  on  the  night  of  the  22d,  pre 
vented  this  projected  attack ;  and  the 
head  of  Jackson's  column,  which,  had 
crossed  at  Sulphur  or  Warrenton 
Springs,  on  the  22d  of  August,  was 
compelled  to  recross  the  Rappahanuock, 
which  was  done  the  following  night, 
the  bridges  being  at  the  same  time 
destroyed. 


*  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  176. 

f  On  the  night  of  the  22d  of  August,  Stuart,  with  a 
body  of  1,500  horsemen,  managed  to  cross  the  river 
above,  and  to  reach  Catlett's  Station  on  the  railroad, 
despite  the  storm  which  was  raging,  and  the  intense 
darkness.  Here  he  surprised  the  guard,  who  appear 
to  have  been  shamefully  negligent  of  their  duty,  cut 
the  railroad  communication,  captured  300  prisoners,  to 
gether  with  Pope's  official  papers  and  effects.  Having 
effected  his  object,  and  proved  the  truth  of  Pope's 
words,  that  "  disaster  and  shame  lurk  in  the  rear," 
Stuart  and  his  band,  soon  after  daylight  on  the  23d,  re 
turned  to  Warrenton. 


CH.  XX.] 


STONEWALL  JACKSON  NEARLY  CAUGHT. 


211 


The  advance  of  McDowell's  corps  oc 
cupied  Warrenton  on  the  night  of  the 
23d  of  August,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  24th,  Sigel,  supported  by  Reno  and 
Banks,  crossed  Great  Kun,  and  oc 
cupied  Sulphur  Springs,  under  a  heavy 
fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Rappahannock. 

4  tttf'O 

The  bridge  was  rebuilt  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  Sigel  pushed  forward, 
with  the  force  sustaining  him,  in  the 
direction  of  Waterloo  Bridge. 

Jackson  having  been  directed  by 
Lee  to  get  between  Washington  and 
Pope's  army,  and  to  break  up  his  rail 
road  communications  with,  the  capital, 
made  a  detour,  on  the  25th,  for  that  pur 
pose  ;  he  crossed  the  upper  Rappahan 
nock  at  Hinson's  Ford,  and  after  a  forced 
march  of  thirty-five  miles,  bivouacked 
at  Salem,  on  the  Manassas  Gap  Rail 
road.  The  next  day,  passing  through 
Thoroughfare  Gap,  he  crossed  Bull  Run 
Mountain,  and  before  night  of  the  same 
day,  reached  Bristow  Station,  on  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad.  Hav 
ing  broken  up  the  track  as  extensively 
as  possible,  he  sent  Stuart  with  a  body 
of  cavalry  and  infantry  to  Manassas 
Junction,  seven  miles  nearer  to  Wash 
ington.  Besides  several  hundred  pri 
soners  and  eight  guns,  Stuart  obtained 
possession  of  a  very  large  amount  of 
commissary  and  quartermaster's  stores, 
there  being  at  the  Junction  supplies 
valued  at  not  less  than  $1,000,000. 
The  rebels  set  fire  to  the  buildings,  and 
the  next  day  our  men  found  only  smok 
ing  ruins  in  place  of  the  abundant  sup 
plies  gathered  there  for  the  support  of 
the  army. 

Pope,  finding  that  his  right  was  turn 


ed  by  Jackson's  movement,  determined, 
on  the  2Cth  of  August,  to  retire  from 
Warrenton,  abandon  the  line  of  the 
Rappahannock,  and  throw  his  whole 
force  in  the  direction  of  Gainesville  and 
Manassas  Junction,  in  order  to  crush  the 
enemy  who  had  passed  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  and  place  his  army  between  Lee 
and  Jackson.  Pope  had  received  addi 
tional  troops  from  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  and  was  in  a  condition  to  strike  a 
decisive  blow.  On  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  he  ordered  McDowell  to  move 
rapidly  forward  on  Gainesville  by  the 
Warrenton  turnpike,  with  the  troops 
under  Sigel  and  Reynolds,  some  40,000 
in  all.  Reno  and  Kearney  were  ordered 
to  move  on  Greenwich  to  support  Mc 
Dowell  ; » and  Pope  himself  took  the 
line  of  railroad  towards  Manassas,  with 
Hooker's  division.  Porter's  corps  was 
also  to  follow  from  Warrenton,  as  soon 
as  he  was  relieved  by  Banks,  and  to 
march  on  Gainesville. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  27th  of 
August,  a  severe  engagement  occurred 
between  Hooker's  force  and  Swell's 
division  of  Jackson's  troops.  It  was 
fought  near  Kettle  Run,  a  few  miles 
west  of  Bristow  Station.  Ewell  was 
driven  back  along  the  railroad,  with  a 
loss  of  300  men  in  killed  and  wounded. 
During  the  night  he  moved  off  entirely, 
to  rejoin  Jackson  at  Manassas  Junction. 

McDowell's  column  reached  Gaines 
ville  that  night,  the  27th;  Reno  and 
Kearney  also  arrived  at  Greenwich  the 
same  night.  Apparently,  there  was  now 
no  escape  for  Jackson ;  Lee  was  two 
days'  march  distant ;  his  position  was 
critical  and  perilous  ;  and  Pope  exulted 
in  the  prospect  of  being  able  to  catch 


212 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


and  destroy  that  shrewd  commander 
who  had  done  so  much  injury  to  the 
Union  cause.  *'  If,"  Pope  said  to  Mc 
Dowell,  in  his  order  of  the  27th,  "you 
will  march  promptly  and  rapidly  at  the 
earliest  dawn  upon  Manassas  Junction, 
we  shall  -bag  the  whole  crowd."  Jack 
son,  fully  alive  to  his  danger,  had  his 
choice  to  retire  by  the  same  way  by 
which  he  came,  through  Thoroughfare 
Gap  and  Gainesville,  or  northwardly 
by  Centreville.  He  preferred  the  latter 
on  every  account,  and  during  the  night 
of  the  27th,  and  morning  of  the  28th 
of  August,  he  moved  by  Sudley 
Springs  road  across  the  Warrenton 
turnpike,  and  took  position  on  the  high 
timber  laud  north  and  west  of  Grove- 
ton,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  battle 
ground  so  famous  at  the  opening  of  the 
rebellion. 

Pope's  order  to  McDowell,  just  spok 
en  of,  to  move  eastward  upon  Manassas 
Junction,  was  a  positive  blunder ;  for 
he  ought  to  have  held  the  line  of  the 
Warrenton  turnpike  at  every  hazard, 
and  not  by  retiring  from  it  to  allow 
Jackson,  by  a  move  from  Manassas 
Junction  to  the  north  of  the  turnpike, 
the  opportunity  of  forming  a  junction 
with  Lee's  advance.  Consequently, 
when  Pope  felt  sure  of  catching  Jack 
son,  he  found  that  the  rebel  chief  had 
given  him  the  slip ;  and  Longstreet,  on 
the  evening  of  the  28th  of  August, 

O  O  7 

reached  Thoroughfare  Gap,  and  the  next 
day  effected  a  junction  with  Jackson. 
Pope,  in  his  report,  lays  the  blame 
upon  his  officers,  and  accuses  a  number 
of  them  not  only  of  negligence  and 
want  of  activity  and  spirit,  but  of  dis 
obedience  of  orders,  and  he  is  confident 


that  if  they  had  followed  his  directions, 
Jackson  would  have  been  utterly  de 
feated. 

On  finding  that  Jackson  had  retreated 
from  Manassas  Junction,  Pope,  on  the 
28th  of  August,  tried  to  correct  his  mis- 
take,  by  calling  back  McDowell  and 
directing  him  to  march  on  Centreville. 
But,  unhappily,  much  time  had  been 
lost,  and  it  was  not  till  late  in  the  after 
noon  that  King,  of  McDowell's  division, 
regained  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  and 
advanced  toward  Centreville.  Jackson 
attacked  King  on  the  flank  with  great 
impetuosity.  The  contest  was  sharp, 
severe  and  bloody,  attended  with  heavy 
loss  on  both  sides.  During  the  niovht 

O  O 

King  withdrew  his  troops,  by  which 
course  he  left  the  Warrenton  turnpike 
open  for  Jackson  to  retire,  or  Longstreet 
to  advance.  Ricketts's  division  also, 
which  had  been  detached  to  watch 
Thoroughfare  Gap,  withdrew  to  Man 
assas. 

Sigel,  who  was  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Groveton,  was  ordered  to  attack  Jack 
son  at  daylight  on  the  29th.  Jackson 
was  strongly  posted,  but  Sigel  began 
the  attack  with  spirit  and  determina 
tion,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
forenoon  he  was  joined  by 
Reno's,  Hooker's  and  Kearney's  troops. 
These  latter  arrived  just  in  time, 
when  both  Aviugs  of  our  army  were 
about  to  be  turned,  and  Sigel's  force 
had  suffered  very  severely.  The 
fight  raged  furiously,  and  continued 
through  the  day.  At  eight  P.M.,  the 
larger  portion  of  the  field  was  occupied 
by  our  army,  and  night  put  an  end  to 
the  battle. 

Pope  is  unqualified  in  his  condemiia- 


1§62. 


CH.  XX.] 


SECOND  BULL  RUN  BATTLE. 


213 


tioo  of  Porter's  course.  He  states,  in 
his  report,  that  be  ordered  Porter  to 
advance  upon  Gainesville,  early  on  the 
29th  of  August,  and  turn  Jackson's 
right,  which  was  of  the  utmost  import 
ance  in  the  plans  of  Pope.  But,  as  it 
turned  out,  before  this-  could  be  done, 
Long-street's  corps  had  come  up,  and  as 
early  as  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  he 
had  so  arranged  his  troops  as  to  stop 
Porter's  march  upon  Gainesville.  Por 
ter,  as  he  affirms,  acting  under  McDow 
ell's  order,  remained  for  the  rest  of  the 
day  in  the  position  he  had  taken,  Mor- 
ell's  division  being  deployed  against 
the  foe,  the  other  divisions  being  massed. 
At  half-past  four  P.M.,  Pope  states,  that 
he  sent  express  orders  to  Porter  to  as. 
sail  the  right  flank  and  rear  of  the 
enemy.  The  order  reached  Porter 
about  dusk ;  but  it  was  then  too  late 
to  attack,  and,  more  than  this,  there 
was  now  no  chance  for  a  turning*  move- 

~ 

rnent,  since  Longstreet  had,  as  early  as 
noon,  taken  position  directly  in  Porter's 
front.  The  attack  under  such  circum 
stances  would  have  been  futile,  and  was 
not  attempted. 

Pope,  in  his  official  report,  made 
Jan.  27th,  18G3,  asserts,  in  the  most 
positive  manner,  that  there  was  no  rea 
son  why  Porter  should  not  have  turned 
Jackson's  right  flank,  and  thus  secured 
the  victory.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is 
only  fair  to  remind  the  reader  that,  the 
statements  made  above  being  correct, 
Pope  labored  under  grave  error,  and  has 
done  great  injustice  to  an  officer  who 
had  always  heretofore,  as  the  record 
shows,  been  found  active,  diligent  and 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.* 

*  We  have  neither  time  nor  space  to  enter  into  the 


Pope,  supposing  that  the  rebels  were 
retreating,  determined,  not  very  wisely, 
to  try  another  day's  struggle  with  Lee's 
forces,  under  the  notion,  as  he  phrases 
it,  that  "  at  least  he  would  lay  on  such 
blows  as  would  cripple  the  enemy  as 
much  as  possible,  and  delay,  as  long  as 
practicable,  any  further  advance  toward 
the  capital."  Estimating  his  available 
force  at  this  time  at  40,000  men,  Pope 
undertook,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  30th 
of  August,  to  fight  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  or  Manassas.  We  need  not 
enter  into  details.  The  rebels  were 
superior  in  numbers  and  in  the  general 
effectiveness  of  their  force;  and  the 
day's  struggles  and  contendings  result 
ed  in  fearful  slaughter  and  vain  efforts 
to  drive  back  the  foe.  Hour  after  hour 
the  battle  raged.  The  rebels  attacked 
Pope's  left  flank  with  tremendous  force 
and  effect,""  intending  to  seize  the  War- 
questions  in  dispute  between  Pope  and  Porter.  Our 
aim  is  to  give  the  narrative  truthfully  and  accurately, 
and  we  believe  that  we  have  done  so,  irrespective  of 
persons  or  parties.  Mr.  Swinton,  in  a  valuable  note 
(see  p.  180),  quotes  freely  from  rebel  documents,  pub 
lished  since  the  rebellion  was  put  down,  and  establishes 
the  fact  that,  by  noon,  Longstreet  had  his  forces  in 
position  so  as  completely  to  bar  Porter's  advance,  as 
ordered  by  Pope.  To  obey  such  an  order,  at  the  time 
it  was  received,  was  virtually  impossible.  Gen.  Porter, 
however,  a  number  of  months  subsequent  to  this  cam 
paign,  (in  Jan.  1863),  after  having  been  in  command 
of  the  defences  of  Washington,  and  sharing  with  his 
corps  in  the  battle  at  Antietam,  was  tried  by  a  court 
martial  at  Washington  for  alleged  disobedience  of 
Pope's  orders  while  under  his  command.  The  court 
brought  in  a  verdict,  of  guilty,  and  Porter  was  dismiss 
ed  from  the  service  of  the  United  States.  See  the  re 
cord  of  this  trial,  and  Porter's  defence  read  to  the 
court. 

*  Owing  to  a  movement  of  Lee  in  making  this  at 
tack,  Pope  got  the  notion  that  the  rebels  were  retreat 
ing  from  the  field.  He  accordingly  sent  a  telegram  to 
Washington,  announcing  that  Lee  and  his  army  were 
"  retreating  to  the  mountains ;"  this  at  once  became 
public  property,  by  means  of  the  wires,  throughout  the 
loyal  states  ;  but  the  brief  gratification  was  speedily 
followed  by  mortification  and  disappointment. 


214 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


renton  Turnpike  and  cut  off  our  army's 
line  of  retreat.  Towards  the  close  of 
the  afternoon,  our  troops  began  to  give 
way,  and  only  by  the  firmness  and 
spirit  of  some  battalions  of  regulars 
were  they  enabled  to  escape  from  rout 
and  entire  defeat.  Ni^ht  came  on, 

O  / 

welcome  now  more  than  ever,  and  under 
cover  of  the  darkness  the  dispirited, 
half-starved  troops  made  their  way 
across  Bull  Run,  by  the  Stone  Bridge, 
and  took  up  position  on  the  high  ground 
at  Centreville.  Lee  did  not  attempt 
any  pursuit  that  night. 

As  no  official  record  was  ever  made 
of  the  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners 
on  the  part  of  Gen.  Pope  in  this  cam 
paign,  or  on  that  of  the  rebel  command 
er,  the  severe  losses  on  both  sides  can 
be  estimated  only  approximately.  Our 
loss  was  probably  not  short  of  20,000 
men,  and  it  may  be  doubted  whether 
the  rebels  did  not  suffer  an  equally 
heavy  loss ; — a  sad  commentary  on  the 
aeronizms:  trial  which  rebellion  had 

o  o 

brought  upon  our  native  land. 

The  next  day,  Sunday,  Aug.  31st, 
Pope  asked  for  a  truce  to  gather  the 
wounded,  which  Lee  refused.  He  was 
eager  and  anxious  to  follow  up  his 
present  advantage,  and  accordingly  sent 
Jackson  forward  toward  Little  River 
turnpike,  to  turn  Pope's  right  and  cut 
off  his  retreat.  Pope,  aware  of  this 
movement,  fell  back ;  and  Jackson,  de 
layed  by  a  heavy  storm,  did  not  reach 
Pope's  right  till  late  in  the  afternoon  of 
September  1st,  at  which  time  he  made 
his  appearance  at  Oxhill,  near  German- 
town.  Jackson  immediately  began  an 
attack,  despite  the  storm  and  approach 
ing  night ;  it  was  met  by  the  troops  under 


Reno,  Hooker  and  Kearney.  The  fight 
was  not  long,  but  while  it  lasted  it 
was  very  sharp  and  fierce ;  the  rebels 
were  finally  driven  back  with  severe 
loss.  In  this  engagement  Gen.  Stevens 
was  killed.  Gen.  Kearney  also,  by  ac 
cident  in  the  dark,  when  reconnoitring 
at  a  critical  moment,  came  near  the 
enemy's  pickets  and  "wTas  shot.  Both 
were  brave  and  excellent  officers ;  the 
latter  especially  was  noted  as  one  of 
the  most  chivalrous  and  effective  in  the 
whole  army. 

Fredericksburg  was  evacuated  by 
Burnside  on  the  1st  of  September; 
Aquia  Creek  was  also  evacuated  ;* 
and  the  day  following,  by  Halleck's 
orders,  the  army  fell  back  within  the 
defences  at  Washington.  Pope's  career 
in  Virginia  was  ended,  and  Lee,  giving 
up  the  direct  pursuit,  made  preparations 
for  an  invasion  of  Maryland. 

Pope,  unhappily,  began  his  campaign 
by  foolish  boasting ;  he  thought  him 
self  competent  to  meet  and  overcome 
the  ablest  generals  of  the  rebels ;  and 
in  his  self-confidence,  he  imagined  that 
he  could  sweep  the  whole  field  before 
him.  But  he  failed  to  sustain  his  pre 
tensions  by  the  expected  success ;  his 
campaign  ended  ingloriously,  in  loss 
and  confusion.  It  would  be  unfair  to 
lay  the  entire  blame  upon  Pope  him 
self.  His  officers,  many  of  them  at 
least,  did  not  entertain  that  respect  for 
him  personally,  or  for  his  abilities,  which 
was  requisite  to  anything  like  zealous 

*  McClellan,  in  a  telegram  to  Halleck,  on  tlic  night 
of  the  31st  of  August,  uses  very  sharp  language  respect 
ing  Pope  and  his  movements :  "  To  speak  frankly,  and 
the  occasion  requires  it,  there  appears  to  be  a  total  ab 
sence  of  brains  ;  aud  I  fear  the  total  destruction  of  the 
army." 


CH.  XXI.] 


OUK  FORCES  IN  THE  WEST. 


215 


and  hearty  co-operation  with  him ;  and 
so  far  as  the  army  generally  was  con 
cerned,  he  was  not  the  man  to  inspire 
them  with  enthusiasm  or  spirit  needful 
to  give  a  commanding  general  full  con 
trol  over  his  troops.  In  one  thing  at 


least,  he  showed  good  sense,  for  at  the 
earliest  moment,  Sept.  3d,  he  asked  to 
be  relieved  of  his  command  ;  and,  in  a 
few  days,  he  left  Washington,  and  re 
tired  to  the  more  congenial  regions  of 
the  North-west. 


CHAPTER    X  XI. 
1862. 

INVASION  OP   KENTUCKY  BY   THE   REBELS :   WESTERN   TENNESSEE  :   BATTLES  OP 

IUKA   AND   CORINTH. 

Position  of  our  forces  in  department  of  the  Mississippi — Guerrilla  warfare  —  Murfreesborough  captured  by 
Forrest — Morgan's  raid  into  Kentucky — Taking  of  Cynthiana — Pursuit  of  Morgan  by  G.  C.  Smith — Other 
places  attacked — Kirby  Smith  enters  Kentucky — Union  defeat  at  Richmond — Legislature  hastens  to  leave 
Frankfort — Gov.  Robinson's  proclamation — Kirby  Smith's  also — Excitement  at  Louisville  and  Cincinnati — 
Gen.  Wallace  and  citizens  of  Cincinnati — Bragg's  projected  invasion  of  the  North-west — Gen.  Buell's  move 
ments  and  plans — McCook  murdered  by  guerrillas — Clarksville  and  Gallatin — Morgan's  victory — Guerrillas 
very  bold — Instances — Bragg  enters  Kentucky — Affair  at  Munfordsville — Bragg's  proclamation  and  address 
to  the  people  of  the  North-west — Tone  and  effect  of  it — Gen.  Morgan's  retreat  from  Cumberland  Gap — Gen. 
Buell  at  Louisville  —  Troops  there  —  Buell  sets  out  after  Bragg  —  Battle  at  Perryville — McCook's  corps — 
Bragg  retreats — Efforts  to  secure  his  large  spoils — Fruitless  pursuit  of  him — Invasion  a  failure — Gen.  Grant 
and  Western  Tennessee — Attempts  of  the  rebels — Plans  of  Price  against  Grant  and  Buell — luka  taken — 
Plan  of  attack  by  Grant  and  Rosecrans — How  carried  out  —  Battle  of  luka — Rebels  defeated — Van  Dorn's 
and  Price's  attack  on  Corinth  —  Bloody  battle  —  Our  victory — Washburn's  cavalry  expedition — Dickey's 
march  and  success — Rebel  raids — Grant's  position  and  public  expectations. 


1862. 


IN  a- preceding  chapter  (see  p.  179), 
wo  gave  an  account  of  the  evacuation 
of  Corinth  by  Beauregard  and  his 
forces,  the  capture  of  Memphis, 
and  other  operations  in  the 
South  and  West.  The  narrative  was 
brought  down  to  the  close  of  the  month 
of  June  and  early  part  of  July,  when 
Gen.  Pope  was  called  to  the  East  to 
take  command  of  the  "  Army  of  Vir 
ginia/'  and  Halleck  was  elevated  to 
the  position  of  general-in-chief  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States.  Follow- 
'ng  upon  these  changes,  military  affairs 
in  the  department  of  the  Mississippi 
were  so  arranged  as  that  Gen.  Buell 


was  in  command  of  the  main  body  of 
the  army,  to  the  east  of  Corinth,  mov 
ing  towards  Chattanooga;  Gen.  Grant 
held  the  line  from  Memphis  to  luka; 
Gen.  Curtis  commanded  the  forces  in 
Arkansas,  and  Gen.  Schofield  in  South 
western  Missouri.  The  rebels  having 
largely  increased  their  forces  by  con 
scription,  were  resolved  not  only  to  reoc- 
cupy  Arkansas,  Missouri,  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky,  but  to  invade  Ohio,  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  as  their  co-workers,  under 
Lee,  were  doing  in  Maryland  and  Penn 
sylvania. 

In  carrying  out  their  plans  they  pur 
posed  employing  extensively  the  guer- 


216 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


rilla  system  of  warfare,  a  system  so 
lawless  and  so  utterly  unscrupulous 
as  to  indicate  a  desperate  condition  of 
affairs  among  those  making  use  of  it. 
In  fact,  this  mode  of  fighting  for  or 
against  a  cause  was  denounced  as  a 
species  of  land  piracy  and  highway 
robbery,  and  the  men  who  made  them 
selves  prominent  and  notorious  in  it — 
the  Morgans,  the  Forrests,  the  Ashbys, 
and  the  like — were  looked  upon  as 
leaders  of  bauds  who  hesitated  not  to 
murder  as  well  as  plunder  in  every 
direction.  War,  under  any  circum 
stances,  is  a  terrible  scourge,  and  with 
all  the  restraints  placed  upon  a  regular, 
organized  army,  there  has  ever  been 
room  enough  for  acts  of  outrage  and 
wrong;  but  the  guerrillas,  bound  by 
no  law,  and  under  no  restraint,  carried 
fear  and  trembling  wherever  they  went. 
At  one  time  they  would  dash  into  a 
town  or  village,  seizing  horses,  cattle, 
and  stores,  shooting  Union  men  and 
dragging  away  whom  they  pleased ; 
at  another,  they  would  attack  railroad 
trains,  plunder  the  mails,  burn  the 
bridges,  or  fire  from  ambush  upon 
wagons;  though  frequently  dispersed 
they  would  suddenly  reappear,  and, 
being  men  of  desperate  characters  and 
fortunes,  no  man  felt  safe  while  they 
were  near ;  the  friends  of  secession 
sometimes  met  with  no  better  treat 
ment  than  those  who  remained  stead 
fast  in  their  loyalty.  By  the  rapidity 
of  their  movements  and  suddenness  of 
their  attacks,  these  guerrilla  bands  were 
able  to  inflict  vast  injury  upon  the 
Union  cause  in  Kentucky  and  other 
portions  of  the  South  and  West,  and 
they  gave  great  trouble  to  our  gen- 


18G2. 


erals  and  commanders  on  many  occa 
sions. 

The  months  of  July  and  August  were 
marked  by  efforts  of  guerrilla  parties 
along  the  borders  of  Tennessee  and  Ken 
tucky,  and  even  in  the  heart  of  the  latter 
state.  Raids  and  assaults  of  this  partic 
ular  description  became  quite  common. 
At  day-break,  on  the  morning  of  July 
13th,  an  unexpected  attack  was 
made  upon  the  Union  brigade, 
under  command  of  Gen.  T.  T.  Crittenden, 
in  charge  of  Murfreesborough,  by  a 
cavalry  force  over  3,000  in  number,  led 
by  N.  B.  Forrest,  a  fit  compeer  of  Mor 
gan  in  these  flying  expeditions.  The 
Union  effective  force  at  the  place  was 
only  about  eight  hundred.  The  sur 
prise  was  complete,  and  after  some 
weak  fighting,  our  men  were  compelled 
to  surrender.  The  prisoners,  including 
Gen.  Crittenden,  were  carried  to  Chat 
tanooga,  and  a  large  quantity  of  ammu 
nition  and  stores  was  brought  away 
or  destroyed.  Considerable  excitement 
was  caused  at  Nashville  by  the  news 
of  this  capture,  and  though  the  expedi 
tion  retired  to  Chattanooga,  whence  it 
had  come,  the  vicinity  continued  to  be 
much  harassed  by  guerrillas. 
At  the  same  time  that  Murfreesborousrh 

O 

was  thus  surprised,  there  came  a  fresh 
raid  into  Kentucky,  headed  by  the 
noted  John  II.  Morgan.  Having 
crossed  into  Kentucky  from  Knoxville, 
with  about  900  men,  he  issued,  on  the 
10th  of  July,  at  Glasgow,  a  proclama 
tion  to  the  inhabitants,  and  called  upon 
them  to  give  him  their  aid  and  coun 
tenance.  His  proclamation  was  full  of 
highly  wrought  appeals,  and  the  usual 
stuff  about  "  northern  tyrants,"  "  the 


CH.  XXL] 


REBEL  RAIDING  OPEPwATIONS. 


217 


Hessian  invaders,''  the  "foreign  hordes," 
etc.,  and  he  evidently  expected  the 
people  to  "rise,  one  and  all,  and  to 
clear  out  dear  Kentucky's  soil  of  its 
detested  invaders."  Morgan  pushed 
rapidly  forward  to  the  centre  of  the 
state  and  took  possession  of  Lebanon, 
where  he  freely  helped  himself  to  sup 
plies  from,  the  abundant  government 
commissary  stores,  and  the  property  of 
the  towns-people.  Having  destroyed, 
to  a  considerable  extent,  the  railroad 
communication  with  Cincinnati,  Mor 
gan,  on  the  17th  of  July,  at  the  head 
of  a  motley  force  of  about  2,000,  with 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  fell  upon  a  body 
of  340  men  at  Cynthiana,  in  Harrison 
county — volunteers  and  home  guards, 
for  the  most  part  poorly  armed  and 
undisciplined,  under  command  of 
Lieut.-Col.  Landrum.  This  officer  dis 
posed  his  little  force  to  the  best  advan 
tage,  placing  a  number  of  his  men  at 
the  bridge  over  the  Licking  River,  and 

O  O 

his  single  artillery  piece,  a  brass  12- 
pounder,  in  the  public  square,  com 
manding  the  different  approaches.  The 
rebels  came  in  by  every  road,  street, 
and  by-path  ;  the  force  at  the  bridge 
was  soon  dislodged,  arid  a  furious  cav 
alry  charge  having  been  made  into  the 
town  it  speedily  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.* 

A  body  of  mounted  infantry  was  im 
mediately  gathered  at  Lexington  and 

*  Cincinnati,  though  sixty  miles  distant,  was  some 
what  excited  by  the  news  of  this  capture  of  Cynthiana, 
and  apprehensions  were  felt  for  the  safety  of  the  line 
of  the  Kentucky  Central  llailroad.  Col.  Burbank,  of 
the  U.S.  array,  took  military  command  of  the  city, 
and  volunteer  companies  were  organized.  Martial 
law  was  .proclaimed  at  Covington,  and  every  effort 
was  made  to  hasten  the  sending  troops  into  the  field 
for  the  protection  of  the  state. 
VOL.  IV.— 28. 


its  vicinity,  and  placed  under  Gen. 
Green  Clay  Smith,  who  set  out  at  once 
in  pursuit  of  the  raiders.  On  coming 
up  with  Morgan's  cavalry  near  Paris, 
he  defeated  them,  retaking  the  cannon 
and  horses  captured  at  Cyuthiana,  with 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  stolen  pro 
perty.  Morgan,  though  pursued  by 
Smith,  made  his  escape  into  Tennessee, 
at  the  close  of  July,  boasting  of  his 
great  success  in  his  expedition. 

Henderson,  on  the  Ohio,  was  also  oc 
cupied  by  guerrillas  at  this  same  date, 
who  crossed  over  into  Indiana  and  plun 
dered  a  hospital  at  Newburg.  Russel- 
ville,  the  capital  of  Logan  County, 
southwest  of  Bowling  Green,  was  also 
taken  by  guerrillas,  on  the  29th  of  July  • 
and  the  same  day,  Mount  Sterling,  east 
of  Lexington,  was  assailed  by  a  body 
of  rebels.  These,  however,  were  driven 
off  by  the  citizens,  and  pursued  to  a 
considerable  distance. 

Towrard  the  close  of  the  month  of 
August,  a  large  division  of  the  rebel 
troops  in  Tennessee  threatened  an  in 
vasion  of  Kentucky.  Gen.  E.  Kirby 
Smith,  having  his  headquarters  at  Knox- 
ville,  in  East  Tennessee,  began  his  ad 
vance  on  the  22d  of  August.  After  a 

O 

very  difficult  and  fatiguing  march,  Smith 
entered  Kentucky  without  opposition, 
and  on  the  29th,  appeared  before  Rich 
mond,  the  capital  of  Madison  County, 
forty-eight  miles  southeast  of  Frankfort. 
Gen.  Manson  was  in  command  of  the 
Union  troops,  which,  mostly  raw  and  un 
disciplined,  numbered  about  6,500  men. 
Smith's  force  was  estimated  to  he  very 
much  larger,  and,  on  the  30th  of  Au 
gust,  after  nearly  a  whole  day's  fight 
ing,  in  which  our  loss  was  very  severe, 


218 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  VIII 


he  succeeded  in  completely  defeating 
Manson  and  bis  troops. 

The  legislature  of  the  state  was  at 
this  time  in  session  at  Frankfort,  and  so 
alarmed  were  the  members  by  this  suc 
cess  of  Kirby  Smith,  that,  on  Sunday 
evening,  the  31st  of  August,  they  pass 
ed  resolutions  to  adjourn  at  once  to 
Louisville.  The  archives  of  the  state, 
and  about  $1,000,000  from  the  banks 
of  Richmond,  Lexington  and  Frankfort, 
were  transferred  during  the  nievht  to 

~  o 

Louisville.  A  proclamation  was  also 
issued  by  Gov.  Robinson,  who  had  re 
cently  succeeded  Gov.  Magoffin,  and 
the  people  of  Kentucky  were  urgently 
appealed  to  in  the  existing  critical  state 
of  affairs.  "  To  arms !  to  arms  !"  he 
said ;  "  and  never  lay  them  down  till 
the  stars  and  stripes  float  in  triumph 
throughout  Kentucky." 

The  rebel  general,  having  occupied 
Lexington  and  Frankfort  without  op 
position,  deemed  it  proper  to  issue  a 
proclamation,  September  2d,  disclaim 
ing  entirely  any  purpose  of  invasion  for 
the  purpose  of  coercion  or  control,  and 
asserting  that  they  were  come,  not  as 
invaders,  but  liberators. 

There  was,  naturally,  not  a  little  ex 
citement  in  Louisville  and  Cincinnati  in 
the  present  threatening  aspect  of  affairs. 
In  the  former  city,  citizens,  at  the  call  of 
the  mayor,  enrolled  themselves  for  home 
guards ;  martial  law  was  declared  in 
the  county,  and  the  legislature  co 
operated  with  the  military  authorities 
in  measures  for  the  defence  of  the  state. 
At  Cincinnati,  where  the  danger  ap 
peared  more  pressing,  the  most  vigor 
ous  measures  were  taken  for  defence. 
Gen.  Lewis  Wallace  assumed  command 


1§62. 


of  Cincinnati,  Covington  and  Newport 
on  the  1st  of  September.  Martial  law 
was  declared,  and  the  citizens 
entered  with  enthusiasm  upon 
the  work  of  defence  and  preparations  to 
meet  the  advancing  rebels.  So  indus 
triously  did  they  labor  that,  in  a  few 
days,  there  were  not  less  than  ten  miles 
of  entrenchments  lining  the  hills  and 
furnished  with  cannon.  For  a  while  it 
was  doubtful  what  move  the  rebels 
would  next  make.  On  the  10th  of 
September,  it  was  thought  that  a  battle 
was  imminent,  and  special  activity  was 
displayed  in  order  to  be  ready  for  it ; 
but  the  rebels,  finding  that  there  were 
such  means  of  resistance,  and  fearing  an 
attack  from  another  quarter,  gave  up 
the  attempt  and  retired.  Gen.  "Wallace 
issued  a  congratulatory  address,  but 
warned  the  people  to  be  prepared  for 
future  emergencies. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  failure  of 
Kirby  Smith's  attempt  upon  Cincinnati, 
that  a  more  serious  danger  presented 
itself.  This  arose  out  of  the  projected 
invasion  of  the  North-west  by  the  main 
army  of  the  rebels  in  Tennessee,  under 
command  of  Bragg.  Corinth,  in  Missis 
sippi,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  evacu 
ated  by  Beauregard,  at  the  end  of  May 
(see  p.  1^9),  the  retreat  being  continued 
as  far  as  Tupello,  in  the  same  state. 
Gen.  Buell,  who  had  been  left  by  Hal- 
leek  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  after  much  effort  and  difficulty, 
extended  his  lines  eastward  along  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad,  to 
Huntsville,  Alabama,  where  he  estab 
lished  his  headquarters.  The  rebel 
general,  anticipating  a  further  move 
ment  in  this  direction  on  BuelPs  part, 


CH.  XXI.] 


GUERRILLA  ROBBERS  AND  MURDERERS. 


219 


sent  a  portion  of  his  force  to  Chatta 
nooga,  thus  outflanking  Buell,  and, 
with  Eastern  Tennessee  already  in  pos 
session,  securing  an  open  route  in  the 
rear  of  Nashville  to  Kentucky. 

Finding  the  guerrilla  warfare  particu 
larly  annoying,  in  interfering  with  his 
communications,  in  destroying  railroad 
bridges,  and  in  various  other  ways, 
Buell  felt  compelled  to  abandon  his 
line  of  defence  in  Northern  Alabama, 
and  withdraw  his  divisions  un-der  Nel 
son,  "Wood,  McCook,  Crittenden  and 
Thomas  from  their  several  stations  to 
Murfreesborous-h  and  the  line  of  the 

O 

Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad.* 
On  the  19th  of  August,  Clarksville, 
Tennessee,  on  the  Cumberland  Kiver, 
was  surrendered  by  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  Col.  R.  Mason,  to  an  inferior 
force  and  without  firing  a  gun.  In  an 
other  direction,  to  the  north-east  of 
Nashville,  the  famous  John  Morgan,  on 
the  12th  of  August,  made  a  dash  with 
his  guerrillas  upon  Gallatiu,  capturing 
Col.  Boone  and  four  companies  of  a 
Kentucky  regiment.  The  place  was  re 
taken  directly  afterwards,  and  the  dam 
age  done  to  the  railroad,  the  bridges, 
etc.,  was  repaired.  On  the  22d,  Gen. 
R.  W.  Johnson,  with  about  800  men, 
attacked  Morgan  and  his  raiders  near 
Gallatin,  the  result  of  which  was,  that 
Johnson  was  taken  prisoner  and,  to 


*  On  tlie  5th  of  August,  Gen.  R.  L.  McCook  was 
murdered  by  a  body  of  guerrillas  near  Salem,  Ala 
He  was  sick  at  the  time,  and  travelling  in  an  ambu 
lance,  one  regiment  of  his  brigade  being  in  advance 
and  the  remainder  some  distance  in  the  rear.  Over  a 
hundred  guerrillas,  lying  in  ambush,  waited  the  favor 
able  moment  of  his  being  at  a  distance  from  his  men 
and  rushing  upon  him,  shot  him  down  in  cold 'blood 
An  able  and  excellent  officer,  his  death  was  sincerely 
lamented  ty  all  who  knew  him,  especially  the  men 
under  his  immediate  command. 


;heir  disgrace,  more  than  half  his  force 

O  ' 

was  killed  or  captured. 

Successes  like  these,  in  various  direc- 
;ions,  emboldened  the  guerrillas,  and 
;hey  became  more  troublesome  than 
ver.  Travel  ceased  to  be  safe,  even 
near  the  capital ;  the  mails  were  robbed ; 
Union  men  were  seized  and  dragged  off ; 
and  quite  frequently  small  detachments 
of  Union  troops  were  suddenly  set 
upon  and  killed  or  made  prisoners. 
The  state  of  things  became  intolerable, 
and  in  the  western  part  of  Kentucky, 
they  resolved  to  hang  every  guerrilla 
that  was  caught.  In  addition  to  the 

o 

men  who  served  under  Morgan,  Forrest, 
and  such  like,  there  was  a  class  of 
marauders  who  followed  or  accom 
panied  them,  a  desperate  band,  who 
spared  neither  sex  nor  age,  and  who 
plundered  and  ravaged  all  alike.  The 
same  process  of  guerrilla  warfare  was 
carried  on  against  boats  on  the  Missis 
sippi,  who  were  signaled  to  come  near 
the  shore,  as  if  for  passengers  or  freight, 
and  then  fired  into  from,  ambush,  or 
seized  and  plundered.  At  Randolph, 
on  the  Mississippi,  an  outrage  of  this 
kind  was  perpetrated,  which  led  Gen. 
Sherman  to  send  a  force  from  Memphis 
and  completely  destroy  the  place. 

The  movement  of  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio  was  now  in  a  northerly  direction, 
parallel  with  the  advance  of  Bragg 
throiiffh  Middle  Tennessee  toward  Ken- 

O 

tucky.*  Bragg  leaving  Chattanooga 
on  the  21st  of  August,  followed  up  the 


*  The  principal  object  of  the  present  rebel  invasion 
was  to  obtain  supplies  of  meat,  the  deficiency  of  which 
the  disloyal  states  were  feeling  already  very  keenly. 
It  was  hoped  also,  that  by  means  of  a  large  military 
force  within  her  borders,  Kentucky  might  be  coaxed 
or  compelled  to  cast  in  her  lot  with  secession  and  re 
bellion. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII, 


Valley  of  tlie  Sequatcliie  to  Pikeville, 
thence  to  Sparta,  threatening  Buell's 
army,  and  pursuing  his  route  by  Carth 
age,  entered  Kentucky  the  first  week  in 
September,  just  after  Kirby  Smith  had 
gained  possession  of  Frankfort.  At 
Glasgow,  on  the  18th  of  September, 
Bragg  issued  a  proclamation,  in  sub 
stance  the  same  as  those  issued  by  Mor 
gan  and  Kirby  Smith,  making  the 
same  pretensions  and  asking  the  same 
returns. 

A  few  days  before  this,  there  was  a 
sharp  engagement  between  the  advance 
of  Buckuer's  division  of  Bragg's  army, 
and  the  Union  troops,  3,000  in  number, 
stationed  at  Munfordsville,  on  Green 
River,  where  the  Louisville  and  Nash 
ville  Railroad  crosses.  The  rebels  de 
manded  the  surrender  of  the  place, 
which  was  refused  by  Col.  Wilder,  the 
commander  of  the  troops.  An  attack 
was  made  at  daylight,  which  was  re 
pulsed  with  considerable  slaughter. 
The  fight  was  renewed  two  days  later, 
and  continued  till  the  close  of  the  day. 
As  Bragg  was  near  with  his  main  force, 
Col.  Dunham,  then  in  command,  sur 
rendered  the  place,  on  the  17th  of  Sep 
tember  ;  his  force  amounting  to  about 
4,500  in  all,  together  with  10  guns. 

Bragg  next  advanced  to  Bardstown, 
where  on  the  26th,  he  issued  another 
proclamation  addressed  to  the  people 
of  the  North-west.  In  this  document, 
which  was  a  curious  mixture  of  argu 
ment,  entreaty  and  threatening,  Bragg 
gave  expression  to  the  sentiments  which 
were  largely  entertained  by  the  rebel 
leaders  at  the  time.  It  was  an  elaborate 
effort  to  stir  up  sectional  strife  and  di 
vision,  begging  them  to  put  a  stop  to 


the  Avar,  as  they  had  the  -power,  and  to 
refuse  to  let  the  East  groAv  rich  by 
tariffs  and  the  like,  imposed  on  them  as 
well  as  on  the  South.  Very  possibly, 
Bragg  and  his  fellow  laborers  in  a  bad 
cause,  may  have  thought  that  the  in 
habitants  of  the  North-Avest  might  be 
persuaded  to  aid  them  in  their  designs 
by  appealing  to  motives  of  self-interest 
and  narrow  and  unworthy  prejudices  ; 
but,  if  so,  they  were  grievously  disap 
pointed.  On  the  contrary,  the  loyal 
supporters  of  the  Union  Avere  nerved  to 
fresh  and  determined  efforts  to  put 
down  the  rebellion. 

Gen.  Morgan,  who  held  the  import 
ant  post  at  Cumberland  Gap  (see  p.  180), 
Avas  cut  off  from  his  usual  sources  of 
supply  by  the  in\Tasiou  of  Kentucky 
under  Bragg.  During  two  months 
from  the  date  of  the  occupation  of  the 
Gap,  Gen.  Morgan  had  bravely  main 
tained  his  position  ;  but  appre 
hension  of  famine,  and  of  being 
finally  compelled  to  surrender,  induced 
him,  Avhile  he  had  opportunity,  to  make 
good  his  retreat.  Accordingly,  on  the 
17th  of  September,  he  gave  orders  for 
the  evacuation .  The  military  buildings, 
and  all  the  stores  Avhich  could  not 
readily  be  carried  away,  Avere  burnt. 
The  escape  of  Morgan  and  his  troops 
along  a  Avild  mountain  track  of  250 
miles,  through  the  counties  of  Eastern 
Kentucky,  by  way  of  Manchester, 
Hazel  Green,  West  Liberty  and  Gray- 
son,  to  the  Ohio  at  Greenupsburg, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  3d  of  Octo 
ber,  Avas  one  of  the  most  perilous  ad 
ventures  of  the  Avar,  beset,  as  they 
were,  by  the  enemy,  by  Marshall's  and 
Smith's  divisions,  on  whose  fiank  they 


Cn.  XXL]          BATTLE  OF  PERRYVILLE  OR  CHAPLIN'S  HILLS. 


221 


were  moving.  Much  suffering  and 
privation,  from  want  of  water  and  sup 
plies  of  food,  were  cheerfully  undergone, 
and  having  saved  their  cannon,  which 
were  draped  the  whole  of  the  distance 

OO 

by  oxen  and  mules,  10,000  men,  with 
28  pieces  of  artillery  and  400  wagons, 
marched  in  safety  to  the  Ohio. 

Buell,  leaving  Nashville  in  charge  of 
Gen.  Negley,  had  followed  Bragg's  in 
vading  force  closely  on  its  route  into 
Kentucky,  and  re  occupied  Munfords- 
ville.  While  the  rebel  general  was 
making  his  way  toward  Frankfort, 
Buell  marched  by  the  main  road  into 
Louisville,  where  the  advance  arrived 
on  the  25th  of  September.  Here,  in 
and  around  the  city,  he  found  a  con 
siderable  body  of  raw  troops,  hastily 
gathered  from  Illinois,  Indiana  and 

O  / 

Ohio,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Nel 
son,  who,  it  may  here  be  mentioned, 
was  shot  a  few  days  afterwards  in  a  ren 
contre  with  Gen.  J.  C.  Davis. 

Some  confusion  and  trouble  arose  for 
a  while,  out  of  the  bringing  together  of 

/  O        O  O 

troops,  and  the  apparent  conflict  of 
authority  between  officers  belonging  to 
the  armies  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  In 
due  time  matters  were  brought  to  a 

O 

settlement;  Kentucky  was  withdrawn 
from  the  department  of  Ohio,  and  the 
army  of  Gen.  Buell  was  organized  in 
three  corps,  under  the  command  res 
pectively  of  Gens.  A.  McD.  McCook, 
T.  L.  Crittenden  and  C.  C.  Gilbert. 
Gen.  Thomas  was  second  in  command 
of  the  whole.  On  the  1st  of  October, 

Buell  left  Louisville  with  an  armv  of 

«/ 

about  100,000  men,  in  pursuit  of  Bragg 
and  his  army  of  invasion.  On  the  4th, 
he  reached  Bardstown,  which  had  been 


evacuated  by  Bragg  the  day  before,  and 
on  the  6th,  he  arrived  at  Springfield, 
sixty-two  miles  from  Lexington.  There 
were  frequent  skirmishing  and  contests 
with  the  rebel  army's  rear  guard, 
Bragg  being  twenty-four  hours  in  ad 
vance  of  our  troops  and  steadily  gam- 
ins-.  Buell  learned,  on  the  Vth  of  Octo- 

O  / 

ber,  that  the  enemy  were  in  force  at 
Perryville,  forty-two  miles  south  of 
Frankfort.  He  determined  to  surround 
the  enemy,  if  possible,  and  accordingly 
ordered  the  three  army  corps  which 
were  marching  upon  Perryville  by  dif 
ferent  roads,  to  advance  without  any 
delay.  McCook  and  Gilbert  continued 
their  march  without  interruption,  but 
Crittenden  lost  half  a  day  in  searching 
for  water. 

Bragg  had  already  begun  his  retreat 
from  Perryville,  but  hearing  of  Critten- 
den's  delay  on  the  march,  he  resolved 
to  fight  McCook  and  Gilbert  and  de- 

O 

feat  them,  and  then  fall  upon  Critten 
den.  Accordingly,  Hardee's  corps  was 
recalled  to  Perryville,  and  McCook, 
wholly  unexpectedly,  on  the  morning 
of  the  8th  of  October,  found  the  rebels 
in  front  of  him,  prepared  for  an  assault. 
Taken  by  surprise,  with  raw,  inefficient 
troops,  McCook1  s  corps  was,  in  a  few 
hours,  badly  cut  up  and  compelled  to 
fall  back  nearly  a  mile.  Reinforce 
ments  were  promptly  ordered  up ;  but 
night  coming  on,  the  fight  ceased. 

o  O  '  O 

Crittenden's  corps  arrived  in  the  even 
ing,  and  early  the  next  day,  it  was 
ascertained  that  Bragg  had  retreated. 
The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  in  the 
battle  of  Perryville  or  Chaplin's  Hills, 
was  severe,  numbering  according  to 

'  O'  O 

Buell's  report,  about  4,000.     The  rebel 


22; 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


loss,  so  far  as  known,  was  fully  as  severe 
as  ours. 

Bragg  having  now  some  60,000  men, 
it  was  expected  that  he  would  make  a 
stand  at  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  on  Dick 
River.  JB u ell's  plan  was  to  make  a 
feint  of  attacking  in  front,  while  the 
real  attack  was  to  be  made  on  the 
flanks.  Crittendeu  was  to  advance  in 
front,  and  McCook  and  Gilbert  to  ap 
proach  by  different  roads  so  as  to  cut 
off  Bragg's  escape,  and  compel  him  to 
fight  or  surrender.  Bragg  seems  to 
have  divined  Buell's  -purpose,  and  on 
the  night  of  the  llth  of  October,  evac 
uated  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  having  as 
spoils  which  he  was  anxious  to  secure, 
4,000  wagons  with  the  mark  "  U.  S." 
upon  them,  and  some  5,000  head  of  cat 
tle,  1,000  mules  and  as  many  sheep. 
So  soon  as  Buell  learned  the  fact  of 
Bragg's  retreat,  he  ordered  immediate 
pursuit  by  the  array  encamped  near 
Danville.  The  rebels,  however,  possess 
ed  such  superior  knowledge  of  the 
country,  and  were  so  skilful  in  availing 
themselves  of  every  advantage,  that  the 
rear  guard  of  Bragg  was  able  to  hold 
in  check  the  advance  of  our  troops  and 
prevent  their  doing  any  material  injury 
to  the  retreating  army.  Bragg  kept  the 
road  toward  Cumberland  Gap,  and  re 
tired  in  the  direction  of  Crab  Orchard. 
On  the  14th  of  October,  our  army  set 
out  early  for  this  latter  place,  but  were 
delayed  by  sagacious  manoeuvres  of  the 
enemy,  and  their  advance  hindered  for 
several  hours.  Crittenden's  corps,  with 
W.  S.  Smith's  division,  urged  on  the 
pursuit  as  rapidly  and  as  well  as  the 
difficult  way,  often  passing  through 
narrow  defiles,  admitted ;  it  was  kept 


up  on  the  direct  road  as  far  as  London, 
and  on  the  branch  road  to  Manchester. 
Further  than  this  it  was  deemed,  by 
Buell,  inexpedient  and  useless  to  con 
tinue  the  pursuit. 

The  invasion  of  Kentucky  was  cer 
tainly  successful  in  the  matter  of  ob 
taining  a  large  amount  of  supplies  and 
stores  of  various  kinds  ;  but  in  other 
respects  it  was  a  failure.  The  Ken- 
tuckians  did  not  rally  around  the  rebel 
standard,  and  evidently  preferred  to  re 
main  in  their  true  and  proper  place  in 
the  Union.  Pollard,  angered  at  the 

/  O 

"  abject  attitude  "  of  those  who  "  drag 
ged  the  names  of  Maryland  and  Ken 
tucky  in  the  dust,"  cannot  but  admit 
"  that  the  South  was  bitterly  disap 
pointed  in  the  manifestations  of  public 
sentiment  in  Kentucky,  and  that  the 
exhibitions  of  sympathy  in  this  statt 
were  meagre  and  sentimental,  and 
amounted  to  but  little  practical  aid  of 
our  cause."*  He  strives  to  find  a  rea 
son  for  all  this,  but  in  vain.  Ken 
tucky,  as  a  whole,  was  loyal ;  and  yet 
Jeff.  Davis  had  the  assurance  to  claim 
this  state  as  a  member  of  his  so-called 
"  confederacy." 

Grant,  as  we  have  stated  (see  p.  180) 
was  in  charge  of  the  department  of 
Western  Tennessee,  including  the  region 
between  the  Tennessee  River 
and  the  Mississippi.  A  por 
tion  of  his  force  having  been  withdrawn 
to  give  encouragement  and  assistance  to 
the  newly-levied  troops  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  the  rebels  were  induced 
to  appear  in  strong  force  and  threaten 
Grant's  several  lines  of  communication. 
A  demonstration  of  this  kind,  by  a  large 

*  "  Second  Year  of  the  War,"  pp.  162-163. 


CH.  XXL] 


BATTLE  OF  IITKA. 


223 


body  of  rebel  cavalry,  under  Armstrng 
was  made  August  30th,  against  Bolivar^ 
in  Tennessee,  for  the  purpose  of  severing 
the  railroad  at  that  point.  They  were 
met,  when  within  five  miles  of  Bolivar, 
by  Col.  Leg-get,  with  a  body  of  Ohio 
troops  numbering  about  900.  Al 
though  the  enemy  were  estimated  to  be 
at  least  4,000  strong,  yet  our  men 
bravely  resisted  their  advance,  and 
compelled  them,  after  a  seven  hours' 
eno-ao-ernent,  to  move  off  in  another 

O      O  ' 

direction.  Armstrong  next  attacked  a 
detachment  of  our  troops,  on  the  rail 
road  at  Medon,  August  31st;  and  again, 

/  o  *  o  ' 

the  following  day,  at  Britton's  Lane ; 
but  in  both  cases  he  was  repulsed  with 
severe  loss,  and  our  men  remained  in 
possession  of  the  field. 

Early  in  September,  it  became  evi 
dent  that  the  rebels,  under  Sterling 
Price,  were  preparing  to  advance  and 
break  the  line  of  communication  be 
tween  Grant  and  Buell,  in  order  that, 
having  -  crossed  the  Tennessee,  they 
might  operate  to  advantage  on  the 
flank  of  Buell's  army,  in  concert  with 
the  advance  of  Bragg  to  Kentucky, 
luka,  a  small  town  on  the  Memphis 
and  Charleston  Railroad,  twenty  miles 
southeast  of  Corinth,  had  been  seized 
upon  by  the  rebels,  and  was  now  oc 
cupied  by  Price  in  force.  This  led  to 
steps  at  once,  on  the  part  of  Grant  and 
Rosecrans,  who,  in  dislodging  Price 

f  '  o        O 

from  his  position,  resolved  to  make  a 
double  attack.  It  was  decided  that  a 
column  of  18,000  men,  under  Grant 
and  Ord,  should  move  by  way  of 
Burnsville,  and  attack  Price,  while 
Rosecrans,  moving  by  way  of  Jacinto 
with  part  of  his  corps,  was  to  attack 


the  enemy  on  the  flank,  and  push  for. 
ward  the  balance  of  his  column  on  the 
Fulton  road,  so  as  to  cut  off*  Price's  re 
treat,  in  case  he  should  attempt  it- 
With  this  understanding,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  September  18th,  the  army  began 
its  movement.  Stanley's  and  Hamil 
ton's  divisions,  under  Rosecrans,  left 
Clear  Creek,  amid  a  drenching  rain,  and 
after  a  fatis-uino;  march,  bivouacked  that 

O  O  / 

nisrht  at  Jacinto.     At  dawn  the  next 

O 

day,  they  were  again  on  the  march,  and 
about  ten  o'clock,  the  advance  of 
Hamilton's  division  came  upon  the  pic 
kets  of  the  enemy  at  Barnett's  Corners. 
A  sharp  skirmish  ensued,  which  result 
ed  in  driving  them  six  miles  toward 
luka. 

The  entire  column  having  now  ar 
rived  at  Barnett's  Corners,  Rosecrans 
waited,  according  to  previous  under 
standing,  for  the  sound  of  Grant's  ar- 

o/ 

tillery,  as  the  signal  for  him  to  move 
forward;  but  after  the  lapse  of  two 
hours,  he  received  a  dispatch  from 
Grant,  then  only  seven  miles  from 
luka,  that  he  was  waiting  for  Rose 
crans  to  commence,  the  battle.  Im 
mediately  the  column  was  moved  for 
ward  until  within  two  miles  of  luka, 
where  the  enemy  were  discovered 
posted  on  a  broad  ridge  command- 
in^  the  country  for  some  distance.  A 
sharp  fire  was  opened  upon  the  skir 
mishers  as  they  advanced,  under  which 
Hamilton's  division  came  up  and 
formed  in  line.  The  engagement 
speedily  became  general,  and  continued 
lor  two  hours,  when  darkness  prevent 
ed  a  continuance  of  the  fight.  It  was 
'a  fierce  contest,  and  brought  out  the 
biaveryand  spirit  of  the  troops,  who 


224 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Ex.  VIIL 


lay  on  their  arms,  expecting  the  next 
mormnp-  to  renew  the  battle.  During 

o  o 

the  night,  however,  tlie  rebels  evacua 
ted  luka,  and,  though  pursued  actively, 
made  good  their  escape  to  Bay  Spring. 
The  troops  under  Grant  and  Ord,  which 
left  Corinth  at  the  same  time  when 
Rosecrans  marched,  reached  Burns ville 
in  the  afternoon.  The  next  day,  they 
pushed  forward  until  they  came  up 
with  the  rebel  pickets ;  but  no  attack 
was  made.  The  morning  following, 
September  20th,  a  flag  of  truce  was 
sent  to  the  rebel  camp,  which  did 
not  return  until  late  in  the  day ;  and 
thus  Grant's  troops  did  not  engage  the 
enemy  as  was  expected. 

Having  met  with  a  repulse  at  luka, 
the  rebels  now  determined  to  make  a 
vigorous  onset  on  Corinth,  where  were 
Rosecrans's  headquarters,  and  where  he 
was  anxiously  expecting  their  advance. 
Price,  it  was  understood,  had  marched 
to  the  vicinity  of  Ripley,  where  he  was 
joined  by  Van  Dorn,  with  all  the 
available  troops  in  North  Mississippi. 
Thence  the  joint  force  proceeded  north 
erly,  and  struck  the  line  of  the  Mem 
phis  and  Charleston  Railroad,  in  Ten- 
nesse,  in  the  rear  of  Corinth,  at  Poca- 
hontas.  There  they  were  able  to 
menace  alike  Grant,  at  his  headquarters 
at  Jackson,  and  Rosecrans  at  Corinth ; 
and  made  their  advance  upon  the  latter 
place  by  way  of  the  Che  walla  road. 

Rosecrans,  who  was  in  command  at 
Corinth,  Grant  being  at  Jackson,  and 
Ord  at  Bolivar,  had  made  his  prepara 
tions  for  an  attack,  and  had  so  arranged 
his  defences  that  if  the  enemy  could  be 
drawn  under  them  he  was  certain  of 
their  defeat.  On  the  approach  of  the 


rebels,  troops  were  sent  out  to  meet 
them,  and  during  the  30th  of  Septem 
ber  and  the  1st  and  2d  of  October  there 
was  constant  skirmishing  kept  up  on 
both  sides.  On  the  3d,  the  rebel 
force  was  largely  increased,  and  our 
men  were  driven  back,  with  great  loss, 
to  the  defences  of  the  town.  Rosecrans 
and  his  staff  were  on  the  field  all  night, 
making  final  preparations  to  receive 
the  enemy,  and  nothing  was  neglected 
that  seemed  necessary  to  insure  vic 
tory.* 

At  early  dawn,  on  Saturday,  Octo 
ber  4th,  the  rebels  showed  themselves 
eas;er  for  the  fiovht,  and  in  the  course 

O  O         ' 

of  an  hour  or  two  the  battle  was  begun 
in  earnest  by  a  force  numbering  nearly 
40,000  men.  Price  led  the  one  wing 
and  Van  Dora  the  other.  Price  as 
saulted  the  right  of  our  force  with  in 
tense  fury  and  determination ;  but  so 
skilfully  had  Rosecrans  arranged  his 
batteries,  and  so  bravely  were  the 
rebels  met  by  our  men,  that  Price's  ad 
vance  was  repulsed  before  Van  Dorn 
was  able  to  come  up  on  the  left.  The 
attempt  was  made  to  recover  what  was 
lost,  and  with  valor  worthy  of  a  better 
cause  Van  Dorn's  men  strove  for  suc 
cess  ;  but  in  vain.  They  were  beaten 
in  the  bloody  struggle,  and  by  noon 
of  the  same  day  began  their  retreat. 
Pursuit  was  undertaken  as  speedily  as 
possible,  the  enemy  taking  the  Chew- 

*  Van  Dorn,  it  seems,  like  Pope,  (p.  213)  was  rash 
enough  on  Friday  evening,  to  send  a  dispatch  to  Rich 
mond,  announcing  a  glorious  victory,  before  the  bat 
tle  was  ended.  Pollard  finds  it  hard  to  excuse  "  an 
exultation  so  hasty  and  extreme."  He  is  also  very 
severe  on  "  the  blind  and  romantic  generalship,  which 
carried  them  (the  rebels)  into  the  jaws  of  destruction." 
— "  Second  Year  of  the  War,"  pp.  164-167. 


On.  XXI.  J 


WASHBURN'S  AND  DICKEY'S  EXPEDITIONS. 


225 


alia  road,  purposing  to  cross  the  Tus- 
cumbia  River,  near  Pocahontas.  A 
detaclimeut  sent  forward  to  protect  the 
Hatchie  River  bridge,  two  miles  from 
that  across  the  Tuscumbia,  was  attack 
ed  on  the  4th,  the  day  of  the  battle,  by 
our  troops  under  Ord  and  Hurlbut, 
and  defeated. 

Our  losses  in  this  hotly  contested  bat 
tle  were  severe,  viz.:  315  killed,  1,812 
wounded,  and  232  prisoners;  the  rebel 
loss  was  much  greater,  Rosecrans  es 
timating  it  at  some  5,000  to  6,000. 

After  this  second  battle  at  Corinth, 
the  troops  returned  to  their  respective 
positions.  No  immediate  advance  into 
Mississippi  was  undertaken  by  Grant, 
he  being  content  to  keep  open  his  com 
munications  with  Columbus,  and  hold 
his  positions  at  Jackson  and  Bolivar  in 
Western  Tennessee.  At  the  beginning 

O  O 

of  December,  he  took  possession 
of  Holly  Springs,  on  the  Missis 
sippi  Central  Railroad,  and  advanced 
some  miles  beyond  to  confront  Van 
Dora,  on  the  Tallahatchie  River.  To 
co-operate  with  this  movement  and  to 
act  on  the  rebel  flank,  an  expedition  set 
out  from  Helena,  Arkansas,  Nov.  27th, 
under  command  of  Gen.  A.  P.  Hovey, 
consisting  of  about  6,000  infantry  and 
2,000  cavalry.  The  latter,  commanded 
by  Gen.  C.  C.  Washburn,  crossed  the 
low  alluvial  bottom  land  from  Delta, 
below  Helena,  on  the  Mississippi,  and 
reached  the  Tallahatchie  River  at  its 
junction  with  the  Coldwater,  the  even 
ing  of  the  next  day.  Having  construct 
ed  a  bridge  across  the  Tallahatchie,  he 

O  7 

pushed  on  towards  Grenada,  and  early 
on  Nov.  30th,  was  at  Preston,  sixteen 

miles  from  Grenada.     Parties  were  sent 
VOL  iv.— 20. 


1§62. 


out  who  destroyed  several  bridges,  and 
the  telegraph  wires,  on  the  Mississippi 
and  Tennessee,  and  the  Mississippi  and 
Central  Railroad.  At  Mitchell's  Cross 
roads  he  received  a  reinforcement  from 
Gen.  Hovey  of  about  1,200  men  and 
four  pieces  of  artillery.  A  few  days 
after,  he  fell  in  with  a  body  of  Texan 
cavalry  at  Oakland,  and  captured  a 
number  of  prisoners,  horses,  arms,  etc. 
Here  he  received  a  dispatch  from 
Hovey,  recalling  him  to  Helena,  whi 
ther  he  returned,  having  in  six  days 
marched  200  miles  in  a  hostile  country, 
surrounded  by  enemies. 

About  the  middle  of  December,  an 
other  cavalry  expedition  was  under 
taken  by  Col.  T.  L.  Dickey,  by  Grant's 
order,  against  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 
Railroad.  It  was  equally  successful 
with  that  by  Washburn,  and  to  use 
Dickey's  words,  "we  marched  about 
200  miles,  worked  two  days  at  the 
railroad,  captured  about  150  prisoners, 
destroyed  thirty -four  miles  of  important 
railroad  and  a  large  amount  of  public 
stores  of  the  enemy,  and  returned,  pass 
ing  round  an  enemy  of  nine  to  our  one, 
without  having  a  man  killed,  wounded 
or  captured." 

Grant  did  not  press  the  pursuit  of 
the  rebels  beyond  Grenada,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  bad  roads  and  difficulty 
of  getting  supplies.  The  rebels,  how 
ever,  found  means  of  annoying  him, 
by  attacks  on  his  long  line  of  communi 
cation  through  Western  Tennessee  to 
Columbus.  Towards  the  end  of  Decem 
ber,  they  made  successful  raids  upon 
various  points,  Holly  Springs,  Davis's 
Mills,  in  the  vicinity  of  Jackson,  Ten 
nessee,  and  upon  Humboldt  and  Tren- 


226 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


ton.  At  Holly  Springs,  pillaging  and 
plundering  were  the  order  of  the  day, 
and  to  the  utter  disgrace  of  Van  Dorn 

O 

and  his  men,  the  armory  hospital  was 
burned,  and  the  sick  and  wounded 
treated  \vith  shocking  cruelty. 

The  principal  effect  of  these  attacks 
was  to  keep  Grant  within  the  borders 


of  Tennessee.  Unacquainted  witli  the 
peculiar  difficulties  in  his  way,  public 
expectation  had  looked  for  the  imme 
diate  reduction  of  Vicksburg  ;  but  that 
was  a  more  serious  matter  than  wa& 
contemplated,  and  was  not  brought 
about  till  the  middle  of  the  following 
summer. 


CHAPTER    XXII 


1862. 


LEE'S  INVASION  OF  MARYLAND :  BATTLES  OF  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN  AND  ANTIETAM. 

State  of  affairs  after  Pope's  exit  —  McClellan  called  on  to  fill  the  gap  —  Enters  on  command  —  Lee  resolves  to 
invade  Maryland  —  His  army  crosses  the  Potomac  —  Enter  Frederick  —  Course  pursued  —  Lee's  address  to 
the  people  of  Maryland  —  How  received  —  Miserable  condition  of  the  rebel  army  — Apprehensions  —  Action 
of  governors  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania — McClellan  sets  out  from  Washington  after  Lee — Enters  Frede 
rick  on  12th  of  September  —  Harper's  Ferry  held  by  Halleck's  orders  —  Exposed  condition  —  Jackson  sent 
to  capture  it  —  Lee's  order  falls  into  McClellan's  hands  —  Active  movements  in  consequence — Feeble  defence 
of  Harper's  Ferry  —  Invested  by  Jackson  and  captured  —  The  surrender  severely  censured  as  disgraceful  — 
Movement  in  advance  to  cross  South  Mountain  —  Conflict  in  forcing  Turner's  Gap  and  Crampton's  Pass  — 
Lee  takes  position  on  Antietam  Creek,  near  Sharpsburg  —  Judiciously  chosen  —  Preparations  for  the  battle 
—  Action  of  the  16th  and  17th  of  September  —  Burnside's  failure  to  move  forward  in  time  —  Length  and 
severity  of  the  battle  —  Heavy  loss  —  McClellan  does  not  renew  the  attack  on  the  18th  —  Lee  retires  to  Vir 
ginia —  Invasion  of  Maryland  a  failure  —  McClellan's  and  Lee's  congratulatory  addresses  to  their  armies. 

ally  suited  to  the  emergency,  except 
McClellan.  For  he,  however  the  direc 
tors  of  military  operations  at  Washing 
ton  may  have  acted  towards  him,  how 
ever  much  also  he  may  have  failed  to 
accomplish  what  was  expected  of  him, 
was  certainly  immensely  popular  with 
the  army.  If  any  man  could  rouse  them 
afresh,  and  nerve  them  to  a  spirited 
renewal  of  the  contest  against  the  rebels, 
now  flushed  with  victory  and  threaten 
ing  to  carry  fire  and  sword  into  the 
loyal  states,  it  was  McClellan ;  and, 
therefore,  the  president  and  his  advis 
ers  turned  to  him  in  .their  present  per 
plexities  and  trials.  It  deserves  to  be 


1§62. 


POPE  having  made  his  exit, 
under  the  circumstances  already  nar 
rated  (see  p.  214),  it  became  a  question 
at  once  of  no  little  difficulty  as  well  as 

delicacy,  what  was  to  be  done  ? 

Aifairs  were  in  such  a  position 
that  delay  and  inaction  threatened  the 
most  serious  consequences,  and,  on 
Pope's  removal,  it  seemed  almost  of 
necessity  that  McClellan  should  again 
be  called  to  the  place  he  had  filled,  a 
month  or  so  before,  as  commander  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  There  was, 
in  fact,  hardly  a  choice  in  the  matter. 
Among  all  the  officers  of  merit  and 
high  standing  there  was  no  one  especi 


CH.  XXII.] 


LEE  ENTERS  FREDERICK,  MARYLAND. 


227 


remembered,  to  McClellan's  credit,  that 
be  promptly  met  the  call  of  the  gov 
ernment,  and  devoted  his  best  energies 
to  the  important  work  before  him. 

Halleck,  on  the  night  of  the  31st  of 
August,  wrote  to  McClellan,  in  camp  at 
Alexandria,  entreating  his  help:  "I 
beg  of  you  to  assist  me  in  this  crisis, 
with  your  ability  and  experience.  I  am 
entirely  tired  out.''  On  the  2d  of  Sep 
tember,  the  president  and  Halleck  call 
ed  upon  McClellan,  then  in  Washington, 
and  placing  before  him  the  fact  that 
Pope's  army  was  in  full  retreat,  that 
the  road  was  filled  with  stragglers,  etc.. 
required  of  him  to  take  command  of 
the  fortifications,  and  of  all  the  troops 
for  the  defence  of  the  capital.  This  he 
at  once  did,  and  endeavored  as  rapidly 
as  possible  to  restore  the  morale  of  the 
troops,  by  effective  drilling  and  disci 
plining  for  service  against  the  rebels  at 
the  earliest  moment. 

The  success  of  Lee  in  routing  Pope, 
as  he  did,  seems  to  have  persuaded  the 
rebel  authorities  that  it  would  be  safe 
and  wise  to  seize  the  present  moment 
for  invading,  or,  as  they  called  it,  de 
livering  Maryland.  When  Lee  left 
Richmond  there  was  no  purpose  of  the 
kind  had  in  view,  for  it  could  hardly 
have  been  imagined  what  a  termination 
of  the  campaign  would  be  made  by 
Pope,  and  how  completely,  by  the 
abandonment  of  the  Peninsula  added  to 
this,  the  way  would  be  open  for  an  ad 
vance  into  the  loyal  states.  But  the 
opportunity  was  now  at  hand,  and 
though  it  vras  something  of  a  venture, 
still  Lee  acted  with  promptitude  and 
decision.  He  had  his  choice,  either  to 
make  an  assault  upon  Washington,  or 


1§62. 


to  cross  the  Potomac  higher  up,  and  so 
invade  Maryland.  The  former  was 
not  to  be  thought  of,  as  being  entirely 
beyond  Lee's  capaci  ty.  He  accordingly 
adopted  the  other  alternative.  Having 
advanced  from  Leesburg  to  the  river, 
on  the  4th  of  September,  he  managed, 
in  two  or  three  days,  to  cross  his  troops 
by  fords  near  Point  of  Rocks.* 

The  advance  of  Lee's  army,  undei 
Hill,  skirting  the  eastern  slope  of  Ca- 
toctin  Mountains,  marched  toward  Fred 
erick,  the  capital  of  the  state,  a  town  of 
some  importance,  forty-four  miles  north 
west  of  Washington,  and  sixty  west  of 
Baltimore.  Much  alarm  was  felt 
in  Frederick,  and  many  of  the 
inhabitants  hastily  departed  ;  the  rebel 
troops,  however,  quietly  entered  the 
town  and  took  possession  on  the  6th 
of  September.  Col.  B.  T.  Johnson,  a 
strong  Maryland  sympathizer  in  the 
rebel  army,  was  appointed  provost- 
marshal,  to  maintain  order  and  to  keep 
the  hungry  and  ragged  invaders  with 
in  due  bounds.  Foraging  parties  were 
sent  out  for  live  stock  and  provisions, 
and  large  purchases  were  made  of  drugs, 
shoes,  clothing  and  other  articles,  from 
shopkeepers  of  the  town  ;  but  to  the 
tradesmen's  infinite  disgust,,  payment 
was  made  in  the  worthless  confederate 

*  The  rebel  Congress,  on  the  12th  of  September, 
praised  Gen.  Lee  in  the  highest  terms  not  only  for  his 
brilliant  victory,  but  also  for  his  "  masterly  movement " 
in  crossing  the  Potomac.  Most  of  the  members  were 
filled  with  lofty  expectations  as  to  what  was  to  be  ac 
complished  by  Lee,  and  Jackson's  opinion  was  quoted 
as  decidedly  in  favor  of  an  invasion  of  the  North  (see 
p.  150).  Here  and  there  a  member  pointed  out  the  im 
policy  and  danger  of  an  attempted  invasion;  it  was 
also  noted  that  the  entering  Kentucky  for  a  similar 
purpose  turned  out  a  failure  (see  p.  222) ;  but  remon 
strance  and  argument  were  of  no  avail.  Aggression 
was  voted,  63  to  15. 


228 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


currency.  Beyond  this  compulsory 
traffic  there  appears  to  have  been  little 
if  any  violation  of  the  ordinary  rights 
and  privileges  of  the  inhabitants. 

Anxious  to  conciliate,  and  acting  on 
the  baseless  theory  that  the  people  of 
Maryland  were  desirous  to  join  seces 
sion  and  rebellion,  Lee,  on  the  8th  of 
September,  issued  an  address  to  the  in 
habitants  of  that  state.  It  was  well 
and  temperately  written,  and  appealed 
to  the  Marylanders  to  throw  off  tyran 
ny,  to  regain  their  rights  in  connection 
with  their  southern  brethren,  and  to 
secure,  by  his  aid,  their  ancient  freedom 
of  thought  and  speech.  Col.  Johnson 
also  begged  the  people  to  enlist  at  once, 
and  stated  that  he  had  arms  in  abund 
ance  for  instant  use. 

The  invitations  of  Lee,  though 
smoothly  and  temptingly  expressed, 
were  treated  with  almost  entire  indiffer 
ence  by  the  people  of  Maryland.  There 
was  no  uprising,  no  enthusiastic  recep 
tion  of  the  deliverers,  no  disposition  to 
cast  in  their  lot  with  Jeff.  Davis  and 
his  company.  As  a  whole,  the  state 
was  unquestionably  loyal,  and  adhered 
to  the  Union  from  motives  of  principle 
more  than  those  of  interest.  In  addi 
tion  to  all  this,  the  miserably  squalid, 
filthy  condition  of  the  troops  under  Lee 
did  not  tend  to  recommend  them  or  the 
professed  object  of  their  coming.  It 
was  enough  to  "  smell "  them,  as  a 

o  ' 

gentleman  in  Frederick  said,  to  settle 
the  matter.  Barefooted,  scant  in  cloth- 
-ing,  and  with  plenty  of  vermin  on  their 
persons,  they  certainly  offered  small  in 
ducement  for  any  one  to  enlist  in  their 
ranks,  however  good  they  might  be  at 
hard  fighting. 


When  the  invasion  became  a  settled 
fact,  there  was  much  apprehension  lest 
the  rebels  should  advance  to  the  east 
toward  Baltimore,  to  seize  upon  the  city 
with  the  aid  of  sympathizing 
insurgents,  and  cut  off  Washing 
ton  from  its  northern  communications ; 
there  was  also  a  rumor  of  a  probable 
attempt  on  the  Central  Railroad,  and 
movement  up  the  Cumberland  Valley 
into  Pennsylvania.  Governor  Bradford 
issued  a  proclamation,  calling  upon  the 
citizens  to  enroll  themselves  in  volun 
tary  military  organizations  of  infantry 
and  cavalry  to  meet  the  emergency. 
General  Wool,  also,  in  command  at 
Baltimore,  gave  earnest  attention  to  de 
fensive  preparations  against  a  possible 
advance  of  Lee's  army. 

In  Pennsylvania,  Governor  Curtin, 
warned  of  impending  danger  by  the 
rumored  approach  of  the  rebels  to 
Hagerstown,  called  out  all  the  able- 
bodied  men  of  the  state  to  organize  im. 
mediately  for  its  defence,  and  be  ready 
for  inarching  orders  at  an  hour's  notice 

O 

The  people  freely  responded  to  the  call 
upon  them,  and  hastened  in  great  num 
bers  to  Ilarrisburg.  The  danger,  in 
fact,  appeared  nearly  equal  to  Penn 
sylvania  and  Maryland,  as  the  rebel 
army,  unless  speedily  checked,  might 
strike  either  at  Harrisburg  or  Balti 
more. 

In  this  position  of  affairs,  McClellau 
made  his  arrangements  to  follow  Lee, 
and  if  possible  defeat  his  probable  pur 
pose  in  entering  Maryland.  Uncertain 
as  to  the  rebel  general's  intentions,  Me- 
Clellan  moved  cautiously  from  Wash 
ington.  Gen.  Banks  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  defence?  at  the  capital, 


CH.  XXII.] 


McCLELLAN'S  FORTUNATE  FINDING. 


229 


and  Gen.  Heintzelman  in  charge  of  the 
forces  on  the  Virginia  side.  The  right 
wing  consisted  of  the  first  and  ninth 
corps,  under  Burnside ;  the  centre,  of 
the  second  and  twelfth  corps,  under 
Sumner ;  and  the  left  wing,  of  the  sixth 
corps,  under  Franklin ;  the  entire  force 
being  a  little  over  87,000.  The  advance 
was  made  by  five  parallel  roads,  and 
the  columns  were  so  disposed  as  to 
cover  both  Washington  and  Baltimore. 

o 

The  object  of  McClellan  in  this  arrange 
ment  was,  as  he  states,  "  to  feel  the 
enemy ;  to  compel  him  to  develop  his 
intentions;  to  attack  him  should  he 
hold  the  line  of  the  Monocacy ;  or  to 
follow  him  into  Pennsylvania  if  neces 
sary."  The  van  of  our  army  entered 
Frederick,  on  the  12th  of  September, 
after  some  severe  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  and  found  that  the 
main  body  of  Lee's  troops  had  left  the 
town  two  days  before,  in  the  direction 
of  Harper's  Ferry. 

Some  time  previous  to  this,  McClel 
lan  had  advised  the  evacuation  of 
Elarper's  Ferry,  as  a  point  of  no  im 
portance  to  hold,  now  that  Lee  had 
crossed  the  Potomac,  and  as  being  ex 
posed,  with  its  garrison,  to  imminent 
danger  of  capture.  But  Halleck,  the 
general- in-chief,  rejected  McClellan's  sug 
gestions.  Lee,  however,  who  had  sup 
posed  that,  of  course,  there  would  be 
no  attempt  made  to  hold  the  place,  now 
found  it  necessary  to  delay,  for  a  few 
iays,  the  carrying  forward  of  his  ul 
terior  designs,  until  he  should  have 
taken  Harper's  Ferry,  and  opened  his 
2ommunication  with  Richmond  by 
way  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  The 
work  was  committed  to  Jackson,  who 


1*62. 


brought  it  to  a  conclusion  as  speedily 
as  was  possible.  At  this  date,  there 
was  at  Harper's  Ferry,  a  garrison  of 
about  9,000  men,  under  Col.  D.  H. 
Miles  ;  there  were  also  some  raw  troops 
and  a  body  of  about  2,000  cavalry 
doing  outpost  duty,  under  Gen.  White, 
at  Winchester  and  Martinsburg,  which 
came  into  Harper's  Ferry  on  the  3d 
of  September,  thus  making 
the  entire  force  some  13,000  in 
number.  Jackson  was  ordered,  on  the 
18th  of  September,  to  cross  the  Poto 
mac  above,  and  invest  Harper's  Ferry 
in  the  rear.  Two  other  divisions,  under 
McLaws  and  Walker,  were,  the  one  to 
seize  Maryland  Heights,  the  other  to 
cross  the  river  and  take  possession  of 
Loudon  Heights ;  both  were  to  co 
operate  with  Jackson.  Longstrect  was 
at  the  same  time  ordered,  with  Hill's 
division  as  a  rear  guard,  to  move  to 
ward  Hagerstown,  where  they  were  to 
be  joined  by  the  forces  sent  against 
Harper's  Ferry,  after  the  latter  had  ac 
complished  the  objects  of  their  expedi 
tion.  The  place  was  to  be  taken  by 
the  morning  of  the  13th  of  September, 
and  the  troops  were  to  rejoin  Lee  im 
mediately,  and  move  upon  Boons- 
borough  or  Hagerstown. 

By  a  most  opportune  accident,  Mc 
Clellan  found,  on  a  table  at  Frederick, 
on  the  day  of  his  arrival,  a  copy  of 
Lee's  official  order,  addressed  to  D.  H. 
Hill,  which  directed  the  several  move 
ments  above  noted.  This  important 
document  revealed  to  McClellan  Lee's 
whole  plan  of  operations,  and  what  he 
intended  and  expected  to  accomplish. 
Heretofore  McClellan  had  moved  very 
slowly,  for  the  reasons  given  on  a 


230 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


Via 


previous  page,  so  slowly  indeed  that 
Lee  calculated  upon  being  able  to  cap 
ture  Harper's  Ferry,  with  its  valuable 
stores,  and  to  get  his  troops  together 
again  before  he  should  be  overtaken  or 
interfered  with  by  the  Union  general. 
Being  possessed  of  knowledge  so  im 
portant  at  this  juncture,  McClellan 
acted  with  vigor  and  promptitude.  He 
ordered  a  rapid  movement  towards 
Harper's  Ferry,  so  as  to  save  it,  if  possi 
ble,  and,  to  Lee's  surprise,  he  manifest 
ed  a  purpose  of  immediately  forcing  the 
passes  of  South  Mountain,  which,  if 
accomplished,  would  enable  him  to  re 
lieve  Harper's  Ferry  and  also  strike 
Lee's  divided  columns,  with  fatal  effect. 
Lee,  therefore,  at  once  ordered  Hill's 
division  back  from  Boonsborough  to 
guard  the  passes,  and  sent  Longstreet 
from  Hagerstown  to  Hill's  support. 

As  things  were  now  situate,  McClel 
lan  expected  to  be  able  to  carry  out  his 
plan  of  relieving  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
by  cutting  the  enemy  in  two,  to  beat 
him  in  detail;  and  had  Miles  at  the 
Ferry,  and  Ford  on  Maryland  Heights, 
displayed  a  fair  share  of  soldierly  intel 
ligence  and  vigor,  he  might  readily 
have  succeeded.  In  consequence,  how 
ever,  of  the  feeble  defence  under  Miles, 
and  the  hasty  abandonment  of  the 
Heights,  which,  with  astonishing  fatu 
ity,  had  not  been  fortified  so  as  to  resist 
the  enemy,  McClellan's  proposed  relief 
came  too  late.  It  is  hardly  needful  to 
go  into  details  of  the  capture  of  Har 
per's  Ferry.  Jackson  was  in  position 
and  ready  to  storm  the  place  by  noon 
on  the  13th  of  September;  but  he 
waited  for  McLaws  and  Walker  to  act 
in  concert.  On  this  same  dav,  Ford 

w  7 


gave  up  the  heights  to  McLaws,  retir 
ing  to  Harper's  Ferry  ;  and  by  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  the  investment 
was  complete.  The  artillery  was  placed 
in  position  during  the  day  on  Bolivar 
and  Loudon  Heights,  and  at  dawn,  on 
the  15th  of  September,  the  combined 
attack  began.  In  two  hours  the  con 
test  was  settled.  Miles  raised  the 
white  flag,  and  Harper's  Ferry  surren 
dered.  It  deserves  to  be  noted,  how 
ever,  that  all  the  cavalry,  numbering 
some  2,000,  under  command  of  Col. 
Davis,  cut  their  way  out  on  Saturday 
evening,  the  13th,  going  by  the  road  to 
Sharpsburg,  and  capturing,  on  their 
march,  Longstreet's  train  and  over  500 
prisoners.  Miles  was  killed  by  a  shell, 
after  the  white  flag  was  raised ;  our 
loss  besides,  in  killed  and  wounded, 
was  about  200.*  Immediately  after 
the  surrender,  Jackson  hurried  off  to 
rejoin  Lee,  arid  by  an  active  night 
inarch,  he  reached  Sharpsburg  on  the 
morning  of  the  16th  of  September. 

McClellan,  as  we  have  before  stated, 
was  pushing  forward  to  overtake  Lee 
His  line  of  advance  across  South  Moun 
tain  was,  for  the  right  and  centre,  under 
Burnside,  by  Turner's  Gap,  and  for  the 
left,  under  Franklin,  by  Crampton's 
Gap,  six  miles  to  the  southward.  The 


*  A  military  commission,  of  which  Gen.  Hunter  was 
president,  was  appointed  to  inquire  into  this  surrender. 
After  fully  reviewing  the  circumstances,"  the  commis 
sion  decided  that  the  defence  of  Maryland  Heights 
was  conducted  by  Col.  Ford  "  without  ability,"  and 
that  he  was  unfit  to  hold  any  command  in  the  army 
In  respect  to  Miles,  the  commission  were  "  unanimous 
upon  the  fact  that  his  incapacity,  amounting  to  almost 
imbecility,  led  to  the  shameful  surrender  of  this  impor 
tant  post."  Col.  Ford  and  Major  Baird  were  cashiered. 
The  commission  also  censured  McClellan  for  not  hav 
ing  relieved  Harper's  Ferry  ;  respecting  which,  see 
McClellan's  official  report  and  defence. 


CH.  XXII.] 


TURNER'S  GAP  AND  CRAMPTON  PASS. 


231 


South  Mountain  range,  near  Turner's 
Pass,  is  about  1,000  feet  in  height,  and 
forms  a  strong  natural  military  barrier. 
The  practicable  passes  are  not  numer 
ous,  and  are  readily  defensible,  the 
gaps  abounding  in  fine  positions.  v  Tur 
ner's  Pass  is  the  more  prominent,  being 
that  by  which  the  national  road  crosses 
the  mountains.  Crampton's  Pass  also 
was  important  to  be  secured,  in  order  to 
furnish  the  means  of  reaching  the  flank 
of  the  enemy. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  14th  of 
September,  Gen.  Pleasanton,  with  a 
cavalry  force,  reconnoitred  the  position 
of  the  enemy,  whom  he  discovered  to 
occupy  the  crest  of  commanding  hills 
in  the  gap  on  either  side  of  the  national 
road,  and  upon  advantageous  ground 
in  the  centre,  upon,  and  near  the  road, 
with  artillery  bearing  upon  all  the  ap 
proaches  to  their  position.  About 
eight  o'clock,  a  portion  of  Burnside's 
command  moved  up  the  mountain  to 
the  left  of  the  main  road,  dividing  as 
they  advanced  into  two  columns.  They 
carried  handsomely  the  rebel  position 
on  the  crest  in  their  front,  and  gained 
possession  of  an  important  point  for 
further  operations.  The  enemy  gather 
ed  in  force,  but  our  men  being  sup 
ported  by  other  troops,  fully  maintain 
ed  the  ground  which  they  had  won. 
Gren.  Reno  was  among  the  killed. 

About  three  o'clock  P.M.,  Hooker's 
corps  moved  up  to  the  right  of  the 
main  road  by  a  country  road,  which, 
bending  to  the  right,  then  turning  up  to 
to  the  left,  circuitously  wound  its  way 
beyond  the  crest  of  the  pass  to  the 
mountain  house,  on  the  main  road. 
Meade  was  sent  by  Hooker  to  attack 


the  eminence  to  the  right  of  this  en 
trance  to  the  gap,  which  was  executed 
with  spirit  and  success.  Ricketts's 
division  pressed  up  the  mountain  about 
five  o'clock,  and  Gibbon's  brigade  late 
in  the  afternoon,  forced  the  rebels  back, 
and  some  hours  after  dark,  remained  in 
undisturbed  possession  of  the  field. 

Our  loss  in  this  engagement  was 
severe,  being  328  killed  and  1,463 
wounded  and  missing ;  the  rebel  loss 
was  estimated  to  be  above  3,000,  of 
which  1,500  were  prisoners. 

Crampton's  Pass,  meanwhile,  the 
carrying  of  which  had  been  committed 
to  Gen.  Franklin,  was  vigorously  and 
decisively  attacked.  The  enemy  were 
driven  from  their  position  at  the  base 
of  the  mountain,  and  forced  back  up 
the  mountain  until  they  reached  their 
battery  near  the  road.  Here  they  made 
a  stand ;  but  our  troops  pressed  for 
ward,  and  after  an  action  of  three 
hours  the  crest  was  gained  and  the 
enemy  retreated  hastily  down  the  other 
side  of  the  mountain.  Four  hundred 
prisoners  were  taken,  and  several  hun 
dred  of  the  rebels  were  killed  and 
wounded.  Franklin's  loss  was  115 
killed,  and  416  wounded.  During  the 
night,  Lee  abandoned  the  position  at 
Turner's  Gap,  and  our  right  and  centre, 
on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  Sep 
tember,  passed  through  to  the  west 
side  of  the  mountain.  McClellau  or 
dered  an  immediate  pursuit  of  the  re 
treating  enemy,  which  was  prosecuted, 
however,  only  for  a  few  miles,  when  it 
was  discovered  that  Lee  had  resolved 
to  make  a  stand  at  Antietam  Creek. 
McClellan  had  hoped  to  have  a  fight  on 
the  15th,  and  drive  Lee's  army  into  the 


232 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


river ;  but  on  arriving  at  the  front  and 
examining  the  position,  he  found  it  to 
be  too  late  to  attack  that  day.  Orders 
were  given  for  every  preparation  to  be 
completed,  and  the  corps  to  be  in  their 
places  on  both  sides  of  Sharpsburg 
turnpike  at  the  earliest  moment. 

Lee's  position  was  carefully  and  judi 
ciously  selected.  His  flanks  were  pro 
tected  by  the  Potomac,  which  here 
makes  a  sharp  curve,  and  his  front  was 
covered  by  Antietam  Creek.  The 
rebel  line  was  drawn  in  front  of  Sharps- 
burg,  Longstreet  being  on  the  right 
and  I).  H.  Hill  on  the  left.  Hood's 
two  brigades  were  posted  on  the  left 
to  protect  the  road  running  northward 
ly  across  the  Potomac  to  Hagerstown. 
Jackson  held  the  reserve  near  the  left. 
The  ground  chosen  was  well  adapted 
for  defence,  and  batteries  were  posted 
on  the  heights  at  various  points.  It 
was  evidently  a  matter  of  necessity  for 
Lee  to  check  McClellan's  advance,  and 
on  this  battle  depended  the  answer  to 
the  question,  whether  he  should  be  in 
a  position  to  carry  out  his  ulterior 
designs,  or  abandon  the  attempt  alto 
gether. 

The  morning  of  the  16th  of  Septem 
ber  was  occupied  by  McClellan  in  care 
fully  examining  the  ground,  posting 
his  troops,  batteries,  etc.,  and  perfect 
ing  all  the  arrangements  for  immediate 
attack.  Hooker  was  sent  across  An 
tietam  Creek,  near  Keedysville,  and 
ordered  to  turn  the  enemy's  left.  A 
sharp  contest  ensued ;  but  it  was  too 
late  in  the  day  to  effect  any  advantage. 

At  daylight,  September  17th,  Hook 
er  renewed  the  combat,  Jackson's  force 
holding  the  rsbel  left.  It  was  a  fierce 


[BK<  Via 

and  terrible  struggle,  hour  after  hour, 
through  the  day.  Mansfield  carne  to 
Hooker's  support,  and  lost  his  life  on 
the  field.  Sedgwick's,  Richardson's  and 
French's  divisions  of  Sumner's  corps 
took  their  full  share  in  the  battle,  and 
by  the  efficient  aid  of  the  artillery  held 
their  ground.  Burnside,  who  was 
posted  opposite  the  rebel  right,  was 
ordered  to  force  the  passage  across  An- 
tietain  Creek;  but,  although  this  was 
of  the  first  importance  to  be  done 
promptly  and  thoroughly,  Burnside 
lost  several  hours  in  the  effort,  and 
thereby  enabled  Lee  to  press  severely 
upon  Sumner's  corps  on  his  left,  and 
arrest  our  men  in  their  onward  course 
to  victory.  It  was  one  o'clock  before 
a  passage  was  effected,  and  two  hours 
passed  before  the  attack  on  the  crest 
was  made.  About  three  o'clock  this 
was  accomplished,  and  the  rebel  bat 
tery  on  the  Sharpsburg  ridge  was 
captured.  Just  then  A.  P.  Hill,  with 
the  portion  of  troops  under  his  com 
mand,  arrived  from  Harper's  Ferry  by 
way  of  Shepherdstown.  Reinforcing 
Jones  on  the  field  with  over  2,000 
fresh  troops,  the  offensive  was  resumed, 
and  Burnside  was  compelled  to  retire 
to  the  cover  of  the  hill  bordering  on 
Antietam  Creek.  As  darkness  was 
fast  approaching  the  battle  was  now 
brought  to  a  close  for  the  day,  both 
sides  being  thoroughly  wearied,  after 
having  spent  some  fourteen  hours  in 
this  bloody  struggle.*  Thus,  as  Mc 
Clellan  affirms  in  his  report,  "  the  Army 

*  The  numbers  engaged  in  this  battle  have  been 
variously  estimated.  McClellan  makes  Lee's  force  not 
much  short  of  100,000,  and  his  own  about  90,000.  Se 
cession  writers  say  that  Lee  fought  the  battle  with  an 
aggregate  of  70,000,  against  130,000  under  McClellan. 


CH.  XXII.] 


P5ATTLE  OF  ANTIETAM. 


233 


of  the  Potomac,  notwithstanding  the 
moral  effect  incident  to  previous  re 
verses,  had  achieved  a  victory  over  an 
adversary  invested  with  the  prestige 
of  recent  success.  Our  soldiers  slept 
that  night  conquerors  on  a  field  won 
by  their  valor,  and  covered  with  the 
dead  and  wounded  of  the  enemy." 

The  losses  in  this  battle  are  estimat 
ed  by  Gen.  McClellan  at  2,000  killed, 
9,500  wounded,  1,000  missing— 12,500. 
He  also  supposed  the  rebel  loss  to  be 
from  25,000  to  30,000.  Pollard  and 
others  state  their  loss  to  have  been  not 
more  than  8,000  or  9,000. 

The  battle  of  Antietam  or  Sharps- 
burg  may  be  pronounced  to  be,  on  the 
whole,  a  drawn  battle,  although  the 
substantial  fruits  of  victory  remained 
on  the  Union  side.  Gen.  Lee  expected 
and  awaited  an  attack  the  next  da}7 ; 
but  Gen.  McClellan,  conscious  of  his 
great  loss  in  officers  as  well  as  men, 
and  anxiously  forecasting  the  fatal 
effect  of  a  defeat  just  at  this  time  at 
the  hands  of  the  rebels,  after  much 
deliberation  did  not  judge  it  best  to 
resume  the  fight.  Lee  accordingly,  on 
the  night  of  the  18th  and  morning  of 
the  19th  of  September,  crossed  the 
Potomac  and  returned  into  Virginia. 
An  attempted  pursuit,  by  a  portion  of 
Porter's  corps,  on  the  20th,  by  way  of 
Shepherdstown,  resulted  in  a  repulse 
and  driving  our  men  back  across  the 
Potomac  with  severe  loss.* 

The  invasion  of  Maryland  occupied 
only  two  weeks.  It  was  un  question  - 


*  Much  dissatisfaction  was  expressed  in  various 
quarters  at  Lee's  escape  without  furMur  loss,  and  Mc 
Clellan 's  inactivity  and  delay  have  been  severely  an 
imadverted  upon.  Mr.  Swinton,  after  allowing  all  the 
force  which  seems  due  to  McClellan's  statements,  is 


ably  a  failure,  and  it  was  accompanied 
not  only  by  positive  loss,  but  by  ex 
ceeding  mortification  and  shame  at  the 

O 

coldness,  indifference  and  hostility 
manifested  by  the  people  towards  the 
secession  "  deliverers."  Lee  was  glad 
to  get  back  into  Virginia,  and  to  have 
the  opportunity  of  gathering  up  the 
fragments  of  the'  large  and  imposing 
army  with  which  he  had  set  out  from 
Richmond.  Not  more  than  one  half 
of  his  host  of  70,000  now  remained ; 
death,  wounds,  desertions,  straggling, 
and  such  like,  had  told  with  fearful 
effect  upon  his  army ;  and  as  McClel 
lan  was  not  ready,  if  able,  to  follow 
him  up,  but  was  engaged  in  refitting 
and  re-organizing  his  own  army,  Lee 
took  post  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
near  Winchester,  to  recruit  and  prepare 
for  the  further  contest,  when  our  army 
should  again  assume  the  offensive. 

Both  generals,  as  usual  in  such  cases, 
issued  congratulatory  addresses,  and 
spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  valor 
and  good  conduct  of  their  respective 
armies.  McClellan  thought  that  14 
guns,  39  colors,  1 5,500  stand  of  arms, 
and  nearly  G,000  prisoners  were  evi 
dence  of  the  completeness  of  our 
triumph.  Lee,  on  the  other  hand, 
claiming  that  his  force  was  less  than 
one-third  that  of  McClellan,  dilated 
upon  the  taking  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
made  much  of  the  fact  that  McClellan 
did  not  renew  the  battle  on  the  18th 
of  September,  and  did  not  press  any 
pursuit  beyond  the  Potomac. 

decidedly  of  opinion  that  he  "  should  have  renewed 
the  attack  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  September." 
See  the  reasons  which  he  urges,  and  which,  if  admitted 
to  be  sound,  convict  McClellan  of  great  error. — '  Army 
of  the  Potomac"  pp.  223, 4. 


234 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  VIII. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 
1862. 

CLOSE  OF  McCLELLAN'S  CAREER :   BURNSIDE'S   CAMPAIGN:   BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG. 

Views  and  plans  of  Gen.  McCIellan  —  Halleck's  telegram  ordering  an  advance  —  McClellan's  delays  and  reasons 
therefor  —  Stuart's  cavalry  raid  into  Pennsylvania  —  Public  impatience  —  President  Lincoln's  letter  —  Mc 
CIellan  advances  into  Virginia  —  Position  of  Lee's  forces  —  McClellan's  plan  —  Suddenly  removed  —  Re 
marks  upon  the  close  of  McClellan's  career  —  Estimate  of  Ms  character  and  conduct  —  Gen.  Burnside  as 
sumes  the  command  on  the  10th  of  November  —  Change  of  plan  —  Determines  to  advance  by  way  of  Freder- 
icksburg  —  President  Lincoln's  order  on  observance  of  the  Lord's  Day  in  the  army  and  navy  — Army  marches 
to  Falmouth  on  the  Rappahannock  —  Burnside's  unwise  delay  —  Doubts  as  to  where  to  cross  —  Plan  to 
cross  at  Skenker's  Neck,  below  Fredericksburg  — Burnside  resolves  to  cross  at  the  town,  and  surprise  the 
rebels  —  Attempts  to  build  pontoon  bridges  —  Rebel  sharpshooters  —  Boihbardment  of  Fredericksburg  — 
Sharpshooters  dislodged  —  The  town  occupied,  December  llth  —  Arrangements  for  the  battle  —  Plan  ad 
opted  —  Sumner's  attack  on  the  right  wing  —  Impregnable  position  of  Lee's  army  —  Hooker's  final  attempt 
— Total  failure  —  Terrible  loss  on  our  side  —  The  army  recross  the  Rappahannock  —  Burnside's  letter  re 
specting  the  battle  —  Resting,  repairing  losses,  etc.  —  Morale  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  much  depreciated 
—  Burnside's  further  attempts  —  Displaced  from  the  command  —  Succeeded  by  Hooker. 


GEN.  MCCLELLAN,  as  we  have  seen 
(p.  233),  did  not  deern  it  expedient  to 
advance  against  Lee  immediately  after 
the  battle  of  Antietam,  on  the  17th 
of  September.  In  his  view,  the  army 
required  rest,  refitting,  supplies, 
etc.-  In  addition,  as  he  tele 
graphed  to  Halleck,  September  22d, 
further  steps  ought  to  be  taken  for  the 
improvement  of  the  army  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment.  His  plan  was  to  re 
tain  his  forces  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river,  render  Harper's  Ferry  secure,  and 
watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
until  the  rise  of  the  Potomac  should 
render  a  new  invasion  of  Maryland  im 
practicable  ;  when,  as  it  appeared  ad 
vantageous,  he  might  move  on  Win 
chester,  or  devote  a  reasonable  time  to 
the  organization  of  the  army  and  in 
struction  of  the  new  troops  preparatory 
to  an  advance.  On  the  1st  of  October, 


President  Lincoln  visited  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  in  the  vicinity  of  Har 
per's  Ferry,  and  had  an  opportunity  of 
reviewing  the  troops  and  going  over  the 
battle  grounds  of  South  Mountain  and 
Antietam.  He  spent  several  days  in 
this  wise,  and  afforded  McCIellan  a 
good  opening  for  explaining  and  de 
fending  his  delay  in  following  up  Lee 
and  his  army.  Probably,  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  not  much  impressed  by  McClel 
lan's  reasoning ;  for  immediately  on  his 
return  to  Washington,  he  insisted  upon 
the  commanding  general's  displaying 
greater  activity  and  energy.  Under 
date  of  October  Cth,  Halleck  sent  a 
telegram  of  a  peremptory  sort :  u  I  am 
instructed  to  telegraph  you  as  follows : 
The  president  directs  that  you  cross 
the  Potomac  and  give  battle  to  the 
enemy,  or  drive  him  south.  Your 
army  must  move  now,  while  the  roads 


GIL  XXIII.] 


STUART'S  CAVALRY  RAID. 


235 


are  good.  If  you  cross  the  river  be 
tween  the  enemy  and  Washington,  and 
cover  the  latter  by  your  operation,  you 
can  be  reinforced  with  30,000  men. 
If  you  move  up  the  Valley  of  the  Shen- 
andoah,  not  more  than  twelve  or  fifteen 
thousand  can  be  sent  you." 

The  next  day,  McClellan,  in  reply  to 
the  above,  expressed  his  preference  for 
the  line  of  the  Shenandoah  for  immedi 
ate  operations  against  the  enemy,  and 
his  determination  to  advance,  as  soon  as 
possible,  upon  Winchester.  It  aiforded 
greater  facilities,  he  thought,  for  supply 
ing  the  army,  and  to  abandon  it  would 
be,  in  his  judgment,  to  leave  Maryland 
uncovered  for  another  invasion. 

The  great  practical  difficulty  in  the 
way  was,  the  obtaining  supplies  and 
equipments  as  fast  as  they  were  needed. 
McClellan  kept  calling  for  them  day 
after  day,  and,  as  he  asserts,  could  not 
get  them  as  they  were  wanted.  He 
was  utterly  unwilling  to  move,  till  his 
cavalry  force  was  in  a  good  working 
condition,'""  and  till  the  army  generally 
was  furnished  in  such  wise  as  to  render 
it  safe  to  advance  into  Virginia.  Alto 
gether,  from  one  cause  and  another, 
wherein  it  was  hard  to  tell  on  whom 
the  blame  properly  rested,  nearly  the 
whole  month  passed  away  before  these 
troublesome  matters  were  arranged,  in 
any  respect,  to  McClellan's  satisfaction. 

Meanwhile,  the  rebel  General  Stuart 
signalized  his  ability  and  skill  by  a 

*  On  the  25th  of  October,  McClellan  having  complain 
ed  that  the  horses  he  had  were  not  in  good  working 
condition,  Mr.  Lincoln  wrote  a  brief  and  rather  sharp 
note,  as  follows  :  "  I  have  just  read  your  dispatch  about 
Bore  tongued  and  fatigued  horses.  Will  you  pardon 
me  for  asking  what  the  horses  of  your  army  have  done 
since  the  battle  of  Antietam  that  fatigues  anything  V" 


cavalry  raid  into  Pennsylvania,  not  un 
like  the  one  previously  carried  through 
by  him  on  the  Peninsula  (see  p.  197). 
On  the  10th  of  October,  Stuart,  with 
some  1,800  men  and  four  pieces  of  ar 
tillery,  crossed  the  Potomac  at  McCoy's 
Ford  near  Williainsport,  passed  through 
Maryland,  advanced  upon  and  occupied 
Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  de 
stroyed  all  the  government  property 
within  reach.  Turning  eastwardly,  he 
entered  Maryland  at  Emnietsburg,  and 
thence  by  Frederick  he  marched  to 
Poolesville,  on  the  12th  of  October. 
Some  slight  skirmishing  occurred  here, 
with  the  advance  of  Gen.  Pleasanton's 
cavalry  force,  which  had  marched  in 
pursuit  seventy-eight  miles  in  twenty- 
four  hours ;  but,  Stuart  passed  on  with 
out  the  loss  of  a  man.  Havino;  made 

~ 

the  entire  circuit  of  our  army,  he  re- 
crossed  the  Potomac  below  the  mouth 
of  the  Monocacy.  The  special  prize 
gained  by  Stuart,  was  some  800  to 
1,000  horses,  which  were  seized  upon 
at  and  near  Chambersburg. 

This  daring  raid  stirred'  up  afresh 
the  public  impatience  of  delay,  and  Mc 
Clellan  was  urged,  by  both  Halleck  and 
President  Lincoln,  to  bestir  himself  and 
attack  the  rebels.  The  latter  wrote  a 
long,  characteristic  letter  to  McClellan, 
dated  Oct.  13th,  containing  mingled 
advice  and  expostulation,  and  furnish 
ing  the  commanding  general  with  vari 
ous  suggestions  of  a  military 
description,  which  showed  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  thought  himself  quite  com 
petent  to  give  direction  in  his  constitu 
tional  position  as  coinmauder-in-chief  of 
the  army  and  navy,  such  direction  too, 
as  was  not  to  be  neglected. 


1§62. 


23C 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


*  Pressed  by  these  urgent  demands  on 
all  Lands  for  action,  McClellau  deter 
mined  to  execute  the  proposed  move 
ment  on  the  east  of  the  Blue  Eidge. 
Accordingly,  on  the  26th  of  October, 
the  army  commenced  crossing  the  Po 
tomac  by  a  pontoon  bridge  at  Berlin, 
five  miles  below  Harper's  Ferry.  Plea- 
santon  took  the  lead  with,  a  body  of 
cavalry,  and  was  followed  by  the  corps 
of  Burnside,  A  sufficient  garrison  hav 
ing  been  left  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Sedg- 
wick  and  Hancock  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  about  Charles- 
town,  pressed  the  enemy,  who  now 
bes-an  their  retreat  towards  Richmond. 

O 

The  Union  forces  occupied  the  passes 
of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Snicker's  Gap  wras 
taken  possession  of  by  Hancock,  on  the 
2d  of  November,  while  Pleasanton, 
with  his  cavalry,  was  driving  the  enemy 
beyond.  The  last  corps  of  the  army 
was  over  the  Potomac  on  the  5th  of 
November,  and  on  the  6th,  the  advance 
was  at  Warrenton,  General  McClellan 
holding  his  headquarters  at  Rectortown, 
on  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad. 

The  movement  thus  far,  spite  of  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather,  promised  to 
be  successful  to  a  high  degree ;  for,  on 
reaching  Warrenton,  on  the  9th  of  No 
vember,  while  Lee  had  sent  half  of  his 
army  forward  to  Culpepper  to  oppose 
McClellan's  advance  in  that  quarter, 
the  other  half  was  still  west  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  and  at  least  two  days' 
march  distant.  McClellan's  plan,  in 
this  state  of  affairs,  was  to  march  across, 
obliquely  westward,  and  get  between 
the  severed  portions  of  the  rebel  force, 
and  strike  a  decisive  and  fatal  blow. 
It  seems  not  unreasonable  to  suppose 


that,  had  he  been  permitted  to  cany 
out  his  plan,  he  would  have  gained  an 
important  victory;  but  this  was  not 
allowed.  The  directors  of  military 
affairs  at  Washington  had  no  liking  for 

o  o 

McClellan,  neither  had  McClellan  any 
love  to  spare  for  them,  and  they  resolv 
ed  to  displace  him  as  speedily  as  possi 
ble.  This  was  brought  about  just  at 
this  critical  moment.  Late  on  the  night 
of  November  7th,  in  the  midst  of  a 
heavy  snow  storm,  Gen.  Buckingham, 
post-haste  from  Washington,  reached 
McClellan's  headquarters  at  Rector- 
town.  He  was  charged  with  a  dis 
patch,  dated  Nov.  5th,  which  read  as 
follows  :  "  By  the  direction  of  the  Pre 
sident  of  the  United  States,  it  is  order 
ed,  that  Major-General  McClellan  be 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  that  Major-Gen. 
Burnside  take  command  of  that  army." 

Burnside  and  other  generals  were  iii 
McClellan's  tent  at  the  time.  Opening 
the  dispatch  and  reading  it,  without  a 
change  of  countenance  or  of  voice,  he 
passed  the  paper  over  to  his  successor, 
and  simply  said,  "  Well,  Burnside,  you 
are  to  command  the  army.1'  In  addi 
tion  to  the  dispatch,  McClellan  received 
orders  from  Halleck  to  betake  himself 
immediately  to  Trenton,  New  Jerseyj 
reporting  on  his  arrival,  by  telegraph, 
and  waiting  for  further  orders.  In  a 
few  days,  he  bade  farewell  to  the  offi 
cers  and  soldiers,  and  repairing  to  the 
North,  retired  from  the  stage  of  action, 
and  from  all  further  connection  with 
the  struggle  of  loyal  men  to  crush  the 
rebellion. 

It  is  not  easy,  in  a  brief  space,  to  do 
justice  to  Gen.  McClellan,  or  to  define 


On.  XXIII.]         ESTIMATE  OF  GENERAL  McCLELLAN'S  CAREER. 


237 


exactly  the  position  which  he  holds,  or 
ought  to  hold,  in  the  history  of  our 
great  national  struggle.  It  was  his 
misfortune  to  have  been  extravagantly 
and  foolishly  lauded.  Zealous  but  not 
overwise  admirers  have  attributed  to 
him  every  quality  of  nobleness  and 
greatness,  'and  they  have  striven  to 
place  him  on  an  equal  footing  with  the 
greatest  generals  of  ancient  or  modern 
times.  On  the  other  hand,  he  has  been 
loudly  and  persistently  decried ;  all 
merit  has  been  denied  to  him ;  and  he 
has  been  spoken  of  in  the  vilest  terms. 
It  has  been  asserted,  that  he  possesses 
no  ability ;  that  he  is  deficient  in  per 
sonal  courage  ;  and  that,  having  no  sym 
pathy  with  the  cause  of  loyalty,  he  has 
all  along  secretly  wished  and  hoped  for 
the  success  of  the  rebellion. 

In  this,  as  in  other  cases,  no  doubt 
both  extremes  are  to  be  avoided.  Gen. 
McClellan  unquestionably  possessed 
qualities  of  a  high  order  for  a  military 
career,  but  not  necessarily  of  the  very 
highest.  He  displayed  superior  general 
ship  and  ability,  on  more  than  one  oc 
casion,  which  entitled  him  to  rank 
high  in  the  profession  of  arms ;  but  it 
is  evident  that  he  lacked,  at  critical  mo 
ments,  the  fiery  energy  and  dashing 
boldness  of  the  great  heroes  in  military 
annals.  Personally,  he  was  very  popular 
with  the  army,  and  certainly  he  had  a 
remarkable  faculty  of  attaching 
men  to  him,  and  leading  them 
to  put  entire  faith  and  trust  in  him ; 
but  he  was  not  in  favor  with  the  offi 
cials  at  Washington  ;  he  was  thwarted 
in  his  plans ;  subjected  to  mean  and 
petty  annoyances;  criticised  by  com 
mittees  of  Congress,  who  were  desirous 


to  have  a  hand  in  the  conduct  of  the 
war  ;  and  he  was  denounced  by  an  in 
fluential  portion  of  the  press,  as  too 
cautious  and  too  slow  in  his  movements, 
and  as  wanting  in  needful  efficiency  and 
activity. 

In  submitting  his  Official  Eeport  to 
the  war  department,  which  was  made, 
August  4th,  1863,  nine  months  after 
his  removal,  and  which  he  styles  a 
"plain  and  truthful  narrative,"  McClel 
lan  has  sought  to  place  matters  in  which 
he  was  concerned  in  such  a  light  as  to 
disarm  hostile  criticism  towards  himself, 
and  justify  his  conduct  and  principles 
while  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  also  to  set  before  his 
countrymen  that  brave  body  of  men  as 
one  of  the  noblest  organizations  ever 
made,  and  as  entitled  to  a  position 
"  high  on  the  roll  of  the  historic  armies 
of  the  world." 

The  reader  who  has  carefully  examin 
ed  the  pages  of  the  present  volume, 
in  which  we  have  given  a  narrative  of 
Gen.  McClellan's  campaigns,  and  his 
relations  to  the  army  and  the  govern 
ment  authorities  at  Washington,  will 
have  no  difficulty  in  arriving  at  what 
we  think  a  fair  and  just  estimate  of  his 
character  and  career.  We  have  narrat 
ed  the  events  and  connections  of  the 
war  as  fully  as  our  limits  admit,  and 
with  an  earnest  endeavor  to  arrive  at 
and  state  frankly  the  truth.  If  we  have 
succeeded  in  our  endeavor,  it  will  ap 
pear  that  McClellan,  while  filling  large 
space  in  the  history  of  the  war  in  Vir 
ginia,  and  while  displaying  ability  of  a 
high  order,  did  not  accomplish  all  that 
he  might  have  accomplished — all  that 
he  ought  to  have  accomplished,  despite 


238 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


tlie  difficulties  and  hindrances  and  an 
noyances  to  which  he  was  subjected. 
We  believe  him  to  have  been  sincere, 
and  desirous  to  do  his  duty  to  the 
country  in  the  work  entrusted  to  him ; 
but  we  cannot  pronounce  with  satisfac 
tion  ipon  his  success.  We  admit  the 
adverse  influences  against  him,  and 
make  all  due  allowances  therefor ;  but 
we  cannot  escape  the  conviction,  that  he 
was  not  the  man  for  the  momentous 
crisis  in  our  history ;  he  was  lacking  in 
those  essential  qualities  which  a  strug 
gle  such  as  ours  imperatively  de 
manded. 

In  the  lapse  of  time,  history  may 
place  a  different  estimate  upon  George 
B.  McClellan,  and  rank  him  more  highly 
in  its  records;  but,  so  far  as  we  can 
now  see,  he  must  hold  substantially  the 
position  we  have  assigned  to  him,  and 
must  be  content  to  be  judged  by  what 
he  has  left  undone  quite  as  much  as  by 
what  he  has  done.* 

It  was  an  ungracious  moment,  to  say 
the  least,  that  was  taken  for  the  removal 
of  McClellan;  it  showed  a  decree  of 

'  O 

spitefulness  in  the  authorities  at  Wash 
ington  to  choose  this  particular  time  for 
dismissing  him,  when,  as  he  asserts,  "  the 
army  being  renovated  and  refreshed, 
in  good  order  and  discipline,  and  confi 
dent  of  a  decisive  victory,  while  his  ad 
vance  guard  w^as  actually  in  contact 
with  the  enemy,  he  was  removed  from 

*  Mr.  Swinton,  in  his  criticism,  says  that  "  he  was 
assuredly  not  a  great  general ;"  he  was  a  better 
strategist  than  a  tactician  ;  and  "  if  he  does  not  belong 
to  that  foremost  category  of  commanders  made  up  of 
those  who  have  always  been  successful,  and  including 
but  a  few  illustrious  names,  neither  does  he  rank  with 
that  numerous  class  who  have  ruined  their  armies 
without  fighting."  —  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  pp. 
228-9. 


1862. 


the  command."  Gen.  Burnside,  his  sue- 
sessor,  was  reluctant  to  accept  the  posi 
tion  virtually  forced  upon  him.  He 
was  not  only  a  warm  friend  and  ad 
mirer  of  McClellan,  but  he  was  clearly 
of  the  opinion  that  the  command 
ought  not  to  have  been  taken  from 
McClellan.  In  his  judgment,  "  McClel 
lan  could  command  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  better  than  any  other  general 
in  it," 

Yielding,  however,  to  a  sense  of  duty, 
Burnside  acquiesced  in  the  wishes  oi 
the  government,  and  prepared  at  once 
to  enter  upon  the  difficult  task  before 
him.  On  the  10th  of  November,  he  is 
sued  an  address  to  the  troops,  and  the 
public  were  led  to  expect  im 
portant  and  decisive  results. 
The  new  commander  did  not  attempt 
to  carry  out  McClellan?s  plan,  which 
was,  by  a  rapid  advance  on  Gordons- 
ville,  to  interpose  between  Lee's  divid 
ed  forces  and  beat  them  in  detail.  He 
preferred  endeavoring  to  take  his  army 
to  Richmond  by  way  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  on 
consulting  with  Halleck,  who  made 
him  a  visit  in  camp,  he  fixed  upon  his 
course  of  operations.  While  delaying 
some  ten  days  at  Warrenton,  his  head 
quarters,  Burnside  reorganized  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  by  consolidating  the 
six  corps  into  three  grand  divisions  of 
two  corps  each ;  the  right  grand  divi 
sion  being  placed  under  Sumner,  the 
centre  under  Hooker,  and  the  left  under 
Franklin.  With  this  arrangement  of 
his  troops,  Burnside  prepared  to  carry 
out  his  purpose,  and  make  a  change  of 
base  to  Fredericksburg.  In  order  to 
cross  the  river  at  this  place,  he  called,  at 


CH.  XXIIL] 


MOVEMENT  TO  FALMOUTII. 


239 


an  early  moment  after  taking  command 
of  the  army,  for  a  sufficient  pontoon 
train  to  be  forwarded  from  Washington, 
and  meet  his  advance  on  theRappahan- 
nock.  A  depot  of  supplies  he  request 
ed  should  be  established  at  Aquia  Creek, 
and  other  provisions  sent  overland  to 
wards  Fredericksburg. 

As  evidencing  the  spirit  and  disposi 
tion  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  as  according;  with  the  sen- 

'  O 

timent  of  the  people  throughout  the 
country,  we  may  fitly  quote  Mr.  Lin 
coln's  order,  issued  on  the  16th  of 
November  : — "  The  President,  Com 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Army  and 
Navy,  desires  and  enjoins  the  orderly 
observance  of  the  Sabbath  by  the  offi 
cers  and  men  in  the  military  and  naval 
service.  The  importance  for  man  and 
beast  of  the  prescribed  weekly  rest,  the 
sacred  rights  of  Christian  sol 
diers  and  sailors,  a  becoming 

'  v^ 

deference  to  the  best  sentiments  of  a 
Christian  people,  and  a  due  regard  for 
the  Divine  Will,  demand  that  Sunday 
labor  in  the  army  and  navy  be  reduced 
to  the  measure  of  strict  necessity.  The 
discipline  and  character  of  the  national 
forces  should  not  suffer,  nor  the  cause 
they  defend  be  imperiled,  by  the  pro 
fanation  of  the  clay  or  name  of  the 
Most  High.  At  this  time  of  public  dis 
tress,  adopting  the  words  of  Washington 
in  1776,  'Men  may  find  enough  to  do 
in  the  service  of  God  and  their  country, 
without  abandoning  themselves  to  vice 
and  immorality.'  The  first  general  or 
der  issued  by  the  Father  of  his  Coun 
try,  after  the  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence,  indicates  the  spirit  in  which  our 
institutions  were  founded,  and  should 


1§62. 


ever  be  defended :  '  The  General  hopes 
and  trusts  that  every  officer  and  man 
will  endeavor  to  live  and  act  as  be 
comes  a  Christian  soldier,  defending 
the  dearest  rights  and  privileges  of  his 
country.' ' 

After  a  delay  on  Burnside's  part, 
which  was  unwise,  to  say  the  least, 
when  every  hour  of  active  operation 
was  important,  the  new  movement  was 
begun  on  the  loth  of  November,  Sum- 
ner's  grand  division  taking  the  ad 
vance.  Moving  by  the  north  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock,  he  reached  Falmouth, 
opposite  Fredericksburg,  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  17th,  and  was  very  desir 
ous  to  cross  the  river  at  once  and  take 
possession  of  the  town  and  the  bluffs 
on  the  south  bank ;  but  the  command 
ing  general  instructed  him  not  to  do 
so  at  that  time,  as  he  wished  to  estab 
lish  his  communications  before  occupy 
ing  Fredericksburg.  During  the  fol 
lowing  days,  November  19th  and  20th, 
Hooker's  and  Franklin's  divisions  reach 
ed  the  Rappahannock,  and  the  rebel 
commander,  having  ascertained  Burn- 
side's  probable  purpose,  rapidly  moved 
his  troops  to  meet  the  emergency.* 
Both  armies  were  now  in  easy  com 
munication  with  their  respective  bases, 
and  the  high  grounds  on  either  side  of 
the  river  gave  to  each  army  an  excel 
lent  defensive  position. 

It  now  became  a  serious  question 
what  next  was  to  be  done.  Some  for 
ward  movement  was  absolutely  neces- 

*  When  Sumner  readied  Falmouth  the  river  was 
fordable,  and  Fredericksburg  was  occupied  by  a  small 
force.  The  rebels  opened  fire  upon  our  troops,  but 
after  a  few  minutes  their  guns  were  silenced,  and  Sum 
ner  might  readily  have  secured  the  town  and  the 
heights,  had  he  been  allowed  to  cross. 


240 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


sary ;  the  demand  for  action  was  not 
to  be  put  off.  Lee  had  lost  not  a 
moment  in  constructing  defences  along 
the  crest  of  hills  in  the  rear  of  Freder 
icksburg,  and  by  the  beginning  of  De 
cember,  there  was  a  formidable  array 
of  artillery  on  those  terraced  heights, 
which  evidenced  the  terrible  struggle 
in  prospect  for  our  men,  should  they 
attempt  an  assault.  The  crossing  the 
river,  too,  was  by  no  means  the  easy 
matter  which  it  had  been  at  the  first,  for 
the  rebels  were  now  prepared  to  con 
test  it  to  much  better  advantage,  and 
the  pontoon  train,  owing  to  some  un 
explained  blundering,  did  not  arrive 
till  the  last  moment.*  Nevertheless, 
a  demonstration  of  some  kind  was  im 
perative,  and  accordingly  Burnside  re 
solved  to  cross  the  Rappahannock 
directly.  All  his  preparations  were 
made  ;  the  president  visited  the  camp  ; 
and  the  whole  matter  was  committed 
to  Burnside  without  let  or  hindrance 
from  Washington. 

Just   where   to   cross   was   a   crave 

~ 

question.  Burnside  must  either  force 
a  direct  passage  at  Fredericksburg,  or 
the  attempt  must  be  made  on  one  or 
other  of  the  rebel  flanks.  The  latter 
seemed  preferable,  and  it  was  deter 
mined  to  try  the  crossing  at  Skenker's 
Neck,  some  twelve  miles  below  Fal- 
mouth,  and  make  an  attack  on  Lee's 
left ;  but  that  watchful  adversary  was 
not  easily  to  be  deceived.  Burnside's 


*  Woodbury  investigates  this  subject  with  much 
fulness.  Halleck's  course  is  sharply  criticised  in  not 
giving  attention  to  this  matter  of  the  pontoon  trains, 
as  he  promised,  and  the  damaging  effect  upon  Burn- 
side's  plans  and  expectations,  by  their  non  arrival,  is 
well  pointed  out. — See  "  Burnside  and  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps,"  pp  190—199. 


plan  was  discovered ;  a  large  body  of 
troops  was  concentrated  to  oppose  the 
crossing;  and  a  considerable  force  was 
kept  there,  after  the  purpose  of  crossing 
had  been  abandoned.  In  this  position 
of  affairs,  Burnside,  hoping  to  surprise 
Lee,  resolved  to  make  the  passage  at 
Fredericksburg.  It  was  a  great  risk 
to  run,  and  the  chances  of  surprise  were 
slender ;  but  Burnside  had  made  up 
his  mind,  and  he  expected  to  pierce 
Lee's  lines  and  rout  his  army.  For 
this  purpose  he  meant  to  secure  and 
occupy  a  military  road  which  the  rebels 
had  constructed  in  the  rear  of  the  line 
of  heights  on  which  they  were  posted 
behind  Fredericksburg.  With 
a  movement  on  their  flank  and 
rear,  a  direct  attack  was  to  be  made  in 
front,  and  the  main  works  carried  by 
storm.  Such  was  Burnside's  plan,  De 
cember  10th,  and  during  the  night  ac 
tive  preparations  were  made  to  carry 
the  design  into  effect. 

O 

The  Stafford  Heights,  near  the  river's 
margin  and  commanding  the  opposite 
side,  were  crowned  by  twenty-nine 
powerful  batteries,  numbering  147 
guns,  in  order  to  protect  the  construc 
tion  of  the  bridges  and  cover  the  pas 
sage  of  the  troops.  There  were  five 
pontoon  bridges  to  be  thrown  across 
the  stream,  which  was  about  three 
hundred  yards  wide ;  three  immediate 
ly  in  front  of  Fredericksburg,  within  a 
short  distance  of  each  other,  and  the 
others  about  two  miles  below.  In  the 
passage  of  the  river,  the  division  of 
Franklin  was  to  use  the  latter,  while 
the  right  and  centre  of  Sumner  and 
Hooker  were  to  cross  at  the  town.  The 
work  was  well  advanced  during  the 


Cn.  XXIII.] 


FREDERICKSBURG  OCCUPIED. 


241 


darkness  of  the  night,  and  was  par 
tially  concealed  by  the  morning's  fog. 
The  bridges  below  Fredericksburg  were 
constructed  without  much  hindrance 
from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters ;  but 
these  troublesome  persons,  having  ob 
tained  secure  lodgment  behind  the  stone 

o 

walls  of /  the  river  street  of  the  town, 
gave,  infinite  annoyance  to  those  en 
gaged  in  building  the  bridges,  and  for 
a  considerable  time  put  a  stop  entirely 
to  the  work. 

It  was  about  four  o'clock,  on  the 
morning  of  the  llth  of  December,  when 
the  engineer  troops  entered  upon  their 
•vork,  amid  a  dense  fog  and  exposed  to 
the  raw  winter  weather  which  Lad 
already  set  it.  An  hour  later,  two  sig 
nal  guns  announced  that  the  rebels 
were  awaro  of  the  projected  attack. 
The  surprise  part  of  the  plan  had  fail 
ed,  and  as  the  sharpshooters  must  be 
dislodged,  Burnside,  about  ten  o'clock, 
ordered  a  bombardment  of  the  town. 
This  was  accordingly  done ;  but  the 
sharpshooters  were  unharmed.  It  was 
then  determined  to  send  a  party  across 
the  river  in  the  pontoon  boats,  in  order 
to  dislodge  the  enemy.  Volunteers 
were  called  for,  and  the  plan  was  that 
they  should  take  the  boats,  of  which 
ten  were  lying  on  the  bank  of  the 
river,  and  crossing  over  drive  out  the 
rebels.  The  undertaking  was  gallantly 

<_^  o  */ 

entered  upon  and  executed.  Rushing 
down  the  steep  banks  of  the  river,  the 
party  found  temporary  shelter  behind 
the  pontoon  boats  lying  on  the  bank. 
After  a  while,  they  made  a  rush  for  the 
boats,  pushed  them  into  the  water,  and 
lying  low  so  as  to  escape  as  much  as 
possible  the  rebel  rifles,  succeeded  in 

VOL.  IV.— 31. 


crossing  the  river,  but  not  without 
severe  loss.  Another  and  another 
boat  followed  ;  and  our  men,  with  great 
rapidity,  dashed  upon  the  lurking 
places  of  the  enemy,  drove  them  out, 
and  captured  over  a  hundred  of  them. 
The  bridges  were  now  speedily  com 
pleted,  and  the  evening  of  the  llth  saw 
Fredericksburg  in  possession  of  the  ad 
vance  guard  of  Sunnier' s  division,  while 
a  brigade  of  Franklin's  division  was 
also  encamped  on  the  southern  shore  at 
the  lower  crossing. 

Early  the  next  morning,  December 
12th,  the  remainder  of  Sumner's  divi 
sion  crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and 
occupied  the  town.  Franklin's  com 
mand  also  crossed  by  the  bridges  below, 
and  were  in  position  by  one  o'clock, 
P.M.  Hooker's  grand  division  remained 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  to  serve, 
if  necessary,  to  fall  upon  the  enemy  in 
their  retreat.  The  day  was  passed  in 
crossing  the  troops  and  reconnoitring 
the  rebel  position.  Our  men  lay  on 
their  arms,  and  when  Saturday,  De 
cember  13th,  arrived,  they  were  in 
readiness  for  the  battle  which  was  to 
follow. 

A  direct  attack  upon  the  enemy  was 
now  to  be  made,  under  circumstances 
far  from  encoura^ingr.  It  has  been  as- 

o       o 

serted*  that  Burnside,  having  formed 

7  O 

one  plan  of  battle,  determined  to  fight 


*  Mr.  Augustus  Woodbury,  in  his  "  Burnside  and 
the  Ninth  Army  Corps,"  (8vo,  pp.  553)  is  extremely 
earnest  in  the  defence  of  the  hero  of  his  book.  lie 
writes  rather  too  much  in  the  style  of  an  advocate  ; 
but  his  book  is  worth  consulting,  both  as  giving  a  more 
full  account  of  Burnside's  public  services,  and  also  as 
defending  him  against  unjust  criticisms  and  perver 
sions  of  truth,  such  as,  he  asserts  distinctly,  Swinton 
is  guilty  of,  in  almost  every  case,  where  he  speaks  of 
Burnside. 


242 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Biv.  VIII. 


on  another.  His  first  purpose  was, 
that  Franklin,  who  Lad  nearly  one-half 
of  the  whole  army  under  his  command, 
should  make  the  main  attack  from  the 
left,  and  that  upon  his  success  should 
be  conditioned  the  assault  of  the 
heights  in  rear  of  the  town  by  Sumner ; 
but  instead  of  carrying  out  his  original 
purpose,  he  resolved,  at  the  last  mo 
ment,  in  place  of  an  effective  attack,  to 
make  a  partial  operation,  by  both 
Franklin  and  Surnner.  "  These  disposi 
tions,''  according  to  Swinton,  "  were 
such  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  ima 
gine  any  worse  suited  to  the  circum 
stances.''* 

Early  in  the  morning,  December 
13th,  Franklin  was  instructed  to  hold 
his  command  in  readiness  for  a  rapid 
movement  down  the  old  Richmond 
road,  while  he  sent  out  a  division  to 
seize  a  position  on  the  heights,  which, 
with  a  similar  movement  by  a  column 
from  Simmer's  command,  farther  to  the 
westward,  would,  it  was  expected,  com 
pel  the  enemy  to  evacuate  the  ridge. 
The  movement  upon  the  heights  was 
carried  out  by  Meade.  Gibbon  was  to 
support  it  on  the  right,  and  Doubleday 
was  held  in  reserve.  As  soon  as  Meade 
was  in  motion,  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  was  turned  on  our  extreme  left, 
and  they  were  in  such  position  that 
they  could  fire  into  Meade's  rear  as  he 
advanced.  Hence  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  that  the  enemy  should  be 
driven  off.  Birney's  division 
was  sent  for,  but  before  he  got 
up,  Meade  had  advanced  into  the 
woods  and  had  a  severe  fight  with  the 
rebels ;  he,  however,  was  driven  back 

*  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  244. 


1§62. 


with  very  heavy  loss  by  superior  num 
bers,  until  Birney's  division  having 
reached  the  ground,  enabled  him  to 
make  a  stand  and  hold  part  of  the 
woods.  While  this  was  going  on, 
Gibbon  had  also  advanced  on  Meade's 
right,  as  a  support ;  but  between  two 
and  three  o'clock,  his  division  fell  back. 
With  the  aid  of  two  other  divisions 
the  line  was  held  for  the  remainder  of 
the  day,  and  the  fighting  on  the  left 
was  brought  to  a  close. 

In  obedience  to  orders,  Sumner  on 
the  rio;ht  beo;an  the  assault  in  the  rear 

O  o 

of  the  town,  while  the  fighting  was 
well  under  way  on  the  left.  Though 
it  seemed  like  a  forlorn  hope  to  attempt 
to  drive  back  an  enemy  securely  en 
trenched  as  the  rebels  were,  yet  our 
brave  men  shrunk  not  from  the  terrible 
contest.  "  I  selected  for  the  attack,1' 
said  Sumner,  "  the  corps  of  French  and 
Hancock,  two  of  the  most  gallant  of 
ficers  in  our  army,  and  two  corps  that 
had  neither  of  them  ever  turned  their 
backs  to  the  enemy.  They  made  re 
peated  assaults,  but  were  driven  back 
in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  that  could  be 
made  by  their  officers."  The  rebel 
position  behind  a  long  stone  wall, 
which  their  artillery  enfiladed  on  both 
sides,  was  impregnable,  and  no  troops 
could  stand  against  the  fire  which 
mowed  them  down.  Lan^uaore  cannot 

O  O 

convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  horrible 
slaughter  of  our  men  in  this  mad  and 
useless  assault.  Nearly  one-half  of 
those  heroic  veterans  were  stricken 
down  on  the  bloody  field,  amid  the 
yells  and  shouts  of  the  enemy. 

Fearful  as  was  the  responsibility  of 
sending  men  to  certain  death  in  this 


CH.  XXIII.] 


BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBUKG. 


243 


assault  on  Lee's  impregnable  position, 
Burnside  next  ordered  Hooker  to  ad 
vance.  This  officer,  on  reconnoitring 
the  ground  and  looking  into  the  state 
of  affairs,  considered  the  case  hopeless, 
and  begged  Burnside  to  give  up  the 
attack ;  but  the  commanding  general 
insisted  on  the  attempt  being  made; 
and  the  attempt  was  made.  But  it 
was  in  vain;  out  of  the  column  of 
4,000  which  dashed  itself  against  this 
stone  wall  almost  half  were  left  on  this 
bloody  field.  Happily,  night  was  fast 
coming  on,  and  the  desperate  conflict 
was  necessarily  brought  to  an  end. 

But  even  now,  with  these  dreadful 
results  before  his  eyes,  Burnside  did 
not  seem  to  be  satisfied ;  he  purposed, 
on  the  morrow,  making  one  gigantic 
effort  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  battle. 
He  gave  orders  to  this  effect ;  but.  on 
the  earnest  remonstrances  of  Sumner, 
seconded  by  the  unanimous  voice  of 
the  division  and  corps  commanders, 
further  assault  was  abandoned.  This 
was  on  Sunday  afternoon,  December 
14th ;  at  the  same  time  Burnside  gave 
orders  for  recrossing  the  Kappahannock, 
as  the  town  was  thought  to  be  unten 
able.  This  difficult  operation  was  suc 
cessfully  performed,  without  any  loss 
whatever,  in  the  deep  darkness  of  a 
stormy  night,  Monday,  December  15th. 
the  rebels  quietly  remaining  within 
their  entrenchments,  and  unaware  of 
the  disasters  of  our  army. 

The  entire  loss  on  the  Union  side,  in 
killed,  wounded  and  missing,  was 
12,321 ;  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained 
the  rebel  loss  was  between  5,000  and 
6,000.  According  to  Simmer's  esti 
mate,  there  were  less  than  50,000  of 


our  men  under  fire,  from  which  it  is 
evident  how  large  was  the  proportion 
of  loss,  being  fully  one-fourth  of  the 
entire  number  in  action. 

Under  date  of  December  19th,  Burn- 
side  wrote  to  Halleck,  and  in  review 
ing  what  had  taken  place  assumed 
the  whole  responsibility  of  the  affair.* 
"  But  for  the  fog,"  he  said,  "  and  the 
unexpected  and  unavoidable  delay  in 
building  the  bridges,  which  gave  the 
enemy  twenty-four  hours  to  concentrate 
his  forces  in  his  strong  position,  we 
would  almost  certainly  have 
succeeded.  .  .  .  For  the 
failure  in  the  attack  I  am  responsible, 
as  the  extreme  gallantry,  courage,  and 
endurance  shown  by  the  brave  officers 
and  soldiers  were  never  exceeded,  and 
would  have  carried  the  points  had  it 
been  possible." 

President  Lincoln,  naturally  anxious 
to  represent  matters  in  the  most  favor 
able  light  to  the  country,  issued  an 
address  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
December  22nd,  in  which  he  said : 
"  Although  you  were  not  successful, 
the  attempt  was  not  an  error,  nor  the 
failure  other  than  an  accident.  The 
courage  with  which  you,  in  an  open 
field,  maintained  the  contest  against  an 
entrenched  foe,  and  the  consummate 
skill  and  success  with  which  you  cross 
ed  and  recrossed  the  river,  in  the  face 
of  the  enemy,  show  that  you  possess 
all  the  qualities  of  a  great  army,  which 
will  yet  give  victory  to  the  cause  of  the 


*  Woodbury  devotes  a  long  note,  at  the  end  of  his 
chapter  on  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  to  Swinton 
and  his  "  Critical  History  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac." 
He  is  particularly  severe  upon  Swinton,  and  charges 
him  with  a  malignant  and  persistent  effort  to  traduce 
Burnside. 


244 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Ex.  VIII, 


country  and  of  popular  government." 
At  the  same  time  it  was  announced, 
that  the  resignation  tendered  by  Gen. 
Burnside  was  not  accepted  by  the 
president. 

Apart  fi'om  the  repulse  and  the 
heavy  loss  in  officers  and  men  of  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  there  was  a 
serious  depreciation  produced  by  it 
in  the  morale  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac.  Necessity  enforced  rest,  the  re 
pairing  of  losses,  the  care  of  the  wound 
ed  and  the  burial  of  the  dead,  which 
follow,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  every 
great  battle ;  but  in  addition,  there 
grew  up  a  spirit  of  discontent  at  the 
barren  results  attained,  and  a  disposi 
tion  not  only  sharply  to  criticise  the 
commanding  general,  but  also  to  dis 
trust  him  and  his  capacity  to  guide  and 
direct  the  army's  eiforts.  Burnside 
could  not  count  on  the  hearty  co-opera 
tion  of  his  chief  officers,  or  the  full 
confidence  of  the  rank  and  file ;  deser 
tions  were  frequent,  and  affairs  in  gen 
eral  presented  a  gloomy  appearance. 
Burnside  proposed  again,  towards  the 
close  of  December,  to  cross  the  Rappa- 
hannock  seven  miles  below  Fredericks- 
burg,  but  was  prevented  by  the  presi 
dent,  on  the  remonstrance  of  several 
general  officers  who  had  gone  to  see 
him  on  the  subject.  The  commander 
of  the  army  felt  all  this  very  keenly, 
and  he  resolved  to  try  again  the  for 
tune  of  battle,  which,  thus  far,  had 
proved  so  injurious  to  his  good  name 
in  the  army. 

Accordingly,  the   army  being   now 


sufficiently  recruited,  a  movement  was 
made,  early  in  January,  1863,  for  cross 
ing  the  Rappahannock  above  Freder 
icksburg,  with  feints  of  crossing  at 
other  points.  The  weather,  during  the 
first  half  of  the  month,  had  been  ex 
cellent,  and  the  roads  were  in  good 
condition.  The  columns  were  put  in 
motion,  as  secretly  as  possible,  on  the 
19th  of  January.  Everything  was  got 
in  readiness  for  crossing  durinsr  the 

O  O 

20th  of  January,  and  it  was  determin 
ed  to  make  the  passage  the  following 
morning.  But,  most  unfortunately, 
there  came  on  that  night  a  fearful 
storm,  which,  by  its  effects  upon  the 
roads,  virtually  nullified  the  entire 
movement.  Efforts  were  made  to  bring 
pontoons  enough  into  position  to  build 
a  bridge  or  two  at  least ;  but  the 
struggle  was  unavailing.  The  next 
day  the  storm  continued,  and  the  roads 
grew  worse  and  worse.  The  scene  was 
deplorable,  and  glad  enough  were  the 
troops  to  come  to  an  end  of  the  weary 
"  mud  march,"  and  stagger  back  to  the 
old  camps  whence  they  had  set  out. 

A  few  days  later,  Gen.  Burnside,  at 
his  own  request,  was  relieved  of  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  Gen.  Hooker  was  appointed  by 
the  president  as  his  successor.* 

*  Burnside,  it  appears,  Avas  so  sure  that  the  leading 
generals  lacked  confidence  in  him,  that  he  demanded 
of  the  president  either  to  dismiss  from  the  service 
Hooker  and  a  number  of  others,  or  to  accept  his  resig 
nation.  Of  course,  so  sweeping  a  measure  could  not 
be  approved  ;  Burnside  was  relieved  of  his  command, 
and  Hooker,  apparently  the  head  and  front  of  all  the 
offending,  instead  of  being  dismissed  the  service,  was 
made  commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 


Cii.  XXIV.J 


AFFAIRS  IN  MISSOURI. 


245 


CHAPTER    XXIV.     . 
1862. 

AFFAIRS  IN  THE  SOUTHWEST:  SHERMAN  ATVICKSBURG:  BATTLE  OF  MURFREESBOROUGH  : 

FOSTER    IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Schofi eld  in  Missouri  —  Troops  under  liis  command  —  Guerrilla  bands — Militia  called  out  —  Course  pxirsued 
towards  secessionists  —  Contests  with  guerrillas  under  Porter,  Cobb,  Poindexter,  etc.  —  McNeil's  victory  at 
Kirkville —  Pcindexter  routed  —  Independence  lost  —  Foster's  battle  with  Coffee  —  Rebels  in  Arkansas 
under  Hindman  —  Schofield's  plans  —  Porter's  guerrillas  —  McNeil's  doings  —  Blunt  routs  Marmaduke  at 
Cane  Hill,  Arkansas  —  Hindman  attacks  Ilerron  —  Result  —  Hindman  defeated  at  Van  Buren  —  Massacre  of 
the  whites  by  the  Sioux  —  Punishment  —  Sherman's  plan  against  Vicksburg  —  Fortifications — Attack  upon 
Haines'  Bluff —  Movement  of  Smith,  Blair  and  Morgan  —  Conflict  the  next  day  —  Attack  on  Monday  —  Dif 
ficulties  and  trials  —  Sherman  gives  up,  Grant  not  being  able  to  co-operate  —  Rosecrans  in  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  —  The  work  before  him  —  Advances  to  Nashville — Rebel  movements — Rosecrans's 
plan  of  advance  and  attack —  Success  at  Nolinsville  —  Movement,  December  29th,  near  Murfreesborough — * 
Plan  of  the  battle  —  Attack  of  rebels  on  the  right  wing— Rebel  success,  December  31st  —  Terrible  strug 
gle  on  January  2d,  1863,  at  Stone  River — Rebels  repulsed  —  Bragg  retreats  toTullahoma — Estimate  as  to 
numbers,  losses,  etc.  —  Carter's  cavalry  expedition  into  Tennessee  —  Foster  in  North  Carolina — Expedition 
to  destroy  rebel  railroad  communication  —  Advance  on  Goldsborough — Success  of  Foster — Principal  value 
of  these  expeditions. 


IN  April,  18G2,  Missouri  was  in 
charge  of  Gen  J.  M.  Schofield,  an  officer 
of  decided  merit,  who  had  served  as 
chief  of  staff  to  the  lamented  Lyon,  and 
had  recently  been  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers.  All  the  militia  of  the 
state  was  assigned  to  his  command, 
and  although  raised  and  equipped  un 
der  serious  difficulties,  it  numbered,  at 
this  date,  in  the  field,  about  14,000 
men,  mostly  cavalry.  A  still  larger 
volunteer  force  of  a  similar  character, 
Was  also  attached  to  Schofield's  com 
mand,  which,  at  this  time,  embraced 
about  three-fourths  of  the  state,  com 
prising  the  northern,  central  and  east 
ern  portions. 

After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  in 
Northwestern  Arkansas,  under  Gen. 
Curtis,  March  5th,  large  numbers  of 


Missourians,  who  had  joined  the  rebel 
army,  were  allowed  to  return  to  their 
homes,  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance, 

'  O  O 

and  the  guerrilla  bands  were,  for  the 
time,  virtually  suppressed.  In  June,  at 
Curtis's  request,  Missouri  was  erected 
into  a  separate  military  district,  and 
Schofield  was  placed  in  command.  The 
guerrillas  began  again  to  be  very 
troublesome,  and  Schofield,  on  the  22d 
of  June,  issued  an  order  holding 
"  rebels  and  rebel  sympathizers  respon 
sible  in  their  property,  and,  if  need  be, 
in  their  persons,  for  damages  thereafter 
committed  by  guerrillas  or  marauding 
parties ;"  but  his  order  produced  very 
little  effect  towards  putting  a  stop  to 
the  outrage  and  excess  of  these  lawless 
freebooters. 

Schofield's  effective  force   consisted 
of  about  17,000  men,  volunteers  and 


246 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VI11 


militia,  who  were  distributed  through 
the  state  in  six  divisions,  under  com 
petent  and  energetic  officers.  The 
southern  frontier  having  become  ex 
posed  by  Curtis's  movement  to  Helena, 
Arkansas,  a  fresh  attempt  was  made 
by  the  rebels  to  gain  possession  of  the 
state  and  eject  the  Union  troops. 
Numerous  rebel  emissaries,  as  Gen. 
Schofield  stated,  "  spread  themselves 
over  the  state,  and  while  maintaining 

>  o 

outwardly  the  character  of  loyal  citi 
zens,  or  evading  our  troops,  secretly 
enrolled,  organized  and  officered  a  very 
large  number  of  men,  estimated  by 
their  friends  at  from  30,000  to  50,000. 
Places  of  rendezvous  were  designated 
where  all  were  to  assemble  at  an  ap 
pointed  signal,  and  by  a  sudden  coup- 
de-main,  seize  the  important  points  in 
the  state,  surprise  and  capture  our 
small  detachments  guarding  railroads, 
etc.,  thus  securing  arms  and  aTjamuni- 

'  O 

tion,  and  co-operate  with  an  invading 
army  from  Arkansas." 

As  reinforcements  in  sufficient  num 
bers  for  the  protection  of  the  state  could 
not  be  obtained  from  outside  of  Mis 
souri,  Schofield  called  upon  the  gover 
nor  for  authority  to  organize  and  use 
all  the  militia  of  the  state.  The  gov 
ernor  consented,  and  the  measure  was 
carried  into  effect.  As  a  consequence 
of  the  enrolment,  the  more  desperate 
of  the  rebels  joined  the  guerrilla  bands, 
others  hid  themselves,  while  loyal  citi 
zens,  especially  in  those  districts  which 
had  been  harassed  by  the  enemy, 
promptly  obeyed  the  call.  As  it  was 
not  safe  to  place  arms  in  the  hands  of 
the  disaffected ,  and  as  it  seemed  unjust 
and  unfair  to  others  of  the  citizens  to 


1§62. 


excuse  them  from  military  duty,  thus 
virtually  setting  a  premium  on  dis 
loyalty,  it  was  determined  to  admit 
only  those  of  approved  loyalty  to  bear 
arms ;  while,  as  there  were  many  men 
of  wealth  among  "  the  friends  of  the 
South,"  it  was  resolved,  something 
after  the  manner  of  Gen.  Butler  in  New 
Orleans  (see  p.  185),  that  the  latter 
should  be  made  to  contribute  hand 
somely  from  their  means.  A  tax  of 
$500,000  was  assessed  upon  the  rebels 
of  St.  Louis  County,  "  to  be  used  in 
arming,  cloth  in  sc  and  subsisting  the 

O/  O  O 

enrolled  militia  when  in  active  service,1' 
etc.  In  one  week  after  the 
issuing  the  order  of  enrolment, 
i.  <?.,  at  the  end  of  July,  about  20,000 
men  had  been  organized,  armed,  and 
called  into  active  service.* 

A  severe  and  sanguinary  contest  no\v 
took  place  between  the  guerillas  and  the 
loyal  troops,  extending  over  a  period  of 
two  months.  The  principal  theatre  of 
operations  was  the  north-eastern  divi 
sion,  above  the  Missouri  and  bordering 
on  the  Mississippi,  under  the  command 
of  Col.  McNeil.  The  guerrilla  bands  in 
this  region,  under  Porter,  Poindexter, 
Cobb,  and  others,  amounted  to  more 
than  5,000  men,  in  parties  or  squads, 

*  Missouri,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  was  greatly  distress- 
ed  by  political  dissensions  and  discords.  The  subject 
of  emancipation  and  the  mode  of  effecting  it,  came  up, 
in  June,  1862,  in  the  state  convention,  and  was  warmly 
discussed,  but  led  to  no  practical  or  beneficial  result. 
At  the  state  election  in  November,  the  same  topic  waa 
in  controversy,  and  a  majority  of  the  Assembly,  favor 
able  to  emancipation,  was  elected.  But  divisions  in 
their  ranks  and  bitter  contests  still  continued.  Mr. 
Lincoln,  on  one  occasion,  wrote  pointedly  as  follows  : 
"  It  is  painful  to  me  that  you,  in  Missouri,  cannot,  or 
will  not,  settle  your  factional  quarrels  among  your 
selves.  I  have  been  tormented  with  it  beyond  endur 
ance,  for  months,  by  both  Bides.  Neither  side  pays 
the  least  respect  to  my  appeals  to  your  reason." 


GUERRILLA  BANDS  AND  DOINGS. 


247 


varying  according  to  tlieir  good  or  ill 
fortune.  On  the  28tli  of  July,  Porter 
and  Cobb  were  defeated  in  Galloway 
County,  on  the  Missouri  River;  but 
three  days  after,  Porter  captured  New 
ark  and  two  companies  of  Union 
troops.  Porter's  band  was  pursued  by 
our  cavalry,  almost  without  intermis 
sion  for  twelve  days,  and  driven  hun 
dreds  of  miles.  On  the  6th  of  August, 
he  was  attacked  by  Col.  McNeil,  at 
Kirkville.  After  a  severe  battle  Porter 
was  completely  routed ;  some  700  were 
killed  and  wounded ;  and  his  influence 
and  further  power  for  mischief  broken 
up. 

Poindexter's  gang  had  increased  to 
about  1,200  men  before  a  sufficient 
force  could  be  collected  to  disperse 
them.  Early  in  August,  Col.  Guitar, 
with  about  600  men,  and  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  started  in  pursuit  of  the  guer 
rilla  captain,  overtaking  and  attack 
ing  him  while  crossing  the  Chartain 

O  O 

River,  on  the  night  of  August  10th. 
A  large  number  were  killed,  wounded 
and  drowned ;  and  a  considerable 
amount  of  supplies  was  captured. 
Poindexter  hastened  northwardly  to 
effect  a  junction  with  Porter,  but  was 
driven  back ;  his  men  were  dispersed, 
and  he  was  routed  by  Guitar  and  taken 
prisoner. 

The  rebel  bands  having  been  thus 
disposed  of,  that  under  Cobb  soon 
after  dispersed,  or  formed  itself  into 
small  parties  to  continue  the  plunder 
ing  and  murdering  of  loyal  men.  It  was 
a  work  of  time  effectually  to  put  down 
these  lawless  bandits ;  but  after  a  while, 
the  activity  and  zeal  of  the  troops  and 
citizens  of  Missouri  succeeded  in  hunt 


ing  them  down  and  either  killing,  cap 
turing,  or  driving 'them  out  of  the  state. 
From  April  1st  to  September  20th,  as 
Schofield  stated,  there  were  more  than 
100  engagements,  large  and  small,  and 
in  nearly  all  these  the  Union  troops 
were  victorious.  The  entire  loss  was 
about  300 ;  the  number  of  rebels  killed, 
wounded,  captured  and  driven  out  was 
not  less  than  10,000. 

On  the  llth  of  August,  the  garrison 
at  Independence  was  compelled  to  sur 
render  to  a  body  of  the  enemy ;  and 
immediately  after,  the  rebel  Gen.  Coffee, 
was  found  to  be  advancing  with  about 
1,500  cavalry.  Major  Foster,  with  800 
men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  set  out 
from  Lexington  to  effect  a  junction 
with  Col.  Warren,  in  command  of  1,500 
men  from  Clinton.  The  intention  was 
to  attack  Hughes  and  Quantrel,  who 
had  gathered  a  large  force ;  but  Foster, 
disappointed  in  effecting  the  junction 
with  Warren,  ventured  an  attack  upon 
Coffee  and  Hughes  at  Lone  Jack,  Jack 
son  County.  After  a  severe  conflict 
our  men  fell  back  to  Lexington.  Gen. 
Blunt,  in  Kansas,  having  furnished 
timely  aid,  Coffee  and  the  rebels  were 
pursued  to  the  Arkansas  line. 

The  rebels,  however,  were  strong  in 
Arkansas,  numbering,  in  September, 
about  50,000,  under  Hindman.  Scho 
field  took  the  field  in  person,  and  con 
centrating  a  large  force  at  Springfield, 
called  on  Steele,  at  Helena,  to 
co-operate  with  him.  Curtis 
took  charge  of  the  department  at  the 
end  of  September,  Schofield  retaining 
command  of  the  "  army  of  the  frontier," 
as  it  was  called,  in  Southern  Missouri. 
Schofi  eld's  force  numbered  about 


248 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


11,000  in  all,  with  sixteen  pieces  of 
artillery.  On  the  30th  of  September, 
Gen.  Salomon,  with  some  4,500  troops, 
was  defeated  at  Newtonia.  Schofield 
now  hurried  to  Sarcoxie,  and  being 
joined  by  Blunt,  October  3d,  advanced 
against  the  rebels  at  Newtonia.  Blunt, 
on  the  22d,  came  upon  Cooper  in  camp 
at  old  Fort  Wayne,  arid  routed  him 
completely.  Schofield,  with  Herron's 
command,  marched  over  the  White 
River  Mountains,  but  found  the  rebels 
running  away.  Schofield  resigned  his 
command  in  November.* 

A  month  later  the  contest  was  re 
sumed  in  North-western  Arkansas. 
Blunt,  on  the  27th  of  November,  set 
out  with  5,000  men  and  thirty  pieces 
of  artillery,  to  attack  Marniaduke,  at 
Cane  Hill,  whose  force  was  some  8,000 
in  number.  By  a  very  rapid  and  un 
ceasing  march  he  came  up  with  the 
enemy,  and  opened  the  attack  upon 
their  position  on  one  of  the  heights  of 
the  Boston  Mountains.  Marmaduke 
was  glad  to  make  a  retreat  towards 
Van  Buren,  ;  and  Blunt  returned  to 
Cane  Hill.  Herron  was  now  advanc 
ing  from  Missouri,  with  about  6,500 
men  and  twenty -four  pieces  of  artillery, 
to  join  Blunt.  Hindman,  the  rebel 
commander,  attacked  Herron,  Decem 
ber  7th,  on  Crawford's  Prairie,  not  far 
from  Fayetteville.  The  rebels  num- 

*  "  The  fearful  story  of  the  Palmyra  massacre,"  as 
Pollard  calls  it,  may  here  be  noted.  It  appears  that 
McNeil,  0:1  the  ground  of  the  guerrillas  having 
carried  off  a  citizen  of  Palmyra,  and  refused  to  restore 
him,  gave  notice,  October  8th,  that,  within  ten  days, 
lie  would  shoot  ten  of  their  number.  This  he  did,  and 
his  act  was  j  ustified  by  many,  as  the  only  way  in  which, 
to  deal  with  ruffians  of  their  class.  Davis  was  fierce 
in  denunciation,  bul  reserved  his  vengeance,  much  to 
Pollard's  disgust,  to  i  later  season. 


bered  some  20,000,  and  the  battle  was 
severe  and  bloody.  Blunt  came  up  in 
the  afternoon,  and  attacking  the  enemy 
in  the  rear,  they  were  finally  driven 
into  flight  across  the  mountains.  Just 
at  the  close  of  the  year,  Blunt  defeated 
the  rebels  at  Van  Buren,  on  the  Arkan 
sas  Biver,  and  put  an  effectual  stop  tc 
Hindman 's, contemplated  advance  upon 
Missouri. 

The  Indian  tribes  on  the  remote 
frontier  gave  much  trouble  in  1862 
and  the  Sioux,  under  Little  Crow,  per 
petrated  a  horrible  massacre  in  Minne 
sota,  durino-  the  month  of  August. 

'  O  o 

Steps  were  taken  immediately  to  punish 
these  wretches  ;  and  after  a  month's 
pursuit  of  them,  Col.  Sibley  routed 
them,  September  23d,  near  Yellow 
Medicine  Biver.  About  500  prisoners 
were  taken,  and  being  tried  by  court- 
martial,  300  were  sentenced  to  be  ex 
ecuted;  but  the  president  reduced  the 
number  to  thirty-nine,  who  were  hung 
on  a  single  scaffold,  at  Mauhato,  Minne 
sota,  December  26th. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1862,  active 
operations  were  resumed  against  Vicks 
burg  (see  p.  189).  While  Gen.  Grant 
was  with  his  army  in  Northern  Missis 
sippi,  having  his  headquarters  at  Holly 
Springs,  Gen.  Wm.  T.  Sherman,  who 
was  in  command  of  the  army  corps  or. 
the  Mississippi,  collected  a  large  num 
ber  of  transports  at  Memphis,  witt 
reference  to  a  movement  against  Vicks 
burg.  Having  embarked  his  forces 
here  and  at  Helena,  in  number,  it  was 
stated,  some  40,000  men,  Sherman  en 
tered  the  Yazoo,  December  26th,  and 
effected  a  landing  a  few  miles  above 
the  mouth  on  the  left  bank,  about  six 


Cn.  XXIV".] 


ATTACK  ON  IIAINES'  BLUFF. 


249 


miles  from  Vicksburg.  Above  and 
below  the  city,  from  Haines'  Bluff  on 
the  Yazoo  to  Warrenton  on  the  Missis 
sippi,  there  was  a  line  of  hills,  which 
with  the  swamps  and  lagoons  in  front 
afforded  the  rebels  an  excellent  means 
of  defence.  Sherman  sent  out  recon 
noitring  parties,  who  speedily  ascertain 
ed  and  reported  that,  owing  to  its  ad 
vantage  of  position  and  the  defences 
provided  by  the  enemy,  any  attempt 
to  take  Vicksburg  from,  this  direction, 
that  is,  in  the  rear,  would  be  attended 
with  very  great  difficulty.  At  the  out 
set,  the  fleet  was  hindered  in  its  endea 
vors  to  ascend  the  Yazoo,  by  a  formid 
able  battery  at  Haine's  Bluff,  to  silence 
which  it  would  be  necessary  to  make 
a  fresh  attack  upon  it  from  the  river, 
preparatory  to  an  advance  of  the  army 
in  front. 

This  occurred  on  the  morning  of  De 
cember  27th.  The  entire  force  of  Sher 
man  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle, 
and  prepared  to  make  the  assault  at 
different  points.  Gen.  M.  L.  Smith's 
division  took  the  advance,  and,  moving 

/  O 

rapidly,  encountered  the  rebels  about 
a  mile  from  Chickasaw  Bayou,  which 
empties  into  the  Mississippi.  Severe 
skirmishing  followed ;  but,  though  the 
rebels,  protected  by  rifle  pits  and  abat- 
tis,  contested  every  inch  of  the  road, 
they  were  slowly  pushed  backward 
toward  the  bayou.  A  portion  of  Gen. 
Steele's  division  had,  the  evening  be 
fore,  landed  above  the  bayou,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  a  battery  in  the  rear, 
which  commanded  the  point  of  cross 
ing  on  the  extreme  right.  Owing  to 
the  mud  and  other  difficulties,  the  land 
ing  of  this  portion  of  Steele's  division 

VOL.  IV.— 32 


occupied  the  whole  of  the  26th  of  De 
cember,  and  it  did  not  reach  the  scene 
of  operations  until  the  morning  of  the 
27th.  Blair's  brigade  and  Morgan's 
division,  meanwhile,  had  advanced  on 
the  left  by  d inherent  routes,  and  came 
into  position  nearly  side  by  side.  A 
masked  battery  of  the  enemy  was  soon 
silenced,  and  the  soldiers  bivouacked 
on  the  field,  ready  to  renew  the  attack 
in  the  morning. 

During  the  night,  the  rebels  were 
busily  occupied  in  strengthening  their 
position  by  rifle  pits,  breastworks,  etc. ; 
and  early  on  Sunday  morning,  Decem 
ber  28th,  they  began  a  heavy  cannon 
ade  upon  Blair's  and  Morgan's  troops. 
The  conflict  having  been  renewed  in 
the  front,  the  enemy  were  driven  across 
the  Chickasaw  Bayou,  and  our  troops 
by  night  were  in  position  south  of  the 
bayou,  with  one  bridge  completed  and 
two  others  partly  constructed.  Steele, 
as  above  stated,  had  pushed  forward 
his  command  ;  but  after  three  most 
vigorous  attempts  to  get  at  the  enemy 
by  the  only  means  of  approach — a 
narrow  lane  or  causeway — exposed  to 
the  full  fire  of  the  rebel  artillery,  he 
gave  it  up,  and  by  Sherman's  orders 
returned  to  the  river,  landed  on 
the  lower  side  of  the  Chicka 
saw,  and  held  the  extreme  left,  acting 
as  a  reserve.  Blair's  brigade  took  posi 
tion  on  Morgan's  right,  and  at  the  ex 
treme  riorht  was  A.  J.  Smith's  division. 

o 

At  daylight  on  the  29th,  the  enemy's 
batteries  began  to  fire  on  Morgan's 
position,  but  with  little  effect,  although 
the  cannonade  wTas  kept  up  during  the 
forenoon.  The  plan  was,  after  throw 
ing  bridges  across  the  bayou,  to  make 


250 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  vm. 


a  concerted  assault  on  the  bluffs. 
Blair's  "brigade  had  crossed  the  bayou 
before  it  turned  along  the  bluffs,  and 
was  in  a  position  at  the  front  of  the 
hill,  with  a  small  abattis  and  a  deep 
ditch  between  it  and  the  point  intend 
ed  to  be  assailed.  Sherman  not  having 
appointed  any  hour  for  the  assault, 
Morgan  acted  on  his  own  responsibility, 
and  ordered  Blair  to  advance.  After 
a  severe  struggle,  the  rebels  were  driven 
from  their  first  line  of  rifle  pits,  and  a 
charge  having  been  made  upon  the 
second  line,  the  rebels  were  again  rout 
ed  and  driven  into  a  thicket  or  grove 
of  willows.  Our  men,  in  a  hand  to 
hand  conflict,  drove  them  from  the 
thicket,  and  took  possession  of  it,  but 
were  in  turn  forced  to  retire  from  the 
heavy  cannonade  of  the  batteries  on 
the  hill. 

After  suffering  terrible  loss  in  the 
effort  to  gain  the  crest  of  the  hill,  Blair 
deemed  it  best  to  fall  back  to  his  posi 
tion  on  the  right  of  Morgan.  Stuart's 
division  met  with  severe  treatment  in 
constructing  bridges  over  the  bayou, 
and  only  one  regiment  crossed  over. 
During  the  night,  the  regiment  was 
brought  back  without  loss.  Notwith 
standing  the  failure  of  the  assault  on 
the  left,  Gen.  Sherman  resolved  to  try 
another ;  but  it  was  not  deemed  ex 
pedient  the  next  morning  to  attempt 
to  carry  it  out.  The  Yazoo  swamps 
were  entirely  impracticable ;  and  on 
consulting  with  Admiral  Porter,  it  was 
proposed  to  make  a  combined  naval  and 
land  attack  on  the  extreme  rebel  right, 

o        / 

so  as  to  gain  a  position  on  the  bluffs 
and  force  the  enemy  back  upon  Vicks- 
burg.  The  design,  however,  on  further 


examination,  was  given  up  without  a 
trial. 

As  it  was  part  of  the  original  plan 
of  attack  upon  Vicksburg,  that  Grant 
should  assail  the  place  in  the  rear  while 
Sherman  was  making  the  attack  in 
front,  and  as  Grant  was  unable  to  fulfil 
his  part,  in  consequence  of  his  com 
munications  being  cut  off,  it  was  not 
surprising  that  Sherman  failed  in  cap 
turing  this  important  stronghold.  Pos 
sibly,  with  Grant's  co-operation,  the 
plan  might  have  been  successfully 
carried  out;  but,  under  existing  cir 
cumstances,  Sherman  resolved  to  with 
draw,  and  on  Thursday  night,  January 
1st,  1863,  and  the  next  morning,  the 
troops  were  embarked  and  moved  down 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo.  The  en 
tire  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  miss 
ing  was  reported  at  nearly  2,000.  Gen. 
McClernand  met  Sherman  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  assumed  the  command,  and 
ordered  the  forces  to  Milliken's  Bend, 
about  twelve  miles  up  the  Mississippi. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1863,  Sher 
man  issued  an  order,  announcing  some 
changes  in  the  army  arrangements,  and 
giving  the  troops  high  praise  for  the 
good  service  they  had  rendered  and 
the  manly  spirit  which  they  always 
displayed. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  second  battle 
of  Corinth  (October  4th),  Rosecrans 
took  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  It  was  composed  of  what 
remained  of  the  late  Army  of  the  Ohio, 
commanded  by  Bueli,  strengthened  and 
increased  by  new  but  raw  levies,  and 
was  in  direct  succession  of  that  brave 
body  of  men  who,  under  Anderson, 
Sherman  and  Buell,  had  repeatedly  de- 


ROSECRANS  ADVANCES  AGAINST  BRAGG. 


CH.  XXIV.] 

fended  Kentucky  against  invasion,  and 
had  carried  its  victorious  banners 
through  Tennessee  to  the  heart  of  the 

o 

enemy's  country. 

The  new  department  of  the  Cumber 
land,  in  which  the  army  was  now  to 
be  employed,  comprised  all  the  state 
of  Tennessee  lying  east  of  the  Tennes 
see  River,  and  such  portions  of  North 
ern  Alabama  and  Georgia  as  should  be 
occupied  by  the  forces  of  the  United 
States.  Rosscrans  arrived  at  Louis 
ville,  Kentucky,  on  the  27th  of  Octo 
ber,  and  entered  at  once  upon  the  duties 
of  his  command.  The  work  of  prepar 
ation  for  the  intended  campaign  was 
vigorously  begun,  and  carried  forward 
as  rapidly  as  possible ;  the  troops  were 
drilled,  disciplined  and  rendered  effec 
tive  ;  equipments,  arms,  horses  and 
stores  of  every  kind  were  collected 
without  delay ;  and  steps  were  taken 
to  restore  the  broken  line  of  communi 
cation  with  Nashville  as  speedily  as 
was  practicable.  Louisville  being  the 
real  base  of  operations,  distant  183 
miles  from  Nashville,  it  was  necessary, 
particularly  in  the  low  state  of  the 
Cumberland  River,  to  re-open  and  re 
pair  the  railroad  between  the  two 
places.  This  was  accomplished  as  far 
as  Mitchells ville,  thirty-five  miles  north 
of  Nashville,  by  the  8th  of  November. 
On  the  1st,  of  November,  Rosecrans 
moved  to  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky, 
and,  on  the  5th,  three  divisions  of  Me- 
Cook's  corps  advanced  by  this  route 
towards  Nashville.  The  commanders 
of  corps  were,  Gens.  Thomas,  McCook, 
Rousseau  and  Crittenden. 

Rosecrans,  who  followed  McCook's 
advance  with  the  remainder  of  the 


251 


army,  reached  Nashville  on  the  10th 
of  November,  and  took  up  his  position 
in  front  of  the  city.  At  the  close  of 
the  mouth,  the  railroad  communication 
from  Louisville  was  completed,  and  the 
balance  of  the  year  1862  was  occupied 
in  gathering  supplies,  organizing  and 
disciplining  the  troops,  etc.  The  rebels, 
on  their  part,  determined  to  drive  out 
Rosecrans,  and  before  the  close  of  No 
vember,  they  had  advanced  a  large 
force  to  Murfreesborough  ;  they  num 
bered,  in  all,  45,000  effective  men, 
under  the  command  of  Braxton  Bra^o*-. 

OO 

A  large  cavalry  force  wras  sent  by 
Bragg  into  West  Tennessee  to  cut  off 
Grant's  communications,  and  another 
large  force,  under  Morgan,  into  Ken 
tucky,  to  break  up  the  railroads.  In 
the  absence  of  these  forces,  aud  with 
adequate  supplies  in  Nashville,  it  was 
judged  an  opportune  moment  for  an 
advance  on  the  rebels.  Rosecrans's 
plan  was  well  and  carefully  prepared, 
and  every  step  was  taken  to  insure  suc 
cess  over  the  enemy  at  Murfreesbo 
rough.  In  endeavoring  to  carry  out 
the  contemplated  movements,  it  was 
determined,  on  the  night  of  Christmas, 
to  enter  on  the  work  the  next  day. 
Accordingly,  on  Friday  morning,  De 
cember  26th,  at  daylight,  the  troops 
broke  up  camp,  and  McCook  advanced 
on  the  Nolinsville  Pike.  Sharp  skir 
mishing  ensued ;  the  rebels,  though 
resisting  stoutly,  were  steadily  driven, 
and,  by  the  close  of  the  day,  McCook 
gained  possession  of  Nolinsville  and 
the  hills  in  front.  Thomas  followed 
on  the  right,  leaving  Rousseau's  di 
vision  on  the  right  flank.  Crittenden 
advanced  to  Lavergne,  skirmishing 


252 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


heavily  on  his  front.  The  next  day, 
McCook  advanced  on  Triune,  but  his 
movement  was  retarded  by  a  dense  fog. 
On  reaching  Triune,  he  found  that 
Hardee  had  retreated,  and  sent  a  divi 
sion  in  pursuit.  Crittenden  began  his 
advance  about  eleven,  A.M.,  driving  the 
enemy  before  him,  and  by  a  gallant 
charge  upon  the  rear  guard  of  the 
enemy,  saving  the  bridge  over  Stew 
art's  Creek.  This,  and  another  bridge 
across  the  same  creek  on  the  Murfrees- 
borough  turnpike,  came  into  possession 
of  our  troops,  and  by  night  the  columns 
were  all  closed  up. 

On  Sunday,  December  28th,  the  main 
body  of  the  troops  rested,  and  the  next 
morning  McCook  moved  to  within 
seven  miles  of  Murfreesborough,  which 
he  reached  at  the  close  of  the  day. 
Crittenden  crossed  Stewart's  Creek  and 
moved  within  three  miles  of  Murfrees 
borough,  having  had  several  brisk  skir 
mishes,  and  forced  the  rebels  back  into 
their  entrenchments.  Negley  advanc 
ed  to  the  centre,  and  Rousseau's  divi 
sion  was  placed  in  reserve,  on  the  right 
of  Crittenden. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  December 
30th,  McCook  moved  forward,  slowly 
and  steadily  fighting  his  way  into  posi 
tion  with  considerable  loss.  Our  cav 
alry  force,  about  8,000  in  number,  did 
good  service,  but  met  with  heavy  re 
sistance.  McCook  joined  Thomas  on 
the  Wilkinson's  pike  in  the  afternoon  ; 
Sheridan  was  in  position  near  Grei- 
son's  ;  and  Hardee's  corps,  with  a  part 
of  Folk's,  was  in  McCook's  front.  The 
rebels  had  the  advantage  of  stron^  ua- 

o  o 

tural  fortifications,  and  their  centre  was 
effectually  masked  by  the  dense  cedar 


forests.     During  the  night,  it  became 

o  O         / 

evident  that  they  were  massing  on  the 
right  of  Rosecrans,  who  made  at  once 
the  best  preparation  in  his  power  to 
meet  the  impending  struggle.  His 
plan  was  to  hold  the  right  wing,  giv 
ing  ground  a  little  if  necessary,  and 
meanwhile  to  push  forward  his  left,  so 
as  not  only  to  occupy  Murfreesborough, 
but  to  get  into  the  flank  and  rear  of 
the  rebels.  At  daylight  the  next 
morning,  December  31st,  the  attack 
was  begun  by  the  rebels.  The  weather 
was  foggy,  and  our  troops  appear  to 
have  been  taken  somewhat  by  surprise. 
The  entire  front  was  assaulted  at  once, 
the  rebels  rapidly  advancing  in  double 
columns ;  and  so  determined  and  ener 
getic  was  their  fighting,  that,  despite 
the  efforts  of  the  division  commanders, 
Davis,  Sheridan,  and  Johnson,  in  an 
hour's  time  they  captured  two  batteries 
and  compelled  our  troops  to  give  way. 
Their  object  was  to  turn  Rosecrans's 
right  flank,  but  they  did  not  succeed 
in  this. 

In  this  posture  of  affairs,  Rousseau 
was  ordered  into  the  cedar  brakes  to 
the  right  and  r"ear  of  Sheridan.  Van 

o 

Cleve's  and  Wood's  movements  were 
suspended,  and  these,  together  with 
Harker  and  his  brigade,  hurried 
to  McCook's  help.  The  pioneer  bri 
gade  meanwhile  occupied  the  knoll  of 
ground  west  of  Murfreesborough  pike, 
and  about  400  or  500  yards  in  rear 
of  Palmer's  centre,  supporting  St(  ikes's 
battery.  Sheridan,  after  sustaining 
four  successive  attacks,  gradually  swung 
his  light  from  a  south-easterly  to  north 
westerly  direction,  repulsing  the  enemy 
four  times.  After  desperate  fighting, 


Cn.  XX IV.] 


BATTLE  OF  MURFREESBOROUGII. 


253 


his  brigades  fell  back  from  the  position 
held  at  the  commencement,  through  the 
cedar  woods,  in  which  Rousseau's  divi 
sion,  with  a  portion  of  Negley's  and 
Sheridan's,  met  the  advancing  enemy 
and  checked  his  movements.  The  am 
munition  train  of  the  right  wing, 
endangered  by  its  sudden  discomfiture, 
was  safely  brought  through  the  woods 
to  the  rear  of  the  left  wing,  thus  en 
abling  Sheridan's  troops  to  replenish 
their  empty  cartridge  boxes.  Daring 
all  this  time,  Palmer's  front  had  been 
in  action,  the  enemy  having  made  seve 
ral  attempts  to  advance  upon  it. 

The  line  of  battle  was  readjusted  to 
meet  the  new  condition  of  affairs.  The 
right  and  centre  of  the  line  were  now 
extended  from  Hazen  to  the  Murfrees- 
borough  pike  in  a  north-westerly  direc 
tion.  An  attack  by  infantry  and 
cavalry  of  the  enemy  on  our  extreme 
rio'ht  was  repulsed  bv  Van  Cleve's 

O  *t 

division,  with  Harker's  brigade  and  the 
cavalry.  After  several  attempts  of  the 
rebels  to  advance  on  this  new  line, 
which  were  thoroughly  repulsed,  as 
also  their  attempts  on  the  left,  the  day 
closed,  leaving  the  Union  troops  mas 
ters  of  the  original  ground  on  the  left, 
and  the  new  line  advantageously  posted, 
with  open  ground  in  front  swept  at  all 
points  by  our  artillery.* 

Our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 

*  "  On  the  day  succeeding  the  fight,  Gen.  Bragg 
telegraphed  to  Richmond  the  news  of  a  great  victory, 
presented  his  compliments  to  the  authorities,  and  wrote 
'  God  has  granted  us  a  happy  now  year.'  His  exulta 
tions  were  over  hasty,  for  though  we  had  routed  on 
the  morning  of  the  preceding  day  the  right  wing  of 
the  enemy,  the  final  contest  was  yet  to  be  decided." 
Van  Dorn,  also,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  been  in  a 
hurry  to  claim  a  victory  over  Rosecraus  (see  p.  224). 
Pollard's  "  Second  Year  of  the  War,"  p.  210. 


very  heavy ;  we  had  also  lost  twenty- 
eight  pieces  of  artillery,  the  horses 
having  been  killed,  and  the  troops  being 
unable,  in  the  position  of  affairs,  to 
withdraw  them  by  hand  over  the  rough 
ground.  But  the  rebels  had  been 
severely  handled,  and  had  not  obtain 
ed  any  success  which  did  not  depend 
on  the  original  driving  in  of  our  right 
wing.  Orders  were  given  for  the  issue 
of  all  the  spare  ammunition  ;  and  Rose- 
crans  determined  to  rest  his  extreme 
left  on  Stone  River,  above  the  lower 
ford,  and  extending  to  Stokes's  battery. 
McCook  was  posted  on  the  left  of 
Sheridan  near  the  Murfreesborough 
pike,  relieving  Van  Cleve,  who,  the 
next  morning,  returned  to  his  position 
in  the  left  wing.  Rosecrans  resolved 
to  wait  the  enemy's  attack  in  this  posi 
tion,  to  send  for  the  provision  train,  and 
to  order  up  fresh  supplies  of  ammuni 
tion,  on  the  arrival  of  which,  should 
the  rebels  not  attack,  offensive  opera 
tions  should  be  resumed. 

On  Thursday  morning,  January  1st, 
1863,  Crittenden  was  ordered  to  occupy 
the  points  opposite  the  ford  on  his  left 
with  a  brigade.  In  the  course  of  the 
afternoon,  the  rebels  showed  sisrns  of 

/  O 

massing  on  our  right,  but  noting  the 
strength  of  our  position,  the  movement 
resulted  in  nothing.  On  Friday  morn 
ing,  sharp  demonstrations  were  made 
by  the  enemy  along  the  whole  line; 
but  no  movement  of  importance  oc 
curred  till  three  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon.  At  that  time,  there  was  a  rush 
ing  mass  hurled  upon  the  division  of 
Van  Cleve  across  Stone  River,  consist 
ing  of  the  entire  rebel  risrht  win^. 

~  o  ~ 

Advancing  rapidly,  a  short  and  fierce 


254 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


contest  ensued,  when  Van  Cleve's  divi 
sion  giving  way,  the  enemy  followed 
closely  across  the  river.  Crittendem 
immediately  disposed  his  artillery  so 
as  to  open  on  the  rebels,  while  two 
brio-ados  of  .NWlev's  division,  from  the 

O  O       «/ 

reserve,  and  the  pioneer  brigade, 
were  ordered  up  to  meet  the  onset. 
The  firing  was  terrific,  and  the 
havoc  terrible.  The  enemy  retreated 
more  rapidly  than  they  had  advanced. 
In  forty  minutes  they  lost  2,000  men.* 

Our  troops  pursued  the  flying  enemy 
well  across  the  field,  capturing  four 
pieces  of  artillery  and  a  stand  of  colors. 
It  was  now  after  dark,  and  raining,  or 
the  enemy  would  have  been  pursued 
into  Murfreesborough.  As  it  was,  Crit- 
tenden's  corps  passed  over,  and,  with 
Davis,  occupied  the  crests,  which  were 
entrenched  in  a  few  hours.  Rosecrans 
thought  it  advisable  to  make  a  demon 
stration  on  the  right,  by  a  heavy  divi 
sion  of  camp  fires,  and  by  laying  out 
a  line  of  battle  with  torches. 

The  following  day,  January  3d,  was 
very  stormy ;  the  ploughed  ground 
over  which  the  left  would  be  obliged 
to  advance, was  impassable  for  artillery  ; 
and  the  ammunition  train  did  not  ar 
rive  until  ten  o'clock.  It  was  not, 
therefore,  deemed  expedient  to  ad 
vance  ;  but  batteries  were  put  in  posi 
tion  on  the  left,  by  which  the  ground 
could  be  swept,  and  even  Murfrees 
borough  reached  by  the  Parrott  guns. 

*  Pollard  and  others  censure  Bragg  for  want  of 
generalship  in  not  securing  the  hillocks  in  the  bend  of 
Stone  River,  and  in  allowing  the  Union  troops  to  oc 
cupy  them.  Breckenridge  Avas  here  badly  repulsed, 
and  the  vivid  recollections  of  the  "  bloody  crossing  of 
Stone  River  "  long  survived  in  the  memories  of  the 
rebel  army. 


The  day  passed  off  quietly,  excepting 
a  sharp  contest,  which  resulted  in  put 
ting  a  stop  to  the  rebel  picket  firing, 
and  in  capturing  a  small  breastwork 
together  with  some  seventy  or  eighty 
prisoners. 

Early  on  Sunday,  January  4th,  news 
was  brought  to  Rosecrans  that  the 
enemy  had  fled  from  Murfreesborough. 
On  Monday  morning,  Thomas  advanc 
ed,  driving  the  rear  guard  of  rebel  cav 
alry  before  him  six  or  seven  miles 
towards  Manchester.  McCook's  and 
Crittenden's  corps  took  position  in 
front  of  the  town,  occupying  Murfrees 
borough.  Bragg  took  up  his  position 
at  Tullahoma,  a  strong  point  thirty-two 
miles  distant  from  Murfreesborough 
and  seventy-one  from  Nashville. 

In  giving  a  summary  of  the  opera 
tions  and  results  of  the  series  of  skir 
mishes  and  encounters,  closing  with 
the  battle  of  Stone  River  and  occupa 
tion  of  Murfreesborough,  Rosecrans 
stated,  that  the  force  he  brought  into 
battle  numbered  43,400  men.  Of  these, 
there  were  killed  1,533,  and  wounded 
7,245 ;  total,  8,778  ;  the  missing  num 
bered  between  3,000  and  4,000.  He 
also  estimated  Bragg's  force  at  62,490 
men,  and  his  entire  loss  at  14,560.  On 
the  other  hand,  Bragg  said  in  his  re 
port,  that  he  learned  from  some  cap 
tured  papers  of  McCook's,  that  the 
Union  army  numbered  70,000  men, 
and  therefore  he  did  not  deem  it  pru 
dent  or  proper  to  continue  the  contest. 
His  own  force  in  the  field,  he  stated, 
was  less  than  35,000,  and  his  loss  in 
all  about  10,000.  He  claimed  to  have 
taken  more  than  6,000  prisoners,  over 
thirty  pieces  of  artillery,  6,000  stand 


CIT.  XXIV.] 


CARTER'S  AND  FOSTER'S  MOVEMENTS. 


255 


of  small  arms,  and  a  vast  amount  of 
other  valuable  property;  in  addition, 
Bragg  stated  that  his  force  succeeded 
in  destroying  not  less  than  800  wagons, 
mostly  laden  with  various  articles, 
such  as  arms,  ammunition,  provisions, 
baggage,  clothing,  medicine  and  hospi 
tal  stores.* 

Such,  in  substance,  is  the  military 
narrative  of  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
borough,  one  of  the  most  determined 

O      " 

and  equally  sustained  battles  of  the 
war,  and  one  which  will  be  for  ever 
memorable  among  the  great  conflicts 
of  the  struggle  for  the  Union  in  the 

West.     Although  it  fell  short  of  a  de- 

~ 

cisive  victory,  it  was,  nevertheless,  a 
very  serious  blow  to  the  rebels,  and 
wras  justly  and  generally  hailed  as  a 
triumph  to  the  North,  securing,  as  it 
did,  possession  of  a  vast  and  important 
frontier,  menaced  by  an  active  and  re 
solute  foe. 

On  receipt  of  the  intelligence  at 
Washington,  the  president  expressed 
the  sentiment  of  the  loyal  states  in  a 
brief  telegram  to  Gen.  Rosecrans : 
"  God  bless  you,  and  all  \vith  you. 
Please  tender  to  all,  and  accept  for 
yourself,  the  nation's  gratitude  for  your 
and  their  skill,  endurance,  and  daunt 
less  courage." 

During  the  latter  part  of  December, 

*  Jeff.  Davis  visited  Mississippi  at  this  date,  review 
ed  the  troops  at  Murfreesborougli,  and  made  a  speech 
at  Jackson,  on  the  26th  of  December.  In  this  speech 
he  indulged  in  unusual  fierceness  of  language,  spoke 
of  "  the  malignant  ferocity  "  of  the  northern  and  west 
ern  people,  scorned  all  "  association  with  such  mis 
creants,"  and  poured  forth  a  tirade  so  bitter  and  un 
scrupulous,  that  it  was  not  only  disgraceful  to  himself, 
but  led  one  to  suspect  that  disappointment  and  ill  suc 
cess  had  stricken  deep  into  his  very  soul.  If  words 
could  have  destroyed  his  hated  enemies,  Davis  would 
have  annihilated  them  long  before  this  date. 


1862,  Gen.  Wright  sent  out  from  his 
department  in  Kentucky  an  expedition 
to  cut  off  the  rebel  communications, 
and  to  prevent  Bragg  from  being  re 
inforced  from  Richmond,  by  destroying 
the  East  Tennessee  Railroad.  A  force 
of  about  1,000  men,  all  told,  composed 
of  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and  Michigan 
cavalry,  was  collected  on  the  south 
eastern  corner  of  Kentucky,  and  plac 
ed  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Carter.  On  the  28th  of  December 
they  crossed  the  Cumberland  Moun 
tains  into  Virginia,  and  thence  across 
Powell's  Mountain  into  Tennessee. 
On  the  30th,  they  reached  Union  Sta 
tion,  where  they  captured  150  prison 
ers  and  destroyed  the  railroad  bridge 
over  the  Holston  River.  They  also  de 
stroyed  the  bridge  over  the  Watauga 
River,  and  nearly  a  hundred  miles  of 
rails,  almost  to  Jonesborough,  and  then 
made  their  way  back  into  Kentucky. 
Carter,  in  a  congratulatory  order  issued 
a  few  days  after  his  return,  spoke  in 
the  highest  terms  of  the  courage,  en 
durance,  and  uniformly  good  conduct 
of  both  officers  and  men  in  this  daring 
expedition. 

Gen.  J.  G.  Foster,  an  able  and  ener 
getic  officer,  in  command  of  the  depart 
ment  of  North  Carolina,  undertook  a 
movement  having  an  object  in  view 
similar  to  that  just  described,  viz , 
cutting  the  rebel  line  of  com 
munication  between  Richmond 
and  the  south-western  states.  It  was 
a  highly  important  movsment  and  was 
made  simultaneously  with  the  attack 
of  Burn  side  upon  Lee  at  Fredericks- 
burg.  Foster's  force  consisted  of  four 
brigades,  four  batteries  and  the  3d  New 


256 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bii.  VIII. 


York  cavalry,  and  left  Newborn  on 
the  llth  of  December,  having  Golds- 
borough,  fifty  miles  northwest  of  New- 
bern,  as  the  point  aimed  at.  Fourteen 
miles  were  made  the  first  day  on  the 
main  road  to  Kinston,  where  further 
progress  was  found  to  be  obstructed 
by  felled  trees  for  more  than  half  a 
mile.  At  daylight,  the  next  morning, 
an  advance  was  made  on  the  Vine 
Swamp  road,  and  some  sharp  skirmish 
ing  took  place.  Some  delay  occurred 
in  rebuilding  the  bridge  over  Beaver 

O  o 

Creek,  where  a  force  sufficient  to  hold 
it  was  left ;  and  the  main  column  ad 
vanced  four  or  five  miles.  The  next 
day,  Saturday,  Foster  continued  his 
advance,  turning  to  the  left  and  leav 
ing  the  road  he  was  on  to  the  right. 
Having  reached  South-west  Creek,  he 
found  the  rebels  posted  on  the  opposite 
bank,  some  400  strong,  and  with  three 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  creek  was  not 
fordable,  and  ran  at  the  foot  of  a  deep 
ravine.  Our  troops,  however,  under 
the  protection  of  a  battery,  swam  the 
creek  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
ground,  after  some  sharp  skirmishing. 
An  attack  was  made  by  Foster  the 
next  day,  near  Kinston,  and  after  a 
brief  struggle,  the  rebels  retreated 
across  the  Neuse  Biver,  firing  the 
bridge  as  they  did  so,  and  losing  some 
400  men  as  prisoners.  The  bridge  was 
saved,  and  the  column  took  possession 
of  Kinston.  The  two  following  days 


were  occupied  in  continual  skirmishing, 
driving  the  enemy  from  various  points, 
destroying  railroad  and  other  pro 
perty,  etc. 

On  Wednesday,  December  17th,  Fos 
ter  advanced  upon  and  reached  Golds- 
borough.  The  enemy  made  every  pos 
sible  resistance,  but  so  skilfully  were 
Foster's  plans  laid,  and  so  successfully 
were  they  carried  out,  that  he  accom 
plished  his  purpose.  Two  trestlework 
culverts  were  burned,  a  train  of  four 
railroad  cars,  water  station,  depots,  etc., 
were  destroyed,  the  railroad  bridge 
over  the  Neuse  was  fired  by  the  gallant 
Lieut.  Graham,  and  other  bridges  were 

O 

burned.  With  a  strong  cavalry  rear 
guard,  Foster  started  on  his  return, 
and  reached  Newbern  in  safety.  Our 
entire  loss  in  this  expedition  was  less 
than  100  killed  and  nearly  500  wound 
ed.  The  rebel  loss  was  reported  at 
about  700. 

These  expeditious  under  Carter  and 
Foster,  although  successful  in  them 
selves,  resulted  in  no  special  or  lasting 
advantage,  as  the  great  movement  upon 
Richmond  had  in  the  meantime  been 
suspended.  The  principal  gain  was 
the  developing  the  importance  to  the 
rebel  authorities  of  these  great  lines 
of  communication,  and  what  serious 
embarrassment  would  result  to  their 
plans  and  purposes,  in  case  the  rail 
roads  were  effectively  cut  and  secured 
by  our  troops. 


CH.  XXV.] 


STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  AT  DATE. 


257 


CHAPTER    XXV. 
1862, 

CLOSE    OP    1862:    HABEAS    CORPUS:    EMANCIPATION:    MEETING   OF   CONGRESS:    FOREIGN 

RELATIONS. 

Position  of  affairs  at  this  date  —  Call  for  additional  troops  —  The  draft  unpopular  —  Number  of  troops  in  the 
service  —  Suspension  of  habeas  corpus  —  Orders  in  regard  to  state  prisoners — Proclamation  of  the  president 
—  Public  complaints  —  Order  from  the  war  department  —  Indemnity  act  —  Avowed  purpose  of  the  war  on 
the  part  of  the  government  —  Slavery  question  in  this  connection  —  Order  of  the  president  in  July  as  to  rebel 
property  —  Mr.  Lincoln's  policy  as  to  emancipation  —  Emancipation  proclamation  —  How  received  —  Third 
session  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress  —  President's  message  —  Course  of  the  opposition  —  Resolution  of 
Mr.  Morrill  —  Action  of  Congress  —  Report  of  secretary  of  the  treasury  —  Action  in  regard  to  the  national 
finances  —  Condition  of  our  foreign  relations  — Correspondence  —  Course  pursued  by  the  English  govern 
ment  —  Case  of  the  pirate  Oreto  or  Florida  —  The  "  290,"  or  Alabama  —  Efforts  to  arrest  her  departure  from. 
Liverpool  —  Her  escape,  and  piratical  career  —  Indignation  in  the  United  States  —  Public  opinion  in  Eng 
land —  Mr.  Gladstone's  speech —  London  Times  —  Sentiments  of  Mr.  Cobden  and  Mr.  Bright  —  Louis  Napo 
leon's  proposition  for  intervention  —  Declined  by  Russia  and  England  —  M.  Drouyn  de  1'Huys'  despatch  — 
Reply  by  the  secretary  of  state —  Hopes  and  expectations  at  the  close  of  the  year. 


HAVING  carried  forward  the  narrative 
of  military  and  naval  operations  to  the 
close  of  1862,  we  embrace  the  oppor 
tunity  of  devoting  a  chapter  to  several 
matters  of  general  interest  which  re 
quire  notice  in  connection  with  our 
country's  history;  and  also — as  was 
done  at  the  close  of  1861 — of  giving  a 
brief  resume  of  the  state  and  condition 
of  affairs  at  the  opening  of  the  new 
year. 

We  need  not  repeat  wdiat  has  been 
made  evident  on  preceding  pages,  that, 
with  the  exception  of  the  campaigns  in 
Virginia,  the  national  arms  had,  during 
1862,  been  attended  by  important  and 
lasting  success.  Mill  Spring,  Kentucky, 
in  January ;  Forts  Henry  and  Donel- 
son,  Kentucky,  and  Nashville,  Tennes 
see,  in  February ;  Pea  Ridge,  Arkan 
sas,  and  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  in 
March ;  Fort  Pulaski,  Georgia,  New 

VOL.  IV.— 33. 


Orleans  and  Island  No.  10,  on  the 
Mississippi,  in  April;  Norfolk,  Vir 
ginia,  in  May;  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
in  June ; — these,  and  other  noted  points 
in  the  West  and  Southwest,  evidenced 
the  steady  progress  of  the  Union  armies 
towards  breaking  down  the  rebel  orga 
nizations,  and  narrowing  the  area  of 
the  conflict.  Missouri  had  been  re 
lieved  from  invasion;  Arkansas,  to  a 
great  extent,  had  been  occupied;  the 
rebels  had  lost  all  on  the  Mississippi, 
except  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson; 
the  coast  towns  and  cities  of  North 
Carolina  had  been  taken  possession  of; 
and  the  rebel  attempts  at  invasion  of 
Maryland  had  been  decidedly  repulsed. 
It  is  true,  that  the  virtual  failure  of 
McClellan  in  the  campaign  against 
Richmond,  the  disasters  on  the  Chicka- 
hominy,  the  bunglings  and  misfortunes 
of  Pope,  and  the  ill  success  of  Burn- 


258 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


side,  had,  in  great  measure,  neutralized 
tlie  effects  of  the  brilliant  victories  in 
the  Southwest  and  elsewhere,  and  pre 
vented  our  securing  several  important 
advantages  in  various  quarters.  One 
thing  became  evident,  and  the  people 
of  the  loyal  states  felt  and  acknowledg 
ed  it,  and  that  was,  the  necessity  of  in 
creasing  and  rendering  more  effective 
our  armies  in  the  field.  There  had 
been  great  loss  of  life,  not  only  in  bat 
tle,  but  ako  by  wounds,  sickness,  and 
other  vicissitudes  of  war,  and  the  terri 
tory  in  which  operations  were  to  be 
carried  on,  and  points  permanently  oc 
cupied,  was  so  vast  in  extent,  that  it 
was  deemed  not  only  prudent  but 
almost  imperative  to  call  for  volunteers, 
and  add  largely  to  the  immense  force 
already  under  arms.* 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1862,  the  presi 
dent,  in  concert  with  the  governors  of 
the  loyal  states,  called  for  300,000  ad 
ditional  volunteers  to  serve  for  the  war. 
The  call  was,  on  the  whole,  re 
ceived  with  favor,  and  strenu 
ous  efforts  were  made  by  popular  ap 
peals,  offers  of  large  bounties,  and  other 
measures,  to  carry  it  into  immediate 
effect.  It  was  strongly  urged,  that  the 
very  life  of  our  country  was  at  stake. 
The  rebels,  especially  the  leaders,  had 
ventured  all  upon  the  success  of  their 
wicked  designs,  and  there  was  no  other 
way  of  reducing  them  to  submission 
and  preserving  the  integrity  of  the  na 
tion,  but  by  breaking  down  and  effec 
tually  destroying  their  military  power 
in  the  states  over  which  they  were  exer- 

*  For  an  interesting  and  valuable  sketch  of  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  with  important  details, 
statistics,  etc.,  see  Appleton's  "American  Annual 
Cyclopedia"  for  1862,  pp.  16-23. 


1§62. 


cising  a  usurped  control.  On  the  4th 
of  August,  another  order  was  issued, 
calling  for  300,000  men  to  serve  for 
nine  months,  unless  sooner  discharged  ; 
and  it  was  announced  that  the  draft 
would  be  put  in  force,  unless  volunteer 
ing  was  prompt  and  speedy.  In  case 
any  state  should  not,  by  the  15th  of 
August,  have  furnished  its  quota  of  the 
previous  call,  the  deficiency  was  also 
to  be  made  up  by  a  special  draft  from 
the  militia. 

The  secretary  of  war,  a  few  days 
later,  issued  orders  "to  prevent  the 
evasion  of  military  duty  and  for  the 
suppression  of  disloyal  practices."  Un 
der  these,  persons  liable  to  draft  were 
not  allowed  to  evade  it  by  going  out 
of  the  country;  and  persons  attempt 
ing  to  discourage  volunteer  enlistments 
were  ordered  to  be  arrested  and  im 
prisoned.  Under  these  orders  various 
arrests  were  made,  which  excited  not  a 
little  complaint,  and  brought  upon  the 
government  charges  of  oppression  and 
illegal  procedure.  An  attempt  was 
also  made  to  put  in  force  a  passport 
system,  which  was  found  to  be  exceed 
ingly  annoying  and  vexatious,  with 
small  prospect  of  beneficial  result. 
After  a  mouth's  trial,  the  restrictions 
on  travel  were  entirely  rescinded,  and 
it  was  directed  that  any  arrests  made 
under  the  orders  just  noted  were  to  be 
made  only  upon  the  express  warrant 
of  the  judge- advocate  of  the  war  de 
partment,  or  by  the  military  com 
mander  or  governor  of  the  particular 
state. 

The  draft  was,  in  fact,  in  all  its  as 
pects,  thoroughly  unpopular,  and  the 
government  naturally  hesitated  in  re- 


Cn.  XXV.] 


MILITARY  ARRESTS,  ETC. 


259 


gard  to  efforts  to  enforce  it  at  this 
date.  In  a  few  states,  as  Pennsylvania, 
Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  Wisconsin, 
etc.,  it  was  practically  carried  out,  dur 
ing  the  autumn  of  1862 ;  but,  in  con 
sequence  of  necessary  delays  for  enrol 
ments,  etc.,  the  draft  was,  in  most 
cases,  postponed,  and  for  the  time,  at 
least,  allowed  to  fall  quietly  out  of 
sisrht.  The  short  term  of  service  under 

o 

the  recent  militia  act,  with  the  liberal 
bounties  offered  by  states,  cities,  and 
individuals,  favored  largely  the  supply 
of  men  ;  so  that,  early  in  December, 
1862,  the  secretary  of  war  reported, 
under  the  calls  of  July  and  August, 
420,000  new  troops  in  the  field,  of 
whom  320,000  were  volunteers  for 
three  years,  or  during  the  war.  Ac 
cording  to  the  best  estimate  which  can 
now  be  made,  the  number  of  troops  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  at  the 
close  of  1862,  was  nearly  or  quite 
1,000,000.* 

The  active  efforts  of  treasonable  and 
disaffected  persons,  and  the  violent  and 
malicious  assaults  of  a  portion  of  the 
press,  in  order  to  thwart  the  plans  of 
the  government  and  aid  and  abet  the 

o 

rebellion,  led  to  the  continued  exercise 
of  that  power  which  was  claimed  to 


*  The  numbers  of  the  rebel  force  cannot  be  given 
•with  any  exactness  ;  some  writers  say  there  were  over 
400,000  in  the  service  ;  but  by  the  rigid  enforcement 
of  the  conscription  act  in  the  seceded  states  (see  p.  117), 
compelling  all  persons  between  the  ages  of  eighteen 
and  forty-five  to  do  military  duty,  the  rebel  leaders 
managed  to  get  together  larger  armies,  at  the  end  of 
18C2,  than  at  any  previous  period,  and  were  conse 
quently  prepared  to  carry  on  the  war  in  1863.  The 
process  of  conscription,  however,  was  exhausting,  and 
could  ill  bear  repetition.  It  became  odious  to  the  peo 
ple  of  the  states  in  rebellion  ;  it  was  evaded  in  every 
possible  way ;  and  it  was  denounced  as  not  only  a  gross 
violation  of  the  much-cherished  state  rights'  doctrine, 
but  also  as  the  most  outrageous  of  military  despotism. 


belong  to  the  executive  in  case  of  man 
ifest  necessity ;  we  refer  to  the  suspen 
sion  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  Din 
ing  the  early  period  of  the  great  strug 
gle  for  national  life  and  integrity,  ar 
rests  were  made  by  orders  issued  from 
the  secretary  of  state;  but  in  Febru 
ary,  1862,  the  control  of  this  whole 
matter  was  transferred  to  the  war  de 
partment.  We  have  noted,  on  a  pre 
vious  page,  Chief-justice  Taney's  views, 
in  the  spring  of  1861  (see  p.  29).  In 
July  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Bates,  the 
United  States  attorney-general,  gave 
an  elaborate  opinion  on  this  subject, 
and  asserted  the  right  of  the  president, 
in  the  great  crisis  existing,  to  exercise 
this  power.  The  government  thence 
forward  acted  with  promptitude  and 
vigor.  A  large  number  of  persons, 
known  or  supposed  to  be  in  complicity 
with  the  rebels,  were  arrested  and 
placed  in  confinement,  but,  after  longer 
or  shorter  intervals,  were  released,  upon 
taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
United  States. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  the  secret 
ary  of  war  issued  a  paper  containing 
the  "  executive  orders  in  relation  to 
state  prisoners,"  in  which  Mr.  Stanton 
set  forth,  clearly  and  forcibly,  the 
grounds  on  which  the  government  felt 
it  necessary  to  pursue  the 
course  it  had  adopted.  "  The 
president  felt  it  his  duty  to  employ 
with  energy  the  extraordinary  powers 
which  the  Constitution  confides  to  him 
in  cases  of  insurrection.  He  called  into 
the  field  such  military  and  naval  forces, 
unauthorized  by  the  existing  laws,  as 
seemed  necessary.  He  directed  mea 
sures  to  prevert  the  use  of  the  post 


1802. 


260 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VII I 


office  for  treasonable  correspondence."* 
In  addition,  as  was  stated  on  a  previous 
page,  (p.  259),  disloyal,  or  supposed  to 
be  disloyal,  persons  were  arrested  and 
imprisonments  made  quite  extensively. 
On  the  27th  of  July,  Gen.  Dix,  and  the 
Hon.  E.  Pierrepont  of  New  York,  were 
appointed  a  commission  to  make  exa 
mination  into  the  cases  of  state  prison 
ers  then  in  custody,  and  to  determine 
whether  it  were  proper  and  safe  to  dis 
charge  them,  or  remit  them  to  the  civil 
tribunals  for  trial.  These  gentlemen 
entered  upon  the  duties  assigned  them ; 
they  visited  the  Old  Capitol  prison  at 
Washington,  Fort  Mcllenry  at  Balti 
more,  Fort  Lafayette  at  New  York,  and 
Fort  Warren  at  Boston;  and  lars;e 
numbers  were  released  from  confine 
ment  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
Arrests,  however,  continued  to  be 
made,  and  though  the  president  assum 
ed  the  responsibility,  the  secretary  of 
war  determined  upon  the  cases,  and  sus 
pended  the  writ  as  he  deemed  best. 
This  assumption  of  power  was  most 
strenuously  objected  to,  and  some  of 
the  courts  took  the  ground  that,  al 
though  the  president  might  have  au 
thority  under  the  Constitution,  in  case 
of  rebellion  or  invasion,  to  suspend  the 
writ,  he  could  not  legally  delegate  that 
authority  to  any  subordinate.  In  or 
der  to  meet  this  view,  Mr.  Lincoln 
issued  a  proclamation,  September  24th, 
declaring  that  all  persons  discouraging 
volunteer  enlistments,  or  eno-aging  in 

*  o     o       O 

any  disloyal  practices,  were  subject  to 
martial  law ;  and  further,  that  the  writ 

*  On  the  subject  of  "newspaper  exclusion  and  sup 
pression,"  with  interesting  details,  see  McPliorson's 
"History  of  the  Rebellion,"  pp.  188-194. 


of  habeas  corpus  was  suspended  in  re 
gard  to  all  persons  who  had  been,  or 
should  be,  arrested  and  confined  by 
military  authority.  A  provost  marshal 
general  was  appointed,  with  subordin 
ates,  to  carry  out  the  determination  of 
the  government  in  every  direction. 

Of  course,  such  action  was  sharply 
criticised ;  outcries  were  made  against 

'  O 

what  was  denounced  as  tyranny  in  its 
worst  form  ;  and  in  some,  or  more 
cases,  individuals  were  harshly  treated, 
and  their  rights  unduly  invaded.  Po 
litical  leaders  in  opposition  to  the  gov 
ernment  made  the  most  of  all  this ; 
"  peace  meetings"  were  held  in  various 
places ;  the  administration  was  vi^or- 
ously  assailed ;  efforts  were  made  to 
prevent  enlistments  and  hinder  the 
putting  down  the  rebellion  by  force 
of  arms ;  and  so  powerful  an  influence 
was  exerted  upon  the  state  elections, 
near  the  close  of  the  year,  that  the  gov 
ernmeut  was,  in  several  instances,  seri 
ously  worsted.  Nevertheless,  the  ener 
getic  action  of  the  public  authorities 
was  so  far  effective  and  salutary,  that 
on  the  22d  of  November,  the  folio  wine: 

7  O 

order  was  issued  by  the  war  depart 
ment  : — 

"  Ordered,  1.  That  all  persons  now 
in  military  custody,  who  have  been  ar 
rested  for  discouraging  volunteer  en 
listments,  opposing  the  draft,  or  for 
otherwise  giving  aid  and  comfort  to 
the  enemy,  in  states  where  the  draft 
has  been  made  or  the  quota  of  volun 
teers  and  militia  has  been  furnished, 
shall  be  discharged  from  further  mili 
tary  restraint.  2.  That  persons  who, 
by  the  authority  of  the  military  com 
mander  or  governor  in  rebel  states, 


On.  XXV.] 


THE  POLICY  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT. 


261 


1§62. 


have  been  arrested  and  sent  from  such 
state,  for  disloyalty  or  hostility  to 
the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  are  now  in  military 
custody,  may  also  be  discharged,  upon 
giving  their  parole  to  do  no  act  of  hos 
tility  against  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  nor  render  aid  to  its 
enemies.  ...  3.  This  order  shall 
not  operate  to  discharge  any  person 
who  has  been  in  arms  against  the  gov 
ernment,  or  by  force  and  arms  has  re 
sisted,  or  attempted  to  resist  the  draft, 
nor  relieve  any  person  from  liability  to 
trial  and  punishment  by  civil  tribunals, 
or  by  court  martial  or  military  com 
mission,  who  may  be  amenable  to  such 
tribunals  for  offences  committed." 

When  Congress  met,  in  December, 
1862,  this  subject  occupied  a  large 
share  of  their  attention ;  it  was  warmly 
and  fully  discussed,  and  the  result  was, 
that  an  act  of  indemnity  was  passed  in 
behalf  of  the  president,  and  those  under 
his  orders,  for  whatever  had  been  done, 
and  power  was  conferred  giving  him 
full  authority  to  suspend  the  writ  of 
habeas  corpus  whenever,  in  his  judg 
ment,  the  public  safety  required  it.* 

It  will  have  been  noted  by  the 
reader  that  the  government  had,  at 
various  times,  announced  that  its  ob 
ject,  in  its  military  and  other  opera- 

*  An  indemnity  bill  was  passed  in  the  House,  De 
cember  8th,  by  a  vote  of  90  to  45;  two  weeks  after 
wards,  thirty-six  members  of  the  House  moved  to  enter 
on  the  journal  an  elaborate  protest  against  the  bill,  as 
a  deliberate,  palpable,  and  dangerous  violation  of  the 
Constitution.  The  list  was  headed  by  Geo.  H.  Pendle- 
ton,  W.  A.  Richardson,  C.  L.  Vallandingham,  S.  S.  Cox, 
etc.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Stevens,  the  protest  was  tabled 
by  a  vote  of  75  to  41.  The  bill  respecting  habeas  cor 
pus,  etc.,  ns  finally  agreed  upon  by  the  two  houses, 
was  passe  1  and  approved,  March  3d,  1803. — See  Mc- 
Pherson's  '  History  of  the  Rebellion,"  pp.  183 — 187. 


tions  against  the  rebels,  was  to  put 
down  lawless  insurrection,  and  restore 
the  authority  of  the  Constitution.  The 
southern  leaders  and  traitors  to  the 
Union  endeavored  to  excite  terrible 
apprehensions  and  arouse  bitter  hos 
tility,  on  the  ground  that  the  loyal 
states  had  in  view  the  entire  subjuga 
tion  and  conquest  of  the  people,  the 
stirring  up  a  slave  rebellion,  the  de 
struction  of  all  property,  and  every 
thing  else  that  was  foul  and  horrible. 
The  government  made  earnest  efforts 
to  allay  apprehensions  and  remove  all 
cause  for  hostility.  Every  imputation 
that  the  intention  of  our  armies  was  to 
destroy  property  and  liberate  the 
slaves,  was  repelled  as  false  and  slan 
derous.  "  In  no  way  or  manner,"  it 
was  announced,  "did  the  government 
desire  to  interfere  with  the  laws  con 
stitutionally  established  in  the  south 
ern  states,  or  with  their  institutions  of 
any  kind  whatever,  their  property  of 
any  sort,  or  their  usages  in  any  re 
spect." 

This  was  the  avowed  policy  of  the 
administration,  so  far  as  there  was  any 
policy,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion, 
and  mainly  during  the  years  1861  and 
1862.  Gen.  Fremont's  and  Gen.  Hun 
ter's  movements,  in  regard  to  the  posi 
tion  of  the  slaves,  and  what  to  do  with 
them,  were  retused  sanction  by  the 
government ;  and  the  more  zealous  and 
radical  of  the  supporters  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
made  many  serious  complaints  and 
charges  of  backwardness  and  luke- 
warmness  on  the  part  of  the  president. 
It  was  evident  that  they  regarded  slav 
ery  as  the  greatest  of  all  evils,  and  that 
they  would  not  rest  content  with  any- 


262 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


via 


thing  short  of  its  total  destruction ;  but 
Mr.  Lincoln  hesitated  at  taking  so  de 
cided  a  step  and  abandoning  the  ground 
heretofore  held  on  this  subject. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  a  few  days  after 
the  adjournment  of  Congress,  an  order 
was  issued  in  regard  to  the  general  use 
of  rebel  property  in  the  several  mili 
tary  departments,  directing  that  mili 
tary  commanders  should  seize  any 
property  necessary  or  convenient  for 
supplies,  in  any  of  the  insurgent  states ; 
that  negroes  should  be  employed  and 
properly  compensated  as  laborers ;  and 
that  accounts  should  be  kept  and  fur 
nished  to  the  government  in  regard  to 
these  various  matters. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  favorite  policy  in  regard 
to  emancipation,  was  that  of  compen 
sation  for  the  estimated  value  of  the 
slaves  of  loyal  owners,  and  colonizing 
them  in  some  part  of  Southern  or  Cen 
tral  America.*  But  neither  of  these 
plans  met  with  general  favor.  The 
government  was  pressed,  by  its  more 
ardent  supporters,  to  adopt  and  pro 
claim  some  larger  and  more  definite 
policy  as  to  the  vexed  question  of  slav 
ery.  It  began  to  be  felt,  by  both  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  the  people,  that  something 
positive  must  be  done,  and  done  speed 
ily  and  effectively.  The  rebels  were 
making  use  of  the  slaves  as  tillers  of 
the  ground  and  laborers  in  military 
operations,  so  as  greatly  to  increase 
their  capability  of  resistance,  and  en 
able  all  the  white  population  to  serve 
in  the  rebel  army. 

Several  of  the  influential  journals  of 

*  For  notice  of  the  Bteps  which  were  taken  at  the 
previous  session  in  regard  to  compensated  emancipa 
tion,  colonization  of  the  negroes,  etc.,  see  p.  148. 


the  day  urged  the  subject  vehemently 
and  forcibly  upon  the  president,  and 
Mr.  Lincoln,  through  the  press,  under 
date  of  August  22d,  gave  utterance  to 
his  views,  in  his  peculiar  style  and 
manner  of  argument.  He  declared  that 
his  one  great  aim  was  to  save  the 
Union,  and  that  the  question  of  slav 
ery  was  wholly  subordinate  to  this  end 
and  aim.  "  My  paramount  object  is  to 
save  the  Union,  and  not  either  to  save 
or  destroy  slavery.  If  I  could  save  the 
Union  without  freeing  any  slave  I 
would  do  it,  and  if  I  could  save  it  by 
freeing  all  the  slaves  I  would  do  it,  and 
if  I  could  save  it  by  freeing  some  and 
leaving  others  alone  I  would  also  do 
that.  What  I  do  about  slavery  and 
the  colored  race  I  do  because  I  believe 
it  helps  to  save  this  Union,  and  what 
I  forbear  I  forbear  because  I  do  not 
believe  it  would  help  to  save  the 
Union." 

From  the  purport  of  this  letter  it 
may  be  gathered,  that  the  president 
was  fast  tending  to  that  change  of  pol 
icy  which  was  soon  after  publicly  an 
nounced.  His  position  was  such,  and 
the  urgency  of  the  party  which  sup 
ported  the  president  was  such,  that  he 
could  no  longer  forbear  taking  a  bold 
and  decided  stand.  Accordingly,  on 
the  22d  of  September,  Mr.  Lincoln 
issued  his  Emancipation  Proclamation. 
It  is  a  document  of  sufficient  import 
ance  to  be  given  in  full,  and  may  be 
found  in  the  appendix  to  the  present 
chapter. 

On  the  one  hand  the  proclamation 
was  received  with  applause,  and  on  the 
other  denounced  vigorously.  But,  after 
all  that  was  or  could  be  said  against 


OIL 


THIRTY-SEVENTH  CONGRESS. 


263 


this  change  or  development  of  the  pol 
icy  of  the  government,  the  great  body 
of  the  people  were  disposed  to  acqui 
esce  in  the  measure  as  a  war  measure, 
and  as  a  military  act  justified  by  a  mili 
tary  necessity.* 

The  Thirty-seventh  Congress  began 
its  third  session  on  the  1st  day  of  De 
cember,  1862.  The  friends  and  sup 
porters  of  the  administration  were 
largely  in  the  majority,  both  in  the 
Senate  and  in  the  House,  and  the  na 
tional  legislature  entered  upon  its  work 
with  becoming  zeal  and  diligence.  The 
president's  -message  was  a  document  of 
great  length,  in  which  Mr.  Lincoln 
gave  a  review  of  the  general  condition 
of  affairs  at  home  and  abroad,  and 
especially  argued  upon  the  question 
of  compensated  emancipation.  "  Since 
your  last  annual  assembling,"  he  said, 
"  another  year  of  health  and  bountiful 
harvests  has  passed,  and  while  it  has 
not  pleased  the  Almighty  to  bless  us 
with  the  return  of  peace,  we  can  but 
press  on,  guided  by  the  best  light  He 
gives  us,  trusting  that,  in  His  own 
good  time  and  wise  way,  all  will  be 
well."  The  relations  with  foreign  na 
tions  were  stated  to  be  on  an  amicable 

*  In  the  rebel  Congress,  immediately  on  receipt  of 
the  Emancipation  Proclamation,  measures  of  retalia 
tion  were  strongly  urged.  Much  violent  invective 
was  indulged  in  ;  there  was  fierce  talk  of  raising  the 
"  black  flag,"  resorting  to  a  war  of  extermination,  etc. 
The  matter  was  finally  handed  over  to  Jeff.  Davis,  who, 
on  the  23d  of  December,  issued  a  retaliatory  proclama 
tion,  principally  directed  against  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler, 
nnd  concluding  with  the  following  order  :  "  That  all 
uegro  slaves  captured  in  arms  be  at  once  delivered  over 
10  the  executive  authority  of  the  respective  states  to 
which  they  belong,  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  the 
laws  of  said  states.  That  the  like  orders  be  executed 
In  all  cases  with  respect  to  all  commissioned  officers 
of  the  United  States,  when  found  serving  in  company 
with  said  slaves  in  insurrection  against  the  authorities 
of  the  different  states  of  this  Confederacy." 


footing,  in  general ;  the  condition  ot 
the  finances  was  commended  to  their 
"most  diligent  consideration;'' 
attention  was  called  to  the  re 
ports  of  the  secretaries  of  war  and 
the  navy,  and  various  interesting  state 
ments  were  made  respecting  the  post 
office  department,  the  public  lands,  the 
Indian  tribes,  etc.  The  latter  half  of 
the  message  was  devoted  to  the  subject 
of  "  compensated  emancipation,"  in 
which  Mr.  Lincoln  was  profoundly  in 
terested,  and  to  which  he  gave  the  larg 
est  and  fullest  consideration.  The 
reader  may  consult  to  advantage  this 
part  of  the  message ;  we  have  no  room 
for  details  or  large  quotation ;  its  clos 
ing  paragraph  was  as  follows :  "  Fel 
low  citizens,  we  cannot  escape  history. 
We  of  this  Congress  and  this  adminis 
tration  will  bo  remembered  in  spite  of 
ourselves.  No  personal  significance  or 
insignificance  can  spare  one  or  another 
of  us.  The  fiery  trial  through  which 
we  pass  will  light  us  down  in  honor  or 
dishonor  to  the  latest  generation.  We 
say  that  we  are  for  the  Union.  The 
world  will  not  forget  that  we  say  this. 
We  know  how  to  save  the  Union. 
The  world  knows  we  do  know  how  to 
save  it.  We,  even  we  here,  hold  the 
power,  and  bear  the  responsibility.  In 
giving-  freedom  to  the  slave,  we  assure 

O  o 

freedom  to  the  free,  honorable  alike  in 
what  we  give  and  what  we  preserve. 
We  shall  nobly  save  or  meanly  lose  the 
last,  best  hope  of  earth.  Other  means 
may  succeed ;  this  could  not  fail.  The 
way  is  plain — peaceful — generous — just 
— a  way  which,  if  followed,  the  world 
will  forever  applaud,  and  God  must 
forever  bless.1' 


264 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BR.   VIII 


On  the  very  first  day  of  the  session, 
•esolutions  were  introduced  denounc 
ing  the  course  of  the  government  in  re 
gard  to  the  suspension  of  habeas  cor 
pus,  and  the  arbitrary  arrests  of  per 
sons  suspected  of  complicity  with  the 
rebels  or  the  rebellion.  Men  like  Cox, 
Vallandingham,  Pendleton.  and  others 
in  the  House,  and  Powell,  Davis,  Sauls- 
bury,  etc.,  in  the  Senate,  were  actively 
engaged  in  efforts  to  thwart  the  plans 
of  the  majority  and  oppose  the  admin 
istration  ;  but  it  was  to  little  purpose. 
They  rarely  accomplished  anything  ex 
cept  to  ventilate  their  opinions,  and 
with  hardly  an  instance  to  the  con 
trary,  their  propositions  were  quietly 
laid  on  the  table  or  summarily  rejected. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  Mr.  Mor- 
rill,  of  Vermont,  offered  the  following 
resolution  in  the  House :  "  Resolved, 
That  at  no  time  since  the  commence 
ment  of  the  existing  rebellion,  have  the 
forces  and  materials  in  the  hands  of  the 
executive  department  of  the  govern 
ment  been  so  ample  and  abundant,  for 
the  speedy  and  triumphant  termination 
of  the  war,  as  at  the  present  moment ; 
and  it  is  the  duty  of  all  loyal 

1§62.  .  .   .         J  J 

American  citizens,  regardless 
of  minor  differences  of  opinion,  and  es 
pecially  the  duty  of  every  officer  and 
soldier  in  the  field,  as  well  as  the  duty 
of  every  department  of  the  government 
• — the  legislative  branch  included — as 
a  unit,  to  cordially  and  unitedly  strike 
down  the  assassins,  at  once  and  forever, 
who  have  conspired  to  destroy  our 
Constitution,  our  nationality,  and  that 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  which  we 
are  justly  proud  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  which  we  stand  pledged  to  perpe 


tuate  forever."  This  resolution  indi 
cated  clearly  the  sentiment  which  pre 
vailed  in  Congress,  and  in  the  loyal 
states  generally  ;  it  was  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  105  to  1  (W.  J.  Allen). 

Although  it  is  a  little  in  advance, 
we  give  here  a  brief  summary  of  the 
action  of  Congress  during  this  its  last 
session.  The  bill  authorizing  the  sus 
pension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus, 
and  indemnifying  the  president  and 
others,  was  elaborately  discussed  in  the 
Senate  as  well  as  in  the  House ;  very 
great  varieties  of  opinion  were  express 
ed,  and  the  bill  was  finally  passed  by 
large  majorities.  Other  measures,  such 
as  the  enlisting-  negroes  as  soldiers,  the 

O  O  f 

enroling  and  drafting  the  militia,  the 
authorizing  the  president  to  issue  to 
private  armed  vessels  letters  of  marque, 
the  admission  of  the  state  of  Western 
Virginia,  etc.,  were  warmly  debated 
during  the  session,  and  afforded  abun 
dant  evidence  of  the  spirit  and  deter 
mination  of  the  majority  in  Congress, 
and  the  lengths  to  which  they  were 
ready  to  go  in  support  of  the  policy  of 
the  government. 

The  report  of  the  secretary  of  the 
treasury,  Mr.  Chase,  was  an  elaborate 
and  carefully  prepared  document,  set 
ting  forth  the  previous  financial  history 
of  the  war,  and  the  policy  by  which  it 
was  proposed  to  regulate  its  burdens  in 
the  future.  The  expenditures  of  the 
year  were  in  excess  of  previous  esti 
mates  some  $350,000,000 ;  and  the  pub 
lic  debt,  it  was  stated,  w^ould,  by  the 
end  of  the  next  year,  amount  to  $1,700,- 
000,000.  The  secretary  urged  the  organ 
ization  of  banking  associations  under  a 
general  act,  as  proposed  the  previous 


Cu.  XXV.] 


FINANCIAL  MEASURES  OF  CONGRESS. 


265 


year.  The  central  idea  of  the  scheme  was 
"the  establishment  of  one  sound,  uni 
form  circulation,  of  equal  value 
throughout  the  country,  upon 
the  foundation  of  national  credit  combin 
ed  with  private  capital."  Its  advantages 
in  absorbing  the  public  securities,  pro 
viding  a  lioine  market,  and  giving  stead 
iness  to  their  value,  were  obvious,  while 
the  measure  was  free  from  the  objec 
tions  of  government  interference  former 
ly  urged  against  a  national  bank.  It 
would  be  voluntary,  gradually  come 
into  use,  and  meet  the  necessities  of 
the  times.  Nor  would  its  least  recom 
mendation  be  that  it  would  supply  "  a 

firm  anchorage   to   the   union   of  the 

~ 

states.  Every  banking  association 
whose  bonds  are  deposited  in  the  treas 
ury  of  the  Union ;  every  individual 
who  holds  a  dollar  of  the  circulation 
secured  by  such  deposit ;  every  mer 
chant,  every  manufacturer,  every  far 
mer,  every  mechanic,  interested  in 
transactions  dependent  for  success  on 
the  credit  of  that  circulation,  will  feel 
as  an  injury  every  attempt  to  rend  the 
national  unity,  with  the  permanence 
and  stability  of  which  all  their  inter 
ests  are  so  closely  and  so  vitally 
connected." 

The  action  of  Congress  on  the  sub 
ject  of  the  finances  of  the  country 
was  prompt  and  important.  On  the 
17th  of  January,  1863,  there  was  au 
thorized  the  issue  of  $100,000,000  in 
United  States  NOTES,  for  the  immediate 
payment  of  the  army  and  navy;  such 
notes  to  be  a  part  of  the  amount 
provided  for  in  any  bill  that  might 
be  passed  during  the  session.  The 
amount  just  named,  was  included  in 

VOL.  IV.— 34 


the  act  passed  at  the  close  of  the  pres 
ent  Congress. 

During  the  month  of  February,  the 
subject  of  providing  a  sound  and  reli 
able  currency  for  the  country  came  up, 
and  was  fully  discussed,  in  both  the 
House  and  the  Senate.  The  result 
was,  the  passage  of  u  An  Act  to  pro 
vide  a  national  currency,  secured  by  a 
pledge  of  United  States  stocks,  and  to 
provide  for  the  circulation  and  redemp 
tion  thereof."  *  The  vote  in  the  Senate 
was  ayes,  23,  noes,  21 ;  in  the  House, 
ayes,  78,  noes,  64. 

By  an  act,  approved  March  3d,  1863, 
there  was  authorized  a  LOAN  of  $300,- 
000,000  for  the  current  fiscal  year,  and 
$600,000,000  for  the  next  fiscal  year, 
for  which  bonds  were  to  be  issued,  run 
ning  not  less  than  ten  nor  more  than 
forty  years,  principal  and  interest  pay 
able  in  coin,  bearing;  interest  at  a  rate 
'  ~ 

not  exceeding  six  per  cent,  per  annum, 
payable  on  bonds  not  exceeding  $100 
annually,  and  on  all  others  semi-annu- 
ally.  The  secretary  was  also  authoriz 
ed  to  issue  $400,000,000  of  six  per 
cent.  TREASURY  NOTES,  not  exceeding 
three  years  to  run,  to  be  a  legal  tender 
for  their  face  value,  excluding  interest, 

/  o  / 

and  exchangeable  for  and  redeemable 
by  United  States  NOTES,  for  which  pur 
pose  alone  an  issue  of  $150,000,000  of 
the  latter  .was  authorized;  also,  a  fur 
ther  issue,  if  necessary,  for  the  payment 
of  the  army  and  navy  and  other  credi 
tors  of  the  government,  of  $150,000,000 
in  United  States  NOTES,  including  the 
$100,000,000  authorized  in  January; 


*  This  act  was  approved,  Feb.  25,  1863.  For  the 
Act  in  full,  see  Appleton's  "  Annual  Cyclopaedia"  for 
1863,  pp.  29G-304. 


26G 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


K.  Viri. 


the  whole  amount  of  bonds,  treasury 
note^  and  United  States  notes  issued 
under  this  act  not  to  exceed  the  sum 
of  $900,000,000  ;  also,  to  issue  $50,- 

000,000    in    FRACTIONAL     CURRENCY,    ill 

lieu  of  postage  or  other  stamps,  ex 
changeable  for  United  States  notes,  in 
sums  not  less  than  three  dollars,  and 
receivable  for  any  dues  to  the  United 
States  less  than  five  dollars,  except 
duties  on  imports ;  also,  to  receive  de 
posits  of  gold  coin  and  bullion,  and  to 
issue  certificates  therefor  ;  and  to  issue 
certificates  representing  coin  in  the 
treasury  in  payment  of  interest,  which, 
with  the  certificates  of  deposits  issued, 
were  not  to  exceed  20  per  cent,  beyond 
the  amount  of  coin  and  bullion  in  the 
treasury.  A  tax  was  also  imposed  on 
the  circulation  of  state  banks  of  one 
per  cent,  half  yearly. 

By  a  comparison  of  the  recommenda 
tions  and  appeals  of  the  secretary  of 
the  treasury  with  the  matured  action 
of  Congress,  as  above  given,  it  will 
readily  be  perceived  to  what  extent  the 
legislature  adopted  his  views  and  sug 
gestions  ;  and  the  reader  will  find  it 
equally  interesting  and  profitable  to 
note  the  progress  and  results  of  the 
system  of  finance  now  inaugurated, 
during  the  years  immediately  follow 
ing.  It  was  evident  that,  so  long  as 
the  rebels  continued  their  efforts,  the 
country  must  have  a  large  supply  of 
paper  money,  and  Congress,  represent 
ing  the  sober  convictions  of  the  people 
at  large,  endeavored  to  place  matters 
on  such  a  footing  that  this  money 
should  be  national  in  its  character,  and 
rest  on  the  faith  of  the  government  as 
its  security.  The  history  of  succeeding 


years  of  trial  and  perplexity  demon 
strates  in  how  far  success  attended 
their  action. 

Together  with  his  message,  Mr.  Lin- 
coin  submitted  a  large  volume  of  cor 
respondence  relating  to  foreign  affairs, 
and  accompanied  it  with  various  per 
tinent  statements  and  remarks.  Speak 
ing  of  the  political  excitements 

1862 
in  the  old  world,  he  said :  "  In 

this  unusual  agitation,  we  have  for 
borne  from  taking  part  in  any  contro 
versy  between  foreign  states  and  be 
tween  parties  or  factions  in  such  states. 
We  have  attempted  no  propagandism 
and  acknowledged  no  revolution.  But 
we  have  left  to  every  nation  the  exclu 
sive  conduct  and  management  of  its 
own  affairs.  Our  struggle  has  been, 
of  course,  contemplated  by  foreign  na 
tions  with  reference  less  to  its  own 
merits  than  to  its  supposed  and  often 
exaggerated  effects,  and  the  conse 
quences  resulting  to  those  nations  them 
selves.  Nevertheless,  complaint  on  the 
part  of  this  government,  even  if  it  were 
just,  w^ould  certainly  be  unwise.;: 

The  correspondence,  as  conducted 
by  Mr.  Seward,  the  secretary  of  state, 
and  our  ministers  abroad,  especially 
Mr.  Adams,  at  London,  and  Mr.  Day 
ton,  at  Paris,  was  marked  by  superior 
ability,  and  manifested  the  spirit  and 
determination  of  the  government,  nei« 
ther  to  allow  foreign  interference  in 
our  country's  affairs,  nor  to  suffer  other 
nations,  particularly  England,  to  sup 
pose  that  we  would  submit  to  any  in 
fraction  of  our  rights  and  immunities. 
The  course  pursued  by  the  English 
government  was  of  a  kind  to  arouse 
deep  feeling  in  the  United  States — a 


ENGLISH  BUILT  CRUISERS. 


267 


feeling  of  mingled  indignation  and  con 
tempt;  of  indignation  at  the  positive 
wide-spread  injuries  inflicted  upon  our 
commerce  by  the  piratical  cruisers  built 
and  fitted  out  in  English  ports ;  and 
of  contempt  for  a  government  profess 
ing  friendliness  and  neutrality,  and  at 
the  same  time  conniving  at  palpable 
violations  of  law  in  order  to  favor  the 
cause  of  the  rebellion.  Two  flagrant 
instances  of  unhandsome  conduct,  which 
occurred  during  1862,  inay  here  be 
ncted.* 

•  Early  in  February,  1862,  our  vigi 
lant  minister  at  London  called  the  at 
tention  of  Earl  Russell  to  the  fact  that 
a  steam  gun  boat,  called  the  Oreto,  and 
afterwards  the  Florida,  was  being  built 
in  a  Liverpool  ship-yard,  under  the 
supervision  of  agents  from  the  rebel 
states,  and  evidently  intended  for  the 
rebel  service.  The  answer  returned 
was,  that  the  vessel  was  intended  for 
the  use  of  parties  in  Palermo,  Sicily, 
and  that  there  was  no  good  reason  to 
suppose  that  she  was  meant  for  any 
service  hostile  to  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Adams  furnished  evidence  to  show 
that  the  claim  of  being  designed  for 

O  O 

Sicilian  service  was  a  mere  pretext ; 
but  he  did  not  succeed  in  inducing  Earl 
Russell  to  take  any  steps  for  the  ves 
sel's  detention.  Her  clearance  being 
adroitly  made  out  for  the  island  of  Si 
cily,  she  was  permitted  to  leave  the 
harbor  without  interruption,  at  the  end 
of  March.  She  succeeded  in  P-ettino- 

O  O 


*  For  some  account  of  the  injuries  inflicted  by  rebel 
cruisers  upon  American  commerce,  the  vessels  destroy 
ed,  ihe  extent  to  which  the  carrying  trade  of  New 
York  suffered,  etc.,  see  Appleton's  "  American  Annual 
Cyclopaedia,"  for  1863,  pp.  660—663. 


1862. 


into  Mobile  in  September,  and,  at  the 
close  of  the  year,  she  made  her 
way  out  in  safety,  as  a  rebel 
privateer,  under  command  of  J.  N, 
Mafiit,  formerly  of  the  United  Stated 
navy,  to  enter  upon  a  series  of  depre 
dations  upon  Northern  commerce. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1862,  the 
American  minister  directed  Earl  Rus 
sell's  attention  to  another  powerfu. 
war  steamer,  then  in  progress  of  con, 
struction  in  the  ship-yard  of  a  member 
of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  evi 
dently  intended  for  the  rebel  service. 
This  vessel,  known  at  first  as  the  "  290," 
and  afterwards  as  the  "Alabama,"  be 
came  the  subject  of  correspondence  be 
tween  Mr.  Adams  and  Earl  Russell. 
The  complaint  went  through  the  usual 
formalities,  and  was  referred  to  the 
"  Lords  Commissioners  of  her  Majesty's 
Treasury,"  who  reported,  in  due  time, 
that  while  it  was  apparent  that  the 
vessel  was  intended  for  a  ship  of  war, 
there  was  not  sufficient  evidence  of  her 
destination  to  warrant  detention.  Fur 
ther  evidence  was  produced,  which  the 
British  government  could  not  ignore; 
but  before  the  necessary  formalities 
could  be  gone  through  with,  and  in 
consequence  of  delays  caused,  as  Rus 
sell  afterwards  explained  the 
matter,  by  the  singularly  mat- 
a-propos  and  "  sudden  development  of 
a  malady  of  the  Queen's  advocate,  to 
tally  incapacitating  him  for  the  trans 
action  of  business,"  the  steamer,  on  the 
29th  of  July,  while  an  order  for  her 
detention  was  on  its  way  to  Liverpool, 
suddenly  slipped  out  of  port  without 
register  or  clearance.  She  took  her  de- 

O 

part ure  with  a  party  of  ladies  and  gen- 


1862. 


268 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  V1I1. 


tlemen,  ostensibly  for  a  trial  trip,  dis 
missing  her  visitors  and  well-wishers 
on  getting  out  of  the  Mersey. 

Mr.  Adams  thereupon  telegraphed  to 
Captain  Craven,  in  command  of  the 
United  States  steamer  Tuscarora,  at 
Southampton,  to  intercept  the  "  290"  at 
sea,  a  risk  of  capture  which  the  rebel 
vessel  avoided  by  taking  the  channel  to 
the  north  of  Ireland,  while  her  pursuer 
lay  in  wait  in  St.  George's  channel.  She 
then  proceeded,undisturbed,to  one  of  the 
Azores,  where,  according  to  a  previous 
arrangement,  she  awaited  the  arrival 
of  a  bark  from  the  Thames  laden  with 
her  stores  and  armament.  -Soon  after 
having  obtained,  in  this  way,  the  stores 
and  supplies,  the  British  screw  steamer 
Bahama  made  her  appearance,  bringing 
the  notorious  Captain  Semmes  and  the 
late  officers  of  the  Sumfcer,  and  an  ad 
ditional  crew  and  armament.  Beins; 

o 

thus  equipped,  Semmes  mustered  the 
crew  on  deck  and  read  his  commission, 
together  with  the  order  from  Jeff.  Da 
vis  to  take  command  of  the  sloop  of 
war,  which  was  now  named  the  "  Ala 
bama."  Thus,  in  defiance  of  law  and 
of  international  obligation  and  comity, 
this  piratical  cruiser  was  launched  upon 
her  career  of  mischief  and  destruction. 
Before  .the  close  of  the  year  1862, 
twenty-eight  vessels,  mostly  owned  at 
New  York  and  in  New  England,  fell 
into  the  Alabama's  hands,  the  greater 
part  of  which  were  burned  to  the 
water's  edge.  Plundering  and  burning 
marked  her  course,  and  though  occa 
sionally  a  vessel  was  allowed  to  depart 
on  giving  heavy  bonds  for  the  ship  and 
cargo,  yet  the  usual  practice  was  rob 
bery  and  destruction. 


A  course  of  proceeding  such  as  this 
naturally  excited  the  vehement  indig 
nation  of  the  merchant  sufferers  of  New 
York  and  elsewhere,  who  were  loud  in 
their  remonstrances  at  the  neglect  or 
indifference  of  the  British  authorities 
in  permitting  the  fitting  out  of  such  an 
enemy  to  civilization.  The  home  gov 
ernment  sent  one  vessel  of  war  after 
another  in  fruitless  search  of  the  adroit 
ly  managed  cruiser,  while  her  successive 
depredations,  and  the  advantages  which 
she  obtained  as  a  recognized  "  belli^er 

O  O 

eut,"  were  brought  before  the  British 
cabinet,  and  a  distinct  warning  was 
given,  that  England  would  be  held  re 
sponsible  for  the  damage  which  this 
vessel  had  inflicted,  or  might  hereafter 
inflict,  on  American  commerce. 

We  have  already  alluded  (see  p.  64)  to 
the  general  sentiment  in  Great  Britain 
with  regard  to  the  rebellion  and  its 
probabilities  of  success.  This  senti 
rnent  continued  to  have  sway  during 
the  present  year,  and  men  of  eminence, 
like  Mr.  Gladstone,  chancellor  of  the 
exchequer,  ventured  to  speak  of  our 
affairs  as  if  the  matter  was  settled  be 
yond  doubt,  and  the  Great  Republic 
broken  into  fragments.  "There  is  no 
doubt,"  Mr.  G.  said,  in  a  speech  at 
Newcastle,  Oct.  7th,  "  that  Jeff.  Davis 
and  the  other  leaders  of  the  South  have 
made  an  army ;  they  are  making,  it  ap 
pears,  a  navy ;  and  they  have  made 
what  is  more  than  either,  they  have 
made  a  NATION.  .  .  .  We  may  antici 
pate  with  certainty  the  success  of  the 
southern  states,  so  far  as  regards  their 
departure  from  the  North.  I,  for  my  own 
part,  cannot  but  believe  that  that  event 
is  as  certain  as  any  event  yet  future  and 


Cn.  XX  V.] 


ENGLISH  AND   FRENCH   OPINIONS. 


26* 


contingent  can  be."  The  London  Times 
and  other  organs  of  public  opinion  in 
England  reiterated  similar  views  and 

O 

expectations,  affirming  that  ninety-nine 
Englishmen  out  of  a  hundred  agreed 

O  *— ' 

with  Mr.  Gladstone's  statement. 

Mr.  Adams,  to  whose  vigilance  was 
committed  the  care  of  our  interests  at 
the  court  of  St.  James,  was  deeply  im. 
pressed  with  the  general  unfriendly 
feeling  existing  in  England  towards 
our  country,  in  her  efforts  and  determi 
nation  to  crush  the  rebellion;  and  under 
date  of  September  12th,  wrote  to  that 
effect  to  the  secretary  of  state.  "  The 
breaking  out  'of  the  insurrection  has 
brought  to  light  the  existence  of  na- 

o  O 

tional  feelings  in  England  towards  the 
United  States,  the  strength  of  which 
had  scarcely  been  suspected  in  Amer 
ica.  As  the  struggle  has  gone  on,  the 
nature  and  extent  of  them  have  become 
so  clear  and  unmistakable  as  to  defy  all 
disavowal.  Having  their  root  in  the 
same  apprehensions  of  the  force  of  a 
foreign  state  which  exist  in  the  case 

CJ 

of  France,  they  take  the  same  direction 
towards  efforts  to  curtail,  if  not  to 
neutralize,  its  energies.  The  popular 
sentiment  of  Great  Britain,  as  now  de 
veloped,  should  be  a  warning  to  the 
statesmen  of  America  by  which  to 
regulate  their  action,  at  least  for  two 
generations.  It  dictates  the  necessity 
of  union  at  home  far  more  imperatively 
than  even  the  wretchedness  which  now 
fills  the  country  with  grief  from  end  to 
end." 

It  would  be  unfair,  however,  not  to 
take  note  that  more  than  one  friendly 
voice  made  itself  heard  in  England,  in 
behalf  ->f  the  United  States.  Men  of 


the  stamp  of  Eichard  Cobdeu,  John 
Bright,  and  others,  spoke  plainly  and 
forcibly  of  the  ^olly  of  intervention  at 
the  risk  of  war.  and  of  the  blindness  of 
those  who  expected  to  see  our  country 
broken  up  by  the  existing  rebellion. 
"  It  would  be  idle,"  said  Mr.  Cobden, 
Oct.  29th,  "  for  England  or  France  or 
both  together  to  talk  of  intervention. 
The  idea  of  employing  force  must  be 
abandoned.  The  cause  is  utterly  un 
manageable  by  force ;  and  six  months 
of  war  would  cost  more  than  would 
maintain  the  entire  manufacturing  dis 
tricts  ten  years."  Mr.  Bright  also,  in 
December,  'denouncing  slavery  and  all 
its  adjuncts  in  the  severest  terms,  drew 
an  eloquent  picture  of  the  future  pros 
pects  of  our  country  : — u  I  cannot  be 
lieve  that  civilization  in  its  journey 
with  the  sun  -will  sink  into  endless 
night  to  gratify  the  ambition  of  the 
leaders  in  this  revolt,  who  seek  to l  wade 
through  slaughter  to  a  throne,  and  shut 

O  ^  ' 

the  gates  of  mercy  on  mankind.'  I 
have  another  and  far  brighter  vision 
before  my  gaze.  It  may  be  but  a  vis 
ion,  but  I  will  cherish  it.  .  .  I  see  one 
people  and  one  law  and  one  language 
and  one  faith,  and  over  all  that  wide 
continent  the  home  of  freedom  and  a 
refuge  for  the  oppressed  of  every  race." 
The  attempt  of  Louis  Napoleon  to 
interfere  in  our  affairs,  jointly  with  the 
English  and  Russian  governments,  de 
serves  notice  in  this  connection.  This 
astute  politician,  who  held  the  opinion 
that  secession  was  an  accomplished  fact, 
and  therefore  deserved  a  recognition  of 
its  belligerent  rights,  was  anxious  to  do 
something  in  aid  of  the  commercial 
wants  of  France.  He  supposed  that 


270 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VITL 


lie  could  help  to  bring  the  war  to  a 
close,  if  the  other  great  powers  would 
join  with  him.  Accordingly  a  diplo 
matic  dispatch  was  addressed,  under 
date  of  Oct.  30th,  by  M.  Drouyn  de 
1'PIuys,  French  minister  of  foreign  af 
fairs,  to  the  ministers  of  state  of  Eng 
land  and  Russia,  and  the  concurrence 
of  those  nations  was  solicited  in  an  offer 
of  mediation  between  the  loyal  states 
and  the  so-called  "  Confederate  States 
of  America."  The  idea  was,  to  get  the 
government  at  Washington  and  the 
rebel  government  to  agree  upon  an  ar 
mistice  for  six  months  or  longer,  and 
by  means  of  commissioners  from  both 
sides  to  discuss  the  differences  existing, 
and  make  arrangements  for  an  amicable 
settlement  of  the  same,  on  terms  equal 
ly  honorable  and  profitable  to  both  par. 
ties.  The  French  emperor,  however,  if 
he  really  supposed  that  any  such  plan 
as  he  suggested  would  be  tolerated  for 
a  moment  by  the  United  States,  did  not 
know  the  people  in  whose  affairs  he 
wished  to  interfere.  Russia  and'  En^- 

o 

land  likewise  declined  joining  him  in 
any  such  attempt.  Early  in  November, 
they  gave  in  their  answer  to  M.  de 
1'Huys'  note,  and  expressed  the  senti 
ment  that  the  time  had  not  arrived  as 
yet,  in  which  it  would  be  judicious  or 
safe  to  propose  intervention. 

So  the  matter  was  dropped ;  until,  at 
the  beo-inning  of  the  new  year,  1863, 

o  t/ 

a  dispatch  was  sent  to  the  French  min 
ister  at  Washington,  offering,  on  Louis 
Napoleon's  part,  to  do  anything  in  his 
power  which  might  tend  towards  the 
termination  of  the  war.  This  oifer  was 
promptly  and  decisively  declined ;  and, 
in  an  able  dispatch  from  Mr.  Seward, 


under  date  of  February  Cth,  1863,  the 
ground  taken  and  held  by  the  United 
States  government  was  set  forth  in  lan 
guage  which  could  not  be  misunder 
stood  -.  "  This  government  has  not  the 
least  thought  of  relinquishing  the  trust 
which  has  been  confided  to  it  by  the 
nation  under  the  most  solemn  of  all 
political  sanctions ;  and  if  it  had  any 
such  thought,  it  would  still  have  abun 
dant  reason  to  know,  that  peace  pro 
posed  at  the  cost  of  dissolution  would 
be  immediately,  unreservedly,  and  in 
dignantly  rejected  by  the  American 
people."  *  The  effect  of  this  dispatch 
was  very  marked,  and  it  put  an  end  to 
all  further  talk  or  offer  of  foreign  inter 
vention  in  any  shape,  or  from  any 
quarter.  No  nation  was  willing  to  in 
cur  the  risk  of  war  with  the  Great  Re 
public  by  undertaking  to  recognize  the 
rebellion. 

Such,  in  substance,  was  the  condition 
of  affairs  at  the  close  of  1862.  There 
was  much  to  hope  for,  and  also  not  a 
little  to  apprehend.  The  people  gener 
ally  had  made  up  their  minds  that  the 
rebellion  must  and  should  be  crushed, 
no  matter  what  sacrifice  might  be  de 
manded  ;  and  though  discouragements 
of  various  kinds  stood  in  the  way, 
though  a  speedy  return  of  peace  was 
to  be  hoped  and  prayed  for,  rather 
than  expected ;  yet  there  was  no  shrink 
ing  from  the  contest,  there  was  no  hesi- 

*  A  few  weeks  later,  Mr.  Suruner  introduced  into 
the  Senate  a  body  of  resolutions,  deprecating,  in  the 
strongest  terms,  all  foreign  intervention  in  our  affairs, 
and  distinctly  asserting  the  ability  of  the  United  States 
to  quell  the  rebellion  and  re-establish  the  power  of  the 
government  over  the  entire  land.  The  resolutions 
were  adopted,  March  3rd,  1863,  by  a  vote  of  31  to  5  in 
the  Senate,  and  of  103  to  28  in  the  House. — See  Duyc- 
kinck's  "  War  for  ihs,  Union;'  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  100—103. 


Cu.  XXV.J 


EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION. 


271 


tation  as  to  where  the  path  of  duty 
lay,  and  as  to  the  responsibilities  rest 
ing  on  Americans  in  this  great  crisis  in 


our  national   life.     The   heart   of  the 


in  the  hour  of  trial. 


APPENDIX    TO    CHAPTEE    XXV. 


I.— THE  EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION. 

"  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  Commander-in-chief  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  thereof,  do  hereby  proclaim  and 
declare  that  hereafter,  as  heretofore,  the  war  will  be 
prosecuted  for  the  object  of  practically  restoring  the 
constitutional  relation  between  the  United  States  and 
each  of  the  states,  and  the  people  thereof,  in  which 
that  relation  is,  or  may  be,  suspended  or  disturbed. 

"  That  it  is  my  purpose,  upon  the  next  meeting 
of  Congress,  to  again  recommend  the  adoption  of  a 
practical  measure  tendering  pecuniary  aid'  to  the 
free  acceptance  or  rejection  of  all  slave  states,  so 
called,  the  people  whereof  may  not  then  be  in  re 
bellion  against  the  United  States,  and  which  states 
may  then  have  voluntarily  adopted,  or  thereafter 
may  voluntarily  adopt,  the  immediate  or  gradual 
abolishment  of  slavery  within  their  respective  limits ; 
and  that  the  effort  to  colonize  persons  of  African 
descent,  with  their  consent,  upon  this  continent  or 
elsewhere,  with  the  previously  obtained  consent  of 
the  governments  existing  there,  will  be  continued. 

"  That  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  state,  or 
any  designated  part  of  a  state,  the  people  whereof  shall 
then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  shall 
be  then,  thenceforward  and  forever,  free,  and  the  ex 
ecutive  government  of  the  United  States,  including 
the  military  and  naval  authority  thereof,  will  recog 
nize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  such  persons,  and 
will  do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons,  or  any 
of  them,  in  any  efforts  they  may  make  for  their  ac 
tual  freedom. 

"  That  the  Executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of  Jan 
uary  aforesaid,  by  proclamation,  designate  the  states 
and  parts  of  states,  if  any,  in  which  the  people  there 
of  respectively  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the 
United  States ;  and  the  fact  that  any  state,  or  the 
people  thereof,  shall  on  that  day  be  in  good  faith 
represented  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  by 
members  chosen  thereto,  at  elections  wherein  a  ma 
jority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  state  shall  have 
participate!,  shall,  in  the  absence  of  strong  counter 


vailing  testimony,  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence 
that  such  state,  and  the  people  thereof,  are  not  then 
in  rebellion  against  the  United  States. 

"  That  attention  is  hereby  called  to  an  act  of  Con 
gress,  entitled  '  An  Act  to  make  an  additional  Ar 
ticle  of  War,'  approved  March  13th,  1862,  and  which 
act  is  in  the  words  and  figures  following : — 

"  Be  it  enacted  ly  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  Con 
gress  assembled :  That  hereafter  the  following  shall 
be  promulgated  as  an  additional  article  of  war,  for 
the  government  of  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
and  shall  be  obeyed  and  observed  as  such  : — Section 
1.  All  officers  or  persons  in  the  military  or  naval 
service  of  the  United  States  are  prohibited  from  em 
ploying  any  of  the  forces  under  their  respective  com 
mands  for  the  purpose  of  returning  fugitives  from 
service  or  labor  who  may  have  escaped  from  any 
persons  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  is  claimed  to 
be  due ;  and  any  officer  who  shall  be  found  guilty 
by  a  court-martial  of  violating  this  article,  shall  be 
dismissed  from  the  service.  Section  2.  Andbe  it  fur 
ther  enacted :  That  this  act  shall  take  effect  from 
and  after  its  passage. 

"  Also,  to  the  ninth  and  tenth  sections  of  an  act 
entitled  '  An  Act  to  Suppress  Insurrection,  to  Pun 
ish  Treason  and  Rebellion,  to  Seize  and  Confiscate 
Property  of  Rebels,  and  for  other  purposes;'  ap 
proved  July  16th,  1862,  and  which  sections  are  in 
the  words  and  figures  following  : — 

"  Section  9.  And  le  it  further  enacted :  That  all 
slaves  of  persons  who  shall  hereafter  be  engaged  in 
rebellion  against  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  or  who  shall  in  any  way  give  aid  or  comfort 
thereto,  escaping  from  such  persons  and  taking  re 
fuge  within  the  lines  of  the  army ;  and  all  slaves 
captured  from  such  persons,  or  deserted  by  them 
and  coming  under  the  control  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States ;  and  all  slaves  of  such  persons 
found  or  being  within  any  place  occupied  by  rebel 
forces,  and  afterwards  occupied  by  forces  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  deemed  captives  of  war,  and 
shall  be  forever  free  of  their  servitude,  and  not 
again  held  as  slaves.  Section  10.  And  le  it  further 
enacted  :  That  no  slave  escaping  into  any  state,  ter- 


272 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


ritory,  or  the  District  of  Columbia,  from  any  other 
state,  shall  be  delivered  up,  or  in  any  way  impeded 
or  hindered  of  his  liberty,  except  for  crime  or  some 
offence  against  the  laws,  unless  the  person  claiming 
said  fugitive  shall  first  make  oath  that  the  person  to 
whom  the  labor  or  service  of  such  fugitive  is  alleged 
to  be  due  is  his  lawful  owner,  and  has  not  borne 
arms  against  the  United  States  in  the  present  rebel 
lion,  nor  in  any  way  given  aid  and  comfort  thereto ; 
and  no  person  engaged  in  the  military  and  naval 
service  of  the  United  States  shall,  under  any  pre 
tence  whatever,  assume  to  decide  on  the  validity  of 
the  claim  of  any  person  to  the  service  or  labor  of 
any  other  person,  or  surrender  up  any  such  person 
to  the  claimant,  on  pain  of  being  dismissed  from  the 
service. 

"  And  I  do  hereby  enjoin  upon  and  order  all  per 
sons  engaged  in  the  military  and  naval  service  of  the 
United  States  to  observe,  obey,  and  enforce,  within 
their  respective  spheres  of  service,  the  act  and  sec 
tions  above  recited. 

"And  the  Executive  will  in  due  time  recommend 
that  all  citizens  of  the  Uaited  States  who  shall  have 
remained  loyal  thereto  throughout  the  rebellion, 
shall  (upon  the  restoration  of  the  constitutional  re 
lation  between  the  United  States  and  their  respective 
States  and  people,  if  the  relation  shall  have  been  sus 
pended  or  disturbed)  be  compensated  for  all  losses 
by  nets  of  the  United  States,  including  the  loss  of 
slaves. 

"  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be 
affixed. 

'"Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  twenty- 
second  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-two,  and 
of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the 
eighty-seventh. 

"ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 

II.— PRESIDENT'S  PROCLAMATION, 
'  JAN.  1st,  1803. 

"  Whereas,  on  the  22d  day  of  September,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-two,  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  presi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  containing,  among  other 
things,  the  following,  to  wit:  That  on  the  first  day  of 
January,  etc.,  (see  paragraphs  three  and  four  of  the 
proclamation,  p.  271)  "Now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM 
LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United  States,  by  virtue 
of  tho  power  in  me  vested  as  Commander-in-chief 
of  the  Army  anc  Navy  of  the  United  States,  in  time 
of  actual  armed  rebellion  against  tht  authority  and 


government  of  the  United  States,  and  as  a  fit  and 
necessary  war-measure  for  suppressing  said  rebellion, 
do,  on  this  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three, 
and  in  accordance  with  my  purpose  so  to  do,  pub 
licly  proclaimed  for  the  full  period  of  one  hundred 
days  from  the  day  first  above-mentioned,  order  and 
designate  as  the  States,  and  parts  of  States,  wherein 
the  people  thereof,  respectively,  are  this  day  in  rebel 
ion  against  the  United  States,  the  following,  to  wit : 
Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana,  (except  the  Parishes  of 
St.  Bernard,  Plaquemines,  Jefferson,  St.  John,  St. 
Charles,  St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption,  Terre 
Bonne,  Lafourche,  Ste.  Marie,  St.  Martin,  and  Or 
leans,  including  the  City  of  New  Orleans),  Mississip 
pi,  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia,  S.  Carolina,  N.  Caro 
lina,  and  Virginia,  (except  the  forty-eight  counties 
of  West  Virginia,  and  also  the  counties  of  Berkeley, 
Accomac,  Northampton,  Elizabeth  City,  York,  Prin 
cess  Anne  and  Norfolk,  including  the  cities  of  Nor 
folk  and  Portsmouth.)  and  which  excepted  parts  are, 
for  the  present,  left  precisely  as  if  this  Proclamation 
were  not  issued. 

"  And  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  I  do  order  and  declare  that  ALL  PERSONS 
HELD  AS  SLAVES  within  said  designated  States  and 
parts  of  States,  ARE,  AND  HENCEFORWARD  SHALL  BE, 
FREE  ;  and  that  the  Executive  Government  of  the 
United  States,  including  the  Military  and  Naval 
authorities  thereof,  will  recognize  and  maintain  the 
freedom  of  said  persons. 

"And  I  do  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  de 
clared  to  be  free,  to  abstain  from  all  violence,  unless 
in  necessary  self-defence ;  and  I  recommend  to-them 
that  in  all  cases,  when  allowed,  they  labor  faithfully 
for  reasonable  wages. 

"  And  I  further  declare  and  make  known,  that 
such  persons,  of  suitable  condition,  will  be  received 
into  the  armed  service  of  the  United  States,  to  gar 
rison  forts,  positions,  stations,  and  other  places,  and 
to  man  vessels  of  all  sorts  in  said  service. 

"  And  upon  this  act,  sincerely  believed  to  be  an 
act  of  justice,  warranted  by  the  Constitution,  upon 
military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  considerate  judg 
ment  of  mankind  and  the  gracious  favor  of  Al 
mighty  God. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
name,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be 
affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  City  ot  Washington,  this  first  day 
of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  of  the  Indepen 
dence  of  the  United  States  the  eighty-seventh. 
"  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 


CH.  XXIV.] 


NEW  STATE,  WEST  VIRGINIA. 


273 


CHAPTEE    XXVI. 
1863. 

OPENING  OP  THE  YEAR :   WEST  VIRGINIA :   HOOKER,  AND  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

Admission  of  new  state,  West  Virginia — Wheeling  convention,  June,  1861  —  Decision  of  Congress  —  Prospects 
of  the  new  state  —  Position  of  affairs  in  the  "  Confederacy  "  —  Rebel  Congress  —  Davis's  message  —  Antici 
pations,  complaints,  censure  of  the  emancipation  proclamation,  etc. — Proceedings  of  rebel  Congress — United 
States  navy —  Affair  at  Galveston  —  Loss  of  the  Harriet  Lane  —  The  Alabama  destroys  the  United  States 
steamer  Hatteras  —  Senator  Harlan's  resolution  —  President  appoints  a  day  of  prayer  and  humiliation — 
Hooker  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  —  Introduces  reforms,  changes,  etc.  —  Position  of  Lee  and 
his  forces  —  Hooker's  plan  of  operations  —  Movement  of  his  troops  up  the  Rappahannock  —  Crossing  the 
river  —  Crosses  also  the  Rapidan  —  Occupies  Chancellorsville  —  Value  of  the  position  —  Brilliant  expecta 
tions  —  Lee's  course  —  Advance  of  our  troops  beyond  the  Wilderness  —  Ordered  back  —  Lee's  demonstra 
tions —  Jackson  and  his  flank  movement  —  Success  —  Panic  of  the  llth  corps  —  Critical  moment  —  Rebels 
checked  —  Jackson  shot  in  the  dark  by  his  own  men —  Change  of  line  by  Hooker  —  The  fight  on  Sunday — 
Hooker  retires  nearer  the  river  —  Sedgvvick's  movements — Carries  the  Heights  at  Fredericksburg  by  storm 
— Advance — Attacked  by  the  rebels — Retreats  across  the  river — Hooker's  retreat — Stoneman's  raid — No  great 
value — Hooker's  gratulations  ill  timed — Army  resumes  its  old  quarters. 

-  - 

vened  in  extra  session,  had  called  a 
convention,  to  be  held  on  the  14th  of 
February,  1861,  at  Eichmond,  to  de 
cide  on  the  secession  question.  A  vote- 
was  also  required  to  be  taken,  when  the 
delegates  to  the  convention  were  elect 
ed,  whether,  if  the  convention  should 
pass  an  ordinance  of  secession,  that  or 
dinance  should  or  should  not  be  re 
ferred  back  to  the  people  for  their 
adoption  or  rejection.  This  was  de 
cided  in  the  affirmative  by  a  majority 
of  nearly  60,000.  The  convention  met, 
a  secession  ordinance  was  passed,  and 
it  was  referred  to  the  people  to  be  vot 
ed  upon  on  the  28th  of  May;  1861. 
The  very  day  after  passing  the  ordin 
ance,  in  February,  the  authorities  of  the 
state  began  to  levy  war  on  the  United 
States,  joined  the  rebel  confederacy, 
and  invited  rebel  troops  to  take  pos 
session  of  various  points  of  importance 
in  the  state.  In  Western  Virginia, 


THE  opening  of  the  new  year  was 
marked  by  the  addition  of  a  new  state, 
i .&,  West  Virginia,  to  the  number  of 
those  contending  for  the  integrity  of 
the  national  life.  The  admission  of  a 
new  state,  under  the  existing  circum 
stances,  deserves  attention,  as  being  the 
first  instance  of  the  kind  which  has  as 
yet  happened  in  the  United.  States. 
As  the  Constitution  declares,  that  no 
new  state  shall  be  formed  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  any  state  without  the 
consent  of  the  legislature  of  the  state 
concerned,  as  well  as  of  Congress,  it  is 
evident  that  the  validity  of  the  action 
in  Congress  and  in  Virginia  depends 
upon  its  conformity  to  the  requisitions 
of  the  Constitution.  The  facts  here 
with  briefly  presented  will  make  this 
point  clear  and  satisfactory. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  rebel  conspir 
acy,  during  the  winter  of  1860-61,  the 

legislature  of  the  state  of  Virginia,  con- 
VOL.  iv— 35. 


274 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


where  the  loyal  sentiment  largely  pre 
vailed,  mass  meetings  were  held  at  once, 
and  a  convention  of  nearly  500  dele 
gates  assembled  early  in  May,  declared 
the  secession  ordinance  null  and  void, 
and  recommended  that,  in  case  the  or 
dinance  should  be  ratified  by  the  popu 
lar  vote,  on  the  28th  of  May,  an  elec 
tion  of  delegates  be  made  on  the  4th 
>£  June,  from  all  the  counties  of  Vir 
ginia,  to  meet  in  general  convention, 
and  provide,  as  might  seem  best,  for 
the  rights  and  welfare  of  the  people. 
At  the  election  in  May,  Virginia  seced 
ed,  and  the  convention,  as  recommend 
ed,  met  at  Wheeling,  on  the  llth  of 
June. 

The  ground  assumed  at  this  conven 
tion  was,  that  the  various  offices  of  the 
state  government  were  vacated,  in  con 
sequence  of  those  who  held  them  hav 
ing  joined  the  rebellion.  Steps  were 
accordingly  taken  to  fill  these  offices 
and  re-organize  the  government  of  the 
entire  state,  which  was  done  as  speed 
ily  as  possible.  On  the  20th  of  Au 
gust,  1861,  the  convention  passed  an 
ordinance  to  "  provide  for  the  forma 
tion  of  a  new  state  out  of  a  portion  of 
the  territory  of  this  state."  In  accord 
ance  with  its  provisions,  delegates 
were  elected  to  a  constitutional  con 
vention,  which  met  at  Wheeling,  No 
vember  26th,  and  proceeded  to  draft  a 
constitution  for  the  state  of  West  Vir 
ginia,  which  was  submitted  to  the  peo 
ple  of  West  Virginia,  on  the  3rd  of 
April,  1862.  The  vote  in  its  favor  was 
18,862,  against  514. 

Governor  Pierpont,  appointed  by 
the  convention  of  June,  1861,  issued  a 
proclamation  convening  an  extra  ses 


sion  of  the  legislature,  which  had  been 
organized  under  the  same  authority 
which  filled  the  state  offices,  and  which 
met  on  the  6th  of  May,  1862.  An  act 
was  passed,  giving  the  consent  of  the 
legislature  to  the  formation  of  a  new 

O 

state  within  the  state  of  Virginia,  and 
making  application  to  Congress  for  its 
admission  into  the  Union.  When  the 
matter  came  up  in  Congress,  the  admis 
sion  was  opposed  by  several  members 
of  the  republican  party,  as  well  as 
others ;  but,  on  the  14th  of  July,  the 
Senate  passed  the  bill  for  admission 
by  a  vote  of  23  to  17,  and  the  House 
passed  the  same  at  the  opening  of  the 
next  session,  December  10th,  by  a  vote 
of  96  to  57.  The  president's  approval 
was  given  on  the  last  day  of  the  year 
1862. 

The  act  of  Congress  just  referred  to, 
recited  the  proceedings  of  the  popular 
convention  at  Wheeling,  November, 
1861,  their  ratification  by  the  people  at 
a  general  election  in  the  following  May, 
and  the  concurrent  action  of  the  recog 
nized  legislature  of  Virginia.  Until 
the  next  general  census,  West  Virginia 
was  declared  to  be  entitled  to  three 
members  in  the  House  of  Representa 
tives.  The  people  within  its  limits, 
desirous  of  freeing  the  state  from  sla 
very  and  its  incumbrance,  was  allowed 
to  incorporate  provisions  to  that  effect 
in  the  constitution,  when  ratified  by  a 
popular  vote ;  whereupon  the  president 
was  to  issue  his  proclamation  stating 
the  fact,  and  upon  the  expiration  of 
sixty  days  thereafter,  the  admission  of 
the  state  was  to  be  complete. 

These  conditions  having  been  com 
plied  with,  the  president,  on  the  20th 


CH.  XXVI.] 


PROSPECTS   OF  THE  REBEL   CAUSE. 


275 


of  April,  1863,  issued  his  proclamation 
accordingly;  and  on  the  20th  of  the 
following  June,  Arthur  J.  Boreman, 
who  had  been  elected  Gov.  Pierpont's 
successor,  was  duly  inaugurated  at 
Wheeling.  The  new  governor,  in  ad 
dressing  the  Senate  and  House  of  De- 

O 

legates,  expressed  his  determination  to 
do  all  in  his  power  to  sustain  the 
government  and  suppress  the  rebellion. 

The  territory  of  the  new  state  in 
cluded  forty-eight  counties,  irregularly 
bounded  by  the  Ohio  on  the  west,  and 
by  a  zigzag  line  on  the  east,  following 
the  chain  of  the  Alleghanies,  from  Ken 
tucky  to  the  Potomac,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Williamsport.  The  white  popula 
tion,  in  1860,  was  about  335,000~  the 
number  of  slaves  about  13,000.  In 
agricultural  and  mineral  resources,  and 
the  facility  of  river  communication, 
West  Virginia  promised  the  most  invit 
ing  rewards  to  her  citizens,  and  there 
was  and  is  every  reason  to  expect  that, 
in  due  time,  she  will  assume  a  prom 
inent  place  among  her  sister  states. 

The  position  in  which  the  leaders  in 
the  rebellion  had  involved  themselves 
and  their  followers,  during  the  year 
just  past,  was  anything  but  comfort 
able  or  satisfactory,  and  offered  but  lit 
tle  encouragement  for  the  future.  The 
Masons,  Slidells,  Yanceys,  etc.,  had 
failed  utterly  in  obtaining  recognition 
abroad,  or  any  promise  looking  in  that 
direction ;  the  blockade,  though  not 

'  '  O 

perfect,  was  maintained  with  a  vigor 
and  effectiveness  which  told  in  a  mark 
ed  manner  upon  the  condition  of  affairs ; 
cotton  was  found  to  be  no  longer  the 
"  king "  which  it  was  supposed  to  be, 
and  the  rebels  destroyed  it  to  a  large 


extent,  rather  than  suffer  it  to  fall  into 
Union  hands ;  the  measure  adopted  by 
the  government  for  emancipating  the 
slaves  was  tremendous  in  its  effects 
upon  the  rebel  states  ;  their  finances 
were  almost  hopelessly  involved,  and 
were  fast  approaching  insolvency  and 
bankruptcy;  the  conscript  acts  were  ex 
hausting  all  the  strength  of  the  so- 
called  "Confederacy ;"  the  Union  armies 
were  gradually  and  surely  hemming  the 
rebels  in,  always  retaining  important 
positions  when  once  gained ;  and  though 
Jeff.  Davis  begged  and  pleaded  for  fur 
ther  devotion,  and  for  men  to  hasten 
forward,  in  order  to  keep  possession  of 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  on  the 
Mississippi ;  though  Stephens  cried  out 
lustily,  "  never  give  it  up  !"  though  he 
exclaimed  energetically,  u  let  the  world 
know,  and  history  record  the  fact,  if 
such  should  be  our  unhappy  fate,  that 
though  our  country  may  be  invaded, 
our  land  laid  waste,  our  cities  sacked, 
our  property  destroyed,  the  people  of 
the  South  could  die  in  defence  of  their 
rights,  but  they  could  never  be  con 
quered;"  still  it  was  evident  that  the 
rebel  cause  was  by  no  means  in  a  very 
hopeful  condition,  and  that  the  loyal 
states  were  as  ready  as  they  were  will 
ing  to  put  forth  their  utmost  efforts  in 
their  settled  determination  to  crush  it 
utterly. 

The  rebel  Congress,  which  had  ad 
journed  in  October,  1862,  met  again, 
early  in  January,  1863,  and  endeavored 
to  do  something  towards  bearing  up  the 
fortunes  of  the  rebellion.  As  most  of 
the  proceedings  were  in  closed  session, 
but  little  is  known  as  to  what  really 
took  place  during  the  meetings.  Jeff, 


276 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION.  . 


[BK.  VIII. 


Davis  sent  in  a  message,  on  the  12th 
of  January,  in  which  he  used 
words  of  confidence  in  regard 
to  the  state  of  affairs,  and  uttered  his 
"assurance  of  ability  to  meet  and  re 
pulse  the  utmost  efforts  of  the  enemy,  in 
spite  of  the  magnitude  of  their  prepara 
tions  for  attack."  His  anticipations  of 
being  able  to  establish  permanently  the 
rebel  government  and  power  were 
earnestly  expressed,  and  he  avowed  the 
conviction  that  if  they  only  continued 
to  exhibit  the  courage  and  steadfast 
ness  of  the  past,  there  was  "  every  reason 
to  expect  that  this  would  be  the  clos 
ing  year  of  the  war.  The  wTar,"  he 
wrent  on  to  say,  "  which,  in  its  inception, 
was  waged  for  forcing  us  back  into  the 

~  o 

Union,  having  failed  to  accomplish  that 
purpose,  passed  into  a  second  stage,  in 
which  it  was  attempted  to  conquer  and 
rule  these  states  as  dependent  provinces. 
Defeated  in  this  second  design,  our 
enemies  have  evidently  entered  upon 
another,  which  can  have  no  other  pur 
pose  than  revenge,  and  thirst  for  blood, 
and  plunder  of  private  property.  But 
however  implacable  they  may  be,  they 
can  have  neither  the  spirit  nor  the  re 
sources  required  for  a  fourth  year  of  a 
struggle  uncheered  by  any  hope  of  suc 
cess,  kept  alive  solely  for  the  indulgence 
of  mercenary  and  wicked  passions,  and 
demanding  so  exhausting  an  expendi 
ture  of  blood  and  money  as  has  hitherto 
been  imposed  on  their  people.  The 
advent  of  peace  will  be  hailed  with 
joy;  our  desire  for  it  has  never  been 
concealed ;  our  efforts  to  avoid  the  war, 
forced  on  us  as  it  was  by  the  lust  of 
conquest  and  the  insane  passions  of  our 
foes,  are  known  to  mankind.  But,  ear 


nest  as  has  been  our  wish  for  peace,  and 
great  as  have  been  our  sacrifices  and 
sufferings  during  the  war,  the  determi 

O  O  / 

nation  of  this  people  has,  with  eacl 
succeeding  month,  become  more  unal 
terably  fixed  to  endure  any  sufferings 
and  continue  any  sacrifices,  however 
prolonged,  until  their  right  to  self-gov 
ernment  and  the  sovereignty  and  inde 
pendence  of  these  states  shall  have  been 
triumphantly  vindicated  and  firmly  es 
tablished."  * 

Davis  also  entered  upon  a  long,  and  in 
many  respects  bitter  complaint  against 
various  European  powers,  who  had  re 
cognized  the  blockade,  and  had  done 
nothing  for  the  benefit  of  the  prirateer- 
ing  interests  of  the  rebellion.  But,  in 
his  judgment.  "  the  proudly  self-reliant 
Confederacy"  superior,  as  he  claimed, 
in  all  respects,  to  its  enemies,  had  no 
need  to  regret  the  lack  of  outside  help. 
He  branded  McNeil,  Milroy  and  Butler 
as  guilty  "  of  every  conceivable  atrocity, 
and  as  stamped  with  indelible  infamy  ;"* 
and  spoke  of  President  Lincoln's  eman 
cipation  proclamation  with  especial 
virulence  and  vindictiveness.  On  the 
whole,  if  one  might  believe  his  words, 
he  was  rather  glad  than  otherwise  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  had  taken  this  step,  since 
he  thought  it  would  open  the  eyes  of 


*  A  few  days  before  sending  in  his  message,  Davis 
made  a  speech  at  Richmond,  in  which  he  indulged  in 
language  and  evidences  of  temper  strangely  inconsis 
tent  with  the  tone  of  piety  in  his  public  docu 
ments.  "  It  is  true,"  he  said,'  "  you  have  a  cause 
which  binds  you  together  more  firmly  than  your 
fathers  were.  They  fought  to  be  free  from  the  usur 
pations  of  the  British  crown,  but  they  fought  against 
a  manly  foe  ;  you  fight  against  the  offscourings  of  t?ie 
earth.  ...  By  showing  themselves  so  utterly  disgraced, 
that  if  the  question  was  proposed  to  you  whether  you 
would  combine  with  hyenas  or  Yankees,  I  trust  that 
every  Virginian  would  say,  '  CHve  me  the  hyenas  ! ' " 


Cn.  XXVI.] 


THE  UNITED   STATES   NAVY. 


277 


Europe,  and  render  any  reconstruction 
or  restitution  of  the  Union  ''for  ever 
impossible."  Davis  concluded  his  long- 
message  with  urging  attention  to  finan 
cial  necessities,  with  congratulations  on 

O 

the  benefits  arising  out  of  "  the  har 
mony,  energy,  and  unity  of  the  states," 
and  with  boastful  statements  of  what 
the  confederacy  had  done  in  supplying 
its  wants  of  every  kind.  "  The  injuries 
resulting  from  the  interruption  of  for 
eign  commerce  have  received  compensa 
tion  by  the  developments  of  our  inter 
nal  resources.  Cannon  crown  our  for 
tresses  that  were  cast  from  the  proceeds 
of  mines  opened  and  furnaces  built 
during  the  war.  Our  mountain  caves 
yield  much  of  the  nitre  for  the  manu 
facture  of  powder,  and  promise  increase 
of  product.  From  our  own  foundries 
and  laboratories,  from  our  own  armories 
and  work-shops  we  derive,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  warlike  material,  the  ord 
nance  and  ordnance  stores  which  are 
expended  so  profusely  in  the  numerous 
and  desperate  engagements  that  rapidly 
succeed  each  other.  Cotton  and  wool 
len  fabrics,  shoes  and  harness,  wagons 

'  O 

and  gun-carriages,  are  produced  in 
daily  increasing  quantities  by  the  fac 
tories  springing  into  existence.  Our 
fields,  no  longer  whitened  by  cotton 
that  cannot  be  exported,  are  devoted 
to  the  production  of  cereals  and  the 
growth  of  stock  formerly  purchased 
with  the  proceeds  of  cotton." 

The  rebel  congress  discussed  various 
measures  of  a  retaliatory  character, 
which  were  urged  as  necessary  in  con 
sequence  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  Emancipation 
Proclamation.  A  number  of  strinsrent 

O 

resolutions    were    adopted,    in   which 


were  stated  the  grounds  and  mode  of 

O 

inflicting  punishment  on  our  officers 
and  troops  who  might  in  any  wrise  be 
concerned  in  "  overthrowing  the  institu- 

O 

tion  of  African  slavery,  and  bringing  on 
a  servile  war  "  in  the  rebel  states.  Fur 
ther  action  was  taken  in  regard  to  the 
conscription  law;  a  resolution  was 
adopted,  declaring  that  the  navigation 
of  the  Mississippi  River  was  free  to  all 
who  lived  on  its  banks  or  tributaries; 
a  tax  bill  was  passed,  which  levied  a 
tax  of  eight  per  cent,  on  the  value 
of  salt,  liquors,  tobacco,  cotton,  wool, 
flour,  sugar,  etc.,  and  a  very  heavy  tax 
on  farmers,  and  all  kinds  of  trades  and 
occupations.  In  addition,  an  impress 
ment  bill  was  passed,  which,  witji 
other  actions  of  the  rebel  congress, 
showed  that  the  boastful "  Confederacy  " 
was  not  in  that  flourishing  and  pros 
perous  condition  which  Jeff'.  Davis  had 
represented  in  his  message. 

The  condition  and  strength  of  the 
United  States  navy,  at  the  opening  of 
the  year,  was  substantially  as  follows : 
—there  were,  as  reported  by  the  secre 
tary  of  the  navy,  427  vessels,  carrying 
3,268  guns — an  increase  during  the 
year  of  123  vessels,  carrying  711  guns, 
Of  these,  104,  with  1,415  guns,  were 
sailing  vessels,  and  323,  with  1,853 
guns,  were  steam  vessels.  In  the  latte. 
were  included  fifty-four  iron-clad  ves 
sels  of  various  constructions,  of  which 
twenty-eight  were  on  the  seaboard  and 
twenty-six  in  the  Western  waters. 

In  regard  to  naval  operations  at  the 
beginning  of  1863,  we  may  briefly  note 
here  the  capture  of  the  Harriet  Lane 
and  the  fate  of  the  steamer  Hatteras. 
Galveston,  in  Texas,  had  been  held  bjf 


27S 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BE.  VIII. 


Commander  Renshaw,  since  October, 
1862,  by  a  small  naval  and  military 
force  at  his  command,  consisting  of  the 
Harriet  Lane  and  four  other  steamers, 
and  less  than  300,  rank  and  file,  occu 
pying  a  wharf  in  the  town. 

The  rebels,  under  Magruder,  fixed 
upon  January  1st,  1863,  for  an  attack, 
both  by  land  and  water,  upon  our 
forces.  The  attack  was  begun  very 
early  in  the  morning,  the  rebels  bring 
ing  artillery  to  bear  upon  the  troops  on 
shore,  and  also  making  a  violent  onset 
upon  the  Harriet  Lane  by  two  heavy 
steamers.  After  a  severe  contest,  the 
Harriet  Lane  was  obliged  to  succumb 
to  the  enemy,  about  seven  A.M.  The 
rebels  tried  to  induce  the  other  steam 
ers  to  surrender,  promising,  in  that 
case,  to  allow  the  crews  one  in  which 
to  leave  the  harbor.  Renshaw  refused, 
and  ordering  Lieut.  Law  to  get  the 
vessels  out  of  port  as  soon  as  possible, 
prepared  to  blow  up  his  vessel,  the 
Westfield,  which  was  aground.  The 
explosion  was  premature,  and  not  only 
Renshaw  but  several  other  officers  and 
fifteen  of  the  crew  perished.  Lieut. 
Law  made  his  escape  in  the  Owasco, 
and  gave  up  the  blockade  for  want  of 
force  to  maintain  it. 

This  disaster,  at  Galveston,  was  fol 
lowed  soon  after  by  the  loss  of  the 
United  States  steamer  Hatteras  in  an 
encounter  off  the  harbor  with  Semines's 
rebel  privateer,  the  Alabama.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  llth  of  January,  Lieut. 
Blake,  in  command  of  the  Hat 
teras,  was  ordered  to  chase  a 
Btrange  sail  to  the  south-eastward. 
This  he  did,  and  just  after  dark  came 
up  with  her.  At  first,  she  pretended 


1§63. 


to  be  an  English  war  steamer,  but 
speedily  avowed  herself  to  be  the  Ala 
bama,  and  poured  a  broadside  into 
the  Hatteras.  The  latter  took  fire,  and 
was  compelled  to  surrender.  Within  a 
few  minutes  after  the  officers  and  crew 
were  taken  off,  the  Hatteras  and  all  she 
contained  went  down  into  the  deep. 

Just  at  the  close  of  the  session  of 
Congress  (p.  263)  Senator  Harlau  of 
Iowa  introduced  a  resolution,  in  which 
he  spoke  of  our  countrymen  being  "  en 
couraged  in  the  day  of  trouble  by  the 
assurances  of  God's  Word  to  seek  Him 
for  succor,  according  to  His  appointed 
way,  through  JESUS  CHRIST  ; "  and  in 
which  also  the  president  was  requested 
to  appoint  a  day  of  national  prayer 
and  abasement  before  the  Most  High. 
Mr.  Lincoln  very  willingly  took  action 
upon  this  resolution,  and  on  the  30th 
of  March,  issued  a  proclamation,  in 
which,  among  other  suitable  things,  ho 
said : — "  We  have  been  the  recipients 
of  the  choicest  bounties  of  Heaven. 
We  have  been  preserved  these  many 
years  in  peace  and  prosperity.  We 
have  grown  in  numbers,  wealth  and 
power,  as  no  other  nation  has  ever 
grown.  But  we  have  forgotten  God. 
We  have  forgotten  the  gracious  hand 
which  preserved  us  in  peace,  and  mul 
tiplied  and  enriched  and  strengthened 
us;  and  we  have  vainly  imagined,  in 
the  deceitfulness  of  our  hearts,  that  all 
these  blessings  were  produced  by  some 
superior  wisdom  and  virtue  of  our  own. 
Intoxicated  with  unbroken  success,  we 
have  become  too  self-sufficient  to  feel 
the  necessity  of  redeeming  and  preserv 
ing  grace,  too  proud  to  pray  to  the 
God  that  made  us !  It  behooves  us, 


CH.  XXVI.] 


HOOKER  AND  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 


279 


then,  to  humble  ourselves,  to  confess 
our  national  sins,  and  to  pray  for  clem 
ency  and  forgiveness."  Thursday,  April 
30th,  was  appointed  as  a  day  of  nation 
al  humiliation,  fasting  and  prayer,  and 
the  people  gave  due  heed  to  the  presi 
dent's  earnest  recommendation. 

The  narrative  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  suspend 
ed  at  the  point  where  Gen.  Burnside, 
after  his  ill-success  at  Fredericksburg 
and  his  misfortunes  subsequently,  had 
been  succeeded  by  Gen.  Hooker  (p.  244)> 
as  the  next  man  on  whom  the  govern 
ment  thought  it  best  to  rely  for  carry 
ing  on  operations  successfully  in  Vir 
ginia.  We  resume  the  narrative  at  this 
point,  and  propose  to  give  an  account 
of  what  was  done  by  "  Fighting  Joe 
Hooker,"  as  he  was  commonly  called  in 
the  army.  On  taking  command,  he 
issued  an  address  to  the  army,  January 
20th,  1863,  in  which  he  said,  speaking 
of  himself: — "The  undersigned  enters 
upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  imposed 
by  this  trust  with  a  just  appreciation 
of  their  responsibility.  Since  the  for 
mation  of  the  army,  he  has  been  identi 
fied  with  its  history.  He  has  shared 
with  you  its  glories  and  reverses,  with 
no  other  desire  than  that  these  relations 
rniorht  remain  unchanged  until  its  des- 

o  o 

tiny  should  be  accomplished Let 

us  never  hesitate  to  give  the  enemy 
battle  wherever  we  can  find  him.  The 
undersigned  only  gives  expression  to 
the  feelings  of  this  army  when  he  con 
veys  to  our  late  commander,  Major- 
General  Burnside,  the  most  cordial 
good  washes  for  his  future. 

"  JOSEPH  HOOKER." 
Various   measures   of    improvement 


1863. 


were  introduced  by  Hooker  into  the 
army.  The  system  of  Grand  Divisions 
was  done  away  with,  and  the  army 
was  divided  into  seven  corps.  The 
first  corps  was  commanded  by  Rey 
nolds  ;  the  second  by  Couch ;  the  third 
by  Sickles;  the  fifth  by  Meade;  the 
sixth  by  Sedgwick ;  the  eleventh  by 
Howard ;  and  the  twelfth  by  Slocum. 
The  cavalry  was  consolidated  into  a 
single  corps,  and  was  placed  under  com 
mand  of  Stonernan.*  Other 
judicious  reforms  were  also 
carried  into  effect.  Desertion  and  its 
causes  were  stopped ;  distinctive  badges 
were  given  to  the  different  corps;  a 
system  of  furloughs  was  instituted ; 
and  as  Hooker,  despite  his  extra  self- 
sufficiency,  was  highly  popular  with 
the  troops,  and  an  able  administrative 
officer,  important  results  were  confident 
ly  looked  for  under  his  guidance. 

During  the  wet  season,  i.  e.,  the  first 
three  months  of  Hooker's  command,  he 
wisely  abstained  from  undertaking  any 
grand  military  movement;  but  spent 
the  time  in  filling  up  the  ranks  by  the 
return  of  absentees,  and  in  thoroughly 
disciplining  the  army,  so  that,  at  the 
close  of  the  month  of  April,  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  was  in  a  state  of  admir 
able  preparation  for  active  operations 
against  the  rebels.  It  numbered,  ac- 


*  By  the  changes  above  noted  both  Franklin  and 
Sumner  were  relieved  of  their  commands  in  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  The  latter  was  soon  after  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  Department  of  Missouri;  but 
while  preparing  to  enter  upon  duty,  he  was  suddenly 
taken  ill  at  his  son-in-law's  house,  in  Syracuse,  New 
York.  After  only  a  few  days'  illness,  he  died  on  the 
21st  of  March,  1863,  having  just  completed  his  sixty- 
seventh  year.  Gen.  Sumner  was  universally  lamented 
by  the  army  and  the  country  as  one  of  the  bravest  of 
soldiers  and  best  of  men. 


280 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


cording  to  Swinton's  calculations,  125,- 
000  men  (infantry  and  artillery),  with 
a  body  of  12,000  well-equipped  cavalry, 
and  a  powerful  artillery  force  of  about 
400  guns.* 

The  rebel  general  was  strongly  en 
trenched  on  the  heights  south  of  the 
Rappahannock,  from  Skenker's  Creek 
to  U.  S.  Ford,  a  distance  of  about 
twenty-five  miles,  and  had  his  troops 
so  arranged  that  he  could  readily  con 
centrate  them  on  any  given  point.  In 
this  position  Lee  had  only  two  main 
lines  of  retreat,  one  towards  Richmond 
by  railroad,  and  the  other  towards  Gor- 
donsville.  It  was  a  matter  of  import 
ance,  therefore,  for  Hooker  to  make  a 
movement  of  such  a  kind  as  to  compel 
Lee  to  come  out  of  his  fortifications  and 
fight,  or  to  fall  back  on  Richmond.  To 
assist  in  this  movement,  Stoneman,  with 
a  large  cavalry  force,  was  to  hasten  for 
ward,  some  time  in  advance  of  the  army 
movement,  and  cut  the  railroad  com 
munications  of  the  enemy  at  important 
points  in  their  roads.  As  a  direct  at 
tack  on  Fredericksburg  was  every  way 
inexpedient,  especially  after  former  ex 
periences,  Hooker  adopted  a  bold  plan 
of  operation  against  Lee's  left,  and  on 
Monday  morning,  April  2^th,  began  the 
carrying  of  it  out. 

A  strong,  well-appointed  column,  con 
sisting  of  the  5th,  llth,  and  12th 
corps,  set  out  for  Kelly's  Ford,  some 
twenty-seven  miles  above  Fredericks- 


*  Lee's  army,  according  to  the  same  authority,  was 
greatly  inferior  to  that  of  his  opponent ;  for,  relying  on 
the  strength  of  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock,  he  had,  in 
February,  detached  two  divisions  under  Longstreet,  to 
operate  south  of  the  James  River,  and  the  remainder 
did  not  exceed  an  effective  force  of  55,000  men  ;  al 
though  the  rolls  of  Lee's  army  showed,  March  31st,  a 
force  of  60,298.— "Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  2G9. 


burg,  intending  by  this  wide  detour  to 
cross  the  Rappahaunock  and  the  Rapi- 
dan,  and  pass  round  Lee's  flank  to 
Chancellorsville.  Marching  on  Mon 
day,  this  force  reached  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Kelly's  Ford  on  Tuesday,  April 
28th,  and  during  the  night  and  next 
morning,  crossed  at  Kelly's  Ford,  on 
pontoon  bridges.  Early  on  Wednesday 
morning,  an  advance  was  made  to  Ger- 
mania  Ford,  on  the  Rapidan — twelve 
miles  distant — by  the  llth  and  12th 
corps,  and  to  Ely's  Ford,  on  the  same 
stream,  by  the  5th  corps.  At  Germania 
Ford  a  force  of  about  150  rebel  pioneers 
was  discovered  rebuilding  the  bridge. 
Most  of  these,  by  a  well-executed  ma 
noeuvre,  were  captured.  Celerity  of 
movement  being  the  chief  desideratum, 
it  was  resolved  immediately  to  put  the 
troops  over  the  Rapidan.  Ac 
cordingly,  the  men  plunged  in, 
many  of  them  stripping  and  carrying 
their  clothes  and  cartridge-boxes  on 
their  bayonets,  and  waded  over,  up  to 
their  armpits.  During  the  night  huge 
bonfires  were  kindled,  and  the  remain 
der  of  the  troops  were  passed  over  by 
the  next  morning.  While  this  was 
going  on  at  Germania  Ford,  Meade's 
troops  were  crossing  at  Ely's  Ford. 
Both  columns  now  moved,  as  ordered, 
for  Chancellorsville,  at  the  junction  of 
the  Gordonsville  turnpike  with  the  Cul- 
pepper  and  Orange  Court  House  plank 
road,  Pleasanton's  cavalry  keeping  up 
the  communication  and  protecting  the 
right  flank  from  the  rebel  cavalry  at 
tacks.  This  manoeuvre  having  uncov 
ered  United  States  Ford,  Couch's  corps, 
which  had,  for  three  days,  being  lying 
at  that  point,  was  passed  over  the  Rap 


1863. 


Cn.  XXVI.]        HOOKER'S  ADVANCE  TO   CHANCELLORSVILLE. 


281 


pahaimock  by  a  pontoon  bridge,  on 
Thursday,  without  any  opposition.  This 
force  also  converged  toward  Chancel- 

O 

lorsville,  and  on  Thursday  night  four 
army  corps,  namely,  Howard's,  Stevens', 
Meade's  and  Couch's,  were  massed  at 
tliis  point.  That  same  night  Hooker 
reached  Chancellorsville,  and  estab 
lished  his  headquarters  at  a  large  brick 
house,  formerly  an  inn,  which,  in  fact, 
constituted  the  entire  place.  The  posi 
tion  thus  secured  was  important,  as 
taking  in  reverse  Lee's  entire  fortified 
line,  and  by  its  being  in  direct  commu 
nication  with  Fredericksburg  by  a  plank 
road,  and  with  Orange  Court  House  and 
Gordonsville  by  a  road  through  the  Wil 
derness — a  desolate  region  of  tansrled 

O  O 

woods — in  its  vicinity.  The  ability  dis 
played  in  this  movement  by  Hooker 
has  been  highly  praised  by  military 
critics. 

Meanwhile,  the  remaining  three  corps 
had  rendered  essential  aid  in  masking 
the  flank  march  just  noted.  The  1st, 
3d  and  Gth  corps  were  ordered,  after 
the  flanking  column  was  well  under 
way,  to  cross  the  river  near  Fredericks- 
burg,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
direct  demonstration,  and  giving  the 
rebels  reason  to  suppose  that  the  attack 
was  about  to  be  made  again  at  this 
point.  This  was  done  on  the  29th  of 
April,  and  excited  the  attention  of  the 
rebels.  The  feint  having  answered  its 
purpose,  the  3d  corps,  under  Sickles, 
was  ordered  to  cross  at  United  States 
Ford,  and  join  Hooker  at  Chancellors 
ville,  while  the  3d  and  6th  corps,  under 
Sedgwick,  were  directed  to  remain  be- 
Icw,  and  await  developments  on  the 


right. 


The  complete  success  of  Hooker's 
strategy,  thus  far,  seems  to  have  roused 
both  him  and  the  army  to  the  highest 
point  of  expectation.  On  the  30th  of 
April,  Hooker  issued  an  order,  announc 
ing  "  to  the  army  that  the  operations 
of  the  last  three  days  have  determined 
that  our  enemy  must  ingloriously  fly 
or  come  out  from  behind  his  defences, 
and  give  us  battle  on  our  own  ground, 
where  certain  destruction  awaits  him. 
The  operations  of  the  5th,  llth,  and 
12th  corps  have  been  a  succession  of 
splendid  achievements."  Hooker  also 
—according  to  Swinton,  who  heard 
him — talked  in  a  magniloquent  man 
ner,  e.  g.,  "  the'  rebel  army  is  now  the 
legitimate  property  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  They  may  as  well  pack  up 
their  haversacks  and  make  for  Rich 
inond,  and  I  shall  be  after  them,"  etc. 

Immediately  on  Lee's  becoming  ac 
quainted  with  the  true  state  of  affairs, 
instead  of  running  away,  as  Hooker 
thought  he  must  and  would  do,  he 
made  his  preparations  to  advance  and 
give  battle.*  Leaving  a  small  force  to 
hold  the  heights  of  Fredericksburg,  at 
midnight  of  Thursday,  the  30th  of 
April,  he  put  his  troops  in  motion  to 
wards  Chancellorsville,  and,  in  some 
unexplained  way,  was  allowed  by 
Hooker  to  advance  so  far  without  op 
position,  as  to  prevent  our  seizing  the 
direct  communications  with  Richmond. 
Hooker,  it  seems,  did  not  originally  in 
tend  to  remain  in  the  tangled  thicket 
of  the  Wilderness,  an  exceedingly  bad 


*  According  to  the  statements  of  southern  writers, 
like  Esten  Cooke,  Pollard,  and  others,  Lee  was  aware 
of  Hooker's  movements  and  plans  much  earlier  than 
we  have  said  in  our  narrative.  It  may  be  so,  although 
we  prefer  to  adhere  to  the  view  given  in  the  text. 


VOL   IV— 30. 


282 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


place  for  the  movements  of  a  large 
army.  On  Friday  morning,  May  1st, 
several  columns  were  pushed  forward 
to  gain  the  open  country  beyond  the 
bounds  of  the  Wilderness,  and  afford 
ing  every  facility  for  fighting  to  advan 
tage.  The  idea  was  to  take  up  a  line 
of  battle  some  two  and  a  half  miles  in 
front,  and  advance  the  whole  line  at 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  left 
of  the  advancing  columns  moved  on 
the  river  road  for  five  miles,  to  within 
sight  of  Banks'  Ford,  without  meeting 
any  opposition.  The  centre  column  ad 
vanced  on  the  turnpike,  and  having 
gained  one  of  the  heights  about  a  mile 
from  Chancellorsville.  met  the  enemy. 
After  severe  skirmishing,  our  troops 
drove  the  rebels  back  and  gained  the 
position  assigned  them.  The  right 
column  pushed  forward  well  in  advance, 
without  encountering  opposition. 

The  importance  of  these  advance 
movements,  and  of  holding  the  position 
already  secured,  seems  plain  enough; 
but  Hooker  thought  otherwise.  He 
ordered  the  columns  to  fall  back  to 
Chancellorsville,  and  instead  of  march 
ing  up  with  his  whole  force,  and  taking 
the  initiative  in  delivering  battle,  lie 
strangely  threw  away  precious  advan 
tages,  and  despite  the  remonstrances  of 
his  officers,  he  determined  to  remain  on 
the  defensive  at  Chancellorsville.  Mili 
tary  men  have  severely  censured  Hook 
er,  and  have  been  puzzled  to  account 
for  his  sudden  lack  of  nerve  and  gener 
alship,  since,  up  to  this  time,  he  had  dis 
played  vigor  and  talent  of  a  high  order. 
"  Till  he  met  the  enemy,  Hooker  showed 
a  master  grasp  of  the  elements  of  war, 
but  the  moment  he  confronted  his  an 


tagonist,  he  seemed  to  suffer  collapse 
of  all  his  powers,  and  after  this  his  con 
duct,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two 
momentary  flashes  of  talent,  was  marked 
by  an  incomprehensible  feebleness  and 
faultiness ;  for,  in  each  crisis,  his  action 
was  not  only  bad — it  was,  with  a  fatal 
infelicity,  the  worst  that  could  have 

been  adopted When  he 

found  his  antagonist  making  a  rapid 
change  of  front,  and  hurrying  forward 
to  accept  the  gage  of  battle  in  the  Wil 
derness,  the  general,  whose  first  stride 
had  been  that  of  a  giant,  shrunk  to  the 
proportions  of  a  dwarf."* 

During  Friday  and  Saturday,  May 
2d,  Lee  made  various  demonstrations 
against  the  front  of  Hooker's  line  of 
entrenchments ;  but  he  had  no  serious 
intention  of  fighting  a  battle  just  then, 
his  numbers  being  much  inferior  to 
Hooker's,  and  he  having  another  mat 
ter  of  moment  in  hand.  Lee  was  only 
seeking  to  gain  time,  by  this  means, 
for  the  carrying  out  a  very  bold  plan 
which  Jackson  had  suggested  and  had 
been  sent  to  execute.  This  was  to 
assail  Hooker's  right  and  rear  by  a 
flank  march,  and  by  seizing  our  com 
munications  with  United  States  Ford. 
Jackson,  from  his  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  ground  and  his  peculiar  ability 
for  work  of  this  kind,  was  the  very 
man  to  make  this  bold  dash  against 
Hooker's  army,  and  he  lost  not  a  mo 
ment  in  entering  upon  it.  All  through 
the  night  the  sound  of  the  axe  was 
heard,  in  preparation  for  the  morrow's 
movement. 

Taking  with  him  about  22,000  men, 
Jackson,  on  Saturday  morning,  May 

*  Swinton's  "Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  280. 


CH.  XXVI.] 


JxYCKSON'S  FLANK  ATTACK. 


283 


2d,  set  out  on  his  rather  perilous  ex 
pedition,  and  worked  his  way  with 
great  diligence  through  the  thickets  by 
a  path  some  two  miles  south  of  and 
parallel  to  the  Orange  plank  road, 
where  Hooker's  troops  were  planted. 
Late  in  the  afternoon,  in  spite  of  all 
difficulties,  he  reached  the  position 
aimed  at  for  the  terrible  and  crushing 
blow  which  he  was  about  to  inflict  on 
Hooker's  flank.  Secret,  however,  as 
was  his  march,  his  troops  were  observ 
ed,  in  part  at  least,  about  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  to  be  moving  in  a 
westerly  direction.  Hooker  and  others 
thought  that  this  was  a  retreat,  or  the 
beginning  of  a  retreat,  on  the  part  of 
the  rebels,  and  that  a  fine  opening  was 
now  given  for  attacking  them.  Ac 
cordingly,  Sickles  was  ordered  to  take 
two  divisions,  and  to  push  into  the 
woods  to  find  and  attack  the  enemy. 
Our  troops  moved  with  alacrity,  and 
soon  after  came  up  with  the  rebels. 
From  the  statements  of  some  prisoners 
which  were  taken,  it  was  inferred  that 
Jackson  was  not  retreating,  by  any 
means,  but  on  his  way  to  execute  one 
of  those  movements  which  possessed 
for  him  a  peculiar  charm.  Under  an 
impression  that  the  astute  rebel  com 
mander  could  be  prevented  from,  ac 
complishing  his  purpose,  Sickles  was 
ordered  to  move  on  rapidly,  other 
troops  being  sent  to  co-operate  with 
him.  In  a  short  time,  by  the  aid  of 
Randolph's  battery  and  the  energetic 
action  of  our  troops,  there  were  sent  to 
the  rear  over  400  prisoners,  officers  and 
men ;  and  the  opinion  was  held,  that 
the  rebel?  would  be  compelled  to  fly 
or  be  captured. 


1§63. 


At  five  o'clock,  p  M.,  Jackson  had 
gained  the  position  where  he  could 
deal  the  deadly  blow  for  which  he  had 
been  seeking  the  opportunity  at  so 
great  risk.  A  terrific  crash  of  mus 
ketry  on  Hooker's  extreme  right  an 
nounced  that  the  rebel  general  had  be 
gun  his  destructive  operations.  The 
preparation  to  meet  this  onslaught  was 
very  imperfect.  It  was  supposed  that 
the  corps  of  Howard  (formerly  Sigel's), 
with  its  supports,  would  be  able  to  re 
sist  the  enemy's  attack,  but  every  such 
supposition  was  utterly  futile.  Be 
tween  five  and  six  o'clock,  Jackson 
burst  forth  with  resistless  im 
petuosity  upon  the  unprepared 
llth  corps.  Panic  stricken,  taken 
wholly  by  surprise,  the  troops  rushed 
forward,  a  disorganized  mass,  without 
arms,  and  anxious  only  to  escape  the 
rebel  assault.  Entreaties,  threats,  or 
ders  of  commanders,  were  of  no  avail ; 
they  fled  down  the  road  towards  head 
quarters,  and  overran  the  next  division 
to  the  left,  which  was  compelled  to 
give  way  before  the  enemy  even  reach 
ed  its  position.  Col.  Bushbeck,  on  the 
extreme  left  of  the  llth  corps,  made  a 
good  fight  and  held  his  ground  as  long 
as  possible ;  but  both  his  flanks  being 
turned,  he  too  gave  way,  and  the  whole 
corps  was  soon  in  utter  rout.  It  was 
now  seven  o'clock,  and  darkness  was 
fast  approaching ;  but  Jackson  had 
seized  the  breastworks,  and  had  pushed 
forward  to  within  half  a  mile  of  head 
quarters. 

It  was  a  critical  moment ;  a  new  line 
had  to  be  formed ;  and  as  Lee  was 
pressing  his  attack  on  Hooker's  left 
and  centre,  it  was  a  work  of  difficulty 


284 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


and  danger  to  provide  for  this  point. 
Something  like  a  rushing  whirlwind  of 
men,  artillery  and  wagons  was  sweep 
ing  down  the  road,  and  past  head 
quarters,  and  on  towards  the  fords  of 
the  Rappahannock.  It  seemed  in  vain  to 
attempt  to  stop  them ;  but  fortunately, 
as  it  happened,  Pleasanton  came  up 
with  his  cavalry  at  this  moment;  he 
moved  forward  rapidly,  charged  into 
the  woods,  and  brought  his  artillery  to 
bear  upon  the  rebels  with  terrible 
effect.  Hooker,  also,  called  upon  his 
old  division,  which  he  had  commanded, 
and  of  which,  he  entertained  a  very 
high  opinion,  to  dash  forward  into  the 
breach  and  receive  the  enemy  on  their 
bayonets.  Gallantly  did  they  obey  the 
call,  being  now  commanded  by  Gen. 
Berry,  and,  in  perfect  order,  despite 
the  herd  of  fugitives  streaming  past,  they 
took  position  on  a  crest  at  the  western 
end  of  the  clearing  around  Chancellors- 
ville.  Other  troops,  with  artillery,  were 
brought  forward,  and  by  steadiness 
and  determination  the  rebel  advance 
was  checked. 

About  this  time,  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  Jackson,  the  leader  of  this 
movement,  was  stricken  down,  and,  as 
it  occurred,  by  the  bullets  of  his  own 
soldiers.  Anxious  to  grasp  all  the  re 
sults  of  his  attack,  he  was  pressing  for 
ward  through  the  woods,  and  went 
even  beyond  his  lines  to  reconnoitre, 
giving  instructions  to  his  troops  not  to 
fire,  unless  cavalry  approached  from 
the  direction  of  the  enemy.  Turning 
with  his  staff  to  re-enter  his  own  lines, 
his  troops,  it  seems,  mistaking  them  for 
a  body  of  Union  cavalry,  fired  a  volley 
and  killed  and  wounded  a  number. 


Jackson  received  three  balls,  one  in  his 
left  arm,  near  the  shoulder,  the  others 
in  the  arm  and  right  hand.  On  being 
removed  to  the  rear  his  arm  was  am 
putated,  and  it  was  hoped  that  he 
might  recover ;  but  pneumonia  having 
set  in,  he  lived  only  a  few  days,  expir 
ing  on  the  10th  of  May. 

Without  dwelling  upon  Jackson's  life 
and  character,  both  of  which  were  re 
markable  in  several  respects,  and  cause 
one  to  regret  that  a  man  like  him  was 
deluded  to  such  an  extent  as  to  engage 
in  rebellion  and  revolution,  we  give 
the  summing  up  which  Mr.  Swinton 
presents  respecting  that  commander 
whom  he  terms  "  the  ablest  of  Lee's 
lieutenants.  Jackson,"  he  says,  "was 
essentially  an  executive  officer,  and  in 
this  sphere  he  was  incomparable.  De 
void  of  high  mental  parts,  and  desti 
tute  of  that  power  of  planning  and 
combination,  and  of  that  calm,  broad, 
military  intellect  which  distinguished 
Gen.  Lee,  whom  he  regarded  with  a 
childlike  reverence,  and  whose  designs 
he  loved  to  carry  out,  he  had  yet  those 
elements  of  character  that,  above  all 
else,  inspire  troops.  A  fanatic  in  reli 
gion,  fully  believing  that  he  was  des 
tined  by  Heaven  to  beat  his  enemy 
whenever  he  encountered  him,  he  in 
fused  something  of  his  own  fervent  faith 
into  his  men,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  had  trained  a  corps  whose  attacks 
in  column  were  unique  and  irresistible ; 
and  it  was  noticed  that  Lee  ventured 
upon  no  strokes  of  audacity  after  Jack 
son  had  passed  away."* 


*  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  289.  Esten  Cooke's 
eulogy  on  Jackson  is  also  worth  consulting,  and  gives 
the  southern  estimate  of  his  character,  services  and 
ability. 


Cn.  XX  VI.] 


BATTLE   OF  CHAXCELLOKSVILLE. 


285 


1863. 


It  was  evident,  from  the  position  of 
affairs  on  Saturday  night,  that  a  change 
of  line  was  necessary,  by  which  the 
enemy  should  be  driven  from  the  rear 
and  brought  into  front  again.  Gen. 
Reynolds,  with  his  corps,  had  been  or 
dered  by  Gen.  Hooker  to  join  him,  and 
arrived  at  United  States  Ford 
on  Saturday  afternoon.  The 
troops  were  put  into  position  at  once 

on   the   right,  which  was  withdrawn 

~ 

from  the  plank  road  to  the  Ely's  Ford 
turnpike.  This  line  was  immediately 
formed  by  Generals  Reynolds  and 
Meade,  the  latter' s  position,  on  the  left, 
having  been  relieved  by  General  How 
ard's  llth  corps,  which,  notwithstand 
ing  its  disorganized  condition,  was  so 

O  O 

far  re-organized  during  the  night  as  to 
be  fit  for  duty  again.  They  were  as 
signed  the  position  on  the  left,  where 
it  was  probable  there  would  be  little 
or  no  fighting,  and  were  protected  by 
the  strong  works  built  the  day  before 
by  General  Meade's  corps.  The  new 
line  now  assumed  the  shape  of  a  tri 
angle,  prolonged  at  the  apex,  the  right 
of  the  line  being  somewhat  longer  than 

O  O 

the  left.  As  the  portion  of  the  line  on 
the  right  was  new,  time  was  necessary 
to  fortify  and  entrench  it,  and  the  work 
was  carried  on  vigorously  by  the  5th 
and  1st  army  corps.  The  rebels  had 
been  reinforcing  their  line  all  night, 
and  as  Jackson  was  no  longer  able  to 

o 

lead  his  troops,  they  were  placed  under 
command  of  J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  Their  in 
tention  was  to  fight  for  the  possession 
of  the  plank  road,  which  it  was  appa 
rent  they  must  have,  as  that  portion 
of  it  which  our  troops  held  was  subject 
to  assaults  in  front  and  on  both  flanks. 


At  daylight,  on  Sunday  morning, 
Stuart  and  his  men  seized  the  crest 
which  the  day  before  had  been  oc 
cupied  by  the  left  of  the  llth  corps, 
got  thirty  pieces  of  artillery  into  posi 
tion  thereon,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire 
on  the  plain  around  Chancellor  House. 
Hooker,  still  retaining  this  as  his  head 
quarters,  formed  the  line  of  battle,  with 
Berry's  division  on  the  right,  Birney 
next  to  him,  on  the  left,  Whipple  and 
Williams  supporting.  The  advance 
speedily  became  engaged  in  the  ravine, 
just  beyond  the  ridge  where  Captain 
Best's  guns  had  done  such  excellent 
service  the  night  before.  The  contest 
was  fiercely  and  energetically  carried 
on.  Berry's  division,  which  had  check 
ed  the  enemy's  advance  before,  display 
ed  their  bravery  and  spirit  to  a  high 
degree.  The  rebels  dashed  forward, 
with  the  battle  cry,  "  Charge,  and  re 
member  Jackson  !"  and  seemed  deter 
mined  to  crush  everything  by  their  tre 
mendous  onslaught.  But  our  men 
fought  with  equal  determination,  and 
resisted  the  advance  of  the  rebels  with 
steadfast  and  unconquerable  spirit. 
The  exploits  of  our  soldiers  in  those 
tangled,  gloomy  woods  may  never  be 
brought  fully  to  light ;  but  they  would 
fill  volumes.  Not  only  Berry's,  but  Sic- 
kles's  and  French's  troops,  made  good 
fight  at  their  position,  receiving  Stu 
art's  impetuous  assaults ;  but,  after  a 
severe  struggle,  Sickles  was  forced  from 
his  front  line.  So  also  French  was 
pressed  back,  and  the  attack  was  re 
newed  on  Sickles. 

Lee  meanwhile  attacked  the  centre 
and  left,  where  Slocum  and  Hancock 
were  in  command ;  but  he  was  gallantly 


280 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


met  by  our  rnen.  An  order  was  given 
to  fall  back  to  Chancellor  House,  which 
was  done ;  and  for  an  hour  or  more  the 
battle  ra«;ed  at  the  ansrle  of  the  roads. 

o  o 

Our  line,  however,  soon  began  to  waver; 
Hooker  abandoned  his  headquarters, 
now  on  fire,  and  retired  to  a  new  line, 
about  a  mile  nearer  to  the  river  and 
covering  the  fords.  The  rebels  made  a 
dash,  and  between  ten  and  eleven 
o'clock  gained  possession  of  Chancel- 
lorsville.  The  position  taken  by  Hooker 
was  a  strong  one,  the  right  flank  rest 
ing  on  the  Rapidan  and  the  left  on  the 
Rappahannock.  The  corps  of  Meade 
and  Reynolds,  which,  as  seems  very 
singular,  had  not  been  called  into  action 
at  any  of  those  times  when  help  was  so 
greatly  needed,  were  formed  on  the  new 
lines,  together  with  the  troops  falling 
back  as  above  stated.  Lee  was  pre 
paring  to  make  a  vigorous  assault  with 
his  entire  force,  when  news  from  Fred- 
ericksburg  compelled  his  attention  in 
another  direction. 

Sedgwick,  it  will  be  remembered, 
had  been  left  some  three  miles  below 
Fredericksburg  to  await  developments 
of  the  main  army  at  Chancellorsville. 
The  serious  injury  inflicted  on  Hooker 
by  Jackson's  bold  movement,  induced 
the  former  to  send  orders  to  Sedgwick 
to  occupy  Fredericksburg,  seize  the 
heights,  gain  the  plank  road  towards 
Chancellorsville,  and  move  out  to  join 
Hooker,  destroying  any  force  he  might 
meet,  and  reaching  his  assigned  posi 
tion  by  daylight,  on  Sunday  morning. 
This  was  a  movement  which,  if  success 
fully  carried  out,  was  of  great  import 
ance,  but  which  also  involved  serious 
risk.  Sedgwick  received  the  order  at 


eleven  o'clock  on  Saturday  night,  and 
immediately  set  about  its  execution. 
Some  hours  before  daylight,  after  sharp 
skirmishing,  he  occupied  the  town,  and 
soon  after,  Gibbon's  division  crossed 
from  Falmouth  to  join  him.  Sedgwick 
concluded,  under  all  the  circumstances, 
to  carry,  by  assault,  the  heights  imme 
diately  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  includ 
ing  Marye's  Hill  and  the  stone  wall  at 
its  base,  where  our  troops  had  suffered 
so  severely  during  Burnside's  cam 
paign.  Much  time  had  already  been 
consumed  ;  the  forenoon  was  fast  pass 
ing,  when  the  deadly  struggle  began 
for  driving  the  rebels  out  of  their  posi 
tion;  but  it  was  executed  with  a  gal 
lantry  unsurpassed  at  any  time.  A 
thousand  of  our  men  were  killed,  and 
the  rebels  made  a  hand-to-hand  fight 
on  the  crest  and  over  the  guns.  The 
rebel  troops  under  Early  retreated  over 
the  telegraph  road,  in  a  southwardly 
direction,  leaving  the  plank  road  to 
Chancellorsville  open  and  free  for  Sedg- 
wick's  forward  movement.  Gladly  seiz 
ing  the  opportunity,  he  began  his  ad 
vance  at  once. 

It  was  this  position  of  affairs  which 
demanded  Lee's  attention ;  for  unless 
Sedgwick  were  checked,  he  would  cer 
tainly  prove  a  formidable  foe  in  the 
rear,  while  Hooker  with  his  army  was 
in  front.  Lee  promptly  sent  a  portion 
of  his  troops  to  assail  Sedgwick,  not 
being  apprehensive,  it  seems,  that 
Hooker  would  venture  meanwhile  any 
steps  in  the  offensive.  Sedgwick  was 
moving  as  rapidly  as  was  possible,  when, 
being  now  about  half  way  between 
Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  he 
was  met  by  the  rebel  troops.  A  sharp 


On.   XXVI.] 


STONEMAN'S  CAVALRY  RAID. 


287 


encounter  took  place  at  Salem  Heights, 
between  four  and  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  Sedgwick  was  unable  to 
do  more  than  hold  his  own,  and  hardly 
that,  for  his  losses  were  very  heavy 
(probably  quite  5,000)  and  the  enemy 
were  attacking  him  from  several  differ 
ent  points.  This  was  on  Sunday  night. 
On  Monday  morning,  May  4th,  Lee 
finding  it  necessary  to  get  rid  of  Sedg 
wick  before  attacking  Hooker  in  his 
new  line  of  defence,  ordered  reinforce 
ments  on  the  ground,  so  as  to  cut  Sedg 
wick  off  from,  or  drive  him  across,  the 
Rappahannock.  The  attack  was  not 
beimn  till  late  in  the  afternoon,  when 

O  / 

the  rebels  rushed  furiously  upon  our 
men ;  but  Sedgwick's  force  resisted 
stubbornly,  notwithstanding  they  were 
forced  to  yield  ground  on  the  left. 
Darkness  soon  after  put  an  end  to  fur 
ther  fighting,  and  under  cover  of  the 
night,  the  corps  of  Sedgwick  crossed 
the  river  at  Banks's  Ford,  on  a  pontoon 
bridge  laid  the  day  before.*  Having 
thus  relieved  himself  of  any  trouble 
from  this  quarter,  Lee  now  determined 
to  attack  Hooker  with  all  his 
force  at  daylight,  on  Wednes 
day,  May  6th.  During  the  night,  how 
ever,  Hooker,  who  seemed  to  have  lost 
all  the  spirit  which  men  supposed  to 

*  Hooker's  course  towards  Sedgwick  has  been  sharply 
criticised,  because  especially  he  took  no  steps  to  aid  the 
latter  in  forming  a  junction  with  him.  Before  the  com 
mittee  on  the  conduct  of  the  war  he  laid  the  blame  of 
the  disaster  of  Chanccllorsville  on  Sedgwick's  failing 
to  join  to  him  on  Sunday  morning.  "This  is  a  cruel 
charge,"  says  Mr.  Swinton,  "  to  bring  against  a  com 
mander  now  beyond  the  reach  of  detraction;  whose 
brilliant  exploit  in  carrying  the  Fredericksburg  Heights 
and  his  subsequent  fortitude  in  a  trying  situation, 
shine  out  as  the  one  relieving  brightness  amid  the 
gloom  of  that  hapless  battle." — "Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,"  p.  305. 


1§63. 


belong  to  "  Fighting  Joe,v  ordered  the 
army  across  the  Rappahannock,  and 
"  ingloriously  "  left  the  rebels  masters 
of  the  field. 

The  losses  on  our  side,  in  this  badly 
managed  Chancellorsville  affair,  were 
17,197  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
There  were  left  behind  on  the  retreat 
the  killed  and  wounded,  fourteen  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  20,000  stand  of  arms ; 
Lee  claimed  also  to  have  5,000  prison 
ers.  The  rebel  loss  was  said  to  be,  in 
all,  10,281. 

Stoneman,  it  will  be  remembered, 
(seep.  280), had  been  ordered  with  a  fine 
body  of  cavalry,  some  10,000  in  num 
ber,  to  operate  against  the  rebel  com 
munications,  and  thereby,  it  was  hoped, 
greatly  to  aid  the  plans  of  Hooker  in 
his  advance  upon  Chancellorsville.  It 
was  intended  that  he  should  precede 
the  army  by  at  least  a  fortnight ;  but 
very  unfortunately,  heavy  and  continu 
ous  rains  delayed  the  cavalry  move 
ment  until  April  29th,  when  the  in 
fantry  crossed  the  river.  Stoneman's 
command  was  then  divided  into  two 
columns ;  one  which  was  under  Averill, 
moved  to  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
Railroad,  and  encountered  two  regi 
ments  of  rebels,  who  retired  towards 
Gordonsville.  Thence  he  proceeded  to 
Culpepper,  dispersed  quite  a  large  force, 
destroyed  rebel  stores,  etc.  After  con 
siderable  active  service,  Averill  was  or 
dered,  May  2d,  to  join  Hooker  at  once. 
The  other  column,  under  Buford,  was 
charged  with  the  breaking  up  the  Rich 
mond  and  Fredericksburg  Railroad,  the 
destroying  of  bridges,  and  everything 
else  which  could  be  of  advantage  to  the 
enemy.  A  large  amount  of  damage  of 


288 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  Via 


various  kinds  was  done,  and  Col.  Kil- 
patrick  with  his  force  dashed  up  within 
two  miles  of  Richmond ;  but  the  im 
portant  Fredericksburg  and  Richmond 
Railroad  was  not  struck  till  the  3d  of 
May,  and  then  only  trifling  injury  was 
inflicted.  The  James  River  canal  was 
also  damaged  but  slightly.  The  prin 
cipal  effect  of  the  raid  was  to  rouse  and 
alarm  the  entire  region ;  but,  as  far  as 
any  military  gain  to  Hooker,  or  any 
future  operations  in  Virginia  were  con- 
concerned,  Stoneman's  raid  was  of  very 
little  consequence. 

The  army  having  escaped  across  the 
Rappahannock,  on  Wednesday,  May 
6th,  resumed  its  old  quarters  at  Fal- 
mouth,  and  on  the  same  day  Hooker 
issued  a  congratulatory  address,  which 
was  in  bad  taste,  to  say  the  least,  and 
might  better  have  been  dispensed  with 
under  the  circumstances.  The  war  de 
partment  also,  under  date  of  May  8th, 
1863,  in  a  dispatch  sent  to  the  govern- 
ers  of  the  northern  states,  endeavored 
to  put  the  best  face  possible  upon  mat 
ters,  as  follows : — "  The  president  and 
general-in-chief  have  just  returned 
from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The 
principal  operations  of  Gen.  Hooker 
failed,  but  there  has  been  no  serious 
disaster  to  the  organization  and  effi 
ciency  of  the  army.  It  is  now  occupy 
ing  its  former  position  on  the  Rappa 
hannock,  having  recrossed  the  river 


without  any  loss  in  the  movement. 
Not  more  than  a  third  of  Gen.  Hooker's 
force  was  engaged.  Gen.  Stoneman's 

O     O 

operations  have  been  a  brilliant  success. 
Part  of  his  force  advanced  to  within 
two  miles  of  Richmond,  and  the  en 
emy's  communications  have  been  cut  in 
every  direction.  The  Army  of  the 
Potomac  will  speedily  resume  offensive 
operations." 

A  military  critic  of  repute,  as  well  as 
of  some  pretensions,  devotes  a  number 
of  pages  to  what  he  calls  "  Observa 
tions  on  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville," 
which  are  severe  but  not  undeserved, 
and  which  show  how  it  was  that  an 
"  action  which,  opening  with  an  exhibi 
tion  of  grand  tactics,  marked  by  mas 
terly  skill,  sank  into  conduct  so  feeble 
and  faulty  as  to  be  almost 

1^113 

beneath  criticism."  We  have 
room  for  only  the  concluding  para 
graph  :  "  Not  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac  was  beaten  at  Chancellorsville,  but 
its  commander ;  and  Gen.  Hooker's 
conduct  inflicted  a  very  severe  blow  to 
his  reputation.  The  officers  despised 
his  generalship,  and  the  rank  and  file 
were  puzzled  at  the  result  of  a  battle  in 
which  they  had  been  foiled  without 
beino;  foucrht,  and  caused  to  retreat 

O  O  ' 

without  the  consciousness  of  having 
been  beaten."""* 

*  "Army  of  the  Pot  «nac,"  pp.  303-307. 


Cn.  XXVII.]  AFFAIRS  IN  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE   SOUTH. 


289 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 
1863, 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH :  NAVAL  OPERATIONS :  BANKS  AND  PORT  HUDSON. 

Department  of  the  South  —  Hunter  in  command  —  Gen.  Saxton,  and  negro  troops — The  iron-clads  in  tie 
Ogeechee  —  Privateer  Nashville  destroyed  by  Commander  Worden  —  Movements  of  the  rebels  in  Charleston 
harbor  —  Lofty  claims  as  to  breaking  the  blockade  —  Attack  on  Fort  McAllister  —  Negroes  drafted  to  serve 
in  the  army  —  Beauregard's  appeal  —  Dupont  begins  the  attack  on  Charleston  —  His  force  —  Beauregard's 
vast  and  formidable  preparations  —  Opening  of  the  battle  —  Terrific  fire  of  the  rebels  —  Bravery  of  our 
officers  and  men  in  the  assault  —  Dupont  gives  up  the  attempt  for  the  present  to  take  Charleston  —  Gillmore 
succeeds  Hunter  —  Department  of  the  Gulf  —  Banks  sent  to  succeed  Butler  —  Expedition  under  Banks  —  Ad. 
dress  to  the  people  of  Louisiana,  etc. — Military  movements  —  Port  Hudson,  its  position  and  strength  — 
Attempt  to  sail  past  the  batteries  —  Farragut's  ship  alone  succeeds  —  Losses,  etc.  —  Banks's  demonstration 
against  Port  Hudson  —  Operations  against  the  rebels  west  of  New  Orleans,  near  Teche  River' —  Queen  of 

the  West  destroyed  —  Further  movements  —  Entire  success  —  Banks  occupies  Alexandria Enters  upon 

attack  and  siege  of  Port  Hudson  —  Long  and  tedious  delays  —  Steady  progress  —  Rebel  General  Gardner 
surrenders  —  Severity  of  the  blow  to  the  rebel  cause. 


1§33. 


IN  a  previous  chapter  (see  p.  151), 
we  have  given  a  brief  narrative  of  affairs 
in  the  department  of  the  South.  There 
had  not  much  of  any  importance  been 
effected,  owing  to  the  weakness  of  the 
force  under  the  commander  of 
this  department ;  and  since  Gen. 
Mitchel's  death,  October  30th,  1862, 
but  little  had  been  attempted  or  done, 
beyond  keeping  a  vigilant  watch  on 
the  part  of  the  blockading  force  in  view 
of  subsequent  undertakings.  Gen.  Hun 
ter,  on  the  20th  of  January,  resumed 
command,  at  Port  Royal,  of  the  de 
partment  of  the  South.  Vigorous  pre 
parations  were  entered  upon,  while  the 
monitors  and  iron-clads,  from  which 
much  was  expected  in  regard  to  con 
flicts  with  the  rebels,  were  being  com 
pleted  at  the  North.  The  original 
Monitor,  as  we  have  before  noted  (p. 
1.36),*  passed  out  of  existence  on  the 

*  The  Monitor  left  Fortress  Monroe,  on  the  29th  of 
December,  in  tow  of  the  gun  boat  Rhode  Island,  on  her 
VOL.  IV.— 87. 


last  day  of  the  year  1862,  with  circum 
stances  of  painful  interest.  Her  com 
panion,  the  Passaic,  with  the  Montauk, 
and  the  formidable  battery,  the  New 
Ironsides,  made  their  appearance  at 
Port  Royal  about  the  middle  of  Janu 
ary.  Active  operations  were  now  pro 
mised,  and  speedy  employment  in  the 
field. 

Gen.  Saxton,  who  had  been  sent  by 
the  secretary  of  war,  in  June,  1862,  to 
give  attention  to  the  abandoned  plan 
tations,  and  the  people,  especially  the 
negroes,  in  the  department  of  the 

way  to  the  South.  The  next  day  she  passed  flatteraa 
Shoals  in  safety;  but  that  night  there  set  in  a  furious 
storm  from  the  southwest,  which  dashed  over  and  soon 
began  to  (ill  the  doomed  vessel.  The  Rhode  Island  did 
all  thoi  was  possible  in  endeavoring  to  relieve  the 
Monitor ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  save  her.  She  went 
down  about  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  December 
31st.  Commander  Bankhead,  in  command  of  the  Moni 
tor  at  the  time  of  the  disaster,  with  six  of  his  officers 
and  Ibvty  men,  were  brought  back  in  safety  on  the 
Rhode  Island  to  Fortress  Monroe.  Four  officers  and 
twelve  men  of  the  Monitor  were  lost,  and  one  officer 
and  sevc-ii  men  of  the  Rhode  Island,  in  their  efforts  to 
save  the  men  on  the  iron-clad. 


290 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


South,  and  who  was  to  report  directly, 
once  a  week  at  least,  to  the  war  de 
partment,*  announced,  about  this  date, 
the  complete  organization  of  the  first 
(negro)  regiment  of  South  Carolina 
volunteers,  Colonel  Higginson  being  in 
command.  He  also  gave  it  as  his  decided 
opinion,  that  this  body  of  troops  was 
"  not  surpassed  by  any  white  regiment 
in  the  department." 

Admiral  Dupont,  in  command  of  the 
South  Atlantic  squadron,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  testing  the  iron-clads  recently 
arrived  at  Port  Royal,  ordered  the  Mon 
tauk,  Commander  Worden,  to  the  Ogee- 
chee  River,  opening  into  the  Ossabaw 
Sound,  on  the  Georgia  coast,  and 
through  which  there  was  an  approach 
to  within  ten  miles  of  Savannah.  The 
privateer  .Nashville,  which  had  made  a 
number  of  successful  trips  as  a  block 
ade  runner  between  Charleston,  Wil 
mington  and  Nassau,  had,  in  July,  1862, 
taken  refuge  in  the  Ogeechee,  and  was 
compelled  by  our  fleet  to  remain  there. 
For  seven  months  she  had  thus  been 
confined  to  the  river,  the  defences  of 
wliich  had  been  meanwhile  created  and 
strengthened  by  various  obstructions, 
and  by  the  erection  of  Fort  McAllister 
at  an  advantageous  bend  of  the  stream. 

O 

To  destroy  these  works  and  capture  the 
Nashville,  was  the  object  proposed  for 
the  navy.  It  was  known  that  the  Nash 
ville,  now  fitted  as  a  privateer,  was 
ready  for  sea,  and  it  was  rumored  that 
the  Fingal,  a  British  steamer,  converted 
into  a  formidable  iron-clad  war  vessel 
at  Savannah,  would  come  from  that 


*  See  McPherson's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion,"  p.  251. 
The  letter  of  Secretary  Stanton  is  interesting,  in  view 
of  the  policy  and  purpose  of  the  government  on  several 
perplexing  questions. 


1*63. 


port  to  her  assistance.  With  these  in 
ducements  for  action,  Commander  Word- 
en  began  the  attack  on  the  fort  with 
the  Montauk,  Seneca,  and  three  other 
gun  boats  of  the  blockading  squadron, 
on  the  27th  of  January.  For  five  hours 
through  the  forenoon,  an  "  artillery 
duel"  was  kept  up,  chiefly  between  the 
fort  and  the  monitor,  the  latter  being 
struck  thirteen  times,  with  little  or  no 
damage.  A  few  indentations  on 
her  iron  surface  Avere  the  only 
injuries  she  sustained.  She  was  the 
greater  part  of  the  action  within  about 
1,600  yard  of  the  fort,  upon  which  no 
serious  impression  seems  to  have  been 
made.  Another  attempt  was  made  by 
Commander  Worden  with  the  same 
force  on  Sunday,  the  1st  of  February, 
at  as  close  quarters  as  the  obstructions 
of  stakes  and  torpedoes,  and  natural 
difficulties  of  the  river  permitted,  within 
a  thousand  yards  of  the  battery,  but 
with  no  better  success.  In  this  second 
action  the  Montauk  received  sixty-one 
shots;  her  smoke-stack  was  riddled 
with  balls,  and  her  flag-staff  carried 
away,  yet  she  came  out  without  serious 
injury.  The  fort  was  somewhat  dam 
aged  in  this  engagement ;  a  30-pounder 
was  dismounted,  and  the  parapet  badly 
torn  in  several  places.  Major  Gallic 
was  killed,  and  seven  privates  injured 
by  concussion.  The  principal  result 
thus  far  appeared  to  be  to  test  the  de 
fensive  qualities  of  the  monitor  class  of 
vessels. 

The  Nashville,  we  may  here  mention, 
continued  concealed  and  protected  be 
hind  Fort  McAllister  through  the  month 
of  February  to  the  27th,  when,  at  even 
ing,  she  was  observed  in  motion  above 


Cn.  XXVIL] 


PRIVATEER  NASHVILLE  DESTROYED. 


291 


the  battery  by  Commander  Worden. 
"  A  reconnaissance  immediately  made," 
says  he,  in  his  report  of  the  next  day 
to  Admiral  Dupont,  "proved  that  in 
moving  up  the  river  she  had  grounded 
in  that  part  of  the  river  known  as  the 
seven-miles'  reach.  Believing  that  I 
could,  by  approaching  close  to  the  bat 
tery,  reach  and  destroy  her  with  my 
battery,  I  moved  up  at  daylight  this 
morning,  accompanied  by  the  blockad 
ing  fleet  in  these  waters,  consisting  of 
the  Seneca,  Lieut.-Comrnander  Gibson ; 
the  Wissahickon,  Lieut-Commander  Da 
vis,  and  the  Dawn,  Acting  Lieut-Com 
mander  Barnes.  By  moving  up  close 
to  the  obstructions  in  the  river,  I  was 
enabled,  although  under  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  battery,  to  approach  the  Nash 
ville,  still  aground,  within  the  distance 
of  1,200  yards.  A  few  well-directed 
shells  determined  the  range,  and  soon 
succeeded  in  striking  her  with  11-inch 
and  15-inch  shells.  The  other  gun 
boats  maintained  a  fire  from  an  enfi 
laded  position  upon  the  battery,  and 
the  Nashville  at  lon^  rano-e.  I  soon 

o  o 

had  the  satisfaction  of  observing;  that 

o 

the  Nashville  had  caught  fire,  from  the 
shells  exploding  in  her,  in  several 
places  ;  and  in  less  than  twenty  minutes 
she  was  caught  in  flames  forward,  aft 
and  amidships.  At  9.20' A.M.  a  large 
pivot-gun,  mounted  abaft  her  foremast, 
exploded  from  the  heat ;  at  9.40  her 
smoke-chimney  went  by  the  board;  and 
at  9.55  her  magazine  exploded  with  ter 
rific  violence,  shattering  her  in  smoking 
ruins.  Nothing  remains  of  her.  The 
battery  kept  up  a  continuous  fire  upon 
this  vessel,  but  struck  her  but  five 
times,  doing  no  damage  whatever.  The 


fire  upon  the  other  gun  boats  was  wild, 
and  did  them  no  damage  whatever. 
After  assuring  myself  of  the  complete 
destruction  of  the  Nashville,  I,  pre 
ceded  by  the  wooden  vessels,  dropped 
down  beyond  the  range  of  the  enemy's 
guns.  In  so  doing,  a  torpedo  exploded 
under  this  vessel,  inflicting,  however, 
but  little  injury.  I  beg  leave,  therefore, 
to  congratulate  you,  sir,  upon  this  final 
disposition  of  a  vessel  which  has  so 
long  been  in  the  minds  of  the  public  as 
a  troublesome  pest." 

The  state  of  inactivity,  which  had  for 
sometime  prevailed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Charleston,  was  broken,  not  long  after 
Gen.  Hunter's  arrival,  and  a  daring 
movement  was  undertaken  by  the  rebel 
vessels  upon  the  blockading  squadron. 
It  appears,  that  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  29th  of  January,  an  iron-clad 
steamer,  the  Princess  Royal,  only  four 
days  out  from  Bermuda,  attempted  to 
run  the  blockade.  The  gun  boat  Una- 
dilla  immediately  took  steps  to  arrest 
her  progress,  and  fired  a  couple  of  shots 
at  the  stranger.  The  Princess  Royal 
was  run  a  shore  and  abandoned,  and 
was  at  once  taken  possession  of  by  the 
Unadilla.  This  proved  to  be  a  very 
valuable  prize,  having  engines  for  iron 
clads,  rifled  guns,  ammunition,  and 
stores  of  all  kinds  on  board.  Two  days 
later  she  was  taken  to  Port  Royal,  and 
subsequently  sent  to  Philadelphia  for 
adjudication. 

Deeply  chagrined  at  this  loss,  the 
rebels  determined  to  make  a  bold  dash, 
and  not  only  to  recover  possession  of 
the  Princess  Royal,  but  also  to  attack 
the  blockading  squadron.  According 
ly,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning 


292 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  VIII. 


of  the  31st  of  January,  during  the  ob 
scurity  of  a  thick  haze,  two  iron-clad 
steam  rams  came  out  of  Charleston  by 
the  main  ship  channel,  unno 
ticed  by  the  squadron,  and 
commenced  an  assault  upon  the  block 
ading  fleet,  which,  just  at  this  time,  was 
mostly  composed  of  the  light  class  of 
purchased  vessels.  The  first  onset  was 
made  upon  the  steamer  Mercedita,  for 
merly  a  merchant  vessel,  by  the  ram 
commanded  by  D.  N.  Ingraham,  for 
merly  of  the  United  States  service. 
Almost  immediately  the  Mercedita  was 
rendered  helpless  by  a  large  shell  pass 
ing  diagonally  through  the  vessel,  ex 
ploding  in  the  boiler,  and  blowing  a 
hole  some  four  or  five  feet  square  in  its 
exit  on  the  port  side.  The  Mercedita, 
of  necessity,  gave  up  the  contest,  and 
her  officers  and  crew  having  surrender 
ed,  were  paroled  by  the  rebels. 

The  other  rebel  ram  attacked  the 
Keystone  State  about  the  same  time, 
and  was  joined  by  Ingraham's  vessel 
directly  after  disabling  the  Mercedita. 
The  Keystone  State  was  actively  en 
gaged  in  bringing  her  guns  to  bear 
upon  the  enemy,  when  a  shell  exploded 
in  her  fore  hold  and  set  her  on  fire. 
Having  got  the  fire  under  after  a  time, 
the  captain  of  the  Keystone  State  bore 
down,  under  full  head  of  steam,  upon 
the  nearest  ram,  intending  to  sink  her ; 
but  a  shot  having  passed  through  both 
steam  chests,  she  became  virtually  pow 
erless,  and  accomplished  nothing.  The 
other  vessels  on  the  station  at  the  time, 
not  being  able  to  cope  with  the  rebel 
force,  kept  prudently  aloof.  Ingraham 
and  his  two  rams,  about  half-past  seven 
o'clock,  retired  into  the  Swash  channel 


behind  the  shoals.  The  Mercedita  and 
Keystone  State  were  taken  to  Port 
Koyal  for  repairs. 

Notwithstanding  this  bold  attempt, 
no  practical  advantage  was  gained  by 
the  rebels  beyond  disabling  the  two  ves 
sels  above  named ;  still,  they  thought 
something  might  be  made  of  it  by  tak 
ing  the  ground  that  the  fleet  had  been 
dispersed  and  the  blockade  raised. 
Accordingly,  there  was  published  in 
the  Richmond  papers  of  February  2d, 
a  dispatch  stating  that,  in  the  engage 
ment  near  Charleston,  two  United 
States  vessels  had  been  sunk,  four  set 
on  fire,  and  the  remainder  driven  away. 
Beauregard,  the  military,  and  Ingra 
ham,  the  naval,  commanders  at  Char 
leston,  also  issued  a  proclamation,  which 
is  worth  reading,  as  a  specimen  of  lofty 
pretensions  resting  on  a  very  small 
basis :  "  At  about  five  o'clock  this 
morning,  the  Confederate  States  naval 

O' 

force  on  this  station  attacked  the  Unit 
ed  States  blockading  fleet  off  the  har 
bor  of  the  city  of  Charleston,  and  sank, 
dispersed,  and  then  drove  out  of  sight, 
for  a  time,  the  entire  hostile  fleet ;  there 
fore,  we,  the  undersigned,  commanders 
respectively  of  the  naval  and  land  forces 
in  this  quarter,  do  hereby  formally 
declare  the  blockade  by  the  United 
States  of  the  said  city  of  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  to  be  raised  by  a  supe 
rior  force  of  the  Confederate  States, 
from  and  after  this  31st  day  of  January, 
A.  D.  1863."  Further  efforts  for  the 
same  end  were  put  forth ;  the  foreign 
consuls  in  Charleston  took  a  pleasant 
sail  the  same  day  in  one  of  the  rebel 
steamers,  to  see  for  themselves  that  no 
blockade  existed ;  Benjamin,  the  rebel 


CH.  XXVIL] 


PROJECTED  NAVAL  ATTACK. 


293 


secretary  of  state,  gave  notice  of  tlie 
gratifying  condition  of  affairs  to  his 
agents  abroad,  and  it  was  hoped  that 
foreign  nations  would  act  accordingly, 
on  the  faith  of  his  word ;  all  this,  how 
ever,  was  quite  useless.  They  paid  no 
attention  to  Beauregard  or  his  fellow 
rebels  ;  and  when  Dupont  sent  an  em 
phatic  refutation  of  the  above  procla 
mation,  and  set  forth  the  real  state  of 
the  case,  there  was  no  further  talk 
made  of  the  glorious  results  attained 
on  the  morning  of  January  31st. 

In  order  to  test  the  capabilities  of 
the  iron-clads,  recently  arrived,  Capt. 
Dray  ton  was  ordered,  on  the  3d  of 
March,  to  take  the  Passaic,  the  Pataps- 
co,  and  the  Nahant,  and  make  a  con 
centrated  attack  upon  Fort  McAllister 
(see  p.  290).  Three  mortar  boats  were 
also  added  to  the  attacking  force.  The 
latter,  sheltered  by  a  bend  of  the 
stream,  opened  fire,  followed  by  the 
monitors.  The  firing  was  kept  up  dur 
ing  the  day,  and  by  the  mortar  boats 
during  the  night.  The  result  was  so 
far  decisive  as  fully  to  prove  the 
strength  and  good  qualities  of  the 
monitors.  The  sand  fort,  protected 
from  a  concentrated  attack  by  the  chan 
nel  and  obstructions,  though  often 
struck,  resisted,  without  serious  dam 
age,  the  mass  of  metal  thrown  upon  it. 
The  fleet  of  monitors,  after  a  third  trial, 
returned  to  Port  Royal  to  prepare  for 
the  attack  on  Charleston. 

In  view  of  the  projected  naval  attack, 
and  in  order  to  increase  the  strength 
of  the  military  arm  in  the  department 
of  the  South,  Gen.  Foster,  in  command 
of  the  North  Carolina  department,  was 
sent  with  a  large  siege  equipage,  and 


a  considerable  force  to  aid  in  this  im 
portant  undertaking.  He,  however,  for 
some  unexplained  reason,  returned  to 
North  Carolina,  leaving  his  troops  to 
take  part  in  the  work  now  close  at  hand. 
On  the  5th  of  March,  Hunter  issued 
a  general  order,  announcing  the  long, 
expected  forward  movement,  and  prom 
ising  the  due  rewards  of  bravery  and 
good  conduct,  and  his  force,  consisting 
of  about  7,000  men,  was  brought  to 
Stono  Inlet.*  As  their  share  in  attack 
ing  the  rebels  depended  on  the  success 
of  the  naval  operations,  they  were  com 
pelled  to  be  lookers-on,  and,  we  are 
sorry  to  say,  had  no  opportunity  of  re 
sponding  to  the  appeals  in  Hunter's 
address  to  them. 

Beauregard,  in  command  at  Charles 
ton,  and  not  an  inattentive  observer  of 
what  was  going  on,  had  been  actively 
engaged  for  a  long  time  in  employing 
all  his  engineering  skill  to  render  Char 
leston  impregnable  ;  and  as  early  as  the 
18th  of  February,  apprehending  what 
was  to  come,  he  issued  a  proclamation, 
urging  all  non-combatants  to  retire,  and 
appealing  to  "  all  the  able-bodied  men, 
from  the  seaboard  to  the  mountains,  to 
rush  to  arms.  Be  not  too  exacting  (he 
said)  in  the  choice  of  weapons ;  pikes 
and  scythes  will  do  for  exterminating 
your  enemies,  spades  and  shovels  for 


*  In  order  that  the  troops  in  the  department  might 
be  placed  in  active  service,  Hunter,  at  the  same  time, 
ordered  that  the  able-bodied  male  negroes  between  the 
ages  of  eighteen  and  fifty,  within  the  military  lines  of 
the  department,  be  drafted  to  serve  for  garrison  pur- 
poses.  As  a  matter  of  general  interest,  in  this  connec 
tion,  we  may  mention  here,  that  the  negro  troops  sent 
to  Florida,  in  March,  did  excellent  service,  and  sustain 
ed  the  oyinion  of  those  who  held  that  with  proper 
drilling  and  with  fair  opportunity,  they  would  show 
themselves  capable  of  becoming  good  and  reliable 
soldiers. 


294 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIH. 


protecting  your  firesides.  To  arms, 
fellow-citizens !  Come  to  share  with  us 
our  danger,  our  brilliant  success,  our 
glorious  death." 

During  the  month  of  March  the  pre 
liminary   preparations    for   the   attack 
having  been  completed,  the  vessels  of 
the  fleet  and  transports  were  forwarded 
to  the  place  of  rendezvous  on  North 
Edisto  River.     As  it  was  important  for 
crossing  the  bar  with  the  iron-clads,  to 
secure  the  advantage  of  the  high  spring 
tides  at  the  beginning  of  April,  Du- 
pont  watched  carefully  the  opportune 
moment.     On  the  5th  of  April,  after 
several   days   of    high   wind,   the   sea 
being  very  smooth  and  the  tides  favor 
able,  the  fleet  left  its  anchorage,  and 
early  in   the   forenoon  arrived  at  the 
blockading  station  off  Charleston  har 
bor.     Here,   Commander   Boutelle,    of 
the  Coast  Survey,  assisted  in  sounding 
and  marking  out  the  channel, — a  new 
one,   formed   by   the    sinking   of    the 
"  stone  fleet,"  which  was  found   of  a 
greater  depth  of  water  than  the  old. 
These    and    other    matters    occupied 
the     day.      Early    on    the    following 
morning,   the   6th,  the   iron-clad   fleet 
crossed  the  bar  and  was  ranged  oppo 
site  Morris  Island,  at  the  southern  en 
trance  of  the  harbor,  within  a  mile  of 
the  shore ;  but  that  day  was  lost  for 
active  operations  by  a  thick  haze  which , 
prevented    any    observations    of    the 
shore.     At  noon,  on  the  7th  of  April, 
signal  was  given  by  the  Admiral  from 
his  flag  ship,  the  New  Ironsides,  for  the 
vessels   to   weigh   anchor.     According 
to  the  plan  of  attack,  they  were  to  take 
position  in  the  following  order,  at  inter 
vals  of  one  cable's  length,  viz.:  1.  Wee- 


hawken,  Capt.  Jno.  Rodgers;  2.  Pas- 
saic,  Capt.  Drayton ;  3.  Montauk,  Com 
mander  Worden ;  4.  Patapsco,  Com 
mander  Ammen ;  5.  New  Ironsides, 
Commodore  Turner;  6.  Catskill,  Com 
mander  G.  W.  Rodgers ;  7.  Nantucket, 
Commander  Fairfax;  8.  Nahant,  Com 
mander  Downes ;  9.  Keokuk,  Lieut.- 
Commander  A.  C.  Rhind.  The  flas; 

O 

ship,  New  Ironsides,  was  a  formidable 
iron-covered  battery,  mounted  eighteen 
guns ;  sixteen  11-inch  and  two  200- 
pounder  Parrots;  the  rest  were 
of  the  monitor  class,  and  had 
each  two  guns,  mostly  an  11-inch  and 
15-inch  gun  in  a  single  turret,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Keokuk,  which  had 
two  turrets  with  an  11-inch  gun  in 
each.  The  Canandaigua,  and  four 
other  gunboats  of  the  squadron,  consti 
tuted  a  reserve  outside  the  bar,  and 
were  to  support  the  iron-clads,  when 
Fort  Surnter  being  reduced,  they  should 
be  ready  to  attack  the  batteries  on  Mor 
ris  Island. 

The  preparations  made  by  Beaure 
gard  and  his  fellow  laborers  for  the 
defence  of  Charleston  were  of  the  most 
extensive  and  formidable  character. 
Beginning  with  the  northern  or  eastern 
entrance  by  way  of  Maflit's  Channel, 
there  were,  on  Sullivan's  Island,  beside 
Fort  Moultrie,  two  large  and  powerful 
sand  batteries  guarding  the  channel ; 
there  was  Fort  Sumter,  built  on  an  arti 
ficial  island  in  the  middle  of  the  chan 
nel  near  the  entrance  of  the  inner  har 
bor,  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Fort 
Moultrie,  and  strengthened  to  the  very 
highest  degree ;  there  was  Battery  Bee, 
Mount  Pleasant  battery  on  the  main 
land,  and  Castle  Pinckney  built  on  an 


On.  XXVIL]  BOMBARDMENT  IN   CHARLESTON  HARBOR. 


295 


island,  about  a  mile  from  the  city, — 
all  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  harbor. 
On  the  other  side  of  the  harbor  were 
Wappoo  battery,  on  James  Island,  near 
Charleston,  and  Fort  Johnson ;  be 
tween  this  latter  and  Castle  Pinckney 
was  Fort  Ripley,  built  on  an  artificial 
island  in  what  is  called  the  "  middle 
ground."  On  Curnrning's  Point,  Mor 
ris  Islet,  opposite  Fort  Moultrie,  was 
Battery  Gregg,  and  a  mile  south  of 
this  Fort  Wagner,  and  a  fort  at  Light 
House  Island  covering  the  landing  at 
that  place.  Several  hundred  guns  were 
mounted  on  these  numerous  works ; 
and  in  addition,  the  channel  between 
Fort  Sumter  and  Sullivan's  Island  was 
obstructed  by  rows  of  floating  casks, 
supporting  torpedoes  and  other  subma 
rine  obstacles ;  there  were  also,  in  the 
channel  between  Sumter  and  Cum- 
ming's  Point,  no  less  than  four  rows  of 
piles  extending  nearly  up  to  Charleston. 
At  half  past  twelve  o'clock  on  Sat 
urday,  April  7th,  the  fleet  began  to 
move.  The  line  of  battle  was  formed 
in  the  order  assigned  to  each  ship  in 
the  admiral's  programme,  the  Keokuk, 
which  brought  up  the  rear  of 
the  line,  lying  down  nearly  op 
posite  Lighthouse  Inlet,  and  the  Wee- 
hawken  leading  the  van.  The  head  of 
the  line  was  some  four  miles  from  the 
position  designated  for  the  fleet  to  oc 
cupy  before  opening  fire,  and  the  bat 
teries  on  Morris  Island  were  meanwhile 
to  be  passed.  Soon  after  starting,  an 
hour's  delay  occurred,  in  consequence 
of  a  raft  attached  to  the  Weehawken, 
for  exploding  torpedoes  and  clearing 
away  obstacles,  having  got  deranged. 
Slowly  the  leading  vessel,  followed  by 


1§63. 


the  others,  moved  onward,  expecting 
the  batteries  on  Morris  Island  to  de 
liver  their  fire;  but  the  rebels  allowed 
them  to  pass  in  entire  silence.  Ere 
long  the  iron-clads  reached  the  en 
trance  to  the  inner  harbor,  and  about 
three  P.M.  came  within  range  of  Fort 
Suinter  and  the  batteries  on  Sullivan's 
Island.  Directly  the  guns  of  Fort 
Moultrie  opened  on  the  Weehawken, 
and  were  speedily  followed  by  those 
of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  several  tre 
mendous  batteries  on  Sullivan's  and 
Morris  Islands.  The  plan  was,  to  pass 
round  and  assault  Fort  Sumter  on  the 
northwest  face,  as  the  weakest  and 
most  assailable  part  of  the  fort;  but 
Capt.  Rodgers  found,  almost  immedi 
ately,  that  he  could  not  force  the  Wee 
hawken  through  the  obstructions  in 
her  path.  Some  confusion  followed, 
on  Capt.  Rodgers  turning  his  ship  to  get 
a  better  position,  for  the  channel  was 
narrow  and  the  tide  strong.  The  flag 
ship,  too,  wras  caught  by  the  tideway, 
and  became  in  measure  unmanageable ; 
while,  to  add  to  the  annoyance,  -the 
Catskill  and  JSTantucket  fell  foul  the 
Ironsides,  and  it  took  time  and  labor 
to  get  them  clear  and  allow  them  to 
pass  on. 

In  this  state  of  affairs,  Dupont  made 
signal  to  the  fleet  to  disregard  the 
movements  of  the  flag  ship  and  assume 
such  positions  as  were  deemed  most 
available.  This  was  at  once  done,  and 
a  little  before  four  o'clock,  the  eight 
iron-clads  were  ranged  opposite  the 
eastern  and  north-eastern  front  of  Fort 
Sumter,  at  distances  of  from  550  to 
800  yards.  Of  course,  the  rebels  were 
not  idle  or  inactive  in  the  meanwhile  ; 


296 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


on  the  contrary,  they  poured  forth 
from  their  vast  batteries  both  shells 
and  shot  in  immense  profusion,  and 
with  a  rapidity  almost  beyond  concep 
tion.  During  the  climax  of  the  fire,  as  a 
looker-on  declares,  160  shots  were  count 
ed  in  a  single  minute.  Some  of  the 
officers  of  the  iron-clads  affirmed  that 
the  shots  struck  their  vessels  as  fast  as 
the  ticking  of  a  watch.  It  was  esti 
mated  that  3, 500  rounds  were  fired  by 
the  rebels  d urine:  the  brief  engao'ement. 

«^-  o    o 

In  the  midst  of  this  terrible  fire,  en 
veloping,  as  it  were,  the  iron-clads,  they 
nevertheless  devoted  themselves  to 
their  especial  work,  the  assault  on  Fort 
Sumter.  The  gallant  Rhind  pushed 
his  vessel  up  to  within  500  yards  of 
the  fort,  and  became  a  special  target 
for  the  rebels ;  the  captains  of  the  other 
vessels  followed  his  daring  lead;  and 
to  the  extent  of  their  ability  strove  to 
accomplish  the  great  object  in  view. 
But  it  was  impossible  to  endure  long 
the  rebel  hurricane  of  lire.  The  Keo- 
kuk  received  her  death  blow  within 
half  an  hour ;  she  was  struck  ninety 
times,  and  had  nineteen  holes  above 
and  below  the  water  line,  and  got  away 
just  in  time  to  sink  out  of  sight  by 
evening.  Others  of  the  iron-clads  be 
gan  to  show  signs  of  disablement,  and 
it  became  evident  that  the  contest  was 
too  unequal  to  render  it  expedient  to 
continue  it;  Dupont,  therefore,  about 
five  o'clock,  gave  the  signal  to  with 
draw  from  action,  intending  to  resume 
the  attack  next  morning.  On  ascer 
taining,  however,  the  injuries  received 
by  the  several  vessels,  and  estimating 
his  force  as  quite  unable  to  overcome 
the  obstructions  in  the  harbor  and  si 


lence  the  vast  works  on  every  hand, 
the  admiral  expressed  his  conviction 
that  it  was  utterly  impracticable  to 
take  the  city  of  Charleston,  as  matters 
now  stood.  The  entire  fleet  had  been 
able  to  fire  only  139  shots  against  Sum 
ter,  with  comparatively  small  injury  to 
the  fort ;  while  the  rebels  had  hurled 
against  the  iron-clads  thousands  of 
shells,  shots  and  steel-pointed  bolts, 
and  had  inflicted  upon  them  serious 
damage.  Although  the  admiral's  opin 
ion  as  to  the  inefficiency  of  iron-clads 
of  the  monitor  class  was  not  shared  by 
all,*  yet,  at  his  order,  the  several  ves 
sels  were  taken  to  Port  Royal  for  re 
pairs,  except  the  New  Ironsides,  which 
anchored  outside  Charleston  bar.  The 
casualties  were  very  few,  considering 
the  fierceness  of  the  rebel  fire ;  one 
man  died  of  injuries  received,  and 
about  twenty-five  were  wounded,  chiefly 
on  the  Keokuk  and  Nahant. 

Gen.  Hunter  and  his  men  at  Stono 
Inlet  were  waiting  for  an  opportunity 
of  joining  in  the  attack ;  but  the  ill 
success  of  the  fleet  prevented  their 
doing  so.  Hunter  wrote  a  letter  to 
Dupont,  lauding  very  highly  the  gal 
lantry  of  the  fleet.  "  A  mere  spectator 
(he  said)  I  could  do  nothing  but  pray 
for  you,  which,  believe  me,  I  did  most 
heartily,  for  you  and  all  the  gallant 
men  under  your  command,  who  sailed 
so  calmly  and  fearlessly  into  and  under 
and  through  a  concentric  fire  which 

O 

has  never  heretofore  had  a  parallel  in 
the  history  of  warfare.  .  .  .  Thank 

*  For  an  interesting  sketch  of  the  opinions  and 
views  of  officers  in  the  navy  respecting  the  value  and 
efficiency  of  iron-clad  vessels  of  the  Monitor  class,  see 
Appleton's  "  Annual  Cyclopaedia "  for  1863,  pp.  664- 
667. 


CH.  XXVII.] 


GENERAL  BANKS  AT  NEW   ORLEANS. 


297 


God  for  the  results  as  far  as  they  go. 
May  He  have  you  in  His  keeping 
through  whatever  chances  are  before 
you.  No  country  can  ever  fail  that  has 
men  capable  of  suffering  what  your 
iron-clads  had  yesterday  to  endure." 

Hardly  anything  of  importance  oc 
curred  in  the  department  of  the  South 
for  some  time  after  this.  We  may, 
however,  note  here  the  destructive 
raids,  in  the  beginning  of  June,  led  by 
Col.  Montgomery,  with  several  com 
panies  of  negro  soldiers,  assisted  by 
gun  boats  at  landings  on  the  Combabee 
River,  where  many  valuable  planta 
tions  were  destroyed,  and  on  the  coast 
of  Georgia,  where  great  damage  was 
inflicted  on  Brunswick  and  Darien  in 
an  ascent  of  the  Altamaha  River.  As 
to  further  operations  against  Charles 
ton,  it  was  considered  necessary  for  suc 
cess  that  military  occupation  should  be 
had  of  Morris  Island,  and  that  land  bat 
teries  should  be  erected  on  that  island 
to  assist  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sum- 
ter.  This  being  a  work  requiring  espe 
cially  engineering  skill  and  ability,  the 
authorities  at  Washington  thought  best 
to  relieve  Hunter  of  his  command,  and, 
early  in  June,  to  send  in  his  place  Gen. 
Q.  A.  Gillniore. 

In  a  former  chapter  (see  p.  190),  we 
gave  an  account  of  important  opera 
tions  in  the  department  of  the  Gulf, 
and  on  i  he  Mississippi  River.  We  ask 
the  reader  again  to  take  up  the  thread 
of  the  narrative,  and  note  the  operations 
which,  in  the  summer  of  1863,  resulted 
so  gloriously  for  the  Union  cause  as  to 
break  down  the  rebel  power  on  the 
Mississippi,  cut  off  the  u  Confederacy  " 
entirely  from  all  aid  west  of  the  great 

VOL.  IV.— 38. 


river,  and  restore  both  Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson  to  their  rightful  owners. 

Gen.  Butler  had  been  relieved  of  his 
command  at  New  Orleans,  in  Decem 
ber,  1862.  No  special  reason  was  ever 
assigned  for  this  act  on  the  part  of  the 
government ;  but  it  was  generally  sup 
posed  that,  as  he  had  gone  through 
with  some  very  severe  and  very  odious 
labor,  and  was  besides  obnoxious  to  a 
large  number  of  citizens,  to  foreign 
consuls  and  such  like,  the  authorities 
at  the  capital  deemed  it  better  to  place 
some  one  else  in  charge  of  the  depart 
ment,  who  might  begin,  as  it  were, 
anew,  and  manage  matters  more  quiet 
ly  and  satisfactorily  all  round.  Gen. 
N.  P.  Banks  was  the  man  selected,  and 
the  choice  was  considered  to  be  a  good 
one  in  every  point  of  view. 

This  able  officer  was  eno-a^ed,  in  the 

o    o        / 

autumn  of  1862,  in  fitting  out  an  ex 
pedition  in  the  North,  the  destination 
of  which  was  kept  as  secret  as  possible, 
but  was  supposed  to  be  intended  for 
the  South,  and  especially  for  the  bene 
fit  of  Texas.  Having  made  all  his  ar 
rangements,  Gen.  Banks  sailed  from 
New  York  at  the  beginning  of  Decem 
ber,  1862,*  with  some  fifty  vessels  and 
about  10,000  men,  and  on  the  16th  of 
the  same  month,  at  New  Orleans,  for 
mally  assumed  command  of  the  depart 
ment  of  the  gulf.  His  opening  procla 
mation  was  judicious,  conciliatory,  and 
to  the  point.  u  The  duty  with  which 


*  In  company  with  Gen.  Banks  there  sailed  also  a 
number  of  law  officers,  constituting  the  provisional 
court  of  Louisiana.  For  an  interesting  article,  giving 
the  history  of  this  court,  its  appointment,  the  numer 
ous  and  instructive  cases  which  came  before  it,  its  de 
cisions,  etc.,  see  Appleton's  "  Annual  Cyclopaedia  "  for 
1863,  pp.  770—776. 


298 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


I  am  charged,"  lie  said,  "requires  me 
to  assist  in  the  restoration  of  the  gov 
ernment  of  the  United  States.  It  is 
my  desire  to  secure  to  the  people  of 
every  class  all  the  privileges  of  posses 
sion  and  enjoyment  which  are  consist 
ent  with  public  safety,  or  which  it  is 
possible  for  a  beneficent  and  just  gov 
ernment  to  confer.  .  .  .  The  Val 
ley  of  the  Mississippi  is  the  chosen  seat 
of  population,  product  and  power  on 
this  continent.  In  a  few  years  twent}T- 
five  millions  of  people,  unsurpassed  in 
material  resources  and  capacity  for  war, 
will  swarm  upon  its  fertile  rivers. 
Those  who  assume  to  set  conditions 
upon  their  exodus  to  the  Gulf,  count 
upon  a  power  not  given  to  man.  The 
country  washed  by  the  waters  of  the 
Ohio,  the  Missouri  and  the  Mississippi, 
can  never  be  permanently  severed.  .  .  . 
This  country  cannot  be  permanently  di 
vided.  Ceaseless  wars  may  drain  its 
blood  and  treasure,  domestic  tyrants  or 
foreign  foes  may  grasp  the  sceptre  of 
its  power,  but  its  destiny  will  remain 
unchanged.  It  will  still  be  united. 
God  has  ordained  it." 

A  week  later,  Banks  addressed  the 
people  of  Louisiana,  setting  forth  the 
conditions  of  the  Emancipation  Procla 
mation  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  special  refer 
ence  to  that  state,  in  which  he  not  only 
enjoined  patience  and  forbearance  on 
the  difficult  and  unsettled  relations  of 
master  and  slave,  but  also  declared,  in 
plain  terms,  that  the  rebellion  must 
necessarily  result  in  the  destruction  of 
slavery.  "  The  first  gun  at  Sumter," 
he  remarked,  "  proclaimed  emancipa 
tion.  The  continuance  of  the  contest, 
there  commenced,  will  consummate  that 


end,  and  the  history  of  the  age  will 
leave  no  other  permanent  trace  of  the 
rebellion.  Its  leaders  will  have  accom 
plished  what  other  men  could  not  have 
done."  * 

"When  President  Lincoln's  Emancipa 
tion  Proclamation  was  confirmed  and 
set  forth  as  complete,  on  the  1st  of  Jan 
uary,  1863,  (p.  272),  portions  of  Louisi 
ana,  it  will  be  recollected,  were  espe 
cially  exempted  from  its  provisions. 
This  left  the  condition  of  the  negroes 
subject  to  the  laws  of  Congress  which 
had  been  passed,  and  the  exigencies  of 
military  rule  in  the  department.  The 
latter  of  course  forbade  vagrancy  and 
crime,  as  sources  of  disorder  in  the 
community.  It  was  necessary  in  some 
way  to  adjust  the  relations  of  capital 
and  negro  labor.  This  was  done  by 
authorizing  the  Sequestration  Commis 
sion  sitting  in  the  state,  to  establish 
with  the  planters  a  proper  system  of 
remuneration,  for  which  the  negroes 
should  be  required  to  render  faithful 
service.  "This,"  said  Gen.  Banks, 
"  may  not  be  the  best,  but  it  is  now 
the  only  practical  system.  Wise  men 
will  do  what  they  can  when  they  can 
not  do  what  they  would.  It  is  the 
law  of  success.  In  three  years  from 
the  restoration  of  peace  under  this  vol 
untary  system  of  labor,  the  state  of 

*  We  are  sorry  to  state  liere,  for  the  credit  of  New 
Orleans,  that  the  riotously  disposed  people  of  the  city, 
elated  at  having  got  rid  of  Butler,  were  ready  to  abuse 
the  leniency  of  his  successor.  Anonymous  letters 
filled  with  threats,  cheering  of  Jeff.  Davis  in  the  streets, 
insulting  language  towards  the  military  authorities, 
and  such  like,  brought  forth  from  Gen.  Banks  a  prompt 
and  severe  rebuke.  He  also  gave  all  concerned  clearly 
to  understand,  that  he  would  punish  violations  of  order 
and  propriety  "  with  the  sharpest  severity  known  to 
the  military  laws." 


CH.  XXVII.] 


FARRAGUT  RUNS  THE  BATTERIES. 


299 


Louisiana  will  produce  threefold  the 
produce  of  its  most  prosperous  year  in 
the  past." 

Banks,  at  an  early  day,  attempted 
to  send  reinforcements  to  Galveston? 
Texas ;  but  it  was  too  late.  Magruder 
had  captured  the  troops  there  at  the 
beginning  of  January  (p.  278). 

The  next  attempt,  of  a  military  kind, 
in  the  department,  was  in  the  region 
of  the  Bayou  Teche,  west  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  where  the  rebels  were  commit 
ting  depredations,  aided  by  a  gun  boat 
named  the  Cotton.  On  the  llth  of 
January.  Gen.  "Weitzel  crossed  to  Bra- 
shear  City,  and  embarked  his  men  for 
the  ascent  of  the  Atchafalaya,  the  cav 
alry  and  artillery  proceeding  by  land. 
The  Cotton  took  refuge  in  the  Bayou 
Teche,  where  she  was  not  long  after 
attacked  by  a  gun  boat,  supported  by 
the  troops  under  Weitzel.  Matters 
soon  began  to  look  so  badly  for  the 
rebels  that  they  set  the  Cotton  on  fire 
to  prevent  her  capture.  Having  ac 
complished  this  result,  the  gun  boats 
were  withdrawn,  and  the  troops  return 
ed  to  their  encampment  at  Thibodeaux. 

In  the  early  part  of  March,  Banks 
concentrated  his  force  at  Baton  Rouge, 
in  number  about  25,000  men. 
Twenty  miles  above,  the  rebels 
were  strongly  entrenched  at  Port  Hud 
son,  the  most  important  position  held 
by  them  on  the  Mississippi  below 
Vicksburg.  Situated  on  an  elevated,  al 
most  perpendicular  cliff,  at  a  contracted 
bend  of  the  stream,  where  the  narrowed 
current  ran  with  great  violence,  its  for 
midable  line  of  batteries  threatened  de 
struction  to  any  hostile  fleet,  while  on 
the  land  side  the  approach,  easily  capa- 


1863. 


ble  of  defence,  was  beset  by  swamps 
and  other  apparently  invincible  ob 
stacles. 

The  first  movement  of  importance  in 
this  quarter  was  made  by  the  navy,  in 
aid  of  the  operations  of  Grant  and  For 
ter  against  Vicksburg.  At  the  begin- 

O  O  o 

ning  of  February,  it  wi#  be  remember 
ed  (p.  250)  that  Commander  Ellet  led 
the  way  in  the  Queen  of  the  West  in 
the  passage  of  the  batteries  at  that 
place,  the  design  being  to  interrupt  the 
enemy's  supplies  from  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  After  inflicting  much 
damage  in  this  way,  the  vessel  was 
lost  by  the  treachery  of  a  pilot,  while 
ascending  Red  River.  On  receiving 
the  news  of  this  misfortune,  Admiral 
Farragut  determined  to  run  past  the 
rebel  batteries  at  Port  Hudson,  and  as 
sist  the  operations  of  Porter  on  the 
river  from  above.  The  land  forces  of 
Banks  wrere  at  the  same  time  to  threat 
en  Port  Hudson  on  the  rear,  and  as  far 
as  possible  divert  their  attention  from 
Farragut's  movements. 

This  daring  attempt  on  the  part  of 
Farragut,  was  made  in  the  night  of 
Saturday,  March  14th.  At  nine  and  a 
half  o'clock,  P.M.,  he  led  the  way  at  the 
head  of  his  fleet  on  the  flag-ship  Hart 
ford,  accompanied  by  the  gun  boat  Al 
batross,  made  fast  to  her  port  side. 
The  other  gun  boats  followed,  and  six 
mortar  vessels  were  brought  up  to  shell 
the  works.  As  soon  as  the  Hartford  came 
within  range  of  the  rebel  batteries,  a 
sharp  fire  was  opened  upon  her,  which 
was  returned  with  shot  and  shell.  In 
the  midst  of  this  fire  she  succeeded  in 
passing  the  batteries  with  the  Alba 
tross.  The  Richmond,  Genessee  and 


300 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


Monongahela  which  followed,  were 
not  so  fortunate,  receiving  injuries 
which  prevented  their  passing  the  bat 
teries. 

The.  Mississippi,  the  last  in  the  line, 
now  advanced,  and  was  pushing  for 
ward  successfully,  when  she  grounded 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  exposed 
to  the  enemy's  batteries  astern,  on  the 
bow,  and  opposite  to  her.  Finding  it  im 
possible,  after  intense  effort,  to  get  her 
off,  it  was  resolved  to  abandon  her.  The 
engines  were  ordered  to  be  destroyed, 
the  guns  spiked,  and  the  ship  set  on 
fire.  The  officers  and  crew  were  hur 
ried  on  shore,  and  were  nearly  all  saved. 
The  fire  raged  on  the  ship  for  an  hour, 
when  the  water,  flowing  aft,  settled  her 
stern,  and  she  gradually  slid  off  into 
the  current,  her  guns  discharging,  and 
shells  on  deck  exploding  in  every  direc 
tion,  until  she  was  blown  in  pieces. 
This  was  about  half  past  five  P.M. 
The  officers  and  crew  lost  everything 
except  what  they  stood  in.  They 
saved  nothing,  and  they  left  nothing  in 
the  hands  of  the  rebels. 

Banks,  meanwhile,  had  led  his  troops 
from  Baton  Rouge  in  three  divisions, 
under  command  of  Gens.  Augur,  Gro- 
ver  and  Emory,  to  Springfield  Cross 
Roads,  about  five  miles  from  Port  Hud 
son.  There  was  some  skirmishing  with 
the  rebel  pickets,  but  no  important  ad 
vance  beyond.  On  the  night 
of  the  14th  of  March,  the  can 
nonading  of  the  fleet  was  distinctly 
heard  by  the  soldiers,  who  also  saw  the 
light  of  the  burning  Mississippi.  The 
next  day  the  troops,  according  to  or 
ders,  returned  to  Baton  Rouge. 

*  In  Halleck's  opinion,  expressed  at  a  subsequent 


186JI. 


The  passage  of  the  batteries  by  Far- 
ragut  enabled  him,  as  we  shall  see  fur 
ther  on,  to  render  material  assistance  to 
Porter  and  the  army  of  Grant  in  the 
passage  of  the  Vicksburg  batteries,  and 
especially  in  the  blockade  of  the  Red 
River.  When  this  was  accomplished, 
he  left  his  flag-ship,  the  Hartford,  above, 
and  returned  by  the  Atchafalaya  to 
take  part  in  the  final  operations  for  the 
reduction  of  Port  Hudson. 

Banks's  attention  was  now  turned  to 
that  part  of  Louisiana  west  of  New 
Orleans,  and  bordering  on  the  Teche 
River.  Since  the  expedition  of  Weitzel 
in  January  (see  p.  299),  the  rebels  in 
that  quarter  had  erected  new  fortifica 
tions  and  concentrated  their  forces,  aid 
ed  by  a  fleet  of  gun  boats,  at  several 
stations  on  the  Teche  River,  with  the 
intention,  it  was  supposed,  of  threaten 
ing  New  Orleans.  Banks,  suspending 
operations  for  the  time  against  Port 
Hudson,  advanced  with  his  forces  to 
Berwick,  where  he  arrived  on  the  llth 
of  April,  and  commenced  a  series  of  ac 
tive  movements,  which  speedily  swept 
the  enemy  from  their  strongholds 
throughout  this  central  region  from  the 

O  O 

Gulf  to  the  Red  River. 

At  the  outset  of  the  march,  on  the 
12th  and  13th  of  April,  there  was  a 
prolonged  engagement  of  Emory's  and 
Weitzel's  divisions  with  the 
enemy,  at  an  entrenched  posi 
tion  in  the  vicinity  of  Patterson ville,  at 


date,  "  Had  our  laud  forces  invested  Port  Hudson  at 
this  time,  it  could  have  been  easily  reduced,  as  its 
garrison  was  weak.  This  would  have  opened  commu 
nication  by  the  Mississippi  with  Gen.  Grant  at  Vicks 
burg.  But  the  strength  of  the  place  was  not  then 
known,  and  Gen.  Banks  resumed  his  operations  by 
the  Teche  and  Atchafalaya." 


CH.  XXVII.] 


OPERATIONS  IN  THE  TECHE  REGION. 


301 


tlie  mouth  of  the  Teche.  After  a  series 
of  sharp  encounters,  the  rebels,  having 
suffered  a  heavy  loss,  on  the  night  of 
the  13th  abandoned  their  positions. 

Meanwhile,  Grover  had,  with  the 
force  under  his  command,  and  a  num 
ber  of  transports  and  gun  boats,  as 
cended  Grand  Lake  from  Brashear  City, 
and  effected  a  landing  in  the  enemy's 
rear  at  Irish  Bend.  Having  crossed 
the  Teche  at  that  place,  our  troops 
marched  towards  Franklin,  and,  on  the 
14th  of  April,  routed  the  rebels  after 
their  retreat  from  the  batteries  below. 
These  fled  in  confusion,  burning,  in 
their  retreat,  two  gun  boats  and  a  num 
ber  of  steamers  on  the  Teche.  Banks 
advanced  with  his  forces  to  New  Iberia, 
and  took  possession  of  and  destroyed 
in  the  vicinity  the  extensive  salt  works, 
which  had  been  a  constant  source  of 
supply  to  the  rebels. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  our  fleet  en 
countered  the  rebel  ram  Queen  of  the 
West,  which,  after  her  capture  on  the 
Eed  River,  had  been  brought  into  the 

'  O 

Atchafalaya  River,  and  had  now  de 
scended  to  Grand  Lake  to  attack  the 
advancing  Union  forces.  As  she  was 
moving  onward  to  the  assault,  a  shell 
from  one  of  the  gun  boats  exploded  a 
box  of  ammunition  on  her  deck,  when 
she  was  immediately  enveloped  in 
flames.  Strenuous  efforts  were  made 
by  the  fleet  to  save  the  lives  of  her 
crew,  and  ninety-five  were  taken  from 
the  vessel  and  the  water.  About  forty, 
it  was  supposed,  perished.  The  vessel 
was  burnt  to  the  water's  edge,  but  her 
guns  were  saved. 

Banks  lost  no  time  in  pushing  vigor 
ously  forward.  On  the  evening  of  the 


17th  of  April,  Grover  met  the  rebels  at 
Bayou  Vermilion.  They  were  strongly 
entrenched,  with  a  battery  of  six  pieces 
of  artillery.  After  destroying  the  bridge 
over  the  bayou,  the  enemy  made  a  hasty 
retreat.  Some  delay  occurred  in  rebuild 
ing  the  bridge;  but  on  the  19th,  the 
march  was  resumed,  and  continued  to 
the  vicinity  of  Grand  Coteau,  and  on 
the  following  day  Opelousas  was  occu 
pied  by  our  troops.  A  cavalry  advance 
was  made  to  Washington,  on  the  Cour- 
tebleau,  a  distance  of  six  miles.  Gen. 
Dwight  was  ordered  to  push  forward 
through  Washington  towards  Alexan 
dria.  This  was  done,  with  excellent 
success,  notwithstanding  the  rebels  had 
destroyed  several  important  bridges 
over  the  bayous  in  their  retreat.  Butte- 
a-la-Rose  was  taken,  on  the  20th  of 
April,  by  Lieut.  Cooke  of  the  navy,  with 
his  gun  boat  and  four  companies  of  in 
fantry,  and  thus  was  secured  what 
Banks  called  the  key  of  the  Atchafalaya. 
';  We  hold,"  he  said,  "  the  key  of  the  posi 
tion.  Among  the  evidences  of  our  vic 
tory  are  2,000  prisoners,  two  transports, 
and  twenty  guns  (including  one  piece 
of  the  Valvado  battery),  taken;  and 
three  gun  boats  and  eight  transports 
destroyed.  The  Union  loss  in  these  en 
gagements  was  very  slight."* 


*  While  at  Opelousas,  Gen.  Banks  issued  an  order, 
dated  May  1st,  1863,  in  which  he  proposed  to  organize 
a  corps  d'armee  consisting  of  negroes,  to  be  designated 
as  the  "  Corps  d'Afrique."  The  plan  was,  to  have 
eighteen  regiments  of  500  in  each  (9,000  in  all),  repre 
senting  all  arms,  infantry,  artillery,  and  cavalry,  with 
appropriate  uniforms,  etc.  There  was  more  or  less 
diversity  of  opinion  as  to  enlisting  negroes  and  making 
them  part  of  the  army.  The  experience,  however,  of 
the  next  year,  and  Gen.  Thomas's  investigations  aud 
labors  in  connection  with  negro  enlistments,  proved 
favorable  to  the  plan  of  using  them  as  helpers  in  put 
ting  down  the  rebellion. 


302 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


Following  up  these  advantages, 
Banks,  on  the  8th  of  May,  had  ad 
vanced  to  and  occupied  Alexandria  .on 
the  Red  River,  immediately  after  its 
capture  by  "the  naval  force  of  Porter  in 
one  of  his  excursions  from  before  Vicks- 
burg.  The  co-operation  of  the  two  ar 
mies  below  and  above  Port  Hudson 
was  thus  secured  by  an  interior  line  of 
communication,  while,  what  was  of  the 
utmost  consequence,  the  rebel  supplies 
from  the  west  of  the  Mississippi  were 
effectually  cut  off.  In  view  of  these 
various  operations,  under  such  men  as 
Farragut,  Porter,  Grant,  and  Banks, 
the  fall  of  the  rebel  stronghold  at  Vicks- 
burg  and  Port  Hudson  was  looked  for 
confidently  at  an  early  day. 

Immediately  after  his  occupation  of 
Alexandria,  Banks  moved  down  the 
Red  River,  making  Semmesport  on  the 
Atchafalaya  his  rendezvous,  where, 
crossing  the  Mississippi,  he  landed  with 
a  portion  of  his  army,  on  the  21st  May, 
at  Bayou  Sara,  a  few  miles  above  Port 
Hudson.  On  the  23d,  a  junction  was 
effected  with  the  advance  of.  Gens. 
Augur  and  T.  W.  Sherman,  who  had 
brought  up  their  forces  from  Baton 
Rouge.  The  Union  line  now  occupied 
the  Bayou  Sara  road  at  a  distance  of 
five  miles  from  Port  Hudson.  Augur 
had  an  engagement  with  a  portion  of 
the  enemy  at  Port  Hudson  Plains,  on 
the  Bayou  Sara  road,  in  the  direction 
of  Baton  Rouge,  which  resulted  in  re 
pulsing  the  rebels  with  heavy  loss.* 
On  the  25th  of  May,  the  enemy  was 

*  Brigadier-General  Thos.  W.  Sherman  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  right  leg  with  a  solid  shot,  while  lead 
ing  the  attack.  He  was  removed  to  New  Orleans, 
amputation  was  performed,  and  Gen.  Sherman  was 


compelled  to  abandon  his  first  line  of 
works.  Two  days  later,  a  general  as 
sault  was  made,  which  was  kept  up 
during  the  day.  The  rebels  were  driven 
into  their  works,  and  our  troops  moved 
up  to  the  fortifications,  holding  the  op 
posite  sides  of  the  parapet,  with  the 
enemy  on  the  right.  "  Our  limited  ac 
quaintance  with  the  ground,"  according 
to  Banks's  statement,  "  and  the  charac 
ter  of  the  works,  which  were  almost 
hidden  from  our  observation  until  the 
moment  of  approach,  alone  prevented 
the  capture  of  the  post."5* 

The  great  strength  of  the  rebel  posi 
tion  at  Port  Hudson  rendered  a  regular 
investment  necessary.  The  garrison 
was  completely  cut  off  from  supplies, 
and  would  be  ultimately  starved  out,  if 
not  compelled  to  surrender  by  assault. 
Banks,  on  the  14th  of  June,  made  a 
proposal  to  the  rebel  commander  to 
submit  to  necessity  and  spare  useless 
slaughter;  but  he  refused.  Several  un 
successful  assaults  were  made  by  our 
troops,  which  did  not,  however,  prevent 
the  pushing  forward  the  siege.  A 
storming  party  was  called  for  and  rap 
idly  filled  up ;  but,  happily,  their  ser 
vices  were  not  required.  The  rebel 
general  Gardner,  having  learned  that 
Vicksburg  had  fallen,  on  the  4th  of 
July,  felt  that  he  too  could  and  ought 
to  follow  such  an  example.  Accord 
ingly,  on  the  8th  of  July,  Port  Hudson 
was  unconditionally  surrendered  into 
the  hands  of  Gen.  Banks.  The  next 
day  formal  possession  was  taken  of  the 


*  Gen.  Banks  took  occasion  to  praise,  in  high  terms, 
the  conduct  of  the  negro  troops  urdcr  his  command. 
"  They  require  only  good  officers,  commands  of  limited 
numbers,  and  careful  discipline,  to  make  them  e  seel 


relieved  by  the  war  department  from  active  service.       |  lent  soldiers." 


CH.  XXYIII.] 


ATTACK  ON  ARKANSAS  POST. 


303 


works.  The  surrender  included  6,233 
prisoners,  51  pieces  of  artillery,  2  steam 
ers,  4,400  pounds  of  cannon  powder, 
5,000  small  arms,  and  150,000  rounds 
of  ammunition. 

It  was  a  severe  and  heavy  blow  to 
the  rebel  cause,  and,  added  to  the  dis 
aster  at  Yicksburg,  caused  great  dis 


content  and  much  murmuring  through 
out  the  "  Confederacy."  On  the  other 
hand,  the  heart  of  the  nation  rejoiced, 
and  loyal  men  everywhere  resolved  to 
make  every  effort  for  the  speedy  put 
ting  an  end  to  the  rebellion,  and  for  re 
storing  to  our  afflicted  country  the 
blessings  of  peace,  unity,  and  concord. 


CHAPTEE    XXVIII. 
1863. 

OPERATIONS  IN  MISSISSIPPI :  GRANT  AND   PORTER :  SIEGE  AND  FALL  OP  VICKSBURGK 

A.ttack  on  Arkansas  Post  —  Fort  Hindmau  taken — 'Complete  success  —  Grant's  movements  —  Plan  as  to  Vicks 
burg —  Canal  project  a  failure  —  Porter  sends  the  Queen  of  the  West  to  run  the  batteries  —  Success —  Col. 
Ellet  on  the  Red  River  —  Projects  of  approach  to  Vicksburg,  by  Tensas  River,  Moon  Lake,  etc.  —  Unsuccess 
ful  —  Porter's  effort  by  Steele's  and  Black's  bayou  —  Another  gun  boat  gets  past  Vicksburg  —  Grant  puts  his 
forces  in  motion  towards  New  Carthage  —  Porter  resolves  to  take  eight  gun  boats  and  three  transports  past 
the  batteries  —  Success  of  the  daring  undertaking  —  Other  transports  follow  —  Attack  on  Grand  Gulf — 
Grant  marches  on  Port  Gibson  —  Victory  —  Col.  Grierson's  great  cavalry  raid — Grant's  determination  to 
secure  his  rear  —  Advance  of  our  troops  —  Defeat  of  the  rebels  at  Raymond  and  Jackson  —  Pemberton's 
efforts  —  Grant's  plan  of  action  —  Battle  of  Champion's  Hill,  or  Baker's  Creek  —  Pemberton  at  the  Big  Black 
—  Rebel  rout  complete  —  The  army  crosses  the  river  and  invests  Vicksburg  —  Co-operation  of  the  fleet  under 
Porter  —  Lieut.  Walker  at  Yazoo  city  —  Assault  on  the  works  at  Vicksburg  — Another,  three  days  later  — 
Failure  of  both  —  Regular  siege  operations  begun  —  Grant  reinforced  largely  —  Mortar  batteries  —  Condi 
tion  of  Vicksburg  —  Explosion  cf  the  first  mine  —  Assault  —  Second  mine  sprung  —  Pemberton  proposes  to 
surrender  on  July  3d  —  Vicksburg  given  up  and  entered  by  Grant  on  the  4th  of  July  —  Grant  reports  the 
result  —  Porter's  share  —  Sherman's  march  after  Johnston  —  Greatness  of  our  success. 


IT  had  been  arranged  between  Gen. 
"W.  T.  Sherman  and  Admiral  Porter, 
just  before  Gen.  McClernand's  arrival 
to  take  command  (see  p.  250)  of  the 
Army  of  the  Mississippi,  that  an  attack 
should  be  made  upon  Arkansas  Post. 
It  was  desirable  to  do  this  for  several 
reasons ;  the  blow  would  fall  entirely 
unexpected  by  the  rebels;  a  victory 
would  be  of  great  service  to  rouse  the 
spirit  of  the  army  after  the  failure  of 
operations  heretofore  against  Vicks- 


1863. 


burg ;  and  the  works  there,  called  Fort 
Hindman,  were  sufficiently 
strong  to  encourage  the  rebels 
in  various  annoyances,  which  ought  not 
to  be  permitted  to  exist.  Me  demand 
approved  of  the  plan,  and  steps  were 
taken  at  once  to  move  the  troops  up 
the  Mississippi  to  Montgomery  Point, 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  White  Eiver. 
On  Friday,  January  9th,  three  iron 
clads  under  Porter's  personal  direction, 
with  all  the  light  draft  gun  boats  of  ihe 


304 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  vm. 


fleet,  moved  up  the  White  River,  about 
fifteen  miles,  when,  turning  to  the  left, 
they  passed  through  a  cut-off,  eight 
miles  long,  into  the  Arkansas  River. 
Toward  the  close  of  the  afternoon,  pre 
parations  were  made  to  land  about 
three  miles  below  Arkansas  Post,  which 
is  about  fifty  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
the  river.  This  was  accomplished  dur 
ing  the  evening  and  part  of  the  next  day, 
and  the  troops  advanced  by  divisions, 
so  as  to  invest  the  fort  and  be  ready  to 
join  the  attack  on  the  morning  of  the 
llth  January.  Fort  Hindman,  against 
which  they  were  marching,  was  a  rather 
formidable  work,  being  a  regular  square 
bastioned  fort,  the  sides  300  feet  in 
length,  with  casemates,  and  surrounded 
by  a  wide  and  deep  ditch ;  it  mounted 
twelve  guns,  including  three  Colum- 
biads  and  four  Parrotts,  with  outer  de 
fences  ;  and  there  were  in  it  about  5,000 
men.  Situated  at  a  sharp  bend  of  the 
river,  it  effectually  controlled  the  pass 
age  of  the  Arkansas,  protected  Little 
Rock,  the  capital  of  the  state,  about  100 
miles  above,  and"  sheltered  the  Post, 
w^here  it  was  built,  and  the  surrounding 
fertile  country. 

On   the   afternoon   and   during-   the 

O 

evening  of  January  10th,  the  gun  boats 
opened  fire  upon  the  fort,  at  the  dis 
tance  of  about  400  yards,  and  kept  it 
up  for  some  -time.  About  noon,  the 
next  day,  a  joint  attack  was  begun  by 
the  naval  and  land  forces,  and  was 
pressed  so  vigorously  that,  in  the  course 
of  three  hours,  the  rebels .  gave  up  the 
contest  as  hopeless ;  the  white  flag  was 
hoisted,  and  our  troops  rushed  into 
the  works.  The  victory  was  complete ; 
over  5,000  prisoners,  twenty  p  ?ces  of 


cannon,  8,000  stand  of  arms,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition  and  stores  were 
taken ;  and  the  rebels  were  cut  off 
from  further  use  of  a  position  where 
they  could  do  mischief.  The  loss  on 
the  part  of  McClernand  was  about  600, 
of  whom  120  were  killed.  Porter's  loss 
was  slight,  and  the  iron-clads  and  other 
vessels,  thougli  frequently  struck,  re 
ceived  no  serious  injury. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  an  expedi 
tion  in  light  draft  steamers,  under 
Gen.  Gorman  and  Lieut.  Walker,  ascend 
ed  the  White  River  to  Duvall's  Bluff, 
about  fifty  miles  from  Little  Rock,  and 
found  the  enemy's  posts  deserted.  In 
consequence  of  the  country  being  flood 
ed  by  heavy  rains  the  roads  were  unfit 
for  cavalry  and  artillery  movements,  and 
hence  an  overland  advance  upon  Little 
Rock  was  compelled  to  be  given  up. 
The  expedition  returned  to  Napoleon 
on  the  19th  of  January. 

Having  effectually  destroyed  the 
rebel  works  and  their  surroundings, 
McClernand  with  his  forces  reached 
Napoleon  on  the  18th  of  January,  and 
prepared  to  take  his  share  in  the  attack 
upon  Vicksburg.  The  next  day,  the 
transports  moved  down  the  river,  and 
being  detained  by  a  severe  storm,  did 
not  reach  their  destination,  Young's 
Point,  until  the  21st  of  January.  This 
Point  is  on  the  western  side  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  about  nine  miles  above  Vicks 
burg,  and  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of 
the  Yazoo  River.  The  gun  boats  also 
dropped  down  to  their  stations,  and  by 
the  end  of  the  month,  Grant  had  gath 
ered  his  forces  from  Cairo  and  up  the 
river,  and  with  an  increase  of  the  iron 
clads  under  Porter,  was  prepared  tc 


CH.  XXVIIL] 


RUNNING  THE  VICKSBURG  BATTERIES. 


305 


put  into  execution  the  plan  which,  on 
consultation,  had  been  adopted  as  the 
only  feasible  one>  all  things  considered. 
The  great  strength  of  the  defences  of 
Vicksburg  on  the  north,  and  the  inutil- 
ity  of  attempting  an  attack  again  in 
that  direction,  led  Grant  to  the  convic 
tion  that  his  approaches  must  be  made 
from  the  southerly  side.  For  this  pur 
pose,  he  must  get  his  army  below  the 
city  of  Vicksburg,  a  task  by  no  means 
easy  of  accomplishment,  since  the  vast 
rebel  batteries  would  almost  certainly 
destroy  all  the  transports  which  might 
undertake  to  sail  past  them.  In  this, 
position  of  affairs,  work  was  recom 
menced  upon  the  canal  across  the  pen 
insula  on  the  western  side  of  the  river ; 
but,  as  before,  the  project  proved  a 
failure,  and  early  in  March,  a  rapid  rise 
in  the  river  swept  away  the  dam  and 
flooded  the  entire  vicinity.  Meanwhile, 
it  was  an  object  of  the  first  importance 
to  cut  off  the  rebel  communication  on 
the  river  between  Vicksburg  and  Port 
Hudson,  which  Banks,  with  the 
fleet  of  Farragut  was  besieging, 
and  to  put  a  stop  to  the  receipt  of  sup 
plies  which  the  rebels  were  drawing  from 
Texas.  Porter,  therefore,  resolved  to 
run  the  risk  of  sending  some  of  the 
gun  boats  down  the  river,  which,  if  they 
succeeded  in  getting  past  the  batteries, 
would  be  of  especial  value  below. 
The  first  of  the  vessels  which  set 
out  upon  this  daring  undertaking 
was  the  wooden  steam  ram,  Queen  of 
the  West  (see  p.  299).  Col.  Ellet,  com 
mander  of  the  ram  fleet,  was  on  board 
the  Queen,  and  gave  a  graphic  account 
of  his  movement,  in  his  report  to  Ad 
miral  Porter.  Very  early  on  the  2d  of 

VOL.  IV.— 39.  ' 


1863. 


February,  the  Queen  started  on  her 
perilous  journey,  and  was  struck  only 
a  few  times,  although  hundreds  of 
guns  sent  forth  their  iron  rain  for  her 
destruction.  Her  cotton  barricade  got 
on  fire,  but  the  fire  was  finally  put  out 
by  cutting  the  bales  loose.  Proceeding 
down  the  river,  the  Queen  captured 
three  rebel  steamers  and  a  number  of 
prisoners,  and  on  the  10th  of  February, 
set  out  on  an  expedition  for  much  the 
same  purpose,  passing  the  Warrenton 
batteries,  and  reaching  the  Red  River 
the  following  evening.  During  several 
days'  active  work,  Ellet  was  quite  sue- 
cessful  in  capturing  rebel  boats,  etc., 
but  through  the  treachery  of  a  pilot,  he 
was  compelled  to  abandon  the  Queen, 
and  to  reach  the  Mississippi  as  best  he 
could  in  his  tender,  the  De  Soto. 
Meeting,  near  Natchez,  the  Indian  ola, 
a  splendid  iron-clad,  which  had  run  the 
batteries  on  the  night  of  the  13th  of 
February,  Ellet  conferred  with  the 
commander  of  that  vessel  as  to  the  ex 
pediency  of  attempting  again  to  ascend 
the  Red  River,  and  destroy  the  rebel 
works  at  Gordon's  Landing.  Lieut. 
Brown  thought  the  plan  feasible,  and 
the  Era,  one  of  the  vessels  captured  by 
Ellet,  led  the  way.  Having  advanced 
about  three  miles,  they  discovered  the 
W.  H.  Webb,  a  very  swift  rebel  steam 
er,  coming  towards  them,  who,  as  soon 
as  she  got  sight  of  the  Indianola,  turned 
and  fled.  Lieut.  Brown,  on  further  re 
flection,  concluded  not  to  try  to  ascend 
the  Red  River,  and  Col.  Ellet  in  the 
Era  made  his  way  up  the  Mississippi 
to  a  station  below  Vicksburg,  after 
passing  the  fires  at  Grand  Gulf,  War 
renton,  etc.,  without  injury. 


306 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BE.  VIII. 


A  short  time  after,  Brown  left  the 
vicinity  of  the  Red  River,  and  took  the 
Indianola  to  the  mouth  of  the  Big 
Black,  which  enters  the  Mississippi  at 
Grand  Gulf,  forty  miles  below  Vicks- 
burg.  On  the  evening  of  the  24th  of 
February,  as  she  was  preparing  to  move 
up  the  Big  Black,  two  rebel  steamers 
were  seen  approaching.  One  was  the 
Webb,  and  the  other  the  Queen  of  the 
West,  which  had  been  repaired  after 
the  affair  on  the  Red  River,  and  was 
now  brought  into  action.  Attended 
by  several  other  vessels,  the  Webb  and 
the  Queen  attacked  the  Indianola  with 
great  force  and  energy,  who,  on  her 
part,  responded  with  the  utmost  intre 
pidity.  In  the  course  of  an  hour  and 
a  half,  the  Indianola  was  struck  seven 
fearful  blows,  and  beginning  to  sink, 
she  was  run  ashore  and  surrendered.* 

Meanwhile,  the  canal  project  oppo 
site  Vicksburg  having  failed  (seep.  305), 
other  undertakings  of  a  similar  kind 
were  entered  upon,  which  seemed  to 
promise  better  success.  One  was  the 
cutting  a  channel  from  the  Mississippi 
to  Providence  Lake,  on  the  west  side, 
and  another,  the  cutting  a  channel  to 
Moon  Lake,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  and  thence  entering  the  Yazoo 
Pass.  Lake  Providence  is  situate  in 

*  Admiral  Porter,  in  an  interesting  letter,  tells  of  Ms 
Bending  a  "  sham  monitor"  to  run  the  batteries  during 
the  night,  and  of  its  excellent  success ;  for  not  only 
did  it  frighten  the  Queen  of  the  West  down  the  river, 
but  it  led  to  the  rebel  authorities  ordering  the  blowing 
up  of  the  Indianola.  This  was  accomplished,  happily, 
before  they  discovered  how  neatly  they  had  been  taken 
in,  and  while  countermanding  orders  were  under  way 
to  prevent  it.  We  may  also  mention  here,  that  a  week 
later,  another  old  coal  barge  was  sent  in  the  darkness 
down  the  river,  and  that  the  rebel  batteries  expended 
a  large  amount  of  ammunition  and  skill  in  the  steady 
fire  which  they  kept  up  upon  it. 


the  north-east  corner  of  Louisiana,  about 
seventy -five  miles  above  Vicksburg,  and 
a  mile  or  more  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  Tensas  River  flows  from  it  in  a 
southerly  direction,  and,  joining  the 
Washita,  the  two  form  the  Black  River, 
which  empties  into  the  Red  River. 
Grant's  idea  was,  by  cutting  a  canal 
into  the  lake  to  secure  an  inland  pas 
sage,  and  avoid  the  batteries  at  both 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.  The 
canal  was  finished,  and  the  water  let 
in  on  the  16th  of  March,  and  a  con 
siderable  region  of  territory  was  flood 
ed;  but  on  trying  the  pass,  and  End 
ing  serious  difficulties  in  the  way, 
especially  as  regarded  the  channel  of 
the  Tensas  River,  the  whole  matter 
was  given  up  as  impracticable. 

The  Moon  Lake  and  Yazoo  Pass  pro 
ject  offered  better  prospects  of  success. 
The  passage  across  the  lake  (which  is 
eight  miles  below  Helena,  Arkansas) 
to  the  mouth  of  the  pass  is  about  eight 
miles,  and  thence  through  the  pass 
twelve  miles,  the  Coldwater  River  is 
reached.  This,  after  a  crooked  passage 
of  about  forty  miles,  joins  the  Tallahat- 
chie,  which,  in  turn,  pursues  its  tor 
tuous  way  some  fifty  miles,  when  it 
unites  with  the  Yallobusha,  the  two 
forming  the  Yazoo  River,  with  a  course 
of  over  200  miles  through  a  very  fer 
tile  country,  to  its  outlet  into  the  Mis 
sissippi,  a  short  distance  above  Vicks 
burg.  The  advantage  of  securing  the 
navigation  of  this  long  and  circuitous 
stream  was  to'  take  Yazoo  City,  a  hun 
dred  miles  above  the  river,  in  the  rear 
of  the  works  at  Haines'  Bluff,  and  to 
gain  a  position  whence  Vicksburg  could 
be  approached  from  the  interior.  It 


Cir.  XXVITL]          SOUTHERLY  APPROACHES  TO  VICKSBURG. 


307 


was  iiecessary  to  cut  the  levee  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Yazoo  Pass,  which  was 
done,  and  an  expedition  sent  by 
this  route  on  the  25th  of  Febru 
ary.  The  stream  is  about  100  feet 
wide  and  arched  over  by  cypress  and 
other  trees,  lining  its  banks,  which  re 
tarded  the  passage  to  the  Cold  water 
River.  Gen.  Ross  was  in  command, 
\vith  a  division  of  McClernand's  corps 
and  two  regiment's  of  sharpshooters  on 
the  gun  boats.  Coldwater  was  reached 
on  the  2nd  of  March,  after  much  diffi 
culty  and  trial.  The  expedition  passed 
on  to  Greenwood,  where  was  Fort  Pem- 
berton,  extending  from  the  Tallahatchie 
to  the  Yazoo,  the  two  rivers  being  here 
a  few  hundred  yards  apart.  The  land 
around  the  fort  was  overflowed,  and 
the  gun  boats,  after  several  hours'  trial, 
found  that  they  could  not  silence  the 
rebel  batteries.  The  project  conse 
quently  was  abandoned,  and  the  expe 
dition  returned  to  Helena. 

Shortly  before  this,  Porter  started  an 
expedition  which  came  very  near  being 
an  entire  success.  It  consisted  of  five 
iron-clads  and  a  detachment  of  Sher 
man's  troops,  and  was  conducted  by 
Porter  through  Steele's  and  Black's 
Bayou,  so  as  to  reach  Haines'  Bluff  by 
Deer  Creek  and  Sunflower  River. 
After  eight  days  of  toil  and  trouble, 
the  rebels  continually  opposing  fresh 
obstructions,  Porter  gave  up  the  at 
tempt  as  useless. 

Farragut  sent  a  messenger  overland 
on  the  w^est  side  of  the  Mississippi,  ask 
ing  aid  from  the  fleet  above.  Two  rams, 
the  Lancaster  and  Switzerland,  at 
tempted  to  run  the  batteries  at  Vicks- 
burg,  on  the  25th  of  March.  The  Lan 


caster  was  destroyed  by  the  firing  of 
the  rebel  guns ;  the  Switzerland,  though 
badly  injured,  got  past  without  being 
sunk.  She  was  repaired,  and  did  good 
service  during  the  next  fortnight  in 
aiding  the  attack  on  the  batteries  at 
Grand  Gulf,  blockading  the  Red  River, 
and  destroying  the  enemy's  transports 
and  a  large  quantity  of  corn  stored  at 
Bayou  Sara  for  rebel  use. 

All  attempts  against  Vicksburg  from 
the  northerly  side  were  henceforth 
abandoned  as  inexpedient,  and  Grant 
resolved,  with  Porter's  aid,  to  get  his 
troops  below  the  city,  and  make  his 
attack  from  the  lower  or  rear  side, 
which,  it  was  wrell  understood,  was  the 
most  easily  assailable,  and  promised 
the  best  results.  Accordingly,  on  the 
29th  of  March,  Gen.  McClernand,  with 
the  13th  army  corps,  moved  from  Mil- 
liken's  Bend  toward  New  Cartha'o-e, 

o   / 

about  thirty-five  miles  below  on  the 
Mississippi.  Other  corps  were  to  fol 
low  as  rapidly  as  supplies  and  ammu 
nition  could  be  transported  to  them. 
The  progress  was  very  slow  and  tedious, 
in  consequence  of  the  bad  state  of  the 
roads,  the  breaking  of  the  levee  at 
Bayou  Vidal,  etc.,  and  some  weeks 
were  spent  in  this  necessary  but  fatigu 
ing  work. 

While  this  movement  of  the  army 
was  going  on,  preparations  were  made 
for  running  transports  and  gun  boats 
past  the  Vicksburg  batteries,  these  be 
ing  requisite  in  order  to  give  the  sol 
diers  means  of  crossing  for  operations 
on  the  Mississippi  side  of  the  river. 
Eight  gun  boats,  the  Bentou, 
Porter's  flag-ship,  the  Lafa 
yette,  the  Price,  the  Louisville,  the  Ca- 


1§63 


308 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  vm. 


rondelet,  the  Pittsburg,  the  Tuscum- 
bia,  and  the  Mound  City,  were  se- 

v   ' 

lected  for  the  service.  All  of  these, 
except  the  Price,  were  iron-clads,  and 
all  had  such  additional  protection  as 
could  be  afforded  by  bales  of  cotton 
and  of  hay,  heavy  timbers,  railroad  iron, 
and  other  means  which  experience  had 
taught  to  be  efficient.  The  transports 
were  the  Forest  Queen,  the  Henry  Clay, 
both  side-wheel  steamers,  and  the  pro 
peller  Silver  Wave.  They  were  laden 
with  supplies,  and  protected,  as  far  as 
possible,  by  hay  and  cotton  placed 
round  their  machinery. 

On  the  night  of  the  16th  of  April, 
everything  was  in  readiness,  and  the 
expedition  set  out  on  its  dangerous 
journey.  The  plan  was,  for  the  iron 
clads  to  pass  down  in  single  file,  a  few 
hundred  yards  apart,  and  that  when 
in  front  of  the  batteries  they  should 
pour  in  their  broadsides,  and  under 
cover  of  the  smoke,  the  transports 
should  strive  to  pass  unnoticed.*  A 
little  before  eleven  o'clock,  the  batter 
ies  opened  their  fire,  and  were  at  once 
responded  to  by  the  iron-clads  dis 
charging  their  broadsides  of  grape  and 
shrapnel  directly  against  the  city.  The 
transports  endeavored  to  pass,  as  or 
dered,  under  cover  of  the  smoke ;  the 
Forest  Queen  was  disabled  by  a  shot, 
the  Henry  Clay  was  set  on  fire  and 
burned,  but  the  Silver  Wave  escaped 


*  A  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Times  gives  a 
graphic  account  of  the  assembling  of  a  party  of  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  including  Gen.  and  Mrs.  Grant,  at  a 
point  a  few  miles  above  Vicksburg,  for  the  purpose  of 
witnessing  the  daring  movement  which  was  to  take 
place  that  evening.  The  liveliness,  however,  of  the 
party,  as  he  reprovingly  says,  "  indicated  anything  but 
an  appreciation  of  the  fact  that  the  drama  about  to 
open  was  a  tragedy  instead  of  a  farce." 


without  any  injury.  On  reaching 
Warrentou,  the  gun  boats  poured  in 
their  broadsides  the  instant  they  reach 
ed  position,  and  so  continuous  and  ter 
rible  was  their  fire  that  the  rebels 
scarcely  ever  attempted  a  response. 
The  Forest  Queen  was  taken  in  tow 
by  a  gun  boat,  and  the  fleet,  with  the 
exception  of  the  loss  of  the  Henry  Clay, 
and  one  man  killed  and  two  others 
wounded  on  the  Benton,  passed  the 
dreaded  ordeal  in  safety. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  by  Grant's 
order,  six  additional  transport  steam 
ers,  with  officers  and  crew  chosen  from 
the  regiments  in  the  vicinity,  conduct 
ing  as  many  coal  barges,  were  sent  in 
like  manner  past  Vicksburg.  They 
suffered  more  or  less  injurj;  but  all, 
with  one  exception,  got  below  the  bat 
teries.  Two  tugs,  with  four  hay 
barges,  also,  a  few  nights  after, 
followed  in  safety.  At  the  end  of  April, 
the  army  was  fairly  on  its  way  from 
Milliken's  Bend  overland  and  past  Rich 
mond,  by  a  military  road  constructed 
over  swamps  and  bayous  for  about 
seventy  miles  to  Hard  Times,  Louis 
iana,  a  point  opposite  Grand  Gulf. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  the  13th  army 
corps  reached  the  Mississippi,  and  the 
17th  was  not  far  behind.  Grant  em 
barked  a  portion  of  the  troops,  and 
moved  to  the  front  of  Grand  Gulf.  The 
plan  was,  that  the  iron-clads  should 
silence  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  and  that 
the  troops  should  land  under  cover  of 
the  gun  boats  and  carry  the  place  by 
storm.  The  attack  was  begun  about 
eight  o:clock  in  the  morning  and  contin 
ued  for  five  and  a  half  hours,  during 
which  time,  as  Porter  stated,  in  his 


1§63. 


OH.  XXVIII] 


GRIERSON'S   CAVALRY  EXPEDITION. 


dispatch,  "we  silenced  the  lower  bat 
teries,  but  failed  to  silence  the  upper 
one,  which  was  high,  strongly  built, 
had  guns  of  very  heavy  calibre,  and  the 
vessels  were  unmanageable  in  the  heavy 
current.  It  fired  but  feebly  toward  the 
last,  and  the  vessels  all  laid  by  and  en 
filaded  it,  while  I  went  up  a  short  dis 
tance  to  communicate  with  G-en.  Grant, 
who  concluded  to  land  the  troops  and 
march  over  to  a  point  two  miles  below 
Grand  Gulf.  I  sent  the  Lafayette  back 
to  engage  the  upper  batteries,  which 
she  did,  and  drove  the  persons  out  of 
it,  as  it  did  not  respond  after  a  few 
fires.  At  six  P.M.  we  attacked  the  bat 
teries  again,  and,  under  the  cover  of 
the  fire,  all  the  transports  passed  by  in 
good  condition.  The  Benton,  Tuscum- 
bia,  and  Pittsburg  were  much  cut  up, 
having  24  killed  and  56  wounded,  but 
they  are  all  ready  for  service.  We  land 
the  army  in  the  morning  on  the  other 
side,  and  march  on  Vicksburg.'' 

Acting  on  information  derived  from 
an  .intelligent  negro,  that  there  was  a 
good  road  from  Bruinsburg,  two  miles 
below  Grand  Gulf,  to  Port  Gibson, 
where  the  rebels  were  in  force,  Grant 
determined  on  landing  the  troops  at 
Bruinsburg  as  speedily  as  possible.  At 
daylight,  on  the  morning  of  April  30th, 
the  gun  boats  and  transports  began  the 
work  of  ferrying  them  across  the  river. 
Port  Gibson  is  situate  on  the  Bayou 
Pierre,  twenty-eight  miles  from  its 
mouth,  and  between  sixty  and  seventy 
miles  south-west  of  Jackson,  capital 
of  the  state.  A  railroad  connected 
it  with  Grand  Gulf.  Grant's  dis 
patch,  a  few  days  later,  stated 
the  result  in  few  words :  "  We 


1863. 


309 

landed  at  Bruinsburg,  April  30th, 
moved  immediately  on  Port  Gibson, 
met  the  enemy,  11,000  strong,  four 
miles  south  of  Port  Gibson,  at  two  A.M. 
on  May  1st,  and  engaged  him  all  day, 
entirely  routing  him  with  the 
loss  of  many  killed,  and  about 
500  prisoners,  besides  the  wounded. 
Our  loss  is  about  100  killed  and  500 
wounded.  The  enemy  retreated  to 
wards  Yicksburg,  destroying  the 
bridges  over  the  two  forks  of  the  Ba 
you  Pierre.  These  were  rebuilt,  and 
the  pursuit  has  continued  until  the  pre 
sent  time." 

An  important  movement  was  suc 
cessfully  carried  out  at  this  time,  for 
the  purpose  of  facilitating  Grant's  ope 
rations  and  destroying  the  enemy's 
lines  of  communication ;  we  refer  to  the 
bold  cavalry  raid  under  Col.  B.  H. 
Grierson.  This  brave  officer  had  pro 
posed  some  time  before,  this  descent 
into  Mississippi,  which  did  not,  how 
ever,  receive  the  approbation  of  Grant 
until  early  in  April,  when  he  ordered 
Grierson  to  enter  upon  the  work.  He 
was  stationed  at  Lagrange,  Tennessee, 
about  fifty  miles  east  of  Memphis,  and 
after  a  series  of  skilful  movements,  tend 
ing  to  deceive  the  rebels  as  to  his  real 
purpose,  he  was  prepared  by  the  middle 
of  April  to  march  into  Mississippi,  and 
traverse,  as  he  did,  its  entire  length, 
passing  between  the  great  lines  of  com 
munication,  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Railroads,  passing  in  the 
rear  of  the  works  at  Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson,  and  coming  out  trium 
phantly,  on  the  1st  of  May,  within  the 
Union  lines  at  Baton  Rouge.  For  de 
tails,  we  must  refer  to  Col.  Griersoa's 


310 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


official  report,  which  not  only  sets  forth 
the  courage  and  determined  spirit  of 
all  connected  with  the  expedition,  but 
also  presents  an  instructive  picture  of 
the  internal  condition  of  this  portion 
of  the  "  Confederacy."  The  substantial 
results  may  be  expressed  in  a  brief  ex 
tract  :  "  During  the  expedition  we  kill 
ed  and  wounded  about  100  of  the  ene 
my,  captured  and  paroled  over  500 
prisoners,  many  of  them  officers,  de 
stroyed  between  fifty  and  sixty  miles  of 
railroad  and  telegraph,  captured  and 
destroyed  over  3,000  stand  of  arms, 
and  other  army  stores  and  property  to 
an  immense  amount ;  we  also  captured 
1,000  horses  and  mules.  We  marched 
over  600  miles  in  less  than  sixteen  days. 
The  last  twenty-eight  hours  we  march 
ed  seventy-six  miles,  had  four  engage 
ments  with  the  enemy,  and  forded  the 
Comite  River,  which  was  deep  enough 
to  swim  many  of  the  horses."  After 
speaking  of  the  large  and  well  ap 
pointed  parties  sent  out  against  him, 
and  of  his  being  able  to  elude  them  or 
fight  them  to  advantage,  Grierson  con 
cludes  in  terms  of  praise  of  his  officers 
and  men,  without  whose  hearty  co-ope 
ration,  under  very  trying  circumstances, 
he  could  not  have  obtained  such  signal 
success. 

It  had  at  first  been  Grant's  purpose 
to  detach  an  army  corps  to  co-operate 
with  Banks  against  Port  Hudson,  and 
effect  a  junction  of  forces;  but.  on  re 
flection,  as  time  was  all  important  to 
his  plans,  and  as  Banks  could  not  fur 
nish  more  than  12,000  men  at  best,  he 
gave  up  the  project,  and  resolved  to  de 
vote  all  his  energy  and  skill  to  an  im 
mediate  advance  upon  the  rebels. 


After  waiting  for  several  days  for 
supplies  and  the  arrival  of  Sherman's 
corps,  reconnaisances  were  made  along 
the  west  side  of  the  Big  Black  River, 
to  within  a  few  miles  of  Warrenton, 
and  steps  were  taken  to  deceive  the 
rebels,  as  far  as  possible,  in  regard  to 
Grant's  real  designs  at  the  present  mo 
ment.  Apparently,  he  was  about  to 
make  a  direct  attack ;  but  in  reality,  he 
was  pushing  forward  McClernand  and 
Sherman  to  the  railroad,  between  Ed 
ward's  Station  and  Bolton,  while  Mc- 
Pherson  was  to  advance  rapidly  upon 
Raymond,  and  Jackson,  the  capital  of 
the  state.  It  was  of  prime  importance, 
in  Grant's  estimation,  to  secure  his  rear 
by  a  march  upon  Jackson,  by  destroy 
ing  the  property  of  all  descriptions  of 
the  enemy  and  the  railroad ;  and.  then 
to  march  with  all  his  force  to  the  as 
sault  upon  Yicksburg.* 

The  advance  was  begun  on  the  Yth 
of  May,  and  the  utmost  activity  and 
enterprise  was  displayed  by  both  offi 
cers  and  troops  in  the  duty  now  before 


*  Pollard,  speaking  of  Grant  and  Ms  "  most  extraor 
dinary  and  audacious  game  "  in  the  Mississippi  cam 
paign,  says,  truly  enough, — "  in  daring,  in  celerity  of 
movement,  and  in  the  vigor  and  decision  of  its  steps, 
it  was  the  most  remarkable  of  the  war.  The  plan  of 
Grant  was,  in  brief,  nothing  else  than  to  gain  firm 
ground  on  one  of  the  Confederate  flanks,  which,  to  be 
done,  involved  a  march  of  about  150  miles,  through  a 
hostile  country,  and  in  which  communication  with  the 
base  of  supplies  was  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  per 
manently  interrupted.  In  addition,  a  resistance  to  his 
advance  could  be  anticipated,  of  whose  magnitude 
nothing  was  certainly  known,  and  which,  for  aught 
he  knew,  might  at  any  time  prove  great  enough  to 
annihilate  his  entire  army.  The  plan  involved  the 
enterprise  of  running  a  fleet  of  transports  past  the 
batteries,  crossing  the  troops  from  the  Louisiana  shore 
below  Vicksburg,  to  Mississippi,  and  then  marching 
the  army,  by  the  way  of  Jackson,  through  the  heart  of 
the  Confederacy,  so  to  speak,  to  the  rear  of  Vicksburg." 
— "  Third  Tear  of  the  War,"  p.  43,  44. 


Cii.  XXVIII.J 


JACKSON,  MISSISSIPPI,  CAPTURED. 


311 


them.  On  the  llth,  McClernand  reach 
ed  Hall's  Ferry,  on  the  Big  Black  River, 
Sherman  was  at  Auburn,  about  six 
miles  north-east,  and  McPherson  about 
eight  miles  further  in  the  same  direc 
tion.  The  next  day,  the  advance  divi 
sion  of  Sherman's  corps  encountered  a 
body  of  the  rebels,  chiefly  cavalry,  at 
Fourteen  Mile  Creek;  but  after  some 
slight  skirmishing,  the  enemy  retreated 
toward  Raymond,  burning  the  bridge 
as  they  retired.  A  crossing,  however, 
was  speedily  constructed,  and  the  corps 
moved  on  its  way. 

The  principal  resistance  was  made 
by  the  rebels  to  obstruct  McPherson's 
advance.  As  he  was  marching  from 
Utica,  on  the  branch  road  to  Jackson, 
on  approaching  the  town  of  Raymond, 
he  was  met,  on  the  forenoon  of  May 
12th,  by  a  body  of  the  enemy,  under 
Gres;^  and  Walker,  numbering  about 

OO  '  O 

5,000.  Skirmishing  commenced  early 
in  the  morning,  and  Logan's  division, 
which  was  on  the  road  in  advance,  was 
at  once  ordered  forward  to  engage  the 
enemy.  The  battle  was  opened  about 
ten  o'clock,  and,  after  a  conflict  of  more 
than  two  hours,  resulted  in  the  defeat 
of  the  rebels,  and  their  abandonment 
of  Raymond  to  the  Union  forces.  Our 
loss  was  51  killed,  and  180  wounded  ; 
the  rebel  loss  was  75  killed  and  186 
prisoners  captured,  beside  the  wounded. 
McPherson's  force  was  immediately 
pushed  on,  and  the  next  day  occupied 
Clinton,  a  small  town  about  eight  miles 
west  of  Jackson,  on  the  Vicksburg  and 
Jackson  Railroad.  The  tele 
graph  office  and  post  office,  with 
their  contents,  were  seized,  and  the  rail 
road  destroyed  on  both  sides  of  the  vil- 


1863. 


lage  for  four  miles.  On  the  14th  of  May, 
McPherson's  corps,  followed  by  Sher 
man's,  which  advanced  from  its  position 
at  Mississippi  Springs,  moved  upon  the 
capital  of  Mississippi.  Information  had 
reached  Grant  that  the  rebel  command 
er,  J.  E.  Johnston,  was  daily  receiving 
reinforcements,  and  was  expected  im 
mediately  at  Jackson,  to  take  command 
in  person.  "I  therefore  determined,-'' 
said  Grant,  "  to  make  sure  of  that  place, 
and  leave  no  enemy  in  my  rear." 

Gen.  Crocker's  division  of  McPher 
son's  corps  had  the  advance,  and  charged 
gallantly  upon  the  enemy's  position  on 
the  crest  of  a  hill,  in  front  of  the  town, 
driving  the  rebels  before  them  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet.  On  Sherman's 
coming  up  on  the  right,  he  soon  found 
the  enemy's  weakness  at  that  point,  and 
caused  them  to  retreat  northwardly  to 
wards  Clinton.  After  a  fight  of  about 
three  hours,  in  which  the  rebels  dis 
played  less  than  their  usual  spirit  in 
battle,  they  gave  up  the  contest,  and 
Johnston,  having  set  fire  to  the  build 
ings  filled  with  commissary  and  quarter 
master's  stores,  made  a  speedy  retreat. 
The  arsenal,  public  works,  factories, 
bridges,  etc.,  were  effectually  destroyed. 
We  are  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  state,  in 
this  connection,  that  there  was  also  a 
large  amount  of  pillaging  by  the  sol 
diers,  to  the  disgrace  of  themselves  and 
the  cause  in  which  they  were  engaged. 

Although  Johnston  had  been  unable 

O 

to  maintain  his  position,  still,  as  Grant 
learned  at  Jackson,  he  had  ordered 
Pemberton,*  in  very  positive  terms,  to 

*  Pollard  is  bitterly  severe  on  Pemberton  ;  calls  him 
"  the  creature  of  the  private  and  personal  prejudices 
of  President  Davis  ;"  asserts  that  he  was  extremely  un 


312 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  VIII. 


march  out  of  Vicksburg,  and  "  re-estab 
lish  the  communications"  by  an  assault 
upon  Grant's  rear.  This  Pemberton 
had  undertaken  to  do,  having,  it  was 
reported,  some  eighty  regiments  and 
ten  batteries  of  artillery,  and  about 
25,000  men  in  all.  He  was,  however, 
too  late  to  accomplish  anything ;  John 
ston  had  been  put  to  flight,  and  Grant, 
by  his  rapid  and  skilful  combinations, 
aided,  as  he  was,  by  several  of  the  best 
officers  in  the  United  States  army, 
simply  faced  about,  and  advanced 
promptly  to  rout  Pemberton  in  the 
same  wise  that  he  did  in  the  case  of 
Johnston.  McPherson  was  ordered  to 
move  out  on  the  Clinton  road,  and  on 
the  15th  of  May  was  about  a  mile  from 
Bolton,  within  supporting  distance  of 
Hovey's  division  of  McClernand's  corps ; 
while  McClernand,  with  the  remaining 
divisions,  was  ordered  to  Edward's  Sta 
tion  ;  he  was.  however,  directed  not  to 
bring  on  a  general  engagement,  unless 
he  was  sure  of  success.  Blair  moved 
with  McClernand,  and  Sherman,  with 
his  forces,  was  soon  to  follow. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  May  16th, 
two  days  after  the  occupation  of  Jack 
son,  the  left  wing  of  the  army,  under 
McClernand,  advanced  to  the  line  of  the 
railroad  east  of  the  Big  Black  River, 
and,  in  concert  with  Sherman's 
and  McPherson's  corps,  came 

popular  with  the  army,  incapable,  "  never  on  a  battle 
field  in  the  war,"  and  in  a  state  of  deplorable  "  ignor 
ance  and  bewilderment  as  to  the  enemy's  designs."  As 
a  pet  and  favorite  of  Davis,  and  with  nothing  else  to  re 
commend  him,  of  course,  in  Pollard's  opinion,  only  dis 
aster  could  follow  his  being  placed  in  command  at 
Vicksburg.  It  is  only  fair,  however,  to  remember  that 
Pollard  is  no  friend  to  Davis  and  his  helpers  at  Rich 
mond,  and  also  that  he  is  rather  fond  of  using  caustic 
and  bitter  language  when  the  opportunity  occurs. 


1§63. 


upon  the  main  force  of  Pemberton  in 
the  vicinity  of  Edward's  Station.  Three 
miles  south-east  of  this  is  a  road  which 
runs  parallel  with  the  railroad,  crosses 
Champion's  Hill,  through  which  runs  a 
small  stream  called  Baker's  Creek 
Hovey,  who  was  in  the  advance  with 
his  division,  discovered,  about  nine 
o'clock,  that  the  enemy  were  in  front  on 
Champion's  Hill,  to  the  left  of  the  road, 
near  Baker's  Creek,  apparently  in  force. 
Skirmishers  were  thrown  out,  and  the 
division  advanced  cautiously  across  the 
open  field  at  the  foot  of  Champion's 
Hill,  in  line  of  battle.  At  eleven 
o'clock  the  battle  commenced.  The 
hill  itself  was  covered  with  timber, 
and  was  flanked,  on  both  sides,  by 
deep  ravines  and  gullies,  and  in  many 
places  covered  with  an  impenetrable 
growth  of  scrubby  white-oak  brush 
The  woods,  on  both  sides  of  the  road 
leading  up  to  the  face  of  the  hill, 
and  winding  back  on  the  ridge  a  mile 
or  more,  were  filled  with  sharpshoot 
ers,  supported  by  infantry.  Here  the 
battle  began,  just  as  our  men  entered 
the  edge  of  the  timber,  and  raged  ter 
ribly  from  eleven  o'clock  till  between 
three  and  four,  P.M.  Hovey's  division 
carried  the  heights,  and  making  a  dash 
on  the  first  battery,  drove  the  gunners 
from  their  posts  and  captured  the 
pieces. 

The  rebels  having  been  reinforced  at 
this  point,  made  fresh  efforts  to  dis 
lodge  our  troops  on  the  hill.  Hovey 
was  slowly  driven  back  to  the  brow, 
but  help  coming  up,  the  ground  was 
recovered,  and  the  rebels  finally  re 
pulsed.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
engagement,  Logan's  division  marched 


Cn.  XXVIII.] 


REBEL  DEFEAT  AT  THE   BIG  BLACK. 


313 


past  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and,  forming 
in  line  of  battle  on  the  right  of  Hovey, 
advanced  in  grand  style,  sweeping 
everything  before  them.  At  the  edge 
of  the  wood  in  front  of  Logan  the  battle 
was  very  hotly  contested.  Two  bat 
teries  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners 
were  captured  by  this  division. 

Between  three  and  four  o'clock,  P.M., 
Osterhaus's  and  McArthur's  divisions 
came  into  action  on  the  extreme  left, 
and  by  five  o'clock  Pemberton's  troops 
gave  way  in  great  confusion.  Loring, 
the  rebel  commander  on  the  right,  drew 
off  his  men  and  escaped,  by  taking  a 
large  circuit,  to  Canton,  where  he  join 
ed  Johnston.  Immediately  troops  were 
sent  in  pursuit  of  Pemberton,  who  re 
treated  to  the  Big  Black,  where  he 
purposed  making  one  more  effort  be 
fore  betaking  himself  to  the  entrench 
ments  of  Vicksbura;. 

O 

At  an  early  hour  on  Sunday,  May 
17th,  McClernand's  corps  marched  to 
the  Big  Black  River  bridge  of  the  rail 
road,  sixteen  miles  west  of  Champion's 
Hill  battle  ground,  and  twelve  miles 
east  of  Vicksburg.  The  rebels  were 
found  to  be  strongly  posted  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  where,  with  the  help 
of  the  excellent  natural  defences,  and 
their  rifle-pits  and  field  guns,  they 
promised  apparently  a  vigorous  resist 
ance.  But  when  our  batteries  were 
brought  to  play  on  their  works,  and 
when  Lawler's  brigade  of  Carr's  divi 
sion  charged  across  the  open  fields,  the 
rebels  set  fire  to  the  bridge  before  their 
troops  were  across,  and  ignornmiously 
fled.  Pemberton  and  his  officers  could 
do  noticing  to  rouse  them  ;  they  rushed 
from  the  field  in  a  species  of  terror,  cry- 

VOL.  IV  —40. 


ing  out,  "all  is  lost!"  and  refused  to 
fight  at  all.  Seventeen  cannon  and 
about  2,000  prisoners  fell  into  our 
hands  by  their  panic-stricken  conduct, 
and  late  at  night  the  rebel  troops 
reached  Vicksburg,  in  a  state  which 
hardly  admits  of  description. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  May, 
Sherman's  corps  crossed  the  Big  Black 
above,  at  Bridgeport,  on  a  pontoon 
bridge,  and  the  next  day  McClernaud's 
and  McPherson's  corps,  having  re 
paired  the  bridge  which  had  been  par 
tially  destroyed,  joined  the  forces  on 
the  other  side  before  Vicksburo-.  The 

C5 

various  roads  were  occupied,  and  im 
portant  positions  taken,  investing  the 
city  from  the  direction  of  Warrenton 
on  the  left,  to  the  bluffs  on  the  Yazoo 
River,  on  the  right.  Sherman  occupied 
the  right  of  the  line,  McPherson  the 
centre,  and  McClernand  the  left.* 

The  efficient  co-operation  of  the  fleet 
under  Porter,  deserves  honorable  men 
tion  in  this  place.  Porter,  having  come 
over  to  the  Yazoo  to  be  ready  for  any 


*  The  defeat  at  the  Big  Black  caused  some  sharp 
crimination  and  recrimination  between  Johnston  and 
Pemberton.  Pollard  sides  with  the  former,  of  course  ; 
and  in  view  of  Pemberton  being  shut  up  within  his 
defences,  says,  "  As  it  was,  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  had 
become  but  a  question  of  time.  Gen.  Johnston  was 
convinced  of  the  impossibility  of  collecting  a  sufficient 
force  to  break  tho  investment  of  the  city,  should  it  be 
completed.  He  appreciated  the  difficulty  of  extricating 
the  garrison.  It  was  with  this  foresight  that,  on 
learning  that  Pemberton  had  been  driven  from  the  Big 
Black,  he  ordered  the  evacuation  of  Vicksburg.  He 
wrote,  'If  Haynes's  Bluff  be  untenable,  Vicksburg  is  of 
no  value,  and  cannot  be  held.  If,  therefore,  you  are 
invested  in  Vicksburg,  you  must  ultimately  surrender. 
Under  such  circumstances,  instead  of  losing  both 
troops  and  place,  you  must,  if  possible,  save  the 
troops.  If  not  too  late,  evacuate  Vicksburg  and  its 
dependencies,  and  march  to  the  north-east.'"  This 
was  too  much  for  Pemberton ;  and  so  he  remained 
where  he  was  until  the  end  came  on  the  memorable 
4th  of  July,  1863. 


314 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


help  which  he  could  render,  heard 
Grant's  cannonading,  on  the  18th  of 
May,  and  inferred  his  success  thus  far. 
He  dispatched  a  number  of  vessels  up 
the  Yazoo  to  open  communications  with 
Grant  and  Sherman.  This  he  succeeded 
in  doing,  and  learned  the  gratifying 
news  of  what  had  been  accomplished. 
Having  destroyed  the  formidable  works 
at  Haines'  Bluff,  Porter  dispatched 
Lieut.  Walker,  in  the  De  Kalb,  up  the 
Yazoo  River,  with  sufficient  force  to 
destroy  all  the  enemy's  property  in 
that  direction,  with  orders  to  return 
with  all  dispatch,  and  only  to  proceed 
as  far  as  Yazoo  City,  where  the  rebels 
had  a  navy-yard  and  storehouses.  Wal 
ker  proceeded  at  once  to  the  work 
before  him,  and  promptly  and  effect 
ually  performed  it.  Three  rams  of  the 
most  powerful  kind,  two  just  ready  for 
use,  and  one,  a  monster  of  its  class, 
370  ft.,  and  75  ft.  beam,  on  the  stocks, 
were  burned,  as  were  also  a  vast  stock 
of  materials  for  naval  purposes,  ma 
chine  shops,  etc.  The  estimated  value 
of  the  property  thus  destroyed  was 
fully  $2,000,000.  On  the  morning  of 
May  22d,  Lieut.  Walker  returned  with 
the  vessels  under  his  command  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Yazoo  River,  having  lost 
only  one  man  killed  and  seven  wound 
ed  in  the  expedition. 

In  the  flush  of  the  several  victories 
which  the  army  had  recently  gained, 
and  supposing  that  Pembertoii's  force 
was  almost  entirely  demoralized,  Grant 
ordered  a  general  assault  to  be  made 
on  the  enemy's  works,  at  two  o'clock, 
P.M.,  on  the  19th  of  May.  Our  troops 
behaved  with  great  gallantry ;  but  they 
were  not  able  to  make  any  impression 


1§63. 


of  moment  upon  the  rebel  line.  With 
in  a  few  days,  Grant's  arrangements  for 
drawing  supplies  from  Memphis  and 
above  were  completed,  and  under  an 
impression  that  Vicksburg  could  be 
taken  by  assault,  notwithstanding  the 
experience  of  the  19th,  he  ordered 
another  and  determined  onset  to  be 
made.*  "  There  were  many  reasons," 
as  Grant  stated  afterwards,  "  to  deter 
mine  me  to  adopt  this  course.  I  belie ved 
an  assault  from  the  position  .by  this 
time  could  be  made  successfully.  It 
was  known  that  Johnston  was  at  Can 
ton  with  the  force  taken  by  him  from 
Jackson,  reinforced  by  other  troops 
from  the  East,  and  that  more  were 
daily  reaching  him.  With  the 
force  I  had,  a  short  time  must 
have  enabled  him  to  attack  me  in  the 
rear,  and  possibly  to  succeed  in  raising 

the  siege Accordingly,  on  the  21st  of 

May,  orders  were  issued  for  a  general 
assault  on  the  whole  line,  to  commence 
at  ten  A.M.,  on  the  22d.  Promptly,  at 
the  hour  designated,  the  three  army 
corps  then  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
works  commenced  the  assault.  I  had 
taken  a  commanding  position  near 
McPherson's  front,  and  from  which  I 
could  see  all  the  advancing  columns 
from  his  corps,  and  a  part  of  each  of 
Sherman's  and  McClernand's.  A  por 
tion  of  the  commands  of  each  sue- 

*  In  accordance  with  Grant's  request,  Porter  directed 
a  vigorous  attack  from  the  mortar  and  gun  boats  upon 
the  hill  and  water  batteries  of  the  city,  inflicting  con 
siderable  damage.  The  bombardment  was  at  short 
range,  the  vessels  advancing  to  within  four  hundred 
and  forty  yards  of  the  batteries.  "  It  was  the  hottest 
fire,"  said  Porter,  "  the  gun  boats  had  ever  been  under." 
Unable  id  gain  intelligence  of  the  progress  of  the 
army,  the  gun  boats  fought  on  after  Grant's  assault 
had  proved  unsuccessful. 


Cn.  XXVIII.] 


SIEGE  OF  VICKSBURG. 


315 


ceeded  in  planting  their  flags  on  the 
outer  slopes  of  the  enemy's  bastions, 
and  maintained  them  there  until  night. 
The  assault  was  gallant  in  the  extreme 
on  the  part  of  all  the  troops,  but  the 
enemy's  -position  was  too  strong,  both 
naturally  and  artificially,  to  be  taken 
in  that  way.  At  every  point  assaulted^ 
and  at  all  of  them  at  the  same  time, 
the  enemy  was  able  to  show  all  the 
force  his  works  could  cover.  The 
assault  failed,  I  regret  to  say,  with 
much  loss  on  our  side  in  killed  and 
wounded  ;  but  without  weakening  the 

'  O 

confidence  of  the  troops  in  their  ability 
to  ultimately  succeed." 

It  having  become  evident  that  Vicks- 
burg  was  not  to  be  taken  by  assault, 
Grant  be^an  a  regular  series  of  siesre 

O  O  O 

operations.  They  were  commenced  and 
carried  on  with  vigor  and  perseverance, 
it  being  certain  that,  sooner  or  later, 
this  rebel  Gibralter  must  be  surren 
dered  to  our  arms.  Day  by  day, 
during  the  month  of  June,  the  works 
were  pushed  closer  to  the  enemy's  for 
tifications.  Batteries  and  rifle-pits 

\vere  erected   alonsr   the  entire    front. 

~ 

Mines  were  constructed  at  several 
points,  especially  in  McPherson's  front, 
with  great  secrecy  and  under  careful 
watch ;  while  from  the  peninsula  oppo 
site  the  doomed  city,  mortar  batteries 
poured  in,  day  and  night,  without  ces 
sation,  thousands  of  shots  and  shells.* 

*  On  the  6th  of  June,  an  attack  Avas  made  by  the 
rebels  upon  the  garrison,  under  Uen.  Dennis,  at  Milli- 
ken's  Bend.  After  a  severe  contest,  on  the  morning 
of  the  7th,  which  was  kept  up  until  noon,  the  rebels 
were  repulsed.  A  week  later,  they  were  routed  out  of 
Richmond  by  an  expedition  from  "Young's  Point,  con 
sisting  of  Mowry's  command  and  the  marine  brigade 
under  Gen.  B.  W.  Ellet.  The  town  itself  was  com 
pletely  destroyed. 


.-7 


In  addition  to  all  this  stead'/  working. 
Grant  had  taken  care  to  socure,  at  an 
early  day,  large  reinforcements,  so  that 
he  was  in  a  condition  not  only  to  push 
forward  the  siege  with  fixed  determi 
nation,  but  also  to  keep  a  watch  upon 
Johnston,  and  be  ready  to  repulse  any 
effort  he  might  venture  to  make  for  the 
relief  of  Vicksburg.  The  position  of 
Grant's  army,  resting  on  the  Yazoo  and 
supported  by  the  gun  boats,  was  so 
strong  that  the  rebels  were  soon  aware 
of  the  hopelessness  t»f  attempting  to 
raise  the  sieo*e. 

O 

The  state  of  things   in  Vicksburg, 
meanwhile,  was  far  from  cheering  or 

'  O 

encouraging.  The  women  and  chil 
dren,  in  order  to  escape  the  terrible 
bombardment,  sheltered  themselves  in 
caves  excavated  in  the  hill  sides ; 
houses  and  streets  were  ploughed  by 
shot  and  shell ;  provisions  were  becom 
ing  more  and  more  scarce ;  mule  and 
dog  meat,  bean  meal  and  corn  coffee, 
were  in  demand ;  and  unburied  corpses 
and  the  stench  of  dead  animals,  in  the 
streets  and  elsewhere,  tried  the  nerve 
and  patience  of  the  garrison  to  the  ut 
most.  One  only  hope  remained,  and 
that  was  the  hope  that  Johnston  might 
yet  bring  relief;  but  all  such  hope 
failed,  and  the  end  drew  nigh.  Sur 
render,  or  starving  to  death,  was  the 
alternative.* 

In  carrying  forward  the  siege  opera- 


*  Pollard  denounces  this  as  untrue :  "  The  statement 
that  the  garrison  of  Vicksburg  was  surrendered  on  ao 
count  of  an  inexorable  distress,  in  which  the  soldiers 
had  to  feed  on  mules,  with  the  occasional  luxury  of 
rats,  is  either  to  be  taken  as  a  designing  falsehood  or 
as  the  crudities  of  that  foolish  newspaper  romance  so 
common  in  the  war.  In  neither  case  does  it  merit  re 
futation,"  etc.—"  Third  Tear  of  the  War"  p.  68. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


tions,  when  the  first  mine  was  all 
in  readiness,  Grant  ordered  its  explo 
sion,  and  also  certain  parties  of  troops 
to  be  prepared  to  storm  the  rebel  line 
at  the  right  moment.  At  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  June  25th,  the  match 
was  applied,  and  speedily  a  terrific  ex 
plosion  took  place.  Our  troops  rushed 
bravely  to  the  charge ;  a  bloody  con 
test  ensued  with  the  half-starved  gar 
rison,  and  the  loss  was  heavy  on  both 
sides ;  but  Yicksburg  was  not  yet 
taken.  On  the  1st  of  July,  a  second 
mine  was  sprung  on  the  right  of  the 
Jackson  road,  which  resulted  in  the  en 
tire  demolition  of  the  redan,  the  de 
stroying  a  number  of  men  who  were 
countermining,  and  wounding  others  in 
the  works,  and  leaving  an  immense 
chasm  where  the  redan  had  stood. 

The  case  was  now  hopeless.*  Pem- 
berton  concluded  that  it  was  better  to 
surrender  than  to  continue  the  desper 
ate  defence,  especially  as,  in  any  event, 
he  could  not  hold  out  more  than  a  few 
days.  On  the  3d  of  July,  early  in  the 
morning,  a  flag  of  truce  was  displayed 
upon  the  works  in  front  of  Gen.  A.  J. 
Smith.  Two  rebel  officers,  Gen.  Bowen 
and  Col.  Montgomery,  were  brought 
in  under  it  blindfold,  bearing  with 
them  a  letter  from  Pemberton  propos 
ing  an  armistice,  appointment  of  com 
missioners  to  arrange  for  capitulation 


*  There  was  no  hope  of  relief  from  Johnston.  It 
was  all  delusion.  He  had  advised  Pemberton  (see  note, 
p.  313)  not  to  try  a  siege,  for  he  would  certainly  be 
compelled  to  surrender ;  and  Johnston  at  no  time  felt 
himself  strong  enough  to  venture  an  attack  upon 
Grant.  Some  8,000  rebel  troops  on  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi  were  expected  to  be  of  service;  but  on 
June  27th,  Johnston  sent  Pemberton  word  that  these 
troops  "  had  been  mismanaged,  and  had  fallen  back  to 
Delhi." 


of  the  city,  etc.  Grant's  reply  was 
brevity  itself:  "unconditional  surren 
der."  It  seemed  very  hard  to  the  rebel 
commander,  and  though  he  solicited  a 
personal  interview,  which  was  granted, 
yet  the  result  was  substantially  the 
same  as  at  first  named.*  Grant  was 
willing  to  allow  something  to  assuage 
the  wounded  feelings  of  a  defeated  foe ; 
he  permitted  them  to  march  out  and 
stack  their  arms  in  front  of  their  lines, 
and  then  returning  to  the  city,  he  re 
quired  them  to  remain  as  prisoners 
until  properly  paroled.  This  course, 
as  Grant  said,  "  saved  us  the  transpor 
tation  of  the  rebel  prisoners  North, 
which,  at  that  time,  would  have  been 
very  difficult,  owing  to  the  limited 
amount  of  transportation  on  hand  and 
the  expense  of  subsisting  them.  It  left 
our  army  free  to  operate  against  John 
ston,  who  was  threatening  us  from  the 
direction  of  Jackson,  and  our  river 
transportation  to  be  used  for  the  move 
ment  of  troops  to  any  point  the  exi 
gency  of  the  service  might  require." 

Pemberton  very  gladly  accepted  the 
terms  finally  settled  upon  by  Grant, 
and  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  4th  of  July,  the  surrender  was  fully 
consummated.f  A  week  later,  the  par- 


*  For  the  correspondence,  and  the  interview  between 
Grant  and  Pemberton,  see  Coppee's  "  Grant  and  his 
Campaigns,"  pp.  186 — 190. 

f  Pembcrton's  reasons  for  selecting  the  Fourth  of 
July  as  the  day  of  his  surrender,  though  censured  by 
Pollard  as  "  a  singular  humiliation  of  the  Confederacy, 
are  nevertheless  not  wanting  in  shrewdness.  "  If  it 
should  be  asked,"  he  said,  "  why  the  Fourth  of  July 
was  selected  as  the  day  for  the  surrender,  the  answer 
is  sbvious  ;  I  Relieved  that,  upon  that  day,  I  should 
obtain  better  terms.  Well  aware  of  the  vanity  of  our 
foes,  I  knew  they  would  attach  vast  importance  to  the 
entrance  on  the  Fourth  of  July  into  the  stronghold  of 
the  great  river,  and  that,  to  gratify  their  national  van- 


OH.  XXVIII.] 


VALUE  OF  THIS   GREAT  CAPTURE. 


317 


oled  officers  and  men  marched  out  of 
Yicksburg  to  the  Big  Black  River, 
whence  they  were  distributed  to  dif 
ferent  parts  of  the  South.  Vicksburg 
itself  was  immediately  occupied  by  the 
divisions  of  Logan,  J.  E.  Smith,  and 
Herron ;  and,  much  to  the  disgust  of 
Pollard  and  men  of  his  stamp,  a  large 
portion  of  the  citizens  signified  their 
cheerful  acceptance  of  the  change  in  the 
state  of  affairs,  which  brought  "the 
key  of  the  Mississippi "  again  under  the 
protection  of  the  stars  and  stripes. 

Gen.  Grant,  in  his  report  sent  to 
Washington  a  few  days  after  the  sur 
render,  summed  up  the  result  of  his 
operations  as  follows  :  "  The  result  of 
this  campaign  has  been  the  defeat  of 
the  enemy  in  five  battles  outside  of 
Vicksburg,  the  occupation  of  Jackson, 
the  capital  of  the  state  of  Mississippi, 
and  the  capture  of  Yicksburg  and  its 
garrison  and  munitions  of  war ;  a 
loss  to  the  enemy  of  37,000  prisoners, 
among  whom  were  fifteen  general  offi 
cers;  at  least  10,000  killed  and  wound 
ed,  and  among  the  killed  Generals 
Tracy,  Tilghman  and  Green ;  and  hun 
dreds  and  perhaps  thousands  of  strag 
glers,  who  can  never  be  collected  and 
re-organized.  Arms  and  munitions  of 
war  for  an  army  of  60,000  men  have 
fallen,  into  our  hands,  besides  a  large 

o 

amount  of  other  public  property,  con 
sisting  of  railroads,  locomotives,  cars, 
steamboats,  cotton,  etc.,  and  much  was 
destroyed  to  prevent  our  capturing  it. 

"  Our  loss  in  the  series  of  battles 
may  be  summed  up  as  follows:  "  1,293 
killed,  7,095  wounded,  and  537  miss- 

ity,  they  would  yield  then  what  could  not  be  extort 
ed  from  them  at  any  other  time." 


ing;  total,  8,925.  Of  the  wounded, 
many  were  but  slightly  wounded,  and 
continued  on  duty ;  many  more  requir 
ed  but  a  few  days  or  weeks  for  their 
recovery.  Not  more  than  one-half  of 
the  wounded  were  permanently  dis 
abled."* 

The  part  taken  by  the  navy  in  the 
capture  of  Vicksburg  was  of  course  less 
conspicuous  than  that  of  the  army; 
yet  the  operations  of  Porter  formed  an 
essential  element  in  reaching  the  desir 
ed  end.  As  we  have  had  occasion  to 
note,  he  was  always  ready  to  do  his 
share ;  and  in  the  active  employment 
of  his  fleet,  for  forty-two  days,  bom 
barding  the  city  with  their  heavy  guns, 
in  mortar  vessels,  on  scows,  in  guard 
ing  the  river,  and  in  a  detachment  of 
his  force  on  shore,  he  reports  an  expen 
diture  of  ammunition  from  the  mortars 
of  7,000  shells  and  from  the  gun  boats 
4,500.  f  Truly,  as  Porter  said  in  his 
dispatch,  "  history  has  seldom  had  an' 
opportunity  of  recording  so  desperate 
a  defence  on  one  side,  with  so  much 
courage,  ability,  perseverance,  and 
endurance  on  the  other ;  and  if  ever  an 
army  was  entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  a 


*  On  this  same  4th  of  July,  1863,  the  works  of  Gen 
Prentiss,  at  Helena,  Arkansas,  were  attacked  by  a  body 
of  rebels,  some  9,000  in  number,  gathered  by  Holmes 
Price,  Marmaduke  and  others,  at  Little  Rock.  Gen. 
Prentiss  sustained  the  attack  from  daylight  till  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  rebels  were  repulsed 
at  all  points,  leaving  1,200  prisoners,  and  about  500  in 
killed  and  wounded. 

f  Grant's  chief  of  artillery,  Colonel  Duff,  gives  a 
statement  of  the  artillery  shots  fired  during  the  siege. 
From  the  time  of  crossing  the  Mississippi  River,  May 
1st,  till  the  surrender,  July  4th,  18,889  solid  shot,  72,314 
shell,  47,897  case,  2,723  canister,  were  expended,  mak 
ing  a  total  of  141,823.  This  would  be  an  average  of 
653  shots  for  each  cannon  used.  If  to  these  the  mus 
ketry  be  added,  the  reader  can  form  some  idea  of  the 
vast  amount  of  ammunition  consumed. 


318 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  V11I. 


nation,  it  is  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
and  its  gallant  leaders.'-' 

We  may  mention,  in  the  present  con- 
nee  tion,  that,  just  before  the  capture  of 
Vicksburg,  Grant  had  made  all  his  ar 
rangements  to  dispatch  Sherman  in  pur 
suit  of  the  rebel  Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston, 
who  was  making  threatening  demon 
strations  in  the  rear.  Johnston,  how 
ever,  thought  it  best  to  retreat  without 
venturing  a  battle,  and  Sherman,  with 
a  strong  force,  promptly  set  out  in  pur 
suit.  Despite  the  fatigue  the  troops  had 
undergone  before  Vicksburg,  they  pur 
sued  the  enemy  for  fifty  miles  and  left 
him  in  full  retreat,  destroying  at  the 
same  time  the  great  arteries  of  travel 
in  the  state,  and  exhausting  the  coun 
try.  Jackson,  the  capital  of  Mississippi, 
was  evacuated  on  the  night  of  the  16th 
of  July.  Our  army  entered  it  again, 
and  the  city,  beautifully  situate*  on  the 
Pearl  River,  and  noted  for  evidences 
of  taste  and  wealth,  was  doomed  to  en 
tire  destruction.  The  railroads  in  every 
direction  for  twenty-five  and  fifty  miles 
were  torn  up,  the  bridges  were  effec 
tually  destroyed,  and  the  ruin  was  com 
plete.  Sherman's  loss  was  less  than 
1,000 ;  that  of  the  rebels  was  much 
greater,  Sherman  having  taken  over 
1,000  prisoners  during  this  brief  cam 
paign.* 

Various  other  expeditions,  of  more 


*  A  naval  and  military  expedition,  under  Lieut. 
Walker  and  Gen.  Herron,  was  sent,  on  the  13th  of 
July,  to  Yazoo  City.  It  was  entirely  successful.  Four 
rebel  steamers  were  burned,  300  prisoners  taken,  and 
800  horses  and  mules  captured.  The  gun  boat  De  Kalb 
was  destroyed  by  the  explosion  of  a  torpedo  in  the 
river. 


or  less  moment,  followed  this  of  Sher 
man's  ;  one,  under  Gen.  Ransom,  was 
sent  to  Natchez,  about  100  miles  be 
low  Vicksburg,  on  the  river,  and  was 
particularly  successful  in  securing  5,000 
head  of  Texas  cattle,  and  a  large  amount 
of  ammunition,  which  had  been  crossed 
for  the  benefit  of  the  rebels  under  Kirby 
Smith.  The  army  was  allowed  some 
needed  rest,  and  proper  supplies  were 
furnished;  after  which  Grant  sent 
troops,  under  Steele,  to  co-operate  with 
Schofield  against  Little  Rock,  Arkan 
sas,  and  also  a  force  under  Orel  and 
Herron  to  New  Orleans,  to  reinforce 
Gen.  Banks. 

Thus  the  labor  and  toil  of  our  army 
and  navy  w^ere  at  last  crowned  with 
success.  Port  Hudson,  as  we  have  nar 
rated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  followed 
the  fate  of  Vicksburg,  and  the  Great 
River  of  the  West  thenceforth  flowed 
in  its  entire  course  without  let  or  hin 
drance  from  rebel  obstructions  or  dis 
loyal  interference.  There  was  now 
good  ground  to  hope  and  expect  that, 
ere  long,  rebellion  and  its  terrible  evils 
would  be  stricken  out  of  existence.* 


*  Secession  writers  can  hardly  find  words  to  express 
"  the  surprise  and  consternation,"  and  "  the  news  fall 
ing  like  a  thunder-clap  from  clear  skies,"  consequent 
upon  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  "  It  compelled,"  says  Pol 
lard,  "  as  its  necessary,  consequence,  the  surrender  of 
other  posts  on  the  Mississippi,  and  cut  the  Confede 
racy  in  twain.  Its  defence  had  involved  exposure  and 
weakness  in  other  quarters.  It  had  about  stripped 
Charleston  of  troops ;  it  had  taken  many  thousand 
men  from  Bragg's  army ;  and  it  had  made  such  requi 
sitions  on  his  force  for  the  newly  organized  lines  in 
Mississippi,  that  that  general  was  compelled  or  in 
duced,  wisely  or  unwisely,  to  fall  back  from  Tulla- 
homa,  to  give  up  the  country  on  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad,  and  practically  to  abandon  the  de 
fence  of  Middle  Tennessee."—"  Third  Tear  of  the  War," 
p.  70. 


CH.   XXIX.] 


DEFENSIVE  POLICY  OF  THE  BEBELS. 


319 


CHAPTEK    XXIX. 
1863. 


CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  POTOMAC:  LEE'S  INVASION:  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 

Army  of  the  Potomac  inactive. —  Rebel  defensive  policy —  Change  —  Resolve  to  invade  the  North  —  Lee's  army 
moves — Hooker's  course  —  Cavalry  engagement — Hooker  follows  Lee  —  Enemy  in  Shenandoah  Valley 

—  Winchester  and  Martinsburg  —  Our  losses  —  Government  preparations  —  Call  for  100,000  militia  —  Gov. 
Curtin's  efforts — Pleasanton's  encounter  with  Stuart  —  Rebel  cavalry  in  Pennsylvania  —  Lee's  order  as  to 
supplies,  etc.  —  Swell's   corps  crosses  the  Potomac  —  Rebel  army's   arrangements  —  Early  levies  on  Get 
tysburg  and  York  —  Early's   self-laudation  —  Army  of  the  Potomac  advances  to   Frederick,  Maryland  — 
Hooker  relieved  of  command  —  Gen.  Meade   appointed  —  His    address   to   the   army  —  Lee's  course  — 
Marches  toward  Gettysburg  —  A  battle   near  at  hand  —  Meade   moves  in   direction  of  Gettysburg  —  Bir 
ford's  cavalry  encounter  Hill's  troops  near  the  town  —  Reynold's   comes  to  his  support  —  Battle  of  July 
let  —  Rebel  success  —  Meade's  army  comes  up  —  Arrangements  for  the  battle  — Thursday,  July  2d  —  Bat 
tle  fought  in  the  afternoon  —  Fierce  assault  on  our  left  —  Little  Round  Top  secured  —  Ewell  on  our  right 

—  Partial  success  —  Heavy  loss  during  the  day  —  Ewell  driven  back  next  morning  —  Battle  of  July  3d  — 
Terrible  cannonade — Pi ckett's  charge  unsuccessful  —  Rebels  defeated  —  Pursuit  of  Lee — Severe  losses  — 
Meade's  address  to  the  army  —  President  Lincoln  appoints  a  day  of  thanksgiving —  Prof.  Jacobs's  remarks. 


1863. 


WE  left  the  Armv  of  tbc  Potomac, 

V  / 

after  the  ill  success  at  Chancellorsville, 
returned  to  its  former  quarters  on  the 
Rappahannock.  This  was  early  in  May, 
1863.  (See  p.  288.)  We  resume  the 
narrative  at  this  point,  and  shall 
prosecute  it  with  the  more  plea 
sure  because,  after  the  mortifying  issues 
of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville, 
under  Burnside  and  Hooker,  this  brave 
army  was  enabled  to  crown  its  career 
of  gallantry  and  endurance,  under 
Meade,  with  the  most  important  vic 
tory  of  the  war.  The  government 
authorities  at  Washington,  as  we  have 
seen,  (p.  288),  promised  that  the  army 
should  speedily  resume  offensive  opera 
tions  ir  Virginia ;  but  as  it  turned  out, 
delays  interposed,  and  nothing  was  at 
tempted  for  several  weeks.  The  rebel 
general  took  the  initiative,  and  pre- 
to  strike  a  blow  which,  if  it 


should  be  successful,  would  give  the 
"  Confederacy  "  a  position  and  conse 
quence  which  it  had  never  at  any  time 
been  able  to  attain,  and  would  require 
additional  efforts  and  sacrifices  in  order 
to  crush  the  wicked  plans  and  purpo 
ses  of  traitors  to  their  native  land. 

The  policy  of  defence,  as  the  only  re 
ally  safe  one,  had  been  uniformly  acted 
upon  by  the  heads  of  the  rebellion,  ex 
cept  in  the  one  instance  of  Lee's  inva 
sion  of  Maryland,  in  September,  1862. 
It  was  a  policy  exceedingly  distasteful 
to  large  numbers  in  the  army  and  else 
where  ;  Jackson  had  always  longed  to 
invade  the  North  (p.  150)  ;  and  there 
were  frequent  murrnurings  and  com 
plainings  that  victories,  such  as  those 
at  Fredericksburg  and  Chaucellorsville, 
brought  none  of  the  fruits  of  victory. 
They  only  Jeft  matters  as  they  were ; 
whereas,  it  was  urged,  the  conquerors 


320 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  YIIL 


ought  to  receive  the  just  rewards  of 
their  brave  deeds,  and  despoil  the  en 
emy  whom  they  had  beaten  on  the 
field.  "  Carry  the  war  into  Africa '' 
was  the  cry ;  "  carry  fire  and  sword 
into  the  northern  states ;  let  the  people 
there  have  a  taste  of  what  war  is,  in 
the  destruction  of  their  cities,  and 
towns,  and  homes,  and  fertile  fields ; 
it  must  be  done  ;  and  one  great  success 
would  soon  drive  them  to  give  up  the 
contest  and  yield  to  our  demands." 
Thus  the  discontented  and  hot-headed 
"  chivalry  "  fretted  and  fumed ;  and 
they  succeeded  finally  in  having  their 
own  way  in  this  matter.  Invasion  was 
approved  at  Richmond ;  invasion  was 
resolved  upon;  and  Gen.  Lee  had,  or 
thought  he  had,  good  practical  reasons 
for  making  the  attempt,  just  at  this 
time.  First,  there  were  not  only  heavy 
losses  in  battle,  and  more  or  less  of  de 
moralization  in  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  but  the  various  regiments  whose 
term  of  service  now  expired  insisted  on 
returning  home,  which  very  largely  de 
pleted  Hooker's  force,  to  the  extent 
altogether  of  some  30,000  men.  Next, 
there  were  in  the  loyal  states  many  ex 
pressions,  in  certain  quarters,  of  sym 
pathy  with  secession,  and  venomous 
denunciation  of  the  government  at 
Washington,  and  it  was  confidently 
thought  that  Lee  and  his  men  would 
be  welcomed  by  numbers,  as  fighting  in 
a  just  cause.  Again,  Lee  was  very  great 
ly  in  need,  especially  of  horses  and 
mules,  and  supplies  of  all  kinds,  which, 
it  would  seem,  he  had  only  to  advance 
into  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland  in 
order  to  obtain  to  any  amount.  Added 
to  all  this,  the  rebel  army  was  in  the 


highest  spirits,  considering  itself  equal 
to  any  undertaking,  and  as  it  had  been 
reinforced  and  thoroughly  reorganised,  it 
was  in  a  better  condition  than  at  any 
previous  time  in  its  history  for  a  bold, 
forward  movement ;  it  looked  with  a 
sort  of  contemptuous  feeling  upon  the 
army  which  had  failed  at  Fredericks- 
burg  and  Chancellorsville ;  it  was  full 
of  enthusiasm  in  view  of  the  rich  re 
wards  consequent  upon  a  successful 
invasion  of  the  hated  North.* 

On  the  3d  of  June,  Lee  began  certain 
movements  with  reference  to  carrying 
out  his  main  design.  His  army  having 
been  organized  into  three  corps,  under 
Longstreet,  Ewell,  and  Hill,  Long- 
street's  corps  left  Fredericksburg  for 
Culpepper  Court  House  on  that  day; 
it  was  followed  by  Ewell's  corps  the 
day  after;  while  Hill,  with  his  corps, 
occupied  the  lines  at  Fredericksburg. 
By  the  8th  of  June,  Longstreet  and 
Ewell  were  at  Culpepper,  where  they 
found  Stuart  with  his  cavalry,  which 
had  been  concentrated  there  some  time 
before  the  main  movement  had  been 
undertaken.  Hooker  was  not  inatten 
tive  to  what  was  going  on.  On  the  6th 
of  June,  he  sent  Sedgwick's  corps  across 
the  Rappahannock  on  a  reconnaissance, 
the  result  of  which  was,  that  the  enemy 
were  still  at  Fredericksburg  in  force 
Lee's  plan  was  not  yet  discerned  by 
Hooker.  As,  however,  the  rebel  press 


*  "  Gen.  Lee  resolved  to  manoeuvre  Hooker  out  of 
Virginia,  to  clear  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  the  troops 
of  the  enemy,  and  to  renew  the  experiment  of  the  trans 
fer  of  hostilities  north  of  the  Potomac.  It  was  a  blow 
to  the  summer  campaign  of  the  enemy,  calculated  to 
disarrange  it  and  relievo  other  parts  of  the  Confede 
racy,  but  above  all,  aimed  at  the  prize  of  a  great  vic 
tory  on  northern  soil,  long  the  aspiration  of  the  south 
ern  public."— Pollard's  "  Third  Tear  of  the  War,"  p.  16. 


CH.  XXIX.] 


LEE  SETS   OUT  TO   INVADE  THE  NORTH. 


321 


indulged  freely  in  significant  intima 
tions  of  events  near  at  hand,*  and  as 
the  gathering  of  Stuart's  cavalry  at 
Culpepper  clearly  indicated  some  pur 
pose  of  evil  which  ought  to  be  looked 
after,  Hooker  resolved  to  send  a  strong 
force  against  Stuart  and  break  up  his 
encampment.  Accordingly,  on  the  9th 
of  June,  early  in  the  morning,  Pleasan- 
ton,  with  Buford's  and  Gregg's  divisions 
of  cavalry,  and  tvfo  brigades  of  infantry 
under  Eussell  and  Ames,  crossed  the 
Kappahannock  at  Beverley's  and  Kel 
ly's  Fords.  Bufowl  first  encountered  the 
enemy  a  short  distance  south  of  Beverley 
Ford,  when  a  sharp  conflict  occurred. 
Gregg  having  crossed  at  Kelly's  Ford, 
pushed  on  towards  Brandy  Station,  and 
carried  the  heights.  Stuart  brought  up 
a  large  force,  and  a  determined  fight 
ensued.  Gregg,  finding  that  Buford 
was  not  able  to  unite  with  him,  fell 
back  after  a  time  and  joined  his  troops 
with  the  other  division;  whereupon 
Pleasanton  retired  his  force  across  the 
Rappahannock,  His  loss  was  about 
500 ;  the  rebel  loss  was  fully  equal  to 
ours.  It  was  a  noted  engagement  on 
this  occasion,  for  the  cavalry  of  both 
armies  were  not  only  in  full  force,  but 
they  fought  in  legitimate  cavalry  style, 
gallantly  dashing  to  the  charge  and 
using  their  sabres  with  tremendous 
effect.  In  other  respects,  the  move 
ment  of  Pleasanton  was  of  great  mo- 

*  "  So  hopeful  were  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion  in  the 
success  of  this  their  project,  that  they  did  not  deem  it 
necessary  to  keep  their  intentions  a  secret.  Many 
weeks  before  their  attempted  invasion,  their  news 
papers  freely  referred  to  it  as  an  event  that  would 
surely  happen,  and  boasted  loudly  of  the  manner  in 
which  they  would  fatten  on  the  spoils  they  would  take 
from  the  rich  farmers  and  well-filled  storehouses  of  the 
North."— Jacobs's  "Notes  on  the  Rebel  Invasion,"  p.  6. 
VOL.  IV.— 41. 


ment,  for  it  not  only  proved  Lee's 
sence  at  Culpepper,  but,  by  the  capture 
of  some  rebel  correspondence,  disclosed 
clearly  Lee's  purpose  of  invading  the 
North. 

Hooker,  on  the  llth  of  June,  advanc 
ed  his  right  up  the  Rappahannock,  and 
sent  his  cavalry  to  watch  the 

1S63 

upper  forks  of  the  river;  but 
Lee,  while  Hooker  was  doing  this, 
pushed  forward  his  left  into  the  Shen- 
andoah  Valley.  Swell's  corps,  on  the 
10th,  passed  the  Blue  Ridge  at  Chester 
Gap,  crossed  the  Shenandoah,  and 
marching  rapidly,  arrived  before  Win 
chester  on  the  evening  of  the  13th,  af 
ter  an  advance,  from  Culpepper,  of 
seventy  miles  in  three  days.  "A  glance 
at  the  map  will  reveal  the  extraordinary 
situation  of  the  Confederate  forces  at 
this  time.  On  the  13th  of  June,  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  yet  lying  on 
the  Rappahannock,  Lee's  line  of  battle 
was  stretched  out  over  an  interval  of 
upwards  of  a  hundred  miles;  for  his 
right  (Hill's  corps)  still  held  the  lines 
of  Fredericksburg ;  his  centre  (Long- 
street's  corps)  lay  at  Culpepper;  and 
his  left  (Swell's  corps)  was  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley!"* 
In  this  state  of  things,  Hooker's  course 
seemed  to  be  plain ;  he  must  regulate 
his  movements  so  as  to  defend  the  ap 
proaches  to  the  capital,  and  also  ad 
vance  as  rapidly  as  possible  on  Lee's 


*  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  314.  Mr.  Swinton, 
noting  Lee's  implied  contempt  of  his  opponent,  criticizes 
the  neglect  of  Hooker  in  not  striking  the  exposed  rear  of 
this  long  line,  and  either  destroying  Hill  or  compelling 
Lee  to  hasten  back  to  his  support.  This  would  have 
put  an  end  to  the  invasion.  But  Halleck,  at  Washing 
ton,  did  not  favor  any  steps  of  the  kind  ;  Hooker,  there 
fore,  ought  probably  to  be  held  excused  for  not  taking 
an  initiative  which  promised  so  excellent  results. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII 


1S63. 


flank,  awaiting  the  further  development 
of  that  general's  designs.  He  accord 
ingly  broke  up  camp  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  June  13th,  moved  on  the  direct 
route  towards  Washington,  by  way  of 
the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad, 
and  reached  Fairfax  Court  House  on 

the  evening  of  the  15th  of  June. 

~ 

The  enemy's  earliest  demonstration 
was  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah, 
upon  the  outposts  at  Winchester  and 
Berryville.  Jenkins,  with  his  cavalry 
brigade,  was  sent  forward  toward  Win 
chester,  while  Imboden  was 
sent  towards  Romney,  to  cover 
the  movement.  Both  of  these  officers 
were  in  position  when  Ewell  left  Cul- 
pepper,  on  the  10th  of  June.  Ewell, 
having  crossed  the  Shenandoah,  with 
his  corps,  near  Front  Royal,  detached 
Rodes's  division  to  Berryville,  with 
instructions,  after  dislodging  the  force 
stationed  there,  to  cut  off  communica 
tion  between  Winchester  and  the  Poto 
mac  ;  while,  with  the  divisions  of  Early 
and  Johnson,  he  advanced  directly  up 
on  Winchester. 

Gen.  Milroy  was  in  command  at  Win 
chester  at  this  time,  with  a  force  of 
about  10,000  men;  McReynolds  was 
at  Berryville,  with  his  brigade;  and 
Martinsburg  was  held  by  Tyler,  as  an 
outpost  of  Harper's  Ferry.  Neither 
Winchester  nor  Martinsburg  was  sus 
ceptible  of  a  good  defence ;  and  the  with 
drawal  of  the  garrisons  had  been  advis 
ed,  though  not  ordered,  as  early  as  the 
llth  of  June,  by  Halleck,  at  Washing 
ton.  On  the  13th,  Rodes's  division 
of  the  rebel  force  appeared  before  Ber 
ryville,  when  Col.  McReynolds,  with  his 
command,  fell  back  to  Winchester,  pur 


sued  by  the  enemy,  a  portion  of  the 
rear  guard  escaping  in  the  direction  of 
Harper's  Ferry.  On  arriving  at  Win 
chester  in  the  evening,  he  found  Milroy 
closely  pressed  by  the  enemy.  On  the 
evening  of  the  next  day,  June  14th, 
Early  carried  the  outer  works  of  the 
town  by  storm.  That  night  Milroy, 
after  spiking  his  guns,  left  with  the 
whole  of  his  command  on  his  retreat  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  taking  with  him  his  ar 
tillery  horses  and  wagons.  Four  miles 
from  the  town,  on  the  Martinsburg 
road,  he  was  intercepted  by  rebel  troops, 
and  had  to  fight  his  way,  as  best  he 
could,  through  their  midst,  his  loss 
being  very  great.  Rodes,  meanwhile, 
proceeded  from  Berryville  to  Martins 
burg,  where  he  took  700  prisoners  and 
a  quantity  of  stores.  Tyler,  with  the 
main  body  of  his  command,  after  a 
sharp  fight,  made  good  his  retreat  to 
Harper's  Ferry.  Thus,  the  lower  part 
of  the  Valley  was  swept  of  the  Union 
forces,  and  the  rebels  captured  over 
4,000  prisoners,  29  pieces  of  artillery, 
270  wagons  and  ambulances,  and  400 
horses,  together  with  a  large  amount  of 
military  stores.* 

In  view  of  the  threatened  invasion, 
preparations  were  at  once  made  for  the 
defence  of  Pennsylvania.  Gen.  Couch, 
on  the  9th  of  June,  was  assigned  to 
the  department  of  the  Susquehanna, 
having  his  headquarters  at  Harrisburg ; 
and  Gen.  Brooks,  at  the  same  time, 


*  Milroy's  defence  of  the  post  intrusted  to  his  care,  Mr. 
Swinton  tells  us,  was  infamously  feeble,  and  the  worst 
of  that  long  train  of  misconduct  that  made  the  Valley 
of  the  Shenandoah  to  be  called  the  "Valley  of  Humi 
liation."  A  court  of  inquiry  was  ordered,  on  the  re 
port  of  which  the  president  decided  against  court-mar 
tialing  Milroy. 


On.  XXIX.] 


REBEL  CAVALRY  CROSS  THE  POTOMAC. 


323 


took  charge  of  the  department  of  the 
Monongahela  with  his  headquarters  at 
Pittsburg.  Gov.  Curtin,  of  Pennsyl 
vania,  issued  a  proclamation,  on  the 
12th  of  June,  calling  on  the  people  to 
rouse  themselves  in  the  existing  emer 
gency.  So  soon  as  the  attack  on  Win 
chester  became  known  at  Washington, 
Mr.  Lincoln,  on  the  13th  of  June, 
issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  lie  de 
clared  that  "  the  armed  insurrectionary 
combinations  now  existing  in  several  of 
the  states,  are  threatening  to  make  in 
roads  into  the  states  of  Maryland,  West. 
era  Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio, 
requiring  an  additional  military 

I  BfjO 

force  for  the  service  of  the  Uni 
ted  States."  He  therefore  called  into 
the  service  100,000  militia  to  serve  for 
six  months;  from.  Maryland  10,000, 
Pennsylvania  50,000,  Ohio  30,000, 
West  Virginia  10,000 ;  he  also,  with 
Gov.  Seymour's  prompt  acquiescence, 
called  for  20,000  men  from  New  York. 
Gov.  Curtin  issued  another  procla 
mation,  on  the  same  day  that  the  pres 
ident's  was  sent  forth,  appealing  ear 
nestly  to  those  "  who  hate  treason  and 
its  abettors,  and  invoking  them  to  rise 
in  their  might  and  rush  to  the  rescue 
in  this  hour  of  imminent  peril."  The 
governor's  words  hardly  produced  their 
proper  effect,  and  in  less  than  a  week, 
he  had  to  call. upon  the  people  again; 
but  now,  the  rebels  were  actually  in 
Pennsylvania,  committing  depredations 
very  extensively,  and  as  this  was  an 
argument  they  felt  to  the  full,  they  be 
stirred  themselves  accordingly.  The 
governors  of  West  Virginia,  Ohio,  and 
Maryland,  also  issued  spirit-stirring  ap 
peals  to  the  people,  and  there  was  a 


general  disposition  in  all  the  states  to 
furnish  the  necessary  aid. 

The  rebel  commander,  inspirited  by 
his  success  thus  far,  endeavored  to  en 
tice  Hooker  further  from  his  base,  and 
thus  gain  an  opportunity  to  strike  a 
blow  at  Washington.  With  this  object 
in  view,  Hill's  corps  having  been  sent 
to  join  Swell's  in  the  valley,  Longstreet, 
with  his  corps  augmented  by  three  bri 
gades  of  Pickett's  division,  moved  from 
Culpepper  along  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  and  took  position  at  Ash- 
by's  and  Snickers  Gaps.  His  front 
was  secured  by  Stuart's  cavalry,  against 
whom  Hooker  sent  Pleasanton  with  his 
energetic  force.  A  sharp  encounter 
occurred,  on  the  17th  of  June,  at 
Aldie,  which  served  in  part  to  develop 
Lee's  position;  and  again,  on  the  21st, 
our  cavalry  met  Stuart's  troopers  on 
the  road  between  Aldie  and  Ashby's 
Gap,  and  drove  them  through  Middle- 
bury  and  Upperville,  and  beyond.  "It 
was  a  most  disastrous  day  to  the  rebel 
cavalry,"  said  Pleasanton,  in  a  dispatch. 
"  Our  loss  has  been  very  small,  both  in 
men  and  horses.  I  never  saw  the  men 
and  troops  behave  better,  or  under 
more  difficult  circumstances.  Very 
heavy  charges  were  made,  and  the 
sabre  was  used  freely,  but  always  with 
great  advantage  to  us." 

The  great  success  of  Ewell  at  Win- 

o 

Chester,  noted  on  a  previous  page 
(p.  322),  was  immediately  followed  up 
by  the  passage  of  a  body  of  1,500 
rebel  cavaliy,  under  Jenkins,  across  the 
Potomac,  who  passed  through  Hagers- 
town  and  Greencastle,  and  then  ad 
vanced  to  Chambersburg,  which  town 
they  entered  without  opposition  on  the 


324 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  VIII. 


eveuing  of  the  15th  of  June.  Horses, 
cattle,  forage,  goods  (paid  for  in  con 
federate  scrip)  were  freely  seized  upon ; 
the  bridges  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Cum 
berland,  a  distance  of  a  hundred  miles, 
were  destroyed  by  Imboden,  and  the 
road  itself  torn  up  to  a  considerable 
extent;  and  the  rebels  displayed  the 
utmost  activity  in  supplying  their  needs 
out  of  the  property  of  the  rich  farmers 
of  Pennsylvania.  No  wonder  that  an 
unparalleled  excitement  was  roused  in 
the  loyal  states,  and  intense  interest 
manifested  in  the  movements  of  that 
army  on  which  rested  the  grave  respon 
sibility  of  repulsing  and  driving  out 
the  daring  rebels. 

As  Hooker  was  not  to  be  lured  away 
from  the  direct  defence  of  the  capital 
in  order  to  make  an  attack  upon  Long- 
street,  Lee  resolved  at  once  to  carry 
out  his  original  purpose  of  invasion, 
and  to  give  up  the  hoped-for  chance  of 
any  blow  against  Washington.  Accord 
ingly,  Ewell,  having  been  relieved  by 
Hill  and  Longstreet,  began  to  move 
with  the  advancing  column  on  Sunday, 
June  21st.  On  the  same  day,  Lee 
issued  an  order  to  his  army,  regulating 
the  mode  of  procuring  supplies  "  while 
in  the  enemy's  country,"  as  he  phrased 
it.  No  private  property  was  to  be  in 
jured  or  destroyed.  The  chiefs  of  the 
commissary,  quarter-master,  ordnance, 
and  medical  departments  were  author 
ized  to  make  requisitions  upon  the 
local  authorities  or  inhabitants  for  the 
supplies  they  might  need,  payment 
for  which  should  be  tendered, 
and  if  refused,  receipts  should 
be  given  for  the  property  taken.  If 


property  was  withheld  or  concealed,  it 
was  liable  to  peremptory  seizure.* 

The  day  following  this  order,  June 
22d,  Swell's  corps  crossed  the  Potomac 
at  Williamsport,  passed  thence  to 
Hagerstown,  and  entered  Greencastle 
early  in  the  afternoon.  On  the  23d, 
Chambersburg  was  re-occupied  by 
Rodes's  division  of  Swell's  force.  The 
next  day,  Lee,  with  the  main  body  of 
his  army,  crossed  into  Maryland  at  the 
fords  at  Shepherdstown  and  Williams- 
port,  and  moved  up  the  Cumberland 
Valley  on  the  west  side  of  the  Cotoctin 
Mountains.  His  advance  was  made  in 
two  divisions,  one  by  way  of  the  Har- 
risburg  and  Chambersburg  Railroad  to 
wards  Harrisburg,  and  the  other  from 
Gettysburg  eastward  to  the  Northern 
Central  Railroad  from  Baltimore  to 
Harrisburg,  and  thence  to  York  and 
Lancaster,  in  Pennsylvania.  On  the 
25th  of  June,  the  enemy  was  at  Car 
lisle,  from  which  Gen.  Knipe,  who  was 
stationed  at  the  place  with  two  New 
York  militia  regiments,  retired  to  Har 
risburg  from  the  presence  of  a  superior 
force. 

Ewell,  on  entering  Chambersburg, 
issued  an  order  to  the  inhabitants,  for 
bidding  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors 
to  his  command,  and  admonishing  all 
citizens  of  the  country  to  abstain 
from  all  acts  of  hostility,  upon  the  pen 
alty  of  "  being  dealt  with  in  a  summary 

*  Pollard  complains  bitterly  that  Lee  did  not  take 
occasion  to  retaliate  "  the  ferocity  of  the  enemy,"  by 
laying  waste  and  ravaging  Pennsylvania  while  he  had 
an  opportunity.  "  Such  tenderness,  the  effect  of  a 
weak  and  strained  chivalry,  or  more  probably  that  of 
deference  to  European  opinion,  is  another  of  the  many 
instances  which  the  war  has  furnished  of  the  simplic 
ity  and  sentimental  facility  of  the  South." — "  Third 
Year  of  the  War,"  p.  23. 


On.  XXIX.] 


REBEL  ADVANCE  INTO  PENNSYLVANIx\. 


321 


manner.1'  On  the  2Yth  of  June,  the 
main  body  of  Swell's,  Longstreet's, 
and  Hill's  corps  were  encamped  near 
CLambersburg.*  Early 's  division  was 
detached  for  the  purpose  of  crossing 
South  Mountain,  and  proceeded  as  far 
east  as  York,  while  the  remainder  of 
the  corps  proceeded  to  Carlisle.  Imbo- 
den,  in  pursuance  of  his  instructions, 
had  been  actively  engaged  on  the  left 
of  Ewell  during  the  progress  of  the 
latter  into  Maryland,  in  destroying  rail 
road  bridges,  etc. 

Several  hundred  of  the  enemy's  ad 
vance  guard  of  cavalry  rode  into  Get 
tysburg,  on  the  afternoon  of  June  26th, 
"  shouting  and  yelling,"  says  an  ob 
server,  u  like  so  many  savages  from  the 
wilds  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  firing 
their  pistols,  not  caring  whether  they 
killed  or  maimed  man,  woman  or  child ; 
and  rushing  from  stable  to  stable  in 
search  of  horses."  The  same  afternoon, 
Gordon's  brigade,  consisting  of  5,000 
men,  of  Early's  division  of  Ewell's  corps, 
entered  Gettysburg,  driving  before  them 
a  Pennsylvania  militia  regiment,  which 
had  been  stationed  as  an  outpost  of  the 
town.f  Early  who  accompanied  this 
brigade,  immediately  demanded  of  the 
authorities  a  large  amount  of  supplies, 
viz. : — 1,200  pounds  sugar,  600  pounds 

*  Stuart  with  his  cavalry  had  been  left  east  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  in  order  to  harass  Hooker  in  crossing  the 
Potomac,  after  which,  he  was  ordered  to  pass  into 
Maryland,  ami  take  position  on  the  right  of  the  ad 
vancing  column.  Not  being  able  to  effect  anything, 
he  crossed  below  the  point  where  Hooker  passed  over 
the  Potomac,  and  thus  found  the  army  between  him 
and  Lee,  which  necessitated,  on  Stuart's  part,  a  wide 
detour.  He  reached  Carlisle  on  the  1st  of  July,  after 
Ewell  had  left  the  place. 

f  From  the  appearance  of  the  ragged,  dirty,  shoe 
less,  and  hatless  rebel  troops,  on  the  present  occasion, 
it  appears  that  the  "  chivalry  "  had  not  improved  since 
the  former  invasion  (see  p.  228). 


of  coffee,  60  barrels  of  flour,  1,000 
pounds  of  salt,  7,000  pounds  of  bacon, 
10  barrels  of  whiskey,  10  barrels  of 
onions,  1,000  pairs  of  shoes,  and  500 
hats,  amounting  in  value  to  $6,000 ;  or 
in  lieu  thereof,  $5,000  cash.  On  being 
assured,  however,  that  the  demand  was 
entirely  bej^ond  any  possibility  of  their 
meeting  it,  Early  did  not  attempt  any 
forcible  requisition,  and  comparatively 
little  damage  was  dont  to  the  town. 

Hurrying  forward,  Early  passed 
through  Hanover  the  next  morning, 
and  on  Sunday,  June  28th,  entered  and 
occupied  York.  His  headquarters  were 
in  the  town,  with  the  larger  part  of  his 
force,  and  he  made  an  immediate  de 
mand  for  money  and  supplies.  The 
authorities  were  called  upon  for  $100,- 
000  in  United  States  Treasury  notes, 
200  barrels  of  flour,  40,000  pounds  of 
fresh  beef,  30,000  bushels  of  corn,  1,000 
pairs  of  shoes,  1,000  pairs  of  stockings, 
and  1,000  coats  and  caps,  beside  various 
other  articles,  amounting  in  value  to  not 
less  than  $150,000  ;  but  the  rebels  did 
not  get  more  than  $30,000  in  cash  and 
subsistence.  At  Wrightsville,  on  the 
Susquehanna,  our  troops  there  retreated 
across  the  river,  and  the  bridge  having 
been  fired,  the  rebels  were  prevented 
from  ravaging  east  of  the  Susquehanna.* 
Early  retreated  from  York  on  the 
30th  of  June,  and  in  doing  so  took 
great  credit  to  himself  and  his  men  for 


*  The  same  day,  a  train  of  178  wagons  was  captured 
by  the  rebels  between  Rockville  and  Tenallytown  ;  a 
number  of  army  officers  were  taken  prisoners  near  Rock 
ville  by  some  of  Stuart's  cavalry ;  and  at  Edwards' 
Ferry  fifteen  barges,  loaded  with  government  stores, 
were  burnt  by  Stuart's  men.  A  raid,  of  no  great  mo 
ment,  was  made  in  several  directions  by  Stuart,  almost 
to  the  capital ;  he  then  marched  through  Westminis 
ter  to  Carlisle. 


326 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


vm. 


their  excellent  conduct :  "  Had  I  applied 
the  torch  without  regard  to  conse 
quences,  I  would  have  pursued  a  course 
that  would  have  been  fully  vindicated 
as  an  act  of  just  retaliation  for  the  un 
paralleled  acts  of  brutality  perpetrated 
by  your  own  army  on  our  soil.  But 
we  do  not  war  upon  women  and  child 
ren,  and  I  trust  the  treatment  you  have 
met  with  at  the  hands  of  my  soldiers 
will  open  your  eyes  to  the  odious  tyr 
anny  under  which  it  is  apparent  to  all 
you  are  groaning." 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac,  mean 
while,  was  slowly  advancing  to  its  work. 
Having  crossed  the  Potomac,  on  the 
25th  and  26th  of  June,  at  Edwards' 
Ferry,  the  army  advanced  to  Frederick, 
Maryland,  where  Hooker  established 
his  headquarters,  and  whence  he  might 
move  upon  Lee  in  the  direction  which 
seemed  most  advantageous.  It  appears 
to  have  been  his  purpose  to  menace  the 
rebel  rear  by  a  movement  towards 
Chambersburg,  and  he  ordered  Slocum 
to  march  with  the  12th  corps  to  Har 
per's  Ferry,  and  taking  with  him  the 
garrison  there,  under  French,  11,000 
strong,  to  push  forward  the  proposed 
demonstration ;  but  Halleck  interfered. 
Hooker  remonstrated,  in  earnest  terms, 
and  pointed  out  that  the  garrison  at 
the  Ferry  was  of  no  earthly  use  in  the 
present  state  of  affairs ;  but  the'general- 
in-chief  was  not  to  be  moved ;  Mary 
land  Heights  must  be  held ;  "  much 
expense  and  labor  had  been  incurred  in 
fortifying  them."  Hooker,  indignant  at 
having  his  plans  interfered  with,  and 
probably  not  altogether  comfortable  in 
other  respects,  determined  to  throw  up 
his  command.  On  the  27th  of  June,  he 


requested  to  be  relieved,  and  the  next 
morning  an  order  came  from  Washing 
ton,  acceding  to  his  request,  and  ap 
pointing  Gen.  George  G.  Meade  to  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.* 

The  appointment  was  an  excellent 
one,  probably  the  best  that  could  have 
been  made,  and  both  the  officers  and 
the  army  felt  every  confidence  in  the 
judgment,  courage,  and  skill  of  their 
new  commander.  Warned  by  what 
had  taken  place  on  previous  occasions, 
Meade's  address  to  the  army,  June  28th, 
was  simple,  unadorned  by  rhetorical 
flourishes,  and  straightforward  : — "  By 
direction  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  I  hereby  assume  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  As  a  soldier, 
in  obeying  this  order,  an  order 
totally  unexpected  and  unsoli 
cited,  I  have  no  promises  or  pledges  to 
make.  The  country  looks  to  this  army 
to  relieve  it  from  the  devastation  and 
disgrace  of  a  hostile  invasion.  What 
ever  fatigues  and  sacrifices  we  may  be 
called  upon  to  undergo,  let  us  have  in 
view  constantly  the  magnitude  of  the 
interests  involved,  and  let  each  man 
determine  to  do  his  duty,  leaving  to  an 
all-controlling  Providence  the  decision 
of  the  contest." 

At  this  date,  Lee  wras  preparing  to 
cross  the  Susquehanna  and  strike  Har- 
risburg,  but  having  received  informa 
tion  from  a  scout  that  Meade's  army 


*  Mr.  Swinton,  who  does  not  spare  Halleck  for  his 
vexatious  interference,  thinks  that  "the  conduct  of 
Gen.  Hooker  cannot  be  accounted  noble  or  highminded. 
A  truly  lofty  sense  of  duty  would  have  dictated  much 
long  suffering,  in  a  conjuncture  of  circumstances,  amid 
which  the  success  of  the  campaign  might  be  seriously 
compromised  by  the  sudden  change  of  commanders.' 
See  Swinton's  "Army  of  the  Potomac"  pr.  321-323. 


CH.  XXIX.] 


OPENING   OF  THE   BATTLE. 


327 


was  advancing  northward,  and  that  the 
head  of  the  column  had  reached  South 
Mountain,  he  was  compelled,  by  this 
rapid  gathering  on  his  flank,  to  concen 
trate  his  forces  on  the  east  side  of  the 
mountain,  in  order  to  preserve  his  com 
munications  with  the  Potomac.  Ac 
cordingly,  Longstreet  and  Hill  were  or 
dered  to  proceed  from  Chambersburg 
towards  Gettysburg,  about  twenty  miles 
eastward,  to  which  point  Ewell  also  was 
directed  to  countermarch  from  York  and 
Carlisle. 

It  was  evident,  from  the  state  of 
things,  that  a  collision  between  the  two 
armies  could  not  be  far  distant.  Meade, 
having  compelled  Lee  to  loose  his  hold 
upon  the  Susquehanna,  was  carefully 
considering  where  to  select  a  position 
in  which  to  receive  battle  on  advantage 
ous  terms.*  The  line  of  Pipe  Creek, 
on  the  ridge  between  the  Monocacy  and 
the  waters  running  into  Chesapeake 
Bay,  seemed  adapted  to  his  purpose; 
but  no  decision  was  yet  formed,  and 
various  circumstances  soon  after  occur 
ring,  led,  providentially,  to  the  making 
choice  of  Gettysburg  as  the  point  where 
the  rebels  were  to  be  signally  repulsed. 
On  the  29th  of  June,  Meade' s  army  was 
in  motion,  and  at  night  was  in  position, 
the  left  at  Enimittsburg  and  the  right 
at  New  Windsor.  Buford's  division  of 
cavalry  was  on  the  left  flank,  with  its 
advance  at  Gettysburg;  Kilpatrick's 
division  was  in  front  at  Hanover.  The 
next  day,  in  view  of  the  approaching 

*  Gen.  French,  who  was  in  command  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  was  ordered,  on  the  28th  of  June,  to  leave  that 
post,  which  was  represented,  incorrectly,  however,  as 
destitute  of  supplies  ;  to  occupy  Frederick  with  7,000 
of  his  men,  and  with  the  remaining  4,000  to  remove  and 
escort  the  public  property  to  Washington. 


deadly  struggle,  Meade  issued  an  address 
to  the  army,  in  which,  with  the  utmost 
earnestness,  he  besought  the  officers  and 
soldiers  to  bear  in  mind  what  vast  inter 
ests  depended  on  their  steadiness  and 
good  conduct.  "  Homes,  firesides,  and  do 
mestic  altars  are  involved.  The  army  has 
fought  well  heretofore.  It  is  believed 
that  it  will  fight  more  desperately  and 
bravely  than  ever,  if  it  is  addressed  in 
fitting  terms.  Corps  and  other  com 
manders  are  authorized  to  order  the  in 
stant  death  of  any  soldier  who  fails  to 
do  his  duty  at  this  hour.7' 

On  the  night  of  June  30th,  the  right 
wing  of  the  army  was  ordered  to  Man 
chester,  in  rear  of  Pipe  Creek,  the  cen 
tre  was  directed  towards  Two  Taverns 
and  Hancock,  while  the  left  wing,  con 
sisting  of  the  1st,  llth,  and  3d 
corps,  under  Gen.  Reynolds,  moved 
forward  to  occupy  Gettysburg  the  next 
morning.  Buford,  with  his  cavalry, 
passing  through  the  town,  pushed  out 
reconnaissances  west  and  north,  to  as 
certain,  if  possible,  the  movements  of 
Lee's  army.  On  the  morning  of  Tues 
day,  June  30th,  a  portion  of  Hill's 
corps  advanced  on  the  Chambersburg 
road  as  far  as  the  crest  of  Seminary 
Hill,  half  a  mile  north-west  of  the  vil 
lage,  but  did  not  remain,  retiring  to 
wards  Cashtown.  About  nine  o'clock, 
the  next  morning,  July  1st,  Buford 
found  himself  eno-a2;ed.  rather  unex- 

O      O          / 

pectedly,  with  the  van  of  Hill's  force, 
about  a  mile  west  of  the  town.  Aware 
of  the  importance  of  retarding  Hill's 
advance,  Buford  skilfully  arranged  his 
men  and  used  his  artillery  to  good 
effect.  In  less  than  an  hour,  Reynolds 
reached  Gettysburg,  and  dashing 


328 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bn.  VHL 


through  the  town,  hastened  to  Buford's 
support.  He  deployed  his  advance  di 
vision  immediately,  and  attacked  the 
enemy,  at  the  same  time  sending  orders 
for  the  llth  corps  (Howard's)  to 
advance  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Rey 
nolds  found  himself  engaged  with  a 
force  greatly  outnumbering  his  own, 
and  had  scarcely  made  his  dispositions 
for  the  action,  when  a  ball  from  one  of 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters  struck  him, 
and  he  fell  mortally  wounded,  at  the 
head  of  his  advance.*  This  devolved 
the  command  of  the  1st  corps  upon 
Doubleday,  and  the  charge  of  the  field 
on  Howard,  who  arrived  about  midday, 
with  the  llth  corps,  then  command 
ed  by  Gen.  Schurz.  Howard  pushed 
forward  two  divisions  under  Schurz 
and  Barlow  to  support  the  1st  corps, 
which  had  bravely  and  nobly  with 
stood  the  rebel  assault,  on  the  ridge  to 
the  north  of  the  town.  The  other  di 
vision  of  the  llth  corps  under  Steinwehr 
was  posted,  by  Howard,  with  three  bat 
teries  of  artillery,  on  Cemetery  Hill,  on 
the  south  of  the  town  of  Gettysburg, 
a  most  important  step,  and  as  it  hap 
pened,  the  one  which,  in  Meade's  hands, 
secured  the  repulse  of  the  rebels. 

Up  to  this  time  the  battle  had  been 
with  the  forces  of  the  enemy  debouch 
ing  from  the  mountains  on  the  Cash- 

*  Prof.  Jacobs,  speaking  of  Gen.  Reynolds,  says : 
"  He  has  bean  charged  with  rashness,  with  fool-hardi 
ness,  and  with  prematurely  bringing  on  the  battle. 
But  it  would,  perhaps,  be  more  just  to  say  that  he  had 
but  little  direct  agency  in  bringing  it  on  ;  that  it  was 
unavoidable ;  that  it  was  forced  on  us  by  the  rebels  ; 
that  if  they  had  not  been  held  in  check  that  day,  they 
•would  have  pressed  on  and  obtained  the  impregnable 
position  Avhich  we  were  enabled  to  hold ;  and  that, 
most  of  all  the  hand  of  Providence,  who  gave  us  a  sig 
nal  victory,  was  in  the  arrangements  of  that  day." — 
"  Notes  on  the  Rebel  Invasion,"  1863,  p.  26. 


town  road,  known  to  be  Hill's  corps. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  action  success 
was  on  our  side — Wadsworth's  division 
of  the  1st  corps  having  driven  the  ene 
my  back  some  distance,  and  capturing 
numerous  prisoners,  some  1,500  or 
more,  among  them  Gen.  Archer  of  the 
rebel  army.  This  took  place  in  the 
rear  of  the  seminary,  near  Willoughby'b 
Run,  at  about  the  middle  of  the  day, 
The  arrival  of  reinforcements  to  the 
rebels  on  the  Cashtown  road,  and  the 
junction  with  E well's  corps,  coming 
on  the  York  and  Harrisburg  1S6« 
roads,  which  occurred  between 
one  and  two  o'clock  P.M.,  enabled  the 
enemy  to  bring  vastly  superior  forces 
against  both  the  1st  and  llth  corps, 
outflanking  our  line  of  battle  and  press 
ing  it  so  severely  that,  at  about  four 
P.M.,  Howard  deemed  it  prudent  to  with 
draw  these  two  corps  to  Cemetery 
Ridge,  on  the  south  side  of  the  town, 
which  operation  was  successfully  ac 
complished — not,  however,  without  a 
loss  in  prisoners  of  2,500  to  3,000, 
arising  from  the  confusion  incident  to 
the  being  pressed  by  the  enemy  while 
portions  of  both  corps  were  passing 
through  the  town. 

About  the  time  of  the  withdrawal 
just  noted,  Hancock  arrived,  having 
been  sent  by  Meade,  on  hearing  of  the 
death  of  Reynolds,  to  take  command  on 
the  field,  until  he  himself  should  reach 
the  front.  Hancock,  in  conjunction 
with  Howard,  proceeded  to  post  troops 
on  Cemetery  Ridge  or  Hill,  and  to  re 
pel  an  attack  made  on  our  right  flank, 
which  was  promptly  done.  The  rebels, 
seeing  the  strength  of  the  position  oc 
cupied,  desisted  from  any  further  at- 


CH.  XXIX.] 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  SECOND  DAY. 


329 


tack  tliis  day.  About  seven  P.M.,  Slo- 
cum  and  Sickles,  with  the  12th  corps, 
and  part  of  the  3d,  reached  the  ground, 
and  took  post  on  the  right  and  left  of 
the  troops  previously  posted.  The  re 
bels,  according  to  the  accounts  of  eye 
witnesses,  were  much  elated  with  the 
results  of  the  contest  thus  far,  and  they 
expressed  themselves  as  abundantly 
able  to  cut  up  Meade's  army  in  detail, 
fatigued  as  it  was  by  long  marches,  and 
with  only  two  corps  which  had  as  yet 
arrived.  On  the  other  hand,  the  pros 
pect  was  much  more  gloomy  and  dis 
heartening  to  our  men ;  yet,  though 
the  hours  of  that  first  of  July  night 
were  weary  with  painful  expectation, 
they  did  not  give  way  to  despondency ; 
they  nerved  themselves  to  fight  for  the 
cause  of  truth  and  right,  in  the  confi 
dence  that  truth  and  right  would  pre- 
va.il.* 

Meade,  satisfied  that  Lee  would  re 
new  the  attack  in  full  force  the  next 
day,  and  also  that  the  position  already 
secured  offered  most  valuable  means  of 
defence,  resolved  to  give  battle  at  this 
point.  Early  in  the  evening  of  July 
1st,  he  ordered  all  the  corps  to  concen 
trate  at  Gettysburg,  the  trains  being 
sent  meanwhile  to  the  rear  at  Westmin 
ster.  Headquarters  at  Taney town  were 
broken  up  at  eleven  o'clock  that  night, 
and  Meacle  arrived  on  the  field  at  one 


*  It  is  interesting  here  to  compare  Lee's  statements, 
in  Ms  report,  in  regard  to  the  movements  and  opera 
tions  of  the  1st  of  July.  Having  spoken  of  his  men 
driving  our  forces  through  Gettysburg  with  heavy  loss, 
and  claiming  that  he  had  taken  5,000  prisoners  and 
several  pieces  of  artillery,  he  gave  as  his  reason  for  not 
pressing  the  attack,  that  ho  was  waiting  for  his  troops 
to  come  up.  He  was,  moreover,  in  doubt  as  to  the 
amount  of  Meade's  force,  and  as  to  fighting  a  general 
battle  so  far  from  his  base. 
VOL.  TV.— 42. 


1863. 


o'clock  A.M.,  Thursday  morning,  July  2d. 
So  soon  as  it  was  light  Meade  proceeded 
to  inspect  the  position  occupied,  and 
to  make  arrangements  for  placing  the 
several  corps  as  they  should  reach  the 
ground.  By  seven  o'clock,  the  2d 
and  5th  corps,  with  the  rest  of  the 
3d,  had  reached  the  ground,  and 
were  posted  as  follows:  The  llth 
retained  its  position  on  the  cemetery 
side,  just  opposite  to  the  town.  The 
1st  was  posted  on  the  right  of  the 
llth,  on  an  elevated  knoll,  Gulp's 
Hill,  connecting  with  the  ridge  extend 
ing  to  the  south  and  east,  on 
which  the  2d  was  placed. 
The  right  of  the  12th  rested  on  a 
small  stream,  Hock  Creek,  at  a  point 
where  it  crossed  the  Baltimore  turn 
pike.  Cemetery  Ridge  extended  in  a 
westerly  and  southerly  direction,  grad 
ually  diminishing  in  elevation  till  it 
came  to  a  very  prominent  ridge,  called 
Round  Top,  running  east  and  west. 
The  2d  and  3d  corps  were  directed  to 
occupy  the  continuation  of  Cemetery 
Ridge,  on  the  left  of  the  llth.  The 
2nd,pending  the  arrival  of  the  6th,  was 
held  in  reserve.  While  these  disposi 
tions  were  being  made,  the  enemy  was 
massing  his  troops  on  the  exterior 
ridge,  distant  from  the  line  occupied 
by  us  from  a  mile  to  a  mile  and  a-half. 
At  two  P.M.,  the  6th  corps  (Sedgwick's) 
arrived,  after  a  march  of  thirty-two 
miles  since  nine  o'clock  of  the  eve 
ning  before.  On  Sedgwick's  arrival, 

o  o 

the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  about 
equal  in  numbers  to  that  of  the  re 
bels,  whose  line  was  about  five  miles 
in  stretch,  and  was  in  part  well  con 
cealed  by  a  fringe  of  woods.  Imme- 


330 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


diately  on  the  arrival  of  the  6th  corps, 
the  5th  was  directed  to  remove  over  to 
the  extreme  left,  and  the  6th  to  occupy 
its  place  as  a  reserve  for  the  right. 

Thursday  morning,  July  2d,  did  not 
present  quite  so  bright  a  prospect  to 
the  rebels  as  the  night  before.  Then, 
they  were  jubilant  over  expected  suc 
cess;  now,  on  further  examination  of 
the  position  of  our  army,  and  being 
aware  of  large  reinforcements  having 
arrived,  Lee  saw  plainly  that  it  was  no 
such  easy  task  as  had  been  anticipated 
to  drive  back  Meade ;  hence,  he  made 
his  arrangements  leisurely  and  with 
care  before  beginning  the  attack.  "  Here 
I  cannot  but  remark,"  says  Mr.  Everett 
in  his  Address,*  "  on  the  providential 
inaction  of  the  rebel  army.  Had  the 
contest  been  renewed  by  it  at  daylight, 
on  the  2d  of  July,  with  the  1st  and 
llth  corps  exhausted  by  the  battle  and 
the  retreat,  the  3d  and  12th  weary 
from  their  forced  march,  and  the  2d, 
5th,  and  6th  not  yet  arrived,  nothing 
but  a  miracle  could  have  saved  the 
army  from  a  great  disaster.  Instead  of 
this,  the  day  dawned,  the  sun  rose, 
the  cool  hours  of  the  morning  passed, 
the  forenoon  and  a  considerable  part  of 
the  afternoon  wore  away,  without  the 
slightest  aggressive  movement  of  the 
enemy.  Thus  time  was  given  for  half 
of  our  forces  to  arrive  and  take  their 
place  in  the  lines,  while  the  rest  of  the 
army  enjoyed  a  much  needed  half-day's 
repose." 

Having  perfected  his  arrangements, 

*  On  the  19th  of  November,  1863,  a  National  Ceme 
tery  was  consecrated  at  Gettysburg,  with  suitable  and 
imposing  ceremonies.  The  Hon.  Edward  Everett 
delivered  the  address  on  this  interesting  occasion,  and 
a  dedicatory  speech  was  made  by  President  Lincoln. 


Lee  gave  the  signal  for  the  attack  a  lit 
tle  before  half-past  four  o'clock,  when 
a  terrific  cannonading  began,  accom 
panied  by  an  infantry  charge  on  our 
left.  Llis  plan  was  to  seize  the  position 
held  by  Sickles  with  the  3d  corps, 
that  general  having  pushed  his  troops 
beyond  the  point  which  Meade  wished 
and  intended,  and  then  to  use  this  posi 
tion  from  whence  to  assail  the  more 
elevated  ground  beyond,  and  gain  pos 
session  of  the  crest  of  the  ridge.  This 
work  was  assigned  to  Longstreet  and 
his  men.  Ewell  was  ordered  to  attack 
the  high  ground  on  our  right,  and  Hill 
was  directed  to  threaten  the  centre  and 
prevent  reinforcements  being  sent  to 
either  wing  of  our  army. 

It  was  a  fearful  struggle  in  which 
Sickles  immediately  became  involved, 
at  a  peach  orchard  near  the  Ernmits- 
burg  road.  Fierce  as  was  the  assault 
of  the  rebels,  it  was  steadily  met  by 
our  men ;  but  at  last  they  began  to  give 
way.  Sickles  rallied  them  again,  and 
they  arrested  and  hurled  back  the  ad 
vancing  column  for  a  short  time ;  but 
finding  themselves  opposed  by  an  over 
whelming  mass  of  the  enemy,  and  hard 
pressed,  Sickles  himself  being  severely 
wounded,  they  gave  wray  a  second  time. 
It  was  a  most  critical  moment.  The 
rebels  had  thrust  a  portion  of  their 
force  under  Hood  between  the  extreme 
left  of  Sickles  and  Round  Top,  and  as 
Little  Round  Top  was  not  yet  occupied, 
Hood  might  have  massed  his  division, 
pushed  boldly  for  the  rocky  summit, 
and  thus  grasped  the  key  of  the  battle 
ground.  But  help  arrived  at  the 
opportune  moment.  Hancock  sent  a 
portion  of  the  2d  corps  to  cover  the 


CH.  XXIX.] 


THE  BATTLE  OF  JULY  SECOND. 


331 


right  flank  of  Sickles'  corps,  and  at  five 
P.M.,  Sykosrs  command  came  up  and 
took  position  on  the  left  of  Sickles's 
men.  Happily,  Gen.  Warren,  chief 
engineer,  reached  Little  Round  Top, 
which  was  being  used  as  a  signal  sta 
tion,  just  at  the  time  of  Hood's  attack. 
He  instantly  obtained  a  portion  of 
Sykes's  command  to  seize  and  occupy 
this  all-important  point;  this  was  ac 
complished  after  a  most  furious  hand- 
to-hand  contest,  in  which  Hood's  men 
made  a  most  desperate  effort  to  gain 
the  position,  but  were  repulsed  and 
hurled  back.  At  six  P.M.,  Crawford's 
division  of  the  5th  corps,  consisting  of 
two  brigades  of  Pennsylvania  Reserves, 
having  until  this  time  been  held  in 
reserve,  went  into  a  charge  with  loud 
shouts  and  most  determined  spirit,  and 
drove  the  rebels  down  the  rocky  front 
of  Little  Round  Top,  across  the  val 
ley  below,  and  over  the  next  hill  into 
the  woods  beyond,  taking  300  prisoners. 
This  gallant  charge  saved  our  left  from 
further  loss,  although  Birney,  who  had 
taken  command  of  the  3d  corps  when 
Sickles  was  wounded,  w7as  pressed  so 
hard,  and  with  such  large  numbers 
of  the  enemy,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
fall  back  nearly  half  a  mile,  and  reform 
behind  the  line  originally  held  on  or 
near  the  Emmitsburg  road. 

Owing  to  some  cause  unexplained, 
Ewell's  demonstrations  on  our  right 
against  the  forces  on  Cemetery  and 
Culp's  Hills,  were  very  much  delayed, 
and  it  was  nearly  sunset  when  he  order 
ed  the  attack.  The  artillery  began  to 
play,  and  Early 's  division  advanced 
against  Cemetery  Hill,  and  Johnson's 
against  Gulp's  Hill.  The  assault  was 


fiercely  made;  but  it  was  resolutely 
met;  the  rebels  were  killed  in  great 
numbers,  and  driven  back  wi'th  fright 
ful  loss.  Johnson's  attack  on  Culp's 
Hill  was  more  successful,  for  Geary's 
force,  stationed  there,  had  been  so  much 
weakened  by  detachments  sent  to  aid 
the  left  in  its  great  extremity,  that  only 
a  single  brigade,  under  Green,  remained; 
and  hence  the  rebels,  after  some  two 
hours'  fighting,  penetrated  our  lines  to 
the  breastworks  on  the  furthest  right, 
and  retained  their  foothold  during  the 
night.  This  closed  the  second  day's 
struggle,  in  which  our  loss  was  fearfully 
large — some  20^000 — but  the  real  ad 
vantage  was  still  in  our  hands,  and 
Meade  and  his  corps  commanders  were 
quite  confident  of  being  able  to  main 
tain  their  position,  and  effectually  re 
pulse  the  rebel  host  under  Lee. 

Gen.  Buford's  division  of  cavalry,  af 
ter  its  arduous  services  at  Gettysburg, 
on  the  1st  of  July,  was,  on  the  2d,  sent 
to  Westminister,  to  refit  and  guard  our 
trains.  Kilpatrick's  division,  which,  on 
the  29th  and  30th  of  June  and  1st  of 
July,  had  been  successfully  engaging 
the  rebel  cavalry,  was,  on  the  3d,  sent 
to  our  extreme  left,  on  the  Emmitsburor 

/  O 

road,  where  good  service  was  rendered 
in  assaulting  the  enemy's  line  and  occu 
pying  his  attention.  At  the  same  time 
Gen.  Gregg  was  engaged  with  the  rebels 
on  our  extreme  right,  having  passed 
aci'oss  the  Baltimore  turnpike  and  Bon- 
aughton  road,  and  boldly  attacked  Lee's 
left  and  rear. 

The  lodgment  effected  by  Ewell's 
troops,  on  the  night  of  the  2d  of  July, 
was  esteemed  "by  Lee  important  for  his 
purposes,  his  idea  being  that  Ewell 


332 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIIL 


should  take  possession  of  Gulp's  Hill 
and  the  Baltimore  road,  and  then 
throw  his  whole  force  upon  and  break 
our  right.  This  purpose,  however,  was 
defeated  by  Meade,  who  ordered  a 
powerful  artillery  force  against  the 
point  entered  by  the  enemy,  and  open 
ed  a  heavy  fire,  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  of  July  3d.  Geary,  with  his 
force,  having  returned  during  the  night, 
immediately  attacked  the  rebels  with 
great  spirit,  and  having  been  reinforced 
by  a  brigade  of  the  6th  corps,  he  suc 
ceeded,  after  a  four  hours'  sharp  contest, 
in  driving  the  rebels  back  and  re-occupy 
ing  his  former  position.  Thus  our  right 
flank  was  secured,  and  Lee  turned  his 
attention  to  another  point  of  attack. 

For  several  hours  there  was  entire 
silence  in  all  directions ;  Lee  was  pre 
paring  his  last  great  effort ;  Meade  was 
waiting  for  the  shock.  The  rebel  ar 
tillery,  nearly  150  guns,  was  placed  on 
the  ridge  occupied  by  Longstreet  and 
Hill,  and  a  few  minutes  after  one  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  this  eventful  day, 
the  portentous  silence  was  broken. 
Our  artillery,  which  crowned  the  left 
and  left  centre,  was  not  so  great  in 
number  as  that  of  the  enemy,  but  it 
was  very  effective  in  its  important  posi 
tion.  For  nearly  two  hours  some  250 
great  guns  "  belched  forth  the  missiles 
of  death,  producing  such  a  continuous 
succession  of  crashing  sounds  as  to 
make  us  (we  quote  Professor  Jacobs) 
feel  as  if  the  very  heavens  had  been 
rent  asunder, — such  as  were  never  equal 
ed  by  the  most  terrific  thunderstorm 
ever  witnessed  by  mortal  man.  The 
air  was  filled  with  lines  of  whizzing, 
screaming,  bursting  shells  and  solid 


shot."  The  cannonade  gradually  ceas 
ed,  without  having  produced  any  no 
ticeable  effect,  and  then  came  "  the  tu^ 

'  O 

of  war.'1  Successive  lines  of  rebel  in 
fantry  advanced  over  the  intervening 
space,  resolved,  if  possible,  to  carry  the 
heights,  where  our  men  coolly  but  res 
olutely  awaited  them.  It  was  a  ter 
rible,  an  awfully  bloody  struggle.  Pic- 
kett's  division  of  Longstreet's  men 
dashed  forward  with  such  impetuosity 
as  fairly  to  mount  the  crest  of  Ceme 
tery  Bidge  ;  but  it  was  in  vain ;  they 
were  cut  down,  discomfited  and  broken. 
Pettiarew's  division  of  North  Carolina 

o 

fresh  troops  'on  Pickett's  right,  had 
been  foolishly  told  that  they  would 
meet  only  Pennsylvania  militia ;  but, 
on  receiving  the  first  fire,  their  eyes 
were  opened  ;  the  cry  ran  through  the 
ranks,  "  the  Army  of  the  Potomac !" 
They  quailed  before  the  dreaded  enemy, 
and  they  broke  in  disorder,  leaving 
2,000  prisoners  and  fifteen  stands  of 
colors  in  our  hands.  The  rebels,  mean 
while,  showed  considerable  activity  on 
their  extreme  right,  opposite  Little 
Round  Top,  from  which  Hood's  divi 
sion  strove  to  drive  our  men  and  turn 
our  flank ;  but  they  were  not  success 
ful.  A  vigorous  charge  was  made 
upon  the  enemy,  and  they  were  tho 
roughly  repulsed,  \vTith  severe  loss. 

Thus,  as  the   sun  was   setting,  the 
third    day    of    the    great    battle    was 

brought  to  its  close.     The  rebels  were 

~ 

beaten  ;  Lee  gave  up  all  hope  of  break 
ing  through  Meade's  position,  and  im 
mediately  devoted  himself  to  prepara 
tion  against  assault  and  for  a  speedy 
retreat.*  Gen.  Meade,  in  his  report, 


*  Mr.  Swinton  exercises  the  office  of  military  critic 


CTI.  XXIX.] 


RESULTS  AT  GETTYSBURG. 


333 


gives  his  reasons,  at  large,  for  not  en 
tering  instantly,  and  with  his  entire 
force,  upon  a  vigorous  pursuit  of  Lee 
and  his  army.  The  reader,  on  consult 
ing  the  report,  must  judge  of  the  sound 
ness  of  Meade's  conclusions.  The  cav 
alry  was  sent  off  directly,  and  on  the 
12th  of  July,  Meade  passed  through 
South  Mountain,  intending  to  attack 
Lee  the  next  day  near  "William sport ; 
but  during  the  night  the  rebel  general 
retreated  into  Virginia,  and  finally 
occupied  the  line  of  the  Rapidan.* 
Meade's  anny  resumed  its  position  on 
the  Rappahannock. 

The  losses  in  the  battle  of  Gettys 
burg  were  painfully  severe  and  heavy. 
Gens.  Reynolds,  Weed  and  Zook  were 
killed ;  Gens.  Barlow,  Barnes,  Butter- 
field,  Doubleday,  Gibbon,  Graham, 
Hancock,  Sickles  and  Warren  were 
wounded ;  while  of  officers  below  this 
rank,  and  of  men,  there  were  2,834  kill 
ed,  13,733  wounded,  and  6,643  miss 
ing,  making  an  aggregate  of  over 
23,000. 

Gen.  Lee,  for  prudential  reasons, 
probably,  made  no  report  of  his  losses, 


with  some  pretentiousness,  and  certainly  with  great 
freedom.  As  in  the  case  of  McClellan  at  Antietam,  so 
here,  in  Meade's  case,  he  sharply  censures  the  not  pur 
suing  immediately  the  rebel  army  and  completely  rout 
ing  them,  as  he  holds  to  have  been  perfectly  possible, 
if  not  quite  a  certainty. — See  "  Army  of  the  Potomac," 
p.  370. 

*  Gen.  Lee,  during  his  retreat,  addressed  his  troops, 
July  llth,  in  which  he  reminded  them  of  long  and  try 
ing  marches  in  penetrating  the  country  of  the  enemy, 
besought  them  to  think  of  the  glorious  past,  nerve 
themselves  for  victory,  etc.  "  You  have  fought,"  he 
said,  "  a  fierce  and  sanguinary  battle,  which,  if  not  at 
tended  with  the  success  that  has  hitherto  crowned 
your  efforts,  was  marked  by  the  same  heroic  spirit  that 
has  commanded  the  respect  of  your  enemies,  the  gra 
titude  of  your  country,  and  the  admiration  of  mankind." 
It  is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  the  routed  army  deriv 
ed  much  comfort  from  such  words  as  these. 


simply  stating  that  they  were  "  severe." 
On  his  retreat  he  left,  at  various  points 
along  the  road,  7,540  wounded  to  be 
cared  for  by  our  army  and  people. 
Gen.  Meade  took  13,621  prisoners, 
while  the  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
are  estimated  to  be  over  20,000 ;  mak 
ing  Lee's  loss,  besides  a  large  number 
of  general  officers,  to  be  fully  one-third 
of  the  entire  army  with  which  he  so 
confidently  invaded  the  loyal  states. 

In  speaking  of  the  battle  on  the  3d 
of  July,  Lee  uses  brief  and  general 
terms  :  "  The  morning  was  occupied  in 
necessary  preparations,  and  the  battle 
recommenced  in  the  afternoon,  and 
raged  with  great  violence  until  sunset. 
Our  troops  succeeded  in  entering  the 
advanced  works  of  the  enemy,  and  get 
ting  possession  of  some  of  his  batteries ; 
but  our  artillery  having  nearly  expend 
ed  its  ammunition,  the  attacking  co 
lumns  became  exposed  to  the  heavy 
fire  of  the  numerous  batteries  near  the 
summit  of  the  ridge,  and,  after  a  most 
determined  and  gallant  struggle,  were 
compelled  to  relinquish  their  advan 
tage,  and  fall  back  to  their  original 
positions,  with  severe  loss." 

The  day  after  the  battle,  July  4th, 
Gen  Meade  issued  an  address  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  which  he  be 
stowed  the  high  praise  and  commenda 
tion  to  which  it  was  so  fully  entitled, 
saying,  in  conclusion,  "  It  is  right  and 
proper  that  we  should,  on  suitable  occa 
sions,  return  our  grateful  thanks  to  the 
Almighty  Disposer  of  events,  that,  in 
the  goodness  of  his  Providence,  He  has 
thought  fit  to  give  victory  to  the  cause 
of  the  just." 

A  few  days  later,  the  news  arrived 


834 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  VIII. 


of  the  great  successes  on  the  Missis 
sippi,  at  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson. 
There  was  great  rejoicing  throughout 
the  loyal  states,  and  there  seemed  now 
good  ground  to  hope  that  the  mad 
struggle  of  the  rebellion  was  approach- 

*  Prof.  Jacobs,  in  his  interesting  "  Notes  on  the  Rebel 
Invasion,"  published  soon  after  Lee's  retreat,  compares 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg  with  that  of  Waterloo 
in  its  far-reaching  consequences.  His  remarks  are 
of  sufficient  value  to  be  worth  quoting  in  this 
connection : — "  The  battle  of  Waterloo  resulted  in 
effectually  crushing  the  power  of  Napoleon  and  the 
grinding  despotism  that  he  was  exercising  over  Eu 
rope.  It  broke  to  pieces  that  army  in  whose  track  fol 
lowed  desolation  and  famine,  and  whose  final  triumph 
must  have  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  all  the  then 
existing  governments  of  the  civilized  world.  The 
battle  of  Gettysburg  resulted,  first,  in  checking  the 
progress  and  then  in  destroying  the  power  of  a  well- 
disciplined  and  defiant  army,  which  had  come  to  the 
North  for  the  express  purpose  of  robbery  and  of  spread- 
Sag  terror  and  desolation  in  its  track,  and  by  the  cap- 
*ure  of  Baltimore  and  Washington,  of  dictating  to  us 


ing  its  end.  President  Lincoln,  as  wa» 
every  way  proper  and  becoming,  issued 
a  proclamation,  July  15th,  appointing 
Thursday,  August  6th,  as  a  day  of  na 
tional  thanksgiving,  which  day  was 
duly  and  devoutly  observed.* 

the  most  humiliating  terms  of  peace.  The  sway  of 
Napoleon  over  subject  Europe  would  not  have  been 
more  tyrannical  and  destructive  of  the  vital  interests 
of  the  people,  than  would  have  been  the  establishment, 
by  a  decisive  victory  of  Lee,  of  an  overbearing  slave 
power  as  a  controlling  influence  in  our  country.  The 
fall  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  which  followed 
immediately  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  though  of 
the  highest  importance  to  the  country,  is,  nevertheless, 
not  equal  in  its  influence  to  the  breaking  of  the  power 
of  an  army  which  was  striking  a  blow  at  the  heart  of 
the  nation.  In  the  defeat,  therefore,  of  Lee,  the  corner 
stone  of  that  fabric  which  the  rebellion  sought  to  erect 
on  human  bondage  and  the  distinction  of  the  races  of 
men,  which  God  has  made  of  one  blood,  is  crushed  to 
pieces,  and  the  bright  days  of  a  happy  future  loom  up 
before  our  vision,  when  we  shall  onco  more  be  a  united 
and  prosperous  people." 


00k 


FROM  THE 

DEFEAT    OF    LEE    AT   GETTYSBURG 


TO  THE 


DEATH  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 


1863-1865 


*\y  Ax 


y\ 


ii  i  s  r  o  K  > 


ST  v  rKS  OF   \  M 


1  \\ 
S"iVS\W«H 


vx     \>  \\V 

A\\  *\\v\\\\l  \\\ 


\VSNSS\X 


XXV 
V^^Uvsi  0\j\Urt<\v^\  v\f    hvs^  (xs  IW  V^  j  VHYW   \\h\MW 

"    \\\  *\\\\\\w  \\\*\\  l^v  (xs      \xu  >\ 


338 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1§63. 


force  brought  to  bear  against  them,  and 
to  sustain  the  trials  of  want  and  well 
nigh  famine,  and  the  gradual 
but  sure  approach  of  final  and 
complete  defeat,  he  would  have  been 
considered  a  very  lugubrious  prophet. 
Nevertheless,  the  stern  logic  of  facts 
showed  clearly  that,  as  the  arch  traitors 
at  Richmond  had  resolved  to  venture 
all  upon  the  cast  of  a  die,  that  as  with 
them  success  was  everything,  even 
though  they  brought  ruin  and  misery 
upon  all  around  them,  so  these  disas 
ters  to  the  secession  cause  were  not 
allowed,  if  they  could  hinder  it,  to  pro 
duce  any  permanent  discontent.  There 
was  no  lowering  of  the  haughty  tone 
assumed  by  the  rebels.  They  claimed 
great  elasticity  and  power  of  rising  su 
perior  to  misfortune.  They  swallowed 
their  mortification,  and  talked  as  if  the 
cutting  the  "  Confederacy  "  in  twain,  and 
the  ignominious  results  of  invasion  of 
the  North,  were  rather  to  be  rejoiced 
over  than  otherwise.  Davis  had  the 
assurance,  a  few  clays  after  the  defeat 
of  Lee,  to  declare  that  a  victorious 
peace,  with  proper  exertions,  was  yet 
immediately  within  his  grasp.  It  is 
true,  that  popular  confidence  in  Davis 
and  his  co-workers  in  the  management 
of  affairs,  was  very  considerably  dimin 
ished  ;  but  this  did  not  prevent  the  re 
bellion  from  going  on.  The  leaders 
were  determined  it  should  go  on  to  the 
death,  and  numbers  of  others,  however 
little  they  thought  of  Davis  and  the 
Richmond  -officials,  had  got  their  pride 
aroused  to  its  highest  pitch,  so  that 
they,  too,  resolved  to  fight  to  the  end 
for  the  cause  in  which  they  had  im 
perilled  their  all. 


Both  the  rebel  leaders  and  the  gov 
ernment  and  people  of  the  loyal  states 
seemed  at  this  time  to  have  some  un 
certain,  shadowy  idea  that  the  war  was 
nearly  finished  ;  both  gave  credence  to 
the  notion  that  one  or  the  other  would 
soon  be  wearied  or  worn  out ;  but  both 
lay  under  a  mistake.  The  rebels  were 
in  no  humor  to  give  it  up  as  yet ;  they 
meant  to  hold  out,  even  though  affairs 
might  speedily  become  desperate,  and 
certain  defeat  was  ultimately  befi  re 
them.  On  the  other  hand,  while  few 
perhaps  believed  that  the  rebel  capa 
bility  of  resistance  was  so  great  as  it 
proved  to  be,  it  was  simply  impossible 
for  loyal  men  ever  to  submit  to  the 
rending  of  the  country  in  pieces,  as  se 
cession  proposed.  The  supporters  of 
the  Union,  having  never  wavered  from 
their  determination  to  put  down  the 
rebellion  and  preserve  the  integrity  of 
the  Republic,  could  not  be  wearied  into 
a  yielding  to  the  demands  of  traitors, 
even  if  it  should  take  ten  years  or  twice 
ten  years  to  bring  the  war  to  an  end. 
As  time  rolled  on  this  mistake  was  cor 
rected  ;  the  rebels  saw  the  folly  of  im 
agining  that  the  North  would  ever  lay 
aside  its  settled  purpose ;  and  the  loyal 
people  only  wondered,  but  were  never 
discouraged,  at  the  persistency  of  the 
rebels  in  their  wicked  designs. 

Henceforth,  too,  it  began  to  be  bet 
ter  understood  than  at  an  earlier  date 
that,  so  long  as  the  leaders  in  this  un 
natural  struggle  could  maintain  organ 
ized  military  forces,  just  so  long  the 
rebellion  would  be  able  to  continue  its 
existence,  and  necessitate  military  and 
naval  operations  on  our  part.  Of  course, 
more  money&ad  more  men  were  need- 


On.  L] 


BURNSIDE'S  GENERAL  ORDER. 


339 


ed ;  b  )th  were  readily  to  be  obtained ; 
both  were  obtained ;  and  despite  more 
or  less  of  factious  opposition,  and  sym 
pathizing  with  secession  and  its  de 
structive  purposes,  the  work  went 
bravely  on.  Conscious  of  rectitude 
and  of  the  perfect  justice  of  their  cause, 
the  people,  as  a  body,  never  wavered, 
never  admitted  a  thought  of  giving  up, 
never  faltered  in  urging  forward  the 
war  to  its  conclusion. 

In  this  position  of  affairs,  and  actu 
ated  by  these  principles  and  views  of 
duty,  the  government  steadily  sought 
to  render  the  army  and  navy  as  effi 
cient  as  possible,  and  through  the  able 
and  energetic  officers  and  men  to  at 
tack  and  subdue  the  rebel  strongholds, 
and  places  occupied  by  them,  so  soon 
as  the  work  could  be  accomplished. 

Burnside,  who  had  been  succeeded 
by  Hooker  in  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  at  the  close  of  January, 
1863,  (see  p.  244),  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  department  of  the  Ohio,  on  the 
2Gth  of  March  following.  This  depart 
ment  comprised  the  states  of  Ohio, 
Michigan,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Western 
Virginia,  and  Kentucky  east  of  the 
Tennessee  Biver,  including  Cumber 
land  Gap,  with  headquarters  at  Cincin 
nati.  The  position  was  an  important 
one,  and  by  no  means  easy  to  fill.  It 
required  nerve,  decision,  and  activity, 
all  of  which  Burnside  was  thought  to 
possess.  The  southern  borders  of  Ken 
tucky  were  alive  with  those  pests  of 
the  wrar,  the  guerrillas,  and  the  state 
itself  was  again  seriously  threatened 
with  invasion.  There  were,  too,  in  this 
department,  considerable  disaffection 
and  lukewarrnness  towards  the  govern- 


1863. 


ment ;  and  certain  noisy  politicians  and 
sympathizers  with  secession  were  doing 
all  in  their  power  to  annoy,  and  vex, 
and  hinder  the  efforts  which  wrere  being 
'  put  forth  to  break  down  the  rebellion. 
These  were  comparatively  few  in  num 
ber,  it  is  true,  but  they  were  bold, 
loud-mouthed,  and  unscrupulous;  and 
it  was  deemed  a  matter  of  duty  to  ap 
ply  the  proper  remedy. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  Burnside  issued 
his  general  order,  No.  38,  which  was 
expressed  in  very  decided  terms :  "  The 
commanding  general  publishes  for  the 
information  of  all  concerned,  that  here 
after,  all  persons  found  within  our  lines, 
who  commit  acts  for  the  benefit  of  the 
enemies  of  our  country,  will  be  tried 
as  spies  or  traitors,  and,  if  con 
victed,  will  suffer  death.  .  .  . 
The  habit  of  declaring  sympathies  for 
the  enemy  will  not  be  allowed  in  this 
department.  Persons  committing  such 
offences  will  be  at  once  arrested,  with  a 
view  to  being  tried  as  above  stated,  or 
sent  beyond  our  lines  into  the  lines  of 
their  friends.  It  must  be  distinctly  un 
derstood  that  treason,  expressed  or  im 
plied,  will  not  be  tolerated  in  this  de 
partment;  all  officers  and  soldiers  are 
strictly  charged  with  the  execution  of 
this  order." 

The  warning  contained  in  the  docu 
ment  just  given  was  significant,  and 
clearly  evinced  the  determination  of  the 
government.  An  opportunity  for  the 
application  of  Burnside's  order  speedily 
occurred.  There  was  in  Ohio,  at  this 
date,  a  number  of  gentlemen  who  were 
styled,  or  styled  themselves,  "  peace 
democracy."  Prominent  among  these 
was  C.  L.  VaPandiugham,  a  member  of 


340 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


Congress  from  Ohio.  He  had  made 
himself  conspicuous  at  Washington  for 
persistent  efforts  to  hinder,  obstruct, 
and  carp  at  the  proceedings  and  views 
of  the  government  in  regard  to  mea 
sures  for  suppressing  the  rebellion ; 
and  being  now  at  home  he  indulged 
himself  in  public  speaking  in  various 
parts  of  Ohio.  He  was  one  of  those 
who,  under  claim  of  privilege  fairly  to 
discuss  and  review  public  proceedings, 
took  occasion  to  denounce  the  govern 
ment  in  unmeasured  terms ;  he  declar 
ed,  in  a  public  speech,  that  the  war 
was  "  wicked,  cruel,  and  unnecessary," 
"  not  being  waged  for  the  preservation 
of  the  Union,"  but  "  for  the  purpose 
of  crushing  out  liberty  and  erecting  a 
despotism ;"  characterizing  Burnside's 
order,  No.  38,  as  "  a  base  usurpation 
of  arbitrary  authority,"  and  inviting 
resistance  to  it  by  saying,  "  the  § ooner 
the  people  inform  the  minions  of  usurp 
ed  power  that  they  will  not  submit  to 
such  restrictions  upon  their  liberties 
the  better." 

This  course  of  conduct  was  held  to 
be  so  inexcusable,  and  so  injurious  to 
the  effective  prosecution  of  the  war 
against  the  rebels,  with  whom  Vallan- 
dingham  evidently  strongly  sympathiz 
ed,  and  whose  traitorous  designs  he 
certainly  favored,  that  Burn  side  took 
steps  at  once  for  his  arrest.  The  speech 
referred  to  above  was  made  on  the  1st 
of  May,  at  Mount  Vernon,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  and,  on  the  night  of  the  4th  of 
May,  he  was  arrested  by  order  of  Burn- 
side,  at  his  residence  at  Dayton,  carried 
to  Cincinnati,  and  imprisoned.  The 
next  day,  Vallandingham  applied, 
through  his  counsel,  Senator  Pugh,  to 


the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States 
for  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  A  letter 
from  Burn  side  was  read  in  court,  set 
ting  forth  the  considerations  which  led 
him  to  make  the  arrest,  after  which 
Vallandingham's  counsel  made  a  long 
and  able  argument  on  the  case.  The 
writ  was  refused,  and  Burnside's  course 
was  justified  on  the  ground  of  military 
necessity. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  the  military 
commission,  of  which  Gen.  R.  B.  Pot 
ter  was  president,  found  Vallanding 
ham  guilty  of  the  charge  brought 
against  him,  and  sentenced  him  to  close 
confinement  till  the  end  of  the  war. 
Mr.  Lincoln  changed  the  sentence  to 
transportation  through  the  Union  lines 
Yallandingham  was  handed  over  to  the 
rebels  under  Bragg,  and  finally  made 
his  way  to  Canada.*"" 

In  the  further  carrying  out  the  re 
pressive  policy  in  his  department, 
Burnside,  on  the  1st  of  June,  prohibit 
ed  the  circulation,  within  the  limits  of 
his  jurisdiction,  of  certain  newspapers, 
which,  in  his  judgment,  were  quite  as 
active  in  doing  mischief,  and  quite  as 
necessary  to  be  restrained,  as  popular 
speakers  like  Vallandingham  and  others.f 
Prominent  among  these  was  the  New 
York  World,  whose  articles  and  opin 
ions,  it  was  alleged,  tended  "  to  cast 
reproach  upon  the  government,  and  to 

*  We  may  state,  in  this  connection,  that  Vallanding 
ham  was  nominated  by  his  political  friends  for  gover 
nor  of  Ohio,  and  much  use  was  made,  in  his  behalf,  of 
charges  of  cruelty,  usurpation,  etc.,  on  the  part  of  the 
government.  At  the  election,  however,  in  October, 
John  Brough  was  elected  over  Vallandingham  by  100,' 
000  majority.  In  June,  1864,  Vallandingham  was 
allowed  to  return  to  Ohio  without  hindrance. 

f  See  Woodbury's  "  Burnside,  and  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps,"  pp.  265—277. 


CH.  I] 


THE  REBEL  AGGRESSIVE  FOLICY. 


S41 


weaken  its  efforts  to  suppress  the  re 
bellion,  by  creating  distrust  in  its  war 
policy,  and  its  circulation  in  war-time 
being  calculated  to  exert  a  pernicious 
and  treasonable  influence."  The  pub 
lication  of  the  Chicago  Times  was  also, 
at  the  same  time,  ordered  to  be  sup 
pressed,  "on  account  of  the  repeated 
expression  of  disloyal  and  incendiary 
sentiments."  President  Lincoln,  in 
view  of  the  great  delicacy  and  difficulty 
of  questions  connected  with  the  liberty 
of  the  press,  revoked  this  order  of 
Buruside,  and  the  newspapers  were 
allowed  to  go  on  their  own  way  as 
usual. 

Burnside,  on  assuming  command  of 
the  department,  felt  the  necessity  of 
an  increase  of  force,  to  enable  him  to 
accomplish  the  work  of  establishing 
and  maintaining  order  and  efficiency, 
as  well  as  to  secure  the  deliverance  of 
East  Tennessee.  At  his  earnest  request, 
two  divisions  of  the  9th  corps,  then  in 
camp  at  Newport  News,  were  sent  to 
him.  By  the  aid  of  these  he  was  able 
to  do  something  towards  checking  Pe- 
gram's  movements  in  Kentucky.  Burn- 
side's  line  of  defence  was  necessarily 
long,  and  had  various  weak  points  in  it. 
Troops  were  posted  in  localities  offering 
most  favorable  means  of  guarding  the 
line  and  repressing  the  enemy ;  and  the 
lines  of  railroads,  leading  to  the  extreme 
front  in  Western  Kentucky  and  Tennes 
see,  then  held  by  Kosecrans,  were 
watched  and  protected  with  great  care. 
Still,  Burnside  was  painfully  conscious 
that  his  available  force  was  inadequate 
for  the  work  to  be  done.  Congress  had 
authorized  the  organization  of  a  body 
of  troops  in  Kentucky,  20,000  in  num 


ber,  and  Burnside  gladly  took  the  re 
quisite  steps  to  secure  theii  service  at 
the  earliest  moment. 

A  movement  upon  East  Tennessee 
was  arranged  between  Gens.  Burnside, 
Rosecrans,  and  Thomas;  and  Burnside, 
on  the  2d  of  June,  proceeded  to  Lex 
ington  to  take  the  field ;  but  a  dispatch 
from  Washington,  received  that  day, 
required  him  to  send  reinforcements 
to  Grant,  operating  against  Vicksburg. 
As,  by  this  order,  some  8,000  men  were 
taken  from  him,  Burnside  was  reluct 
antly  obliged  to  postpone,  for  a  time, 
the  intended  movement  into  Tennessee. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  the  reader, 
as  was  noted  on  a  previous  page  (see 
p.  320),  that  the  rebel  leaders,  at  this 
date,  thought  that  an  aggressive  policy 
would  be  better  for  their  interests  than 
the  one  they  were  pursuing.  In  accord 
ance  with  this  view,  Lee,  as  we  have 
seen,  invaded  Maryland  and  Pennsyl 
vania,  with  high  hopes  and  expectations. 
A  similar  desire  for  making  inroads  in 
to  the  loyal  states  was  felt  in  other 
quarters,  and  a  plan  was  laid  by  the 
rebels  to  break  through  our  lines  in 
Western  or  Central  Kentucky,  cross  the 
Ohio,  plunder  the  southern  tier  of  conn 
ties  of  Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  either 
escape  into  West  Virginia,  or  make  a 
bold  march  through  Pennsylvania  and 
join  Lee  in  his  invasion  of  the  North. 
The  leader  of  the  projected  expedition 
was  the  noted  rebel  raider,  John  H. 
Morgan,  a  man  excellently  adapted  for 
this  kind  of  work,  by  his  dashing 
energy  and  skill,  and  his  utter  lack  of 
scrupulousness  in  seeking  to  attain  his 
ends.  This  famous  raid  was  remarkable 
in  the  annals  of  the  war  for  the  reckless 


342 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


zeal  with  which  it  was  prosecuted,  the 
wanton  destruction  of  life  and  property 
which  attended  it,  and  its  ultimately 
complete  failure. 

Morgan's  command  having  been 
strengthened  by  several  picked  regi 
ments  from  Tennessee,  his  force  being 
between  3,000  and  4,000  cavalry,  with 
a  battery  of  artillery,  set  out,  on  the 
27th  of  June,  from  Sparta,  Tennessee, 
and,  by  a  rapid  march,  entered  Ken 
tucky,  reaching  the  Cumberland  in  the 
vicinity  of  Jamestown.  Here  he  was 
watched  by  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  with 
artillery,  under  Colonel  Wolford,  but 
managed,  on  the  night  of  the 
2d  of  July,  to  cross  the  river 
lower  down,  at  Burkesville,  the  water 
being  high,  improvising  a  number  of 
flats  for  the  occasion.  There  was  some 
skirmishing  with  the  Union  cavalry 
guarding  the  fords,  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  Columbia,  whither  the  enemy  pro 
ceeded.  Morgan  then  moved  on  Green 
River,  where,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th 
of  July,  he  found  his  progress  arrested 
at  the  turnpike  bridge,  by  some  200 
men  of  the  25th  Michigan  cavalry,  un 
der  Col.  Moore,  in  an  entrenched  posi 
tion.  An  attack  was  made  by  Morgan, 
which,  however,  resulted  in  a  repulse 
and  very  severe  loss,  especially  of 
officers. 

After  this  mishap,  Morgan  crossed 
above  at  New  Market,  and  by  the  next 
morning  reached  Lebanon.  He  found 
the  town  garrisoned  by  a  force  of  about 
400  men,  under  Col.  Hanson,  who,  sta 
tioning  his  troops  in  the  depot  and 
other  buildings,  kept  up  a  contest  of 
seven  hours,  but  was  at  last  obliged  to 
surrender,  the  artillery  having  set  fire 


to  the  houses.  The  town  was  sacked 
and  Morgan's  command  freely  supplied 
with  arms  and  ammunition  from  the 
captured  regiment.  From  Lebanon  the 
enemy  proceeded  to  Springfield,  on  their 
way  toward  the  Ohio.  At  Bardstown, 
on  the  6th  of  July,  twenty  men  of  the 
4th  United  States  cavalry  were  supris- 
ed,  and  after  defending  themselves  in  a 
stable,  while  their  ammunition  lasted, 
surrendered.  At  Shepherdsville,  on 
Salt  River,  Morgan  stopped  a  passenger 
train  from  Louisville.  Twenty  soldiers 
in  the  cars  were  captured,  and  the  ex 
press  and  mail  matter,  with  the  valu 
ables  of  the  passengers,  freely  pillaged. 

Passing  through  Lawrenceville,  Mor 
gan  and  his  men  reached  Brandenburg, 
on  the  Ohio,  on  the  7th  of  July,  a  place 
which,  it  was  said,  had  many  southern 
sympathizers  among  its  inhabitants. 
There  they  were  speedily  enabled  to 
cross  the  river  into  Indiana,  by  gaining 
possession  of  two  steamboats  which 
came  along  opportunely  for  their  pur 
poses. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  July, 
the  crossing  commenced  on  the  two 
boats.  There  was  some  resistance  offer 
ed  to  their  passage  by  a  company  of 
home  guards,  with  a  single  gun,  from 
Leavenworth,  in  the  vicinity,  on  the 
Indiana  shore.  The  party,  however 
was  speedily  overpowered  when  Mor 
gan's  advance  landed.  The  guards 
were  cut  up  or  captured,  and  their  Par 
rot  gun  taken.  On  the  morniusr  of  the 

O  O 

9th,  Morgan's  entire  force  was  landed 
on  the  Indiana  shore. 

The  Union  troops,  which  were  gather 
ing  on  the  track  of  Morgan  in  full  pur 
suit — Colonel  Wolford,  with  his  brigade 

»  o 


On.  I.J 


MORGAN'S  RAID  AND  FLIGHT. 


343 


from  Jamestown,  joining  Gens.  Hobson 
and  Shackelford  at  Springfield — arrived 
at  Brandenburg  just  after  the  crossing 
of  Morgan.  Hobson  was  in  command, 
his  entire  force  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio 
cavalry  and  mounted  infantry,  with  a 
howitzer  battery  and  section  of  artil 
lery,  numbering  about  3,000.  Gen. 
Judah's  division  was  also  summoned 
from  Southern  Kentucky,  but  not  arriv 
ing  in  Louisville  till  after  Morgan  had 
crossed  the  Ohio,  was  sent  up  the  river 
in  boats  to  intercept  the  rebels  on  their 
retreat.  Hobson  immediately  crossed 
the  river  at  Brandenburg,  landing  his 
force  on  the  Indiana  side  before  dawn 
of  the  10th  of  July.  The  rapid  and 
serpent-like  movements  of  Morgan,  now 
that  the  pursuers  were  upon  his  track, 
were  desperate  efforts  to  escape,  rather 
than  any  settled  plan  of  invasion. 

The  alarm  speedily  became  general. 
No  one  knew  when  or  where,  with 
any  precision,  the  bold  raider  would 
strike;  but  all  were  well  aware  that 
complete  ruin,  burning,  robbery,  pil 
lage,  and  such  like,  followed  in  his  train. 

O     '  / 

Gov.  Morton,  of  Indiana,  called  the 
people  of  the  state  to  arms,  and  the 
response  was  universal.  In  Ohio,  Gov. 

Tod  was   equally  on  the  alert. 

Large  war  meetings  were  held  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  Indianapolis,  In 
diana.  At  Louisville,  Kentucky,  on  the 
recommendation  and  under  the  direction 
of  Gen.  Boyle,  measures  were  taken  to 
organize  the  citizens  to  resist  the  enemy. 
At  Cincinnati,  Gen.  Burnside  was  in 
consultation  with  the  authorities,  pro 
viding  for  the  defence  of  the  city. 
Troops  were  being  gathered  on  all  sides 
to  resist  or  intercept  the  invaders.  Yet; 


1863. 


for  two  weeks,  Morgan,  by  his  boldness 
and  skill,  managed  to  keep  ahead  of  his 
pursuers,  traversing  the  highways  of 
Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  ravaging  some 
of  the  best  of  the  southern  portions  of 
those  states. 

Fleeing  with  all  speed  through  the 
south-eastern  counties  of  Indiana,  ha 
rassed  meanwhile  by  the  militia  along 
the  road,  Morgan  more  than  once  at 
tempted  to  find  a  crossing  back  into 
Kentucky ;  but  was  in  every  case  baf 
fled.  After  a  brief  rest  in  Harrison,  he 
crossed  the  state  line  into  Ohio,  July 
13th,  burning  the  bridge  over  the  White 
Water  River  behind  him.  Some  ap 
prehensions  were  felt  at  Cincinnati, 
owing  to  exaggerated  accounts  of  Mor 
gan's  force ;  but  he  had  no  intention  of 
visiting  that  city.  Passing  through 
Glendale,  Springdale,  and  other  towns, 
allowing  his  men  only  time  enough  to 
ravage  in  every  direction,  and  seize 
upon  all  the  horses  within  reach,  he 
crossed  the  Miami  River  at  Miamiville, 
at  W7hich  time  our  troops  were  only 
four  hours  behind  him.  A  portion  of 
Morgan's  force  endeavored,  on  the  14th 
of  July,  to  reach  the  Ohio  by  way  of 
Batavia,  but  did  not  succeed.  Onward 
dashed  Morgan  and  his  men,  now  al 
most  desperate;  onward  pressed  our 
determined  cavalry,  despite  the  serious 
inconvenience  arising  out  of  the  rebels 
having  carried  off  the  fresh  horses,  and 
left  the  jaded  ones  behind.  Day  and 
night  the  pursuit  was  kept  up.  Judah 
led  his  column  along  the  roads  nearest 
the  Ohio;  Hobson  and  Shackelford 
pressed  forward  by  roads  farther  from 
the  river;  while  the  gun  boats  on  the 
Ohio  were  on  the  alert,  and  gave  the 


S44 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


rebels  shot  and  shell  whenever  oppor 
tunity  offered. 

Having  burned  the  bridge  over  the 
Scioto  River,  on  the  16th  of  July,  Mor 
gan  passed  through  Piketown,  which 
surrendered  at  once,  to  Jackson,  where 
he  was  joined  by  his  whole  force. 
Thence,  on  the  18th,  he  pushed  rapidly 
for  the  Ohio,  near  Pomeroy,  hoping  to 
make  his  escape  into  Kentucky.  Trees 
were  cut  down  and  laid  across  the  roads, 
and  everything  was  done  to  impede  his 
progress.  In  the  course  of  the  after 
noon,  however,  the  rebels  reached  the 
Ohio,  at  Buffington  Island,  near  Pome 
roy,  where  they  made  a  desperate  at 
tempt  to  ford  the  river.  But  they 
were  driven  back,  the  gun  boats  lend 
ing  efficient  aid ;  and  the  next  day,  be 
ing  hemmed  in  and  vigorously  attacked, 
they  surrendered.*  Dick  Morgan,  Ba 
sil  Duke,  and  over  700  men  fell  into 
our  hands,  with  all  their  ill-gotten  plun 
der;  but  John  Morgan  was  not  with 
them.  Shackelford  at  once  started  in 
pursuit.  Another  effort  was  made  to 

get   across   the    Ohio,  about   fourteen 

~  / 

miles  above  Buffington,  where  a  por 
tion  of  Johnson's  regiment,  some  300 

*  The  scene  of  the  action  at  Buffington,  and  all  the 
roads  in  the  vicinity,  were  literally  strewn  with  the 
fruits  of  their  raiding  operations,  and  their  army 
equipments.  There  were  buggies,  rockaways,  spring 
and  lumber  wagons,  without  number ;  rolls  of  silk, 
muslin,  calico,  and  other  dry  goods  ;  bags  full  of  men's 
clothing,  hats,  boots,  and  shoes,  linen,  laces,  kid  gloves, 
cutlery,  men's  and  women's  under  garments — even 
children's  petticoats — lying  about  in  every  direction, 
mingled  with  carbines,  shot  guns,  rifles,  sabres,  pistols, 
and  cartridge-boxes.  Many  of  the  latter  were  found  to 
contain  jewelry  instead  of  ammunition.  The  woods 
were  full  of  horses  and  mules.  In  places  the  ground 
was  covered  with  pieces  of  greenbacks  and  other  cur 
rency,  stolen  and  torn  by  the  rebels  on  surrendering. 
We  are  sorry  to  say,  that  very  little,  if  any,  of  this  spoil 
ever  found  its  way  back  to  its  rightful  owners. 


in  number,  managed  to  swim  the  river 
and  escaped.  Shackelford  followed  the 
rebel  leader  in  a  westerly  direction 
nearly  sixty  miles,  when  he  came  up 
with  him  and  his  men,  who,  after  a 
brief  fight,  gave  themselves  up.  It 
turned  out,  however,  that  only  a  small 
part  of  Morgan's  force  was  captured  at 
this  time;  the  cunning  raider  having 
slipped  away  \vith  600  men  for  another 
race.  Somewhat  exasperated  at  this 
result,  Shackelford  and  his  brave  help 
ers  continued  the  pursuit,  starting  at 
daybreak  on  the  21st  of  July.  For  sev 
eral  days  and  nights  they  followed  hin, 
in  his  zig-zag  course,  his  appetite  for 
wanton  plundering  and  destruction  un- 
appeased.  By  burning  the  bridges,  and 
in  other  ways,  he  managed  to  put  off 
the  evil  day  for  a  brief  period;  but 
Shackelford  was  not  to  be  baffled  or 
wearied  out.  On  the  morning  of  July 
26th,  when  near  New  Lisbon,  he  finally 
came  up  with  and  caught  the  noted 
trooper,  who,  with  about  400  of  his 
men  surrendered.  The  next  day,  he 
was  taken  to  Cincinnati  and  placed  for 
safe  keeping  in  the  Ohio  penitentiary.* 
This  troublesome  matter  having  been 
thus  disposed  of,  in  the  way  above  nar 
rated,  Buruside  was  at  liberty  to  con 
tinue  his  preparations  for  the  long  in 
tended  advance  into  East  Tennessee. 


*  Morgan  was  placed  here  for  lack  of  a  proper  mili 
tary  prison.  Some  four  months  afterwards,  on  the 
28th  of  November,  he  managed  to  escape,  with  six 
others,  and  in  December  he  was  heard  from,  advertising 
in  a  southern  paper  for  recruits  to  form  a  new  band  of 
followers.  Pollard  is  quite  jubilant  over  Morgan's 
"  brilliant  expedition."  He  says  that  M.  destroyed 
thirty-four  important  bridges,  and  in  the  way  of  steam 
boats,  railroads,  public  stores,  depots,  etc.,  destroyed 
not  less  than  $10,000,000  worth.—"  Third  Yew  of  the 
War,"  p.  104. 


CH.  I] 


BURNSIDE'S  MARCH  TO   KNOXVILLE. 


345 


1S63. 


The  9th  army  corps  had  been  detach 
ed  from  Burnside's  command  to  rein 
force  Gen.  Grant.  This  had  somewhat 
delayed  Burnside's  proceedings,  and  he 
was  at  last  compelled  to  make  his  ar 
rangements  independently  of  the  sup 
port  and  presence  of  his  favorite  corps. 
Rosecrans,  with  whom  Burnside  was  to 
co-operate,  had  pushed  forward  his  lines 
as  far  as  Winchester.  On  the  16th  of 
August,  he  crossed  the  Cumberland 
Mountains,  reached  the  Tennessee  River 
on  the  26th,  established  his  headquar 
ters  at  Stevenson,  Alabama,  and 
was  ready  for  further  advance. 
Burnside,  on  his  part,  was  actively  en 
gaged  in  his  portion  of  the  work.*  On 
the  same  day  that  Rosecrans  left  "Win 
chester,  August  16th,  he  left  Camp 
Nelson  and  started  for  Lexington.  His 
plan  was  to  make  his  way  by  unfre 
quented  roads,  and  thus  take  the  rebels 
by  surprise.  Having  arranged  his  force, 
about  18,000  in  number,  to  march  in 
three  columns,  the  first  set  out  by  way 
of  London,  under  the  commanding  gen 
eral  ;  the  second,  consisting  of  the  23d 
army  corps,  under  Gen.  Hartsuff,  by 
way  of  Somerset ;  and  the  third,  under 
Gen.  J.  White,  by  way  of  Jamestown, 
Kentucky. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  Burnside 
reached  Crab  Orchard,  by  way  of  Dan 
ville  and  Stanford.  On  the  22d,  he 
marched  to  Mount  Yernon,  twenty 
miles,  and  on  the  following  day  to  Lon- 

*  On  the  importance  to  the  rebels  of  holding  East 
Tennessee,  as  well  as  its  importance  to  the  Union  arms, 
and  also  respecting  the  sufferings  and  trials,  of  the 
most  terrible  description,  of  loyal  men  in  that  region, 
see  Woodbury's  "  Burnside  and  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps,"  p.  303  ;  also,  Pollard's  "  Second  Tear  of  the 
War,"  p.  204. 

VOL.  TV.— 44. 


don,  twenty-five  miles.  On  the  24th, 
he  made  Williamsburg,  thirty  miles 
further  south,  On  the  26th,  he  was 
joined  by  Hartsuff,  at  Chetwood,  twen 
ty-eight  miles  from  Williamsburg. 
The  enemy  being  reported  near,  he  di 
rected  a  cavalry  regiment  to  reconnoitre 
toward  Jackborough.  From  Chetwood 
the  march  was  continued  across  New 
River  up  the  Cumberland  Mountains 
to  Montgomery,  Tenn.,  forty-two  miles 
distant  on  the  summit  of  the  rano-e, 

O     7 

where  the  column  arrived  on  the  30th 
of  August.  Here  it  was  met  by  Gen. 
White's  command.  Col.  Burt  having 
been  sent  forward  with  a  cavalry  bri 
gade,  reported  that  the  rebel  Gen.  Pe 
g-ram,  with  a  body  of  cavalry,  held  a 
very  strong  position  at  the  gap  near 
Emory  Iron  Works,  leading  into  Clinch 
River  Valley.  Additional  troops  were 
sent  forward  with  the  expectation  of  a 
battle  on  the  morning  of  the  3 1st,  but 
with  daylight  it  was  discovered  that 
the  enemy  had  fled. 

The  road  to  Knoxville  was  now  clear. 
Having  reached  Emory  River,  seven 
teen  miles  from  Montgomery,  Gen. 
Burnside  ordered  Col.  Foster,  with  a 
mounted  brigade,  to  make  a  forced 
march  over  a  direct  road  to  Kingston, 
six  miles  further.  Being  anxious  to 
save  the  most  extensive  and  important 
bridge  over  the  Tennessee,  at  Loudon, 
twenty  miles  from  Kingston,  Burnside 
directed  Shackelford,  with  his  cavalry 
brigade,  to  push  on  as  rapidly  as  possi 
ble  ;  but  they  were  unable  to  prevent 
its  being  burned  by  the  rebels. 

The  rebel  commander  in  this  region, 
Buckner,  was  astounded  by  the  sudden 
appearance  of  Burnside's  force,  and  not 


340 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


IX. 


knowing  what  to  expect,  lie  instantly 
evacuated  East  Tennessee,  and  left  in 
such  a  hurry  as  not  to  find  time  to  ap 
prize  the  rebels  at  Cumberland  Gap  of 
his  movements,  or  to  give  them  any 
orders  as  to  the  course  they  were  now 
to  pursue.  Thus  Burn  side,  after  a  very 
severe  and  trying  march  across  the 
Cumberland  Mountains,  of  some  250 
miles  in  two  weeks'  time,  found  him 
self  master  of  the  situation. 

The  advance,  under  Col.  Foster,  en 
tered  Knoxville  on  the  1st  of  Septem 
ber,  and  two  days  later,  Burnside  \vas 
welcomed  there  with  enthusiasm  and 
joy  rarely  if  ever  equalled  during  the 
war.  It  was,  in  fact,  a  perfect  ovation 
which  met  the  deliverers  upon  their 
entrance.  The  town  was  decorated 
with  flags,  some  of  which  had  been 
hidden  for  more  than  two  years ;  and 
the  people,  lining  the  roads  and  streets, 
cried  out,  "  Welcome,  Gen.  Burnside, 
welcome  to  East  Tennessee  !"  "  Bless 
the  Lord !  The  old  flag's  come  back 
to  Tennessee  !"  A  public  meeting  was 
held,  at  which  Burnside  made  some 
appropriate  remarks,  and  the  citizens 
congratulated  themselves  upon  their 
deliverance  from  the  grinding  despot 
ism  under  which  they  had  so  long 
groaned.  A  large  amount  of  public 
property  claimed  by  the  rebel  authori 
ties,  as  machine  shops,  foundries,  cars, 
locomotives,  etc.,  fell  into  Burn  side's 
hands.  About  2,000,000  pounds  of 
salt,  a  large  quantity  of  wheat  (the 
fruits  of  the  tithe  tax),  and  many  thou 
sand  bags  were  also  taken.  "From 
that  day,"  says  Woodbury,  "  the  rebel 
rule  in  East  Tennessee  was  ended,  the 
great  western  line  of  rebel  communica- 


1863. 


tion  was  taken  from  the  hands  that 
had  abused  its  facilities,  and  the  power 
of  the  Union  became  supreme.  The 
frantic  and  desperate  efforts  which  the 
rebels  subsequently  made  to  regain 
their  lost  authority  were  all  completely 
foiled.  Their  season  of  triumph  had 
passed.  Their  doom  was  sealed." 

Just  before  leaving  Kentucky,  Burn- 
side  ordered  Colonel  De  Courcy,  with 
a  brigade  of  infantry,  to  march  upon. 
Cumberland  Gap  by  the  direct  rout«: 
through  London  and  Barboursville. 

O 

Learning,  on  the  4th  of  September,  that 
the  rebel  force  defending  the  Gap  was 
strong,  and  likely  to  offer  resistance, 
he  dispatched  Shackelford,  with  his 
brigade,  on  the  5th,  from  Knox 
ville,  with  instructions  to  seize 
all  avenues  of  escape  to  the  south.  He 
followed  himself,  with  another  body  of 
infantry  and  cavalry,  on  the  7th,  and 
arrived  within  four  miles  of  the  Gap 
on  the  9th,  after  a  forced  march  of 
sixty  miles.  De  Courcy  and  Shackel 
ford  had  both  demanded  a  surrender 
which  Frazier,  the  rebel  commander 
refused.  On  Burnside's  arrival,  the  de 
mand  was  renewed,  and  after  some  par 
leying  acceded  to.  In  explanation  of 
the  extraordinary  isolation  in  which 
Frazier  was  left,  rebel  officers  asserted 
that  Bragg  had  peremptorily  ordered 
him  to  remain.  Fourteen  pieces  of 
artillery  and  2,000  prisoners  were  cap 
tured  at  Cumberland  Gap,  and  its  loss 
was  pronounced,  by  a  rebel  journal,  to 
be  "  one  of  the  most  disgraceful  occur 
rences  of  the  war."* 


*  Davis,  in  his  message  to  the  rebel  Congress,  sub 
sequently  spoke  of  this  surrender  in  the  following 
terms  : — "  The  country  was  painfully  surprised  by  the 


Cn.    I.] 


POSITION   OF   OUR  FORCES. 


347 


Meantime,  a  column  of  cavalry  as 
cended  the  Valley  to  Bristol,  driving 
the  enemy  across  the  Virginia  line,  and 
destroyed  the  railroad  bridges  over 
the  Holston  and  Watauga  Rivers,  so 
as  to  prevent  the  return  of  the  rebels 
into  East  Tennessee.  The  main  body 
of  Burnside's  army  was  now  ordered 
by  the  general-iii-chief  to  concentrate 
on  the  Tennessee  River,  from  Loudon 
west,  in  order  to  connect  with  Rose- 
crans's  army,  which  reached  Chatta 
nooga  on  the  9th  of  September.  Burn- 
side,  not  being  in  good  health,  wished 
to  resign ;  but  the  president  refused  to 
accept  his  resignation  at  that  date. 
He  accordingly  put  his  troops  in  mo 
tion  to  occupy  the  different  points  ne 
cessary  to  guard  his  line  of  defence,  the 
Holston  River,  and  to  hold  the  gaps  of 
the  North  Carolina  mountains.  The 
rebels  under  Gen.  S.  Jones,  about 
10,000  in  number,  were  making  all  the 
resistance  in  their  power,  harassing  our 
outposts  and  watching  for  opportuni 
ties  of  attack ;  but  Burnside,  by  his 
activity  and  zeal,  was  fully  equal  to  the 


intelligence  that  the  officer  in  command  of  Cumber 
land  Gap  had  surrendered  that  important  and  easily 
defensible  pass,  without  firing  a  shot,  upon  the  sum 
mons  of  a  force  still  believed  to  have  been  inadequate 
to  its  reduction,  and  when  reinforcements  were  within 
supporting  distance,  and  had  been  ordered  to  his  aid. 
The  entire  garrison,  including  the  commander,  being 
still  held  prisoners  by  the  enemy,  I  am  unable  to  sug 
gest  any  explanation  of  this  disaster,  which  laid  open 
Eastern  Tennessee  and  South-western  Virginia  to  hos 
tile  operations,  and  broke  the  line  of  communication 
between  the  seat  of  government  and  Middle  Ten 
nessee." 


emergency.  By  the  middle  of  Septem 
ber,  he  had  taken  effectual  steps  to 
guard  a  line  of  176  miles  in  length  from 
the  left  of  Rosecrans,  with  whom  he 
was  in  direct  communication,  nearly  to 
the  Virginia  boundary. 

Gen.  Halleck  congratulated  Burn- 
side  on  his  success,  and  went  on  to 
say :  "  It  is  important  that  all  the 
available  forces  of  your  command  be 
pushed  forward  into  East  Tennessee. 
All  your  scattered  forces  should  be 
concentrated  there.  So  long  as  we 
hold  Tennessee,  Kentucky  is  perfectly 
safe.  Move  down  your  infantry  as 
rapidly  as  possible  toward  Chattanooga, 
to  connect  with  Rosecrans.  Bragg 
may  merely  hold  the  passes  of  the 
mountains  to  cover  Atlanta,  and  move 
his  main  army  through  Northern  Ala 
bama,  to  reach  the  Tennessee  River 
and  turn  Rosecrans's  right,  and  cut  off 
his  supplies.  In  this  case  he  will  turn 
Chattanooga  over  to  you,  and  move  to 
intercept  Bragg."  On  the  17th  of  Sep 
tember,  Burnside  received  another  dis 
patch  from  Halleck,  at  Washington, 
dated  the  14th,  which  read  thus : 
"There  are  several  reasons  why  you 
should  reinforce  Rosecrans  with  all  pos 
sible  dispatch.  It  is  believed  that  the 
enemy  will  concentrate  to  give  him  bat 
tle.  You  must  be  there  to  help  him." 

Leaving,  for  the  present,  Burnside 
and  the  operations  required  at  his 
hands,  we  turn  to  the  movements  of 
Rosecrans  and  the  important  results 
consequent  thereupon. 


348 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


CHAPTER    II. 

1S63. 

DEPARTMENT   OF   THE   CUMBERLAND  :  ADVANCE   TO   CHATTANOOGA  :  BATTLE  OF 

CHICKAMAUGA. 

Position  of  Rosecrans  and  liis  army —  Rebel  attack  on  Fort  Donelson  repulsed  —  Colburn  and  his  force  captured 
by  the  rebels — Various  skirmishes,  raids  and  contests  of  minor  importance  —  Rosecrans's  preparations  — 
Execution  of  spies  —  Army  begins  to  advance  in  June  —  Position  of  Bragg  and  his  forces  —  Rosecrans's 
plan  successfully  carried  out — Advance  on  Chattanooga  in  August  —  Progress  of  the  army  across  the  Cum 
berland  Mountains  —  Chattanooga  evacuated  by  the  rebels  —  Halleck's  fears  —  Rosecrans's  reply  —  Reinforce 
ments  called  in  from  every  direction  —  Hooker  sent  out  with  llth  and  12th  corps  —  Scant  supplies  —  Bragg's 
movements  —  Address  to  his  soldiers  —  Rosecrans's  position  for  battle  —  Bragg  begins  the  battle — Descrip 
tion  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  —  Heavy  losses  —  Rosecrans  falls  back  on  Chattanooga  —  Bragg's  move 
ments  to  cut  off  supplies  —  The  separate  commands  combined  —  Gen.  Grant  in  charge  of  the  Military  Divi 
sion  of  the  Mississippi,  embracing  the  departments  of  the  Ohio,  of  the  Cumberland,  and  of  the  Tennessee  — 
Rosecrans  relieved  of  his  command  —  Gens.  Thomas,  Sherman,  and  Burnside  in  command  of  the  several 
departments. 


AFTER  the  battle  of  Murfreesborongli 
(see  p.  253),  several  months  were  spent 
by  Gen.  Rosecrans  and  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  in  bringing  up  sup 
plies,  opening  lines  of  communication, 
and  establishing  a  base  of  operations 
for  an  advance  upon  the  rebels  at  Chat 
tanooga.  Various  raids  and  skirmishes 

o 

occurred  in  this  interval,  the  rebels 
manifesting  much  activity,  and  inter 
fering  seriously  with  Rosecrans's  sup 
plies,  but  not  gaining  any  special  or 
permanent  advantages.  Several  of 
these  assaults  and  engagements  may 
properly  here  be  noted. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  an  attack  was 
made  upon  Fort  Donelson  by  the  re 
bels  under  Wheeler  and  Forrest,  with 
about  4,000  men  and  eight  pieces  of 
artillery.  Col.  A.  C.  Harding  was  in 
command  of  the  post,  with 

1  Wtf**t 

about  500  available  men  of  his 
regiment,  one  company  of  cavalry,  and 
Floyd's  battery  of  artillery.  The  ene 


my  began  in  the  afternoon  by  throwing 
solid  shot  into  the  fort,  and  made  seve 
ral  feints  at  storming  the  works.  For 
rest  twice  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  urging 
his  superior  force  and  demanding  a  sur 
render,  which  Harding  resolutely  re 
fused.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the  even 
ing,  the  enemy  had  invested  the  work 
on  three  sides  to  the  river  above  and 
below,  and  were  about  pressing  the 
final  attack  which,  as  the  defenders 
were  nearly  out  of  ammunition,  pro 
mised  to  be  successful.  At  this  mo 
ment,  however,  a  number  of  gunboats, 
under  Capt.  Fitch,  which  were  convoy 
ing  transports  from  below,  opportunely 
arrived  on  the  spot,  and  warned  of  the 
attack,  skilfully  opened  fire  upon  the 
assailants.  The  gun  boats,  effectively 
placed,  speedily  drove  off  the  enemy. 
Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
not  less  than  900.  Col.  Harding's  loss 
was  thirteen  killed  and  fifty-one 
wounded. 


CH.  II.] 


VARIOUS  RAIDS  AND   SKIRMISHES. 


349 


On  the  4th  of  March,  Col.  Colburn, 
with  some  1,800  men,  attempted  a  re 
connaissance  from  Franklin  towards 
Springfield,  encountering  in  his  way 
Van  Corn's  column  of  the  rebel  force, 
estimated  to  be  over  7,000  men.  The 
enemy  retreated,  drawing  Colburn  into 
a  gorge,  where  he  was  surrounded,  and 
nearly  all  his  force  captured.  Two 
weeks  later,  on  the  20th  of  March,  Col. 
Hall,  while  on  a  reconnaissance,  with 
about  1,400  men,  met  the  famous  raider 
J.  H.  Morgan,  whose  force  was  between 
2,000  and  3,000.  Hall  succeeded  in 
repulsing  the  enemy,  after  a  sharp  con 
test  of  three  and  a  half  hours.  On  the 
25th  of  March,  the  rebel  cavalry  leader, 
Forrest,  made  a  raid  on  the  Nashville 
and  Columbia  Railroad,  burning  the 
bridge  and  capturing  Col.  Bloodgood's 
command  at  Brent  wood.  Gen.  G.  C. 
Smith,  arriving  opportunely  with  about 
600  cavalry,  attacked  the  enemy  in  the 
rear,  and  recovered  a  large  portion  of 
the  property  captured  at  Brentwood, 
pursuing  the  rebels  to  Little  Harpeth, 
where  they  were  reinforced.  On  the 
10th  of  April,  Van  Dorn,  with  a  large 
mounted  force,  attacked  Franklin,  but 
was  repulsed  by  Gen.  Granger,  with  a 
loss  of  nineteen  killed,  thirty-five  wound 
ed  left  on  the  field,  and  forty-eight  pri 
soners.*  Gen.  J.  J.  Reynolds  made  a 
raid  upon  the  Manchester  and  McMinn- 
ville  Railroad,  destroying  the  depot, 
rolling  stock,  supplies,  and  other  pro 
perty,  and  capturing  180  prisoners. 
Col.  Streight,  with  about  1,800  men, 

*  This  man  Van  Dorn,  an  unscrupulous  debauchee, 
was  shot  in  open  daylight,  at  his  quarters,  early  in 
May,  by  a  Dr.  Peters,  with  whose  wife  he  had  been 
guilty  of  adultery. 


started,  April  9th,  on  a  raid  into  Geor 
gia  to  cut  the  enemy's  communication. 
After  heavy  losses  in  skirmishes  with 
Forrest's  cavalry,  and  when  near  its 
destination,  he  was  forced  to  surrender. 
On  the  22d  of  May,  Gen.  Stanley  made 
a  raid  upon  Middleton,  capturing  eighty 
prisoners  and  200  horses,  600  stand  of 
arms,  and  other  property.  On  the  4th 
of  June,  Forrest  made  a  raid  upon 
Franklin,  and  on  the  llth,  attacked 
Triune.  His  losses  in  these  unsuccess 
ful  skirmishes  were  estimated  at  over 
100,  while  ours  were  only  seventeen 
killed  and  wounded. 

During  the  months  of  preparation 
alluded  to  above,  Rosecraus   was   ac 
tively  and  earnestly  engaged  in  seeking 
to  strengthen  his  army  by  a  thorough 
system  of  discipline,  and  also 

18C3. 

to  excite  in  the  minds  of  his 
men  a  proper  sense  and  appreciation  of 
the  nature  of  the  conflict  which  was 
being  carried  on  between  law  and  order 
on  the  one  hand,  and  wicked  and  cause 
less  rebellion  on  the  other.  Writing  at 

O 

this  date,  Rosecrans  characterized  the 
"  Confederacy  "  as  kept  alive  by  "  an  oli 
garchy  of  traitors  to  their  friends,  to  civil 
liberty,  and  human  freedom.  Where- 
ever  they  have  the  power,  they  drive 
before  them  into  their  ranks  the  south 
ern  people,  and  they  would  also  drive 
us.  Trust  them  not ;  were  they  able, 
they  would  invade  and  destroy  us  with 
out  mercy.  Absolutely  assured  of  these 
things,  I  am  amazed  that  any  one  could 
think  of  peace  on  any  terms.  When 
the  power  of  the  unscrupulous  rebel 
leaders  is  removed,  and  the  people  are 
free  to  consider  and  act  for  their  own 
interests,  which  are  common  with  ours 


350 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


under  this  government,  there  will  be 
no  difficulty  in  fraternization."* 

Early  in  June,  there  was  a  military 
execution  in  this  department,  which  at 
tracted  some  attention  from  the  auda 
city  displayed  by  two  rebel  officers,  L. 
A.  Williams  and  W.  J.  Peter,  in  play 
ing  the  parts  of  spies.  Towards  even 
ing,  on  the  8th  of  June,  it  appears  that 
two  persons  rode  into  Col.  Baird's  quar 
ters  at  Franklin,  Tenn..  representing 
themselves  to  be  Col.  Austin  arid  Ma 
jor  Dunlap,  Inspectors-general  of  the 
United  States  Army.  They  had  with 
them  counterfeit  official  papers  from 
Gen.  Rosecrans,  and  told  a  wrell  con 
cocted  story  of  their  being  plundered 
by  the  rebels  on  their  way.  They  were 
admitted  into  camp,  had  an  opportunity 
of  noting  its  defences,  and  just  before 
departing  borrowed  money  of  the  offi 
cer  in  command.  When  they  had  left, 
en  route  for  Nashville,  as  they  said,  the 
suspicion  suddenly  flashed  upon  Col. 
Baird  that  they  were  spies ;  and  he 
immediately  ordered  them  to  be  pur 
sued  and  arrested.  This  was  done; 
Rosecrans,  in  reply  to  a  telegram,  stated 
that  no  such  persons  were  known  to 
him ;  and  on  being  searched,  they  were 
clearly  proven  to  be  spies.  By  Rose- 
crans's  direction,  they  were  tried  by  a 
court  martial  the  same  night,  were 
found  guilty,  and  the  next  morning,  at 
nine  o'clock,  were  hung  in  the  presence 
of  the  garrison. 

Although  urged  by  the  military  au 
thorities  at  Washington,  and  aware  of 
the  expectation  of  the  public  in  regard 

*  Major-General  Rosecrans  in  reply  to  a  resolution 
of  the  Honourable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Ohio,  Murfreesborough,  Tenn.,  February,  1863. 


to  his  making  an  early  advance,  Rose 
crans  had  not  unduly  hurried  himself. 
He  had  taken  time  to  recruit  his  army, 
to  procure  horses  for  his  dismounted 
cavalry,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  to  per 
fect  all  his  arrangements,  while  he  was 
carefully  watching  the  dispositions  of 
the  enemy  in  his  front.  So  that  it  was 
the  month  of  June  before  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  was  in  motion. 

The  rebel  Gen.  Bragg,  after  the  bat 
tle  of  Murfreesborough,  (p.  253),  with 
drew  his  forces  to  Shelbyville,  Tulla- 
homa,  and  the  line  of  the  Duck  River, 
which  crosses  the  state  in  a  westerly 
direction  to  the  Tennessee,  at  its  near 
est  point,  about  thirty  miles  south  of 
the  line  held  by  Rosecrans.  Bragg1  s  force 
was  understood  to  be  strongly  entrench 
ed  in  its  main  positions,  while  in  front 
the  occupation  of  the  roads  running 

south  from  Murfreesborouo-h,  with  the 

~  ' 

natural  features  of  the  country,  gave  it 
additional  security  against  attack.  It 
was  Rosecrans's  plan,  in  his  advance, 
to  neutralize  these  advantages  by  turn 
ing  Bragg's  position  and  making  a 
flank  attack  on  his  right,  and  thus  to 
reach  his  immediate  base  of  operations 
at  Tullahoma,  on  the  Chattanooga  Rail 
road.  In  this  way,  he  purposed  com 
pelling  the  enemy  to  an  engagement  on 
ground  of  his  own  choosing,  or  forcing 
him  to  a  retreat. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  the  camps  were 
broken  up  at  Murfreesborough,  and  the 
army  began  its  march  in  three  corps, 
the  right  under  McCook,  the  centre 
under  Thomas,  and  the  left  under  Crh> 
tenden.  By  an  admirably  combined 
movement,  Rosecrans  was  able  to  de 
ceive  the  rebels  by  threatening  an  ad- 


CH.  II.] 


ROSLORANS  ADVANCES  ON   CHATTANOOGA. 


35J 


vance  in  force  on  their  left  at  Shelby- 
ville,  while  the  mass  of  his  army  seized 
Hoover's,  Liberty,  and  other  Gaps,  by 
hard  fighting.  They  then  moved  on 
Manchester,  and  having  thus  turned 
the  right  of  the  enemy's  defence  of  Duck 
River,  directly  threatened  Bragg,  who 
was  forced  to  fall  back  to  Tullahoma, 
hotly  pursued  by  Granger,  after  he  had 
brilliantly  carried  Shelbyville.  Dispo 
sitions  were  immediately  made  to  turn 
Tullahoma,  and  fall  upon  the  rebel  rear; 
but  Bragg  abandoned  his  entrenched 
camp,  and  rapidly  fell  back  toward 
Bridgeport,  Ala.,  pursued  as  far  as  prac 
ticable  by  our  forces.  "  Thus  ended," 
to  use  Rosecraus's  words,  "  a  nine  days' 
campaign,  which  drove  the  enemy  from 
two  fortified  positions,  and  gave  us  pos 
session  of  Middle  Tennessee,  conducted 
in  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  rains 
ever  known  in  Tennessee,  at  that- period 
of  the  year,  over  a  soil  that  almost  be 
comes  a  quicksand.  Our  operations 
were  retarded  thirty-six  hours,  at  Hoo 
ver's  Gap,  and  sixty  hours  at  and  in 
front  of  Winchester,  which  alone  pre 
vented  us  from  getting  possession  of  his 
communications  and  forcing  the  enemy 
to  a  very  disastrous  battle.  These  re 
sults  were  far  more  successful  than  was 
anticipated,  and  could  only  have  been 
attained  by  a  surprise  as  to  the  direction 
and  force  of  our  movements."1'  The 
losses,  in  all,  were  560 ;  1,634  prisoners 
were  taken,  together  with  six  pieces  of 
artillery,  abundance  of  stores,  etc. 

The  next  step  in  following  up  the 
enemy  to  their  important  position  at 
Chattanooga,  which  was  now  fortified, 
and  the  approaches  to  which  offered 
the  best  opportunities  of  defence,  was 


undertaken  during  the  month  of  Au 
gust.  The  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
pursuing  the  rebels  were  unusually 
great.  The  Union  army  was  now  in 
position  from  McMiunville  to  Win 
chester,  with  advances  at  Pelham  and 
Stevenson ;  and  in  order  to  reach  Chat 
tanooga  from  above,  it  had  to  cross  the 
Cumberland  Mountains  to  the  upper 
waters  of  the  Tennessee  River,  while 
the  river,  in  its  tortuous  course,  and  a 
continuation  of  the  mountain  passes, 
were  interposed  below.* 

On  the  16th  of  August,  Rosecrans, 
having  put  the  railroad  to  Stevenson 
in  condition  to  procure  supplies,  com 
menced  his  advance  across  the  Cumber- 
laud  Mountains,  Chattanooga  and  its 
covering  ridges  on  the  south-east,  being 
what  is  termed,  in  military  language,  his 
objective  point.  In  order  to  command 
and  avail  himself  of  the  most  import 
ant  passes,  the  front  of  his  movement 
extended  from  the  head  of  Sequatchie 
Valley,  in  Tennessee,  to  Athens,  Ala 
bama,  and  thus  threatened  the  line  of 
the  Tennessee  River  from  Whitsburg  to 
Blythe's  Ferry,  a  distance  of  over  150 
miles.  The  banks  of  the  Tennessee  were 
reached  on  the  20th  of  August,  and  the 
next  day  Chattanooga  was  shelled  to 
some  extent.  Pontoon,  boat,  raft  and 
trestle  bridges  were  rapidly  prepared  at 
Caperton's  Ferry,  Bridgeport,  the  mouth 
of  Battle  Creek  and  Shell  Mound ;  and, 
excepting  the  cavalry,  the  army  made 
its  way  across  the  Tennessee  in  the  very 
face  of  the  rebels.  Thomas,  by  the  8th 


*  Rosecrans,  in  his  report  of  tlie  battle  of  Chicka- 
mautra,  gives  a  carefully-prepared  outline  of  the  topo 
graphy  of  this  region.  It  is  well  worth  the  reader's 
attention  and  consultation. 


332 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


of  September,  had  moved  on  Trenton, 
seizing  Frick's  and  Stevens's  Gaps  on 
the  Lookout  Mountain;  McCook  had 
advanced  to  Valley  Head,  and  taken 
Winston's  Gap;  while  Critteuden  had 
crossed  to  Wauhatchie,  was  in  commu 
nication  on  the  right  with  Thomas,  and 
threatened  Chattanooga  by  the  pass 
over  the  point  of  Lookout  Mountain. 

Having  thus  passed  successfully  the 
first  mountain  barrier  south  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  Kosecrans  decided  to  use  his  right 
in  threatening  the  rebel  communica- 

o 

tions,  while,  with  his  centre  and  left,  he 
should  seize  the  gaps  and  commanding 
points  of  the  mountains  in  front.  On 
the  9th  of  September,  Crittenden  made 
a  reconnaissance,  and  developed  the  im 
port  fact  that  the  rebel  force  in  Chatta 
nooga  had  evacuated  that  place  on  the 
day  and  night  previous.  While  Crit- 
tenden's  corps  quietly  took  possession 
of  Chattanooga,  which  was,  as  we  have 
said,  the  objective  point  of  the  campaign, 
Rosecraus,  with  the  remainder  of  his 
army,  pressed  forward  through  the  dif 
ficult  passes  of  the  Lookout  and  Mis 
sionary  Mountains,  apparently  directing 
his  march  upon  Lafayette  and  Rome.* 


*  "  A  splendid  opportunity  was  now  presented  to 
Bragg.  The  detached  force  in  McLemore's  Cove  was 
Thomas's  corps.  Being  immediately  opposite  Lafayette, 
at  and  near  which  Gen.  Bragg  had  all  his  forces  con 
centrated,  it  was  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the  latter. 
It  was  only  necessary  that  Gen.  Bragg  should  fall  upon 
it  with  such  a  mass  as  would  have  crushed  it ;  then 
turned  down  Chattanooga  Valley,  thrown  himself  in 
between  the  town  and  Crittenden,  and  crushed  him  ; 
then  passed  hack  between  Lookout  Mountain  and  the 
Tennessee  River  into  Wills's  Valley,  and  cut  off  Mc- 
Cook's  retreat  to  Bridgeport ;  thence  moved  along  the 
Cumberland  range  into  the  rear  of  Burnside,  and  dis 
posed  of  him."  This,  apparently  so  easy  of  accom 
plishment,  was  not  attempted,  and  owing  to  the  delay 
of  the  rebels,  Kosecrans  was  able  to  escape  the  risk 
which  was  run  under  the  supposition  that  the  rebels 


From  various  reports  of  spies  and 
deserters,  and  from  the  fact  that  Chat 
tanooga  was  given  up  without  a  strug 
gle,  it  was  supposed  that  Lee  was  re 
ceiving  reinforcements  from  Bragg ;  and 
the  authorities  at  Washington  were 
seized  with  an  apprehension  that  Rose- 
crans  might  be  drawn  too  far  into  the 
mountains  of  Georgia,  where  he  could 
not  be  furnished  with  supplies,  and 
where  also  he  might  be  attacked  before 
Burnside  could  bring  him  any  help. 

In  reply  to  Halleck's  dispatch,  cau 
tioning  him  on  this  subject,  Rosecrans, 
on  the  12th  of  September,  telegraphed 
to  Washington  that,  although  he  was 

O  f  O 

sufficiently  strong  for  the  enemy  then  on 
his  front,  there  were  indications  that 
the  rebels  intended  to  turn  his  flanks 
and  cut  off  his  communications.  He, 
therefore,  decided  that  Burnside  should 
move  down  his  infantry  toward  Chat 
tanooga,  on  his  left,  and  that  Grant 
should  cover  the  Tennessee  River  to 
ward  Whitsburg,  to  prevent  any  raid 
into  Nashville.  Rosecrans  was  of  opi 
nion  that  no  troops  had  been  sent  from 
Brad's  army,  but  that  Brao-2  was  beins; 

oo  •/  '  t—'O 

reinforced  by  Loring  from  Mississippi. 
Burnside,  as  we  have  noted  (see  p.  347), 
was  directed  to  hurry  forward  his  in 
fantry,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  toward 
Chattanooga.  Hurlbut  at  Memphis, 
and  Sherman  at  Yicksburg,  were  order 
ed  to  send  all  the  available  forces  at 
those  points  to  Corinth  and  Tuscumbia, 
to  operate  against  Bragg,  and  to  prevent 
his  turning  the  right  flank  of  Rose- 
crans's  army  and  recrossing  the  river 
into  Tennessee.  Schofield  in  Missouri, 

were  retreating. — See  Pollard's  "  Third  Year  of  tlw 
War,"  p.  114. 


Cu.  II.] 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  BATTLE. 


353 


and  Pope  in  the  North-west  department, 
we^e  directed  to  send  forward  to  the 
Tennessee  line  every  available  man  in 
their  departments ;  and  the  commanding 
officers  also  in  Indiana,  Ohio  and  Ken 
tucky,  were  ordered  to  make  every  pos 
sible  exertion  to  secure  Kosecrans's  lines 
of  communication.  Meade,  too,  was 
urged  to  attack  Lee,  while  his  army 
was  in  its  present  reduced  condition,  or 
at  least  prevent  him  from  sending  off 
further  detachments.  It  was  deemed 
unadvisable  to  send  any  more  troops 
into  East  Tennessee  or  Georgia,  on  ac 
count  of  the  impossibility  of  supplying 
them  in  a  country  which  the  enemy  had 
nearly  exhausted.  Burnside's  army  was 
on  short  rations,  and  that  of  the  Cum 
berland  very  inadequately  supplied; 
and  in  the  case  of  Rosecrans,  while  he 
had  a  large  number  of  animals  in  his 
depots,  the  horses  for  the  artillery,  cav 
alry  and  trains  were  dying  off  for  want 
of  forage.* 

On  the  14th  of  September,  the  army 
of  Rosecrans  was  occupying  the  passes 
of  Lookout  Mountain,  with  the  enemy 
concentrating  his  forces  near 

°         , 

Lafayette  to  dispute  his  fur 
ther  advance.  Bragg's  threatened 
movements,  to  the  right  and  left,  were 
merely  cavalry  raids  to  cut  the  line  of 
Rosecrans's  supplies,  and  threaten  his 
communications  with  Burnside.  Bragg's 
main  army  was  only  awaiting  the  ar 
rival  of  Longstreet's  corps,  to  give  bat- 

*  Hallcck,  in  this  connection,  says,  that  hearing 
nothing  from  Grant  or  from  Sherman's  corps  at  Vicks- 
burg,  it  was  determined,  on  the  23d  of  September,  to 
detach  the  llth  and  12th  corps  from  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  send  them  by  rail,  under  the  command 
of  Hooker,  to  protect  Rosecrans's  line  of  communica 
tion  from  Bridgeport  to  Nashville. 
VOL.  IV.— 45. 


tie  in  the  mountains  of  Georgia.  It 
had  been  reinforced  by  troops  from 
Johnson  in  Mississippi,  and  by  the  pri 
soners  released  on  parole  at  Vicksburg 
and  Port  Hudson  and  declared  by  the 
rebel  authorities  to  have  been  exchang 
ed,* — a  course  of  conduct,  by  the  way, 
which  Gen.  Halleck  vigorously  de 
nounced.  The  line  of  Rosecrans  ex 
tended,  at  this  time,  from.  Gordon's 
Mills  to  Alpines,  a  distance  of  some 
forty  miles.  By  the  17th  of  Septem 
ber,  his  troops  were  brought  within 
supporting  distance,  and  the  next  day 
a  concentration  was  begun  towards 
Crawfish  Spring.  On  the  morning  of 
the  18th,  Thomas's  troops  pressed  on 
toward  Gordon's  Mills,  and  McCook 
moved  up  directly  in  his  rear.  During 
the  forenoon,  Granger  made  a  recon 
naissance  across  the  Chickamauga,  at 
Reid's  Bridge;  Cols.  Minty  and  Wil 
der  were  sent,  the  former  to  watch 
Ringgold  road  crossing,  and  the  latter 
to  resist  any  advance  from  Napier  Gap ; 
and  although  heavy  cannonading  en 
sued,  they  held  their  ground  until  a 
body  of  the  enemy  approaching  their 
rear,  they  were  compelled  to  retire. 
During  the  night,  McCook's  force,  al 
though  greatly  fatigued,  moved  north 
ward  to  Pond  Spring,  seventeen  miles 
south  of  Chattanooga.  Crittenden,  who 

*  Bragg,  on  the  17th  of  September,  from  his  head 
quarters  in  the  field,  at  Lafayette,  Georgia,  issued  an 
order  in  very  urgent  terms,  endeavoring  to  rouse  the 
spirit  of  his  troops.  "  Having  accomplished,"  lie  said, 
"  our  object  in  driving  back  the  enemy's  flank  move 
ment,  let  us  now  turn  on  his  main  force,  and  crush  it 
in  its  fancied  security.  Your  general  will  lead  you. 
You  have  but  to  respond  to  assure  us  of  a  glorious 
triumph  over  an  insolent  foe.  I  know  what  your  re 
sponse  will  be.  Trusting  in  God  and  the  justice  of  our 
cause,  and  nerved  by  the  love  of  dear  ones  at  home, 
failure  is  impossible,  and  victory  must  be  ours."  A  -, 

A-T..     *•*&         -W^r-^muJC. 

"J  "  '          == 


354 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


was  ahead  of  Thomas,  had  placed  Van 
Cleve's  division  on  the  left  of  Wood, 
at  Gordon's  Mills,  and  Palmer  on  his 
right ;  Thomas,  in  consequence,  pushed 
still  further  to  the  left.  Johnson's  two 
brigades  were  given  to  Thomas  and 
posted  on  Van  Cleve's  left,  while  Neg- 
ley,  who  was  already  in  position  at 
Owen's  Gap,  a  little  way  south  of 
Crawfish  Spring,  thirteen  miles  from 
Chattanooga,  was  ordered  to  remain 
there,  temporarily  attached  to  Mc- 
Cook's  corps.  The  whole  of  Rose- 
crans's  force  was  now  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Chickarnauga,  within  easy  sup 
porting  distance. 

Bragg,  moving   his   army   by   divi 
sions,  crossed  the  Chickamauo;a  at  sev- 

'  O 

eral  fords  and  bridges  north  of  Gor 
don's  Mills,  near  to  which  he  endea 
vored  to  concentrate  before  giving 
battle.  This  was  on  the  morning  of 
Saturday,  the  19th  of  September,  Mc- 
Cook's  corps  forming  the  right  of  our 
line  of  battle,  Crittenden's  the  centre, 
and  Thomas's  the  left.  The  battle  was 
begun  about  ten  o'clock,  when  the  left 
wing  of  Rosecrans  was  attacked  by 
heavy  masses,  and  vigorous  efforts  were 
made  to  turn  our  left,  so  as  to  occupy 
the  road  to  Chattanooga.  But  in  this 
the  rebels  failed  entirely  of  success. 
The  centre  was  next  assailed,  and  tem 
porarily  driven  back,  but,  being 
promptly  reinforced,  maintained  its 
ground.  As  night  approached,  the 
battle  ceased,  and  the  combatants  rest 
ed  on  their  arms.  The  attack  was 
furiously  renewed,  on  the  morning  of 
the  20th,  against  our  left  centre.  Divi 
sion  after  division  was  pushed  forward 
to  resist  the  attacking  masses  of  the 


l§63. 


enemy,  when,  by  an  unfortunate  mistake 
a  gap  was  opened  in  the  line  of  battle, 
of  which  the  enemy  took  in 
stant  advantage,  and  striking 
Davis  in  the  flank  and  rear  threw  his 
whole  division  into  confusion.  Pour 
ing  in  through  this  break  in  our  line 
the  enemy  cut  off  our  right  and  right 
centre,  and  attacked  Sheridan's  divi 
sion,  which  was  advancing  to  support 
our  left.  After  a  gallant  but  fruitless 
effort  against  the  rebel  torrent,  he  was 
compelled  to  give  way,  but  afterward 
rallied  a  considerable  portion  of  his 
force,  and  by  a  circuitous  route  joined 
Thomas,  who  now  had  to  sustain  the 
whole  force  of  the  attack.  Our  right 
and  part  of  the  centre  had  been  com 
pletely  broken,  and  fled  in  confusion 
from  the  field,  carrying  with  them  to 
Chattanooga  their  commanders,  Mc- 
Cook  and  Crittenden,  and  also  Rose 
crans,  who  was  on  that  part  of  the  line. 
Thomas,  however,  still  remained  im 
movable  in  his  position.  About  3.30 
P.M.,  the  enemy  discovered  a  gap  in  the 
hills  in  the  rear  of  his  right  flank,  and 
Longstreet  commenced  pouring  his 
massive  column  through  the  opening. 
Granger,  who  had  been  posted  with 
his  reserves  to  cover  our  left  and  rear, 
arrived  upon  the  field  at  this  critical 
moment.  Thomas  pointed  out  to  him 
the  gap  through  which  the  enemy  was 
debouching,  when  quick  as  thought  he 
threw  upon  it  Steadman's  brigade  of 
cavalry,  and  broke  the  enemy.  We 
held  the  gap,  but  the  rebels  again  and 
again  tried  to  retake  it.  About 
sunset,  they  made  their  last 
charge,  when  our  men,  being  out  of 
ammunition,  moved  on  them  with  the 


1§G3. 


CH.  II.] 


THE  BATTLE   OF   CHICKAMAUGA. 


355 


bayonet,  and  they  gave  way  to  return 
no  more.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy 
made  repeated  attempts  to  carry  Tho 
mas's  position  on  the  left  and  front, 
but  were  as  often  driven  back,  with 
great  loss.  During  the  night,  Thomas 
fell  back  to  Rossville,  leaving  the  dead 
and  most  of  the  wounded  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy  ;*  and,  on  the  night  of 
the  21st,  he  withdrew  the  remainder 
of  tlie  army  within  the  defences  of 
Chattanooga.  The  rebel  loss  was 
estimated  at  about  18,000;  our  loss, 
in  all,  was  something  over  16,000. 
There  were  about  2,000  prisoners  cap 
tured,  f 

Having  retreated  to  Chattanooga,  as 
above  related,  Rosecrans  withdrew  his 
forces  from  the  passes  of  Lookout  Moun 
tain,  which  covered  his  line  of  supplies, 
from  Bridgeport.  These  were  immedi 
ately  occupied  by  the  troops  of  Bragg, 
who  also  sent  a  cavalry  force  across  the 


*  Secession  critics  are  very  energetic  in  denouncing 
Bragg's  inactivity  and  neglect  in  pursuing  our  army 
in  its  retreat.  According  to  them,  it  would  have  been 
an  easy  thing  to  have  crushed  utterly  the  Union  forces, 
if  Bragg,  in  consequence  of  the  darkness  and  the  den 
sity  of  the  forests,  had  not  refused  to  move,  contenting 
himself  with  gathering  up  the  fruits  of  victory  on  the 
battle  field. 

f  Pollard  asserts  that  the  rebels  took  over  8,000  pri 
soners,  and  that  the  Union  loss  was  many  thousands 
greater  than  that  of  the  rebels.  "  Chickamauga,"  he 
says,  "  conferred  a  briliant  glory  upon  our  arms,  but 
little  else.  Rosecrans  still  held  the  prize  of  Chatta 
nooga,  and  with  it  the  possession  of  East  Tennessee. 
Two  thirds  of  our  nitre  beds  were  in  that  region,  and 
a  large  proportion  of  the  coal  which  supplied  our  foun 
dries.  It  abounded  in  the  necessaries  of  life.  It  was 
one  of  the  strongest  countries  in  the  world,  so  full  of 
lofty  mountains  that  it  had  been  called,  not  unaptly, 
the  Switzerland  of  America.  As  the  possession  of 
Switzerland  opened  the  door  to  the  invasion  of  Italy, 
Germany  and  France,  so  the  possession  of  East  Ten 
nessee  gave  easy  access  to  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
Georgia  and  Alabama." — "  Third  Tear  of  the  War," 
p.  138. 


Tennessee  above  Chattanooga,  which 
destroyed  a  large  wagon  train  in  the 
Sequatchie  Valley,  and  captured  Me- 
Minnville  and  other  points  on  the  rail 
road.  By  this  means  the  rebels  almost 
entirely  cut  off  Rosecrans's  army  from 
its  supplies.  Fortunately,  however,  the 
line  of  railroad  was  well  defended,  and 
the  enemy's  cavalry,  being  vigorously 
attacked  by  Col.  McCook  at  Anderson's 
Cross  Roads,  on  the  2d  of  October,  by 
Mitchel  at  Shelbyville  on  the  6th,  and 
by  Crook  at  Farmington  on  the  8th  of 
October,  were  put  to  rout  and  mostly 
captured. 

In  the  judgment  of  Rosecrans,  "the 
battle  of  Chickamauga  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  secure  our  concentration 
and  cover  Chattanooga.  It  was  fought 
in  a  country  covered  with  woods  and 
undergrowth,  and  wholly  unknown  to 
us.  Every  division  came  into  action 
opportunely,  and  fought  squarely,  on 
the  19th.  We  were  largely  outnum 
bered,  yet  we  foiled  the  enemy's  flank 
movement  on  our  left,  and  secured  our 
position  on  the  road  to  Chattanooga.'1* 

It  being  deemed  inexpedient  to  have 
separate  commands  or  armies  operating 
in  the  same  field,  the  authorities  at 
Washington  determined  to  place  the 
entire  force  in  this  region  under  a  sin 
gle  commander,  so  as  to  secure  both 
unity  of  design  and  a  more  perfect  co 
operation  than  had  heretofore  been 
practicable  Gen.  Grant  was,  almost  of 
course,  immediately  fixed  upom  for  this 


*  The  defeat  of  Rosecrans  was  looked  upon  as  disas 
trous,  and  its  results  as  very  alarming ;  he  was,  too, 
considered  to  be  obstinate  and  impracticable. — See 
Col.  Badeau's  "  Military  History  of  Ulysses  8.  Grant," 
vol.  i.  pp.  421-434. 


356 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX 


position,  and  having  left  New  Orleans, 
where  he  had  been  suffering  from  an 
injury  occasioned  by  a  fall  from  his 
horse,  he  reached  Louisville  on  the  18th 
of  October.  The  same  day,  he  issued 
a  general  order,  assuming  command  of 
the  new  "  Military  Division  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  embracing  the  Departments  of 
the  Ohio,  of  the  Cumberland,  and  of 
the  Tennessee."  He  also  gave  a  stir 
ring  notice  that  "  the  headquarters  of 
the  division  will  be  in  the  field."  Rose- 


crans  was  relieved  of  his  command,  and 
Gen.  Thomas  was  put  in  his  place,  in 
charge  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland ; 
Sherman  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee;  and 
Burnside,  (who  was  soon  after  succeed 
ed  by  Foster),  to  that  of  the  Army  of 
the  Ohio.  The  narrative  of  further  op 
erations  against  the  rebels,  as  carried 
forward  vigorously  and  successfully  un- 
Gen.  Grant's  direction,  we  defer  to  the 
following  chapter. 


CHAPTER    III. 
1863. 

GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN:    BATTLE  OP  CHATTANOOGA:    SIEGE  OF  KNOXVILLB. 

Bragg's  investment  of  Chattanooga  —  Holds  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge  —  Expects  to  starve  out 
our  men  —  Sherman's  advance  and  Grant's  orders  —  Plan  to  seize  the  hills  in  Lookout  Valley  —  Success 
ful  —  Supplies  obtained  —  Hooker  and  his  force  —  Attacked  by  the  enemy  —  Grant's  plans  against  Bragg 
—  Bragg's  blunder  in  detaching  Longstreet  —  Position  of  Grant's  army  and  preliminary  arrangements  — 
The  battle  begun,  November  23d,  in  fine  style  —  Carried  forward  the  next  day  with  spirit  and  success  — 
Various  details —  Grant's  activity  —  The  struggle  of  November  25th  —  Successes  'thus  far  —  In  the  after 
noon,  the  Ridge  carried  by  storm  —  Extreme  daring  and  gallantry  of  our  men  —  Rebel  panic  —  Bragg  de 
camps  hastily  in  the  night  —  Retreats  to  Dalton  —  Losses,  etc.  —  Grant's  dispatches  characteristic  —  Burn- 
side  in  East  Tennessee  —  Longstreet's  march  against  him  —  Contests  at  several  points  —  Burnside  be 
sieged  at  Knoxville  —  Scarcity  of  supplies  —  Longstreet  makes  an  assault,  November  29th  —  Failure  and 
consequent  retreat  —  Sherman's  advance  —  Burnside  relieved  of  command  —  Gen.  Grant's  congratulatory 
order. 


THE  rebel  commander,  Bragg,  after 
Rosecrans's  retreat  to  Chattanooga,  fol 
lowed  closely  on  his  steps,  and  invest 
ing  the  place,  thought  that  his  best 
plan  was  to  starve  Rosecrans  out.  Com 
munication  by  the  river,  and  by  the 
railroad  on  the  southern  bank  to  the 
camp  of  Thomas,  twenty-eight  miles 
distant,1  was  interrupted  by  the  posi 
tion  of  Bragg's  force ;  and  hence  it  be 
came  necessary  to  send  supplies  to  Chat 


tanooga  by  a  circuitous  and  difficult 
road,  over  two  ranges  of  mountains,  by 
wagon  transportation,  upon  which  route 
the  rebel  cavalry  had  opportunity  to 
operate  with  advantage.  Chattanooga 
itself  was  well  fortified  and  protected 
from  a  direct  assault,  but  the  river  be 
low  was  commanded  by  Bragg's  troops 
at  Lookout  Mountain  and  its  vicinity. 
Bragg  occupied  not  only  the  mountain 
just  named,  but  also  the  adjacent  one, 


CH.  IL] 


PLAN  TO   OBTAIN  SUPPLIES. 


357 


connecting  Missionary  Ridge,  running 
in  a  south-westerly  direction  directly  in 
front  of  Rosecrans's  camps,  which  were 
thus  freely  exposed  to  view  from  the 
heights.  A  battery  of  rifle  24-pound- 
ers  was  placed  at  a  commanding  point 
of  Lookout  Mountain,  from  which,  at  a 
distance  between  two  and  three  miles, 
shells  were  thrown  into  Chattanooga, 
without,  however,  doing  any  material 
damage.  The  rebels  also  held  Lookout 
Valley  on  the  westerly  side  of  the 
mountains,  where  a  creek  of  the  same 
name  runs  into  the  Tennessee.  Bragg, 
looking  to  a  speedy  evacuation  of  Chat 
tanooga,  for  the  want  of  food  and  for 
age,  was  so  confident  of  success  in  the 
starving  out  process,  as  to  declare  that 
he  "  held  the  enemy  at  his  mercy,  and 
that  his  destruction  was  only  a  ques 
tion  of  time."  But  the  result  showed, 
as  Pollard  phrases  it,  "  how  vain  were 
the  sanguine  expectations  and  the  swol 
len  boast  of  this  ill-starred  and  unfortu 
nate  commander." 

Gen.  Sherman,  previous  to  this,  had 
been  engaged  in  opening  the  line  of 
the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad 
eastward  towards  Huntsville,  with  the 
design  of  effecting  a  communication 
with  Chattanooga.  He  was 
employed  on  this  task,  work 
ing  resolutely  in  the  face  of  the  enemy 
eastwardly  from  Corinth,  through  luka ; 
but  when  Grant  took  command,  Sher 
man,  in  accordance  with  orders  received 
from  Grant,  abandoned  the  railroad, 
crossed  the  Tennessee  at  Eastport, 
moved  by  the  north  bank  to  Stevenson, 
where  he  united  with  the  right  wing 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Hook 
er  was  ordered  to  move  to  Bridgeport, 


1§63. 


on  the  right  bank  of  the  Tennessee, 
thirty  miles  below  Chattanooga,  and 
crossing  at  that  point,  he  was  to  march 
by  the  main  wagon  road  through 
Whitesides  to  Wauhatchie.  Palmer, 
with  the  14th  corps,  was  ordered  to 
move  to  a  point  on  the  north  bank  op 
posite  Whitesides.  Then  he  was  to 
cross,  and  follow  in  Hooker's  track, 
holding  and  guarding  the  road  in  his 
rear.  Grant,  who  had  reached  Chatta 
nooga  on  the  23d  of  October,  and  as 
certained  the  critical  condition  of  affairs 
there  in  regard  to  supplies,  saw  plainly 
that  the  rebels  must  be  dislodged,  and 
communications  opened,  or  disastrous 
consequences  would  follow.  Hence  the 
movements,  above  noted,  were  urged 
forward,  and  an  excellently  contrived 
plan  of  Gen.  "W.  F.  Smith,  chief  engi 
neer  of  Grant's  army,  having  been 
adopted,  speedy  relief  was  looked  for. 
The  plan  was  to  take  a  force  of  about 
4,000  men,  proceed  down  the  river  to 
Brown's  Ferry,  and  seize  the  range  of 
steep  hills  at  the  mouth  of  Lookout  Val 
ley  ;  in  this  way,  if  the  expedition  were 
successful,  Hooker's  and  Palmer's  move 
ments  would  be  facilitated  and  render 
ed  more  secure,  and  the  river  would  be 
open  for  steamboats  to  Brown's  Ferry. 
On  the  night  of  the  2Gth  of  October, 
1,800  men,  under  Gen.  Hazen,  were 
embarked  at  Chattanooga,  in  sixty  pon 
toon  boats,  in  which  they  floated  down 
the  Tennessee  with  the  current,  round 
the  sharp  bend  of  the  river  below  Look 
out  Mountain,  unobserved  by  three 
miles  of  pickets,  until  they  reached  the 
point  proposed,  Brown's  Ferry,  six  miles 
by  the  river  from  Chattanooga.  Land 
ing  at  two  points,  they  seized  the  pick- 


358 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


IX. 


ets,  and  obtained  possession  of  the  spurs 
near  the  river.  The  remainder  of  the 
force,  under  Smith,  who  had  marched 
by  the  north  bank,  were  ferried  over 
before  daylight,  strengthening  the  party 
under  Hazen.  By  ten  o'clock,  A.M.,  the 
pontoon  bridge,  900  feet  long,  was  com 
pleted  ;  the  points  occupied  were  well 
entrenched;  the  artillery  was  put  in 
position  so  as  to  command  the  main 
road  from  Chattanooga  Valley  to  Look 
out  Valley ;  and  the  rebel  force  between 
Lookout  and  Shell  Mound,  finding  them 
selves  in  a  critical  position,  hastily  re 
treated  behind  the  creek.  Thus,  Smith's 
plan  was  thoroughly  carried  out,  and 
henceforth  Chattanooga  was  relieved  of 
all  fears  of  starvation. 

Hooker,  on  the  26th  of  October,  cross 
ed  the  Tennessee,  and  occupied  Lookout 
Valley,  Geary  holding  the  advance  at 
Wauhatchie ;  while  Palmer,  following 
in  Hooker's  rear  as  above  noted, 
formed  a  strong  moving  base  for  that 
general's  operations.  The  rebels  were 
chagrined  at  the  success  of  the  expedi 
tion  under  Smith,  and  were  determined 
if  possible  to  retrieve  their  loss.  Ac 
cordingly,  on  the  night  of  the  28th  and 
morning  of  the  29th  of  October,  an  at 
tack  was  made  upon  Geary's  division 
by  two  brigades,  under  Hood,  of  Long- 
street's  corps,  and  a  desperate  effort  was 
made  to  cut  off  and  capture  Geary.  Not 
only  was  the  attack  a  failure,  but  How 
ard's  corps  being  moved  rapidly  to  the 
right,  both  the  rebels  were  repulsed 
and  the  remaining  crests  lying  west  of 
Lookout  Creek  were  seized  and  held 
by  our  troops.* 

*  Gen.  Thomas,  in  congratulating  Hooker  and  his 
troops  on  the  "  brilliant  success  gaired  over  his,old  ad- 


Our  loss,  in  these  operations  of  the 
27th,  28th,  and  29th  of  October,  in 
opening  communications  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Tennessee,  from  Chattanooga 
to  Bridgeport,  was  reported  to  be — 7G 
killed,  339  wounded,  and  22  missing; 
that  of  the  enemy  was  supposed  to  be 
about  1,500. 

In  carrying  out  his  plans,  Grant's 
next  effort  was  to  see  if  he  could  not 
drive  out  Bragg  and  the  rebels  entirely 
from  the  position  they  held  on  Lookout 
Mountain.  He  was  not  content  with 
simply  relieving  Chattanooga ;  a  much 
greater  work  was  before  him,  and  he 
devoted  all  his  energies  to  its  accom 
plishment.  Happily,  Bragg  made  a 
great  blunder,  which  proved  of  essential 
advantage  to  Grant's  purposes.  The 
rebel  general,  thinking  it  good  policy 
to  cut  off  Burnside  in  East  Tennessee, 
detached  Longstreet  from  his  army, 
early  in  November,  to  attack  Burnside 
and  take  Knoxville.  This,  of  course, 
weakened  Bragg  materially,  and  enabl 
ed  Grant  so  to  arrange  his  movements 
as  to  be  almost  certain  of  victory. 
Sherman,  with  his  corps,  was  at  Bridge 
port  on  the  14th  of  November,  and  was 
quite  ready  to  take  his  part  in  the  work 
to  be  done.  Grant  sent  word  to  Burn- 
side,  explaining  his  purpose,  and  urging 
him  to  occupy  Longstreet  at  various 
points,  and  to  draw  him  further  and 
further  away  from  Bragg,  only  taking 


versary,  Longstreet,"  on  this  occasion,  gave  it  as  his 
opinion,  that '  the  bayonet  charge  of  Howard's  troops, 
made  up  the  side  of  a  steep  and  difficult  hill,  over  two 
hundred  feet  high,  completely  routing  and  driving  the 
enemy  from  his  barricades  on  its  top,  and  the  repulse 
by  Geary's  division,  of  greatly  superior  numbers,  who 
attempted  to  surprise  him,  will  rank  among  the  most 
distinguished  feats  of  arms  of  this  war." 


CH.  Ill] 


BATTLE   OF  CHATTANOOGA   BEGUN. 


359 


care  to  hold  Knoxville  at  all  hazards. 
If  besieged  there  by  Longstreet,  Grant 
expected  ere  long  to  afford  him  relief 
by  beating  and  dispersing  Bragg's  army, 
which  would  compel  Longstreet  to  re 
treat  into  Virginia. 

Hooker,  holding  Lookout  Valley, 
faced  the  enemy  on  the  mountain,  and 
Thomas  occupied  the  central  position 
with  his  line  of  works  before  Chatta 
nooga,  with  Missionary  Ridge  in  front 
of  him.  Sherman  was  ordered,  with 
his  force,  to  a  point  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  river  above  the  town,  with  the 
intention  of  crossing  and  seizing  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  ridge,  which 
was  unfortified.  A  cavalry  force  was 
also  directed  to  proceed  to  the  right 
and  rear  of  the  rebels,  so  as  to  cut  the 
railroad  between  Cleveland  and  Dalton, 
and  thus  sever  Longstreet's  southern 
communications  with  Bragg.  In  this 
way,  Hooker  and  Sherman  would  hold 
each  flank  of  the  enemy,  while  Thomas 
would  be  ready  to  pierce  their  centre. 
The  preliminary  arrangments  were  ad 
mirably  made.  Sherman's  troops  march 
ed  from  Bridgeport  by  way  of  White- 
sides,  crossed  the  river  at  Brown's  Fer 
ry,  moved  up  the  north  bank,  keeping 
concealed  from  the  enemy,  and  reached 
a  point  not  far  from  the  mouth  of  the 
North  Chickamauga.  More  than  a  hun 
dred  pontoon  bridges  were  carried  over 
land,  so  as  to  secure  the  passage  of  the 
river.  The  site  selected  for  the  bridge 
was  just  below  the  South  Chickamauga, 
which  offered  advantages  for  posting 
the  artillery.  Sherman's  force  arrived 
on  the  23d  of  November,  consisting  of 
the  loth  corps  and  one  division  of  the 
16th,  all  under  the  command  of  Gen. 


Blair ;  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning 
of  the  24th,  8,000  men  were  conveyed  to 
the  point  selected  for  the  bridge.  By 
noon  of  that  day  two  bridges  had  been 
laid,  one,  1,400  feet  long,  over  the  Ten 
nessee,  the  other,  200  feet  long,  over  the 
South  Chickamauga,  to  furnish  a  route 
for  the  cavalry.  During  the  day,  the 
remainder  of  his  command  reached  the 
position  assigned,  and  Sherman's  men 
speedily  rendered  it  unassailable  by  the 
enemy.  At  the  same  time,  a  brigade 
of  cavalry,  under  Col.  Long,  was  sent 
to  cut  the  railroad,  which  was  effectu 
ally  accomplished. 

All  his  arrangements  having  been 
effected  to  his  satisfaction,  and  every 
preparation  made  for  the  important 
battle  now  at  hand,  Grant,  on  the  23d 
of  November,  at  half  past  eleven,  order 
ed  a  demonstration  against  Missionary 
Ridge,  to  develops  the  force  of  the 
enemy  holding  it.  The  troops  marched 
in  fine  order,  as  if  on  parade,  and  were 
watched  by  the  rebel  pickets  from  the 
summits  of  the  ridge,  500  feet  above 
our  troops.  Their  opinion  was,  that  it 
was  a  review  and  drill,  so  openly,  de 
liberately,  and  with  such  precision  was 
the  movement  made.  The  line  advanc 
ed,  preceded  by  skirmishers,  and  at  two 
o'clock,  P.M.,  having  reached  our  picket 
lines,  opened  briskly  upon  the  rebel 
pickets,  who  replied,  and  then  ran  into 
their  rifle-pits.  Our  skirmishers  follow 
ed  them  into  the  pits,  along  the  centre 
of  Thomas's  line  of  25,000  troops,  until 
we  opened  fire.  It  was  a  complete  sur 
prise  to  the  rebels,  in  open  daylight. 
At  three  P.M.,  the  important  advanced 
position  of  Orchard  Knoll,  and  the 
lines  right  and  left,  were  secured,  and 


360 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


arrangements  were  made  for  holding 
them  during  the  night. 

At  daylight,  the  next  morning,  No 
vember  24th,  Thomas  had  5,000  men 
across  the  Tennessee,  and  .established 
on  its  south  bank,  and  commenced  the 
building  of  a  pontoon  bridge  about  six 
miles  above  Chattanooga.  The  steamer 
Dunbar,  formerly  owned  by  the  rebels, 
rendered  effective  aid  in  this  crossing, 
carrying  over  6,000  men.  By  night 
fall,  Thomas  had  seized  the  extremity 
of  Missionary  Kidge  nearest  the  river, 
and  was  busily  occupied  in  entrenching 
himself.  Howard,  with  a  brigade,  open 
ed  communication  with  him  from  Chat 
tanooga  on  the  south  side  on  the  river. 
Skirmishing  and  cannonading  continu 
ed  all  day,  on  the  left  and  centre. 

In  carrying  out  his  part  of  the  work, 
Hooker  scaled  the  slopes  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  and  from  the  valley  of  Look 
out  Creek  drove  the  rebels  around  the 
point,  captured  some  2,000  prisoners, 
and  established  himself  high  up  the 
mountain  side,  in  full  view  of  Chatta 
nooga.  This  raised  the  blockade,  and 
now  steamers  were  ordered  from  Bridge 
port  to  Chattanooga.  All  night 
the  point  of  Missionary  Ridge 
on  the  extreme  left,  and  the  side  of 
Lookout  Mountain  on  the  extreme  right, 
blazed  with  the  camp  fires  of  loyal 
troops.  The  day  had  been  one  of  dense 
mists  and  rains,  and  much  of  Hooker's 
battle  was  fought  above  the  clouds, 
which  concealed  him  from  view  of  the 
rest  of  the  army,  but  from  which  his 
musketry  made  itself  plainly  heard. 
At  nightfall  the  sky  cleared,  and  the 
full  moon,  which  has  been  poetically 
styled  "  the  traitor's  doom,"  shone  upon 


1863. 


the  striking  and  beautiful  scone,  until 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  soon  after 
which  a  brigade  sent  from  Chattanooga 
crossed  the  Chattanooga  Creek,  and 
opened  communications  with  Hooker. 
Grant's  headquarters  during  the  after 
noon  of  the  23d,  and  during  the  24th 
of  November,  were  in  Wood's  redoubt, 
except  when  in  the  course  of  the  day 
he  rode  alonoj  the  advanced  line,  and 

O  ' 

visited  the  headquarters  of  the  several 
commanders  in  Chattanooga  Valley.* 
As  the  day  dawned,  November  25th, 
the  stars  and  stripes  were  waving  on 
the  peak  of  Lookout  Mountain.  The 
rebels  had  evacuated  the  mountain. 
Hooker  moved  to  make  a  descent,  and, 
striking  Missionary  Ridge  at  Rossville 
Gap,  to  sweep  on  both  sides  and  on  its 
summit.  The  rebel  troops,  as  soon  as 
it  was  light  enough,  hurried  regiments 
and  brigades  along  the  narrow  summit 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  either  concentrat 
ing  on  the  right  to  overwhelm  Sherman, 
or  marching  for  the  railroad  and  raising 
the  siege.  They  had  evacuated  the 
Chattanooga  Valley,  and  it  was  now  a 
question  whether  they  would  abandon 
that  of  the  Chickamauga.  The  can 
nonading  was  commenced  and 
continued  all  day,  the  head 
quarters  being  constantly  under  fire. 
Howard  marched  the  llth  corps  to  join 
Sherman,  and  Thomas  chased  the  ene 
my's  pickets  into  their  entrenchments 
at  the  foot  of  Missionary  Ridge.  Sher 
man  made  an  assault  against  Bragg's 
right,  entrenched  on  a  high  knoll  next 

*  See  Gen.  Meigs's  dispatch  to  the  secretary  of  war, 
under  date  of  November  26th,  1863.  For  a  spirited 
narrative  of  this  important  battle  and  its  results,  in 
which  his  hero  looms  up  grandly,  see  Coppee's  "  Grant 
and  his  Campaigns,"  pp.  224-289. 


1803. 


CH.  III.] 


VICTORY  AT  CHATTANOOGA. 


361 


to  that  on  which  Sherman  himself  lay 
fortified.  The  assault  was  gallantly 
made,  and  as  gallantly  and  persistently 
carried  forward  ;  no  better  service  was 
done  that  day  than  that  by  Sherman, 
in  stemming  the  furious  attacks  of  re 
bel  masses  which  Bragg  had  sent  to 
crush  him,  and  in  his  judicious  counter 
attacks. 

A  general  advance  was  ordered  at 
half  past  three  P.M.,  and  the  storming 
of  the  ridge  began  with  a  strong  line 
of  skirmishers,  followed  by  a  deployed 
line  of  battle,  some  two  miles  in  length. 
At  a  given  signal  the  line  moved  rap 
idly  and  orderly  forward.  Our  men 
charged  the  rifle  pits  at  the  foot  of  the 
ridge.  The  taking  of  these  was  all  they 
had  been  ordered  to  do ;  but  when  the 
rebels,  in  large  numbers,  swarmed  out 
of  the  rifle  pits  and  fled  before  them, 
our  brave  soldiers  were  seized  with  an 
irresistible  impulse  to  mount  the  very 
heights,  despite  the  storm  of  shot  and 
shell  which  rained  down  upon  them 
from  above.  Onward  they  dashed,  and 
officers  and  men,  in  a  perfect  furor  of 
excitement,  forced  their  way  tip  the 
steep  sides  and  broken  and  crumbling 
face  of  the  ridge.  The  attempt  seemed 
wonderfully  rash  and  perilous,  for  there 
were  not  less  than  forty  pieces  of  artil 
lery  on  the  heights,  and  thousands  of 
muskets,  ready  to  strike  down  the  bold 
assailants.  Nevertheless,  with  cheers 
answering  to  cheers,  our  men  rushed 
forward  and  upward.  Color  after  color 
was  planted  on  the  summit,  while  rnus- 
ket  and  cannon  vomited  their  thunder 
upon  them.  A  fierce  musketry  fire 
broke  out  on  the  left,  where,  between 
Thomas  and  Sherman,  a  mile  or  two  of 

VOL.  IV.— 46. 


the  ridge  was  still  occupied  by  the  re 
bels.  Bragg  left  the  house  in  which 
he  had  had  his  headquarters,  and  rode 
to  the  rear  as  our  troops  crowded  the 
hill  on  either  side  of  him.  Grant  proceed 
ed  to  the  summit,  and  then  first  learned 
its  wonderful  height. ,,  Some  of  the  cap 
tured  artillery  was  put  into  position. 
Artillerists  were  sent  for  to  work  the 
guns.  The  rebel  log  breastworks  were 
torn  to  pieces,  carried  to  the  other  side 
of  the  ridge,  and  used  in  forming  barri 
cades  across,  and  a  secure  lodgment  was 
soon  effected.  The  other  assault  to  the 
right  of  our  centre  gained  the  summit, 
and  the  rebels  threw  down  their  arms 
and  fled.*  Hooker  coming  in  favora- 

O 

ble  position  swept  the  right  of  the  ridge 
and  captured  many  prisoners.  By  sun 
set  the  ridge  was  taken,  and  the  day  was 
ours.  Chickamauga  was  avenged. 

Nightfall  put  an  end  to  the  righting, 
and  prevented  a  general  pursuit  of  the 
flying  enemy.  Bragg1  s  remaining  troops 
left  early  in  the  night,  and  his  forces 
moved  rapidly  on  t.ie  road  toRinggold 
and  thence  to  Dalton,  firing  and  de- 


*  Pollard,  speaking  of  this  matter,  says  :  "  A  disgrace 
ful  panic  ensued.  The  whole  left  wing  of  the  Confeder 
ates  became  involved,  gave  way,  and  scattered  in  unmit 
igated  rout.  The  day  was  lost,  and  shamefully  lost." 
He  also  quotes  Jeff.  Davis's  words,  thus  : — "  After  a  long 
and  severe  battle,  in  which  great  carnage  was  inflicted 
on  the  enemy,  some  of  our  troops  inexplicably  aban 
doned  positions  of  great  strength,  and,  by  a  disorderly 
retreat,  compelled  the  commander  to  withdraw  the 
forces  elsewhere  successful,  and  finally  to  retire  with 
his  whole  army  to  a  position  some  twenty  or  thirty 
miles  to  the  rear.  It  is  believed,  that  if  the  troops  who 
yielded  to  the  assault  had  fought  with  the  valor  which 
they  had  displayed  on  previous  occasions,  and  which 
was  manifested  in  this  battle  on  the  other  parts  of  the 
line,  the  enemy  would  have  been  repulsed  with  very 
great  slaughter,  and  our  country  would  have  escaped 
the  misfortune,  and  the  army  the  mortification  of  the 
first  defeat  that  has  resulted  from  misconduct  by  the 
troops." — "  Third  Year  of  the  War,"  p.  158. 


362 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


stroying  the  railroad  in  their  flight. 
Sherman,  the  next  morning,  set  out  in 
pursuit  by  way  of  Chickamauga  Station 
on  the  Dalton  Railroad,  while  Hooker 
moved  toward  Ringgold.  At  this  place, 
the  rebels  under  Cleburne  made  a  fierce 
resistance ;  but  though  our  men  suffer 
ed  severely,  it  was  of  no  advantage  to 
the  enemy.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
necessity  of  caring  for  Burnside  and 
Knoxville,  Grant  would  have  followed 
Bragg  and  probably  destroyed  his  army 
entirely. 

Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing  was  reported  to  be  about  5,600. 
Six  thousand  prisoners  were  captured, 
and  a  large  number  of  the  wounded 
was  left  in  our  hands.  Forty  pieces  of 
artillery,  about  7,000  small  arms,  and  a 
large  train,  were  also  taken  from  the 
rebels.  The  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  over  2,500,  beside  more 
than  6,000  missing. 

Grant's  dispatches  during  the  battle 
are  marked*  by  brevity  and  point ;  the 
concluding  one,  on  the  evening  of  No 
vember  25th,  is  worth  quoting  here: 
"  Although  the  battle  lasted  from  early 
dawn  till  dark  this  evening,  I  believe 
I  am  not  premature  in  announcing  a 
complete  victory  over  Bragg.  Lookout 
Mountain-top,  all  the  rifle-pits 
in  Chattanooga  Valley,  and 
Missionary  Ridge  entire,  have  been 
carried,  and  are  now  held  by  us.  I 
have  no  idea  of  finding  Bragg  here  to 
morrow."  It  was  even  so ;  Bragg  de 
camped  with  all  speed,  and  the  Chatta 
nooga  campaign  ended  in  rescuing 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  from  the  re 
bels,  and  in  affording  the  means  of 
immediately  relieving  Burnekle,  at 


1§63. 


Knoxville,  from  the  danger  to  which 
he  was  exposed.*  "  The  way  was  now 
thrown  open  to  Atlanta,"  as  Col.  Ba- 
deau  remarks,  "  and  all  the  rich  coun 
try  in  its  rear ;  the  very  heart  of  the 
rebellion  was  laid  bare ;  the  great  bul 
wark  of  the  would-be  Confederacy  was 
broken  down,  was  become,  instead,  a 
sally-port  for  the  national  armies;  the 
rebel  hosts,  that  had  stood  in  the  way, 
were  thrust  aside,  and  Chattanooga, 
thenceforth,  was  as  terrible  a  menace 
to  rebellion  as  in  times  past  it  had  been 
defiant  to  loyalty." 

Burnside  (see  p.  347)  was  busily  occu 
pied,  meanwhile,  in  securing,  to  the 
fullest  extent  in  his  power,  the  defence 
of  East  Tennessee.  He  held  firmly  the 
railroad  and  the  line  through  Cumber 
land  Gap,  and  he  protected  the  left 
flank  of  Rosecrans  and  foiled  the  rebels 
in  that  quarter.  Grant  having  assum 
ed  charge  of  the  new  department,  in 
cluding  Tennessee,  Burnside  was  con 
tinued  in  his  command,  and  urged  to 
exert  all  his  ability  and  energy  toward 
securing  a  decisive  victory  over  the 
enemy.  Bragg,  as  has  been  noted  (p. 
358),  detached  Longstreet,  at  the  be 
ginning  of  November,  to  march  against 
Burnside  and  drive  him  out  of  Knox 
ville.  Some  unimportant  engagements 
occurred,  and  our  forces  suffered  severe 
ly  at  Philadelphia  and  Rogersville ; 
but  the  campaign  did  not  open  till 


*  "  Considering  the  strength  of  the  rebel  position," 
says  Halleck,  "  and  the  difficulty  of  storming  his  en 
trenchments,  the  battle  of  Chattanooga  must  be  con 
sidered  the  most  remarkable  in  history.  Not  only 
did  the  officers  and  men  exhibit  great  skill  and  daring 
in  their  operations  on  the  field,  but  the  highest  praise 
is  due  to  the  commanding  general  for  his  admirable 
disposition  for  dislodging  the  enemy  from  a  position 
apparently  impregnable." 


CH.  III.] 


SIEGE  AND    ASSAULT  OF  KNOXVILLE. 


363 


about  the  middle  of  November.  Long- 
street,  with  a  force  of  20,000  men,  ad 
vanced  by  way  of  London  and  Lenoir. 
and  crossed  the  Tennessee,  on  the  14th 
of  November,  near  the  former  place. 
The  advance  of  Longstreet's  force  was 
met  with  great  courage  and  determina 
tion  by  our  men,  and  was  driven  back 
two  miles  to  the  river.  Following  the 
directions  of  Grant,  Burnside  deemed 
it  best  to  retire  to  Lenoir,  and  thence 
to  Campbell's  Station,  twelve  miles 
from  Knoxville,  a  point  of  considerable 
importance  to  make  a  stand  at,  in  order 
to  secure  the  passage  of  the  trains  and 
provide  for  the  defence  of  Knoxville. 
The  battle  at  Campbell's  Station  illus 
trated  the  best  qualities  of  our  officers 
and  men,  and  though  they  were  as 
saulted  with  great  fury  by  the  rebels, 
they  succeeded  in  inflicting  a  damaging 
blow  upon  Longstreet's  force.  During 
the  night  of  the  16th  of  November, 
Burnside  drew  off  to  Knoxville,  and 
the  next  day  placed  his  troops  in  posi 
tion  in  front  of  the  city,  and  prepared 
for  the  siege  which  was  to  follow.  On 
the  18th,  the  rebels  made  a  fierce  at 
tack,  intending  to  push  back  our  cav 
alry  and  enter  the  town  as  victors; 
but  they  were  completely  repulsed,  after 
an  obstinate  struggle,  and  fairly  forced 
away  from  our  lines.  The  loss,  on  our 
part,  was  severe,  particularly  in  the 
death  of  the  gallant  Gen.  Sanders, 
who,  as  Burnside  said,  "  left,  both 
as  a  man  and  a  soldier,  an  untarnished 
name." 

Knoxville  was  now  closely  besieged 
by  Longstreet,  and  preparations  were 
made  to  carry  the  works  by  regular 
approaches.  The  investment  extended 


about  half  the  circuit  of  the  town, 
upon  the  northern,  western,  and  south 
ern  side.  Communication  with  Cum 
berland  Gap  was  cut,  on  the  night  of 
the  16th  of  November,  by  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  and  by  the  night  of  the  18th, 
the  siege  was  well  established.  On 
Burn  side's  part,  every  care  was  taken 
to  strengthen  the  fortifications,  so  as  to 
resist  any  assault  which  might  be  made. 
Grant's  dispatches  to  Burnside  urged 
anew  the  necessity  of  his  maintaining 
his  position,  and  promised  succor  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment. 

Longstreet  and  his  men  seemed  to  be 
of  opinion  that,  in  a  brief  space  of  time, 
they  could  starve  out  Burnside  and 
compel  a  surrender ;  but  although  his 
communications  had  been  cut,  and  sup 
plies  were  growing  less  and  less,  still 
the  brave  commander  in  Knoxville 
held  firmly  to  his  post.  In  consequence 
of  Grant's  brilliant  success  at  Chatta 
nooga,  Longstreet's  position  became 
critical,  and  as  he  disliked  exceedingly 
to  give  up  and  leave  Knoxville  in  our 
hands,  he  resolved  to  make  a  final  effort 
to  carry  the  works  by  assault.  Early 
on  the  morning  of  the  29th  of  Novem 
ber,  the  assaulting  column,  composed 
of  three  brigades,  made  their  appear 
ance.  They  approached  to  within  100 
yards  of  the  fort  unharmed.  Then  com 
menced  a  series  of  desperate  and  dar 
ing  attacks,  stubborn  resistance,  death, 
and  carnage.  Hour  after  hour  was  it 
kept  up,  this  deadly  struggle,  and  the 
ditch  was  piled  with  the  dead  and  the 
dyina;.  More  than  a  thousand 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
was  the  cost  of  the  assault  of  Fort 
Sanders.  Nobly  did  it  sustain  the 


364 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


reputation  of  its  namesake  and  avenge 
his  fall !  *  The  loss  in  the  fort  was 
less  than  twenty.  Burnside  offered  the 
rebels  the  privilege,  "between  ten,  A.M., 
and  five,  P.M.,  of  burying  their  dead 
and  removing  the  wounded,  which  was 
thankfully  accepted.  In  a  congratula 
tory  order,  on  the  30th  of  November, 
Burnside  highly  praised  his  troops, 
"  for  their  conduct  through  the  severe 
experiences  of  the  past  seventeen  days," 
and  assured  them  "of  the  important 
bearing  it  had  on  the  campaign  in  the 
West." 

With  this  last  effort,  Longstreet  felt 
it  necessary  to  give  up  the  siege  of 
Knoxville.  His  position  was  now  be 
coming  perilous  by  the  advance  of  Sher 
man,  who,  after  the  defeat  of  Brao-D-  at 

/  *  OO 

Chattanooga,  was  sent  with  his  own 
and  Granger's  forces  into  East  Tennes 
see  to  cut  off  the  rebel  general  and 
relieve  Burnside.  In  anticipation  of 
his  arrival,  Longstreet  broke  up  his 
camps,  and  retreated  on  the  line  of  the 
railroad  toward  Virginia.  On  the  4th 
of  December,  Sherman's  advanced  guard 
reached  Knoxville,  and  the  same  night 
the  rear  guard  of  Longstreet 's  forces 
abandoned  their  works.  Two  days 
later,  Sherman  had  an  interview  with 
Burnside  in  Knoxville,  at  which  it  was 
determined  to  be  inexpedient  to  at 
tempt  any  formal  pursuit  of  Longstreet. 
Willcox,  who  was  in  charge  of  opera 
tions  in  the  Upper  Yalley,  did  excel 
lent  service  in  holding  Cumberland 
Gap  and  preventing  troops  from  Vir- 

*  For  a  more  full  account  of  the  Siege  and  Defence 
of  Knoxville,  see  Woodbury's  "  Burnside  and  the 
Ninth  Army  Corps,"  pp.  327 — 351 


ginia  joining  the  rebel  commander; 
but  Longstreet  continued  through  the 
winter  to  annoy  and  harass  our  force 
in  Tennessee,  and  in  the  spring  joined 
Lee  for  the  campaign  of  1864. 

Sherman,  having  left  Granger  and 
his  men  at  Knoxville,  returned  with 
the  rest  of  his  command  to  Chatta 
nooga  ;  and  Burnside,  at  his  own  urgent 
request,  was  relieved  from  further  duty 
in  Tennessee.  On  the  llth  of  Decem 
ber,  he  formally  transferred  the  com 
mand  of  the  Ohio  to  Gen.  J.  G.  Foster, 
a  personal  friend  and  brave  and  distin 
guished  officer. 

President  Lincoln,  in  view  of  the 
brilliant  success  of  the  campaign,  not 
only  sent  Grant  and  the  army  his  spe 
cial  thanks  and  congratulations,  but 
also  recommended  a  thanksgiving  day 
for  the  people's  observance.  Gen. 
Grant  issued  a  congratulatory  order, 
December  10th,  and  bestowed  upon  the 
brave  officers  and  men  under  his  com 
mand  the  highest  commendation  in  his 
power.  "The  loyal  people  of  the 
United  States  thank  and  bless  you," 
he  said.  "  Their  hopes  and  prayers  for 
your  success  against  this  unholy  rebel 
lion  are  daily  with  you.  Their  faith 
in  you  will  not  be  in  vain.  Their 
hopes  will  not  be  blasted.  Their 
prayers  to  Almighty  God  will  be  an 
swered."  * 


*  Mr.  Lincoln  also  the  next  day  sent  Gen.  Grant  the 
following  letter : — "  Understanding  that  your  lodg 
ment  at  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville  is  now  secure,  I 
wish  to  tender  you  and  all  under  your  command  my 
more  than  thanks — my  profoundest  gratitude  for  the 
skill,  courage  and  perseverance  with  which  you  and 
they,  over  so  great  difficulties,  have  effected  that 
important  object.  God  bless  you  all '  A  LINCOLN." 


On.  IV.] 


THE  REBEL  RAM  ATLANTA. 


365 


CHAPTER    IV 
1863. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH :  SIEGE  OF  CHARLESTON 

Admiral  Foote's  appointment  and  death  —  The  rebel  ram  Atlanta  attacked  by  the  Weehawken,  one  of  the  mon 
itors —  Capture,  after  brief  contest  —  Admiral  Dahlgren  appointed  to  command  the  South  Atlantic  fleet — 
Operations  on  Morris  Island  —  Gen.  Gillmore's  dispatch  on  the  subject  —  Alarm  in  Charleston,  and  strenu 
ous  efforts  for  defence  —  Gillmore  pushes  forward  operations  —  Assault  on  Fort  Wagner  —  Details  —  Heavy 
loss  and  failure  —  Conduct  of  rebel  authorities  as  to  exchange  of  negro  prisoners  —  Gillmore's  batteries  — 
Tremendous  force  and  power  —  Fort  Sumter  bombarded,  August  17th-24th — Result  —  Beauregard  and 
Gillmore  —  Fort  Wagner  pressed  —  Rebels  evacuate  Morris  Island  —  Attempt  to  gain  possession  of  Fort 
Sumter  repulsed —  Severity  of  the  bombardment  of  Charleston  —  Its  virtual  reduction  and  non-importance 
—  Rebel  view  —  Other  operations  in  the  South  and  West  —  Expedition  under  Gen.  Franklin  to  occupy  Sa- 
bine  City  —  Report  of  the  expedition,  which  was  unsuccessful — Gen.  Banks  sails  for  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande  —  Enters  Brownsville  —  Gen.  Steele  in  Arkansas — Takes  Little  Rock  —  Union  strength  in  the 
state  —  Quantrell  and  his  band  of  ruffians  —  Attack  on  Lawrence,  Kansas  —  Murders  and  destruction  of 
property  —  Cabell's  force  of  guerrillas,  Indians,  etc.  —  Detachment  under  Coffey  routed  —  Quantrell 
attempts  to  seize  and  murder  Gen.  Blunt  —  Prospect  ahead. 


WITH  the  appointment  of  Gen.  Gill- 
more  to  succeed  Gen.  Hunter  we  closed, 
in  a  previous  chapter,  our  record  of  affairs 
in  the  department  of  the  South  (see  p. 
297).  We  now  resume  the  narrative 
at  this  point,  and  ask  the  reader's  atten 
tion  to  the  siege  of  Charleston,  which 
was  conducted  with  so  great  zeal  and 
ability  on  the  one  hand,  and  resisted 
with  so  much  stubbornness  on  the  other. 
At  this  same  date  (June,  1863),  Kear- 
Admiral  A.  II.  Foote  was  appointed  to 
succeed  Rear- Admiral  Dupont  in  com 
mand  of  the  South  Atlantic  blockading 
squadron ;  but,  while  on  his  way  to 
enter  upon  his  duties,  while  passing 
through  New  York,  he  was  seized  with 
that  fatal  illness  which  resulted  in  his 
death  a  few  days  subsequently.  He 
died  on  the  26th  of  June,  and  passed 
away  acknowledged  by  all  as  a  "  gal 
lant  and  self-sacrificing  Christian,  sailor 
and  gentleman." 


Just  before  Admiral  Dupont  retired 
from  his  position  as  commander  of  the 
squadron,  he  was  able  to  report  the 
gratifying  intelligence  to  the  govern 
ment  of  an  achievement  worthy  of  note 
by  one  of  the  monitor  vessels  in  the  de 
partment.  This  was  the  capture  in 
Warsaw  Sound,  of  the  rebel  ram  At 
lanta,  formerly  a  Clyde-built  steamer, 
and  prepared  with  a  ram  and  iron  plat 
ing  of  the  most  formidable  description. 
Having  completed  her  arma- 
ment,  consisting  of  two  7-inch 
arid  two  6-inch  rifled  guns,  and  taken 
on  board  an  ample  supply  of  ammuni 
tion  and  stores  for  a  regular  cruise,  with 
a  complement,  officers  and  men,  of  165, 
the  Atlanta  left  Savannah,  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  16th  of  June,  by  way  of 
Wilmington,  for  Warsaw  Sound,  fully 
prepared  to  attack  the  blockading 
squadron. 

In  anticipation  of1  this    attempt  of 


366 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


the  rebel  vessel  to  get  to  sea,  Dupont 
had  dispatched,  some  days  before,  the 
Weehawken,  Capt.  John  Rodgers,  from 
Port  Royal,  and  the  Nahant,  Command 
er  J.  Dowries,  from  North  Edisto,  to 
the  assistance  of  Commander  Drake, 
who,  in  the  Cimerone,  was  maintaining 
the  inside  blockade  at  Warsaw  Sound. 
At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
17th  of  June,  the  Atlanta  came  in  sight, 
accompanied  by  two  wooden  steamers, 
filled,  it  was  said,  with  spectators  from 
Savannah  who  had  come  out  to  witness 
a  certainly  expected  victory.  As  the 
Atlanta  was  bearing  down,  reserving 
her  fire  for  close  quarters,  she  was  an 
ticipated  by  Rodgers,  who  at  once  en 
gaged  her  with  the  Weehawken.  Eleven 
shots  were  fired  in  all — five  by  the 
Weehawkeu  and  six  by  the  Atlanta. 
The  first  15-inch  shot  fired  by  Capt. 
Rodgers  took  off  the  top  of  the  Atlan 
ta's  pilot-house  and  wounded  two  of 
her  three  pilots.  Another  15-inch  shot 
struck  half  way  up  her  roof,  killing  one 
and  wounding  seventeen  men.  In  con 
sequence  of  these  injuries,  the  Atlanta 
grounded,  and  immediately  after  sur 
rendered.  The  whole  action  occupied 
only  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  the 
Weehawken  sustained  no  injury  of  any 
sort.  The  Atlanta,  not  seriously  dam 
aged,  was  speedily  brought,  with  her 
officers  and  crew,  to  Port  Royal.* 

*  The  secretary  of  the  navy  quoted  "  this  most 
marked  and  extraordinary  conflict "  as  an  illustration 
of  the  value  of  the  monitor  vessels,  and  the  new  15- 
inch  ordnance  now  first  brought  into  use  in  naval  war 
fare.  "This  remarkable  result,"  he  added,  "  was  an 
additional  testimony  in  favor  of  the  monitor  class  of 
vessels  for  harbor  defence  and  coast  service  against  any 
naval  vessels  that  have  been,  or  are  likely  to  be,  con 
structed  to  visit  our  shores.  It  appears,  also,  to  have 
extinguished  whatever  lingering  hopes  the  rebels  may 


On  the  death  of  Admiral  Foote  (see 
p.  365)  Admiral  J.  A.  Dahlgren  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  South 
Atlantic  fleet.  He  was  the  inventor  of 
the  gun  which  bears  his  name ;  and  in 
consequence  of  his  scientific  reputation, 
it  was  deemed  advisable  to  send  him 
to  Charleston  to  co-operate  with  Gill- 
more,  and  to  bring  all  the  resources  of 
science  to  bear  in  order  to  reduce  that 
rebellious  city.  He  proceeded  at  once 
to  Port  Royal,  and  on  the  6th  of  July, 
took  command  of  the  squadron. 

The  attack  by  the  fleet  under  Dupont, 
in  April  of  this  year,  on  the  works  in 
Charleston  harbor,  not  having  met  with 
the  success  which  was  expected,  (see  p. 
295),  it  was  now  deemed  most  advisa 
ble,  as  preliminary  to  further  offensive 
movements,  to  effect  a  lodgment  on 
Morris  Island,  on  the  northern  side, 
where  batteries  might  be  erected  of  suf 
ficient  force,  with  the  new  ordnance,  for 
battering  down  Fort  Sumter,  and  thus 
opening  a  way  for  the  operations  of 
the  fleet.  Concealed  batteries  were 
erected  by  the  troops,  under  Gen.  Vod- 
ges,  on  Folly  Island,  adjoining  Morris 
Island,  on  the  south,  which  effectu 
ally  commanded  the  entrance  to  the 
ship  channel  on  that  side.  On  the  10th 
of  July,  the  needed  force  having  ar 
rived,  the  batteries  opened  upon  the 
enemy,  and  when  their  guns  were  si 
lenced,  a  charge  was  made  by  the  in 
fantry,  who  had  crossed  in  boats,  and 
the  works  were  captured.  Gillm ore's 
dispatch  in  regard  to  these  matters  was 
as  follows :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  report 


have  had  of  withstanding  our  naval  power  by  naval 
means."  Ilodgers  was  soon  after  raised  to  the  rank  of 
commodore. 


Cn.  IV.j 


ALARM  IN   CHARLESTON 


367 


1863. 


that  at  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  10th  inst.,  I  made  an  attack  on  the 
enemy's  fortified  position  on  the  south 
end  of  Morris  Island,  and  after  an  en- 
o-asrement,  lasting  three  hours  and  a 

o    o  /  o 

quarter,  captured  all  his  strongholds  on 
that  part  of  the  island,  and  pushed  for 
ward  my  infantry  to  within  GOO  yards 
of  Fort  Wagner.  We  now  hold  all  the 
island  except  about  one  mile  on  the 
north  end,  which  includes  Fort 
Wagner  and  a  battery  on  Cum- 
mings's  Point,  mounting  at  the  pre 
sent  time  fourteen  or  fifteen  heavy 

guns  in   the  aggregate 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  instant, 
at  daybreak,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  carry  Fort  Wagner  by  assault.  The 
parapet  was  gained,  but  the  supports 
recoiled  under  the  fire  to  which  they 
were  exposed,  and  could  not  be  got  up. 
Our  losses  in  both  actions  will  not 
vary  much  from  150  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing.  We  have  taken  eleven 
pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  and  a  large 
quantity  of  camp  equipage.  The  ene 
my's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  will 
not  fall  short  of  200. 

This  attack,  with  the  prospect  which 
it  held  out  for  the  future,  caused  much 
uneasiness  and  alarm  in  the  city  of 
Charleston.  The  mayor,  on  consulting 
with  Beauregard,  advised  and  earnestly 
requested  all  women  and.  children,  and 
other  non-combatants,  to  leave  the  city 
as  soon  as  possible;  and  the  governor 
of  the  state  issued  a  proclamation,  call 
ing  for  3,000  negroes  to  work  on  the 
fortifications,  urging  the  pressing  n'eed 
of  increasing  and  strengthening  the  de 
fences  of  Charleston.  The  newspapers 
of  the  city  dilated  upon  the  consequ 


ences  of  the  success  of  our  army,  giving 
it  as  their  opinion  that,  "  with  the  cap 
ture  of  Charleston,  the  whole  state 
would  soon  be  at  the  mercy  of  the  foe, 
and  the  great  cause  of  southern  inde 
pendence  would  be  put  in  fearful  jeop 
ardy."*  The  portion  of  Morris  Island 
not  yet  taken  by  Gillmore  was  well  for 
tified.  Fort  Wagner  was  a  very  strong 
work;  as  were  also  Battery  Gregg  at 
Cummings's  Point,  Fort  Moultrie,  oppo 
site  Fort  Sumter,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  harbor,  Fort  Ripley,  Fort  Johnson, 
Castle  Pinckney,  and  numerous  batter 
ies  at  various  points ;  the  rebels,  in 
fact,  having  in  position  and  afloat,  for 
the  defence  of  Charleston,  not  less  than 
376  guns. 

After  the  failure  of  the  assault  on 
Fort  Wagner,  above  noted,  Gillmore 
pushed  forward  operations  with  a  vig 
orous  hand.  While  congratulating  his 
troops  on  their  success  thus  far,  he  said, 
frankly  and  fairly,  "  our  labors  are  not 
over.  They  are  just  begun;  and  while 
the  spires  of  the  rebel  city  still  loom  up 
in  the  dim  distance,  the  hardships  and 
privations  must  be  endured  before  our 
hopes  and  expectations  can  find  full 
fruition  in  victory."  He  now  set  to 


*  The  Charleston  Mercury  remarked,  truthfully 
enough  :  "  It  appears  to  us  to  be  useless  to  attempt  to 
disguise  from  ourselves  the  situation.  The  Yankees 
having  gotten  possession  of  the  southern  half  of  Mor 
ris  Island,  there  is  but  one  way  to  save  the  city  of 
Charleston,  and  that  is  by  the  steady  and  unflinching 
use  of  the  bayonet.  If  the  fight  on  Morris  Island  is  to 
be  now  a  fight  by  engineering  and  cannon  merely,  the 
advantage  is  with  the  enemy.  With  their  iron-clads 
on  the  water  and  their  men  in  occupation  of  the  land, 
it  is  likely  to  be  a  mere  question  of  time.  The  fall  of 
Fort  Wagner  ends  in  the  fall  of  Charleston.  Fort 
Sumter,  like  Fort  Wagner,  will  then  be  assailable  by 
both  land  and  sea,  and  the  fate  of  Fort  Pulaski  will  be 
that  of  Sumter." 


308 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  IX. 


work  actively  to  bring  his  heavy  guns 
into  position,  not  only  for  an  attack 
upon  Wagner,  but  upon  all  the  rebel 
works,  and  also  to  throw  shells  into  the 
city  of  Charleston.  The  siege  works 
were  urged  forward,  and  the  enemy 
were  annoyed  in  every  way  possible 
with  sharpshooters  and  shells.  In  simi 
lar  wise,  the  rebels  threw  shells,  night 
and  day,  which  exploded  over  the  men 
at  work  in  the  trenches  ;  and  the  guns 
of  Gregg  and  Sumter  were  busily  plied 
against  the  Ironsides  and  the  monitors, 
which,  by  their  steady  firing,  kept  Fort 
Wagner  silent. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  Gillmore  having 
placed  a  number  of  heavy  guns  and 
mortars  in  position,  within  800  yards 
of  Fort  Wagner,  determined  on  making 
another  attack.  The  bombardment, 
which  was  to  have  opened  at  daylight, 
was  delayed  by  a  heavy  thunderstorm 
during  the  night  of  the  17th,  and  it  was 
not  till  about  midday  that  the  batteries, 
in  concert  with  the  fleet,  opened  a  tre 
mendous  fire  on  the  fort.  This  continu 
ed  through  the  afternoon  into  the  even 
ing,  the  fort  making  little  reply  during 
the  whole  time,  and,  whatever  damage 
may  have  been  sustained,  showing  no 
sign  of  surrender.  The  casualties,  dur 
ing  these  six  hours,  were  few  and  un 
important  on  either  side. 

As  the  evening  set  in,  and  the  im 
pression  gained  ground  that  the  works 
had  been  evacuated,  another  attempt  to 
occupy  them  was  determined  upon. 
Two  brigades,  under  Gen.  Strong  and 
Col.  Putnam,  were  formed  upon  the 
beach,  with  the  regiments  disposed  in 
column,  the  colored  or  negro  regiment 
(54th  Massachusetts)  being  in 


1§63. 


This  movement  of  the  troops  was  ob 
served  by  the  rebels  in  Sumter,  and  fire 
was  at  once  opened  upon  them,  happily 
without  doing  injury,  as  the  shells  went 
over  the  heads  of  the  men.  Strong's 
brigade,  under  this  fire,  moved  along 
the  beach,  at  slow  time,  for 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile, 
when  the  men  were  ordered  to  lie  down. 
In  this  position  they  remained  half  an 
hour,  Sumter,  meanwhile,  being  joined 
in  the  cannonade  by  the  rebels  in  Bat 
tery  Bee,  but  without  effect  upon  our 
troops.  It  was  now  quite  dark,  and 
the  order  was  given  for  both  brigades 
to  advance,  General  Strong's  leading 
and  Colonel  Putnam's  within  support 
ing  distance.  The  troops  went  forward 
at  quick  time  and  in  deep  silence,  until, 
when  within  200  yards  of  the  work 
the  negro  troops  gave  a  fierce  yell  and 
rushed  up  the  glacis,  closely  followed 
by  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade. 
The  enemy  met  them  with  grape,  canis 
ter,  hand  grenades,  etc.,  and  forced  them 
back  with  severe  loss.  Other  troops 
followed,  but  did  not  obtain  any  better 
success.  Three  companies  of  a  New 
Hampshire  regiment,  led  by  Strong,  in 
person,  actually  gained  the  ditch,  and, 
wading  through  the  water,  found  shelter 
against  the  embankment.  Here  was 

o 

the  critical  point  of  the  assault,  and  the 
second  brigade,  which  should  have  been 
up  and  ready  to  support  their  comrades 
of  the  first,  were  unaccountably  and  un 
fortunately  delayed.  Strong  then  gave 
the  order  to  fall  back,  and  lie  down  on 
the  glacis,  which  was  obeyed  without 
confusion.  It  was  while  waiting  here,  ex 
posed  to  the  heavy  fire,  that  Strong  was 
severely  wounded.  Finding  that  the 


CH. 


ASSAULT   ON   FORT  WAGXER. 


369 


1863. 


supports  did  not  come,  Strong  ordered 
his  brigade  to  retire,  which  was  done 
steadily  and  quietly.  Soon  afterward 
the  other  brigade  came  up,  and,  as  far 
as  possible,  atoned  for  their  past  tardi 
ness  by  their  present  deeds  of  valor. 
Rushing  impetuously  up  the  glacis,  un 
deterred  by  the  fury  of  the  enemy, 
whose  fire  was  un intermitted,  several  of 
the  regiments  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
ditch,  scaling  the  parapet,  and  descend- 
into  the  fort.  Here  a  hand-to-hand 
conflict  ensued;  but  though 

7  O 

our  men  fought  desperately, 
the  enemy  succeeded  after  a  time,  by 
aid  of  reinforcements,  in  repulsing  our 
attack.  About  midnight,  the  order 
was  given  to  retire,  and  the  troops  fell 
back  to  the  rifle-pits  outside  of  their 
own  works.  The  loss  on  this  occasion 
was  very  severe,  numbering  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  1,530.  The  rebel 

O         7 

loss  was  stated  by  them  at  about  150 
killed  and  wounded. 

An  exchange  of  wounded  prisoners 
was,  a  few  days  after  the  engagement, 
agreed,  upon,  after  a  conference  of  Gen. 
Vodges,  Col.  Hall  and  Dr.  Cravens,  un 
der  a  flag  of  truce,  with  Gen.  Hay  wood 
and  other  rebel  officers.  On  the  after 
noon  of  the  23d  of  July,  the  rebel 
wounded  were  placed  on  board  a  hospi 
tal  boat,  and  the  next  day  entered 
Charleston  harbor.  She  was  met  by 
the  steamer  Alice,  which  had  recently 
run  the  blockade,  and  brought  the  reb 
els  a  cargo  of  machinery  and  supplies. 
The  number  of  wounded  brought  was 

o 

105,  leaving  140  behind,  as  unable  to 
be  moved  with  safety.  It  was  particu 
larly  observed  that  none  of  the  wound 
ed  negro  prisoners  were  among  those 

VOL.  IV.— 47. 


returned.  On  being  inquired  for,  Col. 
Anderson,  the  officer  in  charge,  answer 
ed,  rather  brusquely,  that  their  return 
was  a  matter  of  future  consideration 
with  his  government.  Thirty-eight  of 
the  rebel  wounded  were  delivered  up, 
the  exchange  being  made  on  parole  with 
out  regard  to  numbers.  Gen.  Gillmore, 
in  a  note  to  Beauregard,  August  5th, 
speaking  of  this  keeping  back  the  negro 
wounded,  said,  that  he  could  not  but 
regard  the  whole  transaction  as  a  pal 
pable  breach  of  faith  on  Beauregard's 
part,  and  a  flagrant  violation  of  his 
pledges  as  an  officer. 

Gillmore  next  made  extensive  prepa 
rations  to  plant  new  batteries,  armed 
with  the  heaviest  guns  used  in  the  ser 
vice,  so  as  to  bombard  not  only  Forts 
Wagner  and  Sumter.  but  also  the  city 
of  Charleston.      In   the   reduction   of 
Fort  Pulaski  (see  p.  151),  the  heaviest 
gun  employed  was  the  rifle  42-pounder. 
Now,  200  and  300-pounder  Parrott  rifle 
guns  were  brought  into  use ;  and  some 
three  weeks  were  spent  in  erecting  the 
batteries  whence  they  were  to  discharge 
their  terrible  missiles.     The  nearest  of 
these   batteries   were   located   a  little 
short  of  two  miles  from  Fort  Sumter, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Fort 
Wagner,  and  a  mile  from  Battery  Gregg. 
On  the  night  of  August  13th,  our  works 
were  advanced  within   420   yards  of 
Wagner,  without  any  suspicion  on  the 
part  of  the  rebels.    Soon  after  daylight, 
a  fire  was  opened  from  Wagner,  Gregg 
and  Sumter,  which  continued  for  two 
bours,  and  was  answered  with   great 
vigor  from  our  batteries.    On  the  loth, 
Fort  Sumter  was  brought  under  fire  for 

O 

the  first  time  by  our  batteries,  and  the 


370 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX, 


range  accurately  and  carefully  secured. 
Seven  shots  were  fired  for  this  purpose 
from  a  200-pounder  Parrott,  at  a  dis 
tance  of  two  miles  and  a  half.  One 
of  these  went  through  the  gorge  wall, 
making  a  hole  four  or  five  feet  in  di 
ameter,  and  demonstrating  the  power 
of  these  guns. 

On  the  morning  of  August  17th,  the 
bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  was  be 
gun  in  earnest,  and  continued  without 
Cessation  until  it  was,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  in  ruins.  Admiral  Dahl- 
gren's  force  moved  up  at  the  same  time, 
and  attacked  Forts  Gresrsr  and  Wanner. 

oo  o 

The  latter  was  entirely  silenced,  and 
the  former  nearly  so,  between  nine  and 
ten  o'clock.  Two  of  the  monitors  then 
moved  to  within  a  mile  or  so  of  the 
south-east  front  of  Sumter,  and  opened 
fire  upon  it.  In  the  course  of  the  after 
noon  the  fleet  retired,  keeping  up,  how 
ever,  a  fire  upon  Fort  Wagner,  to  pre 
vent  the  rebels  remounting  the  crins. 

o  o 

The  result  of  this  active  and  unceasing 
bombardment  was  briefly  stated  by 
Gillmore,  in  a  dispatch,  under  date  of 
August  24th:  "I  have  the  honor  to 
report  the  practical  demolition  of  Fort 
Sumter  as  the  result  of  our  seven  days' 
bombardment  of  that  Avork,  including 
two  days  of  which  a  powerful  north 
easterly  storm  most  seriously  diminish- 
ed  the  accuracy  and  eifect  of 
our  fire.  ...  I  deem  it  un 
necessary  at  present  to  continue  the 
fire  upon  the  ruins  of  Sumter.  I  have 
also,  at  great  labor,  and  under  a  heavy 
fire  from  James  Island,  established  bat 
teries  on  my  left,  with  effective  range 
of  the  heart  of  Charleston,  and  have 
opened  with  them,  after  giving  Gen. 


Beauregard  due  notice  of  my  intention 
to  do  so."  * 

Fort  Sumter  having  been  thus  ren 
dered  virtually  useless  to  the  rebels, 
Gillmore  next  proceeded  to  perfect  his 
operations  against  Fort  Wagner.  The 
siege  was  pressed  with  vigor.  On  the 
26th  of  August,  a  fourth  parallel  and 
sap  having  been  completed,  which  ex 
tended  very  close  to  Wagner,  it  was 
determined  to  gain  possession  of  a  ridge 
of  sand  which  interposed  arid  was  need 
ful  for  our  operations.  It  was  bravely 
carried  by  the  24th  Massachusetts,  and 
a  number  of  prisoners  taken.  In  the 
first  week  of  September,  a  vigorous 
bombardment  was  kept  up  from  the 
Ironsides  and  other  vessels  of  the  fleet 
and  the  batteries  on  shore.  At  length 
Gill m ore's  efforts  were  crowned  with 
success,  and  on  the  Yth  of  September, 
Morris,  Island  was  evacuated  by  the 
rebels.  Under  the  same  date,  Gillmore 
reported  the  fact  to  the  war  depart 
ment  at  Washington,  stating,  among 
other  things,  that  "JFort  Wagner  is  a 
work  of  the  most  formidable  kind,  its 
bomb-proof  shelter,  capable  of  holding 


*  Allusion  is  here  made  to  a  correspondence  between 
Gillmore  and  Beauregard.  The  former,  on  the  21st  of 
August,  sent  a  demand  to  Beauregard  for  the  imme 
diate  evacuation  of  Morris  Island  and  Fort  Sumter, 
threatening,  in  case  of  non-compliance,  to  open  fire 
upon  the  city  of  Charleston.  The  rebel  commander 
being  absent  from  his  headquarters  at  the  time  did  not 
receive  the  communication  till  the  next  morning,  when 
he  replied,  in  his  usual  style,  denouncing  Gillmore's 
conduct  as  "  atrocious,  and  unworthy  any  soldier ;" 
threatening  also  some  terrible  retaliation,  and  dilating 
upon  the  wickedness  of  firing  upon  a  city  "  filled  with 
old  men,  sleeping  women  and  children."  Gillmorc's 
answer  was  in  good  temper  and  quite  to  the  point. 
He  put  aside  most  of  Bcauregard's  remarks  as  requir 
ing  no  notice  at  his  hands,  and  deferred  for  two  days 
the  bombardment  of  the  city. — For  tins  and  a  previous 
correspondence  in  July,  see  Appleton's  "  American 
Annual  Cyclopaedia"  for  1863,  pp.  137 — 142. 


Cn.  IV.] 


VIRTUAL   REDUCTION    OF   CHARLESTON. 


371 


1,800  men,  remaining  intact  after  the 
most  terrible  bombardment  to  which 
any  work  was  ever  subjected.  We 
have  captured  nineteen  pieces  of  artil 
lery  and  a  large  supply  of  excellent 
ammunition.  The  city  and  harbor  of 
Charleston  are  now  completely  covered 
by  my  guns."  Several  additional  pieces 
of  artillery  were  subsequently  found, 
making,  with  the  eleven  guns  taken 
when  the  troops  first  landed,  an  aggre 
gate  of  thirty-six  pieces  captured  on 
the  island.* 

On  the  night  of  the  8th  of  Septem 
ber,  an  attempt  was  made  to  gain  pos 
session  of  Fort  Sumter.  About  thirty 
boats  were  fitted  out,  manned  by  over 
100  sailors,  under  Lieut.  Williams,  and 
about  100  marines,  under  Capt.  Macaw- 
ley.  The  boats  were  towed  near  the 
fort,  and  the  assault  made;  but  the 
rebels  were  prepared,  and  repulsed  the 
attack.  Three  of  the  boats  were  smash 
ed,  and  all  who  landed  were  either 
killed  or  captured.  Our  loss  numbered 
in  all  about  eighty. 

Although  Fort  Sumter  was  not  yet 
occupied  by  our  troops,  nor  the  other 
powerful  forts  in  the  harbor  reduced, 
still  the  army  and  navy,  having  posses 
sion  of  Morris  Island,  held  the  key  of 
the  position.  The  firing  was  kept  up 
at  intervals  upon  Charleston  and  Fort 
Sumter,  which  latter  still  enjoyed  the 
empty  privilege  of  flaunting  the  rebel 
flag  from  its  walls  in  the  face  of  our 
men.  The  forts  on  Morris  Island  were 

*  Gillmore  congratulated  the  army  on  their  signal 
success,  especially  in  regard  to  Fort  Sumter :  "  It  has 
yielded  to  your  courage  and  patient  labor.  Its  walls 
a.re  now  crumbled  in  ruins,  its  formidable  batteries  are 
silenced,  and,  though  a  hostile  flag  still  floats  over  it, 
the  fort  is  a  harmless  and  helpless  wreck." 


enlarged  and  strengthened  by  Gill- 
more,  so  as  effectually  to  command 
Fort  Sumter  and  guard  perfectly  the 
entrance  to  the  harbor.  That  part  of 
Charleston  within  the  reach  of  the 
shells  was  greatly  injured,  and  almost 
entirely  abandoned  by  its  inhabitants; 
there  was,  however,  but  little  further 
progress  made  in  the  siege  during  the 
remainder  of  the  year.  An  attempt 
was  made  by  the  rebels,  by  way  of 
variety,  on  the  night  of  the  6th  of  Oc 
tober,  to  blow  up  the  steamer  Iron 
sides.  A  sort  of  nondescript  vessel, 
with  a  cigar-shaped  hull,  carrying  a  for 
midable  torpedo  suspended  to  her 
bows,  bore  down  upon  the  Ironsides, 
and  the  torpedo  exploding  against  the 
sides  of  the  frigate,  a  great  body  of 
water  was  thrown  up,  jarring  the  Iron 
sides,  but  inflicting  no  serious  dam 
age. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  the  secre 
tary  of  the  navy,  in  his  annual  report, 
briefly  noted  the  result  of  the  opera 
tions,  above  spoken  of,  in  the  southern 
department :  "  Since  the  fleet,  under 
Admiral  Dahlgren,  has  remained  inside 
the  bar,  and  we  have  had  possession 
of  Morris  Island,  the  commerce  of  Char 
leston  has  ceased.  Not  a  single  block 
ade-runner  has  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  city  for  months,  and  the  traffic 
which  had  been  to  some  extent,  and 
with  large  profits,  previously  carried 
on,  is  extinguished.  As  a  commercial 
mart,  Charleston  has  no  existence ;  her 
wealth,  with  her  trade,  has  departed. 
In  a  military  or  strategic  view  the 
place  is  of  little  consequence ;  and  whe 
ther  the  rebels  are  able  by  great  sacri 
fice  and  exhaustion  to  hold  out  a  few 


372 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX, 


weeks,  more  or  less,  is  of  no  import 
ance."  * 

Some  further  operations  in  the  South 
and  West,  at  this  time,  we  may  here, 
for  convenience  sake,  put  on  record  in 
closing  the  present  chapter.  Gen. 
Banks,  as  we  have  stated  on  a  previous 
page  (p.  318),  was  reinforced  by  Gen. 
Grant,  after  the  capture  of  Yicksburg 
and  the  fall  of  Port  Hudson,  and  an 
expedition  was  fitted  out,  early  in  Sep 
tember,  under  Gen.  Franklin,  to  occupy 
Sabine  City,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sabine 
River,  on  the  dividing  line  between 
Louisiana  and  Texas.  The  defences  at 
Sabine  Pass  consisted,  as  nearly  as 
could  be  ascertained,  of  two  32-pound- 
ers,  placed  en  barbette,  a  battery  of 
field  pieces,  and  two  boats  used  on  the 
bay,  converted  into  rams.  Franklin's 
force,  consisting  of  4,000  men,  left  New 
Orleans  in  transports,  September  4th, 
accompanied  by  a  squadron  of  four  gun 
boats,  the  Clifton,  Sachem,  Arizona  and 
Granite  City.  The  plan  was  for  the 
attack  to  be  made  by  the  gun  boats, 
each  one  having  about  forty-five  sharp 
shooters  on  board ;  then,  so  soon  as  the 
rebels  should  be  driven  from  their  de 
fences  and  the  rams  destroyed,  the 
transports  were  to  advance  and  land 
the  troops.  The  expedition  reached 
the  entrance  to  the  harbor,  September 
7th,  and  a  reconnaissance  having  been 
made  the  next  morning,  an  immediate 

*  For  the  rebel  view  of  the  position  of  affairs  in  re 
spect  to  Charleston,  the  reader  can  refer  to  Pollard. 
He  ridicules  the  statements  concerning  Fort  Sumter 
and  the  progress  of  our  naval  force,  and  asserts  that 
while  "  a  large  besieging  force  was  in  sight  of  the 
spires  of  Charleston,  yet  the  city  was  safe,  and  pro 
claimed  to  the  Confederacy  new  lessons  of  brilliant 
courage  and  hope." — "  Third  Year  of  the  War,"  pp. 
S5-98. 


attack  was  determined  upon.  "  At  six, 
A.M.,"  writes  one  of  the  officers,  "the 
Clifton  stood  in  the  bay,  and  opened 
fire  on  the  fort,  to  which  no  reply  was 
made.  At  nine,  A.M.,  the  Sachem,  Ari 
zona  and  Granite  City,  followed  by  the 
transports,  stood  over  the  bar,  and  with 
much  difficulty,  owing  to  the  shallow- 
ness  of  the  water,  reached  anchorage, 
two  miles  from  the  fort,  at  eleven,  A.M., 
the  gun  boats  covering  the  transports. 
At  half-past  three,  P.M.,  the  Sachem, 
followed  by  the  Arizona,  ad- 
vanced  up  the  eastern  channel 
to  draw  the  fire  of  the  forts,  while  the 
Clifton  advanced  up  the  western  chan 
nel,  followed  by  the  Granite  City,  to 
cover  the  landing  of  a  division  of  troops 
under  Gen.  Weitzel.  No  reply  to 
the  fire  of  the  gun  boats  was  made  until 
we  were  abreast  of  the  forts,  when  they 
opened  with  eight  guns,  three  of  which 
were  rifled,  almost  at  the  same  moment. 
The  Clifton  and  Sachem  were  struck 
in  their  boilers,  enveloping  the  vessels 
in  steam.  There  not  being  room  to 
pass  the  Sachem,  the  Arizona  was  back 
ed  down  the  channel,  and  a  boat  was 
sent  to  the  Sachem."  The  officers  and 
crews  of  the  Clifton  and  Sachem,  and 
about  ninety  sharpshooters,  who  were 
on  board,  were  captured.  The  Union 
loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  about 
thirty.  The  whole  expedition  now  re 
turned  to  Brashear  City,  whence,  after 
considerable  delay,  the  army  moved 
forward  by  Franklin  and  Verinillion- 
ville  and  occupied  Opelousas.* 


*  Pollard  rather  boasts  of  this  "  brilliant  victory 
won  by  the  little  Confederate  garrison  of  Sabine  Pass 
against  the  fleet  of  the  enemy  ;"  and  says,  "  the  result 
of  this  gallant  achievement  was  the  capture  of  two 
fine  gun  boats,  fifteen  heavy  guns,  over  200  prisoners. 


Cn.  IV.] 


QUANTRELL'S  RAID   INTO  LAWRENCE. 


373 


On  the  27th  of  October,  an  expedi 
tion  under  Gen.  Banks  sailed  from  New 
Orleans.  It  consisted  of  about  twenty 
vessels,  accompanied  by  three  gun  boats, 
and  was  destined  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  which  is  the  boundary  line 
between  Texas  and  Mexico.  During 
the  first  three  days  out  the  weather  was 
line,  but  the  next  day  a  storm  arose, 
and  one  light  draft  steamer  and  two 
schooners  were  lost,  but  no  lives.  The 
expedition  anchored  off  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  October  31st,  and  on  the  next 
day  a  force  was  landed  on  Brazos  Island. 
By  the  4th  of  November,  the  troops 
were  all  landed,  and  the  day  following 
Banks  entered  Brownsville,  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  which  place  had  become  an 
important  depot  of  rebel  trade  in  con 
nection  with  Matamoras. 

After  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg 
(p.  318),  Gen.  Steele  was  sent  to  Hele 
na,  Arkansas,  and  was  ordered  to  form 
a  junction  with  Gen.  Davidson  and 
drive  the  rebels  south  of  the  Arkansas 
River.  On  the  1st  of  August,  Steele  ad 
vanced  against  the  rebel  force,  who  fell 
back  toward  Little  Rock.  Having  reach 
ed  the  Arkansas,  he  pressed  actively  for 
ward,  threw  a  part  of  his  troops  across 
the  river,  drove  the  rebels  in  disorder 
before  him,  and  entered  Little  Rock  on 
the  10th  of  September.  His  entire  loss 
did  not  exceed  100 ;  while  he  \vas  suc 
cessful  in  capturing  1,000  prisoners  and 
much  public  property.  Our  cavalry 
continued  to  press  the  rebels  in  a  south 
erly  direction ;  a  portion  of  these,  how 
ever,  deflecting  to  the  eastward,  at- 


and  over  fifty  of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded,  while 
not  a  man  was  lost  on  our  side,  or  a  guta  injured."— 

"  Third  Tear  of  the  V,'ar,"  p.  165. 


tempted,  October  28th,  to  capture  the 
garrison  at  Pine  Bluff,  on  the  Arkansas ; 
in  this  they  failed  entirely,  being  re 
pulsed  with  great  loss,  and  glad  to  es 
cape  toward  the  Red  River.  Arkansas 
was  thus  virtually  relieved  of  the  rebel 
usurpation,  except  that  here  and  there 
the  guerrillas  pursued  their  infamous 
trade  in  plunder  and  bloodshed.* 

In  connection  with  these  outgrowths 
of  lawlessness  and  ruffianism,  we  may 
make  mention  of  Quantrell  and  his 
doings  on  a  certain  occasion.  Ascer 
taining  that  the  city  of  Lawrence,  Kan 
sas,  was  undefended,  this  noted  ma 
rauder,  with  a  force  of  about  800  men, 
crossed  the  Missouri  below  Leaven 
worth,  and  by  a  rapid  march  entered 
the  city  on  the  night  of  the  20th  of 
August.  The  unarmed  citizens  were 
shot  down  in  cold  blood;  the  stores, 
dwellings,  hotels,  and  churches  were 
set  on  fire  and  nearly  all  burned  to  the 
ground;  and  the  property  stolen  and 
destroyed  was  estimated  at  more  than 
$2,000,000.  Two  hundred  and  five 
men  were  killed  and  a  large  number 
wounded  in  this  infamous  onslaught. 
Senator  Lane  (Gen.  J.  H.  Lane)  was  in 
Lawrence  at  the  time,  and  escaping  the 
massacre,  hastily  gathered  a  small 
mounted  force  and  started  in  pursuit 
of  Quantrell  and  his  men.  Some  forty 


*  Early  in  November,  a  meeting  was  held  at  Little 
Rock,  to  consult  with  reference  to  an  entire  restoration 
of  the  state  to  its  position  in  the  Union.  At  this  and 
other  meetings  much  enthusiasm  was  displayed,  and 
various  steps  were  taken  in  favor  of  the  right  and  true 
cause  ;  so  that,  in  January,  1864,  the  president  issued 
his  proclamation  to  enable  the  people  to  re-organize  the 
state  government  by  the  election  of  a  governor,  etc. — 
See  Appleton's  "  Annual  Cyclopedia "  for  1863,  pp 
14-16. 


374 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX 


or  more  of  the  guerrillas  were  caught 
and  killed  ;  but  the  remainder  got  away 
safely  with  their  plunder.  The  com 
mander  of  the  department  of  Missouri, 
Gen.  Schofield,  was  freely  denounced 
by  the  people  of  Kansas,  as  wanting  in 
efficiency,  zeal,  etc.,  and  an  effort  was 
made  to  have  him  removed.  Vengeance 
was  d  enounced  upon  the  whole  bord  er  re- 
gion  occupied  by  the  guerrillas.  In  a 
speech  at  Leavenworth,  on  the  27th  of 
August,  Gen.  Lane  declared  that  the 
first  tier  of  counties  in  Western  Mis 
souri  ought  to  be  exterminated,  and  if 
that  were  not  sufficient,  the  second  and 
third  must  be  served  in  like  manner,  so 
as  to  interpose  an  effectual  barrier 
against  such  murderous  incursions  in 
the  future.  An  assembly  of  armed 
loyal  men  was  proposed,  with  the  evi 
dent  intention  of  carrying  the  sugges 
tion  into  effect. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  the 
rebel  Gen.  Cabell,  gathering  together 
guerrillas,  Indians,  and  some  of 
the  routed  troops  driven  from 
Little  Hock,  started  with  a  force  of  from 
5,000  to  8,000  men  from  the  Choctaw 
settlement  of  the  Indian  Territory,  and 
crossed  the  Arkansas,  east  of  Fort 
Smith,  which  had  been  occupied  by 
Gen.  Blunt,  on  1st  of  September.  A 
detachment  of  Cabell's  troops,  under 
Shelby,  joined  Coffey,  on  the  1st  of 
October,  at  Crooked  Prairie,  Missouri, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  raid  into 
the  south-western  portion  of  the  state. 
This  collection,  numbering  about  2,500 
men,  penetrated  as  far  as  the  Missouri 
River  at  Booneville  ;  but  having  been 


1§63. 


pursued  by  the  Missouri  militia,  they 
were  brought  to  a  stand  a  few  miles 
from  Arrow  Rock,  on  the  12th  of  Oc 
tober.  Gen.  E.  B.  Brown  attacked 
the  rebels  the  same  evening,  and  the 
next  morning  routed  them  completely. 
About  this  same  date,  Quantrell  and 
his  men  made  an  effort  to  capture  and 
murder  Gen.  Blunt  who,  with  his  staff, 
was  at  the  time  marching  toward  Fort 
Scott,  Kansas.  Blunt,  on  this  occasion, 
was  in  advance  of  his  wagons,  with  his 
escort  of  about  100  men,  when  the  re 
bels,  in  disguise  of  Union  troops,  300  in 
number,  drew  near,  as  if  to  give  Blunt 
a  reception.  Directly  after,  throwing 
off  all  pretence,  they  dashed  furiously 
upon  Blunt's  escort,  and  speedily 
slaughtered  nearly  the  entire  number. 
Quantrell  and  his  band  were  quite  ex 
ultant,  supposing  that  Blunt  was  among 
the  slain  ;  but  he  was  fortunate  enough 
to  escape  and  rejoin  the  rest  of  his  com 
mand.  On  the  20th  of  October,  Gen. 
McNeil  was  appointed  Blunfs  succes 
sor  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Frontier. 

Further  movements  in  the  region  west 
of  the  Mississippi  were  comparatively  ot 
little  interest  or  importance.  The  final 
result  of  the  war  was  in  no  wise  depen 
dent  on  what  here  took  place.  The  ope 
rations  in  the  department  under  Gen. 
Grant's  control,  as  well  as  in  that  in  which 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  specially 
concerned,  were,  it  began  to  be  well  un 
derstood,  those  which  would  be  deci 
sive  of  the  contest,  and  by  which  the 
rebellion  would  be  ultimatelv  crushed 

V 

out  of  existence. 


CH.  V.] 


SECRETARY  SEWARD'S  CIRCULAR. 


375 


CHAPTEK    V. 
1863, 

ENROLLMENT  AND  DRAFTING  :    RIOTS  :    MR.  LINCOLN'S  COURSE  AND  POLICY  : 

MILITARY   OPERATIONS. 

Secretary  Seward's  diplomatic  circular  —  Its  statements,  etc.  —  National  enrollment  —  Preparations  for  the 
draft — Unpopular  measure —  Riotous  demonstrations  —  City  of  New  York  —  The  disgraceful  riot  there,  in 
July,  1863  —  Details  of  the  lawless  proceedings,  cruelty  and  outrage  of  the  mob  and  their  leaders —  Loss 
of  ]ife,  property,  etc.  —  Reaction  —  Riots  in  other  places,  Boston,  Portsmouth,  etc.  —  The  measures  and  policy 
of  the  administration  generally  approved  —  Result  of  the  autumn  elections  —  Mr.  Lincoln's  proclamation 
respecting  the  habeas  corpus  suspension  —  The  president's  letter  to  Mr.  Drake  in  regard  to  Missouri  and 
border  state  affairs  —  Proclamation  calling  out  300,000  volunteers  —  Army  of  the  Potomac  —  Its  position 
in  the  autumn  of  1863  —  Gen.  Meade's  purpose  —  Lee's  offensive  movements  —  Meade  retires  rapidly  to 
Centreville  —  Rebels  repulsed  at  Bristoe  Station  —  Lee  retreats  to  the  line  of  the  Rapidan  —  Meade  plans 
the  Mine  Run  move  —  Causes  of  its  failure  —  Occasional  encounters  with  the  rebels  —  Gen.  Averill's  famous 
raid  on  Longstreet's  communications  —  Rebel  plot  on  the  Canada  frontier  —  Came  to  nothing  —  Daring 
act  of  piracy  —  The  steamer  Chesapeake  seized  by  pirates  off  Cape  Cod  —  Recaptured  by  United  States 
gun  boat,  Ella  and  Annie,  near  Halifax  —  Restored  by  the  colonial  court  to  her  owners. 


l§63. 


THE  important  victories  of  July, 
1863,  at  Vicksburg,  Port  Hudson,  and 
Gettysburg,  not  only  afforded  to  the 
country  at  large  encouraging  hope  of 
the  rebel  military  organization 
being  speedily  broken  down, 
but  also  gave  the  secretary  of  state  an 
opportunity  of  furnishing  the  principal 
foreign  governments  with  some  useful 
information  in  regard  to  the  progress 
of  the  national  arms.  Under  date  of 
August  12th,  Mr.  Seward  issued  a  dip 
lomatic  circular,  addressed  to  the  con 
suls  of  the  United  States  abroad,  for 
the  purpose  of  convincing  "  those  who 
seek  a  renewal  of  commercial  prosperity 
through  the  restoration  of  peace  in 
America,  that  the  quickest  and  short 
est  way  to  gain  that  desirable  end  is  to 
withdraw  support  and  favor  from  the 
insurgents,  and  to  leave  the  adjustment 
of  our  domestic  controversies  exclusive 


ly  with  the  people  of  the  United  States." 
It  was  frankly  admitted  that  no  great 
progress  had  been  made  by  our  arms 
in  Virginia ;  and  the  reason  given  for  it 
was,  that  "  the  opposing  forces  there 
have  been  too  equally  matched  to  allow 
great  advantages  to  accrue  to  either 
party,  while  the  necessity  of  covering 
the  national  capital  in  all  contingencies 
has  constantly  restrained  our  generals, 
and  forbidden  such  bold  and  dangerous 
movements  as  usually  conduct  to  bril 
liant  military  success."  Looking  with 
far  more  satisfaction  to  the  great  West, 
Mr.  Seward  declared  that,  in  the  recent 
campaign,  50,000  square  miles  had  been 
reclaimed  from  the  insurgents ;  and  he 
further  called  attention  to  the  fact  that, 
"  since  the  breaking  out  of  the  insurrec- 

O 

tion,  the  government  had  extended  its 
former  sway  over  and  through  a  region 
of  200,000  square  miles,  an  area  as  large 


376 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  IX. 


as  Austria  or  France,  or  the  peninsula 
of  Spain  and  Portugal."*  The  rebels, 
in  his  judgment,  had  lost  in  the  opera 
tion  of  July,  fully  one-third  of  their 
entire  forces,  and  at  best,  by  the  rigid 
enforcement  of  their  conscription  act, 
they  could  only  gather  anew  a  force 
varying  in  number  from  70,000  to  100,- 
000  men.  On  the  other  hand,  not  only 
were  our  armies  already  superior  in 
numbers  and  ability,  but  the  increase 
from  the  draft  of  300,000,  ordered  by 
the  president,  would  be  more  than  suf 
ficient  to  replace  those  whose  terms  of 
service  had  expired,  and  to  fill  np  the 
ranks  of  the  veteran  regiments.  Affirm- 

O 

ing  positively  that  the  people  were 
ready  and  willing  to  sustain  the  gov 
ernment  in  its  efforts  to  put  down  the 
rebellion,  at  any  cost,  he  stated,  as  one 
evidence,  that  the  national  six  per  cent, 
loan  was  purchased  at  par  by  our  own 
citizens  at  the  average  rate  of  $1,200,- 
000  a  day.  Gold  was  selling  in  our 
market  at  123  to  128,  while  in  the  rebel 
districts  it  commanded  1,200  per  cent, 
premium. f  Urging,  with  much  skill, 
considerations  of  this  kind,  Mr.  Seward 
was  content  to  leave  his  statement  of 
facts  to  make  its  due  impression  upon 
all  those  concerned  in  the  issue  now  ap 
proaching  its  final  settlement. 

In  accordance  with  the  act  of  Con- 

*  The  rebels,  according  to  Pollard's  way  of  represent 
ing  matters,  grew  cheerful  and  quite  hopeful  under 
this  state  of  things.  "  While  Mr.  Seward,"  he  says, 
"  was  making  to  Europe  material  calculations  of  Yan 
kee  success  in  the  square  miles  of  military  occupation, 
and  in  the  comparative  arithmetic  of  the  military 
power  of  the  belligerents,  the  Confederacy  had  merely 
postponed  its  prospect  of  a  victorious  peace,  and  was 
even  more  seriously  confident  of  the  ultimate  issue 
than  when  it  first  declared  its  independence." — "  Third 
Year  of  the  War,"  p.  82.  • 
f  A  Richmoud  paper,  in  October,  mad  iie  follow- 


gress,  passed  at  the  close  of  its  session, 
in  March,  1863,  the  national  enrollment, 
preparatory  to  the  draft,  was  made 
generally  throughout  the  loyal  states. 
Col.  J.  B.  Fry  was  appointed  by  the 
president  provost-marshal  general,  with 
his  office  at  Washington,  and  provost- 
marshals  were  appointed  for  the  various 
districts  into  which  the  country  was 
divided.  The  enrolling  officers  were 
directed  to  enrol  all  able-bodied  persons 
between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty- 
five,  the  object  being  to  ascertain,  as  far 
as  possible,  how  many  men  liable  to  mili 
tary  duty  there  were,  on  the  1st  of  July, 
in  the  United  States,  and  also  to  arrange, 
in  regard  to  military  service,  how  much 
had  already  been  rendered,  and  how 
much  was  still  due  in  the  several  dis 
tricts.  Opposition,  to  some  extent,  was 
made  to  the  action  of  the  officers,  but 
in  general  it  was  readily  and  promptly 
repressed.  The  result  of  the  enrollment, 
which  was  not  completed  in  all  the 
states,  showed  that  there  were  consider 
ably  more  that  3,000,000  men  liable  to 
military  duty.  For  making  the  draft, 
one-fifth  the  number  of  men  enrolled 
in  the  first  class  (i.  e.  between  the  ages 
of  twenty  and  thirty -five),  was  adopted 
as  the  quota  of  a  district;  and  the 
boards  in  charge  of  this  matter  appor 
tioned  this  quota  among  the  towns  and 
wards  forming  sub-districts,  so  as  in 


ing  doleful  statement :  "  The  condition  of  the  currency 
has  become  so  alarming  that  its  importance  has  risen 
even  above  the  excitement  of  military  movements. 
From  every  quarter  of  the  Confederacy  essays,  schemes, 
expedients  and  remedies  are  daily  scattered  broadcast 
over  the  country,  and  suggestions  of  every  character 
and  description  are  urged.  One  thing  is  certain  and 
indisputable,  that  the  present  financial  management  ia 
an  utter  and  absolute  failure,  rendered  so  not  by  Mr. 
Memminger,  but  by  the  people  themselves." 


CH.  V.] 


THE  DRAFT  RIOT  IN  NEW  YORK   CITY. 


377 


making  the  draft  to  furnish  the  number 
of  men  required.  Each  name  of  this 
class  in  the  sub-district  was  written 
upon  a  separate  slip  of  paper,  and  placed 
in  a  wheel,  or  circular  box,  which  was 
then  made  to  revolve,  and  a  name  was 
drawn  out  and  registered.  This  pro 
cess  was  continued  until  the  requisite 
number  of  names  had  been  obtained. 
The  person  drafted  was  obliged  to 
report  immediately  for  duty,  under 
penalty,  unless  he  furnished  a  sub 
stitute,  or  paid  $300  computation 
money.* 

The  draft,  as  we  have  stated  on  a 
previous  page  (see  p.  258),  was  tho 
roughly  unpopular,  and  politicians  were 
not  lacking  in  zeal  in  pointing  out  its 
odious  features,  and  in  berating  the 
government  for  resorting  to  so  oppres 
sive  a  measure.  The  annual  elections 
were  considerably  influenced  by  popular 
denunciation  on  this  subject ;  in  several 
quarters  vigorous  efforts  were  made  to 
have  the  conscription  act  pronounced  un 
constitutional  ;  and  the  result  was  look 
ed  for  with  much  anxiety  by  loyal  men, 
as  a  test  of  the  strength  and  ability  of 
the  government.  Strenuous  exertions 
Were  made  in  the  different  states  to  fill 
the  quotas  under  the  call  of  the  presi 
dent  for  300,000  men;  but  as  they  were 
only  partially  successful,  the  machinery 
for  the  draft  was  set  in  motion  early  in 
the  month  of  July. 

As  was  perhaps  to  be  expected,  this 
novel  and,  as  many  called  it,  despotic 
mode  of  filling  up  the  ranks  of  the 
army,  was  not  allowed  to  be  enforced 

*  On  the  subject  of  "  Enrollment  and  Draft,"  con 
sult  the  article  in  Appleton's  "American  Annual  Cyclo 
pedia"  for  1833,  pp.  361-371. 
VOL.  IV.— 48. 


1863. 


without  rousing  some  of  the  worst  pas 
sions  of  human  nature,  and  giving  rise 
to  disgraceful  scenes  of  riot  and  blood 
shed.  Particularly  was  this  the  case  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  which 
has  a  mixed  and  diverse  popu 
lation,  a  considerable  portion  of  whom 
demagogues  and  mischief-makers  have 

o    o 

not  found  it  difficult,  at  times,  to  per 
suade  to  evil  courses,  and  excite  to 
deeds  of  violence  and  cruelty.  After 
several  postponements,  Col.  Nugent,  the 
provost-marshal  of  the  city,  completed 
all  the  arrangements  for  the  draft,  and 
it  was  announced  through  the  press,  by 
Capt.  Jenkins,  marshal  of  the  ninth  con 
gressional  district  in  New  York,  that, 
on  Saturday,  July  llth,  the  ballots 
would  be  publicly  counted,  at  the  cor 
ner  of  3rd  Avenue  and  46th  Street,  and 
that  immediately  thereafter  the  wheel 
would  be  turned  and  the  draft  begun. 
More  or  less  of  trouble  was  apprehend 
ed,  and  the  police  was  held  in  readiness 
for  any  emergency.  The  number  re 
quired  from  the  city  was  20,000,  to 
which  fifty  per  cent,  was  to  be  added  to 
cover  exemptions.  Over  1,200  names 
were  drawn  in  this  district,  and  though 
a  large  crowd  had  gathered'to  witness 
the  proceedings,  the  day  passed  off 
pleasantly  and  without  any  disturbance. 
Loyal  citizens  and  the  guardians  of  the 
public  peace  breathed  more  freely,  and 
rejoiced  in  the  conviction  that  there 
was  no  further  danger,  and  that  all 
would  go  well. 

Sunday,  however,  intervened,  unfoi  - 
tunately  for  the  carrying  forward  the 
draft.  Evil  minded  persons  availed 
themselves  of  the  sacred  day  of  rest  for 
the  purpose  of  stirring  up  a  spirit  hos 


378 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


tile  to  the  enforcement  of  the  law,  and 
combinations  were  formed  to  resist  it 
by  force,  even  to  bloodshed.  The  com 
mutation  clause,  allowing  exemption, 
on  the  payment  of  $300,  was  invidi 
ously  represented  as  a  privilege  of  the 
rich  at  the  expense  of  the  poor,  and 
much  popular  feeling  was  excited  on 
this  account  by  those  who  misrepre 
sented  the  motives  of  the  enactment. 
Political  and  other  prejudices  were  also 
excited  among  the  people,  particularly 
an  absurd  and  unjust  apprehension  of 
the  competition  of  the  emancipated  ne 
gro  race  with  the  northern  laboring 
classes,  while  the  compulsory  operation 
of  the  draft  upon  those  who  could  not 
readily  escape  from  it  was  undoubtedly 
a  prominent  cause  of  disaffection.  The 
result  was,  'a  resolution  by  a  number 
of  desperate  characters,  acting  as  lead 
ers,  to  break  up,  by  force,  all  further 
proceeding  with  the  draft. 

On  Monday  morning,  July  13th,  or 
ganized  bodies  of  men,  abandoning  their 
usual  employments,  went  from  yard  to 
yard,  and  from  shop  to  shop,  compel 
ling  those  at  work  to  leave  and  join 
the  processions  which  were  marching 
towards  the  corner  of  3rd  Avenue 
and  46th  Street.  A  vast  crowd  was 
gathered,  and  the  officers,  unconscious 
of  danger,  entered  upon  the  morning's 
work.  The  draft  recommenced,  and  a 
few  names  had  been  drawn  from  the 
wheel,  when  a  huge  paving  stone  came 
crashing  through  the  window,  dashing 
in  pieces  the  glass,  and  knocking  over 
several  persons.  Other  stones  speedily 
followed,  and  made  havoc  among  the 
officials  and  reporters  behind  the  rail 
ing.  Immediately  thereafter  the  mob, 


with  frantic  yells,  rushed  upon  the 
place,  seized  and  destroyed  the  records, 
and  smashed  in  pieces  the  desks,  tables, 
and  boxes  in  the  office.  With  savage 
fury,  the  mob  set  fire  to  the  building, 
regardless  of  women  and  children  in 
the  upper  part  of  it ;  with  horrible  per 
versity,  they  took  possession  of  the 
hydrants  and  refused  to  allow  the  fire 
men  to  use  them  in  subduing  the  flames ; 
and,  in  two  hours'  time,  the  whole  block 
was  a  pile  of  smoking  ruins.  Police- 
superintendent  Kennedy  appeared  on 
the  ground,  was  attacked  by  the  riot 
ers,  and  was  nearly  killed  before  he 
could  be  rescued  from  his  assailants. 
The  mob  now  having  attained  to  vast 
proportions,  and  being  joined  by  gangs 
of  thieves  and  scoundrels  from  every 
hole  and  corner  of  the  city,  entered  on 
a  career  of  murder,  pillage,  and  arson. 
The  Bull's  Head  Hotel,  on  44th 
Street,  was  burned  down,  because  the 
proprietor  refused  to  furnish  rum  for 
the  rioters ;  several  brown-stone  houses 
in  Lexington  Avenue,  and  various  other 
dwellings,  were  destroyed  b}^  fire ;  the 
Armory  in  the  2nd  Avenue,  cornei 
of  21st  Street,  was  attacked,  anft 
after  a  brave  defence  by  a  small  police 
force,  was  set  on  fire  and  burned  to  the 
ground ;  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum, 
on  5th  Avenue,  was  furiously  assailed, 
and  with  circumstances  of  unheard  of 
cruelty  towards  the  inmates,  was  sack 
ed  and  reduced  to  a  mass  of  ruins ;  the 
Tribune  newspaper  office  was  attacked, 
and  only  saved  from  destruction  by  a 
vigorous  onset  of  the  police ;  and  every 
where  the  reign  of  terror  seemed  to 
have  set  in,  as  if  all  law  and  order  were 
paralyzed,  and  as  if  the  great  city  was 


CH.  V.] 


SUPPRESSION   OF  THE  PJOT. 


379 


1§63. 


given  over  to  raging  demons,  and  doom 
ed  to  absolute  ruin. 

Unhappily,  the  militia  of  the  city 
were  absent,  having  been  summoned  to 
join  the  forces  in  Pennsylvania,  which 
Lee  had  invaded,  and  had  not  yet  re 
turned  home.  This  threw  the  burden 
of  checking  the  mob  upon  the  police, 
and  such  small  detachments  of  the  Uni 
ted  States  troops  as  could  be  spared 
from  the  forts  in  the  harbor.  The  Me 
tropolitan  Police  at  this  time  numbered 
about  2,000  men,  of  whom  only  800 
could  be  separated  from  their  special 
duties  to  make  head  against  the  mob. 
As  parties  of  the  rioters  ap 
peared  at  the  same  time  in  dif 
ferent  quarters  of  the  city,  even  this 
force  had  to  be  divided,  the  largest 
number  in  one  command  being  350. 
They  were  assisted  to  some  extent  by 
special  policemen  sworn  in  from  the 
citizens.  Wherever  they  appeared,  the 
mob  felt  the  effects  of  their  discipline 
and  organization ;  and,  in  fact,  during 
the  day  and  night,  the  safety  of  the  city 
depended  almost  wholly  on  the  bravery 
and  devotion  of  these  guardians  of  the 
metropolis. 

On  Tuesday,  the  malignant  character 
of  the  mob  seemed  to  have  increased, 
if  that  were  possible.  Apparently,  they 
were  masters  of  everything ;  they  con 
tinued  their  work  of  destruction  ;  they 
threatened  the  city  with  a  general  con 
flagration  ;  they  assaulted  and  pursued 
and  murdered  every  negro  man,  woman, 
and  child  who  came  within  their  reach  ; 
and  they  plundered  stores  and  dwell 
ings  and  private  citizens  with  impunity. 
Mayor  Opdyke  issued  a  proclamation, 
but  to  no  purpose ;  Gov.  Seymour  did 


the  same,  and  with  as  little  effect ;  the 
governor  addressed  a  large  crowd  from 
the  City  Hall  steps,  begged  them  to 
preserve  peace  and  order,  stated  that 
he  had  written  to  Washington  and  ob 
tained  a  suspension  of  the  draft  for  the 
present,  etc.  Gen.  Wool  called  out  the 
"  veteran  volunteers,"  and  assigned  to 
Gen.  Harvey  Brown  the  command  of 
the  Federal  troops  in  the  city ;  while 
Gen.  Sandford  aided  him  in  every  way 
in  his  power  with  such  of  the  militia  as 
could  be  gathered  together.  Prompt 
and  energetic  action  was  felt  to  be  ab 
solutely  necessary.  The  military  and 
police  met  the  mob  with  decision  wher 
ever  it  attempted  to  make  head ;  there 
was  no  further  scruple  at  using  ball 
cartridges;  the  rioters  were  frequently 
driven  from  one  locality  to  appear  again 
in  another;  and  by  degrees,  the  ring 
leaders  having  been  killed  or  made  pri 
soners,  this  disgraceful  outbreak  began 
to  be  subdued. 

During  Wednesday,  the  15th,  and 
Thursday,  the  16th  of  July,  the  riot 
was  still  active,  although  greatly  re 
duced  in  its  capacity  for  mischief;  on 
the  latter  day,  the  citizens  began  again 
to  open  their  places  of  business;  the 
cars  and  stages  resumed  their  running ; 
and  there  was  now  a  sufficiently  strong 
military  force  in  the  city  to  quell  all 
disturbance  and  compel  obedience  to 
the  laws.*  For  several  days,  cavalry 


*  On  the  16th  the  Romish  archbishop,  John  Hughes, 
had  a  placard  posted  about  the  city,  addressed  "  To  the 
men  of  New  York,  who  are  now  called  in  many  of  the 
papers  rioters,"  and  asking  them  to  visit  him  the  next 
day,  when  he  said  he  would  make  a  speech  to  them. 
An  immense  crowd  gathered  at  two  P.M.  on  Friday,  in 
Madison  Avenue,  corner  of  36th  Street,  and  listened  to  a 
characteristic  address,  made  up  of  jokes  and  appeals  of 
one  kind  and  another  to  obey  the  laws,  etc. 


380 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


1§63. 


and  other  troops  were  on  duty,  patrol 
ling  the  streets,  and  enforcing  order; 
but  there  was  no  furthei  attempt  at 
riot,  and  the  city  resumed  its  usual 
peaceful  course.  The  exact  number  of 
the  killed  during  these  fearful  days  is 
not  known.  From  the  several  reports 
at  the  time  it  appears,  that  eighteen 
persons  were  killed  by  the  rioters, 
eleven  of  whom  were  negroes.  Col. 
O'Brien,  an  officer  of  the  city  militia, 
after  sparing  the  rioters  by  firing  over 
their  heads,  was  caught  by  them  and  bru 
tally  murdered.  Several  policemen  were 
killed  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  or 
died  of  their  wounds.  In  two  days 
over  fifty  buildings  were  burned.  The 
aggregate  amount  of  property 
destroyed  and  stolen  was  esti 
mated  at  over  $1,500,000.  The  riot 
ers,  on  their  part,  suffered  severely. 
Several  hundred  of  them  were  killed, 
or  died  of  wounds  received  in  conflict 
with  the  police  and  military. 

The  reaction  from  the  riot  was  in  favor 
of  the  authority  of  the  government. 
The  draft  was  the  following  month  en 
forced  in  the  city  without  opposition, 
Gen.  Dix  having,  in  the  mean  time,  suc 
ceeded  Gen.  Wool,  in  charge  of  the  east 
ern  department.  The  draft,  after  various 
delays,  was  enforced  in  twelve  states, 
bringing  50,000  soldiers  into  the  ser 
vice,  and  by  the  commutation  clause 
contributing  the  large  sum  of  over 
$10,000,000  to  be  employed  as  a  fund 
for  procuring  substitutes.  The  negroes 
of  the.  city,  who  had  been  so  cruelly 
persecuted,  were  promptly  relieved  by 
the  kindness  and  liberality  of  the  citi 
zens.  A  general  committee  was  ap 
pointed  by  the  merchants,  who  re 


ceived  and  disbursed  over  $40,000, 
spontaneously  contributed  for  the  re 
lief  of  the  sufferers,  to  whom  every  as 
sistance  was  given  in  making  good  their 
claims  against  the  city  for  their  losses.* 
There  were  riotous  demonstrations 
in  other  places,  but  none  of  such  for 
midable  proportions  as  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  In  Boston,  on  the  night 
of  July  15th,  a  riot  broke  out  connect 
ed  with  the  draft,  which  threatened  at 
first  to  become  very  serious  in  its  con 
sequences.  The  Armory  in  Cooper 
Street  was  attacked  between  eight  and 
nine  o'clock  P.M.  by  a  mob  of  nearly 
1,000  men  and  boys;  and  had  it  not 
been  resolutely  defended  by  a  strong 
force,  who  fired  upon  the  rioters  and 
charged  with  the  bayonet,  killing  six 
or  eight  and  wounding  a  large  number, 
the  mob  would  certainly  have  accom 
plished  its  wicked  design.  Fortunately 
for  Boston  and  the  safety  of  the  city, 
there  was  not  only  an  energetic  police 
force  on  duty,  but  the  military  were 
sufficiently  numerous  to  put  down  any 
outbreak  against  the  public  peace  and 
order.  At  Portsmouth,  New  Hamp 
shire,  there  was  an  incipient  riot  on  the 
day  of  drafting,  an  attack  being  made 
on  the  police  station  house  to  rescue 
two  men  who  had  been  arrested ;  but 
the  crowd  was  speedily  dispersed  by  a 
squad  of  soldiers,  and  all  further  resist 
ance  to  the  draft  in  Portsmouth  ceased. 
In  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  in  the  month 
of  June,  there  was  a  disturbance  which 
gave  no  little  trouble  to  the  authorities ; 


*  See  the  "  Report  of  the  Merchants'  Committee  for 
the  relief  of  colored  people  suffering  from  the  riots  in 
the  city  of  New  York,"  with  the  interesting  report  of 
the  secretary,  Mr.  Vincent  Colyer,  included  in  the  pam 
phlet. 


CH.  V.] 


THE   ADMINISTRATION  SUSTAINED. 


381 


the  details  are  not  important  here; 
happily,  at  last,  public  peace  was  re 
stored  without  the  government  being 
compelled  to  slaughter  the  rioters  in 
their  lawless  career.* 

The  general  sentiment  of  the  country, 
notwithstanding  a  powerful  and  fac 
tious  opposition  in  various  quarters, 
was  in  favor  of  the  measures  adopted 
by  the  government,  and  the  autumn 
elections  justified  the  confidence  of  the 
friends  of  the  administration.  For, 
every  state  in  which  elections  were 
held,  with  the  single  exception  of  New 
Jersey,  voted  to  sustain  the  govern 
ment;  and  in  all  the  most  populous 
and  important  states,  the  majorities 
were  unusually  large,  and  consequently 
expressive  of  the  convictions  of  the 
people  in  the  present  condition  of 
affairs.  Vallandingham,  as  we  have 
before  stated  (p.  340),  was  defeated  in 
Ohio  by  100,000  majority  against  him ; 
in  New  York,  which  had  elected  Hor 
atio  Seymour  governor,  the  previous 
autumn,  by  a  democratic  majority  of 
10,000,  at  an  election  held  in  Novem 
ber,  for  state  officers,  viz. :  secretary  of 
state,  comptroller,  members  of  the  legis 
lature,  etc.,  the  majority  in  favor  of 
the  administration  candidates  was  but 
little  short  of  30,000 ;  and  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  notwithstanding  the  most  vigor 
ous  efforts  of  the  democratic  party,  Gen. 
McClellan  even  taking  part  in  the  can 
vass,  Governor  Curtiu  was  re-elected 
by  more  than  15,000  majority,  f  "The 
result,"  as  Mr.  Raymond  says,  "  was 

*  See  Appleton's  "  American  Annual  Cyclopadia," 
for  1863,  pp.  817-818. 

f  McClellan's  letter  to  a  Philadelphia  paper,  under 
late  of  October  12th,  1863,  in  favor  of  Judge  Wood- 


justly  claimed  as  a  decided  verdict  of 
the  people  in  support  of  the  govern 
ment.  It  was  so  regarded  by  all  parties 
throughout  the  country,  and  its  effect 
upon  their  action  was  of  marked  im 
portance.  While  it  gave  renewed  vigor 
and  courage  to  the  friends  of  the  ad 
ministration  everywhere,  it  developed 
the  division  of  sentiment  in  the  ranks 
of  the  opposition,  which,  in  its  incipient 
stages,  had  largely  contributed  to  their 
defeat.  The  majority  of  that  party 
were  inclined  to  acquiesce  in  the  deli 
berate  judgment  of  the  country,  that 
the  rebellion  could  be  subdued  only 
by  successful  war,  and  to  sustain  the 
government  in  whatever  measures  might 
be  deemed  necessary  for  its  effectual 
prosecution ;  but  the  resolute  resistance 
of  some  of  its  more  conspicuous  lead 
ers  withheld  them  from  open  action  in 
this  direction."* 

Mr.  Lincoln  having  been  censured, 
on  the  ground  of  leaving,  as  was  al 
leged,  the  suspension  of  habeas  corpus 
to  military  commanders,  instead  of  act 
ing  directly  himself,  as  it  was  said  he 
ought  to  do,  he  issued  a  proclamation, 
in  order  to  establish  a  uniform  mode 
of  action  and  obviate  all  objection. 
Having  enumerated  the  various  classes 
of  persons  held  by  officers  of  the  Unit 
ed  States  under  control,  for  being  spies, 
traitors,  aiders  and  abettors  of  the 
enemy,  deserters,  persons  resisting  the 
draft,  etc.,  he  said  : — "  Now,  therefore, 
I,  Abraham.  Lincoln,  President  of  the 
United  States,  do  hereby  proclaim  and 

ward,  the  democratic  candidate  for  governor  of  Penu 
sylvania,  was  sharply  criticised,  and  was,  at  best,  of 
very  doubtful  expediency. — See  Appleton's  "  Amer 
ican  Annual  Cyclopaedia  "  for  1863,  p.  740. 

*  Raymond's  "  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln,"  p.  444. 


382 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


make  known  to  all  whom  it  may  con 
cern,  that  the  privilege  of  the  writ  of 
habeas  corpus  is  suspended  throughout 
the  United  States,  in  the  several  cases 
before-mentioned,  and  that  this  suspen 
sion  will  continue  throughout  the  du 
ration  of  the  said  rebellion,  or  until 
this  proclamation  shall,  by  a  subsequent 
one,  to  be  issued  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  be  modified  and  re 
voked.  And  I  do  hereby  require  all 
magistrates,  attorneys,  and  other  civil 
officers  within  the  United  States,  and 
all  officers  and  others  in  the  military 
and  naval  services  of  the  United  States, 
to  take  distinct  notice  of  this  suspen 
sion  and  give  it  full  effect,  and  all  citi 
zens  of  the  United  States  to  conduct 
and  govern  themselves  accordingly,  and 
in  conformity  with  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  laws  of 
Congress  in  such  cases  made  and  pro 
vided."  * 

Early  in  October,  the  president  ad 
dressed  a  letter  to  the  Hon.  C.  D. 
Drake,  and  others,  members  of  a  Mis 
souri  delegation  sent  to  Washington 
to  urge  changes  in  the  military  con 
duct  of  that  department  (see  p.  246). 
It  is  interesting  as  showing  the  pecu 
liar  difficulties  which  he  was  called 
upon  to  encounter,  especially  in  the 
questions  which  arose  in  the  border 
states,  and  which  were  so  hard  to  settle 

*  In  connection  with  this  subject  of  arbitrary  arrests, 
and  what  was  termed  the  despotic  use  made  of  the 
suspension  of  the  Avrit  of  habeas  corpus,  which  were 
strongly  denounced  by  the  democratic  party,  see  Pre 
sident  Lincoln's  letter  to  the  Hon.  Erastus  Corning,  of 
New  York,  under  date  of  June  13th,  18G3,  and  also  his 
reply  to  a  committee  of  the  Ohio  Democratic  State 
Convention,  under  date  of  June  29th,  1863.— Raymond's 
"  Life  of  Lincoln,"  pp  886-398 ;  Duyckinck's  "  War 
for  the  Union,"  vol.  Hi.  pp.  270-273  ;  Appleton's  "Amer 
ican  Annual  Cydopoe&ia  "  for  1863,  pp.  799-807. 


on  any  satisfactory  grounds.  The  re 
moval  of  Gen.  Schofield  was  demand 
ed,  and  the  appointment  of  Gen.  Butler 
in  his  place ;  the  delegation  also  re 
quired  the  breaking  up  of  the  system 
of  enrolled  militia,  and  the  substitution 
for  it  of  national  forces  in  the  state. 
A  few  passages  may  here  be  quoted 
from  Mr.  Lincoln's  letter : — "  We  are 
in  civil  war.  In  such  cases  there  al 
ways  is  a  main  question ;  but  in  this 
case  that  question  is  a  perplexing  com 
pound — union  and  slavery.  It  thus 
becomes  a  question  not  of  two  sides 
merely,  but  of  at  least  four  sides,  even 
among  those  who  are  for  the  Union, 
saying  nothing  of  those  who  are  against 
it.  Thus,  those  who  are  for  the  Union 
with,  but  not  without  slavery — those 
for  it  without,  but  not  with — those  for 
it  with  or  without,  but  prefer  it  with-, 
and  those  for  it  with  or  without,  but 
prefer  it  without.  Among  these,  again, 
is  a  subdivision  of  those  who  are  for 
gradual  but  not  for  immediate,  and 
those  who  are  for  immediate  but  not 
for  gradual  extinction  of  slavery.  It 
is  easy  to  conceive  that  all  these  shades 
of  opinion,  and  even  more,  may  be  sin 
cerely  entertained  by  honest  and  truth 
ful  men.  Yet,  all  being  for  the  Union, 
by  reason  of  these  differences  each  will 
prefer  a  different  way  of  sustaining  the 
Union.  .  .  .  The  evils  now  com 
plained  of  were  quite  as  prevalent 
under  Fremont,  Hunter,  Halleck,  and 
Curtis,  as  under  Schofield.  Without 
disparaging  any,  I  affirm  with  confi 
dence  that  no  commander  of  that  de 
partment  has,  in  proportion  to  his 
means,  done  better  than  Gen.  Schofield. 
.  .  .  I  am  satisfied  that  the  pro- 


CH.   V.] 


ADDITIONAL  CALL  FOR  TROOPS. 


383 


1§63. 


venting  of  the  threatened  remedial  raid 
into  Missouri  was  the  only  safe  way  to 
avoid  an  indiscriminate  massacre  there, 
including  probably  more  innocent  than 
guilty.  Instead  of  condemning,  I  there 
fore  approve  what  I  understand  Gen. 
Schoiield  did  in  that  respect.  .  .  . 
From  time  to  time  I  have  done  and 
said  what  appeared  to  me  proper  to  do 
and  say.  The  public  knows  it 
well.  It  obliges  nobody  to  fol 
low  me,  and  I  trust  it  obliges  me  to 
follow  nobody.  The  radicals  and  con 
servatives  each  agree  with  me  in  some 
things  and  disagree  in  others,  i  I  could 

O  ~ 

wish  both  to  agree  with  me  in  all 
things ;  for  then  they  would  agree  with 
each  other,  and  would  be  too  strong 
for  any  foe  from  any  quarter.  They, 
however,  choose  to  do  otherwise,  and  I 
do  not  question  their  right.  I,  too, 
shall  do  what  seems  to  be  my  duty. 
I  hold  whoever  commands  in  Missouri 
or  elsewhere  responsible  to  me,  and  not 
to  either  radicals  or  conservatives.  It 
is  my  duty  to  hear  all;  but  at  last,  I 
must,  within  my  sphere,  judge  what  to 
do  and  what  to  forbear."'"" 

The  condition  of  affairs  in  this  de 
partment,  it  may  here  be  mentioned, 
continued  to  be  greatly  disturbed  by 
political  agitations,  and  the  personal 
controversies  to  which  they  gave  rise. 
Some  months  later,  the  president  deem 
ed  it  expedient  to  relieve  Gen.  Scho- 
field  from  further  command  in  the  de 
partment  of  Missouri ;  and  on  the  24th 
of  January,  18G4,  Gen.  Rosecrans  was 
appointed  in  his  place. 

*  For  the  letter  in  full,  and  for  the  special  instruc 
tions  sent  to  Gen.  Scliofield,  sec  Raymond's  "  Life  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,"  pp.  432-407. 


1863. 


On  the  17th  of  October,  in  anticipa 
tion  of  the  term  of  service  of  part  of  the 
volunteer  troops  expiring,  and  to  provide 
for  the  probable  demands  of  the  cam 
paign  in  the  following  spring,  the  presi 
dent  issued  a  proclamation,  calling  out 
300,000  volunteers  to  serve  for  three 
years  or  the  war,  not,  however,  exceed 
ing  three  years.  The  governors  of  the 
several  states  were  required  to  raise 
their  respective  quotas,  and,  in 
case  of  any  deficiency,  a  draft 
was  ordered  to  be  made  in  the  states  or 
districts,  to  commence  on  the  5th  day 
of  January,  18C4.  Active  measures 
were  taken  to  forward  recruiting ;  the 
volunteers  whose  term  of  service  was 
about  to  expire  generally  re-enlisted ; 
and  when  the  day  arrived  which  was 
appointed  for  the  draft,  it  was  deemed 
expedient  that  the  drawing  be  further 
postponed.* 

On  previous  pages  we  have  given  the 
substance  and  tolerably  full  details  of 
army  operations  and  success,  in  the 
West  and  South,  daring  the  latter  part 
of  1863.  We  purpose  closing  the  pre 
sent  chapter  with  succinct  notices  of 
the  position  and  movements  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  of  some,  few 
other  events  which  may  properly  claim 
to  be  placed  on  the  record.  Lee,  it  will 
be  remembered,  after  his  defeat  at  Get 
tysburg  (p.  333),  retreated  into  Virgi 
nia,  and  was  pursued  by  Meade,  with- 

*  The  conscription  act  was  brought  up  in  the  Thirty- 
eighth  Congress  and  earnestly  discussed.  The  chief 
point  in  the  debates  on  the  act  was  in  reference  to  the 
propriety  or  necessity  of  retaining  the  $300  exemption 
clause.  It  was  finally  concluded  to  retain  this,  with 
the  important  restriction,  that  the  exemption  thus 
purchased  should  not  continue  beyond  a  single  year, 
when  the  person  relieved  would  again  be  subject  to 
draft. 


384 


ABKAITAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


out,  however,  any  special  result.  Lee 
retired  in  safety  across  /the  Rapidan, 
and  Meade,  with  his  army,  took  up  the 
old  line  on  the  Rappahannock.  For 
some  time  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
was  enjoying  needed  rest  and  an  op 
portunity  for  recruiting  and  prepar 
ing  for  future  operations.  A  consider 
able  portion  of  Lee's  force  was  sent, 
under  Longstreet,  to  aid  the  rebel  cause, 
just  then  iu  a  rather  critical  condition, 
in  Tennessee,  where  Bragg  was  in  com 
mand.  This  was  in  September,  1863  ; 
and  Meade,  having  become  aware  of 
the  fact,  made  an  advance  movement, 
and  had  matured  a  plan,  which  promis 
ed  well,  for  attacking  Lee  on  the  flank. 
Before,  however,  he  could  carry  out  his 
plan,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was 
largely  depleted  by  the  sending  of  the 
llth  and  12th  corps,  under  Hooker's 
command,  to  the  aid  of  our  army  in 
Tennessee  (see  pp.  353,  358).  This  re 
duced  Meade  to  the  necessity  of  acting 
on  the  defensive  simply,  until  he  could 
be  supplied  again  with  reinforcements. 
Early  in  October,  Lee  resolved  upon 
an  offensive  movement,  for  the  purpose 
of  driving  Meade  back  from  the  line  of 
the  Rapidau,  and,  by  a  decisive  flank 
march,  get  between  Meade  and  his 
communications  with  Washington.  On 
Friday,  October  9th,  Lee  crossed  the 
Rapidan,  and  moved  northwardly  by 
way  of  Madison  Court  House,  so  as  to 
turn  Meade's  right,  in  which  movement 
he  was  quite  successful.  Meade,  on 
ascertaining  the  rebel  purpose,  immedi 
ately  fell  back  from  the  Rapidan  and 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  without  mo 
lestation,  and  when  Lee  reached  Cul- 
ttepper,  on  the  llth  of  October,  he 


found  that  our  army  had  passed  over 
the  river  some  hours  before.  On  the 
12th,  Lee  advanced  in  two  columns, 
with  the  design  of  reaching  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  Railroad,  north  of  the 
river,  and  cutting  off  Meade's  retreat. 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  Lee 
crossed  his  columns  at  Warrenton 
Springs,  to  the  north  bank  of  the  Rap 
pahannock,  and  advanced  rapidly,  pur 
posing  to  strike  Meade's  line  of  retreat 
by  the  railroad.  The  commander  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  immediately 
began  a  retrograde  movement,  so  as  to 
escape  the  consequences  of  the  rebel 
attempt.  It  now  became  a  sort  of  race 
between  the.  two  armies,  and  Tuesday 
and  Wednesday,  the  13th  and  14th  of 
October,  were  spent  in  determining 
which  should  first  reach  the  heights  of 
Ceutreville,  and  gain  the  race.  The  2d 
corps,  under  Warren,  marched  all  Mon 
day  night  up  to  Fayetteville,  to  guard 
the  road,  and  remained  there  till  the 
whole  army  passed.  On  Tuesday,  Lee 
as  well  as  Meade,  was  pushing  forward 
rapidly,  by  parallel  roads,  only  six  or 
eight  miles  apart.  At  Warrenton,  Lee 
formed  the  bold  design  of  sending  Hill's 

O  O 

corps,  by  a  rapid  detour,  to  seize  the 
heights  of  Centreville,  while  Swell's 
corps  should  fall  upon  Meade's  flank 
and  rear. 

It  was  on  Wednesday,  the  14th  Oc 
tober,  wBen  our  whole  army  passed 
Cedar  Run  at  Auburn,  Warren's  corps 
bringing  up  the  rear.  To  this  com 
mander  was  assigned  the  duty  of  cover 
ing  the  trains  of  the  army,  which  were 
much  delayed  in  the  crossing 
by  the  pontoons.  The  position 
was  now  an  extremely  critical  one. 


1863. 


CH.  V.] 


BATTLE  AT  BRISTOE   STATION. 


385 


Ewell  had  begun  pressing  severely  on 
the  rear,  and   already,  on  Wednesday 
morning,  at  Auburn,  the  rear-guard  be 
came  engaged  with   a   portion  of  his 
force.     Meade,  it  will   be  rioted,  was 
obliged  to  move  with  the  utmost  celerity 
in  order  to  reach  Centreville  in  advance 
of  Hill,  who  had  the  start  of  him,  and 
was  on  the  shortest  line ;  he  was  under 
the  necessity  also  of  keeping  back  the 
enemy  from  his  trains  in  the  rear.    The 
army  having  passed  Auburn,  pushed 
rapidly  on  toward  Catlett's.     A  couple 
of  miles  beyond  Auburn,  Warren  re 
ceived  a  message  from  Meade,  directing 
him  to  hold  on,  so  as  to  give  sufficient 
time  for  the  trains.     The  2d  corps,  ac 
cordingly,  for  two  hours,  exhausted  all 
the  resources  of  tactics  to  keep  back  the 
enemy,  by  forming  line  of  battle,  skir 
mishing,  shelling  the  woods,  etc.,  the 
enemy  making  vigorous  demonstrations 
all  the  while.    The  task  was  bravely 
and  effectually  performed  by  Warren. 
About  noon,  he  reached  Catlett's,  and 
began  his  retreat  toward  Bristoe  Sta 
tion.      The   latter   place   was  reached 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of 
October  14th.     The  rebel  corps,  under 
Hill,  arrived  at  Bristoe  shortly  before 
Warren,  and   found    that    the   whole 
army,  excepting  Warren,  had  just  pass 
ed  beyond  that  point ;  whereupon,  Hill 
arranged  a  line  of  battle  perpendicular 
to  the  railroad.     The  position  was  per 
ilous,  but   Warren  was  equal  to  the 
emergency.     The  troops  were  brought 
up  at  the  run ;  those  which  had  been 
marching   on  the  left  of  the  railroad 
were  brought  quickly  over  to  the  right; 
and  Warren,  observing  that  the  rebels 
had  neglected  to  occupy  the  cut  and 

VOL.  IV.— 49. 


embankment  of  the  railroad,  on  the  in 
stant  jumped  his  men,  unseen,  into  it. 
This  sagacious  movement  was  admir 
ably  timed,  and  it  enabled  Warren  to 
repulse  Hill's  corps  with  severe  loss, 
and  to  secure  about  450  prisoners.  It 
was  well,  however,  for  Warren's  safety 
that  night  soon  after  came  on ;  for  about 
sunset  E well's  corps  joined  Hill,  and 
nothing  but  the  darkness  prevented  an 
overwhelming  assault.  During  the 
night,  Warren  retired,  and  the  next 
morning  came  up  with  the  main  body 
of  the  army  at  Centreville. 

This  repulse  at  Bristoe  Station,  and 
the  strong  position  now  held  by  Meade, 
put  an  end  to  Lee's  further  advance. 
After  a  few  demonstrations  of  no  great 
moment,  and  after  destroying  the  rail 
road  from  Cub  Run  southwardly  to  the 
Rappahannock,  Lee  began  his  retreat, 
Sunday,  October  18th,  and  the  next  day 
passed  through  Warrenton,  and  thence 
across  the  river,  leaving  his  cavalry  in 
front  of  Meade.  Troops,  sent  out  from 
Harper's  Ferry,  forced  him  immedi 
ately  to  retreat.  On  the  7th  of  No 
vember,  Gens.  Sedgwick  and  French 
attacked  the  enemy  at  Rappahannock 
Station  and  Kelly's  Ford,  capturing 
several  redoubts,  four  guns,  eight  flags, 
and  about  2,000  prisoners.  The  enemy 
now  retreated  to  his  old  position  on  the 
Rapidan,  and  Meade,  having  followed 
in  pursuit,  took  up  nearly  the  same 
ground  which  he  had  previously  held. 
Lee  states,  in  his  report,  that  the  whole 
number  of  prisoners  captured  by  him 
was  2,436,  of  whom  forty-one  were  com 
missioned  officers. 

Meade,  anxious  to  accomplish  some 
thing  before  going  into  winter  quarters, 


386 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


IX. 


planned  an  operation  known  as  the 
Mine  Run  Move.  The  intention  was, 
by  a  rapid  and  vigorous  movement,  to 
get  between  the  forces  under  Ewell  and 
Hill,  arid  destroy  them  in  detail.  The 
march  was  begun  at  dawn,  on  Novem 
ber  26th,  and  had  it  not  been  for  vexa 
tious  delays,  and  consequent  destroying 
the  combinations  relied  upon  by  Gen. 
Meade,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  he  would  have  met  with  success. 
The  attack  on  Lee  was  fixed  for  the 
morninc;  of  November  30th,  but  that 

O  ' 

commander  having  strongly  entrenched 
himself  behind  Mine  Run,  south-west 
of  Chaucellorsville,  the  assault  was 
deemed  too  hazardous,  in  fact  hopeless, 
so  far  as  victory  was  concerned.*  There 
being  no  alternative,  Gen.  Meade  with 
drew  across  the  Rapidan,  and  the  army 
returned  to  its  former  quarters. 

During  the  period  of  these  campaigns 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the  forces 
in  Western  Virginia  had  been  gene 
rally  employed  on  the  defensive,  with 
occasional  encounters  with  the  enemy. 
Gen.  Kelly,  near  Clear  Springs, 
in  July,  concentrated  his  force 
on  the  enemy's  flank,  and  was  of  much 
service  to  Meade' s  operations.  On  the 
24th  of  July,  Col.  Tolaud  attacked  the 
enemy  at  Wytheville,  on  the  East  Ten 
nessee  and  Virginia  Railroad,  capturing 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  700  muskets  and 
125  prisoners.  In  August,  Gen.  Ave- 

*  Mr.  Swinton  relates  a  touching  instance  of  the 
mode  and  spirit  in  which  the  soldiers  prepared  for  the 
expected  fight :  "  Recognizing  that  the  task  now  be 
fore  them  was  of  the  character  of  a  forlorn  hope,  know 
ing  well  that  no  man  could  here  count  pn  escaping 
death,  the  soldiers,  without  sign  of  shrinking  from  the 
sacrifice,  were  seen  quietly  pinning  on  the  breast  of 
their  blouses  of  blue,  slips  of  paper  on  which  each  had 
written  his  name." — "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  397. 


1863. 


rill  attacked  a  rebel  force  under  Gen. 
Sam.  Jones  at  Rocky  Gap,  in  Green- 
brier  County,  capturing  one  gun,  150 
prisoners,  and  killing  and  wounding 
some  200.  On  the  llth  of  September, 
Tmboden  attacked  a  small  force  of  our 
troops  at  Moorfield,  wounding  fifteen 
and  capturing  about  150.  On  the  5th 
of  November,  Averill  attacked  and  de 
feated  the  enemy  near  Lewis  burg,  cap 
turing  three  pieces  of  artillery,  100  pri 
soners,  and  a  large  number  of  small 
arms,  wagons  and  camp  equipage. 

About  the  middle  of  December,  Ave 
rill's  famous  raid  took  place  on  the 
communications  of  Lonorstreet,  on  the 

O  / 

Tennessee  Railroad.  Averill's  own  ac 
count  is  given  with  soldier-like  brevity 
and  point,  and  is  well  worth  consulting 
by  the  reader.  It  is  under  date  of  De 
cember  21st,  and  reports  the  cutting  of 
the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad, 
at  Salem,  on  the  16th ;  the  destroying 
three  depots,  containing  2,000  barrels 
of  flour,  10,000  bushels  of  wheat,  50,- 
000  bushels  of  oats,  and  2,000  barrels 
of  meat,  and  numerous  other  valuable 
stores ;  the  cutting  and  destroying  the 
telegraph  line;  the  burning  of  bridges 
in  connection  with  conflicts  with  the 
enemy ;  the  crossing  the  Alleghanies 
by  a  road  thought  to  be  impassable ; 
etc.  Averill  sums  up  with  stating  his 
loss  to  have  been  six  men  drowned  and 
nineteen  wounded  and  missing.  "  We 
captured,"  are  his  concluding  words, 
"  about  200  prisoners,  but  have 
retained  but  forty  officers  and 
eighty  men,  on  account  of  their  ina 
bility  to  walk.  We  took  also  about 
150  horses.  My  horses  have  subsisted 
entirely  upon  a  very  poor  country,  and 


1§G3. 


CH.  V.J 


REBEL  PIRATICAL  EXPLOIT. 


387 


the  officers  and  men  have  suffered  cold, 
hunger,  and  fatigue,  with  remarkable 
fortitude.  My  command  has  marched, 
climbed,  slid  and  swam  350  miles  since 
the  8th  inst." 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  the  re 
bel  authorities  set  on  foot  a  plot  to  lib 
erate  some  2,500  of  their  officers  con 
fined  on  Johnson's  Island,  Lake  Erie, 
and  also  to  burn  and  destroy  Buffalo 
and  other  lake  cities.  The  expedition 
was  to  rendezvous  in  Canada,  and 
carry  on  operations  from  thence.  The 
American  consul  at  Montreal,  having 
informed  the  Canadian  authorities  on 
the  subject,  news  was  sent  to  Washing 
ton,  and,  through  Lord  Lyons,  commu 
nicated  to  our  government.  Immediate 
steps  were  taken  by  the  secretary  of 
war,  and  telegrams  were  sent,  Novem 
ber  llth,  to  Buffalo,  Detroit,  and  other 
western  cities,  warning  them,  of  danger 
and  of  the  need  of  activity  and  vigi 
lance.  In  consequence  of  the  prompt 
movement  of  troops  to  the  points  threat 
ened,  and  tho  measures  adopted  by  the 
local  authorities  on  the  frontier,  the  re 
bel  plot  happily  came  to  nothing. 

Early  in  December,  a  daring  act  of 
piracy  was  perpetrated  by  a  party  of 
rebel  desperadoes,  who  had  made  their 
way  for  this  purpose  to  New  York  from 
St.  John's,  New  Brunswick.  The 
scheme  was  to  enter  as  passengers  and 
take  possession  of  the  steamer  Chesa 
peake  while  on  her  way  as  one  of  the 
regular  line  from  New  York  to  Port 
land,  Maine.  The  Chesapeake  sailed 
from  New  York  on  the  afternoon  of 
Saturday,  December  6th,  with  twenty- 
four  passengers.  Eight  of  the  latter, 
being  part  of  the  piratical  adventurers, 


purchased  their  tickets  in  the  morning, 
and  came  on  board  with  the  rest  with 
out  suspicion.  They  each  brought  a 
heavy  trunk,  which,  it  was  afterwards 
found,  was  filled  with  fire-arms  and 
ammunition.  Eight  others  came  en 
board  just  after  the  Chesapeake  left 
the  wharf,  and  with  their  comrades 
quietly  made  preparation  for  what  fol 
lowed.  On  Sunday  evening,  after  the 
officers  and  crew,  except  those  on  ne 
cessary  duty,  had  retired,  the  pirates, 
fully  armed  and  prepared,  seized  the 
vessel,  which  at  the  time  was  about 
twenty  miles  north-east  of  Cape  Cod, 
murdered  one  of  the  engineers,  and  at 
tempted  to  murder  the  captain  and 
others.  On  Tuesday  morning,  Decem 
ber  9th,  the  Chesapeake  reached  the 
mouth  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  whence, 
proceeding  towards  St.  John's,  she  re 
ceived  on  board  a  rebel  privateer  com 
mander,  and  got  rid  of  her  prisoners  by 
placing  them  on  board  an  English  pilot 
boat,  by  means  of  which  they  found 
their  way  to  Portland. 

When  the  news  of  this  piratical  ex 
ploit  reached  the  United  States,  it 
stirred  up  great  indignation,  and  a  fleet 
of  cruisers  was  immediately  dispatched 
from,New  York  and  other  ports  in  pur 
suit  of  the  robbers.  Some  days  were 
spent  in  the  chase,  the  Chesapeake 
dodging  her  pursuers  in  the  waters  of 
Nova  Scotia.  At  one  of  her  stopping 
places,  a  portion  of  her  stolen  cargo  was 
sold  to  the  inhabitants  at  trifling 
prices.  She  was  finally  taken 
into  Sambro  Harbor,  near  Halifax, 
where,  on  the  17th  of  December,  she 
was  captured  by  the  United  States 
gun  boat  Ella  and  Annie.  The  crew 


388 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  IX. 


offered  no  resistance,  mostly  leaving 
the  vessel  and  flying  to  the  woods  on 
the  shore.  The  capture  having  been 
made  in  British  waters,  the  vessel  was 
promptly  carried  into  Halifax  and  trans 
ferred  to  the  British  authorities  for  ad 
judication.  An  attempt  was  made  by 
the  government  officers  to  take  the 

o 

pirates  on  board  in  custody,  but  they 
were  rescued  by  a  mob  of  southern 
agents  and  partizans,  and  escaped  ar 
rest.  When  the  case  came  before  the 
colonial  court,  the  Chesapeake  was 
promptly  restored  to  her  owners,  while 
steps  were  taken  to  follow  up  the  pi 
rates.  The  court  decreed  such  restora 
tion,  on  the  ground  that  the  bringing 
of  the  vessel  and  her  cargo  into  a  port 


of  Nova  Scotia  was  an  offence  against 
Great  Britain,  subjecting  them  to  for 
feiture;  and  that  their  restoration  to 
their  original  owners  was  an  act  of 
justice  to  the  offended  dignity  of  the 
British  crown.  With  a  proper  apology 
on  the  part  of  our  government  for  a 
capture  made  in  British  waters,  the 
case  of  the  Chesapeake  was  satisfacto 
rily  settled.* 


*  On  the  subject  of  prizes,  i.  e.,  any  property  cap 
tured  at  sea  in  virtue  of  the  rights  of  war,  see,  for  the 
cases  brought  before  the  United  States  courts  at  this 
date,  Appleton's  "  American  Annual  Cyclopaedia,"  for 
1863,  pp.  765-769.  See  also,  for  the  substance  of  the 
authoritative  and  final  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court 
in  the  prize  cases,  argued  in  the  spring  of  1863,  Whit 
ing's  "  War  Powers  under  the  Constitution  of  the  Uni 
ed  States"  pp.  141-156. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


1863, 

THE  THIRTY-EIGHTH  CONGRESS :    CLOSE  OF  1863 :    GENERAL  STATE  OF  AFFAIRS. 

The  Thirty-eighth  Congress,  first  session  —  Organization,  officers,  etc.  —  The  president's  message  —  Extracts 
from  —  Mr.  Lincoln's  policy  of  emancipation  —  Reports  of  the  secretaries  of  departments  —  Report  of  Mr. 
Stanton  as  to  the  army,  its  efficiency,  etc.  —  Statements  respecting  exchange  of  prisoners  —  Course  pursued 
by  the  rebels  —  Report  of  Mr.  Welles,  secretary  of  the  navy  — Extent  of  the  navy  —  Report  of  the  secre 
tary  of  the  treasury  —  Clear  and  well-arranged  document  —  Valuable  and  satisfactory  information  —  Prin 
cipal  objects  kept  in  view—  Jeff.  Davis's  statements  as  to  the  rebel  financial  condition  — Congress  enters 
on  its  work  —  Various  resolutions  introduced  —  Several  quoted,  and  action  upon  them  —  Harris  and  Long, 
in  the  House,  severely  censured  —  A  resume  of  matters  of  general  interest  at  close  of  1863  —  Military  and 
other  successes  —  Commerce  and  trade  of  the  country  —  The  shipping  interests  —  Success  of  the  rebel 
privateers  in  burning  and  plundering  ships  —  Diplomatic  correspondence  —  England's  course,  how  regarded 
in  the  United  States  —  Relations  with  the  French  Government  —  Resolution  of  the  House  on  the  subject 
of  Mexican  affairs  —  General  patriotic  spirit  of  the  people  —  Rebel  style  of  talking—  APPENDIX  TO  CHAP- 
TEK  VI.  —  The  president's  proclamations. 


THE  Thirty-eighth  Congress  began  its 
first  session  on  Monday,  December  7th, 
having,  in  both  Houses,  a  decided  ma 
jority  of  its  members  in  favor  of  the 
policy  of  the  administration,  and  pre 


pared  to  legislate  to  any  extent  in  order 
to    put     down     the     rebellion 

1863 

promptly  and  effectually.     The 

Hon.  Scnuyler  Colfax,  of  Indiana,  was 

elected   speaker   of    the    House ;    the 


Cn.  VI.] 


PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  MESSAGE. 


389 


vice-president,  Hannibal  Hamlin,  pre 
sided  in  the  Senate ;  and  the  new  sena 
tors  from  West  Virginia,  Messrs.  Willey 
and  Van  Winkle,  were  admitted  to 
their  seats  by  a  vote  of  36  to  5.  On 
the  9th  of  December,  the  president's 
message  was  transmitted  to  both 
Houses,  and  with  great  clearness  and 
plainness  set  forth  the  existing  condi 
tion  of  affairs,  and  the  views  of  the 
chief  magistrate  on  various  questions 
of  immediate  and  pressing  interest. 
The  opening  paragraph  was  as  fol 
lows  : — 

"  Another  year  of  health  and  of  suffi 
ciently  abundant  harvests  has  passed. 
For  these,  and  especially  for  the  im 
proved  condition  of  our  national  affairs, 
our  renewed  and  profoundest  gratitude 
to  God  is  due.  We  remain  in  peace 
and  friendship  with  foreign  powers. 
The  efforts  of  disloyal  citizens  of  the 
United  States  to  involve  us  in  foreign 
wars,  to  aid  an  inexcusable  insurrec 
tion,  have  been  unavailing.  Her  Bri 
tannic  Majesty's  government,  as  was 
justly  expected,  have  exercised  their 
authority  to  prevent  the  departure  of 
new  hostile  expeditions  from  British 
ports.  The  Emperor  of  France  has,  by 
a  like  proceeding,  promptly  vindicated 
the  neutrality  which  he  proclaimed  at 
the  beginning  of  the  contest.  Ques 
tions  of  great  intricacy  and  importance 
have  arisen  out  of  the  blockade,  and 
other  belligerent  operations,  between 
the  government  and  several  of  the  mari 
time  powers,  but  they  have  been  dis 
cussed,  and,  as  far  as  was  possible, 
accommodated  in  a  spirit  of  frankness, 
justice,  and  mutual  good  will.  It  is 
especially  gratifying  that  our  Prize 


Courts,  by  the  impartiality  of  their 
adjudications^  have  commanded  the  res 
pect  and  confidence  of  maritime  powers." 

Having  touched  briefly  upon  the 
position  and  claims  of  naturalized  citi 
zens,  the  condition  and  importance  of 
the  territories,  the  propriety  of  provid 
ing  remedies  for  injuries  unintentionally 
done  to  foreigners  during  the  war,  etc., 
the  president  gave  a  summary  of  the 
reports  of  the  secretaries  of  the  several 
departments,  and  added  various  sug 
gestions  for  the  further  effectiveness  of 
the  army  and  navy.  He  then  proceed 
ed  to  a  succinct  review  of  his  emanci 
pation  policy,  claiming  for  it  definite 
and  positively  beneficial  results,  and 
stating,  that  "  of  those  who  were  slaves 
at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion  fully 
100,000  are  now  in  the  United  States 
military  service,  about  one-half  of 
which  number  actually  bear  arms  in 
the  ranks,"  and  also  that,  so  far  as 
tried,  the  black  soldiers  are  little,  if  at 
all,  inferior  to  the  white. 

Looking  to  the  present  and  future, 
and  with  a  reference  to  a  resumption 
of  the  national  authority  in  the  states 
where  that  authority  had  been  sus 
pended,  Mr.  Lincoln  thought  fit  to  issue 
a  proclamation,  dated  December  8th, 
a  copy  of  which  he  transmitted  to  Con 
gress  with  his  message.  Our  limits  do 
not  admit  of  giving  the  president's 
views  and  arguments  in  full.  They 
were  set  forth  clearly  and  at  large,  and 
may  be  consulted  by  the  reader  to  ad 
vantage  ;  the  proclamation  also,  as  mark 
ing  out  a  line  of  policy  on  the  difficult 
and  delicate  subject  of  reconstruction, 
is  worthy  of  a  careful  perusal.  We 
give  it  in  the  appendix  to  the  present 


390 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


chapter.*  "  In  the  midst  of  other  cares, 
however  important,"  Mr.  Lincoln  went 
on  to  say,  "  we  must  not  lose  sight  of 
the  fact  that  the  war  power  is  still  our 
main  reliance.  To  that  power  alone 
can  we  look,  for  a  time,  to  give  confi 
dence  to  the  people  in  the  contested 
regions,  that  the  insurgent  power  will 

not  as;ain  overrun  them.     Until  that 

~ 

confidence  shall  be  established,  little 
can  be  done  anywhere  for  what  is  called 
reconstruction.  Hence  our  chiefest 
care  must  still  be  directed  to  the  army 
and  navy,  which  have  thus  far  borne 
their  harder  part  so  nobly  and  well ; 
and  it  may  be  esteemed  fortunate  that 
in  giving  the  greatest  efficiency  to  these 
indispensable  arms,  we  do  also  honor 
ably  recognize  the  gallant  men,  from 
commander  to  sentinel,  who  compose 
them,  and  to  whom,  more  than  to 
others,  the  world  must  stand  indebted 
for  the  home  of  freedom,  disenthrall 
ed,  regenerated,  enlarged,  and  perpe 
tuated.1' 

The  reports  of  the  secretaries  in  the 
several  departments,  which  accom 
panied  the  president's  message,  exhibit 
ed  a  remarkable  and  extensive  develop 
ment  of  the  resources  of  the  country 
in  meeting  and  providing  for  the  exi 
gencies  of  the  war.  The  statistics  fur 
nished  by  Mr.  Stanton,  the  secretary 
of  war,  are  interesting  and  instructive. 
According  to  his  statements,  over  2,000 
siege  and  sea-coast  artillery  had  been 
issued  since  the  war  was  begun,  being 

*  It  may  be  noted  here,  that  the  president  issued  an 
additional  explanatory  proclamation,  March  26th,  1864, 
with  reference  to  the  case  of  insurgent  enemies  entitled 
to  the  benefits  of  hid  proclamation,  December  8th, 
1863.  This  is  also  given  in  the  appendix  to  the  pre- 
eent  chapter. 


double  the  number  on  hand  when  the 
rebellion  broke  out.  The  number  of 
field  artillery  had  increased  from  231 
to  2,481 ;  infantry  fire-arms  from  437,- 
433  to  1,550,576,  and  other  arms  and 
material  in  like  proportion.  For  this 
supply,  the  country,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  was  almost  wholly  depen 
dent  on  foreign  nations ;  but  now  we 
were  not  only  able  to  manufacture 
them  ourselves  at  home,  but  possessed 
all  the  materials  necessary  therefor. 
Particularly  was  this  the  case  in  regard 
to  iron  in  its  various  shapes.  Mr. 
Stanton  also  enlarged  upon  the  subject 
of  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  what 
was  held  to  be  the  mean  and  malicious 
course  pursued  by  the  rebel  authorities. 
Until  recently,  exchanges  had  been 
conducted  in  accordance  with  the  ar 
rangement  made,  in  1861,  by  Gen. 
Dix  and  the  rebel  Gen.  Hill  (p.  107)  ; 
but,  owing  to  several  causes,  the  gov 
ernment  had  been  compelled  to  sus 
pend  this  arrangement.  The  number 
of  our  prisoners  in  the  rebels'  hands 
was  about  13,000;  at  Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson,  it  will  be  remembered 
that  between  35,000  and  40,000  prison 
ers,  taken  by  our  armies,  were  released 
on  parole,  until  duly  and  lawfully  ex 
changed.  "  But  the  rebel  agent,"  said 
Mr.  Stanton,  "  in  violation  of  the  cartel, 
declared  the  Vicksburg  prisoners  ex 
changed,  and  without  being  exchanged, 
the  Port  Hudson  prisoners  he,  without 
just  cause  and  in  violation  of  the  cartel, 
declared  released  from  their  parole. 
These  prisoners  were  returred  to  their 
ranks  and  a  portion  of  thena  were  found 
fighting  at  Chattanooga,  and  again  cap 
tured.  For  this  breach  of  faith,  unex- 


Cn.  VI.] 


EXCHANGE  OF  PRISONERS. 


391 


1863. 


ampled  in  civilized  warfare,  the  only 
apology  or  excuse  was,  that  an  equal 
number  of  prisoners  had  been 
captured  by  the  enemy ;  but  on 
calling  for  specifications  in  regard  to 
these  alleged  prisoners,  it  was  found 
that  a  considerable  number  represented 
as  prisoners  were  not  soldiers,  but  were 
non-combatants,  citizens  of  towns  and 
villages,  farmers,  travellers  and  others 
in  civil  life,  not  captured  in  battle,  but 
taken  at  their  homes,  on  their  farms, 
or  on  the  highway,  by  John  Morgan 
and  other  rebel  raiders,  who  put  them 
under  a  sham  parole."  Another  cause 
why  exchanges  were  stopped  was,  the 
declaration  of  Jeff.  Davis  that  our  black 
troops  and  their  white  officers  would 
not  be  recognized  or  treated  as  prison 
ers  of  war,  if  they  fell  into  his  hands. 
Our  government  had  remonstrated,  but 
thus  far  to  little  or  no  effect.  "Mean 
time,  well-authenticated  statements 
show  that  our  troops  held  as  prisoners 
of  war  were  deprived  of  shelter,  cloth 
ing,  and  food,  and  some  have  perished 
from  exposure  and  famine.  This  sav 
age  barbarity  could  only  have  been 
practised  in  the  hope  that  this  govern 
ment  would  be  compelled,  by  sympathy 
for  the  suffering  endured  by  our  troops, 
to  yield  to  the  proposition  of  exchang 
ing  all  the  prisoners  of  war  on  both 
sides,  paroling  the  excess  not  actually 
exchanged,  the  effect  of  which  opera 
tion  would  be  to  enable  the  rebels  to 
put  into  the  field  a  new  army,  40,000 
strong,  forcing  the  paroled  prisoners 
into  the  ranks  without  exchange,  as  was 
done  with  those  paroled  at  Vicksburg 
and  Port  Hudson,  and  also  to  leave  in 
the  hands  of  the  rebels  the  colored  sol 


diers  and  officers,  who  are  not  regarded 
by  them  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  there 
fore  not  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the 
proposed  exchange.  As  the  matter 
now  stands,  we  have  over  40,000  pri 
soners  of  war  ready  at  any  moment  to 
be  exchanged,  man  for  man,  and  officer 
for  officer,  to  the  number  held  by  the 
rebels,"  i.e.,  about  13,000,  as  above 
stated.  Although  the  rebel  prisoners 
were  treated  with  every  kindness  con 
sistent  with  security,  yet,  under  exist 
ing  circumstances,  Mr.  Stanton  felt 
called  upon  to  say,  that  "  if  it  should 
become  necessary  for  the  protection  of 
our  men,  strict  retaliation  will  be  re 
sorted  to ;  but  while  the  rebel  authori 
ties  suffer  this  government  to  feed  and 
clothe  our  troops  held  as  prisoners,  we 
shall  be  content  to  continue  to  their 
prisoners  in  our  hands  the  humane 
treatment  they  have  uniformly  en 
joyed." 

The  report  of  the  secretary  of  the 
navy  showed  an  increase  of  161  vessels 
and  1,175  guns  during  the  year,  which, 
with  the  vessels  then  under  construc 
tion,  would  make  our  naval  force  to 
consist  of  583  vessels,  carrying  4,443 
guns.  Of  these  vessels  forty-six  were 
iron-clad  steamers  for  coast  service,  and 
twenty-nine  for  inland  service ;  203  side- 
wheel  steamers;  193  screw-steamers, 
and  112  sailing  vessels.  The  number 
of  seamen  in  service,  on  the  1st  of  July, 
including  the  Mississippi  squad 
ron,  was  about  34,000.  The 
average  monthly  enlistments  d  iring  the 
year  were  over  1,500.  The  number  of 
vessels  captured  by  the  squadrons  and 
reported  by  the  department,  on  the  1st 
of  November,  was,  exclusive  of  a  large 


1§63. 


392 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMHSTISTRATK  N. 


[BK.  IX, 


number  destroyed  on  the  Mississippi 
and  other  rivers,  1,045 ;  of  which  547 
were  schooners,  179  steamers,  131 
sloops,  thirty  brigs,  twenty-six  barks, 
fifteen  ships,  117  yachts  and  small  boats. 
The  value  of  prizes  sent  to  the  courts 
for  adjudication  since  the  blockade  was 
established,  was  estimated  at  not  less 
than  $15,000,000. 

The  report  on  the  subject  of  our  na 
tional  finances,  from  the  secretary  of 
the  treasury,  which  had  beer*  looked 
for  by  the  country  at  large  with  pro 
found  interest,  proved  to  be  a  clear, 
well  arranged  document,  and  gave  gen 
eral  satisfaction.  The  amount  of  debt 
had  fallen  short  of  the  amount  antici 
pated;  while  the  receipts  from  all 
sources  of  income,  except  internal  reve 
nue,  exceeded  the  estimates.  The  debt, 
July  1st,  1863,  was  $1,098,793,181; 
its  estimated  increase,  it  was  now  cal 
culated,  would  raise  it,  on  July  1st, 
1864,  to  $1,686,956,641.  Secretary 
Chase  stated  that  he  had,  all  along, 
"  kept  four  objects  in  view ;  moderate 
interest,  general  distribution,  future 
controllability,  and  incidental  utility." 
In  respect  to  the  first,  it  was  remarka 
ble  that  our  earliest  negotiations  had 
been  made  at  the  highest  rates  of  inter 
est,  and  that  the  public  credit  which 
was  at  the  lo\vest  ebb  just  preceding 
the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  had 
steadily  improved  in  the  midst  of  the 
terrible  trials  brought  by  it  upon  the 
country.  The  first  loans  were  negotia 
ted  at  7.30  per  cent. ;  the  next  at  7 
per  cent. ;  the  next  at  6  per  cent. ;  more 
recently  large  sums  were  obtained  at  5 
and  4  per  cent. ;  and  the  whole  of  the 
debt,  which  was  represented  by  United 


States  notes  and  fractional  currency, 
bore,  of  course,  no  interest.  The  aver 
age  rate  of  interest  on  the  whole  debt 
was,  July  1st,  1862,  4.36  per  cent.  ; 
January  1st,  1863,  4.02  per  cent. ;  July 
1st,  1863,  3.77  per  cent. ;  and  Octobei 
1st,  1863,  3.95  per  cent.  In  regard  to 
the  "  general  distribution  "  of  the  debt, 
that  "had  been  accomplished  by  the 
universal  diffusion  of  the  United  States 
notes  and  fractional  currency,  by  the 
distribution  of  certificates  among  great 
numbers  of  contract  creditors 
and  temporary  depositors,  and 
by  arrangements  to  popularize  the  loans 
by  giving  to  the  people  everywhere  op 
portunities  to  subscribe  for  bonds." 
Under  this  plan,  nearly  $400,000,000, 
in  five-twenty  bonds  in  denominations 
of  $50,  $100,  $500,  and  $1,000  were 
distributed  among  all  classes  of  the 
people.  "The  history  of  the  world," 
Mr.  Chase  added  with  commendable 
pride,  "  may  be  searched  in  vain  for  a 
parallel  case  of  popular  financial  sup 
port  to  a  national  government."  The 
next  point,  the  "  controllability  "  of  the 
debt,  had  been  provided  for  by  limiting 
the  periods  and  reserving  certain  times 
of  payment  of  the  bonds  issued.  "  In 
cidental  utility  "  had  been  secured  by 
receiving  large  sums  on  temporary  de 
posit,  and  maintaining  a  fund  for  their 
reimbursement  which  had  been  used 
for  the  convenience  of  the  public.  The 
latter  had  been  further  provided  for  in 
the  uniform  currency  secured  by  thy 
issue  of  United  States  notes,  by  which 
the  government  was  also  strengthened 
in  the  general  distribution  of  the  debt. 
As  a  further  advantage  in  this  direc 
tion,  the  secretary  urged  anew  his  sys- 


Cn.  VI.] 


PATRIOTIC  RESOLUTIONS  IN   CONGRESS. 


393 


tern  of  national  banking,  its  great  fea 
ture  being  u  to  make  use  of  a  portion  of 
the  national  debt  as  security  for  the 
national  currency."  In  providing  for 
the  needs  of  the  treasury  in  the  future, 
Mr.  Chase  looked  to  interest-paying 
loans,  thinking  it  "  clearly  inexpedient " 
to  increase  the  present  amount  of  Uni 
ted  States  notes  or  currency  as  tending 
inevitably  to  ruinous  depreciations.* 

Congress,  as  we  have  stated  on  a  pre 
vious  page,  (p.  388),  having  completed 
its  organization,  appointed  the  usual 
committees,  etc.,  entered  upon  its  work. 
Public  attention  was  very  much  en 
gaged  in  watching  the  progress  of  mili 
tary  and  naval  affairs ;  and  during  the 
early  part  of  the  session  there  was  no 
occasion  for  any  action,  nor  any  action 
of  special  interest  or  importance.  Va 
rious  resolutions  were  introduced,  some 
strongly  condemnatory  of  the  policy 
and  course  of  the  government,  others  of 
a  negative,  mixed  character,  and  others 
again  highly  approving  the  measures 
of  the  president.  The  opponents  of  the 
administration,  while  urging  forward 
the  prosecution  of  the  war,  were  anx- 


*  Jeff.  Davis,  in  a  very  long  message  to  the  rebel 
congress,  which  met  early  in  December,  1863,  indulged 
himself,  as  usual,  in  charges  of  "  consistent  perfidy,'' 
<(  savage  ferocity,"  "horrible  barbarities,"  and  such 
like,  and  in  denouncing  "  the  plundering  ruffians  "  of 
which  the  army  of  the  United  States  was  composed. 
He  also  enlarged  upon  the  deplorable  condition  of  the 
finances  of  the  insurgent  states.  All  efforts  by  taxa 
tion,  imposts,  etc.,  had  failed,  and  "  the  issues  of  trea 
sury  notes  have  been  increased,  until  the  currency  in 
circulation  amounts  to  more  than  $600,000,000,  or  more 
than  threefold  the  amount  required  by  the  business  of 
the  country."  The  rebel  debt  was  stated  by  Mr.  Mem- 
minger,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  to  be,  in  round  num 
bers,  $1,000,000,000,  of  which  £800,000,000  were  in 
treasury  notes  ;  probably  another  year  would  raise  the 
debt  to  more  than  than  $2,500,000,000.  For  Davis's 
message,  the  reader  can  refer  to  Appleton's  "  American 
Annual  Cyclopedia"  for  1803,  pp.  788-799. 
VOL.  IV.— 50. 


ious  at  the  same  time,  not  to  "sub 
jugate"  any  of  the  rebellious  states, 
not  to  interfere  with  any  of  their  "  do 
mestic  institutions,"  and  to  allow  them, 
just  so  soon  as  they  laid  down  their 
arms,  to  send  representatives  to  Con 
gress,  and  enjoy  all  the  privileges  and 
advantages  of  loyal  states.  A  number 
of  resolutions  were  introduced,  avowing 
these  views  and  purposes ;  they  were 
usually  disposed  of  promptly,  by  being 
laid  on  the  table  or  rejected  entirely. 
On  the  other  hand,  strongly  worded 
resolutions  were  proposed,  and  adopted 
by  large  majorities,  in  support  of  the 
government  and  its  policy.  Thus,  on 
the  17th  of  December,  Mr.  Smith  of 
Kentucky,  offered  the  following  reso 
lutions  : 

"  Resolved,  That  as  our  country,  and 
the  very  existence  of  the  best  govern 
ment  ever  instituted  by  man,  are  im 
perilled  by  the  most  causeless  and 
wicked  rebellion  that  the  world  has 
seen,  and  believing,  as  we  do, 
that  the  only  hope  of  saving 
this  country  and  preserving  this  gov 
ernment  is  by  the  power  of  the  sword, 
we  are  for  the  most  vigorous  prosecu 
tion  of  the  war  until  the  Constitution 
and  laws  shall  be  enforced  and  obeyed 
in  all  parts  of  the  United  States ;  and 
to  that  end  we  oppose  any  armistice,  or 
intervention,  or  mediation,  or  proposi 
tion  for  peace,  from  any  quarter,  so  long 
as  there  shall  be  found  a  rebel  in  arms 
against  the  government ;  and  we  ignore 
all  party  names,  lines,  and  issues,  and 
recognize  but  two  parties  in  this  war — 
patriots  and  traitors. 

"Resolved,  That  we  hold  it  to  be 
the  duty  of  Congress  to  pass  all  neces- ' 


1863. 


394 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


sary  bills  to  supply  men  and  money, 
and  the  duty  of  the  people  to  render 
every  aid  in  their  power  to  the  consti 
tuted  authorities  of  the  government  in 
the  crushing  out  of  the  rebellion,  and 
in  bringing  the  leaders  thereof  to  con 
dign  punishment. 

"  ^Resolved,  That  our  thanks  are  ten 
dered  to  our  soldiers  in  the  field  for 
their  gallantry  in  defending  and  up 
holding  the  flag  of  the  Union,  and  de 
fending  the  great  principles  dear  to 
every  American  patriot." 

The  first  resolution  was  adopted  by 
a  vote  of  98  to  65 ;  the  second  and 
third  were  also  adopted  by  a  vote  of 
152  and  166;  a  Mr.  B.  G.  Harris  of 
Maryland  being  the  only  negative.* 

On  the  7th  of  January,  1864,  Mr. 
Baldwin  of  Massachusetts,  offered  the 
following  preamble  and  resolution : 

"  Whereas,  the  organized  treason  hav 
ing  its  headquarters  at  Richmond,  ex 
ists  in  defiant  violation  of  the  national 
Constitution,  and  has  no  claim  to  be 
treated  otherwise  than  as  an  outlaw; 
and  whereas,  this  Eichrnond  combina 
tion  of  conspirators  and  traitors  can 
have  no  rightful  authority  over  the 
people  of  any  portion  of  the  national 
Union,  and  no  warrant  for  assuming 
control  of  the  political  destiny  of  the 
people  of  any  state  or  section  of  this 


*  A  resolution  was  subsequently  offered  to  expel  Mr. 
Harris  for  "  treasonable  language  and  gross  disrespect 
to  the  House  ;"  but  on  the  vote  being  taken,  it  lacked 
a  few  votes  of  the  two-thirds  required.  Immediately 
another  resolution  was  offered  declaring  him  to  be  "  an 
unworthy  member  of  the  House,"  and  deserving  its  se 
verest  censures,  which  passed  by  a  vote  of  93  to  18.  A 
similar  course  was  pursued  in  the  case  of  Alexander 
Long,  of  Ohio.  Speaker  Colfax  offered  a  resolution  for 
his  expulsion  ;  but  failing  a  two-thirds  vote,  Mr.  Long 
was  declared,  by  resolution,  "  to  be  an  unworthy  mem 
ber  of  the  House  of  Representatives." 


Union,  and  no  apology  but  that  of  con 
spiracy  and  treason  for  any  assumption 
of  authority  whatever ;  therefore, 

u  JZesolved,  That  any  proposition  to 
negotiate  with  the  rebel  leaders  at  Rich 
mond  (sometimes  called  'the authorities 
at  Richmond')  for  a  restoration  of  loy 
alty  and  order  in  those  portions  of  the 
Republic  which  have  been  disorganized 
by  the  rebellion,  is,  in  effect,  a  proposi 
tion  to  recognize  the  ringleaders  of  the 
rebellion  as  entitled  to  represent  and 
bind  the  loyal  citizens  of  the  United 
States  whom  they  oppress,  and  to  give 
countenance  and  support  to  the  preten 
sions  of  conspiracy  and  treason;  and, 
therefore,  every  such  proposition  should 
be  rejected  without  hesitation  or  delay." 

The  resolution  was  adopted,  by  a 
vote  of  ayes  88,  nays  24.  This  and 
the  preceding  resolutions  furnish  a 
fair  indication  of  the  spirit  and  temper 
of  Congress  at  the  time,  and  also  of  the 
probable  course  of  legislation  during 
its  first  session.  At  present,  we  need 
not  dwell  upon  the  subject,  or  attempt 
to  go  into  details;  on  a  subsequent 
page  we  shall  have  opportunity  of  giv 
ing  the  substance  of  the  action  of 
Congress,  and  the  principal  measures 
adopted. 

Following  the  course  pursued  on  a 
former  occasion,  in  giving  a  'resume  of 
matters  of  general  interest  at  -the  ter 
mination  of  1862,  we  shall  ask  the 
reader  to  pause  here  a  moment,  and  no 
tice  briefly  where  the  country  stood, 
and  what  were  its  condition  and  pros 
pects  at  the  close  of  1863.  In  general, 
as  will  have  been  gathered  from  pre 
ceding  pages,  the  state  of  affairs  was 
encouraging  and  hopeful.  Our  armies 


CH.  VI.] 


COMMERCE  AND   TRADE  AT  DATE. 


395 


especially  in  the  West,  had  obtained 
great  and  decisive  successes.*  Missouri 
was  now  placed  beyond  danger  of  in 
vasion  ;  the  rebel  power  was  broken 
down  in  Arkansas;  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  Grande  having  been  occupied  (p. 
373),  it  had  destroyed  one  of  the  prin 
cipal  outlets  of  the  rebels  to  foreign 
intercourse  and  trade ;  the  capture  of 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  had  not 
only  cut  off  the  rebel  communications 
with  insurgents  beyond  the  Mississippi, 
but  had  thrown  the  great  river  wide 
open  for  commerce  and  its  uses;  and 
the  victory  at  Chattanooga,  and  the  oc 
cupation  of  Eastern  Tennessee,  had 
brought  under  our  control  the  whole 
state  of  Tennessee,  and  portions  of  Mis 
sissippi  and  Louisiana  on  the  shores  of 
the  river.  In  Virginia,  and  the  region 
of  the  Potomac,  no  change  of  moment 
had  occurred  since  the  battle  of  Gettys 
burg  ;  and  in  North  Carolina,  and  the 
states  further  south,  no  operations  of 
magnitude  had  taken  place,  except  the 
siege  of  Charleston  and  the  grand  naval 
attack  upon  its  defences. 

The  commerce  and  trade  of  the 
country  were,  on  the  whole,  healthy 
and  prosperous  during  18G3,  although 
not  increased  to  the  extent  that  was  ex 
pected  in  consequence  of  the  opening 
of  the  Mississippi,  the  continued  occu 
pation  of  the  Atlantic  coast  of  South 
and  North  Carolina,  and  the  penetra 
tion  of  our  forces  into  Texas.  Exten 
sive  and  carefully  prepared  regulations 
were  adopted  by  the  government  with 

*  These  were  so  marked  that  Mr.  Stanton,  in  his  an 
nual  report,  December,  18G3,  was  able  to  say  : — "  The 
success  of  our  arms  during  the  last  year  has  enabled 
the  department  to  make  a  reduction  of  over  s200,000,- 
COO  in  the  war  estimate  for  the  ensuing  fiscal  year." 


reference  to  trade  with  the  inhabitants 
within  the  lines  of  the  army  in  the  in 
surgent  states;  but  the  results  were 
very  limited.  Foreign  commerce  was 
contracted  to  a  great  extent  in  conse 
quence  of  the  improved  harvests  in 
Europe  and  the  less  demand  for  our 
breadstuffs  and  provisions.  The  ship 
ping  interests  had  suffered  the  most 
severely,  because  of  the  continued  suc 
cess  of  the  rebel  privateers  in  burning 
and  destroying  American  vessels,  and 
the  transfer  of  a  vast  carrying  trade  to 
foreign  flags.*  This  is  made  strikingly 
evident,  by  examining  a  few  figures  on 
the  subject.  Our  foreign  carrying  trade, 
in  1860,  was  valued,  under  the  Ameri 
can  flag,  at  $234,000,000,  under  foreign 
flags,  at  $150,000,000;  but,  in  1863,  it 
was  valued,  under  the  American  flag, 
at  about  $110,000,000,  and  under  for 
eign  flags,  at  nearly  $300,000,000.  The 
rebel  privateers,  increased  in  number  to 
about  twenty,  had  been  carrying  on, 
during  the  year,  plundering  and  burn 
ing  on  a  large  scale,  and  with  almost 
incredible  audacity.  Up  to  the  close 
of  January,  1864,  it  was  reported  that 
some  200  merchant  vessels  had  been 
destroyed,  of  which  the  aggregate  ton- 


*  "  These  rovers,"  as  Secretary  Wells  remarked, 
"  sailing  sometimes  under  the  English  and  sometimes 
under  the  rebel  flag,  without  a  port  of  their  own  which 
they  can  enter,  or  to  which  they  can  send  a  single 
prize  for  adjudication,  have  roamed  the  seas,  capturing 
and  destroying  the  commercial  ships  of  a  nation  at 
peace  with  Great  Britain  and  France;  but  yet,  when 
these  corsairs  have  needed  repairs  or  supplies,  they 
have  experienced  no  difficulty  in  procuring  them,  be 
cause  it  had  been  deemed  expedient  to  recognize  the 
rebels  as  belligerents.  Not  one  of  the  many  vessels 
captured  by  these  rovers  has  ever  been  judicially  con 
demned  as  a  legal  capture.  Wanton  destruction  haa 
been  the  object  and  purpose  of  the  captors,  who  have 
burnt  and  destroyed  the  property  of  their  merchant 
victims." 


396 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


nao-e  was  estimated  to  be  not  less  than 

o 

90,000.  The  value  of  the  vessels  and 
cargoes  thus  wantonly  destroyed,  was 
estimated  at  $13,500,000.* 

The  diplomatic  correspondence  with 
England  and  France,  during  the  year, 
had  served  to  bring  out  clearly  the 
ground  taken  by  our  government  on 
the  various  subjects  noticed  by  Mr. 
Lincoln  at  the  beginning  of  his  message 
to  Congress  in  December  (p.  386).  As 
to  England,  her  course  had  been  felt  to 
be  illegal,  unfriendly,  and  unhandsome, 
in  the  extreme;  and  more  than  this, 
our  government  had  given  a  significant 
warning  that  England  would  be  held 
responsible  for  the  damage  done  to  our 
commerce  by  lawless  rovers,  like  the 
Alabama,  and  other  vessels  built  at 
Liverpool,  and  allowed  to  set  out  from 
thence  to  prey  upon  our  unprotected 
merchant  marine.  It  will  be  seen,  by 
and  by,  that  this  warning  was  meant  to 
be,  and  was,  a  reality,  which  the  Eng 
lish  ministry  had  to  meet  fully  and 
fairly.  With  the  French  government 
our  relations  had  continued  to  be  of  a 

*  The  principal  agent  in  these  piratical  exploits  was 
the  Alabama,  of  which  vessel  and  her  doings  we  have 
spoken  on  a  previous  page  (p.  268).  Pollard  is  disposed 
to  boast  of  the  "  few  Confederate  cruisers  which  defied 
the  power  (of  the  United  States  navy),  and  burnt  Yan 
kee  vessels  even  within  sight  of  their  commercial 
marts."  Fully  one-third  of  the  captures  noted  above 
were  made  by  Semmes  in  the  Alabama.  The  rebel 
chronicler  also  gives  vent  to  the  disappointed  hatred 
and  scorn  of  the  insurgents,  one  and  all,  towards  Eng 
land  and  the  English  government,  who,  under  the 
pressure  of  certain  plain-spoken  words  by  the  United 
States  government,  had  refused  to  allow  the  rams  and 
iron-clads  recently  built  at  Liverpool  to  be  fitted  out 
and  enter  upon  their  piratical  career. — "  Third  Year 
of  the  War,"  pp.  1 41-2.  See  also,  for  the  "  Protest  and 
Remonstrance "  of  the  English  government  against 
rebel  efforts  to  get  cruisers  for  their  purpose  in  Eng 
land,  Appleton's  "American  Annual  Cyclopaedia"  for 
1864,  pp.  556-7. 


friendly  and  cordial  character,  unless 
possibly  Louis  Napoleon's  designs  in 
Mexico  may  be  thought  to  have  given 
rise  to  some  ill  feeling.  France  disa 
vowed  any  intention  of  establishing  a 
monarchical  government  in  Mexico,  or 
taking  any  measures  which  might  be 
considered  inimical  to  the  well-under 
stood  policy  of  'the  United  States  in 
regard  to  foreign  interference  in  Ame 
rica.  For  the  present,  especially  dur 
ing  the  continuance  of  our  own  difficul 
ties  in  putting  down  the  rebellion,  our 
government  had  determined  upon  a 
course  of  strict  neutrality  in  the  war 
between  France  and  Mexico ;  but  there 
was  no  sign  of  willingness  to  acquiesce 
in  the  imposition  of  a  foreign  prince 
upon  the  Mexican  people  by  foreign 
armies.  This  was  shown  very  plainly 
by  a  resolution  passed  by  a  unanimous 
vote  in  the  House  of  Representatives, 
which,  though  not  acted  on  in  the 
Senate,  undoubtedly  expressed  the  set 
tled  sentiment  of  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  The  resolution,  adopted 
April  4th,  1864,  was  as  follows  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  are  unwilling,  by  silence, 
to  leave  the  nations  of  the  world  under 
the  impression  that  they  are  indifferent 
spectators  of  the  deplorable  events  now 
transpiring  in  the  Republic  of  Mexico ; 
therefore,  they  think  it  fit  to  declare 
that  it  does  not  accord  with  the  senti 
ment  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States  to  acknowledge  a  monarchical 
government  erected  on  the  ruins  of  any 
republican  government  in  America,  un 
der  the  auspices  of  any  European 
power." 

On  the  whole,  then,  at  the  close  of 


Cn.  VI.] 


CLOSE  OF  THE  YEAR  FAVORABLE. 


397 


1863,  national  affairs  were  in  an  en 
couraging  and  hopeful  condition.  Dif 
ficulties  and  trials  there  were,  it  is  true ; 
and  political  disputes  and  animosities, 
and  sharp  and  bitter  criminations  and 
recriminations,  were  not  only  annoying 
hindrances,  but  productive  of  mischief 
to  a  large  extent.  Nevertheless,  matters 
in  general  were  in  such  a  shape  as  that 
the  people  were  more  ready  to  believe 
the  final  triumph  of  our  arms  to  be  not 
far  distant;  and  the  burden  on  the 
country,  in  the  immense  expenditures 
and  fearful  mountain  of  debt  which 
was  being  accumulated  for  future  pay 
ment,  was  submitted  to  with  a  degree 
of  readiness  highly  creditable  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  people,  and  affording 
the  best  possible  proof  of  their  fixed 
convictions  as  to  the  ultimate  result  of 
the  struggle  through  which  the  repub 
lic  was  passing. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  rebel  style 
of  talking  at  this  date,  and  also  of  what 

~  ' 

they  themselves  thought  of  the  position 
of  their  affairs,  we  may,  in  concluding 
the  present  chapter,  refer  to  the  speech 
of  a  noted  secessionist,  Robert  Toombs. 
It  was  made  before  the  legislature  of 
Georgia,  at  Atlanta,  November  9th, 


1863,  and  presents  anything  but  a  flat 
tering  picture  of  the  condition  of  mat 
ters  in  the  "  Confederacy,"  while  there 
are,  at  the  same  time,  the  usual  rebel 
braggadocio,  inflation  of  style,  and 
haughty  assumption  of  superiority  arid 
right.  "  I  wish  I  could  tell  you,"  he 
said,  "  that  the  sky  is  bright ;  but  stern 
duty  demands  of  me  rather  to  tell  you 

truthful  things Maryland 

is  overawed  and  overpowered.  Ken 
tucky  is  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Tennessee  is  overrun,  and  the  Missis 
sippi,  from  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  to 
the  Balize,  is  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  thus  cutting  in  twain  the  great 
Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  fall  of 
Vicksburg  inflicted  a  terrible  blow  up 
on  us,  and  it  fell  with  scarce  a  blow  in 
its  defence.  Our  islands  are  lost,  our 
coasts  are  ravaged,  and  our  seaports 
captured  or  threatened.  Let  us  meet 
the  enemy,  and  if  we  are  true  to  our 
selves,  true  to  our  sacred  cause,  we  shall 
triumph,  and-  our  land  be  free.  .  .  . 
If  the  last  dollar  of  the  country,  and 
the  last  drop  of  blood  are  necessary, 
take  that ;  for  I  would  rather  see  this 
whole  country  the  cemetery  of  freemen 
than  the  habitation  of  slaves." 


APPENDIX    TO    CHAPTER    VI. 


L— THE  PRESIDENT'S  PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS,  In  and  by  the  Constitution  of  the  Uni 
ted  States,  it  is  provided  that  the  president  "  shall 
have  power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  for 
offences  against  the  United  States,  except  in  cases 
of  impeachment ;"  and 

Whereas,    A  rebellion  now   exists,  whereby  the 


loyal  state  governments  of  several  states  have  for  a 
long  time  been  subverted,  and  many  persons  have 
committed  and  are  now  guilty  of  treason  against 
the  United  States  ;  and 

Whereas,  With  reference  to  said  rebellion  and 
treason,  laws  have  been  enacted  by  Congress  declar 
ing  forfeitures  and  confiscation  of  property  and  libe 
ration  of  slaves,  all  upon  terms  and  conditions 


398 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  IX. 


therein  stated,  and  also  declaring  that  the  president 
was  thereby  authorized  at  any  time  thereafter,  bj 
proclamation,  to  extend  to  persons  who  may  have 
participated  in  the  existing  rebellion  in  any  state 
or  part  thereof,  pardon  and  amnesty,  with  such  ex 
ceptions  and  at  such  tomes  and  on  such  conditions 
as  he  may  deem  expedient  for  the  public  welfare 
and 

Whereas,  The  congressional  declaration  for  lim 
ited  and  conditional  pardon  accords  with  the  wel 
established  judicial  exposition  of  the  pardoning 
power;  and 

Whereas,  With  reference  to  the  said  rebellion,  the 
president  of  the  United  States  has  issued  several 
proclamations  with  provisions  in  regard  to  the  libe 
ration  of  slaves ;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  now  desired  by  some  persons  here 
tofore  engaged  in  said  rebellion  to  resume  their  alle 
giance  to  the  United  States,  and  to  re-inaugurate 
loyal  state  governments  within  and  for  their  respect 
ive  states ; 

Therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  president  of  the 
United  States,  do  proclaim,  declare,  and  make  known 
to  all  persons  who  have  directly,  or  by  implication, 
participated  in  the  existing  rebellion,  except  as 
hereafter  excepted,  that  a  full  pardon  is  hereby 
granted  to  them  and  each  of  them,  with  restoration 
of  al!  rights  of  property,  except  as  to  slaves,  and  in 
property  cases  where  the  rights  of  third  parties  shall 
have  intervened,  and  upon  the  condition  that  every 
such  person  shall  take  and  subscribe  an  oath,  and 
thenceforward  keep  and  maintain  said  oath  invio 
late,  and  which  oath  shall  be  registered  for  perma 
nent  preservation,  and  shall  be  of  the  tenor  and 
effect  following,  to  wit : 

"  I, ,  do  solemnly  swear,  in  the  presence  of 

Almighty  God,  that  I  will  henceforth  faithfully  sup 
port,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Union  of  the  states  thereun 
der  ;  and  that  I  will,  in  like  manner,  abide  by  and 
faithfully  support  all  acts  of  Congress  passed  during 
the  existing  rebellion  with  reference  to  slaves,  so 
long  and  so  far  as  not  repealed,  modified,  or  held 
void  by  Congress  or  by  decision  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  that  I  will  in  like  manner  abide  by  and 
faithfully  support  all  proclamations  of  the  president 
made  during  the  existing  rebellion  having  reference 
to  slaves,  so  long  and  so  far  as  not  modified  or  de 
clared  void  by  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court.  So 
help  me  God." 

The  persons  excepted  from  the  benefits  of  the 
foregoing  provisions  are :  all  who  are  or  shall  have 
been  civil  or  diplomatic  officers  or  agents  of  the  so- 
called  confederate  government;  all  who  have  left 
judicial  stations  under  the  United  States  to  aid  the 
rebellion ;  all  who  are  or  shall  have  been  military 


or  naval  -officers  of  said  so-called  confederate  gov 
ernment  above  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  army,  of 
lieutenant  in  the  navy;  all  who  left  seats  in  the 
United  States  Congress  to  aid  the  rebellion ;  all  who 
resigned  commissions  in  the  army  or  navy  of  the 
United  States,  and  afterward  aided  the  rebellion ; 
and  all  who  have  engaged  in  any  way  in  treating 
colored  persons  or  white  persons  in  charge  of  such, 
otherwise  than  lawfully  as  prisoners  of  war,  and 
which  persons  may  have  been  found  in  the  United 
States  service  as  soldiers,  seamen,  or  in  any  other 
capacity. 

And  I  do  further  proclaim,  declare,  and  make 
known,  that  whenever,  in  any  of  the  states  of  Ar 
kansas,  Texas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Tennessee, 
Alabama,  Georgia,  Florida,  South  Carolina,  and 
North  Carolina,  a  number  of  persons  not  less  than 
one-tenth  in  number  of  the  votes  cast  in  such  states, 
at  the  presidential  election  of  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1860,  each  having  taken  the  oath  aforesaid,  and  not 
having  since  violated  it,  and  being  a  qualified  voter 
by  the  election  law  of  the  state  existing  immediately 
before  the  so-called  act  of  secession,  and  excluding 
all  others,  shall  re-establish  a  state  government, 
which  shall  be  republican,  and  in  no  wise  contra 
vening  said  oath,  such  shall  be  recognized  as  the 
true  government  of  the  state,  and  the  state  shall  re 
ceive  thereunder  the  benefit  of  the  constitutional 
provision,  which  declares  that 

"  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  state 
in  this  Union  a  republican  form  of  government,  and 
shall  protect  each  of  them  against  invasion,  and  on 
application  to  the  Legislature,  or  of  the  Executive, 
when  the  Legislature  cannot  be  convened,  against 
domestic  violence." 

And  I  do  further  proclaim,  declare,  and  make 
known,  that  any  provision  which  may  be  adopted 
by  such  state  government  in  relation  to  the  freed 
people  of  such  state  which  shall  recognize  and  cle-- 
ilare  their  permanent    freedom,  provide  for  their 
ducation,  and  which  may  yet  be  consistent,  as  a 
temporary  arrangement,  with  their  present  concli- 
ion  as  a  laboring,  landless,  and  homeless  class,  will 
not  be  objected  to  by  the  national  executive. 

And  it  is  suggested  as  not  improper,  that,  in  con 
structing  a  loyal  state  government  in  any  state,  the 
name  of  the  state,  the  boundary,  the  subdivisions, 
;he  constitution,  and  the  general  code  of  laws,  as 
Before  the  rebellion,  be  maintained,  subject  only  to 
he  modifications  made  necessary  by  the  conditions 
lerein  before  stated,  and  such  others,  if  any,  not 
ontravening  said    conditions,  and  which  may  be 
deemed  expedient  by  those  framing  the  new  state 
government.     To  avoid  misunderstanding,  it  may 
l)e  proper  to  say  that  this  proclamation,  so  far  as  it 
relates  to  state  governments,  has  no  reference  tc 


CH.  VI.] 


THE  AMNESTY  PROCLAMATIONS. 


399 


states  wherein  loyal  state  governments  have  all  the 
while  been  maintained ;  and  for  the  same  reason  it 
may  be  proper  to  further  say,  that  whether  members 
sent  to  Congress  from  any  state  shall  be  admitted  to 
seats,  constitutionally  rests  exclusively  with  the  re 
spective  Houses,  and  not  to  any  extent  with  the  ex 
ecutive.  And  still  further,  that  this  proclamation  is 
intended  to  present  the  people  of  the  states  wherein 
the  national  authority  has  been  suspended,  and  the 
loyal  state  governments  have  been  subverted,  a  mode 
in  and  by  which  the  national  authority  and  loyal 
state  governments  may  be  re-established  within  said 
states,  or  in  any  of  them.  And,  while  the  mode  pre 
sented  is  the  best  the  executive  can  suggest  with  his 
present  impressions,  it  must  not  be  understood  that 
no  other  possible  mode  would  be  acceptable. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  the  City  of  Washington, 
the  8th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America  the  eighty-eighth. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

By  the  president, 

W.  H.  SEWAED, 

Secretary  of  State. 


II.— PROCLAMATION  EXPLANATORY. 

"WHEKEAS,  It  has  become  necessary  to  define  the 
cases  in  which  insurgent  enemies  are  entitled  to  the 
benefits  of  the  proclamation  of  the  president  of  the 
United  States,  which  was  made  on  the  8th  day  of 
December,  1863,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  shall 
proceed  to  avail  themselves  of  these  benefits ;  and 
whereas  the  objects  of  that  proclamation  were  to  sup 
press  the  insurrection  and  to  restore  the  authority 
of  the  United  States ;  and  whereas  the  amnesty 
therein  proposed  by  the  president  was  offered  with 
reference  to  these  objects  alone : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  president 
of  the  United  States,  do  hereby  proclaim  and  de 
clare  that  the  said  proclamation  does  not  apply  to 
the  cases  of  persons  who,  at  the  time  when  they 
seek  to  obtain  the  benefits  thereof  by  taking  the 
oath  therel  y  prescribed,  are  in  military,  naval,  or 


civil  confinement  or  custody,  or  under  bonds,  or  on 
parole  of  the  civil,  military,  or  naval  authorities,  or 
agents  of  the  United  States,  as  prisoners  of  war,  01 
persons  detained  for  offences  of  any  kind,  either  be 
fore  or  after  conviction ;  and  that  on  the  contrary  it 
does  apply  only  to  those  persons  who,  being  yet  at 
large,  and  free  from  any  arrest,  confinement,  or  du 
ress,  shall  voluntarily  come  forward  and  take  the 
oath,  with  the  purpose  of  restoring  peace,  and  es 
tablishing  the  national  authority. 

Persons  excluded  from  the  amnesty  offered  in  the 
said  proclamation  may  apply  to  the  president  for 
clemency,  like  all  other  offenders,  and  their  applica 
tion  will  receive  due  consideration. 

I  do  further  declare  and  proclaim,  that  the  oath 
presented  in  the  aforesaid  proclamation  of  the  8th 
of  December,  1863,  may  be  taken  and  subscribed 
before  any  commissioned  officer,  civil,  military,  or 
naval,  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  or  any 
civil  or  military  officer  of  a  state  or  territory  not  in 
insurrection,  who,  by  the  laws  thereof,  may  be  quali 
fied  for  administering  oaths. 

All  officers  who  receive  such  oaths  are  hereby  au 
thorized  to  give  certificates  thereof  to  the  persona 
respectively  by  whom  they  are  made,  and  such  offi 
cers  are  hereby  required  to  transmit  the  original  re 
cord  of  such  oaths,  at  as  early  a  day  as  may  be  con 
venient,  to  the  department  of  state,  where  they  will 
be  deposited,  and  remain  in  the  archives  of  the  gov 
ernment. 

The  secretary  of  state  will  keep  a  register  thereof, 
and  will,  on  application,  in  proper  cases,  issue  cer 
tificates  of  such  record  in  the  customary  form  of 
official  certificates. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
hand  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be 
affixed.  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  the  26th 
day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1864,  and  of 
the  independence  of  the  United  States  the  eighty- 
eighth. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

By  the  president : 

W.  H.  SEWARD, 

Secretary  of  State. 


400 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


1864, 

OPENING    OP   THE    YEAR   1864:   MILITARY    EVENTS,    ETC 

Military  operations  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1864 —  General  condition  of  affairs,  preparations  lor  the  spring 
campaign,  etc.  —  Mr.  Lincoln's  call  for  200,000  men  —  Matter  how  arranged  —  Action  of  Congress  on  the 
enrollment  question,  etc.  —  Proceedings  of  rebel  Congress  on  conscription,  finances,  etc.  —  Jeff.  Davis's 
proclamation  —  Tone  and  temper  of  the  rebels  —  Gen.  Gillmore's  expedition  into  Florida — Its  objects  — 
Gen.  Seymour  in  command  —  Advance  of  the  troops  —  Seymour's  unhappy  decision  —  Disaster  at  Olustee 

—  Sherman's  expedition  into  the  interior  of  Mississippi  —  Sets  out  February  3d,  and  advances  to  Meridian 

—  Waits  for  cavalry  force  —  Gen.  Smith's  advance  from  Memphis  —  Failure  to  join  Sherman  —  Result  of 
the  expedition  —  Mobile  threatened  by  Farragut  —  Gen.  Palmer's  march  upon  Dalton,  Georgia  —  Result  — 
Cruel  treatment  of  our  officers  and  men  in  prison  at  Richmond  —  Expedition  set  on  foot  by  Gen.  Butler  — 
Rebel  attempts  upon  Newbern  —  Wistar's  movement  —  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  expedition  —  In  sight  of  Rich 
mond,  March  1st —  Forced  to  return  by  way  of  the  Peninsula  —  Colonel  Dahlgren's  attempt  and  his  ill 
success,  death,  etc.  — Rebel  charges  against  him  —  The  prospect  ahead. 


DURING  the  early  months  of  the  year 
1864,  military  operations  were  not 
carried  on  to  any  great  extent.  The 
winter  season,  except  in  the  far  South, 
was  unfavorable,  of  course,  to  the  en 
tering  upon  work  of  any  magnitude ; 
the  time,  consequently,  was  mainly 
spent  in  preparation  for  the  severe  and 
even  deadly  struggle  which  the  spring 
campaign  clearly  indicated.  The  ground 
was  now  much  narrower  than  it  was  a 
year  ago.  In  Tennessee,  Arkansas,  on 
the  line  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  Loui 
siana,  there  was  good  hope  of  being 
able  speedily  to  include  all  these  re 
gions  among  the  loyal  supporters  of 
the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  land. 
A  large  and  important  work,  it  is  true, 
remained  to  be  done  to  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  before  the  whole  territory 
could  be  fully  restored  to  its  rightful 
allegiance  in  the  Union,  and  constant 
vigilance  had  to  be  maintained  at  the 
various  posts  on  the  frontier  and  on 


1861. 


the  Mississippi,  to  protect  the  border 
states  of  the  West  from  invasion,  and 
to  maintain  the  needed  communications 
of  the  army ;  but  these  services,  though 
requiring  earnest  care  and  attention, 
and  involving  various  contests  with 
guerrilla  and  other  forces,  were  rather 
in  the  ordinary  routine  of  regular  duty, 
and  did  not  attract  public  at 
tention  to  any  particular  extent. 
Expectation,  in  the  loyal  states,  no  less 
than  in  those  still  under  the  control 
of  the  rebel  leaders,  was  mainly  centred 
upon  the  armies  of  Meade  and  Lee  in 
Virginia,  and  Grant  and  Johnston  in 
the  vicinity  of  Chattanooga ;  for  it  was 
evident,  from  the  present  position  of 
affairs,  that  the  campaigns  of  the  spring 
would  be  of  great  and  decisive  impor 
tance,  and  would  tax  the  energies  and 
resources  of  the  government  to  their 
fullest  extent.  The  rebel  authorities, 
too,  conscious  of  their  doubtful  condi 
tion,  were  straining  every  nerve  to  re* 


CH.  VII.] 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  SPRING  CAMPAIGN. 


401 


sist  the  onward  progress  of  the  Union 
arms,  by  accumulating  stores,  gather 
ing  in  of  conscripts,  strengthening  their 
armies,  etc. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  1864,  Pre 
sident  Lincoln  issued  an  order  for  200,- 
000  men,  in  addition  to  the  300,000 
called  for  in  October,  1863,  and  ap 
pointed  the  10th  of  March  for  a  draft 
of  such  portion  of  this  500,000  as  should 
not  then  be  furnished  by  the  states  ac 
cording  to  their  several  quotas.  Strenu 
ous  efforts,  by  bounties  and  by  means 
of  furloughs  to  the  old  regiments  in  the 
field,  whose  terms  of  service  were  about 
to  expire,  were  made,  and  resulted  in 
largely  supplying  the  men  called  for, 
so  that  the  draft  ordered  for  March  was 
dispensed  with.  In  fact,  so  successful 
did  the  movements  for  recruiting  prove, 
that,  on  the  14th  of  March,  Pre 
sident  Lincoln  (in  addition  to 
the  two  calls  above  noted),  "in  order 
to  supply  the  force  required  to  be 
drafted  for  the  navy,  and  to  provide  an 
adequate  reserve  force  for  all  contin 
gencies,"  ordered  a  further  enlistment 
of  200,000  men,  appointing  the  15th 
of  April  as  the  period  when  any  defi 
ciencies  should*  be  made  good  by  a 
draft.  By  an  act  of  Congress,  passed 
in  February,  amendatory  of  the  Enroll 
ment  Act  of  the  previous  year,  the  mea 
sure  was  strengthened  by  various  pro 
visions,  checking  frauds  and  evasions, 
and  otherwise  rendering  the  enactment 
more  efficient.  Clergymen,  and  minis 
ters  of  the  Gospel  in  general,  were  still 
liable  to  draft;  but  a  provision  was 
made  by  which  members  of  religious 
denominations  who  should,  on  being 
drafted,  declare  themselves  conscien- 

VOL.  IV.— 51. 


1864. 


tiously  opposed  to  the  bearing  of  arms, 
and  be  prohibited  from  doing  so  by 
the  rules  and  articles  of  faith  and  prac 
tice  of  said  religious  denominations, 
were  to  be  considered  non-combatants 
and  assigned  to  duty  in  the  hospitals, 
or  the  care  of  freedmen,  or  be  relieved 
on  payment  of  the  stipulated  sum  of 
$300.  * 

As  we  have  stated  on  a  preceding 
page,  every  nerve  was  now  to  be  strain 
ed  by  the  rebel  leaders  to  prepare  for 
the  coming  campaign.  Their  congress 
met,  and  at  the  beginning  of  February 
passed  a  new  and  stringent  conscription 
act.  It  was  provided  by  this,  that  all 
white  men,  residents  of  the  states  under 
their  control,  betweeen  the  ages  of 
seventeen  and  fifty,  should  be  in  the 
military  service  for  the  war.  All  in 
the  service  between  eighteen  and  forty- 
five  were  to  be  retained  during  the 
war.  Those  between  seventeen  and 
eighteen,  and  between  forty-five  and 
fifty,  were  to  form  a  reserve  for  state 
defence  and  detail  duty.  An  act  im 
posing  additional  taxes  was  also  passed 
at  this  session,  and  another,  in  ac 
cordance  with  Secretary  Memminger's 
and  Jeff.  Davis's  recommendation,  pro 
viding  for  the  funding  of  the  outstand 
ing  treasury  notes  or  currency  of  the 
states  in  confederate  bonds.  This  con 
version  was,  in  great  measure,  rendered 
compulsory  by  the  refusal  of  the  rebel 
authorities  to  receive  the  currency  after 
an  early  day  in  payment  of  public  dues, 
and  by  the  imposition  of  a  tax  on  the 
notes  not  funded.  By  another  act, 
February  16th,  the  privilege  of  the  writ 
of  habeas  corpus  was  suspended  in  cer 
tain  specified  cases,  and  it  was  to  con- 


402 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


tinue  in  force  for  ninety  days  after  the 
next  meeting  of  the  rebel  Congress. 

o  o 

An  address  was  issued  at  the  close  of 
the  session,  February  18th,  1864,  to 
the  people  of  the  insurgent  state's,  con 
taining  the  usual  topics  of  consolation 
and  encouragement,  and  striving  to  ex 
cite  them  to  renewed  efforts  in  carrying 
on  the  war,  especially  by  furnishing  sup 
plies  to  support  and  equip  the  rebel 
armies.  Jeff.  Davis,  also,  sent  forth  a 
proclamation  to  the  soldiers  in  the  field, 
in  which  he  took  his  usual  lofty  tone, 
asserting,  on  the  one  hand,  in  regard 
to  the  loyal  states,  that  "  debt,  taxa 
tion,  repetition  of  heavy  drafts,  dissen 
sions  occasioned  by  the  strife  for  power, 
by  the  pursuit  of  the  spoils  of  office, 
by  the  thirst  for  the  plunder  of  the 
public  treasury,  and  above  all,  the  con 
sciousness  of  a  bad  cause,  must  tell  with 
fearful  force  upon  the  overstrained 
energies  of  the  enemy."  On  the  other 
hand,  he  was  equally  confident  in  as 
serting  that  "  assured  success  awaits  us 
in  our  holy  struggle  for  liberty  and 
independence,  and  for  the  preservation 
of  all  that  renders  life  desirable  to 
honorable  men."  * 

Although   no   great   military  move 
ments  were  undertaken  during  Febru- 

*  Certain  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  rebel  con 
gress,  and  a  manifesto  issued  relative  to  the  existing 
war  with  the  United  States.  The  tone  and  temper  of 
this  document  were  similar  to  those  of  Davis,  quoted 
above  :  "  For  ourselves  we  have  no  fear  of  the  result. 
The  wildest  picture  ever  drawn  by  a  disordered  ima 
gination  comes  short  of  the  extravagance  which  would 
dream  of  the  conquest  of  8,000,000  of  people,  resolved 
with  one  mind  to  die  freemen  rather  than  live  slaves, 
and  forewarned  of  the  savage  and  exterminating  spirit 
in  which  this  war  has  been  waged  upon  them,  and  by 
the  mad  avowals  of  the  supporters  of  the  worse  than 
Egyptian  bondage  that  awaits  them  in  the  event  of 
their  subjugation." 


1864. 


ary  or  March,  yet  several  expeditions 
of  less  consequence  were  set  on 
foot  for  the  purpose  of  check 
ing  the  enemy's  designs  in  the  south 
and  south-west.  About  the  middle  of 
December,  1863,  Gen.  Gillrnore  had  ob 
tained  permission  to  send  an  expedition 
into  Florida,  in  order  to  cut  off  rebel 
supplies,  to  procure  an  outlet  for  cotton, 
lumber,  and  other  productions  of  the 
country,  and  to  gather  in  for  the  army 
recruits  from  among  the  negroes.  He 
also,  in  January,  1864,  in  accordance 
with  Mr.  Lincoln's  request,  inaugurated 
measures  for  restoring  the  state  of 
Florida  to  her  allegiance  under  the 
terms  of  the  president's  proclamation 
(p.  397).  Having  organized  an  expe 
dition  for  the  purpose  above  stated, 
Gillrnore  dispatched  from  Port  Royal, 
on  the  5th  of  February,  a  force  of  about 
6.000  cavalry,  infantry  and  artillery, 
under  command  of  Gen.  Seymour.  They 
entered  the  St.  John's  River  on  the  7th, 
and  the  next  day  effected  a  landing  at 
Jacksonville,  without  opposition,  the 
few  rebel  soldiers  there  having  taken 
to  flight  immediately.  Seymour  was 
directed  to  move  forward  his  mounted 
force  to  Baldwin,  some  twenty  miles 
distant,  on  the  Central  Railroad.  The 
advance,  under  Col.  Henry,  pushed  for 
ward  into  the  interior,  on  the  night  of 
the  8th  of  February,  passed  by  the 
enemy,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  at 
Camp  Finnegan,  seven  miles  from  Jack 
sonville,  surprised  and  captured  a  bat 
tery,  three  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  camp, 
about  midnight,  and  reached  Baldwin 
about  sunrise  the  next  morning.  The 
enemy  absconded,  sunk  the  steamer  St. 
Mary's,  and  burned  270  bales  of  cotton 


Cn.  VII.] 


SEYMOUR'S  DISASTER   AT   OULSTEE. 


403 


1§64. 


a  few  miles  above  Jacksonville.  About 
100  prisoners  and  eight  pieces  of  artil 
lery  were  captured,  together  with  other 
valuable  property,  to  a  large  amount. 
On  the  10th,  a  portion  of  the  force  was 
sent  forward  to  Sanderson,  twenty  miles 
further  on  the  railroad,  where  a 
quantity  of  commissary  stores 
were  found  in  flames,  the  enemy  having 
just  withdrawn  to  a  further  station  at 
Lake  City,  where  the  rebel  commander, 
Finnegan,  had  gathered  the  fragment  of 
his  command.  On  the  14th,  the  main 
body  of  Seymour's  command  was  con 
centrated  at  Baldwin,  having  suffered 
very  few  casualties,  and  taken  consider 
able  spoils. 

Gillmore,  on  the  1 6th  of  February,  re 
turned  to  Port  Royal,  leaving  Seymour 
in  command  of  the  expedition,  with 
a  clear  understanding,  on  Gillmore's 
part,  that  no  forward  movement  was  to 
be  made  without  further  instructions, 
and  until  certain  important  defences 
were  well  advanced.  Seymour,  how 
ever,  desirous  of  pushing  on,  left  camp, 
on  the  18th  of  February,  advanced  on 
the  line  of  railroad  sixteen  miles,  and 
the  next  day  reached  Barber's  Station, 
about  forty-five  miles  from  Jackson 
ville.  Early  on  the  morning  of  Satur 
day,  the  20th,  the  troops  were  in  motion, 
the  light  cavalry  in  advance,  and  reached 
Sanderson  at  noon,  from  whence,  with 
out  halting,  they  advanced  toward  Olus 
tee,  a  station  on  the  railroad,  ten  miles 
beyond,  where  it  was  expected  the 
rebels  would  be  found ;  but  skirmish 
ing  began  about  two  o'clock,  P.M.,  be 
fore  reaching  Olustee.  Unfortunately 
the  troops  had  no  opportunity  of  rest, 
and  after  a  tedious  march  of  sixteen 


miles,  over  a  road  of  loose  sand  or  bog 
and  mud,  weary  and  hungry,  they  were 
in  an  ill  condition  to  enter  into  battle. 
Nevertheless,  the  batteries  were  placed 
in  position  as  speedily  as  possible,  un 
der  the  adverse  circumstances,  and  the 
men  entered,  with  their  usual  spirit, 
into  the  fight.  The  rebel  force  was 
much  larger  in  number  than  Seymour's, 
and  having  the  advantage  of  choice  of 
position  and  previous  preparation,  made 
sad  havoc  with  our  men.  The  battle 
lasted  over  three  hours,  when  Seymour 
retired,  leaving  the  dead  and  severely 
wounded  on  the  field.  By  slow  marches, 
without  molestation  from  the  rebels, 
the  troops  were  brought  back  to  the 
camping-ground  near  Jacksonville,  on 
Monday  afternoon,  February  2*2d.  Our 
loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
was  very  heavy,  numbering  between 
1,200  and  1,500 ;  the  rebel  loss  was  put 
down  at  about  800.  Jacksonville  was 
held  by  our  troops,  and  various  minor 
raids  were  made  from  thence ;  but  no  im 
portant  military  operations  took  place, 
and  the  proposed  effort,  as  noted  above, 
to  reconstruct  the  state  government, 
was  abandoned  after  the  disaster  at 
Olustee.* 

At  the  close  of  January,  1864,  Gen. 
Sherman  was  ordered  to  take  command 
of  an  important  expedition  into  the  in 
terior  of  Mississippi.  His  force  sonsist- 
ed  of  two  corps,  under  McPherson  and 


*  "  Few  disasters  were  encountered  during  the  war 
so  utterly  inexcusable.  It  was  Braddock's  defeat  re 
peated  after  the  lapse  of  a  century.  Our  soldiers  fought 
as  well  as  men  ought  to  fight ;  they  were  abundantly 
able  to  have  routed  the  enemy  ;  they  were  simply 
sacrificed  by  a  leader  brave  to  rashness,  and  possessing 
every  soldierly  quality  but  the  ability  to  plan  and 
direct  the  movements  of  an  independent  force." — 
Greeley's  "American  Conflict,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  532. 


404 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1§64. 


HuiTbut,  estimated  at  30,000  men,  with 
sixty  pieces  of  artillery.  On  the  3d 
of  February,  Sherman  *  set  out  from 
Vicksburg  in  light  marching  order,  and 
moved  westwardly.  On  the 
5th,  the  advance  came  up  with 
a  body  of  rebel  cavalry,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Canton,  putting  them  to  flight  with 
slight  loss.  The  next  day  the  com 
mand  entered  Jackson,  and  the  rebels 
were  driven  across  Pearl  River.  After 
that,  the  expedition  encountered  little 
or  no  opposition  of  any  moment.  Sher 
man  pushed  rapidly  forward  through 
Brandon  to  Morton,  where  two  divisions 
of  Folk's  corps  had  made  disposition 
for  battle.  They,  however,  retreated 
before  our  force,  which  reached  Meri 
dian,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
150  miles  from  Vicksburg,  on  the  14th 
of  February,  the  rebels  continuing  their 
retreat  in  an  easterly  direction.  Here 
Sherman  remained  for  a  week,  waitino- 

'  o 

the  arrival  of  Gen.  Smith's  cavalry  force, 
making,  during  the  time,  to  use  his  own 
words,  "  the  most  complete  destruction 
of  the  railroad  ever  beheld,  south  below 
Quitman ;  east  to  Cuba  Station ;  twenty 
miles  north  to  Lauderdale  Springs,  and 
west  all  the  way  back  to  Jackson." 
The  state  arsenal  at  Meridian  was  des 
troyed,  with  its  valuable  machines  for 
repairs  of  arms,  and  its  ordnance 
stores ;  also  several  military  buildings 
and  grist  mills.  Provisions  of  various 


*  Under  date  of  January  31st,  Gen.  Sherman  ad 
dressed  a  long  and  interesting  letter  to  Major  Sawyer, 
assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennes 
see,  in  which  he  spoke  at  large  of  the  condition  of  the 
inhabitants  in  rebellion,  and  how  they  were  to  be 
treated.  The  letter  is  marked  by  Gen.  Sherman's 
straightforward  common  sense,  and  clearness  of  ex 
pression. 


kinds  were  found  for  the  use  of  the 
army. 

Meanwhile,  Gen.  "W.  S.  Smith,  who 
had  been  ordered  to  report  to  Sherman 
at  Meridian,  and  was  expected  to  reach 
that  point  by  the  14th  of  February,  did 
not  leave  Memphis  till  the  llth,  in  con 
sequence  of  delay  in  the  arrival  of  part 
of  his  force.  Having  with  him  some 
7,000  men,  he  advanced  southerly  on 
the  Mobile  Railroad  by  Okolona  to 
West  Point,  where  his  further  progress 
was  arrested  by  a  combined  rebel  force 
under  Forrest,  Chalmers,  and  others. 
There  was  some  heavy  fighting  in  this 
vicinity,  the  enemy  charging  both  in 
the  rear  and  the  advance,  and  five 
howitzers  were  lost.  Thus  closely  pres 
sed  by  superior  numbers,  Smith 

1§64 

resolved  upon  a  retreat,  crossed 
the  Tallahatchie  in  safety,  by  forced 
marches,  at  New  Albany,  and  reached 
Memphis  on  the  25th  of  February, 
having  done  much  injury  to  the  rail 
road,  destroyed  a  large  quantity  of 
rebel  stores,  a  million  bushels  of  corn, 
cotton  gins,  etc.,  and  brought  away  a 
great  number  of  negroes  and  some  300 
prisoners.  The  expedition,  however, 
failed  of  one  of  its  most  important  ob 
jects,  viz.,  making  a  junction,  with 
Sherman. 

In  consequence  of  this  failure,  Sher 
man  was  unable  to  follow  up  his  suc 
cesses,  above  noted,  by  extending  his 
march  farther,  and  accordingly  retired 
slowly  from  Meridian,  bringing  his  force, 
in  excellent  condition,  to  Canton,  north 
of  Jackson.  On  the  27th  of  February 
he  reached  Vicksburg.*  It  had  been 


*  In  a  brief  dispatch,  sent  by  Gen.  Butterfield  to 
Washington,  under  date  of  March  llth,  the  result  of 


CH.  VII.] 


PALMER'S  MOVEMENT  ON  DALTON. 


405 


supposed  that  Sherman  had  in  view,  in 
his  expedition,  the  capture  of  Mobile. 
No  official  statement,  however,  was 
made  on  the  subject ;  and  whether  so 
or  not,  the  rebels  sent  a  considerable 
force  to  strengthen  the  defences  of  Mo 
bile.  Admiral  Farragut  also,  at  the 
same  date,  February  23d,  made  threat 
ening  demonstrations  against  Fort  Pow 
ell,  at  the  entrance  of  Grant's  Pass,  and 
if  he  could  have  had  the  assistance  of 
an  iron-clad  or  two,  and  a  few  thousand 
troops,  he  would  no  doubt  have  gained 
full  possession  of  the  bay ;  as  it  was, 
his  attack  made  but  little  impression  on 
the  rebel  works,  and  further  operations 
were  deferred  until  July,  1864. 

A  movement  of  the  rebels  to  rein 
force  Gen.  Polk,  induced  Gen.  Grant  at 
Chattanooga  to  order  Gen.  Palmer  to 
make  an  advance  upon  Dalton, 
Georgia.  The  14th  corps,  un 
der  Palmer's  command,  set  out,  Febru 
ary  22d,  and  Einggold,  twenty-three 
miles  from  Chattanooga,  was  occupied 
that  night.  The  next  morning,  early, 
the  column  moved  forward,  constant 
skirmishing  going  on  with  the  cavalry 
of  the  enemy.  Tunnel  Hill  was  reach 
ed  by  night,  and  the  next  morning  the 
rebels  were  dislodged  from  their  posi 
tion,  and  the  town  was  occupied,  150 

the  expedition  is  thus  summed  up :  "  Gen.  Sherman 
arrived  yesterday  at  Memphis.  His  command  is  all 
safe.  Our  total  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing 
is  170  only.  The  general  result  of  his  expedition,  in 
cluding  Smith's  and  the  Yazoo  River  movements,  are 
about  as  follows :  150  miles  of  railroad,  67  bridges,  7,000 
feet  of  trestle,  twenty  locomotives,  twenty-eight  cars, 
10,000  bales  of  cotton,  several  steam  mills,  and  over 
2,000,000  bushels  of  corn  were  destroyed.  The 
railroad  destruction  is  complete  and  thorough.  The 
captures  of  prisoners  exceed  all  loss.  Upwards  of 
8,000  contrabands  and  refugees  came  in  with  various 
columns." 


1§64. 


prisoners  being  captured.  The  move 
ment  was  immediately  continued  upon 
Dalton,  seven  miles  distant;  but,  on 
ascertaining  that  the  entire  force  of 
Johnston  was  waiting  to  receive  him, 
Palmer  deemed  it  prudent  to  fall  back 
to  Tunnel  Hill,  and  avoid  so  unequal  a 
struggle  as  that  before  him.  Subse 
quently,  by  March  10th,  he  had  fallen 
back  to  Ringgold,  his  loss  being  about 
350  killed  and  wounded. 

Early  in  February,  a  spirited  move 
ment  was  made  in  Eastern  Virginia 
upon  Richmond,  with  the  intention  of 
taking  the  seat  of  the  rebel  government 
by  surprise,  and  releasing  the  Union 
prisoners  who  were  held  there  in 
large  numbers,  and  were  experien 
cing  in  their  own  persons  that  "the 
tender  mercies"  of  the  rebels  were 
"  cruel "  indeed.  Gen.  Butler,  who, 
after  his  recall  from  New  Orleans,  had 
passed  some  time  without  a  command, 
had,  in  October,  1863,  been  appointed 
the  successor  of  Gen.  Foster  in  the  de 
partment  of  Virginia  and  North 

1  &ftM 

Carolina.  His  administration 
at  Norfolk,  Newport  News,  Newbern, 
and  elsewhere  in  his  department,  had 
been  signalized  by  his  usual  character 
istics.  He  had  taken  in  hand  the  trou 
blesome  and  difficult  negotiation  of  the 
exchange  of  prisoners  with  the  rebel 
authorities  at  Richmond,  in  which  he 
had  been,  in  a  measure,  successful,  not 
withstanding  the  sentence  of  outlawry 
hurled  against  him  by  Jeff.  Davis 
(p.  157). 

At  the  beginning  of  February,  the 
garrison  at  Newberu,  N.  C.,  under  Gen. 
I.  N.  Palmer,  (Gen.  Peck  being  absent), 
was  threatened  by  the  rebels  ander 


406 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  IX. 


Pickett,  who,  being  reinforced  fromRich- 
mond,  was  advancing  with  a  considera 
ble  body  of  troops  from  Kinston.  The 
Union  outposts  at .  Bachelor's  Creek, 

A.  f'  fc  • 

eight  miles  from  JJ^wbern,  were  driven 
in  and  retired  to  ifewbern.  The  gun 
boat  Underwriter  was  captured  and 
destroyed  by  the  rebels.  Palmer  held 
his  position  firmly,  and  the  assailants 
retired  to  Kinston.  The  defences  of 
Newbern  were  strengthened  and  ren 
dered  too  powerful  for  any  attack  which 
the  rebels  were  likely  to  undertake. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  expedi 
tion  spoken  of  above,  was  set  on  foot 
by  Butler.  While  a  movement  of  a  por 
tion  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  across 
the  Rapidan  diverted  Lee's  attention  in 
that  quarter,  Gen.  Wistar,  with  a  body 
of  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry,  left 
New  Kent  Court  House  on  the  5th  of 
February,  and  marched  rapidly  to  Bot 
tom's  Bridge  on  the  Chickahominy, 
with  the  expectation  of  making  a  sud 
den  dash  into  Richmond.  The  authori 
ties,  however,  had  taken  the  alarm,  and 
interposed  such  obstacles  of  fallen  tim 
ber  at  the  bridge  that  the  opportunity 
of  a  surprise  was  lost,  and  Wistar  was 
compelled  to  relinquish  his  object  and 
retire.  Nothing  was  accomplished  be 
yond  exciting  a  panic  at  Richmond,  the 
city  being  thrown  into  great  excitem  ent 
when  news  of  the  advance  arrived.* 

The  deplorable  condition  of  the  thou 
sands  of  our  officers  and  men,  suffering 
under  the  inhuman  treatment  of  the 

*  A  few  days  later,  Col.  A.  D.  Streight,  with  110 
other  officers,  escaped  from  that  vile  hole,  the  Libby 
Prison  at  Richmond,  and  a  large  portion  of  them  ar 
rived  safely,  on  the  15th  of  February,  within  the  Union 
lines  at  Williamsburg.  The  escape  was  effected  after 
a  monl  h's  severe  and  intense  labor.  Col.  Streiprht  soon 


rebels  at  Libby  Prison,  Castle  Thunder, 
and  Belle  Isle,  roused   the   strongest 

7  O 

sympathy  in  their  behalf,  and  an  expe 
dition  was  planned,  for  the  purpose  not 
only  of  making  a  raid  upon  Richmond, 
but  also  of  setting  at  liberty  our  brave 
countrymen  who  were  being  killed  by 
inches  by  the  rebels.  The  expedition, 
consisting  of  over  4,000  men,  with  a 
light  battery  of  six  guns,  was  placed 
under  command  of  a  distinguished 
young  cavalry  officer,  Gen.  H.  J.  Kil- 
patrick;  and  on  the  evening  of  the 
28th  of  February,  left  camp  at  Stevens- 
burg,  crossed  Ely's  Ford  on  the 
Rapidan,  and  captured  the  rebel 
pickets  without  firing  a  gun  or  exciting 
any  alarm.  At  daylight  the  next  morn 
ing,  the  column  passed  through  Spot- 
sylvauia  Court  House,  twenty  miles  in 
the  rear  of  Lee's  army,  and  dashed  on 
towards  Beaver  Dam  Station,  on  the 
Virginia  Central  Railroad.  This  was 
reached  at  four  P.M.,  and  not  only  the 
buildings  at  the  station  were  destroyed, 
but  the  track  was  torn  up  for  miles, 
the  telegraph  line  was  cut,  culverts  and 
bridges  were  burned,  etc.  Thence, 
having  crossed  the  South  Anna  during 
the  night,  Kilpatrick  and  his  brave 
troopers  pushed  on  actively  toward 

Richmond,   and    that   same    moraine:. 

s> 

Tuesday,  March  1st,  crossed  the  Brook 
turnpike,  three  and  a  half  miles  from 
Jeff.  Davis's  capital,  carried  the  first 
line  of  works,  and  before  noon  opened 
with  shot  and  shell  upon  the  panic- 


afterwards  addressed  an  account  of  his  imprisonment 
and  that  of  his  fellow-sufferers  at  Richmond  to  the 
military  committee  of  the  House  of  Representatives  at 
Washington,  exhibiting  the  cruelties  and  barbarities 
inflicted  by  the  rebel  authorities. 


Cn.  VIL] 


DAHLGREN'S  EXPEDITION   AND  DEATH. 


407 


stricken  city.  The  firing  was  kept  up 
on  both  sides  for  several  hours,  without 
material  result,  and  late  in  the  after 
noon,  amid  a,  storm  of  sleet  and  hail, 
Kilpatrick  encamped  at  a  point  six 
miles  from  Eichmond  and  two  from  the 
Chickahominy.  It  was  his  intention  to 
make  another  vigorous  effort  to  relieve 
the  suffering  prisoners,  by  effecting  an 
entrance  into  the  city ;  but  during  the 
night  an  artillery  attack  was  made  by 
the  rebels  upon  his  camp,  and  he  felt 
compelled  reluctantly  to  turn  away 
from  Richmond  and  take  up  his  line  of 
march  down  the  Peninsula  towards 
Williamsburg.  The  rebels  followed 
and  annoyed  our  troops  to  some  ex 
tent  ;  but  no  battle  was  fought ;  on  the 
3d  March,  Kilpatrick  arrived  at  Wil 
liamsburg,  and  soon  after  returned  to 
the  Army  of  the  Potossac  by  way  of 
Fortress  Monroe.* 

Col.  Ulric  Dahlgren,  accompanied 
by  Major  Cook,  had  been  detached  with 
500  chosen  men,  after  crossing  the  Ra- 
pidan,  for  a  special  purpose.  Having 
left  the  main  column,  he  advanced  ra 
pidly  to  Frederick's  Hall,  on  the  Vir 
ginia  Central  Railroad,  tore  up  the 
road,  destroyed  the  telegraph  line  and 
captured  some  prisoners.  He  next 
struck  the  James  River  Canal,  eight 
miles  east  of  Goochland  Court  House, 
and  between  there  and  Wer- 
tham  Creek  an  immense  amount 
of  property  was  destroyed.  It  was  at 
this  point  that  Dahlgren  discovered 
that  his  guide  had  deceived  him,  so  as 
to  thwart  the  principal  object  of  the 

*  For  an  interesting  account  of  this  expedition,  sec 
Surgeoc  Moore's  "  Kilpatrick  and  our  Cavalry,"  pp. 
137-156 


expedition,  and  he  was  immediately 
hanged  to  the  nearest  tree.  The  com 
mand  then  struck  the  Plank  Road  and 
moved  on  to  Richmond  from  a  westerly 
direction,  and  when  within  three  miles 
of  that  city,  had  a  lively  skirmish  with 
some  rebel  infantry.  Finding  the  force 
too  large  to  operate  against  with  any 
prospect  of  success,  and  not  knowing 
the  whereabouts  or  fate  of  the  main 
column,  Dahlgren  decided  to  fall  back. 
He  and  Major  Cook,  with  about  100 
men,  went  a  different  route  from  the 
main  portion  of  the  column,  commanded 
by  Capt.  Mitchell,  who  rejoined  Kil 
patrick  on  the  2d  of  March.  Dahlgren, 
while  making  his  way  along  the  Matta- 
pony,  on  Wednesday  evening,  toward 
West  Point,  and  when  about  three 
miles  from  King  and  Queen  Court 
House,  was  surrounded  by  a  party  of 
Virginia  cavalry,  aided  by  armed  citi 
zens  and  others.  In  a  state  of  despera 
tion,  he  ordered  a  charge,  determined, 
if  possible,  to  cut  his  way  through ; 
but  he  fell  in  the  onset,  and  his  men 
were  partly  cut  to  pieces  and  the  re 
mainder  captured.  The  body  of  Col. 
Dahlgren  was  treated  with  great  indig 
nity  by  the  rebels,  and  it  was  asserted 
by  them  that  certain  orders  and  papers 
were  found  on  his  person,  directing 
that  Jeff.  Davis  and  his  cabinet  be 
killed  and  Richmond  consigned  to  the 
flames.  The  newspapers  endeavored 
to  make  capital  out  of  all  this,  and  to 
seek  to  stir  up  sympathy  abroad  in  be 
half  of  the  tottering  and  worthless 
"  Confederacy ;"  but  the  authenticity 
of  the  papers  remains  to  be  proved, 
and  they  who  knew  Dahlgren  well,  and 
had  seen  his  instructions  to  his  men, 


408 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  IX. 


denounced  them  as  base  forgeries.* 
The  results  of  the  expedition,  although 
not  what  was  hoped  for,  were  substan 
tially  as  follows :  the  breaking  up  of 
several  miles  of  railroad  of  great  im 
portance  to  the  rebels,  the  destroying 
of  several  million  dollars'  worth  of 
stores,  and  the  capturing  between  300 
and  400  prisoners. 

As  a  kind  of  well-deserved  retalia- 


*  For  the  papers  referred  to  above,  see  Appleton's 
"  American  Annual  Cyclopaedia  "  for  1864,  pp.  66,  67. 
Pollard  gives  an  account  of  what  he  calls  Dahlgren's 
raid  around  Richmond,  and  is  perfectly  furious  in  the 
language  he  uses.  "  Savage  and  atrocious,"  "  brazen 
lies,  audacious  recrimination,  and  the  stereotypes  of 
Yankee  hypocrisy,"  "ludicrous  cowardice,"  and  the 
like,  form  a  part  of  his  stock-in-trade.  He  is  ready  to 
swear  to  the  authenticity  of  the  papers,  which  "  show 
the  fiendish  purpose  of  Dahlgren's  expectation,  and 
revealed  to  the  startled  sensibilities  of  the  people  of 
Richmond  the  horrors  which  they  had  narrowly  escap 
ed."  They  who  place  any  value  upon  Pollard's  oath 
in  the  present  case,  respecting  the  "  Yankee  plot  of 
incendiarism  and  murder,  challenging  comparison  with 
the  atrocities  of  the  darkest  ages,"  may  consult  this 
fire-eating  writer's  "  Third  Tear  of  tlie  War,"  pp. 
238-245. 


tion  for  the  attack  by  citizens,  claiming' 
to  be  non-combatants,  upon  Col.  Dahl- 
gren,  Butler,  a  few  days  after,  sent  a 
cavalry  force,  under  Col.  Onder- 
donk  and  Col.   Spear,  to  King 
and  Queen  Court  House,  where  was  a 
camp  of  the  enemy,  which  was  destroy 
ed  and  a  number  killed.     A  large  quan 
tity  of  grain,  and   several   mills  and 
store-houses  were  burnt. 

These  operations,  of  which  we  have 
given  an  account  in  the  present  chap 
ter,  were  of  no  great  moment,  and  on 
the  whole,  being  more  favorable  to  the 
rebels  than  usual,  aiforded  them  oppor 
tunity  of  self-laudation  and  boasting  to 
a  considerable  extent.  The  main  cur 
rent  of  the  war,  however,  was  very 
slightly  affected  by  what  had  taken 
place,  and  it  became  evident  to  the 
careful  observer,  that  other  and  far 
weightier  trials  of  strength  must  be 
had,  before  results  of  any  decisive  cha 
racter  could  be  attained. 


CH.  VIIL] 


GEN.  BANKS'S  MOVEMENT. 


409 


CHAPTEK    VIII. 

\ 

1864. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF :    FORREST'S  RAID  AND  FORT  PILLOW  MASSACRE. 

Measures  taken  to  organize  a  state  government  for  Louisiana  —  Proclamation  of  Gen.  Banks  —  Election  of 
governor,  etc.  —  Joint  military  and  naval  operations  in  Western  Louisiana  —  Porter  and  the  gun  boats  — 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  and  his  force  —  Fort  De  Russy  taken  —  Alexandria  occupied  —  Natchitoches  taken  — 
Advance  upon  Shreveport  —  Battle  at  Pleasant  Hill  —  The  rebels  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads  —  Our  forces 
badly  repulsed  —  Banks  falls  back  —  The  struggle  the  next  day  —  Retreat  ordered  to  Alexandria  —  Gen. 
Steele  and  campaign  in  Arkansas  —  Porter  and  the  gun  boats  at  the  falls -of  Alexandria  —  Successful 
engineering  —  Banks  returns  to  New  Orleans  —  Forrest  and  his  raiders  —  Union  City  surrendered  by  Haw- 
kins  —  Paducah  attacked  —  Rebels  driven  off — Forrest's  assault  on  Fort  Pillow — Condition  of  the  fort 
and  garrison  —  Narrative  of  the  assault  —  Shocking  murders  —  Quotation  from  report  of  investigating 
committee  sent  by  Congress  —  Infamous  conduct  of  the  rebels  —  Plymouth,  North  Carolina,  captured  by 
Hoke  and  his  men  —  Washington  evacuated —  Ram  Albemarle  attacked  by  our  gun  boats  —  The  result. 


1864. 


GEN.  BANKS,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  department  of  the  Gulf,  gave 
earnest  attention,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  year,  to  the  movement  which  con 
templated  the  formation  of  a  state  gov 
ernment  for  Louisiana.  On  the 
8th  of  January,  a  Free  State 
Convention  was  held  at  New  Orleans, 
which  both  endorsed  the  course  of  the 
president,  and  urged  the  immediate 
adoption  of  measures  for  restoring  the 
state  to  its  old  place  in  the  Union. 
Banks  thereupon,  on  the  llth  of  Janu 
ary,  issued  a  proclamation,  providing 
for  the  election,  on  the  22d  of  February, 
of  a  governor  and  other  state  officers, 
who  were  to  "  constitute  the  civil  gov 
ernment  of  the  state,  under  the  Consti 
tution  and  laws  of  Louisiana,  except  so 
much  of  the  said  Constitution  and  laws 
as  recognize,  regulate,  or  relate  to  slav 
ery,  which  being  inconsistent  with  the 
present  condition  of  public  affairs,  and 
piainly  inapplicable  to  any  class  of 
persons  now  existing  within  its  limits, 

VOL.  IV.— 52. 


must  be  suspended,  and  they  are  hereby 
declared  to  be  inoperative  and  void." 
The  oath  of  allegiance  required  by  Pre 
sident  Lincoln's  proclamation,  with  the 
condition  affixed  to  the  elective  fran 
chise  by  the  constitution  of  Louisiana, 
were  prescribed  as  the  qualifications 
of  voters.  The  officers  elected  were  to 
be  installed  on  the  4th  of  March  ;  and 
another  election  was  appointed  for 
delegates  to  a  convention  to  revise  the 
constitution  of  the  state,  on  the  first 
Monday  in  April. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  Banks  is 
sued  an  important  order  relative  to  the 
enforcement  and  compensation  of  negro 
labor  on  the  plantations.  The  matter 
was  placed  under  the  direction  of  the 
provost- marshals  in  the  several  par 
ishes  ;  hours  of  labor  were  prescribed, 
just  and  equitable  treatment  required  ; 
flogging  and  cruel  punishments  inter 
dicted,  etc.  A  passage  or  two  towards 
the  close  of  this  order  may  here  be  quo 
ted  :  "  It  is  a  solemn  duty  resting  upon 


410 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S   ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


all  persons  to  assist  in  the  earliest  pos 
sible  restoration  of  civil  government. 
Let  them  participate  in  the  measures 
suggested  for  this  purpose.  Opinion 
is  free,  and  candidates  are  numerous. 
Open  hostility  cannot  be  permitted. 
Indifference  will  be  treated  as  crime, 

and  faction  as  treason The 

oath  of  allegiance,  administered  and  re 
ceived  in  good  faith,  is  the  test  of  un 
conditional  fealty  to  the  government 
and  all  its  measures,  and  cannot  be  ma 
terially  strengthened  or  impaired  by 
the  language  in  which  it  is  clothed. 
The  amnesty  offered  for  the  past  is  con 
ditioned  upon  an  unreserved  loyalty  for 
the  future,  and  this  condition  will  be 
enforced  with  an  iron  hand.  Whoever 
is  indifferent  or  hostile  must  choose  be 
tween  the  liberty  which  foreign  lands 
afford,  the  poverty  of  the  rebel  states, 
and  the  innumerable  and  inappreciable 
blessings  which  our  government  confers 
upon  its  people.  May  God  preserve 
the  Union  of  the  States !  " 

The  election  for  state  officers  was 
held  on  the  22d  of  February;  over 
10,000  votes  were  cast  within  those 
parishes  guarded  by  our  troops;  and 
the  Hon.  Michael  Hahn  was  elected 
governor  on  the  free  state  ticket.  The 
inauguration  took  place  on  the  4th  of 
March,  in  New  Orleans,  amid  imposing 
ceremonies  and  public  rejoicing.  Gov. 
Hahn  was  also  invested,  on  the  15th 
of  March,  by  President  Lincoln,  with 
the  powers  exercised  hitherto  by  the 
military  governor  of  Louisiana.  We 
may  also  mention,  in  this  connection, 
that  nearly  100  delegates  having  been 
elected,  the  convention  met  in  NCAV  Or 
leans,  on  the  6th  of  April ;  a  new  con 


stitution  was  prepared,  by  a  clause  of 
which  slavery  was  forever  abolished  in 
the  state ;  the  convention  adjourned  in 
July ;  and  the  constitution  was  adopt 
ed  by  the  people  on  the  5th  of  Septem 
ber,  by  a  vote  of  6,836  to  1,566.  Four 
persons  as  members  of  Congress  and  a 
legislature  were  chosen  at  the  same 
time,  who  were  mostly  in  favor  of  a  free 
state.  The  authority,  however,  of  the 
re-organized  state  was  very  limited ;  and 
President  Lincoln  was  censured  by  po 
litical  opponents,  on  the  charge  of  un 
justifiable  interference  with  the  affairs 
of  the  people  of  Louisiana.* 

Early  in  the  year,  a  joint  military  and 
naval  expedition  was  planned,  in  order, 
by  a  vigorous  effort,  to  open  Western 
Louisiana  to  trade,  and  to  sweep  away 
all  rebel  opposition  in  that  part  of  the 
state,  and  if  possible  in  Texas  likewise. 
All  the  available  force  of  the  army  and 
navy  in  this  department  was  put  in  re 
quisition,  and  the  purpose  was  to  move 
up  the  Red  River  as  far  as  Shreveport, 
where  the  rebels  had  concentrated  large 
supplies,  and  where  it  was  intended 
Gen.  Steele  should  unite  with  the  expe 
dition  with  all  the  forces  he  could  col 
lect  in  Arkansas.  In  the  beginning  of 
March,  during  which  and  the  following 
month  the  Red  River  had  sufficient  wa 
ter  to  float  the  largest  class  of  vessels, 
the  troops  advanced  from  New  Orleans 
through  the  Teche  country  to  Alexan 
dria,  f  Meanwhile,  Admiral  Porter  had 

*  Mr.  Raymond,  in  his  "  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln," 
p.  490,  repels  this  charge  as  unfounded. 

f  Gen.  Grant,  who  had  assumed  the  position  of  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States, 
subsequent  to  the  organization  of  this  Red  River  ex 
pedition,  sent  Banks  various  instructions,  etc.,  hoping 
that  he  might  be  successful,  and  might  be  able  speedily 


Ce.  VIII.] 


THE  RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION. 


411 


collected,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Red 
River,  the  most  formidable  fleet  of  gun 
boats  ever  seen  in  the  western  waters. 
There  were  twenty  powerfully  armed 
steamers  of  all  classes,  from  the  light  to 
the  heaviest  draft. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  Gen.  A.  J. 
Smith  left  Vicksburg,  with  about  10,- 
000  men,  in  twenty  transports,  and  the 
next  day  joined  Porter  and  his  fleet  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Red  River.  The  day 
following,  Saturday  the  12th, 
he  moved  up  the  river  into  the 
Atchafalaya,  and  anchored  in  the  after 
noon  at  Semmesport,  which  was  now  in 
ruins.  Not  having  heard  as  yet  from 
Banks,  Smith,  on  the  13th,  landed  a 
portion  of  his  troops,  and  sent  forward 
Gen.  Mower,  with  a  brigade,  to  recon 
noitre  the  enemy's  position  at  Bayou 
Glace,  where  they  occupied  a  fortified 
camp.  On  his  approach,  the  enemy  fell 
back  toward  Fort  De  Russy,  a  formid 
able  fortification  which  they  had  erect 
ed  with  great  skill  and  labor  to  com 
mand  the  Red  River.  Smith,  seizing 
his  opportunity,  pushed  rapidly  for 
ward  by  forced  marches  the  intervening 
distance  of  about  thirty  miles  to  a  laud 
attack  upon  the.  fort,  before  it  could  be 
reinforced.  By  a  strenuous  effort,  he 
reached  the  vicinity  on  the  afternoon 
of  Monday,  March  14th.  An  immedi 
ate  attack*  was  determined  upon,  which 
was  commenced  by  our  skirmishers,  and 
a  sharp  cannonade  was  kept  up  for 
some  two  hours,  the  rebels  replying 
with  the  two  guns  which  they  had 
brought  into  position.  The  order  was 

to  co-operate  with  Admiral  Farragut  in  an  attack 
upon  Mobile. — See  "  Report  of  Lieutenant  General 
U.  S.  Grant,"  pp.  6,  7,  37,  38. 


then  given  to  charge,  which  was  suc 
cessfully  accomplished.  Between  200 
and  300  prisoners  were  made,  including 
twenty-four  commissioned  officers.  Ten 
guns  were  taken,  beside  2,000  barrels 
of  powder,  1,000  muskets,  etc.,  with  a 
loss,  on  our  part,  of  only  four  killed 
and  thirty  wounded.  Several  of  the 
gun  boats  arrived  just  after  the  surren 
der  of  the  fort. 

The  Avay  was  now  open  to  Alexan 
dria,  145  miles  from  the  Mississippi, 
which  was  immediately  occupied,  the 
advance  of  Smith's  forces,  under  Mower, 
accompanied  by  Admiral  Porter,  with 
his  fleet  of  gun  boats,  taking  possession 
on  the  evening  of  the  16th  of 

•  18G4. 

March.  A  large  quantity  or 
cotton,  more  than  4,000  bales,  was  cap 
tured,  and  brought  in  by  the  gun  boats, 
aided  by  the  negroes.  Fort  De  Russy 
was  stripped,  and  its  works  blown  up. 
A  few  days  after,  Banks,  with  the  re 
mainder  of  his  forces,  under  Gen.  Frank 
lin,  arrived  at  Alexandria,  and  having 
taken  command,  preparations  were 
made  for  the  advance  upon  Shreveport. 
On  the,  21st  of  March,  our  cavalry 
advance  marched  upon  Natchitoches, 
eighty  miles  from  Alexandria,  and  gain 
ed  possession  of  it  without  loss.  Two 
hundred  prisoners  and  four  pieces  of 
artillery  were  taken,- the  rebels  as  here 
tofore  retiringvas  our  troops  advanced. 
On  the  26th,  Smith  left  Alexandria  for 
Shreveport,  to  be  followed  directly  by 
the  troops  of  Banks.  This  place,  in  the 
north-western  corner  of  Louisiana,  was 
at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Red. 
River,  about  450  miles  above  the  Mis 
sissippi,  and  was  reported  to  be  strongly 
fortified  and  held  by  a  rebel  force  un- 


412 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


der  Gen.  Dick  Taylor.  Cotton  and 
military  stores  in  great  abundance 
would  be  taken  there,  it  was  supposed, 
by  our  army.  Banks's  column  now 
marched  to  Natchitoches,  which  was 
reached  on  the  4th  of  April,  the  fleet 
under  Porter  accompanying  it  to  Grand 
Ecore,  the  river  station  in  that  vicinity. 

Thus  far  success  had  attended  the 
expedition ;  but  thenceforth  it  met  with 
serious  reverses.  On  Wednesday  morn 
ing,  the  army  moved  from  Natchitoches 
on  the  Shreveport  road,  the  cavalry  be 
ing  in  advance.  Crump's  Hill  was 
reached  by  the  cavalry  that  night,  the 
infantry,  which  had  marched  seventeen 
miles,  halting  four  miles  in  their  rear. 
At  daybreak,  the  cavalry  again  started, 
keeping  up  a  constant  and  sharp  skir 
mishing  with  the  enemy,  until  they  ar 
rived  at  a  position  two  miles  beyond 
Pleasant  Hill.  Here,  Col.  Robinson, 
in  command  of  the  cavalry  advance, 
met  the  rebel  troopers,  some  2,500  in 
number,  and  an  engagement  ensued  di 
rectly.  It  lasted  about  two  hours  and 
a  half,  when  the  enemy  gave  way,  and 
retreated  to  Bayou  du  Paul,  where  they 
were  strongly  reinforced.  Col.  Robin 
son  not  deeming  it  prudent  to  make  an 
attack,  halted  for  the  night,  and  await 
ed  the  coming  up  of  our  forces.  During 
the  night  a  brigade  of  infantry  under 
Col.  Landrum  arrived,  and  early  on 
Friday  morning,  April  8th,  the  march 
was  resumed,  and  the  rebels  were  push 
ed  forward  seven  miles.  This  was  about 
two  o'clock  P.M. 

The  main  force  of  the  rebels  now  ap 
peared,  Taylor  in  command.  They  far 
outnumbered  our  men,  and  were  occu 
pying  a  strong  position,  in  the  vicinity 


1S64. 


ot  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  concealed  in  the 
edge  of  a  dense  wood,  with  an  open 
field  in  front,  the  Shreveport  road  pass 
ing  through  their  lines.  Gen.  Ransom 
arriving  on  the  field  with  his  command, 
formed  his  line  as  well  as  circumstances 
would  permit.  Col.  Emerson's 
brigade,  of  the  13th  corps,  was 
stationed  on  the  left  of  the  line,  \vith 
Nim's  Massachusetts  battery;  Col.  Lan 
drum 's  forces,  parts  of  two  brigades, 
were  placed  on  the  right  and  centre, 
with  two  batteries.  Col.  Dudley's  bri 
gade  of  cavalry  supported  the  left,  and 
held  itself  in  readiness  to  repel  any  at 
tempt  to  flank ;  while  Lucas  protected 
the  right  flank.  Col.  Robinson,  with 
his  brigade,  was  in  the  rear  of  the  cen 
tre,  protecting  the  wagon  train  which 
was  on  the  Shreveport  road.  Gen. 
Banks  and  staff  rode  upon  the  field  by 
the  time  this  disposition  of  our  forces 
was  effected,  and  couriers  were  sent 
back,  about  nine  miles,  to  Gen.  Frank 
lin  to  make  all  speed  for  the  scene  of 
the  momentarily  expected  battle. 

At  five  o'clock,  P.M.,  heavy  firing 
commenced ;  our  skirmish  line  was 
quickly  drawn  back,  and  the  engage 
ment  became  general  on  the  right  and 
centre.  The  left  having  been  weakened, 
in  order  to  sustain  the  other  portion  of 
the  line,  the  enemy  massed  against  the 
left,  dashed  furiously  upon  it,  and  the 
horses  having  been  killed,  captured  four 
guns  of  Nim's  battery.  The  battle  was 
hotly  contested ;  but  soon  after,  the 
centre  was  pressed  back,  ar  i  the  right 
also  gave  way.  A  fresh  brigade  came 
up ;  Franklin  rode  on  the  field  in  ad 
vance  of  his  division ;  and  Banks  did 
all  that  a  brave  commander  could  do ; 


CH.  VIII.] 


BATTLE  AT  PLEASANT  HILL. 


413 


but  it  was  of  no  avail.  The  line  con 
tinued  to  fall  back,  being  thrown  into 
confusion  and  a  partial  panic,  by  the 
baggage-trains  blocking  up  the  roads, 
and  pursutd  by  the  enemy  for  three 
miles  and  a  half.  Here  the  19th  army 
corps,  which  had  been  ordered  to  stop 
and  form  its  line  of  battle,  did  so, 
and  our  wearied  troops  passed  through 
and  formed  in  the  rear.  The  rebels 
rushed  forward,  but  Gen.  Emory,  who 
reserved  his  fire  until  they  were  within 
short  range,  checked  them,  with  fearful 
slaughter;  and  the  conflict  was  closed 
for  that  day. 

Gen.  Banks,  in  the  condition  of  af 
fairs,  having  lost  heavily  in  men  and 
artillery,  determined  to  fall  back  to 
Pleasant  Hill,  where  Smith  had  halted 
with  the  16th  and  17th  army  corps 
under  his  command.  This  was  accom 
plished  silently  and  expeditiously  dur 
ing  the  night,  without  cognizance  on 
the  part  of  the  rebels.  They,  however, 
followed  on  the  morning  of  April  9th, 
and  counted  on  an  easy  victory.  The 
battle  ground  was  a  large  open  field 
near  the  town  of  Pleasant  Hill,  on  the 
Shreveport  road,  with  an  elevation  of 
no  great  extent,  and  surrounded  by  a 
belt  of  timber.  Emory  formed  his  line 
on  the  side  facing  the  woods,  having  in 
his  rear,  concealed  by  the  rising  ground, 
Smith's  division,  in  two  lines  of  battle, 
fifty  yards  apart,  with  all  his  artillery  in 
the -front  line.  The  13th  corps,  under 
Cameron,  was  in  the  reserve  in  the 
rear.  Skirmishing  of  an  active  charac 
ter  was  kept  up  during  the  most  of  the 
day ;  but  between  four  and  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  the  rebels,  having 
completed  their  arrangements,  advanc- 


1§64. 


ed  to  the  attack.  Emory's  troops  were 
pressed  back  up  the  hill,  although 
bravely  contesting  every  inch  of  ground. 
Just  behind,  as  we  have  stated,  was  the 
16th  corps,  which,  opening,  allowed  the 
men  of  the  19th  to  pass  through,  and 
confronted  the  rebels  with  bristling  can 
non,  and  troops  ready  for  any  emer 
gency.  Onward  came  the  exulting  foe, 
when  the  order  was  given  to  "fire." 
"It  is  impossible,"  says  a  spectator, 
"  for  words  to  describe  the  awful  effect 
of  this  discharge.  Seven  thousand  rifles, 
and  several  batteries  of  artillery,  each 
gun  loaded  to  the  muzzle  with  grape 
and  canister,  were  fired  simul 
taneously,  and  the  whole  centre 
of  the  rebel  line  was  crushed  down  as 
a  field  of  ripe  wheat  through  which  a 
tornado  had  passed.  It  is  estimated 
that  1,000  men  were  hurried  into  eter 
nity,  or  frightfully  mangled  by  this  one 
discharge."  A  rapid  charge  put  the 
rebels  to  flight,  who  were  driven  to  the 
woods,  where  they  broke  in  confusion, 
some  500  having  been  taken  prisoners, 
and  a  considerable  number  of  guns  re 
captured. 

The  losses  of  the  campaign,  thus  far, 
were  stated  to  be  twenty  pieces  of  ar 
tillery,  3,000  men,  130  wagons,  and 
some  1,200  horses  and  mules.  As  an 
offset,  the  gains  were  put  down  as  fol 
lows  : — the  capture  of  Fort  de  RUSSJ-, 
Alexandria,  Grand  Ecore,  and  Natchi- 
toches,  the  opening  of  Red  River,  the 
capture  of  3,000  bales  of  cotton,  2,300 
prisoners,  twenty -five  pieces  of  artillery, 
chiefly  taken  by  the  fleet,  and  a  quan 
tity  of  small  arms  and  stores. 

In  consequence  of  these  reverses,  an^ 
unable  to  carry  out  his  original  de- 


414 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


|B-K.  IX. 


sign   of    permanently   occupying    this 
portion  of  Louisiana,  Banks  ordered  a 
retreat    to    Grand    Ecore,    some   forty 
miles  below.*     Porter,  in  his  efforts  to 
co-operate  with  the  army  movements, 
had  advanced,  with  six  gun  boats  and 
twenty  transports,  as  far  as  Springfield 
Landing,  which  was  reached  on  the  7th 
of  April.      Obstructions  in  the  river, 
and  the  disasters  to  the  army  immedi 
ately  following,  as  narrated  above,  led 
to  Porter's  giving  up  the  attempt  to 
make  a  further  advance.     On  his  way 
back,  he  was  greatly  annoyed  by  guer 
rilla  parties  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
On  reaching  Grand  Ecore,  Porter  found 
several  of  the  vessels  of  his  fleet  above 
the  bar,  by  the  fall  of  the  water  in  the 
Red  River.    One  of  these,  the  gun  boat 
Eastport,  he  was  subsequently  compel 
led  to  destroy,  to  prevent  her  falling  in 
to  the  hands  of  the  rebels.    Banks  next 
found  it  necessary  to  fall  back  to  Alex 
andria,  and,  accordingly,  on  the  21st  of 
April,  he  abandoned  his  present  posi 
tion.     The  enemy  followed,  but  not  in 
force,  and   after   some  slight  contests, 
Banks  reached  Alexandria,  on  the  27th 
of  April,  where  he  waited,  for  a  while, 
for  reinforcements. 

Gen.  Steele,  of  whose  intended  share 
in  this  expedition  we  have  spoken  on 

*  According  to  Pollard's  account,  "  the  results  of  this 
campaign  were  for  us  the  most  substantial  ever 
achieved  in  the  Trans-Mississippi.  The  expedition  of 
Banks  had  proved  a  failure,  and  nothing  was  left  for 
him  but  to  retreat  to  Alexandria,  after  losing  several 
thousand  prisoners  and  thirty-five  pieces  of  artillery. 
The  expedition  of  Steele  into  Western  Arkansas  had 
ended  in  a  complete  disaster.  The  immediate  points 
of  our  victories,  as  summed  up  in  the  official  report  of 
Kirby  Smith,  were,  8,000  killed  and  wounded,  6,000 
prisoners,  35  pieces  of  artillery,  1,200  wagons,  one  gun 
boat,  and  thi?e  transports."— "  Third  Tear  of  the  War," 
p.  252. 


a  previous  page  (p.  410),  began  his 
march  from  Little  Rock,  Arkansas, 
on  the  23d  of  March,  with  a  com 
bined  force  of  about  20.000  men.  At 
first,  his  movements  were  attended  with 
success.  After  dispersing  the  rebels 
under  Price,  at  various  positions,  Steele, 
by  a  rapid  inarch,  gained  possession  of 
Camden,  a  fortified  post  on  the  Wash- 
ita,  120  miles  from  Little  Rock.  This 
was  in  the  latter  part  of  April;  but 
Banks's  reverses  speedily  endangered 
Steele's  command,  by  allowing  the  re 
bels  to  devote  their  attention  to  him. 
This  they  began  to  do  at  once,  and 
Steele  had  no  alternative  but  to  seek 
to  make  his  way  back  to  Little  Rock. 
The  enemy  pressed  upon  him  closely 
from  several  points,  endeavoring  to  cut 
off  his  communications  and  capture  his 
forces.  On  the  27th  of  April,  Steele 
evacuated  Camden,  and  crossed  the 
Washita  over  a  pontoon  bridge.  The 
enemy  followed  of  course,  and  two  days 
afterwards  a  battle  was  fought,  which 

O          ' 

lasted  for  seven  hours,  accompanied  by 
heavy  loss.  It  resulted,  however,  in  a 
repulse  of  the  rebels,  and  a  return  of 
Steele,  without  further  loss,  to  Little 
Rock,  on  the  2d  of  May. 

The  water  in  the  Red  River  continu 
ing  to  get  lower  and  lower,  it  speedily 
became  a  question  of  grave  importance, 
how,  if  at  all,  to  carry  the  gun  boats 
over  the  falls  at  Alexandria.  Porter 
was  almost  in  despair ;  for,  unless  the 
fleet  could  be  extricated,  the  vessels 
must  be  abandoned  to  the  rebels,  or 
blown  up.  In  the  emergency,  a  happy 
thought  occurred  to  Col.  Bailey,  acting 
engineer  of  the  19th  army  corps,  who 
proposed  building  a  series  of  dams 


CH.  VIII.] 


GUN   BOATS   CARRIED  OVER  THE  FALLS. 


415 


186-1. 


across  the  rocks  at  the  falls,  and  raising 
the  water  high  enough  to  let  the  ves 
sels  pass  over.  The  plan  was  ridiculed 
by  some  of  the  best  engineers ;  but  as 
Porter  and  Banks  were  willing  to 
make  the  experiment,  the  troops  were 
set  at  work,  and  in  ten  days'  time  the 
dams  were  built,  and  the  fleet  was 
saved.  Porter,  in  his  official  report, 
May  16th,  gives  a  very  interesting  ac 
count  of  the  whole  matter  and  its  en 
tire  success :  "  Words  are  inadequate 
to  express,"  he  says,  "  the  admiration 
I  feel  for  the  ability  of  Col.  Bailey. 
This  is,  without  doubt,  the  best  en 
gineering  feat  ever  performed.  Leav 
ing  out  his  ability  as  an  engin 
eer — the  credit  he  has  conferred 
upon  the  country — he  has  saved  the 
Union  a  valuable  fleet,  worth  nearly 
$2,000,000 ;  more,  he  has  deprived  the 
enemy  of  a  triumph  which  would  have 
emboldened  them  to  carry  on  this  war 
a  year  or  two  longer ;  for  the  intended 
departure  of  the  army  was  a  fixed  fact, 
and  there  was  nothing  left  for  me  to 
do  in  case  that  event  occurred  but  to 
destroy  every  part  of  the  vessels,  so 
that  the  rebels  could  make  nothing  of 
them.  The  highest  honors  the  govern 
ment  can  bestow  on  Col.  Bailey  can 
never  repay  him  for  the  service  he  has 
rendered  the  country."  * 

The  last  of  the  gun  boats  having 
passed  over  the  falls  on  the  12th  of 
May,  Alexandria  was  evacuated  the 
next  day.  In  some  unexplained  man 
ner  the  town  was  set  on  fire,  and  though 

*  For  the  report  in  full,  which  is  well  worth  read 
ing,  see  Duyckinck's  "  War  for  the  Union"  vol.  iii.  pp. 
322-325.     Col.  Bailey  we  may  here  mention,  was  at 
once  raised  by  the  president  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-  j 
general  for  these  distinguished  services. 


efforts  were  made  by  Gen.  Banks  to 
extinguish  the  flames,  they  were  unsuc 
cessful,  and  our  forces  left  the  people 
and  the  town  to  their  fate.  Two  small 
light-draft  gun  boats  were  fired  into 
by  rebel  masked  batteries,  about  thirty 
miles  below  Alexandria,  and  were  lost ; 
but  the  army,  though  attacked  several 
times,  repulsed  the  enemy,  and  having 
crossed  the  Atchafalaya  in  safety,  on 
the  19th  of  May,  soon  after  reached 
New  Orleans.  The  fleet,  under  Porter, 
resumed  its  station  on  the  Mississippi, 
the  season  having  passed  for  any  fur 
ther  operations  in  this  part  of  Loui 
siana.* 

The  sending  of  troops  from  Vicks- 
burg  to  join  the  Red  River  expedition 
afforded  an  opportunity  for  the  rebels 
under  Forrest,  and  others,  in  Northern 
Mississippi  and  South-western  Tennes 
see,  to  make  an  attack  on  our  posts  in 
West  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  Ac 
cordingly,  on  the  23d  of  March,  Forrest 
left  Jackson,  Tennessee,  with  about 
5,000  men,  and  advanced  north  some 
sixty  miles  to  Union  City,  on  the  rail 
road,  which  place  he  reached  the  next 
day.  It  was  garrisoned  by  a  small 
force  of  less  than  500  men,  under  com 
mand  of  Col.  Hawkins,  who,  contrary 
to  the  advice  of  his  officers,  surrendered 
on  Forrest's  demand.  The  rebel  leader 
next  occupied  Hickman,  and  after  sev 
eral  threatening  demonstrations,  advanc 
ed  rapidly  upon  Paducah,  Kentucky, 

*  By  an  order  of  the  war  department,  dated  May 
7th,  Gen.  Canby  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
military  division  of  West  Mississippi,  including  the 
departments  of  Arkansas  and  the  Gulf,  thus  relieving 
Gen.  Banks.  Some  regiments  were  recruited  from  the 
plantations,  but  no  military  operations  of  any  extent 
took  place  within  the  state  during  the  remainder  of 
the  year. 


416 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


situated  on  the  Ohio,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Tennessee  River.  The  town  was 
held  by  Col.  S.  G.  Hicks,  with  about 
700  Kentucky  and  Illinois  troops,  in 
cluding  250  negro  soldiers  in  the  artil 
lery  service.  Aided  by  two  gun  boats 
in  the  river,  Col.  Hicks  resolved  to  de 
fend  the  \vorks  at  the  place.  Forrest 
sent  an  imperative  demand,  March  25th, 
for  a  surrender,  concluding  with  these 
significant  words :  "  If  you  surrender, 
you  shall  be  treated  as  prisoners  of 
war,  but  if  I  have  to  storm  your  works 
you  may  expect  no  quarter."  Hicks 
replied  gallantly,  that  having  been 
placed  there  to  defend  the  post,  he 
should  do  it  without  fear  or  favor. 
Forrest,  having  disposed  his  forces  for 
attack,  pushed  forward  his  lines,  and 
occupied  with  sharpshooters  the  houses 
near  the  fort.  The  first  advance  was 
met  by  a  deadly  fire  from  the  works, 
and  repulsed  for  that  day,  the  gun 
boats  shelling  the  houses  which  covered 
the  enemy.  On  the  next  morning,  a 
second  charge  wras  made,  and  also  re 
pulsed.  After  repeated  attempts 
to  capture  the  garrison  with  his 
greatly  superior  force,  Forrest,  content 
with  the  pillage  and  injury  he  had  in 
flicted,  withdrew  in  the  direction  of 
Columbus.  The  Union  loss  was  stated 
at  fourteen  killed  and  forty-six  wound 
ed  ;  Forrest's  loss  was  probably  much 
greater.  A  large  portion  of  the  town 
was  destroyed,  partly  by  the  guns  from 
the  fort,  and  partly,  or  principally  by 
the  rebels. 

Subsequently  to  this,  there  were  va 
rious  rumors  of  attacks  about  to  be 
made  on  one  point  and  another  by  this 
noted  rebel  raider.  The  matter,  how- 


ever,  was  not  long  left  in  doubt,  and 
Forrest,  by  his  attack  on  For£  Pillow, 
followed  by  the  massacre  of  the  garri 
son,  stamped  himself  and  those  with 
him  with  perpetual  infamy.  The  fort 
was  located  on  the  Mississippi,  about 
seventy  miles  above  Memphis,  and  at 
the  time  of  the  assault  was  garrisoned 
by  nineteen  officers  and  538  enlisted 
men,  of  whom  262  were  blacks,  com 
prising  one  battalion  of  the  6th  United 
States  heavy  artillery,  formerly  the 
1  st  Alabama  artillery  of  negro  troops, 
under  the  command  of  Major  L.  F. 
Booth,  one  section  of  the  2d  United 
States  light  artillery  (black),  and  one 
battalion  of  the  13th  Tennessee  cav 
alry  (white),  commanded  by  Major  A. 
F.  Bradford.  Major  Booth,  being  the 
ranking  officer,  was  in  command  of  the 
fort. 

On  Monday,  the  12th  of  April,  just 
before  sunrise,  the  pickets  of  the  garri 
son  were  driven  in,  that  being  the  first 
intimation  our  forces  there  had  of  any 
intention  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to 
attack  the  place.  Fighting  soon  be 
came  general,  and  about  nine  o'clock 
Major  Bradford  succeeded  to  the  com 
mand  and  withdrew  all  the 
forces  within  the  fort.  Extend 
ing  back  from  the  river  on  either  side 
of  the  fort  was  a  ravine  or  hollow,  the 
one  below  the  fort  containing  several 
private  stores  and  some  dwellings,  and 
some  government  buildings,  with  com 
missary  stores. 

The  ravine  above  the  fort,  was  known 
as  Cold  Bank  Ravine,  the  ridge  being 
covered  with  trees  and  bushes.  To  the 
right  or  below,  and  a  little  to  the  front 
of  the  fort,  was  a  level  piece  of  gi  t»und 


CH.  VIII.] 


THE  FORT  PILLOW  MASSACRE. 


417 


not  quite  so  elevated  as  the  fort  itself, 
on  which  had  been  erected  some  log 
huts  or  shanties,  which  were  occupied 
by  the  white  troops,  and  also  used  for 
hospital  and  other  purposes.  Within 
the  fort  tents  had  been  erected  with 
board  floors  for  the  use  of  the  negro 
troops.  There  were  six  pieces  of  artil 
lery  in  the  fort,  consisting  of  two  6- 
pounders,  two  12-pounder  howitzers, 
and  two  10-pounder  Parrotts. 

The  rebels  continued  their  attack,  but 
up  to  about  three  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  they  had  not  gained  any  decisive 
success.  Our  troops,  both  black  and 
white,  fought  steadily  and  bravely,  and 
were  in  good  spirits.  The  gun  boat 
New  Era  took  part  in  the  conflict,  shell 
ing  the  rebels  as  opportunity  offered. 
There  being,  however,  but  one  gun 
boat,  it  was  unable  to  render  any  very 
effective  service. 

About  one  o'clock,  the  fire  slackened 
somewhat,  the  New  Era  moved  out  into 
the  nver  to  cool  and  clean  her  guns, 
and  the  rebels,  chagrined  at  their  ill 
success  thus  far,  resorted  to  their  favor 
ite  mode  of  gaining  advantage  by  means 
of  flags  of  truce.  The  first  flag  convey 
ed  a  demand  from  Forrest  for  the  im 
mediate  and  unconditional  surrender  of 
the  fort.  Major  Bradford  replied,  ask 
ing  an  hour  for  consultation  with  his 
officers  and  the  officers  of  the  gun  boat. 
In  a  short  time  the  second  flag  of  truce 
appeared,  with  a  communication  from 
Forrest,  that  he  would  allow  Bradford 
only  twenty  minutes  in  which  to  move 
his  troops  out  of  the  fort,  and  if  it  was 
not  done  in  that  time,  an  assault  would 
be  ordered.  Bradford  refused  peremp 
torily  to  surrender. 

VOL.  IV.— 53. 


1§61. 


During  the  time  these  flags  were  fly 
ing,  the  rebels  were  moving  down  the 
ravine,  and  taking  positions  from  which 
the  more  readily  to  charge  upon  the 
fort.  Immediately  after  the  second 
flag  of  truce  retired,  the  rebels  made  a 
rush  from  the  positions  they  had  so 
treacherously  gained,  and  soon 
obtained  possession  of  the  fort, 
raising  the  cry  of  "  no  quarter."  But 
little  opportunity  was  allowed  for  re 
sistance.  Our  troops,  black  and  white, 
threw  down  their  arms  and  sought  to 
escape  by  running  down  the  steep  bluff 
near  the  fort,  and  secreting  themselves 
behind  trees  and  logs,  in  the  bushes  and 
under  the  brush ;  some  even  jumping 
into  the  river,  leaving  only  their  heads 
above  the  water  as  they  crouched  down 
under  the  bank. 

It  was  then  that  the  ferocity  of  For 
rest  and  his  men  manifested  itself  in 
deeds  of  outrage  unparalleled  in  civil 
ized  warfare.  "  The  rebels  commenced 
an  indiscriminate  slaughter,  sparing 
neither  age  nor  sex,  white  nor  black, 
soldier  nor  civilian.  The  officers  and 
men  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in 
the  devilish  work.  Men,  women  and 
their  children,  wherever  found,  were 
deliberately  shot  down,  beaten  and 
hacked  with  sabres.  Some  of  the  child 
ren,  not  more  than  ten  years  old,  were 
forced  to  stand  up  and  face  their  mur 
derers  while  being  shot.  The  sick  and 
wounded  were  butchered  without  mercy, 
the  rebels  even  entering  the  hospital 
buildings  and  dragging  them  out  to  be 
shot,  or  killing  them  as  they  lay  there 
unable  to  offer  the  least  resistance.  .  . 
.  .  .  All  around  were  heard  cries  of 
'no  quarter.'  'kill  the  niggers,'  'shoot 


418 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1§64. 


them  down.7  All  who  asked  for  mercy 
were  answered  by  the  most  cruel  taunts 
and  sneers.  Some  were  spared  for  a 
time,  only  to  be  murdered  under  cir 
cumstances  of  greater  cruelty 

These  deeds  of  murder  and  cruelty 
closed  when  night  came  on,  only  to  be 
renewed  the  next  morning,  when  the 
demons  carefully  sought  among  the 
dead  lying  about  in  all  directions  for  any 
other  wounded  yet  alive,  and  those  they 
found  were  deliberately  shot.  Scores 
of  the  dead  and  wounded  were  found 
there  the  day  of  the  massacre 
by  the  men  from  some  of  our 
gun  boats,  who  were  permitted  to  go 
on  shore  and  collect  the  wounded  and 

bury  the  dead Many  other 

instances  of  equally  atrocious  cruelty 
might  be  enumerated;  but  your  com 
mittee  feel  compelled  to  refrain  from 
giving  here  more  of  the  heart- sickening 
details,  and  refer  to  the  statements  con 
tained  in  the  voluminous  testimony 
herewith  submitted.  Those  statements 
were  obtained  by  them  from  eye-wit 
nesses  and  sufferers At  least 

300  were  murdered  in  cold  blood  after 
the  fort  was  in  possession  of  the  rebels, 
and  our  men  had  thrown  down  their 
arms  and  ceased  to  offer  resistance.  Of 
the  surviving,  except  the  wounded  in 
the  hospital  at  Mound  City,  and  the 
few  who  succeeded  in  making  their  es 
cape  unhurt,  nothing  definite  is  known, 
and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  many  have 
been  murdered  after  being  taken  away 
from  the  fort."* 


*  For  the  full  report  of  the  committee,  with  the  evi 
dence,  as  obtained  by  Senator  Wade  and  the  Hon.  D. 
W.  Gooch,  see  the  voluminous  proceedings  of  the  joint 
committee  on  the  conduct  of  the  war. 


Such,  in  substance,  is  the  story  of  the 
"  Massacre  of  Fort  Pillow,"  which  must 
ever  remain  on  record  to  the  disgrace 

o 

of  the  rebel  leaders  and  their  men. 
Pollard,  and  persons  of  his  stamp,  while 
denouncing  the  garrison  as  a  "  motley 
herd  of  negroes,  traitors,  and  Yankees," 
and  while  making  very  light  of  the 
whole  matter,  yet  admit  the  substantial 
truth  of  the  narrative  given  above 
"There  is  no  doubt,"  says  Pollard, 
"  that  for  some  moments,  the  Confede 
rate  officers  lost  control  of  their  men, 
who  were  maddened  by  the  sight  of 
the  negro  troops  opposing  them."  Ac 
cording  to  another  rebel  report,  both 
Forrest  and  Chalmers  "  entered  the  fort 
from  opposite  sides,  simultaneously,  and 
an  indiscriminate  slaughter  followed. 
The  fort  ran  with  blood.  Many  jump 
ed  into  the  river,  or  were  drowned,  or 
were  shot  in  the  water."  A  rebel  gen  • 
eral,  S.  D.  Lee,  in  a  letter,  dated  June 
28th,  affirms  that  the  flag  was  not  haul 
ed  down  in  token  of  surrender,  and  re 
fers  "  to  history  for  numerous  cases  of 
indiscriminate  slaughter  after  success 
ful  assault,  even  under  less  aggravating 
circumstances.  The  case  under  consid 
eration  is  an  almost  extreme  one.  You 
had  a  servile  race  armed  against  their 
masters,  and  in  a  country  which  had 
been  desolated  by  almost  unprecedent 
ed  outrages."  With  such  lame  excuses 
and  attempts  at  palliation,  we  leave  the 
Fort  Pillow  massacre  to  the  readers 
consideration.* 

The  next  movement,  and  one  in 
which  the  rebels  were  successful,  was 

*  See  Pollard's  "  Third  Tear  of  tie  War,"  p.  254 : 
also,  Appleton's  "  American  Annual  Cyclopaedia  "  for 
1864,  pp.  61-63. 


CH.  VIII.] 


CAPTURE   OF  PLYMOUTH,  N.  C. 


419 


the  capture  of  Plymouth,  N.  C.  This 
town  is  situate  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  Roanoke,  about  eight  miles  from  its 
entrance  into  Albemarle  Sound,  and 
was  strongly  fortified  by  a  breastwork, 
with  forts  at  different  points  along  the 
line.  Fort  Gray,  a  strong  work,  was 
about  a  mile  further  up  the  river,  oppo 
site  which  a  triple  row  of  piles  had 
been  driven,  with  torpedoes  attached, 
to  serve  as  a  protection  to  the  fleet  be 
low,  and,  if  possible,  prevent  a  formid 
able  rebel  rain,  named  the  Albemarle, 
from  getting  below  and  joining  in  the 
attack.  Gen.  Wessells  was  in  command 
at  Plymouth,  and  had  a  garrison  of 
about  2,400  men.  On  Sunday  after 
noon,  April  17th,  the  rebels,  under  Gen. 
R.  F.  Hoke,  numbering  some  10,000, 
with  a  heavy  artillery  train,  made 
their  appearance,  quite  unexpectedly, 
in  the  rear  of  the  town.  An  artillery 
fire  was  opened  upon  Fort  Gray,  which 
was  steadily  and  bravely  resisted,  and, 
in  several  assaults  upon  the  other  forts, 
on  Monday,  the  rebels  were  repulsed 
with  slaughter,  our  gun  boats  assisting 
in  the  work.  One  of  the  latter, 
the  Bombshell,  was  disabled  and 
sunk  by  the  enemy's  battery.  Early  in 
the  morning  of  Tuesday,  before  daylight, 
the  rebel  ram,  a  p'owerful  iron-clad  ves 
sel,  armed  with  two  heavy  guns,  came 
down  the  river,  passing  Fort  Gray,  and 
making  for  the  gun  boat  Southfield,  for 
merly  a  ferry-boat  in  the  bay  of  New 
York,  which  she  struck  with  her  prow 
and  caused  to  sink  immediately.  The  re 
maining  gun  boats  were  now  compelled 
to  retire,  and  as  they  were  relied  upon 
as  the  main  defence  of  the  town,  in  case 
of  a  serious  attack,  Gen.  Wessells  was 


1864. 


compelled  to  surrender,  with  the  gar 
rison  at  Plymouth,  on  Wednesday, 
April  20th.  The  rebels  claimed  to  have 
captured,  beside  prisoners,  twenty-five 
pieces  of  artillery,  vast  quantities  of 
commissary  supplies,  ordnance  stores, 
etc.,  and  were  especially  gratified,  inas 
much  as  Plymouth  protected  the  whole 
Roanoke  Valley. 

Only  two  places  now  remained  in  our 
hands  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina, 
Washington,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tar 
River,  and  Newbern,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Neuse.  The  loss  of  Plymouth  led 
to  the  evacuation  of  Washington,  at  the 
end  of  the  month ;  on  which  occasion 
the  town  was  set  on  fire  and  burned, 
an  act  severely  reprobated  by  Gen. 
Palmer,  who  had  succeeded  Gen.  Peck 
in  command  of  the  department. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  the  rebel  ram 
Albemarle,  in  company  with  the  Cotton 
Plant  and  her  capture,  the  Bombshell, 
was  met  in  Albemarle  Sound  by  a 
squadron  of  Union  gun  boats,  when 
the  Bombshell  was  retaken,  and  a  spi 
rited  effort  made  to  run  down 
the  Albemarle  by  Lieut.  Roe, 
of  the  Sassacus.  The  formidable  ram 
fairly  staggered  in  the  encounter,  when 
an  action  ensued  between  the  two  ves 
sels,  sustained  by  the  Sassacus  with 
great  gallantry.  Though  the  boiler  of 
the  latter  was  pierced  by  a  100-pound 
Parrott  shot  from  her  adversary,  and 
the  vessel  was  filled  with  steam,  her 
guns  were  so  well  directed  at  close 

O 

quarters,  within  a  few  feet,  as  to  enter 
the  port-holes  of  the  Albemarle,  and 
compel  her  to  retire  disabled  to  Ply 
mouth.  Thenceforth  the  rebels  did  not 
attempt  to  prosecute  their  designs 


1364. 


420 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


against  Newbern,  which  it  was  sup 
posed  would  be  attacked  by  the  forces 
under  Hoke.  The  greater  and  more 
important  operations  in  Virginia,  at 
the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign, 


and  the  momentous  results  dependent   termed  in  the  history  of  our  country. 


thereon,  now  engaged  the  universal  at 
tention,  not  only  in  the  loyal  states,  but 
also  among  those  who  had  wickedly  set 
on  foot  and  maintained,  thus  far,  tho 
"Great  Rebellion,"  as  it  will  ever  be 


CHAPTER    IX. 


1864. 


OPENING    OF    THE    CAMPAIGN    IN    VIRGINIA,    UNDER    GRANT. 

Need  of  changes  in  the  military  management  of  affairs  —  Grant  made  lieutenant-general  and  commander  in 
chief  of  all  the  armies  —  Sherman  and  McPherson  assigned  to  command  in  the  West  —  Grant's  views  of 
the  position  of  affairs  —  Situation  of  the  loyal  forces,  and  the  great  work  before  them  —  Situation  of  the 
rebels  —  Grant  orders  the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  —  The  command  under  Sigel  — 
Butler's  forces  and  what  was  expected  of  them  —  Directions  to  Meade  —  Preparations  for  opening  the 
campaign  —  Army  moves  early  in  May  —  Crossing  of  the  Rapidan  — The  Wilderness  —  Lee's  activitv  and 
boldness  —  Battle  of  the  Wilderness  —  Terrible  struggle  for  two  days,  heavy  losses,  etc.  —  Death  ol  Gen. 
Wads  worth  —  Grant's  next  movement  —  Butler's  position  and  Grant's  urgency  —  Butler's  advance  V>y  the 
James  River  —  Occupation  of  Bermuda  Hundred  —  Lee's  stand  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House  —  Severe 
and  bloody  battle  —  Death  of  Gen.  Sedgwick  —  Battle  of  the  next  day  —  Heavy  losses  —  Grant's  tenacity 
of  purpose  —  Battle  of  May  12th,  fourteen  hours  in  length  —  The  deadly  struggle  and  loss  of  life  — 
Sheridan's  expedition  against  rebel  communications  —  Dash  and  spirit  displayed  —  Great  success  — 
Rebel  cavalry  commander,  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  killed — Reached  James  River,  May  14th. 


FOR  a  long  time  past,  there  had  ex 
isted  in  the  public  mind  a  feelingrof 
deep  dissatisfaction  with  the  position  of 
our  army  affairs.  Gen.  Halleck,  at  no 
time  a  popular  man,  had  accomplished 
nothing,  so  far  as  the  people  could  see, 
in  his  lofty  post  as  general  in  chief;  he 
was  berated  on  all  hands,  with  much 
severity,  and  opinions  in  regard  to  his 
mcompetency  and  unfitness  for  the  work 
with  which  he  was  charged,  were  freely 
expressed.  There  was  an  evident  lack 
of  combination  of  effort  in  the  opera 
tions  carried  on  by  our  armies  in  the 
East  and  in  the  West ;  and  it  was  con 
tinually  happening  that  great  success 


in  one  part  of  the  field  was  of  no  ad 
vantage  towards  securing  the  ultimate 
end  had  in  view.  The  rebels  were  able, 
by  rapid  movements,  while  holding  one 
of  the  two  great  armies  in  check,  to 
hasten  to  the  relief  of  their  hardly- 
bestead  troops  beaten  by  the  other,  and 
thus  to  neutralize  the  effects  of  our  vic 
tories.  In  truth,  as  Mr.  Swinton  says, 
"  for  three  years  there  was  presented 
the  lamentable  spectacle  of  a  multitude 
of  independent  armies,  acting  on  various 
lines  of  operations,  and  working  not 
only  with  no  unity  of  purpose,  but  fre 
quently  at  cross-purposes ;  while  in  the 
military  councils  at  Washington  there 


CH.   IX.] 


GRANT  MADE   LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. 


421 


ruled  alternately  an  uninstructed  enthu 
siasm  and  a  purblind  pedantry." 

A  change  seemed  to  be  imperatively 
called  for ;  and  whether  it  was  Halleck's 
fault  or  not,  it  was  a  settled  fact,'  in  the 
judgment  of  the  people,  that  there 
must  be  a  new  head  to  the  army ;  a 
u  live  "  head,  as  the  phrase  was,  one  able 
to  grasp  the  situation  fully  and  firmly, 
and  possessing  comprehensive  and  ad 
ministrative  ability  sufficient  to  regu 
late,  control,  and  direct  to  the  one  great 
result,  the  vast  military  power  in  the 
hands  of  the  government  for  crushing 
the  rebellion.  Gen.  Grant,  who  had 
been  unusually  successful  in  his  career 
in  the  West,  and  who  seemed  to  be 
possessed  of  very  high  qualifications  for 
the  important  duties  of  commander  in 
chief,  was  fixed  upon  by  popular  con 
sent  as  the  man  for  the  existing-  emer- 

o 

gency.  Congress  arid  the  president 
eagerly  ratified  this  conviction  of  the 
people.  Grant  had  been  made  a  major- 
general  in  the  regular  army,  July  4th, 
1863  ;  and  in  order  to  place  him  in  the 
rank  above  all  others,  and  meet  all  the 
demands  of  military  etiquette,  there  was 
revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant-general. 
The  bill  passed  by  Congress  for  this 
purpose  was  approved  by  Mr.  Lincoln, 
February  29th ;  he  immediately  nomi 
nated  Gen.  Grant,  who  was  confirmed 
by  the  Senate  on  the  2d  of  March,  1864, 
and  thus  elevated  to  the  rank  wrhich 
Washington  alone  had  ever  held  in  the 
army  of  the  United  States. 

Grant  was  summoned  to  Washington 

o 

to  receive  his  commission  as  lieutenant- 
general  and  arrived  on  the  8th  of  March. 
The  next  day,  in  the  executive  chamber, 
the  president,  in  the  presence  of  the  en- 


tire  cabinet,  Gen.  Rawlins,  Grant's  chief 
of  staff,  Gen.  Halleck,  and  a  few  others, 
bestowed  the  high  commission  upon 
Grant.  His  address  was  brief  and  di<?- 

O 

nified,  fully  recognizing  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion : 

"  G~EN.  GEANT, — The  nation's  appre 
ciation  of  what  you  have  done,  and  its 
reliance  upon  you  for  what  remains  to 
be  done  in  the  existing  great  struggle, 
is  now  presented  with  this  commission, 
constituting  you  lieutenant-general  in 
the  army  of  the  United  States.  With 
this  high  honor  devolves  upon  you 
also  a  corresponding  responsibility.  As 
the  country  herein  trusts  you,  so, 
under  God,  it  will  sustain  you. 
I  scarcely  need  to  add,  that,  with  what  I 
here  speak  for  the  nation,  goes  my  own 
hearty  personal  concurrence."  Gen. 
Grant,  in  simple  but  pertinent  language, 
replied,  as  follows  :  u  ME.  PEESIDENT  : 
— I  accept  the  commission  with  grati 
tude  for  the  high  honor  conferred. 
With  the  aid  of  the  noble  armies  that 
have  fought  on  so  many  fields  for  our 
common  country,  it  will  be  my  earnest 
endeavor  not  to  disappoint  your  expec 
tations.  I  feel  the  full  weight  of  the 
responsibilities  now  devolving  upon  me ; 
and  I  know  that  if  they  are  met,  it  will 
be  due  to  those  armies,  and,  above  all, 
to  the  favor  of  that  Providence  which 
leads  both  nations  and  men." 

The  day  following,  March  I0th,  by 
special  order  of  the  president,  Grant 
was  "  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States."  On  the 
llth  of  March,  he  returned  to  Nash 
ville,  Tenn.,  and  on  the  12th,  the  order 
was  issued  by  the  war  department,  re 
organizing  the  chief  military  commands 


422 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  IX. 


for  the  ensuing  campaign.  Halleck 
was  made  chief  of  staff  of  the  army, 
under  the  direction  of  the  secretary  of 
war  and  the  lieut.-general  commanding. 
Sherman  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  military  division,  composed  of 
the  department  of  the  Ohio,  the  Cum 
berland,  the  Tennessee,  and  the  Arkan 
sas.  McPherson  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  department  and  Army 
of  the  Tennessee. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  at  Nashville, 
Grant  issued  an  order,  in  which  he 
said : — "  I  assume  command  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States.  My  head 
quarters  will  be  in  the  field,  and  until 
further  orders  will  be  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  There  will  be  an  offi 
cers'  headquarters  in  Washington,  to 
which  all  official  communications  will 
be  sent,  except  those  from,  the  army 
where  headquarters  are  at  the  date  of 
this  address."  Two  days  later,  Grant 
left  Nashville  for  Washington,  and  pro 
ceeded  thence  to  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  to  prepare  for  active  measures  at 
the  earliest  moment. 

At  this  point  the  reader  will  be  in 
terested  in  having  the  lieut.-general's 
views  upon  the  great  question  at  issue, 
as  well  as  upon  the  steps  necessary  to 
be  taken  in  so  grave  an  emergency. 
We  quote  from  the  beginning  of  his 
official  report,  made  in  July,  1865. 
"  From  an  early  period  in  the  rebellion 
I  had  been  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  active  and  continuous  operations 
of  all  the  troops  that  could  be  brought 
into  the  field,  regardless  of  season  and 
weather,  were  necessary  to  a  speedy 
termination  of  the  war.  The  resources 
of  the  enemy  and  his  numerical  strength 


1M51. 


were  far  inferior  to  ours ;  but  as  an  off 
set  to  this,  we  had  a  vast  territory,  with 
a  population  hostile  to  the  government, 
to  garrison,  and  long  lines  of  river  and 
railroad  communication  to  protect,  to 
enable  us  to  supply  the  operating 
armies. 

"  The  armies  of  the  East  and  West 
acted  independently  and  without  con 
cert,  like  a  balky  team,  no  two  ever 
pulling  together,  enabling  the  enemy 
to  use  to  great  advantage  his  interior 
lines  of  communication  for  transporting 
troops  from  East  to  West,  reinforcing 
the  army  most  vigorously  press 
ed,  and  to  furlough  large  num 
bers,  during  seasons  of  inactivity  on  our 
part,  to  go  to  their  homes  and  do  the 
work  of  producing,  for  the  support  of 
their  armies.  It  was  a  question  whether 
our  numerical  strength  and  resources 
were  not  more  than  balanced  by  these 
disadvantages  and  the  enemy's  superior 
position. 

"  From  the  first,  I  was  firm  in  the 
conviction  that  no  peace  could  be  had 
that  would  be  stable  and  conducive  to 
the  happiness  of  the  people,  both  North 
and  South,  until  the  military  power  of 
the  rebellion  was  entirely  broken.  I 
therefore  determined,  first,  to  use  the 
greatest  number  of  troops  practicable 
against  the  armed  force  of  the  enemy ; 
preventing  him  from  using  the  same 
force  at  different  seasons  against  first 
one  and  then  another  of  our  armies,  and 
the  possibility  of  repose  for  refitting  and 
producing  necessary  supplies  for  carry 
ing  on  resistance.  Second,  to  hammer 
continuously  against  the  armed  force  of 
the  enemy  and  his  resources,  until  by 
mere  attrition,  if  in  no  other  way,  there 


CH.  IX.] 


POSITION  OF  MILITARY  AFFAIRS. 


423 


should  be  nothing  left  to  him  but  an 
equal  submission  with  the  loyal  section 
of  our  common  country  to  the  Consti 
tution  and  laws'  of  the  land." 

In  connection  with  these  statements, 
it  is  important  to  notice  the  situation 
of  the  loyal  forces  at  this  date,  as  well 
as  of  those  in  array  against  them.  The 
Mississippi  River  was  strongly  garri 
soned  by  our  troops  from  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  to  its  mouth.  The  line  of  the 
Arkansas  was  also  held,  which  gave  us 
possession  of  all  west  of  the  Mississippi 
and  north  of  the  Arkansas.  A  few 
points  were  held  in  Southern  Louisiana, 
and  there  was  a  small  garrison  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande.  All  the 
balance  of  the  vast  territory  of  Arkan 
sas,  Louisiana,  and  Texas  was  in  pos 
session  of  the  rebels,  who  numbered  in 
the  field  not  less  probably  than  80,000 
effective  men,  and  could,  had  occasion 
required,  have  brought  them  all  into 
active  service  ao-ainst  our  forces.  But. 

O  / 

in  Grant's  opinion,  "  the  let-alone  policy 
had  demoralized  this  force  of  the  rebels 
so  much,  that  probably  little  more  than 
one-half*of  it  was  ever  present  in  garri 
son  at  any  one  time.  The  one-half, 
however,  or  40,000  men,  with  the  bands 
of  guerrillas  scattered  through  Missouri, 
Arkansas,  and  along  the  Mississippi 
River,  and  the  disloyal  character  of 
much  of  the  population,  compelled  the 
use  of  a  large  number  of  troops  to  keep 
navigation  open  on  the  river,  and  to 
protect  the  loyal  people  to  the  west  of 
it.  To  the  east  of  the  Mississippi  we 
held  substantially  with  the  line  of  the 
Tennessee  and  Holston  Rivers,  running 
eastward  to  include  nearly  all  of  the 
state  of  Tennessee.  South  of  Chatta- 


1§G4. 


nooga,  a  small  foothold  had  been  ob 
tained  in  Georgia,  sufficient  to  protect 
East  Tennessee  from  incursions  from 
the  enemy's  force  at  Dalton,  Georgia. 
West  Virginia  was  substantially  within 
our  lines.  Virginia,  with  the  exception  of 
the  northern  border,  the  Potomac  River, 
a  small  area  about  the  mouth  of 
the  James  River,  covered  by  the 
troops  at  Norfolk  and  Fort  Monroe,  and 
the  territory  covered  by  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  lying  along  the  Rapidan, 
was  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy. 
Along  the  sea-coast  footholds  had 
been  obtained  at  Plymouth,  Wash 
ington,  and  Newbern,  in  North  Car 
olina;  Beaufort,  Folly,  and  Morris 
Islands,  Hilton  Head,  Fort  Pulaski,  and 
Port  Royal,  in  South  Carol iua;  Fer- 
nandina  and  St.  Augustine,  in  Florida. 
Key  West  and  Pensacola  were  also  in  our 
possession,  while  all  the  important  ports 
were  blockaded  by  our  navy."  Bands 
of  guerrillas  behind  our  lines  and  a 
population  largely  disaffected  and  hos 
tile,  made  it  necessary  to  guard  every 
foot  of  road  or  river  used  in  supplying 
our  armies.  And  as  military  despot 
ism  prevailed  in  the  South,  to  which 
we  have  before  referred,  every  man  and 
boy  of  eighteen  was  made  a  soldier, 
(p.  259),  and  the  rebels  were  able  to 
brino;  into  the  field  their  entire  strength ; 

o  o         / 

conscious,  as  they  were,  that  the  last 
great  struggle  was  at  hand,  and  that  if 
they  did  not  succeed  now  in  their  am 
bitious  designs,  the  so-called  "  Con 
federacy"  would  be  swept  away  for 
ever. 

Grant,  immediately  on  assuming 
command  of  all  the  armies  of  the  Uni 
ted  States,  directed  a  re-organization  of 


424 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which,  un 
der  Gen.  Meade,  by  order  of  March 
24th,  was  carried  at  once  into  effect.* 
In  view  of  the  reduced  strength  of 
nearly  all  the  regiments  serving  in  the 
army,  the  number  of  corps  was  re 
duced  from  five  to  three,  leaving  the 
2d,  5th,  and  6th  respectively  com 
manded  by  Generals  Hancock,  G.  K. 
Warren,  and  Sedgwick.  The  1st  and 
3d  corps,  lately  commanded  by  Gen 
erals  French  and  Newton,  were  dis 
tributed  among  the  other  corps.  Gen. 
Pleasanton,  so  honorably  distinguished 
at  the  head  of  the  cavalry  corps,  was 
relieved,  and  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan  as 
signed  to  his  command.  The  latter,  in 
the  prime  of  manhood,  had  already 
distinguished  himself  in  the  South-west, 
and  great  and  important  results  were 
expected  at  his  hands  in  the  extremely 
responsible  charge  now  committed  to 
his  trust.  The  9th  corps,  under 
Gen.  Burnside,  was  recruited  to  a  con 
siderable  extent  at  Annapolis  with  ne 
gro  troops.  It  was  a  matter  of  doubt 
for  some  time  where  the  services  of 
this  corps  were  to  be  employed ;  but 
having  been  reviewed  by  the  president 
on  the  23d  of  April,  it  was  ordered  to 
join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.f 

*  In  referring  to  Gen.  Meade's  position,  Gen.  Grant 
says,  with  evident  consideration  and  fairness :  "  I  may 
here  state  that,  commanding  all  the  armies  as  I  did,  I 
tried,  as  far  as  possible,  to  leave  Gen.  Meade  in  inde 
pendent  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  My 
instructions  for  that  army  were  all  through  him,  and 
were  general  in  their  nature,  leaving  all  the  details 
and  the  execution  to  him.  The  campaigns  that  fol 
lowed  proved  him  to  be  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place  His  commanding  always  in  the  presence  of  an 
officer  superior  to  him  in  rank,  has  drawn  from  him 
much  of  that  public  attention  that  his  zeal  and  ability 
entitle  him  to,  and  which  he  would  otherwise  have  re 
ceived." — Gen.  Grant's  "  Report,"  p.  12. 

•f  According  to  Mr.  Swinton's  statements  "  the  uni- 


Early  in  March,  Gen.  Sigel  was  as 
signed  to  the  command  of  the  forces  in 
the  department  of  Western  Virginia, 
for  the  purpose  of  co-operating  with 
Grant  by  way  of  the  Shenandoah  Val 
ley.  Large  additions  .were  made  to  his 
force,  and  important  interests  depended 
on  its  success.  Gen.  Butler,  in  com 
mand  at  Fortress  Monroe,  was  also  re 
inforced,*  and  was  expected  to  render 
very  efficient  aid  in  carrying  out  the 
plan  of  the  campaign  as  determined 
upon  by  Grant.  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith, 
from  the  western  army,  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  18th  corps ;  and 
Gen.  Gillmore,  from  the  department  of 
the  South,  was  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  10th  corps.  Both  these 
officers  were  to  act  under  Butler's  com 
mand,  with  reference  to  the  one  great  ob 
ject  Grant  had  in  view,  i.  <?.,  the  taking 
of  Richmond,  and,  if  possible,  the  cap 
ture  or  destruction  of  Lee's  army.f 

Meade,  the  commander  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  was  instructed  by 
Grant  "  that  Lee's  army  would  be  his 
objective  point;  that  wherever  Lee 
went  he  would  go  also.  For  ms  move 
ment  two  plans  presented  themselves : 
One  to  cross  the  "Rapidan  below  Lee, 
moving  by  his  right  flank;  the  other 

ted  strength  of  the  four  corps  gave  Grant  a  moveable 
column  of  about  140,000  men  of  all  arms.  The  rolls  of 
Lee's  army  showed  a  force,  present  for  duty,  of  52,626 
men,  foot,  horse,  and  artillery." — "  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,"  p.  413. 

*  For  the  letter  of  instruction  addressed  to  Butler, 
April  3d,  see  Grant's  "Report,"  pp.  8,  9. 

f  On  the  21st  of  April,  the  governors  of  Ohio,  Indi 
ana,  Illinois,  and  Iowa,  tendered  to  the  government 
the  services  of  100,000  men  for  one  hundred  days.  The 
object  was,  to  afford  valuable  help  in  garrisoning  the 
forts,  cities,  etc.,  and  thus  to  relieve  the  veteran  troops 
occupied  in  this  kind  of  duty.  The  president  very 
gladly  accepted  the  offer,  and  directions  were  given 
to  carry  the  same  into  effect 


CH.  IX.] 


THE  ARMY  CROSSES  THE  RAPIDAN. 


425 


above,  moving  by  his  left.  Each  pre 
sented  advantages  over  the  other,  with 
corresponding  objections.  By  crossing 
above,  Lee  would  be  cut  off  from  all 
chance  of  ignoring  Richmond  or  going 
north  on  .a  raid.  But  if  we 
took  this  route  all  we  did  would 
have  to  be  done  whilst  the  rations  we 
started  with  held  out ;  besides,  it  sepa 
rated  us  from  Butler,  so  that  he  could 
not  be  directed  how  to  co-operate.  If 
we  took  the  other  route,  Brandy  Sta 
tion  could  be  used  as  a  base  of  supplies 
until  another  was  secured  on  the  York 
or  James  Rivers.  Of  these,  however, 
it  was  decided  to  take  the  lower  route." 

The  lieutenant-general  took  the  ear 
liest  opportunity  of  visiting  and  inspect 
ing  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  also 
the  forces  under  Butler  in  command  at 
Fortress  Monroe.  During  the  month 
of  April,  preparations  of  every  kind 
were  actively  carried  forward.  Lee's 
army  held  its  long  established  lines, 
formidably  entrenched  in  his  most  ad 
vantageous  position  south  of  the  Rapi- 
dan,  with  his  headquarters  at  Orange 
Court  House.  To  the  north  of  the 
Rapidan,  with  its  line  of  communica 
tion  by  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
Railroad,  lay  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
threatening  its  adversary  and  guarding 
the  approaches  to  Washington.  Grant's 
headquarters  was  established  at  Cul- 
pepper. 

Owing  to  the  weather  and  bad  con 
dition  of  the  roads,  operations  were  de 
layed  until  the  beginning  of  May,  when, 
everything  being  in  readiness,  and  the 
roads  favorable,  orders  were  given  for 
a  general  movement  of  all  the  armies, 
to  take  place  as  early  as  the  4th  of 


May.  Accordingly,  on  Tuesday,  May 
3d,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  broke 
camp,  and  with  six  days7  rations  began 
its  march.  About  two  P.M.,  Gregg's 
cavalry  division,  with  a  part  of  the 
pontoon  train,  moved  towards  Richards- 
ville,  and  were  occupied  in  repairing 
the  roads  to  Ely's  Ford.  Wilson's  cav 
alry  division  performed  a  similar  ser 
vice  with  reference  to  Germania  Ford, 
eight  miles  above ;  and  about  mid 
night,  the  means  of  crossing  having 
been  secured,  Hancock,  with  the  2d 
corps,  moved  to  Ely's  Ford,  and  passed 
with  his  entire  force  over  the  Rapidan 
by  daylight.  Warren  began  to  move 
at  the  same  time,  and  Sedgwick  follow 
ed  closely  in  his  steps.  During  the 
day,  May  4th,  the  crossing  was  effected 
by  the  three  corps  without  opposition. 
Burnside,  with  the  9th  corps,  advanced 
to  the  banks  of  the  Rapidan,  but  did 
not  cross  over,  being  held  as  a  reserve. 
" Before  night"  (on  the  4th  of  May), 
says  Grant,  speaking  of  this  crossing, 
"  the  whole  army  was  across  the  Rapi 
dan  (the  5th  and  6th  corps  crossing 
at  Germania  Ford,  and  the  2d  corps  at 
Ely's  Ford,  the  cavalry,  under  Major- 
General  Sheridan,  moving  in  advance), 
with  the  greater  part  of  its  trains,  num 
bering  about  4,000  wagons,  meeting 
with  but  slight  opposition.  This  1  re 
garded  as  a  great  success,  and  it  re 
moved  from  my  mind  the  most  serious 
apprehensions  I  had  entertained,  that 
of  crossing  the  river  in  the  face  of  an 
active,  large,  well-appointed  and  ably 
commanded  army,  and  how  so  large  a 
train  was  to  be  carried  through  a  hos 
tile  country  and  protected.' 


r-X- 


"  But,"  is  Swinton's  criticism,  "  the  trouble  in  re 


426 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


Although  Grant  thus  felicitatad  him 
self,  it  speedily  became  evident  that  a 
severe  struggle  must  be  had  with  the 
rebels  before  any  forward  movement 
could  be  made  by  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  The  line  of  march,  after 
crossing  the  Kapidan,  led  through  that 
region  known  as  the  Wilderness,  a  wild 
and  dreary  tract,  covered  with  dense 
undergrowth,  scrub  oaks,  and  the  like, 
with  various  narrow  cross-roads,  tho 
roughly  known  to  the  rebels,  and 
affording  a  capital  place  for  deadly  at 
tack  upon  our  men.  It  was  along  its 
gloomy  margin  that  Hooker,  a  year 
before,  had  fought  and  lost  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville  (see  p.  285).  Han 
cock  moved  in  the  direction  of  Chan 
cellorsville  ;  Warren,  having  crossed 
above,  was  a  few  miles  farther  to  the 
west  at  Old  Wilderness  Tavern;  and 
Sedgwick  was  in  his  rear,  to 
ward  the  river.  The  army  of 
Lee,  occupying  the  line  from  Orange 
to  Louisa  Court  House,  was  in  a  posi 
tion  to  operate  on  the  flank  of  Grant's 
forces  in  their  advance  to  the  open 
country  beyond.  There  were  two  roads 
from  Orange  Court  House,  the  Orange 
and  Fredericksburg  plank  road,  and  the 
turnpike,  running  eastward  and  strik 
ing  Grant's  line  of  march  at  right 
angles.  The  rebel  general,  with  a  bold 
ness  and  vigor  unexpected,  resolved  to 
advance  rapidly  upon  our  army,  and 
compel  a  battle  in  a  region  where  he 
would  have  all  the  advantage,  and 
where,  as  artillery  could  not  be  used 


gard  to  the  trains  really  began  when  the  army  reach 
ed  the  Wilderness,  being  there  shut  up  in  the  restrict 
ed  triangle  between  the  Rapidan  and  Rappahannock." 
— "Army  of  the  Potomac"  p.  416. 


1864. 


amid  the  thick  chapparal,  our  men 
would  be  at  every  disadvantage,  and 
he  might  inflict  a  deadly  blow  upon 
them.  Accordingly,  on  the  morning 
of  the  4th  of  May,  Lee  sent  forward 
two  corps  of  his  army,  Swell's  by  the 
turnpike,  and  Hill's  by  the  plank  road, 
to  make  an  immediate  attack. 

Early  on  Thursday  morning,  May  5th, 
the  rebels  were  in  position,  and  the 
battle  began  about  noon.  Both  Grant 
and  Meade  were  that  morning  at  Old 
Wilderness  Tavern ;  but  neither  seems 
to  have  realized  that  the  rebels  serious 
ly  contemplated  battle  at  this  point. 
It  was  the  object  of  Lee  in  advancing 
on  the  cross-roads  to  divide  the  army 
and  cut  off  its  communications  with  the 
river,  with  the  hope,  doubtless,  in  thus 
striking  it  on  the  march  before  its  posi 
tion  was  established,  of  dealing  it  a 
blow  from  which  it  could  hardly,  if  at 
all,  recover,  and  continue  its  advance. 
Grant,  in  his  report,  says  briefly,  "  The 
battle  raged  furiously  all  day,  the  whole 
army  being  brought  into  the  fight  as 
fast  as  the  corps  could  be  got  upon  the 
field,  which,  considering  the  density  of 
the  forest  and  narrowness  of  the  roads, 
was  done  with  commendable  prompt- 


•11 


ness. 

Lee's  plan  was  a  bold  and  spirited 
one ;  but  Grant,  though  taken  rather  at 
a  disadvantage,  met  the  emergency  as 
best  he  could.  There  were  two  main 
actions  during  the  day,  on  the  right  and 
left  of  our  lines,  the  rebels  in  both  cases 
being  spiritedly  assailed.  As  the  na 
ture  of  the  ground  forbade  generally 
the  use  of  artillery  and  cavalry,  the 
fighting  was  mostly  confined  to  the  in 
fantry:  both  sides  suffered  severely, 


On.  IX.] 


BATTLE   OF  THE  WILDERNESS. 


427 


the  contest  being  of  the  most  determin 
ed  character.  The  losses  were  large  in 
Warren's  corps,  which,  from  its  posi 
tion,  bore  the  brunt  of  the  en 
gagements.  In  Hancock's  corps 
the  divisions  of  Birney,  Barlow  and 
Gibbon  were  successively  engaged. 
The  fighting  continued  till  late  in  the 
evening,  without  material  advantage  to 
either  party.  Both  rested  that  night 
with  the  clear  imderstanding  that  a 
terrible  battle  was  to  be  fought  on  the 
morrow. 

At  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  May 
6th,  by  order  of  the  commanding-gen 
eral,  the  fierce  struggle  was  resumed, 
and  had  the  ground  been  such  as  to 
admit  of  manoeuvring  the  large  and 
well-appointed  armies  now  arrayed  one 
against  the  other,  a  decisive  action 
might  have  been  fought.  As  it  was, 
the  battle  extended  alon^  the  whole 

O 

line,  a  distance  of  seven  miles  from 
Sedgwick's  right  to  Hancock's  left. 
Hancock,  prompt  in  the  assault,  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  advanced  his 
forces,  increased  by  several  divisions 
from  the  other  corps,  and  drove  the 
enemy  for  two  miles  till  they  were  re 
inforced  by  Longstreet's  command, 
which  had  lately  re-joined  Lee's  army, 
and  now  came  up  by  a  rapid  march. 
A  number  of  prisoners  were  taken  by 
Hancock  in  this  movement.  A  furious 
attack  was  made  in  the  afternoon  by 
the  joint  forces  of  Longstreet  and  Hill 
upon  the  left  and  centre ;  but  reinforce 
ments  from  Burnside  having  been 
brought  up,  the  enemy's  advance  was 
effectually  checked.  About  noon,  Gen. 
J.  S.  Wadsworth,  commanding  the  4th 
division  of  the  5th  corps,  was  shot  in 


the  forehead  and  mortally  wounded, 
while  leading  his  troops  into  action. 
After  dark,  the  rebels  made  an  attempt 
to  turn  our  right  flank,  and  succeeded 
in  capturing  portions  of  Seymour's  and 
Shaler's  brigades,  with  their  command 
ers.  Great  confusion  was  produced, 
and  the  right  of  the  army  was  impe 
rilled  ;  but,  by  Sedgwick's  energy  and 
skill,  our  line  was  soon  re-formed  and 
order  restored.  Sheridan's  cavalry,  as 
before,  held  firmly  the  advance  on  the 
left.  The  fighting  was  closed  with 
both  armies  holding  substantially  the 
same  positions  which  they  occupied  the 
evening  before. 

Our  loss  on  the  right  wing  was  esti 
mated  at  6,000,  of  which  4,000  occurred 
during  the  enemy's  assault.  The  total 
loss  in  the  two  days'  bloody  struggle 
was  probably  not  short  of  15,000.  The 
rebel  loss  was  somewhere  between 
8,000  and  10,000.  Longstreet  was  se 
verely  wounded,  accidentally,  by  his 
own  men,  and  was  of  no  further  use  to 
the  rebel  cause  till  the  close  of  the  year. 

Secretary  Stanton,  under  date  of 
May  8th,  stated  : — "  We  have  no  offi 
cial  reports  from  the  front,  but  the  med 
ical  director  has  notified  the  surgeon- 
general  that  our  wounded  were  being 
sent  to  Washington,  and  will  number 
from  6,000  to  8,000.  The  chief 
quartermaster  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  has  made  requisition  for 
seven  days'  grain,  and  for  railroad  con 
struction  trains,  and  states,  the  enemy 
is  reported  to  be  retiring.  This  indi 
cates  General  Grant's  advance,  and 
affords  an  inference  of  material  success 
on  our  part."  * 

*  This  was  the  first  of  a  series  of  dispatches,  sent  by 


1864. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


On  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  May, 
the  bleeding  combatants  had  little  de 
sire  for  renewal  of  the  terrible  struggle 
on  the.  battle  field.  Reconnaissances, 
on  our  side,  showed  that  the  rebels  had 
fallen  behind  their  entrenched  lines, 
with  pickets  to  the  front  covering  a 
part  of  the  field.  "  From  this,"  accord 
ing  to  Grant's  statement,  "  it  was  evi 
dent  to  my  mind  that  the  two  clays' 
fighting  had  satisfied  the  enemy  of  his 
inability  to  further  maintain  the  con 
test  in  the  open  field,  notwithstanding 
his  advantage  of  position,  and  that  he 
would  wait  an  attack  behind  his  works. 
I  determined  therefore  to  push  on,  and 
put  my  whole  force  between  him  and 
Richmond ;  and  orders  were  at  once 
issued  for  a  movement  by  his  right 
flank."  The  immense  army  trains 
were  sent  during  the  day  to  Chancel- 
lorsville,  there  to  park  for  the  night, 
and  preparations  were  made  for  a  for 
ward  movement  to  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  some  fifteen  miles  south-east. 
The  cavalry,  already  in  advance  at 
Todd's  Tavern,  had  a  sharp  engage 
ment  with  Stuart's  troopers  during  the 
afternoon,  and  succeeded  in  driving 
them  for  a  considerable  distance.* 

the  secretary  of  war  to  Gen.  Dix,  in  command  at  New 
York.  They  were  intended  to  satisfy  the  anxious  de 
sire,  on  every  hand,  for  speedy  information  from  the 
seat  of  war.  The  reader  will  of  course  notice  that  they 
are  more  or  less  unreliable  and  imperfect. 

*  Mr.  Swinton,  speaking  of  this  opening  of  Grant's 
overland  campaign,  characterizes  the  battle  of  the  Wil 
derness  as  "  terrible  and  indescribable  in  those  gloomy 
woods.  There  is  something  horrible,  yet  fascinating, 
in  the  mystery  shrouding  this  strangest  of  battles  ever 
fought — a  battle  which  no  man  could  see,  and  whose 
progress  only  could  be  followed  by  the  ear,  as  the 
sharp  and  crackling  volleys  of  musketry,  and  the  alter 
nate  Union  cheer  and  Confederate  yell,  told  how  the 
fight  surged  and  swelled." — " Army  of 'the  Potomac" 
p.  439. 


Leaving  the  narrative  of  the  further 
movements  of  Grant  and  Meade  for  a 
brief  space,  it  will  be  interesting  to 
take  note  here  of  what  Butler  had  been 
about  in  the  meanwhile.  Grant  had 
carefully  impressed  upon  Butler,  before 
the  opening  of  the  campaign,  that  it 
was  his  intention  to  ficvht  Lee  between 

O 

Culpepper  and  Richmond,  if  he  would 
stand.  Should  Lee,  however,  fall  back 
to  Richmond,  Grant  purposed  following 
him  up  and  effecting  a  junction  with 
Butler's  forces  on  the  James  River,  and 
he  urged  upon  Butler  to  secure  foothold 
as  far  up  the  south  side  of  the  river  as 
he  could,  and,  if  he  could  not  carry 
Richmond,  at  least  to  detain  as  large  a 
force  of  the  enemy  as  possible. 

Butler,  at  this  time,  with  the  corps 
under  Smith  and  Gillniore  (p.424),  had 
a  division  of  horse,  commanded  by  Gen. 
Kautz,  making  his  force  30,000  in  all. 
They  were  assembled  at  Yorktown  and 
Gloucester  Point,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  York  River,  and  were  in  a  posi 
tion  to  move  by  land  up  the  Peninsula 
toward  Richmond,  or  take  up  the  line 
of  the  James  River,  and  threaten  the 
rebel  capital  from  the  south  side.  The 
last  was  the  purpose  really  had  in  view, 
although  feints  were  made  of  attacking 
in  other  directions.  To  distract  the  at 
tention  of  the  enemy,  a  brigade  of  troops, 
at  the  very  last  moment,  was  sent  up 
the  York  River  to  the  White  House 
Landing,  where,  at  the  time  Butler's 
army  was  in  motion,  they  were  employ 
ed  in  constructing  a  wharf.  The  decep 
tion  was  complete.  When  all  was 
ready,  on  Wednesday,  May  4th,  the 
transport  steamers  were  sent  from  Fort 
ress  Monroe  to  the  mouth  of  York 


CH.  IX.] 


BERMUDA  HUNDRED   OCCUPIED. 


429 


1§64. 


River  to  take  on  board  the  troops,  and 
that  night  they  were  quietly 
brought  down  to  Hampton 
Roads.  The  ascent  of  the  Janies  River 
was  to  commence  at  daybreak,  the  fleet 
consisting  of  the  transports,  preceded 
by  a  number  of  gun  boats  and  monitors. 
Some  detention  occurred,  but  at  eight 
o'clock,  all  preliminaries  were  arranged, 
and  the  expedition  began  the  ascent  of 
the  river.  The  object  in  view  was  the 
occupation  of  the  neck  of  land  at  City 
Point,  on  the  right  bank,  where  the 
Appomattox  empties  into  the  James,  a 
position  about  twenty  miles  from  Rich 
mond  and  ten  from  Petersburg,  conse 
quently  threatening  both  places,  and 
within  easy  striking  distance  of  the  im 
portant  line  of  railroad  communication 
between  the  two  places.* 

On  the  way  up  the  liver,  there  were 
only  two  points  at  which  opposition 
might  be  expected,  viz.,  at  Wilson's 
Landing,  at  a  bend  of  the  stream  on  the 
left  bank,  about  thirty-five  miles  below 
Richmond,  and  at  Fort  Powhatan,  at 
the  next  turn  on  the  right.  At  neither 
of  these  places,  nor  at  City  Point,  was 
any  opposition  offered  by  the  rebels. 
The  surprise  was  complete.  The  troops 
were  landed  without  difficulty,  and,  be 
fore  the  next  morning,  had  secured  the 

*  Gen.  Grant's  language,  in  regard  to  the  expected 
co-operation  of  Butler,  is  worth  quoting  : — "  My  first 
obj  ect  being  to  break  the  military  power  of  the  rebel' 
lion  and  capture  the  enemy's  important  strongholds, 
made  me  desirous  that  Gen.  Butler  should  succeed  in 
his  movement  against  Richmond,  as  that  would  tend 
more  than  any  thing  else,  unless  it  were  the  capture 
of  Lee's  army,  to  accomplish  this  desired  result  in  the 
East.  It  was  well  understood,  both  by  Gens.  Butler 
and  Meade,  before  starting  on  the  campaign,  that  it 
was  my  intention  to  put  both  their  armies  south  of  the 
James  River,  in  case  of  failure  to  destroy  Lee  without 
it."— Grant's  "  Report,"  p.  10. 


station  at  City  Point,  and  a  most  desir 
able  foothold  in  the  triangular  district 
of  Bermuda  Hundred,  a  neck  of  land 
formed  by  the  sinuous  course  of  the 
James  and  Appomattox  Rivers.  An 
entrenchment  was  effected  readily  on 
the  west,  which,  with  the  gun  boats  on 
the  flanks,  completed  the  defences  of 
the  position  thus  acquired. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  Butler  made  a 
reconnaissance  against  the  Petersburg 
and  Richmond  Railroad,  and,  after  a 
severe  contest  with  a  body  of  the  rebels 
in  position  covering  that  road  from 
Walthal  Junction  north  to  Chester  Sta 
tion,  he  succeded  in  destroying  a  por 
tion  of  it.  On  the  9th,  Butler  sent  a 
dispatch  to  Washington,  summing  up 
his  operations  thus  far,  and,  as  we  shall 
see,  by  and  b}r,  giving  too  sanguine  a 
view  of  his  success  over  Beauregard.* 

As  previously  stated,  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  pressed  on  in  pursuit  of 
Lee  toward  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
on  the  night  of  May  7th,  and  the  next 
day,  Sunday  the  8th,  found  that  the 
rebels  had  anticipated  them  and  were 
already  in  position.  Longstreet's  co 
lumn  by  a  forced  march  had  gained  the 
advantage,  and  barred  further  progress. 
A  severe  contest  ensued  on  Sunday 
morning,  May  8th,  on  the  Brock  Road, 
from  Todd's  Tavern,  at  a  clearing  near 
Alsop's  farm,  in  which  the  enemy,  in 
force,  were  encountered  bv  the 

V  M    O£»     fl 

brigades  of  Bartlett  and  Robin 
son,  with  heavy  loss  to  their  commands, 
Robinson  being  severely  wounded.   At 


*  In  a  number  of  pages  devoted  to  this  point,  Mr. 
Swinton  sharply  criticises  Gen.  Grant's  plan  and  pur 
pose,  so  far  as  he  can  understand  what  the  commander 
in  chief  expected  Butler  to  do. — "  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,"  pp.  4G2-464. 


430 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


this  juncture.  Warren  was  compelled  to 
rally  Ms  troops  in  person;  the  other 
portions  of  his  corps  were  brought  up 
under  Gens.  Crawford  and  Cutler,  who 
had  succeeded  Wadsworth,  and  the 
fighting  was  continued  until  evening 
without  being  able  to  drive  the  rebels 
entirely  from  their  entrenched  position. 
The  operations  of  the  day  left  them  in 
possession  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House. 
Lee,  in  fact,  had  succeeded  in  placing 
his  army  across  Grant's  line  of  march ; 
and  having  made  Spottsylvania  Eidge  a 
bulwark  of  defence,  he  was  able,  for 
twelve  days,  to  hold  our  army  in  check 
and  compel  a  further  bloody  delay  in 
the  advance  upon  Richmond. 

On  Monday,  May  9th,  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  confronted  the  enemy, 
Longstreet  and  Ewell  occupying  the 
formidable  ridge  before  Spottsylvania 
Court  House.  There  was  some  can 
nonading  as  well  as  some  skirmishing 
during  the  forenoon,  but  no  general 
battle.  The  rebel  sharpshooters  were 
very  active,  and  one  distinguished  vic 
tim  fell  a  prey  to  their  deadly  aim. 
This  was  Gen.  Sedgwick,  who  was  not 
only  one  of  the  most  gallant  officers  in 
the  service,  but  was  also  beloved  by 
the  whole  army.  He  was  in  the  front 
of  the  extreme  right  of  his  corps,  super 
intending  the  posting  of  some  guns, 
when  a  ball  pierced  his  face  just  below 
the  left  eye,  and  he  fell  dead  instantly. 
Gen.  H.  G.  Wright  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  the  6th  corps.  Towards 
evening,  Grant  ordered  another  advance 
on  the  enemy,  and  on  the  same  day  dis 
patched  Sheridan  on  a  raid  against  the 
rebel  line  of  communication  with  Rich 
mond.  Hancock  held  the  rio-ht  of  our 

O 


line,  Warren  the  centre,  and  Wright  the 
left.  Birney's  and  Gibbon's  divisions 
of  Hancock's  corps,  followed  by  Car 
roll's  brigade,  crossed  the  Po  and  met 
the  enemy,  when  some  severe  fighting 
occurred,  attended  by  heavy  losses.  An 
attack  was  also  made  on  a  portion  of 
Burnside's  corps  on  the  left,  but  it  was 
repulsed  with  great  spirit. 

The  next  day,  May  10th,  the  army 
of  Grant  occupied  substantially  the 
same  position  as  on  the  previous  day. 
His  line  stretched  about  six  miles  on 
the  northerly  bank  of  the  Po,  and  took 
the  general  form  of  a  crescent,  the  wings 
being  thrown  forward.  The  conflict 
began,  early  in  the  morning,  with  heavy 
discharges  of  artillery,  which  were  kept 
up  all  the  forenoon.  A  vigorous  attack 
was  made  upon  Lee's  centre,  and  our 
troops  fought  most  gallantly,  but  not 
with  the  success  which  was  expected. 
The  rebels  checked  our  advance,  and 
turning  the  right  across  the  Po,  compel 
led  the  withdrawal  of  Barlow's  division 
of  Hancock's  corps,  at  that  point,  to  the 
east  bank.  The  coolness  and  steadiness 
of  our  men  on  this  occasion  saved  them 
from  a  great  disaster.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  day,  an  energetic  assault  was 
made  by  the  troops  of  the  2d  and  5th 
corps,  upon  a  hill  held  by  the  enemy 
in  front  of  Warren's  line;  but  it  met 
with  a  very  bloody  repulse.  On  the  left 
of  Warren,  an  assault,  made  just  at 
evening,  by  Upton's  brigade  of  the  6th 
corps,  met  with  better  success.  The 
enemy's  works  were  scaled,  the  first  line 
of  rifle-pits  captured,  and  more 
than  1,000  prisoners  taken,  with 
several  guns.  This  advance,  however, 
was  not  sustained,  and  the  night,  as 


1864. 


CH.  IX.] 


THE  FOURTEEN   HOURS'   BATTLE. 


431 


always  before,  closed  on  a  hard-fought 
but  indecisive  field.  Our  loss  had  been 
not  less  than  10,000  men;  but  the 
rebels,  it  was  thought,  had  suffered 
quite  as  severely  as  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  Gen.  Rice,  of  the  5th  corps, 
and  Gen.  Stevenson,  of  the  9th  corps, 
both  brave  and  valuable  officers,  were 
among  the  killed. 

It  was  evident,  from  the  tenacity  and 
skill  with  which  Lee  offered  resistance 
to  Grant's  advance,  that  he  was  not 
prepared  to  stake  his  fortunes  upon  a 
single  great  battle.  Continuous  fighting, 
within  lines  of  defence,  was  his  policy, 
and  he  meant,  in  this  way,  to  contest 
every  inch  of  ground  between  Grant 
and  Richmond.  The  commander  in 
chief  of  our  armies  was  not,  however, 
one  to  be  readily  turned  aside  from  any 
work  he  had  undertaken.  Although 

o 

the  loss  of  life  and  limb  had  been  fear 
ful,  even  terrible,  to  contemplate,  still 
Grant  faltered  not ;  and  firmly  bent  on 
the  object  of  his  campaign,  he  was  fully 
determined,  at  whatever  cost,  to  con 
tinue  the  struggle.  This  resolution  was 
expressed  in  terse  and  pointed  terms  at 
the  close  of  a  dispatch,  sent  to  the 
secretary  of  war,  on  Wednesday  morn 
ing,  May  llth  : — u  We  have  now  end 
ed,"  he  wrote,  "  the  sixth  day  of  very 
heavy  fighting.  The  result,  to  this  time, 
is  much  in  our  favor.  Our  losses  have 
been  heavy,  as  well  as  those  of 
the  enemy.  I  think  the  enemy's 
must  be  greater.  We  have  taken  over 
5,000  prisoners  in  battle,  while  he  has 
taken  from  us  but  few  except  stragglers. 
I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line  if 
it  takes  all  summer? 

Wednesday  passed    in    some   slight 


1  §61. 


skirmishing  and  in  reconnoitring  with 
reference  to  movements  the  next  day. 
During  the  night,  Hancock's  corps  wa? 
shifted  from  his  position  on  the  right  to 
the  left,  occupying  the  ground  between 
Gens.  Wright  and  Burnside.    On  Thurs 
day,  May  12th,  at  dawn  of  day,  amid  a 
dense  mist  and  fog,  the  2d  corps  moved 
upon  the  enemy's  lines.     Barlow's  divi 
sion  in  front,  followed  by  those  of  Bir- 
ney,  Gibbon  and  Mott,  gallantly  dashed 
over  the  intervening  ground,  and  took 
the  rebels  completely  by  surprise.  With 
loud  cheers,  our  men  leaped  over  the 
hostile   entrenchments,  and   in   a   few 
moments  captured  the  whole  of  John 
son's  division  and  part  of  Early's,  some 
3,000   in    number,  together  with   two 
rebel  generals,  E.  Johnson  and  G.  H. 
Stuart,  and  between   thirty  and  forty 
cannon.     The  second   line  of  rifle-pits 
was  immediately  stormed,  and,  after  a 
stubborn  resistance,  wrested  from  the 
enemy.   The  action  now  became  general, 
and  the  heavy  cannonading,  all  along  the 
line,  was  answered  with  spirit  by  Lee's 
army.     Burnside's  and  Wright's  troops 
joined  in  the  conflict,  while  Warren  oc 
cupied  the  enemy  in  front.     Roused  to 
the  danger,  the  enemy  made  repeated 
attempts  to  re-occupy  the  lost 
works,  but  were  repulsed  with 
heavy  slaughter  by  our  batteries  and 
the  musketry  of  the  infantry ;   an  ad 
vantage  which  the  foe,  in  turn,  main 
tained  in  front,  where  they  were  strong 
ly  posted.     The  contest  for  the  works 
captured  in  the  morning  was  continued 
through  the  day.     Burnside,  on  the  ex 
treme  left,  was  engaged  in    the  after 
noon,  in   a   stubborn   and   bloody  en 
counter  with  the  enemy,  in  which  he 


1864. 


432 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


held  his  ground,  though  unable  to  push 
the  flanking  movement  of  the  day  fur 
ther  in  that  direction.  Rain  began  to 
fall  at  noon,  but  the  bloody  fray  went 
on,  and  was  continued  while  daylight 
lasted.  The  dead  and  wounded  lay 
thickly  strewn  along  the  ground,  and, 
after  fourteen  hours  of  deadly  struggle, 
night  put  an  end  to  the  battle  of  May 
12th.  Grant's  dispatch,  the  same  even 
ing,  spoke  in  high  terms  of  our  successes 
during  the  day,  and  at  the  same  time 
said;  "the  enemy  are  obstinate,  and 
seem  to  have  found  the  last  ditch."  * 

Sheridan,  whose  starting  upon  a  spe 
cial  service  against  the  rebel  communi 
cations  with  Richmond  was  noted 
above  (p.  430),  entered  upon  his  work 
with  all  the  fire  and  vigor  which  cha 
racterized  his  movements  as  head  of  the 
cavalry  of  our  army.  His  plan  was  to 
cut  off  the  enemy's  supplies  in  his  rear, 
and,  traversing  the  Peninsula,  to  pene 
trate  the  defences  of  the  rebel  capital. 
The  expedition  having  set  out,  May 
9th,  moved  towards  Fredericksburg, 
and  then,  by  a  southerly  course,  on  the 
road  to  Childsford,  on  the  border  of 
the  county,  turning  the  enemy's  right, 
and  at  evening,  without  opposition, 
crossing  the  North  Anna  at  Anderson's 
Bridge.  This  brought  the  advance, 
Ouster's  brigade  of  Merritt's  division, 
within  striking  distance  of  the  Virginia 
Central  Railroad,  at  the  neighboring 

*  "  The  sixth  day  of  heavy  fighting  had  been  ended. 
Grant  had  been  foiled ;  but  his  obstinacy  was  appar 
ently  untouched,  and  the  fierce  and  brutal  consumption 
of  human  life,  another  element  of  his  generalship,  and 
which  had  already  obtained  for  him  with  his  soldiers 
the  sobriquet  of  '  the  butcher,'  was  still  to  continue. 
He  telegraphed  to  Washington,  '  I  propose  to  fight  it 
out  on  this  line  if  it  takes  all  summer.' " — Pollard's 
"  Third  Tear  of  the  War  "  p.  265. 


station,  Beaver  Dam.  During  that 
night,  Sheridan  destroyed  the  depot  at 
that  place,  a  vast  amount  of  stores,  the 
railroad  track  for  about  ten  miles,  and 
recaptured  some  400  of  our  men  on 
their  way  as  prisoners  to  Richmond 
and  its  horrible  jails. 

The  next  morning,  May  10th,  Sheri 
dan  resumed  operations,  crossing  the 
South  Anna  at  Grand  Squirrel  Bridge, 
and  went  into  camp  about  daylight. 
On  the  llth,  he  captured  Ashland  Sta 
tion,  destroyed  there,  besides  public 
stores  and  buildings,  six  miles  of  rail 
road,  embracing  six  culverts,  two  trestle 
bridges,  and  the  telegraph  wire.  The 
same  morning — to  use  the  words  of  a 
dispatch — uhe  resumed  the  march  on 
Richmond.  He  found  the  rebel  Gen. 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  with  his  cavalry,  con 
centrated  at  Yellow  Tavern,  immedi 
ately  attacked  him,  and,  after  an  obsti 
nate  contest,  gained  possession  of  the 
turnpike,  capturing  two  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  and  driving  his  forces  back  toward 
Ashland,  and  across  the  north 
fork  of  the  Chickahominy.  At 
the  same  time  a  party  charged  down 
the  Brock  Road,  and  captured  the  first 
line  of  the  enemy's  works  around  Rich 
mond.  During  the  night,  Sheridan 
marched  the  whole  of  his  command 
between  the  first  and  second  line  of  the 
enemy's  works  on  the  bluffs  overlook 
ing  the  line  of  the  Virginia  Central 
Railroad  and  the  Mechanicsville  Turn 
pike.  After  demonstrating  around  the 
works,  and  finding  them  very  strong, 
he  gave  up  the  intention  of  .assaulting, 
and  determined  to  recross  the  Chicka- 
hominy  at  Meadow  Bridge.  It  had 
been  partially  destroyed  by  the  enemy. 


1§64. 


Cu.  IX.] 


SHERIDAN'S   CAVALRY   RAID. 


433 


but  was  repaired  in-  about  three  hours, 
under  a  heavy  artillery  fire  from  a  rebel 
battery.  Gen.  Merritt  made  the  cross 
ing,  attacked  the  enemy,  and  drove  him 
off  handsomely,  the  pursuit  continuing 
as  far  as  Gaines's  Mills.  On  the  after 
noon  of  the  12th,  the  corps  encamped 
at  Walnut  Grove  and  Gaines's  Mills. 
On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  march 
was  renewed,  and  our  forces  encamped 
at  Bottom's  Bridge.  .  .  .  .  The 
Virginia  Central  Railroad  bridges  over 
the  Chiekahominy,  and  other  trestle- 
bridges,  one  sixty  feet  in  length,  one 
thirty  feet,  one  twenty  feet,  and  the 
railroad,  for  a  long  distance  south  of 
the  Chiekahominy,  were  destroyed. 
Great  praise  was  given  to  the  division 
commanders,  Gens.  Gregg,  Wilson  and 
Merritt,  and  Gens.  Custer  and  Davis, 
Cols.  Gregg,  Divine,  Chapman,  Mcln- 
tosh  and  Gibbs,  brigade  commanders ; 
and  all  the  officers  and  men  behaved 
splendidly."  The  losses,  all  told,  were 
estimated  at  about  350.  The  rebel  loss 
was  not  ascertained,  except  that,  as  was 
soon  after  made  known,  their  chief  cav 
alry  commander,  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  was 
shot  in  battle  at  Yellow  Tavern. 


Sheridan  next  moved  to  HaxalPs 
Landing,  on  the  James  River,  where  he 
was  in  immediate  communication  with 
Butler  and  his  forces.  This  raid  of 
Sheridan's  had  the  effect  of  drawing  off 
the  whole  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  force, 
and  of  making  it  comparatively  easy  to 
guard  our  large  and  important  army 
trains.  Being  conducted,  also,  with 
rare  address  and  skill,  it  produced  upon 
the  rebels  moral  effects  not  to  be  ignor 
ed,  and  was  one  of  the  steps  in  the  pro 
gress  towards  that  brilliant  reputation 
which  Sheridan  attained  before  the  close 
of  the  war.* 


*  Coppee  thus  speaks  of  Sheridan  :  "  With  his  usual 
sagacity,  Grant  had  made  an  admirable  choice  of  a 
commander.  A  young  man,  then  only  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  Sheridan  had  already  become  the  most 
distinguished  cavalry  officer  in  the  service.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  West  Point,  and  devoted  to  the  profession 
of  arms.  To  great  and  untiring  energy,  dashing 
bravery,  and  enthusiasm  in  fighting,  he  added  the  na 
tural  gift  of  being  able  to  control,  in  an  electric  man 
ner,  the  affections  and  wills  of  his  men  ;  and  he  was 
now  to  show  that  he  had  strategic  intuitions  of  the 
first  order,  and  tactical  intelligence  of  the  most  clear 
and  rapid  kind.  To  no  better  man  in  the  whole  army 
could  the  difficult  task  have  been  assigned  of  utilizing 
all  the  troops,  and  grasping  the  strategy  of  this  exten 
sive  and  important  division.  He  at  once  brought 
order  out  of  chaos,"  etc. — "  G-rant  and  his  Campaigns," 
p.  381. 


VOL.  IV.— 55. 


434 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


CHAPTEK    X. 
1864. 

GRANT'S    ONWARD    MOVEMENTS    TOWARDS    RICHMOND. 

Position  of  army  affairs  at  this  time  —  Meade's  congratulatory  order  —  Reinforcements  —  Grant  orders  a  move 
ment  to  the  North  Anna  — How  executed  — Strength  of  the  rebel  position  —  Severe  fighting  —  Cold 
Harbor  secured  —  Sigel's  co-operation  expected  —  Movements  of  Gens.  Crook  and  Averill  —  Sigel's  ill  suc 
cess —  Superseded  by  Gen.  Hunter  —  Butler's  co-operation  also  looked  for  —  Attack  on  Fort  Darling, 
Drury's  Bluff — Grant  not  satisfied  —  Rebel  attack  on  Butler,  who  gets  shut  up  in  his  entrenchments  — 
Kautz's  cavalry  expedition  against  the  Danville  Road  —  Attack  by  the  army,  June  1st  —  General  attack 
against  the  enemy's  lines,  June  3d — Gallant  fighting  and  heavy  losses  —  Grant's  views  as  to  change  or 
modification  of  plan  —  Preparation,  severe  skirmishing,  etc.  —  Effort  to  gain  possession  of  Petersburg  — 
Gillmore  and  Kautz  —  Failure  —  Determination  of  Grant  —  The  movement  from  Cold  Harbor  to  the  south 
of  the  James  River  —  Hunter's  active  operations  and  partial  success  —  Sheridan's  important  cavalry  raid 
against  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  —  Some  remarks  of  Grant  quoted  —  His  views  on  several  points  of 
interest. 


THE  position  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  after  the  fiercely-contested 
battle  of  May  12th  (p.  431),  was,  on 
the  whole,  satisfactory.  Our  losses,  it 
is  true,  had  been  heavy,  fearfully  heavy, 
and  the  rebels,  under  Lee,  had  resisted 
Grant's  advance  with  an  energy  and 
courage  worthy  of  a  better  cause ;  but 
Grant  was  gathering  in  large  reinforce 
ments,  and  was  certain  of  being  able 
to  push  the  enemy's  ablest  general 
further  and  further  backward,  and 
either  shut  him  up  in  Richmond  or 
compel  him  to  surrender.  Gen.  Meade 
sought  to  encourage  the  troops  under 
his  command  by  a  congratulatory  order, 
May  13th,  in  which  he  spoke  in  the 
highest  terms  of  their  gallantry,  steady 
endurance  and  success  in  the  battles  al 
ready  fought,  and  which  was  concluded 
in  the  following  terms :  "  Sol 
diers  !  your  heroic  deeds,  and 
noble  endurance  of  fatigue  and  priva 
tion,  will  ever  be  memorable.  Let  us 


1§64. 


return  thanks  to  God.  for  the  mercy  thus 
shown  us,  and  ask  earnestly  for  its  con 
tinuance.  Soldiers !  your  work  is  not 
yet  over.  The  enemy  must  be  pursued, 
and,  if  possible,  overcome.  The  cour 
age  and  fortitude  you  have  displayed, 
renders  your  commanding-general  con 
fident  that  your  future  efforts  will  re 
sult  in  success.  Let  us  determine,  then, 
to  continue  vigorously  the  work  so  well 
begun,  and,  under  God's  blessing,  in  a 
short  time  the  object  of  our  labors  will 
soon  be  acomplished." 

During  the  week  following,  heavy 
rains  and  the  bad  state  of  the  roads 
necessitated  a  suspension  of  active  opera 
tions  in  the  army.  The  time  was  spent 
in  resting  and  refreshing  the  troops; 
in  getting  reinforcements  from  Wash 
ington  of  some  30,000  volunteers  for 
100  days  service,  at  the  call  of  the 
president ;  and  in  various  manoeuvres 
and  occasional  sharp  skirmishes  at  and 
before  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  The 


CH.  X.] 


MOVEMENT  TO  THE  NORTH  ANNA. 


435 


sick  and  wounded,  in  number  about 
20,000,  were  sent  by  way  of  Fredericks- 
burg  to  Washington ;  the  cavalry  was 
strengthened  by  adding  several  thou 
sand  fresh  horses  ;  and  every  prepara 
tion  was  made  fora  vigorous  continuance 
of  the  struggle. 

Grant,  deeming  it  impracticable  to 
make  any  further  attack  upon  the  rebels 
at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  issued 
orders,  on  the  18th  of  May,  with  a  view 
to  a  movement  to  the  North  Anna,  to 
commence  at  midnight  of  the  19th.  On 
the  18th,  an  attack  on  the  right  of  the 
enemy's  works  had  been  made,  but  to 
no  advantage ;  and  late  in  the  after 
noon  of  the  19th,  Ewell  came  out  of  his 
works  against  our  extreme  right  flank ; 
but  the  attack  was  promptly  repulsed, 
with  heavy  loss. 

Although  the  movement  just  ordered 
was  delayed  somewhat  by  Swell's  at 
tack,  yet  it  was  begun  on  the  night  of 
the  21st  of  May.  The  cavalry  was  sent 
forward,  and  occupied  the  line  of  the 
Fredericksburg  and  Richmond  Railroad 
at  Guinney's  Station  and  Bowling 
Green,  followed  immediately  by  Han 
cock's  corps,  and  the  next  day 
by  Warren's  and  the  remainder 
of  the  army.  Lee,  also,  at  the  same 
time,  evacuated  Spottsylvania,  and  be 
gan  his  march  southward,  moving  on  a 
direct  interior  line  to  the  North  Anna, 
where  it  was  expected  he  would  make 
a  stand.  There  was  but  little  opposi 
tion  encountered  by  our  troops  on  the 
route  they  had  taken,  as  the  several 
corps  pushed  on  to  the  North  Anna 
River.  Hancock  effected  a  crossing 
near  Taylor's  Bridge,  after  a  spirited 
assault.  Warren  got  his  corps  over 


1*01. 


higher  up,  at  Jericho  Ford,  and  although 
violently  attacked  on  the  south  branch 
of  the  stream,  repulsed  the  enemy  with 
heavy  loss.  The  next  day  was  spent 
in  getting  over  the  remainder  of  the 
army,  in  the  face  of  considerable  oppo 
sition.  Grant  now  took  up  a  position 
south  of  the  river,  and  prepared  to  open 
communication  with  Port  Royal  on  the 
Rappahaunock,  whither  his  wounded 
were  sent.  The  enemy  in  front  held  a 
very  strong  position  between  the  North 
and  South  Anna,  and  covering  the 
crossing  of  the  Fredericksburg  and  the 
Virginia  Central  Railroads  at  Sexton's 
Junction.* 

Grant,  finding  that  the  position  of 
the  rebels  on  the  North  Anna  was 
stronger  than  either  of  their  previous 
ones,  withdrew,  on  the  night  of  the  26th 
of  May,  to  the  north  bank  of  the  North 
Anna,  and  moved  by  way  of  Hanover- 
town,  to  turn  the  enemy's  position  by 
his  right.  Torbert's  and  Merritt's  di 
visions  of  cavalry,  under  Sheridan,  and 
the  Oth  corps,  led  the  advance ;  and  the 
Pamunkey  River  was  crossed  on  the 
28th,  at  Hauovertown,  after  some  sharp 
fighting.  On  the  same  day  there  was 
a  severely  contested  engagement  be 
tween  our  cavalry,  under  Torbert  and 
Gregg,  and  a  body  of  the  enemy's  horse. 
The  engagement  took  place  at  Haw's 
Shop  or  Store,  and  the  rebels  were  de 
feated  and  driven  about  a  mile.  On 
the  29th  and  30th  of  May,  the  army 
advanced,  with  heavy  skirmishing,  to 


*  On  the  24th  of  May,  the  9th  corps,  commanded 
by  Burnside,  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and,  from  this  date,  was  a  portion  of  Gen.  Meade's 
command.  On  the  25th,  Sheridan,  of  whose  raid  wo 
have  spoken  on  a  previous  page  (p.  432),  rejoined  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac. 


436 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


the  Hanover  Court  House  and  Cold 
Harbor  road,  and  developed  the  posi 
tion  of  the  rebels  north  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy.  Late  on  the  evening  of  the 
30th  of  May,  to  use  Grant's  language, 
"  the  enemy  came  out  and  attacked  our 
left,  but  was  repulsed  with  very  consi 
derable  loss.  An  attack  was  immedi 
ately  ordered  by  Gen.  Meade  along  his 
whole  line,  which  resulted  in  driving 
the  enemy  from  a  part  of  his  entrench 
ed  skirmish  line.  On  the  31st  of  May, 
Gen.  Wilson's  division  of  cavalry  des 
troyed  the  railroad  bridges  over  the 
South  Anna  River,  after  defeating  the 
enemy's  cavalry.  Gen.  Sheridan,  on 
the  same  day,  reached  Cold  Harbor,  * 
and  held  it  until  relieved  by  the  6th 
corps,  and  Gen.  Smith's  command, 
which  had  just  arrived,  via  White 
House,  from  Gen.  Butler's  army." 

It  will  be  recollected  (see  p.  424) 
that  one  of  the  co-operating  movements 
on  which  Grant  relied  in  carrying  for 
ward  the  present  campaign,  was  that 
under  Sigel,  who  w^as  in  command  in 
the  department  of  Western  Virginia. 
'Grant's  idea  was,  that  Sigel's  force 
should  act  in  such  wise  as  to  compel 
the  rebels  to  detach  largely  for  the 
protection  of  their  supplies  and  lines 
of  communication,  or  lose  them ;  #nd 
he,  accordingly,  gave  orders  to  Sigel  to 
organize  or  form  his  available  force  into 
two  columns,  one  under  Gen.  Crook,  on 

*  The  great  importance  of  this  point,  with  reference 
to  Grant's  plan,  was  evident,  since  it  was  the  point  of 
concurrence  of  all  the  roads,  radiating  to  Richmond,  or 
to  White  House,  our  base  of  supplies.  The  rebels  were 
aware  of  the  need  of  securing  this  position,  and  they 
attacked  Sheridan  with  all  possible  force  and  energy, 
in  order  to  drive  him  out ;  but  that  gallant  officer  suc 
cessfully  resisted  the  assault. — See  Coppee's  "Grant  and 
Ids  Campaigns,"  pp.  336-339. 


the  Kanawha,  numbering  about  10,000 
men,  and  one  on  the  Shenandoah,  num 
bering  about  7,000  men.  The  latter 
was  to  move  to  Cedar  Creek,  and 
threaten  the  enemy  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  advancing  as  far  as  possible ; 
while  Crook  was  to  take  possession  of 
Lewisburg,  with  part  of  his  force,  and 
move  down  the  Tennessee  Railroad, 
doing  as  much  damage  as  he  could, 
destroying  the  New  River  bridge  and 
salt  works,  at  Saltville,  Virginia. 

The  movement  thus  directed  by  the 
commander  in  chief  to  be  made  in  the 
Kanawha  and  Shenandoah  Valleys,  was 
begun  on  the  1st  of  May.  Crook,  who 
had  the  immediate  command  of  the 
Kanawha  expedition,  divided  his  forces 
into  two  columns,  giving  one,  composed 
of  cavalry,  to  Gen.  Averill.  They  cross 
ed  the  mountains  by  separate  routes. 
Averill  succeeded  in  distracting  the  at 
tention  of  the  noted  rebel  leaders,  A. 
G.  Jenkins  and  John  Morgan,  and  pre 
venting  a  junction  of  their  forces  against 
Crook  and  his  movement.  On  the  7th 
of  May,  Averill  came  up  with  a  portion 
of  Morgan's  men,  and  finding  him  in 
force,  after  a  skirmish,  he  passed  by  a 
circuitous  route  over  Walker  Mountain, 
a  weary  march  to  Cove  Mountain  Gap, 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Wytheville, 
on  the  railroad,  his  proposed 
destination.  Morgan,  anticipat 
ing  the  movement,  was  met  at  the  Gap, 
strongly  posted  with  a  greatly  superior 
body  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  with  four 
pieces  of  cannon.  Averill  held  his 
ground  during  the  day,  May  10th, 
against  repeated  assaults,  and  at  night 
extricated  himself  from  the  perilous 
situation,  with  a  loss  in  killed  and 


1864. 


CH.  X.] 


SIGEL'S  AND   BUTLER'S   FAILURES. 


437 


wounded  of  135  men.  Crossing  the 
Walker  Mountain  again,  Averill  pro 
ceeded  to  Dublin,  on  the  Virginia  and 
Tennessee  Kailroad,  about  thirty  miles 
north-east  of  Wytheville.  Here  he  found 
Crook  had  accomplished  the  destruction 
of  the  railroad,  and  had  moved  forward. 
Averill  followed,  and  having  taken  the 
northerly  route  over  the  mountains 
from  Christianburg,  he  came  up  with 
Crook  at  Union,  on  the  loth  of  May. 
Beside  the  damage  done  to  the  road,  sev 
eral  important  bridges  and  depots,inlud- 
ing  New  River  bridge,  were  destroyed. 
Sigel,  meanwhile,  moved  up  the  Shen- 
andoah  Valley,  with  a  force  of  -over 
7,000  men,  as  far  as  Newmarket,  a  town 
near  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad,  and 
about  fifty  miles  from  Winchester.  The 
rebel  Gen.  Breckenridge  was  sent,  with 
all  the  forces  he  could  collect  for  the 
emergency,  to  fall  upon  and  beat  Sigel. 
If  the  latter  were  to  be  successful,  and 
advance  upon  Staunton,  and  then  strike 
upon  Lynchburg  or  Gordonsville,  he 
would  render  invaluable  service  to 
Grant  and  his  plans;  but  unhappily, 
when  he  met  the  rebels  at  Newmarket, 
on  the  15th  of  May,  he  was  entirely  de 
feated,  lost  a  portion  of  his  train,  six 
guns  and  1,000  prisoners,  and  retired 
behind  Cedar  Creek.  The  result  was, 
of  course,  that  the  victors  returned  to 
Lee's  army  and  added  to  its  strength. 
Grant,  not  at  all  satisfied  with  Sigel's 
operations,  demanded  his  removal,  and 
he  was  at  once  superseded  by  Gen. 
Hunter,  who  wa8  expected  to  infuse 
vigor  into  the  movements  in  that 
quarter,  and  obtain  decisive  success.* 

*  See  Grant's  "  Re-port,"  p.  20,  for  instructions  scut 
to  Gen.  Hunter,  May  20th  and  25th. 


1864. 


On  a  previous  page  (p.  424),  as  we 
have  seen,  Butler  promised  more  largely 
than  he  was  able  to  accomplish.  His 
active  and  successful  co-operation  was 
more  important  even  than  Sigel's  to 
Grant's  plans.  On  the  12th  of  May,  he 
advanced  several  divisions  of  Gillrnore's 
and  Smith's  corps  between  the  railroad 
and  the  river  toward  Richmond,  in  the 
direction  of  Fort  Darling,  and  speedily 
came  upon  a  body  of  the  enemy, 
guarding  the  outer  defences  of 
that  work.  A  dispatch  was  captured 
from  Beau  regard  to  Hoke,  in  command 
at  Drury's  Bluif,  stating  that  he  would 
join  them  as  soon  as  the  troops  came 
up.  A  demonstration  was  made  by 
Smith  upon  the  rebel  lines,  which  was 
followed  up  the  next  day,  the  13th,  by 
a  flanking  movement  of  Gillmore,  who 
assaulted  and  took  the  enemy's  works 
on  their  right.  Smith  carried  the  first 
line  on  their  left  with  little  loss.  The 
enemy  retired  into  three  square  re 
doubts,  upon  which  the  Union  artillery 
was  brought  to  bear,  but  without  any 
ad  vantageous  result.  Grant  complained 
that  the  time  which  Butler  had  spent 
from  the  Oth  of  May  onward,  in  the 
manner  narrated,  had  lost  to  us  the 
benefit  of  the  surprise  and  capture  of 
Richmond  and  Petersburg,  enabling,  as 
it  did,  Beauregard  to  collect  his  loose 
forces  in  North  and  South  Carolina  and 
bring  them  to  the  defence  of  those 
places.* 


*  "  The  army  sent  to  operate  against  Richmond  hav 
ing  hermetically  scaled  itself  up  at  Bermuda  Hundred, 
the  enemy  was  enabled  to  hring  the  most  if  not  all  tlio 
reinforcements  brought  from  the  South  by  Beauregard 
against  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  addition  to  this 
reinforcement,  a  very  considerable  one,  probably  not 
less  than  15,000  men,  was  obtained  by  calling  in  the  scat- 


438 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


On  the  16th  of  May,  the  rebels  at 
tacked  Butler  in  his  position  in  front 
of  Drury's  Bluff.  Under  cover  of  a 
thick  fog,  an  assault  was  made  upon 
Smith's  line,  which  was  forced  back  in 
some  confusion  and  with  very  consider 
able  loss.  At  the  same  time,  the  enemy 
made  an  attack  from  Petersburg  on 
Butler's  forces,  guarding  the  rear,  and 
were  repulsed.  Thus,  to  use  Grant's 
language,  Butler  "  was  forced  back,  or 
drew  back,  into  his  entrenchments  be 
tween  the  forks  of  the  James  and  Ap- 
pomattox  Rivers,  the  enemy  entrenching 
himself  in  his  front,  thus  covering  his 
railroads,  the  city,  and  all  that  was 
valuable  to  him.  Butler's  army,  there 
fore,  though  in  a  position  of  great 
security,  was  as  completely  shut  off  from 
further  operations  against  Richmond  as 
if  it  had  been  in  a  bottle  strongly 
corked.  It  required  but  a  compara 
tively  small  force  of  the  enemy  to  hold 
it  there." 

A  cavalry  expedition  had  been  start 
ed,  meanwhile,  on  the  12th  of  May, 
iinder  Kautz,  to  cut  the  Danville  Rail 
road  near  Appomattox  Station,  and  was 
successful  in  blowing  up  a  bridge  at 
that  place,  and  breaking  up  the  road 
and  destroying  stores  at  several  stations. 
Returning,  our  troops  inflicted  various 
damage  on  the  Petersburg  and  Lynch- 
burg  Railroad,  and  that  to  Weldon  at 
Jarrett's  Station  ;  proceeding  thence  to 
City  Point,  which  was  reached  on  the 
18th  of  May.  Beauregard,  on  the  night 
of  the  19th  of  May,  made  an  assault 
upon  Butler's  lines,  but  was  successfully 
repulsed.  The  next  day,  and  the  day 

tered  troops  under  Breckenridge  from  tho  western  part 
of  Virginia." — Grant's  "  Report,"  p.  15. 


following,  the  rebels  renewed  the  con 
test,  in  which,  however,  they  gained  no 
advantage  and  met  with  heavy  loss. 
After  this  the  enemy  fell  back,  and  as 
the  troops  at  Bermuda  Hundred  could 
not  be  used  to  operate  against  the 
rebels  from  that  point.  Grant  ordered 
all,  except  a  small  defensive  force,  to 
join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  This 
was  accomplished  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  and  the  troops 
were  landed,  on  the  30th  of  May,  at 
White  House.'* 

Turning  our  attention  again  to  the 
operations  of  the  main  army  under 
Grant,  we  find  that  these  mortifying 
failures  on  the  part  Butler  and  of  Sigel 
necessitated,  as  we  shall  see,  several 
modifications  in  carrying  out  the  plan 
of  the  campaign.  Grant,  with  his 
usual  tenacity,  was  loth  to  vary  his 
course  from  his  original  design,  and 
several  severe  struggles  were  had  be 
fore  he  entered  fully  upon  his  newr 
strategy  in  his  onward  progress  towards 
Richmond.  On  the  1st  of  June,  an  at 
tack  was  made,  about  five,  P.M.,  by  the 
6th  corps  and  the  troops  under  Smith. 
Warren's,  Burnside's,  and  Hancock's 
men  were  held  in  readiness  to  advance 
on  the  receipt  of  orders.  The  attack 
was  made  with  spirit,  continuing  until 


*"  Grant  was  indeed  beset,  not  simply  by  rebel 
armies,  led  by  skilful  and  brave  generals,  but  by 
Federal  failures :— Sigel  defeated  in  the  West,  and 
Breckenridge  reinforcing  Lee  with  about  15,000  men  ; 
Butler  defeated  at  the  South,  and  Beauregard  free  to 
send  Lee  a  great  part  of  his  troops.  It  was  necessary 
for  him  to  modify,  without  materially  altering  his 
plans  ;  and  he  moved  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
to  try  an  alternative  thought  of  at  the  beginning — 
the  crossing  of  the  James,  and  the  union  of  the  armies 
under  his  own  eye  and  command." — Coppi'e's  "  Grant 
and  his  Campaigns,"  p.  829, 


CH.  X.] 


THE  ATTACK  OF  JUNE  THIRD. 


439 


1864, 


after  dark,  and  resulting  in  our  carry 
ing  the  enemy's  works  on  the  right  of 
the  6th  corps,  and  also  the  first  line  in 
fi-ont  of  Smith.  The  latter,  however, 
were  commanded  in  the  rear,  which 

made  those   carried   untenable. 

Several  hundred  prisoners  were 
taken.  During  the  night,  the  enemy 
made  a  number  of  assaults  to  regain 
what  they  had  lost,  but  failed.  Our 
loss  in  this  engagement  was  estimated 
at  2,000  killed  and  wounded. 

The  next  day  was  spent  principally 
in  getting  the  troops  into  position  for 
an  attack  on  the  morrow.  Very  early 
on  the  morning  of  Friday,  June  3d, 
Grant  ordered  a  general  attack  to  be 
made  on  the  enemy's  lines,  which  re 
sulted  in  one  of  the  severest  and  most 
hardly  contested  fights  .of  the  war. 
Hancock's  corps  was  brought  in  the 
night  from  the  right  to  the  extreme  left, 
the  order  of  the  army  corps  from  the 
right  now  being  Burnside,  Warren, 
Smith,  Wright,  Hancock.  The  line 
ran  nearly  parallel  with  that  of  the 
Chickahominy,  at  a  distance  of  a  mile 
and  a-half  to  two  miles  and  a-half  north 
of  it,  the  enemy  directly  in  front  hold 
ing  the  north  bank  of  the  river.  Breck- 
enridge's  command,  it  was  said,  occu 
pied  the  enemy's  right,  with  Beaure- 
gard  on  the  right  centre,  Longstreet  on 
the  left  centre,  Ewell  on  the  left,  and 
Hill  in  reserve.  The  rebels  were  driven 
within  their  entrenchments  at  all  points, 
but  without  our  gaining  in  consequence 
any  decisive  advantage.  The  main 
fighting  was  done  by  Hancock's  corps 
on  the  left,  and  by  Wright's  and  Smith's 
forces  at  the  centre.  The  battle  was 
renewed  at  evening.  At  six,  P.M.,  Wil 


son,  with  his  cavalry,  fell  upon  the  rear 
of  a  brigade  of  Heth's  division,  which 
Lee  had  thrown  around  to  his 
left,  and  after  a  short  but  sharp 
conflict,  drove  them  from  their  rifle-pits 
in  confusion,  taking  a  number  of  pri 
soners.  An  hour  later,  and  the  enemy 
suddenly  attacked  Gibbon's  division  of 
Smith's  command,  but  were  repulsed. 
In  the  dispatch  of  June  4th,  from  which 
these  particulars  are  drawn,  Secretary 
Stanton  states  our  entire  loss,  during 

/  O 

these  three  days'  operations  around 
Cold  Harbor,  as  reported  by  the  adju 
tant-general,  as  not  exceeding  7,500. 
The  rebel  loss,  as  nearly  as  could  be 
ascertained,  was  comparatively  light.* 
Grant  was  at  length  brought  reluct 
antly  to  the  conviction,  that  the  near 
ness  of  the  rebels  to  their  defences 
around  Richmond  rendered  it  impos 
sible,  by  any  flank  movement,  to  inter 
pose  between  them  and  the  city.  "I 
was  still  in  a  condition,"  he  says  in  his 
report,  "  to  either  move  by  the  enemy's 
left  flank,  and  invest  Richmond  from 
the  north  side,  or  continue  my  move 
by  his  right  flank  to  the  south  side  of 
the  James.  While  the  former  might 
have  been  better  as  a  covering  for 
Washington,  yet  a  full  survey  of  all 
the  ground  satisfied  me  that  it  would 
be  impracticable  to  hold  a  line  north 


*  Mr.  Swinton,  whose  criticism  is  decidedly  unfavor 
able  to  the  plan  adopted  by  tlie  commander  in  chief, 
Bays  :  "  Grant's  loss  in  the  series  of  actions  from  the 
Wilderness  to  the  Chickahominy  reached  the  enor 
mous  aggregate  of  60,000  men  put  Jiors  dii  combat ;" 
Lee's  loss  is  estimated  not  to  have  exceeded  20,000.  In 
a  tabular  statement  subjoined,  the  killed  are  stated  at 
7,289 ;  wounded,  37,406 ;  missing,  9,856.  To  these 
Mr.  Swinton  adds  the  casualties  in  Burnside's  corps, 
about  5,000.  The  loss  in  officers  was  especially  se 
vere,  being  in  all  3,000,  a  loss  truly  irreparable, — 
"  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  401. 


440 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


and  oast  of  Richmond  that  would  pro 
tect  the  Fredericksburg  Railroad — a 
long,  vulnerable  line,  which  would  ex 
haust  much  of  our  strength  to  guard, 
and  that  would  have  to  be  protected 
to  supply  the  army,  and  would  leave 
open  to  the  enemy  all  his  lines  of  com 
munication  on  the  south  side  of  the 
James.  My  idea,  from  the  start,  had 
been  to  beat  Lee's  army  north  of  Rich 
mond,  if  possible.  Then,  after  destroy 
ing  his  lines  of  communication  north 
of  the  James  River,  to  transfer  the 
army  to  the  south  side  and  besiege  Lee 
in  Richmond,  or  follow  him  south,  if 
he  should  retreat.  After  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  it  was  evident  that 
the  enemy  deemed  it  of  the  first  impor 
tance  to  run  no  risks  with  the  army  he 
then  had.  He  acted  purely  on  the  de 
fensive,  behind  breastworks,  or  feebly 
on  the  offensive,  immediately  in  front 
of  them,  and  where,  in  case  of  repulse, 
he  could  easily  retire  behind  them. 
Without  a  greater  sacrifice  of  life  than 
I  was  willing  to  make,  all  could  not 
be  accomplished  that  I  had  designed 
north  of  Richmond  ;  I  therefore  deter 
mined  to  continue  to  hold  substantially 
the  ground  we  then  (June  4th)  occu 
pied,  taking  advantage  of  any  favor 
able  circumstances  that  might  present 
themselves,  until  the  cavalry  could  be 
sent  to  Charlottesville  and  Gordons- 
ville,  to  effectually  break  up  the  rail 
road  connection  between  Richmond  and 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  Lynch- 
burg ;  and,  when  the  cavalry  got  well 
off,  to  move  the  army  to  the  south  side 
of  the  James  River,  by  the  enemy's 
right  flank,  where  I  felt  I  could  cut  off  all 
his  sources  of  supply  except  by  canal." 


Such  were  Grant's  ideas,  purposes 
and  expectations ;  the  narrative  of  fur 
ther  operations  in  this  important  field 
will  show  in  how  far  he  was  favored 
with  success,  or  had  to  bear  up  under 
disappointment.  In  order  to  gain  time 
for  the  contemplated  movement  to  the 
south  side  of  the  James  River,  and  give 
the  rebels  no  inkling  of  his  real  pur 
pose,  Grant  vigorously  maintained  the 
advanced  lines  of  the  army;  new  en 
trenchments  were  thrown  up  at  night, 
and  frequent  skirmishing  took  place 
along  the  front.  Sharpshooting  was 
practised  with  great  success  on  both 
sides,  and  for  several  nights  (the  rebels 
had  a  penchant  for  night  battles)  as 
saults  were  made,  but  uniformly  re 
pulsed  by  our  men.  Hancock's  lines 
were  pushed  ito  within  forty  yards  of 
the  rebel  works.  Fighting  thus  day 
after  day,  there  were  numbers  of  the 
dead  and  wounded  lying  between  the 
two  armies ;  by  an  agreement  between 
Grant  and  Lee  to  this  effect,  there  was 
an  armistice  of  two  hours,  during  which 
the  dead  were  buried  and  the  wounded 
removed  from  the  field.  All  this  while, 
for  more  than  a  week,  Grant  was  re 
ceiving  reinforcements,  having  supplies 
forwarded,  and  perfecting  his  arrange 
ments  for  the  important  movement  to 
the  south  side  of  the  James  River. 

The  commanding-general,  attaching 
the  highest  importance  to  the  posses 
sion  of  Petersburg,  endeavored  to  have 
it  secured,  before  the  enemy,  becoming 
aware  of  his  intention,  could  reinforce 
the  place.  Butler,  on  the  10th  of 
June,  sent  a  force  of  infantry,  under 
Gillmore,  and  cavalry,  under  Kautz,  to 
gain  possession,  if  possible,  of  Peters- 


CH.  X.] 


HUNTER'S  ACTIVE  OPERATIONS. 


441 


burg,  and  destroy  tine  railroad  and 
common  bridges  across  the  Appomat- 
tox.  Having  crossed  the  river  on  a 
pontoon  bridge  laid  near  the  Point  of 
Rocks,  Gillmore,  with  about  3,500 
men,  advanced  by  the  direct  road  to 
the  vicinity  of  Petersburg,  drove  back 
an  outer  skirmish  line,  and  re 
connoitred  the  fortifications. 
Kautz,  meanwhile,  with  his  cavalry, 
charged  the  works  on  the  southerly 
side,  carried  them,  and  penetrated  into 
the  town ;  but,  lacking  the  expected 
co-operation  of  the  infantry,  was  com 
pelled  to  withdraw.  Both  commands 
now  returned  to  Bermuda  Hundred 
with  trifling  loss.  Grant,  still  hoping 
to  secure  the  end  he  had  in  view,  sent 
back  to  Bermuda  Hundred  and  City 
Point  Smith's  command,  by  water,  via 
White  House,  to  reach  Petersburg  in 
advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
So  anxious  wras  he  in  regard  to  the 
matter,  that  he  w7ent  by  steamer  to  Ber 
muda  Hundred,  and  gave  Butler  ver 
bal  instructions  to  send  Smith  that 
night,  June  14th,  with  all  the  troops 
that  could  be  spared  without  endan 
gering  Butler's  position,  to  make  an  as 
sault  upon  Petersburg.  On  Grant's 
part,  he  promised  to  hurry  forward 
the  main  bulk  of  the  army,  and  to  re 
inforce  Smith  more  rapidly  than  the 
enemy  could  concentrate  at  Peters 
burg. 

Grant's  movement  from  Cold  Harbor 
was  begun  on  the  night  of  Sunday, 
June  1 2th  ;  one  division  of  cavalry  and 
the  5th  corps  crossed  the  Chickahominy 
at  Long  Bridge,  and  moved  out  to 
White  Oak  Swamp,  to  cover  the  cross 
ings  of  the  other  corps.  During  the 

VOL.  IV.— 56. 


14th  and  15th  of  June,  the  crossing  of 
the  army  over  the  James  River  was  ac 
complished,  with  slight  molestation  from 
the  enemy  and  trifling  loss.  The  move 
ment  was  entirely  successful,  taking  the 
enemy  quite  by  surprise,  and  was  con 
ducted  with  great  skill  and  celerity. 
To  use  Grant's  words  in  a  dispatch  : — 
"  Our  forces  drew  out  from  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  enemy's  entrenchments  at 
Cold  Harbor,  made  a  flank  movement 
of  about  fifty-five  miles'  march,  cross 
ing  the  Chickahominy  and  James  Riv 
ers,  the  latter  2,000  feet  wide  and 
eighty-four  feet  deep  at  the  point  of 
crossing,  without  the  loss  of  a  wagon  or 
piece  of  artillery." 

Hunter,  who  had  taken  the  place  of 
Sigel  in  command  of  the  forces  in 
Western  Virginia,  following  Grant's  di 
rections,  immediately  entered  upon  the 
offensive.  On  the  20th  of  May,  he 
passed  through  Mount  Jackson,  ad 
vanced  to  Harrisburg,  and  ascertained 
the  presence  of  the  enemy  a  few  miles 
in  front  at  Mount  Crawford,  where  they 
were  guarding  the  approach  to  Staun- 
ton.  Making  a  feint  upon  their  line  at 
the  latter  place,  he  turned  off  his  main 
force  to  Port  Republic.  Resting  but  a 
night  at  this  place,  he  moved 
on,  early  the  following  morn 
ing,  Sunday,  June  5th,  upon  the 
Staunton  road,  and  met  the  enemy  a 
few  miles  out,  in  the  vicinity  of  Pied 
mont.  The  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Stahl, 
became  at  once  engaged,  and  drove  the 
enemy  some  distance,  when  Gen.  Sulli 
van  brought  up  the  infantry  to  the  en 
counter.  After  a  battle  of  ten  hours' 
duration,  1,500  men,  three  pieces  of 
artillery,  300  stand  of  small  arms, 


1§64. 


442 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


.  IX. 


and   a   vast  quantity   of    stores   were 
captured. 

The  day  following,  Hunter  marched 
into  Staunton,  where,  on  the  8th  of  June, 
he  was  joined  by  the  forces  of  Crook 
and  Averill,  who  had  crossed  the  moun 
tains  to  meet  him.  A  vast  quantity  of 
property  was  destroyed  at  Staunton, 
including  army  clothing  and  stores,  and 
railroad  buildings  and  factories.  The 
railroad  was  also  destroyed  in  the  vici 
nity,  on  both  sides  of  the  town.  From 
Staunton  the  joint  forces  advanced  to 
Lexington,  which  thev  reached  on  the 

O  v 

1 1th,  burning  the  Virginia  Military  In 
stitution  at  that  place,  destroying  boats 
laden  with  stores,  etc.  Hunter,  taking 
the  route  by  Buchanan,  struck  the  Ten 
nessee  Railroad  at  Liberty,  west  of 
Lynchburg,  the  vicinity  of  which  place 
he  reached  on  the  16th  of  June,  having 
been  joined  by  AverilPs  cavalry,  which 
had  made  a  circuitous  route,  destroying 
portions  of  the  Lynchburg  and  Char- 
lottesville  Railroad  by  the  way.  Rein 
forcements  were  sent  by  Lee  from  Rich 
mond  to  Lynchburg,  which  arrived  in 
time  to  strengthen  the  defences  of  the 
place,  and  arrest  the  further  progress 
of  Hunter  in  this  quarter.  After  some 
skirmishing  on  the  17th  and  18th  of 
June,  Hunter,  owing  to  a  want  of  am 
munition  to  give  battle,  retired  from 
before  the  place.*  As  this  lack  of  am 
munition  compelle'd  him  to  take  the 

*  Pollard,  in  terms  more  forcible  than  elegant,  con 
tradicts  the  narrative  above  given  :  "  On  the  18th  of 
June,  Hunter  made  an  attack  upon  Lynchburg  from 
the  south  side,  which  was  repulsed  by  troops  that  had 
arrived  from  Gen.  Lee's  lines.  The  next  day,  more  re 
inforcements  having  come  up,  preparations  were  made 
to  attack  the  enemy,  when  he  retreated  in  confusion. 
We  took  thirteen  of  his  guns,  pursued  him  to  Salem, 
and  forced  him  to  a  line  of  retreat  into  the  mountains 


route  by  way  of  Kanawha,  it  deprived 
Grant  of  the  use  of  his  troops,  for  sev 
eral  weeks,  in  defending  the  north. 
"  Had  Gen.  Hunter,"  is  Grant's  comment 
in  his  report,  "  moved  by  way  of  Char- 
lottesville,  instead  of  Lexington,  as  his 
instructions  contemplated,  he  would 
have  been  in  a  position  to  have  covered 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  against  the 
enemy,  should  the  force  he  met  have 
seemed  to  endanger  it.  If  it  did  not, 
he  would  have  been  within  easy  dis 
tance  of  the  James  River  Canal,  on  the 
main  line  of  communication  between 
Lynchburg  and  the  force  sent  for  its 
defence." 

Early  in  June,  Sheridan  was  sent 
with  a  cavalry  force  of  two  divisions, 
against  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad, 
with  instructions  to  Hunter,  whom 
Grant  hoped  he  would  meet  near  Char- 
lottesville,  to  join  his  forces  to  Sheri 
dan's,  and,  after  performing  their  work 
thoroughly,  to  return  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  by  the  route  marked  out 
in  the  instructions.  Sheridan,  with  his 
usual  activity  and  zeal,  entered  upon 
the  expedition  with  which  he  was 
charged,  for  the  details  of  which  we 
must  refer  to  his  official  report.  He 
crossed  the  Pamunkey,  June  7th,  and 
encamped  on  Herring  Creek.  He  re 
sumed  his  march  the  next  day,  and  on 
the  10th,  crossing  both  branches  of  the 
North  Anna,  encamped  near  Trevilian 


of  Western  Viginia.  The  attempt  of  the  Yankees  to 
whitewash  the  infamous  and  cowardly  denoument 
was  more  than  usually  refreshing.  Hunter  officially 
announced  that  his  expedition  had  been  '  extremely 
successful ;'  that  he  had  left  Lynchburg  because  '  his 
ammunition  was  run  short ;'  and  that,  as  to  the  singu 
lar  line  ho  had  taken  up,  he  was  now  '  ready  for  a 
move  in  any  direction.'  " — "  Third  Tear  of  the  War," 
p.  275. 


Cn.  X.] 


GENERAL   GRANT'S  VIEWS  AND   OPINIONS. 


443 


Station.  He  intended  to  cut  the  rail 
road,  but  found  the  enemy's  cavalry  in 
force.  A  severe  contest  ensued,  which 
resulted  in  driving  the  rebels  in  confu 
sion.  On  the  12th  of  June,  Sheridan 
destroyed  the  railroad  from  Trevilian 
to  Lorraine  Court  House,  and  sent  his 
advance  to  attack  the  enemy 
near  Gordonsville.  An  engage 
ment  took  place,  which  Sheridan  pro 
nounced  "  by  far  the  most  brilliant  one 
of  the  present  campaign ;"  but  Sheridan, 
not  feeling  himself  strong  enough,  was 
compelled  to  retire,  and  crossed  the 
North  Anna  the  next  day.  His  loss, 
in  killed  and  wounded,  was  nearly  600, 
of  whom  about  500  were  wounded.  He 
captured  370  of  the  rebels,  but  lost  by 
capture  about  160.  On  his  return 
march,  Sheridan  reached  White  House, 
June  19th,  just  as  the  enemy's  cavalry 
had  begun  an  attack,  and  compelled  it 
to  retire.  After  breaking  up  the  depot 
at  that  place,  he  moved  to  the  James 
River,  which  he  reached  in  safety,  with 
his  large  army  train,  after  very  heavy 
fighting.  He  commenced  crossing,  on 
the  25th  of  June,  near  Fort  Powhatan, 
without  further  molestation,  and  rejoin 
ed  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

In  concluding  the  present  chapter, 
some  remarks  of  Gen.  Grant,  in  his  offi 
cial  report  (p.  18),  are  worth  quoting : 
"  During  three  long  years  the  Armies 
of  the  Potomac  and  Northern  Virginia 
had  been  confronting  each  other.  In 
that  time  they  had  fought  more  desper 
ate  battles  than  it  probably  ever  before 
fell  to  the  lot  of  two  armies  to  fight, 
without  materially  changing  the  van 
tage  ground  of  either.  The  southern 
press  and  people,  with  more  shrewd- 


1§64. 


ness  than  was  displayed  in  the  North, 
finding  that  they  had  failed  to  capture 
Washington  and  march  on  to 
New  York,  as  they  had  boasted 
they  would  do,  assumed  that  they  only 
defended  their  capital  and  southern  ter 
ritory.  Hence,  Antietam,  Gettysburg, 
and  all  the  other  battles  that  had  been 
fought,  were  by  them  set  down  as  fail 
ures  on  our  part,  and  victories  for  them. 
Their  army  believed  this.  It  produced 
a  morale  which  could  only  be  overcome 
by  desperate  and  continuous  hard  fight 
ing.  The  battles  of  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  and  Cold 
Harbor,  bloody  and  terrible  as  they 
were  on  our  side,  were  even  more  dam 
aging  to  the  enemy,  and  so  crippled 
him  as  to  make  him  wary  ever  after  of 
taking  the  offensive.  His  losses  in  men 
were  probably  not  so  great,  owing  to 
the  fact  that  we  were,  save  in  the  Wil 
derness,  almost  invariably  the  attacking 
party ;  and  when  he  did  attack  it  was 
in  the  open  field.  The  details  of  these 
battles,  which  for  endurance  and  brave 
ry  on  the  part  of  the  soldiery  have 
rarely  been  surpassed,  are  given  in  the 
report  of  Major-General  Meade,  and  the 
subordinate  reports  accompanying  it.'H 


*  Compare  with  this  a  note  from  Swinton  011  p.  439. 
This  writer,  commenting  sharply  upon  Grant's  deter 
mination  "  to  hammer  continuously  "  upon  the  enemy, 
goes  on  to  say  : — "  So  gloomy  was  the  military  outlook 
after  the  action  on  the  Chickahcminy,  and  to  such  a 
degree  by  consequence  had  the  moral  spring  of  the 
public  mind  become  relaxed,  that  there  was  at  this  time 
great  danger  of  a  collapse  of  the  war.  The  history  of 
this  conflict  truthfully  written  will  show  this.  Had 
not  success  elsewhere  come  to  brighten  the  horizon,  it 
would  have  been  difficult  to  raise  new  forces  to  recruit 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which,  shaken  in  its  struc 
ture,  its  valor  quenched  in  blood,  and  thousands  of  its 
ablest  officers  killed  and  wounded,  was  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  no  more."— Swinton's  "  Army  of  the 
Potomac,"  p.  493. 


444 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


CHAPTER    XI. 


1864, 

FURTHER    OPERATIONS    IN    VIRGINIA    DURING    THE     SUMMER. 

Gen.  Smith's  movement  against  Petersburg  —  Unfortunate  delay — Results  —  Assault  ordered  —  Only  parti- 
ally  successful  —  Butler's  movement  against  the  railroad  —  Wanting  in  promptitude  —  Repulse  of  our 
men  —  Direct  assault  on  Petersburg  ordered  by  Grant  —  Unsuccessful  —  Demonstration  against  the  Wei- 
don  Railroad  —  Repulsed  —  Cavalry  expedition  againt  Danville  Railroad —  Wilson's  and  Kautz's  exploits 

—  Results  —  Rebel  movement  under  Early  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  —  Efforts  made  to  resist  his  advance 

—  Grant  sends  troops  to  Washington  —  Battle  of  the  Monocacy  —  Rebel  depredations  and  advance  toAvards 
Washington  —  Retreat,  and  pursuit  by  our  troops  —  Raid  into  Pennsylvania  —  Burning  of  Chambersburg  — 
Averill  pursues  the  raiders  —  Investment  and  siege  of  Petersburg  —  Construction  of  a  mine  under  the 
enemy's  works  —  Movement  to  Deep  Bottom  —  Lee's  action  —  Assault  on  Petersburg  ordered  —  The  mine 
blown  up  —  Terrible  scene  —  Failure  of  the  assaulting  column  to  move  rapidly  and  secure  the  crowning 
crest  —  Swinton's  account  and  criticism  —  Woodbury's  defence  of  Burnside — Grant's  statement  —  Move 
ment  threatening  Richmond  on  north  side  of  the  James  —  Severe  fighting  and  general  result — Warren's 
advance  on  the  Weldon  Railroad  —  Fierce  attack  of  the  rebels  to  drive  him  off —  Warren's  important  suc 
cess —  Battle  at  Ream's  Station  —  Hancock's  report,  and  the  result. 


1864. 


GEN.  GRANT'S  eager  desire  to  obtain 
possession  of  Petersburg,  as  an  essential 
element  in  his  plan,  and  the  steps  which 
he  took  for  this  purpose,  we  have  al 
ready  spoken  of  (p.  440)  ;  and  while 
Lee  was  probably  thinking  of  an  attack 
upon  Richmond  by  way  of  Malvern 
Hills,  and  the  north  side  of  the  James 
River,  Grant's  special  efforts 
were  bestowed  upon  the  im 
mediate  seizure  of  Petersburg,  before  it 
could  be  reinforced  and  its  works  man 
ned  by  the  rebels.  Gen.  Smith,  as  di 
rected,  moved  promptly  upon  the  north 
east  defences  of  Petersburg,  on  the  15th 
of  June,  and  confronted  the  enemy's 
pickets  before  daylight  the  next  morn 
ing.  Skirmishing  soon  after  occurred, 
and  the  negro  troops,  under  Hincks, 
behaved  with  spirit,  and  captured  a 
line  of  rifle  pits  and  two  12-pounders. 
The  major  part  of  the  day  was  con 


sumed  in  arranging  for  an  attack  in 
force,  a  circumstance  much  to  be  regret 
ted,  inasmuch  as  every  hour  of  time 
was  of  the  greatest  value  towards  se 
curing  the  end  had  in  view;  and,  as 
Gen.  Grant  pithily  says,  "  for  some  rea 
son  that  I  have  never  been  able  satis 
factorily  to  understand,  Smith  did  not 
get  ready  to  assault  the  enemy's  main 
lines  until  near  sundown." 

About  seven  P.M.,  Smith  began  the 
attack,  with  a  part  of  his  command  only, 
and  succeeded  in  carrying  the  lines 
north-east  of  Petersburg,  from  the  Ap- 
pomattox  River,  for  a  distance  of  more 
than  two  miles  and  a  half,  capturing 
fifteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  over  300 
prisoners.  Unfortunately,  Smith  did 
not  push  forward  at  once,  as  he  ought 
to  have  done ;  for  there  were  no  works 
between  him  and  the  city,  the  enemy 
had  not  yet  been  able  to  bring  even  a 


CH.  XL] 


ASSAULT  ON  PETERSBURG. 


445 


brigade  into  it  from  any  source,  and  it 
was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  affording 
every  opportunity  for  further  opera 
tions.  And,  what  made  it  still  more 
vexatious,  Hancock  having  come  up 
with  two  divisions  of  the  2d  corps,  just 
after  nightfall,  and  waiving  his  right 
to  assume  the  command,  Smith  did  not 
take  these  troops  and  march  into  Pe 
tersburg,  but  used  them  simply  to  re 
lieve  some  of  his  own  men  in  the  cap 
tured  works,  and  suspended  hostilities 
until  morning.  The  auspicious  mo 
ment  for  capturing  the  place  was  thus 
lost,  and  the  rebels,  well  aware  of  its 
value  to  them,  began  to  pour  in  troops 
rapidly  for  its  occupation  and  defence. 

On  Grant's  arrival  the  next  morning, 
June  16th,  the  rebels  were  found  to  be 
in  force,  ready  to  oppose  a  formidable 
resistance'  to  our  further  approach. 
During  the  earlier  .part  of  the  day, 
"Warren  and  Wright  were  hastening 
forward  with  their  corps  to  the  scene 
of  action,  and  Burnside,  about  noon, 
reached  Petersburg  with  the  9th  corps. 
All  the  arrangements  having  been  made, 
an  assault  was  ordered  by  Meade.  It 
was  begun  at  six  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and  the  fighting  continued,  with 
but  little  intermission,  until  six  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  June  17th;  the  re 
sult,  however,  was  of  no  particular  ad 
vantage,  except  that  Burnside,  at  day 
light,  assaulted  the  enemy's  line  to  the 
left  of  Hancock's  corps,  and  captured 
three  redoubts,  five  guns,  and  about 
450  prisoners. 

Butler,  having  discovered  that  the 
rebels,  anxious  about  Petersburg,  had 
withdrawn,  June  16th,  a  large  body  of 
troops  from  his  front,  took  advantage 


of  the  opening  at   once,  and  promptly 
moved  a  force  on  the  railroad  between 
Petersburg  and  Richmond,  to  destroy, 
and  if  possible  hold  it.     Grant  also  or 
dered  two  divisions  of  the  6th  corps, 
which  were  at  the  time  embarking  at 
Wilcox's  Landing  for  City    Point,  to 
inarch  directly  to  the  support  of  But 
ler,  at  the  same  time  urging  upon  him 
the  importance  of  holding  a  position  in 
advance  of  his  present  line.     Some  two 
or  three  miles  of  the  railroad  track  were 
torn  up,  in  the    vicinity   of  Walthal 
Junction,  and  an  advance  was  begun  on 
the  Richmond  turnpike.     The  two  di 
visions,  just  spoken  of,  joined  Butler 
on  the  forenoon  of  the  17th,  and  while 
he  was  holding  with  a  strong  picket 
line  the  enemy's  works.     But  instead 
of  putting  theser  troops  into  the  works 
to  hold  them,  he  unwisely  allowed  them 
to  halt  and  rest  some  distance  in  the 
rear  of  his  own  line.     The  consequence 
was,  that  the  rebels  under  Longstreet 
made  a  vigorous  attack  upon  Butler, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon  drove 
in   his   pickets,    and    re-occupied  and 
strengthened  their  lines  at  that  point, 
v  Grant,    determined,   if    possible,    to 
take  Petersburg,  now  resolved  upon  a 
general  direct  assault.    During  the  day, 
June  17th,  our  line  was  strongly  posted, 
and  being  carefully  adjusted,  was  gra 
dually  moved  up  towards  the  enemy. 
At  four  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th  of  June,  the  skirmishers  found 
that  the  rebels  had  abandoned  their 
second  line,  and  retired  to  a  strongly 
intrenched  interior  line,  a  mile  nearer 
the  city.     Within   this,  they   resisted 
successfully  all    our   assaults.      Never 
men  fought  more  gallantly  than  those 


446 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


engaged  in  the  present  attempt;*  but 
victory  was  not  within  their  grasp. 
Advantages  in  position  were  gained  by 
our  men,  and  though  the  2d,  5th,  and 
9th  corps  met  with  severe  losses,  and 
were  not  able  to  expel  the  enemy  from 
Petersburg,  yet  our  army  proceeded  to 
envelop  the  city  toward  the  Southside 
Railroad,  as  far  as  possible  without  at 
tacking  fortifications,  f 

The  losses  in  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  during  these  last  few  days'  opera- 
rations,  were  very  heavy,  amounting,  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  to  nearly 
10,000. 

The  capture  of  Petersburg,  by  direct 
assault,  having  been  found  impractica 
ble,  early  efforts  were  made  to  cut  off 
its  supplies  in  the  rear,  by  operations 
upon  the  railroads  south  of  Richmond. 
A  demonstration  against  the  Weldon 
Railroad  was  made  by  way  of  the 
Jerusalem  road,  on  the  21st  and  22d 
of  June.  The  advance,  on  the  first  day, 
was  resisted  by  the  rebels,  who,  fully 
warned  of  the  movement,  came  down 
in  force  on  the  following  day,  under  A. 
P.  Hill,  and,  by  a  flank  attack,  inflicted 
a  heavy  blow,  capturing  a  large  num 
ber  of  prisoners  and  four  guns.  The 
disaster  of  the  day  was  checked  by  sub 
sequent  movements  on  the  field,  in  wrhich 

*  Gen.  Grant,  in  a  dispatch  on  the  17th  of  June, 
epoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  bravery  and  endur 
ance  of  the  soldiers  : — "  Too  much  praise  cannot  be 
given  to  the  troops  and  their  commanders,  for  the 
energy  and  fortitude  displayed  the  last  five  days.  Day 
and  night  has  been  all  the  same,  no  delays  being  al 
lowed  on  any  account." 

f  Coppt-e,  in  his  rather  flowery  way,  says  : — "  Grant 
had  laid  upon  the  devoted  city  of  Richmond  the  first 
coil — ever  tightening — of  that  anaconda  grasp,  never 
to  be  released  until  the  monster  should  be  strangled 
and  lie  lifeless  in  the  embrace." — "  Grant  and  his 
Campaigns,"  p.  853. 


Meade  brought  up  the  6th  corps,  and 
the  shattered  2d  recovered  a  portion 
of  its  lost  ground.  Another  attempt 
was  made  upon  the  railroad  the  next 
day,  by  a  part  of  Wright's  corps ;  but 
it  met  with  repulse,  the  enemy  taking 
a  number  of  prisoners,  and  our  loss,  in 
killed  and  wounded,  being  quite  heavy. 
On  the  22d  of  June,  Wilson's  divi 
sion  of  cavalry,  with  Kautz's  brigade, 
was  dispatched  for  the  purpose  of 
breaking  the  line  of  the  Danville  Rail 
road.  The  force,  numbering  about 
0,000  men,  with  three  batteries  of  four 
guns  each,  moved  on  the  morning  of 
the  day  just  named,  struck  the  Weldon 
Road  at  Ream's  Station,  and  crossed  the 
country  to  the  Lynchburg  Railroad  at 
Ford's  Station,  where,  as  at  the  former 
place,  the  track  was  broken  up  and  the 
buildings  and  other  property  of  the 
road  destroyed.  The  next  day,  the 
23d  of  June,  Kautz,  taking  the  lead, 
reached  the  junction  with  the 
Danville  Road  at  Burkesville, 
where  he  broke  up  and  burnt  several 
miles  of  the  track.  Wilson,  following 
on  the  Lynchburg  Road,  encountered 
the  enemy  at  Nottoway  Court  House, 
and  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued.  On  the 
24th,  Wilson  continued  his  advance, 
destroying  the  Danville  Railroad  to 
Roanoke  Bridge,  a  distance  of  more 
than  twenty-five  miles.  Here  he  found 
the  enemy  too  strongly  posted  to  be 
dislodged.  Crossing  the  country  to  the 
Nottoway  River,  he  reached  the  Wel 
don  Railroad  at  the  vicinity  of  Jarrett's 
Station.  A  push  was  made  for  Ream's 
Station,  on  the  supposition  that  it  was 
in  our  possession.  At  this  place  he 
was  met  by  the  rebel  cavalry,  support- 


1§61. 


CH.  XI.] 


HAGERSTOWN  PILLAGED  BY  THE  REBELS. 


447 


ed  by  infantry,  and  forced  to  retire, 
with  the  loss  of  his  artillery  and  trains.* 
Wilson's  force  having  become  divided, 
the  portion  under  Kautz  reached  the 
camp,  by  hard  riding,  in  advance  of 
Wilson,  who,  taking  a  more  southerly 
route,  crossed  the  Nottoway  River  and 
came  in  safely  a  few  days  later.  The 
whole  force  which  escaped  was  tho 
roughly  exhausted  with  hardships  and 
fatigue,  and  the  entire  loss  was  estimated 
at  less  than  1,000  men.  The  damage, 
however,  to  the  rebels,  in  this  expedi 
tion,  more  than  compensated,  in  Grant's 
opinion,  for  the  losses  sustained.  It 
severed  all  connection  by  railroad  with 
Richmond  for  several  weeks. 

A  suspension  of  active  operations  in 
the  army  of  the  James  River,  after  the 
ineffectual  movements  upon  Petersburg, 
and  the  fact  that  Hunter's  retreat  by 
way  of  the  Kanawha  (p.  442),  had  laid 
open  the  Shenandoah  Valley  for  raids 
into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  in 
duced  the  rebels  to  make  a  vigorous 

effort   in    that    direction.      The   laro;e 

• 

amount  of  stores  at  Martinsburg  fur 
nished  an  incentive  to  the  enemy's 
movement,  though,  doubtless,  the  prime 
objects  of  the  expedition  were,  to  ga 
ther  in  the  ripening  crops  in  the  Valley, 
and,  by  threatening  Washington,  to 

*  Pollard's  view  of  matters  at  this  date  is  worth 
quoting  : — "  It  was  evident  that  the  spirit  of  the  North 
had  commenced  to  stagger  under  this  accumulation  of 
disaster.  Gold  had  already  nearly  touched  300.  The 
uneasy  whispeis  in  Washington  of  another  draft  gave 

new  suggestions  to  popular  discontent The 

finances  at  Washington  were  becoming  desperate.  Mr. 
Chase,  the  secretary  of  the  treasury,  had  peremptorily 
resigned.  His  last  words  of  official  counsel  were,  that 
nothing  could  save  the  finances  but  a  series  of  military 
successes  of  undoubted  magnitude." — "Third  Year  of 
the  War,"  p.  276.  Compare  also,  note  from  Swinton. 
on  p.  443. 


1S64. 


compel  the  reduction  of  Grant's  force 
before  Richmond.  The  movement  was 
made  with  secrecy  and  skill,  and  as  the 
force  of  the  enemy  numbered  some 
15,000  infantry  and  5,000  cavalry,  un 
der  one  of  the  most  active  of  the  rebel 
leaders,  Jubal  Early,  there  was  certainly 
a  fair  prospect  of  success. 

Sigel  was,  at  this  time,  in  command 
of  the  defences  of  the  Potomac  in  the 
vicinity  of  Harper's  Ferry,  with  his 
headquarters  at  Martiusburg.  On  the 
enemy's  approach,  Sunday  morning, 
July  3d,  Sigel  retreated  across  the  Po 
tomac  at  Shepardstown ;  and  Gen. 
Weber,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  crossed  the 
river  and  occupied  Maryland  Heights. 
The  lower  counties  of  the  Valley  were 
now  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  and 
they  freely  helped  themselves  to 
such  supplies  as  they  could  lay 
hands  on,  wrhile  their  force  was  brought 
up  preparatory  to  making  heavier  de 
mands  upon  the  farmers  and  store 
keepers  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. 
On  the  4th  of  July,  a  party  of  Mosby's 
guerrillas  crossed  the  Potomac  to  Point 
of  Rocks,  and  plundered  the  stores  of 
that  place.  The  next  day  a  squad  of 
the  rebel  cavalry  made  their  appearance 
before  Hagerstown,  and  on  the  6th, 
Ransom,  with  McCausland's  brigade, 
entered  the  place,  and  demanded  $20,- 
000  from  the  councilmen,  which  were 
paid  to  save  the  town  from  being  burnt. 
Two  days  afterwards,  the  town  was 
again  pillaged  by  a  party  of  raiders 
under  Imboden. 

Grant,  anxious  to  check,  as  speedily 
as  possible,  this  movement  of  the  enemy, 
sent  the  6th  corps,  and  the  19th  corps, 
which  had  just  arrived  from  the  Gulf 


448 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  IX. 


18G-I. 


department,  to  give  efficient  aid  in  the 
active  operations  at  Washington  and 
its  vicinity,  for  the  defence  of  the  capi 
tal  and  the  expulsion  of  the  rebels. 
The  president  called  for  12,000  militia 
from  Pennsylvania,  12,000  from  New 
York,  and  5,000  from  Massachusetts ; 
and  Gen.  Couch,  at  Chainbersburg,  and 
Gen.  L.  Wallace  at  Baltimore,  were 
busily  occupied  in  organizing  and  fit 
ting  troops  for  the  field.  The  stores  and 
supplies  at  Frederick,  against  which  the 
enemy  moved  on  the  6th  of  July,  were 
brought  away  by  the  railroad  to  Balti 
more,  and  the  city  was  evacuated  by 
our  troops,  who  fell  back  to  a 
position  a  few  miles  distant, 
south  of  the  Monocacy  River,  at  the 
junction  of  the  roads  to  Washington 
and  Baltimore.  Wallace,  with  Rickett's 
division,  and  his  own  command,  the 
latter  mostly  new  and  undisciplined 
troops,  pushed  out  promptly  from  Bal 
timore,  and  met  the  enemy  in  force  on 
the  Monocacy,  nea.r  the  crossing  of  the 
railroad  bridge.  This  was  on  Satur 
day,  the  9th  of  July,  and  the  battle 
which  resulted  lasted  from  nine  o'clock, 
A.M.,  to  five,  P.M.  Our  troops  stood  their 
ground  well,  and  fought  bravely  during 
a  long  summer  day ;  but  the  superior 
numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  the  heavy 
losses  in  killed  and  wounded,  led  to  an 
entire  defeat  of  Wallace's  force,  the 
remnant  of  which  reached  Ellicott's 
Mills  the  next  morning;.  One  advant- 

O 

age  resulted  in  our  favor,  viz.,  the  de 
taining  of  the  enemy,  and  thereby 
enabling  Wright  to  reach  Washington 
with  two  divisions  of  the  Oth  corps, 
and  the  advance  of  the  19th  corps,  be 
fore  him. 


The  rebels  were  now,  for  the  pre 
sent,  free  to  continue  their  depredations 
through  the  central  portion  of  Mary 
land,  an  advantage  which  they  availed 
themselves  of  to  the  utmost,  exacting 
large  contributions  in  the  small  towns 
and  driving  off  liberal  supplies  of  live 
stock  from  the  farmers.  The  country 
from  the  Potomac  as  far  north  as  West 
minster,  and  east  to  the  line  of  the 
Central  Railroad,  was  freely  pillaged  ; 
and  the  drift  of  the  rebel  movement 
being  east  ward  ly,  Couch,  on  the  9th  of 
July,  took  possession  of  Hagerstown 
on  their  flank. 

From  the  Monocacy  the  rebels  mov 
ed  directly  towards  Washington.  They 
marched  by  the  direct  route  through 
Rockville,  and  onward  to  the  vicinity 
of  the  capital,  a  considerable  body 
making  its  appearance,  on  the  llth  of 
July,  in  front  of  Fort  Stevens,  one  of 
the  series  of  works  protecting  Wash 
ington  on  the  northern  side.  A  bri 
gade  was  sent  to  dislodge  the  advance 
of  the  enemy ;  a  severe  skirmish  en 
sued,  with  considerable  loss,  and  the 
rebels  were  put  to  rout  near  Silver 
Springs.  That  same  night,  July  12th, 
alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  affairs,  they 
began  their  retreat,  and,  loaded  with 
booty,  prepared  to  re-cross  the  Poto 
mac  in  the  vicinity  of  Poolesville. 

"  Learning  the  exact  condition  of 
affairs  at  Washington,"  says  Grant,  in 
his  report,  "  I  requested  by  telegraph, 
at  11.45  P.M.,  on  the  12th,  the  assign 
ment  of  Wright  to  the  command  of  all 
the  troops  that  could  be  made  avail 
able  to  operate  in  the  field  against  the 
enemy,  and  directed  that  he  should  get 
outside  of  the  trenches  with  all  the  force 


CH.  XL] 


CHAMBERSBURG,  PENN.,  BURNT. 


449 


IMil. 


lie  could,  and  push  Early  to  the  last 
moment.     Gen.  Wright  commenced  the 

pursuit  on  the  13th    of  July; 

on  the  18th,  the  enemy  was 
overtaken  at  Snicker's  Ferry,  on  the 
Shenandoah,  when  a  sharp  skirmish 
occurred ;  and  on  the  20th,  Gen.  Averill 
encountered  and  defeated  a  portion  of 
the  rebel  army  at  Winchester,  captur 
ing  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  several 
hundred  prisoners."  Hunter  was  di 
rected  to  remain  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  and  keep  his  troops  between 
any  force  of  the  enemy  and  Washing 
ton,  acting  on  the  defensive  as  much  as 
possible. 

About  the  25th  of  July,  the  rebels 
were  again  advancing  upon  Maryland 
and  Virginia.  Scattered  parties  began 
to  cross  the  upper  fords  of  the  Poto 
mac,  and  to  renew  their  depredations. 
One  of  the  most  destructive  of  these 
incursions  was  that  made  upon  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  July  30th.  A  body  of  raiders, 
under  McCausland,  some  500  in  num 
ber,  made  a  dash  upon  the  town,  and 
demanded  immediately  $500,000.  If 
the  money  wras  not  furnished  at  once, 
they  declared  they  would  set  fire  to 
and  burn  up  everything.  As  it  was  of 
course  impossible  to  furnish  such  a  sum 
on  the  instant,  they  proceeded,  without 
a  moment's  delay,  to  inflict  the  threat 
ened  vengeance.  No  time  was  given 
to  remove  private  property,  and  barely 
enough  for  the  citizens  to  save  their 
families.  The  town  was  fired  in  differ 
ent  quarters,  and  over  250  of  its  houses 
consumed,  including  all  the  public 
buildings,  stores,  and  hotels.  About 
two- thirds  of  the  place  was  thus  con- 

VOL.  IV.— 57. 


1864. 


sumed.  The  pecuniary  loss  was  esti 
mated  at  over  $1,000,000,  a  heavy  dis 
aster  to  a  town  of  6,000  inhabitants. 

The  occupation  of  Chambersburg 
and  the  conflagration  were  the  work 
of  but  a  few  hours.  Averill,  with  hia 
cavalry,  entered  the  place  at  noon,  just 
as  the  enemy  withdrew,  and  pursued 
them  on  the  westerly  road 
through  McConnellsburg.  The 
next  day  he  followed  them  to  the  Poto 
mac,  at  Hancock,  where  his  jaded  com 
mand  prevented  further  pursuit.  The 
destruction  of  Chambersburg,  and  other 
incursions  across  the  Potomac,  aroused 
greater  activity.  Kelly  and  Averill 
rendered  important  services  in  meeting 
and  defeating  the  enemy  at  several 
points,  and  driving  them,  with  dimin 
ished  numbers,  into  the  mountains  of 
West  Virginia. 

Seeing  that  Petersburg  was  not  to 
be  taken  by  direct  assault  on  our 
part  the  army  was  busily  occupied  in 
strengthening  its  lines,  pushing  for 
ward  entrenchments,  and  planting 
powerful  batteries  at  convenient  points, 
which  kept  up,  at  intervals,  a  destruc 
tive  bombardment  of  the  city.  Our 
forces  having  been  drawn  in  from  the 
left  for  purposes  of  concentration,  the 
enemy  were  free  to  repair  the  injuries 
to  the  Weldon  Road,  which  was  again 
put  in  working  order.  There  were 
occasional  reconnaissances,  with  skir 
mishing,  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
month  of  July,  while  a  portion  of  both 
armies  was  withdrawn  to  the  Potomac. 
The  heat  of  the  month,  of  unusual  con 
tinuance  without  a  respite,  was  intoler 
able,  and  was  aggravated  by  the  unin- 
terrnitted  drought.  The  work  in  the 


450 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION 


[BK.  IX. 


1  *<>•!. 


trenches,  meanwhile,  was  diligently 
kept  up,  while  an  extraordinary  labor 
was  being  performed  in  the  con 
struction  of  a  mine  leading  to  a 
formidable  fort  of  the  enemy's,  in  front 
of  Burnside's  line,  and  about  2,000 
yards  southeast  from  Petersburg.  The 
required  length  of  the  mine,  to  reach 
the  point  proposed,  was  about  500  feet. 
The  work,  in  which  many  difficulties 
in  the  way  of  water,  marshy  grounds 
and  quicksands  had  been  overcome, 
was  completed  by  the  25th  of  July,  a 
month  after  its  commencement,  and 
some  four  tons  of  powder  were  placed 
in  it  ready  for  use.* 

On  the  night  of  the  26th  of  July,  the 
2nd  corps  and  two  divisions  of  the  cav 
alry  corps,  and  Kautz's.  cavalry,  were 
crossed  to  the  north  bank  of  the  James 
River,  and  joined  the  force  which  But 
ler  had  succeeded,  on  the  21st,  in  plac 
ing  at  Deep  Bottom,  and  in  connecting 
by  pontoon  bridges  with  Bermuda 
Hundred.  On  the  27th  of  July,  the 
enemy  was  driven  from  his  entrenched 
position,  with  the  loss  of  four  pieces  of 
artillery.  On  the  28th,  our  lines  were 
extended  from  Deep  Bottom  to  New 
market  Road ;  but  in  getting  this  posi 
tion  the  enemy  attacked  in  heavy  force. 
The  fighting  lasted  for  several  hours, 
and  resulted  in  considerable  loss.  The 


*  Lieut.-Col.  Pleasants,  of  the  48th  Pennsylvania, 
an  experienced  engineer,  was  the  constructor  of  the 
mine.  In  its  inception  and  always  it  was  highly  ap 
proved  by  Gen.  Burnside ;  but  at  headquarters  it  was 
ridiculed  rather  than  approved,  and  does  not  at  any 
time  seem  to  have  been  looked  on  with  favor.  Gen. 
Meade,  however,  in  an  order,  August  5th,  speaks  of 
"  the  valuable  services,"  "  the  skill  displayed  by  Col. 
Pleasants,"  etc.,  and  praises  the  devotion  and  steadi 
ness  of  the  men  in  prosecuting  the  work  to  its  com 
pletion. 


effect,  however,  of  these  movements 
was  to  induce  Lee  to  withdraw,  on  the 
28th  and  29th  of  July,  some  15,000  or 
20,000  men  from  Petersburg  to  the 
defence  of  Richmond,  in  the  direction 
of  Malvern  Hill.  Grant  thereupon  de 
termined  to  take  advantage  of  the  di 
version  thus  made,  by  an  assault  upon 
Petersburg,  before  Lee  could  get  his 
force  back  there.  He  accordingly  with- 

O    */ 

drew  one  division  of  the  2d  corps,  on 
the  night  of  the  28th  of  July,  and  mov 
ed  it  during  the  night  to  the  rear  of 
the  18th  corps,  in  order  to  relieve  that 
corps  in  the  line,  with  reference  to  the 
assault  to  be  made.  The  other  two 
divisions  of  the  2d  corps  and  Sheridan's 
cavalry  were  crossed  over  on  the  night 
of  the  29th  of  July,  and  moved  in  front 
of  Petersburg. 

Everything  was  now  in  readiness, 
and  it  was  determined  to  try  the  effect 
of  blowing  up  the  mine,  which  contain 
ed  some  four  tons  of  powder,  and  of  an 
assault  immediately  thereafter.  The 
troops  forming  the  assaulting  column 
were  notified  that  the  explosion  would 
take  place  between  three  and  four 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  30th, 
and  they  were  required  to  be  fully  pre 
pared  to  move  forward  at  a  moment's 
warning.  They  were  to  sweep  the  hos 
tile  line,  right  and  left,  arid  then  seize 
upon  the  crest  beyond,  known  as  "  Ce 
metery  Hill,"  which  commanded  and 
would  secure  the  fall  of  Petersburg.  At 
4.42  in  the  morning,  just  as  the  dawn 
was  beginning  to  light  up  the  scene,  the 
mine  exploded.  "  A  solid  mass  of 
earth,  through  which  the  exploding 
powder  blazed  like  lightning  playing 
in  a  bank  of  clouds,  arose  slowly  some 


CH.  XL] 


MINE  EXPLOSION  AT  PETERSBURG. 


451 


200  feet  in  the  air,  and,  hanging  visibly 
for  a  few  seconds,  it  subsided,  and  a 
heavy  cloud  of  black  smoke  floated 
off.'7'*  Immediately  the  artillery  open 
ed  along  tlie  whole  line,  and  the  assault 
ing  column,  under  Gen.  Ledlie,  ad 
vanced  to  the  charge.  On  reaching  the 
site  of  the  fort,  there  was  found  a  huge 
crater,  150  feet  long,  sixty  feet  wide, 
and  about  twenty-five  feet  deep.  Here 
the  column  sought  shelter,  instead  of 
instantly  dashing  forward  and  securing 
the  ridge  above  alluded  to.  This  could, 
at  that  time,  have  been  readily  done, 
for  the  rebels  were  paralyzed,  and  so  re 
mained  for  more  than  half  an  hour. 
Recovering,  however,  from  their  sur 
prise,  they  took  prompt  measures  to 
prevent  our  success,  and  by  forming 
their  infantry  in  a  ravine  to  the  right, 
and  planting  their  artillery  on  both  the 
right  and  left  of  the  crater,  they  suc 
ceeded  in  repulsing  the  various  efforts 
made  by  our  troops  for  an  advance. 
"  It  was  now  seven  A.M.,"  says  Swinton, 
in  a  rather  highly  colored  account  of 
the  tl  mine  fiasco,"  as  he  calls  it,  "  more 
than  two  hours  after  Ledlie  occupied 
the  crater,  yet  he  made  no  advance  him 
self,  and  obstructed  the  efforts  of  other 
officers.  In  this  state  of  facts,  the  more 
troops  that  were  thrown  in,  the  worse 
was  the  confusion ;  yet  Gen.  Burnside 
threw  forward  the  black  division  to 
essay  an  assault.  Passing  beyond  the 
crater,  the  colored  troops  made  an  ad 
vance  towards  the  crest,  when,  encoun 
tering  a  fire  of  artillery  and  infantry, 

*  In  this  fearful  explosion,  not  only  huge  masses  of 
earth,  mingled  with  cannon,  caissons,  and  camp  equi 
page  wore  thrown  up,  but  there  were  also  mingled 
with  these  the  bodies  and  limbs  of  more  than  200  men 
who  were  on  garrison  duty  in  the  fort. 


they  retired  in  great  disorder  through 
the  troops  in  the  crater,  and  back  to 
the  original  lines.  After  the  repulse  of 
the  colored  division,  all  semblance  of 
offensive  efforts  ceased ;  blacks  and 
whites  tumbled  pell-mell  into  the  hol 
low  of  the  exploded  earthworks — a 
slaughter  pen,  in  which  shells  and 
bombs,  raining  from  the  enemy's  lines, 
did  fearful  havoc.  Failing  to  advance, 
it  soon  proved  almost  equally  difficult 
to  retreat,  though  parties  of  tens  and 
twenties,  crawling  out,  ran  back  as  best 
they  could.  The  enemy  then  made  a 
sally  towards  the  crater,  but  was  re 
pulsed.  A  second  assault,  however, 
shook  the  disjointed  structure  of  the 
hapless  mass,  which,  without  head  or 
direction,  obeyed  the  instinct  of  sauve 
qiii  pent.  Above  4,000  were  killed  or 
captured."* 

Grant's  statement,  in  his  report,  is 
brief  and  expressive : — "  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the  30th  of  July,  between  four 
and  five  o'clock,  the  mine  was  sprung, 
blowing  up  a  battery  and  most  of  a  re 
giment,  and  the  advance  of  the  assault 
ing  column,  formed  of  the  9th  corps,, 
immediately  took  possession  of  the  cra 
ter  made  by  the  explosion,  and  the  line 
for  some  distance  to  the  right  and  left 
of  it,  and  a  detached  line  in  front  of  it, 


*  Swinton's  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  523.  This 
writer  is  very  severe  in  his  criticism,  and  attributes 
the  failure  of  the  assault  to  the  fact  that,  not  the  best 
picked  men  were  chosen  for  this  duty,  but  a  portion 
of  the  9th  corps,  under  Burnside,  a  corps  which  he  es 
timates  as  anything  but  the  elite  of  the  army.  As  an 
offset  to  this,  the  reader  will  find  it  profitable  to  consult 
Woodbury's  "  Burnside  and  the  Ninth  Army  Corps," 
chapters  v.  and  vi.,  pp.  418-462,  in  which  there  is  a 
full  account  of  the  mine,  and  of  the  inquiry  and  inves 
tigation  resulting  from  the  disaster  on  the  30th  of  July. 
Woodbury's  narrative  places  Gen.  Meade's  conduct  in 
no  enviable  light. 


452 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


but  for  some  cause  failed  to  advance 

promptly  to  the  ridge  beyond.  Had  they 

done  this,  I  have  every  reason  to 

1  fcj^'  I 

believe  that  Petersburg  •would 
have  fallen.  Other  troops  were  imme 
diately  pushed  forward,  but  the  time 
consumed  in  getting  them  up  enabled 
the  enemy  to  rally  from  his  surprise 
(which  had  been  complete),  and  get 
forces  to  this  point  for  its  defence.  The 
captured  line  thus  held  being  untena 
ble,  and  of  no  advantage  to  us,  the 
troops  were  withdrawn,  but  not  with 
out  heavy  loss.  Thus  terminated  in 
disaster  what  promised  to  be  the  most 
successful  assault  of  the  campaign."* 

This  last  attempt  on  our  part  having 
met  with  so  lamentable  a  failure,  mat 
ters  resumed  their  usual  course  in  car 
rying  on  the  siege  against  Petersburg. 
Grant  learning  by  reports  from  various 
sources  that  Lee  had  detached  a  large 
body  of  troops  to  reinforce  Early  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  availed  himself  of 
the  occasion  to  order  a  force  to  threaten 
Richmond  from  the  north  side  of  the 
James,  in  order  to  prevent  Lee  from 
sending  off  troops,  and  if  possible  to 
draw  back  those  which  had  been  sent. 
Accordingly,  on  the  night  of  August 
13th,  Gregg's  cavalry  division  and  Bir- 
ney's  corps  crossed  the  river  on  the  pon 
toon  bridge  and  joined  Foster's  brigade 
in  its  old  position  at  Deep  Bottom, 
while,  at  the  same  time,  Hancock's  corps, 
which  had  been  ostentatiously  sent 
down  the  river  on  transports,  was  se 
cretly  brought  back  and  united  with 
this  force.  The  next  day,  August  1 4th, 

*  Gen.  Grant's  "  Report,"  p.  2.1.  See  also,  on  the 
subject  of  the  mine  at  Petersburg,  Copp6e's  "  Grant 
and  his  Campaigns,"  pp.  364-373. 


I  MSI. 


an  oppressively  hot  day,  both  corps  were 
engaged  in  a  forward  movement  upon 
the  enemy's  entrenchments  cov 
ering  the  road  to  Richmond 
immediately  in  their  front.  Birney  was 
partially  successful ;  but  Hancock  was 
repulsed  in  an  advance  upon  an  advan 
tageous  position  of  the  enemy,  our  loss 
of  the  day  being  estimated  at  least  at 
1,000.  On  the  following  day,  there  was 
some  heavy  cavalry  skirmishing  on  the 
right  where  Gregg's  division,  guarding 
the  flank,  reached  the  Charles  City  road. 
On  Tuesday,  the  16th  of  August,  the 
weather  still  continuing  oppressively 
hot,  fighting  was  renewed.  The  ene 
my's  line  was  carried ;  but  having  ral 
lied,  it  was  again  retaken  by  them,  the 
contest  continuing  until  evening.  On 
the  night  of  the  18th  of  August,  Bir- 
ney's  line  was  attacked  by  the  rebels 
in  heavy  force  ;  but  after  half  an  hour's 
fighting,  they  were  repulsed  with  great 

loss.     Gen.  Miles,  with  two  brigades, 

'  ~ 

took  part  in  the  fight,  attacking  the 
enemy  on  his  right  flank.  Two  days 
later,  Hancock  returned,  by  way  of  Ber 
muda  Hundred,  to  his  old  camp  before 
Petersburg.  Our  loss  in  this  movement 
was  estimated  to  exceed  1,500  men. 
The  principal  advantage  was,  the  keep 
ing  back  troops  under  orders  to  march 
for  the  Valley ;  and  the  capturing  six 
pieces  of  artillery  and  several  hundred 
prisoners.* 

The  rebel  commander,  having  with 
drawn  largely  from  Petersburg,  in  order 

*  About  this  date,  August  10th,  to  the  north  of  the 
James  River  a  strong  working  party  was  presently  en 
gaged,  under  cover  of  our  advanced  batteries  on  that 
side,  in  digging  a  canal  across  the  peninsula  at  Dutch 
Gap,  for  the  sake  of  securing  a  nearer  base  of  opera 
tions  against  Richmond. 


Cn.  XL] 


BATTLE  AT  REAM'S  STATION. 


453 


to  resist  the  movement  above  narrated, 
Grant  determined  to  strike  out  on  the 
left  flank,  which  now  rested  within 
three  miles  of  the  Weldon  Railroad. 
On  the  morning  of  August  18th,  War 
ren  moved  from  camp  towards  the  Wel 
don  Road,  which  he  struck  about  noon 
at  Six-mile  Station.  While  Griffin's 
division  remained  there  breaking  up 
the  road,  Ayer's,  with  Crawford's  and 
Cutter's  divisions,  advanced  several 
miles  beyond,  and  took  up  a  position 
to  the  right  and  left  of  the  railroad. 
Lee,  aware  of  the  vast  importance  of 
this  road  for  his  communications,  order 
ed  a  determined  assault  to  be  made, 
and  our  men  to  be  driven  off.  Hill's 
corps  advanced,  and  charged  with  im 
petuous  confidence.  At  first,  they  were 
successful  in  the  assault,  but  afterwards 
were  repulsed.  Again  and  again  they 
renewed  the  assault ;  but  were  in  each 
instance  driven  back;  and  at  the  close 
of  the  day,  Warren  was  in  possession 
of  the  road.  Resolved  to  hold  the  im 
portant  advantage  thus  gained,  Warren 
at  night  threw  up  entrenchments  in  a 
heavy  rain.  The  next  day,  while  the 
new  line  was  being  strengthened  and 
reinforcsd  to  connect  with  the  old  posi 
tion  before  the  city  on  the  right, 
it  was  again  assailed  in  the 
afternoon  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  rain 
storm  by  A.  P.  Hill,  and  the  two  right 
divisions  of  W'arren's  corps  were  driven 
in,  and  a  number  of  prisoners  captured. 
Wilcox's  and  White's  commands — about 
2,000  in  all — of  the  9th  corps,*  coming 

*  Gen.  Burnside,  after  the  disaster  above  detailed, 
was  relieved  from  command  of  the  9th  corps,  on  the 
13th  of  August.  He  returned  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  and 
was  not  called  again  into  active  service  during  the 
war. 


1864. 


up  at  the  opportune  moment,  and  the  ar 
tillery  being  effectively  employed,  the 
enemy  was  driven  from  the  field, 
and  the  Union  lines  re-established. 
Another  desperate  attempt  was  made 
by  the  enemy  on  the  2 1st  of  August, 
to  break  up  the  line  now  firmly  estab 
lished  across  the  railroad.  An  attack 
was  made  in  two  heavy  columns,  both 
of  which  were  repulsed,  the  enemy  suf 
fering  fearfully  from  their  exposure  to 
the  fire  from  our  works.  The  loss  of 
officers  on  the  field  was  large.  The  ag 
gregate  loss  sustained  by  Warren  in 
these  actions  was,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  about  4,500. 

While  Warren  was  strengthening  his 
position  before  Petersburg,  a  considera 
ble  body  of  infantry,  with  cavalry  sup 
ports,  was  engaged  in  the  destruction  of 
the  railroad  below.  They  had  been  rein 
forced  in  this  work  in  the  vicinity  of 
Ream's  Station  by  the  2d  corps,  when, 
on  the  25th  of  August,  the  enemy  made 
a  fierce  and  determined  attack  on 
Hancock's  men.  Twice  the  rebels 
were  repulsed,  but  as  A.  P.  Hill 
resolved  to  carry  the  position  at  all  haz 
ards,  the  attack  was  renewed  about 
5.30  P.M.  "  The  enemy,"  says  Hancock, 
in  his  report  of  Ream's  Station,  "  form 
ed  in  the  woods,  placed  their  artillery 
in  position,  opened  a  heavy  cannonade, 
lasting  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  then 
assaulted  Miles's  force.  He  resisted 
tenaciously,  but  the  enemy  broke  his 
line.  Some  of  Gibbons's  troops  were 
hurried  over  to  repair  the  damage,  and 
the  enemy  only  gained  a  slight  foot 
hold.  The  fighting  was  continuous  un 
til  dark,  the  enemy  being  held  in  check 
by  artillery,  dismounted  cavalry  and 


454 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


skirmishers.  At  dark  we  withdrew  to 
a  line  in  the  rear  and  left  of  the  station. 
,,  f  .  .  This  is  acknowledged  to  have 
been  one  of  the  most  determined  and 
desperate  fights  of  the  war,  resembling 
Spottsylvania  in  its  character,  though 
the  number  engaged  gives  less  impor 
tance  to  it.  A  few  more  good  troops 


would  have  given  a  victory  of  consider 
able  importance."  Hancock's  loss  n  um 
bered  2,400  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  out  of  his  small  command  of 
8,000  infantry  and  cavalry.  Five  pieces 
of  artillery  were  also  lost.  The  rebel 
loss  is  not  known  in  numbers,  but  it  is 
known  that  it  was  very  severe. 


CHAPTER    XII. 


1864. 

POLITICAL  CONDITION  OP  THE  COUNTRY:    ACTION  OP  CONGRESS. 

Condition  of  the  country  —  Preparations  for  the  presidential  election  —  Apprehensions — Trials  to  be  encoun 
tered —  The  Republican  party  at  this  date  —  Cleveland  Convention,  in  May — Platform  —  Fremont  and 
Cochrane  nominated  —  The  Union  and  Republican  Convention  at  Baltimore,  in  June  —  Resolutions  and 
platform  —  Lincoln  and  Johnson  nominated  —  The  Arguelles  case  —  The  forged  proclamation  —  Journal 
of  Commerce  and  World  offices  seized  —  Gen.  Dix  arrested  —  The  Niagara  Falls  Conference  —  Longing 
desire  for  peace —  Greeley  and  his  efforts  —  The  president's  course  in  the  matter  —  Raymond's  remarks  — 
Democratic  Convention  in  Chicago,  in  August  —  Its  platform  —  McClellan  and  Pendleton  nominated  — 
Action  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress  —  Appropriations,  loans,  internal  revenue,  taxation,  etc.  — New  en 
rollment  bill  —  Proposed  constitutional  amendment  —  Fugitive  slave  law  repealed  —  Reconstruction  of 
states  in  rebellion  —  Provisions  of  the  bill  —  Not  signed  by  Mr.  Lincoln  —  His  reasons,  as  given  in  a 
proclamation  —  Protest  of  Messrs.  Wade  and  Davis  —  Day  of  fasting,  humiliation  and  prayer  appointed 
by  the  president. 


IN  the  history  of  every  country  where 
war  has  been  prevailing  for  a  length  of 
time,  details  of  military  movements, 
and  their  various  ramifications,  neces 
sarily  occupy  the  larger  space,  and  it  is 
apt  to  be  forgotten  that  the  narrative 
of  military  and  naval  operations,  im 
portant  as  these  may  be  and  are,  affords 
but  a  partial  and  imperfect  view  of  the 
history  of  the  nation,  in  the 
comprehensive  and  proper  sense 
of  the  term.  The  American  people 
were  now  going  through  other  trials 
than  those  of  the  camp  and  the  tented 


IMil. 


field,  and  the  discipline  to  which  they 
were  subjected,  in  God's  Providence, 
was  testing  them,  in  various  ways,  and 
teaching  them  to  understand  and  ap 
preciate,  better  than  ever,  the  blessings 
and  privileges  of  freedom  under  the 
Constitution  and  laws  of  the  land.  We 
shall,  then,  before  resuming  the  narra 
tive  of  the  further  progress  of  the  war, 
take  this  opportunity  of  turning  aside 
for  a  while,  and  of  devoting  a  chapter 
to  some  other  matters  than  the  ensan 
guined  battle-field,  matters  which,  al 
though  not  free  from  connection,  more 


Cn.  XII.] 


THE   COMING  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION. 


455 


or  less  direct,,  with  war  and  its  terrors, 
are  of  historical  importance  and  need 
ful  to  be  placed  on  record. 

It  was  one  of  the  severe  trials  at  this 
period  in  our  country's  history,  that  the 
time  had  arrived  when  it  was  necessary 
to  go  through  the  proper  preliminaries, 
and  then  for  the  people,  by  their  suf 
frages,  to  make  choice  of  him  who  was 
to  be  the  president  of  the  United  States 
from  and  after  the  4th  of  March,  1865. 
Mr.  Lincoln's  term  of  office  would  ex 
pire  at  that  date;  and  it  was  now  to 
be  determined  whether  he  should  be  re- 
elected  to  carry  on  to  its  completion  the 
present  policy  of  the  government,  or 
whether  some  other  citizen  should  be 
placed  in  this  "most  responsible  and  dif 
ficult  position.  That  such  an  election, 
always  abundantly  exciting,  had  be 
come  necessary  in  the  midst  of  a  civil 
war,  when  men's  passions  were  roused 
to  a  fearful  extent,  was  a  strain  upon 
the  American  system  of  government 
which  foreboded  dangerous  and  pos 
sibly  fatal  consequences.  It  was  an 
entirely  new  thing  in  our  history ;  wise 
and  thoughtful  men  looked  uneasily  at 
the  state  of  public  affairs,  and  feared 
even  more  than  they  hoped;  and  many 
a  dark  cloud  hung  over  the  political 
horizon.  "  The  public  debt  was  stead 
ily  and  rapidly  increasing.  Under  the 
resistless  pressure  of  military  necessity, 
the  government,  availing  itself  of  the 
permission  of  the  Constitution,  had  sus 
pended  the  great  safeguard  of  civil 
freedom,  and  dealt  with  individuals, 
whom  it  deemed  dangerous  to  the  pub 
lic  safety,  with  as  absolute  and  relent 
less  severity  as  the  most  absolute  mon 
archies  had  ever  shown.  Taxes  were 


increasing;  new  drafts  of  men,  to  fill 
the  ranks  of  new  armies,  were  impend 
ing;  the  democratic  party,  from  the 
very  beginning  hostile  to  the  war,  and 
largely  imbued  with  devotion  to  the 
principle  of  state  sovereignty  on  which 
the  rebellion  rested,  and  with  toleration 
for  slavery,  out  of  which  it  grew,  was 
watching  eagerly  for  every  means  of 
arousing  popular  hatred  against  the 
government,  that  they  might  secure  the 
transfer  to  their  own  hands ;  and  the 
losses,  the  agonies,  the  desolations  of 
the  war,  were  beginning,  apparently,  to 
make  themselves  felt  injuriously  upon 
the  spirit,  the  endurance,  the  hopeful 
resolution  of  the  people  throughout  the 
loyal  states."  *  Yet  the  duty  was  to  be 
performed ;  it  could  not  be  evaded ; 
and  the  people  entered  upon  the  work 
before  them  with  a  profound  sense  of 
the  magnitude  of  the  interests  involved, 
and  of  the  obligations  resting  upon 
them  to  see  that  the  Republic  suffered 
no  harm  through  their  negligence  or 
lack  of  patriotic  effort. 

Preparations  for  the  nomination  of 
candidates  were  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1864.  For  a  time,  there  was  consider 
able  hesitation  as  to  the  course  to  be 
pursued.  A  portion  of  the  party,  which 
placed  Mr.  Lincoln  in  the  presidential 
chair,  was  strongly  opposed  to  his  con 
tinuance  in  office.  The  radical  and 
sweeping  anti-slavery  leaders  deemed 
Mr.  Lincoln  too  slow  and  uncertain  for 
their  wishes ;  active  and  ambitious  men 
were  dissatisfied  with  the  president  for 
not  giving  them  the  opportunity  to 
advance  their  own  as  well  as  their 
country's  interests ;  and  office  seekers, 

*  Raymond's  "  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln"  p.  547. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  IX. 


in  no  small  number,  resented  the  lack 
of  discrimination  at  Washington  in  not 
placing  them  in  positions  of  trust  and 
emolument.  As  it  was  impossible  for 
Mr.  Lincoln  to  please  every  body  among 
his  supporters,  even  under  the  most  fa 
vorable  circumstances,  so  he  offended 
numbers  in  the  republican  party,  by  de 
clining  to  act  upon  their  advice,  or  by 
determining  upon  great  and  critical 
measures  in  a  way  which  they  did  not 
approve.  It  was  no  wonder,  then,  that, 
under  the  pressure  of  various  motives 
and  causes,  efforts  should  be  made  to 
bring  forward  other  prominent  men, 
such  as  Secretary  Chase,  Gen.  Grant, 
Gen.  Fremont,  etc.,  and  to  obtain  for 
some  of  these  the  nomination  in  place 
of  Mr.  Lincoln. 

The  earliest  movement  of  a  direct 
kind  for  nominating  candidates  for  the 
presidency  was  made  by  a  convention 
which  assembled  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
on  the  31st  of  May.  Some  350  repre 
sentatives  or  delegates  met  at  the  time 
appointed,  having  come  from  fifteen  of 
the  different  states,  and  the  District  of 
Columbia.  Gen.  John  Cochrane  of  New 
York  presided.  Resolutions  were  adopt 
ed,  asserting  that  "  the  Constitution  and 
laws  of  the  United  States  must  be  main 
tained  ;"  that  "  rights  of  free  speech,  free 
press,  and  the  habeas  corpus  be  held 
inviolate,  save  in  districts  where  mar 
tial  law  has  been  proclaimed ; "  that 
the  rebellion  has  destroyed  slavery,  and 
the  Federal  Constitution  should  be 
amended  to  prohibit  its  re-establish 
ment  and  to  secure  to  all  men  absolute 
equality  before  the  law ;  that 
"  the  national  policy,  known  as 
The  Monroe  Doctrine/  has  become  a 


1861. 


recognized  principle ;  and  that  the  es 
tablishment  of  an  anti-republican  gov 
ernment  on  this  continent  by  any  for 
eign  power  cannot  be  tolerated."  The 
question  of  "  the  reconstruction  of  the 
rebellious  states"  was  pronounced  to 
u  belong  to  the  people  through  their 
representatives  in  Congress,  and  not  to 
the  executive  ;"  and  it  was  declared, 
"  that  the  confiscation  of  the  lands  of 
the  rebels,  and  their  distribution  among 
the  soldiers  and  actual  settlers,  is  a  mea 
sure  of  justice."  Having  passed  these, 
among  other  resolutions,  the  convention 
nominated  Major-General  John  C.  Fre 
mont  for  president  of  the  United  States, 
and  Gen.  John  Cochraiie  for  vice  presi 
dent.  Fremont's  letter 'of  acceptance 
was  dated,  New  York,  June  4th,  in  re 
ply  to  the  letter  of  the  nominating  com 
mittee  of  the  convention,  in  which  he 
was  styled  u  the  standard  bearer  of  the 
radical  democracy  of  the  country."  He 
expressed  himself  strongly  in  hostility  to 
the  policy  of  President  Lincoln,  and  ap 
proved  of  the  platform  of  the  convention, 
except  the  proposed  confiscation.  He  also 
expressed  himself  ready  to  withdraw 
from  the  field,  if  the  Baltimore  conven 
tion  should  "  nominate  any  man  whose 
past  life  justified  a  well  grounded  con 
fidence  in  his  fidelity  to  our  cardinal 
principles."  * 

The  Union  and  Republican  conven 
tion  met  at  Baltimore  on  the  7th  of 

*  According  to  Mr.  Raymond's  statements,  "  the  con 
vention,  the  nomination,  and  the  letter  of  acceptance, 
fell  dead  upon  the  popular  feeling.  .  .  .  The  posi 
tion  which  Fremont  had  here  taken  at  once  separated 
him  from  those  who  had  been  his  truest  friends,"  etc. — 
"Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln"  p.  552.  For  the  proceed 
ings  of  the  Cleveland  convention,  the  documents,  etc., 
in  full,  see  McPherson's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion,"  pp. 
410-414. 


CH.  XII.] 


ACTION   OF   THE   BALTIMORE   CONVENTION. 


457 


June.  It  numbered  nearly  500  dele 
gates,  who  came  from  the  various  loyal 
states,  as  well  as  others  from  Tennes 
see,  Missouri,  Louisiana,  and  Arkansas. 
The  convention  was  organized  by  plac 
ing  ex-governor  Dennison,  of  Ohio,  in 
the  chair,  determining  upon  the  creden 
tials  of  delegates,  etc.  Mr.  Raymond, 
of  New  York,  as  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  on  resolutions,  reported,  the 
next  morning,  a,  series  of  eleven  re 
solutions,  in  which  were  clearly  set 
forth  the  principles  and  policy  of  the 
Union  and  Republican  party.  The  first 
resolution  pledged  the  members  and  all 
Union  men  to  support  the  government 
to  the  full  in  crushing  the  rebellion ; 
the  second  applauded  the  determina 
tion  of  the  government  not  to  make  any 
compromise  with  the  rebels,  but  to  pro 
secute  the  war  with  the  utmost  vigor; 
the  third  called  for  the  extirpation  of 
slavery  and  an  amendment  to  the  Con 
stitution  to  that  effect ;  the  fourth  gave 
utterance  to  words  of  eulogy  upon  the 
patriotism  and  valor  of  the  soldiers  and 
sailors  in  the  army  and  navy ;  the  fifth 
applauded  warmly  Abraham  Lincoln, 
his  policy,  his  measures,  his  unselfish 
patriotism,  etc. ;  the  sixth  urged  the 
need  of  harmony  in  the  national  coun 
cils  ;  the  seventh  affirmed  that  the  gov 
ernment  was  bound  to  protect  all  those 
in  its  service,  without  regard  to  distinc 
tion  of  color ;  the  eighth  urged  the  fos 
tering  and  encouraging  of  foreign  im 
migration;  the  ninth  advocated  the 
speedy  construction  of  the  Pacific  Rail 
road  ;  the  tenth  declared  the  necessity 
of  rigid  economy  and  responsibility  in 
regard  to  public  expenditures,  of  a  just 
system  of  taxation,  etc. ;  and  the  elev- 

VOL.  IV.— 53. 


enth  advocated  the  "  Monroe  doctrine  " 
in  strong  terms,  not  to  allow  any  for 
eign  interference  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Western  Continent,  etc. 

The  resolutions  were  adopted  with 
great  unanimity,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
nominated  by  the  vote  of  all  the  dele 
gates  present,  except  those  from  Mis 
souri,  who  were  previously  pledged  to 
vote  for  Gen.  Grant.  After  a  brief  con 
test  in  the  convention,  Andrew  John 
son,  military  governor  of  Tennessee,  was 
nominated  for  vice-president,  in  place 
of  Hannibal  Hamlin,  the  present  in 
cumbent..  Mr.  Lincoln  was  informed 
directly  of  the  result,  as  was  also  Mr. 
Johnson  ;  and  both  accepted  their  nom 
inations.'5'  The  executive  committee  of 
the  convention  sent  Mr.  Lincoln  a  letter 
announcing  the  result,  and  the  presi 
dent,  under  date  of  June  27th,  replied 
in  a  courteous  but  characteristic  man 
ner,  especially  thanking  the  convention 
because  they  had  not  forgotten  the  sol 
dier  and  the  sailor,  who  "  must  and  will 
be  forever  remembered  by  the  grateful 
country  for  whose  salvation  they  de 
vote  their  lives." 

The  nomination  of  Mr.  Lincoln  for  a 
second  term  was,  on  the  whole,  quite 
acceptable  to  the  great  body  of  those 
who  supported  the  government  in  its 
course  of  policy  and  action.  The  oppo 
sition,  however,  was  active  and  ener 
getic,  and  several  of  the  president's  acts 
were  discussed  with  no  friendly  feeling, 
and  censured  in  the  bitterest  terms. 
Among  these  was  the  case  of  a  Cuban 
named  Arguellea,  who,  at  the.  close  of 


*  For  Andrew  Johnson's  letter  of  acceptance, and  the 
proceedings  of  the  convention  in  detail,  see  McPhcr- 
eon's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion"  pp.  403-409. 


458 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1863.  had  taken  up  his  residence  in 
New  York.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
May  llth,  Arguelles  was  seized  by  au 
thority  of  the  president,  and  secretly 
placed  on  board  of  a  steamer  which 
sailed  immediately  for  Havana,  to  be 
delivered  up  to  the  Spanish  authorities 
as  a  criminal.  Congress  directly  asked 
the  president  for  information,  and  Mr. 
Seward  furnished  a  report,  May  30th, 
with  the  documents.  According  to 
these  it  appeared,  that  Don  Jose  Au- 
gustin  Arguelles,  an  officer  in  the  Span 
ish  army  in  Cuba,  had  captured  a  slave 
expedition,  while  he  was  acting  as  Lieut. 
Gov.  of  the  district  of  Colon,  in  Cuba. 
It  was  subsequently  discovered,  that  he 
had,  with  the  connivance  of  the  curate 
of  Colon,  made  representations  to  the 
Spanish  government  that  141  of  the  re 
captured  negroes  had  died  of  the  small 
pox,  though  in  fact,  he  had  sold  them 
into  slavery,  and  succeeded  in  escaping 
to  the  United  States,  where,  as  above 
stated,  he  was  arrested  and  handed  over 
to  the  Cuban  authorities.  Arguelles 
had  received  some  $15,000  as  his  share 
of  the  prize,  and  had  left  Cuba  on 
leave  of  absence  for  twenty  days.  There 
being  no  extradition  treaty  between 
our  country  and  Spain,  the  Cuban  gov 
ernment  could  take  no  proceedings  be 
fore  the  courts  in  the  matter,  and  the 
only  question  was,  whether  the  presi 
dent  would  take  the  responsibility  of  ar 
resting  Arguelles  and  sending  him  back 
or  not.  Mr.  Lincoln  determined  to  as 
sume  the  responsibility,  and  Arguelles 
was  seized  and  sent  off,  before  an  ap 
peal  to  any  of  the  courts  could  be  made 

in  his  behalf.     The  U.  S.  Marshal,  Ko- 

«  ' 

bert  Murray,  who  effected  the  arrest, 


was  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  of  New 
York  for  kidnapping  Arguelles,  and 
was  brought  before  the  court  of  ses 
sions  and  held  for  trial. 

This  assumption  of  power  on  the 
part  of  the  president,  even  his  admirers 
admit,  was  of  very  doubtful  expediency, 
to  say  the  least,  and  it  afforded  the 
opponents  of  the  administration  abun 
dant  opportunity  of  denouncing  those 
who  denied  the  right  of  asylum,  who 
exceeded  the  legal  powers  entrusted  to 
them,  who  insulted  the  laws  and  courts 
of  the  land,  and  who  thereby  endan 
gered  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the 
citizen.  Mr.  Seward  excused  the  ac 
tion  of  the  president,  on  the  ground 
that  it  was  done  "  in  virtue  of  the  law 
of  nations  and  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,"  and  that  "  a  nation  is 
never  bound  to  furnish  asylums  to  dan 
gerous  criminals  who  are  offenders 
against  the  human  race."  This  excuse 
and  defence,  however,  were  held  to  be 
weak  and  insufficient,  and  the  govern 
ment  suffered,  to  no  little  extent,  for 
its  action  in  this  matter. 

It  had  been  a  subject  of  complaint, 
on  various  occasions,  against  the  pre 
sent  administration,  that  it  was  in  the 
habit  of  exceeding  its  just  prerogatives, 
by  undue  and  unlawful  interference 
with  the  freedom  of  the  press.  This 
was  illustrated  in  the  case  of  proceed 
ings  against  two  of  the  daily  journals 
published  in  New  York  City,  and  the 
occasion  was  taken  to  berate  the  gov 
ernment,  in  the  severest  manner,  for  its 
tyranny  and  highhanded  usurpation  of 
power.  It  appears,  that  an  unscrupu 
lous  but  skilful  fellow  forged  a  procla 
mation  under  the  name  of  the  presi- 


CH.  XII.] 


THE  FORGED  PROCLAMATION. 


459 


dent,  and  timed  its  delivery  at  the 
offices  of  several  New  York  papers  very 
late  in  the  evening,  so  that  it  was  put 
in  type,  without  special  examination, 
and  appeared  the  next  morning,  May 
18th,  in  the  Journal  of  Commerce  and 
the  World.  At  the  time,  Grant  was 
engaged  in  the  bloody  struggle  at 
Spottsylvania,  Sigel  had  been  driven 
back,  and  Butler  was  held  in  check. 
The  pretended  proclamation  announced 
that  Grant's  campaign  was  virtually 
closed,  and  that  "in  view  of  the  situa 
tion  in  Virginia,  the  disaster  at  Red 
River,  the  delay  at  Charleston,  and  the 
general  state  of  the  country,"  the  26th 
day  of  May  was  to  be  observed  as  a 
day  of  fasting,  humiliation  and  prayer, 
and  a  fresh  draft  was  directly  to  take 
place  of  400,000  men.  The  malice  of 
this  document  was  plain  enough ;  it 
was  published  on  the  morning  when 
the  steamers  sailed  for  Europe ;  and  be 
ing  telegraphed  all  over  the  country, 
before  the  forgery  was  discovered,  it 
produced  a  wide-spread  alarm  for  sev 
eral  days. 

The  action  of  the  government  was 
prompt  and  decisive.  Not  only  was 
the  forgery  denounced  instantly  from 
Washington,  but  the  two  papers  above 
named  were  seized  by  government 
orders  and  their  publication  sup 
pressed.  The  author  and  abettors  of 
the  forged  proclamation  were  ferreted 
out  and  sent  to  Fort  Lafayette,  and  the 
Journal  of  Commerce  and  the  World 
resumed  their  issues  after  a  few  days, 
it  being  evident  that  they  had  pub 
lished  the  false  and  malicious  paper 
througli  inadvertence,  and  not  of  evil 
purpose.  As  in  the  Arguelles  case,  so 


now,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  sharply  censured 
for  daring  to  interfere  with  the  freedom 
of  the  press.  The  governor  of  New 
York — no  friend  to  the  administra 
tion — ordered  the  district  attorney  to 
take  steps  at  once  for  prosecuting  and 
punishing  all  who  had  been  connected 
with  the  shutting  up  the  newspaper 
offices.  The  matter  was  brought  be 
fore  a  grand  jury,  which,  after  due  con 
sideration,  deemed  it  best  not  to  inter 
fere,  and  reported  that  it  was  "inex 
pedient  to  examine  into  the  subject." 
Gov.  Seymour  was  not  satisfied  with 
this  result,  and  by  his  direction  the 
matter  was  taken  in  hand  by  the  city 
judge,  who  issued  warrants  to  arrest 
Gen.  Dix  and  all  the  officers  who  had 
acted  under  his  orders  in  the  present 
case.  Gen.  Dix  appeared,  and  the  sub 
ject  was  ably  discussed,  after  which 
the  judge,  on  the  1st  of  August,  gave 
his  decision  that  he  should  hold  Dix 
and  the  rest  concerned  for  the  action 
of  the  grand  jury  of  the  city  and  county. 
No  further  proceedings,  however,  were 
ever  taken,  and  the  whole  matter  rested 
at  this  point.* 

Besides  other  causes  of  complaint 
against  the  administration,  such  as  the 
heavy  burdens  of  a  protracted 
war,  the  slow  progress  of  Grant, 
and  the  terrible  losses  incident  on  his 
movements,  the  call  of  the  president, 
in  June,  for  500,000  men,  the  depressed 
state  of  the  currency,  financial  derange 
ments,  etc.,  all  of  which  were  charged 
directly  on  President  Lincoln  and  his 


1864. 


*  For  the  forged  proclamation  in  full,  the  steps 
taken  by  Gov.  Seymour  in  the  case,  the  arguments  of 
counsel,  etc.,  see  Appleton's  "  American  Annual  Cydo 
pcedia  "  for  1864,  pp.  389-393. 


460 


ABRAHAM   LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Biv.  IX. 


policy.  There  was  another  affair,  which 
occurred  during  the  summer,  and  which 

O  * 

gave  the  opponents  of  the  government 
a  capital  opening  to  cast  reproach  upon 
it,  and  prophesy  ruin  and  disgrace 
should  it  continue  to  rule  the  country. 
We  refer  to  the  Niagara  Falls  confer 
ence,  and  its  history  and  results.* 

Naturally  enough,  at  this  date,  a  very 
strong  desire  found  place  in  the  public 
mind  for  peace,  and  with  many,  u  peace 
on  any  terms."  .  The  great  length  and 
the  intense  severity  of  the  struggle  had 
begun  to  tell,  even  upon  those  who 
were  warm  and  hearty  supporters  of 
the  administration,  and  it  required  all 
the  nerve  and  strength  of  principle  of 
loyal  people  everywhere,  to  bear  up 
under  the  disheartening  results  thus 
far,  as  it  seemed,  of  the  prosecution  of 
the  war.  The  notion  found  more  or 
less  ready  acceptance,  at  least  it  was 
persistently  urged,  that  the  rebellion 
could  never  be  effectually  crushed,  as 
was  the  purpose  of  the  government, 
that  ere  long  our  resources  would  be 
exhausted,  and  that,  as  terms  of  some 
kind  would  have  to  be  made  with  Jeff. 
Davis  and  his  co-workers,  the  sooner 
negotiations  were  entered  upon  the 
better.  Rebel  emissaries  were  well 
aware  of  all  this,  and  actively  engaged 


*  A  similar  effort  to  negotiate  as  to  peace  was  made 
by  two  persons,  J.  F.  Jacques,  a  colonel  in  the  United 
States  Army,  and  J.  R.  Gilmore,  who  obtained  passage 
through  our  lines  and  visited  Jeff.  Davis  at  Richmond. 
They  appear  to  have  had  a  long  conversation  with  the 
arch-rebel,  but,  as  might  be  supposed,  they  were  un 
able  to  convince  him  that  the  way  to  obtain  peaco  was 
for  him  to  lay  down  arms  and  submit  to  the  law  of  the 
land.  The  visit  of  Messrs.  Jacques  and  Gilmore  re 
sulted  in  nothing  of  any  value.  See  Pollard's  bitter 
remarks  on  "  these  two  obscure  Yankees,  who  were 
treated  with  silly  distinction  in  Richmond,"—"  Last 
Year  of  the  War,"  pp.  66,  67. 


in  furthering  such  notions.  Davis,  in 
his  usual  set  phrase,  kept  crying  aloud, 
that  all  he  and  the  rebels  wanted  was, 
to  be  let  alone,  and  to  have  peace. 
The  declaration  was  repeated,  over  and 
over,  in  varied  form,  that  they  were 
never  guilty  of  bringing  on  war,  they 
were  not  the  aggressors,  they  wished 
for  and  loved  peace — if  the  barbarian 
invaders  of  the  North  would  only  let 
them  have  it ! 

Under  the  influence  of  this  longing 
desire  for  peace,  if  it  could  only  be 
brought  about,  Horace  Greeley,  editor 
of  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  a  prom 
inent  member  of  the  republican  party, 
put  himself  in  communication  with  cer 
tain  rebel  agents  in  Canada,  viz.,  C.  0. 
Clay,  J.  B.  Holcombe,  and  G.  N.  Sand 
ers,  who  professed  to  have  powers  from 
Davis  and  the  rebel  government  to  en 
ter  into  negotiations  looking  towards 
peace.  Under  date  of  July  7th,  Greeley 
wrote  to  the  president  a  very  earnest 
letter  on  the  subject,  and  asked  him  to 
give  heed  to  the  matter.  He  reminded 
the  president  "  that  our  bleeding,  bank 
rupt,  almost  dying  country  longs  for 
peace — shudders  at  the  prospect  of  fresh 
conscriptions,  of  further  wholesale  de 
vastations,  and  of  new  rivers  of  human 
blood ;  and  a  wide-spread  conviction 
that  the  government  and  its  prominent 
supporters  are  not  anxious  for  peace, 
and  do  not  improve  proffered  opportu- 
tunities  to  achieve  it,  is  doing  great 
harm  now,  and  is  morally  certain,  un 
less  removed,  to  do  greater  in  the  ap 
proaching  elections."  He  also  sketched 
a  "Plan  of  Adjustment,"  and  urged  an 
offer  of  peace,  since  it  might,  he  said, 
"  save  us  from  a  northern  insurrection." 


CH.  XII.] 


ATTEMPTED  PEACE   NEGOTIATIONS. 


461 


Mr.  Lincoln,  on  the  9tli  of  July,  re 
plied,  that  "  any  person  any  where  pro 
fessing  to  have  any  proposition  of  Jeff. 
Davis,  in  writing,  for  peace,  embracing 
the  restoration  of  the  Union  and  aban 
donment  of  slavery,"  should  have  safe 
conduct  to  meet  the  president,  and  re 
turn  also  in  safety.  A  number  of  let 
ters  passed  to  and  fro.  Greeley  thought 
that  duly  empowered  commissioners 
were  ready  to  proceed  to  Washington 
for  a  conference,  which,  however,  turn 
ed  out  to  be  quite  a  mistake.  The 
rebel  agents  were  only  "  in  the  confiden 
tial  employment  of  Davis,  and  entirely 
familiar  with  his  wishes,"  etc.  This 
changed  the  position  of  matters  consi 
derably,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  thereupon 
sent  further  instructions,  by  his  private 
secretary,  under  date  of  July  18th, 
headed  "  To  whom  it  may  concern,"  as 
follows : — "Any  proposition  which  em 
braces  the  restoration  of  peace,  the  in 
tegrity  of  the  whole  Union,  and  the 
abandonment  of  slavery,  and  which 
comes  by  and  writh  an  authority  that 
can  control  the  armies  now  at  war 
against  the  United  States,  will  be  re 
ceived  and  considered  by  the  executive 
government  of  the  United  States,  and 
will  be  met  by  liberal  terms  on  sub 
stantial  and  collateral  points,  and  the 
bearer  or  bearers  thereof  shall  have  safe 
conduct  both  ways."  The  rebel  agents 
took  great  offence  at  this ;  it,  they 
said,  "  provoked  as  much  their  indigna 
tion  as  their  surprise;"  and  regretting, 
with  Greeley,  "  the  sad  termination  of 
the  initiatory  steps  taken  for  peace,"  in 
consequence,  as  they  alleged,  of  the 
president's  change  of  views  and  bad 
faith,  they  haughtily  reasserted,  that 


the  rebel  authorities  and  people  would 
never  submit,  and  that  they  would  have 
peace  on  their  own  terms  or  not  at  all. 

Thus,  Horace  Greelev's  well  meant,  as 
•i 

we  think,  but  not  very  judicious  effort, 
produced  no  good  result,  and  Mr.  Lin 
coln  and  his  course  were  bitterly  de 
nounced  in  consequence.  "The  effect 
of  this  attempt  at  negotiation,  upon  the 
public  mind,"  says  H.  J.  Raymond, 
"  was,  for  the  moment,  unfavorable  to 
the  Union  cause.  The  people,  res 
ponding  heartily  to  the  demand  of  the 
Baltimore  platform,  that  no  peace  should 
be  accepted  by  the  government  on  any 
terms  short  of  an  unconditional  surren 
der,  were  distrustful  of  negotiations 
which  might  look  to  some  other  issues. 
The  charge  of  bad  faith  urged  against 
the  president  stimulated  the  opposition, 
and,  in  the  absence  of  facts,  embarras 
sed  his  supporters ;  while  the  fact,  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  insisted  upon  the  abandon 
ment  of  slavery  as  one  of  the  conditions 
of  peace,  was  cited  by  the  opponents 
of  his  administration  as  proof  that  the 
object  of  the  war  was  changed,  and  that 
it  was  to  be  waged  hereafter,  not  solely 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  but 
for  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves.  In 
the  absence  of  any  opposing  candidate, 
these  and  countless  other  charges  were 
urged  against  the  administration  with 
marked  effect,  and  added  very  materi 
ally  to  the  popular  despondency  which 
the  lack  of  military  success  had  natu 
rally  engendered." 

*  Raymond's  "  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln,"  p.  590. 
Mr.  II.  gives  all  the  letters,  documents,  etc.  (pp.  571  - 
590),  in  connection  with  this  matter ;  and,  after  a  re 
view  of  Mr.  Greeley's  course  and  conduct,  and  the 
harm  which  was  done  by  him,  affirms,  that  "  it  is  duo 
to  justice,  as  well  as  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  impressions  so 


462 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1864. 


The  democratic  party,  which  had  de 
layed  its  convention  to  the  end  of  the 
month  of  August,  was  encouraged  by 
the  existing  condition  of  politi 
cal  and  other  affairs,  to  go  for 
ward  and  secure  the  present  favorable 
opening  for  making  its  nomination  for 
the  presidency.  The  National  Demo 
cratic  convention  met  at  Chicago,  on 
the  29th  of  Ausrust.  and  was  organized 

O  '  O 

by  placing  Gov.  Seymour,  of  New  York, 
in  the  chair.  His  opening  speech  was 
strongly  denunciatory  of  the  govern 
ment,  and  called  imperatively  for  a 
change.  "The  democratic  party,"  he 
said,  "  will  restore  the  Union,  because 
it  longs  for  its  restoration  ;  it  will  bring 
peace,  because  it  loves  peace;  it  will 
bring  back  liberty  to  our  land,  because 
it  loves  liberty ;  it  will  put  down  des 
potism,  because  it  hates  the  ignoble  ty 
ranny  which  now  degrades  the  Ameri 
can  people This 

administration  cannot  now  restore  the 
Union  if  it  would.  It  has,  by  its  pro 
clamations,  by  vindictive  legislation, 
and  by  displays  of  hate  and  passion, 
placed  obstacles  in  its  own  pathway 
which  it  cannot  overcome.  It  has 
hampered  its  own  freedom  of  action  by 
unconstitutional  ties." 

The  platform  of  the  convention  was 
contained  in  a  number  of  resolutions, 
which  were  adopted.  The  second  of 
these  set  forth  the  spirit  and  object  of 
the  democratic  party,  as  follows : — 
"Resolved,  That  this  convention  does 
explicitly  declare,  as  the  sense  of  the 
American  people,  that  after  four  years 

injurious  and  so  false  should  no  longer  prevail."  See 
also,  Appleton's  "American  Annual  Cydopcedia,"  for 
1864,  pp.  780-783. 


of  failure  to  restore  the  Union  by  the 
experiment  of  war,  during  which,  under 
the  pretence  of  a  military  necessity,  or 
war  power  higher  than  the  Constitution, 
the  Constitution  itself  has  been  disre 
garded  in  every  part,  and  public  liberty 
and  private  right  alike  trodden  down, 
and  the  material  prosperity  of  the 
country  essentially  impaired,  justice,  hu 
manity,  liberty,  and  the  public  welfare, 
demand  that  immediate  efforts  be  made 
for  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  with  a  view 
to  an  ultimate  convention  of  all  the 
states,  or  other  peaceable  means,  to  the 
end  that,  at  the  earliest  practicable  mo 
ment,  peace  may  be  restored  on  the  basis 
of  the  Federal  Union  of  the  states." 
The  other  resolutions  were  strongly  con 
demnatory  of  the  government,  on  the 
ground  of  its  military  interference  with 
elections,  its  arbitrary  arrests,  suppres 
sion  of  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the 
press,  denial  of  the  right  of  asylum, 
shameful  disregard  of  duty  in  respect 
to  those  who  were  prisoners  among  the 
rebels,  etc.  The  filial  resolution  extend 
ed  "the  sympathy  of  the  democratic 
party  to  the  soldiers  of  our  army  and 
the  seamen  of  our  navy,"  and  promised 
that,  in  case  this  party  came  into  power, 
they  should  "  receive  all  the  care,  pro 
tection,  and  regard  that  the  brave  sol 
diers  and  sailors  of  the  Republic  have 
so  nobly  earned." 

Gen.  G.  B.  McClellan  was  nominated 
for  president,  and  G.  H.  Pendleton  for 
vice-president,  and  the  party  expected 
to  be  able  to  carry  the  election  in  their 
favor.  McClellan,  in  his  letter  accept 
ing  the  nomination,  gave  expression  to 
sentiments  in  respect  to  the  war,  etc., 
which  were  far  from  agreeable  to  men 


Cir.  XII.] 


ACTION   OF   CONGRESS. 


463 


of  the  Vallandingham  type  and  the 
ultra  peace  democrats ;  yet,  as  he  was 
the  most  available  candidate  they  could 
secure,  they  determined  to  push  for 
ward  the  canvass  with  the  utmost  vigor 
and  skill, — with  what  success  we  shall 
see  by  and  by.* 

In  a  previous  chapter,  (see  p.  388) 
we  have  given  an  abstract  of  the  open 
ing  proceedings  and  the  general  tone 
and  tendency  of  the  action  of  Congress. 
The  session  was  a  long  one,  reaching 
into  July,  1864,  at  a  period  of  the  deep 
est  interest  and  importance  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  war.  The  opponents  of  the 
administration  were  diligent  in  striving 
to  ward  off  the  penalties  of  confiscation, 
and  to  impede  and  defeat  the  various 
anti-slavery  measures,  which  were  stead 
ily  gaining  ground  in  public  estimation, 
as  our  armies  moved  onward  in  the 
work .  of  suppressing  the  rebellion. 
Several  resolutions,  offered  at  different 
times,  in  the  nature  of  overtures  of 
"peace  negotiations"  with  the  rebel 
authorities  at  Richmond,  were  promptly 
laid  on  the  table  by  a  decided  and  de 
cisive  vote.  Though  much  time  was 
spent  in  discussion  over  the  preserva 
tion,  to  the  states  in  rebellion,  of  their 

*  "  The  action  of  this  convention  was  eminently 
cheering  to  the  friends  of  the  administration.  It  was 
more  open  and  honest  than  they  had  anticipated  ;  it 
avowed  sentiments  which,  though  entertained,  it  was 
feared  would  be  concealed.  The  whole  tone  of  the 
convention  had  been  in  opposition  to  the  popular  feel 
ing  on  the  war.  The  ultra  peace  men  had  been  pro 
minent  in  its  deliberations.  Vallandingham,  Harris, 
Long,  Pendleton,  men  who  had  done  their  utmost  to 
help  on  the  rebellion  and  hamper  the  government,  had 
been  its  ruling  spirits.  The  tone  of  its  speeches  had 
been  in  entire  sympathy  with  the  rebels,  for  whom  no 
words  of  reproof  were  uttered,  while  they  were  un 
measured  in  their  denunciation  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his 
administration." — Raymond's  "  Life  of  AbrnJiam  Lin 
coln,"  p.  593. 


former  rights  under  the  Constitution, 
and  the  policy  of  arming  and  freeing 
the  negro  population,  yet  in  the  end 
the  result  was  substantially  the  same. 
The  government  was  sustained  in  its 
various  measures  for  pushing  forward 
the  war,  and  adequate  means  were  pro 
vided  for  carrying  out  these  measures 
in  the  field.*  Relying  upon  the  sup 
port  and  confidence  of  the  national  leg 
islature,  and  of  the  people  of  the  loyal 
states,  there  was  a  disposition,  on  the 
part  of  the  government,  to  relax  a  por 
tion  of  its  seventy  against  those  who 
opposed  and  vilified  its  action  and  pur 
pose  ;  and  it  was  deemed  not  only  safe, 
but  every  way  proper,  to  allow  large 
and  comparatively  full  liberty  to  such 
as  desired  to  express  sentiments,  and 
even  indulge  in  action,  hostile  to  the 
principles  and  policy  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  his  supporters.  The  men  who  ad 
vocated  loudly  and  persistently  "  peace- 
at-any-price,"  were  not  disturbed  in 
any  efforts  they  chose  to  make  in  order 
to  carry  out  their  views;  and  when 
the  notorious  Vallandingham  (p.  340) 
saw  fit  to  venture  upon  a  return  to 
Ohio,  and  enter  upon  his  former  work 
of  enmity  to  the  administration  and  its 
course,  he  was  tacitly  permitted  by  the 
authorities  at  Washington  to  pursue 
the  path  which  pleased  him  best,  with 
out  let  or  hindrance  on  their  part. 

The  action  of  the  preceding  Congress 
had  provided  liberally  for  the  prosecu 
tion  of  the  war,  leaving  but  little  for 
the  first  session  of  the  Thirty-eighth 
Congress  to  do,  except  to  continue  the 


*  For  several  resolutions  adopted  by  Congress,  and 
strongly  in  support  of  the  government  and  its  policy, 
see  pp.  393,  394. 


464 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  IX. 


course  of  action  marked  out,  to  amend 
its  legislation,  where  necessary,  etc. 
The  additional  measures  entered  upon 
were  for  securing  increased  revenues, 
granting  new  facilities  for  enlistments, 
and  sanctioning  the  policy  of  the  ad 
ministration  in  regard  to  slavery.  An 
ample  appropriation  bill,  meet 
ing  the  demands  of  the  secreta 
ries  of  war  and  the  navy,  was  passed  ; 
new  loans  were  authorized ;  a  new 
tariff  act  largely  increased  the  duties 
on  imports,  and  an  internal  revenue 
law  augmented  licenses  and  taxes.  Va 
rious  special  taxes  were  imposed  on 
manufactures  and  articles  of  luxury, 
and  the  annual  assessment  on  incomes 
was  increased  from  three  to  five  per 
cent,  on  returns  between  $600  and 
$5,000 ;  from  five  to  seven  and  a  half 
per  cent,  on  returns  betwej 
and  $K),000,  and  to  ten  pe; 
excess  over  the  last  su 
war  tax  of  five  £er  c'enfy 
the  three  per  cent,  alrea* 
ordered  on  the  incomes  oj 
This  last  item,  it  was  si 
culated,  would  produce 

A  new  enrollment  act,  ap]&roved«^fuly 
4th,  18G4,  supplementary  t£  an  amend 
ed  enrollment  bill,  passed  in  February, 
had  placed  the  whole  population  of  the 
country,  between  the  ages  of  twenty 
and  forty-five,  not  physically  or  other 
wise  disqualified  from  bearing  arms,  at 
the  disposal  of  the  president.  He  was 
authorized  to  call,  at  his  discretion,  for 
any  number  of  volunteers  for  one,  two, 
or  three  years,  and  in  case  the  quotas 
assigned  to  the  several  districts  were 
not  forthcoming  at  the  end  of  fifty  days, 
he  was  directed  then  to  order  a  draft 


]  §61. 


for  one  year,  to  fill  such  quota  or  any 
deficient  portion  of  it.  In  case  of  such 
draft  no  payment  of  money  was  to  be 
received  as  commutation  for  the  service ; 
but  a  substitute  might  be  provided  by 
the  person  drafted.  Volunteers,  under 
this  act,  were  to  receive  government 
bounties  of  $100,  $200,  and  $300,  ac 
cording  to  their  term  of  service  of 
one,  two,  or  three  years.  Clergymen 
were  not  exempted,  but  conscientious 
and  consistent  members  of  religious  de 
nominations,  whose  rules  prohibit  the 
bearing  of  arms  were,  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  act  in  Febru 
ary,  when  drafted,  to  be  con 
sidered  non-combatants,  and  assigned 
to  hospital  or  other  duty,  or  released  on 
payment  of  $300.  The  distinction  of 
classes,  with  respect  to  age  and  married 
and  unmarried  persons  within  the  pe 
riod  exposing  to  service,  was  abolished 
the  act  of  February.  By  the  last 
ntioned  act,  all  able  bodied  male  per 
ns  of  African  descent,  between  the 
es  of  twenty  and  forty-five,  resident 
m  the  United  States,  whether  citizens 
or  not,  were  ordered  to  be  enrolled.  If 
a  slave  of  a  loyal  master  was  thus  draft 
ed,  the  bounty  of  $100  was  to  be  paid 
to  the  master ;  on  the  latter  freeing  the 
slave  mustered  into  the  service,  he  was 
to  be  awarded  a  sum  not  exceeding 
$300.  The  supplementary  act  made- it 
lawful  for  the  executive  of  any  other 
state  to  send  recruiting  agents  into  any 
of  the  states  declared  to  be  in  rebellion, 
except  the  states  of  Arkansas,  Tennes 
see,  and  Louisiana,  and  to  recruit  vol 
unteers  to  be  credited  to  the  state  pro 
curing  such  enlistment. 

Various  steps  were  taken  with  refer- 


On.  XII.] 


STATE  RECONSTRUCTION   DILL. 


4G5 


ence  to  the  final  extinction  of  slavery, 
which  was  now  considered  by  the  whole 
country  to  be  doomed  to  destruction  as 
the  inevitable  result  of  the  war.  The 
most  noticeable  measure  on  this  sub 
ject  before  Congress,  at  its  present  ses 
sion,  was  the  proposition  to  submit  to 
the  action  of  the  several  states  an  amend 
ment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  prohibiting  the  existence  of  sla 
very  within  the  states  and  territories 
of  the  Union  forever. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1864,  the  joint 
resolution  proposing  this  amendment 
for  the  ratification  of  the  state  legisla 
tures  (three-fourths  being  necessary  to 
give  it  effect)  was  passed  in  the  Se 
nate,  by  a  vote  of  38  to  6.  It  was 
taken  up  in  the  House  on  the  31st  of 
May,  and  discussed  with  much  earnest 
ness  during  the  following  two  weeks. 
The  vote  was  taken  on  the  15th  of  June, 
and  resulted  in  ayes  93,  nays  65. 
Less  than  two-thirds  being  in  favor 
of  the  joint  resolution,  it  failed  to  pass 
the  House,  and  the  matter  \vent  over  to 
the  next  session. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  a  bill  was  pass 
ed  by  the  House  to  repeal  the  odious 
fugitive  slave  law.  The  vote  was  82 
to  58.  Two  days  later  it  was  in 
troduced  into  the  Senate  and  re 
ferred  to  the  committee  on  slavery  and 
freedmeu.  A  vote  was  reached  on  the 
23d  of  June,  and  the  bill  received 
27  ayes  to  12  nays. 

The  question  of  state  reconstruction, 
as  the  states  in  rebellion  might  be 
brought  under  the  national  authority, 
w-as  much  discussed  in  Congress,  and 
the  views  of  the  majority  in  both  Houses 
were  finally  expressed  in  the  passage  of 

VOL.  IV.— 59. 


a  bill  on  this  subject,  on  the  last  day  of 

a  •' 

the  session.  This  bill  provided  that 
the  president  should  appoint,  for  each 
of  the  states  declared  in  rebellion,  a 
provisional  governor,  who  should  be 
charged  with  the  civil  administration 
of  the  state  until  a  state  government 
should  be  organized,  and  such  other 
civil  officers  as  were  necessary  for  the 
civil  administration  of  the  state  ;  that 
as  soon  as  military  resistance  to  the  Uni 
ted  States  should  be  put  down,  and  the 
people  had  sufficiently  returned  to  their 
obedience,  the  government  should  make 
an  enrollment  of  the  white  male  citizens, 
specifying  which  of  them  had  taken  the 
oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  if  those  who  had 
taken  it  wrere  a  majority  of  the  persons 

enrolled,  he  should  order  an  election 
/ 

for  delegates  to  a  constitutional  con 
vention,  to  be.elected  by  the  loyal  white 
male  citizens  of -the  United  States,  aged 
twei^-oii^^ears,  and  resident  in  the 

distiforwhich  they  voted,  or  absent 

j  ' 

the  United  States,  and 

• 

oath  of  allegiance 
the  act  of  Congress,  July 
2d,  1862 ;  that  this  convention  should 
declare,  on  behalf  of  the  people  of  the 
state,  their  submission  to  the  Constitu 
tion  and  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
adopt  the  following  provisions,  pre 
scribed  by  Congress  in  the  execution 
of  its  constitutional  duty  to  guarantee 
to  every  state  a  republican  form  of  gov 
ernment,  viz  : — "  first — No  person  who 
has  held  or  exercised  any  office,  civil  or 
!  military,  except  offices  ministerial,  and 
military  offices  below  the  grade  of  col 
onel,  state  or  confederate,  under  the 
usurping  power,  shall  vote  for  or  be  a 


406 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


member  of  the  legislature  or  governor. 
Second — Involuntary  servitude  is  for 
ever  prohibited,  and  the  freedom  of  all 
persons  is  guaranteed  in  said  state. 
Third — No  debt,  state  or  confederate, 
created  by  or  under  the  sanction  of  the 
iisurping  power,  shall  be  recognized  or 
paid  by  the  state." 

The  bill  further  provided,  that  when 
a  constitution  was  formed  and  adopted 
by  the  popular  vote,  the  governor 
should  certify  the  president  of  the  fact, 
who,  after  obtaining  the  assent  of  Con 
gress,  should  recognize  the  state  gov 
ernment  as  established,  and  from  that 
date  senators  and  representatives,  as 
well  as  electors  for  president  and  vice- 
president,  should  be  elected  in  the 
state.  Further  provisions  were  made 
in  case  any  difficulty  should  occur  in 
carrying  out  the  measures  above  order 
ed,  for  the  administration  of  the  state 
government  in  the  meantime,  for  the 
abolition  of  slavery,  etc. 


This  bill,  as  passed  by  Congress,  was 
received  by  the  president  just  at  its 
close,  and  as  he  did  not  affix  his  signa 
ture  to  it,  it  failed  to  become  a  law. 
Mr.  Lincoln  gave  his  reasons  for  not 
signing  the  bill  in  a  proclamation  issued 
on  the  8th  of  July.* 

A  few  days  before  the  adjournment 
of  Congress  a  resolution  was  passed,  re 
questing  the  president,  in  view  of  the 
state  and  condition  of  the  country,  to 
appoint  a  day  to  be  observed  through 
out  the  land  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humi 
liation  and  prayer.  The  president  ac 
cordingly  appointed  as  such  day,  the 
first  Thursday  in  August,  which  receiv 
ed  at  the  people's  hands  its  due  and 
proper  consideration. 

*  This  proclamation  of  Mr.  Lincoln  called  forth  an 
energetic  protest,  emanating  from  Senator  Wado, 
chairman  of  the  Senate  Committee,  and  H.  W.  Davis, 
chairman  of  the  House  Committee.  They  held  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  had  exceeded  his  powers  and  dealt  unfai: 
ly  and  unhandsomely  by  the  supporters  of  the  admin 
istration.  For  the  protest,  see  Appleton's  "  American 
Annual  Cyclopedia  "  for  1864,  pp.  307-310. 


Cn.  XIII.] 


SHERMAN  AND  HIS  HELPERS. 


467 


CHAPTEE    XIII. 


1864. 

SHERMAN  IN  GEORGIA:  ATLANTA  OCCUPIED. 

Gen.  Sherman  in  command  of  the  southern  and  western  part  of  the  field — His  effective  helpers  —  Atlanta  his 
objective  point  —  Its  important  and  valuable  position  —  Sherman's  task  no  light  one  —  His  army  in 
motion  —  Buzzard's  Roost  Gap  —  Johnston  falls  back  —  Hooker's  encounter  with  the  rebels  at  New  Hope 
Church  —  Allatoona  Pass  turned  by  Sherman's  strategy  —  Kenesaw  Mountains  —  Sherman's  attack  — 
Heavy  loss  —  Marietta  secured  —  Johnston  retreats  to  Atlanta  —  Rousseau's  cavalry  expedition  —  Hood 
succeeds  Johnston  as  rebel  commander — Attack  on  Sherman  —  Rebel  line  driven  in  —  Bloody  battle  of 
July  22d  —  The  brave  Gen.  McPherson  killed  —  Garrard's  cavalry  on  the  Augusta  Road  —  Stoneman's 
and  McCook's  extensive  expeditions  —  Not  successful  —  Sherman's  flank  movement  —  Gets  between  Hood 
and  Hardee  —  Atlanta  evacuated  —  Hood  retreats  —  Sherman's  congratulatory  order  —  Resolves  to  occupy 
Atlanta  simply  as  a  military  post  —  Letters  to  Hood  and  Calhoun  —  Families  furnished  with  transporta 
tion  —  J.  H.  Morgan's  last  raid  into  Kentucky  —  Killed  at  Greenville,  Tennessee. 


IMil. 


HERETOFORE  we  have  gone  as  much 
into  details  as  was  possible,  being  de 
sirous  to  afford  the  reader  a  tolerably 
full  account  of  the  progress  of  the  re 
bellion,  and  of  the  steps  taken  to  put 
it  down ;  but,  as  our  remain 
ing  limits  warn  us  to  use  greater 
brevity,  we  shall  not  undertake  to  de 
scribe  at  any  length  the  great  and  clos 
ing  campaigns  of  Sherman  and  Grant. 
jSTor  is  this  to  be  regretted.  The  re 
bellion  was  now  fast  approaching  its 
end ;  its  strength  was  well  nigh  ex 
hausted  ;  desperate  but  fitful  efforts 
were  all  that  it  could  make ;  and  by 
the  early  spring  of  the  next  year,  its 
military  power  and  consequence  were 
utterly  broken,  and  with  these  perished 
all  pretence  to  any  further  life  in  the 
flaunting  and  boastful  "  Confederacy/' 
Gen.  Grant,  as  we  have  seen  (p.  421), 
having  taken  command  of  all  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,  and  hav 
ing  concluded  to  give  his  personal  at 


tention  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  its  important  work,  left  the  south 
ern  and  western  part  of  the  great  field 
in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  bravest  and 
most  skilful  officers  in  the  entire  ser 
vice.  This  was  Gen.  "VV.  T.  Sherman, 
who,  by  order  of  the  war  department, 
March  12th,  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi, 
comprising  the  departments  of  the 
Ohio,  the  Cumberland,  the  Tennessee, 
and  the  Arkansas.  Gen.  J.  B.  McPher 
son,  who  also  ranked  very  highly  in 
Gen.  Grant's  estimation,  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  department  and 
Army  of  the  Tennessee.  Gen.  Thomas 
was  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  at  Chattanooga,  and  Gen. 
Schofield  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  at 
Knoxville.  By  a  subsequent  order,  in 
April,  Gen.  Hooker  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  llth  and  12th  consolidat 
ed  corps ;  Gen.  Howard  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  4th  corps ;  and 


468 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


Gen.  Schofield  to  the  23d  corps.  Re 
lying  on  the  co-operation  of  these  and 
other  tried  officers  in  the  field,  includ 
ing  Gens.  Blair,  Palmer,  Logan,  Stone- 
man,  etc.,  Gen.  Sherman,  at  the  begin 
ning  of  the  month  of  May,  and  simul 
taneously  with  the  advance  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  already  narrated, 
began  that  campaign  destined  to  be 
come  famous  in  our  annals,  and  fear 
fully  crushing  in  its  effects  upon  the 
rebellion. 

Next  to  Richmond,  Atlanta — the 
objective  point  of  Sherman's  present 
campaign — was  the  most  important 
position,  as  a  centre  of  military  opera 
tions  for  the  rebels,  and  it  was  deter 
mined  to  make  especially  vigorous 
efforts  to  deprive  them  of  these  their 
last,  most  valuable  strongholds.  At 
lanta,  from  its  admirably  protected 
situation,  had  been  chosen  at  the  out 
set,  as  a  great  military  depot  of  sup 
plies  and  materials,  and  a  vast  work 
shop  for  the  purposes  of  war.  Here 
were  arsenals,  foundries,  furnaces,  roll 
ing-mills,  machine-shops,  laboratories, 
factories,  which  had  been  for  three 
years  past,  and  were  now,  busily  en 
gaged  in  furnishing  the  munitions  of 
war  for  the  rebels.  Here  wras  the  best 
rolling-mill  in  the  South,  which  had 

O  ' 

been  turning  out  iron  rails  for  roads 
and  armor  plating  for  iron-clads,  the 
latter  in  great  abundance.  Here  were 
factories  for  shot  and  shell,  for  powder, 
and  for  equipments  of  all  kinds  needful 
in  war ;  and  some  2,000  men  were  kept 
steadily  occupied  in  the  various  public 
workshops.  But,  further  than  this, 
Atlanta  was  one  of  the  chief  railroad 
centres  in  the  insurgent  states.  Nor 


therly  ran  the  Western  and  Atlantic 
Road  to  Chattanooga.  South-westerly, 
the  Atlanta,  West  Point,  and  Mont 
gomery  Road,  connecting  the  former 
point  with  the  capital  of  Alabama, 
thence  with  Mobile  on  the  south,  and 
with  the  whole  Mississippi  Valley  on 
the  west.  South-easterly  ran  the  impor 
tant  road  to  Macon,  and  thence  to 
Savannah  ;  easterly,  the  road  to  Au 
gusta,  and  again  to  Savannah  and 
Charleston.  There  was  also  another 
important  advantage  which  Atlanta 
presented.  The  principal  military  point 
in  all  the  neighboring  mountain  region 
was  Chattanooga.  Its  chief  value,  how 
ever,  lay  in  its  defensive  relation  to 
East  Tennessee,  because  from  that 
point  a  column  could  easily  be  thrown 
upon  the  communications  of  any  hos 
tile  force  which  had  passed  through  the 
mountain  gaps  to  ravage  the  interior 
of  the  state.  Accordingly,  it  was  the 
key  of  all  that  was  behind,  and  closed 
up  that  region  from  assault.  But  for 
penetrating  Central  Georgia,  Atlanta 
formed  the  true,  proper  starting  point. 
Atlanta  was  essentially  the  door  of 
Georgia,  as  Chattanooga  of  Tennessee. 
Unless  it  were  taken  possession  of  by 
our  forces,  only  cavalry  could  be  used 
further  south,  and  their  raids  would 
have  to  be  hurried,  brief,  and  always 
dangerous.  Even  a  movable  column 
of  infantry,  as  in  the  case  of  Sherman's 
march  from  Vicksburg  to  Meridian 
(p.  404),  would  encounter  great  peril,  as 
an  army  in  Atlanta  could  harass  its 
rear.  Between  these  two  main  points, 
Chattanooga  and  Atlanta,  extend  the 
Alleghanies,  ridging  the  whole  face  of 
the  country  into  a  mountainous  forma- 


CH.  XIII.] 


SHERMAN   MOVES  FROM   CHATTANOOGA. 


469 


tion.  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission 
Ridge,  Taylor's  Ridge,  John's  Moun 
tain,  Dug-Down  Mountain,  and  other 
parallel  ranges,  break  up  the  region 
lying  between  the  Tennessee  and  the 
Chattahoochie.  So  long  as  Chatta 
nooga  was  Sherman's  base,  the  rebels 
could  fight  him  with  great  advantage 
to  themselves.  But,  Atlanta  once  ac 
quired,  it  would  become  the  new,  ad 
vanced  position  from  whence  to  operate, 
and  his  rear  would  be  entirely  secure. 

It  was  no  light  task  which  Sherman 
had  before  him,  to  pass  over  a  track  of 
138  miles  by  the  route  of  the  railroad, 
and  overcome  the  numerous  obstacles 
in  his  path.  Opposed  to  his  advance 
was  the  rebel  army,  under  J.  E.  John 
ston,  second  only  to  that  of  Lee  in  Vir 
ginia,  and  officered  by  experienced  lead 
ers,  as  Polk,  Hardee,  Hood,  and  others. 
In  point  of  numbers,  Sherman's  force 
was  much  superior.  He  had  nearly 
100,000  men,  with  254  guns.  Of  these, 
60,000,  with  130  guns,  were  in  Thomas's 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  McPherson's 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  numbered  near 
ly  25,000,  with  96  guns  ;  and  Schofield's 
Army  of  the  Ohio  numbered  about  14,- 
000,  with  28  guns.  The  rebel  force 
was  estimated,  by  Gen.  Sherman,  at 
58,000,  including  10,000  cavalry,  under 
Wheeler.*  But,  as  an  offset,  the  rebels 
had  every  advantage  of  position,  tho 
rough  knowledge  of  the  ground,  interior 
line  of  communication,  etc. ;  while  Sher 
man,  at  every  move,  departed  further 
from  his  base,  and  risked  all  on  the  is 
sue  of  the  campaign. 


*  Pollard  reports  Johnston's  army  at,  artillery  and 
infantry,  40,900  ;  cavalry,  about  4,000.—  "Last  Year  of 
the  War,"  p.  48. 


1861. 


Under  this  state  of  affairs,  Sherman 
prepared  for  active,  energetic  work. 
The  advance  from  Chattanooga  was 
begun  on  the  2d  of  May,  the  army  mov 
ing  in  three  columns,  Gen. 
Thomas  in  front,  Gen.  Schofield 
on  the  left,  and  Gen.  McPherson  on  the 
right.  No  resistance  was  offered  until 
our  troops  came  near  Buzzard's  Roost, 
thirty-five  miles  from  Chattanooga,  and 
guarded  on  the  west  by  Rocky  Faced 
Ridge,  a  steep  height  of  several  hun 
dred  feet  for  some  twenty  miles  in 
length.  On  the  9th  of  May,  a  part  of 
Hooker's  army  attempted  to  gain  posi 
tion  on  this  ridge,  and  assaulted  the 
rebel  works,  under  a  murderous  fire. 
The  line  was  carried,  but  was  held  for 
only  a  brief  space.  With  the  rebels  on 
this  crest,  guarding  the  passage  to  Dai- 
ton,  no  efforts  to  capture  or  hold  Buz 
zard's  Roost  Gap  were  at  all  practicable.- 
Our  loss,  on  the  8th  and  9th  of  May, 
was  about  800. 

McPherson,  meanwhile,  was  making 
his  way  by  Snake  Creek  Gap  below, 
through  Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  to  Sugar 
Valley  on  the  east,  opening  upon  Re- 
saca,  on  the  railroad,  eighteen  miles 
south  of  Dalton.  Schofield  also,  clos 
ing  in  on  the  flank  from  Cleveland, 
Johnston  abandoned  Dalton,  and  fell 
back  to  Resaca.  On  the  12th  of  May, 
Sherman  ordered  a  movement  against 
Resaca,  which  \vas  bravely  carried; 
two  days  later,  the  rebels  were  found 
in  a  strong  position  behind  Camp  Creek ; 
and  on  the  afternoon  and  evening  of 
the  15th,  a  heavy  battle  ensued.  John 
ston  escaped  during  the  night,  and  im 
mediate  pursuit  was  ordered. 

During  several  days  following,  from 


470 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


JK.  IX. 


the  16th  to  the  19th  of  May,  Gens. 
Thomas,  McPherson  and  Schofield  push 
ed  forward  by  different  roads,  and  met 
with  encouraging  success.  Kingston 
was  passed  through  on  the  18th  (sev 
enty-nine  miles  south  of  Chattanooga), 
and  on  the  19th,  the  rebels  retreated 
across  the  E to wah  Iliver,  near  Carters- 
ville,  twelve  miles  further  south  on  the 
railroad.  Sherman  now  gave  the  troops 
a  few  days  needed  rest,  and  had  sup 
plies  brought  forward.  Satisfied  that 
Johnston  would  check  his  advance  at 
the  Allatoona  Pass,  Sherman  resolved 
to  turn  it  by  a  circuit  to  the  right.  On 
the  23d  of  May,  the  army  was  put  in 
motion  for  Dallas.  Two  days  after,  Gen. 
Hooker  met  a  body  of  the  enemy,  while 
he  was  pushing  forward  to  secure  a 
point  known  as  New  Hope  Church, 
where  three  roads  meet  from  Ackworth, 
•  Marietta,  and  Dallas.  A  sharp  engage 
ment  ensued,  and  Sherman's  plans  were 
considerably  interfered  with  by  the  re 
sistance  of  the  enemy,  entrenched  in 
front  of  the  roads  leading  from  Dallas 
to  Marietta.  On  the  28th  of  May,  the 
rebels  ventured  an  attack  on  McPherson 
at  Dallas,  but  were  repulsed  with  heavy 
loss.  Sherman,  by  gradually  moving 
his  force  to  the  left,  was  able,  on  the 
1st  of  June,  to  occupy  all  the  roads 
leading  back  to  Allatoona  and  Ack 
worth.  He  then  pushed  Stonemau's 
cavalry  into  Allatoona  (ninety-eight 
miles  from  Chattanooga),  at  the  east 
end  of  the  Pass,  and  Garrard's  cavalry 
around  by  the  rear,  to  the  west  end  of 
Pass.  Thus  was  accomplished  Sher 
man's  real  purpose  of  turning  the  Alla 
toona  Pass. 

Having  ordered  the  railroad  bridge 


over  the  Etowah  to  be  rebuilt,  Sher 
man,  on  the  4th  of  June,  moved  directly 
upon  Ackworth,  compelling  thereby 
Johnston  to  abandon  New  Hope  Church, 
and  occupying  Ackworth  on  the  6th  of 
June.  On  the  9t"h,  a  forward  move 
ment  of  five  miles  was  made,  to  Bi«; 

'  O 

Shanty.  Between  this  and  Marietta 
(twenty  miles  from  Atlanta),  is  a 
mountainous  region  with  three  promin 
ent  summits,  Kenesaw,  Pine  and  Lost 
Mountains,  covering  perfectly  the  town 
of  Marietta  and  the  railroad  back  to 
the  Chattahoochie.  Johnston  had  de 
termined  to  make  a  stand  here,  and,  ac 
cordingly,  had  covered  the  lofty  hills 
and  summits  with  batteries,  and  set  his 
men  at  work  in  felling  trees,  digging 
pits,  and  preparing  for  the  severe  strug 
gle  at  hand.  Signal  stations,  at  various 
points,  enabled  the  rebels  to  watch 
Sherman's  advance  to  good  effect.  The 
rebel  front  extended  westward  from  the 
railroad  about  three  miles,  comprising 
several  successive  lines  of  entrench 
ments.  McPherson  moved  towards  Ma 
rietta,  his  right  on  the  rail  road.  Thomas 
on  Kenesaw  and  Pine  Mountains,  and 
Schofield  toward  Lost  Mountain.  By 
the  llth  of  June,  dispositions  wrere 
made  to  break  the  line  between  Kene 
saw  and  Pine  Mountains.  For  several 
days,  the  enemy  were  pressed  at  all 
points  with  vigor  and  success.  The 
works  on  Pine  Mountain  were  abandon 
ed  on  the  14th  of  June,  and  those  on 
Lost  Mountain  on  the  17th,  and  the 
next  day  possession  was  secured  of  the 
Dallas  and  Marietta  Road.  The  weath 
er,  at  the  time,  was  very  bad,  and  it 
showed  the  spirit  and  energy  of  our 
troops  that  there  was  no  cessation  of 


CH.  XIII.] 


JOHNSTON   RETREATS  TO  ATLANTA. 


471 


continual    skirmishing     and    harassing 
the  rebels  in  their  mountain  fastnesses. 

Johnston  drew  in  his  left  flank 
towards  Kenesaw.  covering  Marietta 
and  his  important  communications 
with  the  Chattahoochie  River.  On 
the  22d  of  June,  the  rebels  made  an 
attack  on  our  troops  atKulp  House;  but 
were  speedily  repulsed  with  heavy  loss. 
Sherman,  on  studying  the  ground,  had 
no  alternative  but  to  assault  the  rebel 
lines,  or  turn  their  position.  He  re 
solved  on  the  former,  and  accordingly, 
on  the  27th  of  June,  a  vigorous  assault 
was  made.  It  resulted,  however,  we 
are  sorry  to  say,  in  failure  and  heavy 
loss ;  Gens.  Harker  and  McCook  were 
killed,  and  our  entire  loss  numbered 
3,000.  The  next  step  was  to  turn  the 
enemy's  left,  the  movements  for  which, 
on  the  1st  and  2d  of  July,  were  noted 
by  the  rebel  commander,  who  at  once 
abandoned  Kenesaw.  Thomas's  whole 
line  was  moved  forward  in  pursuit  to 
ward  the  Chattahoochie,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  3d  of  July,  Gen.  Sher 
man  entered  Marietta.  During  the  re 
treat  about  2,000  prisoners  were  cap 
tured. 

The  rebel  general  endeavored  to  make 
a  stand  at  the  Chattahoochie,  where  he 
had  constructed  a  strong  tete  de  pont, 
with  an  advanced  line  at  Smyrna.  Sher 
man,  by  his  excellent  strategy,  forced 
Johnston  across  the  river,  and  while 
leading  him  to  suppose  that  the  pur 
pose  was  to  turn  his  left  flank,  Sherman 
pushed  forward  really  against  John 
ston's  right  flank.  For  several  days, 
energetic  movements  were  in  progress, 
and  Johnston  soon  took  the  alarm.  On 
the  9th  of  July,  he  retreated  to  Atlanta, 


burned  his  bridges,  and  left  Sherman 
undisputed  master,  north  and  west,  of 
the  Chattahoochie.* 

Thus,  one  principal  object  of  the  cam 
paign  was  accomplished,  the  advance 
ment  of  our  lines  from  the  Tennessee  to 
the  Chattahoochie;  but  Atlanta,  only 
eight  miles  distant,  was  yet  to  be  taken  ; 
and  Sherman  could  not  rest  till  his  great 
work  was  accomplished.  The  troops 
needing  repose  after  their  severe  labors, 
they  remained  in  camp  on  the  Chatta 
hoochie  until  the  16th  of  July.  The 
next  day  a  general  advance  was  made, 
the  river  was  crossed,  and  a  line 
formed  along  the  Old  Peach  Tree  Road. 
McPherson,  and  his  fellow  workers, 
Thomas  and  Schoiield,  under  Sherman's 
direction,  continued  their  movements 
from  different  •  points,  and  everywhere 
found  the  enemy  in  more  or  less  force, 
skirmishing  frequently  and  heavily. 

Great  complaints  having  been  made 
against  the  rebel  Gen.  Johnston,  seeing 
that  he  had  done  little  else  than  retreat 
before  Sherman's  advance,  he  was  re 
moved  by  Jeff.  Davis  from  command,  and 
J.  B.  Hqod  put  in  his  place,  July  18th. 
This  latter  was  the  impersonation  of 
the  impetuous,  dashing  "  chivalry  "  of 
the  South ;  and  it  was  confidently  ex- 


*  On  the  lOtli  of  July,  Sherman  sent  a  force  of  about 
2,000  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Rousseau,  from  Decatur,  Ala 
bama,  to  cut  the  Montgomery  and  Opelika  Railroad, 
and  destroy  Johnston's  source  of  supply  from  this  quar 
ter.  Rousseau,  as  Gen.  Sherman  states,  "  fulfilled  his 
orders  and  instructions  to  the  very  letter,  whipping 
the  rebel  Gen.  Clinton  en  route ;  he  passed  through 
Talladega,  and  reached  the  railroad  on  the  ICth,  about 
twenty-five  miles  west  of  Opelika,  and  broke  it  well  up 
to  that  place  ;  also  three  miles  of  the  branch  toward 
Columbus,  and  two  toward  West  Point.  lie  then 
turned  north,  and  brought  his  command  safely  to  Ma 
rietta,  arriving  on  the  22d,  having  sustained  a  trifling 
loss,  not  to  exceed  thirty  men." 


472 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


pected  that,  discarding  Johnston's  Fa 
bian  policy,  Hood  would  speedily  teach 
Sherman  some  bitter  lessons,  and  as  he 
phrased  it,  "  wrest  his  country  from  the 
grasp  of  the  invader."  *  On  the  20th 
of  July,  all  the  armies  had  closed  in, 
converging  towards  Atlanta;  but  as 
Hood  had  discovered  a  point  in  the  line 
weaker  than  the  rest,  he  resolved  to 
commence  the  new  system  which  he 
proposed  to  introduce,  viz.,  of  taking 
the  offensive,  and  making  a  sudden, 
overwhelming  attack  upon  our  men. 
Accordingly  about  four  P.M.,  of  the 
20th,  he  sallied  out  from  his  works  in 
force  and  attacked  Sherman's  right  cen 
tre.  The  blow  was  heavy  and  wholly 
unexpected,  and  for  several  hours  the 
battle  raged  fiercely,  Hooker's  corps 
being  especially  exposed ;  but  Hood 
was  defeated,  with  a  loss  of  probably 
5,000,  whereas  Sherman's  did  not 
exceed  1,500.  During  the  21st  of  July, 
a  division  of  the  17th  corps,  under  Leg- 
gett,  drove  the  enemy  from  a  high  hill 
to  the  south  and  east  of  the  railroad, 
and  thereby  obtained  a  commanding 
position,  within  easy  view  of  the  very 
heart  of  the  city.  The  rebels  fought 
desperately  to  retake  the  hill,  but  with 
out  success,  and  McPherson  immedi 
ately  threw  out  working  parties  to  oc 
cupy  it  with  strong  batteries. 

The  rebels  having,  on  the  22d  of 
July,  abandoned  their  advanced  line  of 
works,  Sherman  at  first  thought  that 

*  Pollard,  in  his  spiteful  way,  says :  "  Johnston  was 
removed,  and  Lieut.-Gen.  Hood  put  in  command  of  the 
army,  President  Davis  declaring  that  if  the  people 
wanted  '  a  fighting  general/  they  should  have  such  in 
this  man,  who  was  brave,  headstrong,  incompetent ; 
who  had  the  heart  of  a  lion,  but,  unfortunately,  with 
it  a  head  oficood." — "  Lout  Year  of  the  War,"  p.  86. 


they  meant  to  give  up  Atlanta  without 
further  contest;  but  this  was  not  so. 
Hood  was  manoeuvring  in  order  to  in 
duce  Sherman  to  advance  rapidly,  and 
thereby  afford  him  an  opportunity  to 
make  a  sudden  and  crushing  assault 
upon  our  troops.  Sherman  pushed  for 
ward  his  force,  thus  favoring  in  part 
Hood's  wishes ;  but  he  was  by  no  means 
unaware  that  the  rebel  commander  in 
tended  to  fight,  and  he  continued  his 
dispositions  for  pressing  the  city  on  its 

eastern  and  southern   fronts.     Durinor 

~ 

the  forenoon,  Sherman  met  McPherson 
and  had  a  conference  with  him  on  some 
points  of  importance.  Shortly  after 
wards,  Gen.  McPherson  was  killed.  It 
appears  that,  in  some  way,  unattended 
by  his  staff,  which  had  been  sent  off  on 
duty  in  various  directions,  he  had  fallen 
in  with  the  rebel  skirmishers,  and  re 
fusing  to  surrender,  had  been  shot  down, 
— a  loss  particularly  severe  just  at  this 
time.* 

The  battle,  which  had  been  be^un 

*  o 

by  the  enemy's  attack  on  Sherman's 
left  flank,  raged  violently  during  the 
remainder  of  the  day.  The  rebels  fought 
with  persistency  and  even  fury ;  while 
their  assaults  were  met  by  our  men,  who 
stubbornly  refused  to  give  way.  The 
details  are  fully  given  in  Gen.  Sher 
man's  report,  to  which  the  reader  is 


*  "  Among  the  dead,"  are  Sherman's  few,  expressive 
words,  in  his  report,  "  was  Major-Qeneral  McPherson, 
whose  body  was  recovered  and  brought  to  me  in  the 
heat  of  battle,  and  I  had  it  sent  in  charge  of  his  per 
sonal  staff  back  to  Marietta,  on  its  way  to  his  northern 
homo.  He  was  a  noble  youth,  of  striking  personal  ap 
pearance,  of  the  highest  professional  capacity,  and  with 
a  heart  abounding  in  kindness  that  drew  to  him  the 
affections  of  all  men."  Gen.  Grant,  in  his  report, 
speaks  of  the  "  brave,  accomplished,  and  noble-hearted 
McPherson,"  p.  34. 


CH.  XI II.] 


SHERMAN'S  FLANK  MOVEMENT. 


473 


referred.  This  battle  of  the  22d  of 
July,  we  may  here  mention,  was  by  far 
the  most  bloody  which  had  as  yet  been 
fought  in  Georgia.  Sherman's  loss,  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  was  3,722. 
The  rebel  loss  was  much  heavier,  over 
3,000  being  killed,  and  some  5,000  or 
6,000  wounded  and  made  prisoners. 

On  the  21st  of  July,  Sherman  de 
tached  Gen.  Garrard's  cavalry  to  go  to 
Covington,  on  the  Augusta  Road,  forty- 
two  miles  east  of  Atlanta,  and 
from  that  point  to  send  detach 
ments  to  break  the  two  important 
bridges  across  the  Yellow  and  Ulcofau- 
hatchee  Rivers,  tributaries  of  the  Oc- 
mulgee.  The  work  was  thoroughly 
performed,  and  immense  damage  was 
inflicted  on  the  rebels.  Garrard  re 
turned  in  safety  on  the  24th  of  July. 
Sherman  next  determined  to  cripple  the 
Macon  Road,  the  only  avenue  by  which 
the  rebels  obtained  stores  and  ammu 
nition.  Two  large  bodies  of  cavalry 
were  organized  for  this  purpose,  under 
Stoneraau  and  McCook.  Stoneman's 
force  amounted  to  5,000,  McCook's  to 
4,000,  and  Sherman  considered  that  be 
tween  them  the  rebels  under  Wheeler 
could  be  disposed  of,  and  their  work 
effectually  accomplished.  These  well 
appointed  forces  were  to  move  in  con 
cert,  the  one  to  the  left  to  McDououg-h, 

o     / 

the  other  to  the  right  by  Fayetteville ; 
both  were  to  meet  on  the  Macon  Road 
near  Lovejoy's,  on  the  night  of  July 
28th,  and  destroy  it  completely.  Stone- 
man  was  not  successful  in  his  portion 
of  the  task,  arid  was  taken  prisoner 
with  several  hundred  men,  the  rest  of 
his  force  managing  to  escape.  McCook 
did  better,  but  was  not  successful  to 

VOL.  IV.— 60. 


1864. 


the  extent  which  Sherman  expected. 
As  a  whole,  the  raid  was  rather  a  fail 
ure,  and  the  rebel  communications  were 
only  temporarily  interrupted. 

Steadily  pursuing  his  purpose,  Sher 
man,  early  in  August,  extended  his 
right  in  order  to  flank  Hood  in  that 
direction ;  but  the  rebel  com 
mander,  having  interior  lines 
and  impregnable  works,  acted  on  the 
defensive  entirely,  and  could  not  be  as 
saulted  to  advantage.  This  led  Sher 
man  to  resolve  on  a  new  movement, 
which  virtually  involved  raising  the 
siege  of  Atlanta,  and  by  which,  march 
ing  to  the  south  and  south-west  of  the 
city,  he  meant  to  break  up  the  roads 
and  means  of  communication  of  the  re 
bels.  Setting  a  battery  at  work  on 
Atlanta,  Sherman  proceeded  to  cany 
out  his  movement,  much  to  the  surprise 
of  the  enemy,  watching  him,  who 
thought  that  he  might  be  retreating. 
On  the  morning  of  August  28th,  the 
Armies  of  the  Cumberland  and  the 
Tennessee  devoted  themselves  to  the 
destroying  the  West  Point  Railroad. 
It  was  done  with  a  will,  as  Sherman 
said,  and  over  twelve  miles  were  de 
stroyed,  the  rails  being  heated  and 
twisted  in  the  most  effectual  manner, 
and  some  torpedoes  and  shells  being 
left  to  explode  in  case  of  any  attempt 
at  repairing  the  road.  On  the  30th  of 
August,  the  army  again  moved  south 
easterly  to  strike  the  Macon  Road,  from 
Rough  and  Ready  to  Jonesboro.  A 
severe  engagement  took  place  with 
Hardee's  troops,  in  which  the  enemy 
lost  very  heavily.  Sherman  was  in 
hope  of  closing  in  upon  the  rebels,  and 
an  assault  was  made,  September  1st, 


474 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


on  their  works  at  Jonesboro,  with  How 
ard's  corps.  The  other  corps  did  not 
get  up  in  time,  and  Hardee,  during  the 
night,  fell  back  seven  miles  to  Love- 
joy's  and  entrenched  himself. 

Hood  was  astounded  on  ascertaining 
the  true  position  of  affairs,  and  that 
our  army  was  between  him  and  liar- 
dee.  He  at  once  ordered  an  evacua 
tion  of  Atlanta,  and  the  destruction  of 
such  supplies  and  ammunition  as  could 
not  be  carried  away.  Fire  was  applied 
about  midnight,  September  1st,  and 
explosions  of  ordnance  trains  were 
heard  for  miles  in  every  direction. 
G-en.  Slocum,  the  next  morning  at  nine 
o'clock,  entered  the  city  without  oppo 
sition,  and  the  national  flag  waved  over 
the  rebel  stronghold. 

Hood  marched  towards  McDonough, 
and  soon  after  formed  a  junction  with 
Hardee  and  Lee.  Sherman  followed, 
on  the  2d  of  September,  but  did  not 
attack  the  rebels  in  their  strongly  for 
tified  position.  On  the  4th,  he  began 
his  march  to  Atlanta,  and  in  a  few 
days  the  armies  were  encamped  around 
the  city.* 

As  giving  a  comprehensive  summary 
of  the  striking  incidents  of  this  cam 
paign,  we  may  quote  Gen.  Sherman's 

*  Wheeler,  with  the  rebel  cavalry,  did  some  mis 
chief  to  Sherman's  railroad  communication,  but  the 
roads  were  repaired  about  as  fast  as  he  broke  them. 
On  the  15th  of  September,  as  Sherman  stated,  the 
roads  and  telegraph  were  in  order,  and  the  cars  run 
ning  with  regularity  and  speed.  It  may  be  mentioned 
here,  that,  during  the  operation  of  this  campaign,  ex 
peditions  were  sent  out  from  Memphis  and  Vicksburg 
to  check  any  movements  of  the  enemy's  forces  in  Mis 
sissippi  upon  our  communications.  The  manner  in 
which  this  object  was  accomplished  reflected  credit 
upon  Gens.  A.  J.  Smith,  Washburn,  Slocum,  and 
Mower ;  and  although  Gen.  Sturgis's  expedition  was 
less  successful  than  the  others,  it  assisted  in  the  main 
object  to  be  accomplished. 


words,  in  his  congratulatory  order, 
dated  at  Atlanta,  September  8th : 
"  The  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Armies 
of  the  Cumberland,  Ohio,  and  Tennes 
see,  have  already  received  the  thanks 
of  the  nation,  through  its  President 
and  Commander-in-Chief ;  and  it  now 
remains  only  for  him  who  has  been 
with  you  from  the  beginning,  and  who 
intends  to  stay  all  the  time,  to  thank 
the  officers  and  men  for  their  intelli 
gence,  fidelity  and  courage  displayed 
in  the  campaign  of  Atlanta.  On  the 
1st  of  May,  our  armies  were  lying  in 
garrison,  seemingly  quiet  from  Knox- 
ville,  and  our  enemy  lay  behind  his 
rocky-faced  barrier  at  Dalton,  proud, 
defiant  and  exulting.  He  had  had 
time,  since  Christmas,  to  recover  from 
his  discomfiture  on  the  Mission  Ridge, 
with  his  ranks  filled  and  a  new  com- 
mander-in-chief,  second  to  none  of  the 
Confederacy  in  reputation  for  skill, 
sagacity,  and  extreme  popularity.  All 
at  once  our  armies  assumed  life  and 
action  and  appeared  before  Dalton ; 
threatening  Rocky  Face,  we  threw  our 
selves  upon  Resaca,  and  the  rebel  army 
only  escaped  by  the  rapidity  of  its  re 
treat,  aided  by  the  numerous  roads 
with  which  he  was  familiar,  and  which 
were  strange  to  us.  Again,  he  took 
post  in  Allatoona,  but  we  gave  him  no 
rest ;  and  by  a  circuit  toward  Dallas, 
and  subsequent  movement  to  Ack- 
worth,  we  gained  the  Allatoona  Pass. 
Then  followed  the  eventful  battles 
about  Kenesaw,  and  the  escape  of  the 
enemy  across  Chattahoochie  River. 
The  crossing  of  the  Chattahoochie  and 
breaking  of  the  Augusta  Road  was 
most  handsomely  executed  by  us,  and 


C:i.  XIII.] 


PEOPLE   OF  ATLANTA  REMOVED. 


475 


1864. 


will  be  studied  as  an  example  in  the 
art  of  war.  At  this  stage  of  our  game, 
our  enemies,  dissatisfied  with  their  old 
and  skilful  commander,  selected  one 
more  bold  and  rash.  New  tactics  were 
adopted.  Hood  first  boldly  and  ra 
pidly,  on  the  20th  of  July,  fell  on  our 
right  at  Peachtree  Creek,  and  lost. 
Again,  on  the  22d,  he  struck  our  ex 
treme  left,  and  was  severely  punished ; 
and  finally  again,  on  the  28th,  he  re 
peated  the  attempt  on  our  right,  and 
that  time  must  have  been  satisfied,  for 
since  that  date  he  has  remained 
on  the  defensive.  We  slowly 
and  gradually  drew  our  lines  from  At 
lanta,  feeling  for  the  railroads  which 
supplied  the  rebel  army  and  made  At 
lanta  a  place  of  importance.  We  must 
concede  to  our  enemy  that  he  met  these 
efforts  patiently  and  skilfully,  but  at 
last  he  made  the  mistake  we  had  wait 
ed  for  so  long,  and  sent  his  cavalry  to 
our  rear,  far  beyond  the  reach  of  recall. 
Instantly  our  cavalry  was  on  his  only 
remaining  road,  and  we  followed 
quickly  with  our  principal  army,  and 
Atlanta  fell  into  our  possession  as  the 
fruit  of  well  concerted  measures,  backed 
by  a  brave  and  confident  army.  This 
completed  the  grand  task  which  had 
been  assigned  us  by  our  government, 
and  your  general  again  repeats  his  per 
sonal  and  official  thanks  to  all  the 
officers  and  men  composing  this  army, 
for  the  indomitable  courage  and  per 
severance  which  alone  could  give  suc 
cess.  We  have  beaten  our  enemy  on 
every  ground  he  has  chosen,  and  have 
wrested  from  him  Ms  own  Gate  City, 
where  were  located  his  foundries,  ar 
senals,  and  workshops,  deemed  secure 


on  account  of  their  distance  from  our 
base,  and  the  seemingly  impregnable 
obstacles  supervening.  Nothing  is  im 
possible  to  an  army  like  this,  deter 
mined  to  vindicate  a  government  which 
has  rights  wherever  our  flag  has  once 
floated,  and  is  resolved  to  maintain 
them  at  any  and  all  costs." 

Gen.  Sherman,  in  view  of  the  exigen 
cies  of  the  case,  determined  to  remove 
the  citizens  of  Atlanta,  and  garrison  it 
strictly  as  a  military  post.  Situated 
in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country, 
and  valuable  only  as  a  base  of  further 
operations,  he  could  not  consent  that 
it  should  be  occupied  by  a  doubtful  or 
disaffected  population,  composed  large 
ly  of  families  many  of  whose  members 
were  in  the  rebel  service.  He  accord 
ingly  announced  to  Gen.  Hood  his  in 
tention  of  removing  the  remaining  in 
habitants,  offering  to  them  the  choice 
of  going  North  or  South  ;  and  in  order 
to  give  them  the  opportunity  of  doing 
so,  he  proposed  a  cessation  of  hostilities 
for  ten  days.  Servants  or  negro  slaves 
were  to  be  allowed,  if  they  wished  to 
do  so,  to  accompany  their  masters  or 
mistresses ;  otherwise,  to  be  sent  away 
or  employed  by  the  quartermaster. 
Hood  accepted  the  proposition  as  a 
matter  of  necessity,  but  protested,  u  in 
the  name  of  the  God  of  humanity, 
against  the  expulsion  of  the  people  of 
Atlanta  from  their  firesides,"  declaring, 
while  he  agreed  to  the  truce,  that  Gen. 
Sherman's  purpose  <l  transcended  the 
studied  and  ungenerous  cruelty  of  acts 
ever  before  brought  to  the  attention 
of  mankind,  even  in  the  darkest  history 
of  war." 

Sherman,  whose  pen  had  a  point  to 


47G 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


I  Mi  I. 


it  quite  equal  in  its  way  to  that  of  his 
sword,  replied  to  Hood,  under  date  of 
September  10th.  The  whole  letter  is 
worth  reading;  we  give  only  a  single 
extract:  "In  the  name  of  common 
sense,  I  ask  you  not  to  appeal  to  a  just 
God  in  such  a  sacrilegious  manner— 
you  who,  in  the  midst  of  peace  and 
prosperity,  have  plunged  a  nation  into 
civil  war,  '  dark  and  cruel  war,'  who 
dared  and  badgered  us  to  battle,  in 
sulted  our  flag,  seized  our  arsenals  and 
forts  that  were  left  in  the  honorable 
custody  of  a  peaceful  ordnance 
Serjeant,  seized  and  made  pri 
soners  of  war  the  very  garrisons  sent 
to  protect  your  people  against  negroes 
and  Indians,  long  before  any  overt  act 
was  committed  by  the  (to  you)  hateful 
Lincoln  government,  tried  to  force 
Kentucky  and  Missouri  into  the  rebel 
lion  in  spite  of  themselves,  falsified  the 
vote  of  Louisiana,  turned  loose  your 
privateers  to  plunder  unarmed  ships, 
expelled  Union  families  by  the  thou 
sand,  burned  their  houses,  and  declared 
by  act  of  your  Congress  the  confisca 
tion  of  all  debts  due  northern  men  for 
goods  had  and  received.  Talk  thus  to 
the  marines,  but  not  to  me,  who  have 
seen  these  things,  and  who  will  this 
day  make  as  much  sacrifice  for  the 
peace  and  honor  of  the  South,  as  the 
best  born  Southerner  among  you.  If 
we  must  be  enemies,  let  us  be  men,  and 
fight  it  out  as  we  propose  to-day,  and 
not  deal  in  such  hypocritical  appeals 
to  God  and  humanity.  God  will  judge 
us  in  due  time,  and  He  will  pronounce 
whether  it  be  more  humane  to  fight 
with  a  town  full  of  women  and  the 
families  of  a  '  brave  people ?  at  our  back, 


or  to  remove  them  in  time  to  places  of 
safety  among  their  own  friends  and 
people." 

The  city  authorities  of  Atlanta  also 
made  an  appeal  to  Gen.  Sherman ;  but 
his  purpose  was  fixed,  and  in  his  reply 
to  Mayor  Calhouu  he  reiterated  some 
home  truths  for  the  benefit  of  the  in 
surgents  generally.  Transportation  was 
furnished  south  as  far  as  Rough  and 
Ready,  and  north  as  far  as  Chattanooga. 
Great  complaints  were  made  of  cruelty 
to  the  exiles,  and  that  they  had  been 
"  robbed  of  everything  before  being 
sent  into  the  rebel  lines,"  which  com 
plaints  were  distinctly  and  pointedly 
denounced  by  Gen.  Sherman  as  with 
out  any  foundation.  Atlanta  was 
henceforth  occupied  simply  and  exclu 
sively  for  warlike  purposes,  in  accord 
ance  w^th  Sherman's  order  of  Septem 
ber  14th. 

It  may  be  noted  here,  that,  at  the 
end  of  May,  the  notorious  raider,  J.  H. 
Morgan,  with  his  guerrillas,  some  2,000 
or  3,000  in  number,  invaded  Kentucky. 
Passing  through  Pound  Gap,  he  moved 
on,  robbing  wherever  he  could,  and 
destroying  railroads  and  bridges  as 
much  as  possible.  Hob  sou,  at  Cyn- 
thiana,  was  captured,  June  llth,  with 
1,600  men;  but  Gen.  Burbridge,  who 
was  in  pursuit,  came  upon  Morgan  at 
Cynthiana  and  routed  him  completely. 
Morgan  escaped,  with  a  part  of  his  fol 
lowers,  into  Tennessee ;  but  at  the 
beginning  of  September,  he  was  sur 
prised  at  Greenville  by  Union  troops 
under  Gen.  Gillem,  and  in  attempting 
to  get  away  Morgan  was  killed,  and 
his  guerrilla  career  brought  to  an  in 
glorious  end. 


CH.  XIV.] 


THE  REBEL  PRIVATEER  ALABAMA. 


477 


CHAPTER    XIV. 
1864. 

NAVAL    OPERATIONS:    KEARSARGE    AND    ALABAMA:    FARRAGUT    AND    MOBILE    BAY. 


The  famous  cruiser  "  290  "  or  Alabama  —  Her  career  of  destruction  —  Arrives  at  Cherbourg  —  The  Kearsargo 
looks  after  her  —  Semmes  says  he  wishes  to  fight  —  Winslow's  course  —  Account  of  the  battle  —  Alabama 
sunk  —  Semmes's  dishonorable  conduct  —  Effect  of  the  contest  —  Other  cruisers  captured  —  The  Florida 
taken  in  Bahia,  Bay  of  San  Salvador  —  Position  of  Mobile  and  its  defences  —  Determination  to  attack 
them  —  Farragut's  fleet,  and  the  attack,  August  5th  —  The  ram  Tennessee  captured  —  Fort  Powell  evacu 
ated  —  Fort  Gaines  reduced  —  Attack  on  Fort  Morgan  —  Surrendered  —  Unmanly  behavior  —  Effect  of 
these  successes  —  National  salutes  ordered  —  President's  congratulatory  order  on  this  occasion. 


1861. 


THE  noted  piratical  cruiser,  the  "  290  " 
or  Alabama,  who  tad  been  so  exceed 
ingly  successful  in  preying  upon  the 
commerce  of  the  loyal  states  (see  p. 
396),  met,  at  last,  with  a  de 
served  fate,  in  June  of  the  pre 
sent  year.  Semmes,  her  commander, 
after  destroying  the  Hatteras  (p.  278), 
made  his  way  across  the  Atlantic,  and 
passing  beyond  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
continued  his  depredations  with  very 
great  effect  upon  American  commerce 
in  the  eastern  seas.  From  time  to  time 
he  found  refuge  in  sympathizing  British 
harbors,  whence,  refitted  and  supplied 
anew,  he  sallied  forth  to  plunder  and 
destroy ;  and  as  the  "  Confederacy  "  had 
no  port  into  which  to  take  his  prizes 
for  legal  adjudication,  Semmes  set  up 
an  admiralty  court  on  the  deck  of  his 
own  ship,  and  setting  fire  to  the  mer 
chant  vessels,  he  took  the  crews  prison 
ers  and  put  them  ashore  at  any  place 
most  convenient  in  his  roving  career. 
By  his  activity  and  shrewdness,  aided, 
as  he  was,  by  our  professedly  "  neutral  '7 


English  friends,  in  every  way  in  their 
power,  Semmes  managed  to  escape  the 
various  ships  sent  to  seek  after  and 
catch  him,  and  after  a  prosperous  cruise 
in  the  Southern  Atlantic  and  Indian 
Oceans,  returned  to  northern  waters 
early  in  the  summer  of  1864.  The 
Alabama  put  into  Cherbourg,  expect 
ing  to  refit  and  start  anew  on  her  mis 
sion  of  robbery  and  ruin.  Mr.  Dayton, 
at  Paris,  having  remonstrated  against 
this  use  of  a  French  harbor,  Semmes 
was  notified  that  he  must  leave  so  soon 
as  he  had  taken  on  board  coal  and  pro 
visions.  Outside  the  port  was  the  U.  S. 
steamer  Kearsarge,  Capt.  J.  A.  Wins- 
low,  arrived,  June  14th,  from  Holland, 
in  the  hope  of  meeting  with  the  Ala 
bama.  Semmes,  desirous,  apparently, 
of  putting  himself  on  a  respectable  foot- 
ins:,  and  aware  that  he  could  not  with 

O 

any  decency  escape  a  contest,  sent  word 
to  Capt.  Winslow,  begging  him  not  to 
depart,  as  he  intended  to  fight  the  Kear 
sarge  within  a  day  or  two. 

As  this  was  what  Winslow  especi- 


478 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  IX. 


ally  desired,  be  very  gladly  awaited 
the  farther  action  of  Sernmes.  Accord 
ingly,  on  Sunday  morning,  June  19th, 
the  Alabama  ventured  out  to  meet 
something  else  than  defenceless  mer 
chant  vessels.*  She  was  accompanied 
by  the  French  iron-clad  Couronne,  some 
five  miles  out  to  sea,  and  was  followed 
by  a  steam  yacht,  Deerhound,  belong 
ing  to  a  person  named  Lancaster,  osten 
sibly  as  a  looker  on,  but  in  reality  to 
act  as  a  tender  to  the  Alabama.  Capt, 
Winslow,  on  discovering  the  approach 
of  the  privateer,  steamed  further  out, 
so  as  to  avoid  any  possibility  as  to  be 
ing  within  the  line  of  jurisdiction. 
When  about  seven  miles  from  the 
Cherbourg  breakwater,  the  Kearsarge 
was  rounded  to,  and  steered  directly  for 
the  Alabama,  who  opened  fire  at  a  mile 
range.  "Immediately,"  says  Captain 
Winslow,  "I  ordered  more  speed;  but 
in  two  minutes  the  Alabama  had  again 
loaded,  and  fired  another  broadside, 
and  following  it  with  others,  without 
damaging  us  except  in  rigging.  We 
had  now  arrived  within  900  yards  of 
her,  and  I  was  apprehensive  that  an 
other  broadside,  nearly  raking  as  it  was, 
would  prove  disastrous.  I  accordingly 
ordered  the  Kearsarge  sheered,  and 
opened  on  the  Alabama.  The  positions 
of  the  vessels  were  now  broadside  to 
broadside,  but  it  was  soon  apparent 
that  Capt.  Semmes  did  not  seek  close 
action.  I  became  then  fearful  lest,  after 

*  Semmes,  with  a  sort  of  consciousness  that  he  might 
find  the  Kearsarge  too  much  for  him,  took  care  to  de 
posit  in  Cherbourg,  in  a  place  of  safekeeping,  not  only 
whatever  personal  property  he  was  honestly  possessed 
of,  but  also  between  sixty  and  100  chronometers,  the 
fruits  of  his  thieving  and  pilfering  of  merchant  vessels 
on  the  high  seas. 


some   fisrhtino-    that   he    would    again 

o  o/  o 

make  for  the  shore.  To  defeat  this  I 
determined  to  keep  full  speed  on,  and 
with  a  port  helm  to  run  under  the  stern 
of  the  Alabama  and  rake,  if  he  did  not 
prevent  it,  by  sheering  and  keeping 
his  broadside  to  us.  He  adopted  this 
mode  as  a  preventive,  and,  as  a  conse 
quence,  the  Alabama  was  forced  with 
a  full  head  of  steam,  into  a  circular 
track,  during  the  engagement.  The 
effect  of  this  manoeuvre  was  such  that, 
at  the  last  of  the  action,  when  the  Ala 
bama  would  have  made  off,  she  was 
nearly  five  miles  from  the  shore;  and 
had  the  action  continued  from  the  first 
in  parallel  lines,  with  her  head  to  shore, 
the  line  of  jurisdiction  would  no  doubt 
have  been  reached.  .  .  .  The  effect 
of  the  training  of  our  men  was  evident ; 
nearly  every  shot  from  our  guns  was 
telling  fearfully  on  the  Alabama,  and 
on  the  seventh  rotation  on  the  circular 
track,  she  winded,  setting  foretrysail 
and  two  jibs,  with  head  in  shore."  No 
doubt,  Semmes  would  have  been  only 
too  glad  to  get  off  in  this  way,  but  his 
vessel  was  now  at  the  mercy  of  the 
Kearsarge,  and  a  few  more  shots  settled 
the  affair.  A  white  flag  was  run  up ; 
an  officer  came  on  board  the  Kearsarge 
and  said  the  Alabama  was  sinking; 
Winslow  ordered  instant  aid  to  save 
life,  and  begged  Lancaster,  who  had 
come  alongside  in  the  Deerhound,  to 
take  part  in  the  same  work  of  human 
ity;  and  in  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes, 
the  noted  cruiser  went  down  to  her 
ignoble  grave.  To  Capt.  Winslow's 
astonishment  and  disgust,  the  Deer- 

O  ' 

hound,  having  picked  up  Semmes  and 
some  forty  of  the  crew,  sneaked  away 


CH.  XIV.]         DESTRUCTION  OF  THE   ALABAMA  AND   FLORIDA. 


479 


to  the  English  coast  before  she  could 
be  prevented.  The  course  of  Semmes 
in  throwing  his  sword  into  the  sea  after 
his  surrender  of  the  Alabama,  and  his 
meanly  running  away  as  he  did,  fixed 
upon  him  an  indelible  stigma,  which 
can  never  be  effaced.* 

This  remarkable  contest,  so  brief  and 
so  decisive,  produced  a  profound  im 
pression  abroad  as  well  as  at  home,  and 
it  afforded  a  significant  warning  to  such 
as  might  at  any  time  be  disposed  to 
trespass  upon  the  rights  and  immuni 
ties  of  the  United  States.  Capt.  Wins- 
low  received  the  especial  thanks  of  the 
navy  department,  under  date  of  July 
6th :  "  I  congratulate  you,"  said  the 
secretary,  "on  your  good  fortune  in 
meeting  this  vessel,  which  had  so  long 
avoided  the  fastest  ships,  and  some  of 
the  most  vigilant  and  intelligent  offi 
cers  of  the  service ;  and  for  the  ability 
displayed  in  this  combat  you  have  the 
thanks  of  the  department.  You  will 
please  express  to  the  officers  and  crew 
of  the  Kearsarge  the  satisfac 
tion  of  the  government  at  the 
victory  over  a  vessel  superior  in  ton 
nage,  superior  in  number  of  guns,  and 
superior  in  the  number  of  her  crew. 

*  Secretary  Welles's  remarks  are  worth  quoting  here : 
"  When  beaten  and  compelled  to  surrender,  Semmes 
threw  overboard  the  sword  that  was  no  longer  his 
own,  and  abusing  the  generous  confidence  of  his  brave 
antagonist,  he  stole  away  in  the  English  tender,  whose 
owner  proved  himself,  by  his  conduct,  a  fit  companion 
for  the  dishonored  and  beaten  corsair.  Having  sur 
rendered,  he  cannot  relieve  himself  of  his  obligations, 
as  a  prisoner  of  war,  until  he  shall  be  regularly  ex 
changed.  He,  and  each  of  his  surviving  officers  and 
crew,  whether  received  upon  the  Kearsarge  or  the 
Deerhound,  are,  and  will  be,  held  to  be  prisoners  of 
war,  and  amenable  to  the  laws  which  govern  civilized 
communities.  A  predatory  rover  may  set  the  laws  of 
nations,  as  well  as  those  of  his  own  country,  at  defiance, 
but  in  doing  so  he  must  abide  the  consequences." 


1864. 


The  battle  was  so  brief,  the  victory  so 
decisive,  and  the  comparative  results  so 
striking,  that  the  country  will  be  re 
minded  of  the  brilliant  actions  of  our 
infant  navy,  which  have  been  repeated 
and  illustrated  in  this  engagement." 

We  may  mention,  in  this  connection, 
that  two  other  piratical  cruisers,  which 
had  given  much  trouble  and  done  great 
injury  to  our  commerce,  were  soon  after 
captured  and  disposed  of.  One  of  these, 
the  Georgia,  after  cruising  about  with 
various  success,  was  taken  into  Liver 
pool,  where  a  change  of  ownership  was 
effected,  and  her  armament  removed. 
Setting  out  thence  for  Lisbon,  she  was 
overhauled  by  the  Niagara,  Commo 
dore  Craven,  taken  possession  of  as  a 
prize,  August  15th,  and  sent  to  the 
United  States  for  adjudication.  The 
other,  the  Florida,  originally  named 
Oreto,  sailed  from  England  to  Nassau, 
where  by  the  efforts  of  the  American 
consul,  she  was  brought  before  the 
court  as  a  rebel  cruiser.  The  authori 
ties  decided  in  her  favor,  and  proceed 
ing  to  Green  Bay,  where  she  took  on 
board  her  armament,  she  ran  into 
Mobile,  changed  her  name  to  Florida, 
and  was  subsequently  very  successful 
not  only  in  eluding  our  ships  of  war, 
but  in  destroying  our  merchant  vessels. 
In  February,  1804,  availing  herself  of 
a  dark  night,  she  escaped  from  Brest, 
eluding  the  Kearsarge,  which  was  off 
that  port.  In  June,  she  visited  the 
neutral  port  of  St.  George's,  Bermuda, 
and  remained  there  nine  days,  receiv 
ing  all  the  coal  and  supplies  necessary 
for  a  long  piratical  cruise.  Leaving  St. 
George's  on  the  27th  of  that  month, 
she  remained  outside,  but  in  sight,  for 


480 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


three  or  four  days,  boarding  all  vessels 
that  approached  the  island.  On  the 
10th  of  July,  she  captured  the  Electric 
Spark,  near  our  coast,  while  several 
vessels  were  cruising  for  her,  but  she 
escaped,  and  was  next  heard  from  at 
Teneriffe,  on  the  4th  of  August.  Sub 
sequently,  early  in  October,  she  entered 
Bahia,  in  the  Bay  of  San  Salvador, 
where  she  found  the  U.  S.  gun  boat 
Wachusett,  Commander  N.  Collins. 
This  latter  thought  the  opportunity 
too  good  to  be  lost,  and  so,  without 
being  too  nice  in  regard  to  a  neutral 
harbor,  he  determined  to  attack  the 
Florida,  and  either  sink  her  or  carry 
her  off.  Accordingly,  very  early  on 
the  morning  of  October  7th,  the  Wa 
chusett  steered  for  the  Florida,  striking 
her  on  the  quarter  without  doing  any 
great  injury.  On  demand,  the  cruiser 
surrendered  ;  a  hawser  was  made  fast, 
the  chain  shipped,  and  the  vessel  towed 
out  to  sea.  About  seventy,  including 
officers,  were  captured  with  the  Florida, 
and  brought  to  the  United  States  as 
prisoners.  While  the  subject  of  the 
capture  of  the  Florida  and  its  attend 
ant  circumstances  were  under  discus 
sion  between  our  government  and  that 
of  Brazil,  the  vessel  was  run  into,  at 
the  close  of  November,  in  Hampton 
Roads,  by  an  army  transport  and  sunk.* 
Turning  from  the  story  of  privateers 
and  privateering, we  shall  now  proceed  to 
give  some  account  of  naval  and  military 
operations  'n  Mobile  Bay,  during  the 

*  The  Tallahassee,  an  English  built  ship  for  run 
ning  the  blockade,  was  fitted  out  at  Wilmington  in 
August,  1884,  as  a  rebel  cruiser,  and  began  her  depre 
dations  along  the  coast.  Numerous  vessels  started  in 
search  of  her,  but  she  succeeded,  after  getting  supplies 
at  Halifax,  in  reaching  Wilmington  again. 


1864. 


latter  part  of  this  year.  The  city  of 
Mobile,  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  thirty 
miles  from  the  Gulf,  was  protected  by 
a  series  of  redoubts,  batteries 
and  entrenchments,  covering  the 
approaches  by  land  from  above  and  on 
!  either  side,  while  the  shallow  waters  of 
the  bay  rendered  defence  easy  from 
below.  The  city,  it  was  understood, 
was  garrisoned  by  a  force  sufficient  to 
man  the  fortifications;  but  the  main 
dependence  against  attack  was  placed 
in  the  iron-clad  fleet  which  had  been 
diligently  prepared,  and  which  was  un 
der  the  command  of  Buchanan.  This, 
with  the  powerful  aid  of  the  forts  at 
the  mouth  of  the  bay,  was  relied  upon 
for  warding  off  any  assault  by  sea,  and 
keeping  open  the  communication  of  the 
fort  by  the  blockade  runners  for  the 
much  needed  supplies  from  abroad. 
The  rebel  fleet  was  composed  of  the 
powerful  iron-clad  ram,  the  Tennessee, 
the  iron-clad  gun  boats  Selma,  Morgan 
and  Gaines,  and  other  vessels  of  lighter 
construction,  suited  for  harbor  defence. 
There  wrere  two  avenues  of  approach 
to  the  bay  from  the  Gulf,  and  both 
were  well  guarded  by  fortifications. 
The  main  entrance  on  the  south,  by  the 
passage  about  three  miles  wide  between 
the  eastern  extremity  of  Dauphin  Is 
land  and  Mobile  Point,  was  protected 
by  Fort  Morgan  on  the  latter  and  Fort 
Gaines  on  the  island ;  while  the  other 
passage  from  Mississippi  Sound  on  the 
south-wrest,  known  as  Grant's  Pass,  was 
protected  by  Fort  Powell  and  a  battery 
and  earthworks  on  the  mainland.  With 
i  these  means  of  defence,  and  a  liberal 
;  use  of  obstructions  in  the  channel,  the 
I  operations  of  our  fleet  had  not  as  yet 


CH.  XIV.] 


RAM  TENNESSEE  CAPTURED. 


481 


been  productive  of  any  special  result 
against  the  rebels.  It  was  determined, 
however,  at  this  date,  to  make  a  com 
bined  movement  against  Mobile  and  its 
defences,  by  the  land  and  naval  forces 
of  the  department. 

By  an  arrangement  between  Gen. 
Canby  and  Admiral  Farragut,  troops 
were  landed  on  Dauphin  Island,  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  August  5th, 
Admiral  Farragut  began  the  attack 
with  the  fleet.  Five  of  the  irou-clads 
were  already  within  the  bar.  and  four 
teen  others,  two  and  two  abreast  and 
lashed  together,  followed  up  the  main 
ship  channel.  About  seven  o'clock,  the 
fort  opened  fire,  and  the  action  soon  be 
came  general.  For  particulars  we  must 
refer  to  Farragufs  report,  which  is  a 
plain  and  sensibly  written  narrative 
and  worthy  the  reader's  attention.  It 
must  suffice  here  to  state,  that,  in  an 
hour's  time  Fort  Morgan  was  passed, 
and  the  great  ram,  Tennessee,  dashed 
out  against  the  Hartford,  Farrasjut's 

o  '  *— ' 

flag-ship.  The  rebel  gun  boat  Selma 
was  captured,  the  Gaines  was  run  ashore 
and  destroyed,  and  the  Morgan  escaped 
to  Mobile.  Farragut  declares  the  fight 
with  the  ram  to  have  been  "  one  of  the 
fiercest  naval  combats  on  record ;"  but 
aided  by  the  gun  boats  and  monitors, 
admirably  handled  as  they  were,  the 
Tennessee  could  not  hold  out.  As  the 
old  admiral  says,  looking  down  upon 
matters  from  the  main  rigging  near  the 
top,  and  speaking  of  the  latter  part  of 
the  combat,  the  ram  "  was  at  this  time 
sore  beset ;  the  Chickasaw  was  pound 
ing  away  at  her  stern,  the  Ossipee  was 
approaching  her  at  full  speed,  and  the 
Monongahela,  Lackawanna,  and  this 
VOL.  iv— 01.  , 


ship,  were  bearing  down  upon  her,  de 
termined  upon  her  destruction.  Her 
smoke-stack  had  been  shot  away,  her 
steering  chains  were  gone,  compelling 
a  resort  to  her  relieving  tackles ;  and 
several  of  the  port-shutters  were  jam 
med.  Indeed,  from  the  time  the  Hart 
ford  struck  her  until  her  surrender,  she 
never  fired  a  gun.  As  the  Ossipee  was 
about  to  strike  her,  she  hoisted  the 
white  flag,  and  that  vessel  immediately 
stopped  her  engine,  though  not  in  time 
to  avoid  a  glancing  blow.  During  the 
contest  with  the  rebel  gun  boats  and 
the  ram  Tennessee,  and  which  termi 
nated  by  her  surrender  at  ten  o'clock, 
we  lost  many  more  men  than  from  the 
fire  of  the  batteries  of  Fort  Morgan." 
The  total  casualties  were  about  250; 
twenty  officers,  including  Buchanan, 
and  about  170  men  were  captured  in 
the  Tennessee,  and  ninety  officers  and 
men  in  the  Selma. 

Having  attained  this  great  success, 
the  reduction  of  the  forts  was  soon  af 
ter  secured.  Fort  Powell,  protecting 
Grant's  Pass,  was  evacuated  and  dis 
mantled  the  night  after  the  naval  en 
gagement,  the  garrison  escaping,  but 
leaving  all  the  guns,  eighteen  in  num 
ber,  in  excellent  condition  for  immedi 
ate  service.  Fort  Gaines,  on  Dauphin 
Island,  after  a  bombardment  by  one  of 
the  iron-clads,  was  unconditionally  sur 
rendered  on  the  6th  of  August.  The 
articles  of  capitulation  were  signed  on 
board  the  flag-ship  Hartford  by  Admi 
ral  Farrafijut  and  Gen.  Granger,  on  the 

O  *--*         ' 

part  of  the  Union  forces,  and  by  Col. 
Anderson,  the  rebel  officer  in  command 
of  the  post.  By  this  surrender  818 
prisoners  of  war  were  captured;  to- 


482 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


gether  with  twenty-six  guns  and  a  large 
amount  of  ordnance  stores,  ammunition, 
supplies,  etc. 

Fort  Morgan  still  held  out,  and  some 
two  weeks  were  spent  in  preparing  for 
its  reduction.  Powerful  batteries  were 
erected  on  Mobile  Point,  and  at  dawn, 
on  the  22d  of  August,  the  combined 
attack  began.  The  fire  was  steadily 
kept  up  during  the  day  from  the  shore 
batteries,  the  monitors  and  ships  inside, 
and  the  vessels  outside  the  bay.  Be 
tween  nine  and  ten  in  the  evening,  a 
shell,  from  one  of  the  land  batteries, 
exploded  in  the  citadel  and  set  it  on 
fire.  The  bombardment  was  kept  up 
slowly  but  steadily  through  the  night, 
and  again  became  general  with  the  day 
light  on  the  23d.  An  hour  afterward, 
at  six  A.M.,  a  white  flag  was  hoisted  in 
the  fort,  and  at  two  in  the  afternoon, 
the  fort  was  unconditionally  surrender 
ed  by  its  commander,  R.  L.  Page. 

By  this  surrender  Canby  reported : 
"We  have  about  600  prisoners,  sixty 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  large  quan 
tity  of  material.  In  the  twelve  hours 
preceding  the  surrender,  about  3,000 
shell  were  thrown  into  the  fort.  The 
citadel  and  barracks  are  entirely  de 
stroyed,  and  the  works  generally  much 
injured.  Many  of  the  guns  were 
spiked,  the  carriages  burned,  and 
much  of  the  ammunition  destroyed 
by  the  rebels.*  The  losses  in  the  army 

*  Farragut,  in  his  dispatch,  contrasts  the  conduct 
of  Anderson  at  Fort  Gaines  with  that  of  Page  on  this 
occasion.  The  former  behaved  in  an  honorable  man 
ner  after  the  surrender,  "  whilst  Page  and  his  officers, 
with  a  childish  spite,  destroyed  guns  which  they  said 
they  would  defend  to  the  last,  but  which  they  never 


were  one  man  killed  and  seven 
wounded." 

The  city  of  Mobile,  it  is  true,  was 
not  yet  captured,  but  that  was  compa 
ratively  of  minor  importance.  The 
possession  of  the  bay  effectually  sup 
pressed  every  attempt  to  use  the  harbor 
as  heretofore  by  blockade  runners,  or 
for  fitting  out  piratical  cruisers.  Pre 
sident  Lincoln,  under  date  of  Septem 
ber  3d,  ordered  salutes  of  100  guns  to 
be  fired  at  the  national  arsenals  and 
navy  yards,  in  commemoration  of  the 
brilliant  achievements  of  the  army  and 
navy.  By  another  order  he  congratu 
lated  the  officers  and  men  who  had 
taken  part  in  the  work  just  accorn- 
lished.  "  The  national  thanks  are  ten 
dered  by  the  president  to  Admiral  Far 
ragut  and  Major-General  Canby  for  the 
skill  and  harmony  with  which  the  re 
cent  operations  in  Mobile  harbor  and 
against  Fort  Powell,  Fort  Gaines  and 
Fort  Morgan  were  planned  and  carried 
into  execution ;  also  to  Admiral  Farra 
gut  and  Major-General  Granger,  under 
whose  immediate  command  they  were 
conducted,  and  to  the  gallant  command 
ers  on  sea  and  land,  and  to  the  sailors 
and  soldiers  engaged  in  the  operations, 
for  their  energy  and  courage,  which, 
under  the  blessing  of  Providence,  have 
been  crowned  with  brilliant  success, 
and  have  won  for  them  the  applause 
and  thanks  of  the  nation." 

defended  at  all,  and  threw  away  or  broke  those  weap 
ons  which  they  had  not  the  manliness  to  use  against 
their  enemies  ;  for  Fort  Morgan  never  fired  a  gun  after 
the  commencement  of  the  bombardment  and  the  ad 
vance  pickets  of  our  army  were  actually  on  its 
glacis." 


On.  XV.] 


THE  REBEL  RAIDER  FORREST'S  DOINGS. 


483 


CHAPTER    XY. 


1864, 

INVASION    OF    TENNESSEE:    SHERMAN    FROM    ATLANTA    TO    SAVANNAH. 

Forrest's  cavalry  raid  and  success  —  Hood  moves  on  Allatoona  —  Repulsed  —  Burbridge  destroys  Saltville  and 
works  there  —  Hood  and  Beauregard  —  Jeff.  Da  vis's  speech  and  wishes  —  Sherman's  bold  plan  —  Hood's 
invasion  of  Tennessee  —  Thomas  at  Nashville  —  Rebels  beaten  at  Franklin  —  Thomas  assumes  the  offen 
sive  —  Decisive  battle  at  Nashville  and  rout  of  Hood  —  Sherman's  arrangements  and  special  order —  Rail 
road  destroyed  and  Atlanta  dismantled  —  Sherman's  line  of  march  —  Rebel  blindness  as  to  his  purpose  -«- 
Howard  and  the  right  wing  march  —  Their  progress  to  the  south  and  east  —  Slocum  and  the  left  wing 
march  eastwardly  — Demonstration  against  Augusta  —  Rebels  deceived  —  Governor  Brown  and  others  in 
the  emergency  —  Milledgeville  occupied  —  Millen,  the  next  point  in  view,  reached,  December  3d  —  The 
Oconee  crossed  —  The  crossing  of  the  Ogeechee  secured  —  Sherman's  advance  to  Savannah  —  Fort  McAl 
lister  taken  —  Sherman's  dispatch  —  Savannah  taken  and  occupied. 


1861, 


AFTER  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  the  rebel 
cavalry  made  special  efforts  to  break 
Sherman's  extended  line  of  railroad 
communication  with  Nashville.  On  the 
20th  of  September,  the  noted  rebel 
raider,  Forrest,  with  a  strong 
cavalry  force,  crossed  the  Ten 
nessee  near  Waterloo,  Alabama,  and  at 
tacked  the  garrison  at  Athens,  consist 
ing  of  600  men,  who  surrendered  the 
next  day.  Two  regiments  of  reinforce 
ments,  which  arrived  shortly  after  the 
capture  of  the  garrison,  were  also  com 
pelled  to  surrender  to  the  enemy.  For 
rest  destroyed  the  railroad  westward, 
captured  the  garrison  at  Sulphur  Branch 
trestle,  skirmished  with  the  garrison 
at  Pulaski,  on  the  27th  of  September, 
and  on  the  same  day  cut  the  Nashville 
and  Chattanooga  Railroad  near  Tulla- 
homa  and  Dechard.  One  column  of 
Forrest's  command,  under  Buford,  ap 
peared  before  Hunts ville,  on  the  30th 
of  September,  and  summoned  our  troops 
to  surrender.  This  being  refused,  he 


remained  near  the  place  till  the  next 
morning,  when  he  renewed  his  demand, 
and  received  the  same  refusal  as  before. 
He  withdrew  in  the  direction  of  Athens, 
which  town  had  been  re-garrisoned,  and 
attacked  it  on  the  afternoon  of  the  1st 
of  October ;  but  without  success.  The 
next  morning,  he  renewed  the  attack ; 
but  he  was  decisively  repulsed.  An 
other  column,  under  Forrest,  appeared 
before  Columbia,  October  1st ;  but  did 
not  make  an  attack.  Two  days  later, 
he  moved  toward  Mount  Pleasant. 
Every  exertion  was  made  by  Gen. 
Thomas  to  catch  and  destroy  the  forces 
under  Forrest,  before  he  could  recross 
the  Tennessee;  the  rebel  raider,  how 
ever,  was  too  active  for  our  men,  and 
succeeded  in  escaping  to  Corinth,  Mis 
sissippi. 

In  the  meantime,  Hood  had  crossed 
the  Chattahoochee  from  the  Macon 
Railroad  and  moved  on  Allatoona, 
which  was  attacked  by  a  division  of 
his  force,  under  French,  on  the  5th  of 


484 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


October.  Gen.  Sherman,  who  had  been 
engaged  in  active  preparation  to  resist 
this  threatened  assault  on  his  line  of 
communications,  had  ordered 
Gen.  Corse,  with  reinforcements, 
from  Rome  to  Allatoona.  The  enemy's 
attack  was  accordingly  met  and  repuls 
ed,  Gen.  Sherman  himself  having  reach 
ed  Kenesaw  Mountain  from  Atlanta  in 
time  to  gain  a  distant  view  of  the 
military  operations  being  carried  on. 
"  Hood,  observing  our  approach,"  as 
Sherman  wrote,  on  the  9th  of  October, 
"  has  moved  rapidly  back  to  Dallas  and 
Van  Wert,  and  I  am  watching  him,  in 
case  he  tries  to  reach  Kingston  or  Rome. 
Atlanta  is  perfectly  secure  to  us,  and 
this  army  is  better  off  than  in  camp." 

In  September,  an  expedition  from 
East  Tennessee,  under  Gen.  Burbridge, 
was  sent  to  destroy  the  salt  works  at 
Saltville,  Virginia.  He  met  the  enemy 
on  the  2d  of  October,  about  three  miles 
and  a  half  from  Saltville,  and  drove 
him  into  his  strongly  intrenched  posi 
tion  around  the  salt  works,  from  which, 
however,  he  was  unable  to  dislodge  him. 
During  the  night,  Burbridge  withdrew 
his  command.and  returned  to  Kentucky. 
In  December,  another  and  successful 
attempt  wras  made  to  destroy  the  works 
at  Saltville,  where  the  rebel  Gen.  Breck 
enridge  now  had  his  headquarters,  de 
tachments  of  his  command  being  at 
Greenville,  Jonesboro'  and  Rogersville. 
The  new  expedition  was  led  by  Gen. 
Stoneman,  Gen.  Gillem,  with  his  bri 
gade,  taking  the  advance,  coming  up 
with  the  enemy,  under  Duke  and  Mor 
gan,  at  Kingsport,  defeating  him  and 
capturing  Morgan,  a  brother  of  the  no 
torious  John  Morgan.  Stom  man  push- 


ed  on,  by  a  forced  march,  to  Bristol,  took 
the  town  by  surprise,  and  made  many 
important  captures.  He  then  moved 
on  Abingdon,  Va.,  Gillem  advancing  to 
Marion,  routing  Vaughan's  forces  there 
and  pursuing  him  to  Wytheville,  de 
stroying  the  valuable  lead  mines  in  the 
vicinity.  A  portion  of  Burbridge's 
command,  being  left  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Glade  Spring,  near  Saltville, 
was  attacked  by  Breckenridge,  with  a 
superior  force,  and  routed,  when  Gil 
lem,  coming  up,  turned  the  tide  of  bat 
tle,  and  put  Breckenridge  to  flight. 
Saltville,  and  its  extensive  salt  manu 
factories  and  works,  were  now  effectu 
ally  destroyed ;  a  loss  to  the  rebels  of 
immense  severity.  Our  forces  soon  af- 

»/ 

ter  returned  to  Tennessee  with  a  vast 
amount  of  spoils. 

After  the  movement  on  Allatooua, 
Hood,  reaching  Resaca  on  the  14th  of 
October,  made  a  partial  attack  on  that 
place,  which  was  successfully  defended 
by  Gen.  Watkins,  when  Hood  advanced 
and  took  possession  of  Dalton.  Col. 
Johnston,  in  command  there,  surrender 
ed  the  garrison,  about  1,200  men,  to 
the  vastly  superior  force  brought  against 
him.  The  enemy  now  threatened  Chat 
tanooga,  but  Gen.  Sherman  was  in  pur 
suit  of  Hood,  who,  retiring  from  Dal 
ton,  moved  westwardly  to  Lafayette, 
and  thence  across  the  Alabama  state 
line,  south-west  to  Jacksonville.  Here 
he  was  reinforced  by  Beauregard,  who, 
on  the  17th,  assumed  command  of  the 
Military  Division  of  the  West,  as  it  was 
called  by  the  rebels,  Hood,  at  the  same 
time,  remaining  at  his  post.* 


*  Beaureg-ard  issued  an  addess,  as  usual,  striving  to 
arouse  the  spirit  of  the  Georgians : — "  The  army  of 


CH.  XV.] 


SHERMAN'S  DARING  PLAN. 


485 


1  864. 


It  was  at  this  time,  during  the  latter 
part  of  September,  that  Jeff.  Davis  went 
to  Macon,  Georgia,  and,  aware  of  the 
terrible  blow  which  had  already 
been  struck,  and  of  the  neces 
sity  of  doing  something  to  counteract 
it,  made  a  speech,  which  Pollard  calls 
"  ill  tempered  and  swollen,"  and  which 
was  probably  more  unwise  than  any 
thing  he  had  done  for  a  long  time.  He 
announced  a  line  of  policy  which  was 
in  imitation  of  Sherman's  flanking 
movements,  and  in  accordance  with 
which  Hood  was  to  get  to  the  rear  of 
Atlanta,  break  up  the  communications 
of  Sherman,  and  thus  compel  him  to 
retreat  again  into  Tennessee.  By  so  in 
discreet  exposure  of  his  plans,  Davis 
enabled  Sherman  to  take  measures  fully 
to  meet  them ;  and,  as  Grant  says,  in 
his  report,  "he  exhibited  the  weakness 
of  supposing  that  an  army  that  had 
been  beaten  and  fearfully  decimated  in 
a  vain  attempt  at  the  defensive,  could 
successfully  undertake  the  offensive 
against  the  army  that  had  so  often  de 
feated  it." 

Davis  and  his  co-workers,  however, 
did  not  appreciate  the  daring  boldness 
and  energy  of  the  man  they  had  to  deal 

Gen.  Sherman  still  defiantly  holds  Atlanta.  He  can 
and  must  be  driven  from  it.  It  is  only  for  the  good 
people  of  Georgia  and  the  surrounding  states  to  speak 
the  word,  and  the  work  is  done.  We  have  abundant 
provisions.  There  are  men  enough  in  the  country 
liable  to  and  able  for  service  to  accomplish  this  result. 
To  all  such  I  earnestly  appeal  to  report  promptly  to 
their  respective  commands,  and  let  those  who  cannot 
go  see  to  it  that  none  remain  who  are  able  to  strike  a 

blow  in  this  critical  and  decisive  hour 

The  security  of  your  wives  and  daughters  from  the 
insults  and  outrages  of  a  brutal  foe  shall  be  established 
soon,  and  be  followed  by  a  permanent  and  honorable 
peace.  The  claims  of  home  and  country,  wife  and 
children,  uniting  with  the  demands  of  honor  and 
patriotism,  summon  us  to  the  field." 


1864. 


with,  and  the  course  which  they  de 
termined  upon  was  exactly  that  which 
Grant  and  Sherman  desired.  The  latter 
was  entirely  unwilling  to  remain  sim 
ply  on  the  defensive  at  Atlanta,  and 
expend  his  energies  in  guarding  the 
road  to  Chattanooga  and  Nashville  ; 
and  so  he  formed  the  bold  plan  of  cut 
ting  loose  from  his  bases  and  destroy 
ing  effectually  the  railroad  to  Chatta 
nooga  ;  thence,  mainly  subsisting  on  the 
rich  country  in  the  interior  of  Georgia, 
he  meant  to  march  through  the  state 
directly  to  the  sea. 

Accordingly,  the  damage  done  to  the 

O    t/  /  O 

railroad  having  been  repaired,  Sherman 
took  the  preliminary  steps  for 
carrying  out  his  plan,  keeping 
watch  meanwhile  of  Hood  and  his  pro 
ceedings.  The  early  part  of  November 
was  spent  in  sending  to  Chattanooga 
the  sick  and  wounded  and  surplus 
stores ;  in  bringing  to  Atlanta  the  con 
valescents,  furloughed  men  and  ord 
nance  supplies ;  and  in  getting  every 
thing  in  most  complete  readiness  for 
the  march  of  the  army.  Before  pro 
ceeding,  however,  to  give  a  narrative 
of  Sherman's  great  march,  we  must 
briefly  record  what  Hood  undertook  to 
do,  under  the  vain  delusion  noted 
above.* 

From  Jacksonville  Hood  s  army 
marched  in  a  northwesterly  direction 
to  Guntersville,  on  the  Tennessee  River, 
which  they  reached  on  the  22d  of  Oc- 


*  Gen.  Grant,  in  his  report,  (p.  44)  says,  very  forci 
bly :  "  Hood,  instead  of  following  Sherman,  continuea 
his  move  northward,  which  seemed  to  me  to  be  leading 
to  his  certain  doom.  At  all  events,  had  I  had  the 
power  to  command  both  armies,  I  should  not  have 
changed  the  orders  under  which  be  .fxacmed  to  be  act 
ing." 


486 


ABRAHAM  LINCQLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


tober,  and  thence,  after  some  delays, 
made  their  way  to  Florence,  in  the 
vicinity  of  which  Forrest  had  been  ope 
rating  with  his  cavalry,  interrupting 
communication  on  the  river.  Hood 
was  now  preparing  for  his  intended  in 
vasion  of  Tennessee.  Gen.  Thomas 
was  in  command,  at  Nashville,  of  all 
the  troops  which  Sherman  did  not  wish 
to  use  for  his  own  especial  purpose; 
and  this  brave  and  accomplished  officer 
was  diligently  guarding  his  northern 
line  of  railroad,  and  preparing  to  meet 
the  threatened  invasion.  Several  w~eeks 
elapsed  before  Hood  began  his  advance. 
On  the  20th  of  November,  he  moved 
northwardly  from  Florence,  between 
which  place  and  Corinth  his  forces  had 
been  gathered,  and  advanced  to  Waynes- 
borough  and  Lawrenceburg,  where  he 
outflanked  the  advanced  Union  posi 
tion  on  the  line  of  the  Nashville  and 
Decatur  Railroad  at  Puiaski.  From 
the  latter  place  Gen.  Thomas  now  with 
drew  his  forces  to  Franklin,  on  the 
same  road,  eighteen  miles  south  of  Nash 
ville.  In  this  retreat,  which  was  a  pre 
concerted  strategic  movement  of  the 
Union  commander,  to  concentrate  his 
forces  for  the  defence  of  the  latter  city, 
our  troops  were  closely  pursued  by  the 
enemy,  whose  aggregate  strength,  in 
cluding  the  infantry  corps  of  S.  D.  Lee, 
Cheatham,  Stewart,  and  Taylor,  and 
Forrest's  superior  cavalry,  was  esti 
mated  at  about  40,000.  Gen.  Schofield 
was  in  command  of  the  force  at  Pulaski, 
which  consisted  of  Stanley's  4th  and 
Cox's  23d  corps,  together  with  a  few 
regiments  which  had  recently  entered 
the  service.  There  was  some  sharp 
fighting  on  the  road  to  Franklin,  at 


Columbia  and  Spring  Hill,  Forrest's 
cavalry  pressing  hard  upon  the  column. 
On  the  30th  of  November,  Schofield 
occupied  Franklin.  Repeated  assaults 
were  made  by  the  rebels  during  the 
afternoon  until  late  at  night ;  but  they 
were  in  every  instance  repulsed.  The 
rebel  loss  in  this  battle  was  1,750  killed, 
702  prisoners,  and  3,800  wounded. 
Among  the  losses  were  six  general  offi 
cers  killed,  six  wounded,  and  one  cap 
tured.  Our  entire  loss  was  2,300.  "  This 
was  the  first  serious  opposition  the  ene 
my  met  with,"  says  Grant,  in  his  report, 
"  and  I  am  satisfied  was  the  fatal  blow  to 
all  his  expectations.  During  the  night, 
Gen.  Schofield  fell  back  toward  Nash 
ville.  This  left  the  field  to  the  enemy 
— not  lost  by  battle,  but  voluntarily 
abandoned — so  that  Gen.  Thomas's 
whole  force  might  be  brought  together. 
The  enemy  followed  up  and  commenced 
the  establishment  of  his  line  in  front 
of  Nashville  on  the  2d  of  December." 
Although  the  central  and  southern 
portions  of  Tennessee  were  left  open  to 
the  enemy  by  Schofield's  retiring  to 
Nashville,  and  though  they  drove  out 
the  garrisons  and  for  the  time  possessed 
themselves  of  various  towns  and  sta 
tions,  yet  they  were  not  able  to  accom 
plish  anything  of  moment.  Murfrees- 
borough,  where  Rousseau  was  stationed, 
effectually  resisted  the  enemy ;  the  line 
of  road  below,  from  Stevenson  to  Chat 
tanooga,  was  firmly  held ;  and  the  de 
fences  of  Nashville,  where  Thomas's 
main  army  was,  proved  unassailable. 
Hood's  army  entrenched  itself  in  front 
of  Nashville,  on  the  southerly  side 
throwing  up  a  complete  line  extending 
to  the  Cumberland  River,  on  both 


.'v//v  .'i  >•?:  y;7.i  ffin'syrafth-  r/vm   lire 


CH.  XV.] 


HOOD  ROUTED  AT  NASHVILLE. 


487 


wings.  Thomas's  line  of  entrench  ments, 
supported  by  a  chain  of  forts,  protected 
the  city,  and  reached  on  each  flank  to 
the  river,  which  was  protected  and  se 
curely  held  by  gun  boats  and  two  iron 
clads. 

After  delaying  action  for  nearly  two 
weeks,  mainly  on  account  of  the  in 
clemency  of  the  weather  and  the  re 
mounting   his    cavalry   force,   Thomas 
assumed  the  offensive,  on  the  morning 
of  the   15th  of  December,  and  began 
the   attack  upon   Hood's   army.     The 
battle  lasted  for  two  days,  and 
the  rebels  were  driven  from  the 
river,  from  their  entrenchments,  from 
the  range  of  hills  on  which  their  left 
rested,  and  forced  back  at  all  points, 
during  the  15th  and  16th  of  December, 
for  some   eight  or  nine   miles.     They 
were,  in  fact,  completely  routed,  and 
anxious  only  to  escape  from  the  vic 
torious  defenders  of  the  cause  of  loy 
alty  and  order.     Sixty-eight  pieces  of 
artillery  were  taken  from  the  enemy, 
besides    about    10,000    prisoners.     In 
addition,  they  lost  in  killed  and  wound 
ed  at  least  10,000  more.     Pursuit  was 
kept  up  for  several  days,  notwithstand 
ing  the  roads  were  almost  impassable 
in  consequence  of  the  heavy  rains  and 
deep  mud,  and  the  shattered  forces  of 
the  enemy  were  closely  pressed,  prin 
cipally  by  our   cavalry,  even   to   the 
Tennessee  River.     On  the  28th  of  De 
cember,  our  advance  ascertained  that 
Hood  and  his  army  had  made  good 
their  escape  to  the  south  side  of  the 
river.     Thus,  the  close  of  the  year  saw 
Tennessee  thoroughly  freed  from  the 
presence  of  the  rebel  army,  and  the  in 
vasion,  from  wThich  so  much  had  been 


hoped  and  expected  by  Davis  and 
others,  resulted  in  complete  rout  and 
confusion.* 

Gen.  Sherman,  having  sent  two  of 
his  army  corps  to  aid  Thomas  against 
Hood,  retained  the  four  others  and  the 
cavalry  division  for  carrying 

1  Sf  1 

out  the  work  which  he  had 
set  himself  to  do.  On  the  9th  of  No 
vember,  he  issued  a  special  order  to 
this  effect :  the  army  was  divided  into 
two  wings ;  the  right,  consisting  of  the 
15th  and  17th  corps,  was  under  com 
mand  of  Gen.  Howard ;  the  left,  con 
sisting  of  the  14th  and  20th  corps,  was 
under  command  of  Gen.  Slocum ;  and 
the  cavalry  division  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick.  The 
habitual  order  of  march,  it  was  ordered, 
should  be,  whenever  practicable,  by 
four  roads,  as  nearly  parallel  as  pos 
sible,  and  converging  at  points  to  be 
hereafter  indicated.  There  were  to  be 
no  general  trains  of  supplies,  and  each 
corps  was  to  have  its  limited  ammuni 
tion  and  pro  vision 'train  so  distributed 
that,  in  case  of  danger,  the  advance  and 
rear  brigades  should  be  unencumbered 
by  wheels.  The  separate  columns  were 
to  start  habitually  at  seven,  A.M.,  and 


*  Pollard,  in  his  account  of  this  mortifying  and  dis 
creditable  termination  of  the  battle  and  campaign, 
says  of  Hood,  no  favorite  with  him  (see  p.  472,  note) : 
"  He  finally  made  his  escape  across  the  Tennessee 
River  with  the  remnant  of  his  army,  having  lost  from 
various  causes  more  than  10,000  men,  half  of  his  gen- 

irals,  and  nearly  all  of  his  artillery.  Such  was  the 
disastrous  issue  of  the  Tennessee  campaign,  which  put 
out  of  existence,  &9  it  were,  the  splendid  army  that 
Johnston  had  given  up  at  Atlanta,  and  terminated 
forever  the  whole  scheme  of  Confederate  defence  west 
of  the  Alleghanies."  Pollard  also  says:  "the  effect 
of  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea  on  the  morale  of  tha 

•onfederacy  dates  the  first  chapter  of  its  subjugation." 
—"Last  Year  of  the  War,"  pp.  128, 129. 


488 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


make  about  fifteen  miles  a  day,  unless 
otherwise  ordered.  The  army  was  di 
rected  to  "  forage  liberally  on  the  coun 
try  during  the  march."  For  this 
purpose,  brigade  commanders  were  to 
organize  "  good  and  sufficient  foraging 
parties,  under  the  command  of  one  or 
more  discreet  officers,"  to  gather  corn 
or  forage  of  any  kind,  meat,  vegetables, 
or  other  necessaries,  aiming  always  to 
keep  on  hand  ten  days'  provisions  for 
the  men  and  three  days'  forage.  "  Sol 
diers  must  not  enter  the  dwellings  of 
the  inhabitants  or  commit  any  trespass ; 
during  the  halt  or  a  camp,  they  may  be 
permitted  to  gather  turnips,  potatoes, 
and  other  vegetables,  and  drive  in 
stock  in  front  of  their  camps."  The 
power  was  entrusted  to  army  corps 
commanders  to  destroy  mills,  houses, 
cotton-gins,  etc.,  in  districts  or  neigh 
borhoods  where  the  army  was  molested 
by  guerrillas  or  bushwhackers,  or  the 
inhabitants  should  burn  bridges,  ob 
struct  roads,  or  otherwise  manifest  local 
hostility ;  but  no  such  devastation  was 
to  be  permitted  where  the  inhabitants 
remained  quiet.  "  As  for  horses,  mules, 
wagons,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  inhabi 
tants,  the  cavalry  and  artillery  may 
appropriate  freely  and  without  limit ; 
discriminating,  however,  between  the 
rich,  who  are  usually  hostile,  and  the 
poor  or  industrious,  usually  neu 
tral  or  friendly.  Foraging  par 
ties  may  also  take  mules  or  horses 
to  replace  the  jaded  animals  of  their 
trains,  or  to  serve  as  pack  mules  for 
the  regiments  or  brigades.  In  all  for 
aging,  of  whatever  kind,  the  parties 
engaged  will  refrain  from  abusive  and 
threatening  language,  and  may,  when 


1864. 


the  officer  in  command  thinks  proper, 
give  written  certificates  of  the  facts,  but 
no  receipts  ;  and  they  will  endeavor  to 
leave  with  each  family  a  reasonable 
portion  for  their  maintenance.  Negroes 
who  are  able-bodied  and  can  be  of  ser 
vice  to  the  several  columns,  may  be 
taken  along;  but  each  army  com 
mander  will  bear  in  mind  that  the  ques 
tion  of  supplies  is  a  very  important  one, 
and  that  his  first  duty  is  to  see  to  those 
who  bear  arms."  A  pontoon  train 
fully  equipped  and  organized  was  as 
signed  to  each  wing  of  the  army. 

In  accordance  with  his  plan,  Gen. 
Sherman  effectually  destroyed  the  rail 
road  in  his  rear,  and  then  set  fire  to 
and  burned  all  the  storehouses,  depots, 
machine-shops,  and  everything  else  in 
Atlanta  which  could  be  of  any  service 
to  the  rebels.  Having  concentrated  at 
Atlanta,  his  troops,  numbering  between 
50,000  and  60,000,  the  right  wing,  under 
Howard,  moved  on  the  12th  of  Novem 
ber,  and  was  followed  by  the  left, 
under  Slocum,  on  the  14th.  Sherman 
himself  accompanied  the  left  wing. 
The  lines  of  march  followed  generally 
the  two  lines  of  railroad  traversing  the 
state,  the  Georgia  and  Central,  run 
ning  from  Savannah  to  Macon,  and 
thence  by  a  north-westerly  line  to  At 
lanta,  a  distance  in  all  of  nearly  300 
miles ;  and  the  Georgia  Railroad,  run 
ning  north  of  the  former,  in  an  easterly 
direction,  between  Atlanta  and  Au 
gusta.  This  was  connected  with  the 
southerly  line  by  way  of  Waynesbo- 
rough  and  Millen  with  Savannah.  In  the 
area  bounded  by  these  lines,  resem 
bling  a  parallelogram  with  Atlanta, 
Macon,  Augusta  and  Millen  at  the  four 


CH.  XV.] 


MARCH  OF  THE  RIGHT  AND  LEFT  WINGS. 


489 


corners,  and  Milledgeville  at  a  central 
point  in  the  enclosure,  the  important 
movements  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army 
were  effected. 

The  rebels  at  first,  and  for  some  time, 
supposed  that  Sherman  was  engaged 
upon  a  raiding  expedition  into  Georgia. 
It  seemed  as  if  it  were  impossible  for 
them  to  grasp  the  boldness  of  that  gen 
eral's  undertaking ;  and  hence,  as  Grant 
says,  u  the  blindness  of  the  enemy  in 
ignoring  his  movement,  and  sending 
Hood's  army,  the  only  considerable 
force  they  had  west  of  Eichmond  and 
east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  north 
ward  on  an  offensive  campaign,  left  the 
whole  country  open,  and  Sherman's 
route  to  his  own  choice.*  For  full  and 
accurate  details,  we  must  refer  the 
reader  to  Sherman's  report,  written  in 
his  lively  and  energetic  style.  A  brief 
outline  is  all  that  we  have  room  here 
to  present. 

Howard  marched  in  two  columns 
southwardly  on  the  railroad  as  far  as 
Jonesborough,  the  rebels  being  able  to 
make  but  feeble  opposition.  One  of 
his  columns  occupied  McDonough,  on 
the  15th  of  November,  about  thirty-five 
miles  south-east  of  Atlanta,  and  the 
county  seat  of  one  of  the  richest  por 
tions  of  Georgia.  Howard,  on  the  20th, 

*  "  The  whole  plan,  which  had  originated  in  the 
brain  of  President  Davis,  to  compensate  for  the  enemy's 
offensive  movement  in  Georgia  by  penetrating  Ten 
nessee  was  outrageously  foolish,  from  the  simple  con 
sideration  that  the  two  invasions  were  necessarily  un 
equal  ;  for  that  into  the  enemy's  country  could  not 
seriously  affect  his  superabundant  resources,  while 
that  into  the  southern  interior  went  right  into  the 
heart  of  the  Confederacy  ;  and  having  once  passed  the 
frontiers,  on  which  the  South  had  necessarily  thrown 
all  its  resources  in  men,  was  destined  to  realize  Gen. 
Grant's  assertion,  that  the  Confederacy  was  merely  a 
shell."— Pollard's  "Last  Tear  of  the  War,"  p.  130. 
VOL.  IV.— 62. 


crossed  the  Ocmulgee,  and  passing  south, 
left  Macon  on  the  right  and  in  the  rear, 
and  then  moved  rapidly  through  Mon- 
ticello  and  Hillsborough  to  Clinton,  so 
as  to  strike  the  Georgia  Central  at  Gor 
don,  twenty  miles  east  of  Macon.  Kil 
Patrick's  cavalry,  meanwhile,  were  de 
monstrating  in  the  direction  of  Macon, 
and  the  rebels  were  firmly  possessed  of 
the  idea  that  that  city  was  to  be  at 
tacked,  and  gathered  all  the  forces  they 
could,  under  Cobb,  for  its  defence. 

On  striking  the  Georgia  Central,  on 
the  22d  of  November,  Howard's  corps 
began  to  destroy  the  track  between 
Gordon  and  Griswoldville,  in  that  tho 
rough  and  complete  manner  which  they 
had  acquired  by  long  experience.  While 
engaged  in  this  work,  a  severe  skirmish 
or  battle  between  a  section  of  our  artil 
lery  and  some  cavalry,  and  about  5,000 
of  the  rebels,  occurred  at  Griswoldville. 
Desperate  assaults  were  made  on  our 
force,  but  they  resulted  in  nothing  but 
loss  and  disaster,  and  the  rebels  were 
glad  to  make  their  way  back  to  Macoii. 
Milledgeville  was  occupied  on  the  21st 
of  November,  just  a  week  after  leaving 
Atlanta,  the  distance  travelled  being 
about  ninety-five  miles. 

The  corps  under  Slocum  marched 
eastwardly  towards  Augusta,  and  by 
the  17th  of  November,  the  road  was 
effectually  destroyed  as  far  as  Coving- 
ton.  One  column  turned  southeast- 
wardly  in  the  direction  of  Milledgeville, 
while  another  continued  on  the  line  of 
the  railroad,  and  destroyed  it  as  far  as 
Madison,  sixty-nine  miles  east  of  At 
lanta,  and  102  west  of  Augusta.  The 
cavalry  were  pushed  on  between  twenty 
and  thirty  miles  further,  serving  as  a 


490 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX, 


demonstration  against  Augusta,  and 
thoroughly  deceiving  the  enemy  as  to 
Sherman's  real  plan.  From  Madison 
Slocum  marched  to  Milledgeville,  which 
was  reached  November  22d ;  and  the 
two  wings  were  thus  brought  together 
again. 

A  few  days  before,  when  Gov.  Brown 
and  the  ]egislature  (then  in  session) 
waked  up  to  the  fact  that  Sherman's 
army  was  about  to  enter  the  city,  they 
fled  in  a  very  great  hurry,  carrying  off 
what  they  could,  the  public  archives, 
funds,  etc.,  and  escaping  to  Augusta, 
and  Macon,  and  anywhere,  to  get  out 
of  the  way  of  the  dreaded  Yankee  host. 
In  fact,  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion 
could  no  longer  evade  the  unwelcome 
truth,  that  our  army  was  moving  di 
rectly  and  successfully  through  the 
heart  of  Georgia  to  the  sea  coast,  and 
that,  unless  it  could  be  stopped,  disas 
trous  results  must  inevitably  follow. 
Beauregard  came  to  the  rescue,  in  his 
peculiar  way,  and  issued  an  address, 
November  18th,  calling  on  the  Geor 
gians  to  "  obstruct  and  destroy  all  the 
roads  in  Sherman's  front,  flank  and 
rear,  and  then  his  army  will  soon  starve 
in  your  midst."  So,  too,  rebel  con 
gressmen  urged  upon  the  people  to  de 
vastate  and  destroy  everything  in  Sher 
man's  path,  a  kind  of  advice  which,  as 
might  be  expected,  was  treated  with 
indifference  or  contempt.  Gov.  Brown 
set  forth  a  proclamation,  and  ordered 
a  levy,  en  masse,  of  all  the  white  popu 
lation,  in  the  effort  to  stay  the  progress 
of  our  army.  But  it  was  all  in  vain. 
The  resistance  which  troops,  thus  gath 
ered  for  an  emergency,  were  able  to 
make,  amounted  to  almost  nothing 

o 


against  a   large   and   well    appointed 
army,  such  as  Sherman's  was.* 

On  the  24th  of  November,  the  army 
left  Milledgeville,  having  Millen,  seven 
ty-four  miles  distant,  in  view.  The 
main  body  crossed  the  Oconee  at  Mil 
ledgeville,  destroying  the  bridge  over 
that  river,  and  the  railroad  bridge  over 
Fisher's  Creek,  south  of  the  city.  A 
large  force  of  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  de 
monstrated  at  the  Central  Railroad 
bridge  over  the  Oconee,  twenty- 
five  miles  south-east  of  Milledge 
ville,  which  was  defended  by  earth 
works,  by  the  rebel  Gen.  Wayne,  with 
a  body  of  stragglers  and  militia  which 
had  been  picked  up  between  Milledge 
ville  and  Augusta.  This  road  here 
runs  for  several  miles  through  a  swamp, 
which  borders  the  wTest  bank  of  the 
Oconee.  Wheeler,  who  had  been  left 
in  the  rear  at  Macon,  by  the  excellent 
strategy  practiced  in  his  case,  as  above 
noted,  made  extraordinary  efforts  and 
succeeded  in  getting  across  the  Oconee, 
in  order,  with  Wayne's  help,  to  dis 
pute  the  passage  of  the  river.  How 
ard,  finding  the  bridge  strongly  guard 
ed,  sent  the  15th  corps  some  eight  miles 
below  to  a  ford  where  a  pontoon  bridge 
was  laid.  The  rebels  thereupon  re 
treated  hastily,  and  by  the  26th  of  No 
vember,  the  whole  right  wing  was 
across  the  river,  moving  eastward  along 


*  "  Sherman's  march  assumes  the  aspect  of  a  great 
swinging  movement  the  pivot  of  which  was  the  army 
before  Petersburg.  But  it  was  a  swinging  movement 
described  on  a  radius  of  half  a  continent — one  of  those 
colossal  enterprises  whereof  there  are  few  exemplars  in 
military  history,  and  which  fill  up  the  measure  of  the 
imagination  with  the  shapes  of  all  that  is  vast  and 
grandiose  in  war." — Swinton's  "Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,"  p.  506. 


Cn.  XIII.] 


FORT  MCALLISTER  CAPTURED. 


491 


the  railroad,  and  destroying  it  effect 
ually  as  the  column  advanced. 

Slocum  crossed  the  Oconee  at  the 
same  time  with  the  right  wing,  and 
moved  northwardly,  aiming  for  Sparta 
in  Hancock  County.  On  the  evening 
of  the  24th  of  November,  Slocum's  ad 
vance  encamped  at  Devereaux,  seven 
miles  west  of  Sparta,  and  the  cavalry 
scoured  the  whole  country,  one  of  the 
moat  fertile  and  thickly  settled  in  the 
whole  state,  and  vast  quantities  of 
forage  and  provisions,  and  many  horses 
and  mules  were  obtained,  and  much 
cotton  burned.  The  Georgia  Railroad, 
on  Slocum's  left  flank  was  not  neglected. 
While  the  army  lay  at  Milledgeville,  a 
portion  of  the  cavalry  force  was  actively 
engaged  in  different  directions,  striking 
the  railroad  repeatedly,  burning  the 
bridge  over  the  Oconee  at  Blue  Spring, 
destroying  public  property,  etc. 

The  army  being  now  east  of  the 
Oconee,  the  rebels  were  much  frighten 
ed,  not  knowing  whether  Sherman 
would  strike  at  Augusta  or  Savannah. 
His  own  purpose  was  clear  enough  to 
himself,  but  by  the  exceeding  activity 
and  skill  of  the  cavalry,  and  by  various 
apparent  indications  that  Augusta  was 
the  point  immediately  in  view,  the 
rebels  were  again  deceived ;  Wheeler's 
cavalry  fell  back,  and  forces  from  every 
quarter  were  gathered  at  Augusta  in 
order  to  defend  it ;  Sherman,  all  this 
while,  was  quietly  advancing  towards 
Millen,  and  securing  an  unobstructed 
passage  of  the  Ogeechee  with  his  main 
body.  Kilpatrick,  having  driven 
Wheeler  back  through  Waynesborough 
and  beyond  Brier  Creek,  within  twenty 
miles  of  Augusta,  destroyed  the  rail 


road  bridge,  and  then  took  up  his  posi 
tion  as  a  guard  in  Sherman's  rear. 

Howard  passed  through  Sanders- 
ville,  November  26th,  and  Louisville, 
November  30th.  Slocum  marched 
through  Sparta  and  then  moved  upon 
Louisville.  Millen  was  reached  on  the 
2d  of  December,  Sherman  having  mov 
ed  slowly,  but  with  a  purpose.  As  it 
was  somewhat  uncertain  as  to  supplies 
when  he  moved  on  to  Savannah,  Sher 
man  paid  special  attention  to  foraging, 
and  also  to  the  complete  destruction 
of  the  railroads,  including  the  bridge 
over  the  Ogeechee,  twenty-five  miles 
west  of  Millen. 

Savannah  was  now  about  eighty 
miles  distant,  and  Sherman  having  left 
the  rebel  troops  in  his  rear,  where  they 
could  do  no  harm,  advanced  rapidly 
and  regularly  forward.  Howard,  on 
the  9th  of  December,  struck  the  canal 
which  connects  the  Ogeechee  writh  the 
Savannah,  about  ten  miles  in  the  rear 
and  west  of  the  city.  From  this  point 
he  communicated,  by  means  of  scouts, 
with  a  gun  boat  in  Ossabaw  Sound, 
and  gave  intelligence  of  his  success  thus 
far.  On  the  10th  of  December,  Sher 
man  advanced  to  within  five  miles  of 
Savannah,  where  the  rebels  had  erected 
the  first  of  a  line  of  defences.  Sher 
man  resolved  to  capture  Fort  McAllis 
ter  and  thus  open  the  Ogeechee,  so  as 
to  communicate  with  the  fleet,  and  cut 
off  communication  between  Savannah 
and  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 
Accordingly,  as  Sherman  stated  in  a 
dispatch,  dated  11.50,  P.M,  December 
13th,  on  board  the  gun  boat  Dandelion, 
Ossabaw  Sound  :  "  To-day,  at  five 
o'clock,  P.M.,  Gen.  Hazen's  division  of 


492 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1864. 


the  15th  corps  carried  Fort  McAllister 
by  assault,  capturing  its  entire  garrison 
and  stores.  This  opened  to  us  the 
Ossabaw  Sound,  and  I  pushed  down 
to  this  gun  boat  to  communicate  with 
the  fleet.  Before  opening  communica 
tion  we  had  completely  destroyed  all 
the  railroads  leading  into  Savannah, 
and  invested  the  city.  The  left  is  on 
the  Savannah  River,  three  miles  above 
the  city,  and  the  right  on  the 
Ogeechee,  at  King's  bridge. 
The  army  is  in  splendid  order,  and 
equal  to  anything.  The  weather  has 
been  fine,  and  supplies  are  abundant. 
Our  march  was  most  agreeable,  and 
we  were  not  at  all  molested  by  the 
guerrillas.  We  reached  Savannah  three 
days  ago,  but,  owing  to  Fort  McAllis 
ter,  could  not  communicate ;  but  now 
we  have  McAllister,  we  can  go  ahead. 
We  have  already  captured  two  boats 
on  the  Savannah  River,  and  prevented 
their  gun  boats  from  coming  down.  I 
estimate  the  population  of  Savannah 
at  25,000,  and  the  garrison  at  15,000. 
General  Hardee  commands.  We  have 
not  lost  a  wagon  on  the  trip,  but  have 
gathered  in  a  large  supply  of  negroes, 
mules,  horses,  etc.,  and  our  teams  are 
in  far  better  condition  than  when  we 
started.  My  first  duty  will  be  to  clear 


the  army  of  surplus  negroes,  mules  and 
horses.  We  have  utterly  destroyed 
over  two  hundred  miles  of  rails,  and 
consumed  stores  and  provisions  that 
were  essential  to  Lee's  and  Hood's 
armies.  The  quick  work  made  with 
Fort  McAllister,  and  the  opening  of 
communication  with  our  fleet,  and  the 
consequent  independence  of  supplies/ 
dissipates  all  their  boasted  threats  to 
head  me  off  and  starve  the  army. 
I  regard  Savannah  as  already  gained." 
Hardee,  in  Savannah,  undertook  to 
hold  out  for  a  while ;  but,  on  the  20th 
of  December,  he  considered  the  case 
hopeless,  and  destroying  whatever  he 
could,  he  fled  to  Charleston.  On  the 
21st,  Savannah  was  occupied,  and  Sher 
man  sent  a  message  to  the  president 
begging  to  present  him  with  the  city 
"as  a  Christmas  gift,"  with  its  150 
heavy  guns,  its  ammunition,  and  some 
25,000  bales  of  cotton.  Gen.  Geary 
was  placed  in  command,  and  Sherman's 
order,  December  26th,  with  reference 
to  the  government  of  the  city,  was 
judicious  and  considerate.  The  dis 
position  of  the  citizens  was  to  quiet 
and  orderly  behavior,  and  little  if  any 
trouble  was  given  to  the  constituted 
authorities  in  the  changed  condition  of 
affairs. 


Cn.  XVI.] 


SHERIDAN  BEGINS  HIS  WORK. 


493 


CHAPTER    XVT 


1864. 


SHERIDAN  IN  THE  VALLEY :    ARMY  OF  THE  JAMES  :    WILMINGTON  AND  FORT  FISHER. 

Sheridan  in  command  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  —  Enters  upon  his  work  with  spirit  —  Defeats  Early  at 
Opequan  Creek  —  Early's  attack  upon  our  forces  at  Cedar  Creek  —  Nearly  a  rout,  but  turned  to  a  victory 
by  Sheridan's  arrival  —  Extracts  from  Sheridan's  dispatches  —  Early's  chagrin  —  Grant's  plans  and  pur- 
poses  in  neighborhood  of  Richmond  —  Fort  Harrison  taken  —  Cavalry  expeditions  and  service  —  Recon 
naissances  and  engagements —  Attempt  at  Hatcher's  Run  —  Subsequent  movements  —  Strategic  impor 
tance  of  Wilmington  —  Expedition  against  Fort  Fisher  —  Porter  and  the  naval  part  of  the  expedition  — 
Weitzel  to  command  the  land  troops  —  Butler  accompanies  the  troops  —  Naval  attack  —  The  troops 
landed,  but  not  allowed  by  Butler  to  assault  the  fort  —  Expedition  given  up  by  Butler,  who  is  superseded 
by  Gen.  Ord  —  Starts  anew  under  Terry  and  Porter — Extracts  from  Gen.  Terry's  report,  January,  1865  — 
Gallant  conduct  of  the  navy  and  army  —  Value  and  greatness  of  our  success. 


1S64. 


GEN.  GRANT,  clearly  possessed  of  the 
dea  that  it  was  necessary  to  have  some 
one  efficient  commander  in  the  depart 
ments  of  West  Virginia,  "Washington, 
Susqueharma,  and  the  middle  depart 
ment,  recommended  that  Gen.  Sheridan 
be  placed  in  charge;  which  was  ac 
cordingly  done,  and  Sheridan,  on  the 
7th  of  August,  assumed  command  of 
the  "  middle  military  division." 
The  enemy,  at  the  time,  were 
concentrated  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Winchester,  and  our  forces  occupied, 
the  line  of  the  Monocacy,  at  the  cross 
ing  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail 
road,  leaving  open  to  the  rebels  West 
ern  Maryland  and  Southern  Pennsyl 
vania. 

Sheridan  entered  vigorously  upon 
his  work.  He  pushed  forward  a  column 
from  Harper's  Ferry  up  the  Shenan 
doah  Valley  to  Winchester,  and  beyond, 
to  Fisher's  Hill,  in  the  vicinity  of  Stras- 
burg,  where  Early  was  in  position. 


Severe  skirmishing  ensued,  here  and 
elsewhere,  and  Sheridan  found  it  ex 
pedient  to  retire  again  to  the  neighbor 
hood  of  the  Potomac.  The  month  of 
August  and  the  first  half  of  September 
passed  in  this  way,  without  any  gen 
eral  en^ao-ement.  "The  two  armies 

O     O 

lay  in  such  a  position — the  enemy  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Opequan  Creek 
covering  Winchester,  and  our  forces  in 
front  of  Berrysville — that  either  could 
bring  on  a  battle  at  any  time.  Defeat 
to  us  would  lay  open  to  the  enemy  the 
states  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania 
for  long  distances,  before  another  army 
could  be  interposed  to  check  him.  Un 
der  these  circumstances,  I  hesitated 
about  allowing  the  initiative  to  be 
taken.  Finally,  the  use  of  the  Balti 
more  and  Ohio  Railroad  and  the  Ches 
apeake  and  Ohio  Canal,  which  were 
both  obstructed  by  the  enemy,  became 
so  indispensably  necessary  to  us,  and 
the  importance  of  relieving  Pennsylva- 


494 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1§64. 


ma  and  Maryland  from  continuously 
threatened  invasion  was  so  great,  that 
I  determined  the  risk  shou.d  be  taken. 
But  fearing  to  telegraph  the  order  for 
an  attack  without  knowing  more  than 
I  did  G  f  G-en.  Sheridan's  feelings  as  to 
what  vould  be  the  probable  result,  I 
left  City  Point,  on  the  15th  of 
September,  to  visit  him  at  his 
headquarters,  to  decide,  after  conference 
with  him,  what  should  be  done.  I  met 
him  at  Charleston,  and  he  pointed  out 
so  distinctly  how  each  army  lay ;  what 
he  could  do  the  moment  he  was  author 
ized  ;  and  expressed  such  confidence  of 
success,  that  I  saw  there  were  but  two 
words  of  instructions  necessary — G-o 
in !  For  the  convenience  of  forage,  the 
teams  for  supplying  the  army  were 
kept  at  Harper's  Ferry.  I  asked  him 
if  he  could  get  out  his  teams  and  sup 
plies  in  time  to  make  an  attack  on  the 
ensuing  Tuesday  morning.  His  reply 
was,  that  he  could  before  daylight  on 
Monday.  He  was  off  promptly  to  time, 
and  I  may  here  add  that  the  result  was 
such  that  I  have  never  since  deemed  it 
necessary  to  visit  Gen.  Sheridan  before 
giving  him  orders. 

"Early  on  the  morning  of  the  19th 
of  September,  Gen.  Sheridan  attacked 
Gen.  Early  at  the  crossing  of  the  Ope- 
quan  Creek,  and  after  a  most  sanguin 
ary  and  bloody  battle,  lasting  until 
five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  defeated 
him  with  heavy  loss,  carrying  his  entire 
position  from  Opequan  Creek  to  Win 
chester,  capturing  several  thousand 
prisoners  and  five  pieces  of  artillery. 
The  enemy  rallied  and  made  a  stand  in 
a  strong  position  at  Fisher's  Hill,  where 
he  was  attacked  and  again  defeated 


with  heavy  loss  on  the  20th.  Sheridan 
pursued  him  with  great  energy  through 
Harrisonburg,  Staunton,  and  the  gaps 
of  the  Blue  Eidge.  After  stripping 
the  Upper  Valley  of  most  of  the  sup 
plies  and  provisions  for  the  rebel  army, 
he  returned  to  Strasburg,  and  took  po 
sition  on  the  north  side  of  Cedar 
Creek."* 

The  rebel  commander,  having  been 
reinforced,  again  returned  to  the  Val 
ley,  and  while  Sheridan  was  absent  on 
business  at  Washington,  he  made  an 
assault  on  our  army,  which  nearly  re 
sulted  in  complete  rout  and  overthrow. 
On  the  night  of  the  18th  of  October, 
the  rebels  crossed  the  mountains  which 
separated  the  branches  of  the  Shenan- 
doah,  forded  the  North  fork,  and  early 
on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  under  cover 
of  the  darkness  and  the  fog,  surprised 
and  turned  our  left  flank,  and  captured 
the  batteries  which  enfiladed  our  whole 
line.  Affairs  were  in  a  most  painfully 
critical  condition.  Panic  was  fast  de 
moralizing  the  army,  and  in  a  brief 
space,  had  not  help  arrived,  all  would 
have  been  lost.  Most  opportunely, 
that  help  came  in  the  person  of  Sheri 
dan  himself.  He  was  on  his  return 
from  Washington,  on  this  eventful 
morning,  and  at  Winchester,  thirteen 
miles  distant,  heard  the  booming  of 
cannon.  Instantly,  aware  of  the  im 
portance  of  his  presence,  he  set  off  at 
full  speed,  arid  never  drew  rein  till  he 
reached  the  battle  field,  his  horse  cov 
ered  with  foam  and  he  himself  in  a  state 
of  intense  excitement.  He  took  in  the 
situation  at  once.  He  rode  along  the 
lines ;  he  shouted  to  the  men,  "  turn, 

*  "  Report  of  Lieut.-Oen.  U.  8.  O-rant,"  pp.  29,  30 


On.  XVI.] 


SHERIDAN'S   VICTORY   OVEU  EARLY. 


495 


boys,  tin  n ;  we're  going  back  !  "  and 
so  powerful  was  Ms  influence  over  the 
troops,  and  such  new  spirit  was  infused 
into  them  by  his  presence,  that  they 
rallied,  and  renewed  the  battle  to  good 
purpose. 

At  ten  P.M.  of  the  same  day,  Sheri 
dan  sent  Grant  a  dispatch,  in  which  he 
said :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  report,  that 
ray  army  at  Cedar  Creek  was  attacked 
this  morning  before  daylight,  and  my 
left  was  turned  and  driven  in  confusion. 
In  fact,  most  of  the  line  was  driven  in 
confusion,  with  a  loss  of  twenty  pieces 
of  artillery.  I  hastened  from  Winches 
ter,  where  I  was,  on  my  return  from 
Washington,  and  found  the  armies  be 
tween  Middletown  and  Newtown, 
having  been  driven  back  about  four 
miles.  I  here  took  the  affair  in  hand, 
and  quickly  united  the  corps,  formed  a 
compact  line  of  battle  just  in 
time  to  repulse  an  attack  of  the 
enemy,  which  was  handsomely  done  at 
about  one  P.M.  At  three  P.M.,  after 
some  changes  of  the  cavalry  from  the 
left  to  the  rio;ht  flank,  I  attacked  with 

O  / 

great  vigor,  driving  and  routing  the 
enemy,  capturing,  according  to  the  last 
report,  forty-three  pieces  of  artillery 
and  very  many  prisoners.  Affairs,  at 
times,  looked  badly,  but  by  the  gal 
lantry  of  our  brave  officers  and  men, 
disaster  has  been  converted  into  a  splen 
did  victory.  Darkness  again  intervened 
to  shut  off  greater  results.  I  now  oc 
cupy  Strasburg."  Two  days  later,  Oc 
tober  21st,  Sheridan  wrote  again  to 
Grant :  "  I  pursued  the  routed  force  of 
the  enemy  nearly  to  Mount  Jackson, 
which  point  he  reached  during  the 
night  of  the  19th  and  20th,  without  an 


1864. 


organized  regiment  of  his  army.  From 
the  accounts  of  our  prisoners  who  have 
escaped  and  citizens,  the  rout  was  com 
plete.  About  2,000  of  the  enemy 
broke  and  made  their  way  down 
through  the  mountains  on  the  left. 
Fourteen  miles  on  the  line  of  retreat 
the  road  and  country  were  covered  with 
small  arms  thrown  away  by  the  flying 
rebels  and  other  debris.  Forty-eight 
pieces  of  captured  artillery  are  now  at 
my  headquarters.  I  think  that  not  less 
than  300  wagons  and  ambulances  were 
either  captured  or  destroyed.  From 
all  that  I  can  learn,  1  thing  that  Early's 
reinforcements  were  not  less  than  16,000 
men.* 

Thus  was  brought  to  end,  as  Grant 
states  in  his  report,  "  the  enemy's  last 
attempt  to  invade  the  North  by  way  of 
the  Shenandoah  Valley.  I  was  now 
enabled  to  return  the  6th  corps  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  to  send  one 
division  from  Sheridan's  army  to  the 
Army  of  the  James,  and  another  to 
Savannah,  Georgia,  to  hold  Sherman's 
new  acquisitions  on  the  sea  coast,  and 
thus  enable  him  to  move  without  de 
taching  from  his  force  for  that  pur 
pose." 


*  Early  was  greatly  annoyed  at  his  defeat,  and  he 
told  his  troops  so,  in  an  address,  October  22d  :  "  I  had 
hoped  to  have  congratulated  you  on  the  splendid  victory 
won  by  you  on  the  19th,  but  I  have  the  mortification 
of  announcing  to  you  that,  by  your  subsequent  mis 
conduct,  all  the  benefits  of  that  victory  were  lost,  and 
a  serious  disaster  incurred.  Had  you  remained  stead 
fast  to  your  duty  and  your  colors,  the  victory  would 
have  been  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  decisive  of  the 
war.  You  would  have  gloriously  retrieved  the  re 
verses  at  Winchester  and  Fisher's  Hill,  and  entitled 
yourselves  to  the  admiration  of  your  country.  But 
many  of  you,  including  some  commissioned  officers, 
yielding  to  a  disgraceful  propensity  for  plunder,  de 
serted  your  colors  to  appropriate  to  yourselves  the 
abandoned  property  of  the  enemy,"  etc. 


496 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


After  the  occupation  by  Gen.  War 
ren  of  the  Weldon  Kailroad  below  Pe 
tersburg,  in  August,  (p.  453)  there  was 
no  active  demonstration  of  importance 
for  more  than  a  month.  Grant  was 
watching  the  opportune  moment,  and 
guiding  the  affairs  of  the  several  armies 
so  as  to  tend  steadily,  if  not  rapidly, 
to  the  destruction  of  the  rebels  in  arms. 
On  the  night  of  the  28th  of  September, 
the  10th  and  18th  corps,  forming  part 
of  Butler's  army,  were  crossed  to  the 
north  side  of  the  James,  and  advancing, 
early  the  next  morning,  carried  the  very 
strong  fortifications  and  entrenchments 
below  Chapin's  Farm,  known  as  Fort 
Harrison.  Fifteen  pieces  of  artillery 
were  captured,  and  possession  was  taken 
of  the  New  Market  road  and  entrench 
ments.  Following  this,  an  assault  was 
made  upon  Fort  Gillmore,  immediately 
in  front  of  Chapin  Farm  fortifications ; 
but  it  was  unsuccessful  and  attended 
with  heavy  loss. 

Kautz's  cavalry  was  pushed  forward 
on  the  right,  moving  along  the  Central 
Road,  supported  by  the  10th  corps,  to 
the  main  works,  within  three  miles  of 
Richmond.  The  two  corps  now  formed 
a  junction  on  the  line  of  works  which 
they  had  captured,  where  they  were 
next  day  vigorously  assailed  by  the 
enemy,  who  had  been  brought  up  in 
force  from  Petersburg  to  regain  the  lost 
positions.  In  this  assault  the  Union 
troops  acting  on  the  defensive  had  the 
advantage,  and  gallantly  repulsed  the 
impetuous  assaults  of  the  foe. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  Sep 
tember,  Gen.  Grant  sent  out  a  recon 
naissance,  with  a  view  to  attacking  the 
enemy's  line,  if  it  was  found  sufficiently 


weakened  by  withdrawal  of  troops  to 
the  north  side.  In  this  reconnaissance 
we  captured  and  held  the 
enemy's  works  near  Poplar 
Spring  church.  In  the  afternoon,  troops 
moving  to  get  to  the  left  of  the  point 
gained,  were  attacked  by  the  enemy 
in  heavy  force,  and  compelled  to  fall 
back,  until  supported  by  the  forces 
holding  the  captured  works.  Our 
cavalry,  under  Gregg,  was  also  attack 
ed,  but  repulsed  the  enemy  with  great 
loss.  On  the  7th  of  October,  an  at 
tack  was  made  on  Kautz's  cavalry, 
north  of  the  James,  which  succeeded  in 
driving  back  our  force,  with  heavy  loss 
in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  and 
the  loss  of  all  the  artillery,  eight  or 
nine  pieces.  The  enemy  then  attacked 
the  entrenched  line,  where  Birney  was 
in  command,  but  were  repulsed  with 
great  slaughter.  On  the  13th  of  Octo 
ber,  a  reconnaissance  was  sent  out  by 
Butler,  with  a  view  to  drive  the  rebels 
from  some  new  works  they  were  con 
structing ;  no  advantage,  however,  was 
gained,  and  our  troops  met  with  heavy 
loss. 

An  attempt  was  made  by  Grant,  on 
the  27th  of  October,  to  penetrate  the 
rebel  lines,  the  movement  being  on  their 
right  flank.  The  2d  corps,  followed  by 
two  divisions  of  the  5th  corps,  with  the 
cavalry  in  advance  and  covering  our 
left  flank,  forced  a  passage  of  Hatcher's 
Run,  and  moved  up  the  south  side  of 
it  toward  the  Southside  Railroad,  until 
the  2d  corps  and  part  of  the  cavalry 
reached  the  Boydtou  Pla'ik  Road  where 
it  crosses  Hatcher's  Run.  At  this  point 
our  troops  were  six  miles  distant  from 
the  Southside  Railroad,  which  Grant 


Cir.  XVI.] 


OPERATIONS  AGAINST  FORT  FISHER. 


497 


had  hoped,  by  this  movement,  to  reach 
and  hold.  But,  finding  that  the  end  of 
the  enemy's  fortifications  had  not  been 
reached,  and  no  place  presenting  itself 
for  a  successful  assault,  our  troops  were 
ordered  to  withdraw  within  our  forti 
fied  lines.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  the 
rebels  moved  out  across  Hatcher's  Run, 
in  a  gap  not  yet  closed  between  Han 
cock's  and  Warren's  troops,  and  made 
a  furious  assault  on  Hancock's  right 
and  rear.  The  corps  was  immediately 
faced  to  meet  the  assault,  and,  after  a 
bloody  combat,  our  men  drove  the 
enemy  within  his  works,  and  withdrew 
that  night  to  their  old  position.  In 
support  of  this  movement,  Butler  made 
a  demonstration  on  the  north  side  of 
the  James,  and  attacked  the  enemy  on 
the  Williamsburg  Road,  and  also  on 
the  York  River  Railroad.  In  the  for 
mer  he  was  unsuccessful ;  in  the  latter 
he  succeeded  in  carrying  a  work  which 
was  afterward  abandoned,  and  his  forces 
withdrew  to  their  former  positions. 

The  subsequent  movements  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  during  the  year, 
were  directed  against  the  enemy's  line 
for  receiving  supplies  to  the  south  of 
Petersburg.  On  the  1st  of  De 
cember,  Gen.  Gregg,  at  the  head 
of  a  strong  cavalry  force,  made  a  suc 
cessful  raid  upon  Stony  Creek  Station 
on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  where  there 
was  a  store  of  supplies,  this  being  the 
depot  whence  they  were  transferred  by 
wagoning  across  to  the  Southside  Rail 
road.  A  fort  at  this  place,  mounting 
two  guns,  was  assaulted  and  taken,  to 
gether  with  about  200  prisoners.  This 
expedition  was  followed,  on  the  6th  of 
Decembei'j  by  another,  led  by  Gen.  War- 

VOL.  IV.— 63. 


1861. 


ren,  which  resulted  in  the  destruction 
of  the  Weldon  Railroad  from  Jarrett's, 
below  Stony  Creek  Station,  to  Bellfield 
at  the  Meherrin  River.  A  cold  rain 
storm,  turning  to  hail  and  snow,  ren 
dered  the  march,  which  lasted  five 
days,  especially  severe  and  trying  to 
our  men. 

The  successful  operations  of  the  navy, 
in  closing  the  ports  of  Savannah,  Char 
leston  and  Mobile,  had  reduced  the 
rebels  to  a  single  place  of  entrance  for 
the  blockade  runners  and  such  like. 
This  was  the  harbor  of  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina.  The  approach  to  this 
important  and  valuable  strategic  posi 
tion,  situated  on  Cape  Fear  River, 
thirty  miles  from  the  sea,  was  protected 
by  several  formidable  forts  and  batter 
ies,  at  the  two  main  entrances  at  either 
extremity  of  the  island,  stretching  across 
the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  old  or 
western  inlet  was  commanded  by  Forts 
Caswell  and  Johnson  and  the  coast  for 
tifications,  while  the  new  or  eastern  in 
let  was  defended  on  Federal  Point  by 
Fort  Fisher,  a  newly-erected  casemated 
earthwork  of  great  strength,  mounting 
some  forty  heavy  guns.  Other  formid 
able  defences,  stretched  along  the  shore, 
affording  a  secure  protection  to  block 
ade  runners  entering  the  harbor.  The 
two  main  entrances  being  forty  miles 
apart,  intersected  by  numerous  channels, 
it  was  virtually  impossible  effectually 
to  prevent  the  English  vessels,  specially 
constructed  for  the  purpose,  entering  the 
river. 

In  order  to  gain  possession  of  Fort 
Fisher,  the  land  north  of  New  Inlet 
was  a  matter  of  prime  importance,  and 
as  it  required  the  co-operation  of  the 


495 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


JBK.  IX, 


land  force,  Gen.  Grant  gave  earnest  at 
tention  to  the  furnishing  it.  During 
the  latter  part  of  November  and  early 
in  the  month  following,  a  most  formid 
able  armada,  over  seventy  vessels  in  all, 
under  Admiral  Porter,  was  gathered  in 
Hampton  Roads  at  the  beginning  of 
December ;  and  a  force  of  6,500  men, 
taken  from  Butler's  troops,  was  added, 
Gen.  Weitzel  being  designated  as  their 
commander.  Grant,  having  learned  that 
Bragg  had  gone  to  Georgia,  taking  with 
him  the  larger  part  of  the  forces  about 
Wilmington,  deemed  it  the  opportune 
moment  to  urge  forward  the  expedition. 
He  wrote  out  full  and  careful  instruc 
tions,  intending  them  for  Weitzel  but 
sending  them  through  Butler,  who  ac 
companied  the  expedition,  and  was 
greatly  interested  in  a  projected  ex 
plosion  of  a  powder-boat.  After  some 
delays,  the  fleet  sailed,  on  the  13th  of 
December,  and  arrived  at  the 
place  of  rendezvous,  off  New  In 
let,  near  Fort  Fisher,  on  the  evening  of 
the  15th.  Porter  was  hindered,  for  two 
or  three  days,  having  put  in  at  Beau 
fort,  to  get  ammunition  for  the  monitors. 
A  heavy  gale  set  in  from  the  south-west, 
and  the  sea  becoming  very  rough,  made 
it  difficult  to  land  troops ;  the  supply 
also  of  water  and  coal  being  nearly  ex 
hausted,  the  transport  fleet  put  back  to 
Beaufort  to  replenish;  this,  with  the 
state  of  the  weather,  delayed  the  return 
to  the  place  of  rendezvous  until  the 
24th  of  December.  "  The  powder-boat," 
as  Grant  sarcastically  says,  "  was  ex 
ploded  on  the  morning'  of  the  24th,  be 
fore  the  return  of  Gen.  Butler  from 
Beaufort ;  but,  it  would  seem,  from  the 
notice  taken  of  it  in  the  southern  news- 


1864. 


papers,  that  the  enemy  were  never  en 
lightened  as  to  the  object  of  the  ex 
plosion  until  they  were  informed  by  the 
northern  press." 

Porter,  on  the  morning  of  December 
24th,  gave  order  to  engage  the  forts, 
which  was  gallantly  done,  and  in  little 
more  than  an  hour  after  the  first  shot 
was  fired,  not  a  shot  came  from  the  fort. 
On  the  25th,  all  the  transports  had 
arrived,  and  Porter  and  Weitzel,  after 
a  conference,  determined  that,  while 
the  ships  attacked  the  forts,  as  before, 
the  troops  should  land  and  assault  them, 
if  possible,  under  the  heavy  fire.  The 
ships  did  their  duty  thoroughly;  but 
after  some  3,000  men  had  been  landed, 
and  a  close  approach  made  to  the  works, 
the  troops  were  re-embarked,  by  order 
of  Butler,  and,  as  Grant  says,  "  in  di 
rect  violation  of  the  instructions  given." 
This  was  accomplished  by  the  morning 
of  December  27th.  Porter  was  very 
much  mortified  at  the  course  pursued 
by  the  troops,  and  believed  the  assault 
entirely  practicable.  "  I  don't  pretend," 
said  Porter,  "  to  put  my  opinion  in  op 
position  to  that  of  Gen.  Weitzel,  who 
is  a  thorough  soldier  and  able  engineer, 
and  whose  business  it  is  to  know  more 
of  assaulting  than  I  do.  But  I  can't 
help  thinking  that  it  was  worth  while 
to  make  the  attempt,  after  arriving  so 
far.  .  .  .  We  have  not  commenced 
firing  rapidly  yet,  and  could  keep  any 
rebels  inside  from  moving  their  head 
until  an  assaulting  column  was  within 
twenty  yards  of  the  works.  I  wish 
some  more  of  our  gallant  fellows  had 
followed  the  officer  who  took  the  flasc 

O 

from  the  parapet,  and  the  brave  fellow 
who  brought  the  horse  out  from  the 


CH.  XVI.] 


EXPEDITION  UNDER   GENERAL  TERRY. 


499 


fort.  I  think  they  would  have  found 
it  an  easier  conquest  than  is  supposed."* 

Butler  returned  with  his  troops  to 
Hampton  Roads,  and  shortly  after  was 
superseded  by  Gen.  E.  O.  C.  Ord,  who 
took  command  of  the  department  of 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  Butler, 
whose  active  connection  with  the  war 
was  now  brought  to  a  close,  issued  a 
farewell  address  to  the  "  Army  of  the 
James,"  in  which,  after  considerable 
flourish  as  to  the  glory  of  being  able 
to  say,  "  I,  too,  was  of  the  Army  of  the 
James,"  he  bestowed  a  severe  side- 
thrust  upon  the  lieutenant-general: 
"Knowing  your  willing  obedience  to 
orders,  witnessing  your  ready  devotion 
of  your  blood  in  your  country's  cause, 
I  have  been  chary  of  the  precious  charge 
confided  to  me.  I  have  refused  to  order 
useless  sacrifices  of  the  lives  of  such 
soldiers,  and  I  am  relieved  from  your 
command.  The  wasted  blood  of  my 
men  does  not  stain  my  garments.  For 
my  action  I  am  responsible  to  God  and 
my  country."  f 

Porter,  who  was  dissatisfied  with  the 
result,  remained  with  his  fleet  off  Fort 
Fisher,  and  sent  word  to  the  secretary 
of  the  navy,  expressing  his  conviction 
that,  under  a  proper  leader,  the  fort 
could  be  taken.  Grant  thereupon  very 
gladly  resumed  the  effort  which  had 

*  Grant  was  quite  indignant  at  Butler's  conduct. 
He  never  expected  Butler  to  interfere,  and  supposed 
that  of  course  Weitzel  received  his  instructions,  which, 
it  seems,  never  took  place  ;  and  further,  as  Grant  states, 
in  his  report,  "  on  return  of  the  expedition,  officers  and 
men,  Gen.  Curtis  being  of  the  number,  voluntarily  re 
ported  to  me  that  when  recalled,  they  were  nearly  into 
the  fort,  and,  in  their  opinion,  it  could  have  been  taken 
without  much  loss."  Early  in  January,  1865,  Butler 
was  relieved  of  his  command,  at  Grant's  request. 

f  The  rebel  leaders  were  disposed  to  claim  a  victory, 
seeing  that  Fort  Fisher  was  not  taken.  Bragg,  the 


thus  far  proved  unsuccessful.  He  se 
lected  for  commander  of  the  expedition 
Gen.  A.  H.  Terry,  an  officer  of  some 
note,  though  young  in  years,  and  gave 
him  the  same  troops  that  composed  the 
former  expedition,  together  with  a  bri 
gade  of  about  1,500  men,  and  a  small 
siege  train.  Terry  sailed  from  Fortress 
Monroe  on  the  6th  of  January,  1865, 
and  two  days  after,  arrived  off  Beau 
fort,  N.  C.  A  violent  storm  set  in,  and 
for  several  days  nothing  could  be  done, 
except  to  care  for  the  safety  of  the  ves 
sels  and  wait  for  better  weather.  On 
the  12th,  the  fleet  again  got  underway, 
and  reached  its  destination  about  night- 

o 

fall,  but  too  late  to  land  the  troops. 
Under  cover  of  the  fleet,  the  disembark 
ation  took  place  the  next  morning,  and 
about  8,000  men,  with  rations  for  three 
days,  ammunition,  tools,  etc.,  were  land 
ed,  by  three  o'clock  P.M.  After  prepa 
ration  of  a  defensive  line  across  the 
peninsula,  to  protect  the  rear,  and  a 
careful  reconnaissance,  on  the  14th  of 
January,  it  was  decided  by  Gen.  Terry 
and  Admiral  Porter  to  attempt  an  as 
sault  the  next  day,  provided  that,  in 
the  meantime,  the  fire  of  the  navy 
should  so  far  destroy  the  palisades  as 
to  make  one  practicable. 

Porter  at  once  placed  a  division  of 
his  vessels  in  a  position  to  accomplish 

commander  at  Wilmington,  wrote  to  Davis,  in  this 
wise :  "  The  enemy  has  re-embarked  under  the  cover 
of  his  fleet.  His  movement  is  not  developed.  I  have 
visited  Fort  Fisher,  and  find  the  damage  slight,  ex 
cepting  the  buildings  not  necessary  for  defence.  Only 
two  guns  were  disabled.  The  marks  remaining  indi 
cate  that  the  bombardment  was  very  heavy.  Gen. 
Whiting,  commanding  the  defences  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river ;  Col.  Lamb,  commanding  the  fort,  and  the  officera 
and  men  comprising  the  garrison,  deserve  especial 
commendation  for  the  gallantry,  efficiency,  and  for 
titude  displayed  under  very  trying  Tircurnstances." 


500 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION 


[BK.  IX. 


1§65. 


the  destruction  of  the  palisades.     "  It 
was  arranged,'1  says   Terry,  in  his  re 
port,   "  in  consultation  with   Admiral 
Porter,    that    a    heavy   bombardment 
from  all  the  vessels  should  commence 
early  in  the  morning,  and  continue  up 
to  the  moment  of  the  assault,  and  then 
it  should  not  cease,  but  should 
be  diverted  from  the  points  of 
attack  to  other  parts  of  the  work.     It 
was  decided  that  the  assault  should  be 
made  at  three  o'clock  P.M.  ;  that   the 
army  should  attack  on  the  western  haJf 
of  the  land  face,  and  that  a  column  of 
sailors  and  marines  should  assault  at 
the  north-east  bastion.     The  fire  of  the 
navy  continued  during  the  night.     At 
eight  o'clock  A.M.  of  the  15th  of  Janu 
ary,  all  of  the  vessels,  except  a  division 
left  to  aid  in  the  defence  of  our  north 
ern  line,  moved  into  position,  and  a  fire, 
magnificent  alike  for  its  power  and  ac 
curacy,  was  opened.     ...     At  2.25 
P.M.,  all   the   preparations   were  com 
pleted,  the  order  to  move  forward  was 
given  to  Gen.  Ames,  and  a  concerted 
signal  was  made  to  Admiral  Porter  to 
change  the  direction  of  his  fire.  Curtis's 
brigade   at   once    sprung    from    their 
trenches  and  dashed  forward  in  line ; 
its  left  was  exposed  to  a  severe  enfilad 
ing  fire,  and  it  obliqued  to  the  right  so 
as  to  envelop  the  left  of  the  land  front ; 
the  ground  over  which  it  moved  was 
marshy  and  difficult,  but  it  soon  reach 
ed  the  palisades/  passed  through  them, 
and  effected  a  lodgment  on  the  parapet. 
At  the  same  time  the  column  of  sailors 
and  marines,  under  Capt.  Breese,  ad 
vanced  up  the  beach  in  the  most  gal 
lant  manner,  and  attacked  the  north 
east  bastion ;  but,  exposed  to  a  murder 


ous  fire,  they  were  unable  to  get  up  the 
parapet.     After  a  severe  struggle  and 
a  heavy  loss  of  valuable  officers  and 
men,  it  became  apparent  that  nothing 
could  be  effected  at  that  point,  and  they 
were  withdrawn.    .     .     .    On  this  side 
(between  the  work  and  the  river),  there 
was  no  regular  parapet,  but  there  was 
abundance  of  cover  afforded  to  the  ene 
my  by  cavities  from  which  sand  had  been 
taken  for  the  parapet,  the  ruins  of  bar 
racks  and  storehouses,  the  large  maga 
zine,  and  by  traverses,  behind  which 
they  stubbornly  resisted  our  advance. 
Hand  to  hand  fighting  of  the  most  des 
perate  character  ensued,  the  huge  tra 
verses  of  the  land  face  being  used  suc 
cessively  by  the  enemy  as  breast  work*?, 
over  the  tops  of  which  the  contending 
parties  fired  in  each  other's  faces.  Nine 
of  these  were  carried  one  after  the  other 
by  our  men.     .     .     .     Until  six  o'clock 
P.M.,  the  fire  of  the  navy  continued  upon 
that  portion  of  the  work  not  occupied 
by  us ;  after  that  time  it  was  directed 
on  the  beach,  to  prevent  the  coming  up 
of  reinforcements,  which  it  was  thought 
might  possibly  be  thrown  over   from 
the  right  bank  of  the  river  to  Battery 
Buchanan.     The  fighting  for  the   tra 
verses  continued  till  nearly  nine  o'clock, 
two  more  of  them  being  carried ;  then 
a  portion   of  Abbott's  brigade  drove 
the  enemy  from  their   last   remaining 
strongholds,  and  the  occupation  of  the 
work   was  completed.     The  same  bri 
gade,  with  Gen.  Blackman's  regiment, 
were  immediately  pushed   down    the 
Point  to  Battery  Buchanan,   whither 
many  of  the  garrison    had   fled.     On 
reaching  the  battery,  all  of  the  enemy 
who  had  not  been  previously  captured 


CH.  XVI.] 


RESULTS   OF  FORT  FISHER  CAPTURE. 


501 


were  made  prisoners.  Among  them 
were  the  rebel  Gen.  Whiting  and  Col. 
Lamb,  the  commandant  of  the  fort.* 

The  losses  in  this  expedition  were, 
on  the  part  of  the  navy,  about  300 ;  on 
the  part  of  the  land  forces,  about  700. 

The  capture  of  Fort  Fisher  was  fol 
lowed  the  next  day  by  the  blowing  up 
by  the  rebels,  of  Forts  Caswell  and 
Campbell  on  the  Old  Inlet,  and  the 
abandonment  of  these  and  the  works 
on  Smith's  Island  and  those  at  Smith- 
ville  and  Reeves's  Point.  These  places 
were  occupied  by  the  navy.  The  whole 
number  of  guns  captured  in  the  de 
fences,  as  reported  by  Admiral  Porter, 
on  the  20th  of  January,  was  168.  Gen. 
Terry  reported  the  number  of  prisoners, 
112  commissioned  officers,  and  1,971 
enlisted  men.f  In  his  dispatch,  enume 
rating  the  different  forts  taken,  Ad- 

*  Porter's  report  of  his  share  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Fisher  gives  many  interesting  details,  and  he  states 
that,  in  his  opinion,  Fort  Fisher  was  a  stronger  work 
than  the  famous  Malakoff  Tower,  which  Porter  had  an 
opportunity  of  examining  shortly  after  its  surrender  to 
the  British  and  French  in  the  Crimea. 

f  In  the  list  of  the  forts  with  their  armaments  taken 
possession  of  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  is  a  sufficient 
explanation  of  the  protection  given  for  so  long  a  time 
to  the  blockade  runners  :  Reeves's  Point,  two  10-inch 
guns  ;  above  Smithville,  two  10-inch  guns  ;  Smithville, 
four  10-inch  guns ;  Fort  Caswell,  ten  10-inch  guns,  two 
9-inch,  one  Armstrong,  and  four  32's  (rifled),  two  32's 
(smooth),  three  8-inch,  one  Parrot  twenty  pounder, 
three  rifled  field  pieces,  three  guns  buried — twenty- 
nine  guns.  Forts  Campbell  and  Shaw,  six  10-inch,  six 
32's  (smooth),  one  32  (rifled),  one  8-inch,  six  field  pieces, 
two  mortars — twenty -two  guns.  Smith's  Island,  three 
10-inch,  six  32's  (smooth),  two  32's  (rifled),  four  field 
pieces,  two  mortars  and  seventeen  guns.  Reported  at 
the  other  end  of  Smith's  Island,  six  guns.  Total  cap 
tured,  eighty-three  guns. 


miral  Porter  adds:  "We  have  found 
in  each  an  Armstrong  gun,  with  the 
'  broad  arrow '  on  it  and  the  name  '  Sir 
William  Armstrong '  marked  in  full  on 
the  trunnels.  As  the  British  govern 
ment  claims  the  exclusive  right  to  use 
these  guns,  it  would  be  interesting  to 
know  how  they  came  into  forts  held 
by  the  southern  rebels.  I  find  that 
immense  quantities  of  provisions,  stores, 
and  clothing  have  come  through  this 
port  into  rebeldom.  I  am  almost  afraid 
to  mention  the  amount,  but  it  is  enough 
to  supply  over  60,000  men.  It  is  all 
English,  and  they  have  received  the 
last  cargo ;  no  more  will  ever  come  this 
way." 

The  gallant  conduct  of  all  concerned 
in  this  expedition  is  spoken  of,  in  the 
highest  terms,  by  both  Porter  and 
Terry.  "  The  troops  fought  like  lions, 
and  knew  no  such  word  as  fail,"  said 
the  former.  "  I  should  signally  fail  to 
do  my  duty,"  said  the  latter,  "  were  I 
to  omit  to  speak  in  terms  of  the  high 
est  admiration  of  the  part  borne  by  the 
navy  in  our  operations.  In  all  ranks, 
from  Admiral  Porter  to  his  seamen, 
there  was  the  utmost  desire  not  only 
to  do  their  proper  work,  but  to  facili 
tate  in  every  possible  manner  the  ope 
rations  of  the  land  forces."  And,  as 
Grant  briefly  remarks,  in  his  report, 
"  thus  was  secured,  by  the  combined 
efforts  of  the  navy  and  army,  one  of 
the  most  important  successes  of  the 
war." 


502 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BE.  IX. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 
1864. 

CLOSING    OF    THE    YEAR:    PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTION:    REBEL    ENORMITIES. 

The  approaching  election  for  president  —  Fremont  withdraws  —  Division  in  the  democratic  party  —  Active 
canvassing  —  Result  —  Lincoln  re-elected  by  a  large  majority  —  Jeff.  Davis  and  his  lofty  style  of  talking 
and  promising  —  Rather  gloomy  realities,  however  —  Thirty -eighth  Congress,  second  session  —  Cabinet 
changes  —  Mr.  Lincoln's  message  —  Extracts  from  —  The  treasury  and  navy  reports  —  Price's  invasion  of 
Missouri  —  Rosecrans  in  command  in  the  department  —  Attack,  by  the  rebels,  on  Pilot  Knob  —  Pleasan- 
ton's  cavalry  operations  —  Result  of  the  invasion  —  Grant's  opinion  —  Sufferings  of  our  officers  and  men 
in  rebel  prisons  and  dens  —  The  United  States  Sanitary  Commission  —  Report  by  gentlemen  appointed  to 
inquire  into  the  matter  —  Horrible  revelations  —  Extracts  from  the  report  —  Conclusion  as  to  rebel  malig 
nity —  Efforts  to  mitigate  suffering  —  Raids  from  Canada  into  the  United  States —  St.  Albans,  Vermont, 
attacked  —  Steps  taken  —  Attempt  to  fire  New  York  city,  in  November  —  Not  successful. 


IN  a  previous  chapter  (p.  455),  we 
have  given  an  account  of  the  proceed 
ings,  in  the  summer  of  1864,  of  the 
political  conventions  for  the  nomina 
tion  of  candidates  for  the  presidency. 
As  the  autumn  election  approached,  the 
canvassing  became  very  active, 

* 

and  the  issue  settled  at  last  be 
tween  the  supporters  of  the  principles 
and  policy  which  were  represented,  on 
the  one  hand,  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  and 
on  the  other,  by  George  B.  McClellan. 
Fremont,  who  had  been  nominated  by 
"  the  radical  democracy,"  deemed  it  best, 
on  reflection,  to  withdraw  from  the  field, 
and  in  a  letter,  dated  at  Boston,  Sep 
tember  21st,  gave  his  reasons  for  this 
course.  He  professed  to  be  unchanged 
in  his  sentiments  as  to  Mr.  Lincoln ;  he 
"  considered  his  administration,  politic 
ally,  militarily,  and  financially,  a  failure, 
and  its  necessary  continuance  a  cause 
of  regret  to  the  country  ;"  and  he  had, 
he  said,  no  wish  "  to  aid  in  the  triumphs 
of  Mr.  Lincoln,  but  to  do  his  part  to 
ward  preventing  the  election  of  the 
democratic  candidate."  As,  however, 


the  republican  party  was  pledged  "  to 
re-establish  the  Union  without  slavery," 
while  the  democrats  of  the  Chicago  con 
vention,  which  nominated  McClellan, 
were  pledged  to  "  separation  or  re-estab 
lishment  with  slavery,"  Fremont  pre 
ferred  to  withdraw  and  leave  the  field 
clear  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 

The  democratic  party,  who  had 
George  B.  McClellan  as  candidate  for 
the  presidency,  were  by  no  means  unani 
mous  in  favor  of  the  platform  laid  down 
by  the  Chicago  convention  (p.  462). 
Men  like  Gen.  Dix  and  others,*  known 
as  "  war  democrats,"  were  entirely  op- 


*  Gen.  Dix,  in  a  letter  written  in  October,  said  :  "  lu 
calling  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  the  members  of 
the  Chicago  convention  have,  in  my  judgment,  totally 
misrepresented  the  feelings  and  opinions  of  the  great 
body  of  the  democracy.  The  policy  produced  in  its 
name  makes  it — so  far  as  such  a  declaration  can — what, 
it  has  never  been  before,  a  peace  party,  degrading  it 
from  the  eminence  on  which  it  has  stood  in  every  other 
national  conflict.  In  this  injustice  to  the  country,  and 
to  a  great  party  indentified  with  all  that  is  honorable 
in  our  history,  1  can  have  no  part.  I  can  only  mouru 
over  the  reproach  which  has  been  brought  upon  it  by 
its  leaders,  and  cherish  the  hope  that  it  may  hereafter, 
under  the  auspices  of  better  counsellors,  resume  ita 
ancient  effective  and  beneficent  influence  in  the  ad 
ministration  of  the  government." 


CH.  XVII.J 


THE  CANVASS   FOR   THE  PRESIDENCY. 


503 


posed  to  any  measures  which  looked 
toward  the  giving  up  the  contest  with 
the  rebels,  except  by  their  being  re 
duced  to  submission  to  the  laws  of  the 
land ;  and,  consequently,  this  division 
in  the  democratic  ranks  added  virtually 
to  the  support  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  "  The 
political  canvass  was  prosecuted  with 
energy  and  confidence  in  every  section 
of  the  country.  The  main  consideration 
which  was  pressed  upon  the  public 
mind  was,  that  the  defeat  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
would  be,  in  the  eyes  of  the  rebels,  an 
explicit  disapproval  of  the  general  line 
of  policy  he  had  pursued,  and  a  distinct 
repudiation  by  the  people  of  the  north 
ern  states  of  the  Baltimore  declaration, 
that  the  war  should  be  prosecuted  to 
the  complete  and  final  overthrow  of  the 
rebellion.  This  view  of  the  case  com 
pletely  controlled  the  sentiment  and 
action  of  the  people,  and  left  little 
room  or  disposition  for  wrangling  over 
the  many  petty  issues  to  which  such  a 
contest  gives  birth.  As  the  canvass 
advanced,  the  confidence  of  success  in 
creased  (on  the  part  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
friends),  and  received  a  still  further  im 
pulse  from  the  grand  military  victories 
which,  in  quick  succession,  began  to 
crown  the  Union  arms."*  On  both 
sides,  the  best  talent  was  engaged,  and 
speeches  and  addresses  were  made  all 
through  the  country,  in  favor  or  against 
one  or  the  other  of  the  candidates. 
Various  charges,  of  a  more  or  less 
serious  character,  were  made  against  the 
administration,  in  order  to  affect  the 
election ;  but  they  did  not  produce 
much  impression;  while,  on  the  other 
hand,  events  occurred  which  tended  to 


*  Raymond's  "  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln,"  p.  602. 


damage  the  chances  of  success  of  the 
democratic  candidate.  One  of  these  was, 
the  discovery  of  an  organized  secret  as 
sociation  in  the  western  and  north 
western  states,  controlled  by  prominent 
men  among  the  democrats,  whose  object 
was,  by  its  league  of  affiliated  societies, 
to  overthrow,  by  revolution,  the  exist 
ing  administration,  and  render  assist 
ance,  in  every  way  possible,  to  the 
interests  of  the  rebellion.  Judge  Advo 
cate-General  Holt,  in  an  official  report, 
gave  conclusive  proof  of  the  existence 
and  intents  of  this  association ;  a  con 
siderable  part  of  the  democratic  press, 
however,  rather  sneered  at  the  matter, 
as  something  got  up  for  political  effect. 
There  were  also  threats  of  raids  and 
invasions  along  the  northern  frontiers, 
by  rebel  agents  and  sympathizers,  which 
led  to  active  measures,  on  the  part  of 
the  government,  to  protect  our  exposed 
line  next  to  Canada ;  and  rumors  were 
freely  circulated  of  a  proposed  revolu 
tion,  especially  in  New  York  city,  if 
Mr.  Lincoln  were  re-elected,  all  danger 
of  which  was  effectually  put  an  end  to 
by  the  sending  a  body  of  regulars  from 
the  Army  of  the  James,  under  Gen. 
Butler,  who  took  up  their  residence  in 
New  York  for  the  purpose  of  precau 
tion. 

Happily,  there  was  no  need  whatever 
of  interference.  The  state  elections,  in 
September  and  October,  in  Vermont, 
Maine,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Pennsylvania, 
resulted  in  lars;e  republican 

.      .,.  i      •        nr        -I        i        1864. 

majorities;    and    in   Maryland 
the   new   free    state   constitution   was 
adopted.      These  clearly  foreshadowed 
the  termination  of  the  contest.    On  the 
8th  of  November,  the  presidential  ele 


504 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


tion  was  held.  There  was  no  disturb 
ance  or  excitement;  everything  was 
conducted  quietly  and  orderly ;  and,  as 
was  expected,  it  was  decisive  in  its  re 
sult.  McClellan  received  the  votes  of 
three  states,  viz.,  New  Jersey,  Delaware 
and  Kentucky ;  Mr.  Lincoln  received  in 
his  favor  the  votes  of  all  the  other 
loyal  states,  twenty-three  in  number. 
The  total  of  McClellan's  vote  was, 
1,797,019;  the  total  of  Lincoln's  vote 
was,  2,203,831,  showing  a  popular  ma 
jority  of  406,812. 

Early  in  November,  Jeff.  Davis  ad 
dressed  a  message  to  the  rebel  congress, 
then  in  session  at  Richmond.  It  was 
couched  in  the  usual  style,  confidently 
anticipating  success,  and  earnestly  urg 
ing  all  under  his  rule  to  activity  and 
zeal  in  order  to  obtain  it.  Sherman's 
having  obtained  possession  of  Atlanta 
was  made  light  of,  and,  as  on  former 
occasions,  severe  blows  and  losses  were 
counted  to  be  rather  an  advantage,  or 
at  least  no  material  disadvantage.  "  If 
the  campaign  against  Richmond,"  Davis 
went  on  to  say,  "  had  resulted  in  suc 
cess  instead  of  failure  ;  if  the  valor  of 
the  army,  under  the  leadership  of  its 
accomplished  commander,  had  resisted 
in  vain  the  overwhelming  masses  which 
were,  on  the  contrary,  decisively  repuls 
ed  ;  if  we  had  been  compelled  to  evac 
uate  Richmond  as  well  as  Atlanta,  the 
Confederacy  wrould  have  remained  as 
erect  and  defiant  as  ever.*  Nothing 


*  In  an  article  in  the  Richmond  Examiner,  under 
date  of  February  27th,  1865,  this  extravagance  of  Davis 
was  sharply  criticised,  and  the  folly  and  absurdity  of 
attempting  to  maintain  such  ground  as  that  set  forth 
by  the  rebel  chief  abundantly  manifested.  Richmond, 
it  was  held,  was  absolutely  essential  to  the  life  of  the 
"  Confederacy,"  and  as  the  writer  forcibly  said,  "  from 


could  have  been  changed  in  the  purpose 
of  its  government,  in  the  indomitable 
valor  of  its  troops,  or  in  the  unquench 
able  spirit  of  its  people.  The  baffled 
and  disappointed  foe  would  in  vain 
have  scanned  the  reports  of  your  pro 
ceedings,  at  some  new  legislative  seat, 
for  any  indication  that  progress  had 
been  made  in  his  gigantic  task  of  con- 
quering  a  free  people.  The  truth  so 
patent  to  us  must,  ere  long,  be  forced  up 
on  the  reluctant  northern  mind.  There 
are  no  vital  points  on  the  preservation 
of  which  the  continued  existence  of  the 
Confederacy  depends.  There  is  no  mili 
tary  success  of  the  enemy  which  can  ac 
complish  its  destruction.  Not  the  fall  of 
Richmond,  nor  Wilmington,  nor  Char 
leston,  nor  Savannah,  nor  Mobile,  nor 
of  all  combined,  can  save  the  enemy 
from  the  constant  and  exhaustive  drain 
of  blood  and  treasure  which  must  con 
tinue  until  he  shall  discover  that  110 
peace  is  attainable  unless  based  on  the; 
recognition  of  our  indefeasible  rights." 
Severe  and  bitter  complaints  were 
made  by  Davis  respecting  the  conduct 
of  European  nations  in  not  recognizing 
the  "  Confederacy ; "  at  the  same  time 
he  said,  u  we  seek  no  favor,  we  wish  no 
intervention,  we  know  ourselves  fully 
competent  to  maintain  our  rights  and 
independence  against  the  invaders  of 
the  country."  In  speaking  of  the  finan 
cial  condition  of  affairs  it  was  stated, 
that  the  total  amount  of  the  public 

the  hour  of  giving  up  the  seat  of  government,  our 
cause  would  sink  into  a  mere  rebellion  in  the  estima. 
tion  of  foreign  powers,  who  would  cease  to  accord  to 
us  the  rights  of  belligerents  ;  while  the  enemy  would 
be  free  to  treat  our  officers  and  soldiers  as  traitors  and 
criminals  ;  so  that  every  '  rebel '  would  fight  thence 
forth  with  a  halter  round  his  neck." 


Cn.  XVII.] 


JEFF.   DAVIS   AND  REBELDOM. 


505 


debt,  as  exhibited  on  the  books  of  the 
register  of  the  treasury,  on  the  1st  of 
October,  1864,  was  $1,147,970,208,  of 
which  $539,840,090  were  funded  debt, 
bearing  interest;  $283,880,150  were 
treasury  notes  of  the  new  issue,  and  the 
remainder  consisted  of  the  former  issue 
of  treasury  notes,  about  to  be  converted 
into  other  forms  of  debt.  In  this  state 
ment,  it  was  added,  "  the  foreign  debt 
is  omitted.  It  consists  only  of  the  un 
paid  balance  of  the  loan  known  as  the 
cotton  loan.  This  balance  is  but  £2,- 
200,000,  and  is  adequately  provided 
for  by  about  250,000  bales  of  cotton 
owned  by  the  government,  even  if  the 
cotton  be  rated  as  worth  but  sixpence 
per  pound."  The  great  depreciation 
of  the  treasury  notes,  or  paper  currency, 
was  admitted,  and  attributed  to  two 
causes,  "redundancy  in  amount,  and 
want  of  confidence  in  ultimate  redemp 
tion."  To  remedy  this  pressing  diffi 
culty,  it  was  proposed,  1st,  That  the 
faith  of  the  government  be  pledged  that 
the  notes  shall  ever  remain  exempt 
from  taxation.  2d,  That  no  issue  shall 
be  made  beyond  that  which  is  already 
authorized  by  law.  3d,  That  a  certain 
fixed  portion  of  the  annual  receipts 
from  taxation  during  the  war,  shall  be 
set  apart  specially  for  the  gradual  ex 
tinction  of  the  outstanding  amount,  un- 

~  ' 

til  it  shall  have  been  reduced  to  $150,- 
000,000 ;  and  4th,  The  pledge  and  ap 
propriation  of  such  proportion  of  the 
tax  in  kind,  and  for  such  number  of 
years  after  the  return  of  peace,  as  shall 
be  sufficient  for  the  final  redemption  of 
the  entire  circulation." 

Various  other  matters  were  discuss 
ed  at  length  by  the   rebel   president, 

VOL.  IV.— 64. 


among  which  was  the  question  as  to 
the  policy  of  a  general  arming  of  the 
slaves  to  serve  in  the  ranks.  Neither 
Davis  nor  his  Congress  could  bring 
their  minds  to  the  conviction  that  it 
was  best  to  adopt  this  course,  although 
it  was  advocated  by  some  of  the  promi 
nent  men  engaged  in  the  rebellion. 

On  the  whole,  despite  the  haughty 
words  of  Jeff.  Davis,  the  condition  of 
affairs,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1864, 
was  gloomy  enough  for  the  rebels. 
They  were  groaning  under  a  central 
military  despotism.  Conscription ,  which 
was  carried  to  its  extremest  extent,  was 
odious  everywhere,  and  was  every 
where  evaded  without  scruple.  Direct 
taxes  were  laid  in  defiance  of  the  rebel 
theory  of  government.  The  vast  floods 
of  paper  money  had  rendered  it  almost 
valueless.  The  holders  of  this  paper 
money  were  compelled  to  fund  it,  or 
lose  one-third.  The  government  seized 
all  the  railroads,  destroying  some  and 
building  others.  Property  was  im 
pressed  at  government  prices,  and  paid 
for  in  government  money.  The  gov 
ernment  monopolized  the  export  trade 
of  the  cotton  and  great  staples  of  the 
country.  The  habeas  corpus  was  sus 
pended,  and  a  passport  system  estab 
lished.  And,  added  to  all  these,  the 
military  reverses  were  numerous  and 
severe;  yet  the  traitors  and  conspira 
tors  against  the  Union,  with  whom  it 
was  a  matter  of  life  or  death,  held  on 
in  their  evil  course,  and  determined  to 
persist  in  efforts  to  uphold  a  rebellion 
now  drawing  near  its  end. 

The  Thirty-eighth  Congress  com 
menced  its  second  session  on  the  5th 
of  December,  1864.  The  president's 


506 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


186.3. 


message,  which  was  sent  in  the  next 
day,  was  of  moderate  length,  and  dis 
cussed  the  subjects  requiring  his  atten 
tion,  in  a  clear,  straightforward  man 
ner.*  The  condition  of  our  foreign  re 
lations  was  pronounced  to  be  "  reason 
ably  .satisfactory,"  as  was  evinced  in  a 
brief  resume.  ult  is  possible,"  Mr. 
Lincoln  said,  "that  if  it  were  a  new 
and  open  question,  the  maritime  pow 
ers,  with  the  lights  they  now  enjoy, 
would  not  concede  the  privileges  of  a 
naval  belligerent  to  the  insurgents  of 
the  United  States,  destitute,  as  they 
are,  and  always  have  been,  equally  of 
ships  of  war  and  of  ports  and 
harbors.  Disloyal  emissaries 
have  been  neither  less  assiduous  nor 
more  successful  during  the  last  year 
than  they  were  before  that  time  in  their 
efforts,  under  favor  of  that  privilege,  to 
embroil  our  country  in  foreign  wars. 
The  desire  and  determination  of  the 
governments  of  the  maritjl^  states  to 
defeat  that  design  are  believed  to  be 
as  sincere  as,  and  cannot  be  more  earn 
est  than,  our  own.  Nevertheless,  un 
foreseen  political  difficulties  have  arisen, 
especially  in  Brazilian  and  British  ports, 
and  on  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
United  States,  which  have  required, 
and  are  likely  to  continue  to  require, 

*  Several  changes  in  the  cabinet  took  place  during 
the  year.  Mr.  Chase  resigned  in  June,  and  Mr.  W.  P. 
Fessenden  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
Mr.  M.  Blair  resigned  the  postmaster-general's  office 
in  September,  and  Mr.  W.  Dennison  was  placed  in  the 
vacant  office.  On  the  1st  of  December,  the  attorney- 
general,  Mr.  Bates,  resigned,  and  his  post  was  after 
wards  filled  by  James  Speed,  of  Kentucky.  We  may 
also  put  on  record  here,  the  death  of  Chief-j  ustice  Ta- 
ney,  which  occurred  on  the  12th  of  October.  This  im 
portant  position  was  filled,  December  6th,  by  the  ap 
pointment  of  the  late  secretary  of  the  treasury,  Salmon 
P.  Chase. 


the  practice  of  constant  vigilance,  and 
a  just  and  conciliatory  spirit  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  of  the 
nations  concerned  and  their  govern 
ments." 

Affairs  in  the  several  departments  of 
the  treasury,  the  war,  and  the  navy, 
were  spoken  of  in  encouraging  and 
cheering  terms,  and  various  objects  of 
philanthropy  and  justice  were  commend 
ed  to  the  attention  of  Congress.  In  re 
ference  to  the  proposed  amendment  of 
the  Constitution  abolishing  slavery  for 
ever,  (p.  465)  Mr.  Lincoln  expressed 
himself  frankly :  "  At  the  last  session 
of  Congress  a  proposed  amendment  of 
the  Constitution,  abolishing  slavery 
throughout  the  United  States,  passed 
the  Senate,  but  failed  for  lack  of  the 
requisite  two-thirds  vote  in  the  House 
of  Representatives.  Although  the  pre 
sent  is  the  same  Congress,  and  nearly 
the  same  members,  and  without  ques 
tioning  the  wisdom  or  patriotism  of 
those  who  stood  in  opposition,  I  venture 
to  recommend  the  reconsideration  and 
passage  of  the  measure  at  the  present 
session.  Of  course,  the  abstract  ques 
tion  is  not  changed ;  but  an  intervening 
election  shows,  almost  certainly,  that 
the  next  Congress  will  pass  the  mea 
sure  if  this  does  not.  Hence  there  is 
only  a  question  of  time  as  to  when  the 
proposed  amendment  will  go  to  the 
states  for  their  action ;  and  as  it  is  to 
go  at  all  events,  may  we  not  agree  that 
the  sooner  the  better  ?  It  is  not  claimed 
that  the  election  has  imposed  a  duty  on 
members  to  change  their  views  or  their 
votes,  any  further  than,  as  an  additional 
element  to  be  considered,  their  judg 
ment  may  be  affected  by  it.  It  is  the 


CH.  XVII.] 


DEPARTMENT  REPORTS. 


507 


voice  of  the  people  now,  for  the  first 
time,  heard  upon  the  question.  In  a 
great  national  crisis  like  ours,  unanimity 
of  action  among  those  seeking  a  com 
mon  end  is  very  desirable,  almost  in 
dispensable;  and  yet  no  approach  to 
such  unanimity  is  attainable,  unless  some 
deference  shall  be  paid  to  the  will  of 
the  majority.  In  this  case  the  common 
end  is  the  maintenance  of  the  Union, 
and  among  the  means  to  secure  that 
end,  such  will,  through  the  election,  is 
most  clearly  declared  in  favor  of  such 
constitutional  amendment." 

Having  shown,  by  some  statistics,  that 
the  loyal  states  had  more  men  for  duty 
at  this  date  than  when  the  war  began ; 
that  "the  national  resources  were  un 
exhausted  and  inexhaustible ;  "  and 
that  the  war  must  be  prosecuted  to  the 
complete  demolition  of  the  rebel  power 
and  pretension,  he  concluded  his  mes 
sage  with  saying,  that,  while  he  should 
not  retract  or  modify  his  emancipation 
proclamation,  still,  when  the  insurgents 
abandoned  armed  resistance,  the  war 
would  end.  "  In  stating  a  single  con 
dition  of  peace,  I  mean  to  say  that  the 
war  will  cease  on  the  part  of  the  gov 
ernment  whenever  it  shall  have  ceased 
on  the  part  of  those  who  began  it." 

The  reports  accompanying  the  presi 
dent's  message  gave  full  particulars  in 
connection  with  the  various  depart 
ments  of  the  government.  Our  limits 
do  not  admit  of  details,  and  we  must 
refer  the  reader  to  the  documents  them 
selves.*  The  whole  debt  of  the  nation 

*  The  annual  report  of  the  secretary  of  war,  deferred 
through  the  exigencies  of  the  public  service,  was  pre 
sented  at  the  close  of  the  session,  in  March,  1865.  Its 
statement  of  the  army  material  furnished  within  the 
preceding  twelve  months,  exhibits  the  gigantic  pro- 


at  the  beginning  of  the  fiscal  year  in 
July,  was  stated  to  be  $1,740,690,489 
49,  an  increase  during  the  year  of  over 
$018,000,000.  The  prospective  debt 
on  the  1st  of  July,  1865  was  estimated 
at  $2,223,064,677  51.  The  expendi 
ture  for  the  war  department  was  set 
down  at  about  $963,000,000;  for  the 
navy,  about  $43,000,000;  and  for  in 
terest  on  the  public  debt,  over  $90,- 
000,000.  The  secretary  of  the  navy, 
in  a  long  and  elaborate  presentation  of 
the  state  and  condition  of  the  navy,  re 
ported  a  total  of  671  vessels  afloat  or 
in  process  of  construction,  mounting 
4,610  guns  and  registering  510,396  tons, 
being  an  actual  addition  to  the  navy, 
during  the  year,  of  1\)9  vessels  and  313 
guns.  From  this  latter  estimate,  how 
ever,  were  to  be  deducted  twenty-six 
vessels  lost  by  shipwreck,  in  battle, 
capture,  etc.,  during  that  period.  Of 
this  huge  array  of  naval  vessels,  nearly 
one-fifth  in  number  and  more  than  one- 
fourth  in  gUps  and  tonnage,  were  screw 
steamers,  especially  constructed  for  the 
service;  fifty-two  were  paddle-wheel 
steamers,  and  seventy-one  iron-clad  ves 
sels  of  various  descriptions.  The  total 
number  of  men  in  the  service  at  this 
date  was  6,000  ofiicers  and  45,000  men.* 
The  action  of  Congress  during  this,  its 

portions  which  the  war  assumed  at  its  height.  The 
ordnance  supplies  furnished  to  the  military  service  dur 
ing  the  fiscal  year,  included  1,441  pieces  of  ordnance, 
1,896  artillery  carriages  and  caissons,  455,910  small 
arms,  502,044  sets  of  accoutrements  and  harness,  1,913,- 
753  projectiles  for  cannon,  7,624,685  pounds  of  bullets 
and  lead,  464,549  rounds  of  artillery  ammunition,  152,- 
067  sets  of  horse  equipments,  112,087,553  cartridges  for 
small  arms,  7,544,044  pounds  of  powder. 

*  For  full  and  interesting  details  respecting  the 
Army  of  the  United  States,  amounting,  at  this  date,  to 
about  700,000  men,  see  Appleton's  "American  Annual 
Cyclopedia  "  for  1864,  pp.  32-40. 


508 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


second  session,  we  snail  note  on  a  subse 
quent  page. 

Although  of  no  particular  moment 
in  its  bearing  on  the  final  result  of  the 
war,  the  invasion  of  Missouri,  by  the 
rebel  Gen.  Price,  may  here  be  placed 
on  record.  Having  gathered  about  10,- 
000  men,  Price  reached  Jacksonport,  at 
the  close  of  August,  on  his  way  to  make 
an  inroad  into  and  ravage  that  state  in 
which  he  had  already  done  vast  mis 
chief.  Rosecrans  was  in  command  in 
the  department  (p.  383),  and  in  order 
to  strengthen  his  force,  Grant  ordered 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  with  his  command, 
and  a  cavalry  force  under  Col.  Winslow 
from  Memphis,  to  join  Rosecrans.  This 
made  his  forces  superior  to  those  of 
Price,  and,  as  Grant  said,  "no  doubt 
was  entertained  he  would  be  able  to 
check  Price  and  drive  him  back,  while 
the  forces  under  Gen.  Steele,  in  Arkan 
sas,  would  cut  off  his  retreat."  Price 
crossed  the  southern  frontier  by  way  of 
Pocahontas  and  Poplar  Bluff,  and  plun 
dering  the  farmers  of  horses  to  mount 
his  men,  and  impressing  all  he  could  lay 
hands  upon,  he  prepared  to  strike  at 
the  centre  of  the  state. 

On  the  26th  of  September,  Price  as 
saulted  Pilot  Knob,  where  Gen.  Ewing 
was  in  command,  with  a  garrison  of 
about  1,000  men.  On  the  second  day, 
Ewing  evacuated  the  place  and  retreat 
ed,  skirmishing  along  his  march  to  Har 
rison  and  thence  to  Holla.  Price  moved 
north  to  the  Missouri  River,  and  con 
tinued  up  that  river  towards  Kansas. 
Gen.  Curtis,  who  was  in  command  in 
Kansas,  immediately  collected  such 
forces  as  were  within  reach  to  repel  the 
invasion  of  the  state,  while  the  cavalry 


1864. 


of  Rosecrans,  under  Pleasanton,  was 
operating  in  Price's  rear. 

Pleasanton  having  reached  Jefferson 
city  on  the  8th  of  October,  sent  Gen. 
Sanborn,  with  all  the  available 
cavalry  force,  in  pursuit  of  the 
invaders.  Sanborn,  with  inferior  num 
bers,  harassed  the  enemy  and  attacked 
them  at  Booneville,  whence  Price  moved 
to  Marshall  and  Lexington,  freely  plun 
dering  by  the  way.  Pleasanton,  having 
now  efficiently  organized  his  cavalry 
force  in  four  brigades,  under  Gens. 
Brown,  McNeil,  Sanborn,  and  Col. 
Winslow,  promptly  took  the  offen 
sive.  Prior  was  driven  from  Lexington 
on  the  20th,  and  two  days  after  out  of 
Independence,  where  there  was  some 
severe  fighting.  The  pursuit  was  vig 
orously  kept  up  to  the  Big  Blue  River 
at  Byron's  Ford,  where  Price  was  de 
feated,  with  a  loss  of  nearly  all  his  artil 
lery  and  trains,  and  a  large  number  oi 
prisoners.  Energetically  pursued  by 
Pleasauton,  aided  by  Blunt's  command 
from  Kansas,  Price  was  forced  to  make 
a  hasty  retreat  with  his  broken  and  dis 
pirited  forces  into  Northern  Arkansas. 

Rosecrans,  in  November,  congratula 
ted  the  army  on  its  brilliant  success 
in  this  campaign ;  but  the  lieutenant- 
general,  in  his  report,  expresses  himself 
rather  tartly  on  the  subject:  "The 
impunity  with  which  Price  was  enabled 
to  roam  over  the  state  of  Missouri  for 
a  long  time,  and  the  incalculable  mis 
chief  done  by  him,  show  to  how  little 
purpose  a  superior  force  may  be  used. 
There  is  no  reason  why  Gen.  Rosecrans 
should  not  have  concentrated  his  forces, 
and  beaten  and  driven  Price  before  the 
latter  reached  Pilot  Knob." 


CH.  XVIL] 


REBEL   BARBARITIES  TO   PRISONERS. 


509 


The  sufferings  of  our  men,  who  were 
prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  had 
long  been  known  to  be  very  great  and 
trying ;  they  have  before  been  alluded 
to  (pp.  391,  406) ;  but  the  actual  extent 
of  the  horrible  exposure  and  destitution 
to  which  the  defenders  of  the  country 
were  subjected,  was  not  at  all  appreci 
ated,  or  even  dreamed  of,  by  the  people 
of  the  loyal  states,  until  there  was  fur 
nished  incontestable,  detailed  evidence 
of  the  facts,  from  various  sources,  espe 
cially  from  the  report  of  the  United 
States  Sanitary  Commission,  in  Septem 
ber  of  this  year.  This  admirable  organ 
ization  which,  since  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  had  been  engaged  in  the  noble 
work  of  chanty,  in  mitigating,  as  far  as 
lay  in  their  power,  the  sufferings  and 
anguish  of  war,  among  the  sick,  the 

O  '  O  f 

wounded,  and  the  dying,  appointed  a 
committee  of  their  body,  in  May,  to  in 
quire  into  and  investigate,  patiently 
and  fully,  the  truth  of  the  rumors  and 
statements  as  to  rebel  cruelty  and  bar 
barity  practised  towards  our  unfortu 
nate  men  who  had  fallen  into  the  ene 
my's  hands.  Six  gentlemen,  of  high 
ability  and  undoubted  integrity,  com 
posed  this  committee,  viz :  Dr.  Ellerslie 
Wallace,  the  Hon.  J.  I.  Clark  Hare,  and 
the  Eev.  Treadwell  Walden,  of  Phila 
delphia,  and  Dr.  Valentine  Mott,  Dr. 
Edward  Delafield,  and  Gouverneur  M. 
Wilkins,  of  New  York.  The  commit 
tee  employed  several  months  in  their 
inquiry,  visiting  the  hospitals  where 
the  returned  prisoners  had  been  receiv 
ed  in  Annapolis,  Baltimore,  and  else 
where,  examining  carefully  into  their 
condition,  and  taking  the  depositions  of 
officers  and  men  as  to  the  treatment 


they  had  received.  A  mass  of  testi 
mony  was  collected  concerning  the  bar 
barities  practised  at  Richmond,  at  the 
Libby  Prison,  and  more  particularly  in 
the  camp  in  its  vicinity  at  Belle  Isle. 
It  is  impossible  to  read  their  testimony 
without  a  cold  chill  of  horror,  and  an 
oppressive  sense  of  its  being  almost  an 
impossibility  that  there  should  be  in 
human  form,  creatures  so  soulless,  and 
so  like  incarnate  demons,  as  these  rebel 
agents  and  authorities  proved  them 
selves  to  be.  We  cannot  go  into  de 
tails;  the  documents  are  before  the 
world ;  the  projectors  and  willing  in 
struments  in  this  devilish  work  are 
stamped  with  infamy  of  the  deepest 
dye ;  and  the  reader  must  ponder  the 
lesson  which  all  this  teaches.  A  para 
graph  or  two  at  the  close  of  the  report 
may  not  inaptly  be  quoted  : 

"  The  immensity  and  variety  of  that 
system  of  abuse  to  which  our  soldiers 
are  subjected  are  too  general,  too  uni 
form,  and  too  simultaneous  to  be  other 
wise  than  the  result  of  a  great  arrange 
ment.  One  prison  station  is  like  an 
other — one  hospital  resembles  another 
hospital.  This  has  been  made  especi 
ally  apparent  by  intelligence  that  has 
reached  the  public  just  as  this  investi 
gation  is  closing,  and  this  report  is 
being  written.  The  remote  prison  at 
Tyler,  Texas,  sends  out  a  tale  of  suffer 
ing:  identical  with  that  described  in 

o 

these  pages.  It  was  only  a  few  weeks 
ago,  that  the  streets  of  New  Orleans 
beheld  a  regiment  of  half  starved  and 
half  naked  men,  who  had  just  been 
released  from  that  station.  Still  more 
heart-rending  is  the  later  account,  given 
in  a  memorial  to  the  president,  from 


510 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


Andersonville,  Georgia,  and  in  the  full 
description,  verified  on  oath,  of  what 
is  now  being  suffered  there  by  the  im 
prisoned  soldiers  of  our  army.  It  would 
appear  to  be  Belle  Isle  five  times  en 
larged,  and  tenfold  intensified.  An 
enormous  multitude  of  35,000  men  are 
crowded  together  in  a  square  enclosure 
or  stockade  of  about  twenty-five  acres, 
with  a  noxious  swamp  at  the  centre, 
occupying  one-fourth  of  the  whole  space. 
Here  the  prisoners  suffer  not  only  the 
privations  already  mentioned,  but  others 
peculiar  to  circumstances  of  a  worse 
description.  In  this  pestilential  prison 
they  are  dying  at  the  rate  of  130  a  day, 
on  an  average !  The  commissioners 
allude  to  this  station  not  as  part  of  the 
evidence  taken  by  themselves,  but  as 
an  interesting,  authentic,  and  corrobo 
rative  illustration  of  the  point  now 
under  consideration.* 

"  It  is  the  same  story  everywhere  :— 
prisoners  of  war  treated  worse  than 
convicts,  shut  up  either  in  suffocating 
buildings,  or  in  outdoor  enclosures, 
without  even  the  shelter  that  is  pro 
vided  for  the  beasts  of  the  field ;  un- 
supplied  with  sufficient  food ;  supplied 
with  food  and  water  injurious  and  even 
poisonous;  compelled  to  live  in  such 
personal  uncleanliness  as  to  generate 
vermin ;  compelled  to  sleep  on  floors 
often  covered  with  human  filth,  or  on 
ground  saturated  with  it ;  compelled  to 
breathe  an  air  oppressed  with  an  intol 
erable  stench ;  hemmed  in  by  a  fata 
dead-line  and  in  hourly  danger  of  being 


*  In  a  supplement  to  the  report  is  an  account  of  tli 
sufferings  of  our  prisoners  at  Andersonville,  Georgia 
and  the  memorial  and  appeal,  sent  through  one  of 
their  number  exchanged,  to  the  president  of  the  Uni 
ted  States,  under  date  of  August,  1804. 


shot  by  unrestrained  and  brutal  guards ; 
despondent  even  to  madness,  idiocy  and 
suicide ;  sick  of  diseases  (so  congruous 
n  character  as  to  appear  and  spread 
ike  the  plague),  caused  by  the  torrid 
;un,  by  decaying  food,  by  filth,  by  ver 
min,  by  malaria,  and  by  cold ;  removed 
at  the  last  moment,  and  by  hundreds  at 
a  time,  to  hospitals  corrupt  as  a  sepul- 
lire,  there,  with   few  remedies,  little 
:are  and  no  sympathy,  to  die  in  wretch 
edness   and   despair,  not   only  among 
strangers,  but  among  enemies  too  resent 
ful  either  to  have  pity  or  to  show  mercy. 
"  These  are  positive  facts.     Tens  of 
thousands  of  helpless  men  have  been 
and  are  now  being  disabled  and  de 
stroyed    by    a    process   as   certain   as 
poison,  and  as  cruel  as  the  torture  or 
burning  at  the  stake,  because  nearly  as 
agonizing  and  more  prolonged.     This 
spectacle  is  daily  beheld  and  allowed 
by  the  rebel  government.     No  supposi 
tion  of  negligence,  or  thoughtlessness, 
or  indifference,  or  accident,  or  ineffici 
ency,  or  destitution,  or  necessity,  can 
account  for  all  this.    So  many  and  such 
positive  forms  of  abuse  and  wrong  can 
not  come  from  negative  causes.     The 
conclusion    is    unavoidable,   therefore, 
that  'these  privations   and  sufferings' 
have  been  '  designedly  inflicted  by  the 
military   and    other   authority   of  the 
rebel    government,'   and    cannot   have 
been  l  due  to  causes  which  such  author 
ities  could  not  control.'  "  * 


*  Some  mitigation  of  these  unutterable,  indescrib 
able  sufferings  was  happily  effected  before  the  close  of 
the  year,  the  result  of  a  correspondence  between  Gen. 
Lee  and  Gen.  Grant,  the  rebel  authorities  taking  the 
initiative,  by  which  it  was  agreed  that  either  party 
might  send  to  their  prisoners  of  war  such  articles  of 
necessity  and  comfort  as  might  be  desirable.  This  was 


CH.  XVII.] 


ATTEMPT  TO   FIRE  NEW   YORK  CITY. 


511 


As  we  have  before  noted  (p.  387), 
raids  were  threatened  along  our  north 
ern  frontier  by  rebel  sympathisers  and 
traitors  in  the  British  dominions.  Two 
small  steamers  were  burned  on  Lake 
Erie  by  a  band  of  these  ruffians,  who 
made  their  escape  into  Canada ;  *  and 
in  October,  another  band,  about  thirty 
in  number,  attacked  the  village  of  St. 
Albans,  Vermont,  plundered  the  banks, 
stole  all  they  could,  and  made  off  to 
ward  the  Canada  line.  They  were  pur 
sued,  and,  by  the  help  of  the  Canadian 
authorities,  twelve  of  them,  beside  a 
fellow  named  Young,  were  arrested  and 
put  in  jail.  Various  delays  occurred 
before  a  trial  could  be  had  ;  and  then, 
on  the  13th  of  December,  the  Canadian 
judge,  Coursol,  of  Montreal,  decided 
that  the  court  had  no  jurisdiction,  and 
set  the  robbers  and  murderers  at  liberty. 
Such  conduct  stirred  up  great  indigna 
tion  in  the  United  States ;  Gen.  Dix, 
at  New  York,  issued  a  stringent  order, 

a  decided  measure  of  relief  pending  the  negotiation 
of  the  entangled  question  of  a  general  exchange  of. 
prisoners.  Early  in  the  following  year,  1865,  the  ex 
change  of  prisoners,  on  the  part  of  the  North,  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  Gen.  Grant,  by  whom  arrange 
ments  were  made  and  carried  into  effect  for  a  general 
exchange.  (See  p.  390.) 

*  The  leader  in  this  affair,  John  Y.  Beall,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  was  arrested,  in  December,  by  Mr.  Young, 
chief  of  the  New  York  Metropolitan  detective  force. 
Beall  was  tried  and  convicted  "  as  a  spy  and  guerrillero," 
and  was  hung  on  the  18th  of  February,  1865. 


requiring,  in  any  similar  case,  that  the 
marauders  be  shot,  and,  if  need  be,  that 
they  be  pursued  into  Canada  and 
brought  to  his  headquarters  for  sum 
mary  execution.  The  president  modi 
fied  the  order,  and  the  Canadian  author 
ities  re-arrested  Young  and  several  of 
his  companions. 

In  furtherance  of  their  vile  purposes, 
the  rebels  made  a  deliberate  attempt  to 
set  fire  to  the  chief  hotels  and  theatres, 
on  the  night  of  the  25th  of  November; 
but,  providentially,  the  murderous  at 
tempt  was  defeated.  In  speaking  of 
this,  Gen.  Dix  said,  the  next  day:  "If 
this  attempt  had  succeeded,  it  would 
have  resulted  in  a  frightful  sacrifice  of 
property  and  life.  The  evidences  of 
extensive  combination,  and  other  facts 
disclosed  to-day,  show  it  to  have  been 
the  work  of  rebel  emissaries  and  agents. 
All  such  persons  engaged  in  secret  acts 
of  hostility  here  can  only  be  regarded 
as  spies,  subject  to  martial  law,  and  to 
the  penalty  of  death.  If  they  are  de 
tected,  they  will  be  immediately  brought 
before  a  court  martial  or  military  com 
mission,  and,  if  convicted,  they  will  be 
executed  without  the  delay  of  a  single 
day."* 


*  R.  C.  Kennedy,  a  Louisianian,  one  of  the  chief  in 
cendiaries,  was  arrested  and  tried  by  a  military  com. 
mission  at  Gen.  Dix's  headquarters.  He  was  convicted 
and  hung  on  the  25th  of  March,  1865. 


512 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


1865. 

PEACE  PROPOSITIONS:    ACTION  OF  CONGRESS:    INAUGURATION  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

Renewal  of  efforts  to  negotiate  peace  with  the  rebels  —  Mr.  F.  P.  Blnir  goes  to  Richmond  —  His  movements  — 
The  president's  course  —  Conference  —  Failure  of  any  result  —  Another  attempt  —  The  president's  letter 
to  Gen.  Grant  —  The  rebel  statement  —  Davis's  mortification  —  Lee  appointed  rebel  commar.der-in-chief  — 
His  urgent  appeal  —  Rebel  congress  vote  to  arm  the  slaves  and  employ  them  as  soldiers  —  Bitter  necessity 
of  the  case  —  Last  appeal  of  rebel  congress  —  Second  session  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress  —  Various 
measures  —  The  most  important,  the  passing  the  Constitutional  Amendment  abolishing  slavery  —  The 
amendment,  as  sent  to  the  states  —  Action  thereupon  —  The  national  debt  at  this  date  —  Andrew  Johnson's 
inaugural  speech,  as  vice-president,  on  the  4th  of  March  —  Striking  scene  at  Mr.  Lincoln's  inauguration  — 
His  remarkable  address  in  full  —  Reasons  for  hopefulness  in  the  future. 


IN  a  previous  chapter  (p.  460),  we 
have  given  some  account  of  the  efforts 
made  to  satisfy  the  longing  desire  for 
peace,  and  the  fruitless  results  of  such 
efforts.  Despite  the  failure,  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1864,  there  was  a  renewal  of  the 
attempt  to  reach  the  same  end,  by  the 
visit  of  Francis  P.  Blair,  senior,  to 
Richmond,  in  December.  This  gentle 
man  was  allowed,  by  an  order  from  the 
president,  on  the  26th  of  December, 
"  to  pass  our  ]ines,  go  south,  and  re 
turn,"  but  received  no  authority  to 
speak  or  act  for  the  government,  nor 
was  the  president  "informed  of  any 
thing  he  would  say  or  do  on  his  own 
account  or  otherwise."  On  his  arri\7al 
at  Richmond,  Mr.  Blair  had  an  inter 
view  with  Jeff.  Davis,  and  received 
from  him  a  letter,  dated  January  12th, 
in  which  he  expressed  himself  desirous 
to  send  a  commissioner,  or  receive  a 
commission,  "  to  enter  into  a  conference 
with  a  view  to  secure  peace  to  the  two 
countries."  On  returning  to  Washing 


ton,  and  communicating  Davis's  letter 
to  the  president,  Blair  received,  on  the 
18th  of  January,  a  reply,  as  follows  :— 
"  Sir,  you  having  shown  me  Mr. 

1S6  * 

Davis's  letter  to  you,  of  the 
12th  inst.,  you  may  say  to  him  that  1 
have  constantly  been,  am  now,  and  shall 
continue  ready  to  receive  any  agent 
whom  he,  or  any  other  influential  per 
son  now  resisting  the  national  authority, 
may  informally  send  me,  with  a  view  of 
securing  peace  to  the  people  of  our 
common  country."  Blair,  thereupon, 
revisited  Richmond,  and  Davis  appoint 
ed  three  persons,  A.  H.  Stephens,  J.  A. 
Campbell,  and  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  as 
commissioners  to  proceed  to  Washing 
ton.  On  the  29th  of  January,  these 
agents  of  Davis  reached  our  lines,  and, 
after  some  delays,  arrived  at  Gen. 
Grant's  headquarters  at  City  Point, 
where  they  met  Major  Eckert,  whom 
the  president  had  sent  on  his  behalf. 
An  unsatisfactory  interview  was  had,  on 
the  1st  of  February,  and  matters  would 


CH.  XVIII J 


PEACE   CONFERENCE  FAILS. 


probably  have  closed  here,  Lad  not  Gen. 
Grant,  indirectly,  through  the  secretary 
of  war,  urged  the  president  to  meet 
Messrs.  Stephens,  Campbell  and  Hunter. 
Acting  on  this  suggestion,  Mr.  Lincoln 
followed  Secretary  Seward,  who  had 
gone  to  Fortress  Monroe  a  day  or  two 
before.  He  reached  Hampton  Roads 
on  the  evening  of  the  2d  of  February, 
and  the  next  day  the  interview  took 
place  on  board  of  a  steamer  in  the 
river.  "  On  the  morning  of  the  3d,"  as 
the  president  stated  in  a  message  to 
Congress,  in  reply  to  a  resolution, 
"Messrs.  Stephens,  Hunter  and  Camp 
bell  came  aboard  our  steamer,  and  had 
an  interview  with  the  secretary  of  state 
and  myself,  of  several  hours'  duration. 
No  question  of  preliminaries  to  the 
meeting  was  then  and  there  made  or 
mentioned.  No  other  person  was  pre 
sent.  No  papers  were  exchanged  or 
produced,  and  it  was  in  advance  agreed 
that  the  conversation  was  to  be  informal 
and  verbal  merely.  On  my  part,  the 
whole  substance  of  the  instructions  to 
the  secretary  of  state,  hereinbefore  re 
cited,  was  stated  and  insisted 
upon,  and  nothing  was  said  in 
consistent  therewith;*  while,  by  the 


1§65. 


*  These  instructions  were  thus  worded  :— "  You  will 
make  known  to  them  (Stephens,  etc.)  that  three  things 
are  indispensable, —  1st,  The  restoration  of  the  national 
authority  throughout  all  the  states.  2d,  No  receding 
by  the  executive  of  the  United  States,  on  the  slavery 
question,  from  the  position  assumed  thereon  in  the 
late  annual  message  to  Congress,  and  in  the  preceding 
documents.  3d,  No  cessation  of  hostilities  short  of  an 
end  of  the  war,  and  the  disbanding  of  all  the  forces 
hostile  to  the  government.  You  will  inform  them  that 
all  propositions  of  theirs  not  inconsistent  with  the 
above  will  be  considered  and  passed  upon  in  a  spirit 
of  sincere  liberality.  You  will  hear  all  they  may 
choose  to  say,  and  report  it  to  me.  You  will  not  as 
sume  to  definitely  consummate  anything." 
VOL.  IV.— 65. 


other  party,  it  was  not  said  that,  in  any 
event  or  on  any  condition,  they  ever 
would  consent  to  reunion ;  and  yet  they 
equally  omitted  to  declare  that  they 
would  never  so  consent.  They  seemed 
to  desire  a  postponement  of  that  ques 
tion,  and  the  adoption  of  some  other 
course  first,  which,  as  some  of  them 
seemed  to  argue,  might  or  might  not 
lead  to  reunion,  but  which  course,  we 
thought,  would  amount  to  an  indefinite 
postponement.  The  conference  ended 
without  result." 

The  persons  above  named,  on  their 
return  to  the  rebel  capital,  made  a  re 
port  to  Jeff.  Davis,  who  sent  it,  with  a 
message  to  his  congress,  on  the  6th  of 
February.  As  was  to  be  expected, 
Davis  felt  very  uncomfortable  at  the 
result,  which  placed  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  his 
view,  in  the  light  of  a  "conquerer," 
and  required  "unconditional  submis 
sion  "  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
the  United  States,  emancipation  and 
the  abolishment  of  slavery  included. 
Several  public  meetings  were  held  in 
Richmond,  in  order,  as  one  of  the  news 
papers  phrased  it,  u  to  hurl  back  into 
Lincoln's  teeth  the  insult  put  upon  the 
southern  people  by  his  answers  to  the 
confederate  commissioners."-  Speeches 
were  made  by  Hunter,  Benjamin,  and 
others;  fierce  denunciations  were  in 
dulged  in ;  and  tremendous  efforts  were 
made  to  rouse  up  the  southern  spirit 
sufficiently  to  carry  on  the  contest  now 
almost  hopeless. 

Another  attempt  at  negotiation  was 
made  by  Davis,  at  the  end  of  February, 
arising  out  of  a  conversation  between 
Gen.  Ord  and  the  rebel  Gen.  Long- 
street,  at  an  interview  on  the  subject 


514 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


of  the  exchange  of  prisoners.  Lee,  by 
Da  vis's  direction,  communicated  with 
Grant,  who  asked  for  orders  from  the 
president.  The  answer  came  directly, 
on  the  3d  of  March,  through  the  secre 
tary  of  war  : — u  The  president  directs 
me  to  say  to  yon,  that  he  wishes  you  to 
have  no  conference  with  Gen.  Lee,  unless 
it  be  for  the  capitulation  of  Gen.  Lee's 
army,  or  on  mere  minor  and  purely 
military  matters.  He  instructs  me  to 
say  that  you  are  not  to  decide,  discuss, 
or  confer  upon  any  political  question. 
Such  questions  the  president  holds  in 
his  own  hands,  and  will  submit  them 
to  no  military  conferences  or  conven 
tions.  Meantime,  you  are  to  press  to 
the  utmost  your  military  advantages." 
This,  of  course,  put  a  stop  to  anything 
further,  and  Grant  informed  Lee  ac 
cordingly. 

Early  in  February,  Lee,  who  had 
been  made  general-in-chief  of  the  rebel 
forces,  issued  an  order  stating  the  fact, 
in  which  he  said,  "  I  rely  for  success 
upon  the  courage  and  fortitude  of  the 
army,  sustained  by  the  patriotism  and 
firmness  of  the  people,  confident  that 
their  united  efforts,  under  the  blessing 
of  Heaven,  will  secure  peace  and  inde 
pendence."  Lee  followed  this  by  call 
ing,  in  most  urgent  terms,  upon  desert 
ers,  absentees,  and  the  like,  who,  he 
was  sure,  would  "  require  no  exhorta 
tion  to  respond  to  the  calls  of  honor 
and  duty."  He  offered  free  pardon  to 
all  such  who  would  come  before  twenty 
days  elapsed,  and  threatened  punish 
ment  in  case  of  refusal.  But  the  appeal 
was  in  vain.  Deserters  and  absentees  had 
had  enough  of  fighting  in  this  war.  The 
"  Confederacy  "  was  in  the  last  stages 


of  dissolution,  and,  bravely  and  defi 
antly  as  the  rebels  talked,  they  could 
not  shut  their  eyes  to  the  fact. 

Another  measure,  which  plainly  fore 
shadowed  the  approaching  ruin  of  the 
rebellion,  was  that  which,  after  much 
bitter  discussion  in  the  newspapers,  and 
by  the  rebel  leaders  and  congress,  was 
finally  determined  upon  in  the  month 
of  March ;  we  refer  to  the  arming  of 
the  negroes  and  employing  them  as 
soldiers.  Gen.  Lee,  who  was  of  opinion 
that  the  negroes  would  make  good  sol 
diers,  and  who  was  painfully  aware  of 
the  vast  importance  of  securing  an  in 
crease  to  his  army,  said  distinctly,  "  I 
think  this  measure  not  only  expedient 
but  necessary.''1  And  so  others  thought 
and  said ;  but  it  was  a  bitter  draft  to 
swallow  by  those  haughty  men  who 
were  trying  to  build  up  an  edifice,  the 
very  corner  stone  of  which  was,  the 
blessings  of  slavery  and  the  absolute, 
God-ordained  inferiority  of  the  negro 
race.  It  was  like  a  self-stultification  to 
adopt  the  course  now  resolved  upon ; 
and  this,  more  than  one  among  them 
clearly  saw.  "Whenever,"  said  Gov. 
Brown  of  Georgia,  "we  establish  the 
fact  that  the  negroes  are  a  military 
people,  we  destroy  our  theory  that  they 
are  unfit  to  be  free.  When  we  arm  the 
slaves  wre  abandon  slavery."  So,  too, 
Mr.  Hunter  of  Virginia,  in  the  rebel 
senate,  pointed  out  the  inevitable  con 
clusions  to  which  the  present  measure 
led.  "  If  we  offer  slaves  their  freedom 
as  a  boon,  we  confess  that  we  were  in 
sincere,  were  hypocritical,  in  asserting 
that  slavery  was  the  best  state  for  the 
negroes  themselves.  .  .  .  Arming 
and  emancipating  the  slaves  was  an 


CH.  XVIII.] 


CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT. 


515 


abandonment  of  this  contest — an  aban 
donment  of  the  grounds  upon  which 
it  had  been  undertaken.  If  this  is  so, 
who  is  to  answer  for  the  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  men  who  had  been  slain 
in  the  war  ?  Who  was  to  answer  for 
them  before  the  bar  of  heaven  ?'' 

The  measure  was  decided  upon  by 
the  action  of  Virginia;  and  the  reply 
to  all  contradiction  and  inconsistency 
was,  the  stern  necessity  of  the  case. 
Unpalatable  as  was  the  fact,  it  was 
nevertheless  the  last  resource.  White 
men  could  not  be  had ;  the  blacks  must 
be  tried ;  and  so  the  blacks  were  called 
upon  to  volunteer ;  the  slaves  were  in 
vited  to  fight  for  the  people  who  had 
doomed  them  to  everlasting  bondage ! 
The  slaves,  however,  manifested  any 
thing  but  alacrity  to  engage  in  the  con 
test  ;  and  the  rebel  leaders  had  to  en 
dure  not  only  this  mortifying  result, 
but  also  the  conviction  that  the  day  had 
passed  when  their  humiliation  on  this 
point  could  be  of  any  avail  towards 
filling  up  the  ranks  of  Lee's  depleted 
army.* 

As  we  have  stated  (p.  507),  the 
Thirty-eighth  Congress  began  its  se 
cond  session  in  December,  1864.  This 
was  the  short  session  of  only  about 
three  months  in  extent,  and  the 
time  was  spent  in  the  usual  course  of 
legislative  proceedings.  It  is  not  ne 
cessary  to  go  into  details  here ;  we  can 


*  The  rebel  congress,  just  before  its  breaking  up  in 
March,  issued  a  long,  supplicating  appeal,  in  which 
they  sought  to  infuse  fresh  courage  into  the  hearts  of 
those  who  sympathised  with  them,  and  in  which  also, 
while  using  language  of  the  most  confident  character, 
they  plainly  betrayed  to  tho  observant  reader,  that 
their  words  were  words  merely  and  nothing  else.  For 
this  document,  see  Appleton's  "  American  Annual 
Cyclopaedia"  for  1865,  pp.  195-198. 


only  indicate  a  few  of  the  more  import 
ant  acts,  and  must  refer  the  reader, 
who  desires  full  information,  to  the 
works  containing  the  official  reports 
and  documents.  Nothing  of  moment 
occurred  during  the  month  of  Decem 
ber.*  In  January,  1865,  a  resolution 
was  passed,  requesting  the  president  to 
give  notice  of  the  termination  of  the 
Reciprocity  treaty  with  Canada,  Other 
topics  occupied  the  attention  of  both 
Houses  during  the  balance  of  the  ses 
sion  ;  such  as  military  arrests,  habeas 
corpus,  confiscation,  reconstruction,  etc. 
The  Freedrnan's  Bureau  was  establish 
ed,  after  considerable  debate  and  con 
ference,  just  at  the  close  of  the  session. 
The  tariff  bill  was  modified,  a  bill  for 
a  loan  of  $600,000,000  was  passed,  and 
various  other  bills  of  less  consequence, 
received  due  attention. 

By  far,  however,  the  most  important 
action  of  Congress,  during  the  -session, 
was  the  passage,  on  the  31st  of  Janu 
ary,  of  the  resolution  for  the 
Constitutional  amendment  abol 
ishing  slavery.  This  resolution  had 
passed  the  Senate,  early  in  the  previous 
session,  February  10th,  1864;  but 
coming  up  in  the  House  in  June,  had 
failed  to  receive  the  requisite  two-thirds 
vote  (p.  465).  A  motion  for  reconsid 
eration  was  made,  and  laid  upon  the 
table.  It  was  again  brought  before 
the  House  early  in  the  present  session, 
and  was  debated  with  much  earnestness 
and  at  great  length.  It  was  finally 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  119  to  56,  and 

*  On  the  19th  of  December,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  issued 
a  proclamation,  calling  for  200,000  men.  This  was 
to  provide  for  deficiencies  in  the  former  call  in  July, 
and  also  for  possible  needs  in  the  spring  campaign. 


516 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


was  expressed  in  the  following  terms : 
"  Be  it  resolved  l>y  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  America  in  Congress  assem 
bled,  two-thirds  of  both  houses  concur 
ring,  That  the  following  article  be  pro 
posed  to  the  legislatures  of  the  several 
states  as  an  amendment  to  the  Consti 
tution  of  the  United  States,  which, 
when  ratified  by  three-fourths  of  said 
legislatures,  shall  be  valid,  to  all  in 
tents  and  purposes,  as  a  part  of  the 
said  Constitution,  namely : 

AETICLE  xm. 

Sec.  1.  Neither  slavery  nor  involun 
tary  servitude,  except  as  a  punishment 
for  crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have 
been  duly  convicted,  shall  exist  within 
the  United  States,  or  any  place  subject 
to  their  jurisdiction.  Sec.  2.  Congress 
shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article 
by  appropriate  legislation."* 

This  important  matter  was  now 
transferred  to  the  people,  who,  acting- 
through  the  legislatures  of  the  several 
states  were  to  confirm  or  reject  the 
amendment  to  the  Constitution.  The 
votes  of  twenty-seven  states  were  needed 
to  complete  the  required  three-fourths 
of  the  whole,  in  order  to  make  the 
amendment  a  part  of  the  law  of  the 
land.  We  may  mention  here,  that 
Illinois  took  the  lead,  on  the  1st  of 
February,  in  ratifying  the  amendment, 
and  was  followed  by  Maryland,  the 
same  day,  and  by  other  states  as  their 

*  The  House  was  crowded  with  expectant  observers, 
and  when  the  speaker  announced  the  vote,  it  was  re 
ceived  with  enthusiasm,  and  despite  of  all  parliamen 
tary  rules,  clapping  of  hands,  cheering,  waving  of  hats 
and  handkerchiefs  prevailed  for  some  time.  On  mo 
tion  the  House  at  once  adjourned. 


legislatures  met.  Before  the  4th  of 
March,  the  close  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  first 
term  of  office,  eighteen  states  had  given 
their  approval  of  the  amendment. 
Three  states,  Delaware,  Kentucky,  and 
New  Jersey  rejected  it.* 

About  the  middle  of  February,  Mr. 
Fessenden,  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
made  the  following  statement  in  regard 
to  the  national  debt :  Aggregate  debt, 
bearing  interest  in  coin,  $1,087,556,438 
80;  interest,  $63,433,131  45.  Debt 
bearing  interest  in  lawful  money,  $608,- 
570,952  44;  interest,  $29,698,770  41. 
Debt  on  which  interest  has  ceased, 
$350,570  09.  Legal  tender  debt,  bear- 
ing  no  interest,  $433,160,569.  Frac 
tional  currency,  $24,960,913  93.  Total, 
$2,153,735,444  26.  x  Total  interest, 
$93,131,901  86.  Early  in  the  follow 
ing  month,  Mr.  Fessenden  having  re 
signed,  the  Hon.  Hugh  McCulloch,  of 
Indiana,  was  appointed  secretary  of 
the  treasury. 

We  may  fitly  put  on  record,  in  clos 
ing  the  present  chapter,  the  assump 
tion,  by  Andrew  Johnson,  of  his  posi- 


*  On  the  18th  of  December,  1865,  Mr.  Seward  offici 
ally  announced  from  the  state  department  that  the 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  had  been  adopted. 
From  this  document  it  appears,  that  the  states  of  Illi 
nois,  Rhode  Island,  Michigan,  Maryland,  New  York, 
West  Virginia,  Ohio,  Missouri,  Nevada,  Indiana,  Lou 
isiana,  Minnesota,  Winconsin,  Vermont,  Tennessee,  Ar 
kansas,  Connecticut,  New  Hampshire,  Maine,  Kansas, 
Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  South  Caro 
lina,  Alabama,  North  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  by  their 
legislatures  ratified  the  proposed  amendment.  The 
whole  number  of  states  being  thirty-six,  of  which 
twenty-seven,  as  just  named,  being  three-fourths,  had 
ratified  the  amendment,  Mr.  Seward,  in  accordance 
with  the  duties  of  his  office,  "  certified  that  the  amend 
ment  aforesaid  has  become  valid,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  as  part  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States."  For  Mr.  Sumner's  resolution,  in  the  Senate, 
on  this  subject,  see  Appleton's  "  American  Annual  Cy- 
dopcedia  "  for  1866,  p.  125. 


CH.  XVIII.] 


MR.  LINCOLN'S  SECOND  INAUGURAL. 


517 


1865. 


tion  as  vice-president  of  the  United 
States,  and  also  the  inaugural  ceremo 
nies  connected  with  Mr.  Lincoln's 
entrance  upon  the  expected  four  years 
of  additional  service  to  his  country  as 
president  of  the  United  States.  On 
the  4th  of  March,  the  Senate  being 
then  in  extra  session,  Mr.  John 
son  indulged  himself  in  a  speech 
before  taking  the  oath.  Of  this 
speech,  in  which  he  spoke  several  times 
of  his  "  plebeian  "  origin  and  position, 
and  of  other  things  quite  as  imperti 
nent  to  the  occasion,  the  best  we  can 
say  is,  that  it  was  in  bad  taste,  and 
might  much  better  have  been  dispensed 
with.  "  I,  a  plebian,  elected  by  the 
people  vice-president  of  these  United 
States,  am  here  to  enter  upon  the  dis 
charge  of  my  duties I,  though 

a  plebeian  boy,  am  authorized  by  the 
principles  of  the  government  under 
which  I  live,  to  feel  proudly  conscious 
that  I  am  a  man,"  etc.  Mr.  Johnson 
thereupon  took  the  oath  of  office  and 
the  Senate  adjourned. 

The  scene  presented  at  the  second 
inaguration  of  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
noted  as  a  very  striking  one.  "The 
morning  had  been  inclement,"  says  Mr. 
Raymond,  "  storming  so  violently  that 
up  to  a  few  minutes  before  twelve  o'clock 
it  was  supposed  that  the  inaugural  ad 
dress  would  have  to  be  delivered  in  the 
Senate  chamber.  But  the  people  had 
gathered  in  immense  numbers  before 
the  capitol  in  spite  of  the  storm,  and 
just  before  noon  the  rain  ceased  and 
the  clouds  broke  away,  and,  as  the 
president  took  the  oath  of  office,  the 
blue  sky  appeared  above,  a  small  white 
cloud,  like  a  hovering  bird,  seemed  to 


hang  above  his  head,  and  the  sunlight 
broke  through  the  clouds  and  fell  upon 
him  with  a  glory,  afterwards  felt  to 
have  been  an  emblem  of  the  martyr's 
crown,  which  was  soon  to  rest  upon  his 
head."  The  oath  of  office  was  ad 
ministered  by  Chief-justice  Chase,  in 
the  presence  of  the  cabinet  officer^ 
heads  of  bureaus,  members  of  Con 
gress,  officers  of  the  army  and  navy, 
and  the  diplomatic  corps.  The  presi 
dent  then  delivered  his  inaugural  ad 
dress  from  the  balcony,  the  usual  place 
for  such  a  purpose.  As  this  was  among 
the  last  documents  proceeding  from  Mr. 
Lincoln's  pen,  and  as  it  is  rather  re 
markable  for  its  tone  and  spirit,  we  give 
the  address  in  full. 

"FELLOW- COUNTRYMEN — At  this  se 
cond  appearing  to  take  the  oath  of  the 
presidential  office,  there  is  less  occasion 
for  an  extended  address  than  there  was 
at  the  first.  Then,  a  statement,  some 
what  in  detail,  of  a  course  to  be  pur 
sued,  seemed  very  fitting  and  proper. 
Now,  at  the  expiration  of  four  years, 
during  which  public  declarations  have 
been  constantly  called  forth  on  every 
point  and  phase  in  the  great  contest 
which  still  absorbs  the  attention  and 
engrosses  the  energies  of  the  nation, 
little  that  is  new  could  be  presented. 
The  progress  of  our  arms,  upon  which 
all  else  chiefly  depends,  is  as  well  known 
to  the  public  as  to  myself,  and  it  is,  I 
trust,  reasonably  satisfactory  and  en 
couraging  to  all.  With  high  hope  for 
the  future,  no  prediction  in  regard  to  it 
is  ventured. 

"  On  the  occasion  corresponding  to 
this  four  years  ago,  all  thoughts  were 
anxiously  directed  to  an  impending 


518 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.IX. 


1865. 


civil  war.  All  dreaded  it ;  all  sought  to 
avoid  it.  While  the  inaugural  address 
was  being  delivered  from  this  place, 
devoted  altogether  to  saving  the  Union 
without  war,  insurgent  agents  were  in 
the  city  seeking  to  destroy  it  without 
war — seeking  to  dissolve  the 
Union,  and  divide  the  effects,  by 
negotiation.  Both  parties  deprecated 
war;  but  one  of  them  would  make 
war  rather  than  let  the  nation  survive ; 
and  the  other  would  accept  war  rather 
than  let  it  perish ;  and  the  war  came. 

"  One-eighth  of  the  whole  popula 
tion  were  colored  slaves,  not  distributed 
generally  over  the  Union,  but  localized 
in  the  southern  part  of  it.  These 
slaves  constituted  a  peculiar  and  power 
ful  interest.  All  knew  that  this  inter 
est  was,  somehow,  the  cause  of  the  war. 
To  strengthen,  perpetuate,  and  extend 
this  interest,  was  the  object  for  which 
the  insurgents  would  rend  the  Union  by 
war ;  while  the  government  claimed  no 
right  to  do  more  than  to  restrict  the 
territorial  enlargement  of  it.  Neither 
party  expected  for  the  war  the  magni 
tude  or  the  duration  which  it  has  al 
ready  attained.  Neither  anticipated 
that  the  cause  of  the  conflict  might 
cease  with,  or  even  before,  the  conflict 
itself  should  cease.  Each  looked  for  an 
easier  triumph,  and  a  result  less  funda 
mental  and  astounding.  Both  read  the 
same  Bible,  and  pray  to  the  same  God ; 
and  each  invokes  His  aid  against  the 
other.  It  may  seem  strange  that  any 
men  should  dare  to  ask  a  just  God's  as 
sistance  in  wringing  their  bread  from 
the  sweat  of  other  men's  faces ;  but  let 
us  judge  not,  that  we  be  not  judged. 
The  prayer  of  both  could  not  be  an 


swered  ;  that  of  neither  has  been  an 
swered  fully.  The  Almighty  has  His 
own  purposes.  '  Woe  unto  the  world  be 
cause  of  offences !  for  it  must  needs  be 
that  offences  come,  but  woe  to  that  man 
by  whom  the  offence  cometh.'  If  we 
shall  suppose  that  American  slavery  is 
one  of  these  offences  which,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  must  needs  come, 
but  which,  having  continued  through 

O  cj 

His  appointed  time,  He  now  wills  to  re 
move,  and  that  he  gives  to  both  North 
and  South  this  terrible  war,  as  the  woe 
due  to  those  by  whom  the  offence  came, 
shall  we  discern  therein  any  departure 
from  those  Divine  attributes  which  the 
believers  in  a  living  God  always  ascribe 
to  Him  ?  Fondly  do  we  hope,  fervently 
do  we  pray,  that  this  mighty  scourge  of 
war  may  speedily  pass  away.  Yet,  if 
God  wills  that  it  continue  until  all  the 
wealth  piled  by  the  bondman's  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  of  unrequited 
toil,  shall  be  sunk,  and  until  every  drop 
of  blood  drawn  with  the  lash  shall  be 
paid  by  another  drawn  with  the  sword, 
as  was  said  three  thousand  years  ago. 
so,  still  it  must  be  said, '  the  judgments 
of  the  Lord  are  true  and  righteous  alto 
gether.' 

"  With  malice  toward  none,  with 
charity  for  all,  with  firmness  in  the 
right,  as  God  gives  us  to  see  the  right, 
let  us  strive  on  to  finish  the  work  we 
are  in ;  to  bind  up  the  nation's  wounds : 
to  care  for  him  who  shall  have  borne 
the  battle,  and  for  his  widow,  and  his 
orphans ;  to  do  all  which  may  achieve 
and  cherish  a  just  and  a  lasting  peace 
among  ourselves  and  with  all  nations." 

This  brief  but  touching  address  hav 
ing  been  delivered,  a  national  salute 


Cn.  XIX.] 


GRANT'S  ORDERS  TO  SHERMAN. 


510 


was  fired,  and  Mr.  Lincoln,  seated  in  an 
open  barouche  with  Senator  Foster,  of 
the  committee  of  arrangements,  was 
escorted  through  Pennsylvania  Avenue 
to  the  White  House.  Everything  passed 


off  quietly  and  calmly,  and  the  presi 
dent  had  good  reason  to  look  forward 
to  a  successful  issue  of  the  great  con 
test  and  a  return  of  peace,  for  which 
he  and  all  true  patriots  ardently  longed. 


CHAPTEK    XIX 


1865, 


SHERMAN'S  MARCH  TO  GOLDSBOROUGH,  N.  C. :     CHARLESTON  AND  WILMINGTON  CAPTURED. 

Grant's  orders  to  Sherman  and  his  reply  —  Further  orders  —  Arrangements  in  regard  to  Schofield  and  his  co 
operating  force  —  Sherman's  preliminary  movements  —  March  begun  on  the  1st  of  February  —  Advance 
of  the  army  across  the  Salkahatchie,  to  Orangeburg,  and  thence  to  Columbia,  S.  C.  —  The  city  burned  and 
pillaged  by  rebel  cavalry  —  Charleston  evacuated  by  Hardee,  February  18th  —  State  and  condition  of  the 
city  —  Fort  Anderson  on  Cape  Fear  River  —  Attack  —  Abandoned  by  the  rebels  —  Wilmington  captured  — 
Results  of  the  capture  —  Grant's  directions  to  Gen.  Thomas  —  Further  movements  of  the  right  and  left 
wings  of  Sherman's  army  towards  Fayetteville,  N.  C.  —  The  town  entered,  March  llth  —  Sherman's  views 
as  to  his  position  —  Movement  towards  Goldsborough  —  Advance  of  Schofield  and  Terry  —  Hardee,  and 
contest  at  Averysborough  —  Battle  at  Bentonville  with  Johnston  —  Losses  —  Goldsborough  taken  — 
Sherman's  conference  with  Grant —  The  march  and  its  results  —  Excellent  conduct  of  the  army. 


1§65. 


GEN.  SHERMAN,  as  we  have  already 
noted  (see  p.  492),  having  reached  and 
occupied  Savannah,  on  the  21st  of  De 
cember,  18G4,  was  ready  almost  at  once 
for  any  further  movement  toward  se 
curing  the  triumph  of  our  arms. 
Early  in  the  month,  December 
6th,  Gen.  Grant,  regarding  the  capture 
of  Lee's  army  as  the  most  important 
operation  which  required  attention,  sent 
orders  to  Sherman,  "that,  after  estab 
lishing  a  base  on  the  sea  coast,  with 

O  / 

necessary  garrison,  to  include  all  his 
artillery  and  cavalry,  to  come  by  water 
to  City  Point  with  the  balance  of  his 
command."  Sherman,  in  reply,  De 
cember  16th,  stated,  that  he  had  ex 
pected,  on  reducing  Savannah,  to 
inarch  to  Columbia,  S.  C.,  thence  to 


Raleigh,  N.  C.,  and  thence  to  report  to 
Grant,  which,  he  estimated,  would  take 
about  six  weeks'  time;  but  that  he 
would  obey  the  lieutenant-general's 
order  at  once,  and  could  reach  him  by 
sea  as  early  as  the  middle  of  January. 
Grant  thereupon,  on  the  28th  of  De 
cember,  ordered  Sherman  to  make  pre 
parations  to  start  as  he  proposed,  with 
out  delay,  to  break  up  the  railroads 
in  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  join 
the  armies  operating  against  Richmond 
as  soon  as  he  could. 

As  tending  to  facilitate  his  move 
ments,  Grant  informed  Sherman,  on 
the  21st  of  January,  that  he  had  order 
ed  east,  from  Tennessee,  the  23d  corps, 
under  Gen.  Schofield ;  that  that  corps 
numbered  about  21,000  men  ;  that  there 


520 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX 


was  a  garrison  at  Fort  Fisher  of  about 
8,000,  and  at  Newbern  of  about  4,000 
men  ;  that  if  Wilmington  was  captured, 
Schofield  would  go  there;  if  not,  he 
would  be  sent  to  Newborn ;  that  in 
either  event,  all  the  surplus  force  at 
both  points  would  move  to  the  interior 
towards  Goldsborough,  in  co-operation 
with  his  movement ;  that  from  either 
point  railroad  communication  could  be 
run  out ;  and  that  all  these  troops 
would  be  subject  to  Sherman's  orders  as 
he  came  into  communication  with  them. 

Sherman  having  recruited  his  men, 
and  made  all  the  needful  preparations 
for  his  advance,  sent  the  17th  corps 
under  Blair,  January  15th,  by  way  of 
Beaufort,  S.  C.,  to  make  a  lodgment  on 
the  Charleston  Railroad,  at  or  near 
Pocataligo.  This  was  accomplished, 
and  a  depot  for  supplies  was  establish 
ed  near  the  mouth  of  Pocataligo  Creek. 
A  demonstration  was  made  in  the  di 
rection  of  Charleston,  so  as  to  divert 
the  attention  of  the  rebels,  and  cause 
them,  under  apprehension  of  an  attack 
on  that  city,  to  keep  a  considerable 
force  there  prepared  to  defend  it.  Sher 
man,  however,  had  no  intention  of 
stopping  for  this  purpose;  Charleston 
would  fall  of  itself  in  due  time ;  and 
Sherman's  blow  against  the  "  Confede 
racy"  was  to  be  much  heavier  than 
would  result  from  taking  the  rebel  city 
where  was  fired  the  first  gun  at  the 
opening  of  the  rebellion. 

The  march  of  Sherman's  army  was 
begun  on  the  1st  of  February.  Gen. 
Slocum,  with  the  left  wing,  had  been 
delayed,  by  the  heavy  rains  and  floods, 
from  crossing  the  Savannah  River;  but 
he  was  enabled  to  gain  a  passage  at 


1865. 


Sister's  Ferry,  on  the  2d  of  February. 
Kilpatrick's  cavalry  also  was  crossed 
on  pontoon  bridges.  General 
Howard,  with  the  right  wing, 
was  directed  to  cross  the  Salkahatchie, 
and  push  rapidly  for  the  South  Caro 
lina  Railroad,  at  or  near  Midway.  The 
rebels  held  the  line  of  the  Salkahatchie, 
in  force ;  but,  on  the  3d  of  February, 
Mower's  and  Giles's  divisions  of  the 
17th  corps  crossed  the  swamp  nearly 
three  miles  wide,  and  \vith  the  water 
nearly  up  to  the  waist,  and  drove  the 
enemy  towards  Branchville.  The  re 
bels  retreated  behind  the  Edisto,  and 
being  threatened  at  Branchville,  burned 
the  railroad  bridge,  and  Walker's 
bridge  below,  across  the  Edisto.  From 
the  7th  to  the  10th  of  February,  the 
17th  corps  was  occupied  in  thoroughly 
destroying  the  railroad  track.  The 
left  wing  was  similarly  occupied  with 
the  South  Carolina  Railroad,  from 
Branchville  to  Windsor.  Having  di 
vided  the  enemy's  forces  by  these  ope 
rations,  a  movement  was  begun  on 
Orangeburg.  On  the  12th  of  February, 
the  rebels  attempted  resistance  at  the 
bridge,  and  it  was  partially  burned; 
but  they  were  soon  repulsed,  the  bridge 
was  repaired,  and  our  troops  entered 
Orangeburg  late  in  the  afternoon. 
Blair  was  ordered  to  destroy  this  road 
effectually  up  to  Lewisville,  and  to 
push  the  enemy  across  the  Congaree, 
and  force  him  to  burn  the  bridges, 
which  he  did  on  the  14th  of  Feb 
ruary.  Having  forced  the  passage 
of  the  Little  Congaree,  the  head 
of  the  column,  early  on  the  16th 
of  February,  reached  the  Congaree,  op 
posite  Columbia,  but  too  late  to  save 


CH.  XIX.] 


CHARLESTON  CAPTURED. 


521 


the  fine  bridge  which  spanned  the  river 
at  that  point.  It  was  destroyed  by  the 
rebels. 

Sherman  directed  the  crossing  not  to 
be  made  in  front  of  Columbia,  but  three 
miles  above,  and  the  town  thus  to  be 
taken  from  the  north.  There  were 
great  astonishment  and  fright  in  Co 
lumbia;  and  on  the  17th  of  February, 
it  was  surrendered  by  the  mayor  to  our 
forces.  The  rebel  general,  Wade  Hamp- 
*  ton,  in  command,  had  ordered  all  the 
cotton  to  be  moved  into  the  street  and 
tired,  which  was  done.  Our  men  tried 
to  put  out  the  conflagration,  but  were 
only  partially  successful.  "  I  disclaim," 
says  Sherman,  in  his  report,  "  on  the 
part  of  my  army,  any  agency  in  the  fire, 
but  on  the  contrary  claim  that  we  saved 
what  of  Columbia  remains  unconsumed. 
And  without  hesitation,  I  charge  Gen. 
Wade  Hampton  with  having  burned 
his  own  city  of  Columbia,  not  with  a 
malicious  intent,  or  as  the  manifestation 
of  a  silly  '  Roman  stoicism,'  but  from 
folly  and  want  of  sense,  in  filling  it 
with  lint,  cotton,  and  tinder."  During 
the  18th  and  19th  of  February,  the 
arsenal,  railroad  depots,  machine  shops, 
foundries,  and  other  buildings  were  pro 
perly  destroyed  by  detailed  working 
parties,  and  the  railroad  track  torn  up 
and  destroyed  down  to  Kings ville  and 
the  W^ateree  Bridge,  and  up  in  the  di 
rection  of  Winnsborough.* 

The  capture  of  Branch  ville,  spoken 

*  The  thieving  and  pillaging  done  by  Wheeler's 
cavalry  before  Columbia  was  taken  was  bitterly  moaned 
over  by  the  rebels  ;  and  when  was  added  to  this,  the 
fierce  conflagration  and  the  terror  and  dismay  of  the 
inhabitants,  it  became  evident  that  the  capital  of  South 
Carolina  was  paying  fearfully  for  its  share  in  the  re 
bellion. 

VOL.  IV.— 66 


1865. 


of  above,  rendered  the  evacuation  of 
Charleston  a  necessity.  With  its  sup 
plies  cut  off,  with  the  array  of  Sherman 
in  the  rear,  closely  beset  on  Jaines  Is 
land  by  the  forces  of  the  department 
of  the  South,  with  Admiral  Dahl- 
gren's  powerful  navy  in  front,  it  was 
no  longer  tenable  as  a  military 
post.  It  was  only  left  to  Har- 
dee,  who  was  in  command,  to  escape 
while  he  could  by  the  single  northerly 
coast  line  of  railroad  still  open  to  him. 
Prominent  citizens  had  already  left, 
the  army  and  stores  were  being  re 
moved,  and  on  the  18th  of  February, 
the  city  was  surrendered.  Gillmore 
announced  the  fact  in  a  dispatch  to 
Washington  of  the  same  date.  All 
that  could  be  destroyed  by  the  rebels 
was  set  on  fire  or  blown  up ;  cotton 
warehouses,  arsenal,  bridges,  vessels  in 
the  ship  yard,  stores,  locomotives,  etc., 
shared  a  common  fate.  The  cotton  de 
stroyed  was  estimated  at  4,000  bales. 
Gillmore  reported  a  capture  of  450 
pieces  of  ordnance  and  a  large  quantity 
of  ammunition ;  but  the  city  itself  was 
in  a  deplorable  state.  It  was  almost 
desolate,  and  far  the  greater  part  of  the 
inhabitants  which  were  left,  were  the 
poor  and  destitute  who  could  not  get 
awaj 


T  *     Hardee  retreated  in  the  direc- 


*  A  correspondent  of  one  of  the  journals  gives  a  gra 
phic  account  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  Charleston  when 
our  troops  took  possession.  "  It  is  an  indescribable 
scene  of  desolation  and  ruin,  of  roofless,  doorless,  win- 
dowless  houses,  crumbling  walls,  upheaved  pavements, 
and  grassgrown  streets — silent  to  all  sounds  of  busi 
ness,  and  voiceless  only  to  the  woe-begone,  poverty- 
stricken,  haggard  people,  who  wander  up  and  down 
amid  the  ruins,  looking  to  a  jubilant  past,  a  disappoint 
ed  present,  and  a  hopeless  future.  They  are  in  rags, 
and  their  boots  are  out  at  the  toes,  their  shoes  down 
at  the  heels.  There  is  no  longer  a  manifestation  of 
arrogance,  lordly  insolence,  and  conscious  superiority 
over  the  Yankees  on  the  part  of  the  whites." 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


522 

tion   of  North  Carolina,  having  with 
him  about  12,000  men. 

Gen.  Schofielcl,  who  had  received  in 
structions  from  Grant,  as  noted  on  a 
previous  page  (p.  519),  acting  in  concert 
with  Admiral  Porter,  entered  vigorously 
upon  the  work  with  which  he  was  charg 
ed.  After  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher  (p. 
500)  the  chief  obstacle  hindering  an 
advance  by  water  to  Wilmington,  N. 
C.,  was  Fort  Anderson,  on  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  guarding  the  approach  to 
the  city.  It  was  said  to  be  a  work  of 
immense  strength  and  extent,  enclosing 
an  area  of  about  four  square  miles. 
The  movement  up  the  river  was  begun 
on  the  llth  of  February,  with  a  recon 
naissance  which  was  pushed  to  the  re 
bel  lines  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river 
opposite  the  fort  and  about  twelve 
miles  from  Wilmington.  There  was 
some  sharp  skirmishing  at  the  enemy's 
outposts,  Gen.  Hoke  being  in  command 
of  the  rebel  forces,  in  which  the  negro 
troops  were  actively  engaged,  while  the 
Monitor  Montauk  bombarded  the  fort. 
These  preliminary  movements  were  fol 
lowed  up,  on  the  16th  of  February,  by 
the  transfer  by  Gen.  Schofield  of  Cox's 
division  of  the  23d  corps  across  from 
Federal  Point  to  Smithfield,  wrhence 
they  advanced  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  river  through  swampy  and  difficult 
ground  to  the  rear  of  Fort  Anderson. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  of 
February,  Porter  began,  and  kept  up 
during  the  day  a  heavy  fire  upon  the 
fort.  Schofield,  meanwhile,  was  work 
ing  in  the  rear  of  the  rebels,  to  cut 
them  oif;  but  during  the  night  they 
abandoned  the  fort,  which  was  occu 
pied  by  our  forces  the  ndxt  morning. 


[BK.  IX. 


This  stronghold  having  been  lost, 
Hoke  speedily  evacuated  Wilmington, 
which,  after  some  fighting,  on  the  20th 
and  21st  of  February,  was  entered,  on 
the  morning  of  the  22d,  by  the  troops 
under  Gen.  Terry.  The  rebels  retreat 
ed  towards  Goldsborough  during  the 
night,  having  destroyed  before  they 
left  about  1,000  bales  of  cotton,  15,000 
barrels  of  rosin,  a  large  cotton  shed  and 
presses,  an  iron-clad  partly  completed, 
three  extensive  turpentine  works,  and 
various  bridges.  About  700  prisoners 
were  captured,  and  also  some  thirty  to 
forty  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  taking  of  Wilmington  was  look 
ed  upon  as  very  valuable  and  import 
ant,  with  reference  to  further  operations 
on  the  part  of  Sherman,  and  prepara 
tions  were  at  once  made  for  a  move 
ment  on  Goldsborough  in  two  columns, 
the  one  from  Wilmington,  and  the  other 
from  Newborn.  Preparations  were 
also  made  for  repairing  the  railroad 
leading  to  Goldsborough,  from  each  of 
the  places  just  named,  as  well  as  to 
supply  Sherman  by  Cape  Fear  River 
toward  Fayetteville,  if  it  should  be 
come  necessary. 

On  the  last  day  of  January,  Grant 
directed  Gen.  Thomas  to  send  a  cavalry 
expedition,  under  Gen.  Stoneman,  from 
East  Tennessee  to  penetrate  South  Car 
olina,  well  down  toward  Columbia,  to 
destroy  the  railroads  and  mili 
tary  resources  of  the  country, 
and  return,  if  he  was  able,  to  East  Ten 
nessee  by  way  of  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  re 
leasing  our  prisoners  tiere,  if  possible. 
Of  the  feasibility  of  '.  his  latter,  how 
ever,  Gen.  Stoneman  was  to  judge. 
Sherman's  movements,  Grant  had  no 


CH.  XIX.] 


FAYETTEYILLE,  K  C.,  HOW  SERVED. 


523 


doubt,  would  attract  the  attention  of 
all  the  force  the  enemy  could  collect 
and  facilitate  the  execution  of  this. 
Stoneman  was  so  late  in  making  his 
start  on  this  expedition,  February  27th, 
and  Sherman  having  passed  out  of  the 
state  of  South  Carolina,  Grant  directed 
Thomas  to  change  his  course,  and  or 
dered  him  to  repeat  his  raid  of  last  fall, 
destroying  the  railroad  toward  Lynch- 
burg  as  far  as  he  could.  This  would 
keep  him  between  our  garrisons  in  East 
Tennessee  and  the  enemy.  It  was  re 
garded  as  not  impossible  that,  in  the 
event  of  the  enemy  being  driven  from 
Richmond,  he  might  fall  back  to  Lynch- 
burg,  and  attempt  a  raid  north  through 
East  Tennessee.  About  the  middle  of 
February,  Thomas  was  directed  to  start 
the  expedition,  consisting  of  4,000  to 
5,000  cavalry,  as  soon  as  he  could  get 
it  under  way 

Columbia  having  fallen  on  the  17th 
of  February,  Slocum  moved  on  Winns- 
borouffh,  which  was  reached  on  the 

o     ' 

21st,  the  roads  being  destroyed,  and  a 
further  movement  made  to  Rocky  Mount 
on  the  Catawba  River.  This  was  cross 
ed  on  the  23d,  and  the  cavalry  marched 
to  Lancaster,  to  keep  up  the  delusion 
of  a  movement  on  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  to 
which  Beauregard,  with  all  the  rebel 
cavalry,  had  retreated  from  Columbia. 
Very  heavy  rains  caused  considerable 
delay  in  advancing;  on  the  26th  of 
February,  however,  the  Catawba  was 
crossed,  and  the  left  wing  put  in  motion 
for  Cheraw.  The  ri^ht  wingj  was  also 

O  O 

delayed  by  bad  roads,  and  by  skirmish 
es  with  the  rebel  cavalry.  On  the  3d 
of  March,  Cheraw  was  entered,  the  en 
emy  retreating  across  the  Pedee,  and 


destroying  the  bridge  at  that  point. 
Ammunition,  stores,  railroad  trestles, 
etc.,  found  here  were  destroyed. 

The  columns  were  again  put  in  mo 
tion,  directed  on  Fayetteville,  N.  C., 
the  right  wing  crossing  the  Pedee  at 
Cheraw,  and  the  left  wing  and  cavalry 
at  Sneedsborough.  The  weather  con 
tinued  bad,  and  the  roads  were  any 
thing  but  good ;  but  the  14th  and  17th 
corps  reached  Fayetteville  on  the  llth 
of  March,  skirmishing  with  Hampton's 
cavalry,  that  covered  the  rear  of  Har- 
dee's  retreating  troops.  The  three  fol 
lowing  days  were  passed  at  Fayetteville, 
destroying  absolutely  the  United  States 
arsenal  and  the  vast  amount  of  machin 
ery  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  the 
old  Harper's  Ferry  United  States  arse 
nal.  Every  building  was  knocked  down 
and  burned,  and  every  piece  of  ma 
chinery  utterly  broken  up  and  ruined 
by  the  engineers,  under  the  immediate 
supervision  of  Col.  Poe,  chief  engineer. 
Much  valuable  property  of  great  use  to 
the  enemy  was  here  destroyed  or  cast 
into  the  river.  "  Up  to  this  period," 
says  Sherman,  in  his  report,  "  I  had  per 
fectly  succeeded  in  interposing  my  supe 
rior  army  between  the  scattered  parts 
of  the  enemy.  But  I  was  then  aware 
that  the  fragments  that  had  left  Co 
lumbia,  under  Beauregard,  had  been 
reinforced  by  Cheatham's  corps 
from  the  west,  and  the  garrison 
of  Augusta,  and  that  ample  time  had 
been  given  to  move  them  to  my  front 
and  flank  about  Raleigh.  Hardee  had 
also  succeeded  in  getting  across  Cape 
Fear  River  ahead  of  me,  and  could 
therefore  complete  the  junction  with  the 
other  armies  of  Johnston  and  Hoke  in 


1SG5. 


524 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  LX. 


North  Carolina .  And  the  whole,  under 
the  command  of  the  skilful  and  experi 
enced  Joe  Johnston,  made  up  an  army 
superior  to  me  in  cavalry,  and  formida 
ble  enough  in  artillery  and  infantry  to 
justify  me  in  extreme  caution  in  makipg 
the  last  step  necessary  to  complete  the 
march  I  had  undertaken." 

Sherman  next  sent  word  to  Terry  at 
Wilmington,  and  Schofield  at  Newbern, 
that,  on  Wednesday,  March  15th,  he 
would  move  for  Goldsborough,  feign 
ing  on  Raleigh,  and  giving  them  orders 
to  march  straight   for   Goldsborough, 
which  place  he  expected  to  reach  about 
the  20th.     The  column  from  Newbern, 
we  may  here  mention,  was  attacked  on 
the  8th  of  March,  at  Wise's  Forks,  and 
driven  back  with  the  loss  of  several 
hundred  prisoners.     On  the  llth,  the 
rebels  renewed  the  attack  on  our  en 
trenched  position,  but  were  repulsed 
with  severe  loss,  and  fell  back  during 
the  night.     On  the   14th,  the   Neuse 
River  was  crossed  and  Kinston  occu 
pied,  and  on  the  21st,  Goldsborough 
was  e.ntered.     The  column  from  Wil 
mington  reached  Cox's  bridge,  on  the 
Neuse  River,  ten  miles  above  Goldsbo 
rough,  on  the  22d  of  March.     On  the 
15th,  as  above  indicated,  Sherman  re 
sumed  his  advance  on  Goldsborough. 
The   weather    continued    unfavorable, 
and  the  roads  were  proportionably  bad 
and  difficult  to  travel  over.     Hardee, 
on  retreating   from   Fayetteville,   had 
halted  in  the  swampy  district  between 
Cape  Fear  and  South  Rivers,  having, 
it  was  supposed,  about  20,000  men,  and 
being  in  hope  of  delaying  Sherman,  so 
as  to  gain  time  for  Johnston  to  concen 
trate  the  rebel  troops  either  at  Raleigh 


Smithfield,  or  Goldsborough.  Slocum 
was  ordered  to  dislodge  Hardee,  and 
dear  the  road  for  the  advance.  This 
was  done,  after  a  severe  contest,  at  a 
Dlace  called  Averysborough,  our  loss 
being  about  600.  The  rebel  loss  was 
probably  much  greater. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  when  near 
Bentonville,  the    rebels  attacked  Slo- 
cum's  head  of  column,  gaining  a  tempo 
rary  advantage,   and  took  three  guns 
and  caissons,  driving  the  two  leading 
brigades  back  on  the  main  body.     As 
soon  as  Gen.  Slocum  realized  that  he 
had  in  his  front  the  whole  rebel  force 
under  Johnston,  he  promptly  deployed 
the  two  divisions  of  the  14th  corps, 
Gen.  Davis,  and  rapidly   brought   up 
on  their  left  the  two  divisions  of  the 
20th  corps,  Gen.  Williams.     These  he 
arranged  on  the  defensive,  and  hastily 
prepared   a  line   of  barricades.     Gen. 
Kilpatrick  also  came  up  at  the  sound 
of  artillery,  and  massed  on  the  left.    In 
this  position  the  left  received  six  dis 
tinct  assaults  by  the  combined  forces 
of  Hoke,  Hardee,  and  Cheatham,  under 
the   immediate  command  of  Johnston 
himself,    without   giving   an   inch    of 
ground,  and  doing  good  execution  on 
the  enemy's  ranks,  especially  with  our 
artillery,  the   enemy   having  little  or 
none.     Reinforcements    were   brought 
up  during  the  night  of  the  19th  and 
on  the  20th  of  March.    The  next  night 
the  enemy  retreated  to  Smithfield,  leav 
ing  the  dead  and  wounded  in  the  hands 
of  our  men.     Slocum  reported  the  loss 
on  the  left  wing  at  1,250,  he  having 
taken  338  prisoners.      Howard's   loss 
on  the  right  was  reported  at  400 ;  pri 
soners   taken,  about  1,200.     Thus,  as 


Cn.  XIX.] 


CONCLUSION  OF  SHERMAN'S  MARCH. 


525 


1§65. 


Sherman  states,  "  we  Lad  completed  our 
inarch  on  the  21st  of  March,  and  had 
full  possession  of  Goldsborough,  the 
real  'objective,'  with  its  two  railroads 
back  to  the  seaport  of  Wilmington  and 
Beaufort,  N.  C.  These  were  being  ra 
pidly  repaired  by  strong  work 
ing  parties,  directed  by  Col. 
W.  Wright,  of  the  railroad  department. 
A  large  number  of  supplies  had  already 
been  brought  forward  to  Kinston,  to 
which  place  our  wagons  had  been  sent 
to  receive  them.  I  therefore  directed 
Gen.  Howard  and  the  cavalry  to  remain 
at  Bentonville  during  the  22d,  to  bury 
the  dead  and  remove  the  wounded,  and 
on  the  following  day  all  the  armies  to 
move  to  the  camps  assigned  them  about 
Goldsborough,  there  to  rest  and  receive 
the  clothing  and  supplies  of  which  they 
stood  in  need." 

Sherman  entered  Goldsborough  in 
person,  on  the  23d  of  March,  where  he 
met  Schofield  and  his  army.  The  left 
wing  came  in  during  the  same  day  and 
next  morning,  and  the  right  wing  fol 
lowed  on  the  24th,  on  which  day  the 
cavalry  moved  to  Mount  Olive  Station, 
and  Gen.  Terry  back  from  Cox's  Bridge 
to  Falson's.  On  the  25th,  the  Newbern 
Railroad  was  finished,  and  the  first 
train  of  cars  came  in,  thus  furnishing 
the  means  of  bringing  from  the  depot 
at  Morehead  City  full  supplies  to  the 
army.  Anxious  to  see  and  consult  with 
the  com  in  an  der-in-  chief,  Sherman,  on 
the  27th  of  March,  visited  Grant  at 
City  Point,  returning  to  his  headquart 
ers  at  Goldsborough,  on  the  30th.  He 
stated,  says  Grant,  in  his  report,  "that 
he  would  be  ready  to  move,  as  he  had 
previously  written  me,  by  the  10th  of 


April,  fully  equipped  and  rationed  for 
twenty  days,  if  it  should  become  neces 
sary  to  bring  his  command  to  bear 
against  Lee's  army,  in  co-operation  with 
our  forces  in  front  of  Richmond  and 
Petersburg.  Gen.  Sherman  proposed,  in 
this  movement,  to  threaten  Raleigh,  and 

'  O      7 

then,  by  turning  suddenly  to  the  right, 
reach  the  Roanoke  at  Gaston  or  there 
abouts,  whence  he  could  move  on  to 
the  Richmond  and  Danville  Railroad, 
striking  it  in  the  vicinity  of  Burkes- 
ville,  or  join  the  armies  operating 
against  Richmond,  as  might  be  deemed 
best.  This  plan  he  was  directed  to 
carry  into  execution,  if  he  received  no 
further  directions  in  the  meantime.  I 
explained  to  him.  the  movement  I  had 
ordered  to  commence  on  the  29th  of 
March.  That  if  it  should  not  prove  as 
entirely  successful  as  I  hoped,  I  would 
cut  the  cavalry  loose  to  destroy  the 
Danville  and  Southside  Railroads,  and 
thus  deprive  the  enemy  of  further  sup 
plies,  and  also  prevent  the  rapid  con 
centration  of  Lee's  and  Johnston's 
armies." 

Thus,  as  we  have  briefly  narrated, 
Sherman's  army  traversed  the  country 
from  Savannah  to  Goldsborough,  with 
an  average  breadth  of  forty  miles,  con 
suming  all  the  forage,  cat  tie,  hogs,  sheep, 
poultry,  cured  meats,  corn  meal,  etc., 
and  compelling  the  rebels  to  seek  for 
food  for  the  inhabitants  from  other 
quarters.  "  Of  course,"  Sherman  states, 
in  his  report,  "the  abandonment  to  us 
by  the  enemy  of  the  whole  sea-coast 
from  Savannah  to  Newbern,  North  Ca 
rolina,  with  its  forts,  dock-yards,  gun 
boats,  etc.,  was  a  necessary  incident  to 
our  occupation  and  destruction  of  the 


526 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


inland  routes  of  travel  and  supply.  But 
the  real  object  of  this  march  was  to 
place  this  army  in  a  position  easy  of 
supply,  whence  it  could  take  an  appro 
priate  part  in  the  spring  and  summer 
campaign  of  1 8  6  5 .  This  was  completely 
accomplished  on  March  21st,  by  the 
junction  of  the  three  armies  and  the 
occupation  of  Goldsborough." 


In  closing  his  communication  to  Gen 
Halleck,  under  date  of  April  4th,  Slier 
man   speaks   in  the  highest  terms  of 
praise  of  his  officers  and  men,  and  com 
mends  them  all  for  the  soldierly  quali 
ties  of   obedience   to   orders,  and  the 
utmost  alacrity  which  was  always  mani 
fested  when  danger  summoned  them  to 
the  front. 


CHAPTER    XX. 
1865. 

FALL    OP    EICHMOND  :    SURRENDER    OP    LEE  :    THE    REBELLION    BROKEN    IN    PIECES'. 

Grant's  anxiety  as  to  Lee's  movements  —  Sends  Sheridan  to  cut  off  Lee's  communications  —  Sheridan's  success 
ful  raid,  starting  from  Winchester  —  Position  of  military  affairs  —  Grant's  instructions  —  Lee's  attack 
on  Fort  Steadman  —  How  repulsed  —  Important  success  —  Grant  orders  the  army  to  move  —  Grant's  note 
to  Sheridan  —  Movement  from  Dinwiddie  Court  House  —  Further  steps  —  Attack  on  Warren's  corps  — 
Battle  of  Five  Forks  —  Attack  on  Petersburg,  April  1st  —  Rebel  defeat  —  Lee  notifies  Davis  that  Peters 
burg  and  Richmond  must  be  given  up  —  Both  places  occupied  by  our  troops  —  Andrew  Johnson's  speech 
—  Jeff.  Da  vis's  flight  from  Richmond  —  His  style  of  talking  —  Lee's  retreat  and  hopes  —  No  supplies  at 
Amelia  Court  House  —  Lee  in  haste  to  escape  —  Hotly  pursued  by  Sheridan  —  The  latter  secures  the  posi 
tion  at  Farmville  —  Battle  at  Sailor's  Creek  —  Rebel  loss  heavy  —  Race  nearly  at  an  end  —  Grant's  corres 
pondence  with  Lee  —  Sheridan  at  Appomattox  Station  —  The  surrender  of  Lee  —  Terms  liberal  —  How 
carried  out  —  The  "  Confederacy  "  in  ruins  —  Sherman  and  Johnston  —  Latter  surrenders  —  Dick  Taylor 
and  K.  Smith  surrender. 


1§65. 


GEN.  GRANT,  well  aware  of  the  posi 
tion  of  affairs  in  the  "  Confederacy,"  as 
well  as  in  the  loyal  states,  was  desirous 
of  carrying  forward  operations  so  as  to 
brino-  the  war  to  an  effectual  conclusion 

o 

by  the  capture  of  Lee's  army, 
and  he  took  his  measures  ac 
cordingly.  He  was  very  anxious  lest 
Lee,  finding  the  case  hopeless,  should 
abandon  his  position,  and  before  Grant 
could  prevent  it,  form  a  junction  with 
Johnston's  force,  and  thus  protract  the 
contest  still  further  elsewhere.*  Hence, 

*  "  At  this  time  (March,  1835)  the  greatest  source  of 
uneasiness  to  me  was  the  fear  that  the  enemy  would 


all  Grant's  efforts  were  devoted  to  the 
encircling  and  enclosing  Lee  in  such- 
wise  as  that  he  could  not  escape,  and 
must,  of  course,  speedily  surrender;  and 
with  his  surrender,  as  every  one  knew, 
the  rebellion  would  be  crushed  for 
ever. 


leave  his  strong  lines  about  Petersburg  and  Richmond, 
for  the  purpose  of  uniting  with  Johnston,  before  he 
was  driven  from  them  by  battle,  or  I  was  prepared  to 

make  an  effectual  pursuit I  had  spent 

days  of  anxiety  lest  each  morning  should  bring  the  re 
port  that  the  enemy  had  retreated  the  night  before. 
I  was  firmly  convinced  that  Sherman's  crossing  the 
Roanoke  would  be  the  signal  for  Lee  to  leave ;  with 
Johnston  and  him  combined,  a  long,  tedious,  and  ex 
pensive  compaign,  consuming  most  of  the  summer, 
might  become  necessary." — Grant's  "Report,"  pp.  61-64 


CH.  XX.] 


SHERIDAN'S  SUCCESSFUL  RAID. 


527 


It  was  deemed  of  the  utmost  import 
ance  by  Grant  that,  before  a  general 
movement  of  the  armies  operating 
against  Richmond,  all  communications 
with  the  city,  north  of  James  River, 
should  be  cut  off.  The  rebels  had  with 
drawn  the  bulk  of  their  force  from  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  and  sent  it  south, 
or  replaced  troops  sent  from  Richmond, 
and  as  Grant  desired  to  reinforce  Sher 
man,  if  practicable,  whose  cavalry  was 
greatly  inferior  in  numbers  to  that  of 
the  enemy,  he  determined  to  make  a 
move  from  the  Shenandoah,  which,  if 
successful,  would  accomplish  the  first 
at  least,  and  very  possibly  the  latter  of 
these  objects.  Sheridan,  accordingly, 
received  orders,  February  20th,  to  start 
on  his  great  raid  against  Lee's  commu 
nications,  by  way  of  Lynchburg,  and 
thence  to  destroy  the  railroad  and 
canal  in  every  direction,  so  as  to  render 
them  useless  to  the  rebels. 

Sheridan  moved  from  Winchester  on 
the  27th  of  February,  with  two  divi 
sions  of  cavalry,  numbering  about  5,000 
each.  On  the  1st  of  March,  he  secured 
the  bridge,  which  the  rebels  attempted 
to  destroy,  across  the  middle  fork  of 
the  Shenandoah,  at  Mount  Crawford, 
and  entered  Staunton  on  the  2d,  the 
enemy  having  retreated  on  Waynes- 
borough.  Thence  he  pushed  on  to 
Waynesborough,  where  he  found  the 
enemy  in  force  in  an  entrenched  posi 
tion,  under  Gen.  Early.  Without  stop 
ping  even  to  make  a  reconnaissance,  an 
immediate  attack  was  begun,  the  posi 
tion  was  carried,  and  1,600  prisoners, 
eleven  pieces  of  artillery,  with  horses 
and  caissons  complete,  200  wagons  and 
teams  loaded  with  subsistence,  and 


1865. 


seventeen  battle-flags,  were  captured. 
The  prisoners,  under  an  escort  of  1,500 
men,  were  sent  back  to  Winchester. 
Thence  Sheridan  marched  on  Chariot- 
tesville,  destroying  effectually  the  rail 
road  and  bridges  as  he  went,  which 
place  he  reached  on  the  3d  of  March. 
Here  he  remained  two  days,  destroying 
the  railroad  toward  Richmond  and 
Lynchburg,  including  the  large  iron 
bridges  over  the  north  and  south  forks 
of  the  Rivanna  River,  and  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  his  trains.  This  necessary 
delay  caused  him  to  abandon  the  idea 
of  capturing  Lynchburg.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the  6th  of  March,  divid 
ing  his  force  into  two  columns, 
Sheridan  sent  one  to  Scottsville,  whence 
it  marched  up  the  James  River  Canal  to 
New  Market,  destroying  every  lock,  and 
in  many  places  the  bank  of  the  canal. 
From  here  a  force  was  pushed  out  from 
this  column  to  Duiguidsville,  to  ob- 
taiu  possession  of  the  bridge  across  the 
James  River  at  that  place,  but  it  failed. 
The  enemy  burned  it  on  the  approach 
of  our  troops.  They  also  burned  the 
bridge  across  the  river  at  Hardwicks- 
ville.  The  other  column  moved  down 
the  railroad  toward  Lynchburg,  destroy 
ing:  it  as  far  as  Amherst  Court  House, 

o 

sixteen  miles  from  Lynchburg ;  thence 
across  the  country,  uniting  with  the 
column  at  New  Market.  The  river 
being  very  high/Sheridan's  pontoons 
would  not  reach  across  it;  and  the 
rebels  having  destroyed  the  bridges  by 
which  he  had  hoped  to  cross  the  river 
and  get  on  the  Southside  Railroad 
about  Farm  ville,  and  destroy  it  to  Ap- 
pomattox  Court  House,  the  only  thing 
left  for  him  was  to  return  to  Winchester. 


528 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


or  strike  a  base  at  the  White  House. 
Fortunately,  in  Grant's  opinion,  he 
chose  the  latter. 

From  New  Market  Sheridan  took  up 
his  line  of  march,  following  the  canal 
toward  Richmond,  destroying  every 
lock  upon  it,  and  cutting  the  banks 
wherever  practicable,  to  a  point  eight 
miles  east  of  Goochland,  concentrating 
the  whole  force  at  Columbia  on  the 
10th  of  March.  Here  he  rested  one 

dav,  and  sent  Grant  information  of  his 

.  / 

whereabouts,  and  a  request  for  supplies 
to  meet  him  at  White  House.  The 
news  reached  Grant  on  the  12th  of 
March,  and  he  dispatched  immediately 
an  infantry  force  to  get  possession  of 
White  House,  and  ordered  forward  sup 
plies.  Moving  from  Columbia  in  a 
direction  to  threaten  Richmond,  to  near 
Ashland  Station,  Sheridan  crossed  the 
North  and  South  Anna  Rivers,  and 
after  having  destroyed  all  the  bridges 
and  many  miles  of  the  railroad,  pro 
ceeded  down  the  north  bank  of  the 
Pamunkey  to  White  House.  This 
place  was  reached  on  the  19th  of  March, 
and  as  his  cavalry  had  had  long  and 
fatiguing  work  before  them,  over 
winter  roads,  Sheridan  found  it  neces 
sary  to  rest  and  refit  at  White  House. 
On  the  24th  of  March,  Sheridan  moved 
again,  crossed  the  James  River  at 
Jones's  Landing,  and  formed  a  junction 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  front 
of  Petersburg,  on  the  27th.  During 
this  move,  Gen.  Ord  sent  forces  to  cover 
the  crossings  of  the  Chickahoniiny. 

Gen.  Grant,  in  his  report,  states, 
"that  in  March,  1865,  Gen.  Canby  was 
moving  an  adequate  force  against 
Mobile,  and  the  army  defending  it 


under  Gen.  Dick  Taylor;*  Thomas 
was  pushing  out  two  large  and  well- 
appointed  cavalry  expeditions,  one  from 
Middle  Tennessee,  under  Gen.  Wilson, 
against  the  enemy's  vital  points  in 
Alabama,  the  other  from  East  Ten 
nessee,  under  Gen.  Stoneman  toward 
Lynch  burg, — and  assembling  the  re 
mainder  of  his  available  forces,  pre 
paratory  to  offensive  operations,  in  East 
Tennessee  ;f  Gen.  Sheridan's  cavalry 
was  at  White  House ;  the  armies  of  the 
Potomac  and  James  were  confronting 
the  enemy,  under  Lee,  in  his  defences 
of  Richmond  and  Petersburg ;  Gen. 
Sherman  with  his  armies,  reinforced 
by  that  of  Gen.  Schofield,  was  at 
Goldsborough ;  Gen.  Pope  was  making 
preparations  for  a  spring  campaign 
against  the  enemy  under  Kirby  Smith 
and  Price,  west  of  the  Mississippi ;  and 
Gen.  Hancock  was  concentrating  a 
force  in  the  vicinity  of  Winchester, 
Virginia,  to  guard  against  invasion,  or 
to  operate  offensively,  as  might  prove 
necessary." 

On  the  24th  of  March,  Grant  issued 
his  long  and  carefully  prepared  instruc 
tions  for  a  general  movement  of  the 
armies  operating  against  Richmond. 
They  were  directed  to  Gens.  Meade,  Ord, 


*  The  movement  was  made  on  the  20th  of  March, 
from  Fort  Gaines  and  Fort  Morgan.  Spanish  Fort  was 
invested  on  the  27th,  was  bombarded  April  8th,  and 
evacuated  by  the  rebels  the  same  night.  Fort 
Blakely  was  carried  by  assault,  April  9th,  and  the 
Alabama  River  was  thus  opened  for  approach  on  Mo 
bile  from  the  north.  On  the  night  of  April  llth,  the 
city  was  evacuated,  and  taken  possession  of  by  our 
forces  the  next  day.  For  a  more  full  account,  and  the 
part  taken  by  the  navy,  see  Duyckinck's  "  War  for  the 
Union,"  vol.  iii ,  pp.  663-673. 

•)•  For  Grant's  brief  notice  of  the  expeditions  under 
'jrens.  Wilson  and  Stoneman,  see  his  "  Report,"  pp. 
74,  75. 


Cn.  XX.] 


LEE  ATTACKS  FORT  STEADMAN. 


529 


and  Sheridan,  and  are  given  in  full  in 
Grant's  report  (p.  61).  They  are  also 
worth  consulting  by  the  reader  as  evi 
dencing  Grant's  clearness  of  conception, 
fixedness  of  purpose,  and  the  end 
which  he  expected  speedily  to  attain. 

Gen.  Lee,  having  reached  a  point  of 
great  depression  in  regard  to  his  pros 
pects,  and  well  aware  that  he  must  do 
something  immediately,  resolved  upon 
making  an  attack  on  Grant's  lines, 
which,  if  successful,  would  infuse  some 
new  life  and  energy  into  his  troops, 
and  prevent  the  continual  desertions 
which  were  taking  place  almost  every 
day.  The  assault  was  made,  March 
25th,  in  front  of  the  9th  corps,  which 
held  from  the  Appomattox  River 
towards  Grant's  left.  At  daybreak,  two 
of  the  rebel  divisions  dashed  suddenly  in 
upon  our  entrenchments  on  Hare's  Hill, 
and  having  carried  Fort  Steadman,  and 
a  part  of  the  line  to  the  right  and  left 
of  it,  established  themselves  there  for  a 
brief  period,  and  turned  the  guns  upon 
the  adjacent  batteries.  These  were  at 
once  abandoned  by  our  men  and  oc 
cupied  by  the  rebels.  Checked  by  the 
activity  of  Fort  Hascall,  the  next  on 
the  left  of  Fort  Steadman,  the  enemy 
were  unable  to  proceed  further  on  either 
flank ;  and  when  Hartrauft's  division 
came  up,  the  rebels  were  pushed  out  of 
Steadman  into  the  space  over  which 
they  had  come,  and  were  gallantly  re 
pulsed,  nearly  2,000  prisoners  being 
taken.  Our  loss  was  sixty-eight  killed, 
337  wounded,  and  506  missing.  The 
rebel  movement  turned  out  to  be  a 
failure  and  a  mortifying  one  too,  and 
roused  up  our  men  to  additional 
activity.  Gen.  Meade  at  once  ordered 

VOL.  IV.— 67. 


the  other  corps  to  advance  and  feel  the 
rebels  in  their  respective  fronts.  Push 
ing  forward,  they  captured  and  held 
the  enemy's  strongly  entrenched  picket 
line  in  front  of  the  2d  and  6th  corps, 
and  834  prisoners.  The  enemy  made 
desperate  attempts  to  retake  this  line, 
but  without  success.  Our  loss  in  front 
of  these  was  fifty-two  killed,  864 
wounded,  and  207  missing.  The 
enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
much  greater. 

Grant,  of  whose  anxiety  respecting 
the  possible  escape  of  Lee,  we  have 
spoken  above,  (p.  526)  was  of  opinion, 
that  by  moving  out  at  this  time  with 
out  delay,  he  would  put  his  army  in 
better  condition  for  pursuit,  and  would 
at  least,  by  the  destruction  of  the  Dan 
ville  Road,  retard  the  concentration  of 
Lee's  and  Johnston's  forces,  and  cause 
the  rebels  to  abandon  much  material 
that  they  might  otherwise  save.  Ac 
cordingly,  immediate  steps  were  taken 
for  this  purpose.  Gen.  Ord  was  sent, 
on  the  night  of  the  27th  of  March,  with 
two  divisions  under  Gibbon  and  Birney, 
and  McKenzie's  cavalry,  to  Hatcher's 
Run,  which  was  reached  at  dawn  on 
the  29th.  The  day  before,  Sheridan 
received  his  instructions  to  move,  which 
he  did,  with  his  splendid  cavalry  force 
of  9,000  men,  to  Dinwiddie  Court 
House,  on  his  way  to  cut  the  rebel  com 
munications.  He  reached  this  point  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  29th  of  March, 
and  the  infantry  line  extended,  on  the 
left,  to  the  Quaker  road,  near  its  inter 
section  with  the  Boydton  plank  road; 
after  Sheridan,  on  the  extreme  left,  the 
position  of  the  forces  was,  under  Warren, 
Humphreys,  Ord,  Wright,  and  Parke. 


5SO 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION". 


[BK.  IX. 


Everything  now,  in  Grant's  judgment, 
looked  favorable  to  the  defeat  of  the 
rebels  and  the  capture  of  Petersburg 
and    Richmond,  if    the   proper   effort 
were  promptly  made.     On  the  29th  of 
March,  he  communicated  with  Sheridan, 
directing  him  not  to  cut  loose  for  the 
contemplated  raid  just  at  present.     "I 
now  feel,"  he   said,  "  like   ending  the 
matter,  if  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  before 
going  back.     I  do  not  want  you,  there 
fore,   to   cut   loose   and   go    after   the 
enemy's  roads  at  present.    In  the  morn 
ing  push  around  the  enemy,  if  you  can, 
and  get  on   to  his   right    rear.      The 
movements  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  may, 
of  course,  modify  your  action.    We  will 
act  all  together  as  one  army  here  until  it 
is  seen  what  can   be  done   with   the 
enemy;"     From  Wednesday  night,  the 
29th,  till  Friday  morning,  March  31st, 
the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  so  as  to  render 
it     almost   impossible    to    move    any 
wheeled  vehicle,  except  by  means  of 
corduroy   roads.      Sheridan,  however, 
during  the  30th,  advanced  from  Din- 
widdie  Court  House  toward  Five  Forks, 
where  he  found  the   enemy  in   force. 
Warren  advanced  and  extended  his  line 
across  the  Boydton  plank  road  to  near 
the  White  Oak  road,  with  a  view  of 
getting  across  the  latter ;  but,  finding 
the  enemy  strong  in  his  front 
and  extending  beyond  his  left, 
was  directed  to  hold  on  where  he  was 
and    fortify.      Humphreys   drove    the 
enemy  from  his  front  into  his  main  line 
on  the  Hatcher,  near  Burgess's  Mills. 
Ord,  Wright  and  Parke  made  examina 
tions  in  their  fronts  to  determine  the 
feasibility  of  an  assault  on  the  enemy's 
lines;    and    the   two    latter   reported 


1865. 


favorably.  Grant  determined  not  to 
extend  his  line  any  further,  but  to  re 
inforce  Sheridan  with  a  corps  of  in 
fantry,  and  thus  enable  him  to  cut  loose 
and  turn  the  rebel  right  flank ;  with  the 
other  corps  an  assault  was  to  be  made 
on  Lee's  lines.  The  result  of  the  of 
fensive  effort  of  the  enemy  a  week  be 
fore,  when  they  assaulted  Fort  Steadman, 
particularly  favored  this.  Their  en 
trenched  picket  line  captured  by  oui 
troops  at  that  time  threw  the  lines  oc 
cupied  by  the  belligerents  so  close  to 
gether  at  some  points,  that  it  was  but  a 
moment's  run  from  one  to  the  other. 
Preparations  were  at  once  made  to  re 
lieve  Humphreys's  corps,  to  report  to 
Sheridan ;  but  the  condition  of  the 
roads  prevented  immediate  movement. 
On  the  31st  of  March,  Warren  was 
pressing  his  entire  corps  upon  the  rebel 
entrenched  line  on  the  White  Oak  road. 
Lee  ordered  an  attack  in  force  on  War 
ren,  which  was  made  with  great  spirit, 
and  division  after  division  was  driven 
back,  until,  on  reaching  Griffin's  force, 
the  troops  were  rallied  and  the  assault 
repelled.  A  division  of  the  2d  corps 
was  immediately  sent  to  Warren's  sup 
port,  the  enemy  driven  back  with 
heavy  loss,  and  possession  of  the  White 
Oak  road  gained.  Sheridan  advanced, 
and  with  a  portion  of  his  cavalry  got 
possession  of  the  Five  Forks ;  but  the 
enemy,  after  the  affair  with  the  5th 
corps,  reinforced  the  rebel  cavalry,  de 
fending  that  point  with  infantry,  and 
forced  Sheridan  back  toward  Din- 
widdie  Court  House.  Here,  as  Grant 
admiringly  says,  "Sheridan  displayed 
great  generalship.  Instead  of  retreat 
ing  with  his  whole  command  on  the 


CH.  XX.J 


BATTLE   OF  FIVE  FORKS. 


531 


main  army,  to  tell  the  story  of  su 
perior  forces  encountered,  he  deployed 
his  cavalry  on  foot,  leaving  only 
mounted  men  enough  to  take  charge  of 
the  horses.  This  compelled  the  enemy 
to  deploy  over  a  vast  extent  of  wood 
and  broken  country,  and  made  his  pro 
gress  slow." 

Sheridan  informed  Grant  of  the  posi 
tion  of  affairs,  and  that  he  was  falling 
back  slowly  on  Dinwiddie  Court  Hotwe. 
McKenzie's  cavalry  and  a  division  of 
the  5th  corps  were  immediately  ordered 
to  Sheridan's  assistance,  and  Meade  hav 
ing  reported  that  Humphreys'  could 
hold  the  position  on  the  Boydton  road, 
and  that  the  other  divisions  of  the 
3d  corps  could  go  to  Sheridan,  they 
were  so  ordered  at  once.  This  was  on 
the  morning  of  the  1st  of  April,  and 
Sheridan,  now  reinforced,  assaulted  the 
rebel  troops  and  drove  them  back  on 
Five  Forks,  which  was  held  by  them 
in  force.  This  battle  illustrated  the 
superior  strategy  and  tactics  of  Sheri 
dan.  By  the  skilful  use  of  his  cavalry, 
as  a  mask  to  cover  the  manoeuvring  of 
the  infantry,  he  made  his  arrangements 
so  as  to  assault  the  rebels  with  tremen 
dous  effect ;  and  by  nightfall,  the  routed 
enemy  fled  westward  from  Five  Forks, 
pursued  for  many  miles  by  our  ca 
valry.*  Between  5,000  and  6,000 
prisoners  were  taken,  and  a  large 


*  Sheridan,  for  reasons  given  in  his  report,  relieved 
Warren  of  command  of  the  5th  corps  at  the  close  of 
the  battle.  Sheridan's  statements  are,  that  Warren 
was  slow  in  his  movements,  not  disposed  to  follow  out 
the  command  promptly,  etc.  Warren,  on  the  other 
hand,  has  defended  himself  in  his  published  "  Account 
of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  at  the  Battle  of  Five  Forks." 
We  need  not  enter  into  the  merits  of  the  question. 
Swinton  is  of  opinion  that  Sheridan's  "  reasons  are 
wholly  inadequate  to  justify  that  officers  conduct." 


1865, 


number  of  colors  and  guns.  Our  loss 
was  reported  as  comparatively  small, 
viz.,  a  few  hundred  cavalry,  and  634 
infantry  killed  and  wounded. 

•i 

Grant,   somewhat  apprehensive  lest 
the  rebels  might  desert  their  lines  dur 
ing   the   night,   and   by   falling   upon 
Sheridan   before  aid  could  reach  him, 
drive  him  from  his  position  and  open 
the  way  for  the  retreat  of  Lee's 
army,    sent   Miles's  division  of 
the  corps  of  Humphreys  to  reinforce 
Sheridan.      A  bombardment  was  also 
ordered  of  all  the  guns  in  the  Peters 
burg  lines,  which,  beginning  at  night 
fall  of  the  1st  of  April,  was  kept  up 
till  four  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Sun 
day,  April  2d.    An  assault  speedily  fol 
lowed,  from  the  Appomattox  to  Hatch 
er's    Run,   by  the   troops    of    Parke, 
Wright,  and  Ord.     Wright  penetrated 
the  rebel   lines  with  his  whole  corps, 
sweeping   everything  before  him,  and 
capturing  many  guns  and  several  thou 
sand  prisoners.     He  was  closely  follow 
ed  by  two  divisions  of  Ord's  command, 
until    he    met    Ord's  other   divisions, 
which    had    succeeded   in   forcing  the 
enemy's    lines    near    Hatcher's    Run. 
Wright  and  Ord  immediately  swung 
to   the   right   and    closed    all  of  the 
enemy  on  that  side  of  them  in  Peters 
burg,   while   Humphreys   pushed   for 
ward  with  two    divisions  and  joined 
Wright  on  the  left.     Parke  succeeded 
in  carrying  the  main  line  of  the  rebels, 
capturing  guns  and  prisoners,  but  on 
reaching   the  inner   cordon  of   works, 
was  unable  to  force  them. 

On  reaching  the  lines  immediately 
around  Petersburg,  a  portion  of  the 
corps  of  Ord,  under  Gen.  Gibbon,  be- 


532 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bit.  IX. 


g;an  an  attack  on  the  two  strong,  en- 

D  *^ 

closed  works,  named  Forts  Gregg  and 
Alexander.  By  a  gallant  and  resolute 
charge,  they  carried  these  forts,  the 
most  salient  and  commanding  south  of 
the  city,  and  thus  materially  shortened 
the  line  of  investment  necessary  for 
taking  it.  The  enemy  south  of  Hatch 
er's  Run  retreated  westward  to  Suther 
land's  Station,  where  they  were  over 
taken  by  Miles's  division.  A  severe 
engagement  ensued,  and  lasted  until 
both  the  right  and  left  flanks  of  the  re 
bels  were  threatened  by  the  approach 
of  Sheridan,  who  was  moving  from 
Ford's  Station  towards  Petersburg,  and 
a  division  sent  by  Gen.  Meade  from  the 
front  of  Petersburg,  when  they  broke 
in  the  utmost  confusion,  leaving  in  the 
hands  of  our  troops  their  guns  and  a 
large  number  of  prisoners.  This  por 
tion  of  the  rebel  force  retreated  by  the 
main  road  along  the  Appomattox  River. 
The  rebel  commander,  well  aware 
that  he  could  no  longer  resist  Grant's 
assaults,  sent  a  message  to  Jeff.  Davis, 
this  Sunday  morning,  April  2d,  while 
he  was  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  Richmond, 
stating  that  the  time  had  come  when 
Petersburg  and  Richmond  must  be 
evacuated.  Silently,  in  the  darkness 
of  the  night,  the  rebel  troops,  having 
left  Petersburg,  marched  along  the 
north  bank  of  the  Appomattox,  north 
ward  to  Chesterfield  Court  House,  mid 
way  between  Petersburg  and  the  rebel 
capital.  Here  they  were  joined  by  the 
other  troops  from  Bermuda  Hundred 
and  Richmond,  and  Lee's  whole  army, 
now  not  much  more  than  25,000  in 
number,  pushed  eagerly  forward,  and 
by  the  next  morning  succeeded  in  put- 


1§65. 


ting  sixteen  miles  between  them  and 
Petersburg.  * 

Richmond  was  taken  possession  of 
by  our  forces,  under  Gen.  Weitzel, 
early  on  Monday  morning,  April  3d. 
The  rebels  had  blown  up  all  they  could, 
the  vessels  in  the  river,  the 
bridges,  etc. ;  they  also  set  fire 
to  the  tobacco  warehouses,  and  the 
flames  spreading  rapidly,  notwithstand 
ing  the  efforts  of  our  men  to  extinguish 
them,  laid  the  entire  business  portion 
of  the  city  in  ashes.  President  Lincoln 
visited  Richmond  the  next  day,  in  com 
pany  with  Admiral  Porter ;  and  through 
out  the  country  great  rejoicings  took 
place,  and  numerous  patriotic  addresses 
were  made.  In  this  connection,  we 
may  quote  a  paragraph  or  two  from 
Vice-president  Johnson's  speech  at  Wash 
ington,  on  the  receipt  of  the  news,  a 
speech  which  at  the  time  was  regarded 
as  of  no  moment,  but  which,  in  view 
of  the  calamity  that  soon  after  fell  upon 
the  country,  assumed  an  importance 
proportionate  to  the  unlocked  for  ele 
vation  of  Andrew  Johnson  to  the  pre 
sidency.  After  remarking  that  old 
Andrew  Jackson  would  hang  up  as 


*  "  When  in  the  gray  dawn  of  Monday,  April  3d,  the 
skirmishers  advanced  from  the  lines  before  Petersburg, 
the  city  was  found  to  be  evacuated.  At  the  same  time 
the  Union  force  on  the  lines  confronting  Richmond  from 
the  north  side  of  the  James  was  startled  by  a  clamor 
ous  uproar,  and  the  sky  was  seen  to  be  lit  up  with  a 
lurid  glare.  Surmising  the  meaning  of  this  direful 
blazon,  Gen.  Weitzel  threw  forward  a  cavalry  party 
that,  entering  the  city  without  let,  planted  its  guidons 
on  the  capitol.  Thus  Richmond  fell !  Marvellous  as 
had  been  the  one  year's  defence  of  the  confederate 
capital,  its  fall  was  not  less  strange.  Occupied,  not 
captured,  Richmond,  to  gain  which  such  hecatombs  of 
lives  had  been  sacrificed,  was  at  length  given  up  by  the 
civil  authorities  to  a  body  of  forty  troopers  !  " — Swift- 
ton's  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  p.  606. 


CH.  XX.] 


DA  VIS'S  LAST  PROCLAMATION. 


high  as  Haman  such  traitors  as  these 
whose  rebellion  was  now  broken  up,  he 
went  on  to  say :  "  Humble  as  I  am, 
when  you  ask  me  what  I  would  do,  my 
reply  is,  I  would  arrest  them ;  I  would 
try  them ;  I  would  convict  them,  and  I 
would  hang  them.  As  humble  as  I  am 
and  have  been,  I  have  pursued  but  one 
undeviating  course.  All  that  I  have- 
life,  limb,  and  property— have  been  put 
at  the  disposal  of  the  country  in  this 
great  struggle.  I  have  been  in  camp, 
I  have  been  in  the  field,  I  have  been 
everywhere  where  this  great  rebellion 
was ;  I  have  pursued  it  until  I  believe 
I  can  now  see  its  termination.  .  .  • . 
I  am  in  favor  of  leniency ;  but  in  my 
opinion,  evil  doers  should  be  punished. 
Treason  is  the  highest  crime  known  in 
the  catalogue  of  crimes;  and  for  him 
that  is  guilty  of  it — for  him  that  is 
willing  to  lift  his  impious  hand  against 
the  authority  of  the  nation — I  would 
say  death  is  too  easy  a  punishment. 
My  notion  is  that  treason  must  be  made 
odious,  that  traitors  must  be  punished 
and  impoverished,  their  social  power 
broken ;  that  they  must  be  made  to 
feel  the  penalty  of  their  crimes." 

Jeff.  Davis,  with  such  escort  as  he 
could  obtain,  took  his  departure  from 
Richmond  at  the  earliest  possible  hour 
after  receiving  Lee's  message,  on  that 
eventful  Sunday  morning,  and  purpos 
ing,  if  we  may  believe  his  foolish  boast 
ing,  (p.  504)  to  set  up  the  rebel  gov 
ernment  in  some  safer  place.  He  also 
carried  with  him  all  the  money  that 
could  be  got  out  of  the  Richmond  banks, 
and  whatever  else  his  hasty  flight  would 
permit. 

Davis,  on  reaching  Danville,  issued 


a  proclamation,  April  5th.  in  which  he 
tried  to  put  the  best  face  he  could  on 
matters  in  the  u  Confederacy."     Among 
other  things  he  said — it  was  his  last 
chance — "  we  have  now  entered  upon  a 
new  phase  of  the  struggle.     Relieved 
from  the  necessity  of  guarding  particu 
lar  points,   our  army  will  be  free  to 
move  from  point  to  point  to  strike  the 
enemy  in  detail  far  from  his  base.    Let 
us  but  will  it  and  we  are  free.     Ani 
mated  by  that  confidence  in  spirit  and 
fortitude  which  never  yet  failed  me,  I 
announce   to   you,   fellow-countrymen, 
that  it  is  my  purpose  to  maintain  your 
cause  with  my  whole  heart  and  soul ; 
that  I  will  never  consent  to  abandon 
to  the  enemy  one  foot  of  the  soil  of  any 
one  of  the  states  of  the  Confederacy ;  that 
Virginia — noble  state — whose  ancient 
renown  has  been  eclipsed  by  her  still 
more  glorious  recent   history ;    whose 
bosom  has  been  bared  to  receive  the 
main  shock  of  this  W7ar;  whose   sons 
and  daughters  have  exhibited  heroism 
so  sublime  as  to  render  her  illustrious 
in  all  time  to  come ;  that  Virginia,  with 
the  help  of  the  people  and  by  the  bless 
ing  of  Providence,  shall  be  held  and  de 
fended,  and  no  peace  ever  be  made  with 
the  infamous  invaders  of  her  territory. 
If,  by  the  stress  of  numbers,  we  should 
ever  be  compelled  to  a  temporary  with 
drawal  from  her  limits,  or  those  of  any 
other  border  state,  again  and  again  will 
we  return,  until  the   baffled   and    ex 
hausted  enemy  shall  abandon  in  des 
pair  his  endless  and  impossible  task  of 
making  slaves  of  a  people  resolved  to 
be  free."* 


*  The  fugitive  arch  rebel,  we  may  here  mention,  at 
tempted  to  escape  by  way  of  the  cea-coast.     4.  reward 


534 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1865. 


As  for  Gen.  Lee,  he  seems  to  have 
thought  that  there  was  yet  a  chance  of 
escape  for  him,  and  so  there 
might  have  been  had  not  Grant, 
fully  master  of  the  situation,  displayed 
such  activity  and  energy  as  to  reduce 
him,  in  a  few  days,  to  the  necessity  of 
surrender.  Grant  knew  that  Lee  must 
retreat,  or  yield,  and  was  prepared  for 
immediate  pursuit  in  the  former  case. 
Sheridan  pushed  for  the  Danville  Road, 
keeping  near  the  Appomattox,  followed 
by  Meade,  with  the  2d  and  6th  corps ; 
while  Ord  moved  for  Burkesville,  fifty- 
eight  miles  from  Richmond,  and  the 
most  important  point  for  the  enemy  to 
secure,  if  he  could,  on  the  South  Side 
or  Lyuchburg  Road;  the  9th  corps 
stretched  along  that  road  behind  him. 
On  Tuesday,  April  4th,  Sheridan  struck 
the  Danville  Road  near  Jettersville, 
where  he  learned  that  Lee  had  reached 
Amelia  Court  House,  thirty-eight  miles 
west  of  Richmond.*  Sheridan  entrench 
ed  himself,  and  awaited  the  arrival  of 
Meade.  Ord  reached  Burkesville  on 
the  evening  of  the  5th  of  April.  On 
the  same  day,  Grant  sent  word  to  Sher- 


of  $100,000  was  offered  for  his  arrest,  and  the  hunt 
was  exceedingly  active  in  consequence.  He  was  finally 
caught  by  a  portion  of  Wilson's  cavalry,  under  Col. 
Pritchard,  at  Irwinsville,  Wilkinson  County,  Ga.,  to 
gether  with  his  family  and  a  small  number  of  attend 
ants.  This  was  on  the  morning  of  May  10th.  Davis 
was  brought  prisoner  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  placed 
in  close  confinement. 

*  A  dire  anguish,  as  Swinton  terms  it,  here  befell 
Lee.  He  had  ordered,  it  seems,  supplies  to  meet  him 
and  his  army  at  Amelia  Court  House  ;  but  they  had 
been  carried  on  to  Richmond,  and  burned  along  with 
the  other  stores  in  that  city.  One  might  call  this  a  sort 
of  deserved  retribution ;  at  any  rate,  Lee  lost  heart, 
and  with  good  reason,  at  the  prospect  of  protracting 
the  contest  with  a  hungry,  half-starved  army,  against 
the  large  and  abundantly  supplied  force  under  Grant. 


man  that  Lee  wrould  probably  strive  to 
reach.  Danville ;  he  also  said :  u  If  you 
can  possibly  do  so,  push  on  from  wliere 
you  are,  and  let  us  see  if  we  cannot 
finish  the  job  with  Lee's  and  Johnston's 
armies.  Whether  it  will  be  better  for 
you  to  strike  for  Greensborough,  or 
nearer  to  Danville,  you  will  be  better 
able  to  judge  when  you  receive  this. 
Rebel  armies  now  are  the  only  strategic 
points  to  strike  at." 

On  the  morning  of  Thursday,  April 
6th,  it  was  discovered  that  Lee  had  left 
Amelia  Court  House,  and  was  moving 
west  of  Jettersville.  in  the  direction  of 
Danville.  It  was  his  only  hope  now 
to  enter  upon  a  race  of  thirty-five  miles 
west  to  Farmville,  where,  if  he  reached 
it  in  time,  he  could  cross  the  Appomat 
tox  once  more,  and  then,  by  destroying 
the  bridges  after  him,  escape  into  the 
mountains  beyond  Ly  nchburg.  Sheridan 
moved  with  his  cavalry  to  strike  Lee's 
flank,  followed  by  the  6th  corps,  while 
the  2d  and  5th  corps  pressed  hard  after, 
forcing  him  to  abandon  several  him 
dred  wagons  and  several  pieces  of  ar 
tillery.  Ord  advanced  from  Burkes 
ville  towards  Farmville,  sending  two 
regiments  of  infantry,  and  a  squadron 
of  cavalry,  under  Gen.  T.  Read,  to  reach 
and  destroy  the  bridges.  This  advance 
met  the  head  of  Lee's  column  near 
Farmville,  and  heroically  attacked  it  in 
the  effort  to  detain  the  rebel  force  until 
the  main  body  should  come  up.  Read 
lost  his  life  on  this  occasion,  and  his 
command  was  overpowered  ;  but  the 
end  had  in  view  was  attained ;  the 
movements  of  the  enemy  were  delayed  ; 
and  Ord  had  time  to  arrive  with  the 
Army  of  the  James.  Whereupon  the 


CH.  XX.] 


UNAVAILING  STRUGGLES  OF  LEE. 


535 


rebel   troops   immediately   entrenched 
themselves. 

Sheridan,  with  his  cavalry,  formed 
the  van  of  the  column  that  was  march 
ing  on  the  southern  parallel  route.  In 
the  afternoon  of  this  same  day,  April 
6th,  he  struck  the  enemy  just  south  of 
Sailor's  Creek,  a  small  tributary  of  the 
Appomattox,  and  destroyed  400  wa 
gons  and  captured  sixteen  pieces  of 
artillery.  Sheridan  ordered  a  charge 
upon  Ewell's  force  behind  the  captured 
train,  in  order  to  detain  it  until  the  6th 
corps  could  get  up ;  which  was  success 
fully  accomplished.  A  general  attack 
of  infantry  and  cavalry  was  then  made, 
and  though  the  rebels  fought  well,  they 
were  unable  to  resist  the  onset  of  our 
troops.  Between  6,000  and  7,000  pri 
soners  were  captured,  among  whom 
were  a  large  number  of  officers,  in 
cluding  Gens.  Ewell,  Kershaw,  Custis 
Lee,  etc.  The  movements  of  the  2d 
corps  and  General  Ord's  command,  ac 
cording  to  Grant's  statement,  contribut- 

O  ' 

ed   greatly  to  the    important    success 
of  the  day. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  April, 
the  pursuit  was  renewed,  the  cavalry, 
except  one  division,  and  the  5th  corps, 
moving    by    Prince    Edward's    Court 
House;  the  6th  corps,  Gen.  Ord's  com 
mand,  and  one  division  of  cavalry,  on 
Farmville,  and  the  2d  corps  by 
the  Hio;h  Bridge  road.     It  was 

o  O 

soon  found  that  Lee  had  crossed  to  the 
north  side  of  the  Appomattox,  but  so 
close  was  the  pursuit,  that  the  2d  corps 
got  possession  of  the  common  bridge  at 
High  Bridge  before  the  enemy  could 
destroy  it,  and  immediately  crossed 
over.  The  6th  corps  and  a  division  of 


cavalry  crossed  at  Farmville  to  its  sup 
port.* 

The  unavailing  struggle  was  now 
near  its  end.  Grant,  fully  persuaded 
that  Lee's  chance  of  escape  was  utterly 
hopeless,  while  he  did  not  relax  the 
pursuit,  nevertheless  addressed  the  rebel 
commander  in  the  following  terms,  un 
der  date  of  April  Vth,  at  Farmville : — 
"  GENERAL  :  The  result  of  the  last  week 
must  convince  you  of  the  hopelessness 
of  further  resistance  on  the  part  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  in  this 
struggle.  I  feel  that  it  is  so,  and  re 
gard  it  as  my  duty  to  shift  from  myself 
the  responsibility  of  any  further  effusion 
of  blood,  by  asking  of  you  the  surrender 
of  that  portion  of  the  Confederate  States 
army  known  as  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia." 

Lee,  though  continuing  his  retreat, 
wrote  a  reply  the  same  night,  which 
reached  Grant  early  the  next  morning : 
— "GENEKAL  :  I  have  received  your  note 
of  this  date.  Though  not  entertaining 

O  O 

the  opinion  you  express  on  the  liope- 

*  Mr.  Swinton,  in  speaking  of  this  retreat  and  pur 
suit,  says  :  "  It  would  need  other  colors  in  which  truly 
to  paint  that  terrible  race  for  life  ;  and  one  would  have 
to  seek  its  like  in  what  befell  upon  the  snowy  wastes 
of  Muscovy  in  the  winter  of  1812.  The  Confederates 
began  the  retreat  with  but  one  ration,  and  when  no 
supplies  were  met  at  Amelia  Court  House,  they  were 
reduced  to  such  scant  store  as  could  be  collected  from 
the  poor  and  almost  exhausted  region  through  which 

they  passed The  misery  of  the  famished 

troops  during  the  4th,  5th,  6th  and  7th  of  April,  passes 
all  experience  of  military  anguish  since  the  retreat  from 
the  banks  of  the  Beresina.  '  Towards  evening  of  the 
5th,'  says  an  eye  witness,  '  and  all  day  long  upon  the 
6th,  hundreds  of  men  dropped  from  exhaustion,  and 
thousands  let  fall  their  muskets  from  inability  to  carry 
them  any  further.  The  scenes  of  the  5th,  6th,  7th  and 
8th,  were  of  a  nature  which  can  be  apprehended  in  its 
vivid  reality  only  by  men  who  are  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  harrowing  details  of  war.' "—  Army  of  the 
Potomac"  p.  613. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


lessness  of  further  resistance  on  the 
part  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
I  reciprocate  your  desire  to  avoid  use 
less  effusion  of  blood,  and  therefore,  be 
fore  considering  your  proposition,  ask 
the  terms  you  will  offer,  on  con- 

1  fifi  '•J  ** 

dition  of  its  surrender."  To 
this  Grant  immediately  replied  :— 
"  GENERAL  :  Your  note  of  last  evening, 
in  reply  to  mine  of  same  date,  asking 
the  condition  on  which  I  will  accept 
the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  is  just  received.  In  reply  I 
would  say,  that  peace  being  my  great 
desire,  there  is  but  one  condition  that  I 
insist  upon,  namely  :  That  the  men  and 
officers  surrendered  shall  be  disqualified 
for  taking  up  arms  again  against  the 
government  of  the  United  States  until 
properly  exchanged.  I  will  meet  you, 
or  designate  officers  to  meet  any  officers 
you  may  name  for  the  same  purpose,  at 
any  point  agreeable  to  you,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  arranging  definitely  the  terms 
upon  which  the  surrender  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia  will  be  received." 
As  Lee  had  continued  his  retreat  on 
the  night  of  April  7th,  Grant,  early  the 
next  morning  pushed  forward  after  him. 
Meade  advanced  north  of  the  Appo- 
mattox,  and  Sheridan,  with  all  the 
cavalry,  marched  straight  for  Appomat- 
tox  Station,  followed  by  Ord's  com 
mand  and  the  5th  corps.  During  the 
day,  there  was  considerable  fighting 
with  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy,  but 
no  general  engagement.  Late  in  the 
evening,  Sheridan  struck  the  railroad 
at  Appomattox  Station,  drove  the  rebels 
from  there,  and  captured  twenty-five 
pieces  of  artillery,  a  hospital  train,  and 
four  trains  of  cars  loadel  with  supplies 


for  Lee's  starving  army.  About  mid 
night,  'on  the  8th  of  April,  Grant  re 
ceived  a  communication  from  Lee,  stat 
ing  that  he  had  not  yet  proposed  to 
surrender,  but  that,  as  he  was  anxious 
for  peace,  he  would  like  to  meet  Grant 
and  see  what  could  be  done  toward 
that  important  result.  Grant,  early  the 
next  morning,  sent  Lee  word  that  he 
was  not  authorized  to  treat  on  the  sub 
ject  of  peace  ;  but  that,  in  his  opinion 
it  could  readily  be  secured  by  the  rebels 
laying  down  their  arms,  etc. 

One  more  effort  Lee  felt  called  on  to 
make.  He  ordered  an  attack  on  Sheri 
dan,  and  a  desperate  attempt  was  enter 
ed  upon  to  break  through  our  cavalry, 
on  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  April. 
The  5th  corps  and  Ord's  command  soon 
after  arrived,  when,  just  as  a  deadly 
and  sweeping  charge  was  about  to  be 
made  by  our  troops,  a  white  flag  was 
held  aloft,  and  a  messenger  came  forth 
with  a  letter  from  Lee,  asking  a  suspen 
sion  of  hostilities  looking  to  a  surrender, 
and  requesting  an  interview  with  Grant. 
The  interview  was  held  between  two 
and  three  o'clock  that  same  afternoon, 
and  the  result  is  set  forth  in  the  follow 
ing  correspondence,  given  in  Grant's 
official  report : — 

"Appomattox  Court  House,  Va.,  \ 
April  9th,  1865.  j 

"  GENERAL  :  In  accordance  with  the 
substance  of  my  letter  to  you  of  the 
8th  inst.,  I  propose  to  receive  the  sur 
render  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir 
ginia  on  the  following  terms,  to  wit : 
Rolls  of  the  officers  and  men  to  be 
made  in  duplicate,  one  copy  to  be  given 
to  an  officer  to  be  designated  by  me, 
the  other  to  bo  retained  by  su^h  officer 


CH.  XX.] 


LEE'S  SURRENDER     REBELLION    CRUSHED. 


537 


or  officers  as  you  may  designate.  The 
officers  to  give  their  individual  paroles 
not  to  take  up  arms  against  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  until  prop 
erly  exchanged ;  and  each  company  or 
regimental  commander  sign  a  like  parole 
for  the  men  of  their  commands.  The 
arms,  artillery,  and  public  property  to 
be  packed  and  stacked,  and  turned  over 
to  the  officers  appointed  by  me  to  re 
ceive  them.  This  will  not  embrace  the 
side-arms  of  the  officers,  nor  their  pri 
vate  horses  or  baggage.  This  done, 
each  officer  and  man  will  be  allowed  to 
return  to  their  homes,  not  to  be  dis 
turbed  by  United  States  authority  so 
long  as  they  observe  their  paroles  and 
the  laws  in  force  where  they  may  reside. 

"  U.  S.  GRAISTT,  Lieutenant-General. 
"GeneralR  LEE." 

"Headquarters  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  April  9,  1865. 

"  GENERAL  :  I  received  your  letter 
of  this  date,  containing  the  terms  of  the 
surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  as  proposed  by  you.  As  they 
are  substantially  the  same  proposed  in 
your  letter  of  the  8th  instant,  they  are 
accepted.  I  will  proceed  to  designate 
the  proper  officers  to  carry  the  stipula 
tion  into  effect. 

"  R.  E.  LEE,  General. 
';  Lieutenant-General  U.  S.  GRANT." 

In  accordance  with  the  terms  here 
agreed  upon,  terms  which  were  thank 
fully  accepted,  as  liberal  and  generous, 
and  redounding  greatly  to  Gen.  Grant's 
credit,  the  necessary  details  for  carrying 
them  into  effect  were  at  once  entered 
upon.  The  weary  and  hungry  troops 
of  Lee  were  supplied  with  food  and 

VOL.  IV.— 68. 


comforts,  and  the  terrible  race  for  life, 
and  the  anguishing  pains  and  distresses 
through  which  they  had  gone  for  the 
last  two  weeks  were  brought  to  an  end 
forever.  Three  days  after  the  surrender, 
the  troops  marched  by  divisions  to  a 
designated  spot  near  Appomattox  Court 
House,  and  there  stacked  their  arms 
and  deposited  their  accoutrements. 
Hardly  8,000  presented  themselves 
with  muskets  in  their  hands ;  but  with 
these  were  included  about  18,000  un 
armed,  making  in  all  over  27,000. 
Paroles  were  then  distributed  to  the 
men,  and  they  were  allowed  to  go  their 
way  and  seek  again  for  a  home. 

The  succeeding  events  of  a  military 
kind,  consequent  upon  this  crowning 
victory,  may  be  briefly  summed  up. 
With  the  surrender  of  Lee,  the  "  Con 
federacy  "  fell  into  utter  and  immediate 
ruin,  and  though  Jeff.  Davis  and  others 
like  him  (seep.  533),  might  talk  of  con 
tinuing  opposition  for  a  longer  period, 
it  was  felt  and  acknowledged  on  all 
hands,  that  further  resistance  was 
equally  mad  and  foolish.  The  insur 
gent  states  were  powerless  in  this 
respect,  and  whether  looked  on  as  con 
quered,  or  subjugated,  or  in  any  other 
light,  they  were  no  longer  capable  of 
maintaining  a  hostile  array,  or  of  fight 
ing  against  the  supremacy  of  the  Con 
stitution  and  laws  of  the  land.  Gen. 
Lee's  example  and  judgment  necessi 
tated  a  course  of  action,  similar  to  that 
which  he  adopted,  on  the  part  of  those 
who  were  still  in  arms  against  the  au 
thority  of  the  United  States. 

Gen.  Sherman,  to  whom  Grant  wrote 
on  the  5th  of  April  (p.  534),  moved 
directly  against  the  rebel  Gen.  Joe 


538 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


1805. 


Johnston,  who  retreated  rapidly  on  and 
through  Kaleigh.  Sherman  occupied 
the  city  on  the  morning  of  the  13th, 
having  heard  the  day  before  the  news 
of  Lee's  surrender.  On  the  14th  of 
April,  a  correspondence  was  opened 
between  Sherman  and  Johnston,  the 
result  of  which  was,  on  the  18th, 
an  agreement  for  the  suspension 
of  hostilities,  and  a  memorandum  or 
basis  for  peace,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  president.  It  was  held  at  Wash 
ington  that  Sherman  had  transcended 
his  powers,  and  the  agreement  was  dis 
approved  by  Andrew  Johnson  on  the 
21st  of  April.  Grant  went  in  person 
and  communicated  the  disapproval  to 
Sherman,  who  at  once  gave  notice  to 
Johnston  of  the  termination  of  the  truce 
that  had  been  entered  into.  On  the 
26th  of  April,  another  meeting  was 
held,  the  result  of  which  was,  the  sur 
render  and  disbandrnent  of  Johnston's 
army  on  substantially  the  same  terms  as 
those  which  were  accorded  to  Lee. 

On  the  4th  of  May,  Gen.  Dick  Tay 
lor  surrendered  to  Gen.  Canby  all  the 
remaining  rebel  forces  east  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  ;  and  on  the  26th  of  May,  Kir- 
by  Smith  surrendered  to  the  same  o;en- 

•  o 

eral  all  the  insurgent  forces  west  of  the 
great  river.* 

In  bringing  to  a  close  this  condensed 
narrative  of  military  operations,  we 
may  properly  conclude  the  present 
chapter  with  the  last  paragraph  in  Gen. 

*  As  matters  of  interest,  in  this  connection,  it  may 
here  be  briefly  stated,  that  the  number  of  men  surren 
dered,  in  the  different  rebel  armies,  was  as  follows : 
Lee's  army,  27,805  ;  Johnston's,  31,243  ;  Dick  Taylor's, 
42,293 ;  K.  Smith's,  17,686  ;  smaller  organizations,  in 
all,  55,196  ;  making  a  total  of  174,223.  There  were 
also  in  our  hands  nearly  100,000  prisoners  of  war. 
About  2,000  enlisted  in  the  army ;  63,442  were  released  • 
33,127  were  delivered  in  exchange. 


Grant's  report :  "  It  has  been  my  for 
tune  to  see  the  armies  of  both  the  West 
and  the  East  fight  battles,  and  from 
what  I  have  seen  I  know  there  is  no 
difference  in  their  fighting  qualities. 
All  that  it  was  possible  for  men  to  do 
in  battle  they  have  done.  The  western 
armies  commenced  their  battles  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  received  the 
final  surrender  of  the  remnant  of  the 
principal  army  opposed  to  them  in 
North  Carolina.  The  armies  of  the 
East  commenced  their  battles  on  the 
river  from  which  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac  derived  its  name,  and  received 
the  final  surrender  of  their  old  antago 
nist  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Vir 
ginia.  The  splendid  achievements  of 
each  have  nationalized  our  victories, 
removed  all  sectional  jealousies  (of 
which  we  have  unfortunately  experi 
enced  too  much),  and  the  cause  of 
crimination  and  recrimination  that 
might  have  followed  had  either  section 
failed  in  its  duty.  All  have  a  proud 
record,  and  all  sections  can  well  con 
gratulate  themselves  and  each  other  for 
having  done  their  full  share  in  restor 
ing  the  supremacy  of  law  over  every 
foot  of  territory  belonging  to  the  Uni 
ted  States.  Let  them  hope  for  perpet 
ual  peace  and  harmony  with  that  ene 
my,  whose  manhood,  however  mistaken 
the  cause,  drew  forth  such  herculean 
deeds  of  valor."* 

*  On  the  1st  of  May,  the  entire  army  force  amount 
ed  to  1,000,516,  officers  and  men.  The  aggregate 
available  force  present  for  duty  on  the  1st  of  March 
was  :  Army  of  the  Potomac,  103,273  ;  armies  in  the 
several  departments,  499,325  ;  total,  603,598.  Steps 
were  taken  immediately  for  mustering  out  the  troops, 
so  that  from  the  beginning  of  May  to  August  7th, 
there  were  mustered  out  640,806  troops ;  from  that 
date  to  November  15th,  there  were  mustered  out  160,- 
157 ;  total,  800,963- 


CH.  XXI.] 


STATE   OF  FEELING  IN"  THE   COUNTRY. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


1865. 


MURDER  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN :    ACCESSION  OF  ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


General  state  of  feeling  throughout  the  country  now  that  the  rebellion  was  at  an  end  —  Mr.  Lincoln's  personal 
gratification  —  His  intention  as  to  the  future  —  Warnings  as  to  danger  to  his  life  —  Not  heeded  by  him  — 
His  last  public  address  —  The  fatal  day,  Friday,  April  14th — Visit  to  Ford's  theatre  in  the  evening  — 
Wilkes  Booth  the  assassin  —  Narrative  of  the  horrifying  scene  —  Attempt  to  murder  Mr.  Seward  also,  in 
his  bed,  by  Payne  —  Profound  astonishment  all  through  the  land — Andrew  Johnson  becomes  president, 
takes  the  oath  of  office,  etc.,  April  15th  —  Close  of  the  present  work. 


1S05. 


THE  great  and  grievous  rebellion 
was  now,  at  length,  crushed  to  the 
earth.  Its  military  power  was  broken 
up ;  the  arrest  of  Davis,  Stephens,  and 
others  associated  with  them,  put  an  end 
to  even  the  pretence  of  a  government 
of  the  "  Confederacy ;  "  and 
from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the 
other,  the  national  banner  floated,  freely 
and  fully,  as  the  emblem  of  the  su 
premacy  of  the  Constitution  and  laws 
of  the  United  States.  Thank  God! 
the  war  was  over. 

There  was  of  course  throughout  the 
loyal  states,  as  well  as  in  various 
parts  of  the  states  which  had  been  par 
takers,  more  or  less  willingly,  in  rebel 
lion,  a  feeling  of  deep  satisfaction  at 
the  contest  being  brought  to  its  close. 
Bright  hopes  of  the  future  were  in 
dulged  in,  and  joyous  expectations  en 
tertained  of  renewed  and  increasing 
prosperity  under  the  benign  reign  of 
peace  and  concord.  The  people  gave 
expression  to  their  joyous  hopes  and 
wishes  in  many  ways  ;  and  while  there 
was  exultation,  and  even  pride,  in  the 


great  victory  which  had  been  vouch 
safed  to  the  loyal  cause,  there  was  also 
a  willingness  to  recognize,  in  what  had 
taken  place,  the  guiding  hand  and  mer 
ciful  goodness   of  Divine   Providence. 
There  was  a  spirit  and  disposition  to 
exercise  magnanimity,  and    such   gen 
tleness  as  was  consistent  with  the  pre 
servation  of  truth  and  right,  towards 
those  who  had  gone  astray,  and,  under 
the  guidance  of    treasonable  leaders, 
had    madly    endeavored  to    thrust    a 
sword  through  the  heart  of  the  nation. 
While  thoughtful   and    patriotic  men 
looked  with  more  or  less  of  anxiety  at 
the  state   of  things,    so   novel  in  the 
history  of  the  world,  so  utterly  with 
out    precedent,   and    involving    ques 
tions  of  so  much  difficulty  and  delicacy 
in  efforts  to  settle  them,  there  was  still 
a  strong  and  positive  desire   to  deal 
with  our  difficulties  as  became  an  in 
telligent,  high-minded,  Christian   peo 
ple,  and  to  act  towards  the  vanquished 
insurgents  in  such  wise  as  would  re 
sult,  not  only  in  bringing  them  to  see 
and  acknowledge  the   error   of   their 


540 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[BK.  IX. 


ways,  but  also  in  re-uniting  and  strength 
ening  the  raptured  bonds  of  union  and 
national  concord. 

President  Lincoln  shared  in  the  com 
mon  joy  and  rejoicing  of  the  people, 
beside  having  reason  for  special  thank 
fulness  and  joy  on  his  own  account. 
His  had  been  no  position  to  be  en 
vied  for  four  years  past,  and  he,  if  any 
man,  in  the  whole  country,  was  able  to 
rejoice  in  seeing  the  end  of  a  struggle 
which  had  been  one  of  life  or  death  to 
the  Republic.  We  may  well  believe, 
from  what  we  know  of  the  man,  that 
while  he  rejoiced  unfeignedly  in  the 
overthrow  of  the  rebellion,  he  rejoiced 
even  more  in  the  glad  prospect  of  car 
rying  forward  work  of  another  kind, 
consequent  upon  the  state  of  things 
which  resulted  from  crushing  the  trai 
torous  designs  of  the  ambitious  and 
unscrupulous  leaders  in  the  revolt ;  we 
mean,  the  work  of  healing  the  wounds 
which  war  had  made,  and  by  a  wise, 
manly,  and  conciliatory  policy,  bringing 
together  again  in  harmony  and  good 
will  the  severed  sections  of  our  common 
country. 

It  was  a  noble  desire,  a  magnaminous 
resolve,  worthy  of  the  chief  magistrate 
of  a  great  nation,  which  animated  the 
bosom  of  Abraham  Lincoln  ;  and  so  far 
as  human  sagacity  can  venture  to  judge 
of  results  yet  in  the  future,  it  seemed 
to  be  a  special  privilege  belonging  to 
the  American  people,  that  the  man 
who  had  established,  on  the  most  solid 
foundation,  a  character  for  honesty, 
uprightness,  unselfishness,  candor,  and 
gentleness  of  heart,  should  be  the  one 
into  whose  hands  was  committed  for 
solution  the  most  difficult  of  all  pro 


blems  under  our  republican  form  of 
government,  viz.,  how  to  restore  the 
rebellious  states  and  people  to  the  full 
enjoyment  of  all  the  rights  and  privi 
leges  which  they  had  insanely  endeavor 
ed  to  destroy,  and  at  the  same  time 
vindicate  the  majesty  and  dignity  of 
the  violated  Constitution  and  laws  of 
the  land.  So  far  as  the  foresight  of  man 
could  reach,  Mr.  Lincoln  seemed  to  be 
the  one  wThose  training  and  discipline, 
during  the  past  four  years,  rendered 
him  essential  to  the  country's  safety,  in 
its  present  critical  condition ;  and  the 
people  were  full  of  hope,  that,  under 
his  firm,  judicious,  common-sense 
management  of  national  affairs,  it 
would  not  be  long  ere  light  would 
emerge  out  of  gloom  and  darkness,  and 
order,  peace,  and  concord  resume  their 
wonted  reign. 

But,  alas  for  all  human  calculations  ! 
a  mysterious  Providence  had  otherwise 
ordered  the  course  of  events,  and  the 
sixteenth  president  of  the  United  States 
was  stricken  down  so  suddenly,  and  in 
so  horrible  a  manner,  that,  for  the  time, 
the  national  heart  was  paralyzed,  and 
the  ship  of  state,  for  the  moment,  ap 
peared  to  be  cut  loose  from  her  moor 
ings,  and,  without  chart  or  rudder,  to 
be  rushing  swiftly  to  destruction.  The 
narrative  of  the  termination  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  life  must  now  be  given.  It 
is  a  mournful  task,  but  it  forms  a  part 
of  our  history  which  cannot  be  over 
looked,  in  its  consequences  and  results, 
so  far  as  they  have,  as  yet,  been 
developed. 

The  evil  passions  engendered  by  civil 
war,  and  the  demon-like  spite  and 
hatred  of  many  among  the  rebel  sym- 


CH.  XXI.] 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN   ASSASSINATED. 


541 


1865. 


pathizers  and  agents,  had  led  more  than 

one  of  the  friends  of  the  government  to 

~  « 

apprehend,  that  some  attempt  would 
be  made  upon  the  life  of  the  president 
and  other  prominent  men  in  our  public 
affairs.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  warned 
several  times  of  threats  and  dangers 
from  various  quarters,*  and  he  had 
been  entreated  to  be  more  careful  and 
watchful  in  respect  to  personal 
exposure;  but  he  uniformly 
treated  all  apprehensions  of  the  kind 
as  unfounded,  and  seems  never  to  have 
been  troubled  with  any  fears  on  the 
subject.  He  had  passed  unscathed 
through  the  four  years  of  the  war,  and 
now,  as  there  appeared  to  be  no  reason 
for  an  assault  upon  his  life,  nothing  to 
be  gained  by  the  enemies  of  the  govern 
ment  by  such  a  course,  he  regarded 
the  anxieties  of  his  friends  and  sup 
porters  as  needless  and  uncalled  for, 
and  he  looked  upon  the  future  with 
bright  expectations  unmarred  by  any 
fears  of  personal  harm  or  injury. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  after  a  brief  visit  to 
Richmond  (p.  532)  returned  to  Wash 
ington,  April  9th,  his  return  having 
been  hastened  by  the  serious  accident 
to  Mr.  Seward,  who,  having  been 
thrown  from  his  carriage,  had  had  his 
right  arm  and  jaw  broken.  The  news 

*  These  warnings  were  so  distinct  and  direct,  Mr. 
Raymond  assures  us,  that  Mr.  Seward  consulted 
Secretary  Stanton  in  regard  to  them,  and  it  was 
agreed  that  he  should  lay  the  subject  before  the  presi 
dent  the  next  day,  and  earnestly  represent  to  him  the 
expediency  of  avoiding,  for  a  time,  all  public  gather 
ings,  and  all  needless  exposure  to  possible  assault. 
But  the  next  day  Mr.  Seward  was  thrown  from  his  car 
riage,  and,  his  foot  catching  in  the  steps,  he  was  drag 
ged  tor  some  distance  and  so  seriously  injured  that  he 
was  compelled  to  dismiss  all  thought  of  public  mat 
ters  from  his  mind.  See  "  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln," 
p.  693. 


of  Lee's  surrender  came  directly  after, 
and  the  president  was  waited  on  by  a 
large  company  to  congratulate  him  on 
this  important  event.  The  next  even 
ing,  April  llth,  Mr.  Lincoln  made  some 
extended  remarks,  which,  being  the  last 
of  his  public  speeches,  are  worthy  the 
reader's  thoughtful  consideration.  They 
are  given  in  full  by  Mr.  Raymond, 
pp.  684-687. 

On  that  last,  fatal  day,  Friday,  April 
14th,  a  cabinet  meeting  was  held  at 
eleven  o'clock,  at  which  Gen.  Grant 
was  present ;  various  matters  of  policy 
were  discussed;  and  the  president's 
views  met  with  the  approbation  of  all 
his  constitutional  advisers.  As  this 
was  the  day  appointed  for  the  raising 
the  flag  of  the  United  States  on  Fort 
Sumter,  it  was  generally  expected  that, 
besides  the  president,  Gen.  Grant  and 
others  would  show  themselves  in  public, 
and  make  meet  recognition  of  so  in 
teresting  an  event.  Mr.  Lincoln,  on 
invitation,  consented  to  visit  Ford's 
Theatre,  in  Tenth  street,  Washington, 
that  evening,  and  it  was  thought  that 

O'  O 

the  lieutenant-general  and  other  nota 
bilities  would  also  be  present.  About 
eight  o'clock,  in  company  with  Mrs. 
Lincoln,  Major  Rathbone,  and  Miss 
Harris,  the  president  proceeded  to  the 
theatre,  and  took  his  place  in  a  box 
near  arid  looking  down  upon  the  stage. 
Gen.  Grant,  having  left  the  city  during 
the  day,  did  not  attend  the  theatre  this 
evening.  The  house  was  full  on  the 
occasion,  and  the  box  in  which  the 
president  was,  was  decorated  with  an 
American  flag  draped  in  front. 

The  door  of  the  box  was  directly 
behind  where  Mr.  Lincoln  was  sitting, 


542 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Biv.  IX. 


not  more  than  five  feet  distant,  and  was 
left  open  during  the  evening.  At 
fifteen  minutes  past  ten,  John  Wilkes 
Booth,  an  actor,  made  his  way  along 
the  passage  in  the  rear  of  the  dress  circle, 
and  stealthily  entering  the  vestibule 
of  the  president's  box,  closed  the  door 
behind  him,  and  fastened  it,  so  that  it 
could  not  be  opened  from  the  outside. 
Booth  then  drew  a  small,  silver-mounted 
Derringer  pistol,  which  he  carried  in  his 
right  hand,  holding  a  long  double-edged 
dagger  in  his  left,  and  stepping  within 
the  box,  held  the  pistol  just  over  the 
back  of  the  chair  in  which  Mr.  Lincoln 
sat,  and  shot  him  through  the  back  of 

/  O 

the  head.  The  murdered  man's  head 
fell  slightly  forward,  and  his  eyes  closed 
forever  on  this  mortal  scene. 

Startled  by  the  report  of  the  pistol, 
and  discovering  through  the  slight 
smoke  a  man  in  the  box,  Major  Rath- 
bone  sprang  towards  and  seized  him ; 
but  the  assassin,  wresting  himself  out 
of  his  grasp,  and  dropping  his  pistol, 
struck  at  the  major  with  the  dagger, 
and  wounded  him  severely  in  the  left 
arm  near  the  shoulder.  Booth  then 
rushed  to  the  front  of  the  box,  shouted 
"  sic  semper  tyrannis  /"  and  made  a  leap 
over  the  railing  on  to  the  stage  below. 
A  spur  which  he  had  on  caught  in  the 
flag  draped  in  front  of  the  box,  and 
Booth  fell ;  but  jumping  up  quickly, 
he  brandished  his  dasher  in  face  of  the 

oo 

horrified  assemblage,  exclaiming,  "  the 
South  is  avenged!"  He  then  rushed 
from  the  stage  and  made  his  exit  from 
a  door  in  the  rear  of  the  house.  There 
he  found  a  lad  holding  a  horse  all 
ready  for  him  to  mount,  and  the 
wretched  parricide  hastened  away 


across  the  Potomac,  and  for  a  while 
found  refuge  among  the  rebel  sympa 
thizers  in  Lower  Maryland.* 

Immediate  efforts  were  made  to 
obtain  medical  assistance,  and  several 
surgeons  examined  the  fatal  wound  in 
hope  of  being  able  to  minister  relief; 
but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  murdered 
president  was  never  conscious  after  the 
assassin's  ball  struck  him.  The  au 
dience  in  the  theatre  broke  up  in  con 
fusion  and  inexpressible  astonishment ; 
and  Mr.  Lincoln,  carried  to  the  White 
House,  and  surrounded  by  the  various 
officers  of  the  government,  was  watched 
by  them  through  the  night.  Gradually 
the  remnant  of  life  faded  away,  and  at 
twenty-two  minutes  past  seven,  on  the 
morning  of  April  15th,  he  breathed  his 
last. 

As  if  what  has  just  been  brief!} 
narrated  were  not  enough  of  horror  and 

'  O 

dismay,  this  same  Friday  evening  was 
noted  for  a  murderous  and  brutal  as 
sault  upon  the  secretary  of  state.  Mr. 
Seward  (p.  541)  was  confined  to  his 

*  Immediate  steps  were  taken  to  arrest  Booth  and 
his  accomplices.  A  reward  of  $50,000  was  offered  by 
the  war  department,  April  20th,  for  Booth's  apprehen 
sion  ;  the  sum  of  $25,000  was  offered  for  G.  A.  Atze- 
rott's,  and  the  same  sum  for  D.  C.  Harold's  apprehen 
sion.  Booth  and  Harold  were  chased  to  Garret's  Farm, 
near  Port  Royal,  on  the  Rappahannock,  by  Col.  Baker. 
Booth  was  shot  by  Sergeant  Corbett  in  attempting  to 
escape  from  the  barn  in  which  he  and  Harold  were ; 
Harold  gave  himself  up.  This  was  April  26th.  Atze- 
rott,  Payne,  Mary  E.  Suratt,  O'Laughlin,  Spangler, 
Arnold,  and  Mudd  were  soon  after  arrested  as  accom 
plices.  They  were  tried  by  military  commission,  com 
mencing  May  13th,  and  lasting  until  the  end  of  June. 
On  the  5th  of  July,  Harold,  Atzerott,  Payne,  and  Su 
ratt  were  condemned,  and  the  president  approving, 
they  were  hung  on  the  7th  of  July.  Of  the  others, 
O'Laughlin,  Arnold,  and  Mudd  were  sentenced  to  hard 
labor  for  life,  Spangler  to  hard  labor  for  six  years. 
They  were  sent  to  the  Dry  Tortugas  in  accordance 
with  the  president's  direction. 


CH.  XXL] 


ANDREW  JOHNSON'S  ACCESSION. 


543 


bed,  and  reduced  to  great  debility. 
One  of  the  band  of  murderers,  named 
Payne,  made  bis  way  into  Mr.  Seward's 
house,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
under  pretence  of  bringing  medicines 
from  the  physician,  and  though  hin 
dered  in  his  progress  by  Mr.  Seward's 
son,  who  forbad  his  entering  the  room, 
he  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  third 
story  and  forcing  his  way  into  the  pre 
sence  of  the  utterly  helpless  invalid. 
Throwing  himself  upon  the  bed,  Payne 
made  three  powerful  stabs  at  Mr. 
Seward's  throat,  gashing  him  badly,  but 
not  fatally.  An  invalid  soldier,  named 
Robinson,  acting  as  nurse,  seized  Payne 
about  the  body  and  tried  to  drag  him 
away ;  and  Mr.  Seward  crept  quickly 
off  the  bed  at  the  further  side.  The 
murderer,  having  broken  away  from 
Robinson,  rushed  to  the  door,  and  de 
spite  all  obstacles,  escaped  into  the 
street,  mounted  a  horse  he  had  there, 
and  rode  quickly  away. 

u  When  the  news  of  this  appalling 
tragedy,"  says  Mr.  Raymond,  u  spread 
through  the  city,  it  carried  consterna 
tion  to  every  heart.  Treading  close  on 
the  heels  of  the  president's  murder- 
perpetrated  indeed  at  the  same  instant 
— it  was  instinctively  felt  to  be  the 
work  of  a  conspiracy,  secret,  remorse 
less,  and  terrible.  The  secretary  of 
war,  Mr.  Stan  ton,  had  left  Mr.  Seward's 
bedside  not  twenty  minutes  before  the 
assault,  and  was  in  his  private  chamber, 
preparing  to  retire,  when  a  messenger 
brought  tidings  of  the  tragedy,  and 
summoned  his  instant  attendance.  On 
his  way  to  Mr.  Seward's  house,  Mr. 
Stanton  heard  of  the  simultaneous 
murder  of  the  president,  and  instantly 


felt  that  the  government  was  enveloped 
in  the  meshes  of  a  conspiracy,  whose 
agents  were  unknown,  and  which  was 
all  the  more  terrible  for  the  darkness  and 
mystery  in  which  it  moved.  ;  >  .  .  . 
All  these  feelings,  however,  gradually 
subsided,  and  gave  way  to  a  feeling  of 
intense  anxiety  for  the  life  of  the  presi 
dent.  Crowds  of  people  assembled  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  house  where 
the  dying  martyr  lay,  eager  for  tidings 
of  his  condition,  throughout  the  night ; 
and  when  early  in  the  morning  it  was 
announced  that  he  was  dead,  a  feeling 
of  solemn  awe  filled  every  heart,  and 
sat,  a  brooding  grief,  upon  every  face.  "* 
We  need  not  enlarge  upon  the  feel 
ing  produced  by  what  has  just  been 
narrated.  The  news,  as  carried  by  the 
telegraph  over  the  country,  on  the 
morning  of  April  15th,  excited  every 
where  profound  astonishment  and 
horror ;  and  as  the  crime  of  assassina 
tion  was  one  unknown  in  our  annals, 
and  utterly  abhorrent  to  the  spirit  and 
genius  of  our  people,  it  stirred  to  their 
very  depths  the  indignation  of  Ameri 
cans,  and  the  sense  of  wrong  and  insult 
received  at  the  hands  of  the  shameless 
wretches  who  had  taken  this  course  in 
order  to  gratify  the  malignity  and  bit 
terness  of  their  depraved  souls.  Quite 
possibly,  Booth  and  his  fellow  con 
spirators  and  employers  had  some  in 
sane  notion  that  Mr.  Lincoln's  death 
would  involve  dire  confusion,  perhaps 
revolution,  in  the  government;  and 
under  such  a  state  of  things,  they  may 

*  "  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln,"  p.  700.  Of  the  fuiie- 
ral  honors  paid  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  the  several  portions 
of  the  country  through  which  his  remains  passed  on 
their  way  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Raymond  gives  a  full  and  in 
teresting  account,  pp.  702-712. 


644 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[Bic.  IX. 


have  thought  that  the  rebels  would 
gain  some  advantage  to  themselves  or 
their  cause;  but  they  little  knew  or 
appreciated  the  strength  of  the  Consti 
tution,  and  the  spirit  of  willing  obedi 
ence  which  the  people  always  render  to 
its  provisions.  There  was  no  political 
agitation  or  danger,  no  disturbance  of 
the  finances,  no  outbreaks,  no  doubt 
anywhere  as  to  the  stability  of  the 
government.  The  attorney  -  general, 
James  Speed,  in  behalf  of  the  cabinet 
of  Mr.  Lincoln,  immediately  and  of 
ficially  informed  Andrew  Johnson,  vice- 
president,  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  and 
that  he  was  now,  by  the  Constitution, 
president  of  the  United  States.*  That 
same  morning,  April  15th,  1865,  at  ten 
o'clock,  the  chief-justice,  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  administered  the  oath  of  office 
to  Andrew  Johnson,  who  made  some 
appropriate  remarks  on  the  occasion, 
but  declined  to  indicate  any  line  of 
policy  at  present.  The  country  was 
duly  informed,  by  Secretary  Stanton, 
of  what  had  been  done,  and  Mr.  John 
son,  retaining  the  same  gentlemen  in 
the  cabinet,  the  regular  routine  of 
government  affairs  went  on  as  quietly 


*  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Andrew  Johnson's  life,  see 
p.  47  of  the  present  volume. 


and  regularly  as  if  the  deplorable 
murder  of  Abraham  Lincoln  had  never 
been  committed. 

Here  we  bring  our  present  labors  to 
a  close.  We  do  not  attempt  to  give 
expression  to  sentiments  which  might 
naturally  be  uttered  on  such  an  occa 
sion.  We  indulge  in  no  words  of 
eulogy;  we  venture  upon  no  criticism; 
the  day  has  not  arrived  for  either.  The 
narrative  of  the  progress  of  affairs,  sub 
sequently  to  Andrew  Johnson's  acces 
sion  to  the  presidency,  must  be  defer 
red  to  a  later  occasion.  Then,  proba 
bly,  it  will  be  seen  and  understood, 
what  peculiar  trials,  and  testings  of  its 
strength  and  adaptedness  to  the  needs 
of  a  free  people,  the  Constitution  was 
called  upon  to  endure;  and  how  the 
nation  advanced  in  those  onward  steps 
towards  its  high  destiny,  and  its  right 
ful  place  among  the  controlling  powers 
of  the  world.  In  due  time,  we  believe, 
it  will  become  evident,  far  more  so  than 
it  is  now,  what  are  the  permanent  re 
suits  of  the  fearful  struggle  of  four  years 
of  civil  war,  and  the  succeeding  years, 
hardly  less  fearful,  of  political,  sectional 
strife  and  discord  in  the  Republic. 
Esto  perpetua. 


INDEX. 


A. 

A.  B.  plot,  iii.  339. 

Abercrombie,  Gen.,  repulsed  at  Ticonderoga,  i.  240,  41. 

Aborigines  of  America,  i.  13-19. 

Acadie,  i.  12,  73,  99,  143,  155;  name  changed,  168; 
colonists  expatriated,  233,  34. 

Ackland,  Lady,  i.  502. 

Adams,  Charles  Francis,  minister  to  England  iv.  14  ; 
active  efforts  of,  266-68. 

Adams,  John,  defence  of  Capt.  Preston  and  soldiers,  i. 
296  ;  diary  quoted,  301 ;  letter  to  his  wife,  320 ;  ad 
vocates  declaration  of  independence,  404  ;  his  letter, 
409  ;  minister  to  Holland,  ii.  152  ;  negotiates  for  peace 
at  Paris,  156 ;  minister  to  England,  194,  95  ;  recep 
tion  at  court,  195  ;  returns  home,  197  ;  elected  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States,  264  ;  casting  vote  on 
removals  from  office,  276,  77 ;  Marshall's  remarks 
on,  281 ;  stigmatized  as  having  monarchical  views, 
303,  11;  re-elected  vice-president,  315;  importance 
of  his  casting  vote,  337 ;  the  federalist  candidate  for 
president,  401 ;  elected,  405  ;  inauguration  and  ad 
dress,  412-17;  personal  characteristics,  418;  open 
ing  speech  to  Congress,  419  ;  sends  envoy  to  France, 
419  ;  speech  to  Congress,  422,  23  ;  course  towards 
France  and  reasons  therefor,  457-59  ;  nominates  Vans 
Murray  envoy  to  France,  459 ;  appoints  two  others, 
460  ;  dissensions  with  his  cabinet,  460-62  ;  removes 
Pickering  and  McIIenry,  501 ;  nominated  by  caucus 
for  reelection,  506;  dislike  of  Hamilton,  509;  last 
speech  to  Congress,  510-13 ;  course  as  to  appoint 
ments,  513,  14 ;  balance  of  term  of  office,  517 ;  re 
marks  of  his  grandson  and  Mr.  Gibbs,  517, 18  ;  views 
on  war  of  1812,  iii.  148  ;  death  of,  358  ;  eulogies  on, 
358,  59. 

"Adams  and  Liberty,"  ii.  424. 

Adams,  John  Qiiincy,  on  debates  in  Virginia  Conven 
tion,  ii.  257 ;  on  the  Convention  and  Constitution, 
258-61 ;  on  the  two  parties,  republican  and  federal 
ist,  271,  72  ;  on  Washington's  proclamation  of  neu 
trality,  340-43  ;  on  ratification  of  Jay's  treaty,  365  ; 
on  alien  and  sedition  laws,  431  ;  on  nullification  doc 
trines,  449,  50 ;  on  Jefferson's  acquisition  of  Louis 
iana,  iii.  46,  7  ;  change  of  political  principles,  101 ; 
statement  as  to  movements  in  New  England  against 
the  Union,  108 ;  remarks  on  Jefferson's  administra 
tion,  111,  12  ;  minister  to  Russia,  108,  200  ;  views 
on  finances,  etc.,  202  ;  Secretary  of  State,  308  ;  origi 
nates  the  "  Monroe  Doctrine,"  343 ;  candidate  for 


president,  346  ;  elected  president  of  the  United  States, 
by  the  House  of  Representatives,  347  ;  inauguration 
and  address,  349-51;  his  cabinet,  351 ;  opposition  or 
ganized,  353 ;  first  message  to  Congress,  353,  54  ; 
strength  of  opposition  in  Congress,  354-58  ;  last 
message,  364,  65  ;  views  on  various  questions,  365 ; 
review  of  his  administration,  366  ;  as  member  of  the 
Hoiise  of  Representatives,  rebukes  John  Tyler's 
course,  419  ;  dies  at  his  post,  456,  57. 

Adams,  Mrs.,  letter  respecting  the  new  city  of  Wash 
ington,  ii.  506,  7. 

Adams,  Samuel,  i.  282 ;  connection  with  the  cabal 
against  Washington,  522 ;  in  the  Massachusetts 
Convention,  ii.  242. 

"  Address  to  the  People  of  Great  Britain,"  i.  324, 338-42. 

"  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Anglo-American 
Colonies,"  i.  324,  342-48. 

Adet,  minister  from  France,  ii,  370 ;  his  course  and 
complaints,  370-72  ;  reply  to  the  Secretary  of  State's 
letter,  385  ;  insolent  interference  of,  402,  3. 

Administration,  or  government  sustained  by  vote  of 
the  people,  autumn  of  1863,  iv.  881 ;  also,  by  Con 
gress,  393,  4 ;  trials,  charges  against,  etc.,  455,  57-60. 

Affairs,  state  of,  at  close  of  1861,  iv.  105-8  ;  at  close  of 
1862,  257,  58,  70  ;  in  summer  of  1863,  337,  38  ;  at 
close  of  1863,  394-97 ;  at  opening  of  1864,  400,  1  ; 
position  of  military  affairs  in  the  spring  of  1864, 
423  ;  condition  of,  in  summer  of  1864,  454,  55. 

Aix-la-Chapelle,  i.  175. 

Alabama,  admitted  into  the  Union,  iii.  320  ;  joins  the 
rebellion,  556. 

Alabama,  privateer,  beginning  of  her  career,  iv.  267, 
68  ;  destroys  the  Hatteras,  278  ;  value  of  vessels  de 
stroyed  by,  396 ;  arrives  at  Cherbourg,  477 ;  fights 
with  the  Kcarsarge,  478,  79  ;  sunk,  479. 

Albany,  i  89  ;  in  1725,  218. 

Albemarle,  i.  123. 

Albemarle,  rebel  ram,  attacked  by  gunboats,  iv.  419. 

Alert,  the,  taken  by  the  Essex,  iii.  163. 

Alexandria,  Va.,  assaulted  by  the  British,  iii.  255,  56  ; 
occupied,  iv.  32. 

Alexandria,  La.,  occupied,  iv.  410,  11 ;  burned,  415. 

Algiers,  annual  tribute  paid  to,  ii.  307 ;  piratical 
cruisers  of,  326,  33 ;  cost  of  treaty  with,  368,  69  ; 
insolence  of  the  Dey,  iii.  296,  97  ;  war  renewed  with, 
297. 

Alien  and  sedition  laws,  ii.  428-31. 

Allatoona  Pass,  Ga.,  iv.  470 ;  Hood  repulsed  at,  484. 


INDEX. 


Allen,  Ethan,  anecdote  of,  i.  353  ;  takes  Ticonderoga, 
354 ;  taken  prisoner  at  Montreal,  371. 

Allen,  Capt.,  death  of,  iii.  197. 

Allston,  J.,  remarks  on  South  Carolinians,  ii.  528,  29. 

Ambrister  and  Arbuthnot,  executed  by  Gen.  Jackson, 
iii.  314,  15. 

Amelia  Court  House,  Va.,  iv.  534. 

America,  origin  of  the  name,  i.  4. 

America,  North,  first  reached  by  Cabot,  i.  5. 

American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  ii.  87. 

American  antiquities,  i.  1, 13. 

American  Congress  at  Panama,  iii.  353,  56. 

American  excesses,  i.  466  ;  kindness  to  the  foe,  508. 

"  American  "  party,  in  1855,  iii.  510. 

Americus  Vespucius,  voyages  of,  i.  4. 

Ames,  Gen.  A.,  at  Fort  Fisher,  iv.  500. 

Ames,  Fisher,  speech  in  the  Massachusetts  Conven 
tion,  ii.  243,  44 ;  speech  on  Madison's  commercial 
resolutions,  343-46  ;  great  speech  on  the  British 
treaty,  375,  376-83  ;  letter  of,  iii.  74. 

Amherst,  Gen.,  against  Louisburg,  i.  240,  41. 

Amidas  and  Barlow,  voyage  of,  i.  24,  25. 

Ampudia,  Gen.,  defeated  at  Monterey,  iii.  434,  35. 

"  Anas  "  of  Jefferson,  quoted,  ii.  287,  325,  475. 

Anderson,  Major  R.,  in  Fort  Moultrie,  iii.  562  ;  removes 
to  Fort  Sumter,  563 ;  besieged  by  the  Charleston- 
ians,  563  ;  in  Fort  Sumter,  iv.  17 ;  dispatch  of,  18  ; 
General  in  Kentucky,  39 ;  resigns  on  account  of  ill 
health,  39. 

Andersonville,  Ga.,  rebel  prison  den  at,  iv.  510. 

Andiv,  Major,  meets  Arnold,  ii.  91  ;  capture,  trial  and 
execution  of,  92-97. 

Andros,  in  Massachusetts,  i.  113,  49  ;  in  Virginia,  189. 

Annapolis  taken,  i.  167  ;  troops  pass  through,  iv.  28. 

Antietam,  battle  of,  severe,  iv.  232,  33. 

Anti-federalists,  severe  blow  to,  by  assumption  of  state 
debts,  ii.  308. 

Anti-masonic  excitement,  iii.  359. 

Appling,  Colonel,  iii.  241,  42. 

Appomattox  Court  House,  Lee's  surrender  at,  iv.  536,  7. 

Aquia  Creek,  iv.  131,  206,  8,  14,  39. 

Arbuthnot,  see  Ambrister. 

Archdale,  in  Carolina,  i.  193. 

Argall,  rapacity  of,  i.  39,  40. 

Arguelles,  case  of,  iv.  457,  58. 

Argus,  successful  cruise  of,  iii.  165  ;  taken  by  the  Peli 
can,  197. 

Arkansas  Post,  fortifications  at,  iv.  303. 

Arkansas,  rebel  ram,  iv.  189  ;  destroyed,  189. 

Arkansas,  territory  of,  iii.  319 ;  admitted  into  the 
Union,  403. 

Arista,  Gen.,  defeated  by  Taylor,  iii.  431,  32. 

Armed  neutrality,  the,  ii.  109. 

Armstrong,  author  of  Newburg  Addresses,  ii.  158 ;  sent 
to  Paris,  iii.  71  ;  Jefferson's  letter  to,  97  ;  returns  to 
United  States,  130 ;  Secretary  of  War,  179  ;  connec 
tion  with  invasion  of  Washington  by  the  British, 
249,  52,  55  ;  resigns,  255. 


Armstrong,  rebel  cavalry  of,  iv.  223. 

Army,  American,  want  of  supplies,  i.  520 ;  sufferings 
at  Valley  Forge,  519,  20 ;  winter  quarters  in  1778, 
ii.  27  ;  suffers  from  speculators,  etc.,  30  ;  necessities 
of,  in  1779, 1780,  44,  45 ;  discontents  of  officers  and 
troops,  152 ;  causes  of  excitement  and  irritation,  154, 
55  ;  petition  of  officers  to  Congress,  157;  dissatisfac 
tion  of,  158  ;  Washington's  course  with,  158-60  ;  re 
duction  of,  and  good  conduct,  161  ;  mutinous  con 
duct  of  some  new  levies,  161 ;  disbanded,  167  ;  fare 
well  orders  of  Washington  to,  167,  68 ;  inefficiency 
of,  at  opening  of  war  of  1812,  iii.  156,  157 ;  registei 
of.  in  1857,  549. 

Army,  United  States,  in  July  1861,  iv.  51,  52  ;  in  De 
cember,  103  ;  successes  of,  during  1862, 257,  58  ;  num 
ber  of  troops  259  ;  in  December,  1863,  390  ;  under 
Grant,  424 ;  in  December,  1864,  507  ;  in  May  1865, 
538  ;  number  of  men  mustered  out,  538. 

Army  of  the  Cumberland,  iv.  250,  348  ;  advance  of  in 
June,  1863,  350 ;  Gen.  Thomas  in  command,  356. 

Army  of  the  Ohio,  iv.  219  ;  Gen.  Burnside  in  command, 
356. 

Army  of  the  Potomac,  iv.  57 ;  leaves  the  Peninsula, 
206 ;  morale  after  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  244 ; 
Hooker  in  command,  279  ;  strength  of,  280  ;  after 
Chancellorsville,  287,  320 ;  active  operations  promised, 
319  ;  advance  to  Frederic,  Md.,  326 ;  Meade  in  com 
mand,  326 ;  in  autumn  of  1863,  383,  84  ;  reorganized, 
by  Grant,  423,  24 ;  state  of,  according  to  Swinton, 
in  summer  of  1864,  443.  . 

Army  of  the  Tennessee,  Sherman  in  command,  iv.  356  ; 
McPherson  in  command,  422. 

Army  of  Virginia,  under  Pope,  iv.  209. 

Army,  rebel,  number  of  men  surrendered,  iv.  538. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  i.  353,  54;  expedition  into  Canada, 
370,  72-74  ;  on  Lake  Champlain,  426,  27 ;  in  camp, 
470 ;  stratagem  of,  496,  97  ;  at  battle  of  Stillwater, 
501,  2  ;  causes  which  led  to  his  treachery,  ii.  89,  90  ; 
in  command  at  West  Point,  91 ;  meets  Andre,  91 ; 
escapes  to  New  York,  93 ;  remarks  of  Washington 
on  his  escape,  97;  in  Virginia,  113  ;  ravages  commit 
ted  by  him  there,  114-16  ;  returns  to  New  York,  116  ; 
expedition  against  New  London,  140,  41 ;  end  of  his 
career,  141. 

Arrests,  military,  iv.  94,  259 ;  order  from  war  depart 
ment  respecting,  259,  60  ;  question  of,  382. 

Asgill,  Captain,  case  of,  ii.  150. 

Ashburton,  Lord,  negotiates  treaty  of  Washington,  iii. 
420,  21. 

Ashby,  rebel  cavalry  officer,  iv.  169  ;  killed,  173. 

Ashe,  Gen.,  defeat  of,  ii.  35, 36. 

Ashe,  Mrs.,  keen  retort  on  Tarleton,  ii.  119. 

Assumption  of  state  debts,  debate  on,  ii.  285-89 ;  ques 
tion  how  settled,  290,  91. 

Atlanta,  rebel  ram,  captured,  iv.  3G5,  66. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  importance  of  position,  iv.  468,  69  ;  gained 
by  Sherman,  474 :  to  be  occupied  simply  as  a  mili 
tary  post,  475  ;  people  removed,  478  ;  dismantled,  488 


INDEX. 


111 


Atlantic  Ocean,  ignorance  respecting,  in  fifteenth  cen 
tury,  i.  2. 

Atlantic  telegraph,  first  attempts,  iii.  522  ;  success  in 
laying  the  cable,  541 ;  messages  from  the  queen,  re 
joicings,  etc.,  542  ;  further  delays,  542. 

Augusta,  Ga.,  demonstration  against,  by  Sherman,  iv. 
489,  90. 

Aurora,  the,  publishes  Jay's  treaty,  ii.  363  ;  prints  Tal 
leyrand's  insolence,  423  ;  remarks  on  fires  in  Wash 
ington  city,  508. 

Aury  &  McGregor  at  Amelia  Island  and  Galveston,  iii. 
312,  13. 

Averill,  Gen.,  iv.  287;  raid  on  Longstreet's  communi 
cations,  386,  87  ;  cavalry  expedition,  436,  37  ;  pursues 
rebels  in  Pennsylvania,  449. 

Averysborough,  N.  C.,  battle  at,  iv.  524. 

Ayscue,  Sir  George,  i.  77. 


I*. 


Sacon,  Nathaniel,  rebellion  of,  i.  116-18  ;  death  of,  118. 

"  Bacon's  Laws,"  i.  117. 

Bailey,  G.,  a  defaulter  to  a  large  amount,  iii.  564. 

Bailey,  Capt.,  iv.  156. 

Bailey,  Col ,  engineering  services,  iv.  414,  15. 

Bainbridge,  Lieut.,  ii.  454,  55  ;  at  Algiers,  502  ;  goes  to 
Constantinople,  503  ;  loses  the  Philadelphia  off  Tri 
poli,  iii.  55  ;  in  the  Constitution,  takes  the  Java,  165. 

Baird,  Major,  cashiered,  iv.  230. 

Baker,  Col.,  iv.  95 ;  death  of,  at  Ball's  Bluff,  97. 

Balboa,  discovers  the  Pacific  Ocean,  i.  6. 

Baldwin  of  Massachusetts,  resolution  in  the  House, 
iv.  394. 

Ball's  Bluff,  disaster  at,  iv.  96,  97, 

Baltimore,  Lord,  see  Calvert. 

Baltimore,  riot  in,  iii.  155  ;  attacked  by  the  British, 
256-58 ;  riot  in  and  attack  on  the  Union  troops,  iv. 
26,  27  ;  apprehensions  in,  228  ;  convention  at,  456,  57. 

Bancroft,  History  of  United  States,  quoted,  i.  12,  36, 
44,  76. 

Bank,  question  of,  in  Massachusetts,  i.  169. 

Bank  of  the  United  States,  debate  on  its  creation,  ii. 
295,  96 ;  object,  capital,  duration  of  charter,  296,  97 ; 
constitutional  question,  297,  299-302  ;  Jefferson's 
views  in  opposition  to,  iii.  52  ;  Tucker's  statements, 
52,  53  ;  proposal  to  renew  the  charter,  124 ;  debate 
and  result,  128,  29  ;  new  bank  proposed,  226,  27 ; 
other  schemes,  261 ;  bill  passed  chartering  the  bank, 
301 ;  prepares  to  go  into  operation,  303,  4 ;  com 
plained  of,  316 ;  results  of  inquiry  into  its  position, 
316-18  ;  Langdon  Cheves  chosen  president,  318  ;  re 
turn  of  confidence,  318  ;  Jackson's  message  respect 
ing,  376,  77 ;  action  of  the  Hoiise,  380,  81 ;  great  con 
troversy,  Jackson's  veto,  385,86;  deposits  removed, 
394,  95  ;  action  of  the  House  on  re-chartering,  397  ; 
charter  from  legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  403 ;  stops 
specie  payments,  412. 

Bankrupt  law  repealed,  1804,  iii.  51. 

Banks,  elected  Speaker  of  the  House,  iii.  513  ;  general  in 


Baltimore,  iv.  29  ;  supersedes  Patterson,  56  ;  in  com 
mand  of  army  corps,  129  ;  in  the  Valley,  168  ;  danger 
and  retreat,  169,  70 ;  fight  at  Winchester,  170  ;  es 
capes  across  the  Potomac,  171 ;  goes  to  New  Orleans, 
190  ;  in  Virginia,  209,  10  ;  at  Washington,  228,  29  ; 
expedition  under,  to  Louisiana,  297  ;  proclamation, 
address  to  the  people,  etc.  297,  98 ;  military  move- 

'  ments,  299  ;  operations  on  the  Teche  River,  300 ;  oc 
cupies  Alexandria,  301  ;  order  as  to  a  "Corps  d'Af- 
rique,"  301  ;  moves  on  Port  Hudson,  302,  3  ;  sails  for 
the  Rio  Grande,  373  ;  efforts  in  Louisiana  for  recon 
struction,  409  ;  order  as  to  negro  labor,  409,  10  ;  ex 
pedition  with  Porter  and  Smith  to  Red  River,  410, 
11  ;  repulsed  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads  and  Pleasant 
Hill,  412,  13  ;  falls  back,  414 ;  returns  to  New  Or- 
leans,  415  ;  relieved  by  Canby,  415. 

Barataria  and  the  pirates,  iii.  275,  76. 

Bard,  Doctor,  ii.  282. 

Barlow,  Joel,  and  Dey  of  Algiers,  ii.  368  ;  minister  to 
France,  iii.  130 ;  labors  in  Paris,  140. 

Barney,  Commodore,  flotilla  of,  iii.  246-48  ;  taken  pris 
oner  at  Bladensburg,  251  :  released,  254. 

Barre,  de  la,  in  Canada,  i.  141,  42. 

Bam-,  Col.,  remarks  in  reply  to  Townshend,  i,  261,  62  ; 
speech  in  1774,  310  ;  in  1775,  385. 

Barren  Hill,  Lafayette  at,  i.  533,  34. 

Barron,  Commodore,  in  the  Mediterranean,  iii.  57  ;  in 
the  Chesapeake  when  assaulted  by  the  Leopard,  93  ; 
tried  by  court  martial  and  condemned,  94  ;  kills  De- 
catur  in  a  duel,  329  ;  rebel  secretary  of  the  navy, 
iv.  76. 

Barry,  Captain,  ii.  33. 

Barton,  Col.,  captures  Gen.  Prescott,  i.  472. 

Bates,  attorney  general,  iv.  14 ;  opinion  as  to  7iabeas 
corpus,  259  ;  resigns,  506. 

Baton  Rouge,  taken,  iv.  188 ;  attacked  by  the  rebels, 
189  ;  Gen.  Banks  at,  299. 

Battle  of  the  Kegs,  i.  539,  40. 

Baum,  Colonel,  defeated,  i,  492-94. 

Bay  of  Fundy,  expedition  up  the,  i.  233. 

Bayard,  J.  A.,  ii.  505,  16  ;  in  Congress,  iii.  30  ;  envoy  to 
treat  of  peace,  200. 

Baylor,  Colonel,  regiment  of,  bayonctted,  ii.  25. 

Beall,  J.  Y.,  convicted  and  hung  as  a  spy,  iv.  511. 

Beasley,  Major,  at  Fort  Mimms,  iii.  205. 

Beaufort,  S.  C.,  iv.  82,  152. 

Beaumarchais,  M,,  conduct  of,  i.  528 ;  the  Beaumar- 
chais  claim,  iii.  347,  48. 

Beauregard,  joins  the  rebels  at  Charleston,  iv.  17  ;  proc 
lamation  of,  34 ;  at  Manassas  or  Bull  Run,  57,  59, 60 ; 
fortifies  Island  No.  10,  143 ;  at1  Corinth,  Miss.,  144  ; 
at  Shiloh,  145  ;  determines  to  attack  Grant,  145,  46  ; 
retreats  to  Corinth,  148  ;  anxiety  of,  178  ;  evacuates 
Corinth,  179  ;  retreats  to  Tupello,  180  ;  denounces 
Pope,  180  ;  at  Charleston,  292 ;  fortifications  prepared 
by,  293-96  ;  correspondence  with  Gen.  Gillmore,  369 
70;  :n  Virginia,  437,  38;  reinforces  Hood,  484;  ad 
dress  of,  484,  85 ;  address  of,  490 ,  at  Charl  >tte,  N 
C.,  523. 


IV 


INDEX. 


"  Beaut  J  a'nd  Booty"  of  Beauregard,  iv.  34. 

Beaver  Dam  creek,  iv.  199,  200. 
Behmus's  Heights,  battle  of,  i.  500-2. 

Belcher,  governor  of  Massachusetts,  i.  171,  73 ;  dis 
placed,  172. 

Bell  and  Everett  nominated,  iii.  552. 

Bell,  Captain,  iv.  156. 

Bellamont,  Lord,  governor  of  Xew  York,  i.  179  ;  gover 
nor  of  Massachusetts,  163  ;  popularity  of,  and  death, 
164,  65. 

Bellamy,  Blackboard,  Bonnet,  pirates,  i.  169. 

Belle  Isle,  rebel  prison  hole,  iv.  509,  10. 

Belmont,  Mo,,  attacked  by  Grant,  iv.  89. 

Beman,  Nathan,  at  Ticonderoga,  i.  354. 

Benham,  Gen.,  iv.  91,  151,  193. 

Bennington,  victory  at,  i.  493-95. 

Benton,  T.  H.,  views  on  abrogation  of  the  Missouri 
Compromise,  iii.  524-27  ;  death  of,  541. 

Bentonville,  N.  C.,  battle  at,  iv.  524,  25. 

Berkeley,  Sir  William,  i.  77 ;  course  of,  115 ;  death  of, 
118. 

Berlin  decree,  1806,  iii.  90,  96. 

Bermuda  Hundred,  iv.  429. 

Bernard,  governor  of  Massachusetts,  i.  248,  280  288. 
290-93. 

Berry,  General,  iv.  284. 

Biddle,  Captain,  ii.  32,  33. 

Bidwell,  in  the  House,  iii.  70. 

Bienville  and  his  adventures,  i.  207-11. 

Big  Bethel,  iv.  35. 

Big  Black,  rout  of  Pemberton  at,  iv.  313. 

Big  Blue,  Price  defeated  at,  iv.  508. 

Biloxi,  i.  207,  8 ;  occupied,  iv.  154. 

Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  iv.  87. 

Bissell,  General,  iii.  244,  45. 

Black,  J.  S.,  attorney  general,  iii.  534. 

Black  Hawk,  iii.  388. 

Black  Rock,  British  attack  on,  iii.  190. 

Bladensburg,  battle  of,  iii.  250-54. 

Blair,  F.  P.,  in  St.  Louis,  iv.  39  ;  brigade  of,  at  Haines's 
Bluff,  249,  50  ;  under  Sherman,  520. 

Blair,  F.  P.,  senior,  goes  to  Richmond  on  peace  mission, 
iv.  512. 

Blair,  John,  associate  justice,  ii.  280. 

Blair,  Rev.  J.,  commissary  for  Virginia,  i.  189. 

Bland,  Richard,  i.  281. 

Blenker's  division,  iv.  137. 

Blennerhassett,  iii.  83,  85. 

Block,  Adriaen,  explorations  of,  i.  45. 

Blockade  of  European  coast  by  England,  iii.  90. 

Blockade  running  during  the  rebellion,  iv.  77. 

Bloomfield,  Joseph,  brigadier  general,  iii.  156  ;  expedi 
tion  into  Canada,  172,  73. 

Blouut,  senator  from  Tennessee,  ii.  534 

"  Blue  light''  treason,  iii.  239. 

Blue  Ridge,  region  of,  i.  192,  93. 

Blunt,  Gen.,  in  Kansas,  iv.  247  ;  routs  Mannaduke, 
248 ;  Quantrel  attempts  to  murder,  374  ;  relieved, 
374  ;  in  Missouri,  508. 


Board  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  i.  163  ;  report  of,  170. 

Boerstler,  Col.,  defeated,  iii.  189. 

Bolivar  and  American  Congress  at  Panama,  iii.  353-56. 

Bollman,  Dr.  Erick,  ii.  82,  83. 

Bonhomme,  Richard,  and  Paul  Jones,  ii.  57-59. 

Boone,  Daniel,  adventures  of,  i.  304,  5. 

Booth,  J.  W.,  murders  President  Lincoln,  iv.  542  ;  put 
sued  and  shot,  542. 

Boreman,  A.  J.,  governor  of  West  Virginia,  iv.  275. 

Boscawen,  admiral,  i.  229,  233,  234,  240. 

Boston,  Mass.,  founded,  i.  62  ;  spirit  of  Bostonians,  175 
excitement  in,  290  ;  arrival  of  troops,  291 ;  "  Boston 
massacre,"  295 ;  destruction  of  the  tea,  300,  1  ;  port 
bill,  310  ;  town  meetings,  312;  port  closed,  316  ;  be 
sieged  by  the  colonists,  353 ;  evacuated,  396-98 ;  ac 
tion  on  declaration  of  war  in  1812,  iii.  154 ;  draft  riot 
in,  iv.  380. 

Botetourt,  Lord,  i.  293. 

Botta,  account  of,  as  to  Boston,  in  1774,  i.  326,  27  ;  eu 
logy  on  Washington's  generalship,  484  ;  on  reception 
of  the  French  minister,  ii.  22. 

Bottom's  Bridge,  iv.  162. 

Boudinot,  Elias,  ii.  264. 

Bowdoin.  James,  i.  284,  315  ;  sent  by  Jefferson  to  Paris, 
iii.  71. 

Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  iv.  110 :  evacuated.  116. 

Braddock,  Gen.,  expedition  and  defeat  of.  i.  229-33. 

Bradford,  i.  53,  56,  57. 

Bradford,  William,  attorney  general,  ii.  337, 352  ;  death 
of,  367. 

Bradford  and  the  insurrection  in  Pennsylvania,  ii 
352,  53. 

Bradstreet,  Simon,  i.  106,  149. 

Bradstreet,  Col.,  services  of,  i.  237,  41. 

Bragg,  rebel  general,  iv.  78  ;  at  Corinth  and  Shiloh,  144, 
45  ;  projects  invasion  of  the  North-west,  218  ;  enters 
Kentucky,  220 ;  proclamation  and  address,  220 ;  re 
treats,  221 ;  escapes  with  large  spoils,  222 ;  movements 
against  Rosecrans,  251  ;  hasty  telegram,  253 ;  re 
treats  to  Tullahoma,  254 ;  report  of  254 ;  position 
of,  350  ;  falls  back,  351  ;  opportunity,  according  to 
Pollard,  352 ;  re-iuforced,  353 ;  attacks  at  Chicka- 
mauga,  354 ;  censured  by  secession  critics,  355  ;  in 
vests  Chattanooga,  356,  57  ;  blunder  of,  358  ;  retreats 
to  Dalton,  361,  62 ;  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  499. 

Brandy  wine,  battle  of  the,  i.  473,  74. 

Brant,  i.  390  ;  at  Cherry  Valley,  ii.  28. 

Bray,  Dr.,  commissioner  of  the  bishop  of  London,  i.  192. 

Breckenridge,  J.  C ,  nominated  for  vice-president  and 
elected,  iii.  519,  20 ;  nominated  for  president,  552  ; 
votes  in  favor  of,  555  ;  expelled  from  the  senate,  iv. 
105  ;  at  Baton  Rouge,  189  ;  at  Stone  River,  254 ;  in 
Virginia,  under  Lee,  437 ;  at  Saltville,  484. 

Breed's  Hill,  fortifaed,  i.  358. 

Breton,  cape,  discovered,  i.  6. 

Brewster,  Elder,  i.  52,  54. 

Breyman,  Col.,  i.  493,  94  ;  500,  2. 

Bridgeport,  affair  at,  iv.  177. 

Bright,  John,  remarks  of,  iv.  269. 


INDEX. 


Bristoe  station,  battle  at,  iv.  384,  85. 
Bridgewater,  or  Lundy's  Lane,  famous  battle  of,  iii. 
233-37. 

British  excesses  and  barbarities,  i.  464,  65  ;  fleet  enters 
the  Chesapeake,  472  ;  foraging  expeditions,  533  ;  acts 
towards  Americans,  ii.  23 ;  foraging  parties,  25  ; 
troops  leave  for  the  South,  26  ;  excesses  in  S.  Caro 
lina,  39  ;  excesses  on  northern  sea-coast,  iii.  239,  40  ; 
account  of  the  invasion  of  Washington,  262-66. 

British  treaty,  1795,  debates  on,  ii.  361-75  ;  Ames's 
speech  on,  376-83. 

Brock,  Gen.,  at  Maiden,  iii.  159  ;  at  Detroit,  160,  61  ; 
killed  at  Queenstown,  169. 

Brodhead,  History  of  New  York  by,  quoted,  i.  89. 

Broke,  Captain,  in  the  Shannon,  takes  the  Chesapeake, 
iii.  195,  98. 

Bromfield,  a  Jersey  tory,  ii.  140. 

Brooks,  P.  S.,  assaults  Senator  Sumner,  iii.  518. 

Brooks,  Gen.,  iv.  322. 

Brougham,  Henry,  in  parliament,  iii.  140. 

Brown,  John,  expedition  into  Virginia,  results  of,  iii. 
548 ;  tried  and  hung,  543  ;  ill  effects  of  his  deeds, 
549. 

Brown,  Gen.,  at  Ogdensburg,  iii.  172 ;  at  Sackett's 
Harbor,  187,  88  ;  at  French  Creek,  219,  20  ;  deter 
mines  to  attack  Gen.  Riall,  231,  32  ;  at  Lundy's  Lane, 
232-37  ;  at  Fort  Erie,  239  ;  death  of,  364. 

Brown,  Major,  death  of,  iii.  431,  32. 

Brown,  Col.  Harvey,  iv.  77,  78  ;  general  in  city  of  New 
York,  379. 

Brown,  Gen.  E.  B.,  in  Missouri,  iv.  508. 

Brown,  rebel  governor  of  Georgia,  iv.  490,  514. 

Brown  University,  i.  308. 

Browne,  expelled  by  Endicott,  i.  59,  60. 

Buccaneers,  in  Carolina,  i.  127,  164. 

Buchanan.  James,  in  the  House,  iii.  361  ;  secretary  of 
state,  425  ;  nominated  for  president  and  elected,  519, 
20  ;  inauguration  and  address,  533,  34  ;  cabinet  of, 
534  ;  message  to  Congress  (1857)  extracts  from,  537- 
89  ;  special  message  in  regard  to  Walker's  filibuster 
ing,  540  ;  message  to  Congress,  1858,  543  ;  sends  mes 
sage  to  Congress  before  its  organization,  1859,  549  ; 
views  on  various  questions,  550  ;  vetoes  the  home 
stead  bill,  551  ;  protests  against  the  Covode  commit 
tee,  551  ;  message  to  Congress,  1860,  557,  58  ;  how 
treated  in  Congress  and  elsewhere,  558  ;  special  mes 
sages  to  Congress,  559  ;  secession  feeling.in  his  cabi 
net  and  resignations,  562-64;  review  of  his  adminis 
tration,  565,  66. 

Buchanan,  commander  of  rebel  iron-plated  Merrimac, 
iv.  133,  35  ;  captured  at  Mobile,  481. 

Buckner,  J.  B.,  rebel  officer  in  Ky.,  37  ;  taken  at  Forti 
Donelson,  114,  15  ;  astonished  at  Burnside's  appear- 1 
ance,  345. 

Buell,  Gen.,  in  Kentucky,  iv.  109  ;  arrives  to  Grant's 
relief,  146  ;  in  Corinth,  180,  215  ;  movements  of,  218, 
19  ;  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  221  ;  sets  out  after  Bragg, 
221. 

Buena  Vista,  battle  of,  iii.  439,  40. 


Buford,  Col.,  defeat  of,  ii.  73,  74. 
Buford,  Gen.,  iv.,  287,  321 ;  at  Gettysburg,  327,  28. 
Bull  Run,  battle  of,  iv.  58-60 ;  effects  of  the  defeat  at, 
61 ;  bitter  lesson  taught,  61,  62  ;  second  battle  at, 
213,  14  ;  heavy  losses,  214. 
Bunker  Hill,  battle  of,  i.  359,  60  ;  importance  of  thia 

battle,  360,  61. 

Burbridge,  Gen.,  iv.  476  ;  at  Saltville  in  Va.,  484. 
Burgoyne,  Gen.,  i.  358;  in  Canada,  471,  84;  force  of, 
485  ;  speech  to  the  Indians,  485,  86  ;  proclamation  of, 
486,  509,  10  ;  answers  to,  510-13 ;  dashing  advance, 
486-90  ;  difficulties  of,  491  ;  expedition  against  Ben- 
nington,  492 ;  increase  of  difficulties,  499  ;  crosses  the 
Hudson,  501,  2  ;  attempts  to  retreat,  503  ;  surrender 
of,  504, 5  ;  causes  of  failure,  507  ;  how  treated,  508,  9. 
Burke,  Edmund,  speech  of,  271,  72 ;  plan  of  concilia 
tion,  334  ;  efforts  in  parliament,  385. 
Burnet,  governor  of  New  York,  i.  182  ;    governor  of 
Massachusetts,  170;   disputes  with  the  legislature, 
170,  1  ;  death  of,  171. 

Burnside,  Gen.,  iv.,  120 ;  expedition  to  N.  Carolina, 
120,  21 ;  proclamation,  123  ;  at  Fort  Macon,  152,  53  ; 
at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  203,  14  ;  in  Maryland,  229- 
31 ;  at  Antietam,  232  ;  supersedes  McClellan,  236  ; 
plan  of  advance,  238  ;  moves  to  Falmouth,  239  ;  un 
wise  delay  of,  239, 40 ;  crosses  the  Rappahannock,  240, 
41 ;  plan  of  battle,  241,  42  ;  terrible  losses,  243 ;  letter 
of,  243 ;  relieved  by  Hooker,  244 ;  in  the  department 
of  the  Ohio,  339  ;  general  order  of,  339  ;  arrests  Val- 
landigham,  350 ;  prohibits  newspapers,  340,  41  ;  in 
adequate  force,  341  ;  sets  out  for  Knoxville,  Tenn., 
344,  45 ;  crosses  the  Cumberland  mountains,  345  ; 
enters  Knoxville,  346;  further  movements,  347;  be 
sieged  in  Knoxville,  362,  63  ;  scarcity  of  supplies, 
363;  relieved  of  command  by  Gen.  Foster,  364;  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  424,  35  ;  at  Petersburg, 
Va.,  445,  51 ;  retires  from  service,  453. 
Burr,  Aaron,  senator  from  New  York,  ii.  304,  337 ;  ac 
tive  in  politics,  505  ;  gets  and  prints  Hamilton's  let 
ter^  509  ;  activiry  and  skill  in  political  warfare,  514; 
vice-president  of  the  United  States,  517  ;  dropped  by 
the  republicans,  iii.  60 ;  challenges  Hamilton,  61 ;  the 
duel,  62  ;  schemes  in  the  West,  78  ;  arrested,  81  ; 
trial  of,  83,  84 ;  not  convicted,  84 ;  goes  to  England, 
85  ;  end  of  his  career,  85  ;  remarks  on  the  trial  of,  by 
Jefferson,  95. 

Burroughs,  at  Salem,  put  to  death,  i.  159- 
Burrows,  Lieutenant,  death  of,  iii.  197. 
Bushnell  and  the  torpedo,  i.  518. 

Butler,  B.  F.,  at  Annapolis,  iv.  27,28  ;  failure  of,  at  Big 
Bethel,  35  ;  in  command  of  expedition  to  Hatteras 
Inlet,  76  ;  in  command  of  New  Orleans  expedition, 
154 ;  course  in  New  Orleans,  proclamation,  etc.,  183, 
84  ;  poor  to  be  fed,  184 ;  how  paid  for,  185  ;  streets 
to  be  cleaned,  185 ;  troubles  with  Netherlands 
consul,  185  ;  order  No.  28,  186,  87  ;  hangs  burglars, 
etc.,  188 ;  scheme  for  isolating  Vicksburg,  188 ;  re 
called,  190,  297  ;  in  North  Carolina,  405  ;  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  under  Grant,  424;  Grant's  urgency  towards, 


VI 


INDEX. 


428 ;  advance  by  James  River,  428,  29  ;  occupies 
Bermuda  Hundred,  and  dispatch  of,  429 ;  at  Fort 
Darling  and  Drury's  Bluff,  437,  38  ;  shut  up  in  his 
entrenchments,  438  ;  movement  against  Petersburg, 
440,  41  ;  movement  on  the  railroad,  unsuccessful, 
445,  46  ;  reconnaissance,  etc.,  496,  97 ;  share  in  Fort 
Fisher  expedition,  498 ;  powder  boat,  498 ;  severe 
censure  of,  by  Grant,  498  ;  superseded  by  Ord,  499  ; 
farewell  address  of,  499. 

Butler,  Col.  John,  at  Wyoming,  ii.  23-25. 

Butler,  Col.  William,  ii.  28. 

Butler,  Col.  Zebulon,  at  Wyoming,  ii.  23-25. 

Butler,  Gen.  W.  0.,  nominated  for  vice-president,  iii. 
457. 

Butler,  Walter,  at  Cherry  Valley,  ii.  28  ;  death  of,  146. 

Butterfield,  Gen.,  iv.  404,  5. 

Buttrick,  Major,  at  Concord,  i.  336. 

Byron  and  the  British  fleet,  ii.  18,  26. 


C. 


Cabot,  Sebastian,  voyages  of,  i.  5  ;  death  of,  6. 

Cadwallader,  Gen.,  i.  441,  59,  61,  526. 

Cadwalader,  Gen.,  in  Maryland,  iv.  29. 

Cairo,  Illinois,  iv.  87. 

Calef,  Robert,  opposes  the  witchcraft  delusion,  i.  160. 

Calhoun,  John  C.,  views  as  to  war  in  1811,  iii.  136; 
speeches  on  increasing  the  navy  and  loan  bill,  226  ; 
advocates  the  United  States  Bank,  227  ;  action  in 
favor  of  establishing  the  bank,  300,  1 ;  on  internal 
improvements,  305  ;  secretary  of  war,  309 ;  reports 
on  roads,  canals,  etc.,  320 ;  elected  vice-president, 
347  ;  charges  against,  360  ;  re-elected,  364  ;  dissen 
sion  with  Jackson,  382,  83  ;  resolutions  in  Congress, 
391,  92 ;  at  the  convention  on  the  slavery  question, 
460,  61 ;  speech  of,  in  the  Senate,  477 ;  death  of,  477. 

California,  taken  possession  of,  iii.  437,  38  ;  gold  dis 
covered  in,  458 ;  bill  to  admit  as  a  state,  459  ;  ad 
mitted  into  the  Union,  480. 

Callender  and  Jefferson,  iii.  34. 

Calvert,  Lord  Baltimore,  i.  78,  9  ;  Cecilius,  79  ;  Leonard, 
80 ;  Philip,  83,  120  ;  Benedict,  becomes  a  protestant, 
192. 

Camden,  battle  of,  ii.  79-81. 

Cam  den,  Lord,  on  taxing  the  Colonies,  i.  272. 

Cameron,  S.,  secretary  of  war,  iv.  14  ;  retires,  98  ;  re 
port  of,  as  printed,  103. 

Camillus,  essays  of,  by  Hamilton,  ii.  364. 

Campaign  of  1780,  abortive  in  results,  ii.  88 ;  of  1812, 
results  of,  iii.  173  ;  of  1813,  anxiously  looked  to,  180 ; 
close  of,  223  ;  of  1814,  opening  of,  227. 

Campbell,  Col.,  of  Virginia  line,  death  of,  ii.  130,  31. 

Campbell,  Col.,  in  Georgia,  ii.  26,  31, 32. 

Campbell,  G.  W.,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iii.  201. 

Canada,  i.  11 ;  affairs  in,  141-43  ;  conquest  of,  attempted, 
154,  55  ;  combined  attack  against,  167  ;  subdued, 
245,  46  ;  expedition  against,  by  Americans,  370  ;  re 
sult  of  expedition,  374  ;  operations  in,  425-27  ;  plan 
for  invading,  iii.  157  ;  failure  of  expedition  against, 


222,  23  ;  attempt  at  revolution,  410,  11  ;  raids  from, 
into  the  United  States,  iv.  511. 

Canby,  Gen.,  in  command  of  military  division  of  West 
Mississippi,  iv.  415  ;  at  Mobile  with  Farragut,  481  ; 
success,  and  thanks  of  the  president  to,  481,  82 ;  at 
Mobile,  528 ;  receives  the  surrender  of  Taylor  and 
Smith,  538. 

Canning,  head  of  the  English  ministry,  ii.  89-92. 

Canova,  statue  of  Washington  by,  ii.  199. 

Cape  Horn,  origin  of  name,  i.  45. 

Capital  of  the  United  States,  site  of,  fixed  on  the  Poto 
mac,  ii.  289  ;  Washington's  labors  in  laying  out  and 
planning  the  city,  303,  4. 

Caramalli,  Yussuf,  in  Tripoli,  iii.  57. 

Carleton,  Gen.,  i.  365,  371,  72  ;  vigorous  efforts  of,  426, 
27  ;  superseded,  484 ;  appointed  over  Clinton,  ii,  148  ; 
in  New  York,  151  ;  communicates  with  Washington, 
152  ;  evacuates  New  York,  168. 

Carleton,  Major,  ii.  98. 

Carlisle,  Earl  of,  i.  531. 

Carmarthen,  Lord,  ii.  196. 

Carmichael,  William,  at  Madrid,  ii.  294. 

Carnatick,  the,  outrage  by,  ii.  454. 

Carolina,  early  settlement  of,  i.  122  ;  proprietaries  and 
their  measures,  122,  23;  second  charter  of,  123; 
John  Locke's  "  Grand  Model,"  124 ;  North  and  South 
Carolina,  125 ;  Spanish  intrigues  and  discontents; 
125,  26  ;  disturbances,  127 ;  buccaneers  favored,  127  ; 
further  troubles,  128;  feuds,  etc.,  193;  Archdale's 
labors,  193,  94  ;  dissenters  disfranchised,  194 ;  affairs 
in  North  Carolina,  194  ;  war  with  the  Indians,  194, 
95  ;  attack  on  St.  Augustine,  195  ;  paper  money  is 
sued,  195  ;  war  with  the  Yemassees,  196  :  heavy  loss 
and  debt,  196  ;  in  South  Carolina,  insurrection  against 
proprietary  rule,  197 ;  North  Carolina  sells  out  to  the 
crown,  197  ;  treaty  with  the  Cherokees,  197,  98  ;  pro 
gress  of,  198  ;  insurrection  in  North  Carolina,  303  ;  the 
"  Regulators,"  303  ;  defeated,  304. 

Carolina,  South,  takes  the  lead  in  secession  and  rebel 
lion,  iii.  555 ;  excitement  in  1860,  555 ;  ordinance  of 
secession,  556  ;  address,  declaration,  proclamation  of 
governor,  etc.,  556  ;  demands  of,  on  Mr.  Buchanan, 
559;  violence,  threats  of,  etc.,  563. 

Caroline,  burning  of  the,  iii.  411. 

Carroll,  Col.,  iv.  173,  74. 

Carter,  Gen.,  cavalry  expedition  of,  iv.  255. 

Carteret,  governor  of  New  Jersey,  i.  90-92. 

Carver,  John,  i.  55,  56. 

Casey,  Gen.,  at  Seven  Pines,  iv.  164,  166. 

Casimir,  fort,  i.  86,  87. 

Cass,  Lewis,  Colonel  in  Hull's  expedition,  iii.  157,  60; 
denounces  Hull,  161 ;  at  Detroit,  218  ;  nominated  foi 
president,  1848,  457  ;  vote  received,  457 ;  views  on 
obeying  instructions,  508  ;  secretary  of  state,  534 ; 
resigns,  563. 

Cassin,  Commodore,  iii.  191. 

Caucus  of  members  of  Congress,  iii.  60.  64,  101 ;  Madi. 
son  and  Clinton  nominated  by,  101  ;  Monroe  and 
Tompkins  nominated  by,  302;  Crawford  nominated  foi 


INDEX. 


vu 


president  by,  844;  the  system  denounced  by  the 
press,  344. 

Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  battle  at,  iv.  494,  95. 

Cedar  Mountain,  battle  at,  iv.  209,  10. 

Census  of  the  United  States,  first,  1790,  ii.  297  ;  second, 
1800,  508  ;  third,  1810,  iii.  130 ;  fourth,  1820,  329  ; 
fifth,  1830,  381  ;  sixth,  1840,  414  ;  seventh,  1850, 
481 ;  eighth,  1860,  553. 

Central  America,  treaty  with,  iii.  359  ;  debate  respect 
ing  affairs  of,  500. 

Chalmers,  Annals  of,  quoted,  i.  95. 

Chambersburg,  Pa.,    entered  by  rebels,  iv.  323,  25 ; 

•     entered  and  burnt,  449. 

Cliampe,  Sergeant,  adventures  of,  ii.  95,  102-8. 

Champlain,  Samuel,  in  Canada,  i.  12. 

Champlain,  Lake,  movements  on,  iii.  229  ;  battle  of, 
241-44 

Chancellor,  voyage  of,  i.  21. 

Clianceilorsville,  Va.,  occupied  by  Gen.  Hooker,  iv.  281 ; 
battle  of,  285-87  ;  terrible  losses  at,  287. 

Chandler  and  Winder,  at  Stony  Creek,  iii.  188,  89. 

Chantrey,  statue  of  Washington  by,  ii.  199. 

Chapultepec,  iii.  448-50. 

Charleston,  S.  C.,  attack  on  by  Clinton,  i.  401,  2  ;  Pre- 
vost  before,  ii.  38  ;  besieged  by  Clinton,  and  surren 
der,  71-73  ;  Gen.  Leslie  in  command,  154 ;  forts  in  the 
harbor  of,  iii.  562  ;  determination  of  people  to  attack 
Fort  Sumter,  5G3  ;  attempts  to  break  the  blockade, 
iv.  292  ;  Beauregard's  fortifications,  293-95  ;  attack 
on  by  Dupont,  294-96 ;  alarm  in,  367  ;  strength  of 
defences,  307  ;  demonstration  against,  520  ;  evacuated 
by  the  rebels,  and  condition  of,  521. 

Charlevoix,  quoted,  i.  137. 

Chase,  Samuel,  judge,  articles  of  impeachment  against, 
iii.  53  ;  tried  and  acquitted,  65. 

Chase,  S.  P.,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iv.  14  ;  report 
of,  circular,  etc.,  July  1861,  52  ;  report  of,  103  ;  re 
port  of,  2G4,  65  ;  report  of,  392,  93  ;  resigns,  506  ; 
appointed  chief  justice  of  the  United  States,  506, 
517. 

Chatham,  Earl  of,  see  Pitt,  William. 

Chattahoochce,  Sherman's  success  at,  iv.  471. 

Chattanooga,  evacuated  by  Bragg,  iv.  352  ;  invested 
by  Bragg,  356,  57  ;  relieved  by  Union  troops,  357,  58  ; 
battle  of,  359-62  ;  losses,  value  of  victory  at,  etc., 
362. 

Chauncey,  Isaac,  Captain,  on  the  lakes,  iii.  165  ;  at  the 
attack  on  York,  186  ;  at  Fort  George  and  Erie,  187  ; 
on  Lake  Ontario,  218,  19,  30. 

Cherokees,  amicable  arrangement  with,  i.  197 ;  war 
with,  247  ;  subdued  by  Pickens,  ii.  131 ;  treaty  with, 
197  ;  treaty  with,  535  ;  progress  of,  iii.  104. 

Cherry  Valley,  attack  on  by  Indians,  ii.  28. 

Cherubusco,  iii.  446,  47. 

Chesapeake  Bay,  explored  by  Smith,  i.  35. 

Chesapeake,  the,  assaulted  by  the  Leopard,  iii.  92,  93  ; 
taken  by  the  Shannon,  195,  96. 

Chesapeake,  steamer,  seized  by  pirates,  iv.  387  ;  re 
captured,  387,  88. 


Cheves,  Langdon,  Speaker  of.  the  House,  iii.  225. 

Chicago,  evacuated  by  Capt.  Heald,  iii.  160 ;  political 
convention  at,  iv.  462  ;  platform,  etc.,  502. 

Chickahominy,  rebel  line  of,  iv.  162  ;  crossed  by  Mc- 
Clellan,  163,  61 ;  bridges  over,  164  ;  height  of  water 
in,  196  ;  crossed  by  bridges,  201. 

Chickamauga,  battle  of,  iv.  354,  55  ;  heavy  losses,  355. 

Chickasaws,  war  with,  by  the  French,  i.  211. 

China,  commissioner  sent  to,  iii.  422  ;  W.  B.  Reed, 
minister  to,  537. 

Chippewa,  battle  of,  iii.  231,  32. 

Choctaws,  treaty  with,  ii.  197 ;  engaged  on  the  side 
of  the  United  States,  iii.  204-6. 

Cholera,  in  United  States,  1832,  iii.  387,  88. 

Christie,  Col.,  iii.  169. 

Chrystler's  Field,  battle  of,  iii.  220. 

Church,  Col.,  i.  152, 161. 

Church,  Dr.  B.,  conduct  and  fate  of,  i.  363. 

Cincinnati,  Society  of  the,  ii.  161,  62,  216,  17. 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  iv.  217  ;  preparations  for  defence  of, 
218. 

Circuit  Courts  of  the  U.  States,  bill  to  repeal  in  Con 
gress,  1801,  iii.  29-31  ;  re-arranged,  31. 

Claiborne,  Gen.,  iii.  208-10. 

Claiborne,  W.  0.  C.,  in  Louisiana,  iii.  44,  45,  126. 

Clarendon,  i.  123. 

Clark,  H.  T.,  rebel  governor  of  N.  Carolina,  iv.  123. 

Clarke,  agent  for  Rhode  Island,  i.  107. 

Clarke,  Col.  G.  R.,  expedition  against  the  Indians,  ii. 

Clarke,  governor  of  New  York,  i.  183,  84.  [29,  30- 

Clarke,  Daniel,  in  New  Orleans,  iii,  44. 

Clay,  Henry,  in  Kentucky  convention,  ii.  530 ;  speech 
at  Lexington,  536,  37 ;  enters  U.  States  Senate,  iii. 
79  ;  efforts  in  behalf  of  American  industry,  124;  op 
poses  U.  S.  bank  charter  renewal,  128 ;  elected 
speaker  of  the  House,  135  ;  advocates  the  war  of 
1812,  139  ;  speaker  of  the  House,  199 ;  goes  to  Eu 
rope  as  commissioner,  225  ;  Speaker  of  the  House, 
298  ;  advocates  the  tariff  and  U.  States  bank,  300, 1 ; 
on  internal  improvements,  805  ;  Speaker  of  the  House, 
310 ;  speech  on  Gen.  Jackson's  proceedings  in  Flo 
rida,  319  ;  Speaker  of  the  House,  323 ;  on  the  Mis 
souri  question,  326  ;  efforts  in  Congress  in  1821,  332  ; 
on  the  tariff  question,  343 ;  candidate  for  president 
in  1824,  346  ;  favors  election  of  J.  Q.  Adams,  347 ; 
injury  to  his  prospects,  347 ;  duel  with  John  Ran 
dolph,  355 ;  correspondence  with  Addington,  356 ; 
the  "  great  conspiracy,"  360  ;  how  treated,  and  evil 
effects,  361  ;  "  compromise  tariff"  bill,  392,  93  ;  land 
bill,  393  ;  apostrophe  to  Van  Buren,  398  ;  report  on 
subject  of  reprisals  against  France,  400  ;  nominated 
for  president,  423  ;  compromise  resolutions  of  1850, 
476,  77 ;  letter  of  resignation  and  death  of,  491. ' 

Clay,  General,  iii.  184,  85. 

Clay,  C.  M.,  minister  to  Russia,  iv.  14  ;  letter  to  the 
London  Times,  64. 

Clayborne,  opposed  to  the  Colony  of  Maryland,  i.  79-82. 

Clay  ton-Bui  wer  treaty,  iii.  497,  500  ;  disputes  growing 
out  of,  537. 


via 


INDEX. 


Clergy,  the,  how  spoken  of  by  Jefferson,  iii.  17. 

Cleveland  convention,  May,  1864,  iv.  456  ;  Fremont  and 
Cochrane  nominated  at,  456. 

Clinton,  De  Witt,  iii.  137,  175  ;  advocates  the  Erie  Ca 
nal,  353. 

Clinton,  George,  governor  of  N.  York,  course  of  in  re 
gard  to  calling  legislature  together,  ii.  190  ;  candi 
date  for  vice-president,  GO  ;  elected,  66  ;  candidate 
again,  101  ;  elected,  105  ;  death  of,  140. 
..Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  i.  853,  390  ;  attack  on  Charleston, 
•».  401 ;  on  the  Hudson,  505,  6  ;  success  there,  506 ; 
commander  in-chief  of  the  British  forces,  531  ;  evac 
uates  Philadelphia,  ii.  11  ;  goes  to  Rhode  Island,  20  ; 
destroys  several  towns,  22 ;  proceeds  to  the  South, 
70 ;  besieges  and  takes  Charleston,  71-73 ;  further 
steps,  73,  74  ;  returns  to  N.  York,  75  ;  efforts  to  save 
Andre,  95,  96  ;  deprives  Cornwallis  of  part  of  his 
forces,  134,  5  ;  deceived  by  Washington,  137-39 ;  en 
deavors  to  succor  Cornwallis,  141,  44  ;  superseded  by 
Carleton,  148. 

Clinton,  Gen.  James,  ii.  51,  53. 

Coal  Harbor,  iv.  163. 

Cobo,  Howell,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iii.  534 ;  re 
signs  and  joins  the  rebels,  563  ;  chairman  of  the  se 
cession  convention,  560. 

Cobden,  remarks  of,  iv.  269. 

Cochran,  Dr.  J.,  Washington's  letter  to,  ii.  50,  51. 

Cochrane,  Admiral,  in  the  Chesapeake,  iii.  248. 

Cochrane,  John,  nominated  for  vice-president,  iv.  456. 

Cockburn,  Admiral,  exploits  of,  iii.  191,  92 ;  in  the 
Chesapeake,  246  ;  attempt  on  Baltimore,  257 ;  re 
treats,  258. 

Coffee,  Gen.,  victory  of,  over  the  Indians,  iii.  208,  10. 

Colburn,  Col.,  captured  by  the  rebels,  iv.  349. 

Cold  Harbor,  importance  of  position  at,  iv.  436. 

Coligny  and  the  Huguenots,  i.  9,  10. 

Colleges  in  America,  i.  308. 

Colleton,  in  Carolina,  i.  128. 

Collot,  ii,  430,  509. 

Col  Iyer,  Sir  George,  ii.  40,  50. 

Colonial  army,  defects  in,  i.  361,  62. 

Colonial  Congress,  recommended,  i.  263  ;  meets  in  N. 
York,  acts  of,  etc.,  265,  66. 

Colonial  governments  in  1775,  76,  i.  400. 

Colonies,  American,  general  condition  of,  i.  212  ;  state 
of  trade,  commerce,  etc.,  213 ;  religion,  mode  of  liv 
ing,  fashions  in,  215  ;  approaching  struggle  with 
the  French,  219 ;  plan  for  union,  228  ;  exultation 
over  success,  247 ;  settlements,  learning,  wealth,  etc., 
251,  52  ;  population  in  1764,  253  ;  energy  and  ability, 
253  ;  causes  which  led  to  the  contest  with  England, 
254 ;  not  ready  for  independence  in  1775,  367-69  ; 
the  only  choice  left,  392,  93. 

Colonization,  slow  progress  of,  in  America,  i.  29. 

Columbia  River,  settlement  at  mouth  of,  discussed,  iii. 

Columbia,  S.  C.,  taken  by  Sherman,  iv.  521,  23.       [339. 

Columbus,  Christopher,  early  life,  voyages,  etc.  i.  2 ; 
discovers  the  New  World,  3  ;  sufferings  and  death 
of.  4. 


Columbus,  Ky.,  abandoned  by  the  rebels,  iv.  116, 141 

Commerce  and  trade  tit  close  of  1863,  iv.  395. 

Commercial  intercourse  with  foreign  nations,  ii.  180 
king  and  council  in  England  charged  with,  192. 

Commercial  convention  with  England,  iii.  294 ;  dis 
cussed  in  Congress,  302  ;  convention  with  France, 
338  ;  distress  on  Van  Buren's  accession,  407,  8. 

Commissioners,  American,  solicit  aid  from  France,  i. 
453  ;  royal,  attempt  at  negotiation,  531,  32  ;  meet  at 
Annapolis,  1786,  ii.  206  ;  important  recommendation, 
206. 

"  Common  sense  "  of  Paine,  i.  387. 

Compromise  measures  of  Crittenden,  1860,  iii.  559. 

Conciliatory  plans  in  1775,  i.  333,  34. 

Confederation,  plan  proposed  in  Congress,  i.  423 ;  ef 
forts  towards,  516,  17 ;  articles  of,  535-39  ;  adopted 
by  the  States,  ii.  83  ;  inefficiency  of,  186,  87  ;  move 
ments  in  Virginia  on  the  subject,  205;  6. 

"  Confederate  States,"  so  called,  Congress  of,  at  Mont 
gomery,  Alabama,  iii.  560. 

Confiscation  bill,  iv.  104,  5  ;  act,  195. 

Congress,  colonial,  recommended,  i.  263  ;  meet  in  N. 
York,  265,  66. 

Congress,  continental,  first,  i.  318  ;  members  and  acts 
of,  318-20  ;  "  Declaration  of  Colonial  Rights,"  320- 
24 :  measures  resolved  upon,  324 ;  able  state  pa 
pers  of,  324,  25  ;  adjourned,  325  ;  proceedings  of 
approved,  327.  Second,  C54  ;  difficulties,  855  ;  issue 
of  paper  money,  356  ;  appoint  Washington  com- 
mander-in-chief,  357  ;  further  issue  of  paper  mo 
ney,  362  ;  adopt  a  "  Declaration,"  "  Petition  to  the 
King,"  etc.,  362,  63  ;  establish  posts,  363  ;  recom 
mend  a  fast  day,  364  ;  debate  respecting  inde 
pendence,  403,  4  ;  treatment  of  British  propositions 
of  peace,  423,  24  ;  committee  on  foreign  relations, 
451  ;  commissioner  sent  to  France  and  other  courts, 
453,  54  ;  progress  of  negotiations,  454  ;  leave  Phila 
delphia,  475  ;  course  as  to  prisoners  taken  from  Bur 
goyne,  508,  9  ;  circular  letter  of,  516,  17;  course  as 
to  half  pay  for  officers,  521 ;  ratify  treaty  with  France, 
530  ;  address  of,  530,  31 ;  return  to  Philadelphia,  ii. 
22  ;  receive  the  French  minister,  22  ;  recommend  re 
taliation  for  British  outrage,  25,  26 ;  dissensions  in, 
26  ;  urged  by  Washington  to  do  something  for  offi 
cers  of  the  army,  44  ;  slow  progress  of,  8G,  87  ;  diffi 
culties  and  trials,  110,  11;  foreign  loans,  111,12; 
treatment  of  the  petition  of  the  officers,  157  ;  resolve 
as  to  half-pay  for  the  officers,  160  ;  receive  Washing 
ton's  resignation  of  his  commission,  169,  70  ;  call  for 
additional  powers,  188-90  ;  ask  for  power  on  subject 
of  commerce,  not  granted,  193  ;  resolution  as  to  Ar 
ticles  of  Confederation,  210, 11 ;  course  as  to  insurrec 
tion  in  N.  England,  212,  13 ;  necessity  of  Federal 
Convention  felt,  215,  16  ;  resolution  submitting  new 
Constitution  to  the  people,  240  ;  take  steps  for  or 
ganizing  the  government  under  the  Constitution, 
256  ;  meetings  in  New  York,  256. 

Congress,  first,  meet  in  New  York,  April,  1789,  ii.  264 
able  men  in,  264 ;  Washington's  inaugural  speech, 


INDEX. 


IX 


268-70  ;  subject  of  revenue,  taken  up,  273,  74  ;  exec 
utive  departments  established,  274  ;  debate  on  power 
of  removals,  274-70 ;  amendments  to  die  Constitu 
tion  proposed,  277,  78 ;  salaries  fixed,  279  ;  resolu 
tions  as  to  support  of  public  credit  and  day  of  thanks 
giving-,  281.  Second  session,  in  New  York,  283 ;  de 
bate  on  national  and  state  debts,  285-89  ;  question 
settls  d  by  compromise  289  ;  other  questions,  291,  92. 
Third  session,  in  Philadelphia,  294 ;  national  bank 
question,  295,  96  ;  bill  passed,  296  ;  other  acts,  298  ; 
Marshall's  remarks  on  the  first  Congress,  298. 

Congress,  second,  meet  in  Philadelphia,  October,  1791, 
ii.  304 ;  Washington's  speech,  304 ;  contest  on  bill 
apportioning  representatives,  305,  6 ;  Washington's 
veto,  306 ;  question,  how  settled,  306 ;  additional 
troops  voted  to  be  raised,  306,  7 ;  Hamilton's  report 
on  raising  supplies,  307 ;  other  acts,  307.  Second 
session,  312 ;  call  for  report  on  redeeming  public 
debt,  313 ;  Mr.  Giles's  resolutions,  313,  14 ;  Hamil 
ton's  rejoinder,  314;  adjourn,  314. 

Congress,  third  meet  in  December,  1793,  ii.  327 ;  an 
swers  to  Washington's  message  on  foreign  relations, 
329,  30 ;  debate  on  Madison's  resolutions,  331-33  ; 
debate  on  increase  of  the  navy,  333  ;  retaliatory 
measures  against  England,  334,  35  ;  non-intercourse 
bill  passed  in  the  House,  defeated  in  the  Senate,  337  ; 
measures  for  national  defence,  337,  38  Second  ses 
sion,  354  ;  answers  to  Washington's  speech,  355,  56  ; 
discussions  as  to  support  of  public  credit  and  reve 
nue,  356-59  ;  adjourn,  360. 

Congress,  fourth,  meet  in  December,  1795,  ii.  3G9 ; 
opening  speech  of  the  president,  3G9,  70  ;  action  on 
Washington's  message  respecting  French  affairs,  370, 
71  ;  sharp  debate  in  the  House  on  the  treaty-making 
power,  372,  73  ;  action  on  Washington's  message, 
373  ;  celebrated  debate  in  the  House  on  the  laws  ne 
cessary  to  carry  into  effect  the  British  treaty,  374,  75  ; 
settlement  of  the  question,  375 ;  other  acts  of  the 
session,  376.  Second  session,  403 ;  Washington's 
last  speech,  403, 4  ;  message  on  relations  with  France, 
404,  5  ;  little  business  done,  405. 

Congress,  fifth,  meet  in  May,  1797,  ii.  419  ;  opening 
speech  of  John  Adams,  419 ;  acts  passed,  41 9,  20  ; 
adjourn  in  July,  420.  Second  session,  422 ;  debate 
on  French  spoliation,  423  ;  publish  the  X.  Y.  Z.  pa 
pers,  423  ;  retaliatory  measures,  424  ;  establish  the 
navy  department,  42G ;  finances,  427  ;  treaties  with 
France  declared  not  obligatory,  427,  28 ;  pass  the 
alien  and  sedition  laws,  428  ;  activity  of  Congress, 
431,  32  ;  adjourn  432.  Third  session,  451  ;  answers 
to  president's  speech,  452  ;  acts  of  and  parties  in,  453  ; 
financial  matters,  456  ;  action  of  the  Senate  on  nom 
ination  of  envoys  to  France,  459,  60. 

Congress,  sixth,  meet  in  December,  1799,  ii.  466  ;  open 
ing  speech,  466,  67 ;  debate  on  the  Robbin's  case, 
438,  61 ;  financial  matters,  499  ;  summary  of  the  acts 
and  proceedings  of  the  session,  499,  500  ;  and  of  the 
session  and  last  meeting  in  Philadelphia,  500.  Sec 


ond  session,  meet  in  the  new  capital,  Washington 
City,  510 ;  answers  to  the  president's  speech,  513 ; 
ballotings  for  president,  515-17. 

Congress,  seventh,  meet  in  December,  1801,  iii.  21 ; 
Jefferson's  first  message  to  Congress,  22-28  ;  revision 
of  the  Judiciary',  29  ;  long  and  earnest  debate,  29-31 
bill  repealed,  31  ;  internal  taxes  repealed,  32  ;  other 
acts,  82.  Second  session,  34;  president's  message, 
34,  35 ;  action  on  closing  port  of  New  Orleans,  35, 
36  ;  motion  to  call  out  troops,  38  ;  money  voted,  38 ; 
message  about  Lewis  and  Clarke's  expedition,  48, 
49  ;  other  proceedings,  49,  50  ;  adjourn,  50. 

Congress,  eighth,  meet  in  October,  1803,  iii.  42  ;  treaty 
for  purchase  of  Louisiana  ratified,  42 ;  movements, 
deba'es,  etc.,  in  the  House,  43,  4;  purchase  money 
voted,  44  ;  debate  on  an  amendment  to  the  Constitu 
tion,  50,  51 ;  bankrupt  law  repealed,  51 ;  other  work, 
53.  Second  session,  64 ;  president's  message,  64 ; 
trial  of  Judge  Chase,  65  ;  state  of  Congress,  64,  65  ; 
dominant  party  disappointed,  66  ;  laws  enacted,  66  ; 
adjourn,  66. 

Congress,  ninth,  meet  in  December.  1805,  iii.  68  ;  presi 
dent's  message,  68 ;  special  message  on  Spanish  af 
fairs,  69 ;  action,  debate,  vote  of  $2,000,000  for  pur 
chase  of  Florida,  70-72  ;  special  message  on  relations 
with  England,  73  ;  course  of  action,  73,  74 ;  party 
views,  74 ;  debate  on  internal  improvements  and  on 
taxing  imported  slaves,  74,  75  ;  state  of  parties  in 
the  House,  75,  76.  Second  session,  79  ;  message  of 
the  president,  79  ;  attempt  to  suspend  habeas  corpus 
act,  80 ;  course  of  the  House,  81  ;  message  on  tho 
gun-boat  system,  87  ;  action  taken,  87,  88 ;  law  abol 
ishing  the  slave  trade,  88  ;  close  of  the  session,  89. 

Congress,  tenth,  meet  in  October,  1807,  iii.  94  ;  action 
on  the  president's  message,  94-97  ;  embargo  passed, 
96 ;  papers  sent  in  by  the  president,  99 ;  report  of 
committee  and  action  of  Congress,  100 ;  adjourn, 
100.  Second  session,  November,  1808, 104 ;  debates, 
reports,  etc.,  as  to  embargo,  105-8;  enforcing  act, 
108 ;  embargo  repealed,  109. 

Congress,  eleventh,  meet  in  May,  1809,  iii.  118  ;  Madi 
son's  first  message,  119  ;  adjourn  in  June,  120.  Sec 
ond  session,  122  ;  resolutions  of  the  Senate,  123  ;  ac 
tion  in  the  House,  123,  24 ;  adjourn,  124.  Third  ses 
sion,  December,  1810,  126  ;  substance  of  the  message, 
126,  27 ;  debate  on  admission  of  the  Territory  of  Or 
leans  as  a  new  state,  127, 28  ;  bill  passed,  128  ;  debate 
on  re-chartering  the  U.  States  bank,  128,  29  ;  charter 
not  granted,  129  ;  debate  on  non-intercourse  act,  130  ; 
adjourn,  130. 

Congress,  twelfth,  meet  in  November,  1811.  iii.  134; 
the  message,  135,  36 ;  course  of  the  majority,  136  ; 
rjsolutions  of  committee  on  foreign  relations,  136  ; 
measures  as  to  finances  in  view  of  Avar,  138 ;  Mad 
ison's  war  message,  141-46  ;  report  of  committee  on 
foreign  relations,  147 ;  debate  with  closed  doors,  147  ; 
declaration  of  war,  147,  48  ;  other  acts  of  the  session, 
148;  adjourn,  148.  Second  session,  176;  jrincipal 


INDEX. 


business,  177  ;  report  of  committee  on  foreign  rela. 
tions,  177,  78  ;  other  acts,  178  ;  adjourn,  178. 

,\>ngress,  thirteenth,  meet  in  May,  1813,  iii.  109 ; 
measures  recommended  by  the  president,  200  ;  action 
on  nominations,  201 ;  financial  measures  and  plans, 
201,  2 ;  active  session,  adjourn  in  August,  203. 
Second  session,  224  ;  the  message,  224,  25  ;  proceed 
ings,  acts,  etc.,  226  ;  the  loan  bill,  220  ;  national  bank 
proposed,  227  ;  close  of  the  session,  227.  Third  ses 
sion,  meet  September,  1814,  258  ;  measures  recom 
mended  by  the  president,  258,  59  ;  action  respecting 
the  removal  of  the  seat  of  government,  259  ;  meas 
ures  of  the  session,  finances,  taxes,  etc.,  260-262 , 
proceedings  in  present  state  of  relations  with  Eng 
land,  288,  89  ;  measures  following  the  president's 
recommendations,  289,  90  ;  adjourn,  290. 

Congress,  fourteenth,  meet  in  December,  1815,  iii.  298 ; 
the  message,  298, 99 ;  finances,  tariff,  etc.,  299,  300  ; 
bank  of  the  United  States  chartered,  301 ;  bill  passed 
altering  mode  of  paying  members  of  Congress,  302  ; 
other  acts,  302.  Second  session,  304  ;  Madison's  last 
annual  message,  304,  5  ;  act  for  paying  off  the  na 
tional  debt,  805  ;  internal  improvements  discussed, 
bill  passed,  vetoed,  305,  6  ;  other  proceedings,  306  ; 
adjourn,  306. 

Congress,  fifteenth,  meet  in  December,  1817,  iii.  309 ; 
Monroe's  first  message,  310,  11 ;  debates,  repeal  of 
internal  duties,  tariff,  etc.,  311,  12 ;  adjourn  in 
April,  313.  Second  session,  316  ;  committee  on  U. 
States  bank  affairs,  316,  17  ;  action  respecting  Jack 
son  and  Seminole  war,  319  ;  action  as  to  Alabama 
and  Missouri,  319,  20  ;  reports,  etc.,  of  Calhoun  and 
Lowndes,  320  ;  adjourn,  321. 

Congress,  sixteenth,  meet  in  December,  1819,  iii.  323  ; 
substance  of  the  message,  323 ;  debate  on  the  Mis 
souri  question,  323-26  ;  the  compromise,  327 ;  action 
on  tariff,  bankruptcy  law,  pensions,  land  sales,  etc., 
327,  28  ;  adjourn  in  May,  328.  Second  session,  330  ; 
substance  of  the  message,  331  ;  Missouri  question 
fought  over  again,  331,  32  ;  financial  matters,  333  ; 
other  measures,  334  ;  adjourn,  334. 

Congress,  seventeenth,  meet  in  December,  1821,  iii. 
336  ;  new  members,  836  ;  the  message,  336  ;  Gen. 
Jackson's  conduct  investigated,  336  ;  ratio  of  repre 
sentation,  tariff  question,  mission  to  South  American 
Republics,  Cumberland  Road,  etc.,  336,  37  ;  adjourn 
in  May,  337.  Second  session,  338  ;  acts  of  the  session, 
338,  39  ;  adjourn,  339. 

Congress,  eighteenth,  meet  in  December,  1823,  iii.  340  ; 
the  message  and  "  Monroe  Doctrine,"  340-42  ;  roads 
and  canals,  bankruptcy  law,  tariff,  etc.,  discussed, 
343  ;  busy  session  and  acts  passed,  344.  Second  ses 
sion,  346  ;  not  much  business  done,  346  ;  J.  Q.  Adams 
elected  president  by  the  House,  347  ;  action  in  be 
half  of  Lafayette,  346  ;  adjourn,  348. 

Congress,  nineteenth,  meet  in  December,  1825,  iii.  353  ; 
Adams's  first  message,  353,  54  ;  recommendation  of 
the  president,  how  treated,  354,  55  ;  debate  on  ques 


tion  of  American  Congress  at  Panama,  355  ;  amend 
ments  to  the  Constitution  proposed,  356  ;  Creek 
treaty,  357 ;  increase  of  judges,  357  ;  internal  im 
provements,  358  ;  adjourn  in  May,  358.  Second  ses 
sion,  359  ;  the  message,  859  ;  various  matters,  action 
upon,  etc.,  360  ;  adjourn,  360. 

Congress,  twentieth,  meet  in  December,  1827,  iii.  361  ; 
full  attendance,  361 ;  substance  of  the  message,  361, 
62  ;  long  debate  on  the  tariff  question,  362  ;  retrench 
ment  discussed,  363  ;  judiciary  bill,  etc.,  364 ;  adjourn 
iii  May,  364.  Second  session,  364  ;  Adams's  last  mes 
sage,  364,  65  ;  little  business  done,  365,  66  ;  adjourn, 
366. 

Congress,  twenty-first,  meet  in  December,  1829,  iii. 
374 ;  Jackson's  first  message,  374-77 ;  measures  re 
commended,  views  on  various  questions,  etc.,  375- 
77  ;  public  lands,  debate  on  Foot's  resolution,  377- 
79 ;  revision  of  the  tariff,  379  ;  action  of  the  Senate 
on  the  president's  nominations,  379,  80 ;  removal  of 
Indians  west  of  the  Mississippi,  380  ;  action  against 
Jackson's  views  on  U.  States  bank  question,  380,  81 ; 
adjourn  May  31st,  381.  Second  session,  382 ;  mes 
sage  and  its  views,  382  ;  action  on  subject  of  internal 
improvements,  882,  83  ;  other  acts,  383  ;  adjourn, 
383. 

Congress,  twenty-second,  meet  in  December,  1831,  iii. 
884 ;  substance  of  the  message,  384 ;  apportion 
ment  under  new  census,  384,  85  ;  U.  States  bank, 
debate,  bills  passed,  385,  86 ;  vetoed  by  the  president, 
386;  public  lands,  tariff,  etc.,  386,  87;  adjourn  in 
July,  387.  Second  session,  389  ;  action  as  to  tariff, 

390,  91  ;  enforcing  bill,  391  ;  Calhouu's  resolutions, 

391,  92;    Grundy's  resolutions,  392;   Clay's  "com 
promise  tariff"  bill,  893;  adjourn,  394. 

Congress,  twenty-third,  meet  in  December,  1833,  iii. 
395;  action  on  subject  of  the  deposits,  396:  Clay's 
resolution  and  Jackson's  protest,  896  ;  stormy  debate, 
396 ;  resolution  of  censure,  396  ;  action  in  House  on 
re-chartering  bank,  897 ;  adjourn,  in  June,  393.  Sec 
ond  session,  399  ;  not  much  done,  adjourn,  399. 

Congress,  twenty-fourth,  meet  in  December,  1835,  iii. 
402  ;  message  of  the  president,  402,  3  ;  action  as  to 
deposits  in  State  banks,  403  ;  slavery  discussion,  404 , 
adjourn  in  July,  404.  Second  session,  405  ;  sub 
stance  of  Jackson's  last  message,  405  ;  expunging 
resolution,  405,  6  ;  specie  circular  repealed,  but  kept 
by  the  president,  406  ;  adjourn,  406. 

Congress,  twenty-fifth,  meet  in  September,  1837,  iii. 
408;  Van  Buren's  message,  408,  9;  measures  pro 
posed,  409  ;  adjourn  in  October,  409.  Second  session, 
in  December,  409  ;  sub  treasury  plan,  409  ;  acts  of 
session  and  resolution  as  to  specie  circular,  409,  10  ; 
resolutions  as  to  annexing  Texas,  410 ;  adjourn  in 
July,  410.  Third  session,  411  ;  substance  of  work 
performed,  411,  12  ;  adjourn.  412. 

Congress,  twenty-sixth,  meet  in  December,  1839,  iii. 
412 ;  case  of  New  Jersey  members,  412  ;  substance 
of  the  message,  413  ;  independent  treasury  discussed 


INDEX. 


and  passed,  413  ;  other  action,  413  ;  adjourn  in  July, 
413.  Second  session,  414  ;  not  much  business  done, 
414 ;  adjourn,  414. 

Congress,  twenty-seventh,  meet  in  May,  1841,  iii. 
417  ;  message  of  Tyler,  417  ;  action  as  to  national 
bank,  417,  18 ;  sub-treasury  repealed,  418 ;  number 
of  acts  passed,  and  adjourn  in  September,  418,  19. 
Second  session,  419  ;  longest  ever  held,  419  ;  Tyler's 
plans,  discussion,  etc.,  419,  20 ;  Senate  ratify  the 
treaty  of  Washington,  420.  Third  session,  421 ;  sub 
stance  of  message,  421,  22  ;  Oregon  question,  422  ; 
other  action,  422  ;  adjourn,  422. 

Congress,  twenty-eighth,  meet  in  December,  1843,  iii. 
422 ;  president's  message,  422  ;  acts  passed,  422 ; 
question  of  annexation  of  Texas,  423.  Second  ses 
sion,  424  ;  the  message  and  Texas  matters,  424 ;  joint 
resolutions  on  annexation,  424 ;  other  action,  424 ; 
adjourn,  424. 

Congress,  twenty-ninth,  meet  in  December,  1845,  iii. 
427 ;  message  of  Mr.  Polk,  427 ;  measures  recom 
mended,  as  to  Oregon,  427,  28  ;  the  tariff,  etc.,  427 ; 
debate  and  action  on  Oregon,  427,  23 ;  declaration  of 
war  against  Mexico,  428  ;  tariff  bill,  429  ;  sub-treasury 
passed,  429 ;  Wilmot  proviso,  429 ;  other  acts  and 
adjournment,  430.  Second  session,  430 ;  substance 
of  work  performed,  the  Mexican  war,  etc.,  430. 

Congress,  thirtieth,  meet  in  December,  1847,  iii.  455  ; 
the  message,  455  ;  views  on  various  questions,  455, 
56  ;  Wilmot  proviso,  456  ;  death  of  J.  Q.  Adams,  at 
his  post,  456  ;  adjourn  in  August,  456.  Second  ses 
sion,  458  ;  Folk's  last  message,  views,  etc.,  458,  59  ; 
action  as  to  California  and  New  Mexico,  459,  60 ; 
principal  acts  passed,  460  ;  adjourn,  461. 

Congress,  thirty-first,  meet  in  December,  1849,  iii.  475  ; 
full  attendance,  three  weeks  wasted,  475 ;  Cobb, 
speaker,  475  ;  slavery  question,  476  ;  Henry  Clay's 
compromise  resolutions,  476,  77  ;  select  committee's 
report  in  May,  1850,  478  ;  "  omnibus  bill,"  478  ;  de 
bates,  etc.,  478  ;  Fillmore's  message,  479  ;  compro 
mise  measures  carried,  480  ;  other  acts,  481 ;  adjourn 
in  September,  481.  .Second  session,  484;  the  mes 
sage,  484, 85  ;  reports  of  the  secretaries,  485  ;  debates, 
bills  passed,  etc.,  486. 

Congress,  thirty-second,  meet  in  December,  1851,  iii. 
490 ;  the  message,  490,  91  ;  substance  of  the  session's 
work,  492,  93  ;  adjourn  in  August,  492.  Second  ses 
sion,  496;  the  message,  496,  97;  topics  spoken  of, 
497  ;  discussion  on  the  Clayton-Bulwer  treaty,  etc., 
497,  98  ;  other  business,  498  ;  adjourn,  498. 

Congress,  thirty-third,  meet  in  December,  1853,  iii.  503  ; 
Pierce's  first  message,  substance  of,  503,  4  ;  principal  | 
work  of  the  session,  504,  5  ;  Douglas's  bill,  504  ;  de- ; 
bate  in  the  Senate,  505  ;  bill  pnssed,  505  ;  course  of 
the  House,  505,  6  ;  Gadsden  treaty,  506  ;  adjourn  in  \ 
August,  507.  Second  session,  508;  the  president's 
veto,  508 ;  other  vetoes,  509 ;  various  bills  passed,  \ 
510 ;  Ostend  conference  documents,  510 ;  adjourn, 
510. 

Congress,  thirty-fourth,  meet  in  December,  1855,  iii. ' 


513  ;  long  contest  for  speakership,  513 ;  substance  of 
the  message,  514 ;  debates,  contests,  etc.,  517-19  ; 
adjourn  in  August,  520.  Second  session,  520  ;  Pierce'a 
last  message,  520  ;  business  of  the  session,  524  .  ad 
journ,  524. 

Congress,  thirty -fifth,  meet  in  December,  1857,  iii.  537  ; 
Buchanan's  message,  extracts  from,  537-39 ;  Kansas 
question  in  dispute,  540  ;  discussion's  as  to  British 
searching  American  vessels  in  Gulf  of  Mexico,  541 ; 
adjourn  in  June,  541.  Second  session.  543  ;  strength 
of  administration  lessened,  543 ;  extracts  from  the 
message,  544 ;  Pacific  Railroad  question  in  the  Sen 
ate,  545  ;  views  of  Seward,  Iverson,  etc.,  as  to  route 
to  the  Pacific,  545  ;  Slidell's  Cuba  acquisition  bill, 
discussed,  withdrawn,  545,  46  ;  last  acts  of  this  Con 
gress,  546. 

Congress,  thirty-sixth,  meet  in  December,  1859,  iii.  549 
contest  for  the  speakership  kept  up  for  two  months, 
549  ;  Pennington  of  New  Jersey  elected,  549  ;  mes 
sage  sent  before  organization  of  the  House,  substance 
of,  549,  50  ;  speech-making  in  both  Houses,  550  ;  re 
port  of  Harper's  Ferry  committee,  551 ;  violence  and 
disorder  in  the  House,  551  ;  report  of  Covode  com 
mittee,  551 ;  adjourn  in  June,  551.  Second  session, 
556  ;  the  message,  Buchanan's  difficulties,  views  as  to 
secession,  etc.,  556-58 ;  suggestion  of  the  president, 
558  ;  course  pursued  by  the  House  and  the  Senate, 
559 ;  Crittenden's  compromise  resolutions,  559 ; 
"plan  of  adjustment"  discussed,  560;  Secretary 
Toucey  censured  by  the  House,  562  ;  resignations  of 
secession  representatives  and  senators,  564 ;  end  of 
session,  564 ;  things  left  undone,  position  of  affairs 
in  consequence,  565. 

Congress,  thirty-seventh,  meet  in  July,  1861,  iv.  49 ; 
Abraham  Lincoln's  first  message,  49-51 ;  reports  of 
secretaries  of  departments,  51,  52  ;  enter  in  earnest 
on  work,  52,  53  ;  army  bill  debated,  53  ;  resolutions 
adopted,  53,  54  ;  confiscation  bill  passed,  54  ;  adjourn 
in  August,  54.  Second  session,  101 ;  substance  of 
the  message,  101,  2  ;  reports  of  the  secretaries,  103, 
4 ;  slavery  and  other  questions,  104,  5 ;  abolish 
slavery  in  District  of  Columbia,  and  in  the  territories, 
147, 48  ;  resolution  on  compensated  emancipation,  148 ; 
make  treasury  notes  legal  tender,  149  ;  issue  trea 
sury  notes,  tax  bill,  etc.,  194  ;  the  Homestead,  Paci 
fic  Railroad  and  Utah  polygamy  bills,  194,  95 ;  con 
fiscation  act,  195,  96  ;  adjourn  in  July,  196.  Third 
session,  263  ;  the  message  263 ;  Merrill's  resolution 
in  the  House,  264  ;  action  on  habeas  corpus  question, 
264  ;  report  of  secretary  Chase,  264,  65  ;  financial 
measures,  265,  66  ;  foreign  relations,  266,  67. 

Congress,  thirty -eighth,  meet  in  December,  1863,  iv. 
388 ;  the  message,  389,  90 ;  proclamations  on  recon 
struction  and  insurgent  enemies,  389,  397-99 ;  reports 
of  the  secretaries,  390-93  ;  spirit  of  resolutions  intro 
duced,  393,  94 ;  Harris  and  Long  severely  censured, 
394 ;  resolution  in  the  House  as  to  Mexico,  396  ; 
amended  enrollment  act,  401 ;  government  policy 
supported,  463 ;  appropriations,  loans,  taxes,  etc., 


XII 


INDEX. 


464;  new  enrollment  bill,  464;  proposed  constitu 
tional  amendment,  465  ;  fugitive  slave  law  repealed, 
465  ;  reconstruction  bill  not  signed  by  the  president, 
465,  66  ;  adjourn  in  July,  466.  Second  session,  505  ; 
president's  message,  506,  7 ;  reports  of  the  secretaries, 
507 ;  action  on  Freedman's  Bureau,  tariff,  etc.,  515  : 
constitutional  amendment  abolishing  slavery  forever, 
passed,  515,  16  ;  scene  in  the  House,  516. 

Congress,  rebel,  action  of,  iv.  33 ;  meet  in  Richmond, 
July  1861,  55 ;  Davis's  message,  bitter  tone  of,  55  ; 
measures  adopted,  55,  6  ;  adjourn  in  September,  56  ; 
meet  in  November,  99  ;  action  of,  100  ;  conscription 
act,  117  ;  closed  doors,  149  ;  action  of,  and  adjourn 
ment,  150  ;  on  invasion  of  Maryland,  227  ;  on  retalia 
tion,  263  ;  meet  January,  1863,  275  ;  proceedings  of, 
277 ;  meet  again  in  December,  393  ;  conscription 
act,  401 ;  tax  bill,  suspension  of  habeas  corpus,  reso 
lutions,  402  ;  message  from  Davis  on  peace  negotia 
tions,  513  ;  discussion  on  arming  the  slaves,  514,  15  ; 
supplicating  appeals  of,  515. 

Congress,  the,  destroyed  by  the  Merrimac,  iv.  133,  34. 

Connecticut,  Valley  of,  i.  68  ;  disputes  with  the  Dutch, 
83 ;  charter  granted  by  Charles  II.,  106 ;  charter 
how  saved,  113  ;  conduct  of  troops  of,  in  1775,  376. 

Conscription  act,  discussed  in  Congress,  iv.  383. 

Conscription,  rebel,  iv.  117,  259,  402. 

Constellation,  the,  when  launched,  ii.  427  ;  commanded 
by  Truxtun,  454,  55,  56. 

Constitution,  Federal,  movements  in  Virginia  which 
led  to  its  formation,  ii.  205,  G ;  the  Constitution  in 
full,  with  the  amendments,  226-37  ;  opposition  to 
its  adoption,  240,41 ;  discussions  and  action  in  the 
several  states,  241,  42 ;  Massachusetts  convention, 
242  ;  eloquent  debates,  242-44  ;  opinions  and  views 
of  men  of  the  day,  254 ;  dates  of  ratification  by  the 
states,  254;  amended  1803,  iii.  51;  resolution  of 
John  Randolph  to  amend,  66 ;  amendment  abolish 
ing  slavery  proposed,  iv.  465  ;  Mr.  Lincoln's  views 
on,  500,  7  ;  adopted  by  Congress,  and  sent  to  the 
states,  515, 16  ;  adopted  by  constitutional  majority, 
516. 

Constitution,  the,  chased  by  a  British  squadron,  iii.  162  ; 
captures  the  Guerriere,  163  ;  captures  the  Java,  165  ; 
takes  the  Cyane  and  Levant,  273  ;  successes  of,  273. 

Continental  paper  currency,  Pitkin's  remarks  on,  ii. 
64-69  ;  ceases  to  circulate,  111. 

"  Contraband  of  war,"  negroes,  iv.  35. 

Convention  with  France,  September,  1800,  ii.  504. 

Convention  of  Southern  members  on  slavery  question, 
iii.  460,  61. 

Conventions  in  the  States  on  the  Federal  Constitution, 
ii.  241,  42  ;  in  Massachusetts,  242-44 ;  in  New  Ham- 
shire,  244 ;  in  Virginia,  244-52 ;  in  New  York,  252, 
53 ;  in  North  Carolina,  253,  54. 

Conway's  cabal,  i.  523  ;  Conway's  confession,  526. 

Con  way,  i.  271 ;  secretary,  circular  letter  to  governors 
of  the  colonies,  i,  279,  80. 

Cooper.  Dr.  C.  D.,  and  Burr,  iii.  61. 


Copley,  Lionel,  in  Maryland,  i.  192. 

Corinth,  Miss.,  importance  of,  iv.  175,  76  ;  rebels  defeat 
ed  at,  224. 

Cornbury,  Lord,  governor  of  New  York,  i.  180,  81. 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  in  command  in  the  Jerseys,  i.  442,  61 ; 
at  Princeton,  462  ;  at  battle  of  the  Brandywine,  473, 
74  ;  in  South  Carolina,  ii,  74,  75  ;  measures  and  plans 
of,  75 ;  proceedings  after  the  battle  of  Camden,  81, 
82 ;  retreat  to  South  Carolina,  83,  84  ;  pursued  by 
Greene,  120-22  ;  at  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House, 
122,  23  ;  result,  124  ;  retreat  before  Greene,  goes  to 
Virginia,  124 ;  movements  there,  132-35  ;  encamps 
at  Yorktown,  136 ;  besieged,  139,  141 ;  surrenders, 
143,  44. 

Cosby,  governor  of  New  York,  i.  182,  83. 

Cotton,  first  cultivated,  i.  42 ;  trade  in,  1800,  ii.  529 ; 
"  cotton,  king,"  iv.  48  ;  efforts  to  secure,  83  ;  destruc 
tion  of,  by  rebels,  275. 

Couch,  Gen.,  iv.  167,  279,  322. 

Covode  committee,  action  and  report  of,  1860,  iii.  551. 

"  Cow-chace,"  the,  by  Andre,  ii.  92,  99-102. 

Cowpens,  battle  of  the,  ii.  118, 19  ;  results  to  Cornwallis, 
119. 

Cox,  Lieut.,  trial  of,  iii.  196. 

Craney  Island,  British  repulsed  at,  iii.  191  ;  fortifica 
tions  at,  iv.  162. 

Crawford,  W.  H.,  in  the  Senate,  iii.  128  ;  president 
pro-tempore,  340  ;  nominated  by  caucus  for  the  presi 
dency,  303  ;  secretary  of  the  treasury,  308  ;  report  or, 
the  national  currency,  328 ;  charges  against  and  A. 
B.  plot,  339,  43 ;  nominated  by  caucus  for  the  presi 
dency,  344. 

Creek  Indians,  attack  Gen.  Wayne,  ii.  153  ;  war  with, 
in  Georgia,  272  ;  negotiations  with  unsuccessful,  282, 
83;  treaty  with,  293,  585;  war  with,  iii.  204-11; 
treaty  with  and  cession  of  land  by,  351,  52 ;  treaty 
with,  356,  57. 

Crittenden,  compromise  measures  of,  iii.  559  ;  resolution 
of,  in  the  House,  iv.  53,  54. 

Crittenden,  Gen.  T.  T.,  taken  prisoner  at  Murfreesbor- 
ough,  iv.  216. 

Crittenden,  Gen.  T.  L.,  in  Buell's  army,  iv.  221. 

Croghan,  gallant  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson  by,  iii 
212,  13  ;  attempt  of  against  Mackinaw,  245. 

Crook,  Gen.,  and  Kanawha  expedition,  iv,  436,  37. 

Cross  Keys,  battle  at,  iv.  173. 

Cuba,  filibustering  expeditions  against,  iii.  481 ;  Lo 
pez's  undertaking  and  results,  482,  83  ;  offer  to  pur 
chase  island  of,  483  ;  views  of  Buchanan  as  to  acqui 
sition  of,  544  ;  Slidell's  bill  for  this  purpose,  545,  46 

Culpepper,  Arlington  and  Howard,  i.  116,  119. 

Cumberland,  the,  sunk  by  the  Merrimac,  iv.  133,  34. 

Cumberland  Gap,  held  by  Morgan,  iv  180  ;  evacuated. 
220;  taken  from  the  rebels,  346;  held  by  Wilcox 
364. 

Cumberland  road,  appropriations  for,  iii.  74,  320. 

Cunningham  letters,  by  John  Adams,  quoted,  ii.  461 
nature  of,  509. 


INDEX. 


Xlll 


Curtin,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  action  of,  iv.  228, 
323. 

Curtis,  Gen  S.  R  ,  in  Missouri,  iv.  117 ;  address  of,  118  ; 
at  Pea  Ridge,  118,  19 ;  expedition  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Arkansas  River,  182  ;  in  command  of  depart 
ment  of  Missouri,  182,  215  ;  in  Kansas,  508. 

Curtis,  Brigadier  general,  at  Fort  Fisher,  499,  500. 

Gushing,  Caleb,  commissioner  to  China,  iii.  422. 

D. 

Dahlgren,  Admiral,  in  command  of  South  Atlantic 
squadron, iv.  366. 

Dahlgren,  Col.,  the  expedition  under  Kilpatrick,  iv. 
407  ;  death,  and  charges  of  rebels  against,  407,  8. 

Dale,  Commodore,  in  the  Mediterranean,  iii.  20. 

Dallas,  A.  .).,  exposition  of  causes,  etc.,  which  led  to 
war  with  Great  Britain,  iii.  132,  33  ;  secretary  of  the 
treasury,  260  ;  vigor  of,  260, 61 ;  on  the  finances,  tariff, 
U.  States  bank,  299-301. 

Dallas,  G.  M.,  elected  vice-president,  iii.  423. 

Dane,  Nathan,  and  ordinance  of  1787,  ii.  206-9. 

Danville  Railroad,  expedition  against,  iv.  438,  446,  47. 

Dare,  Virginia,  birth  of,  i.  28. 

Da*h'n,  Scottish  fugitives  found,  i.  179. 

Darien,  exploring  expedition,  iii.  510. 

Dartmoor  massacre,  iii.  295,  96. 

Davenport,  founder  of  New  Haven,  i.  73. 

Davie,  Gen.  W.  R.,  envoy  to  France,  ii.  460 ;  returns 
to  U.  States  with  the  convention,  505. 

Davis,  Jefferson,  views  as  to  slavery  and  slave  trade, 
etc.,  iii.  547  ;  resolutions  advocating  extreme  state 
rights  views,  550  ;  elected  president  of  the  rebel 
"  Confederacy,"  560  ;  inaugural  address,  561 ;  cabinet 
of,  502 ;  calls  for  privateersmen,  iv.  21 ;  address  to 
rebel  congress,  plea  "  to  be  let  alone,"  etc.,  21 ;  apolo 
gy  for  rebellion,  33  ;  message  to  rebel  congress,  55  ; 
at  Bull  Run,  60  ;  threats  as  to  retaliation  in  case  of 
privateers,  68,  69  ;  message,  99,  100  ;  on  Fort  Donel- 
son,  115  ;  mortification  of,  122  ;  inaugural,  126,  27  ; 
message,  127,  28 ;  denounces  B.  F.  Butler,  157 ;  on 
holding  Richmond,  163  ;  address  to  the  troops,  203  ; 
claims  Kentucky  for  secession,  222  ;  denounces 
M'Neil,  248  ;  fierce  speech  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  255  ; 
proclamation,  263  ;  commissions  Semmes  in  the  pri 
vateer  Alabama,  268 ;  extracts  from  message,  276, 
77  ;  tone  of  speech,  etc.,  278  ;  assurances  of,  338  ;  on 
loss  of  Cumberland  Gap,  346,  47  ;  on  battle  of  Chat 
tanooga,  361 ;  message  to  rebel  Congress,  893  ;  state 
ment  as  to  finances,  393  ;  proclamation  to  the  sol 
diers,  402  ;  visit  to,  by  Jacques  and  Gilmore,  460  ; 
style  of  talking,  460  ;  speech  at  Macon,  Ga.,  485  ; 
tone  of  message,  504  ;  complaints,  financial  exhibit, 
etc.,  504,  5  ;  letter  to  Blair  on  peace  conference,  512  ; 
appoints  Stephens,  Campbell  and  Hunter  to  under 
take  the  matter,  512,  13  ;  chagrin  at  failure,  513  ; 
Lee's  message  and  flight  from  Richmond,  532,  33  ; 
foolish  style  of  talking,  533 ;  taken  prisoner  and 
confined  in  Fortress  Monroe.  533,  34. 


Davis,  Capt.  C.  H.,  iv.  180 ;  takes  Memphis,  181. 

Davis,  Gen.  J.  C.,  iv.  119  ;  shoots  Gen.  Nelson,  221 ; 
at  Chickamauga,  354. 

Davis,  M.  L.,  statement  as  to  election  of  Jefferson  and 
Burr,  ii.  515  ;  life  of  Burr  by,  iii.  85. 

Davis,  Jefferson,  the  privateer,  iv.  70. 

Dawson,  sent  to  France  with  treaty,  iii.  19. 

Dayton,  W.  L  ,  minister  to  France,  iv.  14,  266. 

Deane,  Silas,  in  Paris,  i.  452  ;  interview  with  Count 
Vergennes,  452  ;  remarks  on,  ii.  63. 

Dearborn,  Henry,  secretary  of  war,  iii.  15 ;  removed  to 
Boston,  116  ;  appointed  commander-in-chief  in  war 
of  1812,  156  ;  force  under  at  Plattsburg,  168  ;  ineffi 
ciency  of,  172 ;  retires  from  the  service,  190. 

Decatur,  Stephen,  destroys  the  Philadelphia  in  the 
harbor  of  Tripoli,  iii.  55,  6  ;  in  the  frigate  U.  States 
off  N.  York,  131,  32  ;  captures  the  Macedonian,  164, 
65  ;  at  New  London,  192  ;  the  "  blue  lights,"  239  ;  in 
the  President,  271 ;  battle  with  three  British  ships, 
272,  73  ;  sent  to  the  Mediterranean,  297  ;  prompt  and 
efficient  measures,  298  ;  returns  home,  298  ;  killed  in 
a  duel,  329. 

"  Declaration  of  Colonial  Rights,"  i.  320-24. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  i.  404-8  ;  original  draft 
of,  and  amendments,  410-15 ;  moral  force  of  the 
ground  taken,  409,  10  ;  read  to  the  army,  421,  22  ; 
joyously  received  throughout  the  country,  422. 

Decoudray's  expedition  against  Porto  Rico,  iii.  339. 

De  Kalb,  Baron,  at  the  South,  ii.  77,  78 ;  at  the  battle 
of  Camden,  79  ;  death  of,  80. 

Delaware  Indians,  give  up  land  to  the  U.  States,  iii.  53. 

Delaware,  Lord,  i.  38  ;  death  of,  40. 

Democratic  convention,  nominates  Van  Buren  and 
Johnson  for  president  and  vice-president,  iii.  402,  3  ; 
nominates  same  for  re-election,  413  ;  Polk  and  Dallas 
nominated  by,  423  ;  Cass  and  Butler  nominated  by, 
457 ;  Pierce  and  King  nominated  by,  491,  92  ;  Bu- . 
chanan  and  Breckenridge  nominated  by,  519  ;  split 
in  convention  and  two  sets  nominated,  viz. :  Douglas 
and  Johnson,  and  Breckenridge  and  Lane,  552  ;  at 
Chicago,  in  August,  1864,  McClellau  and  Pendleton 
nominated  by,  iv.  462,  63. 

Democratic  societies,  ii.  253  ;  censured  by  Washington, 
354 ;  censured  by  the  Senate,  355  ;  Jefferson's  re 
marks  on,  353  ;  fall  of,  356. 

Denver,  Govenor  of  Kansas,  iii.  535. 

Deposits  of  the  public  money  in  the  U.  States  bank,  iii. 
393,  94 ;  removed  by  Jackson,  394,  95 ;  excitement 
and  distress  following,  397. 

Derue  (N.  Africa)  assaulted  and  taken,  iii.  58. 

De  Rochambeau,  Count,  ii.  88,  136. 

D'Estaing,  Count,  arrives  in  America,  ii.  16 ;  course 
of,  17 ;  goes  to  Boston  with  the  fleet,  18,  19 ;  saila 
for  the  West  Indies,  26  ;  exploits  there,  54 ;  assists 
Gen.  Lincoln  at  Savannah,  54,  55  ;  results,  etc.,  56. 

Dexter,  Samuel,  secretary  of  war,  ii.  501  ;  iii.  15. 

D'Iberville,  Lemoine,  in  N.  England,  i.  161  ;  at  the 
South,  i.  206,  7 ;  death  of,  208. 


XIV 


INDEX. 


Dickey,  Col.,  expedition  of,  iv.  225. 

Dickinson,  John,  "  Letters  from  a  Farmer,"  etc.,  i.  257  ; 
labors  in  the  Continental  Congress,  324,  355  ;  oppo 
ses  Declaration  of  Independence,  405 ;  letter  of  Jef 
ferson  to,  iii.  15,  16,  29,  77. 

Dieskau,  Baron,  i.  229  ;  efforts  of  and  death  of,  235,  36. 

Dinwiddie,  Governor  of  Virginia,  i.  221  ;  sends  Wash 
ington  to  the  Ohio.  225  ;  complaints  of,  229. 

Directory,  the  French,  insolent  course  of,  ii.  384-88 ; 
spoliations  on  American  commerce,  385,  403-5  ;  inso 
lence  of  towards  American  envoys,  420  ;  overthrown, 
460,  503. 

District  of  Columbia,  steps  taken  to  fix  the  site  upon 
the  Potomac,  ii.  289,  303  ;  the  capital  occupied  in 
1800  for  the  first  time,  506,  7  ;  slavery  abolished  in, 
iv.  147,  48. 

Dix,  John  A.,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iii.  564  ;  spir 
ited  order  of,  564  ;  general,  iv.  29,  98  ;  on  exchange 
of  prisoners,  107 ;  on  State  prisoners'  commission, 
260 ;  in  command  of  the  Eastern  department,  380  ; 
arrested  in  N.  York,  459  ;  a  "  war  democrat,"  letter 
of,  502  ;  order  as  to  raiders  from  Canada,  511. 

Dongan,  Governor  of  New  York,  i.  92. 

Doniphan,  Col.,  advance  of  to  Chihuahua,  iii.  436,  37  ; 
joins  Gen.  Taylor,  437. 

Dorchester  Heights,  occupied  by  the  Americans,  i.  393 
-95. 

Dorr,  rebellion  of,  in  Ehode  Island,  iii.  421. 

Douglas,  Stephen  A.,  in  Congress,  iii.  427, 56  ;  bill  of,  for 
admission  of  California,  459  ;  Kansas  aud  Nebraska 
bill,  504-6 ;  views  as  to  slave  trade,  popular  sove 
reignty,  etc.,  547,  50  ;  nominated  for  president,  552  ; 
votes  received,  555  ;  death  of,  iv.  36. 

Dover,  attack  on,  and  massacre,  i.  151,  52. 

Downie,  at  battle  of  Lake  Champlain,  iii.  242-44. 

Draft,  ordered,  of  300,000  militia,  iv.  209  ;  further 
draft,  258  ;  unpopular  measure,  258,  59,  377  ;  riot  on 
account  of,  in  N.  York  city,  377-80  ;  riots  elsewhere, 
388,  81 ;  enforced  in  12  states,  380  ;  further  action 
respecting,  383. 

Dray  ton,  chief-justice,  charge  of,  to  the  grand  jury,  i. 
400  ;  remarks  on  Howe's  declaration,  446-50. 

Dred  Scott  case,  iii.  522,  23;  opinion  of  chief-justice 
Taney,  527-32. 

Drummond,  Gen.,  at  Lundy's  Lane,  iii.  234-38  ;  at 
Fort  Erie,  237,  38. 

Drury's  Bluff,  affair  at,  iv.  162 ;  attack  on,  by  rebels, 
438. 

Duane  and  "  the  Aurora,"  ii.  509-10  ;  letter  of  Jefferson 
to,  iii.  77. 

Duane,  W.  J.,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iii.  394. 

Duche,  Rev.  J.,  prayer  in  Congress,  i.  320  ;  course  after 
wards,  320. 

Dudley,  governor  of  Massachusetts,  i.  165 ;  sends  ex 
pedition  against  Canada,  167. 

Duncan,  rebel  general,  iv.  155  ;  surrenders,  158. 

Dunmore,  Lord,  governor  of  Virginia,  i.  299,  313,  387  ; 
course  of,  388  ;  bombards  Norfolk,  389. 


Dupont  and  Port  Royal  expedition,  iv.  81  ;  operations 
of,  on  the  Florida  coast,  125,  26  ;  command  of  the  S 
Atlantic  squadron,  290  ;  attack  of,  in  Charleston  har 
bor,  294-96  ;  relieved,  365. 

Dustin,  brave  Mrs.,  i.  161,  62. 

Dutch  East  India  Company,  i.  45 ;  West  India  Com 
pany,  i.  45  ;  trade  the  principal  object,  46  ;  p^n  of 
colonization,  46. 

Dyer,  Mary,  a  quakeress,  executed,  i.  100,  101. 

E. 

Early  voyages  and  discoveries,  i.  12,  13. 

Early,  rebel  general,  iv.  325  ;  levies  on  Gettysburg 
and  York,  325;  self-laudation,  326;  at  Gettysburg, 
331  ;  movements  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  447  ;  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  493,  94  ;  defeated  at  Opequan 
Creek,  494  ;  attacks  Sheridan's  troops  at  Cedar  Creek, 
defeated,  494,  95  ;  chagrin  of,  495  ;  beaten  at  Waynes- 
borough,  527. 

Eaton,  W.,  consul  at  Tunis,  exploits  of,  iii.  57-59  ;  how 
treated,  59. 

Eliot,  John,  emigrates  to  New  England,  i.  64  ;  labors  of, 
among  the  Indians,  102,  3. 

Ellet,  Col.,  and  fleet  of  rams  at  Memphis,  iv.  181  ;  at 
Vicksburg,  305. 

Elliot,  Capt.,  on  Lake  Erie,  iii.  213,  16. 

Ellsworth,  Oliver,  envoy  to  France,  ii.  459,  60  ;  remains 
in  France  and  resigns  the  chief  justiceship,  514. 

Ellsworth,  killed  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  iv.  32. 

Embargo,  laid  by  Washington,  ii.  334 ;  under  Jefferson, 
iii.  96  ;  question  in  Congress  and  results,  100-6  ;  pro 
posal  of  repeal,  107 ;  enforcing  act,  108 ;  repealed 
(non-intercourse  law),  109  ;  under  Madison,  139  ;  laid 
again,  225 ;  repealed,  April,  1814. 

Emigration  to  Virginia,  i.  41  ;  emigration  from  Europe 
just  before  the  Revolution,  305,  6. 

Endicott,  John,  at  Naumkeag,  i,  59  ;  at  Salem,  65 ; 
labors  among  the  Indian?,  102,  3. 

England,  at  war  with  European  powers,  1780,  ii.  109, 
10 ;  unhandsome  conduct  of,  towards  the  United 
States,  195,  293,  4  ;  relations  with  and  course  of,  325  ; 
hostilities  with,  probable,  333-35  ;  acquiesces  in  the 
United  States  buying  Louisiana,  iii.  39 ;  seizes 
American  vessels,  impresses  men,  etc.,  72,  73  ;  rela 
tions  with,  in  1807,  89  ;  treaty  with,  90  ;  treaty  re 
jected  by  Jefferson,  91  ;  orders  in  council,  90  ;  disre 
gards  the  embargo,  105  ;  refuses  to  sanction  Erskine's 
negotiations,  120  ;  emissaries  of,  among  the  Indians 
in  the  north-west,  133  ;  denies  complicity  in  the 
"  Henry  plot,"  139  ;  persists  offensively,  139,  40  ;  re 
vokes  orders  in  council  too  late,  140 ;  claims  as  to 
impressment,  174  ;  rejects  mediation  of  Russia,  175  ; 
resolves  on  devastating  American  coast,  190,  91 ; 
ravages  of  the  fleet  of,  191 ;  efforts  to  retrieve  naval 
losses,  194,  95  ;  change  of  policy  in  1814,  227,  28  ; 
vandalism  of,  in  burning  Washington,  255  ;  treaty 
of  peace  with,  288,  90  ;  commercial  convention  with, 
294  :  offers  mediation,  United  States  and  France,  401 ; 


INDEX. 


xv 


treaty  with,  as  to  north-eastern  boundary,  420,  21  ; 
the  same  as  to  Oregon,  426-28 ;  reciprocity  treaty, 
491  ;  proposes  tripartite  convention,  493,  94,  502  ; 
claims  as  to  the  Mosquito  coast,  509  ;  feeling  in,  1861, 
iv.  62,  63 ;  haste  in  acknowledging  the  rebels  as  bel 
ligerents,  65  ;  violent  about  the  Trent  affair,  73 ; 
how  regarded  in  the  United  States,  266,  67  ;  friendly 
words,  269  ;  warning  to,  396  ;  "  Protest  and  Remon 
strance"  of,  396  ;  supplies  furnished  by,  to  rebels, 
through  "Wilmington,  501. 

English  claims  in  the  Ohio  Valley,  i.  221 ;  arms  turned 
against  the  French  in  the  West  Indies,  250. 

Enrollment,  national,  1863,  iv.  376 ;  amendment  of 
act,  1834,  401 ;  new  bill,  464. 

Ericsson,  inventor  of  the  Monitor,  iv.  136. 

Erakine,  D.  M.,  British  minister  at  Washington,  iii. 
117;  negotiations  of  and  result,  118;  not  sustained 
by  his  government,  120  ;  returns  to  England,  120. 

Essex,  the,  under  Porter,  iii.  163,  98  ;  loss  of,  268,  70. 

Eustis,  W.,  secretary  of  war,  iii.  116  ;  resigns,  179. 

Eutaw  Springs,  battle  of,  ii.  129-31  ;  result  of,  131. 

Eveleigh,  Nicholas,  comptroller,  treasury  department, 
1789.  H.  280. 

Everett,  Edward,  minister  to  Spain,  iii.  353  ;  in  the 
House,  353  ;  secretary  of  state,  494  ;  letter  to  Count 
Sartigcs,  4-94-90  ;  reply  to  Lord  John  Russell,  503 ; 
address  at  Gettysburg  national  cemetery,  iv.  330. 

Ewell,  rebel  general,  iv.  169;  at  Kettle  Run,  211; 
under  Lee,  821,  22  ;  crosses  the  Potomac  into  Mary 
land,  324 ;  order  issued  by,  324,  25  ;  at  Gettysburg, 
331 ;  in  Virginia,  4C5,  39  ;  at  Sailor's  Creek,  535. 

Excise  law,  ii.  295  ;  opposition  to,  311  ;  further  opposi 
tion,  350. 

Exploring  expeditions  across  the  country  towards  the 
Pacific,  iii.  501,  2  ;  South-sea  exploring  expedition, 
410. 

Exportations  from  England  to  the  colonies,  from  1720- 
80,  i.  192  ;  from  1738-48,  219. 

Exports  of  the  United  States,  in  1789,  90,  ii.  283,  98  ; 
in  1801,  iii.  32. 

F. 

Fair  Oaks,  battle  at,  iv.  166,  67. 

Farragut,  D.  G.,  in  command  of  naval  expedition  on 
the  Mississippi  and  against  New  Orleans,  iv.  154  ; 
takes  New  Orleans,  157,  58  ;  advances  up  the  Missis 
sippi,  188  ;  arrives  at  Vicksburg,  188  ;  runs  the  bat 
teries  at  Port  Hudson,  299,  300 ;  threatens  Mobile, 
405 ;  attack  on  the  rebel  gunboats  and  forts,  481  ; 
success,  481,  82 ;  dispatch  of,  and  thanks  from  the 
president,  482. 

Fast  day,  recommended  by  Congress,  i.  363,  460  ;  re 
commended  by  Madison,  iii.  148,  203  ;  Buchanan 
appoints  one,  January,  1861,  559  ;  appointed  by  Lin 
coln,  September,  1861,  iv.  54  ;  April,  1863,  278,  79  ; 
August,  1864,  466. 

Fauchet,  minister  from  France,  ii.  347;  intrigues  with 
Randolph.  366  ;  succeeded  by  Adet,  370. 


Federalists,  choice  of  evils  to,  between  Jefferson  and 
Burr,  ii.  516 ;  downfall  of  the  party,  517-21  ;  viewa 
of,  on  the  repeal  of  the  judiciary  bill,  iii.  30 ;  object 
of,  according  to  Jefferson,  36  ;  oppose  purchase  of 
Louisiana,  43  ;  denounce  the  embargo,  9o,  97  ;  char 
ges  against  Madison  and  the  republicans,  120,  21 ; 
views  of,  expressed  by  Quincy,  on  increase  of  south 
ern  states,  127,  28. 

Ferguson,   defeated  at    King's    Mountain,   ii.   82,  3. 

Fessenden,  W.  P.,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iv.  506  ; 
report  of,  507,  516  ;  resigns,  516. 

"  Filibustering  "  expeditions  against  Cuba,  iii.  481  ; 
Walker's  attempts  in  Central  America,  failure  of,  540. 

Fillmore,  Millard,  vice-president,  iii.  457 ;  becomes 
president  by  Taylor's  death,  479  ;  cabinet  of,  479  ; 
proclamation  about  Cuba,  481 ;  message  to  Congress 
and  views  of,  484,  85  ;  the  fishery  question,  491 ;  tri 
partite  convention,  493  ;  last  message  496 ;  end  of 
administration,  498  ;  nominated  for  president,  519 

Financial  distress  in  1821,  iii.  333  ;  troubles  in  1857,  8, 
537 ;  questions  and  measures  in  Thirty -seventh 
Congress,  iv.  52,  104  ;  legal  tender,  149  ;  treasury 
notes  and  tax  bill,  194 ;  £3,000,000  loan,  etc.,  265,  66  ; 
measures  in  the  thirty -eighth  Congress,  392,  93,515. 

Five  Forks,  battle  of,  iv.  530,  31. 

Five  Nations,  see  Iroquois.  .    . 

Fletcher,  governor  of  New  York,  i.  170-79. 

Florida,  discovery  of,  i.  6 ;  Melendez's  savage  inroad 
into,  10  ;  Oglethorpe  besieges  St.  Augustine,  202 ; 
East  and  West  Florida,  British  provinces,  250  ;  re 
stored  to  Spain  in  1783,  ii.  160  ;  boundary  line  by 
treaty,  1795,  367  ;  West  Florida  occupied  by  authority 
of  Madison,  iii.  126  ;  Jackson  takes  Pensacola,  276, 
77  ;  proceedings  of,  in  Florida  in  1818,  314-16 ;  ceded 
to  the  United  States,  320,  21 ;  admitted  into  the 
Union,  424  ;  joins  rebellion,  556. 

Florida,  the,  privateer,  case  of,  iv.  267  ;  capture  of, 
479,  80. 

Floyd,  J.  B.,  secretary  of  war,  conduct  of,  iii.  562  ;  helps 
the  rebels  all  he  can,  562,  note ;  rebel  general  in 
Virginia,  iv.  90,  91 ;  at  Fort  Donelson,  114 ;  runs 
away,  115. 

Floyd,  Gen.,  victories  over  the  Creeks,  iii  209,  10. 

Foote,  Senator,  resolution  on  public  lands  question, 
iii.  378 ;  opposes  re-opening  of  the  slave  trade,  546. 

Foote,  Commodore,  iv.  112 ;  at  Fort  Henry,  113  :  at 
Fort  Donelson,  114,  15  ;  on  the  Cumberland  River, 
116  ;  at  Hickman  on  the  Mississippi,  142  ;  bombards 
Island  No.  10,  142,  43  ;  relieved,  180  ;  appointed  to 
succeed  Dupont,  365  ;  death  of,  365. 

Foreign  relations  of  the  United  States  in  1789,  ii.  272, 
73;  in  1861,  iv.  62. 

Forrest,  N.  B.,  rebel  raider,  iv.  216 ;  attacks  Fort 
Donelson,  348 ;  skirmishes,  349 ;  takes  Union  city, 
415 ;  attacks  Paducah,  414,  15  ;  assault  of,  and  mas 
sacre  at  Fort  Pillow,  416-18 ;  raid  into  Tennessee, 
and  success  of,  483. 

Forsythe,  Major,  incursion  into  Canada,  iii.  185 ;  at 
Fort  George,  187. 


XVI 


INDEX. 


Fort   Bowyer,  British  repulsed  at,  iii.  276  ;  taken   by 
the  British.  285. 

Fort  Donelson,  on  the  Cumberland,  captured  iv.   113- 
15  ;  attacked  by  Forrest,  348. 

Fort  Duquesne,  taken  by  Forbes,  i.  241,  42. 

Fort  Erie,  British  repulsed  at,  iii.  237,  38  :  sortie  from 
239  ;  destroyed,  245. 

Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  expedition  against,  iv.  497,  98 
taken,  500 ;  value  of  the  victory,  501 ;  strength  of 
according  to  Porter,  501. 

Fort  George  and  Fort  Erie,  taken  by  the  Americans 
iii.  187. 

Fort  Griswold,  murderous  attack  on,  ii.  140. 

Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennessee,  iv.  112  ;  captured,  113. 

Fort  Hindman,  captured,  iv.  304. 

Fort  Jackson,  attacked  and  taken,  iv.  155,  5G,  58. 

Fort  McAllister,  on  the  Ogeechee,  iv.  290 ;  attacked, 
293  ;  taken  by  Sherman,  491,  92. 

Fort  McHenry,  bombarded,  iii.  257,  58. 

Fort  Macon,  assaulted  and  taken,  iv.  152,  53. 

Fort  Mimms,  iii.  305,  G- 

Fort  Pillow,  iv.  181  ;  assault  on  and  massacre  by  the 
rebels,  416-18. 

Fort  Pulaski,  isolated,  iv.  125  ;  preparations  for  bom 
barding,  150  ;  fire  opened,  151  ;  surrendered,  152. 

Fort  St.  Philip,  attacked  and  taken,  iv.  156,  58. 

Fort  Stanwix,  invested,  i.  495,  96. 

Fort  Sumter,  in  Charleston  harbor,  iii.  563  ;  bombard 
ed  and  taken,  iv.  17  ;  Gillmore's  attack  on,  and  result, 
270. 

Fort  Wayne,  assaulted,  iv.  267-69  ;  taken,  370,  71. 

Fort  Washington,  loss  of,  i.  440,  41. 

Forward,  Walter,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iii.  418. 

Foster,  minister  from  England,  iii.  132,  37  :  letter  to 
Monroe,  140. 

Foster,  Gen.,  iv.  120;  at  Newbern,  124;  expedition 
against  railroad  communications  of  the  rebels,  255  ; 
success  of,  256  ;  in  command  of  army  of  the  Ohio,  364. 

Foster,  Major,  attacks  Hughes  and  Quantrel,  guerrillas, 
iv.  247. 

Fox,  George,  in  Carolina,  i.  123. 

Fox,  Lieutenant  G.  V.,  assistant  secretary  of  the  navy, 
iv.  52. 

France,  aid  of,  solicited  by  the  U.  States,  i.  453  ;  sends 
supply  of  muskets,  470  ;  alliance  of,  sought,  528  ; 
treaty  with,  529  ;  results  of  alliance,  ii.  30,  31 ;  state 
of  relations  with  the  U.  States,  273  ;  regarded  with 
favor,  310  ;  effect  of  French  Revolution  upon  politi 
cal  condition  and  prospects  of  the  U.  States,  316  ; 
conduct  of,  in  1795,  96,  384-88  ;  spoliations  on  Ameri 
can  commerce,  418,  19,  21  ;  results  of  the  mission  to, 
in  1800,  503-5  ;  obtains  Louisiana  from  Spain,  iii. 
33  ;  sells  it  to  the  U.  States,  38,  39  ;  treaty  with,  40  ; 
disregards  the  embargo,  105,  6  ;  claims  on,  for  spolia 
tions,  399  ;  course  pursued  towards  by  Jackson,  400  ; 
tripartite  convention  proposed,  493,94,  502  ;  dispatch 
on  the  subject,  503  ;  course  of,  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
rebellion,  iv.  6t,  66  ;  course  ot,  in  Mexico,  396. 

Franciscan  missionaries  in  America,  i.  136. 


Franklin,  Benjamin,  i.  172  ;  visit  to  Gen.  Braidocb, 
230,  31  ;  letter  of,  to  Charles  Thomson,  262 ;  letter  to 
W.  Alexander,  273  ;  examined  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  270,  71  ;  obtains  Hutchinson's  letter,  298  ; 
in  parliament,  332 ;  postmaster-general,  363  ;  letter 
to  Lord  Howe,  424  ;  letter  to  Dumas,  451 ;  in  Paris, 
453  ;  minister  to  France,  ii.  23 ;  obtains  loans  from 
France  and  Holland,  112 ;  negotiates  for  peace,  156  ; 
returns  to  the  U.  States,  195  ;  motion  for  daily  pray 
ers  in  the  Federal  Convention,  222  ;  anecdote  of,  224  ; 
remarks  of,  254,  55  ;  last  paper  from  his  pen,  291 ; 
death  of,  292. 

Franklin,  James,  i.  172. 

Franklin,  Gen.,  iv.  161,  229  ;  in  command  of  grand  di 
vision  of  the  army,  238 ;  at  Fredericksburg,  241,  42  ; 
relieved,  279  ;  expedition  against  Sabine  city,  unsuc 
cessful,  372  ;  in  the  Red  river  expedition,  411. 

Fredericksburg,  taken,  iv.  139  ;  crossing  of  the  river 
at,  240  ;  bombarded  and  occupied,  241. 

Free  bottoms  make  free  goods,  ii.  109,  10 ;  discussion 
of  the  principle,  323,  24. 

Freedinan's  Bureau,  established,  iv.  515. 

Fremont,  J.  C.,  exploits  of,  iii.  437 ;  California  taken, 
437,  38 ;  nominated  for  president,  519 ;  in  command 
in  the  West,  iv.  86  ;  proclamation  and  course  in  Mis 
souri,  87  ;  superseded  by  Hunter,  88  ;  in  command 
of  the  Mountain  department,  132,  171  ;  force  of,  and 
plan  against  Jackson,  171,  72  ;  pursues  Jackson,  173, 
74 ;  a  day  too  late,  174 ;  address  to  his  troops,  re 
signs,  175  ;  nominated  for  president,  456 ;  withdraws 
his  name,  502. 

French,  colonial  efforts  not  successful,  i.  143  ;  claims  in 
the  Ohio  valley,  220,  21 ;  fleet  arrives,  ii.  16 ;  battle 
with  the  English,  17  ;  difficulties  with  the  Ameri 
cans,  18-20 ;  another  fleet  under  Tiernay  arrives,  88  ; 
fleet  under  Count  de  Grasse,  136 ;  carries  troops  to 
the  West  Indies,  154. 

Frenchtown,  disaster  at,  iii.  180  ;  massacre  of  prisoners, 
181.  82. 

Frontenac,  Count,  i.  141,  152  ;  sends  war  party  against 
Schenectady,  152 ;  against  Salmon  Falls,  153  ;  against 
Casco,  154  ;  saves  Quebec,  155  ;  attacks  the  Indians, 
162. 

Fry,  Col.  Joshua,  i.  226  ;  death  of,  228. 

Fry,  Col.  J.  B.,  provost  marshal  general,  iv.  376. 

Fugitive  slave  law,  iii.  480. 

Fulton,  Robert,  and  steam  navigation,  iii.  89. 

'  Fundamentals,  or  Body  of  Liberties,"  i.  94. 

O. 

jfadsden,  Christopher,  i.  285 ;  Gadsden  treaty,  iii.  506. 

Gage,  Gen.,  i.  251,  309;  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
311  ;  course  of,  314-16  ;  resolves  to  fortify  Boston 
Neck,  317  ;  action  of  the  Boston  people,  317,  18 ; 
critical  position  of,  326  ;  re-inforccd,  328  ;  conduct 
and  sentiments,  366  ;  returns  to  England,  367. 

Gaines,  Gen.,  at  Fort  Erie,  iii.  237  ;  in  Florida,  313-16. ' 

Gfallatin,  Albert,  ii.  330,  52  ;  secretary  of  the  treasury 
iii.  15  ;  retained  in  office,  116  ;  charges  against,  124 


INDEX. 


zvu 


financial  labors  in  providing  means  to  carry  on  the 
war,  137,  38  ;  resigns,  200  ;  envoy  to  make  treaty  of 
peace,  200,  1 ;  views  on  the  Mexican  war,  454 ; 
death  of,  475. 

Galloway,  Joseph,  i.  463. 

Garay  grant,  iii.  492. 

Gardner,  rebel  general,  at  Port  Hudson,  iv.  302,  3. 

Garnett,  rebel  general,  killed,  iv.  44. 

Gaspe,  case  of  the,  i.  298. 

Gates,  General,  i.  232,  358,  425  ;  appointed  over  Schuy- 
ler,  498 ;  correspondence  with  Burgoyne,  498,  513,< 
14  ;  connection  with  the  Conway  cabal,  523-25  ;  at 
the  South,  ii.  78  ;  defeated  at  Camden,  79,  80  ;  retires 
from  public  duty,  81  ;  at  Newburg,  159  ;  letter  to, 
from  Jefferson,  iii.  40. 

Geary,  J.  W.,  gov.  of  Kansas,  iii.  519 ;  resigns,  523. 

Geary,  Col.,  iv.  95  ;  general,  march  of,  130,  31 ;  at  Get 
tysburg,  332  ;  in  Lookout  Valley,  358  ;  at  Savannah, 
492. 

Genet,  minister  from  France,  ii.  319  ;  arrival  of,  in  the 
U.  States,  320  ;  high-handed  procedure,  320,  21 ;  ex 
tract  from  letters  of,  321,  22  ;  violence  and  insolence 
of,  323,  24  ;  recall  demanded,  324  ;  further  outrage 
by,  against  the  U.  States,  325  ;  succeeded  by  Fauchet, 
347. 

George  III.,  feelings  of,  towards  America,  i.  328,  29 ; 
address  to,  by  parliament,  333  ;  attachment  of  the 
Americans  to,  367-69 ;  treats  their  petition  with 
contempt,  384  ;  urges  continuance  of  the  war,  ii.  147 ; 
obstinacy  of,  155  ;  speech  of,  in  parliament,  acknowl 
edging  independence  of  the  U.  States,  170,  71 ;  course 
towards  the  American  minister,  and  effect  of,  193. 

Georgia,  origin  of,  i.  199  ;  emigration  to,  200,  1 ;  Sa 
vannah  founded,  200 ;  slavery  introduced,  201  ;  Span 
ish  pretensions  resisted,  201,  2 ;  attacked  by  the 
Spaniards,  202 ;  slow  progress  of,  205,  6 ;  war  with 
Ohio  Indians,  307  ;  joins  the  other  colonies,  365  ; 
new  Constitution  of,  ii.  526  ;  joins  the  rebellion,  iii. 
556. 

Georgia,  the,  privateer,  captured,  iv.  479. 

Gerard,  M.,  minister  from  France,  ii.  22. 

Germantown,  battle  of,  i.  476-78. 

Gerry,  Elbridge,  envoy  to  France,  ii.  419;  course  in 
Paris,  421,  22  ;  nominated  for  vice-president,  iii.  175, 
76  ;  death  of,  202. 

Gettysburg.  Penn.,  entered  by  the  rebels,  iv.  325  ;  Cem 
etery  Hill  occupied  by  our  troops,  328  ;  fight  at,  July 
1st,  328  ;  second  day's  battle,  330,  31  ;  battle  of  July 
3d,  332  ;  results,  losses,  etc.,  333,  34. 

Gibbs,  Gen.,  killed  at  N.  Orleans,  iii.  282-84. 

Gilbert,  Sir  Humphrey,  attempts  of,  at  colonization,  i. 
22 ;  second  voyage  and  fate  of,  23. 

Giles,  W.  B.,  in  the  House,  resolutions  of  exculpating 
Hamilton,  ii.  313,  14  ;  on  the  committee  of  inquiry, 
338  ;  in  Congress,  iii.  30. 

Gillmore,  Gen.,  takes  Fort  Pulaski,  iv.  151,52;  suc 
ceeds  Hunter,  297  ;  operations  on  Morris  Island,  366, 
67  ;  dispatch  of,  367  ;  batteries  of,  369  ;  dispatch  as 
to  Fort  Sumter,  370 ;  correspondence  with  Beaure- 


gard,  370;  bombards  Charleston,  370,  71;  expedi 
tion  to  Florida,  402,  3  ;  in  Arm/  of  Potcmac,  424  ; 
under  Butler,  428 ;  attacks  Fott  Darling,  437 ;  at 
Petersburg,  441 ;  report  as  to  Charleston,  521. 

Gist,  the  pioneer,  i.  221,  25. 

Gold  in  California,  first  discovery  of,  iii.  458. 

Goldsborough,  N.  C.,  iv.  256 ;  taken  by  Sherman,  5-4, 
25,  26. 

Goldsborough,  Commodore,  iv.  120  ;  proclamation  of, 
123. 

Gorges,  Sir  Ferdinando,  i.  58,  73. 

Gorton,  heresy  and  treatment  of,  i.  96. 

Gourges,  Dominic  de,  avenges  his  countrymen,  i.  11. 

"  Grand  Model "  of  Locke,  i.  124,  25  ;  abrogated,  193. 

Granger,  Gen.,  at  Chickamauga,  iv.  354 ;  in  East  Ten 
nessee,  364 ;  at  Mobile,  481,  82. 

Granger,  Gideon,  postmaster-general,  iii.  15  ;  retained 
in  office,  116;  removed,  225. 

Grant,  British  general,  at  Philadelphia,  1778,  i.  534 ; 
ii.  26. 

Grant,  Hiram  Ulysses  (or  U.  S.)  at  Paducah,  iv.  39  ;  at 
Cairo,  111.,  87  ;  attack  on  Belmont,  89  ;  as  to  prisoners, 
106  ;  against  Fort  Henry,  112,  13  ;  takes  Fort  Donel- 
son,  114,  15  ;  advances  into  Tennessee,  144  ;  at  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  144,  45  ;  severe  fight,  145,  46  ;  Buell's 
arrival  just  in  time,  146  ;  under  Halleck  at  Corinth, 
178,  80 ;  line  held  by,  215  ;  in  West  Tennessee,  222  ; 
plan  against  Price,  223  ;  position  of,  225  ;  plan  as  to 
Vicksburg,  305  ;  moves  towards  New  Carthage,  307  ; 
Grand  Gulf  and  Port  Gibson,  308,  9  ;  steps  to  secure 
the  rear.  310,  11 ;  bold  movements,  310,  11 ;  defeats 
Johnston,  311,  12  ;  pushes  on  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
315,  16  ;  enters  the  city,  July  4th,  316,  17  ;  statement 
as  to  results,  317,  18  ;  put  in  command  of  the  armies 
in  the  West,  355,  56;  plan  to  obtain  supplies,  857; 
plan  of  battle,  activity,  etc.,  359,  60  ;  dispatches,  362  ; 
congratulatory  orders,  364 ;  order  to  Palmer,  405  ; 
directions  to  Banks,  410  ;  made  lieutenant-general 
and  commander-in-chief,  421 ;  views  as  to  position  of 
affairs,  422,  23  ;  directions  to  Meade,  424,  25  ;  crosses 
the  Rapidan,  425  ;  fights  the  battle  of  the  Wilder 
ness,  42G,  27  ;  next  movement  by  right  flank,  428  ; 
hopes  as  to  Butler,  429 ;  tenacity  of  ("  fight  it  out 
on  this  line,"  etc.,)  431 ;  battle  of  May  12,  1864,  451, 
32 ;  dispatch  of,  432  ;  orders  movement  to  the  North 
Anna,  435  ;  secures  Cold  Harbor,  436 ;  orders  to  Sigel, 
436  ;  dissatisfied  with  Butler,  437,  38  ;  modifies  his 
plans,  438,  39 ;  battle  of  June  1-3,  severe,  438,  39  ; 
heavy  losses,  439  ;  views  of,  on  change  of  plan,  439, 
40 ;  preparations  of,  etc.,  440 ;  crosses  tiie  James 
River,  441 ;  views  on  several  points,  443  ;  orders  as 
sault  on  Petersburg,  445  ;  sends  troops  to  Washing 
ton,  447 ;  orders  assault  on  Petersburg,  450, 51 ;  state 
ment  as  to  the  mine,  etc.,  451,  52  ;  orders  movement 
to  the  north  side  of  the  James,  result  of,  452  ;  orders 
movement  on  the  left  flank,  453  ;  remarks  on  Hood's 
course,  485  ;  extract  from  report,  on  Sheridan's  move- 
ments,  493,  94 ;  plans  and  purposes  in  vicinity  of 


xvin 


INDEX. 


Richmond,  495,  96 ;  reconnaissances  sent  out,  496  ; 
attempt  at  Hatcher's  Hun,  496 ;  sends  troops  against 
Fort  Fisher,  498  ;  censures  Butler,  499  ;  sends  Terry 
with  troops,  499,  500  ;  views  as  to  Rosecrans,  508  ; 
directions  to,  from  secretary  of  war,  514  ;  directions 
to  Thomas,  522,  23  ;  conference  with  Sherman,  525  ; 
anxious  as  to  Lee's  movements,  526  ;  sends  Sheridan 
to  cut  oft'  rebel  communications,  527  ;  directions  to 
Sheridan,  530  ;  assaults  Lee's  lines,  530 ;  bombards 
Petersburg,  531 ;  order  to  Sherman,  534 ;  correspon 
dence  with  Lee,  5o5,  36  ;  remarks  on  the  armies  of 
the  West  and  the  East,  538. 

Grasse,  Count  de,  fleet  of,  ii.  136  ;  valuable  aid  of,  139  ; 
sails  for  the  West  Indies,  145. 

Gregg,  Gen.,  iv.  321  ;  at  Gettysburg,  331  ;  under  Grant, 
435,  452 ;  against  the  Weldon  Raildoad,  497. 

Greeley,  H.,  meets  rebel  agents  in  Canada  about  peace, 
iv.  460,  61. 

Green  Mountain  Boys,  353,  54. 

Greene,  Nathaniel,  appointed  brigadier-general,  i.  358  ; 
on  Long  Island,  432  ;  at  Trenton,  458  ;  at  Monmoutt^ 
ii.  14  ;  Washington  desires  to  send  to  the  South,  78  ; 
succeeds  Gates,  81 ;  plans  of,  116,  17  ;  joins  Morgan, 
120 ;  anecdote  of,  120 ;  retreats  before  Cornwallis, 
120-22  ;  at  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House,  122,  23  ; 
marches  against  Ninety -six,  127  ;  at  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  129-31 ;  in  Georgia,  158  ;  intercourse  with 
Leslie,  154, 

Grenville,  George,  originates  stamp  tax  policy,  i.  257 
58  ;  coarse  of,  259,  60 ;  speech  in  Parliament,  268  ; 
sobriquet  applied  to,  268 ;  speech  of,  in  1767,  286. 

Greytown  affair,  iii.  490. 

Grierson,  Col.  B.  H.  cavalry  raid  of,  iv.  309,  10. 

Grinnell  expedition  in  search  of  Sir  John  Franklin, 
iii.  481,  90 ;  second  expedition  under  Dr.  Kane,  501. 

Griswold,  Roger,  in  Congress,  iii.  35,  43,  50. 

Guardoqui,  Don  Diego,  minister  from  Spain,  ii.  197. 

Guerriere,  taken  by  the  Constitution,  iii.  163. 

Guerrillas,  kind  of  warfare,  iv.  215,  16  ;  Gen.  McCook 
murdered  by,  219  ;  boldness  of,  219  ;  in  Mississippi, 
225,  26  ;  in  Missouri,  245,  46  ;  Porter,  Cobb,  Poindex- 
ter  and  others,  246,  47 ;  constant  fights  with,  247 ; 
in  Kentucky,  339  ;  under  Quantrel,  373  ;  under  Ca- 
bell,  etc.,  374  ;  under  Mosby,  447. 

Guilford  Court  House,  battle  of,  iii.  122,  23. 

Guizot,  M.,  remarks  of,  on  American  colonies,  i.  254-56 ; 
quoted,  286,  325  ;  remarks  of,  409. 

Gunboats  of  Jefferson,  iii.  64,  68,  73  ;  number  of,  87 ; 
Cooper's  remarks  on  the  subject,  88.  See  Iron-clad. 

II. 

Habeas  corpus,  action  of  the  Senate  as  to,  1807,  iii.  80 ; 
suspension  of,  iv.  29  ;  Mr.  Lincoln's  view,  50;  action 
of  the  government  respecting,  259;  sustained  by 
Congress,  261,  64  ;  course  of  the  opposition  in  Con 
gress  as  to,  264. 

Habershaw,  Joseph,  postmaster-general,  ii.  539  40; 
iii.  15. 


"  Hail  Columbia,"  ii.  424. 

Haines's  Bluff,  attack  on,  iv.  249,  50  ;  works  destroyed 
by  Porter,  314. 

Hale,  Nathan,  expedition  into  New  York,  i.  436  ;  death 
of,  as  a  spy,  436. 

Halleck,  Gen.,  in  Missouri,  iv.  88  ;  orders  of,  117;  in 
command  of  the  department  of  the  Mississippi,  132 ; 
takes  command  after  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing, 
147,  175  ;  advances  and  besieges  Corinth,  Miss.,  178, 
79  ;  goes  to  Washington,  180  ;  general-3n-chief,  180, 
205  ;  orders  McClellan  to  leave  the  Peninsula,  206  ; 
letter  to  McClellan,  227  ;  order  as  to  Harper's  Ferry, 
229  ;  telegram  to  McClellan,  235,  36  ;  as  to  Port  Hud 
son,  300  ;  interferes  with  Hooker's  plans,  321,  26  ;  dis 
patch  to  Burnside,  347  ;  dispatch  to  Rosecrans,  352  ; 
on  battle  of  Chattanooga,  362  ;  displaced  as  general- 
in-chief,  420,  22. 

Hamilton,  Colonel,  taken  by  Clark,  at  St.  Vincent,  ii. 
29,  30. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  i.  475  ;  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown, 
ii.  142  ;  in  Congress,  188  ;  plan  of  government  sub 
mitted  to  the  Federal  Convention,  220,  37,  38  ;  writes 
for  the  Federalist,  241  ;  quoted,  242 ;  on  the  power 
of  removal  from  office,  276  ;  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
280 ;  plan  for  support  of  public  credit,  283-85  :  ad 
vocates  establishing  United  States  bank,  297  ;  report 
on  raising  supplies,  307  ;  at  variance  with  Jefferson, 
308-11 ;  rejoinder  to  Giles's  resolutions,  313,  14 ;  in 
quiry  into  official  conduct  of,  338  ;  last  great  report 
of,  337,  38  ;  leaves  the  cabinet,  359 ;  charges  of 
speculation  against,  result  of,  406  ;  named  by  Wash 
ington  as  second  in  command,  452;  activity  in  poli 
tics,  505 ;  opposition  to  Adams,  508  ;  letter  of,  con 
cerning  the  conduct,  etc.,  of  Adams,  508,  9 ;  effect 
produced,  509 ;  opinions  respecting  Aaron  Burr, 
514  ;  New  York  elections,  iii.  60,  61 ;  challenged  by 
Burr,  and  killed  in  the  duel,  61,  62  ;  imhappy  end, 
62  ;  oration  on,  by  Governeur  Morris,  62  ;  Sullivan's 
remarks,  63. 

Hamilton,  Paul,  secretary  of  the  navy,  iii.  116, 179. 

Hamlin,  Hannibal,  elected  vice-president,  iii.  552,  55. 

Hammond,  George,  minister  from  England,  ii.  311 ; 
complaints  against  Genet's  course,  320  ;  negotiations 
with,  325. 

Hampton,  sacked  by  the  British,  ii.  191,  92. 

Hampton,  Wade,  brigadier-general,  iii.  156 ;  refuses  to 
join  Wilkinson,  221 ;  movements  of,  221  ;  censured, 
222. 

Hampton,  rebel  general,  burns  the  cotton  at  Columbia, 
S.  C.,  iv.  521. 

Hancock,  John,  i.  283  ;  in  the  Massachusetts  convention, 
ii.  243. 

Hancock,  Gen.,  at  Gettysburg,  iv.  328,  30 ;  under  Grant, 
424  ;  at  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  427.  35,  39,  45 ;  on 
the  north  of  the  James,  452  ;  at  Ream's  Station,  453, 
54 ;  at  Hatcher's  Run,  496,  97. 

Hanson's  "  Federal  Gazette,"  destroyed,  iii.  155. 

Hardee,  rebel  general,  iv.  144,  221,252;  in  Georgia, 
469,  73,  74 ;  in  Savannah,  492  ;  retreats,  492 ;  evacn- 


INDEX. 


xix 


ates  Charleston,  521,  22  ;  at  Averysborough  and  Ben- 
tonville,  524. 

Harding,  Col.,  at  Fort  Doqelson,  iv.  348. 

Hardy,  Commodore,  ii.  192,  93  ;  attack  on  Stonington, 
239,  40. 

Harlan,  Senator,  resolution  of,  iv.  278. 

Harmar,  Gen.,  sent  against  the  Indians,  ii.  293. 

Harper,  II.  G.,  speeches  on  resisting  French  aggres 
sions,  and  on  appointment  of  foreign  ministers, 
432-39. 

Harper's  Ferry,  attack  on,  by  John  Brown,  iii.  548 ; 
attacked  by  the  rebels,  iv.  23,  24 ;  abandoned  by,  35  ; 
occupied  by  our  troops,  130  ;  held  by  Halleck's  order, 
229  ;  taken  by  the  rebels,  230. 

Harrison's  Bar  or  Landing,  iv.  202  ;  troops  at,  204. 

Harrison,  Benjamin,  letter  of  Washington  to,  ii.  27. 

Harrison,  R.  H.,  Washington's  secretary,  i.  362  ;  asso 
ciate  justice,  ii.  280. 

Harrison,  W.  H.,  ii.  498,  500 ;  governor  of  Indiana  Ter 
ritory,  534  ;  movements  of,  against  the  Indians,  and 
battle  of  Tippecanoe,  iii.  133,  34  ;  in  command  of  the 
north-west  army,  166 ;  opening  of  the  year  1813, 
180 ;  movements  after  the  massacre  at  Frenchtown, 
183  ;  besieged  at  Fort  Meigs,  184  ;  pursues  Proctor, 
216 ;  battle  of  the  Thames,  216,  17 ;  resigns  his 
commission,  245  ;  in  the  U.  S.  Senate,  353  j  nomina 
ted  and  elected  president,  412, 14 ;  inauguration,  etc. 
415  ;  calls  extra  session  of  Congress,  415  ;  death  of, 
416. 

Hartford  Convention,  iii.  286 ;  measures,  purposes  and 
result,  286-88. 

Hartstene,  Lieutenant,  goes  after  Dr.  Kane,  iii.  512  ; 
takes  the  Resolute  to  England,  513. 

Hatteras  Inlet,  expedition  to,  iv.  76,  77  ;  reduction  of, 
forts,  77. 

Ilatteras,  the,  U.  S.  Steamer,  destroyed,  iv.  278. 

Haverhill  disaster,  i.  161  ;  massacre  at,  166. 

Hay,  George,  U.  S.  attorney,  iii.  82-84. 

Ilayne,  R.  Y.,  in  the  Senate,  iii.  353  ;  speech  in  reply  to 
Daniel  Webster,  378,  79. 

Heath,  Gen.,  i.  357  ;  attempt  on  New  York,  468  ;  letter 
to  by  Washington,  ii.  20  ;  in  command  of  northern 
division  of  the  army,  39. 

Heintzelman,  in  command  of  army  corps,  iv.  129,  38  ; 
at  the  Chickahominy,  163,  198  ;  near  Washington, 
229. 

Heister,  Gen.  de,  on  Long  Island,  i.  432  ;  the  arch-plun 
derer,  465. 

Henry,  John,  and  the  plot  against  the  Union  ;  iii. 
138",  39. 

Henry,  Patrick,  resolutions  and  speeches  of,  i.  262,  63  ; 
speech  in  Congress,  319 ;  in  the  convention,  335  ; 
governor  of  Virginia,  400 ;  anonymous  letter  to 
against  Washington,  523  ;  in  the  Virginia  Conven 
tion,  ii.  244  ;  speeches  against  adoption  of  the  Fede 
ral  Constitution,  245-48. 

Hessians,  employed  against  the  colonies,  i.  385  ;  taken 
at  Trenton,  459,  60. 


Hicks,  governor  of  Maryland,  course  of,  iv.  28. 

Highlanders  in  Georgia,  i.  201. 

Hill,  A.  P.,  rebel  general,  iv.  200,  232,  320,  21,  23,  24 ; 
at  Gettysburg,  327,  28;  in  Virginia,  439  repulses 
Union  troops,  446  ;  attack  on  Warren,  453  at  battle 
of  Ream's  Station,  453,  54. 

Hill.  D.  H.,  rebel  general,  iv.  229,  30,  32. 

Hilton  Head,  forts  at,  bombarded,  iv.  81,  82. 

Hindman,  rebel  gen.,  in  Arkansas,  iv.  247  ;  defeated  at 
Van  Buren,  248. 

Hobkirk  Hill,  battle  at,  ii.  124,  25. 

Hobson,  Gen.,  iv.  343. 

Hoke,  rebel  gen.,  iv.  419  ;  at  Drury's  Bluff,  437 ;  at 
Fort  Anderson,  522 ;  evacuates  Wilmington,  N.  C., 
522. 

Holland,  involved  in  war  with  England,  ii.  109,  10 ; 
loans  money  to  the  United  States,  112 ;  acknowledges 
independence  of  United  States,  152. 

Hollins,  rebel  capt.,  "  peppered  them  well,"  iv.  80,  155. 

Holmes,  Capt.,  repulses  British  at  the  Thames,  iii. 
230,  31. 

Holt,  Joseph,  postmaster-general,  iii.  546  ;  takes  the 
war  department,  iii.  564 ;  judge  advocate  general, 
iv.  503. 

Homestead  bill,  vetoed  by  Buchanan,  iii.  551  ;  act, 
iv.  194 

Hood,  rebel  gen.,  iv.  330,  32,  58  ;  supersedes  Johnston, 
471;  attacks  Sherman, .  472,  73;  out-generaled  by 
Sherman,  473 ;  evacuates  Atlanta,  474 ;  letter  to 
Sherman,  475  ;  moves  on  Allatoona,  483,  84 ;  repulsed, 
484 ;  reinforced  by  Beauregarcl,  484 ;  plan  of  inva 
sion  of  Tennessee,  485,  86  ;  beaten  at  Franklin,  486  ; 
invests  Nashville,  486,  87 ;  routed  at  Xashville,  487. 

Hooker,  Gen.,  at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  iv.  161  ;  advance 
of,  198  ;  at  Kettle  Run,  211  ;  at  Antietam,  232  ;  in 
command  of  grand  division,  238 ;  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  241,  42  ;  final  attempt  at  Fredericksburg,  243  ; 
succeeds  Burnside,  244 ;  reforms,  etc.,  in  army  mat 
ters,  279 ;  plan  of  operations,  280 ;  troops  of,  cross 
the  Rappahannock  and  Rapidan,  280,  81 ;  expecta 
tions,  281 ;  course  of,  282 ;  panic  of  eleventh  corps, 
283  ;  change  of  line,  285 ;  retires  nearer  the  river 
and  retreats,  286,  87 ;  congratulatory  order,  288  ; 
movements  after  Lee,  320,  21  ;  plan  against  Lee, 
326 ;  relieved  of  command,  326  ;  sent  to  Tennessee, 
353  ;  in  Lookout  Valley,  358  ;  at  battle  of  Chatta 
nooga,  359,  60  ;  under  Sherman,  467,  69,  70,  72. 

Hopkins,  Admiral,  in  Rhode  Island,  ii.  444,  45. 

Hopkins,  Gen.,  on  the  Wabash,  iii.  166,  67. 

Hopkinson,  Francis,  i.  415,  511,  539. 

Hornet,  sent  to  France  with  money,  iii.  71,  72 ;  takes 
the  Peacock,  193,  94 ;  blockaded  near  New  London, 
192  ;  takes  the  Penguin,  274 ;  returns  to  New  York, 
274. 

Horse-shoe  Bend,  victory  at,  iii.  210,  11. 

Hovey,  Gen.  A.  P.,  iv.  225,  312, 13. 

Howard,  Gen.,  iv.  279,  81,  84,  85  ;  at  Gettysburg,  328  ; 
at  battle  of  Chattanooga  359,  60 ;  under  Sherman, 


INDEX. 


467,  74;  in  command  of  the  right  wing,  487,  90,  91 ; 
advance  of,  520  ;  at  Bentonville,  524,  25. 

Howe,  Lord,  popularity  of  and  death  of,  i.  240,  41. 

Howe,  Admiral,  i.  423,  24  ;  wishes  and  efforts  of,  424  ; 
attempt  at  negotiations  with  Washington,  424,  25  ; 
declaration  by,  438;  46  ;  third  proclamation,  442  ;  in 
the  Chesapeake,  472  ;  in  Rhode  Island,  ii.  17  ;  suc 
ceeded  by  Byron,  26. 

Howe,  General,  i.  358,  59  ;  succeeds  Gage,  367  ;  evacu 
ates  Boston,  396-98 ;  at  New  York,  423  ;  commis 
sioner  of  peace,  423,  24 ;  force  at  New  York,  429  ; 
policy  of,  discussed,  445  ;  plans  of,  for  campaign  of 
1777,  470  ;  evacuates  the  Jerseys,  471 ;  offers  battle, 
479  ;  succeeded  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  531. 

Howe,  Gen.  Robert,  ii.  31,  34,  113,  161. 

Hudson,  Henry,  enters  the  service  of  the  Dutch,  i.  44  ; 
explores  the  Hudson  Pdver,  and  fate  of,  45. 

Hull,  Isaac,  in  the  Constitution,  iii.  162  ;  takes  the  Guer- 
riere,  163. 

'Hull,  William,  brigadier-general,  iii.  156 ;  force  of, 
157  ;  sets  out  for  Canada,  158 ;  proclamation,  inac 
tivity,  etc.,  158  ;  retreats,  159 ;  loss  of  dispatches, 
159  ;  disgraceful  surrender  of,  160,  61 ;  tried  and  con 
demned,  161. 

Ilulseman,  and  the  Hungarian  question,  iii.  486-89. 

Humphreys,  Col.,  and  dey  of  Algiers,  ii.  368. 

Hunter,  Gov.,  of  New  York,  ii.  181,  82. 

Hunter,  Gen.,  iv.  87,  88  ;  retreats,  88  ;  in  department  of 
the  South,  151,  191  ;  proclamation  of,  191  ;  opera 
tions  against  Charleston,  193  ;  relieved,  194  ;  in  com 
mand  again,  289  ;  general  order  of,  293  ;  letter  to 
Dupont,  296,  97;  relieved,  297;  succeeds  Sigel  in 
Virginia,  437  ;  movements  of,  partial  success,  441,  42. 

Hurlbut,  Gen.,  tinder  Sherman,  iv.  404. 

Hutchinson,  Mrs ,  views  and  fate  of,  i.  67,  68. 

Hiitchinson,  Gov.,  of  Massachusetts,  i.  249,  59,  64,  93, 
97  ;  letters  of,  298. 

I. 

Ignorance  in  England  as  to  spirit  and  energy  of  the 
Americans,  i.  309. 

Illinois,  admitted  into  the  Union,  iii.  319. 

Impressment  in  Boston,  i.  290 ;  of  Americans,  begun 
by  British  officers,  iii.  72,  73 ;  claims  of  the  British 
government  on  this  subject,  174;  offer  of  the  U. 
States  government  under  Madison,  175. 

Inauguration  of  Washington,  ii.  267,  68. 

Indemnity,  claims  for,  on  European  governments,  iii. 
321  ;  no  redress  obtained,  322  ;  bill  as  to  habeas  cor 
pus,  iv.  261,  64. 

Independence,  question  of,  among  the  colonists,  L  216, 
17  ;  choice  between  that  and  submission,  392,  93  ; 
felt  to  be  a  necessity,  402,  3  ;  steps  taken,  403,  4  ; 
debates,  404  ;  declaration  of,  drafted,  405  ;  of  the  U. 
States  acknowledged  by  Holland,  1782,  ii.  152 ;  by 
Sweden,  Denmark,  Spain,  Russia,  1783,  161. 

Indiana,  admitted  into  the  Union,  iii.  306. 

Indiana  Territory,  ii.  499,  534  ;  Harrison,  governor  of, 

r-f>A 
uo-t. 


Indians,  American,  origin  of  the  name,  i.  13 ;  Indiana 
and  the  Dutch,  84 ;  bitter  result  of  the  war,  85,  87  ; 
atrocities  of,  153 ;  ii.  51 ;  eniployed  by  the  rebels  at 
Pea  Ridge,  iv.  119  ;  on  the  frontiers,  248. 

Ingraham,  D.  N.,  rebel  commander  at  Charleston,  iv. 
292. 

Inoculation,  for  the  small-pox,  i.  170,  468. 

Insurrection  in  Pennsylvania  against  excise  laws,  ii. 
350-54 ;  under  Fries,  462,  63. 

Intercolonial  war,  first,  i.  148,  51 ;  progress  of,  160, 1 ; 
concluded  by  the  peace  of  Ryswyck,  162  ;  the  second, 
166;  events  of,  166-68;  concluded  by  treaty  of 
Utrecht,  168  ;  the  third,  173  ;  Louisburg  taken,  173, 
74 ;  concluded  by  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  175  ; 
fourth  struggle,  220,  etc. ;  events  of,  in  detail,  220-50  ; 
ended  by  the  peace  of  Paris,  250. 

Internal  improvements,  discussion  as  to,  in  Congress, 
iii.  74  ;  Jefferson's  views  of,  105. 

Irish  emigrants  to  S.  Carolina,  i.  196,  98. 

Iron-clad  gunboats,  iv.  Ill ;  in  the  Ogeechee,  290 ; 
trial  of  the,  293,  96. 

Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  i.  138 ;  bold  language  of, 
142  ;  attacked  by  Frontenac,  162  ;  contests  with  the 
French,  176,  79  ;  add  the  Tuscaroras  to  their  confed 
eracy,  195  ;  the  Six  Nations  join  the  British  against 
the  colonies,  365  ;  employed  by  the  British  against 
the  Americans,  485  ;  expedition  against,  under  Gen 
Sullivan,  ii.  51,  54. 

Island  No.  10,  in  the  Mississippi,  iv.  116. 141  ;  strongly 
fortified  by  the  rebels,  141. 

luka,  battle  of,  iv.  223. 

Izard,  General,  iii.  229,  39,  44. 

J. 

Jackson,  Andrew,  in  Congress,  ii.  403,  4  ;  in  the  South 
west  against  the  Indians,  iii.  206-8  ;  activity  of,  208, 
9  ;  victory  at  Horse-shoe  Bend,  210 ;  in  command  at 
the  South,  275 ;  measures  against  the  British,  275, 
76  ;  takes  Pensacola,  276,  77 ;  prepares  to  defend 
N.  Orleans,  277  ;  takes  pirates,  etc.,  into  service,  278  ; 
proclaims  martial  law,  279  ;  night  attack  on  the 
British,  281  ;  battle  of  New  Orleans,  282-85 ;  diffi 
culties  in  the  city,  286  ;  fine  remitted,  286  ;  marches 
into  Florida,  314  ;  proceedings  there,  314-16  ;  action 
in  Congress  respecting,  319  ;  appointed  governor  of 
Florida,  334 ;  proceedings  there,  335  ;  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  340 ;  candidate  for  president,  1824, 
346  ;  nominated  by  legislature  of  Tennessee  for  pres 
ident,  353  ;  charges  of,  against  Henry  Clay,  360  ; 
elected  president,  364 ;  inauguration,  address,  cabi 
net,  prospects,  etc,  369-72  ;  removals  from  office,  372, 
73  ;  first  message,  374  ;  action  of  the  Senate  on  nom 
inations  of,  379,  80 ;  adverse  to  the  U.  States  bank, 
380,  81  ;  veto  power,  381  ;  troubles  in  cabinet,  382  ; 
correspondence  with  Calhoun,  383  ;  new  cabinet,  383  ; 
message  on  tariff,  U.  S.  bank,  etc.,  389,  90 ;  action 
as  to  nullifiers,  390  ;  removes  deposits  from  U.  S. 


INDEX. 


xxi 


bank,  394,  95  ;  course  on  the  French  and  Spanish 
spoliation  claims,  400  ;  results,  401  ;  specie  circular, 
404, 5  ;  vetoes  the  act  rescinding  specie  circular,  406  ; 
end  of  administration,  406  ;  death  of,  427. 

Jackson,  James,  ii.  292,  93,  95. 

Jackson,  minister  from  England,  iii.  121  ;  course  of, 
121,  22. 

Jackson,  T.  J.  ("  Stonewall ''),  at  Bull  Run,  iv.  59,  60  ; 
attacks  Union  troops,  130  ;  beaten  by  Shields,  137  ; 
advocates  invasion  of  the  North,  150 ;  sent  against 
Banks,  165  ;  plan  to  capture  Banks  169,  79  ;  pursues 
Banks,  170,  71 ;  retreats,  170 ;  battle  at  Cross  Keys 
and  Port  Republic,  173,  74 ;  burns  the  bridge  and 
escapes,  174,  75 ;  flank  movement,  198 ;  attack  of, 
200  ;  stopped  by  Union  batteries,  202 ;  crosses  the 
Rapidan  and  retreats  to  Gordonsville,  209, 10  ;  march 
of,  nearly  caught,  211,  12 ;  attacks  King,  212 ;  at 
tacked  by  Sigel,  212  ;  at  Germantown,  214 ;  at  Har 
per's  Ferry,  229,  30  ;  at  Antietam,  232  ;  flank  attack 
on  Hooker,  232,  33 ;  killed  by  his  own  men,  284 ; 
character  of,  284. 

James  I.,  king  of  England,  i.  50  ;  dislikes  the  Puritans, 
51 ;  grants  charters  to  London  and  Plymouth  Com 
panies,  30,  31 ;  instructions  of,  32  ;  death  of,  43. 

James,  Reuben,  and  Decatur,  iii.  56. 

Jameson,  Col.,  stupid  course  of,  on  Andre's  capture,  ii. 
92,  93,  97. 

Japan,  expedition  to,  under  Commodore  Perry,  iii.  507  ; 
visit  of  Japanese  embassy  to  the  U.  States,  552. 

Jasper,  Sergeant,  heroic  conduct  of,  i.  402. 

Java,  the,  taken  by  the  Constitution,  iii,  165. 

Jay,  John,  "  Address  to  the  People  of  Great  Britain  " 
by,  i.  324,  338-42  ;  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury,  481- 
83 ;  anecdote  of,  526 ;  negotiates  for  peace  at  Paris, 
ii.  155-57 ;  secretary  for  foreign  affairs,  195 ;  report 
on  papers  submitted,  196  ;  negotiations  with  Spain, 
197-99  ;  writes  for  the  Federalist,  241 ;  chief-justice, 
280 ;  envoy  to  Great  Britain,  336  ;  negotiates  a  treaty 
360  ;  outline  of  the  treaty,  361-63  ;  governor  of  New 
York,  505 ;  views  as  to  political  scheme,  505  ;  of 
fered  the  chief  justiceship,  514  ;  views  as  to  the  war 
of  1812,  iii.  156. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  i.  281 ;  drafts  Declaration  of  Inde 
pendence,  404,  5  ;  escapes  capture,  ii.  133  ;  minister 
to  France,  195  ;  letter  to  Adams  respecting  the  Con 
stitution,  255  ;  secretary  of  state,  279  ;  opposes  es 
tablishment  of  U.  States  bank,  297;  at  variance  with 
Hamilton,  303-11  ;  diplomatic  correspondence,  312  ; 
able  correspondence  with  Genet,  324,  31 ;  report  on 
commerce,  331;  retires  from  the  cabinet,  331 ;  remarks 
on  Hamilton,  360  ;  on  Jay's  treaty,  366  ;  republican 
candidate  for  presidency,  401  ;  result  of  the  election, 
405;  letter  to  Mazzei,  402;  vice  president,  413;  re 
marks  on  Adams,  405, 13  ;  bitterness  of  party  spirit, 
424  ;  letter  on  the  position  of  the  republican  party, 
428  ;  plan  of,  for  the  party,  443  ;  prepares  resolutions 
for  Kentucky  legistature  on  nullification,  444 ;  state 
ments  as  to  parties  in  Congress,  453  :  remarks  on 


Adams's  nomination  of  Murray,  459  ;  letter  to  Madi 
son,  500-1  ;  remarks  on  the  clergy,  506 ;  resents 
Adams's  course,  513  ;  votes  cast  for,  515  ;  remarks  on 
scheme  of  the  federalists,  516  ;  elected  president,  517; 
views  (1811)  on  Kentucky  and  Virginia  Resolutions, 
527, 28  ;  letter  to  Col.  Nicholas's  son,  537,  38  ;  inau 
guration,  address,  cabinet,  iii.  11-15;  views  on  re 
movals  from  office,  16-18;  course  as  to  the  judges,  18 ; 
sends  message  to  Congress,  22  ;  letter  to  Livingston, 
33,  34  ;  appoints  Monroe  plenipotentiary  to  France, 
36  ;  exultation  over  purchase  of  Louisiana,  40,  41  ; 
views  as  to  action  in  Congress,  41,  42  ;  interest  in 
western  explorations,  47,  48  ;  views  as  to  the  United 
States  bank,  52  ;  popularity  of,  60  ;  message  to  Con 
gress,  65 ;  close  of  his  first  term,  66  ;  prospects  of, 
67,  68  ;  pains  and  pleasures  of  office,  76,  77 ;  letter 
to  Dickinson,  78;  anxiety  as  to  Burr,  78,79;  inter 
feres  in  Burr's  trial,  83  ;  message  on  gunboat  system, 
87  ;  rejects  the  treaty  with  England,  91 ;  censured 
by  the  federalists,  92  ;  proclamation  of,  94 ;  refuses 
nomination  for  third  term,  101  ;  last  message,  104 ; 
end  of  administration,  109  ;  address  of  legislature 
of  Virginia  to,  109  ;  true  position  of,  in  our  history, 
110 ;  offers  his  library  to  Congress,  260 ;  death  of, 
358  ;  eulogies  on,  358,  59. 

Jersey  brigade,  officers  of  the,  course  of,  ii.  41-44  ;  com 
plaints  of,  85. 

Jersey  prison  ship,  ii.  154. 

Jessup,  Major,  gallantry  of,  at  Chippewa  and  Lundy's 
Lane,  iii.  232,  34,  35. 

Jesuit  missions  among  the  Indians,  i.  136,  37  ;  unsuc 
cessful  with  the  Iroquois,  138  ;  renewed  efforts  of, 
139. 

Johnson,  Andrew,  military  governor  of  Tennessee,  iv. 
23 ;  brief  notice  of,  47 ;  at  Nashville,  116  ;  nominated 
for  vice  president,  etc.,  457 ;  inaugural  speech,  Marck 
4th,  1865  ;  speech  at  Washington,  532,  33  ;  becomes 
president  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  murder,  April  15,  1865, 
544 

Johnson,  Colonel  R.  M.,  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames, 
iii.  217,  18 ;  nominated  for  vice  president,  402  ; 
chosen  by  the  Senate,  405. 

Johnson,  Colonel  Guy  and  the  Indians,  i.  365. 

Johnson,  Reverdy,  language  of,  iv.  2S 

Johnson,  William,  i.  235,  36,  50  ;  Johnson  family,  390. 

Johnston,  A.  S.,  rebel  general  in  Kentucky,  iv.  109  ;  at 
Corinth  and  Shiloh,  144,  45  ;  killed  in  battle,  146. 

Johnston,  J.  E.,  rebel  general,  joins  Beauregard  at  Bull 
Run,  iv.  56,  59, 60,  163  ;  shrewd  plan  of,  165 ;  attack 
ut  Seven  Pines,  166  ;  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  defeated  by 
Grant,  311,  12  ;  orders  to  Pemberton,  312,  13  ;  at 
Canton,  314  ;  unable  to  help  Pemberton,  316 ;  retreats 
before  Sherman,  318  ;  at  Dalton,  Ga.,  405  ;  army  un 
der,  469  ;  falls  back,  stand  at  Konesaw  Mountain, 
470,  71 ;  retreats  to  Atlanta,  471 ;  superseded  by 
Hood,  471  ;  in  X.  Carolina,  523,  24 ;  attack  at  Ben- 
tonville,  524, 25  ;  retreats  before  Sherman,  537  ;  sur 
renders,  538. 


XX11 


INDEX. 


Joinville,  Prince  de,  on  McDowell's  withdrawal,  iv. 
165 ;  on  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  167. 

Jones,  Captain,  in  the  Wasp,  iii.  164. 

Jones,  Paul,  ii.  33 ;  famous  battle  in  the  Bonhomme 
Richard,  57-59  ;  appointed  commissioner  to  treat 
with  the  dey  of  Algiers,  307  ;  death  of,  in  Paris,  307. 

Jones,  William,  secretary  of  the  navy,  iii.  179. 

Judiciary,  national,  organized,  ii.  278  ;  need  of  reform 
in,  513  ;  Jefferson's  feelings  towards,  iii.  29  ;  propos 
ed  increase  of,  357  ;  bill  passed,  364. 

Jumouville,  death  of,  i.  227,  28  ;  Washington's  connec 
tion  with  it,  227,  28. 

K. 

Kane,  Dr.  E.  K.,  in  command  of  the  second  Grinnell 
expedition,  iii.  501 ;  brave  exploits  of,  511,  12  ;  death 
of,  512. 

Kansas  and  Nebraska  bill,  debate  on,  iii.  504-6  ;  Kan 
sas  question,  proceedings  in  the  territory,  etc.,  514- 
16  ;  further  troubles,  516,  17  ;  debates  in  Congress, 
517,  18;  efforts  of  parties  in,  519;  Gov.  Walker's 
course,  535  ;  Lecompton  constitution  rejected,  535  • 
Buchanan's  remarks,  propositions  in  Congress,  538, 
40  ;  admitted  into  the  Union,  550. 

Kansas  Indians,  treaty  with,  iii.  352. 

Kaskaskias,  taken  by  Clarke,  ii.  29  ;  Indians,  iii.  53. 

Kautz,  Gen.,  cavalry  expedition  against  Danville  Rail 
road,  iv.  438  ;  at  Petersburg,  441  ;  expedition  against 
Danville  Road,  446,  7 ;  advance  to,  near  Richmond 
496. 

Kearney,  Gen.  S.  W.,  iii.  431 ;  advance  with  "  the  army 
of  the  West,"  436  ;  takes  possession  of  New  Mexico, 
436. 

Kearney,  Gen.,  iv.  161  ;  killed  at  Germantown,  214. 

Kearsarge,  sinks  the  privateer  Alabama,  iv.  478. 

Kennedy,  convicted  and  hung  inN.  York,  iv.  511. 

""•""iitucky,  Boone's  visit  to,  i.  305  ;  applies  for  admis 
sion  into  the  Union,  ii.  297  ;  views  and  doings  of  as 
to  the  Mississippi,  326,  347,  48  ;  resolutions  in  legis 
lature,  444-49 ;  proceedings  in  legislature  and  pro 
test,  464-66 ;  new  constitution  of,  530 ;  excitement 
in  about  N.  Orleans  and  the  Mississippi,  iii.  34 ; 
mourning  over  disaster  at  Frenchtown,  183  ;  rebel 
efforts  in,  iv.  37  ;  loyal  to  the  Union,  39  ;  legislature 
and  governor  of,  218  ;  invaded  by  the  rebels,  217-22. 

Key,  Francis  S.,  and  the  "  Star  spangled  banner,"  iii. 
258. 

Keyes,  Gen.,  in  command  of  army  corps,  iv.  129,  38  ;  at 
the  Chickahominy,  163  ;  at  battle  of  Seven  Pines, 
166,  67  ;  crosses  the  White  Oak  Swamp,  201. 

Kidd,  the  pirate,  i.  164,  65. 

Kieft,  William,  i.  48,  83  ;  administration  of,  and  death, 
84-86. 

Kilpatrick,  Col.,  iv.  288  ;  gen.  at  Gettysburg,  327,  31 ; 
expedition  against  Richmond,  406,  7;  under  Sherman, 
487  ;  drives  Wheeler,  491 ;  crosses  Savannah  River, 
520  ;  at  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  524. 

King  Philip,  war  of,  i.  110  ;  death  of,  112. 


King's  Mountain,  battle  of,  ii.  82,  83. 

King,  Rufus,  ii.  189  ;  motion  to  exclude  slavery   from 

territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio,  201,  2  ;    connection 

with  ordinance  of  1787,  204,  206-9  :  in  the  Massachu 

setts  convention,  242  ;  nominated  for  president,   iii. 

303  ;  on  the  Missouri  question,  324,  26. 
King,  W.  R.,  president  pro  tempore  of  the  Senate,  iii. 

479  ;  nominated  and  elected  vice-president,  492,  93  ; 

death  of,  500. 

Kinney,  Col.  emigration  to  the  Mosquito  coast,  iii.  509, 
"  Know  Nothing"  movements,  iii.  508. 
Knox,   Gen.   ii,  168  ;  secretary  of  war,  237,  80  ;  leaves 

the  cabinet,  359  ;  named  by  Washington  as  major- 

general,  1798,  452. 
Knoxville,    Tenn.,    welcomes    Burnside,  iv.  348  :    be 

sieged  by  Longstreet,  363  ;  scarcity  of  supplies  in, 

etc.,  363,  64. 
Knyphausen,  Gen.,  i.  473  ;  ii.  70  ;  attempts  of,   in  N. 

Jersey,  85. 

Kosciusko,  i.  472,  500. 
Kossuth,  Louis,  iii.  488,  89. 
Kostza,  case  of,  iii.  503. 


Lacepede,  letter  of,  to  Jefferson,  iii.  49. 

Lafayette,  arrives  in  America,  i.  471  ;  at  battle  of  the 
Brandywine,  474  ;  at  Barren  Hill,  534  ;  at  Monmouth, 
ii.  13-15  ;  in  Rhode  Island,  18  ;  letter  to,  by  Washing 
ton,  59  ;  returns  from  France,  85,  86  ;  sent  to  Virgi 
nia  to  take  command,  115  ;  patriotic  devotion  of,  118  ; 
activity  of,  132,  33  ;  movements  against  Cornwallis, 
134-36  ;  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  139,  141-43  ;  returns 
to  France,  145,  46  ;  visits  Washington  in  1784,  199  ; 
visits  America  in  1824,  iii.  345,  46  ;  action  of  Congress 
in  behalf  of,  346  ;  death  of,  398  ;  Adams's  oration  on, 
398. 

Lafitte,  and  the  Baratarian  pirates  ui  275  7ft 

Lafourche  district,  expedition  into,  iv.  190  ;  success  of 
expedition,  190. 

Lake  Erie,  steamers  burned  on  by  rebels  from  Canada, 
iv.  511. 

Lake  George,  battle  of,  i.  235,  36. 

Lander,  Gen.,  services  of  and  death,  iv.  130. 

Langdon,  John,  patriotism  of,  i.  492. 

Lasalle,  enterprise  of,  i.  139  ;  expedition  to  the  West, 
140  ;  descends  the  Mississippi,  141  ;  murdered,  141. 

Laurens,  Henry,  i.  285,  523  ;  in  the  Tower,  ii.  110  ;  re 
leased,  146  ;  at  Paris,  156. 

Law,  John,  schemes  of,  i.  209,  10. 

Laurence,  Capt.,  in  the  Hornet,  takes  the  Peacock,  iii. 
193,  94  ;  in  command  of  the  Chesapeake,  194  ;  com 
bat  with  the  Shannon  and  death,  195,  96. 

Lear,  Tobias,  ii.  282  ;  at  Tripoli,  iii.  59  ;  consul  at  Al 
giers,  296,  97. 

Lee,  Arthur,  i.  282,  453,  54. 

Lee,  Charles,  Gen.,  i.  357  ;  in  command  at  N.  York,  370. 
390  ;  sent  to  the  South,  399,  401  ;  erratic  course  of, 
and  captured  by  the  British,  443,  44  ;  at  Monmouth, 


INDEX. 


XXlll 


ii.  13  ;  conduct  of,  trial  and  sentence,  13,  15  ;  leaves 
the  army  and  dies,  15. 
Lee,  Charles,  attorney  general,  ii.  367. 
Lee,  Henry,  Major,  gallant  exploit  of,  u.  50 ;  services  in 
Georgia,  122,  26,  27  ;  general,  oration  by,  on  Wash 
ington,  479-81 ;  injured  in  a  riot  at  Baltimore,  iii.  156. 
Lee,  R.  H.,  i.  281,  319  ;  in  Congress,  403,  4. 
Lee,  rebel  gen.,  iv.,  91;  succeeds  Johnston,  197  ;  fath 
oms  McClellan's  plan,  201  ;  determines  to  attack, 
202  ;  returns  to  Richmond,  203  ;  interest  in  McClel 
lan's  plans,  206  ;  purpose,  on  McC's  retiring  from  the 
Peninsula,  208  ;  attempts  to  cross  the  Rappahan nock, 
210  ;  prepares  to  invade  the  loyal  states,  214,  15  ;  in 
vades  Maryland,  227  ;  address  of,  228  ;  official  order, 
229 ;  at  Antietam,  231,  32 ;  defeated,  address  to 
troops,  etc ,  233  ;  position  of  forces,  236  ;  movement 
to  meet  Burnside,  239,  40  ;  position  at  Fredericksburg 
heights,  242, 43  ;  position  and  force,  280  ;  advance  and 
demonstrations,  281,  82 ;  attacks  Hooker,  283,  85  ; 
further  attacks,  286,  87  ;  loss  at  Chancellorsville,  287  ; 
prepares  to  invade  the  North,  320  ;  position  of  troops, 
321 ;  order  as  to  supplies,  etc.,  324  ;  enters  Maryland- 
324 ;  course  of,  326,  27  ;  statements,  329 ;  repulsed  at 
Gettysburg,  329-32 ;  retreats  to  the  Rapidan,  333 ; 
address,  etc.,  333;  offensive  movements,  884;  re 
pulsed  at  Bristoe  Station,  385  ;  retreats,  385  ;  activity 
and  boldness  of,  426  ;  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
429,  30  ;  opposes  Grant's  advance,  431  ;  strength  of 
position  on  the  North  Anna,  435  ;  reinforced,  437  ; 
attacked  by  Grant,  438,  39 ;  sends  troops  to  Early, 
452  ;  rebel  commander-in-chief,  514  ;  urgent  appeal, 
514 ;  attacks  Fort  Steadman,  529  ;  attack  on  War 
ren,  530 ;  defeated  at  Five  Forks,  531 ;  message  to 
Davis,  evacuates  Petersburg,  retreats,  532  ;  finds  no 
supplies  at  Amelia  Court  House,  534  ;  hotly  pursued 
by  Sheridan,  535 ;  defeated  at  Sailor's  Creek,  535  ; 
correspondence  •with  Grant,  535,  6  ;  surrenders,  536: 
37  ;  effect  of,  537. 
Legal  tender  question,  iv.  149. 
Legare,  H  S.,  attorney  general,  iii.  418. 
Leisler,  Jacob,  in  New  York,  i.  150  ;  career  and  defeat 

of,  150,  51,  79. 
Letcher,  Gov.,  of  Virginia,   answer  to  the  President's 

call,  1861,  iv.  20  ;  proclamation  of,  43. 
Lewis  &  Clark's  expedition  to  the  mouth  of  the  Colum 
bia  River,  iii,  48,  49  ;  compensated  for  services,  89. 
Lexington,  Mass.,  battle  of,  i.  355-57  ;  spirit  roused  by, 

352,  53. 

Libby  prison  at  Richmond,  vile  hole,  iv.  406,  509. 
Liberty,  the  sloop,  case  of,  i.  289  ;  "  Liberty  Tree"  in 

Boston,  264. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  nominated  and  elected  president 
iii.  552,  54  ;  journey  to  Washington,  iv.  11  ;  apprehen 
sions  respecting  safety  of,  12  ;  inauguration,  address 
cabinet,  12,  13  ;  cheerless  prospect  before,  14  ;  policy 
and  views,  15,17;  proclamation  for  75,000  troops, 
1'J  ;  proclamation  of  blockade,  21 ;  call  for  troops,  31 : 
first  message,  49,  50  ;  message  in  December,  101,  2 


war  order,  No.  1,  112  ;  No.  2,  129  ;  notions  as  to  the 
campaign,  129 ;  orders  advance  by  way  of  Fortress 
Monroe,  132 ;  orders  as  to  Blenker  and  McDowell, 
137,  38  ;  letter  to  McClellan,  139  ;  approves  compen 
sated  emancipation,  148  ;  military  notions  of,  165  ; 
calls  for  troops,  171 ;  perplexed  by  slavery  question, 
191,  92  ;  pressure  upon,  against  McClellan's  plans, 
205  ;  invites  McC.  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  227 ;  visits  McC.  and  letters  to,  234,  35 ; 
order  as  to  the  Lord's  Day,  239  ;  address  to  the  army, 
243 ;  letter  to  Missourians,  246 ;  telegram  to  Rose- 
craus,  255  ;  proclamation,  260  ;  policy  as  to  the  war, 
261  ;  order  as  to  rebel  property,  262  ;  emancipation 
proclamation,  262,  71,  72 ;  views  as  to  foreign  rela 
tions,  266  ;  proclamation  of  fast  day,  278 ;  calls  for 
troops,  323  ;  appoints  thanksgiving  day,  334  ;  letter 
to  Grant,  364  ;  proclamation  as  to  Jiabeas  corpus  sus 
pension,  381,  82 ;  calls  for  300,000  volunteers,  383  ; 
message,  389  ;  emancipation  policy,  389  ;  proclama 
tions,  389,  397-99  ;  calls  for  troops,  401 ;  address  to 
Grant  as  lient.  gen.,  421  ;  calls  for  troops  to  defend 
Washington,  448 ;  accepts  nomination  for  second 
term,  456,  57 ;  censures  against,  reply  to  Greeley,  etc., 
459-61 ;  congratulatory  order  for  Farragut  and  Can- 
by,  482  ;  re-elected,  message,  etc.,  504-7 ;  cabinet 
changes,  506  ;  course  as  to  peace  matters,  512,  13  ; 
calls  for  troops,  515  ;  inaugural  address,  517,  18 ;  re 
joices  at  end  of  rebellion,  540  ;  warnings  as  to  dan 
ger,  541  ;  visits  Ford's  theatre,  541 ;  assassinated  by 
Booth,  542 ;  the  end,  542-44. 

Lincoln,  Benjamin,  gen.  at  the  South,  ii.  34,  35 ;  move 
ments  of,  35-37;  pursues  Prevost,  38  ;  at  Stono 
Ferry,  39  ;  efforts  against  Savannah,  54-56  ;  at  Char 
leston,  70  ;  surrenders,  71-73  ;  receives  Cornwallis's 
surrender  at  Yorktown,  144 ;  in  command  of  Massa 
chusetts  troops  in  Shays's  rebellion,  214,  15. 

Lincoln,  Levi,  attorney  general,  iii.  15. 

Livingston,  Edward,  speech  on  the  alien  bill,  ii.  439- 
42  ;  secretary  of  state,  iii.  383. 

Livingston,  Gov.,  letter  of,  480,  481. 

Livingston,  R.  R.,  chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
ii.  267  ;  minister  to  France,  iii.  19 ;  labors  in  Paris, 
38,  39  ;  death  of,  223. 

Locke,  John,  "  Grand  Model "  of,  i.  124,  25  ;  the  model 
abrogated,  193. 

Logan,  Dr.,  doings  of,  in  France,  ii.  452. 

Logan,  James,  agent  of  Pennsylvania,  i.  186-88. 

London  Company,  charter  of,  i.  30,  31 ;  members  of  the 
Council,  32,  33  ;  change  in  the  constitution  of,  35  ; 
send  out  Lord  Delaware,  35,  38  ;  grant  enlarged,  39  ; 
colony  not  profitable  and  dissolved,  42,  43. 

Long  Island,  battle  of.  i.  432,  33. 

Longstreet,  rebel  gen.,  iv.  166,  200  ;  at  GlendaJe,  202  ; 
joins  Jackson,  212 ;  under  Lee,  321,  22  ;  at  Gettys 
burg,  327,  30,  32  ;  at  Chickamauga,  353,  54 ;  detach 
ed  by  Bragg,  358  ;  advances  against  Burnside,  362, 
63  ;  assault  by,  and  failure,  363,  64 ;  retreats,  364  ; 
in  Virginia  under  Lee,  427,  29,  513. 


XXIV 


INDEX. 


Lovejoy,  resolution  of  in  the  House,  iv.,  53. 

Louisburg,  expedition  against,  i.  173,  74 ;  restored  to 
the  French,  174  ;  taken,  240. 

Louisiana,  i.  140,  206 ;  jealousy  of  the  English,  207  ; 
D'Iberville's  plans,  etc.,  207,  8  ;  settlement  at  Mobile, 
grant  to  Crozat,  depression  of  the  colony,  208 ;  mas 
sacre  by  the  Indians,  211 ;  retaliation,  211  ;  prosper 
ity,  211  ;  relation  to  the  United  States,  ii.  535,  36  ; 
ceded  to  France  by  Spain,  iii.  33  ;  purchased  by  the 
United  States,  38,  39  ;  violation  of  Constitution  in  so 
doing,  41-47  ;  delivery  to  the  United  States,  44,  45  ; 
admitted  into  the  Union,  139  ;  joins  the  rebellion, 
556  ;  Gen.  Banks  in,  iv.  297,  98  ;  measures  taken  to 
restore  state  government,  409  ;  election  of  governor, 
etc.,  410. 

Lowndes,  Wm.,  chairman  of  Committee  of  Ways  and 
Means,  iii.  300  ;  active  in  favor  of  paying  national 
debt,  305  ;  reports  on  weights  and  measures,  320  ; 
death  of,  336. 

Loyalists,  strength  of,  i.  390  ;  plots  of,  399  ;  position  of 
after  Declaration  of  Independence,  420,  23. 

Lundy's  Lane,  battle  of,  iii.  233,  37. 

Lyon,  N.,  Capt.,  zeal  of,  iv.  39,  40  ;  gen.  in  command  in 
Missouri,  41  ;  proclamation  and  action  of,  41  ;  course 
of,  83  ;  determines  to  meet  Price,  84  ;  battle  at  Wil 
ton's  Creek  or  Oak  Hill,  85  ;  killed  on  the  field,  86. 


n. 

Macedonian,  the,  taken  by  the  United  States,  iii.  164. 

Mackinaw,  taken  by  the  British,  iii.  159  ;  efforts  to  rt* 
take,  230,  45. 

Macon,  N.,  queries  of,  addressed  to  Jefferson,  iii.  19  ; 
speaker  of  the  House,  21,  43. 

Macomb,  Gen.,  at  Plattsburgh,  iii.  241-44  ;  commander 
in  chief,  364  ;  death  of,  364. 

Madison,  James,  ii.  241  ;  in  the  Virginia  convention, 
244 ;  speech  in  favor  of  adopting  the  Constitution, 
249-51  ;  plan  for  public  revenues,  273,  74  ;  resolu 
tions  of  in  the  House,  debate  on,  331-35  ;  Gibbs's  se 
vere  censure  on,  373  ;  the  Virginia  resolutions,  450  ; 
report  in  Virginia  legislature  and  protest,  466  ;  let 
ter  to  Edward  Everett  on  nullification,  4G7-72  ;  sec 
retary  of  state,  iii.  15  ;  named  by  caucus  as  Jeffer 
son's  successor,  101  ;  elected  president.  105  ;  inaugu 
ration,  address,  cabinet,  113-16  ;  critical  position  of 
affairs,  116, 17  ;  proclamation,  120  ;  message,  sub 
stance  of,  122,  26,  27  ;  troubles  in  cabinet  of,  133 ;  mes 
sage  135,  6  ;  views  and  recommendations,  position  as 
to  wnr,  136,  37;  message  on  the  "  Henry  plot,"  138  ;  the 
war  message,  141-46 ;  proclamation,  fast  day  appoint 
ed,  1 48  ;  difficulty  in  regard  to  army  officers,  156  ; 
nominated  for  re-election,  175  ;  message,  176  ;  special 
message,  178  :  inaugural  address,  178,  79 ;  in  the 
camp  near  Washington,  249,  50  ;  returns  to  the 
capital  on  the  British  retreat,  258  ;  tone  of  message, 
258,  59  ;  message  respecting  treaty  of  peace,  289,  90  ; 
thanksgiving  day  appointed,  290;  approves  bill 


chartering  U.   S.   bank,   301  ;   vetoes  internal   im 
provement  bill,  305,  6  ;  end  of  administration,  306. 

Magaw,  Col.,  i.  439-41. 

Magoffin,  governor  of  Kentucky,  iv.  20  ;  proclamation 

of,  37,  38  ;  letter  to  Pres.  Lincoln  and  to  Jeff  Davis, 

oq 

oo. 

Magruder,  rebel  gen.,  iv.  139 ;  statement  of,  199  ;  re 
pulsed  at  Savage  Station,  202 ;  in  Texas,  278. 

Maine,  i.  73  ;  progress  of  settlements  in,  251 ;  applies 
for  admission,  admitted  into  the  Union,  iii,  325,  27. 

Malvern  Hill,  battle  at,  iv.  202. 

Manassas,  abandoned  by  the  rebels,  iv.  131. 

Manassas,  rebel  ram,  in  the  Mississippi,  iv.  80  ;  de 
stroyed,  156. 

Manhattan  Island,  first  occupied,  i.  45  ;  purchased 
from  the  Indians,  46. 

Mansfield,  Lord,  on  power  of  parliament  to  tax  the 
colonies,  i.  272. 

Mansfield,  Gen.  killed  at  Antietam,  iv.  232. 

Marion,  the  "  swamp  fox,"  ii.  77  ;  services  of,  124,  25, 
28  ;  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  129. 

Marquette,  voyage  of,  i.  139. 

Marshall,  John,  in  the  Virginia  convention,  ii.  244  ; 
opinion  as  to  constitutionality  of  U.  S.  bank,  299- 
302 ;  on  differences,  etc ,  between  Jefferson  and 
Hamilton,  309  ;  on  the  effect  of  the  French  Revolu 
tion  upon  politics  in  United  States,  316,  17  ;  review 
of  Washington's  administration,  408,  9  ;  appointed 
envoy  to  France,  419  ;  course  in  Paris  and  return, 
421,  22 ;  great  speech  in  Congress,  464  ;  announces 
Washington's  death,  475,  6  ;  estimate  of  Washing 
ton's  character,  491-93  ;  secretary  of  state,  501  ;  ap 
pointed  chief-justice,  514 ;  presides  at  Burr's  trial, 
in.  81-85  ;  death  of,  402. 

Mainland,  origin  of  settlement,  i.  78  ;  charter  of,  79  ; 
opposition  of  Clayborn,  79,  80,  82  ;  first  statutes,  81 ; 
various  claimants,  82  ;  population  in  1680,  83  ;  pros 
perity  of,  120 ;  Fendal'?  insurrection,  121  ;  "  Protest 
ant  Revolution,"  150  ;  troubles  in,  192  ;  Lord  Balti 
more  becomes  a  protestant,  192,  93  ;  boundary  ques 
tions,  etc.,  193,  217;  invaded  by  the  rebels  under 
Lee,  iv.  227 ;  people  of,  loyal,  228  ;  the  governor's 
proclamation,  228. 

Mason  and  Slidell,  rebel  agents,  captured,  iv.  71,  72  ; 
given  up,  74. 

Mason,  John,  and  the  Pequods,  i.  70-72. 

Mason,  S.  T.,  and  Jay's  treaty,  ii.  363,  64;  in  Congress, 
iii.  30. 

Massachusetts  Bay  Company,  i.  59  ;  charter  of,  etc.,  60, 
61  ;  Robertson's  remarks  on,  61  ;  commissioner  sent 
to  Charles  II.,  106  ;  royal  commissioners,  108,  9  ; 
sturdy  resistance,  109  ;  Indian  wars,  110,  12  ;  charter 
declared  forfeited,  112  ;  Andros  governor,  113 ;  arbi 
trary  acts,  113 ;  course  pursued  on  William  Third's 
accession,  149 ;  new  charter,  156  ;  Bellamont  gov 
ernor,  163-65 ;  Dudley  governor,  165-67 ;  Shute 
governor,  169  ;  Burnet  governor,  170,  71  ;  Belcher 
governor,  171,  72  ;  Shirley  governor,  172  ;  boundary 


INDEX. 


XXV 


disputes,  172  ;  general  state  of,  213,  14  ;  views  as  to 
being  taxed  by  parliament,  258,  59  ;  Bernard's 
courses,  280,  88  ;  petition  to  the  king,  287,  88  ;  spirit 
of  the  Assembly,  289  ;  General  Court  of,  in  17G9,  292  ; 
Hutchinson's  coursft,  297;  Lord  North's  bill,  310.' 
preparations  for  war,  326,  34 ;  action  of  Massachu 
setts  Congress  after  battle  of  Lexington,  353  ;  op 
poses  war  of  1812,  iii.  154,  55  ;  resolution  of  legisla 
ture  against  the  war,  194. 

Matamoras  entered  by  Taylor,  iii.  432. 

Mather,  Cotton,  quoted,  i.  62  ;  share  in  the  witchcraft 
delusion,  156-60. 

Mazzei,  letter,  ii.  402,  10. 

McCall,  Gen.,  iv.  95.  98  ;  at  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  199  ;  at 
Glendale,  202. 

McClellan,  G.  B.,  proclamation  of,  iv.  43  ;  attacks  the 
rebels  at  Rich  Mountain,  Va.,  44 ;  in  command  of 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  45  ;  goes  to  Washington,  92 ; 
efforts  to  improve  the  army,  92-94 ;  "  memorandum" 
quoted,  92,  93  ;  sabbath  order,  92  ;  statement  at  end 
of  October,  1861,  94 ;  dispatch  to  Stone,  95  ;  general 
in-chief,  plans,  etc.,  97,  98  ;  not  ready  to  move,  99, 
100  ;  delays,  plan  of  campaign,  129  ;  relieved  of  com 
mand  in  chief,  132  ;  address  to  the  troops,  132  ;  dis 
appointed,  138 ;  plan,  deplores  McDowell's  being 
detached,  number  of  troops,  138  ;  urged  to  act,  139  ; 
advance  from  Yorktown,  160  ;  feeling  on  McDowell's 
withdrawal,  165  ;  disappointed,  196,  97  ;  expecting 
battle,  198  ;  change  of  base  to  the  James  River,  199  ; 
crosses  the  Chickahominy  and  White  Oak  Swamp, 
201,  2  ;  at  Malvern  Hill,  202,  3  ;  generalship,  address 
to  the  soldiers,  203,  4  ;  plan  opposed  by  Halleck  and 
Pope,  205  ;  remonstrance,  206  ;  censure  of  Pope,  214 ; 
in  command  again,  226,  27 ;  sets  out  after  Lee,  228, 
29  ;  finds  Lee's  order,  active  movements,  229,  30 ; 
crosses  South  Mountain,  fights  at  Antietam,  231-33  : 
does  not  pursue  Lee,  233 ;  address,  plans,  etc.,  233, 
35  ;  advance  into  Virginia,  236  ;  superseded,  236  ;  re 
tires  from  the  service,  236  ;  estimate  of  ability,  etc  , 
of,  236-38  ;  letter  in  favor  of  Woodward,  381 ;  nomi 
nated  for  president,  462,  3  ;  loses  the  election,  504. 

McClernand,  Gen.,  iv.  112,  144,  250,  303,  4  ;  moves  from 
Milliken's  Bend,  307 ;  in  Mississippi,  310,  311 ;  at 
Edward's  Station,  312. 

McCook,  Gen.  A.  McD.,  iv.  221  ;  under  Rosecrans,  251, 
350  ;  at  Chickamauga.  353,  54 ;  cavalry  expedition  • 
of,  473. 

McCook,  Col.  D.,  killed  at  Kenesaw  Mountains,  iv.  471.  j 

McCook,  Gen.  R.  L.,  murder  of,  iv.  219. 

McCrea,  Miss,  murder  of,  i.  499. 

McCulloch,  Hugh,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iv.  516. 

McDor.ough,  Commodore,  victory  on  Lake  Champlain. 
iii.  229,  242-44 

McDougall,  A.,  i.  293  ;  general,  440  ;  ii.  48,  49. 

McDowell,  Gen.,  iv.  56,  57 ;  report  of  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  58-60;  in  command  of  army  corps,  129,  37; 
detached,  138  ;  withdrawn  from  McClellan,  165 ;  co 
operation  looked  for,  198,  99;  at  Warrenton  and 
Manassas,  211,  12. 


McHenry,  secretary  of  war,  ii.  418 ;  removed  from  of 
fice,  501. 

McLean,  appointed  j  ustice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  iii .  371 . 

McNiel,  Col.,  at  Kirkville,  Mo.,  iv.  247 ;  shoots  guerril 
las,  248 ;  succeeds  Blunt,  374  ;  in  Missouri,  508. 

McPherson,  Gen.,  iv.  310, 11 ;  defeats  rebels  at  Raymond 
and  Jackson,  311  ;  at  Vicksburg,  313 ;  under  Sher 
man  in  Mississippi,  403  ;  in  command  of  department 
and  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  422,  67  ;  movements  on 
the  right,  469,  70,  71 ;  killed  in  battle  near  Atlanta 
472. 

Meade,  Gen.  G.  C.,  at  Fredericksburg,  iv.  242 ;  under 
Hooker,  279,  85  ;  in  command  of  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac.  326 ;  moves  to  Gettysburg,  327,  29  ;  does  not 
pursue  Lee,  332,  33  ;  address  to  the  army,  333 ;  pur 
pose  of,  retires  to  Centreville,  384  ;  plans  the  Mine 
Run  move,  384  ;  in  command  under  Grant,  424  ;  con 
gratulatory  order  of,  434  ;  orders  assault  on  Peters 
burg,  445 ;  mine,  etc.,  450,  51  ;  instructions  to  from 
Grant,  528,  29 ;  work  in  closing  campaign  against 
Lee,  531-35. 

Mecklenburg  declaration,  i.  369,  70. 

Meigs,  R.  J.,  postmaster-general,  iii.  225. 

Melendez,  Pedro,  deeds  of,  i.  10. 

Memminger,  rebel  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iv.  393, 401. 

Memphis,  taken  by  the  fleet,  iv.  181. 

Mercer,  Gen.,  death  of,  i.  46 '2. 

Merrimac,  the,  armor  of,  iv.  132  ;  attacks  our  ships, 
133  ;  terrible  force  of,  134,  35  ;  attacked  by  the  Moni 
tor  and  beaten,  135,  36  ;  end  of,  136,  162. 

Merryman,  John,  case  of,  iv.  29. 

Mesilla  Valley,  dispute  as  to,  iii.  501. 

Mexico,  resists  annexation  of  Texas,  iii.  426 ;  war  de 
clared  against,  428 ;  affairs  in,  plan  of  operations 
against,  430,  31  ;  Mexicans  defeated  at  Palo  Alto  and 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  431,  32  ;  Santa  Anna's  return 
to,  433  ;  attempts  made  by,  444-50  ;  losses  and  dis 
asters,  capital  taken,  etc.,  448-50  ;  negotiations,  and 
treaty  of  peace,  452,  53  ;  reflections,  453,  54  ;  treaty 
in  full,  462-70  ;  action  taken  respecting,  iv.  396. 

Michigan,  admitted  into  the  Union,  iii.  403. 

Mifflin,  Gen.,  and  the  cabal  against  Washington,  i. 
522-25  ;  president  of  Congress  when  Washington 
resigns  his  commission,  ii.  169,  70. 

Millitary  academy  recommended,  ii.  499. 

Minnesota,  admitted  into  the  Union,  iii.  541. 

Mint,  for  national  coinage,  ii.  298  ;  iii.  50. 

^Missionary  Ridge,  Tenn.,  iv.  359,  60  ;  carried  by  storm, 
361. 

Mississippi  Company,  i.  209,  10  ;  territory,  ii.  500,  531, 
32  ;  state  of,  admitted  into  the  Union,  iii.  513  ;  joins 
the  rebellion,  556. 

Mississippi,  the,  discovery  of  by  De  Soto,  i.  9 ;  voyage 
of  Marquette  on,  139;  La  Salle  at  the  mouth  of, 
140  ;  claims  of  the  United  States  as  to  navigation  cf, 
ii.  197-99 ;  opened  by  treaty  with  Spain,  367  ;  ex 
citement  respecting,  in  1802,  iii.  33,  34  ;  blockade  at 
mouth  of,  iv.  79 ;  importance  of  opening,  141,  53 
expedition  for  the  purpose,  154. 


XXVI 


INDEX. 


Missouri,  applies)  for  admission  into  the  Union,  iii.  320  ; 
debate  in  Congress  on  slavery  question,  320 ;  long 
and  severe  struggle  on  question  of  admission,  323- 
26  ;  liow  decided,  326  ;  admitted,  332. 

Missouri  question  and  compromise,  iii.  323-27 ;  battle 
fought  over  again,  331,  32  ;  Henry  Clay's  efforts,  332 ; 
compromise  repealed  in  1854,  505,  6 ;  Benton's  views 
thereupon, 524-27. 

Mitchel,  O.  M.,  speech  in  New  York,  iv.  30 ;  in  Ken 
tucky,  116  ;  advances  into  Alabama,  176  ;  cuts  rebel 
railroad  communications,  176,  77  ;  not  reinforced, 
177  ;  death  of,  177,  94. 

Mobile,  settlement  at,  i.  208  ;  defences  of  under  the 
rebels,  iv.  480  ;  forts  taken  and  bay  secured,  481,  82  ; 
result  of  success,  482  ;  evacuated  by  the  rebels,  528. 

Monitor,  the,  iv.  135  ;  meets  and  beats  the  Merrimac, 
136  ;  end  of,  136,  289  ;  monitor  class  of  vessels,  366. 

'"  Monroe  Doctrine,''  the,  iii.  340-43 ;  discussed,  497, 
500. 

Monroe,  James,  in  the  Virginia  Convention,  ii.  244,  57 : 
envoy  to  France,  339  ;  arrives  in  Paris,  370 ;  course 
and  views  of,  384-86 ;  superseded  by  Pinckney,  386 ; 
takes  leave,  vindication  of,  387,  8 ;  letter  from  Jef 
ferson  to,  iii.  16  ;  minister  to  France,  and  labors  at 
Paris,  36,  38  ;  joins  Pinckney  at  Madrid,  69  ;  fruitless 
labor,  70  ;  urged  by  Randolph  as  Jefferson's  success 
or,  76,  77  ;  negotiates  treaty  at  London,  89  ;  returns 
to  the  United  States,  92 ;  political  anxiety  of,  101  ; 
secretary  of  state,  133  ;  also  secretary  of  war,  255, 
60  ;  plan  for  increasing  the  army,  261,  62  ;  nominated 
and  elected  president,  302,  3  ;  inauguration,  address, 
cabinet,  307-9;  political  principles  of,  309;  tour 
through  the  country,  309  ;  sends  in  papers,  etc , 
about  the  Seminole  war,  319  ;  visits  southern  states, 
322;  message,  323  ;  abstract  of  message,  1820,  330, 
31 ;  re  elected,  333,  34  ;  appoints  Jackson  governor 
of  Florida,  334  ;  proclamation  as  to  Missouri,  336  ; 
vetoes  Cumberland  Road  bill,  337  ;  proclamation  on 
trade  with  England,  338 ;  message,  etc.,  338  ;  last 
message,  34G  ;  retires  to  private  life,  348  ;  eulogy  on 
by  Adams,  348,  49  ;  death  of,  383. 

Montcalm,  commander  of  the  French  forces  in  America. 
i.  238  ;  activity  of,  238,  39  ;  efforts  of,  at  Quebec  and 
death,  243-45. 

Mongomery,  Gen.,  i.  357, 71 ;  takes  Montreal,  372  ;  death 
of,  at  Quebec,  373  ;  honors  to  his  memory,  374. 

Montreal,  i.  137  ;  taken  by  the  English,  246 ;  taken  by 
Montgomery,  372. 

Morales,  Spanish  intendant  at  New  Orleans,  iii.  34. 

Morgan,  Daniel,  and  his  riflemen,  i.  362  ;  at  Saratoga, 
491 ;  at  Stillwater,  500  ;  affection  of,  for  Washington, 
525 ;  meets  Tarleton  at  battle  of  the  Cowpens,  ii. 
118,  19  ;  retreat,  120  ;  unfitted  for  active  service,  121. 

Morgan,  J.  H.,  rebel  raider,  iv.  216  ;  proclamation,  216, 
17  ;  takes  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  escapes  into  Tennessee,  at 
Gallatin,  217  ;  raid  into  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Ohio, 
342  ;  details,  342-44 ;  steps  taken  to  cut  him  off,  race 
after,  and  caught,  343,  44  ;  in  Virginia,  436  ;  last  raid 
into  Kentuc  ky,  476  ;  killed  at  Greenville,  Tenn.  476. 


Mormonism,  iii.  423  ;  the  sect  in  Utah  under  Brigham 
Young,  536,  37  ;  act  against  polygamy,  iv.  195. 

Morris,  Gouverneur,  and  Federal  Constitution,  ii.  220  ; 
labors  in  England,  294  ;  minister  to  France,  307 ;  re 
turns  to  United  States,  839  ;  oration  on  Hamilton,  iii. 
62. 

Morris,  Robert,  the  financier,  i.  461  ;  ii.  Ill  ;  views  and 
course  of,  149. 

Motley,  J.  L.,  minister  to  Austria,  iv.  64. 

Moultrie,  Col.,  at  Sullivan's  Island,  1.  401 ;  gen.,  in  Car 
olina  and  Georgia,  ii.  35-38. 

Murfreesborough,  captured  by  Forrest,  iv.  216  ;  bloody 
battle  of,  252-54  ;  Rousseau  at,  486. 

N. 

Napoleon,  first  consul,  ii.  503  ;  plans  of,  as  to  colony  in 
Louisiana,  iii.  36  ;  change  of  plan,  36,  37 ;  sells  to  the 
U.  States,  substance  of  treaty,  38-40  ;  "  continental 
system"  and  Berlin  decree,  90 ;  other  decrees  of,  98 
124  ;  insolence  of  minister,  untruthful,  etc.,  124,  25  ; 
course  towards  Barlow,  140  ;  decline  of  power,  190. 

Napoleon,  Louis,  proposes  intervention,  iv.  209,  70 
course  in  Mexico,  396. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  taken  by  Buell,  iv.  116  ;  Rosecrans 
at,  251 ;  Thomas  routs  Hood  at,  486,  87. 

National  debt,  1790,  ii.  284  ;  discussion  respecting,  285  ; 
how  settled,  289-91 ;  amount  of,  in  1795,  359  ;  na 
tional  debt,  iv.  104;  in  February,  1865,  516. 

National  roads,  iii.  74,  75. 

Navy,  American,  foundation  of,  i.  378 ;  vessels  under 
Hopkins,  in  R.  Island,  444,  45  ;  operations  of,  1778, 
ii.  32,  33 ;  Washington  recommends  increase  of,  333  ; 
opposition  to,  in  Congress,  376 ;  department  of  the 
navy  formed,  ships  built,  etc.,  426,  27  ;  skill,  bravery, 
etc.,  of  officers  and  men,  454,  55  ;  first  prize  taken, 
455  ;  Truxtun's  victory,  455,  56  ;  not  loved  by  Jeffer 
son,  iii.  20 ;  exploits  of,  in  the  Mediterranean,  20,  21 ; 
gallant  deeds  of  Preble.  Decatur,  Somers,  etc.,  54-60  ; 
feeling  in,  towards  England,  130  ;  force  of,  at  opening 
of  war  of  1812,  154 ;  gallantry  of,  126  :  first  vessels 
taken  on  either  side,  162, 63 ;  effect  of  taking  the 
Guerriere,  163  ;  other  great  successes,  164,  65  ;  nava. 
affairs,  1813 ;  193-98 ;  operations  on  the  lakes  and 
victories,  215,  229,  30 ;  242-44 ;  operations  of,  1814, 
267-75 ;  last  collision  with  an  English  ship,  274-75 ; 
condition  of,'  at  close  of  Buchanan's  administration, 
582 ;  in  July,  1861,  iv.  52 ;  importance  of,  75  ;  in 
December,  1861, 103  ;  operations  against  Forts  Pu- 
laski  and  Macon,  150-58;  against  N.  Orleans,  154; 
success  of,  at  Memphis,  181 ;  grades  of  officers  in,  195 ; 
strength  of,  January,  1863,  277 ;  in  December,  1863, 
391,  92  ;  in  December,  1864,  507- 

Navy  yard,  at  Washington,  destruction  of  vessels  in, 
iii.  253  ;  navy  yard  at  Norfolk,  iv.  24. 

Negroes,  sold  as  slaves  by  the  Dutch,  i.  41  ;  law  for 
bidding  importation  of,  1803,  iii.  49 ;  efforts  to  bene 
fit,  iv.  83  ;  colonization  proposed,  102  ;  emancipation 
of,  urged,  192  ;  question  as  to  arming  of,  193 ;  troops, 
290,  fi3,  97  ;  corps  d'Afrique,  301,2  ;  prisoners,  course 


INDEX. 


xxvn 


of  rebels  towards,  369  ;  orphan  asylum,  etc.,  destroy 
ed  in  N.  York  riot,  378-80 ;  order  of  Banks  as  to,  in 
Louisiana,  409, 10  ;  troops  at  Fort  Pillow  murdered 
416,  17  ;  troops  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  444. 

Neutral  trade  interfered  with  by  England,  iii.  72  ;  out 
rages  upon  by  England  and  France,  90-100  ;  Madi 
son's  remarks  on,  318. 

New  England,  importance  of  history  of,  i.  49 ;  found 
ing  of,  49-56  ;  progress  in  1633,  34,  64,  65 ;  under 
Winthrop,  royal  commission  sent  to,  65 ;  settlements 
effected,  73 ;  Fundamentals  or  Body  of  Liberties,  94 ; 
united  colonies  of,  94,  95  ;  religious  troubles,  96  ; 
resists  interference,  97  ;  intolerance  of,  98  ;  money 
coined,  98  ;  persecutes  the  Quakers,  99-102  ;  prosper 
ity,  morals,  etc.,  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  103,  4 ; 
declaration  of  rights,  trials,  etc.,  105  ;  affairs  of  1786, 
87,  ii.  211, 12  ;  Shays's  rebellion,  211,14,  15  ;  insurrec 
tion  in  N.  Hampshire  and  Connecticut,  213  ;  supports 
John  Adams,  503  ;  disaffection  in,  iii.  108  ;  adverse 
to  war  of  1812,  154,  55  ;  state  of  things  in  1814, 
286. 

New  France,  i.  12,  136  ;  troubles  in  and  war  with  In 
dians,  138,  39  ;  company  given  up,  138. 

New  Hampshire,  i.  94 ;  colony  of,  112 :  boundary  of 
settled,  173  ;  progress  of,  214  ;  government  of,  1776? 
400  ;  convention  in,  for  adopting  the  Constitution,  ii. 
244. 

New  Jersey,  origin  of,  i.  90  ;  Carteret,  governor  of,  90  ; 
disputes,  E.  and  W.  Jersey,  91 ;  progress  of,  1750, 
219  ;  case  of  New  Jersey  members  in  Congress,  iii.  412. 

New  Mexico,  dispute  as  to  boundary,  iii.  474  ;  question 
settled,  480. 

New  Netherland,  i.  45,  46  ;  progress  under  Kieft,  83, 
84 ;  Indian  war,  84,  85 ;  Stuyvesant,  governor,  85  . 
Brodhead  quoted  respecting,  89. 

New  Orleans,  founded,  i.  210 ;  place  of  deposit  for  mer 
chandize,  ii.  367 ;  this  right  taken  away,  iii.  34 ; 
evacuated  by  the  French,  44,45;  plans  for  defence 
of,  277-79  ;  battle  of,  282-5  ;  taken  by  Farragut,  iv. 
157 ;  importance  of  this  capture,  159 ;  condition  of, 
under  Butler,  183,  84 ;  feeling  in,  women  of,  184, 86  ; 
riotous  disposition  of,  298. 

New  York,  i.  88 ;  taken  by  the  Dutch,  90  ;  Andros  gov 
ernor,  91 ;  arbitrary  measures,  92  ;  chartered  liberties, 
92,  93  ;  excitement  in,  150  ;  Leisler's  career,  150-52  ; 
Fletcher  governor,  176-79  ;  Bellamont  governo^ 
178,  79;  Cornbury's  administration,  180,81;  Love 
lace,  Hunter,  Bernard,  Cosby,  Clarke,  Clinton,  gov 
ernors  of,  181-85  ;  general  state  of,  218,  19  ;  tempor 
izing  spirit,  1769,  293 ;  provincial  congress  in,  356  ; 
feeling  in,  389  ;  defence  of,  necessary,  423  ;  evacuated 
by  the  Americans,  437  ;  evacuated  by  the  British, 
ii.  168  ;  opposed  to  the  claims  of  Congress,  189,  80  ; 
convention  in  regard  to  the  Constitution,  252  ;  amend 
ments  proposed,  252,  53  ;  session  of  Congress,  in  city 
of  N.  York,  256  ;  political  parties,  etc.,  505,  6  ;  slavery 
abolished  in,  525  ;  great  fire  in  the  city,  iii.  408  ;  de 
putation  from,  remonstrates  against  the  specie  circu. 


lar,  408  ;  draft  riot  in  the  city,  iv.  377-80 ;  attempt  to 
set  fire  to,  511. 

Newspapers,  in  the  U.  States,  in  1798,  ii.  429  ;  between. 
1798-1801,  524 ;  disloyal,  iv.  94. 

Niagara,  taken  by  the  English,  i.  243 ;  assaults  on 
frontier,  ravages,  etc.,  by  the  British,  iii.  222,  23  ; 
Niagara  Falls  conference,  iv.  460. 

Nicholson,  tabes  Port  Royal,  i.  167 ;  proceeds  against 
Canada,  167,  68. 

Norfolk  Navy  Yard,  great  loss  of  property  at,  iv.  24 ; 
retaken,  161,  62. 

North,  population,  spirit,  etc.,  at  opening  of  rebellion 
of  1861,  iv.  47-49. 

North,  Lord,  prime  minister;  i.  297  ;  proposal  of,  297 ; 
coercive  acts  proposed,  309-11 ;  course  recommended, 
1774,  328  ;  plan  of  conciliation,  333,  34  ;  conciliatory 
bills,  528. 

North  Carolina,  convention  of,  and  course,  ii.  253,  54  ; 
treated  as  a  foreign  state,  279 ;  ratifies  the  Constitu 
tion,  283. 

North-east  passage  sought,  i.  20,  21. 

North-eastern  boundary  line,  ii.  523  ;  north-western 
boundary  line,  iii,  550. 

Northern  boundary  line  between  U.  States  and  British 
possessions,  iii.  338. 

North-western  Territory,  ordinance  for  government  of, 
ii.  202-4,  206-9. 

Nouaheevah,  Island  of,  taken  possession  of  by  Commo 
dore  Porter,  iii.  267. 

Nullification  doctrines,  started  in  Kentucky  legisla 
ture,  ii.  444;  nullification  in  S.  Carolina,  iii.  389,  90. 

O. 

"  Observations  on  the  Boston  Port  Bill "  by  Josiah 
Quincy,  i.  312, 

Oglethorpe,  character  of,  i.  199  ;  object  of,  in  colonizing, 
199, 200  ;  course  of,  trials  and  death,  201,  2. 

Ohio  company,  i.  221  ;  Ohio  admitted  into  the  Union, 
iii.  32. 

Opechancanough,  massacres  the  whites,  i.  42  ;  second 
attack  and  death  of,  76. 

Ord,  Gen.,  iv.  98  ;  supersedes  Butler,  499,  513,  28  ;  in 
structions  from  Grant,  528,  29 ;  various  movements, 
529,  30 ;  aid  in  closing  campaign  against  Lee,  531- 
35. 

Orders  in  council,  1793,  ii.  326 ;  denounced  in  the  U. 
States,  326  ;  retaliatory  orders,  1806,  iii.  90,  91 ;  or 
ders  in  November,  1807,  98 ;  effects  upon  commerce 
of  the  U.  States,  98  ;  revoked  too  late,  140. 

Oregon  question,  iil  421 ;  proceedings  respecting,  422  ; 
state  of  question  on  Folk's  accession,  426  ;  debate  in 
Congress,  427;  negotiations,  etc.,  428;  Oregon  ad 
mitted  into  the  Union,  1859,  541. 

Ostcnd  conference,  iii.  510. 

Oswego,  i.  234,  35  ;  taken  by  the  French,  237 ;  attack 
ed  by  the  British,  1814,  iii.  230. 

Otis,  James,  against  "  writs  of  assistance,"  i.  249 ;  bold 
pamphlet  of,  259. 


XXV111 


INDEX. 


P. 

Pacific  Railroad,  urged  by  Buchanan,  iii.  539  ;  discus 
sions  in  Congress,  545  ;  act  passed,  iv.  195. 

Paper,  bills  of  credit,  in  Massachusetts,  i.  168,  69  ;  cur 
rency,  continental,  Ramsay's  views  of,  ii.  64-69  ;  be 
comes  valueless,  111. 

Paper  money,  first  issued  in  the  colonies,  i.  175. 

Parke,  Gen.  iv.  120  ;  at  Newbern,  124  ;  at  Fort  Macon, 
152,  53  ;  at  Petersburg,  531. 

Parker,  Sir  Peter;  at  Charleston,  i.  401,  2  ;  death  of,  iii. 
256. 

Parliament,  authority  over  colonies  not  well  settled, 
i.  256,  57 ;  claims  right  of  taxation,  272  ;  course  of, 
1769,  291  ;  vacillating  course  of,  294  ;  debates,  etc., 
1775,  384,  85  ;  determines  to  employ  foreign  trooops, 
385  ;  act  prohibiting  trade  with  the  colonies,  385, 
86  ;  action  of,  1776,  77,  78,  515,  16  ;  appoints  com 
missioners,  528,  31 ;  proceedings  in  November, 
1781,  ii.  147,  48  ;  scene  in,  170,  71  ;  Pitt's  bill  re 
jected  by,  191,  92. 

Party  organization,  ii.  307,  8  ;  difference  in  Washing 
ton's  cabinet,  308,  9 ;  press,  virulence  of,  1791,  92, 
310  ;  struggles  for  the  presidency,  401,  5  ;  activity, 
1798,  443  ;  schemes  in  Congress,  498,  99  ;  movements 
in  N.  York,  505,  6  ;  intrigues  and  schemes,  509. 10  ; 
spoils  of,  under  Jefferson,  iii.  16  ;  savage  warfare  of 
in  1825,  364 ;  party  issues  in  1860,  between  the  demo 
crats  and  republicans,  546. 

Patterson,  William,  plan  of,  in  the  Federal  Convention, 
ii.  220. 

Patterson,  General,  interview  with  Washington,  i. 
424,  25. 

Paulding,  Commodore,  at  Xorfolk,  iv.  24. 

Paul  us  Hook,  British  surprised  at,  ii.  50. 

Peace,  negotiations  for  at  Paris,  ii.  155,  56  ;  questions 
discussed,  158  ;  definitive  treaty  of,  163-67 ;  disputes 
as  to  infractions  of  the  treaty,  193,  94 ;  negotiations 
for  peace,  1814,  iii.  288  ;  treaty  of,  welcome  arrival, 
288-90  ;  effects  of,  293,  94 ;  pea.ce  propositions  in 
Congress,  1860,  iii.  559  ;  longing  after,  and  steps  ta 
ken,  iv.  460,  61  ;  in  Congress,  463  ;  further  attempts, 
512, 13 ;  failure  of  result,  513. 

Peacock,  taken  by  the  Hornet,  iii.  193,  94 ;  captures 
the  Epervier,  270 ;  rencontre  with  the  Nautilus, 
274, 

Pemberton,  rebel  general,  iv.  311,  12 ;  defeated  at 
Champion's  Hill,  312,  13  ;  routed  at  the  Big  Black, 
813  ;  surrenders  Vicksburg,  316,  17. 

Penn,  William,  i.  91 ;  early  career  and  character  of, 
129,  130 ;  visits  America,  132  ;  interview  with  the 
Indians,  133 ;  returns  to  England,  134  ;  trials  with 
the  colonists,  135  ;  revisits  America,  186  ;  troubles, 
return  to  England  and  death  of,  186,  87. 

Pennsylvania,  region  of,  first  occupied  by  the  Swedes, 
i.  48  ;  origin  of  name,  form  of  government,  130,  31 ; 
code  of  laws  and  boundary,  132,  33  ;  legislative  acts 
and  prosperity,  134 ;  privy  council's  interference, 


135;  troubles  in,  185,  86  ;  "charter  of  privileges," 
186  ;  Evans,  Gookin,  Keith,  Thomas,  governors,  186- 
88 ;  dispute  between  the  Assembly  and  proprietaries, 
188. 

Penobscot,  expedition  against  the  British,  etc.,  ii.  49 
50  ;  British  enter  the,  iii.  240,  41. 

Pensacola,  i.  210;  British  ships  at,  ii.  275,  taken  by 
Jackson,  276,  77  ;  taken  again,  315  ;  rebels  in,  iv.  78  • 
bombardment  of  forts,  78,  79. 

Pequod  war,  origin  and  result  of,  i.  69  ;  extermination 
of  the  Pequods,  70-72. 

Perry,  Oliver,  H.,  Commodore,  iii.  187  ;  on  Lake  Erie, 
213,  14 ;  victory  of,  214,  15 ;  death  of,  323. 

Perry,  M.  C.,  and  Japan  expedition,  iii.  507. 

Petition  to  the  King,  1774,  i.  324,  348-51 ;  second  peti 
tion,  365,  381-83. 

Philadelphia  founded,  i.  134  ;  evacuated  by  the  Ameri. 
cans,  475 ;  Congress  return  to,  ii.  22 ;  patriotism  of 
citizens,  86,  87 ;  sessions  of  Congress  in,  254, 

Philip,  King,  sachem  of  the  AVampanoags,  i.  110-12. 

Phillips,  Gen.,  sent  to  reinforce  Arnold  in  Virginia,  ii. 
114,  15  ;  death  of,  116. 

Pickens,  Col.,  defeats  the  tories  in  Georgia,  ii.  35  ;  joins 
Morgan,  117 ;  services  of,  in  Georgia,  126,  27,  29  :  at 
battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  129  ;  against  the  Cherokees 
131. 

Pickering,  Col.,  secretary  of  war,  ii.  359 ;  secretary  of 
state,  366 ;  report  on  correspondence  and  dispatches 
from  France,  453,  54;  removed  from  office,  501. 

Pickering,  Judge,  impeached  and  condemned,  iii.  53. 

Pierce,  E.  L.,  treasury  agent,  efforts  to  benefit  the  no 
groes,  iv.  83. 

Pierce,  Franklin,  speech  of,  iii.  403 ;  in  Mexico,  446, 
47 ;  nominated  and  elected  president  of  the  U.  States, 
492,  93  ;  inauguration,  address,  cabinet,  499,  500  ;  di 
plomatic  appointments,  501 ;  message,  503  ;  vetoes  of, 
508,  9  ;  sends  message  to  the  Senate,  514 ;  message 
and  proclamation,  517 ;  last  message,  520  ;  Benton's 
review  of  the  message,  520,  21 ;  end  of  administra 
tion,  524 ;  language  of,  1861,  iv.  32,  33. 

Pike,  Col.,  iii.  172,  73  ;  attack  on  York,  186  ;  death  of, 
188. 

Pillow,  rebel  general,  iv.  87;  at  Fort  Donelson,  113  ; 
runs  away,  115. 

Pinckney,  C.,  in  the  Federal  Convention,  ii.  210 ;  minis 
ter  to  Spain,  iii.  69. 

Pinckney,  C.  C.,  minister  to  France,  ii.  386  ;  how 
treated,  387,  88 ;  goes  to  Paris  with  Marshall  and 
Gerry,  420  ;  course  of,  and  return,  421,  22  ;  appointed 
major-general,  452  ;  nominated  by  caucus  for  presi 
dent,  506  ;  the  federal  candidate,  iii.  101. 

Pinckney,  Thomas,  minister  to  England,  ii.  307,  335  ; 
candidate  for  vice-president,  401 ;  appointed  nia;  or- 
general,  iii.  156. 

Pinkney,  William,  minister  to  England,  iii.  92,  98  •  at 
torney-general,  133,  47  ;  on  the  Missouri  question, 
324,  25  ;  death  of,  336. 

Piracies  in  West  India  seas,  iii.  339. 

Piracy,  suppressed  in  the  Colonies,  i.  169  •   slave  trade 


INDEX. 


xxix 


declared  to  be,  first  by  the  United  States,  iii.  89. 

Pitcairn,  Major,  at  Lexington,  i.  335,  36. 

Pitt,  'William,  Earl  of  Chatham,  prime  minister,  i.  239  ; 
great  speech  of,  268  ;  reply  to  Grenville,  269,  70  ; 
head  of  new  ministry,  285  ;  speech  of,  311  ;  eulogy 
on  American  state  papers,  325  ;  eloquent  speech  of, 
329.-31 ;  bill  of,  and  reply  to  Sandwich,  332  ;  speech 
in  1775,  392  ;  efforts  in  1777,  515. 

Pitt,  William,   chancellor  of  the  exchequer,  bill  of,  ii. 

Pittsburg  Landing,  battle  of,  iv.  145,  46.  [191,  92. 

Plattsburg,  attacked  by  the  British,  iii.  190  ;  British 
troops  march  against,  241,  42. 

Pleasanton,  Gen.,  iv.  231,  35,  36,  84,  321 ;  encounters 
Stuart,  323  ;  relieved,  424 ;  in  Missouri,  508. 

Plymouth,  New,  i.  56. 

Plymouth  company,  charter  of,  i.  30,  31. 

Pocahontas,  i.  34  ;  baptism,  marriage,  death  of,  39,  40. 

Polk,  James  K.,  in  the  House,  iii.  353 ;  speaker  of  the 
House,  402  ;  nominated  and  elected  president,  423  ; 
inauguration  and  cabinet,  425  ;  Oregon  question, 
426,  27  ;  approves  war  bill,  429 ;  message,  430 ;  change 
of  plan  against  Mexico,  439  ;  last  message,  etc.,  458, 
59  ;  death  of,  460,  61. 

Polk,  rebel  general,  iv.  39,  106,  7 ;  with  Beauregard, 
144,  45 ;  in  Mississippi,  404,  5 ;  under  Johnston  in 
Georgia,  469. 

Pontiac,  conspiracy  of,  i.  250,  51. 

Poor,  Gen.,  at  Monmouth,  ii.  14. 

Pope,  Gen.,  iv.,  87 ;  in  Northern  Missouri,  89  ;  at  New 
Madrid,  141 ;  opens  a  canal,  142  ;  success  at  Island 
No.  10,  143 ;  joins  Halleck  at  Pittsburg  Landing, 
117;  at  Corinth,  178,  79;  statements  of,  180;  goes  to 
Virginia,  180 ;  address,  orders,  etc.,  207,  8 ;  reinforced, 
208,  9  ;  style  of  talking,  210  ;  blunder  of,  blames  his 
officers,  212  ;  condemns  F.  J.  Porter,  213  ;  hasty  tele 
gram,  etc.,  213-15  ;  in  the  West,  528. 

Port  Hudson,  strength  of,  etc.,  299,  302,  3. 

Porter,  David,  midshipman,  ii.  456  ;  captain  in  the 
Essex,  iii.  163 ;  cruise  of,  198  ;  success  of,  198,  99  ; 
blockaded  in  Valparaiso,  267,  68  ;  desperate  fight 
with  British  ships,  268,  70 ;  measures  against  pi 
rates,  340  ;  further  career  and  death  of,  340. 

Porter,  D.  D.,  commodore,  iv.  154  ;  mortar  boats  of, 
155,  56  ;  Alexandria  taken  by,  302  ;  proceeds  against 
Fort  Hindmau,  303,  4 ;  orders  running  the  batteries 
at  Vicksburg,  305,  6  ;  expedition  through  bayous, 
etc.,  307,  8  ;  co-operates  with  Grant,  313,  14  ;  value 
of  aid  to  army  operations,  317,  18  ;  with  gunboats  on 
Red  River  expedition,  410,  11  ;  reaches  Grand  Ecore, 
412  ;  troubles,  etc.,  414,  15  ;  at  Fort  Fisher,  share  in 
the  work,  498,  99-501 ;  dispatch  of,  501  ;  aids  attack 
on  Fort  Anderson,  522. 

Porter,  Gen.  Fitz  John,  at  Hanover  Court  House,  iv. 
164  ;  at  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  199  ;  position  of,  nearly 
cut  to  pieces,  200 ;  censured  by  Pope,  213  ;  court  mar- 
tialed,  213. 

Porter,  W.  D.,  at  Fort  Henry,  iv.  133  ;  at  Baton  Rouge, 
189  ;  destroys  the  rebel  ram  Arkansas,  189. 

Porter,  General  and  General,  Smyth,  iii.  170,  71. 


Porto  Rico,  Deccudray's  expedition  against,  iii.  339. 

Posts,  colonial  arrangements  for,  i.  180,  81 ;  action  of 
Congress  in  1775,  in  regard  to,  363. 

Powhatan,  i.  34, 36,  42. 

Pownall,Governor  of  Massachusetts,!.  248  ;  views  of,  297. 

Preble,  Commodore,  in  the  Mediterranean,  iii.  53  ;  bora 
bards  Tripoli,  .56  ;  recalled,  56,  57. 

Prescott,  at  Bunker  Hill,  i.  358-61. 

President,  the,  and  the  Little  Belt,  iii.  130,  31  ;  loss  of 
in  battle  with  three  British  ships,  272,  73. 

Preston,  Captain,  trial  of,  i.  296. 

Price,  rebel  general,  iv.  40,  84 ;  retreats,  89  ;  at  Spring 
field,  .Mo.,  117;  pursued  to  Arkansas,  117,  18;  plan 
against  Grant,  223 ;  at  battle  of  Corinth,  224  ;  invades 
Missouri,  508  ;  ill  success  of,  508. 

Printing  press,  first  in  America,  i.  104. 

Prisoners,  sufferings  of,  in  New  York,  i.  466-68  ;  ex 
change  of  with  the  rebels,  difficult  question,  iv.  106 
7 ;  rebel  course  as  to,  denounced,  353,  369  ;  Stanton's 
statements  as  to  exchange,  390,  91  ;  Butler's  share  in, 
405  ;  rebel  barbarities  towards,  509, 10  ;  exchange  as 
arranged  by  Grant  and  Lee,  510,  11. 

Privateering,  articles  of  Congress  of  Paris  on,  iv.  67, 8  ; 
determination  of  the  Government  modified,  69. 

Privateers  and  privateering,  iii.  197,  98  ;  work  of,  1861, 
iv.  68-70,  396. 

Privateersmen,  pirates  or  not  ?  iv.  69. 

Prizes,  subject  of,  iv.  388  ;  value  of,  392. 

Proctor,  at  Frenchtown,  iii.  181  ;  treacherous  conduct 
of,  182,  83  ;  repulse  and  retreat,  212,  13,  16  ;  defeated 
at  the  Thames,  217,  18. 

Prospect  Hill,  near  Boston,  i.  360. 

Public  lands,  importance  of,  ii.  201 ;  cession  of,  by  the 
States,  198,  201,  2  ;  measures  for  sale  of,  500  ;  ques 
tion  of,  iii.  377  ;  Foote's  resolution  on,  378,  79  ;  of  the 
United  States,  549. 

Puebla,  iii.  444 ;  Col.  Childs  attacked  at,  451. 

Pulaski,  Count,  i.  474 ;  death  of,  ii.  56. 

Puritans  and  the  Church  of  England,  i.  51  ;  discussions, 
emigration  to  Holland,  disputes  in  Amsterdam,  52, 
53  ;  determine  to  emigrate  to  America,  54  ;  set  sail, 
and  land  on  Plymouth  Rock,  55  ;  sufferings  during 
the  winter,  53  ;  organize  churches,  62  ;  severe  trials, 
theocracy,  etc.,  62,  63. 

Pury,  John  P.,  i.  198  ;  Purysburg,  198. 

Putnam,  Israel,  i.  239,  40  ;  takes  up  arms,  352  ;  appoint 
ed  major  general,  357  ;  at  Bunker  Hill,  361 ;  at  New 
York,  399,  423  ;  in  command  on  the  Hudson,  506. 


Quakers,  rise  and  tenets  of,  i.  99  ;  persecuted  in  New 
England,  100-2  ;  memorial  of,  on  slavery,  ii.  431. 

Quantrel,  and  his  band  of  ruffians,  iv.  373,  74. 

Quebec,  founded,  i.  12  ;  expedition  against,  under 
Walker,  167,  68  ;  Montgomery's  and  Arnold's  expe 
dition  against,  372-74. 

Queen  of  the  West,  loss  of,  iv.  299,  301,  305. 

Queenstown,  Va.,  Rensselaer's  attempt  against,  iii 
168-70. 


XXX 


INDEX. 


Quincy,  Josiah,  Jr.,  i.  284 ;  speech  of,  300  ;  observations 
on  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  312  ;  goes  to  England,  328  ; 
death  of,  329. 

Quincy,  Josiah,  speech  of,  against  embargo  policy,  iii. 
106  ;  speech  of  against  admitting  people  of  Territory 
of  Orleans  as  a  new  State,  127,  28  ;  resolution  of,  in 
opposition  to  the  war  of  1812,  194. 

R. 

Rahl,  Col.,  at  Trenton,  i.  458,  61. 

Railroads,  the,  seized  by  the  government,  iv.  171. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  patent  for  colonization,  i  24  ; 
expedition  sent  to  Virginia,  26  ;  further  efforts  of,  28, 
29  ;  assigns  patent,  29. 

Randolph,  Edmund,  resolutions  of  in  Federal  Conven 
tion,  ii.  218-20  ;  in  the  Virginia  Convention,  244 ; 
speech  of,  248,  49  ;  attorney-general,  280  ;  secretary 
of  state,  337  ;  resignation  of,  366. 

Randolph,  John,  ii.  456,  502  ;  at  trial  of  Judge  Chase, 
iii.  65  ;  admiration  of  Jefferson's  course,  67  ;  change 
of  views,  69  ;  keen  remarks  of,  70,  71  ;  sentiments 
and  course,  76,  77  ;  activity  of,  123 ;  remarks  on 
Henry  Clay's  course,  326 ;  opposes  resolution  of  sym 
pathy  with  the  Greeks,  344 ;  in  the  Senate,  353 ; 
duel  with  Henry  Clay,  355  ;  minister  to  Russia,  394  ; 
death  of,  394. 

Randolph,  Peyton,  i.  281,  292,  319,  354. 

Ratification  of  the  Constitution  by  the  thirteen  original 
States,  ii.  254. 

Rawdon,  Lord,  in  South  Carolina,  ii.  79  ;  in  command  in 
North  Carolina,  124  ;  at  battle  of  Hobkirk  Hill,  124, 
25 ,  evacuates  Camden,  125  ;  at  Monk's  corner,  126  ; 
compels  Greene  to  retire  from  Ninety  Six,127  ;  returns 
to  Europe,  128. 

Raymond,  H.  J.,  defence  of  Lincoln,  iv.  461 ;  account  of 
the  close  of  Lincoln's  career,  541-44. 

Rebel  commissioners  at  Washington,  1861,  iv.  16 ; 
eagerness  to  attack  Washington,  25  ;  plundering,  31  ; 
efforts  in  Europe,  63,  64 ;  agents,  ill  success  abroad, 
66 ;  disappointment  as  to  Trent  affair,  74  ;  supposed 
force  in  Virginia,  94, 103,  6,  128  ;  malice,  117  ;  finan 
ces,  128 ;  fortifications  on  the  Mississippi,  140,  41  ; 
preparations  against  attack  on  New  Orleans,  155 ; 
chagrin  at  loss  of  New  Orleans,  159  ;  activity  under 
Lee,  197  ;  anger  at  Pope's  order,  208  ;  purpose  to  in 
vade  loyal  states,  214,  15 ;  troops,  condition  of,  228, 
325  ;  emissaries  in  Mifesouri,  246  ;  army,  259  ;  pros 
pects  at  close  of  1862,  275  ;  movements  in  Charles 
ton  harbor,  291,  92 ;  losses  at  Port  Hudson,  303  ; 
change  of  policy,  319  ,  20  ;  tone  and  temper  in  sum 
mer  of  1863,  337,  38  ;  aggressive  policy,  341 ;  course 
as  to  negro  prisoners,  369  ;  financial  condition,  376 ; 
piratical  exploits,  387, 88  ;  financial  condition,  Decem 
ber,  1863,  393  ;  cruelty  to  our  prisoners,  405,  6  ;  mur 
ders  at  Fort  Pillow,  416-18  ;  agents  in  Canada  about 
peace,  460,  61 ;  condition  of  affairs  gloomy,  505  ;  bar 
barities  to  prisoners,  509,  10  ;  armies  surrender,  537, 
3» 

Reed,  W.  B.,  minister  to  China,  iii.  537. 


Regulators,  in  North  Carolina,  i.  303. 

Reidesel,  Baroness,  i.  504,  8  ;  general,  484,  88,  500,  1. 

Removals  from  office,  power  of,  where  lodged,  ii.  274-77  ; 
under  Jefferson,  iii.  15-18  ;  under  Jackson,  372-73. 

Representatives,  apportionment  of,  ii.  305  ;  contest  on 
the  question,  305,  6 ;  how  settled,  306 ;  debate  on  the 
subject,  iii.  148. 

Revenue' system  of  1783,  ii.  188,  89. 

Reynolds,  General,  iv.  91,  279;  at  Gettysburg,  327, 
28  ;  mortally  wounded,  328. 

Hhode  Island,  charter  of,  i.  107 ;  general  state  of,  214  • 
British  in,  444,  45  ;  operations  in,  ii.  16, 17  ;  refuses 
to  send  delegates  to  Federal  Convention,  215  ;  refuses 
to  call  a  convention,  242  ;  treated  as  a  foreign  state, 
279 ;  ratifies  the  Constitution,  292  ;  troubles  in,  1842, 
iii.  421 ;  new  constitution  of,  421. 

Riall,  Gen.,  at  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  iii.  231,  32  ;  taken 
prisoner  at  Lundy's  Lane,  234. 

Ribault,  and  the  French  in  Florida,  i.  9  ;  attacked  by 
Melendez,  and  massacre  of  the  French,  10. 

Rice,  first  introduction  of,  i.  194. 

Richmond,  Va.,  destruction  of  the  theatre  in,  iii.  136  ; 
capital  of  the  rebels,  1861,  iv.  33  ;  approach  to,  1G2  ; 
expedition  against,  to  relieve  Union  prisoners,  406-8  ; 
evacuated  by  the  rebels,  532  ;  condition  of,  etc  ,  532. 

Rifled  ordnance,  iv.  151,  52. 

Ripley,  Gen.,  at  Chippewa,  iii.  231,  33  ;  at  Lundy'g 
Lane,  233,  37. 

"  Rip  Rap"  contract,  iii.  360. 

Rodgers,  Commodore,  at  Tunis,  iii.  59 ;  in  the  Presi 
dent  when  meeting  the  Little  Belt,  130,  31  ;  at  Bal 
timore,  256. 

Rodgers,  Captain  C.  P.  R.,  iv.  83  ;  on  Wright  River, 
125. 

Rodgers,  Capt.  John,  captures  rebel  ram  Atlanta,  iv. 

Rodgers,  G.  W.,  in  Charleston  harbor,  iv.  295.         [366. 

Rodney,  Admiral,  ii.  88. 

Rodney,  C.  A.,  attorney-general,  iii.  82,  116, 122. 

Rolf,  John,  marries  Pocahontas,  i.  39. 

Rose,  minister  from  England,  iii.  98  ;  returns  home,  99. 

Rosecrans,  General,  iv.,  44,  5 ;  attacks  Floyd,  90,  91  ; 
at  luka,  223,  34 ;  defeats  the  rebels  at  Corinth,  224, 
25  ;  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
250,  51 ;  march  of,  345  ;  preparations,  348,  49  ;  ad 
vances  against  Bragg,  350,  51  ;  crosses  Cumberland 
Mountains,  351,52;  fights  at  Chickamauga,  354; 
falls  back  on  Chattanooga,  355  ;  relieved  of  command, 
356  ;  supersedes  Schofield  in  Missouri,  383  ;  meets 
Price's  invasion,  508. 

Ross,  Gen.,  advance  of,  on  Washington  city,  iii.  248,  49  ; 
victory  at  Bladensburg,  250,  51  ;  enters  Washington, 
253  ;  orders  the  destruction  of  public  property,  253  ; 
killed  in  an  attempt  on  Baltimore,  257. 

Rousseau,  Gen.,  iv.  177,  251,  52,  53  ;  cavalry  expedition 
under,  471  ;  at  Murfreesborough,  486. 

Rush,  Dr.,  ii.  32  ;  letter  of  Jefferson  to,  about  the 
clergy,  506  ;  death  of,  iii.  223. 

Rush,  Richard,  attorney-general,  iii.  225  ;  secretary  of 
the  treasury,  351. 


INDEX. 


XXXI 


Russell,  Jonathan,  charge  d'affaires  at  London,  iii.  139  ; 

efforts  in  London,  174 ;  Senate  refuse  to  confirm  nom 

ination  of,  201. 
Russell,  Lord  John,  iv.65  ;  course  of  as  to  the  Trent  affair, 

73  ;  remonstrance  of,  81 ;  course  of  as  to  the  "  290" 

o  r  Alabama,  267. 
Russia,  offers  to  mediate  between  England  and  the  U. 

States,  iii.  175  ;  offer  accepted,   200;  friendly  course 

of,  in  rebellion  of  1361,  iv.  67. 
Rutledge,   Edward,  i.  285. 
Rutlodge,  John,  i.   285  ;  governor  of  S.  Carolina,  400  ; 

iu  Charleston,  ii.  38 ;  efforts  to  defend  the  city,  70, 

71,  7G  ;  associate  justice,  280. 

S. 

Sabbath  order  of  McClellan,  iv.  92  ;  order  of  President 
Lincoln,  239. 

Sabine  city  and  Pass,  iv.  272. 

Sabine  Cross  Roads,  La.,  battle  at,  iv.  412. 

Sackett's  Harbor,  attack  on,  by  the  British,  iii.  187. 

Sag  Harbor,  successful  attack  on,  i.  469,  70. 

St.  Clair,  at  Ticonderoga,  i.  485  ;  retreat  of,  486-88  ; 
joins  Schuyler,  489,  90 ;  sent  to  the  South,  ii.  153  ;  in 
command  of  forces  against  the  Indians,  305  ;  defeat 
ed,  305. 

St.  Domingo,  intercourse   with,  ii.  464. 

Salem  witclicraft  delusion,  i.  156-60. 

Sandy  Creek,  British  caught  in  ambuscade  at,  iii.  230. 

Sanitary  Commission,  U.  States,  labors  of,  iv.  509,  10. 

Santa  Anna,  return  of  to  Mexico,  iii.  433  ;  course  of, 
towards  U.  States,  433  ;  army  of,  438,  39  ;  defeated  at 
Buena  Vista,  439,  40  ;  efforts  of  to  prevent  Scott's  ad 
vance,  444-50  ;  defeated  at  Cerro  Gordo,  444,  etc.  ; 
loses  the  Capital,  448-50  ;  attacks  Colonel  Childs  at 
Puebla,451. 

Saratoga,  effect  of  victory  at,  i.  515. 

Savannah,  founded,  i.  200 ;  taken  by  the  British,  ii.  31  ; 
siege  and  storming  of,  54-56 ;  evacuated  by  the 
British,  153 ;  taken  from  the  rebels  by  Sherman,  iv. 
492. 

Saybrook,  founded,  i.  68. 

Schenectady,  destroyed,  i.  152-53. 

Schoepf,  Gen.,  iv.  46,  110. 

Schofield,  Gen.,  in  South-western  Missouri,  iv.  215,  45  ; 
troops  of,  245,  46;  course  towards  secessionists,  246  ; 
blamed  by  people  of  Kansas,  374 ;  removal  demanded, 
superseded  by  Rosecrans,  382,  83 ;  in  command  of 
Twenty-third  corps,  467,  68, 86  ;  ordered  to  co-operate 
with  Sherman,  519, 20  ;  attacks  Fort  Anderson,  522  ; 
attacked,  524. 

Schouten,  Cornelius,  first  sailed  round  Cape  Horn,i.  45. 

Schuyler,  Major,  and  the  Indians,  i.  176,  181. 

Schuyler,  Gen.,  i.  357,  370,  425 ;  efforts  against  Bur- 
goyne,  490,  91 ;    unhandsomely  used  by  Congress, 
498  ;  magnanimity  of,  508  ;  Mrs.  Schuyler,  i.  491. 
Scott,  Gen.,  against  the  Indians  on  the  Wabash,  ii.  304, 

48,  49. 
Scott,  Winfiehl,  Col.,  iii.  163,  69  ;  taken  prisoner.  170 ; 


at  Fort  George,  187;  at  York,  190;  at  battles  of 
Chippewa  and  Lundy's  Lane,  232-37 ;  difficulties 
about  position  of  commander  in  chief,  364 ;  plan  of 
operations  against  Mexico,  438,  39  ;  bombards  Vera 
Cruz,  442,  43 ;  advance  into  Mexico,  443  ;  victor  at 
Cerro  Gordo,  444;  at  Puebla,  troubles  and  trials,  444, 
45  ;  sets  out  for  the  capital,  successes,  445-47  ;  armis 
tice  of  Tacubaya,  447 ;  assaults  en  Molino  del  Rey, 
etc.,  448,  49;  enters  Mexico,  450;  dissensions  with 
officers,  etc.,  452,  53  ;  nominated  for  president,  492  ; 
appointed  lieutenant  general,  510  ;  sent  to  the  Pacific 
Coast  in  1859  on  a  mission,  550  ;  plans  of,  as  to  the 
mode  of  dealing  with  the  rebel  states,  iv.  14 ;  retires 
from  service,  97. 

Sedgwick,  Gen.,  iv.  279 ;  at  Fredericksburg  and  ad 
vance,  286,  87 ;  complaint  against  by  Hooker,  287 ; 
reconnaissance,  320 ;  at  Gettysburg,  329 ;  under 
Grant,.  424;  at  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  433,  27; 
killed  at  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  430. 

Seminoles,  war  with,  1818,  iii.  313-16  ;  long  war  with, 
1835-42,  410. 

Semmes,  and  the  privateer  Sumter,  iv.  79 ;  in  the 
Alabama,  288  ;  destroys  the  Hatteras,  278  ;  work  of, 
396 ;  arrives  at  Cherbourg,  477 ;  offers  to  fight  and 
is  beaten,  conduct  of,  etc.,  477,  78 ;  meanly  escapes, 
478,  79. 

Seward,  W.  H.,  speeches  in  Congress  on  the  •'  irrepress 
ible  conflict,"  etc.,  i5i.  547 ;  secretary  of  state,  iv.  13, 
16 ;  foreign  correspondence  of,  65,  67,  68 ;  course  as 
to  the  Trent  affair,  73,  74 ;  dispatches  of,  266,  69,  70 ; 
diplomatic  circular,  375,  76  ;  foreign  correspondence, 
396 ;  course  in  the  Arguelles  case,  458 ;  at  Fortress 
Monroe  on  peace  matters,  513  ;  official  announcement 
as  to  the  constitutional  amendment,  516 ;  accident 
to,  541 ;  attempt  at  murder  of,  by  Payne,  542,  43. 

Shackelford,  Gen.,  iv.  343  ;  catches  Morgan,  344. 

Shays's  rebellion,  ii.  211,  12,  14,  15. 

Sheffield,  Lord,  on  the  commerce  of  the  American 
States,  ii.  192. 

Sheridan,  Gen.  P.  H  ,  at  Murfreesborough,  iv.  252,  53  ; 
succeeds  Pleasanton,  424,  27 ;  successful  expedition 
of,  430,  32,  33  ;  at  Cold  Harbor,  436 ;  expedition 
against  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  442,  43  ;  in  com 
mand  in  Shenandoah  Valley,  493  ;  defeats  Early  at 
Opequan  Creek,  494 ;  success  at  Cedar  Creek,  and 
dispatches,  494,  95  ;  expedition  of,  527,  28  ;  at  Five 
Forks,  530,  31 ;  in  pursuit  of  Lee,  534,  35. 

Sherman,  Thos.  W.,  in  command  of  expedition  for  Port 
Royal,  iv.  81 ;  labors  of,  82,  83  ;  at  Edisto  Island,  126 ; 
wounded  at  Port  Hudson,  loses  a  leg,  302. 

Sherman,  William  T.,  in  Kentucky,  iv.  39  ;  under 
Grant,  144,  45  ;  under  Halleck  at  Corinth,  178,  79 ; 
congratulatory  order,  179  ;  plan  against  Vicksburg, 
248, 49  ;  attacks  Haines's  Bluff,  249,  50  ;  under  Grant 
in  Mississippi,  310;  at  Vicksburg,  313  ;  in  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  356  ;  advance  of,  357 ; 
at  battle  of  Chattanooga,  359,  60  ;  sent  to  Buruside's 
aid,  364;  advance  to  Meridian,  Miss.,  and  result, 
403-5 ;  in  command  of  military  division  under  Grant 


XXX11 


INDEX. 


422,  67;  Atlanta  the  objective  point,  468;  moves 
from  Chattanooga,  469  ;  pushes  Johnston  back,  losses 
at  Kenesaw  Mountains,  469-71 ;  flank  movement,  gets 
between  Hood  and  Hardee,  gains  Atlanta,  473,  74 ; 
reply  to  Hood's  letter,  476  ;  bold  plan  of  operations, 
485 ;  preparations  for  the  march,  etc.,  487,  88 ;  line 
of  march,  4S8,  89  ;  occupies  Mill  edge  ville,  Qa.,  489  ; 
occupies  Millen,  crosses  the  Ogeechee,  491 ;  advance 
to  Savannah,  dispatch,  etc.,  491,  92  ;  orders  received 
from  Grant,  519 ;  begins  march,  advances  to  Colum 
bia,  520,  21  ;  thenoe  to  Fayetteville  and  Goldsbor- 
ough,  523-25  ;  position  of,  524  ;  directions  to  Schofield 
and  Terry,  524 ;  visits  Grant,  results  of  his  great 
march,  525,  26 ;  pursues  Johnston,  537,  38 ;  corres 
pondence  with,  538  ;  receives  Johnston's  surrender, 
538. 

Shields,  Gen  ,  senator  from  Illinois,  iii.  474 ;  success 
over  Jackson  at  Winchester,1  iv.  136,  37  ;  defeated  by 
Jackson  at  Port  Republic,  173,  74 

Shirley,  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  i.  172,  230,  235. 

Shute,  Governor  ot  Massachusetts,  i.  169. 

Sickles,  Gen.,  iv.  279,  83,  85  ;  at  Gettysburg,  330. 

Sigel,  Col.  F.,  iv.  83 ;  retreats,  84,  86 ;  at  Pea  Ridge, 
118,  19  ;  in  Virginia,  211 ;  attacks  Jackson,  212  ;  in 
command  under  Grant,  424 ;  ill  success  of,  super 
seded,  437  ;  at  Harper's  Ferry,  447. 

Simcoe,  Col.,  at  Point  of  Fork,  ii.  134. 

Sioux  In-lians,  massacre  by,  1862,  iv.  248. 

Six  Nations,  i.  302 ;  expedition  against,  under  Sullivan, 
ii.  51-54. 

Slavery,  negro,  first  introduction  of,  into  America,  i.  41  ; 
introduced  into  Georgia,  201 ;  abolished  in  New  York, 
ii.  525  ;  question  of,  in  Congress,  iii.  322,  23  (see  Mis 
souri  question) ;  excitement  on  the  slavery  question, 
1849, 50,  476  ;  slavery  question,  iv.  104  ;  abolished  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  and  in  the  Territories,  147, 
48 ;  government  perplexed  by,  191, 92, 261, 62  ;  views 
of  Mr.  Lincoln,  262 ;  constitutional  amendment  re 
specting,  465  ;  fugitive  slave  law  repealed,  465 . 

Slave  trade,  question  before  Congress,  ii.  291 ;  iii.  75 ; 
•Jefferson's  remarks  on  abolition  of,  iii.  79;  abolished, 
after  Jan.  1,  1808,  88 ;  still  carried  on,  1810,  126  ; 
views  of  southern  politicians  as  to,  and  re-opening 
advocated,  546. 

Slaves,  "  contraband  of  war,"  iv.  35  ;  orders  as  to  fugi 
tive,  99  ;  rebels  vote  to  arm  them  as  a  necessity,  514, 
15. 

Slemmer,  Lieut.,  at  Fort  Pickens,  iii.  563. 

Slidell,  bill  of,  for  purchasing  Cuba,  iii.  545  ;  taken 
from  the  Trent,  iv.  72,  73. 

Slocura,  Gen.,  iv.  279  ;  at  Gettysburg,  329  ;  under  Sher 
man,  474 ;  in  command  of  left  wing,  487,  90,  91  ; 
advance  of,  520  ;  attacked  by  Hardee,  524. 

Sloughter,  Gov.  of  New  York,  i.  150  ;  death  of,  176. 

Small  pox  and  inoculation,  i.  170. 

Smith,  Gen.  A.  J..  iv.  249  ;  joins  Red  River  expedition, 
411 ;  in  Missouri,  508. 

Smith,  C.  B.,  secretary  of  the  interior,  iv.  14. 

Smith.  Gen.  C.  F..  iv.'l!2.  144. 


Smith,  rebel  general  E.  K.,  iv.  217,  18  ;  at  Frankfort, 

Ky.,  220. 

Smith,  Gen.  G.  C.,  pursues  Morgan,  iv.  217. 
Smith,  John,  services  in  Virginia,  i,  33-55 ;  saved  by 
Pocahontas,  34 ;  president  of  the  council,  35  ;  returns 
to  England  and  death  of,  37. 
Smith,  John,  senator  from  Ohio,  iii.  100. 
Smith,  J.  H.,  and  Arnold,  ii.  91. 
Smith  Joseph,  and  the  Mormons,  iii.  423. 
Smith,  Gen.  M.  L.,  under  Sherman,  iv.  249 
Smith,  Robert,  secretary  of  the  navy,  iii.  15  ;  secretary 

of  state,  116;  retires,  133. 
Smith,  William,  ii.  332,  35. 

Smith,  Gen.  W.  F.,  iv.  139  ;  under  Grant,  357 ;  in  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  424 ;  under  Butler,  425  ;  at  Fort  Dar 
ling,  437  ;  at  Petersburg,  444,  45  ;  ill  success,  445. 
Smith,  Gen.  W.  S.,  advances  from  Memphis,  iv.  404. 
Smith,  of  Kentucky,  resolution  of,  in  the  House,  iv. 

393,  94. 

Smithson,  bequest  of,  to  the  U.  States,  iii.  403. 
Smyth,  Gen.,  at  Buffalo,  iii.  168  ;  attempt  of,  and  result, 

170,  71 ;  disgraced,  171 ;  duel  with  Porter,  171,  72. 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 

founded,  i.  192. 

Somers,  Capt.,  exploit  of,  at  Tripoli,  iii.  56 ;  fate  of,  57. 
"  Sons  of  Liberty,"  i.  262,  67,  93. 
Soto,  de,  plans  and  expedition  of,  i.  8  ;  death  of,  9. 
Sound  dues  question,  iii.  511 ;  sum  paid  to  Denmark 

for,  537. 
South,  the,  population,  spirit,  preparedness  for  war, 

1861,  iv.  48,  107,  108. 
South  Mountain,  battle  at,  iv.  231. 
Southard,  Samuel  L.,  iii.  340 ;  secretary  of  the  navy, 
South  Carolina,  See  Carolina.  [351. 

Spain,  joins  France  against  England,  ii.  57;  acknowl 
edges  independence  of  the  U.  States,  161 ;  difficulties 
with,  about  the  Mississippi,  197,  98 ;  relations  with, 
as  to  the  Mississippi,  and  difficulties,  326-30 ;  treaty 
with,  367  ;  intrigues  of,  in  the  West,  386  ;  cedes 
Louisiana  to  France,  iii.  33  ;  delivers  Louisiana  to 
the  U.  States,  44,  50 ;  relations  with  U.  States,  09  ; 
negotiations  as  to  boundaries,  69,  70 ;  prospects  of 
war,  71 ;  treaty  with,  320 ;  TJ.  States  offer  to  pur 
chase  Cuba  of,  483. 

Sparks,  Jared,  on  the  impolitic  course  of  the  British,  ii. 
25 ;  on  the  conduct  of  the  French  court,  157 ;  on 
Genet's  mission,  324 ;  on  Jay's  treaty,  366  ;  on  Jeffer 
son,  409. 

Specie  payments  suspended,  December,  1861,  iv.  108. 
Speed,  James,  attorney  general,  iv.  506. 
Spencer,  John  C.,  secretary  of  war,  iii.  418. 
Spencer,  Joseph,  appointed  brigadier  general,  i.  357,  58. 
Spotswood,  deputy  governor  of  Virginia,  i.  191. 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  bloody  battle  at,  iv.  429-31. 
Stamp  act  passed,  i.  262  ;  the  act,  274-78 ;  outbreak 
against,  264 ;  riot  in  N.  York  on  account  of,  266  > 
treated  with  contempt,  266,  67 ;  repealed,  271-72  ; 
joy  in  England,  272  ;  feeling  in  America,  279  ;  change 
of  feeling.  281,. 


INDEX. 


xxxm 


Stamp  tax,  originated  by  Grenville,  i.  257 ;  how  looked 
upon  by  the  colonies,  258,  59. 

Standish,  Miles,  i.  53,  56,  57. 

Stansbury,  Gen.,  at  Bladensburg,  iii.  249-51. 

Stanton,  secretary  of  war,  iv.  98,  153 ;  letter  of,  to 
McClellan,  197 ;  issues  executive  orders,  259,  60  > 
dispatch  from  war  department,  288  ;  report  of,  390, 
95  ;  dispatches  to  Dix,  427 ;  report  of,  507. 

"  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  iii.  258. 

Stark,  Gen.,  i.  241  ;  takes  up  arms,  352  ;  at  Bunker 
Hill,  359, 60 ;  at  Bennington,  493-95 ;  death  of,  1822, 
ML  336. 

•'  Starving  time,"  in  Virginia,  i.  37. 

State  jealousy  and  inefficiency,  ii.  186,  87  ;  state  legis 
lation,  1783-86,  discordant,  201  ;  parties,  the  two 
great,  204,  5  ;  debts,  debate  on  the  assumption  of, 
285-89  ;  rights  and  sovereignty,  iii.  389,  91,  92. 

Steam  and  steam  navigation,  iii.  89. 

Steele,  Mrs.,  anecdote  of,  ii.  120. 

Stembel,  Capt.,  R.  N.,  iv.  180,  81. 

Stephens,  A.  H.,  views  of,  as  to  slavery,  iii.  547 ;  speech 
of,  560 ;  elected  vice  president  of  the  rebel  states, 
560  ;  iv.  126,  275,  512. 

8teuben,  Baron,  i.  472  ;  efforts  to  discipline  the  army, 
ii.  32  ;  in  Virginia,  114,  15. 

Stevens,  Gen.,  killed  at  Oxhill  or  Germantown,  iv.  214. 

Stevenson,  Andrew,  nominated  minister  to  England, 
iii.  394  ;  senate  refuse  to  confirm,  398. 

Stirling,  Lord,  taken  prisoner  on  Long  Island,  i.  433  ; 
at  Monmouth,  ii.  14,  15 ;  attacks  the  British  on 
Staten  Island,  85. 

Stockton,  Commodore,  in  California,  iii.  438. 

Stoddert,  Benjamin,  first  secretary  of  the  navy,  ii.  427  ; 
iii.  15. 

Stone,  Gen.,  orders  and  movements  of,  and  result,  iv. 
95-97. 

"  Stone  fleet,"  at  Charleston,  iv.  82. 

Stone  River,  rebels  defeated  at,  iv.  254. 

Stonington,  attacked  by  the  British,  iii.  241. 

Stony  Creek,  attack  at,  iii.  188,  89. 

Stony  Point,  abandoned  to  the  British,  ii.  45  ;  taken 
by  assault,  47-49  ;  fortifications  destroyed,  49. 

Story,  Justice,  on  the  origin  and  value  of  the  Consti 
tution,  ii.  258  ;  on  the  power  of  removals,  276. 

Stringham,  Commodore,  iv.  76. 

Stuart,  J.  E.  B.,  rebel  gen.,  iv.  98  ;  cavalry  raid  of,  197, 
98  ;  raid  on  Catlett's  Station,  210 ;  at  Manassas  Junc 
tion,  211 ;  raid  into  Pennsylvania,  285  ;  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  285  ;  at  Culpepper,  321  ;  encounters  Pleas- 
anton,  323  ;  follows  Lee,  325 ;  killed  at  Yellow  Tavern, 
433. 

Stuyvesant,  Petrus,  i.  85 ;  administration  of,  86,  87 ; 
dispute  with  N.  England,  87 ;  compelled  to  surren 
der,  88  ;  remains  in  N.  York,  89. 

Sub-treasury  plan,  iii.  409  ;  discussed  and  adopted,  413  ; 
repealed,  418  ;  established  again,  429. 

Sullivan,  Gen.,  i.  357  ;  at  Brooklyn,  432  ;  taken  prisoner, 
433  •  sent  on  parole  to  Congress.  435  ;  takes  command 
after  Lee's  capture,  444  ;  at  Trenton,  458,  59  ;  at  bat-  j 


tie  of  the  Brandy  wine,  473  ;  in  R.  Island,  ii.  16  ;  cha 
grin  at  D'Estaing's  course,  19  ;  compelled  to  retreat, 
20  ;  expedition  against  the  Six  Nations  and  success, 
51, 52. 

Sullivan,  Dr.,  "Familiar  Letters"  by,  quoted,  ii.  413, 
526 ;  iii.  18,  45,  46,  63,  87, 116. 

Sumner,  General,  in  command  of  army  corps,  iv.  129  ; 
at  the  Seven  Tines,  167  ;  at  the  Chickahominy,  200  ; 
at  Savage  Station,  202 ;  in  Maryland  and  at  Antie- 
tam,  229,  32 ;  in  command  of  grand  division,  238  ;  at 
Falmouth,  239 ;  assaults  at  Fredericksburg,  243  ; 
death  of,  279. 

Sumner,Senator,  assault  on,  by  Brooks,  iii.  518 ;  speeches 
on  the  Barbarism,  etc.,  of  slavery,  551 ;  iv.  148  ;  reso 
lutions  of,  270. 

Sumpter,  Gen.,  exploits  of,  ii.  77  ;  pursued  by  Tarle- 
ton,  80 ;  defeats  Tarleton,  84 ;  services  of,  124-28. 

Sumter,  fort,  bombarded,  iv.  17 ;  rebel  boasting  as  to 
18  ;  feeling  at  the  North,  18, 19  ;  bombarded  by  Gill- 
more,  369-71. 

Supreme  Court  of  the  U.  States,  ii.  278,  540;  iii.  546. 

Surplus  revenue,  distribution  of,  iii.  403. 

Swan,  brave  conduct  of,  at  Haverhill,  i.  166. 

Sweden,  New,  i.  48  ;  subdued  by  the  Dutch,  87. 

T. 

Talbot,  Capt.  Silas,  exploits  of,  i.  430,  31 ;  takes  the 
schooner  Pigott,  ii.  33. 

Talleyrand,  insolence  and  cupidity  of,  ii.  420,  21  ;  in 
sults  the  American  envoys,  421,  22  ;  Pickering's  re 
marks  on,  454  ;  under  Bonaparte,  503. 

Tallmage,  Major,  ii.  93, 98 ;  interview  with  Andre,  95. 

Taney,  R.  B.  secretary  of  the  treasury,  iii.  395  ;  Senate 
refuse  confirmation,  398;  chief  justice,  402;  opinion 
as  to  habeas  corpus  suspension,  iv.  29  ;  death  of,  506. 

Tariff  question  discussed  in  Congress,  iii.  362,  63  ;  J.  Q. 
Adams's  views,  365  ;  revision  of,  379,  82  ;  movements 
against,  in  S.  Carolina,  389. 

Tarleton,  Colonel,  ii.  71,  72;  defeats  Buford,  74; 
defeats  Sumpter,  80  ;  defeated  by  Sumpter,  84  ;  de 
feated  at  the  Cowpens,  118,  19  ;  against  Charlottes- 
ville,  in  Virginia,  133,  34. 

Tatnall,  rebel  naval  captain,  iv.  81,  125  ;  blows  up  the 
Merrimac,  162. 

Taxation  and  representation  discussed,  i.  260  ;  Camden's 
viewd  on,  272  ;  new  scheme  of  Townshend,  286  ;  tax 
ing  the  Colonies  first  hinted  at,  287,  88. 

Taylor,  Dick,  rebel  general  in  Louisiana,  iv.  412 ;  at 
Mobile,  528  ;  surrenders  to  Canby,  538. 

Taylor,  Zachary,  Capt.,  at  Fort  Harrison,  iii.  166  ;  sent 
to  the  frontiers  of  Texas,  426 ;  on  the  Rio  Grande, 
428  ;  at  Point  Isabel,  431 ;  defeats  the  Mexicans,  en 
ters  Matamoras,  difficulties,  etc.,  431-33  ;  advances 
and  takes  Monterey,  434,35;  armistice  with  Amp  u- 
dia,  435  ;  Scott  takes  troops  from,  438  ;  battle  of 
Buena  Vista,  438-40  ;  named  for  the  presidency,  441  ; 
nominated  and  elected,  457 ;  inauguration,  address, 
cabinet,  471-74  ;  labors  of,  and  first  message,  474, 75 ; 
special  message,  476  ;  death  of,  478,  79. 


XXXIV 


INDEX. 


Tea,  attempt  to  force  the.  on  the  Americans,  i.  279,  99  ; 
resistance  to  landing  of,  and  "  Boston  tea  party,"  301 ; 
course  pursued  elsewhere,  301,  2. 

Tecumseh  and  his  plans,  iii.  133,  34  ;  in  the  British  ser 
vice,  159  ;  efforts  in  the  South-west,  203,  4 ;  goes  to 
Detroit,  213  ;  killed  at  the  Thames,  218. 

Telegraph,  submarine,  iii.  518  ;  success  in  laying  the 
cable,  541. 

Telegrapk  electric,  offices  of,  seized  by  the  govern 
ment,  iv.  31 ;  bill  passed  by  Congress,  148,  49. 

Tennessee,  iv.  23  ;  vote  on  secession,  46 ;  East,  impor 
tance  of,  sufferings  of  the  people,  etc.,  345,  46 ;  East 
ern  Tennessee,  convention  at  Knoxville,  46,  47. 

Tennessee,  rebel  ram,  destroyed  at  Mobile,  iv.  481. 

Territory  of  the  U.  States,  south  of  the  Ohio,  ii.  292  ; 
territories,  slavery  abolished  in,  iv.  148. 

Terry,  General,  in  command  of  expedition  against  Fort 
Fisher,  iv.  499  ;  report  of,  praises  the  troops,  etc., 
500,  1 ;  enters  Wilmington,  522 ;  advance  of,  524. 

Texas  and  its  affairs,  iii.  401,  2  ;  applies  for  annexa 
tion,  402  ;  Tyler's  measures,  423  ;  action  in  Congress, 
423,  24  ;  measures  of  Tyler,  425,  26  ;  dispute  as  to 
boundary,  474  ;  question  settled,  480 ;  joins  the  rebel 
lion,  556. 

Thames,  battle  at  the,  iii.  216-18. 

Thanksgiving,  national,  appointed,  August,  1863,  iv. 
334;  appointed  by  the  President,  December,  1863, 
364. 

Thomas,  John,  appointed  brigadier-general,  i.  358. 

Thomas,  General,  at  Mill  Springs,  Ky.,  iv.  Ill ;  under 
Buell,  221 ;  under  Kosecrans,  251,  350  ;  at  Chicka- 
mauga,  354 ;  at  battle  of  Chattanooga,  359,  60 ;  in 
command  of  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  467,  69,  70  ; 
at  Nashville,  486  ;  routs  Hood,  487 ;  direction  to, 
from  Grant,  522,  23. 

Thompson.  Jacob,  secretary  of  the  interior,  iii.  534  ;  re 
signs,  564. 

Thomson,  Charles,  secretary  to  the  Continental  Con 
gress,  i.  319,  354  ;  letter  to,  from  Franklin,  ii.  163  ; 
notifies  Washington  of  his  election  as  president,  265. 

Ticonderoga,  i.  239  ;  attacked  by  Abercrombie,  240 ; 
taken  by  the  English,  242  ;  taken  by  Allen  and  Ar 
nold,  354 ;  evacuated  by  St.  Clair,  487,  88. 

Tilghman,  rebel  general,  iv.  113 ;  killed  at  Vicksburg 
317. 

Tillman,  negro  steward,  heroism  of,  iv.  70. 
Times,  the  London,  remarks  of,  as  to  rebel  agents,  iv. 
74, 75  ;  on  the  taking  of  N.  Orleans,  159  ;  on  public 
opinion  in  England,  269. 

Tippecanoe,  battle  of,  iii.  133,  34. 

Tobacco,  first  brought  into  England,  i.  28  ;  cultivation 
of,  in  Virginia,  41,  74,  75. 

Tompkins,  D.  D.,  elected  vice-president,  iii.  302-3;  re- 
elected,  333. 

Tonti,  companion  of  La  Salle,  i.  139-41  ;  207. 

Toombs,  speech  of,  before  Georgia  Legislature,  iv. 
397. 

Tories  and  whigs,  i.  293  ;  tory  plots,  399  ;  excesses,  465  ; 


in  S.  Carolina  and  Georgia,  ii.  35  ;  join  Cornwallis, 
76  ;  scene  in  the  army,  82,  83  ;  badly  used,  84 ;  severe 
punishment  of,  and  result  in  Carolina,  117  ;  confpen 
sation  had  from  British  government,  166. 

Toucey,  Isaac,  secretary  of  the  navy,  iii.  534  ;  censured 
by  the  House,  562. 

Townshend,  Charles,  i.  261,  285,  86  ;  scheme  of  taxa 
tion,  286. 

Tracy,  Count  Destutt,  letter  of  Jefferson  to,  ii.  527. 

Treasury,  U.  States,  July,  1861,  iv.  52  ;  in  December, 
103,  4 ;  in  December,  1862,  264,  65  ;  in  December, 
1863,  392,  93. 

Trenton,  scene  at,  during  Washington's  journey  to  N. 
York,  ii.  266. 

Tripartite  convention,  iii.  493  ;  Everett's  letter,  494-96  ; 
Lord  John  Russell's  letter,  502. 

Tripoli,  peace  with,  terms  of,  iii.  59  ;  Decatur  at,  298. 

Trist,  N.  P.,  mission  of,  iii.  445 ;  efforts  of,  452,  53. 

Trumbull,  Joseph,  commissary  general,  i.  3G2,  520. 

Truxtun,  Commodore,  victory  of,  over  L'Insurgente,  ii. 
455,  56 ;  gallant  exploit  of,  501,  2  ;  retires  from  the 
navy,  iii.  54. 

Tryon,  Governor,  of  North  Carolina,  i.  303 ;  in  New 
York,  389 ;  atrocities  of,  in  Connecticut,  469  ;  ma 
rauding  expedition  of,  ii.  46,  47. 

Tunis,  Commodore  Rodgers  at,  iii.  59  ;  sends  a  minis 
ter  to  Washington,  60  ;  Decatur's  success  at,  298. 

Tuscaroras,  war  with,  i.  194. 

Tyler,  John,  elected  to  the  Senate,  iii.  353  ;  voted  for 
1836,  for  vice-president,  405  ;  elected  vice  president, 
412, 14  ;  becomes  president  by  Harrison's  death,  416  . 
address  to  the  people,  416  ;  message,  417;  vetoes  of 
418  ;  cabinet  resigns,  418  ;  more  vetoes,  419  ;  sugges 
tions  of,  419  ;  Oregon  question,  421  ;  message,  422  ; 
urges  annexation  of  Texas,  423,  24  ;  end  of  adminis 
tration,  424 ;  measures  as  to  annexation,  425,  26 ; 
presides  at  "  Peace  Conference"  in  Washington, 
560. 

Tyler,  General,  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  iv.  57 ;  at  Mar- 
tinsburg,  322. 

U. 

Uncas,  Mohegan  sachem,  i.  70. 

Union,  the,  Southern  leaders  and   politicians'  threats 

respecting,  iii.  554 ;  committee  of  thirty- three  on,  559 ; 

Senate  committee  on,  559 ;  meeting  in  faror  of,  in 

New  York,  1861,  iv.  29,  30. 
"  United  Colonies  of  New  England,"  i.  94,  95 ;  "  United 

Colonies"  in  1775,  356. 
United  States,  the  first   ship  of  war  launched,  ii.  427  . 

captures  the  Macedonian,  iii.  164, 65. 
United  States,  feeling  in,  as  to  course  of  England  and 

France,  iv.  65, 71  ;  feeling  in  as  to  the  British  govern 

ment,  266,  67  ;  state  of  feeling,  in,  at  crushing  the 

rebellion,  539,  40  ;    astonishment  and  horror  in,  at 

assassination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  543,  44. 
University,  National,  recommended  by  Madison,  iii. 

126. 


INDEX. 


Upshur,  A.  P.,  secretary  of  the  navy,  iii.  418. 

Utah,  territory  of,  iii.  536, 37,  39  ;  act  against  polygamy 

Utrecht,  treaty  of,  i.  168.  [in,  iv.  195. 

V. 

Vaccination,  laws  to  encourage,  iii.  177. 

Vallandigham,  C.  L.,  case  of,  iv.  339,  40. 

Valley  Forge,  winter  quarters  and  sufferings  at,  i. 
518,  19. 

Van  Buren,  Martin,  enters  the  U,  States  Senate,  iii.336  ; 
secretary  of  state,  371 ;  appointed  minister  to  Eng 
land,  rejected  by  the  Senate,  333,  84;  elected  vice- 
president,  384,  94 ;  nominated  for  president,  402,  3  ; 
elected,  405  ;  inauguration  and  address,  407 ;  state  of 
the  country  at  date,  407,  8 ;  proclamation  of,  411 ; 
message,  413  ;  signs  sub-treasury  bill,  413 ;  changes 
in  cabinet,  413  ;  end  of  administration,  414. 

Van  Dorn,  rebel  general,  iv.  31  :  at  Pea  Ridge,  118  ;  at 
battle  of  Corinth,  224,  25 ;  skirmishes  of,  349  ;  killed, 
349. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Gen.  at  Lewistown,  iii.  168  ;  deter 
mines  to  attack  Queenstown,  169  ;  resigns  command. 

Van  Twiller,  Wouter,  i.  47  ;  recalled,  48.  [170. 

Vane,  Henry,  course  of,  i.  67 ;  death  of,  106. 

Vaughan,  General,  Vandalism  of,  i.  506,  7. 

Vera  Cruz,  bombarded,  iii.  442,  43. 

Vergennes.  Count  de,  i.  246,  530  ;  remarks  respecting, 
ii.ei56,  57,  319. 

Vermont,  admitted  into  the  Union,  ii.  297. 

Verrazani,  voyage  of,  i.  7. 

Veto  power,  how  exercised,  iii.  381. 

Vicksburg,  iv.  188,  304,  5 ;  canal  projected  at,  fails 
305  ;  projects  of  approach  to,  306,  7  ;  invested,  313  ; 
assaults  on,  314,  15  ;  siege  of,  condition  of,  as  to  food, 
etc.,  315  ;  mines  sprung,  316  ;  surrendered  by  Pem- 
berton,  316, 17  ;  rebel  grief  at  loss  of,  318. 

Virginia,  origin  of  name,  i.  26  ;  first  colonial  assembly, 
41  ;  progress  of  in  1627,  74 ;  Harney  governor  of» 
75;  revision  of  laws,  etc.,  75,  76  ;  Berkeley,  governor 
of,  76,  77  ;  compelled  to  submit,  independent  spirit 
of,  77  ;  aristocracy  in,  popular  discontent,  115  ;  suf 
ferings  in,  119  ;  Nicholson,  governor  of,  188,  90  ; 
spirit  of  the  Virginians,  190,  91 ;  progress  under 
Spotswood  and  Gooch,  191,  92  ;  general  state  of,  212, 
13  ;  action  of  House  of  Burgesses,  1774,  313  ;  conven 
tion  at  Richmond,  335  ;  movements  in  respecting 
trade,  ii.  205,  6  ;  appoints  delegates  to  the  Federal 
Convention,  210  ;  the  "  Virginia  plan,"  218-20  ; 
eminent  men  of,  in  the  convention,  244  ;  ratifies  the 
Constitution,  251 ;  bill  of  rights,  251,  52  ;  censures 
action  of  Congress,  289  ;  resolutions  of  the  legisla 
ture  on  nullification,  450  ;  report  by  Madison  und 
protest,  466 ;  course  of  the  General  Assembly  of, 
1861,  560  ;  position  of,  at  opening  of  the  rebellion,  iv. 
22  ;  forced  into  secession,  23  ;  made  the  battle  ground 
by  the  rebels,  33  ;  Union  action  in,  41,  42  ;  governor 
and  legislature  appointed  by  the  loyal  people,  43, 
274. 

Volney,  and  others,  aliens,  ii  428,  30  ;  letter  of  Jeffer 
son  to,  ii)  66. 


Volunteers,  300,000  called  for,  iv.  258  ;  300,000  called 
for,  October,  1863,  383  ;  200,000  in  February,  1864  ; 
200,000  in  March,  1864 ;  100,000  offered  by  governors 
of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Iowa,  424  ;  200,000  in 
December,  1864. 

W. 

Wadsworth,  Captain,  and  Governor  Fletcher,  i.  178. 

Wadsworth,  General,  at  Queenstown,  iii.  169,  70  ;  sur 
render  of,  176. 

Wadsworth,  General,  J.  S.  iv.  129  ;  at  Gettysburg,  328  ; 
at  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  427  ;  killed  on  the  field. 
427. 

Waldron,  Major,  at  Dover,  i.  151,  52. 

Walker  and  Central  American  affairs,  iii.  516,  17;  other 
expeditions  of,  against  Nicaragua,  540 ;  seized  and 
shot,  541. 

Wallace,  General  L.,  at  Cincinnati,  iv.  218  ;  defeated 
at  the  Monocacy,  448 

Walpole,  Sir  Robert,  views  on  taxing  the  Americans, 
i.  257. 

Ward,  Artemas,  captain-general  before  Boston,  i.  353  ; 
appointed  major-general,  357. 

Warner,  Colonel,  i.  488,  90,  93-95. 

Warren,  Admiral,  correspondence  with  Monroe,  174, 75  ; 
in  the  Chesapeake,  191. 

Warren,  Joseph,  letter  of,  to  Quincy,  i.  327  ;  death  of,  at 
Bunker  Hill.  361. 

Warren,  General,  secures  Little  Round  Top  at  Gettys 
burg,  iv.  331  ;  under  Grant,  424  ;  at  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  426,  27 ;  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
429,  30;  advance  of,  and  success,  453,  97  ;  at  Five 
Forks,  530  ;  Sheridan's  course  towards,  531. 

Washburn,  General  C.  C.,  cavalry  expedition  of,  iv. 
225. 

WASHINGTON,  GEORGE,  birth  of,  i.  222  ;  early  training, 
222  ;  mother  of,  223  ;  school  discipline,  223  ;  becomes 
a  surveyor,  224  ;  military  appointment,  224  ;  death 
of  his  brother,  225  ;  appointed  to  visit  French  post  on 
the  Ohio,  225  ;  adventurous  mission,  225,  6  ;  journal 
of,  226  ;  affair  with  Jumonville,  227,  8  ;  capitulates 
at  Fort  Necessity,  228 ;  thanked  by  the  Assembly, 
228  ;  aid-de-catnp  to  Braddock,  231  ;  courage  of,  and 
preservation,  232,  3  ;  colonel  of  the  Virginia  regi 
ment,  236,  7  ;  married,  246  ;  member  of  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  246,  7  ;  views  on  the  stamp  act,  271  ; 
views  in  1774,  313,  14;  member  of  the  first  Conti 
nental  Congress,  314,  26  ;  appointed  commander-in- 
chief,  357  ;  enters  upon  his  duties,  358,  61  ;  labors 
to  organize  and  discipline  the  army,  361,  2  ;  trials 
and  vexations,  365,  6  ;  correspondence  with  General 
Gage,  366,  7  ;  letter  to  Congress,  375  ;  wishes  to 
attack  Boston,  opposed  by  council  of  war,  376  ;  Mrs. 
Washington  in  camp,  391 ;  enters  Boston,  398  ;  meets 
Congress,  399  ;  interview  with  Gen.  Patterson,  424, 
25  ;  in  New  York,  428  ;  rebukes  sectional  divisions, 
428  ;  retreat  from  Brooklyn,  434  ;  trials  of,  434,  5  ; 
life  in  danger,  437  ;  at  Harlem  Heights,  438  ;  expos 
tulates  with  Congress,  438 ;  retreat,  and  battle  of 
White  Plains,  439,  40  ;  retreat  through  the  Jerseys. 


XXXVI 


INDEX. 


441-3  ;  reaches  Philadelphia,  443  ;  severe  trials,  444, 
5  ;  letter  to  Congress,  455  ;  appointed  dictator,  456  ; 
captures  the  Hessians,  458-60;  outgenerals  Corn- 
wallis,  461,  2  ;  proclamation  of,  463  ;  at  Philadelphia, 
472  ;  fresh  powers  conferred  on,  475  ;  attack  on  Ger- 
mantown,  476  ;  declines  battle,  479  ;  winter  quarters, 
479  ;  urges  half-pay  for  the  officers,  521  ;  reputation 
assailed,  522-4 ;  letter  to  Laurens,  524  ;  pursues  Clin 
ton,  ii.  12  ;  at  battle  of  Monmouth,  13-15  ;  letters  to 
Heath,  Sullivan  and  Greene,  20  ,  21  ;  letter  to  Harri 
son,  27  ;  goes  to  Philadelphia,  31  ;  struggles  against 
relaxation  of  effort,  40, 1  ;  letter  to  the  officers  of  the 
Jersey  brigade,  41,  2  ;  severe  trial,  44;  letter  to  Dr. 
Oochran,  50 ;  instructions  to  Sullivan  as  to  the  In 
dians,  51  ;  unable  to  be  active,  60  ;  remonstrances 
with  Congress,  86,  7  ;  proposes  to  attack  N.  York, 
88,  9  ;  dealings  with  mutineers,  113  ;  plans  an  attack 
on  New  York,  136  ;  alters  his  plan,  137  ;  letter  res 
pecting  his  plan,  137,  8  ;  marches  southwardly,  139  ; 
at  siege  of  Yorktown,  141-5  ;  urges  preparation  for 
another  campaign,  148  ;  asked  to  become  a  king,  150  ; 
reply,  151  ;  head-quarters  at  Newburg,  154  ;  pru 
dence  and  zeal  for  the  officers  of  the  army,  158, 
59  ;  address  to  the  officers,  159, 173,  4  :  letter  to  presi 
dent  of  Congress,  160  ;  circular  letter  to  the"  govern 
ors  of  the  States,  162,  175-80  ;  farewell  orders  to  the 
army,  167,  8  ;  parting  with  the  officers,  168,  9  ;  re 
signs  his  commission,  169,  180,  1 ;  interest  in  public 
affairs,  199-201 ;  tour  in  the  west,  199 ;  apprehen 
sions  of  anarchy,  letters  to  Lee  and  others,  213,  14  ; 
delegate  to  Federal -Convention  and  chairman,  216, 17; 
influence  in  the  convention,  224 ;  letter  as  president 
of  the  convention,  225  ;  remarks  on  the  Constitution, 
255,  6 ;  the  popular  choice  for  president,  262  ;  reluc 
tant  assent,  263,  4;  unanimously  elected,  264  ;  jour 
ney  to  New  York,  265-7  ;  inauguration,  267  ;  inau 
gural  ^peech,  2G8-70 ;  enters  on  his  weighty  office, 
271  ;  cabinet  of,  279,  80 ;  views  of  the  new  govern 
ment,  281 ;  visits  New  England,  282  ;  opening  speech 
to  Congress,  283  ;  signs  the  bill  for  establishing  the 
U.  States  Bank,  297  ;  visits  the  Southern  States,  303  ; 
opening  speech  to  second  Congress,  304  ;  vetoes  the 
bill  for  apportionment  of  representatives,  306  ;  dis 
tressed  by  dissensions  between  Hamilton  and  Jeffer 
son,  308-11 ;  urged  to  serve  for  a  second  term,  315  ; 
unanimously  re-elected,  315 ;  critical  period,  317 ; 
neutrality  the  true  policy,  318  ;  questions  to  the  cab 
inet,  318,  40 ;  proclamation,  318,  19 ;  party  abuse, 
319,  32 ;  reception  of  Genet,  320  ;  determines  to 
sustain  the  neutrality, '  321  ;  speech  to  Congress, 
327  ;  messages,  829,  30  ;  recommends  naval  force 
333 ;  embargo  laid,  334  ;  determines  to  send  a  special 
envoy  to  England,  336  ;  calls  out  militia  to  quell  in 
surrection  in  Pennsylvania,  351-3  ;  speech  to  Con- 
gress  354,  55  ;  question  as  to  ratifying  Jay's  treaty, 
363  ;  excitement  in  the  country  and  abuse  of  the 
President,  364-66  ;  answer  to  the  select-men  of  Bos 
ton,  365  •  ratifies  the  treaty,  366  ;  course  pursued 


towards  Adet,  371  ;  proclaims  the  treaty,  372  ;  re 
fuses  call  of  the  House  for  papers,  373  ;  complains 
of  foul  abuse  of  party  papers,  388  ;  determines 
to  leave  public  life,  389  ;  Farewell  Address  of,  389- 
401  ;  last  speech  of,  to  Congress,  403,  4 ;  denounces 
the  forged  letters,  406  ;  anecdotes,  love  of  the  people 
towards,  407,  8  ;  review  of  his  administration,  408, 
9^£riews,  etc.,  as  to  public  affairs,  425,  26  ;  ap 
pointed  commander-in-chief,  426 ;  activity  and  zeal 
of,  452,  53  ;  at  Mount  Vernon,  478  ;  last  illness  and 
death  of,  474,  75  ;  action  in  Congress  consequent  on 
death  of  Washington,  475-79  ;  character  of,  by  Mar 
shall,  491-93  ;  obituary  of,  Mason's  oration  on,  etc., 
493-97. 

Washington,  John,  i.  116  ;  Washington  family,  222. 

Washington,  Mrs.  Martha,  i.  246  ;  in  the  camp,  391 ; 
answer  to  Pres.  Adams's  letter,  ii.  478,  79. 

Washington,  city  of,  steps  taken  to  fix  upon  the  site, 
ii.  289,  303  ;  removal  of  public  offices,  etc.,  to,  506,  7  ; 
destructive  fire  in,  507,  8 ;  Congress  meet  in,  510  ;  Brit 
ish  threaten  to  attack,  iii.  246  ;  plans  for  defence  of, 
247  ;  Gen.  Ross  enters  and  destroys  public  buildings, 
etc.,  253,  54 ;  vandalism  of  the  British,  255  ;  return 
to,  of  Pres.  Madison,  258 ;  British  account  of  inva 
sion  of,  262-66  ;  rebels  eager  to  attack,  iv.  25  ;  ter 
rors  of  the  government  respecting,  165,  171,  199. 

Washington,  territory  of,  formed,  iii.  498. 

Washington,  Capt.,  at  Trenton,  i.  459  ;  colonel,  at 
Monk's  Corner ;  ii.  72 ;  at  battle  of  the  Cowpens, 
118  ;  at  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  129,  CO. 

Washing,  Fort,  loss  of,  i.  440,  41. 

Wasp,  takes  the  Frolic,  iii.  164 ;  takes  the  Reindeer 
and  other  vessels,  270,  71 ;  fate  of,  271. 

Wayne,  Gen.,  i.  475  ;  at  Monmouth,  ii.  14 ;  assault  on 
Stony  Point,  47,  48  ;  dealings  with  the  Pennsylvania 
line  in  revolt,  112  ;  in  Virginia,  134;  in  Georgia, 153  ; 
appointed  to  succeed  St.  Clair,  312  ;  campaign  against 
the  Indians,  348-50. 

Webster,  Daniel,  iii.  199 ;  speech  on  the  navy,  226  ; 
censures  the  administration  policy,  261 ;  opposes  es 
tablishment  of  U.  States  Bank  ;  301 ;  in  the  House, 
340;  on  the  tariff  question,  343  ;  resolution  as  to  the 
Greeks,  344  ;  advocates  the  Congress  at  Panama, 
355;  judiciary  bill  of,  357;  eulogy  on  Adams  and 
Jefferson,  350,  59  ;  speech  on  Revolutionary  pensions 
bill,  364 ;  speech  in  reply  to  Benton  and  Hayne,  378, 
79  ;  speech  against  Jackson's  measures,  396  ;  named 
for  presidency,  402,  5  ;  secretary  of  state,  415 ;  nego 
tiates  treaty  of  Washington,  420 ;  resigns  1843,  422  ; 
on  the  Oregon  question,  427  ;  opposes  tariff  bill,  429  ; 
speech  on  slavery  question,  477,  78;  secretary  of 
state,  479  ;  letter  to  Hulsemann,  486-89  ;  oration  at 
the  capital,  486  ;  on  the  fishery  question,  491 ;  sick 
ness  and  death  of,  493. 

Weitzel,  Gen.,  iv.  190  ;  at  Bayou  Teche,  299  ;  Sabine 
city  expedition,  372 ;  at  Fort  Fisher,  498,  99  ;  at 
Richmond,  532. 

Welles,  Gideon,  secretary  of  the  navy,  iv.  14  ;  report 


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