----------- --------- - - - ----------- LIFE AND CAAi\P~AIGNS OF GENER AL RPOBERT E, LEE. BY JAMES D. McCABE, JR. WITH STEEL PLATE AND MAPS. (Issued by subscription only, and not for sale in the book stores. Residents of any State in tho Union desiring a copy should address the publishers, and an agent will call upon them.) NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, ATLANTA, GA.; PHILADELPHIA, PA.; CINCINNATI, OHIO; ST. LOUIS, MiO. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by J. R. JONES. In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C. S. A. GEORGE & CO., STER{EOTYPERS AND PRINTERS, PlIILADELPHIA. P R EF A C E I HAVE been led to the preparation of this work by a desire to collect in a useful and convenient form a history of the achievement of the great soldier, recently at the head of the armies of the South, and who has just gone to his rest; and as he is endeared to his countrymen chiefly by his connection with them in their gallant struggle for independence, I have devoted the greater part of these pages to that portion of his life, passing over the preceding with as little delay as possible. I have brought to the execution of this task a sincere desire to lay aside the feelings engendered by four years of war, and to investigate fillly, and discuss impartially and truthfully, the topics that are presented in this volume. I have spared no pains to render my sources of information as complete as possible. In May 1861, I commenced to collect such papers and documents, both official and unofficial, relating to the war, as I could procure. To this task, begun for a purpose not altogether different from that to which I have now applied it, I devoted the entire period of the war, and was aided in it by many members of the various branches of the Confederate Government and of the army. In this way I secured an extensive and valuable collection of materials for a history of the war, or biographies of the individuals connected with it; a collection embracing over fifteen thousand papers of all kinds, to which, through the kindness of friends, I have been able to add many valuable maps and charts. Since the close of the war I have greatly enlarged this list by the addition of the (3) 4 PREFACE. reports and official papers of the United States Commanders and Government. These sources of information have enabled me to make my book more complete than it would have been had my material been less extensive. I have also derived much assistance from the very valuable work by Mr. William Swinton, entitled " The Camenpaigns of the AArmy of the Potomac." I have sought to present a fair and dispassionate narrative of the events of the late war. It is for my readers to decide whether I have succeeded or failed, but I trust that, whatever may be their decision, they will at least do ame the justice to believe that I have recognized the responsibility of the task I have undertaken, and have honestly tried to do my duty. I take this opportuinty of returning my thanks to the friends who have aided me in the collection of materials; to Mr. S. W. Clifford, of Boston, for valuable maps received from him; and to the publishers for the generous and constant encouragement they have held out to me since the enterprize was begun. J. D. 1VIcC., Jr. D R.0 r-~un -LLV. CKrIcKES?Z S gj MIDU E-B: U~~~~~~~~~~~~~`'SPRING I ~..7 HOEV. CA ILI TA WN LLG: Y kct~~ W H~ITE WI *(;? t ~i-"7:;RI N G z 111~r-C~D. n ALEXA- NORIA V I L E NC hU U N 4cO~l I-aAE j\SlvqBt TON L[TTL 1.1 RERT V L.LE WAR ENTONS "'O. T WARENTI OR', NGTJ I ON V.bD V JE FE~,N2.P~~~~~~RI S O ml4WN JAMES CiTY Tr~;ii: ~ ~ ~ (\ XNG GE.GRGfi MLSG GAE-EN I-it.\NVER JUN CTI ON iaw ni romu actmal Sure97 o~~~ ~~ai2 e SI J3~~~~~~~~q 472ti~~M CONTENTS, I. EARLY LIFlR. I. TILE LEE FAMILY,... 9-14 H1. Lnmi PREVIOUS TO THE WAR,.... o 15-26 I. THE FIRST DAYS OF WAR. I. COL. LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL ARMY,.. ~ 27-31 iI. GENERAL LEE COMMANDS THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA,. 32 —39 II. THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA, o 40-47 IV. GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-WN-CHIEF,... 48-60 IIIo THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. I. MATTERS AT CENTREVILLE,.. O 51-61 II. THE FEDERAL PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN,.. 62 — 69 IH. GENERAL JOHNSTON FALLS BACK,. O. 70-73 IV. THE MIOVE TO THE PENINSULA, o o. 74-76 V. A GOOD FIGHT,.... 77 —8 VI. THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN,... 82- 87 VII. THE RETREAT UP THE PENIINSULA,.. 88- -92 (5) 6 CONTENTS. VIII. DARK DAYS,.... 0. 93-96 IX. SEVEN PINES,..,. a O 97 -105 X. A CHANGE OF COMMANDERS,.. 106- 112 XI. THE RIDE AROUND MCCLELLAN, O o. 11 - 120 XII. GENERAL LEE'S PLAN OF OPERATIONS,.. 121-124 XIII. MECH'.NTICSVILLE,....125 - 132 XIV. COLD HARBOR,.,,.. 133 —143 XV. SAVAGE STATION. a. a. 144. —148 XVI. FRIAZIER'S FARM,. o. 149-156 XVII. iALVERN HILL,.. o o. 157-161 XVIII. THE END OF THE PURSUIT, e 0.. 162-169 XIX. THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGNI, O... 170-174 IV. THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. I. GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA,.. O. 175-192 II. CEDAR RUN,.... o 193- 198 III. TEE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAIHANNOCK,... 199 —205 IV. JACKSON'S FLANK MARCH,.... 206-210 V. WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR,.. 211-217 VI. THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS,.. 218 — 226 VII. Ox HILL,.... a... 227-232 THE INVASION OF THE NORTH. I. OVER THE BORDER,.o. 233-241 II. THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY,.. 242 —24'7 III, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, 0 0... 248-258 IV. SHARPSBUR., O..... e259-270 V. THE RETREAT ACROSS THE POTOMAC, O. 271-275 VI. A SEASON OF REST,. O.. 276-283 'ONTENTS. 7 VI. THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN. I. MICCLELLAN ADVANCES,.... 284-296 II. THE MOVEMENT TO THE RAPPAIANNOCK,. 297-302 II. WAITING FOR BURNSIDE,.. 303-307 TV. FREDERICKSBURG,. o o 308 —324 V. WINTER QUARTERS, O.. 325-335 VII. THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. 1. TIHE CAMPAIGN OPENS,..... 336-338 H. HOOKER ADVANCES,.... 339-345 III. CHANCELLORSVILLE,....... 346-357 TV. MARYE'S AND SALEM HEIGHTS,.. 358 -367 VIII. THE SECOND INVASION OF THE NORTH. i. PREPARATIONS FOR AN ADVANCE,... 368 -370 II. THE MARCI TO THE POTOMAC,.. 371-378 III. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY,... O379 —386 TV. GETTYSBURG,......387-404 V. THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA,... 405-413 IX. THE SECOND CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. I. THE EXPEDITION TO AIANASSAS,... 414-423 II. MIINE RUN,... e.. 424 —429 Il. WINTER QUARTERS, O O t O430-446 8 CONTENTS. X. THE OVERLAND CAMPAIGNo I. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN,. O.. 447-450 II. THE WILDERNESS,.. 0. 451-464 III. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE,.. 465 —474 IV. THE MARCH TO THE CHICKAHOMINY, e. 475 —481 V. THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD IHARBOR,. o 482-489 VI. THE CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY,... 490 — 492 VII. THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE,.. 493-500 XI. THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. I. GRANT CROSSES THE JAMES RIVER,... 501 —504 II. THE SIEGE BEGUN,.... 505-514 MII. BURNSIDE'S MIINE,...... 515-520 IV. MATTERS NORTHI AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES,.. 521-542'V. THE VALLEY CAIMPAIGN,..... 543-566 VI. WINTER QUARTERS,.. o. 567-579 XII. THE LAST STRUGGLE. I. GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,.. 580-584 II. FORT STEADMAN,... 585-590 III. GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT, a O O. 591-600 IV. FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG,... 601-607 V. THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG,. 608-613 VI. THE LAST RETREAT, o...614 —624 VII. THE SURRENDER,.* a 625 —636 VIII. CLOSING YEARS,.... 637-655 NOTES9 7 o o o e e e o657-717 X, D' voti~AGERSTOWNETOW/ / ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ll/ m., PORT ~i~;~~~~~~~~~~~AL,o. YSGAP- WAT tj MA.RTINS jRwG "'t". BURP ~~~~~~~~~SRA RETO, ROMNEY JAM E.jlR URG /NTCRA~~~fF~~yN e n/ ~I~~~rRUNG AP 0 —~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0 a /G S O MMIT T >+/ JC K Fi sHy/" ~Rt~G0Ry GAP r, ~~~~~~~~~~~~KER-N S TOWN M OOR FIELD 1 i N~ kER GA NE..w ml~rl WOOD A F-T3tD rEOWN <) /b SSb~ AS GAP DA OD STR e C~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o'/ AN~~~~~~~ss~~~s GWaSGA CRO P WOQO~~~~4WN GPc l Ml 3 T A N,;QZU LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE. EARLY LIFE. I. THIE LEE FAMILY. THIS family, which has given so many great men to America, is of ancient and honorable descent. As early as the year 1333, we are informed by an old manuscript,* that Johes de Lee, a soldier, received lands from one Hugo de Hinton. The son of this Johes de Lee was Robertus de la Lee, and he married Margarita, daughter and heiress of Thomas Astley, of Nordley, about the year 1400. Later still, we find the name of Thomas Lee, of Cotton, in King's Nordley, in the Parish of Alvely, who was the son of Johannes Lee.t Later still, in the reign of Charles 1, of England, the Lee Family were located in the County of Shropshire, and were of * This MS. is written in Latin, and its authenticity is well established. The pedigree which it contains was extracted from the London Tower, and is certified by Charles Townley, York, and John Pomfret, Rouge Croix, August 1, 1750. t The Pedigree of the Lee Family. Pablished in the Richmond.Dispatcl, January 7, 1865. 2 (9) 10 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the Cavalier sto(k. One of these, Richard Lee, a gentleman of good position and many accomplishments, determined to emigrate to the New aWorld, concerning which such marvelous tales were being told in the mother country. Bishop Meade says of him, "6 IHe was a man of good stature, comely visage, enterprising genius, a sound head, vigoroua spirit, and generous nature. When he got to Virginia, which at that time was not much cultivated, he was so pleased with the country that he made large settlements there with the servants he carried over." He came to the colony as Secretary, and member of the King's Privy Council. He made several voyag'es back to England, and finally settled in that part of Virginia lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, known as the Northern Neck. Hle was for a long, time the Secretary of the Colony, under Sir William Berkeley9, and exercised a marked influence upon the course which it pursued in the grcat tRevolution which made Cromwell master of En gland. Lee was a thorough royalist, and, together with the Governor, held the colony firm in its allegiance to "6 Charlie over the water." He was prominent in negotiating the treaty between Virginia and the Commonwealth of England, which was so honorable to the colony, and which recognized it as an independent State, and on the death of Cromwell, he induced Governor Berkeley to have Charles II proclaimed "6 King of England, Scotland, France, Irelancd, and Vir;inia," two years before the }Restoration. In consequence of this step, the ancient motto of Virginia was, "' En dat Virginiza qa intam," changed after the union of England and Scotland to 6' En dat Virginia qzlartan." Richard Lee died, and was buried in Virginia. -ie left two sons, John and Richard. John was educated at Oxford, and was so accomplished that le was offered a fine openingl in the Church, with the prospect of an advancement; but the offer was declined, as it was his father's wish that Rhe should settle in Virginia. He died before his father. THE LEE FAMILY. 11 Richard Lee, the son, was a man of great learning. tIe passed his life in study, writing his notes habitually in Greek, Hebrew, or Latin. Some of these are now preserved in ViXginia. He was a member of the Council, and held other posts of honor and emolument. He married a Ma iss Corbin, ov Encgland, and died about the year 1690, leaving five sons, Richard, Philip, Francis, Thomas, Henry, and one daughlter, who married William Fitzhugh, of Eagle's Nest, King Georgoe County, Virginia. Of the sons, Richard, the eldest, went to England, as a Virg'inia merchant, and became the partner of his maternal uncle, Thomas Corbin. He married in England, and had three children, one son and two daug'hters, who came back to Virginia. Philip Lee, the second son, settled in Mlaryland, and left a numerous progeny. Francis, the third son, died a bachelor; Thomas, the fourth son, married M7iss 1Hannah Ludwell, a lady of fine falmily. The fifth son, Henry Lee, I will notice further on. Thomas Lee, the fourth son of Richard Lee, was, in many respects, a remanrkable man. By his marriage he allied himself with the Ludwells and the Grymes, two wealthy and influential families. He was a man of much learning, the greater part of which he taught himself, and eventually, thoucgh a young'er son, became possessed of a large fortune. He soon acquired a leading position in the colony, and was made President of' the Council, which post he held many years, until his deatl. IHle beerane impressed at an early day with the idea that the western part of the colony would be settled at some future time by a thriving community, and employed an engineer of note to explore the lands in that section, especially those bordering the Ohio River. While President of the Council, he declared to a friend that the colonies would, of necessity, eventually be independent of Great BritaUin, and predicted thcrt 12 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, 4"the seat of Government would be located near the Little Falls of the Potomac River," where he soon after acquired large tracts of land, which were, within the present century, the property of his descendants. He resided at Stratford, but his mansion was destroyed by fire. He at once set about rebuilding it, and so greatly was he esteemed in the colony and in England, that the Government and merchants alilke, and, it is said, even Queen Caroline, contributed to defray the cost of the structure. Of this edifice Mr. Lossing' says, "There is no structure in our country to compare with it. The walls of the first story are two and a' half feet thick, and the second story two feet, composed of brick imported from England. It originally contained about one hundred rooms. Besides the main building, there are four offices, one at each corner, containing fifteen rooms. The stables are capable of accommodating one hundred horses. Its cost was about $ 80,000." * Thomas Lee died in 1750, and left six sons and two dauglhters. The eldest son, Philip Ludwell Lee, married a Miss Steptoe, and by her had two daughters, of whom MIlatilda, the elder, married her second cousin, Colonel Henry Lee, (the father of General R. E. Lee.) The second son of Thomas Lee was Thomas Ludwell Lee. The third son was Richard Henry Lee, the great champion of American Independence. He was born on the 21st of January, 1732, and died June 19, 1794. He it was who on the 7th of June, 1776, offered, in the Continental Congress, the farmous resolution, "that these united colonies are, and of right oulght to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ougBht to be, totally dissolved." The fourth son of Thomas Lee was * Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution. Part II, p. 217. THE LEE FAMILY. 13 Francis Lilghtfoot Lee, born October 14, 1734, died in April, 1797. He was, like his brother, Richard HIenry, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The fifth son wa W3:iltiam Lee, who settled in London. The sixth son was Arthur Lee, who, says Bishop Meade,'" as a scholar, a writer, a philosopher, a politician, and a diplornmtist, was surpassed by none, and equalled by few, of his contemporaries. The services rendered by him to his country, as her minister, at foreign courts, were most valuable." I must now return to Henry Lee, the fifth son of IRichard Lee, the ancestor of the subject of this memoir. lIe married a 3,iss Bland, and had several children. His third son, IIenry, married a Miss Grymes, and by her had five sons and three daughters, viz., Henry, the famous soldier of the Revolution, Charles, Richard Bland, Theodoric and Edmund, and Mary, Lucy, and Anne. Hlenry Lee, the eldest son, was born January 29, 1756. He was educated at first by a private tutor at home, and then sent to Princeton Colleg'e, then under the charg'e of Doctor Witherspoon, where he graduated in 1774. In 1776 Patrick Henry nominated him to the command of a cavalry company raised in Virginia, for service in the Continental army, under the general command of Colonel Bland. In 1777 Lee's corps was placed under NWashington's imnmediate control, and under the energetic leadership of its young captain, acquired a high reputation for discipline and efficiency. Lee was made a Major, and his legion performed many daring exploits. In July 1779, he captured a British fort at Paulus HIook, (Jersey City,) for which he received from Congress, the thanks of that body, and a gold medal. In November 1780, he was made LieutenantColonel, and early in 1781 joined General Greene in the Carolinas, where he increased his already brilliant renown. About the beginning of 1782, after the battle of Eutaw 14 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Sprinogs, Colonel Lee returned to Virginia, and married his second cousin, Matildat, daughter of Philip Ludwell Lee, Esq., of Stratfbrd, where he resided with his father-in-law. In 1786 he was elected to a seat in Congress. In 1791 he was chosen Governor of Virginia. In 1794 he was appointed by Washinton, his warm friend and admirer, to command the troops sent to quell the Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania. In 1799 he was a member of Congress, and was chosen by that body to pronounce a funeral oration on the death of Washington, in the Hoiuse of Representatives. He prepared the oration, but being imperatively called away, it was delivered by his friend, Judce Marshall. In 1801 General Henry Lee retired to private life, being much straitened in his pecuniary resources. HIis first wife having died, he married ag'ain- this time, Anne, daugihter of Charles Carter of Shirley (on James River, opposite City Point). In 1809 he wrote his M/Iemoirs of the War in the Southern Department, which is justly regarded as a model work of its kind. In 1814 he was seriously wounded while endeavoring to put down a riot in Baltinmore, and from thedinjury thus received, he never recovered. In 1817 he went to the West Indies for his health, but failing to find relief there, returned home. On his way to Virginia, he stopped oiln the coast of Georgia, to visit Mrs. Shaw, a daughter of his friend, General Greene, and there died on the 25th of March 1818, at the age of 62 years. General Henry Lee had four sons and three daug'hters. His first wife bore him Henry Lee, noted for his literary abilities, and a daughter, Lucy; and his second wife bore himi Charles Carter, RPober't Edward, and Sidney Smith, (Commnodore Lee, of the C. S. Navy, and father of General Fitz Lee,) and two dauaghters, Anne and Mildred. LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 15 II. LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford, Westmorelard County, Virginia, on January 19, 1807, in the same room where Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee were born. His early life was passed in the Northern Neck, and a part of it amid the stirring events of the second war with England. The British land and naval forces were for a considerable period within a few miles of his home. A British fleet, under Admiral Cockburn, ravaged the shores of the Chesapeake, and on the 29th of August 1814, the city of Alexandria, then in the District of Columbia, was captured by the enemy's vessels, and soon after, a part of M aryland, and lWVashington City were occupied. These events occurring so near the home of young Lee, could not fail to exercise a marked influence upon hitm. When he was twelve years old his father died. In 1825, Robert Lee entered the Military Academy at WVest Point. There he remained four years, graduating in 1829. From the first he rose to the head of his class, and retained this "6 stand until he left the Academy. During his whole course he never received a demerit, and was never reprimanded. This will be better appreciated by those who understand the demerit system than by the general reader, for the former will readily comprehead how much it is in the power of the Cadet and Academic officers to give demerits to those who least deserve them. The freedom of young Lee from those marks, is a striking proof of the high esteem in which he was held by his comrades. He was noted for his studious habits, and exemplary conduct; he 16 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. never drank intoxicating liquors, used tobacco, or indulged inl any of the petty vices so popular with young men. On the 4th of July 1829, Robertt. Lee was graduated first in his class, and received the appointment of Brevet-Second Lieutenant in the corps of Topographical Engineers, to which branch of the service the most distinguished graduates of the West Point Academy are assigned. After a brief furloutgh, Lieutenant Lee entered upon the duties of his profession, being employed for several years upon the coast defences of the United States. In 1835 he was appointed assistant astronomer for the demarcation of the boundary line between the States of Ohio and Michigan. In 1832, Lieutenant Lee married Mary, daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, and grand-daughter of the wife of Washington. By this marriage the young officer became at a subsequent period the proprietor of Arlington I-louse, in Alexandria County, Virginia, opposite Washington City, and of the White House on the Pamunkey River, the scene of the marriage of Washington with " the widow Custis," which was wantonly burned by the Federal army in 1862. Three sons and four daughters were the fruits of this marriage, namely: George Washington Custis, William Henry Fitzhugh, and Robert Edward, and Mary, Anne, Agnes and Mildred. The first and second sons were Major-Generals in the Confederate army, and the youngest entered the service as a private, and was promoted to a staff appointment. One of the daughters, Anne, died during the war. On the 21st of September 1836, Robert Lee was made First Lieutenant, and in July 1838, Captain of Engineers. In 1844 he was a member of the Board of Visitors to the West Point Academy, and in 1845 a member of the Board of Engineers. The Mexican War now broke out, and Captain Lee was assigned to the Central army in Mexico, as Chief-Engineer AMIIHE~RST C.H. oee~I~ —~ MYSVILLE SCOTTSVILLE, / —C T \0DCUQUDSVILLI- r TlAI E ThR LTR LYN CHr-IV B -\ t CLOVE-R HJILL "AiE, RA1S ( _, JETTi ERAS V., /I:I'" APPOMIATTOXACH.'t K r L' C -M / A1X CAMPF fA3RTFoNiLL ~bI FA \1 == —EMV ~ v~LLE. // ~' <.:~"~ *owt /f (Sp\',(1FX-'\ I3URK' SVII LE JU2.C I 2;rl 4 E l~:r;S PRI1NCE LDWAPLD C.H a ~.Z.7.r AlNOCT'TOWA" B \\ s /L-tl~"':'~'~'i ) >~C/ALACKS Will/I/b'"/ 4 MARYSVILLE C__./O, (s / HALFAX C.H. BOYDTONO iii Cs U 0 LcL / a 30 ~~~KDAN~~~~~~iL~ ~ ___ __ __ ___ __ __ ___ __ __ ___ __ __ ___ __ _ ___ __ __ LIFE PREVIOUS TO T-IE WAR. 17 under General 1W1ool, wl:lich position he held throlug'hout the whole campaicgn under General Scott. Early in tile year 1847, General Scott commenced to collect forces on the island of Lobos for an expedition ag'ainst the city and castle of Vera Cruz. On the 9th of TMarch 1847, the American army landed near Vera Cruz, and the next day begfan the investment of tle city. The work was commenced -by General Worth, and was carried on successfully. Batteries, wTere erected by the engineers at points commanding the city, and armed with sieg'e and naval guns. The bombardment began on the 22d of 5March, and in a few days the town and castle surrendered. Captain Lee rendered important service during thle siee. General Scott, quick to appreciate his military genius, at an early day selected him to be one of his personal stanT, and always souglit his opinion in the Council, attachincg g(reat weihllt to it, and we have, in the recently published autobiography of the veteran soldier, his ow1n testimony reg'arding thle valuable aid which ]-he received from Lee.:Referrinfg to his first council at Vera Cruz, lie says: 6In my little Cabinet, however, consisting of Colonel Totten, Chief Engineer; Lieutennant-Colonel Hitlchcock, Acting Inspector General; Captain R. E. Lee, Engineer; and First Lieutenant Henry L. Scott, Acting' Adjutant General, I entered fully into the question of stormling parties and rcgtiilar siege approaches. A death-bed discussion could hardly have been more solemn." Concerning' the service rendered by Captain Lee, during the siege, he says: " I am compelled to make special mention of Captain I. E. Lee, Engineer. T'lis officer greatly disting'uished himself at the siege of Vera Crt1uz.," After the surrender of Vera Cruz, the American army advanced towards the City of Mexico. The enemy madce a s.and at Cerro Gordo, and on the 18th of April, after a hlard fought 3 18 LIFE OF GENERIAL LE E~, battle, Scott was again victorious. Concerning' the part-borne by Captain Lee in this engagement, the Old Soldier writes: H" Hlearingr that Twiggs, supported by Patterson, found himself confronted at Plan del Rio, some fifty miles in the interior, by a strong body of the enemy, and that both divisions were desirous of my presence, I left Vera Cruz on the 12th of April, with a small escort of Cavalry, under Captain Phlilip Kearney, (who fell in 1862, a distinguished Mlajor General), and Ilastened to the front. MIajor-General Patterson, thoucgh quite sick, had assumed the commlland on joining Twioggs, in order to prohibit any aggressive moveiment before my arrival, according' to the universal wish of the troops. No commander was ever received with heartier cheers, - the certain presage of the victories that followed. "1 The two advanced divisions lay in tlIm t. Jley of the Plan del Rio, and the body of the enemy about mtee miles off, on the heights of Cerro Gordo. Reconnoissances were pushed in search of some practicable route, other than the w'inding, zio'gza road aiuong the spurs of mountains, with heavy batteries at every town. The reconnoissances were conducted with vigor under Captain Lee, at the head of a body of pioneers; and, at the end of the third day, a passable way for light batteries was accomplished, - without alarming the enemy, - giving the possibility of turning the extreme left of' his line of defence, and capturing his whole army, except the reserve, that lcay a mile or two higher up the road. Santa Anna said that he hlad not believed a goat could have approached himi in that direction. Hence the surprise and the results were the greater. " The reconnoissance begun by Lieutenant Beauregard Nwas continued by Captain Lee, Engineer, and a road made aloxg, difficult slopes, and over chasms, out of the enemy's viewv though reached by his fire when discovered - until arriving at the Mexican lines, further reconnoissances became impossible LIFE PREVIOUS TO TIiE WARt. 19 w;ijth1ut action. The desired point of the debouchU re, the Jal;,pa road, was not, therefore, reachled, thoutcrl believed to be within easy distance4; and to gain that point it now became necessary to carry the heiglts of Cerro Golrdo. * * * Twiggs' division, reenforced byv Slield's brirlade of volunteers, wvas thrown into position on thle 17thl, and was of necessity, drawn into action in takino up glround for its lbivouac, and the opposing heigh'lts for a heavy battcry. It ewill he seen tlIat many of our officers and men were Lkilled or womldcd in this sharp comnbat - handsom ely comm!\enced by a cotmpaniy of tlhe Seventh Infintry, under birevet First Lieutenant Gardner, lwho was highly praised by all his commanders fior sinnal services. Colonel HIarney, coming up with h1is brigade, brutshed:awa;ly the enemy, and occupied the lieirLhts, on whmich, in th!e niglit, was placed a battery of one 24-pounuder and ttwo 24-p-t)un(l dho"witzers, under the superintendence of Captain Lee, IEn!Ziuecrs and Lieutenant Iago-ner, Ordnance. f'les unsllis oupencd lext n!)orning and were served Nwith eTc t Tby Ccaptaai Stepltoe, and Lieutenant BroVwn, Third Artillery; Lieu tenant I1lgnrler, Ordnance; and Lieutenant Seymnour, First Artillery. "6 * is I ani compelled to make special mention of' Calnptain E. B. Lee, Engineer. This officer * * was aga(in indeLatigable dulring these operations in reconnoissances, as daring tas laborious, and of the utnmost value. No'r was lie less consLicuous in planni;ngR batteries, and in conductiln' coLu;lns to tcheir stations, under t1le heavy fire of thle eneny." From Cerro Gordo the army pushed on towards the (Cait-al. ~*During one of these reconnoissanees Captain Lee ventured so fat fromn- his supporting column, (Loring's Rifles.) that lhe foutnd himself right inr amnong the enemy. Ile hastily concealed himself unCier a fallen tree, neair a sp)ring where the IMexicans obtained their supply of wvater. While lie lay there, Mexican soldiers passed and repassed over thle tree, and even sGat down on it, utterly unconscious of his presence..Ie remained until dtl.rkness enabled him to withdraw in safety. 20 - LIFE OF GENEVRAL LEE. The direct road to the city Lad been well fortified, but these defences were skilfully turned by the Americans, a-nd the battles of Contreras, Cherubusco, iMolinos del PRey, and Chapultepec placed tlhe city of MTexico in the hanlds of the victors. I have only room to notice the distinguished part playedc in these engagements by Captain Lee, and for this I shall again employ the narrative of General Scott. He writes."The same daty (August 18, 1847,) a reconnoissance was commenced to the left of San Aug ustine, first over dificult grounds, and further on over the same field of volcanic matter which extends to the mountain, some five miles from San Antonio, towards Magdalena. The reconnoissance was continued to-day by Captain Lee, assisted by Lieutenants Beauregard and Tonwer, all of the Engineers, who were joined in the afternoon by Major Smith, of the same corps. Other divisions coming up, Pillow was advanced to make a practicable road for heavy artillery, and Twigg's thrown farther in front to cover the operations; for, by the partial reconnoissance of yesterday, Captain L'ee discovered a large corps of observation in tlhat direction, with a detachment of which, his supports of cavalry and foot, under Captain IKCearney and Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, respectively, had a successful skirmish. * * * These corps, over the extreme diEculties of thle ground, -partly covered with a low forest, — before described, reached Contreras, and found Cadwallader's brigade in position, observinog the formlidable movemlent from the Clapital, and much neleding tlhe tirmely reinforcement. * Of th:e seveen officers dispatched about sundown from my position, opposite the ener7my's centre, and on this side of the volcanic field, to communicate instrueticns to the hamlet, not one has succeeded in getting through these dificulties, increased by darkness; they have all returned. But the gallant and indefaltigable Captain Lee, of the Engineers, who has been constantly wYith the operating forces, LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 21 is (11. o'clock P.,.) just in from Shields, Smith, Cadwallader, etc., to report as above, and to ask that a powerful diversion be made towards the centre of the intrenched camp towards mnorning. 6 B1ricOadier-General Twigcrs, cut off, as above, from tle part of his division beyond the impracticable ground, and C aptain Lee, are gone, under.ny orders, to collect the frcces remaininli on. this side, with wthich to manke that diversion, at about five o'clock in the morninsg." Thie diversion was converted into a real attack, 1' under the command of Colonel Rhansom, of the Ninth, having wlith. himl that regiment, and some companies of three otlers, gtuided by Captain Lee. * * At 3 A. M. the great mTovement had coLmmlenced on the rear of the enemy's camip. The mIarch was rendered tedious by dlarlkness, ra'in, and wvind; but about sunrise, Riley l:had reached an elevatilon belhind the enermy, whence he precipitated his columnis, stormed the intlenchmenss, planted his several colors upon themn, and carried the vorks, all in seventeen minutes. Cadwallader hald also broughlt up two of his regiments, and, at the appointed time, Colonel:Ransom, with his temporary brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, not only made the movement in front to divert and to distra-ct the enemy, but, after crossing the deep ravine, advanced and pouri ed into the work and upon tlhe fugitives, mnany volleys fronm his destructive musketry." After the victory at Contreras, General Scott, after giving' the necessary orders for the imovements of the army, anid tlhe disposition of the prisoners and( spoils, went forward witll General Piillow's columtn. Upon reaching Coyoacan, two miles, by a cross road, from the river of-' San Antonio, General Scott sent Captain Lee with Kearney's dragoons and Loring"s Rifles to reconnoitre tha-t strong point, and upon receiving Lee's report, sent Generl 22 LIFE' OF GENERAL LEE. Pillow wtlh Cadxwalladler's brigade, to attack it in ~oncert with General \ Wolrth, who was to op)erate on tlhe opposite side. At the same time a reeonnoissance, under Lieutlenant Stevens, suTpp'orted by Lieuten'ant G. Vf. Smith's com1pany of sappers and i iiners, was sent towards the fortifed c-amp of the enemy at Chrlr usco, One ile 0 o'' with one brli,,&ade ~ and a battery, was ordered to follow a-nd attack, and the other brif, 0lae of his division was ordered to suipport him. In abotut tlen mniutes Pi:erce's brioaude was sent to r'wUins'O, assistance. Pierce vrwas directed to attack thle Mexicaan ri'ii; and rear, in ordel to cidl the assault in front, and cut off tlhe retreat of the enemy to the Cl)pitld. At last, SlielIds, with the New York and South Car(olina Voltiunteers, was sent to support Pierce, and take comlltand of' tihe left Iwinog. Piieree was conducted to his position by Captain Lee, who, after the blatle had ftairly belunl, retuned to General Scott, who had s-tationecd himself close in rear of'wivri,'L' line, and reported that Shields in tile rear of Clherusbulse), was hard pressed, and in7 4danrer of beinlr outfianked if not overwhelmed by superior niumblers. Su ncr's an-jd Sibley's dragoons and LoringJ's Rifles, were at once disllplCilhe to Shield's assistance, guided by Captain Lee, L' The victojlry of tle 8th September," writes General S(cott, a6t the Liolinos del j ey, was -oiiowcd by da ring reconnoissances on the part of our distinguished E-ngineers, - Captain Lee, Lieutenant Beaurecgard, etc. Their operations -were dlirected principa'lly to thle South - towarrds the gatoes of' the Piedad," and the heights of Cllhapultepec. At lhapulepec, Captain Lee was wounded, and, thoucgh anxious to keep oil with the armyll, was copelled by loss of blood to retire ftom the field, and seek surglieal assistance. His skill and bravTery' had contributed greatly to lthe great achievement-s whic'h clkosed the canmpaign. As Generall Scott well says - "' In the glIorios conquest ttll had contributed r early and powerfiully- the LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 23 Willed, the wounded, and the fit for duty, as much as those who fought at the gates of Belena and San Cosme." In his official report, General Scott pays a high compliment to Captain Lee, Twho was, he declares, "' as distinguished for felicitous execution as for science and daring. Captain Lee," he goes on to say, so constantly distinguished, also bore important orders from me (September 13th), until he fainted from a wound and the loss of two nights' sleep at the batteries." General Scott conceived a warm personal friendship for the young engineer, and a hiogh admiration for his military skill. Lee became an esprecial favorite with him, and the Commanderin-chief sent hardly a single dispatch to Washington City, in which his name was not honorably mentioned. Indeed so greatly did the veteran soldier esteem him, that he declared, years afterwards, "' Lee is the greatest military genius in America~" Cap)tain Lee was twice promoted for his services in Mexico. in 1847 he was brevetted Major " for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Cerro Gordo," and later was made Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet, for his conduct at Contreras and Chehrubusco. For his services, at Chapultepec, he was, on the Ist of September 1852, made Superintendent of the West Point Academy. The interval between the close of the war and his appointment to this post, was spent by him as a member of the Board of Engineers. Colonel Lee at once entered upon the discharge of his duties at West Point, where hle remained nearly three years. During his admuinistration, and in August 1854, the course of study "was, by the direction of the Secretary of War, extended so as to cover a period of five years. Wlhen the new cavalry regiments were organized in 1855, in pursuance of the Act of Congress for tlat purpose, Colonel Lee was commissioned Lieutenalnt-Colonel (the full rank) in the 24 ELIFE OF GENE1tAL LEE. Second Ca:la,,ary. This appointment made it necessary to resign his position at W1Test Point, which he did on the 1st of April 1855, being succeeded by Major J. G. Barnard. The Second Cavalry Reg'ilnent was commanded by Colonel Albert Sydney Joblnston, an officer of great skill, who was afterwar.ds a, General in the Confederate army, and who fell at Shiloh in April 1862. This regriment contained amonog its officers rlany who, in the war just closed, rose to high rank in the two armies, and is now famous as having furnished more generals than any organization in the old army. In 1855 it was sent to Texas, where, for several years, it was employed in constant warfare with the Indian tribes. This warfare awakened considerable interest throughout the country at the time, and Colonel Lee bore an active part in it, greatly distinguishing himself in one of thle most desperate battles with the Indians. In 1859, Colonel Lee returned to W~ashingrton, and \while there was called upon to take part in the John Brown war, which was, in fact, but a prelude to the great struggle which followed so soon afterwvards. On the nioght of the 16th. of October, a band of conspirators, led by a man named John Brown, who had become notorious in the territories as an offbender argainst the laws of the United States, took possession of the town of Harper's Perry, and of an important United States armory there, containing about fifty thousand small arms. After seizing the town and armory, which were guarded by only two watchmen, Brown dispatched certain of his fellow conspirators to specified farms in the vicinity, to secure the persons of several prominent gentlemen, and collect the slaves. Several citizens were kidnapped by these men, but the slaves refused to take part in the insurrection. At dajlight on the 17th of October,' the alarm was given, and during the morning, the militia of the surrounding counties were ordered to assemble for the purpose of'" putting down the rebellion." ~ l, POLEt iOSENE A~ILLS /\ ad / Q~~~~~~~~~~~~ LEESBUR'Q D W A.' A'5 I~ ~> -.... \V in\R-T \\ MB\R' 13. A _ ego <<, e'A ABURGBURG -A-?r4N A ATO SYL OF -11-1- LEADI 3' M~3BRUg( RA.0 S.TOWN ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ILSYW DR~AWN~ FROM ACTU~AL -A UVtVI-'~. e iFAL 2f I - 2. i 0~~~~2; QlWATE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~PEESU~ 130 Ro PINKS~~~~~~ SHEPHIERDSTOWN ~ ~ ~ CAS T OWN~~ FIERRY o Y- ~ q ao ~~;e 4 POOLES' V SENE MLLSD~3R tj~~~~t HE FIRST fx SECOND MARLBOROU~~~~~~FNK i DRAHRD TWN FROM ACTUAL S RIROEI.Y.. LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 25 The news of the outbreak was at once telegraphed to WTashington, and the matter very greatly exag'gerated. General Scott was absent from the city at the time, and the President and Secretary of VATar, summoned Colonel Lee, as the most trusted officer of the army, to consult with them as to the best course to, be adopted. The interview resulted in dispatching a battalion of marines to Harper's Ferry, and directing Colonel Lee to follow and take command of them. Accompanied by his aid, Lieutenant J. E. B. Stuart, Colonel Lee at once started for Harper's Ferry, which he reached on the night of the 17th, having sent orders by telegraph to suspend all operations until his arrival. The insurgents had, upon the appearance of the militia, which occurred early in the day, retreated to the fire enginehouse, in the armory yard, where they had barricaded theimselves, and kept up a desultory fire on the town during the afternoon. They had taken Colonel VTashingcton, ILMr. Dangerfield, and the other citizens kidnapped by them, into the enginehouse with them, where they held them, hopinog that the presence of these gentlemen would prevent tile troops from firing on thelm. As soon as Colonel Lee arrived, he proceeded to surround the engine-house with the marines to prevent the escape of Brown and his men, deferring, his attack until mornin~g, lest in the darkness some of the captive citizens might be injured. At daylight on the 18th, wishing to accomplish the object in view without bloodshed, if possible, Colonel Lee sent Lieutenant Stuart to demand the surrender of the insurgents, promising to protect them from violence at the hands of the citizens, until the wishes of the Government of the United States were known. Brown refused the terms offered, and demanded to be permitted to march out with his men and prisoners, with the arms of the frmer, to be allowed to proceed, without being followed, t6 4 26 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the second toll-gate, where he would free the prisoners. tie was then willing to be pursued by the troops, and to fight if he could not escape. This proposition was inadmissible, but as a last resort, Colonel Lee directed Lieutenant Stuart to remonstrate with tile insurgents upon the folly of their course. This duty Stuart performed, reinmfininc before the engine-house until his personal dlanger compelled him to withdraw. Findingl that nothi(ngr but force would avail, Colonel Lee gave the order to attack, and the marines, by a gallant assault, captured the building and its inmates, several of whom were killed and wounded, Brown himself beinc amlong thle latter. The marines lost one man killed and one wounded, but fortunately none of the citizens captured by Brown were injured. Colonel Lee took good care to protect his prisoners, and there is little doubt that but for his precautions, the surviving conspirators would have been shot down by the excited civilians. I-Te at once telegraphed to Washington for instructions, and was directed to deliver the prisoners to Mir. Ould, District Attorney for the District of Columabia, who was sent by the Government to conduct the legal proceedings, and take measures to bring the insurgents to trial. As soon as Lr. Ould arrived, Colonel Lee turned over the prisoners to hinm, and, beingC satisfied that the danger was over, went back to WYashingQton. At the expiration of his leave of absence, Colonel Lee rejoined his regiment, which, in the early part of 1861, was a44 San A ltonio, Texas. COLo LEE LEAVES TIHE FEDERAL AERtY.o 27 IT. TIlE FIR ST DAYS OF WA2. APmIL, 1861 —AaY, 1862. I. COLONEL LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL ARM-4Y. TIE politi-cal excitement throunohout the country, succeecingl the election of Mdr. Lincoln to the Pr esledCncy of thle United States, culmina:ted, as had been foretse-n, in tlhe llithdtrawal of the States of tile South, and the foruatni3on ot a new Conf3elderacy composed exclusively of slaveholdMng states, under the title of the Confederate States of Anierica. Of the causes which produced this action on the part of, the South, I do not desiign to speak here. Trhey were mllny, and some of them were closely interwoven witlh thIe structure of the Unionl itself, not the least of which was tlhe weatkness imnparted! to the General Government by the prinliple of'' Stlate righlts," a principle, wrl-ieh thouTh plain and indisputable in this ease, and sanctioned by those who f'ramred the Consti-tution of the United States, is nevertheless fatal to all gcood goverlamnent Its natural antagoonisim to the ends of a firm and tuseful sys-tem was clearly demonstra ted during the brief existence of the Confederacy, which was compelled to trample upon t1he principle as early as the year 1862. Still, the framers of thle Federal Cuon 2$ LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. stitutio:n, and the States which ratified it, had left open the way for just such a state of affairs as afterwards occurred, and under that Constitution neither the States of the JNorth nor the Federal Government had the slilghtest right to interfere with any member of the Union to coerce it into obedience to the will of either. Wlhatever may be the changes that the war has worked in our system of Government,- and they are many and radical, there can be no doubt that the States of the South in secediing from athe Union were exercisinr an undoubted right.''The Coonmmonwealth of' Vir2ginia had for sometime clunog to the Union, unwilling to abanlon it while there remained a hope of continuing in it upon terms consistent with her honor. But the course pursued by the Federal Government, which led to the capture of Fort Sunmter, and the subsequent Proclamation of President Lincoln, ca(lling for troops to coerce the seceded States into obedience, left Virginia no alternative but to withdraw from amnono her enemies, andt unite her destiny with that of her Southern sisters. She had exhausted every means at her command for tile preservation of peace, and she now prepared to repel the attack with which she was threatened. Colonel Lee had been an interested spectator of these great events; the early paIrt of the year 1861 found him Nwitfh his regiment at San Antonio, Texas, but a few months later he returned to Wacshinctton. He watched the course of Virginia anxiously, hoping that she would find it consistent with her l.onor to remain in the Union, and that peace would be preservired. His hope was vain, and when Virglinia withdrew froom the United States, she called on her children to assemble for her prot'eetion. Colonel Lee's course was now plain. I-le believed that the state oF Virginia had the right to pursue the course she hlad adopted, though his own judgment assured him it would bringg great suftehrinrr and disaster upon her. He believed, also, teut his State had the first claim upon his services, and that it COL. LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL ARMY. 29 wras llis duty to obey the comimand of'Virigniat. withouf questioning it. This left him no chirice, but to follow the 3tate. HIe was influenced by no feeling of ambition, or sectional hatred. His course was the result of a conscientious conviction of duty, formed after a mental struggle such as few men are called upon to mnake. Had he believed it his duty to remain in the service of the United States lie would have done so at any sacrifice of his personal feelings; for he has never yet bees fallse to his sense of duty. It cost Colonel Lee a great and painful struggle to leave the service with which he had been so long connected. For more than twenty-five years he bad served with credit and distinction in the Federal army, and now held in the opinion of both the army and the country the secon(l position in it in point of merit, bein(g recgarded as the most fittingr successor to the veteran Lieutenant General, to whom he was bound by the strongest ties of love and esteem. If he remained in the Federcal service, honor and high military distinction awaited himn. The President of the United States, through one of the Cabinet, offered him the immediate command of the army,* and General Scott implored him to remain. Every influence that could be thought of was brought to bear upon the great soldier to induce him to remain in the Federal service. Colonel Lee himself knew that if he complied with these urgent requests, his military ambition would be fulfilled in everything. Hle knew also that if he linked his fate with that of Virginia, suffering and sorrow iwere in store for him; that fronm wealth he would descend to poverty; and that he would be proclaimed to the world as a traitor by the Government he had loved so well. It was a terrible trial, and lhad he been influenced by convictions less pure, or a sense of duty less high, ambition would have triumphlled. His feelings * Statement of Hon. Montgomery Blair, in 6" the National Intelligencer," August 9, 1866. 30 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. may be gathered froim the following extract from a letter written by MIrs. Lee, in Decemlber 1861, to a Unionist friend, 6 My husband," she said "' has wept tears of blood over this terrible war, but he must, as a man of 1honor and a Virginian, share the destiny of his )tate." Tlhose who do not own Virginia as their motller, can never know the feelin g which her children bear her; the love, the devotion, t~he readiness to lay down everything, even life itself, at her bidding. So deep, so entire is tlhis devotion, that no one, worthy to be called her son, could thlink for one instant of questioninri her ri[ght to comrmand, still less of' raising his arma to strike his mother. The action of Virginla put an en( to the strugg'e Of Colonel Lee and left him no alternative. To.'r. Blair, who was authorized to offer him the coinmmand of;th-e Federal'army, he said, $ Mr. Blair, I look upon secession as anamrchy. If I owned four millions of slaves in the South, I would sacrifice( them all to the Union; but how can I draw my sword upon Virginia, my native State?" To General Scott, who begged him, " For God's sake don't resign, Lee," he said, " I'am Compelleed to. I cannot consult my own feelings in this matter." True to his sense of duty, Colonel Lee resigned his commirnssion as an oreeer of thle United States Army, on the 2Oth ct April 1861, and at the same time sent the following letter to General Scott: -'"ArLING-TON, VA., April 20, 181C. g" GENERAL: - " SINtcE myI interview with you on the 18th instant, I hlave feit that I ough'it not longer to retain nmy comrmission in the army. I thercfore tender mny resi wn:tion, whlichl I request o:-., will reecommalend ibr aceptlance, It -vI wouhl have been presented COL. LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL ARMY. 31 at ance but for the struggle it has cost me to separate nmyself friom a service to which I have devoted all thle best years of my life, and all the ability I possessed. 6 DringL the whole of that time, - more than a quarter of a century, - I have experienced nothing but kindness from nmy superiors, and the most cordial fiiendship fromn nmy comrndes, To( no one, General, have I been as much indebted as to yourself', foi unifolrm kindness and consideration, and it has always been my ardent desire to merit your approbation. I shall carry to til e ave te most grateful recollections of your kind consideration, and your name and fame will always be dear to Ble. 66 Save in defence of nmy native State, I never desire again to draw my swaord. Be pleased to accept my most earnest wishes for the continuance of your happiness and prosperity, and believe me, most truly yours, "!R. E. LEE. " LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ~WINFIELD SCOTT, "Comomancdig United States Airmy." * * To his sister, the wife of a Union officer, he wrote as follows; "ARLINGTON, VA., April 30, 1861. MIY DEAR SISTER: - "I a!i grieved at my inalility to see you. * * * * * I have been waiting for'a more convenient season,'. which has brought to many before me deep and lasting regret. WAe are now in a state of war which will yield to nothing. The whole South is in a state of revolution, into which, Virginia, aIfter a long struggle, has been drawn; and though I recognize no necessity for this state of things, and would have forborne and pleaded to the end, for redtress of grievances, real or supposed, yet in my own person I had to meet the question, whether I should take part against my native State. With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an Almerican citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against, Ily relatives, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the army, and save in defence of my native State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may iniver be needed, I hope I may never be called upon to draw my sword. t`3h2 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Colonel Lee's resignation was accepted on the 20th of April, and ble at once repaired to Richmond, leaving behind him the home where he had passed so many happy hours,* and which was to be his no long'er. II. GENERAL LEE COMMt[ANDS THE ARMSY IN VIRGINIA. Early in 1861, in view of the probable withdrawal of the State, the Legislature of Virginia authorized the Governor of the Commonwealth to raise and organize a military force of from ten to twenty thousand men, under an officer of experience, with the title of MAajor General. When Colonel Lee resigned his commission in the Federal army, Governor Letcher at once conferred upon him the rank authorized by the Legislature, and the command of all the forces in Virginia. This appointment was not solicited by Colonel Lee, but he did not feel at liberty to decline it. It was confirmed by the Convention, and the decision of that body was communicated to him on the 23d of April, by the President of the Convention, John Janney, Esq. General Lee was presented to the Convention by the Chairman of the ~Military Committee, Mir. Johnson, of Richmond. The President then addressed the new Commander-in-Clief as follows: "I know you will blame me, but you must think as kindly of me as you can, and believe that I. have end'eavored to do what I thought right. To show you the feeling and struggle it 1has cost me, I send a copy of my letter to General Scott, which accompanied my letter of resignation. I have no time for more. M * * * May God guard and protect you and yours, and shower upon you every blessing, is the prayer of your devoted brother, %. E. LEE." * Arlington. Kf~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I \\I1, 1 p, /.. CGL-DAR 1.'1'- P,..i I//'tiN OCi< " 1 - CI —A'DAR( / 4.fI LS''S 7'VE'o l ~'/ -'"o RLO7OAILOII V 11.0 /. C/A 10:-A- /:A-A..G C'' EC < X ii ~ o Xu 8 0 7 /-r 10 1I --, ~. =-_ ---— I I I/_IL.-L./:. E MAR CHS >/Y {-'~'" A:' t L1 A,',~-". *....' cSd t /-//L I' 1 I " 3I / / 3LVER'VIL N CVIR10 AISII'c'0 S'.4 1......... //4 ~ ~ ~~1VI VE/TI SA Y VA I A i C 1tX0 — N l.3 T\j P R IES.'A -."? -A GM/V/Ilv~i~Nr wsl(.' I/U/I/I l. / C, UI i F'( *r s/'9\ 7~t <, /// 9 LANCASTER \ r /1 _ *,' //,cA.'...'' ~FLAT fOC ~i O FLO1ENCP- /K5-LLVB 5e ~C ROCKY MiF PEAYS'~HETERV, ~..-:~'~'R/ F'"','' // —\".." _,' Z/C/Vl._ ISVI LLF / /'P.OP,, L —A - -v-R ANO1i,_E'.. IIT D/lANG wl9J~~~~~~seono r:1G'r hA4LE "\...SVILLF"' A ifW 1-1 -_ IS-.T oD:.&vIaA-+ U %'0 l —-'~ Y/:.,3..... IV,&. J- 17..... GAHAM // C7 I HA R L\._S T 0 % / L ~~//a~~~t //4.~. /1-F. "/C// NOR0 Q31'\OK\/ILATNILI4/.\v %%.i ON-w'a_ V.F'S:':..: RARNWLI I& 0SAWHA I lPSOat 1 /l' 61, ":A'[:-I oVI ~~~~~~~~~CCA' GO.% Q/P\TO, CT ~~~~~.....- -- J - C " ~' APOI V?p-5tL O1'4 SCAIFO MIIFA'.:,? SVANNAH 20 30 40 1o T 4/ 5 ~~~-? BII~~~~~~~~~~h~~~~ll(UAI6_ aws to,. o IIG~ ~~1\ 1...............E SAVAGE STATION. 145 During tihe forenoon thle clouds of dust which rose from the Federal lbnes south of the Chickahominy told plainly that their army was in motion. It was evident, from the absence of any Federnal force on the north side of the Clickahomniny, and the burningr of the railroad bridre at Dispatch Station, thlalt McClellan had abandoned the ine of the'York River Riailroad. Still he had open to him tble lower bridces of the Chicka!horniny, as well as the route to the James, and as the southern forces south of the river l'had not been able to detect any sign of a nmoveient to the James, it was thoug ht that he might attempt to escape down the Peninsula after all. Accordingly, General Ewell was directed to move froom Dispatch Station to Bottom's Bridge, on the main road friom Richmond to Williamsburg, to ascertain the movements of McClellan, and cut him off if he attempted to cross the Clichiahoniny at that point. He discovered no signs of such a mlovement, and the next day rejoined General Jackson. Meanwhile, General Stuart, after the arrival of General Ewell at Dispatch Station, determined to push boldly down the road to the White House, in order to discover what force the enemy had there, and, if possible, to rout it. McClellan's arrange-ments had been already made, however. The line of the railioad had been abandoned, and the commnander of the fo)rc at the, White House had been ordered to send such of his stores as hie could remove, and the water transportation to the j ames iver, and destroy the remauinder. A train of ornare waons,' with a cavalry escort and a few sr tler's esblishbmets, were captured by the c'avalry soon after.ie'.ilcr Dispatcnh eStat;-on. At all the prominent points along twl ri-dt, fccO l-Iry pin;es swere driven off or captured, until P!-It' C reek was reached. }Ir'e the enemy burned the bridge, and attemnpted to hnimpede the progress of the cavalry, but they wepre speedfily puet to fight and the bridge repa ired. It was 19 146 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. now too dark to continue to advance, and General Stuart halted for the night, the men feeding their horses on corn captured at Tunstall's Station. During the afternoon, a lar;ge fire was discovered at the Whllite House, and all night long this continued to burn steadily, and the flames and explosions of shell and ammunition told plainly that the enemy were destroying the stores at that point. As soon as it was day, General Stuart resumed his advance. Arriving within a quarter of a mile of the White Htouse, he discovered a Federal gunboat at the landing. Colonel NW. 1H. F. Lee, the proprietor of the estate, accompanied the expedition, and was ordered by General Stuart to take a party of seventy-five sharpshooters, and drive off the gunboat. This was accomplished with the aid of one piece of artillery, and the steamer set off down the Pamunkey, follo wed by the howitzer along, the shore, which exploded its shells with great accuracy just over her decks. General Stuart captured a large amount of provisions (delicacies as well as necessities) and forage. These were distributed among the men and horses, who were in great need of food. Besidces these, 1"nine baroges, loaded with stores, were on fire as the cavalry approached; immense numbers of tents, wagons, and cars, in long trains, loaded, and five locomotives; a number of forges; quantities of every species of quartermaster's stores and property, making a total of many millions of dollars, - all more or less destroyed." From the lWhite I-ouse, the caLvalry moved, in comrpliance with an order from General Lee, to watch the lower bridges of the Chickahominy. The force which had been left by General Lee to hold the works in front of Richmond, consisted, as has been stated, of the divisions of Generals Magruder and Huger. General Holmes' command, about six thousand strong, was statiemed SAVAGE STATION. 147 in the vicinity of New Market, near the James River, to watch the enemy in that direction, and prevent them from reaching the river. These commands were charged to be extremely vigilhant, and to report instantly any movements on the part of tlhe eneimy. During the 26th and 27th, the Federal lines were closel observed, but nothingn unusual was noticed. On the 28th General Toombs, without askinog or receiving instructions to that effect, attacled the Federal works on Golding('s farlm, antd was repulsed with heavy loss. Fortunately, the enemny did not follow up this ridiculous movement of General Toombs by an advance of their line. Had they done so, they might have captured Garnett's farm, and inflicted considerable injury upon the Confederates. The day was spent in watching the enemy, whose powerful works effectually concealed their movements. At dark they were in possession of the Federal troops, and to all appiearance fully manned. It was impossible to bring the Southern army across by the bridges in the Federal rear, as these were all destroyed, and their reconstruction impracticable in the presence of AIcClellan's whole army and powerful batteries. It was certain, however, that this suspense must be ended in some wvay in a few hours more, and on Saturday night General Lee directed the troops of Magruder and H-uger to sleep on their arms, in order to move forward the instant the enemy's withdrawal should be discovered. General Lee was convinced from the indications in his front, that a general movement Nas going on in the Federal lines, and as there were no signs of ~McClellan attempting to move down the Peninsula, there could be no doubt that he was retreatintg to the James River. General Lee was right. On Saturday morning Keyes' corps, which held the extreme left of the Federal line, broke up its camp, and entered W\rhite Oak Swamp. By noon it had 148 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. safely traversed this gloomy morass, and had occupied strong positions on the opposite side to protect the passagoe of the army. This was followed by the withdrawal of the wagons, five thousand in numrber, and a drove of twenty-five hundlred beef cattle, all of which had to pass the swamp by one sing!l road. Duriiic the night Porter's corps withdrew, also. The corps of Suminer and Heintzelman, and Snilth's division of Franklin's corps were instructed to remain on the IRiclhmond side of White Oak Swcamp during the whole of the 29th, until dark, in order that the trains might get fairly out of dancger. So well did B[McClellan mask these movements, that, although General Lee suspected thelm, the truth was not known until Sunday morning at sunrise, when the Federal works were found to be deserted. Early on the morning of the 29th Longstreet and A. P. 5Hill were ordered to recross the Chickahominy at the New Bridge, and follow the enemy along the Darbytown road to the Long Bridge; Htuger was ordered to pursue by the Charles City road, so as to take the Federal army in flank; MAaruder was ordered to move by the Williamsburg road, and attack the enemy in the rear; and Jackson wtas directed to repair Grapevine Bridge, cross there, move down the Chickahominy by way of Savage Station, and co6perate with Magruder. These dispositions would, it was believed, effectually prevent the escape of the enemly, and result in the capture or destruction of the greater portion of their larmy. All the columns but that of General Jackson moved early on Sunday morning. Jackson was detained all day repairing Grapevine Bridge, and did not cross the Chickahominy until the ninght of the 29th. General Lee's dispositions were excellent, but McClellan.had gained twenty-four hours, and this, together with the nature of the country through wlich he was imoving, gave him advantages FRAZIER'S FARM. 149 of which no pursuit, however vigorous or well planned, could deprive him. Mfaruder moved early in the mornincg, and, advancing throughl the deserted works of the enemy, - meeting on every hand large quantities of stores and property, a part in an excellent state of preservation, and the remainder more or less injured, - reached Savage Station late in the afternoon. Here he found the corps of General Sumner, whlich constituted the rear guard of the Federal army. fMagruder at once attacked with McLaws' division, and two regiments of another division. A severe action ensued, lasting two hours, when darkness put an end to it. Sumner held his ground, and during the night of the 29th withdrew across White Oak Swamp, destroying, the bridgtes after him. The enemy destroyed large quantities of stores at Savag'e Station. Several hundred prisoners were taken, and the Federal dead and wounded, together with much property, and a large hospital, containing' twenty-five hundred patients, fell into the hands of the Confederates. Unfortunately the necessary medical stores and supplies for the hospital were destroyed by the enemy, and the Confederates were not able to replace them. XVI. FRAZIER'S FARM. The retreat of the Federal army was conducted with the utmost vigor. Before entering upon a narration of the events which followed the battle of Savage Station, it will be interesting to glance at the condition of the retreating army as it strugg&led through the dangerous morass. The following vivid description is from the pen of a distinguished Northern author: 150 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. "sTo some of the sufferers death was coming every hour. * * All the day of Saturday the regiments of the right wino of the national army, were marching rapidly by Savage Station, taking the road towards the James River. Firequent scouts were sent out to give wtarning of any approacit of the enemy. The road led through a region of impenetrable swamps and forests, where it would be very easy to entrap an army into aumbuscades. The negroes, always our fast fiiends, lent us invaluable aid in these emergencies. They were our only guides. The country had not been explored by our cavalry, and our retreating troops struggled through these entangling mazes led only by the ignorant but faithful contrabands. * * * * * * * * * * "6 The route of the retreating army was directly through the heart of WNrhite Oak Swamp. Multitudes of wounded men hobbled along in the melancholy train. All the ambulances which could be found were loaded with such sufferers as it was possible to move. A large number who could not be moved were left to the tender mercies of the enemy. * * * * * * * 6At ten o'clock Saturday night the last of the Union troops left Woodbury Biiclge. A single company of cavalry had been left to guard the passage. As night came on, that they might deceive the rebels, they lighted camp-fires as for a vast army. The fires of the rebels gleamed brilliantly on the opposite banks. The scene presented was solemnly sublime. The night was dark, and gathering clouds threatened a tempest. The exhausted soldiers could not stop for rest. All the night long onward they dragged their weary limbs. "It was about six miles from Savage. Station to White Oak Swamp Bridge. This whole distance was jammed full of wag'ons, horses, cannon, ambulances, pontoon boats, and all the indescribable material of a great army. There were frequent halts when the current became clogged. The scene of FRAZIER'S FARM. 15 i confusion which then ensued beggars description. Twenty wagons would often be side by side. The efforts of the officers to push the line along, the shouting of the teamsters, the struggling of the horses, the occasional break-downs presented a picture of tumult which Babel could hardly have surpassed. During, the whole of the day there was but little fighting, as our movements were concealed from the knowledge of the enemy. * * * * 66 The sun of the Sabbath morning, June 29th, rose over this scene of tumult and consternation. It ushered in one of the most glaring and sultry of summer days. The heat was all but insupportable. * * * * * Early in the morning the whole army, with all its vast artillery and bat.age trai-ns, was on the move. * * * There was not a breath of air. The sun poured down fiercely upon the unsheltered heads of the troops. There was an incessant rattle of musketry, and roar of artillery. As we were slowly driven along we were compelled to leave our dead and many of the severely wounded behind ns. The hurry was so great and the heat so intolerable, that the troops threw away their knapsacks and their outer garments, but desperately clenched their weapons, which they would surrender only with their lives.'6 Many, from the effect of sunstroke, dropped by the wayside, foaming at the mouth and ravingc in del;riunm. I)uring most of this time round shot and shells from the enemy's artillery were dropping in our ranks. Occasionally, as our reargualrd made a stand, a fierce battle ensued. * * * * 6' Gathering clouds in that rainy land had brought the dlay to an early close, and a stormy night set in. * * * On, on pressed the rear-guard through the Egyptian darkness of the tempest-riven night, -the forest illumined by incessant flashes of lightning, and the heaviest peals of thunder breaking over their heads. All arms of the service were mixed and crowded 152 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. togethler in the narrow road, while still, a decree of order was preserved far better than could have been supposed possiblei Columns of infantry, gun-carriages, squadrons of cavalry, were all cornminlled, while the gleamiing ligchtningr flashed along the bayonets and bright btands of the mus!kets, in strong contrast with the dark mass surlgingT onward like a swollen stream. 66 The entire capacity of the road was filled with the moving multitude, as were, also, the fields beside the road wherever the ground was sufficiently firm. The whole line of the retreat was marked by abandoned baggage wagons, broken-dowxn caissons, and all the. debris of a routed army. It was observed that the men spoke in low tones of voice. All loud noises were avoided as the rear-guard pressed on, hoping to get through the swamp before the dawn of morning. * * Now and tllhen, all along the lines, soldiers, utterly exhausted, would throw themselves down for a few moments' sleep, and then, terrified lest they should fall into the hands of the enemy, would spring up, and, not more than half awake, toil painfully on."" It wxas indeed a fearful imarch; one that few armiies could have madte so well. General Jackson's corps reached Savage Station early on the morning of the 30th of June. He was directed to pursue the enemy by the road he had taken, and Magiruder to follow ELongstreet by the Darbytown road. As General Jackson advanced, with D. H. Hill's division in front, he captured about a thousand prisoners, and so many arms that the 5th and 4th North Carolina regimnents had to' be detached to take care of them. Pressing on, he reached the crossing at White Oak Swamp. There he found the bridge destroyed, and the enemy in force, holding the opposite side. Twenty-eight guns from Htill's and Whiting's divisions were brou(ght up, and about half * Heroic Deeds of JIeroie Men. By Rev. J. S. C. Abbott. Published in Harper's Magazine. FRAZIERSS FARM. 153 past two o'clock on Mlonday afternoon, opened on the enemy, driving' themn back a short dlistance to the cover of the woods. A sk1irmish line was thrown across the Creek, but was quickly driven back, and until dark thle enemy disputed the ground so virorously that Jackson was held in check, although the artiller and nasketry in the direction of the further end of the swiam tp, told litm plainly that Longstreet was hotly engago ed. It was impossible to mnove on, however. There was but one narrow crossing-i)lace, and that wais so comrpletely commanded by thle enemy that it would have been madness to attempt to force it. Thius, while Jackson was compelled to remain idle, inportaint events were transpiring beyond the swamlp. Longstreet had marched rapidly, and on BMonday afternoon arrived in the vicinity of the Quaker road, by which the Federal army was hurryinxg to the James. The Long Bridge road intersects the Quaker road at right angles, very near the point where the latter plunges into 1White Oak Swamt-p. A little nearer to the swamp the Charles City road enters the Quaker road. Longostreet was mnoving by the Long, B ridge road, and IHuger by the Charles City road, while Jackson was advancing upon the Federal rear along' thle Quaker road by which the Federal army was retreating. Should these columns unite, or fall upon him simulta neousaly, General'McClellan would be ruined. Lee's whole army would then be united, and lhe rould be at thleir mnercy. ]if, however, he could prevent the union of these forces, heI nicht brino his army safely by the dangerous locality. This accomplished, his whole army would be united almost within silght of the James, and in the open country; and should Lee continue to advance, the whole Federal force could be brought ag"ainst him. To accomplish this difficuit and dangerous task th-ree things were necessary, - to present Jackson from pass-,ng X jhite Oak Swamp, to hold the New Market cross roads 20 154 LIFE OF GENEPtAL LEE. (the point of intersection of the Quaker and Long Bridge roads) against Longstreet until the army had passed by in safety, and to prevent the column of Hiuger from uniting with Longstreet. The first, as we have seen, was successfully done, and tHug-er, whose moveuments were much slower and n-ore cauti.ous thlan they should have been, was detained on the Charles Cit-y road until Tuesday morning. To resist the advance of Longstreet who arrived about one o'clock in the afternoon,'McClellan posted MleCall's division of Pennsylvania Reserves, at the intersection of the roads, forluincg the line across the New Market road, at right angles to it, and in front of and parallel to the' Quaker road. Kearney's division was on iIcCall's right, Sumner's corps was on MieCall's left, and a short distance in rear of it, and Hooker's division vas on Sumner's left. Upon reaching the field Longstreet formed his line with his own division on the right, and that of A. P. Hill on the left. General Holmes, who had been ordered to watch the enemy in the vicinity of Malvern Hill, reported their arrival in that direction, and, as he believed they were approaching in mtcbh confusion, he was ordered to open on them witih his artilleryo He was prevented from accomplishing' anything by the fire of' a superior force of Federal artillery, assisted by several gunboat-s in the James. Magruder, who had reached the Da.rbhytownr road, was ordered to reenforce Holmes, but the distance heine greater than was at first supposed, he did not rea-ch the latter in time to attack the enemy. Hucer early in the day reported that his progress was obstructed, but as his orders were to push forward as rapidly as possible, it was confidently expected that he would come up duringf the afternoon. Thus when Long'street formed his line of battle on Frazier's Farm, General Lee, who had placed himself with this part of the army, fully expected to use the FRAZIER'S FARM. 155 conmnands of Huger and Jackson in his attack upon the enemy, being ignoorant of the forced halt of the latter in White Oak Swamp. About four o'clock in the afternoon, firing was heard in tlle direction of' the Charles City road. As it was believed tlhat these were IHuger's guns, Longstreet opened with one of his batteries to announce his presence. liuger did not arrive, however, and the enemy holding Jackson in check, the attack was made with but the two divisions of Long'street and A. P. Ilill. The firino of Longstreet's guns was replied to by a hea —vy cannonade fiom the enenly, and this brougoht on the eng'ag.ement. Lon'rstreet at one& tlhrew forward his infantry, assaiIinlg i'icCall's left. McCall met this demlonstration promptly by a clange of fiont on that flank, and the battle raged with great violence. The nature of the ground was such that concert of action, so essential to success, could not obtain.* Still the Confederates pressed:forward vigorously, steladily ptlshinol back the enemy, who were in greatly superior force, and whose sp5lendid artillery was magnificently served. Finding himself opposed by such heavy force, General Lonfgstreet, soon after the battle opened, ordered General A. P. IIill to send a brigade to the left to the support of the troops engaged there, and shortly afterwards Hill's whole division was ordered to advance. Hill moved forward rapidly, and ifell uponl the enemy with vigor. Seeing that the Federal batteries were doing great execution by their accurate and rapid fire, his men were ordered to charge them. The order was promptly executed. The 60th and 55th Virginia dashed forward upon two batteries of Napoleon guns. The enemy made a stout resistance, gallantly defending their guns to the last. A sharp handto-hand fight, in which bayonet wounds were freely given and returned, ensued, but at length the Federals were driven back, *-General Longstreet's Report. 156 LIFE OF GENERIAL LEE. and the guns ienanined in the hands of their captors. The 47th Virginia also took a battery, and turned its guns upon the enemy, doing- great execution, andl materially assisting General Greg's brigade Tlwhich was hotly engaged on the left. Towards darkl, this same regirrent captured MDdlajor-General'IcCa ll, tihe Cornlmander of the Pennsylvania -Reserves. Njiglat had now fallen over the field, and the battle was still rag'in1g. The enemy had been driven steadily at all points save one - their r1ight. Thlle ground had been contIestesd an1d won inchi by inch. The enemly clung to this iart of' the field with a deserlate resolution, and held it until the firing ceased at nine o'clock that nigeht. With the exception of the Federal right, the entire field was left in possession of the Confederates, i-nto whose hands also fell the Federal dead antl wounded. Had LHugoer arrived in time to assail tleir right, as was expected, a great disaster would hlave befidlen thIem. In consequence of his absence, arid that of Gener:al Jackson, the Federal Army w-as enabled to pass froim White Olk Swamp towards the river with no greater loss tlian that suffered in the battle of Frazier's Farm. Havi-ng accomplished this, McClellan withldrew F ranklin's comrmand from the swanmp, and tlie next morning Jaclson crossed over, and rejoined the army on the battle-field of the previous night. In this engagement the enemLy suiTered a loss of many prisoners, including Mt.ajor-General TMcCall, fourteen pieces of artillery, and several thousand small arms. The South1ern loss is not stated. A severe blow had been inflictedoupon the enemy, but McClellan, owing to the failure of Generals Jackson and Huger to reach the field in time, had been enabled to bring his whole armly out of the swamp in safety, and this more than repaid him for the losses suffered in the battle, During the night his ILYiLVE'TN lILL. 157 3,eve silend Itthc157 troops nwere silently w!,thdrawn, and moved back toward MIal vern HIillo XVILo IALVERN HIILL. The morni-ng of July Ist found the entire Confederate army concentrated on the battle-field of Frazier's Farm. NWTith the battle of the previous evening the dangers which had tl-reatened IJMcClellan really ended. Up to that time it had been withlin the power of the Confederates to fail upon the flank of his army, and cut it asunder. This should have been accomplished, and had GenerA IHluger been more energetic and vigorous in his movemnents this fate would have be fallen tie Federal army. But this unfortunate delay was taLken advantage of by 3ieClelIan. Jackson's pgro'ess was checked at White Oak Swamp, and Loncstreet vwas held at bay long enough for his armny to pass in safety beyond its pursuers. It was now impossible to prevent him fron reaching the Janmes, for by the 30th of June his adv.ance had gained the river, his artillery and trains were parked in the rear of Mfalvern Hill, and communication had been opened with the gunboats. The entire Federal army vas concentrated on the morning of the Ist of July, in a strong position, and ready to oppose the Confederates with a solid fr ont. The task before General Lee was now to brinog icClellan to a genr.al battle, which should either annihilate his army, or secure its sate passage over the few miles which lay between it and tihe rviver. Igaruder had been recalled from General Holmes' position, during the night of the 30th of June, and had been ordered to relieve the divisions of Longstreet annd A.. 158 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. P. Hill after the close of the battle. On the morning of the 1st, General Jackson was ordered to continue the pursuit down the aWillis Church road, and soon afterwards he canme in sight of the Federal position at Malvern Hlill. General IMcClellan had chosen his ground well.' 6 The left and centre were posted on Aalvern H-ill, an elevated plateau about a mile and a half by three fourths of a mile in area; the right was 6 refused,' curving back throucgh a wooded region towards a point below T1axall's Landinyg, on James River. Juding, from the obvious lines of attack that the main ef-lort would be made against his left, General McClellan posted on ltalvern Hill heavy masses of infantry and artillery. Porter's corps held the left, and the artillery of his two divisions, with the artillery reserve, gave a concentrated fire of sixty gnus. Couch's division was placed on the right of Porter; next came Kearney and IHlooker; next, Sedugwick and Richardson; next, Smith and Slocum; then the remainder of Keyes' corps, extending by a backward curve nearly to the river."" Immedliately in fiont of this position the ground was open, varying in width from a quarter to half a mile, and sloping gradually fiom the crest, and was swept at every point by the fire of the Federal artillery and infantry. In order to reach this open ground, the Confederates had to pass through a broken and thickly wooded country, which was almost too swampy to be traversed, and which was commanded by the Federal batteries and the gunboats in the river. These kept up a constant fire, and all the movements. of the Confederates had to be made under a heavy shower of shell. General Jackson formed his line at once - Whiting's division was on the left, and D. H. Hill's on the right, with one of Ewell's brigades covering the space between. The rest of Ewell's men and Jackson's division were held in reserve. Ma* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 161. MBALVERN HILL. 159 gruder w as placed on the right of D. H. Hill, with three brigades of lugcer's division between Hill and himself, these brigades being under his command. Owing to the lack of information concerning the character of the country, it was near the close of the afternoon before the entire line was formled. Longstreet and A. P. Hill were held in reserve, and took no part in the encgagement. It was General Lee's order that a strong force of artillery shotuld be brought up to silence the Federal batteries and shatter their infailtry supports. As soon as this was accomplished, iArmiistead's brigade, of f-iuLer's division, was to advance with a loud shout, at which signal the whole line was to sweep forward and carry the heights by stormi1. Owing to the nature of the ground the artillery could not be brought up in time, and the Confederates could oppose to the magnificent batteries of tlhe Federals only eight or ten guns, which were soon disabled. About six o'clock General D. 1H. H-ill heard on his right a loud shout, followed by heavy firing. This he supposed( to be the signal agreed upon, and in this opinion he was sustained by all his bri:ltde colmmanders. He at once threw forward his division. IHe made his attack gallantly, but hlad scarcely begun it before he discovcred that he was not supported by any other clivision, and that he had been deceived in reg(ard to the signal to advalme. He was opposed to the entire army of the Federals, who seeing his condition, threw their line forward upon him. In this critical situation Ihe sent to General Jackson for reinforcements. Jackson at once advanced his whole reserve, but owing to the difficult character of the ground, and the rapid approach of night, the re6nforcernents did not reach 1till in time to assist him, and the gallant General after sutfering.a heavy loss, and causing the Federals to pay dearly for their success, was compelled to retire from the open field,* During the renmainder of the engagement Jacklson's artillery kept up a ~ Gen. Jackson's Report. 160 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. steady fire upon the enemy, but his infantLy inade no further attempt to storm their position. As soon as Gceneral Il\.agruder had formed his line, and dis3 covered the (great streng'th of thle IFederals, he directed his eli.ie of artillery to brin 7g up thirty pieces of rifled cannon, wvittA which le hoped to open the way for a successful chalrge. Th1ee were not brou(ght forvward Cd3rin7qr the engag'eOn cut.,7hfila awaiting' the arrival of the guns,'fIagruder prepared his inifan try for the assault, and while thius engaged, received an order from Gceneral Lee to chargle with his whole force as soon as he should hear Armistead's signal shonlut. Soon after thxis, he received another order directing him to advance his whole line rapidly, and follow up Armistead's success, "6 as the enemny were reported to be getting offi." General Arnlistead had repulsed, driven b ack, and followed up a heavy body of the en-ery's skirmishers, and it was believed that thths was a favorable moment for a decisive charge. Althouoh General AI, gruder feared that the enemny's position was still too strongr to be suceessLily assailed by infantry, le did not feel at liberty to disregarud the positive instructions he had received, and at once made his preparations to advance. Several vigorous efforts were made to carry the heicllghts by stormn. The brigades adc vanced gallantly across the open field, their ranks torn and shattered by thle showers of shell and Minnie bullets which swept thlrough theim. Some reginments were broken and driven back at once; others pressed on and reached the batteries, but only to be thrown back with _horrible slaugllter. Thus the battle continued until nine o'clock at nighit, when the firing ceased, An eye-witness thus describe's the attack of Magruder's men: — " Thirty-seven pieces of artillery, supported at a greater distance by heavy and more numerous batteries, and by his gunboats, kept faithful ward over the enemy's position, and MIALVERN HIrLL. 161 ploughed through our columns even before they could see the enemy or deploy into line of battle. Undismayed by the most terrific cannonading of the war, the advance of ilIagrudier's forces commenced. Onward, in the face of a storm of Shot and shell, they pressed forward, until within muslket-rangre of thei enemy, and then. they opened their fire. 7Whole lines of the enemy fell as they stood, or, attempting to retreat, were overtaken by the bullets of our troops, who never veered in their aim or recoiled while the eneimy's inlfantry remained in ran ge; and when forced! ack for a time by the avalanche of converging artillery, yet w'lin the infantry of the enemy ventured again beyond their batteries, our lines advancled with shout and bayonet, and drove them back among the reserves and behind the wall of fire which flamed along the mouths of the cireling cannon. Thus the contest ebbed and flowed until nighlt spread its mantle on the battle-field. The batteries of the enemy were not captured by assault, because no line of men could li ve in their converging fres, sweeping unobstructed t~e attacking forces for twelve hundred yards, but his line of infantry was repeatedly broken with frightful slaughter by the fierce charg'es of our troops, who held their position and slept on the field, within one hundred yards of the enemy's guns." Duringc the night )McClellan withdrew his forces, and took the road to Harrison's Landingo and WAiestover. Although lie had succeeded in repulsino the Confederate attacks, his army had suffered frightiullly, so thrat it became an absolute necessity to withdraw, under the immediate protection of the gunboats. The attacks of the Confederates had been so fierce, and had caused such suffering in his ranks, that his army, already shaken by its terrible retreat and constant fighting, was in reality demoralized by this last blow, and so great was this demoralization that the 7Federal Commander was not willing to risk another encounter even in this strong position. 21 1 032 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. At sunrise the next morning the Federal lines were found to be deserted. The Federal dead and wounded were left on the field, as were also two pieces of artillery, which had been spiked, and a number of caissons, wagons,, ambulances, and large quantities of medical, commissary, and ordnance stores. Large supplies of ammunition were thrown into the neighboring ravines, and on all sides were to be seen evidences of a disorderly and precipitate retreat. The Confederate loss at Malvern Hill was five thousand and twenty-three. That of the enemy is not known, but is supposed to have been somewhat larger. XVIIIo THE END OF THE PURSUIT. WVednesday morninfg, July 2d, broke in the midst of a heavy rain, which continued throughout the day. The Federal army fell back rapidly to Harrison's Landing, which was reached in safety. From the evidence taken by tie Committee on the Conduct of the War, in the Federal Congress, there can be no doubt that had General Lee pressed on after McClellan, the Northern army would have been ruined. It was in no condition to withstand a new attack.. General Lee, as soon as he found that McClellan had withdrawn from Malvern H-lill, threw forward the cavalry, which had come up during the night of the first, in pursuit, and followed with his infantry. General Stuart pressed vigorously upon the Federal rear, constantly skirmishing with the rearguard, and capturing prisoners. By reconnoitring the country thoroughly, he found that the entire Federal force was collected on the iver shore.between Westover and Harrison's THE END OF THE PURSUIT. 163 Landing. He also learned that there was in the rear' of the IFederal position a plateau, known as Evelington's Heigllts, which completely cocomanded their camp. On the morning of the 3rd General Stuart continuedhis advance, and gained p[ossession of the heights, drivin fg off the single squadron which held them. As soon as he had learned the nature of this position on the previous evening, he had informed General Lee of it, sendinog the nessage through General Jackson, and he now helId the ground, hoping that General Lee would send a column to relieve him. At the same time he opened one gun upon the enemy's camp below, producing great commotion in it. General Stuart learned fiom prisoners taken, that the Federal force was much reduced and demoralized. General Lee was kept informed of these movements, and sent word to General Stuart that Jackson and Longstreet were on the march to support him. Stuart held the hill from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon, when he withdrew before a strong force of infantry and artillery which was advancing from the Federal clllp. General Longstreet was led out of his route by an incompetent guide, and did not arrive until night, when his commland halted at the line occupied by the cavalry, a short distance from the bill. During the night the enemy secured the plateau, and strengthened their position with earth works. The next day, July 4th, General Longstreet make a reconnoissance of the enemy's new position. They were found to occupy the plateau in strong force. Their position on the river was one of great natural strength. It was flanked on each side by a creek, and was defended by earthworks and the direct fire of the gunlboats. In view of this, it was decided not to attack the enemy. The 5thl, 6th, and 7th of July were spent in watching the enemy, and collecting the abandoned and captured property and 164 LIFE OF GmEPNE AL LEE. stores which were strewn over the battle-fields from Tf. eeLnlics ville to the James River. jA uch of the spoils was lost t;o thle Government in consequence of the plundelring of the battlefields by the citizens of tichlio~nd and the surrounding countSry On the mnorning of tihe 5th, General Stuart wtas direet;cd t. take a battery of rifled guns and proceed to some poInlt on t1he river, below'Westover, and anIuy the Federal transports in theirl progress up the streanun. Ie at once set out for WIileox's Landin,, which he reached at dark. During the night one transport was fired into, evidlently without receiving much.l danage, as she kept on up the river. The next day two more guns were adcded to the battery, and the command moved to Wayne's Oak, lower dowl-n the river. During' that night, and the ne.xt day', the 7th, several transports were fred into and seriously damnaged. Two were abandoned by their crews, who made for the south bank of the. river, in small boats, leaving' one of the vessels sinking. The batteries were constantly subjected to the fire of the gunboats convoying the transports, but without receiving any damage. On the afternoon of the 7th, the batteries returned( to their camps, the men being greatly exhausted by their loss of rest, and constant exertion. On the afternoon of the $th it was decided by General Lee to withdraw from the enemy's fronit, and return to the vsicini-:my of Pichinoncl. The movement was successfully executed, the cavalry preventing the Federals from detectinug it. Genri.eral Lee selected as his new\ position, a line extending from the James River at Chafin's Bluff, to the Chickahonminy near Garnl.tt.'s farm, and there prepared to await the future tmoveinents of the "Younrg Napoleon." Practically, the campaign was a success for the Confederates, The siege of icehmond was raised, the enemy driven fron tlhe strong positions which they had selected with so much care, and forced to destroy millions of dollars worth of stores and THE END OF THE PURSUIT. 165 property. They had been driven over an extent of twenty-five miles, and compelled to undergo fearful sufferings which res1ulted in their demoralization. They owed their esca]pe to lthe favorable nature of the country througth which they nmo ed, as well as to the great sklill of their general.'I Under oridary circumstances'they should have been dest-royed," says General Lee, but they esceaped. On the morning after the battle of Mlalvern Hill it was in General Lee's power to crush them, and even as late as the day Stuart occupied Evelington's Heiglhts,, a determined attack, or a vig-orous cannonade from that quarter wTould have destroyed wnhat there was of orgoanization left to th;em. The lattler portion of the Confederatle pursuit, however, was too feeblle and spiritless to accomplish anything, and the best opportunity Lee ever had for destroying the Army of the Potomnac was suffered to pass unimproved. In the general joy at the forced retreat of,'liMcClellan fronm the ChicSeiL3kahomlLiny, the Southern people were not disposed to find fault with their vGeneral for not accomplishing more. They were satisfied with what was done. In the retreat from the Chickahominy General M[cClellan exhibited high qualities. It is true that his movements were greatly favored by the country he marched through, but to have brought his army off safely in the presence of a powerfull and victorious foe, holding his ground whenever it was necessary to g'ain time, and always being enabled to present a steady front to the columns of his pursuers, was an achievement of which any general might well be proud, and whliclh oug'ht to have (gone far to atone for the faults of his campaign. And surely the army that could, amnidst such terrible suffering and dicaster, always be ready to fight all night and march all day, bearing its reverses with unflinching' courage, mnust meet, as it deserves, the hearty praise of both friend and foe. Yet in spite of this, the Federil Commander saw fit, on the 4th of July, to issue to 166 LIFE DF GENERAL LEE. his army an address better suited to a victorious than a defeated host. The Confederate loss, during the campaign, was heavy, emn bracing many officers of rank and several general officers killed andtrTounded. It was, as well as I can ascertain, about nineteen thousand, fiv. hundred and thirty-three killed, wounded and missing. * The Federal loss in men was als0o very heavy. General. McClellan reports it at one thousand, five hundred and eig'htytwo killed, seven thousand, seven hundred and nine wounded, and five thousand nine hundtied and fifty- eig'ht issing, mn.aking', a total of fifteen thousanld, two hundred and forty-nine. A. careful research has convinced me that this number is too sma 11l General Lee states that more than ten thousand prisoners were captured by his armny, and from what I saw'of themn myself, I alm convinced tilat the number is not exaggerated, so that, tt the lowest, the Federal loss in killed, wounded, and missinc, was over twenty thousand. Among the prisoners were several general officers. Fifty-two pieces of artillery and upwards of thirty-five thousand stand of small arms were captured. The stores and supplies of every description were great in anmount and value, but small in comparison with those destroyed by the enemy. t * The returns of the various divisions of the Confederate Army are incomplete. Jackson reports a total loss of five thousand, three hundred and eiglhtythree, including D. I-. Hill's division. Longstreet reports his loss at four thousand, four hundred and twenty-nine; A. P. Hill reports his loss at three thousandc, eight hundred and seventy; Magruder reports his at three thousand, three hundred; Holmes, his at eight hundred and fifty-one. I have been unable to find any returns from lIuger or Stuart. I have estimated the loss of the forrmer at twelve hundred, which is, perhaps, too great, and that of thle latter at five hundred. IHuger was not so actively engaged as the other Ct6 a. mnanders, and did not lose so heavily. t General Lee's Report. TIE END OF TilE PURSUIT. 167 While in front of the Federal position on the James, General Lee issued the following address to his army:H" IEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, July 7, 1862. "GENERAL ORDER, No. 75. "The General Comimanmding, profoundly grateful to the Giver of all victory for the signal success with which He has blessed our arnms, tenders his warmest thanks and congratulations to the army by whose valor such splendid results have been achieved.' On Thursday, June 26th, the powerfil and thoroughly equipped army of the enemy was intrenched in works vast in extent and most formidable in character, within sight of our Capital. 66 To-day the remains of that confident and threatening host lie upon the banks of the James River, thirty miles from Richmond, seeking to recover, under the protection of his gunboats, from the effects of a series of disastrous defeats. "6 The battle beginning on the afternoon of the 26th of June, above TMechanicsville, continued until the night of July 1st, with only such intervals as were necessary to pursue and overtake the flying foe. His strong intrenchments and obstinate resistance were overcome, and our army swept resistlessly down the north side of the Chickahominy, until it. reached tile rear of the enemy, and broke his communication with the York, capturingt or causing the destruction of many valuable stores, and, by the decisive battle of Friday, forcing' the enemy froma his line of powerful fortifications on the South side of the Chickahominy, and driving him to a precipitate retreat. This victorious army pursued, as rapidly as the obstructions placed by the enemy in his rear would permit, three times overtaking his flying' column, and as often driving him with slaughter from 168 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the field, leaving his numerous dead and wounded in our hands in every conflict. " The immediate fruits of our success are the relief of Ricehamond from a state of siege, the rout of the great army thllat so long' menaced its safety, many thi-ousand prisoners, includinlg officers of high rank, the capture or destruction of stores to the value of millions, and the acquisition of thousands of arms, and firty —one pieces of superior artillery. "'The service rendered to the country in this short but eventful period can scarcely be estimated, and the General Commandinog cannot adequately express his admiration of the courage, endurance, and soldierly conduct of the officers and men engaged. " These brilliant results have cost us many brave men; but while we mourn the loss of our gallant dead, let us not forget that they died nobly in defence of their country's freedom, and have linked their memory with an event that will live forever in the hearts of a grateful people. II Soldiers! your country will thank you for the heroic conduct you have displayed, - conduct worthy of men engag'ed in a cause so just and sacred, and deserving( a nation's gratitude and praise.' By command of GENERAL LEE. "R. H. CHILTON, A. A. General." President Davis, who had been upon the field constantly during the six days, and had witnessed the conduct of the army, tendered to it the thanks of the country in the following address: "IRICHIMo0ND, July 5, 1862. " To THE AR1MY IN EASTERN VIRGINIA. "Soldiers: I congratulate you on the series of brilliant victories which, under the favor of Divine Providence, you have THE END OF THE PURSUIT. 1.69 lately won; and, as the President of the Confederate States, do heartily tender to you the thanks of the country whose just cause you have so skilfully and heroically served. Ten days ago an invading army, greatly superior to you in nu-lmbers and in the material of war, closely beleaguered your Capital anl vauntingly proclaimed its speedy conquest; you:nmarched to attack the enemy in his intrenchments; with well-directed movements and death-defying valor you chlarged upon him in his strongo positions, drove him from field to field over a distance of more than thirty-five miles, and, despite his renforcements, compelled him to seek safety under cover of his gunboats, where he now lies cowering before the army so lately derided and threatened with entire subjugation. The fortitude with which you leave borne toil and privation, the t gallantry with which you have entered into each successive battle, must have been witnessed to be fully appreciated; but a grateful people will not fitil to recognize your deeds and to bear you in loved remembrance. Well may it be said of you that you have' done enough for glory,' but duty to a suffering; country and to the cause of constitutional liberty claimns fro-l you yet further effort. Let it be your pride to relax in nothing which can promote your future efficiency -your one great object being' to drive the invader from your soil, and carrying your standards beyond the outer boundaries of the Confederacy, to wring from an unscrupulous foe the recognition of your birtbhrigjht - community independence. (Signed) J]EFFERSON DAVIS." 170 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. XIX. THE CLOSE OF TIlE CAMIPAIGN. Those who study this campaign from a military point of view, will agree with me that the danger whiich thre:atened Richmlond was far greater with 9McClellan on the James P'isver than it was while he remained on the Chiclahominy. In his present position the Federal commander was always assured of the safety of his left flank which rested on the river, while he was enabled to receive in his future movements the active coSperation of his fleet. It was not possible for the Confederates to drive him away now, and should lhe determine to make another attempt to capture Richmond, it would be found difficult if not impossible to defeat him. It was also within his power to cross the James, and attack Petersburg, the capture of which would compel the evacuation of Richmond. lIe could also prevent the movement of any considerable body of the Con-federate army northward, and was really in a position to do far better service for his Government than he coLlld possibly perform elsewhere. He had saved from his army eiglhty-five thou sand men, and over one hundred and fifty pieces of cannon. It was in the power of his Government to double this number within a few weeks, and this would have been its wisest policy, for it would have effectually prevented the disasters which subsequently befell it in Northern Virginia. General McClellan urcged the Federal authorities to re&nlorcee him to their utmost ability, and forcibly pointed out to them the advantages which would result from such a course. Risinol above his misfortunes, and fully comprehending th}.e grand opportunity before him., he formed the bold plan of crosi;ng to THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIIGN. 171 the south side of the Jamies, and attacking Petersburg. He communicated this plan to the Federal Commanding General, NI ajior-General Italleck, while that offcer was on a visit to tihe headqluarters of the Army of thie Potomac, towards the last of July, but General Ialileck, wvho enjoSed one of those cheap military reputations of which the war afforded so many instances, regardedl the plan as dangerous and imnpracticableii and went back to Washington to oppose it. Immediately the Governm ent withdrew what little support it had previously given to the plan, and declined to reenforce General MIcClellan. Baurnsides corps, lwhich wll as at Fortress!onroe, waiting to be sent to himi, was ordered to the Potolmac, and soon events in another quarter caused McClTellLn and his army to be almost forgotten. Nevertheless, Genoral McClellan was right, and the best proof of the soundness of his ~iews is the success which attended this idSentical:plan when executed by General Grant in 186I4 and 18 ( 5. General Lee was very anxious that McClellan should withdraw fromn the James river, for he fully understood what lay wNithin tihe power of the Federal commander should he feel strong enlough to attempt it. In order to watch the enenmy, and guard that part of the country General D. H. Hill's division was sent to the south side of the James. The corps of General Jackson was now detached from the army, and sent to Gordonsville, to meet the advance of the enemy in that quarter, and was soon'followed by the division of A. P. Hill. At the same tine, " in order to keep McClellan stationary, or, if possible, to cause him to withdraw," General Lee sent a force of forty-three guns to Cogg,,in's Point, immediately opposite Haruinison's Landing, to open fire on the Federal camp and shipping. The expedition reached the appointed place at nightfall *Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac - pp. 167, 168. 172 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. on the 31st of July. The guns were at once placed in position. The Federal shipping lay within a mile of the Southern shore, and inmmediately back of the vessels was a large encaimpinert. Thle glittering lighIts on shipboard and on the shore a-fiobded. a clear inark for the gunners, and the fleet and camp of the enermy lay in profound silence, unconscious of the danger which threatened thelm. Half an hour after midnight, the stillness of the scene was broken by the simultaneous reports of the forty-three cannon, and, the action once opened, the Confederates continued to fire r apidly.I " From the screamls, scenes of wild confusion must have followed, as sailors rushed on the decks of their vessels, and soltiers fled from their tents in midnight darkness, amidst bursting shells, falling fast around them. The gunboats soon returned the fire, and in about fifteen or twenty minutes a rapid fire was opened on the Confederates fron the Federal land batteries, but without any damage, many of the shots passing over the whole length of the point or peninsula. The red glare of the fire of so many guns and exploding shells, on such a night, is seldom witnessed. Gradually the firing on the part of the Confederates ceased, and the guns were withdrawn under a heavy fire."' The number of rounds for the guns wvas limlited to about one thousand in all. The enemy were badly friightened, but they sustained no material danage. The next dlay General 1McClellan sent a force across the river, ani occupiedl Coggoin's Point, after whicha he was not troubled again by such nocturnal visitors. The Southern loss was one man killed, and two wounded. Toward the last of July, a raiding party of cavalry from General Pope's army in Northern Virginia, destroyed a part of the Central Railroad at Beaver Dam Station, in order to cut Jackson's communication with Richmond. The damage they *Report of Brig. Gen. S. G. French. THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN,. 173 inflicted was slight, but, in order to put a stop to this, General Stuart was directed to move from IHanover Court House, where the cavalry were encamped, towards Fredericksburg. HIe was delayed by high water until the 4th of August, when he advanced, with Fitzhugh Lee's brigade and the Stuart Horse Artillery, upon Port Royal. He reached that town on the 5th, and at once moved towards Fredericksburg. The next day he came into the telegraph road, at lassaponax Church, just after two brigades of Federal cavalry had passed by to wards the Central Railroad. Stuart at once attacked them so vigorously that they returned in haste to Fredericksburg, losing eighty prisoners and a number of wagons. Stuart then retired, havw in(g lost only two men.* On the 5th of August, the Federals occupied -Malvern Hill in force, taking up the same positions they had held during the battle of July 1st. The divisions of Longstreet and ilIcLaws, and that commanded by Ripley at once moved down the Long Bridge road, arid, upon reaching Malvern I-ill, discovered the Federals in great force in their old lines. General Lee formed his army with McLaws on the left-, then Ripley, then D. R. Jones, who had now come up, and with Longstreet on the right. The left was ordered to advance to WVillis' Church, and threaten the communication with I5gestover, by extending well to the left, and Longstreet was directed to move on Malvern Hill, and drive the enemy from, their position on Curl's Neck. This was promptly done, and the Federals were driven back to their guns on Malvern Hill. It was now too dark to attempt any further movements, and the army bivouacked for the night. The next morning it was found that the enemy had retreated to Westover. The picket lines were reestablished, and the Confederates returned to their former positions. *Gen. Lee's Report. 174 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. This movement was the last made by MicClellan previous to his withdrawal from the Peninsula. The reasons which caused the abandonment of the campaign by the Army of the Potomac will be discussed in another part of this workc. Here I can only mention the fact. The evacuation of Hlarrison's Landing was commenced on the 16th, a part of the army and the stores being sent off by water, and the rernmainder taking the route down the Peninsula to Yorktown and Fortress Jlonroe, and by the 18th the rear-guard had crossed the Chickahominy. As soon as he was satisfied that McClellan was withdrawing from the James PRiver, General Lee put his army in motion for General Jackson's position on the Rapidan, where it arrived about the fifteenth of Auguast. GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 175 THIE CAMPAIGN iN NORT!HERN VIRGINIA. AUGUST, 1862. GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. TILE doubt in which the Federal authoritics were left by the dcsappearance of General Jackson's army from the Valley of Virginia, was decided by the sudden and fattal blow whic he struck their army at Cold Harbor. He was no longer in a position to threaten XWTashington, but he had produced such a wholesome dread of his sudden movements that President Lincoln and his military advisers resolved to retain a large force between Washington and the Rlappahannock. Accordingly the commands of Fremont and Banks were moved east of the mountains, and together with AMcDowell's corps were consolidated into one command, numbering in all about sixty thousand men, under the name of the " Army of Virginia." The command of this army was conferred upon M[ajor-General John Pope, who had been one of General Halleck's division commanders in the 5West, where he had distinguished himself by the paper victories he had won over imaginary enemies. He had teen selected by General Halleck to seize the prize which had thus far eluded the grasp of the "Young Napoleon.' 176 LIFE OF GE~NERAL LEE, HI:e was a queer compound of ordinary good sense, and the most egregious folly. As a subordinate commander, under an able leader, he mig;ht have achieved considerable success, for he had an,bundance of energy, but he was totally unfit for the chief corlaanZd of an independent army. lNevertheless the Federal Government professed -to see in him an undeveloped NTapoleon. HTe began his career in the East by regretting that he had never had an opportunity to end the war, and pompously declaraint to the Committee on tlhe conduct of the war that if hcould have such an armny as M3,cClellan's, he would march from WaXUshington to New Orleans in triumph.* Impressed by the preposterous assertions of General Pope, the Federal Governument assinced him to the command of tlhe new army on the 25th of June 1862, the day before the battle of Cold Harbor, with the distinct understanding that, although his first duty was to cover lWashington, his campaign was to result in the capture of Richmond by an overland advance.$ The defeat of the Armny of the Potomac following imimediately, plunged the North into the deepest gloom, and the enemies of General MacClellan, headed by General -Halleck and Secretary Stanton, forgetting, or ignoringC the great service he had rendered his country in averting the greater disasters which would have befallen. his army but for his skill and energy, set to work to effect his ruin. So bitter was the war wCaged upon him that they were willing to sacrifice the advantacges of the line of the James River in order to wreak their vengeance upon him. Doubtless one cause of their hostility to him was the fact hat he wished to conduct the war upon humane and enlight* "Question. Suppose you had the army that was here on the first day of March last, do you suppose you would find any obstacle to prevent your mnarcling fromn here to New Orleans? " Pope. I should su2ppose not." Report on the Conduct of the War. Vol. i. p. 282. t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 1.69. GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 177 ened principles, while they were anxious to visit upon the Southll the full measure of their bitter hatred. They fournd a congenial spirit in General Pope, and forthwith set to work to induce the President to order McClellan to withdraw from the Peninsula and unite his army with that of General Pope. Mor. Lincoln was really anxious that General IIcClellan should have his own way, but he was no soldier, and was surrounded by men who, thourgh trusted by him, were hostile to the commander of his best army, foremost among wuhoni was that military wonder, Major-General Pope, and it is not strange that he should have consented to withdraw McClellan. On the 3d of August he directed General McClellan to withdraw his army firom the Peninsula to Aquia Creek, there to make a junction withl Major-General Pope. Had Mar. Lincoln known what he was doing, he might have hesitated. In withdrawing lMcClellan he was doin(g exactly what General Lee wanted himr to do, and at the saime time extinguishinug his last chance for the speedy ending of the war. But I must not anticipate events. About this time the measures of the Federal Government were marked by more vigor than ever. In the West and South thley had opened the entire Mississippi River, except at Vicksburg. ]New Orleans and Memphis were in their possession, and the YVestern army, under General Beauregard, had fallen back from Corinth to Tupelo. The defeat of McClellan somewhat daira-ed the hopes which these successes had raised, and thie efforts of his enemies struck a harder blow at the cause WC the Union than had been dealt by the Confederates at any point between the Chickahominy and the James. Instead of deospairing, however, President Lincoln called for three hundred thousand additional troops, and enormous bounties were offered to secure them; the quotas of the States were ordered to be raised by drafting; the Congress passed a bill confiscating the 23 178 LIFE OF GENEJ RAL LE'E. slaves of all persons adhering to the Southern cause. Anlother law authorized the enrolment of negro troops; another authorized the military commanders of tl e Union to seize and use ally property, real or personal, belongfing to Southern sympathizers, "necessary or convenient for their commands," without comlensation to the owners. The Southern States were thus placed beyond the pale of the law of nations, and the barb~arous programme of the Radicals was inaugnur'ated. Before setting out for the headquarters of the army, General Pope issued an address to his troops, which is so characteristic that I cannot refrain firom presenting it here. It is as fol}OWS _ --- lows"WASHNGTON, JU1Y 14, 1862. " TO THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF TIE APRIY OF VIRGINIA:-'" By special assifgnment of the President of the United States, I have assumed conmmand of this army. ":I have spent two weeks in learning your whereabouts, your condition, and your wants; in'preparing you for active operations, and in placing you in positions froin which you can act promptly and to the purpose. 46 1 have comme fi'om the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies,-fiom an army w/hose business it has been to seek the adrersary, (and to beat him wZhen found, - whose policy has been attack, and not defence. "In but one instance has the enemy been able to place our'Western armiy in a defensive attitude. " I presume that I have been called here to ]purste the sanme system, and to lead you against the enzemy. It is my purpose to do so, and that speedily. I am sure you long for an opportunity to win the distinction you are capable of achieving. That opportunity I shall endeavor to give you. "Meantime, I desire you to dismiss from your minds certain phrases which I am sorry to find much in vogue amongst you. GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 179 "I constantly hear of ta/king strong positions and holding themn of lines of retrcat and bases of st2pplies. Lct us dismiss such idcas. TVe strongest 1position a soldier should desire to occupy is one from which /le ca&n most easily advance against tdle enemy. "' Let us steudy the probable lines of rctreat of our o21pponentS, and leave our owne to take care of t/hemselves. Let us look bejbre anzd nut behinld. Stccess anzd glory are in th/e advance. Disastcr anzd shalne lurk in th/e rear. Let us act on its understanzding, and it is safe to predict tzhat your bansners shall be inscribed wit/l many a glorious deed, and that your vnames will be dear to youzr couzntrymen forever. " JOHN POPE, Major- General Commanding."' The arrival of General Pope's Army in Northern Vircginia was the signal for the inauguration of a policy which will ever be famous for its barbarity and brutality - a policy directly in accordance with the measures of the Federal Government which I have already noticed. General Pope issued a series of General Orders which will not be soon forgotten in Vir ginia. The first directed the seizure of the property of Southern sympathizers.t Another declared his purpose to hold unoffending * The italics in the above address are my own. t This order was as follows: " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Washington, July 18,1862. GE_~NERAL ORDER, No. 5. "h Iereafter, as far as practicable, the troops of this command will subsist upon the country in which their operations are carried on. In all cases supplies for this purpose will be taken by the officers to whose department they properly belong, under the orders of the commanding officers of the troops for whose use they are intended. Vouchers will be given to the owners, stating on their face that they will be payable at the conclusion of the war, upon sufficient testimony being furnished that such owners have been loyal citizens of the United States since the date of the vouchers. Whenever it is known that supplies can be furnished in any district of the country where the troops are 180 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. citizens responsible for the conduct of the Southern troops. Feeling some doubt as to the safety of his communications, as well as that of the troops left to protect them, he bethoucht himself of the measures which are announced in the following order: "~'HEADQUAIRTERS ARiIY OF VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, July 18, 1862. " GENERAL ORDER, No. 7. "The people of the Valley of the Shenandoah and throughout the region of operations of this army, living along the lines of railroad and telegraph and along the routes of travel in the rear of the United States forces, are notified that they will be held responsible for any injury done the track, line, or road, or for any attacks upon trains or straggling soldiers, by bands of guerillas in their neighborhood. " No privileges or immunities of war can apply to lawless bands of individuals, not forming part of the organized forces of the enemy, nor wearing the garb of soldiers, who, seeking and obtaining safety on the pretext of being peaceful citizens, steal out in the rear of the army, attack and murder straggling soldiers, molest trains of supplies, destroy railroads, telegraph lines, and bridges, and commit outrages disgraceful to civilized people and revolting to humanity. G' Evil-disposed persons in the rear of our armies, who do not themselves engage directly in these lawless acts, encourage them by refusing to interfere, or to give any information by which such acts can be prevented or the perpetrators punished. Safety of the life and property of all persons living in the rear to operate, the use of trains for carrying subsistence will be dispensed with as far as possible. By Command of MAJOR4-GENERAL POPE. GEORGE D. RUGGLES, Colonel, A. A. G. and Chief of Staff." GENEPLRAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 181 of our advancing army depends upon the maintenance of peace and quiet among themselves and upon the unmolested movements through their midst of all pertaining to the military service. They are understood distinctly that the security of travel is their only warrant of personal safety. 6" It is, therefore, ordered that whenever a railroad, wagon road, or telegraph, is injured by parties of guerillas, the citizens living within five miles of the spot shall be turned out en masse to repair the damage, and shall, beside, pay to the United States, in money or in property, to be levied by military force, the full amount of the pay and subsistence of the whole force necessary to coerce the performance of the work during the time occupied in completing it. "4 If a soldier or legitimate follower of the army be fired upon from any house, the house shall be razed to the ground, and the inhabitants sent prisoners to the headquarters of this army. If such an outrage occur at any place distant from settlements the people within five miles around shall be held accountable, and made to pay an indemnity sufficient for the case. Any persons detected in such outrages, either during the act or at any time afterward, shall be shot without waiting civil process. No such acts can influence the result of this war, and they can only lead to heavy affliction to the population to no purpose. c It is therefore enjoined upon all persons, both for. the security of their property and the safety of their own persons, that they act vigorously and cordially together to prevent the perpetration of such outrages. Whilst it is the wish of the General commanding this army that all peaceably disposed persons who remain at their homes and pursue their accustomed avocations shall be subjected to no improper burthen of war, yet their own safety must of necessity depend upon the strict preservation of peace and order among themselves. And they 182 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. are to understand that nothllin will deter hina from enforcing promptly and to the fatll extent every provision of this order. 6"By command of MAJORi-GENE'RAL POPE. " GORG:E D. RUGGLES, Colonel A. A. G. and Chief of Sti.f" These orders, brutal as they were, were followed by one from Brigadier General Steinwehr, who quickly p)roceeded to the execution of the duty entrusted to him. This order is as follows:1 "1EADQUARTERS 2D DvYSION, GREEN's FARM, July 13, 1862.' SPECIAL ORDER, No. 6. c" Major William Steadman, commanding 6th Reegiment Ohio Volunteer cavalry will cause the arrest of 5 of the most prominent citizens in Luray, Page county, Virginia, and, send them to these headquarters with an escort as hostages. They will be held as long as we remain in this vicinity. They will share my table and be treated as friends; but, for every one of our soldiers who may be shot by 6 bushwackers,' one of these hostages will suffer death, unless the perpetrators of the deed are delivered to me. It is well known that these socalled' bushwackers' are inhabitants of the district, and encouraged in their cowardly acts by the prominent citizens here. "You will leave a copy of this order with the family of each man arrested by you. A. STEINWERR, Brig. Gen. Commanding 2d Divzswon." Had the facts been as General Pope stated them, there might, perhaps, have been some excuse for these extreme measures. They were, however, greatly exaggerated by him. The persons attacking his soldiers and cutting his railroads were _ - ~~~Z3 GENEIlAL iPOPiE TiN YIRGIIUA. 183 troops regularly mustered into the ConfiderLate service, and acting, under the ordeis of the (.Confederatle G-overnmlent.'The roads were cut, and the lFederal soldiers shot in fair and legritimate warfare, and the charRes of murlder and other crimes brought against the Confederates by General Pope, are wholly without foundation. The truth is, that he hoped to overawe and terrify the Virginians into submission, and vwas simnply carrying out the barbarous programme of tlhe Rladicals, xvhose lilitary leader he was. The honest soul of General McClellan would lhave shrlunik from such acts. General Pope, however, was not satisfied with this. In order to place his yoke still more effectually upon the people of Virginia he issued the following, which is generally known as his "6 Expatriation Order."> HEADQUIARTERS AnritY or VIRGINIA, July 23d, 18G2. "GENERAL ORDER, No. 11. " Commanders of army corps, divisions, brigades, and detached commands, will proceed immediately to arrest all disloyal male citizens within their lines, or within their reach in rear of their respective commands. Such as are willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and will furnish sufficient security for its observance, shall be permitted to remain at thei.r ho0mes, and pursue in good faith their accustomed avocations. Those who refuse shall be conducted South, beyond the extreme ptickets of this army, and be notified that if found again anyNwhere within our lines, or at any point in rear, tlhey will be considered spies and subjected to the extreme rigor of military law. If any person having taken the oath of allecgiance, as above specified, be found to have violated it, he shall be shot, and his property seized and applied to the public use. 6 All communication with any person whatever living within 184 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the lines of the enemy is positively prohibited, except through the military authorities and in the manner specified by military law; and any person concerned in writing or in carrying letters; or messages in any other way will be considered and treated as a spy within the lines of the United States army. B66 y command of MAJ[OR-GENTERAL POPE. "GEO. D. RUG GLES, Col. and Chief of Staff." This order caused the greatest dismay among the citizens. In the condition of the South at that time, banishment fiom their homes meant to be consigned to the greatest suffering, perhaps to starvation, and the alternative of taking an oath to support the Government of the United States was something from wlhich they shrank with horror. The people of the village of Little Washington, in PRappahannockl County, where Genelal Pope's headquarters were at that time located, appointed a committee to wait upon General Pope, and request him to rescind his order. The committee were granted an interview, and Doctor Bisphaw, laid before the General the petition of the people. iHe described to him the terrible suffering which would be brought upon the country by the execution of this order, and informed him that one of its effects would be to place at least six new regimelts in the Southern army. 66 We can't take the oath of allegiance," said the Doctor,' and we won't - man, woman, or child, - but we will give a parole to attend to our own business,' afford no communication with the South, and quietly stay upon our premises." 6"I shall enforce the order to the letter," said General Pope. 66 "I did not mnake it withOut deliberation, and if you don't take the oath you shall go out of my lines." Encouraged by the orders of their commander, the Federal troops were quick to inflict suffering and loss upon the citizens. Some idea may be formed of their conduct from the following GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 185 letter of the Correspondent of the c"N ew York World," written from Culpepper Court H-louse, July 31st. 6 "The Army of Virginia has undergone a marked change in a very important particular. The new usage which has been instituted in regard to protection of Confederate property and the purpose of the Government to subsist the army as far as practicable upon the enemy's country, has produced a decided revolution in the feelings and practices of the soldiery, and one which seems to me very much to be regretted. " Unless these innovations are guarded by far more stringent safe(guards against irregular and unauthorized plundering, we shall let loose upon the country at the close of the war, a torrent of unbridled and unscrupulous robbers. Rapid strides toward villany have been made during the last few weeks. Maen who at home would have shuddered at the suggestion of touching another's property, now appropriate remorselessly whatever comes in their reach. Thieving, they imagine, has now becomie an authorized practice, and, under the show of subsisting themselves, chickens, turkeys, hams, and corn, have become a lawful plunder, with little discrimination as to the character or circumstances of the original owner. " In a state of society where civil law has been laid aside, and military power exercises but an irregular and partial sway, men's consciences are not remarkably sensitive. Restraints innumerable control the propensities of men at home, which here at the wars are entirely inactive, and a very mild opiate is sufficient to give quietude to the conscience of many a soldier when a chicken, pig, ham or other luxury tempts his gustatories. These new orders seem to be just that opiate, and they have carried many a hitherto honest man over the dam, and made those who were before somewhat predatory in their habits, open, unblushing rascals. "It is to me a very serious and unfortunate state of facts 24 186 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. when soldiers will rush in crowds upon the smoke-huuse of a farmer, and each quarrel with the other to get the firat and greatest share. I blush when I state that on the march throu gh a section of country, every spring-house is broken open, and butter, milkl, eos and cream are engulphed, almost before the l)lace is reached by the men. Calves and sheep, and, in ftct, anything arnd everything serviceable for meat or drink, or appalrel, are not safe a moment after the approaclh of the army. Even things apparently useless are snatched up, because, it would seem, many men love to steal. 6 t a place where I not longago spent a night, scarcely an article to vwhich the fertility of a soldier could suggest the slightest use remained to the owner upon the following morning. There had been soldiers there, you might wager. Pans, ket. tles, disheloths, pork, poultry, provisions, and everything desirable had disappeared. The place was stript, and without any process of commissary or quartermaster. So it has been in innumerable instances. Many a family incapable of sustaining the slightest loss has been deprived of all.'- I not long aro saw a dozen soldiers rushing headloncg through a field, each anxious to get the first choice of three horses shading themselves quietly under a tree. The animals made their best time into the farthest corner of the field with the men close upon them; and the foremost ones caught their prizes and bridled them as if they had a perfect immunity in such sort of tlhings. A scene followed. A young' lady came out and besought the soldiers not to take her favorite pony. The soldiers were remnorseless and unyielding, and the pony is now in the army. c" I know a case where a family were just seating' themselves to supper. Soldiers came that way, and going in, swallowed everything. That was not all, but whatever in doors and out of doors the soldiers wanted was readily.appropriated, and the GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 187 proprietor of the place told me sorrowfully that they lhad ruined him - he never could now ect out of debt. I hardly regretted his misfortune so much, on hlls account as for the influence of this thieving upon the soldiers. I was really gratified to hear his little boy say,' Pap says he wouldn't vote the secession ticket again if he had the chance." His patriotism was evidently drawing too heavily upon his fortunes, and I was rejoiced to find him in an inquiring state of mind. But unless a check is given to this promiscuous and unauthorized plundering, the discipline and value of the army will be destroyed; and when the enlistments have expired, we shall let loose a den of thieves upon the country. " One favorite form in which this xwill exhibit itself is in the passing of Philadelphia Confederate notes. Whenever we advance into a new section, the floodgates are immediately opened, and the fizc-simile Confederate notes are poured out upon the land. They pass readily, and seem to be taklerl gladly for whatever is held for sale. Bank notes and shinplasters are given for change. Horses and other valuable property are often purchased with this bogus currency. A party of soldiers entered a store, not long since, fortified with exhaustless quantities of V's and X's, and commienced trade. Forty pounds of sugar was first ordered, and the storekeeper, pleased with the sudden increase of business, called in his wife to assist in putting up the sweetness in smanil parcels. Seventy-five cents a pound was the cost. That was a sm:all matter. iatches were purchased. Twenty-five cents per box was the charge. Tobacco also found a ready market. Each man provided himself with a straw hat; but the crowning act of all was the abstraction from the till of money already paid to the dealer for his goods, and the purchase of more goods with the same spurious medium. 188 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. "Various arguments are used to justify this practice. They may not be such as would pacify a sensitive conscience, but they are made to answer in want of better ones. The genuine Confederate nmoney, they say, payable six months after a treaty of peace with the United States, is entirely worthless, and the spurious can be no less so. Then some contend that to depreciate the enemy's currency by any means is one of the wrongs which war makes righlt, and the more it is done the more the cause is helped. Still others think that the more injury is done to Confederates in any way, the sooner the rebellion will be crushed.'They (the Confederates) must begin to feel it in their pockets,' is a favorite phrase. And so these practices are going on until, I believe, if it is not cheeked, we shall unfit the men to be soldiers now or citizens hereafter. Such has been the influence of these new orders,- this new way of dealing with the Confederates. The Government has decided to subsist the army fiom the enemy's country, and to give no safeguards to disloyal people. The soldiers conclude that they are individually to take whatever subsistence they can lay hands upon, and disregard all the rights of private citizens." General Pope afterwards declared that these things were unauthorized by him. I have shown, even at the risk of being tedious, that they were the consequences of his orders'. I shall now show that he took care to remove the only obstacle that lay in the way of his men in committing these outrages. Some of his subordinates, more humane than himself, placed guards over private property, to save the unoffendinfg owners from loss. When this was reported to General Pope, he put a stop to it, and left the people at the mercy of the plunderers. The folloMwin is his order to this effbet: GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 189'" IEADQUARTERS ArBrY OF VTInGINIA, WASHINGTON, July 25. " GENERAL ORDER, No. 13. "6 Hereafter no guard will be placed over private houses or private property of any description whatever. Only commanding officers are responsible for the conduct of the troops under their command, and the articles of war and the regulations of the army provide ample means for restraining them to the full extent required for discipline and efficiency. Soldiers were called into the field to do battle against the enemy, and it is not expected that their force and energy shall be wasted in pro. tecting private property of those most hostile to the Government. No soldier serving in this army shall be hereafter employed on such service. " By command of MAAJOR-GENERAL POPE. (Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES, Col. A. A. G. and Chief of Staff." So infamous were the outrages of the Federal commander and his army, that it became necessary for the Confederates to adopt decisive measures to check them. There was but one course to pursue, - to execute the stern law of "6 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life." This alone could remedy the evil, and for this reason the Confederate Government resolved upon retaliating upon the enemy the sufferings inflicted by them upon the helpless citizens within their lines. Yet-, Eith a noble moderation, the South refrained from proceeding at once to execute its threats, hoping that the avowal of its purpose would cause a change in the policy of the Federals. Accord. ingly, on the 1st of Aungst, General Lee was ordered by President Davis to communicate to the Federal Commander-inChief, the following order of retaliation - 190 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE. RICHMOND, August 1, 1862. " GENERAL ORDERS. No 54. c "I. The following orders are published for the information and observance of all concerned: 6 II. Wh/ereas, by a General Order, dated the 22nd of July, 1862, issued by the Secretary of ]War of the United States, undei' the order of the President of the United States, the mnilitary commanders of that Government, within the States of Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Iouisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, are directed to seize and use any property, real or personal, belonging to the inhabitants of this Confederacy which may be necessary or convenient for their several commands, and no provision is made for any compensation to the owners of private property thus seized and appropriated by the military commanders of the enemy; "I II. And w/hereas, by General Order No. 11, issued on the 23d July, 1862, by Major-General Pope commanding the forces of the enemy in Northern Virginia, it is ordered that'all commanders of any army corps, divisions, brigades, and detached commands, will proceed immediately to arrest all disloyal male citizens within their lines or within their reach in rear of their respective commiands. Such as are willing, to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and will furnish sufficient security for its observance, shall be pernitted to remain at their homes and pursue in good faith their accustomed avocations. Those who refuse shall be conducted South, beyond the extreme pickets of this army, and be notified that, if found again anywhere within our lines, or at any point in rear, they will be considered splies and subjected to the extreme rigor of military law. If any person having taken the oath of allegiance as above specified be found to have violated it, he shall be shot, and his property seized and applied to the public use;' GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 191' TV, An-id wzereas, by an orader issued on the 13th July, 18&2, by Brigladier-General A. Steinwehr,.Major William Steadmnan, a cavalry offieer of his brigade, has been ordered to arrest five of the nost prominent citizens of Page county, Virginia, to be held as hostages, and to suffer death in the event of any ef t/he soldiers of said Steinwellhr being shot by' bushwhaclebrs,' by which term are meant the citizens of this Confederlcy who have taken up arms to defend their homes and families; /V. And whereas, it results frnom the above orders that some of the military authorities of the United States, not content with the unjust and aggressive warfare hitherto waged with savaClge cruelty against an unoffendinor people, and exasperated by the failure of their effort to subjugnate them, have now determined to violate all the rules and usagTes of war, and to convert the hostilities hitherto waged against armed forces into a campaign of robbery and murder against unarmed citizens and pegaceful tillers of the soil;' VI. Andc whereas, this Government, bound by the highest obligations of duty to its citizens, is thus driven to the necessity of adopting such just measures of retribution and retaliation as slhall seem adequate to repress and punish these barbarities; and whewreas, the orders above recited have only been published and mrade known to this Government since the signature of a cartel for exchange of prisoners of war, which cartel in so far as it provides for an exchange of prisoners hereafter captured, would never have been signed or acgreed to by this Government if the intention to change the war into a system of indiscriminate murder and robbery had been made known to it; and whereas, a just regard to lhumanity forbids that the repression of' crime which this Government is thus compelled to enforce should be unnecessarily extended to retaliation on the enlisted men in the army of the United States, who may be unwilling instruments 192 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. of the savage cruelty of their commanders, so long as there is hope that the excesses of the enemy may be checked or ipre vented by retribution on the commrissioned officers who have the power to avoid g'uilty action by refusing service under a Government which seeks their aid in the perpetration of such infamous barbarities; 4"VII. Therefore it is ordered, that Major-General Pope, Brigadier-General Steinwehr, and all commissioned officers serving under their respective commands, be, and they are hereby, expressly and specially declared to be not entitled to be considered as soldiers, and, therefore, not entitled to the benefit of the cartel for the parole of future prisoners of war. 66 Orderedfiurther, that in the event of the capture of MajorGeneral Pope or Brigadier-General Steinwehr, or of any comrmissioned officer serving under them, the captive taken shall be held in close confinement so long as the orders aforesaid shall. continue in force and unrepealed by the competent military authorities of the United States; and that in the event of the murder of any unarmed citizen or inhabitant of this Confederacy, by virtue, or under pretext, of any of the orders hereinbefore recited, whether with or without trial, whether under pretence of such citizen being a spy or hostage, or any other pretence, it shall be the duty of the comrnmanding general of the forces of this Confederacy to cause immediately to be hung, out of the commissioned officers, prisoners as aforesaid, a number equal to the number of our own citizens thus murdered by the enemy. By order. (Signed) S. COOPER, Adjutant and Jnsplector- General." This order was at once communicated to the Federal Governr mrent by General Lee.* It had the desired effect. On the *See Note A at the end of this Volume, CEDAR RUIN. 193 I5th of Aug,'st, a General Order was issued friom the Federal War Deprtamenlt (General Ordter INoo 1.07) afolrding such rlemedies ats w-re deemetd sat' actory by the Confederates, and 7eajior-General Pope also imotd;}&ed hlis h forpnmer orders to a great degree. This officee had the u nblua.ing in mpudeace to declare that hirs orders had been eite-r grety mnisiterpreted or abused by his armyj However, tihe evil was chllectk3ed. It is an important fact, that tihe measures of ti e Federal Governnlent were liot taken until they had received the warning given by the Confederates. There being no further necessity fbr retaliation on the part of' the Confederates, the order given above was rescinded, and on the 24th of S.epteober, ninety-seven of Pope's ofcers, who had been detained as hostages were released. Neverthe)less, Pope did his work well. Y.h en he entered the r2appabhannuock district it w. as in a prosperous and flourishing condition. When xie left it the country was almost a wilderness, xand the people were reduced to beggary and starvation. ilajor Cooke in his "' Life of Stonewall Jackson," states that when h1e passed through Culpepper County, in Augtust 1862, it was as much as he could do to procare food for himself and forage for his horse.* H1.I CEDAR RUN. Wh, en General Pope took command of the 66" rmy of ~Vir ginia," his first care was to collect its seattered rmem-bers into one compact mass. This gave hlim a forco of about sixty thousand men, in fr'ont of WaTshington Ab lout the Ist of JuAly he *Life of Stonewall Jacklson. By John Esten Cooke. Appleton & Co's edition. p. 254. 194 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. nommenced to move this body along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, toward the RIl.-lpahannock, threatening both Qfordonsville and Charlottesville. Should lhe succeed in occupying. these places, he would cut General Lee's communiceations with Southwestern Virginia. The movement was dictated by a sound military policy, and the Federals were hopeful of its success. To guard against this danger General Lee detached General Jackson's corps, consisting of Jackson's and Ewell's divisions, from, the army before PRichmond, and sent it to Gordonsville by railroad, where it arrived on the 19th of July. As soon as he reached Gordonsville General Jackson proceeded to ascertain the strength and position of the enemy. I-He found that General Pope had cadvanced to the Rapidan, and was threatening the Central Railroad and its connections, and that the Federal army far outnumbered his own, which was simply the force with which he had fought his brilliant camnpaign ii the Valley. As his own strength was not sufficient to enable himn to make a stand agcainst the enemy, he sent to General Lee for reanforcements, and received the division of A. P. Hill. It was necessary to prevent the Federal army from reachin0 the railroad, and, as the best 1eans of doing this, General Jackson determined to 11l suddenly upon Pope's army, which lay near Culpepper Court HIouse, and either defeat it before re/nforcements should reach it, or deal it a blow that would stop its advance for the time. While matters were still in this uncertain state the advanced forces of the two armies came into collision. Colonel Wnm. E. Jones, with the 7th Virginia cavalry, was sent to take charge of the outposts on the Rapidan. Arriving near Orange Court House, he found the town occupied by a large Federal cavalry force. By a bold and decisive charge he drove the eneily from the town, but they soon rallied, and in their turn, drove CEDXAR RUN. 19 himl back to tGhle place where the engagement began. They withdrew qoon afterwards. IlHaving determined to attack Pope, General Jackson left Gordonsville on thle 7th1 of August and moved towards the Ralpidn. On the morning of the 8th, the Feleral cavialry onl the north bank were driven over the river by the brigadCe of General Robcertson, and wevre forced back in the dilrection of Cul]pepper Court House. As they subsequently tlreatened tlhe train of Jackson's division, Lawton's bri(gade, of Ewcll's division, was detacheLd to guard it, and consequently tool; no part in the battle which ensued. The infant'ry and artillery followed the cavIalry across thle Rapidan, and took the road to Culpepper. Tlhe next day, the 9t11, the array reached thle vicinity of Cedar Run, about eilght miles from. Culpepper Court H-Iouse, where the enemy was found in strong force. W7hen first seen, their cavalry were drawn up on a ridge to the right of the road. Terry's battery was thrown forward to drive thecm back, which was successfully accomplished, the enemy repl3ying with their artillery. Soon afterwards the cavalry re-occupied their first position. The Federal force consisted of Banks' corps, which had been thrown forward by General Pope to meet Jackson's advance. I-e held a strong position, and had with Lim about twentyeight thousand men. Jackson at once commenced to form his line. Ewell's dlvision, which wvas the only part of his command that had comne up, was thrown forward to secure a position on the slope of Slaulghter's Mountain, which would enable his artillery to comllmand the Federal line. The division moved forward, with Early's brigade in the advance. Early formed his line on the righlt of the road, and moving across the open field, drove back the enemy's cavalry to the crest of a hill which overlooked the entire space in his front. As he commenced to mount this Ilill,5 19 LIFE 0oi GCENERAL LEE. the Federal art-iticy open ed a heav-y frhe rpon L-iTm ani a rgs bodies of Federal cawdlry a appen. rcd in eo fleld., on his left. Sh ltei 1cro h is tiroo 3p-: d und Lte! 11, ar-ly 3. va c )- Cie th r Cee g3 uns of D1emen;t's Ll:,ry tO tile es aid e1 h c it to ttl fire of the cuermyi'wt'IYcy Jackson's dvisi4oj*n a h'-a id n-ow a Trr!veit, n. I d'1 r0d ) w a f lrd to Early's assistanjee, ar part,; b.e;n' 1held3 in reservze As it came into line, its g'alla nt conima nider BrigdlCer-.GCner.ia CIa lres S. Winder, was morttally woun —ed byi the explosion of' a shell. The conmmand of the divis-on thben pssetd to Bri fo-Gc Gn. Winm. B. Talliaferro. During this time General Ewele., with the brigoades of Trimble and IHays, had been 330ovi;:i ton-y; Tard tor e position ow - ssigneel him, and which he successfu.lly.0.cpi..: It was on tLhe northwest termlin.ation of SIalughter's,r b —a hit two hnlnre(l fect above the va.r.llley below. Hl postedoe Lat-Tliaer's batte-ry in a favorable spot, and opened,wita isa l ef cect on ti _ Fecral guns. For two ho.urs a shnarp 6 artillery du'9" went on be tween the two armies. jackson wsas not, yet ready to maoe t:2e attack, as he was waiting for A. P. Rhi'si division to oome up. About five o'clock, G enera l PB. ti rew fo2rward, M s sl I ir mishers, and advancc, d hl3 l l inituLiry, ivhtich I -d uS. t ti n beed) conllcealed in the w(oods to the reas anld left of hi ba2tterie s. Another body of infantry sudde-ly'1 appecred firom a valley in which they had been concealed, alnd moved upo n Erl,'SP rilhi: t which rested near a clump of i:ree8s w? he_-: b.{s artilrlery (13I, C... i8 and Dement's batteri es'; ) wa po st1e{d,nk. s mnad e a so-} attack, and the battle soon et.ened a.g'-h1 S outhecr;l - Il'f and centre. The first attack iwas'3. ai, EoC up3' n. 2. a y, who bei'8 ha rd pressed, called bfo r-.'.~".-,n rc-.E., 01....he Coov eUI. of this attack, Bavks massed i.s ina-n.try o — n hi.s rit, and a little t fi tear five o'clock mad e a sudden rush at the Conc.eratde t;e left, and CEDAR RUNN. 197 beiating back the force there by the weight of his column and the impetuosity of his assault, turned the filank, and gained the Confederate rear. Taliaferro's brigade was driven baclk in confusion, followed by Ear!y's left, and it seemed thiat the whole line would give way before the enemy, who advanced with loud cheers and grreat rapidity. At this mnomzent, when the fiate of the army seemed decided, A. P. Iiill's division arrived on the fel. Ja ckson, whose quick eye had seen the danger, had already called up the " Stonewiall brigade," which blad been held in reserve. Now he detached Branch's bri.geade from Hill's division, and united it with his old colmmlndo Placing himself at the bhead of these troops, h.e hurled them at the enemy in a fierce and determined eharge. The men arushed forward, shouting,6 St'onewall Jacklson! Stornewall Jacksson!"' The presence of Jackson, leadinc them in person, seemed to produce an indescr'ibable influence on the troops, and, as he rode to and fro, amid the smoke, encouraging the m1en, they greeted him -with resounding cheers. This was one of the few occasions when he is reported to have been mastered by excitement. He had forgotten apparently that lie commanded thle whole field, and imagined himself a simple colonel leading his regieaent. Everywhere, in the thickest of the fire, his formn was seen and his voice heard, and his exertions to rally the men were crowned with success. The Federal advance was checked, the repulsed troops re-formed."* The enemy were brought to a halt, and then driven back into the woods, the battle continuin7iog to rage with great stubbornness between the two brigades just named and the enemy. Pender's and Archer's bIritedes now came up, and a general charge was made on the left and in the centre, whilch drove the enemy back over the valley and into the woods * Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 261. 198 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. beyond. At the same time a charge of the Federal cavalry was repulsed by Taliaferro's and Branch's brigades. Up to this time Ewell had been prevented from advancing by the incessant fire of the Southern batteries on the left and in the centre, which swept his only approach to the enemy's position. This difficulty no longer existed, and General Ewell now threw forward his division, and drove the enemy rapidly before him. Jtlakson's whole line was now advancing, drivinog Banks at every point. The Federals fell back rapidly, and by dark their origiinal position was in the hands of the Confederates. Their dead and wounded were left on the field. Jackson was anxious to reach Culpepper Court HIouse before morning, and pressed on in pursuit. The darkness made it necessary to advance cautiously. The pursuit wvas soon ended, however. About a mile from the battle-field, the enerny were discovered immediately in front, in heavy force, Pope having sent fresh troops to General Bainks. Jackson halted, and threw forward Field's brioade and Pegram's battery. Pecrran at once opened fire, producing much disorder and confusion in the Federal line. Three batteries, well served, opened in reply, and the Southern guns were silenced and withdrawn.'* Learning from prisoners taken that re/nforcements had reached Banks, General Jackson concluded to halt until the mnorning. The next day, the 10th, lie had reason to believe that the Federal army was too strong to be attacked again. During the day this was confirmed by a reconnoissance of the cavalry under General Stuart, who had just arrived on a tour of inspection. Jackson posted his army so as to meet any attack of the enemy should they attempt to advance, and proceeded to send off his wounded to Gordonsville, bury the dead, * General Jackson's Report. Rebellion Record. Part LVII. p. 541. THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAI-ANNOCK. 199 and collect the arms left on the battle-field. A rain-stornm prevailed during the day. On the 11th General Pope sent a flag of truce, requesting permission until two o'clockl, to remove and bury such of hts dead as had not been interred by the Confederates. Tlhe request was granted, and the time subsequently extended at the request of the Federal Commander, to five o'clock inl the afternoon. On the night of the 11th the army fell back towards the Rapidan, and returned to Gordonsville. General Jaclkson retreated, to avoid beingl attacked by a vastly superior force, and with the hope that General Pope would follow him until he could be reenforced. * The Confederate loss in the battle was one thousand three hundred and fourteen. About one thousand five hundred stand of small arms were collected from the field. The Federal loss was about one thousand eight hundred. Jackson captured over four hundred prisoners, including' Brigadier-General Prince. The army recrossed the riapidan on the 14th of August, and took position in the vicinity of Gordonsville.'II. THE ADVANCE TO TIIE RAPPAHANNOCK. The victory at Cedar Run checked for awhile the advance of General Pope. It had also another e-lffect which neither General Lee, nor General Jackson had hoped for. It alarmed General Halleck for the safety of Pope's army, and the Federal Capital. * Jackson's Report. 200 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Tha t officer could not rest easy now that Jackson was on the Rapidan, and orders were sent to General McClellaa to move forward without delay from thle James to Pope's assistance. Thus [PoUpe waTs broulght to a halt and Richmond relieved from the danger vwhich threatened it at one blow. General Lee had been watching the movements of the enemy with great care, and the order for McClellan's withdrawal had been scarcely received before he detcteed the whole plan. His o1pinions were confirmed by informasti-on which he received respecting the departure of turnside's corps from Fortress Monroe. Ie felt sure that it svas intended to suspend active operations on the James, and his sound judgL'ment told him that he could best relieve Richmond by suddenly rel-,nforcing Jackson, and driving Pope back from the Rapptahannock.* To this end, General Lonogsteet, with his division, and two biigades under General IIood, waes ordered to leave PRicllnond on the 13th of Au(gust, and proceed to Gordonsville. General Stuart was also directed to leave a surficient force of cavavlry to watch the enemy at Frederieksburgo an d guard the Central Railroad, and to report to General Jackson with the rest. R. }-H. Anuderson was withdra-wn friom the Jlames River, and sent after Longstreet. D..H. Hill's mand DMcLaws' divisions, two brigades under General Walker, and HUampton's cavalry brigade were left to watch the enemy on the James. Longstreet reached Gordonsville on the 15th, followed immediately by General Lee, himself. After the battle of Cedar Run, General Pope took position in advance of Culpepper Court H —ouse, having been renfoirced by Reno's corps of Burnside's army. HIis left rested on the Rapidan near Raccoon gFord; his centre w-vas at Cedar Mountain, and his right lay on Robertson's Rliver, a branch of the *General Lee's Report. THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPIPAIANNOCiK. 201t Rapidann. eReno held the left, McDgowell lthe centre, and Si-g'el the rilght, while Bankls was stationed at Culpepper Court I ouse. This was his position when General Lee reiachell Gordldonsville. On the 16th of August the armtly 1adCvanced frolm Coridonsvi.le towards the R-apidaln. Ak personal reconnoissance revealed the enemrly's position to General Lee. Resolvilno to lose no time, Lee determined to attack Pope, ansi de -i:t lhini. HIis plan was a good one. Stuart was to imove with the caAL:1 ry, cross thie tly, pidan at nlorton's Ford, andi, passing thlrumgh Stevensburgh, capture Iappahliannock Station (tlle point where the Oran(ge andt Alexandria Rtailrocad, Pope's line of" communication with WlVaslington, crosses the RiappahU:lnnoel,iver r), burn the railroad brildge, and destroy the track! and teleraphl; after -whlic he was to operate towards Culpepper Court House, and take position onl Ionogstreet's right. Longstreet, in charge of the righlt wing of thle army, was to pawss the Rapidan Cat Raecoon F'ord, and move on Culpepper Court House; Jackson, who held the left, was to cross at Solimmervilie Fordl, and lnove in thel sa&me direction, keepingr on Longostieet's left; while PI. UI. Anderson, with the reserve, was to follow Jackson. This would bring tile army directly upon Pope's left flank, and, with his commulLniciations Cut, it was believed that he wouldi meet with a severe defeat. The movements wvere to commence on the 18th, but were delayed until tile 20th of Au oust. Before they could be executed General Pope became alarmed for his safety, and-it is almost incredible, but it is true — retreated behind the Pappahannock. Yes, the man who knew no such thing as a line of retreat absolutely found one, and showed his back to his enenmy. General Lee had niot been obligingT enough to allow Pope to perform the little feat of " lying off his flanks " upon which the Federal general had set 26 202 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. his heart, and with a description of which he had delighted the Congressional Committee.* Pope fell back on the 18th and 19th of Azugust. It was a wise measure on his part, but it finally broug'ht to himn that "disaster and shame," which he had pictured to his army as lurking' in the rear. H1is new position behind the Rvpphilannoclk vas well chosen. His lefl was at CKelley's Fo;d, and his right three miles above RIappahannock Station. C6 General Longstreet crossed the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford, and, preceded by Fitzlhuglh Lee's cavalry brigade, arrived early in the afternoon near CKelley's Ford, on the Riappallannock, where Lee had a sharp and successfiul skirmish with the. rear-guard of the enemy, who held the north side of the river in strong' force. Jackson passed the Papidan at Somumerville Ford, and moved toward Brandy Station. Robertson's (Federal) brigade of cavalry wvas encountered, which was gallantly attacked and driven across the IRappahannock by Robertson's (Confederate) command. General Jackson halted for the night near Stevensburugh, and on the morningc of the 21st, moved upon Beverley's Ford on the R appalalnnock. Thie 5tl Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Rosser, was sent orvward by General Stuart to seize the north bank of tle river at this point, and gallantly accomplished the object, capturing, a number of prisoners and arms. General Stuart subsequently arrived, and, being' furnished by General Jackson with a section of artillery, maintained his position for several hours, skirmishing warmly wvitll the enemy. General Robertson, who had crossed the river above Beverley's Ford., reported that the enemy was advancing in large force upon the position held by General Stuart; and, as it had been determined in the meantime not to attempt the passage of the river with the army at that point, that of1ficer withdrew to the south side. The enemy soon afterward ap* Report on the Conduct of the War. Vol. I. p. 278. THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 203 pearled in great strength on the opposite bank, and an animated fire was kept up during the rest of the day between his artillery and the batteries attached to Jackson's leading division, under Brig'adier-General Taliaferro." * The position held by the Federal army commanded the south bank of the river, which was leld by General Lee, and the fords were so strongly guarded that it was inmpossible to force a crossing without incurring heavy loss. General Lee, therefore, resolved to seek a more favorable crossing place hig'her up the stream. General Lonfgstreet was ordered to take position on the 21st of August, in the vicinity of the PRailroad bridge and Beverley's Ford, in order to ai~ask tile movements of General Jackson, who was directed to ascend the river. Jackson moved off on the morning of the 22d, leaving Trimble's brigade near Freemann's Ford, to protect his trains. In the afternoon Long,street sent Hood with his own and Whlliing's brigade under Colonel Law to relieve Trimble. Just as Hood joined Trinilble, the enemy crossed a considerable force at Freeman's Ford, and attacked them. A short, but severe engaegement ensued, resultin, in the Federals being' driven back over the river with heavy loss. General Jackson reached Warrenton Springs onr tlie old stage road from Wrarreniton to Culpepper Court HIoiuse, in the afternoon. He found the bridge over the river at this point destroyed, and the crossing guarded by a very sli'lht force. He at once determined to secure such a valuable position. The 13th Georgia, and the batteries of Brown and Dement, and afterwards Early's brigade, were thrown across the river. The enemy's force was small and made but a slighllt resistance, and the Springs were soon in Jackson's possession. Just as this was effected, a heavy rain storm set in, and the river began to rise rapidly. Soon the fords were submerged, * General Lee's Report. 204 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. tind Early was eomipletely cut of f rom the southern ba nk. His situ'ation was dangerous in the extremie, for the enemy, taking' advantage of the rise in the river, which destroyed the fords in front of Loncstreet's position, withdrew firom the points lower down, and concentrated their main force in front of' the Springs. Upon reconnoitering iiis position Early found the enemy in force in his front and on both of his flanks. Ile inu formed General Jackson of this, and asked for assistxance, but, tis it wls impossible to send more men over the river, Jackson ordered hlim to hold his ground to the last, and at once set about constructingr a temporary bridge over the swollen stream. Thus the 23d passed away, and by daiwn of the 24th the bridge was comptileted, and Early was withdrawn to the south bank. Ile had hardly passed the river, when th1e enemy opened furiously on the Co.nf1ederates with their artillery. On the 23d, General Longstreet opened with his artillery on a body of the enemy that had crossed to the south btink of the stream, near the railroad bridte, after the xVithdraw.al of' General Jackson friom that point. A sharp canno-nade of seeveIal hours forced them to reeross the river. Loncgstrect then shelled their position on the north bank, and drove thlenm from it. In retiring they batrned the railroad bridge and the neighlbo~rig dw ellings. The enemy having withdrlawn towards Vl'arrePn:to-n Spring's, Longstreet was ordered to Jackson's support, and, overcoaming the obstacles to his march presented by the swollen tributaries of the Rapplahannock, reached Jeffersonton, j.ust opposite the Spring7s, in the af'ternoon. In the meantime General Stuart had asked and received permission to make a dash upon the eneimy's rear, and cut their communications with Vashington. Leaving his position at Freeman's Ford, with fifteen hundred men and two pieces of artillery, at ten o'clock on the morning' of the 22nd of August, he crossed THE ADYANCE TO THE iAPPAHANNJOCK. 205 the RapppahamLnnocl at W~aterloo and PHart's!illl, and tools the ciireetC ro'vd to Ie arreifnt. leasching t:hat place in tle after0noon0 hbe ha1teld to C1ose up ancd obtain infornation. No force of tle enemy had b en at the town for several d ays, and General Stuar t learied that the road was clear to Catlett's Station, in ti:'e rtear of oC, —ar Creek, i-e determid)ined to pm-ove70 on threat point with the intie on of destroying the railroad bridgle over the cree;k, and cu thngo the telegraph line. IIe had not pro. ceeded far bLfore his march w.as rendered di'Mncult by a severe rain storm -- 1thi same thCat placed Early in sulch danger. Pushino on, however, he reached the little village of Auburn, in the vicinity of Cltetfit's S 0tation, at dark. The enemy's picket at this point was capftured and the command soon rode into the midest of a argice Federal camp. The night was intensely dark, and the rain iwas falling, so tht it was almost impossible to distingu5nsh anythn g Fortunately, at this monient, a negro man was captured and braouglht betfore GC-eneral Stuart. IHe had known the General previous to tiec wnar,.id, at once recognizing him, informed himn that he i-vas in tkhe immediate vicinity of General Pope's headquarters, and osered to guide hli to the spot. Stuart accepted the off!er, and in a few minutes Fitzhugh Lee's regiment dalshed in am.ong Pope's staff tents, taking, the ocenpants completely by sUnrprise, capturing a number of prisoners, mostly o rers, andr securri2g General Pope's private bamggaCge and ior:-es, and. properi':y to a large amount. The zmost valuable crpictre of a! 9 5oez.ver, wvas the dis)atch boo,/ of the Federal co a^.ln deg f h11 cv h contained copies of all hlis official correspondonce wtxi his Governmrient.'IiXo- 1e t'.1h, s was beaing done Rosser's and ]Brien's regiments were;ent to att'ack a4 nother camnp beyond the railroad, and destroy the road. They moved off in the darkness and heavy rain, but -as soon as the first shot was fired the enemy ex 206 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. tinuishled every light in their carmp and took refuge in tlheir wagons. Under these circumstances the cavalry desisted fromn the attaclk, and turned their attention to the railroad. A-.n effort was now made by a party under Captain Blackford to destroy the bridge, bit it was found to be so thorouglhly saturated with water that it would not burn. Axes were brougtlt up, and an additional force under General Fitz Lee sent to cut tlhe bridgce down, but the stream was too high for the men to get at much of it. Besides this, the structure was too strongly built to be destroyed in this manner, and the enemy were collecting on the opposite bank of the creek, and firing on Stuart's men. It was found to be impossible to destroy the bridge, and the cavalry were withdrawn. General Stuart knew that the rain would raise the streams in his rear, and that there was danger of his beinlg cut off in this way. In order to prevent this it was necessary to return at' once, and the cavalry commenced before daylight to retrace their steps by the same route they had come. The march was continued without halting, and they arrived safely at AWarrenton Springs on the 23rd of August, in time to cross the Rappahannock by the bridge Jackson had constructed for EJiarly. Stuart's loss was slight. lie captured over three hundred prisoners, of whom a large number were officers - some beint members of General Pope's staff. IV. JACKSON'S FLANK M3ARCH. The captured dispatch-book of General Pope was fully worth the expedition of Gencral Stuart. It was at once forwarded to General Lee. It revealed to him that General Pope had JACKSON'S FLANK MARCH. 207 informed the IFederal Government that he feared he would be unable to hold the line of the lRappahannock, and that he had called for reinfbrcements. iMoreover it furnished General Lee with an accurate description of the strength and position of the Federal army, aid hle designs a nd wishles of General Pope. It contained also the information that icClellan had ]eft Westover, that a part of his army was en roulte to join Pope, that the remainder was following as rapidly as possible, and that the army of General Cox was being withdrawn from the Kanawha Valley for the same purpose. If all these troops should join him, Pope would have an army of nearly two hundred thousand men. The entire army of Torthern Virginia was not more than seventy thousand strong, and if anything was to be attempted against Pope, it would have to be done at once. General Lee had already ordered a part of D. IT. Hill's division from Richmond, and, now that he was assured of the withdrawal of McClellan, he directed the remainder of the force on the James, consisting of the rest of D. HI. HIill's collmmand,:I cLaws' division, Wualker's two brigades, and -Iampton's cavalry, to join him at once on the Rappahannock. The situation of his army was critical, and General Lee resolved upon a bold and hazardous plan of operations, but one which was justified by the condition of affairs, and the fact that it promised a speedy defeat of Pope's army. Jackson was ordered to cross the river above Pope's right, move around that flank, gain his rear, and cut his comnmunications with Washington. Longstreet, during this movement, was to engage Pope's attention by threatening' him in front, and as soon as Jackson had gotten sufficiently- advanced in his march, was to follow him. Thus, by planting his whole army on Pope's line of communication, General Lee hoped to force him back from the Rappahannock, and compel him to fight before all of his reEnforce. rents could join him. 0 8 LIFTE O'L G ENE2RAL LEE. Tcs' —l~a 1 hills ni-.a Lrch ~om f' arrenton Spin o, o.. of 0ir P he crossed; v, L i veir B t b i n s o 8 i' s Fo ctiagg)lo5? i.P 0y 571 Wii OTrCOt (rl iIcltuy o-er tie rvotcd and nltlrp oo I,o o.n ric,"lt tuiden iOue Tar o-o 0 1o c i 1 u iPh. _e~, ar.ei, 1?? a.dlo vo1 -r''10s,0, I7 moved in di.-EIk 0 irect line for ~I- roucr lie Con, on;,re tie ol-ana tssas G - i' i.n11oad pa3ses thlronu the But ll RJil TIoUtC!ns. TlO"is: oss 3 lust 1e re'ched lbeds]Ore t sre enemy coulhe I ear of his moveae3illents mlad Ooty it. Te dzay wa ihlensel">y hot, but the -'men were.ot alloswed to iat. -tio food or rest. Movinl through Orl:c in a:uqui ern wi Cot nty tlhe corps reneled S.ale:n aft t.i: 19 uv SIOttl ci i -ll of thmirty, -fy1ve iie. Jackson seeans to -1o0s C t ied uiLs own indo n,5itauble ener y into Ihis men, fi r' th"i eiid Of thrir fatichoing tienip, thouio h hnun'Ory alnd footsote, tu5coy e-'e still anxious to press on, andc thle ncirehl had bnen wio!' Altl i1 6tto agolers. The troops bivxcuacked at Sla em fon' tn'1ni(31st Aronw tdo — y roade the peopln e hade gazed adt thlem Writh wonder j, acds oy. Ti e hn ao; ot seen the graj jtacl etS in that rennion or aiy 7r ep-y months, and eaor'questons wr ed pu. t to thedmen am ts o w.>re th.ey hadA come frlom and wheLre they were going. To alj aB siort refusal to reiply waa given as the corps humrid On. Durii?,r J- ojr G-enerl aaf r01t haad been movingr on Jae', 0on's rrn'tif, -c hm caval~r 80 es to prevenit tae enemy on on Ii o Gt - s l o. tke Lfar macih of the Sce n ond C 3orp0 rI co -rlel to perfoni ti duy M untdl te o. jeet of the mohar'h atraired Ait QIar' ab orn the'1 ti of August, the Lroops were again'UideIr aris. f eldiln g to the riorht, JcaEeheon moved direct to Thoroucglfae Gatp, which, to his joyi, he found unoccupised by the ener-y. Pa1,033,n throut1gh Gainesvie, he r eached Bristoa at n~t~lp': o':,t e~ JACKSON'S FLANK MARCH. 209 Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, at sunset. At Gainesville General Stuart joined the column, and took position on the right flank. As the corps reached the railroad, the sound of cars, coming from the direction of WTarrenton Junction, was hear'd, and General Ewell at once divided his force to take simult;,neous possession of two points of the railroad. A train heavily loaded dashed by at full speed. It was fired into by the 2id Virginia Cavalry, but succeeded in reachincg Manassas in safety. Other trains were now heard approaching, and Ewell proceeded to obstruct the track with logs. Thlis resulted in the calture of two trains, one of which was thrown from the tracko Others were still beard coming, bu-t the alarm had been i:,:'ven, and they hesitated. 66 The trains in the direction of AWSVLrenton uttered shrill screams, which experts declared to sic;nlfy, Is all right?' One of these railroad experts, named Foreman, jumped on the prostrate engine, turned a portion of the machinery, and signalled back, 6 All right, come on, -- G eneral Fitz Lee drawing up his cavalry to fire upon them as thely drew near~. But the alarm had been given; the trains would not ran the perilous gauntlet."'* The first part of General Lee's plan had been successfully accomplished. Jackson was now ifairly in Pope's rear, and in possession of his line of supply. When he reached Bristoe Station, General Jackson learned that the enemy had established their principal depot of supplies and had collected an immense quantity of stores a.t 3,[ anuassas Junction, eight miles distant. The capture of this point was therefore a necessity, and upon making known his ndesie to secure it, lie was met by an offer from Brigadier-General Trimsble to undertake the task. The offer was accepted, and, notr withst-anding the uarch of thirty miles which bad been'made * Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 279. 27 2 10 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. since dawn, and the darkness of the night, Trimble was at once dispatched to Manassas. In order to increase the prospect of success, General Stuart was soon afterwards ordered to follow Trimble with a part of the cavalry, and, as the ranking officer, to take command of the expedition.* Stuart pushed ahead of the infantry with his cavalry, until fired on with canister from the works at Mianassas, when, finding it impossible to use his troopers in the darkness, he sent for the infantry, and after a short struggle captured the place with its small garrison.t The amount of property captured at Manassas was very large. The articles were as follows:- eight pieces of artillery; seventy-two horses and equipments; three hundred prisoners; two hundred negroes; two hundred new tents; one hundred and seventy-five extra horses; ten locomotives; two railroad trains loaded with stores worth several millions of dollars; fifty thousand pounds of bacon; one thousand barrels of beef; twenty thousand barrels of pork; several thousand barrels of flour, and a large supply of forage. In addition to all this were a bakery capable of preparing fifteen thousand loaves of' bread daily, and a number of sutler's establishments well supplied. These captures were a rich harvest to Jackson's hungTry men when they arrived the next day. The troops were marched up and told to help themselves, which they did with a will. An eye-witness writes, "'Twas a curious sight to see our ragged and famished men helping themselves to every imaginalble article of luxury or necessity, whether of clothing, food, or what not. For my part I got a tooth brush, a box of candles, a quantity of lobster salad, a barrel of coffee, and other things which I forget. The scene utterly beggared description. Our * General Jackson's Report. t General Stuart's Report. WHIAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR. 211 Tien had been living on roasted corn since crossing the Rappahannock, and we had broucht no wagons, so that we could carr1y little away of the riches before us. But the men could cait one nmeal at least. So they were marched up, and as much (f, everythingr eatable served out as they could carry. To see a stI'Lrvinw man eatingr lobster salad and drinkingr Rhine wine, h hrefboted and in tatters, was curious; the whole thing was indescribable." * On the morning of the 27th General Jackson moved with all his troops, save Ewell's division, to Manassas. Ewell was left at Bristoe Station with orders to endeavor to hinder the nmarch of the enemy should they commence to retire firom the Rappahannock, but, if hard pressed, himself, to fall back and rejoin the mrain army at Manassas. When the Federal authorities at Washington heard of the capture of Manassas, they supposed it had been effected by a mere raiding party of the Confederates, and on the morning of the 27th a New Jersey brigade, under General Taylor, was sent to recover the place. General Taylor made his attack about midday, with great gallantry, but was routed with slaughter, beingy himself mortally wounded. V. WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR. The march of General Jackson had been rapid and secret, but it had not escaped the observation of the Federal commander. An officer of General Banks' staff (Col. J. S. Clark,) charnced to be near Jackson's line of march during the first day. He held his position at great personal risk until the corps Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 280. 212 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. passed by, counting the reuginents and batter;ies, and unoticing the movements of the cavalry.* He immediately commalunicated this information to General Pope. The Federal conmi mander, however, failed to make any use of this knowledge, xhich reached him in time to afford him an opportunity to occupy Thoroughfare Gap in force, and baffle Jackson's vwhole movement. The mysterious inarch of the, great - anrker seems to lave completely be~wildered General Pope, who at one ti-cme wavs under the impression that the Confederates were retreating to the mountains. He struck out blindly in a series of ridicue bous manceuvres on the appabhannock, the necessity for, or meaning of which, it is diieault to understand. He was recalled to his senses, howl ever, on the nght of thie 26th, when he learned that Jackson had seized the railroad at Manassas, planted himself in his rear, and threatened to cut him off from,,Washington. Pope's army was now very strong. He had been reeni:orced by teynold's division, and Porter's, and Heintzleman's corps of the Army of the Potomac, and the remainder of that fo0rce (the corps of Sumner andl Franklin) was movin.g fr-om Alexandria to join him. His army was therefore not less than one hundred,and twenty thousand strong, exclusive of the two acorps yet on their way to him, and it was in1 his power to hurl this command upon the single corps of Jackson. I-e saw the opportunity thus offered, and made his dispositions to seize it with more skill and vig;or than he ever exhibited at any previous or subsequent period of the campaign~ Jackson and Longstreet being yet separated, [Pope's true policy was to move to his left, and seize the road leading from Thorouglhfare Gap to the position held by Jackson. This would compel Longstreet to gfight for his junetion with Jackson, ara while lhe was thus held at bay, Pope could fall on the great Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 178. WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS tREAAo 213 flanker, wvth the rest of his armny, cad dewstroy him Gener-al Pope was quick to appreciate this, and at once threw forward t/eDowell's corps, followed by that of Sigel and Rey1olds' division, tow;ards Gainesville. Should he succeed in occupyinc Gainesville, and there was then nothing to prevent it, he woull place forty thounsand of his best troops between Longstreet an d Manassas. Reno's corps and Kearney's division of Ieintzelman's corps, were directed to move upon Greernwich, to support iMcDodwell, while, with HI-ooker's division, Pope marched direct nupon Manassas, alongo the railroad. Porter's corps was at'7Varrenton Jo unction. This was to be relieved by Banks' corps, which was to remain at the Junction to cover the trains, and repair the railroad. Porter, as soon as relieved, was to hLasten to Gainesville. No better plan could have been selected, and this one promised the nmost brilliant success. McDowell's column occupied Gainesville on the night of the 27th, and at the same time Reno and IKearney reached Greenwich. On the afternoon of the same day Iooker attaciked General Ewell at Bristoe Station. His first attack was repulsed, but he brought up fresh troops, and pressed Ewcel] so heavily that the latter, in obedience to the orders he had received from General Jackson, fell back in good order, across Broad Rtn, checking every attempt at at pursuit, and burning the railroad bridfge over the stream. That night he rejoined Gent eral Jackson at Mannassas. His stout resistance in the afternoon induced General Pope to believe that the battle would be renewed the next morning, and Porter's corps was diverted from its march to Gainesville, and ordered to join H-looker at Bristoe Station that night. Jackson's situation was critical. The main body of Pope's army, at least seventy thousand strong, was at Gainesville and Greenwich between himself and Longstreet, and with the remainder Pope was advancingr directly upon him. The cavw 214 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. alry had been employed all clay in ascertaining the mnovements of the enemy, and every report brouolht in to General Jaeksion informed him of an increase of his danger. On the night orf" the 27th, his resolution was taken. It was necessary to reti,: friom Manassas - but in what direction? Two courses were open to him. One was to march rapidily by way of Aldie, and, passing around -Bul1l Run Moulntain, unite his column with that of Longstreet. Tihis coull lhave been accomplished in safety, but it would have destroyed Lee's whole plan of operations, for it would have relinquishled Po)e's communications and put an end to all hope of' forcinlg himin to a general engagemlent upon the ground chosen by General Lee, who wished to compel Pope to fight while deprived of his supplies and cut off from his reenforcelnents. The other course was full of danger, but it promised to the great soldier who adopted it, the complete success of the whole plan of the campaign. It was to wit;ldlraw towards Bull Runi and occupy a position nearer to Thorougghtlare Gap. it was certain that he would have to fight hard to niaintain tllis position, but it would bring him within supporting distance of Geleral Longstreet, and, if' the worst came to thle worst, he colld still retreat behind the mountains by way of Aldie. That nigoht the imnmense masses of stores taken at MA anass-as, *ere committed to the flaimes, and by the lurid glare of the fire, ihe troops took up the march toward Bull Run. It was a great sacrifice for the hungry men to refirain firotl:i trying to carry off the food which had fallen into their hanlds. But to attempt to remove more than one meal would have been to encumber themselves too heavily, and this would have re-, tarded their subsequent movements, as was So terribly shown at a later period of the war. Therefore they applied the trl',h to the food they needed so much, and, still gay and cheerful, moved off in the darkness to meet new privations. Their patrt WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR.. 215 otism was richly rewarded. Uhe destruction of the stores at Manassas was a crushing blow to General Pope. That officer, in his report of the campaign, says:'" Our men, much worn down by hard service and continuous fighting for many previous days, and very short of provisions, rested on their guns. Our horses had had no forage for two days. I had telegraphed and written urgently for forage and rations to be sent us; but, on Saturday morning, before the action was resumed, I received a letter from General Franklin, written the day before, at Alexandria, stating that he had been directed by General McClellan to inform me that rations and forage for my command would be loaded into the cars and available wagons as soon as I could send a cavalry escort to Alexandria to bring them up. All hope of being able to maintain my position, whether victorious or not, vanished with this letter. Miy cavalry was utterly broken down by long and constant service in the face of the enemy, and, bad as they were, could not be spared from the front. * * I at once understood that we must, if possible, finish what we had to do that day, as night must see us behind Bull Run if we wished to save men and animals from starvation."* After destroying the stores, Jackson set off for his new position. In order to deceive the enemy, A. P. Hill's division, with a part of the cavalry, was sent towards Centreville. Hilli crossed Bull Run at Blackburn's Ford, but upon reaching Centreville, wheeled to the left, and, following the Warrenton road, * General Pope's Report. - I have quoted this to show that the loss of his stores was a severe blow to Pope. The apology for his defeat made in this extract is not valid. The Confederates suffered llore than the Federals from loss of food, but they conquered in spite of this. Moreover, the letter of General Franklin was received the day of the great battle of the 30th, when it was impossible for supplies to reach Pope. Fitz Lee's cavalry had been so disposed as to cut off such a train. Even had the train succeeded in getting through, it could not have reached Pope before his defeat. 216 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. moved back towards Bull Run, which he recrossed at the Stone Bridge, and rejoined General Jackson, who, with the rest of thie corps, had taken position on the old battle-feld of July 21, 1861, with his right at a point a little above the village of Groveton, and his left resting near Sudley Ford. Iis line was formed on the north side of the tualnpike, and was part;ially protected by an excavation which had been nade for a projected railroad. Thus Jackson had neutralized the excellent dispositions of General Pope, and had placed himself directly in communication with General Lee, in spite of the force at Gainesville. He had also secured a strong position, wNit:h a clear and open line of retreat, in case of disaster. This line was formed on the afternoon of the 28th of August. In the meantime, General Pope had been completely deceived by Ewell's resistance at Bristoe Station, and, as has been seen, had ordered Porter to join hiln there. HI-e was under the;impression that Jackson intended nalkinbg a stand at Ianassas, arnd that Ewell would renew the battle at Bristoe the next morning, - the twenty -eighth. This was exactly wrhat General Pope wanted, and what General Jackson, who was too much of a soldier to be caulght in such a trap, (lid not intend to permit. Pope, confident of crushinc Jackson, ordered MicDowell's and Reno's columns on the night of the 27tih, to move from Gainesville and Greenwich on Manassas, exultantiy informing General McDowell, G" If you will mnarch promptly and rapidly at the earliest dawn, upon Manassas Junction, we shall baog the whole crowd." Early on the morning of the 28th, GenerMa Pope moved forward with the divisions of Hooker, Kearney, an d Reno, and to his surprise found that Ewell had withdrawn durinc the night. WVith these divisions, followed closely by Porter's corps, he pushed on towards Manassas Junction, still thinking/; that Jackson awaited him there. Manassas was reached at IVIIAT POPE FOUND IN IIS IAFAR. 217 noon, and, to his disma y, he found thlat Jackson had disappeared. General Pope now saw that he had commiit-ed an error by withdrawing iMcDowell from G~ainesville, by which hle had left the road open for the arrival of Lee with Longstreet's corps, without inflicting any injury upon the Confederates. Hie endeavored to regain the advantage he had lost by this buander, by recalling Ml cDowell from his movem-ent on fOanassas, ab)nd directino him to gain the W~arrenton turnpike, and march upon Centreville, while he, with the rest of the army, hurried on towards Centreville in pursuit of A. P. Hill, whose division he supposed to be Jackson's nain body. By these movemenlts he hoped still to be able to crush Jackson before the arrival of Lee. He had lost too much time to accomplish much, and it was late in the afternoon before McDowell sueceecled in regaining the turnpike with but one division (King's) of his whole corps. The truth is Jackson had so completely mystified and de. ceived General Pope, that the latter did not know where the Confederlates were.:* This is conclusively proved by the Iman ner in which the engagerement which followed was brought on. Late in the afternoon McDowell, with King's division, arrived in the neighborhood of Groveton, in utterl ignorance of the presence of Jackson. The approach of this force was reported to General Jackson by General Stuart, and a part o. the cavalry, under Colonel Bradley Johnson, was thrown forward to annoy the Federals in their advance.,Supposing that the enemy would try to break through by the turnpike, General Jackson made his dispositions to receive them, and moved his command through the woods, leaving Grovetown on the left until he reached a commanding position near Brawner's lHouse. * On the 29th, (the next day) General P itz John Porter telegraphed to General Burnside, "I expect they (the Confederates) know what they are doing, whic is more than any one here, or anywhere, knows." 28 218 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. McDowell, still ignorant of Jackson's presence, continued his march, and unconsciously exposed his flank to the latter, who, seeing his advantage, fell upon it with Jackson's division, under General Taliaferro and Ewell's division. The Federals stood their ground well, and the engagement was severe. Towards dark the enemy were heavily rednforced, but made no effort to a(lvance. They held their position with'' obstinate determination " until nine o'clock at nigl-t,'when they slowly yielded the field to the Confederates, and, durin:g the nihlit, withdrew to the neighIlborhood of Mianassas Junction. The losses on both sides were heavy. Among the Confederate wounded were Generals Taliaferro and Ewell, the latter of whom lost a leg.* Ewell was the ablest subordinate in the whole corps, and his loss to it at this time, was a heavy blow. General Pope had found Jackson at last, and was also about to find the 6' disaster and sham'e" which lurked in his rearo He had commenced his movements with a display of good gen. eralship, but Jackson had baffled all his plans, and now stood confronting him in the position Pope had tried to prevent hhmx from reaching. VI. THE:ECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. Meanwhile Longstreet had been moving rapidly to join GCen eral Jackson. On the afternoon of the 26th he crossed the Rappahannock at Ilinson's Ford, and encamped for the right near Orleans. The next night he reached White Plains his march having been retarded by certain demonstrations of the enemy's cavalry, from the direction of VWarrenton, which ~ Jackson's Report. THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 219 seemed to mnenace his right. As he had no cavalry with which to ascertanu the meaning of these movements, General Long. street was obliged to advance with caution. On the morning of the 28th the march was resumed towards Thoroughfare Gap, which was reached in the afternoon. This pass is a position of great natural strength, and, at the time of General Longstreet's arrival, was held by the division of General Ricket.ts, which had been left to guard it after the withdrawal of icDorwell's column from Gainesville. D. RI. Jones' division was advanced to drive in the enemy's skirimishers, and fo-re the passage of thle mountain. The skirmishers were driven back, and the enemy were discovered holding the eastern side in heavy force. As Jones approached they opened with their artillery, sweeping the only road through the gorge and the sides of the mountain. It was impossible to use artillery upo n the ground held by Jones, and General Longstreet determined to turn the enemiy's position. Hood, with two brigades, and Wilcox with three, were ordered to turn the Federal ritght; the formler, by a narrow footpath leading over the mountains to the left of the pass, and the latter, by Hopewell Gap, about thr ee miles to the north. Before t hese manzeunvres could be executed, the enemy advanced and attacked Jones' left, under Brigadier-General G. T. Andersoon. They were driven back with spirit, when they retired to the east side of the pass, and, just bW1ore night, retreated, leaving the road opern. Ricketts fell back to Manassas, and Longstreet's co-mmand bivouacked for the night, east of the mountain" * Early on the morning of the 29th the march was resumed, and the advanced division reached General Jackson's position * Reports of Generals Lee and Longstreeto 220 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. about ten o'clock, almost the entire corps being in l1ne by fobur o'clock.* On the morning of the 29th of August, General Jackson prepcared once more to receive the attack of the enemy. HIis troops were formed along the cut of an unfinished railroad, his right being on the WVarrenton turnpike and his left resting near Sudley Ford. His old division, under General Starke, was on the rii ht, Ewell's division, under General Lawton, in the cen-: General Pope states that Longstreet did not join Jackson until sunset, declaring that at five o'clock in the afternoon, General Porter, who was ordered to prevent the junction of Jackson and Longstreet, "' had in his front no considerable body of tile enemy." He ad-ds, in trying to shift the odiumn of his defeat from himself to General Porter. "I believed then, as I am very sure now, that it was easily practicable for hi:m to have turned the right flank of Jackson, and to have fallen upon;is rear; that if he had done so we should have gained a decisive victory over the army under Jackson before lie could have been joined by any of the forces of Longstreet." This assertion is simply untrue, as I shall proceed to show. General Longstreet states that his column resumed its march forom Thoroughfare Gap " early on the 29th7." He adds, 6' The noise of battle was heard before we reached Gainesville. The march was quickened to tile extent of our capacity. The excitement of battle seemed to give new life and strength to our jaded men, and tile head of lmy column soon reached a position in rear of the enemy's left fTa?.,." D. R. Jones, who held the extreme right of Longstreet's line after his junction with Jackson, says, "Early on the morning of the 29th, I took up the line of aoarel in the direction of the old battle-ground of Manassas, whence heavy firing;was heard; arri vizng on the g'roanzd about noon, my command wras stationed on the extreme riCt of our whole line." General Hood says, " Eacrly in the day we came up with the main body of the enemny on the plains of lManassas." Ie states that he was in position when the enemy made their attacks upon Jackson' "about four o'clock in the afterneoon." These statements were made before the writers had seen General Pope's report, and without reference to it. The distance from Thoroughfare Gap to Groveton is not very great, and as the troops beganithe march early in the nmorning, and were pushed forward at their utmost speed, it would have been very strange if they had not reaclled Jackson's position before Porter arrived from Manassas Junction. I have thus established the time of Longstreet's arrival. Farther on I shall show that it was impossible for Porter to turn Jackson's right flank at any tima after noon on the 29th. THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 221 tre, aondi A.. P Hill on the left. The men were weary and worn out with their constant marching and fighting, and with hunger. Still they were cheerful and firm. General Jackson hi-Lself was no longer anxious for his safety. Towards morning he had received a message from General Lee, announcing thle passage of Thoroughfare Gap, and the approach of the rest of the army. The danger was over. The skill of Jackson and the heroism of his men had crowned the brilliant conception of General Lee with success. Pope's next blow would have to be struck at the whole army of Northern Virginia. The engage ment of the previous evening had acquainted General Pope with Jackson's position. IHe seems to have been. under the imnpression that Jackson was trying to retreat, for on the morning of the 29th he ordered General Sigel, who, with hls corps and Reynolds' division was near Groveton, to attack the Confederate line, for the purpose of 66 bringing Jackson to a,.stacndc, qfiit were -ossible to do so." At the same time Reno's "c,(ps and the divisions of Hooker and Kearney under FIeintzelman were ordered back from Centreville, whither they had gone in their fruitless pursuit on the 28th, while Porter, with his corps, and Eing's division of McDowell's corps, was directed teo mo arch upon Gainesville. About ten o'clock in the morning General Sigel opened his attack with his artillery - about the same time that General L;ongstreet's troops commenced to arrive. Jactson's batteries )replied with spirit. This cannonade continued for some time after twelve o'clock, when Sigel was joined by General Pope with Reno's and Heintzelman's corps. By this time General Longstreet had arrived. He at once formed his line with Hood's division on his left. Hood was deployed on the right and left of the XWarrenton turnpike, at right aglaes with it, and General D. R. Jones was posted on the extreme right of the line, his division being drawn up on 222 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the Manassas Gap Railroad, and in echelon with regard to the three last brigrades.* This was the position of the Southern army when General Pope reached the field. HIe was, however, but poorly informed of Jackson's position, and was in total ignorance of Longstreet's presence, supposing that he was still on the march. The Federal line was formed as follows. HEIentzerlmanl's corps, consisting of the divisions of IHooker and Kearney, was on the richlt, in front and west of the Sudley Springs road; Reno and Sigel were in the centre, extecnding to a ljoint a short distance south of the Warrenton road; and Reynolds' division was on the left. General Pope was in total ignorance of the whereabouts of Porter and McDowell and was still under the impression that he had only Jackson's corps to deal with. t At three o'clock Pope ordered General -Hooker to attack Jackson's left. IHooker, who had a better conception of the task before him than his commander possessed, remonstrated, but General Pope repeated the command, and Hooker made his attack with his usual vigor. The Federals advanced gallantly in the face of a heavy fire from Hill's division, and succeeded in breaking his line, and getting possession of a portion of the railroad cut, and for a short time Gregg,'s brigade, on the extreme left, was completely isolated from the main body. of the command. The 14th South Carolina and the 49th Georgia, under General McGowan, were at once thrown f(rward to recover the lost ground. The enemy resisted stubbornly, but were at last driven back to their main body, thle opposing forces frequently delivering their fire at ten paces. Kearney's division was advanced to Hooker's support, but thlis was also repulsed. The enemy made assault after assault, but were driven back each time with heavy slaughter by Htill's troops. * General Longstreet's Report. $ Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 184. THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 223 By this time General Pope had learned the location of Porter's command, which was between M anassas and Gainesville. About half past four o'clock he ordered Porter to turn the Confederate right, and attack their rear, still thinking that Jackson's right was that of the entire Confederate line. Porter did not receive this order until about dusk. Hle had endeavored in the morninrg to execute Pope's order to're-occupy Gainesville, but had found his progress barred by Longstreet's corps. The same obstacle now prevented him from turning Jackson's right, so that in spite of General Pope's assertion that his defeat was due to Porter's failure to perform this movement, the reader will see that Porter never had an opportunity.of attackingy Jackson before Loncgstreet's arri val. Conse. quently, as Longstreet covered Porter's entire front, the latter was compelled to make his attack on Longstreet's front instead of on Jackson's flank. The result was that he was met with determination, and quickly driven back with the loss of one piece of artillery. About six o'clock, when he thought Porter was coming into action, Pope made a furious assault on Jackson's left, with the corps of ileintzelman and Reno. The attack was made just as the troops on the left had fired almost all their ammunition. The movement was successful. The left of Hill was driven back on his centre, and the enemy pressed on with loud shouts. Hill's men did not give way without a severe struggle, however, and when their ammunition was exhausted they fought with rocks from the railroad cut-" and it is well established that many of the enemy were killed by having their skulls broken with fragments of rock." * Early's brigade and the 8th Louisiana regiment, followed by the 13th Georgia, regained the lost ground, and drove the enemy across the railroad and back on their main line. Early's ~ Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 293. 224 LIFE OF GENERAL LE E. urszuit was so determined that General Jackson recalled hin lest he should bring on a general engagement, which it was desired to postpone until the next day. General lood was now ordered by General Lonostreet to advance, and attack the enenliy's left, for the purpose of relievw ing the pressure upon Jackson. Before he could conmply with the order, IAood was himself attacked by Porter. H-Iood was re'nforced, and the enemy driven back with heavy losso The Federals retreated at all points, pressed by the Confed. erates, until nine oclockl when the fornier occupied a stron, position WIhich they held with a large force, and the Confedeir ates drew back to their oritinal line. The losses on both sides were severe. Generals Field and Trimble, and Colonel For-no,. commianding -lays' brigtcde, were severely wounded. The enemy acknowledged a loss of eight thousand men. During the night the Army of Northern Virginia bivouacked on the ground it had held during the day. Its withdrawal to this position, immediately after the close of the fight, caused General Pope to think thalt his adversary was retreating, and he telegraphed to WVashington that Lee was flying to the mountains. HIe was soon undeceived, however. Ilad General Pope followed the dictates of prudence, he would have retreated within the lines of lWashington at once. H-e had already suffered a loss of seventeen thousand men, and the firmness of his troops was considerably shaken by their reverses, as well as by the arduous service to which they had been subjected, and hunger - though as regarded fatigue and hunger the two armies were about on an equality. In spite of this, he resolved to risk one more battle. Saturday, the 30th of August, was a clear, sunny day, and with the first ray of sunlight the two armies were in readiness. General Lee held the samze position he had occ-upied on the previous day - his left near Sudley Ford, his centre at Grovw THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 225 ton, and his right on the P 4anassas Gap Railroad. Tle centre was held by thirty-two pieces of artillery, under Colonel Stephen D. Lee, posted on a comim-anding elevation. Longstreet's line stretch`ed away obliquely from Jaclkson's, forming with it an angle of nearly forty-five degrees, and causing the Southern line to asslume aimost the form of the letter V. The artillery was disposed so as to resiset the assaults of the enemy, and support the tadvance of the Confederates. The cavalry was posted on both flanlks. The whole army was present, with the exception of Bt IH. Andersoin's division, which arrived during the forenoon and was held in reserve. The Federal line confllrmed to that of General Lee -it took the shape of a V reversed, or with the angle or centre thrown forward, and the wings drawn back. Leynolds' division held the left, Heintzelrman's corps the right, and Porter, Sigel and Reno the centre. Skirmisliing began early in the morning. Pope, thinking that Lee was reteating, being deceived by the withdrawal of Jackson's corps on the night of the 30th to the position it held during the 31st, ordered M{cDowell to move with three corps on the Warrenton road, and 66 press the enemy vigorously during the whole day."' Instead of retreatinOg, lowever, General Lee was calmly awaliting Pope's attack in the position he had chosen. About four o'clock tle head of: cDowell's column debouchedl from the woods in Jackson's front, near his rig'ht, and moved rapidly upon him. A second and a third line followed, ea:ch within supportinlg distane of the other. As the frst line emerged from t-he woods. it was shattered by the sinultaneoous discharge of the thirty-two guns in l — ornlederate centre and irmmediately the other batteries along,Jackson's line opened. Under this mnurderou.s fire, the Federal lines wavered, and Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 189. 29 226 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. finally broke. Fresh troops were thrown forward to support them, and the battle extended from Jackson's right along his centre and left. Pope brought up his forces rapidly, and up to this time Jackson had borne the weilght of all their assaults. They pressed so heavily upon him, that, towards five o'clock, he sent to General Lee for reenforcements, and General Longstreet was ordered to advance his troops to Jackson's assistance. Fortunately, at this time, a part of the Federal line came immedialtely within reach of General Longstreet's artillery. -Ie threw forward two batteries, and opened a heavy fire on the Federals As this was being done, he received General Lee's message to go to Jackson's assistance, but as he was sure that the best way to aid Jackson was to drive back the enemy then in front of him, Longstreet made no movement with his infantry, but continued the fire of his batteries. In a short time this portion of the enemy was put to flight.* It was now after five o'clock, and the Federals had been so fearfully cut up in their unavailing efforts to force the Southern position, that they fell back in some confusion. Seeing this, Jackson advanced his line in pursuit, and Lonostreet, anticipating General Lee's order to that effect, dashed forward with his troops against the Federal centre and left. The whole Confederate army was now advancing, pressing the enemy back at every point, and threatening, the Federal line of retreat over Bull Run. Abandoning all hope of victory, General Pope now turned his attention to bringing off his army. At nightfall his danger was increased by the capture of the heights held by Reynolds' and Ricketts' divisions, which were carried by a resistless charge of Longstreet's corps. The last position left to the Federals was now assailed, - the plateau on which the famous Henry House stood, the scene of the severest part of the battle of July 21, 1861. If the Confederates could *General Longstreet's Report. OX HILL. 227 have carried this when they first assailed it, Pope's army would have been destroyed, as his retreat would have been cut off. The Federal commander promptly occupied the plateau with a heavy force, and hurried his defeated and disheartened troops to the rear. Towards ten o'clock at night he yielded this position, also, Aind retreated across Bull Run. The Confederate pursuit ceased at this stream. The night was intensely dark, and the fords of Bull Run were uncertain. General Lee, therefore, deemed it most prudent to suspend operations until the next morning. VII. OX HILL. On the nmorningr of the 31st of August it was found that the Federal army was in position on the hei(ghts of Centreville. There Pope was joined by the corps of Franklin and Sumner, and there he remained during the day. General Lee determined to strike one more blow at hina, and on Sunday morning directed General Longstreet to remain on the battle field of the previous day, to engage the attention of the enemy, while Jackson made an attempt to turn Pope's right and intercept his retreat to Washington. Jackson crossed Bull Run at Sudley Ford, and moved along Little River turnpike. A heavy rain fell during the day, and this, together with the exhaustion of the men, retarded his prog, ress. At night he bivouacked near Chantilly. The next morning, he continued his march in the direction of Fairfax Court House. As soon as he was informed of this movement of Jacksono Pope fell back from Centreville towards Fairfax Court House. :28 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. On tLe I st of Sreptenmber he took position to resist the Confedcrate advance, his right being at Ox Hill, near Germantown, and his le-f at aFairfax Court House. About five o'clock in the afternoon, in the midst of a drenching shower, Jackson arrived before Ox Hill. He at once formed his line of battle — Hill's division on the right, Ewell's in the centre, and Jackson's on the left, -on the right of the turnpike, with his artillery posted on an eminence to the left of the road. Field's and Branche's brigades, of Hill's division, were sent forward to engage the enemly. The storm was driving directly in the faces of the men, but they pressed on with spirit. The enemy gave them a Nwarm reception, and at one time Branch's brigade was forced back by the heavy fire in its front and flank. The rest of Hill's troops were quickly advanced, and soon'a part of Ewell's division was also engagled. The enemy stood firmly until Stevens' division of Reno's corps was beaten back with the loss of its general. General Kearney endeavored to reistablish thle line, and while gallantly engaged in this atternpt, rode into the Confederate lines and was killed.* The enemy then retreated from the field. On the following dJa.y the HFederal army withdrew within the lines of Vashlingtton. The campaign was over. Longstreet rejoined Jackson on Tuesday mornlng, September 2d. For the first time since the capture of Manassas, rations were issued to the arn-ry The men had subsisted for several days on green corn and uaripe apples, bearing their privations not only with cherefrllness, but with gayety. Since the ad. vance frorw thee Rappaha"Innockl began, on the 25th of August, they had been constantly narehing, or fighting the enemy. The consequence was tha:t they were worn down. Many of * The widow of General Kearney afterwards requested General Lee to allow her to recover the horse and sword of the gallant soldier. General Lee at once granted her request, and sent them to her under a flag of truce. OX HILL. 229 them were without shoes, and their feet had been so cut and bruised by the rocky roads over which they had passed, that now they could scarcely walk. Few armies have endured more sufferingp than these men experienced in this brief but brilliant campaign, and none have borne their trials with more heroic fortitude than was shown by the Army of Northern Virginia. General Pope wtas compelled to abandon his wounded on the night of the 30th. The next day lie sent to General Lee to request a truce until he could send ambulances for them. General Lee refused to grant the truce, but allowed him to send for his wounded.* Pope's medical officers at once set to work to remove them, but the task was executed so slowly that on the 3d of September there were still about three thousand remainin1g on the field. The Confederate loss in the campaign, from the uahppahannock to the Potomac, was four thousand seven hundred and *The following is the correspondence on this subject:" CENTREVILLE, Aug, 31, 1862. " SIR: _Many of the wounded of this army have been left on the field, for whom I desire to send ambulances. Will you please inform me whether you consent to a truce until they are cared for? I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN POPr, MJaj.-Gen. U. S. A. Coa. Commanding Oficer Confederate Forces near Groveoon.'6 HEADQUARTERS ARM1Y OF NORTTHERN VIRGINIA, August 31, 1862. "MAJ.-GEN. JOHN POPE, U. S. A. Comd'g, &c.: 1" Sin: Consideration for your wounded induces me to consent to your sending ambulances to convey them within your lines. I cannot consent to a truce nor a suspension of military operations of this army. If you desire to send for your wounded, should your ambulances report to Dr. Guilet, Medical Director of this army, he will give directions for their transportation. The wounded will be paroled, and it is understood that no delay will take place in their removal. Very respectfully your obd't serv't, (Signed) E. E. LEE, General." 230 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. twenty-five in Longstreet's corps, and four thoujand three hundred and eighlty-seven in Jackson's corps, making a total of nine thousand one hundred and twelve, including Generals Ewell, Taliaferro, Field, and Trimble, severely wounded. The Federal losses were enormous. They amounted in all to over thirty thousand, including eight Generals killed, seven thousand prisoners, in addition to about two thousand wounded left in tlhe hands of the Confederates. 6' Thirty pieces of artillery, upwards of twenty thousand sta nd of small arms, numerous colors, and a large amount of stores, besides those taken by General Jackson at 1M[anassas Junartion, were captured " by the Conf'ederates.' It was a great and a glorious campaign, and was worthy of the illustrious soldier who conducted it. After the retreat of Pope to ]Washington, General Lee sent the following letter, describing the achievements of his army, to President Davis: - "' HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, CHANTILLY, 3d September, 1862. "'His EXCELLENCY, JEFFERSON DAvis, President Confederats States of America: 6 Ms. PRESIDENT: My letter of the 30th ult. will have informed your Excellency of the progress of this army to that date. General Longstreet's division, having arrived the day previous, was formed in order of battle on the right of General Jackson, who had been engaged with the enemy since morning, resisting an attack commenced on the 28th. The enemy, on the latter (day, was vigorously repulsed, leaving his numerous dead and wounded on the field. His attack on the morning of the 29th was feeble, but became warmer in the afternoon, whe-n he was again repulsed by both wings of the army. His loss on this day, as stated in his published report herewith enclosed, amounted to eight thousand in killed and wounded. * General Lee's Report. OX HILL. 231 "The enemy being reinforced, renewed the attack on the afternoon of the 30th, when a general advance of both wings of the army was ordered, and after a fierce combat, which raged till after nine o'clock, he was completely defeated and driven beyond Bull Run. The darkness of the night, his destruction of the Stone Bridge after crossintg, and the uncertainty of the fords, stopped the pursuit. "The next morning the enemy was discovered in the strong position at Centreville, and the army was put in motion towards the Little River Turnpike, to turn his right. Upon reaching Ox Hill on the 1st of September, he was again discovered in our front on the heig'hts of, Germantown, and about five P. Ai. made a spirited attack upon the front and right of our columns, with a view of apparently covering the withdrawal of lis trains on the Centreville road, and masking his retreat. Our position was maintained with but slight loss on both sides. Major. General Kearney was left by the enemy dead on the field. During the night the enemy fell back to Fairfax Court House, and abandoned his position at Centreville. Yesterday about noon, he evacuated Fairfax Court House, taking the roads, as reported to me, to Alexandria and Washington. 6" I have as yet been unable to get official reports of our loss or captures in these various engaoigeients. Many gallant officers have been killed or wounded. Of the General officers, Ewell, Trimble, Taliaferro, Field, Jenkins, and Mahone, have been reported wounded. Colonels Means, Marshall, Baylor, Neff, and Gadberry, killed. About seven thousand prisoners have already been paroled, about the same number' of small arms collected from the field, and thirty pieces of cannon captured, besides a number of wagons, ambulances, &c. A large number of arms still remain on the ground. For want of transportation, valuable stores had to be destroyed as captured, 232 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. while the enemy, at their various depots, are reported to have burned many millions of property in their retreat. " Nothing could surpass the gallantry and endurance of the troops, who have cheerfully borne every danger and hardship, both on the battle-field and march. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most ob't serv't, "R. E. LEE, General." General Lee passed through the campaign unhurt, but, just as it closed, was severely injured. pOn the 4th of September, he was standing' near his horse, when the animal, becoming frightened, dashed against him, and threw hilm violently to the ground. One of the bones of his left hand was broken. The accident was painful, but merely prevented him from riding on horeeback for a short time. OYER THE BORDER. 233 Y. TIIE INYASION OF THE NORTHI SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER, 1862. I. OVER TIIE BORDER. TIHE defeat of General McClellan before Ilmlchmond, ant ms forced retreat to the James River, threw the Northern people into great gloom, though it did not cause them to relax their efforts. Then they had still an army left on the James capable of achieving success in that quarter, and one comparatively new and untried on the PRappahannock, whose future was expected to be all they could desire. They did not - it was not natural that they should - consider that the Army of the Potomac was in reality the most useful force in the service of the Union. They regarded it as having been rendered worthless by its defeat, and fixed all their hopes on the Army of Virginia. The defeat which this command sustained on the banks of Bull Run fell upon the North with crushing force. Every effort of the Federals during the whole year had now been rendered of no avail. A letter from Washington at that time declared, "After fifteen months of toil and bloodshed, we have now returned to the starting point, and the whole work has to be commenced 234 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. over again." The Northern people regarded their future vwith dread and anxiety, and they confildently expected to hear that their Capital had fallen into the hands of General Lee. Tlhis was not all. General, Lee had not only inflicted a term rible defeat upon the Federal army, and thrown tle Government and people into gloom and disaLppointiment, but he hlad, by his brilliant success, opened to his hungry soldiers the rich harvests and resources of the ireat Valley of VirginiL, and tle surrounding country. Up to this time the enemy had been living upon these resources. Now they were transferred to the army of the South, which needed them so greatly. Besides tllis, General Lee had compelled the withdrawal of the army of General AicClellan firomn the James River, and had drawn off the forces intended for operations against the interior of the South fr'om points on the coast. It was highly desirable to prolong such a state of affairs, and it was the part of wisdom to attempt to inflict still greater daLmage upon the enemy before they should have time to recover from their disasters. The army was too poorly provided with clothing, shoes, ammunition, or any of the necessities of war, to allow the hope that it could, even at such a faLvorable lmoment, conquer a peace upon Northern soil; but there was great reason for believing that it could so far cripple the Federals as to retain them north of the Potomac for the protection of their own territory, and thus prevent another invasion of Virginia, until such a course on the part of the enemy should be rendered impossible by the arrival of the winter. The condition of Maryland also favored the plan of enterin7 that State. The great mass of her people were attached to the South, not only by a common interest, by tradition, and long association, but also by. the warmest sympathy. The State had been prevented from uniting with the South only by the strong hund of the Federal Government, and every report brought OVER THE BORDER. 235 across the border con-lrmed the opinion that tlhe people of Mfarylancl only awaited the arrival of the Southern army to take up arms against the United States. It was thought that if they could not directly assist the Confederates by uniting with thlem, they could do much in their favor by drawing off from the army at the comrmantd of the Federal Government, the strong force which would be necessary to repress such an uprising. There uan be no doubt that in entertaining these views, Generall Lee was justified by the real condition of affairs, and that lhis views were sound and well founded. lIe was not, however, so visionary as the press at the time reported him. He fully apprecirted the difficulties which would attend an uprising on the part of the people of Maryland, who had been disarmed by the Federal Government, and whose State was occupied in force by the Federal army. Hie knew that until it was in his power to afford those people an assurance of assistance and protection, it would be unwise to expect them to attempt an undertaking which must fail without it received his active coiperation, and which, failing, would place them at the mercy of an exasperated Government. Therefore he "expected to derive more assistance in the attainment of his object from the just fears of the Washington Governnment, than from any active demonstration on the part of the people," until he should be able to give them assurance of his continued protection.-* The army was not prepared for invasion. Besides its extraordinary fatigue, resulting from thle tremendous exertions it had nmade during the campaign, many of the men were sufieringl for want of shoes, and had literally marked their way to the Potomac by their bleeding feet. A lack of clothing had compelled them to put up with rags and dirt, and the quartermaster's andl commissary departments were administered in such a manner as to keep the troops almost constantly in a state of privation. * General Lee's Report. 236 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The anmount of transportation at hand was inadequate to the wants of tile army, and the supplies of ammunition were limited. Nevertheless, the advantages which a sudden offensive movement offered, were believed to outweigh these disadvantages, and General Lee determined to cross the Potomac and enter Marylanc d without delay. As long as the enemy remained south of the Potomac, they would endanger his communications. To force thenm to withdraw to the Washington side of the river, Lee resolved to cross the border east of the Blue lidge, by which movement he wouldl threaten both Washington and Baltimore. This accomplished, and Virginia freed from the presence of the Federal army, he proposed to move his forces into Western 3Maryland, establish his communications with R!:ichlnond throulgh the Shenandoah Valley, 6" and, by threatening Pcnnsylvania, induce the enemy to follow," and thus draw them. from their base of supplies.* The army was now united, D. H. Hill's command having arrived on the 2d of September, while the troops were enjoying a brief rest at Chantilly. On the 4th of September, D. HI. Hill's division, which had been assig'ned the advance was moved to the Potomac, which it reached at a point nearly opposite the mouth of the AMonocacy. The Federal forces along the river were driven off, and the division crossed over. The nidght and next day were spent in destroying the locks and emrbankment of the Chesapeale and Ohio Canal, one of the principal means of supplying Washington with fuel.t On the 5th of September Jackson's corps crossed the river, at White's Ford, and bivouacked near the Three Springs, in the State of Maryland. D. iH. Hill immediately resumed his march, and followed Jackson. By the 7th of September the * General Lee's Report. f Reports of Generals Lee and D. H. Hill. OVER TIHE BORDER. 237 entire army was over the Potomac, and in the enermys counmtry. The passage of the river was mnade with thrilling cheers, waving flags, and martial music, and amidst ulnbounded enthlsiasm. The troops regarded themselves as the avencers of an outraged and injured people, and they were in high spirits at; tle prospect of transferring the war from their own soil to that of the enemy. On the morning of the 6th, the march was resnumed, the advance beino conducted by General D. HI. HI-ill, who, in the absence of General Jackson, (temporarily disabled by a fall from his horse,) commanded Jackson's corps, as well as his own division.* During the morning the army reached Frederick City. The troops were eneacmped between the city and the Monocacy River, Ewell's and Hill's divisions being posted at Monocacy Station, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to cover the roads frorn Washington. Only one brigade (J. PI. Jones') was allowed to enter the city, and that one was sent there to protect the inhabitants and their property. Strict orders were issued requiring the troops to respect the property of the people of the State, and threatening with severe punishment those who attempted to pillage or destroy. The people were assured that the Confederate army had come amongst them as friends. YNo man's possessions were taken from him. Wir hatever was wanted was paid for - in Confederate money it is true, but still with an exprlession of willingness on the part of the vendors to receive the Southern currency. Even the fence rails burned by the soldiers were carefully paid for. No man's liberty was assailed, and the troops were strictly charged to treat persons holdino hostile sentiments with kindness and forbearance. ThIe City of Frederick was patrolled by a strongo provost guard, but its presence was unnecessary, as not a single case of misdemeanor occurred during the stay of the Southern army. * Report of General D. H. Hill. 238 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The Northern people were astonished at such a course on the part of the Southerners. They had expected that a Confederate invasion would be marked by such scenes as have made the reputation of Pope's army infamous, and they could not conceal their surprise at the forbearance and generosity of the "I ragged rebels." When it is remembered that the Confederate army had just seen the fair fields of Virginia devastated, and their friends and kindred plundered, insulted, and frequently driven from their homes amid suffering and danger, by the Union troops, and that now they were in the enemy's country, with the memory of these things still burning in their hearts, surrounded by plenty, which they might have appropriated in spite of General Lee's orders to the contrary, a proper appreciation may be formed of their conduct. They triumphed nobly over the worst instincts of an army, and by their heroism, - heroism not less high than that shown by them in battle -they have won a glorious name. It must have been a proud moment for General Lee when he saw this, for he must have known that his troops were influenced as much by their love for him, as by their sense of right and justice. They were not willing to bring discredit upon either themselves or their commander. The reception of the troops in Maryland was not what they had anticipated. The majority of the people of Western Maryland were thoroughly loyal to the Union, so that the friends of the Confederate army in that region were but few. The Unions ists made no secret of their dislike of the South, and comforted themselves by informing the troops that McClellan would soon be after them. The secessionists in some cases did what they could to encourage and aid the army, but in many instances their Southern ardor was checked by the sight of the raggced and dirty soldiers, whose personal appearance spoke eloquently of greater suffering and hardship than these " gentlemen " were OVER THE BORDER. 239 willing to undergo. During the first days, recruiting offices were opened in Frederick, but recruits catme in with marvellous slowness. It was amidst these discouraging circumstances that General Lee issued the following address to the people of the State: " HEADQUARTERS ARMIY OF NORTIIE RN VIRGINIA, Near FREDERICKTOWN, Sept. 8th, 1862. 6T To THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND: I it is right that you should know the purpose that has brought the army under my command within the lirits of your State, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves. 66 The people of the Confederate States have long watched, with the deepest sympathy, the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth allied to the States of the South by the strongest social, political, and commnercial ties. 66 They have seen, with profound indignation, their sister State deprived of every right, and reduced to the condition of a conquered province. 6" Under the pretence of supporting the Constitution, but in violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have been arrested and imprisoned upon no charge, and contrary to all forms of law. The faithful and manly protest against this outrage, made by the venerable and illustrious Marylander, to whom, in better days, no citizen appealed for right in vain, was treated with scorn and contempt. The government of your chief city has been usurped by armed straners; your Lecislature has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest of its members; freedom of the press and of speech have been suppressed; words have been declared offences by an arbitrary decree of the Federal Executive, and citizens ordered to be tried by a military commission for what they may dare to speak. 240 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 6 Believig, tlhat the people of Maryland possessed a spirit too lofty to submit to such a Government, the people of the South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign yoke, to enatle you again to enjoy the inalienable rig hts of freemen, and restore independence and sovereignty to your State. 66 In obedience to this wish, our army has come among you, and is prepared to assist you with the power of its arms, in regaining thle rights of which you have been despoiled. This, citizens of MAaryland, is our mission, so far as you are concerned. No constraint upon your free will is intended, - no intimidation will be allowed. We know no enemies am~ong you, and will protect all, of every opinion. It is for you to decide your destiny, freely and without. constraint. This army will respect your choice wliatever it may be; and while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your natural position amongst them, they will only welcome you when you come of your own free will. " R. E. LEE, Gen. Comnmanding." This proclamation was read with interest by the people of Maryland, but it brought no recruits. Certain Southern writers have taken it upon themselves to denounce the people of 3Maryland with great bitterness for not rising against the Federal authorities, in response to this proclamration. This, however, is unfair. I have shown that Gen.eral Lee himself did not expect any moverment on tle part of the people until he had shown himself able to assist and protect them. Unftortunately he was compelled to enter a portion of Maryland, where it was known that no sympathy was felt for the Southern cause. The friends of the South were in Eastern and Southern Maryland, and between them and Frederick City lay the Federal army, holding every road by which OVER THE BORDER. 241 the people could move to join General Lee. lfMoreover, the invasion of the State was then simply an experiment which had to prove itself a success before the people could have faitl in it. General Lee was not in a condition to arTord the slih-;est assistance to the Southern men of 5{aryland, and it would have been msadness in them to attempt an uprising. Htad General Lee been able to reach Baltimore or Prince George County, I do not doubt that his army would have been greatly increased in a very short time. Still, these things were not known to the troops at the time, and their disappointm-ent in finding so few friends and so many enemies was very bitter. When General Lee adopted his plan of the campaign, he counted on carrying his whole army with him. He was destined to be greatly disappointed in this. During the march from Manassas to the Potomac, thousands of Confederate soldiers straggled from the ranks, and threw themselves down by the wayside, leaving the army to move on without them. Mi{any of these men - the majority of them - were ur able to continue the march. Want of rest and food, the sever- marchinrg and fighting, added to their past hardships, had exhausted thenm-. Especially was this straggling caused by the want of shoes. The most of the rnei; were barefooted, and their feet were so mangled by the sharp rocks of the road, that they could not walk. Many were rendered lame for months, some for life, by trying to keep up with the arny in spite of their su-ferings. Still there were others -to the number of thousarnds- whio lagged behind from the vilest of motives. The lack of discipline in the Southern army was pailnfully instanced (hThen General Lee was informed of the full extent of this evil, he was startled by a sense of the danger in which it placed him, and exclaimed with tears, " ly army is ruined by straggling." 31 242 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY. The entrance to tile Valley of Virginia was guarded by the position of Harper's Ferry. IWith this post in possession of a iederal garrison, an invasion of Maryland froni the Valley, was an impossibility. But when the Confederates had entered Miaryland IHarper's Ferry not only became useless to the Federals, but also constituted a trap in whiclh the whole garrison, might be shut up and captured. A sound military policy would have dictated an immediate evaculation of the post as soon as General Lee passed the Potomac, but General HIalleck, under whose immediate orders the Federal troops at Harper's Ferry had been placed, for some reason attached an exaccerated value to the position, and ordered that it should be held. The garrison consisted of about nine thousand men, under Colonel Miles. M~fartinsburg was held by a force of twenty-five hundred men, under General White. General Lee supposed that his adversary, in accordance with the plainest rules of common sense, as xwell as military science, would withdraw the garrison from Harper's Ferry. General MIcClellan constantly urged this, but General Halleck decided upon holding t+he post. This being the case, General Lee could not establish his comrmunications throughl the Valley without driving away or capturing Colonel Miles' command. He resolved to attempt its capture. Thus he was compelled to turn aside from his original plan, to undertake this important expedition, and this with his army so greatly weakened by the straggling of the troops. So it happened, strangely enough, that this blunder of General Halleck. became a real disad THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY. 243 vantage to the Confederate commander, inasmuch as it clogged and hindered his lmovements, and enabled General McClellan to come up with him and strike a blow at him under circumstances most unfavorable to the Confederate army. In order to reduce Harper's Ferry, General Jackson was directed to march on the 10th of September, and, after passing Middleton, take the route to the Potomac, crossing, the river at the imost convenient point, and, after drivincg the enemy from Miartinsburg, move direct upon Harper's Ferry, disposing his forces in such a manner as to cut off the retreat of the garrison to the North. At the same time General McLa.ws, writh his own and i. EH. Anderson's divisions, was ordered to seize Mllaryland Heights, on the north side of the Potomac, opposite Harper's Ferry, and General Walker was ordered to take possession of Loudon HIeighlts, at the intersection of the Sllenandoall and Potomac Rivers. When Harper's Ferry was reduced, and the Valley cleared of the enemy, these commands were to rejoin General Lee at Boonsboro or THagerstown.* General Jackson commenced his march from Frederick City on the 10th of September, and recrossed the Potomac at Lighlt's Ford, near AWilliamsport, the next day. hill's division moved on the turnpike direct to Martinsburg, while Ewell's and Jackson's divisions moved to the North MiSountain depot on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, about seven miles northwest of Mkartinsburg, where they bivouacked for the night. Alarmed by the approach of these forces, the Federals evacuated Martinsburg during the night, and fell back to Harper's F'erry. On the morning of the 12th, General Jackson entered Martinsburg, capturing a large quantity of stores abandoned by the enemy. Pressing on during the day, he came in sighllt of the enemy's outer line on Bolivar I-eights, in the rear of Harper's Ferry, the next morning, the 13th, at eleven o'clock. General * General Lee's Report. 244 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Hill, who led the advance, went into camp near Halltown, about two miles from Bolivar Heichts. The other divisions encamped near by, and General Jackson set to work to ascertain if Walker and McLaws had arrived. No answer to his signals being returned from the opposite mountains, he dispatched couriers to Maryland and Loudon IHeights, to learn if the troops of MceLaws and ~Walker were in position. General Walker crossed the Potomac on the night of the 10th, at Point of Rocks, and moved rapidly on Loudon Hieights, which were successfully occupied on the night of the 13th. General Jackson's courier reached him soon after the arrival of his column on the heights, and he returned answer to General Jackson, announcing his presence. Walker's arrival was discovered on the morning of the 14th, and the enemy at once opened on him with their batteries. Walker replied, and cannonaded the town for about two hours, his fire doingcr some dama(ge to the Federals. The task assigned to General McLaws was more difficult. Maryland Heights is the name given to the extreme southern portion of Elk Ridge, lying immediately on the Potomac, oppo= site Harper's Ferry. The town of HIarper's Ferry is completely commanded by these heights, which were fortified and held by the enemy. \When General Halleck ordered Colonel Mailes to hold Harper's Ferry, the latter officer should have withdrawn at once to Maryland Heights, where he could have maintained his position until McClellan's arrival. He did not do this, but remained in the town with his main body, holdingo the heights with a small part of his force. General McLaws' duty was to drive off this force and capture the heights, when it would be impossible for the garrison at Harper's Ferry to hold out, and their escape being cut off, they would be obliged to surrender. McLaws marched on the 11th, and on the 12th arrived in front of the Federal position on IM~aryland Heighlts, in the THE CAPTURE OF HARPER S FERRY. 245 meantime taking care to occupy the passes in South MSountain by which the enemy at Washing'ton conld send assistance to Harper's Ferry. He at once opened the attack, driving in the Federal skirmishers until darkness put an end to the conflict. The inhabitants of the country informed him that the Federal position on the heights was very strong, and defended by powerful artillery, thus causingT General MAILaws to advance cautiously, and more slowly than he would have done but for these reports, in whlich the people all agreed, but which proved in the end to be false. The next morning, thle 13th, he renewed his advance, and, after a sharp and spirited engagement through dense woods and over a rouogh and ru;ggTed country, succeeded in carrying the enemy's main line, which was very strong, and, by half past Gfour in the afternoon, gained possession of the heights. He at once disposed his troops from IMaryland Heights to Sandy Hook, about a mile below, on the river, commanding the town and cutting off the escape of the garrison.* Gexveral Jackson had expected that all the troops would reach their pcsitions in time to enable him to storm the enemy's works on the 13th, which would have enabled him to rejoin General Lee on the 14th. The divisions not being in place until it was too late to make the attack, he deferred it until the next day. The Federals held a strong position, strengthened by well constructed works on Bolivar heights, extending friom near the Shenandoah to the Potomac. While they held these worlks very little could be done by McLaws' and ]Walker, as their gunls but imperfectly commanded this line. To remedy this, General Jackson determined to force the [Federals from Bolivar Heights back into the town of Harper's Ferry. Accordingly General Hill, who held the right, was ordered to move down the left bank of the Shenandoah, turn the enemy's * General McLaws' Report. 246 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. left flank, and gain the town. Ewell's division was to move along the turnpike, to support Hill, and Jackson's division was to make a demonstration on the Federal righllt at the same time, while tle cavalry, under Major -Massie, were to operate between Jackson's left and the Potomac and prevenlt the garrison from escaping up the river. During the afternoon of the 14th, the 6s Stonewall brirgade" attacked the enemy's right, driving in their cavalry and securingo an eminence to the left of Bolivar HIeilghts, and near the Potomac, which was immediately occupied by the batteries of Poague and Carpenter. At the same time, A. P. Hill's division moved down the Shenandoah to turn the enemy's left. "Observin g an eminence crownin g the extreme left" of the Federal line, 6" occupied by infintry, but without artillery and protected only by an abatis of fallen timber, Pender, Archer, and Brockenborough were ordered to gain the crest of thalt hill, while Branch and Grecgg were directed to anarch along the river, and, durintg the night, to take advantage of the ravines, cutting the precipitous banks of the river, and establish themselves on the plain to the left and rear of the enemy's works." Ewell's division moved along the turnpike in three colulnns, one on the road and one on each side of it, until it reached Halltown, where it was formed in line of battle, by its commander, Gen. eral Lawton. Continuing to advance, the division reached and occupied School House Hill, immediately in front of the Federal works, where it bivouacked for the night. Durinc the night, Colonel Crutchfield, Jackson's Chief of Artillery, crossed ten guns of Ewell's division to the opposite side of the Shen-. andoab, and established them in a position from which they could enfilade the enemy's line. The remainder of the artillery belonging' to this division was posted on School House Hill. The investment of Harper's Ferry was now complete, anf4 * Gen. Jackson's Report. THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY. 247 that night Jackson signalled to Generals MlcLaws and Walker his famous message —" I have occupied and now hold the enemy's first line of intrenchments, and, with the blessing of God, will capture the whole force early in the morning." As the day dawned, on the morning of the 15th of September, Jackson's artillery opened upon the Federals. The batteries on School House Hill attacked the enemy in front, Poagcue's and Carpenter's,guns opened from the right, followed by the guns sent over the Shenandoah, in the rear of the enemy, by Colonel Crutchfield, and finally by the batteries on Loudon and IMIaryland Heights. The cannonade was terrific, the most of the guns being scarcely a thousand yards from the Federal works. In about an hour the Federal guns seemed to be silenced. Immediately the batteries of Hill's division ceased firing, and the infa1ntry moved forward to storm the works. Pender's brigade had. scarcely commenced to advance when the lFederal artillery again opened, and the batteries of Pecgram and Crenshaw dashed forward and poured a heavy fire into the enemy. A white flag now fluttered from the Federal workls, and immediately the Southern guns ceased firing, and the advance of the inf antry was checked. A message was received from General WAThite, (Colonel Miles having been mortally wounded,) announcing his readiness to capitulate, and shortly afterwards the post and garrison were formally surrendered to General Jackson, General A. P. 1Hill conducting the negotiations. The terms accorded were liberal. The officers and men were paroled, and allowed to retain all their personal effects, and the former their side-arms, transportation beingr furnished them for the removal of their property. Eleven thousand troops were surrendered, together with seventy-three pieces of artillery, thirteen thousand stand of arms, two hundred wagons, and a large amount of stores. Jackson's loss was small. 248 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. In the meantime events of great importance had occurred beyond Elk Ridge, and General Jackson was met immediately after the surrender of Harper's Ferry by an order from General Lee to hasten to rejoin him with all speed. Leaving General Hill to receive the surrender, and superintend the removal of the captured property, and directinfg McELaws and WTal'ker to follow as rapidly as possible, Jackson at once set off to rejoin General Lee, and by a severe night march came up with him at Sharpsburg on the morning of the 16th. It is necessary now to go back to the time when the army left Frederick City. II. SOUTH MIOUNTAIN. When General Lee entered Maryland his design was not to make a direct attack on either Washington or Baltimore, but to manceuvre so as to draw MaL1cClellan away towards the Cumberland'Valley, thus forcing him to uncover those cities, when General Lee could either elude MIcClellan and fall suddenly upon them, or force the Young Napoleon to fight at such a distance from his base of operations. In accordance with this plan he moved from Frederick, on the 10th, after Jackson had started, and passing South Mtountain, marched towards Boonsboro, leaving General Stuart with the cavalry east of the mountains to watch the movements of the Federal army, which was known to be slowly approaching. A report having been received that the enemy were approaching from the direction of Chambersburgh, Pennsylvania, General Longstreet was sent to Haugerstown to watch them and bold them in check, while D. H. Hill halted near Boonsboro to SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 249 prevent the escape of the garrison of HIarper's Ferry through Pleas'ant Valley, and to support the cavalry.* It was confidently expected that Harper's Ferry would fall on the 13th, and the advance of the Federal army was so slow that General Lee ex.pected to capture that place and reunite his columns before McClellan could arrive. Then the army would move towards Penunsvlvania. In the mecantime the Federals had not been idle. XWhen the defeated remnants of Pope's army crowded into the lines of Washington, it became necessary to find a leader who could restore order and confidence to the troops, and place them once more in the field. There was but one man who could do this - for he was the only one in whom the army yet retained confidence - and. that was General McClellan. After his withdrawal from the James he had been reduced to the command of the defences of the Capital, to the great delight of his eneLiees. Now, amidst the dismay of his Government, every one pointed to him as the only commlander capable of offering any resistance to the victorious Southern legions. President Lincoln requested him to resume the command of the Army of the potomac, placing at his disposal all of the troops around R Tashington. General JRcClellan proumptly resumed his former positionl, ald coymmenced with enerfgy to put the army in condition for actirve service. The remrains of his old artmiy and that of General Pope were organized into one compact body. Hooker was assigned to the command of the 1st corps (McDowell's old corps); the 9th corps of Burnside's old force, was under General Rexlno. The 12th corps, formerly commanded by Banks' was given to General Mansfield. General Burnside's corps was also brought up from Fredericksburg, and united with iMcClellan's forces. t * General Lee's Report. t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 197. 32 250 LIFE OF Gi-ITESRAL LEE. On the 5to of Sept ember, as soon as it was known that G-eneral Lee had crossed into Marjylandl, General ileClellan moved forward from \ 7ashing'ton towards Frederick City to meet himo. Iis advance was made by five parallel roads, the Ar-yv of the Potomac being disposed so as to cover both W Vashington and Baltimore. The left flank rested on the Potomare, and the right on the Ba.ltimore and Ohio Rlailroad. The colmnnand of' the right wino' was given to GTeneral Burnside, General S1;umner held the centre, and General Franklin the left win g Th'e effective strength of this army Lwas eighity-seven thousand one hundred and sixty-four men of all arms. The emergeency was so great that the work of reorganization had to be done while the troops were on the march. it was well done, and reflects thIe highest credit upon General MIcClellan, to w homi alone it was due. IHe displayed more energy than lhe had ever shown, and it was no slight achievement'to take comnma nd of a mutinous and demoralized army, just after a crushing defeat, and in ten dlays be in front of the enemy with a solid and reor1anized command( General McClellan, being in utter ioo-oranc orf Lee's jilentions, mored very slowly and with greait caL tion. TIe wAs certain of one thing only- that General Lee would attempt to capture the garrison of Harper's Ferry, and he repeatedly y urged his Governiment either to oider its vr:d lrawx.al, or place it under his comnnand, in order thant lie Eni'Chit remnove it from the danger which threatened it. His requests were unheeded at first, but finally the garrison was placed under his command~ It was then too late, however, to save it, as the sequel pIrovedo Mloving on cautiously he reached Frederick on the 12tll of September, driving out the cawdlry that had been left there by Generlal Stuart to watch hin. On the 13th, by a piece of extraordinary good fortune, General MaeCClellan gained possession * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 198o SO UTEH OUN TAIN. 251 of General Lee's confidential order to General D. II. lTil], giv ing the plan of the campaign. This order had been lost near Frederick, and found by some person. in the Federal advanced forces, when the vicinity of Frederick was occupied by them.0 * The order was as follows: "-I HEADQUARTERS ARiaY OF NORTIIRN VIRGTtITTA, September 9, 1862.' SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 191. "The army will resume its march to-morrow, taking the Hag'erstow.n road. General Jackson's command will form the advance, and( after passing Middleton, with'suchl portion as he may select, will take the route towards Sharpsburg, cross the Potonmac at the most convenient point and by Friday night take possession of the Baltimore an(d Ohio R1ailroad, capture such of the enemy as umtay be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from IIarper's Ferry. " General Longstreet's commaind will pursue the same road as far as Boonsboro, where it will halt with the reserve, supply and baggage trains of tlhe army. "General McLaws, with his own divrision and that of General I. II.. Anderson, wili follow General Longstreet. On reaching Middleton, he wvill take the route to HIarper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the MIaryland HIeights, and endeavor to capture the enemy at HIarper's Ferry and vicinity.'"General Walker, with his division, after accomplislling the object in wiich lhe is now engag-ed, will cross the Potolmac at Cheek's Ford, and ascend its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudon hIeights if practicable, by Friday morning, Key's Ford on his left, and the road between the end of the moluntain, and the Potomac on hlis right. HI-Ie ill, as far as practicable, cooperate with General McLaws and General Jackson, in intercepting the retreat of the enemy. "General 1D. II. Hill's division will form the rear-guard of the army, pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance, and supply trains, &c., will precede General Hill. "General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the commantds of General Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and witLh thle main body of the cavalry will cover the route of tile army, and bring up all stragglers that may have been left behind. "The commuands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and Walker, after accomplishing the objects for which they have been detached, will join the mail body of the army at Boonsboro or Hagerstown. 252 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The possession of this document was of the greatest value to General McClellan. It furnished him with an accurate description of General Lee's designs, showed him the disposit-ion of Lee's forces, and gave him an advantage over the Southern army which the reader will readily appreciate, and which should have resulted in the destrtuction of the Army of' Northern Viri ginia,- in short, that army was, by the discovery of this order, placed at the mercy of General McClellan. The Federal commander resolved to press his advantage, and at once urged forward his army. He meant to secure the passes of South:Mountain, and throw his forces into Pleasant Valley, where they could fall upon the divided Confederate force, beat it in detail, and rescue the garrison of Harper's Ferry from the clutches of Stonewall Jackson. McClellan advanced rapidly, and on the afternoon of the 13thl, while McLaws and W'alker were getting into position at I-Iarper's Ferry, arrived in front of the passes of South Mountain, driving back the cavalry, who exerted themselves to imecde his progress in order to give General Lee time to bring up troops to dispute the passage of the mountains. After leavincg the Potomac, beginning at the northern shore of that river, and extending through Pennsylvania, the great range of the Blue Ridge is called the South M4ountain. Two miles fulrther westward is the range known as 3I ary]and Hciolhts. The country lying' between these two ranges is named Pleasant Valley, and is from two to three miles in woidth. It is very rugged, and almost Alpine in its character. There are two roads lead:ng from Frederick City to the western E' ach regiment, on the march, will habitually carry its axes in the regimental ordnance wagons, for use of the men at their encampments, to procure wood. " By command of GENERAL R. E. LEE, R. H. CHILTON, A. A. GeneraLa"9 6 MAJO-GENERAL D. I. HIILL, Comd'a Division." SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 253 part of the State- the main, or HTgrerstown road, which passes the South 3,{ountain at Turner's Gap, near the village of Boonsboro, and another which passes the mountain at Crampton's Gap about five or six mines farther to the south. These passes are very strong, and are impregnable against direct attacls if properly defended. They may be turned, however, by nmoulntahi roads leadirng to positions commanding thern, higlh upon the sides of the mountain. When General McClellan learned the olbject of Lee's movements and the disposition of his forces, he determined to throw his centre and right against- the pass leacling to Boonsboro; while Fralnlin's corps should force the passage of Cramptoxl's Gap, attack MacLar Xaws in the rear, drive him off, and rescue the garrison of Harper's Ferry. General Lee was informed of the presence of the enemy at South Mountain on the afternoon of the 13th of September. The suddenness of the movement surprised him, for it showed a clear conception by General McClellan of Lee's designs, and the latter was as yet ignorant of the fate of his order to General D. H. HTill. Seeing the danger which threatened him, General Lee ordered General D. H-1. Hill to occupy Turner's Gap, and prevent the enemy from passing through. Up to this time nothing had been heard fromn Harper's Ferry, and it was still believed by General Lee that the place would fall that day - the tlhirteenthb -lHe had counted on reuniting his army after the fall of that place before McClellan could arrive, and but for the dis* clovery made by the latter at Frederick, he would havre done so. It was a part of his original plan to draw the enemy from their base of supplies, and as a means of doing this, he had intended'to permit McClellan to pass South Mountain unmolested. His troops were disposed with this intention on the 13th. Now, however, it was necessary to hold the mountain passes until Harpec's Ferry should fall, and to keep McClellan east of the mountains until the army was prepared to reunite before him. 2q54 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Accordingrly General D. H. Hill was informed of the danger which threatened the army, and instructed to hold his ground as long as possible. General Hill at first sent back the brigades of Garland and Colquitt, but subsequently learning that the enemy were in heavy force, moved his whole division to the Gap. General Lee ordered General Longstreet to march at once to Hill's support. General Hill had been informed by General Stuart that only two brigades of the enemy were threatening the pass, and that one brigcade would be sufcient to hold it.'* A personal inspection, however, satisfied him that if he wished to hold it he must use his whole division, which he at once ordered up. Had the Federals, who came in front of the pass in heavy force on the afternoon of tLe 13th, attacked the position at once, it must have fallen, as it was wholly at their mercy, being defended by less than two thousand men. The bold front assumed by Hill induced them to await the arrival of their main body. EHill's division was only five thousand strong, and much too weak to hold the position properly. It could occupy the pass itself, but could afford very little protection to the two mountain roads, - the one on the right and the other on the left of the pass, -by which it might be turned. The road on the rilght led to a sharp, jagged peak which commanded the -whole position. Should the enemy seize thlis point, it would be impossible to hold the mountain.' About seven o'clock in the morning, the enemy (2"eno's corps) opened a sharp artillery fire on the Southern rigllt, having yet failed to see the importance of the peak on their left. Soon after the cannonade began, General Reno pushled forward a strong colunmn throughll the heavy woods, and endeavored to seize the road leading to the right of the pass. The *Geeral D. H. Hill's Report. t General D. H. Hill's Report. SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 255 at[tn. k was met by Garland's brigade, which at -first checked the Federal advance, but General Garland being killed, his brigade became demoralized, and was forced back, and Reno's mr>en, pressing on, occupied the first ridfge on the side of the mouintain HFad they continued to press on, they could ehave gaiTne.d the road. They were, however, too nucll injlured to pulr,oue their advantage, having suniered severely fi'om thle fire of' rG:rland's men, losing their commander, General Ceno, an ablf, officer. }enleral IHill promptly imoved up Anderso)n's brigade to take t 1ae ol: f Garland's troops. Andcrson; wxas ordecred to hold the road for which thfe enemy were contendincg, and Colonel.o-'eer, w-vnith his reoiment of cavalry, dismounted as sharpshdooters, and a battery of artillery, was directed to hlold a mountaintpath still farther to the lriht. At the same time General Hill ordered Colquitt's bricgade and two batteries to support Anlderson, and moved several'guns to a point commanding the a ppiroaches to the peak on his left, and the right of the pass. The enemy now began to appreciate the importance of the peak, and made several attempts to seize the road leading to it, all of' which were repulsed by Hill.- Rodes' brigade was ordered by General Hill to oceupy the peakl. Heavy slkirmishingc continued between the opposing forces, and about three o'clock in the afternoon the advanced brigades of Longstreet's command, under General Drayton and Colonel G. T. Anderson, arrived. They brought about one thousand nine hundred men with them.. Hill's single division had held the enemy in check nearly eight hours, and he was anxions to defeat them before they could commence their principal attack. In the meantime the Federals collected rapidly in front of HTill's position~ By two o'clock in the afternoon the entire command of General Burnside, consisting, of Reno's and HIooker's corps, fully thirty thousand strong', had arrived. The 256 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. importance of the peak on the Southern left had by this time become fully appreciated, and General Burnside now directed his efiorts against it. HI-Iooker's corps led the assault, which was made about four o'clock. General Hill, wishing to prevent this movemenDt, had collected on his right the brigades of Ripley, Anderson, and Drayton, and thrown themn upon Reno's corps. Drayton's brigade was repulsed and driven in disorder, but Anllderson and Iipley maintained their ground, checking the etf-orts of the enemy to advance their line. ~While this was going on, Hooker made a sharp attaclk the Confederate left held by the brig'ade of General ilodes. T1he ground was very difficult, and of such a characeter that the enemy in advancing were almost entirely sheltered friom the fire of Iodes' artillery. The infantry of this gallant brig'cde inflicted severe loss upon the Federals, and gallantly contested the ground inch by inch. For several hours this single brigade of twelve hundred men repulsed the imnpetuous assaults of Hooker's corps, but, towards dark, Hooker, whose superiolr strength enabled him to extend his flanks so as almost to envelope Rodes' command, succeeded in forcing back the little band, and gaining the crest of the peak, the ley point to Hill's whole position. Darkness now put an end to the battle. Longstreet's nimain columnn reached the pass about iour o'clock in the afternoon, and his troops were posted on the right and left of the turnpike, about the centre of Hill's line. They soon became actively engaged, althougrh much exhaustel by their' long and severe march, and succeeded in repulsing' the assauits of the enemy on the centre. When the battle ended, the enemy had been repulsed in their assaults on Hill's centre, and driven back some distance on the right, but on the left they had carried the peatk held by Rodes' brigade, and this placed the entire Southern line at their SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 2 57 mercy. The position could no longer be maintained successfrully, and itf was necessary for the Southern army to retire from it before ti-'e attack could be renewed by the enemy in the mnornisng Besides this, the necessity for holdincg the mountain was now at an end. General Lee hlld been informled by Gen.eral Jacklson that FHlarper's Ferry would undoubtedly be captured the rinext day. Ilie;theXreefore resolved to retire froml South Moiuntain, and takle position at Sarpsburg, where h1e would be on the flank of any force movi ng through Pleasant Valley upoon iT.cLaLws on staryland Hoightts, and be able to reunite his divided colmu3ns successfully. His position there would also comnmand the o rds of -the Potom'ac, and keep open his line of retreat into Virg'inia in case of disaster. Accordingly the troops were withdr awn during' the niglt towards Antietamn Creek. While thle battle was?o;nro on at Taorner's Gap, events of no less impo-rtance were transpiring at Crampton's Gap, about six niles to'the soutlhward. Fitl uk;ln reached this position about nine or ten o'clock on t-he morning of the 14th, and at once 1ade his dispositions for attack, throwing forward both of his dixl~isis, Slocumr's on theg righlt and Smitlh's on the left. -The p sition wa held by a wealk portion of l/teLaws' division, unnder Genieral 1Howell Cobb. General McLaws was under tie imaDresSion t;hat the pass xias threatened by a very small force of the eneu myo He was colnfilrmied in this opinion by General Stnart's assertion that he tid not believe the enemy's force amnounte, d t'o mwnore thaxn a brigade.* Stuart had been weatehing tlhe Feder1ni advsarnce, and being deceived himself, had misinfrnrmed bo- DDo H-1 T-1Xll a-nd McLaws as to the character of the.Federaln novements General Cobb's three brigades had been posted t tdh1 Gap onoly a few ihours, when Franliin nmade his * General McLaws' Report. 258 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. attack. He was instructed by General M.cLaws to hold his position' if he lost his last man in doing it." Franklin mLade a sharp attack, and met with a grallant resistance. It was vain for three small brigades to attempt to hold such a force in cheek. Yet it took three hours for Firanklin to dislod(ge Cobb and carry the pass, which was atI;tended witlh a loss of four hundred prisoners, seren e huntlred stand of arms and one piece of artillery on the part of' the Confederates. The news that the Federals lhad forced Cramptoin's Gap, tooki General lcLaws by surprise, and ptlaced hill in a difficult position. IHis retreat up Pleasant Valley was cut off, and Harper's Ferry still held out. Should he retire along the rivser shore at the base of Maryland Heights, Franklin would fall upon his rear, and the garrison at Harper's Ferry would almost destroy his command as it moved under their fire. To attempt to retreat eastward would be to fall into the hands of the enemy. There was nothing to do but to defend his position as well as he \Eas able. IHe at once moved all his force, except one regCiment which he left to hold lMaryland H-eights opposite -Harper's F'erry, and took position in Pleasant Valley, about a mile and a half from Crampton's Gap, from which Frzanklin's troops were debouching into the Valley. By the time the Confederate line was formed the darkness checked the advance of the enemy. The next morning McALaws awaited Franklin's attack, but the latter, deceived by the bold front of the Confederates, proceeded cautiously to select positions from which his artillery could command the Southern line. During the miornino General icLaws was inrfornied that IIarper's Ferry had surrendered, and was instructed by General Jackson to withdraw to the south side of the Potomac, and hasten to General Lee's assistance. McLaws performed the delicate task of retiring down the Valley with great skill. I-e crossed over to Harper's Ferry at two o'clock that afternoon, SIHARPSBURG. 259 and at eight the next morning encampel at I ai.ltown to rest his men. Resuminil his march on the 16th, he reached the army at Sharpsburg about sunrise on the morning of the 17th. The Confederate loss at South Mountain was severe, being about three thousand men, half of whom were prisoners. The enemy's loss was about eighteen hundred, including General Reno. IV. SHtARPSBURG. Thus, althougoh MIcClellan had greatly interfered with the Southern commander's plan of calmpaign, the resistance offered at South Mountain had enabled General Jackson to effect the capture of Harper's Ferry. The first part of General MeClellan's designs had been baffled, and it now remained but to try the issue of a general engagement. He moved his army through the passes abandoned by the Confederates on the night of the 14th, reaching' the west side of the mountain about eilght o'clock on the morning of the 15th. During the day he followed slowly the route taken by General Lee, skirmisbing with the Confederate rear-guard along the greater part of the way. Towards the afternoon, his command was brought to a sudden halt by the discovery that the Confederate arimy was in position on the west bank of Antietam Creek, a small tributary of the Potomac lying immediately in front of SharpsburIg. I have shown how, by a series of adverse circumstances, General Lee was compelled to depart from his original plan of the campaign. First the retention of Harper's Ferry by the Federals, forced him to turn aside from the course he had marked out, and to lose much valuable time in the reduction 260 LIFE OF GENELAL LEE, of the place; then t.he discovery of his programme by General McClellan gave the Union commander such an adkvantazge that he ought to have destroyed the Confederate army. The bold resistance made by H-1i! and LonCstr'eet at; South A)iounl:ain) partly atoned for all this, but when the army reached the banksl of the Antietarm it was absolutely rnecessa5:y to n make a stand, inl orXer to collect its scattered nmemnbers. W ith the Federal armny pressing on so closely, it was absolutely impossible to avToid a battle, whether General Lee wished to recross the river into 0Virginia or mnove against Pennsylvania. In any case the first necessity was to check the advance of the Federal army. The chiances of such a battle were decidedly against General. Lee. oHis command was grreatly reduced in stren!gth, and somem vhiat disheartened by the unflavorable events of the campaigo. fT/hen he reached Sharpsburg his entire army numbered less than forty thousand men - about thirty-three thousand in all. Of this force the commands of Jackson, iacLaws, and WTalker were absent. The Federal army was more than eilghty thousand strong, and plentifully supplied with every necessity and imrost of the luxuries of a soldier, and had suffered less in every respect than that of the Confederates. The Southern army occupied the ground lying betvween the P0otomac and Antietam - which come together, a short distance south of Sharpsburg, at an angcle of about forty-five degrees -- and' covering the fords of the 0 Potomac in the neio'hborhood of Shepherdstown. The troops vwere disposed immediately in fr'ont f Sha1rpsbarg', alongT the west blank of tihe Antietanm. Longstreet's corps held the rilght, and was posted on the right of the Boonsboro tulzpike, e xtendincg south of the town. D. H. Hili held the centre, and was posted on the left of the Boonsboro road, Inmnedia.tely in front of Sharpsburg'o General Jackson, who arrived during the 16th, was posted on the left, the interv al betvween- his command and that of General D. H. Hill being SH iRPSBURG. 2~61 occupied by General fTood's division. Jaekson's troops were at first held in reserve, and the country between the left and the Potomac wavs occupied by the cavalry, under General Stuart. There are three brid:es over the Antietaml in tihe neig.hborhood of Sharpsburg. Tfle lowest of the;e wavs in front of' General Longstreet's position, the other exactly opposite th' Con:-ederate centre, Cand the third several. mniles big'her up the stream. The Confeder te force wtas too weak to cover this bridg'e, also, and General Lee concluded that AMcClellan 1w1ould take advantage of this, and attempt to turn his left flank by ross3ing at this unouarded bridge. Thle Federal army arriived on the left bank of the Antietain early in the afternoon of the fifteenth. General Lee had disposed his weak command to such advantage, that General MceClellan decided to wait until his army was all on the ground before trying to force a passage of the creek. During the rest of the day and night his troops arrived. He formed his line with Burnside on his left, Porter in his centre, and 1Hooker, and Sumner on his right - Sumner h-aving charge of his own corps and that of General Mansfield. A reconnoisance of the Confederate position revealed to the Federal commiander the unguarded bridoge, and, as General Lee had foreseen, he determined to throw his right wing over the creek at this point, and turn the Southern left. This duty he assigned to Hiooker's corps, which was to be followed and supported by Sumnner's two corps. The sixteenth was spent in occupying positions Jlong' the creek, it being his intention to force a direct passaoee as soon as the attack of i-ooker should succeed on his right. The artillery wtas posted at favorable points to silence the fire of the Southern guns, and assist the movements of the infantry. These arrangenments consumed the morning of the 1 6th. In order to divert attention from Hooker's movement, Me 2 62 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, Clellan op)ened his artllery aloni his le ft and centre. This was responided to by the batteries of D. H. Hill's divisions. The Federal batteries wbere superior in every respect to those of the Confederates, and the latter were soon silenced. H0ooiker cornarnecned hisi march about four o'clock in the afternoon, and crossed the Antietair at tlhe bridge'I have mentioned, out of range of the Southern artillery. In order to guard against this mnovement, Generai Lee had placed the two brigades under General Hood on hi3s left. Hood's line extended across tlhis ffiank, and f -r-nced a lmost an actute angle with the position held by the rest of ihe arrny~ Hooker attacked him about dusk, and H-Iood held his ground in a brisk skirmish which ensued. Both comminands passed tihe nig'ht on this part of the field, within anusket shot of exch other. During the niglht General MleClellan threw Miansfield's corps across the Creek to Hooker's assistance9, and ordered Sumnner to follow with his own corps early in the morning. Hooker's attack revealed the destIign of the;Federal conmmender, and General Lee ordered Jackson's corps, which had been held in reserve, -&o talke position on Hood's left. This was promp tly done. Jackson's right rested on the Hagerstown road, and his left extended toward the1 Potomac, protected by General Stuart w ith th c avalrv and horse artillery.* At the samne time Walker's two briigades Vzweroe moved up on Longrstreet's right, and towiards ten o'clock IH-ood's troops were relieved by Lawton's and Trimble's brigcades of Ewell's division. The morning of the i7th of0 Septemhber xas ushered in by a heavy cannonade from th. Fedoral batteries on both sides of the Antietam. The positio-n of those on te left bank enabled them to enfi!lare JacksoIn's i ne an his troops suffered greatly from it. Under the cover of this fire, Hooker advanced his corps, * General Lee's Report. SHAJRPSBURG. 263 eighteen thousand stronr,, and made a vigorous effort to get possession of the Hagierstown roacd, and the woods to the west of it. To nseet this attack Jackson had but two divisions, his own-D, under Gener al J. P. Jones, and Ewell's, under Lawton and his total strength was four thousand men, so greatly lhad the command been reduced by losses and stra1'ling. The Federal onset was well made, and a murderous fire of' shell, canister, and musketry poured into Jackson's weak line. General J. R. Jones was disabled, and borne firom the field, and the command of Jbackson's division passed to the gallant General Starkeo In the face of this fire, Jackson advanced his lines, driving the enemy back on their left and centre, assisted by three brigades on D. H. tHill's extreme left, whlile H-Tooker'st right division was repulsed by the splendid fire of Stuart's horse airtillery, posted between Jackson's left and the Potomac. Yet so well sustained was the enemy's attack,' that at length Jack. son's lines beg'an to rwaver, and his troops commenced to give ground. The corps had sLufitered horribly. Jackson's division hlad lost two commanders, (General Jones wounded, and General Stairke killed,) and General Lawton, commanding Ewvell'!; division, had been borne frtom the field desperately wounded. 6' Colonel Douglass, commanding Lawton's brigade had been killed, and the brigade had sustained a loss of three huntdred and flify-four killed and wounded, out of one thousand oune hundred and fifty, losingc five regimental comnmanders out of six. Hayes' brigade had sustained a loss of three hundred and twenty-three out of five hundred and fifty, inecludinlo every regimental commander and all of his staff; and Colonel a.ll1ker and one of his staff had been disabled, and the brig(ade he was commandi-ng' had sustained a loss of two hundred and twentyeight out of less than seven hundred present, including three ouit of four regihmental commanders."' * General Jackson's Report. 264 LIFE OF GENER-AL LEE. Yet, in spite of these losses, the beroic men nade one mnore desperate effort, and drove Hooker's conmmmad wiith such fury that it beg2an to show signs of demnoralization. I. od00 s two0 brigades bad been advanced to tlhe relief of Lawton an d Trimnible, and bore their part nobly in this charge. Thoe ConedUerates bought this success at a dear price, fbr they seeired se — verely in their advance. Yet so vigoorous was their assault that iooker's l-en cominenced to break to the rear. General 1H1d6oker himself viwas3 wounded and carried from the field, his absence contributing greatly to the disorder of his nmen. Mlansfield's corps had conme up about seven o'clock, and had shared the fate of Hook. er's corps in this advance, and General Iansfield haa been mortally wounded. It was nine o'clock, and victory seemed about to declare in. favor of the Confederates. H-ooker's and Mansfield's corps had been driven back by Jackson's divisions and Hood's two brig' ades, - a force of not less than thirty thousand repulsed by less than six thousand, - and both of the Federal cormmanders had. been carried from the field. The effort to turn Lee's left had signally failed, and the Federal rlight seemred on the point of becomniing demoralized. At this moiment General Sumner arrived with his corps, and restored order in the Federal ianklso Ite at once formed his line and renewed the efort to turn the Confederate left, extending his attack. also, to the Soutlhern centre under D. 1H. Hill. Jackson's command had been so greatly shattered by the hard fighting of the smornino, that it was in no condition to oppose the advance of Sumner, and it was swept back witih ease by th6 Federals. Its amnmunition was exhausted, and it fell back rapidly, and in some disorder, Now it seemed that it was the Confederates who were about to be defeated, for should Sulmner succeed in his attack, Lee's left flank would be turned, SEHARPSBURG. 265 and he vould be cut off from the Potomac. The gallant stand made by Jackson's corps before it began to retreat allowed Generali Lee time for an important movement. Beingl apprised of General Jackson's critical condition, he detached fqalker's two brig ades from Longstreet's right, and sent themn to Jackson. At the same timne the division of' Gen.. cral Mca.Avs, vwhich was just conming -upon the battle-field fromr I1arper',s Ferry, wvas directed to hasten to the left. These troops arrived just as Jackson's men had been driven beyond their original position, and when it seemed that Sumner was about to double up the Confederate left on its centre. HtastiLly reforming his line, and bringing his reenforcemnents into action, General Jackson fell upon Sumnier with fury, and penetratin(g an interval between his right and centre, broke his line and drove him throug'h the woods, across the Hagerstown road, and back to a point half a mile from where the charge beoan, reg(iining possession of his orioginal position. Jackson's corps had suffered too much, and his recnforcements were too limited to permnit him to follow up his advantage by an effort to force Sumner back over the Antietam, and hle contented himself wi;lth holding the ground he had regained. It vwas now noon. The attempt to turn Lee's left had failed. Jackson with leos than twelve thousand men (including his reenforcements) had met.and driven back the forty thousand splendid infantry of Hooker, Sumner and Mlansfield. In the last attack General Sumner had been so severely punished that he made no further effort during the day to resume the o fensive. As the fighting ceased on the Southern left, it was taken up in the centre against which the divisions of French and Richardson had been ordered by General Sumner, who hoped thus to lighten thle pressure with which Jackson was bearing down upon him. The first attack of these troops was made upon the 84 266 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, brigades of Colquitt, Ripley and McRea, of D. 1-. Hill's di-lv sion, which had been advanced to Jacikson's assistance. The enemy iat first were driven back, Ibut as they brought up fiesla troops and continued to pour a gheavy fiire into Hill's line, some one raised the cry'6 They are fictlnkinrg us."' Tlhis cry ran alonr the Confederate r1anks with liu l'ninm apidity, the troops were panic stricken, and they fell baclk in disorlder.*- Anl efiort was made to rally them at an old stlilten road, runlnling nearly at riolht anoles to thie Hagerstaovn turn pike, wl ine l hat been their position previous to the advance. HIere a stand was made, and these brigades were united witll the rest of Hill's division. The eneilmy attempted to dislodge themn from this position also, but the Confederates nmet this assault with such a stubborin resistance that the Federals retired behind the crest of a hill friom which they imainta-ined an irregular fire. i' General.. i. Anderson's division, between three and four thousand strong', now arrived and reported to General h-1illo General 1ill directed him to form in the rear of his line, but while this order was being executed an unexpected disaster befell this part of General Lee's arimy. An officer of Gen erai iod3es' brigade, during the tenmporary absence of General RFodes in another part of the field, mistook one of General Hill's orders as a command to fall back, and infornmed the commIander of the 5th Alabaama recYgiment that the order was intended for the whole brigade, and the other regimental commanders were imnnmediately told this.': The brigade fell back, leaving a wide interval through which the enemy, who had been quick to perceive it, poured in heavy masses. G. B. Anderson's brigade, and then Wright'hs brigade, was broken, and driven black in disorder, General Anderson himself beinag wounded. M, lajorGeneral ER H1. Anderson and Genenealil Wrig'ht were also severely wounded. * General D. H-. I ill's Veport. I General Lee's Report. 1 General D. H. Hill's Report. SHARPSBURG. 267 The blow was so sudden and unexpected that it found General Hill trying to assist one of his wounded aides to a place of safety, secure in the belief that his line was in no danger. Prompt to act, however, he brouglht up a battery of four guns, and rallying a few hundred infantry, led then in person to tile chliarge This little folrce drove back the enemy and secured S position for the artillery, but the Federals still contimued to make determined efforts to pierce Lee's centre. For hIa1F an hour the fight raged with great violence. The fire of the artilIery rrwas admirable, and caused great suffering in the Federal ranks., 6Time and again," says a writer who was present, " did tJhA Federals perseveringly press close up to our ranks, so neai indeed that their supporting batteries were obliged to cease firing lest they should kill their own men; but just as often were they driven back by the combined edements of destruction which we brought to bear upon them. It was an hour when every mtan wMas wanted. The sharpshooters of the enemy were pickinc off our principal officers continually, and especially those who made themselves conspicuous in the batteries. " In this manner the comnpany of Captain aMiller, of the Washington Artillery, was nearly disabled, only two out of bhis fbur guns being fully manned. As it occupied, a position directly under the eye of General Long'street, and he Lsaxw the valuable part it was performing in defending the centre, that offcer dismountled himself firom his horse, and assisted by his Adjutant-Ge neral M ajor Sorrel, Major Fairfax, a-nd General Drayton, workled one of the guns until the crisis was passed. To see a, general oflcer wielding the destinies of a great fight, with its care and responsibilities upon his shoulders, performing the duty of a common soldier, in the thickest of the conflict, is a picture worthy of the pencil of an artist."J * Reports of Generals Lee and D. II. Eill. t Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 335. 268 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The enemy again moved forward. General Hill had been able to collect but a few hundred men belongi!ng tot his seattered brigades, and with these under his iimmiediate command, -the 27th1 North Carolina holding its grounid bravely without a single cartridge * - he repulsed tihe Federal attack, and, aided by the artillery I have referred to, checked the progress of the enemy, and assumed so bold a front that the Fedelals withdrew. H-ad they pressed on there can be little doubt that the centre of the Confederate line would have been carried. They ventured upon another attack a little later, farther to the right, but this was quickly repulsed by Moiller's battery, supported by a part of R. H. Anderson's division. While the fitht in the centre was going on, General Lee ordered General Jackson to endeavor to turn the enemy's rilght, and force it back across the Antietam. General Jackson at once moved off, but upon approaching the position held by Sumner, found that his line extended almost to the Potomac, and was powerfully defended by artillery, leaving no room between the river, which, in that direction miakes a remarkable bend, and the left of the Federal line for a turning movement, so that any attack would of necessity have to be nmade in front. General Jackson, in consideration of this and of the weakness of his force, concluded to refrain from any hostile de-monstration. It was well that he did not attack, for Sumner had been reenforced byT Franklin's corps. General Franklin was anxious to advance, but was kept inactive by General Sumner who did not desire to encounter Jackson again that day. The attack upon the centre ceased about two o'clock, and from this time there was a lull in the operations, broken only by "c artillery duels " of the armies. General McClellan had massed a column of fifteen thousand men, under General Burnside, on his left, in front of the lower * General Lee's Report. SHA1rPSBUWO 269 store,. bridug,,j'ad opposite thn position of General Longstreet, With this corps (the Oth) MIeCClellan designed forcing' t e -pas sage of the StonLe Bridge, and assaulting the Confede-rate raht as soon as the at2taek on Lee's l'ef- sho-uld be suceessfbul7j de e-d oped. A.fter carrying the bridge, General B]urnside was to drive the Con'rederates from the heights in the vilnity of Sharrpsburg, and take possession of the turnpike. Thallis would cut Lee o.f from She1h erdstown, and would pjut him to great loss, i1f it did not ruin hin. _It was designed that Genera! Burnside should ma1ke hlis attack early in thce mnorning. W11hen it was fo un that tihe Confederatee resistanec o hIis let w'cas -uore stubborn than had been anticipcted, General Burnside vwas ordered, by General:eCCelk an, to attack and carry the bridge, and move upon Sharpsburg at once, as the surest means of as,sisting' Hooke, Duringl the dCay General Burnside made sevw oral attempts to pass the bridge, but was each time foiled by the Co-federates. The necessities of the ler wving had forcede General L ee, eaYrly in tle day, to send to General Jackson the comninauds of Hood, W1alk.1er, and,7cLaws, leoavin g to General Longstreet the single division of CGeneral D. i. Jones. This command nluubered barely;-wenty-five hundred rnen, and was the only force thrat coud be spared to defend the right against the powerfutl corps. of Oe enal B3.urns3ie. The force immediately in front of the bridgce, a-rid chagred wvith its. d2ec, was the' brigai of Ge-; eral Too3osa four hu -dred strongo* Y et this haniful was suft..atient to hold Gen era" l',v rdrae in check during thie greater pLortion of the day..About Ifbr o'clockL, ho', teve-rB Burnside, who had been corni-, stantl Ty receiving orders fromn Ji e]4.Cli1!an to move forward, made a rush for the bridge and drove back Toornbs' brigade, almoset running over [t, Pressing on, he reached the crest held by 1Report of General D. BR. Jones. 270 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. General Jones' main column. A brief but stubborn resistance was ma.le by Jones' troops, but they were beaten back, and Burnside seemed about to seize the victory even at this late Just at this time A. P. Hill arrived from HIarper's Ferry with his division, having been on t]he mlarch since half past seven in tlie morningL. Reporting to General Lee in person, he vwas ordered to move to General Jones' assistance. His di-;vision was only two thousand strong. * As he reached the rigTht wing Jones was retiring, havingY been foreed to leave a battery of four guns in the hands of the enemy. Hill promptly united the retreating division with his own, -in all less than five thousand nen, -and then, hirlin(g them with resistless ener(gy upon the victorious enem iy, drove Burnside's corps rapidly before him, recapturincg thle battery and the ground that lhad been lost, and forcingr the enemy to take refiuge under the ricdge borderinog the Antietani, where they wvere protected by their batteries on the other side of the creek. Thus ended this great battle, and at sunset the Confederates remained upon the ground they had occupied in the morning, having repulsed every effort made to dislodge them. They suffered a loss in killed and wounded of about eight thousand seven hundred and ninety men, including Generals Starke and Branch killed, General G. B. Anderson, nortally wounded, and Generals R. H. Anderson, Ripley, L-awton, Wright, and Armistead wounded. The Federal loss was twelve thousand four hundred and sixty-nine, including General MTansfield nortally wounded, and Generals Hooker, Hartsuff, Duryee, Richardson, Sedgewick, Frencla, Sumnner, Da na, Mieagher, Ricketts, AWTeber, and RIodmnan wounded. It was almost d(ark when B3urnside was repulsed. The enetmy expecting that Lee would try to follow up his success by * General A. P. Hill's Report. THE RETREAT ACROSS THIE POTOMIAC. 271 crossing the creek, massed their artillery on the heights commnanding the bridges. General Lee had no intention of pushing on so far. ISe had foiled them in all their efforts, and this was a great triumph with so small an army as he had. During the night, some slioht reinforccements were received by the Confederate army, consisting chiefly of soldiers, who had been sick or wounded earlier in the year, and were now rejoinincr their reguiments, and of stragglers who were constantly coming in, but these fell far short of making up the losses in battle. On the mornino of the 18th, General McClellan had before h13m the alternatives of renewvincg the att-ack at once or deferring, it until the next day, when lie expected reenfbrcements, then on their way fromn Wtashi1ngton. l-le decided to adopt thle latter, lthough there was considerable probability thatl GCeneral Lee would retire into Virginia befbre the lmorningD' of the 19th. ) urin thle 18,1 the Confederate army occupied the position!,e dc on tlhe previous day, except in the centre, where the line was drawn in about two hundred yards. Although noot stroll enough to assume the offensive, General Lee regarded his ability to repel aamother attack as certain, and held his lines durinT the day wilthout apprehension.* V. THE RETREEAT ACROSS THE POTOMACo The battle of Shalrpsburg was not a victory for General MIcClelan. He had attacked an army scarcely more than onethird as strong as his own, and had been repulsed with a loss'me-ihSrd greater than that experienced by his antagonist. So * General Lee's Eeport. 272 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. severely blad his army sufLered from the handlinog it had reeeiCved. that it is certain it would have been driven back east of the mountains had the thirty t hous.and str agglers of Lee's army been present on the 17th of September. It is true tLat the invasion of AMaryland came to a close with this icpiga euient, but not, as Ias been asserted, in consequence of it. The delay caused by tle retention of H]arper's Ferry by the enenmy, and above all the terrible losses sustailed by the Soutthern larmny througl the straggling of the men, had so completely tdisar' ranged General Lee's programme as to make'a successful c; a m paign in Maryland no longer possibIle The campaign was in reality decided befoire the battle was atqfouglht, a nd the action was awaited by General Lee simply to put an end to 2dlcClellan's pursuit and secure the reunion of tie arilmy. On tlhe nig'ht of the 18th it was decided by General Lee to retire into Vilrginia at once. Ie hIad nothing to gain by waiting in his present position, and he was only increcsing his danger by continuing in Aiaryland. It was known to him that General MrlcClellarn was receivingl reeenlforceients. IHe could not hope for any addition to his army, and his communications with the south bank of the Potomac were maintained by a singie road, which was in such a condition that it xwas a' most impossible to supply the troops with food and ammunition. By retiringc into Virginia he could recruit his forces by co'leeting the stralgg ers from his arnry. The sick and wounded of the Peninsular cannpaign were now beginning to return to their reg-. iinents fLesh and ready for active service, and the Goveri.nmenlt waNas collectinlg renf-orcements for the army, all of whlom could join it mo.re readily in Virginia than in Mlaryland. The wants 0 of the men in clothing, shoes and provisions could be better supplied south of the I1otornac than north of it, On the night of the 18th, General Lonugstreet, whose position was only a few miles north of the Potomac, withdrew qui THE RIETREAT ACROSS TIIE POTOMAC. 273 etly, and recrossed the river near Shepherdstown. He was followed by the rest of tie army, the cavalry bringing up the rear, aud by eleven o'clock on the mornin, of the 19th the army was in position on the Virginia shore, ready to receive the enemy should they atitempt to pursue. Everything of value was brought ofo The iWAr York Tribune well expressed the feeling of disa1)pointnment which pervaded the North when the masterly withdrawal of the Southern comimander became known. 6 e leaves us," it said, C' the debris of his late camps, two disabled pieces of artillery, a few hundred of his stragglers, perhaps two thousand of his wounlded, aid as many more of his unburied dead. Not a sound field-piece, caisson, amrbulcance, or wagon: not a tent, box of stores, or a pound of ammunition. He takes with him the supplies gathered in Maryland, and the rich spoils of Harper's Ferry." When he discovered the withdrawal of General Lee, on the morning o~ the 19th, General McClellan pushed forward Porter's corps, which had been held in reserve during the battle of the 17th, and moved towards the Potomac in pursuit of General Lee. Porter reached the north bank just after the Confederates had crossed the river. General Pendleton was left to guard the ford with the reserve artillery and about six hundred infantry. During the night Porter crossed a strong column, and, driving off the infantry, captured four of Pendleton's guns. General Porter then establishled a considerable force on the south bank, under th-e fire of his artillery ron the Alaryland shore. The arznmy had waithdrlawn firom the river befre this occurred, but as soon as he was informed of Pendleton's misfortune, General Lee olrcdered General, A. P. Hill to return with his division, (and drive Porter over the i:iver. On the morning of the 20th Hill moved back, and approaching the enemy's position, under a heavy fire from their batteries in Maryland, drove them into 35 274 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the Potomac,* where an appalling scene of destruction of human life followed. Two hundred prisoners were taken. 6 "The broad surface of the Potomac was blue with the floating bodies >f the Federals. But few escaped to tell the tale. By their own account, they lost three thousand men, killed and drowned, frorm one brigade alone." t Hill's loss was two hundred and sixty-one. General McClellan attempted no further pursuit. He was as much in need of rest for his army as was Lee, and he was glad to remain north of the Potomac, while the Confederate army withdrew to the vicinity of Winchester. The army greatly needed rest. Since the 25th of June it had marched over three hundred miles on half rations, in rags and barefooted. It had met and defeated three powerful armies in twelve battles and numerous sliirmisles, inflicting upon the enemy a loss of nearly seventy-six thousand men, of which number nearly thirty thousand were prisoners, capturing one hundred and fifty-five pieces of artillery, nearly seventy thousand stand of small arms, and capturing and destroying stores of various kinds to the amount of millions of dollars. While the troops were lying around Winchester, General Lee issued the following order, reviewing the events of the campaign: - " HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, October 2, 1862. " GENERAL ORDER, No. 116. 6"In reviewing the achievements of the army during the present campaign, the Commanding General cannot withhold the expression of his admiration of the indomitable courage it has displayed in battle, and its cheerful endurance of privation and hardship on the march. * General Jackson's Report. General A. P. Hill's Report. THE RETREAT ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 275 " Sin"e your great victories around Bichmnond, you have defeated the enemy at Cedar Mountain, expelled him from the iRappahannock, and, after a conflict of three days, utt-erly repulsed him on the Plains of f.Ianassas, and forced him to take shelter within the fortifications around his Capital. W6 Without halting for repose, you crossed the Potomac, stormed the heights of Harper's Ferry, made prisoners of more than eleven thousand men, and captured upwards of seventy pieces of artillery, all their small arIns, and other munitions of war. 6 TWhile one corps of the army was thus eng'ag'ed, the other insured its success by arresting, at Boonsboro, the combined armies of the enemy, advancing' under their favorite General to the relief of their beleag-uered comradeso O66 n the field of Sharpsburg, with less than one third his numbers, you resisted, from daylight until dark, the whole army of the enemy, and repulsed every attack along his entire front, of Imore than four miles in extent. "The whole of the following day you stood prepared to resume the conflict on the same ground, and retired next morning, without molestation, across the Potomac. "Two attempts, subsequently made by the enemy, to follow you across the river, have resulted in his complete discomfiture, each beingt driven back with loss. " Achievements such as these demanded much valor and patriotism. History records few examples of greater fortitude and endurance than this army has exhibited; and I am cornmissioned by the President to thank you in the name of the Confederate States for the undying fame you have won for their arms. 66 Much as you have done, much more remains to be accomplished. The enemy again threatens us with invasion, and to your tried valor and patriotism the country looks with confi 276 LIFE OF GE-NERAL LEE. dence for deliverance and safety. Your past exploits give assurance that this confidence is not misplaced. R. E. LEjE, General Commnanding." A SEASON OF REST. After reaching the vicinity of Winchester, General Lee's first care was to urge upon the Government the necessity of supplying his troops with shoes and clothing. These wants were supplied only in parto The Quartermraster-General's Department seemed to be very indignant that the troops should want either shoes or clothing. It could not bringa itself to act with the energy the case demanded, and the citizens of Richmond and Petersburg, indignant at the delay of the Government, sent a large quantity of shoes to the army, while the QuartermasterGeneral was considering whether the army regulations allowed a soldier to wear new shoes. The stragglers were collected and brought back to the army. They were scattered all through the country between Shepherdstown and MBanassas, and having' had the advantage of a long rest, were in good condition whyen they reached Winchester. The work of preparing the command for a new vc;mpaign- went on rapidly, and in the course of a fortnight the army was increased by the arrival of about thirty thousand fresh troops. The country was admirably adapted for restoring the wornm-out men to vigor and health again.' The bracing mnountain breeze, the beautiful skies, the liberty to engage in every species of fun and frolic, within the limits of military discipline, seemed to pour new life-blood into the frames of the men, exhausted and worn down by the immense marches they had A SEASON OF REST. 277 made, and the toils, privations, hardships, and excitements which they had undergone." The holiday life, as it were, of the men is well described in the following letter written by one of Jackson's corps at the time:' The campaign having apparently ended, there are no' moving accidents by flood or field' of interest, and therefore nothing left to record but the daily routine of camp life; this shall be true to history, however, to let the old folks at home know how we live' sure enough' while here. * * Our camps not being regulated by military rule, for want of material in tents, etc., are left to illustrate the variegated, architectural, and domestic tastes of the thousand diierent individuals conceraned. Hence, although a wall tent or Sibley, graces an occasional locality, the most of the men ensconce themselves in bush-built shelters of various shapes, in fence corners, under gum blankets, eked out by cedar boughs, or burrow semisubterraneously like Esquimaux. If, as is said, tlhb several styles of architecture took their origin from natural circumstances, and climate, etc., as the curving Oriental roofs from the lonog reeds originally in use - the slanting Egyptians from the necessity of baking their unburnt bricks in the hot sun - the Corinthian from its own flowery climne, etc., etc., - an arclitectural genius might find enough original designs in this camp to supply a century to come. 6" The only 6 useful occupation' of this brigade for some time past has been to destroy all the railroadls in reach; apparently, too, for no better reason than the fellow had for killing the splendid anaconda in the Museum, because it was his' rule to kill snakes wherever found.' * * * 6 It is when idle in camp that the soldier is a great institution, yet one that must be seen to be appreciated. Pen cannot fully paint the air of cheerful content, care-hilarity, irrespon 278 LIFE OF GENERAJL LEE. sible loungings, and practical spirit of jesting that I obtains,' ready to seize on any odd circumstance in its licensed levity. A'cavalryman' comes rejoicing in immense top boots, for which in fond pride he has invested full forty dollars of pay; at once the cry from a hundred voices follows him alongc the line: G Come up out o' them boots Come out! Too soon to go into winter quarters I know you're in thar! -see youLr arms stickin' out!' A bumpkin rides by in an uncommonly big hat, and is frightened by the shout:'Come down out o' that hat! Come down!'Taint no use to say you aint up there; I see your legs hanging, out' A fancy staff officer iwas horrified at the irreverent reception of his nicely twisted moustache, as he heard from behind innumerable trees: 6 Take theim mice out o' your mouth! Take'em out! No use to say they aint thar I - see their tails hanging out' Another, sporting' immense whiskers, was urged to 6 come out of that bunch of har I know you're in thar! I see your ears a working!' 9 Sometimes a rousing cheer is heard in the distance — it is explained:' Boys, look out! Here comes "I Old Stonewall," or an old hare, one or t-'other,'- they being about the only individuals who invariably bring down the house. 6 But the whole day of camp life is not yet described; the night remains, and latterly it is no unusual scene, as the gloam= ing gathers, to see a group quietly collect beneath the dusky shadows of the forest trees, 6 God's first temples,'- wence soon arise the notes of some familiar hymn, awaking memnories of childhood and of home. The youthful chaplain in earnest tones tells his holy mission; another hymn is heard, and by the waning light of the pine torches the weird-like figures of the grouped soldiers are seen reverently moving to the night's repose. The deep bass drum beats taps - the sounds die out in all the camps, save at times the sweet strains from the band of the 5th Stonewall regiment in a neighboring grove, till they too fade away into the stilly night, and soon A SEASON OF REST. 279 ____ The soldiers lie peacefully dreaming, Their tents in the rays of the clear Autumn moon, Or the light of the watch-fires are gleaming; A tremulous sigh as the gentle night wind Through the forest leaves slowly is creeping, Brhile the stars up above with their glittering eyes Keep guard, for the army is sleeping. " The experience of the past campaigns had by this titcen sugb gested to the Confederate authorities the propriety of organizing Corps d9Arm&en for their principal armies. On the 6th of October the President approved an act of Congress authorizing him to organize 6 the divisions of the provisional army of the Confederate States into army corps, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint officers to the command thereof." The act was put into operation immediately throughout the South. The Army of Northern Virginia was divided into two corps, and the commland of the first assigned to Major-General Longstreet and that of the second to Major-General Jackson. Longstheet's corps consisted of the divisions of McLaws, Hood, Pickett, and W7alker; Jackson's of the divisions of A. P. Hill, Ewell, and Jackson's old division, under General Taliaferro. The command of the reserve was assigned to General D. H. Hill, the cavalry continued under General Stuart, and the artillery under General Pendleton. This armny numbered about fifty-five or sixty thousand men towards the last of October. The armies of the South now began to suffer from one of the consequences of their lack of discipline. Desertions be-ame frightfully common. The losses of the Army of Northern Virginia necessarily occasioned the absence of many sick and wounded. The majority of these were sent to Richmend, Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the hospital facilities of the South were so limited that it became necessary to allow many of the patients to go to their homes during their convalescence. 280 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. and the most of those who remained in the hospitals unltil well enoulh to move about were allowed brief furloughs at thie end of that time, in order that they might recuperate more speedily than was possible in the hospitals. A1any, alas, too many, of these men failed to return to the service at the expiration of their leaves of absence, and others, witi a strange idea that they were serving the country, refused to return to their proper commands, but enlisted in other regiments. Ileasures were set on foot to check the evil, but, throough the weakness of the Government, failed to accomplish anything. Congress also passed a law for the removal of incompetent officers fron the army, which was approved by the President October 13, 1862. Had this measure been faithfully executed, it would have resulted in the greatest benefit to the Confederacy, but Mr. Davis, fi'om tile first, in effect, set himself against it. No officer, however inco.mpetent, whlo chanced to be a fiiend of the President, was in any danuger of suffering by this law, for MAr. Davis, throughout the whole strrggle, econ= stituted himself the especial protector of incompetent and unpopular officers and commanders.' The army was not only called upon to bear privations and hardships, but it was for months together kept from receiving, the miserable pittance of Confederate money allowed it. The law of Congress required that the troops should be paid in such a manner that the arrears should at no time exceed twxo months. The organization of the Confederate army gave a paymaster to each regiment by requiring the duties of that position to be dis-. charged by the regimental quartermasters. These officers con.fined their depredations and speculations to the stores and property belonging to their department, and satisfied their consciences by a rigid discharge of their duties as paymasters, so * Witness his course with reference to Pemberton, Northrop,Ilindman, Sedw& don, and others. A SEASON OF REST. 281 that they were not responsible for the failure of the trloops to receive the money due them. The fiult was with the Treasury Departmnent, which, to the great injury of the South, wvas in charge of Seeretarry elmminger. IHe failed to provide t1he funds, although the army was suffering for them. Hie had lbeen assigned a task far beyond his capacity, and the army and people had to pay the penalty of his blunders. Even when the payments were made, the money was so worthless that a month's pay would not buy a pair of shoes. The Government was frequently urged to make the treasury notes a legal tender, and amoncg those who advocated the measure was General Lee, who, in a letter written about the 20th of October, 1862, called the attention of the President to its propriety and necessity, and quoted the example of W~ashington during the Revolution in support of his views.* The facilities for caring for the sick and wounded of the army were very limited, but the incompetency of nmany meambers of the medical department, and the inexcusable carelessness of too many of the persons connected with it, occasioned great suffiering to the patients. This was especially the case while the army was at Warinchester. The injured men had to be conveyed from that pla-ce to Staunton, a distance of ninety miles, in ambulances, - always a painful way of travelling, - and along the whole route no accommodations were made for their comfort, though it was a two days' journey for them. Upon reaching Staunton they were crowded into box cars, for fear they would injure the passenger coaches, and, as a general rule, with nothingr to support them against the jolting and shaking of the cars but the hard, plank floor. The surgeons and attendants were generally assigned a separate car, - a comfortable coach with softly-cushioned seats, - and they rarely saw * Diary of a Rebel War Clerk. Vol. I. See entry under the date of OcG tober 22, 1862. 36 282 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. their patients during the journey. The writer of these pages witnessed much of this during the war, and knew of many wellauthenticated instances of terrible suffering endured by the wounded during their journeys in the box-cars. Sometimes these journeys would occupy ten or twelve hours, during which time the men were not given any food, or one drop of water to quench their burning thirst. Their sufferings were intense, and commonly aggravated by the heat of the close cars. Still the Medical Department of the Government could not find the means to remedy this evil, and the Government itself could not, amidst all its violations of the Constitution and the righlts of the people, find it in its heart to require the railroad companies to allow the wounded to use the passenger coaches, which would have spared the poor fellows many hours of untold agony.* The Confederate Government, alarmed by the movements of the Federals, and the energetic preparations being made by them for the fall campaign, urged General Lee to fall back from the Valley. This, however, was not in accordance with the views of the Confederate commander. In a letter to the Government, he stated that he was strong enough to resist nJcClellan's advance, should he move down the Valley, and that in his present position he was subsisting his army on what would supply the enemy should he retreat, as his own means of transportation were too limited to permit him to carry away much of it, and instead of thinking of retreating, he urged that the Confederate cavalry in the neighborhood of:MNanassas and Culpepper should be more active and daring. As a means of increasing his own army, and working upon the fears of the Federal Government, so as to induce them to draw off troops from McClellan's army, or delay his advance * The reader will find statements of these abuses in the Richmond Exami'ner for October 18, 1862, and the Richmond Dis2pach for October 17 and 20, 1862. A SEASON OF REST. 283 into Viroginia, General Lee ordered General Loring, who was operating in WVestern Virginia, with about eight thousand men, to march towards the Ohio, menace,Wheeling, and then join the Army of Northern Virginia on the Upper Potomac by way of the Mononrehela. General Loring, who, throughlout the war seemed to have a supreme disregard for the orders of his superiors, refuised to obey General Lee's instructions, and the plan fell to the ground. General Loring was removed from his command, but the Government declined to allow General Lee to reinforce his army with the troops from Western Virginia. So deeply wedded to its policy of dispersion was the Southern Admirnistration, that, when, towards the last of October, the enemy made their appearance on the south side of the James, the Government, instead of withdrawing troops from unimportant points to meet this demonstration, absolutely requested General Lee to detach a part of his army for service south of the James. This, too, when McClellan was threatening an immediate advance into Virginia. General Lee very properly declined to comply with the request, stating that if any of his troops were taken from him he would not have enough left to meet McClellan. The period of rest was rapidly drawing tJ a close, and the army was again about to be ealled upon to meet its old antauonisto 284 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ~I, HTE FiREDERICKSBURG CA3[PAIGNo OCTOBER —DECEMBER, 1862. McCLELLAN ADVANCES. W7VIEN the Army of Northern Virginia retired to the vicinity of Winchester, General Jackson's corps was assigned the task of destroying the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This important road was the principal line of communication between the east and west, and had been used to great advantage by the enemy. General Lee now determined to damage it to such an extent that it would require a long time for the Federals to repair it. During the month of October that portion of the railroad extending from Sir John's Run to within a few miles of Harper's Ferry, a distance of forty miles, was completely de.. stroyed, - the rails and sleepers removed, twisted, and burned, and the bridges and culverts blown np. After the withdrawal of Lee's army, General MlIcClellan occupied the north bank of the Potomac, from a point opposite Shepherdstown to Harper's Ferry. Two corps, under General Sumnner, occupied tlarper's Ferry and the surrounding heights, and ponton-bridges were thrown across the Potomac and Shenandoah at their confluence. General McClellan passed the Ma CLELLAN. ADVANCES. 28$ time occupied by Lee in reorganizing and refittinu his arrmy, in a similar manner, and with ten times more advanta ges in the way of supplies of all kinds. He applied all his ener gies to the task of preparing his command for another grand campaign against the Southern Capital. Durinc this time very little of importance occurred. On the 1st of October a strong column of' cavalry, under General Pleasanton, crossed the Potomac at Shepherdsown, for the purpose of reconnoitering General Lee's position. The small Confederate force at Martinsburg' was driven off, and the enemy pressed on through the town, when their advance was checked by General Stuart, who arrived on the ground and took command in person. Though the horses were nearly exhausted, Stuart made a gallant attack, and at nightfall forced General Pleasanton to recross the Potomac.* * The Federals reported this affair as a victory. General Lee's dispatch shows the true state of the case. It is as follows:" -EADQUARTERS AmRrY OF NORTTERsN VIRGINIA, CAMP ON WASRINCGTON'S TlU:N, Oct. 2, 1862, 6 GENERAL 8. COOPER, Adjutant andnlspector-General, C. S. A., Richklond, Va. "'GENEAL:- The enemy's cavalry, under General Pleasanton, with six pieces of artillery, drove back our pickets yesterday, in front of Shepherdstown. The 9th Virginia cavalry, which was on picket, repulsed the enemy several times, by vigorous charges, disputing the ground step by step, back to the main body. By the time his artillery reached him, Colonel W. H. F. Lee, who was in co mmand of the brigade, was obliged to place it on the west bank of the Opaqusono on lthe flank of the enemy as Ie approaeh.ed Martirnslburg. "Generall Hampton's brigade retired through Martinsburg, on the Tuscarora road, when General Stuart arrived'and made dispositions to attacrk. Lee's brigade'was advanced immediately, and Hampton's ordered forward, The enemy retired at the approabh of Lee along the Shepherdstown road, and was driven across the Potomac by the cavalry, with a severe less, and darkness alone prevented it from being a signal victory. His rear wvas overtaken and put to flight, our cavalry charging in gallant style under a severe fire of artillery, routing squadron after squadron, killing a number, wounxding more. 286 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, In order to learn something of the movements, position, and strength of the Federal army, General Lee decided to send General Stuart on an expedition to Pennsylvania, and on the 8th of October ordered him to set out at once.* and capturing several. He was driven through Shepherdstown, and crossed the river after dark, in no case standing a hand-to-hand conflict, but relying upon his artillery and carbines at long range for protection. "[I regret to add that we lost one lieutenant and several privates. "I am, most respectfully your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General Commanding." * The purpose of this expedition is stated fully in the following letter of instructions: HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, CAMP NEAR WTINCIIESTER, vA., Oct. 8, 1862. " MAJOR-GENERAL J. E. B. STUART, Commanaling Cavalry, &c.' GENERAL: An expedition into Maryland with a detachment of cavalry, if it can be successfully executed, is at this time desirable. You will, therefore, form a detachment of from twelve to fifteen hundred well mounted men, suitable for such an expedition, and should the information from your scouts lead you to suppose that your movement can be concealed from the bodies of the enemy that would be able to resist it, you are desired to cross the Potomac above Williamsport, leave Hagerstown and Greencastle on your right, and proceed to the rear of Chambersburg, and endeavor to destroy the railroad bridge over the branch of the Conocheague. " Any other damage you can inflict upon the enemy or his means of transportation you wll also execute. You are desired to gain all information of the position, force, and probable intention of the enemy which you can; and in your progress into Pennsylvania, you will take measures to inform yourself of the various routes that you may take on your return to Virginia. "To keep your movement secret, it will be necessary for you to arrest all citizens that may give information to the enemy and should you meet with citizens of Pennsylvania holding State or Government offices, it will be desirable, if convenient, to bring them with you that they may be used as hostages, or the means of exchanges for our own citizens that have been carried off by the enemy. Such persons will, of course, be treated with all the respect and consideration that circumstances will admit. " Should it be in your power to supply yourself with horses, or other necessary articles on the list of legal captures, you are authorized to do so. "Having accomplished your errand, you will rejoin this army as soon as MC CLELLAN ADVANCES. 287 On the 9th of October General Stuart organized a force of eighteen hundred men and four pieces of artillery, under the command of General Hampton, and Colonels XAN. 1H. F. Lee and Jones. His men were ordered to conduct themselves with great prudence and propriety during the marchl, and to confine themselves strictly to the objects of the expedition.* At noon practicable. Reliance is placed upon your skill and judgment in the successful execution of this plan, and it is not intended or desired that you should Jeopardize the safety of your command, or go farther than your good judgment and prudence may dictate. " Colonel Imboden has been desired to attract the attention of the enemy towards Cumberland; so that the river between that point and where you may re-cross, may be less guarded. You will, of course, keep out your scouts to give you information, and take every other precaution to secure the success and safety of the expedition. "' Should you be led so far east, as to make it better, in your opinion, to continue around to the Potomac, you will have to cross the river in the vicinity of Leesburg. "I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, (Signed,) 1R. E. LEE, General. Official: R1. H. CHILTON, A. A. General." * The following is General Stuart's order. 66"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISIO/, October 9, 1862. " GENERAL ORDER, No. 13. "During the expedition into the enemy's country, in which this command is about to engage, brigade commanders will make arrangements for seizing horses, the property of citizens of the United States, and all other property subject to legal capture, provided that in no case will any species of property be taken except by authority given in person or in writing of the commander of brigade, regiment, or captain of a company in the absence of his superior officers. In all cases, a simple receipt will be given to the effect that the article is seized for the use of the Confederate States, giving place, date and name of owners, in order to enable the individual to have recourse upon his Government for damage. " Individual plunder for private use is positively forbidden, and every instance must be punished in the severest manner, for an army of plunderers 288 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. on the 9th, the command rendezvoused *at Darkesville, and narched thence to Hedgesville, where it bivouacked for the nioht. At daylight on the 10th the march was resumed, and tlS Potomac was crossed at McCoy's, between Hancock and Williamsport~ The enemy had a picket at this point which was driver off vith the loss of several horses. Upon gailinug theL N'ational road, the cavalry surprised and captured a party of eight or ten men in charge of a signal station, together with their flags and apparatus. Froml these Stuart learned that a large force of the enemy had passed by but an hour before, towards Cumrberland. consummates its own destruction. The capture of anything will not give the captor any individual claim, and all horses and equipments will be kept to be apportioned, upon the return of the expedition, through the entire division. Brigade commnanders will arrange to have one-third of their respective comnmands engaged in leading horses, provided enough can be procured, each man linking so as to lead three horses, the led horses being habitually in the centre of the brigade, and the remaining two-thirds, will keep, at all times, prepared for action. " The attack, when made, must be vigorous and overwhelming, giving the enemy no time to reconnoitre or consider anything, except his best means of flight. All persons found in transit must be detained, subject to the orders of Division Provost Marshal, to prevent information reaching the enemy. As a measure of justice to our many good citizens, who, without crime, have been taken from their homes and kept by the enemy in prison, all public functionaries, such as magistrates, postmasters, sheriffs, &c., will be seized as prisoners. They will be kindly treated, and kept as hostages for our own. No straggling from the route of march or bivouac for the purpose of obtaining provisions, &c., will be permitted in any case, the commissaries and quartermasters being required to obtain and furnish all such supplies in bulk as may be necessary. "' So much of this order as authorizes seizures of persons and property, will not take effect until the command crosses the Pennsylvania line. I" The utmost activity is enjoined upon the detachments procuring horses, and unceasing vigilance upon the entire command.'Major J. P. 1,1. Hairston is hereby appointed Division Provost MarshaL By command of Major-General J. E. B. STUART. R. CHAN NING PRICE, 1st Lieut. and A. D. C.," SO k0-G S........ uj'ApVIN's ROBERTVkSVL MILLEN UIV. VTE [COLUMBUS ~ t~ Q3c, v H~CZI\ISOuQSAA S 010GEEWHEE CA TU Q'",9AOA;XNGTAN -1'A'VLCG k K'Oh tUMJPVIMS B~UGI( CR -— l R.BERTJILE A C!! ( c >n X xiA O'li i,nlOLII_ Aa ) iAfT PA/AfT!/. ANDY Di LL — " P Ad C o (/ -8F"'A / E/M TAV/3E;N'H E RCSIII OAJA!fL Ai _- IDL _. L / I ) RRFi IN....___I.' DI; —A. -c D 1:L %AA~'R'IPII /O 1D\I.AI'(''W' 0 -_~ O l al to'll TA', FI-17'und ri -''r Oi E - donw Lu FC....~ I'1'{YnI. te o.e0"'n1. c.''I n.:ii, z.e I.. C, -3-M- T e i 3 d J ) d t: X a 5O e 1d Ye Vtl 0 st I Y up 1 Stc C1 S11, d i U;1. o, p- soi I;-p;>T M Ss3-1le Wrleflt2 hs tS oadqa redSe9t.? at tlwo~ti"{'5"?7:ii~ C-!i LA~~,?'?3 1 L'l-n 141,It a -1 n0 t P "1 voho sei-4t' T' u "4''c Tere drve 9] w9 / a'4111 st oe it, 4tt,OU iT~~t 1 Yn es't' toaS wIvi laee eo 4,4i 19 J- -nivn too dii oi f C i' (1' 1'; 9 -Ft- h dA3. 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VFREDERICKSBURG. 319 O qJJ RAL COO Enine o t:lckit:is morning the enemy attacked our r., a-ndbt - " d he fo: lifted, the battle ran along te whol rneo iht if, until 6 r. x[. the enemy being repulsed poin ts.:. I;ai be to God. As usual, we have to ie loss vofm;i:ny — of our brave men. I expect the battle ill be renedla;' dNOlgit to-morrow mnorning. -. E. LEE." Dri th e outht lern army erected earthworks at exIos(d point's 1;gtlened its position still more. The f the'ei-Z. been so easily repulsed, and with uc small pitioni of t my that General Lee was confident the attle would bRe w':d the next day, and at dawn o the 1hhis troopl w'O. arms, ready to resist the anticipated ash.ttack," As:'h to be again assailed, he did not wish t -lose the advnts of his position by advancing upon the en em Hess sarily ignorant of the great damage inflcte upntie al army, and was unwilling to expose hils, tioop!to, li ~e e batteries in Stafford. These were sou LindY jea's'ons fo te uo quiet-, but, viewing the matter by uh' ht ofI suheq veltions, it isa pity that General Lee did ot tke G-i~ 4i~d -on s advice, and attack Buruside in Frd4emicksburg ol~ 4it of the 13th. Had he done so, he cou~c~ ot have~1 t1 O tr oy, the Army of, the Potomac. T46 defeatsfme tlhe Federal army on the 1 3th was deiie nd wh~ h ~ igt,'it crowded into Fredericksbug exP, 6tino'c -e-very t General Lee would follow up his advatag by a1.nm~ at thr-wr igs ofl demoralizatio among th'Mone mo ~ hese circumstances it became the duty of' Genri, irnck retire at once across the Rappahannock~ 7 He M di e~ to believe that General Lee would * Lee's Report. 320 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. not attack him. On the contrary, there was every reason to suppose that Lee would assume the offensive. The Federal army was in no condition to resist, and common sense should have induced Burnside to put an end to this danger as soon as possible. The course he adopted was the reverse of this. He does not seem to have known the condition of his army, and resolved to form his old corps (the 9th) in column of attack by regiments, on the morning of the 14th, and lead it in person in a last effort to carry Marye's Hill. He at once issued orders for carrying out his gallant, but foolish resolution. In his evidence before the Congressional "Committee on the conduct of the war," he thus describes the result:'The order was given, and thie order of the attack was formed. On the next morning, just before the column was to have started, General Sumner came up to me and said:' General, I hope you will desist from this attack. I do not know of any general officer who approves of it, and I think it will prove disastrous to the army.' Advice of that kind from General Sumner, who has always been in favor of our advancing whenever it was possible, caused me to hesitate. I kept the column of attack formed, and sent over for the corps and division commanders and consulted with them. They unanimously voted against the attack. I then went over to see the officers of the command on the other side, and found that the same opinion prevailed among them. I then sent for General Franklin, who was on the left, and he was of exactly the same opinion. This caused me to decide that I ought not to make the attack I had contemplated; and besides, inasmuch as the President of the United States had told me not to be in haste in making this attack - that he would give me all the support he could, but he did not want the Army of the Potomac destroyed,- I felt that I could not take the responsibility of ordering the attack, not N.. F..... sy:. T0 c.. 14A C ROS VIL~~I \-. Sc~% r, IR' IA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I ~.~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~.-......~ ~-....~,..I~........~_-...... ~ ~ ~ x,~...FRflP,~.SfURO CHARLESTOW" - ~~...E% E~rFL4( P0/T OROCKSE COLA O/F /'N~&CuAR LOAF 44 2fVILLE 03LESVIL REWSTN~9/OW 1 VI~RCLFLLL'/ ER 0APCTW ROCK/VLr~SRASeUR7 G LS 4 4 FRONT ROYA 6Aj'~ RT W~.'.f-/I~07 "-~.'.~....QV.... WHIT P//AN" P/ ILL GAP ~45 FN PA// ~- — ~...:..... A T.... HOA/NE TVIL FA GAF *'RE7iNA'l A- i'Ji~~~~~~~~. - 5/PERRVIL''LETN L R N MA~~~~~"A iJ~L A 0 D~~~A UMr-RIESn IVA,PALLfI~- /ULPEPPER CJ J K ~ b or:DARM~T~ /.4p,Rr/ 11AFFORD CR HI QRANG~CH Pp~ F-SPTTSY.LVANIA\cI. QTCAi$~N slnamimll ~ ~ ~ - 7/r - LOUISAC SCALE 01 MILES / 0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~30 40 _____ FREDERICKSBURG. 321 withstanding my own belief at the time that the works could be carried. In the afternoon of that day I again saw the officers, and told them that I had decided to withdraw to this side of the river all our forces, except enough to hold the town and the bridge heads, but should keep the bridges there for future operations in case we wanted to cross again." During the fourteenth, the Federal artillery, north of the river opened at intervals on the Confederate line. The day passed away, without any further hostile demonstration, and during the fifteenth there was no change in the situation. On the night of the 15th a violent storm of wind and rain set in, and General Burnside took advantage of it to retire across the river. Yielding to the advice of General Hooker, he decided not to attempt to hold the town, and withdrew his entire force, taking up his bridges after him. His retreat was discovered by the Confederates on the morning of the 16th, but so well persuaded was General Lee that the battle would yet be renewed, that he sent the following dispatch to Richmond: "IHEADQUARTERS, NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, December 16. " As far as can be ascertained this stormy morning, the enemy has disappeared in our immediate front, and has re-crossed the Rappahannock. "I presume he is meditating a passage at some other point. R. E. LEE." No further effort was made by the Federal commander, however, and the campaign closed with the battle of Fredericksburg, the events of which were reported to the Southern Government by General Lee, in the following dispatch: 41 322 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. H" HEA1DQUARTEBS AiRMY NORTHERN VIRG1IIA, 14th December, 1862. "TaE HONORABLE SECRETRkI'f OF WAIR1 BHICHMoD, YA,; SIR: On the night of the 10th instant, the enemy commenced to throw three bridges over the Rappahannockl two rat Fredericksburg, and the third about a mile and a quarter below, near the mouth of Deep Run.' The plain on which Fredericksburg stands is so compie ely' commanded by the hills of Stafford, in possession of the enemyn that no effectual opposition could be offered to the construction of the bridges or the passage of the river, without exposing our troops to the destructive fire of his numerous batteries. Positions were, therefore, selected to oppose his advance after crossing. The narrowness of the Rapahannock, its winding course, and deep bed, afforded opportunity for the& construction of bridges at points beyond the reach of our artillery, and the banks had to be watched by skirmishers. The latter sheltering themselves behind the houses, drove back the working parties of the enemy at the bridges opposite the city; but at the lowest point of crossing, where no shelter could be had, our sharpshooters were themselves driven off, and the completion of the bridge was effected about noon on the 11th. "In the afternoon of that day the enemy's batteries opened upon the city, and by dark had so demolished the houses on the river bank as to deprive our skirmishers of shelter; and, under cover of his guns, he effected a lodgement in the town. " The troops, which had so gallantly held their position in the city, under the severe cannonade during the day, resisting the advance of the enemy-at every step, were withdrawn during the night, as were also those, who, with equal tenacity, had maintained their post at the lowest bridge. Under cover of darkness and of a dense fog, on the 12th, a large force passed FREDERICKSBURG. 323 the river and took position on the right bank, protected by their heavy guns on the left. "The morning of the 13th, his arrangements for attack being completed, about nine o'clock - the movement veiled by a fog - he advanced boldly in large force against our right wing. General Jackson's corps occupied the right of our line, which rested on the railroad; General Longstreet's the left, extending along the heights to the Rappahannock, above -Fredericksburg. General Stuart, with two brigades of cavalry, was posted in the extensive plain on our extreme right. " As soon as the advance of the enemy was discovered through the fog, General Stuart, with his accustomed promptness, moved up a section of his horse artillery, which opened with effect upon his flank, and drew upon the gallant Pelham a heavy fire, which he sustained, unflinchingly, for about two hours. In the meantime the enemy was fiercely encountered by General A. P. Hill's division, forming General Jackson's right, and, after an obstinate combat, repulsed. Dur'ing this attack, which was protracted and hotly contested, two of General Hlill's brigades were driven back upon our second line. " General Early, with part of his division, being ordered to his sulpport, drove the enemy back from the point of woods he had seized, and pursued him into the plain, until arrested by his artiliery. The right of thie enemy's column, extending beyond Hlill's front, encountered the right of General Hood, of Longstreet's corps. The enemy took possession of a small copse in front of Hood, but were quickly dispossessed, and repulsed with loss. DLring the attack on our right, the enemy was crossing tro)p,l' over his bridges at Fredericksburr, and massing them in firont of Longstreet's line. Soon after his repulse on our right. he commenced a series of attacks on our left, with a view of obtaining possession of the heights immediately overlooking the 324 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. town. These repeated attacks were repulsed, in gallant style, by the Washington Artillery, under Colonel Walton, and a portion of McLaws' division, which occupied these heights. "6 The last assault was made after dark, when Colonel Alexander's battalion had relieved the Washington Artillery, (whose a.rmmunition had been exhausted,) and ended the contest for the day. The enemy was supported in his attacks by the fire of strong batteries of artillery on the right bank of the river, as well as by his numerous heavy batteries on the Stafford ieights. "6 Our loss during the operations, since the movements of the enemy began, amounts to about eighteen hundred, killed and wounded. Among the former, I regret to report the death of the patriotic soldier and statesman, Brigadier-General Thomas R. R. Cobb, who fell upon our left; and among the latter, that brave soldier and accomplished gentleman, Brigadier-General Maxcy Gregg, who was very seriously, and it is feared, mortally wounded during the attack on our right. 6" The enemy to-day has been apparently engaged in caring for his wounded and burying his dead. His troops are visible in their first position in line of battle, but, with the exception of some desultory cannonading and firing between skirmishers, he has not attempted to renew the attack. About five hundred and fifty prisoners were taken during the engagement, but the full extent of his loss is unknown. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General." (Official.) CHARLES MARSHALL, Major and A. D. C." WINTER QUARTERS. 325 V. WINTER QUARTERS. When it became certain that the Federal army had no intension of renewing hostilities, the Army of Northern Virginia was ordered to prepare for going into winter quarters. The army was disposed along the Rappahannock, fiom Fredericksburg to Port Royal, and detachments of observation stationed in the vicinity of the upper fords. Soon the winter set in in full rigor, and the men went to work to make themselves as comfortable as possible in their rude huts and shelters. The year was closed by General Lee with an address to his army, congratulating the men upon their achievements. " HEADQUARTERS ARMY of NORTHERN VIRGINIA, DECEMBER 31, 1862. "GENERAL ORDER, No. 132. 6" The General commanding takes this occasion to express to the officers and soldiers of the army, his high appreciation of the fortitude, valor, and devotion displayed by them, which, under the blessing of Almighty God, have added the victory of Fredericksburg to the long list of their triumphs. "An arduous march performed with celerity under many disadvantages exhibited the discipline and spirit of the troops, and their eagerness to confront the foe. c" The immense army of the enemy completed its preparations for the attack without interruption and gave battle in its own time, and on ground of its own selection. "It was encountered by less than twenty thousand of this n26 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. brave army, and its columns crushed and broken, hurled back at every point with such fearful slaughter that escape from entire destruction became the boast of those who had advanced in full confidence of victory. " That this great result was achieved with a loss small In point of numbers, only augments the admiration with which the Commanding General regards the prowess of the troops, and increases his gratitude to Him who hath given us the victory. "6 The war is not yet ended. The enemy is still numerous and strong, and the country demands of the army a renewal of its heroic efforts in her behalf. Nobly has it responded to her call in the past, and she will never appeal in vain to its courage and patriotism. "The signal manifestations of Divine mercy that have distinguished the eventful and glorious campaign of the year just closing, give assurance of hope that under the guidance of the same Almighty hand the coming year will be no less fruitful of events that will ensure the safety, peace and happiness of our beloved country, and add new lustre to the already imperishable name of the Army of Northern Virginia. R. E. LEE, General." The winter was intensely cold, and as early as the middle of December several of the Federal pickets were frozen to death. The Confederate troops suffered severely. They were badly clothed, and poorly provided for the winter. About the first of December General Lee wrote to the War Department, stating that several thousand of his men were barefooted. He advised the Government to seize for the use of the army the shoes in the hands of the speculators, paying a fair price'for them. The Government, however, did not see fit to do this. The system of impressments was so managed throughout the war as to give WINXTER QUARTERS. 327 the greatest dissatisfaction to the people, and to afford tile smallest amount of benefit to the army. The Quartermaster-General's office was never filled by a competent person, and the army was a constant sufferer from its incapacity. General Lee fared little better than his men. Late into the winter he steadily refused to establish his headquarters in a house, and throughout the entire campaign from Richmond to Fr:edericksburg, his quarters were in the field, and many of his staff slept under tent-flies only until the weather became too cold for them to do so. This was fully appreciated by the men, who were resolved that their commander should hear no murmurs from them, since he so generously shared their privations. An English gentleman who visited General Lee's headquarters during the fall, thus describes what he saw and hearld there: — "In visiting the headquarters of the Confederate Generals, but particularly those of General Lee, any one accustomed to see European armies in the field, cannot fail to be struck with the great absence of all the pomp and circumstance of war in and around their encampments. Lee's headquarters consisted of about seven or eight pole tents, pitched with their backs to a stake fence, upon a piece of ground so rocky that it was unpleasant to ride over it, its only recommendation being a little stream of good water which flowed close by the General's tent. In front of the tents were some three four-wheeled wagons, drawn up without any regularity, and a number of horses roamed loose about the field. The servants, who were of course slaves, and the mounted soldiers, called' couriers,' who always accompany each General of division in the field, were unprovided with tents, and slept in or under the wagons. Wagons, tents, and some of the horses were marked U. S., showing that part of that huge debt in the North has gone to furnishing even the Confederate Generals with camp equipments. No guard or sentries were to be seen in the vicinity: 328 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. no crowd of aids-de-camp loitering about, making themselves agreeable to visitors, and endeavoring to save their Generals from receiving those who have no particular business. A large farm-house stands close by, which, in any other army, would have been the General's residence pro tem., but, as no liberties are allowed to be taken with personal property in Lee's army, he is particular in setting a good example himself. His staff are crowded together, two or three in a tent; none are allowed to carry more baggage than a small box each, and his own kit is but very little larger. Every one who approaches him, does so with marked respect, although there is none of that bowing and flourishing of forage caps which occurs in the presence of European Generals; and, while all honor him and place implicit faith in his courage and ability, those with whom he is most intimate feel for him the affection of sons to a father. Old General Scott was correct in saying that when Lee joined the Southern cause, it was worth as much as the accession of twenty thousand men to the' rebels.' Since then, every injury that it was possible to inflict, the Northerners have heaped upon him. His house on the Pamunkey River was burnt to the ground, and the slaves carried away, many of them by force, while his residence on the Arlington Heights was not only gutted of its furniture, but even the very relics of George Washington were stolen from it, and paraded in triumph in the saloons of New. York and Boston. Notwithstanding all these personal losses, however, when speaking of the Yankees, he neither evinced any bitterness of feeling, nor gave utterance to a single violent expression, but alluded to many of his former friends and companions among them, in the kindest terms. He spoke as a man proud of the victories won by his country, and confident of ultimate success, under the blessing of the Almighty, whom he glorified for past successes, and whose aid he invoked for all future operations. He regretted that his limited WINTER QUARTERS. 329 supply of tents and available accommodation would prevent him from putting us up, but he kindly placed at our disposal horses, or a two-horse wagon, if we preferred it, to drive about in." During the winter -General Lee endeavored to remedy several evils in his army. In the campaigns of 1862, he had suffered very great inconvenience in consequence of having inferior artillery, and a poor quality of fixed ammunition. In order to remedy the evil as far as possible, he replaced his original batteries with the better guns taken from the enemy, as far as they would go, and urged the Government to take advantage of the suspension of hostilities for the winter, to recast all the twelvepounder howitzers and smooth-bore six-pounders into twelvepounder Napoleon, ten-pounder Parrott, and three-inch rifleguns. He was so urgent in this matter that the Government granted his request, and by the spring his army was better supplied with artillery than it had ever been. In order to provide food for his army he strongly urged the Government to purchase all the grain in the counties bordering upon the James River and Kanawha canal. The farmers in that section,* he said, were hoarding their provisions with the intention of putting up the price of breadstuffs, and he desired that the army should be saved from the suffering which such unpatriotic conduct would bring, upon it. The only occurrence which broke the rest of the army after the battle of Fredericksburg was the futile attempt made by General Burnside to assail the Confederate army once more in its stronghold. Smartintg under his defeat, and blind to the extent to which that defeat had demoralized his army and destroyed its confidence in him, he resolved to make an effort to turn Lee's right, and drive him from Fredericksburg. His * The farmers of this section were not alone in such practices. In too many portions of the South the farmers did all in their power to prevent their grain from going to feed the army. 42 330 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. design was to cross his army seven or eight miles below the city, and to insure the success of his movement he determined to send a strong column of cavalry towards Richmond to cut Lee's communications. His army was promptly prepared for the movement, and the cavalry expedition was ready to march when, on the 30th of December, he received an order from Washington not to attempt another advance without letting the President know of it. Surprised at such an injunction, he recalled the cavalry expedition, and hastened to Washington in person to learn the cause of the President's course. He was informed by Mr. Lincoln that the army had lost confidence in him, and that certain general officers had expressed the opinion that his proposed movement would result in disaster.* General Burnside's surprise and mortification were very great. The position in which he was placed was extremely humiliating, mnd his first impulse seems to have been to resign. Resolving, however, to make a last attempt to retrieve his reputation and regain the confidence of his army, he returned to the Rappahannock, and commenced his preparations for the execution of his design. It was his intention to cross the Rappahannock this time at Banks' Ford, about six miles above Fredericksburg. The river was not then fordable, but it was so narrow at that point that it could be easily bridged. He meant to throw five bridges across the Rappahannock, and, crossing his army into Spottsylvania, endeavor to turn Lee's left, and force him to fall back from his works in order to maintain his communications with Richmond. To mask his real movement, he resolved to make feints of crossing at several different points above and below the city. Strong working parties were set to work to cut new and more direct roads through the woods to the fords, and batteries were planted, and rifle pits dug to protect the passage of the stream *Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac - p. 257. WINTER QUARTERS. 331 The weather up to this time had been excellent, and the roads were dry and hard. The enthusiasm of the army had been re-awakened to some degree, and it seemed certain that General Burnside was to have a favorable opportunity to essay the recovery of his lost laurels. On the 19th of January 1863, his army began its march to the place of crossing. The Grand Divisions of Hooker and Franklin marched by parallel roads to convenient points for encamping, near the fords, where they passed the night. The movement was conducted with as much secrecy as possible, and Couch's corps was sent down the river to mas'k it by making a feint of crossing in that direction. The corps of General Sigel was left behind to guard the communications, and the late position of the army. The upper fords were reached on the 20th, and dispositions made for crossing. Powerful batteries of artillery were planted on the north bank to prevent any resistance from the south side to the construction of the bridges, and ponton trains were placed in readiness within a short distance of the river. Thus far everything had gone well; but, during the night of the 20th, a terrible rain storm set in, which completely annihilated all of the Federal commander's plans. Mr. Swinton, who was present with the Federal army, thus describes the manner in which the elements fou ght against Burnside. " It was a wild Walpurgis night, such as Goethe paints in the Faust. Yet there was brave work done during its hours, for guns were hauled painfully up the heights and placed in their positions, and the pontons were drawn down nearer to the river. But it was already seen to be a hopeless task; for the clayey roads and fields, under the influence of the rain, had become bad beyond all former experience, and by daylight, when the boats should all have been on the banks ready to slide down into the water, but fifteen had been gotten up- not enough for one 332 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. bridge, and five were wanted. Moreover, the night operations had not escaped the notice of the wary enemy, and by morning Lee had massed his army to meet the menaced crossing. * * * * * * The night's rain had made deplorable havoc with the roads; but herculean efforts were made to bring pontons enough into position to build a bridge or two withal. Double and triple teams of horses and mules were harnessed to each boat; but it was in vain. Long stout ropes were then attached to the teams, and a hundred and fifty men put to the task on each. The effort was but little more successful. Floundering through the mire for a few feet, the oang of Liliputians with their huge-ribbed Gulliver, were forced to give over, breathless. Night arrived, but the pontons could not be got up, and the enemy's pickets, discovering what was going on, jocularly shouted out their intention to'come over to-morrow and help build the bridges.' "Morning dawned upon another day of rain and storm. The ground had gone from bad to worse, and now showed such a spectacle as might be presented by the elemental wrecks of another Deluge. An indescribable chaos of pontons, vehicles, and artillery encumbered all the roads-supply wagons upset by the road-side, guns stalled in the mud, ammunition trains mired by the way, and hundreds of horses and mules buried in the liquid muck. The army, in fact, was embargoed; it was no longer a question of how to go forward - it was a question of how to get back. The three days' rations brought on the persons of the men were exhausted, and the supply trains could not be moved up. To aid the return all the available force was put to work to corduroy the rotten roads. Next morning the army floundered and staggered back to the old camps, and so ended a movement, that will always live in the recollection of the army as the'Mud March,' and which remains a striking WINTER QUARTERS. 333 exernplification of the enormous difficulties incident to winter campaigning in Virginia." * The failure of this movement brought General Burnside's career to a close. He was hopeful of success when it began. Had he succeeded in crossing, he would have been undeceived very speedily. His design was quickly detected by General Lee, who at once made such dispositions to meet the Federal army as would have resulted in its certain defeat. So sure of this was the Southern commander, that he wrote to his Government that " it was fortunate for the Federals that they failed to get over the river." The failure, however, together with the terrible hardships endured by the troops in the " Mud March " brought the Northern army to a state of almost open insubordination. The men were outspoken in their denunciations of their commander, and desertions became common and numerous. General Burnside seemed to be under the impression that his want of success was due, not so much to the weather as to the fact that his officers had no confidence in him. In the bitterness of his disappointment, he prepared an order, dismissing from the service of the United States, Generals Hooker, Brooks, Cochrane, and Newton, and relieving from their commands in the Army of the Potomac, G'enerals Franklin, W. F. Smith, Sturgis, Ferrero, and Colonel Taylor- the first named under each head being decidedly the ablest of his lieutenants. He carried this order to Washington, and asked the approval of the Government, demanding either a compliance with this request or the acceptance of his resignation. Mr. Lincoln chose the latter alternative. He accepted General Burnside's resignation, and appointed as that officer's successor the man at whom Burnside's principal blow had been directed - Major-General Joseph -Iooker. * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 259-260. 334 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Towards February the corps of General Longstreet was withdrawn from the army and sent south of the James River. The movement was for the purpose of checking the enemy, who commenced to make threatening demonstrations along the line of the Blackwater River, and to collect supplies from the lower counties south of the James, and from Eastern North Carolina. There were other commands scattered at various unimportant points along the Southern coast, which might have been devoted to this undertaking; but the Government, with its usual blindness, preferred to risk the safety of General Lee's army by taking away one of its most powerful members to incurring the chance of losing some paltry village in the Cotton States. The sufferings of the army for food during the winter were severe. The Commissary General proved himself so incompetent to provide for the army that General Lee, about the middle of February,:advised the Government to make an appeal to the people to bring supplies to the army to feed their sons and brothers. The suggestion was referred to the Commissary General, -the Government being incapable df rising above the forms of the "red tape" system - and that individual opposed it, - perhaps because it was at variance with his plan for starving the army,- and the matter was dropped. Had the Government been as true to the army as the army was to the Government, no effort, whether sanctioned by precedents or not, would have been spared to relieve the sufferings of the brave soldiers. Another suggestion of General Lee was suffered to pass without being acted upon. The conscription had been managed in such a way, that instead of filling up the armies. it had arrayed the people against the Government. It fell far short of supplying the force needed, and, about the latter part of February, General Lee proposed that the Government should request the Governors of the States to aid more directly in re WINTER QUARTERS. 335 cruiting the armies. He said the people habitually expected too much from the troops then in the field; and warned the Government that because the South had gained many victories, it did not follow that it would always gain them; that the legitimate fruits of victory had hitherto been lost for the want of a sufficient force to secure them, and urged the Government to at least try to secure the cooperation of the State Governments. The advice was not heeded. When it is considered that the States were extremely averse to the conscription, and that dome of them were open in their hostility to it, we may reasonably suppose that an appeal to them to raise troops of themselves and by their own authority, would have met with a favorable response, especially when endorsed by so influential a personage as General Lee. Yet the appeal was not made, and there is strong ground for believing that the Government, which was professedly based upon the principle of State rights, was too jealous of the States to depart in the least from a conscription which was totally destructive of that principle. During the winter General Lee exerted himself to prepare for an advance of the enemy in the spring, by guarding all the practicable crossings of the river, from Skenker's Neck, below Fredericksburg, to United States Ford, above it. His army was so disposed as to be readily concentrated at any point along the river, and strong lines of earthworks were erected at various points for the purpose of disputing the passage of the stream, and for holding the enemy in check until the army could be concentrated. Thus the long winter passed away, and on the 30th of March General Lee announced to the Government that the spring campaign had opened, and that his army might be in motion at any day. 336 LIFE'OF GENERAL LEE. VII. THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CANPAIGN. APRIL -MAY, 1863. I. THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. THE defeat of General Burnside and his failures to recross the Rappahannock greatly exasperated the Northern people, but only increased their determination to carry the war to a successful close, and instead of abandoning their attempts in despair, they infused. new vigor into their operations. As a means of weakening the South, and stirring up internal disorders which, it was supposed, would require strong detachments' from the army to suppress, President Lincoln, on the 1st of January 1863, issued a proclamation declaring the Southern slaves free on and after that day, and announcing that the Federal Government would "do no act or acts to repress such persons or any of them, in aniy efforts they may make for their actual freedom." This proclamation was the most decided measure upon which the Federal Government had yet ventured, but so far as its effect upon the South is concerned, it failed to accomplish the end desired. The appointment of General Hooker gave new life to the THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 33T army over which he was placed. He assumed the command on the 26th of January 1863, and at once set to work to check the evils from which his troops were suffering. His measures were vigorous and effective. He proved himself to be an officer of high administrative abilities, and as he had been so ruthless in his criticisms upon Generals McClellan and Burn. side, and had accompanied these criticisms by such strong insinuations that he could succeed where they had failed, his countrymen were justified in expecting that he would prove the long-expected genius, and that into his hands would fall the prize for which others had so long contended in vain. These expectations were not destined to be realized. As a corps commander General Hooker had few, if any, superiors in the Federal service, but he was incapable of conducting such a campaign as was before his army. Bold to adopt a resolution, he proved himself weak and timid in its execution. Indeed the heavy responsibility of his position seemed to crush out of him every spark of genius. The opposition of his adversary seemed to bewilder him, and to render him incapable of acting with the daring and vigor which had always distinguished him while in a subordinate position. His first care was to check the desertions which were rapidly thinning the ranks of the Army of the Potomac, and to restore to it the confidence which his predecessor had destroyed. His personal popularity secured the latter end, and the vigorous measures which he inaugurated put a stop to the desertions. The system of Grand Divisions had not been found to work well, and it was abolished and replaced by the corps organization. The staff and administrative departments of the army were rendered more effective; the various army corps were provided with distinctive badges, and the contentment and good will of the troops secured by a wise and liberal system of fur48 338 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. loughs.* His demands upon his Government were liberally responded to, and he was furnished with everything necessary to bring his army to the highest state of efficiency. The wisest of all General Hooker's acts was the reorganization of his cavalry. Previous to his assumption of the command of the Army of the Potomac, the Federal cavalry had been scattered, in brigades or divisions, among the Grand Divisions of the army,- a system which rendered it incapable of concerted action. General Hooker consolidated it into a compact and powerful coq:.s, under officers of tried ability, and provided it with horses and equipments of the most superior kind. From this time until the close of the war, the cavalry arm of the Army of the Potomac became of the highest usefulness to it, and until the surrender at Appomattox Court House, was far more efficient from various causes than that of the Confederates. t So successful were General Hooker's exertions that when the spring opened he had an army of one hundred and twenty thousand men (infantry and artillery), twelve thousand finely equipped cavalry, and four hundred pieces of artillery. This force was in such good condition and so well provided with every necessity, and so many luxuries, that its commander proudly called it " the finest army on the planet." It was divided into seven corps; the 1st under General Reynolds, the 2d under General Couch, the 3d under General Sickles, the 5th under General Meade, the 6th under General Sedgwick, the 11th under General Howard, the 12th under General Slocum. Thus prepared, General Hooker felt confident that the destruction of Lee's army was certain. The campaign was opened by a reconnoissance of six regiments of Federal cavalry and a battery of artillery, under * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 268. t See Note B at the end of the volume. HOOKER ADVANCES. 339 General kverill.* The object of this expedition was to cut Lee's communications at Gordonsville, and ascertain his strength and position. On the morning of the 16th of March a telegram from General Lee's headquarters informed General Stuart that a column of Federal cavalry was in motion, and advised him to look out for it along the Upper Rappahann6ck. A small force was stationed at Kelley's Ford to protect the crossing, and General Fitz Lee's brigade was ordered to hold itself in readiness to meet the enemy. In consequence of the negligence of the pickets, General Averill forced a passage of the river at Kelley's Ford on the morning of the 17th, capturing the picket-guard, and, pushing, on, soon encountered Fitz Lee's brigade, which was drawL up to receive him. A severe engagement ensued, during which the Federal cavalry displayed more efficiency than they had shown during the war. The battle lasted until late in the afternoon, when the enemy.retreated, after suffering a heavy loss. The Confederates also lost heavily, and among their killed was Major Pelham, Stuart's invaluable artillerist. After this action there was a season of quiet, until the middle of April, when the roads were pronounced dry,and hard enough for the movements of armies. II. HOOKER ADVANCES. When General Lee announced to the War Department, on the 30th of March, that his army might be in motion at any day, he was not in a condition to undertake any offensive movement. General Longstreet, with about twenty-four thousand * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 268. 340 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. men, had been taken from him, and sent south of the James River, leaving him a little less than fifty thousand men on the Rappahannock. The information which reached him from the Federal lines convinced him that General I-looker would attack him as soon as the roads and weather would permit. In view Of this he urged the Government to send him reenforcements,;land on the 29th of April, when he had heard of Hooker's advance, renewed his appeal for more men, and urged that Longstreet's corps should be withdrawn from the south side and sent to him at once.* IIis wishes were not heeded, and the danger burst upon him in his weak condition. During the month of April, General Hooker was busy preparing for his " on to Richmond," and watching General Lee. His cavalry made numerous attempts to penetrate Lee's line, unmask his position and gain information as to his strength. Almost every ford along the Rappahannock was attempted, but at each place Stuart's dispositions and vigilant troopers prevented the passage of the river. The absence of General Longstreet, with his corps, seems to have been communicated to General hIooker at an early day, and he determined to attack Lee before re/nforcements could arrive from Richmond. His plan was to move the principal part of his army to Kelley's Ford, and crossing the Rappahannock at that point, march directly to Chancellorsville. As Kelley's Ford was twenty-seven miles above Fredericksburg, he hoped to be able to pass the river and occupy Chancellorsville before General Lee could concentrate his forces to oppose * The Government did not see fit to order Longstreet to the Rappahannock until Hooker had made his designs too plain to be misunderstood. On the 6th of May, Mr. Davis desired General Longstreet to go to General Lee immediately. At that time, however, Richmond was in great danger of capture by the Federal cavalry, and General Longstreet very properly declined to withdraw his command until communication with General Lee was restored and the city in a condition of defence. HOOKER ADVANCES. 341 him. In order to mask his movement upon Chancellolsville, he resolved to throw a column consisting of the 1st, 3d, and 6th corps, all under General Sedgwick, across the Rappahannock at a point immediately below Fredericksburg. This col — umn was to make such demonstrations as would lead General Lee to suppose that the main attack was to be made against the Heights of Fredericksburg. At the same time a body of ten thousand cavalry was to be sent towards Richmond to cut Lee's railroad communications. On the morning of the 27th of April the Federal army began its march, and on the 28th reached Kelley's Ford. The river was crossed during that night and the next morning, with but slight opposition from a cavalry picket of the Confederates, and in the afternoon the army reached the Rapidan at Ely's an(t Germanna Fords. This stream was quite high at the time, but the men were ordered to strip, and fasten their clothes and cartridge-boxes to their bayonets. They were then marched into the river, the water coming up to the arm-pits, and in this way the passage was made duringr the afternoon and night, amidst the greatest merriment and enthusiasm. The artillery and trains were crossed on ponton bridges. This force consisted of Meade's (5th), Howard's (llth), and Slocum's (12th) corps, under the immediate direction of General Hooker. Couch's (2d) corps was left at United States Ford on the Rappahannock, to guard the river at that point, until I-ooker, in moving down the stream, should uncover it, when General Couch was directed to cross the river, and rejoin Hooker at Chancellorsville. The turning movement was executed with success. At the same time General Sedgwick commenced his movement. At dawn on the 29th he threw three bridges across the river, three miles below Fredericksburg. He at once crossed a strong column, and during the 29th and 30th made demonstra 342 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. tions as though he intended to assault the Southern position in rear of the town. General Hooker's dispositions were able, and well executed, but they did not deceive General Lee. He had expected from the first that the enemy would assail his left flank, his right being rendered safe by its position. He had stationed a part of Anderson's division, consisting of Mahone's and Posey's brigades and one battery in front of Ely's and Banks' Fords, in all about eight thousand men, and had picketted the river with Stuart's cavalry from United States Ford to Hinson's, in the neighborhood of Warrenton Springs, and had charged General Stuart to watch with great vigilance for a movement of the enemy from this direction.* Stuart performed his duty ably, and Hooker's column had scarcely reached the Upper Rapparhannock before this movement was made known to General Lee. The news of the passage of the Rappahannock reached h;mn at noon on the 29th. On the morning of the 30th Hooker's troops advanced from the Ra;pidan. In the afternoon Chlancellorsville was reached. Posey and Mahone's commands had been withdrawn by General Anderson from the river on the approach of the enemy, and concentrated a.t Chancellorsville, on the morning of the 30th, where they were rekenforced by General Wright's brigade, which had been sent fbrward by General Lee on the previous afternoon. In the afternoon General Anderson fell back from Chancellorsville to Tabernacle Church, where lie could be re/enforced by General Lee, who was calmly awaiting the'levelopment of [looker's intentions. He was well satisfied in his mind as to the nature of Sedgwick's movemnents, but, before sendingt further assistance to Anderson, it was necessary toa be positive. By nighltfall on the 30th he was convinced, from the fact that Sedgwick was sending troops to General ilookar, * Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 399. HOOKER ADVANCES. 343 that the main effort of the enemy would be directed against his left, and he at once ordered General Jackson to march to Anderson's support with- his whole command, with the exception of Early's division which was to remain and hold Sedgwick in check should he attempt to advance. Jackson was directed to " attack and repulse the enemy" as soon as he should reach'Tabernacle Church. General Jackson received this order about eight o'clock on the night of the 30th, and set out, about midnight, taking with him A. P. Hill's, Rodes', (formerly D. H. Hill's) and Colston's (formerly Jackson's, but more recently Trimble's) divisions. He marched all night, and reached Tabernacle Church about nine o'clock the next morning, Friday, May 1st. When General Hooker occupied Chancellorsville on the night of the 30th, he was in high spirits. In an order issued to his troops he declared that "the enemy must either ingloriously fly, or come out from behind his defences and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him." So confident was he that victory would crown his efforts that he said to one of his officers during the night, " 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 Richmond. I shall be after them." * Chancellorsville, was not, as the name would indicate, a town, but merely a large brick residence, with a few out-houses lying near it. It was situated ten miles west and south of Fredericksburg, with which it was connected by a plank road and a macadamized turnpike. Looking towards Fredericksburg, the country, commencing a short distance from Chancellorsville, was tolerably open, but in every other direction it was covered with an almost impenetrable thicket of dwarf pines and stunted oak, and in many places the ground was soft and * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 275. ~344 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. marshy. The road from Ely's and United States Fords, only a few miles distant, approached Chancellorsville through this gloomy region, which was commonly known as the Wilderness. A little over two miles to the right of Chancellorsville was a group of old buildings used for smelting iron, known as the Furnace. Just beyond Chancellorsville, in the direction of Fredericksburg, there was a ridge of a considerable elevation, which commanded the former place together with the Wilderness, and from which the Federal army could debouch into the open country immediately in the rear of Fredericksburg. This ridge was connected with Banks' Ford by a good road, and its possession was of the highest importance to the enemy. General Lee did not suppose that Hooker would halt at Chancellorsville, but expected that he would press on and endeavor to gain this ridge, as such a course would bring the Federal army out of the Wilderness where it was extremely difficult, if not impossible, to manceuvre, and place it in a strong position commanding the open country, and affording it an opportunity to communicate with General Sedgwick by a shorter and more direct road tl an that by which it had passed the Rappahannock. Believing that this would be Hooker's next movement after occupying Chancellorsville, Lee directed General Jackson to " attack and repulse the enemy" as soon as he reached Anderson's position. General Hooker seems to have been anxious to secure the ridge, for on the morning of the 1st of May, he resumed his march from Chancellorsville, pressing back Anderson's weak command, in spite of its gallant resistance. Jackson arrived just as the enemy had occupied the ridge, and were pressing Anderson back. He immediately dispatched the brigades of Ramseur, McGowan, Heth, and Lane to Anderson's assistance, and held the rest of his force in reserve. His arrival was most opportune. Hooker had occupied the position Lee wished to, HOOKER ADVANCES. 345 keep him from, and in doing so had gained an advantage which he should have retained at all hazards. No sooner, however, had the appearance of Jackson's command convinced him that General Lee, instead of " ingloriously flying," had determined to oppose his further advance, than he suddenly abandoned the offensive, and ordered the withdrawal of his army to Chancellorsville. His officers protested against the movement, calling his attention to the advantages afforded by the possession of the heights, and begged him to recall his order. He was incapable of further aggressive movements. His plan now was to fall back to Chancellorsville, take up a strong defensive position there, and await Lee's attack. His army fell back, as ordered, and Jackson, perceiving the advantage thus offered him, rapidly advanced his line and pressing the Federals heavily, threw a part of their force into some confusion. General Jackson at once occupied the heights, and advanced his troops until they came under fire from the enemy's works at Chancellorsville. Not being willing to risk an attack upon Hooker's superior force in such a strong position, General Jackson withdrew for a short distance, and awaited the arrival of General Lee, who came up at nightfall, with the remainder of Anderson's division and McLaws' division. During the afternoon, General Wright was ordered to reconnoitre the enemy's right. Moving to the south of Chancellorsville, he was joined at the Furnace by General Stuart, with the cavalry, who had been skirmishing hotly with the Federal army since its passage of the JRapidan. Wright, acting upon the information of General Stuart, promptly threw forward his brigtade, and drove the enemy from a commanding position, back upon their main line. Night put an end to the contest. *Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 279, 280. 44 346 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, III. CHANCELLORSVILLE. Immediately upon falling back to Chancellorsville, General Hooker commenced to fortify his position. He disposed his line of battle along the Orange Court House plank road, running east and west. His centre was at Chancellrxsville, just where the road from Fredericksburg to United States Ford crosses the plank road. Immediately around Chancellorsville is a clearing, some three hundred yards in extent, and to the right and left is the heavy undergrowth of the Wilderness. Tilhe left of the Federal line was drawn back somewhat towards the river, and was posted in the Wilderness, while the right, also in the Wilderness, stretched away towards Orange County, about two miles and a half above Chancellorsville. The left flank was protected by the river, but the right was thrown out into the air. To protect his position General Hooker caused the construction of strong earthworks, which were made still stronger by felling trees along the entire front. The only weak point of his line was his left, his front being impregnable to any assault upon it. His army was disposed as follows:-Meade's and a part of Couch's corps held the left, Slocumn's and part of Sickles' corps, the centre, and Howard's corps the right. The remainder of Couch's and Sickles' troops were held in reserve. This force was over eighty thousand strong with more than two hundred pieces of artillery. By the time of General Lee's arrival, the position of the Federal army had been well ascertained by General Jackson. The situation of the Southern army was one which admitted of no CHANCELLORSYILLE. 347 hesitation. The force which General Lee had with him at Chancellorsville was barely forty thousand strong, and the heights at Fredericksburg were held by about eight thousand under General Early. The army was thus placed between the column of General Hooker at Chancellorsville, and that of General Sedgwick at Fredericksburg; the former was over eighty thousand strong, and the latter numbered about twenty-eight or thirty thousand. If these two columns should seek to unite, they would be too strong to be resisted. If Sedgewick should advance upon Fredericksburg and drive Early from his position, he would have it in his power to fall upon General Lee's rear, while Hooker could advance upon the latter from Chancellorsville, and between such forces the Southern army would be crushed. Therefore, General Lee determined to prevent this by acting immediately. The withdrawal of Hooker to Chancellorsville, convinced him that the Federal commander expected to be attacked there, and he resolved that he should not be disappointed. The plan adopted by General Lee was proposed by General Jackson. It was as'follows:-General Lee, with the divisions of McLaws and Anderson was to keep Hooker employed during the next day, by threatening demonstrations against his front, while Jackson was to move with his corps around the FeJderal right winlr, and by a sudden attack in that quarter double it up upon [ —looker's centre, take his line in reverse, and cut himtl off from United States Ford, his line of retreat. The plan was bold and brilliant, worthy alike of the great soldier whose last conception it was, and of the greater general who accepted it. On the morning of Saturday, May 2d, General Lee com mnenced his demonstrations on the Federal left, first assailing Couch's corps, then Slocum's in the centre, and gradually extending his attack from left to right, and so completely concealing' his design that General Hooker was fully saftisfied that the Confederate commander really intended to make the move bh 348 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE wished- namely, a direct attack upon the intrenched position of his powerful army. Meanwhile General Jackson, with his tried veterans, twentytwo thousand in all, commenced his march at an early hour. About a mile and a half from Chancellorsville, the column left the plank road, and marched by the Old Mine road in the direction of the Furnace. The front and flanks of the column were guarded by the cavalry under General Stuart. Upon reaching the Furnace, the 23d Georgia, Colonel Best, was thrown out to guard the road leading toward Chancellorsville, and the column pushed on. It had been designed to keep the march secret from the enemy, but at this point it was discovered by General Sickles, whose position commanded a view of the road over a hill near the Furnace. This road, however, makes a sudden bend to the southward near this hill, so that when Sickles saw Jackson's column filing off in that direction, he supposed the Confederates were retreating towards Richmond. He immediately threw forward two divisions to reconnoitre, and these, suddenly surrounding the 24th Georgia, after the column had gone by, captured nearly the entire regiment. General Sickles telegraphed the result of his movement to General Hooker, and the latter was so firmly convinced that Lee was withdrawing, that he wrote to General Sedgwick, " We know the enemy is flying, trying to save his trains; two of Sickles' divisions are among them."' These same divisions, strengthened by Pleasanton's cavalry, and two brigades of infantry, one of which was taken from the Fed(leral right, about the same time made an attack on the trains of Jackson's corps, but were driven back to their main line at Chancellorsville by the fire of Brown's artillery. After this the column continued its march unmolested. The * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 284. CHANCELLORSVILLE. 349 progress was slow, for the troops had great difficulty in moving through the wild country, and the narrow road was unsuited to the passage of artillery. Reaching the Brock road, General Jackson turned into it, and followed it until he arrived at the point where it intersects the Orange plank road, not far from the Federal right flank. Here General Fitz Lee pointed out a hill to him and told him that from it he could see the whole Federal position. Ascending the hill, he quickly reconnoitered the enemy's line, and then, turning to one of his aids, directed him to order the column to cross the plank road, by which movement they would gain the turnpike, and come directly in the rear of the Federal works.* The turnpike was reached about five o'clock in the afternoon, and the enemy's line was completely turned. General Jackson at once issued orders to prepare the troops for action. The line was quickly formed. Rodes' division was deployed in line of battle, on the left of the turnpike, followed by A. P. Iill's and Colston's, the last two, with the artillery, moving, along the road in column. The skirmish line was thrown forward about four hundred yards in advance, and between this line and Rodes' infantry were two guns of the Stuart horse artillery, under Captain Breathed. Jackson's intention was to advance by the turnpike, which led directly to the rear of the Federal works, extending his line rapidly to the left, in the direction of the Rappahannock, by which hle would drive the right wing of the enemy back upon Chancellorsville, and get possession of the road to United States Ford. In order to accomplish this his command would have to penetrate the depths of the Wilderness, yet this was but a slight matter in his and their estimation. The reader will remember that the Federal right wing con* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 413. o50 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. sisted of Howard's (formerly Sigel's) corps. It was strongly posted across the turnpike, and defended by a series of well constructed earthworks. At a quarter past five o'clock, General Jackson ordered General Rodes to advance and attack the enemy. The men rushed forward with cheers, aiming straight at the flank of the right wing.' Breathed's two guns opened a rapid fire, galloping in advance of the infantry, until the works were reached. EmergTing from the woods, Jackson's men dashed upon the breastworks, driving before them the advanced forces of Howard, who were quietly cooking their suppers when the attack was made. Reaching the intrenchments they stormed them, in spite of the feeble resistance of the astonished Federals. Colston's division, following rapidly, caught up with Rodes' line, and entered the Federal works with it. Colonel Crutchfield, Jackson's Chief of Artillery, now hurried his batteries to the front, and opened a hot fire upon the enemy's works at Chancellorsville. The infantry moved forward steadily, driving back division after division, until the whole 11th corps was flying in utter rout. General Jackson led his troops in person. "Those who saw him declare that he seemed carried away by the excitement of the moment. He leaned forward on his horse, extending his arlm far in front, as though he wished' to push the men forward,' and his voice was heard exclaiming,' Press forward! press forward!' every few minutes during the entire attack. When not thus mastered by the ardor of battle, his right hand wvas raised aloft with that gesture now familiar to his men, as though he were praying to the God of battles for victory." It was six o'clock when the first shot was fired, and for two hours Jackson's infantrydrove the 11th corps steadily back upon the 12th, which held the centre. By eight o'clock the advance * Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 417. CHANCELLORSVILLE. 351 had been pressed to within half a mile of Hooker's headquarters, when, in the darkness, the Southern line became entangled in the heavy abatis of felled trees with which Hooker had fringed the works around Chancellorsville. Rodes' and Colston's men became mingled in the greatest confusion so that it was impossible for either officer to distinguish his command. To remedy this the troops were halted, Rodes was directed to fall back and reform his men, and A. P. Hill's division was placed in front in the room of the troops thus withdrawn. As the line halted the Federal batteries opened from the cleared ground around Chancellorsville, which about this time presented a scene of the wildest confusion. The panic stricken soldiers of the 11th corps rushed back upon their centre as Jackson's infantry swept down upon them. As the terror spread, men, horses, cannon, wagons, and ambulances became mingled in one frightfill mass, which sped across the clearing around Chancellorsville with the force of a whirlwind —all aiming straight for the Rappahannock. Officers tried in vain, by threats, entreaties and blows, to stay the fugiives. They were deaf to everything. For a moment it seemed that the career of Hooker's army was ended, but just at this time the Southern advance was checked by the accident I have mentioned. But for this, Jackson would have slept that night at Chancellorsville, and his valuable life would have been spared to the country. Hooker was quick to take advantage of the pause. Opening with every gun he could collect at the moment, twenty-two in all, upon the woods held by the Confederates, he endeavored to form his troops to resist the attack. Leading his old division forward in person, he became for the moment once more the impetuous soldier that had won such admiration even from his enemies. He posted this division at the edge of the clearing directly in Jackson's front, and awaited a renewal of the attack. 352 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Fresh artillery was brought up and fifty pieces were soon sweeping the woods with an iron hail. It was ten o'clock, and the moon had risen, li(hting up the woods with a ghostly glimmer which paled before the fierce glare of the cannonade. Late as it was, General Jackson determined to renew the attack and get possession of the road to United States Ford. As his troops were forming for the assault, he became so anxious to ascertain the exact state of affairs in his front, that he rode forward to reconnoitre, giving orders to his men not to fire, unless cavalry approached from the direction of the enemy. He was accompanied by two of his staff, about half a dozen couriers, and two men of the signal corps. Unfortunately, although the enemy were scarcely more than two hundred yards distant, no pickets had been established, and General Jackson found himself considerably beyond his lines, with nothing between him and the enemy. Had this important duty been performed, the sad results of this reconnoissance would been avoided.* As he finished his inspection General Jackson directed one of his staff to go back and order General A. P. Hill to advance. As he rode back to his lines, without giving any warning to his men, who had been ordered to look out for Federal cavalry, he was fired upon by a brigade of his own troops, and severely wounded, twice in the left arm, and once in the right hand. His whole escort, with the exception of two persons, were killed, wounded, or dismounted.t The scene which ensued was agonizing beyond description. General Jackson was assisted from his horse by the survivors of the fatal volley, almost too weak, from loss of blood, to stand, and tenderly laid in the shelter of the trees by the road* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 419. t Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 420. CHANCELLORSVILLE. 353 side. A messenger was despatched for a surgeon and an ambulance, but before these arrived, General Hill, who had also been exposed to the fire, came up, having succeeded in checking it. He was made acquainted with the calamity that had beftallen the army, and instructed to assume the command of the corps. In a few minutes General Hill repaired to his post, and shortly afterwards it was reported that the enemy were advancing, and were within only one hundred yards of the spot where the wounded General lay. An effort was now made to assist him back to his lines, and, supported by two of his officers, one of whom had just come up, he walked slowly back, under a fearfill fire of artillery which was suddenly opened from the enemy's batteries. On the way he passed his troops who were in motion to check the advance of the enemy, and every effort was made to prevent the men from learning who he was. HIis escort of officers, however, excited the curiosity of the troops who repeatedly asked who was wounded. The answer was invariably, " a Confederate officer," but one of his old veterans recognized him as lie walked bareheaded in the moonlight, and, with a cry of anguish, exclaimed, i" Great God; that is General Jackson!"* During this time Jackson had not been able to drag himself twenty steps. Ile was so exhausted that his officers procured a litter for him, but had not gone far before their path was swept by a shower of grape and canister from the Federal batteries. One of the litter-bearers was shot through both arms, and the litter was placed on the ground. For several minutes the firing was teriffic, forcing the entire party to throw themselves down on the ground for safety. Aq soon as the fire of canister veered around, another effort was made to convey the General to a place of safety, and at last he was placed in * Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 425. 45 354 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. an ambulance, and conveyed to MIelzi Chancellor's house, where he received surgical attention.* The firing to which General Jackson had been exposed did great execution in the Southern ranks, wounding, among others, General A. P. Hill, who was compelled to relinquish the command of the corps to General Stuart, who was called away from his cavalry for this purpose. Nothing further occurred during the night, which was passed by both armies in preparingr for a renewal of the battle the next day. During the night, the 1st corps, under General Reynolds, which had been withdrawn from before Fredericksburg, reached Chancellorsville, thus supplying the place of the 11th, which had been driven practically from the field. This left Sedgwick his own corps, twenty-two thousand strong, and, seeing the danger which threatened his army, General I-ooker ordered Sedgwick to attack and carry the heights back of Fredericksburg at once, a'-d move by the plank road to Chancellorsville, destroying any force in his way. He was directed to be at Chancellorsville at daylight the next morning, - Sunday, May 3d.t As soon as General Jackson was conveyed to the rear, after being wounded, he despatched a note to General Lee, informing him of his misfortune. The messenger who bore the sad tidings reached General Lee's headquarters about four o'clock on Sunday morning, and found the Commander-in-Chief resting upon a bed of straw. When he heard of General Jackson's misfortune, General Lee exclaimed with emotion, "Thank God it is no worse! God be praised he is still alive!" Then he added, " Any victory is a dear one that deprives us of the services of Jackson, even for a short time." The officer remarked that he believed it was General Jack* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, pp. 426, 427, 428, t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 291. CHIANCELLORSVILLE. 355 son's intention to have pressed the enemy on Sunday, had he been spared. General Lee said quietly, " These people shall be pressed to-day." Risino and dressing, he partook of his simple meal of ham and crackers, and prepared to set out for the field. Later in the day he sent to General Jackson the noble letter of sympathy which proved so comforting to the wounded hero - " GENERAL: "I have just received your note informing me that you were wounded. I cannot express my regret at the occurrence. Could I have directed events, I should have chosen, for the good of the country, to have been disabled in your stead. I congratulate you upon the victory which is due to your skill and energy."* General Stuart, after taking command of Jackson's corps, decided not to risk a night attack, as the ground was new to him, and the troops were in some confusion, but made his dispositions to renew the battle at daylight. The corps was formed in three lines, Hill's division constituting the first, Colston's the second, and Rodes' the third. The loss of their old commander had become known to the men, but instead of disheartening them, as had been feared, it seemed to fill them with fury. * The affectionate admiration with which the great commander of the South regarded Jackson, was fully reciprocated by the latter, who once said to a friend, in speaking of his Commander-in-Chief: " General Lee is not slow. No one knows the weight upon his heart, -his great responsibilities. He is Commander-in-Chief, and he knows that if an army is lost it cannot be replaced. No! there may be some persons whose good opinion of me will make them attach some weight to my views; and if you ever hear that said of General Lee, I beg you will contradict it in my name. I have known General Lee for five and twenty years; he is cautious; he ought to be. But he is not'slow.' Lee is a phenomenon. He is the only man whom I would follow }lindfold! "-Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, pp. 211, 212. 356 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. At sunrise Stuart opened his attack, his infantry advancing steadily upon the enemy's works, less than half a mile distant. WVith the shout, " Charge, and remember Jackson! " the men moved forward, and were soon hotly engaged with the enemy. As he brought his troops into action, Stuart saw that the ridge which had been occupied the day before by the 11th corps, afforded a fine position for artillery. Seizing it at once, he brought up thirty pieces, and opened them on the enemy's centre, inflicting heavy damage upon the troops massed there. * The enemy resisted stubbornly, and with the hope of checking Stuart's advance, assailed his left with great vigor. Colston's division was hurried to the left, and was soon followed by every available regiment. The ammunition of a large part of the command now gave out, owing to its having been used in the action of the previous night, and, as the enemy pressed heavily upon the Southern left, it seemed that Hooker would yet recover his lost honor. The troops were ordered to hold their ground with the bayonet, if necessary. A gallant stand was made, and the enemy were checked and beaten back. General Lee had not, been idle. While Stuart was bearing down upon the Federal right, he was pressing the left and centre heavily with the divisions of Anderson and McLaws, moving gradually towards the right to unite with the second corps. Anderson's division was on his left, and this forcing back the Federal centre slowly formed a connection with Stuart by a thin line, just as the latter had repulsed the attack on his left. The army was now united, and General Lee gave the order to storm the Federal works around Chancellorsville. The whole line advanced with vigor, and after a stubborn fight captured the works. The enemy rallied, and the Confederates were driven back. A second time the works were won *General Stuart's Report. CHANCELLORSVILLE. 35 7 aLd lost, and a third attempt met the same fate. The fire of the Southern artillery was redoubled, and the infantry swept forward in their fourth charge, over the dead and the dying, into the captured works, driving the enemy furiously towards the river, and at ten o'clock the Confederate flag floated in triumph over Chancellorsville. * The scene was horrible at this moment. The woods, which were full of wounded, had been set on fire by the shells, and the fierce flames were roaring around the helpless sufferers, many of whom perished in this terrible manner. The Chancellorsville house was in a bright blaze, and the clearing was full of smoke and fire. The shouts of the combatants, the crash of musketry, the heavy discharges of artillery, and the fierce crackling of the flames, all gave a wild and terrible grandeur to the scene, such as is seldom witnessed, even on a battle-field. As if in anticipation of his defeat, General Hooker had caused to be constructed on the night of the 2d, a strongly intrenched line in the rear of his first position. This new line covered the'United States Ford. It was located in an angle formed by the Rappahannock and Rapidan, the right resting on the latter, and the left on the former river. It was heavily fortified, and the corps of Meade and Reynolds, which had been held in reserve during the battle, were formed in it to cover the withdrawal of the army into this place of refuge. In spite of the strength of this line, General Lee resolved to aftack it, and drive Hooker across the river. A'ccordingly he formed his army along the plank road, with his centre at Chancellorsville, and late in the afternoon was on the point of ordering an advance, when he was brought to a sudden pause by the news that Sedgwick was marching against him from Fredericksburg, having defeated General Early. t ~ General Lee's Report. t General Lee sent the following dispatch to Richmond on Sunday night: 358 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. IV. MARYE'S AND SALEM HEIGHTS. General Sedgwick received General Hooker's order to ad. vance to his assistance, about midnight on Saturday. IHe at once left his position, three miles below Fredericksburg, and marching his corps by the flank, occupied the town about three o'clock on Sunday morning, skirmishing nearly all the way with a small Confederate force which retired before him. Shortly before daylight he threw forward a detachment to seize the works held by Early's command. This attack was promptly repulsed, and General Sedgwick ordered Gibbon's division of Couch's corps, which had been left to hold Falmouth, to cross the river, and join him. This gave him a force of not less thantwenty-two thousand men. The reader will remember that when General Lee moved from his position on the Heights of Fredericksburg, he left them in charge of General Early, who had under him his own division, and Barksdale brigade of Mississippians, of McLaws' " MILFORD, May 3 1803.'TO PRRSIDENT DAVIS: " Yesterday General Jackson penetrated to the rear of the enemy and drove him from all his positions from the Wilderness to within one mile of Chancellorsville. He was engaged at the same time in front by two of Longstreet's divisions. Many prisoners were taken, and the enemy's loss in killed and wounded is large. This morning the battle was renewed. He was dislodged from all his positions around Chancellorsville, and driven back towards the Rappahannock, over which he is now retreating. We have again to thanlk Almighty God for a great victory. I regret to state that Gen. Paxton was killed, General Jackson severely and Generals Heth and A. P. Hill slightly wounded. (Signed,) R. E. LEE, General Commanding." MARIYE'S AND SALEM HEIGHTS. 359 division. This command was assigned the duty of holding the position of the entire army, and it was now menaced by a force almost four times its own strength. The point at which the principal attack of the enemy was to be directed was Marye's Hill, just in rear of the town. This was naturally the strongest part of the Confederate line, and was made much stronger by powerful earthworks. The force charged with the defence of this position consisted of one regiment and three companies of infantry, and one battery of the AWashington Artillery, the remainder of BarksdaTe's brigade being disposed along the heights between Marye's Hill, and Ttaylor's on the left, and Howison's on the right, where the left of General Early's own division rested. The line which Barksdale thus had to defend was about three miles in length.* Several batteries under General Pendleton, were posted on Taylor's and Hiowison's Hills. As soon as Early was informed of Sedgrwick's movements, he sent Hays' brigade to re/nforce Barksdale, who posted it on the righlt of the 13th Miesissippi, near Lee's Hill. About eight o'clock on the morning of Sunday, May 3d, General Sedgwick moved a strong column towards Hamilton's Crossing for the purpose of turning Early's right, and forcing him to withdraw from the heights. This attack was sDeedily repulsed.t About the same time an effort was made to get possession of Taylor's Hill, the extreme left of the Southern line. Just as the attack began, General IIays with four of his regiments arrived to reinforce that flank, and tle enemy were repulsed. As they were retiring, General W~ilcox, who had been guarding Banks' Ford, arrived on the left with three regiments of his brigade. About eleven o'clock, Sedgwick threw forward a strong * Letter from General Barksdale.-Richmond Dispatch, May 31, 1863 t General Lee's Report. 360'LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. column against Marye's Hill, which, the reader will remember, was defended byv less than a thousand men. Moving on quickly in the face of a heavy fire from the Mississippians and the four guns of the Washington Liht Artillery, the Federals reached the work, and leaped in among the defenders. IIere a savage hand-to-hand fight was made for the hill, the Mississippians clubbing their rifles, and endeavoring with desperate resolution to hold the works. The enemy were too strong, the Mississippians, after an heroic struggle, were driven back, and the Federals gained complete possession of the hill. The Mississippians lost several hundred men, taken prisoners, and a number killed and wounded, and the company of artillery, with its guns, was captured by the enemy. Simultaneously the ridge below the town was stormed and carried by Howe's division, and by noon the entire range which General Lee had held during the battle of the 13th of December, was in Sedgwick's hands. Early fell back to the southward, across the telegraph road, leaving the way to Chancellorsville open to the enemy, who, in obedience to Hooker's orders, set off at once in that direction. _Barksdale and Wilcox, having been cut off from the main body under Early by the loss of AMarye's lIill, fell back in the direction of Salem Heillts,the ridge which Hooker had abandoned on Friday afternoon. Sedgwick's advance was by the same road along which they were retreating,. and as he pressed on, these gallant officers, appreciating the importance of retarding his march as long as possible, moved back slowly, contesting the road obstinately. This was the news which reached General Lee just as he was about to order an advance upon HIooker's new line, on Sunday afternoon. In the moment of victory, his danger was greater than it had been at any previous time. Yet Lee was equal to any emergency, and the course upon which he immediately re MARYE'S AND SALEM HEIGHTS. 361 solved, was one which in itself is sufficient to establish his fame as a great commander. He determined to leave a part of his little army to hold Hooker in check, and turn with the rest upon Sedgwick and drive him back over the Rappahannock. Having done this, he would renew the attack upon Hooker and force him back over the Rappahannock or destroy him. Sedgwick was rapidly nearing Salem Heights, which, if reached, would enable him to command the position of General Lee, and it was necessary to act at once. Leaving Jackson's corps, under Stuart, to take care of Hooker, General Lee marched on Sunday afternoon with the division of McLaws and Mahone's brigade of Anderson's division to the assistance of Wilcox and Barksdale. Moving with great rapidity, he reached Salem HIeights about four o'clock in the afternoon. hIis arrival was timely. Wilcox was gallantly holding the crest at Salem Chapel with his own and Barksdale's brigade, but this force was too small to accomplish much beingr in all about two thousand men against near twenty-two thousand. McLaws' division was in the advance, and was at once ordered to form on the right and left of Wilcox; but before this could be done, Sedgwick made a vigorous attack with two of his divisions, gained the crest, and swept the Southern line with the fire of his magnificent batteries. his success was brief, however, for Lee formed his line quickly, and drove the enemy back from the heights into the woods. Nigfht put an end to the battle. General Sedgwick's progress was checked, and what he had accomplished during the day had been gained at a loss of four thousand nine hundred and twenty-five men. Monday morning, May 4th, found the forces still confronting each other. In order to finish Sedgwick, General Lee ordered the remainder of Anderson's division (three brigades) from Chancellorsville. This force reached him about noon, and he at once directed General Anderson to turn Sedgrwick's left, and 46 362 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. cut him off from the river. Sedgwick's force was now about eighteen thousand, while Lee had about fourteen thousand in all with him, Jackson's whole corps being in front of Hooker. Anderson commenced his movement promptly, but meeting considerable delay in getting into position, was not ready for action until late in the afternoon. At six o'clock General Lee opened his attack, pressing Sedgwick with great vigor, and gradually forcing back his left. The Federals resisted stubbornly, but the Confederates moved steadily onward. Unfortunately for the latter artiy darkness closed over the conflict just as the Federal left was giving way and the retreat of the enemy was about to be cut off. Taking advantage of the darkness, General Sedgcwick withdrew his corps during the night, and retired across the Rhappahannock at Banks' Ford, where he had laid a ponton bridge the day before. The Confederates followed closely, and Sedgwick had barely time to cross his troops and trains when Lee opened on him with his artillery. Fredericksburg was immediately reoccupied by Early's division, the small Federal force left on the heights being quickly driven over the river. * Tuesday morning, May 5th, found General Lee on his way * The victory over Sedgwick was announced to the Government in the following dispatch: H" EADQUARTERS, 10 o'clock A. M., May 5, 1863. "To HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT DAVIS: "At the close of the battle of Chancellorsville, on Sunday, the enemy was reported advancing from Fredericksburg in our rear, - General McLaws was sent back to arrest his progress, and repulsed him handsomely that afternoon. " Learning that this force consisted of the corps under General Sedgwick, I determined to attack it, and marched back yesterday with General Anderson, and uniting with McLaws and Early in the afternoon succeeded, by the blessing of Heaven, in driving General Sedgwick over the river. " We have reoccupied Fredericksburg, and no enemy remains south of the Rappahannock in its vicinity. (Signed,) R. E. LEE, General." MARYE'S AND SALEMi HEIGHTS. 363 to dispose of Hooker. He had relieved his rear from the danger with which Sedgwick had threatened it, and now he was about to strike the remaining portion of " the finest army on the planet" a blow which should end the campaign. During the afternoon he returned to Chancellorsville with Anderson's and McLaws' divisions, and commented to make arrangements for an advance of his forces at daylight on Wednesday morning. This attack was not to be made. The defeat of his arm) had completely vanquished General Hooker, and on Monday night, when it was certain that Sedgwick had been driven back, he determined to recross the river, and his engineers were instructed to prepare a new line to cover the crossing. This they constructed from the Rappahannock at Scott's Dam to near the mouth of Hunting Creek on the Rapidan.* On Tuesday afternoon a severe storm set in, swelling the Rappahannock to such a stage that it seemed that the bridges of the Federal army would be swept away. Towards dark Hooker commenced to send his artillery across the river, and during the night passed over with his entire army and trains. At daylight on the morning of the 6th, the Confederates advanced upon the enemy's works, and as the skirmish line reached them the flight of the Federal army was discovered. The campaign was ended, and the Confederates were victorious at all points.t * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 301. t The next day General Lee telegraphed the result to President Davis: " CHANCELLORSVILLE, May 7, 1%136 "To Hrs EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT DAVIS:"After driving General Sedgwick across the Rappahannock, on the night of the 4th inst., I returned on the 5th, to Chancellorsville. The march was delayed by a storm, which continued all night and the following day. In placing the troops in position on the morning of the 6th, to attack Gineral Hooker, it was ascertained he had abandoned his fortified position. The line 361 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The Confederate loss in the battles was severe. Out of an army of less than fifty thousand, ten thousand two hundred and eighty-one were killed, wounded, and captured. The enemy were still more unfortunate. Their loss in killed, wounded, and captured was seventeen thousand one hundred and ninetyseven - of which five thousand, exclusive of the wounded, who fell into the hands of the victors, were prisoners. Fourteen pieces of cannon, nineteen thousand five hundred stand of arms, seventeen standards and a quantity of ammunition were captured by the Confederates. The campaign had been well fought, and brilliantly conducted, but it was dearly won at the cost of the valuable life of General Jackson, who died on Sunday May 10th.t His remains were carried to Richmond where they received all the of skirmishers was pressed forward until they came within range of the enemy's batteries, planted north of the Rappahannock, which, from the configuration of the ground, completely commanded this side. His army, therefore, escaped with the loss of a few additional prisoners. (Signed,) R. E. LEE, General." tThe wounding and death of this great soldier belong properly to another narration, and have been of necessity passed by hurriedly in these pages. General Lee informed the army o]f its loss in the following order: " HIEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, May 11, 1863. "GENERAL ORDER, No. 61. "With deep grief the Commanding General announces to the army the death of Lieutenant General T. J. Jackson, who expired on the 10th inst., at quarter past 3 P. M. The daring, skill, and energy of this great and good soldier, by the decree of an All Wise Providence, are now lost to us. But while we mourn his death we feel that his spirit still lives, and will inspire the whole army with his indomitable courage, and unshaken confidence in God as our hope and strength. Let his name be a watchword to his corps who have followed him to victory on so many fields. Let his officers and soldiers emulate his invincible determination to do everything in the defence of our beloved country. R. E. LEE, General." MARYE'S AND SALEM HEIGHTS. 365 honors a mourning nation could pay, and were afterwards escorted to the spot he had chosen for his last resting-place, in Lexington, in the Valley of Virginia. General Lee issued the following address to his army upon the close of the campaign. " HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, May 7, 1863. "GENERAL ORDER, No. 5. " With heartfelt gratification the General Commanding expresses to the army his sense of the heroic conduct displayed by officers and men during the arduous operations.in which they have just been encaged. "Under trying vicissitudes of heat and storm you attacked the enemy, strongly intrenched in the depths of a tangled wilderness, and again on the hills of Fredericksburg, fifteen miles distant, and by the valor that has triumphed on so many fields, forced him once more to seek safety beyond the Rappahannock. While this glorious victory entitles you to the praise and gratitude of the nation, we are especially called upon to return our grateful thanks to the only Giver of victory, for the signal deliverance IIe has wrought. " It is therefore earnestly recommended that the troops unite on Sunday next, in ascribing unto the Lord of hosts the glory due unto His name. "Let us not forget, in our rejoicing, the brave soldiers who have fallen in defence of their country; and, while we mourn their loss, let us resolve to emulate their noble example. "The army and the country alike lament the absence for a time of one to whose bravery, energy and skill they are so much indebted for success. "The following letter from the President of the Confederate States is communicated fo the army as an expression of his appreciation of their success: 366 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. "' I have received your dispatch, and reverently unite with you in giving praise to God for the success with which He has crowned our arms. In the name of the people, I offer my cordial thanks to yourself and the troops under your command, for this addition to the unprecedented series of great victories which our army has achieved. The universal rejoicing produced by this happy result will be mingled with a general regret for the good and the brave who are numbered among the killed and the wounded.' R. E. LEE, General." The cavalry column which General Hooker sent out to operate on General Lee's communications, did not accomplish much as far as it was desiTned to injure the Southern army. The damage done to the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad was repaired in two days, and the James River Canal was saved from injury.* The only mounted force which the Confederates could oppose to Stoneman's entire column, was W. IL. F. Lee's brigade of two re giments. Yet this weak force prevented the enemy from injuring the Canal, and induced them to retreat sooner than there was any real necessity for. Still, the Federal cavalry destroyed a large amount of property, created considerable alarm in the country through which they moved, committed many outrages upon the people, and had they been bold enough to make a sudden dash into Richmond,- a part of their command were witlhin three miles of the city- there is no doubt that the Southern Capital would have been captured. General Lee took advantage of this raid to urge upon the Government the necessity of bringing the cavalry from North Carolina and the Southern States, where they were accomplishing nothing, and assignincg them to duty with his army. Long before the enemy obtained control of the Mississippi River, he * General Lee's Report. MIARYES AND SALEM IIEIGIHTS, 367 endeavored to persuade the Government to bring horses from Texas for the use of his army. His suggestions were unheeded at the time, and, in spite of the lesson taught by Stoneman, and the grave declaration of General Lee that if the cavalry force of his army was not strengthened, the Federals would be enabled to make raids anywhere in the State without molestation, the Government continuud to treat the cavalry with neglect. 368 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. VIIr. THE SECOND INVASION OF THIE NORTII. JUNE-JULY, 1863. PREPARATIONS FOR AN ADVANCE. THIE success of the Army of Northern Virginia was more than counterbalanced by the disasters which befell the Confederate arms in the West and Southwest. The army of General Braogg had suffered such a steady run of misfortune that the people of that section began to grow despondent. General Pemberton, by disregarding the orders of General,Johnston, had allowed General Grant to shut him up in the city of Vicksburg, and lay siege to the place. Port Hudson had also been beseiged, and affairs in the Trans-Mississippi Department were in a discouraging condition. Only in Virginia had any successes been gained. The Confederate Government naturally desired to put an end to this state of things, and it was evident that it must adopt some decided measure if it wished to accomplish anything. At first the design of the Government seemed to be to reduce the army in Virginia to a strict defensive, and send a portion of it to Mississippi, with the hope of forcing Grant to raise the siege of Vicksburg. Between the 10th and the 14th of May, the PREPARATIONS FOR AN ADVANCE. 369 Secretary of War requested General Lee to send Pickett's division on this expedition. The folly of such a course at once presented itself to General Lee, and he protested against it, declaring that in his opinion the measure was a doubtful and dangerous expedient; that it was a question between the loss of Vicksburg and the loss of Virginia. Still, he stated that if the measure was still deemed necessary, he would send the division off at once. President Davis, however, sustained General Lee, and the matter was dropped. A few days later General Lee visited Richmond, and during this visit, the condition of the country and the measures for its relief were discussed, and the plan of campaign decided upon. Two plans were presented to the Government, - either to reenforce Bragg, so as to enable him to drive back Rosecrans to the Ohio, or to reenforce General Lee, and attempt once more the invasion of the North. There were many reasons which made the latter course the more desirable. The victories on the Rappahannock had raised the morale of the Army of Northern Virginia to the highest state, and the army was in better disci. pline than it had ever been. It was now a body of tried veterans, and, as General Longstreet once expressed it, was " in a condition to undertake anything."* Besides this, the commissariat of the Confederacy was in such a condition as to render the speedy collection of supplies an absolute necessity, and it was thought that these supplies could be obtained in Pennsylvania more easily than elsewhere. It was known that Hooker's army was being decreased by expirations of enlistments and desertions, and that both the army and people of the North were somewhat despondent from their want of success in Virginia. It was thought, therefore, that the better plan would be to seize the favorable opportunity thus offered, and by an offensive campaign north of the Potomac, relieve the pressure * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 310. 47 370 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. upon the Western armies, and restore the advantage which was gradually being lost by the South. This time it was decided that General Lee should strike at Pennsylvania. Having decided to adopt this plan, measures were at once set on foot to prepare the army for the execution of it. The corps of General Longstreet returned to the army just after the battle of Chancellorsville. The death of General Jackson having made vacant the 2d corps, General Ewell was appointed to it, in compliance with a wish which General Jackson himself had often expressed during his lifetime, and at the unanimous desire of the army and people. A third corps was organized, and the command given to General A. P. Hill, and both General Ewell and General Hill were raised to grade of Lieutenant General. The ranks were refilled to some extent by a vigorous enforcement of the conscription, and the troops better provided with arms and clothing than they had ever been. The discipline was made more rigid, drills and reviews were regularly held in order to increase the efficiency of the army, and new batteries of artillery were added to those already in the service. By the last of May the army was seventy thousand strong, with about ten thousand cavalry. Longstreet's corps consisted of the divisions of McLaws, Hood, and Pickett; Ewell's corps, of the divisions of Early, Rodes, and Johnson; and A. P. Hill's corps, of the divisions of Anderson, Pender, and Heth. These preparations were not unknown to the enemy. The Northern newspapers were filled with accounts of the manner in which General Lee was preparing his army for an invasion of the North, which information they professed to derive from Union men and "refugees" from the upper counties of Virginia. Meanwhile the army of General Hooker had been very greatly reduced by the expiration of enlistments, and by deser THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 371 tion On the 13th of May, General I-Iooker, in a dispatch to Presilent Lincoln, stated his forces of infantry at about eighty thousand men. This brought the Southern army nearer to an equality with the Army of the Potomac than it was at any other period of the war. II. THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. By the -1st of June the Southern preparations were ended, and all was in readiness for the advance. The first thing to be accomplished was to draw the army of General Hooker from its position on the Rappahannock. General Lee so regulated his movements-having by this time come to a thorough understanding of the man he had to deal with- as to lead General Hooker to make corresponding manceuvres to meet them, and he hoped that in doing this he might tempt the Federal commander into some operation which might either expose his army, or open to the Confederates an opportunity for a dash upon Washington. On the third of June, Longstreet's corps left its encanipments at Fredericksburg and on the Rapidan, and marched for Culpepper Court hlouse, and was followed on the 4th and 5th by Ewell's corps. A. P. Hill was left at Fredericksburg to deceive Hooker by making it appear that the whole army was in its old position.'rhe Federal commander, from the statements of the Northern press, and his own private sources of information, was convinced that something unusual was going on in the Confed. erate camp. He was not satisfied as to the nature of the movement, but was inclined to believe that Lee was trying tc 372 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. entrap him, as he had done Major-General Pope not quite a year previous; and, in order to gain some light upon the subject, he threw Sedbgwick's corps across the Rappahannock at Deep Run, on the 6th. General Hill promptly disposed his corps to prevent Sedgwick's advance, and informed General Lee of the movement; but as it was evident, from the nature of Sedgwick's operations, that he had crossed the river merely for purposes of observation, General Lee allowed Longstreet and Ewell to proceed on their march,* and on the 8th these forces were concentrated at Culpepper Court House, to which point, the cavalry, under General Stuart, had been sent a short time previous to the commencement of the movement. General Sedg^wick's reconnoissance did not satisfy General Hooker, and as the latter was informed that Stuart was massing his cavalry at Culpepper Court House, he determined to send all the Federal cavalry, supported by about three thousand infantry, to break up Stuart's camp. To this end, on the 9th of June, General Pleasanton, who had succeeded General Stoneman, crossed the Rappahannock at Kelley's and Beverley's fords, with two divisions of cavalry, supported by two carefully selected brigades of infantry, and moved by converging roads upon Culpepper Court House. General Stuart, however, had left the Court House, and had moved his command to Brandy Station, in order to place himself on the flank of the army, and cover its movement in the advance northward. General William E. Jones' brigade was thrown out towards the Rappahannock, with its pickets at Beverley's Ford. About five o'clock, on the morning of the 9th, the column of General Buford drove in Jones' pickets at Beverley's Ford, and crossed the river, while the remainder of the expedition, under General * General Lee's Report. THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 373 Gregg, moved to Kelley's Ford. Advancing through the woods, the Federals encountered Jones' brigade drawn up to resist their advance. An attack was immediately made upon General Jones, who resisted stoutly until the arrival of;V. lI. F. Lee's and Wrade Hampton's brigades, when the battle became fierce and obstinate. As the enemy were reported to be moving on Kelley's Ford, also, General Stuart sent Robertson's brigade in that direction about the same time the advance of Buford's column was made known. The Federal force at this point was the column of General Gregg. Gregg crossed the river early in the morning, and drove back Robertson's brigade to Brandy Station, where the latter made a vigorous stand, but was compelled to withdraw from Fleetwood Heights, leaving them in possession of the enemy. Information of this reached General Stuart while he was engaged with Buford in front of Beverly's Ford. Leaving Lee's brigade to hold the enemy in check, he moved back with Hampton's and Jones' brigades to Robertson's assistance. The fighting at the two points of collision was severe, and continued until late in the afternoon, when the enemy were driven at all points, and forced to recross the river with a loss of four hundred prisoners, besides their killed and wounded, which amounted to several hundred, three pieces of artillery and several colors. Stuart's loss was about five hundred, including General W. H. F. Lee, wounded.* * General Lee's Report of "the Pennsylvania campaign." General Lee sent the following dispatch to Richmond, announcing General Stuart's victory " CULPEPPER, June 9, 1863. "To GENERAL 8. COOPER: "The enemy crossed the Rappahannock this morning at 5 o'clock A. AM., at the various fords from Beverly to Kelley's, with a large force of cavalry, accompanied by infantry and artillery. After a severe contest till 5, r. a1., General Stuart drove them across the river. It. E. LEE." 374 LIFE OF GENERAL L]E. This engagement revealed to General Hooker the presence of a much larger force in Culpepper than he had supposed, and to avert the blow which he supposed would be struck at his rear, he moved the 3d corps of his army, on the 11th of June, to Rappahannock Station and Beverley Ford, and posted his cavalry along the upper waters of the Rappahannock. He wis still completely at a loss to divine Lee's object, and supposed that the movements of the Confederates were directed agairst his communications with Washington. Thus impressed, he turned his whole attention to guarding the line of the Rappahannock, and protecting himself against such a disaster as befell Pope in the summer of 1862. Having, thus succeeded in throwing his adversary off the scent, General Lee put his army in motion for the border. General Imboden's command had been directed to make a demonstration upon Romney, and to destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, in order to draw attention from Ewell's movements, and prevent the enemy from sending any of their troops stationed on that railroad to the assistance of the garrison of Winchester. General Jenkins, with his cavalry brigade, was placed under General Ewell's orders for the purpose of co6perating with the And corps in the advance into the Valley.* On the 10th of June, General Ewell left Culpepper Court House, and marched northward. Passing through Little Washington, and moving with the utmost rapidity, he entered the Valley, and crossed the Shenandoah River at Front Royal. The roads leading to the Lower Valley had been strongly guarded by the cavalry of General Jenkins, whose pickets extended to within twelve miles of Winchester, so that no information elf the movement could reach the enemy at that place. Winchester was at this time held by about six thousand Federal troops under General Milroy, and a small force occr * General Lee's Report. THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 375 pied Martinsburg. The people of the Valley had been for some time compelled to submit to the numerous and dastardly outrages of this man, and they hailed with joy the prospect of getting rid of him. So far had General Milroy proceeded in his brutality that the Confederate Government had been compelled to order its forces to refuse him the rights of a prisoner of war if captured by them. He far surpassed General Pope in his inhumanity, and had neither military skill nor courage to recommend him for the post he held. Upon reaching Front Royal, General Ewell detached Rodes' division, and directed its commander to move rapidly upon Berryville, dislodge or capture the Federal force there, and march upon Martinsburg, so as to cut off the enemy's retreat to the Potomac. Rodes at once set off, and Ewell, taking with him Johnson's and Early's divisions, hurried towards Winchester. Reaching the vicinity of the town on the 13th, he drove the enemy into their works, and rapidly bringing his forces into position, invested the town. As it was difficult to obtain favorable positions for his artillery on the hills which commanded the town, General EweI1l spent all of the 13th in manceuvring and posting his batteries. The town was strongly fortified, and it was thought that Milroy would endeavor to hold it, but as it was important to clear the Valley at once, General Exwell resolved to storm the works the next day. Accordingly on the 14th, the artillery of Early's division opened a heavy fire on the fortifications, soon silencing the Federal guns. Towards dark Early's infantry carried the re(loubts by storm, capturing the greater part of the garrison. During the night, Milroy escaped with the remainder of his command. The majority of these men were intercepted by Johnson's division, but the Federal commander managed to reach Harper's Ferry with a handful of men. Meanwhile General Rodes had executed his orders to the 376 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. letter. On the 13th he surprised the garrison of Berryville, capturing seven hundred men, and driving the remainder into Winchester. Pushing on, he occupied Martinsburg on the afternoon of the 14th, capturing over two hundred prisoners, several pieces of artillery, and a considerable quantity of ammunition and grain.* The movements of General Ewell took the enemy completely by surprise. They resulted in the freeing of the Valley from the presence of the enemy, the capture of Winchester and Martinsburg, with more than four thousand prisoners, twentynine pieces of artillery, two hundred and seventy wagons and ambulances, and a very large quantity of stores of various kinds. The Southern loss was small. The enthusiasm of the men was greatly increased by these successes. They saw that the mantle of their old commander had indeed fallen upon his successor, and they were also decidedly proud that in this advance they had sustained their old reputation for rapid movements by marching seventy miles in a little less than three days. General Ewell made a brief halt at Winchester, and then pushed on to the Potomac to secure the crossings. The garrison at Harper's Ferry retired to Maryland Heights, and the * The following are the bulletins announcing Ewell's success. *To HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS: " June 15, 1863.- God has again crowned the valor of our troops with success. Early's division stormed the enemy's intrenchments at Winchester, uapturing their artillery, &c. R. E. LEE." " CULPEPPER COURT HOUSE, June 18, 1863. " GEN1ERAL S. COOPER, ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL: "General: On the afternoon of the 14th, General Rodes took possession of Martinsburg, capturing several pieces of artillery, more than two hundredc prisoners, and a supply of ammunition and grain. "Our loss was one killed and two wounded. (Signed) R. E. LEE, General." THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 377 Valley was once more entirely in the hands of the "F9ot Cavalry." The telegraph conveyed to General Hooker news of Ewell's movements, and convinced him that he had been deceived by his wary antagonist. On the night of the 13th Sedgwick's Corps withdrew from A. P. Hill's front and recrosse(l the river, and the next day the whole Federal army withdrew from the line of the Rappahannock, taking the roads leading to Manassas, and halting and intrenching in the neighborhood of Centreville. A. P. Hill was ordered from Fredericksburg to the Valley, and as soon as he was satisfied of the withdrawal of the enemy from Stafford, he began his march. General Hooker was still under the impression that General Lee was aiming at his rear, and the position which he selected was chosen with a view of protecting his communications, and, at the same time, covering the Federal Capital. General Lee, who had with him only the corps. of General Longstreet and the cavalry, kept a careful watch over the Federal army during its withdrawal from the Rappahannock, hoping for an opportunity to attack it. Had General Hooker followed the advice of General Halleck, who suggested the propriety of striking a blow at the " flank of the moving column,"* he would have afforded the occasion for which the great Commander of the South so anxiously longed. Hooker, however, had too much good sense to expose his army in this way, and the desired opportunity was not afforded. In order to draw the Federal army still farther from its base, and cover the march of A. P. Hill, who was now moving from Fredericksburg, Longstreet left Culpepper Court House on the 15th, and passing along the east side of the Blue Ridge, occupied Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps, and this movement having * Report on the Conduct of the War. Second Series, vol. 1, p. 154. 48 378 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. succeeded in drawing Hooker away from Washington towards the mountains, A. P. Hill passed the Blue Ridge, entered the Valley, and took position at Winchester. Thus the masterly strategy of General Lee had illn less than a fortnight drawn the Ftederal army away from the Rappahliannock to the Upper Potomac, an(l planted the three corps of his own army in strong positions within supporting distance of each other, and from which they could command an easy entrance into the enemy's country without risk of being molested on their marcll by General Hooker. Still at a loss to divine his adversary's intentions, and anxious to learn the position of his forces, General Hooker threw forward his cavalry towards the Blue Ridge before which Stuart had disposed his troops to secure Longstreet's position. On the 17th of June, General Pleasanton encountered two brigades of Confederate cavalry, under Stuart, near Aldie, and was driven back with loss. The next day the enemy renewed the encgagement, their cavalry being strongly supported by infantry, and Stuart was, in turn, driven, back.* Becoming partially infornled as to Lee's position, Hooker sent the 12th corps of his army to Leesburg, the 5th to Aldie, the 2d to Thoroughfare Gap. Ile moved forward cautiously, and then, as if realizingr that he was manoeuvring precisely as his adversary desiredl, confined himself to covering the Capital, and waited till General Lee should fully disclose his desifgns.t This was soon done, for the advance of General Ewell into Pennsylvania had by this time rendered it necessary that General Lee should move the rest of his army within supporting distance of Ewell. On the 24th of June, Longstreet and Hill crossed the Potomac, the former at Williamsport, tht latter at Shepherdstown. General Stuart was directed to remain * General Lee's Report. t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 318. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. 379 in Virginia, guard the passes of the mountains, observe the movements of the enemy, and impede and harass them as much as possible, should they attempt to cross the Potomac. As soon as the Federal army entered Maryland, he was to pass the border, moving either east or west of the Blue Ridge, as he should think best, and take his place on the right of General Lee's army as it advanced.* The absence of the cavalry during the march was severely felt by General Lee in the movements which are to be described, and its presence might have produced a different result. III. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. I have stated that the command of General Imboden was ordered to operate against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He moved rapidly, and succeeded in destroying the road at important points, and on the 17th of June captured the city of Cumberland, Maryland. General Jenkins' cavalry, after the investment of Winchester, were ordered by General Ewell to proceed at once to Pennsylvania for the purpose of collecting supplies. They were preceded ~by a part of Milroy's wagon trains, which had escaped. The frightened teamsters lashed their horses furiously through the streets of Chambersburg, and informed the inhabitants that the 1"whole rebel army" would be in the town before night. That night, June 14th, General Jenkins and his brigade arrived. The inhabitants of the town were kindly treated, but as some of them had fired upon the cavalry, after the surrender of the place, General Jenkins resolved to disarm them, and on the * General Lee's Report. 380 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. morning of the 17th, required the citizens to surrender their arms. Some old muskets, sabres, and pistols, belonging to the Pennsylvania militia, were delivered to the Confederates by the citizens, together with a few shot guns which were the private property of the citizens. The muskets, pistols, and sabres, were almost all worthless, and General Jenkins, after selecting such as could be used, destroyed the remainder, but returned the shot guns to the authorities of the place.* On the 17th, General Jenkins left the town, and returned to Virginia, having collected during his stay in Pennsylvania, a large number of cattle and horses, and a quantity of provisions, which he sent back over the Potomac in safety. The moderation displayed by General Jenkins towards the people of Pennsylvania, deserves all the more credit, when it is remembered that his residence had been destroyed and his family rendered homeless by the enemy. The appearance of Jenkins in the Cumberland Valley, together with the presence of Lee's army on the Upper Potomac, threw the North into a fever of excitement. President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling upon the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, to furnish one hundred thousand militia to serve for six months," unless sooner discharged," to repel the invasion. Even as far north as the city of New York, the most intense excitement prevailed, and troops were organized for local defence. The Federal Government on the 11th of June sent MajorGeneral Couch to Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, and gave him command of the Department of the Susquehanna. General Couch was an officer of great ability, but he was sent to command a department without troops for its defence. He issued an appeal to the Pennsylvanians to take up arms for the defence of their State, and Governor Curtin called on the mili* New York Hierald, June 27, 1863. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. 381 tia to come fo)rward, but the calls produced only a handful of militia, and it was not until New York sent several of her regib ments to'arrisburg that General Couch was enabled to undertake anything like a defence of his department. Then he confined his efforts to the line of the Susquehanna, which he proceeded to fortify. It was in the midst of this excitement, and while the Northern newspapers were threatening that Lee would find millions of men with arms in their hands ready to receive him, that General Ewell's corps began its advance. It crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown and Williamsport on the 22nd of June, and moved by two columns on Hagerstown. Passing through this place, General Ewell entered Pennsylvania on the 23rd, and, advancing up the Cumberland Valley, occupied Chambersburg, the same day. As he crossed the State line, a militia force was observed drawn up at some little distance. This formidable body consisted principally of well-to-do farmers mounted on fat, sleek nags. The artillery battalion of Major Latimer was advanced to meet them, and at the second shot the gallant horsemen wheeled and set off to the rear at full speed, followed by the derisive cheers of Ewell's infantry. Strict orders were issued by General Lee, previous to the advance of the army, requiring the men to respect private property. The citizens of Maryland and Pennsylvania were informed that such supplies as the army needed would be procured in the country, and paid for in Confederate money, at the prices prevailing before the entrance of the Confederate troops into the State. If they failed to bring in such supplies they would be seized, under authority: and any article necessary for the support of the army, if concealed, would be confiscated upon discovery. Those who declined to receive Confederate money would be given receipts for all produce furnished. General Ewell followed this order, immediately upon his 382 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. arrival at Chambersburg, by requiring the citizens to suspend the sale of liquor during the occupation of the town, and to refrain from acts of hostility.* On the 27th of June the whole army was concentrated at Chambersburg. General Lee issued to his troops on that day an address commending themn for the manner in which they had acted since their entrance into the North. "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, CHAMBERSBURG, PA., June 27, 1863. "GENERAL ORDER, No 73. " The Commanding General has observed with marked satisfaction the conduct of the troops on the march, and confidently anticipates results commensurate with the high spirit they have manifested. No troops could have displayed greater fortitude or better performed the arduous marches of the past ten days. * The order referred to was as follows: " HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRIINIA, CHAMBERSBURG, PA, June 23, 1868. "1st. The sale of intoxicating liquors to this command, without a written permission from a Major General, is strictly prohibited. " 2d. Persons having liquor in their possession are required to report the fact to the Provost Marshal, or nearest general officer, stating the amount and kind, that a guard may be placed over it, and the men prevented from getting it. "' 3d. Any violation of paragraph one, of this order, or failure to comply with paragraph two, will be punished by the immediate confiscation of all liquors in the possession of the offending parties, besides rendering them and their property liable to seizure. "'4th. Citizens of the country through which the army may pass, who are not in the military service, are admonished to abstain from all acts of hostility, upon the penalty of being dealt with in a summary manner. A ready acquiescence in the demands of the military authorities will serve greatly to lessen the rigor of war. By command of LIEUT.-GEN. R. S. EWELL." A. S. PENDLETON, A. A. GEN. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. 383 Their conduct in other respects has, with few exceptions, been in keeping with their character as soldiers, and entitles them to approbation and praise. "There have, however, been instances of forgetfulness on the part of some, that they have in keeping the yet unsullied reputation of the army, and that the duties exacted of us by civilization and Christianity are not less obligatory in the country of the enemy than in our own.:" The Commanding General considers that no greater disgrace could befall the army, and through it, our whole people, than the perpetration of the barbarous outrages upon the innocent and defenceless, and the wanton destruction of private property, that have marked the course of the enemy in our own country. Such proceedings not only disgrace the perpetrators, and all connected with them, but are subversive of the discipline and efficiency of the army, and destructive of the ends of our present movements. It must be remembered that we make war only upon armed men, and that we cannot take vengeance for the wrongs our people have suffered, without lowering ourselves in the eyes of all whose abhorrence has been excited by the atrocities of our enemy, and offending against Him to whom vengeance belonUgeth, without whose favor and support our efforts must all prove in vain. "The Commanding General, therefore, earnestly exhorts the troops to abstain, with most scrupulous care, from unnecessary or wanton injury to private property; and he enjoins upon all officers to arrest and bring to summary punishment all who shall in any way offend against the orders on this subject. R. E. LEE, General." There were some few violations of these orders, but they were too few to require notice. The citizens were protected in their property and persons, and guards given to such as asked 384 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. for them. The fidelity with which these guards discharged their duty is well shown by a single instance — that of a trooper with a half-starved horse keeping watch over a rich wheat-field, and preventing his own horse from cropping the grain. The conduct of the Confederate army in Pennsylvania furnishes a noble contrast to that of any portion of the Federal army in any part of the South. The absence of General Stuart and the cavalry was now felt to a greater degree than ever. Since crossing the Potomac nothing had been heard of the Federal army, and for want of cavalry no reliable information could be gained as to its progress. In order to retain it on the east side of the Blue Ridge, and thus keep open his communications with the Valley of Virginia, through Hagerstown and Williamsport, General Lee ordered General Ewell to send a division east of South Mountain. Early's division was detached for this purpose, and proceeded as far east as York, while the remainder of Ewell's corps took the road to Carlisle.* Preparations were now made for an advance upon Harrisburg, and the army was about to move in that direction when its progress was arrested by the first reliable news that reached it, after passing the Potomac, concerning the progress of the Federal army. As soon as he was satisfied that General Lee had passed the border, General Hooker crossed the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry, on the 25th and 26th of June, and moved towards Frederick, a position of great importance, as it would enable him either to pass South Mountain and intercept Lee's communications, or move northward toward the Susquehanna should Lee advance upon Harrisburg. General Hooker's design was to adopt the former plan, and plant his army upon Lee's line of retreat. For this purpose he advanced his left wing to Middle* General Lee's Report. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. 385 ton, and sent the 12th corps, under General Slocum, to Harper's Ferry. IIe intended that the garrison of that post, eleven thousand strong, should unite with Slocum, and threaten Lee's rear by a movement towards Chambersburg.* This plan of taking away the garrison of Harper's Ferry, involved General Hooker in a quarrel with General Halleck, and on the 27th of June, Hooker requested to be relieved from the command of the army. His request was granted, and on the 28th he was succeeded by Major-General George G. Meade. The new commander was almost a stranger to the Northern people, though enjoying, to an unusual degree, the confidence of the army with which he had been identified since its organization. He was an able, energetic, and cautious commander, who weighed well the chances of success before committing himself to any undertaking. Though General Meade never rose to the height of a great soldier, he was a man who understood his profession too thoroughly to fail to do honor to it, and his appointment was one of the wisest ever made by his Government, which also had the good sense to refrain from trammnelling, him with instructions to pursue any definite policy, leaving him to be guided by the necessities of the situation. General Meade found the army lying in the vicinity of Frederick City, with its left thrown out at Middleton. This was the situation of the Federal army when, on the night of the 29th of June, General Lee was informed that its advanced force was beyond Middleton, threatening to move over the mountains and assail his communications. Ewell was at York and Carlisle with his corps, and Stuart was still absent with the cavalry. To draw the enemy away from the Potomac, General Lee resolved to concentrate his army east of the mountains. Accordingly Generals Longstreet and Hill were directed to move * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 321, 324. 49 386 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. from Chambersburg to Gettysburg, and General Ewell was recalled from York and Carlisle, and ordered to the same point. The march was conducted very leisurely, as the movements of the Federal army were unknown. Had Stuart been retained with the army, Lee would have been informed of his adversary's march, and would have hastened to occupy Gettysburg before AMeade could reach it. Meanwhile General Stuart had hungr upon the flanks and rear of the Federal army while it remained in Virginia, but he found it impossible to delay its march to any perceptible degree. On the 27th of June he occupied Fairfax Court House, capturing a quantity of stores. As he could not delay the enemy, however, he crossed the Potomac at Seneca Falls, and, mnoving east of Meade's army, passed through Westminster, and reached Carlisle just after the departure of General Ewell for Gettysburg. The route he pursued prevented him from being of any service to General Lee until he reached Carlisle, as MiIeade's army was between him and his commander previous to his arrival at that point. l Meanwhile General Meade had learned that General Lee Nwas m.oving east of the mountains, and supposing that the Confederate commander would seek to attack him, he set about selecting a favorable position in which to receive the assault. ITe chose the general line of Pipe Creek, " on the dividing ridge between the Monocacy and the waters running into the Chesapeake Bay," as the best defensive position, though he determined to be guided, in occupying it,:by the movements of his adversary.* Ie learned General Lee's presence east of South Mountain on the night of the 30th, and at once ordered the right wing of his army (the 6th corps) to Manchester, in the rear of Pipe Creek; the 2d corps was directed to move on Taneytown, accompanied by the headquarters of the army; the * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 326. GETTYSBURG. 387 centre (the 12th and 5th corps) were to march to Two Taverns and Hanover, a little beyond Pipe Creek; while the left wing (the 1st, 3d, and 11th corps) under General Reynolds, wvas to advance upon Gettysburg, this last point being consid-,ered the most favorable position nearest Lee's line of march. These movements were to commence at sunrise the next day. Thus both armies were aiming for the same point, —Lee to occupy Gettysburg with his whole force, because of its strategic importance in commanding his line of retreat, and Meade to occupy it with only his left wing, until the rest of his army could take position on Pipe Creek, for he was not aware then of the greater advantages offered by the country around Gettysburg for defensive operations.* Had but the cavalry been present with the Southern army, Gettysburg could have been occupied by General Lee fully twenty-four hours earlier than be arrived there, iV. GETTYSBURG. As I have shown, both armies were marching upon Gettysburg, one for a fixed and definite purpose, the other merely to cover its real design. On the 29th of June the Federal cavalry, under General Buford, which had been thrown out to observe the movements of the Confederates, occupied the town for purposes of observation. General Reynolds being ordered to Gettysburg, Buford held the town until his arrival. In the meantime the Confederates marched leisurely, and on the night of June 30th, two divisions of Hill's corps bivouacked only six or seven miles from Gettysburg, on the Baltimore and * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 326, 327. 388 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Chambersburg road, while Ewell halted at Heildersburg, on the Carlisle road, only nine miles from Gettysburg. At this time all of Longstreet's corps was west of the mountains, and but two divisions of Hill's corps were east of them. On the same night General Reynolds, with the left wing of the Federal army, encamped on Marsh Creek, four miles south of Gettysburg, with orders to occupy the town the next mornings. On the morning of July 1st, A. P. Hill and Ewell resumed their advance, and about nine o'clock Hill's advanced divisions encountered Buford's cavalry on the Chambersburg road, about a mile from Gettysburg. General Buford had been informed of the march of General Reynolds to occupy the town, and he disposed his forces to resist Hill until Reynolds could come up. By the skilful manner in which his artillery was served, he succeeded in holding his ground until the arrival of the 1st corps, which Reynolds had hurried forward to his assistance. General Reynolds was under instructions not to bring on an action at Gettysburg, but to retire to Pipe Creek if the Confederates appeared in force at the former place,* but upon his arrival there, he found Buford's cavalry so hard pressed that he was forced to bring up his main body to save them. General Reynolds formed his line to the west of Gettysburg, just back of a small stream called Willoughby's Run. His troops were posted on the right and left of the Chambersburg road, partly in open ground and partly in a strip of woods bordering the stream. He brought with him the leading division of the 1st corps, and ordered the remainder of the troops to press on with all speed. By this time only the division of General Heth, of Hill's corps, which was in the advance, had come up. This division lad pressed Buford hard, and now made a vigorous attack upon Reynolds' infantry. The attack was made with such spirit that * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac - p. 331. GETTYSBURG. 389 a part of the Federal line was driven back, but as the Confederates pressed on to follow up their success, they were themselves repulsed by an attack on their right flank, led by General Reynolds in person. In this charge the Confederates lost several hundred men, captured, including Brigadier- General Archer; while the enemy lost their commander, General Reynolds, who was killed by a rifle-ball. The death of this officer was a great loss to the Federal army. He was a brave and slilful soldier, an honest-hearted gentleman, and had conducted himself so humanely and generously to the people of Fredericksburg that they mourned his death almost as though he had been one of their own leaders. The enemy also rallied and regained the ground from which they had been driven on their right, capturing two regiments of Davis' brigade of Mississippians. By this time the whole of the 1st corps of the Federal army had come up, and Heth was r/enforced by Anderson's division of HIill's corps. Hill's troops pressed heavily upon the Federal left, causing it to make great exertions to hold its ground. Strong reenforcements were hurried by the enemy to this point of their line, and the battle went on fiercer than ever. Meanwhile General Ewell had been marching rapidly from Heildersburg, warned by the sound of the guns that the two armies had come in collision at Gettysburg. His advanced division, under Rodes, came upon the field just as Hill was bearing down heavily upon the Federal left. Bringing his division promptly into action, screened from the enemy's observation, and seizing a commanding position on the Northern right, Rodes opened a determined attack on the Federals, who immediately brought up a division of infantry to strengthen this part of their line, and succeeded in capturing several hundred men of Iverson's North Carolina brigade. Thus far the battle seemed evenly balanced between the con 390 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. tending forces. It was now one o'clock, and the lines of the two armies had been gradually extended towards the right in a semi-circle around the town for a distance of several miles. The Illth corps of the Federal army now arrived, General Howard having assumed the command of the field immediately upon the fall of General Reynolds. Pender's division of Hill's corps reached the opposite line, about the same time, and a few minutes later Early's division of Ewell's corps also arrived and took position on the north of the town, across the Harrisburg road, causing the enemy to extend their lines still farther to the right. About three o'clock Early made a furious attack upon the Federal right, under General Barlow, and drove it back with heavy loss, General Barlow himself being left on the field severely wounded. At the same time Rodes, whose position, opposite the Federal centre, was the key-point to the field, broke through the enemy's line. These successes were followed by a general advance of Hill's entire corps and Ewell's two divisions. The enemy were swept back, and driven through Gettysburg in confusion, with the loss of about five thousand prisoners, and several pieces of artillery, The Confederates followed in hot pursuit until checked by orders from their commander. Meanwhile the death of General Reynolds had been reported to General Meade, and he sent General Hancock to take comrn. mand of the left wing, with orders to hold his ground at Gettysburg if he found the position to be better than at Pipe Creek. If his opinion of the position was favorable, he was to inform General Meade, who would at once bring up the whole. army; but if unfavorable, he was to retire to Pipe Creek.* General Hancock was too good a soldier not to see instantly that here was just the position Meade was in search of, but his first care * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomae, p. 334. GETTYSBURG. 391 was to rally his beaten troops in order to hold it. In this task he succeeded, the halt of the Confederates giving him an opportunity of doing so, and he formed his line along the ridge to the south and west of the town, known as Cemetery Hill. This position was so strong that General Lee decided not to attack it until Longstreet and the remainder of Ewell's corps should come up. He sent orders to these troops to hasten their march, and efforts were made to discover the enemy's strength and exact position. It would have been better for General Lee had he pressed his pursuit and stormed the heights before Hancock had succeeded in rallying his troops. Such a movement would have wrested from the enemy the strongest defensive position ever assailed by the Army of Northern Virginia, and also have forced General Hancock to retire tb Pipe Creek. Nothing but this strange hesitation on the part of General Lee enabled the enemy to hold the ridge. The afternoon was spent in reconnoitering the Federal line, and by nightfall the opportunity which General Lee threw aside had passed by. The town of Gettysburg lies in the centre of a small valley formed by several ranges of hills. North of the town the country is not so rugged, but south, east and west of it the hills are high and abrupt. To the westward, distant about a mile, is a ridge bordering the east bank of Willoughby's Run. About a quarter of a mile from the town, in the same direction is another considerable elevation, called Seminary Ridge. It was in the valley between these ridges that the battle of July 1st was fought. South of the town, and about a quarter of a mile distant, is the Cemetery ridge, running due south. Just beyond the limits of Gettysburg, this Ridge makes a sudden bend to the eastward, and then turning to the right again, falls off towards the south, forming a hook. Where it bends to the, eastward the ridge is called Cemetery Hill, from its being the 392 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. place of burial for the citizens of Gettysburg, and still farther to the right it is known as Culp's Hill. From Cemetery Ilill the ridge is sharp and rugged for about three miles to the south?ward, where it terminates in a high, wooded peak, called RounlI Top, the lower or northern part of this peak being known as Little Round Top, or Weed's Hill. At the base of Culp's Hill flows Rock Creek, a small stream emptying into the Monocacy, while another creek, called Plum Run, flows along almost the entire front of the Cemetery Ridge from near Cemetery Hill proper, to beyond Round Top. The country west of the ridge is broken, and is commanded by it. Three prominent roads pass over the ridge. The Taneytown road, running due south, crosses it at the Cemetery; the Baltimore turnpike crosses the ridge east of the Cemetery, and runs southeast, while the Emniettsburg Road passes along the lower part of the ridge, and runs southwest. A line drawn along the crest of the ridge from the end of Culp's Hill to Round Top will measure a distance of four miles. The crest of the hill is mainly in tilled fields, with here and there a patch of woods, falling off gradually towards the rear, and affording excellent shelter for trains and reserves.* During, the night of the 1st, General Meade brought up the remainder of his army, with the exception of the 6th corps, which was hurrying on from Manchester, and posted it upon Cemetery Ridge. His right consisting of Slocunm's corps (the 12th) and'Wadsworth's division of the 1st corps held the right, on Culp's lill; the centre, consisting of Howard's (11th) corps, and Robinson's and Doubleday's divisions of the 1st corps, held Cemetery Hill; and the left, consisting of the corps of Hancock (2d) and Sickles (3d) was disposed along Cemetery Ridge. Sykes' corps (5th) was held in reserve on the right, and Sedgcwick was still to come up. The right and a part *Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 336, 337. GETTYSBURG. 393 of the centre of the line faced to the north, and the remainder to the west. The force with which General AMeade held this magnificent position numbered (including Sedgwick's corps) fitlly one hundred thousand men, together with about two hundred guns. The Confederates, after the battle of July 1st, occupied the town of Gettysburg, and the country to the right and left of it, lying immediately in front of and commanded by the position of the Federal army. Ewell was on the left, and held the town; Hill's corps occupied Seminary Ridge, and Longstreet, who arrived with two of his divisions on the morning, of the 3d, was posted on Hill's right, his line extending across the Emmettsburg Road, directly in front of Round Top. It was not General Lee's original intention to fight a general battle so far from his base of operations, and indeed, judging merely by the positions held by the two armies, it is strange that he allowed himself to be drawn into one. IHis army had before it the task of storming a rocky fortress stronger than that against which Burnside had dashed his army so madly at Fredericksburg, and every chance of success lay with the Federals. Still, when the two armies found themselves facing each other so unexpectedly, a change of some kind from their original plans became necessary. The reader will remember that General Lee, in abandoning his march upon Harrisburg, and moving east of the mountains, had not done so for the purpose of attacking General Meade, but merely to draw him from the movement against the communications of the Confederate army. Indeed, when he set olt upon the campaign, General Lee promised his Corps Commanders that he " would not assume a tactical offensive, but force his antagonist to attack him." * It would have been well *Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 840. 60 394 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. for him had he remained steadfast in this determination. He states his reasons for his sudden departure from his original programme, as follows: "It had not been intended to fight a general battle at such a distance from our base, unless attacked by the enemy; but finding ourselves unexpectedly confronted by the Federal army, it became a matter of great difficulty to withdraw through the mountains with our large trains. At the same time the country was unfavorable for collecting supplies while in the presence of the enemy's main body, as he was occupying the passes of the mountains with regular and local troops. A battle thus became, in a measure, unavoidable. Encouraged by the successful issue of the engagement of the first day, and in view of the valuable results that would ensue from the defeat of the army of General Meade, it was thought advisable to renew the attack. * So far as his trains were concerned, General Lee fell into a strange error. A very large part of them were still west of the mountains, and those which had come up with the army might have been removed. The Southern line covered the passes of the mountains which would have secured the safety of the trains in moving through these defiles. Stuart was now up with the cavalry, and could guard them if necessary against any sudden dash of the enemy. The trains were withdrawn after the battle under more unfavorable circumstances, and there is no reason to doubt that they could have been gotten off as successfully before as after the engagement. I do not mean that General Lee should have retreated without a battle, for I readily admit that such a step would have greatly injured his army. There were other movements by which General Meade might have been drawn from his stronghold and forced to assume the offensive. The reader will * General Lee's Report. GETTYSBURG. 395 remember that the position of General Longstreet gave him control of the EEmimettsburg road. This really placed the right wing of the Southern army between Meade and Washington. By moving at once upon Frederick, General Lee could: have drawn the Federal army from Cemetery Ridge, and had General Meade attempted to interfere with the movement by attacking the Confederate commander, he would have afforded General Lee just the opportunity for which he had been watching. General Longstreet was very anxious to attempt this movement, and urged it upon General Lee, but the latter thought it better to make a direct attack.* There are those who assert that General Lee himself was not free from the contempt entertained by his men for the army they had so frequently vanquished, and that he was influenced by it in his decision upon this occasion. This may or may not be true. It is certain that the decision was an error. The morning of the 2d of July found the two armies confronting each other in their new positions. The greater portion of the day was spent in disposing the troops, and it was not until a quarter to five in the afternoon that the Confederates began their attack. The enemy's force on their left, consisting of General Sickles' corps, had been thrown forward, during the morning, to secure what seemed to be a commanding position on the ridge trav-< ersed by the Emmettsburg road. Instead of gaining any advantage by this movement, however, General Sickles merely exposed the Federal left, and placed his own corps in a more unfavorable position than it had at first occupied. General Lee quickly detected it, and directed General Longstreet to get posession of it, as it would be of great service to him in his attack upon Meade's main line. At fifteen minutes to five, Longstreet's artillery opened a * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 341. 396 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. heavy cannonade upon Sickles' position, and in a few minutes the firing was taken up by Ewell, on the left. Under the cover of this fire, Hood's division was thrown forward against Sickles' left, which curved back from a peach orchard on the Emmettsburg road towards Round Top. Making a sharp attack upon the enemy before him, Hood moved gradually to the right; and threw his right wing into the interval between Sickles' extreme left and Round Top. Little Round Top was, at this time, almost undefended,* and had Hood known it he might have seized it, and thus have gained the key point to the Federal line. This fact being unknown to him, however, he confined his efforts to the attempt to dislodge Sickles from his position, and approached Little Round Top cautiously, and with only a part of his division, making every effort, however, to gain the hill. At this moment, however, General Warren, Meade's Chief of Engineers, who was inspecting this part of the line, seeing the danger which threatened the Federal army, by great exertions brought up a brigade of infantry and a battery of artillery, just as Hood's troops were nearing the hill.t Hood's men made a gallant attack, charging the enemy's line with great determination. The Federals resisted stoutly, and a hand-tohand fight ensued for the works, in which both lost heavily, but which resulted in the repulse of the Texans, and in confining them to the rugged glen at the base of the hill, from which the enemy could not dislodge them. An effort was then made to turn the Federal left by working cautiously up the ravine between Round Top and Little Round Top, but this was also prevented by the enemy. While these efforts were being made on his right, Hood had thrown his left against the centre of Sickles' line, and as soon * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 345. t Campaigns of the Army of the Potopmac, p. 8346. GETTYSBURG. 397 as he had become fairly engaged, Longstreet had advanced McLaws' division to his support. These troops assailed Sickles so vigorously that he was soon compelled to call for reenforcements. Three brigades were sent to him, but they were powerless to hold the position. Longstreet directed his principal attack upon the exact centre of Sickles' line, and at a point near the peach orchard to which I have referred, and, pressingr the enemy vigorously in this quarter, broke their troops and drove them from the orchard, gaining possession of the key points to Sickles' advanced line. The Federals made three or four desperate efforts to regain the orchard, but each onset was repulsed with heavy slaughter, and General Longstreet continued to advance his corps steadily. To check his advance the enemy brought up a fresh division, under General Caldwell, and attacked Longstreet, who had reached a wheat field and strip of woods bordering the west side of Plum Run. A sharp encounter took place here, and the enemy seemed to be gaining ground, when Hood, who had by this time driven back Sickles' left and carried its whole position, came up on the right of the peach orchard. To meet him the enemy advanced Ayres' division of regulars, but the Confederates penetrated an interval between Caldwell's left and Ayres' right, and drove both divisions back upon their main line at Cemetery Ridge. At the same instant A. P. Hill, who had been ordered to threaten the Federal centre, but to refrain from attacking unless a good opportunity presented itself, made a fierce attack with Anderson's division upon Humphreys' division, which constituted Sickles' right wing, and which, having been until that moment unassailed, had held its position. Humphreys was driven back quickly, and the entire advanced position of Sickle, fell into the hands of the Confederates, General Sickles himself being disabled by the loss of a leg. 398 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Still the Federal main line remained unassailed, and its strength was such that General Longstreet had but little hope of carrying it. His men pressed on, however, and reached Cemetery Ridge, where the enemy had been rallied by General Hancock. A partial attack was made and repulsed, and finding that night was rapidly approaching, General Longstreet withdrew his troops to the western verge of the wheat field, where they remained during the night. WIhile Lon gstreet was thus engaged on the right, Ewell, in obedience to General Lee's orders, made a direct attack upon the right centre of the Federal army at Cemetery and Culp's Hills. Moving out of the town as Longstreet became hotly engaged, he commenced to form his line. It was General Lee's design that this demonstration should keep the attention of the Federals too closely confined to their right to permit them to send reenforcements to their left where his real attack was to be made. General Ewell was delayed in his movements, however,;nd did not assail the enemy until near sunset. Under the cover of his artillery, he advanced Early's division,gainst Cemetery Hill, and Johnson's division against Culp's Hill. As Early marched out of the town the Union forces opened upon him with a battery of artillery, at a distance of eight hundred yards, but quickly gaining the open country, he formed his line and moved on under a heavy fire from twenty guns loaded with shrapnel and canister. This fire was so severe that the centre of Early's line gave way; but the right,* which was more sheltered from the enemy's fire, pressed on and gained the crest. The artillerists made a gallant fight for their guns, arid succeeded in holding their ground until the arrival of reinforcements, when Hays and Hoke were compelled to fall back. Rodes' division had been ordered to support General Early, "but when the time came to attack, Rodes, not having his *Hays' and Hoke's brigades. GETTYSBURG. 399 troops in position, was unprepared to cooperate with Early." hIad his division been at hand to sustain the efforts of Hays and Hoke, the lodgement gained by them would have been final, and the Federal right would have been turned. On Ewell's left the attempt was more successful. Johnson's division, advancing up the gorge of Rock Creek, attacked the right of Meade's line at Culp's Hill, and after a sharp'fight succeeded in securing a part of the Federal breastworks on the extreme right. The enemy had greatly weakened this part of their line to meet the attack of General Longstreet, and but for the approach of night, which now compelled General Johnson to suspend operations, the success in this quarter would have been pushed still farther. As it was, he arranged his command to hold the position he had rained in the Union works and which, if retained during the next day, would enable General Lee to take Meade's whole line in reverse. When night came matters stood thus' Longstreet had carried the entire position in his front occupied in the morning by Sickles' corps, and Ewell had effected a lodgement on the crest on the Federal right. The enemy had suffered in the two days' encounters, the heavy loss of twenty thousand men, with many of their best officers killed or disabled. The Confederates had paid heavily for their successes. General Barksdale had been left, mortally wounded, in the enemy's lines, and many valuable officers had fallen, while the loss in killed, wounded, and missing was severe. Still the successes of the 1st and 2d, decided General Lee to renew the attack the next day. During the night the enemy strengthened their position with earthworks, and prepared to recover that part of their line that had been wrested from them by General Johnson. A strong force of artillery was posted within easy range of Johnson's division, and the 12th corps and two divisions and a brigade of * General Lee's last Report of the Gettysburg Campaign. 400 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the 6th corps were ordered to take position to attack the Confederates the next morning. At four o'clock on the morning of July 3d, the enemy opened a heavy fire from their artillery, and the infantry mentioned moved forward to drive Johnson from the ridge. Although so greatly overmatched, Johnson made a gallant resistance, but after a severe engagement of four hours was driven from the hill, and the enemy reestablished their line. It had been General Lee's intention to strengthen Ewell, and make his main attack this time on the Federal right, hut the disaster which befell Johnson rendered this inexpedient, and he now resolved to break the enemy's centre, and drive their two wings apart, and in order to effect this more easily he spent the entire forenoon in massing his artillery opposite the Federal centre. His plan was as follows: His artillery was to open fire at one o'clock, and silence the Federal batteries. A strong column of infantry was to storm the heights as soon as the firing ceased, and carry the Federal centre; the remainder of the army being held in readiness to move forward at any moment. During the morning there was a lull, the Confederates made their preparations with vigor, and by noon had posted one hundred- and forty-five pieces of cannon on Seminary Ridge, opposite Meade's centre. To reply to these batteries, the Federals, who could see the concentration of the Southern guns, lined the crest of Cemetery Hill with eighty pieces of cannon. At one o'clock, General Lee opened fire from his batteries, and the Federal guns replied soon after. For two hours this tremendous cannonade went on without slackening, when the Federals, finding their ammunition running low, gradually ceased firing, and the Confederate columns of attack commenced to move forward. ~ ~ u ONE o: R5~;LPAEi 4 L g'.\ t, / / ~ 1 ~E GN ~':,J~' ///, if iZ\ 4 M/r, A\ A~ C) ~~~~:~I.'I,,,,,,,//. ~.:,,,,,,,, INZ ARMS, TEAD ~'A A 9 AL,0',,,~.~ 0GM.i, -"",,S K /-.~...L R D_, 6 -.0 ix~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-i -iRi.6DALO'. I s 0 oI.. os.R i~~~~~~~~4p0CRS/.....u~rowF~1 /. ~I/W ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ r - 7 ~~~~~~~cT 194 50~~~~~~ c,,~~~~~ ENCEENC PC~~~~~~~C WILCOX~~ P ERRY lb IY~ AR. ISg. OENSGRET~I KEMPER HA~1 R ARMSTEAD CA caL SW ES 7:I — (9SHURS) s~~~n~ Y O~~~~~~~~I R L ORCI~~IRD r ~I~l~l'lIl L WATERSF' GETTYSBURG. 401 The duty of carrying the Federal position was assigned to the division of Major General Pickett (which had been absent during the fight of the previous day), supported by HIeth's division of Hill's corps, commanded by General Pettigrew. Pickett's division was less than five thousand strong, owing to the absence of two of its brigades, but was composed of the flower of the Virginia infantry, and was an object of pride to the whole army. IIeth's division, which had so distinguished itself in the first day's fight, was made up principally of new troops from North Carolina. The brigade of General Wilcox was also designed to cover Pickett's right flank during his advance. The attacking column was about thirteen thousand strong, and the'command of the whole was given to General Pickett. As the Federal guns ceased firing, Pickett, having formed his line, moved forward across the open plain in front of the enemy's works. Kemper's and Garnett's brigades were in front, with Armistead following close behind. Pettigrew was moving on the left, and Wilcox with his troops in columns of battalions following on the right. As steadily, as if marching on parade, the columns advanced, and when they reached the Emmettsburg Road the Confederate batteries became silent, as they could no longer fire safely over the heads of the advancing infantry. The enemy greeted their approach with terrific discharges of grape and canister, before which the Confederates went down by scores. Still the line pressed on, winning the admiration of even its foes by the magnificence of its advance. Suddenly, when the crest was almost reached, the hill blazed with the fire of the Federal infantry, and Pettigrew's division, in spite of the efforts of its heroic commander to rally it, was forced:~back with heavy loss, after a brief but gallant resistance, leaving two thousand prisoners and fifteen standards in the hands of the Union Army. Pickett's division continued to press forward in the centre. 5' 402 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. "Steady they step adown the slope, Steady they climb the hill, Steady they load, steady they fire, Marching right onward still," while the iron hail-storm sweeping through their ranks strewed tile earth with their dead and dying. There was no wavering among them, for they were fighting for a cause they loved. The gaps in their line were closed up as fast as made, and with wild cheers of triumph they gained the crest, drove the Federals from the works, and amid the gloom and smoke General Lee saw through his glass the battle flag of the South waving from the crest of Cemetery Ridge. The triumph was dearly won, and was as brief as it was glorious. The enemy rallied on their second line, and poured a withering fire into the captured works now held by the confederates. Glancing around to look for his supports, Pickett found that he was alone and that Pettigrew's men had been repulsed by the enemy. The grand charge had been in vain. Every brigade commander, and all but one field officer, had fallen, and it was by a miracle only that General Pickett himself had escaped. The enemy were rapidly thinning his ranks, and it was vain to attempt to hold the works. All that courage could do had been done, and it remained but to save the remnant of the divison. Reluctantly he gave the order to fall back, and the command retired slowly and sullenly over the ground it had immortalized. General Wilcox, who had failed to move far enough during Pickett's advance, now attempted to carry the heights, but his gallant and rash assault was repulsed. Of the five thousand men with which Pickett began his charge, nearly thirty-five hundred were killed, wounded, or in the hands of the enemy. Of his three brigade commanders, General Garnett was killed, General Armistead mortally GETTYSBURG. 403 wounded, and General Kemper severely and almost fatally wounded.'Out of fourteen field officers, but one returned fromn the heights. The charge was fruitless, but the Federals purchased their success at a high price. Many valuable officers were killed or wounded, Generals Hancock and Gibbon being among;he latter, and several thousand of their infantry were put hors du combat. From his position on Seminary Ridge, General Lee had witnessed the charge. As he saw his men driven back from the heights, it is said that he placed his finger for a moment thoughtfully between his lips, the only sign of perplexity he was ever known to exhibit. Then, realizing the importance of the occasion, he rode forward promptly among the broken troops to rally them. Calmly, as though far beyond the reach of danger, he spoke to them words of cheer and comfort. 4" Never mind," he said, as he urged them to re-form "' We'll talk of this afterwards. Now we want all good men to rally. All this will come right in the end." His simple appeals were answered with enthusiasm. The men, even the wounded, returned to their places with cheers for their beloved commander, and a foreign officer, who was present as a spectator states that in this dark hour he heard nothing but admiration for Pickett's noble charge, and that the men assured him of their firm faith in General Lee, in such homely phrases, as,' "We've not lost confidence in the old man: this day's work won't do him no harm,' Uncle Robert' will get us into TWashington yet." * General Lee was fully alive to the extent of his disaster. To Colonel Freemantle of the English army, he said, " This has been a sad day for us, Colonel, -a sad day; but we can't expect always to gain victories." But he rose grandly above his disaster when, in reply to General Wilcox, who came to * Colcnel Freemantle's Diary, published in Blackwood's Magazine for Septemrber 1863. 404 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. report the failure of his attack, and who could hardly speak for emotion, when telling the sufferings of his men, he said quietly and cheerfully, "Never mind, General; all this has been my fault; it is I that have lost this fight, and you must help me out of it in the best way you can." All the while his calmness and cheerfulness remained unshaken.* It was thought that the enemy might attempt to follow up Pickett's repulse by an advance upon Longstreet's line, and preparations were made to receive them. Everything was done promptly and rapidly; " yet there was much less noise, fuss, or confusion of orders," says Colonel Freemantle,'" than at any ordinary field-day." The enemy did not advance, however. Mlany of the ablest officers of the Federal army were in favor of such a movement, but General Meade wisely decided not to risk the advantage he had gained, - wisely, because an advance upon his part would have been repulsed with heavy loss to him, inasmuch as Longstreet had two fresh divisions - McLaws' and HIood's - lying in readiness to meet him, together with a strong force of artillery. Indeed, General Longcstreet was anxious that Meade should attack him.t The attack was not made, however, and the remainder of the day passed away i' comparative quiet.'During the night the corps of General Ewell was withdrawn from the town and posted on Seminary Ridge, upon which the whole army proceeded to intrench itself. The next morning, July 4th, the enemy reoccupied the town. General Lee held his position during the day. Though no longer able to attack his adversary, he was perfectly willing to be assailed by him. General Meade remained quiet, however, and about noon General Lee commenced to remove the arms from a portion of the field, and such of his wounded as could be transported. The * Colonel Freemantle's Narrative. t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 364. TIIE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 405 wounded were placed in ambulances and wagons, and sent back to the Potomac under a strong escort, and the prisoners, four thousand in number, were also sent in that direction. It was now evident to General Lee that he could no longer hope for a successful issue to the campaign. The Federal army was too strong to be driven from its position, and it was not advisable to attempt to hold the country in its presence. The ammunition of the Southern army was almost exhausted, and it was difficult to procure provisions. These things made a withdrawal imperative, and that movement involved the terrmination of the invasion of the North. The losses in the battle of Gettysburg were heavy on both sides. On the side of the Confederates, they were over twenty thousand.* The Federals lost twenty-three thousand one hundred and ninety killed, wounded, and captured. V. THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. During the 4th of July General Lee held his position on Seminary Ridge, his line covering the Chambersburg and Fairfield roads. These highways lead westward from Gettysburg, and passing through the South Mountain range, enter the Cumberland Valley at a distance of seven miles from each other. During the night of the 4th, the Confederate army commenced to retire by these roads, but its progress was so * General Meade reports the captures of prisoners by his army at thirteen thousand six hundred and twenty-one; but it must be remembered that General Lee left most of his wounded in the enemy's hands. He also detailed a large force of nurses to remain with his wounded. These were seized by the Federals and treated as prisoners of war. This accounts for the large number of prisoners. 406 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. much delayed by a severe storm that the rear-guard did not move from Gettysburg until the morning of the 5th. It was a difficult task that now presented itself to the Confederate commander. His army was inferior in strength to that of the enemy, who had the advantage of railroad communication from the Eastern States to the Upper Potomac, and might plant a force, independent of Mleade's army, across his line of retreat. Besides this, he was burdened with four thousand prisoners, and a train fifteen miles long. He had a long march before him, and it was certain that General Meade, elated by his victory, would endeavor to cut him off from the Potomac. To conduct his army through all of its dangers, and place it safely in Virginia once more, was a task requiring not only great skill, but great moral courage. Fortunately the troops had not lost the slightest particle of their confidence in their great commander, and while he was at their head they were sure of coming safely, if not triumphantly, through any danger, any trial. General Meade discovered General Lee's retreat on the morning of the 5th of July, andt at once sent Sedgwick's corps in pursuit along the Fairfield road, and dispatched his cavalry after the Confederates by the Harrisburg road. Sedgwick came up with the Confederate rear-guard late in the afternoon, at the point where the Fairfield road passes through the South Mountain. He found the Confederate position very strong, but his advance was cut short at this moment by an order from General Meade to return. Meade had decided to adopt the route east of the mountains which was nearly twice the length of that by which Lee was retreating. With the hope of intercepting the Confederates, he ordered General French, who was at Frederick with the garrison of Harper's Ferry, to seize the lower passes of the South Mountain before Lee could occupy them, and also to reoccupy Harper's Ferry. General THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 407 French promptly executed these instructions, and also sent his cavalry to Falling Waters where they destroyed a Confederate ponton-bridge. General Meade followed cautiously with his army, which, during, the march, was re/nforced by French's division and numerous other troops sent from Washington and Baltimore, making it fully as strong as it was before the battle of Gettysburg. By the tenth of July his army was at Antietam Creek. Meanwhile General Lee had been marching rapidly to secure the crossings of'the Potomac. A part of his train moved by the Fairfield road, and the rest through Cashtown, the whole in advance of the army, and guarded by General Imboden's command. The great length of the train in passing through the mountains exposed it to the Federal cavalry which had been sent into the Cumberland Valley, and as the wagons defiled from the passes, the Federals made a dash at them, capturling a number of wagons and ambulances before they could be driven off, but inflicting, no serious injury upon the train, which reached the Potomac at Williamsport in safety. On the 6th, the enemy's cavalry made another attack on the trains, this time at Williamsport, and were repulsed by General Imboden's command. General Stuart, then coming up with his cavalry, drove them off in another attempt, and plursued theim several miles in the direction of Boonsboro.* The Confederate force in these engagements was so small that the teamsters gal. lantly armed themselves and took part in the fight. The army followed slowly in the rear of the trains. The roads were in such bad condition that the advance did not reach Hagerstown until the afternoon of the 6th. The remainder of the troops arrived during the morning of the 7th. General Lee now found himself confronted by a new difficulty. The heavy rains had swollen the Potomac to such an extent *General Lee's Report. 408 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. that it was no longer fordable, and the only ponton-bridge his armly possessed had been destroyed by the enemy. The Federal army was some distance behind, having in fact only reached Frederick, and had it been possible to cross the stream the Confederates might have returned to Virginia unmolested. This being out of his power, there was nothing for General Lee to do but to await the return of the river to its usual condition. IHe accordingly selected a strong position, with his right resting on the Potomac at Falling Waters and his left at Ilagerstown, this line giving him command of the crossings at Falling Waters and Williamsport. Earthworks were thrown up, and every precaution taken to resist the enelny should they attack upon their arrival. A part of the old ponton-bridge was recovered, and by great exertions a new bridg e was constructed by the 13th. From the 7th until the 13th, the army was in great danger. its ammunition was almost exhausted, and the supplies collected in Pennsylvania were running low. It was cut off from'the southern shore by the high water and the loss of the bw-dge, and it was found almost impossible to procure anything from the Virginia side, while the high water also flooded the mills and prevented them from being used. No r/enforcements could be received, and it was known that Meade's army was approaching from Frederick. No one could tell when the water would fall. Pat for the rains the river might have been crossed while Meade's army was at Frederick; now the passage would have to be made in the presence.of the enemy's whole force. The Federal army appeared before the Confederate position on the 12th, but, contrary to General Lee's expectation, made no attack. No one doubted that General Meade, upon finding Lee in such a delicate situation, and with his own army so strongly ieEnforctd, would at least endeavor to prevent the'latter from crossing the river, if he did not attempt to destroy him. THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 409 Meade, however, hesitated, and commenced to fortify his own line, intimidated by the natural and artificial strength of Lee's position. By mid-day on the 13th, the Potomac was found to be fordable, although very deep, and the bridge being in readiness for the passage of the artillery and trains, General Lee ordered the withdrawal into Virginia to be commenced that night. Ewell's corps forded the river at WVilliamsport, while the corps of Longstreet and Hill crossed on the bridge at Fallingc Waters. The roads were in a such a horrible state that the troops did not reach the bridge until after daylight on the morning of the 14th, and it was one o'clock in the afternoon before they were all over and the bridcle removed. The enemy offered no material opposition, and the crossing was effected with complete success. Only a few disabled wagons, and two guns which sank too deep into the mud to be dragged off by their horses, were left behind.* The guns could have been saved, had fresh horses been at hand, but before they could be procured the army passed by. The march to the river on the Maryland side was made ill the midst of a drenching storm, and it was so slow and tedious that some of the men threw themselves down by the roadside to rest. Overcome with fatigue many of them fell asleep, were missed in the darkness by the officers sent to collect them, and fell into the hands of the enemy. t These were the only pris oners taken by General Meade, besides a few stra,;gglers. * General Lee's Report. t The assertion made by General Meade in a dispatch published soon afterwards as to the captures from the Confederate army, drew from General Lee the following letter, which sets the matter at rest. " nEADQUARPTERS AnImY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, July 21, 1863. "GENERAL S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspetor-General, C. S. A., Richmond, Va. "GENERAL: I have seen in Northern papers what purported to be an official dispatch from General Meade, stating that he had captured a brigade of infantry, two pieces of artillery, two caissons and a large number of small 52 410 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, The disappointment of the Northern Government and people was extreme when they learned that General Lee had succeeded in reaching, Virginia. They were confident, up to the receipt of this intelligence, that Meade would destroy the Southern army. General Lee himself fully expected an attack, and was surprised to see Meade remain so quiet.* General Meade, arms, as this army retired to the south bank of the Potomac, on the 13th and 14th instants. " This dispatch has been copied into the Richmond papers, and as its official character may cause it to be believed, I desire to state that it is incorrect. The enemy did not capture any organized body of men on that occasion, but only stragglers and such as were left asleep on the road, exhausted by the fatigue and exposure of one of the most inclement nights I have ever known at this season of the year. It rained without cessation, rendering the road by which our troops marched to the bridge at Falling Waters, very difficult to pass, and causing so much delay that the last of the troops did not cross the river at the bridge until 1 P. M., on the 14th. W'hile the column was thus detained on the road, a number of men, worn down by fatigue, lay down in barns, and by the roadside, and though officers were sent back to arouse them, as the troops moved on, the darkness and rain prevented them from finding all, and many were in this way left behind. Two guns were left in the road. The horses that drew them became exhausted, and the officers went forward to procure others. When they returned, the rear of the column had passed the guns so far that it was deemed unsafe to send back for them, nld they were thus lost. No arms, cannon or prisoners were taken by the enemy in battle, but only such as were left behind under the circumstance I have described. The number of stragglers thus lost I am unable to state with accuracy, but it is greatly exaggerated in the dispatch referred to. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General." * General Lee was so confident that Meade was approaching the Potomac for the purpose of attacking him, that the day before the arrival of the Federal army he issued the following order to his troops, his headquarters being then at Hagerstown: "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTEIIRN VIRGINIA. July 11, 1863. "GENERAL ORDER, No. 10. "After the long and trying marches, endured with the fortitude that has ever characterized the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, you have THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 411 however, seems to have preferred to remain on the defensive which had served him so well at Gettysburg. On the 15th of July General Lee moved back from the Potomac to Bunker Hill, in the vicinity of Winchester. On the 17th a large detachment of Federal cavalry, which had crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, advanced to the neighborhood of Martinsburg,. They were attacked by General Fitz Lee at Kearneysville, and driven back over the river with heavy loss. General Meade now determined to pursue the Confederate army, and attempt to cut it off from Richmond, or force it to a general englagement before it could move east of the Blue Ridge. lIe crossed the Potomac at HIarper's Ferry and Berlin on the 17th and 18th of July, and moving along the base of the mountains, endeavored to occupy the passes in advance of the Confederates. In this he was only partially successful; for, as soon as he was informed of Meade's advance, General Lee commenced to retire up the Valley. His progress was penetrated to the country of our enemies, and recalled to the defences of their own soil those who were engaged in the invasion of ours. You have fought a fierce and sanguinary battle, which, if not attended 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 gratitude of your country, and the admiration of mankind. " Once more you are called upon to meet the enemy from whom you have torn so many fields; names that will never die. Once more the eyes of your countrymen are turned upon you, and again do wives and sisters, fathers and mothers, and helpless children lean for defence on your strong arms and brave hearts. Let every soldier remember that on his courage and fidelity, depends all that makes life worth having, the freedom of his country, the honor of his people, and the security of his home. Let each heart grow strong in the remembrance of our glorious past, and in the thought of the inestimable blessings for which we contend; and, invoking the assistance of that heavenly Power which has so signally blessed our former efforts, let us go forth in confidence to secure the peace and safety of our country. Soldiers, your old enemy is before you. Win from him honor worthy of your right cause, worthy of your comrades dead on so many illustrious fields. R. E. LEE, General Commanding." 412 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. much delayed by the high water in the Shenandoah River. General Longstreet was ordered to cross the mountains and occupy Culpepper Court House, moving by way of Front Royal. He succeeded in crossing a part of his corps over the Shenan doah, and as soon as a ponton-bridge could be laid, the rest of it followed, and, passing through Chester Gap, which they prevented the enemy from occupying, reached Culpepper on the 24th. Hill followed him, and Ewell, who brought up the rear, reached Front Royal on the 23d, and encamped near Madison Court House on the 29th.* Durincg the march the enemy succeeded in passing a part of their army into the Valley, but they were held in check by the rear-guard until nightfall, and when they moved forward the next morning to bring on a battle, they found that General Lee had eluded them and placed his armiy beyond their reach. Baffled in his efforts, General Meade made no further attempt to interfere with the Confederates, and the army reached the Rappahannock about the 1st of August. The failure of the Gettysburg campaign was a severe blow to the South, and made all the harder to bear by being coupled with the great disaster in the West, -the loss of Vicksburg and the Mississippi River. Any other commander would perhaps have been unable to retain the confidence of the people, who never trouble themselves to decide questions according to their real merits; but in this case no one thought of assailing General Lee. The general feeling was, that if he had failed once, it was the will of Heaven and not his fault, and that he would yet win the independence of the South. Indeed so far from losing faith in him, the people of the South seemed to double their confidence in the wisdom and skill of the soldier, and their esteem and love for the man. Had the invasion of the North proved successful, there can * General Lee's Report. THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 413 be little doubt that the Confederate Authorities would have proposed an honorable peace to the North, and there is as little room to doubt that the offer would have been accepted. Failing, however, in its efforts to win a speedy peace, the Southern Government began to prepare for the long and bitter struggle which every one saw must follow. On the 15th of July, President Davis issued his proclamation calling into the military service all persons residing in the Confederacy, and not legally exempt, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years. The 21st of August was appointed by the President a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, and was faithfully observed in the army.* * General Lee's order requiring the observance of the day is as follows: "HEADQUARTERS ARMT OF IORTHERN VIRGINIA, August 13, 1863. GENERAL ORDER, NO &3. The President of the Confederate States has, in the name of the people, appointed the 21st day of August as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. A strict observance of the day is enjoined upon the officers and soldiers of this army. All military duties, except such as are absolutely necessary, will be suspended. The commanding officers of brigades and regiments are requested to cause Divine services, suitable to the occasion, to be performed in their respective commands. "Soldiers! we llave sinned against Almighty God. We have forgotten his signal mercies, and have cultivated a revengeful, haughty, and boastful spirit. We have not remembered that the defenders of a just cause should be pure in His eyes; that " our times are in His hands;" - and we have relied too much on our own arms for the achievement of our independence. God is our only refuge and our strength. Let us humble ourselves before Him. Let us confess our many sins and beseech Him to give us a higher courage, a purer Datriotism and more determined will; that He will convert the hearts of our enemies; that He will hasten the time when war, with its sorrows and sufferings, shall cease, and that He will give us a name and place among the nations of the earth. R. E. LEE, General." 414 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. IX. THE SECOND CAMPAIGN IN NORTIIERN VIRGINIA. AUGUST, 1863 — MAnCH, 1864. I. THIE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. A-TER retiring to Culpepper, General Lee, having no hope of being able to resume offensive operations during the remainder of the fall, commenced to grant furloughs to his troops. The system he adopted was a liberal one, and was carried out as far as the necessities of the army would permit.* In September his army was reduced to a strict defensive by the withdrawal of General Longstreet's corps, which was sent to Tennessee to the assistance of the Western army, under General Bragg, then hard pressed by the army of General Rosecrans. The part borne by the veterans of the 1st corps in the Western campaign does not [elong to this narration, and a recital of it must be sought elsewhere. I can only say that they were the immediate cause of the great victory at Chickamauga, and that during the unfortunate expedition to Knoxville, upon which they were sent by the folly of the President, they main-.tained their high reputation for courage, fortitude, and efficiency, and failed only because it was not possible for such a force to accomplish the task assigned them. * See Note C at the end of the volume. THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 415 General Meade, also, was greatly weakened by his Government. Soon after entering Northern Virginia, a large part of his army was taken from him and sent to South Carolina, and another strong detachment was sent to New York City to put down the resistance to the enforcement of the Federal draft, which had seriously embarrassed the Government in its efforts to procure troops in that quarter. Still, when the *Federal commander learned that Longstreet had been sent to Tennessee, he determined to secure the linle of the Rappahannock. Accordingly, about the middle of September, he threw his cavalry across the'Rappahannock, and General Lee, supposing that Meade was about to advance in force, retired to a stronger position behind the Rapidan. The new position of General Lee was one of great strength, and as a direct attack' upon it promised nothing but failure, General Meade determined to attempt a flank movement against it; but just as he was on the eve of putting his plan into execution, he received an order to send two of his corps d'armbe to Chattanooga, where General Grant had just assumed command of the Federal army. Although this greatly reduced his strength, his army was still superior in numbers to that of General Lee. The weakness of Meade's army was known to General Lee, and he resolved to strike a blow at his adversary, which should either- seriously disable him, or keep him beyond the Rappahannock until the season for active operations was over. To accomplish this, he determined to move around Mleade's right flank, and place his troops between the Federals and Washington. On the 9th of October the army crossed the IRapidan, leaving. Major-General Fitz Lee's cavalry division to guard the Soutiern line on the Rapiddan, and the division of General Hampton, under General Stuart's owA direction, moved on the right of 416 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the army. After crossingr the river, General Lee marched towards Madison Court House, taking " circuitous and concealed roads " to avoid the risk of his movement being detected by the enemy. On the 10th of October General Stuart attacked the Federal outpost at James City, consisting of a detachment of Kilpatrick's cavalry and an infantry force belonging to the 3d corps, and drove it back upon Culpepper Court House, where the main body of Meade's army was lying. This attack revealed to General Meade the faict that his right flank had been turned by General Lee, and he at once sent his trains across the Rappahannock, and followed them with his armiy between the night of the 10th and the nmorning of the 11th. Buford's division of cavalry crossed the Rapidan, and threatened the position lately held by the Southern army. Buford was met, however, by Fitz Lee's division, repulsed, and driven towards Brandy Station. Having turned Meade's right, General Lee followed Stuart's attack on the outposts by an advance of his whole army towards Culpepper Court House, which he reached on the morning of the 11th, only to find that General Meade had retreated across the Rappahannock, and had blown up the railroad-bridge after him. The army remained near the Court HIouse during the rest of the day, and General Fitz Lee's division rejoined General Stuart. In the afternoon Stuart encountered the Federal cavalry near Brandy Station, and drove them across the river, after a severe engagement in which he inflicted a heavy loss upon them. On the morning of the 12th, the army moved forward again for the purpose of " reaching the Orange and Alexandria Railroad north of the river, and interrupting the retreat of the enemy." * A force of Federal cavalry was encountered and ~ General Lee's Report. THE EXPEbDITION TO MANASSAS. 417 quickly repulsed at Jeffersonton, arid in the afternoon the Rappahannock was reached opposite Warrenton Springs. The enemy heldl the north bank with cavalry and artillery, but were speedily driven away by Stuart's cavalry and a battery of artillery, and the passage of the stream effected. General Stuart at once pushed on to Warrenton, clearing the road of the enemy, and on the 13th the army was concentrated at Warrenton. It was known to General Lee that the Federal army was on the north side of the Rappahannock, and it was believed that Meade had halted between Warrenton Junction and Catlett's Station on the railroad, and to gain more accurate information General Stuart was dispatched with two thousand cavalry upon a reconnoissance in the direction of Catlett's. Meanwhile, General Meade, who had come to the conclusion that his retreat across the Rapidan was too hasty, was moving back towards Culpepper to meet General Lee. He had begun his movement on the afternoon of the 12th, and thus it happened, strangely enough, that while Lee was hastening to get between Meade and Washington, moving by a circuitous route, Meade was marching back to offer battle to him. Meade carried with him the 2nd, 5th, and 6th corps of his army, and Buford's cavalry, leaving the 3rd corps and Gregg's cavalry to guard the crossings of the Rappahannock at Freeman's Ford, and Warrenton Springs. The cavalry, under GreTgg, as the reader will remember, were driven off on the afternoon of the 12th. This was at once reported to General Meade, and by revealing to him the true purpose of his antagonist, showed him in what danger his false move had placed his army. He at once endeavored to repair his error by an immediate recall of his forces en route for Culpepper Court House, and by the morning of the 13th his army was again on the north side of the Rappahannock.* The unexpected movement of General Lee had, how* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 378, 379. 53 418 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ever, thrown General French's corps out of position, and the Federal commander was forced to pause until it could be brought up. For this purpose he ordered General Warren, with the 2nd corps, to halt until French could be brought into his proper place, and to cover the retreat " off the army with his own corps, moving through Fayetteville and Auburn to Catlett's Station, after which he was to follow the line of the railroad northward." These columns were in motion when General Stuart commlenced his reconnoissance to Catlett's Station. Upon reaching that place on the 13th, he discovered General French's column retiring from the river, and at once fell back towards Warrenton, but upon entering the road leading from Warrenton to Manassas, unexpectedly found his progress barred by the corps of General Warren, and to his surprise discovered that he was hemmed in between the Federal columns and in great danger of being captured or cut to pieces. The situation of the cavalry was critical indeed. They were concealed in a strip of woods to which General Stuart had retired as soon as'he discovered his danger, but they were so near the enemy that the slightest sound —the neighingr of a horse, or the clanking of a sabre might betray them. General Stuart at once called a council of his officers to decide upon their course, giving them to understand in the first place that he would entertain no proposition looking to a surrender. The result of the deliberations was, that the best thing to do was to abandon the nine pieces of horse artillery brought with the column, and try to cut their way out under the cover of the darkness. Upon further reflection General Stuart resolved to save his artillery, and determined to inform General Lee of his situation. Dismounting several of his men, he ordered them to take muskets and put on infantry knapsacks, trusting to the darkness to conceal the color of their uniforms, and make their way through the Federal lines to Warrenton, inform General Lee THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 419 that he was surrounded, and ask him to "send some of his people to help him out." Three of these messengers reached Warrenton in safety, and delivered the message, whereupon General Lee immediately set out to help Stuart out of his " scrape." The plan which General Lee had adopted, after crossing the Rappahannock, was to move from Warrenton in two columns, his left, under Hill, along the turnpike to New Baltimore, where it was to wheel to the right, and march direct to Bristoe Station on the railroad, and the right under Ewell, along the road leading thro;ugh Greenwich and Auburn, to Bristoe Station, where it was to unite with Htill. In this manner General Lee hoped to seize the railroad before Meade could arrive, and cut him off from Washington. Meanwhile the cavalry passed the night in the greatest anxiety. The last division of the enemy bivouacked within one hundred and fifty yards of the Southern pickets, so close that the conversations of the Union troops could be almost distinguished, and during the night two officers of General Meade's staff strayed in among the cavalry and were captured. The men hardly dared to breathe, and no one was allowed to smoke or speak above a whisper, lest the faintest glimmer of a light or the merest sound should betray them. At daybreak on the morning of the 14th, Caldwell's division, which General Warren had posted on the heights of Cedar Run to protect his rear against any sudden dash of Lee's troops, lit their camp fires to cook breakfast. From their place of concealment Stuart's men could see them, themselves sheltered fiom observation. While the enemy were thus engaged, they were surprised by a sharp fire of musketry from the advance of General Ewell's column, moving along the Warrenton road. Assured by this that General Lee was moving to his assistance, General Stuart promptly opened on the Federal line with his artillery, 420 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. throwing it into great confusion by the suddenness of his attack, as well as by the accuracy of his fire.* Then suddenly limbering up his guns, Stuart set off through the enemy's line, and joined General Ewell. General Warren, supposing that he was surrounded, made his dispositions to extricate his corps. This was easily done, as but the advance of Ewell's column had come up, and Stuart had withdrawn, only too glad to get away in safety, but when Ewvell did arrive with his main body, Warren was not able to hold him in check, but was forced back until Cedar Run was crossed by the Federals.t Then Ewell made no effort to pursue, as his route led him more to the left, he having been directed to move through Greenwich on his way to join General Hill. During the 14th, Meade hurried on towards Centreville, where he had resolved to give battle, and from which point, if defeated, he could retire into the lines of'Washinoton. Having the interior and shorter line, he was able to distance the Confederates in the march, and his main army had passed Bristoe Station when General Hill, with two of his brigades arrived *there. The Federal rear-guard reached Bristoe just as. Hill caine up, and General Warren, who knew the ground thoroughly, posted his men along the railroad, a part of his line being protected by a deep cut in the road, and the rest by the ermbankment. Hill at once attacked him, but his two brigades were repulsed with heavy loss. Four hundred and fifty prisoners, five pieces of artillery, and two standards; were captured by the enemy.: During the night General Warren withdrew his corps, and rejoined General Meade at Centreville. The effort to cut Meade off from Washington had failed, and it was useless to attack him in his works at Centreville, which strong position was impregnable to the force General Lee had * MIr. Swinton states that seven men were killed by one of Stuart's shells. t General Lee's Report. I General Lee's Report. THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 421 at his command. Any effort against either of his flanks would! merely result in the withdrawal of the Federal commander into the lines of Washincgton without conferring any benefit upon the Confederates, and there remained to General Lee nothing but to fall back to the Rappahannock as soon as possible. Resolving, however, to impede Meade's return to Culpepper as rmuch as possible, General Lee ordered the destruction of the railroad from Cub Run to the Rappahannock. This being accomplished, the army on the 18th began to retire to the line of that river.* The withdrawal of the army was covered by Stuart's cavalry. On the 19th, the Federal cavalry, which had been sent out in pursuit, arrived in Stuart's front. Stuart was at this time at Buckland with Hampton's division. After a sharp skirmish with the enemy he fell back slowly towards Warrenton, in order to draw them after him, and thus afford General Fitz Lee, who was moyincg by the Auburn road with his division, an opportunity to attack them in flank and rear. The ruse was successful. When within about four miles of Warrenton, Fitz Lee struck the Federal column, and at the same time Stuart, hearing the sound of Lee's guns, turned about and attacked the enemy in front. After a stubborn fight they broke and fled in confusion, pursued by Stuart to the vicinity of Haymarket, and by General Fitz Lee to Gainesville. Here the Federal infantry came up to the support of their cavalry, and Stuart, after inflicting some loss upon them, and taking some prisoners, fell back slowly towards Buckland. As Meade continued to advance, the cavalry retired towards the Rappahannock, skirmishing with the Federal horse in the advance all the way. When General Lee set out on this expedition, he directed General Imboden, who was operating in the Valley with his command, to move towards the Potomac, and guard the gaps in the Blue Ridge, on Lee's left. This duty was admirabVB * General Lee's Report. 422 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. performed, and while lying at Berryville, after General Lee began to withdraw from the neighborhood of Manassas, General Imboden determined to make a dash at the garrison of Charle~town and capture it. Accordingly, he left Berryville on the 18th, and reached Charlestown in a few hours, the Federals having no suspicion of his approach until the town was surrounded. The garrison retreated to the Court House yard, which they had fortified, refusing to comply with Imboden's summons to surrender. An attack was then made by the Confederates, resulting in the,urrender of the entire garrison, with the exception of the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, and five others, who fled at the first fire,* and su6ceeded in reachiang Harper's Ferry where they gave the alarm. Inboden captured four hundred and thirty-four (offieers and men) prisoners, with their arms, stores, wagons, and horses. The garrison at Harper's Ferry, having heard the firingo, moved rapidly toward Charlestown, which they reachled in two hours after Imboden had fired the first gun. BWing too wealk to make a stand against the enemy, General Imboden retired up the Valley. General Lee's loss in the expedition was about one thousand four hundred men killed, wounded, and missing, and five guns captured. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded is not known to me. Including the prisoners taken by Imboden, the army captured from the enemy two thousand four hundred and thirty-six men, forty-one of whom were commissioned officers. After retiring to the Rappahannock, General Lee disposed his army on the south bank of the river, on both sides of the railroad, Ewell on the right and Hill on the left, with the cavalry thrown out on each flank. The main body of the army was some distance back from the river, but outposts we-e established at the railroad bridge and Kelley's Ford. * General Imboden's Report. THIE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 423 Mleade's advance was delayed until the restoration of the railroad was completed, but that work being pushed forward energetically, he arrived at the Rappahannock on the 7th of November, intending to force the passage of the stream. His army was divided into two columns,- the left, under General French, consisting of the 1st, 2d, and 3d corps, and the right, under General Sedgwick, consisting of the 5th and 6th corps. French was directed to cross the river at IKelley's Ford, and Sedgwick at Rappahannock Station, or the railroad bridge. Kelley's Ford was guarded only by Rodes' division of Ewell's corps, and French had no trouble in pressing back this small force and securing the passage of the river. Johnson's division was immediately advanced to Rodes' assistance, and Early's division moved forward to resist the attempt of the enemy to cross at the railroad bridge. Arriving there, General Early threw Hoke's and Hays' brigades, about two thousand strong, over to the north bank, and posted them ill strong works, which had been built some time before to defend the passage of the river. The ground in front of the works was such that the enemy could not attack with'a front more extended than that of the Confederates, and it was believed that a successful resistance could be made, or, that if forced to withdraw, the troops could be recrossed under the fire of the guns on the south bank. Sedgwick's column reached the river late in the afternoon, and at once prepared to storm the Confederate works and capture the little force which had been so foolishly exposed to them. Just before dark Russell's and Upton's brigades of the 6th corps, made a charge, and the works were carried by nightfall. Out of the two thousand men of Hays' and Hoke's brigades, fifteen hundred were captured, and about one hundred killed and wounded. Those who escaped only reached the south bank by swimming the river. Four guns also fell into the hands of the enemy. 424 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. As if satisfied with this success, the Federals paused, and General Lee, not wishing to be drawn into a general battle, retired behind the Rapidan, and Meade resumed the position he had held before his retreat to Centreville. When General Lee fell back from Bristoe Station, he hoped to be able to advance again if Meade remained at Centreville. On the 19th of October lie wrote to the War Department that if Meade remained behind Bull Run, and he could procure quartermaster supplies for his army, he would move forward again. In the condition of his army at that time, any moveInent was difficult, for, as he declared in this letter, thousands of his men were barefooted, and without overcoats, blankets, and many other needed articles, and the weather was very cold. The advance of General Meade across the Rappahannock, however, decided General Lee to go into winter quarters on the Rapidan. AINE RUN. After retiring behind the Rapidan, General Lee put his army into winter quarters. His position, naturally very strong, had been carefully fortified at various times, and trusting to its protection, he disposed his forces in such localities as would best afford them wood and other necessities. The right wing rested on the Rapidan at Morton's Ford, and the left was posted in strong intrenchments along the left bank of Mine Run, a small stream running at right angles to and emptying into the Rapidan. Under the cover of this line, the troops were scattered over a large extent of country, Iill's cantonments stretching almost to Charlottesville, and the artillery being as far back as MINE RUN. 425 Frederick's Hall —but in such a manner as to be easily concentrated upon the approach of the enemy. Trusting that the strength of the fortifications on the left would secure the safety of that wing, General Lee left the lower fords of the Rapidan —Ely's, Culpepper MVine, Germanna, and Jacobs' Mill —uncovered. Upon learning this, General Meade resolved to make another effort to destroy the Confederate army before the season became too far advanced for active operations. IIis hope was, by crossing the Rapidan at the lower fords, to throw his army between the corps of Generals Ewell and I-ill, and crush them in detail. For this purpose he supplied his troops with ten days' rations, relying on his success to open new routes for bringing up his supplies. His army was to move as follows: "The 1st corps was to cross the Rapidan at Culpepper Mine Ford, and proceed to Parker's Store on the plank road to Orangre Court House. The 2d corps was to cross at Germanna Ford, and proceed out on the turnpike (which runs parallel with the plank road) to Robertson's Tavern. To this point also the 3d corps, crossing at Jacobs' Mill Ford, and followed by the 6th corps, was to march by other routes, and there to form a junction with the 2d corps. With the left thus at Parker's Store and the right at Robertson's Tavern, the army would be in close communication on parallel roads, and by advancing westward towards Orange Court House, would turn the line of Mine Run defences, which it was known did not extend as far south as to cross the turnpike and plank roads." * The movement was to begin at dawn on the 26th of November, ard as the distance from the point of starting to the point of concentration was a little less than twenty miles, General Heade hoped to have his army in position by noon of the 27th.'ita E I deral columns moved off promptly on the morning of * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 391, 392. 54 426 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the 26th, but owing to some delays in the march of the troops, and the difficulty of bridging the river, the Rapidan was nct passed until the morning of the 27th. Early on the 27th the march was resumed, and General Meade issued imperative orders to push on with the utmost speed, and to try to make up as far as possible the timne that had been lost. Meanwhile General Lee was not idle. Meade had scarcely begun his movement before it was known to the Confederate commander. As early as the morning of the 25th,* it was known that something unusual was going on in tilhe Federal lines, and the crossings of the river were closely watched. It was ascertained on the morning of the 26th, that the enemy designed crossing in force at the lower fords, and it was believed that General Meade would attempt to move towards Chancellorsville, for the purpose of gaining Lee's rear. t Ewell's * Letter in the Richmond Dispatch of November 30, L863. t It has been said that but for the delays to which Mcade was put he would have succeeded in concentrating his army on Lee's left before the latter coulh have learned his purpose. The following order shows that General Lee was early on the watch, and prepared to meet him. "'HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, November 26, 1863. "GENERAL ORDERI No. 102. " The enemy is again advancing upon our Capital, and the country once more looks to this army for its protection. Under the blessings of God your vaior has repelled every previous attempt, and invoking the continuance of His favor, we cheerfully commit to Him the issue of the coming conflict. "A cruel enemy seeks to reduce our fathers and our mothers, our wives, and our children, to abject slavery; to strip thein of their property and drive them from their homes. Upon you these helpless ones rely to avert these terrible calamities, and secure to them the blessing of liberty and safety. Your past history gives themr the assurance that their trust will not be in vain. Let every man remember that all lie holds dear depends upon the faithful discharge of his duty, and resolve to fight and, if. need be, to die, in defence of a cause so sacred and worthy the name won by this army on so many bloody fields. (Signed,) R. E. LEE, General." MINE RUN. 427 corps, which was lying around Orange Court Ilouse, was held in readiness to advance as soon as the plan of the Federals should be disclosed. Early on Friday morning, the 27th, it was ascertained that the enemy were moving towards Mine Run, and Ewell's corps was at once thrown forward to meet them, and hold them in check until Hill's corps, which was on the march, could arrive. Ewell moved rapidly, and learning of Warren's march by the Old Turnpike, formed his line near to Robertson's Tavern. About one o'clock, the 2d corps of the Federal army arrived in his front, and some sharp skirmishing ensued, but, as General Warren was ordered to refrain from attacking until the arrival of the corps of General French, nothing further occurred. General French, however, had taken the wrong road, after crossing at Jacobs' Mill Ford, and movingr by a road too much to the right, came unexpectedly upon Johnson's division which formed the left of Ewell's line. Johnson at once attacked him, and a severe fight ensued, which lasted until late in the afternoon, and in which General French was very roughly handled. Discovering his blunder, French endeavored to extricate himself from his false position, and open communication with Warren at Robertson's Tavern, but before he could accomplish these objects night put an end to all hostile operations. During, the night, Hill's corps having arrived, General Lee withdrew Ewell to the west side of Mine Run, and proceeded to fortify the position he had chosen, and which extended across both the Old Turnpike and the Orange plank road. This position was very formidable. The Southern line was drawn alone a commanding range of heights about seven or eight miles in length and running north and south, following the course of Mine Run, which flowed at their base. The range was in itself a strong position, being, by a singular freak of nature, formed after the most approved principles of fortifi 428 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. cation, consisting, in short, of "four or five well-defined facings of unequal length, occupying a space of more than three thousand yards," with such angles of defence that the troops manning the line were able to enfilade every avenue of approach, while both flanks were so strongly posted as to defy almost any effort to turn them.* The country in the rear and on the flanks of this line was densely wooded, and the approaches in front were rendered difficult by the marshy ground covered with thick undergrowth that bordered lMine Run, which flowed along the entire front at. a distance of twelve hundred yards from it. General Lee commenced the construction of earthworks on the he ghts during the night, and felled the timber in his front. On the morning of the 28th, General Meade found that Ewell had abandoned his advanced position, but, upon pressing forward for a couple of miles, found his progress suddenly checked by the strong line held by the Confederate Army on Mine Run. He at once brought up his troops, and determined to attack the Confederates. He spent the day in reconnoitering Lee's works for the purpose of ascertaining the most favorable point for his attack. The result of these reconnoisances was the following plan of operations: General Warren, with about twenty-six thousand men, was to attempt to turn the- Confederate right, while Sedgwick, with the 5th and 6th corps, would endeavor to turn the left. French, with three divisions, was to hold the line between SedgTwick and Warren, but not to engage in the attack. The 29th was spent in making the necessary dispositions, and it was ordered that Warren should commence the attack at eight o'clock, to be followed by Sedgwick at nine o'clock, on the morning of the 30th. Meanwhile General Lee awaited the opening of the battle, * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 394. MINE RUN. 429 fully confident of his ability to maintain his position. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 30th of November, General Sedgwick opened his artillery on the Confederate position, followed by the batteries of General French. General Warren, however, remained quiet. Upon forming his line for an attack, he discovered that the Confederate position was impregnable, havingo been greatly strengthened on the right since the 28th. Hie therefore declined to attack, gallantly preferring "to sacriflee himself rather than his command."* General Meade immediately repaired to Warren's line, and was satisfied that the opinion of his lieutenant was correct, and at once abandoned the attack as hopeless. The demonstration made by General Sedgwick was so slight that General Lee was under the impressionf that Meade was not yet ready to attack.t The opportunity of the Federal commander had passed, however. Still, as he was between Lee and Fredericksburg, he might have drawn the Southern army from its position by threatening its communications with Richmond. But his trains were beyond the Rapidan, and the rations brought with his troops running low. Above all, the season was so far advanced that in a few days the winter-would render it dangerous to move his army on Virginia soil unless he wished to share the fate of. Burnside in his "mud march." Therefore, having been baffled by General Lee in his original design, there remained for him nothing but to withdraw to his old position north of the Rapidan, which he did on the night of * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 397. f This will be seen from the following dispatch: " HEADQUARTERS ARUY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, VIA ORANGE COURT HOUsE, December 1, 1863. "TO GENERAL S. COOPER:'The enemy opened their batteries on our lines yesterday. Some skir. mishing took place, but no attack. "(Signed) X R. E. LEE, General.' 430 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the 1st of December. His retreat was discovered the following morning, and pursuit made, but he recrossed the Rapidan before Lee reached it.* This was the last effort of the enemy during the year, and the army settled down into the monotony of the long winter. III. WINTER QUARTERS. The filly of the Southern Government in refusing to enlist troops for the war at the beginning of the struggle, was the cause of many sore evils to the Confederacy. During the first months of hostilities, before the enthusiasm of the people had subsided, the troops would have enlisted for any period, however long; but the Government, or rather the President, was so strongly convinced that the North would be forced to make peace in a few months, that no troops were received for a longer period than twelve months. As is the case in all wars, the first year dampened the enthusiasm of the people, and the enlistments ceased. This forced upon the Government the necessity of adopting the conscription. It was a sad necessity, but the course of the Government left no alternative. It was believed that the conscription, as at first enforced, * Mr. Swinton says, " Lee did not follow up in the least." - campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 398. The following bulletin tells a different tale: I HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, December 2, 1862. "To GENERAL S. COOPER: "The enemy retreated during the night. Pursuit was made this morning, but he had recrossed the Rapidan before we reached it. A few prisoners were captured. "(Signed) R. E. LEE, General." WINTER QUARTERS. 431 would yield eight hundred thousand recruits for the armies, and when the conscript age was extended to forty-five years, it was said that seventy thousand more would be secured. These expectations were not realized, and by the end of the year 1863, the records of the Adjutant-General showed that but a little more than four hundred thousand men had been mustered into the service, and the Confederate Secretary of WAar, Mr. Seddon, stated that 66 not more than a half, never two thirds, of the soldiers were in the ranks." The number already in the service was greatly reduced by desertions. The officers of the army made every exertion to check the evil. Miany deserters were captured, tried, and condemned to death, but the President, with a mistaken and culpable leniency, rarely allowed the sentences to be executed. The commanders of armies urged him to withhold his clemency.; theat executions of deserters were absolutely necessary to put a stop to desertion. In vain, however, for the President having once decided upon a course never departed from it. One great cause of the frequency of desertion was the terrible suffering endured by the men. The troops had not clothing enough to protect them from the weather, and in many instances not food enough to enable them t9 withstand the cold, and very many had to decide between a horrible and lingering death and desertion. It is not to be wondered at that they chose the latter. The mismanagement of the Confederate Commissariat was shocking. This had gone so far that when the Army of Northern Virginia went into winter quarters in 1863, the regular meat ration was only four ounces of fat pork which could only be eaten by melting it and using it on bread as a substitute for butter. The bread ration was mostly corn meal - rarely flour, and even this scanty fare was often withheld to such a degree that the men were half-starved. The horses attached to the 432 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. army also suffered greatly, about one thousand bushels of corn per day being all that was allowed the whole army, besides a scanty supply of long forage. Matters were very bad by the close of the year. On the 2nd of January General Lee wrote to the President that he had but one day's meat rations, and feared he would not be able to keep the troops in the field.* On the 22nd of January he wrote to the Secretary of War that his army was not fed well enough to fit the troops for the exertions of the Spring campaign. He urged the discontinuance of the rule adopted by the CommissaryGeneral ~llowing officers at Richmond and Petersburg and many other fowns to purchase Government meat and supplies for their families at schedule prices. He said the salaries of these officers ought to be sufficient compensation for their services; that such allowances deprived the officers and soldiers in the field of necessary subsistence; it offended the people who paid the tithes to see them going to feed non-combatants instead of men in front of the enemy; and it demoralized the officers and soldiers in the field. This system, in fact, allowed men who were safely housed, and at least provided with means of resisting the elements, to live as comfortably as the money at their command would permit, * The President referred this letter to the Commissary-General, and urged him to take the necessary steps to remedy the evil. The only notice Colonel Northrop deigned to take of this important communication, was to prepare a tabular statement of his letters to General Lee, in order to show that he ( the Corn. Gen. ) had predicted such a state of affairs. Only a few days afterwards, Colonel Northrop was informed that there were several millions of pounds of bacon in an exposed situation in North Carolina, which the people would sell, if he would send for it, but which they could not bring out themselves for fear of the vengeance of the enemy. Northrop made no attempt to procure this bacon. At the same time he had sixty-thousand pounds stored in one of his depots on the Northern Neck of Va. He neglected to bring it up to feed Lee's army, and the enemy burned it. WINTER QUARTERS. 433 and kept the men in the field half starved. General Lee's letter was, under the red tape system, sent to the CommissaryGeneral, who returned it after some delay, stating that General Lee was wrong, that the practice was necessary. Mr. Seddon, the Secretary of War issued a peremptory order restricting the city officers in the item of meat, but the Commissary-General recommended the suspension of the order until it could be seen what Congress would do. Of course the order was suspended. On the 29th of February General Lee's Chief Commissary telegraphed Colonel Northrop that the army had bread for but one day, and that meat was getting scarce again. Colonel Northrop again took occasion to make an official declaration that he had predicted such a crisis. The matter was but imperfectly attended to, for on the 12th of March Lieutenant Colonel Cole again telegraphed, stating that the army was out of meat and had but one day's rations of bread, and again Colonel Northrop endorsed his prediction of a famine. His own incompetency had brought about the unhappy state of affaiirs, but he endeavored to shift the responsibility upon General Lee, because the Confederate commander did not, in addition to his duties in the field, attend to matters strictly belonging to the Commissariat. He even urged General Lee to impress the supplies needed for his army - a duty which Northrop's own acents should have attended to. The troops had not been fed or clothed properly since their return from Pennsylvania, and their sufferings would have been too great to have been borne but for the relief contributed by their friends and relatives. In this sad hour of suffering, when the fortitude of the army was so sorely tried, General Lee made a stirring appeal to the men to stand by their colors. The appeal was made in the following order: 434 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " HEADQUARTERS ARMY of NORTHERN VIRGINL, January 22, 1864. "GENERAL C RDER, No. 7. "The Commanding General considers it due to the army to state that the temporary reduction of rations has been caused by circumstances beyond the control of those charged with its support. Its welfare and comfort are the objects of his constant and earnest solicitude; and no effort has been spared to provide for its wants. It is hoped that the exertions now being made will render the necessity of short duration: but the history of the army has shown that the country can require no sacrifice too great for its patriotic devotion. " Soldiers! you tread, with no unequal steps, the road by which your fathers marched through suffering, privation, and blood to independence! "Continue to emulate in the future, as you have in the past, their valor in arms, their patient endurance of hardships, their high resolve to be free, which no trial could shake, no bribe seduce, no danger appall: and be assured that the just God, who crowned their efforts with success, will, in His own good time, send down His blessing upon yours. (Signed) R. E. LEE, General." It must not be supposed that General Lee fared better than his men. He cheerfully shared their hardships, and set them an example by the patience and fortitude with which he bore his privations. I find the following pleasant description of his fare in one of the daily newspapers of the time: "In General Lee's tent meat is eaten but twice a week, the General not allowing it oftener, because he believes indulgence in meat to be criminal in the present straitened condition of the country. His ordinary dinner consists of a head of cabbage, boiled in salt water, and a pone of corn bread. In this con WINTER QUARTERS. 435 nection rather a comic story is told. Having invited a number of gentlemen to dine with him, General Lee in a fit of extravagance, ordered a sumptuous repast of cabbage and middling. The dinner was served: and, behold, a great pile of cabbage and a bit of middling about four inches long and two inches across! The guests, with commendable politeness, unanimous ly declined middling, and it remained in the dish untouched. The next day General Lee, remembering the delicate tit-bit which had been so providentially preserved, ordered his servant to bring' that middling.' The man hesitated, scratched his head, and finally owned up:' De fac' is, Marse Robert, dat ar middlin' was borrowed middlin: we all didn't had nar a spec; an' I done paid it back to de man whar I got it from.' General Lee heaved a sigh of the deepest disappointment, and pitched into his cabbage." I know it will be said, as it has been said before, that it was not in the power of the Government to procure a sufficient supply of provisions for the army. This I grant, for the Commissariat had been so mismanaged by Colonel Northrop and the President, that when the year 1864 opened there was great danger that the cause would fail for want of food for the army. I say the Commissariat waus mismanaged by these officials, and I ask the reader's attention to a few facts in support of this assertion. In the article of meat the South was never able to provide for its armies upon a scale sufficient to keep them from suffering, merely by collecting its own supplies. In.January 1862, it was officially stated in a report presented to the Confederate Congress that less than twenty thousand hogs, out of the whole number packed in the Union in 1860-61, were put up in what was afterwards Confederate territory, and that about one million two hundred thousand hogs were imported into the South before the war, after being packed. Out of this number the Confederate 436 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. armies consumed during the first year of the war about three hundred thousand hogs. The only country from which pork could be directly obtained after the commencement of hostilities, was the State of Tennessee and a part of Kentucky. Hog cholera and bad crops reduced the productions of these States from two hundred thousand to less than twenty thousand head during the year 1861. This, as early as the commencement of 1862, was the principal and almost the only source open to the Government, and was at the same time heavily taxed by the demands of private purchasers.:Within a few weeks after the presentation of this report, Kentucky was lost to the South, and the source of supply still more reduced. Thus it will be seen that as early as the close of 1861, it was shown to the Government that it would be compelled to buy meat for the army outside of the limits of the South, or starve. the troops. The currency of the Confederacy was worthless for such a purpose, but there was at hand the equivalent of gold, —an immense quantity of cotton, — and there were a plenty of Northern men who were willing to sell the South supplies for this cotton. It was absolutely necessary to procure food somewhere, and the Government was urged to make the purchases upon the terms held out to it. In the fall of 18'62 a responsible party, properly vouched for, proposed to deliver thirty thousand hogsheads of bacon through the Southern lines for an equivalent in cotton, the latter to be delivered at Memphis, which city was then in possession of the enemy. The President was informed that there was cotton enough in the vicinity of Memphis to buy food and clothing for the whole army, and that if it was n'bt used for this purpose, it must be destroyed to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy; that the owners of the cotton were willing to sell it to the Government for such a purpose, but were disposed to resist its destruction. The Secretary of War approved the measure, WINTER QUJARTERS. 437 and the Commissary-General, who for once was fully alive to the emergency, and anxious to secure the proffered provisions, endorsed the proposition as follows: "The alternative is thus presented of violating our policy of withholding cotton from the enemy or risking the starvation of our armies." There was no law to forbid this trade, and the President was urged to allow the Commissary-General to sell only enough cotton to supply the army with bacon and salt, and shoes,-nd blankets. Hle was shown that such a course had been successfully pursued in other wars, and informed by the Commissary-General that the efforts then being made would not secure cured bacon for the next year; that the enemy were constantly driving into the Southern lines large numbers of refugees, and thus increasing the demand for supplies; that the State of Tennessee was not able to do more than feed the Western Army; and that the supply of hogs for 1862 would fall below that of 1861 by about one hundred thousand, and that scarcely any beef remained on hand. The Secretary of War, General Randolph, a gentleman noted for the soundness and accuracy of lis judgment, declared officially to the President; "Unless the deficiency be made up by purchases beyond the limits of the Confederacy, I apprehend serious consequences." In fact every effort was made to bring Mr. Davis to realize the importance of the offer held out to the Government. The manner in which he met the emergency was remarkable, to say the least. lie declined the offer, in the following communication to General Randolph: " SECRETARY OF WAR: " Is there any necessity for immediate action? Is there satisfaetory evidence that the present opportunity is the last which will be offered? Have you noticed the scheme of the enemy for the payment of their next accruing interest on their public debt? You will not fail to perceive the effect of postponing 438 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the proposed action until January 1st, 1863, if it be necessary at any time to depart from the well-defined policy of our Government in relation to cotton. JEFF DAVIS." October 31, 1862."* The reader will hardly credit the assertion, but it is nevertheless a fact that Mr: Davis had conceived the insane idea of rendering the Federal Government unable to pay the interest on its debts by withholding a few bales of cotton. He could not be made to believe the accuracy of the estimates presented to him, and to the last persisted in declaring that the South was more than able to provide meat for the armies. Having, failed in their efforts to get supplies through the enemy's lines, the friends of the army proposed to the Government to procure provisions abroad. A contract was made by the Government with parties of great wealth and credit, to run provisions, especially meat and coffee, through the Federal blockade, into Southern ports. The Government was to furnish the steamers, and to provide cotton for exportation. This cotton was to be sold, and the.return cargo purchased by the private individuals who were parties to the contract, for which these parties were to charge a commission more reasonable than the Government had ever paid to any other blockade runners. Every advantage was held out to the Government by the private parties, and it was hoped that food and clothing would now be procured. The scheme unfortunately failed, through the gross mismanagement of the Government. Large quantities of provisions were purchased by the private parties to the contract, and deposited at Nassau and Bermuda, in readiness to be sent into the Confederacy. The Government was crim* For a more complete account of this and other similar transactions see "'Th x Lost Cause," by Edward A. Pollard, pp. 480-489. WINTER QUARTERS. 439 inally slack and irregular in its payments, and its policy with regard to sending out cotton was so close and illiberal that few persons thought it sufficient inducement to incur the danger of breaking the blockade. Again, when the Crenshaw Collie line of steamers was established in the spring of 1864, under more favorable auspices than might have been reasonably hoped for, the failure of the Government to comply with its contracts to furnish the necessary amounts of cotton, threw the whole trade into the hands of private speculators, and deprived the army of any benefit from it. Indeed, just as this business had been fairly started, the Government took the best ship owned by the company, the Atlanta, in spite of the remonstrances of the parties engaged in the trade, and with the knowledge that this vessel was needed to brin( into the South, from Bermuda and Nassau, stores of a perishable nature which had been collected there, and which were absolutely needed by the army. These blunders on the part of the Government, and the worthlessness of the currency, drove it to its mad policy of impressments in order to procure food. The exploits of the impressment officers under the rule of Mr. Seddon and Colonel Northrop, were simply a series of outrages upon the people'which resulted in arraying almost the entire country against the Government. Men finally became so exasperated that they preferred to destroy or hide their provisions rather than let the Government have them. There was good reason for this. for the impressment system was a cloak for the most iniquitous frauds. " It is astonishing what silly devices were hit upon at Richmond to meet the coming necessity, and how the empirical remedies of shallow brains aggravated the disorder. One of these so-called remedies proved one of the vilest curses that was ever fastened upon the Confederacy. On the 6th of November 1863, an order was issued by the Secretary of War, that no 440 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. supplies held by a party for his own consumption, or that of his employees or slaves, should be impressed, and that' no officer should at any time, unless specially ordered so to do by a general commanding, in a case of exigency, impress supplies which were on their way to market for sale on arrival.' The construction given to that order filled the land with purchasers, - private individuals, railroad companies, manufacturers of all kinds, corporations of every class, relief associations of cities, towns, and counties were personally, or by their agents, in the market buying a year's supply, unlimited as to price, and protected from impressment. Speculators, whose purchases w're generally in trunsitu, found themselves protected, and the Government playing into their hands. The sudden influx of purchasers into the market stimulated the cupidity of producers and holders of the necessaries of life, and induced thei to withhold! their supplies, under the expectation of higher prices, and actually raised the prices of all prime articles fully one hundred per cent, within a single month. The purchasing officers of the Government could not buy; nor was it reasonable to expect parties to sell to the Government at schedule price when double that price was offered at their doors by others. They could not impress, for holders had, with great promptness, contracted for all their supplies to parties who paid them higher prices, and( thus it naturally and surely happened that the regular supplies of the Government were cut off. The whole land was infected by speculators pampered by Mr. Seddon, the Secretary of 7War;: and the soldier, who was without shelter, fighting our battles, found himself discriminated against in favor of the private citizen - who, with a roof above him, could better stand a short allowance of food, - and put at the mercy of the most heartless and hateful speculators, who had no conception of the war bebond that of dollars and cents."* * The Lost Cause. pp. 487, 488. WINTER QUAR'TERS. 441 The Government did not always keep faith with the people, even in this matter. Instead of rescinding the order of the Secretary of War, the Commissary-General instructed his agents to impress supplies in transitu. Mr. Seddon was afraid to interfere with these officials as he was given to understand that Colonel Northrop was sustained by the President. This, too, within fifteen days after the order was issued. The extent to which the Commissary-General became obnoxious, may be judged by the following incident. About the last of November, Captains Montgomery and Leathers, two wellknown steamboat captains of the Southwest, offered to furnish the Government with a million pounds of salt beef on the main line of railroad in Florida, at a reduced price. The cattle were exposed to raids by the enemy, and had to be transported by steamboats, and the parties making this offer owned the only steamers in certain waters of Florida. They were not willing to treat with Colonel Northrop, and desired to make their proposition directly to the Secretary of War. The proposal was, however, referred to the Commissary-General, and the captains abandoned the matter, and left the city in disgust.* I have made this digression too long, however, and must pass on. I shall have occasion to return to the subject further on. With the hope of filling up his ranks, General Lee offered furloughs to all who could procure recruits. To this end he issued the following order: "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, JANUARY 1st, 1863. " GENERAL ORDER, No. 1. "A furlough of thirty days will be granted to every enlisted mar. who will secure to any company of the Army of Northern * Diary of a Rebel War Clerk, Vol. ii. p. 109. 56 442 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Virginia, an able-bodied recruit physically qualified to perform the duties of a soldier; of good moral character, who is not a deserter, or absent without leave from any other command, who could be received under ordinary circumstances under the regtulations of the War Department governing enlistments, who shall enlist unconditionally for the war, and actually be present, ready to report for duty with his command. By command of GEN. R. E. LEE, (Signed) W. 11. TAYLOR, A. A. G. In view of the resumption of hostilities in the sprintg, General Lee, about the 25th of January, recommended the formation of ~several additional brigades of cavalry for service in his army. He urged the Government to take for this purpose the cavalry in South Carolina, and not to heed the objections of the State Authorities and Generals along the Carolina coast who would oppose their withdrawal. He stated that the enemy were collecting a very strong force on the RIapidan, and that it was absolutely necessary for him to have more cavalry. The events of the spring campaign proved the wisdom of his views. The 8th of April, 1864, having been set apart by the President as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, General Lee directed the proper observance of the day.* *IHEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, March, 30, 1864. 4 GENERAL ORDER, No. 23. "In compliance with the recommendation of the Senate and House of Representatives, His Excellency the President, has issued his proclamation calling upoin the people to set apart Friday, the 8th of April, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. " The commanding General invites the army to join in the observance of the day. Ile directs due preparations to be made in all departments, to anticipate the wants of the several commands, so that it may be strictly observed. All military duties, except such as are absolutely necessary, will be suspended The chaplains are desired to hold services in their regiments and brigades The officers and men are requested to attend. WINTER QUARTERS. 443 When General Lee embarked in the cause of his native State, he was the possessor of considerable wealth. His estate fell into the hands of the enemy at the outset, and by the close of 1862, his other property was within the Federal lines, and of no service to him. He was dependent upon his pay as a General of the Confederate army. This soon became inadequate to the task of providing for his family, and they, in common with the people of the South, were subjected to hardships and privations. This became known to the citizens of Richmond, and the city government at once appropriated a large sum for the purchase of a residence for the General and his family, which was to be presented to them in the name of the people of Richmond. General Lee learned this plan from the daily newspapers, and at once addressed the following note to the President, of the City Council of Richmond: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, November 12, 1863. " TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, Richmond, Va.: SIR: My attention has been directed to a resolution reported in the newspapers as having been introduced into the body over which you preside, having for its object the purchase by the city of Richmond of a house for the use of my family. "I assure you, sir, that no want of appreciation of the honor conferred upon me by this resolution, or insensibility to the kind feelings which prompted it, induces me to ask, as I most respectfully do, that no further proceedings be taken with reference to the subject. The house is not necessary to the use of my family, and my own duties will prevent my residence in Richmond. " Soldiers! let us humble ourselves before the Lord, our God, asking, through Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, beseeching the aid of the God of our forefathers in the defence of our homes and our liberties, thanking ihrn for His past blessings, and imploring their continuance upon our cause and our people. R. E. LEE, Generc." 444 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. I should, therefore, be compelled to decline the generous offer, an(l trust that whatever means the City Council may have to spare for this purpose may be devoted to the relief of the families of our soldiers in the field, who are more in want of assistnlce and more deserving of it than myself. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, Your ob't serv't, R. E. LEE, General." Nothing but a pure unselfishness and a high sense of duty dictated this letter. When General Lee linked his fate with that of Virginia, he knew he would be called upon to suffer many hardships, and he was ready to bear his part in the great sorrow which had fallen to the lot of the nation. The city authorities, however, were not willing to let him run any risk as long as they could prevent it, and they secured the amount approp)riated for a house, to his family in such a manner as to prevent them from being placed in danger of want. During the winter General Pickett's division was detached from the army, and sent to North Carolina. The Federal force on the Peninsula was at this time comrhanded by M/Iajor-General B. F. Butler. Towards the last of January, General Butler conceived the idea of capturing Richmond by a sudden dash of his forces, being under the impression that the city had been stripped of its garrison. IIe was to send a raiding party up the Peninsula to surprise Richmond and to cover this movement, the Army of the Potomac was to make a demonstration against Lee's army on the Rapidan. His raiding party, under General WVistar, reached Bottom's Bridge on the Chickahominy on the 6th of February, but finding the road to Richmond strongly guarded, retired down the Peninsula. On the 7th, General Sedgwick, commanding the Federal army during General Meade's absence, made akdemonstration against WINTER QUARTERS. 445 the lower fords of the Rapidan, but accomplished nothing, and lost two hundred and fifty men. Towards the close of the winter a nmore serious attempt was made by the enemy to take Richlmond. An expedition consisting of four thousand cavalry was fitted out with great care, for the purpose of capturing the city, and releasingl the Union prisoners confined there. The command of this expedition was entrusted to General Kilpatrick. He was seconded by Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, a young officer of great skill and daring. The plan of this expedition was as follows. A column under General Custar was to make a dash upon Charlottesville, to draw attention from the main body, which was to proceed to Beaver Dam, on the Central Railroad. Arriving there, the column was to be divided. A part, under General Kilpatrick, was to move upon Richmond along the north bank of James River, while the remainder, under Colonel Dahlgren, were to cross to the south side, move down the right bank of the James, release the prisoners at Belle Isle, opposite Richmond, recross the river, burning the bridges after them, and rejoin Kilpatrick in the city. Richmond was to be given to the flames and President Davis and his cabinet killed.* The expedition set out on the morning of the 28th of February. Custar attempted his part, but upon reaching the vicinity of Charlottesville was driven off by Stuart's horse artillery, when he at once fell back to his infantry supports at Madison Court House. At Beaver Dam the main column was divided, Kilpatrick keeping *on towards Richmond, and Dahlgren moving towards the river. Kilpatrick approached the city by the Brook Turnpike, and then, with scarcely a show of fighting, turned off, and kept on down the Peninsula. Dahlgren succeeded in reaching the James, but finding the * See Note D, at the close of the volume. 446 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. river too high to be forded, moved towards Richmond by the Westham plank-road, which runs parallel with the river, at a distance of about a mile from it, hoping to be able to join Kilpatrick before the city. On the night of the 1st of March, only a few hours after Kilpatrick's weak and strange retreat, Colonel Dahlgren arrived within four miles of Richmond. IIere he encountered a hatallion composed of department clerks, and another of laborers in the Government workshops, posted on Green's Farm. It was an intensely dark night, but as Colonel Dahlgren was at the head of five hundred picked troopers, he felt confident of dispersing the small force opposed to him, and ordered his men to charge the "militia." The militia, however, received the charge with a well directed volley, which emptied eleven saddles, and scattered the cavalry in confusion. Without attempting to renew t!he attack Dahlgren set off around the city, to gain the road leading down the Peninsula. During his retreat he becale separated, with about one hundred horsemen, from the rest of his command, and about eleven o'clock on the night of the 3rd of March, rode up to the bivouac of a party of the 24thl Virginia cavalry, who were on the watch for him. As soon as he discovered the Confederates, he ordered them to surrender. His demand was met by the discharge of about a dozen grlns. A few shots were returned by the Federal cavalry, who immnediately took to flight, leaving Colonel Dahlgren behind, a. corpse. The next day the men who were with him at the time of' his death, surrendered to the Confederates. Thus ended the famous raid which came so near resulting in the calture and destruction of the Southern Capital. The city was utterly defenceless on the morning of March 1st, when the aplproach of the raiders was announced, and had the Federal cavalry appeared before Richmond at daylight that morning, as was their design, nothing could have saved the city, there being no force at hand to prevent the entrance of the enemy. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN. 447 X. THE OVERLAND CAMPAIGN. MAY- JUNE, 1864. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN. IT was understood by all parties that the campaign of 1864 would be more momentous than any that had preceded it, if, indeed, it did not decide the struggle. What little preparation, could be made on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia was carried out promptly and with vigor. The army was very weak, and no reinforcements could be had. The corps of General Longstreet, which had been operating in Tennessee during the fall and winter, returned to the army about the 1st of May, but brought with it only two of its divisions - Pickett's, together with a considerable force, having been sent to North, Carolina on an expedition which never profited the South. Recruits had ceased to come in voluntarily, and the conscription was taking out of the service more men than it brought in. There was nothing for General Lee to hope for in the matter of increasing his airmy, and the fact that he would soon be called on to face the large force under General Grant filled him with grave anxiety. The Army of Northern Virginia now numbered less than fifty 448 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. thousand men. The effective strength of Ewell's corps was about fifteen thousand, that of Hill's about fourteen thousand, and Longstreet's (one of whose divisions — Pickett's - was absent, and whose corps had lost heavily in Tennessee,) had barely ten thousand men. The cavalry had dwindled down to a mere brigade and was scarcely three thousand strong, while the artillery was no stronger in proportion than the infantry. The army had been fed during the winter on the starvation policy of President Davis and Colonel Northrop, and was not in good " fighting trim" as far as its physical condition was concerned. The troops were improperly clothed, and many of the men lacked shoes. Still there was but one sentiment in the whole army - a stern determination to do all that could be done to secure the success of the cause. The position held by the Confederates was naturally so strong, and had been fortified with so much care, that General Lee had no apprehension of an attack in front, and was inclined to believe that the next effort of the enemy would be made against his right, which offered more advantages for an offensive movement than his left. The line which he had to defend was a long one, and, though General Lee expected an attempt against his right, it was uncertain which flank the Federal commander would select. Therefore it was necessary to watch the whole line, and be prepared for an attack either from the left, in the direction of Gordonsville, or from the lower fords on the righllt. The line of the Rapidan was held by small detachments, principally for purposes of observation, and the main army was posted in e1helon from the neighborhood of Somerville Ford on the Rapidan to Gorclorisville. Longstreet's corps was at the latter place, Hill wan at Orange Court House, and Ewell on the Rapidan. The dispsltion of the army was such that it could be rapidly concentrated upon any threatened point. The Federal Authorities had been active during the winter PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN. 44 and early spring. The experience of the war had taught them wisdom, and they determined in the campaign just about to open, to place the entire direction of their military operations in the hands of a single individual, who should receive the chief command of all their armies. The person selected to fill this high post was Major-Geneial Ulysses S. Grant. General Grant had entered the service of the United States at the commencement of the war, and had risen steadily from the rank of Colonel to the high position now conferred upon him. Whatever opinion men might entertain as to his genius, there could be no doubt that he was the most successful commander the war had produced, and it was natural that when so many had failed, his successes should make him also the most popular General in the Union service. His ideas of war were not those of a great commander, and were based less upon the employment of military skill than of brute force. His system of warfare may be briefly summe(l up in his own words - to employ superior forces, and " to hammer continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his resources, until by mere attrition, if no other way, there should be nothing left to him but an equal submission with the loyal section of our common country to the Constitution and Laws of the land." But though not a great soldier, in the military sense of the word, General Grant was possessed of an energy and perseverance that were as remarkable as they were great. Nothing was sufficient to turn him from his purpose, and when he once embarked in an enterprise, he did so with a resolution not to abandon it as long as there remained to him the least hope of success. IHe entered upon the command of the Federal armies on the 17th of March, 1864, and, as it was evident that the principal struggle of the war would be made in Virginia, established his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac, the immediate 450 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. command of which was retained by General Meade. Genera} Grant at once proceeded to prepare Meade's army for the campaign. He had everything to encourage him. The Federal armies were never in a better condition, and his Government responded readily to every one of his suggestions. New levies were made in the Northern States, and the War Department exerted itself to increase the armies in the field to the enormous strength of one million of men. Heavy bounties were offered, and these, with the draft, succeeded so well in procuring recruits, that when the war closed, the army of the United States numbered more than a million of men. Arms, clothing, and supplies of all kinds were provided and distributed without regard to cost, and nothing was left undone that could in the least contribute to the accomplishment of the end in view. General Grant also enjoyed the great advantage which had been denied to the commanders of the Army of the Potomac, of being unfettered by instructions from Washington. The army of General Meade was reorganized and divided into three corps, the 2d, 5th, and 6th, commanded respectively by Generals Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick, officers of tried aIility. The cavalry was placed under Major-General Sheridan, and by his vigorous measures brought to the highest state of efficiency. By the end of April the 9th corps, which had been organizing at Annapolis as a separate command, under General Burnside, was added to the Army of the Potomac, and swelled the total effective strength of that army to about one hundred and forty thousand men of all arms. With this force General Grant resolved to move upon the army of General Lee at the earliest possible moment. His plan of operations was as follows: The Army of the Potomac, under General Grant's immediate direction, was to cross the Rapidan, assail Lee's right, seize his communications, force him from his position, and compel him to fight a general engage THE WILDERNESS. 451 ment between his present line and Richmond. If successful, General Grant was to pursue his antagonist to Richmond, and capture the city and Confederate army. At the same time, a strong column, under Major-General Butler, was to ascend the James River, from Fortress Monroe, capture City Point, and move up the south bank of the river to seize the communications of the Confederates south of the James, and, if possible, capture Petersburg. Another use which General Grant hoped to make of Butler's army was, in case he should not defeat Lee before reaching Richmond, to have it in position to cover his passage of the James River, it being his intention, if he failed on the north side, to throw his whole army to the south side, and strike at the Confederate Capital in its most vulnerable point. While these movements were in progress in Eastern Virginia, the command of General Sigel was to be organized into two expeditions, one in the Kanawha Valley, under General Crook, and the other in the Shenandoah Valley, under General Sigel in person. The former was to make a descent upon the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and cut off Lee's supplies from Southwestern Virginia, and the latter to cut the Central Railroad, the other great line of supplies. These columns would, it was believed, be sufficient for the " crushing out of the rebellion " in Virginia. The bad weather and wet spring delayed the Federal army until the beginning of May. II. THE WILDERNESS. At midnight on the 3d of May, the Federal army commenced to advance. It moved in two columns; the right consisting of 452 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE.'Warren's and Sedgwick's corps, crossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford, and the left,'consisting of tIancock's corps, crossed at Ely's Ford, six miles below. General Burnside's corps was left to guard the position held by the army during the winter, with orders to follow across the river in twenty-four hours. The passage of the river was effected during the 4th of May, and the army bivouacked that night between the Rapidan and Chancellorsville, Hancock's corps encamping on the old battleground of the previous spring. The next day the march was resumed, it being General Grant's design, now that he had succeeded in turning Lee's right flank, to march rapidly through the Wilderness to Gordonsville, and plant himself between the Confederate army and Richmond. The order of march for the 5th of May was stated as follows, by General Meade, in his instructions to his corps commanders: — 6 1st Major-General Sheridan, commanding cavalry corps, will move with Gregg's and Torbert's divisions against the enemy's cavalry in the direction of Hamilton's Crossing. General Wilson, with the third cavalry division, will move at five A. M. to Craig's Meeting-house on the Catharpin road. Ile will keep out parties on the Orange Court Hlouse Pike and plank road, the Catharpin road, Pamunkey road (road to Orange Springs), and in the direction of Troyman's store and Andrews' store or Good Hope Church. 2nd. Major-General Hancock, commanding 2nd corps, will move at five A. M1. to Shady Grove Church and extend his right towards the 5th corps at Parker's store. 3rd. Major-General Warren, commanding.5th corps, will move at five A. M. to Parker's store on the Orange Court House plank-road, and extend his right towards the 6th corps at Old Wilderness Tavern. 4th. Major-General Sedgwick, commanding 6th corps, will move to Old Wilderness Tavern on the Orange Court House Pike as soon as the road is clear." THE WILDERNESS. 453 By a glance at the map the reader will see that if General Grant had been permitted to make this march, it would have placed his army in the open country beyond the Wilderness. He was confident, from the fact of having been permitted to cross the Rapidan without molestation, that General Lee was endeavoring to secure his retreat in order to preserve his communications with the Capital, and he expected to be able so to mask the march of his army through the dangerous Wilderness as to reach the open country beyond in safety, and before Lee should be ready to meet him. Therefore he neither expected nor desired an encounter in the Wilderness. Meanwhile the Confederate army was in rapid motion. General Lee had been watching his adversary closely, and no sooner had General Grant commenced his movement than the Confederate commander detected and comprehended it. The plan which he adopted to meet the advance was both daring and skilful. He determined to permit General Grant to cross the.liapidan without molestation, and thus lure him into the Wilderness, when he would fiall upon him unexpectedly and destroy the Federal army in the depths of the jungle, where it would be impossible for the Federals to use their artillery, and where they would be forced to fight at great disadvantage. The Confederate commanders were well acquainted with the country in which General Lee meant to bring on the battle, while to the enemy it was a bewildering thicket. General Lee determined to move his army by the plank road and turnpike leading from Orange Court Hlouse to Fredericksburg, and running parallel to each other. These roads ran eastward from Hill's position at the Court I-ouse, and intersected the roads by which the Federal army was moving, at right angles, and the distance by each from Hill's position to the Federal line of march was only ablout twenty miles. A-zeordingly, on the 4th of May, Lee advanced Ewell's and 454 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Hill's corps, - the former by the Old Turnpike, the latter by the plank road,- and ordered Longstreet to march at once from Gordonsville, and move down on the right of Ewell, so as to strike the Federal adyanced forces while on their march. Thus, while Grant was congratulating himself upon his safe passage of the Rapidan, which he " regarded as a great success,:"* and expecting to find Lee retreating before him, Lee was quietly changing his front, and disposing his army so as to strike Grant when he least expected it, and dispute his march to Gordonsville. Thus it happened that on the night of May 4th, the advance of the Federal army - Warren's corps - halted at Old Wilderness Tavern, at the point of intersection of the road from Germanna Ford with the Orange and Fredericksburg Turnpike, while Ewell's corps bivouacked on the latter road, only three miles from Warren's camp, neither force being aware of the presence of the other. Early on the morning of the 5th of May, both columns resumed the advance, the Federal army moving as indicated in General Meade's order, unaware of the arrangements made to dispute its progress. Warren was followed by Sedgwick's corps, which was then lying near the river,- and to guard against any movement of the Confederates from the Orange Turnpike, he threw out Griffin's division on that road, and, moved Crawford's division by a wood road to gain Parker's Store. t When Ewell went into camp on the night of the 4th, his force was disposed as follows: Johnson's division was in the advance, within three miles of Old Wilderness Tavern, Rodes lay in his rear, and Early followed, halting at Locust Grove. At six o'clock the next morning the presence of the enemy was * General Grant's lieport, p. 6. t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 419. THE WILDERNESS. 455 reported to General Johnson, who immediately threw forward his division to secure a position on some high ground where he proceeded to form his line. General Grant, who had now arrived on the field in person, made his dispositions to drive off the force resisting his march, which he supposed to be merely a handful. He was still under the impression that, as he had turned Lee's right flank, that officer would prefer flight to an encounter on the Rapidan, and he regarded the corps of General Ewell as merely a rear-guard covering the Confederate retreat, for he never dreamed of being attacked in that region.* The country in which General Lee had thus thrown down the gage of battle was one in which it was difficult to manceuvre, and Lee, having selected his position to bar the march of his adversary, secured an important advantage, inasmuch as he was able to choose his own ground. The woods were very thick, - so dense, indeed, that not even a regimental commander could see the whole of his line at the same moment, and after leaving the roads, the only guides which could be followed in many instances were the points of the compass. Still, thinking that the force in his front was orly the Confederate rear-guard, General Grant decided to make his attack with only three divisions of Warren's corps, and about noon advanced this force, and made an impetuous assault on Johnson's division. The Federals were received with a hot fire of musketry, but without flinching they pressed on, and after a severe struggle broke the line where it crossed the turnpike, and was held by the brigade of General J. M. Jones. Following up their success, they swept the Confederates back in confusion, and poured through the gap they had made, with loud cheers. General Jones tried in vain to rally his men. They * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 421. 422. 45 6 LIFE OF' GENERAL LEE. were incapable of re-forming, and the gallant General was killed while engaged in his heroic but hopeless undertaking. There was danger that the whole division would be routed. General Stewart immediately moved his brigade from its position in the line of battle, and hurled it upon the head of the Federal column which was pressing on through the gap in the line. This prompt movement saved the day, and the enemy were driven back rapidly from the ground they had gained, leaving two pieces of artillery in the hands of Stewart's men. At the same time, General Ewell advanced Rodes' division to Johnson's assistance, and directed General Gordon to take his own and Daniels' brigades (both of Rodes' division), and drive the enemy back on the right. Gordon obeyed the order to the letter, driving the Federals back for a mile and a half, and capturing, during the movement, an entire regiment with its officers and colors. Oil the left the attack was made a little later, and was met by the brigades of Pegram and Hays, and repulsed, and the Confederates, then pressing forward, drove the enemy back for a mile. The troops were recalled to their original line. Not wishing to attack the Federal army with only his own corps, General Ewell held his position to await the arrival of Hill and Longstreet. The repulse of Warren's corps convinced General Grant that the Confederate commander had really determined to offer him battle in the Wilderness instead of retreating, and he immediately brought up the 6th corps, under General Sedgwick, and sent orders to General Hancock to hurry forward with the 2d corps. The road by which Hancock was marching, is known. as the Brock road, and intersects the Orange Plank Road about. two miles and a half southwest of Old Wilderness Tavern, ancd four miles east of Parker's Store on the latter road. The corps of A. P. Hill was moving down the plank road, having left TH'E WILDEIRNEsS. 457 Verdiersville early that morning. Hill's line of march would bring him directly to the crossing of the Brock road, and tf he should succeed in occupying that position before the arrival of Hancock, he would cut off the 2d Federal corps from its main body. As soon as he saw the exposed condition of these cross roads, General Meade sent Getty's division, of Sedgwick's corps, to occupy the important point until Hancock could come up. Hill arrived in front of the cross roads shortly after the repulse of Warren's attack, and, finding Getty's division on the ground, and not knowing what force it was, formed his line, across the plank road, and commenced to feel the strength of the enemy. General Lee arrived with Hill's corps, or rather in company with General Hill, a little in advance of the troops. While the attack upon Ewell was in progress Generals Lee and Hill, together with several other officers, halted for a few moments in an open field. Immediately in front was a heavy thicket, and at this instant it was occupied by a Federal scouting party. The scouts were within less than two hundred yards of the Confederate commander, and might easily have shot him, but unaware that it was General Lee, and startled at findingr themselves so unexpectedly in the Southern lines, they beat a hasty retreat. As soon as Hill's line was formed, General Lee directed General Wilcox to open communications with General Ewell, which was soon accomplished. The Confederate army now occupied a line six miles in length extending from the thick woods on the right of the Orange Plank Road to beyond the Old Turnpike on the left, and covering both of these roads, runninog almost the whole way through heavy woods. Immediately in front was the thicket occupied by the Federal army, which was by its position prevented friom using its artillery except on the cleared spaces of the roads. 458 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Hancock, having succeeded in occupying the Brock road, extended his line along it towards the south, and about four o'clock was ordered by General Grant to attack Hill's corps, which was in line of battle only about three hundred yards distant, and drive it back to Parker's Store. Hancock at once made his attack with impetuosity, and endeavored, in "repeated and desperate assaults " to force back the Southern line. Hill's men received every advance with such well directed volleys of musketry that Hancock was driven back every time with heavy loss. The effort to force Hill's line from its position failed, and the fighting ceased at nightfall. The advantage was decidedly with the Confederates. They had checked the advance of the Federals, had prevented them from laying hold of the communications of the Southern aramy with Richmond, had forced them into a battle which they did not expect or desire, and had repulsed every assault, inflicting severe loss upon them, and capturing two thousand prisoners and four pieces of artillery. The Southern loss was heavy, but much less than that of the enemy.* As Longstreet's corps had not yet come up, General * That night General Lee sent the following bulletin to Richmond: "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHIERN VrC0NIXA, May 6, 1864. "HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: "The enemy crossed the Rapidan at Ely's and Germanna Fords. Two corps of this army moved to oppose him -Ewell by the old turnpike, and Hill by the plank road. They arrived this morning in close proximity to the enemy's line of march. A strong attack was made upon Ewell, who repulsed it, capturing many prisoners and four pieces of artillery. The enemy subsequently concentrated upon General Hill who, with Heth's and WVilcox's divisions, successfully resisted repeated and desperate assaults. A large force of cavalry and artillery on our right was driven back by Rosser's brigade. By the blessing of God we maintained our position against every effort until night, when the contest closed. We have to mourn the loss of many bra-e officers and men. The gallant Brigadier-General J. M. Jones, was killed, and Brigadier-General Stafford, I fear, mortally wounded, while leading his command with conspicuous valor. (Signed,) R. E. LsN.' THE WILDERNESS. 459 Lee decided not to press his advantage, but to await the arrival of all his forces. General Longstreet, as soon as he received General Lee's orders, set out from Gordonsville on the morning of the 4th. Marching with characteristic energy, he reached a point about ten miles from the battle-field late in the afternoon of the 5th, but, owing to the density of the woods, did not hear the firing in front, and was unaware that an engagement was in progress, until he received an order from General Lee to move to Hill's assistance. It was late at night when the order reached him, and he at once prepared to execute it. It was designed that he should relieve Hill's corps which had been hotly engaged during the 5th. At two o'clock on the morning of the 6th, General Longstreet put his column in motion, and reached Hill's position a little after daylight. Hill's men had been informed that Longstreet would relieve them, and they commenced to retire as his column came up. Just at this moment, however, the Federals renewed the attack, directing their efforts by a strange chance, against Hill's line. During the night, the 9th corps, under General Burnside arrived, and took position between Hancock and Sedgwick. General Lee had determined to assume the offensive, and to attack Grant at five o'clock on the morning of the 6th. His design was to turn the Federal left and force Grant to retire to the Rapidan, and just before Grant opened fire upon Hill's plosition, General Ewell made a shakp attack on Sedgwick's corps, thus anticipating the Federal commander. Hlill's men were taken by surprise, and, being engaged in their withdrawal, were for a time at the mercy of the enemy. Heth's and Wilcox's divisions were thrown into confusion, and beaten back upon ljongstreet's column which had not yet formed its line. They were driven back for a mile or more, to within 460 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. a hundred yards of the spot where General Lee had established his head-quarters, and for a moment it seemed that the right wing would be driven from its position. But Longstreet was equal to the emergency. Throwing forward Kershaw's division, (formerly McLaws'), he held the enemy in check until he could brine up his whole corps, when he drove the Federals before him, and reestablished the line. This was not accomplished without severe fighting, for the corps of General Hancock which was in Longstreet's immediate front, had been so strengthened that Hancock had with him almost one half of the entire Federal army. This had consumed almost the whole morning, and it was now after 10 o'clock. At 11 o'clock, General Longstreet was ordered by General Lee to select a part of his force, and attack the enemy's left flank. This order was promptly executed, and Longstreet, falling suddenly upon Hancock's left, drove it back towards the Brock road, which the former now determined to seize, as its possession would compel the retreat of General Grant to the Rapidan, and place him at the mercy of the Confedlerates during his flight. Elated by his success, General Longstreet spurred forward to lead this movement in person, but on the way paused to receive the congratulations of General Jenkins, a young officer who, by his rapid rise and extraordinary skill, had become a favorite with the whole army. At this moment a heavy discharge of musketry was fired upon them by their own troops, who had mistaken them and their escorts for Federal cavalry. General Longstreet vainly shouted to his men to cease fring, but before he could make them understand their mistake, he was shot in the throat, the ball passing out through his right shoulder. He fell from his horse by the side of his friend, General Jenkins, who had been killed at the first fire, and at first his staff thought he, too, was dead. Discovering that he was only wounded, they procured a litter, and he was THE WILDERNESS. 461 borne to the rear, the troops testifying their sympathy by loud cheers, as the litter was carried along theline. Now that Longstreet, his most trusted lieutenant, was disabled, General Lee assumed the immediate direction of affairs on the right. The delay occasioned by the fall of General Longstreet, gave the enemy time to discover the menace against their right, and to prepare for it. It was four o'clock before General Lee could get his troops sufficiently in hand to resume the attack. The enemy resisted so stubbornly that in about an hour the Southern line was so much shaken that it was on the point of giving way. In this trying hour, when the fate of the battle seemed suspended by a hair, General Lee determined to lead the troops in person in a decisive charge. Placing himself at the head of the Texas brigade, he ordered it forward. Those who saw him at that moment, describe his appearance as inexpressibly grand. He had removed his hat, and, bareheaded, and with his hair floatingc in the wind, and his features glowing with the fire of a true soldier, he pointed in silence toward the Federal line, with a gesture far more eloquent than words could have been. For a moment the troops paused, and gazed first at their commander and then at each other, as if hesitating whether to allow him to incur such danger. Then a ragged, scarred veteran, approaching the Commander-in-Chief, seized his bridle rein and turned his horse's head, saying respectfully, but firmly, " You must not expose yourself, General Lee. You must go to the rear. We will obey your orders. We have never faltered yet, and we will not do so, now. Will we boys?" he added, turning to his comrades. Instantly the whole line took tip the cry, " No! no! General. Lee to the rear!" and the men, refused to move until General Lee had- withdrawn to a safer. position. * Touched * General Lee was so fully impressed with the importance of the situation, especially after the fall of'Longstreet, that he paid but little heed to his per 462 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. to the heart by this affecting proof of the devotion of his troops, General Lee bowed and rode back, while the line with deafening cheers, moved forward to the charge. The attack was made with a will, and the troops kept their promise. The enemy were driven into the log breastworks which they had erected on the Brock road, and the Confederates pressed on to within a hundred yards of the works, pouring in heavy volleys of musketry. At this moment the log breastwork of the enemy was set on fire by the burning forest, which had been fired during the afternoon, and the flames, sweeping down the road, forced a part of the enemy back from their line. Seeing this, the Confederates sprang forward, and planted their battle-flags on the captured works. A considerable body of Hancock's troops at once retreated towards Chancellorsville, but the rest, rallying, regained possession of the works, driving the Confederates from them.* It was now dark, and the battle came to an end. On the left General Ewell had done good service. During the morning the 6th corps, under General Sedgwick, supported by Burnside's corps, made repeated efforts to carry his position, each of which was repulsed with loss. Towards twilight, General Gordon, with several brigades, made a fierce attack upon Sedgwick's line, driving it back, and sweeping everything before him for a distance of two miles. At dark he had forced back Sedgwick's corps from its original position, and thrown it into considerable confusion, capturing Generals Seymour and Shaler, together with the greater part of their brigades. But his command having become separated by the darkness and sonal safety. During the battle a shell exploded under his own horse, killing the horse of his Adjutant-General, Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, and soon afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall was severely wounded by his side, * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 437. THE WILDERNESS. 463 the dense woods, General Gordon returned to his original pox sitien.* The losses on both sides were heavy. The Confederate returns showed a loss of one thousand killed and six thousand wounded - a total of seven thousand. The Federal army had about twenty thousand men killed, wounded and captured. On the morning of the 7th, General Lee refrained from making any offensive movement, and awaited the renewal of the * This exploit was reported by General Lee to the War Department as follows:"HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, May 7, 1864. 8 P. M. "HOIORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR: " General Gordon turned the enemy's extreme right yesterday evening, and drove him from his rifle pits. Among the prisoners captured are Generals Seymour and Shaler. A number of arms were also taken. The enemy has abandoned the Germanna Ford road, and removed his ponton-bridge towards Ely's. There has been no attack to-day, only slight skirmishing along the line. (Signed,) R. E. LEE." The remainder of the events of the day were summed up in a bulletin sent off at the close of the battle. " HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, May, 6, 1864. "lo THE SECRETARY OF WAR: "Early this morning, as the divisions of General Hill, engaged yesterday, were being relieved, the enemy advanced, and created some confusion. The ground lost was recovered as soon as the fresh troops got into position, and the enemy driven back to his original line. Afterwards we turned the left of his fresh line, and drove it from the field, leaving a large number of dead and wounded in our hands, among them General Wadsworth. A subsequent attack forced the enemy into his intrenched lines on the Brock road, extending from Wilderness Tavern on the right, to Trigg's Mill. Every advance on his part, thanks to a merciful God, has been repulsed. Our loss in killed is not large, but wve have many wounded, most of them slightly, artillery being little used on either side. I grieve to announce that Lieutenant-General Longstreet was severely wounded, and General Jenkins killed. General Pegram was badly wounded yesterday. General Stafford, it is hoped, will recover. R. E. LEE." 464 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. attack by General Grant. The engagement of the previoub day had shown him that the Federal position was much stronger than he had supposed, and the size of his army admonished him to be chary of the lives of his troops. General Grant, however, was equally indisposed to resume the offensive. His army had suffered severely, and he had become convinced that it was useless to try to drive Lee from his position. Still it was necessary to make some change in the situation of affairs. General Lee had effectually prevented him from occupying Gordonsville and laying hold of the ConL federate communications with Richmond, and there remained but two courses open to him, to retire across the Rapidan, or to move his army southward to Spottsylvania Court House, and get between Lee and Richmond. He chose the latter. While this movement was in progress, General Sheridan was directed to make a dash towards Richmond with his cavalry, for the purpose of cutting Lee's communications. Sheridan passed around the Confederate right flank to the North Anna River, cut the Central Railroad at Beaver Dam Station, and then passed over to Ashland and cut the Fredericksburg road. He was followed hard by the cavalry of General Stuart, whose horses were scarcely equal to the task of intercepting him. Stuart came up with the Federal horsemen just as they were preparing to burn Ashland on the 10th of May, and drove them from the town. Sheridan then moved in the direction of Richmond, and Stuart taking a shorter route, threw his command between the Federal column and the city. Sheridan was encountered again at the Yellow Tavern, on the Brook turnpike, seven miles from Richmond, and in the engagement which ensued General Stuart was mortally wounded. Rie was taken into the city, and every effort made to save his life; but he died the next day. He was the only great cavalry leader the war produced, and his loss was severely felt by the South; but J4'HAT A0QOGA T4 E /1 / RE CLAY ii ROS. K ILLF g. 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The Federal cavalry retired to a piece of woods on the right of the turnpike, and, deceiving the Confederates by a show of resistance in front, quietly repaired the Meadow Bridge across the Chickahominy, over which they retired unmolested, and retreated down the Peninsula. Had General Sheridan, instead of halting at Ashland, decided to hurry forward, and attack Richmond, he would have found the city defenceless,* and could have taken it with but slight loss. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. Having decided to move around Lee's right, and occupy Spottsylvania Court House, General Grant determined to lose no time in doing so. The position held by his army enabled him to execute his intention with celerity. Hancock's corps held possession of the Brock road, which ran directly from the Federal line to the Court House, which was distant only fifteen miles. During the afternoon he sent his trains off in that direction, so that his march might not be incommoded by them, and * On the night before the battle at the Yellow Tavern, the writer was at the Confederate War Department seeking for "news," and while there was told by an officer holding a high position in the Department that a large force of Federal cavalry was approaching the city, which was defenceless, and that the Government was very seriously alarmed for its safety. Stuart, he said, was coming on as rapidly as possible, but the enemy were between him and the city. 59 466 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ordered the army to prepare to follow at night-fall. The 5th corps was to move off at dark, and by a rapid march occupy Spottsylvania Court House; the rest of the troops would follow immediately, and by the-next morning General Grant hoped to have his army concentrated between the Confederates and their Capital.'Warren and Hancock were to move by the Brock road, and Sedgwick. and Burnside by a longer route through Chancellorsville. The trains were gotten off safely, and at dark the 5th corps began its march. The movement of the trains, however, had aroused General Lee's suspicions, and during the afternoon he became convinced that Grant meditated a change of position. Being uncertain, however, whether the Federal commander was moving upon Richmond or Fredericksburg, General Lee directed General R. II. Anderson, commanding Longstreet's corps, to withdraw from his position in the intrenched line, and be in readiness to march upon Spottsylvania Court House in the morning. Anderson promptly drew out his men, and endeavored to find a suitable place for a bivouac, but, being unsuccessful in this effort, owing to the burning woods, and thinking it would be well to gain as much time as possible, he determined to take the responsibility of commencing his march without delay, and accordingly set out that night at about ten o'clock.* The next day General Lee being satisfied that the whole Federal army was in motion, marched with Ewell's and Hill's corps to join Anderson.t General Grant in his report states that Lee moved by the shorter line, but in this he is mistaken. The * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 441. t "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERY VIRGO6TA, "May 8, 1864. aHONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR: "The enemy have abandoned their position, and are marching towards Fredericksburg. I am moving on their right flank. (Signed) R. E. LEE,." SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 467 road by which the Confederates reached Spottsylvania is about of equal length with the Brock road, or if any shorter the.difference is less than a mile. Anderson marched all night, and early the next morning, tdhe 8th, arrived at the heights around Spottsylvania Court House, where he found Fitz Lee's cavalry hotly engaged with Warren's advancing columns. In order to impede Grant's progress, the cavalry had been thrown out on the 7th, with orders to hold the Brock road, as long as possible and endeavor by every means in their power to harass the enemy on their march. These instructions were well carried out, and from Todd's Tavern on the Brock road to the immediate vicinity of Spottsylvania Court House, Fitz Lee contested the road stubbornly with the enemy, barricading it in many places with fallen trees, and inflicting severe loss upon the parties sent to clear away these obstacles. When Anderson reached Spottsylvania Court House on the morning of the 8th, he found it in possession of a detachment of Federal cavalry, which had succeeded in occupying the village in advance of General Warren's corps. General Anderson immediately divided his command, sending a part of it to drive off the Federal cavalry from the village, and hurrying with the rest to the relief of Fitz Lee. Warren continued to press on, thinking that the force in his front was nothing but the dismounted cavalry he had been driving before him all night; but as his advanced division commenced to ascend the ridgle on which Anderson had formed his line, it was met with such a withering discharge of musketry that it broke and rushed back in confusion, with the loss of its commander, who was severely wounded. At the same time the Federal cavalry were driven from the Court House, and Anderson, bringing his whole force into line prepared to hold the position which both armies sought so eagerly. General Warren hurried up the remainder of his corps, consisting of Crawford's, 468 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Griffin's, and Cutler's. (Wadsworth's) divisions, and made a spirited attack upon Anderson's two divisions, but was unable to carry the position.* After this repulse Warren remained in front of Anderson's line, and commenced to intrench, being unwilling to risk a new attack until the arrival of reenforcements. In the-afternoon he was joined by the 6th corps, under General Sedgwick, but it was almost dark before the enemy completed their dispositions for another attack. Just about dusk Crawford's division was thrown forward, but was repulsed with heavy loss. Ewell's corps commenced to take position as Crawford began his attack, and the enemy striking it suddenly while it was marching by the flank, drove it back some distance, capturing about one hundred prisoners, but were unable to follow up their advantage and suffered more than they had gained by their attack. t During the night all of Ewell's corps came up, and the next morning General Hill arrived, but being disabled by sickness was compelled to relinquish the command of his corps temporarily to General Early. * The following is General Lee's bulletin to the War Department: " NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H. - 2.30, P. m., Voa ORANGE C. H. "TO HON. J. A. SEDDON: " After a sharp encounter with the 5th army corps, (Warren's) and Torbert'l division of cavalry, General R. H. Anderson, with the advance of the army, repulsed the enemy with heavy slaughter, and took possession of the Court House. "I am most thankful to the Giver of all victory that our loss is small. R. E. LEE, General." t "HIECADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA May, 8,1864.- 9 P. M. AtHON. SECRETARY OF WAR: "After the repulse of the enemy from Spottsylvania Court House, this morning, receiving reenforcements, he renewed the attack on our position, bdt was again handsomely driven back. R. E. LEE, General." SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 469 On Monday morning, May 9th, the entire Federal army was concentrated before Spottsylvania Court House; but under very different circumstances from those hoped for by General Grant when the march'began. That officer had been thwarted again in his designs by General Lee, and he now found the Confederate army in the position he had hoped to gain, and barring his advance as thoroughly as it had done in the Wilderness. He might have moved still farther to the right, and have manoeuvred Lee out of his position; but, being anxious to carry out his programme of " attrition," he resolved to attack the Confederate line, and drive. General Lee from the heights. The line held by General Lee was very strong. It extended along a range of heights, enclosing Spottsylvania Court House in a semi-circle, and running almost due north at Longstreet's position, and sweeping around to the west and south along Ewell's and Hill's lines. The crest was crowned with strong earthworks protected by a formidable abatis, and the approaches, made difficult by the low, dense undergrowth in front, were swept at all points by the fire of both infantry and artillery.; Anderson's corps formed the right, stretching from the River Po, northward to the Court IIouse. Ewell was in the centre, with his line running almost east and west, and Hill held the left, with his left flank slightly drawn back towards the south. The Federal line was formed with Warren and Sedowick in the centre, Hancock on the right, and Burnside on the left. The greater portion of the 9th was occupied by the enemy in getting their troops into position. The Confederate sharpshooters kept up an active fire upon them, and among others killed General Sedgwick, the commander of the 6th corps, and the ablest and most esteemed of all the subordinate generals in the Federal army. Between Hancock's position and that held by General Hill's corps was the valley of the river Po, and through this valley 470 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. wound one of the branches of this stream. During the after. noon of the 9th, Hancock was directed to cross the river, and endeavor to intercept a Confederate wagon train which was seen beyond the stream, moving into Spottsylvania Court House. He succeeded in passing the Po, about three miles west of the Court House. The river was at that point defended by a small force, but before he could penetrate over a few hundred yards beyond it, it was too dark to attempt anything further, and during the night the Southern wagons were taken into General Lee's lines in safety. The next morning, the 10th, General Hancock continued to advance, and discovered A. P. Hill's corps strongly intrenched along the east bank of the Po, and commanding the crossings of the river. About half past two o'clock Hancock received orders to withdraw across the Po to his original position, and, while engaged in this movement, Barlow's division, which was covering his withdrawal, was attacked by Heth's division of Hill's corps, and driven with heavy loss for some distance. Barlow succeeded, however, in rejoining his corps, and Heth's men were withdrawn to their original line. While Hancock's movement on the extreme Federal right had been going on, General Warren, with the 5th corps, was engaged in assaulting the position of Field's division which constituted Hill's right. Twelve assaults were made by the enemy, and each one was repulsed with loss to them.'When Hancock was withdrawn across the Po, he was directed to unite his corps with the 5th, for a decisive charge upon Field. At five o'clock these two corps made a fierce attack upon Field's line, and at first succeeded in gaining possession of the first line of breastworks; but they were quickly dislodged from the works, and driven down the hill with heavy loss. Another charge was made just before dark, and was repulsed with even more promptness and decision. The Federals fought gallantly, but they gained no advantage. SPOTTSYLYANIA COURT HOUSE. 471 About the same time a part of the 6th corps assailed the division of General Rodes, on the left of Ewell's position, and broke his line, gaining possession of the works, together with nine hundred prisoners' and six guns. Rodes rallied his men, and falling suddenly upon the enemy drove them out of the works, recaptured his guns, and reestablished his line. At dark the firing ceased, the enemy having failed in all their assaults.* These attacks on his left induced General Lee to believe that Grant's main effort would be made in that quarter, and during the night of the 10th and the greater part of the 11th he moved troops from other points to strengthen that wing. General Grant, however, had decided that the Southern left was too strong to be successfully assailed, and had detected the weak point in Lee's line. He at once determined to attack it with Hancock's corps, supported by his whole army, and spent the 11th in making his dispositions for the battle. * "' SPTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, Wi GUINEA'S, MAY 11. " HONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR: "General Grant's army is intrenched near this place on both sides of the Brock road. Frequent skirmishing occureld yesterday, and to-day each army is endeavoring to discover the position of the other. To-day the enemy shelled our lines, and made several assaults with infantry against different points, particularly on our left, held by General A. P. Hill. The last, which occurred after sunset, was the most obstinate, some of the enemy leaping over the breastworks. They were easily repulsed, except in front of Dole's brigade, where they drove our men from their position, and from a four-gun battery there posted. The men were soon rallied, and by dark our line was reestablished and the battery recovered. "A large body of the enemy moved around our left, on the evening of the 9th, and took possession of the road about midway between Shady Grove Church and the Court House. General Early, with a part of IIill's corps, drove them back this evening, taking one gun and a few prisoners. Thanks to a merciful Providence, our casualties have been small. Among the' wounded are Brigadier-Generals Hays! and II. H. Walker. "R. E. LEE." 472 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The point which he chose for his next attack was in the right centre of the Southern line. It was a salient which had been thrown out to cover a hill a few hundred yards in front of the general line, and to prevent the enemy from occupying it with their artillery. It was an unfortunate piece of engineering that included this hill in Ewell's intrenchments, as the sequel will show. Past the hill on the north side swept a ravine,,which presented a convex line to the hill, the two approaching each other like circles that touch but do not cut each other. This salient was held by the division of General Edward Johnson, of General Ewell's corps. Through some mistake, on the night of the 11th, General Johnson's artillery was withdrawn from his line, thus leaving him to hold it with only his infantry. General Johnson detected the concentration of the enemy in his front, about midnight, and informed General Ewell of it, at the same time asking to have his artillery sent back to him. General Ewell promptly ordered the guns back, but it was nearly five o'clock before they began to get into position again, and before they were ready for action the battle opened. Hancock had massed his corps in front of the position of General Johnson on thc;pight of the 11th, and at half past four o'clock on the morning of the 12th of May, began his advance, taking advantage of the ravine to shelter his troops as they approached the Southern works. With an impetuous rush the Federals poured over the breastworks, and were met by Johnson's troops in a stubborn hand-to-hand fight. Only two pieces of Johnson's artillery had been unlimbered, and these were of but little use.'- After a desperate resistance his line was overwhelmed. Over three thousand prisoners, including Generals Johnson and G. H. Stewart, and twenty-five pieces of cannon were captured, and the enemy remained in posession of the works. Elated by his success, Hancock pressed on towards the in SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 473 terior line of works which had been thrown iup in the rear of Johnson's position. He had cut the Southern line in two, and there was danger that he would drive the wings apart if not checked. General Gordon, commanding Early's division, promptly threw forward his troops, and Rodes and W\Vilcox hurried forward to his assistance. This force gallantly met the eager advance of the enemy, and forced them back. For hours the battle raged with great fury, the enemy endeavoring to break the new line, and meeting a bloody repulse each time they advanced. Supposing, from the determination with which General Lee maintained his ground, that the other portions of the Confederate line had been greatly weakened to furnish troops for the right centre, General Grant ordered Generals Warren and Burnside at eight o'clock to attack the Southern right and left wings. These officers assaulted vigorously, but were repulsed with much loss. The battle continued throughout the entire day, and did not cease altogether until midnight, when General Lee drew in his lines on the interior position. He had failed to recapture the works won from Johnson, but the enemy had been confined to them and foiled in all their efforts to penetrate farther, or to break the line at other points. The Southern losses were very heavy during the engagements up to this period, but they were nothing like those of the Federal army. General Grant had " hammered away" nearly a third of his army, but he was not discouraged. After the'reat battle of the 12th he wrote to his Government: "We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. The result to this time is much in our favor. Our losses have been very heavy, as well as those of the enemy. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken over five thousand prisoners in battle, while he has taken from us but Go 474: LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. few except stragglers. I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." General Lee having now retired to an interior and shorter line, General Grant determined to move around to his right, and try to force that wing back. General Warren was sent over to the right to unite with Burnside, which he succeeded in doing after an arduous night march on the 13th. On the 14th, the 5th and 9th corps made a vigorous attack on Wilcox's division and were " handsomely repulsed." Later in the day Lane's and Mahone's brigades made a dash at the enemy's left, capturing four hundred prisoners and several standards, and almost taking, General Meade prisoner. The remainder of the day was spent in skirmishing, which grew heavier towards twilight. * The 6th corps was moved over to the Federal left, on the 14th, and this, changing General Grant's entire position, necessitated the opening of a new base at Aquia Creek, which was accomplished on the 16th of Aay.t Previous to this the enemy drew their supplies from Port Royal. General Grant now determined to make another effort against $ " SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, May 14; via GUINEA'S STATION, May 15. "The enemy assaulted Wilcox's lines this morning and was handsomely repulsed. Mahone's and Lane's brigades attacked his left, capturing three hundred prisoners, and four stands of colors. Light skirmishing along the whole line during the day. The enemy seems to be moving toward our right. In the afternoon Wright's and Harris' brigades assaulted his left, and captured some prisoners and a stand of colors. R. E. LEE." t" SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HoUSz, vfa GUINEA'S STATION, May 16, 1864. ~"To HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT DAVIS: "The enemy has made no movement against our position to-day. He has retired his right and extended his left towards Massaponax Church, occupying the line of the Ny river, his main force being apparently east of that stream. (Signed,) R. E. LEE." THE MARCH TO THE CHICKAHOMINY. 475 Ewell's-line, and on the 18th threw forward Hancock's, Burnside's, and Wright's (6th) corps against the works in the rear of the salient Hancock had carried on the 12th. The enemy pressed forward until they reached the abatis in front of the Southern works, when they were brought to a stand by this formidable obstacle, and broken by the heavy fire of the Confederates. Finding their task a hopeless one, they fell back and abandoned the attack.* The losses of the Federal army since the passage of the Rapidan, now amounted to more than forty thousand men, and the troops began to grow dispirited. It was certain that the Confederate army could not be forced from its position on the heights of Spottsylvania, and there was but one way to dislodge it, -- to move towards Richmond. This General Grant determined to do. IV. THE MARCH TO THIE CIIICKAHOOMINY. General Grant began his preparations to withdraw on the afternoon of the 19th. This movement was observed by General Lee, who threw out Ewell's corps, and struck the Federal left a severe blow, forcing General Grant to delay his move ment until the night of the 21st, when it was commenced.t *" SPOTTSYLVArIA COURT HOUSE, May 18, 7 p. X Via MILFORD, 19th. Hor'. J. A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: " The enemy opened his batteries on a portion of Ewell's line, and attempted an assault, but failed. He was easily repulsed. Subsequently he cannonaded a portion of Hill's lines, under Early. The casualties on our side are very few. R. E. Luz." t General Grant's Report, p. 7. 476 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Feeling assured that Grant was moving to occupy the line of the North Anna,, General Lee left his position at Spottsylvania, and marching rapidly by a shorter route than that chosen by the Federal army, reached the south side of the North Anna before Grant arrived at Milford, at which place the Federal advance encamped on the 22nd of May. On the morning of the 23rd the Federal army reached the North Anna River, but only to behold its old antagonist in position on the setth side, and ready to meet it again. The position which General Lee held here was an important one. Less than two miles back of the river was Hanover Junction, the point of intersection of the Virginia Central and Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads. The possession of the former road was important to the Confederates, as it was their only direct line of communication with the Shenandoah Valley. Nothing daunted, however, General Grant determined to force a passage of the river, and " hammer away" at this position also. General Hancock was on the Federal left, and General Warren on the right. The position of the former brought him opposite the crossings of the Fredericksburg Railroad and Telegraph ( old stage) road, while the latter was in front of Jericho Ford about six miles to the right of the railroad bridge. Both of these commanders were ordered to effect a passage of the river. Jericho Ford was unguarded, but the Telegraph bridge was defended by a small force. Warren passed over unmolested, and advanced towards the Central Railroad. Near Noel's Station, he wvas encountered by Wilcox's division of A. P. Hill's corps. Hill brought up his other divisions as rapidly as possible, and in a brisk engagement forced General Warren to halt for the rest of the day. At the same time Hancock, moving forward on the Federal left, made a sharp attack on the three regiments guarding the THE MARCH TO THE CHICKAHOMINY. 477 Telegraph bridge, and drove them over the river, gaining possession of the bridge, which he held during the night, repulsing several attempts of the Confederates to destroy it.* The next morning, the 24th, IIancock's corps crossed to the south side of the river. If General Grant supposed that he was now in a position to attack General Lee with a prospect of success, he was destined to disappointment. Feeling- assured of the strength of his position, General Lee had made no effort to resist General Warren's passage of the river, and only checked him until his own line could be thoroughly established. On his right he had simply lured General Hancock over the river, and on the morning of the 24th, he was sincerely desirous that General Grant should attack him. The reader will see by a glance at the map that the Telegraph bridge and Jericho Ford are about six miles apart. About a mile above the former are the Oxford Mills. At this point, General Lee established his centre, clinging close to the river. His right stretched back beyond Hanover Junction, in an almost due southerly course, and rested on a series of extensive and impenetrable marshes, while his left, running almost due west, rested on Little River. Both flanks were thus made secure by marshes and rivers, and the rest of the line was strongly intrenched. The centre resting on the North Anna was interposed directly between the right and left wings of the Federal army, cutting off all communication between them south of the river. Lee's right faced nearly eastward towards Hancock's, and his left -* " HANOVER JUNCTION, May 23, 10 P. f. " HON. JAnES A. SEDDON: "'About noon to-day the enemy approached the Telegraph bridge on the Nlorth Anna. In the afternoon he attacked the guard at the bridge and drove it to this side. About the same time the 5th corps (General Warren's) crossed at Jericho Ford, on our left, and was attacked by General A. P. Hill and its advance checked. R. E. LEE." 478 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. westward towards Warren's and Wright's corps, his line forming two sides of an obtuse-angled triangle. While he held this position it would be impossible for General Grant to attack him, except with a part of his forces, without making a double passage of the river, while the Confederates could concentrate on any endangered part of their line, or mass their forces and fill upon either the Federal right or left, at the same time preventing the other wing from going.to its assistance. The conception was masterly, and without a blow defeated all General Grant's plans for an advance south of the'Nhorth Anna, and also endangered the safety of the separated wings of his army. In order to remedy this, General Burnside was ordered, on the 25th, to cross with the 9th corps at Oxford Mills, drive back Lee's centre from the river, and establish communication between Warren and Hancock. Burnside succeeded in crossing one division which was so roughly handled that he was compelled to withdraw it, and Warren in attempting to extend his left down the river to communicate with Burnside, was so vigorously assailed by lill's troops that it was with difficulty that the division (Crawford's) endeavoring, to accomplish this, could be brought off.-* General Lee had selected his position with great care, and his sklill was richly rewarded. General Grant had gotten over the river, and into the trap set for him, but he was powerless to move forward, and might be equally unable to go back. Seeing his danger, General Grant wisely concluded to withdraw at * The following dispatch partly relates the events of the 25th: " TAYLORSVILLE, May 25, 9.30 P. I. 6" HON. JAMIES A. SEDDON: "The enemy have been making feeble attacks upon our lines to-day, probably with a view of ascertaining our position. They were easily repulsed. "General Mahone drove three regiments across the river, capturing a stand of colors and some prisoners, among them an aid-de-camp of General Ludlow. R. E. LEs." THE MARCHE TO THE CHICKAHO3MIINY 479 once. Had General Lee's army been- strong enough to permit him to assume the offensive then and there, the Federal commander would have found that it was a much easier matter to get into such a predicament than to get out of it, but it being General Lee's first duty to husband carefully. the limited resources at his command, he was compelled by the weakness of his force to allow his antagonist to withdraw in safety. On the night of the 26th of May, the Federal army withdrew in silence across the North Anna. The Federal commander had been again baffled in his efforts to throw his army upon Lee's line of communication, and he now resolved to mnake a last effort to cut the Confederates off from Richmond before they should reach the defences of that city. Accordingly he directed his march towards the Pamunkey, which is formed by the union of the North and South Anna Rivers. Td effect this march it was necessary to cut loose from his base at Port Royal; but he would be compensated for this by establishing a new base at the White House, near the mouth of the Pamunkey, which had served McClellan for a.similar purpose in 1862. He intended crossing the Pamunkey at Ianovertown, twenty miles northeast of Richmond, and then trying to throw his army over the Chickahominy before Lee could interfere, when the city would be at his mercy. But if, after passing the Chickahominy, he found the prospect of capturing Richmond unfavorable, he could move direct to the James River and unite his army with that of General Butler, then operating south of that river. On the night of the 26th, the 6th corps and Sheridan's cavalry commenced the movement, and crossed the Pamunkey at Hanovertown on the morning of the 27th, readily driving off the small party of Confederate cavalry on the opposite bank. By the morning of the 28th the whole Federal army was south of the Pamunkey. "Hanovertown Ferry is northeast of Richmond twenty miles, by the most direct road, which crosses the Chickahominy at 480 LIFE OF GENERAL LEEE Meadow Bridge, near the Central Railroad, and is known beyond the Chickahominy as the Hanovertown road. Another road to this ferry runs south four miles to Old Church and thence in a southwesterly direction by Old Cold IHarbor to New Cold Harbor, Gaines' Mill and New Bridge to Richmond, entering the city over Union Hill. From the city to New Bridge this is known. as the New Bridge or Nine-Mile road; beyond the New Bridge, as the Cold Harbor or Old Church road. -Ianovertown ferry is three or four miles further from Richmond by this than the road previously mentioned. Hawes' Shop is three miles south of the ferry, on the direct road to Richmond. Hanover Court House is situated northwest of the ferry some eight or ten miles.- Another road from Richmond to Hanovertown Ferry is the Mechanicsville, which leaves the city by Howard's Grove, crosses the Chickahominy a couple of miles east of Meadow Bridge, and passing Dr. LuUnpkin's residence, a point six miles from the city, known as lechanicsville, falls into the Hanovertewn road six miles further on and a mile north of Tottapotamoi Creek. Atlee's Station, on the Central Railroad, is nine miles north of Richmond and three miles northwest of Mechanicsville. From Atlee's to Old Cold Harbor oil the Old Church road, as the crow flies, the distance is about nine miles; by county roads it is several miles further. Tottapotamoi Creek rises near Atlee's Station, and running southeast to Poll Green Meeting House, turns thence northeast and empties into the Pamunkey two miles below Hanovertown. Old Cold Harbor is ten miles from Richmond; New Cold Harbor, on the same road, is from a mile and a half to two miles nearer the city, and Gaines' Mill yet a quarter of a mile nearer. The country between Hanovertown and Mechanicsville by the direct road consists of large cleared fields and patches of heavy forest, there being no streams worthy of note except the Tottapotamoi; on the Old Church road the country is more wooded." * * Richmond Examiner, June 13, 1864. THE MARCH TO THE CHICKAIIOMINY. 481 The withdrawal of the enemy was discovered by General Lee on the morning of the 28th, and as soon as it was ascertained that Grant was moving towards the Paimunkey, General Ewell was sent off towards IIawes' Shop to prevent him from reaching the Chickahominy, and the whole army followed immediately. Ewvell reached his position near Hawes' Shop late on the 27th, and the next day was rejoined by the army. On the 28th, General Grant threw forward his cavalry to Hawes' Shop, and supported it by strong detachmehts of infantry. Fitz Lee, who was temporarily in command of the Confederate cavalry, was advanced to meet this force, and ascertain if Grant's whole army had crossed at Hanovertown. Fitz Lee attacked Sheridan and drove him back upon his infantry supports, and then, having accomplished the objects of the reconnoisance, drew off his command in the direction of Richmond. The 29th, and 30th were occupied by General Grant in ireconnoitering his adversary's position. Heavy skirmishing was of fiequent occurrence between the two armies. On the afternoon of the 30th, General Hancock's corps developed the position of the Southern army, which had been carefully selected on the south side of Tottapotamoi Creek. Hancock crossed the creek, and advanced towards Ewell's line, but was driven back, after a sharp fight, to his own army in front of Hawes' Shop. The hostile lines now stretched east and west over an extent of country about ten miles in length- the Confederates behind the Tottapotamoi, with their left at Atlee's Station on the Central Railroad, their centre in front of Mechanicsville, and their right at Cold Harbor on the Chickahominy; the Federals, on the north bank of the creek, threatening Atlee's Station with their right, and gradually moving their left towards the Chickahominy. 61 482 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. V. THE SECGND BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. General Grant's first intention seems to have been to force a passagre of the Chickahominy, at or in the neighborhood of Meadow Bridge, but, finding that this could not be effected without driving the Confederate army from its position which covered this bridge, as well as that at Mechanicsville, and the New-Bridge, he determined to move around Lee's right, and attempt to pass the river at Cold Harbor. Upon reaching the Pamunkey, General Grant had directed General Butler to send him all the men he could spare. Butler detached a force of sixteen thousand men, under General W. F. Smith, and sent it in transports to the White House, where it debarked on the 30th of May. General Grant now ordered General Smith to move out from the White House and occupy New Cold Harbor. A mistake was made in the order, and Smith was sent to Newcastle on the Pamunkey, ten or fifteen miles out of the way. Discoveringc the mistake in his orders, he countermarched his corps, and arrived in the neighborhood of New Cold I-arbor, where the 6th corps had just come up, on the afternoon of June lst.* Meanwhile General Lee had been reinforced by Breckenridge's command of two thousand men from the Valley of. Virginia, and Hoke's and Pickett's divisions from Beauregard's army south of the James. This brought his force to about forty-four thousand men of all arms, and barely covered hlis losses in the campaign. While holding his line on the Tottapotanmoi he had also been careful to watch the Federal left, as *Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 482. THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 483 he was -convinced that Grant would endeavor to secure the bridges in the rear of Cold Harbor. Grant had scarcely put the 6th corps in motion before the march was discovered by General Lee. Anderson was at once dispatched with Kershaw's division to occupy the heights around New Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill, and IHoke's division was hurried to his assistance Later in the day a part of Hill's corps and Breckenridge's divi sion were also sent to New Cold Harbor. After leaving Gaines' Mill, on Powhite Creek,.the road from Richmond to Cold Harbor ascends a long, high hill. Near the brow of this hill, stands New Cold Harbor, and from this point to Old Cold IHarbor, about a mile and a half to the southwest, is a very gently sloping plain. The ridge of this hill or high land runs from New Cold I-arbor in a southeasterly direction, and ends abruptly three hundred yards from the Chickahominy, at the bridge by which General McClellan withdrew his defeated troops after the first battle in June 1862, ten miles from Richmond. On the night of the 31st of May, General Sheridan occupied Old Cold Harbor with his cavalry, and threw out a strong detachment to seize the heights at New Cold Harbor to gain which the 6th Federal corps, and Anderson's Confederate corps were hastening. Anderson came up on the 1st of June, with Kershaw's and Hoke's divisions, and attacking Sheridan drove him back towards Old Cold Harbor, and secured the heights around New Cold Harbor and Gaines''Mill, which he at once proceeded to fortify. Breckenridge and Heth also arrived by noon, and by two o'clock the heights were held by a force too sti'ono to be driven from them without a general engagement. In the afternoon, the 6th corps and the corps of General Smith reached Old Cold Harbor. General Meade, who had established his headquarters at that place, gave orders for an immediate attack for the purpose of gaining possession of the 484 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. heights. At four o'clock Wright and Smith attacked a part of Hill's line immediately behind Old Cold Harbor. They succeeded in carrying the first line of rifle pits, but were driven from them. They fell back only a few hundred yards, however, and immediately commenced to fortify their position.* The next day, June 2nd, General Grant directed General Burnside to withdraw his corps from the Tottapotamoi, and take position at Cold Harbor. Warren's corps was to cover the movement, after which it was to follow Burnside to the Chickahominy. While this movement was in process of execution, Ewell's corps moved around by the Mechanicsville road, and fell upon Warren's right near Bethesda Church, driving it in with vigor. Pressing on, three strongly intrenched lines were carried, and the enemy driven back for nearly a mile, with the loss of over five hundred prisoners. The night of the first and the whole of the second of June were spent by the Confederates in strengthening their position, so that by dark on the second, the line which they held was even stronger than that they had occupied at Spottsylvania Court House. Their right was within a few hundred yards of the Chickahominy on the New Cold Harbor ridge, the interval between being occupied by an impassable swamp, and their * " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, JUNE 1, 1864, P. m. " HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: "There has been skirmishing along the lines to-day. General Andurson and General Hoke attacked the enemy in their front this forenoon, and drove them to their intrenchments. This afternoon the enemy attacked General Heth and were handsomely repulsed by Cooke's and Kirkland's brigades. Generals Breckenridge and Mahone drove the enemy from their front, taking about one hundred and fifty prisoners. A force of infantry is reported to have arrived at Tunstall's station from the White House, and to be extending up the York River Railroad. They state that they belong to Butler's forces. "Respectfully, "R. E. LEE, General." THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD HAIBOR. 485 left extended over to the Tottapotamoi, Imaking their line about six miles in length. Anderson's corps, and the divisions of Breckinridge and Hoke, and a part of Hill's corps held the works on the Cold Harbor ridge, and the remainder of Hill's troops and Ewell's corps held the centre and left. The Federal line was somewhat longer. The right, under General Burnside, was near Bethesda Church, the left was in front of 1McGehee's house, under Hancock, and the interval was filled with the corps of Wright, Smith and Warren, in the order named. Sheridan's cavalry was thrown out on the left of hancock, from Dispatch Station to the neighborhood of Bottom's Bridge. Both armies were in position by nightfall on Wednesday, June 2d, and General Grant determined to assault the Southern lines at dawn the next morning. There was much to inspire both armies in the conflict. The ground on which the battle was to be fought was the same that had been made memorable by the battle between Lee and McClellan two years previous. The positions of the armies, however, were changed. Lee, in 1864, held almost the same line that he won from McClellan in 1862; while Grant held the greater portion of the old line of the Confederates; the Federals this time attacking, and the Confederates defending, the Cold Harbor ridge. At half-past four o'clock on Thursday morning, June 3d, just as the breaking day gave light enough to guide the troops, the battle began. The attack was made simultaneously along the whole line. Hancock opened the engagement by a sudden rush against the works held by Breckenridge's command on the extreme right of the Confederate line, driving the troops from them, and gaining possession of three guns of Reid's battery, which were at once turned upon the Confederates. Instantly Breckenridge's men rallied on Finnegan's Florida brigade which 486 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. dashed forward with a yell. A fierce struggle took place in the works, and, in a quarter of an hour after the attack began, Hancock was driven back, and Breckenridge's line reestablished. Not discouraged by this repulse, however, Hancock made repeated attempts, in as many as seven distinct charges, to carry Anderson's works, but each time was driven back with fearful loss. The corps of Generals Wright and Smith were hotly engaged on Hancock's right. They endeavoured again and again to carry the works in front of them (a part of Anderson's line), but in vain. They lost heavily, and could with difficulty maintain the new position which they had taken up in advance of their original position of the morning. The attack on Early, on the left, was less vigorous. Warren had been too severely handled on the afternoon of the 2d to attempt much, and Burnside spent the best part of the morning in getting his men into position to assail Early's extreme left, under General Heth. IHe made two attacks on Heth's line, which were easily repulsed. The battle ended between eleven and twelve o'clock. Every attack of the enemy had been successfully repelled, and the fight closed with the Confederates in full possession of their works. The Southern loss was insignificant, - scarcely twelve hundred, if so much, - while on the side of the Federals the losses reached the enormous sum of thirteen thousand men.* While the engagement was in progress, the cavalry, under General Hampton, who had been appointed to succeed the lamented Stuart, were thrown out on Ewell's left. Moving towards Hawes' Shop, they encountered the cavalry division of General Wilson, of the Federal Army, strongly posted at that place. Hampton attacked them with a part of Gen. XW. H. F. * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 487. THIE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 487 Lee's division, and drove them back upon Warren's corps, inflicting considerable loss upon them.* The only change made in the Southern line after the battle was the withdrawal of Breckenridge's troops from the salient they had lost and regained. The line was straightened, and this weak point removed. When this was anccomplished, Breckenridge, about nine o'clock that night, advanced his skirmish line to its original position. Immediately the enemy drove it in, at the same time making an effort to carry the line of battle. They were promptly repulsed. An attack Nwas then made on Hoke's line with a like result. The firing t}en ceased for the night. t * "X HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGWNIA. " Jv e 3, 1864-8.35, P. mi. " HON. SECRETARY OF WAR:;" About 4h, A. M., to-day, the enemy made an attack upon the right of our line. In front of General Hoke and part of General Breckenridge's line lie was repulsed without difficulty. He succeeded in penetrating a salient in General Breckenridge's line and captured a portion of t"e batallion there posted. "General Finnegan's brigade of Mahone's division, and the Maryland battalion of Breckenridge's command, immediately drove the enemy out with severe loss. Repeated attacks were made upon General Anderson's position, chiefly against his right, under General Kershaw. They were met with great steadiness and repulsed in every instance. The attack extended to our extreme left, under General Early, with like results. Later in the day it was twice renewed against General HIeth, who occupied Early's left, but was repulsed with loss. "General Hampton encountered the enemy's cavalry near Hawes' Shop, and' a part of General William II. F. Lee's division drove them from their intrenchments. Our loss to-day has been small, and our -success, under tlb blessing of God, all that we could expect. Respectfully, R. E. LEE, General." t "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VICGINIA, June 4, 1864, 8.30., P. M. "' HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: "Last night, after the date of my dispatch, Generals Breckenridge aald Finnegan were attacked by the enemy as they were preparing to reestablislh tkor 488 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE'. The failure of the main attack on the morning of the 3rd disheartened the Federal troops to a great extent. In the afternoon General Meade, wishing to renew the battle, directed each of his corps commanders to attack again without reference to the troops on his right or left. The order was transmitted to the army through the usual channels, and the word given to advance, but the men stood still, refusing to move, and turning deaf ears to the commands and entreaties of their officers.* They were convinced that it was impossible to carry the Southern works, for they had struggled gallantly for them during the morning, and it is but justice to add that their conduct was prompted by the wisdom of veteran soldiers, and not by cowardice. After being repulsed in their efforts to carry Lee's line, the Federals fell back to a line in advance of that held by them on the 2d of June. This they proceeded to fortify, and by the morning of the 4th, they had thrown up a series of formidable works, and had commenced to lay siege to the position of the Confederate army. The opposite works were at some points three hundred yards apart, at others they were separated by a distance of less than fifty yards. The sharpshooters of both armies were constantly at work, save at rare intervals, when, by a sort of tacit understanding, both sides would cease from firing, and gaze at or talk with each other over their frowning ramparts. These "truces," as they were called, were very precarious. The least thing -the accidental discharge of a skirmish line. The enemy was soon repulsed. Immediately afterwards an attack was made upon General Hoke's front, with a like result. " Up to the time of writing, nothing has occurred along the lines to-day, except skirmishing at various points. The position of the army is substano tially unchanged. Respectfully, R. E. LEE, General." * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 487. THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 489,itlsket, a shout, or the merest trifle —would cause the firing to be resumed, and the rumble of an empty wagon was sure to be followed by a cannonade. The enemy's dead lay between the lines of the two armies, and the hot sun causing them to become very offensive, General Grant on the morning of the 5th, sent a flag of truce to General Lee, proposing that when the armies were not actually engaged, unarmed parties on both sides might be permitted to pass between the lines to succor the wounded and bury the dead belonging to them. To this General Lee replied that none of his dead or wounded were unburied or uncared for between the lines; that General Grant's proposition was irregular and could not be accepted; but that he would cheerfully grant any request from General Grant for this purpose if made in the usual manner. It seems that General Grant misunderstood this reply, for he sent a second flag of truce to General Lee, stating that he (Grant) would send forward a detail to bury his dead. General Lee at once notified General Grant that he had mistaken his answer, and that if a burial party was sent out without first obtaining permission under a flag of truce to perform its work, it would. be warned off by the Southern pickets. General Grant then sent in a formal request for permission to bury his dead, and General Lee at once granted it. The battle of Cold Harbor was decisive. It closed the overland campaign, and left General Grant again foiled in his effort to get between Lee and Richmond. In four days. after the battle the Federal commander decided to abandon the north side, and transfer his forces to the south bank of the James. The campaign was a total failure. It was begun with the hope of flanking Lee on the Rapidan and seizing his communications at Gordonsville. So far from accomplishing this, General Grant was attacked when he least expected, held back in the Wilderness, and compelled to abandon his original move62 490 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ment. He then attempted to plant his army between Lee and Richmond at Spottsylvania Court House. In this he was foiled, and every effort to drive Lee from the line which barred the advance of the Federal army was repulsed with loss. The flank movement upon the North Anna was made only to find the Southern army -in position across the Federal line of march again. The renewed effort to outflank Lee by way of the Pamunkey also failed, and the last great effort to force the passage of the Chickahominy at Cold Harbor was thwarted, and made at the terrible cost of thirteen thousand men. Then, having nothing else left for him, General Grant was forced to abandon the campaign, and seek a new base and a new scene of operations south of the James. The losses in the campaign were very great. On the side of the Confederates they amounted to about eighteen thousand, while the Federals lost sixty thousand men,- more than ten thousand above the total strength of Lee's army.* Yet, in the face of all this, it is the habit of the majority of writers on the Northern side to describe the campaign as successful for them. I can only say that a few more such successes would have brought the Union cause to total ruin. Before passing to the narration of the movements which followed the battle of Cold Harbor, I must ask the reader's attention to matters in other quarters, bearing immediately upon this campaign. VI. THE CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY. The reader will remember that a part of General Grant's programme was for General Crook to move through South* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 491. THE CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY. 491 western Virginia, and destroy the"Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and for Sigel to advance as far as possible up the Valley of' Virginia and destroy the Central Railroad. Both of these columns moved on the 1st of May. General Crook reached the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, cut it in several places, and then moved towards the Valley of Virginia. Sigel moved up the Valley, meeting but little resistance until the 15th of May, when he was attacked and defeated with great loss, near New Market, by the command of General Breckenrid ge. Breckenridge drove Sigel hotly before lhim until Cedar Creek was reached, and then paused, being unable to continue the pursuit farther, and General Sigel escaped down the Valley. Unfortunately Breclkenridge was at this time withdrawn from the Valley and brought to Richmond to renforce General Lee. This left the Valley defenceless, as the small force under General William E. Jones, which was left behind, was incapable of making a stand against any serious effort oh the part of the Federals. Just as Breckenridge was withdrawn, General Sigel was removed from his command, and succeeded by General Hunter, who was ordered by General Grant to resume Sigel's movement, penetrate into the Valley as far as he could, and, if, after capturing Staunton and destroying the railroads, he found it possible to reach Lynchburg, to march for that place, and occupy it. Hunter at once began his march, and on the 5th of June attacked the little command of General Jones at Piedmont. Jones made a gallant resistance, but was defeated, himself killed, and fifteen hundred of his men - fully half of his command - and three pieces of artillery captured. Hunter then marched to Staunton, where, on the 8th of June, he formed a junction with the columns of Generals Crook and Averill. Finding that no force of any importance lay between Staun 492 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ton and Lynchburg, he set out for the latter place, moving through Lexington. On his way he burned the Military Institute of Virginia and the residence of Ex-Governor Letcher, and during his march his men burned many private dwellings, and committed many other outrages upon the helpless people of the country — his conduct being far more brutal than that of General Pope in Culpepper in 1862. Hunter reached Lynchburg on the 16th- of June, and at once commenced his preparations to attack the town, which was held by the small force hastily collected, and to which was added the command of General Breckenridfge. The news of Hunter's movement upon Lynchburg compelled General Lee to detach a part of his army to. relieve the threatened city. Lynchburg was not only important as a depot of supplies, and as commanding the Confederate communications with Southwestern Virginia, but its occupation by the enemy would greatly endanger the safety of both Richmond and Petersburg. The corps of General Ewell was detached for the task, and as General Ewell was disabled by the injuries he received at Manassas in the fall of 1862, and from which he never fully recovered, the command of the corps was given to General Early. Early left the Clickahominy about the 14th of June, taking with him about twelve thousand men, and an unusually large supply of artillery. Marching rapidly from the Chickahominy, he reached Gordonsville, where he embarked on the cars, and arrived at Lynchburg on the 17th. On the 18th General Hunter attacked the Confederate works and was repulsed. By the morning of the 19th all of Early's troops had arrived, and he at once advanced upon Hunter. The Federals were discovered in full retreat, General hIunter having come to the conclusion that he could secure nothing but his own defeat by remaining at Lynchburg. Early struck the rear of the Federal column a few miles beyond Lynchburg, threw it THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 493 into confusion, and captured a number of prisoners and thirteen pieces of artillery. He also pressed the enemy so hard that General Hunter decided not to retreat through.the Valley, and adopted a circuitous route through Western Virginia, which opened to Early the way for the execution of the second part of the instructions he had received from General Lee, and which will be described farther on. During his retreat General Hunter destroyed the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, tearing up the track and burning the bridges, from Lynchburg to Wytheville, where Crook and Averill had cut it in May, -a distance of one hundred and thirty-five miles. The damage done was very great, but the road was in running order again in sixty days. VII. THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. The reader will remember that a part of General Grant's programme was for the command of Major-General Butler to attack Richmond from the south side of the James River. This was the principal of the movements which were to be co6perative with that of the Army of the Potomac. General Grant's instructions to Butler were as follows: "FORT MONROE, VA., April 2, 1864. " GENERAL: "In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall commence at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to have cooperative action of all the armies in the field, as far as this object can be accomplished. "It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three 494 IIFE OF GENERAL LEE. large ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute neeessity of holding on to the territory already taken from the enemy. But, generally speaking, concentration can be practically effected by armies moving to the interior of the enemy's country from the territory they have to guard. By such movement they interpose themselves between the enemy and the country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a part of the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's army and Richmond being the greater objects towards which our attention must be directed in the next campaign, it is desirable to unite all the force we can against them. The necessity of covering Washingfton with the Army of the Potomac, and of covering your department with your army, makes it impossible to unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I propose, therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems practicable. The Army of the Potomac will act from its present base, Lee's army being the objective point. You will collect all the forces from your command that can be spared from garrison duty - I should say not less than twenty thousand effective men — to operate on the south side of James River, Richmond being your objective point. To the force you already have will be added about ten thousand men from South Carolina, under MajorGeneral Gillmore, who will command them in person. Major General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to command the troops sent into the field from your own department. "General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Should you not receive notice by that time to move, you will make such disposition of them and your other forces as you may deem best calculated to deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made. "When you are notified to move, take City Point with as THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 495.nuch fore as possible. Fortify or rather intrench, at once, and concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as you can. From City Point directions cannot be given at this time for your further movement. "The fact that has already been stated - that is, that RPiclmond is to be your objective point and that there is to be co6peration between your force and the Army of the Potomac -must be your guide. This indicates the necessity of your holding close to the south bank of the James River as you advancee Then, should the enemy be forced into his intrenchments in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow, and by means of trarnports the two armies would become a ulit. " All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your cavalry south of you so as to cut the railroad about Hiclksford about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense advantage. "You will please forward for my information, at the earliest practicable day, all orders, details and instructions you may give for the execution of this order. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. IMAJOR-GENERAT B. F. BUTLER." * It is rather difficult to understand from this letter what was the exact part assigned to General Butler; but, from various papers which I have consulted elsewhere, I have come to the conclusion that Butler was expected to move up the south bank, take Richmond or Petersburg, if possible, and if unsuccessful in that, keep the way open for General Grant to pass the James River should he be unable to defeat Lee before reaching Rich. mond. * General Grant's Report p. 4. 496 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Butler's force consisted of the 18th corps under General yW. F. Smith, and the 10th corps, under General Q. A. Gillmore, which had been at Charleston, South Carolina. The cavalry division of General Kautz, then at Norfolk, was also llaceed under his orders. This army was almost as large as that under General Lee, numbering about thirty-one thousand men.. It rendezvoused at Yorktown and Gloucester Point towards the last of April, and, to conceal his real designs, Butler sent about four thousand infantry and cavalry up the Peninsula to threaten Richmond. On the 4th of May, the Army of the James, as it was called, embarked in transports, and dropping 4own York River, sailed down the Bay, into Hampton Roads and the James River. On the 5th, City Point and Bermuda Hundredst were occupied, the Confederates offering no resistance. At the time of the landing of Butler's forces, the city of Petersburg and the country between the Appomattox and the James were almost entirely defenceless. Drewry's Bluff was held, by a small garrison, but there was scarcely more than a regiment at Petersburg. The troops intended for the defence of the South Side had been sent off to the coast of North Carolina by General Bragg. They captured the town of Plymouth, -a barren and worthless victory, - but were thrown off to a point where they could do no good in the defence of the all-important line south of the James. When the authorities at Richmond found that the city was to be threatened from this quarter, they confided the defence of the South Side to General Beauregard, who was ordered to repair at once to his new command. General Beauregard left Charleston, bringing with him such troops as he could withdraw from the coast, and orders were sent to * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 461. t A narrow neck of land at the intersection of the Appomattox and James Rivers, opposite City Point, about a mile distant. THE CAMPAIGN ON TIHE SOUTH SIDE. 497 Generals Hoke and Pickett to move up promptly from North Carolina with their divisions. The advanced brigade of General Pickett, accompanied by the General himself, reached Petersburg about the time the enemy occupied Bermuda Hundreds. General Beauregard was hurrying the rest of the troops forward as rapidly as possible, but they were still in North Carolina. General Bragg, now that the plans of the Federals had fully developed themselves, went to work energetically to repair his error in sending Pickett away, and appreciating the importalnce of Petersburrg, did his best to make it secure, and -had no idea of abandoning it, as has been unjustly charged against him. On the 6th of May, Butler advanced a brigade, and battery under General Heckman, to Port Walthal Junction, about six miles from Petersburg, and thie same distance firom Bermuda Hundreds. A part of Haygood's South Carolina brigade was sent from Drewry's Bluff to Port Walthal Junction. This force encountered Heckman's brigoade on the afternoon of the 6th, and a sharp skirmish ensued, resulting in the enemy being forced back. Heclkman returned to Bermuda IHundreds that night. On the 7th, Butler, in accordance with General Grant's instructions, having strongly intrenched his front from river to river, moved towards the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad for the purpose of destroying the track. A part of Pickett's division had now reached Petersburg, and this force was thrown out to the railroad, which it covered from Port Walthal Junction to Chester, about half way between Richmond and Petersburg. Butler attacked at once, and was repulsed. That night Pickett, fearing' an advance upon Petersburg, and not having men enough to hold it against a determined attack, resorted to strategy. All night he kept a number of locomotives on the railroads leading into Petersburg, running backwards and forwards with as much noise as possible, hoping to cause Butler to think that re/nforce63 498 LIFE OF GENERAL LEEments were pouring into Petersburg. The enemy made no advance during the night. On the 9th General Butler again advanced against the railroad with his whole command. Upon reaching the road in the vicinity of Chester, Butler proceeded to destroy it. Then dividing his force, and leaving one part facing Richmond, he moved with the rest towards Petersburg. Driving in the Confederate skirmishers, he encountered the Southern line of battle drawn up in intrenchments behind Swift Creek, about three miles from the city. Slight skirmishing ensued, but no serious attack was made by the enemy. It was General Butler's intention to attack this line the next morning, but that night he was informed by his Government that Grant was driving Lee before him towards the Confederate Capital. Upon this he abandoned the movement against Petersburg, and resolved to march at once upon Richmond.* He doubtless hoped to carry the defences of that city south of the James, and either occupy it before Grant's arrival, or aid in its capture when the Army of the Potomac came up. On the 12th the Federal army moved in the direction of Richmond, the Confederate advanced forces falling back slowly until they reached their intrenched line on the left bank of Proctor's Creek. On the 13th the Confederates fell back from this line to the defences of Drewry's Bluff. On the 13th General Beauregard's army reached Petersburg, and was rapidly thrown across to Drewry's Bluff, and posted in the line behind Proctor's Creek. The Confederate force now numbered about eighteen thousand, and its position was very strong. Butler followed, and on the 14th occupied Beauregard's outer line of works in front of Drewry's Bluff. This line General Beauregard permitted him to occupy, desiring to draw him as * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 464. THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 499 far as possible from his gunboats, and thus enable his own army to operate on the Federal left flank. In order to occupy the line abandoned to him, Butler was compelled to " string out" his force, but he determined to attack the main line of the Confederates on the morning of the 16th. This was the time appointed by General Beauregard for striking a blow at Butler. He had discovered that the interval of half a mile which extended between the Federal right and the James River was weakly guarded by cavalry, and he decided to turn Butler's position in that direction. He had stationed General Whiting's division at Port Walthal Junction to cover the approaches to Petersburg, and had thus in reality placed it around ButIer's left flank and in the rear of the new Federal position. Appreciating this advantagbe, he ordered General 1-Whitingr to move out on the morning of the 16th, and throw his command across the neck from the Appomattox to, the James, and thus cut off the Federals from their base at Bermuda Hundreds. In this way he hoped to surround and capture, or destroy Butler's whole command; and there was every reason to believe that the plan would be crowned with success. At dawn on the morning of the 16th of May, General Beauregard made his attack. A thick fog covered the whole country, rendering it very difficult to distinguish the position of the enemy. The first attempt against the Federal right failed, but after a severe attack in front, the turning movement wvas renewed, and Smith was forced back from his position to a point farther in the rear, and Beauregard, then renewing his efforts, forced Butler's whole command back about two miles behind Ware Bottom Church, where they had thrownup a strong line of intrenchments when they first landed at Bermuda Eurndreds. During all this time, General Whiting lay quiet at Port 500 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Walthal Junction, fearing that the enemy would attempt to advance upon Petersburg. Had he moved off early in the morning, he would have seized Butler's line of retreat, and the Federal army would have been ruined; but he deliberately refused to obey General Beauregard's instructions, and the brilliant and promising plan of the Confederate commander failed, simply through this act of insubordination. The Confederate loss in this battle was about three thousand, that of the enemy over four thousand. General Beauregard followed Butler leisurely, and threw up a line of intrenchments, extending from Port Walthal Junction to the James River below Drewry's Bluff. On the 21st of May, Butler attacked this line with the hope of stopping its construction, but was repulsed with heavy loss. Frequent skirmishing now took place between the two armies, but Beau-;egard finished his intrenchments, and the Federal army, to use the forcible language of General Grant, "was as completely shut off from further operations directly against Richmond, as if it had been in a bottle strongly corked."* Thus the early part of June found the army of General Butler, who had boastfully opened his campaign, "corked up" by Beauregard, the commands of Crook, Hunter and Averill, driven beyond the mountains, and the principal Federal army, under General Grant himself, abandoning the original campaign, and seeking a new base south of the James. Everywhere success crowned the efforts of the Southern army. * General Grant's Report, p. 8. GRANT CROSSES THE JAMES RIVER. 501 XI. THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. JUNE, 1864-1ARcH, 1864- RC, 1865. GRANT CROSSES THE JAMES RIVER. IMMEDIATELY after the battle of Cold Harbor, General Grant determined to abandon the line of the Chickahominy, and seek a new base south of the James River. It required a considerable amount of moral courag'e upon his part to carry out this resolution, for it involved the abandonment of the favorite scheme of his Government - the covering of Washington City. General Grant, however, had a correct idea of the way in which this should be done, and he was convinced( that the best way to cover Washington was to threaten Petersburg and Ridhmond. He had come to the conclusion that the weak point of Richmond was south of the James, and he determined to assail it there. It would have been well for him had he made his original movement from that quarter. He would have saved sixty thousand of his best troops, and have gained more decided advantages than he could have secured from any other plan., Having decided to cross the James, General Grant at once commenced to put his plan into execution. On the 6th, he be 502 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. gan to move his line closer to the Chickahominy,* by withdrawing 2Warren's corps to a point in rear of his centre, only ten miles from the Long Bridge. On the 7th, his line was drawn still closer to the York River Railroad, and Sheridan was sent with his cavalry to destroy the Central Railroad. This expedition was met by Hampton's cavalry at Trevylian's Depot, and repulsed with such loss that Sheridan was forced to retreat. On the night of the 12th of June, the march of the Federal army began,'Warren's corps moving in advance, preceded by Wilson's cavalry. Warren seized the Long Bridge, and throwing out his corps beyond it, made his dispositions to mask the crossing of the remainder of Grant's army. General Lee discovered the withdrawal of the Federal army, on the morning of the 13th, and moved his forces towards the James River. A small cavalry force had been stationed in front of the Long Bridge to watch it, and on the morning of the 13th, this was driven back by Warren's corps about two miles beyond Riddle's Shop, which is the point where the road leading from Richmond to Charles City Court HIouse, intersects the road leading to -Malvern Hill. About two o'clock in the afternoon, Mahone's and Wilcox's divisions came to the assistance of the cavalry. An attack was made at once, and the enemy were driven back two miles beyond Riddle's Shop. The cross roa(ls, and the road leading to Malvern Hill were recovered, and the enemy were forced back in the direction of the * The following bulletin will show that this movement was quickly detected. "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, June 6, 1864-8.30, P. M. t"HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: "There has been very little skirmishing on the lines to-day. "It was discovered early this morning that the enemy had withdrawn from the front of General Early on our left, and from the most of the front of Gen. eral Anderson on the centre. Respectfully, &c., R. E. LEE, General." GRANT CROSSES THE JAMES RIVER. 503 Long Bridge and the Chickahominy,* when night came on, and the advance was checked. Meanwhile the Federal army had crossed the Chicklahominy. Upon leaving Cold Harbor General Smith's corps was sent to the White House where it embarked in transports and returned to Bermuda Hundreds. The remainder of the army followed Warren over the Long Bridge, and the trains crossed on a ponton-bridge at Coles' Ferry. The march was then resumed towards -the James River, which was reached at Wilcox's landing on the 14th. A delay was caused here by the failure to provide a sufficient quantity of materials for bridging the river. Haincock's corps was ferried over to Windmill Point in transports, and on the night of the 14th a bridge was thrown over the river, and by the 16th the entire Federal army was south of the James. Grant's movements were known to General Lee,t but no " HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, June 13, 1864 —10 P. Ai. "HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: " A dispatch just received from Major-General Hampton, states that he defeated the enemy's cavalry near Trevylian's, with heavy loss, capturing finve hundred prisoners, besides the wounded. The enemy retreated in confusion, apparently, by the route he came, leaving his dead and wounded on the field. "At daylight this morning it was discovered that the army of General Grant had left our front. Our skirmishers were advanced between one and two miles, but failing to discover the enemy, were withdrawn. A body of cavalry and some infantry, from Long Bridge, advanced to Riddle's Shop and were driven back this evening nearly two miles, after some sharp skirmishing. Respectfully, R. E. LEE, General." t "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, June 14, 1864 - 9 P. M. " HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: "Sir: The force of the enemy mentioned in miy last dispatch as being on the Long Bridge road, disappeared during the night. It was probably advanced to cover the movement of the main body, most of which, as far as I can learn, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge and below, and has reached James River, at Westover and Wilcox's Landing. 504 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. effort was made to interfere with him. The only fighting that occurred was between the Federal cavalry, and Fitzhugh Lee's division,* the former being doubtless thrown out by General Grant to keep back an advance of the Southern army while his troops were delayed at Wilcox's Landing. Much surprise was expressed in the South because General Lee permitted the enemy to pass the James without seeking to impede their movements. The truth was, however, that General Lee was not strong enough for such a venture. He had just detached Early's corps from his army, and was left with very little over thirty thousand men. With this force it would have been impossible to prevent the Federal army from crossing the river, and General Lee wisely considered it his duty to refrain from throwing away the lives of his men. He contented himself with occupying a position covering Richmond, from which he could watch Grant's army on the James, or go to the aid of Petersburg if the enemy should attempt to capture that city. " A portion of General Grant's army, upon leaving our front at Cold Harbor, is reported to have proceeded to the White House and embarked at that place. Everything is said to have been removed, and the depot at the-::White House broken up. The cars, engine, railroad iron, and bridge timber that had been brought to that point, have also been shipped. Very respectfully, &c., R. E. LEE, General." H "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, June 15, 1864 - 6, P. H. " HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: " SIR: After the withdrawal of our cavalry yesterday evening from the front of the enemy's works at Harrison's Landing, his cavalry again advanced on the Salem Church road, and this morning were reported in some force on that road and at Malvern Hill. General William H. F. Lee easily drove back the force at the latter point, which retreated down the river road beyond Cairter's Mill. A brigade of infantry was sent to support the cavalry on the rad to Snith's Store, and drove the enemy to that point without difficulty. Nothing else of importance has occurred to-day. Very respectfully, &c., R. E. IEE, General." THE SIEGE BEGUN. 505 II. THE SIEGE BEGUN. Petersburg lies twenty-two miles south of Richmond, on the right bank of the Appomattox. It is connected with the latter city by a railroad and an excellent turnpike. The Appomattox is navigable to the wharves of the city for light-draught vessels. Two railroads of importance begin at PetersEurg, the road to Weldon leaving the city on the south, and the South Side Railroad, running to Lynchburg and connecting with the Richmond and Danville Railroad at Burkesville, about fifty-five miles from Petersburg, and the same distance from Richmond. Both of these railroads were important lines of supply, and their loss, together with that of the city, would sever the communications of Richmond with the country south of the Appomattox, and compel the eacuation or surrender of the Confederate Capital. As General Butler had said, Petersburg was the back door of Richmond. In spite of its importance, however, it was left at the mercy of the enemy. General Lee could spare no troops for its defence, and the army of General Beauregard, from which Hoke's and Pickett's divisions had been taken, was too weak to hold the line in front of Butler, and the city also. Therefore, as the menace against Petersburg seemed to come from the direction of Bermiuda Hundreds, General Beauregard was compelled to leave the city without a garrison, in order to oppose the enemy m his immediate front. General Grant's first design after reaching the James River was to capture Petersburg, as the possession of that city by his 64 506 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. forces would compel General Lee to abandon Richmond an>d retire to the interior of the State. As lhe had cut loose firom his base at the White House, and thus informed his adversary of his intention to cross the James, it was necessary to attempt to surprise Petersburg, for in a sudden and unexpected attack upon it lay his only hope of success. Accordingly, as soon as General Smith's corps returned to Bermuda Hundreds, it was thrown across the Appomattox by means of a pcnton-bridge near City Point. To this force was added a division of cavalry under General Kautz, and a division of negro troops under General Hinks. General Smith was ordered to march at once upon Petersburg and attack and capture the town, which was known to be undefended by any considerable force. On the morning of the 15th he set off, marching in three columns, to assail the city from the Norfolk and Petersburg' Railroad, to a point across to the City Point Railroad. Soon after daylight the enemy appeared before some breastworks which had been hastily thrown up during the night of the 14th on Baylor's Farm, on the City Point road, six miles fromn Petersburg. These works were held by the 4th North Carolina cavalry and Graham's battery. General Smith threw forward the negro division to carry them, and, after a gallant struggle, the Confederates were driven back with the loss of one gun. Continuing to advance, General Smith arrived in front of the outer line of fortifications around Petersburg about noon. He had been informed that the fortifications were such " that cavalry could ride over them," and was somewhat surprised upon reconnoitering them to find them so strong and well constructed.* He was not aware, however, of the weakness of the force charged with their defence. He was induced to think the garrison very large by the excellent and heavy fire which the Confederate artillery maintained upon the Federal batteries, * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 500, 501. THE SIEGE BEGUN. 507 which constantly compelled the latter to change their positions.* The Confederate force, however, consisted of about three batteries of artillery, a part of Wise's brigade, and the militia of the city of Petersburg, - a force scarcely sufficient to occupy the works, still less to hold them. At a little before seven o'clock P. M. General Smith threw forward strong skirmish lines,- as many as six, in rapid suecession, - and with these assaulted the works on the City Point and Prince George Court House roads. Three attacks were repulsed with loss to the enemy, but the fourth was successful. The Confederates were driven back and four of their guns captured. These pieces were at once opened on the remainder' of the line, enfilading' it completely, and by dark the enemy were in full possession of the whole line of outer works, and about twelve guns, together with several hundred prisoners. The city was now at the mercy of the Federals. The Confederate army was hurrying fionlm the James River to its assistance, but was too far off to render any aid, and the force in General Smith's front was inadequate to a successful defence of the town. Hancock's corps, which had been hurried forward by General Grant to co6perate with Smith, had come up, and all that was necessary was for General Smith to enter the town, drive out the little band occupying it, and take possession. This, however, he did not do, but contented himself with holding the works he had won, and waiting for the arrival of General Grant, who was on his way with the rest of his army. As I have stated, General Beauregard's army was very small, but no sooner did he hear of the danger which threatened Petersburg than he withdrew a considerable part of his troops from Butler's front, and sent them to the assistance of Petersburg, where they began to arrive just after the outer linle was carried by the enemy. General Lee hurried forward as soon as * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 502. 508 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. he learned of the attack on Petersburg, but as he was full forty miles from the Appomattox his advanced forces did not reach the city until the night of the 15th. The force there, however, was still very small, and before additional re/nforcements could be sent, General Lee was compelled to turn aside to meet a menace from Butler. General Lee had ordered General Beauregard not to evacuate his line until Anderson's corps, then moving from Richmond, should relieve him; but as the demand for troops at Petersburg was so urgent, and there was no prospect that Anderson would get up in time, General Beauregard assumed the responsibility of withdrawing his command into Petersburg. Butler then taking advantage of this withdrawal, occupied the Confederate works, and sent Terry's division towards the railroad to destroy it. Before this could be done, however, Terry was met by the head of Anderson's column - Pickett's division - and driven back to Bermuda Hundreds. Pickett's men, then following in pursuit, arrived before Beauregard's abandoned line, which Butler had occupied. General Lee did not wish to bring on an engagement at this point, and sent repeated orders to Pickett to halt. These orders were transmitted to the troops, but were of no avail. Pickett's men dashed on in spite of the efforts of their officers to stop them, and in a fierce, impetuous charge drove Butler into his own works and reestablished Beauregard's line. * This drew from General Lee the following complimentary letter to General Anderson: "' LAY'S HOUSE, June 17, 5 1-2 P. L. "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding Longstreet's Corps. " GENERAL: I take great pleasure in presenting to you my congratulations upon the conduct of the men of your corps. I believe that they will carry anything they are put against. We tried very hard to stop Pickett's men from capturing the breastworks of the enemy, but could not do it. I hope his loss has been small. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General,' THE SIEGE BEGUN. 509 Butler telegraphed that he had destroyed the railroad. This, however, was a mistake. The injuries he inflicted upon it were repaired in two or three hours, and General Lee was able on the same day to send troops over it to Petersburg. Meanwhile General Hancock, who had assumed command of the two corps in front of Petersburg, to which his rank entitled him, spent the morning in cannonading the Southern lines, and shelling the city, which was full of non-combatants, notice not having been given them to leave it. He was ordered By General Meade to refrain from attacking again until the rest of the Army of the Potomac should have arrived. The morning was passed by the Confederates also in strengtheningr their position, and bringing up their forces. The 9th Federal corps having arrived at noon, an assault was ordered by Burnside and Hancock at four o'clock in the afternoon. At the appointed hour these corps made a gallant charge upon the Southern line, and penetrating through an interval which had been unfortunately left on the right, poured into the works, and assailed the Confederates in them. The Southern troops then fell back to a second line nearer the town, and resisted the efforts of the enemy to carry that also. About nine o'clock that night General Lee, with the greater portion of his army, arrived at Petersburg. He decided to retake the works lost in the afternoon, and at eleven o'clock P. I., an assault was ordered on the Federal right. The enemy were driven back, and the works at Howlett's House recaptured.* * "HEADQUARTERS, ETC., June 17, 184. "HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS: " At eleven o'clock last night we took the breastworks at Howlett's House. Other portions of the same line were taken. The battery at Howlett's is being reestablished. Five vessels have been sunk by the enemy in Trent's Reaclh. Ten steamers are within the Reach, behind the monitors. Some fighting has occurred near Petersburg, this morning, without result. I have ordered that the railroad at Port Walthal Junction, destroyed by the enemy yesterday, be repaired and re-opened. R. E. LEE, General." 510 LIFE OF GENERAL TIEE. The next day, the 17th, Hancock and Burnside renewed the attack. The day was spent in heavy fighting, the enemy several. times assaulting, but only to be repulsed. Towards dark, Burnside succeeded in carrying a part of the Southern intrenchInents, but after nightfall was attacked and driven back to his own line. Grant's whole army was now before Petersburg, and still holding to his original resolve to capture the city, he ordered a general assault for the morning of the 18th. In the meantime, lhowever, General Lee had been engagrred in constructing a for-' midable line of works immediately around the city, and on the Inorning of the 18th, he withdrew from the temporary line he had held in advance, and occupied that which was destined to iecome memorable for the siege it sustained. IWhen the enemy moved forward a few hours later, they found that the works they had expected to storm were abandoned. General Grant then ordered an attack upon Lee's new line. At noon, Gibbon's division, of Hancock's corps, attacked and was repulsed. At six o'clock, an attack by the 2nd corps met the same fate; and later in the day, attacks by the 5th and 9th corps were also driven back.* The losses in these commands were very heavy. These assaults cost General Grant many of his best men. From the time Smith made his first attack up to the repulse of the last assault of the 18th, the Federal army suffered a loss of about ten thousand men,t while the Confederate casualties did not amount to more than a third of that number. It was now plain that Lee's whole army was south of the James, and that it would be impossible to carry Petersburg by a direct attack. Therefore General Grant decided to lay siege to the city. The musket was laid aside for the spade, and in a few days the Federals were strongly intrenched in Lee's immediate front from the * General Meade's Report. t The exact number according to the Federal official statement, was 9,665. THE SIEGE BEGUN, 511 river to the Norfolk Railroad. This line being made secure against attack, General Grant commenced to extend his left for the purpose of completing the investment of the city. On the 21st, the 2nd and 6th corps moved towards the Weldon Railroad. By nightfall they secured a position across thle Jerusalem plank road, and the next afternoon attempted to continue their movement to the railroad. The movement had been detected on the previous evening, however, and General Lee had sent Maahone's division to put a stop to it. About two o'clock in the afternoon, Mahone struck the enemy at a point where an interval had been left between the 6;th and 2d corps. Penetrating this gap in the Federal line, he made a spirited attack, doubling up the 2d corps and driving it back to the left of the plank road, capturing several entire regiments,* and a battery. Then driving the 2d corps into the works held by the Gth,'Mahone withdrew his command as rapidly as he had struck the blow. He carried off the captured guns, several standards, and sixteen hundred prisoners.t * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 512. t "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VCRGINIA, June, 22, 1864. 6"HON. JA3MES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: " Since Friday last there has been skirmishing along the lines in front of Bermuda Hundreds and around Petersburg. The Federal army appears to be concentrated at these two places, and is strongly intrenched. " Yesterday, a movement of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was made towards the right of our forces and Petersburg, in the direction of the hWeldon railroad. The enemy was driven back, and his infantry is reported to have halted. His cavalry have continued to advance upon the road by a route further removed from our position. " The enemy's infantry was attacked this afternoon, on the west side of the Jerusalem plank road, and driven from his first line of works to his second on that road, by General Mahone, with a part of his division. About sixteen hundred prisoners, four pieces of artillery, eight stands of colors, and a large number of small arms were captured. Very respectfully, &c., R. E. LEE, General." 512 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Wheil the 2d and 6th corps moved out, a cavalry expedition under Generals Wilson and Kautz, was organized to operate against the railroads south of the Appomattox. This force left the position of the 2d corps on the eveninog of the 21st of June. Proceeding to Reams' Station on the Weldon Railroad, the Federal cavalry burned the depot, and destroyed the road for a considerable distance. Then striking across the country, they made for the South Side Railroad. Wilson marched direct to Nottoway Station, where he destroyed the track for several miles, and Kautz moved to B3urkesville, the junction of the South Side and Richmond and Danville railroads, where he inflicted some damage upon the track. As soon as General Lee was informed of this raid he sent Fitzhugh Lee's division of cavalry in pursuit of the enemy, and at the same time moved Mahone's infantry down the Weldon Railroad to cut off the retreat of the Federals if they attempted to return by the route by which they advanced. Fitzhugh Lee caine up with Wilson near Dinwiddie Court IHouse. Lee was repulsed in this encounter, but hung closely upon the Federal column, and the next day succeeded in throwing his command across Wilson's line of march near Nottoway Court House. AWilson made a vigorous attempt to break Lee's line, but was repulsed,* and the next day withdrew to Meherrin Station on - " HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, June 25, 1864. "' HONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR. "SIR: General W. H. F. Lee pursued the enemy's cavalry which advanced along the South Side Railroad. He had a skirmish on the 22d near Dinwiddie Court House, and the next day struck their column in flank, near Black's and White's, cutting it in two, and getting possession of the road by which they were moving towards Nottoway Court House. "The road was held after an engagement which continued from 12, M., until dark, the enemy making repeated attempts to break through and rejoin his advance. He withdrew from General Lee's front at daylight on the 24th, leaving his dead and wounded on the field, taking the road to Hungarytown and Keysville. General Lee is still following them. " Very respectfully, &c., "R. E. LEE, General." THE SIEGE BEGUN. 513 the Danville Railroad, where he formed a junction with Kautz. Not far from this point the railroad crosses the Staunton River on a covered bridge of considerable length. Wishing to destroy this important bridge, the Federals hastened towards the river. The bridge was guarded by a battalion of home guards - old men and boys, who had never been under fire - under Captain Farinholt. This force repulsed the attacks of the enemy, and saved the bridge; and Fitzhugh Lee arriving at this time, Wilson retreated, leaving his dead on the field.* Retreating rapidly, Wilson reached Sappony Church, on the afternoon of the 28th. Here he found Hampton's cavalry which had been thrown out to meet him. A severe enhgagement ensued, in which General Wilson was worsted. IHe then re* " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, June 26, 184. "1HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: " SIR: The enemy has been quiet to-day in our front. A dispatch, dated 25th, was received this morning from Capt. Farrinholt, commanding at Staunton River bridge, expressing his confidence in being able to protect it. " This afternoon General W. It. F. Lee reports that he attacked the enemy near Staunton River bridge, yesterday afternoon, and drove him until dark. Ho also states that the enemy was signally repulsed at the bridge the same evening, and retreated this morning, leaving about thirty of his dead on the field. Very respectfully, &c., R. E. LEE, General."' HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA. June 28, 1864. " ON. SECRETARY OF WAR. 4" SiR: The enemy has been engaged to-day apparently in strengthening his lines in front of Petersburg, advancing them at some points. His cavalry, after being repulsed at Staunton River bridge, on the afternoon of the 26th, retired in the direction of Christiansville, where they encamped that night. The next morning they continued their march towards Lawrenceville, by way of Burntville, and a part of them encamped last night about eight miles northwest of the former place. They appeared to be making their way back to the main body of the army. Very respectfully, &c., R. E. LEE, General." 65 514 LIFE OF- GENERAL LEE. tired to Reams' Station, which was in possession of the Federal army. To his surprise, however, he was attacked by Mahone's infantry upon reaching the railroad, while Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee closed in upon him from behind. Defeated in this encounter, with the loss of his trains and artillery, he fled southward, abandoning everything that could impede his movements.* He succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River, and escaped into the Union lines. The Federal loss in this raid was very great, and the expedition accomplished literally nothing in comparison with what it suffered.t The month of June closed with both armies facing each other at Petersburg, General Grant constantly watching for an opportunity to extend his left across the Weldon Railroad. "* "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, JUNE 29th, 1864 —8 30, P. M. "HONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR: "Sir - General Hampton reports that he attacked the enemy's cavalry, yesterday afternoon on their return from Staunton river bridge, this side of Sappony church, and drove them beyond that point. The fight continued during the night, and at daylight this morning he turned their left and routed them. W~hen they reached Reams' Station they were confronted by a portion of Mahone's division, who attacked them in front, while their left flank was turned by General Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry. The enemy was completely routed, and several pieces of artillery, with a number of prisoners, wagons, ambulances, etc., captured. The cavalry are in pursuit. R. E. LEE." t "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, JULY 1, 18(64. " lIoN. SECRETARY OF WAR: "General Beauregard reports a feeble demonstration made by the enemy on a portion of General Johnson's lines about five r. M., yesterday. His skirmishers, supported by two lines of troops, drove in our line of skirmishers, which was established at dark. "In the various conflicts with the enemy's cavalry in their late expedition against the railroads, besides their killed and wounded left on the field, one thousand prisoners, thirteen pieces of artillery, thirty wagons and ambulances, many small arms, horses, ordnance stores, and several hundred negroes, taken from the plantations on their route, were captured. R. E. LEE, General." BURNSIDE'S MINE. 515 North of the James very little transpired worthy of note, the efforts of both armies being concentrated south of the river. General Butler, towards the close of the month, threw a part of hi's command to the north bank, and established a force at Deep Bottom. The Federal cavalry, on the 24th of June, attempted to occupy Nance's Shop, but were driven from it by General Hampton.* III. BURNSIDE'S MINE. The months of June and July were spent by the Confederate army in strengthening its position. So powerful were the works constructed for the defence of Petersburg, that by the lst of July the Federal engineers declared them impregnable to assault.t The line consisted of a "chain of redans, connected by infantry parapets of a powerful profile, while the approaclhes were completely obstructed by abatis, stakes, and entanglements. Beginning at the south bank of the Appomat*$ HEADQUARTERS ARm{Y NORTHERN VIRGIIGNA, June 25, 1864, 9 P. M. "HONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAX: "SIR: Our entire loss yesterday morning was ninety-seven killed and wounded, and two hundred and nine missing. Nothing of moment has occurred to-day on the lines in front of Bermuda Hundreds and around Petersburg. General Hampton reports that the enemy's cavalry advanced yesterday to Nance's Shop and intrenched themselves there. He attacked them and drove them from their works, pursuing them until 9 P. Ms. to within two miles of Charles City Court House. They left their dead and wounded on the field and along the route. Great credit is due to General Hampton and his command for their handsome success. Very respectfully, R. E. LEE, General." t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 516. 516 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. tox, it enveloped Petersburg on the east and south, stretching westward beyond the furthest reach of the left flank of the Union army. A continuation of the same system to the north side of the Appomattox, protected the city and the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad against attack from the direction of the front held by Butler's force at Bermuda Hundreds. The defence of Richmond was provided for by its own chain of fortifications. "* As the writer I have just quoted, remarks, Petersburg was not besieged in the strict sense of the term, for its communications were all open. It was in the condition of the city of Sebastopol when beleagured by the Allies. The task assigned to General Lee was both difficult and dangerous. He had a line forty miles in length to guard, with an army of less than fifty thousand men, against a powerful and well equipped enemy, supplied with every means of prosecuting the so-called siege. The manner in which this task was performed will always constitute one of General Lee's chief claims to the high rank he holds in the military world. Constant skirmishing occurred between the two armies, neither party neglecting to strike whenever and wherever a fair opportunity presented itself. General Grant also busied himself in strengthening, his line, so that he might- be able to hold it with a small part of his army, and thus leave the rest of his troops free for operations elsewhere. Although the engineers had pronounced against an assault upon the Confederate works, it was resolved to make one more effort of this nature, and in order to render it effective, General Grant concluded to adopt a plan proposed by General Burnside. The intrenchments of the 9th corps were within one hundred * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac - p. 515. BURNSIDE'S MINE. 517 and fifty yards of the Confederate works, which at this point formed an angle guarded by a fort. This fort was situated in a reentrant angle, and was secured against capture by the enemy by being exposed to an enfilading and reverse fire on both sides, right and left. Just behind it, however, was an important ridge that commanded the city and a. considerable portion of the Southern line. Burnside proposed to excavate a mine under this fort, and by exploding it, make a breach in the Confederate line, through which a powerful storming party should enter, and take possession of the works. If a successful lodgement could be made, it would result in the capture of the city and the defeat of Lee's army. The work was pushed forward, and by the 25th of July the mine was in readiness. Twelve thousand pounds of powder were placed in the mine on the 27th, and everything was prepared for the. grand assault, which was appointed for the 30th of July. In order'to cause General Lee to weaken his force at Petersburg, General Grant on the 26th sent Hancock's corps, and two divisions of Sheridan's cavalry, to Deep Bottom on the James, to threaten Richmond from that quarter. Hancock's instructions were to march at once upon Chafin's Bluff, and try to secure the bridges by which Lee maintained his communications between the two banks of the river.* Whilte Hancock was trying to gain the bridges, Sheridan was to move with his cavalry towards the Virginia Central Railroad, and make a dash upon the city from that direction. The expedition landed at Deep Bottom on the night of the 26th, and the utmost secrecy was maintained respecting the movement, as it was designed to make t a surprise. * General Grant must have been misinformed as to the location of these bridges. The lowest, which was a permanent structure (draw-bridge), was above Drewry's Bluff, and the others from that point to within four miles of Richmond. 518 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. It was not possible to surprise the Confederates at this point, as Butler's sending Foster's command to Deep Bottom had caused General Lee to station a force on the north side to watch the Federal movements, and this force was charged to maintain the utmost vigilance in guarding against any sudden attack by the' enemy. General Hancock, finding that a surprise was not to be effected, resolved to force the Confederates from their position. He ordered General Foster to attack the works in front, while he, with his own corps, moved around the Southern right flank. The attack was made on the morning of the 27th, and the Confederates fell back to a second line behind Bailey's Creek, where they covered all the approaches to Chafin's Bluff.* Hancock endeavored to flank this line also, but night came on before he could carry out his purpose. This movement induced General It e to send four out of his eight divisions to the north side of the James. On the morning of the 28th he attacked Sheridan's cavalry which had been thrown out in advance, and drove it back to Hancock's wain line, which he proceeded to press heavily. Finding it impossible to accomplish anything on the north side, and judgring from the pressure upon Hancock, that a considerable force had been withdrawn from Petersburg, General Grant ordered Hancock to withdraw secretly on -the night of the 29th, and return to the lines of Petersburg in order to take part in the attack on the 30th. This was accomplished successfully. The preparations for the explosion of the mine were completed on the 28th, and after Hancock's return to the South Side, all was in readiness. The mine was to be fired Ot four o'clock on the morning of the 30th, and before the Confederates could recover from the confusion into which they would * Had General Hancock reached Chafin's Bluff, he could not have captured It. The position was stronger than that on Bailey's ClAek. BURNSIDE'S MINE. 519 be thrown, Burnside's corps was to charge through the breach, and carry the works, while the rest of the army was to be held in readiness to follow up any advantage gained. General Grant's movements on the north side accomplished more than he intended. They aroused the suspicions of General Lee, and these suspicions were confirmed by the threatening demonstrations which occurred along Butler's line on the night of the 29th. At two o'clock on the morning of the 30th, General Lee informed his commanders that the enemy intended an attack at some point of the line, that he believed the movements at Bermuda Hundreds to be a feint, and enjoined the strictest watchfulness upon all. In consequence of this warning, the army was prepared for instant action, though no one had any idea of the real nature of Grant's design. At five o'clock on the morning of the 30th of July, the enemy exploded the mine. The fort was literally blown in the air, and a breach was made in the Southern line thirty or forty yards wide. The fort was held by Pegram's battery of four guns, and three regiments of South Carolina infantry. The explosion overturned the guns, and killed and wounded several of the artillerists and many of the infantry; the site of the fort wais converted into a huge crater one hundred and fifty feet long, sixty-five feet wide, and from twenty-five to thirty feet deep; and the troops in the immediate vicinity were considerably demoralized by the sudden and appalling explosion. The smloke had not floated away before every gun along the Federal line was opened in a furious cannonade, and at the same time Ledlie's division of Burnside's corps, emerged from the Federal works, dashed across the intervening space, and entered the crater. Had they advanced beyond this they might have carried the line, for the Confederates had not yet recovered from their surprise. To the astonishment of every one, however, they huddled into the crater, and sought shelter there 520 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. and behind the breastworks. The divisions of Potter and Wilcox, of the 9th corps, were also advanced, but they, too, crowded into tile crater. Taking advantage of this delay, the Confederates rapidly regained their self possession, and with admirable discipline formed on the right and left of the gap. General Mahone was directed by General A. P. Hill, who fortunately happened to be on the spot, to bring up his division, and drive the enemy back to their own line. Two hours passed away, and an assault was made and repulsed, and General Burnside, finding that his white troops had accomplished nothing, threw forward his negro division to make the assault. The blacks advanced beyond the crater, but only to receive a withering fire of musketry and artillery which sent them reeling back among the whites in the pit. The Confederate artillery on both sides of the opening, poured a rapid fire into it, doing great execution, and completely demoralizing the 9th corps. Parties of tens and twenties sallied out and tried to creep or run back to their own lines and were generally shot in the attempt to do so. The scene in the pit was horrible. The blacks and whites were huddled together in wild dismayv, screamino and shouting, with the Southern shells exploding over their heads and in their midst every moment, doing great execution among them. It was as difficult to retreat as to advance, and, desperate as the situation was, many preferred to remain in the crater, rather than risk the chance of being shot down in the effort to return to their friends. At nine o'clock, General Mahone was ordered to drive the enemy out of the crater. Making an impetuous attack, he destroyed what little of organization was left to the enemy. They attempted little or no resistance, but, breaking in confusion, rushed back pell-mell to their own works followed by the deadly fire of the Southern infantry and artillery. MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 521 The failure of this attack was a source of considerable mortification to the enemy, as they had reasonably expected very great results from it. Strangely enough, the Committee on the Conduct of the MWar, of the Federal Congress, declared the principal cause of the failure to be, the fact that the attack was led with white instead of negro troops. This is sheer nonsense. The cause of the failure lay simply in the weak and unskilful manner in which the attack was made. It was so weak and devoid of common sense as to be laughable, but for the terrible suffering it brought to the Federal troops engaged. The enemy lost four thousand men, of whom eight hundred were prisoners, including one general officer, and twelve standards. The Confederate loss was slight, only a few hundred. IV. MIATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. After the failure of the mine assault, General Grant seemed to abandon the idea of a direct attack, and spent the autumn and a part of the winter in attempting to extend his left around Petersburg, and in " hammering away " at the Confederate defences north of the James. Early in August, he resolved to make another effort from the neighborhood of Deep Bottom. He was informed that the Southern force confronting General Foster in that locality did not number more than eight thousand men, and he believed that a sudden attack by a strong column, would carry the works at Chafin's Bluff. Accordingly the 2nd and 10th corps, and Gregg's division of cavalry, all under General Hancock, were embarked on transports at City Point, in order to conceal the 66 522 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. character of the movement, and landed at Deep Bottom on the morning of the 13th of August. Deep Bottom is about twelve miles from Richmond by land, but about twenty by water. Five miles west of Deep Bottom, and nearer the city, is Chafin's Bluff, just on the river. From Chafin's Bluff, the main line of the defences of the Confederate Capital extended almost due north to the Chickahominy at Garnett's and Mrs. Price's farms. After leaving the river, the line of defence crosses, first, the Osborne road, then the Darbytown road, then, five miles farther north, the Charles City road, then the Williamsburg road and lastly, the New Bridge road. The Osborne road, which may be said to be a continuation of Main street, Richmond, runs southeast from the city, following the course of James River. The New Market road branches off from the Osborne road, two miles below the city, and runs to New Market, a mile and a half north of Deep Bottom. The Williamsburg road leaves the city at Fulton's Hill, a point about three hundred yards north of the exit of the Osborne road, and runs due east from Richmond to Bottom's Bridge, over the Chickahomhly, and thence to Williamsburg. Two miles from the city the Darbytown road strikes off to the right from the Williamsburg road, and runs by a southeast direction into the New Market road a mile below Deep Bottom. Two miles farther'down the Williamsburg road, the Charles City road also branches off to the right, and, at a point fourteen miles east by south of the city, runs into a cross road known as the Quaker road, which leads front Tulrkey Bend, on James River, almost due north, across Malvern Hill, and White Oak Swamp Bridge to Bottom's Bridge. Just below New Market is a small stream known as Bailey's Creek, emptying into the James. About ten o'clock on the morning of the 13th, Hancock advanced towards New Market, seeing nothing of the Confederates until he arrived at Bailey's Creek, the farthest point MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 52:3 reached by him in July. there he found the Confederates occupying an intrenched line. The day was passed in skirmishing, and towards dusk the enemy effected a lodgement on the Confederate right, and captured four guns, but were forced back from the point they had won. The next morning, the 14th, the fighting was not resumed, but the day was passed by the enemy- in endeavoring to discover the situation of the Confederate left, which was at White's Tavern on the Charles City road. During the day, General Lee, who had been apprised of Hancock's movement, recnforced the command at Deep Bottom. On the 15th Birney's division was sent by General Hancock to find and turn the Confederate left, but the day passed away with mere skirmishing. On the 16th, Birney attacked the Confederate position on the New Market road. He carried the line at first, but the Confederates, rallying speedily, drove him from it with heavy loss. At the same time the enemy's cavalry were encountered by General Chatnbliss' brigade on the Charles City road. The Southern cavalry were driven back for a considerable distance, but, rallying, they turned on the enemy, and repulsed them. These encounters occupied the day from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, when the battle ended with the Confederates in full possession of their line, the enemy having been repulsed at all points. Failing to carry the Southern line, General Hancock resorted to strategy. During the night of the 16th, he had a fleet of steamers sent from City Point to Deep Bottom, where they remained until four A. M. on the 17th, when they returned to City Point. General Hancock hoped that this would induce the Confederates to think he had abandoned his expedition, and entice them out of their works; but the artifice was unsuccessful.* After several days spent in skirmishing, Hancock reCampaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 531. 524 LIFE OF GENERAL'LEE. turned on the 20th to the South Side, having lost fifteen hundred men, and accomplished nothing. The Confederate loss was less than five hundred. Judg:ing, from the resistance encountered by General Hancock, that General Lee had withdrawn a considerable part of his army from the lines of Petersburg, General Grant on the 18th of August, sent General Warren with the 5th corps to effect a lodgement on the Weldon Railroad. When General Lee occupied Petersburg he had no hope of being able to hold the Weldon Railroad, for his force was too weak to guard it effectually. He urged the Government to take measures to supply the army by the Danville Railroad alone, as it would be impossible to prevent the enemy from cutting the Weldon Railroad at some point, if they did not destroy the greater part of it. The reply to this warning was an intimation of the desire of the Government that he would hold the Weldon Road as long as possible. I-e replied that he would do all he could to hold it, but that he had little faith in his ability to do so. In obedience, therefore, to the directions of the Government General Lee prepared to maintain his hold on the Weldon Road as long as possible. About nine o'clock on the morning of the 18th, the enemy reached Gurley's farm, about four miles southwest of Petersburg, and one mile east of the railroad. Throwing forward a line of skirmishers, they advanced towards the railroad. They soon encountered the pickets of Dearing,'s cavalry brigade, who disputed their advance stubbornly until about two o'clock in the afternoon, by which time Dearing had been forced back to within two miles of the city. In the afternoon a part of General A. P. IHill's corps fell suddenly upon Warren's left as he attempted to advance. The Federals were driven back for a mile, when the Confederates were withdrawn. The enemy's loss was about one thousand killed, wounded and missing - about three hundred being prisoners. MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 525 While this was going on in front of Petersburg, General Warren sent Griffin's division to seize the railroad. Griffin established himself on the road, and at once proceeded to entrench his position. On the afternoon of the 19th, General Lee sent Heth's and Miahone's divisions of Hill's corps to drive Warren back. rhese troops, in a vigorous attack, succeeded in forcing the Fed3rals from their advanced position near Petersburg, but did not succeed in dislodging them from the railroad. Warren's loss was heavy, including twenty-five hundred prisoners and one of his brigade commanders - General Hays. After the close of the fight the Confederates withdrew to their main line, and Warren, throwing forward his troops on the morning of the 20th, occupied the ground they had abandoned. The day passed in comparative quiet, General Lee beincg engaged in massing troops on his right for the purpose of dislodging the enemy, who had fortified their position at Reams' Station on the railroad. On the morning of the 21st, the Confederates opened with their artillery upon WXVarren's position, and after an hour's cannonade Heth's division made a spirited attack on the enemy in front, while Mahone moved out to turn their left. After a short, sharp fight the attack in front was repulsed, and Mahone was driven back with a loss of five hundred prisoners, besides his killed and wounded. These engagements cost the Federals four thousand four hundred and fifty-five men killed, wounded and captured, but they retained their hold on the railroad, all the effIrts of the Confederates to dislodge them being, failures. In order to make sure of the position gained by his left, General Grant sent General Hancock's corps, which had just returned from Deep Bottom, to Warren's assistance. General Hancock's instructions were to break up the railroad as far south 526 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. as Rowanty Creek, eight miles from Reams' Station. Upon reaching the road late in the afternoon of the 21st, he at once set to work to destroy it, and the next three days were spent in this way. By the afternoon of the 24th he had destroyed the track to a point three miles south of Reams' Station. Here he withdrew his infantry into his intrenchments at Reams', and sent a part of his corps to continue the work of destruction. Just as this force was about to move off, on the 25th of August, Hancock was attacked by the Confederates. General Lee had resolved to make a last effort for the possession of the railroad, and on the 24th, sent Hill's corps to drive the enemy from it. Hill moved out from Petersburg on the 24th, and encamped for the night near Armstrong's Mills about eight miles south of the city. Early the next morning, the 25th, he resumed his march, and halted at Monk's Nec~k Bridge, about three miles from Reams' Station, while the cavalry, under General Hampton, were thrown out to reconnoitre. Hampton encountered the Federal cavalry about eleven o'clock, four miles below Reams' Station, and, attacking them, pressed them back steadily to Malone's Station. As soon as General Hill heard of this, he ordered General Hampton to take position on his left to cooperate with him in an attack on the enemy's works west of the railroad at Reams' Station. tIIll opened his attack at two o'clock, making a charge upon the Federal intrenchments. The assault was repulsed.. Resolving, in spite of this failure, to carry the works, General Hill quickly brought up his artillery, and opened a heavy fire, on the Federal line, taking it in reverse, and doing considerable execution. Heth's division, and Lane's brigade of Wilcox's division. were advanced under the cover of Pegram's guns, until directly in front of the works, when a rush was made which resulted in the capture of the whole line- not, however, before Hancock's MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 527 men had been driven off in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle in the works, in which clubbed muskets and the bayonet were used freely. On the left Hampton's cavalry drove the Federals from their intrenchments and held them. At nightfall the enemy withdrew from the railroad towards their main line, and soon afterwards the Confederates returned to Petersburg. The Confederate loss was seven hundred and twenty killed, wounded and missing. The enemy lost two thousand prisoners, twelve stands of colors, nine pieces of artillery, ten caissons, and three thousand one hundred stand of small arms.* Constant skirmishing occurred between the two armies, and many sharp encounters took place between the hostile cavalry forces. The most brilliant of all these affairs was the dash made by General Hampton into the Federal lines in September. It was known that General Grant had a large drove of cattle grazing in Prince George County. This information was gained by General Hampton from a letter to General Grant which he intercepted. The letter stated that the cattle had been sent to the neighborhood of Sycamore Church, and that * " IHEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, August A, 1864. "HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: " General A. P. Hill attacked the enemy in his intrenchments, at Reams' Station, yesterday evening, and at the second assault carried his entire line. Cooke's and MIcRae's North Carolina brigades, under General IIeth, and Lane's North Carolina brigade, of Wilcox's division, under General Connor, with Pegram's artillery, composed the assaulting column. One line of breastworks was carried by the cavalry, under General Hampton, with great gallantry, who contributed largely to the success of the day. Seven stands of colors, two thousand prisoners and nine pieces of artillery are in our possession. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded is reported to be heavy; ours relatively small. Our profound gratitude is due to the Giver of all victory, and our thanks to the brave men and officers engaged. R. E. LEE, General." 528 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. they were in splendid condition. Hampton at once determined to secure the beeves, which were much needed by the Army of Northern Virginia. Leaving Petersburg on the 14th of September, he bivouacked that night at Duval's Mill, in Sussex County, eighteen miles from Petersburg. The next day he resumed his march, and halted for the night in the vicinity of Sycamore Church, which was held by a force of the enemy, posted in intrenchments. At daylight on the morning of the 16th, he surprised and stormed this position, capturing the works and camp of the enemy and three hundred prisoners. The cattle, about twenty-five hundred in number, were secured, and, the object of the expedition being accomplished, Hampton set off on his return. Rosser's and Dearing's brigades were in the advance, and Fitzhugh Lee brought up the rear, the captured cattle marching between. The beeves stretched out over a line of four miles, but were skilfully handled. Everything went well until the column reached Belsches' Mill, on the Jerusalem plank road, about'eighteen miles from Petersburg. EHere two Federal cavalry divisions, under General Wilson, were drawn up to resist the progress of the Confederates. Hampton promptly attacked them, drove them back from the road, and succeeded in reaching Petersburg in safety, with all his captures, at six o'clock on the morning of the 17th, having lost only fifty men during the expedition.* * R HEADQUARTERS ARmY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, September 17, 1864. "HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: " At daylight yesterday the enemy's skirmish line west of the Jerusalem plank road was driven back upon his intrenchments along their whole extent. Ninety prisoners were taken by us in the operation. At the same hour, General Hampton attacked the enemy's position north of the Norfolk Railroad, near Sycamore Church, and captured about three hundred prisoners, some arms and wagons, a large number of horses, and twenty-five hundred cattle. General Gregg attacked General Hampton on his return in the afternoon at Belsches' Mill, on the Jerusalem plank road, but was repulsed and MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. -529 The action at Reams' Station, on the 25th of August, though it resulted in the defeat of Hancock's corps, did not cause General Warren to relinquish his hold on the Weldon Railroad, and in order to secure this acquisition the Federals united their main line with WVarren's position by a chain of heavy works, stretching from the railroad to the old left of the army on the Jerusalem plank road. Towards the end of September General Grant determined to make another effort against the Confederate works north of the James, and, in order to prevent Lee from reEnforcing that side, sent General Warren with two divisions of the 5th corps, two of the 9th, and Greg's division of cavalry, to operate on the Confederate right towards Poplar Spring Church and Peebles' Farm, southwest of Petersburg. Warren moved on the 30th of September, and in the afternoon carried a Confederate outwork on Peebles' Farm, and one on the Squirrel Level road. He then attempted to move the two divisions of the 9th corps, under General Parke, towards the Boydton plank road, but this force was driven back by Heth's division of A. P. Hill's corps.* The next day, October 1st, was spent by the enemy in heavy skirmishing. The Confederate cavalry gained some advantage driven back. Everything was brought off safely. Our entire loss does not exceed fifty men. R. E. LEE." *' HEzADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, October 1, 1864. "HoN. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR. " Yesterday evening General Heth attacked the enemy's infantry, who had broken through a portion of the line held by our artillery on Squirrel Level road, and drove them back. General Hill reports that they were severely punished, and four hundred prisoners captured. General Hampton, operating on General Heth's right, also drove the enemy, capturing two stands of colors, and about five hundred prisoners, including five colonels and thirteen other officers. R. E. LEE." 67 530 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. in the morning, but were repulsed in the afternoon. On the 2d of October Warren advanced his whole command, but found that the Confederates had retired to their main line. Ile then proceeded to fortify the position he had gained, and to connect it with the left of the Federal works. His loss in the operation was twenty-five hundred men. Under the cover of this movement General Butler threw the corps of Ord and Birney across to Deep Bottom. The next day —the 29th- he advanced towards the outer line, and captured Fort Harrison, an important work, taking with it fifteen pieces of artillery, and about three hundred prisoners. The force holding the work was very small, and made but a weak resistance. The capture of Fort Harrison seriously endangered the main line of the Confederates for the time. The enemy advanced beyond the fort against this position, and during the remainder of the day the Confederates had hard work to hold their ground. They were so weak that the men present, in order to cover the line had to be posted five feet apart, yet this thin line held the works until dark.* General Feld whose division lay immediately in front of Fort Harrison after its capture, was anxious to move out at once, and attempt its recapture before the enemy could strengthen it; but it was agreed to defer the assault until the next afternoon — September 30th - when it was made and repulsed. t *;HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, September 29, 1864. "HOs. J. A. SEDDON, SECRETARY'OF WAR: " General Gregg reports that he repulsed several attacks of the enemy made against the intermediate line of defences, capturing many prisoners. The enemy still hold Battery Harrison on the exterior line. Our loss is very small. t. E. LEE." t "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, September, 30, 1864.' Homn. J. A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR:. " An attempt was made this afternoon to retake Battery Harrison, which, though partially successful, failed. R. E. LEE." MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 531 The enemy continued to hold the line they had gained with a strong force. Fort Harrison was strengthened, and their position fortified to the James River. Many efforts were made to break through the Confederate works at.Chafin's Bluff, and between that point and the Williamsburg Road, all of which failed. The most important of these movements took place on the 13th of October. Early in the morning the Federals. moved a heavy column between the Charles City and Darby. town roads, and in repeated attacks, during the day, endeavored to carry the Southern works. Their assaults were all repulsed, and night put an end to the fighting.* On the 27th of October the enemy made another effort to turn the Confederate left, but were defeated. t The capture of Fort Harrison enabled General Butler to prosecute with greater safety the work,on his canal at Dutch Gap. As this undertaking acquired considerable notoriety at the time, it may not be out of place to describe it briefly. Dutch Gap is the name applied to a neck of land, very long and narrow, around which the Janmes River makes a considerable bend, about eighteen miles below Richmond. It lies *" HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, October, 13, 1864. "IHON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: 1" At seven o'clock this morning the enemy endeavored to advance between the Darbytown and Charles City roads, but -was repulsed in every attempt. The most strenuous effort was made about four P. M., after which he withdrew, leaving many dead. Our loss very slight. R. E. LEE, General." t " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGNIA, October 27, 1864. "HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: "The movement of the enemy against our left to-day was repulsed. Two attacks upon our lines were made -one between the Henrico Poorhouse and Charles City road, the other on the Williamsburg road. Several hundred prisoners and four stands of colors were captured. Our loss is very slight. R. E. LEE, General." 532 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. immediately opposite Howlett's Farm on the south side, and was commanded during the war by the Confederate battery at the latter place. In order to move the Federal gunboats around this battery, General Butler in August 1864, commenced the construction of a canal across Dutch Gap. The work was prosecuted with vigor, and finished early in 1865, but the canal could never be used. During the early part of its construction, General Butler, was informed that the Confederates had set negro prisoners of war to work on their fortifications, at points where they were exposed to the Federal fire, and, as a measure of retaliation, he at once set a number of Confederates to work on the Dutch Gap Canal, which was constantly under fire from the Confederate guns at Howlett's Farm, and informed the Confederate Authorities of his act. General Lee was directed by the War Department to inform General Grant that Butler's charges were unfounded, and that retaliation on the part of the Federals was not warranted by the facts of the case. General Grant immediately directed that the Confederates at Dutch Gap should be removed to a place of safety, which was done. The following correspondence was held by the two commanders in settling this matter. "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, October 19, 1864. " LIEUTENANT GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commanding United States Armies: " GENERAL: In accordance with instructions from the Honorable Secretary of War of the Confederate States, I have the honor to call your attention to the subject of two communications recently addressed by Major-General B. F. Butler, an officer under your command, to the Hon. Robert Ould, Commissioner for the exchange of prisoners. "For the better understanding of the matter, I enclose copies of the communications. MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 533 "You will perceive by one of them that the writer has placed a number of officers and men belonging to the Confederate service, prisoners of war captured by the United States forces, at labor in the canal at Dutch Gap, in retaliation, as is alleged, for a like number of Federal colored soldiers, prisoners of war in our hands, who are said to have been put to work on our fortifications. "The evidence of this fact is found in the affadavits of two deserters from our service. "The other letter refers to a copy of a notice issued by a Confederate officer commanding a camp near Richmond, calling upon the owners. to come forward and establish their claims to certain negroes in the custody of that officer. "' The writer of the letter proceeds to state that some of the negroes mentioned in the notice are believed to be soldiers of the United States army captured in arms; and, upon that belief, he has ordered to such manual labor as he deems most fitting to meet the exigency an equivalent number of prisoners of war held by the United States, and announces that he will continue to order to labor captives in war to a number equal to that of all the United States soldiers who he has reason to believe are held to service or labor by the Confederate forces, until he shall be notified that the alleged practice on the part of the Confederate authorities has ceased. (' Before stating the facts with reference to the particular negroes alluded to, I beg to explain the policy pursued by the Confederate Government towards. this class of persons, when captured by its forces. " All negroes in the military or naval service of the United States, taken by us, who are not, identified as the property of citizens or residents of any of the Confederate States, are regarded as prisoners of war, being held to be proper subjects of excvhange, as I recently had the honor to inform you. 534 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " No labor is exacted from such prisoners by the Confederate authorities. "Negroes who owe service or labor to citizens or residents of the Confederate States, and who, through compulsion, persuasion, or of their own accord, leave their owners, and are placed in the military or naval service of the United States, occupy a different position. "The right to the service or labor of negro slaves, in the Confederate States, is the same now as when those States were members of the Federal Union. "The constitutional relations and obligations of the Confederate Government to the owners of this species of property, are the same as those so frequently and so long recognized as appertaining to the Government of the United States, with reference to the same class of persons, by virtue of its organic law. " From the earliest period of the independence of the American States, it has been held that one of the duties incumbent upon the several common governments under which they have, from time to time, been associated, was the return to their lawful owners, of slaves recaptured from the public enemy. It has been uniformly held that the capture or abduction of a slave does not impair the right of the owner to such slave, but that the right attaches to him immediately upon recapture. "Such was the practice of the American States during their struggle for independence. The Government under which they were then associated, restored to the owners slaves abducted by the British forces and subsequently recaptured by the Americai armies. "In the war of 1812, with Great Britain, the course pursued by the United States Government was the same, and it recognized the right of the owner to slaves recaptured from the enemy. Both the Continental and the United States Governments, in fact, denied that the abduction of slaves was a bel MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 535 ligerent right, and the latter power insisted upon and ultimately secured by treaty, pecuniary indemnity from the British Government for slaves taken by its forces during the war of 1812. " And it is supposed that if a negro belonging to a citizen of a State in which slavery is recognized, and which is regarded as one of the United States, were to escape into the Confederate States, or be captured or abducted by their armies, the legal right of the owner to reclaim him would be as clear now as in 1812, the Constitution of the United States being unchanged in this particular, and that instrument having been interpreted in the judicial decisions, legislative and diplomatic acts and correspondence of the United States, as imposing upon that Gov-,ernment the duty of protecting, in all cases coming within the scope of its authority, the owners of slaves as well as of any other kind of property recognized as such by the several States. "6 The Confederate Government, bound by the same constitutional obligations, considers, as that of the United States did, that the capture or abduction of a negro slave does not preclude the lawful owner from reclaiming him when captured; and I am instructed to say that all such slaves when properly identified as belonging to citizens of any of the Confederate States, or to persons enjoying the protection of their laws, will be restored, like other recaptured private property, to those entitled to them. "' Having endeavored to explain the general policy of the'Confederate Government with regard to this subject, I beg leave to state the facts concerning the particular transactions referred to in the enclosed communications. " The iegroes recently captured by our forces were sent to Richmond with other Federal prisoners. After their arrival it was discovered that a number of them were slaves belonging to citizens or residents of some of the Confederate States, and of this class fifty-nine, as I learn, were sent, with other negroes, 536 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. to work on the fortifications around Richmond until their owners should appear and claim them. As soon as I was informed of the fact, less than two days afterwards, not wishing to employ them here, I ordered them to be sent to the interior. " By a misapprehension of the engineer officer in charge, they were transferred to our lines south of James River, but when apprised of his error I repeated the order for their removal. If any negroes were included among this number who were not identified as the slaves of citizens or residents of some of the Confederate States, they were so included without the knowledge or authority of the War Department, as already explained, and the mistake, when discovered, would have been corrected. " It only remains for me to say, that negroes employed upon, our fortifications are not allowed to be placed where they will be exposed to fire, and there is no foundation for any statement to the contrary.' The author of the communications referred to has considered'himself justified (by the report of two deserters who do not allege that the negroes in question were exposed to any danger,) in placing our prisoners at labor in the canal at Dutch Gap, under the fire of our batteries.'" In view of the explanation of the practice of the Confederate Government above given, and of the statement of facts I have made, I have now, in accordance with my instructions, respectfully to inquire whether the course pursued towards our prisoners, as set forth in the accompanying letters, has your.sanction, and whether it will be maintained? 4 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed) R. E. LEE, General.'" MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 537 " HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. October 20, 1864 " GENERAL R. E. LEE, C. S. A. Commanding Army of Northern Virginia: "GENERAL: Understanding, from your letter of the 19th, that the colored prisoners who were employed at work in the trenches near Fort Gilmer have been withdrawn, I have directed the withdrawal of the Confederate prisoners employed in the Dutch Gap Canal. I shall always regret the necessity for retaliating for wrongs done our soldiers, but regard it my duty to protect all persons received into the army of the United States, regardless of color or nationality. When acknowledged soldiers of the Government are captured, they must be treated as prisoners of war, or such treatment as they receive will be inflicted upon an equal number of prisoners held by us. " I have nothing to do with the discussion of the slavery question, therefore decline answering the arguments adduced to shomxhe right to return to former owners such negroes as are captured from our army. In answer to the question at the conclusion of your letter, I have to state that all prisoners of war falling into my hands shall receive the kindest possible treatment consistent with securing them, unless I have good authority for believing any number of our men are being treated otherwise. Then, painful as it may be to me, I shall inflict ~like treatment on an equal number of Confederate prisoners. " Hoping that it may never become my duty to order retaliation upon any man held as a prisoner of war, I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." The winter was now rapidly approaching, and as this is, in Eastern Virginia, a season when it is extremely difficult if not impossible to conduct military operations, General Grant re68 538 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. solved to make one more effort to turn Lee's right before going into winter quarters. This time he designed reaching the South Side Railroad and destroying it. Accordingly his army was put in light marching order, and everything prepared for a movement of more than ordinary magnitude. Only enough men to hold the line in front of Petersburg were left in it, and the remainder of the army was provided with five days' rations, and stripped of its superfluous baorage. Nothing was left undone that could in the least contribute to the success of the movement, which, if successful, would result in the forced evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg by General Lee. At daylight on the 27th of October, the Federal army began its march towards Hatcher's Run, where the right of the Southern line rested. General Grant's plan was for the 9th corps, supported by the 5th, to make a direct attack in front, while Hancock, with the 2nd corps, should cross Hatcher's Rur bove the Confederate right, and, by a detour, gain the Boydton plank road, and seize the South Side Railroad. Upon reaching the Boydton road, General Grant,found it protected by the Confederates, who occupied strong earthworks extending some distance below the point where the road crosses Hatcher's Run. An attack was made on this position by the 5th and 9th corps, and repulsed. Finding it impossible to carry the works by a direct assault, the 5th corps was sent to co6perate with Hancock in turning them. General Grant had mistaken the location of the Confederate right, and when Hancock reached the point where the intrenchments were supposed to terminate, he found that they extended still farther to the right, and were of such a formidable nature that it was useless to attempt to carry them. Meanwhile General Lee had determined to assume the offensive, and General A. P. Hill was ordered to attack the enemy. MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 539 The presence of the 5th corps was not known to either General Hancock or General Lee, and General Warren was equally ignorant of the whereabouts of either friends or foes, the thickly wooded country having completely bewildered him in his movement to Hancock's assistance. General Lee at first intended to attack Hancock's left, but finding that his other flank offered more immediate advantage ordered General Hill to-assail it. Hill promptly threw forward HIeth's command, which crossed Hatcher's Run between Hancock's right and Warren's left, and made a sharp attack with Mahone's division in front, and Hampton's cavalry in the rear. Mahone drove Hancock's right back for a mile, and captured four hundred prisoners, six pieces of artillery, and three standards. IHe was unable to bring off the guns, as he could not get them across the Run. Hampton, at tile same time: struck the enemy's rear, and aided greatly in the success of Mahone's attack. Hancock brought up his remaining divisions and endeavored to drive Mahone from the Boydton road, and regain the position lost by his right. Three lines of battle were broken by the Confederates, and when night came Mahone still held his ground, covering the Boydton road and the South Side Railroad. Thus far the movement of General Grant had failed. lHe was convinced by this failure that the Confederate position on the Boydton road was too strong to be successfully assaulted, and being unwilling to keep his army in such an exposed situation, he abandoned the movement on the night of the 27th, and returned to his old position before Petersburg. The Federal loss in this expedition was about two thousand.* * 6'HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, October 28, 1884. "HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: " General A. P. Hill reports that the attack of General Heth upon the enemy upon the Boydton plank-road, mentioned in my dispatch last evening, was made by three brigades, under General Mahone in front and General Hamptom 540 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Grant's withdrawal was a wise measure, for General Lee had massed a strong column )f fifteen thousand infantry, and Hampton's cavalry, opposite Hancock's position during the night, with which he meant to crush the 2d corps at daylight, on the 28th. Finding the next morning that the enemy had retreated, General Lee sent Hampton to harass them in their march, which service was successfully performed.* After this defeat the Federal army settled down into the quiet monotony of winter quarters, and its example was followed by the Confederates, hostilities being confined to outpost and picket fighting. Early in February, active operations were resumed by General Grant, in another attempt to turn the Confederate right. The expedition was confided to the 2nd and 5th corps, and Gregg's cavalry division. The 2d corps was to engage the Confederates in front, while the 5th turned their right flank. In in the rear. Mahone captured four hundred prisoners, three stands of colors and six pieces of artillery. The latter could not be brought off, the enemy having possession of the bridge. "' In the attack subsequently made by the enemy, General Mahone broke three lines of battle, and during the night the enemy retired from the Boydton plank-road, leaving his wounded and more than two hundred and fifty dead on the field. " About 9 o'clock r. M., a small force assaulted and took possession of our works on the Baxter road, in front of Petersburg, but was soon driven out. "On the Williamsburg road yesterday, General Field captured upwards of four hundred prisoners and seven stands of colors. The enemy left a number of dead in front of our works and returned to his former position to-day. R. E. LEE." * " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, October 29, 1864. " HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR: "General Hampton followed the enemy on his withdrawal from Rowanty Creek, driving his rear-guard across, and pursuing the cavalry behind the lines of their infantry. Several hundred prisoners were captured; and the enemy burned some of their caissons and ambulances. Our lines are reestablished. (Signed,) R. E. LEE, General." MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 541 order to divert attention from this movement, the enemy bombarded the city and Confederate works furiously for several days, and on the 5th of February, the expedition began its march, and in a few hours reached Hatcher's Run. A part of the Federal infantry crossed the Vaughan road, and proceeded to Cattail Creek, while Gregg's cavalry moved to l)inwiddie Court House. Encountering the Confederate cav. alry at that point, Gregg fell back. In the afternoon, parts of Hill's and Gordon's corps attacked the column of infantry that had moved by the Vaughan road, and had reached the vicinity of Armstrong's Mill on the left bank of Hatcher's Run. Finding the enemy strongly intrenched, they were withdrawn after a sliaht encounter. It was reported during the night, that the enemy were recrossing Hatcher's Run, and on the morning of the 6th, Pegram's division moved down the right bank of the stream to reconnoitre. It had not proceeded far before it was attacked by the 5th corps of the Federal army, and, after a severe conflict of several hours, in which General Pegram was killed, was forced back. General Gordon then advanced Evans' division to the support of Pegram's command. Evans drove the enemy before him at first, but was at length forced to retire. Finally, Mlahone's division was brought up, and the 5th corps driven back upon the intrenchments of the 2d corps. The Confederates were withdrawn, having lost about one thousand men. The Federal loss was about two thousand men' * " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA February 6, 1865. " GENERAL S. COOPER: "The enemy moved in strong force yesterday to Hatcher's Run. Part of his infantry, with Gregg's cavalry, crossed and proceeded on the Vaughn road -the infantry to Cattail Creek, the cavalry to Dinwiddie Court House, when its advance encountered a portion of our cavalry and retreated. "In the afternoon, parts of Hill's and Gordon's troops demonstrated against the enemy on the left of Hatcher's Run, near Armstrong's Mill. Finding 542 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Though he failed to seize the South Side Railroad, the object of the expedition, General Grant was enabled by this movement to extend his left to Hatcher's Run, and he at once secured it by connecting it with the rest of his line by earthworks. After the destruction of the Weldon Railroad south of Reams' Station, General Lee continued to use it to a point within a few miles of the Federal position, hauling his supplies from the railroad to Petersburg in wagons. During the winter General Grant made several efforts to break up the railroad still farther south. The principal of these was Warren's expedition in December 1864. Taking with him the 5th corps, a division of the 2nd corps, and Gregg's cavalry, he set out on the 7th of December to break up the railroad twenty-five miles southward. That night he reached the Nottoway River, and destroyed the bridge over it. On the 8th the track was destroyed as far south as the Nottoway. On the afternoon of the 8th General Hampton made a dash upon the Federal pickets, driving them in upon their main line, and repulsed a party of' Gregg's cavalry sent after him. He then recrossed the Nottoway and reached Bellfield about day-. light on the morning of the 9th. In the afternoon of that day General Warren arrived in fiont of Bellfield, and attacked the him intrernched, they were withdrawn after dark. During the night, the force theat had advanced beyond the creek retired to it, and were reported to be recrossing. Tlis morning, Pegram's division moved down the right bank of the creek to reconnoitre, when it was vigorously attacked. The battle was obstinately contested several hours, but, General Pegram being killed while bravely encouraging his men, and Colonel Hoffman wounded, some confusion occurred, and the division was pressed back to its original position. Evans' divlsioxordcred by General Gordon to support Pegram's, charged the enemy and forced him back, but was, in turn, compelled to retire. Mahone's division arriving, the enemy was driven rapidly to his defences on Hatcher's Run.' Our loss is reported to be small; that of the enemy not supposed great. R. E. LEE." THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 543 Confederate position there. He was repulsed, and the bridge over the Meherrin River saved.* Finding the position too strong to be carried by his troops, Warren withdrew on the ]2th, and returned to his own lines, having destroyed a considerable extent of the road.t V. TEIIE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. The. events which transpired north of the Potomac, and in the Valley of Virginia in the summer and fall of 1864 are so closely connected with the siege of Petersburg that I have concluded to present them to the reader under the same general head. * "HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, December 10, 1864. "HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY O WAR: " General Hampton, after driving the enemy's cavalry upon his infantry,. on the afternoon of the 8th, recrossed the Nottoway and reached Bellfield at daylight yesterday. In the afternoon the enemy attacked the position, but: was successfully resisted. This morning the enemy is reported retiring and Hampton following. The bridge over the Meherrin was saved. Our loss, as far as known, is small. The garrison, under Garnett and the reserves, behaved well. R. E. LEE." " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, December 13, 1864. "HON. JAMES A. SEDDONr, SECRETARY OF WAB: "The expedition to Bellfield, under General Warren, returned within the enemy's lines yesterday. The two divisions of the 9th corps which went. to Warren's relief proceeded no further than Belsches' mill. On meeting the returning column, they turned back. "' On returning from Bellfield, the enemy moved eastwardly to the Jerusalem and Sussex Court House roads. Our troops, consequently, only en 544 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. When General Lee sent General Early to drive Hunter from Lynchburg, he also directed him, if possible, to cross the Potomac, and threaten Washington. The Confederate commander was aware of the fears constantly entertained by the Federal Government for the safety of the Capital, and he reasoned that by making a bold movement against it, President Lincoln and his advisers would become so much alarmed that they would draw off from Grant's army a large force for its defence, and that this would reduce the strength of the Army of the Potomac to an extent sufficient to induce General Grant to abandon the siege of Petersburg. Though the result did not meet all of these expectations, we shall see that the expedition to Maryland, and the subsequent campaign in the Valley, did weaken Grant's army to a considerable extent, and to a proportionate degree lighten the pressure upon the army of General Lee. Indeed it is not going too far to assert that, had General Grant been able to use Sheridan's army at Petersburg or Deep Bottom, General Lee would have been forced to abandon his lines in the autumn of 1864. The line of retreat adopted by General Hunter after his repulse at Lynchburg, opened the way for Early, who promptly moved down the Valley of Virginia, towards the border. His force consisted in all of about fourteen thousand men, —but they were the troops who had made themselves famous as the corps of Stonewall Jackson. Marching rapidly, Early reached Martinsburg by the 3d of July, driving off the command of General Sigel, which retreated across the Potomac at Shepherdstown. The garrison of Harper's Ferry retired to Maryland countered their rear guard and pursued no farther than the Nottoway River; and they have returned to camp, bringing a few prisoners. Our loss is very slight. The superintendent of the Petersburg and Weldon railroad reports that about six miles of the railroad has been broken up. R. E. LEB." THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 545 Heights, and Early immediately crossed the Potomac, and, moving through Hagerstown, occupied Frederick City on the 7th. From this point he could move upon either Baltimc:e or Washington, and to mask his real designs he threatened both places. The sudden appearance of so considerable a Confederate column north of the Potomac, produced no little dismay at WAashinglton; which was reasonable enough, when it is considered that the force for the defence of that city, at the time of Early's arrival at Hagerstbwn, did not amount to more than two thousand men. Fortunately for the Federals, the 19th corps, which had been ordered fromn New Orleans to join Grant, after the failure of the Red River expedition, had just arrived in transports at Fortress Monroe. This force was at once ordered to Washington, and General Grant at the same time despatched the 6th corps from his, own army to the relief of the threatened Capital. It happened that General Lew Wallace, commanding at Baltimore, as soon as he heard of Early's advance, collected a force of about two thousand men, composed of such troops as he could lay hands on, and advanced towards Frederick to check the Confederates. While on his way he was. joined by the advanced division of the 6th corps,,under General Ricketts.'With this force, General Wallace took position on the left bank of the Monocacy River, at the railroad bridge, to dispute the passage of the stream, and hold Early in check until the troops on their way from the James River could arrive and ensure the safety of Washington. General Early resolved to attack this force and drive. it back, and at once left Frederick for that purpose. On the 8th of July he reached Frederick Juinction, forced the passage of the Monocacy, and drove General WV'allace from his position, inflicting upon him a loss of a thousand men killed and wounded, and seven hundred prisoners. General Wallace retreated 69 546 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. towards Pennsylvania, leaving the road to Washington open, and Early promptly set out in that direction, sending his cavalry towards Baltimore to cut -off the enemy's communications with the North, and thus secure his own rear. The cavalry destroyed a considerable part of the Northern Central Railroad, and burned the railroad bridge over Gunp.owder River between Baltimore and Philadelphia. On the 10th General Early arrived at Rockville, in the vicinity of Washington, and on the next day advanced his lines to the fortifications of the city. He found the works very strong, and too well garrisoned to admit of their being captured by him. His men had straggled to a considerable extent on the march, so that when he reached WashingTton he had but eight thousand infantry, two thousand cavalry, and forty pieces of artillery. Since his advance began, he had marched five hundred miles, averaging twenty miles each day, and his command was very much broken down. The enemy's force in the works was very strong, and the army of General Hunter was closing in upon his rear. In view of all this, General Early wisely determined not to hazard an attack upon the city. This being his determination, his next care was to bring his army off in safety. After skirmishing for several days before Washington, he recrossed the Potomac at White's Ford, on the 14th of July, and retreated to the neighborhood of Winchester. He carried off with him twenty-five hundred horses and twenty-five hundred beef cattle. His expedition created the profoundest excitement in the North, and it was generally believed that he would capture Washington. Some writers on both sides have censured General Early for his want of enterprise in not making a dash upon the city as soon as he arrived before it, alleging that it was so weakly garrisoned that it would have fallen before him. General Early himself, however, declared that he found the works THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 547 strongly manned by a force too large to be attacked by his own, and he is sustained by the direct testimony of General Grant, who, in referring to the battle of Monocacy Bridge, says, 6" Although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, and thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with two divisions of the 6th corps and the advance of the 19th corps, before him" (Early).* When General Early retreated from before Washington, General Wright made an effort at pursuit, but, being repulsed in an engagement with the Confederate rear-guard at Snicker's Ferry, withdrew to Washington. Being convinced that Early was retreating up the Valley, General Grant ordered the return of the 6th and 19th corps to the lines of Petersburg, that they might be used in a movement against Lee before the return of the troops sent by him into the valley.t While the corps were en route for the James, however, General Early again assumed the offensive. Ile moved down the Valley and sent a raiding party of cavalry, under General McCausland, into Pennsylvania, which, on the 30th of July, burned the town of Chambersburg in retaliation for the outrages of the enemy in Virginia. This movement showed General Grant that it would be necessary to station something more than a mere corps of observation in the Valley of Virginia, and he directed the 6th and 19th corps to suspend their movement to the James, and return to Washington. From that city they were sent to H-arper's Ferry. General Grant now combined the old departments of Washington, the Susquehanna, West Virginia, and the Middle department, into one command, which was styled the Middle Military Division, and assigned to General Hunter. The new commander, having expressed a willingness to be relieved, was *General Grant's Report, p. 1. t General Grant's Report, p. 16. 548 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. soon afterwards succeeded by Major-General Sheridan, who was transferred from the Army of the Potomac. General Grant's choice was fortunate. Sheridan was the commander best suited for the task assigned him. An educated soldier, he joined to his theoretical knowledge a clear conception of the necessities and requirements of the campaign which was before him, and an energy and pugnacity that rendered him a dangerous antagonist under any circumstances. He was given an army of forty thousand men, consisting of the 6th and 19th corps, and the infantry and cavalry of the old (lepartment of West Virginia. The cavalry under his command numbered ten thousand men, splendidly armed and equipped,in short, the finest body of horse ever seen in America. Sheridan took command of his army on the 7th of August, but fir some time nothing of importance occurred in his department. Meanwhile General Lee had determined to hold Earl)y's army in the Valley. His chief desire was to induce General Grant to raise the siege of Petersburg, and, as he was too weak to accomplish this by offensive movements on the Appomattox, he determined to use Early's column as a means of gaining his object, and on the 4th of August he'sent Kershaw's division of Longstreet's corps, and Fitz Lee's division of cavalry to cooperate with him. General Lee's intentions, as he explained them to his lieutenants, were to send Kershaw and Fitz Lee to the neighborhood of Culpepper Court House. Fitz Lee was to move down towards Alexandria, and reconnoitre the enemy's position in that quarter, and if his information and discoveries as to the disposition and strength of the enemy's forces on the Potomac should warrant such a step, he and Kershaw were to cross the river near Leesburg, while Early was to enter Maryland higher up the stream, and the two columns, acting in concert, were to make a domonstration in the direction of Washington, which, if opportunity offered, was to be con THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 549 verted into a real attack. The cavalry of Fitz Lee and the in{flntry of Kershaw were both placed under the command of Lieutenant-General Anderson, who commanded Longstreet's corps during the absence of the wounded general. General Lee hoped that, as this fact would be known to General Grant, it would induce the latter to believe that the Confederate army had been weakened by the removal of Longstreet's whole corps, and that the Federal commander would either reduce his own strength to reenforce his troops on the Potomac, or venture to attack the Southern position at Petersburg, - the latter step being particularly desired by General Lee at this time.* The plan was not to be carried out, events defeating it before it could be fairly entered upon. General Anderson moved promptly to Culpepper Court House, and had just reached it when he received a dispatch from General Early, stating that he (Early) had been forced, by the concentration of a heavy Federal force in the Lower Valley, to fall back to Fisher's H1ill, and urging General Anderson to send him reenforcements. Anderson at once set out to Early's assistance, passed the Blue Ridge at Chester Gap, and, on the 15th of August, reached Front Royal. Ile found that Early was at Strasburg, ten miles distant, and that the road between the two places, which winds along the base of the Massanutten, or Fort Mountain, was held by the enemy, who were also in heavy force in Early's front. Anderson at once perceived that the position of the enemy offered an excellent opportunity for a combined attack by his own and Early's columns, and in order to arrange the details for this movement, sent General Fitz Lee at daybreak on the 16th, to communicate the plan to General Early. Fitz Lee took with him only one staff officer, and, as the road was in possession of the enemy, they set out on mules, ascended the steep side of the mountain, and descended the opposite side in *The Lost Cause. By E. A. Pollard. p, 591. 550 LIFE -OF GENERAL LEE. this manner, reached Early's headquarters in safety, arranged the plan of battle, and returned to General Anderson by daylight on the 17th. The enemy, however, had discovered the presence of General Anderson, and, alarmed for their safety, had commenced to retreat, throwing out their cavalry on the morning of the 16th, and occupying Guard Hill, on the north side of the Shenandoah, opposite Front Royal, to cover their withdrawal.;Anderson feared that the force on Guard Hill would be increased and the position fortified, and, in the afternoon of the 16th, he sent a brigade of cavalry and one of infantry to drive the enemy from it, and the hill was secured after a sharp engagement. The retreat of the Federals being now discovered, Anderson, on the morning of the. 17th, advanced from Front Royal in pursuit, and at the same time Early moved out from Strasburg. The two Confederate columns were united before XWinchester, and the Federals were driven through the town with the loss of one gun and a number of prisoners. The pursuit was continued the next duay, and the enemy withdrew to Maryland Heights and Harper's Ferry. Under an energetic and skilful commander, the Confederate army in the Valley might have accomplished highly beneficial results; but, unfortunately, a state of affairs arose which effectually destroyed every prospect of success. It seems that Anderson and Early had both been made lieutenant-generals on the same day, thus making them by their last commissions of equal rank. As major-generals, however, Anderson was the senior officer, and therefore justly Early's superior in this case. Beincg in Early's department he was unwilling to take command of the whole army, and as Early, by reason of being the junior officer, could not assume it, the army was in reality left without a head, and the golden opportunity was wasted. The chance for pressing Sheridan back over the Potomac, and compelling THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 551 Grant to reenforce him to a still greater degree was suffered to pass by unimproved, and for nearly a month matters went on in this way. At last, General Lee, seeing that his plan of operations had been suffered to remain neglected, ordered General Anderson to return with Kershaw's division to Culpepper Court House, where he would be in a position to move to the assistance of either the army at Petersburg and Richmond or that in the Valley. On the 15th of September Kershaw set out for Culpepper. Early was now in the vicinity of Winchester, to which point he had moved back for the purpose of supplying his army more easily. Sheridan was between Charlestown and Berryville, with his advance lying around the latter town, and the pickets of the hostile forces were within a few miles of each other. Early's force, after Anderson's withdrawal, numbered eight thousand five hundred infantry, less than three thousand cavalry and about thirty-six pieces of artillery -in all about one third as many men as followed Sheridan. In cavalry especially were the Confederates unequal to the task before them. Opposed to the ten thousand splendidly armed horsemen of Torbert and Wilson, Early had but two skeleton divisions under Fitz Lee and Lomax. The horses had been fed on hay - and very little of that — for some time, and were quite weak, and the men were in a wretched state from the lack of discipline which prevailed. They were armed almost exclusively with Enfield rifles or muskets, scarcely any of them having either pistols or sabres. The task assigned to General Early was almost similar to that so brilliantly performed!by General Jackson in the spring and early summer of 1862. He was to prevent the whole strength of the enemy from being concentrated against General Lee, to gather in the harvests of the Shenandoah Valley, and protect the Central Railroad. He was in the same region which Jackson hadl made glorious, and had under him many of the men of ~552 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the Old Valley Army. But the great master was no longer al the head of his veterans, his ablest successor was kept at Richmond by physical sufferings, and his mantle had not fallen upotn General Early. Still General Early was a good soldier. As a corps commander he had proved himself an able officer, and had won a high reputation by his stubborn courage and hard fighting. He was not competent to an independent command. He lacked the genius to form great conceptions, and the ability to execute them as the emergency required. He was a brave, hard-working, pains-taking man, and thoroughly devoted to the cause in which he was engaged. He was most cruelly and wickedly slandered when his reverses befell him. He was charged with drunkenness, among other things, and this charge was bandied about the country to such an extent that " Early and his apple-jack" became a byword. A Committee of the Confederate Congress investigated this charge, and, failing to discover any evidence against him, acquitted him of it. At first General Early was very popular with his troops, and his eccentricities made him a hero in their eyes. A newspaper correspondent, writing at the time, thus speaks of him: " Old Jubal Early, or as General Lee calls him, his bad old man, has won a name during his sojourn in the Valley of Virginia of which he is well worthy. Did you ever see him? If not, you have missed one of the greatest curiosities of the war. Hle is a man of considerable corporosity, with a full face, which has the appearance of the full moon when it is at its height in redness. He is about six feet high, and of immense structure. His voice sounds like a cracked Chinese fiddle, and comes from his mouth somewhat in the style of a hardshell Baptist, with a long drawl, accompanied with an interpolation of oaths. In the winter his head is encased in a net striped woollen skull-cap, drawn down over his ears, while his body is contained within THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 553 the embraces of a Virginia cloth overcoat, striking his heels. His legs are covered by leggins of the same material, wrapped from the feet upwards as high as the knees with white tape. He is as brave as he is homely, and as homely as any man you ever saw, except Parson Brownlow, who is said to rival his Satanic Majesty in his personal appearance. There are many anecdotes related of old Jubal, but I cannot at present call to memory but one. During the battles in the Wilderness, on one occasion a regiment from South Carolina was ordered to charge the enemy. For some reason they faltered. Old Jubal hearing of it, rode up to the head of the column, and in that peculiar tone for which he is noted, cried out at the top of his voice,'Boys you got us into this d-d scrape, and -you shall help us out. Charge' The regiment rushed upon the foe, driving him from every position." After Kershaw left him, Early disposed his army in the following order: Ramseur's division of infantry, and'Wickham's division of cavalry (Fitz Lee having been placed in command of all the cavalry) were posted at Winchester. Wharton's division of infantry, and Lomax's division of' cavalry were at Stephenson's depot on the railroad, about five miles from Winchester. Rodes' and Gordon's divisions, under Early's immediate command, were marched to Martinsburg to destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Thus the army was scattered over twenty-two miles of country, and the separated portions were so weak that it would require but little effort on the part of the enemy to destroy them. Sheridan's position was such as to enable him to seriously endanger the safety of Early's communications, and the error into which the Confederate commander had fallen was so decided as to invite attack from the superior forces of the enemy. Hitherto General Sheridan had been held to a strict defensive by General Grant, but by the middle of September the Federal 70 554 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Commander-in-Chief became convinced that it was advisable to allow his lieutenant to carry out his aggressive designs, and accordingly ordered him to attack Early and destroy his army, leaving Sheridan unfettered by any further instructions. It so happened that this permission was accorded by General Grant just as Ecarly committed the fatal error of dividing his weak army in the presence of such a powerful adversary. Sheridan at once perceived the blunder, and determined to seize Winchester before Early could return to it, and on the afternoon of the 18th of September, marched from Berryville with his whole army. On the morning of the 18th, General Early, having finished his business at Martinsburg, set out on his return to Winchester, and, in total ignorance of Sheridan's movement, bivouacked that night with Gordon's and Rodes' divisions at Bunker Hill, twelve miles north of Winchester. At daylight on the morning of the 19th of September, the 6th corps of the Federal army, drove in the pickets at Winchester, and opened a sharp attack upon Ramseur's division, about fifteen hundred strong, posted beyond the town. Fitz Lee at once threw Wickham's cavalry division (also about fifteen hundred strong) on Ramseur's left, and these three thousand men held their ground bravely against nearly six times their numnber,* resisting successfully every attack until eleven o'clock, whien Early arrived from Bunker Hill with Rodes' division. Rodes' men were thrown forward to support Ramnseur, and in a short time General Rodes was killed. Gordon's division now came up, and was posted on the extreme left, and soon after Wharton and Lomax, made their appearance from the railroad, where they had been holding back Torbert's cavalry division which Sheridan had sent to cut off the divisions of Rodes and * The opposing forces were the 6th corps and Wilson's cavalry division of Sheridan's army. THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 555 Gordon in their march from Bunker Hill. The Southern cavalry were now transferred to the right to prevent Wilson's cavalry from gaining the Valley Turnpike in rear of Winchester. Just before Wharton arrived, Gordon made a gallant charge with his division, driving the enemy back in his front, but, venturing too far, was himself attacked and forced back, followed hotly by the enemy. The Federals were checked in their advance, and thrown into confusion by the horse artillery of Major Breathed, which had been concealed under the edge of a hill on Gordon's left, and then hurried to the crest immediately after the Federals had passed by in their pursuit of Gordon. Gordon, taking advantage of this, rallied his troops, and, before the enemy could recover from their confusion, made a furious charge upon them, and drove them from the field. It now seemed that the Federal army was to be defeated, and General Early began to congratulate himself upon his success, when suddenly the prize was wrested from his grasp, for at this moment the 8th corps (Crook's) arrived and took position on the Federal right, forcing Gordon to stop his advance, and fall back. Wharton's infantry now came up, and were placed on Gordon's left. At the same time Torbert's cavalry, which had been held in check by Wharton, arrived, and formed on Crook's right. Their line was semicircular in shape, cornpletely overlapping the Confederate left, and threatening the line of retreat of the army. At four o'clock, General Sheridan threw forward his army in a general charge, and his cavalry, sweeping around, fell upon the Confederate rear, and seemed by their great strength about to envelope the whole Southern army. The country was perfectly open, and the movement could be seen by the Confederates. Unable to resist any longer, and fearful of being surrounded, they broke in disorder, and fled rapidly through Winchester with the enemy in pursuit. 556 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Early's loss was over three thousand men, of whom twentyfive hundred were prisoners. Among the killed were Generals Rodes and Godwin. Five guns and nine battle-flags were also captured by the enemy. The Federal loss was'severe, including General Russell, a division commander of the 6th corps, killell. * General Early retreated to Fisher's Hill, near Strasburg, and occupied a position of great strength. Concerning this position, a Confederate officer has well said: " When Early took a position on the great range of hills above Strasburg, and waited to be attacked, he committed an error under the circumstances, which the General himself, at this day, would probably acknowledge. The ground there is unsuitable to receive an attack upon, unless the force standing on the defensive is strong enough to reach from mountain to mountain. General Jackson is said to have expressed this opinion, and it is certain that he never made a standl there. General Early did so, and was flanked on the left." Sheridan followed Early closely, and on the 22nd of September, moved forward to make a direct attack on the Confederate position, at the same time, sending two divisions of cavalry under Torbert by the Luray Valley, to gain New Market, twenty miles in Early's rear. Perceiving that Early was not strong enough to avail himself of the advantages of his position, Sheridan sent a corps of infantry to turn the Southern left at North * HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, September 20. "HON. JAMES A. SEDDON: ~' General Early reports that, on the morning of the 19th, the enemy advanced on Winchester, near which place he met his attack, which was resisted from early in the day till near night,when he was compelled to retire. After night he fell back to Newtown, and this morning to Fisher's Hill. Our loss reported to be severe. Major-General Rodes and Brigadier-General Godwin were killed, nobly doing their duty. Three pieces of artillery, of King's battalion, were-lost. The trains and supplies were brought off safely. (Signed,) R. E. LEE THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 557 Mountain. This was accomplished, and at the same time an attack was made in front. Early's line was broken, his troops driven from their intrenchments, and forced to retreat up the Valley with the loss of sixteen guns, and several hundred prisoners. i General Sheridan expected to capture Early's army, as he.as confident that Torbert would be able to occupy New Market, and thus close Early's line of retreat. This would have occurred but for the gallant stand made by the small cavalry divibion of General Wickham, on the same day. This little band held the Federal cavalry in check at Milford all day, and thus enabled General Early to secure his retreat to the upper passes of the Blue Ridge. By this time, Early had less than five thousand men, and had lost more than half of his artillery. Sheridan pursued as far as Staunton, and there, after destroying a part of the Virginia Central Railroad, withdrew his army behind Cedar Creek. The successes of General Sheridan were stained with cruelties and barbarism. During his advance and withdrawal, he made the Valley a desert, inflicting such suffering upon its inhabitants as they had never known before. Not even Pope or Hunter had gone so far in this inhuman work. General Sheridan shall tell his own story. In his dispatch to his Government, he says: "' In moving back to this point, the whole country, from the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain, has been made entirely untenable for a rebel army. I have destroyed over two thousand barns filled with wheat and hay and farming implements; over seventy mills filled with flour and wheat; have driven in front of the army over four thousand head of stock, and have killed and issued to the troops not less than three thousand sheep This destruction embraces the Luray Valley and the Little Fort Valley, as well as the main Valley."* * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 560. 558 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The destruction of crops and provisions is always an extreme measure, and is resorted to by humane commanders with great reluctance; for, while it is true that these supplies, if not destroyed, go to subsist the enemy, it is also true that their destruction entails great suffering upon unoffending non-combatants. Still, as a means of crippling an enemy, the destruction is allowable. But nothing can be said in vindication of the destruction of the mills and agricultural implements, to destroy which was simply to bring the inhabitants of the Valley to a state of starvation, and to curse them with poverty long after the close of the war. It was an act unworthy of the source from which it emanated, and which must always remain a stain upon the fame of him who ordered and him who performed it. A Northern writer, whose devotion to the Union does not warp his sense of justice, thus refers to General Sheridan's conduct:"' This dread bulletin recites acts some of which are indefensible. The destruction of the crops, provisions, and forage was allowable; for this deprived the enemy of immediate subsistence, and operated to the end to induce him to surrender. But the burning of the mills and farming implements cannot be justified, for that was to inflict vengeance upon the country for many years to come. It may, indeed, be said that the desolation of the Slhenandoah Valley was a special measure designed to cover the frontier of the loyal States from invasion; but this, though plausible. is not a sufficient reason. I have cited, above, the destruction of the Palatinate, and the case is quite in point, both in respect to the act itself and the verdict history will pronounce thereon.' When,' says a legal writer of the highest authority,' the French armies desolated with fire and sword the Palatinate in 1674, and again in 1689, there was a general outcry throughout Europe against such a mode of carrying on war; and when the French minister, Louvois, alleged that the THE VALLEY CAMPA.IGN. 559 object in view was to cover the French frontier against the invasion of the enemy, the advantage which France derived from the act was universally held to be inadequate to the suffering inflicted, and the act itself to be, therefore, unjustifiable."' * General Sheridan was not alone to blame in these outrages. tIe was acting under the orders of General Grant.t After retiring to the Upper Valley, General Early was reenforced by Kershaw's division, now reduced to twenty-seven hundred men, and about six hundred cavalry. His losses in artillery were also made up, and his force amounted to about nine thousand men, and Sorty pieces of artillery. On the 9th of October Rosser's cavalry, which was harassing Sheridan's rear, were attacked and routed on the Strasburg Turnpike, with a loss of eleven pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners. Early continued to move down the turnpike, and by the 18th of October arrived at Cedar Creek, between Strasburg and Winchester. He found the Federal army posted along the east bank of Cedar Creek, behind intrenchments admirably located. The 6th corps (temporarily under General Ricketts), was on the right, the 19th (Emory's) in the centre, and the 8th (Crook's) on the left. The cavalry divisions of Custar and Merritt were posted on the right, and that of Averill on the left. Owing to the temporary absence of General Sheridan, the army was commanded by General Wright. The Federal position was very strong, and Early's force very * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 560. t It is true that General Grant wrote to Sheridan on the 5th of August, " It is not desirable that the buildings should be destroyed,- they should rather be protected"; but he also wrote to the same officer, at a later date,-' Do all the damage you can to the railroad and crops. Carry off stock of all descriptions, and negroes, so as to prevent further planting. If the war is to last another year, let the Shenandoah Valley remain a bartren aste.-U. S. GRANT." New York Herald, October 5, 1864. 560 LIFE OF GENERAL LEEweak, yet, by surprising the enemy and striking a powerful and unexpected blow, General Early hoped to gain a victory. He resolved, therefore, to attack at once, making a feint with artillery and cavalry against the enemy's right, while with his infantry he would fall upon their left, where the 8th corps was posted. He began his march at midnight on the 18th, and hurried on all night over a rugged road, where sometimes his men could scarcely keep their footing, moving towards the north fork of the Shenandoah, which was crossed at dawn by a ford about a mile to the east of the mouth of Ceda; Creek. This march of seven miles was successfully performed, and when daylight came, the movement was hidden from the enemy by a thick fog. The enemy had no idea of the danger which threatened them, and, moving on quickly, Early brought his infantry in the rear of the Federal left flank, while the troops of that army were either/at breakfast or in bed. It was the anniversary of the surrender of Yorktown to the Continental army, —the 19th of October, -a glorious day for a victory, and it seemed that a great success was-now within Early's grasp. Rapidly forming his line, he swept down upon Crook's camp, driving everything before him, and at the sound of his guns the force he had left in front of the Federal right crossed the creek, and drove back that part of the line (the 19th corps) upon the 6th corps, which was posted a little in the rear in reserve. The camp of the enemy, with everything it contained, eighteen pieces of artillery, and fifteen hundred prisoners, were captured. The surprise was complete, and the enemy, bewildered and panic-stricken, were flying down the Valley Turnpike, while Early, firing rapidly from the guns he had taken, moved on steadily in pursuit. Seeing that it was his only chance for rallying and reuniting his army, General Wright ordered the 6th corps to retreat, and THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 561 fell back, covering the flight of the fugitives. Upon reaching Middletown, General Wright attempted to rally his men, and take up a position to resist Early's advance. The Confederates followed closely, and made a threateni-ng demonstration against the Federal left, when Wrigrht resumed his retreat down the Valley. The Confederates now abandoned the pursuit, and the majority of them also forsook their colors, and commenced to plunder the captured camp, which was rich in spoils. By this outrageous conduct, - which General Early seems to have tried to check, -the army was demoralized, and the fruits of its brilliant victory lost. When General Wright retreated beyond Middletown he was by no means cn route for Winchester, as General Early supposed. At the first suitable position between Middletown and Newtown, he halted and re-formed his line, and by half past ten o'clock A. I. was in readiness either to meet a new attack from Early, or to try tto regain his lost camp. At this moment, General Sheridan, who had heard the firinig at Winchester, " twenty miles away,".,at daybreak, and who had ridden hard all morning to reach the field in time, arrived. Although his presence greatly encouraged his men, General Wright had re-formed the army and opened the way for the victory which followed. Sheridan waited for sometime to receive Early's attack, but finding that the latter did not advance. moved back to regain his lost camp. His task was an easy one. Early's men were utterly demoralized, and had lost all spirit.. Gordon's division gave way at once, KIershaw's and Ramnseur's quickly followed, and the army was soon in rapid and disorderly flight up the Valley. Sheridan halted his infantry in his old camp, and sent his cavalry across the creek in pursuit. This force harassed the Confederates as far as Strasburg, when' the darkness put an end to the operations. Early halted for the 71 362 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. night at Fisher's Hill, and the next day continued his retreat southward. Sheridan recaptured all the guns he had lost in the morning and took twenty-three others besides, he also retook his camp, and captured fifteen hundred prisoners, as many as he had' lost in the early part of the day. After this defeat General Early issued the following address to his troops: "HEADQUARTERS VALLEY DISTRICT, October 22, 1864. "SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE VALLEY: " I had hoped to have congratulated you on the splendid victory won by you on the morning of the 19th at Belle Grove, on Cedar Creek, when you surprised and routed two corps of Sheridan's army and drove back several miles the remaining corps, capturing eighteen pieces of artillery, one thousand five hundred prisoners, a number of colors, a large quantity of small arms, and many wagons and ambulances, with the entire camps of the two routed corps; but I have the mortification of announcing to you that, by your subsequent misconduct, all the benefits of that victory were lost and a serious disaster incurred. Had you remained steadfast 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 reverses at Winchester and Fisher's Hill, and entitled yourselves to the admiration and gratitude of your country. But many of you, including some commissioned officers, yielding to a disgraceful propensity for plunder, deserted your colors to appropriate to yourselves the abandoned property of the enemy, and subsequently those who had previously remained at their posts, seeing their ranks thinned by the absence of thle plunderers, when the enemy, late in the afternoon, with his shattered columns, made but a feeble effort to retrieve the fortunes of the day, yielded THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 563 to a needless panic and fled the field in confusion, thereby converting a splendid victory into a disaster. " Had any respectable number of you listened to the appeals made to you, and made a stand, even at the last moment, the disaster vould have been averted and the substantial fruits of victory secured; but under the insane dread of being flanked, and a panic-stricken terror of the enemy's cavalry, you would listen to no appeal, threat, or order, and allowed a small body ofcavalry to penetrate to our train, and carry off a number of pieces of artillery and wagons, which your disorder left unprotected. You have thus obscured that glorious fame won in conjunction with the gallant men of the Army of Northern Virginia, who still remain proudly defiant in the trenches around Richmond and Petersburg. Before you can again claim them as comrades, you will have to erase fiom your escutcheons the blemishes which now obscure them; and this you can do if you will but be true to your former reputation, your country and your homes. You who have fought at Manassas, Richmond, Sharpsburt, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and fiom the Wilderness to the banks of James River; and especially you who were with the immortal Jackson in all his triumphs, are cajpable of better things. " Arouse yourselves, then, to a sense of your manhood and appreciation of the sacred cause in which you are enagaged! Yield to the mandates of discipline; resolve to stand by your colors in future at all hazards, and you can yet retrieve your reputation and strike effective blows for your country and its cauLse. Let every man spurn from him the vile plunder gathered on the field of the 19th; and let no man, whatever his rank, whether combatant or non-combatant, dare exhibit his spoils of that day. They will be badges of his dishonor; the insignia of' his disgrace. The officer who pauses in the career of victory to place a guard over a sutler's wagon, for his private use, is as 564 LIFF, OF GENERAL LEE. bad as the soldier who halts to secure for himself the abandoned clothing or money of a flying foe, and they both sell the honor of the army and the blood of their country for a paltry price. IHe who follows his colors into the ranks of the enemy in pursuit of victory, disdaining the miserable passion for gathering booty, comes out of the battle with his honor untarnished; and thouIgh barefooted and ragged, is far more to be envied than he who is laden with rich spoils gathered in the trail of his victorious comrades. There were some exceptions to the general misconduct on the afternoon of the 19th, but it would be difficult to specify them all. Let those who did their duty be satisfied with the consciousness of having done it, and mourn that their efforts were paralyzed by the misbehavior of others. Let them be consoled, to some extent, by the reflection that the enemy has nothing to boast of on his part. "The artillery and wagons taken were not won by his valor. His camps were destroyed, his army terribly shattered and demoralized, his losses far heavier than ours, even in proportion to the relative strength of the armies; his plans materially impeded; and he was unable to pursue by reason of his crippled condition. Soldiers of the Army of the Valley, I do not speak to you in anger; I wish to speak in kindness, though in sorrow. My purpose is to show you the causes of our late misfortune, and point out the way to avoid similar ones in future, and ensure success to our arms. Success can only be secured by the enforcement and observance of the most rigid discipline. Officers, whatever their rank, must not only give orders, but set the example of obeying them, and the men must follow that example. " Fellow-soldiers, I am ready to lead you again in defence of our common cause, and I appeal to you, by the remembrance of the glorious career in which you have formerly participated, by the woes of your bleeding country, the ruined homes and devastated fields you see around you, the cries of anguish which come THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 565 up from the widows and orphans of your dead comrades, the horrors which await you and all that is yours in the future. if your country is subjugated, and your hopes of freedom for yourselves and your posterity, to render a cheerful and willing obedience to the rules of discipline, and to shoulder your muskets again with the determination never more to turn your backs upon the foe, but to do battle like men and soldiers until the last vestige of the footsteps (,f our barbarous and cruel enemies is erased from the soil they desecrate, and the independence of our country is firmly established. If you will do this, and rely upon the protecting care of a just and merciful God, all will be well; you will again be what you once were, and I will be proud to lead you once more to battle. J. A. EARLY, Lieutenant-General." The battle of Cedar Creek was the last event of importance in the Valley campaign, and practically closed it. The defeat experienced by General Early and the desolation of the Valley by General Sheridan, made it impossible for a Confederate army to remain in that region. Towards the close of the fall, the.remains of Gordon's, Ramseur's and Rodes' divisions (the old 2d corps) were placed under General Gordon's command, and sent back to Petersburg. Breckenridge's division was transferred to Southwestern Virginia, and almost all of the cavalry were fur* loughed for the winter, the Government being unable to provideforage for the horses. General Early was left in command of the Valley Department, with his headquarters at Staunton, and the wreck of Wharton's division comprised his army. His failures made the unfortunate general the object of a great deal of the popular indignatidn, more in fact than he deserved, and this ran so high that towards the close of the war, General Lee was compelled to relieve him of his command. Yet, sympathizing with him, General Lee sought to soften his mortification by the following generous letter: 566 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. "HEADQUARTER:2S C. S. ARMIES, March 30, 1865. "LIEUT. GEN. J. A. EARLY, Franklin C. H. V. a. "DEAR SIR: My telegram will have informed you that I deem a change of commanders in your department necessary, but it is due to your zealous and patriotic services that I should explain the reasons that prompted my action. The situation of affairs is such that we cannot neglect any means calculated to develop the resources we possess to the greatest extent, and make them as efficient as possible. To this end it is essential that we should have the cheerful and hearty support of the people and the full confidence of the soldiers, without which our means of resistance is weakened. " I have reluctantly arrived at the conclusion that you cannot command the united and willing cooperation which is so essential to success. Your reverses in the Valley, of which the public and the army judge chiefly by the results, have, I fear, impaired your influence both with the people and the soldiers, and would add greatly to the difficulties which will, under any circumstances, attend our military operations in Southwestern Virginia. While my own confidence in your ability, zeal, and devotion to the cause is unimpaired, I have nevertheless felt that I could not oppose what seems to be the current of opinion without injustice to your reputation and injury to the service. I therefore felt constrained to endeavor to find a commander who would be more likely to develop the strength and resources of the country, and inspire the soldiers with confidence; and to accomplish this purpose thought it proper to yield my own opinion, and defer to that of those to whom alone we can look for support. I am sure that you will understand and appreciate my motives, and that no one will be more ready than yourself to acquiesce in any measures which the interests of the country may seem to require, regardless of all personal WINTER QUARTERS. 567 considerations. Thanking you for the fidelity and energy with which you have always supported my efforts, and for the courage and devotion you have ever manifested in the service of the country, I am, very respectfully and truly, Your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, Genzeral." VI. WINTER QUARTERS. When active operations ceased before Petersburg, both armies went into winter quarters, - the Federals surrounded by every comfort that their Government could furnish them with, and the Confederates to brave out the long, cold season, and battle with hunger and privation with little to encourage them, and a Government too indifferent to care for their sufferings. During the winter the citizens of Richmond and Petersburg prepared to give Lee's army a New Year's dinner. Contributions were liberally made, but owing to the unfortunate manner in which the distribution of the provisions was conducted, the good intentions of the citizens were practically defeated.* * The following letter humorously describes the disappointment of the army: "I presume thousands of rebels, like myself, expected really a good treat to the inner man, and plenty of it, basing their expectations upon the colossal preparations in Richmond, the great number of Confederate dollars contributed by worthy and patriotic citizens, the glaring articles in the newspapers, and the names of the gentlemen who composed the committee, satisfied all of them that it would be a good thing; and, laboring under these impressions, we prepared accordingly, setting our incisors. The quartermaster and commissary were to have nothing to do with the sumptuous feast, nor were they 568 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The army suffered very greatly for food during the winter. Matters had, indeed, reached such a condition that it was impossible, whether the Confederacy was successful or conquered in the spring, to avert the horrors of a famine -such as visited the South after the failure of the great struggle. This, as I lhave said so often, was brought about by the gross mismanagement of the Confederate Commissariat. When the campaign in Northern Virginia began in May 1864, the Commissary-General had only two days' rations for General Lee's army in Richmond. On the 23rd of June, there were but thirteen days' rations on hand, and on that day the Federal cavalry cut the Danville Railroad, which was not repaired for twenty-three days, and to prevent the troops from starving in the meantime, Colonel Northrop was forced to buy uncut or unshocked wheat in the field at market rates. General Lee repeatedly urged the Goverment to collect thirty days' reserves of provisions at Richmond and Lynchburg, but his advice invited to partake. Well, on Monday night notice was received at regiment headquarters to send a detail of men, with an officer, to brigade headquarters to receive our quota. [None of the committee have, as yet, made their appearance.] They soon returned with two barrels, holding the.dinner. The contents were soon made visible by knocking in the heads. I will give you a list of the contents for the entire regiment, numbering two hundred and sixty men and officers: Thirty-two ordinary-size loaves of bread; two turkeys, one of them a very diminutive specimen of that species of fowl, (some swore that it was a chicken); a quarter of lamb and a horse-bucketfull of apple butter. Well, of course this immense weight of provender had to be divided out to the various companies. After our company had received its due proportion, the whole lot was, by unanimous consent of the company, (numbering thirty men,) condensed into six parts, and by a species of lottery, all thirty participating, the six "piles " fell to six men; so twenty-four received nothing, and six all. I was on picket at the time, but found, upon my return to canlp, that I was one of the successful six, and got the leg of a turkey and a half-pound of mutton, which I soon disposed of, with some fried bacon, red pepper, salt, water, and flour to thicken, making a French dish, which I leave for you to name. So ended our New-Year's dinner. No blame is attached to any one. The undertaking was too great an one; so say all the troops." WINTER QUARTERS. 569 was suffered to pass unheeded, and the army was constantly kept in a state of suffering. On the- 5th of December, the Commissary-General stated that he had on hand nine days' rations for General Lee's army, and at this time General Lee informed the Government that his troops were deserting for want of food -the rations issued to them being hardly sufficient to sustain life- and urged prompt action. As might have been expected, the Government took no steps to remedy the evil, and on the 14th of December, General Lee informed the President that' his army was without meat. Fortunately several vessels loaded with supplies had just arrived at Wilmington, and provisions were hurried forward to Petersburg and Richmond. But for this, the army would have been forced to disband or starve. The condition of the Confederacy with respect to food was thus stated in secret session in the Confederate Congress:' First, That there was not meat enough in the Southern Confederacy for the armies it had in the field. Second, That there was not in Virginia either meat or bread enough for the armies within her limits. Third, That the bread supply from other places depended absolutely upon the keeping open the railroad connections of the South. Fourth, That the meat must be obtained from abroad through a seaport, and by a different system fromt that which prevailed. Ffifth, That the bread could not be had by impressment, but must be paid for in market rates. Sixth, That the payments must be made in cash, which, so far, had not been furnished, and from present indications could not be, and, if possible, in a better medium than that at present circulating. Seventh, That the transportation was not now adequate, from whatever cause, to mbet the necessary demands of the service. Eighth, That the supply of fresh meat to General Lee's army was precarious, and if the army fell back from Rich72 570 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. mond and Petersburg, there was every probability that it would cease altogether." * Still the Government delayed, and spent the winter without accomplishing anything, until within a few weeks of the close of the war, when an impracticable scheme was adopted to purchase supplies by paying specie for them. Meanwhile the soldiers were starving. In this time of suffering and privation it was to be expected that the President, as the head of the nation, would give to the people an example of self-denial, which mnight cheer and encourage them in their trials. I regret to say that Mr. Davis pursued an opposite course. The following Bill, which was gotten through Congress by his friends, is a specimen of his conduct: " FORAGE, FUEL AND LIGHTS FOR THE PRESIDENT. " Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported the following bill, which was considered and passed: 6"A bill to provide for the lighting and warming of the Executive mansion, and for the supply of forage and commissary stores for the use of the Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy of the Confederate States. " The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, 1st, That it shall be the duty of the Quartermaster-General to provide fuel and lights necessary for the Executive mansion, and forage for six horses for the use of the Comrnmander-inChief of the army and navy of the Confederate States.; 4" 2. That it shall be the duty of the Commissary-General to furnish the Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy of the Confederate States.the same commissary supplies, and upon the same terms as are now allowed by law to commissioned officers in the field; and the quantity of commissary supplies allowed * The Lost Cause, pp. 648, 649, 650. WINTER QUARTERS. 571 to be drawn and purchased by the Commander-in-Chief shall be double the quantity allowed to a general in the field; Provided, That in case hereafter the annual salary of said Commander-inChief shall be paid in par funds, the value of the forage and subsistence given him by this act, and which may be furnished during the period in which payment of said salary in par funds is made, shall be deducted from his salary in the settlement of his account." This too when the army was starving, and a large part of the cavalry in the field had to be disbanded for want of forage. In the spring of 1864-65, Confederate Treasury Notes were worth less than two cents in the dollar. A loaf of bread was worth three dollars in Richmond and Petersburg, and a month's pay would scarcely purchase the most trifling article of clothing. Yet, with its money so greatly depreciated as to be almost worthless, the Government was greatly in debt to the army. Not a single man had been given his full pay, and thousands had not received a cent for two years. It would have been some comfort to the men to see the Government meet its obligations, and a still greater comfort to have been able to send the money to those who were starving at home. Yet this was denied them. Mr. Davis and his Aids drew their pay promptly, but the men in the trenches were supposed to have no use for money. When the reader remembers that General Lee's army was the most favored of all the Southern forces, it will not be difficult to imagine the condition of the remainder. The Conscription had ceased to bring forth men. On the 31st of December General Lee declared that it was diminishing rather than increasing the strength of his army. A pernicious system of details also contributed to bring down his force; and it was a fact which the army did not fail to notice that these details were granted to few but the rich or influential. Rich men, in some way, managed to escape mili 572 LIFE OF GENERAL LET1. tary service altogether, and men vWho were unfit for service by reason of silkness and disease were hurried off to the army to linger out a miserable existence. Indeed as early as the fall of 1864, the Surgeon-General of the Confederacy declared that no man out,'ht to be excused who could serve twenty-four hours in the field, and this inhuman idea was carried out. The result was that the people set themselves against the Conscription, and frequcntly resisted the enrolling officers with arms. In view of all this, it was not strange that the troops deserted at a frightful rate. Extravagant as the assertion may seem, it is nevertheless true that no Government ever did so much as the Confederacy to force its army to desert, for no army was ever so badly treated, or with such system. It was with difficulty that the men could be kept together. Hundreds deserted to the enemy, and fully twice as many went home. One of the chief cauases of the evil was the weakness of the President. Ile steadily opposed the enforcing of the law against deserters, and finally it came to be generally understood that no one need fear being shot for desertion, as a commutation of the sentence, if not a pardon, was sure to be granted by the Executive. If the army was to be kept together, it was necessary that rigid measures should be enforced. The matter was brought before the Government about the last of November by a statement from General Longstreet, who had returned to duty. He said, " Over one hundred of General Pickett's men are in the guard-house for desertion, and the cause of it may be attributed to the numerous reprieves, no one being executed for two months." General Lee indorsed on this paper, " Desertion is increasing ini the army, notwithstanding all my efforts to stop it. I think a rigid execution of the law is mercy in the end. The great want in our army is firm discipline." This paper was submitted to the Secretary of War, who referred it to the President "6 for his information." Mr. Davis returned it with WINTER QUARTERS. 573 the followine indorsement. "When deserters a.'e arrested they should be tried, and if the sentences are reviewed and remitted, that is not a proper subject for the criticism of a military comnmander. Jeff. Davs;s- November 29, 1864." * During the winter the Virginia delegation in Congress, headed by Mr. Bocock, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, waited on the President, and informed him that they had no confidence in his Cabinet. Mr. Davis treated the address with contempt, and when Mr. Seddon, feeling himself the principal object of this censure, offered his resignation as Secretary of War, the President endeavored to induce him to retain his position, and took occasion to declare that he would in no way change either the policy or course of his administration. Mr. Davis' besetting sin was his contempt for the wishes of the people whose servant he was under the Constitution, but whose master he aspired to be, and virtually beca:mne. His election to the Presidency was a great misfortune to the South, for he proved himself incapable of executing the task assigned him. The people were slow to believe this, but the truth was forced upon them, and when the month of April 1865 opened, Mr. Davis was the most unpopular public man in the South. The resignation of Mr. Seddon, who was succeeded, too late to accomplish anything, by General Breckenridge, was followed by that of Colonel Northrop, whose place was given to Colonel St. John. The Government, at the opening of the year 1864, estimated that the Conscription would place four hundred thousand troops in the field. This hope was not realized, and in order to supply the deficiency it was proposed to arm the slaves. A large number of them were employed in the army as laborers, engineer troops, and teamsters, and had given great satisfaction by their efforts, and it was believed that they could be Diary of a Rebel War Clerk. Vol. II, pp. 343, 344. 574 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. made to fill up the ranks. They had been found to be good soldiers in the Federal army, and it was believed that they would accomplish still more in the Confederate army. It is my intention to refer to this matter very briefly, and only so far as it concerns General Lee. The limits of this work forbid a full discussion of it. General Lee favored the proposition, and did all in his power to induce the Government to adopt it. His views are stated at length in the following letter: "HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES, February 18, 1865. "HON. E. BARKSDALE, House of Representatives, Richmond: "C SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, with reference to the employment of negroes as soldiers. I think the measure not only expedient but necessary. The enemy will certainly use them against us if he can get possession of them; and, as his present numerical superiority' will enable him to penetrate many parts of the country, I cannot see the wisdom of the policy of holding them to await his arrival, when we may, by timely action and judicious management, use them to arrest his progress. I do not think that our white population can supply the necessities of a lon( war without overtaxing its caplacity, and imposing great sufferincg upon our peopile; and I believe we should provide resources for a protracted struggle, - not merely for a battle or a camrl)aign. "In answer to your second question, I can only say that, in in my ol)inion, the negroes, under proper circumstances, will make efficient soldiers. I think we could at least do as well with them as the enemy, and he attaches great importance to their assistance. Under good officers and good instructions, I do not see why they should not become soldiers. They possess WINTER QUARTERS. 575 all the physical qualifications, and their habits of obedience constitute a good foundation for discipline. They furnish a more promising material than many armies of which we read in history, which owed their efficiency to discipline alone. I think those who are employed should be freed. It would be neither just nor wise, in my opinion, to require them to serve as slaves. The best course to pursue, it seems to me, would be to call for such as are willing to come with the consent of their owners. An impressment or draft would not be likely to bring out the best class, and the use of coercion would make the measure distasteful to them and to their owners. " I have no doubt that if Congress would authorize their reception into service, and empower the President to call upon individuals or States for such as they are willing to contribute, with the condition of' emancipation to all enrolled, a sufficient number would be forthcoming to enable us to try the experiment. If it proved successful, most of the objections to the measure would disappear, and if individuals still remained unwillino to send their negroes to the army, the force of public opinion in the States would soon bring about such legislation as would remove all obstacles. I think the matter should be left, as far as possible, to the people and to the States, which alone can legislate as the necessities of this particular service may require. As to the mode of organizing them, it should be left as free from restraint as possible. Experience will suggest the best course, and it would be inexpedient to trammel the subject with provisions that might, in the end, prevent the adoption of reforms suggested by actual trial. With great respect, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General." The proposition to arm the slaves was made in November 1864. It was not passed until March 1865, and then the Bill 576 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. studiously set aside the recommendation of General Lee. Ths reward of freedom was not held out to the slaves. The law merely authorized the President to accept such slaves as the masters might choose to put into the military service. In short, no indulcement was to be offered to the negro; he was to be forced to fight for his own captivity. The law having passed in this,form, it was not reasonable to expect to raise black troops. Still the effort was made, and it failed. The measure was also passed too late. General Lee wanted the negroes in the fall, so that they might be trained to their duties during the winter, but Congress trifled away the time, and the opportunity for making soldiers of the blacks was lost forever. Had these troops been raised, it is doubtful whether anything could have been accomplished with them. They would have been so many more men to feed, and would have increased the sufferings of the army. The measure proposed to put two hurdred thousand black troops in the field, and at that time there were not arms enough in the South to enable the returned prisoners to go back to (luty. It is difficult to understand how the negroes would have been armed; and besides, it was not reasonable to suppose that they would under any circumstances fight for a slaveholding Government. In January, 1865, an effort was made to secure peace. An interview was held between President Lincoln, Secretarv Seward, and others, on the Federal side, and Vice-President Stephens, Senator IIunter, and others, on the Confederate side, on board of a steamer in Hampton Roads, but nothing was accomplished. Towards the last of February, General LonIstreet was informed by General Ord of the Federal army, that General Grant was willing to meet General Lee for the purpose of settling the terms of an honorable peace, provided General Lee WINTER QUARTERS. 577 was authorized to act in the matter. President Davis at once conferred upon General Lee full powers, and the Confederate commander notified General Grant that he was ready to open the negotiation. It proved, however, that General Ord had misinformed General Longstreet, having mistaken General Grant's meaning. The following correspondence passed between the two commanders: - " IHEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES, March 2, 1865. " LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, commanding United States Armies: "' GENERAL: Lieutenant-General Longstreet has informed me that in a recent conversation between himself and MajorGeneral Ord as to the possibility of arriving at a satisfactory adjustment of the present unhappy difficulties, by means of a military convention, General Ord stated that if I desired to have an interview with you on the subject, you would not decline, provided I had authority to act. Sincerely desiring to leave nothing untried which may put an end to the calamities of war, I propose to meet you at such convenient time and place as you may designate, with the hope that upon an interchange of views it may be found practicable to submit the subjects of controversy between the belligerents to a convention of the kind mentioned. " In such event I am authorized to do whatever the result of the proposed interview may render necessary or advisable. Should you accede to this proposition, I would suggest that, if agreeable to you, we meet at the place selected by Generals Ord and Longstreet for the interview, at 11 A. M., on Monday next. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed) R. E. LEE, General." 73 578 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " HEADQUARTERS ARMIES UNITED STATESi March 4, 1865. " GENERAL R. E. LEE, commanding Confederate States Armies: "GENERAL: Your two letters of the 20th instant were received yesterday. In regard to any apprehended misunderstanding in reference to the exchange of political prisoners, I think there need be none. General Ord or General Longstreet have probably misunderstood what I said to the former on the subject, or I may have failed to make myself understood, possibly. A few days before the interview between Generals Longstreet and Ord, I had received a dispatch from General I-loffman, Commissary-General of prisoners, stating in substance that all prisoners of war who were or had been in close confinement or irons, whether under charges or sentences, had been ordered to City Point for exchange. I forwarded the substance of that; dispatch to Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford, Assistant Agent of Exchange, and presumed it probable that he had communicated it to Colonel Robert Ould. A day or two after, an offender, who was neither a prisoner of war nor a political prisoner, was executed, after a f{ir and impartial trial, and in accordance with the laws of war and the usage of civilized nations. It was in explanation of this class of cases I told General Ord to speak to General Longstreet. " Reference to my letter of February 16th will show my understanding on the subject of releasing political or citizen prisoners. "In regard to meeting you on the 6th instant, I would state that I have no authority to accede to your proposition for a conference on the subject proposed. Such authority is vested in the President of the United States alonee " General Ord could only have meant that I would not refuse an interview on any subject upon which I have a right to act, which, of course, would be such as are purely of a military WINTER QUARTERS. 579 character and on the subject of exchange, which has been entrusted to me. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed) U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." This last effort for peace having failed, like the first, there was nothing left to the South but to fight the war out to its close. 580 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. XII. THE LAST STRUGGLE. FEBRUARY- APRIL, 1865. GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. WHEN the New Year dawned, matters in the South were in a desperate condition. The people had lost confidence in the President, in the Congress, and in everything but the army; the supply of food was almost exhausted; the army was starving, and all classes were reduced to poverty and want; the Federals held possession of the greater portion of the Southern territory, and were closing in up6n the principal armies of the Confederacy. Everywhere ruin threatened the cause. The' loss of confidence in the Government was natural enough. It had done nothing to merit trust, for its course had been a series of blunders from its very inauguration, and now, when the danger which threatened the country was so great, the President and Congress were involved in a disgraceful quarrel, each charging the other with being responsible for the state of affairs, and neither doing anything to encourage the people. In this hour of darkness the country turned to General Lee, as its last hope. During the entire period between June 1862 GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 581 and April 1865, he was the only public man whose wisdom was believed in throughout the country, and whose integrity was never impeached; and now men came to the conclusion that if the cause was not already lost, General Lee was the only person capable of saving it. For several years there had been a growing desire to see him at the head of all the armies of the South, for since the fall of Vicksburg, it had been the chief wish of the people to take the control of the armies away from the President, in whose military capacity they had no confidence. Now the demand was made too powerfully to be resisted. The Legislature of Virginia passed a resolution declaring, that " the appointment of General Robert E. Lee to the command of all the armies of the Confederate States would promote their efficiency and operate powerfully to reanimate the spirits of the armies, as well as of the people of the several States, and to inspire increased confidence in the finall success of our cause."'This resolution was communicated to the President, who replied: " The opinion expressed by the General Assembly in regard to General R. E. Lee, has my full concurrence. Virginia cannot have a higher regard for him, or greater confidence in his character and ability, than is entertained by me. When General Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, he was in command of all the armies of the Confederate States by my order of assignment. He continued in this general command, as well as in the immediate command of the Army of Northern Virginia, as long as I would resist his opinion that it was necessary for him to be relieved from one of these two duties. Ready as he has ever shown himself to be to perform any service that I desired him to render to his country, he left it to me to choose between his withdrawal from the command of the army in the field, and relieving him of the general command of all the armies of the Confederate States. It was aoly 582 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. when satisfied of this necessity that I came to the conclusion to relieve him from the general command, believing that the safety of the Capital and the success of our cause depended, in a great measure, on then retaining him in the command in the field of the Army of Northern Virginia. On several subsequent occasions, the desire on my part to enlarge the sphere of General Lee's usefulness, has led to renewed considerations of the subject, and he has always expressed his inability to assume command of other armies than those now confided to him, unless relieved of the immediate command in the field of that now opposed to General Grant." President Davis was right. General Lee had always shunned prominence. With a soldier's modesty, he had never sought to Ehrust himself forward, and had been satisfied to do his duty in whatever position he was placed by the lawful authority of the country. Besides this, he was warmly attached to the President, and this friendship made him blind to Mr. Davis' faults. Mr. Davis was the Constitutional President of the Confederacy, and General Lee felt it his duty to sustain him in that position, and while his personal friendship prompted him to defend the individual, his sense of duty made him quick to condemn any attack upon the official. Thee kindly relations existing between them were never disturbed during the war, and to the last each possessed the other's perfect confidence. The position, however, which General Lee held in the spring of 1862, was not what the people now designed for him. Then he was acting " under the direction of the President;" now it was proposed to place the office of Commander-in-Chief beyond the control of the President. The truth is, the people and Congress wished to make General Lee a military dictator, as. the last hope of saving'the cause, and it is not likely, when it is remembered how extremely jealous of his power was Mr. Davis, that such a step was viewed with any favor by the GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 583 Executive, even though the choice of the nation fell apon one so universally beloved as General Lee. It is certain that when the Bill creating the office of Commander-in-Chief was put upon its final passage in the House of Representatives, in secret session, fourteen members, friends of the President, voted against it.* H-owever this may be, the Bill was passed, and approved by the Executive, and on the 5th day of February 1865, a general order from the Adjutant-General's Office, directed General Lee to enter upon his new duties. General Lee had not sought the high rank now bestowed upon him, and it came to him so unmistakably the act of the nation, that he felt he had no right to refuse it. Much regret has been expressed that he did not make a greater use of the dictatorial power thus confided to him. Whether, in the then hopeless condition of affairs, he could have done more than prolong the war, even had he taken the whole power of the Government into his own hands, as the people and army desired, is very doubtful. The cause of the South was doomed already, and no human power could have saved it at that late day. General Lee's choice was made in view of the obligations resting upon him, and with a sincere desire to promote the interests of his country. If he erred he but proved himself human, and those who regret the decision he made will always respect it, and honor the patriotism which induced it. * "When the vote came to be taken upon the proposition to put Lee in command of all the Confederate armies, Senator Henry of Tennessee, long the constant and intelligent friend of President Davis -indeed the leader of his party in the Confederate Senate - felt constrained to vote for this im. portant change in the Administration of the Southern Confederacy. On tilhe occasion of a social visit to the family of the President, he was called to task by Mrs. Davis, who bitterly inveighed against the purpose of Congress to diminish the power of her husband. She spoke with a spirit so extraordinary, that her words were well remembered.'If I were Mr. Davis,' she said,,I would die or be hung before I would submit to the humiliation.' "- The Losi Cause, p. 656. 584 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. General Lee entered upon his new command on the 9th of February 1865, and issued the following general order to the armies of the'Confederacy: " HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE ARMY, February 9, 1865. "GENERAL ORDER, No. 1. "In obedience to General Order No. 3, Adjutant and Inspector-General's office, 6th February, 1865, I assume command of the military forces of the Confederate States. Deeply impressed with the difficulties and responsibility of the position, and humbly invoking the guidance of Almighty God, 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 independence. " The Headquarters of the Army, to which all special reports and communications will. be addressed, will be, for the present, with the Army of Northern Virginia. The stated and regular returns and reports of each army and department will be forwarded, as heretofore, to the office of the Adjutant and Inspector-General. R. E. LEE, General." It is my purpose to confine the remaining portion of this narative exclusively to the campaign conducted by General Lee in Virginia, and to pass over the events in the other departments now under his command. FORT STEADMAN, 5 8 II. FORT STEADMAN. By the middle of March, General Lee's army numbered about thirty-three thousand men. The troops had been half starved during the winter, they were badly clothed, and poorly provided against the weather. Yet they were cheerful and willing to stand by their commander to the last, and it was a common saying with them, that, though their lot was a hard one, they could stand it " as long as General Lee." The disposition of the army was as follows: The left wing was north and south of the James, and was commanded by General Longstreet, who had returned to duty during the winter; the centre was at Petersburg, under General Gordon; and the right extended frofn Petersburg to Hatcher's Run, and was in charge of General A. P. Hill. The cavalry, whose horses were scarcely fit for service, guarded both flanks. The line thus occupied was forty miles in length, and in order to cover it the army was posted more like a skirmish line than a line of battle. The labor required of the men was incessant. The thirty-three thousand had to do picket and guard duty, and cover their ground, alternating from one duty to another without rest. There were no reserves to relieve the worn-out men from these arduous labors. The demonstratiorn of the enemy kept the troops shifting about from point to point along the line, adding greatly to their fatigue, and when a body of men was moved to reenforce some threatened locality, the position from which it was taken was left defenceless. The men knew that there was to be no change in this until the campaign began, and then they 74 586 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. saw nothing before them but defeat and still more suffering. It was a great trial to.which their firmness was thus subjected, and only their stern patriotism, and their love for General Lee kept them true to their duty, for hope had completely departed from them. General Lee was deeply impressed with the danger which threatened the cause of the South, but he was calm and cheerful, doing what he could to raise the drooping spirits of his countrymen. Ie believed that there was yet a chance for an honorable peace, if not for independence, if the people would prove true to themselves and to the cause. The situation in which he found himself was critical. Grant was before him with a powerful army, and Sheridan had reached the White House ready to join the Army of the Potomac with his magnificent cavalry. The criminal folly of President Davis had opened the way for General Sherman,* who after marching from Atlanta to the sea, was moving from Savannah towards the'James, forcing back the handful of men under the great soldier who had been prevented by the personal hostility of Mr. Davis from serving his country when it was possible to check Sherman. By the 23rd of March, Sherman had reached Golds.. borough, North Carolina, and had possession, or was within easy reach of Lee's most important lines of communication with his Southern sources of supply. Goldsborough is only one hundred and fifty miles from Petersburg, and Sherman was steadily * Mr. Davis not only ruined the cause in the southwest by his interference with the army, but also by his incautious declarations. General Grant says: "During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon became known to the whole country, disclosing the plans of the enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to fully meet them. 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 defeated it." - General Grant's Report, p. 23. FORT STEADMAN. 587 advancing. The combined strength of Lee and Johnston was scarcely fifty thousand men, while that of Grant and Sherman was near a quarter of a million, and it was evident that without some speedy change of position on the part of the Confederates, the converging Federal columns would crush them. Disagreeable as it was, General Lee now saw that he must abandon Richmond and Petersburg and retire towards the mountains. His duty was to defend the cause of the Confedracy to the last, and, desperate as was the task, he resolved to perform it faithfully. It has been said that he had made up his mind to surrender before he left Petersburg. This is not true. He was too thorough a soldier to abandon his colors while a hope remained; too sincere a Christian to butcher his troops for the gratification of any feeling of vanity. His intention was to present an unbroken front to the enemy to the last moment, and for himself he preferred death on the field to a surrender.* The plan adopted by General Lee was as follows: to evacuate the line then held by his army, retreat rapidly towards Danville, unite his army with that of General Johnston, and occupy a strong position in the interior. He determined upon this course early in March, before General Sherman had advanced so far into North Carolina, and Measures were at once set on foot for its execution. General Johnston was instructed to retire before Sherman, and manceuvre his left so as to bring it into communication with Lee's right; ponton-trains were collected to enable the army to pass over the streams flowing between Petersburg and the new position; and orders were given to collect a large supply of provisions at Amelia Court House. The shortest route from Petersburg to Amelia Court House is by a road known as the Cox road, which runs due west from the city, following the general course of the Appomattox River. * The Lost Cause, p. 680. 588 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. It was by this road that General Lee determined to withdraw; but in order to do so it was necessary to compel General Grant to make a change in his position. The Federal left, the reader will remember, had been extended to Hatcher's Run, very near the Boydton plank road, and this situation brought it so near the Cox road, that the withdrawal of the Confederates by the latter road would be a very dangerous operation. This being the case, General Lee resolved to deal Grant a sudden blow, which should make him draw back his left. The most natural way of accomplishing this was to attack the Federal right, and this General Lee prepared to do. The Federal position was very strong, and it was hard to find a weak point in it. "A cordon of redoubts of a powerful profile and armed with the heaviest metal, studded this line. Infantry parapets, amply manned, stretched from work to work. Covering the fronts of approach were labyrinthine acres of abatis, while all the appliances of ditches, entanglements, and chevaux-de-frise lent their aid to make defence sure and assault folly." * It was a bold venture to attack such a line, but the necessities of the Southern army required it. The point chosen for attack, was Fort Steadman, a strong work built on a "considerable salient " of the enemy's line, and only about one hundred and fifty yards from the Southern breastworks. General Lee's design was to surprise and capture this work, gain the high ground in its rear, take the neighboring works, and seize the City Point Railroad, the principal line of communication of the Federal army. The assault was to be made by two divisions of Gordon's corps, and all the rest of the troops that could be collected, near twenty thousand in number, were to be held in readiness to support the movement. If Grant tried to recover his lost ground by an immediate attack,General Lee' would be ready to meet him; but if he moved towards City Point to * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 575. FORT STEADMAN. 589 recover his communications, the Southern army was at once to abandon Petersburg and retire by the Cox Road. In any event General Lee believed that Grant would draw in his left to reSnforce his right, which was his weaker wing,, and that the Cox road would thus be opened. We shall see that this brilliant plan was not carried put as General Lee designed. The 25th of MIarch was appointed for the attack, and the army held in readiness to depart from Petersburgc, if the movement was successful. In the gray light of dawn on the 25th, Gordon's two divisions noiselessly emerged from their works, in columns of attack, and dashing across the narrow space which separated the two armies, tore away the abatis, and rushed into Fort Steadman, completly surprising the garrison, and carrying the work. Instantly the guns of the captured fort were turned on the adjacent Federal works, and in a short time a brigade of the enemy was put to flight, and batteries Nine, Ten, and Eleven, on the flanks of Fort Steadman were abandoned by the Federals, and occupied by the Confederates. In this brilliant charge, nine pieces of artillery, eight mortars, about five hundred prisoners, and a brigadier-general were captured. It now remained to carry the other works in the neighborhood, and gain possession of the railroad. Gordon had opened the battle bravely, but he was not sustained. The force on his right which attacked Fort Haskell made but a feeble demonstration, which was quickly repulsed by the enemy. MIany of the men could not be induced to advance at all, and even Gordon's troops became demoralized. No effort was made to advance beyon d the first line of works to carry the crest in their rear, (which might have been accomplished at first,) but the men huddled into the breastworks, and would not go beyond. The Federals recovered from their surprise, and poured a heavy fire of artillery into the works they had lost, at the same time throwing forward a 590 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. strong column of infantry to drive the Confederates from them. The Southern line was broken and beaten back, and the enemy re-occupied their works. Two thousand Confederates surrendered on the spot, and a large number were killed and wounded,. making the Southern loss amount to over three thousand, while that of the enemy was in all about twenty-five hundred.* General Meade followed up the repulse of the Confederates by advancing the 6th corps, which, after a stubborn fight, succeeded in capturing the Southern picket line in its front. The Confederate plan failed through the misbehavior of the troops at a moment when the most brilliant results were within the grasp of General Lee. The army suffered a heavy loss, which was a great disaster to it at that time, when men were so much needed, and General Grant clung with his left to his advanced position on HIatcher's Run, still endangering the retreat of the Southern army. $ "HEADQUARTERS ARMY CONFEDERATE STATES, March 25, 1865, -11.20 P. a.:HoN. J. C. BRECKENRIDGE, SECRETARY OF WAR: " At daylight this morning, General Gordon assaulted and carried the enemy's works at Hare's Hill, capturing nine pieces of artillery, eight mortars, and between five and six hundred prisoners, amongst them one brigadier-general and a number of officers of lower grade. The lines were swept for a distance of four or five hundred yards to the right and left, and two efforts made to recover the captured works were handsomely repulsed. But it was found that the inclosed works in rear, commanding the enemy's main line, could only be taken at a great sacrifice, and our troops were withdrawn to their original position. It being impracticable to bring off the captured guns, owing to the nature of the ground, they were disabled and left. Our loss, as reported, is not heavy. Among the wounded, are Brigadier-General Terry, flesh wound, and Brigadier-General Phil. Cooke, in the arm. "All the troops engaged, including two brigades under Brigadier-General Ransom, behaved most handsomely. The conduct of the sharp-shooters of Gordon's corps, who led the assault, deserves the highest commendation. This afternoon, there was skirmishing on the right, between the picket lines, with varied success. At dark the enemy held a considerable portion of the line farthest in advance of our main work. (Signed) R. E. LEE." GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 591 III. GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. In the early spring of 1865, General Grant received an important addition to his army. Convinced that there was no further use for an army in the Valley, he withdrew Sheridan's infantry, which he united with his own troops in front of Petersburg. He then instructed General Sheridan to make a raid with his cavalry towards Lynchburg, for the purpose of cutting all the Confederate communications which were beyond the reach of General Sherman. Sheridan left Winchester on the 27th of February, taking with him his splendid cavalry, ten thousand strong. Early, with his miniature army, — twelve hundred men, - made a feeble effort to check the enemy's advance, but Sheridan, baffling an effort of the Confederates to burn the bridge over the middle fork of the Shenandoah River, crossed the stream on the 1st of March, and entered Staunton on the next day. Pushing on he encountered Early at Waynesboro, scattering his command, capturing more than half of it (nine hundred in all,) and forcing General Early himself to take refuge in the woods. On the 3rd, Sheridan reached Charlottesville, where he halted to await the arrival of his trains, taking care, in the meantime, to destroy such portions of the Virginia Central and Orange and Alexandria railroads as were within his reach. General Grant's instructions to him, were to occupy Lynchburg, break up the James River Canal and the South Side Railroad, and then march rapidly across the State towards Danville, and unite his column with the army of General Sher 592 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. man, As soon as his trains joined him at Charlottesville, Sheri dan proceeded to carry out these instructions; but upon reaching the James, between Richmond and Lynchburg, found the river too much swollen to be crossed, and the bridges all destroyed. This completely prevented him from reaching Lynchburg, and left him but one of two alternatives,-either to go back to the Valley, or to attempt to join Grant. With characteristic boldness he chose the latter. Moving to the canal, he destroyed itfor several miles in the neighbourhood of Columbia, and then, passing around Richmond, reached the White House on the 19th of March, where he was joined by an infantry force which had been sent to him, and furnished with supplies. Having rested and refitted his command, he left the White House on the 24th, marched to the James, crossed that river at Jones' Landing, and on the 26th joined General Grant before Petersburg. Though this expedition had failed to accomplish the original designs of General Grant, it resulted in a far better state of affairs than the Federal Commander had looked for. It placed ten thousand cavalry in his hands, and contributed to his final success, more than any other element in his entire combination. Apart from this, General Sheridan performed his work of destruction very thoroughly. He destroyed almost every lock on the canal, and cut the embankment in many important places, and the railroads along his route were completely ruined. The Federal army under General Grant's personal direction, now numbered about one hundred and seventy thousand men, and General Grant resolved to commence his operations at once. His first intention was to defer his advance until General Sherman crossed the Roanoake River; but, fearing that Sherman's approach would induce General Lee to withdraw GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 593 from Petersburg, he determined to attack at once, and appointed the 29th of March for the commencement of his advance. His plan was to repeat his movement to his left, but this time in a wiser and better manner; for, instead of endeavoring, as in former efforts, to turn Lee's right with detached portions of his army, he determined to throw the greater part of his whole force against that flank. His plan was prepared previous to the assault on Fort Steadman, and was stated as follows, in his instructions to his corps commanders: "On the 29th instant, the armies operating against Richmond will be moved by our left for the double purpose of turning the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg, and to insure the success of the cavalry under VGeneral Sheridan, which will start at the same time, in its efforts to reach and destroy the South Side and Danville railroads. Two corps of the Army of the Potomac will be moved at first in two columns, taking the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run nearest where the present line held by us strikes that stream, both moving towards Dinwiddie Court House. "The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon road and the Jerusalem plank road, turning west from the latter before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column before reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move independently, and under other instructions which will be given him. All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the middle military division not required for guarding property belonging to their arm of service, will report to BrigadierGeneral Benham, to be added to the defences of City Point. Major-General Parke will be left in command of all the army left for holding the lines about Petersburg and City Point, subject, of course, to orders from the commander of the Army of 75 594 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the Potomac. The 9th army corps will be left intact to hold the present line of works so long as the whole line now occupied by us is held. If, however, the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the position held by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon road. All troops to the left of the 9th corps will be held in readiness to move at the shortest notice, by such route as may be designated when the order is given. 6; General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one colored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present lines, and march for the present left of the Army of the Potomac. In the absence of further orders, or until further orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the rilght colamn. During the movement, Major-General Weitzel will be left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army of the James. " The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence on the night of the 27th instant. General Ord will leave behind the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the absence of the main army. A cavalry expedition from General Ord's command will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there on Saturday, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the purpose of cutting the railroad about Hicksford. This, if accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from three to five hundred men will be sufficient. They should, however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry crosses the Blackwater. The crossing should probably be at Union. Should Colonel Sumner:succeed in reaching the Weldon road, he will be instructed to do all the damage possible to the triangle of roads between I icksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The railroad bridge at GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 595 Weldon being fitted up for the passage of carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumulation of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke. All the troops will move with four days' rations in haversacks, and eight days' in wagons. To avoid as much hauling as possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of days' supply with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will direct his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient supplies delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in passing. Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in wagons, and as much grain as the transportation on hand will carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies. The densely-wooded country in which the army has to operate, making the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken with the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division, at the option of the army commanders. "All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into operation m'iy be commenced at once. The reserves of the 9th corps should be massed as much as possible. Whilst I would not now order an unconditional attack on the enemv's line by them, they should be ready, and should make the attack if the enemy weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders. In case they carry the line, then the whole of tlhe 9th corps could follow up, so as to join or co6percate witlh the balance of the army. To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have rations issued to them, same as the balance of the army. General Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at all practicable to break through at. any point, he will do so. A success north of the James should be followed up with great promptness. An attack will not be feasible unless it is found that the enemy has detached largely. In that case it may be regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local reserves, principally, for the defence of Richmond. 596 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Preparations may be made for abandoning all the line north of the James, except enclosed works, - only to be abandoned, however, after a break is made in the lines of the enemy. "By these instructions a large part of the armies operating against Richmond is left behind. The enemy, knowing this, may, as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in the hope of advantage not being taken of it, whilst they hurl everything against the moving column, and return. It cannot be impressed too strongly upon commanders of troops left in the trenches not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of it. The very fact of the enemy coming out to attack, if he does so, might be regarded as almost conclusive evidence of such a weakening of his lines. I would have it particularly enjoined upon corps commanders that, in case of ain attack from the enemy, those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move promptly, and notify the commander of their action. I would also enjoin the same action on the part of division commanders when other parts of their corps are engaged. In like manner, I would urge the importance of following up a repulse of the enemy."* On the 27th of March, Sheridan's cavalry were moved to the left, and on the same day General Ord, who had succeeded Butler in the command of the Army of the James, crossed from Deep Bottom to the South Side, with three divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, and relieved the 2d and 5th corps in the trenches on the left of the Federal line, thus enabling those troops to take part in the turning movement. The column designed for this operation numbered twenty-five thousand men, and was to be supported by the remainder of the army. That part of the Confederate line - the right - against which * I have thought it best to state General Grant's plan of c perations in full, and in his own words. GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 597 this effort was directed, extended tor several miles beyond Petersburg in a southwesterly direction. Crossing Hatcher's Run at the Boydton plank road, it ran westward for some distance, parallel with the stream, and along the White Oak road, covering the South Side Railroad, which was now the chief dependence of the army for food. Four miles west of the right of' this line was a detached, though important chain of works, protecting the Five Forks, the point of intersection of several roads with the White Oak road. The importance of this position lay in the fact that it was the key to the whole country in the rear of the Southern line. The Federal army began its advance at daylight on the 29th of March. Hatcher's Run was crossed without much opposition, being made by the Confederates, and the enemy moved northward towards the Confederate line. Owing to the difficult character of the country the advance was slow. No material resistance was offered them until the 5th corps reached the vicinity of the Quaker road, when the leadin( division was hotly attacked by a Confederate force, and for a time held in check. The assailants were repulsed, however, and the 5th corps continued to move on until cllccked by the works on the White Oak road. The 2nd corps, moving on the right of the 5th, halted at nightfall in the thick woods near the main line of the Confederates. Sheridan, operating still farther to the left, succeeded, after a slight encounter, in occupying Dinwiddie Court Hlouse, six miles southwest of the bivouac of the 2nDd lnd 5th COrps, where he went into camp for the night. General Grant now altered that part of his plan of operations which concerned the cavalry, and directed General Sheridan tc suspend the movement against the South Side Railroad which had been ordered for the next morning, and, in place of it, endeavor to (gain the Confederate " right rear," while the infantry sought to carry the intrenched lines opposed to themn. General Grant had hoped to conceal his movement until he 598 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. was ready to strike the final blow, but he had scarcely beg in it before it was detected and understood by general Lee. The position in which the Confederate commander was placed by the manoeuvre of his adversary was desperate, but it did not dishearten him. The defence of his line of forty miles already taxed his army to such an extent that it was with difficulty that the position could be covered, and to take troops from any point for the re/nforcement of another was to expose the point thus weakened to almost certain capture. Nevertheless it was the only resource left to General Lee, and he resolved to strip his lines to the greatest possible extent, mass a strong force on his right, and demolish the turning column of the enemy, as he had done before with success. General Longstreet reported the enemy in force in his front, and as it might be the design of the Federals to attack his left wing also, General Lee deemed it most prudent not to weaken General Longstreet, and ordered him to watch the enemy closely in his front, and if he had reason to believe that Grant intended no attack north of the James, to march at once to Petersburg with all the troops he could spare. To meet the dancer which threatened his right, Genleral Lee collected from the lines of Petersburg the divisions of Pickett, Bushrod Johnson, and a pars of Gordon's corps, and hurried to the right, to the assistance of the force holding that pait of the line. This gave him on his right a column of seventeen thousand men. He left behind, to guard the nine miles of intrenchments around Petersburg, about seven thousand men, and in order to cover this line these men were posted nearly five yards apart. But in spite of this, on the night of the 29th, an energetic assault of the enemy in front of General Gordon's position was repulsed.* "HEADQUARTERS, March 30, 18G6 "GENFRAL J C. BJREC'KENINDGE, Secretary of Ware. "General Gordon reports that the enemy, at 11, P. M., yesterday, advanced against a part of his line, defended by Brig.-General Lewis, but was repulsed. GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 599: By the morning of the 30th only a part of the Confederate reinforcements had reached the right wing, but the danger which threatened it was temporarily averted by a severe storm whi(,l set in on the night of the 29th, and continued without abating through the 30th, rendering the roads impassable for artillery and cavalry. Taking advantage of this delay, General Lee hurried his infantry westward, and by the next morning had his forces well in hand. On the morning of the 31st the condition of the roads was still so unfavorable that General Grant was not willing to commence operations, and before he could change his intention General Lee decided the matter for him. At ten o'clock Lee threw forward the force he had collected on his right, and made a spirited attack on the 5th Federal corps. The divisions of Ayres and Crawford were thrown into confusion and driven back, and the Confederates pressed on rapidly. Had the formation usually adopted in these turning movements been practised Jby the enemy in this case, success would have crowned General Lee's attack; but General Warren, profiting by the experience of the past, had disposed his corps in masses en &chelon, which,disposition enabled them to meet attack from any direction, and promptly renforce any part of their position.* This skilful arrangement now proved the salvation of the 5th corps, for the retreating troops rallied upon Griffin's division, posted in a considerable clearing, which held its ground. The Federal troops were re-formed, and the Confederate advance checked. A s-,irited engagement ensued, in which the Southern troops were -forced back to their line on the White Oak road. In this counter-attack the 2d corps assisted, and two of its divisions attempted later in the day to carry the works at the intersection The fire of artillery and mortars continued for several hours with considerable activity. No damage on our lines reported. R. E. LEE.." * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 589. {600 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. of the Boydton and White Oak roads, but were repulsed with considerable loss. While this engagement was going on, General Sheridan, being anxious to get possession of Five Forks, sent Devin's division to seize the position, at the same time moving Crook's division to his left to endage the Confederate cavalry which were at Chamberlain's Creek, a short distance west of DinwiddieCourt House. Devin succeeded in driving off the small Southern force present, and occupied Five Forks. By this time General Lee had drawn off his troops from the' attack upon NWarren, and now sent Pickett's and Bushrod Johnson's divisions of infantry to drive the Federal cavalry from Five Forks. Advancing along the White Oak road, these two divisions fell upon the cavalry, and drove them in confusion. back to Dinwiddie Court House, and following up this success by a sharp attack on Sheridan's whole line succeeded in breaking it, and partly isolating his right; but in executing this movement they exposed their flank and rear to that part of Sheridan's force at the Court House, and were themselves compelled to relinquish their advantage, and fall back. Another' effort was made to carry the Federal line, but was unsuccessful, and before it coul(l be renewed, darkness put an end to the fighting. Night found Sheridan still holding his ground, but so hard pressed that, without re/nforcements he could not venture upon a renewal of the engagrement the next day. He at once made known his situation to General Grant, who deemed it so perilous that he stopped the movements of the rest of the army to send the 5th corps to Sheridan's assistance. There was no necessity for this, however, as General Lee withdrew his force after dark, being unwilling to leave the troops in such an exposed position during the night. General Sheridan discovered this about midnight, and at day break on the 1st of April, advanced his whole.command towards Five Forks. On the way FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 601 he was joined by the 5th corps, which had been marching all night to his assistance. IV. FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. The critical condition in which General Lee found himself when Grant advanced against his right, left him no alternative but to weaken the lines of Petersburg, as I have described. He had either to submit to having his communications seized and his retreat endangered, if not prevented, or to weaken his centre to such an extent as to render it unfit to maintain itself against any decided assault of the enemy. He had but one thing in his favor - that General Grant having concentrated all his eneroies in the attempt against the Southern right would not interfere with the centre until the result of the operations in the former quarter was seen. The sequel proved the correctness of this theory. The corps of Parke, Wright and Ord lay in front of this portion of the Southern line, and on the morning of the 1st, Generals Wright and Ord, having ascertained its weakness, urged an assault. General Grant, however, concluded not to attempt it, but to continue his movement towards the South Side Railroad. * The force which General Lee withdirew from Sheridan's front at Dinwiddie Coulrt House, fell back to Five Forks. It consisted of the divisions of Pickett and Bushrod Johnson, and constituted the bulk of the army. As soon as he found hi.s front clear, Sheridan made his dispositions to advance, and at daybreak moved forward, throwing * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 597. 76 602 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. out his cavalry, and admirably masking the movements of hiL infantry with this formidable line. By two o'clock in the afternoon of April 1st, he had driven the Confederates into their works at Five Forks. Leaving a strong force of cavalry to hold the Confederates in front, Sheridan sent a division of horse to threaten the Southern right flank, and at the same time moved up Warren's 5th corps towards the Southern left, where his real attack was to be made. Warren began his movement about four o'clock, and, advancing through the woods, soon reached the White Oak road, when he closed in on the Confederate left flank which was drawn back at right angles to the main line, and protected by a strong breastwork, about one hundred yards in length, through a dense grove of pines. From this point to Hatcher's Run, the line ran northward, and was held by a small picket force, all that could be spared to cover it. When Warren appeared, a single division was found sufficient to cover the whole of the refused line, leaving the rest of the corps free to outflank it to the north. As soon as he had brought his troops into position, Warren threw forward Ayres' and Griffin's divisions, and captured the breastworks on the left, and many prisoners, and Crawford's division, swinging around still farther to the left and rear of the Southern line, seized the Ford road, the Confederate line of retreat, and moved down upon the doomed intrenchments. At the same time Sheridan advanced his cavalry, and quickly closed in upon the Confederates. The divisions of Pickett and Johnson offered a gallant resistance. Finding themselves surrounded, and attacked in front, flank and rear, they formed front both north and south, and met the desperate assault of the enemy with a valor worthy of their ancient- fame; but in vain. They were driven from their position with a loss of over five thousand prisoners, and in considerable disorder retreated westward, hotly pursued by FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 603 the Federal cavalry until long after nightfall. The losses in killed and wounded were small on both sides, but the Confederates lost six or seven guns, and the right wing of the army was torn away from its position and hurled back. The enemy were greatly elated by their victory at Five Forks, especially as it had been won over the flower of the Confederate infantry. Without seeking to detract from the merits of the victors in this case, I desire to recall to the memory of the reader the fact that the attacking force at Five Forks numbered fully thirty thousand of the best troops of the Federal army, consisting of cavalry and infantry, and that the Confederates could bring barely fifteen thousand men into the fight. These men had been half starved during the winter. It was scarcely possible for the Confederates to secure the victory under the circumstances. As soon as the action at Five Forks ceased, the Federal ar. tillery along the entire line in front of Petersburg opened fiercely upon the Southern position. General Grant was apprehensive that General Lee might suddenly move all his force upon Sheridan, and crush him, and at once sent Miles' division of the 2nd corps to his support. As a means of holding the garrison of Petersburg in its lines, he ordered the bombardment to be continued during the night. At the same time he prepared the corps of Parke, Wright, Ord, and Humphreys, to assault the Southern works at daylight. All night long the Federal guns and mortars threw shot and shell into the Southern intrenchments and the city of Petersburg, preventing the garrison and citizens fromn enjoying the rest which the fatigues and excitement of the day demanded. Tie morning of the 2nd of April found General Lee poorly prep:ared to meet the great effort which the Federal commander was about to make. His right wing had been destroyed and rendered worthless, and for the defence of' his centre, which was now so seriously threatened, he had only the inconmplete corps 604 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. of Gordon and A. P. Hill. General Longstreet had not yet discovered the weakness of the enemy in his front, and no troops could be drawn from the north side. Nevertheless, General Lee was resolved to make one more effort to save the city. Sunday, the 2d of April, dawned bright and clear. With the first light of morning the Federal columns of attack advanced upon the Southern works, and the engagement quickly spread along the whole line from the Appomattox to Hatcher's Run. The left of the Southern position rested on the Appomattox, and was held by General Gordon's corps. This weak force was attacked by the 9th Federal corps, under General Parke, and after a brief but gallant struggle the Confederates gave way, and the enemy carried the outer line. Gordon's troops fell back to an inner cordon of works just on thL city limits, where they were quickly in line again. The 9th corps, pressing on, attempted to carry these works also, but was repulsed in all its efforts. To the right of Gordon, A. P. Hill's troops were in position, and against this part of the Southern line the 6th Federal corps was thrown in an impetuous charge. Hill's left was the weakest part of the whole position, as the infantry for its defence (McGowan's brigade) had been withdrawn on the previous day, and the works were held only by the artillerists, with a slim picket line in front. The 6th corps drove in the piceets, and sweeping forward captured the works, the batteries and artillerists. The movements of the 9th and 6th corps were simultaneous,.and the success of the latter threatened the Confederate army witll the most serious disaster. Wright's corps had completely broken the left of Hill's line, and threatened to push right through to the river, and cut the Southern force in two. The danger was increased by the attack of the 2d corps, which, as soon as the 6th had carried IHill's works, stormed the redoubts on Hatcher's FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 605 RuL., and drove the small force of Confederates holding them beyond Sutherland's Station on the South Side Railroad. Then uniting with the 6th and 24th corps, it completed the Federal line which, swinging round, steadily closed in upon Petersburg. Fortunately there were just in rear of the redoubts captured by the 6th corps, two strong inclosed works, covering the ground over which the enemy must advance to reach the river. These works were held by only a handful of men. Fort Alexander was nearer the enemy, and was garrisoned by a less devoted force than the other. As soon as the Federals had re-formed their line, they made a heavy charge forward, and carried the work with a rush, not, however, without a spirited struggle on the part of the defenders. There remained now only the other work, - Fort Gregg,and this it was necessary to hold to the last extremity, in order that General Lee might have time to occupy his new position around the city. If the fort fell before that was accomplished, the army was lost. The garrison of Fort Gregg consisted of the 4th Maryland battery, with two 3-inch rifles and thirty men, a body of dismounted artillery drivers - Virginians and Louisianians - who had been armed with muskets, part of Harris' Mississippi brigade, and some North Carolinians -in all two hundred and fifty men; the whole being under the command of Captain Chew of the Maryland battery. The critical situation of the -army was known to this little band of heroes, and they silently resolved to purchase the safety of their comrades with their lives. As soon as Fort Alexander was captured, General Ord advanced Gibbon's division to storm and carry Fort Gregg, and break through to the city. Gibbon's column approached in fine order, and by its strength alone, seemed about to envelope the work. Moving on rapidly it neared the fort, the Confederates suffering it to come within less than fifty yards. Then, 606 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. by a well directed volley, they sent the enemy reeling back across the ground they had passed over. The whole affair could be distinctly seen by both armies, and the repulse of the Federals was greeted by loud cheers from the Confederates in the inner line. Still no aid could be sent to the brave garrison, whose only hope was to die in the presence of the comrades they were trying to save. Both armies ceased firing at other points and every eye was fixed on the fight at Fort Gregg. Rallying his forces, Gibbon made another desperate attempt to carry the fort, but was again repulsed. A third charge met with the same fate, and for awhile there sprang up in the hearts of the gazers at the city, a wild hope that the fort would be held in spite of the heavy odds against it. Vain hope! At seven o'clock the Federals made a last charge, and this time succeeded in reaching the ditch. Many clambered to the top of the works, but ere beaten back by the clubbed muskets of the defenders, while the guns were fired rapidly through the embrasures. The pressure in front was too strong to be resisted, and the enemy swarmed into the work, crushing the garrison by their weight. The fort was won, but the heroic defenders had reason to be proud of its defence. Out of the two hundred and fifty men present when the action began, but thirty survived. There were none missing; the dead and the wounded made up the list. They had inflicted a loss of between five and six hundred men upon their captors, or two Federals for each one of the two hundred and fifty Confederates. Nor was the sacrifice in vain. Fort Gregg was taken at a little after seven o'clock in the morning, and the two hours gained by its defence enabled General Lee to bring up his troops and occupy his last line around Petersburg. The enemy did not resume their advance immediately, but spent the next two hours in occupying the entire country towards the Appomattox, throwing their cavalry out on their left to the South Side Railroad and the river above the city. FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 607 Towards ten o'clock, General Lee received a small reinforcement. Early on the morning of the 2nd, General Longstreet had discovered the weakness of the Federals in his front, and had marched, promptly with Benning's brigade of Field's division, less than three hundred strong. He reached the battle field just as the enemy -a few minutes before ten o'clock -- moved forward again to force an entrance to the city. Longstreet promptly brought Benning's brigade into action, and by his bold and skilful handling of it checked the enemy's advance until General Lee could hurry troops to his assistance, when the line was occupied and firmly held. The Confederates now occupied a short, but very strong line, extending immediately around Petersburg with the right flank resting on the river above, and the left on the same stream below the city. Against this line the enemy now made repeated assaults, but they were met and repulsed at every point. Not only were the Federals everywhere thrown back in their efforts to advance, but Heth's division under the immediate direction of General A. P. Hill, was ordered to recover some cornmanding, ground held by the 9th Federal corps on the Southern left, near the river. Hill made his attack'with great spirit, and pressed the 9th corps so hard with his little command, that the Federals were forced to bring up the garrison of the works at City Point to aid them in maintaining their ground. The enemy held their position, and the Southern troops were withdrawn. Among the killed was Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill. He had passed with high honor through the whole war up to this period with but a slight wound, and fell now a victim to the chivalrous daring for which he was always distinguished. Thus the day closed with the Confederates in possession of Petersburg. But it was far from General Lee's intention to attempt to hold the city longer. Such a course would involve the capture or destruction of his army, and all that remained 608 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. to him now was to abandon both Richmond and Petersburg, and endeavor to join Johnston near Danville. It was no longer possible to retreat by the south bank of the Appomattox, for all the roads were in possession of the enemy, and now the march must be made by the longer route north of the river. V. THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. Having decided to abandon the cities he had so long defended, General Lee at eleven o'clock, on the morning of the 2nd of April, telegraphed to the Government that it was his intention to retire from Richmond and Petersburg that night at eight o'clock, and advised the authorities to have everything in readiness to leave the city that night, unless they heard from him to the contrary in- the meantime. His efforts now were all directed to the task of holding his line until nightfall, in order that he might move off with his army under the cover of darkness. During the day the tobacco and cotton stored in Petersburg were destroyed, the huge warehouses containing them being given to the flames. Everything was gotten in readiness for the-retreat, and the army only awaited the coming of night to begin its last and most memorable march. Meanwhile stirring events were transpiring at Richmond. The citizens had been kept in utter ignorance by the Government of the true state of affairs south of the Appomattox, and were totally unprepared for the blow which was now about to fall upon them. They were even under the impression that General Lee had gained a decided success, which would, if properly followed up, result in the ruin of the Federal army. They had been cruelly THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 609 deceived by the authorities, and given no opportunity to prepare for the misfortune hanging over them. The city was very quiet on Sunday, the 2nd of April. The churches were thronged with earnest worshippers, and every sight and sound was full of peace. It was hard to realize that only twenty-two miles away, two armies were engaged in the most momentous battle of the war, and still harder to believe that the beautiful city, now so peaceful, was in the course of a few hours to be the scene of so much desolation and suffering. Yet the decree had gone forth. The Confederacy was at an end. The first warning of the coming danger was given to the congregation of St. Paul's Church. A messenger from the War Department entered hastily, and approaching the President's pew, handed Mr. Davis a small slip of paper. The President read it, and it was observed by those near him that his face grew ghastly white. Yet, controlling his emotion, he left the church in silence. The paper was General Lee's dispatch announcing his purpose to evacuate Richmond. The agitation of the President caused a vague feeling of alarm throughout the congregation at St. Paul's, and soon the church was emptied. The announcement was made that Richmond was to be given up to the enemy. At first it was not believed, but before long it was found to be too true. As soon as General Lee's dispatch was received, the Government commenced to hurry forward the preparations for its flight. Everything of value that could be carried away was boxed up and sent to the Danville Depot. Crowds of citizens, and women and children hurried to the depot, but were unable to secure transportation, and throngs of vehicles went out of the town by the roads leading northward. Negroes and low whites collected in masses throughout the city, watching for an opportunity to plunder. The Departments were in confusion, not an official 77 610 LIFE OF' GENERAL LEE. could be found, and no one knew to whom to apply for advice or assistance. In the afternoon, President Davis and his family, accompanied by several of his cabinet, left the city on a special train.* What could not be carried off was prepared for destruction. An effort was made to employ two regiments of militia on duty in the city, in the task of preserving order, but the militia would not obey the orders given them, the majority of them being residents of the city and men of family, who were naturally anxious to look after the safety of their own homes. At nightfall a scene of the wildest confusion set in. There was a large quantity of liquor in the city, and the Municipal Authorities, as a measure of safety, ordered this to be destroyed. The heads of the casks were knocked in, and the liquor poured into the gutters. The worst classes of the inhabitants, white and black, turned out en masse, and a rush was made for the business quarter in the lower part of the city. The commissary stores were appropriated in an amazingly short time- stores of,considerable value, which had been denied to the hungry troops in the field. The shops of the merchants were broken open, and entered at pleasure. The contents —jewelry, drygoods, provisions, property of all kinds — were seized and carried off by the rioters, the owners making no effort to save them, every one being convinced that the city would be sacked by the enemy the next day. Hundreds of drunken men and boys roamed through the streets, adding to the confusion by their cries and yells. To these noises were joined the shrieks and screams of terrified women and children. While this scene of horror and confusion was going on in the * When so much selfishness prevailed in high places, any exception to such a course was doubly striking. General Lee, seeking nothing more for himself than was enjoyed by his fellow-citizens, generously refused to remove his family from the city, leaving them there to share the fortunes of the people who loved them so well-a people who will never forget this act of quiet heroism. THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 611 city, General Ewell was preparing to withdraw his forces from the north side of the James. His command was four thousand strong, and lay in and below the city, before the column of General Weitzel who had been left by General Grant to watch for an opportunity to take the city. The Federals had remained quiet during the day, but at nightfall all of the bands along their line commenced to play national airs. Ewell set his bands to work at a similar occupation, and this singular 1" concert" was kept up until nearly midnight. Then everything grew silent, and, the enemy appearing to have no suspicion of the intentions of the Confederates, Ewell commenced to withdraw his troops from their lines towards Richmond. The men began to pass through the city about two o'clock, and it was near daylight when the last soldier was south of the James. A new horror was now added to the scene. A large quantity of tobacco was stored in the great warehouses of the city. Sometime previous to the evacuation, the Confederate Congress had ordered that if the city had to be given up, the tobacco should be burned, in order to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. Unfortunately this tobacco was stored in localities where its destruction would be dangerous to the city itself. Appeals were made to the Government to remove the tobacco to a place where the city would not be set on fire by it; but, as a matter of course, these appeals were disregarded. On' the night of the 2d, General Ewell received orders from, the Government to burn the warehouses containing the tobacco. This order was obeyed; the iron-clads in the James River were blown up, the few vessels at the wharves destroyed, and soon the last of the army was over the river, and the three'bridges leadinfg to the south shore were given to the flames. Some unknown person fired the arsenal, and as the flames reached the magazine the structure was blown to pieces, greatly injur 612 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ing an adjoining building used as an alms-house, and killing several of the paupers there. * The flames spread from the tobacco warehouses to other parts of the city, and many buildings were fired by the mob with the hope of being able to plunder them of their contents. By morning the city was in a fearful condition. A large part of it was in flames, and heavy clouds of smoke were float. ing over it. The wind was blowing directly across the city firom the river, spreading the flames slowly and steadily. The lower streets were filled with a cowardly mob of negroes and low whites, shouting and cursing in wild fury.. Houses and stores were being plundered. The people dwelling in the endangered quarter were busy moving their furniture into the Capitol square, where hundreds of women and children, rendered homeless by the fire, had sought refuge. The roar of the flames and the crash of falling buildings sounded high over * Considerable injustice has been done to General Ewell, who has been unfairly held responsible for the burning of the lower part of the city. He was compelled to execute the orders given him, and in their execution refused to carry out the whole programme of the Government. As a soldier he was by his superiors forced to perform acts which his judgment and kind heart condemned. In a letter written during his imprisonment at Fort Warren, he says: "Remember how hard I tried to organize a constabulary force in Richmond. I knew nothing of the firing of the arsenal or cutting of the engine hose. These were the work of unauthorized persons or incendiaries. I had no force to stop the plundering which was going on all night. I made couriers and policemen of my staff, trying to prevent disorder and violence. Several fires were kindled before we left, and an attempt to burn Mayo's bridge frustrated by the daring of the engineer officers, who, at great risk, removed burning canal boats from under it. What I did was in obedience to positive orders that had been given me. Looking, with General Kershaw, towards Richmond, we saw building after building, at a distance from the river, ignite, evidently set on fire. I feel this matter very deeply. I see myself unjustly blamed. I did not exceed, but fell short of my instructions. Yours affectionately, R. S. EWELL." THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 613 everything, and the constant explosions of shells and ammunition added not a little to the horror of the scene. Towards seven o'clock there was a violent commotion in the crowd, and the cry of " Yankees! Yankees!" ran from mouth to mouth, while the rioters rushed towards the upper part of the city in the wildest alarm. In a short time a body of forty Federal troopers appeared, riding slowly along the street. Upon reaching the Capitol square, they dismounted, and took possession of the Capitol, from the roof of which their guidons were soon flying in the morning breeze, - the first Union flags that had waved over the city since April, 1861. General Weitzel had been aroused at daybreak by the strange sounds in the direction of Richmond, and upon advancing his picket line, had found the Confederate works deserted. These he immediately occupied, and sending forward a small detachment of cavalry to reconnoitre and ascertain the exact state of affairs in the city, followed slowly with the remainder of his force. This handful of cavalry first occupied Richmond, and, a few hours later, Weitzel arrived with his two divisions. An eye-witness thus describes his entree: — "Stretching from the Exchange Hotel to the slopes of Church Hill, down the hill, through the Valley, up the ascent to the hotel, was the array, with its unbroken line of blue, fringed with bright bayonets. Strains of martial music, flushed countenances, waving swords, betokened the victorious army. As the line turned at the Exchange Hotel into the upper street, the movement was the signal for a wild burst of cheers from each regiment. Shouts from a few negroes were the only responses. Through throngs of sullen spectators; along the line of fire; in the midst of the horrors of a conflagration, increased by the explosion of shells left by the retreating army; through curtains of smoke; through the vast aerial auditorium convulsed with the commotion of frightful sounds, moved the 614 LIFF. OF GENERAL LEE. garish procession of the grand4 army, with brave music, and bright banners, and wild cheers."* General Weitzel's first care after occupying Richmond, was to extinguish the flames, but the fire had gained so much force that a large part of the city was destroyed before it could be subdued. Thus fell the Capital of the -Confederacy, that for four years had withstood all the efforts of:the enemy. It went down in a sea of suffering and sorrow such as it had never known before. VI. THE LAST RETREAT. Sunday, the 2d of April, wore anxiously away at Petersburg, and when night came the army breathed freer. The sky was lit up with the glare of the burning warehouses, and the heavy reports of cannon shook the city to its foundations. At midnight the army commenced to withdraw from the trenches, and move rapidly and silently through the streets, towards the river. By three o'clock the army was safely on the Chesterfield side, and the bridge was fired. Instantly the magazine of Cummin's battery of siege guns exploded with a deafening roar, followed in a few moments by the magazine at Fort Clifton, on the north side of the river. Then, all along the whole line, from Petersburg to Richmond, heavy explosions followed in quick succession, shaking the ground as with an earthquake. Still the Federal army lay quietly within its own lines, never venturing to move forward to ascertain the cause of three suspicious sights and sounds. * Letter in the Norfolk Virginian. THE LAST RETREAT. 615 After leaving Petersburg, the army marched northward to Chesterfield Court House, nearly midway between Petersburg and Richmond. There it was joined by the division of General Mahone, and the rest of the troops that had held the line south of the James, fronting Bermuda HIundreds; and a little later Ewell arrived with the troops from the lines of Richmond. The army was once more united, but it numbered now less than twenty-five thousand men. The march was resumed firom Chesterfield Court House, westward, and by daylight on the morning of the 3d of April, the city of Petersburg was sixteen miles behind. Meanwhile General Grant had not been idle. Encouraged by his successes, he had displayed a vigor and skill superior to any of his past performances, aud was now ready to follow up his triumph. Feeling sure that Lee would retreat at the earliest moment, Grant, on the night of the 2d, made his arrangements to pursue as soon as the withdrawal of the Confederates should be made known to him. There was but one route open to General Lee, - namely, the north shore of the Appomattox, and then by the south side of the same river, through Amelia Court House and Burkesville towards Danville. The 5th Federal corps was already at Sutherland's station, on the South Side Railroad, ten miles west of Petersburgc, while Sheridan, with the cavalry, was at Ford's depot ten miles farther west. The position of these forces gave Grant the interior line to the points for which Lee was aiming, and rendered it not improbable from the outset, that by a judicious use of them the Federal commander would be able to intercept his antagonist. On the night of the 2d, the 2d Federal corps, General Humphreys, and a ponton-train were added to the force west of Petersburg, and the 6th and 9th corps, and Ord's command were held in readiness to renew the attack at dawn. At dayligkt on the morning of the 3rd, the Federal skirmish 616 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ers were thrown forward. Meeting with no opposition they rushed into the works and found them deserted. General Grant, leaving a garrison in the city, at once began his pursuit of Lee. The Army of the James, under General Ord, was directed to march, by the line of the South Side Railroad, upon Burkesville, while Sheridan, with the cavalry and 5th corps, followed by the 2d and 6th corps, was ordered to gain the Danville Railroad north of Burkesville.* If these columns could reach their destinations before the arrival of Lee, the Confederates would be cut off from the direct route to Danville, and forced to resort to a long and circuitous march to regain it, or to retreat to the mountains. The retreat of the Confederate army was continued steadily during the 3rd of April, but the march was greatly impeded by the train of wagons and artillery, many of the former being loaded with the worthless property of the Government, to save which, the officials, who had taken good care for their own security, were willing to risk the safety of the army. The train was thirty miles in length, and delayed the movement greatly. General Lee was calm and cheerful. To those around him he said. " I have got my army safe out of its breastworks, and, in order to follow me, my enemy must abandon his lines, and can derive no further benefit from his railroads or the James River." Indeed, at this time the Confederate commander had no doubt of his ability to effect a junction with General Johnston IHe knew that General Grant would be forced to divide his army in the pursuit, and he hoped to be able to take advantage- of this division and defeat the pursuing columns in detail. But, in forming this plan of operations, he had not expected to be burdened in his movements by the Government rubbish, and had based his calculations upon the fact that he expected to find at Amelia Court I-Iouse, the supplies which he had ordered to * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 605. THE LAST RETREAT. 617 be collected there for his army. It is hardly probable that General Lee hoped to save the Confederacy at this late day, but he may have expected, and with good reason, after uniting with Johnston, to be able to gain favorable terms for the South. Upon this point General Lee has as yet been silent, and we can only conjecture what were his hopes. It is certain, however, that he did expect to effect his retreat in safety, which he would have done, had his orders been carried out with regard to his supplies. The Appomattox was crossed again at Goode's bridge, and on the 4th the army reached Amelia Court House, thirty-eight miles west of the points from which it had started. IHere General Lee expected to find a large quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores for his troops, who had eaten nothing since the retreat began. To his astonishment and indignation,bhe learned that the trains which had been sent from Danville to him had been ordered to Richmond to help to carry off the Government property, and that, through the inexcusable blundering of the Richmond Authorities, the cars had been sent on to the Capital without unloading the stores at Amelia Court House. It was too late now to remedy the blunder. The troops had been without food for nearly two days, and there was not a single ration to be had. It was a terrible blow, and it completely destroyed the hopes with which General Lee began the retreat. The first thing to be done now was to find food for the men, and to accomplish this, parties were sent out into the surrounding country to procure supplies. This consumed the whole of the 4th and 5th- time which the Confederate commander had expected to use in getting beyond his pursuers. But for the fatal blunder of the Government, he would have preserved his army intact, and have passed beyond Burkesville in safety before the enemy could have reached it. The forced delay at 78 618 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Amelia Court House, however, enabled Sheridan, who was pressing on with the cavalry, far in advance of the rest of the Federal army, to reach the Confederate line of retreat, and on the afternoon of the 4th he arrived at Jetersville on the Danville Railroad, seven miles southwest of Amelia Court House. It was now impossible for the Confederates to reach Burkes. ville, for Sheridan, with eighteen thousand cavalry, held the railroad between the Court House and the Junction, and thus headed them off. This fact and the condition of his army made a battle to be no longer thought of by General Lee. This only alternative now, was to try to escape, and but one route was open to him, to continue his march due west, and endeavor to reach the hilly region around Farmville, where the natural strength of the country would aid him in securing his retreat to'the mountains. Farmville was thirty-five miles distant, and his army had been reduced to about twenty thousand men. Nearly half of these had been sent out to procure food, and the whole force had lost its compactness and solidity. On the night of the 5th, the army left Amelia Court House and marched westward. "The country through which it was moving was a tract of straggling woods and pine barrens, with occasionally little patches of clearings. The foraging parties had to go so far a-field in quest of food, that they were taken prisoners by wholesale. In the fact of such sufferings as they left behind, it cannot be wondered at if some of the poor fellows courted capture. Those foragers who returned to Lee brought little or nothing with them. The sufferings of the men from the pangs of hunger have not been approached in the military annals of the last fifty years. But the sufferings of the mules and horses must have been even keener; for the men assuaged their craving by plucking the buds and twigs of trees just shooting in the early spring, whereas the grass had not yet started from its winter sleep, and food for the unhappy quadru THE LAST RETREAT. 619 peds there was none. As early as the morning as the mornine 4th, Lee sent off half his artillery towards the railroad to relieve the famished horses. This artillery making slow progress, thanks to the exhaustion of the horses, was captured by the Federals on the 8th, but not until General Lindsay Walker had buried many of his guns, which were, of course, subsequently exhumed (seventy of them at one haul) by their captors. "It is easy to see that the locomotion of an army in such a plight must have been slow, and slower. The retreat was conducted in the following fashion: About midnight the Confederates slipped out of their hasty works, which they had thrown up and held during the previous day, and fell back until ten or eleven o'clock the next morning. Then they halted, and imme-. diately threw up earthworks for their protection during the day. It was not long before the wolves were again on their heels, and from their earthworks the Confederates exchanged a heavy fire with their pursuers throughout the day. Delayed by the necessity of guarding a train from thirty-five to forty miles in length, enfeebled by hunger and sleeplessness, the retreating army was able to make only ten miles each night. This delay enabled the active Sheridan to get ahead with his cavalry, and to destroy the depots of provisions along the railroad between Burkesville and Danville. Upon the 5th, many of the mules and horses ceased to struggle. It became necessary to burn hundreds of wagons. At intervals the enemy's cavalry dashed in and struck the interminable train here or there, capturing and burning dozens upon dozens of wagons. Towards evening of the 5th, and all day long upon the 6th, hundreds of men dropped from exhaus — tion, and thousands let fall their muskets from inability to carry them any farther. 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. Behind, and on either flank, an ubiquitous and 620 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. increasingly adventurous enemy — every mud-hole and every rise in the road choked with blazing wagons - the air filled with the deafening reports of ammunition exploding, and shells bursting when touched by the flames - dense columns of smoke ascending to heaven from the burning and exploding vehiclesexhausted men, worn-out mules and horses, lying down side by side - gaunt famine glaring hopelessly from sunken lack-lustre eyes —dead mules, dead horses, dead men, everywhere — death, many times welcomed as God's blessing in disguisewho can wonder if many hearts, tried in the fiery furnace of four years' unparalleled suffering and never hitherto found wanting, should have quailed in presence of starvation, fatigue, sleeplessness, misery -unintermitted for five or six days, and culminating in hopelessness." In the meantime, General Meade, late in the afternoon of the 5th, joined Sheridan at Jetersville, with the 2d and 6th corps, and, as it was expected that Lee would attack this force, in order to recover his line of retreat to Danville, General Meade at once intrenched his position, and awaited the arrival of the Confederates. The reader has seen that it was impossible for General Lee to pursue such a course. On the night of the 5th the whole of the Army of the Potomac was concentrated at Jetersville, and on the morning of the 6th General Meade moved towards Amelia Court House to attack General Lee. As he began his march, Meade found that General Lee had given him the slip, and was marching towards Farmville by way of Deatonsville. HIe at once set out in pursuit, sending the 2d corps direct to Deatonsville, and moving the 5th and 6th corps by parallel routes to the north and south. The Army of the James, under General Ord, had reached Burkesville, and General Grant now directed Ord to march at once upon Farmville. The' Confederates retreated rapidly from Amelia Court House. *Francis Lawley's Narative. IrAp Or T H E P. 0 ~j ~ C~i~~7i OfJm~ C$~~~~S~~of the 41B~~Y~~ UNW1 r.~P~~~~P~ a~e~g OU~Y~8STO. RICHMOND V, $ccale of D ~es. cH I JimBn~D~;. — ~pea~ 0MAT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ay.~~~~~~~~~~~~~,TK,S /ES RFIE A JE T M~~~ELI SR f ML~MELIA 13HI EVI B. N~~~~~~~~~~~~RIS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b E,~ID Eo5g.'l- t MIR N 111G PAMPIINS ST,. _SVILLE J /H ERLAN I ILLE e o /"IDDIES&\HII bf D I 622 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Sheridan, with the Federal cavalry, hung closely upon their route. On the 6th he struck the Confederate waoon-train near Deatonsville. The train was escorted by a strong body of infantry and cavalry, and to secure the prize thus brought before him Sheridan adopted an admirable plan. IHe attacked it at once with a single division, and when repulsed in this attempt renewed the attack farther on with a fresh division, continuing to strike thus all along, the line, thinkino that by this method he would be sure to find a vulnerable point. The result proved the correctness of his supposition. W~hen Sailor's Creek, a small tributary of the Appornattox, was reached, Sheridan struck the train with three of his divisions, capturing sixteen pieces of artillery, and a number of prisoners, and destroying four hundred wagons. At the same time Pickett's division, now reduced to eight hundred men, which was guarding the train, was so hard pressed by the cavalry, that General Piclkett sent to General Ewell for reinforcements to enable him to hold his ground until the remainder of the wagons could get off in safety. Ewell promptly brought up his corps, - four thousand two hundred strong, - and prepared to hold Sheridan back, but while forming his line of battle, General Ewell discovered that Gordon's corps, which constituted the rear-guard of the army, had taken another road, following the wagon-train, and that the enemy had already occupied the high ground in his rear, cutting him off from the rest of Lee's forces. The situation was desperate, but Ewell resolved to sell his command dearly. Sheridan threw forward his cavalry and engaged the Confederates in a hot skirmish until the 6th corps came up. The Federal infantry at once attacked, and Ewell fell back slowly, skirmishing so hotly that the advanced division (Seymour's) of the 6th corps was forced to halt until it could be re/nforced by a fresh division (Wheaton's).* The men could now see the * Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 612. THE LAST RETREAT. 623 enemy on all sides of them, and they were so much exhausted by fatigue and hunger, as to be scarcely able to stand up in the ranks. Many of them were so worn out that they would drop the guns which they had just loaded or discharged, and, regardless of the firing, sink down upon the ground and fall asleep.* Ewell formed his line rapidly, and as he did so the 6th corps made a sharp attack upon him. He had been separated from Pickett's division, which was broken and put to flight by the heavy column of the enemy thrown against it, and had been unable to render Pickett any assistance. Yet in this desperate strait, Ewell's veterans proved themselves worthy of their old renown. The advance of the 6th corps was met with a heavy fire which broke the Federal line, and caused it to fall back. The success was only temporary, however, for the enemy soon rallied and renewed their assault, while the cavalry closed in upon the flank and rear of the Confederates. Thus hemmed in on all sides by more than five times their number, Ewell's men threw down their arms and surrendered. All that was left of the corps, together with General Ewell himself, General Custis Lee, and three other general officers, fell into the hands of the enemy. While this fight was going on, the 2d Federal corps succeeded in capturing a number of prisoners and wagons, together with several pieces of artillery, near the mouth of Sailor's Creek. The effort of the enemy to press on, however, was checked by the Confederate rear-guard. General Ord, in starting out for Farmville, sent a force of cavalry and artillery to destroy the bridges near that place, in order to prevent Lee from reaching it. This force encountered the head of the Confederate column, and was driven off. The wreck of the Confederate army continued its retreat, and on the Dight of the 6th crossed the Appomattox at the Higrh Bridge, * This statement is derived from eye witnesses. 624 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. three miles from Farmville, and bivouacked on the opposite side of the river,- Gordon's corps at the High Bridge (the crossing of the South Side Railroad), and Longstreet's corps on the heights around Farmville. When the river was crossed, the general officers of the army collected around a camp fire to consider their situation, and to take counsel together as to the best line of policy to be pursued. General Lee was not of the number. All present agreed that but three lines of conduct yet remained open to them; either to disband and allow the troops to make their way as best they could to some specified rallying point, to abandon the trains, and with the infantry cut their way through the Federal lines, or to surrender. The first course was equivalent to a desertion of the cause, for it was certain that the army, once disbanded, would not reassemble, and to turn such a throng of starving men upon the country would be to bring still greater misery upon the inhabitants. The second course was doubtful, for it was hardly possible to cut through such an army as that of General Grant, with the little band of Confederates, and if it could be done, starvation was sure to follow. Nothing remained, in the opinion of the council, but to surrender. The army had done all in its power to uphold its cause. This decision was made reluctantly, and General Pendleton, the Chief of Artillery, was appointed to communicate it to General Lee. The Confederate commander was not yet ready to surrender.'While feeling keenly the grave responsibilities of his position, and sympathizing deeply with the sufferings of his troops, he did not believe that he could yet surrender his army with hon or. There was still a chance for escape, and it was his duty to endeavor to avail himself of it. THE SURRENDER. 625 VII. THE SURRENDER. Having decided that the moment for the surrender of his army had not yet arrived, General Lee prepared to continue his retreat. As soon as the Confederates had crossed the Appomattox, the railroad and stagte road bridges were fired. Gordon, on the morning of the 7th, left one brigade to guard the crossing until the bridges were destroyed, and moved towards Farmville with the rest of his command. At the same time the 2d Federal corps arrived, and making a sharp attack drove off the brigade left by Gordon, and saved the stage road bridge entire, and also the High Bridge, with the exception of two spans which were, burned. The enemy then dashed forward towards the Confederate wagon train, drove off the guard and captured a number of' the wagons. Gordon at once moved back a part of his force, compelled the enemy to withdraw, and captured two hundred prisoners. The Confederates continued their retreat during the 7th with but little molestation, except the frequent dashes of the enemy's cavalry upon the wagon train. The enemy followed closely, and early in the morning occupied Farmville. The 2d Federal corps was pushed forward, and about noon General Humphreys found his advance checked by the main body of Lee's army, which was strongly intrenched in a commanding position four or five miles north of Farmville, covering the stage and plank roads to Lynchburg. Lee had halted here to rest his army, and hold his pursuers in check until nightfall. Humphreys found the works too strong to be attacked in front, and made an at79 626 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. tempt to take them in flank; but, upon finding he was confronting Lee's whole army, he sent for re/nforcements. While awaiting their arrival, he attacked the Southern left, and was repulsed with a loss of over six hundred in killed and wounded. When the Federal re/nforcements came up, night had fallen, and the enemy decided to suspend the attack until morning. Upon occupying Farmville, General Grant dispatched a messenger to General Lee with the following communication: " APRIL 7, 1865. " GENERAL: "The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern YVirginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard 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. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. GENERAL R. E. LEE." This document was handed to General Lee that night. He at once sent the following reply: " APRIL 7, 1865. " GENERAL: "I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms yqu will offer on condition of its surrender. R. E. LEE, General. "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." THE SURRENDER. 627 During the night the Confederates resumed their retreat towards Lynchburg, and the movement had been in progress for some hours when General Grant received General Lee's letter. He immediately replied: "APRIL 8, 1865. " 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 I would 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 will designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of' Northern Virginia will be received. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant- General. GENERAL R. E. LEE." To this General Lee responded as follows: " APRIL 8, 1865. "GENERAL: " I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday, I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but, as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of 628 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Northern Virginia: but, as far as your proposal may affect the Confederate States' forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 A. M. to-morrow, on the old stage road to Richmond, between the picket lines of the two armies. R. E. LEE, General. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." On the 9th General Grant wrote: " APRIL 9, 1865. " GENERAL: " Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed for 10 A. M. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, &c., U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. GENERAL R. E. LEE." On the night of the 7th the Confederate army fell back from its intrenched line, and marched rapidly towards Lynchburg. At dark on the 8th the head of the column reached Appomattox Court House. The army was now moving on a narrow neck of land between the Appomattox and the James rivers. Lynchburg was only twenty-four miles distant, but there was danger that the enemy might throw their cavalry in advance of THE SURRENDER. 629 the Confederates, and thus close up the outlet. The march had been conducted during the 8th with singular freedom from fighting. Scarcely a gun had been fired the whole day, and the men began to think they might reach Lynchburg after all. Suddenly, however, heavy firing was heard in front. Then an order was received from General Lee to cut down all the extra artillery and disband the commands. The dream of security in which the army had for a moment indulged was abandoned, and the men awoke to the knowledge that their retreat was cut off. It was indeed the case. Sheridan had marched hard during the 7th and 8th, and towards dark on the 8th had reached Appomattox Station, on the South Side Railroad, five miles south of Appomattox Court House, and had captured four trains of cars, loaded with supplies, en route from Lynchburg to Lee's army. Then planting his command across the Confederate line of retreat he prepared to hold his position, knowing that the Army of the James would join him in the morning, while the Army of the Potomac would push forward in the rear of' the Southern forces. All that now remained to General Lee was to cut his way through Sheridan's lines, and he ordered General Gordon to do so at all hazards at sunrise. The Army of Northern Virginia had now been reduced to eight thousand men with muskets in their hands. Gordon's corps, about two thousand strong, was thrown out in front, while Longstreet's shattered command held the rear. Between these two weak lines was the remnant of the wagon-train, and huddled around the vehicles were several thousand unarmed stragglers, who had been rendered too weak, by hunger and fatigue, to carry their muskets. The cavalry, about three thousand strong, were almost unfit for service by reason of the sufferings of both men and horses. Yet this little skeleton army was 630 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. about to attempt to cut its way through the powerful lines of General Sheridan. At sunrise on the 9th, Gordon moved forward -to attack the enemy, and upon reconnoitering the Federal position, discovered that it was held by dismounted cavalry. Making a sharp attack he drove Sheridan's troopers back upon Ord's infantry which had now come up, and this force being brought forward, Gordon was himself forced back. Finding that he could not hold his ground, Gordon sent word to General Lee that the enemy were driving him back. When the message reached the Confederate Commander, that officer fblrlnd that he could no longer hope to reach Lynchburg. His last resource had been taken from him and further resistance would merely sacrifice the army.. The time had come to surrender. General Lee at once sent a flag of truce to General Sheridan asking for a suspension of hostilities, with a view to a surrender. At the same time he dispatched the following note to General Grant: April 9, 1865.' GENERAL: " I received your note this morning on the picket line, whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposition of yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. " I now request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General." "To LIEUT.-GENERAL GRANT,'Commanding Armies of the United States." The desired interview was granted by General Grant, who replied: THE SURRENDER. 631 April 9, 1865. " GENERAL R. E. LEE, COMMANDING CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES: "Your note of this date is but this moment, 11.59 A. M. received. "In consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road, I am at this writing, about four miles west of Walter's Church, and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. " Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place, will meet me: Very respectfully your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." The meeting of the two commanders was held at the house of Mr. Wilmer McLean, in the village of Appomattox Court House. There, sitting at a deal table, they drew up their famous agreement, the one proposing, and the other accepting the conditions upon which the Army of Northern Virginia passed into the domain of history, General Lee was calm and dignified. "His demeanor," says a Federal officer, who witnessed the scene, " was that of a thoroughly possessed gentleman, who had a very disagreeable duty to perform, but was determined to get through it as well and as soon as possible." The agreement was embodied in the two following papers: APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, VA., April 9, 1865. " GENERAL: "In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the Sth instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, and the other to be 632 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the United States until properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property, to be parked and stacked, and turned over by the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." 4' GENERAL R. E. LEE. HIEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865. "GENERAL: 4 I have 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 as those expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. R. E. LEE, General." "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. For the adjustment of the details of the surrender, General Lee appointed as commissioners,. Lieutenant-General Longstreet, Major-General Gordon, and Brigadier-General Pendleton, while General Grant designated for the same purpose, Major-Generals Gibbon, Griffin, and Merritt. These Commissioners met the next day, and drew up the following agreeiment: THE SURRENDER. 633 APPrMATTOX COURT HOUSE, April 10, 1865. Agreement entered into this day in regard to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to the United States authorities. " 1st. The troops shall march by brigades and detachments to the designated point, stack their arms, deposit their flags, sabres, pistols, &c., and thence march to their homes under charge of their officers, superintended by their respective division and corps commanders, officers retaining their side arms and the authorized number of private horses. " 2nd. All public horses and public property of all kinds to be turned over to staff officers, to be designated by the United States authorities. "3rd. Such transportation as may be agreed upon as necessary for the transportation of the private baggage of officers will be allowed to accompany the officers, to be turned over at the end of the trip to the nearest United States Quartermaster, receipts being taken for the same. " 4th. Couriers and mounted men of the artillery and cavalry, whose horses are their own private property, will be allowed to retain them. "5th. The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia shall be construed to include all the forces operating with that army on the 8th instant, the date of the commencement of the negotiations for surrender, except such bodies of cavalry as actually made their escape previous to the surrender, and except also such pieces of artillery as were more than twenty miles from Appomattox Court House at the time of surrender on the 9th instant. (Signed,) JOHN GIBBON, Maj.- Gen. Vols. J. LONGSTREET, Lieut.- Gen. CHARLES GRIFFIN, Brevet Maj.-Gen. J. B. GORDON, Maj.-Gen. U. S. Vols. W. N. PENDLETON, Briq.- Gen. and W. MERRITT, Brevet Maj.- Gen. Chief of Art'y." So 634 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. The terms accorded by General Grant were generous and noble. Whatever cause he may have given to the Southern people at any former period to think harshly of him, he more than atoned for it in this act, and they should never forget or cease to appreciate the manly spirit with which he refused to take advantage of their (distresses and helplessness, as so many of his countrymen demanded. General Grant may well be proud of it, for it was the greatest act of his life. I must now return to the army. When the flag of truce appeared on Gordon's line, a feeling of surprise and curiosity to know what it meant pervaded the ranks. Soon it was told from man to man that the army was to be surrendered to the enemy. General Lee had been seen riding to the rear, dressed with more care than usual, and with his sword, which he rarely wore, buckled on. Later it was stated authoritatively that the service of the army was at an end. The emotions of the men are hard to describe. There was a feeling of relief that the long, unequal struggule was over, mingled with an agonized regret for the failure of the cause they had so nobly upheld. The troops were very silent, in their grief, and they moved about and spoke to each other with that hushed, subdued air which men wear when in the presence of death. Soon General Lee was seen returning to his quarters from his interview with Geheral Grant. The emotion of the men could be no longer controlled. Whole lines of battle broke ranks, and rushing up to him, crowded around their beloved commander, sobbing out words of comfort and affection, strivinng with "a refinement of unselfishness and tenderness which he alone could fully appreciate, to lighten his burden, and mitigate his pain," and struggling with each other to take him once more by the hand. General Lee, usually so thoroughly master of himself, was completely overcome. With tears pouring down both cheeks, he exclaimed with deep emotion, " Men, we have THE SURRENDER. 635 fought through the war together. I have done the best that I could for you." Nothing more was said; nothing, more was needed. The next day General Lee took a formal leave of the army in the following noble address: HEADQUARTERS ARMY Ok' NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 10, 1865. ", After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuation of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. "By the terms of agreement, officers and men can return to their homes, and remain there until exchanged. "You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you His blessing and protection. "With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell. R. E. LEE, General." The victors were considerate and generous in all things. They issued food liberally to the starving troops of the van 636 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. quished army, and carefully refrained from anything that might seem to insult the fallen greatness which they could but admire. On the 12th of April the Army of Northern Virginia formed by divisions for the last time. Marching to a spot near Appornattox Court House, the troops parked their artillery, stacked their muskets, deposited their accoutrements, and laid down forever the colors they loved so well. About seven thousand five hundred men with arms surrendered, but there were present, and included in the capitulation nearly eighteen thousand unarmed stragglers. Two thousand cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee and Rosser had effected their escape previous to the closing in of Sheridan's lines, but these afterwards surrendered and were included within the terms granted to the rest of the army. The surrender was received by Major-General Gibbon, of the Federal army, General Grant generously remaining at his quarters. The Confederate officers and men were paroled, the army was disbanded, and the survivors turned their faces homeward. The great Army of Northern Virginia that had been so long the admiration of the world was now a thing of the past. General Lee, accompanied by his Staff, had already departed for Richmond, and on the afternoon of the 12th, reached it. Passillg through the city, he rode towards his residence. On the way he was recognized, and a crowd of citizens and Federal soldiers at once surrounded him, greeting him with loud cheers, in which the Federals joined right heartily. Riding rapidly to escape them, he reached his house. As he dismounted, the crowd pressed upon him, and the cheers glrew louder. It was the greeting of a conqueror rather than that of the conquered. After acknowledging the compliment, and shaking hands with those who were immediately around him, he escaped into his home, which had been scrupulously respected and protected by the Federals. CLOSING YEARS. 637 VIII. CLOSING YEARS. After the surrender of his army, General Lee remained quietly at his home in Richmond, endeavoring to secure the rest of which he stood so much in need. He was not allowed to remain undisturbed, however. The city was full of visitors from all parts of the country, and throngs of Confederate soldiers on parole were passing through daily, on their way to their homes. Many of these called on the General to pay their respects, and the majority were received by him; and it was only when his house was overrun with curious sightseers that he decided to refuse to receive miscellaneous visitors. Many Federal officers and soldiers called upon him during the passage of the Northern armies through the city, and were received by him with kindness and dignity. Many persons were surprised at the calmness and cheerfulness exhibited by General Lee after his surrender. Said one who saw him about this time: " He was not at all cast down. He was as cheerful and as amiable to those around him as if he had been the victor in the great struggle." Those who knew the General best, however, were not at all surprised by his manner. They knew that his tranquillity and cheerfulness proceeded from an intelligent conviction, that throughout the entire war he had done his whole duty, and that events had been shaped by an Arm stronger than his. Thus convinced, he never repined. He met adversity with the same self-command he had displayed in the midst of success, and with true Christian piety bowed in submission to the will of God. Yet, it must not be supposed that he was unmoved by the sufferings of his countrymen. Iis 638 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. whole soul went out to them with love; and only God can know with what grief that soul was wrung by the knowledge of those misfortunes which he was powerless to repair. From the moment of his surrender, General Lee endeavored, as far as lay in his power, to promote the return of peace and good will between the two sections of the country. He had no thought of further resistance, for his judgment assured him that with the loss of its best army the South was powerless to prolong the war. To all who sought his advice he recommended a prompt and sincere submission to the laws of the United States. Return to your homes, was his counsel, and seek to recover for the South her material prosperity, and do what lies in your power to promote the growth of friendly relations between the North and the South. It was hoped by many, and urged upon him by some, that he would take a prominent part in the settlement of the difficulties, and exert himself actively in favor of such measures as should commend themselves to his judgment. His great influence over the people of the South, it was believed, would enable him to bring them almost as a unit to the support of whatever measures he should urge upon them. He declined to take any part in public affairs, however, and wisely. His education and habits were those of a soldier, and political life was distasteful to him. He was aware of his influence over the Southern people, and valued their attachment to him as his most precious possession; he made no secret of his views upon public affairs, and every man, woman and child in the South was fully aware of his opinions and wishes; but his judgment convinced him that he could do the South no real service by taking part in the political strife of the day. While his own people would follow him with implicit confidence, neither their readiness to submit to the Federal authority nor his efforts would avert from the South one particle of the humiliation designed for her by her con CLOSING YEARS. 639 querors. Yet when his advice was asked, he gave it promptly and without reserve. " It is the duty of every citizen," he said, "in the present condition of the country, to do all in his power to aid in the restoration of peace and harmony, and in no way to oppose the policy of the State or general government directed to that object." Only once did he allow himself to be drawn into political questions, and that was in 1868, when General Rosecrans visited the White Sulphur Springs, where General Lee was a guest.. But this time he confined himself to a simple statement of the course he thought best calculated to bring about the complete restoration of harmony between the sections. In common with the majority of the people of the South, General Lee suffered considerable pecuniary loss by the war; and at its close applied himself, with his customary energy, to securing some position which would afford him a support for himself and his family. In August, 1865, he was offered the Presidency, of Washington College, in the town of Lcxington,Virginia, and he accepted the position. It was one peculiarly agreeable to him. It removed him entirely from public affairs, and at the same time called forth his energy and executive ability to a considerable extent. It was an institution with which Washington had closely identified himself, and it was eminently fitting that the son of Washington's most trusted friend should preside over it. As soon as his arrangements could be made, General Lee repaired to Lexington, and on the 2d of October, 1865, publicly entered upon his new duties. The inaugural ceremonies are thus described' in a letter by a gentleman who was present: "General Robert E. Lee was to-day installed President of Washington College. There was no pomp or parade. The exercises of installation were the simplest possible-an exact and barren compliance with the required formula of taking the oath by the new President, and nothing more. This was in 640 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. accordance with the special request of General Lee. It was proposed to have the installation take place in the college chapel, to send invitations far and wide, to have a band of music to play enlivening airs, to have young girls, robed in white and bearing chaplets of flowers, to sing songs of welcome, to have congratulatory speeches, to make it a holiday. That this proposed programme was not carried out was a source of severe disappointment to many. But General Lee had expressed his wishes contrary to the choice and determination of the college trustees and the multitude, and his wishes were complied with. " The installation took place at nine A. M., in a recitation room of the college. In this room were seated the faculty and the students, the ministers of the town churches, a magistrate and the county clerk, the last two officials being necessary to the ceremonial. General Lee was inducted into the room by the Board of Trustees. At his entrance and introduction, all:n the room rose, bowed and then became seated. Prayer by Rev. Dr. White, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, directl. followed. To me it was a noticeable fact, and perhaps worthy of record, that he prayed for the President of the United States. Altogether, it was a most fitting and impressive prayer. " The prayer ended, Judge Brockenbrough, chairman of the Board of Trustees, stated the object of their coming together, to install General Lee as President of Washington College. He felt the serious dignity of the occasion, but it was a seriousness and dignity that should be mingled with heartfelt joy and gladness. Passing a brief eulogy upon General Lee, and congratulating the board and college, and its present and future students, on having obtained one so loved and great and worthy to preside over the college, he said he could say a great deal more, had it not been voted against speech-making. During the delivery of these few words,-and they came, despite of the prohibitory voting, very near culminating to the dignity of a set as well as CLOSING YEA:RS. 641 eloquent speech — General Lee remainedl standing, his arlms quietly folded, and calmly and steadfastly looking into the eyes of the speaker. Justice William White, at the instance of Judge Brockenbrough, now administered the oath of office to General Lee. For the benefit of those curious to know the nature of' this new oath, to which General Lee has just subscribed, and as it is brief, I will give it entire. It is as follows: "' I do swear, that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, faithfully and truly discharge the duties required of me by an act entitled, "An Act for the incorporating the rector and trustees of Liberty Hall Academy," without favor, affection, or partiality, so help me, God.' "To this oath General Lee at once affixed his signature, with the accompanying usual jurat of the swearing magistrate appended. * * The document, in the form stated, was handed to the county clerk for safe and perpetual custod(ianship, and at the same time the keys of the college were given up by the rector into the keeping of the new President. A congratulatory shakitg of hands followed, and wound up the day's brief but pleasing, impressive and memorable ceremonial. President Lee and those of the trustees present, with the faculty, now passed into the room set apart for the former's use-a good-sized room — newly but very tastefully furnished. " General Lee was dressed in a plain but elegant suit of gray. His appearance indicated the enjoyment of good health —better, I should say, than when he surrendered his army at Appomattox Court House, the first and only occasion, before the present, of my having seen him." From the moment of his instalment, General Lee devoted himself to the affairs of the college with energy. The institution was considerably straitened in its finances, having suffered much from the effects of the war, and considerable skill was needed to place them on a sound footing. The efforts of 81 642 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the General were unceasing, and were crowned with success. His connection with the college brought to it throngs of students from all parts of the country, for parents wisely thought they could do their sons no greater service than by placing them under the guidance of their beloved leader. The students on their part regarded their President with an enthusiastic devotion, and never in the whole history of the institution had there been found so little necessity for enforcing discipline. The writer, who was familiar with the college in its ante bellum days, has been assured that the change in this respect was most marked. Previous to the war, the college had been almost strictly a Presbyterian school; but under the new regime its sectarian character was laid aside. The standard of scholarship was elevated, and a more practical character imparted to it. The finances improved rapidly, and were soon in a flourishing condition. The tuition fees of the students afforded a handsome revenue, and donations were received from various parts of the country, and from Europe. Some of the most resolute opponents of General Lee during the war, contributed liberally to the support of the college, and solely because of his connection with it. it was his fortune to be exempted entirely from the bitterness with which the people of the North regarded the leaders of the Confederate cause. His high character, his spotless record during the the terrible struggle, and the simple dignity with which he rose above his misfortunes, won for him the unqualified admiration of his former foes; and surely no higher praise can be accorded to any man than this. When a few reckless partisans sought to charge him with acts of cruelty and injustice during the wvar, there was an emphatic protest from the respectable portion of the Northern people against any such course. Their feeling is, perhaps, well illustrated by the remark of a colored barber to a Southern gentleman in Philadelphia, at the close of CLOSING YEARS. 643 the war. "I wish," said the barber, "I had Jeff. Davis, or Beauregard, or Benjamin, or WVigfall where you are sitting, I would never let them leave this chair alive." "What would you do to Lee?" asked the gentleman. The barber answered promptly, " I would be proud to shave him, sir. Such a good and great man ought never to die." "But he fought against you-he was your enemy as well as the others," urged the gentleman. "Sir," said the barber, "all the harm he did us was done like a man, and in the open field, and he believed he was doing his duty." Said a Northern journal, the morning after his death: "He sincerely and sadly believed himself to be doing his duty to the principles of American liberty and American law. There was nothing in him of the conspirator, nothing of the fanatic. He fought neither for slavery nor for empire. The men at the South who fought for either or for both distrusted and disliked him from the first moment of the war; and to the last they yielded an unwilling homage only to his skill as a commander, not to his motives as a citizen. To Robert Lee the dreadful ordeal of battle was indeed a supreme arbitrament between two vast and maddened sections of a common country —an arbitrament thrust upon him, not invited by him; accepted, and not desired. The sternest censor of his action, being just as well as stern, must acquit him of all participation in the proceedings which brought us to this awful arbitrament; as the general sense of the whole reunited people of the Union acquits him of any act done or word uttered to protract, for a single hour beyond the closing of the dread account at Appomattox, the passions and the perturbations of the strife. " TUnder all the provocations-and they have been manifold and bitter-addressed by reckless and unscupulous partisans to the sore and humiliated South, the broken sword, the silent dignity, of Robert Lee have pleaded more eloquently than 644 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. words with the people; who had learned to trust him as their head, and hand, and eye, for patience and for self-command. Neither withdrawing himself fiom the daily life and conversation of the community in which he lived, nor thrusting himself upon the public affairs of the nation, he has earned an enduring title to something more than admiration from the one, to something more than forgiveness from the other." Early in 1866, General Lee was summoned to Washington by the Congressional Committee on Reconstruction, and examined concerning the state of affairs in the South. The reader will find this examination at the close of the volume.* Later in the year, an attempt was made by Judge Underwood to have him indicted for treason. General Lee immediately wrote to General Grant upon the subject, claiming that the parole given at his surrender protected both himself and his army from any such prosecution. General Grant promptly replied that the position taken by General Lee was correct, and that according to the terms of the capitulation, any such indictment vwould be an act of bad faith on the part of the Government. The attempted prosecution was accordingly abandoned. Soon after this, General Lee submitted to the President of the United States an application for pardon, as required by an Act of Congress. The application was made through General Grant, and was cordially endorsed by him, and a warrant of pardon was at once issued by President Johnson in accordance with the terms of the law. It was hoped that General Lee would devote himself to the preparation of a history of his campaigns, and his most intimate friends several times urged him to do so. At first he declined to enter upon such a course. The whole subject of the war was painfill to him, and he rarely entered upon any discussion of it " See Note H. CLOSIN'G YEARS. 645 of his own accord. IHe was fully alive, however, to the importance of a correct history of its events being prepared by some person thoroughly familiar with the subject, and it appears that he was about to comply with the wishes of his friends when he was taken away from his labors. As early as the 10th of November, 1865, he wrote to a friend: "I concur with you entirely as to the importance of a true history of the war; and it is my purpose, unless prevented, to write that of the campaigns in Virginia. With this view, have been engaged since the cessation of hostilities in endeavoring to procure the necessary official information. All my records, reports, returns, etc., with the headquarters of the army, were needlessly destroyed by the clerks having them in charge on the retreat from Petersburg, and such as had been forwarded to the War department in Richmond were either destroyed in its conflagration or captured at the South in the attempt to save them. I desire to obtain some vouchers in support of my recollection, or I should have made some progress in the narrative. I have not even my letter or order books to which to refer. I have thought it possible that some of my official correspondence, which would be of value to me, might be found among the captured records in Washington, and that General Grant, who possesses magnanimity as wvell as ability, might cause me to be furnished with copies. I have, however, hesitated to approach him on the subject, as it is one in which he would naturally feel no interest." Later still, on the 11th of June, 1869, he wrote: "I feel more strongly'than I can describe the importance of a true history of the events of the war between the Northern and the Southern States, and had resolved to prepare a narrative of the military occurrences in Virginia. I have not changed my purpose, but at first thought the time was unpropitious. The passions of neither section had sufficiently cooled to hear the truth, 646 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the only thing I cared to relate. I do not think that time has arrived yet, but it is approaching. I have been collecting facts, but am at a loss in consequence of my records, papers, etc., having been destroyed, and have been so situated as to be incapable of supplying them. Still I am doing something, and hope to succeed." Unfortunately for the world, death has prevented the fulfilment of his resolution, and the history and literature of the country have suffered a loss which nothing can repair. The terrible strain, both mental and physical, to which he was subjected during the last year of the war, did much to undermine the vigorous health of General Lee, and the unhappy condition of the South since the war, which he was compelled to witness without the power of remedying, exercised a most depressing influence upon him. Yet he preserved a remarkable degree of cheerfulness, sustained in all things by the truest Christian fortitude. He suffered in silence, doing whatever lay in his power to better the condition of his countrymen, and setting them a noble example in his daily life. Yet this sorrow was doing its work, and he was every year growing feebler. The duties of his new position were discharged with promptness and precision, and this constant application had its share in breaking down his strength. He was always at his post, and sought rest only when his labors were ended. His vacations were passed principally at the watering places of Virginia, and but a short while before his death he made a visit to Georgia, with the hope of deriving benefit from the change. It is said that about two years before his death he remarked to his friend and pastor, Dr. Pendleton, that he did not expect to live more than two years longer, a premonition which was too sadly realized. About a fortnight before his death, he was stricken with what was believed to be an attack of nervous prostration. He had CLOSING YEARS. 647 been present on the afternoon of September 28th, 1870, at a meeting of the vestry of the Episcopal church, at Lexington, of which he was a member. Important business was brought before the vestry, and that body continued in session until half past seven o'clock in the evening. General Lee left the church in company with General Smith and Dr. Madison of the Virginia Military Institute. As they came out into the night air, Dr. Madison remarked that it was too damp a night for either General Lee or himself to be out. The General replied, " Yes, but you see I am well wrapped up." He seemed unusually cheerful, and chatted pleasantly with his friends until they reached the gate of his residence, where they parted. Upon entering his house, he passed into the dining room, where his family were assembled at tea, and took his usual seat at the table. As he sat down, Mrs. Lee remarked to him, "Robert. -you are late; we have been waiting for you. What detained you?" Receiving no answer, Mrs. Lee repeated her question, and then looking up saw General Lee with his hand at his watch-pocket, as if trying to take out or put back his watch, but motionless. His son General Custis Lee at once hastened to his side, and found the General speechless. Medical aid was at once summoned, but in a little while the General regained the power of utterance as usual. As there were no decisive indications of appoplexy or paralysis, it was hoped by his physicians that the attack was only temporary nervous prostration. The indications seemed favorable to his recovery, and continued so until Monday the 10th of October. He spoke but little, and for the greater part of the time lay in a species of stupor. Yet when awake he readily recognized the persons about himn, and his remarks, which were chiefly concerning his physical conlition, showed that his mind was clear and rational. The medicines given him, it is believed, contributed largely to the continuance of his stupor. On Saturday, the 8th of Octo 648 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. ber, he seemed so much better that his physician, Dr. Madison, playfully said to him, " General, you must make haste and get up from this bed.'Traveller' is getting lazy, and you must make haste and give him the exercise he needs." The General fixed his eyes steadily upon him, and shook his head emphatically, as if to indicate that he would never mount "Traveller" again. On Monday, October 10th, he suddenly grew worse, and continued to fail rapidly. He suffered comparatively little pain during his whole sickness. Once or twice his mind seemed to wander, and his thoughts seemed to revert to the army. At one time he ordered that his tent should be struck, and at another, desired that General Hill should be sent for.* He continued to grow worse, and on the morning of Wednesday, October 12th, 1870, at half past nine o'clock, breathed his last. The proximate cause of his death was mental and physical fatigue, inducing nervous congestion of the brain, which gradually caused cerebral exhaustion and death. The renWte causes have already been stated. The news of his death was at once telegraphed throughout the country. - The whole South gave way to the most uncontrollable grief, for General Lee was personally dear to every Southern heart. In the North there was a very general feeling of regret at his death, and with the exception of a few bitterly partizan * The reader will remember that, in his dying moments, General Jackson exclaimed, in the utterances of delirium, "Send A. P. Hill to the front." It is a most interesting coincidence that among the last thoughts of the two greatest soldiers of the South, the fidelity and devotion of General Hill should have had so conspicuous a place. The historian of the war, seeking to estimate the character of General Hill, can accord him no higher praise than the simple relation of the fact that in their last supreme moments the thoughts of both Lee and Jackson reverted to him as a man whose fidelity, courage and ability had made an indelible impression upon their minds. CLOSING YEARS. 649 iournals, the press of that section united in a sincere tribute to the virtues and genius of the dead chieftain. In Lexington, the liveliest sorrow was displayed. Every business house was closed, and crape was to be seen on almost every door. The intelligence of the death of General Lee was communicated to the Legislature of Virginia by the Governor, and that body at once adopted appropriate resolutions. The capital of Virginia was a scene of deep mourning; the stores were closed, and the bells were tolled; and similar scenes were to be witnessed in every city in the South. In several of the Southern cities the flags of the foreign Consulates were placed at half mast. A committee was promptly despatched to Lexington by the Legislature of Virginia to request the family of General Lee to allow his body to be taken in charge by the State, and buried in Hollywood Cemetery near Richmond, in the section reserved by Virginia as the last resting place of her distinguished sons. The request was favorably entertained by the family of General Lee, and it is probable that at some future time the wish of the State will be granted. For the present, however, it was decidea that the remains of General Lee should be interred in a vault beneath the College Chapel. This was the first building erected by him during his presidency; "he having declared immediately upon his inauguration, that it was proper that the first thing the college did should be to dedicate a house to the services of religion." A letter from Lexington, dated October 14th, thus describes the funeral ceremonies: "The gloom cast over this community is indescribable. Since the very moment the church bells began to ring out the sad dirge of death, the town has been a house of mourning, of stricken hearts, and tearful eyes. From the moment his death was announced business ceased, and the town was immediately draped in mourning. Every man, woman, and child have crape on their arms, and look as if they had just lost a near relative. 82 650 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Washington College, theVirginia Military Institute, and National Hotel were draped in deep mourning. The ladies of Lexington, with tearful eyes, claimed it as their especial privilege to drape in mourning with their own hands the College Chapel which General Lee erected, and beneath which he is to be buried, as also of the Episcopal church of which he was a communicant. The professors and students of Washington College, the professo;rs, officers, and cadets of the Virginia Military Institute, and the old soldiers of the late ConfederatQ army, all have their badges of deep mourning. All public duties have ceased at the College and the Military Institute, and will remain suspended until next Mfonday. Yesterday, at noon, the hero's mortal remains were conveyed from his late residence to the College Chapel, where they now lie in state. The procession was very imposing. The post of honor was assigned to his late companions in arms, ex-Confederate soldiers. Next, the hearse containing the body, and immediately in the rear, Old Gray, the horse, with saddle and housings, which he rode through the war; then followed the chaplain, and the clergy, trustees and faculty of Washington College, visitors, and faculty of Virginia Military Institute, officers and cadets, Masons and Odd Fellows, and lastly, citizens. lournful and slow moved the sad cortege to the chapel. Yesterday and this morning, memorial services were held in the college chapel, and were largely attended by the citizens, the students, professors, the cadets, officers, and others. Mlemorial services were also held in the evening at Military Institute. The venerable Dr. Pendleton, pastor of the Episcopal church, a major-general during the war, and Lee's chief of artillery, conducted the services, and was aided by Dr. White, of the Presbyterian church,- and the Rev. Mr. Jones, of the Baptist church. Dr. Pendleton was so affected when he incidentally alluded to Lee that it was with great difficulty that he could control his feelings so as to proceed with the services. CLOSING YEARS. 651 " Long before the hour for the formation of the fineral procession, large numbers of children and ladies might be seen wending their way through the streets, carrying bunches of roses and immortelles, to be dropped upon the tomb of the deal(l soldier. Crowds from the surrounding country, and the several delegations from a distance, arrived this morning. " At ten o'clock, precisely, the solemln cortege commenced to move upon its sad duty, under the direction of Professor J. J. White, of WashLington College, Chief Marshal. Music. Escort of honor, Consisting of officers and soldiers of the Confederate army. Chaplain and other clergy. General Lee's horse. The attending Physicians. Trustees and Faculty of Washington College. Dignitaries of the State of Virginia. Visitors and Faculty of V. M. I. Other representative bodies and distinguished visitors. Alumni of Washington College. Citizens. Cadets V. M. I. Students Washington College as guard of honor. "10 o'clock precisely, the procession formed on the college grounds in front of the president's house, and moved down Washington street, up Jefferson street to the Franklin Hall, thence to Main street, where it Was joined in front of the National Hotel by the dignitaries of the State of Virginia, and other representative bodies in their order, and by the organized body of citizens in front of the court house. The procession 652 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. then moved by the road to the Virginia Military Institute, where it was joined by the visitors, faculty, and cadets of the Virginia Military Institute in their respective places. The procession was closed by the students of Washington College as a guard of honor, and then moved up through the institute and college grounds to the chapel. The procession halted in front of the chapel, when the cadets of the institute and the students of Washington College marched through the college chapel past the remains, and were afterwards drawn up in two bodies on the south side of the chapel. The remainder of the procession then proceeded into the chapel, and were seated under the direction of the marshals. As it moved down Main street, the band played Beethoven's funeral march. Crowds of weeping women and children thronged the balconies and windows of the houses along the line of march. Just before the procession reached the chapel, the family of the deceased entered the chapel. It consisted of General Custis Lee, General William H. F. Lee, Captain Robert E. Lee, Jr., Misses Mildred and Agnes. They were accompanied by their cousins, General Fitz Lee, George and Henry Lee, and Colonel William Preston Johnson and Miss Harrison, intimate friends of the family. When the funeral cortege arrived at the chapel the students and cadets entered and proceeded up the northern aisle two abreast, and passed by the corpse, one on each side, down to the southern aisle. Next came several hundred officers and soldiers of the late Confederate army and took seats in the body of the chapel. The faculty, and board of visitors and State dignitaries were seated on the stand at the foot of the corpse. When all were seated, Rev. Mr. Pendleton arose, and in a very impressive tone read verses of Scripture from St. John and Job, and the 39th and 90th Psalms, and a portion of the 15th of first Corinthians, commencing,'Now i, Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept.' After which the choir sang a hymn. CLOSING YEARS. 653 "After the reading of the beautiful service for the dead, according to the form of th6 Episcopal Church, by the Rev. Dr. Pendleton, with appropriate hymns by the choir, the services were then concluded. No sermon was preached at the grave, it being the express desire of General Lee. "The coffin was a plain metallic one, and was loaded down with cypress and wreaths of flowers and evergreens. The hero was dressed in white pants and vest, black coat and cravat. The features were somewhat changed since death, but wore a placid and calm expression. On the marble slab was the simple inscription: General ROBERT EDWARD LEE, Born January 19, 1807. Died October, 12, 1870. "At the obsequies I noticed several ex-Confederate generals." In person, General Lee was strikingly handsome. He was tall in stature, and possessed one of the most perfectly proportioned figures the writer ever saw. He was so perfectly proportioned and so graceful in motion, that walking seemed to be no exertion to him. Ilsi features were handsome and his expression commanding, yet kind and winning. In his manners he was quiet and modest, but thoroughly self-possessed. His whole bearing seemed to me to merit the expression of " antique heroism " applied to him by a foreign writer/ He was courteous and kind to all, and at the height of his- power the humblest private in his army approached him with an absolute certainty of a cordial reception. He was devotedly loved by his friends, and personally he had no enemies. He was strong in his friendships, and slow to condemn any one. In the midst of the fierce passions aroused by the war, his moderation was most remarkable. He was absolutely free from bitterness of feeling, and always spoke of his adversaries with kindness and respect. 654 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. lIe possessed the most perfect command over his temper, and it is said that he was never seen angry. An oath never passed his lips, and he used neither tobacco nor liquors. He steadily discouraged the idea that the fatigues and exposure of army life madle drinking necessary, or even advisable, and opposed his own experience to it. He was a devout Christian, and for many years had been a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Referring to this phase of his character, a Northern writer has said, " He canme nearer the ideal of the soldier and Christian general than any man we can think of." As a soldier, General Lee will take rank amongst the great masters of modern warfare. It is not my purpose to compare him here with any of the other great captains of history, with whom he will always be classed. I ask the reader's attention to the following tribute from the pen of a distinguished general officer of the United States army, who fought with him in Mexico, and against him dluring the late war. It is the tribute of a gallant and generous foe, an(l is all the more valuable for that reason: " There was no period of his life, from his youth at West Point, throughout his career in military service, that Lee was not filling with the highest distinction the position he occupied. As a cadet, he was graduated with the highest honors. As a captain of engineers in the war with Mexico, his rank by no means measures the importance of his services. He was the trusted, confidential staff officer of the general-in-chief. Scott always made the most ample and generous acknowledgment of his merits. They were varied and important, for he was always as ready in action as in counsel. His personal courage, indeed, was of that habitual and imperturbable kind that seemed too much a part of his nature to be the subject of any special com-1mendation. * * * * "His more recent career is too well known to need reeapi iVt CLOSING YEARS. 655 lation. * * It may, however, be said, without derogating from his great merits, that he shone more in defensive thain in aggressive war. * * The invasion of Pennsylvania culminated in disaster at Gettysburg. Indeed, to his military reputation this battle, and his conduct of it, are the most serious detractions that his career affords. * * * It has been said, we believe, by General Lee himself; that at Gettysburg he yielded to the urgency and enthusiasm of his officers and men. This, too, exhibits a trait in his character. There was an amiability, a bonhomie, about him that was not, perhaps, consistent with the sternness and inflexibility that war sometimes demands in a leader. We cannot conceive of Joseph E. Johnston or Stonewall Jackson-to compare him only with his Confederate contemporaries —yielding t;lleir better judgment to the enthusiasm of those around them. To be thus infectious to the feelings of others was an amiable trait of character which Lee possessed amid all'the strength of his genius and resolution. His best fought fields were on the Peninsula, and at Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg, and the long, desperate, brilliant, unequal struggle, the successes of which will fill the soldier with admiration and wonder, though to the popular eye they are merged in the fall of Richmond and the capitulation of his army. As a great master of defensive warfare, Lee will probably not be ranked inferior to any general known in history. Whether those for whom he fought will rank him ultimately above Johnston and Jackson, or how he will stand on the page of history, in comparison with his great opponents, we have neither ability nor inclination to discuss. It is not our aim to-day to criticise, nor to broach political questions, but to pay our tribute of respect and honor to a great man, who fought fairly and nobly on the side he toolk, sincerely believing it to be, according to his light, the side to which patriotism and honor summoned hlirm." NOTES. 657 NOTES. A The following correspondence occurred between General Lee and the Federal Authorities in communicating the views and intentions of the Southern Government. " HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, July 21, 1862.'To TMAJOR-GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN, COMMANDING AR3IY OF THE POTOMAC: "C GENERAL: It has come to my knowledge that many of our citizens, engaged in peaceful avocations, have been arrested and imprisoned because they refused to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, while others, by hard and harsh treatment, have been compelled to take an oath not to bear arms against that Government. " I have learned that about one hundred of the latter class have recently been released from Fortress Monroe. This Government refuses to admit the right of the Authorities of the United States to arrest our citizens and extort from them their parole not to render military service to their country, under the penalty of incurring punishment in case they fall into the hands of your forces. I am directed by the Secretary of War to inform you that such oaths will not be regarded as obligatory, and persons who take them will be required to render military service. Should your Government treat the rendition of such service by these 83 658 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. persons a's a breach of parole, and punish it accordingly, this Government will resort to retaliatory measures, as the only means of compelling the observance of the rules of civilized warfare. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed), R. E. LEE, General Commanding." "HEADQUARTERS OF ARMY UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, August 13, 1862. "To MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, COMMANDING ARMY OF THE POTOMAC: "GENERAL: I have just received from the Adjutant-General's office your letter of July 30th, inclosing a letter from General R. E. Lee, of July 21st. "a The letters of General Dix and Major Moore will furnish you with the proper information for a reply to Gen. Lee's complaints in regard to the treatment of prisoners at Fortress Monroe. The Government of the United States has never authorized any extortion of oaths of allegiance or military paroles, and has forbidden any measures to be resorted to tending to that end. " Instead of extorting oaths of allegiance and parole, it has refused the applications of several thousand prisoners to be permitted to take them and return to their homes in the rebel States. "'At the same time, this Government claims and will exercise the right to arrest, imprison, or place beyond its military lines any persons suspected of giving aid and information to its enemies, or of any other treasonable act; and if persons so arrested voluntarily take the oath of allegiance, or give their military parole, and afterwards violate their plighted faith, they will be punished according to the laws and usages of war. You will assure Gen. Lee that no unseemly threats of retaliation on his part will deter this Government from exercising its lawful rights over both per NOTES. 659 sons and property, of whatever name or character. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) H. W. HALLECK, Gen.-in-Chief U. S. Army. RHEADQUARTERS OF THIE ARMY U. S., WASHINGTON, August 7, 1862. "To GEN. R. E. LEE, COMMANDING CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY: 6" GENERAL: Your letter of July 6th was received at the Adjutant-General's office on the 14th, but supposing from its endorsement that it required no further reply, it was filed without being shown to the President or Secretary of War. I learn today, for the first time, that said letter had been received, and hasten to reply. "No authentic information has been received in relation to the execution of either John Owen or Mumford, but measures will be immediately taken to ascertain the facts of those alleged executions, of which you will be duly informed. "I heed hardly assure you, General, that so far as the United States Authorities are concerned, this contest will be carried on in strict accordance with the laws and usages of modern warfare, and that all excesses will be duly punished. "' In regard to the burning of bridges within our lines by persons in disguise as peaceful citizens, I refer you to my letter of the 22nd of January last to General Price. I think you will find the views there expressed as not materially differing from those stated in your letter. In regard to retaliation by taking the lives of innocent persons, I know of no modern authority which justifies it, except in the extreme case of a war with any uncivilized foe, which has himself first established such a barbarous rule. The United States will never countenance such a proceeding, unless forced to do so by the barbarous conduct of an enemy who first applies such a rule to our citizens. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief, U. S. Army." 660 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. "' HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TEE 6" C. S." NEAR RICHMOND, Aug. 2, 1862. "'O THE GENERAL COMMANDING THE ARMY OF THE U. S., WASHINGTON: " GENERAL: On the 29th of June last I was instructed by the Secretary of War to inquire of Major-General McClellan as to the truth of alleged murders committed on our citizens by officers of the United States army. The cases of Win. B, Mumford, reported to have been murdered at New Orleans, by order of Major-General B. F. Butler, and Colonel John Owen, reported to have been murdered in Missouri, by order of MaljorGeneral Pope, were those referred to. I had the honor to be informed by Major-General McClellan that he had referred these inquiries to his Government for a reply. No answer has as ye., been received. "6 The President of the Confederate States has since beet credibly informed that numerous other officers of the army of the United States within the Confederacy, have been guilty o! felonies and capital offences which are punishable by all laws, human and divine. I am directed by him to bring to your notice a few of those best authenticated. Newspapers received from the United States announce as a fact that Maicjor-General Hunter has armed slaves for the murder of their masters, and has thus done all in his power to inaugurate a servile war, which is more than that of the savage, inasmuch as -it superadds other horrors to the indiscriminate slaughter of all ages, sexes, and conditions. " Brigadier-General Phelps is reported to have initiated in New Orleans, the example set by Major-General Hunter, on the coast of South Carolina. Brigadier-General G. N. Fitch is stated, in the same journals, to have murdered, in cold blood, two peaceful citizens, because one of his men, while invading aur country, was killed by some unknown person while defending his home. "I am instructed by the President of the Confederate States NOTES. 661 to repeat the inquiry relative to the cases of Mumford and Owens, and to ask whether the statements relative to the action of Generals Hunter, Phelps, and Fitch, are admitted to be true, and whether the conduct of these generals is sanctioned by thieir Governinent. "1 am further directed by his Excellency, the President, to give notice that, in the event of not receiving a reply to these inquiries within fifteen days from the delivery of this letter, it will be assumed that the alleged facts are true, and are saneitoned by the Government of the United States. In such event, on that Government will rest the responsibility of the retribution or retaliatory measures which shall be adopted tr put an end to the merciless atrocities which now characterize the war against the Confederate States. I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed), R. E. LEE, General Coummanding." " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE " C. S." NEAR RICMIOND, Aug. 2, 1862. "' To THE GENERAL COMMANDING U. S. ARMY, WASHINGTON, D. C.: " GENERAL: In obedience to the order of His Excellency, the President of the Confederate States, I have the honor to make to you the following communication: " On the 22d July last, a cartel for a general exchange of prisoners of war was signed between Major- General D. H. Hill, in behalf of the Confederate States, and Major-General John A. Dix, in behalf of the United States. " By the terms of the cartel it is stipulated that all prisoners of war hereafter taken shall be discharged on parole till exchanged. "Scarcely had that cartel been signed when the military authorities of the United States commenced a practice changing the whole character of the war, from such as becomes civilized nations into a campaign of indiscriminate robbery and murder. 662 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " The general order issued by the Secretary of BWar of the United States, in the city of Washington, on the very day the cartel was signed in Virginia, directs the military commanders of the United States to take the private property of our people for the convenience and use of their armies, without compensation. " The general order issued by Major-General Pope, on the 23d day of July, the day after signing of the cartel, directs the murder of our peaceful inhabitants as spies, if found quietly tilling the farms in his rear, even outside of his lines, and one of his Brigadier-Generals, Steinwehr, has seized upon innocent and peaceful inhabitants to be held as hostages, to the end that they may be murdered in cold blood if any of his soldiers are killed by some unknown persons whom he designates as' Bushwhackers.' "' We find ourselves driven by our enemies by steady progress towards a practice which we abhor, and which we are vainly struggling to avoid. Under these circumstances, this Government has issued the accompanying general order, which I am directed by the President to transmit to you, recognizing Major-General Pope and his commissioned officers to be in the position which they have chosen for themselves, - that of robbers and murderers, and not that of public enemies, entitled, if captured, to be treated as prisoners of war. " The President also instructs me to inform you that we renounce our right of retaliation on the innocent, and will continue to treat the private enlisted soldiers of General Pope's army as prisoners of war; but if, after notice to your Government that we confine repressive measures to the punishment of commissioned officers, who are willing participants in those crimes, the savage practice threatened in the order alluded to be persisted in, we shall be reluctantly forced to the last resort of accepting the war on the terms chosen by our enemies, until the NOTES. 663 foice of ai. outraged humanity shall compel a respect for the recognized usages of war. "While the President considers that the facts referred to would justify a refusal on our part to execute the cartel by which we have agreed to liberate an excess of prisoners of war in our hands, a sacred regard for plighted faith which shrinks from the semblance of breaking a promise, precludes a resort to such an extremity; nor is it his desire to extend to any other forces of the United States the punishment merited by General Pope, and such commissioned officers as choose to participate in the execution of his infamous order. "I have the honor to be very respectfully your obedient servants (Signed) R. E. LEE, General Commanding." " HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 1862. " GENERAL R. E. LEE, COMMANDING CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES: "C GENERAL: Your two communications of the 2d instant. with enclosures, are received. As these papers are couched in language exceedingly insulting to the Government of the United States, I must respectfully decline to receive them. They are returned herewith. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H.. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief U. S. Army." B The assertion made concerning the superiority of the Federal cavalry over that of the Confederates needs an explanation, and I have concluded to present it here rather than in the body of 664 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the work, so that I may not interrupt the thread of the narrative. When the war began, the Southern Government was decidedly reluctant to employ cavalry in its army, and it was not until the necessity of this branch of the service had been fbrced upon it that it consented to authorize the enlistment of cavalry. No encouragement was ever held out to this arm of the service. A narrow policy influenced the Government throughout' the war. The men were required to provide their own horses. The popular idea seems to be that this is the best way to secure good horses. The experience of the war proved the contrary. The Government of a country will always provide better horses than can be purchased by individuals, one reason being that it has more ready money for this purpose, and a wider field to select from. Besides this, the war proved that the owners of horses were unwilling to risk them in a fight. Men are always more willing to place the property of other persons in danger than to hazard their own. The reader will readily agree with me that it is suicidal in a Government to fail to remove, at any cost, the cause of any hesitation on the part of so important a branch of the service. The horses of the Confederacy were, owing to-the miserable mismanagement of the Quartermaster's Department, almost always half starved. In this condition they were required to perform the most arduous service, which so greatly weakened them that it was impossible for the cavalry commanders of the Southern army to keep their troops in a good state of discipline. The Federal cavalry had 1n abundance of forage, and were thus enabled to keep their horses so well fed that their drills were but exercise for them, and in battle they had the advantage which a disciplined force always enjoys over undisciplined troops. Another cause was the manner in which the troops were armed. At the outset of the war the Southern cavalry were NOTES. 665 armed with the sabre. This, unfortunately, was soon superseded by the pistol, and finally by the gun, musket, or any other species of fire-arms the men could procure. The Government failed to provide a sufficiency of sabres - the true weapon of the cavalry -and neglected, or refused to arm the men with the lighllt carbine, such as was used in the Federal service. The result was that the Southern horsemen were not cavalry in the strict sense of the term. They were part cavalry, but principally mounted infantry, employing their horses to carry them into the fight, and then dismounting and using their heavy muskets or rifles. Their pistols were only good at close quarters, and even then the superiority of the sabre showed itself. So far as the men themselves were concerned, no better material ever existed.- They were brave and reclless in attack, full of fire and enthusiasm, and capable of enduring, as they often did with cheerful courage, the severest hardships. In this respect the Federal troops never surpassed them. The real cause of the deficiency of the Southern cavalry was the neglect with which this part of the service was treated by the Government. In this connection the following letter from Major-General W. H. F. Lee, written near the close of the war, is both interesting, and valuable. "RICHMOND, November, 29, 1864. "SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23d instant. As to the requirements and principles to be observed in the reorganization of the cavalry, and to-day comply as succinctly as possible with your wishes relative to my ideas on the subject. "The cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia is composed of the best material for troopers in the world. They are intelligent men, naturally excellent riders, and mounted on good horses, and require only, to make them more efficient, organization. First, more horse feed; second, to be more thoroughly 84 666 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. and constantly drilled mounted; third, to be better armed. As far as my observation extends, the cavalry are well drilled on foot and with the sabre, as far as laid down in the cavalry tactics, but could not be perfected in the mounted drill for the reason that the horses, from want of a sufficient supply of food, cannot stand the required work. The enemy, on the contrary, being supplied in greater abundance, thei' mounted drills are mere exercise for the horses; and, in this respect only (save in numbers,) is their cavalry superiors to ours. Here is the advantage. Badly drilled squadrons charge, the men scatter in every direction; opposing squadrons, well drilled, moving in compact mass, fall upon the isolated fragments and overwhelm them in detail. Experience teaches the proper arm for cavalry to be- a pistol, (Colt's navy size the best,) a breech-loading, carbine, (Sharp's preferred,) and a sabre. The Government has never been able to supply the demand for cavalry arms; they ought to be imported. Our most efficient arms have been captured from the enemy, but of course not in sufficient quantities to meet the demand. "' The Government ought to furnish horses, at least to meritorious troopers who are no longer capable of furnishing their own; and next, to all cavalry serving out of their own States. Existing orders now require permanently dismounted men to be transferred to infantry, which is manifestly unjust to the deserving, well-trained trooper, whose circumstances are reduced, in many instances, by the enemy's incursions and depredations. Cases exist, however, sometimes requiring the transfer of cavalrymen to infantry organizations; for such men, soldiers. particularly distinguished for feats of courage, should be exchanged as an equivalent. The military axiom, that in all well disciplined, drilled commands, one soldier is as good as another, approximates to a nearer degree of truth with reference to infantry than cavalry; for whilst the former admit of a higher NOTES. 667 state of discipline, the latter fight more detached and scattered, and individual dash has a greater influence. It generally requires, too, more courage to go into a fight on horseback than on foot. Should this principle be observed, the infantry soldier would have an incentive to deeds of valor, viz: the reward of putting him on horseback — and the cavalry be composed of men who would ride up to and over almost anything. " There should be prompt and just legislation to provide payment for all horses killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty, whether in action or otherwise, as long as the ownership remains with individuals. The regimental quartermaster ought to have the authority, with the approval of the Colonel, and upon the necessary certificates, to pay all such accounts in his regiment. "Now soldiers are paid for horses only when killed in battle, and the accounts have to pass through so many hands, that an unnecessary delay is produced even in that payment. A courier riding his horse a given number of miles in a given time, bearing important despatches, breaks his horse down and has to abandon him, receives nothing, although he is ordcred to make the time. A soldier has his horse permanently disabled by a wound, probably necessitating his being left in the enemy's hands, receives nothing, and, unless he can purchase another, is transferred to infantry. " I have written very hastily, but I think you will see what is really wanting. Whilst cavalry cannot play the important part in large combats, owing to the improved range of arms, nature of country, &c., it formerly has done in European wars, still the demand for it everywhere is very great, and unless Congress takes the matter in hand, and legislates more liberally on the subject, the enemy next spring will ride rough-shod over the whole State. I am, sir, your obedient servant, W. F. LEE, Major-General." 668 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, C The system of furloughs is given at length in the following order. "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, August 16, 1863. "' GENERAL ORDERS, No. 84. "In order to allow as many of our brave soldiers to visit their families and friends as can be. done consistently with the good of the service, and at the same time give some reward for meritorious conduct, a system of furloughs is hereby instituted in this army. " These furloughs will be granted, in the first instance, at the rate of two for every one hundred men present for duty; subsequently, at the rate of one for every one hundred men present for duty. " This system will be continued as long as the exigencies of the service will permit. Should the effect not be found prejudicial, commanders of regiments and battalions will forward on each occasion, the most urgent and meritorious cases from those recommended by the company officers, for the approval of their superior commander. " The tine will be regulated according to the following table: "Virginia, 15 days; North Carolina, 18 days; South Carolina, 20 days; Georgia and Tennessee, 24 days; Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, 30 days. "6 Furloughs will be granted equally to soldiers from States and districts with which communication is cut off, but in no case will these furloughs carry permission to go within the enemy's NOTES. 669 lines or pass through them. The time for such cases will be regulated by the number of days allowed for the State in the above list which they intend to visit. "The men furloughed will be authorized to bring back stragglers and recruits who may come in their way. By command of GENERAX R. E. LEE, W. H. TAYLOR, A. A. G,") D That it was Colonel Dahlgren's intention to commit the atrocities mentioned, admits of no doubt. The following address to his command, which was found upon his person, will prove this. It was written on a sheet of paper, having in printed letters on the upper corner"HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION CAVALRY CORPS. " OFFICERS AND MEN: " You have been selected from brigades and regiments as a picked command to attempt a desperate undertaking - an undertaking which, if successful, will write your names on the hearts of your countrymen in letters that can never be erased, and which will cause the prayers of our fellow soldiers now confined in loathsome prisons to follow you and yours wherever you may go. "We hope to release the prisoners from Belle Island first, and having seen them fairly started we will cross the James River into Richmond, destroying the bridges after us, and exhorting the released prisoners to destroy and burn the hateful city, and do not allow the rebel leader Davis and his traitorous trew to escape. The prisoners must render greal assistapce. as 670 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. you cannot leave your ranks too far or become too much scattered, or you will be lost. "Do not aow any personal gain to lead you off, which would only bring you to an ignominious death at the hands of citizens. Keep well together, and obey orders strictly, and all will be well, but on no account scatter too far; for in union there is strength. W", ith strict obedience to orders, and fearlessness in the execution, you will be sure to succeed. " We will join the main force on the other side of the city, or perhaps meet them inside. "' Many of you may fall; but if there is any man here not willing to sacrifice his life in such a great and glorious undertaking, or who does not feel capable of meeting the enemy in such a desperate fight as will follow, let him step out, and he may go hence to the arms of his sweetheart, and read of the braves who swept through the city of Richmond. " We want no man who cannot feel sure of success in such a holy cause. " We will have a desperate fight; but stand up to it when it does come, and all will be well. "6 Ask the blessing of the Almighty, and do not fear the enemy. U. DAULOREN, Colonel Commanding." Besides this address were the following " special orders and instructions," which were written upon a similar sheet of paper, giving an outline of the whole plan of the enemy; "Guides -Pioneers (with oakum, turpentine, and torpedoes) - Signal Officer - Quartermaster - Commissary: " Scouts and pickets Men in rebel uniform: "These will remain on the north bank and move down with NOTES. 671 the force on the south bank, not getting ahead of them; and if the communication can be kept up without giving alarm, it mast be done; but everything depends upon a surprise, and NO ONE must allowed to pass ahead of the column. Information must be gathered in regard to the crossings of the river, so that shouldl we be repulsed on the south side we will know where to recrvos at the nearest point. All mills must be burned, and the canal destroyed; and also everything which can be used by the rebels must be destroyed, including the boats on the river. Should a Terry-boat be seized and can be worked, have it moved down. Keep the force on the south side posted of any important movement of the enemy, and in case of danger some of the scouts must swim the river and bring us information. As we approach the city, the party must take great care that they do not get ahead of the other party on the south side, and must conceal themselves and watch our movements. WVe will try and secure the bridge to the city (one mile below Belle Isle,) and release the prisoners at the same time. If we do not succeed, they must then dash down, and we will try and carry the bridge from each side. " When necessary, the men must be filed through the woods and along the river bank. The bridges once secured, and the prisoners loose and over the river, the bridges will be secured and the city destroyed. The men must keep together and well in hand, and once in the city it must be destroyed, and Jeff. Davis and Cabinet killed. " Pioneers will go along with combustible material. The officer must use his discretion about the time of assisting us. Horses and cattle, which we do not need immediately, must be shot rather than left. Everything on the canal, and elsewhere, of service to the rebels, must be destroyed. As Gen. Custar may follow me, be careful not to give a false alarm. 672 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " The signal-officer must be prepared to communicate at night by rockets, and in other things pertaining to his department. "The quartermasters and commissaries must be on the lookout for their departments, and see that there are,no delays on their account. " The en(ineer-officer will follow to survey the road as we pass over it, &c. "The pioneers must be prepared to construct a bridge or destroy one. They must have plenty of oakum and turpentine for burning, which will be rolled in soaked balls and given to the men to burn when we get in the city. Torpedoes will only be used by the pioneers for destroying the main biidges, &c. They must be prepared to destroy railroads. Men will branch off to the right, with a few pioneers, and destroy the bridges and railroalds south of Richmond, and then join us at the city. They must be well prepared with torpedoes, &c. The line of Falling Creek is probably the best to work along, or, as they approach the city, Goode's Creek; so that no reenforcernents can come up on any cars. No one must be allowed to pass ahead for fear of communicating news. Rejoin the command with all haste, and, if cut off, cross the river above Richmond,. and rejoin us. Men will stop at Bellona Arsenal and totally destroy it, and anything else but hospitals; then follow on and rejoin the command at Richmond with all haste, and, if cut off, cross the river and rejoin us. As Gen. Custar may follow me, be careful and not give a false alarm." In addition to the above, the private note book of Colonel Dahlgren contained the following memoranda, some of which seem to have been written with great haste. "C Pleasanton will govern details. "Will have details from other commands (four thousand). 6 "Michigan men have started. NOTES. 673 "s Cclonel J. H. Devereaux has torpedoes. 6 "Hanover Junction (B. T. Johnson). " Maryland Line. [Here follows a statement of the composition and numbers of Johnson's command]. " Chapin's Farm - seven miles below Richmond. 4" One brigade (HIunton's relieved Wise, sent to Chbarlestown]. "6River can be forded half a mile above the city. No works on Stouth Side. Hospitals near them. River fordable. Canal can be crossed. " Fifty men to remain on north bank, and keep in commnunication, if possible. To destroy mills, canal, and burn everything of value to the rebels. Seize any large ferry boats, and note all crossings, in case we have to return that way. Keep us posted of any important movement of the rebels, and, as we approach the city, communicate with us, and do not give the alarm before they see us in possession of Belle Isle and the bridge. If engaged there, or unsuccessful, they must assist in securing the bridges until we cross. If the ferry boat can be taken and worked, bring it down. Everything that cannot be secured or made use of must be destroyed. Great care must be taken not to be seen or any alarm given. The men must be filed along off the road or along the main bank. When we enter the city the officer must use his discretion as to when to assist in crossing the bridges. "The prisoners once loosed and the bridges crossed, the city must be destroyed, burning the public buildings, &c. " Prisoners to go with party. " Spike the heavy guns outside. " Pioneers must be ready to repair, destroy, &e. Turpentine will be provided. The pioneers must be ready to destroy 85a 674 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the Richmond brigades, after we have all crossed, and to destroy thle railroad near Frederick's Hall, (station, artillery, &c.) "Fifteen men to halt at Bellona Arsenal, while the column goes on, and destroy it. Have some prisoners. Then rejoin us at R; leaving a portion to watch if anything follows, under a good officer. 6 "Will be notified that Custar may come. 6" Main column, four hundred.'" One hundred men will take the bridge after the scouts, and dash through the streets and open the way to the front, or, if it is open, destroy everything in the way. "While they are cn the big bridges, one hundred men will take Belle Isle, after the scouts instructing the prisoners to gut the city. The reserve (two hundred) will see this fairly done and everything over, and then follow, destroying the bridges after them, and then destroy the city; going up the principal streets and destroying everything before them, but not scattering too much, and always having a part well in hand. "Jeff Davis and Cabinet must be killed on the spot." The proof afforded by these papers will not admit of a doubt of the murderous intention of the Federal commander. The Authenticity of the papers ha-s been denied by the father of Colonel Dahlgren, but the denial was accompanied by no proof. The genuineness of the papers is well shown by the following letter from General Fitz Lee, in transmitting them to the War Department, and the statement of Mr. Halbach, which follows it. NOTES. 675 " HEADQUARTERS LEE'S DIvisION, "CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY NORTHERN VA., March 31, 1864. "GENERAL S. COOPER, ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL: "GENERAL: I have the honor to enclose to you Colonel Dabhlgren's note book, just sent to me by Colonel Beall, commanding, 9th Virginia cavalry. Had I known of its existence it would have been forwarded with the' papers.' "6 is name and rank is written on the first page, with the date (probably) of his purchasing it. The book, amongst other memoranda, contains a rough pencil sketch of his address to his troops, differing somewhat from his pen and ink copy. I embrace this occasion to add, the original papers bore no marks of alteration, nor could they possibly have been changed except by the courier who brought them to me, which is in the highest degree improbable; and the publications of them in the daily Richmond papers were exact copies, in every respect, of the original. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, " (Signed) FITZ LEE, Major-General Commanding." STATEMENT OF EDWARD W. HALBACH. "CIn the summer of 1863, I, Edward NW. Halbach, was living at Stevensville, in King, and Queen county, Virginia. I had already been exempted from military service on account of the condition of my health, and was now exempt as a schoolmaster, having the requisite number of pupils. But feeling it my duty to do what I could to encounter the raids of the enemy, I determined to form a company of my pupils between the ages of thirteen and seventeen years. My commission and papers prove that the company was formed, and accepted by the Pre 676 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. sident for 6 Local Defence.' A member of this company, thirteen years of age at the time, captured the notorious' Dahlgren Papers.' The name of this boy is William Littlepage. "6 Littlepage and myself were at Stevensville when the rangers passed that place on their way to the appointed place of ambush. Being determined to participate in the affair, we set off on foot having no horses to ride, and reached the rendezvous a little after dark. The Yankees came up in a few hours and were fired on. Immediately after this fire, and while it was still doubtful whether the enemy would summon up courage enough to advance again, in a word, before any one else ventured to (lo so, Littlepage ran out into the road, and, finding a' dead Yankee' there, proceeded to search his pockets to see, as he said, if he might not be fortunate enough to find a watch. The little fellow wanted to own a watch, and as the Yankees had robbed me, his teacher, of a gold watch a short while before, I suppose he concluded that there would be no harm in his takling a watch from a' dead Yankee;' but his teacher always discouraged any feeling of this kind in his pupils. Littlepage failed to secure the prize by not looking in the overcoat pockets, and the watch (for there was really one) was found afterwards by Lieutenant Hart. But in searching the pockets of the inner garments, Littlepage did find a cigar-case, a memorandum book, &c. " 1'When the Yankees had been driven back and thrown into a panic by the-suddenness of our fire and the darkness of the night, a Confederate lieutenant, whom the enemy had captured at Frederick's Hall, embraced the opportunity presented to make his escape, and actually succeeded in getting over to our side. "' We could, by this time, hear the enemy galloping rapidly over the field, and arrangements were soon made to prevent their possible escape. Our force determined to go down the road towards King and Queen Court House, and barricade it. NOTES. 677'0 But, as before mentioned, myself and the only member of my company I had with me, were on foot, and unable to keep up with the horsemen. It was therefore decided that the prisoners whom we had captured should be left in my charge. In the confusion, however, all the prisoners had been carried off by others, save the one claiming to be a Confederate officer, which he afterwards proved to be - and a gallant one at that. But, under the circumstances, I felt compelled to treat him as an enemy until time should prove him a friend. W ishing to find a place of safety, and feeling that it would be hazardous for so small a party to take any of the public roads (for we knew not how many more Yankees there were nor in what direction they might come), I decided to go into the woods a short distance, and there spend the night. My party consisted of myself, Littlepage, the' lieutenant,' and several other gentlemen of King and Queen County. We walked into the woods about a quarter of a mile and sat down. " Up to this time, we had not even an intimation of the name and rank of the officer commanding the enemy. In fact, we felt lio curiosity to know. All we cared for was to punish as severely as possible the raiders with whorn we were contending. We knew that one man was killed, but knew not who he was. We were just getting our places for the night, and wrapping up with blankets, garments, etc., such as we had, for the ground was freezing, and we dared not make a fire, when Littlepage pulled out a cigar-case and said, "' M1. Halbach, will you have a cigar?' "' No,' said I;' but where did you get cigars these hard times?' "He replied that he had got them out of the pocket of the Yankee who had been killed, and that he had also taken from the same man a memorandum book and some papers. 678 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. "'Well,' said I,' William, you must give me the papers, and you may keep the cigar-ease.' " Littlepage then remarked that the dead Yankee had a wooden leg. Ilere, the' lieutenant,' greatly agitated, exclaimed: "' How do you know he has a wooden leg?.' "' I know he has,' replied Littlepage, 6 because I caught hold of it and tried to pull it off.' "' There!' replied the lieutenant,' you have killed Colonel Dahlgren, who was in command of the enemy.. His men were devoted to him, and I would advise you all to take care of yourselves now, for if the Yankees catch you with anything belonging to him, they will certainly hang us all to the nearest tree.' "' Of course it was impossible for us to learn the contents of the papers without making a light to read them by, or waiting until the next morning. We did the latter; and, as soon as day broke the papers were read and found to contain every line and every word as afterwards copied into the Richmond newspapers. Dahlgren's name was signed to one or more of the papers, and also written on the inside of the front cover of his memorandum book. Here, the date of purchase, I suppose, was added. This book had been written with a degree of haste clearly indicated by the frequent interlineations and corrections, but the orders referred to had also been rewritten on a separate sheet of paper; and, as thus copied, were published to the world. Some of the papers were found loose in Dahlgren's pockets, others were between the leaves of the memorandum book. "The papers thus brought to light were preserved by myself in the continual presence of witnesses of unquestionable veracity, until about two o'clock in the afternoon of the day after their capture; at which time myself and party met Lieutenant ,NOTESo 679 Pollard, who, up to this time, knew nothing in the world of the existence of the Dahlgren Papers. At his request I let him read the papers, after doing which he requested me to let him carry them to Richmond. At first I refused, for I thought that I knew what to do with them as well as any one else. But I was finally induced, by my friends, against my will, to surrender the papers to Lieutenant Pollard, mainly in consideration of the fact that they would reach Richmond much sooner through him than through a semi-weekly mail. The papers which were thus handed over to the Confederate Government,- I state it again, - were correctly copied by the Richmond newspapers. " A thousand and one falsehoods have been told about this affair, by our own men as well as by the Yankees. Some of our men were actuated by motives of selfishness and ambition to claim each one for himself the whole credit of the affair, when, in fact, the credit belongs to no particular individual, but, collectively, the whole of our party. We were a strange medley of regulars, raw troops, old farmers, preachers, schoolboys, etc. But I believe that all present did their duty, only to find all the credit afterwards claimed, with a considerable degree of success, among the ignorant, by those who were not present. "The credit of the command of our party belongs alone to Captain Fox, than whom there was no more chivalric spirit in either army. In making this statement, I am actuated only by a desire to do justice to the memory of one who was too unassuming to sound his own trumpet. I am also told, by soldiers, that Lieutenant Pollard deserves a considerable degree of credit for the part he played in following and harassing the enemy up to the time they took the right fork of the road near Butler's Tavern. "You are, of course, aware of the fact that the enemy has 680 LIVE O0 4GENEtAL LEE. always denied the authenticity of the Dahlgren Papers, tYrd declared them to be forgeries. To prove the utter absurdity and falsehood of such a charge, I submit the following: "1. The papers were taken by Littlepage from the person of a man whose name he had never heard. It was a dark night, and the captor, with the aid of the noon-day sun, could not write at all. I afterwards taught him to write a little in my school. c" The question occurs: Can a boy who cannot write at all, write such papers, and sign to them an unknown name? If they had been forged by any one else, would they have been placed in the hands of a child? Could any one else have forged an unknown and unheard-of name? "2. The papers were handed to me immediately after their capture, in the presence of gentlemen of undoubted integrity and veracity, before whom I can prove that the papers not only were not, but could not have been altered or interpolated by myself. These gentlemen were with me every moment of the time between my receiving the papers and my delivering them to Lieutenant Pollard. " 3. If Lieutenant Pollard had made any alterations in the papers, these would have been detected by every one who read the papers before they were given to him, and afterwards read them in the newspapers. But all agree that they were correctly copied. In short, human testimony cannot establish any fact more fully than the fact that Colonel Ulric Dahlgren was the author of the' Dahlgren Papers.' " With regard to the part taken by myself in this affair, I lay no claim to any credit. I do not write this version of the affair to gain notoriety. I have made it a rule not to mention my own name except in cases where I found that false impressions were being made upon the public mind.'You know very well that my being Littlepage's. captain entitled me to claim the NOTES. 681 capture of the papers for myself. But this I have never done. And, even when called upon by General Fitz Lee to give my affidavit to the authenticity of the papers, I wrote him word that Littlepage was the captor of them. In his letter to Lieutenant Pollard, which was forwarded to me, he asked,' Who is Captain Halbach?' I replied, for myself, that I was nothing more than the humble captain of a company of schoolboys, and that if I deserved any credit, it was only so much as he might choose to give me for preserving the papers, when advised to destroy them, to avoid being captured with them in my possession, which, I was told, would result in the hanging of our little party. ( I have never-given the information herein contained before, because I had hoped that it would be given to the public by others, and I give it now, because I regard it as a duty to do so. My own course, after the killing of Dahlgren was as follows: I joined those who agreed to bury him decently in a coffin, and in compliance with a promise made to a scout by the name of Hogan, I prepared a neat little head-board with my own hands, to mark his grave. This was not put up, because the messenger from Mr. Davis came for the body of Dahlgren while we were taking it out of the ground where it had been hastily buried. E On page 29, I referred to the statement of the Honorable Montgomery Blair with reference to the command of the United States Army being offered to General Lee in 1861. The following extract contains the declarations referred to. 6" Let me observe here: It was the fall of Sumter that produced on the instant the ordinance of secession and filled 86 682 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Virginia with troops from the Gulf States to carry it before the people. Its effect upon ordinary men may be conceived by the influence it exerted over General Lee. My father was authorized by the President and Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, to converse with General Lee and ascertain whether he would accept the command of our army in the field. The latter was written for and lhe met my father at my house, where they conversed for an hour or more. It was a few days liefore the ordinance was passed. General Lee concluded the conversation by saying:' Secession was anarchy,' and added:' if he owned the four million of slaves in the South' he would cheerfully sacrifice them to the Union; but he did not know how he could draw his sword on his native State. He said he would see General Scott on the subject before he decided. A committee from the Virginia Convention, while the General and my father conversed, were hunting for him through the city. They met on his leaving the house. He repaired with them to consult with the Convention, as I have since learned, about some mode of settlement. The fall of Sumter settled the question for him and the Convention." F Since writing the narrative of the Second Campaign in Northern Virginia, I have concluded to append the following dispatch from General Lee to the Confederate Government. " I1EADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VRIGINIA, October 23, 1863. "GENERAL S. COOPER, A. & I. GENERAL: " GENERAL —In advance of a detailed report, I have the honor to submit, for the information of the department, the following outline of the recent operations of this army: NOTES. 683 "W With the design of bringing on an engacement with the Federal army, which was encamped around Culpepper Court House, and extending thence to the Rapidan, this army crossed that river on the 9th instant, and advanced by way of Madison Court House. Our progress was necessarily slow, as the march was by circuitous and concealed roads, in order to avoid the observation of the enemy. " General Fitz Lee, with his cavalry division and a detachment of infantry, remained to hold our lines south of the Rapidan. General Stuart, with Hampton's division, moved on the right of the column. With a portion of his command he attacked the advance of the enemy near James City on the tenth, and drove them back towards Culpepper. Our main body arrived near that place on the eleventh instant, and discovered that the enemy had retreated towards the Rappahannock, removing or destroying his stores. We were compelled to halt during the rest of the day to provision the troops, but the cavalry, under General Stuart, continued to press the enemy's rear-guard towards the Rappahannock. A large force of Federal cavalry in the mean time had crossed the Rapidan, after our movement began, but was repulsed by General Fitz Lee, and pursued towards Brandy Station. " Near that place the commands of Stuart and Lee united on the afternoon of the eleventh-, and after a severe engagement drove the enemy's cavalry across the Rappahannock with heavy loss. " On the morning of the twelfth, the army marched in two columns, with the design of reaching the Orange and Alexandria Railroad north of the river, and interrupting the retreat of the enemy. "After a skirmish with some of the Federal cavalry at Jeffersonton, we reached the Rappahannock at Warrenton Springs in the afternoon, where the passage of the river was disputed by 684 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. cavalry and artillery. The enemy was quickly driven off by a detachment of our cavalry, aided by a small force of infantry and a battery. Early next morning (thirteenth) the march was resumed, and the two columns united at Warrenton in the afternoon, when another halt was made to supply the troops with provisions. The enemy fell back rapidly along the line of the railroad, and early on the fourteenth the pursuit was continued, a portion of the army moving by way of New Baltimore towards Bristoe Station, and the rest, accompanied by the main body of the cavalry, proceeded to the same point by Auburn Mills and Greenwich. Near the former place a skirmish took place beween General Ewell's advance and the rear-guard of the enemy, which was forced back and rapidly pursued. " The retreat of the enemy was conducted by several direct parallel roads, while our troops were compelled to march by difficult and circuitous routes. We were consequently unable to intercept him. General Hill arrived first at Bristoe Station, where his advance, consisting of two brigades, became engaged with a force largely superior in numbers, posted behind the railroad embankment. The particulars of the action have not been officially reported, but the brigades were repulsed with some loss, and five pieces of artillery, with a number of prisoners, captured. Before the rest of the troops could be brought up, and the position of the enemy ascertained, he retreated across Broad Run. The next morning he was reported to be fortifying beyond Bull Run, extending his line towards the Little River Turnpike. " The vicinity of the intrenchments around mWashington and Alexandia rendered it useless to turn his new position, as it was apparent that he could readily retire to them, and would decline an engagement unless attacked in his fortifications. A further advance was therefore deemed unnecessary; and, after destroying the railroad from Cub Run southwvardly to the Rappahan NOTES. 685 nock, the army returned on the 18th to the line of that river, leaving the cavalry in the enemy's front. 6' The cavalry of the latter advanced on the following day, and some skirmishing occurred at Buckland. General Stuart, with Hampton's division, retired slowly towards WVarrenton, in order to draw the enemy in that direction, thus exposing his flank and rear to Gen. Lee, who moved from Auburn and attacked him near Buckland. As soon as Gen. Stuart heard the sound of Lee's guns, he turned upon the enemy, who, after a stubborn resistance, broke and fled in confusion, pursued by Gen. Stuart nearly to Haymarket, and by Gen. Lee to Gainsville. Here the Federal infantry was encountred, and after capturing a number of them during the night, the cavalry slowly retired before their advance on the following day. When the movement of the army from the Plapidan commenced, Gen. Imboden was instructed to advance down the Valley, and guard the gaps of the mountains on our left. This duty was well performed by that officer; and, on the 18th instant, he marched upon Charlestown, and succeeded, by a well-concerted plan, in surrounding the place and capturing nearly the whole force stationed there, with all their stores and transportation, only a few escaping to Harper's Ferry. The enemy advanced from that place in superior numbers to attack Gen. Imboden, who retired, bringing off his prisoners and captured property, his command suffering very little loss, and inflicting some damage upon the pursuing column. In the course of these operations two thousand four hundred and thirty-six prisoners were captured, including forty-one commissioned officers. Of the above number, four hundred and thirty-four were taken by Gen. Imboden. "A more complete account, with a statement of our loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, will be forwarded as soon as the official reports have been received. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General" C86 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. G The Gettysburg Campaign having been the turning-point of the war, and being still in many respects a matter of dispute between the North and the South, I have thought it best to call the reader's attention to the following outline report of General Lee. " HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, July 31, 1863. " GENERAL S. COOPER, A. & I. GENERAL, RICHMOND, VA. "; GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following outline of the recent operations of this army for the information of the Department: " The position occupied by the enemy opposite Fredericksburg being one in which he could not be attacked to advantage, it was determined to draw him from it. The execution of this purpose embraced the relief of the Shenandoah Valley from the troops that had occupied the lower part of it during the winter and spring, and if practicable, the transfer of the scene of hostilities north of the Potomac.'It was thought that the corresponding movements on the part of the enemy, to which those contemplated by us would probably give rise, might offer a fair opportunity to strike a blow at the army therein, commanded by General Hooker, and that in any event that army would be compelled to leave Virginia, and possibly to draw to its support troops designed to operate against other parts of the country. In this way it was supposed that the enemy's plan of campaign for the summer would be broken up, and part of the season of active operations be consumed in the NOTES. 687 formation of new combinations, and the preparations that they would require. "In addition to these advantages, it was hoped that other valuable results might be attained by military success. "Actuated by these and other important considerations that may hereafter be presented, the movement began on the 3(1 of June. McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps left Fredericksburg for Culpepper Court House, and Hood's division, which was encamped on the Rapidan, marched to the same place. " They were followed on the 4th and 5th by Ewell's corps, leaving that of A. P. Hill to occupy our lines at Fredericksbur-g. "The march of these troops having been discovered by the enemy on the afternoon of the 5th, and the following day, he crossed a force, amounting to about one army corps, to the south side of the Rappahannock, on a ponton-bridge laid down near the mouth of Deep Run. General Hill disposed of his command to resist their advance; but as they seemed intended for the purpose of observation rather than attack, the movements in progress were not arrested. "The forces of Longstreet and Ewell reached Culpepper Court House by the 8th, at which point the cavalry, under General Stuart, was also concentrated. "On the 9th a large force of Federal cavalry, strongly supported by infantry, crossed the Rappahannock at Beverley's and Klelley's Fords, and attacked General Stuart. A severe enoagement ensued, continuing from early in the morning until late in the afternoon, when the enemy was forced to recross the river with heavy loss, leaving four hundred prisoners, three pieces of artillery and several colors in our hands. "General Jenkins, with his cavalry brigade, had been ordered to advance towards'Winchester to cooperate with the infantry in 68& LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the proposed expedition into the Lower Valley, and at the same time General Imboden was directed, with his command, to make a demonstration in the direction of Romney, in order to cover the movement against Winchester, and prevent the enemy at that place from being reenforced by the troops on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Both of these officers were in position when General Ewell left Culpepper Court House on the 10th. Crossing the Shenandoah near Front Royal, he detached Rodes' division to Berryville, with instructions, after dislodging the force stationed there, to cut off the communication between Winchester and the Potomac. With the divisions of Early and Johnson, General Ewell advanced directly upon Winchester, driving the enemy into his works around the town on the 13th. On the same day the troops at Berryville fell back before General Rodes, retreating to Winchester. On the 14th General Early stormed the works at the latter place, and the whole army of General Milroy was captured or dispersed. Most of those who attempted to escape were intercepted and made prisoners by General Johnson. Their leader fled to Harper's Ferry with a small party of fugitives. " General Rodes marched from Berryville to Martinsburg, entering the latter place on the 14th, where he took seven hundred prisoners, five pieces of artillery and a considerable quantity of stores. These operations cleared the Valley of the enemy, those at Harper's Ferry withdrawing to Maryland Hleights. More than four thousand prisoners, twenty-nine pieces of artillery, two hundred and seventy wagons and ambulances, with four hundred horses, were captured, besides a large amount of military stores. Our loss was small. On the night that Ewell appeared at Winchester, the Federal troops in front of A. P. Hill at Fredericksburg recrossed the Rappahannock, and the next day disappeared behind the hills of Stafford. NOTES. 6 8 "The whole army of General Hooker withdrew from the line of the Rappahannock, pursuing the roads near the Potomac, and no favorable opportunity was offered for attack. It seemed to be the purpose of General Hooker to take a position which would enable him to cover the approaches to Washington City. With a view to draw him farther from his base, and at the same time to cover the march of A. P. Hill, who, in accordance with instructions, left Fredericksburg for the Valley as soon as the enemy withdrew from his front, Longstreet moved from Culpepper Court House on the 15th, and advancing along the east side of the Blue Ridge, occupied Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps. His force had been augmented while at Culpepper by General Pickett, with three brigades of his division. "The cavalry, under General quart, was thrown out in front of Longstreet to watch the enemy, now reported to be moving into Loudon. ~ On the 17th his cavalry encountered two brigades of ours under General Stuart, near Aldie, and was driven back with loss. The next day the engagement was renewed, the Federal cavalry being strongly supported by infantry, and General Stuart was in turn compelled to retire. "The enemy advanced as far as Upperville, and then fell back. In these engagements General Stuart took about four hundred prisoners, and a considerable number of horses and arms. "' In the meantime a part of General Ewell's corps had entered Maryland, and the rest was about to follow. General Jenkins with his cavalry, who accompanied General Ewell, penetrated Pennsylvania as far as Chambersburg. As these demonstrations did not have the effect of causing the Federal army to leave Virginia, and as it did not seem disposed to advance upon the position held by Longstreet, the latter was withdrawn to the west side of the Shenandoah, General Hill having already reached the Valley. 87 690 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " General Stuart was left to guard the passes of the mountains, and observe the movements of the enemy, whom he was instructed to harass and impede as much as possible, should he attempt to cross the Potomac. In that event, General Stuart was directed to move into Maryland, crossing the Potomac east or west of the Blue Ridge, as in his judrgment should be best, and take position on the right of our column as it advanced. "By the 24th the progress of Ewell rendered it necessary that the rest of the army should be in supporting distance, and Longstreet and Hill marched to the Potomac. The former crossed at Williamsport, and the latter at Shepherdstown. The columns reunited at Hagerstown, and advanced thence into Pennsylvania, encamping ne* Chambersburg on the 27th. "No report had been received that the Federal army had crossed the Potomac, and the absence of the cavalry rendered it impossible to obtain accurate information. In order, however, to retain it on the east side of the mountains after it should enter Maryland, and thus leave open our communication with the Potomac through Hagerstown and Williamsport, General Ewell had been instructed to send a division eastward from Chambersburg to cross the South Mountains. Early's division was detached for this purpose, and proceeded as far east as York, while the remainder of the corps proceeded to Carlisle. i" General Imboden, in pursuance of the instructions previously referred to, had been actively engaged on' the left of Gen. Ewell during the progress of the latter into Maryland. lie had driven off the forces guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, destroying all the important bridges on that route from Cumberland to Martinsburg, and seriously damaged the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. "He subsequently took position at Hancock; and after the arrival of Longstreet and Hill at Chambersburg, was directed to march by way of McConnellsburg to that place. NOTES. G91 i' Preparations were now made to advance upon Harrisburg; but on the night of the 29th information was received from a scout that the Federal army, having crossed the Potomac, was advancing northwards, and that the head of the column had reached the South Mountains. As our communications with the Potomac were thus menaced, it was resolved to prevent his further progress in that direction by concentrating our army on the east side of the mountains. Accordingly, Longstreet and Hill were directed to proceed from Chambersburg to Gettysburg, to which point Gen. Ewell was also instructed to march from Carlisle. " Gen. Stuart continued to follow the movements of the Federal army south of the Potorac after our own had entered Maryland, and in his efforts to impede its progress, advanced as far eastward as Fairfax Court House. Finding himself unable to delay the enemy materially, he crossed the river at Seneca, and marched through Westminster to Carlisle, where he arrived after Gen. lEwell had left for Gettysburg. By the route he pursued, the Federal army was interposed between his command and our main body, preventing any communication with him until his arrival at Carlisle. " The march toward Gettysburg was conducted more slowly than it would have been had the movements of the Federal army been known. "; The leading division of Hill met the enemy in advance of Gettysburrg, on the morning of the 1st of July. Driving back these troops to within a short distance of the town, he there encountered a larger force, with which two of his divisions became engaged. Ewell, coming up with two of his divisions by the Heildersburg road, joined in the engagement. The enemy were driven through Gettysburg with heavy loss, including about five thousand prisoners and several pieces of artillery. "' He retired to a high range of hills south and east of the 692 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. town. The attack was not pressedrthat afternoon, the enemy's force being unknown, and it beingT considered advisable to await the arrival of the rest of our troops. "Orders were sent to hasten their march, and in the meantime every effort was made to ascertain the numbers and position of the enemy, and find the most favorable point of attack. It had not been intended to fight a general battle at such a distance from our base, unless attacked by the enemy; but finding ourselves unexpectedly confronted by the Federal army, it became a matter of difficulty to withdraw through the mountains with our large trains. At the same time the country was unfavorable for collecting supplies while in the presence of the enemy's main body, as he was enabled to restrain our foraging parties, by occupying the passes of the mountains with regular and local troops. A battle thus became, in a measure, unavoidable. Encouraged by the successful issue of the engagement of the first day, and in view of the valuable results that would ensue from the defeat of the army of Gen. Meade, it was thought advisable to renew the attack. 4' The remainder of Ewell's and Hill's corps having arrived, and two divisions of Longstreet's, our preparations were made accordingly. During the afternoon intelligence was received of the arrival of General Stuart at Carlisle, and he was ordered to march to Gettysburg and take position on the left. A full account of these engagements cannot be given until the reports of the several commanding officers shall have been received, and I shall only offer a general description. "The preparations for attack were not completed until the afternoon of the second. "The enemy held a high and commanding ridge along which he had massed a large amount of artillery. General Ewell occupied the left of our line, General Hill the centre, and General Longstreet the right. In front of General Longstreet the en NOTES. 693 emy held a position, from which, if he could be driven, it was thought that our army could be used to advantage in assailing the more elevated ground beyond, and thus enable us to reach the crest of the ridge. That officer was directed to endeavor to carry this position, while General Ewell attacked directly.the high ground on the enemy's right, which had already been partially fortified. General Hill was instructed to threaten the centre of the Federal line, in order to prevent re/nforcements being sent to either wing,, and to avail himself of any opportunity that might present itself to attack. " After a severe struggle Longstreet succeeded in getting possession of and holding the desired ground. Ewell also carried some of the strong positions which he assailed, and the result was such as to lead to the belief that he would ultimately be able to dislodge the enemy. The battle ceased at dark. " These partial successes determined me to continue the assault next day. Pickett, with three of his brigades, joined Longstreet the following morning, and our batteries were moved forward to the position gained by hil the day before. "' The general plan of attack was unchanged, except that one division and two brigades of Hill's corps were ordered to support Longstreet.' The enemy, in the meantime, had strengthened his line with earthworks. The morning was occupied in necessary preparations, and the battle recommenced in the afternoon of the third, and raged with great violence until sunset. Our troops succeeded in entering the advanced works of the enemy, and getting possession of some of his batteries; but our artillery having nearly expended its ammunition, the attacking columns 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 advantage and fall back to their original positions, with severe loss. 694 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. " The conduct of the troops was all that I could desire or expect, and they deserved success so far as it can be deserved by heroic valor and fortitude. More may have been required of them than they were able to perform, but my admiration of their noble qualities, and confidence in their ability to cope successfully with the enemy, has suffered no abatement from the issue of this protracted and sanguinary conflict. " Owing to the strength of the enemy's position and the reduction of our ammunition, a renewal of the engagement could not be hazarded, and the difficulty of procuring supplies rendered it impossible to continue longer where we were. Such of the wounded as were in condition to be removed, and part of the arms collected on the field, were ordered to Williamsport. The army remained at Gettysburg during the fourth, and at night began to retire by the road to Fairfield, carrying with it about four thousand prisoners. Nearly two thousand had previously been paroled, but the enemy's numerous wounded that had fallen into our hands after the first and second day's engagements were left behind. " Little progress was made that night, owing to a severe storm which greatly embarrassed our movements. The rear of the column did not leave its position near Gettysburg until after daylight on the fifth. "The march was continued during that day without interruption by the enemy, except an unimportant demonstration upon our rear in the afternoon, when near Fairfield, which was easily checked. Part of our train moved by the road through Fairfield, and the rest by the way of Cashtown, guarded by General Imboden. In passing through the mountains, in advance of the column, the great length of the trains exposed them to attack by the enemy's cavalry, which captured a num. ber of wagons and ambulances, but they succeeded in reaching Williamsport without serious loss. NOTES. 695 "They were attacked at that place on the 6th by the enemy, cavalry, which was gallantly repulsed by General Imboden. The attacking force was subsequently encountered and driven off by General Stuart, and pursued for several miles in the direction of Boonsboro. The army, after an arduous march, rendered more difficult by the rains, reached Hagerstown on the afternoon of the 6th and morning of the 7th July. "The Potomac was found to be so much swollen by the rains that had fallen, almost incessantly since our entrance into Maryland, as to be unfordable. Our communications with the south side were thus interrupted, and it was difficult to procure either ammunition or subsistence, the latter difficulty being enhanced by the high waters impeding the working of the neighboring mills. The trains with the wounded and prisoners were compelled to await at Williamsport the subsiding of the river and the construction of boats, as the ponton-bridge left at Falling Wlaters had been partially destroyed. The enemy had not yet made his appearance; but as he was in condition to obtain large re/nforcements, and our situation, for the reasons above mentioned, was becoming daily more embarrassing, it was deemed advisable to recross the river. Part of the ponton-bridge was recovered, and new boats built, so that by the 13th a good bridge was thrown over the river at Falling Waters. The enemy in force reached our front on the 12th. A position had been previously selected to cover the Potomac from Williamsport to Fallingy Waters, and an attack was awaited during that and the succeeding day. This did not take place, though the two armies were in close proximity, the enemy being occupied in fortifying his own lines. Our preparations being completed, and the river, though still deep, being pronounced fordable, the army commenced to withdraw to the south side on the night of the 13th. "Ewell's corps forded the river at Williamsport, those of 696 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Longstreet and Hill crossed upon the bridge. Owing to the condition of the roads the troops did not reach the bridge until after daylight on the 14th, and the crossing was not completed until 1 P. lI., when the bridge was removed. The enemy offered no serious interruption, and the movement was attended with no loss of material except a few disabled wagons, and two, pieces of artillery, which the horses were unable to move through the deep mud. Before fresh horses could be sent back for them the rear of the column had passed. " During the slow and tedious march to the bridge, in the midst of a violent storm of rain, some of the men lay down by the way to rest. Officers sent back for them failed to find many in the obscuriry of the night, and these, with some stragglers, fell into the hands of the enemy. "' Brigadier-General Pettigrew was mortally wounded in an attack made by a small body of cavalry, which was unfortunately mistaken for our own and permitted to enter our lines. He was brought to Bunker Hill, where he expired a few days, afterwards. He was a brave and accomplished officer and gentleman, and his loss will be deeply felt by the country and; the army. " The following day the army marched to Bunker Hill, in the vicinity of which it encamped for several days. The day after its arrival, a large force of the enemy's cavalry, which had crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, advanced towards Martinsburg. It was attacked by General Fitz Lee, near Kearneysville, and defeated with heavy loss, leaving its dead and many of its wounded on the field. "Owing to the swollen condition of the Shenandoah River, the plan of operations which had been contemplated when werecrossed the Potomac could not be put in execution, and before the waters had subsided the movements of the enemy, induced me to cross the Blue Ridge and take position south of the Rappahannock; which was accordingly done. NOTES. 697 " As soon as the reports of the commanding officers shall be received, a more detailed account of these operations will be given, and occasion will then be taken to speak more particularly of the conspicuous gallantry and good conduct of both officers and men. " It is not yet in my power to give a correct statement of our casualties, which were severe, including many brave men, and an unusual proportion of distinguished and valuable officers. Among them, I regret to mention the following general officers: Major-Generals Hood, Pender and Trimble severely, and Major-General Heth slightly wounded. "General Pender has since died. This lamented officer has borne a distinguished part in every engagement of this army, and was wounded on several occasions while leading his command with conspicuous gallantry and ability. The confidence and admiration inspired by his courage and capacity as an officer were only equalled by the esteem and respect entertained by all with whom he was associated, for the noble qualities of his modest and unassuming character. Brigadier-Generals Barksdale and Garnett were killed, and Brigadier-General Semmes mortally wounded while leading their troops with the courage that always distinguished them. These brave officers and patriotic gentlemen fell in the faithful discharge of duty, leaving the army to mourn their loss and emulate their noble examplies. "Brigadier-Generals Kemper, Armistead, Scales, (G. T. Anderson, Hampton, J. M. Jones and Jenkins, were also wounded. Brigadier-General Archer was taken prisoner. General Pettigrew, though wounded at Gettysburg, continued in command until hq was mortally wounded near Falling Waters. "Tl'he losof'the enemy is unknown, but from observatiorns on the field, and his subsequent movements, it is supposed thAt he suffered severely. Respectfully submitted, 88ss R. E. LEE, General.' 498 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. H Everything in connection with the career of General Lee having now a peculiar interest to the people of the country, the writer has decided to retain here the report published in the official documents of the Congress of the United States, of the texamination of General Lee by the Committee on Reconstruction with reference to the state of affairs in the South. The General was summoned to Washington for this purpose early in 1866, and upon his appearance before the Committee, the following examination took place. The manner of the General during the examination was calm and dignified, and he answered all questions put to him promptly and with a courtesy which nothing that was done to annoy him could ruffle. As he had taken no part in the political affairs of the South since the close of the war, he was not able to afford the Committee much satisfaction upon that point; and indeed it is hard to discover any good reason on their part for drawing him from his retirement. GENERAL LEE'S TESTIMONY. General Robert E. Lee, sworn and examined by Mr. Howard. Question - Where is your present residence? AnswerLexington, Virginia. Q. How long have you resided in Lexington? A. Since the first of October last, nearly five months. Q. Are you acquainted with the state of feeling among what we call secessionists, in Virginia, at present, toward the Government of the United States? A. I do not know that I NOTES. 699 am. I have been living very retired, and have had but little communication with politicians; I know nothing more than from my own observation, and from such facts as have come to my knowledge. Q. From your observation what is your opinion of the feeling of loyalty towards the Government of the United States among the secession portion of the people of that State at this time? A. So far as has come to my knowledge I do not know of a single person who either feels or contemplates any resistance to the Government of the United States, or, indeed, any opposition to it. No word has reached me to either purport. Q. From what you have observed among them is it your opinion that they are friendly toward the Government of the United States, and that they will cooperate to sustain and uphold the Government for the future? A. I believe that they entirely acquiesce in the Government of the United States, and, so far as I have heard any one express an opinion, they are for co6perating with President Johnson in his policy. Q. In his policy in regard to what? A. His policy in regard to the restoration of the whole country. I have heard persons with whom I have conversed express great confidence in the wisdom of his policy of restoration, and they seem to look forward to it as a hope of restoration. Q. How do they feel in regard to that portion of the people of the United States who have been forward and zealous in the prosecution of the war against the rebellion? A. Well, I don't know. I have heard nobody express any opinion in regard to it. As I said before, I have not had much communication with politicians in the country, if there are any. Every one seems to be engaged in his own affairs and endeavoring to restore the civil Government of the State. I have heard no expressions of a sentiment towards any particular portion of the country. Q. How do the secessionists feel in regard to the payment 700 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. of the debt of the United States, contracted in the prosecution of the war? A. I have never heard any one speak on the sub. ject. I suppose they must expect to pay the taxes levied by the Government. I have heard them speak in reference to the payment of taxes, and of their efforts to raise money to pay the taxes, which I suppose are for their share of the debt. I have never heard any one speak in opposition to the payment of the taxes, or resistance to their payment. Their whole effort has been to try and raise the money for the payment of their taxes. Q. From your knowledge of the state of the public feeling in Virginia, is it your opinion that the people would, if the question were left to them, repudiate and reject that debt? A. I never heard any one speak on the subject, but from my knowledge of the people, I believe they would be in favor of the pay menjt of all just debts. Q. Do they in your opinion regard that as a just debt? A. I do not know what their opinion is on the subject of that particular debt. I have never heard any opinion expressed contrary to it. Indeed, as I said ihn the beginning, I have had very little discussion or intercourse with the people. I believe the people will pay the debts they are called upon to pay. I say that from my knowledge of the people generally. Q. W~ould they pay that debt, or their portion of it, with as much alacrity as people ordinarily pay their taxes to their Government? A. I do not know that they would make any distinction between the'two. The taxes laid by the Government, so far as I know, they are prepared to pay to the best of their ability. I never heard them make any distinction. Q. What is the feeling of that portion of the people of Virginia in regard to the payment of the so-called Confederate debt? A. I believe, so far as my opinion goes, -I have no facts to go upon, but merely base my opinion on the knowledge I have of the people, - that they would be willing to pay the Confederate debt, too. NOTES. 701 Q. You think they would? A. I think they would if they had the power and ability to do so. I have never heard of any one of the State with whom I have conversed speak of repudiatin g any debt. Q. I suppose the Confederate is almost entirely valueless even in the markets in Virginia? A. Entirely so far as I know. I believe the people generally look upon it as lost entirely. I never heard any question on the subject. Q. Do you recollect the terms of the Confederate bonds - when they were made payable? A. I think I have a general recollection that they were made payable six months after a declaration of peace. Q. Six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the United States and the Confederate Government? A. I think they ran that way. Q. So that the bonds are not due' yet by their terms? A. I suppose, unless it is considered that there is a peace now, they are not due. Q. HIow do the people in Virginia, secessonists more particularly, feel towards the freedmen? A. Every one with whom I associate express the kindest feelings towards the freedmen. They wish to see them get on in the world and particularly to take up some occupation for a living and to turn their hands to some work. I know that efforts have been made among the farmers near where I live to induce them to engage for the year at regular wages. Q. Do you think there is a willingness on the part of their old masters to give them fair living wages for their labor? A. I believe it is so. The farmers generally prefer those servants who have been living with them before. I have heard them express their preference for the men whom they know, who ladtl lived with them before, and their wish to get them to return to work. 702 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Q. Are you aware of the existence of any combination among the whites to keep down the wages of the blacks? A. I am not. I have heard that in several counties the land owners have met in order to establish a uniform rate of wages, but I never heard, nor do I know, of any combination to keep down wages or establish any rate which they did not think fair. The means of paying wages in Virginia are very limited. Now and then there is a difference of opinion as to how much each person is able to pay. Q. How do they feel in regard to the education of the blacks? Is there a general willingness to have them educated? A.'Where I am and have been the people have exhibited a willingness that the blacks should be educated, and they express an opinion that it would be better for the blacks and for the whites. Q. General, you are very competent to judge of the capacity of black men for acquiring knowledge. I want your opinion on that capacity as compared with the capacity of white men A. I do not knew that I am particularly qualified to speak on that subject, as you seem to intimate, but I do not think the black man is as capable of acquiring knowledge as the white man. There are some more apt than others. I have known some to acquire knowledge and skill in their trade or profession. I have had servants of my own who learned to read and write very well. Q. Do they show a capacity to obtain knowledge of mathem;atics and the exact sciences? A. I have no knowledge on that subject. I am merely acquainted with those who have learned the common rudiments of education. Q. General, are you aware of the existence among the blacks of Virginia, anywhere within the limits of the State, of combinations having in view the disturbance of the peace or tiny improper and unlawful acts? A. I am not. I have seen no NOTES. 703; evidence of it, and have heard of none. Wherever I have been, they are quiet and orderly, not disposed to work, or, rather, not disposed to any continuous engagement to work, but just very short jobs to provide them with the immediate means of subsistence. Q. Has the colored race generally as great love of money and property as the white race possesses? A. I do not think it has. The blacks with whom I am acquainted look more to the present time than to the future. Q. Does that absence of a lust of money and property arise more from the nature of the negro than from his former servile condition? A. Well, it may be in some measure attributed to his former condition. They are an amiable, sociable race. They:ike their ease and comfort, and I think look more to their present than their future condition. Q. In the event of a war between the United States and any foreign power, such as England or France, if there should be held out to the secession portion of the people of Virginia or the other recently rebel States a fair prospect of gaining their independence and shaking off the Government of the United States, is it or is it not your opinion that they would avail themselves of that opportunity? A. I cannot speak with any certainty on that point. I do not know how far they might be actuated by their feelings. I have nothing whatever to base the opinion upon. So far as I know, they contemplate nothing of the kind now. Wrhat may happen in the future I cannot say. Q. Do you not frequently hear in your intercourse with secessionists in Virginia expriessions of a hope that such a war may break out? A. I cannot say that I have; on the contrary, I have heard persons -I do not know whether you would call them secessionists or not, I mean those people in Virginia with whom I associate - express the hope that the country may not be led into a war. 704 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Q. In such an event do you not think that class of people whom I call secessionists would join the common enemy? A. It is possible; it depends upon the feelings of the individual. Q. If it is a fair question,- you may answer or not as you choose, -what in such an event might be your own choice? A. I have no disposition now to do it, and I never have had. Q. And you cannot foresee that such would be your inclination in such an event? A. No, I can only judge from the past; I do not know what circumstances it may produce. I cannot pretend to foresee events. So far as I know the feeling of the people of Virginia, they wish for peace. Q. During the civil war was it not contemplated by the Government of the Confederacy to form an alliance with some foreign nation if possible? A. I believe it was their wish to do so if they could. It was their wish to have the Confederate Government recognized as an independent Government. I have no doubt that if it could have made favorable treaties it would have done so, but I know nothing of the policy of the Government. I had no hand or part in it. I merely express my own opinion. Q. The question I am about to put to you, you may answer or not, as you choose. Did you take an oath of fidelity or allegiance to the Confederate Government? A. I do not recollect having done so, but it is possible that when I was commissioned I did. I do not recollect whether it was required. If it was required I took it, or if it had been required I would have taken it, but I do not recollect whether it was or not. By Mr. Blow. Q. In reference to the effect of President Johnson's policy, if it were adopted, would there be anything like a return of the old feeling? I ask that because you used the expression " acquiescing in the result." A. I believe it would take time for NOTES. 705 the feelings of the people to be of that cordial nature to the Government that the; were formerly. Q. Do you think their preference for that policy arises from a desire to have peace and good feeling in the country, or from the probability of their refgainig, political power-? A. So far as I know the desire of the people of the South, it is for the restoration of their civil government, and they look upon the policy of President Johnson as the one which would most clearly and most surely reestablish it. Q. Do you see any change among the poorer classes in Virginia in reference to their industry? Are they as much or more interested in developing their material prosperity than they were? A. I have not observed any change. Every one now has to attend to his business for his support. Q. The poorer classes are generally hard at work, are they A. So far as I know, they are; I know nothing to the contrary. Q. Is there any difference in their relations to the colored people? Is their prejudice increased or diminished? A. I have noticed no change. So far as I know the feelings of all the people of Virginia, they are kind to the colored people. I have never heard any blame attributed to them as to the present condition of things or any responsibility. Q. There are very few colored laborers employed, I suppose? A. Those who own farms have employed more or less - one or two colored laborers. Some are so poor that they have to work themselves. Q. Can capitalists and working men from the North go into any portion of Virginia with which you are familiar and go to work among the people? A. I do not know of anything to prevent their peace and pleasure there. It would depend very much on their conduct. If they confined themselves to their own business, and did not interfere to provoke controversies with their neighbors, I do not believe they would be molested. 89 706 LIFE -OF GENERAL LEE. Q. There is no desire to keep out labor and capital? A. Not that I know of. On the contrary, Ktey are very anxious to get capital into the State. Q. You see nothing of a disposition to prevent such a thing? A. I have seen nothing, and do not know of anything, as I said before. The manner in which they would be received would depend entirely upon the individuals themselves. They might make themselves obnoxious, as you can understand. By Mr. Howard. Q. Is there not a general dislike of Northern men among seccessionists? A. I suppose they would prefer not to associate with them. I do not know that they would select them as associates. Q. Do they avoid and ostracize some socially? A. They might avoid them. They would not select them as associates unless there was some reason. I do not know that they would associate with them until they became acquainted. I think it probable they would not admit them into their social circles. By Mr. Blow. Q. What is the position of the colored men in Virginia with reference to the persons they work for? Do you think they would prefer to work for Northern or Southern men? A. I think it very probable they would prefer the Northern men, although I have no facts to go upon. Q. That having been stated'very frequently in reference to the Cotton States, does it result from bad treatment on the part of the resident population, or from the idea that they will be more fairly treated by the new comers? What is your observation in that respect in regard to Virginians? A. I have no means of forming an opinion; I do not know any case in Virginia. I know of numbers of the blacks engaging with their NOTES. 707 old lnasters, and I know of many to prefer to go off and look for new homes. Whether it is firom any dislike of their.former masters, or from any desire to change, or they feel more free and independent, I don't know. Q. What is your opinion in regard to the material interests of Virginia? Do you think they will be equal to what they were before the rebellion, under the changed aspect of affairs? A. It will take a long time for them to reach their former standard. I think that after some years they will reach. it, and I hope exceed it, but it cannot be immediately, in my opinion. Q. It will take a number of years? A. It will take a number of years, I think. Q. On the whole, the condition of things in Virginia is hopeful, both in regard to its material interests and the future peace of the country? A. I have heard great hope expressed, and there is a great cheerfulness and willingness to labor. Q. Do you think that that is the main idea with them, or that they merely look to it, as you say, as the best means of restoring the civil government and the peace and prosperity of their respective States? A. As to the first point you make, I do not know that I ever heard any person speak upon it. I never heard the points separated. I have heard them speak generally as to the effect of the policy of President Johnson. The feeling is, so far as I know now, that there is not that equality extended to the Southern States which is enjoyed by the North. Q. You do not feel down there that while you accept tlhe result we are as generous as we ought to be under the circumstances? A. They think that the North can afford to be generous. Q. That is the feeling down there? A. Yes; and they think it is the best policy - those who reflect upon the subject and are able to judge. 708 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Q. I understand it to be your opinion that generosity and liberality towards the entire South would be the surest means ~f regaining their good opinion? A. Yes, and the speediest. By Mr. Howard. Q. I understand you to say generally that you had no apprehension of any combination among the leading secessionists to renew the war or anything of the kind? A. I have no reason in the world to think so. Q. Have you heard that subject talked over among any of the politicians? A. No, sir, I have not. I have not heard that matter even suggested. Q. Let me put another hypothetical state of things. Suppose the Executive Government of the United States should be held by a President, who, like Mr. Buchanan; rejected the right of coercion, and suppose a Congress should exist here entertaining the same political opinions, thus presenting to the once rebel States the opportunity to again secede from the Union, would they or would they not, in your opinion, avail themselves of that opportunity, or some of them? A. I suppose it would depend upon the circumstances existing at the time. If their feelings should remain embitteretand their affections alienated fiom the rest of the States, I think it very probable they might do so, provided they thought it was to their interest. Q. Do you not think that at the present time there is a deep seated feeling of dislike toward the Government of the United States on the part of the masses of the secessionists? A. I do not know that there is any deep seated dislike. I think it is probable that there may be some animosity still existing among the people of the South. Q. Is there not a deep seated feeling of disappointment and chagrin at the result of the war? A. I think, that at the time, they were disappointed at the result of the war. NOTES. 709 Q. Do you mean to be understood as saying there is not a condition of discontent against the Government of the United States among the segessionists generally? A. I know of none. Q. Are you prepared to say they respect the Government of the United States and the loyal people of the United States so much at the present time as to perform their duties as citizens of the United States and of the States faithfully and well? A. I believe that they will perform all the duties that they are required to perform. I think that is the general feeling so far as I know. Q. Suppose this policy of President Johnson should be all you anticipate and that you should also realize all that you expect in the improvement of the material interests, do you think that the result of that will be the gradual restoration of the old feeling? A. That will be the natural result I think, and I see no other way in which that result can be brought about. The friends of the policy in tle South adopt it because they see in it the means of repairing the political position, which they lost in the recent contest. Q. Do you think it would be practicable to convict a man in Virginia of treason for having taken part in this rebellion against the Government, by a Virginia jury, without picking it with direct reference to a verdict of guilty? A. On that point I have no knowledge, and I do not know what they would consider treason against the United States, if you refer to past acts. Mr. Howard.-Yes, sir. A. I have no knowledge what their views on that subject in the past are. Q. You understand my question? Suppose a jury was empanelled in your own neighborhood, taken by lot, would it be possible to convict, for instance, Jeff. Davis, for having levied war upon the United States, and thus having committed the 710 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. crime of treason? A. I think it is very pr bable that they would not consider he had committed treason. Q. Su'ppose the jury should be clearly and plainly instructed by the Court that such an act of war upon the part of Mr. Davis or any other leading man constituted in itself the crime of treason under the Constitution of the United States, would the jury be likely to heed that instruction, and, if the facts were plainly before them, commit the offender? A. I do not know, sir, what they would do on that question. Q. They do not generally suppose that it was treason against the United States, do they? A. I do not think that they so consider it. Q. In what light would they view it; what would be the excuse or justification? how would they escape in their own mind? I refer to the past. I am referring to the past and the feelings they would have? A. So far as I know, they look upon tLhe action of the State in withdrawing itself from the' Government of the United States as carrying the individuals of the State along with it; that the State was responsible for the act, not the individuals, and that the ordinance of secession, so called, or those acts of the State which recognized a condition of war between the State and the General Government, stood as their justification for their bearing arms against the Government of the United States. Yes, sir; I think they would consider the act of the State as legitimate; that they were merely using the reserved rights, which they had a right to do. Q. State, if you please, and if you are disinclined to answer the question you need not do so, what your own personal views on that question are. A. That was my view, that the act of Virginia, in withdrawing herself from the United States, carried me along as a citizen of Virginia, and that her laws and her acts were binding on me. Q. All that you felt to be your justification in taking the course you did? A. Yes, sir. NOTES. 711 Q. I have been told, General, that you have remarked to some of your friends in conversation that you were rather wheedled or cheated into that course by politicians. A. I do not recollect making any such remark. I do not think I ever made it. Q. If there is any other matter about which you wish to speak on this occasion, do so freely. A. Only in reference to that last question you put me. I may have said and may have believed that the positions of the two sections which they held to each other was brought about by the politicians of the country; that the great masses of the people, if they understood the real question, would have avoided it, but not that I had been individually wheedled by the politicians. Q. That is probably the origin of the whole thing? A. I may have said that, but I do not recollect it; but I did believe at the time that it was an unnecessary condition of affairs, and might have been avoided if forbearance and wisdom had been practised on both sides. Q. You say you do not recollect having sworn allegiance an(l fidelity to the Confederate Government? A. I do not recollect it, nor do I know that it was ever required. I was regularly commissioned in the army of the Confederate States, but J do not really recollect that an oath was required. If it was required I have no doubt I took it, or if it had been required I would have taken it. Q. Is there any other matter which you desire to state to the committee? A. No sir. I am ready to answer any question which you think proper to put to me. Q. How -would an amendment to the Constitution be received by the secessionists or by the people at large, allowing the oolored people or certain classes of them to exercise the right of voting at elections? A. I think, so far as I can form an opinin(a, in such an event, they would object. 712 LIME OF GENERAL LEE. Q. They would object to such an arrangement? A. Yes sir. Q. Suppose an amendment nevertheless be adopted conferring upon the blacks the right of suffrage, would that, in your opinion, lead to scenes of violence or breaches of the peace between the two races in Virginia? A. I think it would excite unfriendly feelings between the two races. I cannot pretend to say to what extend it would go, but that would be the result. Q. Are you acquainted with the proposed amendment now pending in the United States Senate? A. No, sir, I am not; I scarcely ever read a paper. (The substance of the proposed amendment was explained to the witness by Mr. Conklin.) So far as I can see, 1 do not think that the State of Virginia would object to it. Q. Would she consent under any circumstances to allow the black people to vote, even if she were to gain a larger number of representatives in Congress? A. That would depend upon her interests. If she had the right of determining that, I do not see why she would object if it were to her interest to admit those people to vote; that might overrule any other objections that she had to it. Q. What in your opinion would be the practical result? Do you think that Virginia will consent to allow the negroes to vote? A. I think that at present she would accept the smaller representation. I do not know what the future may develop. if it shall be plain to her that these persons will vote properly and understandingly she might admit them to vote. By Mr. Blow. Q. Do you not think it would turn a good deal in the Cottoll States upon the value of the labor of the black people, upon the amount which they produced? A. In a good many States in the South, and in a good many counties in Virginia, if the NOTES. 713 black people were allowed to vote, it would, I think, exclude representation that is proper. Intelligent people would not be elected, and rather than suffer that injury they would not let them vote at all. Q. Do you not think that the question as to whether any Southern States would allow the colored people the right of suffrage in order to increase representation, would depend a good deal on the amount which the colored people might contribute to the wealth of the State, in order to secure two things, first the larger representation, and second the influence derived from these persons voting? A. I think they would determine the question more in reference to their opinion as to the manner in which these votes would be exercised, whether they consider those people qualified to vote. My own opinion is that at this time they cannot vote intelligently, and that giving them the right of suffrage would open the door to a good deal of demagoguism and lead to embarrassments in various ways. What the future may prove, how intelligent they may become, with what eyes they may look upon the interests of the State in which they may reside, I cannot say more than you can. Q. Is there any sympathy felt in the South with the schemes of emniration to Mexico? A. I believe that the mass of the people have not any sympathy with them. There are individuals who think their interests would he benefited and indeed that their prospects at home are so poor now that it is like losing their lives to remain. That feeling was stronger at the first. cessation of hostilites than it is at this time. It seems to be subsiding. By Mr. Howard. Q. I will put one question to you, which you may respond to or not as you please. I wish to inquire whether you had any knowledge, while you were in command at Richmond, of 90 714 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. the cruelties practised toward the Union prisoners at Libby Prison and on Belle Isle? A. I never knew that any cruelty was practised, and I have no reason to believe that it was practised. I can believe, and have reason to believe, that privations may have been experienced by the prisoners, because I know that provisions and shelter could not be provided for them. Q. Were you not aware that the prisoners were dying from cold and starvation? A. I was not. Mr. Howard —I desire that you will speak your mind fully and freely on this subject, for it is useless to conceal from you the fact that there seems to have been created a sad feeling in the hearts of the people at the North. A. As regards myself, I never had any control over the prisoners, except those that were captured on the field of battle, when it was then my business to send them to Richmond to the proper officer who was then the provost-marshal-general. In regard to their disposition afterwards I had no control. I never gave any order about it. It was entirely in the hands of the War Department. Q. And not in your hands? A. And not in mine. Q. Did these scenes come to your knowledge at all? A. Never. No report was ever made to me about them. There was no call for any to be made to me. I did hear, it was mere hearsay, that statements had been made to the War Department, and that everything had been done to relieve them that could be done, even finally so far as to offer to send them to some other points. Charleston was one point named, if they would be received by the United States authorities and taken to their homes; but whether this is true or not I do not know. It was merely a report that I heard. Q. Were you in the same ignorance of the scenes at Andersonville and Salisbury? A. I never knew the commandant at Andersonville until I saw by the papers, after the cessation of NOTES. 715 hostilities, that Captain Wirz had been arrested on that account, nor do I know now who commanded at Salisbury. Q. And of course you know nothing of the scenes of cruelty, about which complaints have been made at those places? A. Nothing in the world, as I said before. I suppose they suffered from the want of ability on the part of the Confederate States to supply their wants. At the very beginning of the war I knew that there was suffering of prisoners on both sides, but as far as I could I did everything in my power to relieve them, and to establish the cartel which was established. By Mr. Blow. Q. It has been frequently asserted that the Confederate soldiers feel more kindly towards the Government of the United States than other persons or other people of the South. What are your observations on that point? A. From the Confederate soldiers I have heard no expression of any other opinion. They looked upon the war as a necessary evil and went through it. I have seen them relieve the wants of Federal soldiers on the field. The orders always were that the whole field should be treated alike. Parties were sent out to take the Federal wounded as well as the Confederate, and the surgeons were told to treat the one as they did the other. These orders given by me were respected on every field. Q. Do you think that the good feeling on their part toward the rest of the people has continued since the close of the wha? A. I know nothing to the contrary. I made several efforts to exchange the prisoners after the cartel was suspended. I do not know to this day which side took the initiative. I know that there were constant complaints on both sides. I merely know it from public rumors. I offered to General Grant around Richmond that we should ourselves exchange all the prisoners in our hands. There was a communication from the Christian 716 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. Commission, I think, which reached me at Petersburg, and mlade an application to me for a passport to visit all the prisoners South. My letter to them I suppose they have. I told them that I had not that authority; that it could only be obtained from the War Department at Richmond, but that neither they nor I could relieve the suffering of the prisoners; that the only thing to be done for themn was to exchange them; and to show that I would do whatever was in nmy power, I offered them to send to City Point all the prisoners in Virginia and North Carolina over which my command extended, provided they returned an equal number of mine, man for man. I reported this to the WVar Department, and received an answer that they would place at my command all the prisoners at the South if the proposed proposition was accepted. I heard nothing more on the subject. Q. Has there been any considerable change in the number of the negro population in Virginia during the last four years? A. I suppose it has diminished, but I don't know. Q. Diminished in consequence of more negroes going South than was made up by the natural increase? A. My general opinion is that the number has diminished, and for the reason you gave. Q. Do you suppose that the masses of the negroes in Virginia, at the present time are able to work,-that there are not many helpless ones among them? A. There are helpless ones certainly, but I do not know to what extent. Q. What is your opinion about its being an advantage to Virginia to keep them there at all? Do you not think that Virginia would be better off if the colored population were to go to Alabama, Louisiana and other Southern States? A. I think it would be for the benefit of Virginia if she could get rid of them. That is no new opinion with me. I have always NOTES. 717 thought so and have always been in favor of emancipation,gradual emancipation. Q. As a question of labor alone, do you not think that the labor which would flow into Virginia, if the negroes leave it for the Cotton States, would be more advantageous to the State and to its future prosperity? A. I think it would be for the benefit of Virginia, and I believe everybody there would be willing to aid it. Q. Do you not think that the State of Virginia is absolutely injured and its future impaired by the presence of the black population there? A. I think it is. Q. Do you not think it is peculiarly adapted to the quality of labor which would flow into it, from its great natural resources, in case it was more attractive by the absence of the colored race? A. I do. INDEX. Aldie, cavalry fight at, 378. Beauregard, General Gustave T., Amelia Court House -see General takes command at Manassas R. E. Lee. Junction, 37; defeats McDowAntietam - see Sharpsburg. ell at Manassas, 40; takes comAppomattox Court Iouse, surrender mand of the forces south of the at, 636. James River, 496; defeats Appomattox River- see General R. Butler at Drewry's Bluff, 499; E. Lee; also Lieutenant-Gen- plan of battle ruined by General U. S. Grant. eral Whiting, 500. Army of Northern Virginia, its or- Benjamin, Jtidah P., predictions of ganization, 56; character of peace injurious to the South, 51. the army, 61; sufferings on the Bethel, battle of, 39. Peninsula, 85; conduct in Ma- Blackburn's Ford, fight at, 40. ryland, 237; injured by strag- Boonsboro, - see South Mountain. gling, 241; reorganization in Brandy Station, battle of, 372. fall of 1862, 279; division into Brown, John, outbreak at Harper's corps d'armne, 279; lack of Ferry, 24; he is captured by discipline, 279; sufferings of the United States marines, comthe men, 280; generous con- manded by Colonel R. E. Lee, duct of the army in Pennsyl- 26. vania, 381; sufferings in the Bristoe Station, fight at, 420. winter of 1863-64, 431; deser- Burnside, Major-General A. E., tions, 431-572; sufferings from takes command of the Army of want of food, 431; disappoint- the Potomac, 299; character, ment in the New Year's dinner, 299; reorganizes his army, 300; 567; sufferings and heroism of moves to Fredericksburg, 303; the army on the last retreat, error in not crossing the Rap617; isurrender of the army, pahannock, 303; battle of Fred636. ericksburg, 308; his cruelty 718 INDErX. 719 in bombarding Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor — see Peninsular cam311: retreats across the Rap- paign; also the overland campahannock, 321; the " mud paign. march," 330; resigns his com- Commissariat, Confederate, inabilmission, 333; commands a corps ity of the South to feed the in Meade's army, 450; the mine army, 435. at Petersburg, 515. Commissary General —see Colonel Butler, Major-General B. F., placed L. B. Northrop. in command of United States Confederate army, list of Generals forces south of James River, in, 36. 493; instructions from General Confederate Government, its incomGrant, 493; occupies City Point petence, 52; fails to rise to the and Bermuda Hundreds, 496; necessity of the times, 53; preadvances to Port Walthal Junc- pares to abandon Richmond, 94; tion, 497; defeated by Beaure- threatens retaliation for outrages gard at Drewry's Bluff, 499; of Pope's army, 190; blunders "corked up " at Bermuda Hun- with regard to the conscription, dreds, 500; Dutch Gap Canal, 430; violations of its contracts, 531; places Confederate pris- 438; system of impressments, oners under fire at Dutch Gap, 439; outrages of the Govern532. ment, 440. Conscription, the Confederate, 54; Catlett's Station, captured by Stuart, manner in which the Govern204. ment adopted it, 55. Cavalry, Confederate, sufferings of Convention, of Virginia, reception in fall of 1862, 298; inferior to of General Lee by Convention, Federal cavalry, 338; causes of 32. this (Note B), 645. Crampton's Gap- see South MounCedar Run -see Lieutenant-Gen- tain. eral Jackson. Culpepper Court House -see GenCentreville, evacuation of, 73. eral R. E. Lee. Chancellorsville - see General R. E. Lee; also Major-General Hooker. Dahlgren, Colonel Ulric; raid upon Chambersburg -see Major-General Richmond, 445; papers relating Stuart; also Gettysburg cam- to it (Note D), 651. paign. Davis, President Jefferson, retains Chickahominy River —see Penin- General Lee in command of the sular campaign; also the over- army in Virginia, 36; vetoes land campaign. the bill creating the office of Coggin's Point-see Peninsular cam- Commanding General, 49; oppaign. posed to the conscription, 52; 720 INDEX. his weakness, 55; sustains the reinforces Early, 548; forces Commissarv- General against Sheridan down the Valley, 550; commanders in the field, 57; op- | unfortunate conflict of authority poses the formation of a comPl)e- between Early and Anduerson, tent staff, 60; plan for a descent 550; condition of his army, 551; upon the Federal forces in Low- description of General Early, er Maryland, 71; opposes Gen- 552; error in the disposition of eral Johnston's plan for an ag- his forces, 553; defeated by gressive campaign, 71; an- Sheridan at Winchester, 554; ilounces his intention to defend retreats up the Valley, 556; bat. Richmond, 94; address to the tie of Fisher's Iill, 556; battle army, 168; letter of thanks to of Cedar Creek, 560; address the army, 366; failure to pur- to his army, 562; failure of the chase supplies for the army, campaign, 565, relieved of his 437; ideas about cotton, 437; command, 565; letter from Genunpatriotic conduct, 570; re- eral Lee, 566. bukes General Lee, 573; disre- Eltham's Landing —see Peninsular gard of the' popular will, 573; campaign. conduct with regard to Mr. Ewell, Lieutenant-General, R. S. Seddon, 573; unpopularity with See General R. E. Lee; dethe people, 573; efforts to se- fence against the charge of cure peace, 576; reply to the burning Richmond, 612. Virginia Legislature, 581; unwillingness to part with power, 582; reveals the Confederate Fair Oaks Station -see Seven Pines. plans to the Federals, 586. Federal Government, first hostile Drewry's Bluff, battle at in May measures of, 38; its energetic 1862, 95; see General R. E. preparations for the Peninsular Lee, also General G. T. Beau- campaign, 75; vigorous measregard. ures of, 177. Early, Lieutenant-General J. A., Five Forks — see General R. E. Lee. sent to the relief of Lynchburg, Floyd, Brigadier-General Jobn B. 492; drives Hunter into Western campaign in Western Virginia, Virginia, 493; invades Mary- 44: the originator of the conland, 545; defeats General Wal- scription, 52. lace at Frederick Junction, 546; Fort Steadman —see General R. E. advances upon Washington, Lee. 546; retreats into Virginia, Frazier's Farm - see Peninsular 646; his reasons for not at- campaign, tacking Washington, 547; re- Fredericksburg, city occupied by mains in the Valley, 547; Lee Confederate army, 303; non INDEX. 721 combatants sent away, 305; suf- to the command of the armies ferings of the citizens, 306-311; of the United States, 449; rebombardment of the city, 311. organizes the Army of the PotoFor events of the campaign, see mac, 450; takes the field in General R. E, Lee, and Major- Virginia, 450; plan of operaGeneral Burnside. tions, 451; crosses the Rapidan, Freemantle, Lieutenant-Colonel, ac- 451; battle of the Wilderness, count of the battle of Gettys- 453; moves to Spottsylvania burg, 403. Court House, 465; attacks Lee, 468; moves to the North Anna River, 476; foiled by Lee, 477; Garnett, Brigadier-General R. S., marches to the Chickabominy, sent to Western Virginia, 41; 479; second battle of Cold Harestablishes himself at Rich bor, 482; correspondence with Mountain and Laurel Hill, 41; General Lee regarding flags of is attacked by McClellan, and truce, 489; failure of the camdefeated at Rich Mountain, 42; paign, 490; letter to General retreats from Laurel Hill, 43; Butler, 493; crosses the James killed at Carrick's Ford, 43. River, 503; attacks Petersburg Gettysburg campaign; reasons for and is repulsed, 506; lays siege entering upon it, 368; condition to Petersburg, 510; cavalry of the Confederate army, 369; raid, 512; mine explosion, 515; Lee moves to the Potomac, 371; movements north and south of capture of Winchester and Mar- the James, 521; capture of Fort tinsburg, 376; invasion of Penn- Harrison, 530; letter to General sylvania, 379; Jenkins' raid Lee, 537; movement against upon Chambersburg, 379; Penn- the South Side Railroad, 538; sylvanians refuse to defend their expedition to Bellfield, 542; State, 380; Confederate army sends troops to Washington, enters Pennsylvania, 381; con- 545; occupies the Valley of duct of the Southerners, 381; Virginia, 547; orders Sheridan Hooker follows Lee, 384; suc- to desolate the Valley, 559; ceeded by General Meade, 385; letter to General Lee, 578; both armies move to Gettys- preparations for the spring burg, 387; battle of Gettysburg, campaign, 592; plan of opera387; Lee retreats to the Poto- tions, 593; the movement bemac, 406; Meade pursues, 406;; gun, 596; assails Lee's right, Lee's masterly retreat, 407; 598; battle of Five Forks, 601; Confederates retire into Vir- last attack on Petersburg, 604; ginia, 409. pursues Lee; to Appomattox Grant, Lieutenant-General Ulysses Court House, 615; correspondS., character, 449; appointed ence with GeneralLee relating to 722 INDEX. surrender, 626; generosity to statement of the strength of his the Confederates, 634. army, May 1863, 371; outgeneraled by Lee, 372; battle of Brandy Station, 372; retreats IIampton, Lieutenant-General Wade, to the Potomac, 377; follows captures cattle at Sycamore Lee into Maryland, 384; quarChurch, 528 —see General R. rel with general Halleck, 385; E. Lee. relieved of his command, 385. Halleck, Major-General, LI.W.-See Major-Generals McClellan and Majoor-Gen lerals McClellan and Imboden, Brigadier-General John Hooker - letters to General D.; attacks Charlestown, 421. Lee, 641, 645. Harper's Ferry - See General R. E. Lee; also Lieutenant-Gen- Jackson, Lieutenant-General Thomas eral T. J. Jackson. J.; takes command at Hlarper's Harrison's Landing —see Peninsular Ferry, 37; relieved by General campaign. J. E. Johnston, 37; campaign Hill, Lieutenant-General A. P., con- in the Valley, 109; ordered to duct in battles around Rich- Richmond, 122; marches for mond-see Peninsular campaign; Cold Harbor, 128; checked at made Lieutenant-General, 279; White Oak Swamp, 152; dedeath, 607. feats Banks at Cedar Run, 195; Hill, Lieutenant-General D. H., en- march to Manassas, 206; critigages in battles around Rich- cal situation, 213; enters Marymond - see Peninsular cam- land, 236: accident to, 237: paign; loses General Lee's or- captures Harper's Ferry, 243: ders at Frederick, 251; made made Lieutenant-General, 279: Lieutenant-General, 279. attacks Hooker's right at Chan[Ik oker, Major-General Joseph, ap- cellorsville, 349; is wounded, pointed to command the Army 352: death, 364. of the Potomac, 336; character, Jackson, Brigadier-General Henry 337; vigorous measures, 337; R., defeats General Reynolds at reorganizes his army, 338; ad- Greenbrier River, 48. vances to Chancellorsville, 341; plan of operations, 342; errors in its execution, 344; fortifies James River, left defenceless in May at Chancellorsville, 346; battle 1862, 93; Federal gunboats asof Chancellorsville, 347; battles cend the river, 93 —see Peninof Marye's and Salem Heights, sular campaign: see, also, Gen359-361; retreats across the eral R. E. Lee. Rappahannock, 363; failure of Janney, John, address of welcome to the cavalry expedition, 366; General Lee, 33. INDEX. 723 Johnston, General Joseph E., takes Lee, General Robert Edward, birth, command of the army at Harp- 15; early life, 15; Enters West er's Ferry, 37; eludes Patter- Point Academy, 15; appointed son in the Valley, and marches Lieutenant in United States to Manassas Junction, 40, de- army, 16; employed as assistfeats McDowell' at Manassas, ant astronomer, 16; marries 40; advances to Mason's and Mary Custis, 16; children by Munson's Htills, 40; his army this marriage, 16; promotions weakened by injudicious fur- as First Lieutenant and Captain loughs, 55; reorganizes his of Engineers, 16; member of army, 55; statements concern- the Board of Visitors to West ing the condition of his army Point, 16; ordered to Mexico after the battle of Manassas, 56; as Chief Engineer, under Genhe blockades the Potomac, 56; eral Wool, 17; conduct at the disposition of his forces, 57; siege of Vera Cruz, 17; takes ~embarrassed by the weakness of part in the battle of Cerro the Government, 57; disadvan- Gordo, 18; comp)lirnentary notages under which his army was tice by General Scott, 19; narorganized, 59-60; proposes an row escape from capture by the aggressive campaign, but the Mexicans, 19; engages in the measure is defeated by Mr. battles before the city of Mexico, Davis, 71; evacuates Centre- 20; wounded at Chapultepee, ville, and retreats behind the 23; promotions as Major and Rapidan, 73; transfers his army Lieutenant-Colonel, 23; apto the Peninsula, 76; arrives at pointed Superintendent of the Yorktown, 83; determines to West Point Academy, 23; serevacuate the Peninsula, 86; re- vices at Vest Point, 23; comtreats from Yorktown, 87; re- missioned Lieutenant-Colonel in pulses McClellan at Williams- the Second Cavalry,?4; serburg and Elthanl's Landing, 90- vices in Texas, 24; sent to put 92; retires behind the Chicka- down the John Brown Rebelhorminy; 96; resolves to attack lion at Harper's Ferry, 25; re5McClellan, 98; battle of Seven turns to Texas, 26; views with Pines, 98; letter from, 105; regard to secession, 28; urged wounded at Seven Pines, 102. to remain in the Federal service, 29; offered the command of the United States army, 29; Kelley's Ford —fight at, 339. the United States arry, 29; resigns his commission, 30; letter to General Scott, 30; Lee Family, the, history of, 9. letter to his sister, 3t; repairs Lee, General Henry, sketch of his to Richmond, 32; appointed to life, 13. the chief command of the Vir 724 h I1 IND1EX. ginia forces, 32; reception by to attack McClellan, 121; his the Convention, 33; speech be- plan of operations, 122; brings fore the Convention, 35; organ- Jackson's army to Richmond, izes the Virginia forces, 35; 122; confidential order, stating commissioned General in the plan of campaign, 123; attacks Confederate Army, 36; his McClellan at Mechanicsville, willingness to serve in any ca- 129; battle of Cold Harbor, pacity, 36; sends troops to 134; remarks on the division of Western Virginia, 40; takes the army, 134; dispatch to the command of the army in West- President, 143; his plan to inern Virginia, 45; moves towards tercept McClellan's retreat, 145; Cheat Mtountain, 45; plan of battle of Savage Station, 149; attack on Cheat Mountain, 46; accompanies Longstreet's divifailure of the movement, 47; sion to Frazier's Farm, 154; criticism upon the Cheat Moun- battle of Frazier's Farm, 155; tain affair, 47; leaves for Sewell plan of attack at Malvern Hill, iountain, 47; awaits attack 159; battle of Malvern Hill, from Rosecranz, 47; sent to the 160; fails to follow up McClelSouthern coast, 48; fortifies lan to Harrison's Landing, 162; the exposed points along the explanation of the escape of the coast, 49; made Commanding Federal army, 165; order relatGeneral of the Armies of the ing to'the campaign, 167; Confederacy, 49; opinion of anxious to draw McClellan away the discipline of his army, 56; from James River, 171; comadvises the evacuation of York- municates the Confederate ortown, 86; present at the battle der of retaliation to the Federal of Drewry's Bluff, 95; takes Government, 189; also, 639; commland of the Army of North- sends Jackson's corps to Gorern Virginia, 106; relieved of donsville, 194; moves his army the chief command of the Con- to the Rapidan, 200; plan to federate States Armies, 106; defeat Pope's army, 201; folexertions to bring troops to lows Pope to the Rappuhannock, Richmond, 106; order respect- 202; plan of operations against ing passports, 107; his appoint- General Pope's army, 207; sucment not a popular measure at cess of the movements, 220; first, 1.07; views regarding the second battle of 1Manassas, 222; situation of affairs at Richmond, battle of Ox Hill, 227; letter to 108; strength of his army, 112; General Pope, 229; letter to sends Stuart to reconnoitre the President Davis,' 230; injured Federal position, 113; congrat- by a fall, 232; resolves to inulatory order relating to Stuart's vade Maryland, 235; influence reconnaissance, 119; resolves over the troops, 238; proclama INDEX. 725 tion to the people of Maryland, city, 305; opiaion of the peopis 239; his plan of the campaign, of Fredericksburg, 306; battle 241; remarks concerning strag- of Fredericksburg, 308; apgling, 241; resolves to capture pearance during the battle, 315; Harper's Ferry, 242; capture of dispatch to the War D)epartHarper's Ferry, 245; his plan ment, 319; decides not to attack of the campaign altered by un- Burnside, 319; dispatches to toward events, 253; confidential the War Department, 321, 322; order to General D. H. Hill, address to the army at the close 251; battle of South Mountain, of the year 1862, 325; appeal 254; battle of Sharpsburg, 260; to the Government to provide retires into Virginia, 272; or- shoes for the troops, 326; his der relating to the Maryland mode of living, 327; efforts to campaign, 274; efforts to pro- procure better artillery, 329i cure shoes and clothing for the urges the Government to imarmy, 276; advocates making press breadstuffs, 329; detects Confederate notes a legal ten- }iurnside's " mud march," 333; der, 281; orders General Lor- advises the Government to aping to the Valley, 283; declines peal to the people to supply the to send troops to James River, army with food, 334; proposes 283; official report of cavalry to invite the coiperation of fight near Shepherdstown, 285; State authorities in raisingtroops letter of instructions to General 334; announces the opening of the Stuart concerning the Pennsyl- spring campaign, 335; prepares vania expedition, 286; dispatch to meet Hooker, 340; sends announcing Stuart's return, 294; Jackson's corps to Chancellorsmoves to Culpepper Court House ville, 344; arrives on the field, to meet McClellan, 297; confi- 345; accepts Jackson's plan of dent of his ability to baffle Mc- battle, 347; attacks Hooker's Clellan, 298; opinion of the front to cover Jackson's flank cavalry, 298; statement respect- march, 347; grief upon being ing the condition of the army informed of the wounding of horses, 298; detects Burnside's General Jackson, 354; note to movement to Fredericksburg, General Jackson, 355; resolves 301; dispatch to the War De- to drive Hooker across the Rappartment, 302; moves to Fred- pahannock, 357; dispatch to ericksburg, 303; fortifies his President Davis, 358; plaIn to position, 304; agrees to refrain dispose of Sedgwick, 360; batfrom occupying Fredericksburg tle of Salem Heights, 361; disunless the Federals attempt. to patches to President Davis, 362, do so, 305; advises the removal 363; forces Hooker to retreat of non-combatants from the across the river, 363; order anl 726 INDEX. nouncing the death of General 412; order concerning P'rst Jackson, 364; address to the Day, 413; grants furloughs to army, 365; urges the Govern- the troops, 414; forces Meade ment to bring the cavalry along back to ('entreville, 415; rethe Atlantic coast to Virginia, tires to the Rappahannock, 422; 366; opposes sending troops goes into winter quarters befrom his army to Mississippi, hind the Rapildan, 424; detects 369; visits Richmond, and ar- Meade's movement upon Mine ranges the plan for the second Run, 426; address to the army, invasion of the North, 369; 426; dispatches to the War moves towards the Potomac, Department, 429-430; efforts 371; dispatch announcing Stu- to procure food for the army, art's victory at Brandy Station, 432; appeal to the troops to 373; dispatches announcing endure their sufferings with forEwell's victories, 376; orders titude, 434; his fare, 434; offers his army to respect the persons furloughs to such troops as can and property of citizens of the procure recruits, 441; calls for United States, 381; address to more cavalry, 442; orders the the army, 382; efforts to keep observance of Fast Day, 442; open his, communications, 384; declines the present of a house moves to Gettysburg, and his from the citizens of Richmond, object in doing so, 386; decides 443; prepares for the spring not to follow up the success of campaign, 447; plan to defeat the first day at Gettysburg, 391; the army of General Grant, 453; reasons for fighting the battle, attacks Grant in the Wilder393; battle of July 2d, 395; ness, 455; narrow escape durdecides to renew the attack on ing the battle, 457; dispatch to the 3d of July, 399; plan of the War Department, 458; debattle, 400; rallies the troops cides to assume the offensive, after the repulse of the attack 459; touching instance of the upon Cemetery Ridge, 403; his devotion of his army, 461; dannoble words to General Wilcox, gerous position during the bat404; decides to retreat to Vir- tle, 462; dispatches to the ginia, 405; effects his retreat to Government, 463; moves to the Potomac successfully, 407; Spottsylvania Court House and letter to General Cooper con- baffles Grant, 466; dispatches cerning Federal statements re- to the Government, 466-468specting the campaign, 409; 471-474-475; foils Grant at the address to the army, 410; North Anna River, 476; disretires to - the Rappahannock, patches to the War Department. 412; his firm hold on the confi- 477-478; confronts Grant on dence of the army and people, the Chickahominy, 481; the sec INDEX. 727 ond battle of Cold Harbor, 482; Department, 556; letter to dispatches to the Government, General Early, 566; urges the 484-487; requires General Government to collect reserves Grant to ask permission to bury of provisions, 568; declares his dead, 489; sends Early's that the conscription is dimincorps to Lynchburg, 492; ishing his army, 571; views as moves to the James River, 502; to desertion, 572; rebuked by dispatches to the War Depart- the President, 573; views conment, 502-503-504; inability cerning, the arming of the to prevent Grant from crossing slaves, 574; correspondence the James River, 504; marches with General Grant respecting to the relief of Petersburg, 508; negotiations for peace, 577; the dispatches to the President, only public man possessing the 509; letter to Lieut.-General confidence of tho nation, 580; Anderson, 508; foils Grant's desire to make him dictator, effort to turn his right, 511; 581; Mr. Davis' statements of dispatches to the Government, Gen. Lee's views respecting the 511-512-513-514-515; baffles office of Comnianding-General, the attempt to carry the works 581; friendship for the Presiat Deep Bottom, 518; the mine dent 582; made Commander-inexplosion, 519; battle at Deep Chief of the armies of the ConBottom, 523; views respecting federacy, 583; order upon asthe Weldon Railroad, 524; ef- suining the command, 584; forts to retain possession of it, opinion as to the condition of 525; dispatches to the Govern- the South in February 1865, iment, 527-528-529; loss of 586; determines to retreat Fort Harrison, 530; dispatches southward, 587; plan of opeto the Government, 530-531; rations, 587; attack on Fort correspondence with General Steadman 588; dispatch to the Grant concerning prisoners Government, 590; plan to deplaced under fire, 532; defeats feat Grant's attempt against his another attempt to turn his right, 598; dispatch to the War right, 538; dispatches to the Department, 598; critical situaGovernment, 539-540; further tion of the army, 601; indignamovements on the right, 541; tion at the conduct of the troops dispatches to the War Depart- at Five Forks, 603; battles of ment, 541-543; directs General Five Forks and Petersburg, 604; Early to invade Maryland, 544; evacuates Richmond and Petershis expectations from this move- burg, 608; plan of operations ment, 544; reinforces Early in during the retreat, 616; failure the Valley, 548; reasons for this of the plan, 617; retreats step, 518, dispatch to the War towards Lynchburg, 618; suf 728 INDEX. ferings of the army, 618; opin- the surrender at Appomattox ion as to a surrender of the Court House, 633. army, 624; correspondence Loring, Major-General W. insubwith General Grant respecting ordinate conduct of, 283. the surrender of the army, 626627; surrender at Appomattox Court House, 636; interview Magruder, Major-General John B., with General Grant, 631; last sent to the Peninsula, 77; opermeeting with the troops, 634; ations there in 1861, 78; fortiaddress to the army, 635; re- fies his position, 79; heroic deturns to Richmond, 636; his re- fence on 5th, and 6th April 1862, ception there, 637; report of 81; r6enforced by General the second campaign in North- Johnston, 83. For part in batern Virginia, 664; report of the tles around Richmond —- see Gettysburg campaign, 668; in- Peninsular campaign. auguration as President of Malvern Hill —see Peninsular camWashington College, 680; evi- paign. dence before the Congressional Mansssas, battle of, 40; effect upon Committee, 682. the South, 52; capture of by Lee, Major-General, William Henry Jackson, 21.0; second battle of Fitzhugh, takes part in Stuart's 218. reconnoisance, 113; letter from, Maryland, campaign in —see Genconcerning Confederate States eral R. E. Lee, also Major-GenCavalry, 647. eral G. B. McClellan; MaryLee, Major-General, Fitz, takes part landers treated as friends, 237; in Stuart's reconnoisance, 113. address to people of the State Lincoln, President Abraham, inter- 239; explanation of the conduct ference with General McClellan, of the people, 240; Confeder69; appoints corps commanders ates leave the State, 272. for Army of the Potomac, 70; Maryland Heights —see Harper's letter to General McDowell, Ferry. 110. McClellan, Major-General George Longstreet, Lieut-General James, at- B., appointed to command the tacks McClellan at Seven Pines, department of the Ohio, 42; 99; conduct in battl'es around invades Western Virginia, 42; Richmond —see Peninsular cam- defeats Garnett at Rich Mounpaign; made Lieutenant-Gen- tain, 42; transferred to the Areral, 279; sent to the South Side, my of the Potomac, 63; estimate 334; sent to East Tennessee, of his character, 63; reorgan414; wounded in the Wilder- izes the Army of the Potomac, ness, 460; appointed a commlis- 64; remains inactive during the sioner to arrange the details of fall of 1$61, 66; his views on 92 INDEX. 729 the situation, 67; plan of cpera- assigned to command defoll.wes at tions, 67; advances to Manas- Washington, 249;- reormanizes sas, 73; returns to Washington, and takes command of Pope's 73; plan for campaign on the army, 249; marches to meet Lee, Peninsula, 75; error in choos- 250; finds Lee's plan of campaign ing the move to the Peninsula, at Frederick, 251; battle of 76; the transfer to the Penin- South Mountain, 253; battle of sula, 76; plan of operations Sharpsburg, 259; pursues Lee against Yorktown, 80; attacks to the Potomac, 273; battle of Magruder on the 5th and 6th Shepherdstown, 274; plan for April, and is repulsed, 81; lays fall campaign, 1862, 295; enters siege to Yorktown, 83; calls for Virginia, 297; removed fromthe McDowell's corps, 84; his plan command of the Army of the for a flank movement, 84; pur- Potomac, 299; close of his casues the Confederate States' reer, 299. army up the Peninsula, 88; dis- Meade, Major-General Geo. G. patch to the War Department, takes command of the Army of 89; battle of Williamsburg, 90; the Potomac, 385; character, reaches the Chickahomniny, 96; 385; moves to Gettysburg, defeats the Confederates at Han- 387; battle of Gettysburg, 387; over Court House, 97; throws pursues Lee to the Potomac, his left wing across the Chicka- 406; fails to attack Lee at Wilhominy, 97; defeated at Seven liamsport, 408; error concernPines, 98; lays siege to Rich- ing, prisoners taken from Lee, mond, 109; advances his picket 409; crosses the Potomac in line, June 25th, 126; faults of pursuit of Lee, 411; army his position, 126; dispatch to weakened, 415; falls back to the War Department, 128; bat- Centreville, 416; fight at Bristle of AMechanicsville, 130; toe Station, 420; returns to the withdraws firom Beaver Dam Rappahannock, 423; Mine Run, Creek to Cold Harbor, 133; 424; order for march of army, battle of Cold Harbor, 137; re- 452. tires across the Chi~ckahominy, Mechanicsville-see Peninsular cam143; battle of Savage Station, paiga. 149; the retreat to the James Mexico, war with, 16. River, 150; battle of Fraizier's Mine Run see Major-General Farm, 153; battle of Malvern Meade. Hill, 158; retires to Harrison's "Mud March," the — see MajorLanding, 161; plan for a cam- General Burnside. paign on James River, 170; occupies Coggin's Point, 172; evacuates the Peninsula, 174; Negro troops, efforts to procure 730 INDEX. then, 573; General Lee's views 92; James River left defencerespecting them, 574. less, 93; destruction of the Northrop, Colonel L. B., appointed steamer Virginia, 93; United Commissary General of the Con- States' gunboats ascend James federate States, 58; his history, River, 93; battle of Drewry's 58; Tncompetent to discharge Bluff, 95; Confederate and Fedhis duties, 58; sustained by the eral armios on the ChickahomiPresident, 59; opposes General ny, 96; battle of Hanover Court Lee's plan to procure food for House, 97; Federal left wing the army, 334; criminal mis- crosses the Chickahominiy, 97; management of the affairs of his battle of Seven Pines, 98; Gendepartment, 432; hated by the eral Lee takes command of the South and sustained by the Pres- army, 106; positions of the ident, 441; starves the army, armies, 111-112; Stuart's re568; condition of the Commis- connoissance, 113; Jackson orsariat in December 1864, 569; dered to Richmond, 122; fight resigns his office, 573. on 25th June 126; Lee decides Overland campaign, the - see Gen- to attack the Federal army, 126; eial R. E. Lee, also Lieutenant- battle of Mechanlicsville, 130; General U. S. Grant. McClellan withdraws to Cold Harbor, 133; b:tttle of Cold Harbor, 137; McClellan rePeninsula, the - description of, 77. treats across the Chickahominy, Peninsular campaign, Magruder sent 143; movements on the 28th to the Peninsula, 77; his move- and 29th June, 144; battle of ments during the fall and winter Savage Station, 149; the retreat, of 1861, 78; lines of defence to the James River, 150; Stuart constructed by him, 78; strength sent to the White House, 146; of Magruder's army, 79; Fed- the Confederate army pursues, eral army advances from Fort 150; battle of Frazier's Farm, Monroe, 80; reconnoissances of 153; battle of Malvern tHill, the 5th and 6th April, 1862, 81; 158; McClellan retreats to Harthe siege of Yorktown, 83; rison's Landing, 161; failure of fight at Dam No. 1, 84; suffer- Confederates to pursue, 163; ings of the Confederate troops, Federal transports fired on in 85; weakness of the Confeder- James River, 164; reiections ate position on the Peninsula,' on the campaign, 165; losses in 86; evacuation of Yorktown, the two armies, 166; adv In87; McClellan pursues, 88; tages of Federal position on battle of Williamsburg, 90; bat- James River, 170; Lee's efforts tle of Eltham's Landing, 92; to draw McClellan away, 171; the retreat to the Chickahominy, affair at Coggin's Point 172; INDEX. 731 Federals advance to Malvern Salem H-leights —see General R, E. Hill, 173; the Federal army Lee. evacuates the Peninsula, 174; Scott, General Winfield, complilnent. Lee moves to the Rapidan, 200. ary notices of Captain R. E. Petersburg - see General R. E. Lee, 17, 18, 19; 20, 21, 22; Lee. urges Colonel Lee to remain in Pope, Major-General John, takes the Federal service, 29; letter command of the Army of Vir- from Colonel Lee to him, 30. ginia, 176; character of, 176; Secession of the States of the South, his boastfulness, 176; bombastic 27. address to his army, 178; infa- Sedgwick, Major-Genejal, carries mous orders, 179, 180-182, 183- 1Marye's HeiTghts, 359; defeated 189; outrages of his army, 185; at Salem Heigllts, and driven defeated at Cedar Run, 195; across the Rappahannock, 361; advances to the Ripi(dan, 200; killed at Spottsylvania Court retreats behind the Rappahan- House, 469. nock, 201; private baggage and Seven Pines, - see Peninsular camorder book captured by Stuart, paign, 98. 206; plan to destroy Jackson's Sick, of the Confederate army: bad corps, 212; errors in its execu- treatment of, 281. tion, 216; marches to Manassas, Sharpsburg - see General R. E. 217; second battle of Manassas, Lee: also Major-General Mc218; misstatement of facts con- Clellan. cernipg the battles, 220; battle Sheplierdstown, battle of, 274, - see of Ox Hill, 227; letter to Gen- General R. E. Lee; cavalry fight eral Lee, 229; Pope defeated at at, 285. all points with heavy loss, 229. Sheridan, Major-General Philip, apPorterfield, Colonel G. A., sent to pointed to command Meade's Western Virginia by General cavalry, 450; defeated by Wade Lee, 40; defeated at Philippi, 41. Hampton at Trevylian's Depot, Potomac River, - see General R. E. 502; appointed to command the Lee. Federal army in the Valley, 548; character, 548; retreat from Rapidan River-see Gen. R. E. Lee. Front Royal, 550; ordered by Rappahannock River - see General Grant to assume the offensive, R. E. Lee. 554; defeats Early at WinchesRichmond- see General R. E. Lee; ter, 554; battle of Fisher's Hill, evacuation of 608; occupation 556; lays waste the Valley, 557; by Federals, 613. ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, 561; battle of Cedar Savage Station —see Peni isular cam- Creek, 561; close of the campaign. paign, 565; expedition to Lower 732 INDEX. Virginia, 591. For part in be made Commander-in-Chief, the final campaign see Lieuten- 581. ant-General U. S. Grant. Virginia, C. S., war steamer —see Smith, Major-General G. W., suc- Peninsular campaign. ceeds to command of Army of Valley of Virginia, campaign in Northern Virginia at Seven 490. For the remainder of the Pines, 102; relieved by Gen- events in the Valley, see Lieueral Lee, 106. tenant-General J. A. Early. South Mountain -see General R. E. Lee. Warrenton, - Springs -Junction - Spottsylvaqria Court House - see see General R. E. Lee. General R. E. Lee. Wilderness, battle of-see General Stuart, Major-General J. E. B., re- R. E. Lee. connoissance of McClellan's po- Westover — see Peninsular camsition, 113; part in the battles paign. around Richmond - see Penin- West Point, Military Academy at - sular campaign; captures Pope's see General R. E. Lee. headquarters at Catlett's Sta- West Point, Virginia —see Penintion, 204; expedition to Penn- sular campaign. sylvania, 286; commands Jack- Western Virginia, campaign in, 40son's corps at Chancellorsville, 43; movements of Generals 355; dangerous situation with Wise and Floyd, 44; General his cavalry, 418; battle of the Lee goes to West Virginia, Yellow Tavern, 464; death, 464. 45; affair at Cheat Mountain, 46; affairs at Sewell Mountain, 47. 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THE story told in this work is the most interesting of the century, equaling in attractiveness the history of the deeds of the Great Napoleon. It tells of battles which have shaken Europe to its centre, and the consequences of which, even we of the Western World must feel; of patriotism, heroism, military skill and statesmanship, never surpassed ini history; and of the fall and rise of the mightiest Empires of modern times. The story of this war, however, is not only interesting as the record of some of the most wonderful military achievements that have ever been witnessed on the face of the earth, but is still more instructive, as the description of one of the greatest epochs in,the history of human civilization. The author of this work has traced the causes of the war from their very origin through several generations, down to the breaking out of hostilities, in July, 1870. 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The narrative df the great battles which opened the campaign, and hurled the French back upon the interior of their country; the effect of these reverses upon the French Nation; the difficulties and trials, as well as the faults and weaknesses of the Imperial Qovernment; the frantic effort to rescue the beaten army, and the terrible disaster of Sedan; the capture of the Emperor Napoleon, and an entire army; the Revolution in Paris; the rise and formation of the Republic; the flight of the Empress from Paris; the siege and surrender of Strasbourg and the frontier fortresses of France; the triumphal advance of the German armies to Paris; the efforts of Bazaine to escape from Metz; and the final surrender of his army; the investment and siege of Paris; the detailed history of this great siege, its plans1 sorties, battles, successes and failures; the course of events in the beleaguered city, given in the form of a full diary of the events of the siege; the efforts of the Republic to raise the siege; the campaigns on the Loire, and in other portions of France; the continued triumph of the German Armies, and the gradual conquest of France; the reasons which led to the Armistice, and the surrender of Paris; the peace negotiations; the treaty; the occupation of Paris; the naval history of the war; the diplomatic history on both the German and French sides; the history of the formation of the great German Empire; the proclaiming of King William Emperor, and the realization of German Unity,-all these and other topics are related with a graphicness and brilliancy which render this the best and most accurate history of this great war published. 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