Jgioni cility UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL IS THB UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BY BENSON J. LOSSING. ILLUSTRATED BY MANY HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD, BY LO83ING AND BABBITT, FROM SKETCHES BY THE ADTHOB AND OTHEB8. THREE VOLUMES IN ONE. VOLUME II. HARTFORD : THOMAS BELKNAP, PUBLISHER, 1878. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, BY BENSON J. LOSSING, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. JiJL/^I^W. 4-G L PRE FA O E. HE peculiar circumstances under which this work has been prepared, caused a much longer interval between the appearance of the first and second volumes than was ex- pected ; but the delay has been an advan- tage to the book, because it has enabled the author to procure and use more authentic and valuable materials than could have been obtained earlier, especially from Confederate sources. An essential part of the original plan of the writer, and which has been carried out, was to make a personal visit to the principal battle-fields and other places of interest connected with the Civil War. This could not be done within the Con- federate lines during the war, and it was difficult to do so in many places for several months after the conflict had ceased. As much as possible of this labor was accomplished before the completion of the first volume, in which the events of the con- flict, civil and military, to the close of the first battle of Bull's Run, are recorded. After the first volume was completed, in the spring of 1866, the writer made a journey of several thousand miles in visiting the historical localities within the bounds of the Confederacy, observing the topography of battle-fields and the region of the movements of the great armies, making sketches, conversing with actors in the scenes, procuring documents, and in every possible way gathering valuable materials for the work. The writer bore a cordial letter of introduction from General Grant to any officer commanding a military post within the late Slave- labor States, asking him to afford the bearer every facility in his power. To General O. O. Howard the writer was also indebted for a similar letter, directed to any agent of the Freedmen's Bureau. These, and the kind services everywhere proffered by, S34663 4 PEEFACE. and received from, persons who had been in the Confederate ar- mies, procured for the author extraordinary facilities for gather- ing historical materials, and he was enabled to send and bring home a large amount of valuable matter. This had to be care- fully examined and collated. In this and kindred labor, and in the construction of small illustrative maps, and the preparation of the sketches for the engraver, all by his own hands, months were consumed, and the delay in the appearance of the second volume was the consequence. B. J. L. THE KIDGE, DOVEK PLAINS, N. Y., September, 1873. VOLUME II. CHAPTER I. EFFECT OF THE BATTLE OF BTTLL's RUN. REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. CONGRESS AND THE COUNCIL OF THE CONSPIRATORS. EAST TENNESSEE. Effect of the Battle of Bull's Kan, page 17. The Story in both Sections Scenes in Richmond and in Washing- tonA sad Picture, 18. The Story in Europe Hopes and Predictions of the Ruling Classes there Relative Position of the Combatants, 19. Another Uprising of the People The Exultation of the Confederates The "United South," bow formed, 20. Sufferings of Southern Unionists The Confederate Army immovable Jefferson Davis a Marplot, 21. Why the Confederate Army was immovable Alarm of the Conspirators, 22. General McClellan at the Head of the Army of the Potomac Reorganization of that Army, 23. The Defenses of Washington, 24. Purchase of Arms for the Government Domestic Manufactures of Arms, 25. Prisoners taken at Bull's Run, in Richmond Tobacco Warehouse Prison and Commissary Winder, 26. ~- " Richmond Prison Association " Kind Women in Richmond. 27. Object of the War declared by Congress Measures for crushing the Rebellion opposed, 28 Thaddeus Stevens's Warnings Peace Proposition, 29. A National Loan authorized, 80. Appeal of the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Response The Pro- visional Congress of the Conspirators, 81. Jefferson Davis's Misstatements. 82. Determination of Davis and his Fellow-Conspirators to wage War vigorously-r-Confiseations, 83. Protection of Pirates Davis's so-called " Departments," and their Heads, 84. Persecution of Union Men, 35. Outrages 1n East Tennes- see, 86. Brownlow and other Loyalists hunted Blood-Hounds, 87. Unionists in Prison Brutal Order of Judah P. Benjamin, 88. Brownlow's Defiance His Release, 89. Writs of Garnishment Denunciations by Pettigru, 40. Pettigru's Actions reviewed, 41. CHAPTER II. CIYIL AND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MISSOURI. Position of National Troops in Missouri Sigel's Pursuit of Price, 42. Battle near Carthage, 43. Slgel's Retreat to Springfield Lyon's March Southward, 44. He hastens toward Springfield Confederates Marching on that Town, 45. Lyon goes out to meet them Battle at Dug Springs, 46. Price and McCulloch at variance The Confederates at Wilson's Creek, 47. Lyon marches out to attack them, 48. Battle of Wilson's Creek, 49. Death of General Lyon Major Sturgis in command Sigel's Troops lost by a Trick of the Con- federates, 63. A Drawn Battle Retreat of the National Troops Northward, 54. Guerrillas in Missouri Activity of Union Troops Civil Affairs in Missouri, 55. Promises of Protection to Slavery Movements of the Missouri Traitors A Military Despotism proclaimed, 56. Operations of Hardee, Thompson, and Pillow, 57. Measures for annexing Missouri to the Confederacy, 58. General Fremont in command in the Western Department His Embarrassments, 59. Aspect of Affairs in his Department Kentucky Neu- trality a Help to the Insurgents, 60. Cairo and its Vicinity strengthened Pillow anxious for a Union of Confederate Forces, 61. The Confederates alarmed Polk orders Pillow to fly from Missouri, 62. Activity of Missouri Secessionists Guerrilla Bands, 63. Fremont proclaims Martial Law throughout Missouri Secessionists rigorously treated Fremont's Emancipation Proclamation, 64. The Proclamation modified bf the President Relations of the Government to Slavery, 65. 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MISSOURI AND KENTUCKY. Ben. McCulloch's Proclamation Price's Appeal to the Missonrians, 66. Lexington fortified Price attacks the Post, 67. Siege of Lexington Mulligan expects Re-enforcements A Severe Struggle, 68. Fremont called upon for Troops Why Mulligan was not re-enforced, 70. Fremont assailed He puts an Army in motion Pillow's Designs on Cairo, 71. Kentucky Neutrality Conference between McClellan and Buckner Magoffln encourages the Secessionists, 72. Union Military Camps in Kentucky Magoffln rebuked by the President, 73. The Confederates invade Kentucky Seizure of Columbus, 74. Zollicoffer invades Eastern Kentucky The Kentucky Legislature against the Confederates, 75. General Grant takes Military Posses- sion of Paducah End of the Neutrality Flight of Secessionists, 76. Ex Yice-President Breckenridge among the Traitors Operations of Buckner General Anderson's Counter-action, 77. Seed of the Army of the, Cumberland planted The Confederate Forces in Missouri in check Price retreats toward nrkan- sas, 78. Fremont's Army pursues him Passage of the Osage Fremont's Plans, 79. The Charge of Fre- mont's Body-guard at Springfield, SO. Fremont's Army at Springfield Successor National Troops in Eastern Missouri, 81. Thompson's Guerrillas dispersed Complaints against Fremont, 82. Fremont succeeded in command by Hunter Preparations for a Battle, 83. Fremont returns to St. Louis His Reception, 84. General Grant in Kentucky, 85. Expedition down the Mississippi by Land and Water Columbus menaced, 86. Battle at Belmont Grant hard pressed, but escapes, 87. Services of the Gun-Boats The Confede- rates at Columbus in peril, 88. Zollicoffer's Advance in Kentucky The Unionists aroused Battle among the Rock Castle Hills, 89. Battle of Piketon, 90 The East Tennessee Unionists disappointed The Con- federate Foothold in Tennessee and Kentucky, 91. CHAPTER IV. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA AND ON THE 8EACOA8T. Eobert E. Lee in command in Western Virginia Disposition of his Troops, 92. Floyd at Carnifex Ferry General Cox in the Kanawha Valley, 93. Advance of Rosecrans He crosses the Mountains and confronts Floyd at Carnifex Ferry, 94. Battle of Carnifex Ferry, 95. Gallantry of the Western Troops, 96. Flight and Escape of Floyd Insubordination of Wise, 97. Reynolds's Command Lee plans for seizins: and Holding West Virginia Reynolds wounded, 98. Attempt to capture the Summit foiled Lee repulsed at F.lkwater, 99. He joins Floyd at Meadow Bluff Conflict near " Traveler's Repose," 100. Rosecransand Lee between the Gauley and New Rivers Floyd driven from New River, 101. Bon bain's unsuccessful Pursuit of Floyd Rosccrans retires Kelley in Western Virginia, 102. Battle near Romney Milroy holds the Cheat Mountain Region He fights Johnston, of Georgia, at Alleghany Summit, 103. Expedition to Hnntersville Operations on the Seacoast, 104. Burning of 'Hampton by Magruder General Wool at Fortress Monroe, 105. Expedition to Hatteras Inlet, 107. Captures of the Forts and Hatteras Island But- ler commissioned to raise Troops in New England, 108. Naval Operations near Cape Hatteras Perils of the Nationals on Hatteras Island, 109. Hawkins's Proclamation Attempt to establish a loyal Civil Gov- ernment in Eastern North Carolina, 110. Stirring Events near Pensscola Wilson's Zouaves on Santa Rosa Island attacked, 111. Battle on Santa Rosa Island, and Repulse of the Confederates Tlie Confede- rates before Fort Pickens, 112. Attack by Fort Pickensand War-vessels on the Confederate Works Folly of Hollins on the Mississippi, 113. Naval Engagement at Southwest Pass Incompetency of Rollins, 114, CHAPTER V, MILITARY AND NAVAL OPERATIONS ON THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA. MILITARY OPERATIONS ON THE LINE OF THE POTOMAC RIVER. Need of Harbors for Blockading Vessels Gathering of a Naval and Military Expedition In Hampton Roads, 115. Composition of the Expedition Its Departure, 116. A Terrible Storm at Sea Joy of the Confede- rates, 117. The Expedition off Beaufort Harbor Confederate Defenses there, 118. Tatnall and his "Mosquito Fleet" Plan of Attack, 119. Battle of Port Royal Entrance, 120. Capture of Forts Walker and Beanregard at Port Royal Entrance, 121. Landing of National Forces at Hilton Head, 122. The Coast Island Region of South Carolina abandoned to the National Troops, 123. Flight of white Inhabitants- Capture of Beaufort, 124. Conquests on the Coast of Georgia, 125. Care of the Cotton on the Coast Islands, 126. Movements against Port Royal Ferry Composition of the Expedition, 127. Battle at Port Royal Ferry Attempt to close the Harbor of Charleston with sunken Vessels filled with Rocks, 128. Failure of the Attempt McClellnn and the Army of the Potomac, l'J9. Preparations for marching on Richmond Retirement of General Scott, 180. Organization and Equipment of the Army of the Potomao CONTENTS. 7 French Princes on McClellan's Staff, 131. Position of the Army of the Potomac Its Departments, 132. Reviews Hostile Demonstrations, 133. A Land and Naval Expedition down the Potomac planned Its Failure The Potomac Blockade, 134. Ileconnoissance near Washington City Committee on the Conduct of the War, 185. Confederates evacuate Munson's Hill "Quaker Guns," 186. Expedition to Harper's Ferry, 137. Capture of Harper's Ferry The Combatants along the Potomac, 188. Movements on the Potomac, 189. Invasion of Virginia, 140. Senator E. D. Baker and his Troops, 141. Battle of Ball's Bluff, 142. A Terrible Scene on the Kiver, 148. Disaster to the National Arms, 144. The Honored Dead- Explanation demanded, 145. The Case of General Stone, 146. A Prisoner of State, 147. The Baltimore Plot, 148. How Mr. Lincoln's Life was saved. 149. CHAPTER VI. THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. THE TRENT AFFAIR. CAPTURE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. Immobility of the Grand Army of the Potomac, 150. -"Confederate Incursions A Battle near Drainsville, 151. Feeling in Europe in Favor of the Conspirators Expression of Leading Men in Great Britain, 152. Depar- ture of Mason and Slidell for Europe as " Embassadors " of the " Confederate States," 158. Their cordial Reception at Havana They embark for England in the Steamer Trent, and are captured by Captain Wilkes, 154. Mason and Slidell in Fort Warren Wilkes's Act applauded by all loyal Men, 155. Appro- val of the Secretary of the Navy The Wisdom of President Lincoln, 156. British Theory and Practice concerning Neutrals, 157. The British demand the Release of the " Embassadors " Abuse of the American People by the British Press and Orators, 153, The Liberal Mind of England represented by John Bright and a few others, 159. The British Government demands the Release of Mason and Slidell, 160. Concilia- tory Action of the American Government met by Duplicity and Truculence, 161. American Principles concerning the Rights of Neutrals vindicated, 162. Arguments of the Secretary of State, 168. Surrender of the "Embassadors" to British Custody, 164. Enemies of the Republic hopeful, 165. The Government strengthened, 166. The " Bnrnside Expedition "A Terrible Storm, 167. The Expedition at Hatteras Inlet, 168. The Confederates on Roanoke Island, 169. Attack on the Confederate Works there by the National Fleet Landing of National Troops. 170. Battle of Roanoke Island. 171. Capture of the Island and the Confederate Army, 178. Elizabeth City taken, 174. Medals of Honor bestowed, 175. The Nation- als control Albemarle Bound, 176. Appeal* to the North Carolinians, 177. Spirit of the Loyal and the Disloyal, 173. CHAPTER VII. MILITARY OPERATIONS HT MISSOURI, KEW MEXICO, AND KENTUCKY. CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY. Position of the Annies in the Mississippi Valley General Halleck in command of the Department of Mis- souri, 179. His rigorous Treatment of influential Secessionists, 180. Fugitive Slaves excluded from Mili- tary Camps Pope in Missouri Price's Appeal to the Missourlans, 181. Activity of the Confederates Battle on the Blackwater, 182. Halleck declares Martial Law in St Louis Price driven out of Missouri, 188. Hunter's Operations in Kansas, 184 Treason in New Mexico, 185. Loyalty and Disloyalty within its Borders General Canby and Colonel Slbley, 186. Battle of Valverde Texas Rangers, 187. Sibley's Victories in, and final Expulsion from New Mexico, 188. Albert Sidney Johnston in the West A Pro- visional Government in Kentucky, 189. War in Southern Kentucky, 190. Battle of Prestonburg, 191. Forces of Generals Buell and Zollicoffer in Kentucky, 192. Military Movements in Eastern Kentucky The Confederates on the Cumberland, 198. Battle of Mill Spring, 194. Its Results Death of Zollicoffer, 195. Beauregard sent to the West, 196. The Confederates in Kentucky and Tennessee, 197. Their Fortifi- cations in those States A Naval Armament in Preparation at St. Louis, 198. Foote's Flotilla Preparations to break the Confederate Line, 199. Thomas's Movements toward East Tennessee, 200. Expedition against Fort Henry, 201. Operations of Gun-Boats on the Tennessee River Torpedoes, 202. Attack on Fort Henry, 208. Capture of the Post Scene just before the Surrender, 204 Effects of the Fall of Fort Henry, 205. CHAPTER VHI. BIEGE AND CAPTURE OF FORT DONEL8ON. Gun-Boat Expedition up the Tennessee River, 206. Commodore Foote in the Pulpit, 207. Preparations for marching against Fort Donelson, 208. Character and Strength of Fort Donelson, 209. Disposition of Forces for Battle, 210. The Carondtlet Opening of the Battle, 211. Defeat of the National Troops Arrival of CONTENTS. General Lewis Wallace's Command, 212. Attack on the Water Batteries, 213. The Confederates prepare for a Sortie, 214 Severe Battle on the National Eight General Lewis Wallace hastens to McClernand's Assistance, 215. The Tide of Battle turned by Wallace, 216. Grant on the Battle-Field His Order for another Attack, 217. Struggle on the National Left Victory for the Nationals. 218. The Confederates in Council Conduct of their cowardly Leaders, 219. Terms of Surrender, 220. Surrender of Fort Donelson, 221. Effect of the Fall of Fort Donelson, 222. Floyd and Pillow disgraced, 228. The Army Mail -Service, 224. The Army Mail at Washington, 225. A Voyage on the Cumberland Eiver, 226. Visit to Fort Donel- son, 227. Nashville, 229. CHAPTER IX. EVENTS AT NASHVILLE, COLUMBUS, NEW MADRID, ISLAND NUMBER TEN, AND PEA BIDGE. Advance of National Troops on Bowling Green, 280. Panic in Nashville Governor Harris crazy with Affright, 281. Destruction of the Tennessee Iron Works Clarksville, 232. Flight of Confederate Troops from Nashville Floyd and Pillow again on the Wings of Fear, 238. Surrender of Nashville, 284. Expedition against Columbus Folk's Preparations to ily from it, 285. Capture of Columbus, 236. Mines and Torpe- does at Columbus Island Number Ten, 237. Beauregard in command of Island Number Ten His Call for Bells to cast into Cannon, 238. Pope's March on New Madrid Confederates strengthening that Post, 289. Transportation of Siege Guns Capture of New Madrid, 240. Strength of Island Number Ten Foote prepared for Action, 241. Attack on Confederate Batteries The Mortar Service, 242. Pope at New Madrid General Hamilton's Plan for flanking Island Number Ten by the Gun-Boats, 243. Construction of a Flanking Canal, 244. Passing of Island Number Ten by Gun-Boats Success of the Canal Project, 245. Island Number Ten abandoned Obstructions in the Eiver, 246. Capture of the Confederate Army, 247. Effect of the Victory, 248. The Confederates alarmed Memphis and New Orleans in Terror, 249. National Troops in Arkansas Curtis in Pursuit of Price, 250. Gathering of Confederate Forces Curtis's Address to the Inhabitants of Arkansas General Van Dorn, 251. His Presence in the Confederate Camp His Address to his Soldiers, 252. Eelative Position of the National Troops Van Dorn's Flanking Move- ment, 253. He marches to attack Curtis prepared to receive him, 254 Opening of the Battle of Pea Kidge Indian Savages led by Albert Pike A severe Struggle, 255. A general Battle Carr's Struggle on the Eight, 256. Night ends the Battle Preparations by the Nationals for renewing it, 257. Battle renewed in the Morning The Nationals victorious, 258. Eesult of the Battle Atrocities of Pike's Indians, 259. Curtis marches toward the Mississippi The Indians, 260. CHAPTER X. GENERAL MITOHEL's INVASION OF ALABAMA. THE BATTLE OF SHILOH. Grant and his victorious Army Expedition up the Tennessee Eiver planned, 261. Grant's Army on Trans- ports on the Tennessee Skirmish at Pittsburg Landing, 262. Events near Pittsburg Landing Sherman at Shiloh Church, 263. Movements of Buell's Army Morgan, the Guerrilla Chief, 264. Mitchel's extraordi- nary March Southward, 265. Capture of Huntsville, Alabama, 266. Memphis and Charleston Eailway seized Grant's Army near Pittsburg Landing, 267. Its Position on the 6th of April, 268. The Confederate Army at Corinth Its forward Movement, 269. Preparations for Battle by the Confederates The Nationals unsuspicious of Danger, 270. Opening of the Battle of Shiloh, 271. First Day of the Battle of Shiloh, 273. General Grant on the Battle-Field, 274 Defeat of the National Army, 275. General Lewis Wallace's Troops expected The Cause of their Delay, 276. The Confederates prepare for a Night Attack, 277. Arrival of Buell's Forces, 278. Opening of the Second Day's Battle on the Eight by Wallace's Troops, 279. The Struggle on the Left, 280. The final Contest for Victory, 281. Defeat of the Confederates on the Eight, 282. Flight of the Confederate Army Miseries of the Eetreat, 2S3. Disposition of the Dead Jour- ney from Meridian to Corinth, 284. Visit to the Battle-Field of Shiloh Journey from Corinth to the Field, 285. A Night on Shiloh Battle-Field, 286. A Victim of the wicked Eebellion Effects of Shot and Shell on the Battle-Ground, 287. CHAPTER XL OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN TENNESSEE AND NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. Situation of the two Armies near Corinth, 288. The Victory at Shiloh, and its Fruits Public Eejoicings, 289.-~ Forward Movements of the National Army checked by Halleck Mitchel's Troops driven from Tuscumbia CONTENTS. 9 and Decatur, 290. Mltchel's Operations in the Direction of Chattanooga Halleck moves Cautiously toward Corinth, 291. The Confederate Army at Corinth National Troops on detached Service, 292. The Siege of Corinth Its Evacuation Halleck's Surprise, 293. Beauregard's Flight Southward, 294 Change of Con- federate Commanders Quiet of the National Army under General Halleck, 295. Operations on the Missis- sippiThe opposing Fleets Siege of Fort Pillow, 296. Battle at Fort Pillow, 297. Evacuation of Fort Kandolph Naval Battle before Memphis, 29S. Capture of Memphis, 299. Expeditions sent out by General Mitchel, 800. Raid on the Kailway between Chattanooga and Atlanta, 801. Capture and Execution of the Kaiders, 802. Battle at Chattanooga Capture of Cumberland Gap, 803. Generals Buell and Mitchel, 804. CHAPTER XII. OPERATIONS ON THE COAST OF THE ATLANTIC AND THE GTJLF OF MEXICO. Expedition against New Berne Landing of the Army below the Town, 805. Battle near New Berne, 806. Eout of the Confederates Flight of Citizens, 807. Effect of the Capture of New Berne, 80S. Christian Work at New Berne Mr. Colyer's Schools, 309. Expedition against Fort Macon The Nashville, 810. Preparations to assail Fort Macon, 811. Siege and Bombardment of the Fort, 812. Fort Macon and its Vicinity in 1864, 813. Expedition to Albemarle Sound Battle of South Mills, 314. Operations in the Rear of Norfolk The Coast of North Carolina In Possession of National Troops, 315.-^Blockade Runners Expedition against Fort Pulaskl, 816. Obstructions of the Savannah River, 817. Preparations to bombard Fort Pulaski, 818. Bom- bardment and Capture of the Fort, 819. Expedition against Fort Clinch, and its Capture, 820. Capture of Jacksonville, Florida, 321. Capture of St. Augustine, 822. The Atlantic Coast abandoned by the Confede- rates, 823. Expedition against New Orleans, 324. National Troops at Ship Island, 825. Proclamation of General Phelps, 826. Operations at Biloxl and Mississippi City, 327. CHAPTER XIII. THE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. Plan for the Capture of New Orleans Porter's Mortar Fleet, 329. The Defenses of New Orleans, 829. Confi- dence of the Confederates In their Defenses The Fleets of Farragut and Porter, 830. Their appearance on the Mississippi River, 331. Bombardment of Forts Jackson and St Philip, 332. Passage of the Forts by War-vessels, 388. Battle with the Forts and the Ram Jfanassa*, 8-34. Fearful Struggle of the ffartford, 835. A desperate Naval Battle, 836. Capture of Forts Jackson and St Philip, 889. Excitement in New Orleans, 840. Flight of Lovell and his Troops, 341. Farragnt approaches New Orleans Destruetion of Property there, 842. Farragut before the City, 348. Folly of the Civil Authorities Impertinence of a French Naval Commander, 844. National Troops In New Orleans, 845. General Butler and the absurd Mayor Monroe Butler's Proclamation. 846. Rebellion rebuked and checked. 347. Martial Law proclaimed Concessions to the People, 848. Benevolent and Sanitary Measures The Rebellious Spirit of Citizens, 849. Butler's famous " Woman Order "Its Effects, 850. A Traitor hung Butler's Administration, 351. Effect of the Capture of New Orleans, 852. CHAPTER XIV. MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. THE MONITOR AND MERRIMACK. Continued Inaction of the Grand Army of the Potomac, 853. Impatience of the President and the People, 354. Haughtiness of General McClellan, 855. The President orders a Movement of all the Armies McClellan substitutes Argument for Obedience. Patience of the President, 856. Campaign against Richmond con- sideredArmy Corps formed, 857. The Confederates evacuate Manassas, 858. " Promenade " of the Army of the Potomac McClellan relieved of some Burden of Duty, 359. The Mtrrimack and Monitor. 360. Onslaught of the Merrimack on National Vessels, 361. Destruction of the latter, 862. The Monitor In Hampton Roads, 368. Battle between the Monitor and Merrimack, 864 Result of the Fight, 365. The contending Vessels Captain Worden, 366. Movements in Western Virginia, 867. Opposing Forces in the Shenandoah Valley, 868. Shields at Winchester Skirmish near there, 869. Battle of Kemstown, 370. The Defense of Washington City made sure. 371. The Confederates on the Peninsula, 872. Army of the Potomac checked, 873. McClellan complains of a Want of Force, 874 The Siege of Torktown Magruder deceives McClellan, 875. Confederate Be-enforcementB ent to Yorktown Sufferings of the National Troops, 876. 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC ON THE VIRGINIA. PENINSULA. The Confederates evacuate Yorktown, 377. Pursuit of the Fugitives Confederate Works at Williamsbnrg, 878. Hooker's Advance upon them, 379. Battle near Williatnsburg Hooker bears the Brunt, 3SO. Kearney's Troops on the Field, 381. Hancock's Flank Movement, 332. Close of the Battle of Williamsburg Com- position of the National Army there, 383. McClellan urged to the Front The Fruits of Victory lost by Delay, 334. Expedition up the York River National Troops on the Pauiunkey A sharp Fight, 385. Head-Quarters near the " White House "A Trick to save that Building, 386. Preparations to attack Nor- folkVigilance of General Wool, 387. He leads Troops against Norfolk Surrender of the City, 388. Events in the Shenandoah Valley, 389. Battle at McDowell, 390. Kenly attacked at Front Royal, 391. Banks's Eetreat toward the Potomac Difficulties in the Way, 392. Battle at Winchester, 393. Banks's Retreat to the Potomac Jackson hastens up the Shenandoah Valley, 894. An exciting Race in that Valley Jackson and Ewell hard pressed, 395. Battle of Cross Keys, 396. Map of Operations in Upper Virginia, 398. Battle of Port Republic and Escape of Jackson's Army, 899. A Visit to the Shenandoah Region Weyer's Cave, 400. Passage of the Blue Ridge, 401. CHAPTER XVI. THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC BEFORE RICHMOND. Naval Attack on Drewry's Bluff, 402. The Artriy of the Potomac on the Chickahomlny, 403. Skirmish at Ellison's Mill An inspiriting Order, 404. Inactivity of the Army of the Potomac, 405. Skirmishes near Hanover Court-House, 406. McClellan calls for Re-enforcements Raids on Railways, 407. The Confede- rates prepare to attack the Nationals General Casey's Position, 408. Battle of the Seven Pines, 409. Battle near Fair Oaks Station, 410. Sumner crosses the Chickahominy, 411. Second Battle of Fair Oaks Station The Confederate Commander-in-Chief wounded, 412. Hooker looks into Richmond and is called back, 413. " Stonewall " Jackson joins the Confederate Army near Richmond General Robert E. Lee in command, 414. Public Expectation disappointed Hopes excited, 415. Bold Raid of General J. E. B. Stuart, 416. Richmond quietly besieged, 417. Lee preparing to strike McClellan, 418. Battle at Mechan- icsville, 419. The Siege of Richmond abandoned, 420. Preparations for a defensive Battle near Cool Arbor, 421. Battle of Gaines's Farm, 422. The National Army in imminent Peril, 423. Retreat of the Army of the Potomac to the James River begun, 424. The Confederate Commander deceived, 425. Destruction of the "White House" and public Property near, 426. Lee pursues McClellan The Latter's insolent Letter to the Secretary of War, 427. Battle at Savage's Station, 428. Battle at the White Oak Swamp Bridge, 429. Battle of Glendale, 430. The Army of the Potomac on Malvern Hills, 481. The contending Armies con- fronting each other there, 432. Battle of Malvern Hills, 483. McClellan on the Galena His victorious Army ordered to retreat, 434. Position of his Army on the James River, 485. Visit to the Battle-fields near Richmond, 436. Malvern Hills and the Randolph Mansion, 43S, Fair Oaka and Savage's Station, 439. Williamsburg and Yorktown, 440. CHAPTER XVTL POPE'S CAMPAIGN IX VIRGINIA. Reported Condition of the Army of the Potomac, 441. The President visits the Army His Perplexity, 442. The Army of Virginia under General Pope, 443. Withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac from the Vir- ginia Peninsula, 444 The Confederates plan a Grand Scheme of Invasion, 445. Successful Raids toward Richmond, 446. Pope in the Field Events near the Rapid Anna, 447. Battle of Cedar Mountain, 448 The Combatants re-enforced, 449. Pope compelled to retreat, 450. Movements on the Rappahannock Attempts to flank the Army of Virginia, 451. Tardiness of Re-enforcements, 452. Position of the Army of Virginia, 453. Manassas Junction captured by the ConfederatesCritical Situation of both Annies. 454. Failure of an Attempt to capture Jackson's Force at Manassas, 455. Battle near Groveton, 456. Jackson re-enforced by Longstreet, 457. Battle-ground near Groveton, 458. Condition of the two Armies. 459. Second Battle of Bull's Run, 460. Battle near Chantilly, 461. Relations of Generals Pope and McClellan, f 462. Dissolution of the Army of Virginia Members of the " Confederate Congress," so-called, 463. CHAPTER LEE'S INVASION OF MARYLAND AND HIS RETREAT TOWARD RICHMOND. Lee's relative Position to the National Army reviewed The Republic in Peril, 464. Lee's Invasion of Mary- landHis Proclamation, 465. It is scorned by the People of Maryland Barbara Frtetchlc, 466. L<-e's Scheme of Invasion discovered, 467. McClellan's Advantages, 468. Advance upon South Mountain, 469. CONTENTS. 11 Battle on South Mountain, 470. Struggle at Crampton's Gap Toombs and Cobb, the Georgia Traitors, 471. Harper's Ferry invested, 472. Surrender of Harper's Ferry, 473. The Armies in the Antietam Valley, 474. Their relative Position, 475. Preparations for Battle Preliminary Contests, 476. Battle of Antietam, 477. Close of Operations on the Eight, 430. Operations on the Left, and close of the Battle, 481. Lee per- mitted to escape, 4S2. McClellan ordered to pursue him He halts and calls for Re-enforcements, 483. The Army of the Potomac again in Virginia A Race toward Richmond Napoleon's Ideas about making War, 484. Slow Movements of the Army McClellan superseded by Burnside, 485. The Army before Fred- erieksburg, 486. Position of the Confederates at Fredericksbnrg, 487. Attempts to build Pontoon Bridges Attacks on the Workmen, 4SS. Passage of the Rappahannock by National Troops, 489. Relative Position of the two Armies, 490. Attack on the Confederate Line, 491. Battle of Fredericksburg, 492. Struggle at the foot of Marye's Hill, 493. Withdrawal of National Troops, 494. Bnrnsido's new Plan of Operations, 495. Its Execution commenced and suspended Burnside called to Washington City, 496. Ho is super- seded by General Hooker His Patriotism triumphs over Feeling, 497. CHAPTER XIX. EVENTS IN KENTUCKY AND NORTHERN MI8SIS8IPPI. Condition of Kentucky, 498. John H. Morgan and his Guerrillas, 499. Morgan driven from Kentucky, 500. Forrest in Tennessee, 501. E. Kirby Smith's Invasion of Kentucky, 502. Cincinnati threatened by the Confederates, 503. Wallace's Defense of Cincinnati, 504. Bragg's March toward Kentucky Cavalry Fight near McMinnsville, 505. Bragg's Invasion of Kentucky, 506. His Proclamation to the Kentuckians, 507. Buell turns upon Bragg, 503. Battle near Perryville, 509. Bragg's Flight from Kentucky, 511. General Grant in Tennessee, 512. Capture of luka by the Confederates, 518. Battle of Inka, 514. Movements of General Ord, 515. A Visit to the luka Battle-ground, 516. Graves of Ohio Soldiers, 517. The Confederates approaching Corinth, 518. Battle of Corinth, 519. Fierce Contest at Fort Robinett Repulse of the Con- federates Rosecrans pursues them, 522. Buell superseded by Kosecrans, 528. CHAPTER XX. EVENTS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. Department of the Tennessee Grant's Position, 524. Curtis's March toward the Mississippi Weakness of Military Force in Arkansas, 525. Land and Naval Forces on the Mississippi, 526. Brief Siege of Vicksburg, 527. The Ram Arkawis Bombardment of Donaldsonville, 523.' Battle at Baton Rouge, 529. The La Fourche District " repossessed," 580. Generals Banks and Butler -in New Orleans Military Operations in Missouri, 581. War on its Western Borders, 532. Confederates driven into Arkansas. 533. Battle on Boston Mountains, 534. Battle of Prairie Grove, 535. Sufferings of Loyalists in Western Texas, 536. Massacre of Unionists, 537. The Army of the Cumberland, 538. Bragg's Army at Murfreesboro' Jefferson Davis at Head-Quarters, 539. Rosecrans's Army at Nashville, 540. Activity of his Troops, 541. Advance of the Army of the Cumberland, 542. Its Appearance before Murfreesboro', 548. Opening of the Battle of Mur- freesboro', or Stone's River, 544. Disaster to the Right Wing of the National Army, 545. Struggle of Hazen's Brigade, 546. Progress of the Battle, 547, 548, and 549. Victory for the Nationals Pursuit delayed, 550. Bragg retreats Southward, 551. Important Cavalry Raids, 552. A Visit to the Murfrees- boro' Battle-fleld, 558. CHAPTER XXI. SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION. AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHWEST. The Army of the Cumberland rests at Murfreesboro' Meeting of the Thirty-seventh Congress, 554. Confisca- tion and Emancipation proposed, 555. Proposed Compensation for Emancipated Slaves, 556. Temper of the People of the Border Slave-labor States, 557. The People impatient for Emancipation War Powers of the President, 553. Preliminary Proclamation of Emancipation Public Anxiety, 559. Definitive Procla- mation of Emancipation, 560. The original Draft of the Proclamation, 561. Character of the Proclamation The Instrument, and the Pen with which it was written, 564. First Regiment of colored Troops Scene In a Live-Oak Grove. 665. The Confederate " Congress," so-called, 566. Jefferson Davis and his chosen Counselors, 567. Confederate Pirate-Ships, 563. The Pirates Seinmes and Mafflt, 569. Confederate Naval Commission, 570. Barbarism and Civilization Illustrated by the Alabama and George, Griswold. 571. Vicksburg and its Importance. 572. Grant's Advance in Mississippi, 573. Serious Disaster at Holly Springs, 674. Sherman's Descent of the Mississippi, 575. Natural Defenses of Vicksburg, 576. Movements at Chickasaw Bayou in their Roar. 577. Battle at Chickasaw Bayou, 578'. Sherman compelled to withdraw, 679. Expedition against Arkansas Post, 580. Capture of Arkansas Post, 531. Posts on lied River captured, 582. 12 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXII. THE SIEGE OF VICKSBTJRG. Grant's Army reorganized, 583. Projected Canal near Vicksburg, 584. Digging of the Canal, 585. Another Yazoo Expedition, 5S6. Attack on Fort Pemberton The Expedition a Failure, 5S7. A Third Tazoo Expe- dition Porter's Gun-boats in Peril Expedition abandoned, 588. Raids by iron-clad Earns, 589. The Indianola captured by the Confederates Her Destruction caused by a Trick, 590. Passage of the Vicksburg Batteries by Gun-boats and Transports, 591. Banks's Expedition, and his Arrival in New Orleans, 592. The National Forces at Galveston, 593. Capture of Galveston by the Confederates, 594 The Interior of Louisiana, 595. Expedition to the Teche Region, 596. Battle on the Bayou Teche, 597. Attempt to pass the Port Hudson Batteries, 598. Banks in the Interior of Louisiana, 599. His Triumphant March to the Eed River, 600. He invests Port Hudson, 601. Grierson's Great Raid in Mississippi, 602. Grant's Army crosses the Mississippi, 603. Battle near Port Gibson, 604 March of the Nationals toward Jackson, 605. Battle near Raymond, 606. Battle near Jackson, 607. Capture of Jackson, 608. Pemberton's Forces He Is compelled to fight, 609. Battle of Champion Hills, 610. Pursuit of the Confederates New Position of the Confederates, 611. Battle at the Big Black River, 612. Vicksburg invested Porter again on the Tazoo, 613. Position of the National Troops around Vicksburg, 614 CHAPTER XXIII. SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG AND PORT HUDSON. The National Troops in Danger, 615. Preparations to storm the "Works at Vicksburg An Attack, 616. Second Attack, 617. A severe Struggle, 618. The Nationals repulsed, 619. A regular Siege of Vicksburg begun Weakness of the Confederates, 620. Grant re-enforced Services of Porter's Fleet, 621. Life in the besieged City, 622. Confederate Troops in Louisiana, 628. Battle at Milliken's Bend Bravery of colored Troops, 624 Mining the Confederate Works, 625. Pemberton's Proposition to surrender, 626. Interview- between Grant and Pemberton, 627. Formal Surrender of Vicksburg Celebration of the Fourth of July in the City, 628. Region of Military Operations in Mississippi, 629. The Spoils of Victory Its Effects, 630. The Investment of Port Hudson, 631. Assault on the Confederate Works The Charge by colored Troops, 632. Close Siege of Port Hudson, 633.--A severe Struggle, 634. Second Assault on Port Hudson, 635. Siege of Port Hudson continued, 686. Surrender of the Post and Garrison Banks's Loss, and his Spoils won The Mississippi River open to Commerce, 637. Effect of the Fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson at Home and Abroad A Visit to Vicksburg and its Vicinity, 638. Voyage up the Mississippi A Confederate Major, 639. The Historical Localities around Vicksburg, 640. VOLUME II. PA 1. PORTRAIT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN STEEL PLATE FRONTISPIECE 2. INITIAL LETTER . . . . . . .8 8. CONTENTS. VOL. IL 6 4. ILLUSTRATIONS. VOL. II 5. INITIAL LETTER DRAGON OF TREASON . 6. GRIGSBY'S HOUSE, CENTEEVILLE 7. MAP SHOWING THE DEFENSES OF WASHING- TON ... 8. TOBACCO WAREHOUSE PRISON .... 9. JOHN H. WINDER 10. PRISON ASSOCIATION SEAL .... 11. SEAL OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT . 12. THE SENATE CHAMBER AT MONTGOMERY 13. CONFEDERATE STATE DEPARTMENT SEAL 14. THE TREDEGAR IRON WORKS AT RICHMOND . 15. BLOODHOUND 16. THE COUNTY JAIL AT KNOXVILLE . 17. THE GALLOWS-TREE 18. J. L. PETTIGRU . . . . 19. TAIL-PIECE SWORD AND SCALES . . . 20. INITIAL LETTER SEAL OF MISSOURI 21. SIGEL'S FIELD OF OPERATIONS MAP 22. PLAN OF BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK MAP 23. PORTRAIT OF M. JEFF. THOMPSON . 24. PORTRAIT OF JOHN C. FREMONT 25. FREMONT'S HEAD-QUARTERS IN ST. Louis 26. STEAMBOAT OBSTRUCTIONS .... 27. SPEAR'S TORPEDO 23. RAFT ANCHORED IN THE MISSISSIPPI 29. TAIL-PIECE BROKEN SHACKLES . . . 80. INITIAL LETTER SEAL OF KENTUCKY . 81. SIEGE OF LEXINGTON MAP .... 82. HEAD-QUARTERS AT CAMP DICK ROBINSON . 83. THE BLUFF, AND FOLK'S HEAD-QUARTERS NEAR COLUMBUS . . . . . * . 84. PORTRAIT OF FELIX K. ZOLLICOFFER 35. PORTRAIT OF HUMPHREY MARSHALL 86. SlGEL CROSSING THE OSAGE .... 37. PORTRAIT or DAVID HUNTER 85. FREMONT'S SWORD 89. PONTOON BRIDGE AT PADUCAH ... 40. FIELD OF OPERATIONS AGAINST BELMONT MAP . . a 41. en 48. 1 4o. 1 44. u 45. 17 46. u 4T. 4& 24 JO 49. M Bfc M n 51. M 88, H ;">:{. 86 54. M 56. 8T 50. 88 BT. 40 8& 41 59. 42 00. 4:5 L 51 68 8. 60 68. H C4. 61 05. 01 66. 02 07. 05 68. 60 A 07 70. 18 7L 78. 74 75 73. 76 74 79 75. S3 70. 84 77. So 7S. 79. S6 PAGB BATTLE AT BELMONT MAP .... 87 PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM NELSON ... 90 TAIL-PIECE BROKEN CANNON ... 91 INITIAL LETTER MOUNTAIN SCENERY . . 92 PORTRAIT OK JOSEPU J. REYNOLDS . . 93 ASCENT OF GAULEY MOUNTAIN ... 94 PORTRAIT OF HENRY W. BENHAM ... 95 PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF CARNIFBX FERRY MAP 96 PORTRAIT OF ROBERT E. LEE . . .97 REGION OF MILITARY OPERATIONS IN WEST- ERN VIRGINIA MAP 101 PORTRAIT OF ROBF.RT H. MILROY . . . 103 BURNING OF HAMPTON ..... 105 PORTRAIT OF SILAS H. STRINGHAM . . 105 FORT HATTERAS 107 OPERATIONS NEAR CAPE HATTERAS MAP . 109 PORTRAIT OF J. S. HOLLINS . . . .114 INITIAL LETTER WAR VESSEL . . . 115 PORTRAIT OF S. F. DUPONT .... 116 PORTRAIT OF T. F. DRAYTON. . . . 118 FORT WALKER, HILTON HEAD . . . 119 PLAN OF BATTLE AT PORT ROYAL EN- TRANCE MAP 120 PLAN OF FORT BEAUREGARD .... 121 PORTRAIT OF STEPHEN ELLIOTT, JR. . . 122 POPE'S HOUSE, HILTON HEAD . . . 122 PORTRAIT OF R. S. RIPLEY .... 123 CANNON CAPTURED AT BEAUFORT . . . 124 MARTELLO TOWER ON TYBEE ISLAND . . 125 FORT ON BAY POINT 125 COAST ISLANDS MAP 126 FLAT-BOATS USED FOR LANDING TROOPS . 127 PORT ROYAL FERRY BEFORE THE ATTACK . 127 THE CHANNELS OF CHARLESTON HARBOR MAP . . . . . . . . . 123 WAR BALLOON . . . . . .132 FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE . . , . . . 133 QUAKER GUN AT MANASSAS .... 136 GEARY'S HEAD-QUARTERS ON CAMP HEIGHTS 137 PORTBAIT OF E. D. BAKER .... 141 MAP OF TUB BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF . 143 BANKS'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT EDWARDS' FERRY 1*4 14 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE 80. FOET LAFAYETTE 146 81. INITIAL LETTER LION ON DECK . . . 150 82. FORAGERS AT WORK 150 83. POETEAIT OP E. O. C. OBD . . . .151 84 POBTRAIT OF CHABLES WILKES . . . 154 85. FOET WARREN 155 86 POETEAIT OF JOHN BRIGHT .... 159 87. PORTRAIT OF LORD LYONS .... 164 83. PORTRAIT OF COUNT MERCIER . , . 165 89. PORTRAIT OF Louis M. GOLDSBOEOTTGH . 166 90. PORTRAIT OF STEPHEN C. ROWAN , . 167 91. PORTRAIT OF AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE , . 16S 92. PORTRAIT OF BENJAMIN* HUGEE . . . 169 93. THE ATTACK ON ROANOKE ISLAND MAP . 171 94. PORTRAIT OF JOHN G. FOSTER . . . 172 95. BURNSIDE'S HEAD-QUARTERS , . . 174 96. NAVAL MEDAL OF HONOR .... 175 97. PORTRAIT OF C. F. LYNCH .... 176 9S. HAWKINS ZOUAVES 177 99. TAIL-PIECE PROCLAMATIONS . . . 17S 100. INITIAL LETTER WATEBFALL . . . 179 101. PORTRAIT or HENRY WAGER HALLECK . ISO 102. PORTRAIT OF HENRY H. SIBLEY . . . 1S6 103. ONE OF SIBLEY'S TEXAS BANGERS . . 1S7 104 PORTRAIT OF A. SIDNEY JOHNSTON . . 1S9 105. BUELL'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT LOUISVILLE . 190 106. PORTRAIT OF THOMAS C. HINDMAN IN 1858 191 107. PORTRAIT OF PON CARLOS BUELL . . 192 103. MAP OF THE BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS . 194 109. ARMY FORGE ... ... 195 110. REGION OF MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN EAST- ERN KENTUCKY MAP 197 111. PLAN OF THE FORTIFICATIONS AT COLUMBUS MAP 138 112. FOOTE'S FLOTILLA 199 113. PLAN OF FORT HENRY 201 114. PORTRAIT OF A. H. FOOTE .... 202 115. TORPEDO .202 116. INTERIOR OF FORT HENRY .... 203 117. TAIL-PIECEDELIVERY OF A SWORD . . 205 118. INITIAL LETTER SEAL OF TENNESSEE. . 206 119. A MORTAR-BOAT 207 120. ROUTE FROM FORT HENRY TO FOBT DONEL- SON MAP 208 121. LOWER WATER BATTERY, FOET DONELSON 209 122. BIRGE'S SHARP-SHOOTER . . . 210 123. GRANT'S HEAD-QUARTERS, FORT DONELSON 211 124 POSITION OF TUB GUN-BOATS IN TUB AT- TACK ON FORT DONELSON .... 213 125. PORTRAIT OF BUSHROD R. JOHNSTON . 214 126. PORTRAIT OF JOHN A. MCCLERNAND . . 215 127. THE GRAVES OF THE ILLINOIS TROOPS . 217 128. CAMP DOUGLAS 220 129. PRISON AT CAMP CHASE, COLUMBUS, OHIO 220 130. PLAN OF THE SIEGE OF FORT DONELSON MAP 221 131. HALLECK'S SWORD 222 132. VIEW AT FORT DONELSON .... 228 133. TAIL-PIECE BOMB-SHELL .... 229 134. INITIAL LETTER SEAL OF ARKANSAS . . 230 135. BOWLING GREEN AFTER THE EVACUATION . 280 130. FORT BRUCE AND ITS VICINITY . . . 232 137. NASHVILLE AND ITS BRIDGES . . . 233 138. CAPITOL AT NASHVILLE .... 2S4 139. ISLAND NUMBER TEN 237 140. TORPEDOES 237 141. INFERNAL MACHINE 237 142. POPE'S HEAD-QUABTERS NEAR NEW MADRID 239 143. A CANNON TRUCK ...... 240 144. TlIIRTEEN-INCH MORTAR 241 145. ISLAND No. TEN AND ITS DEFENSES MAP . 242 PAGE 146. METHOD OF CARRYING A SHELL . . . 242 147. PORTRAIT OF SCHUYLER HAMILTON . . 243 148. CONSTRUCTING THE CANAL .... 244 149. THE CARONDELET 245 150. SUNKEN VESSELS IN THE MISSISSIPPI . . 246 151. MAGAZINE OPPOSITE ISLAND NUMBER TEX 24T 152. ANCIENT MORTAR 247 153. MAP OF TUB OPERATIONS OF POPE AND FOOTS 248 154 CONFEDERATE HEAD-QUARTERS, ISLAND NUMBER TEN 243 155. GRAND JUNCTION, MISSISSIPPI . . . 249 156. PORTRAIT OF SAHUEL R. CURTIS . . . 250 157. PORTRAIT OF EARL VAN DORN . . . 251 155. PORTRAIT OF ALEXANDER ASUOTU . . 254 159. BATTLE-FIELD OF PEA RIDGE MAP . . 253 160. TAIL-PIECE UNFIT FOR DUTY . . .260 161. INITIAL LETTER FOREST SCENE . . . 261 162. PORTRAIT OF CHARLES FERGUSON SMITH . 262 163. PITTSBUEG LANDING IN 1S66. ... 263 164 SUILOH MEETING-HOUSE 263 165. PORTRAIT OF JAMES S. NEGLEY . . . 264 166. FORT NEGLEY 265 167. PORTRAIT OF ORMSBY M. MITCHEL . . 265 168. RUINS OF SIIILOH MEETING-HOUSE . . 263 169. PORTRAIT OF BRAXTON BRAGG . . . 269 170. PORTRAIT OF Vf. J. HARDEE . . .270 171. PICKETS ON DUTY 271 172. PORTRAIT OF B. M. PRENTISS . . . 272 173. PORTRAIT OF ULYSSES 8. GRANT . . . 274 174 A HAND LITTER 275 175. PORTRAIT OF STEPHEN A. HURLBUT . . 276 176. POSITION OF THE NATIONAL TROOPS IN THK BATTLE OF SIIILOH MAP .... 282 177. MULES CARRYING WOUNDED MEN . . 2s3 178. BURNING HORSES NEAR PITTSBURG LANDING 2S4 179. CONFEDERATE HOSPITAL AT MONTEREY . 265 ISO. OUR HOSTESS AT SHILOB .... 286 181. OUR LODGING-PLACE on THB FIELD OF SHILOU 286 182. EFFECTS OF A SHOT NEAR. SHILOU MKETING- HOUSB . 287 183. TAIL-PIECEBROKEN ARMS . . . . 2SI 184. INITIAL LETTER SHATTERED TREES . . 2S3 185. BEAUREGARD'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT CORINTH 283 186. CABIN OF A HOSPITAL STEAKER ON THK TENNESSEE RIVER 2S9 187. FAR.MINGTON MEETING-HOUSE . . . 292 188. CORINTH AFTER THE EVACUATION . . 293 189. THE SIEGE OF CORINTH 294 190. HALLECK'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT COKINTH . 295 191. PORTRAIT OF CHARLES ELLET . . . 297 192. ELLET'S STERN-WHEEL RAM .... 299 193. ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE .... 302 194 CUMBERLAND GAP AND ITS DEPENDENCIES 304 195. TAIL-PIECE A CANNON IN THE MOUNTAINS 804 196. INITIAL LETTER SEAL OF GEORGIA . . 805 197. OPERATIONS NEAR NEW BERNE MAP . 307 198. BURNSIDE'S HEAD-QUABTERS AT NEW BERNE 308 199. COLYER'S HEAD-QUARTERS .... 309 200. VIEW AT THE LANDING AT MOREIIEAD CITY 811 201. NEWSPAPER BOAT AT FREDERICKSBUBO . 311 202. FORT MACON IN 1864 313 203. OPERATIONS IN BURNSIDE'S DEPARTMENT MAP 815 204 A BLOCKADE-RUNNER 316 205. OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER . 817 206. CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE . . . . .317 207. PORTRAIT OF QUINCY A. GILMORK . .313 208. SIEGE OF FOBT PULASKI MAP . . 318 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE 319 320 322 824 326 209. BREACH IN FORT PULASKI . . . 210. FORT CLINCH 211. FORT MARION 212. PORTRAIT OP EDWIN M. STANTON 218. FORT MASSACHUSETTS, ON SHIP ISLAND 214 TAIL-PIECE RUINS or THE STEAMER NASH- VILLE . 827 215. INITIAL LETTEB SEAL OP LOUISIANA. . 828 216. PORTRAIT OF DAVID D. PORTEB . . . 829 211 THE LOUISIANA 880 218. MORTAR VESSELS DISGUISED ... 881 219. ATTACK ON THE FORTS MAP . . 882 220. PORTRAIT OF THEODORUS BAILEY . . 888 221. RAM MANASSAS ATTACKING TUB BROOK- LYN ,,,, 884 222. SHRAPNEL SHELL 884 223. THE HARTFORD 835 224 PORTRAIT OP CHARLES BOGGS ... 886 225. VIEW OF THE QUARANTINE GROUNDS . . 837 226. THE MANASSAS . . . ... .883 227. PLAN OF FOKT JACKSON .... 889 228. PORTRAIT OP MANSFIELD LOVELL . . 840 229. TWIGGS'S HOUSB 840 230. NEW ORLEANS AND ITS VICINITY MAP . 841 281. THE LEVEK. AT NEW ORLEANS . . . 842 232. GENEUAL BUTLER'S RESIDENCE, NEW OB- LBASS 848 288. PORTRAIT or GEORGE F. SHBPLEY . . 851 284 LOUISIANA NATIVE GUARD . . . .852 285. TAIL-PIECECAMP CHEST . . . .852 236. INITIAL LETTER SEAL OF VIRGINIA . . 858 237. PORTRAIT OF MONTGOMERY C. Mxios . . 854 288. PORTRAIT OF GEOKGB STONEMAN . . . 859 239. PORTRAIT OP FRANKLIN BUCHANAN . . 860 240. INTERIOR or THE MONITOR'S TURBET . . 860 241. PORTRAIT OF JOHN ERICSSON . . . 868 242. MASHED BOLT 864 243. BATTLE BETWEEN THE MONITOB AND MEB- BIMACK, IN HAMPTON ROADS . . . 865 244 PORTRAIT OF JOHN L. WORDEN . . . 366 245. PORTRAIT OF FREDERICK W. LANDER . . 867 246. PORTRAIT OP NATHANIEL P. BANKS . . 868 247. EXODUS OP SLAVES 863 248. PORTRAIT OF JAMES SHIELDS . . . 870 249. MAGRUHER'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT YOBKTOWN 371 250. McCLELLAN'S HEAD-QUARTERS . . .872 251. SCENE AT WARWICK COURT-HOUSE . . 873 252. TAIL-PIECE GABIONS 876 258. INITIAL LETTEB 377 254 PARISH CHURCH IN 1866 . . . .877 255. PORTRAIT OF EDWIH V. SUMNBB . . .873 256. TORPEDO 873 257. EXCELSIOR BBIGADE 330 258. ROAD BETWEEN YOBKTOWW AND WIL- LIAMSBUBG 881 259. SITE OP THE DAM 882 260. BATTLE OP WILLIAMSBURG MAP . . 883 -v,i. VKST'B HOUSE 885 262. THE MODERN " WHITE HOUSE" . .886 263. McCLELLAN'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT COOL ARBOR . . . . . .887 264 WOOL'S LANDING-PLACE AT OCEAN VIEW 888 265. JACKSON'S NOTE TO EWELL .... 891 266. POBTBAIT OP RICHARD S. EWELL . . . 898 267 HAND GRENADE 894 263. PORTRAIT OP A. ELZY 896 269. UNION CHURCH AT CROSS KEYS . . . 896 270. OPERATIONS IN UPPER VIRGINIA MAP . 393 271. TAIL-PIECE PUNISHMENTS IN CAMP . . 401 272. INITIAL LETTER GUIDE-POSTS . . . 402 273. AN ARMORED LOOKOUT . . 402 PAGE 274 SITE OP NEW BRIDGE ..... 403 275. ELLISON'S MILL 404 276. PORTRAIT OF FITZ-JOHN PORTER . . . 408 277. PORTRAIT OF SILAS CASEY .... 403 278. PORTRAIT OP HENRY M. NAGLEE . . . 409 279. BATTLE-FIELD OP THE SEVEN PINES . . 410 280. BATTLE OP THE SEVEN PINES AND FAIR OAKS MAP 411 281. HOOKER'S HEAD-QUARTERS .... 413 282. HOSPITAL AT FAIR OAKS . . . .414 283. PORTRAIT OF J. E. B. STUABT . . .416 2S4 PORTRAIT OP SAMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN . 41T 285. MECHANICSVILLE BRIDGE OVER THE CHICKA- IIOMINY 419 236. BATTLE or MECUANICSVILLB MAP . . 420 2S7. PORTRAIT OF A. P. HILL . . . .421 238. PORTRAIT OF DANIEL BUTTERFIELD . . 428 239. BATTLE OP GAINES'S FARM MAP. . . 423 290. RUINS OP GAINES'S MILLS . 424 291. PORTRAIT OP ERASMUS D. KEYS . . . 425 29i VIEW AT SAVAGE'S STATION IN 1806 . . 426 293. McCLELLAN'S IlEAD-QlJARTERB ON MALVERN HILLS ...... .489 294. WILLIS'S Cnrp.ru 429 295. POSITION OP TROOPS ON MALVERN HILLS- MAP 481 296. THE GALENA 432 297. BATTLE-FIELD OF MALVERN HILLS . . 438 293. WESTOVER 435 299. THE HARRISON MANSION .... 435 800. MECHANICSVILLE 486 801. WALNUT GROVE CHURCH .... 486 302. IlEAD-QUAKTEBS NEAR COOL ARBOR . . 437 308. WHITE'S TAVERN 487 304. VIEW FROM MALVERN HILLS. . . . 483 805. BATTERY AND CHURCH TOWEB ON JAMES ISLAND 489 306. MCCLELLAN'S HEAD-QUABTBBS AT YORK- TOWN 440 807. INITIAL LETTEB 441 808. PORTRAIT OF SAMUEL D. STUBGIS . . 443 809. PORTRAIT OF SAMUEL W. CRAWFORD . . 447 310. POPE'S HEAD-QUARTERS NEAR CEDAR MOUN- TAIN 450 811. CATLETT'B STATION 451 812. 313. 314 315. 316. 453 455 456 457 PORTRAIT or WM. B. FRANKLIN . THOROUGHFARE GAP . PORTRAIT or ABNER DOUBLEDAY. PORTRAIT OF PHILIP KEARNEY MONUMENT AND BATTLE-GROUND NEAB GROVETON 453 817. MRS. DOGAN'S HOUSE AT GROVETON . . 458 818. TAIL- PIECE CONGREVE ROCKET . .468 819. INITIAL LETTER SEAL or MARYLAND . . 464 320. PORTRAIT OP BARBARA FIUBTCIHB . . 466 321. BARBARA FRIETCHIE'S HOUSE . . . 466 322. PORTRAIT OP ALFRED PLEASANTON . . 469 323. WISE'S HOUSE, SOUTH MOUNTAIN BATTLE- GROUND 469 824 BATTLE-FIELD OP SOUTH MOUNTAIN . . 470 825. HARPER'S FERRY MAP 472 326. McCLELLAN'S HEAD-QUARTERS . . . 475 827. SIGNAL STATION ON RED HILLS . . . 475 823. PORTRAIT OP JOSEPH K. F. MANSFIELD . 4^6 829. DUNKEB CHURCH 477 880. VIEW OP THE ANTIETAM BATTLE-GROUND . 478 331. PORTRAIT OP WINFIELD S. HANCOCK . . 480 332. THE BURNSIDE BRIDGE 4SO 333. BATTLE or ANTIETAM MAP . . . .482 334 SUMNER'S HEAD-QUARTERS .... 486 335. FARMERS' BANK, FBEDERICKSBURG . . 486 16 ILLUSTRATIONS. 836. BRIDGE BUILT BY SOLDIERS OVER POTOMAC BUN . * 887. THE PHILLIPS HOUSE ON FIRE 833. PLACE OF FRANKLIN'S PASSAGE OF THE EAPPAHANNOCK 839. SCENE IN FREDERICKSBURG ON THE MORN- ING OF THE 12TH 840. WALL AT THE FOOT OF MARYE'S HEIGHTS . 841. ARMY SIGNAL-TELEGRAPH .... 842. PORTRAIT OF THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER . 843. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG MAP 844. APPEARANCE OF ARMY HUTS .... 845. TAIL-PIECE VIRGINIA FARM-HOUSE . 846. INITIAL LETTER 847. PORTRAIT OF JOHN H. MORGAN . 848. FORTIFICATIONS OF THE STATE HOUSE AT NASHVILLE 849. PORTRAIT OF E. KIHBY SMITH 850. PONTOON BRIDGE AT CINCINNATI . 851. A EAILWAY STOCKADE 852. FORTIFICATIONS AT MUMFORDSVILLE 853. PORTRAIT OF LOVELL H. EOUSSEAU 854. PORTRAIT OF JOSEPH WHEELER 855. IUKA SPRINGS 856. PRICE'S HEAD-QUARTERS .... 857. VIEW or THE IUKA BATTLE- GROUND . 858. BATTLE OF IUKA MAP 859. EOSECRANS'S HEAD-QUARTERS 860. OUR COACHMAN 861. GRAVES OF THE ELEVENTH OHIO BATTERY . 862. PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM S. EOSECRANS . 863. FORT EOBINETT 864. ROSECRANS'S HEAD-QUARTERS 865. BRAGG'S HEAD-QUARTERS .... 866. OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, AND NORTHERN ALABAMA 867. CONFEDERATE FLAG 868. BATTLE OF CORINTH MAP .... 869. INITIAL LETTER SEAL OF MISSISSIPPI. . BATON ROUGE ELLES'S CLIFFS 527 PORTRAIT OF DAVID G. FARRAGUT FORT BUTLER, DONALDSONVILLE . PORTRAIT OF JAMES G. BLUNT PORTRAIT OF FRANCIS J. HERRON MONUMENT OF TEXAS MARTYRS . BRAGG'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT MCRFREESBORO' BRAGG'S PRIVATE EESIDENCE AT MURFREES- BORO' LOOK-OUT AT FORT NEGLEY .... POSITION ON DECEMBER SlsT MAP MONUMENT ERECTED BY HAZEN'S BRIGADE POSITION ON NIGHT OF DECEMBER Slsi MAP 870. 871. 872. 873. 874. 875. 876. 877. 878. 879. 880. 831. 882. 888. 884. 885. 886. 887. THE NASHVILLE PIKE BRIDGE OVER STONE'S ElVEK ........ POSITION JANUARY 2o MAP .... EOSECRANS'S HEAD-QUARTERS . .. INITIAL LETTER ...... FAO-SIMILE OF THE DRAFT OF THE PRESI- DENT'S PROCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION . 888. THE PRESIDENT'S PEN ..... 564 AGE QQQ 487 OO7. 438 390. 391. 489 392. OQO 490 OiJO. 394. 491 395. 492 396. 493 897. 495 398. 496 399. 497 400. 498 401. 499 402. 403. 500 404. 501 405. 504 406. 506 407. 506 403. 509 511 409. 513 410. 513 411. 514 412. 515 413. 516 414. 516 415. 517 416. 518 417. 519 520 418. 520 419. 420. 621 421. 522 422. 522 423. 524 424 526 425. 527 426. 527 427. 528 428. 532 429. 534 430. 537 431. 539 yfQO 640 4oZ. 433. 541 434. 544 435. 546 436. 437. 647 438. 439. 649 440. 550 441. 551 442. 554 443. 561 444. 564 j 445. PAGE LIVE-OAK GROVE, AT SMITH'S PLANTATION, PORT EOYAL 565 LIVE OAK AT SMITH'S PLANTATION . . 566 MONUMENT IN CHURCH- YARD AT BEAUFORT 566 PORTRAIT or JAMES A. SEDDON . . . 567 PlRATE-SlIIP SUMTER 568 PORTRAIT OF JOHN NEWLAND MAFFIT. . 569 PORTRAIT OF EAPHAEL SEMMES . . . 669 THE CONFEDERATE NAVAL COMMISSION . 570 THE ALABAMA 571 THE GEORGE GRISWOLD 571 JEFFERSON DAVIS'S EESIDENCE . . . 572 SLAVE LASH 573 LOOK-OUT 575 THE BLACK-HAWK 576 UPPER ENTRANCE TO VICKSBURG . . . 576 ANCIENT MOUND, CHICKASAW BAYOU . . 577 BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BAYOU MAPS . 578 BATTLE- GROUND OF CHICKASAW BAYOU . 679 FORT HINDMAN 681 TAIL-PIECE CAVALRY STABLE IN THE FIELD 682 INITIAL LETTER AN EMBRASURE . . . 583 PENINSULA OPPOSITE VICKSBURG . . . 584 VlEW SHOWING THE SlTE OF THE CANAL . 584 THE SAMSON 585 A Bow GUN 687 THE YAZOO REGION 588 THE INDIANOLA 589 A LOUISIANA SWAMP 596 EAFT WITH WOUNDED SOLDIERS ON BAYOU TECHE 697 LANDING-PLACE AT PORT HUDSON . . 698 PORTRAIT OF EICHARD TAYLOR . . . 699 PORTRAIT OF C. C. AUGUR .... 601 PORTRAIT OF BENJAMIN H. GRIEBSON . . 602 GRIERSON'S EAID MAP 603 VIEW ON LAKE PROVIDENCE .... 604 BATTLE-GROUND or JACKSON . . . 607 PORTRAIT OF JOHN C. PEMBERTON . . 608 CHAMPION HILLS BATTLE-GROUND . , 609 THE PASSAGE OF THE BIG BLACK RIVER . 612 PEMBERTON'S HEAD-QUARTERS IN VICKSBURO 613 TAIL-PIECE GRAVE ON THE BATTLE-FIELD 614 INITIAL LETTER AN A TENT . . . 615 MILITARY OPERATIONS AROUND VICKBBUBG MAP 615 GRANT'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT VICKBBUBG . 616 PORTRAIT OF FRANK K. GARDNER . . 620 CAVES NEAR VICKSBURG 622 CAVE-LIFE IN VICKSBUBG .... 622 PORTRAIT OF H. LIEB ..... 628 McPiiERSON's SAPPERS AT FORT HILL. . 625 DEFENSES OF VICKSBURG MAP . . . 626 MONUMENT AT VICKSBURG .... 627 OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI MAP .- . 629 McPiiERSON's HEAD-QUARTERS . . . 630 THE DEFENSES OF PORT HUDSON MAP . 681 DESTRUCTION IN THE WORKS AT PORT HUD- SON 638 BANKS'S HEAD-QUARTERS, PORT HUDSON , 637 THE SHIRLEY HOUSE . . . . 639 THE CIVIL WAR. CHAPTER I. EFFECT OF THE BATTLE OF BULL'S RUN. REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. CONGRESS, AND THE COUNCIL OF THE CONSPIRATORS. EAST TENNESSEE. HE Battle of Bull's Run, so disastrous to the National Arms, and yet so little profit- able, as a military event, to the Confederates, was in its immediate effects a profound enigma to the people of the whole country. They could not understand it. The Confederates held the field, yet they did not seek profit from the panic and flight of their opponents, by a pursuit. The Nationals were beaten and dispersed ; yet, after the first paralysis of defeat, they instantly recovered their faith and elasticity. There had been marches, and bivouacs, and skirmishes, and a fierce battle, within the space of a week ; and at the end of twenty-four hours after the close of the conflict, the respective parties in the con- test were occupying almost the same geographical position J which they did before the stout encounter. The people at home, in both sections, were excited by the wildest tales of overwhelming defeat and disgrace on one side, and the most com- plete and advantageous victory on the other. It was said, and believed, that fifteen thousand Confederates had easily and utterly routed and dispersed thirty-five thousand National troops, 1 and smitten, beyond hope of recovery, 1 See Jefferson Davis's dispatch to the " Confederate Congress," volume I., page 603. On the 2Sth of July, Generals Johnston and Beauregard issued a joint address to their soldiers, which was full of exultation. " One week ago," they suid, " a countless host of men, organized into an army, with all the appointments which modern art and practiced skill could devise, invaded the soil of Virginia. Their people sounded their approach with triumph and displays of anticipated victory. Their generals came in almost regal state. Their Ministers, Sena- tors, and women came to witness the immolation of this army, and the subjugation of our people, and to cele- brate them with wild revelry." After speaking of the battles, the capture of nearly every thing belonging to the National army, " together with thousands of prisoners," they said, "Thus the Northern hosts were driven by you from Virginia. .... We congratulate you on an event which insures the liberty of our country. We congratulate every man of you whose privilege it was to participate in this triumph of courage and truth, to 18 WASHINGTON AND RICHMOND CONTRASTED. the Army of the Potomac charged with the duty of seizing the Capital of the insurgents, driving them from Virginia, and relieving the City of Washington from all danger of capture. Whilst one section of the Republic was resonant with shouts of exulta- tion, the other was silent because of the inaction of despondency. Whilst the Confederates were elated beyond measure by the seeming evidence given by the battle, of their own superior skill and valor and the cowardice of their opponents, and thousands flocked to the standard of revolt from all parts of the Southern States, the Loyalists were stunned by the great disaster, and the seventy-five thousand three-months men, whose terms of service were about expiring, were, for the moment, made eager to leave the field and retire to their homes. Whilst in Richmond, now become the Capital of the Confederation, the bells were ringing out merry peals of joy, and " the city seemed lifted up, and every one seemed to walk on air," and " the men in place felt that now they held their offices for life ;'" where Jefferson Davis said to the multitude, when referring to the vanquished Nationals, with bitter scorn, " Never be haughty to the humble ;" where all believed that Walker's prediction would that day be fulfilled, and the banner of Rebellion be unfurled from the dome of the Capitol in Washington, 5 and that the " tide of war would roll from that day northward into the enemy's country " : the fertile fields and rich cities of the Free-labor States there was terror and anguish, and the most gloomy visions of a ruined Republic at the seat of the National Government, and men in place there were not certain of filling their offices for an hour. Whilst the streets of Richmond were populous with prisoners from the vanquished army, and eager volunteers pressing on toward the camp of the victors at Manassas, the streets of Washington were crowded with discomfited and disheartened soldiery, without leaders, and without organization the personification of the crushed hopes of the loyal people. Such was the sad picture of the situation of the Republic and of the relative character of the contending parties, much exaggerated, which was presented to Europe in the month of August." The first account of the battle, the panic that seized some of the National troops, and the confused flight of soldiers and civilians back to Wash- ington, was given to the Elder World through the London Thnes, the assumed and accredited exponent of the political and social opinions of the ruling class in England, by the pen of Dr. Russell, 4 who did not see the con- flict, and who was one of the most speedy and persevering of the civilians in fight in the battle of Mantissas. Ton have created an epoch in the history of liberty, and unborn nations will rise up and call you blessed. Continue this noble devotion, looking always to the protection of a just God, and, before time grows much older, we will be hailed as the deliverers of a nation of ten millions of people. Com- rades, our brothers who have fallen have earned undying renown, and their blood, shed in our holy cause, is a precious and acceptable sacrifice to the Father of truth and right Their graves are beside the tomb of Wash- ington ; their spirits have joined his in eternal commune." Jefferson Davis addressed the people on his arrival at Richmond, on the evening of the 23d, and boldly declared that his troops had captured " every thing the enemy had in the field," including ' provisions enough to feed an army of 50,000 men for twelve months." llichmond papers, July 24. Davis' s exaggeration is made plain by the statement that it would require more than 12,000 wagons to transport that amount of food. 1 A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, page 65. 8 See volume I., page 339. * A Rebel War Clerk's Diary, page 65. 4 See note 8, page 91, volume I. ENGLISH OPINION. A CHANGE. 19 their eager flight from the suspected dangers of an imaginary pursuit of Con- federate cavalry. His was, in a great degree, a tale of the imagination, " founded on fact," and well served the conspirators for a brief season. 1 It excited among the ruling classes in Europe a derision of the loyal people and the Government of the United States, and the desires of the enemies of re- publicanism and the sovereignty of the people were gratified. The ruin of the Great Republic of the West seemed to them almost as certain as a fact accomplished. English statesmen and journalists dogmatically asserted it, and deplored the folly and wickedness of the President and Congress, in " waging war upon Sovereign States," in vindication of an idea and a prin- ciple, and attempting to hold in union, by force, a people who had the right and the desire to withdraw from a hated fellowship. It was declared that "the bubble of Democracy had burst." There was joyful wailing over " the late United States ;" and one of England's poets was constrained to write "Alas for America's glory ! Ichabod vanished outright; And all the magnificent story Told as a dream of the night ! Alas for the Heroes and Sages, Saddened, in Hades, to know That what they had built for all ages, Melts like a palace of show! 11 This relative condition of the parties was temporary. The loyal people instantly recovered from the stunning blow, 2 and in that i*ecovery awakened from the delusive dream that their armies were invincible, that the Confed- erates were only passionate and not strong, and that the rebellion could be crushed in ninety days, as the hopeful Secretary of State had predicted, and continued to predict. It was evident that the battle just fought was only the beginning of a desperate struggle with the enemies of the Republic, who had made thorough preparation for the conflict, and had resolved to Man the prize at all hazards. With this conviction of danger added to the sting of mortified national pride, the patriotism of the Loyalists Avas intensely exercised. The Government, which had been lulled into feelings of security by the song of its own egotism, and had hesitated when urged to engage more troops, " for three years or the war," was now also aroused to a painful sense of danger and the penalties of misjudgment; and the Secretary of War, who had refused to sanction a call for a larger body of Pennsylvania volunteers 1 Although nearly disabled by weariness of mind and body, Dr. Russell wrote his famous dispatch to the Times during the night succeeding his flight from Oentreville, that it might go to England by the next Boston steadier. " The pen went flying about the paper," ho says, "as if the spirits were playing tricks with it. When 1 I screwed up my utmost resolution, the 'y's' would still run into long streaks, and the letters combine most curiously, and my eyes closed, and my pen slipped." After a brief nap, he was aroused by ft messenger from Lord Lyons, to inquire after him, and invite him to supper " I resumed my seat," he says, "haunted by the memory of tho Boston mail, which would be closed in a few hours, and I had much to tell, although I had not seen the battle/ 1 On the testimony thus given, the Times said (August 10, 1861) : ' It is evident that the whole volunteer army of the Northern States is worthless as a military organization .... a screaming crowd;" and spoke of it as a collection of " New York rowdies and Boston abolitionists, desolating tho villages of Virginia." s Five days after the Battle of Bull's Bun, the Secretary of State wroto to Mr. Adams, tho American Minister in London, saying: "Our Army of the Potomac, on Sunday last, met a reverse equally severe and unexpected. For a day or two the panic which had produced the result was followed by a panic that seemed to threaten to demoralize the country. But that evil has ceased already. The result is already 5Ca i a vigorous reconstruction npqn n scale of greater magnitude anid increased enthusiasm." 20 ANOTHER UPRISING. UNIONISTS REPRESSED. than its prescribed quota, stating that "it was more important to reduce than to enlarge the number," 1 was now glad to receive all that might be offered from every quarter. Then it was that the Pennsylvania Reserves, called into existence by Governor Curtin, were so speedily transferred from Harrisburg to Washington, 2 and gave security to the National Capital. Everywhere the people flew to arms with a feeling of devotion to their country, deeper, because born of serious contemplation, than when Fort Sumter was attacked. There was another grand uprising; and within a fortnight after the Battle of Bull's Run, when the terms of service of the seventy-five thousand three-months men had expired, more than an equal number were in camps or in the field, engaged " for three years or the war." Among them were a large portion of the three-months men, who had re-en- listed. Nine-tenths of the non-combatants shared in the fervor and the faith of those who took up arms, and the people of the Free-labor States presented to the world a sublime spectacle difficult to comprehend. .That terrible crisis in the life of the nation was promptly met, and the salvation of the Republic was assured. In the mean time, the Confederates, flushed with victory, and satisfied that their so-called attorney-general (Benjamin) had predicted wisely, that pacification through recognition by France or England, or both, would occur " in ninety days," and their independence be secured, were wasting golden moments in celebrating their own valor. 3 Yet, in the manner of that unthriftiness of time and opportunity, there was a potential force that gave amazing strength to the Confederacy. There was a prestige in that battle, and the celebration of the triumph, which almost silenced opposition to the war; for multitudes, who had loved the Union supremely, and had no faith in the success of the conspirators, now thought they saw a great revolution nearly accomplished, and themselves made part of a new nation carved suddenly by the sword out of the Republic, with whose fortunes it was their duty and their interest to link themselves. They had already suffered much from the despotism established by the conspirators ; and now, by an act of the "Congress,"" threatened with banishment and confiscation, "to^is^"* 1 tne y were utterly helpless, and sought peace and reconciliation by a display of zeal in what was dignified by the name of a war for independence. 4 That "united South" which the conspirators had falsely 1 General Patterson's Narrative of the Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. 2 See note 2, page 520, volume I. 8 It Is reported that General Buckner, captured at Fort Donelson several months afterward, while on his -way to Fort Warren, at Boston, as a prisoner of war, said to a gentleman in Albany: "The effect of that battle was to Inspire the Southerners with a blind confidence, and lull them into false security. The effect upon the Northerners, on the other hand, was to arouse, madden, and exasperate.' 1 4 The pressure brought to bear on the Union men was terrible, and the youth of that class were driven into the army by thousands, because of the social proscription to which they were subjected. The zeal of the women in the cause of rebellion was unbounded, and their influence was extremely potential. Young men who hesitated when asked to enlist, or even waited to be asked, were shunned and sneered at by the young women; and many were the articles of woman's npparel which were sent, as significant gifts, to these laggards at home. Men who still dared to stand firm in their truo allegiance, were denounced as "traitors to their country," and treated as such ; and the proscription and the persecution became so general and fiery, that Millie Mayfleld was justified in singing, with scornful lips "Union men! thrice-fooled fools! As well might ye hope to bind The desert sands with a silken thread. When tossed by the whirling wind, THE CONFEDERATE ARMY IMMOVABLE. 21 declared months before, now became a fact, and the terrible strife instantly- assumed the proportions and the vigor of a civil war of unparalleled magni- tude. Almost the entire resources of the inhabitants of the States in which rebellion existed were devoted to the cause, and with wonderful energy on both sides, the great conflict went on. During that conflict, while weaker men were in practical sympathy with the conspirators, there were thousands of the best men of the South, imbued with the martyr-spirit which reverences principle, who could not be made to yield to the terrible pressure, but main- tained their integrity throughout. These unconditional Unionists suffered intensely in person and property, and large numbers perished. But the survivors were many, and offered to the nation, at the close of the war, the proper instrumentalities for co-operation with the Government in the reorganization of the disordered Union on a basis of justice, which should secure for the Republic, for all time, tranquillity and prosperity. When the shouts of triumph had died away, and the smoke of battle was dissipated, and the people of the Confederacy saw their victorious army immovable at Manassas and indisposed to follow up their victory, they were uneasy, and many a lip queried why " President " Davis, the chief of the army, returned so quickly to Richmond, and spent time in public boastings of the achievements of the present and in predictions of the future, instead of directing Johnston and Beauregard to press on after the fugitives and capture Washington City, the great and coveted prize ? The immobility of their army was an enigma. It was an incubus on the spirits of the people. While their tongues were jubilant, their hearts were misgiving. Johnston and Beauregard desired to press on, but the wisdom and the prudence of the first-named officer restrained his own impatience and the folly and rashness of the Creole ; and the perilous movement was delayed until it was too late to hope for success. Johnston knew that it would be madness to follow the retreating Nationals, and hurl his wearied troops against the strong defenses of Washington, behind which they were resting, supported by fresh soldiers. But he was anxious to carry out his original }>lan of crossing the Potomac above the National Capital, cut off that city's communications with the North, and capture it by a vigorous movement in the rear. But for a pursuit, or this grand flank movement, there were two essential requisites lacking namely, a sufficient cavalry force, and means of subsistence, for which lack Confederate experts hold Davis responsible. It is agreed that he always seemed to take a delight in thwarting the wishes of others ; and with a most mischievous obstinacy he followed the dictates of his own will, passions, and caprice, rather than the counsels of judicious advisers. This disposition was conspicuous in his appointment to important offices of his incapable personal and political friends ; and the best of the Con- federate army officers declare that, by his interference in details, he was a Or to blend the shattered waves that lash The feet of the cleaving rock, When the tempest walks the face of the deep, And the water-spirits mock, As the sacred chain to reunite In a peaceful link again: On our burning homesteads ye may write, We found no Union men/ " WHY THE CONFEDERATE ARMY WAS IMMOVABLE. marplot in the way of military affairs throughout the Avar. At the begin- ning he appointed an incompetent and vicious companion-in-arms at a former period, named Northrop, to the vitally important post of Chief of Subsistence. This was done in the face of earnest protests ; and now, at the first mo- mentous trial, this Chief Commissary's incapacity was fatally conspicuous. Under the sanction, if not at the command of Davis, he refused to allow his subordinates to purchase supplies for the army at Manassas in the fertile country adjacent, but sent others to gather them in the rear of the army, and forward them in daily doles, at heavy expense, by the Orange and Alexan- dria Railway, exposed to the vicissitudes of war. He allowed no deposits of supplies to be established near the army ; and on the day of the battle, Beau- regard had only a single day's rations for his troops. 1 For weeks afterward this state of things continued, and it was impossible for the army to move forward with safety, under such circumstances. 2 There it lay at Manassas for many weeks, its officers chafing with impatience, whilst an immense National army w r as gathering and organizing, and drilling in front of Wash- ington City. Johnston made his head-quarters at Grigsby's house in Centreville. 3 He was compelled to content himself with sending out scouting and foraging parties, and guerrilla bands, who some- times approached within cannon- shot of the National defenses on Arlington Heights. The physical disabilities of the Confederates alluded to, were, probably, not the only reasons for the immobility of their army after the battle. Davis and his associates at Richmond well knew the strength of the lion of the North, which their wickedness had aroused. They had promised their dupes " peaceable secession," because they thought that strength would not be put forth. They found themselves mistaken, and their cause in great peril ; and they well knew, that if they should push on to the extremity of seizing Wash- ington at that time, it would so consolidate and invoke to terrible action the power of the North, that the conspirators would not hold the National Capi- tal ten days, nor prevent the utter extermination of the insurgent armies, and the desolation of their territories by an exasperated people. This moral effect they dreaded ; so they were content to have the vanity of their fol- lowers gratified by the accident of a victory at Bull's Run, and hoped to accomplish, by negotiation and compromise, what they could not expect to win by arms. GRIGSBY'S HOUSE, CENTKEVILLE, 1 Statement of General Thomas Jordan, then chief of Beanresrard's staff, in Harper's Magazine, xxxL 610. Jordan says: "Flour bought by speculators in the Valley and London was carried to Richmond, sold to the Subsistence Bureau, and transported back to Manassas." 9 Late in August, Johnston wrote to Beauregrard : " It is impossible, as the affairs of the commissariat are now managed, to think of any other military course than a strictly defensive base." 3 From a photograph by Alexander Gardiner, of Washington City. NEW ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 23 The National Government now acted with decision and energy. General McClellan, Avho, with able subordinates and brave troops, had made a brilliant and successful campaign in Western Virginia, was summoned to Washington on the day after the Battle of Bull's Run, a and, Avith ' the approbation of the people, who were loudly sounding his praises, he was placed in command of the shattered army at and near the seat of Government. General McDowell, like a true soldier, gracefully with- drew, and on the 25th of July, the Adjutant-General announced the cre- ation of a Geographical Division, formed of the Departments of Washington and of Northeastern Virginia, under the young chieftain, with head-quarters at Washington City. Other changes had already been determined upon. On the 'July. 19th, 6 an order was issued from the War Department for the honorable discharge from the service of Major-General Robert Patterson, on the 27th, when his term of duty would expire; and General N". P. Banks, then in command at Baltimore, was directed to take his place in charge of the Department of the Shenandoah, he being relieved by General John A. Dix. There was a new arrangement of Military Depart- ments, 1 and Lieutenant-General Scott, who was the General-in-Chief of the armies, greatly disabled by increasing infirmities, was, at his own suggestion, relieved from active duties. General McClellan turned over the command of the army in Western Virginia to Brigadier-General Rosecrans, and entered with zeal and vigor upon the arduous task of reorganizing the army, of which he took charge on the 27th of July. He brought to the service, youth, a spotless moral charac- ter, robust health, a sound theoretical military education with some practical experience, untiring industry, the prestige of recent success in the field, and the unlimited confidence of the loyal people. He found at his disposal about fifty thousand infantry, less than one thousand cavalry, six hundred and fifty artillerymen, and thirty pieces of cannon. 2 He found, in the men, excellent materials out of Avhich to fashion a fine army, but in a disorganized and com- paratively crude condition. His first care was to effect a moral improvement by thorough discipline ; and then, under the sanction of a recent Act of Congress, to winnow the officers of all the volunteer regiments, and dismiss all incompetents. By this process no less than three hundred officers were compelled to leave the service in the course of a few months. Having laid the moral foundations for an efficient army organization, McClellan proceeded with skill and vigor to mold his materials into perfect symmetry. He made the regiment a unit. Four regiments composed a brigade, and three brigades a division. Each division had four batteries : three served by volunteers and one by regulars ; the captain of the latter commanding the entii-e artillery of the division. With the assistance of Majors William F. Barry and J. G. Barnard, he organized artillery and en- gineering establishments ; and the dragoons, mounted riflemen, and cavalry 1 The counties of Washington and Alloghany, in Maryland, were added to the Department of the Wi.enan- dotih, created on the 19th of July, with head-quarters in the fleld ; and the remainder of Maryland, and all of Pennsylvania and Delaware, constituted the Department of Pennsi/toania, head-quarters at Baltimore. A Board was also established at this time for the examination of all officers of volunteer regiments. 2 General McClellan's Report to the Secretary of War, August 4, 1SG3. 24 THE DEFENSES OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. were all reorganized under the general name of cavalry. To Major Barry were intrusted the details of the artillery establishment ; and Major Barnard Avas directed to construct a system of defenses for Washington City, on both sides of the Potomac. In the course of a few months every considerable eminence in the vicinity of the National Capi- tal was crowned with a fort or redoubt well mounted. Early in the following year the num- ber of these works w:u fifty-two, whose names and locations are indi- cated on the accom- MAP SHOWING THE DEFENSES OF WASHINGTON. . . panymg map. This system of works was so complete, that at no time afterward, during the war, did the Confederates ever seriously attempt to assail them. At no time was the Capital in danger from external foes. The work of organization was performed with such energy, that in the place of a raw and disorganized army of about fifty thousand men, in and around Washington City, at the close of July," there was, at the end of fifty days, a force of at least one hundred thousand men, well organized and officered, equipped and disciplined. Of these, full seventy- five thousand were then in a condition to be placed in column for active operations. The entire force under McClellan's command, at that time, in- cluding those under Dix, at Baltimore, was one hundred and fifty-two thou- alSGl. 1 According to General Orders issued by McClellan on this 33th of September, 1SG1, in which the names anil locations of these forts were designated, thirty-two of them were then completed. At the beginning of Decem- ber forty-eight were finished. THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 25 sand men, of whom between eight and nine thousand were sick or absent. This number was continually increased, until, on the first of March, 1862, when the army was put in motion, its grand total was two hundred and twenty-two thousand, of whom about thirty thousand were sick or absent. 1 Such was the force with which General McClellan was furnished for the first campaign in Virginia after the Battle of Bull's Run. It was known as the GRAND ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, whose existence was a wonder. 8 One of the most serious difficulties encountered by the Government, at the beginning of the war, was a lack of anns. We have seen how Secretary Floyd stripped the arsenals and armories in the Free-labor States, and filled those of the Slave-labor States, when preparations were making for rebellion. 3 The armories at Harper's Ferry and Springfield were the principal ones on which the Government could rely for the manufacture of small arms. The former was destroyed in April, and the latter could not supply a tithe of the demand. It was necessary to send to Europe for arms ; and Colonel George L. Schuyler was appointed an agent for the purpose," with specific instructions from the Secretary of War. He purchased 116,000 J 1 U ^ 1 29 ' rifles, 10,000 revolvers, 10,000 cavalry carbines, and 21,000 sabers, at an aggregate cost of $2,044,93 1. 4 It was not long before the private and National armories of the United States were able to meet all demands. The loss of over two thousand cannon at the Gosport Navy Yard 5 was a serious one ; but the foundries of the country soon supplied the Government with all that were required. Of the " absent " soldiers alluded to, more than two thousand were, at the time in question, in the loathsome prisons of the Confederates, and suffering intensely from cruel treatment and privations of every kind. A large portion of these prisoners were captured at the Battle of Bull's Run. These were taken by railway to Richmond on the 23d and 24th of July. Among the first who arrived there was Alfred Ely, member of Congress from the State of New York, 6 and Calvin Huson, his rival can- 1 In a " Memorandum " which General McClellan submitted to the President, on the 4th of August, 1861, ho said : " For the main army of operations, I urge the following composition : 250 regiments of infantry, say 225.000 men. 100 field batteries, 600 guns 15,000 < ~ 28 regiments of cavalry 25,500 " 5 regiments engineer roops 7,500 " Total 213,000 men." * " The creation of such an army," said General McClellan, " in so short a time, will hereafter be regarded as one of the highest glories of the Administration and the nation." In this organization of that army, and the discipline which it received during the seven months that it remained at Washington City and in the vicinity, we may fairly look for the groundwork of those successes which it achieved long afterward, to the " glory of the Administration and the nation." 8 See volume I , page 121. 4 Colonel Sehuyler could not procure arms in England and France on his arrival, and a greater portion of them were purchased Germany. He bought 70,000 rifles in Vienna, and 27.000 in Dresden. Of the " Small- arms Association." in En-land, he procured 15,000 Enfleld rifles. The revolvers were purchased in France and Belgium ; also 10,000 cavalry carbines; and the sabers were bought in Germany. Through the interference of Confederate agents in France, the French Government would not allow any arms to be taken, by either party, from its arsenals. See Report of Colonel Schuyler to the Secretary of War, April 8, 1S62. 5 See volume I., page 397. Mr. Ely was one of the civilians, mentioned in the first volume of this work (page 605), who went ont as a spectator of the Battle of Brill's Run. He was captured by some South Carolina troops, who ascertained his name and position, and conducted him to their colonel, E. B. C. Cash, of South Carolina. That officer was excited by liquor, and, drawing his pistol, was about to shoot the prisoner, when the others interfered. Mr. Ely 26 NATIONAL PRISONERS IN RICHMOND. TOBACCO WAREHOUSE PRISON. didate for the same office, accompanied by Colonel Michael Corcoran and forty other officers, and a large number of private soldiers. It was at about ten o'clock, on a moonlit evening, when they reach- ed the city, where an im- mense crowd had assem- bled. Amid the scoffs and sometimes curses of the populace, they were march- ed three-fourths of a mile to Harwood's large tobacco factory, on Main Street, near Twenty-fifth Street. It was a brick building, hastily prepared for the occasion. Into it officers and men were thrust, to the number of more than six hundred ;' and they were so closely huddled that it was difficult for any one to lie down. No doubt this was the best arrangement that could be made immediately fof the unexpected captives. On the following morning the officers were waited upon by John H. Winder, a stout, gray-haired man, from Maryland, and lately a lieutenant- colonel, by brevet, in the National Army. He was now a Confederate brigadier-general, in command of the post at Richmond, and appeared for the first time on the theater of the Rebellion as Commissary-General of prisoners, in which capacity he acted throughout the war, and gained for himself the most unenviable notoriety. He promised the prisoners better quar- ters, and on that day the officers were removed to an adjoining building, where they had a little more room, light, and air; but neither chair nor bench to sit upon, nor bed to lie upon. For a short time they entertained hopes of a speedy release ; J and a con- siderable number of men, somewhat distinguished in the political world, visited Mr. Ely, and made abundant promises of aid, which they never fulfilled. 3 Yet there were a few persons JOHN H. WINDER. was compelled to walk to the railway, at Manassas, about seven miles; and near Beauregard's head -quarters, he, with Corcoran and several officers, spent the night in an old barn, from which they were marched to the railway station and sent to Eichmond. 1 In the Appendix to Mr. Ely's Journal, kept during his imprisonment, may be found a complete list of nil the Bull's Eun prisoners who were confined with him. 2 On the day after his arrival in Richmond. Mr. Ely, at the request of his fellow-prisoners, prepared a petition to the President, requesting immediate steps to be taken by the Government for their release. It was signed by the officers, and was forwnrded. 3 Among these were Messrs. Keitt and Boyce, of South Carolina, and Pryor and Bocock, of Virginia, who were Mr Ely's fellow-members in the Thirty-sixth Congress, and were now occupying seats in the so-called Confederate Congress. THE ACTION OF CONGRESS. 27 in Richmond who did not only promise, but afforded all the aid in their power to the Union prisoners, at this time and ever afterwards. 1 The prisoners in Richmond were soon convinced that the tobacco ware- house would be their home for some time. As the days wore wearily away, their sufferings increased, for their treatment became less humane. Yet they did not yield to melancholy. There Avere some irrepressibly buoyant spirits among them, and every thing possible to be done to render their situation endurable, was employed. They fonned a club called The Richmond Prison Association, of which Mr. Ely was made President," and at their first meeting, held on the day of organization, they were enli- * ^ ' vened by speeches, songs, and toasts.* This was the more agree- able beginning of that terrible prison-life to which tens of thousands of the National troops were exposed during the war, of which more will be recorded hereafter. The Thirty-seventh Congress had been in session more than a fortnight when the battle of Bull's Run was fought, and they had already made several enactments preparatory to the vigorous prosecution of the war. 3 Yet they were not unmindful of their obligations to humanity, to endeavor to secure V * peace by any just and honorable means. As we have observed, 4 a resolution was introduced into the House of Representatives,* by Mr. Crit- tendcn, declaring the sole object of the Government in waging war to be the preservation of the Union and the vindication of the National authority. It was " laid over until Monday," the 22d, and in the mean time the battle at Bull's Run was fought. Notwithstanding the National Capital was filled with fugitives from a shattered army, and it 1 Distinguished among these benefactors were Mrs. John Van Lew and her daughter. Mrs. Van Lew was an aged and wealthy widow, who lived In a fine mansion on Church Hill. Warmly devoted to the Union, and ani- mated by the most generous impulses of humanity, these women continued, throughout the war, merciful minis- trations lor the comfort of the National soldiers starving and freezing in Llbby prison and on Belle Isle. They suffered the most withering social proscription, and received the most vulgar abuse from the politicians and the press of Richmond. They were branded as " Southern women with Northern sympathies ;" and one of the Rich- mond papers, with characteristic coarseness and ill-breeding, said : " If such people do not wish to be exposed and dealt with as alien enemies to their country, they would do well to cut stick while they can do so with safety to their worthless carcasses." In the same paper was a eulojy of " Southern chivalry and refinement." On the lips of many a dying prisoner lingered a blessing for those ' honorable women." * For a full account of prison-life in this Richmond tobacco warehouse, see Ely's Journal; Lieutenant Harris's Pruton Life in Richmond ; five Months in Rebeldom, or Note* from VIA Diary of a Bull's Run Prisoner ; and General Corcoran Captivity. Among the early prisoners was Lieutenant Isaac W. Hart, of Indiana, whose praise wns on the lips.of all his fellow-captives, because of his overflowing spirits, viviicity, and wit He told funny stories and sung good songs. One composed by himself, always provoked hopeful feelings when he sang It It was entitled "The Prisoner's Song," and its burden was the prospect of a speedy exchange. Its concluding words were: "And when we arrive in the Land of the Free, They will smile and welcome us joyfully ; And when we think of the Rebel band, We'll repeat our motto ' Bite and be damned.' " This motto was on the seal of the Prison Association, which was drawn with * > ^ /VA/J1-BS >S pen, and attached to each certificate of membership. The annexed copy is from i O >l^ a book containing the autographs of a number of the officers who were captives at \{-& -JJ^{JV\N E-^jfQ^ that time. It may here be mentioned that Mr. Huson, who experienced the kind Hi^p > ^.r^^^ hospitality of Mrs. Van Lew and her family, died while in prison. Mr. Ely was Jrwsfr >. afterward exchanged for Charles James Faulkner, who was the resident Minister of the Republic ut the French Court when Buchanan retired from office, and who, " on his return to the United States, was arrested and imprisoned under a charge PBISON ASSOCIATION BKAL. of complicity In the schemes of the conspirators. ' See chapter xxiv., volume I. 4 See volume I., page 573. 28 VIGOROUS MEASURES PROPOSED IN CONGRESS. was believed by many that the seat of Government was at the mercy of its enemies, Congress, on Monday, deliberated as calmly as if assured of perfect safety. Mr. Crittenden's resolution was adopted by a vote of 117 to 2 ; and two days afterwards," one identical with it passed the Senate by July 24, a yote a i most as decisive. 1 It was such a solemn declaration of the Government that the conspirators were speaking falsely when charging that Government with waging war for the subjugation of the Southern States, the emancipation of the slaves, and the confiscation of property, that it was not allowed to be published within the bounds .of the Confederacy. The writer was so informed by Southern men of intelligence, and that they never heard of the resolution until the war had ceased ; also that, had its declarations been known, multitudes Avould have paused in their rebellious career, and the terrible desolation of the South might have been prevented. This was what the conspirators, who had resolved on rule or ruin, justly feared. On the same day * the House of Representatives, by an almost * July 22. unanmious V0te5 anticipated the wishes of the loyal people by declaring that " the maintenance of the Constitution, the preservation of the Union, and the enforcement of the laws are sacred trusts which must be executed; that no disaster shall discourage us from the most ample per- formance of this high duty ; and that we pledge to the country and the world the employment of every resource, national and individual, for the sup- pression, overthrow, and punishment of Rebels in arms." On the same sad day a bill, reported by the Judiciary Committee on the 20th, providing for the confiscation of property used for insurrec- tionary purposes, was considered in the Senate, to which Mr. Trumbull, of Illinois, the chairman of that committee, offered an amendment, pro- viding that the master of any slave who should employ him for such pur- pose should forfeit all right to his service or labor thereafter. It was adopted by a vote of 33 against 6. When this bill reached the Lower House, on the 2d of August, it met with strenuous opposition, especially Trumbull's amend- ment, from Crittenden and Burnet, of Kentucky, Yallandigham, Pendleton, and Cox, of Ohio, and Diven, of New York, chiefly on the ground that it would confirm the belief of the slaveholders that the war was Avaged for the emancipation of their slaves, and, as a consequence, would produce great exasperation, and increase the rigors of war without increasing the means for the success of the army. Mr. Crittenden was opposed to the passage of any penal laws. " Shall we send forward to the field," he asked, " a whole cata- logue of penal" laws to fight this battle with? Arms more impotent were never resorted to. They are beneath the dignity of our great cause. They are outside of the policy which ought to control this Government, and lead us on to success in the war we are now fighting. If you hold up before your enemies this cloud of penal laws, they will say, ' War is better than peace : war is comparative repose.' They will say when they are subdued, or if they choose now to submit, ' What next ? Have we peace, or is this new army 1 The negatives were Breckinridge and Powell, of Kentucky ; Johnson and Polk, of Missouri ; and Trumbull. of Illinois. The latter opposed it because of the particular wording of the first clause, and said, " the revolt was occasioned, in my opinion, by people who are not here, nor in this vicinity. It was started in South Carolina. I think the resolution limits it to a class of persons [those 'in arms around the Capital 1 ] who were not the originators of this Rebellion." CONFISCATION, EMANCIPATION, AND PEACE. 29 of penal laws then to come into action ? Are these penal laws to inflict upon us a long agony of prosecution and forfeiture ?' No, gentlemen, it is not by such means that we are to achieve the great object of establishing our Union and reuniting the country. Sir, these laws will have no efficacy in war. Their only effect will be to stimulate your adversaries to still more desperate measures. That will be the effect of this army of penal laws." Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, strenuously advocated the bill, and espe- cially Mr. Trumbull's amendment concerning the freedom of slaves employed for insurrectionary purposes ; and, in reply to the assertions that the insur- gents would never submit, that they could not be conquered, that they would " suffer themselves to be slaughtered and their whole country to be laid waste," he said, " Sir, war is a grievous thing at best, and civil war more than any other ; but if they hold this language, and the means which they have suggested must be resorted to, if their whole country must be laid waste and made a desert in order to save this Union from destruction, so let it be. I would rather, sir, reduce them to a condition where their whole country is to be peopled by a band of freemen than to see them perpetrate the destruction of this people through our agency I warn Southern gentlemen that if this war is to continue, there will be a time when my friend from New York [Mr. Diven] Avill see it declared by this free nation that every bondsman in the South belonging to a rebel, recollect ; I confine it to them shall be called upon to aid us in war against their masters, and to restore this Union." 1 The bill was recommitted to the Committee on the Judiciary, and on the following day a it was reported back with Trumbuirs amendment so modified as to include only those slaves " ^' 8 ' whose labor for insurrectionary purposes was employed in " any military or naval service against the Government and authority of the United States." With the amendment so modified, the bill was passed by a vote of 60 against 48. When it was retumed to the Senate, it was concurred in, on motion of Mr. Trumbull, and was passed * by a vote of 24 against 11. The President's signature to it made it law on the same day. This was the first act of Congress, after the beginning of the war, concerning the emancipation of slaves and the confiscation of property. We have already observed the peace propositions of Vallandigham, of Ohio, and Wood, of New York. 2 These were followed, later in the session, after Clarke, of New Hampshire, had asked and obtained leave of the Senate to offer a joint resolution declaratory of the determination of Congress to main- tain the supremacy of the Government and integrity of the Union, by proposi- tions for securing peace and reconciliation by friendly measures. One of these, offered in the House of Representatives by S. S. Cox, of Ohio, proposed the appointment of a committee, composed of one member of Congress from each State, who should report to the House, at the next session, such amendments to the National Constitution as should "assuage all grievances and bring about a reconstruction of the national unity;" also the appointment of a committee for the purpose of preparing such adjustment, and a conference i ConyreMional Globe, Aug. 2, 1861; History of the, Anti-slavery Measures of the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congre****, by Senator Henry Wilson, chapter I. 5 Volume I., page 573. 30 FINANCIAL MEASURES OF THE GOVERNMENT. requisite for that purpose, composed of seven citizens, whom he named, 1 who should request the appointment of a similar committee "from the so-called Confederate States," the two commissions to meet at Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Monday in September following. This was followed by a propo- sition from "W. P. Johnson, of Missouri, to recommend the Governors of the several States to convene the respective legislatures for the purpose of calling an election to select two delegates from each Congressional district, to meet in convention at Louisville on the same day, "to devise measures for the restoration of peace to our country." These, and all other proposi- tions of like nature, Congress refused to entertain, for they were satisfied that the conspirators, who had appealed to the arbitrament of the sword, would not listen to the voice of patriotism. The judgment of the majority was in consonance with a resolution which Mr. Diven, of New York, proposed to offer, namely : " That, at a time when an armed rebellion is threatening the integrity of the Union and the overthrow of the Government, any and all resolutions or recommendations designed to make terms with armed rebels are either cowardly or treasonable." They recognized war as existing in all its hideousness in the bosom of the nation, and legislated accordingly. Acting upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury C^ r - Chase), Congress authorized a loan of $250,000,000, for which bonds and Treasury- notes were to be issued. The bonds were to be irredeemable for twenty years, and to bear interest not exceeding seven per cent, per annum; while the Treasury notes of fifty dol- lars and upwards were to be payable three years after date, with annual interest at the rate of seven and three-tenths per cent, per annum. For greater convenience in the dis- bursements of the Government, and the pay- ment of revenue, Treasury notes were author- ized in denominations not less than five dollars, and to the extent of fifty millions of dollars. The Government was allowed to deposit its funds with solvent banks, instead of confining these deposits to the National Sub-treasury. This measure, together with the issue of the bills receivable for specie, relieved the financial pressure at a time when it threatened serious embarrassments. To provide for the payment of the interest on this debt, and to meet other demands, an act 2 was passed for the increase of revenues from imports, by which new duties were imposed upon foreign ai'ticles of luxury and necessity. By a provision of the same act, a direct tax of twenty millions of dollars was to be laid upon the real estate of the country, in which the amount to be raised in each State was specified, not excepting those in which rebellion existed. Provision Avas also made for levying a tax on the excess of all incomes above eight hundred dollars ; but 1 Edward Everett, of Massachusetts ; Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire; Millard Fillmore, of New York; Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland; Martin Van Buren, of New York ; Thomas Ewing, of Ohio; and James Outline, of Kentucky. 5 Sec No. 40 of the Acts and Resolutions passed during the First Session of the Thirty-seventh Congress. SEAL OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS. CONFEDERATE CONGRESS. 31 Mr. Chase's suggestion concerning excise duties, and other taxes on special articles of personal property, legacies, tfec., were not adopted at that time. Indeed, this system of taxation Avas not put in operation until after it was modified at the next session of Congress ; for the President, who was in- vested with power to appoint officers to carry it out, was not allowed by the act to exercise it until the following February. 1 In the month of September, Mr. Chase sent forth a patriotic appeal to the people, in behalf of the subscription to the authorized loan. 2 He called for purchasers at par of one hundred and fifty millions of Treasury notes, bearing seven and three-tenths per cent, interest, and met with a cordial response from individuals and banking institutions. The obvious advantages of the loan caused the first and second issues, of fifty millions each, to be generally absorbed for investment ; and this mark of confidence in the Government and the financial system of the Secretaiy filled the hearts of the loyal people with gladness. We shall, as occasion oifers, hereafter notice the working of the Treasury Department Tinder the management of Mr. Chase. When Congress had finished the business for which they were called together, they adjourned on the 6th of August, after a session of thirty-three days. They had worked earnestly and industriously, and the product of their labors consisted of the passage of sixty-one public and seven private acts, and five joint resolutions. They had made ample provisions for sustaining the contest against the enemies of the Republic ; and, on the day before the adjournment, in a joint resolution, they requested the President to " recom- mend a day of public humiliaiton, prayer, and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnity, and the offering of fer- vent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States, his blessings on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace." 3 Whilst the National Congress was in session at Washington, and armies were contending along the borders of Bull's Run, the Third Session of the so-called "Provisional Congress" of the conspirators (who, as we have seen, had left the Senate-Chamber of the Capitol of Alabama, at Mont- gomery," wherein their Confederacy was formed) was commenced '^ ' in the Capitol of Virginia, at Richmond, on the 20th of July. 4 There was a full attendance. The members assembled at noon, and were called to order by Howell Cobb, Avhen the Rev. S. K. Tallmadge, of Georgia, made a prayer. At half-past twelve o'clock, Col. Josselyn, the private secre- tary of Jefferson Davis, appeared, and delivered to " Congress " a communi- 1 It was estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury, that the real and personal values in the United States, at that time, reached the vast aggregate of $16,000,000,000, of which $11,000,000,000 were in the loyal States, It was also estimated that the yearly surplus earnings of the loyal people amounted to over $400,000.000. 2 "The war," said Mr. Chase, "made necessary by insurrection, and reluctantly accepted by the Govern- ment, must be prosecuted with all possible vigor, until the restoration of the just authority of the Union shall insure permanent peace. The same Providence which conducted our fathers through the difficulties and dangers which beset the formation of the Union, has graciously strengthened our hands for the work of its preservation. The crops of the year are ample. Granaries and barns are everywhere full. The capitalists of the country corns cheerfully forward to sustain the credit of the Government. Already, also, even in advance of this appeal, men of all occupations seek to share the honors and the advantages of the loan. Never, except because of the temporary depression caused by the rebellion, and the derangement of business occasioned by it, were the people of the United States in a better condition to sustain a great contest than now." 3 The President, by proclamation on the 12th of August, appointed the last Thursday in September lobe '(bsorved as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. St e page 547. volume I. 32 JEFFERSON DA VIS'S MESSAGE. Till-; SENATE-CHAMBER AT MONTGOMERY. 1 cation from that chief leader of the Rebellion. In that "message," Davis congratulated his confederates on the accession of States to their league. He assured them that the National Government had now revealed its inten- tions to subjugate them by a war "whose folly" Avas "equaled by its wick- edness," and whose " dire calamities would fall with double severity " on the loyal people themselves. He charged the President with " a violation of an armistice" concerning Fort Sumter, 2 and declared the assertion that the insurgents commenced hostilities, to be " an unfounded pretense." He argued that the Confederacy was " a great and powerful nation," because the Gov- ernment had made such extensive preparations for its overthrow ; also that the nationality of the leagued insurgents had been recognized by the Gov- ernment, by its establishment of " blockades by sea and land ;" also that the idea that the inhabitants of the " Confederate States " were citizens of the United States was repudiated by the Government, in making war upon them "with a savage ferocity unknown to modern civilization." With the same disregard of candor which characterized Beauregard's proclamation at Manassas, in June, and Avith the same evident intention to "fire the Southern heart," 3 Davis said of the Avarfare of the Nationals: " Rapine is the rule ; private residences, in peaceful rural districts, are bom- barded and burnt," and pains taken to have " a brutal soldiery completely destroy every article of use or ornament in private houses." "Mankind will shudder," he continued, " to hear the tales of outrages committed on defense- less females, by soldiers of the United States noAv im r ading our homes." He 1 This picture is from a sketch made by the author, while on a visit to Montgomery, early in April. ISM. The mahogany furniture was the same as that used by the conspirators at the formation of their Confederacy. a Set- pages 805 to 809, inclusive, volume I. 3 See paire 650. volume I. BANISHMENT AND CONFISCATION ACTS. 33 charged the Government with making " special war " on the South, including the women and the children, "by carefully devised measures to prevent their obtaining medicines necessary for their cure," with " cool and deliberate malignity, under pretext of suppressing an insurrection." He spoke of " other savage practices which have been resorted to by the Government of the United States," and cited the case of the prisoners taken with the pirate-ship Savannah, already referred to in this work. 1 After speaking of the annun- ciation at the seat of Government, that the States were subordinate to the National authority and had no right to secede, and that the President was authorized to suspend the privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus, " when," as the Constitution says, " in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it," he said: "We may well rejoice that we have severed all connection with a Government which thus tramples on all the principles of constitutional liberty, and with a people in whose presence such avowals could be hazarded." He then spoke of the enthusiasm of the Southern people, their abundant offers of aid to the Confederacy, and the " almost unquestion- ing confidence which they display in their government during the impending struggle;" and he concluded his communication by saying: "To speak of subjugating such a people, so united and determined, is to speak in language incomprehensible to them. To resist attacks on their rights or their liberties, is with them an instinct. Whether this war shall last one, or three, or five years, is a problem they leave to be solved by the enemy alone ; it will last till the enemy shall have withdrawn from their borders till their political rights, their altars, and their homes, are freed from invasion. Then, and then only, will they rest from this struggle, to enjoy in peace the blessings which, with the favor of Providence, they have secured by the aid of their own strong hearts and sturdy arms." With a determination such as Davis expressed, the " Congress " made provision for the contest, and for creating that " United South " which had been proclaimed to the world. For the latter purpose it passed an act" which authorized the banishment from the limits of the ^ * " Confederate States " of every masculine citizen of the United States (with some exceptions named 2 ) over fourteen years of age, who ad- hered to his Government and acknowledged its authority. The act prescribed as the duty of all courts of justice to cause the arrest of all Union men who did not proclaim their allegiance to the conspirators or leave the Confederacy within forty days, and to treat them as "alien enemies." Another act* authorized the confiscation of every species of property within the limits of the Confederacy belonging to such " alien ene- mies " or absent citizens of the United States, with the exceptions mentioned. Various measures were adopted for the increase and efficiency of the army and navy, and for carrying on the immense financial operations of the so- called government. 3 It was officially reported that there were two hundred 1 See page 557. volume I. * The citizens of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, and the Indian Territory south of Kansas, and the District of Columbia, were cxcepted. 3 Further issues of Treasury notes were authorized, and provision was made for a war-tax, for the creation of means for their redemption, to the amount of fifty cents upon each one hundred dollars in value of real estate, slaves, merchandise, stocks of corporations, money at interest or invested in various securities, excepting Con- iederate bonds, money in hand or in bank, live stock, gold watches, gold and silver plate, pianos, horses, and pleasure cnmase?. VOL. IL 3 34 RETALIATION. ATTITUDE OF THE CONFEDERATES. thousand soldiers in the field ; and Davis was authorized to increase this force by an addition of four hundred thousand volunteers, to serve for not less than twelve months or more than three years. He was authorized to send ad- ditional commissioners to Europe ; and on the last day of the ses- Ang. 31, g j on an a(jt wag p a s se( i giving him authority to inflict retaliation upon the persons of prisoners of war. This measure had special reference to the captives of the pirate-ship Savannah, concerning whom, as we have observed, 1 Davis had already sent a threatening letter to the Presi- dent, to which no reply was given. 2 Tinder the provisions of that act, Colonel Corcoran and other officers were closely confined as hostages, and treated worse than the pirates were. 3 The latter, as we have observed, were, for the sake of humanity, treated as prisoners of war, and in due time the hostages were exchanged. On the establishment of the so-called government at Richmond, Davis's committee of advisers, whom he dignified with the title of " Cabinet," was reorganized. R. M. T. Hunter, of Virginia, had become his " Secretary of State." Judah P. Benjamin, his law officer, was made " Secretary of War," and was succeeded in his office by ex-Governor Thomas Bragg, of North Carolina. The other members of the " Cabinet " were the same as those first appointed. 4 In every phase of its organization, the " new government " was modeled after the rejected one; and in form, and numbers, and operations, the Confederacy presented to the world the outward aspect of a respectable nation. Seals were devised for the use of the several " Departments ;" and on that made for the "Department of State," which, more than others, might be seen abroad, was the significant legend, in indifferent Latin, NULLA PATRIA AMICT^E FIDEI, meaning, No country, no fatherland, that does not keep faith, or where faith is covered up that is to say, We reject the National Govern- ment because it is faithless. 5 With this feeling they set about the establish- ment of a new empire, with wonderful energy, and called forth all of the industrial resources of the region under their control, with results the most 1 See page 657, volume I. * This letter was taken by Captain Thomas H. Taylor, with a flag of truce, to the head-quarters of General McDowell, at Arlington House, when the bearer was conducted to the quarters of General Scott, in Washington City, where the letter was delivered. 3 See note 2, page 557, volume L The trial of the officers and crew of the Savannah occurred at New York, in October, 1861. It continued seven days, when, the jury disagreeing, the prisoners were remanded to the cus- tody of the marshals. In the mean time, William Smith, another Confederate privateersman, had been tried in Philadelphia, and found guilty of piracy, the penalty for which was death by hanging. Now was afforded an opportunity for the exercise of that system of retaliation which the Confederate "Congress" had authorized. Accordingly, on the 9th of November, 1861. Judah P. Benjamin, the Confederate " Secretary of War," instructed General Winder to select by lot "from among the prisoners of war of the highest rank" one who was to be confined in a cell appropriated to convicted felons, to be a hostage for Captain Smith, of the Savannah, and to be executed if he should suffer death. Also to select in the same way thirteen other prisoners of war, the highest in rank, to be confined in cells used for convicted felons, and to be treated as such so long as the National Government so treated a "like number of prisoners of war captured by them at sea." This order was read by General Winder, in the presence of seventy-five captive officers, in the old Tobacco Warehouse, in Richmond, on the 10th of November. He had six slips of paper, each containing the name of one of the six colonels of the National Army then held as prisoners. These were handed to Colonel W. K. Lee, of the 20th Massachusetts Regiment, recently captured at Ball's Bluff, who was directed to place them in a deep tin case provided for the purpose, when Mr. Ely was directed to draw one out, the officer whose name it should bear " to be held as hostage for William Smith, convicted of piracy." The lot fell upon Colonel Corcoran, then a prisoner in Castle Pinckney, in Charleston harbor. The names of the other thirteen hostages were drawn in the same way. They were: Colonels Lee, Wilcox, Cogswell, Wood, and Woodruff ; Lieutenant-Colonels Bowman and Neff; Majors Potter, Revere, and Vogdes ; and Captains Rockwood, Bowman, and Keffer. Journal of Alfred Ely, Nov. 10, 1861, pages 210 to 216, inclusive. 4 See page 253. See engraving on page 85. CONFEDERATE MANUFACTURES. REGIMENT OF SPIES. astonishing. The blockade becoming more and more stringent every day, they perceived the necessity of relying upon their own ingenuity and indus- try for the materials of war ; and forges, and foundries, and powder manufactories soon appeared in various parts of the Confederacy, while those already estab- lished were taxed to their utmost capacity in responding to orders. Of these the great Tredegar Iron Works, at Rich- mond (see page 36), was the most exten- sive of its kind within the limits of the Slave-labor States, and some of the most effective heavy ordnance used by the Confederate Army, and projectiles of various kinds, were made there, directly under the eye of the so-called government. The labors of this establishment in the cause of the rebellion made its name and deeds familiar to every American. Jefferson Davis was quick to act upon the authority of the decree of the Confederate " Congress " concerning the banishment of Union men. He O fJ issued a proclamation on the 14th of August, in accordance with the intent of that decree; and then commenced tkose terrible persecutions of loyal inhabitants within the limits of the "Confederate States," under the sanction of law, which made that reign of terror in those regions tenfold more dreadful than before. This, and the Confiscation Act, put the seal of silence upon the lips of nearly all Union men. Few could leave, for obstacles were cast in their way. To remain was to acquiesce in the new order of things, or suffer CONFEDERATE "STATE DEPARTMENT 1 ' SEAL. 1 1 This delineation of the seal Is from a pass which the "Secretary of State" of the Confederacy issued in the following form : "CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. "To all to tcJvom these present* shall come^G retting : " I, the undersigned, Secretary of State of the Confederate States of America, hereby request all whom it may concern, to permit safely and freely to pass, A B , a citizen of the Confederate States of America, and in case of need to give him all lawful aid and protection. " Given under my hand and the impression of the seal of the Department of State, at the City of [SEAL.] Montgomery, May 20, 1861. " ROBERT TOOMBS, Secretary of State." While on a visit to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, In the spring of 1S66, the writer met a resident of Wilming- ton and a native of North Carolina, who had been employed in the secret service of the National Government during a portion of the war, with the commission of colonel, and in command of a regiment of S50 spies, who were scattered over the Confederacy. He also entered the service of the Confederacy as a spy, in order that he might work more efficiently for his Government, and was furnished with a pass like the above, on the margin of which, it should have been mentioned, was an exact description of the person to whom it was given. He desired to furnish each of his spies with such a pass. Through some of them in Richmond, he procured a large number of blank passes. These required the impression of the seal of the "State Department." He went to Richmond, and through spies there, professedly in the service of the Confederates, he was introduced to Judah P. Benjamin, then "Secretary of State," and visited his office daily for about a fortnight, endeavoring to ascer- tain where the seal of the "Department" was kept. He was finally successful. One day, when no one was in the office but a boy, he sent him on an errand, and then going boldly to the place where the seal was kept, he made an impression of it in wax. He then started with his own pass to "go into the Yankee lines." He hastened to Washington, and thence to New York, where he had a seal cut in steel precisely like the original." With this he stamped the blank passes, which he properly filled up and signed successfully with the forged name of Benjamin. With these he furnished his spies with passes, and they performed essential service by gaining information in the camps and at the Capital, and in communicating with the blockading squadrons. The commander -,if this regiment of spies was arrested several times on suspicion, but was never implicated by suffi* cient proof. 36 PERSECUTION OF LOYALISTS IN EAST TENNESSEE. intensely. Then, for the same reason that gave truth to the proclamation of the despot "Order reigns in Warsaw "there was a "United South" in THE TBEDEGAR IKON WORKS, AT RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 1 favor of the conspirators. Under their subordinate officers, civil and mili- tary, almost unbounded license was exercised, and no man's life, liberty, and property were secure from violence. In districts of the Confederacy, such as East Tennessee, where the blight of slavery was but little known, where a greater portion of the inhabitants were loyal to their Government, and where the Confederates held sway, the keenest cruelties were exercised. Those who, in East Tennessee, had voted for the Union at the election of which Governor Harris made fraudulent returns,* were continually persecuted. Good and peaceable citizens were taken before magistrates without cause, and imprisoned without mercy. They were arrested by the authority of processes issued by J. Crozier Ramsey, the Confederate district attorney, who was assisted in the work of crushing the Unionists in that region by R. B. Reynolds, a Confederate commissioner, and W. B. Wood, a Methodist clergyman from Alabama, who bore the com- mission of a Confederate colonel. Under the direction and assistance of these men, loyalists were hunted, arrested, taken to camps and prisons, and insulted and abused by mobs. Confederate cavalry, as well as infantry, scoured the country, offering every indignity to men and women, destroying the crops of the rich and poor alike, turning their horses to feed into fields of growing corn, burning barns and stacks of hay, and plundering the people of provisions. The jails were soon filled with loyalists, and an extensive disarming of the people was accomplished. So thoroughly were they under the control of the Confederates, that in November Colonel Wood was able to write to Benjamin, at Richmond, "The rebellion [resistance to Con- federate outrages] in East Tennessee has been put down in some of the counties, and will be effectually suppressed in less than two weeks in all the coimties. Their camps in Sevier and Hamilton Counties," he continued, "have been broken up, and a large number of them have been made prisoners. ... . It is a mere farce to arrest them and turn them 1 This view is from the ruins of the Virginia State Arsenal. The works are on the left bank of the .Tames River, nearly opposite Mayo's Island. 5 See pages 3S8-339, volume I. LOYALISTS HUNTED, IMPRISONED, AND HANGED. 37 over to the courts They really deserve the gallows, and, if consistent with the laws, ought speedily to receive their deserts." With the spirit of this Alabama clergyman, the Loyalists were everywhere ill- treated, and no measures seemed to be considered too cruel to be employed in crushing them. 1 Among the most prominent of the East Tennessee Loyalists, who suffered persecution, were Andrew Johnson and Horace Maynard, members of Con- gress, and Rev. W. G. Brownlow, D. D., a Methodist preacher, and editor of the Knoxville Whig} Brownlow's fearless spirit, caustic pen, social position, and public relations through the press and the pulpit, made him intensely hated by the conspirators and their friends, and much feared. They thirsted for his life, and finally the false charge was made, that he was acces- sory to the burning of several railway-bridges in East Tennessee, 3 to cut off communication between that region and Virginia. His life had been daily threatened by Confederate soldiers ; and, at the urgent solicitations of his family, he left his home in the autumn, and went into another district of his State. While he was absent, several railway-bridges were burned. Brown- low was accused of being in complicity with their destroyers, and Colonel Wood sent out cavalry in search of him, with instructions, publicly given in the street, at Knoxville, not to take him prisoner, but to shoot him at once. 4 Brownlow was informed of his peril, and, with other loyal men, he secreted himself in the Smoky Mountains, on the borders of North Carolina, where they were fed by Loyalists. It was finally resolved by the Confed- erates to rid themselves of so dangerous an enemy, by giving Brownlow a pass to go into Kentucky, under a military escort. The " Secretary of War " at Richmond (Benjamin) was asked for one. He would not give it himself. He said he greatly preferred seeing Brownlow " on the other side of the lines, as an avowed enemy ;" 5 and instructed General Crittenden, then in command at Knoxville, to give him a pass. General Crittenden sent for Brownlow to come to Knoxville to receive it. He did so, and was on the point of departure for the Union lines, when he was arrested" for treason, on the authority of a warrant issued by " Commissioner" * De( j^j 1 1 ber 6 ' Reynolds, on the affidavit of Attorney Ramsey. He was refused 1 Notwithstanding the Loyalists were disarmed, the hatred and cruel passions of the Secessionists were not. appeased. Two Confederate officers had the following advertisement printed in the Memphis Appeal : " BLOODHOUNDS WANTED. We, the undersigned, will pay five dollars per pair for fifty pairs of well-bred hounds, and fifty dollars for one pair of thoroughbred bloodhounds, that will take tho tmck of a man. The pur- pose for which these dogs are wanted, is to chase the infernal, cowardly Lincoln bushwhackers of East Tennessee and Kentucky (who have taken advantage of the bush to kill and cripple many good soldiers) to their haunts and capture them. The said hounds must be delivered at Captain Hammer's livery-stable by the 10th of December next, where a mustering officer will be present to muster and inspect them. " F. N. McXAiRY. " H. H. HABRIS. BLOODHOUND. "CAMP COMFORT, CAMPHF.LL Co., TENN., Nov. 16." 9 See page 88, volume I. * 80 eager were the Confederates to implicate Brownlow in these transactions, that they offered men under sentence of death their lives and liberty, if they would testify to that effect. The latter spurned the bribe, and would not sacrifice truth and honor even for the sake of life. 4 Sketches of th nine, Progress, and Decline of Secession. By W. G. Brownlow. 8 Letter of J. P. Benjamin to Major-General Crittenden, Nov. 20th, 1S61. 38 BENJAMIN'S CRUEL ORDER. -MURDERS AT GREENVILLE. a hearing or bail, but was cast into the county prison at Knoxville, from which appeals to the honor and good faith of Crittenden and his superiors were made in vain. There, in a room so crowded that not all could lie down, and not a chair, bench, stool, table, or other article of furniture, excepting a wooden bucket and tin cup, was to be seen, he and his associates, some of them among the best men in the land, were kept a long time, subjected to the vile ribaldry of soldiers and guards, and threats of being hung. Nor were these threats idle; for, from time to time, prisoners were taken out and hung men as innocent of crime as THE COUNTY JAIL AT KNoxviLL K . infants. These were citizens, charged with burning the railway-bridges. The alleged crimes of these men and other Loyalists were set forth by Colonel Wood in a letter to Benjamin," "^sei 20 ' m wh i cn he declared that the sentiment of the inhabitants in East Tennessee was " hostile to the Confederate government," and that the people were slaves to Andrew Johnson and Horace Maynard. "To release the prisoners," he said, " is ruinous. To convict them before a court is next to an impossibility. The bridge-burners and spies ought to be tried at once." This letter excited the brutal instincts of Benjamin, and he wrote back instantly 6 from Richmond, saying, "All such as can be identified 4 Nov. 25. i . -, j . i -, -i i . j m having been engaged in bridge-burning, are to be tried sum- marily by drum-head court-martial, and, if found guilty, executed on the spot by hanging. It would be well to leave their bodies hanging in the vicinity of the burned bridges." He ordered the seizure of all arms that were "concentrated by these traitors," and said, " In no case is one of the men, known to have been up in arms against the government, to be released on any pledge or oath of allegiance. The time for such measures is past. They are all to be held as prisoners of war, and held in jail to the end of the war." Acting upon these suggestions, some of those who were charged with bridge-burning, but not found guilty, were hung under circumstances of great cruelty. In compliance with Benjamin's savage instructions, they were left hanging in public places, to receive the indignities of a brutal mob. Such was the case with the bodies of two victims (Hensie and Fry), who were hanged together upon the limb of an oak tree, near the railway-station, at Greenville, Tennessee, by the hands of Colonel Leadbetter, already men- tioned. 2 He ordered their bodies to hang there four days and nights ; and when the trains upon the road passed by, they were detained long enough to allow the passengers to go up and offer insults to the lifeless remains. I This picture is from a sketch made by the author in May, 1866, and shows the front of the prison. The window that lighted the room on the lower floor, in which Brownlow was confined, is seen on the right of the door. In the upper story are two immense iron cages, into which the worst criminals are put, and in these some of the most obnoxious Loyalists were confined. Out of this loathsome place several were taken to the gallows. II See page 174. volume I. This man, who was guilty of enormous crimes, it is said, durins the war. and fled to Upper Canada at its close, died at Clifton, in that province, of apoplexy, on the 25th of September, 1866. BOLDNESS OF BROWNLOW. WRITS OF GARNISHMENT. 39 ; December 16, 1861. This was done, especially by Confederate soldiers on their way to Virginia, in view of many of the loyal inhabitants of Greenville. In the midst of these fiery trials, the intrepid Brownlow remained firm, and exercised the greatest boldness of speech. They dared not hang him without legal conviction, and they well knew that he had done nothing worthy of death. He was not only bold, but defiant. They offered him life and liberty if he would take the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. He scorned the proposition, saying : " Rather than stultify myself, and disgrace my family by such an oath, I agree to die. I never 'could sanction this government, and I trust no child of mine will ever do it." Whilst suffering in the Knoxville jail, and almost daily menaced with death, he wrote to Ben- jamin a characteristic letter," in which he said, " You are report- ed to have said to a gentleman in Richmond, that I am a bad man, and dangerous to the Confederacy, and that you desire me out of it. Just give me my pass- ports, and I will do for your Confederacy more than the devil has ever done I will quit the country !" This letter, and a visit from General Crittenden (who felt sensitive on this point), brought one from Benjamin* to the authorities at Knox- .,, . T . , . . , , 11-11 / i * December 22. ville, indicating his wish that Brownlow should be sent out 01 the Confederacy, and regretting the circumstances of his arrest and imprison- ment ; " only," as he said, because " color is given to the suspicion that he has been entrapped." He was finally released and sent to Nashville (then in possession of National troops) early in March. Dr. Brownlow was a type of the Loyalists of the mountain regions of that State, who suffered terribly during a great portion of the war. A minute record of the faithful and fearless patriotism of the people of East Tennessee during the struggle, and the cruel wrongs and sufferings which they endured a greater portion of that time, would make one of the most glorious and yet revolting chapters in the history of the late fierce conflict. Incidents of that patriotism and suffering will be observed, as we proceed in our narrative. Let us return a moment to the consideration of the other measure of the Confederate Congress, designed to force loyal men into a support of the re- bellion, namely, the Confiscation Act.* From the " Department of Justice," at the head of which was Judah P. Benjamin, went out instructions that all 1 This is from a sketch made by the author, in May, 1866. The tree was a vigorous red oak, standing on a slope overlooking the towji, a few rods northeastward of the Greenville Station. Some person commenced cut- ting it down a while after the execution, but was restrained by the consideration offered, that it misrht serve the purpose of a gallows for the punishment of some of those who were engased in the murder of the men who were hanged there. Near the root of the gallows limb (from which a rope is seen suspended) we observed a sear made by the passage of a Confederate cannon-ball throush the tree. Its place is marked by a black spot, in the picture. 8 See page 545, volume I., and page 38, volume II. THE GALLOWS-TREE. 1 40 PETTIQKU'S DENUNCIATIONS. persons, Americans or Europeans, having a domicile in the " Confederate States, and carrying on business or traffic within the States at war with the Confederacy," were alien enemies ; that the property, of every kind, of these persons should be seized and held, and that the receivers of the same should apply to the clerk of courts for writs of garnishment, 1 commanding persons suspected of holding in trust the property of an alien enemy to appear and answer such questions, under oath, touching such custody, as might be pro- pounded. The authorized persons making the seizures were furnished with a formula of questions for the garnishees, which implied the establishment of a court of inquisition of the most despotic kind. The citizen was asked, first, whether he held in trust any property belonging to an alien enemy ; secondly, what was the character of such property, and what disposition had been made of any profit, interest, or rent accruing from the use thereof; thirdly, whether the citizen so questioned had, since the 2 1 st day of May, 1861, been indebted to such alien enemy or enemies, and if so to what amount, and to what extent the debts had been discharged, and also to give the names of the creditors ; fourthly, whether he knew of any property or interest belonging to such alien enemies, and if so to tell where it might be found. The citizen was warned that it was his duty, according to the law, to answer all of these questions, under penalty of indictment for a high misdemeanor, punishable by heavy fines and imprisonment. Under this searching sequestration act a vast amount of property be- longing to owners in the loyal States was seized, swelling the entire loss to the inhabitants of those States by the repudiation of, or inability to pay, honest debts by the business men of the South, to about three hundred mil- lions of dollars. It was one of the strong arms of the despotism established by the conspirators, and few men had the boldness to oppose its operations. Yet the constitutionality of the act was questioned in the Confederate courts ; and in that of the district of Charleston, over which Judge Magrath* presided, it was opposed in open court by that stanch loyalist J. L. Pettigru, who, from the beginning of the rebellion until his death, defied the conspirators and their instruments. He was served with a writ of garnishment, and re- fused to obey it, telling the court plainly that such proceedings were no better than those which made the English Star Chamber and the Spanish Inquisition odious to every lover of liberty. " Was there ever a law like this endured, practiced, or heard of?" he asked. " It certainly is not found among the people from whom we de- rive the common law. No English monarch or Parliament has ever sanc- .1 AMT.S LOUIS PETTIGEU. 1 A writ of garnishment in English law is a warning or notice for a person to appear in court, or give infor- mation of any kind required. The person named was called a garnishee. 2 See page 49, volume I. THE POWER OF COURAGE AND PRINCIPLE. 41 tioned or undertaken such a thing. It is no more a part of the law of war than it is a part of the law of peace." The inquisitors quailed in the presence of the honest old patriot, and his example and his words blunted the keen edge of the law. 1 Its enforcement gradually declined, and it became almost a dead letter during the later period of the war. At the close of August, Congress and the chief council of the conspirators at Richmond had each finished its session, and both parties to the contest were preparing to put forth their utmost strength. Let us leave the con- sideration of these preparations, and whilst General McClellan is preparing the grand Army of the Potomac for a campaign, let us return to the observa- tion of the performances on the theater of war westward of the Alleghany Mountains. 1 Mr. Pettigru's boldness, and fidelity to principle while the terrible insanity of rebellion afflicted the people of his State, was most remarkable. He never deviated a line, in word or act, from the high stand of oppo- sition to the madmen, which he had taken at the beginning of the raving mania. And the respect which his courage and honesty wrung from those whose course he so pointedly condemned was quite as remarkable. The Legislature of South Carolina, during that period of wild tumult, elected him to the most important trust and the largest salary in their gift, namely, to codify the State laws. Williatn J. Grayson, a life-long friend of Pettigru, and who died during the siege of Charleston, at the age of seventy-five years, left, in manuscript, an interesting biographical study of his friend. Concerning Mr. Pettigru's action at the period we are considering, he wrote: "To induce the simple people to plunge into the volcanic fires of the revolution and war, they were told that the act of dissolution would produce no opposition of a serious nature ; that not a drop of blood would l> spilled ; that no man's flocks, or herds, or negroes, or houses, or lands would be plundered or destroyed ; that unbroken prosperity would follow the Ordinance of Secession ; that cotton -would control all Europe, and secure open ports and boundless commerce with the whole world for the Southern States. To such views Mr. Petti- gru was unalterably opposed. He was convinced that war, anarchy, military despotism would inevitably fol- low a dissolution of the Union; that secession would impart to the abolition party a power over slavery that nothing else could give them a power to make war on Southern institutions, to proclaim freedom to the negroes, to invoke and command the sympathy and aid of the whole world in carrying on a crusade on the Southern States. 11 u Mr. Pettigru saw that bankruptcy would follow war; that public fraud would find advocates in Richmond as well as in Washington. He opposed these schemes of disorder which have desolated the South. Their pro- jectors professed to protect her from possible evils, and involved her in present and terrible disasters. The people were discontented at seeing rats infesting the granaries of Southern industry, and were urged to set fire to the four corners of every Southern barn to get rid of the vermin. They were alarmed at attacks on slavery by such men as John Brown and his banditti, and proposed as a remedy to rush into war with the armed hordes of the whole world. For a bare future contingency, they proposed to encounter an enormous immediate evil." 42 POSITION OF NATIONAL TROOPS IN MISSOURI. CHAPTEK II. CIVIL AND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MIS8OURL E left General Lyon in possession of Booneville, Mis- souri, 1 from which he had driven the Confederates under Price and Jackson, on the 18th of June." These leaders, as we have ob- served, were satisfied that the northern part of the State was lost to the cause of Secession, for the time, and they endeavored to concentrate their troops with Ben McCulloch's more southern men, in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth. We also left Colonel Franz Sigel in the vicinity of Holla, pushing with eager Missouri loyalists toward the Confederate camps, on the borders of Kansas and Arkansas. 4 Colonel Sigel arrived at Springfield on the 23d of June, where he was informed that the Confederates, under Governor Jackson, were making their way from the Osage River in a southwesterly direction. He pushed on to Sarcoxie, a post-village in Jackson County, where he arrived to- ward the evening of the 28th, and learned that General Price, with about nine hundred troops, was encamped at Pool's Prairie, a few miles north of Neosho, the capital of Newton County, and that other State troops, under Jackson and Rains, were making their way in the same direction. It was important to prevent their junction. Sigel resolved to march first on Price, and capture or disperse his force, and then, turning northward, attack the other troops, and so open a communication with General Lyon, who, he had been informed (but incorrectly), had been fighting with the Confed- erates on the banks of the Little Osage. Sigel's march from Sarcoxie had just commenced, when a scout brought him word that Price had fled from Pool's Prairie to Elk Mills, thirty miles south of Neosho. He at once turned his attention to the troops north of him, who he supposed were endeavoring to make their way into Arkansas. He sent forward a detachment of two companies, under Captain Grone, with two field-pieces, toward Cedar Creek and Grand Falls, on the Neosho, to occupy a road in this supposed route of the Confederates, and to gain infor- mation, while he pushed on with the remainder of his command to Neosho, receiving greetings of welcome from the inhabitants on the way, who had been pillaged by the insurgents. He had already summoned Colonel Salo- mon, with his Missouri battalion, to join him at Neosho, and with this addi- 1 See page 642, volume I. See page 543, volume L BATTLE NEAR CARTHAGE. 43 tion to his force, he went forward to meet his foe, leaving a single rifle company, under Captain Conrad, to protect the loyal inhabitants there, with orders to retreat to Sarcoxie if necessary. Sigel encamped close by the south fork of the Spring River, southeast of Carthage, the capital of Jasper County, on the evening of the 4th of July, after a march of twenty-five miles, where he was informed that Jackson was nine or ten miles distant, in the direction of Lamar, the county seat of Barton County, with four or five thousand men. Sigel's force consisted of about five hundred and fifty men of the Third (his own) Missouri Regiment, and four hundred of the Fifth (Salomon's) Regiment, with two batteries of artillery, each consisting of four field-pieces in all about fifteen hundred men. With these troops, and with his baggage-train three miles in the rear, he slowly advanced to find his foe on the morning of the 5th, his skirmishers driving before them large numbers of mounted riflemen, who seemed to be simply gathering information. Six miles northward of Carthage they passed the Dry Fork Creek, and, after a brisk march of three miles farther, they came upon the Confederates, under Governor Jackson, assisted by Brigadier-Generals Rains, Clark, Parsons, and Slack. They had been marching that morning in search of Sigel, and were now drawn up in battle order on the crown of a gentle ascent. Sigel was soon convinced that his foe was vastly his superior, not only in numbers, but in cavalry, but was deficient in artillery. They had but a few old pieces, which were charged with trace-chains, bits of iron, and other missiles. Sigel therefore determined to make his own cannon play an im- portant part, for they were his chief reliance for success. The battle commenced at a little past ten o'clock by Sigel's field-pieces, under Major BischofF, and, after a desultory contest of over three hours, it was observed that the Confederate cav- alry under Rains were outflanking the Nationals, on the right and left. Sigel's baggage- train at the Dry Fork Creek was in danger, and he fell back to secure it. His antagonist slowly followed, but was kept at a respectful dis- tance by the Na- tional cannon, two of which were on each flank, and four in the rear, of the little Union army. The retreat was made in perfect order, and was but little interrupted by fighting, excepting at the bluffs at Dry Fork Creek, through which the road passed. There the Confederate cavalry massed on Sigel's front and tried to impede his progress. These were quickly dispersed by his guns, and by a vigorous charge of his infantry. FIELD Or OPERATIONS. 44 RETREAT TO SPRINGFIELD. LYON IN MOTION. Finding the presence of an overwhelming force (estimated at full five thousand men, including a heavy reserve) too great to be long borne with safety, Sigel continued his orderly retreat to the heights near Carthage, having been engaged in a running fight nearly all the way. The Confede- rates 'still pressed him sorely. He attempted to give his troops rest at the village, but the cavalry of his enemy, crossing Spring lliver at various points, hung so threateningly on his flank, and so menaced the Springfield road, that he continued his retreat to Sarcoxie without much molestation, the Confeder- ates relinquishing the pursuit a few miles from Carthage. The Nationals had lost in the battle thirteen killed and thirty-one wounded, all of whom were borne away by their friends. They also lost nine horses, a battery of four cannon, and "one baggage wagon. In the mean time, Captain Con- rad and his company of ninety men, who were left in Neosho, had been cap- tured by the Confederates. 1 The loss of the insurgents, according to their own account, was from thirty to forty killed, and from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty wounded. 2 They also lost forty-five men made prisoners, eighty horses, and a considerable number of shot-guns, with which Jackson's cavalry were armed. Being outnumbered by the Confederates, more than three to one, Colonel Sigel did not tarry at Sarcoxie, but continued his retreat by Mount Vernon to Springfield, where he was joined by General Lyon on the 1 3th," who took the chief command. It was a fortunate movement for Sigel ; for within twelve hours after the battle, Jackson was re-enforced by Generals Price and Ben McCulloch, who came with several thousand Mis- souri, Arkansas, and Texas troops. General Lyon had left Booneville in pursuit of the fugitive Confederates on the 3d of July, with a little army numbering about twenty-seven hundred men, with four pieces of artillery and a long baggage-train. The day was intensely hot. The commander was mounted on an iron-gray horse, accom- panied by his body-guard, composed of ten German butchers of St. Louis, who were noted for their size, strength, and horsemanship, and were all well mounted and heavily armed with pistols and sabers. He reached an im- portant ferry on the Grand River, a branch of the Osage, in Henry County, on the 7th, 6 where he was joined by three thousand troops from Kansas, under Major Sturgis. The whole force crossed the river, by means of a single scow, by ten o'clock on the 8th. In the mean time, two companies of cavalry, who crossed on the evening of the 7th, had pushed forward to gain the ferry on the Osage, twenty-two miles ahead. Near that point, in the midst of a dense forest, the main army reached the river in the afternoon of the 9th, when they were stirred by intense excitement, produced by intelligence of Colonel Sigel's fight near Carthage. Lyon was now eighty miles from Springfield. Satisfied of Sigel's peril, he decided to change his course, and to hasten to the relief of that officer, by forced marches. Early on the morning of the 10th, regardless of the in- tense heat and lack of sleep, the army moved from the south bank of the 1 Report of Colonel Sigel to Brigadier-General Sweeney, dated Springfield, Jnly llth, 1861. * Pollard's First Year of tlie War, page 133. It is believed that the entire loss of the Confederates was at least 800 men. LYON'S MARCH TO SPRINGFIELD. CONFEDERATE FORCE. 45 Osage, and soon striking a dense forest, sometimes pathless and dark, they were compelled to make their way among steep hills, deep gorges, swiftly running streams, miry morasses, ugly gullies washed by the rains, jagged rocks, and fallen timbers. At three o'clock in the afternoon, when the army halted for dinner, they were twenty-seven miles from their starting-place in the morning. The march was resumed at sunset, and was continued until three o'clock on the morning of the llth, when the commander ordered a halt. For forty-eight hours, most of the men had not closed their eyes in sleep. Within ten minutes after the order to halt was given, nine-tenths of the wearied soldiers were slumbering. They did not stop to unroll their blankets, or select a good spot for resting ; but officers and privates dropped upon the ground in deep deep. They had marched over a horrible road, during twenty-four hours, almost fifty miles. Early the next morning a courier brought intelligence of Sigel's safety in Springfield, and the remain- der of the march of thirty miles was made leisurely during the space of the next two days. 1 Lyou encamped near Springfield," and then prepared to contend with the overwhelming and continually increasing number of his ene- mies. Within the period of a few weeks, the Confederates had "^jfj 13 been driven into the southwestern conier of Missouri, on the bor- der of Kansas and Arkansas. Now they were making vigorous preparations to regain the territory they had lost. They had been largely re-enforced, and were especially strong in cavalry. At Cassville, the capital of Barry County, near the Arkansas line, on the great overland mail route, they established a general rendezvous ; and there, on the 29th of July, four Southern armies, under the respective commands of Generals Price, McCulloch. Pearce, and McBride, effected a junction. At that time General Lyon, with his little force daily diminishing by the expiration of the terms of enlistment, was confined in a defensive attitude to the immediate vicinity of Springfield. He had called repeatedly for re-en- forcements, to which no response was given. He waited for them long, but they did not come. Every day his position had become more perilous, and now the Confederates were weaving around him a strong web of real danger ; yet he resolved to hold the position at all hazards. 1 At the close of July, Lyon was informed that the Confederates were marching upon Springfield in two columns (in the aggregate, more than twenty thousand strong) ; one from Cassville, on the south, and the other from Sarcoxie, on the west, for the purpose of investing the National camp and the town. He determined to go out and meet them ; and, late in the afternoon of the 1st of August, his entire army (5,500 foot, 400 horse, and 18 guns), led by himself, moved toward Cassville, with the exception of a small force left behind to guard the city. 3 They bivouacked that night on Cave 1 Life of General A r at/ianil Lyon. By Ashbel Woodward, M. D. 1 On the 81st of July, Lyon wrote, saying : " I fear the enemy may become emboldened by onr want of activity. I have constant rumors of a very large force below, and of threats to attack us with overwhelming numbers. I should have a much larger force than I have, and be much better supplied." 3 Lyon's force at this time consisted of five companies of the First and Second Regulars, under Major Sturgls ; five companies of the First Missouri Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews; two companies of the Second Missouri, Major Osterhaus: three companies of the Third Missouri, Colonel Sigel ; Fifth Missouri, Colonel Salo- mon; First Iowa, Colonel B:ites; First Kansas, Colonel Deitzlcr; Second Kansas, Colonel Mitchell; two com- 46 THE BATTLE OF DUG SPRINGS. Creek, ten miles south of Springfield, and moved forward at an early hour in the morning, excessively annoyed by heat and dust, and intense thirst, for most of the wells and streams were dry. At Dug Springs, nineteen miles southwest of Springfield, they halted. They were in an oblong valley, five miles in length, and broken by projecting spurs of the hills, which formed wooded ridges. Soon after halting, they discovered, by clouds of dust at the other extremity of the valley, that a large body of men were there and in motion. These were Confederates, under General Rains. A battle-line was formed by the Nationals, and in that order the little army moved forward toward the enemy, led by a company of Regular Infantry, under Captain Steele, supported by another of the Fourth Regular Cavalry, under Captain Stanley, which held the advanced position on the left. Owing to the ridges in the valley, the real force of each party was easily concealed from the other, and afforded opportunities for surprises. And so it happened. While the van- guard of the Nationals was moving cautiously forward, followed by the main body, and skirmishers were exchanging shots briskly, a large force of Con- federates suddenly emerged from the woods, to cut off Steele's infantry from Stanley's cavalry. The latter (about a hundred and fifty strong) immediately drew up his men in proper order, and when the foe was within the range of their Sharp's carbines, they opened a deadly fire upon them. The latter numbered nearly five hundred. They returned the fire, and a regular battle seemed about to open, when a subordinate officer in Stanley's command shouted " Charge !" and twenty-five horsemen dashed in among the Confederate in- fantry, hewing them down with their sabers with fearful slaughter. Stanley could do nothing better than sustain the irregular order ; but before he could reach the heroic little band with re-enforcements, the Confederates had broken and fled in the wildest confusion. "Are these men or devils they fight so?" asked some of the wounded of the vanquished, when the conflict was over. When this body of Confederate infantry fled, a large force of their cavalry appeared emerging from the woods. Captain Totten brought two of his guns to bear upon them from a commanding eminence with such precision, that his shells fell among and scattered them in great disorder, for their frightened horses became unmanageable. The whole column of the Confederates now with- drew, leaving the valley in possession of the National troops. Thus ended THE BATTLE OF DUG SPRINGS. Lyon's loss was eight men killed and thirty wound- ed, and that of the Confederates was about forty killed and as many wounded. The Nationals moved forward the next morning in search of foes, but were disappointed. They encamped at Curran, in Stone County, twenty-six miles from Springfield, and remained in that vicinity until the next day, when General Lyon called a council of officers, 1 and it was determined to return to Springfield. The army moved in that direction on the following morning,' and reached Springfield on the 6th.* August 4, 1S61. panies First Regular Cavalry, Captaias Stanley and Carr; three companies First Regular Cavalry (recruits). Lieutenant Lathrop; Captain Totten's Battery, Regular Artillery, six guns, 6 and 12-pounders; Lieutenant Du Bois' Battery, Regular Artillery, four guns, C and 12-pounders; Captain Schaeffer's Battery, Missouri Volunteer Artillery, six guns, G and 12-pounders. Genenil Lyon gave the most important secondary commands to Briga- dier-General Sweeney, Colonel Sigel, and Major Sturgis. 1 The officers called into the council were Brigadier-General Sweeney, Colonel Sigel, Majors Schofleld, Shepherd, Conant and Sturgis. and Captains Totttn and Schaeffi-r. 5 Correspondence of the Kew York World and Herald ; Lift of General Lyon. by Dr. Woodward, pages 297 to 801, inclusive. MARCH OF THE CONFEDERATES ON SPRINGFIELD. 47 The events of the past few days had given great encouragement to botli officers and men. The affair at Dug Springs impressed General McCulloch (a part of whose column it was that had been so smitten there) with the importance of great circumspection, and, after consultation with some of his officers, he fell back, and moving westward, formed a junction with the weaker force under Price, then advancing from Sarcoxie. Information reached them at Cane Creek that Lyon's force was immensely superior, and McCulloch counseled a retro- grade movement. Price entertained a different opinion, and favored an immediate advance. His officers agreed with him, and he asked McCulloch to loan him arms, that his destitute Missouri soldiers, who were willing to fight, might be allowed to do so. McCulloch refused. So the matter stood, when, on the same evening," an order was received by McCulloch, from Major-General Polk, 1 ordering an advance upon Lyon. He " "Jj'j* ' called a council of his officers, exhibited the order to Price, and offered to march immediately on Springfield, upon condition that he should have the chief command of the army. Price, anxious to drive the Nationals out of Missouri, yielded to the Texan, saying he was " not fighting for distinction but for the defense of the liberties of his country. He was willing to surrender his command and his life, if necessary, as a sacrifice to the cause."* On taking chief command, General McCulloch issued an order,* direct- ing all unarmed men to remain in camp, and all others to put their arms in order, provide themselves with fifty rounds of ammunition each, and be in readiness for marching at midnight. He divided the army into three columns ; the first commanded by himself, the second by General Pearce, of Arkansas, and the third by General Price ; and at the appointed hour the whole force, full twenty thousand strong, in fine spirits, moved toward Springfield, expecting to meet Lyon eight miles dis- tant from their camp, where there were strong natural defenses. They approached the position cautiously, at sunrise, but were disappointed. They pushed forward, unmindful of the intense heat, the stifling dust, and the lack of water ; and on the night of the 1 Oth the wearied army encamped at Big Spring, a mile and a half from "Wilson's Creek, and about ten and a half miles south of Springfield. They were in a sad plight. Their baggage-train was far behind, and so were their beef cattle. The troops had not eaten any thing for twenty-four hours, and for ten days previously they had received only half rations. They satisfied the cravings of hunger by eating green corn on the way, but without a particle of salt or a mouthful of meat. They had no blankets, nor tents, nor clothes, excepting what they had on their backs, and four-fifths of them were barefooted. " Billy Barlow's dress at a circus," wrote one of their number, " would be decent in comparison with that of almost any one, from the major-general down to the humblest pri- vate." On the 9th, the whole' Confederate army moved to Wilson's Creek, at a point southwest of Springfield, where that stream flows through a narrow valley, inclosed on each side by gentle sloping hills covered with patches of 1 See page 540, volume I. * Pollard's First Year of the War, page 135. 48 LYON PREPARES FOR BATTLE. low trees and fields of corn and wheat. They encamped on both sides of the creek, and for nearly two days subsisted wholly upon green corn. Their effective force, according to the best estimates, was about fifteen thousand men, of whom six thousand were horsemen. The latter were indifferently armed with flint-lock muskets, rifles, and shot-guns ; and there were many mounted men not armed at all. They had fifteen pieces of artillery. 1 Gen- eral Price reported the number of Missouri State troops at five thousand two hundred and twenty-one. The entire number of Confederates encamped on Wilson's Creek appears to have been about twenty-three thousand. General Lyon had now only a little more than five thousand effective men, and prudence seemed to dictate a retreat northward rather than risk a battle under such disadvantages. But he knew that a retreat at that time would ruin the Union cause in Missouri, and he was willing to risk every thing for that cause. He was conscious of the extreme peril by which his little army was surrounded, but he had reason to hope for success, for he was in command of good officers, and brave and well-armed men. Yet, in a council of war, which he called on the 9th, these officers, with great unani- mity, favored the evacuation of Springfield, in order to save the troops ; but General T. W. Sweeney vehemently opposed it, and urged making a stand where they were, and withdrawing from Springfield only on com- A i86i St9 ' pulsi 011 - 9 O n the same day" each party in the contest prepared to advance upon the other within twenty-four hours. Necessity compelled Lyon to go out and meet his foe, for Springfield, situ- ated on an open plain, could not be made defensible by means at his command. Every avenue leading from it would soon be closed by the overwhelming numbers of the Confederates, and the loss of his whole command might be the consequence. Every thing now depended upon secrecy and skill of move- ment, and he resolved to march out at night, surprise his enemy, and by a bold stroke scatter his forces. Twice already he had appointed the hour for such a movement to begin, but each time prudence compelled him to post- pone it. Finally, on Friday, the 9th of August, he prepared to execute his plan that night. He divided his little army into two columns, and made dispositions to strike the Confederate camp at two points simultaneously. 3 At the same time, as we have observed, the Confederates were preparing for a similar movement. They were divided into four columns, and ordered to march at nine o'clock on the night of the 9th, & so as to stir- b August. round Springfield and attack the National Army at dawn the next morning. On account of a gathering storm and the intense darkness, McCul- 1 Pollard's First Year of the War, page 136. J Woodruff's Life of Lyon, page 308. General Sweeney had been In Springfield some time, from which place he had Issued a proclamation, on the 4th of July, commanding all disloyalists to cease their opposition to the Government and to take an oath of allegiance. 8 Lyon's column consisted of three brigades, commanded respectively by Major 8. D. Stnrgis, Liontennnt- Colonel Andrews, and Colonel Deitzler. Major Stursis's brigade was composed of :i battalion of Regular Infantry, under Captain Plummer, Captain Totten's light battery of six pieces, a battalion of Missouri Volunteers, under Major Osterhaus, Captain "Wood's company of mounted Kansas Volunteers, and a company of Regular Cavalry, under Lieutenant Canfleld. Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews's brigade consisted of Captain Steele's battalion of Regulars, Lieutenant Du Bois' light battery of four pieces, and the First Missouri Volunteers. Deitzlor's brigade was composed of the First and Second Kansas and First Iowa Volnnteers, and two hundred mounted Missouri Home Guards. Sigel's column consisted of the Third and Fifth Missouri Volunteers, one company of cavalry, under Captain Carr, another of dragoons, under Lieutenant Farrand, of the First Infantry, and a company of re- cruits, with a light battery of six guns, under Lieutenant Lothrop. OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK 49 loch countermanded the order, and his army, wearied with waiting and watching, was still in camp on Wilson's Creek on the morning of the 10th. 1 This was a fortunate circumstance for Lyon. He had moved at the appointed hour ; and as McCulloch, in anticipation of his march upon Springfield, had withdrawn his advanced pickets, and, feeling no apprehensions of an attack l)y Lyon with his small force, had not thrown them out again, the Nationals were afforded an opportunity for a complete surprise of their foe. The two columns of the National Army were led respectively by Lyon and Sigel. The former, with Major Sturgis as his second in command, marched from Springfield with the main body, at five o'clock in the after- noon of the 9th," to fall upon the Confederates in front, leaving Sigel, with twelve hundred men and six guns, to gain their rear " isli. 8 by their right. Lyon's force arrived within sight of the Con- federate guard-fires at one o'clock in the morning, where they lay on their arms until dawn. Sigel in the mean time had left his position a little south of Springfield, and was in the Confederate rear at the appointed time, ready to strike the meditated blow. Lyon formed a line of battle at five o'clock, 4 and moved 6Au 10 forward to attack the extreme northern point of the Confederate camp, occupied by General Rains, closely followed by Totten's Battery, which was supported by a strong reserve. The Confederate pickets were driven in by Lyon's skirmishers, and the Nationals were within musket- range of the hostile camp in front of Rains before the latter was aware of their approach. Rains immediately communicated the astounding fact to General Price. He told him truly, that the main body of the National Army was close upon him, and he called earnestly for re-enforcements. McCulloch was at Price's quarters when the alarming news arrived, and he hastened at once to his own, to make dispositions for battle. General Lyon pushed on with vigor when the Confederate camp pickets were driven in. The mounted Home Guards and Captain Plummer's battal- ion were thrown across Wilson's Creek, near a sharp bend, and moved on a line with the advance of the main body, for the purpose of preventing the left flank of the Nationals being turned. Steadily onward the main column marched along a ravine, when, on ascending a ridge, it confronted a large force of Confederate foot-soldiers, composed of the infantry and artillery of Price's command, under Generals W. Y. Slack, J. H. McBride, J. B. Clark, and M. M. Parsons. These were all Missouri State Guards. Dispositions for a contest were at once made by both parties. The battalions of Major Osterhaus, and two companies of the First Missouri Volunteers, under Cap- tains Yates and Cavender, of the Nationals, deployed as skirmishers. At the same time the left section of Captain Totten's Battery, under Lieutenant Sokalski, fired upon their foe. A few moments afterward, the remainder of the battery, planted on an eminence more to the right and front, opened with such destructive effect, that the Confederates broke, and were driven by Lyon's infantry to the hills overlooking their camp. . To seize and occupy the crest of the hills from which the Confederates ' Report of General Price to Governor Jackson, August 12th, 1861. Pollard, in his Firnt Tear of the War, page 137, says, that after receiving orders to march, on the evening of the 9th, the troops made preparation, and got up a dance before their camp-fires. This dance was kept up until a late hour. VOL. II. 4 50 BATTLE OF WILSON'S GREEK. had been driven was most desirable, and for that purpose the First Missouri, First Kansas, and First Iowa, with Totten's Battery, pushed forward, Major Osterhaus's battalion being on the extreme right, his own right resting on the side of an abrupt ravine. A line of battle was immediately formed on the hill, with the Missouri troops in front, the Kansas troops sixty yards to the left, on the opposite side of a ravine, and the Iowa troops still farther to the left. Totten's Battery was planted on an eminence, between the Missouri and Kansas troops ; and Dubois's Battery, supported by Steele's battalion, was placed about eighty yards to the left and rear of it, in a position to play upon a concealed Confederate battery on the crest of a ridge across the creek, which swept the position of the Nationals. In the mean time, Totten attacked a masked battery on the left bank of the creek, whose position could only be known by the flash and smoke of its guns. Directly in front, under Totten's guns, lay the camp of General Rains, entirely deserted. The battle now became general. A very severe contest was raging on the right, where the First Missouri was fighting in thick underwood. It was a contest involving a struggle between superior arms well used, and over- whelming numbers. As the ranks of the Confederates were penetrated and gaps were made, they were immediately filled ; and in this terrible conflict the line of the Missourians was sadly thinned. Totten was ordered up to their support, and his canister-shot made awful lanes through a large' body of Confederates, who, by the trick of carrying a Union flag, approached quite near for the purpose of capturing his cannon. The deception was dis- covered in time to allow Totten to punish them severely, and full half an hour his and Dubois's Battery made a continual roar. In the mean time, Plummer's battalion, in the bend of the stream, was encountering a large body of infantry in a corn-field. The fight there was terrific for a while, when over two thousand Confederates came pouring into the open field from the woods like a torrent, threatening to overwhelm and annihilate the Nationals in an instant. The latter, perceiving their peril, retreated in good order, while shells from Dubois's Battery, thrown with precision, fell among the pursuers with such fearful effect, that they turned and fled. The Con- federates had been struggling vigorously and bravely to turn the left flank of the Nationals ; but now, after such fearful loss and demoralization, they abandoned the attempt. Whilst Lyon was thus carrying on the battle on the Confederate front, Sigel, whose assigned duty was to turn their right, by the rear, had opened fire. With his twelve hundred men, and battery of six cannon, he had reached a position within a mile of their camp at dawn. He had moved with great skill and caution, and his alert little force had cut off several squads of their enemy in such a way that no intelligence of his approach could reach the Confederate Army. Almost the first intimation given them of his presence was the bursting of his shells over their tents near the middle of their encampment, at the moment when the booming of Lyon's heavy guns was heard in another part of the field. The dismayed Confederates, composed of the regiment of Colonel Churchill, Greer's Texan Rangers, and nearly seven hundred mounted Missourians, commanded by Colonel Brown, fled, leaving every thing behind them ; when Sigel's men rushed across the creek, traversed the desolate camp, and formed almost in its center. The BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK. Confederates immediately reappeared in strong force of infantry and cavalry, when Sigel- brought his artillery into a commanding position, and with it drove his foes into the woods. Hearing the continued roar of Lyon's heavy guns, Sigel now pressed for- ward to attack the Confederate line of battle in the rear. He had passed along the Fayette- ville road, as far as Sharp's farm, with about a hundred prisoners whom he had captured, when the firing at the northward almost ceased. Seeing at the same time large numbers of the Confederates moving southward, he believed that Lyon had won a victory; and that belief was strength- ened, when it was reported to him that National sol- diers were ap- proaching his line. Orders were given not to fire in that direction, and flags of friendly greeting were waved, when suddenly the advancing troops raised the Confederate banner, and two batteries, directly in front of Sigel's force, opened a heavy and destructive fire upon the Nationals. The Confederates, strong in num- bers, and dressed like Sigel's men, had so deceived that commander, that they were allowed to approach within less than musket-shot distance before the trick was discovered. The consternation in his ranks was terrible, and every arm seemed paralyzed for a moment. In the sudden confusion the Confed- erates rushed forward, killed the artillery horses, and, turning the flanks of the infantry, caused them to fly in the wildest disorder. They rushed into bushes and by-roads, incessantly attacked by large numbers of Arkansas and Texas cavalry. The entire battery was captured ; and, in the course of a few minutes, of his twelve hundred men, Sigel had only about three hundred left. He saved these and one of his cannon, 1 but lost his regimental flag. Such now composed the entire remnant of Lyon's second column. 4 PLAN OF THE BATTLE OP WILSON'S OKEEK. 1 Captain Flagg fastened ropes to this gun, and made some of the Confederate prisoners draw it off the field. The composition of Sigel's corps was not well fitted for a trying position. The term of service of the Fifth Missouri had expired, and the engagement to remain eight days longer ended on the day before the battle. 52 BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK. There had been a lull in the tempest of war, when this successful strata- gem of the Confederates was performed. Now the storm burst with in- creased fury, and the fight was terrific all along the line, as we shall observe presently. We left Lyon's column contending with the Confederates in front, when each party in turn had been compelled to give way, but, equally brave and determined, had renewed the contest with vigor. At length, as we have seen, when Sigel was pushing along the Fayetteville road, to strike the Con- federate rear, the firing had ceased along almost the entire line. The excep> tion was on the extreme right of the National forces, where the First Mis- souri, assisted by the First Iowa and Kansas regiments, were valiantly beating back the foe, in their attempts to turn that flank. They were patiently carrying on an unequal contest with a superior force, though decimated, during over four hours' hard fighting. They were almost fainting with weari- ness and thirst, after having repeatedly driven back their enemy, when a heavy body of fresh Confederates were seen hurrying forward to give them a crushing blow. The quick eye and judgment of General Lyon saw the peril of his comrades, and he ordered the Second Kansas to their support. He rode forward himself, and perceiving the danger greater than he apprehended, ordered Totten to send aid from his battery for the right of the contending Nationals. Lieutenant Sokalski was immediately ordered forward with a sec- tion, and prompt relief was afforded by his skillful use of his guns. A new danger to the Nationals now appeared. Eight hundred Confede- rate cavalry had formed a line of battle, unobserved, behind a ridge, and suddenly dashed toward the National- rear, where some Kansas troops were guarding ambulances for the wounded. Volleys from infantry did not check their movement ; but when they were within two hundred yards of Totten's Battery, that officer suddenly wheeled his guns, turned them upon the horsemen, and opened such a deadly fire that they and their beasts fell in heaps. The effect was marvelous. Those mounted men, who had just been prouldy scorning all opposition, and feeling sure of turning the tide of victory in favor of the Confederates with very little more fighting, were now suddenly scattered in confusion. The check immediately became a rout, and every man in the saddle sought the shelter of the woods or intervening ridges. Meanwhile the support of Steele's Battery was trans- ferred from Dubois's to Totten's. These had just formed in battle line when a very heavy body of Confederates came pouring out of the woods on Lyon's front and flank. Instantly the hurricane of war was again in full career over ,that hard-fought field. Backward and forward the contending lines swayed, their fronts often within a few yards of each other. Every effective man in Lyon's column was now engaged. For an hour the conflict was terrible, and all that time it seemed as if a feather's weight would turn the scale in favor of one or the other. Lyon was seen continually moving along the lines wherever the storm raged most furiously, encouraging his men by brave words and braver deeds. Very early in this fierce .engagement his horse was shot. Then he received a wound in the leg ; another in the head soon The men sorving the cannon were taken from the infantry, and were mostly recruits. Many officers hnd left, and a greater portion of the men of the Third Regiment were imperfectly drilled, and had never been under flro before. DEATH OF GENERAL LYON. 53 followed, when, partially stunned, he walked a few paces to the rear and said to Major Schofield, despondingly, " I fear the day is lost." " No, Gene- ral, let us try once more," was the reply. The commander soon rallied, and, regardless of the blood still flowing from his wounds, he mounted the horse of one of Major Sturgis's orderlies, and placing himself in front of the Second Kansas, who were led by the gallant Colonel Mitchell, he swung his hat over his head, and calling loudly for the troops to follow, dashed forward with a desperate determination to gain the victory. Mitchell fell severely wounded, and his troops asked, " Who shall lead us ?" " I will lead you," said the chief; *' come on, brave men !" In a few moments afterward a rifle-ball entered his left side and passed through his body near the heart. He fell in the arms of his body-servant, Albert Lehman, saying : " Lehman, I am going," and expired a few seconds afterward. It was about nine o'clock in the morning when General Lyon fell, and the command devolved upon Major Sturgis. The Confederates had just been repulsed along the whole line, and for twenty minutes there was another lull in the storm. Taking advantage of this respite, Sturgis consulted with his officers. The little army was dreadfully shattered, and its beloved leader was slain. In its front were at least twenty thousand men, of whom two- thirds were effective soldiers. The Nationals had then been without water nearly thirty hours, and a supply could be had only at Springfield, twelve miles distant. Certain defeat seemed to await the little band. The loss of Sigel's column was not then known. His silence was ominous. If he had retreated, nothing was left for Sturgis to do but to follow his example. The great question to be decided was, " Is retreat possible ?" It was under con- sideration when the council was suddenly broken up by the appearance of a heavy body of infantry advancing from the hill on which Sigel's guns had been heard. Above them was seen waving the banner of the Union. Pre- parations were made to form a junction with them, and they had approached to a covered position within a short distance of Sturgis's line, when a battery upon a hill in the rear opened a heavy fire upon the Nationals, and the approaching troops displayed the Confederate flag. For the third time during the battle the Union soldiers had been deceived by this stratagem. In this case the Confederates came, having an appear- ance exactly like Sigel's men, and the battery with which they announced their true character was composed of Sigel's captured, guns ! Their voice was the signal for a renewal of the conflict, and they were speedily silenced by Dubois, supported by Osterhaus and a remnant of the First Missouri. The battle raged fiercely for a time. Totten's Battery, supported by Iowa and Regular troops, in the center of the National line, was the special object of attack. The two armies were sometimes within a few feet of each other, and faces were scorched by the flash of a foeman's gun. The Union column stood like a rock in the midst of turbulent waves, dashing them into foam. Its opponents were vastly its superior in numbers. At length its line, pressed by an enormous weight, began to bend. At that critical moment Captain Granger dashed forward from the rear with the support of Dubois's Battery, consisting of portions of the First Kansas, First Missouri, and First Iowa Regiments. These poured upon the Confederates a volley so destructive that their right wing recoiled, leaving the earth strewn with their dead and 54 THE NATIONALS WITHDRAWN FROM SPRINGFIELD. wounded. The confusion caused by this disaster spread over the entire Con- federate line, and in broken masses they fell back to the shelter of the woods. At the same time, their wagon-train was on fire, its huge columns of black smoke in the distance giving heart to the Nationals by its seeming indications of a design on the part of the enemy to fly. But this they did not do. They held the field. Thus ended, at eleven o'clock in the morning," the BATTLE OP A is6i t10 ' WILSON'S CREEK,' after a struggle of five or six hours, which was not surpassed in intensity and prowess, on both sides, during the great war that followed. 2 The National loss was between twelve and thirteen hundred, and that of the Confederates was, according to the most careful estimate, full three thousand. 3 The shattered National troops were in no condition to follow up the advantage which they had gained in the closing contest. Their strength and their ammunition were nearly exhausted, and nothing remained for them to do but to fall back to Springfield. The order for that movement was given at the close of the battle, and the little army, joined on the way by a portion of the remnant of Sigel's column, reached the old camp, still under the protection of a body of Home Guards, at five o'clock in the afternoon. In the hurry of retreat, the body of General Lyon was left behind, but it was subsequently recovered. 4 Under the general command of Colonel Sigel, the entire Union force left Springfield the next morning* at three o'clock, and in good order retreated to Holla, one hundred and twenty-five miles distant, in the direction of St. Louis, safely conducting a Government train, five miles in length, and valued at one million five hundred thousand dollars. 1 The Confederates called this the Battle of Oak Hill. 2 The example of Lyon in the campaign, which for him ended at Springfield, inspired all of his followers with the most soldierly qualities, and they were eminently displayed afterward. From his little army a large number of commanders emanated, and were conspicuous, especially in the West. Two year* afterward, a writer in the Detroit Tribune said : " There was present at "Wilson's Creek the usual complement of officers for a force of five thousand men. From them have been made six major-generals, and thirteen brigadiers; colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and majors by the score have sprung from those who were then either line or non-com- missioned officers. From one company of the First Iowa Infantry thirty-seven commissioned officers are now in the service. Similarly, one company of the First Missouri has contributed thirty-two. It is a curious fact, that, of the officers who survived the battle of Wilson's Creek, not one has been killed in battle, and only one has died from disease. In every battle for the Union the heroes of this terrible contest are found, and nowhere have they disgraced their old record. ' Is it not worth ten years of life to be able to say, I was in tho campaign with Lyon ?' " A poet of the day, apostrophizing the Spirit of Lyon as a terror to the conspirators, wrote : " For wheresoe'er thy comrades stand To face the traitors, as of yorn, , Thy prescient spirit shall command. And lead the charge once more." 8 See reports of Major Sturgis, August 20th, 1861 ; of Colonel Sigel, Angnst 18th, 1861, and of the subordinate officers of Lyon's army ; also, reports of Generals Price and McCulloch and their subordinate officers. The National loss was reported at 223 killed, 721 wounded, and 292 missing. McOulloch repotted the Confederate loss at 265 killed, 800 wounded, and 30 missing. At the same time, he reported the National loss to be over 2,000. He had previously said to a National officer, who was with a party at his quarters, under a flag of truce, "Your loss was very great, but ours was four times yours." See Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War. General Price, in his report ( August 12th, 1861), says the loss of his command was nearly 700, or nearly one- fifth of his entire force. 4 Lyon's body was placed in an ambulance to be moved from the field, but in the hurry of departure it was left. From Springfleld, a surgeon with attendants was sent back for it, and General Price sent it to the town in his own wagon. In the confusion of abandoning Springfield, the next morning, it was again left behind, when, after being carefully prepared for burial by two members of Brigadier-General Clark's staff, it was delivered to the care of Mrs. Phelps (wife of J. S. Phelps, a former member of Congress from Missouri, and a stanch Union man), who caused it to be buried. A few days afterward it was disinterred nml sont to St. Louis, and from thei-e it was conveyed to its final resting-place in a churchyard at Eust Hartford, in Connecticut. MILITARY AND CIVIL AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI. 55 The Confederates, so greatly superior in numbers, did not follow, thereby acknowledging the groundlessness of their claim to a victory, which was so exultingly-made. 1 Indeed, McCulloch, in his first official report, only said of the Nationals, "They have met with a signal repulse." It was not even that. The Union forces reached Rolla, a point of railway communication with St. Louis, on the 1 9th of 'August, where " Camp Good Hope " was established. The southern portion of Missouri was now left open to the sway of the Con- federates, and they were securing important footholds in the vicinity of the Mississippi River. In the mean time, Harris, one of Governor Jackson's brigadiers, had been making a formidable display of power in Northeastern Missouri He had rallied a considerable force at Paris, and commenced the work of destroying the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railway. He was driven away by loyal forces under Colonel Smith, when he organized guerrilla par- ties to harass and plunder the Union people. Finally, with twenty-seven hundred men, he joined General Price before Lexington. Other organized bands of Secessionists had been operating in Northeastern Missouri at the same time, and had compelled the Unionists to organize and arm themselves for defense. The latter, under Colonel Moore, formed a camp at Athens. The Secessionists also organized ; and on the 5th of August, nearly fifteen hundred of them, led by Martin Green, and furnished with three pieces of cannon, fell upon Moore's force, of about four hundred in number, in the village of Athens, where the assailants were repulsed and utterly routed. The* Unionists now flocked to Moore's victorious standard ; and these being aided by General Pope, the Secessionists north of the Mis- souri River were soon made to behave very circumspectly. In the mean time, the loyal civil authorities of Missouri were making efforts to keep the State from the vortex of secession. The popular Conven- tion, which had taken a stand in favor of the Union, as we have observed,* reassembled at Jefferson City on the 22d of July, and proceeded to reorganize civil government for the State, which had been broken up by the flight of the Executive and other officers, and the dispersion of the legislators, many of whom were in the ranks of the enemies of the Government. The Conven- tion declared the offices of Governor, Lieutenant-Govemor, and Secretary of State, to be vacant, by a vote of fifty-six to twenty-five. They also declared the seats of the members of the General Assembly vacant, by a vote of fifty-two to twenty-eight." On the following day they pro- * ceeded to the election of officers for a provisional government, 3 and appointed the first Monday in November following as the time for the people l'M-h telegraphed to L. Pope Walker, at Richmond : "We have gained a great victory over the enemy." General Price spoke of it as "a brilliant victory," ' achieved upon a hard-fought field,'' and said the Confederates had " scattered far and wide the well-appointed army which the usurper at Washington " had been for more than six months gathering. The Confederate " Congress," at Richmond, on the 21st of August, in the preamble to a resolution of thanks tcndereil to McCulloch and his men, declared that it had li pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe to the arms of the Confederate States another glorious and important victory;" while the newspaper press exhibited the greatest jubilation. " The next word will be," shouted the New Orleans Picayune of the 17th of August, u ' On to St. Louis !' That taken, the power of Lincolnism is broken in the whole West ; and instead of shouting 'Hoi for Richmond!' and 'Ho! for New Orleans!' there will be hurrying to and fro, among the frightened magnates at Washington, and anxious inquiries of what they shall do to save themselves from the vengeance to come." * See prise 4R2. volume I. Hamilton R. Gamble, Provisional Governor; Willard P. Hall, Lieutenant-Governor; and Mordecai Oliver, Secr-ta:y of State. 56 CONTEST BETWEEN LOYALISTS AND SECESSIONISTS. to elect persons to fill the same offices. After transacting other .necessary business, the Convention issued an Address to the people, in which the state of public affairs was clearly set forth, and the dangers to the State, in conse- quence of the hostile movements of the Secessionists within its borders and invaders from without, were as plainly portrayed. The treason of the Gov- ernor and his associates was exposed, whereby the action of the Convention in organizing a provisional government was justified. On the 3d of August, the Provisional Governor issued a proclamation to the people, calculated to allay their apprehension concerning one of their special interests. "No countenance," he said, "will be afforded to any scheme, or to any conduct, calculated in any degree to interfere with the institution of slavery existing in the State. To the very utmost extent of executive power that institution will be protected." This assurance was a mordant for the loyalty of the Union-loving slaveholders, and the new pro- visional government received the confidence and support of the majority of the people. Large numbers of the disaffected inhabitants took an oath of allegiance, 1 and the friends of order were greatly encouraged. Whilst the loyal State Convention and the provisional government were laboring to bring order out of chaos in Missouri, the leaders in rebellion O O ' there were making the strongest efforts to secure the absolute control of the o o Commonwealth. On the day when the Convention sent forth its address, the disloyal Lieutenant-Governor (Thomas C. Reynolds), then at New Ma- drid, on the Mississippi River, issued a proclamation to the people of the State, in which he declared that, acting as Chief Magistrate during the tem- porary absence of Governor Jackson, he had returned to proclaim, under the provisions of an act of the disloyal legislature, the absolute severance of Missouri from the Union. "Disregarding forms, and looking to realities," he said, "I view any ordinance for the separation from the North, and union with the Confederate States, as a mere outward ceremony to give notice to others of an act already consummated in the hearts of her people," and that, consequently, " no authority of the United States will hereafter be permitted in Missouri." With such views of the political rights of the people, it was natural for him to consign them to the inflictions of a military despotism; BO, in the same proclamation, he announced that, by invitation of Governor Jackson, General Pillow, commander of the Tennessee troops in the Confed- erate service, had entered Missouri, 2 and that he was empowered " to make 1 The following is a copy of the oath which the Confederate leaders had compelled the citizens to take: "Know all men, that I, , of the County of , State of Missouri, do solemnly swear that I will bear true allegiance to the State of Missouri, and support the Constitution of the State, and that I will not give aid, comfort, information, protection, or encouragement to the enemies or opposers of the Missouri State Guard, or of their allies, the Armies of the Confederate States, upon the penalty of death for treason. 1 ' 2 General Pillow landed with his troops at New Madrid, at near the close of July. His first order issued there was on the 2Sth, prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors to his soldiers. He had sugsested this move- ment into Missouri at an early period, as one of vast importance in his plans for seizing Bird's Point and Cairo. Whilst engaged in strongly fortifying Memphis, Randolph, and one or two other points on the Tennessee shore from Middle Tennessee. The threatening aspect of affairs in loyal East Tennessee at that time so alarmed Harris that he hesitated, and telegraphed to Pillow on the 22d of June, as follows: " I still approve, but cannot send troops from here until matters in East Tennessee are settled." Pillow was disappointed and annoyed, ami PILLOW AND JEFF. THOMPSON. 57 and enforce such civil police regulations as he may deem necessary for the security of his forces, the preservation of order and discipline in his camp, and the protection of the lives and property of the citizens ;" in other words, martial law was established Avithin indefinite limits by this avowed usurper of the rights of the people. He clothed M. Jeff. Thompson, 1 one of Jackson's Missouri brigadiers, with the same power; arid he and Pillow, and W. J. Hardee (who had abandoned his flag, joined the insurgents, and was com- missioned a brigadier in the Confederate Army), now held military posses- sion of the southeastern districts of the Commonwealth, and made vigorous preparations to co-operate with Price and his associates in "expelling the enemy from the State." Pillow assumed the pompous title of" Liberator of Missouri" and his orders and dispatches were commenced, "Head-Quarters Army of Liberation." Governor Jackson, who had been to Richmond to make arrangements for on the following day he wrote to the Governor, saying: "I think it exceedingly unfortunate that yon have suspended the movements forward against Bird's Point and Cairo for the relief of Missouri. The main body of the force at these two points has been withdrawn, in consequence of the pressure in the East and the rising up of Missouri, and the work of taking these points would now be of comparatively easy accomplishment. If my move- ments are to be suspended until East Tennessee ceases to sulk and becomes loyal, it will defer my action to a period when I cannot assume the offensive state. In my judgment, two, three, or four regiments is a force sufficient for any probable contingency in view of the position of East Tennessee. Without aid from the forces of Middle Tennessee I have not the means of advancing, nor will I attempt it. In ten days the enemy will, in all proba- bility, increase his force at Cairo, and will have his three gunboats, mounting 30 guns, at Cairo, and then it would be madness to attempt a dislodgment." Then, aiid for some time afterward, the great want of the Army of Tennessee was arms. In July, Pillow issued an order directing the gathering up of all the rifles in private hands in Western Tennessee, for the purpose of having them made of uniform bore and devoted to the public use. In his appeal to the people, he said: "Seventy thousand additional troops must be raised to protect the country. These troops can be armed only by the country rifles being procured, and thus converted. . . These rifles will give you no protection when scattered over the country in your houses. Nothing will save the coun- try from being overrun and devastated by a more than savage foe, but arms in the hands of organized and drilled troops." Workshops for the purpose of changing these arms were employed at Memphis, under Captain Hunt, Asents were appointed to collect the rifles, who were authorized to give certificates of purchase, the weapons to be afterwards paid for by the Confederate government. Pillow's MS. Order Book. Among a mass of autograph letters before me is one from General S. B. Anderson to General Pillow, dated May 18th, 1861, in which he makes an important disclosure concerning evident preparations for revolt having been made by the authorities of Tennessee, several months before the election of Mr. Lincoln. He says : " I am using every effort to collect together the, arms of the State issued- to volunteer companies, raised for political purposes and otherwise, and now disbanded; and in looking over the bonds given for arms, as found in the Secretary of State's oflice, I find that on the 4fc of July last [I860], there was issued to W. J. Hendricks, J. E. Crowder, E. E. Moody, and E. Winslow, of Lagrange, West Tenn., the following arms : 6-1 swords and 128 pistols. These arms are worth looking after, and I would respectfully suggest to you to have them looked after and gathered up, if not in the hands of such men as are going to take the field." 1 Thompson, who became a notorious guerrilla chief, like Pillow, seemed fond of issuing proclamations and writing letters, in both of which he indulged much in hyperbole. Many of the latter, written at the period we are now considering, are before me. The day after Eeynolds issued his proclamation, Thompson sent forth the following manifesto to the people of Missouri, which is a fair specimen of his style: " Come, now, strike while the iron is hot ! Our enemies are whipped in Virginia. They have been whipped in Missouri. General Hardee advances in the center, General Pillow on the right, and General McCulloch on the left, with 20,000 brave Southern hearts, to our aid. So leave your plows in the furrow, and your oxen in the yoke, and rush like a tornado upon our invaders and foes, to sweep them from the face of the earth, or force them from the soil of our State I Brave sons of the Ninth District, come and join us! We have plenty of ammunition, and the cattle on ten thousand hills are ours. We have forty thousand Belgian muskets coming ; but bring your guns and muskets with you, if you have them; if not, come without them. We will strike your foes like a Southern thunderbolt, and soon our camp-fires will illuminate the Merrimac and Missouri. Come, turn out. "JEFF. THOMPSON, Brig.-General Comd'g." 1 Many Missourians who had fled from the State, late in May and early in June, had entered the Tennessee Army. It was desirable to have these and other exiled citizens of that State organized for home duty, and Thompson was sent to Memphis for that purpose. There, on the 14th of June, a meeting of Missourians was held, and in a series of resolutions they asked Pillow for quarters and subsistence, and the release from service in the Tennessee Army, such Missourians as had been enlisted. The autograph letter to Pi How inclosing these resolutions is before me, and is signed by M. Jeff. Thompson, B. Xewton Hart, Thomas P. Hoy, X. J. McArthur, James George, and Lewis II. Kenncrly. 58 ADMISSION OF MISSOURI INTO THE CONFEDERACY. military aid, and the annexation of Missouri to the Confederacy, had just returned, and from New Madrid he also issued a proclamation." * A is6i 5> ft was m ^ e f orm f a provisional declaration of the independence of the State, in which he gave reasons which, he said, "justified" a separation from the Union. These " reasons " consisted of the usual misrepre- sentations concerning the National Government, in forms already familiar to the reader, and were followed by a formal declaration that Missouri was " a sove- reign, free, and independent republic." On the 20th of the same month, the Confederate "Congress" at Richmond passed an act to " aid the State of Mis- souri in repelling invasion by the United States, and to authorize the admission of said State as a member of the Con- federate States of America." Jeiferson Davis was authorized to "muster into the service of the Confederate States" such Missouri troops as might volunteer to serve in the Confederate Army; the officers to be commissioned by Davis, who was also empowered to appoint all field officers for the same. Missouri was to be admitted into the Confederacy on an equal footing with the other States, when the Constitution of the "Confederate States" should be "adopted and ratified by the properly and legally constituted authorities of said State;" in other words, when the disloyal fugitive Governor, Jackson, and his friends, and not the people of Missouri, should so adopt and ratify that unholy league. By the same act the government of Missouri, of Avhich Jackson was recog- nized as the chief magistrate, was declared to be " the legally elected and constituted government of the people and State of Missouri." 1 Measures were speedily adopted for the consummation of the alliance, and, during a greater portion of the war, men claiming to represent the people of Missouri occupied seats in the Confederate " Congress" at Richmond. At this critical juncture of public affairs in Missouri, John C. Fremont, .who had been brought prominently before the American people in 1856, as M. JEFF. THOMPSON. 1 See Acts and Resolution* of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, Third Session, No. 225. * By proclamation, in September, Jackson called a session of the disloyal members of the General Assembly of Missouri, at Neosho, on the 21st of October. In his message to that body, on the 28th of October, he recom- mended, 1st, the passage of an ordinance of secession ; 2d, of an "act of provisional union with the Confederate States ;" 3d, the appointment of " three commissioners to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States ;'' 4th, the passage of a law empowering the Governor to cause an election to be held for Senators and Representatives to the " Confederate States Congress" as soon as practicable after Missouri should become a member of the league; and, 5th. the passage of an act empowering the Governor to issue bonds of the State of Missouri. The pliant in- struments of the Governor responded cheerfully to his recommendations. An Ordinance of Secession was passed the same day (October 28th, 1861), and an " Act to provide for the defense of the State of Missouri " was adopted on the 1st of November. It authorized the issue of what were termed "Defense Bonds," to the amount of $10,000,000, all of which, of the denomination of $5 and upwards, should bear interest at the rate of ten per cent, per annum. They were to be issued in denominations not less than $1, and not greater than $500, payable in three, five, and seven years. They were made a legal tender for all dues. Such was the currency offered to the people of Missouri as members of (he Confederacy. See Journals of t.'io Senate, <&c., noticed at the close of not* JL, page 4G4, volume I. FKEMONT IN MISSOUKI. the candidate of the newly formed Republican party for the Presidency of the United States, assumed the command of the Western Department. He was in Europe when the war broke out, and on the 14th of May, 1861, he was commissioned a major-general of Volunteers. On receiving notice of his appointment, he left his private affairs abroad in the hands of others, and hastened home. He arrived at Boston on the 27th of June," bringing with him an assortment of arms for his Government, and on the 6th of July he was appointed to the important command in the West just mentioned. 1 He re- mained a short time in New York, where he made arrangements for over twenty thousand stand of arms, with munitions of war, to be sent to his Department. On hearing of the dis- aster at Bull's Run, he left for the West, and arrived at St. Louis on the 26th of July, where Colonel Harding, Lyon's Adjutant-General, was in command. Fremont had already issued orders for General John Pope to proceed from Alton, in Illinois, with troops to suppress the armed Secessionists in Northern Mis- JOHN C. FREMONT. commenced the destruction of railways, and depredations upon the Unionists. Fremont made his head-quarters in St. Louis at the house of the late Colo- nel Brant, an elegant and splendid mansion, and proceeded at once with great vigor in the performance of his duties. He found disorder everywhere prevailing. The terms of enlistment of the Home Guards, or three-months men, . were expiring ; and these, being com- posed chiefly of working-men, with dependent families, and having been some time without pay, were unwilling to re-enlist in fact, some yet in the service were in a state of mutiny on that account. Fremont was embarrassed. He had very little money at his disposal to meet the just demands of these soldiers ; neither had he arms for new recruits, who were now coming into St. Louis in considerable numbers, and were compelled to remain there in idleness for lack of weapons, when he was anxious to send them to the aid of Lyon, and to points exposed to cap- ture. The guns ordered at New York were detained for the use of the Army of the Potomac. Indeed, the National authorities were, so absorbed in 1 The Western Department was created on the 6th of July, and comprised the State of Illinois, and the States and Territories west of the Mississippi and east of the Eocky Mountains, including New Mexico. Head- quarters at St. Louis. FREMONT'S IIEAD-QUAKTERS 60 AFFAIRS IN FREMONT'S DEPARTMENT. taking measures for the defense of Washington City, that the care of the Government was little felt in the West, for a time. Fremont perceived that he could be useful only by assuming grave responsibilities, and he resolved upon that course, with the belief that he would be sustained by his Government. Funds were indispensable, and he applied to the National Sub-Treasurer at St. Louis for a supply. That officer had three hundred thousand dollars in his hands, but he refused to let the General have a dime without an order from the Secretary of the Treasury. So Fremont prepared to seize one hundred thousand dollars of it by military force, when the custodian yielded. 1 With these funds he secured the re-en- listment of many of the three-months men. With vigor and secrecy, Fremont prepared for offensive and defensive action. He strongly fortified St. Louis against external and internal foes, and prepared to place Cairo in a condition of absolute security ; for upon the holding of these points rested, in a great degree, the salvation of the North- west from invasion and desolation. He was compelled to choose between securing the safety of these places, or re-enforcing Lyon ; and wisely, it seems, he decided upon the former course. Kentucky, professedly neutral, and with doors closed against Union troops from other States, \\:is giving shelter and welcome to large bodies of Confederate soldiers in its western districts. Already full 12,000 Confederate troops were within a circle of fifty miles around Cairo, in Kentucky and Missouri Pillow, as we have seen, 9 had in- vaded the latter State at its southeastern extremity with a large number of troops, preparatory to an immediate advance upon Bird's Point and Cairo, while Hardee, with a considerable force, was pushing into the interior to menace Lyon's flank and rear. At the same time Liutenant-Governor Rey- nolds, in his proclamation at New Madrid,* taking advantage of *'i86i. 81 the joy of the secessionists, and the depression of the loyalists, on account of the sad news from Virginia, had said, in connection with his announcement of the presence of Pillow with Tennessee troops, *' The sun which shone in its full midday splendor at Manassas is about to rise in Missouri." Every thing at that moment seemed to justify the predic- tion. Lyon, with the only considerable National force in the field, was sur- rounded with the greatest peril, as we have seen ; every county in the Com- monwealth was in a state of insurrection, and every post held by the Unionists even St. Louis itselfwas menaced with real danger. To avert the perils threatening Bird's Point and Cairo, Fremont secretly and quickly prepared an expedition to strengthen the latter post ; for Gen- eral Prentiss, its commander, had not more than twelve hundred men in 1 Fremont laid a brief statement of the condition of affairs in Missouri, and his needs, before the President, i n a letter on the 30th of July. He s:\id: " We have not an hour for delay. There are three courses open for me. One, to let the enemy possess himself of some of the strongest points in the State and threaten St. Louis, which is insurrectionary ; second, to force a loan from secession banks here; third, to use the money belonging to the Government which is in the Treasury here. Of course I will not lose the State, nor permit the enemy a foot of advantage. I have infused energy and activity into the Department, and there is a thoroughly good spirit in officers and men. This morning I will order the Treasurer to deliver the money in his possession to General Andrews, and will send a force to the Treasury to tike the money, and will direct sub-payments, as the exigency requires. 1 ' The President made no reply ; and this silence, with a dispatch received four diiys before from a Cabinet minister (Postmaster-General Blair), saying, " You will have to do the best you can, and take all needful responsibility to defend and protect the people over whom you are specially set," justified his course, to his judgment. * See page 56. THE CONFEDEKATES DECEIVED. 61 garrison there at the close of July. Mustering about thirty-eight hundred troops on board of eight steamers, 1 at St. Louis, on the night of the 30th of July, he left that city at noon the next day with the entire squadron, and making a most imposing display. Nobody but himself knew the real strength of the expedition, and the most exaggerated rumors concerning it went abroad. The loyal people and the insurgents believed that these ves- sels contained at least twelve thousand men. The deception had its desired effect. Cairo was re-enforced without opposition. Other points were strengthened. Pillow, who had advanced some troops, and, with Thompson, was preparing to seize Cape Girardeau, Bird's Point, and Cairo, and overrun Southern Illinois, fell back, and became very discreet in action ; and Hardee, with his independent command, was checked in his movements into the interior of Missouri. Pillow, notwithstanding he had about twenty thousand troops at his com- mand, alarmed by rumors of an immense National force on his front, sent a dispatch" to Hardee, then supposed to be at Greenville, urging the necessity for a junction of their forces, before an attempt aA "|| 1 1 st5 ' might be safely made to march on Commerce and Cape Girar- deau. " Plaving a good deal of work before us," he said, " we should be careful not to so cripple our forces as to be unable to go forward. . . ;: 1 ought to have your support before engaging the enemy on my front. . . . . Without the co-operation of your force, I doubt if I can reach you at Ironton, except in a very critical condition. We ought to unite at Benton." 4 He informed Hardee that General Thompson, Governor Jackson, and Lieutenant-Governor Reynolds were with him, and that they all re- garded the union of the two forces as essential. On the same day General Polk wrote to Pillow, urging him to " put his troops' in the trenches," and strongly fortify New Madrid, near which it was proposed to stretch a chain, to obstruct the navigation of the Mississippi 3 Polk was then gathering 1 Emprens, War Eagle, Jennie Dean, Warsaw, City of Alton, Louisiana, January, and Graham. Gen- eral Fremont and Staff were on the City of Alton. The squadron was In charge of Captain B. Able. a Autograph letter of General Pillow, dated, " Head-quarters Army of Liberation, August 5th, 1S61." ' At that time there were various plans proposed for barricading the Mississippi against the " invaders." The utretching of a chain across was a favorite one, and materials for the purpose were sent up from New Orleans to Memphis. An anonymous writer, whose autograph letter is before me, dated "New Orleans, July 3d, 1861," proposed a plan, by which, he said, " steamboats of the enemy could be as effec- tually prevented from descending the Mississippi, as from steaming across tho Alleghany Mountains." The letter contained the annexed illustrative diagram. Thomas J. Spear, of New Orleans, in a letter dated the 81st of July, proposed a species of torpedo for the same pur- pose, which might also be of use in battle on land. His accompanying diagram, which is annexed, represents the manner of using the torpedo in the river. It was to be attached to the end of a long rod, projectins, under water, from the bow of the ves- sel, and fixed by a tube filled with SPEAJl'S TOKPEDO. gunpowder. These plans were not tried; but other obstructions, in the way of sunken vessels, chevaux de frise of various kinds, and a great variety of torpedoes, were used during the war. Spear proposed to place his torpedoes on land, at " shoot- ing distance in front of a chosen place of battle, or in roads over which the enemy would travel, a few inches underground, with wires attached, so as to explode them by means of electricity." The plan was to fall back as the enemy approached, and when they were above the torpedoes to explode them. The illustrations of this note may be explained as follows: STEAMBOAT OBSTRUCTIONS. A A, rafts anchored between the shore and tho channel. B B, batteries 62 THE CONFEDERATES ALARMED strength at Randolph and Fort Pillow, on the Tennessee side of the Missis- sippi. He had prohibited all steamboats from going above New Madrid, had pressed into the service several Cincinnati pilots, and had ordered up two gunboats from New Orleans, to operate between New Madrid and Cairo. 1 Fremont returned to St. Louis on the 4th of August, having accomplished the immediate objects of his undertaking. He had spread great alann among the Confederates immediately confronting him, who were somewhat dis- tracted by divided commanders. Polk was chief; 2 and from his * A i86i St 7 ' head-quarters at Memphis he ordered " Pillow to evacuate New Madrid, and, with his men and heavy guns, hasten to Randolph and Fort Pillow, on the Tennessee shore. The ink of that dispatch was scarcely dry, when he countermanded the order, for he had heard glad tidings from McCulloch, in front of Lyon. Again, on the 15th, he was so alarmed by rumors from above, that he again ordered Pillow to abandon New Mad- rid, and cross to Tennessee with his troops and armament immediately. The ambitious Pillow, evidently anxious to win renown by seizing Cape Girardeau, and with that victory to gain possession of Bird's Point and Cairo, was tardy in his obedience, and the result was, that he kept his head- quarters at New Madrid until early in September, as we shall hereafter observe. 3 on the shore. C, raft with heavy battery In the channel. D, floating boom to allow friendly vessels to pas* through. E, steamer descending the river Such rafts were constructed at several places on the Mississippi, in the form seen in the annexed engraving, being held by chains, attached to an- chors, passing over them lengthwise. They were inefficient, and were soon abandoned. SPEAR'S TORPKDO. A, bow of tor- pedo vessel. B, torpedo. C C, tube fliled with gunpowder, supported by a strong framework, to which the torpedo RAFT ANCHORED IN THE MISSISSIPPI. is attached. D, end of tube to which the match is applied. 1 Autograph letter of Leonidas Polk to Gideon J Pillow, dated at Memphis, August 5th, 1861. * General Polk, as we have observed, was Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, when the war broke out. A correspondent of the New Orleans Picayune, writing from Richmond on the d:iy of Folk's appointment as major-general in the Confederate service, related the secret history of his lay- ing aside the crook of the bishop for the sword of the soldier. He had been urged to take the appointment, his military education at the West Point Academy being thought sufficient to promise a successful career in the field. He finally visited Bishop Meade, of Virginia, the senior bishop of the church in the United States, to consult with him about it. The result was in his case, as in that of General Joseph E. Johnston (who also con- sulted Bishop Meade as to what was his duty in a similar emergency); he received the approval of the prelate, and joined the army. It seems that Polk had satisfied himself that he ought to accept the commission, before he visited Bishop Meade ; for the writer says, that when the latter suggested that the Diocesan of Lotiisi- and was already holding a commission in a very different army, to which he owed allegiance, the great slave- holding bishop replied: " I know that very well, and I do not intend to resign it. On the contrary, I shall only prove the more faithful to it by doing all that in me lies to bring this unhallowed and unnatural war to a speedy and happy close. We, of the Confederate States, are the last bulwarks of civil and religious liberty , we fight for our hearthstones and our altars; above all, we fi^ht for a race that has been, by Divine Providence, intrusted to our most sacred keeping. When I accept a commission in the Confederate Army, therefore, 1 not only perform the duties of a good citizen, but contend for the principles which lie at the foundation of our social, political, and religious polity.' 1 ' 1 3 Pillow had always been restive under the restraints imposed by the transfer of the Tennessee Army to the service of the Confederate authorities, and ho never obeyed the commands of General Polk with alacrity. Thompson was under the command of Governor Jackson ; and Hardee, who was at Greenville, some distance in the interior of Missouri, early in August was operating with independence, in a measure, of both Pillow and Polk. Pillow and Thompson had set their hearts on the seizure of Cape Girardeau and Bird's Point, whilst Hardee was aiming at a similar result in a different way. Polk, at Memphis, alarmed by rumor of an immense arma- THE SECESSIONISTS IN MISSOURI 63 News of the Battle of Wilson's Creek, 1 and the death of Lyon, reached Fremont on the 13th of August. The secessionists in St. Louis were made jubilant and bold by it. This disposition was promptly met by the Com- mander-in-Chief. Martial law was declared," and General Mc- Kinstry was appointed Provost-Marshal. Some of the most " A i^i st 14 ' active secessionists were arrested, and the publication of news- papers charged with disloyalty was suspended. 2 So tight was held the curb of restraint in the city that an outbreak was prevented. More free to act in the rural districts, the armed secessionists began again to distress the loyal people. In bands they moved over the country, plundering and destroying. Almost daily, collisions between them and the Home Guards occurred. One of the most severe of these conflicts took place at Charleston, west of Bird's Point, on the 19th, 6 when three hundred Illinois Volunteers, under Colonel Dougherty, put twelve hundred Confederates to flight. Two days afterward, a battery planted by Thompson, at Commerce, was captured by National troops sent out from Cape Girardeau ; and every- where the loyalists were successful in this sort of warfare. But the condition of public affairs in Missouri was becoming daily more alarming. The provi- sional government was almost powerless, and Governor Gamble, by a mis- taken policy, seriously injured the public service at that critical time by refusing to commission military officers appointed by Fremont. The Presi- dent commissioned them himself, and the work of organizing a force for the rnent about to descend the Mississippf and attack that place, was anxious to strengthen it and the supporting posts above it on the Tennessee shore, and hence his order for Pillowc to evacuate New Mad- rid and hasten with his troops and heavy guns to liandolph and Fort Pillow. Pillow demurred, August 7, and charged Polk, by implication, with keeping; back re-enforcements, and thwarting his well-laid 1661. plans for the liberation of Missouri. Polk retorted, and intimated that Pillow a neglecting to fortify New Madrid, as he had boon ordered to do, before the Nationals were ready for an offensive movement, was a blunder that now made the evacuation of that post a necessity. In his dispatch revoking the order for the evacuation of New Madrid, Polk directed Pillow to break up his base there, send his heavy cannon to lian- dolph and Fort Pillow, and, marching by the way of Pleasanton, join his forces with those of Hardee at Greenville. This was also distasteful to the Tennessee commander. He reported that he had tried the path and had been compelled to fall back to New Madrid on account of unsafe bridges ; also, that he intended to move on Cape Girardeau by the river road. Polk, was annoyed, and wrote him a long lottcr on the 16th of August, in its tone deprecatory of Pillow's course ; whilst the restless Thompson, who was now with Hardee, and now with Pillow, was eagerly urging a forward movement " I would like very much," he wrote on the 16th of August, "to have your permission to advance, as I am sure that I can take Cape Girardeau without firing a gun, by marching these moonlight nights and taking them by surprise. Every one gives me the credit of at least 7,000 men, and I have thorn frightened nearly to death." The following day he wrote to Pillow, saying, " If you wish a legal excuse for advancing, withdraw your control over me for a few hours, and then come to my rescue. "We must not lose the moon ; the weather may change, and the swamps become impassable." Hardee, on the contrary, who desired, as a preliminary movement against Cape Girardeau, to seize the post nt Ironton, the then terminus of the railway running southward from St. Louis, did not seem disposed to aid Pillow in his designs ; whilst Polk, according to a letter from Lewis G. De Eussey, his aid-de-camp, dated at Fort Pillow on the 17th of August, was anxious for Pillow and Hardee to join their forces at Benton, and march upon St. Louis. In this undecided state, the question concerning offensive movements in Missouri remained until the close of August, when the National forces at Ironton, the Cape, and Bird's Point, had been so increased, that any forward movement of the Confederates would have been extremely perilous " We can take the Cape, but what would we do with it?" Pillow, asked significantly on the 29th Hardee, an old and experienced officer, had positively refused to go forward, and Pillow and Polk would not risk such a movement without his concurrence. The conduct of the ambitious Pillow in this connnection became so insubordinate, that General Polk submitted a statement of it to the " War Department," at Richmond, on the 20th of August. " Considering you have usurped an authority not properly your own," wrote De Eussey, in behalf of Polk, "by which you have thwarted and embarrassed his arrangements and operations for the general defense, he feels it his duty to submit to the War Department the position you have thought proper to assume." Events during the few suc- ceeding days changed all plans. Autograph Letters of folk, ffardee, Pillow, Thompson, and others, from the close of July to the close of August, 1861. 1 The Confederates, as we have observed, call it the Battle of Oak Hill. 8 Morning Herald, Evening Miaaourian, and War Bulletin. 64 FREMONT'S STARTLING PROCLAMATION. purpose of sweeping the insurgents out of the State, and clearing the banks of the Mississippi of "all blockading obstructions to free navigation from St. Louis to New Orleans, went steadily on. Satisfied that nothing but martial law and the most stringent measures toward the secessionists would secure peace and quiet to Missouri, and safety to the cause, Fremont took the administration of public affairs there into his own hands, and on the 31st of August he issued a proclamation, in which he declared that martial law was thereby established throughout Missouri, and that the lines of the Army of Occupation in that State extended, for the present, from Leavenworth, in Kansas, by way of the posts of Jefferson City, Rolla, and Ironton, to Cape Girardeau on the Mississippi River. He declared that all persons within those lines taken with arms in their hands should be tried by court-martial, and, if found guilty, should be shot j 1 that the property, real and personal, of all persons in Missouri, who should be proven to have taken an active part with the enemies of the Government, in the field, should be confiscated to the public use, and their slaves, if they had any, should be thereafter free men; and that all persons engaged in the destruction of bridges, railway tracks, and telegraphs, should suffer the extreme penalty of the law. All persons who, by speech or correspondence, should be found guilty of giving aid to the insurgents in any way, were Avarned of ill consequences to themselves ; and all who had been seduced from their allegiance to the National Government were required to return to their homes forthwith. The declared 'object of the proclamation was to place in the hands of the military authorities the power to give instantane- ous'effect to existing laws, while ordinary civil authority would not be sus- pended, where the law should be administered in the usual manner. 2 General Fremont acted promptly in accordance with his proclamation, and the greatest consternation began to prevail among the insurgents of Missouri, when his hand was stayed. He was most bitterly assailed by the enemies of the Administration, especially because of that portion of his pro- clamation which related to emancipation and confiscation. In the border Slave-labor States there arose a storm of indignation which alarmed the Government ; and the President, anxious to placate the rebellious spirit in those States, requested Fremont to modify his proclamation concerning the confiscation of property and the liberation of the slaves, so as to strictly conform to an act of Congress passed on the 6th of Au- gust. 3 Fremont declined to do so, and asked the President to openly direct him to make that modification, for his judgment and self-respect would not 1 M. Jeff. Thompson, already mentioned, and who became the terror of all law-abiding citizens in Missouri, issued a proclamation on the 2u of September, declaring that he was intrusted by Acting Governor Reynolds not only with the commission of brigadier-general, but also with "certain police powers," and said: "I do most solemnly promise that, for every member of the Missouri State Guard or soldier of our allies, the armies of the Confederate Slates, who shall be put to death In pursuance of the said order of General Fremont, I will hang, tfraw, and quarter a minion of said Abraham Lincoln." 4 Fremont specified, as reasons for his assuming the administrative powers of the State, the fact that " its disorganized condition, the helplessness of the civil authority, the total insecurity of life, and the devastation of property by bands of murderers and marauders," who infested nearly every county in the State, and availed themselves of the public misfortunes and the vicinity of a hostile force, to gratify private and neighborhood vengeance, and who found an enemy wherever they found plunder, demanded the severest measures to suppress these disorders, to maintain the public peace, and " to give security and protection to the persons und property of loyal citizens." 3 Sic page 29. THE GOVERNMENT AND SLAVERY. 65 allow him to do it himself. 1 The President accordingly issued an order to that effect," and a most powerful war measure, which was adopted by the Government less than a year later, and which now prom- ' ^gei"' ised, as such, the most efficient aid to the National cause, was made almost inoperative. Only those slaves who were actually employed in the military service of the Confederates were to be declared free by the President's order. So cautiously did the Government move at this time, in the matter of slaves, that special orders were issued to commanders in other Departments on the subject, all having a tendency to calm the apprehensions that a general emancipation of the bondsmen was contemplated. 8 1 " If I were to retract of my own accord, 11 said Fremont, " it would imply that I myself thought it wrong, and that I acted without the reflection which the gravity of the point demanded. But I did not I acted with full deliberation, and with the certain conviction that it was a measure right and necessary ; and I think so still." * The conservative attitude of the Government In relation to slavery, at that time, however expedient it may have been as a soothing policy toward the border Slave-labor States, was a disappointment to its friends abroad, who well understood the object of the conspirators to be the formation of a great empire whoso political and industrial system should be founded on human slavery. In Western Europe, the long controversy on that sub- ject in our National Legislature had been watched with great interest; and the more enlightened observers, when the war broke out, believed and hoped that the prediction of a distinguished member of Congress (Joshua K. Giddings), made in that body in 1S4S, when members from Slave-labor States Insolently threatened to dis- solve the Union if their wishes were not gratified, would be fulfilled. He said that when that contest should come, "the lottrsof our race will then stand forth and exert the legitimate powers of this Government for free- dom. We shall then have constitutional power to act for the good of our country and to do justice to the slave. We will then strike off the shackles from his limbs. The Government will then have power to act between slavery and freedom, and it can then make peace by giving liberty to its slaves." See Giddinga'a History of the Rebellion, page 481. They were disappointed when, in Mr. Soward^ carefully written dispatch to Minister Dayton, on the 22d of April, 1861, they were assured that the majority of the people of the Republic were willing to let the system of slavery alone, and that whatever might be the result of the war then kindling, it would receive no damage. u The condition of slavery in the several States," he said, " will remain just the same, whether it succeed or fail. There is not even a pretext for the complaint that the disaffected States are to be conquered by the United States if the revolution fail; for the rights of the States, and the condition of every human being in them, will remain sub- ject to exactly the same laws and forms of administration, whether the revolution shall succeed or whether it shall faiL In the one case the States would be federally connected with the new confederacy ; in the other, they would, as now, be members of the United States; but their constitutions and laws, customs, habits, and insti- tutions, in either case will remain the same. It is hardly necessary to add to this incontestable statement the further fact that the new President, as well as the citizens through whose suffrages he has come into the .admin- istration, has always repudiated all designs, whatever and wherever imputed to him' and them, of disturbing the system of slavery as it is existing under the Constitution and the laws." The prediction of Mr. Giddings was fulfilled, while those of his friend and co-worker in the anti-slavery movement, contained in his official assurances, were not They only served to inflict moral injury upon the cause of the Government, and discourage the friends of humanity ; and such also was the effect of the conserva- tive action of the Government on the subject of slavery during the earlier period of the war. It was not until the President issued his Emancipation Proclamation, sixteen months later, that the warmest sympathies of the lovers of liberty and the rights of man, in the Old World, were manifested for the cause of the Government VOL. II. 5 MOVEMENTS OF INSURGENTS IN MISSOURI. CHAPTER III MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MISSOURI AND KENTUCKY. ONTRARY to general expectation, the Confederates did not pursue the shattered little army that was led by Sigel, from Springfield to Rolla. 1 McCulloch contented himself with issuing a proclamation to the i&6i ' P e pl e f Missouri," telling them that he had come, on the invitation of their Governor, "to assist in driving the National forces out of the State, and in restoring to the people their just rights." He assured them that he had driven the enemy from among them, and that the Union troops were then in full flight, after defeat. He called upon the people to act promptly in co-operation with him, saying, " Missouri must be allowed to choose her own destiny no oaths binding your consciences" This was all that the Texan did in the way of " driving the enemy out of the State," after the battle of Wilson's Creek. His assumptions and deportment were offensive to Price and his soldiers. Alienation ensued, and McCulloch soon abandoned the fortunes of the Missoun leader for the moment, and, with his army, left the State. Price now called upon the secessionists to fill his shattered ranks. They responded with alacrity, and at the middle of August he moved northward toward the Missouri River, in the direction of Lexington, in a curve that bent far toward the eastern frontier of Kansas, from which Unionists were advancing under General James H. Lane. With these he had some skirmish- O ing on the 7th of September, at Drywood Creek, about fifteen miles east of the border. He drove them across the line, and pursued them to Fort Scott, which he found abandoned. Leaving a small force there, he resumed his march, and reached Warrensburg, in Johnson County, on the September. ' ' llth/ In the mean time, he had issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of Missouri/ dated at Jefferson City, the capital of the State, in which he spoke of a great victory at Wilson's Creek, and gave the peaceable citizens assurance of full protection in person and property. Lexington, 3 a town on the southern bank of the Missouri River, three hundred miles, by its course, above St. Louis, and occupying an important frontier position, was now brought into great prominence as the theatre of a desperate straggle. It commanded the approach to Fort Leavenworth by water; and when Fremont was apprised of Price's northward movement, and the increasing boldness of- the secessionists in that region, he sent a 1 See papr? 54. 2 Capital of Lafayette County, Missouri, and then containing about five thousand inhabitants. NATIONAL TROOPS AT LEXINGTON. 67 small force to Lexington to take charge of the money in the bank there, and to protect the loyal inhabitants. This little force was increased from time to time, until early in September, when Price was approaching Warrensburg, the number of Union troops at Lexington was nearly twenty-eight hundred, 1 commanded by Colonel James A. Mulligan, of the " Irish Brigade " of Chicago, Illinois. Mulligan, with his men, reached Lexington on the 9th of Septem- ber, after a march of nine days from Jefferson City, and, being the senior officer, he assumed the chief command. Peabody's regiment had come in, on the following day, in full retreat from Warrensburg, having been driven away by the approach of the overwhelming forces of Price. 2 Satisfied that Price would speedily attack the post, Colonel Mulligan took position on Masonic Hill, northeastward of the city, which comprised about fifteen acres, and on which was a substantial brick building erected for a college. He proceeded at once to cast up strong intrenchments on the eminence, in compass sufficient to accommodate within their area ten thousand men. His first line of works was in front of the college building. Outside of his embankments was a broad ditch, and beyond this were skillfully arranged pits, into which assailants, foot or horse, might fall. The ground was also mined outside of the fortifications, with a good supply of gunpowder and suitable trains. But the troops, unfortunately, had only about forty rounds of ammunition each, and six small brass cannon and two howitzers. The latter were useless, because there were no shells. Hourly expecting re-enforcements, Mulligan resolved to defy his enemy with the means at hand. On the morning of the 1 1th of September, after a violent storm that had raged for several hours, Price moved from Warrensburg toward Lexington, and that night encamped two or three miles from the city. Thei'e he rest- ed until dawn," ' 'j'ggj ' when he drove in the National pickets, and opened a cannonade, with the batteries of Bled- soe and Parsons, upon Mulligan's intrenched camp from four different points. Their fire was at first concentrated upon the stronger works at the col- lege building. Some outworks were captured, and the Nationals were driven within their intrenchments ; not, however, until several fierce struggles had SIKGF, OF LEXINGTON. ' These troops were composed of the Thirteenth Missouri, Colonel Peabody; First Illinois Regiment of Cavalry, Colonel Marshall; five hundred Missouri Home Guards, and the Twenty-third Illinois, of the Irish Brigade, Colonel Mulligan. 2 These troops had been sent from Lexington to "Warrensburg, to secure about $100,000 in money. Price was informed of this movement, and had hurried forward, by forced marches, to seize the treasure before the National troops could reach there. He was too late, and to his disappointment was added great indignation, because of caricatures which some of the German officers, who were clever artists, had left behind, illustrative of the distress of the Confederates when they should find the treasure gone. 68 SIEGE OF LEXINGTON. been endured. The defense was bravely kept up during the whole day, when Price, finding his ammunition and his famished men J nearly exhausted, withdrew, at sunset, to the Fair-grounds, to await the arrival of his wagon- train and re-enforcements. Mulligan's men immediately resorted to the trenches, to complete their preparations for a siege. Mulligan now anxiously looked for expected re-enforcements, while his men worked night and day in strengthening the fortifications. He was dis- appointed. His courier, sent with supplications for aid to Jefferson City, was captured on the way. 4 Hour after hour and day after day went by, and no relief appeared. Yet bravely and hopefully his little band worked on, until, on the morning of the 1 7th, General Price, who had been re-enforced, and now had in hand over twenty-five thousand troops, including a large number of recruits who had come with their rifles and shot-guns, cut off the communication of the besieged with the city, upon which they chiefly relied for water, and on the following day" took possession of the town, closed in upon the garrison, and began a siege in earnest. The Confederates had already seized a steamboat well laden with stores for the National troops; and, under every disadvantage, the latter conducted a most gallant defense. General Rains's division occupied a strong position on the east and north- east of the fortifications, from which an effective cannonade was opened at nine o'clock, and kept up by Bledsoe's Battery, commanded by Captain Em- mit McDonald, and another directed by Captain C. Clark, of St. Louis. General Parsons took a position southwest of the works, from which his battery, under Captain Guibor, poured a steady fire upon the garrison. Near Rains, the division of Colonel Congreve Jackson was posted as a reserve ; and near Parsons, a part of General Steen's division performed the same ser- vice, whilst sharpshooters were sent forward to harass and fatigue the be- leaguered troops, who were not allowed a moment's repose. General Harris (who, as we have seen, 3 came down from Northeastern Missouri and joined Price at Lexington) and General McBride, scorning all rules of Christian warfare, stormed a bluff on which was situated the house of Colonel Anderson, and then used as a hospital, capturing it with its in- mates, while a yellow flag, the insignia of its character, was waving over it. It was retaken by the Montgomery Guards, Captain Gleason, of the " Irish Brigade," eighty strong, who charged, in the face of the hot fire of the foe, a distance of eight hundred yards up a slope, driving the Confederates from the building and far down the hill beyond. The fight was desperate, and some of the sick were killed in their beds. The Guards were finally repulsed. Captain Gleason came back with a bullet through his cheek and another through his arm, and with only fifty of his eighty men. " This charge," said Colonel Mulligan, in his official report, " was one of the most brilliant and reckless in all history." 1 In consequence of a forced march to Lexington, a large number of Price's soldiers had neither eaten nor slept for thirty-six hours. Price's Report to Governor Jackson, September 23, 1861. 2 On the 10th he sent Lieutenant Bains, of his ' ; Irish Brigade," with 12 men, on the steamer Sun-shint, on this errand. The distance to Jefferson City from Lexington is 160 miles. Forty miles belovr Lexington the steainrr was captured, and those on board were made prisoners. * See* page 53. SURRENDER OF THE NATIONAL TROOPS. 69 For seventy-two hours Mulligan's little band maintained the contest with- out cessation, fighting and laboring on the works alternately beneath a scorching sun by day and a scarcely less debilitating heat by night, under a cloudless moon, choked with the smoke of gunpowder, their tongues parched with thirst from which there was little relief, and at last with ammunition and provisions completely exhausted. During that time, Colonel Mulligan was seen at all points where danger was most imminent ; and there were deeds of courage and skill performed on the part of the besieged that baffle the imagina- tion of the romancer to conceive. At length, at two o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th," the Confederates, who had constructed ' 8e ?| nber ' lool. movable breastworks of bales of hemp, two deep, wetted so as to resist hot shot, pressed up to within ten rods of the works, along a line forty yards in length. Further resistance would have been madness. Retreat was impossible, for the ferry-boats had been seized, and these being in possession of the Confederates, re-enforcements could not reach the garrison. No water could be had excepting that which came from the clouds in little showers, and was caught in blankets and wrung into camp dishes. The stench of horses and mules killed within the intrenchments was intolerable. 1 The scant amount of artillery ammunition was of poor quality, and the firearms of the Illinois cavalry (who composed one-sixth of Mulligan's command) consisted of pistols only. Major Becker, of the Eighth Missouri Home Guards (whose colonel, White, had been killed), now, for the second time and with- out authority, raised a white flag from the center of the fortifications, and the SIEGE OP LEXINGTON ceased. 1 Colonel Mulligan, who had been twice wounded, now called a council of officers, and it was decided that the garrison must surrender. That act was performed. The officers were held as prisoners of war, 3 whilst the pri- vate soldiers, for whom Price had no food to spare, were paroled. The vic- tor held all arms and equipments as lawful prize. 4 The National loss in men had been forty killed, and one hundred and twenty wounded. Price reported his loss at twenty-five killed and seventy-five wounded. Colonel Mulligan was soon exchanged, and for his gallant services was rewarded with the 1 There were about 3,000 horses and mules within the intrenchments. These were :t burden of much weight, under the circumstances. In the center of the encampment, wagons were knocked into pieces, stores were scattered and destroyed, and the ground was strewed with dead horses and mules. Correspondence of lh Chicago Tribune. * The Home Guards seem to have become discouraged early in the siege, and on the morning of the 20th, after Mulligan had replied to Price's summons to surrender, by saying, " If yon want us, you must take us," Major Becker, their commander, raised a white flag. Mulligan sent the Jackson Guard, of Detroit, Captain McDermott, to take it down. After a severe contest that soon afterward ensued, the Home Guards retreated to the inner line of the intrenchments, and refused to fight any longer. Then Becker again raised the white flag, for he was satisfied that resistance was utterly vain, to which conclusion Mulligan and his officers speedily arrived. 1 These were Colonels Mulligan, Marshall, White, Peabody, and Grover, and Major Van Horn, and 118 other commissioned officers. 4 The spoils were 6 cannon, 2 mortars, over 3,000 stand of infantry arms, a large number of sabers, about 760 horses, many sets of cavalry equipments, wagons, teams, ammunition, and $100,000 worth of commissary stores. See General Price's Report to Governor Jackson, September 24th, 1861. "In addition to all this," Price said, 11 1 obtained the restoration of the groat seal of the State, and the public records, which had been stolen from their proper custodian, and about $900,000 in money, of which the bank at this place had been robbed, and which I have caused to be returned to it." The disloyal State Legislature, with Governor Jackson, had held a session in the court-house at Lexington only a week before the arrival of Colonel Mulligan. They fled so hastily that they left behind them the State seal and $800,000 in gold coin, deposited in the vault of" the bank there. These treasures, with the magazine, were in the cellar of the college, which was the head-quarters of Mulligan. 70 CALLS UPOtf FREMONT FOR TROOPS. offer of the commission of a brigadier-general, the thanks of Congress, and the plaudits of the loyal people. Congress gave the Twenty-third Illinois Regiment (which was now called " Mulligan's Brigade") authority to wear on its colors the name of LEXIXGTOX. Mulligan declined the commission of brigadier, because he preferred to remain with his regiment. General Fremont was censured for his failing to re-enforce the garrison at Lexington. The public knew little of his embarrassments at that time. His forces Avere largely over-estimated, 1 and he was receiving calls for help from every quarter. Pressing demands for re-enforcements came from General Ulysses S. Grant, at Paducah, for the Confederates, then in possession of Columbus, in Kentucky, Avere threatening an immediate march upon that place, so as to flank and capture Cairo. General Robert Anderson, com- manding in Kentucky, Avas imploring him to send troops to save Louisville from the Confederates ; and a peremptory order Avas sent by Lieutenant- General Scott to forward live thousand " Avell-armed infantry to Washington City, without a moment's delay." There were at that time seventy thousand men under General McClellan in camp near the National Capital, while Fremont's total force Avas only about fifty-six thousand men, scattered over his Department, and menaced at many points by large bodies, or by guerrilla bands of armed insurgents. He had only about seven thousand men at St. Louis ; the remainder Avere at dis- tant points. When he heard* of Mulligan's arrival at Lexing- ton, and of General Price's movements in that direction Avith continually increasing strength, he did not doubt that General Jefferson C. Davis, commanding nearly ten thousand men at Jefferson City, and keeping a vigilant eye upon the Confederate leader, would give him immediate aid. He had reason to believe that a large portion of General Pope's five thousand men in Northern Missouri, sent for the purpose under General Sturgis, 2 would co-operate with the forces of General Lane on the frontier of Kansas, over two thousand strong, and those of Davis at Jefferson City, in giving all needed relief to Mulligan. 3 So confident was he that Price Avould be driven from Lexington by these combined forces, that he telegraphed to General Davis on the 18th, directing him to send five thousand men to the South Fork of La Mine River, in Cooper County, where it is crossed by the Pacific Railway, there to intercept the expected retreat of the Confederates to the Osage River. In these reasonable calculations Fremont was disappointed. Whilst expecting tidings of success, he received from Pope" the sad epL ' news of Mulligan's surrender. The active and A'igilant Price, with a force of more than twenty-five thousand men, had been enabled 1 Fremont's force in St. Louis alone, at that time, was estimated at 20,000. A week before the fall of Lex- ington, Schuyler Colfux, Representative in Congress from Indiana, visited him, and urged him to send forward a part of that force to confront Price. Fremont informed him how few were his troops in St. Louis then, and the importance of allowing the false impression of their number to remain. His muster-roll was laid before Colfax, and it showed that within a circuit of seven miles around the city, the whole number of troops, including the Home Guards, was less than 8,000. The official returns to the War Department at that date gives the number in the City of St. Louis at 6,890, including the Home Guards. Speech of Schuyler Colfax, March 7, 1862, cited by Abbott in his Civil War in America; 282. 2 Major Sturgis had been commissioned a brigadier-general for his gallant service at the Battle of Wilton's Creek, on the 10th of August. 3 General Pope telegraphed to General Fremont on the 16th, saying: "The troops I sent to Lexinston will be there the day after to-morrow [the day when the assault on Mulligan commenced], and consist of two full FREMONT'S FORCES IN MOTION. 71 to beat back re-enforcements for the garrison and to keep the way open for recruits for his own army. 1 In this work a severe fight occurred at Blue Mills, 011 the Missouri, thirty miles above Lexington, on the 1 7th," ' a Sent 1S61 in which the insurgents, commanded by General David R. Atch- inson, 8 were victorious ; and on the 1 9th, General Sturgis, with a large body of cavalry, appeared opposite Lexington, but finding no boats for transporta- tion, and being confronted by two thousand men under General Parsons, he was compelled to make a hasty retreat northward. The fall of Lexington was a discouraging blow to the Union cause in Missouri. Fremont was violently assailed with charges of incapacity, extrava- gance in expenditure, and a score of faults calculated to weaken his hold upon the confidence of the people, and the troops in his Department. The disasters at Wilson's Creek and Lexington were attributed to his remissness in forwarding re-enforcements ; and he perceived the necessity for prompt action in the way of repairing his damaged character. In a brief electro- graph to the Adjutant-General on the 23d, 4 announcing the fail of Lexington, he said he was ready to take the field himself, with a hope of speedily destroying the enemy, before McCulloch, who was gathering strength in Arkansas to return to Missouri, should rejoin Price. Believing the latter would follow up his success at Lexington, and march in the direction of Jefferson City or establish himself somewhere on the Missouri River, he immediately pepared to proceed with a large force in the direction of the insurgents. On the 2Vth of September he put in motion an army of more than twenty thousand men, of whom nearly five thousand were cavalry, arranged in five divisions under the respective commands of Generals David Hunter, John Pope, Franz Sigel, J. A. McKinstry, and H. Asboth, and accompanied by eighty-six pieces of artillery, many of them rifled cannon. While this formidable force is moving forward cautiously, let us observe the course of events on the borders of the Mississippi, and in Kentucky, bearing upon the fortunes of war in Fremont's Department. During the few weeks preceding the fall of Lexington, General Pillow, as we have seen, had been making great efforts to secure the possession of Cairo by military operations in Missouri. In this effort, as he alleged, he had been thwarted by a lack of hearty co-operation on the part of Generals Polk and Ilardee, 3 and he now turned his attention to a plan which he had proposed at an early day, in which it is probable he had the active sympathies of the disloyal Governor of Kentucky, namely, the occupation and' intrench- ing of Columbus, in Kentucky, from which he believed he could flank the position at Cairo, take it in reA r erse, and, turning its guns upon Bird's Point, drive out and disperse its force. 4 So early as the 13th of May, c he el - 861 had asked the consent of Governor Magoflin to take possession of and fortify Columbus ; and in reporting the fact to his " Secretary of War," regiments of infantry, four pieces of artillery, and 150 regular horse. These, with two Ohio regiments, which will reach there on Thursday [19th], will make a re-enforcement of 4,000 men and four pieces of artillery." 1 Martin Green, already mentioned (sec page 55), was at about that time operating successfully in North- eastern Missouri with 3,000 men. They were effectually broken up by General Pope. 2 Atchinson was atone time a member of the United States Senate, and was conspicuous as a leader of the Missourians called "Rorder Ruffians," who played a prominent part in the politics of Kansas a few years be- fore. 3 Autograph letter of General Pillow to L. Pope Walker, "Secretary of War," Sept. 6, 1861. 4 Autograph letter of General Pillow to L. Pope Walker, Sept. 1, 1861. 72 MILITARY AFFAIRS IN KENTUCKY. he exhibited his contempt for the neutrality of Kentucky, by saying: "If he (Magoffin) should withhold his consent, my present impression is that I shall go forward and occupy the position, upon the ground of its necessity to protect Tennessee." 1 The action of the people and the Legislature of Kentucky made Magoffin very circumspect. At the election in June, for members of Congress, there appeared a Union majority of over fifty-five thousand, and the Governor saw no other way to aid his southern friends than by insisting upon the strict neutrality of his State in outward form, in which its politicians had placed it. He had sent Buckner to con- ceeding two and a half hours, the wildest cheering could be heard from some portion of the army as the informa- tion was carried to the various regiments. A dozen bands at once proceeded to the head-quarters and serenaded the General. Crowds of officers gathered in front of his quarters, and greeted him with loud and prolonged cheer- ins; and, hud the battle occurred according to arrangements, the troops would have fought in the most deter- mined manner." 84 FREMONT'S RECEPTION AT ST. LOUIS. Nov. 8 1861. General Hunter arrived at head-quarters at midnight, and Fremont, after informing him of the position of affairs, laid before him all his plans. The order for battle was countermanded, 1 and nine days afterward Major-General II. "W. Halleck was appointed to the command of the Missouri Department. On the morning of the 4th, Fremont and his Staff left the army for St. Louis. The parting with his devoted soldiers was very touching, and his reception in St. Louis" was an ovation like that given to a victor. Crowds of citi- zens greeted him at the railway station and escorted him to his head-quarters. An immense torch-light procession passed through the streets that night in honor of his arrival ;* and at an assemblage of the citizens, resolutions of confidence and sympathy, and an address, were adopted. Afterward he was presented with an elegant sword in token of profound re- gard, which was inscribed with these words : " To THE PATH- FINDER, BY THE MEN OF THE WEST." 3 Disappointed and disheartened, the National army com- menced a retrograde inarch from Springfield toward St. Louis at the middle of November, followed by a long train of vehicles ^swoRiT' filled with Union refugees. The women of Springfield, who had welcomed Zagonyi, and the Union men everywhere throughout 1 Price seems not to have moved his army from Pinevllle, but his scouts penetrated to the front of the National troops, and thus caused the alarm. 2 "The General was to have been at home by nine in the morning; but the management of the train being in other hands, they were delayed until nearly that hour In the evening. But patient crowds had kept their watch through the loner day, and by night it was a sea of heads in .all the open spaces around our house. The door- posts were garlanded, and the very steps covered with flowers touching and graceful offerings from the Ger- mans. China-asters and dahlias, with late roses and regular bouquets of geraniums, beautified the entrance and perfumed the air; and when the General did make his way at last through the magnificent assemblage, it was to be met by the wives and children of the German officers he had left at Springfield. Unknown to me, they had come to speak their hearts to him, but they had more tears than words. Touched to the heart already, tho General was not prepared for the arrival of citizens American as well as German who came to thank him for past services, and ask to stand by him in the hour of disgrace. Meantime, the unceasing cheers and shouts of the vast crowd without sounded like the tide after a high wind. I could not stand it; I went far up to the top of the house, and in the cold night air tried to still the contending emotions, when I saw a sight that added to the throbbing of my heart Far down the wide avenue the serried crowd was parting, its dark, restless masses glowing in the lurid, wavering torchlight, looking literally like waves; and passing through them came horse- men, stamped with the splendid signet of battle, their wounded horses and bullet-torn uniforms bringing cries of love and thanks from those for whom they had been battling. When they halted before the door, and tho sudden ring and flash of their drawn sabers added new beauty to the picture, I think only the heart of a Hainan could hare failed to respond to the truth and beauty of the whole scene. Were not these men for the king to delight to honor? Who could have foreseen what was tho official recognition already preparing for them?''* Mrs. Fremont, in her Story oft'ie Guard, page 201. 3 Fremont had long before been called The Pathfinder, because of his wonderful explorations among the Eocky Mountains. The blade of the sword now presented to him was made at Solingen, on the Rhine. Tho scabbard was of silver, with a design near its upper part, four inches in length. In its center was a bust of Fremont sculptured out of gold, in high relief, with a rich border of diamonds, and on each side a sculptured figure of fame. In the rear of the hilt was a hollow, arched at the top so as to form a canopy for a figure of America, at the foot of which, in the midst of appropriate surroundings, was a medallion of blue enamel, bearing the initials J. C. F. iu diamonds. The cost of the sword was $1.000. * " The official recognition " referred to by Mrs. Fremont is indicated in the following electrographs : ST. Louis, Missorm, November 11, 1861. Maj.-Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Commanding-in-Chief, Washington, D. C.: I would regard it as an act of personal courtesy and kindness to me, if yon will order my Body-Gnard to remain with me, subject to no orders in this department but my own. It is composed of educated and intelligent young men, to whom the country and I owe more than the usual corsideration accorded to the rank and file of the army. J. a FBEMOHT, Ifaj.-Gtn. U. S. A. HEAD-QUARTOS* OF THE Ar.MV, WASHINGTON, JfOT. 11, 1861. Maj.-Oen. J. C. FREMONT: Before receiving your dispatch, I had given instructions that the cavalry corps, known as your Body-Ouarrl, should be otherwise dis- posed of. Official information had reached this city that members of that body had at Springfield expressed sentiments rendering their NATIONAL TKOOPS IN KENTUCKY. 85 that region who had received Fremont as a liberator, dared not remain, for they expected, what really happened, that General Price would follow up the receding army, and they would be made to suffer for their loyalty. Price did follow, with more than fifteen thousand men, in three columns ; and all South-western Missouri below the Osage was soon delivered into the power of the Confederates. When at the point of being deprived of his command, Fremont sent an order to General Grant at Cairo, directing him to make some co-operating movements. That officer, as we have observed, had taken possession of Paducah, in Kentucky," on hearing of the invasion of that State by General Polk. He had proceeded to strengthen the position by '^s^ 8 * casting up fortifications there ; and by order of General Fremont, an immense pontoon bridge was thrown across the Ohio, half a mile below the * Nov. 2. PONTOON BRIDGE AT PADUCAH, town. 1 He also seized and occupied Smithland, not far from the mouth of the Cumberland River, and thus closed two important gateways of supply for the Confederates in the interior of Kentucky and Tennessee, from the Ohio. When Fremont's order for co-operation reached Grant, and was followed the next day by a dispatch,* saying, " Jeff. Thompson is at Indian Ford of the St. Franois River, twenty-five miles below Green- ville, with about three thousand men, and Colonel Carlin has started with a force from Pilot Knob; send a force from Cape Girardeau and Bird's Point, to assist Carlin in driving Thompson into Arkansas," he was ready to move quickly and effectively. Grant had already sent Colonel 1 A pontoon bridge is a portable structure made to float on boat-shaped buoys, and used by an army on its march for the purpose of crossing rivers where bridges may have been destroyed, or a fordable river made impassable by rains. The more modern boats used for the purpose are made of vulcanized india-rubber, and consist of cylinders peaked at each end, so as to offer very little resistance to a current. The river at Paducah is 3,600 feet across. The bridge was constructed of coal-barges, strongly braced to- gether, and otherwise connected by trestle-work planked over. It was capable of bearing the heaviest ordnance and thousands of men. continuance in the service of doubtful expediency. With every desire to gratify your wishes, I do not see exactly how I can violate every rule uf military propriety. Please reply. GKO. B. McCLKLLAN, Com.-in-Chief. General Fremont tried to find out what were the offensive sentiment* that had been expressed by members of his Guard, which had caused this harsh official action toward them ; but to his application for a reconsideration of their case, in order that the truth might be dis- covered, General McClellan made no reply. The Guard was mustered out of service on the 28th of November, 1861. It is said that the offensive sentiments alluded to were those of Fremont's emancipation proclamation. It was well known that ome of the Guard wre outspoken against the slave system, whose supporters had commenced the war against the Government. 86 EXPEDITION DOWN" THE MISSISSIPPI. Oglesby to Commerce and Sikeston, to pursue Thompson in conjunction with some troops from Ironton, and had been informed that Polk was sending re-enforcements to Price from Columbus. In this situation of affairs, he determined to threaten Columbus by attacking Belmont, a little village and landing-place on the Missouri shore opposite, and break up the connection between Polk and Price. Oglesby's force was deflected toward New Madrid, and Colonel TV. H. L.Wallace, of Illinois, was sent from Cairo to re-enforce him. The movement on Belmont would keep Polk from interfering with Grant's troops in pursuit of Thompson. General Charles F. Smith, a soldier of rare qualities, was now in command at Paducah. Grant requested him to make a demonstration toward Co- lumbus, to attract the atten- tion of Polk, and at the same time he sent a force down the Kentucky shore to Ellicott's Mills, about twelve miles above Columbus. When these deceptive movements were put in 1861 operation, Grant went down the Mississippi from Cairo," with about three thousand troops, mostly Illinois Volunteers, 1 in four steam transports, convoyed by the wooden gunboats Tyler and Lexington, commanded respectively by Captains Walke and Stemble. They lay at Island No. 1, eleven miles above Columbus, that night. There Grant received information that Polk was sending troops across to Belmont, to cut off Colo- nel Oglesby. At dawn the next morning, he pressed forward and landed his forces at Hunter's Point, on the Missouri shore, three miles above Bel- mont, where a battalion was left to guard the transports from an attack by land, whilst the remainder pushed on and formed a line of battle two miles from the village. In the mean time, the gunboats had moved down and opened fire upon the Confederate batteries on the Iron Banks, a short distance above Columbus, on the Kentucky shore, and two hundred feet above the river, where twenty heavy guns were planted. Colonel Fouke took command of the center of the attacking column, Colonel Buford of the right, and Colonel Logan of the left. Polk was surprised. He was looking for an attack only in the rear, for General Smith was threatening him at Mayfield. He at once sent over three regiments, under General Pillow, to re-enforce the regiments of Russell and Tappen (the former acting as brigade commander), then holding Belmont. FIELD OF oi-tKATIONa AO'AINST BELMONT. 1 These consisted of a part of General John A. McClernand's Brigade, composed of the Twenty -seventh, Thirtieth, and Thirty-first Illinois, commanded respectively by Colonels N. B. Buford, Philip B. Fouke, and John A. Logan; and a company of cavalry led by Captain J J. Collins. To these were added another company of cavalry nnder Lieutenant J. R. Catlin, and Captain Ezra Taylor's Chicago Light Artillery of six pieces and 114 men, all Illinois Volunteers. Also the Twenty-second Illinois, Colonel H. Dougherty, and the Seventh Iowa, Colonel Lauman. BATTLE OF BELMONT. 87 Grant moved forward, with Dollins' cavalry scouring the woods to the right, and, deploying his whole force as skirmishers, he fought from tree to tree, and drove back the foe to their intrenched camp, which was protected by a strong abatis of slashed trees. 1 Behind these, opposing Grant's left, lay the Thirteenth Arkansas and Ninth Tennessee ; and opposite his left was a bat- tery of seven guns, commanded by Colonel Beltzhoover, and Colonel Wright's Tennessee regi- ment. Against these the Nation- als charged over the fallen timber, captured the battery, and drove the Confederates back across the low level ground to the river, and some of them to their boats. In this movement Pillow's line was broken into a confused mass of men. The powder of the Con- federates was nearly exhausted. The victory was complete ; but the ground being commanded by the heavy guns on the bluffs at and near Columbus, it was un- tenable. The victors gave three cheers for the Union, set fire to the Confed- erate camp (having no wagons, in which to carry away property), and fell back with captured men, horses, and artillery, toward their landing-place in the morning. Polk determined not to allow Grant to escape with his victory and booty. He opened upon him with some of his heaviest guns, and sent General Cheat- ham with three regiments to cross the river above, and land between Grant and his flotilla. At the same time the chief crossed, at the head of two regiments, to aid Pillow in his chase of the Nationals. The Confederates now were not less than five thousand strong, and pressing hard. There was desperate fighting for a short time. Grant pushed on in good order toward his landing-place, under fire of the Confederate batteries on the Iron Banks, turning once to punish severely some of Cheatham's troops on his flank, and once again to send back in confusion some of Pillow's men, under Colonel Marks, who had endeavored to cut him off from his boats. He finally reached his landing-place, and embarked, after suffering severely. The fight had been gallant on both sides. 8 The gun-boats had performed most efficient service in BATTLE OF BELMONT. 1 Abatis is a French word for rows of felled trees, having their smaller branches cutoff and the larger ones sharpened, and placed with their ends toward the approach of assailants, either in front of a fort or an intrenched camp. Sometimes the smaller branches are left, and so intertwined as to make it extremely difficult to pene- trate the mass, excepting by cannon-balls. * In a general order, Nov. 8th, General Grant said : " It has been my fortune to have been in all the battles fought in Mexico by Generals Scott and Taylor, save Buena Vista, and I never saw one more hotly contested, or where troops behaved with more gallantry." In his report on the 12th, he spoke in highest terms of General McClernand, as being in the midst of danger throughout the engagement, displaying coolness and judgment 88 THE CONFEDERATES UKEASY. engaging the Confederate batteries, protecting the transports, and covering the re-embarkation. Indeed, to Captains Walke and Stemble, who managed their craft with the greatest skill and efficiency, the country was mostly in- debted for the salvation of that little army from destruction or capture. 1 At five o'clock in the afternoon, the flotilla, with the entire force, was on its way back to Cairo, carrying away two of Beltzhoover's heavy guns, the others having been recaptured. Grant had lost four hundred and eighty-five men, 2 and Polk six hundred and thirty-two. 3 Cotemporaries and eye-witnesses on both sides related many deeds of special daring by individuals. The repulse of Grant did not relieve the Confederates of a sense of impending great danger, for intelligence was continually reaching Colum- bus of the increase of National forces on the Ohio border. General Mansfield Lovell, then in command at New Orleans, was solicited to send up re-en- forcements ; and Governor Pettus, of Mississippi, and Governor Rector, of Arkansas, were implored for aid. But these men perceived the peril threat- ened by the land and water campaign commanded by Fremont, which events had sufficiently developed to make it fully suspected by the Confederates, and they dared not spare a man. Lovell answered that he had no more troops than were necessary to defend New Orleans, whilst both Pettus and Hector considered themselves deficient in strength for the expected conflict. 4 Gov- ernor Harris, of Tennessee, was urged to increase his efforts in ' N is6i 14 ' ra i sm g volunteers. He had telegraphed to Pillow," saying : " I congratulate you and our gallant volunteers upon their bloody but brilliant and glorious victory ;" and a week later he added, " I am or- ganizing, as rapidly as possible, thirty thousand volunteers and militia, armed with country guns." The hope thus held out was fallacious, for nearly all the troops that Harris could then muster, by force or persuasion, were soon needed in the interior of his State, in keeping in check the Loyalists of East and having had his horse shot three times. Grant's horse was also shot under him. Colonel Dougherty, of the Twenty-second Illinois, was three times wounded, and finally taken prisoner. Major McClurken, of the Thir- tieth Illinois, and Colonel Lauman, of the Seventh Iowa, were badly wounded. Among the killed were Colonel Wentz, of the Seventh Iowa, Captains Brolaski and Markle, and Lieutenant Dougherty. The Twenty-second Illinois lost 23 killed and 74 wounded; and the Seventh Iowa had 26 killed and 80 wounded, including nearly all of its field officers. The loss of property was estimated at 25 baggage wagons, 100 horses, 1,000 overcoats, and 1,000 blankets. One man was killed and two wounded on the gunboats. Among the Confederates killed was Colonel John V. Wright, of the Thirteenth Tennessee, and Major But- ler, of the Eleventh Louisiana. Wright was a Democratic Congressman, and an intimate friend of Colonel Philip B. Fouke, of the Illinois Volunteers. "When they parted at the close of the session of 1860-61," says Mr. Qreeley, (American Conflict, i. 597), Wright said to his friend, ' Phil, I expect the next time we meet it will be on tho battle-field.' Their next meeting was in this bloody struggle." 1 After the transports had departed from before Columbus, and gone some distance up the river, followed by the gunboats, Captain Walke was informed that some of the troops had been left behind. Ho returned with the Tyler, and met detached parties along the banks. He succeeded in rescuing nearly all of the stragglers from capture. 2 Eighty-five killed, 801 wounded, and 99 missing. General Pillow, whose performances on this occasion were the least creditable, with his usual bombast and exaggerations, spoke in his report of his "small Spartan army" withstanding the constant fire of three times their number for four hours. Pollard's First Year of the War, 203. * Official reports of Grant and Polk, and their subordinate officers; private letter of General Grant to his father, Nov. 8th, 1861 ; Grant's Revised Report, June 26th, 1865; Pollard's First Year of the War. The latter gives the Confederate loss as it is above recorded. MS. Reports of Acting Brigadier-General R. M. Russell, Nov. 9, and of Colonels E. Ricketts, Jr., and T. H. Bell, Nov. 11, 1861. 4 A little later, Governor Pettus changed his views, and, in a special message to the Mississippi Legislature, he suggested to that body the propriety of sending such troops as could "be immediately raised and armed, to assist in the defense of the important post of Columbus. I deem the safety of our position and forces at Colum- bus as of such vital importance to this State," he said, "as to claim the prompt and decisive action of all the Bute authorities." KENTUCKY INVADED BY ZOLLICOFFER. 89 Tennessee ; in aiding Zollicoffer in his invasion of Southeastern Kentucky, already alluded to ; l and in supporting Buckner in his treasonable operations in his native State. Zollicoffer had advanced to Barboursville, the capital of Knox County, so early as the 19th of September, where he dispersed an armed band of Kentucky Unionists, and captured their camp. He pro- claimed peace and security in person and property for all Kentuckians, ex- cepting those who should be found in arms for the Union ; but his soldiers could not be restrained, and the inhabitants of that region were mercilessly plundered by them. Zollicoffer's invasion aroused the Unionists of Eastern Kentucky, and they flew to arms. A large number of them were mustering and organizing under Colonel Garrard, a plain, earnest, and loyal Kentuckian, at a point among the Rock Castle Hills known as Camp Wild Cat. It was in a most picturesque region of one of the spurs of the Cumberland Mountains, on the direct road from Cumberland Gap toward the rich " blue-grass region " of Kentucky. Upon this camp Zollicoffer advanced on the 18th of October, with seven regiments and a light battery. When intelligence of his ap- proach was received, Colonel Garrard had only about six hundred effective men to oppose him. Others in sufficient numbers to insure a successful re- sistance were too remote to be available, for the invader moved swiftly, swooping down from the mountains like an eagle on its prey. Yet when he came, on the morning of the 21st," he found at Camp Wild Cat, besides Garrard's three regiments, a part of Colonel Coburn's Thirty-third Indiana, and Colonel Council's Seven- teenth Ohio regiments, and two hundred and fifty Kentucky cavalry, under Colonel Woolford, ready to resist him. With the latter came General Schoepf, an officer of foreign birth and military education, who assumed the chief command. The position of the Unionists was strong. Zollicoffer with his Tennes- seans and a body of Mississippi " Tigers " boldly attacked them, and was twice repulsed. The first attack was in the morning, the second in the after- noon. The latter was final. The contests had been very sharp, and the latter was decisive. The camp-fires of Zollicoffer's invaders were seen that evening in a sweet little valley two or three miles away from the battle- ground. Promptly and efficiently had Garrard's call for help been responded to, for toward the close of the second attack a portion of Colonel Steadman's Fourteenth Ohio also came upon the field to aid the Kentuckians, Indianians, and Ohioians already there ; and when the invaders had withdrawn, others were seen dragging cannon wearily up the hill for the defense of Camp Wild Cat. A little later a trial of strategy and skill occurred in the most eastern 1 Zollicoffer, like Polk, made necessity the pretext for scorning the neutrality of Kentucky. On the 14th of September he telegraphed to Governor Magoffin, informing him of his occupation of three mountain ranges in Kentucky, because it was evident that the Unionists in Eastern Kentucky were about to invade East Ten- nessee, to destroy the great railway and its bridges. He said, apologetically, that he had delayed that "pre- cautionary movement,' 1 until it was evident that " the despotic Government at Washington " had determined to subjugate first Kentucky and then Tennessee, whom he regarded as twin sisters. With the old plea of the unrighteous, that "the end justifies the means, 1 '' he declared that he felt a "religions respect for Kentucky's neutrality, 11 and would continue to feel it, so long as the safety of the Confederate cause would permit. He Issued an order at the same time, setting forth that he entered Kentucky to defend "the eoil of a sister State against an invading foe." 90 BATTLE OF PIKETOX, KENTUCKY. portion of Kentucky, between about three thousand loyalists, under General William Nelson, and a little more than a thousand insurgents, under Colonel * O John S. Williams. The latter were at Piketon, the capital of Pike County, and were marched against by General Nelson's force from Pres- tonburg, on the Big Sandy " N i V SGL ber ' River - He senta Cornel Sill, with nearly one-half of that force, 1 to march by way of John's Creek to gain the rear of Wil- liams at Piketon, whilst with the re- mainder he should move forward and attack his front, so bringing him be- tween two fires, and compelling him to surrender. Some one, counting positively on success, telegraphed to Washington that this result had been accomplished, and that a thousand prisoners had surrendered. The whole country was thrilled by the good news, for it seemed as if a way was about to be opened for the relief and the arming of the suffering loyalists in East Tennessee. Truth soon told a different story. Nelson had moved on the 9th with his main column* directly toward Pikeville, twenty-eight miles distant, a bat- talion of Kentucky volunteers, under Colonel C. A. Marshall, in advance. They met picket-guards eight miles from that village. The road now lay along a narrow shelf cut in a high mountain side, ending in a steep ridge at Ivy Creek, which bent around it. There lay the Confederates in ambush, and did not fire until Marshall's battalion was close upon them. Then a volley was poured upon his men, and a sharp skirmish ensued. Confederates on the opposite side of the creek joined in the attack; but, after a contest of almost an hour and a half, all the insurgents fled, leaving thirty of their comrades dead on the field. How much greater was their loss was not ascertained. Nelson's loss was six killed and twenty-four wounded. He did not pursue far, and, as he had no cavalry, Williams escaped. The latter was too watch- ful and discreet to be caught in the trap laid for him by Nelson. Seeing his danger, he fled to the fastnesses of the mountains at Pound Gap, carrying with him a large amount of cattle and other spoils. General Nelson entered Pikeville on the 10th, where he found Colonel Sill and his division, who, after fighting on the way, had arrived the previous evening, and given Williams's troops a few shot and shell when they departed. On the same day Nelson had the pleasure of saying to his troops, in an order issued from " Camp Hopeless Chase," that " In a campaign of twenty days, 1 Sill's troops for this occasion were the Thirty-third Ohio (his own regiment), a light battalion, under Major Hart, composed of portions of the Second, Thirty-third, and Fifty -ninth Ohio, and two Kentucky couipanic-s; one hundred and forty-two mounted men. mostly teamsters, commanded by Colont-1 Metcalf; thirty-six volunteers, under Colonel Apperson, and a section of artillery (two rifled C-pounders), under Colonel Rohor Vncher. 2 This was composed of the greater portions of the Second, Twenty-first, and Fifty -ninth Ohio Volunteers, under Colonels Harris. Norton, and Tyffe; a battalion of Kentucky volunteers, commanJed by Colonel C. A. Marshall, and two sections of artillery, in charge of Captain Konkle. EESULTS OF A FALSE ALARM. 91 you have driven the rebels from Eastern Kentucky, and given repose to that portion of the State." He alluded to their privations, and then said : " For your constancy and courage, I thank you, and, with the qualities which you have shown that you possess, I expect great things from you in the future." The East Tennessee patriots were compelled to wait and suffer longer. Bright hopes had been excited among them by the repulse of Zollicoffer at Camp Wild-Cat ; and many from the great valley between the Allegheny and Cumberland ranges, had made their way to the camps of the Unionists in Kentucky, fully persuaded that they would soon return with a victorious host as liberators of East Tennessee. It might have been so, had not Gen- eral Schoepf been deceived by false reports concerning the strength of the insurgents at the mountain gaps, and the movements of others who were occupying Bowling Green, in the heart of Kentucky, under General Buck- ner, and who at that time were too weak to make any aggressions. Startled by a report that a large force from Bowling Green was marching to strike his flank, Schoepf fell back hastily toward the Ohio, making two days' forced marches, and leaving behind him and along the road ample evidence of a precipitate and rather disastrous flight. Not a platoon of soldiers had gone out from Buckner's camp in that direction. That retrograde movement of Schoepf extinguished the hope of speedy relief in the hearts of the East Tennesseans. Now, at the middle of November, the Confederates had obtained a firm foothold in Tennessee, and occupied a considerable portion of Southern Ken- tucky, from the mountains to the Mississippi River ; also a greater portion of Missouri south of the Missouri River. At the same time the National authorities were making vigorous preparations to drive them southward. At this interesting point, let us leave the consideration of events westward of the Alleghenies for a time, and glance at stirring scenes eastward of that lofty range of mountains, and on the sea-coast. 55% 92 CONFEDERATE TROOPS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. CHAPTEE IY. MILITAET OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA, AND ON THE SEA-COAST N the autumn of 1861, the Confederates made a severe struggle for the possession of West Vir- ginia. They hoped, by the employment of other commanders than those who had failed there, to recover all that had been lost in the summer by the dispersion of Garnett's forces at Carricksford, 1 and the pushing of the incompetent Wise out of the Kanawha Valley, as we have observed. 2 General Robert E. Lee was sent with re-enforcements to take command of the troops left by Garnett and Pegram in Northern Vir- ginia. He made his head-quarters at Huntersville, in Pocahontas County. His entire force, early in August, numbered full sixteen thousand men. He placed a strong guard on Buffalo Mountain, at the crossing of the Staunton turnpike, and extended his line northward from the Warm Springs, in Green- brier County. General Floyd, the late Secretary of War, 3 had, in the mean time, taken chief command of his own and Wise's troops, in the region of the Gauley River. 4 With these two armies acting simultaneously, it waa intended to expel the National troops from Western Virginia, and menace Ohio. Floyd was to sweep down the Kanawha Valley, and drive General Cox, of Ohio, beyond the border, while Lee should scatter the Union army, under General Rosecrans (McClellan's successor), 6 in Northern Virginia, and, planting the Confederate flag at Wheeling, threaten Western Penn- sylvania. Floyd took a strong position between Cox and Rosecrans, at Carnifex Ferry, 6 on the Gauley River, just below Meadow Creek, and eight miles from Summersville, the capital of Nicholas County. He left Wise with his force, called " Wise's Legion," at Pickett's Mills, to prevent a flank movement from Hawksnest, a mountain on the southern side of the Gauley, near which, on 1 See page 634, volume I. l See page 637, volume I. 3 See page 145, volume I. 4 Wise was so great a boaster, and so poor a performer, that his signal failures as a military leader on all occasions caused him to be much ridiculed. The following is a specimen of some of the shafts of wit that were cast at him through the newspapers of the day " There was a man of Accomac, And he was bully Wise ; He jumped into K an aw ha' s bush, And scratched out both his eyes; And, when he saw he lost his eyes, With all his might and main, From Kanawha he quickly flies, To brag, and run again." * See page 537, volume I. Carmfeaa is a Latin word, signifying a villain, or villainous. EVENTS IN" THE ZANAWHA VALLEY. 93 the New River, Cox's main force was then stationed. Floyd had just settled his command at Carnifex Ferry, when he received intelligence that some National troops were apprdaching from the direction of Summersville, north of him. These were the Seventh Ohio, under Coionel E. B. Tyler, who, as a fur-trader, had made himself well acquainted with that region. Floyd had been placed in a perilous position in passing over the Gauley, by the cap- sizing of a ferry-boat. His command was severed ; most of his cavalry and four pieces of artillery being on the southern side of the river, whilst his in- fantry and a small portion of his cavalry were on the opposite shore. Tyler had information of this affair, and hoped to strike Floyd before he could re- unite his troops. But he was a little too late. He was encamped at Cross Lanes, not far from Summersville, on the night of the 25th of August, and, while at breakfast the next morning," his command a ^g|j 26 ' was surprised by a force of Virginians sent out stealthily by Floyd, severely handled, and dispersed with the loss of about fifty men. General Rosecrans, soon after this defeat of Tyler, marched to the aid of Cox against Floyd. He issued a stirring proclamation to the loyal inhabi- tants of Western Virginia, and promised them ample protection. General Cox, of Ohio, in the mean time, had advanced from Charleston to the site of Gauley bridge, which Wise, in his hasty flight, had burnt ; and, at the junction of New River with the Gauley, 1 he had reported to Governor Pier- pont, on the 29th of July, that the Kanawha Valley was " free from the Secession troops," and that the inhabitants were denouncing Wise " for his vandalism." He had moved up the Kanawha, by land and water, having under his control a number of steamboats. His whole force proceeded cau- tiously, for masked batteries were dreaded. His scouting parties were very active. One of these, under Colonel Guthrie, composed of the First Kentucky cavalry, routed a Confederate troop at Cissonville. Others were driven from their camps, and as Cox moved steadily onward, Wise, as we have observed, becoming alarmed, 2 abandoned his strong in- trenchments at Charleston, and fled up the river, burning the bridges over the streams in his rear. When ap- proaching the abandoned town, Cox captured a Confederate steamer, and on the 25th of July he entered the village, just after the Confederate rear-guard had left. He found the fine suspension bridge over the Elk River in ruins, and Wise beyond his reach ; so he fortified his position there, and, with some of his troops, followed his fugitive foe as far as the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers, and took position, as we have observed, in the region between them. JOSEPH J. REYNOLDS. 1 New River rises among the spurs of the Blue Eidge, in North Carolina, and, uniting with the Gauley, forms the Great Kanawha. 2 See i>age 537, volume I. 94 MARCH OF ROSECRANS TOWARD THE KANAWHA. General Rosecrans had organized a strong column of nearly ten thousand men at Clarksburg, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railway ; and early in Sep- tember he marched southward, with several of his best Western regiments, to attack Floyd, wherever he might be found, leaving the remainder of his force under General Reynolds, who was in command of the Cheat Mountain division, to watch and oppose Lee. He soon ascertained that Floyd was at or near Carnifex Ferry, and he pushed forward in that direction, through Lewis, Braxton, and Nicholas Counties, by way of Weston, Jacksonville, and Braxton Court House, to Summersville. His route lay along some of the wildest of the mountain roads, over the western spurs of the Alleghenies, and among the most charming and picturesque scenery of Western Virginia. Sometimes his troops thridded deep and gloomy ravines, and narrow defiles, and then climbed the steepest hillsides ; at times along slippery winding paths, among beetling crags, catching here and there, at some sharp angle, glimpses of distant mountain groups, and fertile valleys covered with corn. 1 Especially rugged was the Gauley mountain range, over which the army climbed, after leaving Suttonsville, on the Elk, and the valley of its tributary, the Big Birch Creek. Rosecrans reached the summit of the mountain at noon, on the 9th," a Sept, 1S61. . . ,, when a magnificent panorama of lofty wooded ranges met the eye. On that height, near Muddlethy Bottom, they began to feel the foe. He had an ad- vanced camp in the vicinity, and there picket-firing commenced. Union cavalry dashed forward, and Floyd's vedettes were soon seen scampering toward Sum- mersville, with information of the ap- proach of the National troops. The latter passed through that town with General Benham's brigade in the advance, on the morning of the 10th, a few hours after the Thirty-sixth Virginia had left it and fled to Floyd's intrenchments at the Ferry. The little army moved cautiously forward from Summersville, properly 1 The ascent, of one of these steep mountain pathways by a portion of the Twelfth Ohio Regiment was described by an eyewitness as presenting a singularly picturesque appearance. This was accomplished a short time before the march of the army now under consideration, when those troops were making their way over the mountains south of the Gauley, to reconnoiter Floyd's position. A part of the ascent was made at night, in the light of torches. The troops were compelled to go in sinsle file, sometimes crawling on their hands and knees, and at midnight they reached the summit The sketch given in the text is from the pencil of one who accom- panied the army. AliCE.NT OF (iAULEY MOUNTAIN. BATTLE OF CARXIFEX FERRY 95 fearing an ambuscade. The Tenth Ohio, under Colonel Lytle, led the way ; and, at about two o'clock in the afternoon, the vanguard came in sight of Floyd's works, a mile distant, be- yond a deep wooded valley. These occupied a bald eminence on the north side of the Gauley River, which here swept in a curve, so that each flank of the Confederate in- trenchments rested on the stream. Over that eminence, and throusrh 7 O these works, passed the road to Car- nifex Ferry, a passage of the river just below Meadow Creek, and a battery of twelve guns was so placed upon the hill as to sweep this road back for full a mile, in the face of Rosecrans' approach. Placing his entire force in proper HENRY w. BENHAM. order for conflict, the commander or- dered Benham to advance with his brigade and make a reconnoissance, in force. That brigade was composed of three Ohio regiments and two batteries. 1 The order was promptly obeyed. The Tenth Ohio still led, and at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, when Lytle's skirmishers emerged from the woods into an open field of corn, they found themselves near some of the Confederate works. Musket firing immediately commenced, first lightly, but soon it was a perfect storm of lead from the entire Confederate front. The remainder of the regiment was ordered forward to the aid of the skirmishers, and the colors were placed in front, with the intention of attacking the main Confederate bat- tery. This drew upon them the concentrated fire of the foe. The storm was BO heavy that the line recoiled and broke, but it was soon rallied, and the batteries of Schneider and McMullen were ordered up to the support of the smitten regiment. Benham was now satisfied that Floyd's weakest point was on his right wing, and he resolved to attack him there. He ordered the Twelfth and Thirteenth Ohio to advance, pass the deep valley on his left, and under cover of the woods make the attack. While this movement was in progress, Colonel Lytle dashed up the hill with his regiment, to assail the intrench- ments in the center. He was so warmly received that he was compelled to direct his men to seek shelter from the storm. He had received a severe wound in his leg, and his horse was fatally shot. He took refuge in a deserted house between the two fires, and lay there until the conflict ceased. His regiment, discouraged at the loss of their Colonel, became somewhat scattered in the woods, but kept up an incessant firing. Colonel Smith, in the mean time, had opened upon Floyd's right, and Colonel Lowe with the Twelfth Ohio was led by Adjutant-General Hartsuff into the woods, in a position to work his way up under cover and form on 1 These were the Tenth, under Colonel Lytle, the Twelfth, under Colonel Lowe, and the Thirteenth, under Colonel Smith. A battery of two rifled 6-poumiers was commanded by Captain Schneider, and another of four mountain howitzers was in charge of Captain McMullen. 96 BATTLE OF CARNIFEX FERRY. Smith's right, so as to threaten more positively the extreme right flank of the Confederates. Lowe was pushing rapidly forward, when he was instantly killed by a musket-ball that pierced his forehead and entered his brain. Hartsuif hurried McMullen's battery into a position to play effectively on the principal redoubt, whilst Schneider's on the right of the road completely commanded the entire front of the Confederate works. Two of Floyd's guns were soon silenced, and the fire of the others became weaker. In the mean time Rosecrans was busy on the hill to the right of the road, exposed to the hottest of the fire, in forming Colonel Robert L. McCook's Brigade the Third, Ninth (his own regiment), and Twenty-eighth Ohio for co-operation in the movement, with Scammon's Brigade a little in the rear as a reserve. McCook's Regiment was composed mostly of Germans, and these were to lead the column. When they were ready for an advance, Adjutant-General Hartsuff was sent to bring the brigade forward. McCook, who had been restive in inac- tivity while the battle had been raging for nearly an hour, now glowed with de- light. He was acting as brigadier, and was eager for usefulness and renown. He dashed up and down his line like a weaver's shuttle, dis- tinguished from other officers by his citizen's dress and slouched hat. He told his men what was to be done, and what was expected of them, and asked them if they were ready to do it. He was answered by cheers that smothered the roar of battle on the left. Then standing high in his stirrups, and snatching his hat from his head, he waved it in the air, and shouted, " Forward, my bully Dutch ! "We will go over the intrenchments if every man dies on the other side !" Another volley of cheers broke from the column as it moved forward at the double quick to storm the intrench- ments, with the calm Hartsuff at their head. Down into the densely wooded ravine they plunged, and McCook's Ninth and Colonel Mohr's Twenty- eighth Ohio were already feeling the severe storm from the intrenchments, and fighting bravely, when they were suddenly checked by an order from Rosecrans to halt. The General had more minutely examined the plan (which Hartsuff had submitted and begged permission to carry out) for storming the works in front, and perceiving, as he thought, too much peril to his troops involved in it, he countermanded the order when the movement was in mid career, and at the moment when Colonel Smith, with the Thir- teenth Ohio, was at the point, apparently, of successfully carrying the works on Floyd's right. The troops were all recalled from the assault, after fight- ing between three and four hours. It was near the end of twilight when this conflict, known as the BATTLE PLAN OF THE BATTLE OP CAKNIFKX FEKEY. LEE IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. 97 OF CARNIFEX FERRY, ceased. Rosecrans intended to renew it in the morn- ing, and his troops- lay on their arms all night, some of them within a hun- dred yards of the intrenchments. When day dawned," Floyd, Avho had been wounded in the arm, had fled. Terrified by the fury of the assault on the previous day, he had stolen softly away in the dark, leaving a large amount of ammunition, arms, stores, and equipage behind. He crossed the Gauley over a hastily constructed bridge of logs, which he broke down behind him, destroyed the ferry-boat, and hastened to Dogwood Gap, and thence to a secure spot on the summit of Big Sewell Mountain, near New River, thirty miles distant from the 'battle-field. After resting there a few days, he pushed on to Meadow Bluff, whilst Wise, who had refused to send him re-enforcements at the Ferry, and now refused to follow him, 1 strengthened the position on Big Sewell Mountain, and called it " Camp Defiance." The Ba~ttle of Carnifex Ferry was regarded as a decided victory for the Nationals, and an excellent test of the quality of the soldiers. These troops, with the exception of the cavalry of Stewart, of Indiana, and Schaumberg, of Chicago, were all from Ohio. They went into the battle after a hard march of seventeen miles, not more than four thousand strong, and fought nearly two thousand men, behind intrenchments, 4 for three or four hours, losing fifteen killed, and seventy wounded. The Confederates report- ed their loss at one killed and ten wounded. 3 The expulsion of Floyd from Car- nifex Ferry was soon followed by a conflict between the forces of General Reynolds, of the National army, and those of General Lee, of the Confede- rate army, at important posts among the mountains farther to the north- ward. Reynolds's troops, forming the first brigade of Rosecrans's Army of Occupation in Western Virginia, consisted of the Thirteenth, Four- teenth, and Fifteenth Indiana Regi- ROBERT E. LEE. 1 Wise could not reconcile his pride and duty. The former prevailed, and made him insubordinate. He refused to send re-enforcernents to Floyd, at Carnifex Ferry, and the latter declared to his superiors at Richmond that the failure to receive them was a capital reason for his inability to hold that position. Wise, at that time, according to Pollard, was endeavoring to win laurels exclusively for himself in another direction ; but, as usual, he failed. He was quick to follow Floyd in his retreat befiro danger; but, as soon as that danger seemed remote, he again became insubordinate, and, as we have observed in the text, remained on the summit of Big Sewell Mountain, and established " Camp Defiance " there. There, on the ISth, he made a speech to his Legion, in which he told them that hitherto he had never retreated, excepting in obedience to superior orders, and that there he was determined to make a stand, notwithstanding his own troops numbered only 1,TOO, while those of his foe were reported by Floyd to be 15,000. He did not believe this statement ; " nevertheless, they must be prepared to fight great odds, front and rear, for successive days." 2 Pollard, in his First Year of the War, page 165, says : -'The force of General Floyd's command was 1,740 men. Others put it at a much higher number. It was probably about 2,000." 3 Report of General Rosecrans to Adjutant-General Townsend, September llth; of General Benham to General Rosecrans, September 13th ; of Colonels Lytle and Smith, and Lieutenant-Colonel White, September llth, 1861 ; and of General Floyd, to the Confederate " Secretary of War," September 12th ; also army corre- spondence of the Cincinnati Gazette and LyncKburg (Va.) Republican. VOL. II 7 98 REYNOLDS AND LEE AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. ments, the Third and Sixth Ohio, detachments of the First and Second Vir- ginia, Burdsall's Ohio, and Bracken's Indiana cavalry, and Loomis's Michigan Battery. With these forces he held the roads and passes of the more wes- terly ranges of the great Allegheny chain, from Webster, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railway, to the head waters of the Gauley, among the spurs of the Greenbrier Mountains. His head-quarters, at the time of Rosecrans's move- ment from Clarksburg, were at Cheat Mountain Pass (Crouch's), at the western foot of the hills over which goes the highway from Huttons- ville to Staunton. There he had the Thirteenth Indiana, Colonel Sullivan, with two pieces of .artillery, and a small cavalry force. These were disposed along the approaches to the Pass, to guard against surprise. On the Sum- mit of the Cheat, as we have observed, General McClellan had left Colonel Kimball with the Fourteenth Indiana as an outpost, 1 which that officer had strengthened, and where he now had the aid of about forty cavalrymen. General Lee's head-quarters, at this time, were at Huntersville, in Poca- hontas County. His scouts were active everywhere, and so were those of Reynolds. The adventures of these men during several weeks furnish material for the wildest romances. The opposing parties frequently met, and engaged in sharp conflicts ; and scarcely a day passed that the sound of the desultory firing of small-arms was not heard among those solitary hills. Scouting became a most exciting pleasure to many who were engaged in it ; but time and circumstances soon brought about more sober work. It was evident, from the movements of Lee's scouts on the mountains, early in September, that he was contemplating an expedition against some of Reynolds's important posts, for the purpose of capturing his army in detail, or of breaking through and severing his lines of communication, and marching to the Ohio ; or, possibly, for the interception of Rosecrans in his march toward the Gauley. He was watched with sleepless vigilance, and on the day after Floyd's retreat from Carnifex Ferry, it was evident that he was moving against the post on the Summit, and another at Elk Water, at the western foot of the mountain, seven miles from the former by a bridle-path over the hills, and eighteen by the road. His object was to secure the great Cheat Mountain Pass, and have free communication with the Shenandoah Valley at Staunton. For this purpose he marched from Huntersville on the night of the llth of September," with nine thousand men, and nearly a dozen pieces of artillery. He had succeeded, with great difficulty, in placing his troops to make a simultaneous attack upon the Summit, Elk Water, and the Pass. A storm was sweeping over the moun- tains, and favored the expedition. At midnight the telegraph wires between Kimball, at the Summit, and head-quarters, were cut, and all communication ceased. The last message to the Colonel from General Reynolds was one from Elk Water, warning him of impending danger. It was heeded, and promptly acted upon. The bridle-path between the Summit and Elk Water was immediately picketed, and, on the morning of the 1 2th, a horseman was gent down the mountain with dispatches for Reynolds. He met some wagons without horses or men. It was a supply-train, that had been moving 1 See page 536, volume I. A STRIFE FOR THE SUMMIT. 99 up under the escort of the Twenty-fifth Ohio, and had been cut of He hastened back with the news, when Colonel Kimball, at the head of the Fourteenth Indiana and twelve dragoons, hurrieed to the spot, near which they met the Confederates in force, and drove them. Kimball then detailed one hundred men, under Captain Higgins, to re-enforce Captain Coons, who was closely invested on a ridge near the Pass. They fought their way down, and found Coons stubbornly holding his position, having repelled every assault. In a short time the Confederates in that vicinity, driven at several points by the men of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana, and Twenty-fourth* and Twenty-fifth Ohio, were discomfited and dispersed, and in their flight cast away every thing that might encumber them. So the attempt to reach the rear of the National works on the Summit was foiled, and another pprtion of the Confederate troops, which appeared on and near the Cheat River, on the front and flank of Kimball's position, were at about this time routed by a few Indiana and Ohio troops, under Captain Foote, of the Fourteenth Indiana. The Confederates engaged in this attempt upcii the Summit and the Pass were nearly five thousand in number, and were led in person by General Anderson, of Tennessee. 1 The troops that opposed them did not number more than six hundred. General Reynolds, who had hastened around to Elk Water, was ignorant of these important movements on the mountain. He arrived there toward evening," and found a large force of Confederates, 8e , p Q c 1 12 ' lobl. under General Lee, threatening the position. They were kept at a respectful distance by the Parrot guns of Loomis's battery, and all was silent at the gathering of darkness on the evening of the 12th. Reynolds was satisfied that Kimball had performed all that could be done in defense of his post, yet he was determined to open communication with him. He ordered Colonel Sullivan to take his Thirteenth Indiana, and cut his way, if necessary, by the main road ; and Colonels Morrow and Moss were ordered to do the same by the bridle-path. These troops left at three o'clock on the morning of the 1 3th ;* the former from the Pass, and the latter from Elk Water. They found their prescribed work already performed. They secured the provision train, and reached the Summit at dawn. At the same time Lee advanced in heavy force upon Elk Water, with the apparent intention of making a direct attack. Reynolds's pickets were driven in, when a 10-pounder Parrot gun of Loomis's battery was pushed about three-fourths of a mile to the front, and did such execution that the Confederates withdrew. In that position both armies remained until night, when Lee withdrew still farther under cover of the darkness, and on the following day took post along the slopes of the Greenbrier Mountains, about ten miles from Elk Water. He attempted a flank movement on the Cheat Summit, on the 15 th, but was driven away. The repulse of Anderson on the mountain had satisfied Lee that his grand strategic plan for severing and destroying Reynolds's army, and pushing on to the Ohio, had failed. In the encounters during these two or three days, .the Nationals lost ten 1 General Anderson's brigade consisted chiefly of Tennessee and Arkansas troops, with some Virginians. Those employed against the Summit and the Pass were the Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-first, and Thirty- seventh Virginia Regiments, a Virginia battery under Colonels Talliafero and Heck, and the First,. Seventh, and Fourteenth Tennessee, under Colonel Manly. 100 BATTLE ON THE GREENBRIER. killed, fourteen wounded, and sixty-four prisoners. The Confederate loss was about one hundred killed ! and wounded, and ninety prisoners. 2 Lee, having failed in his designs against Reynolds, withdrew from the Cheat Mountain region with a greater part of his force, and joined Floyd at Meadow Bluff, at the close of September. He had left General ^ ^" J ac kson, f Georgia, with about three thousand men, on the Greenbrier River, at the foot of Cheat Mountain, and a small force at Huntersville, to watch Reynolds. He now proceeded to fortify Wise's position on Big Sewell Mountain, which confronted the Nationals on and near the Gauley River and New River, and there, as the senior officer, he concentrated his own forces, and those of Floyd and Wise, and found himself in command of an army of at least twenty thousand men. 3 Reynolds now resolved to act on the offensive. At the beginning of October he moved with about five thousand men upon Jackson's intrenched camp, on the Greenbrier, near a noted tavern, called " Travelers' Repose," on the Staunton pike. His forces, composed of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Virginia troops, left the summit of Cheat Mountain at a little before midnight, 4 for " an armed reconnoissance," as he termed it. They reached the front of the Confederates, twelve miles distant, at dawn, when the Ninth Indiana, under Colonel Milroy, drove in the advance pickets. KimbalPs Fourteenth Indiana took position directly in front, and Loomis's battery was planted within seven hundred yards of the works, where it opened fire. Howe, of the Fourth Regular Artillery, and Daum, also in command of artillery, brought their guns into position at about the same distance. Three of the Confederate cannon were disabled, when heavy re- enforcements for the garrison were reported to be near. The Nationals were eager to storm the works before these should arrive, but the General would not permit it. They were allowed to make a flank movement on the Confederate right, and attempt a dislodgment. The Confederates, per- ceiving their design, were prepared at that point, and with a terrible storm of .grape and canister they repulsed the assailants. Reynolds lost ten killed and thirty-two wounded. Jackson's loss in the picket-firing and in the trenches was estimated at over two hundred. The engagement had lasted about seven hours. Reynolds fell back to Elk Water. 1 Among the killed was Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Washington, of General Lee's staff. He was the former owner of the mansion and mansion-farm of the estate of Mount Vernon, which he sold to the Ladies' Mount Vernon Association a few years before the war broke out. He was out on the evening of the 13th, with two other officers, reconnoitering the works at Elk Water, when he was shot dead by three Minie bails, from a picket post of the Seventeenth Indiana. These penetrated his breast, which was covered by a rich white satin vest In his pocket was found a complete description of the works at Elk Water. His remains were tenderly cared for, and sent to General Lee the next morning. Washington was about forty years of age. a Report of General J. J. Reynolds to Assistant Adjutant-General George L. Hartsuff, September 17th. 1861 ; of General Robert E. Lee to L. Pope Walker, September 18th. 1861 ; The CJieat Mountain Campaign, in Ste- venson's Indiana Roll of Honor ; Pollard's First Year of the War. Whilst evidently giving Lee full credit for rare abilities as an engineer, Pollard regarded him as incompetent to execute well. He says: " There is .reason to believe that, if General Lee had not allowed the immaterial part of his plan to control his action, a glorious success would have resulted, opening the whole northwestern country to us, and enabling Floyd and Wise to drive Cox with ease out of the Kanawha Valley. Regrets, however, were unavailing now. General Lee's plan, finished drawings of which were sent to the War Department at Richmond, was said to have been one of the best-laid plans that ever illustrated the consummation of the rules of strategy, or ever went awry on account of practical failures in its execution." 3 When Lee arrived at Floyd's camp at Meadow Bluff, he wrote to Wise, advising him to foil back without delay. Wise hesitated, and invited General Lee to visit him, and inspect his position. Lee did so, and, satisfied that it was the most advantageous place of the two, ordered him to remain. This tacit approval of Wise's in- subordination offended Floyd ; but the concentration of all the forces under Lee prevented any ill consequences. KOSECKANS AND FLOYD ON NEW EIVER. 101 Lee's position on Big Sewell Mountain was directly in front of that of Rosecrans, who occupied the country in the crotch formed by the Gau- ley River and New River. His main camp was on New River, and his lines extended down to the Gauley. The breach between Wise and Floyd widened, and, late in September," the former was recalled to Richmond by the Confederate " Secretary of War." Lee held '^i^ Wise's position on Big Sewell for about three weeks, in sight of Rosecrans, who had been re-enforced ; ! but did not venture to attack him. The latter then fell back, without Lee's knowledge, and concentrated his forces near the junction of the rivers. Lee, too, was then recalled to Rich- mond, 2 and was soon afterward sent to take charge of the coast defenses of South Carolina and Georgia. 3 Floyd and Rosecrans were once more com- petitors for the possession of the Kanawha Valley. The former, late in Oc- tober, took position on the left bank of New River, and erected batteries there a little above its junction with the Gauley, and on the first of Novem- ber he opened an annoying fire on the National camp. Already very troublesome raids had been made by small parties of Confederates, and on one occasion they had approached within twelve miles of Charleston. Floyd's batteries now commanded the road over which Rosecrans's sup- plies had to pass to his camp at the junction, and it was resolved to dislodge or capture him. Troops were thrown across for that purpose. An attempt of General Schenck to cross behind Fayetteville, and strike Fldyd's rear, was frustrated by a sud- den flood in New River, and the Confederates were struck only in the front, opposite the mouth of the Gauley, by the First Ken- REGION OF MILITARY OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. tucky, under Major Leeper. This was gallantly performed, 6 and Floyd recoiled. General Benham had crossed below the mouth * Nor. 12. 1 His army now numbered about 10,000 men, composed of the brigades 'of Generals Cox, Benham, and Schenck, the latter bavin? been transferred from the Army of the Potomac. 2 Lee's campaign in Western Virginia was a failure, and the hopes centered on him were signally disap- pointed. The Confederate historian of the war, Pollard, commenting on Lee's failure to attack Rosecrans, fays (i. 171): "Thus the second opportunity of a decisive battle in Western Virginia was blindly lost. General Lee making no attempt to follow up the enemy, who had so skillfully eluded him; the excuse alleged for his not doing so being mud. swollen streams, and the leanness of his artillery horses." 3 See Lee's letter of resignation, note 3, page 421, volume I. 102 DEFEAT AND FLIGHT OF FLOYD. of New River, with his brigade. Rosecrans, fearing Floyd would retreat, ordered Beiiham to push forward at once to Cassidy's Mills, on his flank and rear, to intercept him. This was not accomplished in time, and Floyd fled precipitately, strewing the way with tents, tent-poles, working utensils, and ammunition, in his efforts to lighten his wagons. Benham pressed his rear heavily through Fayetteville, and on the road toward Raleigh ; and near the latter place he struck the Confederate rear-guard of four hundred cavr airy, under Colonel Croghan, 1 who was mortally wounded. Onward Floyd sped, with Benham close at his heels ; but the pursuit was ended near Raleigh, after a thirty miles' race, by the recall of Benham, and the fugitive escaped to Peterston, full fifty miles southward from his point of departure. He soon afterward took leave of his army, in a stirring proclamation, praising his men for their courage and fidelity, and remind- ing them that for five months "hard contested battles and skirmishes were matters of almost daily occurrence." General Rosecrans also issued an address to his troops, in which he recapitulated their services, and -implored them to prepare for greater deeds in the future. 4 Thus ended the campaign in the Kanawha Valley. 3 But little more effort was needed to rid "Western Virginia of the insur- gents. Already General Kelly, who had behaved so gallantly at Philippi in June, 4 had struck them a severe blow on the spot where Colonel Wallace first smote them a few months before. 5 Kelly had recovered from his severe wound, and, with the commission of Brigadier-General, was in command of troops in the autumn, guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railway along its course through West Virginia. Ascertaining that a considerable insurgent force, consisting of cavalry, under Colonel Angus McDonald, and militia under Colonel Monroe, was at Romney, preparing 1 St. George Croahan was a son of the eminent Colonel George Croghan, who so gallantly defended Fort Stephenson, at lower Sandusky, in the War of 1812. His family were residing in Newburgh, on the Hudson River, at this time. * Rosecrans said : "When our gallant young commander was called from us, after the disaster of Bull's Eun, this department was left with less than 15,000 tnen to guard 300 miles of railroad, and 300 miles of frontier, ex- posed to bushwhackers, and the forces of Generals Floyd, Wise, and Jackson. The northwestern pass into it was fortified and held, Cheat Mountain secured, the rebel assaults there victoriously repelled, and the Kanawha Valley occupied. A inarch of 112 miles, over bad roads, brought you upon Floyd's intrenched position, whence the rebels were dislodged and chased to Sewell. Finally, your patience and watchings put the traitor Floyd within your reach, and though, by a precipitate retreat, he escaped your grasp, you have the substantial fruits of victory. Western Virginia belongs to herself, and the invader is expelled from her soil. In the name of our Commander-in-Chief, and in my own, I thank you." 3 On the 10th of November, a most unhappy event occurred in the extreme southwestern portion of Vir- ginia. The village of Guyandotte, on the Ohio River, near the Kentucky line, was held by a small Union force Tinder R. V. Whaley, a loyal Virginian, commanding the Ninth Virginia Regiment, who had a recruiting station there. At eight o'clock in the evening, a guerrilla chief, named Albert G. Jenkins, who, with his mounted men, had been for some time carrying on a distressing warfare in that region, dashed into the little village, surprised the Union force, and made over 100 of them prisoners. They killed every m:m who resisted. With prisoners and plunder, Jenkins fled the next morning. It was reported that the Secessionists in the village had entrapped many of the Union soldiers in the coils of social enjoyments, and then gave Jenkins notice that he could easily win a prize. This so exasperated Colonel John J. Zeigler, a loyal citizen of Wayne County, who was in com- mand of the Fifth Virginia, and who entered the town the next morning, that he ordered the houses of the dis- loyalists to be burned. Almost the whole village was laid in ashes. Jenkins had represented his section of Virginia in Congress. The guerrilla bands who infested portions of Virginia during the whole war, were composed of the disloyal citizens of that State. Seme of them gave themselves names significant of their character and intentions. A portion of one of these bands, composed of residents of Flat Top Mountain, in Mercer County, were captured near Raleigh, in Western Virginia, by Colonel (afterward General) Rutherford B. Hays, of Ohio, and he found by papers in their possession, that their organization was known as "The Flat Top Copperheads," their avowed ob- ject being the destruction of the lives and property of Union men. 4 See page 496, volume I. 8 See page 518, volume I. MILKOY IF WESTERN VIRGINIA. . 103 for a descent on the railway, he led about twenty-five hundred Ohio and Virginia troops against them, from the New Creek Station, along the route first traversed by Wallace. He came upon the insurgents a few miles from Romney, at three o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th of October, drove in their outposts, and, after a severe contest of about two hours, completely routed them, capturing their three cannon, much of their camp equipage, a large number of prisoners, besides killing and wounding between thirty and forty in the fray. This victory paralyzed the rebellion in that region for a time. It was followed by a proclamation from General Kelly, assu- ring the inhabitants that full protection should be given to those who were peaceable, at the same time telling them that, if they joined in guerrilla , warfare, they should be treated as enemies. He required all Avho had taken up arms against the Government to lay them down immediately, and take an oath of allegiance to the National Government. For a while that region of the State enjoyed repose. Soon after Reynolds's attack on Jackson, at " Travelers' Rest," a large portion of the Cheat Mountain troops were sent to Kentucky, and Colonel Robert H. Milroy, who had been commissioned a Brigadier- General," was kept with a single brigade to hold the mountain " s ^' 8 ' passes. Reynolds was ordered to report in person to General Rosecrans, who at the close of the Kanawha campaign had retired to Wheel- ing, and, in December, Milroy succeeded to the command of the Cheat Mountain division of the army. Milroy had at first established his head- quarters on Cheat Summit, and vigorously scouted the hills in that region, making the beaxitiful little Gi-eenbrier Valley lively with frequent skirmish- ing. Jackson had withdrawn from Camp Bartow at " Travelers' Rest," and, being ordered to Georgia, had left his command of twelve hundred Con- federates and about eight hundred Virginians with Colonel Edward Johnston of Georgia, to confront Milroy. He made his head-quarters at Allegheny Summit ; and Milroy, when he took chief command, estab- lished his at Huttonsville, in Tygart's Valley. Milroy determined to attack Johnston, and for that purpose moved a little over three thousand men on the 12th of December. He directed Colonel Moody of the Ninth Indiana to lead his regiment, with a detach- ment of the Second Virginia, around to make a flank movement, and charge and capture a battery on a bluff commanding the Staunton pike. At the same time the Twenty-fifth Ohio, Colonel Jones, with detachments of the Thirteenth Indiana, and Thirty-second Ohio, was to assault Johnston's front. This was done, but Colonel Moody did not arrive in time to co-operate with Jones. The fight was continued, but Jones was not successful. The Con- federates became the aggressors, and they in turn were discomfited. Milroy 104 . EVENTS ON THE SEA-COAST. had lost about one hundred and fifty men when Moody commenced his flank attack. This, too, was unsuccessful, and the whole force retired in good order, unpursued by the Confederates. The losses on both sides appear to have been about equal, and amounted to very nearly two hundred men each. Both parties had fought with the most commendable valor. Milroy was not discouraged by his failure on the Allegheny Summit. Late in December he sent a force to break up a Confederate post at Hun- tersville, and capture or destroy military stores there. The main expedi- tion consisted of a battalion of the Twenty-fifth Ohio, and a detachment of the Second Virginia, with Bracken's cavalry, and was commanded by Major Webster, of the first-named regiment. Other troops were sent to co-operate with these. The expedition was successful. After a weary march of about fifty miles, the ground covered with snow, the post was attacked, the Con- federates were dispersed, a large -amount of stores were burned, and the jail, which was used for the confinement of Union prisoners, was partially destroyed. This event closed the campaign of 1861 in Western Virginia* and armed rebellion in that region was effectually crushed. Whilst the scenes we have just recorded were transpiring in the Middle Mississippi Valley, and in West Virginia, others even more remarkable, and quite as important in their relations to the great contest, were occurring on the sea-coast. Let us see what official records and narratives of eye-wit- nesses reveal to us on this subject. In a previous chapter, 1 we have considered some stirring events at and near Fortress Monroe, in Southeastern Virginia. In Hampton Roads, in front of that fortress, a great land and naval armament was seen in August, 1861, destined to strike a severe blow at the rebellion farther 'down the coast. It had been collected there while the smoke of the once pleasant village of Hampton, near, was yet making the air of Old Point Comfort murky with its density. Let us see how that village, whose ruins have already been depicted in this work, 2 came to destruction. We have observed that, after the disastrous Battle of JBulPs Itun, Gen- eral Butler, in command at Fortress Monroe, was compelled to reduce the garrison at Newport-Xewce, and to abandon the village of Hampton, the latter movement causing a general exodus of the colored people living there," who flocked into the Union lines. The whole country J ?!, 26 ' between Old Point Comfort and Yorktown was now left open to IBOl. . A Confederate rule ; and General Magruder, commanding at the latter post, moved down the peninsula with about five thousand men, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, to menace Newport-lSTewce, and take position at or near Hampton, for the close investment of Fortress Monroe. A de- serter 3 had swum across Hampton Creek, and given General Butler such timely notice of the movement that preparations were made at both posts for Magruder's warm reception. Camp Hamilton, commanded by Colonel Max Weber, was soon alive with preparations for battle, and a force stationed at the redoubt at Hamp- * Chapter XXI., volume I. * See pages 511, 512, and 514, volume I. * Mr. Mahew, of the State of Maine. He was in Georgia when the war broke out, and had been pressed into the Confederate service. BURNING OF HAMPTON. 105 ' Aug. 7, 1861. BTTBNING OF HAMPTON. ton Bridge ' were ordered to oppose the passage of the foe at all hazards. These were attacked late in the evening, and repulsed," and soon afterward the town was set on fire in several places. This was done, as it afterward appeared, by order of General Magruder, whose judgment and feelings were at that time in subjection to his passions, excited by the too free use of intoxicating drinks. It was at about mid- night when the town was fired, and before dawn it was almost en- tirely in ashes, with a greater portion of the bridge. The Confede- rates ran wildly about the village with blazing firebrands, spreading destruction in all direc- tions. Even the vener- able parish church, built in colonial times, and standing out of danger from the conflagration of the village, was not spared ; it having been fired, according to testimony subsequently given, by the special order of the drunken Magruder. 2 The cruelty of this destruction was at first charged upon the Union troops, but the truth was soon known, and the odium fixed where it belonged. Magruder contented himself with this performance, and withdrew his forces to Big Bethel and Yorktown. It was at about this time that General Butler was relieved of his com- mand at Fortress Monroe, and Major- General John E. Wool was put in his place. Butler was not assigned to any other duty ; but he was not long idle. The generous and sagacious Wool gave him the command of all the volunteer troops outside of the fortress. This service was a tem- porary one. Weeks before, a Union prisoner (Daniel Campbell, of Maine), who had escaped from Hatteras In- let, brought information to Commo- dore Stringham, commanding in Hampton Roads, that through that pass English blockade-runners were continually carrying in supplies of SILAS H. 8TRINGHAM. 1 Sec page 514, volume I. 3 The troops employed for the purpose were all Virginians, under the respective commands of Captains Goode, Phillips, Sullivan, and Curtis; the whole under the control^ of Colonel J. J. Hodges. Many of thesa troops were citizens of Hampton, and set fire to their own property, to prevent, as they said, its " being occupied by Northern Vandals." 106 EXPEDITION AGAINST HATTEEAS. arms, ammunition, and clothing for the Confederates, and that two forts guarded the Inlet. Stringham informed General Butler of these facts, and the latter sent the report to Washington, with suggestions that land and naval forces should be sent to capture the forts at the Inlet, and close up the passage. The suggestion was acted upon, and, at the time we are con- sidering, a small squadron of vessels was in Hampton Roads for the purpose, on which were to be borne nine hundred land troops. Butler volunteered to command these troops. His offer was accepted, and on Monday, the 26th of August," at one o'clock r. M., the expedition departed, the squadron being under the command' of Commodore Silas II. Stringham. 1 General Butler took passage in the flag-ship (the Minnesota)^ and his troops were on the transports George Peabody and Adelaide* The frigate Cumberland was ordered to join the squadron. The expedition rendezvoused off the Hatteras inlet to Pamlico Sound (at the western end of Hatteras Island, and about eighteen miles from the Cape) at five o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, 4 when preparations were immediately made for landing the troops in the morning, twelve hours later. Two forts, named respectively Hatteras and Clark, occupied the western end of Hatteras Island. The troops were to be landed a short distance up the beach, to attack them in the rear, while the vessels should assail them in front. The Pawnee, Monticello, and Harriet Lane were to be sent for- ward to cover the landing of the forces, and take position, at first, about two miles from the forts. These movements began at the ap- pointed hour." Breakfast was served at four o'clock. The Cum- berland (sailing vessel) was there, and was taken in tow by the Wabash. Dragging her charge to a proper position, the Wabash opened fire on the forts at a quarter to ten o'clock, and the Cumberland joined in the work. The flag-ship (Minnesota) was near, and soon passed inside the other two and engaged in the fight. The Susquehanna, which had joined the expe- dition, came up at eleven o'clock, and at once opened fire. In the mean time a few of the troops had landed near a wreck, about two miles up the beach, under the direction of General Butler, who, with the marines, had gone on board the Harriet Lane. A heavy surf made the landing very dif- ficult, and it was effected by only a little over three hundred men, who were completely covered by the guns of the Monticello and Harriet Lane. The assault on the Confederate works had continued for more than four hours, when the firing ceased on both sides. The flags of the forts were down, and the men from the smaller work had fled to the greater, which was Fort Platteras. Some of the Coast Guard, under Mr. Weigel, of Colonel Weber's command, who had landed, took possession of the former, and raised the Union flag over it ; and it was believed that both works were about to 1 The vessels composing the squadron were the Minnesota, Captain G. A. Van Brune ; Wabash, Captain Samuel Mercer; Monticello, Commander John P. Gillls; Paionet, Commander 8. C. Rowan; Harriet Lane, Captain John Faunce; chartered steamer Adelaide, Commander H. S. Stellwagen ; George Peabody, Lieu- tenant R. P. Lowry; and tug Fanny, Lieutenant Pierce Crosby. The Minnesota was the flag-ship. The trans- port, Service, was in charge of Commander Stellwagen, who had made the preparations. * a These troops consisted of 500 of the Twentieth New York, Colonel Weber- 220 of the Ninth New York, Colonel Hawkins ; 100 of the Union Coast Guard, Captain Nixon ; and 60 of the Second United States Artillery, Lieutenant Lamed. BATTLE AT HATTER AS INLET. 107 be surrendered. The Monticello was ordered to go cautiously into the Inlet, followed by the Harriet Lane, and take possession of them ; but it had proceeded only a short distance, when fire was opened upon it from Port Hatteras, and at the same time a tug- steamer was seen ap- proaching, having in tow a schooner filled with troops, for the re- lief of the fort. The Minnesota, Susquehan- na, and Pawnee imme- diately reopened fire on the fort, and the attack was kept up until half-past six, when the whole squadron, excepting the Pawnee and the Harriet Lane, hauled off for the night. The Monticello was much exposed during the fight, and, at one time, her capture or destruction seemed inevitable ; but she was finally taken out of range of the heavy guns of the fort, without much damage. Early on the morning of the 29th the contest was renewed. -During the preceding evening, Major W. S. G. Andrews, the commander of the two forts (who had been absent on the main), accompanied by Samuel Barren, who was in command of a little Confederate navy in charge of the defenses of Virginia and North Carolina, and then lying in Pamlico Sound, not far from the Inlet, arrived at Fort Hatteras. They found Colonel Martin, who had conducted the defense during the day, completely prostrated by fatigue, and it was agreed that Barren should assume the chief command of the fort, which he did. Guns were speedily brought to bear on Fort Clark, then supposed to be held by the Nationals, and the batteries were placed in charge of fresh troops. But Fort Clark was not held by Butler's troops. They were well and cautiously handled by their commander, Colonel Weber, and had been withdrawn toward the landing-place. Not far from the fort they had placed in battery during the night two howitzers and a rifled 6-pounder cannon, landed from the fleet. These were very serviceable in the hands of Lieutenant Johnson, of the Coast Guard, who, early in the morning, beat off the Confederate steamer Winsloic, commanded by Arthur Sinclair (who had abandoned his country's flag), which was filled with re-enforcements 1 Fort Hatteras was the principal work, and mounted ten guns. Fort Clark was a square redoubt, about 750 yards northward of it, and mounting seven guns. The former occupied a point on a sandy beach, and was almost surrounded by water. It could only be approached on the land side by a march of 500 yards circuitonsly over a Ions neck of land, within half musket-shot of its embankments, and over a narrow causeway, only a few feet in width, which was commanded by two 82-pounder guns loaded with grape and canister shot. The parapet was nearly octagon in form, and inclosed about three-fourths of an acre of ground, with several suf- ficient traverses. Mr. Fiske, acting aid-de-camp of General Butler, performed a gallant feat When Fort Clark was abandoned, he swain ashore, through quite heavy breakers, with orders from Butler to Colonel Weber. He entered the fort, and found books and papers there containing much valuable information. He formed them into a package, strapped them on his shoulders, and swam back with them to the general. After the capitulation, the Confede- rate officers expressed their surprise at the accuracy of Butler's information on the previous day, being ignorant that their own documents had furnished It 108 CAPTURE OF FORTS HATTER AS AWD CLARK. for the garrison. The Harriet Lane, in the mean time, had run in shore to assist the land forces who had moved up to Johnson's battery. The Susqaehanna was the first of the squadron to open fire on the fort on the second day. The Wabash and Minnesota followed, and a little later the Cumberland sailed in and took part in the fight. The Harriet Lane also came up and became a participant. The pounding of the fort was too severe to be borne long, and Barren attempted the trick of hauling down his flag, and assuming the attitude of the vanquished ; but the Nationals were not deceived a second time. At almost eleven o'clock a white flag appeared over the fort, and the firing ceased. The tug Fanny, with General Butler on board, moved into the Inlet to take possession of the works. The Confede- rate vessels in the Sound, with troops on board, fled at her approach. The Harriet Lane and the transport Adelaide followed the Fanny in, and both grounded, 1 but they were finally hauled off The forts were formally surrendered, under a capitulation signed by the respective commanders. 9 " No one of the fleet or army was in the least degree injured," said Butler, in his report to General Wool. He added, that the loss of the Confederates was " twelve or fifteen killed and thirty-five wounded." 3 The capture of the forts at Hatteras Inlet was a severe blow to the Con- federates, and opened the way to most important results, beneficial to the National cause, as we shall observe hereafter. 4 General Butler had been ordered to destroy the forts, and not attempt to hold them. He was so im- pressed with the importance of preserving them, that, after consultation with Stringham and Stellwagen, he returned immediately to Fortress Monroe, and hastened to Washington with the first news of the victory, to explain his views to the Government in person. It was determined to hold them, and the troops, which had only been provisioned for five days, were imme- diately supplied. Butler was now commissioned by the Secretary '^ptember, of War" to go to New England and "raise, arm, uniform, and lool. equip a volunteer force for the war." He did so. What was done with them will be revealed when we come to consider events at Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, and at New Orleans. Colonel Hawkins was left, with the portion of his Ninth New York (Zouaves) that had joined the expedition, to garrison the post at Hatteras 1 This was an anxious moment for the Unionists, for, by these accidents, a valuable ship of war and a trans- port filled with troops were under the guns of the fort, and within the. power of the Confederates. 1 The capitulation was signed on board the flag ship Minnesobi, August 29th, 1S61, by " S. H. Stringham, Flag Officer Atlantic Blockading Squadron," and " Benjamin F. Butler, Major-General U. S. Army, command- ing," on one part, and " S. Barren, Flag Officer C. S. Navy, commanding naval forces, Virginia and North Carolina," " William F. Martin, Colonel Seventh Light Infantry, N. C. Volunteers," and " W. S. G. Andrews, Major, commanding Forts Hatteras and Clark." It was agreed that commanders, men, forts, and munitions of war should be immediately surrendered to the Government of the United States, in terms of full capitulation, " the officers and men to receive the treatment of prisoners of war." Barron had proposed that the officers and men should "retire" (in other words, not be detained as prisoners), the former to go out with their side-arms. The proposition was rejected. The prisoners were taken to New York, and afterward exchanged. 9 Reports of General Butler, August 30th, and of Commodore Slringham, August 30th and September 1st, 1361, and other subordinate officers ; also of " Commodore " Barron and Major Andrews, of the Confederate service, September 1st, 1861. The number of troops surrendered, including the officers, was 715, and with them 1,000 stand of arms, 5 stand of colors, 31 pieces of cannon, vessels with cotton and stores, and 75 kegs of gun- powder. One of the flags was new. and had been presented, within a week, by the women of New Berne, North Carolina, to the " North Carolina Defenders." General Wool's General Order, No. S, August 31st, 1861. 4 General Wool issued a stirring order, announcing the victory, and Secretary Welles congratulated String- ham and his men for the " brilliant achievement accomplished without the loss of a man on the Union Bide." STRUGGLE FOR HATTERAS ISLAND. 109 Sept. 17, 1861. OPERATIONS NEAB CAPE HATTERAS. and hold the Island and Inlet. Late in September he was re-enforced by Colonel Brown and his Twentieth Indiana regiment. In the mean time an expedition had been secretly prepared for following up the victory at Hat- teras, by seizing and holding the whole coast of North Carolina washed by the waters of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, and threatening Norfolk, still held by the Confederates, in the rear. 1 The first object was to close the passages to these Sounds from the sea. Accordingly, a little naval force was sent" to break up a Confederate post at Ocracoke Inlet, a few miles down the coast from Hatteras. Commo- dore Rowan sent Lieutenant J. T. Maxwell to perform this service. He went in the tug Fanny, with a detachment of mariners and soldiers of the Naval Brigade which had been organized in Hampton Roads. The tug towed a launch, and the Sus- quehanna accompa- nied them. An earthwork, little in- ferior to Fort Hat- teras, was found on Beacon Island, com- manding the Inlet ; but this, called Fort Ocracoke, and older Fort Morgan near, were abandoned. They were disabled by Maxwell. In the meantime the Confederates were evidently preparing to throw a force on to Roanoke Island, to the northward of Hatteras, with the intention of recovering their losses at the Inlet, and keeping open two small inlets to Pamlico, above Cape Hatteras. Hawkins sent Colonel Brown,* with his Twentieth Indiana, up the island to a hamlet called Sept 29> Chicomicocomico, partly to defend the professedly loyal inhabitants there, but more particularly to watch the Confederates, and, if possible, prevent their gaining possession of Roanoke. The regiment was landed in small boats/ with very scant supplies. The Fanny was sent with cge t 30 stores/ but was captured by the Confederates, who thus obtained dOct 1- property of the value of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The most important loss was the camp equipage, provisions, and intrenching tools of Brown's regiment. It defeated his undertaking ; for when, on the 4th of October, a squadron of five or six Confederate steamers, bearing over two thousand men, composed of North Carolinians and Georgians, who had taken possession of Roanoke Island," bore down from Croatan Sound, with the evident intention of attacking him, he was compelled to retreat. Troops were landed from the steamers at Keneekut and Chicomicocomico, above and below Brown's Camp, under cover of shells thrown from the armed vessels. The Indianians succeeded in escaping to Cape Hatteras, where they were met by five hundred of Hawkins's Zouaves, supported by the Susquehanna and Monticello. They had lost about fifty men, most of whom were cap- 1 See page 39T, volume I. 110 A LOYAL DEMONSTRATION. tured while straggling. 1 A number of the islanders had followed them ; and all had suffered much from hunger, thirst, and fatigue, during that exciting march of twenty-eight miles. The Confederate vessels were a part of the little fleet in that region, under the command of Lieutenant Lynch, who had lately abandoned his flag and joined the insurgents. The assailants fled back to Roanoke, and after that left Hatteras in the undis- puted possession of the National forces. General Mansfield was sent from Washington with five hundred troops, to still further strengthen the position. He was soon relieved by Brigadier-General Thomas S. Williams, of the Regu- lar Army. While these events were transpiring, Colonel Hawkins, in pursuance of the humane and conciliatory policy of the Government toward misguided and misinformed inhabitants, issued a proclamation to the people of North Carolina, in which he exposed the misrepresentations of the intentions of the Government put forth by the conspirators and their allies, assuring them that the war was waged only against traitors and rebels (who were called to lay down their arms and have peace), and that the troops had come to give back to the people law, order, and the Constitution, and all their legitimate rights. To this there was a public response by the inhabitants in the immediate vicinity of Hatteras, who professed to be loyal. A conven- tion of the citizens of Hyde County was held," which, by resolu- 0< i86i 12 ' tions, offered the loyalty of its members to the National Govern- ment. A committee was appointed to draw up a statement of grievances, and a declaration of independence of Confederate rule was put forth, in form and style like that issued in 1776. 8 A more important conven- NOV la t * on was keld at Hatteras a month later,* in which appeared representatives from forty-five Bounties in North Carolina. That body assumed the prerogatives of the State, and by a strong ordinance pro- vided for the government of North Carolina in allegiance to the National Constitution. This promise of good was so hopeful that the President, by proclamation, ordered an election to be held in the First Congressional Dis- trict of North Carolina. The people complied, and elected a representa- tive" (Charles Henry Foster), but he was not admitted to Con- gress, 3 because of some technical objection. This leaven of loyalty, that promised to affect the whole State, was soon destroyed by the strong arm of the Confederates in power. 1 The Indiana Regiment was peculiarly unfortunate at Hutteras. In the affair near Chicomicocomico, it had lost its stock of winter clothing. This disaster was followed by a fearful storm on the night of the 2 command of Captain John Pope. 1 The Manassas was close to the Richmond before she was discovered, and by the time the watch could give the alarm, her iron prow had struck the vessel "abreast the port fore-channels," tearing a coal schooner that was alongside from her fastenings, and staving a hole in the ship's side, about five inches in cir- cumference, two feet below the water- line. The ram then drew off, and, pass- ing aft, made an ineffectual attempt to breach the Richmond's stern. The crew of the assailed vessel had promptly hastened to quarters at the first alarm, and, as the monster passed abreast of the ship in the darkness, had given it a volley from the port battery, but with what effect was not known until some time afterward. A signal of danger had been given to the other vessels. They at once slipped their cables and got under way, with orders to run down to the Pass, while the Richmond should cover their retreat. This was done at five o'clock. In an attempt to pass the bar, the Richmond and Vincennes grounded, at about eight o'clock, in the morning, where they were bombarded for a while by the Jfanassas, and some fire-rafts were sent down to burn them. A little later, Commander Robert Handy, of the Vlncennes, mistaking the meaning of a signal from Pope, abandoned his ship, placed a slow match at the magazine, and with his officers and crew fled, some to the Richmond and some to the Water- Witch. Happily, the fire of the match expired, and Handy and his men re- turned to the ship and saved her. The fire-rafts sent down by Hollins were harmless, and at ten o'clock the Confederate " Commodore " withdrew and ran up to Fort Jackson, to send news of his great "victory" to Richmond. The only damages inflicted by Hollins were slight bruises on the coal schooner, sinking a large boat, and staving Captain Pope's gig. When his dispatch and the facts were considered together, they produced great merri- ment throughout the country at the expense of the weak Confederate " Com- modore." The Manassas would have been a formidable enemy to the blockaders at the mouth of the Mississippi, in the hands of a competent officer. It was so considered by the Government ; and the apprehension that others of like character might be speedily fitted out at New Orleans, hastened the prepara- tions already commenced for sending an expedition to the Lower Mississippi, for the purpose of controlling it and its connecting waters, and taking pos- session of the great commercial city on its banks. This expedition and its results will be hereafter considered. 1 This squadron had been placed there by Flag-officer McKean, commander of the squadron off Pensacola, for the purpose of guarding the several entrances to the Mississippi, and erecting a battery at the head of the passes, which would command the entire navigation of the river. NAVAL EXPEDITIONS. 115 CHAPTEE T. MILITARY AND NAVAL OPERATIONS ON THE COAST OF SOUTH CABOLINA. MILITARY OPERATIONS ON THE LINE OF THE POTOMAC RIVER. AMPTON ROADS presented a spectacle, in October, similar to that, late in August, of the Hatteras expe- dition ; but more imposing. It was a land and naval armament, fitted out for. a descent upon the borders of lower South Carolina, among the coast islands between Charleston harbor and the Savannah River. The want of some harbors under the control of the Government in that region, as stations, and as places of refuge of the blockading vessels during the storms of autumn and winter, had caused the Government to take action on the subject even before the meeting of Congress in July. So early as June, a Board of army and navy officers was convened at Washington City. 1 The Board, after careful inves- tigations, made elaborate reports, and, in accordance with their recommen- dations, expeditions were planned. The Secretary of the Navy, with the help of his energetic assistant, Mr. Fox, had so far matured an expedition for the Southern coast, that, early in October, rumors of it began to attract public attention. It became tangible when in Hampton Roads a large squadron was seen gathering, and at Annapolis a considerable land force was collecting, which, it was said, was to form a part of the expedition. Whither it was to go was a mystery to the public, and its destination was so uncertain to the popular mind, that it was placed by conjecture at almost every point of interest between Cape Hatteras and Galveston, in Texas. Even in official circles its destination was generally unknown when it sailed, so well had the secret been kept. The land forces of the expedition, which assembled at Annapolis, in Maryland, about fifteen thousand in number, were placed in charge of Briga- dier-General T. W. Sherman, acting as major-general. The naval portion of the expedition was placed under the command of Captain S. F. Dupont, who Wad served as chairman of the Board of Inquiry just mentioned. The fleet was composed of fifty war vessels and transports, with twenty-five coal vessels under convoy of the Vandalia. These, with the troops, left Hampton Roads and proceeded to sea on a most lovely October morning," having been summoned to the movement at dawn by the booming of a gun on the Wabash, the Commodore's flag-ship. The destination of the expedition was not generally known by the partici- 1 This Board was composed of Major John G. Barnard, of the Engineer Corps of the army, Professor Alex- ander Bache, of the Coast Survey, and Captains Samuel F. Dupont and Charles H. Davis, of the Navy. 116 AN EXPEDITION IN MOTION. pants in it until it was well out to sea, when, under peculiar circumstances, as we shall observe, it was announced to be Port Royal entrance and harbor, and the coast islands of South Carolina. The army under Sherman was divided into three brigades, com- manded respectively by Brigadier- Generals Egbert S. Viele, Isaac J. Stevens, and Horatio G. Wright ; all of -them, including the chief, being graduates of the West Point Military Academy. The transports which bore these troops were about thirty- live in number, and included some powerful steamships. 1 The Wtibash led the way out to sea, and its followers, moving in 8. T. DTJPONT. ' ' P three parallel lines, and occupying a space of about twelve miles each way, made a most imposing appearance. The war-vessels and transports were judiciously intermingled, so that the latter might be safely convoyed. 2 During a greater portion of the day of departure, they moved down the coast toward stormy Cape Hatteras, most of the vessels in sight of the shore of North Carolina, and all hearts cheered with promises of fine weather. That night was glorious. The next day was fair. The second night was calm and beautiful. There was no moon visible; but the stars were brilliant. The dreaded Cape Hatteras was. passed in the dimness with such calmness of sea, that on the following morning a passenger on the Atlantic counted no less than thirty-eight of the fifty vessels in sight from her deck. But, on that evening, the aspect of the heavens changed, and the terrible storm, already mentioned, which swept over Hatteras so fearfully at the beginning of November, was soon encoun- tered, and the expedition was really " scattered to the winds." So complete was the dispersion, that, on the morning of the 2d of November, only a single vessel might be seen from the deck of the Wabash. Fortunately, there were sealed orders on board of each vessel. These were opened, and the 1 The Atlantic and Baltic, each carrying a fall regiment of men anil a vast amount of provisions and stores, were of the larger class. Among the other more notable vessels may lie named the Vanderbiit, Ocean Queen, Ericsson, Empire City, Daniel Webster, and Great Republic, the latter having been employed in the British service for the same purpose during a part of the Crimean war. Among the lesser vessels were five or six ferry-boats, calculated, on account of their capacity and light draught, for landing troops in shallow and still waters. The entire tonnage of the transports was estimated at about 40,000 tons. 2 The vessels moved in the following order and connection : The Wabash was flanked by the gunboats Pawnee, Ottawa, Curlew, Isaao P. Smith, Seneca, Pembina, Unadilla, Penguin, and K. B. Forbes. The Baltic, towing the Ocean Express, led the column on the left, and was supported by the Pocahonta*. The Illinois towed the Golden Eagle, and was followed by the Locust Point, Star of the South, Parkersburg, SelvKlere, Alabama, Coatsacoalcas, Marion, Governor, and Mohican. The Atlantic led the central lino, and was followed by the Vanderbiit, towing the Great Republic; the Ocean Queen, towing the Zenas Coffin; and these were followed by the Winfeld Scott, Potomac, Caltatcba, Oriental Union, K. B. Forbes, Vixen, and 0. M. Petit. The Empire City led the right, followed by the Ericsson, Philadelphia, Ben De Ford, Florida, Roanoke, Matansas, Daniel Webster, Augusta, Mayflower, Peerless, Ariel, Mercury, Ovceola, and two ferry-boats. The twenty-five coal-barges, convoyed by the Vandalia, had been sent out the day before, with instructions to rendezvous off the Savannah River, so as to mislead as to the real destination of the expedition. TERRIBLE STORM AT SEA. 117 place of rendezvous, off Port Royal, was made known. In that fearful storm four transport vessels were lost, 1 but not a dozen persons perished. It was most remarkable how small was the aggregate amount of disaster suffered by so large a number of vessels in company, by a storm so severe that at times it was a hurricane. Some were compelled to part with freight, in order to insure salvation. The gunboat Mercury lost one of her two rifled guns, thrown overboard to lighten her ; and the Isaac P. Smith was saved by parting with eight 8-inch guns in the same way. The side-wheel steamer Florida, carrying nine guns, was disabled, and put back in distress ; and the Belvidere and two New York ferry-boats (Ethan Allen and Commodore Perry] were compelled to go back to Fortress Monroe, where they gave the first public notice of the storm and the dispersion of the fleet. The sad news disturbed the loyal people with alarm and distress until the small amount of disaster was known, while the Confederate newspapers were jubilant with the expressed idea that the elements were in league with them in destroying their enemies. "The stars in their courses fought against Sisera," one of them quoted, and added, " So the winds of heaven fight for the good cause of Southern independence. Let the Deborahs of the South sing a song of deliverance." That joyous song was very brief, for, whilst it was swelling in full chorus, a voice of wailing went over the Southern land, such as had not been heard since its wicked betrayers had raised their arms for the destruction of the Republic and the liberties of the people. On Sunday morning' 1 the storm began to abate, and the vessels of the expedition to reassemble around the flag-ship. When "^s^ 8 ' passing Charleston harbor, Commodore Dupont sent in Captain Lardner with the Seneca, to direct the Susquekanna, on blockading duty there, to proceed to Port Royal; and on the following morning, at eight o'clock, the Wabash anchored off Port Royal Bar in company with twenty- five vessels, whilst many others were continually heaving in sight in the dim The expedition was now on the threshold of a theater of great and im- portant events, with many difficulties and dangers still before it. The awful perils of the sea had been passed, but there were others, no less fearful, to be encountered in the works of man before it. There were also grave dangers beneath the waters on Avhich that armada floated, for the insurgents had, as we have observed, 2 removed lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and every help to navigation all along the Southern coasts. Yet a remedy for this evil was found in the person of Commander Charles H. Davis (the fleet captain, and chief of Dupont's staff), and Mr. Boutelle, of the Coast Survey, a man of 1 The lost vessels were the Governor, Peerless, Osceola, and Union. The Governor, Captain Lltchfield, was a steam transport. It foundered on Sunday (Nov. 3), having on board a battalion of marines, numbering 350. All were saved by the frigate S'tl/ine (see pige 366, volume I.), Captain Kingold, excepting a corporal and six men, who were drowned, or crushed between the vessels; nearly all the arms and half of the uccoutertnents of the marines were favi'd, and about 10,000 rounds of cartridges. The Peerless was a small Lake Ontario steamer, loaded with beef cattle. Its officers and crew were saved by the gunboat Mohican, Captain Gordon. The pro- peller Osceola, Captain Morrcll, also loaded with beef cattle, was wrecked on North Island, near Georgetown, S. C., and its people, 20 in number, wore made prisoners. The Union, Captain Sawin, was a new and stanch steamer, and went ashore off Beaufort, N. C., with a large quantity of stores, which were lost Its crew and passengers, and a few soldiers, in all 73 persons, were captured and taken into the interior. The stanch steamer Winfteld Scott, with 500 men of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania regiment, barely escaped destruction. 2 See page 453, volume I. 118 CONFEDERATES AT PORT ROYAL ENTRANCE. great scientific skill, who had recently been engaged in making a minute examination of this coast. By these well-informed men the channel entrance to Port Royal Sound was found, and so well buoyed in the course of a few hours that the fleet might enter with perfect safety. At three o'clock in the afternoon Commodore Dupont was informed that all of his gun-boats and transports drawing less than eighteen feet water might go forward without danger. The movement commenced at once, and at twilight these vessels were all anchored in the roadstead of Port Royal. To oppose the further progress of the expedition, the Confederates had earthworks on each side of Port Royal entrance. The one on the northern side, at Bay Point, Phillip's Island, was named Fort Beauregard, and that on the southern side, near Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island, was called Fort Walker. The latter was a strong regular work, with twenty-four guns ; and the former, though inferior to it in every respect, was formidable, being armed with twenty guns. Fort Walker was manned, when the expedition arrived, by six hundred and twenty men, 1 under General T. F. Drayton, a wealthy land-owner, whose mansion was not more than a mile distant from it, standing a few yards from . the beach, and overlooking a beautiful expanse of land and water. He was a brother of Captain Percival Drayton, commander of the Poca- hontas, of this expedition. On the beach at Camp Lookout, six miles from Fort Walker, were sixty-five men of Scriven's guerrillas, who acted as scouts and couriers for the commander. These forces were increased, before the battle commenced, to one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven men. 2 The force on Bay Point was six hun- dred and forty men, commanded by Colonel R. G. M. Dunovant. 3 Of these, one hundred and forty-nine, con- sisting of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, garrisoned Fort Beauregard, under the immediate command of Captain Stephen Elliott, Jr., of Beaufort. Dunovant's infantry force was stationed so as to protect the eastern portion of Phillip's Island, and the entrance to Trenchard's Inlet. In addition to these land forces, there was a little squadron called the "Musquito Fleet," under Commodore Josiah Tatnall, a brave old veteran of the National navy, who served with distinction in the war of 1812, but who had been seduced from his allegiance and his flag by the siren song of supreme State sovereignty. He had followed the politicians of his native T. F. DRAYTON. 1 Two companies of Wagner's South Carolina First Regiment of Artillery, three companies of Hayward's Ninth South Carolina Volunteers, and four companies of Dunovant's Twelfth South Carolina Volunteers, under Major Jones. 4 The re-enforcements were composed of 450 infantry from Georgia, under command of Captain Berry; Cap- tain Eeed's battery of two 10-pounder howitzers and 50 men, and Colonel DC- Saussure's Fifteenth South Carolina Volunteers, numbering 650 men. 3 See page 133, volume I. PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 119 Georgia in the wicked ways of treason, and in the course of a few months he had fallen from his high position of an honored commander, kindly placed by his Government in a retreat of ease and comfort, at the naval station at Sackett's Harbor, on Lake Ontario, in New York, to be the chief manager of a little flotilla of eight small armed steamers that had been employed in navigating the shallow waters among the Coast Islands, and losing, by lack of success, even the respect of those whose bad cause he had consented to serve. His achievements on the occasion we are now considering consisted of a harmless show of opposition to the fleet when it anchored in Port Royal roadstead ; a successful retreat from danger when a few shots were hurled at his vessels ; assisting in the flight of the Confederate land forces upon Hilton Head Island, and in the destruction of his own flotilla to prevent its capture by his late brothers in the National navy. On Tuesday, the 5th," Commander John Rogers, a passenger . with Dupont, on his way to his own ship, the Flag, accompanied by General Wright, made a reconnoissance in force of the Confederate Avorks in the Ottawa, supported by the Curlew, Seneca, and Smith. The forts on both shores opened upon them, as they desired they should, and an engage- ment of about three-qiiarters of an hour ensued, by which the strength and character of those works were fairly tested. In the mean time, the great Wabash had passed safely over the bar, and every thing was now ready for an attack. It was delayed by an ugly wind oif shore, and meanwhile the Confederates were re-enforced and their works were strengthened. Thursday, the 7th, dawned gloriously. The transports were all in sight, and in the light of the morning sun a grand spec- tacle was speedily presented. It had. been ascer- tained by Rogers and Wright that Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, was by far the most powerful of the defenses, and upon it the bolts of the fleet were chiefly hurled. The order of battle " comprised a main squadron ranged, in a line ahead, and a flank- ing squadron, which was to be thrown off on the northern section of the harbor, to engage the enemy's flotilla (Tatnall's), and prevent them tak- ing the rear ships of the main line when it turned to the southward, or cutting off a disabled vessel." 1 FOET WALKE ^ HILTOK HEAD. That flotilla was then lying at a safe distance between Hilton Head and Paris Islands. The plan of attack was to pass up midway between Forts Walker and Beauregard (which were about two miles apart), receiving and returning the fire of both; and at the distance of two and a half miles northward of the latter, round by the west, and closing in with the former, attack it on 1 Keport of Commodore Dupont to the Secretary of the Navy, November llth, 1S61. The main sqnadron consisted of the WabaJi, Commander C. R. P. Rogers, leading; frigate Susquehanna, Captain J. L. Lardner; sloop Mohican, Commander L. W. Gordon; sloop Seminole, Commander J. P. Gillis; sloop Pawnee, Lieutenant commanding T. II. Stevens; gunboat Pembina, Lieutenant commanding J. P. Baukhead; sailing sloop Van- dalia. towed by the Isaac P. Smith,, Lieutenant commanding J. \V. A. Nicholson. The flanking squadron con- sisted of the gunboats Bienville, Commander Charles Sreodman, leading; Seneca, Lieutenant commanding Daniel Ammen; Curlew, Lieutenant commanding P. G. Watmough; Peng-win, Lieutenant commanding F. A. Budd ; and Augusta, Commander E. G. Parrott. 120 BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL ENTRANCE. its weakest flank, and enfilade its two water faces. 1 The vessels were to pass abreast of the fort very slowly, in the order of battle, and each avoid becom- ing a fixed mark for the Confederate guns. On reaching the shoal ground making off from the extremity of Hilton Head, the line was to turn to the north by the east, and, passing to the northward, to engage Fort Walker with the port battery nearer than when first on the same course. These evolutions were to be repeated. The captains of the vessels were called on board the Wabash, and fully instructed in the manner of proceeding ; and this plan of pursuing a series of elliptical movements was strictly followed in the engagement that ensued. The signal to get under way was given at eight o'clock in the mor- ning, and the action commenced at about half-past nine, by a * 1861. ' S un at Fort Walker, which was instantly followed by one at Fort Beauregard. The Wabash immediately responded, and was fol- lowed by the Susquehanna. After the first prescribed turn, the signal for closer action was given, at a quarter past ten, the Wabash passing Fort Walker at a distance, when abreast, of eight hundred yards. In the desig- nated order the fight went on. At half-past eleven the flag of Fort Walker was shot away, and the heavy guns of the Wabash and Susquehanna had so " discomforted the enemy," as Dupont reported, and the shells from the smaller vessels were falling so thickly upon them at the enfilading point, 2 that their fire became sensibly weaker and weaker, until their guns ceased altogether to reply. At a quar- ter past one p. M., the Ottawa signalled that the fort was aban- doned. Fort Beauregard was also silent and abandoned. The gar- risons of both had fled for their lives. According to the official and unofficial reports of the Con- federate officers and correspond- ents, Fort Walker had become the scene of utter desolation, at noon. Dismounted cannon lay in all directions, and the dead and dying were seen on every side. The place had become utterly untenable, yet it was a perilous thing PLAN OF BATTLE AT 1'OET EOTAL ENTRANCE. 1 Dupont's Report * Commander John Rogers, in a letter to a friend, said : " During the action I looked carefully at the fort with a powerful spy -glass. Shell fell in it, not twenty-eight in a minute, but as fast as a horse's feet beat the ground in a gallop. The resistance was heroic ; but what could flesh and blood do against such a fir;' ? " The Walash was a destroying angel, hugging the shore, calling the soundings with cold indifference, slow- ing the engine so as only to give steerage- way, signalling to the vessels their various evolutions, and at the same time raining shells, as with target practice, too fast to count." RETREAT FROM BAY POINT. 121 to leave it. An open space of a mile, directly in range of the National guns, lay between the fort and a thick wood to which they must go for shelter. Across this they ran, each man for himself, divested of every thing that might make him a laggard. Each of the wounded was placed in a blanket and borne away by four men, but the dead were left. The garrison, with their commander, ran six miles across the island, to Seabrook, where they embarked for Savannah. So too at Fort Beauregard the retreat had been hasty. General Drayton had vainly endeavored to send over re-enforcements to the little garrison there, that fought bravely and well. Seeing danger of being cut off from retreat, Colonel Dunovant ordered them to flee while there was a chance for safety. Leav- ing an infernal machine in Fort Beauregard for a mur- derous purpose, 1 and a note for Commodore Dupont, 9 Captain Elliott and his com- mand retreated with the rest of the troops, first to St. Helen's, then to Port Royal Island, and then to the main, with all possible haste, for the Charleston and Savannah Railway. The loss on board the fleet during the action was very slight. 3 Dupont reported it at thirty-one, of whom eight were killed. The Confederate officers reported their loss in both forts at fifty, of whom ten were killed in Fort Walker, but none in Fort Beauregard. On the evening: succeeding the f CJ O O battle, a procession of seventeen boats, from the Wabash, conducted the remains of the dead to their burial-place on Hilton Head, near Pope's man- PLAN OF TOUT BEAUREGARD. 1 The fair fame of Captain (afterwards General) Elliott as a humane man and honorable soldier received an unerasable blemish by an act at this time perfectly consistent with the fiendish spirit of the conspirators, but not at nil so with what common report says was his own. He left the Confederate flag flying, and its halliards so connected with a percussion-cap apparatus, that when the victors should enter the fort and attempt to pull down the ensign of treason, a mine of gunpowder beneath would bo exploded. Fortunately, the arrange- ment was so defective that no life was lost by a partial explosion that occurred. 2 The following is a copy of Elliott's note to Dupont: " Bay Point, Nov. 7th, 1861. " We are compelled to leave two wounded men. Treat them kindly, according to the poet's saying 'Hand ignara mall miseris truccurrcre disco.' 1 We abandon our untenable position that we may do the cause of the Confederate States better service elsewhere. Respectfully, "STEPHEN ELLIOTT, JR." The Latin quotation in the above is a line from Virgil's .iBnead, in which Dido, remembering her own mis- fortunes, pities the errors of .^Encas. It says, " Not unacquainted with misfortune, I have learned to succor the distresses of others." I am indebted to the Rev. John Woart (who was chaplain at the U. S. General Hospital at Hilton Head when I visited that post in April, 1S66) for a copy of Elliott's note, taken from the original by Captain Law, of the N&w Hampshire, then in that harbor. The humane injunction of Elliott was in a spirit directly opposed to his act in the matter of the infernal machine. lie doubtless acted under the orders of his superiors. Captain Elliott became a brigadier-general, and commanded Fort Sumter during a greater portion of the siege of that fortress. He was blown up by the explosion of the mine at Petersburg, when one of his arms was broken. lie died at Aiken, South Carolina, in March, 1866. 3 The vessels engaged were all more or less injured by the Confederate cannon. The Wabaxh was struck thirty -four times. Its mainmast was inj ured beyond hope of repair, its rigging was cut, and it was made to leak badly. 122 LANDING OF NATIONAL TROOPS. ' Nov. 8, 1861. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, JR. sion, in a grove of palm and orange trees, not far from the fort ; and on the following day," Dupont issued a stirring general order, in which, after speaking in praise of his officers and men, he said : " The flag-officer fully sympathizes with the officers and men of the squadron, in the satisfaction they must feel at seeing the ensign of the Union once more in the State of South Carolina, which has been the chief promoter of the wicked and unprovoked rebellion they have been called upon to suppress." The flags captured at the forts were sent to the Navy Department, where they were put to a better use as curtains for a window. Up to the time when the forts were silenced, the land forces were only spectators of the conflict ; then it was their turn to act, and promptly they performed their duty. The transpoi'ts containing them at once moved for- ward, the launches were prepared, and a flag of truce was sent ashore to ask whether the garrison had surrendered. There was no one there to respond. The Union flag was hoisted by Commander Rogers, 1 amid the greetings of cheers from the fleet and transports ; and very soon the surface of the water was dark with a swarm of troops in boats made specially for such occasions. Early in the evening, the brigades of Generals Wright and Stevens had landed on the beach, which was so flat that the water is always shallow a long dis- tance out. Wright's men landed first, close by Fort Walker ; and so eager were they to tread the soil of South Carolina, that many of them leaped from the boats and waded ashore. Fort Walker was formally taken posses- sion of, and General Wright made his head-quarters near it, at the abandoned mansion of William Pope, and the only dwelling-house at that point. It had been the head- quarters of General Drayton. General Stevens's brigade, consisting of the Seventy- ninth New York and Eighth Michigan, crossed over to Bay Point the next morning, and took possession of Fort Beauregard. The victory was now complete, and the universal joy which it created in the Free-labor States found public expression in many places; for it seemed as if the hand of POPE'S HOUSE, HILTON HEAD. 1 "Commodore Dupont," Rogers wrote to a friend, "had kindly made me his aid. I stood by him, and I did little things which I suppose gained me credit So, when a boat was sent on shore to ask whether they had surrendered, I was sent I carried the Stars and Stripes. I found the ramparts utterly desolate, and I planted the American flag upon those ramparts with my own hands first to take Dossession, in the majesty of the United States, of the rebi-1 soil of South Carolina." SHERMAN'S PROCLAMATION. 123 retributive justice, so long withheld, was about to be laid heavily upon the chief offender, South Carolina. 1 "A thrill pervaded the loyal land When the gladdening tidings came to hand ; Each heart felt joy's emotion ! The clouds of gloom and doubt dispersed, The sun of hope through the darkness burst, And the zeal the patriot's heart had nursed Burned with a warm devotion." The joy of the Loyalists was equaled in intensity by the sadness of the Secessionists everywhere. The latter perceived that an irreparable blow had been dealt against their cause, and throughout the Confederacy there was much wailing, lamentation, and bitter recriminations. It was believed that Charleston and Savannah would soon be in possession of the National forces, and that Forts Sumter and Pulaski would be " repossessed " by the Gov- ernment. General R. S. Ripley, an old army officer who had abandoned his flag, was the Confederate commander of that sea-coast district, 2 having his head- quarters at Charleston. He had arrived on Hilton Head just before the action commenced,.but retired to Coosawhatchie, on the main, satisfied that no glory was to be achieved in a fight so hopeless on the part of his friends. It was under his advice that the Confederate troops aban- doned that region to the occupation of the National forces. The latter fact was officially announced by General Sherman, in a proclamation to the people of South Carolina on the day after the battle. Unfortunately, a portion of that procla- mation was couched in such terms, that neither the personal pride nor the politi- cal pretensions of the rebellious leaders was offended. It was so lacking in positiveness that they regarded it with perfect indifference. 3 Indeed, it was difficult to get them to notice it at all. K. 8. EII'LET. 1 In all the cities and towns in the Free Labor States flags were flung out, and in many places salvos of can- non wore fired. The chimes of Trinity church, in the city of New York, beneath its great flag that floated from its spire, rang out two changes on eight bells, and twelve airs, under the direction of Mr. Ayliffe, the celebrated chimist The airs wcreas follows: Hail Columbia; Yankee Doodle; Airfroin "Child of the Regiment;" Home, Sweet Home; Last Rose of Summer; Evening Bells; Star Spangled Banner Airs by De Beriot; Airs from 'Fra Diavolo ;" Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean ; Hail Columbia ; and Yankee Doodle. The Secretaries of War and of the Navy publicly tendered to the commanders of the expedition and to their men thanks, and the latter issued a General Order on the 16th of November, in which it was directed that a national salute should be fired from each navy-yard at meridian on the day after the reception, to commemorate the signal victory. , a See page 311, volume I. * He acknowledged their pretensions to State sovereignty by speaking of " the dictates of a duty " which ho owed "to a great sovereign State;" and he flattered them by speaking of them as "a proud and hospitable people, among whom he had passed some of the pleasantest daysof his life." Then he assured them that they were in a state of active rebellion against the laws of their own country, and that the civilized world stood amazed at their course, and appalled by the crime they were committing against their " own mother." He narrated some 124 FLIGHT FEOM THE COAST ISLANDS. Messengers were sent with it, under a flag of truce, first to Port Royal Island, and thence to the main. The Confederate officers they met told them there were no " loyal " citizens in South Carolina, and that no others wanted it, and advised them to turn back with their bundle of proclamations. They acted upon this recommendation, and so ended the attempt to conciliate the South Carolinians. General Sherman set vigorously to work to strengthen his position on Hilton Head, for it was to be made a depot of supplies. Mechanics and lumber had been brought out in the transports. Buildings were speedily erected; also an immense wharf; and in a short time the place assumed the outward appearance of a mart of commerce. Meanwhile, Dupont sent his armed vessels in various directions among the islands and up the rivers of the coast of South Carolina, in the direction of Charleston ; and before the close of November, every soldier occupying earthworks found here and there, and nearly every white inhabitant, had abandoned those islands and fled to the main, leaving the negroes, who refused to accompany them, to occupy their plantations and houses. Everywhere, evidences of panic and hasty departure were seen ; and it is now believed that, had the victory at Port Royal been immediately followed up, by attacks on Charleston and Savannah, both cities might have been an easy prey to the National forces. Beaufort, a delightful city on Port Royal Island, where the most aristocratic portion of South Carolina society had summer residences, was entered," and 1S61 ** s arms an( i munitions of war seized, without the least resistance, 1 there being, it was reported, only one white man there, named Allen (who was of Northern birth), and who was too much overcome with fear or strong drink to give any intelligible account of affairs there.* The negroes everywhere evinced the greatest delight at the advent of the " Yan- kees," about whom their masters had told them fearful tales ; and it was a most touching sight to see them men, women, and children flocking to the island shores when the vessels appeared, carrying little bundles contain- ing all their worldly goods, and with perfect faith that the invader was their of their crimes, implored them to pause, and warned them that they would bring great evils upon their State. He assured them that he and his troops would respect any constitutional obligations to them, and begged them to believe that if, in the performance of their duty in enforcing the National authority, some of those obligations should he neglected, such neglect came only because of the " necessities of the case." The general had been specially instructed by the War Department to treat all slaves as General Butler had been authorized to treat them at Fortress Monroe, and t-j assure all loyal masters that Congress would provide just compensation to them for the loss of the labor of their slaves taken into the public service. 1 Among the trophies secured at Beaufort, and now (186T) preserved at the Washington Navy Yard, was a 6-pounder brass ciinnon, which had been captured from the British while marauding on the coast of South Carolina during the war of 1S12. It was deposited in the trophy room of the National Arsenal, at Charleston, and there it remained until the conspirators in that city seized it, with the other public property, and appropriated it to their use. According to their code of ethics, the act of seizure conferred the right of owner- ship, and so they had the name of " South Carolina " engraved CANNON CAPTITBED AT BEAUFORT. upon the cannon. It also bore the date of its construction, " 1S03." Its carriage was modern, having been made after its capture from the British. It, too, was of brass, and was decorated with stars. a Report of Lieutenant Sproston, of the Seneca, who was the first to land at Beaufort. 'He says that while he was talking with Mr. Allen, at his store in Beaufort, an intelligent mulatto boy dismounted from a horse, and said, " The whole country have left, sir, and all the soldiers gone to Port Royal Fe.rry. They did not think that you could do it, sir." He informed him that there were then about 1,000 soldiers at the ferry, a portion of whom were the Beaufort Artillery, under Captain Elliott CONQUEST ON THE GEOKGIA COAST. 125 Nov., 1861. ggl deliverer, expressing a desire to go on board the ships, evidently fearing that their masters would return. 1 The latter had used great exertions, by per- suasion, threats, and violence, to induce their slaves to accompany them in their flight to the interior, but Avith very little success. 4 With equal ease Dupont took possession of Big Tybee Island, at the mouth of the Savannah River, from which Fort Pulaski, which was within easy mortar distance, might be assailed, and the harbor of Savannah perfectly sealed against blockade runners. On the approach of the National gunboats, the de fenses, which consisted of a strong martello tower erected there during the war of 1812, and a battery at its base, were abandoned, and on the 25th" Dupont wrote to the Secretary of War : " The flag of the United States is flying over the terri- tory of the State of Georgia." 4 Before the close of the year the National authority was supreme from Wassaw Sound, below the mouth of the Savannah, to the North Edisto River. Every fort on the islands in that region had been abandoned, and there was nothing to make serious oppo- sition to National authority. 5 But at the close of November, and in the month of December, over the curious net-work of creeks and rivers on that coast hung the black clouds of extensive conflagrations, evincing intense hostility to that authority by the South Carolinians. Vast quantities of cotton were on the islands when the National forces came ; and, when the first panic had MARTELLO TOWER ON TYBEE ISLAND. 8 1 Nowhere in the South were the negroes so shut out from all knowledge of the world as among these coast islands. Their masters assured them that the ' Yankees" were coming to steal them and sell them into bondage in Cuba ; and some described the " Northerners " as monsters who would devour them, or kill and bury them in the sand. But most of these simple people did not believe a word of these tales ; on the contrary, they believed the Lord had sent the "Yankees" to take them out of bondage. This faith and hope was most remarkable. 2 When the National forces reached Beaufort, the negroes, finding themselves sole occupants of the place and property, had begun to pillage. They reported that their masters, before their departure, had tried to drive them back into the woods, in the direction of the main, and numbers of them had been shot and killed. Com- mander Eogers, in a letter to a friend (Nov. 9th), said: "A boat which came off to the Seneca paid one man (giving his name) shot six of the negroes." 8 This was the appearance of the tower when I sketched it, in April, 1SGC. Its height had been somewhat diminished by demolishing a portion of its upper part, on which rested a roof. Such towers had been erected early in the present century along the British coasts, as a defense against an expected invasion by Bonaparte. The lower story was. used for stores, and the upper, being bomb-proof, as secure quarters for the men. The walls terminated in a parapet, behind which cannon were placed. The tower at Tybee was built of solid masonry, like the best of those on the British coast. 4 Besides those on Hilton Head, and at Day Point on Phillip's Island, there were five other fortifications on these islands, namely, on Botany Bay Island, North Edisto ; on Otter Island, St. Helena's Sound ; on Fenwick's Island ; on Bay Point, on the South Edisto River; and on Sam's Point, on the Coosaw River. The little sketch here given of the Ibrt on Bay Point, South Edisto, conveys an idea of the general form of these works, which were constructed of loose earth, and blocks of tough marsh sod. 8 See map on page 126. FOET ON BAY POINT. 126 THE COAST ISLANDS AND COTTON. passed by, planters returned stealthily and applied the torch to that which was gathered and ungathered, that it should not fall into the hands of the invaders. 1 In this connection it is proper to say, that so soon as the report of the existence of a vast quantity of aban- doned cotton on these coast islands cotton of the 1862. COAST ISLANDS. most valuable kind 2 reached Washington, an order went forth for its secure preservation and preparation for market. Agents were appointed for the purpose, and the military and naval authorities in that region were directed to give them all necessary aid. Measures were taken to organize the negro population on the islands, and to carry forward all necessary work on the abandoned plantations. This business was left in the control of the Treasury Department, and was efficiently and wisely managed by Secretary Chase, who appointed Edwin L. Pierce as a special agent for the purpose. At the beginning of February following," Mr. Pierce reported that about two hundred plantations on fifteen of the South Carolina coast islands were occupied, or under the control of the 1 The Cliarlesion Mercury of Nov. 30th, 1861, said : " The heavens to the southwest were brilliantly illu- . mlnated with the patriotic flames ascending from burning cotton. As the spectators witnessed it, they involun- tarily burst forth with cheer after cheer, and each heart was warmed as with a new pulse. Such a people can never be subjugated. Let the holy flames continue to ascend, and let the demons of hell who come here on their .diabolical errand learn a lesson and tremble. Let the torch be applied wherever the invader pollutes our soil, and let him find, as is meet, that our people will welcome him only with devastation and ruin. Our people arc In earnest, men, women, and children, and their sacrifice will ascend as a sacred holocaust to God. crying aloud for vengeance against the fiends in human shape who arc disiracing humanity, trampling down civilization, and would blot out Christianity. Patriotic planters on the seaboard are hourly applying the torch to their crops of cotton and rice. Some are authorized by military authorities to destroy their crops, to prevent ravages by the enemy. Plantations on North Edisto and in the neighborhood, and elsewhere on the const of South Carolina, are one sheet of flames and smoke. The commanding officers of all the exposed points on our coast have re- ceived positive instructions to burn or destroy all property which cannot be conveniently taken away and is likely to be seized by the enemy/ 1 1 The " Sea Island Cotton " of commerce is the product of a narrow belt of coast islands along the shores of South Carolina, and in the vicinity of the mouth of the Savannah Eiver. The seed was obtained from the Ba- hama Islands, and the first successful crop raised in South Carolina was on Hilton Head Island, in 1790. It is of the arborescent kind, and noted for its long fiber, adapted to the manufacture of the finest fabrics and the best thread. It always brought a very high price. Just before the war, when the common cotton brought an average, of ten or twelve cents a pound, a bale sent from South Edisto Island brought, in Liverpool, one dollar and thirty-fire cents a pound. MOVEMENT AGAINST PORT ROYAL FERRY. 127 FLAT BOATS USED FOR LANDING TROOPS. Union forces, and that upon them, there was an aggregate negro population of about eight thousand, exclusive of several thousand colored refugees at and around Hilton Head. The industrial operations in this region under the control of the Government will be further considered hereafter. The only stand made by the Confederate forces in defense of the South Carolina coast islands, after the battle of the 7th of November, was at Port Royal Ferry, on the Coosaw, at the close of the year. They had a fortified position there, and a force estimated at eight thousand strong, under Generals Gregg and Pope, from which it was determined to expel them. A joint land and naval expedition against this post was undertaken, the former com- manded by Brigadier-General Stevens, and the latter by Commander C. R. P. Rogers. The troops employed by Ste- vens were Colonel Frazier's Forty-seventh and Colonel Perry's Forty-eighth New York regiments, and the Sev- enty-ninth New York High- landers, Major -Morrison ; Fif- tieth Pennsylvania, Colonel Crist ; Eighth Michigan, Colo- nel Fenton; and the One Hundredth Pennsylvania ("Round Heads"), Colonel Leasure, of Stevens's brigade; in all about four thousand five hundred men. The naval force assembled at Beaufort for the purpose was composed of the gun-boats Ottawa, Pembina, Hale, and Seneca, ferry-boat Ellen, and four large boats belonging to the Wabash, each of them carrying a 12-pounder howitzer, under the respective commands of Lieutenants Upshur, Luce, and Irwin, and Acting Master Kempff. The expedition moved in the evening of the 31st of Dece.mber." A large portion of the vessels went up the Broad River, on the westerly side of* Port Royal Island, to approach the Ferry by Whale Creek; and at the same time General Stevens's forces made their way to a point where the Brick Yard Creek, a continuation of the Beaufort River, unites with the Coosaw. There he was met by Commander Rogers, with launches, and his troops were embarked on large flat boats, at an early hour in the morning. 4 The Ottaioa, Pembina, and Hale soon afterward entered the Coo- saw, and at Adams's plantation, about three miles below the Ferry, the land and naval forces pressed forward to the attack, two of the howitzers of the Wabash accompanying the former, under Lieutenant Irwin. Stevens threw out the Eighth Michigan as skirmishers, and the gun-boats 1861. Jan. 1, 1S62. PORT ROYAL FEREY BEFORE THB ATTACK. 128 BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL FERRY. opened a brisk fire into the woods in their front. The Seventy-ninth New York led. Very soon a concealed battery near the Ferry was encountered. It opened upon them with grape and canister, but was soon silenced by a close encounter, in which the Eighth Michigan bore the brunt. The Fiftieth Pennsylvania pressed forward to the support of these and the Highlanders, but very little fighting occurred after the first onset. The Confederates, seeing the gun-boats Seneca, Ellen, Pembina, and Ottawa coming forward, abandoned their works and fled, and the Pennsylvania "Round Heads" passed over the Ferry and occupied them. At four o'clock in the afternoon, General Stevens joined them. The works were demolished, and the houses in the vicinity were burned. General Stevens's loss was nine wounded, one of them (Major Watson, of the Eighth Michigan) mortally. While the National forces were thus gaming absolute control of the South Carolina coast islands, and the blockading ships, continually multiplying on the Atlantic and on the Gulf, were watching every avenue of ingress or egress for violators of the law, the Government, profiting by the hint given by the insurgents themselves, several months before, in sinking obstructions in the channel leading up to Norfolk, 1 pro- ceeded to close, in like manner, the main entrances to the harbors of Charleston and Savannah. For that purpose a number of condemned mer- chant vessels, chiefly whalers, were found in NCAV England harbors, and purchased by order of the Secretary of the Navy. Twenty-five of them, each of three or four hundred tons burden, were stripped of their cop-* per bottoms, and were as heavily laden as their strength would permit, with blocks of granite, for the purpose of closing up Charleston harbor. In their sides, below water-mark, holes were bored, in which movable plugs were inserted, so that when these vessels reached their destination these might be drawn, and the water allowed to pour in. This " stone fleet," as it was called, reached the blockading squadron off Charleston at the middle of December, and on the 20th, sixteen of the vessels, 4 from New Bedford and New London, were sunk on the bar at the entrance of the Main Ship channel, 3 six miles in a direct southern line from Fort Sumter. This was done under the superintendence of Fleet-captain Charles H. Davis. They were placed at intervals, checkerwise, so as to form 1 See page 398, volume I. 2 One of these vessels was named Ceres. It had been an armed store-ship of the British navy, and ns such was in Long Island Sound during the old war for Independence, when it was captured by the Americans. 8 There are four channels leading out from Charleston harbor. The Main Ship channel runs southward along Morris Island. Maffitfs channel, on the northern side of the entrance, is along the south side of Sullivan's Island. Between these are the North channel and thn Swash channel, the former having eight, and the latter nine feet of water on the ban The Main Ship channel had fifteen feet, and Maffitt's channel eleven. THE CHANNELS OF CHARLESTON HAKBOE. FAILURE OF THE STOXE FLEET. 129 disturbing currents that would perplex but not destroy the navigation. Indeed, the affair was intended by the Government, and expected by those acquainted with the nature of the coast, the currents, and the harbor, to be only a temporary interference with navigation, as a Avar measure, and these experts laughed at the folly of those who asserted, as did a writer who accompanied the fleet, that " Charleston Bar is paved with granite, and the harbor is a thing of the past." l The idea that such was the case was fostered by the Confederates, in order to " fire the Southern heart ;" and their news- papers teemed with denunciations of the " barbarous act," and frantic calls upon commercial nations to protest by cannon, if necessary, against this " violation of the rights of the civilized world." The British press and British statesmen sympathizing with the insurgents joined in the outcry, and the British Minister at Washington (Lord Lyons) made it the subject of diplomatic remonstrance. He was assured that the obstructions would be temporary, and he was referred to the fact that, since they had been placed there, a British ship, in violation of the blockade, had run into Charleston harbor with safety, carrying supplies for the enemies of the Government. The work of the " stone fleet " was a failure,* and the expected disaster to Charleston, from its operations, did not occur. But a fearful one did fall upon that city at the very time when this " stone fleet " was approaching. A conflagration commenced on the night of the 14th of December, and con- tinued the following day, devouring churches and public buildings, with several hundred stores, dwellings, manufactories, and warehouses, valued, with their contents, at millions of dollars. Let us now turn from the sea-coast, and observe events at the National capital and in its vicinity, especially along the line of the Potomac River. We left the Confederate army, after the Battle of Bull's Run, lying in comparative inactivity in the vicinity of its victory, with General Joseph E. Johnston as its chief commander, having his head-quarters at Centrevillc. ;! We left the Army of the Potomac in a formative state, 4 under General McClellan, whose head-quarters were in Washington City, on Pennsylvania Avenue, opposite the southeast corner of President Square. He was busily engaged, not only in perfecting its physical organization, but in makinp p a solid improvement in its moral character. He issued orders that com- mended themselves to all good citizens, among the most notable of which was one" which enjoined " more perfect respect for the Sabbath." He won "golden opinions" continually, and with the return of every * !gg, 6 ' morning he found himself more and more securely intrenched in the faith and affections of the people, who were lavish of both. General McClellan's moral strength at this time was prodigious. The soldiers and the people believed in him with the most earnest faith. His short campaign in Western Virginia had been successful. He had promised, on taking command of the Army of the Potomac, that the war should be " short, sharp, and decisive ;" and he said to some of his followers,* & while the President and Secretary of War were standing by, 1 Special correspondence of the New York Tribune, Dec. 26th, 1861. 8 A similar attempt had been made to close Ocracoke Inlet, In September, but with the same lack of success, the old hulks being either carried to sea by the strong currents, or so deeply imbedded in the sand as to be harmless. 1 Sec page 22. See page 25. VOL. II. 9 130 RETIREMENT OF GENERAL SCOTT. " Soldiers ! We have had our last retreat. We have seen our last defeat. You stand by me, and I will stand by you, and henceforth victory will crown our efforts." 1 These words found a ready response from the soldiers and the people, and they were pondered with hope, and repeated with praise. In them were promises of the exercise of that promptness and energy of action, in the use of the resources of the country, that would speedily bring peace. In the hearts of the people still rang the cry of " On to Richmond !" while their lips, taught circumspection by the recent disaster at Bull's Run, were modestly silent. The soldiers, eager to wipe out the disgrace of that disaster, were ready to obey with alacrity, at any moment, an order to march on Richmond. And it was evidently the determination of the commander, all through the earlier weeks of autumn, to strike the foe at Manassas, as quickly as possible, and march triumphantly on the Confederate capital. 9 But the retirement of Lieutenant-General Scott from the chief command of i * ne National Army," 3 and the appointment of McClellan to fill his place, imposed new duties and responsibilities upon the lat- ter, and his plan of campaign against the insurgents in Virginia was changed, The new organization of the Army of the Potomac was perfected at the middle of October, when at least seventy-five thousand well-armed and fairly disciplined troops were in a condition to be placed in column for active operations against the Confederates in front of Washington. At that time the National city was almost circumvallated by earth-works, there being no 1 This little speech was on the occasion when Governor Curtin, accompanied by the President and Secretary of War, presented a set of flags to the Pennsylvania Brigade of General McCall, on Arlington Heights. a Mr. Swinton. in his History of the Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac (note on page 69), says : "Though General McClellan used to keep his own counsel, yet General McDowell tells me he was wont, in their rides over the country south of the Potomac, to point toward the flank of Manassas, and say, ' We shall strike them there." 1 " 3 General Scott was then in the 76th year of his age, having been born in June, 1786. He had been for some time suffering from physical and mental infirmities, and was incapable of performing, in any degree of efficiency, the duties of his office at that important time. His voluntary retirement from active military duty was a fortu- nate circumstance for the country and his own reputation, and he descended into the quiet of private life after a most distinguished military career of more than fifty years' duration, followed by the benedictions of a grateful people. It was on his recommendation that General McClellan, his junior by forty years, was made the Com- mander-in-chief of all the armies of the Republic. See General Orders, No. 94, dated Washington, November 1st, 1861.* General Scott left Washington city immediately after he retired from active command, accompanied by his staff, the Secretaries of War and the Treasury, and other distinguished officials. General McClellan bade him an affectionate farewell at the Washington railway-station, and the veteran was conveyed easily on a couch fitted up for his use. He was everywhere greeted by the people with the most earnest 'demonstrations of respect. In New York, a committee of the Chamber of Commerce and the Union Defense Committee made formal callsupon him, tendering him addresses, to which he replied in the most feeling manner. He expressed confidence in the ultimate success of the National cause, and spoke in highest terms of President Lincoln, to whom he was politi- cally opposed. " I had n<> part nor lot in his election," he said. " I confess that he has agreeably disappointed inc. He is a man of great ability, fidelity, and patriotism." On the 9th of November, General Scott departed for Havre, in the steamship Aragb, his heart cheered by intelligence, by way of Richmond, of the victory of Dupont at Port Royal, and the capture of Beaufort. The following letter of the President was embodUd in the order: " EXECUTIVE MiNgiow, " Wathington, Xovtmber lit, 1861. " On the 1st day of November, A. r>. 1861, upon his own application to the President of the United States, Brevet Lieutenant-General WINFIELD SCOTT is ordered to be placed, and hereby is placed upon the Hat of retired officers of the Army of the United States, without ledurtion in his current pay, subsistence, or allowance. " The American people will hear with sadness and deep emotion that General SCOTT has withdrawn from the active control of the army, while the President and a unanimous Cabinet express their own and the nation's sympathy in his personal affliction, and their pro- fuund sense of the important public services rendered by him to MS country during his long and brilliant career, among which will tver be gratefully distinguished his faithful devotion to the Constitution, the Union, and the Flag, when assailed by parricidal rebellion. "ABRAHAM LINCOLN." .-v FOREIGN PRINCES IN THE ARMY. 131 less than thirty-two forts completed and armed for its defense, and to these sixteen were added in the course of six 'weeks. 1 Provisions, stores, ammuni- tion, and clothing, were on hand in the greatest abundance, and the chief commander was furnished with numerous and efficient staff officers, 2 among whom were two French Princes of the House of Orleans, who had just arrived at the capital, with their uncle, the Prince de Joinville, son of the late Louis Philippe, King of the French. These were the Count of Paris and the Duke of Chartres, sons of the late Duke of Orleans, who wished to acquire military experience in the operations of so large a force as was there in arms. A prominent member of the then reigning family in France, whose head was considered a usurper by the Orleans family, had just left this country for his own. It was the Prince Jerome Bonaparte, a cousin of the Emperor Napoleon the Third, who, with his wife, had arrived in New York in the preceding July, in his private steam yacht. He went to Washington, where he was entertained by the President, and visited the Houses of Congress and the army on Arlington Heights and vicinity. He passed through the lines and visited the Confederate forces under Beauregard, at Manassas. Return- ing to New York, he started on a tour to Niagara, Canada, and the Western prairies, with the princess. At the middle of September, he went from New York to Boston and Halifax in his yacht, and so homeward. It was only a few days before Prince Jerome's departure from New York that the Prince de Joinville arrived there, with members of his family. He came to place his son, the Duke of Penthievre (then sixteen years of age), in the Naval School at Newport. He brought with him his two nephews above named, who offered their services to the Government, with the stipulation on their part that they should receive no pay. Each was commissioned a captain, and assigned to the staff of General McClellan. They remained in the service until the close of the Peninsula campaign, in July, 1862, and acquitted themselves well. 1 See map and foot-note on page 24 of this volume. On the 7th of December, Chief Engineer -Barnard re- ported that the defenses of Washington city consisted of about forty-eight works, mounting over 300 guns, some of which were of very large size, and added, " that the actual defensive perimeter occupied is about thirty-five miles, exceeding the length of the famous, and hitherto the most extensive fortified by extemporized field-works lines of Torres Vedras by several miles." Concerning the creation and use of heavy ordnance at that time, Swintoh says : " The task of forming an artillery establishment was facilitated by the fact that the country possessed, in the regular service, a body of accomplished and energetic artillery officers. As a basis of organization, it was decided to form field-batteries of six guns (never less than four guns, and the guns of each battery to be of uniform caliber), and these were assigned to divisions, not to brigades, in the proportion of four batteries to each division; one of which was to be a battery of regulars, and the captain of the regular battery was in each case appointed commandant of the artillery of the division. In addition, it was determined to create an artillery reserve of a hundred guns, and a siege-train of fifty pieces. This work was pushed forward with so much energy, that whereas, when General McClellan took command of the army, the entire artillery establishment consisted of nine imperfectly equipped batteries of thirty guns, before it took the field this service had reached the colossal proportions of ninety-two batteries of five hundred and twenty guns, served by twelve thousand five hundred men, and in full readiness for active field duty. 1 " Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, page 65. a The following officers com posed the staff of General McClellan soon after taking the command of the Army of the Potomac: "Major 8. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain Albert V. Colburn, Assistant Adjutant-General; Colonel E. B. Marcy, Inspector-General; Colonel T. M. Key, Aid-de-Camp; Captain N. B. Sweitser, 1st Cavalry, Aid-de-Camp ; Captain Edward McK. Hudson, 14th Infantry, Aid-de-Camp ; Captain L. A. Williams, 10th Infantry, Aid-de-Camp; Major A. J. Myer, Signal Officer; Major Stewart Van Vliet, Chief Quartermaster; Captain H. F. Clarke, Chief Commissary ; Surgeon C. S. Tripler, Medical Director; Major J. G. Barnard, Chief Engineer; Major J. N. Macomb, Chief Topographical Engineer; Captain Charles P. Kingsbury, Chief of Ordnance ; Brigadier-General George Stoneman, Volunteer Service, Chief of Cavalry J Brlgadler- Uenerul W. F. Barry, Volunteer Service, Chief of Artillery." 132 THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. McClellan had organized every necessary department thoroughly, and had endeavored to place at the head of each the best men in the service. 1 These had been active co-workers with him, and their several departments were in the best possible condition for effective service. The main body of the army was now judiciously posted, for offense or defense, in the immediate vicinity of Washington City, with detachments on the left bank of the Potomac as far up as "Williamspoi't, above Har- per's Ferry, and as far down as Liverpool Point, in Maryland, nearly oppo- site Acquia Creek. 2 At the close of September a grand review had been held, when seventy o Oct. 15, 1861. 1 The Engineers, as we have observed, wore placed In charge of Major J. G. Barnard, and the Artillery under the chief command of Major William F. Barry. The Topo- graphical Engineers were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John N. Macomb, and a Signal Corps, formed by Major Albert J. Myer, the inventor of a most efficient system of signalling, was placed in chanre of that officer. This system was first practically tested during the organization of the Army of the Potomac, and, as we shall observe hereafter, It performed the most essential and important service on land and water, in reconnoitering and in directing the fire of artillery, where objects, such as hills or woods on land, or bluffs or wooded points on the shores of rivers, intervened between the belligerents. The value of that service during the war cannot be estimated. A full explanation of its operations, with illustrations, may be found in another part of this work. The Telegraphic operations of the army were intrusted to Major Thomas J. Eckert. In this connection. T. S. C. Lowe, a distinguished aeronaut, was employed, and for some time balloons were used with great efficiency in reconnoitering, but later in the progress of the war they fell into disuse. Mr. Lowe made experiments with his balloon in connection with the telegraph so early as June, 1S61, and by perfect success demonstrated the feasibility of the joint use of the balloon and telegraph in reconnoitering. At the height of full five hundred leet above Arlington Heights, Mr. Lowe telegraphed to the President, at Washington, as follows : " SIE : From this point of observation we command an extent of country nearly fifty miles in diameter. I have pleasure in sending you this first telegram ever dispatched from an aerial station, and acknowledging indebtedness to your encouragement for the opportunity of demonstrating the availability of the science of aeronautics in the service of the country. " I am your Excellency's humble' servant, "T. S. C.LOWE." War-balloons were first regularly used by Louis Napoleon in the Italian War, in 1S59. Their success there commended their introduction into the National army, and the attention of the military authorities was early called to the subject. On receiving the above dispatch, Mr. Lincoln invited Mr. Lowe to the Execu- tive mansion. He introduced him to General Scott, and he was soon afterward employed as an aeronaut in the militarj" ser- vice. When in use, the balloon is kept under control by strong cords in the hands of men on the ground, who, when the reconnoissance is ended, draw it down to the place of depar- ture. The Medical Department of the army was placed in charge of Surgeons Charles S. Tripler and Jonathan Letterman, who in turn performed the duties of Medical Director. The Quartermaster's Department was intrusted to Major S. Van Vliet. The Subsistence Department was placed in charge of Captain H. F. Clarke ; and to the control of the Ordnance Department was assigned Captain C. P. Kingsbury. Colonel Andrew Porter was made Provost-Marshal General of the Army of the Potomac; and Colonel Thomas G. Garrett, of the General's staff, was made Judge Advocate. See General McClellan's Report on the Organization of the Army of the Potomac, and its Campaigns in Virginia and Maryland. 4 The different divisions were posted as follows: "Hooker at Budd's Ferry, Lower Potomac; Heintzelman at Fort Lyon and vicinity ; Franklin near the Theological Seminary ; Blenker near Hunter's Chapel ; McDowell at Upton's Hill and Arlington ; F. J. Porter at Hall's and Miner's Hills; Smith at Mackall'a Hill; McCall at Langley; Buell at Tenallytown, Meridian Hill, Emory's Chapel, Ac., on the left bank of the river; Casey at Washington; Stoneman's cavalry at Washington ; Hunt's artillery at Washington ; Banks at Darnestown, with detachments at Point of Rocks, Sandy Hook, Williamsport, &c. ; Stone at Poolesville ; and Dix at Baltimore, with detachments on the Eastern shore." WAR BALLOON. DANGERS POINTED OUT. 133 thousand men of all arms were assembled and maneuvered. It was the largest military force ever gathered on the American Continent, and gave the loyal people assurance of the safety of the Republic. And to these troops, regiment after regiment,. at the rate of two thousand men each day, and battery after battery, was continually added from the teeming popula- tion and immense resources of the Free-labor States. A little later," there was another imposing review. It was of artillery a ^^ and cavalry alone ; when six thousand horsemen, and one hun- dred and twelve heavy guns, appeared before President Lincoln, the Secre- tary of State, Prince de Joinville, and other distinguished men. Their evolutions were conducted over an area of about two hundred acres : the cavalry under the direction of General Palmer, and the artillery under the command of General Barry. The whole review was conducted by General Stoneman. But drills, parades, and reviews were not the only exhibitions of war near the Potomac during these earlier days of autumn. There was some real though not heavy fighting between the opposing forces there. The auda- city of the Confederates was amazing. Soon after the Battle of Bull's Run, General Johnston had advanced his outposts from Centreville and Fairfax Court House to Munson's Hill, only six miles in an air-line from Washing- O ton City, where the Confederate flag was flaunted for weeks, in full view of the National Capitol. At other points above the city, his scouts pressed up almost to the Potomac, and he was at the same time taking measures for erecting batteries at points below the Occoquan Creek, for the purpose of obstructing the passage of supplies up that river, for the National army around Washington. The probability of such a movement had been per- ceived at an early day by vigilant and expert men. So early as June, the Navy Department had called the attention of the Secretary of War (Mr. Cameron) to the importance, in view of the possible danger, of seizing and holding Matthias Point, in order to secure the navigation of the river. At different times afterward,* the attention of the President, General Scott, and General McClellan was called to the matter by the same Department, but nothing was done until toward the close of September, when Confederate batteries were actually planted there. 3 Then it was proposed to send a land force down the Maryland side of the river, and crossing in boats, covered by the Potomac flotilla, take possession of the shore just above Matthias Point. The Secretary of the Navy, having 1 This is a view of one of the most frequently mentioned buildings in the records of the Civil War. It is from a sketch made by the author in 1866. It gives the name to the village around it, which is the shiretown of the county. The village was much injured during the war. 2 July 1st, August 2()th, and August 81st. 3 It appears by an autograph letter before me, written by Colonel Wade Hampton, at Freestone Point, between Occoquan and Dumfries, and dated September 24th, 1861, that a battery was completed at that place, and FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE. 1 134 THE POTOMAC RIVER BLOCKADED. use for the Potomac flotilla elsewhere, was anxious that the movement should take place at once. 1 Preparations were accordingly made to send four thousand of Hooker's division for the purpose. The Navy Department furnished transportation, and Captain Craven, the commander of the flotilla, gathered his vessels in the vicinity of Matthias Point, to co-operate in an attack on the batteries there. In the mean time the chief engineer (Major Barnard) reported adversely, 2 and the project was abandoned. On the assurance of sufficient aid from the Navy Department, it was agreed that a land force should march down the right bank of the Potomac, capture all batteries found there, and take permanent possession of that region. This project was also abandoned, because McClellan believed that the movement might bring on a general engagement, for which he did not feel prepared. No attempt was afterward made to interfere with the Con- federates in their mischievous work, and early in October Captain Craven officially announced that the navigation of the Potomac was closed, and the National capital blockaded in that important direction. Craven was so mortified because of the anticipated reproach of the public for the supposed inefficiency of his command, that he made a request to be assigned to duty elsewhere. The President, who had warmly seconded the Navy Depart- ment in urging McClellan to take measures for keeping the navigation of the river open, was exceedingly annoyed ; whilst the nation at large, unable to understand the cause of this new disaster, and feeling deeply mortified and humiliated, severely censured the Government. 3 That blockade, so dis- graceful to the Government, was continued until the Confederates voluntarily evacuated their position in front of Washington, in March following. was ready for action at that date. His letter was addressed to Colonel Thomas Jordan, Beauregard's Assistant Adjutant-General. He says the works were constructed under Captain Lee, whose battery and a long 32-pounder rifled gun were there. The latter had been sent there by General Trimble, a Maryland traitor, then in the Con- federate army. He reported that he had every thing in readiness to open fire the previous evening. A fringe of trees had been left standing on tho point, to conceal the troops while erecting the works. These were cut down on the night of the 23d. 1 At that time (late in September) there were in the Potomac the Pawnee, Pocahontas^ and Seminole, thruo heavily armed vessels, and the ft. B. Forbes, with two very formidable guns on board. These vessels had been detailed to go with Dupont's expedition to Port Royal, and it was urged by the Navy Department that thi-y should first be employed in destroying tho Confederate batteries on the river, and assisting the Army of tho Potomac in taking possession of their positions. z He referred to the fact that High Point, Freestone Point, and Cock-pit Point, and thence down to Chapa- wausic Creek, opposite Hooker's quarters at Budd's Ferry, were eligible places for batteries, and considered it unwise to attempt the capture of any already completed, unless a campaign was about to be opened in that direction. He concluded that the best way to prevent the erection of batteries, and to keep open navigation, was to have a sufficient naval force patrolling the Potomac. See McClellan" s Report, page 50. In a review of tho Peninsula Campaign, Major (then General) Barnard, alluding to this project, says (page 16), if it had been attempted "a Ball's Bluff affair, ten times intensified, would have been the certain result." 3 General McClellan, in his report to the Secretary of War of the operations of the Army of the Potomac while under his command, made in August, 1S63 (nearly two years after the events here recorded), attributed the failure to keep the navigation of the Potomac open, at this time, to the remissness of the Navy Department in not furnishing a sufficient number of armed vessels for the purpose. G. V. Fox, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War (i. page 239), attributes that failure partly to the remissness of the War Department, under the management of Cameron, but chiefly to the failure of General McClellan to furnish a force from his immense army in time to have taken and held possession of the Virginia shore of the river. The Committee on the Conduct of the War, in their summary of the testimony of both Mr. Fox and General McClellan, says : " After repeated efforts, General McClellan promised that 4,000 men should be ready, at a time named, to proceed down the river. The Navy Department provided the neces- sary transports for the troops, and Captain Craven, commanding the Potomac flotilla, upon being notified to that effect, collected at Matthias Point all the boats of his flotilla at the time named. The troops did not arrive, and the Navy Department was informed of the fact by Captain Craven. Assistant Secretary Fox, upon inquiring of General McClellan why the troops had not been sent, according to agreement, was informed by him that his engineers were of the opinion that so large a body of troops could not be landed, and therefore he had concluded not to send them. Captain Fox replied that the landing of the troops was a matter of which the Navy Dvpart- HOSTILE MOVEMENTS ON THE POTOMAC. 135 As the Army of the Potomac rapidly increased in numbers and equip- ment in Virginia in front of Washington, it required more space than the narrow strip between the river and the advance posts of the Confederates, and early in September it was determined to acquire that space by pushing back the intruders. Already there had been several little skirmishes be- tween the pickets and the outposts of the confronting contestants. On the 5th of August, a detachment of the Twenty-eighth New York, under Captain Brush, mostly firemen, attacked a squad of Confederate cavalry in Virginia, opposite the Point of Rocks, killing and wounding eight men, and capturing nine prisoners and twenty horses; and on the 12th a detachment of the Tenth New York, under Captain Kennedy, crossed the Potomac from Sandy Hook, and attacked and routed some Virginia cavalry at Lovettsville. On the 12th of September, a reconnoissance was made toward Lewinsville, four or five miles from Camp Advance, at the Chain Bridge, by about two thousand men, under the command of Gen- eral William F. Smith, 1 in charge of a brigade at that post. They had accomplished a topographical survey, for which purpose they were chiefly sent, and were returning, when they were attacked by a body of Virginians, 2 under the command of Colonel J. E. B. Stuart, afterward the famous general leader of cavalry in the Confederate army. Stuart opened heavily with his cannon, which at first disconcerted the National troops. The latter were kept steady until Griffin's Battery was placed in position, when its guns soon silenced those of the Virginians, and scattered their cavalry. Then the National troops, having accomplished their object, returned to their post near the Chain Bridge " in perfect order and excellent spirits," with a loss of two killed and ten wounded. 3 ment had charge ; that they had provided the necessary means to accomplish the landing successfully ; that no inquiry had been made of them in regard to that matter, and no notification that the troops were not to be sent. It was then agreed that the troops should be sent the next night. Captain Craven -was again notified, and again had his flotilla in readiness lor the arrival of the troops ; but no troops were sent down at that time, nor were any ever sent down for that purpose. Captain Fox, in answer to the inquiry of the Committee, as to what reason was assigned for not sending the troops according to the second agreement, replied that the only reason, so far as he could ascertain, was that General McClellan feared that it might bring on a general engagement. The Presi- dent, who had united with the Navy Department in urging its proposition, first upon General Scott and then upon General McClellan, manifested great disappointment when he learned that the plan had failed in conse- quence of the troops not being sent. And Captain Craven threw up his command on the Potomac, and applied to be sent to sea, saying that, by remaining here and doing nothing, he was but losing his own reputation, as the blame for permitting the Potomac to bo blockaded would be imputed to him and the flotilla under his command." As the reports of the Committee may be frequently referred to in this work, it is proper to say that it was a joint committee of both Houses of Congress, appointed in December, 1861, consisting of three members of the Senate and four members of the House of Representatives, with instructions to inquire into the conduct of the war. The Committee consisted of B. F. Wade, Z. Chandler, and Andrew Johnson, of tho Senate, and D. W. Gooch, John Covode, G. W. Julian, and M. F. Odell, of the House of Representatives. They constituted a per- manent court of inquiry, with power to send for persons and papers. When Senator Johnson was appointed Military Governor of Tennessee, his place on the Committee was supplied by Joseph A. Wright, of Indiana. 1 These troops consisted of the Seventy-ninth (Highlanders) New York Militia ; battalions of Vermont and Indiana Volunteers, and of the First United States Chasseurs; a Cavalry company, and Griffin's West Point Battery. z These were the Thirteenth Virginia Volunteers, Eosser's Battery of the Washington Artillery, and n detachment of cavalry. s Reports of Lieutenant-Colonel Shaler and Adjutant Ireland, and dispatch of General McClellan, all dated September llth, 1S61. General McClellan joined the column at the close of the affair. Colonel Stuart (Con- federate) gave a glowing account of the confusion into which the Nationals were thrown by his first attack, and gave the affair the aspect of a great victory for himself. He reported ' fearful havoc in the ranks of the enemy." " Our loss," he said, "was not a scratch to man or horse." Stuart's Report, Sept. 11, 1S61. Stuart appears to have been accused of rashness on this occasion, in exposing his cannon to the danger of capture. In an autograph letter before me. dated at Munson's Hill. September 14th, and addressed to General Longstreet, he repels the accusation, and declares that at no time was a piece of his cannon ' in a position that it 136 AN INGENIOUS DECEPTION. Three days after the affair near Lewinsville, the pickets on the right of the command of Colonel John W. Geary, of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, stationed three miles above Darnestown, in Maryland, were attacked" by four hundred and fifty Virginians, who had boldly crossed the Potomac. A spirited skirmish for about two hours ensued, resulting in a loss to the assailants of eight or ten killed, and several wounded, and their utter repulse. Geary's loss was one killed ; and his gain was great animation for the troops under his command, who were charged Oct. 9 w i ta holding the country opposite Harper's Ferry. A little later, < Oct. 16. National troops permanently occupied Lewinsville, 4 Vienna/ and <*Oct n. Fairfax Court House/ the Confederates falling back to Centreville without firing a shot. They had evacuated Munson's Hill on the 28th of September, when the position was formally taken possession of by the Na- tionals, who had been for some time looking upon it from Bailey's Cross- roads with much respect, because of its apparently formidable works and heavy armament. These had been reconnoitered with great caution, and pro- nounced to be alarmingly strong, when the fort was really a slight earth- Avork, running irregularly around about four acres on the brow of the hill, without ditch or glacis, " in every respect a squirming piece of work," as an eye-witness wrote. Its armament consisted of one stove-pipe and two logs, the latter with a black disc painted on the middle of the sawed end of each, giving them the appearance, at a distance, of .the muzzles of 100-pound Par- rott guns. These " Quaker Guns," like similar ones at Manassas a few months later, had, for six weeks, defied the Army of the Potomac. In a house near the foit (which was soon made into a strong regular work), Brigadier-Gen- eral James Wadsworth, who was placed in command, there made his head-quar- ters ; and on the roof he caused a sig- nal-station to be erected, from which there was an interchange of intelligence with another station on the dome of the capitol at Washington. There the f 12,000 men. For about a hundred days Stone was luisily engaged in his duties, and had just submitted to McClellan a plan for the capture of General D. H. Hill and his force of 4.500 men, lying opposite his camp, when he was ordered to Washington, and placed before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, to answer charges against his loyalty. His explanations were such that the Committee simply reported to the Secretary of War that, on the points to which his attention had been called, "the testimony was conflicting." General Stone heard nothing more of the matter until the night of the 8th of February, when, after being engaged at Willard's hotel, in Washington, in the examination of maps until almost midnight, ho was retiring to his residence, he found General Sykes, an old friend, and then commander of the city guard, waiting for him, A PRISONER OF STATE. 147 Supposing all the troops to be on the Virginia side of the Potomac, McClellan telegraphed to Stone to intrench himself there, and to hold his position, at all hazards, until re-enforcements should arrive. At the same time he ordered Banks to remove the remainder of his division to Edwards's Ferry, and send over as many men as possible to re-enforce Stone. These orders were promptly obeyed. Intrenchments were thrown up ; large numbers of with orders from General McClellan for his arrest, and immediate departure for Fort Lafayette.* He exchanged his military for citizen's dress, said a few consoling words to his wife, and departed for Sykes's quarters, where he was kept until morning, and then sent under a guard to Fort Hamilton, near Fort Lafayette. Before leaving he had written to the Adjutant-General, asking for information* concerning his arrest, not doubting that there was some strange misunderstanding in the matter. On the 10th be was in the custody of Colonel Burke, at Fort Hamilton, and was then taken over to Fort Lafayette in a hoat There he was confined in a casemate fifty- four days, receiving the most kind treatment. There he again wrote to the Adjutant-General, requesting a copy of charges, and a trial, but, as before, was denied any response. In the mean time, General Stone's friends had unsuccessfully endeavored to obtain justice for him at Washing- ton. When his brother-in-law, on his way thither, stopped in New York, to consult with Lieutenant-General Scott, the astonished veteran, who had not till then heard of his arrest, indignantly exclaimed, " Colonel Stone a traitor 1 Why, if he is a traitor, I am a traitor, and we are all traitors. While holding Washington last year, he was my right hand, and I do not hesitate to say that I could not have held the place without hitn."t After the lapse of fifty-four days, General Stone was transferred to Fort Hamilton, where he had larger liberty. He was released on the 16th of August, by an order from the War Department, sent by telegraph. He immediately applied for orders to active duty; and on returning to Washington he searched in vain in the office of the Adjutant-General and of the War Department for the order for his arrest; the law requiring the officer issuing such order to give a statement in writing, signed with his own name, and noting the offense, within twenty-four hours. Halleck, then General-in-Chief, knew nothing about it Stone then went to the President, who said he knew nothing about the matter, but kindly remarked, "I could never be made to believe General Stone was a traitor." In endeavors to give to his country his active services in the war he was thwarted, and it was not until May, 1863, that he was allowed to enter again upon duty in the field, when he was ordered to report to General Banks, then the commander of the Department of the Gulf. He served faithfully during the remainder of the war, until prostrated by malarious fever before Petersburg, when the service lost a meritorious and patriotic officer. In this connection, the following letter, written to the author by the Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police of the City of New York, may be appropriately given. It furnishes interesting additions to the history of Mr. Lincoln's journey from Philadelphia to Washington, in February, 1861, given in the first volume of this work. "Office of the Superintendent of Metropolitan Police, "300 Mulberry Street " New York, August 18ZA, 1866. "BKNSON J. LOSSING, Esq., "V " Poughkeepsie, New York. " DEAR SIR : On reading your description of the manner in which the late President Lincoln was induced 1 to change his route in going to the City of Washington, in February, 1861, I was impressed with the faithfulness, so far as the narrative goes, but regretted that it was not more full in showing how and to whom the country is indebted for the safety of his valuable life at that important period. " It will be remembered that there was much uncertainty at the beginning of the late rebellion as to what course the conspirators designed taking to carry out their plans ; and, with the view of ascertaining their pur- pose, in the latter part of December, 1860, I detailed two of my most intelligent detectives to proceed to Wash- ington, with instructions to endeavor to discover the secret plans of the conspirators, if they had any, for taking possession of the seat of Government, and to communicate with Senator Grimes, of Iowa, on the subject I did not know the Senator personally at that time, but I had a reputation of hiui that justified me in confiding in him. "On Friday, January 4th, 1861, 1 received a note from Hon. Schnyler Colfax, requesting me to send a num- ber of detectives to Washington, for the same purpose that I had already dispatched the two alluded to. I then In the report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War (Part II., page 18) is a statement of General McClellan, that on the day of the arrest he received information from a refugee from Leesburg, whUSi, in his mind, " tended to corroborate some of the charges made against General Stone," which he reported to the Secretary of War, and received orders to arrest the General and send him imme- diately to Fort Lafayette. What those charges were, neither the Committee on the Conduct of the War nor General McClellan ever made public. t When, late in 1860, General Stone, who had left the army (in which he held the commission of captain by brevet, awarded for meri- torious services in Mexico), was in Washington City, General Scott desired him to rally around him the loyal men of the District of Columbia. He complied, and on the 1st of January, 1861, hewas made Inspector-general of the District. He at once commenced organising and instructing volunteers and when Fort Sumter was attacked he had under him no less than 3,000 well-organized troops fit for service. He was the first man mustered into the service for the defense of the Capital. That was done on the 2d day of January, 1881. He was in romman.l of the troops in Washington during the dark days at the close of April, when that city was cut off from th loyal people. During those seven days, he slept but three hours in his bed, all dther rest being taken in his military cloak. All the outposts around Washington were under his command until the passage of a portion of the army into Virginia, in May (see pa<*e 4SO, 481, and 482, volume L), and som of his troop* were the first to encounter the pickets of the insurgents. 148 THE BALTIMORE PLOT. troops were crossed, and active preparations were in progress for moving strongly upon the Confederates, when, on Tuesday night," Gene- '^j 28 ' ral McClellan arrived at Poolesville. Then, as he says, he " learned, for the first time, the full details of the affair." The preparations for a forward movement, which promised the most important results for the National cause, were immediately suspended, and orders were determined to go that night myself, and take with me another of my men. I purposed looking the field over, with the view of ascertaining the probability of such an attempt being made. In the morning of Saturday I found a want of harmony among the friends of the Union scarcely any two looked at the crisis through the same medium. Mr. Colfax invited me to attend a meeting of a sort of committee of members of both houses of Con- gress, at the residence of Senator Trumbull, that morning. It numbered about a dozen persons, and there were bout twelve different opinions among them as to the ultimate designs of the conspirators. The extreme views were entertained by Senator Trumbnll and Rep. E. B. Washburn. One of these gentlemen regarded the ' matter as nothing more than the usual Southern vaunting; that the South had been badly defeated, and the secession talk meant nothing but braggadocio; that they had had things so long their own -way, it could not be expected of them to quietly submit to defeat; a few weeks and all would be peaceful again.' The other gentleman wa of opinion 'that the Southern men meant every word they uttered; that they had been preparing for this thing since 1832; that he was convinced they had selected this time because they think themselves ready, while we are not ; that they have made preparations which we know nothing about ; that their plan was to destroy the Government and to start one of their own ; and that to take possession of Washington was more than half the battle. 1 "None of the remaining gentlemen agreed with either of these, nor with themselves. " While at this meeting, I learned that a large number of detectives had been sent for to all the larger cities. East, North, and West, and among these it was mentioned that Marshal Kane, of Baltimore, had been applied to, and had promised to send ten detectives. I told the gentlemen plainly the Marshal would betray them ; that his sympathies were with the South in any movement they would make; that but a few weeks before he had declined an invitation to exchange a detective of his for one of mine, on the ground that he had but one in his force, and consequently he conld not now furnish them with ten. In reply, I was informed that Mr. Corwin had confidence in Marshal Kane, and they also had confidence in Mr. Corwin. So, as they decided to hold on to the Marshal and his bogus detectives, I concluded not to act with them. " I then called on a number of other members of Congress, without finding much improvement ; the excep- tional case was Senator Grimes. One distinguished Senator informed me that he was in counsel with Jefferson Davis, and that in a day or two t/iey would be able to adjust all apparent differences. " After that I went among the people, and soon found that Mr. Washbnrn was nearer right than any other member of Congress I had talked with. I also found that the safety of the country depended on Lieutenant- General Scott, and I determined to consult with him; but I feared the General could not spare sufficient time to talk with me as fully as I desired, and then concluded to see one of his confidential officers. On inquiring, I learned that two of General Scott's family had great influence with him, Col. Eobt. E. Lee and Capt Chas. P. Stone. I do not know what induced me to select Captain Stone in preference to Col. Lee, but I did so, and called on the Captain at his quarters. We conversed freely in regard to the impending trouble, and especially of the danger in which Washington stood. I informed him I would leave three of my detectives in the city, and, at his request, agreed to instruct them to report to him verbally any things of importance they should discover. " I stopped in Baltimore that night on my way homj, and ascertained from Marshal Kane himself the plan bjr which Maryland was to be precipitated out of the Union, against the efforts of Govr. Hicks to keep it there ; and with Maryland also the District of Columbia. He told me Maryland would wait for the action of Virginia, and that action would take place within a month; and 'that when Virginia seceded through a convention, Maryland would secede by gravitation.' It was at this interview I ascertained Fort McHenry to be garrisoned by a corporal's guard, consisting of one man, and that the Baltimore police were keeping guard on the outside, to prevent the roughs from capturing it prematurely. I communicated the facts to Captain Stone, and on tho following Wednesday, January 9th, troops from Washington took possession of tho fort, under orders from General Scott " At a subsequent visit to Washington I called, of course, on Captain Stone, and informed him of the purposes contemplated in Baltimore. He then requested me to put some of my men on duty there, and instruct them to report to him in person, by word of mouth, and not by mail, as he could not trust the mails. I had previously placed two men there, and on my return selected a third, whom I sent directly to Captain Stone for special instructions. Under these instructions, this officer, David S. Bookstaver, remained at Baltimore until February 23d, when I relieved him. During that period, while apparently occupied as a music agent, Bookstaver gave particular attention to the sayings and doings of the better class of citizens and strangers who frequent music, variety, and book stores, while the other two detectives .had joined an organization of rebel roughs, destined to go South or elsewhere, whenever their services should be required. "It was on the evening of Wednesday, February 20th, that Bookstaver obtained the information that made it necessary for him to take the first train for Washington. Before going, he posted a letter to me, briefly tatin-r the condition of things, and of his intention to go on the four o'clock morning train and report. I shall complete this narrative with an extract from a letter written by Captain Stone on the subject ''It is impossible, with the time now at my disposal, to give you any thing like a detailed history of the information derived fi^jin your men, and from dozens of letters and reports from other sources, addressed gome- HOW MR. LINCOLN WAS SAVED. 149 given for the entire force to recross the river to the Maryland side. Generals Banks and Stone, and the troops under their commands, were disappointed and mortified, for they knew of no serious impediments then in the way of an advance. General McClellan subsequently said, that " a few days after- ward," he " received information which seemed to be authentic, to the effect that large bodies of the enemy had been ordered from Manassas to Leesburg, to cut off our troops on the Virginia side ;" and that their " timely with- drawal had probably prevented a still more serious disaster." 1 Plain people inquired whether sufficient re-enforcements for the Nationals, to counteract the movement from Manassas, might not have been spared from the almost one hundred thousand troops then lying at ease around Washington, only a few miles distant. Plain people were answered by the question, What do you know about war ? times to the General-in-Chief and sometimes to myself, which served to convince both of us that there was imminent danger that Mr. Lincoln's life would be sacrificed, should he attempt to pass through Baltimore at the time and in the manner published in the newspapers as the programme of his journey. " 'The closing piece of information on the subject was brought by one of your men, Bookstaver. He had for weeks been stationed in Baltimore, and on the morning of Thursday (two days before the intended passage of Mr. Lincoln through Baltimore) he arrived by the early train andreported to me. His information was entirely corroborative of that already in our possession; and at the time of making my morning report to the General-in-Chief, I communicated tJiat. General Scott had received from other sources urgent warnings also, and he stated to me that it was almost a certainty that Mr. Lincoln could not pass Baltimore alive by the train on the day fixed. "But," said the General, " while you and I know this, we cannot convince these gentlemen that Mr. Lincoln is not coming to Washington to be inaugurated as quietly as any previous President." '"I recommended that Mr. Lincoln should be officially warned; and suggested that it would be altogether best that he should take the train of that evening from Philadelphia, and so reach Washington early the next day. General Scott said that Mr. Lincoln's personal dignity would revolt at the idea of changing the programme of his journey on account of danger to his life. I replied to this, that it appeared to me that Mr. Lincoln's per- sonal dignity was of small account in comparison with the destruction, or, at least, dangerous disorganization of the United States Government, which would be the inevitable result of his death by violence in Baltimore; that in a few days more the term of Mr. Buchanan would end, and there would (in case of Mr. Lincoln's death) be no elected President to assume the office; that the' Northern cities would, on learning of the violent death of the President-elect, pour masses of excited people upon Baltimore, which would be destroyed, and we should find ourselves in the worst form of civil war, with the Government utterly unprepared for it " ' General Scott, after asking me how the details could be arranged in so short a time, and receiving my suggestion that Mr. Lincoln should be advised quietly to take the evening train, and that it would do him no harm to have the telegraph wires cut for a few hours, he directed me to seek Mr. W. H. Seward, to whom he wrote a few lines, which he handed me. " ' It was already ten o'clock, and when I reached Mr. Seward's house he had left : I followed him to the Capitol, but did not succeed in finding him until after 12 M. I handed him the General's note ; he listened attentively to what I said, and asked me to write down my information and suggestions, and then, taking the paper I had written, he hastily left. '"The note I wrote was what Mr. Frederick Soward carried to Mr. Lincoln in Philadelphia. Mr. Lincoln has stated that it was this note which induced him to change his journey as he did. The stories of disguise are all nonsense ; Mr. Lincoln merely took the sleeping-car in the night train. I know nothing of any connection of Mr. Pinkerton with the matter.' " The letter from which the above extract is made was sent to me by General Stone, in reply to an inquiry of mine, made in consequence of having seen an article in a newspaper which gave the whole credit of the move- ment to a person who I supposed had little to do with it. My opportunity for knowing who the parties were that rendered this service to the country was very good, but I thought it advisable to have the testimony of one of the most active in it to sustain my views. For obvious reasons, I have not called on either of the other living parties to the matter, regarding the above sufficient to satisfy all reasonable persons that the assassination con- summated in April, 1S65, would have taken place in February of 1861 had it not been for the timely efforts of Lieutenant-General Scott, Brigadier-General Stone. Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Frederick W. Seward, Esq., and David S- Bookstaver, of the Metropolitan Police of New York. " I ana, very respectfully, yours, - General J. E. B. Stuart,* who came up the road from the direction of Centre- ville. A severe fight ensued. The Confederates were greatly out- numbered, and were soon so beaten that they fled in haste, carrying in their wagons little else than their wounded men. The brunt of the battle had fallen on the Sixth and Ninth Pennsylvania, the Rifles, and Easton's Battery. The National loss consisted of seven killed and sixty wounded ; and their gain was a victory, and " sixteen wagon-loads of excellent hay, and twenty-two of corn." Stuart reported his loss at forty-three killed and one hundred and forty-three wounded. 3 He had been induced to attack superior numbers by the foolish boast of Evans, that he had encountered and whipped four to his one ; and he tried to console his followers by calling this affair a victory for them, because McCall did not choose to hold the battle-field, but leisurely withdrew to his encampment. This little victory greatly inspired the loyal people, for it gave them the assurance that the troops of the Army of the Potomac were ready and able to fight bravely, whenever they were allowed the privilege. While the friends of the Government were anxiously waiting for the almost daily promised movement of the Grand Army toward Richmond, as the year was drawing to a close, and heai*ts were growing sick with hopes deferred, two events, each having an important bearing on the war, were in 1 His brigade was composed of Pennsylvania regiments, and consisted of the Ninth, Colonel Jackson ; Tenth. Colonel MeOlmont ; Twelfth, Colonel Taggart ; Bucktail Rifles, Lieutenant-Colonel T. L. Kane ; a battalion of the Sixth ; two squadrons of cavalry, and Easton's Battery in all about 4.000 men. 2 His troops consisted of the Eleventh Virginia, Colonel Garland; Sixth South Carolina, Lieutenant-Colonel Seagrist; Tenth Alabama, Colonel Harvey; First Kentucky, Colonel T. H. Taylor; the Sumter Flying AYtil- lery, four pieces. Captain Cutts ; and detachments from two North Carolina cavalry regiments, 1.000 in number, under Major Gordon. Stuart was also on a forasinj expedition, and had about 200 wagons with him. Report of General McCall, December 20, 1861 ; also, General Stuart to General Beaiiregard, December 21, 1861. 152 OPINIONS OF THE BRITISH ARISTOCRACY. progress ; one directly affecting the issue, and the other affecting it inciden- tally, but powerfully. One was the expedition that made a permanent lodg- ment of the National power on the coast of North Carolina ; and the other was intimately connected with the foreign relations of the Government. Let us first consider the latter event. The incidents were few and simple, but they concerned the law and the policy of nations. We have already noticed the fact that the conspirators, at an early period of their confederation against the Government, had sent representatives to Europe, for the purpose of obtaining from foreign powers a recognition of the league as an actual government. 1 These men were active, and found swarms of sympathizers among the ruling and privileged classes of Europe, and especially in Great Britain. There was an evident anxiety among those classes in the latter country to give all possible aid to the conspirators, so that the power of the Republic of the West, the hated nursery of democratic ideas, might be destroyed by disintegration resulting from civil dissensions.* Fortunately for the Republic, the men who had been sent abroad by the conspirators were not such as the diplomats of Europe could feel a pro- 1 See page 259, volnme I. * We have already observed the "precipitate and unprecedented" proceedings, as Mr. Adams termed it, of the British Government, and the leaders of public opinion in England, in allowing to the insurgents the privi- leges of belligerents. [Chapter XXIV., volume I.] In Parliament and out of it, no favorable occasion was omitted, by many loading men, to speak not only disparagingly, but often very offensively, of the Government and people of tho Republic. The enemies of free institutions and supporters of privileged classes acted upon the old maxim of political craft, " Divide and Govern," and they exerted all their powers to widen the breach between the people of the Free and Slave-labor States. Sir Edward Bulwer Ly tton, the author, who had received the honors of knighthood, which allied him to tho aristocratic class in Great Britain, appeared among the willing prophets of evil for the Republic. He declared in an address before an Agricultural Society, cm tho 25th of September, 1S61, that he had " long foreseen and foretold to be inevitable " a dissolution of the American Union ; and then again, mounting the Delphic stool, he solemnly said: "I venture to predict that tho younger men here present will live to see not two, but at least four, and probably more th.xn four, separate and sovereign Common- wealths arising out of those populations which a year ago united their legislature under ono President, and carried their merchandise under one flag." He rejoiced in the prospect that so gladdened his vision, and said : " I believe that such separation will be attended with happy results to the safety of Europe, and the develop- mant of American civilization." The desire for such separation was evidently engendered in the speaker's mind by an unpleasant horoscope of the future of tho Great Republic. " If it could have been possible," he said, ' that, as population and wealth increased, all the vast continent of Am.-rica, with her mighty seaboard, and tho fleets which her increasing ambition as well as her extending commerce would have formed and armed, could have remained under one form of government, In which the executive has Tittle or no control over a populace exceedingly adventurous and excitable, why, then, America would have hung over Europe like a gathering and destructive thunder-cloud. No single kingdom in Europe could have been strong enough to maintain itself against a nation that had once consolidated the gigantic resources of a quarter of the globe." A little later, Earl Russell, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in an after-dinner speech at Newcastle-npon- Tyne, declared that the struggle in America was " on the one side for empire, and on the other for power," and not for the great principles of human liberty, and for the life of the Republic, for which the Government wan really contending. A little later still, tho Earl of Shrewsbury, speaking with hope for his class, at the old city of Worcester, said that .he saw in America the trial of Democracy, and Its failure. He believed tho dissolution nf the Union to be inevitable, and that men there before him would live to " sec an aristocracy established in America." In the same hour, Sir John Pakington, formerly a cabinet minister, and then a member of Par- liament, told the same hearers, th.;t, "from President Lincoln, downward, there was not a man in America who would venture to tell them that he really thought it possible that by the force of circumstances the North could hope to compel the South to again join them in constituting the United States." Sir John Bowring, an eminent English scholar, in a kindly letter to an American friend in England, expressed his solemn conviction of the utter separation of the States, and intimated that the Government lacked the sympathy of Englishmen because it had not "shown any disposition to put down slavery/' Overlooking the fact that the fathers of the Republic fought for the establishment of liberty for all, and that the conspirators were fighting for tho establishment <e n violation of the duty of neutrals; the Queen specified that of" carrying officers, soldiers, dispatches," et cetera. Mason and Slidell were civil officers of the Confederacy, and were themselves living dispatches. MIGHT MAKES RIGHT. 157 precisely what Captain Wilkes has done. If Great? Britain shall now pro- test against the act, and demands their release, we must give them up, apolo- gize for the act as a violation of our doctrines, and thus forever bind her over to keep the peace in relation to neutrals, and so acknowledge that she has been wrong for sixty years." 1 That demand speedily came. When intelligence of the affair on board the Trent reached England, and details were given by " Captain Williams, R. N".," in a public communication dated at sea, November 9th (and also in his after-dinner speech already mentioned), in which he so highly colored a few facts that the courteous acts of Lieutenant Fairfax were made to appear 1 For more than a hundred years Great Britain had denied the sanctity of a neutral ship, when her interests teemed to require its violation. That Power had acqnired full supremacy of the seas at the middle of the last century, and Thompson had written that offering to British pride, the song of "liulo Britannia, 1 ' boastingly asserting that When Britain first, at Heaven's command. Arose from out the azure main, This was the charter of the land, And guardian angels sung the strain Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves 1 Britons never shall be slaves!" Conscious of its might. Great Britain made a new law of nations, for its own benefit, in 1756. Frederick the Great of Prussia hnd declared that the goods of an enemy cannot be taken from on board the ships of a friend. A British orderin Council was immediately Issued, declaring the reverse of this to be " the law of nations," and forbidding neutral vessels to carry merchandise belonging to those with whom she might be at war. So yiola- tive of the golden rule was this order, that the publicists of Great Britain found it necessary, out of respect for the opinions of mankind, to put forth specious sophistries to prove that England was not ambitious! Under what was called u The Rule of 1756," the-British navy began to depredate upon the commerce of the world. The solemn treaty made by Great Britain with Holland, eighty-two years before, in which it was c-xpressly stipulated that free ships should make free poods that a neutral flag should protect a neutral bottom that the contraband of war should be strictly limited "to arms, artillery, and horses, and to Include naval materials," was wantonly violated by the possession of might. The vessels of Holland were not only prohibited from carrying naval stores, but were seized, and their cargoes used for the benefit of the English war-marine. From that time until the present, Great Britain has steadily adhered to "The Rule of 1756," excepting in a few instances, when it suited her interests to make a temporary change in her policy. So injuriously did this ' Rule," practically enforced, operate upon the commerce of the world for England's benefit, that in 1780 the northern powers of Europe Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland formed a treaty of alliance, called the " Armed Neutrality," to resist the pretensions and evil practices of Great Britain. The doctrine of the league was that of Frederick, but much enlarged. Armaments were prepared to sustain the doctrine, but Great Britain's naval strength was too great, and the effort failed. In 1793, when Great Britain was at war with France, "The Rule of 1756" was again put into active operation. By an order in Council, it was directed that "all vessels laden with goods, the produce of any colony of France, or carrying provisions or supplies for such colony, should be seized and brought in for adjudication." This was aimed at American commerce, which was then exciting the envy of the British. To that commerce , France had then opened all her West India ports. The order was secretly circulated among the British cruisers, and captures were made under it before its existence was known in London I For that treachery, English states- men and publicists offered the selfish excuse that it was " British policy to maintain for that power the suprem- acy of the seas," that its children might continue to sing "Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves." These aggressions were soon followed by more serious outrages against the rights of friends, or nentrals. Great Britain declared its right to search any vessel on the high seas, and take therefrom any subject of her* found there. This was a "new law of nations," promulgated by Great Britain to suit her necessities. Her cruisers roamed the seas, and held no flag to be an absolute protection of what was beneath it Seamen -were continually dragged from American vess?ls and placed in the British navy. The British cruisers were not very particular when they wanted seamen, and under the pretext of claiming the subjects of His Majesty, about 14,000 American citizens were forced into the British service in the course of twelve or fifteen years. K This practice was one of the chief causes of the war declared against Great Britain by the United States in 1312. In the midst of that war, when overtures for peace on righteous terms were offered by the Americans, the right of search and impressment was insisted upon by a carefully prepared manifesto of the noting head of the British Government, in which it was declared that ' if America, by demanding this preliminary concession, intends to deny the validity of that right, in that denial Great Britain cannot acquiesce, nor will she give coun- tenance to such pretensions by acceding to its suspension, much less to its abandonment, as a basis on which to treat" The war went on, and when it was ended Great Britain yet maintained the doctrine laid down in "The Rule of 1756." and continued to insist, until 1361, upon the right of a nation at war to enter the ship of a neutral power in search and for the seizure of its subjects, or articles contraband of war, or things intended to be injuri- ous to the British nation. In doctrine and practice, Great Britain justified the act of Captain Wilkes. 158 ABUSE BY THE ENGLISH PRESS. like rude outrages, a storm of indignation was raised. The most violent and coarse abuse of Americans was uttered by a portion of the British press ; and the most absurd threats of vengeance on the offending nation were put forth. Of the courteous and accomplished gentleman, Captain Wilkes, the London Times, the accredited exponent of- the opinions of the Government and the ruling class, said : " He is unfortunately but too faithful a type of the people in whose foul mission he is engaged. He is an ideal Yankee. Swagger and ferocity, built up on a foundation of vulgarity and cowardice these are hia characteristics, and these are the most prominent marks by which his country- men, generally speaking, are known all over the world. To bully the weak, to triumph over the helpless, to trample on every law of country and custom, willfully to violate all the most sacred interests of human nature, to defy as long as danger does not appear, and, as soon as real peril shows itself, to sneak aside and run away these are the virtues of the race which presumes to announce itself as the leader of civilization and the prophet of human progress in these latter days. By Captain "Wilkes let the Yankee breed be judged." Other publications, of higher and lower character than the Times, used equally offensive language; 1 and the Government itself, without waiting to hear a word from the United States on the subject, at once assumed a belligerent position, and made energetic preparations for war. So urgent seemed the necessity, that not an hour of procrastination was permitted. All through Sunday, the 1st of December (immediately after the arrival of the passengers of the Trent], men were engaged in the Tower of London in pack- ing twenty-five thousand muskets to be sent to Canada. On the De ^ ber ' 4th," a royal proclamation was issued, prohibiting the exporta- tion of arms and munitions of war ; and the shipment of saltpeter was stopped. A general panic prevailed in business circles. Visions of British privateers sweeping American commerce from the seas floated before the English mind, and no insurance on American vessels could be obtained. American securities dropped amazingly, and large fortunes were made by wise ones, under the shadow of high places, who purchased and held them for a " rise" ! Orders were issued for a large increase in the naval squadrons on the North American and West India stations, and powerful transports were called for. The great steam-packet Persia was taken from the mail- service, to be employed in carrying troops to Canada. The immense iron- clad Warrior, supposed to be invincible, was fitted out for service in haste. Armstrong and Whit worth cannon were purchased by the score ; and pre- parations were made for sending various conspicuous batteries and regiments 1 The Saturday Jt&oieto, conducted chiefly by members of the British aristocracy, said with a bitter sneer, "The American Government is in the position of the rude boor, conscious of infinite powers of annoyance, destitute alike, of scruples and of shame, recognizing only the arbitration of the strong arm, which repudiates the appeal to codes, and presuming, not without reason, that more scrupulous States will avoid or defer mich an arbitration as long as ever they can." The London Punch gave, in one of its cartoons, a picture representing the relative position of the two Governments at that crisis. America appeared as a diminutive blusterer, in the form of a slave-driver, and carrying an American flag. Before him is a huge English sailor, impersonating Great Britain, who says to the little American, "You do what's right, my son, or I'll blow you out of the water." "Now, mind you, sir," says the Briton, to a most uncouth American Commodore "no shuffling an ample apology or I will put the matter into the hands of my lawyers, Messrs. Whitworth and Armstrong," alluding to the popular cannon invented by men of that name, and then extensively manufactured in England, and afterward furnished in considerable numbers to the Confederates. THE WISDOM OF JOHN" BRIGHT. 159 to the expected " seat of war." It seemed, from the action of the British Government, and the tone of the utterances of many of the British writers' and speakers, that the time had 'come when the calamity of civil war that had overtaken the Republic of the West was considered England's oppor- tunity to humble her rival. And it was with infinite delight that the con- spirators at Richmond contemplated the probability of war between the two countries, for in that event they felt sure of achieving the independence of the Confederacy, and procuring its recognition as a nation by the powers of Europe. Yet all Englishmen were not so ungenerous and mad. The great mass of the people the governed class of Great Britain continued to feel kindly toward the Americans, 1 and there were leading men, who, in the qualities of head and heart, towered above the common level of all society in England as Chimborazo rises above the common height of the Andes, who comprehended the character of our Government, the causes of the rebellion, and the war it was making upon the rights of man ; and with a true catholic and Christian spirit they rebuked the selfishness of the ruling class. Among these, John Bright, the Quaker, and emi- nent British statesman, stood most conspicuous. In the midst of the tumultuous surges of popular excite- ment that rocked the British islands in December and January, his voice, in unison with that of Richard Cobden, was heard calmly speaking of righteousness and counseling peace. He appeared as the cham- pion of the Republic against all its enemies, and his persuasions and warnings were heard and heeded by thousands of his countrymen. All through the war, John Bright in England, and Count de Gasparin in France, 2 stood forth conspicuously as the representatives of the true democracy in America, and for their beneficent labors they now receive the benedictions of the good in all lands. There were other men in Great Britain who had an intelligent conception of the machinery of our Government, and who could not be deceived by the sophistries of the disciples of Calhoun into a belief that the armed enemies of the Republic were any less rebels against sovereign authority than would a like band of insurgents be in Lancashire, or any county of England, arrayed 1 In a speech in Parliament on the 17th of February, 1962, when appropriations for the army expenses in the contemplated war with the United States were under consideration, John Bright said : " A large portion of the people of this country see in it a Government, a re;il Government ; not a Government ruled by a mob, and not a Government disregarding law. They believe it is a Government struggling for the integrity of a great country. They believe it is a country which is the home of every man who wants a home, and moreover they believe this that the greatest of all crimos which any people in the history of the world has ever been con- nected with the keeping in slavery four millions of human beings is, in the providence of a Power very much higher than that of the Prime Minister of England, or of the President of the United States, marching on, as I believe, to its entire abolition.' 1 8 See note 4, page 569, volume I. JOHN B EIGHT. 160 HASTE OF THE BEITISH GOVERNMENT. against the Crown. They well understood that if the American insurgents, whose fathers helped to form the Republic which they were trying to destroy, and who had perfect equality in public affairs with the whole nation, could be justified in rebelling against it, the Irish people a conquered nation, and made a part of Great Britain against their will had the fullest warrant for rebelling against their English conquerors at any and at all times. Among these men we find the names of John Stuart Mill, Professors Goldwin Smith and J. E. Cairnes, Rev. Baptist Noel, Henry Vincent, Layard, the eminent Eastern traveler, the eloquent young O'Donoughue, 1 and others less con- spicuous ; while Lord Brougham, who for sixty years was an opponent of slavery, and was known to be thoroughly conversant with the structure of our Government, and an admirer of its practical workings, following the lead of the spirit of his class, took sides with the slaveholders, and said most unkind words. Ivinglake, the eminent author and member of Parliament, announced, as a principle which he "had always enforced," that " in the policy of states a sentiment never can govern ;" that ideas of right, justice, philan- thropy, or common humanity should have no influence in the dealings of one nation with another, "because they are almost always governed by their great interests," which he thought to be a sound principle ; while Thomas Carlyle, the cold Gothicizer of the English language, dismissed the whole matter with an unintelligible sneer. The British Government, acting tipon ex parte and, as was afterward found to be, unreliable testimony in the person of Captain Williams, treated the proceedings on board of the Trent as " an act of violence which was an affront to the British flag and a violation of international law ;" and as soon as the law officers of the Crown had formally pronounced it BO, * *is6i 8 ' ^ or d John Russell, the Foreign Secretary, sent a letter," by a special Queen's messenger (Captain Seymour), to Lord Lyons, the British Ambassador at "Washington, authorizing his Lordship to demand from the Government of the United States the liberation of the captives and their restoration to the protection of the British flag, and " a suitable apology for the aggressions which had been committed," at the same time expressing a hope that that Government would, of its own accord, offer such redress, " which alone could satisfy the British nation." 2 On the same day when Earl Russell dated his dispatch to Lord Lyons, 4 Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State, in a confidential note to Mr. Adams, the American Minister in London, 3 alluded to the affair, and 1 "The O'Donoughue," us he was called, was of one of tho most oncietit families in Ireland. He was less than thirty years of age at that time, of great beauty in form and feature, polished in manners, eloquent in speech, of proven courage, and a man o/ the people In his instincts. In the great Rotunda in Dublin, this man boldly declared to an audience of 5,000 persons, after the reception of the news of the Trent affair, that if war should come, Ireland would be found on the side of America. This declaration was received with the most vehement applause. 9 Lord John Russell sent with his dispatch the following private note to Lord Lyons: " Should Mr. Sewnrd ask for delay, In order that this grave and painful matter should be deliberately considered, you will consent , to a delay not exceeding seven days. If at the end of that time no answer is given, or if any other answer is given except that of a compliance with the demands of Her Majesty's Government, your lordship is instructed to leave Washington, with all the members of your legation, bringing with you the archives of the legation, and to repair immediately to London ; if. however, you should be of opinion that the requirements of Her Majesty's Government are substantially complied with, you may report the fncts to Her Majesty's Government for their consideration, and remain at your post till you receive further orders." * See page 56T, volume I. STOCK SPECULATIONS. 1G1 mentioned the fact that no words on the subject had passed between himself and the British minister, and that he should say nothing until advised of the action of the British Government in the matter. At the same time he called Mr. Adams's attention to the fact that Captain TVilkes did not act under instructions from his Government, and therefore the subject was free from much embarrassment. Mr. Seward expressed a hope that the British Government would consider the subject in a friendly temper, and declared that it might expect the best disposition on the part of the Government of the United States. He gave Mr. Adams leave to read his note, so indicative of a desire to preserve a good understanding with the Cabinet of St. James, to Earl Russell and Lord Palmerston (the Prime Minister), if he should deem It expedient. Mr. Adams did so,* and yet the British Government, with this voluntary assurance that a satisfactory arrangement of the difficulties might be made, continued to press on its warlike measures with vigor, to the alarm and distress of the people. 1 The fact that such assurance had reached the Government was not only suppressed, but, when Tumors of it were whispered, it was semi-officially denied, 2 And when the fact could no longer be concealed, it was, by the same authority, affirmed, without a shadow of justice, that Mr. Adams had suppressed it, at the same time suggesting, as a reason, that the minister might profit by the purchase of American stocks at panic prices. 3 The most absurd stories concerning the 1 Licutenant-General Scott was In Paris at the time of the arrival of the news of the capture of the con- spirators. He wrote and published a rery Judicious letter (Dec. 8), in which he gave assurance of friendly feel- Ing toward Great Britain on the part of the Government of the United States. But this semi-official declaration from so high a source was not allowed to have any weight 8 Letter of Charles Francis Adams to Mr. Seward, January 17th, 1862. * Letter of Charles Francis Adams to Mr. Seward, January 17th, 1S62. An incident occurred on this side of the Atlantic in connection with the Trent affair, and stock speculations, which gave rise to much comment Dr. Russell, the correspondent of the London Times (see page 858, volume I.), was then in Washington City, and remained there for some time. He had so persistently disparaged the National Government and its supporters, and predicted success for the rebellion with an earnestness which indicated the wish that is "father to the thought,' 1 that the confiding courtesy which had been shown him by the National authorities was withdrawn. He was now, it was said, in daily and intimate intercourse with Lord Lyons. On the 26th of December, Secre- tary Seward communicated to that Minister his letter announcing that Mason and Slidell would be given up to the British Government The fact was intended to be kept in most profound secrecy from the public for the moment; but on the following day Russell possessed of the secret, was allowed to telegraph to a stock specula- tor in New York : " Act as though you heard some very good news for yourself and for me, as soon as you get this." At that time, operations in New York, in Government stocks, were active and remunerative. Those stocks had been depressed by the menaces of war. Words that would give assurance of peace would send them up. These had been spoken in secret; and the first man who was allowed to profit by them pecuniarily was a British subject, a representative of the British journal in the interest of the Crown, most abusive of the Ameri- can people, and who was then in intimate relations with the British embassy. What is still more strange is the Tact that in violation of a positive order to the Censor of the Press and Telegraph at Washington, to suppress all Communication concerning the Trent affair, this dispatch, so palpably burdened wit.h contraband information, was allowed to be sent forty-five minutes after the order for suppression was received. Still more strange is the fact that, while the reporters of the Press were not allowed to send any dispatches, for all of which they were ready to pay, on the back of the favored Dr. Russell's message (the original is now before the author) were these words, written in pencil : " Mr. Russell's messages are free, by order of Mr. Sanford," who was the Censor. For a further elucidation of this subject, see the Report of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Bepre- tentatives, on the Censorship of the Press at Washington. With words calculated to keep up the excitement and alarm, and warlike measures on the other side of the Atlantic, and still further to depress the stocks of the United States, Russell wrote to the London Times, on the day when his profitable dispatch was sent to New York free, saying: "As I write there is a rumor that Messrs. Slidell and Mason are to be surrendered. If it be true, this Government is broken up. There is so much vio- lence of spirit among the lower orders of the people, and they are so ignorant of every thing except their own politics and passions, so saturated with pride and vanity, that any honorable concession, even in this hour of extremity, would prove fatal to its authors. It would certainly render them so unpopular that it would damage them in the conduct of this civil war." He had already ventured to make many predictions of evil to the Repub- lic. So early as the previous April he had said to Europe, through the Times. "The Union is gone forever, and no serious attempt will be made by the North to save it" In August he had said, "General bankruptcy is VOL. II. 11 162 CONSISTENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT. temper of the American Government, calculated to inflame the public mind and excite a warlike spirit, were put forth, such as the following, paraded conspicuously in the columns of the London Times: " During the visit of the Prince of Wales to America, Mr. Seward took O ' advantage of an entertainment to the Prince to tell the Duke of Newcastle ~ he was likely to occupy a high office ; that when he did so it would become his duty to insult England, and he should insult her accordingly." In the mean time, Earl Russell's demand was communicated to the Gov- ernment at Washington. It produced much indignation in the public mind, and there was a general disposition to give a flat refusal. The legality of Captain Wilkes's act was not doubted by experts in international law. Bri- tish precedents were all in favor of it ; and even a writer in the London Times, two days before the date of Earl Russell's dispatch, admitted this fact, and complained only of the informality of Captain Wilkes, in taking the " Ambassadors " out of the Trent, instead of taking the ship itself with all on board into port, to have the case adjudicated in a court of admiralty. Such was a feature of the decision in the case, of the law officers of the crown, in alluding to which Mr. Adams said, "In other words, Great Britain would have been less offended if the United States had insulted her more." 1 In opposition to popular feeling and opinion, the Government decided to restore Mason and Slidell to the protection of the British flag; and the Secretary of State, in a very able letter to Mr. Adams, for the ear of the British Government, discussed the subject in the light in which the Presi- dent had viewed it from the beginning. He corrected the misrepresentations of Captain Williams as to the facts of the capture, declaring that Captain Wilkes was not acting under instructions from his Government, but only " upon his own suggestions of duty ;" 2 " that no orders had been given to any one for the arrest of the four persons named," and that the United States had no purpose or thought of doing any thing " which could affect in any Avay the sensibilities of the British nation." Then, with the Queen's proclamation in mind, Mr. Seward spoke of the captives as pretended " Ministers Plenipotentiary, under a pretended com- mission from Jefferson Davis, who had assumed to be president of the insur- rectionary party in the United States," and so publicly avowed by him, and argued that it was fair to presume that they had carried papers known in law as dispatches. 3 He also stated that it was asserted by competent autho- rity that such dispatches, having escaped the search, were actually carried to England, and delivered to the emissaries of the conspirators there ; 4 also, inevitable, and Agrarian and Socialist riots may be expected pretty soon." He had declared, so late as Doc. 28d, that Mr. Seward would "refuse, on the part of his Government, to surrender Mason and Slidell and their secre- taries;" and in the first days of 1862, ho said, "The fate of the American Government will be sealed if January passes without some great victory." 1 Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward, Nov. 29th, 1861. 2 Captain Wilkes said in a second dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy, that he carefully examined all the authorities on international law at hand Kent, Wheaton, Vattel, and the decisions of British judges in the admiralty courts which bore upon the rights and responsibilities of neutrals. Knowing that the Govern- ments of Great Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal had acknowledged the Confederates as belligerents, and that the ports of these powers were open to their vessels, and aid and protection were given them, he believed that the. Trent, bearing agents of that so-called belligerent, came under the operations of the law of the right of search. 3 See note 2, page 156. 4 This service for the Confederates was performed, it is said, by Captain Williams, E. N., Her Majesty's only representative on the Trent. MR. SE WARD'S ARGUMENT. 163 that the assumed characters and purposes of Mason and Slidell were well known to the officers of the Trent, including Captain Williams. Having prepared the way for argument, the Secretary entered upon it by a consideration of the inquiries : "First, Were the persons named and their supposed dispatches contraband of war? Second, Might Captain Wilkes lawfully stop and search the Trent for these contraband persons and dis- patches? Tliird, Did he exercise that right in a lawful and proper manner? Fourth, Having found the contraband persons on board, and in personal possession of the contraband dispatches, had he a right to capture the per- sons ? Fifth, Did he exercise the right of capture in the manner allowed and recognized by the law of nations ? If all these inquiries shall be re- solved in the affirmative," said the Secretary, " the British Government will have no claim for reparation." These questions, excepting the last, were affirmatively argued by the Secretary, with the assumption that the British doctrine was correct. The conclusion from his reasoning was inevitable, that every thing had been done in strict conformity to the law on the subject of neutrals, as expounded by British authority, excepting the failure of Captain Wilkes to exercise the right of capture in the manner allowed and recognized by the law of nations. Here the Secretary frankly admitted that there had been a fatal irregularity. To meet the requirements of law, Wilkes should have been less generous and humane. 1 It was his business to capture lawfully, but it was that of a court of admiralty to decide upon the question of holding the vessel or its contents as a lawful prize. It was not for the captor to determine the matter on the deck of his vessel Having concluded his argument, which British jurists and publicists, and the practice of the British Government, admitted was unanswerable, the Secretary, after briefly summing up in an interrogatory the iniquitous features of the " right of search," so strictly maintained by the British, said r " If I decide this case in favor of my own Government, I must disallow its most cherished principles, and reverse and forever abandon its essential policy. The country cannot afford the sacrifice. If I maintain these prin- ciples and adhere to that policy, I must surrender the case itself. It will be seen, therefore, that this Government could not deny the justice of the claims presented to us in this respect, upon its merits. We are asked to do to the British nation just what ice have always insisted all nations ought to do ^mto us." The Secretary added that, if the safety of the Union required the de- tention of the conspirators, it would be the duty of the Government to detain them ; but the condition of the rebellion, " as well as the comparative unim- portance of the captured persons themselves," he said, happily forbade him i from resorting to that defense. He continued by delicately alluding to the 'injuries inflicted on his countrymen by the British in the past, when exer- cising power hi the manner they now complained of, and said : " It would 1 In his dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy, Captain Wilkes said It -was his determination to take pos- session of the Trent, and send her to Key West as a prize, for resisting the search, and carrying those " Ambas- sadors, whom he considered as ' the embodiment of dispatches ;' " but the reduced number of his officers and crew, and the large number of passengers on board bound to Europe, who would be put to great inconvenience in not being able to join the steamer from St. Thomas to Europe, "decided him to allow them to proceed." This weak point in the proceedings was noticed by the Secretary of the Navy, both in his congratulatory letter to Captain Wilkes and his Annual Report. 164 SURRENDER OF MASON" AXD SLIDELL. tell little for our claims to the character of a just and magnanimous people, if we should so far consent to be guided by the law of retaliation as to lift up buried injuries from their graves to oppose against what national consistency and the national conscience compel us to regard as a claim intrinsically right. Putting behind me all suggestions of this kind, I prefer to express my satis- faction that, by the adjustment of the present case upon principles confessed to be American, and yet, as I trust, mutually satisfactory to both of the nations concerned, a question is finally and rightly settled between them which heretofore, exhausting not only all forms of peaceful discussion, but also the arbitrament of war itself, for more than half a century alienated the two countries from each other, and perplexed with fears and apprehen- sions all other nations." The Secretary then announced that the four persons confined at Fort Warren would be "cheerfully liber- ated," and requested Lord Lyons to indicate the time and place for re- ceiving them. The latter ordered the British gun-boat Rinaldo to proceed to Provincetown, Massachusetts, for that purpose, where, on the 1st of January, 1862, the prisoners were de- livered to the protection of the British flag. They were conveyed first to Bermuda, and then to St. Thomas, where they embarked for England, and arrived at Southampton on the 29th of the same month. 1 So began and ended, in the space of eighty-three days, the event known as "the Trent affair," which cost Great Britain ten millions of dollars for unnecessary warlike preparations, and the people of the two nations con- cerned four times that amount, in consequence of the derangement of their industrial operations. While the result was full of promise of good for the two nations, it was pregnant with promises of disaster to the conspirators and their cause. It was so imexpected and discouraging to them and their sympathizers in America and Great Britain, who hoped for and confidently expected a war between the two Governments that would redound to the LORD LYONS. 1 When the captives could no longer serve a political purpose for the ruling class in Great Britain, they Bank into their proper insignificance, and, as a general rule, Mason was treated with courteous contempt by the public authorities and cultivated people everywhere. The Liverpool Post, imitating the severer example of the London Times* gave the following contemptuous notice of their arrival, on which occasion they were almost unnoticed: " Messrs. Mason and Slidell have arrived. Already the seven weeks' heroes have shrunk to their natural dimensions, and the apprehensions expressed by the London Times, by ourselves, and by other jour- nals, lest they should have a triumphal reception, already seems absurd." * The Timtt, in an editorial, said they were " about the most worthless booty" it would be possible to extract from the jaws of the American lion, for it recognized in them the lending revilen of Great Britain for many years, and the promoters of discord between the two Governments, hoping thereby to bring on war, when the opportunity for the conspirators against the Republic would be presented. The Tim,; hoped Englishmen would let the " fellows," as It called them, alone. " England would have done just as much,'' it said, " for two negroes." This language produced both indignation and alarm throughout the Confederacy, for it was significant of a policy on the part of Great Britain in favor of entire non-interference. The Richmond Enquirer said, " England may dishonor herself if she will She mny prove false to her duty if she choose. Thank Heaven, we are not dependent upon her, nnd her course will not affect ours. .... John Bull is a surly animal, we know, but such gratuitous rudeness shows a want of practical sense as well as good manners." ENEMIES OF THE GOVERNMENT HOPEFUL. 165 benefit of the insurgents, that they could not conceal their chagrin and disap- pointment. They had tried to fan the flame of discord between the Cabinets of Washington and London. In England, Liverpool was the focus of efforts in aid of the rebellion. There the friends of the conspirators held a meeting, 01 which was presided over by James Spence, who, for ^g^ 28 ' a time, was the fiscal agent of the Confederates and a bitter enemy of the Republic. On that occasion the act of Wilkes was denounced as a gross violation of the honor of the British flag, for Avhich, according to a resolution offered by Spence, the most ample reparation should be demanded. In concert with these expressions, a sympathizing friend in the American Congress (C. L. Vallandigham, of Ohio) offered a resolution* in the House of Representatives, in which the President was en- joined to maintain the position of approval and adoption by the Government (already assumed by the House) of the act of Captain Wilkes, "in spite of any menace or demand of the British Government," and declaring that " this House pledges its full support in upholding now the honor and vindicating the courage of the Government and people of the United States against a foreign power." " We have heard the first growl of the British lion," said the author of the resolution, " and now let us see who will cower. The time has now come for the firmness of this House to be practically tested, and I hope there will be no shrinking."* Fortunately, better counsels prevailed in Congress, and out of it. 3 The loyal people acquiesced in the wise decision of the Government, and soon rejoiced that it had sustained Ameri- can principles in a case so tempting to a different course, for thereby the nation was amazingly strengthened. This act of the Government was warmly commended by the best men in Europe, and gratified those powers who, like the United States, had been in vain endeavoring to persuade Eng- land to a righteous and unselfish course concerning the sacred rights o o of neutrals. M. Thouvenal, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, had expressed, in a confidential note r , to Count Mercier, the representative /> 171 , -ITT I 3 COUNT MERCIER. ot -b ranee at Washington, a desire that the captives might be delivered up, in accordance with the liberal 1 The meeting was called by the following placard, posted all over the- town : " OTTTUA&I ox THE BRITISH FLAG TUB SOUTHERN COMMISSIONERS FORCIBLY REMOVBD FROM A BRITISH MAIL STEAM-BU. A public meeting will be held in the Cotton Salesroom at three o'clock." 1 * Proceedings of Congress, reported in the Congressional Globe, December 16, JS6L The resolution, by a rote of 109 to 16, was quietly disposed of by being referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The 16 who voted against laying the resolution on the table were : Messrs. Allen, G. H. Brown, F. A. Conckling, Cox, Cravens, Haight, Holman, Morris, Noble, Nugen, Pendleton. Shier, T. B. Steele, Vallandigham, Vandaver, and C. A. White. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Charles Sumner) approved the action of the Government, and made it the occasion of an elaborate speech in that body. He declared that in the dispute Great Britain was " armed with American principles, which throughout our history have been constantly, deliber- ately, and solemnly rejected." Speaking of the release of the prisoners, he said: "Let the rebels go. '. 166 THE GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENED. principles of the Republic ; and the Prussian and Austrian Governments, through their respective Ministers, had also given their views of the policy of releasing the prisoners, in deference to the principles to which the Americans were so firmly pledged. To their communications, which were read to Sec- retary Seward, that Minister made the most friendly responses ; and from that time, during the entire war, there was never any serious danger of the recognition of the independence of the so-called " Confederate States " by France and England, however much their respective Governments may have wished for a reasonable excuse to do so. This the conspirators, and their chief supporters North and South, well knew ; yet they continued to deceive the people within the Confederacy with false hopes of foreign aid, while they were being robbed of life, liberty, and property by their pretended friends. So persuaded was the Secretary of State that war would certainly be averted, that, with a playful exhibition of his consciousness J is62 2 ' of the 8tren g tn of tne Republic, he telegraphed" to the British Consul at Portland, Maine, that British troops that must be sent over to fight the Americans might pass through the United States territory, whilst on their way to Canada to prepare for hostilities ! The public mind was jnst becoming tranquil after the excitement caused by the Trent affair, when its attention was keenly fixed on another expedi- tion to the coast of North Carolina, already alluded to. The land and naval armaments of which it was composed were assembled in Hampton Roads early in January, 1 862, ready for depar- ture, after a preparation of only two months. Over a hundred steam and sailing vessels, consisting of gun-boats, transports, and tugs, and about sixteen thousand troops, mostly recruited in New England, composed the expedi- tion. General Ambrose Everett Burn- side, an Indianian by birth, a "West Point graduate, 4 and a resident of Rhode Island when the war broke out, was appointed the commander-in-chief, and the naval operations were intrusted to Flag-Officer Louis M. Goldsborough, then the commander of the North Atlantic Naval Squadron. Prison doors are opened ; but principles are established which will help to free other men and to open the gates of the sea. Never before in her active history has Great Britain ranged herself on this side. Such an event is an epoch. Novus sceclorum nasdtur ordo. To the liberties of the sea this Power is now committed. To a certain extent this course is now under her tutelary care. If the immunities of passengers, not in the military or naval service, as well as of sailors, are not directly recognized, they are at least implied ; while the whole pretension of impressment, so long the pest of neutral commerce, and operating only through the law- less adjudication of a quarter-deck, is made absolutely impossible. Thus is the freedom of the sea enlarged, not only by limiting the number of persons who are exposed to the penalties of war, but by driving from it the most offensive pretension that ever stalked upon its waves. To such conclusion Great Britain is irrevocably pledged. Nor treaty nor bond was needed. It is sufficient that her late appeal can be vindicated only by a renunciation of early, long-continued tyranny. Let her bear the rebels back. The consideration is ample, for the sea became free as this altered Power went forth upon it, steering westward with the sun on an errand of liberation." THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. 1G7 1862. The military force which, like Butler's, 1 had been gathered at Annapolis, was composed of fifteen regiments and a battalion of infantry, a battery of artillery, and a large number of gunners for the armed vessels, who were able to render service on land if required. The whole force was divided into three brigades, commanded respectively by Generals John G. Foster, of Fort Sumter fame, Jesse L. Reno, and John G. Parke. 4 The fleet was divided into two col- umns for active service, intrusted respectively to the charge of commanders ' S. F. Hazard and Stephen C. Rowan. 3 Every thing necessary for the peculiar service assigned to the expedition was furnished and arranged. The fleet guns were equipped with ship and field carriages, that they might be used on land or water ; and the cannon were mostly of the newest construction. A well-organized signal corps accompanied the expedition, and there were two extensive pontoon trains. Fully equipped in every way, the expedition, whose destination had been kept a profound secret, left Hampton Roads on Sunday, the llth of January," and went to sea. When it was known that the expedition had actually gone out upon the Atlantic at that inclement season, there was great anxiety in the public mind. The storm of November, by which Dupont's fleet had been scat- tered, was vivid in memory, and awakened forebodings of like evil. They were well founded. A portion of Goldsborough's fleet now met with a similar fate off tempestuous Cape Hatteras. Its destination was Pam- lico Sound, which was to be reached through Hatteras Inlet. The voyage had been lengthened by a heavy fog on Sunday,* and, \ on Monday night those vessels of the fleet which had not reached the stiller waters of the Inlet were smitten and scattered by a terrible tempest. Four transports, a gun-boat, and a floating battery were wrecked. Among these was the fine steamer City of New York, Captain Nye. It went down in sight of the shore/ with four hundred barrels of gunpowder, one thousand five hundred rifles, eight hundred 1 See page 106. * The first brigade (Foster's) was composed of the Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, and Twenty- seyenth Massachusetts regiments, and the Tenth Connecticut. The second (Reno's) consisted of the Twenty-first Massachusetts, Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Fifty -first New York, Ninth New Jersey, and Sixth New Hampshire. The third (Parke's) was composed of the Fourth and a battalion of the Fifth Rhode Island, the Eighth and Eleventh Connecticut, the Fifty-third and Eighty-ninth New York, and Belgier's Rhode Island Battery of 106 men, 120 horses, four 10-pounder Parrott guns, and two 12-pounder field howitzers. 1 The fleet consisted of thirty-one gun-boats, with an aggregate armament of ninety-four guns. These were the Brickner, commanded by J. C. Giddings ; Ceres, S. A. McDermaid ; Chasseur, John West ; Com. Barney, E. D. Renshaw ; Com. Perry, C. H. Flusser ; Delaware, S. P. Qnackenbush ; Granite, E. Boomer ; Granite, W. B. Avery; Gen. Putnam, W. J. Hoskiss; Huzzar, Fred. Crocker; Hunchback, E. R. Calhonn; Ileteel, H. K. Davenport; J. N. Seymour, F. S. Welles; Louisiana, Hooker; Lockwood, S. L. Graves; Lancer, B. Morley; Morse, Peter Hayes; Philadelphia, Silas Reynolds; Pioneer, C. S. Baker; Picket, T. P. Ives; Rocket, James Lake ; Ranger, J. B. Childs ; Stars and Stripes, Reed Werden ; Southfleld, Behm ; Shawsheen, T. S. Wood- ward; Shrapnel, Ed. Staples; Underwriter, Jeffers; Valley City, J. C. Chaplin; Vidette, ; White- htad, French ; Young Rover, I. B. Studley. STEPHEN C. ROWAN. ' Jan. 12. 168 ROANOKE ISLAND, shells, and other stores and supplies ; but no human life perished with it. Nor was any man lost in the other vessels that were wrecked ; but of a party who went ashore from one of the transports* yet outside, three were drowned by the upsetting of their boat on its return. These were Colonel J. W. Allen, of Burlington, New Jersey, com- mander of the Ninth Regiment from that State ; the surgeon, F. S. Weller ; and the mate of the transport. It was several days before all of the surviving vessels of the expedition entered the Inlet. The weather continued boisterous. Many of them drew too much water to allow them to cross the bars ; and the remainder of the month of January was spent in overcoming the difficulties of that perilous passage, and in making full preparations for moving forward over the still waters of Pamlico Sound. General Burnside (whose head-quarters were on the S. -R. Spaulding) with his officers and men had been unwearied in their assistance of the sea- men. Time was precious. Delay was very injurious, for the Confederates, accurately divining the destination of the fleet that was worrying its way through that " perilous gut," as Goldsborough called it, had made prepara- tions for its reception. The newspapers of the North had not yet learned to be as discreet as those of the South, 1 but vied with each other in giving early revelations of military and naval movements. Through these channels the Confederates had obtained very accurate knowledge of the force that was coming. With the logic furnished by the nature of the coasts and waters of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, and the points in their vicin- ity which it was evident the Nation- als intended to. seize, they correctly argued that Roanoke Island, about thirty miles from Hatteras Inlet, would be the first object of attack- It is situated between Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, with a narrow channel on each side, called respect- ively Roanoke Sound and Croatan Sound. This island, well fortified and manned, presented the only eifec- tual barrier to an invasion from the sea of the entire north-eastern coast of North Carolina, and the rear ap- proaches to Norfolk and Portsmouth in Virginia. In some respects it was almost as important as Fortress Monroe, and deserved the special attention of the Confederates. At the time of the approach of Burriside's expedition, Roanoke Island 1 At a very early period: of the war, a censorship of the press was established by the conspirators, which was extremely rigid from the beginning. No contraband intelligence was allowed to be given ; and as the contest progressed, and the despotism at Richmond became more and more absolute, even the opinion* of the conduct- ors of the press in general were in complete subjection to that despotism. That control was really of essential service in carrying on the war, for the National authorities could never find any reliable information concerning the Confederate forces in the Southern newspapers. So early as May, 1861, General Leo requested the press of Virginia to keep silent on the subject of military movements. AMHR08K E. BCTSNSIDK. DEFENSES OF ROANOKE ISLAND. BE1WAJHN HTTGEK. and its vicinity were under the command of Brigadier-General H. A. Wise, the Department commander being Major-General Benjamin Huger, of South Carolina, whose head-quarters were at Norfolk. Owing to the illness of General Wise, who was at Nag's Head, on a narrow strip of sand lying between Roanoke Sound and the sea, that stretches down from the main far above, Colonel H. M. Shaw, of the Eighth North Carolina Regiment, was in chief command of the forcest on the island. These consisted of his own regiment ; the Thirty-first North Carolina Volunteers, under Colonel J. V. Jordan; three com- panies of the Seventeenth North Carolina, under Major G. II. HilL, and four hundred and fifty men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson. Several batteries had been erected on prominent points of the shores of Roanoke, which commanded the Sounds on its eastern and western sides ; and upon its narrowest part, between Shallowbag Bay and Croatan Sound, was a strong redoubt and intrenched camp, extending across the road that traversed the middle of the island. These several fortifications mounted about forty heavy guns. There were batteries also on the main^ commanding the channels of Croatan Sound.. Vessels had been sunk in the main channel of Croatan Sound, and heavy stakes had been driven in its waters from the main to the island, to obstruct the passage of vessels. Above these obstructions was a flotilla of small gun- boats a sort of " Musquito fleet " like that of Tatnall at Port Royal eight in number, and carrying eleven guns. These were commanded by Lieuten- ant W. F. Lynch, late of the National navy, who had abandoned his flag, received a commodore's commission from the conspirators, and was now charged with the defense of the coast of North Carolina. After a reconnoissance, Commodore Goldsborough slowly moved his fleet of seventy vessels, formed on the morning of the 5th of February," toward Croatan Sound, fifteen of the gun-boats leading, under the immediate command of Rowan, and followed by the armed transports. On the following day Lynch sent the Curlew, Captain Hunter,, to reconnoiter the approaching fleet,, and her commander reported it at anchor six miles below Roanoke Island. That evening was dark and misty, and the morning of the 7th was lowery for a time. At length the sun broke forth in splendor, and at about ten o'clock Goldsborough, hoisting the signal, "This day our country expects every man to do his duty," advanced his gun-boats in three columns, the first being led by the Stars and Stripes, Lieutenant Werden ^ the second by the Louisiana, Commander Alexander Murray ; and the third by the Hetzel, Lieutenant H. R. Davenport. Goldsborough made the South- field his flag-ship. At eleven o'clock, a bombardment was opened upon Fort Barto w, on Pork a 1862. 170 LANDING TROOPS ON EOAXOKE. Point, toward the northern end of the island, and, within thirty minutes afterward, a general engagement between the gun-boats and the batteries on Croatan Sound ensued. The Confederate flotilla joined in the fight, but was soon driven beyond the range of the National guns, \tith the Curlew, its largest steamer, so badly disabled, that it began to sink, and was soon afterward beached, under cover of the guns of Fort Forrest, on Redstone Point. 1 These vessels disposed of, Goldsborough concentrated his fire upon Fort Bartow, at a range of about three-fourths of a mile. Its flagstaff was soon shot away, the barracks were set on tire, its guns began to give feeble responses, and its walls of sand to fall into a confused mass, under the weight of shot and shell hurled upon them. The * army transports now came up, and preparations were made for landing them on the island at Ashby's Harbor, about two miles below Fort Bartow. They were confronted by two thousand men, and a battery of three pieces in the neighboring woods ; but these were soon dispersed by a storm of shells from the gun-boats. Meanwhile the Confederate flotilla had returned to the attack, and, after an engagement for bout an hour, had been compelled again to retire, considerably damaged. At midnight," in the midst of a cold rain-storm, eleven thou- F i86a.~ 8 ' san< ^ troops were safely put on shore. 2 They were without shelter, and at an early hour the next morning they moved forward to attack the intrenchments in the interior of the island, to which all of the Confederate forces out of the other redoubts had now repaired. The advancing column was under the command of General Foster, who was next in rank to Bumside. These works were about five miles from the landing-place at Ashby's Harbor, 3 and were situated on land flanked on both sides by a morass. They occupied a line a greater portion of the way across the narrower part of the island. The main work to be attacked could be reached only by a narrow causeway, which was well protected by a battery of three guns, mounted on an earthwork. Within the intrench- ments to be assailed were about twenty-five hundred troops, under the com- mand of Colonel Shaw. Foster led the way with his brigade, which was accompanied by a battery of six 12-pounder boat howitzers, brought from the naval launches, and commanded by Midshipman B. F. Porter. The brigades of Reno and Parke followed. The road being swampy and fringed with woods, the march was slow and cautious. The first pickets encountered fired their pieces and ran for their lives. Foster pressed on, and soon coming in sight of the Con- federate works, he disposed his troops for action by placing the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, Colonel Upton, in line, with the Twenty-third Massachusetts, 1 Lynch, who was a man of very moderate ability and courage, was disheartened. He wrote to Mallory that he should endeavor to get the guns from the Curlew, and with the squadron proceed to Elizabeth City, from which he would send an express to Norfolk for ammunition. There he would make a final stand, and would blow up the vessels rather than they should fall into the hands of his enemy. * The water was so shallow that the launches and other small boats could not get very near the shore, and the soldiers were compelled to wade several hundred feet through the water, sometimes sinking deeply into the cold ooze. s Much valuable Information concerning Eoanoke Island, the position of the Confederates, and the best place for landing was obtained from a colored boy named Thomas E. Robinson, the slave of J. M. Daniel, of Eoan- oke, who ten days before had escaped to Ilatteras. He was taken with the expedition. BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. 171 Colonel Kurtz, for a support. With musketry and cannon he opened t!ie battle, and was hotly answered by musketry and cannon. The fight was severe, and soon the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, Colonel Lee, came to the aid of their fellow New Englanders, by falling upon the sharpshooters in the woods, on the left of the Confederate line. To relieve the Twenty- third Massachusetts, the Tenth Connecticut, Colonel Russell, came up to the support of the Twenty-fifth, from the former State. THE ATTACK ON ROANOKE ISLAND. The Confederates made a gallant defense ; and the fight raged fiercely. Reno brought up his brigade to the help of Foster's. These were the Twen- ty-first Massachusetts, Colonel Maggi ; Fifty-first New York, Colonel Fer- rero ; Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Colonel Hartrauf, and Ninth New Jersey. He pushed through the tangled swamps and took a position on Foster's right, with the intention of turning the Confederate left flank, where Lieu- tenant-Colonel Frank Anderson was in command of a battalion of " Wise's Legion." The fight in that direction soon became warm, while it continued to rage fiercely in the front. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey troops were zealous rivals in deeds of daring, fortitude, courage, and generosity. They continually gained advantages, but at the cost of heavy work. Parke came up with his Fourth Rhode Island, Colonel Rod- man ; the first battalion Fifth Rhode Island ; the Eighth Connecticut ; and Ninth New York, Colonel Hawkins, and gave timely aid to the Twenty-third and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts. With all this pressure of overwhelming numbers, the Confederates still 172 BATTLE OF BOANOKE ISLAND. held out. At length the artillery ammunition of the Nationals began to fail, and they were suffering very severely in killed and wounded. Victory could now be won only by a charge. That movement was resolved upon. Major E. A. Kimball, of Hawkins's (Ninth New York) Zouaves (a hero of the Mexican war, who fought gallantly in every battle, from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico), perceiving the necessity, and eager to serve hia country (for whose cause he finally gave his life), offered to lead the charge across the causeway against the main battery, with the bayonet. The de- lighted Foster said, " You are the man, the Ninth the regiment, and this is the moment ! Zouaves, storm the battery !" he shouted " Forward !" In an instant they were on the run across the causeway, yelling fear- fully, and cheered by their admiring comrades on every side, who cried out, " Make way for the red-caps ! They are the boys 3" Colonel Haw- kins, who was leading two companies in a flank movement on the left, see- ing his men rushing to the perilous performance, could not resist his impulses, and, joining them, pressed forward the whole battalion, shout- ing, " Zou ! Zou ! Zou !" and closely followed by the Tenth Connecticut. The frightened Confederates, after firing once, had fled, and into the battery the Zouaves rushed, with none to oppose them, almost simultaneously with the Fifty-first New York and Twenty-first Massachusetts, who had attacked the Confederates on their right. The colors of the Fifty-first, being at the head of the regiment, were first planted on the captured battery, and at the same time the State flag of the Massachusetts Twenty-first was triumphantly displayed. The fugitives, in their haste, had left every thing behind them. There lay their dead and wounded as they had fallen. Their heavy guns were in perfect order, and the knapsacks and blankets of the routed soldiers were strewn about the works., General Foster, who had skillfully directed these successful movements, in person,, now re-formed his brigade,, whilst Reno, with the Twenty-first Massachusetts and Ninth New Yorl^ started in pursuit. Foster soon fol- lowed and overtook Reno,, who was maneuveiing to cut off the retreat of about eight or nine hundred Confederates on the left, near Weir's Point. With a part of his force, Reno pushed on in that direction. Hawkins, with his Zouaves, hurried toward Shallowbag Bay,, where, it was said, the Con- federates had a two-gun battery. Foster pressed forward with an adequate force, and was on the heels of the fugitives, after a chase of five or six miles, when he was met by a flag of truce, borne by Colonel Pool, of the Eighth North Carolina, carrying a message from Colonel Shaw, who, as we have observed, was the senior acting officer in command on the Island, asking what terms of capitulation would be granted. " Unconditional surrender I" JOHN G. POSTER. EFFECTS OF THE BATTLE. 173 was Foster's reply. These were accepted, and two thousand Confederates soon laid down their arms as prisoners of war. In the mean time, General Reno had received the surrender of about eight hundred Confederates, under Colonel Jordan ; and Colonel Hawkins, after taking possession of the deserted battery on Shallowbag Bay, captured about two hundred Confederates, who were seeking a chance to escape from the island to Nag's Head. Among these was Captain O. Jennings Wise, son of the General in command, and editor of one of the bitterest of the rebellious journals in Richmond, who had been severely wounded while fighting gallantly. 1 To complete the conquest of the Island, General Foster sent a force to capture Fort Bartow, which Goldsborough had been bombarding while the land battle had been going on. Its inmates had retired, and at a little past four o'clock in the afternoon the National flag was unfurled over its walls, when Goldsborough signalled to his fleet, " The fort is ours." This was followed by the most joyous cheers. In the mean time the Confederate steamer Curlew, which, as we have observed, had been beached under the guns of a battery on Redstone Point, on the main, had been fired by the insurgents, together with the barracks at that place, and the remainder of the flotilla had fled up Albemarle Sound. So ended, in triumph for the National cause, the conflict known as THE BATTLE OF ROANOKE.* It disappointed the prophets of evil at home and abroad, and spread consternation throughout the Con- federacy. There, on Roanoke Island, where the first germ of a privileged aristoci-acy had been planted in America, 3 the first deadening blow had been given to the hopes of an oligarchy, fighting for the establishment of such a social system. The " Government " at Richmond (and especially Jefferson Davis and his " Secretary of War," Benjamin) were severely censured for alleged neglect in making Roanoke Island and its approaches impregnable. Davis, in a " message to Congress," cast reflections upon the troops there ; but a committee of that body, appointed to investigate the matter, declared that the battle was " one of the most gallant and brilliant actions of the war," and laid the blame, if any existed, on Huger and Benjamin, especially on the latter, who, it was said, had positively refused to put the Island in a state of defense. 4 1 His father, who, as we have observed, Was 111, had remained with a part of the ** Legion" at Nag's Head. The wounded son had been placed in a boat to be sent to his camp, when it was fired upon, and compelled to return. He was tenderly cared for by Colonel Hawkins and his officers, but died toward noon on the following day. 2 Report of General Burnside to General McClellan, Feb'y 10th, 1862; of Generals Poster, Reno, and Parke ; of Commodore Goldsborough to Secretary Welles, Feb'y 9th, 1862; of Commander Lynch to R. 8. Mallory, Feb'y 7th, 1S62 ; and accounts by other officers and eye-witnesses on both sides. 1 There, in the year 15S7, Mniiteo, a native chief, who had been kind to colonists sent to that coast by Sir Walter Raleigh, was, by that baronet's command, and with the approval of Queen Elizabeth, invested with the title of Lord of Rocmoke, the first and last peerage created in America. Nearly a hundred years later, an attempt was made to found in North Carolina an aristocratic government, with the nominal appendages of royalty, it being designed to have orders of nobility and other privileged classes in exact imitation of English society of that period. * Pollard, the Confederate historian of the war, says, that records showed that Wise, who assumed the command there on the 7th of January, had "pressed upon the Government the importance of Roanoke Island to Norfolk." In a report to Benjamin, on the 13th of that month, he said the canals and railroads connecting with Norfolk 14 were utterly defenseless." Later he reported that " a force at Hatteras, Independent of the Burnside expedition, was amply sufficient to capture or pass Roanoke Island in twenty-four hours." Wise also asked for re-enforce- ments from Huger's fifteen thousand men, lying idle around Norfolk. He was answered by a peremptory order, when Bnrnside's expedition was passing into Pamlico Sound, to proceed immediately to Eoanoke Island and 174 ELIZABETH CITY TAKEN. i The conquest was complete, and Burnside, taking up his quarters at a house near Fort Bartow, prepared at once for other aggressive movements on the coast. In his report, he generously said, " I owe every thing to Generals Foster, Reno, and Parke," and sadly gave the names of Colonel Charles S. Russell and Lieu- tenant-Colonel Vigour de Mon- teuil 1 as among the killed. The number of his prisoners amounted to about three BUENsiDE'8 HEAD-QUAKTEE8. thousand. Many of the troops on the Island escaped to Xag's Head, and thence, accompanied by General Wise and the remainder of his Legion, they fled up the coast toward Norfolk. 2 The spoils of victory were forty-two heavy guns, most of them of large caliber, three being 100-pounders. 3 The Confederate flotilla was immediately followed" by Captain ^is62 9 ' R wan - It had gone up Albemarle Sound thirty or forty miles, and into the Pasquotank River, toward Elizabeth City, not far southeast of the Great Dismal Swamp. Rowan's fleet consisted of fourteen vessels, the Delaware being his flag-ship. On the morning of the 10th it was in the river near Elizabeth City, and confronting seven steamers and a schooner armed with two 32-pounders, and a four-gun battery on the shore, and one heavy gun in the town in front. The whole force was in charge of Commander Lynch. Rowan opened fire, upon flotilla and batteries at about nine o'clock. After a short but very severe engagement, Lynch, who was on shore, sig- nalled for the abandonment of the vessels, when they were run aground defend it. The neglect of Benjamin was so notorious, that the Committee held him responsible. The public indignation was intense, and yet, in the face of all this. Davis, assuming the attitude of a Dictator, as he really was, with his usual haughty disregard of the opinions of others and the wishes of the people, promoted Benjamin to the position of "Secretary of State." The insult was keenly felt, but the despotism of the conspirators was too powerful to allow much complaint from the outraged people. In his report to General Hnger, Wise said Eoanoke Island was the key to all the defenses of Norfolk. It unlocked two sounds Albemarle and Currituck ; eight rivers the North, West, Pasquotank, Perquimmons, Little, Chowan, Eoanoke. and Alligator: four canals the Albemarle and Chesapeake, Dismal Swamp, North- west, and Suffolk; two railways the Petersburg and Norfolk, and Seaboard and Eoanoke. At the same time it guarded four-fifths of the supplies for Norfolk. Its fall, Wise said, gave lodgment to the Nationals in a safe harbor from storms, and a command of the seaboard from Oregon Inlet to Cape Henry, at the entrance of Chesa- peake Bay. "It should have been defended," he said, "at the expense of twenty thousand men, and many millions of dollars." 1 The entire National loss in the capture of Eoanoke was about 50 killed and 222 wounded. That of the Confederates, according to Pollard (i. 231), was 23 killed, 53 wounded, and 62 missing. Colonel Monteuil was the commander of a regiment of New York Volunteers, known as the D'Epineuil Zouaves. These had accompanied the expedition as far as Hatteras, when, for the want of transportation, they were sent back to Fortress Monroe. Their Lieutenant-Colonel remained with the army, and in the battle he served as a volunteer. With a Sharp's rifle he fought gallantly in the ranks of Hawkins's Zouaves, was shot through the head while urging these forward in the notable charge, with the words " Charge, mes enfant ! Charge, Zouaves!" In honor of this brave and devoted soldier, General Burnside named one of the captured batteries Fort de Monteuil. 3 On the 13th of February, Wise issued a characteristic ' Special Order No. 1," from "Canal Bridge, Curri- tuck County, N. C.," informing the public that the flag of Captain 0. Jennings Wise would be raised for true men to rally around. * New names were given to the forts. Fort Bartow was changed to Fort Foster; Fort Huger to Fort Eeno ; and Fort Blanchard to Fort Parke. MEDALS OF HONOR BESTOWED. 175 and set on fire. Then the Confederates fled, and Lynch, retiring to the interior of North Carolina, was not heard of again during the war until he reappeared at Smith ville, when Fort Fisher was captured, early in 1865. Shortly after the flight of the Confederates, Acting Master's-Mate J. H. Raymond planted the National flag on the shore battery, and thus proclaimed the first conquest achieved by the Nationals on the main of North Carolina. The battle had lasted only forty minutes, and Rowan's loss was only two killed and five or six wounded. 1 The number lost bv the Confederates was 1 An extraordinary example of heroism was exhibited during this engagement by John Davis, a Finlnnder, who was a gunner's mate on board the Valley City. A shell entered that vessel, and, exploding in the masa- zine, set fire to some wood-work. Davis was there, and, seeing the imminent danger to the vessel and all on board, because of an open barrel of gunpowder from which he had been serving, he seated himself upon it. and so remained until the flames were extinguished. For this brave act the Secretary of the Navy rewarded him with the appointment of acting-gunner in the navy (March 11, 1S62), by which his salary was raised from $300 to $1,000 a year. Admiring citizens of New York raised and presented to him $1,100. The Secretary of the Navy, by authority of an act of Congress, approved Dec. 21. 1S61. presented him with a Medal of Honor, on which are inscribed the following words : " PERSONAL VAI.OR JOHN DAVIS, GUNNER'S MATE, U. 8. S. VALLEY CITY, Albemarle Sound, February 10th, 1S62." Such medals were afterward presented to a considerable number of gallant men In subordinate stations, for acts of special bravery "before the enemy." Davis was the first recipient. The act of Congress authorized the Secretary to cause two hundred of these Jferfah of Honor to be pre- pared, and to be bestowed by him upon "such petty officers, others of inferior rating, and marines, as should most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other commendable qualities during the present war." These were made of bronze, in the form of a star of five rays, with a device emblematic of Union crush- ing the monster Rebellion, around which is a circle of thirty-three smaller stars, representing the thirty -three States then (1S61) composing the Union. The medal is suspended from the flukes of an anchor, which in turn is attached to a buckle and ribbon. The Secretary directed that the medal should be worn suspended from the left breast, by a ribbon all blue at top for half an inch downward, and thirteen vertical stripes, alter- nate red and white for eight-tenths of jm inch. The name of the recipient to be engraved on the buck, with his rating, the name of the vessel in which he was serving, and the place where, and the date when, his meritorious act was performed. The picture here given of the medal an American " Legion of Honor " is the exact size of the original. For fuller particulars concerning the MEDAL OF HONOR, see Regulations for the Government of the United States Navy, 1865, page 140. The following is a list of the names (320 in number) of those to whom medals were awarded : James Mc- Cloud, Louis Richards, Thomas Flood, James Buck, Oscar E. Peck, Thomas Gehegan, Edward Farrel, Peter Williams, Benjamin Sevearer, John Davis, Charles Kenyon, Jeremiah Regan, Alexander Hood. John Kelley, Daniel Lakin, John Williams, John Breese, Alfred Patterson, Thomas C. Barton, Edwin Smith, Daniel Harrington, John Williams, J. B. Frisbee, Thomas Bourne, William McKnight, William Martin, John Greene, John McGowan, Amos Bradley, George Hollat, Charles Florence, "William Young, William Parker, Edward Wright, Charles Bradley, Timothy Sulli7an, James Byrnes, John McDonald. Charles Rob- inson, Pierre Leno, Peter Colton, Charles W. Morton, William Martin, Robert Williams, George Bell, William Thompson, John ^Villiams, Matthew Arthur, John Mackic, Matthew McClelland, Joseph E. Vantine, John Rush, John Hickman, Robert Anderson, Peter Howard, Andrew Brinn, P. R. Vaughn, Samuel Woods, Henry Thielberg, Robert B. Wood, Robert Jordan, Thomaa W. Hamilton, Frank Bois, Thomas Jenkins, Martin Me- Hugh, Thomas E. Corcoran, Henry Dow, John Woon, NAVAL MEDAL OK HONOB. Christ. Brennen, Edward Ringgold, James K. L. Dun- 176 CONTROL OF ALBEMARLE SOUND. large, but was never ascertained. Only one of the Confederate vessels (the Ellis] was saved from destruction ; and it was with difficulty that the town was preserved, for the insurgents, when they abandoned their vessels, set fire to it in several places. It was a most barbarous act, for only a few defense- less women and children remained in the town. These at once experienced the humanity of the Nationals, who showed them every kind- ^seij 11 ' ness ' w ^ en > on the following day," they took possession of the place. This success was followed up by other movements for securing the con- trol of Albemarle Sound and the adjacent country, as well as the waters through which communication was held with Norfolk. To this end, Rowan sent Lieutenant A. Maury, with a part of his fleet, to take posses- sion of Edenton, near the western end of the Sound* This was easily done on the day after the capture of Elizabeth City, 6 a body of flying artillery station- ed there having left it O precipitately without firing a shot. Maury destroyed a schooner on the stocks and eight cannon, and then passed on, capturing vessels on the Sound. On the following day," Lieutenant Jeffers, with some of the fleet, proceeded to the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, that traverses the Dismal Swamp on its way from the Elizabeth River to the Pasquotank, for the purpose of c Feb. 18. w. F. IYNCH. can, Hugh Melloy, William P. Johnson, Bartlett Laffey, Richard Scward, Christopher Nugent, James Brown, William Moore, William P. Brownell, William Talbot, Richard Stout. George W. Leland, Horatio N. Young, Michael Huskey, John Dorman, William Farley, J. Henry Denig, Michael Hudson, William M. Smith, Miles M. Oviatt, Barnett Kenna, William Halsted, Joseph Brown, Joseph Irlam, Edward Price, Alexander Mack, William Nichols, John Lawson, Martin Freeman, William Dinsmore, Adam Duncan, Charles Deakin, Cornelius Cronin, William Wells, Hendrick Sharp, Walter B. Smith, George Parks, Thomas Hayes, Lebbeus Simkins, Oloff Smith, Alexander H. Truett, Robert Brown, John H. James, Thomas Cripps, John Brazell, James II. Morgan, John Smith, James B. Chandler, William Jones, William Doolen, James Smith, Hugh Hamilton, James Mclntosli, William M. Carr, Thomas Atkinson, David Sprowle, Andrew Miller, James Martin, William Phinney, John Smith, Samuel W. Kinnard, Patrick Dougherty, Michael Cassidy, George Taylor. Louis G. Chaput, James Ward, Daniel Whitfield, John M. Burns, John Edwards, Adam McCulloch, James Sheridan, John E. Jones, William Gardner, John Preston, William Newland, David Naylor, Charles B. Woram, Thomas Kendrick, James S. Roan, tree, Andrew Jones, James Seanor, William C. Connor, Martin Howard, James Tallentine, Robert Graham, Henry Brutsche, Patrick Colbert, James Haley, John F. Bickford, Charles A. Read, William Smith, William Bond, Charles Moore, George II. Harrison, Thomas Perry, John Hayes, George E. Read, Robert Strahan, James H. Lee, Joachim Pease (colored), William B. Poole, Michael Aheam, Mark G. Ham, John W. Loyd, Charles Baldwin, Alexander Crawford, John Laverty, Benjamin Loyd, David Warren, William Wright, John Sullivan, Robert T. Clifford, Thomas Harding, Perry Wilkes, John Hyland, Michael McCormick, Timothy O'Donohue, George Butts, Charles Asten, John Ortega, Maurice Wagg, R. H. King, Wilkes, Demming, Bernard Harley, William Smith, Richard Hamilton, Edward J. Houghton, Oliver O'Brien, Frank Lucas, William Garvin, Charles J. Bibber, John Neil, Robert Montgomery, James Roberts, Charles Hawkins, Dennis Conlan, James Sullivan, William Hinnegan, Charles Rice, John Cooper, Patrick Mullin, James Saunders, James Horton, James Rountry, John H. Ferrell, John Ditzenbach, Thomas Taylor, Patrick Mullin, Aaron Anderson or Sanderson (colored), Charles H. Smith, Hugh Logan, Lewis A. Horton, George Moore, Luke M. Griswold, John Jones, George Pyne, Thomas Smith, Charles Reed, John 8. Lann, George Schutt, John Mack, John H. Nibbe, Othniel Tripp, John Griffiths, Edward Swatton, John Swatson, Phillip Bazaar, George Province, Augustas Williams, Auzella Savasre. John Jackson, Robert M, Blair, Anthony Williams, James W. Verney, Asa Bettram, John P. Ericson, Clement Dees, APPEALS TO THE FORTH CAROLINIAN'S. disabling it. They found Confederates engaged in the same work, who fled on the approach of the Nationals. The latter sunk two schooners in the canal and departed. Finally, on the 19th, the combined fleet set out from Edenton on a reconnoissance, which extended up the Chowan River as far as Winton (which was partially de- stroyed), and the Roanoke to Ply- mouth. The Perry, bearing Colonel Hawkins and a company of his Zou- aves, received a volley of musketry from the high bank near the latter place, when Rowan ordered the town to be shelled. It was nearly all de- stroyed excepting the church. The power of the Government was so fully displayed in this region, while its justice and clemency were pro- claimed by Burnside and Goldsborough conjointly, in an address to the people of North Carolina, issued on the 1 8th, that the great bulk of the inhabitants, naturally inclined to loyalty, were anxious to render full submission. The proclamation assured them that the expedition was not there for the purpose of invading any of their rights. On the contrary, it came to protect them under the rightful authority of the National Government, and to close the desolating war which their wicked leaders had commenced. They were admonished of the truth, that those leaders were imposing upon their cre- dulity, deceiving them by fictions about the intentions of the Government, such as destroying their property, injuring their women, and liberating their slaves. " We are Christians as well as yourselves," they said, " and we pro- fess to know well and to feel profoundly the sacred obligations of the charac- ter. Xo apprehensions need be entertained that the demands of humanity or justice will be disregarded." ..." We invite you, in the name of the Constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty and civilization, to separate yourselves at once from these malign influences, to return to your allegiance, HAWKINS ZOUAVE. George W. McWilliams, John Angling, William Dnnn, Robert Summers, Joseph B. Hayden, Isaac N. Fry, Edward R. Bowman, William Shipman, William G. Taylor, George Prance, Thomas Jones, William Campbell, Charles Mills, Thomas Connor, David L. Bass, Franklin L. Wilcox, Thomas Harcourt, Gurdon H. Barter, John Rannahan, John Shivers, Henry Thompson, Henry S. Webster, A. J. Tomlin, Albert Burton, L. C. Shepard, Charles H. Foy, James Barnum, John Dempster, Edmund Haffee, Nicholas Lear, Daniel S. Milliken, Richard Willis, Joseph White, Thomas English, Charles Robinson, John Martin, Thomas Jordan, Edward B. Young, Edward Martin, John G. Morrison, William B. Stacy, Henry Shntes, John Taylor, John Harris, Henry Baker, James Avery, John Donnelly, John Noble, John Brown, Richard Bates, Thomas Burke, Thomas Robinson, Nicholas Irwin, John Cooper, John Brown, John Irving, William Blagdeen, William Madden, James Machon, William H. Brown, James Mifflin, James E Sterling, Richard Dennis, Samuel W. Davis. Samuel Todd, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Charles Melville, William A, Stanley, William Pelham, John McFarland, James G. Garrison, Thomas O. Connell, Wilson Brown. The following named persons, having had Medals of Honor awarded to them for distinguished service in battle, and having again performed acts which, if they had not received that distinction, would have entitled them to it, were authorized to wear a bar attached to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended: John Cooper, Patrick Mullen. The following persons, whose names appear on the above list, forfeited their medals by bad conduct: Joseph Brown, John Brazell, Frank Lucas, John Jackson, Clement Dees, Charles Robinson, John Martin, Rich- ard B;itfS. VOL. II. 12 178 SPIRIT OF THE LOYAL AND DISLOYAL. and not compel us to resort further to the force under our control. The Government asks only that its authority may be recognized; and, we repeat, in no manner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws, con- stitutionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your prop- erty of any sort, or your usages in any respect." This appeal alarmed the Confederate leaders in that State, and the Gover- nor, Henry T. Clark, issued a counter-proclamation a few days afterward, in which he denounced the expedition as an attempt to deprive the inhabitants of liberty, property, and all they held " most dear as a self-governing and free people." He called upon them to supply the requisitions just made by Jefferson Davis for troops to repel the enemy. " We must resist him," he said, " at all hazards, and by every means in our power. He wages a war for our subjugation a war forced upon us in wrong, and prosecuted without right, and in a spirit of vengeful wickedness, without a parallel in the history of warfare among civilized nations." He assured them that the Government was increasing its efforts " and straining every nerve " not to regain its rightful authority, but to over- run the country and subjugate the people to its domination, its " avarice and ambition." " I call upon the brave and patriotic men of our State to volun- teer," he said, " from the mountains to the sea." Such was the opposing spirit of the Government, and the conspirators against its life. The former was anxious for peace, the latter were zealous for war. The former, battling for right, justice, and the perpetuity of free institutions, and conscious of the righteousness of its cause, was firm but mild, patient, and persuasive ; the latter, battling for wrong, injustice, and the perpetuation of slavery for the negro, and serfdom for the poor white man, with no warrant for their acts but selfishness, were bitter, vehement, and uncompromising; continually appealing to the passions of the people rather than to their reason and judgment, and by fraud and violence dragging them into the vortex of rebellion, in which their prosperity and happiness were sadly wrecked. Here we will leave the National forces for a while in the waters of North Carolina, preparing for another important victory, which they achieved a month later, and observe the progress of military events westward of the Alleghanies during the later days of autumn, and the winter of 1861-62. WESTERN MILITARY DIVISIONS. 179 CHAPTEK VII. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MISSOURI, NEW MEXICO, AND EASTERN KENTUCKY CAP- TURE OF FORT HENRY. OWARD the close of the autumn of 1861, the attitude of the contending parties, civil and military, in the great basin of the central Mississippi Valley was ex- ceedingly interesting. We left the National army in Southern Missouri, at the middle of November, dis- pirited by the removal of their favorite leader, slowly \ making their way toward St. Louis under their tempo- rary commander, General Hunter, while the energetic Confederate leader, General Price, was advancing, and reoccupying the region which the Nationals abandoned. 1 We left Southern Ken- tucky, from the mountains to the Mississippi River, in possession of the Confederates. Polk was holding the western portion, with his head-quarters at Columbus ; General Buckner, with a strongly intrenched camp at Bowling Green, was holding the center; and Generals Zollicoffer and Marshall and others were keeping watch and ward on its mountain flanks. Back of these, and between them and the region where the rebellion had no serious opposition, was Tennessee, firmly held by the Confederates, excepting in its mountain region, where the most determined loyalty still prevailed. On the 9th of November, 1861, General Henry Wager Halleck, who had been called from California by the President to take an active part in the war, was appointed to the command of the new Department of Missouri. 2 He had arrived in Washington on the 5th, a and on the 19th took the com- mand, with Brigadier-General George W. Cullum, an eminent engineer officer, as his chief of staff, and Brigadier-General Schuyler Hamilton as assistant chief. Both officers had been on the staff of General Scott. The head-quarters were at St. Louis. General Hunter, whom Halleck superseded, was assigned to the command of the Department of Kansas. 3 General Don Carlos Buell had superseded General Sherman, and was appointed ! commander of the Department of the Ohio ; 4 and the Department of Mexico, which included only the territory of New Mexico, was intrusted to Colonel E. R. S. Canby. Such was the arrangement of the military divisions of the territory westward of the Alleghanies late in 1861. 1 See page 84. 5 It included Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, and that portion of Kentucky lying west of the Cumberland River. 3 This included the State of Kansas, the Indian Territory, west of Arkansas, and the Territories of Nebraska, Colorado, and Dakota. 4 This included the State of Ohio, and the portion of Kentucky lying eastward of the Cumberland River, which had formed a part of Sherman's Department of the Cumberland. ISO HALLEOK'S TREATMENT OF SECESSIONISTS. General Halleck was then in the prime of life, and he entered upon his duties with zeal and vigor. He was possessed of large mental and physical energy, and much was expected of him. He carefully considered the plan ar- ranged by Fremont for clearing the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mis- souri, and Arkansas of armed insur- gents, and secm-ing the navigation of the Mississippi by sweeping its banks of obstructions, from Cairo to New Orleans. 1 Approving of it in general, he pushed on the great enterprise with strong hopes of success. Halleck's first care was to establish the most perfect discipline in his army, to overawe the secessionists, and to relieve the loyal people of Missouri of the effects of the dreadful tyranny in- flicted by the latter, many of whom were engaged in armed bands in plundering the inhabitants, desolating the property of Union men, and destroying railways and bridges. Refugees were then crowding into the Union lines by thousands. Their miseries cannot be described. Men, women, and children were stripped, plundered, and made homeless. Naked and starving, they sought refuge and relief in St. Louis. Seeing this, the com- mander determined to apply an effectual remedy. In a general order, he directed the Provost-Marshal of St. Louis (Brigadier-General Curtis) to in- quire into the condition of these refugees, and to take measures for quartering them " in the houses of avowed secessionists," and for feeding and clothing them at the expense of that class of citizens, or others known to have been guilty of giving " assistance and encouragement to the enemy." " jggj ' He also further ordered" wealthy secessionists to contribute for the support of these refugees, and that all who should not volun- tarily do so should be subjected to a levy, either in money, food, clothing, or quarters, to the amount often thousand dollars each. This order was rigid Jy enforced, and many wealthy citizens were made to pay liberal sums. One prominent merchant, named Engel, who ventured to resist the order by appealing to the civil courts, was ordered out of the Department. This was the last appeal of that kind. Determined to put a stop to the continual outflowing of information to the Confederates from within his lines, Halleck issued some very stringent orders. The earliest of these was Order No. 3,* which forbade fugitives entering or remaining within his lines, it having been rep- resented to him that they conveyed contraband information out of them. 2 This order was a subject of much comment, because of its seeming tender- ness for the rebellious slaveholder, and cruelty toward the bondman seeking 1 See pajre 79. 1 " In order to remedy this evil." ran the order, "it is directed that no such person be hereafter permitted to enter the lines of any camp, or of any forces on the march, and that any now within snch lines be immediately xcluded therefrom." POPE IX MISSOURI. PRICE'S APPEAL. 181 freedom. That it was a mistake, subsequent experience fully demonstra- ted; for throughout the war the negro, whether bond or free, was uni- formly the friend and helper of the National cause. General Halleck had been misinformed, and upon that misinformation he acted with the best intentions, one of which was to prevent the betrayal of the secret of his camps, and another that he might keep clear of the questions relating to masters and slaves, 1 in which Fremont had been entangled, to his hurt. In the order of the 4th of December, concerning the treatment of avowed secessionists, Halleck further directed that all rebels found within his lines in the disguise of pretended loyalty, or other false pretenses, or found giving information to the insurgents, should be " arrested, tried, and, if condemned, shot as spies." This and all other orders, concerning the disloyalists by whom he was surrounded, were enforced; and he directed that any one attempting to resist the execution of them should be arrested and imprisoned, to be tried by a military commission. Many offenders being women, it was declared that " the laws of war make no distinction of sex." To enforce these laws, it was necessary to use military power, especially in the suppression of the bands of marauders who were then sweeping over the country. He accordingly sent General John Pope, who, as we have already observed, had been active in that Department, to disperse the encampments of these guerrillas in Western Missouri. Pope had been acting with vigor during the latter part of summer and the early autumn. The people of a district where outrages were committed had been held responsible for them. He had quartered his troops on such inhabitants, and required from them contributions of horses, mules, provisions, and other necessaries. He had organized Committees of Safety, on which were placed prominent secession- ists, charged to preserve the peace ; and in a short time comparative good order was restored. Now Pope was charged with similar duties. On the 7th of December, he was assigned to the command of all the National troops between the Missouri and Osage Rivers, which included a considerable por- tion of Fremont's army that fell back from Springfield. Price was advanc- ing. He had made a most stirring appeal by proclamation to the Missouri- ans to come and help him, and so help themselves to freedom and independ- ence. The Governor (Jackson), he said, had called for fifty thousand men, but only five thousand had responded. " Where are those fifty thousand men ?" he asked. "Are Missourians no longer true to themselves? Are they a timid, tune-serving race, fit only for subjugation to a despot ? Awake ! my countrymen," he cried, " to a sense of what constitutes the dignity of the true greatness of a people Come to us, brave sons of the Mis- souri Valley ! Rally to our standard ! I must have the fifty thousand men. . . . . Do you stay at home for protection? More men have been murdered at home than I have lost in five successive battles. Do you stay at home to secure terms with the enemy ? Then I warn you the day soon may come when you will be surrendered to the mercies of that enemy, and your substance given to the Hessians and the Jay hawkers. 2 . . . Leave 1 Letter of General Halleck to General Asboth, December 20, 1861. a A name given to certain rangers or guerrilla bands of Kansas and especially those under Colonel Jenni- son, who was active against the insurgents. 182 BATTLE ON THE BLACK WATER. your property to take care of itself. Come to the Army of Missouri, not for a week or a month, but to free your country. ' Strike till each armed foe expires ! Strike for your country's altar fires! Strike for the green graves of your sires, God and your native land !' Be yours the office to choose between the glory of a free country and a just government, or the bondage of your children. I, at least, will never see the chains fastened upon my country. I will ask for six and a half feet of Mis- souri soil in which to repose, for I will not live to see my people enslaved." This appeal aroused the disaffected Missourians, and at the time when Pope was ordered to his new field of operations, about five thousand recruits, it was said, were marching from the Missouri River and beyond to join Price. To prevent this combination was Pope's chief desire. He encamped thirty or forty miles southwest from Booneville, at the middle of Decem- ber, and after sending out some of the First Missouri cavalry, under Major Hubbard, to watch Price, who was then at Osceola with about eight thou- sand men, and to prevent a reconnoissance of the main column of the Nation- als, he moved his whole body" westward and took position in the isei ' country between Clinton and Warrensburg, in Henry and John- son counties. There were two thousand Confederates then near his lines, and against these Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, of the Seventh Mis- souri, was sent with a considerable cavalry force that scattered them. Having accomplished this, Brown returned to the main army, 6 Dec. 18. fe ' r ' which was moving on Warrensburg. Informed that a Confederate force was on the Blackwater, at or near Milford, North of him, Pope sent Colonel Jefferson C. Davis and Major Mer- rill to flank them, while the main body should be in a position to give immedi- ate aid, if necessary. Davis found them in a wooded bottom on the west side of the Blackwater, opposite the mouth of Clear Creek. His forces were on the east side, and a bridge that spanned the Blackwater between them was strongly guarded. This was carried by assault, by two companies of the Fourth Regular Cavalry, under Lieutenants Gordon and Amory, supported by five companies of the First Iowa cavalry. Gordon led the charge in per- son, and received several balls through his cap. The Confederates were driven, the bridge was crossed, and a pursuit was pressed. Unable to escape, the fugitives, commanded by Colonels Robinson, Alexander, and Magoffin (the latter a brother of the Governor of Kentucky), surrendered. The captives were one thousand three hundred in number, infantry and cav- alry ; and with them the Nationals gained as spoils about eight hundred horses and mules, a thousand stand of arms, and over seventy wagons loaded with tents, baggage, ammunition, and supplies of every kind. At about midnight the prisoners and spoils were taken into Pope's camp, and the next day the victors and the vanquished moved back in the direc- tion of Sedalia, Pope's starting-place. In the space of five days the infantry had marched more than one hundred miles, and the cavalry double that distance. During that time they had captured nearly fifteen hundred pri- soners, with the arms and supplies just mentioned. They had swept the PRICE DRIVEN OUT OF MISSOURI. 183 whole country west of Sedalia, in the direction of Kansas, far enough to foil the attempts of recruits to reach Price in any considerable numbers, and to compel him to withdraw, in search of safety and subsistence, toward the borders of Arkansas. Among the captured on the Blackwater, were many wealthy and influen- tial citizens ol Missouri. This event dealt a stunning blow to secession in that State for the moment, and Pope's short campaign gave great satisfaction to all loyal people. Halleck complimented him on his " brilliant success," and feeling strengthened there by, he pressed forward with more vigorous measures for the complete suppression of the rebellion in his Department westward of the Mississippi River. On the 23d of December he declared martial law in St. Louis ; and by proclamation on the 25th this system of rule was extended to all railroads and their vicinities. 1 At about the same time General Price, who had found himself relieved from immediate danger, and encouraged by a promise of re-enforcements from Arkansas, under Gen- eral Mclntosh, concentrated about twelve thousand men at Springfield, where he put his army in comfortable huts, with the intention of remaining all winter, and pushed his picket-guards fifteen or twenty miles northward. This demonstration caused Halleck to concentrate his troops at Lebanon, the capital of Laclede County, northeastward of Springfield, early in February, under the chief command of General (late Colonel) S. R. Curtis. These were composed of the troops of Generals Asboth, Sigel, Davis, and Prentiss. In the midst of storms and floods, over heavy roads and swollen streams, the combined forces moved on Springfield in three columns, the right under General Davis, the center under General Sigel, and the left under Colonel (soon afterward General) Carr. On the game day they met some of Price's advance, and skirmishing ensued ; and on the following day about three hundred Confederates attacked Curtis's picket-guards, but were repulsed. This feint of offering battle was made by Price to enable him to effect a retreat. On the night of the 12th and 13th* he fled from Springfield with his whole force. Not a man of them was to be seen when Curtis's vanguard, the Fourth Iowa, entered the town at dawn the next morning. There stood their huts, in capacity sufficient to accommodate ten thousand men. The camp attested a hasty departure, for remains of supper and half-dressed sheep and hogs, that had been slain the previous evening, were found. Price retreated to Cassville, closely pursued by Curtis. Still southward he hastened, and was more closely followed, his rear and flanks continually harassed during four days, while making his way across the Arkansas border to Cross Hollows. 9 Having been re-enforced by Ben McCulloch, near a range of hills called Boston Mountains, he made a stand at Sugar Creek, where, in a brief engagement, he was defeated,' and was again compelled to fly. He halted at Cove Creek, where, on the 25th, he reported 1 The proclamation of the 25th was issued in consequence of the destruction or disability, on the 20th, of about one hundred miles of the Missouri railroad, by some men returned from Price's army, assisted by inhab- itants along the line of the road, acting by pre-concert On the 28d, Halleck issued an order, fixing the penalty of death for that crime, and requiring the towns and counties along the line of any railway thus destroyed, to repair the damages and pay the expenses. 2 During the operations of this forward movement of the National troops, Brisadier-General Price, son of the chief, was captured at Warsaw, together with several officers of the elder Price's staff, and about 500 recruits. 184 HUNTER'S OPERATIONS IN KANSAS. to his wandering chief, Jackson, saying, " Governor, we are confident of the future." General Halleck, quite as " confident of the future," was now able to report to his Government that Missouri was effectually cleared of the armed forces of insurgents who had so long infested it, and that the National flag was waving in triumph over the soil of Arkansas. In accomplishing this good work, no less than sixty battles and skirmishes, commencing with Boone- ville at the middle of June, 1 and ending at the middle of the suc- a 1S62 ceeding February," had been fought on Missouri soil, resulting in an aggregate loss to both parties, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, of about eleven thousand men.* While Halleck was thus purging Missouri, Hunter, with his head-quarters at Fort Leavenworth, was vigorously at work in Kansas, on the west of it. 8 The general plan of his treatment of the rebellion, which was rife on the Missouri border, was set forth in a few words addressed to the Trustees of Platte City,* concerning an outlaw named Gordon^ who, with a guerrilla band, was committing depredations and outrages of every kind in that region. Hunter said, "Gentlemen, I give you notice, that unless you seize and deliver the said Gordon to me at these head-quarters within ten days from this date, or drive him out of the country, I shall send a force to your city with orders to reduce it to ashes, and to burn the house of every secessionist in your county, and to carry away every negro. Colonel Jennison's regiment will be intrusted with the execution of this order." Jennison, who was the commander of the First Kansas cavalry, was well known to the people as an ardent anti-slavery champion during the civil war in Kansas in 1855, 4 and a man ready to execute any orders of the kind. That letter, the power given to Jennison, and a proclamation issued by the latter a short time before, 5 made the secessionists very circumspect for a while, and " all quiet in Kansas " was a frequent report in the Spring of 1862. Active and armed rebellion was at this time co-extensive with the slave- labor States. Colonel Canby found it ready to meet him even in the remote 1 region of New Mexico, in the shape of invaders from Texas. Like Halleck and Hunter, he attacked the monster quickly and manfully. 1 See rage 540, volume I. 2 Several of these skirmishes were so light, and so unimportant in their bearings upon the great Issues, that the narrative of this general history has not been unduly extended by a record of them. Such record belongs to a strictly statistical and military history of the war. During the last fortnight of the month of December, 1861, the Nationals in Missouri captured 2,500 prisoners, including 70 commissioned officers; 1,200 horses and mules; 1,100 stand of arms; 2 tons of powder ; 100 wagons, and a large amount of stores and camp equipage. 3 Preparations had been made for organizing an army in Kansas to go through the Indian Territory and a portion of Southwestern Arkansas and so on to New Orleans, to co-operate with the forces that were to sweep down the Mississippi and along its borders. James H. Lane, then a member of the United States Senate, was to command that army. Owing to some difficulties, arising from misapprehension, the expedition was abandoned* and Lane took his seat in the Senate at Washington. * See note 2, page 181. 6 Jennison had said to the Inhabitants of Lafayette, Cass, Johnson, and Pettis Counties, in Missouri: " For fonr months our armies have inarched through your country. Tour professed friendship has been a fraud ; your oaths of allegiance have been shams and perjuries. You feed the rebel army, you act as spies while claiming to be true to the Union Neutrality is ended. If you are patriots, yu must fight ; if you are traitors, you must be punished." .... He told them that the rights and property of Union men would be everywhere respected, but " traitors," he said, " will everywhere be treated as outlaws enemies of God and men, too base to hold any description of property, and having no rights which loyal men are bound to respect* The last dollar and the last slave of rebels will be taken and turned over to the General Government Playing war is played out, and whenever Union troops are fired upon the answer will boom from cannon, and desolation will follow." TREASON IN NEW MEXICO. 185 We have seen the loyal people of Texas bound hand and foot by a civil and military despotism after the treason of General Twiggs. 1 The con- spirators and their friends had attempted to play a similar game for attaching New Mexico to the intended Confederacy, and to aid Twiggs in giving over Texas to the rule of the Confederates. So early as 1860, Secretary Floyd sent Colonel "VV. -H. Loring, of North Carolina (who appears to have been an instrument of the traitor), to command the Department of New Mexico, while Colonel George B. Crittenden, an unworthy son of the venerable Ken- tucky senator, who had been sent out for the same wicked purpose as Loring, was appointed by the latter, commander of an expedition against the Apaches, which was to start from Fort Stannton in the Spring of 1861. It was the business of these men to attempt the corruption of the patriotism of the officers under them, and to induce them to lead their men into Texas and give them to the service of the rebellion. One of these officers (Lieutenant-Colonel B. S. Roberts, of Vermont), who had joined Crittenden at Fort Staunton, perceiving the intentions of his commander, refused to obey any orders that savored of a treasonable purpose, and procuring a furlough, he hastened to Sante Fe, the head-quarters of the Department, and denounced Crittenden to Colonel Loring. He was astonished when, instead of thanks for his patriotic service, he received a reproof for meddling with other people's business, and discovered that Loring was also playing the game of treason. Roberts was ordered back to Fort Staunton, but found an opportunity to warn Captain Hatch, the commander at Albuquerque, and Captain Morris, who held Fort Craig (both on the Rio Grande), as well as other loyal officers, of the treachery of their superiors. The iniquity of Loring and Crittenden soon became known to the little army under them, and they found it necessary to leave suddenly and unattended. Of the twelve hundred regular troops in New Mexico, not one proved treacherous to his country. Loring and Crittenden made their way to Fort Fillmore, not far from El Paso and the Texas border, then commanded by Major Isaac Lynde, of Ver- mont. They found a greater portion of the officers there ready to engage in the work of treason. Major Lynde professed to be loyal, but, if so, he was too inefficient to be intrusted with command. Late in July, while leading about five hundred of the seven hundred troops under his control toward the village of Mesilla, he fell in with a few Texas insurgents, and, after a slight skirmish, fled back to the fort. He was ordered to evacuate it, and march his command to Albuquerque. Strange to say, the soldiers were allowed to fill their canteens with whisky and drink when they pleased. A large por- tion of them were drunken before they had marched ten miles, and then, as if by previous arrangement, a Texas force appeared on their flank." The soldiers who were not prostrated by intoxication "^il^ 1 wished to fight, but, by order of a council of officers, with Lynde at their head, they were directed to lay down their arms as prisoners of war. Lynde's commissary, Captain A. II. Plummer, who held seventeen thousand dollars in Government drafts, which he minr: Colonel Branner on the right, and Colonel McClellan on the left. Independent companies in front of the advance regi- ments. Following the whole were ambulances, and ammunition and other wagons. VOL. II. 13 194 BATTLE OF MILT, SPRING. about five miles from the latter place, to await attack, and then sent a courier to inform Thomas of the situation. The commanding general hastened forward to view the position, when he found the Confederates advancing through a corn-field, to flank the Fourth Kentucky. He immedi- ately ordered up the Tennessee brigade and a section of artillery, and sent orders for Colonel R. L. McCook to advance with his two regiments (Ninth Ohio, Major KaBmmerling, and Second Minnesota, Colonel H. P. Van Cleve) to the support of the vanguard. The battle was opened at about six o'clock by the Kentucky and Ohio regiments, and Captain Kinney's Battery, stationed on the edge of the field, to the left of the Fourth Kentucky. It was becoming very warm when McCook's reserves came up to the support of the Nationals. Then the Con- federates opened a most galling fire upon the little line, which made it waver. At that moment it was strengthened by the arrival of the Twelfth Kentucky, Colonel W. A. Hoskins, and the Tennessee Brigade, who joined in the fight. The conflict became very severe, and for a time it was doubtful which side would bear off the palm of victory. The Nation- als had fallen back, and were hotly contesting the possession of a com- manding hill, with Zollicoffer's Bri- gade, when that General, who was at the head of his column, and near the crest with Colonel Battle's regiment, was killed. The Confederate General Crittenden immediately took his place, and, with the assistance of Carroll's Brigade, continued the struggle for the hill for almost two hours. But the galling fire of the Second Minnesota, and a heavy charge of the Ninth Ohio with bayo- nets on the Confederate flank, com- pelled the latter to give way, and they retreated toward their camp at Beech Grove, in great confusion, pursued by the victorious Nationals to the sum- mit of Moulden's Hill. ^ From that commanding point Standart's and Wet- more's Batteries could sweep the Confederate works, while Kinney's Bat- tery, stationed near Russell's house on the extreme left, opened fire upon the ferry, to prevent the Confederates from escaping across the Cumberland. Such was the situation on Sunday evening," at the close of the battle, -v^hen Thomas was joined by the Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Stedman, and the Tenth Kentucky, Colonel Harlan ; also by General 1 REFERENCES. The figures 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, and 6, refer to the first and succeeding positions of the Tenth Indi- nnn Regiment in the battle ; 8, denotes the second position of the Fourth Kentucky; 9, the second position of the Second Minnesota; 10, the third position of the Fame; and 11, the second position of the Ninth Ohio. MAP OF THE BATTLE OF MILL SPRING. 1 ' EESULT OF THE BATTLE OF MILL SPRING. 195 Schoepf, with the Seventeenth, Thirty-first, and Thirty-eighth Ohio. Disposi- tion was made early the next morning to assault the Confederate intrenchments, when it was ascertained that the works were abandoned. The beleaguered troops had fled in silence across the nver, under cover of the darkness, abandoning every thing in their camp, and destroying the steamer N(>ble Ellis (which had come up the river with supplies), and three flat-boats, which had carried them safely over the stream. 1 Destitute of provisions and forage, the sadly-smitten Confederates were partially dispersed among the hills on the borders of Kentucky and Tennessee, while seeking both. Crit- tenden retreated first to Monticello, and then continued his flight until he reached Livingston and Gainesborough, in the direction of Nashville, in order to be in open communication with head-quarters at the latter place, and to guard the Cumberland as far above it as possible. Thus ended the BATTLE OF MILL SPUING (which has been also called the Battle of Beech Grove, Fishing Creek, and Somerset), with a loss to the Nationals of two hundred and forty-seven, of whom thirty-nine were killed, and two hundred and eight were wounded; and to the Confederates of three hundred and forty-nine, of whom one hundred and ninety-two were killed, sixty-two were wounded, and eighty -nine Avere made prisoners. Among the killed, as we have seen, Avas General Zollicoff'er, whose loss, at that time, was irreparable. 2 The spoils of victory for Thomas were twelve pieces of artillery, with three caissons packed, two army forges, 3 one battery wagon, a large amount of am- munition and small arms, more than a thousand horses and mules, wasrons, O / commissary stores, intrenching tools, ARMY FORGE. 1 Some accounts say that the Ellis was set on fire by the shells of the Nationals, but the preponderance of testimony is in favor of the statement in the text. The Confederates hoped to prevent immediate pursuit by leaving nothing; on which their foe could cross the river. The Confederates suffered terribly in their retreat. "Since Saturday night," wrote one of their officers, " we had but an hour of sleep, and scarcely a morsel of food. For a whole week we have been marching under a bare subsistence, and I have at length approached that point in a soldier's career when a handful of parched corn may be considered a first-class dinner. We marched the first few days through a barren region, where supplies could not be obtained. I have more than once seen the men kill a porker with their guns, cut and quarter it, and broil it on the coals, and then eat it without bread or salt. The sutfering of the men from the want of the necessaries of life, of clothing, and of repose, has been most intense, and a more melancholy spectacle than this solemn, hungry, and weary procession, could scarcely be imagined." * Zollicoffer was killed by Colonel Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky. That officer, according to his own state- ment in a letter to his wife, was leading his regiment in a charge upon the Mississippians, when he was mistaken for a Confederate officer by Zollicoffer. The latter rode up to Fry, saying, as he pointed toward the Mississip- pians, " You are not going to fight your friends, are you f" At that instant Zollicoffei-'s aid, Major Henry M. Fogg, of Nashville, fired at Fry, wounding his horse. Fry turned and fired, killing Zollicoffer, not knowing at the time his person or his rank. Ho was covered in a white rubber coat, and on the previous evening had his beard shaved off, so as not to be easily recognized. The aU of Zollieoffer was mortally wounded at the same time. Zoilicoffer's body was taken to Mtimfordsville, and sent by a flag of truce to General Hindman. It was honored with a funeral salute at the National camp when it was carried over Green Eiver. 8 The army forge is a part of the equipment of a corps of artillery or cavalry in the field, and is portable. It consists of a four-wheeled carriage, with compartments in which a blacksmith's outfit of fuel and implements may be carried, and may be made ready for use in the course of half an hour. The fore and the hind wheels of the carriage may be separated " unlimbered " the same as those of a cannon. Attached to the fore wheelsare 196 BEAUREGAKD SENT TO THE WEST. and camp equipage. The men in their flight left almost every thing behind them, except the clothing on their persons. 1 This victory was considered one of the most important that had yet been achieved by the National arms. It broke the line of the Confederates in Kentucky, opened a door of deliverance for East Tennessee, and prepared the way for that series of successful operations by which very soon afterward the invaders were expelled from both States. The Government and the loyal people hailed the tidings of the triumph with great joy. The Secretary of War, by order of the President, issued an order announcing the event, and publicly thanking the officers and soldiers who had achieved the victory. He declared the purpose of the war to be " to pursue and destroy a rebellious enemy, and to deliver the country from danger ;" and concluded by saying, " In the prompt and spirited movements and daring at Mill Spring, the nation will realize its hopes," and " delight to honor its brave soldiers." The defeat was severely felt by the Confederates ; for they were wise enough to understand its significance, prophesying, as it truly did, of further melancholy disasters to their cause. The conspirators perceived the urgent necessity for a bold, able, and dashing commander in the West, and believing Beauregard to be such an one, he was ordered to Johnston's J jg^ 7 ' Department," and General G. W. Smith, who had been an active democratic politician in New York city, was appointed to suc- ceed him at Manassas.* Crittenden was handled without mercy by the critics. He was accused of treachery by some, and others, more charitable, charged the loss of the battle to his drunkenness. All were compelled to acknowledge a serious disaster, and from it drew the most gloomy conclusions. Their despondency was deepened by the blow received by the Confederate cause at Roanoke Island soon afterward ; 3 and the feeling became one of almost despair, when, a few days later, events of still greater importance, and more withering to their hopes, which we are about to consider, occurred on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. 4 So active and skillful had Johnston been in his Department, in strength- ening his irregular line of posts and fortifications for nearly four hundred the boxes for supplies nnd Jools, and to the rear wheels the bellows and forge, ns seen in the engraving When needed for use, the anvil Is taken out and placed on a block made from any neighboring tree, and the work may be speedily begun. 1 Report of General Thomas to General Buell, dated at Somerset, Kentucky, Jan. 31, 1862 ; also the reports of his subordinate officers. 2 On leaving the army at Manassas, Bcanregard issued a characteristic address to them, telling them he hoped soon to be back among them. " I am anxious," he said, "that my brave countrymen here in arms, fronting the haughty array and muster of Northern mercenaries, should thoroughly appreciate the exigency.'' Alluding to their disquietude because of long inaction, and the disposition to give up, he said it was no time for the men of the Potomac army " to stack their arms, and furl, even for a brief period, the standards they had made glorious by their manhood." * See page 178. 4 These are remarkable rivers. The Tennessee rises in the rugged valleys of Southwestern Virginia, between the Alleghany and Cumberland Mountains, having tributaries coining out of North Carolina and Georgia. It sweeps in an immense curve through Northern Alabama for nearly three hundred miles, from its northeast to its northwest corner, and then entering Tennessee, passes through it in a due north course, when, bending a little near the Kentucky border, it traverses that State in a northwesterly direction, and falls into the Ohio seventy miles above its mouth. It drains an area of forty thousand square miles, and is navigable for small vessels to Knoxville, five hundred miles from its mouth. The Cumberland River rises on the western slopes of the Cumberland Mountains, in Eastern Kentucky, sweeps around into Middle Tennessee, and turning northward, in a course generally parallel to the Tennessee River, falls into the Ohio. It is navigable for large steamboats two hundred and flfty miles, and for smaller ones, at high water, nearly three hundred miles farther. THE CONFEDERATES IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. 197 miles across Southern Kentucky, and within the Tennessee border from Cum- berland Gap to Columbus on the Mississippi, that when General Thomas had accomplished the first part of the work he was sent to perform, it was thought expedient not to push farther, seriously, in the direction of East Tennessee just at that time. It was evident that the Confeder- ates were preparing to make an effort to seize Louis- ville, Paducah, Smithville, and Cairo, on the Ohio, in order to command the most important land and water highways in Kentucky, so as to make it the chief battle- ground in the West, as Virginia was in the East, and keep the horrors of war from the soil of the more Southern States. As Charleston was defended on the KEGIOX OF MILITARY MOVEMENTS IK EASTERN KENTUCKY. 1 Potomac, so New Orleans was to be defended by carrying the war up to the banks of the Ohio. Looking at a map of Kentucky and Virginia, and con- sidering the attitude of the contending forces in each at that time, the reader may make a striking parallelism which a careful writer on the subject has pointed out. 9 Governed by a military necessity, which changing circumstances had created, it was determined to concentrate the forces of Halleck and Buell in a grand forward movement against the main bodies and fortifications of the Confederates. Thomas's victory at Mill Spring had so paralyzed that line eastward of Bowling Green, that it was practically shortened at least one- half. Crittenden, as we have observed, had made his way toward Nashville, and left the Cumberland almost unguarded above that city ; yet so moun- tainous was that region, and so barren of subsistence, that a flank move- 1 For an account of other movements In Eastern Kentucky, see Chapter III. of this volume. * " If Washington was threatened in the one quarter, Louisville was the object of attack on the other. As Fortress Monroe was a great basis of operations at one extremity, furnishing men and arms, so was Cairo on the west ; and as the one had a menacing neighbor in Norfolk, so had theother in Columbus. What the line of the Kanawha was to Northern Virginia, penetrating the mountainous region, the Big Sandy, with its tributaries emptying also in the Ohio, was to the defiles of Eastern Kentucky. What Manassas or Richmond was, in one quarter, to the foe, Bowling Green, a great railway center, was to the other. As Virginia was pierced on the east by the James and the Rappahannock and the York, so was Kentucky on the west by the Cumberland and Tennessee ; and as the Unionists held Newport News [Newport-Newce], a point of great strategic importance at the mouth of one of these streams, so were they in possession of Paducah, a place of equal or greater advantage, at the entrance to another." History of the War for the Union, by E. A. Duyckinck. 198 CONFEDERATE WORKS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. ment in that direction would have been performed with much difficulty and danger. The great body of the Confederate troops, and their chief fortifications, were between Nashville and Bowling Green and the Mississippi River, and upon these the combined armies of Halleck and Buell prepared to move. These fortifications had been constructed with skill, as to location and form, under the direction of General Polk, and chiefly by the labor of slaves. The principal works were redoubts on Island No. 10, in the Mississippi River, and at Columbus, on its eastern bank; Fort Henry, on the Ten- nessee River, and Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River. The two latter were in Tennessee, not far below the line di- viding it from Kentucky, at points where the two rivers approach within a few miles of each other. During the autumn and early winter, a naval armament, projected by Fremont for service on the Mississippi River, had been in preparation at St. Louis and Cairo, for co-operation with the military forces in the West. It consisted, at the close of January, of twelve gun-boats (some new and others made of river steamers), carrying one hundred and twenty-six heavy cannon and some lighter guns, 1 the whole commanded by Flag-officer Andrew Hull Foote, of the National navy. Seven of these boats were covered with iron plates, and were built very wide in proportion to their length, so that on the still river waters they might have almost the steadiness of stationary land batteries when discharging their heavy guns. The sides of these armored vessels were made sloping upward and downward from the water-line, at an angle of forty-five degrees, so as to ward off shot and shell ; and they were so constructed that, in action, they could be kept " bow on," or the bow toward the enemy. Their hulls were made of heavy oak timber, with triple strength at the bows, and sheathed with wrought- iron plates two and a half inches in thickness. Their engines were very powerful, so as to facilitate movements in action ; and each boat carried a mortar of 13-inch caliber. 2 These vessels, although originally constructed for service on the Missis- sippi River, were found to be of sufficiently light draft to allow them to navigate the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, into whose waters they were speedily summoned, to assist an army which General Halleck had placed under the command of General Grant, in an expedition against Forts FLAN OF THE FORTIFICATIONS AT COLUMBUS. 1862. 1 None of the cannon were less in metal than 82-ponnders. Some were 42-pounders ; some were nine and ten-inch Navy Columbiads, and the bow guns were rifled 84-pounders. 1 The larger of these vessels were of the proportion of about 175 feet to 50 feet, and drawing, when armed and laden, about five feet of water. They were manned by Western boatmen and Eastern volunteers who h:.il been navigators, commanded by officers of the National navy. PREPARATIONS TO STRIKE THE CONFEDERATE LINE. 199 Henry and Donelson. Notwithstanding repeated assurances had been given to Mallory the Confederate Secretary of the Navy that these forts would be, in a great degree, at the mercy of the National gun-boats abuilding, that conspirator, who was remarkable for his obtuseness, slow method, and indif- ferent intellect, and whose ignorance, even of the geography of Kentucky and Tennessee, had been broadly travestied in " Congress," 1 paid no atten- tion to these warnings, but left both rivers open, without placing a single floating battery upon either. This omission was observed and taken advan- tage of by the Nationals, and early in February a large force that had moved from the Ohio River was pressing toward the doomed forts, whose FOOTERS FLOTILLA. capture would make the way easy to the rear of Bowling Green. By that movement the Confederate line would be broken, and the immediate evacuation of Kentucky by the invaders would be made an inexorable necessity. Preliminary to this grand advance, and for the double purpose of study- ing the topography of the country, and for deceiving the Confederates con- cerning the real designs of the Nationals, several reconnoissances, in con- siderable force, were made on both sides of the Mississippi River, toward the reputed impregnable stronghold at Columbus. One of these minor expe- ditions, composed of about seven thousand men, was commanded by General McClernand, who left Cairo for Fort Jefferson, and other places below, in river transports, on the 10th of January." From that point he penetrated Kentucky far toward the Tennessee line, threatening Columbus and the country in its rear. At the same time, General Paine marched with nearly an equal force from Bird's Point, on the Missouri side of the Missis- sippi, in the direction of Charleston, for the purpose of supporting McCler- nand, menacing New Madrid, and reconnoitering Columbus ; while a third party, six thousand strong, under General C. F. Smith, moved from Paducah to Mayfield, in the direction of Columbus. Still another force moved east- ward to Smithland, between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers ; and at the same time gun-boats were patrolling the waters of the Ohio and Missis- sippi, those on the latter threatening Columbus. These reconnoitering 1 Pollard's First Year of the Far, page 237. 1862. 200 THOMAS'S MOVEMENT TOWARD EAST TENKESSEE. parties all returned to their respective starting places preparatory to the grand movement. These operations alarmed and perplexed the Confederates, and so puzzled the newspaper correspondents with the armies, that the wildest speculations about the intentions of Halleck and Buell, and the most ridiculous criti- cisms of their doings, filled the public journals. These speculations were made more unsatisfactory and absurd by the movements of General Thomas, immediately after the Battle of Mill Spring, who, it was then believed by the uninformed, was to be the immediate liberator of East Tennessee. He had crossed the Cumberland River in force, after the battle of Mill Spring, at the head of navigation at Waitsboro, and had pushed a column on toward Cumberland Gap. Predictions of glorious events in the great valley between the Alleghany and Cumberland Mountains were freely offered and believed ; but the hopes created by these were speedily blasted. The movement was only a feint to deceive the Confederates, and was successful. To save East Tennessee from the grasp of Thomas, Johnston sent a large body of troops by railway from Bowling Green by way of Nashville and Chattanooga to Knox- ville, and when the Confederate force was thus weakened in front of Buell, Thomas was recalled. The latter turned back, marched westward, and joined Nelson at Glassgow, in Barren County, on Hardee's right flank. In the mean time, Mitchel, with his reserves that formed Buell's center, had moved toward the Green River in the direction of Bowling Green. These developments satisfied Johnston that Buell was concentrating his forces to attack his front, so he called in his outlying posts as far as " J ise^ 7 ' P ru( lence would allow, and prepared" for the shock of battle, that now seemed inevitable. The combined movements of the army and navy against Forts Henry and Donelson, arranged by Generals Grant and C. F. Smith, 1 and Commodore Foote, and approved by General Halleck, were now commenced. The chief object was to break the line of the Confederates, which, as we have observed, had been established with care and skill across the country from the Great River to the mountains ; also to gain possession of their strongholds, and to flank those at Columbus and Bowling Green, in the movement for clearing the Mississippi River and valley of all warlike obstructions. Fort Henry, lying on a low bottom land on the eastern or righ tbank of the Tennessee River, in Stewart County, Tennessee, was to be the first object of attack. It lay at a bend of that stream, and its guns commanded a reach of the river below it toward Panther Island, for about two miles, in a direct line. The fort was an irregular field-work, with five bastions, the embrasures revetted .with sand-bags. It was armed with seventeen heavy guns, twelve of which commanded the river. Both above and below the fort was a 1 General Smith seems to have been fully instructed by Fremont with the plan of his Mississippi Valley campaign. An officer under Smith's command (General Lewis Wallace), in a letter to the author, says: "One evening General Smith sent for me. At his head-quarters, before a cozy tire, he opened his map on the table, and with fingers now on his map, then twirling his great white moustache, and his gray eyes all the time as bright as the flames in his grate, he painted gloWingly the whole Tennessee River campaign. I recollect dis- tinctly his stopping at Corinth, and saying emphatically, 'Here will be the decisive battle.' He finished the conversation by saying that the time was come. The troops at Cairo, strongly re-enforced, and those at Paducah would very shortly embark. In the mean time I was to go to Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumber- land River, and get the regiments there in condition to march. He handed me an order to that effect, and I executed it." EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT HENRY. 201 V PLAN OF FOl'.T HENRY. creek defended by rifle-pits, and around it was swampy land Avith back- water in the rear. It was strong in itself, and so admirably situated for defense, that the Confederates were confident that it could not be cap- tured. At the time we are considering, the garrison in the fort and the troops in camp within the outer works, con- sisting of less than three thousand men, 2 were commanded by Brigadier- General Loyd Tilghman, a Marylander, and graduate of \Test Point Academy, and it was supplied with barracks and tents sufficient for an army fifteen thousand strong. General Halleck, as we have seen, had divided his large Department into military districts, and he had given the command over that of Cairo to General Grant. This was enlarged late in December, so as to include all of Southern Illinois, Kentucky west of the Cumber- land River, and the counties of Eastern Missouri south of Cape Girardeau. Grant was therefore commander of all the land forces to be engaged in the expedition against Fort Henry. 3 To that end he collected his troops at the close of the reconnoissance just mentioned, chiefly at Cairo and Paducah, and had directed General Smith to gain what information he could concerning the two Tennessee forts. Accordingly, on his return, that officer struck the Tennessee River about twenty miles below Fort Henry, where he found the gun-boat Lexington patrolling its waters. In that vessel he approached the fort so near as to draw its fire, and he reported to Grant that it might easily be taken, if attacked soon. The latter sent the report to General Halleck. Hearing nothing from their chief* for several days afterward, Grant and Foote united, in a letter to Halleck, 6 in asking permission to storm Fort Henry, and hold it as a base for other operations. On the ' J ""g 2 28 ' following day Grant wrote an urgent letter to his commander setting forth the advantages to be expected from the proposed movement, and on the 30th an order came for its prosecution. 4 The enterprise was ' Dec. 20, 1861. 1 REFERENCES. The A's denote the position of twelve 32-pounders ; B, a 24-pounder barbette gnn; C, a 12-inch Columbiad; D, 24-pounder siege-gun ; E E, l.J-*>ounder siege-guns; F, Flag-staff; H, Draw-bridge; K, Well; M, Magazine; O, Ordnance Stores; P, Adjutant's Quarters; Q, Head-quarters; R, Officers' Quarters. a These were divided into two brigades the first, under Colonel A. Hieman, was composed of the Tenth Tennessee (his own), consisting of about 800 Irish volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel McGavock; Twenty- seventh Alabama,.Colpnel Hughes; Forty-eighth Tennessee, Colonel Voorhies; Tennessee battalion of cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Gantt; and a light battery of four pieces, commanded by Captain Culbertson. The Second Brigade, under Colonel Joseph Drake, of the Fourth Mississippi Regiment, was composed of his own troops under Major Adair; Fifteenth Arkansas, Colonel Gee; Fifty-first Tennessee, Colonel Browder; Alabama battalion, Major Garvin ; light battery of three pieces, Captain Clare; Alabama battalion of cavalry; an inde- pendent company of horse, under Captain Milner; Captain Padgett's Spy Company, and a detachment of Rangers, commanded by Captain Melton. The heavy artillery manned the guns of the fort, and were in charge of Captain Jesse Taylor. Report of General Tilghman to Colonel Mackall, Johnston's Assistant Adjutant- General, Feb. 12, 1S62. 3 The number )f troops officers and men under General Grant's command, who were fit for duty at the middle of January. 1S62. was 24,608. 4 Grant and his Campaigns, by Henry Coppee, pages 39 and 40. 202 OPERATIONS OF GUN-BOATS ON THE TENNESSEE. a 1S62. immediately begun, and on Monday morning, the 2d of February," Flag- officer Foote left Cairo with a little flotilla of seven gun-boats 1 . (four of them armored), moved up the Ohio to Paducah, and on that evening was in the Tennessee River. He went up that stream cau- tiously, because of information that there were torpedoes in it, and on 'Feb. 3. Tuesda y morning,* at dawn, he was a few miles below Fort Henry. Grant's army, composed of the divisions of Generals McClernand and C. F. Smith, had, in the mean time, embarked in transports, which were convoyed by the flotilla. These landed a few miles below the fort, and soon afterward the armored gun-boats (JEssex, St. Louis, Caron- delet, and Cincinnati) were sent for- ward by Grant, with orders to move slowly and shell the woods on each ANDREW H. FOOTE. side of the river, in order to discover concealed batteries, if they existed. At the same time the Conestoya and Tyler were successfully engaged, under the direction of Lieutenant Phelps, in fishing up torpedoes. 2 1 These were the armored gun-boats Cincinnati (flag-ship), Commander Stembcl ; CarondeM, Commander Walke; Essex. Commander W. D. Porter; and/S*. Louis, Lieutenant Commanding Panlding; and the wooden gun-boats Lexington, Lieutenant Commanding Shirk ; Tyler, Lieutenant Commanding Givin ; and Conestoya, Lieutenant Commanding Phelps. 2 Information concerning these had been given by a woman living near the banks of the river. The "Jessie Scouts," a dar- ing corps of young men in Grant's army, went into a fagn-hoiiso wherein a large number of women were gathered for safety. When their fears were allayed, one of the wornen said that her hus- band was a soldier in Fort BVnry. ' By to-morrow night, madam," said one of the scouts, "there, will be no Fort Henry our gun- boats will dispose of it." "Not a bit of it," was the reply; "they will all be blown up before they get past the Island" meaning Panther Island. The scouts threatened to carry her away a pri- soner if she did not tell all she knew about them, when she told them that torpedoes had been planted all along the channels near the island, and gave them directions as to their locations. Acting upon this information, these little floating mines were searched for, and eight of them were found. They were cylinders of sheet iron, five feet and a half long, pointed at each end, each containing, in a canvas bag, seventy-five pounds of gunpowder, with a simple apparatus for exploding it by means of a percussion cap, to bo operated upon by means of a lever, extending to the outside, and moved by its striking a vessel. These were anchored in the river ( a little below the surface. The rise in the river at this time had made them harmless, and it was found that moisture had ruined the powder. TOKI'EDO.* * EXPLANATION. A. the shell of the Torpedo ; B, air chamber, made of sheet zinc, and tightly fastened : C, a chamber, or sack contain- ing gunpowder ; D, a pistolVith the muzzle in the powder, having its trigger connected with the rod E. That rod had prongs, which were designed to strike the bottom of a vessel in motion in such a way that it would operate, by a lever and cord, on the pistol, discharging it in the powder, and so exploding the torpedo under the bow of the vessel. E, F, heavy iron twnds, to which the anchors or weights, G, G, we-e attached. The torpedo was anchored so as to meet a vessel 'guing against the current, the direction of which is indicated by the arrow. ATTACK ON FORT HENKY. 203 By the morning of the 6th, every thing was in readiness for the attack, which was to be made simultaneously on land and water. McClernand's division 1 moved first, up the eastern side of the Tennessee, to get in a position between Forts Henry and Donelson, and be in readiness to storm the former from the rear, or intercept the retreat of the Confederates, while two brigades of Smith's division, 2 that were to make the attack, marched up the west side of the river to assail and capture half-finished Fort Hieman, 3 situated upon a great hUl, and from that commanding point bring artillery, to bear upon Fort Henry. There had been a tremendous thunder-storm during the night, which made the roads very heavy, and caused the river to rise rapidly. The conse- quence was, that the gun-boats were in position and commenced the attack some time before the troops, who had been ordered to march at eleven o'clock in the morning, arrived. The little streams were so swollen that they had to build bridges for the passage of the artillery ; and so slow was the march that they were compelled to hear the stirring sounds of battle without being allowed to participate in it. 4 It was at half-past twelve o'clock at noon when the gun-boats opened fire. The flotilla had passed Panther Island by the western channel, and the INTERIOR OP FORT HENRY. armored vessels had taken position diagonally across the river, with the unarmored gun-boats Tyler, Lexington, and Conestoya, in reserve. The fort warmly responded to the assault at the beginning (which was made at a distance of six hundred yards from the batteries), but the storm from the 1 This was the First division, and consisted of two brigades, composed of the Eighth, Eleventh. Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first. Forty-fifth, and Forty-eighth Illinois Regi- ments ; with one Illinois cavalry regiment, and four independent cavalry companies, and four batteries of artillery. * This, the Second division, comprised the Seventh, Ninth, Twelfth, Twenty-eighth, and Forty-first Illinois Regiments, the Eleventh Indiana, the Seventh and Twelfth Iowa, the Eighth and Thirtieth Missouri, with a considerable body of cavalry and artillery. 8 So named in honor of Colonel A. Hieman, of Tilghman's command, who was at the head of a regiment of Irish volunteers. Hieman was a German, and a resident of Nashville. He was an architect, and a man of taste, culture, and fortune. * General Lewis Wallace, who commanded one of the brigades that marched upon Fort Hieman, in a letter to the author soon after the affair, said : " The whole march was an exciting one. When wo started from our bivouac, no doubt was entertained of our being able to make the five miles, take up position, and be ready for 204 CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY. flotilla was so severe, that very soon the garrison became panic-stricken. Seven of the guns were dismounted, and made useless ; the flag-staff was shot away ; and a heavy rifled cannon in the fort had bursted, killing three men. The troops in the camp outside the fort fled, most of them by the upper Dover road, leading to Fort Donelson, and others on a steamer lying just above Fort Henry. General Tilghman and less than one hundred artillerists in the fort were all that remained to surrender to the victorious Foote. 1 The Confederate commander had behaved most soldierly throughout, at times doing a private's duty at the guns. His gallantry, Foote said in his report, " was worthy of a better cause." Before two o'clock he hauled down his flag and sent up a white one, and the BATTLE OF FORT HENRY "^862 6 ' ceased," after a severe conflict of little more than an hour. 2 It was all over before the land troops arrived, and neither those on the Fort Henry side of the river, nor they who moved against Fort Hieman, on the other bank of the stream, had an opportunity to fight. The occupants of the latter had fled at the approach of the Nationals without firing a shot, and had done what damage they could by fire, at the moment of their departure. " A few minutes before the surrender," says Pollard, " the scene in and around the fort exhibited a spectacle of fierce grandeur. Many of the cabins in and around the fort were in flames. Added to the scene were the smoke from the burning timber, and the curling but dense wreaths of smoke from the guns ; the constantly recurring, spattering, and whizzing of fragments of crashing and bursting shells ; the deafening roar of artillery ; the black sides of five or six gun-boats, belching fire at every port-hole ; the volumes of smoke settled in dense masses along the surrounding back-waters ; and up and over that fog, on the heights, the army of General Grant (10,000), deploying around our small army, attempting to cut off its retreat. In the the assault at the appointed hour. Never men worked harder. The guns of the fleet opened while we were yet quite a mile from our objective. Our line of march was nearly parallel with the line of fire to and from the gun-boats. Not more than seven hundred yards separated us from the great shells, in their roaring, fiery pas- sage. Without suffering from their effect, we had the full benefit of their indescribable and terrible noise. Several times I heard the shot from the fort crash against the iron sides of the boats. You can imagine the excitement and martial furor the circumstances were calculated to inspire our men with. I was all eagerness to push on with my brigade, but General Smith rode, like the veteran he was, laughing at my impatience, and refusing all my entreaties. lie was too good a soldier to divide hi* column." 1 Report of Commander Foote to the Secretary of the Navy, February 6, 1862. Commander Stembel and Lieutenant-Commander Phelps were sent to hoist the Union flag over the fort, and to invite General Tilghman on board the commodore's flag-ship. When, an hour later, Grant arrived, the fort and all the spoils of victory wore turned over to him. General Tilghman, and Captain Jesse Taylor of Tennessee, who was the commander of the fort, with ten other commissioned officers, with subordinates and privates in the fort, were made prisoners. It was said that the General and some of his officers attempted to escape, but were confronted by sentinels who had been pressed into the service, and who now retaliated by doing their duty strictly. They refused to lot them pass the line, such being their orders, and threatened to shoot the first man who should attempt it a The National loss was two killed and thirty-%ight wounded, and the Confederates had five killed and ten wounded. Of the Nationals, twenty-nine were wounded and scalded on the gun-boat Essex, Captain W. D. Porter; some of them mortally. This calamity was caused by a 32-pound shot entering the boiler of the Essex. It had passed through the edge of a bow port, through a bulkhead, into the boiler, in which, fortunately, there was only about sixty pounds of steam. In its passage it took off a portion of the head of Lieutenant 8. B. Brittain, Jr., one of Porter's aids. He was a son of the Eev. S. B. Brittain, of New York, and a very promising youth, not quite seventeen years of age. He was standing very near Commander Porter at the time, with one hand on that officer's shoulder, and the other on his own cutlass. Captain Porter was badly scalded by the steam that escaped, but recovered. That officer was a son of Commodore David Porter, famous in American annals as the commander of the Essex in the war of 1S12; and he inherited his father's bravery and patriotism. The gun-boat placed under his command was named Essex, in honor of his father's memory. EFFECTS OF THE CAPTURE OF FOET HENRY. 205 midst of the storm of shot and. shell, the small force outside of the fort had succeeded in gaining the upper road, the gun-boats having failed to notice their movements until they were out of reach. To give them further time, the gallant Tilghman, exhausted and begrimed with powder and smoke, stood erect at the middle battery, and pointed gun after gun. It was clear, however, that the fort could not hold out much longer. A white flag was raised by the order of General Tilghman, who remarked, ' It is vain to fight longer. Our gunners are disabled our guns dismounted ; we can't hold out five minutes longer.' As soon as the token of submission was hoisted, the gun-boats came alongside the fort and took possession of it, their crews giving three cheers for the Union. General Tilghman and the small garrison of forty were taken prisoners." 1 The capture of Fort Henry was a naval victory of great importance, not only because of its immediate effect, but because it proved the efficiency of gun-boats on the narrow rivers of the West, in co-operating with land troops. On this account, and because of its promises of greater achievements near, the fall of Fort Henry caused the most profound satisfaction among the loyal people. Halleck announced the fact to McClellan with the stirring words, " Fort Henry is ours ! The flag of the Union is re-established on the soil of Tennessee. It will never be removed." Foote's report, brief and clear, was received and read in both Houses of Congress, in open session ; and the Secretary of the Navy wrote to him, " The country appreciates your gallant deeds, and this Department desires to convey to you and your brave associates its profound thanks for the service you have rendered." The moral effect of the victory on the Confederates was dismal, and drew forth the most serious complaints against the authorities at Richmond, and especially against Mallory, the so-called " Secretary of the Navy." Painful apprehensions of future calamities were awakened ; for it was felt that, if Fort Donelson should now fall, the Confederate cause in Kentucky, Ten- nessee, and Missouri must be ruined. The first great step toward that event had been taken. The National troops were now firmly planted in the rear of Columbus, on the Mississippi, and were only about ten miles by land from the bridge over which was the railway connection between that post and Bowling Green. There was also nothing left to obstruct the passage of gun- boats up the Tennessee to the fertile regions of Northern Alabama, and carrying the flag of the Republic far toward the heart of the Confederacy. 1 Firt Year of the War, page <;88. 206 GUN-BOAT EXPEDITION UP THE TENNESSEE. CHAPTEE YIIL THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON. HE fall of Fort Henry was followed by immediate preparations for an attack on Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River. Preparatory to this was a recon- noissance up the Tennessee River. Lieiitenant-Com- mander S. L. Phelps was sent up that river " ^m ^ on ^ e evenm f tne day f battle," with a detachment of Foote's flotilla, consisting of the (Jonestoga, Tyler, and Lexington, to reconnoiter the borders of the stream as far toward its upper waters as possible. When he reached the bridge of the railway between Memphis and Bowling Green, he found the draw closed, its machinery disabled, and some Confederate transports just above it, escaping up the river. A portion of the bridge was then hastily destroyed, and the work of demolition was completed the following day by Commander Walke, of the Carondelet, who was sent up by General Grant for the purpose. The fugitive transports were so closely pursued that those in charge of them abandoned all, and burned two that were laden with military stores. 1 In this flight an officer left papers behind him which gave an im- portant official history of the Confederate naval preparations on the western rivers. Onward the little flotilla went, seizing Confederate vessels and desti-oying Confederate public property as far up as Florence, in Alabama, at the foot of the Muscle Shoals. When Phelps appeared in sight of that town, three Confederate steamers there, loaded with' supplies, were set on fire, but a part of their contents, with other property on shore, was saved. A delegation of citizens waited upon the commander to ask for kind treatment for their families, and the salvation of the bridge that spanned the Tennessee there. He assured them that women and children would not be disturbed, as he and Ms men were not savages ; and as to the bridge, being of no military ac- count, it should be saved. Returning, Lieutenant Phelps recruited a number of loyal Tennesseeans, seized arms and other Cdnfederate property in several places, and caused the 1 " The first one fired," says Lieutenant Phelps, in his report to Commodore Foote, " had on board a quantity of submarine batteries; the second one was freighted with powder, cannon-shot, grape, balls, &c. Fearing an explosion from the fired boats, I had stopped at the distance of a thousand yards; but even there our skylights were broken by the concussion." The boat was otherwise injured; and he said, " the whole river I'nr half a mile round about was completely beaten up by the falling fragments and the shower of shot grape, balls, Pillow's report to Captain Clarence Derrick, "Assistant Adjutant-General," written at his home fa Columbia, Tennessee, on the 18th of February, 1862. 216 BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON. able force, to attack the left of the center of Grant's line, and produce the confusion as directed in Floyd's programme. There seemed to be much peril to the National troops in this movement, and the danger seemed more imminent when some frightened fugitives from the battle came crowding up the hill in the rear of Wallace's Division, and a mounted officer dashed along, shouting, " We are cut to pieces !" It was here that the whole of McClernand's line, including Craft's men, was rapidly falling back. Colo- nels Logan, Lawler, and Ransom were wounded, and a large number of subalterns had been killed, yet there was no confusion in that line. This was the crisis of the battle, and it was promptly met. To prevent a panic in his own brigade, Wallace ordered Colonel Thayer to move on by the right flank. Riding at the front, he met the retiring troops, moving in good order and calling for ammunition, the want of which had been the chief cause of their misfortune. He saAV that every thing depended iipon prompt action. There was no time to wait for orders, so he thrust his third brigade (Colonel Thayer commanding) between the retiring troops and the flushed Confederates, who were rapidly following, formed a new line of battle across the road, with the Chicago artillery, Lieutenant Wood, in the center, and the First Nebraska, Fifty-eighth Illinois, Fifty-eighth Ohio, and a company of the Thirty-second Illinois on its right and left. Back of these was a reserve, composed of the Seventy-sixth Ohio, and Forty-sixth and Fifty- seventh Illinois. In this position they awaited attack, while McClernand's retiring troops, halting near, supplied themselves with ammunition from wagons which Wallace had ordered up. These preparations were just completed when the Confederates (the forces of Pillow and Buckner combined 1 ) fell heavily upon the battery and First Nebraska, and were cast back by them as the rock throws back the billows. "To say they did well," said Wallace, "is not enough; their conduct was splendid. They alone repelled the charge ;"* and the Confede- rates, after a severe contest, retired to their works in confusion. " They withdrew," said Buckner, " without panic, but in some confusion, to the trenches." 3 This was the last sally from the fort, for, by the timely and effec- tual interposition of the Third Division, the plans of the Confederates were frustrated. " I speak advisedly" wrote Captain W. S. Hillyer (Grant's Aid- de-camp) to General Wallace the next day, on a slip of paper with pencil, " God bless you ! you did save the day on the right !" Poor Pillow, with his usual shallowness, had sent an aid, when McClernand's line gave way, to tele- graph to Johnston, that " on the honor of a soldier " the day was theirs ; 4 and he foolishly persisisted in saying, in his first report, a few days afterward, that the Confederates had accomplished their object, when it was known to all that they had utterly failed. It was at about noon when the Confederates were driven back to their trenches. General Grant seemed doubtful of his ability to make a successful assault upon their works with his present force, and at about three o'clock in the afternoon he called McClernand and Wallace aside for consultation. 1 General Pillow's first Report * Report of General Wallace. * Report of General Buckner. * On the strength of this, Johnston sent a dispatch to Richmond, announcing a great victory, and on Mon- day the Richmond Enquirer said : " This splendid feat of arms and glorious victory to our cause will send a thrill of joy over the whole Confederacy." BATTLE OF FORT DONELSOX. 217 They were all on horseback. Grant held some dispatches in his hand. He spoke of the seeming necessity of falling back and intrenching, so as to stand on the defensive, until re-enforcements and Foote's flotilla should arrive. His words were few, as usual, and his face was flushed by strong emotions of the mind, while he turned his eyes nervously now and then on the dispatches. It was suggested that McClernand's defeat uncovered the road by which the enemy might escape to Clarksville. In an instant the General's countenance changed from cloudiness to sunshine. A new thought took possession of him and he acted instantly on its suggestions. Grasping the dispatches more firmly, he ordered McClernand to retake the hill he had lost, while Smith should make a simultaneous attack on the Confederate right. 1 The new movement was immediately begun. McClernand requested Wallace to retake the ground lost in the morning. A column of attack was soon formed, with the Eighth Missouri, Colonel Morgan L. Smith, and the Eleventh Indiana (Wallace's old regiment), Colonel George McGinnis (both led by the former as a brigade), moving at the head. Two Ohio regiments, under Colonel Ross, formed a supporting column. At the same time, Colonel Cruft formed a line of battle at the foot of the hill. The Eighth Missouri led the van, closely followed by the Eleventh Indiana ; and when about half way up the hill, they received a volley from its summit. The ground was broken, rough, and partly wooded. The Nationals pressed on, and the struggle was fierce and unyielding for more than an hour. Gradually the Confederates were pushed back, and their assailants soon cleared the hill. They drove the insurgents to their intrenchments, and would have assailed them there had not an order reached Wallace, when he was only one hundred and fifty yards off the works, to halt and retire his column, as a new plan of operations was in contemplation lor the next day. That commander was astonished and perplexed. He was satisfied that Grant was not informed of the entire success of his movement. He was also satisfied that if he should fall back and give up the hill (it was then five o'clock in the evening) the way would be opened for the Confederates to escape under cover of approaching darkness. So he assumed the responsi- bility of disobeying the or- der, and he bivouacked on the field of victory. All of that keen wintry night his wearied troops were busy in ministering to the wants of the wounded, and in burying the many Illi- raE GRAVES OF THK " TROOPS.' i General Sherman says that General Grant told him that, at a certain period of the battle, "he saw that either side was ready to give way if the other showed a bold front, and he determined to do that very thing, to advance on the enemy, when, as he prognosticated, the enemy surrendered." Sherman's Letter to the Editor of the United States Service Magazine. January, 1S65. This is from a sketch made by the author early in May, 1S66. This burial-place, surrounded by a rude wattling fence, was in Hysmith's old Held, in the edge of a wood, near where McArthnr's troops were posted. The trees and shrubbery la the adjoining wood showed hundreds of marks of the severe battle. 218 THE CONFEDERATES IN COUNCIL. nois troops who had fallen in the conflict of the morning. They also made preparations for storming the Confederate works at an early hour on the following day. While Wallace was carrying on the successful movement on the Con- federate left, Smith was assailing their intrenchments on their right. He posted Cavender's heavy guns so as to pour a murderous fire upon these and the fort. Lauman's Brigade formed the attacking column, while Cook's Brigade, posted on the left, was ordered to make a feigned attack. Lauman was directed to carry the heights on the left of the position that had been assailed on Thursday. He placed the Second Iowa, Colonel Tuttle, in the van. These were followed by the Fifty-sixth Indiana as a support. These, in turn, were closely followed by the Twenty-fifth Indiana and Seventh and Fourteenth Iowa, while Berge's sharp-shooters were deployed as skir- mishers on the extreme right and left of the column. When all were in readi- ness, General Smith rode along the line, told the troops he would lead them, and directed them to clear the rifle-pits with the bayonet alone. At a given signal, the column moved, under cover of Captain Stone's Missouri Battery ; and Smith, with a color-bearer at his side, rode in advance, his commanding figure, flowing gray hair, and courageous example, inspiring the men with the greatest admiration. Very soon the column was swept by a terrible fire from the Confederate artillery. It wavered for a moment, but the words and acts of the General soon restored its steadiness, and it moved on rapidly. When Tuttle was within range of the Confederate muskets, he placed himself at the head of his men and shouted " Forward !" Without firing a gun, they charged upon the Confederates with the bayonet, driving them from their intrenchments, and, in the midst of cheers from a thousand voices, the National standard was planted upon them. When darkness fell, General Grant knew that his plan, so suddenly conceived in a moment of anxiety, had secured a solid triumph that the rich fruit of victory was ripe and ready to fall into his lap. There was joy in the National camp that night, while terror brooded over the imprisoned Confederates. " How shall we escape ?" was the important question anxiously considered by the Confederate leaders that night, especially by Floyd and Pillow ; the former terror-stricken, because of the danger of falling into the hands of the Government, against which he had committed such fearful crimes ; and the latter suffering unnecessarily for the same reason, his vanity magnifying his own importance much beyond its true proportions. A Council of War was held at Pillow's head-quarters, in Dover, at midnight, to consider the matter. There were criminations and recriminations, and Floyd and Pillow seemed to think of little else than the salvation of themselves from the power of their injured Government. Buckner, too, desired to escape, and it was resolved to effect it, if possible, by cutting their way through the supposed weak right of the National lines, at five o'clock in the morning, and press on toward Nashville. Colonel Forest was ordered, at about two o'clock, to ascertain the position of the Nationals, and the practicability of escaping by the river road. He reported, that the position from which the Confederates had been driven by Wallace in the afternoon, on the left, by which lay their projected course of ACTION OF COWAKDLY LEADERS. 219 escape, was held by a large body of troops, and that the back-water above Dover coiild not be crossed except by cavalry. Again the council deliberated, when is was agreed that the cost of an attempt to cut their way out would probably be the loss of the lives of three-fourths of the troops. " No com- mander," said Buckner, " has a right to make such a sacrifice." Floyd agreed with him, and quickly said, " Then we will have to capitulate ; but, gentle- men," he added, nervously, "I cannot surrender; you know my position with the Federals : it wouldn't do, it wouldn't do." Pillow then said to Floyd, " I will not surrender myself nor the command ; will die first." " Then," said Buckner, coolly, " I suppose, gentlemen, the surrender will devolve upon me." The terrified Floyd quickly asked, "General, if you are put in com- mand, will you allow me to take out, by the river, my brigade ?" " If you move before I shall offer to surrender," Buckner replied. " Then, sir," said Floyd, " I surrender the command." Pillow, who was next in rank, and to whom Floyd oifered to transfer the command, quickly exclaimed, " I will not accept it I will never surrender." While speaking, he turned toward Buck- ner, who said, " I will accept, and share the fate of my command." 1 When the capitulation was determined upon, Floyd and Pillow, who, it has been justly remarked, had already disgraced the name of American citizens, proceeded to disgrace the character of a soldier also, 2 by stealing away under cover of the night, deserting, in the most cowardly manner, the soldierly Buckner and the brave men who had defended the post. In order to aid their flight, the latter allowed Forest to attempt to cut his way out with his cavalry. In too much haste to save himself, Floyd did not wait for all of his Virginians to get ready to escape with him, but with a few of them, hastily collected, he embarked on a steamer at Dover, followed by the curses and hisses of thousands on the shore, and fled to Nashville. 3 Pillow sneaked away in the darkness, and, in perfect safety at his home in Columbia, in Middle Tennessee, he sat down a few days afterward to write a report to his indignant superiors. Forest and his horsemen, about eight hundred in num- ber, also escaped. There is not in all history a meaner picture of the conduct of traitors than that afforded by the Council of War at Dover, on Sunday morning, the 16th of February, 1862. That Sunday morning dawned brightly upon the Union army. At day- break, Wallace prepared to storm the Confederate intrenchments, and while making dispositions for that purpose, a bugle in the direction of the fort sounded a parley. Dimly seen in the morning twilight was an officer with the bugler, bearing a white flag, and at the same time a similar flag was seen waving over the fort, in token of a willingness to surrender. Wallace *-* o immediately rode to Buckner's quarters. The latter had posted a letter to Grant, asking for the appointment of commissioners to agree upon terms of i Sworn statements of Colonel Forest, Major Gnstavus A. Henry, Major W. H. Haynea, and Hunter Nichol- son, who were present at the council. 5 CoppeVs Grant and his Campaign*, page 66. 3 An epigrammatist of the day wrote concerning Floyd's escape, saying : "The thief is a coward by nature's law; Who betrays the State, to no one is true; And the brave foe at Fort Donelson saw Their light-fingered Floyd was light-footed toa 220 TERMS OF SURRENDER. capitulation, and suggesting an armistice until noon. Wallace immediately sent word to Grant that Dover was surrendered, and his troops were in possession of the town. This made Grant's reply to Buckner short and explicit. He considered Buckner and his troops as simply rebels in arms, with no right to ask any terms excepting such as humanity required, so he said, " No terms other than unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works." Grant's reply irritated the helpless Buckner, and, with folly equal to his chagrin, he answered, " The distribution of the forces under my command, incident to an unexpected change of commanders, and the overwhelming force under your command, compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success CAMP DOUGLAS. of the Confederate arms yesterday, to accept the ungenerous and unchival- rous terms which you propose." This was followed by the speedy surrender of the fort, with thirteen thousand five hundred men, as prisoners of war (including the sick and wounded), a large proportion of whom were sent to Camp Douglas, near Chicago ;' also three thousand horses, forty-eight field- 1 Generals Buckner and Tilghman, who were captured at Fort Henry, were sent to Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor. Leading Unionists of Kentucky asked for the surrender of Buckner to the civil authorities of that State, to be tried for treason against that commonwealth. The application was refused, and he was afterward ex- changed. Camp Douglas was so named in honor of Senator Douglas, and was situ- ated on land that had belonged to him. In this camp many of the Western regiments, that performed such signal service, were drilled. It was converted into a prison, and early in April, 1862, after the battle of Shiloh, it contained PBISON AT CAMP CHASE, COLUMBUS, OHIO. ful1 8 > 000 captives, most of whom were from Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas. The passage of these prisoners through the country to their destinatiog produced a profound sensation. A St. Louis journal mentioned the arrival there of ten thousand of them, on ten steamers. A large number of the captives at Forts Henry and Donelson were also sent to Camp Chase, at Columbus, SURRENDER OF FORT DONELSOX. 221 pieces, seventeen heavy guns, twenty thousand muskets, and a great quan- tity of military stores.1 On the following day, two regiments of Tennessee PLAN OF TUB SIEOE OF TORT DONELSON. troops, that came up to re-enforce the garrison, in ignorance of the surrender, were also made prisoners. During the siege, the Confederates had lost, it Ohio, which was BO named in honor of the Secretary of the Treasury. The prison there was in the southeast corner of the camp. The strong inclosure was about sixteen feet in height, built of two-inch pine plank, with scantling well bolted and braced. The picture shows the exterior of the prison and the guard-houses. 1 A participant in the scenes at Fort Donelson wrote as follows concerning the surrender: " One of the grandest sights in the whole siege, and one which comes only once in a century, was the triumphal entry into the Fort on Sunday morning. . . . The sight from the highest point In the fort, commanding a view of both river and camp, was imposing. There were on one side regiment after regiment pouring in, their flags floating gayly in the wind ; some of them which had been rent and faded on the fields of Mexico, and others with * Springfield ' emblazoned on their folds; one magnificent brass band pouring out the melodies of 'Hail Co- lumbia,' ' Star Spangled Banner,' ' Yankee Doodle,' etc., in such style as the gazing captives had never heard, even in the palmy days of peace. On the other was a spectacle which surpasses all description. The narrow Cumber- land seemed alive with steamers. First came the gun-boats, firing salutes : then came little black tugs, snorting their acclamations ; and after them the vast fleet of transports, pouring out volumes of black smoke, their banners floating gayly in the breeze, firing salutes, their decks covered with people sending deafening shouts in response to those from the shore. The scene was sublime, impressive, and will not easily be forgotten." 222 EFFECT OF THE FALL OF DONELSON. was estimated, two hundred and thirty-seven killed, and one thousand and seven wounded. The National loss was estimated at four hundred and forty- six killed, one thousand seven hundred and forty-five wounded, and one hun- dred and fifty prisoners. The latter had been sent across the river, and were not re-captured. 1 The victory at Fort Donelson was of the greatest importance to the National cause, and the official announcement of it, 2 spreading with speed of lightning over the land, produced intense joy in every loyal bosom. Cities were illuminated, heavy guns thundered forth National salutes ; and every- where the flag of the Republic was flung to the breeze, in token of profound satisfaction. The news filled the conspirators with despair, and terribly depressed the spirits of the soldiers of the Confederate army. By it Europe was made to doubt the success of the rebellion ; and at some courts it pro- duced the first serious thoughts of abandoning the cause of the conspirators. Its effect, in all relations, was similar to that of the capture of Burgoyne and his ai'my at Saratoga, in 1777. So powerful was the impression, that the Confederate Commissioners abroad felt compelled to do all in their power to belittle the event, and, by taking advantage of the general deficiency of knowledge of American geography, 3 to satisfy the ruling class that it was of no military importance whatever. In that effort the Commissioners failed. At Richmond the fall of Fort Donelson caused emotions of mingled anger and dismay. The loss of Roanoke Island, a few days before, had greatly alarmed and irritated the conspirators ; and now the chief of the Confede- 1 Reports of Generals Grant, McClernand, Wallace, and subordinate officers; and of Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner, and their subordinates. Also written and oral statements to the author by participants in the action. * Commander Walke, in the Carondetet, carried the first news of the victory to Cairo, from which it was telegraphed to General McClellan by General George W. Cullnni, Hallcck's Chief of Staff, then at Cairo, saying: "The Union flag Coats over Donelson. The Carondelet, Captain Walke, brings the glorious intelligence. The fort surrendered at nine o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning. Generals Bnckner, Bushrod R. Johnston, and 15,000 prisoners, and a large amount of materials of war, are the trophies of the victory. Loss heavy on both sides. Floyd, the thief, stole away during the night previous with 5,000 men, and is denounced by the rebels as a traitor." He then spoke of the good conduct of Commodore Foote, and announced the fact that, notwithstanding his Bufferings from the wound in his foot, he would immediately make, an attack on Clarksville, an important post about forty miles above. lie concluded by saying, " We are now firing a National salute from Fort Cairo, General Grant's late post, in honor of the glorious achievement" The women of St. Louis, desirous of testifying their admiration of General Ilalleck, In whose Department and by whose troops these victories had been achieved (and because of his energy in suppressing secession in Missouri), ordered an elegant sword to be made by TilTany