Class _^_ Book Copyright]^?. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. / REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC THE THIRD PERIOD THE WAR OF THE REBELLION IN THE YEAR 1864 — •"■" '], BY /-^ CHARLES CARLETON COFFIN AUTHOR OF "THE BOYS OF '76" "THE STORY OF LIBERTY" "OLD TIMES IN TH|; COLONIES' "BUILDING THE NATION" " DRUMBEAT OF THE NATION" "MARCHING TO VICTORY" &c. jJllnstratcb NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE 1890 Copyright, 1889, by Harper & Brothers. All rights reserved. d DeMcatet) TO MRS. H. M. MILLER FRIEND OF MANY YEARS, WHOSE LIFE WORK HAS BEEN THE IMPARTING OF INSTRUCTION TO THOSE WHO WERE TO BE CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC, AND THE INCULCATION OF A DEEP AND REVERENT LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND ITS INSTITUTIONS INTRODUCTION. "TDEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC" is the third vohime of the His- -L*^ toiy of the War of the Rebellion. It is intended to present a con- cise but authentic narrative of the leading military operations and events during the third period of the war, from the opening of the year 1864 to the close of its summer months. When the war began, the one motive animating the people of the North was the preservation of the Union ; but as tlie months rolled away, with clearing vision, it was seen that if the Union was to be preserved, slavery, which had caused the war, must be de- stroyed. Abraham Lincoln had issued a proclamation giving freedom to the slaves. It had been done as a war measure. Many men who at the outset had been earnest for the preservation of the Union questioned liis right under the Constitution to promulgate such an edict, but the great majority of the people demanded that slavery should be exterminated. The issue, therefore, during the third period of the conflict, was not the preservation of the Union alone, but the redemption of the republic from the curse of slavery. This, quite as much as the maintenance of the Union, in 1864, was the motive Mdiich nerved the soldiers in battle, and prompted President Lincoln and the loyal people to reject all thought of peace till the last slave should be free and the flag of the Union waving throughout the country as the emblem of authority. The midsummer of 1863 was distinguished by the victories of Vicks- burg, the opening of the Mississippi River once more to peaceful com- merce, and by the victory of Gettysburg, the turning-point in the war. The close of the year was characterized by the victories of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Knoxville, and the permanent occupa- tion of the State of Tennessee by the soldiers of the Union- Up to that time there had been little unity of action by the commanders of the Union armies in the campaigns, which had been conducted in part by General Halleck, whose headquarters were in Wasliington. It was seen viii INTRODUCTION. that for efficient and harmonious action there must be one commander who slionld liave full control of military operations. To that end General Grant, who had won the victories of Donelson and Shiloli, who had planned the strategy of Yicksburg and Chattanooga, was created lieuten- ant-general by Congress and made commander of all the armies in, the Held. His appointment, in March, 1864, marked the beginning of a new period in the history of the war. This volume, therefore, is a narration of the leading events of the first months of the final struggle. It will be seen that the conflict became more intense and sanguinary as the Army of the Potomac made its way, by successive flanking move- ments, from the Rapidan to the James, under General Grant, while the Army of the West, under Sherman, advanced similarly from Dalton to Atlanta. On no European battle-field was there ever a loftier exhibition of bravery and valor — exhibited by Union and Confederate soldiers alike — than at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Resaca, Kenesaw, Marietta, and Atlanta ; unbounded, aggressive energy on the one side, by the troops of the Union, and resolute determination on the other by the soldiers of the Confederacy. Final victory is not determined alone by bravery, but by ability to en- dure. When the conspirators destroyed the Union, that they might estab- lish an aristocratic government based on slavery, they were blind to the movements of the age, and ignorant of the material resources or physical power of a fi'ee people, endowed with all tlie industries and arts of a high civilization, to maintain millions of men in arms, supply every needful want, and construct a navy that should blockade every Confederate port. They did not see that instead of starving millions, ruin and desolation, the JSTorthern States would become a great workshop ; that every art and industry would thrive* as never before. Neither, on the other hand, did they see that the time would come when there would be an utter ex- haustion of supplies in the Confederacy ; that slavery fostered no arts or industries; that in consequence there would come a fading away of all resources ; and that there would come an hour when there would be ut- ter inability on the part of the Confederacy to maintain the struggle. It will be seen that the Confederate Government, in order to retrieve its waning fortunes, did not scruple to violate the laws of neutrality and hospitality by making preparations in Canada to organize a force for the release of Confederate prisoners, by gathering desperate men to make havoc, burn and destroy the great cities of the North, and inaugurate civil war throughout the country by an alliance with the secret and dis- INTRODUCTION. IX loyal order known as the " Sons of Liberty." The plan, authorized by Jefferson Davis, failed through the vigilance and action of loyal men ; but in its inception and attempted execution it will ever be a witness to the decadence of moral principle in those who could look with compla- cence upon a plan for letting loose a horde of ruffians upon an unprotect- ed and unsuspecting people to burn, plunder, and destroy. As in " Drum-beat of the Nation " and " Marching to Victory," I have endeavored to make an authentic record of events, divesting myself of prejudice as far as it is possible for one to do so who was in the conflict from the first month of the war to the closing scene. I cheerfully and unreservedly accord bravery, valor, and heroism to the Confederate sol- diers as to those of the Union, great and distinguished ability to the gen- erals commanding the Confederate armies, self-denial, patient suffering, privation, endurance, and sincere belief in the righteousness of their cause, to the people of the South ; but on the other hand, after a quarter of a century has rolled away, and the passions and prejudices of the conflict are as ashes upon a hearth-stone, the conviction remains, and deepens with each passing year, illumined by the light of a loftier civilization than the world has ever seen, that the attempt to overthrow the benign govern- ment of the people, and the establishment of one based on slavery, will be regarded in the future not as a mistake, but as one of the gigantic crimes of all history. In writing the words, I am not conscious of any bitter- ness, but of pain and sorrow only. It was prompted by the aggressive spirit of the slave propagandists, who thought only of perpetuating their political power and the establishment of a nation in which the many should ever administer to the wants of the few. As the artist gazing upon the landscape M^hicli he has attempted to portray sits down in despair over his inability to give adequate expres- sion to its features, so I lay down my pen as I realize how feebly my words picture the valor, the love and devotion to the flag, manifested in the scenes of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Eesaca, and Atlanta; but such as they are, I give them, that the sons and daughters of this fair land may know how much it has cost to Redeem the Republic. > Charles Caeleton Coffin. Boston, September, 1889. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Opening of the Year 1864 1 CHAPTER II. Red River Expedition. 44 CHAPTER III. The Great Commander g7 CHAPTER IV. The Wilderness 7y CHAPTER V. Spottstlvania 97 CHAPTER VI. Bermuda Hundred and Drewry's Bluff I33 CHAPTER VII. From Spottstlvania to Cold Harbor I53 CHAPTER VIII. From Chattanooga to Allatoona I99 CHAPTER IX. New Hope and Kenesaw , 228 CHAPTER X. The Valley op the Shenandoah 360 xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XL PAGE The "Alabama" and " Kearsarge" 288 CHAPTER XII. From Cold Harbor to Petersburg 312 CHAPTER XIIL Approaching Atlanta 335 CHAPTER XIV. The Siege op Petersburg 358 CHAPTER XV. Mobile Bay 377 CHAPTER XVI. Fall of Atlanta 401 CHAPTER XVII. Confederate Raids 427 CHAPTER XVIII. Political Affairs in MrosuMaiEB, 1864 439 CHAPTER XIX. Silent Forces 454 INDEX 469 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAOE Artillery going into Action Frontupiece Keeping Watch 7 Operations in the West 11 Washing up 15 Freedom 19 The Battle of Olustee 23 Return of the Union Army 27 Ulrich Dahlgren 29 On the Way to Freedom 31 Destroying the Canal 35 Massacre at Fort Pillow 39 Union Refugees 45 Map of the Red River Expedition 49 Confederates under General Green 59 Passing the Dam 63 Lieutenant-general Grant receiving his Commission 69 Movement to the Wilderness 79 General Grant's Headquarters at Germa- niaFord '...., 83 Major-gen. G. K. Warren 85 Wilderness Battle-field 87 In the Wilderness 89 Spottsylvania Court-house 98 House of Mr. Alsop 101 Map of Spottsylvania 103 Scene of Sedgwick's Death 105 General Sedgwick 107 "I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer " 113 The Field of the Bloody Angle 116 The House of Mr. McCool 123 Gen. Wesley Merritt 127 Sheridan and Stuart's Fight 129 From Cold Harbor to Potcrsburtr 135 PACK Pontoon-bridge, Point of Rocks, on the Apppmatox. (From a Sketch made June, 1864.) 139 Engagement at Arrowfield Church 141 Laying Pontoons 143 Constructing Breastworks , 145 Battle of Drewry's Bluff 147 From Spottsylvania to Hanover 155 Second Corps Batteries. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 158 Soldiers in Rifle-pits near Chesterfield Bridge, North Anna River. (From a war-time Pliotograph.) 159 Burning the Railway Bridge across the North Anna 160 Loading with Canister 161 Quarles'sMill, North Anna River. (From a Photograph taken in 1864.) 162 Pioneers constructing a Road at Ox Ford. (From a Sketch made at the time. ) 163 Earthwork taken by the Second Corps. (From a Sketch made in 1864.) 164 Jericho Mill and Pontoon-bridge, North Anna River. (From a Photograph taken at the time.) 165 Map of the North Anna 166 Headquarters at Bethesda Church 169 The Fifth Corps at Totopotonioy Creek 175 Union Artillery at Cold Harbor 179 Attack of the Eighteenth Corps at Cold Harbor 183 Second Corps at Cold Harbor. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 185 Cold Harbor 187 XIV ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGU The Taveru at Cold Harbor. (From a Photograph taken in 1887 by the au- thor.) 189 Tlie Tenth Massachusetts Battery firing the Signal for the Assault. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 191 Officers' Quarters at the Front 194 Bomb-proof Shelter 195 Sharp-shooters, Eighteenth Corps 197 Sufferings of the Poor in Tennessee. . . . 201 From Ringgold to Resaca 205 Major-gen. George H. Thomas 208 Major-general McPherson 209 Buzzard's Roost 210 Cavahy Engagement, Snake Creek Gap 211 Engagement at Dug Gap 213 Railroad Depot at Resaca, Georgia 214 Gen. Leonidas Polk 215 General Sherman 217 Dragging out the Cannon 220 Burning Bridge at Resaca. (From a Sketch made on the morning of May 16,1864.) 221 The Battle of Resaca. (Fiom a Sketch made at the time. ) 223 Battle of New Hope. — Attack of Hook- er's Corps on the Right 229 Battle of New Hope. — Attack of Hook- er's Corps on the Left 233 Ackworth Station. (From a Sketch made May, 1864.) 235 The Battle of Pickett's Mill. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 237 Battle of Dallas. — Logan Cheering his Troops 241 From Resaca to Kenesaw 243 Battle of Dallas. — Attack on Harrow's Division 245 Where General Polk Fell. (From a Sketch made in 1864.) 247 Deserters entering the LTnion Lines .... 249 Union Signal-station on Pine Mountain, looking towards Kenesaw 251 Kenesaw from Little Kenesaw 255 ^Marietta, 1864. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 257 Destroying the East Tennessee Railroad Biiclge 261 PAQIi Battle of New Market. 263 Military Operations in the Shenandoah Valley 269 General Custer 271 Beginning of the Battle in the Woods. . 275 Early's Movement to Washington 279 Battle of Monocacy 282 The Defences of Washington 284 Confederates retreating across the Po- tomac with their Plunder 286 The Alabama 289 Raphael Semmes 292 Chart of the Cruise of the Alabama. . . . 297 The Kearsuvge 299 Capt. John A. Wiuslow 303 Kearsarge and Alabama. — Hauling down the Flag 305 Movements of the Alabama and Kear- sarge 309 The Second Corps, General Hancock, crossing the James. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 317 General Grant at City Point 321 Assault of Potter's Division, Ninth Corps 327 Attacking the Confederate Intrench- ments at Petersburg. (From a war- time Sketch.) 329 Avery House, Headquarters of General Warren, in front of Petersburg. (F.iom a wai'-time Sketch.). 332 Generals Hunt and Duane 333 The Fish -trap on the Chattahoochee where General Schofield crossed 336 Turner's Mill, Nickajack Creek 337 Major-general Schofield 339 General Howard's Corps crossing the Chattahoochee. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 341 Map of Atlanta and Vicinity 345 View of Atlanta, from the Union Signal- station east of the City. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 347 Where McPherson Fell 353 Return of the Cavalry 359 Tearing up the Rails 361 First Connecticut Artillery Siege Guns. 363 Soldiers' Wells 365 ILLUSTKATIONS. PAQR Behind the Breastworks 367 Capture of Guns by Miles's Brigade. . . . 371 Engineer's Lookout 375 Ofi Mobile Bay at Night 379 Admiral Farragut 881 Securing a Torpedo 383 The Opening of the Battle of Mobile Bay 387 The Seltna surrendering to the Meta- comet. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 893 The Battle of Mobile Bay 893 The Contest with the Tennessee. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 395 Capture of Fort Morgan. (From a Sketch made at the time.) 399 ' ' I intend to place this army south of Atlanta" 403 Battle of Ezra Church. (From a war- time Sketch.) 407 Ezra Church 409 Gen. Judson Kilpatrick 411 Positions of the Union and Confederate Armies at Jonesborough 415 Battle of Jonesborough 417 Capture of Confederate Works at Jones- borough. (From a war-lime Sketch.) 418 Confederate Prisoners taken at Jones- borough. (From a Sketch made at the time. ) 419 Removing the People from Atlanta .... 423 General Sherman's Quarters 425 Gen. A. J. Smith 429 Forrest's Cavalry in Memphis 431 Ruins of Chambersburg 436 Agricultural Industry in the Confed- eracy 455 "Cotton is King!" — A Cotton Shed in New Orleans 458 Weaving in the Confederacy 460 Weaving in the North 461 The Power of Free Labor 463 " Sheep began to multiply upon the green mountains of Vermont " 465 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. CHAPTER I. OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. F OR two years and seven months the War of the Rebellion had gone on. The victories at Gettysbnrg, Yicksburg, Port Hudson, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Knoxville, won by the armies of the Union during the year, made the people of the North more than ever determined to carry on the war till the flag of the United Jan. 1, 1864. g^^^^^ shonld be recognized everywhere throughout the country as the only rightful emblem of sovereignty. Though the Confederate armies had suffered these defeats, they had won, during the year 1863, tlie victories of Chancellorsville and Chicka- mauga. Though the Mississippi had been opened and commerce was once more moving upon that river, though railroads had been torn up and locomotives destroyed, though the Army of the West had been forced out of Tennessee, the Confederate Government was as defiant as at the be- ginning. The newspapers of the Confederate States kept up the courage of the people by confident predictions of ultimate success. Far-seeing men, however, in the Confederate States saw that the resources of those States were rapidly wasting away, and that after a while there would be utter exhaustion. The soldiers might fight as bravely as ever, their cour- age on the battle-field and the elan of their charge upon opposing troops might be as noble as in the past, but they must be fed and clothed, and the waste of war made good if victory was to be won at last. When the great conflict began tiie soldiers of the "Confederacy were buoyant with hope. The victories won by them in 1862 had awakened a confident expectation of final triumph. Around their camp-fires they had sung of the " Bonnie Blue Flag," " Maryland, my Maryland." With 1 2 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. the morning reveille, and at evening parade, the bands had played the tune of " Dixie." The soldiers had sung it on the march and by the biv- ouac fire. It had become the musical air of the Confederacy. DIXIE. 1 Southrons, hear j^our country cull you ! Up, lest worse than death befall you . To arms! to arras! to arms in Dixie! Lo! all beacon fires are lighted. Let our hearts be now united : To arms! to arms! to arms in Dixie! Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! Hurrah! For Dixie's land we'll take our stand, To live or die for Dixie! To .arms! To arms' And conquer peace for Dixie! To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! It was heard less frequently than at the opening of the strife. It is not easy for us to sing after defeat and disaster. More than this, the sol- OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 3 diers of the Confederate armies had begun to understand that the men opposing them were not the hirelings which the newspapers had repre- sented them to be, but that they were fighting for the maintenance of the Union, and of the ideas upon which it had been established. Tliey knew through sad reverses that the soldiers of the Union were as brave as themselves ; still more, they knew that while they were suffering hun- ger and were in want of clothing, the men opposing them had abundant supplies. Mau}^ a Confederate soldier, with clearer insight than Jeiferson Davis or the men composing the government, saw that the cause was waning, that the people of the United States were arousing themselves to prosecute the war with renewed energy. The nations of Europe beheld with amazement the growing propor- tions of the mighty struggle — the marshalling of great armies by a peoj^le without military experience, and wholly unprepared at the beginning. Never before in the history of nations had there been such a voluntary uprising of a people to maintain a government. On April 15, 1S61, President Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand militia to maintain the authority of the Government, and ninety-one thousand volunteers re- sponded. On the 3d of May following he called for soldiers to serve for three years, and six hundred and fifty-seven thousand enlisted for three years, forty thousand for two years, and nearly ten thousand for one year. Again he called for volunteers in July and August, 18G2, and four hun- dred and twenty-one thousand enlisted for three years, and eiglity-seven thousand for nine months. From the beginning of the struggle to Au- gust, 1862, more than thirteen hundred thousand young men in the bloom of life left their farms and workshops and volunteered to maintain. the authority of the Government. But disease and death had decimated the ranks of the great armies. The Peace Democrats, a great political party, had declared that the Re- bellion never could be put down, that the war was a failure, and de- manded " peace at any price." No more volunteers came, and the Pres- ident was obliged to issue, by authority of Congress, an order for a draft, under which, in 1863, three hundred and sixty -nine thousand soldiers were added to the ranks. It was seen that if the war was to be pros- ecuted vigorously the armies must be made still larger ; and in March, 1864, the President issued another order for a draft, under which three hundred and eighty-six thousand were gathered into the ranks. During the three years ending April, 1864, two million three hundred and eighty thousand soldiers were marshalled, armed, and equipped, and furnished with all needful supplies. 4 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. The term of service of those who vohinteered at the outbreak of the Kebellion liad expired; but with iinquencliable love for the flag of their country, many thousands re-enlisted, to serve till the last Confederate should lay down his arms. The veterans who re-enlisted are to be in- cluded in the twenty-three hundred and eighty thousand. It never will be known just how many soldiers there were in the armies of the Confedei'acy, for there never were complete returns of those who volunteered or of those who were swept in by the conscription. When the war began, the young men, animated by military ardor, and by what to them was a lofty and ennobling idea — that they were called upon to maintain the sovereignty of the State, that their just rights had been invaded — hastened to enroll themselves as volunteers ; but early in 1862 the enthusiasm began to wane, and the Confederate Congress passed an act giving Jefferson Davis authority to draft every able-bodied citizen between the age of eighteen and forty -five not specially exempted. There is no record of the numbers that were thus forced into the army. The first conscription called for those between eighteen and thirty-five years of age ; but when the news of the defeat of General Lee at Get- tysburg, of the surrender of Vicksburg and Port Hudson (see "Marching to Victory "), reached Kichmond, the Con- federate President called upon all men under forty-five years of age to repair at once to the camp in their several States. If they did not im- mediately do so they were to be regarded as deserters. When the Con- federate Conscription act was passed it was estimated that there were between seven and eight hundred thousand men under thirty-five who could be brought into military service. (') The records of the Adjutant- general's office in Richmond were kept so loosely, and were in such con- fusion, that neither the Adjutant-general, the Secretary of War, nor Jef- ferson Davis could tell how many men were in the field. (") Mr. Seddon was Secretary of War and very friendly to Jefferson Davis, but he was incompetent to manage the multitudinous affairs of the Department. The muster-rolls in 1863 showed between four and five hundred thousand drafted and enlisted men in the field ; but no one ever could tell how many had been gathered into the Confederate ranks, or how many had responded to the calls of the Governors of the several States. The conscription filled up the ranks thinned by death and dis- ease, so that in the opening months of 1864 the Army of Northern Vir- ginia, wintering on the banks of the Rapidan, was probably as strong as on the day when General Lee began his movement into Pennsylvania; while the army under General Johnston, at Dalton and vicinity, in North- OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 5 em Georgia, was as powerful as tliose which fought tlie desperate battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga. The Confederate Government passed a law to discontinue " the ex- emption from military service of those that had furnished substitutes." Only two votes were cast against it in the Senate. It Dec. 30, 1863. "^^ ., , , , • ,. ,. „ -r^. , was followed by tiie immediate disappearance from Itich- mond and other cities of a large number of men who liad hired substi- tutes. Some of them made their way through the lines into the United States, others escaped on vessels running the blockade to Nassau, and from thence to Cuba or to England. A clerk in the Confederate AVar Department wrote this in his diary on the last day of December, 1863, the day following the passage of the law: "It rained the whole of this day ; nevertheless, the Jews have been fleeing to the woods with their gold, resolved to take up their abode in the United States rather than fight for the Confederate States, where they leave in tlie ranks the sub- stitutes hired by them."(^) We are not to understand that he had reference to the Israelites in the Confederacy, but to those men who had made money by speculation, and who had changed the Confederate paper-money into gold. We have a picture of the state of affairs in the capital of tlie Confederacy during the opening days of 1864. Flour was $150 per barrel; corn-meal $16 per bushel ; guests at the hotels were paying $20 per day in Confederate paper-money; but an Englishman stopping at the best hotels, who had brought English shillings with him across the Atlantic, paid only sev- enty-five cents per day — of so little value was the paper-money. Colo- nel Preston gave a small dinner-party, which cost him $2000 in paper- money. (^) We are not to think that all the men in the United States who were liable to military service, between eighteen and thirty-five, were ready to take their places in the ranks when drafted ; for when Abraham Lincoln issued his order for filling up the ranks, a great many men fled to Canada. A large number who called tliemselves Peace Democrats, who were op- posed to the war, liastened at once beyond the reach of the draft officers, returning only when there was no longer any probability of their being called upon to enter the army. The winter was cold and dreary and comfortless to the soldiers of the two great armies gathered on the banks of the Rapidan. Snow fell upon Union and Confederate alike, whirling around the huts which they had erected to shelter them from the blasts, blinding the eyes and chilling the sentries as they kept ward and watch against surprise. In the army 6 redep:ming the republic. of the Union there was abundant food, while the Confederate soldiers, throui^h the inefficiency of the Commissary Department, through the wearing out of the railroads and locomotives, had scant supplies. The army under General Lee for many weeks had only one -half its daily al- lowance of food, and often during the winter had meat only two or three days in a week. From the armies of the Union veteran soldiers were departing to their homes on furlough, to clasp loved ones once more in their arms — to hear the prattle of their little children — to look into loving eyes of parents, wife, or sister — to sit by the fire in the old kitchen and tell the story of the battles to listening neighbors ; then bidding once more a tearful farewell, and returning to their comrades with their souls again on fire with love for the flag of their country. In the ranks of the army under General Lee there was like constancy and devotion to the flag of the Confederacy. The Confederate soldier believed that he was fighting in a righteous cause, not comprehending that the war Avas inaugurated and maintained for the preservation of an institution which had become repugnant to the moral sense of men every- where throughout the civilized world, and which, by attempting an over- throw of a government of the people, had doomed itself to destruction. That the soldiers of the Confederacy were mistaken as to the meaning of the war takes away nothing from their valor, courage, and endurance of hardship and privation. They believed that they were contending for their rights, yet it is quite probable very few of them would have been able to say just Avhat their rights were. There were to be other weary marches, more battles, more outpouring of blood, before the fading away of the glamour Avhich obscured their vision. Only by final defeat and exhaustion would they come to see that they had endured hardship and suffered defeat for the maintenance of slavery. One of the newspapers of Richmond contained a long article upon the beneficence of slavery. " It is a system," it said, " in which the race enslaved has been brought to the highest condition of hap- Jan. 2, 1864. . i i- • , . , i" • -.,.,.. piness and religious and social cultivation of wlncli it is capable. It is an order of society, moreover, found to be peculiarly favorable to the development and permanency of republican institutions, relieving the State of all those dangers which have their birth in the passions of the raob."(^) The Confederate Government was organized to maintain that insti- tution. The Government of the United States, on the other hand, and the Union soldiers at the beginning of the war, had but one aim — the OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 9 restoration of the authority of the United States ; but in the progress of events the end in view had become the overthrow of the institution which was the corner-stone of the Confederacy. When the war began, the few vessels composing the navy of the United States had been scattered far and wide by President Buchanan's Secretary of the Navy. (See " Drum-beat of the Nation," p. 20.) Througli the three years of tlie struggle the Government had done what it could to create a navy which would effectually close by blockade every port of the Confederacy. So efficient had the navy become that at the begin- ning of ISGi the only ports which the blockade-runners of England could arrive at or depart from were Wilmington and Savannah, on the Atlan- tic coast, and Mobile, Galveston, and the month of the Kio Grande, on the Gulf of Mexico. Only by taking advantage of nights M-hen there was no moon, or when clouds shut out the stars, was there much chance for eluding the vessels lying off those ports, with crews ever on the watch. The growth of the navy had been very rapid. There were 75 iron-clad Jan. 1, 1864. ^^^^^^^ 3^3 gteamcrs, and 112 sailing-vessels, numbering, in all, 588 vessels, carrying nearly 4500 guns, manned by 31,000 seamen. Nearly 1000 English vessels, valued at more than $20,000,000, had been captured and destroyed. So many vessels had been captured or sent to the bottom of the ocean, that the men in England whose sympathies were with the Confederacy, and who had been sending arms and ammunition across the Atlantic in exchange for cotton, began to find that their losses w^ere more than their gains. The vigilance and efliciency of the navy was having a marked effect upon the waning fortunes of the Confederacy. The Confederate Gov- ernment, under the delusion that cotton was king, had established its financial system on that one agricultural product. When the conspira- tors brought about the war, they calculated that England would purchase three hundred million dollars' worth of cotton per annum ; that the man- ufacturers, and the men and women who were spinning and weaving in the mills of Lancashire, would compel the British Government to break the blockade ; but the brave-hearted men and women, who knew that the soldiers of the Union were fighting a great battle for freedom, though starvation had come to them and they were living on charity, gave their sympathies to the Union. (See "Marching to Victory," p. 114.) The blockade was not broken, nor was there any prospect that it would be. Very little cotton was finding its way from the Confederacy to England, and the Confederate financial system went down, through the vigilance 10 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. of the men who, from tlie mast-heads of the blockading fleet, through the live-long nights scanned the horizon, while their vessels lay drifting upon the heaving sea or moving slowly between the headlands of the harbors. Planters in the heart of the cotton-growing States, whose sheds were piled with the harvests of three years, found themselves growing ■»30orer, notwithstanding their accumulated crops of cotton. Their slaves were becoming burdensome, for they were no longer wealth producers but consumers. The Confederacy was read}' to purchase corn and bacon from the planters, but the paper-notes of the Government were valueless. So slavery, the institution for the preservation of which the conspirators had inaugurated the war, was feeling the silent but effective work accom- plished by the navy. During the war, railroad junctions in the Confederate States were usual- ly important places from the military point of view. Meridian, in eastern Mississippi, not far from the Alabama line, was a new town built in the pine woods, the junction of the railroad leading east from Vicksburg to Selma and Montgomery, in Alabama, and thence to Charleston and Savan- nah, and the road leading northward from Mobile to Corinth. The Con- federate Government had selected Meridian as a convenient base for mil- itary supplies, had collected a large amount of provisions at that point, and established an arsenal and armory, where arms were repaired. It had thus become a place of great importance in connection with military operations. Lieutenant-general Polk was in command of the Confederate troops in Mississippi, with his headquarters at Meridian. He had two divisions of infantry, one commanded by General Loring, which was at Canton, on the railroad, a few miles north of Jackson, in the centre of the State, and the other commanded by General French, who was at Brandon, be- tween Jackson and Meridian. The troops were stationed at these places because there was an abundance of food to be had from the surrounding plantations ; and if they were needed at Mobile, or northward at Chat- tanooga, they could be sent by rail in either direction at short notice. More than this, they could be thrown forward to the Mississippi, and strike a blow in that direction should opportunity offer. The Confed- erate cavalry had become very bold, and steamboats on the Mississippi were frequently fired upon. The Union troops at Yicksburg were under the command of General Sherman, who went to Nashville and asked permission of General Grant to organize an expedition with the special design of destroying the rail- road junction and Confederate armory and stores at Meridian, which, if OPERATIONS IN THE "WEST. OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 13 effectually done, would prevent tlie Confederate armies in Virginia and in front of Chattanooga from receiving supplies from the south-western section of the Confederacy. General Grant thought well of the plan. General Sherman's spies, who went out from Memphis and Vicksburo-, informed him that besides the Confederate infantry at Canton and Bran- don, there were between four and live thousand Confederate cavalry un- der General Forrest roaming through western Tennessee and northern Mississippi, moving rapidly, cutting off Union supply- trains and small bodies of troops, sending a few troops to lire upon steamboats, greatly annoying the Union commander. To put a stop to Forrest's operations, General Sherman directed Gen. William Sooy Smith to organize a large cavalry force, and to move from Memphis and scatter the Confederate cavalry. Smith was to start February 1st ; Sherman, February 3d. Smith would march south-east ; Sherman, due east. "You will encounter Forrest. He is a good fighter, and you must always be prepared for him. After you have repulsed him you must attack and utterly rout him." Such the tenor of Sherman's instruc- tions. (') It was a beautiful morning when the Sixteenth Army Corps, com- manded by General McPherson, accompanied by the Seventeenth, com- manded by General Hurlburt, marched eastward from their r eb. 3, 1864. -\t' ^ i encampments at Vicksburg, preceded by a brigade of cav- alry. There were forty-one regiments of infantry, three of cavalry, forty- two cannon ; in all, nearly twenty thousand men. The roads were in ex- cellent condition, and the soldiers, with life and spirit, after weeks of rest, marched rapidly, and at nightfall were seventeen miles on their way tow- ards Meridian, kindling their bivouac fires at night on the eastern bank of the Big Black River. The next day they were marching past the bat- tle-field on which they had won the notable victory of Champion Hills. (See " Marching to Victory," p. TO.) The succeeding day brought them to Jackson, where they had a skirmish with the Confederate troops sent out by General Loring. At Decatur General Sherman narrowly escaped being captured. He rode up to a log-cabin, unsaddled his horse, threw himself upon a bed, and soon was sound asleep, but was awakened by the firing of pistols. " The Rebel cav^alry are all around us !" shouted Major Audenreid. General Sherman had himself posted a regiment at the junction of two roads as guard ; but an officer, not knowing that he was in the house, had ordered the troops to move on. The Confederate cavalry had improved the opportunity to dash upon the wagon-train. Major Audenreid ran to 14 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. brinj? back tlie troops, while General Sherman secreted himself in a corn- crib. The troops came upon the run, and the Confederates fled.(') "When the troops halted at night, they washed themselves at the vil- lao-e pump, kindled fires, cooked their coffee, and in the early morning ao-ain were on the march, making 160 miles in ten days. The advance was so rapid, the movement so unexpected, that the Confederates had not time to remove the locomotives and cars at Meridian. The railroad buildings and all the property belonging to the Confederate Government were burned, together with railroad bridges, and the tracks torn up eastward to Alabama, southward twenty miles, also westward and north- ward. Hearing nothing from the cavalry under General Smith, General Sherman began his return, reaching Vicksburg without a battle ; having destroyed more than one hundred miles of railroad-track, burned sixty- seven bridges and seven thousand feet of trestle, destroyed twenty loco- motives, twenty-eight cars, ten thousand bales of cotton, two million bushels of corn, owned by the Confederate Government, together with the arsenal and its machinery. Swiftly from plantation to plantation spread the news of the move- ment of Sherman. The slaves knew of it before the information reached their masters ; and when the sun went down, old and young, men, wom- en, and children, were on the move, stealing noiselessly away from their cabins, with bundles in their hands or on their backs, on foot, on mules and horses, in rickety carts drawn by a single cow with rope harness — more than five thousand of them hastening to gain the freedom which had been given them by Abraham Lincoln, and which they knew would be theirs could they but go with the men who carried the Stars and Stripes. (') They brought chickens, turkeys, and sucking-pigs to the sol- diers, carried their knapsacks for them, waited upon them, thus express- ing their gratitude. The movement was a blow which greatly crippled the operations of the Confederate army for the remainder of the year. It gave General Sherman an insight of the true condition of the coun- try : that there were abundant supplies of food in the Confederacy, and that a Union army might cut loose from its base of operations without fear of starvation. What came of this observation we shall see in due time. Where was the force of cavalry which started from Memphis on the 1st of February, and was to co-operate with the infantry? A military commander may lay his plans wisely, may think out a strategic move- ment which pron)ises great results, but which may fail through the inef- ficiency of a subordinate oflScer. General Sherman had planned the OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 17 movement not only to destroy Meridian, but to scatter Forrest's cavalry to the winds. He had given General Smith a strong force, had directed him to start on the 1st of February, but not till the 11th of the month was he in motion. He waited for a brigade which was on steamboats descending the Mississippi, and which was ice-bound at Columbus. (^) When at last he began his movement, Sherman was at Meridian, too far away to co-operate with him. General Forrest confronted him near Oka- lona, on the Mobile and Ohio Hailroad. After destroying a portion of the railroad-track and a large quantity of corn and cotton, General Smith, finding Forrest so strong, returned to Memphis, accompanied by more than one thousand negroes, many of whom, a few weeks later, were en- listed as soldiers in the service of the Union. The cavalry movement had been inefiiciently conducted, and General Forrest's forces, instead of being dispersed, became bolder than ever in their operations. The Union and the Confederate armies west of the Alleghanies, at the beginning of 186-1, were like men upon a chess-board. The Union Army of the Cumberland, under General Thomas, was at Chattanooga, con- fronted by a Confederate army at Dalton, Georgia, under Gen. Josej^h E. Johnston, who had succeeded General Bragg. General Thomas had lost so many horses, and had such a scant supply of provisions, that he could not make any offensive movement, except a demonstration towards Dalton to prevent General Johnston from sending troops to General Polk. It is twenty-four miles from Chattanooga to Ringgold, thirty-one to Tunnel Hill, the dividing line between the waters of the Tennessee northward and the streams which run southward to the Gulf of Mexico, and forty miles to Dalton. The advanced troops of General Johnston held Tunnel Hill, where the railroad from Chattanooga to Dalton passes through a tunnel. The Union troops held the battle-field of Chicka- mauga and the town of Ringgold. General Palmer commanded the Union troops nearest to Ringgold. Deserters from Johnston's army came into his lines and said that Cle- burne's and Cheatham's divisions of the Confederate army Feb. 22, 1864. , . , ^ , m i • • /^ i were hastenmg southward on the railroad to join General Polk. General Palmer thereupon sent word to General Thomas, who or- dered an advance of all available troops towards Tunnel Hill. There was skirmishing between the Union and Confederate cavalry, cannonad- ing by the artillery, the advance of Davis's, Cruft's, and Baird's divisions, which had the effect of bringing back the two Confederate divisions that had started to join General Polk. 2 18 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. General Thomas found that the Confederates occupied a very strong position, and that Johnston's army was larger than his own, and so re- turned to Ringgold and Chattanooga, having lost in the several skir- mishes and in the attack of General Turchin's brigade at Tunnel Hill between three and four hundred men. But he gained valuable informa- tion. He saw that the position of General Johnston was very strong; that there were hills and mountain ranges rising sharp and steep, with white ledges of limestone crowning their summits ; that there were nat- ural fortifications which were being made impregnable by the Confed- erate soldiers ; that westward of Tunnel Hill there was a valley, called Snake Creek Gap ; that if an army could make its way through that pass, all of the strong positions could be flanked and made of no account. We shall see by-and-by how valuable was the knowledge gained by this movement. Going to East Tennessee, we see a Union army under General Scho- field at Knoxville, and a Confederate force under General Longstreet, who in November, 1863, had been repulsed with heavy losses in his at- tack upon Knoxville. (See "Marching to Victory," chap, xxiii.) General Longstreet's troops were at Bristol and Abingdon, subsisting upon the sui-rounding country. The army under General Schofield could make no aggressive movement, for want of horses and supplies. The country was becoming very poor, and the people of East Tennessee were suffer- ing terrible hardships. During the months of January and February there were numerous bands of guerillas in Tennessee — men who sympathized with the Con- federates, who would be working on their farms one day as quiet, peace- able, unoffending citizens, who the next day would be miles away from their homes, burning bridges on the railroad, drawing spikes from the ties, rolling stones upon the track, or pouncing upon a Union army-train or an outpost guarded by half a dozen soldiers. There were frequent skirmishes and small engagements. General Thomas organized a force of loyal Tennesseeans who were thoroughly acquainted with the coun- ti-y, who guarded the railroads and bridges, thus relieving the troops. The one line of railroad leading from Chattanooga to Kashville was re- paired, but not till the month of March could there be any preparation for the great campaign of the year. Steamboats were built to ply upon the Tennessee, a great storehouse was erected at Chattanooga, block- houses were built at the crossings of rivers, together with fortifications, so that a few troops would be able to protect the bridges. By such ar- rangements the Union cavalry, which had been guarding the railroads OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 21 and holding the country in rear of the armies, were relieved and placed in positions to take part in the approaching campaign. President Lincoln was informed that there were a large number of Union men in Florida, and that if a military force were sent to that section a State government that would be loyal to the Union ' ' could be organized. lie therefore directed General Gillmore, in command of the troops on the south Atlantic coast, who had captured Fort Wagner, and who had reduced Sumter to a shapeless ruin (see "Marching to Victory"), to send an expedition to Jacksonville. So it came about that on February 7th twenty steamers, several gunboats, and a fleet of schooners appeared off the mouth of St. John's River with five thousand troops, which landed at Jacksonville, and marched into the country along the line of the Central Railroad leading westward, dispers- ing small bodies of Confederate troops, capturing eight cannon, several wagons, a large amount of supplies, and several thousand bales of cotton. The object of the expedition was not only to establish a loyal govern- ment, but to procure an outlet for cotton and lumber. A great many slaves had made tlieir way out to the blockading vessels along the coast, leaving their cabins and entering boats with a bundle of clothes, hoe- cake or chicken for food, and it was supposed that recruits might be obtained for the colored regiments. The troops were under the command of Gen. Truman Seymour. Having scattered the Confederates and captured their cannon. General Seymour pushed on twenty miles to Baldwin, where he was directed by General Gillmore to concentrate his force. ('") General Seymour, having accomplished so much, ardently desired to do more — to destroy the railroad bridge across the Suwanee River, twen- ty-five miles farther on; and so, without supplies, with a small quantity of ammunition, disregarding General Gillmore's orders, he ordered an advance from Baldwin. (") It was a wearying march along a sandy road, through pine woods and groves of live-oak, where long festoons of moss hung trailing from the trees. The troops made their way across marshes and through palmetto thickets. They had a scant supply of food. Herds of pigs were running wild in the woods, but General Seymour issued stringent orders that none should be killed. He was entering Florida on a mission of recon- ciliation, to re-establish the authority of the Government, and expected that the people would welcome his coming. An officer who disregarded the order, and who allowed his hungry men to kill a pig, was severely reprimanded. ('^) 2* 22 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. "You will come back faster than you advance," said the citizens who lived along the route, and who knew that the Confederates were concen- trating for a battle. General Colquitt, with his brigade of Georgia troops, had arrived on the cars, sent by General Beauregard, in command of the Department, to Lake City to join General Finnegan. Instead of waiting for the Union troops to reach that place, General Finnegan ordered his army forward to a strong position in the woods, near the hamlet of Olustee, jDosting them along the railroad embankment. The Confed- erates outnumbered the Union troops and had twelve cannon. They had the advantage of position, and were acquainted with all the roads and winding paths, the marshes, ponds, and streams. It was two o'clock in the afternoon; the' Union troops had marched sixteen miles without halting, when the cavalry came upon the Confed- erate pickets. The troops were in three columns ; Colonel ' ' Barton's brigade was on the right, consisting of three regi- ments, the cavalry and mounted infantry in the centre, with two regiments of infantry; the brigade of Colonel Ilawley occupied the left, with three regiments of colored troops under Colonel Montgomery. The flanks of the Confederate troops were protected by swamps. They had thrown up breastworks, and were quietly waiting for the ad- vance of the Union troops. The thickets were so dense that the Con- federate position could not be discerned. The advancing troops heard no commotion in front of them ; only their own tramping and the sigh- ing of the wind through the foliage of the lofty pines broke the silence. The Seventh Connecticut was in the advance; it passed a swamp and came out into a field, when suddenly from right to left there burst forth a deadly fusillade. Quickly the Union troops came into position and opened fire. In a very few minutes the l>attle was fiercely raging. There was brave fighting. The Union troops were veterans who had been in the terrible storm of jVagner. (See "Marching to Yictory," chap, xvi.) The Confederates, behind their breastworks, and screened by the thickets, had greatl}' the advantage; but for three hours the contest went on, till the ajnmunition of Union and Confederate alike was nearly ex- hausted. Under the fierce fire it is not strange that the Union soldiers gave way, but they 'were rallied by their officers. The Confederates bided their time, the sharp-shooters picking off the Union officers, shooting the horses of the artillery — so many of them that when the Union troops retreated they were obliged to leave five cannon on the field. The battle ended with the coming on of night. The Union troops, dis- OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 25 comfited, having lost more tlian fifteen linndred men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, without provisions, began their w^eary march towards Jack- sonville. Thus, through disobedience of orders by General Seymour, the attempt to re-establish a loyal government in Florida had ended in dis- aster. The time had not come for the restoration of the authority of the United States in that State. In the old tobacco warehouse known as Libby Prison, in Richmond, and on Belle Isle, on James River, w^ere several thousand Union prisoners. Some of the ofiicers of the Army of the Potomac believed that a large body of cavalry, moving swiftly, might make its way into Richmond and release them. General Meade consented that the attempt might be made, and it was intrusted to General Kilpatfick, who selected General Gregg's and General Merritt's divisions, and who intended first to get between General Lee's army and Richmond, destroy the raih-oads, so that no trains loaded with troops could come thundering down upon him. He had about five thousand men, who took rations for three days in their haversacks and three feedings of oats in bags for their horses. General Kilpatrick believed that he would find grain in the corn-bins to supply his horses with food. It was an enterprise which enlisted the sympathies of every soldier. The thought of releasing their comrades in prison fired their enthusiasm. One of the officers who ardently desired to serve in the expedition was Ulrich Dahlgren, whose father was an admiral in the navy. He was but twenty-two years old, but had rendered signal service in West Virginia at the beginning of the war, and also on General Hooker's staff. He had lost a leg in a skirmish just after the battle of Gettysburg, but the wound had healed, and he had returned to the army and was com- mander of a brigade. It was three o'clock Sunday morning when the column left Stevens- burg, moved south-east, came to the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, captured the Confederate pickets, and moved on to Spottsylvania Court- Feb ''8 1864 j. •/ ' " ' ' house. From that point we see Colonel Dahlgren moving south-west with five hundred men, with the intention of reaching James River above Richmond, destroying the James River Canal, and then mov- ing upon the city from the west. General Kilpatrick with the main body moved south to destroy the railroads, one leading to Fredericksburg, the other to Gordonsville, and by which General Lee received his supplies. While this large force of L^nion cavalry is in motion towards the Con- federate capital, another division under General Custer is moving from 26 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Madison Court-house south-west towards the left flank of General Lee's army, to attract the attention of the Confederates in that direction M'hile Kilpatrick executes his movement. Early Monday morning General Kilpatrick reached the Virginia Cen- tral road, and the soldiers qnickly tore up the track. At Frederickshall the troops came so suddenly upon a Confederate court-martial in session that the officers composing it — a colonel, five captains, and two lieutenants — were captured. A few hours later General Kilpatrick was at Ashland, seventeen miles from Richmond, burning bridges and tearing up the track. On Tuesday noon he was within five miles of the Confederate capital. Just before noon the Confederate authorities in the city learned that a large body of Union cavalry was rapidly approaching, and there was a quick mustering of men — ^clerks in the Departments, invalid soldiers, and guards — some hastening north and north-east, and others north-west, man- nino; the fortifications. It was one o'clock when tlie citizens heard the booming of cannon in the north. General Kilpatrick had only one bat- tery of light artillery, six guns, and could do very little against the heavy cannon in the fortifications, but for two hours the cannonade went on with the expectation on the part of the Union commander of hearing from Dahlgren, but no uproar of battle could be heard, and he withdrew his troops towards the White House, at the head of York River. An hour later a roll of musketry was heard north-west of the city, in the direction of Goochland, the beginning of a short engagement between Dahlgren's men and the Confederates. Colonel Dahlgren had marked out a route, had calculated the time it would take him to reach James River and de- stroy the canal, burn bridges, and reach Richmond. It was a well-consid- ered plan, but the man who guided him, either designedly as a traitor or ignorantly, took a road which led him nine miles out of the direct course. It was four o'clock in the afternoon when he reached the Confederate earthworks north-west of the city, to find them occupied by the hastily gathered force from Richmond. He saw what Kilpatrick had already seen, that there could be no sudden rush through the streets and opening of the doors of Libby Prison, and moved east to join Kilpatrick. He crossed the Mattapony River, and went on towards Williamsburg. On Wednesday night he thought himself so far away that he was beyond all possibility of attack, but a body of Confederates followed him, discovered his bivouac fires, placed themselves by the road-side in ambush, and fired a volley. Colonel Dahlgren quickly formed his troops to charge upon them, but fell mortally wounded. His troops dispei-sed, some to make their way to Kilpatrick, others to be taken prisoners. Colonel Dahlgren's body was OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 29 taken to Richmond, exposed to public view, and then buried. His father, by flag of truce, asked that it might be sent to him, but it was not given up. The Richmond papers publislied, with many bitter comments, what purported to be an address of Colonel Dahlgren to his soldiers, which, it was stated, was found upon his body. Tiie address, as read to the troops before they started, set forth the dangers and difficulties and objects of the expedition, together with di- rections for the good behavior of the troops, and also spoke of the lionor which would come to them if they were successful in releas- ing their comrades from prison. The address as published contained a sentence setting forth tliat they were " to destroy the hateful cit}" and not allow the Rebel leader Davis and his traitorous crew to escape." General Lee sent a flag of truce to General Meade, asking if he, or General Kilpatrick, or the authorities at Washington, had au- thorized a course of action so con- trary to the rules of war. General Meade replied that no such order had been authorized, and General Kilpatrick said that he had read tlie address before Colonel Dahlgren started, and that it contained no such language, but that the obnoxious words had been interpolated. Notwith- standing this disavowal, photographs of the address were sent to the Con- federate agents in England, who stirred up the English newspapers to write editorials to make the people of England believe that Abraham Lin- coln and the officers of the Union army were little better than savages. The cavalry under General Custer, moving from Madison Court-house, reached the Rivanna River near Charlottesville, and came upon some Confederate artillery so suddenly that they captured several caissons which the Confederates could not take away in their swift retreat. The caissons were blown up and the battery wagons destroyed. A train of cars loaded with Confederate infantry came from General Lee's army at Gordons ville, and General Custer found it necessary to retreat. He re- crossed the Rivanna, burned the bridge, and a large mill which was grind- ULTIICH DAHLGREN. 30 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. inof corn for the Confederate army. lie recrossed tlie Raijidan without having lost a man, accompanied by a large nnmber of colored people, some of whom had been ploughing, but who, the moment they saw the Union troops, unharnessed the horses from the ploughs, mounted them, and without stopping to say good-bye to their masters, improved the opportunity to gain their freedom under the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln. The expedition had failed, but officers and men had obtained infor- mation in regard to the country which would be valuable in the great campaign soon to begin. It is quite probable that had General Kilpat- rick moved with all his force iti the direction taken by General Dahlgren he would have entered Richmond, for the fortifications on that side were not so strong as on the north and east. If Dahlgren had not been taken out of his direct course by the guide, it would seem that he might have entered the city, for the force that confronted him readied the fortifica- tions only a few minutes before he made his appearance. In narrating the events in chronological order, we turn once more to the west. The Confederate cavalry commander. General Forrest, planned a move- ment which he intended should offset what Sherman had been doing — a movement from northern Mississippi, northward through \yest Tennessee and Kentucky to the Ohio River. Three regiments of Kentuckians, which had been serving as infantry, joined him. They were young men who, though the people of the State refused to secede from the Union, liad cast in their lot with the Confederacy. They were good horsemen, accustomed to the saddle. General Forrest's troops were from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Many of the vol- unteers in his ranks were ruffians, who delighted in the freedom of the cavalry over the infantry, the opportunities for plunder. They were reckless of their own lives, and ready to shoot men upon the least prov- ocation, Tliey hated the negroes who had enlisted under the Stars and Stripes. The Confederate cavalry commander was born on the banks of Duck River, in Tennessee. He began life as a poor boy. Before the war he sold slaves in Memphis, had accumulated money rapidly, owned a great cotton plantation and many slaves. His yearly cotton crop was more than one thousand bales. He had advocated secession, and when the war began enlisted as a private; but he was known to be a man of inflexible will, with great energy and force. He was tall, had a dark, swarthy coun- tenance, dark, searching eyes, and black hair. Governor Harris, of Ten- OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. ■ 33 nessee, sent for him in Jnlj, 1S61, and commissioned him as colonel of cavalry. lie went to Kentucky, where he was well known, and gathered the hot-l)looded young men into the Confederate service. He was in command of the cavalry at Fort Donelson, in 1862, when that fortifica- tion was invested by General Grant, and escaped with his command by fording a creek. He had rendered great service to the Confederacy, and liad been commissioned as lieutenant-general by Jefferson Davis. He was bold, brave, and self-reliant. His acquaintance with the country, the roads, and fording-places in the rivers gave him great advantage over the Union commanders. He moved rapidly, made long marches, pouncing suddenly upon small detachments of Union troops, capturing wagon- trains loaded with supplies, living upon the country. He was harsh in discipline. When the Conscription law was passed by the Confederate Congress, sweeping into the army all between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, he sent out bodies of troops and gathered in a large number of men, who, if unwilling to enter the Confederate service, were handcuffed and compelled to leave their homes. Thousands of men were ruthlessly torn from their families and driven into the ranks. It is not strano-e that some of them improved the first opportunity to desert. Nineteen de- serted in a body,* but were pursued, captured, Ijronght back in chains to Forrest's headquarters at Oxford, Mississippi. This the scene as pict- ured by General Forrest's eulogist : " Their coffins were made ready, their graves dug, and the men advised to make their peace with their Maker and the world. The women of Oxford and the ministers, hearing that the men were to be shot, pleaded that they might be spared. Some of the officers remonstrated, and said that they feared a mutiny if he per- sisted. The men were blindfolded and seated upon their coffins, and the soldiers who were to shoot them stood waiting for the command to fire.'' The command was not given. " On another occasion," writes Forrest's eulogist, "if the spirit of desertion had not been stayed, Forrest would have been inexorable, however disagreeable might be the duty to him."('') Such was the despotism of the Confederacy. Tennessee never had seceded from the Union by vote of the people. (See " Marching to Vic- tory," p. 36G.) The Governor, Isham G. Harris, without authority, had made a league with the Confederate Government, by which the State had been given over to the Confederacy. The despotic Government at Richmond had extended its power over the helpless people. Under the remorseless conscription, Forrest filled up his ranks and prepared for his movement. In a Southern paper we have this report of a speech made to his troops : 3 34: REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. " lie was inucli annoyed at Tupelo by tlie inconsiderate habit liis men liad of capturing the enemy by wholesale, and on one occasion, wlien he was firoiuff out on a tear, he delivered a short lecture on tlie art of war. ' Now, boys, war means tight, and tight means kill. What's the use of taking prisoners, to eat your rations?' From that time there was a ma- terial falling off in the number of prisoners taken by Forrest's men."(") Forrest was in Mississippi, but moved to Corinth, and pushed rapidly from that point northward, sending a portion of his troops, under Colonel Duckworth, to Union City, in the north-western county of Tennessee, where there was a fortitication held by between four and five hundred Union troops, commanded by Colonel Hawkins. The Confederates sent out a messenger with a white flag, demanding the immediate surrender of the fort. The Union commander pleaded for delay, but at eleven o'clock in the forenoon complied with the demand. His force was nearly as large as that of the Confederates, and had he held out a short time he would have been reinforced by two thousand men on their way from Columbus. It was an ignominious surrendei'. (") General Forrest, with the main body of his command, appeared before Paducah, on the bank of the Ohio, at the junction of the Tennessee with that stream. The place was seized by General Grant in " ' * 1861, and had been held by the Union forces. A fortifica- tion had been erected, and named Fort Anderson, in honor of Maj. Robert Anderson, of Kentucky, who had gallantly defended Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Rebellion. The Union troops, mimbering ^\Q^ one-third of whom were colored, were commanded by Col. S. G. Hicks, who had been in the thick of the fight at Shiloh, and who was Avounded in that battle. He was a veteran of a temper far different from that of the officers who had surrendered at Union City. Two small gunboats, the Pawpaw and Piosta, commanded by Lieutenants Shirk and O'Neil, were lying in the river. Most of the people of Paducah, from the outbreak of the war, had sympathized with the Secessionists. In 1861, and the spring of 1862, they had heard far away the thunder of heavy cannon at Fort Henry and at Columbus, but the tide of battle till that hour never had surged around their homes. Now, like the sudden coming on of the summer rain, rifles were cracking in the streets, as Forrest's three brigades, between four and five thousand cavalrymen, dashed into the town. One of his brigade com- manders was Gen. N. P. Thompson, who, when the war began, was prac- tising law in Paducah, and whose home was there, the citizens were his friends and old-time acquaintances. Kentucky had not seceded from the OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 37 Union, but he had cast aside all allegiance to his State and to the Stars and Stripes, to assist in establishing a Confederacy based on slavery. The battle began, the Confederates dismounting froin their horses and shelter- ing themselves in the houses. There was a lull for a few moments as a Confederate officer, with a white flag, bore this message towards Fort x\ii derson-. "Colonel, — Having a force amply suflicient to carry your works and reduce the place, in order to avoid unnecessary effusion of blood, I de- mand the surrender of the fort and troops, with all public property. If you surrender you shall be treated as prisoners of war; but if I have to storm your works you may expect no quarter.('°) " N. B. Forrest." No other Confederate commander, diiriug the war, appended such a threat to a summons to surrender — a threat common in by-gone days, but not under the civilization of the nineteenth century. This the reply of Colonel Hicks: "If you want the fort take it." While the flag of truce was flying, the Confederate sharp-shooters made their way along the streets to a 4")osition whence they could fire upon the gunboats and upon the fort. When it was known that the Confederates were approaching the town, and that a battle would be fought, the church bells had been tolled, and the women and children hurried down to the river- bank, and thence Avere ferried to the Ohio shore. The Confederates took possession of the houses and fired from the chamber windows which overlooked the fortifi- cation, whereupon the gunboats sent shells crashing through the houses, setting them on fire. General Thompson, who had come to his old home to fight for the Confederacy, was torn to pieces by a cannon-shot. The Union cannon swept the streets with grape and canister; several times the Confederates charged upon the fort, but were repulsed with great loss. Through the afternoon the contest went on ; when night came, the Confederates, under cover of the darkness, helped themselves to whatever suited their fancy in the deserted houses. They set the buildings containing Government sup- plies on fire. Other buildings were burned by the order of Colonel Hicks — those near the fort which had furnished shelter to the sharp-shooters. Many of the best houses were thus destroyed. Morning dawned, and General Forrest sent out a flag of truce, asking for an exchange of prisoners ; he wished to give up those captured at 38 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Union Cit}^ in excliange for Confederates. Colonel Ilicks replied tliat. he had no anthority to make an exchange. A steamboat arriv^ed from Cairo, bringing reinforcements. The attempt to captnre the place had failed. During the night the Confederates disappeared, leaving the dead where they had fallen. It is sad to know that men in all ages have hated, despised, and op- pressed those who were weaker than themselves. We respect those who are our equals in physical strength and in intellect; but, to our dishonor, we sometimes look down upon those who occupy a less exalted position. Through by-gone centuries the white race has robbed and oppressed the negro and Indian. AVe ai"e to keep ever in mind tlie fact that the war was begun by the Secessionists for the perpetuation of slavery ; that slavery, as declared by Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, was the corner-stone of the Con- federacy. Every soldier in the service of the Confederacy was fighting to maintain slavery as an institution. Before the war learned men, lawyers, ministers of the gospel, doctors of divinity, presidents of colleges, had maintained that it was a beneficent institution, ordained by Almighty God for the mutual welfare of the Anglo-American and African races. We need not wonder, therefore, that the enrolling of negroes who had been slaves, emancipated by Abraham Lincoln, as soldiers of the Republic, aroused the hatred of the slave-holders to the race whom they had op- pressed ; or that out of it came a teri-ible tragedy, which I do not like to write about; but Avere I to omit it, this story of the war would be incom- plete — a scene so horrible and ghastly that I am sure every one who sup- ported the Confederacy wishes it could be obliterated forever from the memory of men. What I am about to write is the truth of history. On the east bank of the Mississippi, in Tennessee, stood Fort Pillow, erected by the Confederates in 1861, and greatly strengthened by General Beauregard in 1862, but abandoned when that commander evacuated Cor- inth, after the battle of Shiloh. In the fortifications were 557 men, of whom 262 were negroes. Maj. L. F. Booth commanded. It was the anniversary of the beginning of the war at Fort Sumter. Through the night rain had fallen. Daylight was dawning when the pick- ets in the woods east of the fortification saw a Confederate April 12, 1864. „ , . „ , ,/-(.• o -.i ' force approaching. 1^ orrest s command, Captain Smith s company, of Missouri cavalry was in advance, guided by a citizen who lived near b}', and who knew just where the pickets were stationed. The Confederates stole softly through the woods, and came so suddenly upon the pickets that all, except one, were captured. (") The one who escaped gave the alarm. The drums began to beat the long roll, and the soldiers pM|jif;iW!ini»i|iiifi* OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 41 sprang from their tents and log-hnts, quickly formed, and rushed to tlie breastworks. There were two 10-pounder Parrott-guns, two 12-pounder howitzers, and two 6-pounder rifled cannon. The Confederates dismount- ed from their jaded horses and advanced ; McCulloch's brigade from the south, Bell's brigade from the north. The artillery on both sides opened lire together with the Confederate sharp-shooters. Tlie Confederates numbered several thousand. At nine o'clock Forrest arrived. He had ridden seventy-two miles during twenty-four hours. Soon after his ar- rival the Union commander. Major Booth, was killed, and the command devolved upon Major Bradford. The gunboat Neio Era was lying in the Mississippi, and sent its shells up the ravine south of the fort, firing, during the forenoon, two hundred and eighty-two rounds of shell, shrap- nel, and canister, which, with the fire from the fortifications, kept the Confederates at bay. It was three o'clock in the afternoon. Forrest had failed in his attempt to surprise the fort, and sent out Captain Goodman with a flag of truce, bearing a letter. This the communication : " As your gallant defence of the fort has entitled you to the treatment of brave men, I now demand an unconditional surrender of your force ; at the same time assuring you that they will be treated as prisoners of war. I have received a fresh supply of ammunition, and can easily take your position. "N. B. F0EREST."('*) Major Bradford asked for an hour's delay to consult with the captain of the gunboat. " Twenty minutes will be given you," M-as the reply of the Confederate commander. " I will not surrender," was the answer sent by Major Bradford. These are brief sentences, but while the parleying was going on, had we been there we should have seen, as the Union troops saw, a body of Confederates from McCulloch's brigade advancing through a ravine south of the fort, and taking possession of the Government buildings, in which were qnarterniaster's and commissary stores, and firing upon the steamboat Olive Branch in the river, on board of which were some unarmed Union soldiers on their way from New Orleans to Cairo, together with passen- gers, among whom was General Shepley. The Olive Branch could ren- der no assistance to the garrison, and passed on towards Cairo. "While the flag of truce was flying there was bantering and jeering between the Confederates and those within the fort, the Confederates 42 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. makinir tlieir calculations the while for assaultino; the fortifications. We see a bugler riding to the top of a knoll, whence he can look over all the field, and where every Confederate along the lines can see him.('^) He i-aises the bugle to his lips, and a bkist long and loud rings out upon the air. In an instant tlie Confederate carbines and muskets flame, some of them within thirty feet of the ditch outside the fort. The sharp-shooters aimed at the Union officers, nearly all of whom were shot down in a few minutes, when the Confederates on the south side, who, under cover of the flag of truce, had selected their positions, rushed over the embank- ment. The Union troops fought desperately a few moments, but, out- numbered ten to one, with no officer to direct them, threw down tlieir guns in token of surrender, or else fled towards the river. The butchery began. This the report of the committee of Congress, gathered from the sworn testimony of those who survived the massacre : " The Rebels commenced an indiscriminate slaughter, sparing neither age nor sex, white nor black, soldiers nor civilians. . . . Men, women, and children, wherever found, were deliberately shot down, beaten, and hacked with sabres ; some of the children, not more than ten years old, were forced to stand up and face their murderers while being shot. The sick and wounded were butchered without mercy, the Rebels even entering the hospital building, dragging them out to be shot, killing them as they lay there unable to offer the least resistance. . . . Some were shot while in the river ; others on the bank w^ere shot and their bodies kicked into the water, many, of them still living but unable to make any exertions to save themselves from drowning. Some of the Rebels stood on the hill- side, called the Union soldiers to them, and as they approached shot them in cold blood. . . . All who asked for mercy were answered by the most cruel taimts and sneers. . . . The huts and tents in which many of the wounded had sought shelter were set on fire both that night and the next morning while the wounded were still in them. . . . Some of those seeking to escape the flames were brutally shot or had their brains beaten out. . . . The deeds of cruelty ceased at night only to be renewed the next morning ; any of the wounded yet alive Avere deliberately shot. . . . Some of the living were buried, but succeeded in digging themselves out. . . . Three hundred were murdered in cold blood." (°°) Major Bradford, who succeeded to the command of Fort Pillow after the death of Major Booth, was from Tennessee. From the beginning of the war he had been loyal to the flag of liis country. AVhile the small body of white prisoners were on the march towards Jackson, after the fort liad been captured, an officer and five soldiers took him a short dis- OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864. 43 tance into the woods. He begged for his life, but they gave no heed to liis pleading, and he fell pierced by three balls. (/") It is said that Avhen General Forrest saw that the Union men were being shot down, he issued orders against it ; but if such orders were given, they were not heeded by his soldiers. Nearly all of the white Union soldiers Avere from Tennessee, as were many of the Confederates. Men who had been friends before the war were now enemies. The animosity of the Confederates towards the Union men had been intensified by the events of the war; and wlien they found themselves masters of the fort, they lost all sense of mercy and humanity, and became brutal, cruel, and relentless. I drop the curtain upon the ghastly scene. NOTES TO CHAPTER I. ' ) E. A. Pollard, " Lost Cause." p. 478. -) .J. W. Avery, " History of Georgia," p. 658. 3) J. B. Jones," "A Rebel War Clerk's Diary," vol. ii., p. 123. ') Idem, p. 125. *) Richmond Examiner, .January 2, 1864. ^) "Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. i., p. 419. ') Idem. ") "Rebellion Record," vol. viii., p. 470. ®) "Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Siierman," vol. i., p. 422. "•) Gen. Q. A. Gillmore's Order, " Rebellion Record," vol. viii., p. 403. " ) Gen. Truman Seymour's Letter, " Rebellion Record," vol. viii., p. 409. '^) "Rebellion Record." vol. viii. p. 409. '^) "Campaigns of Lieut.-gens. Forrest, .Jordon, and Pryor," p. 384. '^) C/iaiiesto'ii Mercun/, April 14, 1864. '^) "Rebellion Record," vol. viii., p. 49. "') "Campaigns of Lieut.-gens. Forrest, Jordon, and Pryor," p. 411. ") Idem, p. 425. '8) Idem, p. 433. '») Idem, p. 436. ■•") Congressional Report — Conduct of the War. ■') "Rebellion Record," vol. viii., p. 4. 44 REDEEMLNG Till: liEl'UBLIC. CHAPTEE II. RED RIVER EXPEDITION. ^r^HE southern lialf of Louisiana is unlike any other section of tlie -■- United States ; you can traverse a very large poi'tion of it in boats along rivers, creeks, bayous, and lakes, amid groves of oak and palmetto and thickets of cane, with here and there large reaches of open fields. One of the great tributaries of the Mississippi is the Red River, which rises in the far-off mountains of New Mexico, runs east till it touches Arkansas, then turns south-east, and with many windings runs past Shreve- port, then the landing-place of Grand Ecore, four miles from Alexandria, and makes its way to the Mississippi, between Port Hudson and Natchez. Were we to take a steamer at New Orleans and go down-stream and out on the ocean westward, we should come to the Atchafalaya River, np which we might go when the spring floods were on, and emerge into the Mississippi just below the mouth of the Red River. Passing still farther west, to the Sabine, which forms the western boundary of the State, we might go up almost to Shreveport. The country is fertile. There are great sugar plantations along the coast, the cane changing to cotton far- ther inland, and the oak giving place to the pine. During the first two years of the war the Confederate armies east of the Mississippi received large supplies of food from the Red River region. The capture of Yicksburg, however, put an end to that. The gunboats patrolled the river. Troops could cross in small parties, but corn and sugar were bulky, and could not be readily ferried across the stream. After the opening of the Mississippi the Union troops west of it might have been withdrawn and used otherwheres, but the authorities at Washington acted on the idea that a section of country once occupied must be held. It was in this region in the spring of 1864 that what is known as the Red River Expedition was undertaken. In most histories of the war it is claimed that the expedition was necessary to re-establish the authority of the United States in north-western Texas. At the bei^innini:: of the war RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 47 and througli the first months tlio authorities at Washington were anxious to have the old flag waving in every State of the Union, Thej thought that it would show to England and France that the jSTorth was in earnest, and that tlie Union people still remaining in the South would rally around it. Hence the desire to have it waving in Texas. General Halleck, at Washington, believed that the true policy for the Government to pursue, was to occupy all the territory wrested from tiie Confederates, and re-establish the authority of the United States. By adopting that plan a large number of soldiers must needs be employed in holding the important towns in Arkansas. The Government at Washington was desirous of occupying the whole country west of the Mississippi for several reasons. When the full history of the war shall be written, it will be seen that Louis Napoleon, Emperor of France, who had established Maximilian of Austria on the throne of the Montezumas in Mexico, was very anxious for the success of the Con- federates ; that he desired to overthrow republican institutions. JSTot only that, but while he hoped to see the Confederate Government established, he wished also to see the State of Texas secede from the Confederacy and establish a government of its own.(') If the great Republic could be broken to pieces it would be all the easier for him to carry out his plans in Mexico. The Government of the United States therefore wished to see the Stars and Stripes waving once more in Texas. It was known that there were many Union people in Texas and Louisiana who had been driven from their homes, and who were hiding in swamps to save tliem- selves from conscription. There were commercial reasons for a military movement west of the Mississippi. We are to remember that cotton was worth sixty cents a pound in Boston and Liverpool. Never before had it been wortli so much. The cotton-mills of New England — of Lowell, Manchester, and Fall Kiver — were for the most part idle. Across the Atlantic, in Old England, the wheels had ceased to whirl, and a silence like that of Sunday had settled over the manufactories of Oldham and Rochdale. Thousands of spinners and weavers were begging bread, or were fed by the magistrates. In the Red River region there was stored three years' crops of cotton worth sixty cents in Boston — not worth a cent where it was. The Confederate Government had obtained a large amount of money in England for the purchase of arms, ammunition, and military supplies, and for the construction of the Alabama war-ship, and for the building of iron-clad w^ar-vessels, which was to be paid for in cotton. By getting pos- session of the cotton all the mills in the North would be set to work, and 48 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. tlio needs of the country supplied. There was innch correspondence be- tween General Halleck in Washington, Generals Banks, Sherman, and Grant, and Steele, who was at Little Eock, in Arkansas. Arrangements were made by which Sliei-man, who was at Memphis, was to lend Banks Gen. A. J. Smith's division of ten thousand men. General Steele was to march south-west and join Banks at Shreveport, or at least was to co-oper- ate by a demonstration in tliat direction. Admiral Porter was to co-operate with a fleet of gunboats up the Red River. It would not be quite correct to say that the expedition was planned solely to obtain cotton. That was what the speculators particularly had in view, but they were loud in their advocacy of the re-establishment of the old flag once more in that section. They knew that if that were done there would be a rich harvest for some- body, and they would take good care to be the somebody. Before the expedition started, two men (Mr. Butler, of Illinois, and Mr. Casey, of Kentucky) came to Admiral Porter and General Banks with an order from President Lincoln, directing all persons in authority, military or naval, to grant them all facilities in going where they pleased. Admiral Porter indorsed the order, as did General Banks. Other speculators had been bringing out cotton from the country west of the Mississippi before the starting of the expedition, carrying on a surreptitious trade, as we learn from Captain Breeze, of the navy, who says : " These cotton speculators had charts of the country, with every parish and township in the State marked off, with the amount of cotton in each, where it was stored, the marks upon it, and everything about it. Many of the speculators would come and give information concerning these things, in the hope that we would take some that they claimed as their own, so that they could present their claims in court. The cotton taken by the navy was sent to the court, and if they could present their claims they stood a fair chance of having them allowed. A large number of speculators came on the steamer Black, Kawlc, with a large quantity of bagging and roping, which was landed and hauled to Alexandria, where they purchased a large number of bales." What became of the cotton purchased there we shall see by-and-by. A great deal of cotton was seized along the river by the officers of the navy, which was sent up the Mississippi to Cairo, where a judge decided as to its value and what should be done with it. We are to remember that the Confederate Government was dealing in cotton, receiving it for taxes, sending it to England — the English blockade -runners slipping past the Union fleets at night, and returning with arms and supplies. All through the Southern States there were piles of cotton gathered by the tax col- lectors, and labelled " C. S. A." Such cotton when captured was known RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 49 as prize cotton, and tlie officers of the navy, under the laws, were entitled to a share in it, which naturally made them very vigilant. It was an easy matter for a speculator to get word to an officer where cotton might be found, which would be seized and sent to Cairo; but when the matter came before the judge it was just as easy for the specu- lator to appear and testify that it was his own property, and that the Confederate Government never owned it. No one will ever know the true history of the cotton business ; but this much may be said, that the administration of affairs in the Department west of the Mississippi w^as very loose. There was a great deal of trading between the people on both sides, and it is possible that some of the Union officers improved the op- portunity to make money in ways not wholly legitimate. MAP OF THE IIKU lUVtU EXPEDITION. The troops under General Banks were in lower Louisiana. General Franklin, who had been under McClellan and Burnside in the Army of the Potomac, was in immediate command, with orders to march from Ope- lousas northward to Alexandria, which was to be the rendezvous. Usual- ly in winter the Red River has a flood pouring into the Mississippi, but now it was very low ; there had been no great rains ; the snow had not 50 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. melted on tlie far-away mountains. Not till there was a rise could the large gunboats go beyond Grand Ecore, just above Alexandria ; nor could the river steamers transporting the supplies go beyond that point. There were ten gunboats and more than thirty river steamers. The Marine Brigade, under General Ellet, numbering three thousand, was needed at Memphis, and returned. It had no wagons, and General Banks had none to give it. General Banks intended to move along the south bank of the river to Shreveport, while the fleet made its way up the stream. The water being so low, he was obliged to change his plan and establish his base of sujiplies at Alexandria. He was obliged to leave Grover's division of three thou- sand at Alexandria to guard the supplies, so that when the army was ready to march the force was much less tlian that which General Banks expected to have. But he did not expect to encounter the Confederates till after reaching Shreveport. General Franklin, next in command, was very positive that the Confederates would not show themselves, forgetting the wise saying, " Never underrate your enemy." Many a battle has been lost by not heeding the maxim, " Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.''' One never can tell in military matters just what an opponent will do. It is not like a game of chess. There are more factors, more points to be kept in mind. In war one must exercise common-sense, and just because General Eranklin did not exercise it the expedition met with disaster, as we shall see. Gen. E. Kirby Smith was commander of the Confederate troops west of the Mississippi. His forces were widely scattered. A portion were with him confronting General Steele, near Little Rock. General Taylor was on the Bed River, General Polignac, a French officer, who had crossed the Atlantic to fight for the Confederates, was on the west bank of the Mississippi, between Vicksburg and Natchez. General Walker's division was in Texas. General Smith knew from his spies, who kept him informed of all that was going on at Little Rock and Vicksburg, that a movement was to be made by the Union army. These spies were acquainted with every creek and bayou, and could make their way through the lines at night without detection. When Gen- eral Taylor learned that the expedition was fitting out, he sent in every direction for troops, gathering all the isolated bodies, concentrating them at Shreveport. They came from Texas and Arkansas. In a short time he had an army as large as that under Banks advancing from Alexandria. He sent his cavalry out to skirmish with the Union cavalry, with instruc- tions to fall back towards Shreveport. He determined to make a stand RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 51 in Louisiana, for the reason that if he were to retreat to Texas the Lou- isiana troops would leave hiui in disgust. General Banks had five brigades of cavalry and mounted infantry un- der General Lee, with the Second Massachusetts Battery (Captain Nims), and Battery G, Fifth United States. The infantry consisted of the Tliir- teenth Corps, commanded by General Ransom ; Cameron's and Lan- dram's divisions, Emory's division of the Nineteenth Corps, and detach- ments of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith; also a brigade of colored troops. On the morning of March 12th the gunboats, followed by transports, entered the Red River. On the 13th the troops landed at Simsport, and the next morning moved towards Fort De Rnssy. General Walker, commanding the Texas troops, left three hundred men to hold it, with eight heavy guns and two field -pieces; but General Smith's troops charged upon the fortifications, swarmed over the breastworks, and capt- ured the entire garrison. The gunboats found lines of piles driven across the channel of the river, with trees piled against them by the force of the current, but they soon removed the obstructions and reached the town of Alexandria on March 15th. The gunboats had been up to Alexandria in 1863 ; but they were still three hundred and forty miles from Shreveport, by river, the point which they desired to reach. The water of the Red River is colored by the red ochre of the soil. The country between Alexandria and Shreveport is very fertile, and in 1864 was regarded as the wealthiest and best-settled section of the State. The river is seven or eight hundred feet in width, flowing between high banks. Just above Alexandria are rapids, which cannot be passed by steam- boats when the water is low, and it was very low for the season in the spring of 1864. On April 3d the troops by land and the gunboats in the river reached Grand Ecore. These words are used by the Normans in northern France, and mean "high ground." Grand Ecore is four miles from Natchitoches, which is on the great road used by emigrants before the war when mov- ing to the plains of Texas. This road leads through the town of Mans- field, where General Tajdor was concentrating the Confederate troops. The road along which General Banks was marching runs north-west. Just south of the town of Mansfield another road leading from the Red River to the Sabine crosses it, running south-west. General Franklin was intrusted with the command during the march. He placed the cavalry and mounted infantry, about five thousand, in advance, with their supply- train of about three hundred and fifty wagons. This body of cavalry, with 52 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. such a train, readied five miles. Then came the infantry and artillery, each brigade with its wagons, all on a single road through a dense forest. There were other roads farther north and south not so good, but which might hav^e been used. The Union cavalry, under General Lee, during the forenoon came to an elevation of land which is known as Pleasant Hill. Passing over the ridge and going on five miles, the skirmishers were fired ' "^ ' upon by the Confederate cavalry under General Major. General Lee ordered up a regiment. The fire grew more brisk, and Lee put in a brigade. He ordered up the artillery, and finally drove the Con- federates, losing seventy-five men and capturing twenty-five prisoners. Passing over now to the Confederate side, we see General Green arriv- ing on the ground with a portion of his troops. General Taylor was at Mansfield, five miles away, when the skirmish opened, and he rode to the field. He met a party of demoralized soldiers and began to curse them. " General, if you won't curse us we will go back with you," said one. ('^) There was a rebuke in the words which won his respect, and instead of swearing, he smiled and bowed to the man, who, with his comrades, turned about and went back to the field. General Taylor examined the ground around the house of Mr. Wilson, selecting it as a strong position for a battle. There was an open field half a mile long and three-fourths of a mile wide. The road ran through it. On the eastern side of the field there were a forest of pines and a rail -fence. The road from the Red River to the Sabine crossed the Pleasant Hill road near the house of Mr. Wilson. It is three miles from Mansfield, where Taylor had concentrated his army. At nine o'clock in the evening he ordered his troops to be on the march at daylight. General Taylor knew that the Union army was strung out for a dis- tance of thirty miles on one road, and resolved to strike a staggering blow before it could be concentrated. Going back now to the Union side, we hear General Lee protesting to General Franklin against the presence of so many wagons at the front. General Franklin, on the other hand, says that they belong to the cavalry, and that Lee must keep them out of the way of the infantry. Lee asks Franklin for an infantry support, but not till General Banks is informed of the situation is any infantry ordered forward. This was the situation on the evening of the 7th : The Confederates concentrated and advancing ; the Union troops, a string thirty miles long, in a dense forest, with the cavalry and its wagons five miles in advance of the infantry. RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 00 In the morning the Confederate troops nnder General Taylor were coming into line on the plantation of Mr. Wilson, at Sabine Cross-roads. He stationed Walker's division of three brigades on the ' ^" ' ■ south side of the road leading to Pleasant Hill, with two batteries, and Mouton's division of two brigades on the north side, witli two batteries. The cavalry under Green swung out on Mouton's left, and De Bray's cavalry, with McMahon's battery, was placed in reserve. General Taylor says: "I had on the field 5300 infantry, 3000 horse, and 500 artillerymen ; in all, 8800 men — a full estimate. But the vicious dispositions of the enemy made me confident of beating all the force he could concentrate during the day, and on the morrow Churchill would be up with 4400 muskets." (^) General Lee, with the Union cavalry, moved on, but found himself con- fronted by the Confederate cavalry. He had seen enough to make him cautious, and waited for the brigade of infantry ordered up by General Banks. General Ransom had already sent Landram's, and followed with Vance's. Franklin, with the Nineteenth Corps, was at Carroll's Mills, five miles in rear of General Lee and the position chosen by the Confederates. He reached the mills, and at eleven o'clock halted his troops to build a bridge. As the cavalry, artillery, and Ransom's division had already crossed, one does not see the necessity of a halt at that hour or the need of a bridge. General Banks arrived. The booming of cannon five miles distant broke the stillness of the noontide hour. General Ransom, before the arrival of General Banks, had made dis- position of the troops. He was an able officer, and placed them judi- ciousl}^, but was greatly outnumbered. He had only two brigades of infantry — two thousand five hundred in all. Landram, with the Fort}'- eiglith. Eighty-third, Ninety-sixth Ohio, and Nineteenth Kentucky, was on the right. Nims's battery was on a low elevation, supported by the Twenty- third Wisconsin. The Sixty-seventh Indiana supported the battery on the left. The infantry on the left were the Seventy-seventh Illinois, Nine- teenth Kentucky, Forty -eighth, Eighty -third, and Ninety -sixth Ohio. When the Chicago Mercantile battery and Klaus's Indiana battery arrived they were placed on the ridge at the right of the road. General Ransom did not wish to bring on a battle, but waited for the coming up of Franklin to support him. Franklin, the while, was resting five miles away. The Confederate commander was getting impatient. He was waiting to be attacked. It did not suit his plan to rest quietly till Banks's troops were in position. The afternoon was wearing away, and he resolved to attack Ransom. 4* 54 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. General Banks does not seem to have comjsreliended the situation of affairs. He directed General Lee to move on towards Manslield. " You cannot move without bringing on a battle," was the rejDlj of Lee, and the order is countermanded. Four o'clock. Taylor will wait no longer. Looking now across tlie field on the east side of the road, the Union troops behold the Confeder- ates of Mouton's division advancing. First there is the ratthng fire of tlie skirmishers, then the thunder of the cannon, the screaming of the shells, and the yell of the troops. They are in two lines, and advance with con- fident expectations of sweeping all before them. Jt is a withering fire that bursts ujDon them from Landram's lines. A "murderous fire," Taylor calls it. Mouton is killed. There is a fearful slaughter of Confederate officers. Colonel Armand, of the Eighteenth Louisiana ; Colonel Beard, of the Cres- cent Regiment, and Walker, of the Twenty-eighth Louisiana, are killed ; also Colonel Koble, of the Seventeenth Texas. There are several company officers killed and wounded at the first volley. The front line melts like lead in a crucible in the glowing flame and white-heat of battle. It gives way and rolls back on the second line. Kallied by the officers, the troojDS advance once more, throw themselves upon the ground, and open fire. Going now across the road, we see the right of the Confederate line advancing upon the mounted infantry, extending far beyond it, and curl- ing round the fiank. " The mounted infantry are falling back," is the word which comes to Ransom. lie gallops across the field, confident that Landram will hold the right. The Chicago and Indiana batteries are just coming up. They come into position by Banks's headquarters and open fire upon the exult- ant Confederates, who are sweeping all before them on the west side of the road. The Eighty-third Ohio comes upon the run to support the artil- lery, but the left of the line is already turned ; the mounted infantry can- not stand against the force so greatly outnumbering them. Before the gunners of Nims's battery can bring up their limbers, the Confederates rush upon them, seizing the guns and pouring a destructive fire into the flank of Yance's brigade. Ransom sees that he must fall back, and orders Yance to take a new position, and sends word to Landram to retii-e. Cap- tain Dickey carries the order, informing the colonels of the regiments as he passes them, but before all are informed he is struck with a bullet. Some of the regiments retire ; others remain. There is increasing con- fusion. Going back to the edge of the timber, we see Ransom, Landram, Lee, Stone, and other officers trying to rally the men. A shell explodes among them, severely wounding Ransom, who is carried to the rear. RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 55 General Banks rides along the lines, swinging his cap and trying to rally the disordered regiments, but the stampede has begnn. There is only the one road. The line has been pressed back to the wagons. The teamsters are panic-stricken: many of them are negroes. Some cut the horses loose, mount them, and ride away ; others abandon them and take to their heels ; some try to turn the teams, and thus block the road. Wagons tip over, and then there is kicking and rearing of mules. The mounted in- fantry try to make their way through the woods, and become mingled with the infantry, artillery, and wagons ; while crowding on, pouring in their fire, come the Confederates. It is an indescribable scene of confu- sion. Colonel Vance is killed and a large number of officers wounded. General Cameron assumes command of the Thirteenth Corps. It would be unjust to convey the idea that all the soldiers on the field were panic-stricken, or were going upon the run to the rear. On the con- trary, the veterans of the Thirteenth Corps rallied deliberately three-quar- ters of a mile in the rear, and for half an hour held the Confederates in check ; but the regiments were only skeletons now, and were obliged to fall back. It was a rich harvest of plunder which dropped into the hands of the Confederates — nearly all the wagons and supplies, and eight hun- dred mules and ten cannon. It had been a complete rout. The Confederates had swept all before the.m. It has been said by military commanders that nothing, after a defeat, so deuioralizes an army as a decisive victory where there is a great amount of plunder ; "and the disorganization of the Confederates began. The loss in killed and Avound- ed on their part had been very large. In the movement through the woods the lines had become disordered ; soldiers had left the ranks to secure plunder. Night was coming on, but Taylor, having got the Union men upon the run, determined to follow on and finish the victory. Through the closing hours of the day the thunder of battle had rolled over the forest to the ears of the men of Emory's division of the Nine- teenth Corps, and Franklin, in obedience to the order from Banks, had started. He had said there would be no fighting, but the battle, with disaster, had come. The troops were on the march, meeting the growing stream of fugitives. Franklin selected a position in the woods on the east- ern edge of the field, with Dwight's brigade on the road, Benedict's on the left, and McMillan's in reserve. A line of skirmishers was thrown out. Down the road and through the woods streamed the troops of the Thir- teenth Corps and the mounted infantry. Before the line was complete the battle began once more. The skirmishers were driven in. They fell back upon the uiain line, behind which the Thirteenth Corps was rallying. 56 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. The last rays of tlie sun fell upon the two armies as the Confederates ad- vanced. "■ Reserve your fire till they are close up !" was the order. On came the men in gray, but the whole line burst into flame and they stag- gered beneath it. Again and again they attempted to break the line, but in vain. General Banks saw that the battle w^ould be renewed in the morning, and fell back to Pleasant Hill, selected a favorable position, brought up General Wright's troops, and prepared for the assault of the Confed- erates. Pleasant Hill is fifteen miles south of the Red River, on the road leading from Alexandria to Shreveport. There is a cluster of houses on the hill, which slopes gently towards the west. AVhile the thunder of battle was dying on the evening of the 8th of April, General Wright, with his troops, and Col. William H. Dickey, with a brigade of colored troops, arrived at the little village. During the night, the Thirteenth Corjjs, the wounded, and what was left of the wagon-train, arrived, fol- lowed by the Nineteenth Corps. Were we to go out north of the town we should follow a ravine, on which the right wing of the arm}' rested — D wight's brigade of the Nineteenth Corps. Then came McMillan's in the centre, with Benedict's on the left, in a ditch, the extreme left being in an open field. This was the first formation ; but before the battle began, McMillan was placed on the right and rear of Dwight, while Shaw's brigade was thrown into the place before occupied by McMillan, and a little in advance of the main line. The Twenty -fifth New York Battery was placed between Dwight and McMillan, on a hill, so as to sweep the open field with its fire. The line turned an angle, with Mower's brigade joining Benedict's facing south-w'est. At the angle were the Ninth Indiana Battery and Battery B, First United States, in position to cover the field in front. On the left of the line was the First Vermont Battery. Tlie Thirteenth Corps was placed in reserve. That the wagons might not be in the way, the trains were all sent toward^ Natchitoches, several miles in rear. During the night Taylor was reinforced by the arrival of Churchill's and Parsons's Arkansas and Missouri troops, about five thousand. He had the cannon captured at the battle of yesterday. It was four o'clock before the Confederates were in position. Taylor, flushed by his victory, made his dispositions quickly, sending Churchill round to attack from the south. The cavalry were to fall upon the Union left flank, double up Mower, and cut off Banks's retreat. General Walker was next in line, with Green's, Buchell's, and De Bray's cavalry on the left. Mouton's division, now commanded by Polignac, was held in reserve. RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 57 Taylor intended to liave Churcliiirs and "Walker's divisions do the heavy work. His plan was to turn the left of the Union line, which, as we shall see, obstinately refused to be turned. He intended to conceal his plan by opening the battle on the Union right, and then make a ter- rific onslauMit on the other wingf. The battle began by a shot from the Confederate battery, the Val- verde, on the east side of the road, in front of Shaw's brigade. The Twenty-fifth New York Battery replied, but in a feeble way. The com- mander of the battery seems to have been scared at the outset, for he sud- denly limbered up his guns and started for the rear, leaving one gun and caisson in the road. General Buchell, commanding a brigade of Confederate cavalry, dashed on to secure it, but a volley burst from the muskets of the Fourteenth Iowa and Twenty-fourth JVCssouri, from men who had no thought of tak- ing to their heels. Horses and riders went down in a heap. Buchell was mortally wounded. The attack was repulsed. A moment later and Walker's division falls on Benedict's brigade to the left and partially in rear of Shaw, and at the same moment the Con- federates attack the extreme rio;ht of the Union line. Shaw is oblio;ed to fall back, and so is Benedict, but there is no panic. Every movement is in order except in Benedict's brigade, where some of the regiments are thrown into confusion. General Mower holds the left of the Union line. His troops are vet- erans who have fought on many fields ; they are fresh and vigorous. The Confederates advancing to attack them are Churchill's, who have made a long and wearisome march. Taylor expects them to turn the Union left flank, but his expectations are doomed to failure. Every attack is re- pulsed. Churchill can make no impression upon that solid line. His men are too weary and the line too compact and determined to be moved an inch from their chosen position. General Mower says : " The enemy advanced rapidly on my line, as though confident of success, but were repulsed by our troops, who withstood the charge with great firmness and repulsed them with great slaughter. The enemy made a stand at a ditch, which was about three-fourths of the width of the field from my original position." They lost largely in killed and prisoners here, and were, after a desperate resistance, driven back into the woods." (^) Mower, having repulsed the attack, advanced and drove Churchill. In the charge the Forty-ninth Indiana recaptured two of the cannon of Nims's battery lost on the preceding day. Night closes in with the Confederates repulsed and defeated, lines 58 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. broken, regiments disordered. General Taylor says: "After order was restored, 1 ordered the infantry to fall back some six miles to water, as there was none to be found nearer. All the cavalry, except De Bray's division, was sent to Mansfield to feed and rest." During the night we have the spectacle of both armies retreating. General Taylor had been defeated and was out of ammunition. His army, at eight o'clock in the evening, was sadly demoralized. The Union army had won a signal victory. The troops were not demoralized, but General Banks seemingly had only one thought — to get back to Alexandi^ia. He ordered the troops to be silently withdrawn, the wounded to be gathered, and the surgeons to remain and care for them. At midnight the troops were moving towards Alexandria. The reasons for the retreat were that no water could be had ; that the provisions were nearly gone ; that it was necessary to connnunicate with the fleet to obtain ammunition. General Smith protested against retreating. He believed that the Confederates had been so thoroughly defeated that they would make no stand this side of Shreveport. It seems probable that a commander of nerve and energy could have made his way to Shreveport without diffi- culty after the battle of Pleasant Hill. This is to be said — nothing in particular was to be gained by going there. The only object of the expedition, so far as the Government was concerned, was to establish the old flag once more in that section of the country. The other part of the expedition was to get hold of the immense stores of cotton. But it would have been far better for Banks to have gone on than to have made an in- glorious retreat. The defeat of Taylor at Pleasant Hill would have dis- heartened the Confederates and put him on the defensive. He would have lost prestige as a commander and been forced back into Texas. The retreat of Banks made Taylor the lion of the hour, brought reinforce- ments to his ranks, and otherwise strengthened the Confederate cause. The Union army reached Grand Ecore and threw up fortifications. The water in the river was beginning to fall, and Admiral Porter saw that he must make haste or the fleet would be left upon the sand-bars or snags thickly strewn along the streams. The Confederates, instead of marching to Grand Ecore to attack the army, gave their attention to the gunboats, a portion of the troops, under General Liddell, crossing to the north bank, to fire from behind trees upon every person exposed upon the boats. Several of the transports, with horses and supplies on board, were accompanied by the gunboats Osage and Lexington. The Osage and one of the transports were aground, when the Confederates brought four cannon into position and CONFEDEKATES UNDEK GENEKAL GREEN. RED ElVER EXPEDITION. Gl opened fire, and a large body of Texans nnder General Green opened a musketry lire. The heavy cannon of the gunboats sent a storm of shells upon theui which did great execution. General Green was killed and his troops repulsed. The boats reached Grand Ecore, and thence began one by one to descend the river to Alexandria. The Confederates placed a torpedo in the river, which exploded under the Eastport^ opening a leak which stranded the boat. By great exertions the water was pumped out, and the vessel lioated but again grounded. Again and again the water was pumped out, and the vessel moved down-stream fifty miles. Admiral Porter, finding it so diflicult to keep the Kant port afloat, ordered her to be blown up. Just as the match was lighted, a large body of Confederates appeared upon the bank of the river and opened fire upon the gunboat Cricket, which was tied by a cable to a tree. Captain Gorringe, who was in com- mand, replied with grape and canister. It was an easy matter for the Confederates to move from one bend in the river to another, and place themselves in position to fire upon the boats, which, on account of the low water, could not move very rapidly. Just above the mouth of Cane River, the Confederates placed eighteen guns in position, to open fire upon the Cricket, the Juliet, and the Hind- man. All the other boats had passed the point. The Confederate cannon were well aimed. At the first round nearly all the gunners of the Cricket were killed or wounded, the chief engineer wounded, also all but one of the men in the fire-room. One gun was dismounted. The Juliet was dis- abled by a shot crashing into the engine. This gunboat was lashed to the pump-boat which had been used in pumping out the Eastport. A shot passed through its boiler, and nearly all the two hundred men on board were scalded by the escaping steam. The Juliet was being towed by an- other boat, the pilot of which in his fright abandoned the wheel, where- upon the junior pilot, Mr. Maitland, took his place and headed the boats up-stream till out of range. The Cricket, making ready once more, putting on steam, in charge of the admiral, swept past the Confederate guns under a terrific fire, being struck thirty-eight times in five minutes, and losing twenty-five killed and wounded — half her crew. Through the night the crew of the Juliet repaired that vessel, but not till the next afternoon were they ready to run the gantlet. When within five hundred yards, the Confederate cannon opened fire. A shot passed through the pilot- house of the Hindman, cutting the wheel-ropes, rendering the vessel un- manageable. The brave pilot, Maitland, was on the pump- boat, and had both legs mangled by a shell. A third shell cut away the bell-rope and 62 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. speaking-tube leading to the engineer ; bnt thougli both legs were crushed, he reached out his hand to the other bell-cord, and gave a signal which took the vessel to the other side of the river. The captain had been killed. The crew leaped ashore and attempted to escape, but were capt- ured. The Juliet and Illndman both passed the batteries, but lost be- tween twenty and thirty men. Just above Alexandria are the rapids of Red River, and two rocky formations, upon which there was only three feet four inches of water, wdiereas the gunboats needed seven feet to float safely over the bowlders in the bed of the stream. Ten gunboats and two tugs were thus impris- oned at a season of the year when it was expected that all the low lands would be flooded by the water pouring down from the snows melting on the far-off mountain. AVhat should be done? It may be safely asserted that no armies ever marshalled surpassed in intelligence those which fought in the War of the Rebellion. In every reo:iment of volunteers were men who, though they never had received education in military engineering, were competent to accomplish great un- dertakings. In the army of General Banks there was a volunteer wdio, before the war, was building dams for the erection of mills upon the rivers in the State of Wisconsin, Col. Joseph Bailey, of the Fourth Regiment of Volunteers, from that State. He was acting as chief engineer under General Franklin, and informed that officer that he saw no great difficulty in getting the boats past the rapids. He would build a dam across the river, leaving only a narrow opening in the channel, thus deepening the water sufficiently to permit the passage of the boats. Those who knew nothing about building dams laughed at Colonel Bailey ; but Admiral Por- ter and General Banks and General Franklin thought it wise to make the attempt. Colonel Bailey was accordingly placed in charge, and given all the men he needed to carry on the work. In the army were two regiments from Maine. Before the war the men were employed on the waters of the Kennebec and Penobscot " driv- ing" logs from the forests to the mills near the sea. They understood rivers, the sweep and swirl of currents and eddies. They were wood- choppers as well, and laid aside their guns and knapsacks to become lum- bermen and rivermen once more. It is a mile and a quarter from the lower rapids to the upper, and in that distance there is a fall of thirteen feet. There was a forest of tall trees upon the northern bank, and there the wood-choppers began felling the trees into the stream, floating them to the head of the rapids. The first tree, with its branches, was laid against the bank, brush made into bun- 2 I RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 65 dies was placed upon it and weighted with stones, and earth shovelled in. Houses were torn down, trunks of trees were locked together in cribs as bojs in the country build houses of corn-cobs, the cribs floated into posi- tion, filled with stones, and the dam extended to them. Boats and barges were brought into requisition. Three thousand men and two hundred teams were kept at work night and day. The negro troops on the south bank were employed in constructing a dam from that side of the stream. The men from Maine made little noise while at work ; each man under- stood just what to do, and did it quietly. Very different the scene on the southern bank, where the enthusiasm of the men, who a few months be- fore were slaves, broke out in plantation song and chorus. When Colonel Bailey set forth his plan, very few men in the army be- lieved its execution possible ; but when the doubting ones saw the dams gradually growing from each bank into the stream their doubts gave place to enthusiasm, and the army watched with increasing interest the progress of the work. The Confederates learned of what was going on, and the pickets, with taunt and jeer, shouted to the Union men and asked, " How's your dam ?" The Confederates did not believe that the undertaking would succeed, and looked gleefully forward to the day when the imprisoned fleet would fall into their hands. At night great fires were kindled upon the banks to enable the men to go on with the work. On the eighth day there remained an opening of only one hundred and fifty feet. The water was rushing through M-ith increasing velocity. While the dam was under construction the crews of the iron-clads were lightening their ves- sels, removing the guns, ammunition, cables, anchors, and drawing them round the rapids. The iron plating was taken from portions of the ves- sels and tossed into the river where the water was deep, and where the shifting sands soon covered it. This was done to prevent the Confeder- ates from recovering it after the departure of the army. Some of the old 32-pounder cannon which were considered of little account were loaded to the muzzle, burst, and sunk in the river. At last all was ready for closing the sluice-way of the dam. To ac- complish this, several coal -boats weighted with brick and stone were floated into the opening and sunk. Quickly the water began to rise. Those who watched the riv^er saw the rocks of the upper rapids a mile distant disappear beneath the rising flood, and then several of the vessels, one by one, passed safely over them. Not all had passed when those who stood by the dam saw that two of the barges were being swept out by the rising flood. Admiral Porter issues orders to the captain of the Lexington to run the rapids and drive on through the opening. The 5 66 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. engineer's bell tinkles, liis hand touches the throttle, the wheels turn, and the boat, moved by current and steam, sweeps on. The vessel plunges into the rushing torrent, masses of foam are tossed upon her deck. For a moment the rocks hold her ; then with majesty she moves on into the calm waters below, while the whole army rends the air with cheers. The Neosho^ Hindman., and Osage follow, but the water falls, the rocks reap- pear, before the others can pass, and they must bide their time. Stimulated by what has already been done. Colonel Bailey set himself to complete his task. The dam was at the lower rapids, and he saw that by building wing dams at the upper rapids he could bring all the water into one channel. Three days, and the work was done, the dams raising the water nearly seven feet, and allowing the boats, one by one, to pass safely to Alexandria, where guns and anchors were reshipped. In thirteen days from the beginning of the undertaking the entire fleet was on its Avay down the river, and the army keeping pace with the vessels in its return. Thus, by the experience, good-sense, and energy of Colonel Bailey was accomplished one of the most brilliant feats of engineering in modern times. The President, recognizing the value of what he had done, sent him a general's commission. Military engineers in Europe expressed their admiration at the success of the undertaking. A good deal of cotton had been gathered at Alexandria and at other jwints along the river, but much of it was burned by the soldiers ; and so the speculators, who had done much to bring about the movement, reaped little benefit from the campaign. NOTES TO CHAPTER II. (') Unpublished Documents of the Confederate Department of State. \'^) Gen. Richard Taylor, "Destruction and Reconstruction," p. 160. (3) Idem, p. 163. (^) General Mower's Report. THE GREAT COMMANDER. 67 CHAPTER HI. THE GREAT COMMANDER. TTTIIEN the war began in 1861, Gen. Winfield Scott was lientenant- * * genera], and in connnand of all the troops of the United States ; but he was an old man, too far advanced in life and too feeble to have the direction of all the great armies which had been organized to put down the Rebellion. So, after the battle of Bull Run, in 1861, when the coun- try called for a leader (" Drum-beat of the Nation," chap, v.). General McClellan was placed in command of all the troops ; but when he began the movement to Richmond in 1862, President Lincoln relieved him from the general command, and called Gen. Henry W. Halleck to Washington to have direction of military movements. There had been so many fail- ures of enterprises through contradictory orders sent from Washington by General Halleck and the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, that the people and President Lincoln alike were dissatisfied with the state of affairs. Mr. Stanton assumed the right to issue orders. Those transmitted by tel- egraph were sent in cipher. Mr. Stanton controlled the telegraph and appointed operators, who alone could read the ciphers, which made them independent of the generals commanding a department. It was seen that there must be one directing mind — one man in author- ity to plan the movements, to issue orders, so that the troops in different sections of the country should move concertedly for the carrying out of his plans. There was one commander who, by the victories he had won, commended himself to the people as endowed with the qualities needful to direct military affairs — Ulysses S. Grant, who never had lost a battle, but who had won the victory at Behnont, Missouri, in 1861, Fort Donel- son and Shiloh, in 1862 ("Drum-beat of the Nation," chaps, vii. and ix.), who had opened the Mississippi by his strategy and siege operations, who had directed affairs at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge ("March- ing to Victory," chap. xxii.). When the war began he was a clerk in a store at Galena, Illinois, so quiet and unobtrusive that he had made the acquaintance of very few people in the town. He had been appointed G8 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. major-general by President Lincoln, but other major-generals outranked liim. That he uiight have supreme command, Congress, on February 26, 1SG4, passed a law reviving the grade of lieutenant-general. President Lincoln never had seen General Grant, but he had great faith in him, and appointed him to tlie position formerly held by General Scott, which the Senate, on March 1st, confirmed, and the telegraph the next day informed General Grant that the President wished to see him in Washington, He was at Nashville, Tennessee. The people who rode with him in the cars little dreamed of what he was thinking — that he was laying a grand plan for the prosecution of the war. He saw that the country was divided into nineteen military departments, each with its independent commander re- ceiving orders from Washington ; that thus far the movements had not been made simultaneously ; that the different armies are like the balky horses of a team — not pulling together. Now that he is to have supreme command, he determined to have the armies move at the same moment. The troops were widely scattered ; he would have them consolidated. The theory of General Halleck and the War Department had been to hold all the conquered territory, and re-establish the authority of the United States. General Grant believed that the best way to re-establish the authority of President Lincoln was to crush out the authority of Jefferson Davis by force of arms ; that when the Confederate armies were wholly defeated there would be no difficulty in re-establishing the civil government. He saw that in Washington the uppermost idea had been to capture Rich- mond, the capital of the Confederacy. When the war began the cry throughout the country was " On to Richmond !" General McClellan moved down tlie Potomac and up to Yorktown and the Peninsula to lay siege to the city. In the estimation of General Grant, Richmond was of small account. He would plan his campaigns to strike the Confederate armies east and west at the same time. General Grant entered the Cabinet-room in the White House, and for the first time in his life met President Lincoln. The members of the Cabinet had assembled. General Halleck, to whom Grant • ' ' had been a subordinate, was there; also Mr. E. B. Washburne, of Galena, member of Congress, who had been instrumental in securing General Grant's appointment as lieutenant-general. Two of his staff and his eldest son accompanied him. It was a memorable scene, during the War of the Revolution, when President Washington received his commis- sion as Commander of the Continental Army ; and ecpially impressive this, in which the President of the people, born in a slave State, unedu- cated in the schools, who had issued the proclamation abolishing slavery, THE GREAT COMMANDER. 71 presented to this man, who when the war began was an obscure clerk selling leather, his commission as commander of a million men in arms. These the words of the President : " General Grant, the nation's apprecia- tion of what you have done, and its reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the existing struggle, are now presented with this commis- sion constituting you lieutenant-general in the army of the United States. With this high honor devolves upon you also a corresponding responsi- bility. As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you. I scarcely need add that with what 1 here speak for the nation goes my own hearty personal concurrence." The w^ords fell from trembling lips, so deep the feeling of the President. This the reply : '' Mr. President, I accept the commission, with grat- itude for the high honor conferred. With the aid of the noble armies that have fought in so many fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations. I feel the full re- sponsibilities now devolving on me ; and I know that if they are met it will be due to those armies, and, above all, to the favor of that Providence which leads nations and men."(') " You will have entire control of the armies," said the President. It was a trust which had been conferred upon no other commander, and he assured General Grant that everything possible should be done to add to the efficiency of the armies. The Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, said the same. " I do not wish to know your plans," said Mr. Lincoln, who believed that the man who had won Donelson, rolled back the enemy at Shiloh, captured Vicksburg, and won the great victory at Chattanooga, would make wise plans for the future. (^) The next day General Grant was at Brandy Station, fifty miles from Washington, lookiniz; for the first time into the faces of the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac. He had seen what the Eleventh and Twelfth corps of that grand army could do, as they swept up the sides of Lookout Mountain, and he had the same confidence in the men of the East that he had in those of the West. Rain was falling, the mud deep, but General Meade was at the sta- tion to receive his old friend, whom he had last met on the battle-fields of Mexico, when they were lieutenants. The rumor was abroad that General Meade was to be removed ; that Grant intended to appoint a more active commander. General Meade was a true patriot. He took command of the army of the Potomac at Frederick three days before Gettysburg. Under him 72 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. tlie army fought the great, decisive battle of the war, evermore a turning- point in history. He had rendered efficient service. He had not struck a blow which he might have given after that battle, but he had built up the army. He had foiled Lee in a movement upon Washington. He withdrew the troops from Mine Run, south of the Kapidan, when he saw that it would result in disaster. He was wise and prudent ; more than this, he was intensely loyal. " The emergency of the country is above all other considerations. Remove me at once without any delicacy, if it suits your plans," were the words of Meade. "I see no reason for displacing you," was the quiet reply. (') Alone the two commanders talked about the army, the country, roads, rivers, Lee's force, and the situation of the Union and Confederate armies. In the morning General Grant was on his way to Washington. Pres- ident Lincoln had arranged a dinner in his honor, but he could not stay to eat. He had no time for the reception of honor. He was thinking out a great plan. Were he to sit an hour or two at the presidential table to listen to the stories that would be told he would lose time, and it might break into his line of thought. He sent his respects to President Lincoln, stepped into the cars, and was whirling westward over the Alle- ghanies. While he was flying on the express train the lightning was bearing a despatch from him to General Sherman, who was at Memphis : "Meet me at Kashville." A man to be a great military commander must understand men. The country did not know much about General Sherman. He had com- manded a brigade in the first Bull Run battle, but won no particular distinction. Because he had seen the need for an army of two hundred thousand men in Kentucky at the beginning of the war, the idea was abroad that he was crazy. It was said that he was surprised at Shiloli ; that he failed at Chickasaw Bluffs. He had done efficient service under Grant at Jackson, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga. General Grant had seen that he was the man who could be trusted to command in the West. General Halleck doubted if Sherman was the right man ; but President Lincoln desired that Grant should have his own way, and the oi'der which assigned him to command all the armies made Sherman commander of the military division of the Mississippi. Sherman arrived at Nashville. He wanted Grant to remain in the West and direct affairs. "You are at home here: the sol- Marcli 17, 1864. ,. , • ^ :i vi ^i A A diers know you ; you are acquainted with the ground ana with your officers," he said. THE GREAT COMMANDER. 73 General Grant saw differently — that the army under Lee was the strongest of the Confederate armies ; that Lee was the ablest Confederate commander ; that the Confederate Government would sacrifice everything else to sustain the army which was to hold Richmond. The army under Lee must be crushed before the war could end. We are not to think that the fighting men of the Confederacy had all been gathered in before 1864:. On the contrary, the remorseless con- scription enforced during the winter months, which swept in everybody between eighteen and forty-five had filled up the Confederate ranks. The army under Lee never was more powerful than at that moment. Tlirough the months the Tredegar Works at Richmond had been running night and day, casting cannon, shot, and shell. Every vessel running the blockade brought arms and supplies from England. The Confederate Government was straining every nerve to make the armies as powerful East and West as when Lee moved to Gettysburg and Bragg to Chattanooga. The army which had been routed from Chattanooga was at Dalton, in northern Georgia, commanded by Josejjh E. Johnston. Bragg was at Richmond, advising the Secretary of War what to do. Grant's plan was for Sherman to move against Johnston ; for Banks to turn back from the Red River, make all haste to New Orleans, join General Canby, who was commanding tliere, sail to Mobile, get in rear of the city, capture the forts, which were garrisoned by less than four thousand men, and then march north, or steam up the Alabama River and threaten Johnston in the rear, while Sherman' pressed on from Chat- tanooga. He had a plan for the Army of the Potomac to strike at Lee's army ; while General Butler, who was at Fortress Monroe, was to make a quick move towards Richmond. The Ninth Corps was under General Burnside. It had returned from Tennessee, and was at Annapolis, in Maryland. No one could tell where it was going. Vessels in the harbor were supposed to be waiting to take tlie troops on board. General Burnside did not know whither he was go- ing. Secretary Stanton did not know. The newspaper correspondents said he was to sail for North Carolina. " I want an oSicer of fire and nerve, to command the cavalry," was Grant's remark to Halleck. " How would Sheridan do ?" "Just the man." The country had not heard of General Sheridan. Very few people knew that there was such an ofiicer. The correspondents in their narra- 74 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. tives of the battles of Stone River and Missionary Eidge had given glow- ing accounts of the effective part taken by Sheridan's troops. From the beginning of the war he had .been commanding infantry. Now Grant pro- . posed to put him at the head of all the cavalry. During the years 1861 and 1862 the Union cavalry had accomplished very little. It had been in driblets until Hooker consolidated it. The Confederates, at the beginning of the war, laughed at the awkw^ard riding of the Union cavalry. " Tlie people of the North do not know how to ride horses," they said. But they discovered at Brandy Station, in May, 1863, and at Gettysburg in June, and when Grierson rode through the length of the State of Mississippi, coming out at Baton Rouge, that the cavalrymen of the North were be- coming very efficient. Grant intended to make the cavalry a powerful arm of the service, and he wanted a commander, bold, fearless, quick to see and execute. He had seen Sheridan's division sweep the slopes of Missionary Ridge as an ocean- wave rolls up the pebbled beach, and Sheridan was the man to command the eleven thousand horsemen who were to protect his Hanks and trains, and be the eyes, ears, and wings of the army. Before the week was out General Grant was at Fortress Monroe, talk- ing with General Butler. "All the forces that can be spared from points along the coast will report to you. You are to move up the James, and seize City Point, making Richmond your objective point," were his orders to Butler. " Se- cure a footing as far up the river as possible." To General Halleck he wrote, "The army will start with fifteen days' rations." He was going to cut loose from Washington. He knew that if lie attempted to keep the railroad open it would require several thousand men to protect it. He would reopen communication whenever necessary. I was in Washington on the last days of April, I heard the drum beat and beheld a long column of troops passing down Pennsylvania Avenue. Unheralded, the Ninth Corps had marched from Annapolis. The veteran regiments which had seen service in North Carolina and Tennessee had full ranks once mere. There was a division of colored troops. It was an army of nearly thirty thousand men. So well had General Grant kept his own counsel that even General Burnside knew nothing positively as to his destination till the order came for him to break camp and make a rapid march through Washington and join the Army of the Potomac. I copy from my note-book the words written as I saw them pass : " The bright sunshine gleams from their bayonets. Above them wave THE GREAT COMMANDER. 75 their standards tattered by the winds, torn by cannon-ball and rifle-shot, stained by the blood of dying heroes. They are priceless treasures, more beloved than houses, or lands, riches, honors, ease, comfort, or wife, or children. Ask the battle-scarred soldier what he loves best on earth, and he will have but one answer — ' The flag ! the dear oW flag !' It is his pillar of fire by night and cloud by day ; the symbol of everything worth living for, worth dying for. " I see upon those banners as they flutter in the breeze, ' Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Roanoke, Newborn, Gainesville, Mechanicsville, Seven Pines, Savage's Station, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chancellors ville, Antietam, South Mountain, Knoxville, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Gettysburg' — all those names are there in golden letters, and others so torn and defaced that I cannot read them. "The streets are lined with men, women, and children. The grave Senators have left their chamber, and the members of the House of Repre- sentatives have taken a recess to gaze upon the defenders of their country once more, as they pass through the city, manj of them, alas! never to re- turn. There is the steady tramping of the thousands, the deep, heavy jar of the gun-carriages on the pavement, the clattering of hoofs, the clanking of sabres, the drum-beat, the bugle-call, and the nmsic of the military bands. Pavement, sidewalk, windows, and roofs are occupied by the people. Upon the balcony of the hotel is their corps-commander. General Burnside, and by his side the President of the United States, pale, careworn, returning the salutes of the officers and acknowledging those of the soldiers. " A division of veterans pass. And now, with full ranks, platoons ex- tending from sidewalk to sidewalk, are brigades which never have been in battle ; but at the call of their country, they are going forth to crush the Rebellion. Their' country ! They never had a country till the tall man on the balconj^ so pale and worn, gave them one. "• For the first time they behold their benefactor. They are darker hued than their veteran comrades who have gone before ; but they can cheer as heartily as they. 'Hurrah for Uncle Abe ! Hurrah for Massa Linkun! Three cheers for the President ! Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!' There is a swinging of caps, a clapping of hands, a waving of handkerchiefs and ban- ners. There are no cheers more lusty than those given by the redeemed sons of Africa ; there are no responses more hearty than those in return from the admiring multitude. Regiment after regiment of stalwart men, slaves once, but freemen now, with steady step, closed-up file, and even rank, pass down the street, moving on to Old Virginia to certain victor}* or certain death." 76 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. By tliis movement of the Ninth Corps General Grant brought his troops into a compact body. During the winter, the Army of the Potomac had been consolidated into three corps. The Second commanded by Gen- eral Hancock, the Fifth by General Warren, the Sixth by General Sedg- wick. Military autliorities are of the opinion that it was a mistake— that it would have been better if there had been more corps organizations ; but General Meade had made the consolidation, and General Grant did not change it. Ont of deference to the feelings of General Burnside, General Grant did not, at the beginning of the campaign, regard the Ninth Corps as a part of the Army of the Potomac, but as a distinct army. General Burnside had commanded the Army of the Potomac in 1862, and General Meade was the commander of a division under him, and Gen- eral Grant thought it to be not quite consistent with military etiquette for a former commander to be placed under one who had been a subordinate. At the beginning of the campaign, General Grant, as lieutenant-general commanding all the armies, only issued general orders to General Meade and General Burnside, allowing them to exercise their own discretion in the execution of the orders. With two subordinate commanders, inde- pendent of each other, the efficiency of the great army was much impaired. The entire army numbered about 125,000 men, with 306 cannon. The Confederate army under General Lee was encamped south of the Rapidan. General Longstreet's corps, which had passed tlie winter in Eastern Tennessee, had received a large number of recruits, and was encamped at Gordonsville. From no returns of the Confederate War Department is it possible to know just how many soldiers there were un- der General Lee. Conscripts were constantly arriving — not new regi- ments, but individuals from the different States, who were put into regi- ments already organized. It was far better than the plan adopted by the Union authorities — the organization of new regiments. The raw Confed- erate recruit, standing side by side with men who had seen three years of service, in a very short time himself becomes a veteran. The Confed- erate army, as near as can be ascertained, numbered between sixty and seventy thousand, with two hundred and twenty- four cannon, and was composed of three corps, commanded by General Longstreet, Gen. A. P. Hill, and General Ewell. (') Notwithstanding the defeat at Gettysburg, the soldiers of the Confederacy believed that the Army of Northern Vir- ginia was invincible; that General Grant, the moment he attempted to advance, would be hurled back, as McClellan, Burnside, and Hooker had been. The disasters in the West, at Yicksburg, Port Hudson, Chattanooga, THE GREAT COMMANDER. 77 and Knoxville, had disheartened many Confederate soldiers in tlie South- west as to the success of the Confederacy in establishing its indepen- dence ; not so the soldiers in the Army of Northern Virginia, who had won many battles, and who had unbounded faith in the ability of Gen- eral Lee to win victories, and who loved him as children a fond father devoted to their welfare. From Clark's Mountain, which overlooks the plains upon Avhicli the two great armies were encamped, the Confederate signal- officers looked down upon the white tents of the Union troops. With their telescopes they could sweep the horizon ten miles away, and note every movement. General Lee's spies within the Union lines kept him informed of all that was going on. Yet there was not much going on during the last week in Ai^ril, except the removal of superfluous baggage — the unmistakable sign that ere long the army would move in some direction ; but by no change that took place could General Lee discover in which direction the Army of the Potomac would move. General Grant had planned not only his own movement against Lee's army, but one from Fortress Monroe by an army under Gen. B. F. Butler, which he hoped would either make its way into Richmond, or secure the lines of railway communication leading south and west from that city, which would cripple the Confederate army. In addition. General Sigel was to move from Winchester up the Shenandoah Yalley to threaten Lee's communication in that direction, while General Crook was to advance east- ward up the Great Kanawha Yalley. It would have been better if the troops under Crook and Sigel had been united in the Shenandoah. Simultaneously with these movements in the East, General Sherman was to advance against General Johnston's Confederate army at Dalton, in northern Georgia. By the concerted movements of the several armies, the Confederate Government could not again send, as it had done the year before, Long- street -to reinforce the western army, nor could troops from the west be hurried east to assist Lee in confronting the Army of the Potomac. Such the strategy thought out by General Grant. NOTES TO CHAPTER III. (' ) Gen. U. S. Grant, " Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 115. P) Idem. (3) Idem, p. 117. (■*) Gen. A. A. Humphrej's, "Virginia Campaigns of 1864 and 1865," p. 17. 78 REDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. CHAPTER IV. THE WILDERNESS. OX the evening of May 3d orderlies were i-iding through the great army with sealed packages — the orders for the army to move. At midnight I looked upon the scene, beholding glimmering camp-fires, long lines of men. There was no drum-beat, but a quiet mustering of troops, a folding of tents, and then the column of men and long lines of white- topped wagons disappeared, moving south-east towards the fords of the Rapidan. Tlie cavalry, under Sheridan, were in the advance, then a long train of wagons with pontoons — the Engineer Corps, hastening to Germania Ford, where they quickly constructed two bridges of boats, and two more at Ely's, and one at Culpeper Mine. If there had been ten bridges instead of five — if a pioneer brigade of two thousand men had been organized, with axes and shovels — there probably would have been no battle in the Wilderness. The most diffi- cult part of Grant's plan was the movement of the four thousand wag- ons. A wagon - train, at the best, cannot get on very fast. An obsti- nate mule, the breaking of a trace or strap, stops the whole train. The trains must be protected by the troops. It would not have been very difficult to construct a new road between the Germania and Ely's Ford road. It could have been accomplished in a few hours. A year later such a road was opened in rear of the works at Petersburg for the last grand movement. It was the delay of the trains, moving on two roads, which compelled General Grant to fight the first battle in the "Wilderness. At midnight the whole army was on the march — Wilson's cavalry and the Fifth and Sixth corps towards Germania Ford ; Gregg's cavalry and the Second Corps to Ely's, six miles down-stream. At 10 May 4, 1864. , , , , . ■, o ^ r^ /-., i o clock the next mornmg the Second Corps was at Cliancel- lorsville, resting on the field where they fought a year before. The Fifth Corps was at Wilderness Tavern, five miles south of Germania Ford; the THE WILDERNESS. 81 Sixth at the ford ; the Ninth moving from Manassas, where it had halted after passing through Washington. I had last seen General Grant at Corinth, in June, 1862. During the spring campaign of that year he had treated me with great kindness, and though so many months had passed, though he had been chief actor in one of the greatest wars in the history of the human race, his wonderful memory had not failed him as to my name and occupation — that of a newspaper correspondent, and I was cordially welcomed to his headquar- ters. I rode with his staff to Germania Ford. Upon the south bank stood a deserted Virginia farm-house. Although soldiers of the Confed- eracy and of the Union had passed and repassed it many times, the win- dows had not been broken. The departing family had left a few arti- cles of furniture behind — a table and some chairs. The frugal supper of the lieutenant-general — cold ham and tongue and army bread — was spread upon the table, and I had the honor of being his guest, in company with my friend Hon. E. B. Washburne, Member of Congress. When supper was finished, General Grant sat on a camp-stool by the door-way, smoking his cigar, silent, absorbed in thought, looking out upon the gleaming camp-fires of a division of the Sixth Corps, form- ing the right wing of the army in this movement. The great religious interest manifest in the army during the winter had not lost its force. The soldiers of an entire brigade were holding a prayer-meeting. The sky was without a cloud, and the gleaming stars looked down upon them while the glimmering bivouac fires brought out in bold relief the kneeling throng. This was to be their last meeting be- fore the beginning of the terrific struggle. Before another sunset the lips of many of that congregation would be silent evermore. The prayers fin- ished, they stood erect, and then joined in their parting hymn, the mighty chorus of manly voices mingling with the tattoo of the evening drum-beat, swelling out in the melody and harmony of Old Hundred, the music of Martin Luther, the great apostle of Liberty. "Eternal are thy mercies, Lord, Eternal truth attends thy word ; Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore Till suns shall rise and set no more."(.M General Lee did not believe that General Grant was marching towards Spottsylvania, but that it was a movement to attack his right flank, (') The Union signal-officers were reading his despatches, for they had discov- ered the key to the Confederate code of signals. It was past one in the 6 82 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. afternoon, and the Fifth Coqjs had reached the Wilderness Tavern, when Lee directed Evvell and Hill to occupy their old line of intrenchments at Mine Run (" Marching to Victory," p. 466). He sent orders to Longstreet, who was at Gordonsville, to move up the plank road. General X^ee was familiar with the country. Many times he had ridden along the roads. His military secretary says : " Its intricacies, which were familiar to him and his generals, were un- known ground to Grant. In them he had already vanquished a large army with half its force. The natural hope of success in baffling his new oppo- nent which this gave him he did not fail to avail himself of, and Grant found himself unexpectedly arrested in his march by the presence of the Confederate army in the wilds in which, just a year before. Hooker's con- fident army had been hurled back in defeat." (') That General Lee confidently expected to overwhelm General Grant, and send him back across the Rapidan and Rappahannock as Hooker and Burnside had been sent, will be seen by this narrative as given by his military secretary, who spent the night and breakfasted with him, and who has given this picture of the Confederate commander : " The general displayed the cheerfulness which he usually exhibited at meals, and indulged in a few pleasant jests at the expense of his staff- officers, as was his custom on such occasions. He expressed himself sur- prised that his new adversary had placed himself in the predicament as ' Fighting Joe ' had done the previous spring. He hoped the result would be even more disastrous to Grant than that which Hooker had ex- perienced. He was in the best of spirits and expressed much confidence of the result; a confidence which was well founded, for there was much reason to believe that his antagonist would be at his mercy while entan- gled in the pathless thicket." (*) The country had been settled many years, but it was still a wilder- ness — dense woods, tangled thickets, here and there a clearing, a tumble- down farm-house. The land was once almost wholly owned by a rich old man, who leased farms to tenants. He had many slaves and lived in grand style, raising tobacco and slaves. Roads were laid out before the Revolutionary War. The tide of travel then was east and west, between the mountains and the sea-coast, to Williamsburg and Fredericksburg. To accommodate this, two roads were laid out — the Orange turnpike, five miles south of Gerinania Ford, and one and a half miles farther south the Orange plank road. The road from Germania Ford runs south-east, the other south-west. The Wilderness Tavern is on the turnpike near its junction with the Germania road. The house of Mr. Lacy is south-west %^ iiiyiiiiiiij III II ii iiiiyiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii I THE WILDERNESS. May 5, 1864. from the tavern a sliort distance. It was here that Stonewall Jackson had his arm amputated during the battle of Chancellorsville. Early in the morning General Grant was in the saddle. It was be- tween seven and eight o'clock when he reached General Meade, near Wilderness Tavern. The cavalry pickets had been out on the turnpike and plank road, and had exchanged shots with the Confederates. The troops of the Fifth Corps were in the fields and woods west of Lacy's '"^^ttte house. ^ " General Warren says that Lee intends to fight us here," General Meade remarked. " Very well," the reply. The two commanders enter- ed the edge of the woods west of the road and dismounted. General Humphreys, chief of General Meade's staff, took out % his order-book and wrote a few lines. Aides on fast horses car- ried the messages to "Warren, Sedgwick, Hancock, and Sheri- dan. (^) Riding out to the front line I saw across a field the Confed- erates under Hill coming into position, the sunlight gleaming from barrel and bayonet. The skirmishers were exchanging shots ; soldiers were at work with axes felling trees, constructing rude intrenchments. With great promptness, and confident of victory, Lee moved to strike a staggering blow. It was a sublime confidence which animated the Confederate troops on that bright May morning. I could see it in their marching, coming out squarely into the open field, and taking deliberate position to hurl them- selves upon Warren's corps. They had nnbounded faith in Lee. The soldiers of the Union army knew General Grant only by reputa- tion. They had read about Donelson, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga, but he had not reviewed them, never had ridden along the lines with a grand staff. It can hardly be said that General Grant on that morning possessed the confidence of tlie army ; he was yet to win it. 6* MA J. -GEN. G. K. WARREN. 86 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. While the troops under Meade were deploying for battle in tlie Wil- derness, those nnder Burnside were moving from Manassas Junction, forty miles north of Germania Ford, where they had been holding the railroad. They marched all night, and in tlie morning were crossing at Germania Ford and filing in rear of the Sixth Corps. One division of cavalry was retained north of the Kapidan to guard against any movement to strike Grant's line of communication. The Union army was marching south, the Confederate east, and Grant saw that instead of reaching, as he had hoped, the cleared fields around Spottsylvania, the first battle must be fought in the Wilderness. His plan was to take the initiative whenever he could draw the enemy from his intrenchments. He did not wait till all his troops were up, but ordered Warren to attack as soon as he could get his troops into position. General Getty's division of the Sixth Corps filed in rear of the Fiftli Corps and came into line on the right, to hold the ground in that direc- tion till Hancock could make the march from Chancellorsville. The Union line at the beginning of the struggle was formed with Rickett's division of the Sixth Corps nearest the Rapidan, forming the right wing, then Wright's division, then the Fifth Corps, with Getty's division of the Sixth. The Second Corps, upon its arrival, formed on the left of Getty, reaching southward in the direction of Todd's Tavern, occupied by the cavalry under Sheridan. The Ninth Corps was moving south from Ger- mania Ford and coming into position in rear of the Fifth. On the Confederate side Ewell confronted the Sixth Corps, A. P. Hill the Fifth, while Longstreet was advancing to meet Hancock, and Stuart to attack Sheridan. The wagons of General Grant, more than four thou- sand, were at Chancellorsville. The last eastward railroad train had left Culpeper Court-house. The Union army had cut loose from Washington by that line. General Crawford's division of the Fiftli Corps at eight o'clock was out on Mr. Chewing's farm, on the plank road ; General Wadsworth's was close behind, also General Robinson's. There were cavalry pickets at Parker's store, which were being driven in, but Crawford advanced and held the ground. Going from the Wilderness Tavern south we ride along the Brock road, which, before railroads were built, was a great highway between Spottsylvania and the Germania Ford. A mile and a half down this road brings us to the plank road. If we turn west and ride a mile and THE WILDERNESS. 87 a half we come to Parker's store. Keeping these roads and places in mind, we shall be able to understand the great battle which was fought almost wholly in the woods, M^iere the trees — scrub -oaks, pines, cedars, WILDEKNESS BATTLE-FIELD. and sassafras — were so thick that the contending armies could not see each other. General Lee did not care to bring on the battle until Longstreet was in position. Three o'clock. We see Wright's division of the Sixth Corps moving south-west through the woods, the Fifth Corps in position from the right of the turnpike, across it, down to the plank road. The battle begins along Warren's line. It is not long before Wright's division of the Sixth Corps strikes Swell's flank and drives it in disorder. Ewell brings up reinforcements, and Wright is driven in turn. It is five o'clock before Hancock comes up. I shall not attempt to describe the movements of tlie Union and Con- 88 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. federate brigades backward and forward through the thickets, because I could not make it intelligible. We may think of men in blue and men in gray surging to and fro, neither side advancing very far, neither re- treating any great distance. The ground is a succession of hills and hol- lows, knolls and ravines, covered with thick bushes, scrub-oak, sassafras, chincapin, and hazel. Two columns of smoke rise above the trees. Men fire into the thickets, aiming only at flashes and lines of smoke. The twigs of trees are cut into shreds by the leaden rain. The woods are so thick that cannon are of little use. Till the sun goes down the mighty uproar goes on, little advantage being gained by either party, each hold- ing its ground. The woods are thick with killed and wounded. The last year's dead leaves are like tinder. They take fire, and the flames sweep over the ground between the lines. The wounded cry for lielp. Some are snatched from the flames, but for others there is no relief, Night came on with each army preparing for the morrow's struggle, throwing up intrenchments, both preparing for tlie attack at daylight. On the Confederate side Longstreet was bringing up his division by Par- ker's store. On the Union side the Ninth Corps was coming into posi- tion between Warren and Hancock. I spread my blanket for the night beneath a shed, once occui^ied by a gold-mining companj^, near General Grant's headquarters. I was astir at •daybreak, for I knew that General Grant intended to renew the attack as soon as day dawned. I do not know why General Meade wished him to postpone it till six o'clock ; but in deference to his wishes the order was modifled to five. C) General Grant knew from his spies that Longstreet was hastening on, and wished to strike a blow before his arrival. General Lee, wishing to delay, if possible, any attack upon his right by Hancock, directed Ewell to open fire upon the Sixth Corps. It was a little past five when I heard a ripple of musketry in front of the Sixth Corj)s, then a longer roll. The spring birds were singing their mornino; sono-s in the trees around me, the air was fragrant May 6, 1864. .,-,,. , ■ n With the periume or openmg flowers, army wagons were rumbling along the roads, when the uproar of battle began. A moment later I heard the outburst of the tempest, where Hancock was falling upon the left of A, P. Hill's command. If General Lee thought to delay the expected stroke, if he thought that Grant wovdd order Hancock, to wait, he was mistaken. Wadswortli's division of the Fifth Corjjs, north of the Orange »plank road, and Hancock with the Second Corps south of it, moved upon Hill. The assault of Hancock first fell upon Heth's and Wilcox's divisions. A Confederate historian says : " Hill was assailed witli THE WILDERNESS. 91 increased vigor, so heavy a pressure being brought to bear upon Heth and Wilcox that they were driven back, and owing to tlie difficulties of the country, were thrown into confusion. The failure of Longstreet to appear came near causing a serious disaster to the army-''^) There was confusion in rear of the Confederate army. General Lee sent his adjutant-general to Parker's store, ordering the trains to be ready to move. Messengers rode in haste with an order to Longstreet to hasten the march of his troops. Had we been there we should have seen General Longstreet ordering his men to go upon the run, and himself putting spurs to his horse and galloping towards the line of battle, each moment coming nearer as Hancock's troops pressed on. General Lee and Hill were endeavoring to rally the retreating Confederates. It was a critical moment for General Lee. Hill's troops were breaking when Gregg's brigade of Texans appeared, the foremost of Longstreet's command. They, with the other troops of Longstreet, went west before the battle of Chick- amauga, and had not for several months seen their beloved commander ; but beholding him rallying Hill's troops, with the bullets falling around him, broke into a cheer. This the account of the scene by a Confed- erate :(') " The Texans cheered lustily as their line of battle, coming up in splen- did style, passed by Wilcox's disordered columns, and swept across our artillery pit and its adjacent breastwork. Much moved by the greeting of these brave men and their magnificent behavior, General Lee spurred his horse through an opening in the trenches, and followed close on their line as it moved rapidly forward. The men did not perceive that he was going with them until they had advanced some distance in the charge. When they did recognize him, there came from the entire line as it rushed on, the cry, 'Go back, General Lee! go back!' A sergeant seized his bridle- rein and turned his horse." (°) In the charge upon Hancock more than one-half of Gregg's brigade w^ere killed or wounded ; but their assault, together with Benning's divis- ion, was so vigorous that the advance of Birney's and Mott's divisions was checked. General Grant has this to say regarding the attack by Han- cock : "I believed then, and see no reason to change that opinion, that if the country had been such that Hancock and his command could have seen the confusion and panic in the lines of the enemy, it would have taken advantage so effectually that Lee would not have made another sfand out- side of his Richmond defences." ('") Both Union and Confederate lines were broken up — regiments sep- 92 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. arated from tlieir brigades and disorganized. This before 6.30 iu the morning. There came a lull while the line reformed. South of the plank road was an unfinished line of railroad, and later in the day Longstreet swung his troops in that direction, struck Hancock's left flank and drove the Union troops back to their intrenchments. The woods were on fire, and the logs of the breastworks were burning, but amid the crackle of the flames the battle went on. I have heard the up- roar of many battles, but never so heavy a fire of musketry as rolled up along Hancock's line during the afternoon, when almost the whole of his corps and two divisions of Burnside's corps were engaged with Long- street's and Hill's. I think that thirty thousand men were firing at the same moment. At five o'clock Longstreet's troops fell back. They had forced the Second Corps back from the advance made in the morning, but could not drive Hancock from his chosen position. At sunset the battle died away. I was at General Grant's headquarters in the grove of pines north of the Lacy house. Suddenly, far up on the right, rose the Confederate war-whoop, then volleys of musketry and the thunder of cannon. The Confederate gen- erals Gordon and Johnston had formed their brigades in the woods in front of Shaler's brigade of the Sixth Corps. A portion of Shaler's men laid down their guns and were using axes and shovels, when the Confed- erates rushed upon them, taking Shaler and nearly all his men prisoners. It was an attack as sudden as the swoop of an eagle. They rushed on and struck Seymour's brigade. Pegram's Confederate brigade came upon Wright's division. The battle became fierce and bloody. Looking across the fields I could see fugitives streaming towards Chancellorsville. Team- sters were harnessing their horses ; wagons were in motion ; there was a quick packing up. An officer greatly excited came riding to headquarters. " The Rebels have massed their whole force on our right ; got between us and the river; turned our flank. They have captured Shaler's and Sey- mours brigades, and are sweeping all before tliem !" he shouted. (") General Grant was sitting with his back against a tree, whittling a stick. He did not rise, nor was he disturbed. , General Meade, hearing the report and seeing evident signs of disaster, with quick, nervous energy, said, " Shall I order in supports, general ?" " Yes, if you think best," the reply. But troops were already on their way, which General Humph- reys had taken the responsibility of ordering to support the Sixth Corps. He says : " Staff-officers of the Sixth Corps rode into General Meade's headquarters and informed me (General Meade was at General Grant's THE WILDERNESS. 93 headquarters) that the right of the line liad been broken and rolled up, that the enemy occupied the position, and that a part of them were ad- vancing down the Germania plank road, on our right and rear, following the fuo-itives from Shaler's and Seymour's brigades, and that probably both Sedgwick and Wright were captured. I at once made dispositions to meet this with the prov^ost guard and some troops that General War- ren sent me." ('" ) Had we been within the Confederate lines we should have seen in the afternoon Johnston's brigade of Rodes's division arriving from Hanover Junction, and the troops marching up to the left of the line to join Gen- eral Early. The Confederates discovered that the right of the Sixth Corps had no troops near at hand in support. As the sun went down Gordon's and Johnston's brigades marclied north, then east, and then south-east, to gain the flank and rear of the Union troops, while Early with his remaining brigades attacked in front. The Union troops, under General Shaler, were building breastworks. The pickets were not very far out from the main line. Gordon's and Johnston's men came upon them, capturing a large number of Shaler's men before they could throw down their axes and shovels and seize their guns. The brigade was thrown into confusion, some of the men fleeing across the fields. The wave next struck Seymour's brigade, which also was thrown into con- fusion, but the men quickly rallied and poured in sncli destructive volleys that the Confederate ranks in tnrn were broken and thrown into disorder. Night was fast settling over the forest, illuminated by the flashing of thousands of muskets. The Confederate officers were unable to rally the men in the darkness, and the struggle ended almost as quickly as it began. " It was fortunate," writes the Confederate General Early, " that darkness came to close this affair, as the enemy, if he had been able to discover the disorder on our side, might have brought up fresh troops and availed him- self of our condition." C) Minutes seem hours at such a time, for the uproar increased and came nearer. In the field north of the Wilderness Tavern, the reserve artillery, the provost guards, and a division of the Fifth Corps were com- ing into position for a new line. The coolest person in that group beneath the pines was the man who never lost a battle. At last the silent man spoke : " Washburn, I do not believe, that story. The Rebels can have no great force on our right. Through the afternoon Longstreet and Hancock have been at it. Warren has had all he could do with Hill. Lee has not had time to change his troops and mass them on the right." ('*) 94 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. He had thouglit it out, and was not concerned. It was a disaster to lose sevei'al hundred prisoners, but that was not going to force him from his position. An officer came riding in, giving a clear account of what had hap- pened. "We have a new line established, and can hold them," he said. During the two days' struggle General Grant had lost about fifteen thousand killed and wounded and taken prisoners. There are no returns of the losses of the Confederates, but as General Grant was the assailant, it is probable that the number of killed and wounded was not so great as on the Union side. The biographer of General Lee admits that the loss was seven thousand ;(") the probabilities are that, including prisoners taken, the Confederate loss exceeded ten thousand. A great many statements have been made by writers in regard to the war that are not true. A Confederate writer states that the Union loss in this battle was forty thousand. ('") General Grant did not intend to have his troops slaughtered by an attack upon the Confederate intrenchments. He had no idea of retreat- ing. The one thought in his mind was how best to get at Lee's army. He would move by his left flank to Spottsylvania. The first great con- flict of the campaign had been fought. Lee possibly thought he could compel Grant to follow the example of Hooker, and recross the Raj)idan, but he was mistaken. Lee had. not won a victory. General Grant did not desire to fight in the Wilderness, but accepted battle while waiting for his trains. He had held his ground, and proposed to go on. Through the night long lines of ambulances were moving towards Fredericksburg with the wounded, who had to be cared for before the army could be moved on. All but one of the bridges across the Rapi- dan had been taken up ; that one was used to reopen communication with Washington, and a large number of the wounded were sent by that route. Through Saturday there was a strange quietness along the lines, in contrast to the turmoil of Thursday and Friday. General Lee was send- ing his wounded southward, to be transported to Richmond ■ ' or to Gordons ville. All the farm-houses in rear of his lines were filled with wounded. Of the battle of the Wilderness General Grant has left this record : "More desperate fighting has not been witnessed on this continent than that of the 5th and 6th of May. Our victory consisted in having successfully crossed a formidable stream almost in the face of an enemy, and in getting the army together as a unit. We gained an advantage on THE WILDERNESS. 95 the morning of the 6th, which, if it had heen followed up, must have proved decisive. In the evening the enemy gained an advantage but was speedily repulsed. As we stood at the close, the two armies were relatively about in the same condition to meet each other as when the river divided them; but the fact of having safely crossed was a vie- tory."(") In this battle the electric telegraph was used for the transmission of orders. The moment General Grant had selected a place for his head- quarters a man riding a mule started upon a trot, reeling off lines of in- sulated wire, to the headquarters of generals Sedgwick, Warren, Hancock, and Buniside. A wagon followed dropping poles ten feet long, with an iron spike at one end and a fork at the other, by which the wire was lifted from the ground, so that the troops could march and countermarch without tripping. Being insulated, it worked just as well in rain as in sunshine. Each brigade unrolled its own length of wire; so in a very few minutes there was a line of telegraph in operation and the instru- ments clicking at the headquarters of each general. To the close of the war the field telegraph was used by General Grant. For two days the contest had raged. When General Grant rose from his camp-bed on the morning of Saturday he had formed his plan for future action. He would not renew the struggle in the Wilderness, but would make a movement to get between General Lee and Hichmond ; but he must remain where he was till he could remove the wounded. Before he sat down to breakfast he issued the order for the corps commanders to be ready to make a night march towards Spottsylvania. So through the day the long line of ambulances was moving towards Fredericksburg, and the four thousand wagons southward towards the Ny River. In making the movement, the Fifth Corps at sunset was to quietly withdraw from its intrenchments and march down the Brook road, the great highway of former days leading from Germania Ford to Rich- mond. The Sixth and I^inth corps were to move by other routes, while Hancock with the Second Corps was to remain in position till the others had passed. General Grant thought it likely that General Lee would fall upon Hancock, but he did not. The Confederate commander instead telegraphed to Richmond that the Union army was once more defeated, and was retreating to Fredericksburg. ('*) But he soon discovered his mistake, and ordered Anderson, placed in command of the First Corps after the wounding of Longstreet, to hasten to Spottsylvania, for if General Grant were to reach that point in ad- 96 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. vance and retain possession, he would be compelled to attack liim, with the advantage of position on the side of the Union troops. He was too wary to do that after the two days' conflict in the tangled thickets of the Wilderness. NOTES TO CHAPTER IV. Author's Note-book, May, 1864. Gen. U. S. Grant, " Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 191. Gen. A. L. Long, " Memoirs of Robert E. Lee," p. 326. Idem. Author's Note-book, May, 1864. Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 195. Gen. A. L. Long, " Memoirs of Robert E. Lee," p. 329. Idem, p. 331. C. S. Venable, of Lee's staff. Address before Southern Historical Society. Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 197. Author's Note-book, May, 1864. Gen. A. A. Humphreys, " Virginia Campaigns of 1864 and 1865," p. 50. Gen. J. A. Early, " Memoirs of the Last Year of the War," p. 20. Author's Note-book, May, 1864. Gen. A. L. Long, "Memoirs of Robert E. Lee," p. 324. Gen. C. M. Wilcox, quoted by Gen. A. A. Humphreys, in " Virginia Campaigns of 1864 and 1865," p. 424. Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 204. Idem, p. 211. SPOTTSYLVANIA. 97 CHAPTER V. SPOTTSYLVANI A. SPOTTSYLYANIA COURT-HOUSE is a little hamlet, consisting of the court-house and jail, a large tvvo-storj brick tavern, a gro- cery, and a few houses. It is upon the Brook road leading from Rich- mond to Culpeper north-west. From the tavern a road leads north-east to Fredericksburg, fifteen miles distant. The river Ny rises amid the woods south of Chancellorsville, and crosses the road leading to Fred- ericksburg one mile from the court-house. The river Po, which rises amid the w^oods south-west of the Wilderness battle-field, with many windings between rugged banks, runs south-east. If we go west from the court-house upon a road leading to Shady Grove Church, we may cross the Po by Block House Bridge, or by SnelTs Bridge, near the farm of Mr. Chewnig. If we travel up the Brook road, one mile and a half will bring us to the farm of Mr. Spindler, and another mile will take us to the house of Mr. Alsop ; still another mile will bring us to Todd's Tavern. The road runs along the high land between the 'Ny and thei Po. It was about fifteen miles from General Grant's headquarters on the "Wil- derness battle-field to the court-house. The sun was setting when the troops of the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac left their intrench ments and moved down the Brook road towards Spottsylvania. The daylight faded away, and then MavV, 1864. , . ^ p , o- ■. ^ i • i i the regnnents of the Sixth Corps moved noiselessly across the fields by the old "Wilderness Tavern in tlie same direction. The jS'inth Corps turned eastward, going down the road leading to the field of Chan- cellorsville, passing in the depths of the forest the graves of those who a year before gave up their lives for their country. The Second Corps remained where it had fought during the battle of the "Wilderness. It was past nine o'clock when I mounted my horse at General Grant's headquarters, and rode with the commander-in-chief to the headquarters of General Hancock. General Meade was there. The men of the Sec- ond Corps, who had confronted Longstrcet in the terrible struggle, were 7 ♦ 98' REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. in line behind their breastworks along the Brook road. The woods were on lire between them and the Confederates, the flames throwing a hirid light npon the tall forest-trees. Some soldiers were asleep, others smok- ing their pipes, others on the watch for any advance of the Confederates. Few of the men of the Second Corps had ever seen General Grant, but when they saw him, and knew that instead of retreating he was mov- ing to strike Lee, they swung their hats and made the forest ring with tlieir cheers. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. The Confederates knew not what to make of it. A moment later there came an answering cheer, and then a volley of musketry and artillery. They thought that Hancock was going to attack them. The bullets were singing in the air above us, and we could hear them spinning amid the foliage, but little harm was done, and the firing soon ceased. I was weary and w^orn, and threw myself upon the ground in the thicket, and was soon asleep, but was awakened by the stir around me as General Grant and Gen- eral Meade again mounted their horses. A moment later we were riding down a narrow road in a dense forest. Suddenly a musket flashed before us. There was a quick drawing of our bridle-reins. We had taken the wrong road, and were close upon the Confederate pickets. A few rods farther and General Grant, with his staff and he who writes these lines, would have encountered General Anderson's Confederate troops, which were on the march to throw themselves in front of the Fifth Corps, and prevent General Grant from reaching Spottsylvania.(') Quickly we turned about. Colonel Comstock, engineer-in-chief, discovered the right road, and we rode swiftly on. Day was breaking in the east when we reached Todd's Tavern, a two-storied building with a chimney at each end, where, in by-gone days travellers had found lodgings and refreshment. SPOTTSYLVANIA. 99 The landlord and liis wife were old and feeble. Little had they dreamed that two great armies would suddenly struggle for the mastery in the sur- rounding fields and woods. The Union and Confederate cavalry were fighting, the cannon flashing, as I tied my horse to the palings of the fence by the tavern, placed my saddle upon the ground for a pillow, and dropped off to sleep, undisturbed by the tramping of passing troops, the thunder of the cannon, or the rum- bling of ammunition-wagons. During the preceding day important news had come to General Grant, that General Butler moved from Fortress Monroe according to orders, ^. r- .... ^^^^ ^^^^^ landed his whole force at City Point, surprising the Mav 5, 1864. r^ ^ ^ ' r & Confederates and threatening Richmond. It was this infor- mation which led General Grant to endeavor to get between Lee's army and the Confederate capital, for he thought it possible that an order might have been sent by Jefferson Davis to Lee, withdrawing him to Richmond. (') We shall see in another chapter just what General But- ler had accomplished. During the battle of the Wilderness the cavalry under Sheridan had been holding all the country from Todd's Tavern to Fredericksburg against any surprise from the Confederate cavalry under Stuart. At Todd's Tav- ern, Gregg's and Merritt's divisions of Union cavalry, all through May 7th, were confronted by Fitz-IIugh Lee's Confederate division, holding the Ca- thargin road, which runs south-Avest to Shady Grove Church. It crosses the Po at Corbyn's Bridge, two miles west of Todd's Tavern. General Wilson's division of cavalry was on the road leading from Spottsylvania to the court-house, and Avas ordered by Sheridan to move to the court-house, and thence west to Shady Grove Church, to be joined by Gregg and Merritt, to drive the Confederate cavalry beyond Corbyn's Bridge. All three divisions were to move at daylight on Sunday morning. General Meade arrived at Todd's Tavern at midnight. The orders which Sheridan had issued had not reached Gregg and Merritt, and General Meade directed Gregg to move out towards Cor- Mav 8, 1864. i i , ^.r byn s and watch the roads, while Merritt was to go down the Brook road to Spottsylvania. This M-as done without consulting General Sheridan. Wilson moved as he had been directed by Sheridan, and at daylight drove in the Confederate pickets, advanced to the court-house, and was in possession of the all- important point, when there came the thunder of the cannonade from the north-west near Corbyn's Bridge, and from the farm of Mr. Spindler. Going up the Brook road towards the battle, 100 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. Wilson found liimself stopped by two divisions of Anderson's troops, which had just arrived and were throwing up intrenchments. He was in an isolated position, and orders soon came for him to fall back along the Fredericksburg road. So it came about that Spottsylvania was lost at the outset, because the small body of cavalry could not hold it against infantry. I was awakened from sleep by the sudden roar of cannon near at hand, and in the dawning light could see across the iield the Union artillerymen loading their pieces. Shells from the Confederate guns were whirring through the air. The Fifth Corps was passing the Tav- ern, Robertson's division in advance, tiling from the road into a iield by the house of Mr. Alsop — a small building with a porch at one end. The Brook road along which the troops were marching forks near the house, the two roads coming together a mile farther on. The Union troops moved to the right. General Lee had discovered that Geneivil Grant was inaugurating a movement, but had misinterpreted it, thinking that he was retreating. This was the despatch which he sent to Richmond : " The enemy has abandoned his position, and is moving towards Fredericksburg." (') When he discovered his mistake he directed Anderson to move to Spottsylva- nia in the morning; but the woods were on fire, and Anderson, finding no good place where he could go into bivouac, began his march at once. So it came about that the Confederates under Anderson and the Fifth Corps had marched on parallel roads, scarcely more than one mile apart, towards Spottsylvania. More than this, General Lee directed General Early, who had been placed temporarily in command of Ewell's corps, to march to Todd's Tavern by the very road on which we have seen the Second and Fifth corps. When General Anderson reached the main road, between Todd's Tavern and Spottsylvania, he saw the error which General Lee had made, and quickly prepared for battle. So, through a mistake on the part of General Lee, and not by any correct comprehen- sion of the situation of the Union army or the intention of General Grant, the great struggle at Spottsylvania began. If General Anderson had obeyed the order of General Lee, the probabilities are that General Grant would have succeeded in placing his army between Lee's army and Richmond ; or if not that, he would have chosen his own ground, and General Lee would have been compelled to attack at a disadvantage or make a rapid retreat. Such the strange complications of the moment. General Lee had a large number of spies — men Avho knew all the roads, and who had a general acquaintance with all the features of the SPOTTSYLVANIA. 101 country. Since the war, I have talked with a Confederate who was thus employed to iind out what the Union army was doing. This his story : "I rode through the Union corps, keeping my eyes and ears open. When with the Fifth Corps I asked wdiere I should find the Sixth, or Ninth, or Second. I said that I had despatches in my hand for Hancock, or Sedgwick, or Burnside. When I wanted to gain the Confederate lines I rode boldly past the Union pickets. If they stopped me, I was an engineer otiicer ordered to examine the ground. Of course I had no dif- ficulty in getting inside the Confederate lines." (') HOUSE OP MR. AT.SOP. The sun was several hours up before the Fifth Corps was prepared for battle. The headquarters of General Grant were established at Piney Grove Church. N^o bell called the w^orshippers to its portal on that Sunday morning ; the thunder of the cannonade and rolls of musketry, instead, vibrated the air. The day was intensely hot, and I sat beneath the apple-trees, fragrant with blossoms, and listened to the strange Sabbath symphony — the hum- ming of bees, the songs of birds, the roll of musketry, and the cannonade. I saw Tyler's brigade — Sixteenth Maine, Thirteenth and Thirty-ninth Massachusetts, and One Hundred and Fourth New York — advancing on 102 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. the left ; Denison's brigade of Maryland troops, four regiments, on the right; Coulter's brigade — Twelfth Massachusetts, Eighty-third and Nine- ty-seventh New York, Eleventh, Eighty-eighth, and Ninetieth Pennsyl- vania — in rear of Tyler. The skirniishers move across the field. The lines reached Alsop's house, when there came a roll of musketry from the woods beyond, with solid shot and shell from the Confederate artillery. The great battle of Spottsylvania, which was to go on day after day, had begun. Tlie Confederates were behind intrenchments. They were Kershaw's and Humphreys's brigades. Kei-shaw had six regiments and a battalion of South Carolina troops ; Humphreys had four Mississippi regiments. The Confederate army was organized mainly with regiments from a State brigaded together. It was carrying out the idea of State exclu- siveness— of State rights. The State was more than the Confederacy. The brigades in the Union army were usually made np of regiments from different States. It was carrying out the idea of Union. Massa- chusetts and Wisconsin, New York and Ohio, fought side by side. As far as practicable, the Confederate divisions were also made up of troops from a single State. Pickett's division — four brigades — were all from Virginia ; of Johnson's four brigades, three were from Virginia ; of Rodes's division of five brigades, three were from North Carolina. Almost at the first fire General Robinson was wounded. The Confed- erates were in the woods, behind intrenchments, under cover, while the Union troops were in the field and suffered severely. While Robinson's division was moving across the field, Griflin's divis- ion advanced south of Alsop's house, Bartlett's brigade in advance — Twen- tieth Maine, Eighteenth Massachusetts, Forty-fourth New York, Eighty- third and One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania, First and Sixteenth Michigan. These troops were in the middle of the field when the hot blast from the Confederates struck them. Robinson's and Griflin's troops recoiled under the fierce fire. Ayres's and Sweitzer's brigades were in rear of Bartlett's, whose lines reformed. Crawford's division — the Pennsylvania Reserves — came up on Griflin's left, and the Confederates were driven from their position. At this moment Field's division of Longstreet's corps came into line, striking Griffin's right flank ; but help was at hand for Grifiin — Cutler's division, commanded by Wadsworth at the Wilderness till his death. The men of this division have been resting, and they moved into battle with resistless force and energy, folding back the Confederate right, obtaining SPOTTSYLVANIA. 103 an advantageous position and throwing np intrenclnnents. It was one o'clock. The soldiers of the Fifth Corps had marched all night, had had no breakfast ; nature was exhausted. General Meade directed Sedgwick, with the Sixth Corps, to come up on the left of the Fifth, and the two eorjis together to push on towards the court-house, but the afternoon wore away before the Sixth Corj)s was MAP OF SPOTTSYLVANIA. May 9, 1864. in position. It w^as too late to begin a great struggle. Crawford's divis- ion advanced, but fell back again, and the troops, with axes and shovels, threw up intrenchments. Monday morning opened wnth the cannon of both armies in action. General Grant discovered a movement of the Confederates eastward, as if Lee intended to advance upon Fredericksburg. He changed his headquarters from Piney Grove Church to a position immediately in rear of the Fifth Corps. At daylight a large portion of the cavalry under Sheridan was riding south, with orders to strike the railroads leading to Richmond, tear up the tracks, do all the damage pos- sible, and obtain new supplies from General Bntler on the banks of the James. Such a movement would compel Lee to abandon all thoughts of marching upon Fredericksburg. It is not known that Lee intended any such movement. He had only transferred Early, in command of Hill's corps, over to the extreme riglit of his line, to prevent any attempt Grant 104 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. miglit make to cut liitn off from Richmond, for Wilcox's division of tlie Ninth Corps had crossed the Nj River and was intrenching. At one o'clock in the afternoon Grant sent this despatch to Halleck : " The enemy are now moving either to interpose between us and Fred- ericksburg, or to get the inside road to Richmond." (') I rode through the woods and came to an open iield. I could see Confederate wagon -trains headed towards Spottsylvania on the Shady Grove road. Generals Grant and Meade and Hancock were in consul- tation near me. I do not kiiow whether either of them directed the Union artillery to open lire upon the baggage-wagons ; probably the artil- lery captains could not resist the opportunity to tire upon the train, which created a sudden stampede of the horses and the disappearance of the wagons. Hancock thought it would be well to send Brooks's brigade across the Po to capture the wagons. General Grant directed him to send not only a brigade, but to use three divisions and swing them tow- ards Spottsylvania. Riding across the open fields beyond Alsop's house, I could see the Confederate columns moving towards the court-house. Shells were screaming across the open space, and there was a brisk fire along the picket line. General Grant had been reconnoitring through the morn- ing. He talked with General Sedgwick, who was directing the placing of the batteries along his line, upon the northern bank of a ravine, when a Confederate sharp-shooter singled him out and aimed a minie-bullet, which passed through his brain, and he fell dead beside a cannon. His body was brought to the rear and laid upon the porch of Mr. Alsop's house. The army had lost a noble commander, who had the love and confidence of his troops, who was ever calm and brave in battle. Gen. Horatio G. Wright was appointed to succeed him in command of the Sixth Corps. When General Grant saw that Lee had taken the troops under Early from the extreme left of his line and transferred them to his right, he did not hurry the Second Corps eastward to confront Lee's movement, but directed Hancock to move down to the River Po, leaving Mott's division to hold Todd's Tavern. I follow^ed Hancock's troops as they went across the farm of Mr. Hart. Birney's division was on the extreme right. Gib- bon's in the centre, and Barlow's on the left, occupying in part the ground held by Robinson's division of the Fifth Corps on Sunday. It was nearly night, and the sun going down through leaden clouds. The day had been very hot, but a delicious coolness was wafted across the advancing lines by a gentle breeze. Barlow's men were leading, pressing steadily on over un- SPOTTSYLVANIA. 107 dnlatiiig pasture-lands, through fringes of forest, into a meadow, across it into a tliicket of pines. Shells were exploding above them, solid shot were ploughing furrows in the earth, and the muskets of the skirmishers flashing. General Hancock was seated upon liis horse, with his staff around him. The Confederate artillerj^men sent a shell towards the group. Two or three of the horses were uneasy as it came spinning past them, but no officer paid any attention to it. Riding forward and mounting a breastwork thrown up by the Fifth Corps, I had a view of what was going on. The Second Corps batteries, to my right — thirty guns — ^were sending shells over the heads of the advancing troops upon a line of Confederates in an orchard on the south bank of the Po. Barlow's men were close upon the Confederates, and the muskets on both sides were flaming as the sun went down. Gradually the uproar died away as night came on. The engineers of the Second Corps hastened down to the Po, and before morning three bridges had been constructed, the three divisions of the Second Corps had crossed, and were in position to move towards Spottsylvania. It was Gen- eral Grant's intention to gain the rear of General Lee. Had we been at the court-house during the night, we should have seen General Lee's tent with his flag beside it, pitched beneath the trees in the court-house grounds. The Confederate commander, as has been said, had moved Early from the left of his line round to its extreme right. The biographer of General Lee says that he did so to place his army squarely across the path of General Grant in his movement to Richmond ;(') but Lee's army, and not Richmond, was what General Grant was after, and Hancock's move- ment threatened Lee's rear and the loss of his trains, Mdiich were on an- other road a short distance south. So it came about that the tired troops of General Early were quickly brought back past the court-house, up the Shady Grove road, to Glady Run. The moment they arrived upon the GENERAL SEDGWICK. 108 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. ground they threw down their guns, and went to work with axes and shovels, building breastworks along the southern bank of the little stream. The main body of the troops did not stop there, but crossed Glady Run, and came into position on the farm of Mr. Chewnig. General Mahone's division was on the right, and Heth's on the left, towards Mr. AVaite's shop. (') General Hampton, with a division of cavalrj^, was holding the roads. The river Po is a very crooked stream. Where Hancock had laid his bridges it runs east, then it turns south, and south-west. Although the troops of the Second Corps had crossed it, they were only in a great bend of the stream, and must cross it again at Block House Bridge to gain the rear of Lee. The Confederates under Early were placed in position to hold the bridge. The forenoon witnessed the troops of Hancock on the one side, and Early on the other, preparing for a conflict ; but just as General Han- cock was ready to begin his attack he received an order Mav 10,1864. ,. ^, i -n r i , -,11 t - , -i rrom General Meade to withdraw ins troops and move east- ward ; that three Confederate lines in the centre were to be assaulted, and that he was to have charge of the troops in the attack. So we see Gib- bon's division followed by Birney's recrossing the Po, and marching east- ward, leaving Barlow's division alone on the farm of Mr. Chewnig. The skirmishers of Barlow were hotly engaged at two o'clock, when he re- ceived orders to recross the stream. His men did not want to retire ; nor could they without a battle, for the Confederates under Early, think- ing that a great opportunity was before them of annihilating Barlow's division, pressed eagerly forward. The Union artillery had been with- drawn across the bridges, but the batteries came into position on the north bank of the stream. There were only two Union brigades, Brooks's and Barlow's, against Early's two divisions. General Hancock has given this account of the battle : " The combat became close and bloody ; the enemy in vastly superior numbers, flushed with the anticipation of an easy victory, appeared deter- mined to crush the small force opposing them, and pressing forward with loud yells, forced their way close up to our line, delivering a terrible mus- ketry fire as they advanced. Our brave troops again resisted their onset with undaunted resolution. Their Are along the whole line was so contin- uous and deadly that the enemy found it impossible to withstand it, but broke again and retreated in the wildest disorder, leaving the ground in our front strewed with their dead and wounded. During the heat of this contest the woods on the right and rear of our troops took fire. The SPOTTSYLVANIA. 109 flames ]iad now approached close to our line, rendering it almost impossi- ble to retain the position longer. The last bloody repulse of the enemy had quieted him for a time, and during this lull in the fight General Bar- low directed Brooks and Brown to abandon their position and retire across thePo."(^) Two guns of Arnold's battery had been retained south of the river, and the horses, frightened by the fire and exploding shells, became unman- ageable, ran away, dragging a cannon between two trees, where it became 80 firmly wedged that it could not be removed. The artillerymen were obliged to leave it. It was the first gun ever lost by the Second Corps. Miles's and Smythe's brigades, farther west, were the last to retire. When the Confederates attempted to advance they were met by a destructive fire from the Union artillery." Nothing had been gained by the movement across the Po, and the withdrawal of the Second Corps is generally regarded as a mistake, for had Hancock's three divisions moved on, it would have undoubtedly com- pelled General Lee to take a new position ; besides, there was not time for Hancock to join Warren and Wright and assault the Confederate centre before night set in. The uproar of battle was growing louder, and drawing nearer as the troops changed position. The air was thick with smoke from cannon and musket, and the cloud hung low; the western wind drifted the sulphur- ous fumes across the field, where the negroes had established their hos- pital tent, and where upon the ground lay hundreds of wounded. I beheld men with bandaged heads and limbs ; those who had lost an arm or foot;- those with ghastly wounds, from which their life-blood was flowing with every heart-beat. I had been so long with the army that the soldiers recognized me as a correspondent, and were eager for news. " How is the battle going ? Are they driving us ? Will the boys hold them ?" Such the questions ; natural questions they were, and there was solici- tude in them, for if the Confederates were to sweep back their comrades, the hundreds of wounded would become prisoners of war. " I do not think that the enemy can drive us ; our position is a strong one," was my reply. It was a cheery word spoken for their comfort. A soldier who had just lost his left arm, who was weak and faint from the amputation, with his heart all aglow for the old flag, broke into the song which through the war had been sung by the bivouac fire and on the march : 110 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. "We are marching to the field, bo3's; we're going to tlie fight, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom. And we bear the glorious Stars for the Union and the Right, Shouting th^battle-cry of Freedom." It was like the quaffing of wine to weak and fainting men wlio heard it, and all around I saw them lift themselves — some to stand erect, others half reclining, swinging their caps as they joined in the chorus : "The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the Stars, While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again. Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom." (^) Let us now see what was beino; done in the centre during: the after- noon. It was six o'clock before Cutler's and Crawford's divisions of the Fifth, and Webb's and Carroll's brigades of the Second Corps, under Gibbon, were in position. They were in a thicket of young pines and cedars. So close and compact the trees that the troops could make their way only by crouching. They passed through the thicket, came into an open field to be cut to pieces by a terrific fire, but on across the field up to the Confederate breastworks they rushed, to find themselves amid the interlaced branches of fallen trees. Some of Carroll's men reached the breastworks, but only to yield their lives.('°) The troops were swept back in disorder. General Hancock arrived and attacked again, with Birney's and Gibbon's divisions, and a portion of the troops of the Fifth Corps, just as the sun was sinking in the west ; but the remorseless fire of the Confederates again swept them back. As we go north from this position we come to the Sixth Corps, be- hind its intrenchments w^est of the house of Mr. McCool. General Wright has been out to the skirmish line and looked at the Confederate position held by Rodes's and Johnson's divisions. Dole's brigade was behind in- trenchments in the open ground two hundred yards from a thicket of pines. The Confederate soldiers had made an abatis in front of their breastwork, and, seemingly fearful that they might not be able to hold the position, had constructed a second line in rear of the first. General Wright believed that the front line could be captured, and selected Upton's and Russell's brigades and four regiments of Neill's to make the attack. An assault was to be made farther up the line, north, by Mott's division. It was to be at the point where the Confederate breastworks turned a right angle eastward, on the farm of Mr. Landron. Upton formed his men in four lines. Quietly they picked their way in the cedar thicket. Through the afternoon the Union cannon had been raining shells upon SPOTTSYLVANIA. Ill the Confederate works. The Union artillerymen see a signal, and instead of ramming home the cartridges, stand beside their pieces. They hear a hurrah — the v^oices of the men who upon the instant break from the thick- et into the open ground, and rush across the field towards the house of Mr. McCool. The Confederate breastworks are fringed with fire, but in an instant the Union men are upon them ; there is a hand-to-hand strug- gle. Five minutes — in this brief space more than one thousand Union men have fallen ; but the line of works has been carried, and more than one thousand prisoners, with several stands of colors, have been captured. (") The Confederates brought up reinforcements and assaulted in turn, but were repulsed, and the sun went down with the Union troops holding the intrenchments. Mott's attack up at the angle had resulted in fail- ure. His troops had been repulsed, and Upton and Russell were left in such an exposed position that when night came on, after the re- moval of the wounded, the troops who had won the breastworks by such a heroic charge w^ere ordered back. Reluctantly they obeyed the command. Among the wounded was Gen. James C. Rice, who, when the war began, enlisted as a private in the Garibaldi Regiment of New York. He had lived for nine years as a school-teacher in Natchez, Mississippi. He had seen what slavery was. He was deeply religious, and enlisted to fight for his country from a deep consciousness of duty and obligation. It does not take long for such a man as he was to find his true place. He was selected to be lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-fourth New York, and so distinguished himself in the battle of Gettysburg that President Lincoln commissioned him a brigadier-general, in the rush upon the intrenchments he received a mortal wound. 1 was in the woods behind the assaulting troops when those appointed to care for the wounded came back with him upon a stretcher. He was in great pain, and wished to be turned over. "How will you lie?" asked the surgeon. "Let me lie with my face to the enemy." C^) They were his last words. A few moments and the heaving heart was still forever. It was nearly eleven o'clock in the evening when I dismounted from my horse at the headquarters of General Grant. He was sitting on a camp-chair smoking a cigar. The only person present was Hon. E. B. Washburne, member of Congress, liis most intimate friend from Galena, his old home in Illinois, who had been instrumental in bringing about General Grant's appointment as lieutenant-general. There were times when the commander-in-chief was reticent upon all subjects. He has 112 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC been called, like AVilliam of the Netherlands, the Silent Commander; but there were times also when General Grant gave free expression to his thoughts. I asked for information in regard to the events of the day, that I might communicate it to readers far away, which was kindly given ; and then, not in response to any question, he said : " We have had hard fighting to-day, and I am sorry to say we have not accomplished much. We have lost a good many men, and I suppose that I shall be blamed for it." He was silent a moment, and then added : " 1 do not know any way to put down this rebellion and restore the authority of the Govern- ment except by fighting, and fighting means that men must be killed. If the people of this country expect that the war can be conducted to a successful issue in any other way than by fighting, they must get some- body other than myself to command the army." Again he was silent ; bat after a brief pause, resumed the conversation, and unfolded the great plan of the campaign which had been inaugu- rated in the West under General Sherman. "We are having a hard time here, because my orders have not been complied with in the West. When I became commander of all the troops, General Banks was on his way up the Red River. I sent directions for his return. Whether or not the orders ever reached him I do not know. ('') I intended that he should hasten with his force to New Orleans, join General Canby in command there, and that the united force should hasten to Mobile, capt- ure that place, and move northward, which would compel the Confeder- ates under General Johnston to give way before Sherman, who is having almost as hard a time as I have here." At this moment there was the tramping of hoofs, and General Meade rode up in the darkness and dis- mounted, and the correspondent comprehending that they would wish to be alone departed to his quarters. ('^) The following morning saw Hon. E. B. Washburne and myself sit- ting on our horses in front of General Grant's headquarters. We were about to start for Washington via Fredericksburg and Ac- ' ' quia Creek on horseback, and thence by special steamer. " Have you any word to send to the President or the Secretary of War?" asked Mr. Washburne. "I will send a brief note," was the reply. A few moments later General Grant appeared with a letter addressed to General Halleck, which Mr. Washburne placed in his pocket. We did not know that a single sentence in that note would electrify the world. This the sentence : " I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons for a fresh supply of provisions, and I propose to jight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.''- {''') ,'j£'^i> 'I PROPOSE TO FIGHT IT OUT ON THIS LINE, IF IT TAKES ALL SITiniER. SPOTTSYLVANIA. 115 There was no fighting through the day except in front of General Mott's division, who drove back the Confederate picket Hne that the engineers might get a little nearer to the Confederate works, and that they might peer through their field-glasses from behind trees, to find out how the breastworks were constructed. They reported to General Grant that the angle, shaped somewhat like the letter V, between the house of Mr. Landron and Mr. McCool, was a point M-hich, in their opinion, might be successfully attacked. General Grant thereupon determined to attack along the entire line, while the Second Corps, under Hancock, supported by the Sixth, was to carry the works at the angle. If an attack were to be made everywhere at the same moment. General Lee would not be able to withdraw troops from any part of the line to assist those defend- ing that portion of the line. It was three o'clock in the afternoon when General Grant wrote an order to Hancock to move his corps in rear of the Fifth and Sixth, and come into position between the Sixth and Ninth. The march was not to be made till after dark. He wrote an order to Burnside to be ready at four o'clock the next morning with his entire force, and to attack with all possible vigor. He was to make his preparations with the utmost secrecy. Two members of Grant's staff were sent to impress upon Burn- side the importance of a most energetic assault. ('') The Fifth and Sixth corps were to be under arms and in line to improve any advantage that might be gained. The night was dark and cloudy, rain was falling, but the men of the Second Corps were making their way along a narrow path through the woods. The heavy rain turned the earth to a mortar-bed. For a week the soldiers had been on the march or in battle. Through all the days there has not been an hour when one could not hear either the boom of cannon, the volleys of musketry, or the rattling fire of the pickets. The soldiers were weary, but on through the deep mire, their clothes drenched with the falling rain, they marched without a murmur. At midnight they came into position in the woods between the houses of Brown and Landron, throwing themselves on the ground just in rear of the picket line. No word was spoken. There had been no rattling of canteens, no clanking of swords. In silence, like spectres, they had marched through the mire and gloom of the night, and now they were waiting for the dawn. With their compasses the engineers during the day had taken from Landron's the position of the breastworks, and now they set them, exam- ining them by striking a match to get the right direction. 11(3 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Birney's division was on tlie right. The men must cross a marsh, creep through a dense tliicket of young j^ines, growing where the j)longli once turned its furrows, where slaves had once hoed tobacco — land worn-out for cultivation and turned to wood. Barlow's division was on the left, with a clear field before him. Gib- bon's division and Mott's were in reserve. May 12, 18G4. 'tsiy-y ^^ .' i ;\ ^^' ir^>y^ ^?M: " „^--^ ;^/-J^^g^gi/si<^^•^^rTSi?' T^E FIELD OF THE BLOODY ANGLE. The Confederate breastworks are dimly seen along the edge of the woods at the right. They were held by Gen. Edward Johnson's division. The Second Corps of the Union army, under Hancock, charged from the woods at the left. The Sixth Corps came to the assistance of the Second across the fore- ground. Upton's troops were to the right, upon ground not included in the view. The division commanders have timed their watches. Day is breaking. The fog •hangs low. It is a half-mile to the Confederate intrenchments. Barlow has four brigades — Brooks's, with the Second Delaware, Sixty- fourth and Sixty-sixth ISTew York, Fifty-third, One Hundred and Forty- fifth, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania; Miles's — the Twen- ty-sixth Michigan, Sixty-first New York, Eighty-first, One Hundred and Fortieth, One Hundred and Eighty-third Pennsylvania: these in the front line, with Smythe's and Brown's brigades in the second line. On through the low shrubbery, out into tlie open fields they move, keeping even step till, in the gray of the morning, they see the dim out- line of the works, and then with a cheer they rush on in solid mass. A single volley flames in their faces as they run up the slope. The next moment they are over the works, charging with the bayonet. Between three and four thousand confederates surrender themselves ; nearly the whole of General Johnson's division — ^twenty cannon, caissons, and horses, several thousand muskets, and thirty colors — are taken. With the killed and wounded, Lee has lost in a moment nearly five SPOTTSYLVANIA. 117 thousand troops. Those not captured flee through the woods towards the second line of intrenchments, nearer the court-house. Hancock's men rush after them. Barlow's advance is at the east angle, held by Stuart's and York's Confederate brigades. Owen's and Carroll's brigades of Gibbon's division are close behind Barlow, and at the decisive moment come pouring over the intrench- ments, ca23turing two of Stuart's cannon, wheeling them round and send- ing shells into the fleeing Confederates. Birney's division, followed by Mott's, carry the west angle held by Terry's, Walker's, and Battle's brigades. It was not wholly a surprise to the Confederates. Their pickets had been sending in word that the Union troops were moving on Brown's and Landron's farms. General Lee thought that Grant was endeavor- ing to turn his flank, and withdrew a portion of the artillery along the intrenchments to move the batteries to the court-house; but at day- light it was on its way back. Johnson had sent word to Lee that he w^as to be attacked. His own troops were ready, and Gordon's division was also ready to support him. Gordon had placed Evans's brigade by the McCool house, and Pegram's and R. D. Johnston's to support Rodes's division. The success of the charge threw Birney and Barlow into confusion. The men were in a mass, the regiments disorganized. In their entliusi- asm they rushed after the retreating Confederates. A Confederate officer gives this account of the state of affairs behind the breastworks : "After the artillery had been withdrawn on the night of the 11th, General Johnson discovered that the enemy was concentrating on his front, and convinced that he would be attacked, requested the return of the artillery that had been taken away. Tlie men in the trenches were kept on the alert all night and were ready for tlie attack, when at dawn on the morning of the 12tli a dense column emerged from the pines half a mile in front of the salient, and rushed to the attack. . They came on, to use General Johnson's words, in great disorder, with a narrow front, but extending back as far as I could see. Page's battalion of artillery, which had been ordered back at four o'clock, were just arriving, and were not in position to fire upon the attacking column ; the guns came just in time to be caj)tured. The infantry fought as long as fighting was of any use, but they could do little to check the onward rush of the Federal column, which soon overran the salient, capturing General Johnson himself, twen- ty pieces of artillery, and twenty-eight hundred men — almost his entire division. . . . Lane's brigade of Hill's corps, which was immediately on 118 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. the riglit of tlie captured works, rapidly drew back to the unfinished hne in rear, and poured a galling fire upon their left wing, which checked its advance, and threw it back with severe loss. General Gordon, whose division was in reserve, and under orders to support any part of the line about the salient, hastened to throw it in front of the advancing Federal column. As the division was about to charge, General Lee rode up and joined General Gordon, evidently intending to go forward with him. Gordon remonstrated, and the men, seeing his intention, cried out, 'General Lee to the rear!' which was taken up all along the line. One of the men respectfully but firmly took hold of the bridle and led his horse to the rear, and the charge went on. The two moving lines met in the rear of the captured works, and after a fierce struggle in the woods, the Federals were forced back to the base of the salient. On the left, where Rodes's division had connected with Johnson's, the attack was pressed with great determination. General Rodes drew out Ramseur's brigade from the left of his front line, a portion of Kershaw's division taking its place, and sent it to relieve the pressure on his right and restore the line between himself and Gordon. Ramseur did not fill the gap, and his right was exposed to a terrible fire from the works held by the enemy. Three brigades from Hill's corps were ordered up. Perrin's, which was the first to arrive, rushed forward through a fearful fire, and recovered a part of the line on Gor- don's left. General Perrin fell dead from his horse just as he reached the works. General Daniel had been killed, and Ramseur, though pain- fully wounded, remained in the trenches with his men. Rodes's right being hard pressed, Harris's Mississippi and McGowan's South Carolina brigades were ordered forward, and rushed through the blinding storm into the works on Ramseur's right." (") " Go to Hancock's assistance," was the order from Meade to Wright, commanding the Sixth Corps. Russell's and Wheaton's divisions, accompanied by Wright, came in upon Hancock's right near the McCool house. Wriffht was wounded at the outset, but did not leave the field. And now began one of the most stubborn contests recorded in history. The Confederates were on one side of the intrenchments, the Union troops on the other. It was six o'clock when A. P. Hill's troops come pouring through the woods to Gordon's assistance, capturing a few L^nion soldiers. General Hancock plants his artillery on a knoll on Brown's farm, sending shells over the heads of the men in blue. Upton's brigade, com- posed of the Fifth Maine, One Hundred and Twenty-first New York. Xinety-fifth and Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania, crossed the north-western an SPOTTSYLVANIl. 119 gle of the salient, to support the troops of the Second Corps, whicli were falling back towards the breastworks before the advance of Hill's troops. Colonel Upton determined to hold the angle at all hazards. Equally determined were the Confederates to regain it. The smoke was dense, the clouds hanging low, and rain falling. Through the woods came the Confederates, firing their guns and charging up to the breastworks, and the fierce hand-to-hand struggle begun. In rear of Upton's men is Metcalf's Battery C, Fifth United States Artillery. General Wright is watching the struggle, and rides to Met- calf, points towards the angle, and the artillerymen hear this order :('*) "Limber the guns! Drivers, mount ! Cannoneers, mount! Caissons to the rear !" The drivers lash their horses, and they leap forward tow- ards the thickening cloud and into the pitiless tempest of leaden rain. The staff-officer leading them tumbles from his horse. The guns wheel into position, and send round after round of canister into the Confed- erate ranks with terrible effect. How rapidly the battery-men went down is thus told by one of them : " Our section went into action with twenty-three men and one officer — Lieutenant Metcalf. The only ones who came out sound were the lieu- tenant and myself ; every horse was killed outright, seven of the men killed, sixteen wounded. The gun-carriages were so cut with bullets as to be of no further service. . . . Twenty-seven balls passed through the lid of the limber-chest while Number Six was getting out ammunition, and he was wounded in the face and neck by the fragments of wood and lead. The sponge-bucket on my gun had thirty-nine holes in it, being perforated like a sieve." ('^) Capt. John D. Fish, of Colonel Upton's staff, rode through the storm, carrying the cartridges from the caissons to the guns. " Give it to them, boys! ril bring you the canister!" he shouted; but the next moment reeled from his saddle mortally wounded. The guns were up to the breastworks, their muzzles almost projecting over the logs. Lnmediately in rear were the dead and dying horses and men. Within three feet of one another, separated only by the breastworks, were Union and Con- federate, crouching in the mud, loading, raising their guns, and firing at random; their tattered, bullet -riddled colors hanging limp against their staves in the falling rain. Pack-mules with boxes of ammunition, three thousand rounds in each box, were brought as near as possible to the troops, dropped upon the ground, and the soldiers crept out on their hands and knees and brought them in. A Union soldier thus pictures the struoffjle : 120 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. "Sometimes the enemy's fire would slacken, and the moments would become so monotonous that something had to be done to stir them up. Then some resolute fellow would seize a fence-rail or piece of abatis, and throw it over among the enemy, and then drop upon the ground to avoid the volley that was sure to follow. A daring lieutenant in one of our left companies leaped upon the breastworks, took a rifle that was handed him, and discharged it. In like manner he discharged a second, and was in the act of firing a third shot when his cap flew in the air, and his body pitched headlong among the enemy. On several occasions squads of disheartened Confederates raised pieces of shelter-tents above the works as a flag of truce ; upon our slacking fire and calling them to come in, they would immediately jump upon the breastworks and surrender. One party of twenty or thirty thus signified their willingness to submit, but owing to the fact that their comrades occasionally took advantage to get a volley into us, it was some time before we concluded to give them a chance. With levelled pieces we called upon them to come in. Springing upon the breastworks in a body, they stood for an instant panic-stricken at the terrible array before them ; that momentary delay was a signal for their destruction. While, with our fingers pressing the trigger, we shouted to them to jump, their troops massed in the rear poured a volley into them, killing or wounding all but a few, who dropped with the rest and crawled in under our pieces, while we instantly began firing. ... So heavy was our fire that the head-logs of the breastworks were cut and torn until they resembled hickory brooms. Several large oak-trees, which grew just in rear of the works, were completely gnawed off by our converging fire."(") One tree, twenty-two inches in diameter, was gradually eaten oft", and fell with a crash upon the Confederates. It was half-past nine when the troops of the Fifth Corps advanced, but were received by so destructive a fire that they were withdrawn by General Humphreys, chief of staff to General Meade. The Ninth Corps was ordered forward, and General Potter's division rushed upon the in- trenchments held by Lane's Confederate division of Hill's corps, and captured two cannon ; but Scales's and Thomas's brigades came to Lane's assistance, and Potter was obliged to retire without being able to carry off the guns. At nine o'clock there was another struggle. Wilcox's division of the Ninth Corps held the left of the Union line south of the Fredericksburg road. Heth's (Confederate) division was behind the intrenchments. Gen- eral Wilcox's men crept up through a pine thicket, but when they came into the open ground were met by a heavy fire. The Confederates moved SPOTTSYLVANIA. 121 to strike his flank, and the melee began. The struggle was fierce and des- perate. The uproar all along the lines in both armies aroused in Union and Confederate alike a resolute determination to carry on the struggle to the bitter end. A hundred cannon were thundering; there were continuous rolls of musketry from McCool's, north-west of the court-house, all tlie way round to Wilcox's division, south-east of it. The woods were smoking like a furnace. This the account of a brigade commander in the Second Corps : " It was not only a desperate struggle, but it was literally a hand-to- hand fight. I^othing but the piled-up logs, or breastworks, separated the combatants. Our men would reach over the logs and fire into the faces of the enemy ; would stab over with their bayonets ; many were shot and stabbed through the crevices and holes between the logs ; men mounted the works, and with muskets rapidly handed them, kept up a continuous fire until they were shot down, when others would take their places and continue the deadly work. . . . Several times during the day the Rebels would show a white flag about the works, and when our fire slackened, jump over and surrender, and others w^ere crowded down to fill their places. ... It was there that the somewhat celebrated tree was cut off by bullets ; there that the brush and logs were cut to pieces and whipped into basket-stuff ; . . . there that the Rebel ditches and cross-sections were filled with dead men several deep. ... I was at the angle the next day. The sight was terrible and sickening, much worse than at Bloody Lane (Antie- tam). There a great many dead men were lying in the road and across the rails of the torn-down fences, and out in the cornfield ; but they were not piled up several deep, and their fiesh was not so torn and mangled as at the angle." C") Why such a struggle for a position which had no special military value? It was not for position, but a pounding to see which would stand it the longer. General Grant had attacked because he believed in crush- ing the Confederate army. Through the day the terrible contest went on. At midnight it ceased in front of Burnside, but up by McCool's the muskets rattled till past midnight, when Lee withdrew his troops to his second line of intrenchments, leaving the first line in the possession of the Sixth and Second corps. General Grant had lost seven thousand in killed, wounded, and prisoners. It will never be known how many Lee lost ; but, with the prisoners, not less than ten thousand. The Confederate generals Daniel and Perrin were killed ; Walker, Ramseur, R. D. Johnston, and McGowan wounded ; Major-gen. Edward 122 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Johnson and Brigadier Stuart taken prisoners. Three Union generals were wounded — Wright, Webb, and CarrolL After such a struggle there must of necessit}'' be a lulling of the storm ; but General Grant was everywhere along the lines, unmindful of the rain which fell through the day. lie was laying new ' ' ' plans, and during the night moved the Fifth and Sixth corps past the Ninth, directing them to come into position south-east of Spottsylvania. The first battles were fought three miles north-west of the court-house, but this movement carried them half-way round a circle. So deep was the mire that the soldiers were obliged to cut trees and corduroy the roads. It was daylight before they came into position. General Upton's division charged upon the Confederates, who were intrenched upon a knoll, driving them, but was driven in turn. Gen- eral Ayres's brigade of the Fifth Corps came to Upton's Mav 14, 1864. ."^ ^ ^ r^ r -, iii, assistance, and the Confederates were compelled to aban- don their position. General Lee, seeing that their movement threatened his right flank, abandoned the intrenchments in front of the Second Corps, moved the troops which had held them down past the court-house, whereupon Grant directed Hancock to leave his intrenchments by Landron's and McCool's, and to march in rear of the other corps, to be ready for action whenever the moment was opportune. Like chess-players the two great commanders carried on the terrible game of war. Rain was falling the while, the mire becoming deeper, rendering the roads impassable, compelling General Grant to give up the plans which he had contemplated. The army needed rest. Reinforcements came — the heavy artillery, eight thousand, which had been guarding the forts around Washington. They were no longer needed there. General Lee no doubt desired to strike a blow in turn which would be as effective as that which Grant had given on Landron's farm. From his scouts he learned the position of the several corps of the ' ' Union army, and decided to send General Ewell from his extreme left, from the ground where the first battle was fought, past the house of Mr. Alsop, to gain the rear of General Grant's right flank. A farmer who knew every foot went through the woods as his guide. It was five o'clock in the afternoon when the head of Ewell's column ap- peared west of the road leading to Fredericksburg, and west of Mr. Harris's house, near which were General Grant's headquarters. Colonel Kitching s brigade and General Tyler's division of heavy artillery were near the road. SPOTTSYLVANIA. 123 .4. rf^l dj-' ^^^i?# ' THE HOUSE OP MR. McCOOL. Colonel Kitcliing's pickets discovered Ewell's advance, and came running up with the news. I was at General Grant's headquarters. " Pack up those wagons ; harness the horses ; quick !" It was the order of the provost marshal General Patrick. Ten minutes and tlie trains were packed ready to move. (") TJiere came a ripple of musketry from the woods, and then volley upon volley. It was the first engagement for the soldiers of the heavy 124 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. artillery, and tliongli tliey had been practising with heavy cannon they were at home with the musket, and sent their volleys upon Ewell's advan- cing line. The Fifth Corps was nearer than either of the others, and the Mary- land brigade came np on the run, followed by Birney's division of the Sec- ond Corj)s. If Ewell had any thought of creating a stampede, he did not have an opportunity to carry out his plan. He was held at bay by Kitching and Tyler, and when Birney arrived was driven step by step. The sun went down, with flashes of light gleaming in the thickets. At nine o'clock Ewell gave up the struggle, having lost nearly one thousand men. He had found out where a portion of Grant's troops were, but had accom- plished nothing more. E'early three weeks had gone by, with continuous stubborn fighting ; scarcely an hour of silence the while, but a ceaseless cannonade or mus- ketry, either the firing of pickets or roll of volleys by brigades and divis- ions. Never before had there been such a struggle in this Western World. More than twenty-eight thousand men had been killed or wounded in the Union army, and nearly five thousand had been taken prisoners or were missing, making a loss of thirty-three thousand. Many were only slio-htly wounded, and in a few weeks were out of the hospital and once more with their regiments. There are no returns of Confederate losses, l)ut it is supposed that the killed, wounded, and missing from General Lee's army were from twenty to twent3'-five thousand. Leaving now the infantry of the Army of the Potomac, let us see what the cavalry under General Sheridan was doing. We have seen (p. 99) that General Meade, at Todd's Tavern, issued orders to the cav- May 8, 1864. ^^^_^^^ interfering with orders issued by General Sheridan, who remonstrated. There was a wide difference of opinion in regard to the cavalry between the two commanders, and on Sunday forenoon, while the fight was going on at Alsop's farm, high words passed be- tween them. General Meade said that the cavalry, by occupying the Brook road, prevented the troops from marching, to which General Sheri- dan replied that if that was the case, General Meade himself had ordered the troops to occupy the road, without notifying him ; and he further said that General Meade had broken up his plans, and had needlessly exposed General Wilson's division, while Gregg's was kept idle. The two com- manders were greatly irritated. Said Sheridan: ''I can whip Stuart, if you will let me ; but since you insist on giving the cavalry directions SPOTTSYLVANIA. 125 without consulting or even notifying me, hereafter yon may command the cavalry yourself ; T will not issue another order." Saying this, he left General Meade's tent. We do not know just what General Meade thouglit of this man from the West, who, at Stone River, nnder Rosecrans, when the exultant Confederates were sweeping all before them, stood with liis division like a rock upon the shore of the sea, hurling back the bil- lows, and who swept like a whirlwind up the slope of Missionary liidge. Whatever were General Meade's thoughts and feelings, he could not keep them to himself, but w^ent at once to General Grant and repeated the con- versation. " Did he say that he could whip Stuart ?" " Yes." "Very well. Then let him go and do it."(") It was not an order in peremptory language to General Meade ; but nevertheless it was an order which must be obeyed, and so we see General Meade's chief of staff, General Humphreys, at one o'clock on that Sun- day afternoon, issuing an order to Sheridan "to proceed against the enemy's cavalry, and when his supplies are exhausted, proceed via Kew Market and Green Bay to llaxall's Landing, on the James River, there communicating with General Butler, procure supplies, and returning to this army." (") While the sun is going down on that Sunday afternoon we see Sheri- dan giving his instructions to his three division commanders, Gregg, Merritt, and Wilson. " We are going to fight Stuart's cavalry in consequence of a suggest- ion from me. We M'ill give him a fair square fight. We are strong, and I know we can beat him. I shall expect nothing but success." (") With alacrity the three commanders prepared for the movement. Early in the morning the cavalry was in motion, moving as if to go to Fredericksburg ; going east nearly to Hamilton's Crossing, where Gen- eral Meade's division fought Stonewall Jackson in the bat- Mav 9, 1864. , ,. t^ i . , , , . , , . , tie or I' rederickshurg, then turning south, the entn-e col- umn being thirteen miles in leno^th and movin(y towards the ^STortli Anna River. The scouts of the Confederates, looking towards the east, saw a long cloud of dust rising above the tree-tops, and sent word to General Stuart, who directed Fitz-IIugh Lee to attack Sheridan's rear, while Stuart him- self, with his other divisions, moved also towards the North Anna, to get between Sheridan and Richmond. General Stuart was a very able com- mander, but he made a mistake at the outset. He knew that Sheridan 126 KEDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. had a force larger than his own. By dividing his command he greatly weakened it. General Sheridan detailed Davies's brigade to guard his rear. Fitz-Hugh Lee came up w4th Davies just after the last of the column crossed the Po River, but it Was very easy for to resist the attack, and then move on. Just as the sun was going down, Merritt's division reached the l^ortli Anna, and crossed it. The three divisions watered their horses in the stream. The ^ ^nd been no hard riding, but an easy gait, which did not break dow norses. Custer's brigade pressed on to Beaver Dam Station, on t uentral Railroad, came npon a body of Confederates and scattered tliem, recaptured four hundred Union prisoners who had been taken in the Wilderness, destroyed two locomotives, three trains of cars and ninety wagons, and more than two hundred thousand pounds of bacon, and nearly all the medical stores of General Lee's army. The soldiers rode along the railroad, and in a short time tore up six miles of the track. General Stuart was concentrating his troops at Beaver Dam Station, but Sheridan, instead of stopping to fight him there, was moving south along the Neo-ro-foot road towards Richmond ; and the Con- May 10, 1864. r ^ ^ , . , .1,-, lederate commander, seeing what a mistake he had made, endeavored once more to get between Sheridan and the Confederate capital by urging his troops on at a speed which soon broke down many of the horses ; but by hard riding Stuart, on AVednesday morning, reached a famous old hotel known as Yellow Tavern, seven miles north of Rich- mond, in advance of Sheridan. There in the woods and fields, early in the morning, Stuart posted his brigades for a battle. The Union troops were at Ashland, w^liere a train of cars were captured and a locomotive destroyed. In the march to Yellow Tavern General Merritt's division was in advance, Wilson's came next, followed by Gregg's. They were uj^on the Brook road— the same on which the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania had been fought, and now again the cavalry was upon it, for a battle near the Confederate capital. General Merritt was quick to attack, and he soon drove the Confederates eastward of the turnpike. General Sheridan gives this brief account of what followed : " I quickly brought up Wilson's and one of Gregg's brigades, to take advan- tage of the situation by forming a line of battle on that side of the road. Meanwhile the enemy, desperate but still confident, poured in a heavy fire from his line, and from a battery which enfiladed the Brock road, and made Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place. Gibbs's and Dev- in's brigades, however, held fast there, while Custer, supported by Chap- SPOTTSYLVANIA. 127 GEN. WESLEY MERRITT. man's brigade, attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted charge. Beginning at a walk, the troops increased their gait to a trot, and then at full speed rushed towards the enemy. At the same moment the dis- mounted troops along my whole front moved forward, and as Custer went through the battery, capturing two of the guns, with their cannoneers, and breakmg up the enemy's left, Gibbs and Devin broke his centre and rio-ht 12S REDEEMING THE KEPUELIC. from tlie field, (iregg meanwhile cliarged the force in his rear — Gordon's brigade — and the engagement ended by giving us complete control of the road to Richmond. AV^e captured a number of prisoners, and the casual- ties on both sides were quite severe, General Stuart himself falling mor- tally wounded, and Gen, James B. Gordon, one of his brigade commanders, being killed." (") General Sheridan was inside the outer intrenchments around Eich- mond, but all the clerks in the Departments, and all the troops that could be gathered up, had been hurried out to hold the inner line of defence, and General Sheridan made no attempt to enter the city. The Confed- erates planted torpedoes along the road which they supposed he would take, and laid along the ground wires which, when tripped by the horses' feet, exploded the torpedoes ; but General Sheridan compelled the pris- oners he had taken to go in advance and remove the wires, so no one was injured. The Confederates had destroyed the bridges across the Chick- ahominy, and thought that they had him in a trap, but he rebuilt one under a good deal of difficulty. Once more he accepted battle, the Con- federate cavalry being reinforced by the infantry from Richmond, but repulsed all attacks, crossed the Chickahominy, and went " '^^ " ' ■ on to General Butler, reaching James River on the 14th, recruiting his horses, leaving his wounded, and returning to the Army of the Potomac on the 24th. There was commotion in Richmond during these days — the ringing of church bells calling the able-bodied men and boys to the Capitol Square, to be armed and hurried to the trenches for the defence of the city. A clerk in the Confederate War Department recorded the scenes in his diary, May 11th : " At midnight the Departmental Battalion was marched from the south side of the river back to the city, but at 9 a.m. tliey were marched hurriedly to Meadow Bridge. They came past our house. Custis and his brother Thomas ran in, remaining but a moment. Custis exclaimed : ' Let me have some money, mother, or we will starve. The Government don't feed us, and we are almost famished. . . . The Secretary issued this morning a new edition of his hand-bills calling the people to arms. Mr. Malldry's usual red face turned purple. He has not yet got out the iron- clad, liklimond^ which might have sunk Butler's transports. . . . The Governor has issued a notification that the enemy will be here to-day. All classes not in the army were gathered up and marched to the defences. Mr. Memminger (Secretary of Treasury) is said to have been frighten- ed terribly, and arrangements were made for flight. . . . May 12. The if SHKIUDAX AND STUAKT S FIGHT. SPOTTSYI.VANIA. 131 report of General Lee's victory was premature, and Butler lias not gone, nor the raiders vanished. On the contrary, the latter were engaged in battle with Stuart's division hite in the afternoon, and recommenced it tliis morning at three o'clock, the enemy remaining on the ground, and still remain some live miles from where I write. Major-gen. J. E. B. Stuart was wounded last evening through the kidney, and now lies in the city in a dying condition. The battle raged furiously ; every gun distinctly heard at our house until 1 p.m., the enemy being intrenched between our middle and outer line of works. Meantime our ambulances are arriving every hour with the wounded, coming in by the Brook turnpike, ... It is said that pi^eparations have been made for the flight of the President and Cabinet up the Danville road in the event of the fall of the city. . . . The enemy disappeared in the night. We suffered most in the several en- gagements near the city. But the joy of many and the chagrm of some at his escape so easily was soon followed by the startling intelligence that a raid from General Butler's army had cut the Danville road. (A force of cavalry sent out under General Kautz.) All communication with the country, from which provisions are derived, is now completely at an end ! Colonel Northrop told me to-day that unless the railroads were retaken and repaired he could not feed the troops ten days longer." (") Those were sad days in Richmond which witnessed the death and burial of General Stuart. He had shown great ability as a cavalry com- mander, and was greatly beloved. This the closing scene of his life, as recorded by the editor of one of the newspapers : " His worldly matters closed, the eternal interests of his soul engaged his mind. Turning to the Hev: Mr. Peterkin, of the Episcopal Church, and of which he was an exemplary member, he asked him to sing the hymn, " ' Rock of ages cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee,' he joining in with all the voice his strength would permit. He then joined in prayer with the minister. To the doctor he said : ' I am going fast now. I am resigned. God's will be done.' Thus died General Stuart." (^') General Lee was deeply affected when he learned of his death. " When the news reached him," writes General Lee's biographer, "he retired from those around him and remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory. He said, ' I can scarcely think of him without weeping.' "(") 132 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. So the terrible harvest of death went on, cutting down brave and noble men alike in the Union and Confederate armies. Let it ever be' kept in mind that the sacrifice came from the attempt of a few men to establish a government based on slavery. { ' ( •' ( ' ( ' ( ' ( ' I ' ( ' ( ' (10 {" (,.2 (,3 (H ('^ (■• (H (.8 r (■20 (•" (.22 (■23 (" (25 (.26 ( 27 (" /29 NOTES TO CHAPTER V. Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 210. Adam Badeaii, " Military History of General Grant," vol. ii., p. 133. Gen. J. A. Early, " Memoirs of Last Year of the War," p. 33. Confederate Soldier to Author. General Grant's Despatch. Gen. A. L. Long, " Memoirs of Robert E. Lee," p. 336. Gen. J. A. Ear)}-, " Memoirs of Last Year of the War," p. 23 General Hancock's Report. Author's Note-book, May, 1864. General Longstreefs Official Diary, quoted by Gen. F. A. Walker, "History of the Second Army Corps," p. 458. Gen. Emory Upton's Report. Author's Note- book. May, 1864 Gen. U. S. Grant, " Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 559. Author's Note-book, May, 1864. Gen. U. S. Grant to Halleck, May 11, 1864. Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 229. Gen. C. M. Law, Century Magazine, June, 1887, p. 289. G. N. Galloway, Century Magazine, June, 1887, p. 305. Idem. Idem, p 306. General Lewis. Grant's Report. Author's Notebook, iNIay, 1864. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, "Personal Memoirs," vol. i., p. 205. Idem. Idem. J. B. Jones, " Rebel War Clerk's Diary," vol. ii., j), 205. Idem. Richmond Ecaminer, May 14, 1864. Gen. A. L Long, " Memoirs of Robert E Lee," p. 343. BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 133 CHAPTER VI. BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. T3EF0RE the Army of the Potomac began its movement from Ciil- peper to the Wilderness, General Grant went to Fortress Monroe, to give General Butler Instructions in regard to the part he was to perform in the great drama. General Butler was in command of the Tenth and Eighteenth Army Corps, commanded respectively by Gen. April, 1864. y^ ^. * /-t-h ' i i i i it i C^uincy A. GiUmore, who had been ordered to tliat pomt from Morris Island (see "Marching to Victory," chap, xvi.), and William F. Smith, who had been ordered east from Chattanooga (see "Marching to Victory," chap. xxi.). General Butler was to go up the James with a fleet of gunboats, land at City Point, cut the railroads leading south from Richmond, and do all the damage possible. While General Grant, with the Army of the Potomac, was to thunder at the front door. General Butler, with the Army of the James, was to take possession of the back door of the Confederate capital. The troops were at Yorktown and Gloucester, as if about to go up York River. Their presence at that point mystified the Confederate Government as to what Butler intended to do. Let us think of ourselves as being in Richmond the last week in April. We see General Bragg, who has been recalled from the West in consequence of his disastrous defeat at Chattanooga, but who had been appointed chief of staff and military adviser to Jefferson Davis, issuing orders for the President of the Confederacy. General Beauregard was in command of all the troops between Richmond and South Carolina, with his headquarters at Weldon, in J^ortli Carolina. General Pickett was in com- mand, under Beauregard, of the troops manning the fortifications at Drew- ry's Bluff, on the banks of the James, and atrPetersburg. Ever since 1862 the Union troops have held Xewberne, North Carolina, where, in the last week of April, there were about six thousand, so widely scattered that Jef- ferson Davis believed that they could be easily captured, and had person- ally planned an expedition for that purpose. General Beauregard believed that a movement was to be made by the troops of Butler up the James, 13J: EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. bnt in obedience to Jefferson Davis's orders, gave instruction to General Hoke to move against Newberne. The movement, bowevei', was sudden- ly abandoned when a despatch was received in Richmond that General Grant's army was crossing the Rapidan at Germania Ford. The telegraph operators were busy in Richmond. Messages were coming from the North and from the South. Jefferson Davis sent this to Beaureo;ard : " Unless Newberne can be captured by coup de M;iv 5, 1864. . ^, , , t ■, t , mai7i tlie attempt must be abandoned, and tlie troops re- turned with all possible despatch to unite in operations in northern Vir- ginia. There is not an hour to lose."(') General Beauregard sent this despatch to General Whitney, in com- mand at Wilmington : " Hurry Hagood's brigade through to Petersburg without delay. Use passenger trains and all others." (°) If we had been in the telegraph office at Petersburg, we should have heard this despatch from Beauregard to General Pickett : " Concentrate your forces towards Petersburg." This despatch went from Riclnnond to Weklon : " Order General Pick- ett not to stop Hagood's brigade: send it immediately here." The train bearing Hagood's troops was going nortli from Weldon, and , had just crossed Stony Creek, one of the streams that make up Nottaway River, when a body of Union cavalry came through the pine woods and burned the bridge. Had the train been a few minutes late, or had the cavah'y arrived a few minutes earlier, in all probability the history of what happened at Petersburg in 1864 would have been far different from what it is. Who were these troopers? Had we been at Suffolk on the morning of the 4th Ave should have seen them — two brigades under General Kautz, moving north-west, and then west, to cut the railroad leading from Peters- burg to Weldon. They burned the bridge, tore up the track, moved on to Rowanty River, to find the bridge there defended by a regiment of infantry. Not being able to destroy it, they turned north, burned one or two small bridges, but did so little damage that the Confederates soon had the cars running again. General Kautz might have destroyed the road all the way to Petersburg without molestation, but for some reason not - stated by him did not do so. There was much running to and fro in Richmond in the evening when this messnge flashed over the wires : " There are two single-tnrreted moni- tors, one double-turreted, three gunboats, and about forty transports in the fleet, coming up the James. Two gunboats have gone up the Appomattox. Each transport will average five hundred men. Some of the transports have horses on board. White and negro troops are in the expedition. FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. BERMUDA HUNDEED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 137 They are landing at City Point, and have hauled down the Confederate flag, and raised the Yankee flag."(^) It was the force under Genertil Butler which had left Yorktown and Gloucester twenty-four hours before. At that hour General Pickett had only six hundred men in Petersburg. He had not ni ore than one thousand men to hold that city and the railroad north to Port Walthall Junction. General Butler had about twenty thou- sand, and was getting ready to march to Petersburg on the south side of the Appomattox, and to push out a force to seize the railroad leading to Richmond on the north side. At that moment the three railroad trains with Ilagood's brigade came rolling into Petersburg to be welcomed by the citizens, who in their gratitude gave tiiem all the food they wanted. What narrow turning-points there are in history! Had Kautz, as we have seen, arrived at Stony Creek a few minutes sooner, or had the troops under General Butler started from Yorktown, Newport News, and Gloucester a little earlier, Petersburg would have been occupied by the Union troops in the first week in May, 1864. It was four o'clock in the afternoon when one of the transi^orts ran alongside the bank three miles below City Point, and two regiments leaped on shore and took possession of Fort Powhatan, erected by the Confederates in 1862. A division of colored soldiers of the Eio-hteenth Corps, under General Ilinks, landed at City Point. The other two divis- ions, with the Tenth Corps, pushed on to Bermuda Hundred, and landed on the farm of Dr. Epps. Bermuda Hundred is the point of land in- cluded in the bend of the James just above the Appomattox, Going westward along the banks of the last-named stream, three miles brings us to Point of Rocks, above which, in the Appomattox, are several long and narrow islands, fringed with willow-trees which droop their branches into the sluggish stream. Port Walthall is a landing-place on the north bank of the river, whence a railroad runs w'est two miles to its junction with the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad. It is only two miles from the junction north-east to the James, so that General Butler, by holding the land from Port Wallliall to the bend of the river, would be able to pro- tect his supplies. The monitors and gun-boats could prevent the Confed- erate iron-clad vessels which were lying in the stream below Riclnnond from coming down to make havoc of the fleet of transports. A mistake was made at the outset. There are times when celerity of movement is everything. The troops went into bivouac for the night, when they should have been thrown forward to seize the railroad at the junction, tear it up, and erect fortifications. 138' REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. It was six o'clock in the morning when Ilecknian's brigade moved westward from Bermuda Hundred. At noon the troops were at Cobb's Hill, a knoll on the north bank of the Appomattox. No '• ' ■ Confederate troops opposed them. The soldiers here and there had caught a glimpse of a Confederate cavalryman riding across the fields at a safe distance. Heckman was ordered to wait till the otlier brigades of General Smith's corps arrived. General Gillmore, with the Tenth Corps, was also moving, but at a snail's pace, westward farther north. Neither Generals Butler, Smith, nor Gillmore, seemingly, had any comprehension of the ueed of a rapid movement. Every con- sideration demanded a, quick seizing of the railroad, tearing up the track, and erecting fortifications to hold it. Why such slowness never has been explained. Butler's movement to Bermuda Hundred had not been an- ticipated by the Confederates; it was such a surprise that a signal-ofiicer who was fishing in the James when the fleet came in sight fled as fast as he could run, leaving his fishing-lines and fish behind him. The Union troops were much obliged to him for having supplied them with fish. From noon till four o'clock in the afternoon Heckman's brigade rested at Cobb's Hill, waiting for General Smith to give tlie order for their advance ; and then the brigade, accompanied by Howard's Fourth United States Battery, started upon a reconnoissance, descending the hill, passing a mill, and moving on to a farm-house. Looking across a field, they could see a cloud of dust raised by a body of Confederates going upon the run to hold the railroad at the junction of the Port Walthall branch with the main line of railroad. Howard wheeled his battery into posi- tion, and sent a shot which struck the rails of a fence and tossed them into the air. Heckman advanced his skirmishers, and a line of Confed- erate skirmishers came forward at the same moment. Stealthily the men in blue and the men in gray crept towards each other, crouching in the grass and grasping their rifles. It was a remarkable scene. They were so near that either party could toss a stone across the space between them, and yet they did not fire. For fifteen minutes they glared at each other — not two men, but two entire lines of men — and then the Confed- erates slowly backed themselves towards the fence. When the Union men discovered the movement, they sprang to their feet, fired, and in- stantly dropped into the grass. Then there was a volley from the fence, followed by a louder volley from Heckman's main line. For a few minutes the contest went on, the Confederate fire slackening. Heckman sent an aide to General Smith, asking for reinforcements, but instead of supports he received an order to fall back, and so, as the sun went BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 139 down, this brigade turned about and retired towards Bermuda Hun- dred. It was Hagood's brigade — the one which passed over Stony Creek just before Kantz reached that stream — that had thus confronted Heckman. The Confederate troops came across the Appomattox on the same plat- form cars that brought them from I^s^orth Carolina. They could see Heck- man's troops before the cars reached the junction, leap from them, and huny down to the rail -fence. It was not the fault of General Ilepk- man, or any remissness on the part of his troops, that the railroad was not seized and held. It went sorely against the wishes of this commander PONTOON-BRIDGE, POINT OP ROCKS, ON THE APPOMATTOX. From a Sketch made June, 1S64. and of his troops that they were ordered back, thus allowing the Confed- erates to have the prestige of victory when there had been really no bat- tle, only the firing of a few volleys ; but back to Cobb's Hill marched the grumbling soldiers, who wanted to rush upon Hagood and seize the railroad and build intrenchments. Morning dawned. The two divisions of the Eighteenth Corps ad- vanced, but only to find a stronger force of Confederates holding the rail- road — Hagood's and Bushrod Johnson's brigades. It was ten ''^ ' ' o'clock before the Union artillery opened fire. Brooks's di- vision swung round upon the Confederate left flank north of the junc- tion, reached the track of the main line, and tore it up, also cutting the telegraph line. In the afternoon there was a sharp engagement near the house of Mr. Cragie, where the railroad crossed the turnpike; but the Union troops went into bivouac on the railroad, the Confederates retreat- 1-iO REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. iiior across a little stream towards Petersburo-. Broolvs's division of the Eighteenth Corps of the Army of the James bivouacked on the railroad, and destroyed the track. This occupation of the railroad by the Union troops created great consternation in Richmond. Church bells rang, call- ing out all the home troops — the citizen soldiers organized for the defence of the city. We have this insight of affairs at the Confederate capital from a clerk in the War Department : "There is more anxiety manifested to-day. Senator Ilnnter and Mr. Ould, the agent of the Exchange, have been in the office next to mine once or twice to drink some good whiskey kept by the disbursing clerk of the department : Mr. H.'s face is quite red. Six p.m. the tocsin sounded for the militia ; I suppose all others being in the field. It is reported that the attack on Drewry's Bluff, or rather on our forces posted there for its defence, has begun. Barton's brigade marched thither to-day. Tliere is now^ some excitement and trepidation among tlie shopkeepers and ex- tortioners, who are compelled by State law to shoulder the musket for the defence of the city, and tliere is some running to and fro preliminary to the rendezvous in front of the City Hall. The Nineteenth Militia Regi- ment will have the pleasure of sleeping in the open air to-night, and dream- ing of their past gains." (*) The Army of the James had not made any long marches. It had been transported by steamers to Bermuda Hundred, had fought no battle, had been restino- through the day, when it might have been in Mays, 1864. . ^° ^ , . ! ' . ., ^ _e i . motion, in contrast to this inaction, the Confederates were hard at work. The bridges destroyed by Kautz had been rebuilt, and cars loaded with troops were on their way from the soutli to Petersbui-g. On Monday morning Heckman's brigade began to march towards Pe- tersburg, while all the other troops nnder General Butler started north- ward towards Richmond. A mile, and Heckman was at ' ' " Arrowfield Church, on the turnpike, where a road comes in from the right and another from the left. A little stream winds down from the west — Swift Creek — crossing the turnpike and going on to the Appomattox. The Confederates made it their line of de- fence, three Tennessee regiments being posted by the railroad bridge. General Heckman placed the Twentj'-seventh Massachusetts and !Ninth jSTew Jersey west of the turnpike to advance by the church, and his other two regiments east of the turnpike to secure the railroad bridge. The cliurch bells in Petersburg had struck the hour of noon when the Confederates began the battle by moving forward ; but they were quickly repulsed, and retreated across Swift Creek. Butler had detailed another BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 141 brigade to support Heckinan. It is quite probable that he could have made his way into Petersburg, or at least compelled the withdrawal of the Confederate troops south of the Appomattox. If General Butler had turned his^ attention first in that direction, in all probability he would liave easily taken possession of the city. Having done that, he could have de- stroyed the bridges across the Appomattox. A small force then could have held the line of the Appomattox, and left him free for a movement towards Richmond. Had that been done, it would have seriously affected the Confederate capital and the operations of the army under General Lee. The Army of the Jan:ies had possession of the railroad, and had torn up six miles of track between Richmond and Peters- burg. Having done this, General Butler ordered the troops to fall back towards Bermuda Hundred. Quite likely he thought that with so much track torn up, the Confed- erates would not be able to repair it, but in a few days the cars were running once more. General Smith and General Gillmore both proposed to General Butler a plan for the laying of pontoons across the Appomattox at Bermuda Hun- dred, to leave enough troops to hold the intrenchments, and May 10, 1864. , ', .,,,■,. ., -w.ti.i j to march with the rest during the mglit to Petersburg and capture that city. It would be a short march of about six miles. Had the plan been carried out on the evening of the 9th or 10th, the chances are that it would have resulted in failure, for Beauregard was in or near Petersburg, with nearly all his troops, till the 12th. Had it been en- tered upon on the evening of the 13th, in all probability it would have been a complete success. Butler declined to accept the plan. He informed them that Kautz had destroyed the railroad leading to Weldon ; that with the six miles gone between Petersburg and Richmond, he thought it would not be possible for the Confederates to repair the breaks. Let us see the situation from. the Confederate side. Gen. Robert Ran- som, in command of the troops at Drewry's Bluff, moved out to reconnoi- tre the Union army with Barton's and Grade's brigades, on the morning of the 10th, just as the pickets of the Tenth Corps were being withdrawn. There was a little skirmishing, but no battle. The falling back of the ENGAGEMENT AT AKROWFIELD CHURCH. 142 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Union troops, which outnumbered the Confederates, gave encouragement to Ransom's men. Going down towards Petersburg, we find Beauregard's troops along Swift Creek, by Arrowfield Church. There were eight bri- gades and eight batteries. There were two brigades in Petersburg and more troops on the way. The damage done by Kautz at Stony Creek liad been repaired, and the cars were running before he had reached City Point. Telegrams were flying thick and fast. This from General Whit- ing, who had just arrived at Weldon from Wilmington: "Am here on my way ; coming as fast as I can." On the morning of May 13, 1864. i-ir.i-r-» i ■< • xrv t-v-^/t-j the 13th Beauregard sent this to Jeiierson Davis: "Pro- pose leaving to-day about noon with Colquitt's and Corse's brigades, which arrived yesterday. Martin's and Wise's remain here. Light bat- teries will follow as soon as possible after arriving." (^) So on the after- noon of the 13th we see the Confederate troops leaving the cars at Swift Creek, turning north-west, marching up the road leading to Chester- field Court-house, and joining Pansom at Drewry's Bluff. On the llrth Beauregard had his army, with the exception of Whiting's division, con- centrated near that point. On that evening Whiting was whirled through Petersburg and up to Arrowfield Church, where he was informed by a messenger that Beauregard was about to attack the Union army, and that he was to march towards the sound of the guns. Jefferson Davis had come down from Pichmond to look after affairs. Beauregard, on the morning of May 16th, had an army of twentj'-two thousand, with two thousand cavalry. The Confederates had acted with great energy, Butler with great deliberation. Through the 10th and 11th the Union com- mander did not move at all. On the next day he advanced slowly towards Drewry's Bluff. Let us begin with the 13th. The cavalry under Kautz had arrived, and pontoons had been laid across the Appomattox. Kautz crossed to the northern shore, and was to move west to strike the Richmond and Danville Railroad. The colored troops under Hinks were still at City Point. General Ames's division of the Tenth Corps was stationed near Walthall Junction to prevent any attack from the direction of Petersburg, while the other brigades of both corps started north towards Richmond. The object was not to attack the Confederates, but to cover the movement of Kautz. A small stream comes down from the west and emj3ties into the James, called Proctor's Creek, along which was a line of breastworks occupied by the Confederates. General Smith ex- amined them and reported to Butler that if held in force they could not be carried. General Gillmore was on the left of the Eighteenth Corps, BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 145 and marched towards tlie nortli-west. It was well on in the afternoon when Terry's division advanced to the attack. The artillery on both sides began the battle. The Confederate right was half a mile west of the railroad, on Woolridge Hill. Terry found it difficult to advance under the heavy fire which swept the open field, and was preparing for a sec- ond attack when the Confederates left the hill and retreated to the second CONSTRUCTING BREASTWORKS. and much stronger line of fortifications, which had been thrown up by the slaves, extending from James River along Kingsland Creek to the rail- road. The intrenchments faced south. Fort Darling, with heavy cannon, crowned the summit of Drewry's Bluff, which rises more than one hundred feet above the James. From that altitude the Confederates could send rifled shot and shell down upon the gunboats were they to approach the fort. Being so high, the gun- boats might fire all day and do little damage in return. It was along the line of Ivine-sland Creek that the strongest breastworks had been thrown up, and there Beauregard, with great energy, had concentrated his troops, 10 146 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. though on tlie afternoon of the 13th not half of his soldiers had reached the position, but were on the march from Cliesterfield Conrt-house. General Weitzel's division of Union troops was on the right of the turnpike, half a mile from the Confederate intrenchments, occupying those which had been abandoned the previous evening. Brooks's division was next in line, and then Turner's, of the Tenth Corps, with Terry on the left, on Woolridge Hill. Ileckman's bri- gade was on the extreme right of the line. Weitzel had constructed a line of log breastworks along the edge of a piece of woods, and out a short distance in front stretched a telegraph wire from tree to tree. General Smith saw that it would be easy for the Confederates to come out from their intrenchments between the right of the line and the James, and that he must have more troops ; and thi'ee regiments of Ames's division came up the turnpike and halted at the Half-way House, which is just half-way between Richmond and Petersburg, and near which Butler had his headquarters. When General Butler landed he outnumbered the Con- federates three to one, but now that he was in position to attack they were as strong as himself. He had divided his force. Ilinks was at City Point doing nothing other than to guard it with live thousand men. The gun- boats and a regiment would have been sufficient to hold that position. Three thousand had been left at Bermuda Hundred to hold the intrench- ments. Ames was at Walthall Junction -svith five thousand, to protect his rear. Kautz was on his way west to strike the Danville road. The troops in position along Kingsland Creek were holding a line two and a half miles long, with a gap of more than two miles between the right of the line and the James — ground over which it would be easy for the Confed- erates to make a flank movement, get between Butler and the river, and move to shut him off from Bermuda Hundred. That was just what Beauregard, after .looking over the situation from the ramparts of Fort Darling, proposed to do. He had the divisions of Kansom, Hoke, and Colquitt, with plenty of field artillery. Whiting was at Swift Creek with Wise's and Martin's brigades, four thousand six hundred strong, besides two thousand cavalry under General Dearing. In addition, there was a brigade under Hunton at Chapin's Bluff, besides the heavy artillery in the forts. Butler intended to attack on the after- noon of the 15th, but could not get the troops into position. Beauregard at the same time was making his plans to move out from Fort Darling and attack, with all possible force, the right of the Eighteenth Corps at daylight on the 16th. The Confederates marched to their positions during the night — Ran- BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 14( som's division along the base of the hill down towards the James, Grade's Alabama brigade on the left of the line. This was the force which was to come round Butler's right flank, gain his rear, and cut him off from Bermuda Hundred. General Hoke was to advance and throw out a strong skirmish line, as if to attack Smith directly in front. When Kansom's BATTLE OP PREWKY S BLUFF. guns opened in Butlers rear, Hoke was to make a real attack. Colquitt was in reserve, to be ready for attack wherever he might be needed. Whiting, with his 4600 muskets, twenty pieces of artillery, and 2000 cavalry, was to march towards the sound of the heaviest firing imme- diately after the opening of the battle. It was a moonlight night. Weitzel's sentinels could see that some- thing was soing on in the Confederate line. There were musket-shots 148 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. between tlie pickets. The officer at tlie front did not report to Weitzel, as lie oiiglit to liave done. Ransom's troops at two o'clock moved east, towards the James. The moon went down in the west, and then a thick fog hung over the land, so dense that it was difficult to see an object ten feet distant. Ransom expected to have been in position by four o'clock, but it was nearly five before his skirmishers came upon Heckman's pickets, who in an instant were in line. They were veterans, and were called the " Star Brigade." General Ileckman says : "Shortly after dawn a dense fog enveloped us, completely concealing the enemy from view. Five picked brigades in column debouched from the enemy's M^orks, and rapidly advancing, drove in our pickets, pressing up on a run to our main line. Hearing their approach, my brigade swept instantly into line and steadily awaited their coming. When only five paces intervened between the Rebel bayonets and our inflexible line, a simultaneous scorching volley swept into the faces of the foe, smiting hundreds to earth, and hurling the whole column back in confusion. Five times encouraged and rallied by their officers, that magnificent Rebel in- fantry advanced to the attack, but only to be met and driven by those re- lentless volleys of musketry. Finding it impossible to succeed by direct attack, they now changed front and attempted to crush my right, held by the x^intli I^ew Jersey ; but here, the riglit wing having been reserved, they were met by a galling fire, and again for a moment faltered. But soon they advanced in column by brigade, and the Star Brigade being without artillery, and w^ithal vastly outnumbered, was, for the first time in its history, compelled to fall back and take a new position." (®) After taking a new position, General Ileckman, going through the fog from the Ninth New Jersey to a point wdiich he supposed to be occupied by the Twenty-third Massachusetts, and dimly seeing an advaucing line, ordered them to wheel to the right. Tlie next moment he was a prisoner. The advancing troops were the Confederates of Grade's brigade. It takes but a minute to read this, but for more than an hour the men of the Star Brigade held the right of the line, till, outflanked, they were compelled to retreat, leaving a large number upon the ground, but a vastly greater number of Confederates killed and wounded. The Confederate attack was along the right of the Union line, upon WeitzeVs and Brooks's divisions ; but the ITnioti troops, with the exception of Heckman's, were behind breastworks, and the Confederates advancing in the fog found themselves confronted by gleaming lines of light, and were cut down by the incessant volleys. Every attack was repulsed. Gen- eral Smith, finding that the assault was upon his right, sent word for BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 149 the batteries which were at the front, near the turnpike, to withdraw, as they were useless in the dense fog. The messenger to one of the bat- teries was struck down by a bullet, and the captain of the battery was left so far in advance that five guns were lost. Smith sent two regiments which were at the Half-way House — the Ninth Maine and the One Hun- dred and Twelfth New York — to the right, to prevent the Confederates from completely turning his flank. They arrived too late to prevent the falling back of Heckman, but were in position to hold in check the Con- federates moving rapidly and in force to assault the rear. The battle had been going on for more than an hour on the right of .the Union line before it begun on the left. Hoke's Confederate division came upon Gillmore, between the turnpike and railroad. The Washing- ton Artillery, of JSTew Orleans, was on the turnpike, sending its shells straight down towards the Half-way House. Johnson's brigade stood next in line, then Corse's, with Clingman's extending west to the rail- road, and a short distance beyond it. On the Union side the troops of the Tenth Corps reached across the railroad. Terry's division faced north-west, while Turner's fronted north. The angle was at the point where the line crosses Proctor's Creek. Brooks's division of the Eighteenth Corps was next in line towards the right, on the turnpike. The Confederate onset was against Weitzel, Brooks, and Turner ; but every assault was repulsed. At half-past six o'clock the whole line was heavily engaged. The assault of the Confed- erates on the Union right was successful, and General Smith was obliged to reform his line to prevent the Confederates from gaining his rear. In the fog his regiments became confused, not from any lack of courage, but because they could not see which way to face or move. There was like confusion in the Confederate ranks. The two brigades which gained , the flank of Heckman were in disorder. Some soldiers were picking up Union prisoners lost in the fog, and some in turn were being gathered up by Union soldiers. We have already seen how General Heckman himself had given an order to a body of Confederates, supposing them to be his own troops, and the next moment finding himself a prisoner. Let us think of ourselves as being in the Twenty-third Massachusetts on this morning, with the fog so thick that we cannot see twenty paces. We are firing towards a dim outline of men in front of us, holding them at bay, when suddenly there is a rattling of musketry in our rear. "Face to rear! Fall back !" the order. What is the matter? Before we can think what has happened, there comes a volley, and men drop all around us. We run through brambles and bushes, each one bent on 150 KEDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. getting to the rear. Sergeant Wallace carries the national flag. He wraps it round the staff grasps the lance end, and trails it behind him as he runs. The bullets sing around him, two passing through his cloth- ing ; but he saves the flag. Corporal Fernald carries the regimental flag. He is very sure that the line of men out yonder in the fog are friends, and refuses to retreat. The line comes nearer. "Surrender! surren- der !" is the shout. The men of the Twenty-third are not there to surren- der. They lift their muskets and send a volley into the advancing troops. The next moment ten of them are reelino- earthward, with blood streaminor from ghastly wounds, seven killed and three wounded. Only four men are left out of the squad. William D. Cole has been wounded in the arm. His son Edwin is lying at his feet, wounded in the leg. The father has fired so rapidly that the rifle all but burns his hands. Once more he fires at the advancing Confederates, and then goes down with twelve wounds, lying beside his son. The flag falls, to be picked up by the Confeder- ates as a trophy. (') Captain Raymond, in the retreat, stops to helj) one of the wounded men of his company, Benjamin Bray, but sees that his life is swiftly ebbing. The Confederates are close upon him. " Surrender !" they shout. His answer is a shot into their faces with his revolver. Then comes a volley, riddling his clothes, carrying away his sword-belt ; but he is unharmed, and escapes in the fog. He comes, a moment later, upon three of his men, who are carrying an officer to the rear. Lieutenant Wheeler, aide to General Heckman. " You may as well leave me ; I cannot live. Please take my watch and diary. If you attempt to carry me you may endanger yourselves and the regiment." Captain ■ Raymond M'ill not leave him, but sees him safely to an ambulance, then comes upon another group, and finds that they have the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, John C. Chambers, upon a stretcher, and that they have lost their way in the fog. He sets them right, and the officer reaches the liospital only to die of his wounds. (*) I, who am writing this story, used to sit by the side of Lieutenant- colonel Chambers in a newspaper office in Boston. He was of noble spirit ; he served in the Mexican War. Everybody loved him. Such were some of the scenes dimly discerned in the enveloping fog. The fog lifted at last, with both armies in some measure disorganized. Greneral Butler was moving his troops to hold the ground on his right, that Beauregard might not cut him off from Bermuda Hundred. At the same time Beauregard was rearranging his own lines, which had been thrown into confusion. He had brought every regiment into action. BERMUDA HUNDRED AND DREWRY'S BLUFF. 151 Jolinson's brigade had lost nearly one-third of its men. Clingman and Corse had been obliged to fall back before the stubborn resistance of the troops of Gillmore. Private Sidney Atkinson, of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment, was taken prisoner in the fog. He carried a small hatchet, which was very useful when he wished to kindle a fire or prepare his bed for the night. " Well, Yank, I will take that nice little hatchet," said one of his captors. " I s'pose you will, Johnny." The half-dozen men who had captured him soon lost their way. " Look here, Johnnies, I was over this ground this morning, and know where we are. I'll show you the way." The Confed- erates went as he directed, and soon found themselves prisoners. "I guess I'll take that hatchet, Johnny," said Atkinson, and the Confederates began to comprehend that they had foolishly allowed themselves to be out- witted by their prisoner. (") The Confederate commander was greatly disappointed in not hearing the roar of Whiting's cannon and rolls of musketry in the rear of Butler. Whiting had been ordered to march towards the sound of the heaviest fir- ing, but though not more than five miles distant he had heard no firing. The Union and Confederate cannon had been thundering all the morn- ing ; the air had been still, but no sound of conflict had been heard at AValthall Junction, where Whiting had come against the pickets of Ames's division of Union troops. No messenger reached him from Beauregard. If he advanced in a direct line towards Drewry's Bluff he must fight his way. While waiting for the sound of battle word came that the division of colored troops under Hinks, at City Point, was advancing towards Pe- tersburg. It was a false report, but Whiting marched to Arrowfield Church before he learned that it was not true. There was but little mo- tion of the air on that morning of dense fog, and though more than three- score cannon were in action nothing of the battle was heard by Whiting, who could not be held responsible for not marching according to orders. Had he attempted to obey instructions he would have been held in check by Ames, so that Beauregard would not have derived any particu- lar benefit. Night came, and with it the withdrawal of Butler to his intrenchments at Bermuda Hundred, followed by Beauregard in the morning, who also threw up a line of works, making any further attempt by Butler in that direction impossible. The auspicious opening of Butler's movement had ended in complete failure. In a few days the cars were once more run- ning into Pichmond. General Kautz had gone west to the Danville Railroad, torn up the track in several places, burned stations and supplies, 152 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. crossed to the south side of the Appomattox, turned east, came once more to the bridge on the Weldon Raih-oad across the Nottaway, which he had burned a f^w days before, and found that it had been rebuilt. On the 17th he was once more at City Point. His work of destruction was not suffi- ciently thorough, for in a short time all the railroads were mended and the cars running. In the battle of Drewry's Bluff the Union loss in killed and wounded was about two thousand, and the Confederate about the same ; but nearly fourteen hundred Union soldiers had been captured, and five cannon lost. . . On the 20th the Confederates assaulted Terry's and Ames's divisions, and took possession of a line of rifle-pits, but lost seven hundred men, with nothing in particular gained. Beauregard could do no more. Lee was in need of reinforcements, and all except nine thousand were sent north of Richmond to the North Anna, to hold Grant in check. Butler could make no aggressive movement, and about half of his troops went on steamboats down the James and up York River, to join the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor, where we shall see them. NOTES TO CHAPTER VI. ( 1 ) "Military Operations of General Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 547. (2) Idem, p. 548. (3) Idem, p. 549. («)" A Rebel War Clerk's Diary," vol. ii., p. 201. {") " Military Operations of General Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 557. (») General Heckman's Report. „ -r, , , t^ - tji « (') "History of Massachusetts Twenty-fifth Regiment," Battle of Drewry s Bluflf. (') Idem (•) "History of Company A, Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment," p. 281. FKOM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 153 CHAPTER YII. FROM SPOTTSYLVAXIA TO COLD HARBOR. HOW to get at General Lee's army was still the great question with General Grant, for General Lee had erected formidable intrench- ments covering Spottsylvania. To continue to attack there was simply a waste of life. General Grant did not desire to push Lee back uj)on Rich- mond, but to meet him in the open field, and planned a movement to induce Lee to make an attack. It was to send the Second Corps under Hancock by a roundabout way south towards the North Anna River, hoping that the Confederates would move to attack Hancock, and then before they could throw up intrenchments Grant would fall upon them. There are four small streams which rise north-west of Spottsylvania, which the Indians named the Mat, the Ta, tlie Po, the Ny, Coming to- gether, they make the Mattapony, which runs south-east to the Chesa- peake. The next stream south towards Richmond is the ISTorth Anna. Gen- eral Grant intended that the Second Corps, followed by the Fifth, should get between Lee and that river. It was a dividing of the Union army, and might be attended with disaster, but General Grant calculated that Hancock and Warren would hold their own against any force that Lee might send, and he would be quick to move to their assistance. At eleven o'clock on the night of May 20th, the soldiers of the Second Corps were on the march. When the morning dawned they were at Guiney's Station, on the railroad leadins; from Fredericks- May 20, 1864. , -n- 1 1 » , ^ ^ P -I burg to Richmond. A number of Confederate cavalrymen were there who quickly informed General Lee of the movement. At sun- set General Hancock was at Milford, having marched twenty miles. The skirmishers suddenly came upon a brigade of Confederates, under General Kemper, who was going north to join General Lee. In the skirmish that followed, seventy Confederates were captured. The march from Spottsylvania to Cold Harbor was through a section never l}efore visited by Union troops. At the crossing of the Ny I found 154 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. quarters at a farm-bouse owned by a feeble, forceless, gray-bearded, black- eyed man. He owned eiglity acres of land, two negroes, an old borse, and a rickety cart. His bouse was mean, but it was cbarmingly ^^ '' ' located, overlooking tbe broad valley of the Mattapony, and surrounded by locusts and magnolias. ISTature bad done a great deal towards making it a paradise, but tbe owner bad been an indifferent stew- ard. Lving upon tbe grass beneatb tbe trees, I fell into conversation with tbe proprietor. " This is Caroline County, I believe." " Yes, sir, tbis is old Caroline — a county which has sold more negroes down South than any other in Virginia." " I was not aware of that ; but I remember now a negro song which 1 used to hear. The burden of it was, " 'I -wish I was back iu old Caroline.' " " Quite likely, for the great business of the county has been nigger- raising, and it has been our curse. I never owned only old Peter and his wife. I wish I didn't own them, for they are old and I have got to sup- port them ; but how in the world I am to do it I don't know, for the sol- diers have stripped me of everything." " Do you mean the Union soldiers ?" " Yes, and ours also. First, my boys were conscripted. I kept them out as long as I could, but they were obliged to go. Then they took my horses. Then your cavalry came and took all my corn and stole my meat, ransacked the house, seized my flour, killed my pigs and chickens, and here I am, stripped of everything." " It is pretty hard, but your leaders would have it so." " I know it, sir, and we are getting our pay for it."(') It was frankly spoken, and was the first admission I had heard from Southern lips that the South was suffering retribution for the crime of Secession. It probably did not enter his head that tbe selling of shaves, the breaking up of families, the sundering of heartstrings, the cries and tears and prayers of fathers and mothers, the outrages, the whippings, seourofino's, were also crimes in the sio^ht of Heaven. Broken hearts were nothing to him — not that he was naturally worse than other men, but be- cause slavery had blunted sensibility. During tbe march the next day towards the North Anna, I halted at a farm-house. The owner had fled to Richmond in advance of the army, leaving his overseer, a stout, burly, red-faced, tobacco-chewing man. There were a scoi'e of old buildings on the premises. It had been a notable FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO HANOVER. FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 157 plantation, yielding luxuriant harvests of wheat, but the proprietor had turned his attention -to the culture of tobacco and the breeding of neo-roes He sold annually a crop of human beings for the Southern market. The day before our arrival, hearing that the Yankees were coming, he hurried forty or fift}^ souls to Richmond. He intended to take all — forty or fifty more — but the negroes fled to the woods. The overseer did his best to' collect them, but in vain. The proprietor raved and stormed and became violent in his language and behavior, threatening terrible punishment on all the runaways, but the appearance of a body of Union cavalry jjut an end to maledictions. He had a gang of men and women chained to2:ether, and hurried them towards Richmond. The runaways came out from their hiding-places when they saw the Yankees, and advanced fearlessl}- with liappy countenances. The first pleasure of the negroes was to smile from ear to ear, the second to give everybody a drink of water or a piece of hoe-cake, the third to pack up their bundles and be in readiness to join the army. " Are you not afraid of us ?" I asked. "Afraid! Why, boss, I'se been praying for yer to come; and now yer is here, t'ank de Lord." " Are you not afraid that we shall sell you ?" "!N"o, boss, I isn't. The overseer said you would sell us off to Cuba, to work in the sugar-mill, but we didn't believe him."(^) Among the servants was a bright mulatto girl, who was dancing, sing- ing, and manifesting her joy in violent demonstration. " What makes you so happy ?" I asked. " Because you Yankees have come. I can go home now." "Is not this your home?" " No. I come from Williamsport in Maryland." "When did you come from there ?" "Last year. Master sold me. I 'spect my brother is 'long with the army. He ran away last year. Master was afraid that I should run away, and he sold me." General Lee saw that the movement which Grant was making would cut him off from Richmond, and at once began a march to get across the North Anna River, a rapid stream with steep, high banks. The rail- road from Fredericksburg to Richmond crosses it. The Virginia Central Railroad crosses the former road at Hanover Junction, making it a very important point. ILmcock's movement was towards that locality, but Lee, having the shortest road, was able to reach it before the troops of the Second Corps came to the North Anna. 158 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Reinforcements were coining to General Lee. General Breckinridge came clown the Virginia Central road in the cars with three thousand ; Pickett's division of live thousand, which charged at Gettys- burg, hastened up from the fortifications below Richmond, May 23, 1864. also Hoke's brigade of twelv^e hundred. General Hancock reached the river at the railroad and Chesterfield bridges, which span the stream, the latter on the Telegraph road — the main thoroughfare. The Fifth Corps, under General Warren, was farther up- SECOND CORPS BATTEKIES. From a Sketch at the Time. stream, at Jericho Mill, with the Ninth between, at Ox Ford. The water was waist-deep, but the skirmishers of the Fifth Corps waded across, and drove the Confederate pickets from the other bank. The bridge-builders were quickly at work, and in a short time the divisions of the Fifth Corps were filing across the stream. Cutler's on the right, Griffin's in the centre, and Crawford's on the left. The afternoon was hot, the atmosphere murky. Away in the west, dark clouds with golden fringes were rising, and muttering thunder rent the air. It was past three o'clock when General Hancock directed his batteries to open fire upon a fortification held by Kershaw's brigade of Confederates, on the north bank of the river, near Chesterfield Bridge. The earthwork was constructed in 1862. Why the Confederates chose to attempt hold- ing this one isolated work on the north side, when the rest of the army was upon the south bank, is not known. Certainly nothing could be gained by attempting to hold it. Five Union batteries wheeled into posi- FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 159 tion and sent a storm of shot and shell into the work. The Confederates had two cannon, which could make but feeble reply ; but there were brave men in the fort. While the fire was hottest, while the missiles were streaming across the yellow bank of earth every second, an officer on horse- back rode up from the bridge and handed a paper to the officer command- ing the Confederates, and walked his horse leisurely back again. For more than an hour the artillery rained its missiles. Then there was sud- den silence, followed by a loud ringing cheer, as the soldiers of Egan's and tierce's brigades rose from the ground where they had been lying, and rushed upon the fortification. Puffs of blue smoke spurted from the embankment, but only for an instant, and then some of the Confederates threw down their arms and ran for the bridge. Others remained where **ifll|P^€ SOLDIERS IN RIFLE-PITS NEAR CHESTERFIELD BRIDGE, NORTH ANNA RITER. From a War-time Photograph. they were, preferring to surrender rather than be mowed down by a vol- ley fired into their backs. With a wild cheer the Stars and Stripes were planted on the fortification. The Confederates had set fire to the railroad bridge a mile below, and a column of smoke arose from its burning tim- 100 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. bers. Going now up to Jericho Mill, we see the divisions of the Fiftli Corps moving out over the pLiin, into wooded thickets, coming into line, the soldiers stacking their arms, kindling fires, making coffee, and frying bits of ham. Suddenly there came a rattle of musketry on the right, where Cutler's division was in line, and then the uproar of cannon. The troops of Hill's corps were falling upon Cutler. The attack was so sudden and fierce that the Union troops soon came pouring out of the BURNING THE RAILWAY BRIDGE ACROSS THE NORTH ANNA. woods, running through Hoffman's brigade in the second line. It had been commanded by General Rice, who was killed at Spottsylvania. The soldiers were veterans who had been in many battles. Captain Mink, com- manding a battery, was in position near Colonel Hoffman, and directed his gunners to ram three charges of canister into the guns. Out from the woods came the Confederates in pursuit. They saw the battery and rushed to capture it, but the pieces flamed and the Confederates fell headlong, torn in pieces by the storm of bullets from the cannon and from Hoffman's line. The Confederates having been repulsed, the Union troops seized axes and shovels and began the construction of breastworks. The sun set with the lightning flashing and thunder rolling through the heavens. The battle was over, but the ground \vhere Cutler had fought was thickly strewn with killed and wounded, the Confederate loss being greater than the Union. Five hundred Confederates surrendered rather than to at- tempt to retire under so destructive a fire. (') Night shut down with the Fifth Corps south of the river, at Jericho Mill, six miles up-stream from the Second Corps, while Hancock was on the FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 161 LOADING WITH CANISTER. north bank. Now was Lee's opportunity to give Grant a staggering blow ; the nio- nient when he should have liurled his whole force upon Warren and swept him into the river. The position of Warren was indeed criticah The tactics of General Grant in this movement have been much criticised. General Lee's hesitation to attack Warren with overwhelming force, as he might have done, has been also criticised by Confederate officers. Lee had received fifteen thousand reinforcements, and his army was nearly as large as it was on May 3d, when he took his stand to compel 11 May 24, 1864. 162 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Grant to attack him in the Wilderness. In the morning the troops of the Second Corps crossed tlie Chesterfield Bridge, and formed on the southern bank. Lee had stationed his lines along the railroad to protect the junction, and had thrown np formidable breastworks. The Union troops reached a portion of the railroad and destroyed it. The Sixth Corps arrived, crossed QUAKLES'S MILL, NORTH ANNA RIVER. From a Photogi-aph taken iu 1SC4. the river at Jericho Mill, and came into position to support Warren, reach- ing the Virginia Central Railroad, tearing up the track, and burning the ties. Burnside, with the Ninth Corps, came to the North Anna at Ox Ford, but could not cross. The Confederates held the south bank, and were so strongly posted tliat General Grant saw it would be impossible to dislodge them. A third ford was discovered near Quarles's Mill, between Ox Ford and Jericho Mill, and Burnside sent over Crittenden's division, FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 163 which joined Crawford's. The Confederates tried to prevent tlie crossing, and Crittenden lost many men. Potter's division of the K^inth Corps went down to Chesterfield Bridge, and joined Hancock. Grant had thus divided his army. Lee had the advantage of position, and his troops were behind strong fortifications. His army was concentrated, while Grant's was divided. His lines extended from the river at Ox Ford in an acute angle like the letter Y. With a comparatively small force he could have held one side of the angle against either wing of Grant's, while hurl- ing the bulk of his troops upon the other; but lie made no attack. The opportunity went by never to return, for, to the close of the war, tlie Union army never was again divided so temptingly to the Confederate commander. General Grant has this to say of the position : " Lee now PIONEERS CONSTRUCTING A ROAD AT OX FORD. From a Sketch made al the Time. had his entire army south of the North Anna. Our lines covered his front Avitli the six miles sejjarating the two wings, guarded by but a single division. To get from one wing to the other the river would have to be crossed twice. Lee could reinforce any part of his line from all points of it in a very short time ; or could concentrate the whole of it wherever he might choose to assault. We were for the time practically two armies besieging. Lee had been and was being reinforced. Pickett, with a full division, had arrived from Richmond; Hoke, from Korth Carolina, had come with a brigade, and Breckinridge was there : in all probability not less than fifteen thousand men. But he did not attempt to drive us from the field." (^) The Ninth Corps, which u]) to this time had been regarded as an army 164 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. May 25, 1864. by itself, was now incorporated into the annv of the Potomac, General Burnside voluntarily putting himself under his junior officer, General Meade. The Sixth Corps moved towards the Confederate lines, which were found to be so strong that General Grant determined not to sacrifice his men by charging them. Through the day the skirmishers and sharp-shooters were engaged, but General Lee, with all the advantage of position in his favor, did not want to sacrifice his men by advancing upon the breastworks thrown up by the Union troops. EARTHWORK TAKEN BY THE SECOND CORPS. From a Sketch made iu 1S64. May 26, 1864. General Grant, having decided to make another movement, directed General Wilson's division of cavalry to make a demonstration upon Lee's left flank. We see the cavalry turning westward, crossing the North Anna above Jericho Mill, turning south, reaching the Virginia Central road, and destroying another section of the track. During the day General Grant sent this despatch to General Halleck in Washington : " To make a direct attack from either wino^ would cause a slauirhter of our men that even success would not justify. To turn the enemy by his right between the two Annas, is impossible on account of the swamp upon which his right rests. To turn him by the left leaves Little River, New Found River, and South Anna River, all streams presenting considerable obstacles, to be crossed. I have determined, therefore, to turn the enemy's right by crossing at or near Hanover Town. This crosses all three streams at once, and leaves us still where we can draw supplies. . . . Lee's army is really whipped. The prisoners we now take show it, and the action of his FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 165 army shows it immistalcabl v. A battle with them outside of intrench- ments cannot be had. Our men feel that thej have gained the morale over the enemy, and attack him with confidence." (") Up to this time General Grant had been receiving his supplies from Frederichsburg, but he must open a new base and receive them from White House, at the head of York River, whence McClellan had re- ceived his in 1SG2. Orders were sent to Washington and preparations made accordingly. General Sheridan arrived with the cavalry from James River in the afternoon. The North and South Anna rivers, together with Little River, after uniting, form the Pamunkey, a wide, deep, winding stream flowing south-east to York River. When the sun disappeared at night, two divis- JEKICHO MILL AND PONTOON-BRIDGE, NORTH ANNA RIVER. From a Photograph taken at the Time. n* 166 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. MAP OF THE KORTU ANNA. ions of cavalry — Gregg's and Torbert's — moved south to Littlepage's Bridge, in the direction of Hanover, followed by Russell's division of the Sixth Corps infantry. A small force of cavalry was left at Littlepage's Bridge to make a feint of crossing at that point, while Sheridan, with the main body, followed by the infantry, pushed on through the niglit, making a march of nearly twenty miles to Hanover Ferry, crossing the Pamunkey to Hanover Town, encountering a brigade of Confederate cavalry, wdiich was quickly driven, the Union troops capturing forty prisoners. Tiirough the day the main body of the army was moving south-east, crossing the Pamunkey and turning west. General Grant could not learn from his scouts what movement General Lee was making, and directed Sheridan to move towards Mechanicsville. He started with Gregg from Hawes's store, four miles from Hanover Town, which is only seventeen miles from Rich- mond, but soon found a large force of Confederate cavalry ready to oppose his advance — Hampton's and Fitz-Hugh Lee's divisions, and Butler's bri- FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 1G7 gade of South Carolina eavaliy, wliidi had just arrived, armed with rifles of long range. Fitz-IIugh Lee was on the right and Hampton on the left. oo To^. General Gregg quickl}'- dismounted his men. The Confed- Miiv 28, 1864. "" , erates were behmd breastworks which thej had hastily con- structed, and the battle began. Sheridan sent Custer's brigade to Gregg. There were three Union brigades against five Confederate. Through the afternoon the battle went on. The sun went down, but the carbines and rifles were still flashing. The evening twilight was disappearing, when the Union troops made a vigorous assault along the entire line and com- pelled the Confederates to give way, leaving the killed and a very large portion of the wounded behind them. It was a hard-fought battle, in which there was great loss on both sides ; but by winning it the roads were saved for the advance of the Union army towards Totopotomoy Kiver, a little stream with wooded, marshy banks, flowing south-east through Hanover County. Early on the morning of the 2Sth the army began to cross the Pamunkey on the pontoons, and by noon all except the Ninth Corps were moving w^est. Burnside was left to guard the trains. From Hawes's store three roads lead towards Richmond. The right-hand one takes us past Polly Huntley's ■ corner towards Atlee's Station, on the Virginia Central Railroad, and crosses the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge. The middle one leads past Bethesda Church, and is known as the Old Church road, leading to Mechanicsville Bridge. The third runs south and then west through Old and ISTew Cold Harbor. As the troops crossed the Pamunkey, the Sixth Corps moved along the right-hand road, forming the right wing; the Second Corps followed, forming the centre, with the Fifth on the left. General Sheridan was directed to move with the cavahy in the direction of Old Cold Harbor, to protect the road to White House. It was necessary to do this, as it was the high- way over which the supplies of food and ammunition would reach the army. At last General Grant had reached ground with which Meade, Han- cock, "Warren, and other subordinate commanders were acquainted, al- though he himself had never seen it. The army was upon ground where it had fought under McClellan, and the map made by the Engineer Corps in 1862 could now be used. The two armies were so near each other that any movement made by either was quickly detected and a cor- responding change of position was made by the other. The seizure of the roads at Hawes's store enabled Grant to move in a direct line towards Cold Harbor. But he was looking beyond that point towards James River. He had ah^eady sent this despatch to General Hallett : " Send all 168 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. the pontoon-bridging yon can to City Point, to have ready in ease it is wanted." Officers of tlie Engineer Corps were at Fortress Monroe pre- paring the boats. Steamboats came to that point with material for a bridge twelve hnndred feet in length. The negroes came from all the surrounding plantations — old men with venerable beards, horny hands, crippled with hard work and harder usage ; aged women, toothless, almost blind, steadying their steps with sticks ; lit- tle negro boys, driving a team of skeleton steers, mere bones and tendons covered with hide, or wall-eyed horses, spavined, foundered, and lame, at- tached to rickety carts and wagons piled with beds, tables, chairs, pots and kettles, hens, turkeys, ducks ; w^omen came with infants in their arms, and a sable cloud of children trotting by their side. "Where are you going?" I said to a short, thick-set, gray-bearded old man, shuffling along the road, his toes bulging from his' old boots, and a tattered straw hat on his head, his gray hair protruding from the crown. " I do'no, boss, where I'se going, but I reckon I'll go where the army goes." " And leave your old home, your old master, and the place where you have lived all your days ?" " Yes, boss ; massa's done gone. He went to Richmond. Reckon he went mighty sudden, boss, when he heard you w\^s coming. Thought I'd like to go 'long with you." His face streamed with perspiration. He had been sorely afflicted with the rheumatism, and it was with difficulty that he kept up with the column ; but it was not a hard matter to read the emotions of his heart. He was marching towards freedom. Suddenly a light had shined upon him. Hope had quickened in his soul. He had a vague idea of what was before him. He had broken loose from all which he had been accustomed to call his own — his cabin, a mud-chinked structure, with the ground for a floor, his garden-patch — to go out, in his old age, wholly unprovided for, yet trusting in God that there would be food and raiment on the other side of Jordan, It was Sunday — bright, clear, calm, and delightful. There was a crowd of several hundred colored people at a deserted farm-house. "Will it 'sturb you if we have a little singing? You see, boss, we feel so happy to-day that we would like to praise the Lord." It was the request of a middle-aged w'oman. " Not in the least. I should like to hear you." In a few moments a crowd had assembled in one of the rooms. A FEOM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 171 Stout young man, black, bright-eyed, tliick-wooled, took tlie centre of the room. The women and girls, dressed in their finest clothes, which they had put on to make their exodus from bondage in the best possible man- ner, stood in circles round him. The young man began to dance. He jumped up, clapped his hands, slapped his thighs, whirled round, stamped upon the floor. "Sisters, less bless the Lord. Sisters, jine in the chorus," he said, and led olf with a kind of recitative, improvised as the excitement gave him utterance. From my note-book I select a few lines : KECITATIVE. "We are going to the other side of Jordan." CHORtrs. " So glad ! so glad ! Bless the Lord for freedom, So glad ! so glad ! We are going on our way, So glad ! so glad ! To the other side of Jordan, So glad ! so glad ! Sisters, won't you follow ? So glad ! so glad ' Brothers, won't you follow ?"('') And so it went on for a half- hour, without cessation, all dancing, clapping tiieir hands, tossing their heads. It was the ecstasy of action. It was a joy not to be uttered, but demonstrated. The old house partook of their rejoicing. It rang with their jubilant shouts, and shook in all its joints. I stood an interested sjjectator. One woman, well dressed, intelligent, refined in her deportment, modest in her manner, using excellent language, said : " It is one way in which we worship, sir. It is our first day of freedom." The first day of freedom ! Behind her were years of suffering, hard- ship, unrequited toil, heartaches, darkness, no hope of recompense or of light in this life, but a changeless future. Death, aforetime, was their only deliverer. For them there was hope only in the grave. But' sud- denly hope had advanced from eternity into time. They need not wait for death ; in life they could be free. Is it a wonder that they exhibited extravagant joy ? Apart from the dancers was a woman with light hair, hazel eyes, and fair complexion. She sat upon the broad steps of the piazza, and looked out upon the fields, or rather into the air, unmindful of the crowd, the 172 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. dance, or the slionting. Iler features were so nearly of the Anglo-Saxon type that it required a second look to assure one that there was African blood in her veins. She alone of all the crowd was sad in spirit. She evidently had no heart to join in the general jubilee. " Where did you come from ?" I asked. " From Caroline County." Almost every one else would have said, " From Old Caroline." There was no trace of the negro dialect, more than one would hear froni all classes in the South, for slavery had left its taint upon the language ; it spared nothing, but was remorseless in its corrupting influences. " You do not join in the song and dance," I said. " ]S"o, sir." Most of them would have said "master" or "boss." " I should think you would want to dance on your first night of free- dom, if ever." " I don't dance, sir, in that way." " Was your master kind to you ?" " Yes, sir ; but he sold my husband and children down South." The secret of her sadness was out. " Where are you going ? or where do you expect to go ?" "I don't know, sir, and I don't care where I go."(") The conversation ran on for some minutes. She manifested no ani- mation, and did not once raise her eyes, but kept them fixed on vacancy. Husband and children sold, gone forever — there was nothing in life to charm her. Even the prospect of freedom, with its undefined joys and pleasures, its soul-stirring expectations, raising the hopes of those around her, moved her not. Life was a blank. She had lived in her master's famil}^, and was intel- ligent. She was the daughter of her master. She was high-toned in her feelings. The dancing and shouting of those around her were distasteful. It was to her more barbaric than Christian. She was alone among them, and felt her degradation. Freedom could not give her a birthright among the free. The daughter of her master! It was gall and wormwood; and he, her father, had sold her husband and his grandchildren I I had read of such things. But one needed to come in contact with slavery to feel how utterly loathsome and hateful it was. There was the broken-hearted victim, so bruised that not freedom itself, neither the ecstasy of those around her, could awaken an emotion of joy. Hour after hour the festivities went on, but she sat the while upon the step, looking down the desolate years gone by, or into a dreamless, hopeless future. FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 173 It was late at night before the dancers ceased, and tlien they stopped, not from a surfeit of joj, but because the time had come for silence in the camp. It was their first Sabbath of freedom, and like the great king of Israel, upon the recovery of the ark of God, they danced before the Lord with all their might. We had a hard, dusty ride from the encampment at Mongohick to the Pamunkey. It was glorious, however, in the early morning to sweep along the winding forest-road, with the headquarter's flag in advance. Wherever its silken folds were unfurled, there the two commanders might be found — General Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, and General Grant, the commander of all the forces of the Union in the field. We passed the long line of troops, crossed the Pamunkey upon a pontoon- bridge, rode a mile or two across the verdant intervale, and halted beneath the oaks, magnolias, and button-woods of an old Yirginia mansion. The edifice was reared a century ago. It M'as of wood, stately and substantial. How luxurious the surrounding shade ; the smooth lawn, the rolled path- ways bordered by box, with moss-roses, honeysuckle, and jasmines scent- ing the air, and the daisies dotting the greensward ! The sweep of open land — viewing it from the wide portico ; the long reach of cultivated grounds ; acres of wheat rolling in the breeze, like waves of the ocean ; meadow-lands, smooth and fair ; distant groves and woodlands — how mag- nificent ! It was an old estate, inherited by successive generations — by those whose pride it had been to keep the paternal acres in the family name. But the sons had all gone. A daughter was the last heir. She gave her hand and heart and the old homestead — sheep, horses, a great stock of cattle, and a hundred negroes or more — to her husband. The family name became extinct, and the homestead of seven or eight genera- tions passed into the hands of one bearing another name. When McClellan was on the Peninsula the shadow of the war-cloud swept past the place. Some of the negroes ran away, but at that time they were not tolerated in camp. The campaign of 1862 left the estate unharmed. Sheridan's cavalry, followed by the Sixth Corps, in its march •from the North Anna, had suddenly and unexpectedly disturbed the security of the old plantation. There was a rattling fire from carbines, a fierce fight, men wounded and dead, broken fences, trodden fields of wheat and clover; ransacked stables, corn-bins, meat-houses, and a swift disappearing of live-stock of every description. But to go back a little. The proprietor of this estate ardently espoused Secession. His wife was as earnest as he. They loved the institutions and principles of the South. They sold their surplus negroes in the 174 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Richmond market, parted husbands and wives, tore children from the arms of tlieir mothers, and separated tliem forever. They lived on un- requited labor, and grew rich through the breeding of human Hesh for the market. When the war began, the owner of this magnificent estate enlisted in the ariny and was made a colonel of cavaliy. He furnished supplies and kept open house for his comrades in arms; but he fell in an en- gagement on the Rappahannock, in October, 1863, leaving a wife and three young children. The advance of the army, its sudden appearance on the Pamunkey, left the widow no time to remove her personal estate, or to send her negroes to Richmond for safe keeping. Fitz-IIugh Lee disputed Sheridan's advance. The fighting began on this estate. Charges by squad- rons and regiments were made through the cornfields. Horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, were seized by the cavalrymen. The garden, filled with young- vegetables, was spoiled. In an hour there was complete desolation. The hundred negroes — cook, steward, chamber-maid, house and field hands, old and young — all left their work and followed the army. Passing by one of the negro cabins on the estate, I saw a middle-aged colored woman packing a bundle. "Are you going to move?" I asked. " Yes ; I am going to follow -the army." " What for ? Aviiere will you go ?" "I want to go to Washington, to find my husband. He ran away a while ago, and is at work in that city." "Do you think it right, auntie, to leave your mistress, Avho has taken care of you so long ?" She had been busy with her bundle, but stopped now and stood erect before me, her hands on her hips. Her black eyes flashed. "Taken care of me! What did she ever do for me? Haven't I been her cook for more than thirty years? Haven't I cooked every meal she ever ate in that house? What has she done for me in return? She has sold my children down South, one after another. She has whipped me when I cried for them. She has treated me like a hog, sir! Yes, sir, like' a hog!" She resumed her work, of preparation for leaving. That night she and her remaining children joined the thousands of colored people who had already taken sudden leave of their masters. Returning to the mansion to see the wounded, I met the owner of the place in the hall. She evidently did not fully realize the great change which had taken place in her affairs, and the change was not complete at FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 177 that moment. The colored steward was there, hat in hand ; obsequious, bowing politely, and obeying all commands. A half-hour before I had seen him in the cook's cabin, making arrangements for leaving the prem- ises, and a half-hour later he was on his way towards freedom. " I wish I had gone to Richmond," said the lady. " This is terrible, terrible ! They have taken all my provisions, all my horses and cattle. My servants are going. What shall 1 do?" She sank upon the sofa, and for a moment gave way to her feelings. " You are better off here than you would be there, with the city full of wounded, and scant supplies in the market," I remarked. "You are right, sir. What could I do with my three little children there? Yet how I am to live here I don't know. When will this terri- ble war come to an end ?"(') I have introduced this scene because it was real, and because it was but one of many. There were hundreds of Southern homes where the change had been equally great. Secession was not what they who started it thought it would be. General Grant's headquarters were near a church. The day was warm, and the soldiers brought the settees from the building and placed them „ , „ , under the trees. A messene-er arrived from Washington May 29, 1864. *= » With letters and newspapers. The army, wearied with fight- ing and marching, was slowly advancing towards Totopotomoy Creek — the Sixth Corps to Hanover Court-house on the right, the Second Corps in the centre, the Fifth Corps on the left on the Shady Grove Church road, the Ninth in reserve at Hawes's store, the cavalry moving south towards Cold Harbor. There was no great battle during the day, only skirmishing. The morning opened with the Second Corps advancing to the Toto- potomoy. The soldiers made their way through the thickets bordering its banks, to find the Confederates strongly intrenched upon the southern bank. The Fifth Corps advanced past Polly Huntley's corner, and was attacked by the Confederates under General Early so vigorously that General Grant ordered the Second Corps to attack in its front. The Union troops drove the Confederates from the line of rifle-pits which they had constructed, while the Fifth Corps repulsed Early and advanced nearly a mile. General Grant saw that General Lee had chosen a very strong position, and resolved to move again by his left flank. The Government of the United States, from the beginning of the war, maintained its faith with the soldiers. Whenever the term of service of a regiment expired, no matter what the exigency, it was permitted to 12 ITS REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. return liome. No individual soldier was forced to serve beyond the time for wliicli he enlisted. Not so with tlie Confederate Government, which violated its plighted faith, which swept its drag-net over the whole com- munity, and forced men into service from which there was no discharge. The terms of service of several regiments were expiring when the army reached Cold Harbor, and they took their departure, marching to White House, there taking steamers to Fortress Monroe. The losses in battle and the departure of troops was rapidly depleting the army, and as the Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred could do nothing. General Grant ordered General Butler to send him a portion of his troops. So it came about that General Brooks's and General Martindale's divisions of the Eighteenth Corps, and General Devens's and General Ames's divisions of the Tenth Corps, embarked at Bermuda Hundred, descended the James, and ascended York River to White House. They were under the command of Gen. William F. Smith. General Ames's division remained at White House; the others went a long distance out of their way, through the heedlessness of a staff-officer in writing an order. While marching they could hear the booming of cannon far away — Sheridan's guns at Cold Harbor. General Grant had directed General Sheridan to protect the left flank. As the cavalry skirmishers approached a little creek — the Mata- dequin — they encountered the Confederate cavalry under General Butler, and a fierce battle began. The Confederates had the advantage of being behind breastworks in a strong position. General Sheridan directed the men to dismount, and then, picking their way through a thicket, they at- tacked as infantry. The fighting was mainly between General Torbert's division of Union cavalry and Butler's brigade of Confederates from South Carolina. The Union troops turned Butlers flank, and compelled him to retreat, with a loss of a large number of men, who were taken prisoners. Fifteen miles from Hanover soutliward is the little hamlet of Old Cold Harbor, on the road from Richmond to White House, at the iunction of several roads. Before the war, travellers used May 31, 1864. "^ , . , ^^ ■, ^ ^ ^ to water their horses at a well where tJie roads meet, and while the horses were drinking, the teamsters rested themselves beneath the piazza of the tavern, which still stands there. General Torbert and General Custer, after they had compelled the Confederates to retreat, fol- lowed them towards Cold Harbor. The two commanders saw that it was an important point, and so informed General Sheridan, who agreed with them, and Merritt's brigade, followed by Custer's, moved on to occupy it. General Devin's brigade was detached, and moved along a road to the left.(') FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 181 The cavalry soon found themselves confronted by Fitz-Hugh Lee's division and Clingman's brigade of infantry, which had been brought up from below Richmond. The Confederates were hard at work with axes felling trees, and with shovels throwing up intrenchments. Once more the .battle began, and the Confederates were compelled to leave Cold Harbor in the possession of the Union troops. Sheridan was nine miles from any infantry support. A courier galloped up the road and informed General Meade of what had been accomplished, who ordered the Sixth Corps to make a forced march to Cold Harbor. " Hold the place at all hazards," was the order sent to Sheridan, So, through the night the Union cavalry, instead of sleeping after the battle, built breastworks. Boxes of ammunition were distributed, for the pickets could hear the Confederate troops, only a short distance from them, marching into posi- tion, to be ready for an assault at daylight. It was just after daylight when the Confederates of Kershaw's division advanced upon Sheridan, who told his men to wait till they were close up to the intrenchments before firina:. The artillery loaded June 1, 1864. . . . ^ . ,, r i . With canister, and the volleys from the repeating-carbines were so destructive that the Confederates fled, leaving many of their num- ber killed or wounded upon the Held. Later in the morning they ad- vanced once more, only to be repulsed with great loss. Among the killed was Col. Lawrence M. Keith, who before the war had been a member of Congress, and who was one of the most active in bringing about the secession of South Carolina. ("Drum-beat of the Nation," p. 29.) General Lee discovered that the Union troops were withdrawing from their intrenchments along the Totopotomoy, that all had gone except the Ninth Corps, and he determined to strike a blow. General Rodes's divis- ion of Ewell's corps, now commanded by General Early, came suddenly out of the Confederate intrenchments on the road to Shady Grove Church and captured several of the Union pickets. It was mid-afternoon, and a battle began which became more furious as Gordon's and Heth's divis- ions, following Eodes's, came on. The Ninth Corps was just moving away, but quickly came into position. The Confederates, under Rodes, pressed on, and captured some of the Union skirmishers. Griffin's division of the Fifth Corps was at Bethesda Church. Cutler's and Crawford's di- visions were south of it. General Griffin deployed his line, Ayres's brigade on the left, Bartlett's in the centre, and Sweitzer's on the right. The artillery opened a heavy fire, quickly followed l)y volleys of musketry. Heth's division fell upon Crittenden's of the Ninth Corps, but Potter's and Wilcox's divisions came to Crittenden's assistance. From mid-after- 182 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. noon till sunset the battle raged, ending in the repulse of the Confeder- ates, and the death of an able officer, General Dole. While the mus- kets were flashing and the cannon flaming near Bethesda Church, another temj)est was beginning near the Old Tavern, at Cold Harbor. Dur- ing the morning the Sixth Corps, under General Wright, was coming into position, also the troops from Bermuda Hundred, under General Smith, who had been directed " to hold the road from Cold Harbor to Bethesda Church, and co-operate with the Sixth Corps in an attack." ('") The troops under General Smith had marched sev^enteen miles out of their way. They were weary, hungry, covered with dust, when they came into position at six o'clock in the afternoon. Through the day the Confederate troops, under Longstreet and Hill, had been likewise marching, and were in position, constructing earth- works, felling trees, making abatis, and planting sharpened stakes in the ground. The pickets were hard at work digging rifle -jDits and felling trees, in a narrow. strip of wood half a mile from the Union troops, who could see the axes and shovels gleaming in the descending sun. A quarter of a mile farther west was the main line of works, a bank of earth, growing wider and higher every moment, with embrasures for can- non, covering every part of the smooth and level fleld. General Hoke's division was nearest the swamp of the ^Chickahominy. Then came Ker- shaw's, Pickett's, and Field's divisions. Going along the line of Union troops, we see Getty's division, commanded by Neill, nearest the Chicka- honiiny, then Russell's, Rickett's, Devens's, Brooks's, and Martindale's divisions — the line extending from the banks of the river to the farm of Mr. Woody. First came the cannonade — the artillery of both armies, hurling shot and shell across the fields fresh and green with summer verdure. Then the Union skirmishers advanced, followed by the firmly stepping lines. The weak point in a battle-line is where the divisions or brigades unite, where the authority of one subordinate connnander ceases and another begins. Rickett's division struck the Confederate line where Kershaw's and Hoke's divisions joined. (") The blow fell upon Clinginan's brigade of North Carolinians, which gave way, and Rickett's men instantly wedged themselves between Wofford's and Bryan's brigades, capturing over five hundred prisoners. But Hunter's and Gregg's brigades came upon the run, and a new Confederate line was formed. Upton's brigade of Rus- sell's division charged with Rickett's. The Sixth Corps in this attack lost nearly twelve hundred killed or wounded. One regiment — the Second Con- necticut — lost in killed, \vounded, and missing, three hundred and eighty-six. FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 1S3 General Devens's, Martindale's, and Brooks's divisions of Smitli's corps crossed a field under a heavy fire, captured the first line of intrenchments and two hundred and fiftj prisoners, advanced almost to the main line of works, but were obliged to fall back, losing in all one thousand men. A soldier in General Burnham's brigade gives this account : " On the way we file around the burning ruins of a building, said to be Beulali Church, near Mr. Woody's house. We enter thick brush, and move by the right flank into a shoal ravine, halt, and form close columns by divisions. Soon comes the order, given direct by an aide of General Burnham's, ' Load !' While loading our muskets the roll is called, the ATTACK OF THE EIGHTEENTH CORPS AT COLD HARBOR. men answering firmly, ' Here ! here ! here !' in many cases their last roll- call on earth. . . , We have been within range of the enemy's shot and shell for a long time, and hundreds of bullets whistle and whack among the trees, while shells burst over our heads, and the jjieces come down among us, or else rip and tear througli the trees. One large pine-tree is cut clean off, twenty or thirty feet above the ground, and the great branch- ing top crashes down, and comes near killing General Burnham. . . . The artillery fire increases, the skirmishing rattles louder and louder, the smoke rolls towards us heavier and heavier in volume until the sun is obscured. At six o'clock we are ordered to charge. In a minute we spring out of 184 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. the pines into the clearer light of open ground, and plunge headlong into the scene of carnage auiid the deafening roar of musketry and artillerj'. Our part of the work is done in less than five minutes. Reliable persons have said in less than three minutes ; but in this little time we lose sixty- seven men killed or wounded. We leave our grove of pines at the crest of the bluff, dart on the run three hundred yards across ah open field to a little ridge. The enemy withdraws from his rifie-pits."(''") The Confederates, astonished at the suddenness and success of the attack, made their main line of works a sheet of flame. The sun set through dun-colored clouds, illumined by the flashing of cannon and mus- kets. During the night several attempts were made by the Confederates to regain the captured works, but all such efforts were futile. ('^) The loss was severe in killed and wounded ; but it was a victory so signal that a congratulatory order was issued by General Meade to the Sixth Corps. Lying beneath the ever-moaning pines, with the starlit heavens for a tent, I listened to the sounds of the battle — steady, monotonous, like the surf on the beach. An hour's sleep, and still it was rolling in. But all things must have an end. Near midnight it died away, and there was only the chirping of the cricket, the unvarying note of the whippoorwill, and the wind swaying the stately trees around me. Peaceful all around ; but ah ! beyond those forest belts were the suffering heroes, parched with thirst, fevered with the fight, bleeding for their country. How shall we thank them? How shall w^e reward them? What estimate shall we place upon their work ? In the advance of Sweitzer's brigade of the Fifth Corps, Sergeant J. H. Abbott, of the Twenty-second Massachusetts, on the skirmish line, came suddenly upon five Confederate soldiers lying behind a log. " Sur- render !" he shouted, and to his amazement and their own as well, they dropped their guns, while he sprang behind them and marched them into the lines. (") During the night. General Hancock, with the Second Corps, was moving in rear of the Sixth Corps, and coming into position between the Sixth and the Chickahominy, becoming the left wing "' of the army. General Grant expected to be ready to attack once more early in the morning, but the night was very dark, and the sun was high in the eastern sky when the troops of the Second Corps reached the position assigned them. They were weary and in no condition to rush into battle, but a battle was going on through the day — a constant pattering of musketry, like steady rain, with the thunder of artillery. FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 185 Had we been in the Confederate camp we should have seen men at work with shovels and axes making a massive line of intrenchments, ex- tending all the way from the banks of the Chickahominy to the Shady Grove road. We should have seen the chief of artillery planting cannon to cover the fields with front and enfilading fires. A Confederate writer says: "A portion of the line occupied the edge of a swamp several hun- dred yards in length and breadth, enclosed by a semicircular ridge covered with beech-wood. On the previous night, the troops assigned to this part of the line, finding the ground wet and miry, withdrew to the encircling ridge, leaving the breastworks to be held by their picket lines." ('^) SECOND CORPS AT COLD HAKBOR. From a Sketch made at the time. I rode along the lines from Bethesda Church to the old tavern at Cold Harbor. Russell's division of the Sixth Corps was lying behind the breastworks in front of the house. Shells came sin2:ino; throuo;h the air and crashing through the trees. The Union artillery was replying to the Confederate. Passing to the right, I saw the men from Bermuda Hundred sheltering themselves behind their breastworks. General Martindale's headquarters were by Mr. Woody's house. The soldiers knew that General Grant was contemplating another assault, and they knew that many lives would be 12—2 186 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. sacrificed, and some of them were writing last letters to loved ones far away. To judge fairly of military movements, we must put ourselves in the place of commanding generals and see things as they see them at the time. From the Wilderness to Cold Harbor General Grant had endeavored to encounter the Confederate army in an open field, but everywhere he had found it intrenched. What now should he do? Should he order an as- sault ? To do so would result in the killing and wounding of many men ; but if he could break the Confederate line he might be able to strike a damaging blow in the falling back of Lee across the Chickahominy. It seemed best to attempt it. "An assault was ordered," writes General Grant, "to be made mainly by tlie corps of Hancock, Wright, and Smith; but Warren and Burnside were to support it by threatening Lee's left, and to attack with great ear- nestness if he should either reinforce more threatened points by withdraw- ing from that quarter, or if a favorable opportunity should present itself. The corps commanders were to select the points in their respective fronts where they would make the assaults. The movement was to commence at half-past four in the morning." ('") The Massachusetts Tenth Battery, commanded by Captain Sleeper, was attached to the Second Corps. When the sun went down. General Gibbon directed the battery to take a position in the works ' ^ " captured from the Confederates, with his first cannon on the right near a tree. Through the night the battery-men were at work with their shovels digging trenches, in which they sank their limber-chests be- low the level of the ground, and heaping up a great bank of earth. The soldiers cut small pines and oaks and set them outside the embankment, to screen themselves from the Confederate sharp-shooters. Half-past four — the hour had come. The soldiers of the Second, Sixth, and Eighteenth corps were ready and waiting. One of General Gibbon's staff-officers rode to Captain Sleeper with this order, " Fire a single gun as a signal," and the cannon by the tree broke the stillness of the morning. (") Over the breastworks leaped the Union troops. Instantly the Confed- erate lines burst into flame — a hundred cannon, twenty thousand muskets. Twenty minutes, and the assault known in history as the battle of Cold Harbor was over — lost to General Grant, with from eight to ten thousand men numbered among the killed and wounded. General Grant says of this assault : " Hancock sent forward Barlow and Gibbon at the appointed hour, with Birney in reserve. Barlow pushed forward with great vigor, under COLD HARBOR. FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 189 a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry, tlirough tliickets and swamp. Notwithstanding all the resistance of the enemy and the natural obstacles to be overcome, he carried a position occupied by the enemy outside their main line, where the road makes a deep cut through a bank, affording as good a shelter for troops as if it had been made for the purpose. Three pieces of artillery were captured here and several hundred prisoners. The guns were immediately turned against the men who had just been using THE TAVERN AT COLD HARBOR. Fiom a photograph taken in ISST by the author. The Union line of breastworks ran in front of the house. The Confederate Hues were from the position of the cameni. them. No assistance coming to him. Barlow intrenched under fire and continued to hold his place. Gibbon was not so fortunate. He found the ground over which he had to pass cut up with deep ravines, and a morass difiicult to cross ; but his men struggled on until some of them got to the very parapet covering the enemy. Gibbon gained ground much nearer the enemy than that he had left, and intrenched and held fast. " Wright's corps, moving in two lines, captured the outer rifle-pits, but accomplished nothing more. Smith's corps also gained the outer rifle-pits. 190 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. The ground over which tlie Eigliteenth Corps moved was the most ex- posed of any. An open plain intervened between the contending forces at this point, which was exposed to a direct and cross fire. . . . Warren and Burnside also advanced and gained ground, which brought the whole army on one line."(") Of the assault a Confederate officer says : " I was as well satisfied that it would come at dawn as if I had seen General Meade's order directing it."('^) This is the account of one of General Hancock's staff: "At a signal, Barlow advanced and found the enemy strongly posted in a sunken road, from which he drove them after a severe struggle, following them into their works under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Two or three hundred prisoners, one color, and three cannon fell into Barlow's hands. The captured guns were turned on the enemy by Col. L. O. Morris, of tlie Seventh iSTew York Heavy Artillery, and the most strenuous efforts made to hold the position ; but the supports were slow in coming up, an en- filading fire of artillery swept down the first line, the works in the rear opened upon them, and large bodies of fresh troops from Breckinridge's division, reinforced by Hill's, advanced with the utmost determination to retake the position. The first line held on with great stubbornness, but was finally forced out, Brooks being severely wounded, Colonel Byrnes and Col. O. H. Morris killed. Though compelled to retire, the men of the leading brigade would not go far. A portion of the line — Colonel Beaver's regiment, the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania — being conspicuous for its soldierly bearing, fell back to a slight crest op- posite the enemy's intrenchments and distant only thirty to seventy-five yards therefrom, and proceeded to cover themselves by loosening the earth with their bayonets and scraping it up with their hands or tin plates ; and here, at little more than pistol-range, they remained through the day. Miles's brigade also effected a lodgement within the works, Hapgood's Fifth New Hampshire, recently returned from the north, being foremost in the assault ; but these troops were also driven out by the enfilading fire of the Confederate artillery, and by the strong lines advanced against them."(^") A Confederate general has put on record the scene in front of his command : " I saw what I supposed to be a regiment, with a single flag, and an officer waving his sword and calling upon his men to charge. I asked my men to place their guns on the works and wait for orders. When the ad- vancing line was within seventy yards I ordered my men to fire, when the 5 s I « I 2 ! g 3 « s FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 193 whole line fell to the ground, save one man, who ran behind an oak-tree, but was completely riddled by fifty balls in less time than it takes me to write it. The heroic regiment that made this gallant charge was the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, which was the only regiment that obeyed the order to advance. The balance of the brigade had refused to go forward, and not since the days of Balaklava has a more heroic act been per- formed." (=') In these five minutes two hundred and twenty soldiers and officers, out of three hundred and thirty comprising the regiment, were killed or wounded. Another Confederate general thus describes the scene : " Our troops were under arms and waiting, when with the light of early morning the scattering fires of our pickets, who now occupied the abandoned works in the angle, announced the beginning of the attack. As the assaulting column swept over the old works a loud cheer was given, and it rushed on into the marshy ground in tiie angle. Its fi'ont covered a little more than the line of my own brigade of less than one thousand men ; but line followed line, until the space enclosed by the old salient be- came a mass of writhing humanity, upon which our artillery and musketry played witli cruel effect. . . . Sending an order for a supply of ammunition to be brought into the lines, I went down to the trenches to regulate the firing. I found the men in fine spirits, laughing and talking as they fired. There, too, I could see more plainly the terrible havoc made in the ranks of the assaulting column. I had seen the dreadful carnage in front of Marye's Hill at Fredericksburg, and on the old railroad-cut which Jack- son's men held at the Second Manassas, but I liad seen nothing to exceed this. It was not war, it was murder. When the fight ended, more than one thousand men lay in front of our works, either killed or too badly wounded to leave the field. . . . Tlie loss in my command was fifteen or twenty." (^•^) The color-bearer of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts fell, but one of the color-guards — John E. Lewis, a boy of eighteen — seized the color, and run- ning in advance, shouted, "Come on, boys!" Two men who accompa- nied him fell. Those in the rear saw the boy reeling; then beheld him take the staff from the socket and attempt to plant it in the ground. His strength was gone, and he fell dead upon the flag. Thougli the air was thick with bullets, David Casey ran and picked it up, and saved it from capture. Seventy-one per cent, of the men in this regiment fell, a loss exceeding that of any other regiment in a single battle during the war. (") Of the twenty officers on duty that morning six were killed, nine wounded, and two taken prisoners. 13 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. ^SS^^ I T^^^tr , ^ r^ JTJ i^ V * OFFICERS qUAKTKRS AT THE FRONT. Undaunted tlirongli the storm rnarclied one' other Union color-bearer, thus described by a Confederate officer : "AVe stood three and four deep at the works, which we had strained every nerve and muscle during the night to complete, the men in the rear handing up loaded guns and taking empty ones from their comrades in front. We had never had nor desired a better chance to protect ourselves and damage an enemy. Line after line came out of the opposite woods, only to melt away under our continuous fire, until M^itli the last line, which went the way of all the others, came a tall color-bearer, a sergeant, who bore his charge high in the air, as with steady tread he confidently ad- vanced, looking only to the front and oblivious to his isolation. Amazed at his persistence, our men withheld their fire and called to him to go back ; but he did not hear, or if perchance he did, he did not take his orders from our side. However that may be, he gave no sign, and all alone, with not a comrade in sight, he came unfalteringly on. Not even desiring to capture so brave a fellow, our men in gray mounted the works, FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 195 and waving their liats to attract liis attention, fairly shrieked, in tlieir in- tense admiration and excitement, ' Go back ! go back !' ' We don't want to kill you !' ' Go back !' Then this man of iron halted, looked care- fully to his right hand as he surveyed the field, and then as carefully to his left — not a man of his regiment in sight ! It would have been no dis- grace to liave dropped or hurried back as fast as he could. Admirable courage ! lie did neither, nor was there -a show of any anxiety. He took BOMB-PROOF SHELTER. his flag-staff from its socket, rolled up his color with provoking deliberate- ness in our faces — the dipping of it we thought an unconscious tribute to our forbearance — and when done, touched his cap to us in grateful appre- ciation. A right-shoulder shift, an about face, and then began his march back to his own lines with a step as steady as had been his advance. He liad quite bewitched us by his nerve, but the spell was broken as he turned, and, tremulous with excitement, we threw up our hats and yelled in admi- 196 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. ration until his retiring ligure was lost in the deep recesses of the far-away lines." (") The soldiers, in charging over the fields of Cold Harbor, swept by Confederate cannon and musketry, knew that many men must necessarily die, but there was no faltering. In no battle was there a more pathetic exhibition of devotion to the flag they loved. Color -sergeant John Mitchell, of the Twenty -seventh Michigan, was carried back mortally wounded. "I want you," he said to a comrade, "to go to Port Huron, and see my old father and mother, and tell them that I carried the flag until I was shot. I am not afraid to die. It is very little that one can do for so good a cause. Good-bye, boys. Don't forget how John Mitchell died." Equally touching the pathos of the death of Captain O'Neill, of the Massachusetts Twenty-flfth Regiment, who said: "Doctor, I am willing to die for that dear old flag. I only wish I had two lives to give to my country." (^^) General Grant saw that it was not possible to break through the Con- federate lines, for the loss to General Lee probably did not much exceed one thousand. He says: "No advantage whatever was gained to compen- sate for the heavy losses we sustained. Indeed the advantages, other than those of relative losses, were on the Confederate side."(") Many of the Union wounded, who were lying between the opposing armies, could not be relieved. Through the hot, sultry sun)mer day of June 3d they lay in the burning sun. AVhen night came a ' few Union soldiers crept out on their hands and knees to give the wounded water, but were shot by the Confederates. Through the following day they lay there. On the 5th, General Grant sent a letter by flag of truce to General Lee, proposing that when no battle was raging either party be authorized to send out unarmed men to care for the wounded without being fired upon by either party. General Lee replied on the 6th, that when either party wished to remove the wounded a flag of truce must be sent. General Grant sent a second letter, accepting the conditions, proposing that the wounded be removed between twelve and three o'clock that day, each party bearing a white flag, and that no Union soldier was to go beyond the ground occupied by the Confederate troops. General Lee replied that he could not consent to such an arrangement, but that when either party desired such permission, it should be asked for by flag of truce ; and that he had directed that any parties coming out as proposed by General Grant be turned back. General Grant thereupon asked for a suspension of hostilities. When the parties went out on the FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO COLD HARBOR. 197 morning of the 7th to collect the wounded, they found only two alive. Such the indescribable horror of the war brought about by the slave-hold- ers to perpetuate their power. General Grant regretted that he had ordered the assault, which was so disastrous. As in Burnside's attack at Fredericksburg, Lee's at Gettys- SHARP-SHOOTERS, EIGHTEENTH CORPS. burg, the charge upon Cemetery Ridge, and the attempt of the Confed- erates at Malvern Hill and Knox ville, there was great loss of life, with no compensating advantage. The soldiers had constructed very strong intrench men ts, behind which they were lying. There was a constant firing between the sharp-shooters of the armies ever on the watch. I was at the headquarters June 7, 1864. ,. ^ , ^ , . . . i ^u oi General Grant, who was sitting upon a camp-stool, smok- ing a cigar. He listened to the firing, and said: "Ever since this army reached the Wilderness, a month ago, there has been scarcely an hour of silence. It has been one prolonged battle. The army is tired and needs rest. It has been figliting or else on the march all the time. I have heard so much firing that I cannot tell the difference between the mus- 198 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. ketry and the stamping of the horses out yonder, to rid themselves of the flies." ('') Before starting from Culpeper General Grant had looked far enough into the possible future to see that he might be obliged to go to the James River. On the first day of June he sent an order to Washington for pon- toons to be transported to the James, that he might cross that stream. He had no intention of attempting to advance against Richmond from the region of the Chickahominy. So while the pontoons were on the way from Washington the army rested. ( "■ NOTES TO CHAPTER YII. Author's Note-book, 1864. Idem. Gen. U. S. Grant, " Personal Memoirs," vol.'ii., p. 248. Idem, p. 249. Idem, p. 253. Author's Note-book, 1864. Idem. Idem. Geu. Philip H. Sheridan, "Personal ^lemoirs," vol. i., p. 400. Gen. William F. Smith's Report. Gen. James Longstreet's Official Diary. "History Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment," p. 344. Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 268. " History Twent3--second ^Massachusetts Regiment," p. 458. Gen. A. L. Long, "Life of Robert E. Lee," p. 347. Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 269. "History Tenth Massachusetts Battery," p. 198. Gen. U. S. Grant, " Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 269. Gen. A. M. Law, Century Magazine, June, 1887, p. 298. Gen. F. A. Walker, " History of the Second Army Corps," p. 511. Gen. T. D. Bowles, PMladdphia Times, June 21, 1885. Gen. A. M. Law, Century Magazine, June, 1885. "Histor}" Massachusetts Twenty fifth Regiment of Infantry." Capt. James H. Franklin, Fourth Alabama — Manuscript transmitted to author, by E. F. Witherby, Shglby, Alabama. " History Company A, Mas.sachu.setts Twentj^-flfth Regiment," p. 328. Gen. U. S. Grant, " Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 276. Author's Note-book, 1864. FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 199 CHAPTER VIII. FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. GENERAL SHERMAN issued his orders as commander of the Mili- tary District of the Mississippi at Nashville. It included what had formerly been the Departments of the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, and Arkansas. General Grant wanted one controlling mind west of the Alle- ghanies. He believed in concentration. AVe have already March 18, 1864. *= , . i • i i . i ^i *. f ^.^ seen what his general plan was to be — the movement oi the Army of the Potomac against the Confederate army under Lee, in Vir- ginia ; the marshalling of the consolidated armies of the west, under Sher- man, against the Confederate army at Dalton, thirty miles south of Chatta- nooga, under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Three armies were consolidated into one — the Army of the Ohio, under General Schofield, 14,000 ; the Army of the Tennessee, under General McPherson, 25,000 ; the Army of the Cumberland, under General Thomas, 60,000. The entire force, includ- ing the cavalry, numbered nearly 100,000, with 251 guns. A general commanding a great army, and moving into an enemy's country, with a hostile population behind him, has many things to think of, and must take long looks ahead. Chattanooga is one hundred and thirty miles from Nashville, Sherman's base of supplies, reached by a single track of iron rails. From Nashville to Louisville is one hundred and eighty -five miles. The entire distance must be guarded. There must be soldiers ever on the watch, for the Confederates were on the alert to throw a rail from its place, set fire to a bridge, wreck a train, or block the road. To feed one hundred thousand men, and all the mules and horses, would require great energy. The line of advance was to be through a country already exhausted of supplies, and so wasted that the people from Nashville to Chattanooga were on the verge of starvation, and must be supplied with food. General Sherman could not move without accumulating a large amount of food and ammunition at Chat- tanooga. To the poor people it seemed a cruel order which he issued, limiting the use of the cars to the transportation of food and supplies for 200 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. the arm}'', and forbidding the issue of provisions to tlie suffering. He compelled the commanders of posts within thirty miles of Kasliville to haul their supplies in wagons. The soldiers going to and returning from the army were obliged to march, and all the cattle purchased for beef were driven instead of being transported in the cars. As there was little for the cattle to eat, they were not much more than skin and bones when they reached the army. By this strict order the capacity of the railroad was nearly doubled ; but General Sherman saw that there must be more engines and cars. Necessity knows no law, and military law does just as it pleases. He called the Master of Transportation, Colonel Anderson, the Chief Quartermaster, General Donaldson, and his Chief Commissary, Gen- eral Beckwith, to Nashville. " One hundred thousand men and thirty-five thousand animals must be fed, and supplies accumulated," said Sherman. " You must have one hundred and thirty car-loads a day, and we have not enough cars or engines to do it," is the reply. " Seize all the cars and engines that arrive in Nashville from the North," was the order, and four hundred cars and forty engines were seized. " We must have our cars and engines back again, or we cannot bring your supplies from Louisville to Nashville," said Mr. Guthrie, president of the railroad. "You must stand by me. Seize cars and engines that come to Louis- ville from Cincinnati," was the reply, and the order was carried out. (') In a short time train was succeeding train in quick succession. Gen- eral Sherman left the railroads to settle with the Government as best they could. Managers of railroads in the North, wondering what had become of their cars, found them, many months after Sherman was at Atlanta, doing service on this greatest military highway of the country. Baggage is called impedimenta because it hinders an army in its move- ments. Stonewall Jackson understood it better than any other command- er. Confederate or Union, during the war. Sherman resolved that his army should move in light marching order. Tents were forbidden, except to the sick and wounded. Only one tent was allowed to each headquar- ters for an office. Sherman liimself set an example, neither himself nor his staff having a tent or furniture of any kind. They only had "flies," which they could spread over fence-rails or poles to shelter them from the rain, and which could be carried by soldiers on their shoulders, or strapped to saddles. By this means the wagon-trains were greatly reduced. The cam])aign was to be through the mountain region, where there were but few roads, and those winding through naiTow valleys. ('') I'ly t, 1, 11 ■'4 If FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA, 203 The great Appalachian chain of nionntains begins to fade out in Cen- tral Georgia; but from Cliattanooga to Atlanta, a distance of seventy-five miles, the mountains are like the waves of the sea, long, parallel ranges, running north-east and south-west. The little creeks which empty into the Tennessee from the south are not more than twenty or thirty miles long. The railroad which runs from Chattanooga to Atlanta winds along the Chickamauga Creek, through a gap in Taylor's Ridge at Ringgold, then goes on to Rocky Face Ridge, piercing it at Tunnel Hill. The sides of the gorge are steep and rocky. Buzzards wheel and circle high in air above the cliffs, and at night find roost upon the trees. In years gone b}', somebody named the place Buzzard's Roost. Four miles farther south we come to Dalton. The raindrops which fall on the w^estern slope of Rocky Face Ridge flow to the Tennessee, and thence to the Ohio and Mississippi ; but the springs which rise on the eastern slope take a much shorter course, to the Gulf of Mexico, through the Coosa. At Dalton a railroad comes down from Cleveland and Knoxville. Ten miles south of Dalton is the town of Resaca, on the north bank of the Oostenaula, one of the branches of the Coosa. ' Through the winter of 1863-04 the Confederate army occupied Tun- nel Hill and Dalton. ISTo attempt had been made to drive it from its chosen position. The Union army was not ready to move. It was under- going reorganization and consolidation. We have already seen General Grant made commander of all the armies, with Sherman placed at the head of all the troops west of the mountains. While Sherman is getting ready to move let us take a near look at the Confederate army at Buzzard's Roost and Dalton. It was a sad day for General Bragg and the Confederate army, in that last week of October, 1863, when they were swept from Missionary Ridge and compelled to flee southward to Dalton, setting on lire an immense pile of corn in sacks, hundreds of barrels of flour, bacon, bread, pease, sugar, staving in the heads of molasses hogsheads. A river of syrup flowed along the railway at Chickamauga Station. The soldiers filled their can- teens and dippers. Those who had no dippers lay down and drank from the flowing stream, getting their uncut beard and hair gummed with the sticky melada. They emptied the corn from the sacks, filled them with bread, flung them across their shoulders, jabbed their bayonets into sides of bacon, filled their pockets with sugar. They had been kept on short rations, but now helped themselves liberaHy. They cursed General Bragg as the prime cause of all their misfortunes. It was a blunder, they said, to send Longstreet to Knoxville, when every soldier was needed 204 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. at Chattanooga. Bragg never was liked by his men, neither by liis officers. General Taylor, of the Confederate army, draws this portrait of liim : " He was the most laborious of commanders, devoting every moment to the discharge of his duties. As a disciplinarian he far surpassed any of tlie senior Confederate generals, but his metliod was harsh, and he could have won the affections of his troops only by leading them to victory. Many years of .dyspepsia had made him sour and petulant, and he was in- tolerant to a degree of neglect of duty, or what he estimated to be such, by his officers." (') Some of the retreating soldiers laughed over the misfortune that had come to him who had been so sharp towards them, and were not sorry that he had been defeated. It was a sore blow to Bragg, who asked to be relieved of the command, and was called to Richmond to be Jefferson Davis's military counsellor. The people of the South demanded that Gen, Joseph E. Johnston should be appointed commander. President Davis did not like him, but the clamor was so great that he was forced to coiriply, and on December 27th Johnston assumed command. Through the winter he kept a large gang of slaves at work with axes and shovels, constructing fortifications at points along the railroad between Chattanooga and Atlanta, correctly sur- mising that the Union army would make its next move towards that great workshop of the Confederacy, where founderies were flaming and ma- chinery whirling, turning out arms for the army. A soldier draws this picture of General Johnston : " Fancy, if you please, a man about fifty years old, rather small of stature but firmly built, an open countenance, and a keen, restless eye that seemed to read your inmost thoughts. In his dress he was a perfect dandy. He ever wore the finest clothes that could be obtained, can-ying out in dress and the paraphernalia of the soldier the plan adopted by the War Department at Richmond, never omitting any- tiiing, even to the trappings of his horse, bridle and saddle. His hat was decorated with a star and feather, his coat with every star and embellish- ment, and he wore a bright new sash, big gauntlets, and silver spurs. He was the very picture of a general." (') The army was in a sad plight when he assumed command. The men were losing hope and deserting. They had little to eat. A train came whirling into Dalton, and almost before the cars came to a stand -still the soldiers broke them open and helped themselves to supplies. Gen- eral Johnston wisely ordered two days' rations to be issued, one of them an extra supply. Bragg had scrimped them, but he gave them all they FKOM KINGGOLD TO liESACA. FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 207 could eat. He ordered tobacco and whiskey to be issued twice a week, and sugar, coffee, and flour instead of meal. He ordered tents, clotlies, shoes, and hats, and gave furloughs to one-third of the army at a time, till every soldier had an opportunity to go home ; thus imitating General Hooker, who brought up the spirits of the Union army after the defeat of Fred- ericksburg. Bragg had been strict about small things, ordering roll-call several times a day. We are' to remember that volunteering had ceased long before Bragg became commander, and that the largest part of the army had been conscripted, the soldiers compelled to take their places in the ranks. Quite likely Bragg ordered frequent roll-calls as a guard against desertion. Johnston trusted the soldiers, was kind to them, and soon won their confidence. He ordered that they sliould be paid. True, the money was nearly worthless, but it was something for the Govern- ment to keep its faith with them. He ordered that fifty dollars bounty be paid to eacii. man. It cost only the printing. The promises to pay would never be redeemed, but it made the soldiers happy. That was the gain. General Johnston had brought the Confederate army up to a high state of efficiency. He was severe in discipline. Seventeen men Avere shot at Tunnel Hill for disobedience, and several more at Rocky Face Ridge. Instead of the whipping-post, he established the j)illory. Men who committed petty crimes were incased in barrels. A Confederate soldier gives this picture of an execution : " The snow was on the ground, and the boys were hard at it snowballing. While I was standing looking on, a file of soldiers marched by me with a poor fellow on his way to be shot. He was blindfolded and set upon a stump, and the detail was formed. The command, ' Ready ! aim ! fire !' was given, the volley dis- charged, and the prisoner fell off the stump. He had not been killed. It was the sergeant's duty to give the couj) de grace should not the pris- oner be slain. Tlie sergeant ran up and placed the muzzle of the gun at the head of the poor pleading and entreating wretch, his gun was dis- charged, and the wretched man only powder-burned, the gun being one that had been loaded with powder only. The whole affair had to be gone over again. The soldiers had to reload and form and fire. The culprit was killed stone-dead this time. He had no sooner been taken up and carried off to be buried than the soldiers were throwing snowballs as hard as ever, as if nothing had happened." (^) The army under Johnston, on the last day of April, consisted of Hood's and Hardee's corps, and Wheeler's cavalry, in all 52,992. Rein- forcements were on their way. Mercei-'s brigade of 2800 came three days 208 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. May 1, 1864. later. On tlie Ttli, Canty's division of 5500 reached Kesaca. General Polk hurried up from Mississippi with his corps of 12,000. Other divis- ions were forwarded so rapidly that on the second week in May the Con- federate army numbered between 70,000 and 80,000 men. The Union army under Sherman, as we have seen, with lieadquarters at Chattanooga, on the 1st of May comprised three distinct armies — be- sides a portion of the Army of the Potomac — the Eleventh and Twelfth corps, which had been sent West after the battle of Chickamauga. Battle, sickness, and the expiration of service had sadly thinned the ranks of the regiments of the veter- ans from the East. Sherman decided to consolidate them into one corps. The veterans were proud of their achievements. The men of the Eleventh did not want to be merged into the Twelfth, nor did the soldiers of the Twelfth desire to lose their identity in the Eleventh. Gen- eral Sherman respected the spirit of the men, and created a new corps — the Twentieth — to win new victories, and make a his- tory of its own. General Hooker was appointed commander, and the corps was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. Be- sides the Twentieth, General Thomas had the Fourth, under General Howard, who had commanded the Eleventh, and the Fourteenth, under General Palmer. The Army of the Tennessee was composed of the Fifteenth Corps, un- der General Logan ; the Seventeenth, under General Blair ; and the Six- teenth, under General Dodge ; but only two divisions of the Sixteentli were at Chattanooga. The Army of the Ohio had but one corps, the Twenty-third. The 5th of May was selected by General Grant for the beginning of the movement, which he desired should be simultaneous with that of the Army of the Potomac in Yirginia. On that morning Genei'al Thomas was at Ringgold, Schotield east of him, marching down from Cleveland, MAJOU-GEN. GEORGE H. THOMAS. FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 209 May 1, 1864. while McPherson was crossing the old battle-field of Chickamauga, to come ill upon the right of Thomas. General Sherman had looked ahead to see about the resources of the country, consulting the census tables of 1860 of every county in Georgia, showing the quantity of corn and the number of cattle, that he might make calculations for the support of the army in case he could not ob- tain all he needed from the North. On May 7th General Thomas came upon the Confederates at Tunnel Hill, and drove off the pickets holding it. From the hill Sherman looked down past Buzzard's Roost. He could see the long lines of works, the Confederate cannon reflecting the sunlight, and the dams built across the creek, forming min- iature lakes. He had no intention of attack- ing the formidable po- sition, but he directed McPherson and Hook- er to move towards Snake Creek, a little stream which springs from the mountain's side south-west of Dal- ton. There is a gap in the mountains, with a road winding through it. It seems not to have occurred to Johnston that Sherman would use it to turn his flank and rear. Not till McPher- son was through the gap did Johnston see that he had left a side-door open, by which Sherman could walk into Resaca. Hooker, with the Twentieth Corps, followed McPherson, who, at two o'clock on the 9th, was within a mile and a half of the railroad at Resaca. He met a brigade of cavalry, which re- treated. Had he pressed on he might have seized the railroad ; but he acted with caution, and fell back to the gap till morning. The ablest command- ers and the best of men err in judgment and make mistakes. McPherson 14 MAJOR-GENERAL MoPHERSON. Mav 9, 1864. 2i0 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. lost a m-eat opportunity. He had twenty-three thousand men, Hooker was behind him, and had he moved on to Resaca there would have been con- sternation in the Confederate army. Johnston would have been compelled BUZZAKDS KOOST. to either divide his army or to retreat eastward, abandoning the me of rail- road and his supplies. If the latter, Thomas and Schohe d would have been position to pounce upon him, as hounds upon a startled deer. General in FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 211 Johnston has been looked upon as one of tlie ablest of Confederate coin- manders, but the neglect to guard Snake Creek Gap has been regarded as a glaring defect in his plan of defence. The caution of McPherson was due to the terms of his instructions from Sherman. It was an error of judgment on the safe side, but had he seized tlie railroad it would prob- ably have been a disastrous day to Johnston. " Had he done so," says Sherman, " I am certain that Johnston would not have ventured to attack liim in position, but would have retreated towards Spring Place, and we should have captured half of his army and all his baggage at the begin- ning of tlie campaign.'' C) Johnston was thus forced to abandon all the strong works at Dalton. The breastworks, the dam, were of no account. It was not agreeable, but there was no lielp for it ; and so we see the Confederates hastening back »l>a \ ^*^"-V'W.f CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT, SNAKE CREEK GAP. to Kesaca, and tlie soldiers constructing other breastworks, the army no longer facing north, but west. The campaign had opened, and the two mighty armies were in position for the first great battle. It was startling news to Johnston that tlie Union troops were moving towards Resaca on the road from Sugar Valley post-oflice. While he liad yf ^ ,c... ^6Gn watcliing his front and right, Sherman had been turn- May 9, 1864. . , . , o ' ing his left, and was moving to seize the railroad at Resaca. There were only a few troops at that place to hold McPherson in check. 212 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Just how many were there cannot be ascertained. A citizen of Kesaca, wlio was at home on that afternoon, informed rne that tliere was only a part of a brigade in the village. (') It is quite probable that when the skirmishers of McPherson were seen coming through the woods west of the railroad there were but a handful of Confederates at the station guard- ing the road and bridge over the Oostenaula. Others under General Canty soon came from the fort, on the hill east of tlie village. They went upon the run out through the meadow west of the railroad. Some rushed up the hill north-west of the village and opened fire. They strung themselves out in a long line, and made all the racket possible. McPher- son's troops, instead of rushing on with a hurrah, as they might have done, came to a halt in the edge of the woods west of Mr. Hill's house. They were only a third of a mile from the railroad and the bridge which spans the Oostenaula. Let them rush on and seize them, and there M'ill be trouble in Johnston's army. All communications with Atlanta will be cut off. 1^0 more supplies can be brought up. Let them but rush on, and to-morrow's morn will see Johnston doing one of two things — either bringing a large part of his army from Buzzard's Roost to attack McPher- son, or his whole army will be moving eastward along the country roads, attempting to reach Atlanta. "McPherson," writes General Sherman, "found the Gap undefended, and accomplished a complete surprise to the enemy. At its farther de- bouche he met a cavalry brigade, which was easily driven and which re- treated hastily towards Dal ton and doubtless carried to Johnston the first intimation that a heavy force of artillery and infantry was in his rear and within a few miles of the railroad. I got a note from McPherson that day, written at 2 p.m., when he was within one and a half miles of the railroad, above and near Resaca. I renewed orders to Thomas and Scho- field to be ready for instant pursuit of what I expected to be a beaten and disordered ^rmy, forced to retreat by roads to the east of Resaca, which were known to be very rough and impracticable." (") A few weeks later McPherson gave up liis life, and we shall never know just what considerations turned him back when he was so near the covet- ed prize. Shall we say that the time had not come? It is General Sher- man's view that the country was not ready for the breaking up of the Rebellion. "We are to remember that the Confederate Government had taken great offence at the enlistment of negroes as soldiers ; that they would not recognize them in exchange of prisoners. Li the North were men bitterly hostile to the proclamation of President Lincoln giving freedom to the slav^es as a war measure, and were denouncing the war as FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 213 unrighteous and wicked. If Johnston's army liad been annihilated at the outset of the campaign, with such animosity against tlie colored race, would the measure of freedom be what it is to-day ? AVoukl the negroes have become citizens of the republic? Under an all-wise Providence, which sees through from the beginning to the end, which guides the na- tion to its mighty destiny, McPherson turned back. There must con- ENGAGEMENT AT DUG GAP. tinue the outpouring of the precious wine of life, the agony of the battle- field, the hospital, the endurance of the prison, the lengthening trenches of the dead, and ghastly scenes of Andersonville, the sacrifice of thou- sands of lives, before the government of the people could be estab- lished on an enduring basis, with the full measure of liberty to every man, irrespective of race or color, before the United States could take the exalted place of leader and teacher of all the nations in their march towards freedom. From Dalton a road leads westward up the steep mountain-side to Dug Gap, where there was an engagement just before the battle of Chick- amauga ("Marcliing to Victory," page 396). Again there was a sharp 214 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. engagement between the Union troops under General Geary, of Hooker's corps, and General Stevenson's division of Confederates, the Union troops climbing the steep ascent, driving the Confederate skirmishers. General Sherman designed the movement as a feint, a demonstration which had the effect of blinding the Confederates as to his intentions. Although McPherson had gained the left flank and threatened the rear of the Confederate army, Johnston, finding that he had fallen back, made all haste to hold Resaca till he could withdraw the army from Dal- ton. Sherman was in no hurry to compel his departure. He was plan- ning a lai'ger movement. He withdrew Schotield, sending Williams's di- vision of Hooker's corps to support McPherson, and waited for Stoneman's division of cavalry, which was coming to join them. He issued orders to Schofield to go through Snake Creek Gap and join McPherson, and so liis whole army was in motion towards Resaca. There was a sudden packing of wagons at Dalton on the afternoon of May 12, 1864. The Confederate artillery went down the road, the horses upon the gallop and the infantry upon the run, towards Re- saca. Major-general Polk's corps was in the advance, mov- ing to head off the Union troops under McPherson, which were west of Resaca. The left of the Confederate line rested on the Oostenaula. May 12, 1864. RAILKOAD DEPOT AT RESACA, GEORGIA. Dnring the night the soldiers were hard at work with their shovels, throwing up breastworks on the swell of ground by the house of Mr. Hill and on the ridge north-west of the railroad. When morning dawned McPherson beheld a long line of embankments in front of him. A little stream comes down from the north — Camp Creek — and empties into the Oostenaula a half-mile Avest of the railroad. The ridge of around alonaj which Johnston was throwing up his line of defence lies between the creek and the railroad. Next to Polk was Hardee with his corps, then Hood. Polk and Hardee faced west, while Hood looked towards the north. The long lines of wagons belonging to the Union army were parked FKOxM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 215 at tlie lower end of Snake Creek Gap, guarded by Ilovey's division of the Army of the Ohio. General McPherson advanced with Logan's corps on his riglit, and the cavalry under Kilpatiick going out through the woods and fields towards the south-west, while the other divisions moved alono- the road and north of it towards Resaca. General Thomas came in from the west towards the house of Mr. Moore, witli Hooker opposite tlie house of Mr, Ruckert, which the Confederates tore down to obtain lumber for their breastworks. General Schofield, with the divisions of Generals Judah and Cox, moved in rear of Thomas, crossed the field near the house of Mr, Wright and the meadows at the head of Camp Creek, turned south, and faced General Hood. General Howard, with the Fourth Corps, was on the march from Dalton, along the railroad, picking up straggling Confederates who had dropped behind in the retreat. General Sherman received word that the Fourth Corps was close at hand, that all the troops were in posi- tion, and ordered an advance of the en- tire line. It was about noon when Gen- eral Sherman rode up to the point on the line east of Mr. Wright's house, where the Army of the Ohio joined the Army of the Cumberland. General Schofield and General Thomas were both there, and together they watched the movement. There were several little streams to cross, fences which must be torn down, and thick brambles which impeded their way. The artillery found it difficult to get across the miry meadow, and the advance was quite slow. Schofield's two divisions moved south — General Cox on the east side of the Dalton road. General Judah west of it. The artillery begun the battle. A little later a line of skirmishers in blue picked their way along the fences across the meadow, and the musketry opened. The Confederate skirmishers east of the road were driven across the little creek ; but those behind the fences and in a thicket by the bridge kept up a sharp fire, and held the ground a while, but were driven at last, and then the whole Army of the Ohio crossed the creek. The battle was fierce east of the road, where Cox's brigades rushed upon the Confederates and drove them from their breastworks. The Confederates fell back to a second line of works. Cox could advance no farther, and the men dropped down behind the breastworks which they had captured, GEN. LEONIDAS POLK. 216 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. holding them until General Howard brought up "Wood's and Newton's divisions to support him. The division under General Judah had a harder task to perform, and was less fortunate. The ground over which the troops marched was broken, and there were tangled thickets through which they must charge up a steep hill swept b}' a cross-fire from the Confederate batteries. Three brigades moved steadily forward. Shells exploded among them, and a pitiless storm beat upon them from the vet- eran Confederate soldiers under Hood, who had been in a score of battles, and the Union men were repulsed with heavy loss. General Johnston discovered that General Stanley's division of General Howard's corps, east of the Dalton road, in rear of General Wood's divis- ion, had no support, and laid his plans to strike a heavy blow. Hood sent two of his divisions. General Stewart's and General Stevenson's, directing them to come round upon Stanley's left flank and crush it. Yery fortu- nately for the Union army, at the same moment General Sherman, finding that there was not sufficient room to deploy all of Thomas's troops, sent Hooker eastward towards the Dalton road, the troops marching in rear of the Army of the Ohio. Johnston, to conceal his movement and to pre- vent Sherman from sending supports to Stanley, ordered the Confederate artillery to open all along the line. He did not know that Hooker was on his way towards Stanley's position. The Confederates under Stewart and Stevenson came upon Stanley, making a fierce attack, but soon found them- selves confronted by a superior force. Williams's division of Hooker's cor]>s w'as in advance, and arrived just at the moment when Stanley needed him. The Confederates were repulsed with great loss, and the Union troops held the ground. Going down now to the Army of the Tennessee, we find General Os- terhaus, M'ith a division of Logan's corps, on the road which leads west from Resaca to Sugar Valley post-office. The Confederate troops at this point were west of Camp Creek. There was a bridge across the creek, which they held. There were thick woods along the valley, and the Confederate skirmishers were sheltering themselves behind the trees. The Twelfth Missouri, of Osterhaus's connnand, was on the skirmish line, and the sol- diers gained the rear of the Confederates, who abandoned the west bank and fled across the bridge. General Logan ordered Gen. Giles A. Smith and Gen. C. 11. Woods, with their brigades, supported by Veatch's divis- ion, to advance. They crossed the creek, drove the Confederates, secured a strong position, and threw up intrenchments. The artillery hastened forward, came into position, and sent shells crashing into the railroad- station and the bridge spanning the Oostenaula. GENERAL SHERMAN. FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 219 General Polk made an attempt to capture tlie cannon, but his troops were repulsed. From the moment that Logan gained this position Gen- eral Jolmston saw that he must retreat, No railroad trains could brino- him supplies across the bridge. He set his engineers to work construct- ing one bridge near the railroad crossing, and another around the bend a mile east of the railroad bridge, beyond the reach of the Union artil- lery. Wliile the cannon were thundering at Resaca, General Sherman was executing another important move. He had no intention of attacking Johnston beliind his breastworks, but hoped to gain his rear, intercept his line of communication with Atlanta, and compel him to fight a bat- tle in. the open field. The course of the Oostenaula is south-west. The railroad runs nearly south, and he sent Kilpatrick's division of cavalry and Sweeny's division of infantry down the west bank of the river ten miles, to Lay's Ferry, with a pontoon train, with orders to cross the river and secure a position on the east bank. If this could be successfully done, if he could cross the river at that point and seize the railroad near the town of Calhoun, he would compel Johnston either to fight him or retreat across the country towards Kenesaw Mountain. The cavalry reached the river, drove the Confederate pickets across the stream, and pushed out on all the roads. Captain Reese, McPherson's chief engineer, had the pon- toons in place in a very short time. One of Sweeny's brigades had crossed, when a messenger came down the road, informing Sweeny that the Confederates were crossing the river above him, to gain his rear and cut off his retreat. The troops were recalled upon the run, and Sweeny marched a mile and a half before he found that it was a false report. General Johnston learned that General Sherman's troops were crossing at Lay's Ferry, and sent Martin's cavalry and Walker's division of infan- try to Calhoun to hold the railroad. Had not Sweeny hastened back, but pushed on to the railroad, he might possibly have seized it; but it is doubt- ful if he could have held it. ILad he done so, it is certain that there would have been a sudden commotion in Johnston's centre at Resaca. On the evening of the 15tli of May we see Sweeny once more crossing the Oostenaula, and moving towards Calhoun ; but he was not strong enough to take possession of the railroad. At sunrise the following morning the skirmishers were firing all along the line. General Sherman was intending to make a vigorous de- monstration. Durinai; the night the Fourteenth Corps had Mav 15, 1864. , , ^L ° i i c. , .. i , , . moved to the ground occupied by Schoneld, who in turn had moved east, thus lengthening the line. Johnston saw what was 220 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. going on, and witlidrew a portion of Hardee's and Polk's troops to rein- force Hood, It is past noon before the demonstration begins. Bntterfield's division of Hooker's corps, and Stevenson's of Hood's, are tlie first to clash. In- stead of a demonstration it soon becomes a furious battle. Stevenson brings forward a battery to a knoll, from which he will hurl a storm of shell upon the Union army, but the sharp-shooters in blue pick off the gunners, who abandon their cannon. Through the afternoon the uproar DRAGGING OUT TUE CAKNON. goes on, the Union men gaining inch by inch, driving Stevenson, who is not able to withdraw the cannon. The Union soldiers crouch under the breastworks, holding the ground gained. Night closes over the scene, and then, under cover of the darkness, illumined by the flashing of guns, they dig away the earth and drag the captured cannon from the trenches. Through the night the intrenchments are strengthened. General Sherman intends to make them so strong that a few troops will be able to hold them, while he withdraws the remainder of the army for the movement by Lay's Ferry to gain Johnston's rear. Commanders of armies are often obliged to do things that are exceed- FROM- CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 221 ingly distasteful. General Johnston had been compelled to give np his strong position at Dalton because he left a door open at Snake Creek Gap, by which Sherman outflanked him. There were no mountain passes around him at Resaca ; but the Oostenaula was at his back, too deep to be forded. The Union army was moving to get in his rear, and there wnis but one course to pursue. He must retreat before Sherman can transfer his troops across the Oostenaula at Lay's Ferry. lie must be quick about it. He must abandon all the lines of breastworks which have been thrown up, and find another position. He issues his orders accordingly. Before the sun goes down the wagon-trains are ready to move. As soon as it is dark the troops begin to withdraw, Polk's corps crossing the railroad bridge, Hardee's corps the bridge immediately above it, Hood's corps the bridge beyond the bend. Morning dawns, but no Confederate troops are at Resaca ; all have gone, and the bridges are on fire. The newspapers of the South said that Johnston was falling back to get Sherman away from his supplies, that he might utterly crush him in a great battle which would soon be fought ; that Sherman would have fewer troops the farther he advanced, because he would be obliged to detach a large force to guard the railroad. Johnston, on the other hand, would be getting nearer his base of supplies, while his army would be growing stronger day by day. Governor Brown, of Georgia, May 17, 1864. BURNING BRIDGE AT RESACA. From a Sketch made ou the momiiig of May 16, 1864. called out the militia, which would guard the railroad, while the regular troops could all be employed against Sherman. A Confederate soldier gives this picture of affairs : ''We had stacked our arms and gone into camp, and started to build fires to cook supper. I saw^ our cavalry falling back, I thought, rather 222 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. hurriedly. I ran to tlie road and asked them what was tlie matter. They answered, ' Matter enough ; yonder are the Yankees. Are you infantry fellows ffoine: to make a stand here V I told Colonel Field what had been told to me and he hooted at the idea ; but balls that had shucks tied to their tails were passing over, and our regiment was in the rear of the whole army. I could hardly draw any one's attention to the fact that the cavalry had passed us, and that we were on the outpost of the whole army, when an order came for our regiment to. go forward as rapidly as possible, and occupy an octagon house in our immediate front. The Yankees were about a hundred yards from the house on one side, and we were about a hundred yards on the other. The race commenced as to which side would get to the house first. We reached it, and had barely gotten in when they were bursting down the paling of the yard on the opposite side. The house was a fine brick, octagon in shape, and as perfect a fort as could be desired. We ran to the windows, up-stairs and down-stairs, and in the cellar. The Yankees cheered and charged, and our lx)ys got happy. Colonel Field told us he had orders to hold it until every man was killed, and never to surrender the house. It was a forlorn-hope. "We felt we were 'gone fawn -skins' sure enough. At every dis- charge of our guns we would hear a Yankee squall. The boys raised a tune — "Tse gwine to jine the rebel band, A-fightiug for my home ' — as they loaded and shot their guns. Then the tune of — " ' Cheer, boys, cheer, we are marching on to battle I Cheer, boys, cheer, for our sweethearts and our wives ! Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll nobly do our duty, And give to the South our hearts, our arms, our lives.' " Our cartridges were almost gone, and Lieut. Joe Carney, Joe Sewell, and Billy Carr volunteered to go and bring a box of a thousand cartridges. They got out of the back window, and through that hail of iron and lead made their way back with the box of cartridges. Our ammunition being renewed, the fight raged on. Capt. Joe P. Lee touched me on the shoul- der and said, ' Sam, please let me have your gun for one shot.' He raised it to his shoulder and pulled down on a fine-dressed cavalry officer, and I saw that Yankee tumble. Lie handed it back to me to reload. About twelve o'clock, midnight, the One Ilnndred and Fifty-fourth Tennessee, commanded by Colonel McGevney, came to our relief. " The firing had ceased, and we abandoned the octagon house. Our dead and woimded were there — thirty of them — in strange contrast with 5 ^ S a (6 H 2^ ■'-« 3 > MM FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 225 tlie furniture of the house, fine chairs, sofas, settees, pianos, and Brussels carpeting being made the death-bed of brave and noble boys, all saturated with blood ; fine lace and damask curtains all blackened by the smoke of battle ; fine bureaus and looking-glasses and furniture being riddled by the rude missiles of war; beautiful pictures in gilt frames, and a library of val- uable books, all shot and torn by musket and cannon balls. Such is war."(°) It is twenty-five miles due south from Resaca to Kingston, where the railroad turns east toNvards the little village of Cassville, the place selected by Johnston where he would fight a great battle. His engineers reported to him that that was a very strong position. He issued an Mav 19, 1864. . ,. , . order to Ins army, informing his soldiers that he should re- treat no farther, and that they would have an opportunity to fight a deci- sive battle. The Union scouts obtained a copy of the order, which they brought to Sherman. General Thomas had been advancing, a portion of the Confederate troops contesting his way, but they fell back, and he finally discovered them drawn up in line of battle. It was on Sunday afternoon. May 19th, when he sent the information back to Sherman, who was delighted at the intelligence. " Come up on Thomas's right," was the order from Sherman to McPherson. Hooker and Schofield were on the left of Thomas, and advanced with him towards Cassville. Sherman rode forward to the front line, and beheld upon a swell of land a line of newly constructed earthworks. It would seem that General Sherman took pleasure in letting Johnston know^ that he was close at hand and ready to accept battle. It was almost night when he ordered two batteries into position to begin the cannonade. The battery was quite a distance from the Confederate lines, but the gunners elevated their pieces and the shot enfiladed the trenches. We shall presently see what came of this can- nonade. Through the night the Union troops were closing in and taking position. "Attack at daylight," was the order. The soldiers, as they sat 'by their bivouac fires, said that there would be a battle unless the Confed- erates retreated, Johnston had retreated so many times that they feared he would not make a stand. The morning dawns, but not a Confederate soldier is to be seen at Cassville. Why has Johnston, with between sixty and seventy thousand men, so suddenly abandoned a strong position ? Why has 'he exposed himself to be the laughing-stock of the army ? At sunset on the evening of the 19tli Hood was on the right, Polk in the centre, and Hardee on the left — the troops all in position, the artillery be- hind the breastworks — everything in readiness for the battle. No Union troops were in his rear. Sherman was making no movement to out-flank 15 226 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. him. He had issued his order for a battle, and yet in the morning he was niakinir haste towards Kenesaw Mountain. What was the meanino; of it? x\fter the Confederate troops were all in j^osition, Johnston, Hood, and Polk sat down to supper together in a house at Cassville. Johnston had nothing to eat, and was dining with Hood. "My troops are not in good position ; the enemy's cannon enfilade my line," said Hood. " They also enfilade my line, and I fear I shall not be able to hold my ground," said Polk.C") General Johnston was astonished and irritated, for he saw that it was a criticism upon his plan. General Hood was brave and energetic, but a restless ofiicer. He had found fault with Johnston for abandoning Resaca, and maintained that he should have fought a battle at that place. There was a long discussion. Johnston learned that Hood had a plan of his own that he wanted to carry out. Johnston believed in making a defensive fiirht — to stand behind his intrenchments and let Sherman make the at- tack. Hood, instead, wanted to take the offensive. He believed in giving blows instead of receiving them. He wanted to march with his own and part of Polk's corps and fall upon Schofield, who was five miles away from Thomas. He thought that he could defeat Schofield, drive him pell-mell to the rear, and then hasten back and get into position once more before Thomas could begin a battle. It is quite possible that Hood thought that he could repeat the tactics of Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville. He had ever been regarded by his fellow-officers as brave, but lacking in judg- ment. Johnston did not believe that any such strategy could succeed. He was irritated and angry. The newspapers of the South had been find- ing fault with him — had asked why he did not fight a battle. He knew that a portion of his officers had been criticising him also ; and now that he was ready to" fight, instead of hearty, unquestioning co-operation, Hood and Polk were opposing his plans. He accused them of having conferred together, of having lost heart, of being beaten before a battle had begun. At last he said : " I am not willing to engage in a critical battle with an army much larger than my own, with two of my corps commanders dis- satisfied with my plan, and unwilling to fight upon the ground which I have chosen, or in the position which I have assigned them."(") He rose from the table in anger, and issued orders for the army to retreat at once. Behind him a few miles was Etowah River, beyond which was the strong position of Allatoona. Beyond AUatoona M'as Kenesaw, equally strong. In both places he could stand on the defensive. Couriers went with the order, and the Confederate soldiers took up the line of march towards the Etowah. It is a stream easily forded, and in the morning FROM CHATTANOOGA TO ALLATOONA. 22: they were passing tlirougli the Allatoona Hills, coming once more into position on the east bank of Piimpldn-vine Creek. Morning dawned, the Union army was ready to attack, but not a Confederate soldier was to be found at Cassville. NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII. ') "Memoirs of Gen. ^Y. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p 11 -) Idem., p. 22. = ) Gen. Richard Taylor, "Destruction and Reconstruction, ") S. R. Watkins, "First Tennessee Regiment," p. 111. = ) "Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 34. ^) S. R. "Watkins, "First Tennessee Regiment," p. 116. " ) Dr. Johnston to Author. *) "Memoirs of Gen. Wm. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 34. ") S. R. Watkins, "First Tennessee Regiment," p. 129. '") "Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 40 ") Idem. p. 100. 228 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. CHAPTER IX. NEW HOPE AND KEXESAW. T^"^HE army commanded by General Sherman had little baggage. It -■- could pack all its camp equipage in a few moments. The commander was quick in all his movements, and had the faculty of infusing his own energy into his subordinate officers. He detailed a body of men to build brido-es and repair the raih'oad. The Confederates, Mav 17,1864. --® ^ n ^ . -i,,.-. when tliey retreated from Kesaca, burned the bridge across the Oostenaula ; but in three days Colonel Wright, who had charge of the repairs of the railroad, had it rebuilt, and the cars running to Kingston, south of Resaca. Day and night the trains rolled into Kingston, and on the banks of the Etowah, on May 22d, rations for twenty days were issued, and the army once more took up its line of march. General Sherman had not been able to obtain any reliable maps of the country, and he organized an engineer corps, which soon had every road and stream platted and pho- tograplied and distributed to the officers. As fast as the army moved, additions were made and new maps issued. The Confederate army had retreated across the Etowah River, which rises in north-eastern Georgia, runs south, finds its way through the mountains and hills north of Allatoona, and flows on westward to Rome, where it is joined by the Oostenaula. Together they form the Coosa. It was a very strong position at Cassville from which Johnston had retreat- ed, but he had selected another much stronger at Allatoona. The raih-oad, after crossing the Etowah, runs south-east. At Allatoona tliere is a deep cut through a range of hills. Pumpkin-vine Creek rises amid the hills around the town of Dallas, twenty miles or more south-west of Allatoona, runs north, then north-west to the Etowah. When General Sherman was a young man, in 1844, he rode over the country between Atlanta and Chattanooga. He was quick to see things. Through all the years he remembered the topography of the region. (') He thought that Johnston would be likely to select Allatoona for a defen- sive position, and he had no intention of advancing against it. If he NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 231 could turn Johnston's flank, Allatoona would be of no value to the Con- federates. Were we to stand on the hill near Allatoona and look south, we should see Pine Mountain, rising so beautifully and conspicuously that it is a landmark for a wide reach of country. Beyond it in the south-west is Lost Mountain standing by itself. Another beautiful mountain, Kenesaw, rises higher than either of these, from the top of which we can look many miles in all directions. It is eighteen miles from Allatoona. The town of Marietta, with its public square and shaded streets, is only three miles south of Kenesaw. This section of country was to be the second great battle-ground of the campaign. Going now south-west from Alla- toona to Dallas, we lind that Pumpkin-vine Creek winds through a nar- row valley with steep banks. North -east of Dallas four miles is New Hope Church, where a branch of the Pumpkin-vine comes in from the south. Three miles farther on towards the north-east, upon a small stream emptying into Pumpkin-vine, is Mr. Pickett's mill. Keeping these points in mind, we shall see how Sherman laid his plans, and how Johnston met his advance. A general invading the country of an enemy must take long looks ahead. General Sherman, on the banks of the Etowah, spread out his map and studied through the night the roads along which the troops were to move. After issuing his orders, he leaned against a tree and dropped off to sleep, undisturbed by the tramping of the columns of sol- diers moving past, until a soldier seeing him, said, "A pretty way we are commanded." The commander of the army heard it, and said, "My man, while you were asleep I was making my plans, and now I am taking a little nap." (') Sherman is on the Etowah Piver, about eighteen miles north of Dallas. The troops crossed the river and marched south, the Army of the Ten- nessee, under McPherson, away out on the right, moving towards the town of Van AVert, north-west of Dallas. The Army of the Cumberland, under Tliomas, with the Twentieth Corps, under Hooker, in advance, took the road leading to Burnt Hickory. Schofield, with the Army of the Ohio, was still farther east. Johnston quickl}^ discovered Sherman's movement. Between Yan Wert and Dallas the cavalry under General McCook captured a Confederate cavalryman who Avas carryino- a despatch from Johnston Mav 25 1864 ./ o i. to General Jackson, commanding the Confederate cavalry around Dallas, informing him that Sherman was marching in that direc- tion. McCook sent the despatch to Sherman, who had ordered Hooker and Thomas to go slow, that McPherson, who had much farther to march. 232 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. might reach Dallas before he came in collision with the enemy. McCook pushed on to see if the Confederates were advancing to head off the move- ment. It was three in the afternoon of May 25th when McCook reached Pumpkin-vine Creek, near Owen's mill. Confederate cavalry held the bridge, which was in flames, but McCook put out the fire. Geary's division of Hooker's corps followed the retreating Confederates towards New Hope Church. The Seventh Ohio was deployed as skirmishers, and came suddenly upon the Tliirty-second and Fifty-eighth Alabama and a battalion of sharp-shooters, the whole under Colonel Jones, of Hood's corps. " Make all the noise and resistance possible," was Hood's order to Jones. (^) The Confederate army was on the march from Allatoona tow- ards New Hope, but was not yet in position. Geary deployed Candy's brigade, and drove Jones back upon the other Confederate troops of Gen- eral Stewart's division. General Sherman heard the firing, hastened down to see what was going on, and directed Hooker to bring up his other divisions. It was five o'clock wdien Williams's division came into the fight on Geary's right, and still later when Butterfield arrived. Hood's troops were on a ridge covered with thick woods. A storm w^as rising at the moment in the w^est, the lightning flashing and thunder rolling. Up the slope rushed the men of the Twentieth Corps, to be cut down by the hot fire of Hood's men behind their breastworks. It was a gallant but fruitless attack, Hooker losing many men. Hood very few. Night settled over the scene. General Howard, commanding the Fourth Corps, under Sherman, says: " Again and again Hooker's brave men went forward through the forest only to run upon log barricades," which were so thoroughly manned by the enemy, and so well protected by well-posted artillery, that to take them under a galling' fire was impossible. This meant for Hooker a succession of bloody repulses." (') This General Johnston's description: "A little before six o'clock in the afternoon, Stewart's division, in front of New Hope Church, was fiercely attacked by Hooker's corps, and the action continued two hours w'ithout lull or pause, when the assailants fell back. Tiie canister-shot of the sixteen Confederate pieces and five thousand infantry at short range must have inflicted heavy loss upon Hooker's corps." (') General Sherman knew, on the evening of the day of the first battle at New Hope, that the whole of Johnston's army, except a small force left at Allatoona, was marching rapidly towards that point. (°) We May 26, 1864. iii-i cii i can see alter a battle has been louglit how the movements might have been made in other directions, and possibly with better re- NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 235 suits. General Sherman's main object was to eriisli Johnston's arin}^ and he had made the movement to New Hope to compel Johnston to give up the fortified position at Allatoona. He could not venture very far from the railroad, by which he must receive his supplies. He had cut loose from it in order to turn Johnston's flank, but must soon return to it. If Sherman, on the evening of the 25th, had issued an order for the army to turn north-east and make a rapid march through the night, while Johnston was marching south-west, the morning of the 26tli would have seen Scho- field and Tliomas on the rio-ht flank of Johnston. Getting; between him and the railroad, in the direction of Ackworth, McPherson would have been close at hand. The movement would have compelled Johnston either to attack Sherman on ground of Sherman's choosing, or hasten to secure the lines in front of Kenesaw. At sunset Schofield was only six miles ACKWORTH STATION. From a Sketch made May, 1S64. distant, Thomas nine miles, and McPherson's advance only twelve miles from the nearest point on the railroad, three miles south of Allatoona. At the same time Hood and Polk were twelve miles and Hardee ten miles south-west of Ackwortli, the nearest point. Instead of such a movement, tlie Union troops moved on towards Pumpkin-vine, the Fourth Corps under Howard coming in upon Hook- er's left, while Davis's and Palmer's divisions of the Fourteenth came upon 236 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Hooter's right. McPlierson marched through Dallas, the Sixteenth Cor])s under Dodire continuino; the line to the left of Davis, and the Fifteenth under Logan reaching still farther to the south, with the cavalry under Garrard covering the flank. Schofield, with the Army of the OJiio, was marching towards Owen's mill, to come in on the left of Howard. Stone- uian's division of cavalry was covering the left flank of the army. At dayhreak Sherman was sitting on the log beside which he had slept, drawing a map. The army, after a night's march in the rain, was in posi- tion, the troops at work building intrenchments. (') The artillery on both sides opened fire, and the pickets began a fusillade, which was to go on almost without cessation for several days. McPherson was confronted by Hardee, and the lines were so close that not an officer or soldier could show his head without a rattling fire along the line. A skilful general never will attack a strong position in front if he can get round it. Sherman had made his intrenchments so strong that he could hold them with a portion of his troops, while he made the at- tempt to gain Johnston's right flank with the remainder. He withdrew "Wood's division of Howard's corps, Johnson's of Palmer's, and McLean's brigade of Schofield's, and moved them north-east towards Pickett's mill, which is on a branch of Pumpkin-vine Creek. The movement was through thick woods. General Howard thought that he had gone far enough to gain the flank of the Confederates, and turned south. What he supposed to be the right flank of the Confed- erate line was an angle instead. It was a costly mistake. Hazen's and Scribner's brigades led the attack, to find cannon flaming in their faces and musketry cutting them down. The Confederates had seen the movement. " Howard's corps is on my right. I have extended my own lines as far as I can, and need rein- forcements," was the message sent by Hood to Johnston. Cleburne's division was placed under Hood to act as he should order. Cleburne was directed to form his troops in a column of brigades in the rear of Hind- man's division. The Union cavalry scouts had seen wdiat they thought was the extreme right of the Confederate line, but they had not seen the column of brigades standing behind Hindman. It was this that had de- ceived Howard, who suddenly found himself confronted by Cleburne on ground which the cavalry had reported as all clear. When Howard faced south and marched to strike Hindman, Cleburne quickly changed front, and stood a solid wall of men, with batteries in an advantageous position. It was five o'clock in the afternoon when the battle began. General Hazen led Howard's advance, driving the Confederate skirmishers into Ill iiiiiiii NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 239 their intrenchments. Johnson's division was on tlie left of Ilazen, and swept round by Pickett's mill. Scribner's brigade had the advance in Johnson's division. It was on the east bank of the little stream, when a volley was jDonred down npon the brigade. Scribner halted, changed front, crossed the stream, and returned the fire. General Wood was still farther on the left, and also received a terrific volley with a storm of shell. Through a mistake, McLean's brigade did not come up on Wood's flank to protect it, and Wood was obliged to fall back. From five o'clock till after dark the battle went on. The artillery all alono; the lines on both sides sent their missiles into the intrenchments. Newton and Stanley, of Howard's corps, made a feint of advancing. Out on the left, Cox's and Hascall's divisions of Schofield's corps swung south against the Confederate cavalry under Wheeler, which fought as infantry. The Confederate commander, General Johnston, says of the at- tack : " The enemy came on in deep order and assailed the Texans with great vigor, receiving their close and accurate fire with great fortitude, such as is always exhibited by General Sherman's troops in the actions of this campaign. The contest with Granberry was a very fierce one. The enemy left hundreds of corpses within twenty paces of the Confed- erate lines." (**) Till past ten o'clock the battle went on, Howard falling back under a charge of the Confederates a short distance, but holding a position much in advance of the ground of the morning. There had been a loss of fully fifteen hundred men. The attack was not well planned. The troops were massed in brigades, one behind another, in thick woods, which was a mis- take, as Howard, Sherman, and ever}^ other officer soon discovered. The rear lines, under such a formation in the woods, could take no part in the fight without firing upon those in the front line. The engagement is known as the battle of Pickett's Mill. Lieutenant- general Johnston has given this record of the bravery of the Union troops wdiich fought Granberry's brigade of Texans: "When the United States troops paused in their advance within fifteen paces of the Texan front rank, one of their color-bearers planted his colors eight or ten feet in front of his regiment and was instantly shot dead ; a soldier sprang forward to his place, and fell also as he grasped the color-staff ; a second and third followed successively, and each received his death as speedily as his prede- cessors ; a fourth, however, seized and bore back the object of soldierly devotion." C) General Bate held the left of the Confederate army, and was directed to ascertain by a forced reconnoissance whether or not the Union troops were 240 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. still beliind their intrenchments. The Confederates advanced upon Lo- gan's corps. Harrow's division held the right, Morgan L. Smith's the centre, and Osterhaus's the left. Smith was on the road leading from Dallas to Marietta. Three of the cannon of the First Iowa Battery were on the skirmish line in an advantageous position. The Union skirmishers saw Bate's division of Confederates appear on the crest of the ridge, and then descend the slope, advancing rapidly. The three guns opened upon them ; the rattle of the skirmishers' muskets began. Men dropped in the Confederate ranks, but the lines moved on. No Union infantry had been sent forward to support the three guns. In a twinkling, almost, the Con- federates were laying hold of the cannon, but could not use them, for the artillerjMuen carried off the rammers in their retreat. The Confederates gave a cheer and charged upon Walcott's brigade of Harrow's division. Instantly a line of light streamed from the Union in- trenchments, and the Confederate line melted like lead in a crucible. On came the other divisions of Hardee's corps, attacking with great spirit. General Logan rode along the lines, weaving his hat and encouraging the men, who responded with a cheer. For a time the battle raged fiercely, but the Confederates were repulsed with heavy loss. It has been called the battle of Dallas. The cannon on both sides were thundering, and the muskets of the pickets flashing, but no attempt was made on either side to flank or charge the other. The lines were so near that no soldier could lift May 29 1864 " his head above the breastwork M'ithout being fired upon. AVhen night came, and darkness settled over the scene, the men rose from the ground and cooked their supper. Suddenly all the Confederate bat- teries oj)ened, and the landscape was illumined by the cannon -flashes. Sherman's cannon replied, and for two hours the thunder of the cannon- ade rolled over hill and dale, forest and field, sending its reverberation far away to Lost Mountain and Kenesaw. The fire was so terrific, and such a storm of shot and shell was hurled from the LTnion and Confederate guns, that the soldiers changed the name of New Hope to Hell Hole. On the afternoon of May 30th General Sherman, General Logan, Gen- eral McPherson, General Barry, and Colonel Taylor were standing togeth- er, when a minie-bullet passed through the sleeve of Logan's coat, and struck Colonel Taylor in the breast, who fell, not killed, but disabled from further service. General Sherman's supplies were running short. The time had come for a new movement which should bring the army nearer to the railroad. The cavalry under General Stoneman had already seized Allatoona, and NEW HOPE AND KENESAW, 2U FROM RESACA TO KENESAW. June 7, 1864. Sherman could reach the raih-oad at Ack worth. Johnston saw that he would be powerless to stop such a movement and that he must fall back to a new position. During the night of June 3d the Confed- erates filed out from their strong intrenchments and took up their line of march towards tlie works already thrown up by gangs of slaves at Lost Mountain and northward of Kenesaw. With great bravery they had held the lines at New Hope, which was no longer a new hope to them ; for thousands in the Confederate ranks were beginning to see that theirs was a hopeless cause, and were asking why such a sacrifice of life, for what were they fighting? Some of them with clearing vision saw that in reality they were not fighting for any great principle of right, but for the perpetuation of slavery, and they cursed those who began the war. Every day there were desertions from the Confederate ranks, those on picket throwing down their guns and entering the Union lines. The month of May had been delightful, but rain began to fall. The soldiers of General Sherman and the Confederate army alike suffered. The roads were almost impassable. Reinforcements came to the Union army — two divisions of the Seventeenth Corps, under General Blair. 244: KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Tlieir arrival made good the losses, so that the army still numbered near- ly one hundred thousand. A portion of the Union troops were at Big Shanty. Lookinsj south, they could see the Confederate siff- June 1, 18G4. "^ . ^ ^. •, 4; t f "P- IT- nal-nags waving on the summits 01 Lost, rine, and Kenesaw mountains, and long lines of intrenchments. Tiie officers, with their glasses, could see cannon in position. The intrenchments thrown np by the slave gangs were ten miles in length, extending east to the railroad, and west to the carriage road leading from Marietta to New Hope. General Sherman was advancing, with McPherson on the railroad, Thomas west of it, and Scholield beyond Thomas, moving towards Lost Mountain. Colonel Wright Was so energetic in building bridges and re- pairing the railroad that he soon had a train of cars rumbling into Big Shanty, and the engineer, uncoupling the engine, ran down the road to a water-tank near the skirmish line. The Confederate artillery on Kene- saw opened fire with their long-range rifled guns, and the shot and shell came crashing through the trees and around the locomotive ; but the engi- neer kept on filling the tank, then tooted his whistle, and went back to Big Shanty, the soldiers waving their hats and cheering hiui. General Sherman was standing with General Howard in front of Pine Mountain, reconnoitring the Confederate lines to see where he could best attack them. He noticed a battery on the crest of the ' " mountain, and a line of intrenchments, and a group of offi- cers around the guns, looking through their glasses. " Open fire upon them with one of your batteries, and make them keep under cover,'' he said to General Howard. " General Thomas wishes me to be sparing of my artillery ammuni- tion," Avas the reply. " That, as a general rule, is all right, but I wish to keep up a vigorous offensive. By using your artillery you will make the enemy timid. Let one of your batteries give three volleys." ('") General Sherman knew that six cannon sending that number of shells at once into the group, and twice repeated, would be far more effective than if the cannon were fired separately. The gunners of Simonson's In- diana Battery loaded their cannon. The Confederate officers were Gen- eral Johnston, General Hardee, and General Polk, with their staffs. Gen- eral Bate's division of Hardee's corps held the intrenchments, and the soldiers gathered around their generals with the freedom characteristic of the Southern soldiers. It was a large group, and to Simonson's gunners seemed like tlie clustering of bees upon the side of a hive on a midsum- mer day. They calculated the distance, and elevated the muzzles of the iiil NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 247 guns to send the shells into the group. General Johnston was looking through his glass, and could see the gunners preparing to open fire. " Go to your positions. They are getting ready to fire !" he exclaimed, and himself hastened behind the intrenchments. General Polk was very dignified. He came from a family which prided itself on its dignity. His brother was President of the United States from 1845 to 1849. When the war began he was a bishop in the Episcopal Church and wore his robes with much dignity. He was stout in person and walked slowly, and never had been known to hurry. Gen- eral Bragg found fault with him at Chickamauga because he was slow in getting into action. He was brave, and had been in many battles where the bullets were singing around him. He walked slowly towards the breastwoi'ks. Possibly he wished to let the soldiers see that he was in no hurry. Simonson's six guns all flashed at the same instant. The shells screamed throuo-h the air and tore across the Confederate earthworks. ^^^^ "WHERE GENERAL POLK FELL. From a Sketch made iu 18G4. General Polk did not hasten ; he partially turned, as if to see where they came from. Again the cannon flashed, and a shell struck him in the breast. A moment before he was in the vigor of life ; now the soldiers beheld a mangled body, his life-blood crimsoning the yellow earth. He had been educated at West Point Military Academy by the United States, but at the outset of the Eebellion had laid aside the robes of his high call- ing, left the service of the Church, accepted a commission from Jefferson Davis as major-general, had been a believer in the doctrine that the rights of a State are superior to those of the nation, yet he invaded Kentucky 248 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. and seized Columbus, thus violating the theory of State rights. He did it without orders from the President of the Confederacy, who afterwards sent this telegram : " The necessity justifies the action." He had done what he could for the establishment of a government based on slavery, but his work was ended. A Union signal-officer on the roof of a shed shelter- ing a cotton-o-in, and watchino; the wavincj of the Confederate sio;nal-flao;s, who had studied them till he had discovered the key, read the despatch waved to Marietta, " Send an ambulance for the body of General Polk." A Confederate soldier wrote this about him : " He was looking through his field-glass when a shot struck him in his left breast, passing through his body and his heart. I saw him while the infirmary corps were bringing him from the field. He was as white as a piece of marble. Every private soldier loved him. Second to Stonewall Jackson, Jiis loss was the greatest the South ever sustained." (") On the morning of the 15th General Sherman was ready to attack Pine Mountain, but Avhen daylight came the Confederates had disap- peared. Johnston saw that liis lines were too long, that they could be easily flanked. Sherman's troops pushed on and captured many prisoners — those who had been asleep and did not know that the army had gone. Johnston also concluded to give up Lost Mountain and make Kenesaw his line. Sherman pushed on. He organized a brigade of shovellers, employ- ing the negroes who flocked into liis camp, setting them to building in- trenchments, thus relieving the soldiers. The negroes were paid ten dollars a month and their rations. We are to keep in mind the fact that tlie war was a conflict between two systems of labor. We have the spectacle of General Johnston em- ploying gangs of slaves, impressed into service from their owners to build his intrenchments. He was careful to keep them beyond the range of the Union guns, because they were property, and valuable to their owners ; and the other spectacle of negroes, who a few weeks before had been slaves, earning wages under the Stars and Stripes. The springs which ooze from the ground at the northern end of Ken- esaw form Noonday Creek, which runs north to the Etowah Kiver, while those which bubble up at the southern end of the mountain form Noses Creek, which flows south to the Chattahoochee. The banks of Noonday Creek are covered with thick woods. Tlie Confederate cavalry under General Wheeler held the east bank, while General Garrard, with a divis- ion of Union cavalry, occupied the west bank. Garrard kept a sharp look- out, expecting that Wlieeler would march north-east, and come round upon Cassville and destrov the railroad. Sherman had a force at Resaca which NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 251 he brought down to that point, and also a brigade under Gen. John E. Smith from liuntsville, Ahibaraa. If Johnston tliought of making such a movement it was not attempted. The Confederate line extended from Noonday Creek across the raih^oad, over tlie top of Kenesaw, over the rugged hill south of Kenesaw, then along the east bank of Noses Creek to the road which leads from Mai-ietta UNION SIGNAL-STATION ON PINE MOUNTAIN LOOKING TOWARDS KENESAW. to Powder Springs. It was twelve miles long. Next to Dalton, it %vas the strongest position of the campaign. Along the entire line there were breastworks which had been thrown up by the slaves. At the foot of Kenesaw there was a line of rifle-pits; half-way up, a strong line of in- trencliments, with a third line on top. The artillery would sweep every part of the ground. General Loring was appointed to the command of 252 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. Polk's corps, whicli held Kenesaw, from the top of which the Confederate soldiers could overlook all the surrounding country and detect Sherman's movements. General Johnston could spread out his map on the top of the mountain, and, by noticing the smoke rising here and there, locate the exact positions of tlie divisions of the Union army. French's division of Loring's corps held the south-western side of the mountain; Walthal's the summit and north-eastern slope down to the railroad ; Hood was east of the railroad, on the hill overlooking IS^oonday Creek ; Hardee held the line west of Marietta, along Noses Creek ; Walk- er's division joined French's ; then came Bate's, Cleburne's, and Cheat- ham's. In the last retreat Johnston swung his left flank back eight miles, while Hood had fallen back only two. The line was thus in the form of. a semicircle. From the 1st to the 19th of June it had rained every day. Noonday and Noses creeks were torrents, overflowing their banks and covering the lowlands. Tlie roads, cut up by the wheels of Johnston's wagons, were impassable. Sherman was obliged to make new ones. McPherson moved along the railroad with the Seventeenth Corps, under Blair, on the extreme left, next to Garrard's cavalry ; then came the Fourteenth Corps, under Logan ; then the Sixteenth Corps, under Dodge. The Army of the Cumberland fronted Kenesaw, the Fourteenth Corps, under Palmer, holding the left against the south-western slope ; then the Fourth Corps, under Howard, whose centre was on the road leading from Gilgal Cliurch to Marietta. When Schofield reached Noses Creek his skirmishers found the meadow overflowed. The Confederates had taken the planks from the bridge, and the water was sweeping over the stringers. On the hill east of the stream was a battery, while along the bushes lay the Confederate sharp-shooters. General Schofield placed a battery on a knoll, and opened fire. Gen- eral Cameron's brigade of Schofield's corps advanced, and the One Hun- dred and Third Ohio dashed through the water, crossed the creek on the stringers, and rushed up the bank, diiving the Confederate skirmishers. The Confederate battery limbered up and retreated to the higher ground in the rear. A few minutes later Cameron's brigade and Cox's whole division were across the creek. From the top of Kenesaw Johnston could see that Schofield and the Twentieth Corps, under Hooker, were threaten- ing to turn his left flank towards Marietta. He resolved to make a bold movement. Hood was east of Kenesaw ; he would transfer him from the extreme right to the extreme left, and strike Schofield a sudden blow. Night came. Hood left his intrenchments, marched south-west through NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 253 the town of Marietta, goino^ out past the Georgia Military Institute and Zion Church. General Loritig strung out liis men along the earthworks which Hood had evacuated. General Wheeler was instructed to make as much noise as he could in front of McPherson. At daylight Hood was at Zion Church, north-east of Mr. Gulp's farm. Hindman's and Steven- son's divisions were in the front line, with Stewart's in support. The men were weary with the night's march, and it was mid-afternoon before Johnston was i-eady to strike the blow which he fondly lioped would crush Schofield and Hooker. While Hood was making his march Schofield had been changing his position, HascalTs division coming into position on Hooker's right on Gulp's farm, with Cox's division at the forks of the road near Mr. Cheney's house, two miles farther south. Going north from Schofield, w^e see Will- iams's division of Hooker's corps joining Hascall ; then Geary's, with But- terfield's in support. Hooker's pickets captured a prisoner. " Whose corps do you belong to ?'' " Hood's." This was important news, for at sunset Hood was east of Kenesaw. "Hood is getting ready to attack you," said the prisoner. " Deploy your divisions, and throw up intrenchments," was the order of Hooker. The men threw down their muskets and went to work with shovels and axes, cutting doM-n trees and piling logs. It was a little after three o'clock "when a line of gleaming bayonets was seen in the fields and pastures on both sides of the road w^est of Zion Church. The Confederates advanced rapidly, striking Geary and Williams. In- stantly the Thirteenth New York Battery, Captain Winegar, and Captain Woodbury's battery of 12-pounders, opened fire. The shells made sad havoc in their ranks, but the Confederates pushed bravely on. A little nearer, and the line of partly finished breastworks was a sheet of flame. Hood's left came against Hascall, who had sent out the Fourteenth Kentucky as skirmishers. Their fire was so deadly that the next morning sixty Con- federate dead were found lying where they delivered their volleys. Colonel Galloup, the commander of the regiment, held the ground stubbornly, but fell back under orders to the intrenchments that the artillery might begin firing. The Nineteenth Ohio and Sixth Michigan batteries used canister, and the slaughter of the Confederates was terrible. It was a brave- ly executed but ill-judged attack. No one will ever know how many were killed and wounded. General Johnston admitted that more than one .thousand fell in the few minutes of the struggle. The Union loss was less 254 EEDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. than three hundred. Instead of criisliing Hooker and Schofield, Hood fell back towards Zion Church with his lines in disorder. To cover the attack Johnston ordered the artillery to open all along the line, and so for the en- tire distance of twelve miles the cannon of both armies were thundering. We come to June 26th. The two armies were behind strong intrench- ments. What should General Sherman do ? The mud was so deep that he could not make any flanking movement, nor had he suffi- cient supplies to do so. The troops farthest from the rail- road had scant rations. He came to the conclusion that if a bold attack were to be made along the entire line, a weak place might be found where he could break tlirough. He resolved to make the attempt. During the night, the troops were placed in position, but^as soon as day dawns, June 27th, the Confederates on Kenesaw could see what changes had been made in the Union lines. There was no long wait- ' ' ing. The Union artillery began tlie battle by sending a storm of missiles into the Confederate lines ; Johnston's guns responded, and such a racket never before was heard along tlie hills of Kenesaw. As day- light streamed up the east. Cox's division, south-west of Marietta, advanced. Reilly's and Cameron's brigades made a vigorous attack, drove the Confed- erates, and secured an advantageous position on the ridge east of Olley's Creek, which runs south-west of, and j^arallel with, l^ickajack Creek. It was a great gain. From that position the artillery could send shells across Nickajack Creek almost into Marietta. While Cox's division was advancing, the battle opened all along the line. McPherson's artillery was directing its lire against Kenesaw. Howard's and Palmer's corps of the Army of the Cumberland moved together. A terri- bly destructive fire burst upon them. The soldiers reached the abatis in front of the Confederate lines. They were amid fallen trees ; they came upon a line of sharpened stakes. They could go no farther, but lay down, many of them never to rise again. The advantage was all on the side of the Confederates. But through the day the Union troops remained there, keeping up a steady lire. When night came they went to work M'ith shovels, and threw up intrenchments, holding the ground gained by such a fearful sacrifice of life. Smith's division crossed Xoses Creek, and ad- vanced against the rocky sides of the hill, which the soldiers called Little Kenesaw. The Fifteenth Corps, under Logan, attacked Featherstone's division of Loring's corjDS. The Confederate sharp-shooters killed and wounded in Logan's corps seven officers commanding regiments. One of them (Colonel Bnnhill, of the Fortieth Illinois) was within a few feet of the intrenchments when he fell. NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 257 General Palmer's corps almost j)ierced the Confederate line, but Gen- eral Cheatham, seeing the danger, hurried up a brigade in reserve, and forced back the Union troops. General Sherman had selected three points where he thought it possible to break through. The Confederates could see just where he was massing his troops, and could hurry their soldiers from one point to another to resist him. No advantage was gained bj the attempt other than on the right by Olley's Creek. Night beheld the two armies behind stronsf breastworks. But it was a sickenino; scene where the ambulance corps were gathering up the wounded, their torches and lan- terns casting a lurid light upon the trees, green with midsummer foliage, and the bleeding forms beneath. It is the scene after a battle that dispels MAIUETTA, 1864. From a Sketch made at the time. the illusion of the pomp and glory of war. After such a sacrifice of life the soldiers asked the question, " What is all this for ?" They knew that it was not for glory ; not that they wanted to fight ; not that they had any hatred towards their opponents ; but that this government of the people should not be destroyed, and a government based on slavery set up on its ruins. It would have been far better if General Sherman had not ordered the assault. The Confederate army was in a very strong position, and was larger than at the beginning of the campaign. The returns for June lOtli show that there were 71,000 Confederate officers and men present for 17 258 REDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. duty, and that there were 187 cannon. ('') At the battle of New Hope the Confederate army numbered 75,000; the Union arniy, 93,600. ('^) By flanking movements General Sherman had compelled General Johnston to give up Dalton, Resaca, and the line of Pumpkin-vine Creek ; a movement southward of Kenesaw would have compelled Johnston to retire from the strong position from which he could not be dislodged by direct assault. Gangs of slaves, and ten thousand old men and boys who had been ordered into service by Governor Brown of Georgia, were hard at work throwing up intrenchments at Smyrna, six miles south of Marietta. ('*) Anotlier party was building fortitications along the Chattahoochee River, while down by Atlanta a third gang was building forts and a line of forti- fications around that city, where there were rolling-mills, machine-shops, and a great supply of military stores. General Johnston knew that al- though the direct assault of Sherman had failed, the position which Gen- eral Schofield had secured south-west of Marietta would enable the Union army to reach the railroad soutli of that place, and tjiat sooner or later he must give up Kenesaw. Schofield's pickets during the night could hear trains rumbling south- ward, and came to the conclusion tliat Johnston was getting ready to abandon his strong position. General Sherman, however, June 28, 1864. ^ ' r AT i i • could not move without supphes. JN early every day rain had fallen ; wagons could hardly move. Day and night trains came to Big Shanty bringing supplies ; but before they were received and distributed, the Confederate troops, under cover of the night, filed down from Kene- saw, and abandoned Marietta. The Union pickets, as day dawned, looking towards the line of Con- federate works, saw that they were deserted. Swiftly the word ran along the lines. General Sherman ordered General Garrard, coin- July 3, 1864. ... , , . . . nianding a division of cavalry, to make swiit pursuit, and many stragglers from Johnston's army were picked up. With bands play- ing, drums beating, and colors waving in the morning breeze, the army entered Marietta, marching through the public square. It was one of the most beautiful towns in Georgia, pleasantly situated, with many elegant residences. Before the war, on market-days, a great crowd of teams loaded with cotton were to be seen in the spacious streets. When the thunder of the cannonade at New Hope and Dallas reverberated over hill and vale, the people, by riding to the top of Kenesaw and looking westward, could see the battle-clouds rising above the dark-green woodlands, and some of them, fearing what might happen — that the Union army might reach Marietta — packed up what goods they could, and hastened to Atlanta. NEW HOPE AND KENESAW. 259 When the terrible conflict raged around Kenesaw, when sliot and shell from the Union cannon aimed at the Confederate batteries on the top of the mountain began to fall in the streets, there was a hurrying of men, women, and children away to the country. Little had the people of the South imagined, in 1861, when they advocated the secession of the State, when they welcomed the formation of the Confederacy, that the sound of Union cannon would ever echo from Kenesaw, as on the morning of July 4th — anniversary of the Independence of the United States ; that a victo- rious army would be marching through Marietta. To the people of that town, flying from their homes, it was a sad and mournful day. NOTES TO CHAPTER IX. " Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 42. Gen. O. O. Howard, Century Marjazim, July, 1887. Gen. J. B. Hood's Report. Gen. O. O. Howard, Century Magazine, July, 1887. Gen. J. E. Joluislon, Century Magazine, August, 1887. " Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 44. Idem. Gen. J. E. Johnston, " JSTarrative of Military Events," p. 330. Idem. " JVIemoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 53. S. R. Watkins, "First Tennessee Regiment," p. 138. E. C. Dawes, Century Magazine, December, 1887. Idem. Gen. J. E. Johnston, " Narrative of Military Events," pp. 345-347. 260 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. CHAPTER X. THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. VERY beautiful is the valley of the Shenaudoali, with its green fields, rich pastures, and verdant woodlands, bounded by the Blue Ridge on the east and a succession of mountain ranges on the west. The fertile fai'nis yield luxuriant harvests of wheat and corn. Millwheels plash in the silver streams ffurglino; down from the mountains. In no section of o o o the South was there before the war more comfort and prosperity than in this peaceful valle}'. From its topographical features it became, in a military point of view, a region of great importance alike to Union and Confederate command- ers. From Winchester, the most important town, General Johnston had marched across the Blue Ridge, in 1861, to join Beauregard upon the field of Bull Run, and win the first great battle of the war. In 1862 Stonewall Jackson had compelled General Banks to make a hasty retreat to Harper's Ferry. After Antietam, General Lee retreated to the Rapidan, behind its sheltering mountain walls. In advancing to Gettysburg his troops marched over its macadamized roads, screened from the observation of Union scouts by the Blue Ridge, with its passes held by the Confederate cavalry. His retreat was over the same highways. Union and Confederate armies in succession, like the ebbing and flowing of the tides of the ocean in an estuary, had swept through the valley, each lielping themselves to wheat and corn fi'om the granaries of the people. When General Grant assumed command of all the armies he found Gen- eral Sigel in command of the Department of West Virginia, whose head- quarters were near Winchester. A portion of the troops in the depart- ment were in the valley of the Kanawha, commanded by General Crook. General Grant, while advancing with the Army of the Potomac against General Lee, with Butler menacing Richmond from the south, directed Sigel to advance up the Shenandoah and threaten the Virginia Central Railroad at Staunton, while Crook was to destroy the East Tennessee Rail- road, also the salt-works at the town of Saltville, where great kettles had THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 261 been placed, and wliicli were bubbling and steaming nigbt and day to fur- nish salt for the curing of meat for the Confederate armies. General Averill, with two thousand cavalry, started from Charleston, West Virginia. His line of march was to be over mountain ranges, and through narrow valleys, along winding roads., He had no cannon and very few wagons. After five days' marching he learned that there was a Confederate force with several cannon at Salt- ville, and he decided not to attempt its capture, but to march to Wythe- ville, where there were lead-works. When he reached that town he found that the Confederates, learning of his movement, had been whirled over Mny ],1864. DESTROYING THE EAST TENNESSEE RAILROAD BRIDGE. the railroad from Saltville, and outnumbered him. Instead of attacking, he himself was assailed and obliged to retreat. He stole away in the niglit, made a swift marcli eastward to Christiansburg, where he tore up a portion of the railroad, burned the repair-shops, and then made all haste to join General Crook, who was marching eastward up the Kanawha val- ley. General Crook had three brigades — one commanded by Col. liuther- ford B. Hayes, of Ohio, since then President of the United States ; the second by ColoTiel White, the third by Colonel Sickel. He liad four hun- dred cavahy — in all, six thousand men, with twelve cannon. Starting from the town of Fayette and marching south, he reached Cloyd's Mountain, where he was confronted by a large force of Con- federates, under Generals Jones and Jenkins, behind breastworks, with cannon planted to sweep the fields in front of them. To attack them in front, the Union soldiers must cross a brook where the water was knee- May 8, 1864. 262 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. deep, climb a steep hill, with Confederate sharp-shooters behind rifle-pits ready to pick off the men. General Crook could see the lines of intrench- ments, the bank of yellow earth, the Confederate soldiers and cannon. He looked a long while. " It is a strong position. He may whip us, but I guess not," he said. (') His troops were in thick woods and screened by the fresh green foliage. "White's brigade, with two of Sickel's, stole round upon the Confederate right, and opened a vigorous fire. When the rolls of musketry began to break upon the morning air, the troops remaining in the woods waded the brook, rushed up the bank, charged across the fields, leaped over the intrenchments, capturing between two and three hundred prisoners and two cannon. "While the escaping Confederates were streaming along the fields a train of cars came down the railroad from the west, bringing rein- forcements from Saltville. Those fleeing rallied, but were again put to flight. The Union troops moved on to New River, where they found the Confederates, holding the bridge across that stream; but once more they were obliged to flee. The Union troops set the bridge on fire. General Crook, having accomplished what he set out to do, returned to the town of Union. General Sigel, with a small force, partly composed of German troops — in all, about four thousand men — was at "Winchester, guarding the lower end of the valley. General Grant directed him to advance up the valley for the purpose of attracting the attention of the Confederates while General Crook executed his movement. General Sigel was moving tow- ards New Market, his troops scattered, when he suddenly found himself confronted by a Confederate force. New Market is on the valley turnpike. The north fork of the Shen- andoah winds northward west of the town, and Smith's Creek runs in the same direction east of it. A road leads due east from ' ' New Market, crosses Smith's Creek, ascends the slope of Massanutten Mountain, and goes on to Luray, where, since the war, won- derful caves have been discovered. General Breckinridge had advanced from Staunton with the brigades of Generals Echols and "Wharton, old soldiers who had fought many bat- tles. He had also two hundred and fifty cadets from the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, which was established in 1839, and which had been well cared for by the State before the war. Many men who distin- guished themselves in the Confederate army graduated from this institu- tion. Stonewall Jackson was one of its professors at the outbreak of the struggle. It was a noble battalion which marched northward to join THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 263 May 15, 1864. Breckinridge. Some of the veteran soldiers, wearing clothes colored with, butternut bark, laughed at the boys in their cadet nniforms, and derisive- ly sang, " Rock-a-bye baby," and asked them if they wanted rosewood: coffins, lined with satin. (°) Rain fell, swelling the streams and saturating the ground. The newly ploughed fields around New Market were sticky with mud, and the sol- diers of both armies sank ankle-deep in attempting to march. Colonel Moor, with the One Hundred and Twenty - third Ohio, Eighteenth Connecticut, and Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, was in the advance. At nightfall he came upon small parties of Confederates, and cavalrymen riding in informed him that a large force was not far away. At daybreak on the morning of the 15th Sigel's force was widely scat- tered, the main part being two miles distant from Colonel Moor. The Confederates had advanced from New Market, starting at midnight. No bugle had sounded, no drum had been beaten ; the order to advance as noiselessly as was possible had been obeyed. " I do not wish to put the cadets in if I can avoid it, but if occasion calls I shall use them freely," said General Breckin- ridge to Colonel Skip, commanding the striplings from the Institute. (') General Breckinridge formed his lines with Wharton's brigade in front, and Ech- ols's and the cadets two liundred and fifty paces in the rear. Imboden, commanding the cavalry, was to go down Smith Creek, and gain Sigel's left flank and rear. It was Sunday morning, but there was no gathering of worshippers in the little church of New Market, no bell sending its resounding tones over the valley; but cannon, instead, opened their brazen lips amid the white head-stones of the cemetery. Through the morning the skirmishers of both armies were engaged, but it was past noon when the battle began by the advance of Breckinridge's troops. A Confederate ofiicer gives this account: " Wharton's line advanced ; Echols's followed at two hundred and fifty paces in the rear. As Wharton's ascended a knoll it came in full view of the enemy's batteries, which opened a heavy fire, but not having gotten the range, did but little damage. By the time the second line reached ■B.\TTLE OF NEW MARKET. 264 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. the same ground tliey had gotten the exact range, and tlie fire began to tell upon our lines Avith fearful accuracy. It was here that Captain Hill and others fell. Great gaps were made through the ranks, but the cadet, true to his discipline, would close in to the centre to fill the interval, and push steadily forward. The alignment of the battalion under this terrible lire, which strewed the ground with killed and wounded for more than a mile on open ground, would have been creditable even on a field-daj."(*) A Confederate cadet portrays the scene: "Away off to the right is Luray Gap, of the Massanutten range. Our signal-corps was telegraphing the position and numbers of the eneuiy. Our cavalry was moving at a gallop to the cover of the creek, to attempt to fiank tlie town. Echols's brigade was moving from the pike at the double-quick by the right flank, and went into line of battle across the meadows, the left resting on the pike. Out of the orchards and meadows arose puff after puff of blue smoke as our sharp-shooters advanced, the 'pop,' 'pop' of the rifles ring- ing forth exultingly. Thundering down the pike came McLaughlin with his artillery, and, whirling out into the meadows, let fly with all his guns. . . . Down the green slope we went, answering the wild cry of our com- rades as their musketry rattled its opening volleys. In another moment we should expect a pelting rain of lead from the blue line crouching be- liind a stone wall at the base. Then came a sound more stunning than thunder, that burst directly in my face ; lightnings leaped, fire fiashed, earth rocked, the sky whirled round, and I stumbled. My gun pitched forward, and I fell upon my knees. Sergeant Cabell looked back at me sternly, pityingly, and called out, ' Close up, men !' as he passed on. I knew no more. When consciousness returned, it was raining in torrents. I was lying on the ground, which was torn and ploughed with shell, which were still screeching in the air and bounding on the earth. Poor little Captain Hill was lying near, bathed in blood, with a fearful gash over the temple. Reed, Merritt, and another, also badly shot, were near at hand. The bat- talion was three hundred yards away, clouded in smoke and hotly en- gaged, and the Federal battery in the graveyard had fallen back to higher ground." (') Colonel Moor, with the front line of the Union troops, had fallen back to join Colonel Thoburn's brigade. They had vigorously witlistood the Confederate onset, but had been overlapped on both fianks. Upon an eminence north of the town stood the Union troops. From tlie outset the Confederates had the advantage in numbers, they also knew from the Signal Corps, who were waving their flags on the summit of Massa- nutten, the exact position and number of Sigel, who was ignorant of the THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. . 265 movement of Imboden, stealing down through the woods along the east bank of Smith Creek to gain his rear. Imboden crossed the creek at the Lnray bridge, moved west, and came upon Sigel's flank. At the same mo- ment Wharton and Echols and the cadets — the entire Confederate force — moved forward. Imboden liad two cannon, which opened upon the Union cavalry covering Sigel's flank. Though thus attacked the Union troops fought bravely. From three o'clock till past six the battle went on, when the Union troops fell back, in such order that though Sigel had lost five cannon, he was able to save all his wagons and supplies. A Confederate officer in his official report says : " Sigel's entire line retired slowly. His artillery was especially damaging, and Breckinridge determined to silence the most mischievous battery directly in front of the centre of his line, and Colonel Smith, of the Sixty-second Virginia, and Colonel Wise with his cadets, were ordered to charge and take it. The battery was taken, but with fearful loss on both sides. . . . The Sixty- second lost 241 killed and wounded, including seven of ten captains. The cadets lost 69 out of 250." (") A Union officer gives this account : " Our front fire was heavy, and the artillery had an enfilading fire under which tlieir first line went down. The Confederates staggered, went back, and their whole advance halted. Tlieir fire ceased to be effective. A cheer ran along our line, and the first success was over. I gave the order to cease firing. Just then Colonel Thoburn, brigade commander, rode along the lines, telling the men to pre- pare to charge. He rode by me shouting some order I could not catch, and went to the regiment on my left, which immediately charged. I sup- posed this to be his order to me, and commanded the men to fix bayonets and charge. The men sprang forward. As we neared the crest of the hill the regiment on my left turned and went back. I shouted to my men to halt, but could not make a single man hear or heed me, and it was not till they had climbed the intervening fence, and were rushing ahead on the other side, that I was able to run along the lines, and seizing the color- bearer by the shoulder, held him fast as the only way of stopping the regi- ment. The alignment rectified, we faced about, and marched back to our position in common time. On reaching it the regiment halted, faced about, and i-esumed its fire. The path of the regiment was sadly strewn with our fallen. I saw to my surprise that the artillei-y had limbered up, and was moving off the field, and that the infantry was gone, saw our regi- ment, which was gallantly holding the ground, far to the left. The Con- federates had advanced until I could see above the smoke their battle-flags where the artillery had been posted. I ordered a retreat; but the men 266 - REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. either could not Iiear or would not heed the order. I was finally obliged to take hold of the color-bearer, face him about, and tell him to follow me to get the regiment from the field. They fell back slowly, firing in re- treat, and encouraging each other not to run."(') The Union troops fell back to a strong position on a hill and spent the night, retreating the next day to Cedar Creek. Breckinridge made no attempt to follow. The Union loss was 482 killed and wounded, and 250 who were taken prisoners. Affairs in the Shenandoah had been so badly managed by Sigel that General Hunter was appointed to command the Department. Reinforcements were sent him increasing his force to 8500 men, with twenty-one guns. General Hunter received orders from General Grant to push on if pos- sible to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, and destroy the railroads and canals. General Hunter, wishinar to move rapidly, determined to May 26, 1864. . . i ^ • i .* j j ^i take no large supply-tram, but to depend upon tlie country for food. He allowed very little baggage. He forbade pillaging, but all food was to be collected by authorized officers, and all citizens who were loyal to the United States were to be paid for the articles taken. A sup- ply-train moving down the turnpike from Martinsburg was captured by Confederate guerillas and destroyed. Had Hunter issued his orders for living upon the country he could not have advanced. Immediately after the battle of New Market, General Lee, finding that General Grant was moving to the North Anna, ordered General Breckin- ridge to hasten to his assistance. Quite likely General Lee tliought that as General Sigel had been defeated there would be no immediate move- ment of Union troops in the Shenandoah, but General Hunter moved on to New Market, Harrisburg, and Piedmont. At daybreak the Union troops were on the march, the cavalry in ad- vance. Not far from Piedmont they came upon a body of Confederates. Gen. William E. Jones, with about five thousand men, had June 5, 1864. ^ ^ ^ .. -j.- J.^ • ^ i ^ i selected a strong position, thrown up intrenchments, and was ready for a battle. It was seven o'clock in the morning when the Union skirmishers advanced, but they found that the Confederates were also advancing. The LTnion soldiers could hear a Confederate band play- ing the Marseillaise Hymn. Grandly its strains floated out upon the morn- insf air, minslino- with the reverl)eratin2^ echoes of the cannonade. General Jones concentrated the most of his troops against the right of the Union line ; and General Hunter, discovering it, sent Thoburn's brigade to its support. The Thirty-fourth Massachusetts was sent through fields and woods, and fell upon the flank of the Confederates. The Union troops THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 267 pressed on with great vigor, and in fiv^e minutes nearly sixty of that regi- ment were killed or wounded. A lialf-hour and the battle was over, the Confederates defeated, losing more than one thousand in killed, wounded, and prisoners — the Confederate commander being numbered among the killed. By this victory the troops of Crook and Av^erill were enabled to join Hunter at Staunton, giving him an army of eighteen thousand, and thirty guns. At Staunton were factories wdiich supplied the Confederate army with saddles, harnesses, clothing, and shoes, all of which were destroyed, too;ether with six miles of the railroad-track. General Hunter waited several days at Staunton for supplies of cloth- ing and shoes for Crook's troops. It w^ould have been far better if he had hastened on at once to Lynchburg, as we shall see. Through a wide and beautiful valley the troops of Hunter went on to Lexington. Some of the cadets fired upon the Union soldiers from the buildino;s of the Military Institute, whereupon the buildino-s June 10, 1864. , '^ _ , "^ . , ' . ^ ... , . , , , were burned, together with several iron -mills which had been manufacturing iron for the Confederate Government. John Letcher, who was Governor of Virginia in 1861, and who did what he could to bring about the secession of the State, published a proclamation calling upon the people to become guerillas, and then ignominiously fled, where- upon General Hunter issued an order to burn his house. Several canal- boats loaded with supplies, and six cannon, were captured. The Union cavalry under Duffie, after the battle of Piedmont, followed the fleeing Confederates to Waynesboro, but finding them intrenched, turned south, crossed the Blue Ridge by Tye River Gap, reached Amherst, moved on to Arrington Station, on the railroad leading from Charlottesville to Lynch- burg, and tore up the track. The Confederate cavalry under Imboden came upon him, and there was a sharp engagement, resulting in the repulse of the Confederates, who lost one hundred men, four hundred horses, and a portion of their wag- ons. Turning back, Duffie recrossed the Blue Ridge at White's Gap, re- joining General Hunter at Lexington June 13th. It was startling news that reached General Lee at Cold Harbor — the defeat of Jones at Piedmont. Breckinridge's troops were sent back with all possible speed to Lynchburg, a vital point to General Lee. It is on the James River, in a rich and fertile section. It had numerous manufactories and flouring-mills. If General Hunter were to take it, the Confederate army and the people of Richmond would be cut off from a large portion of their supplies. The emergency was so critical that he directed General 268 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. Early, commanding Stonewall Jackson's old troops, to make all haste west- ward. The fortifications at Cold Harbor had been made so strong that he could hold them with Longstreet's and Hill's corps and the troops that had come from tlie sonth. So it came abont that Early's troops were quietly withdrawn and started westward. As the railroad to Gordonsville had been destroyed, tliey were obliged to march ; but they had learned un- der Stonewall Jackson how to make long marches, and thought nothing of making twenty miles a day. While Hunter was w\aiting at Lexington for Dnffie's return and for a wagon-train of shoes and clothing and ammuni- tion, a rich opportunity for him was passing away. But the Union troops were not all idle. General Averill, command- ing a division of cavalry, reached Buchanan. The Confederate cavalry under McCausland was there, but was driven. McCausland, thinking to prevent the Union cavalry from following him, set the bridge crossing the James on fire, against the wishes of the citi- zens. Eleven buildings were burned. The Union troops did what they could to save the other buildings. General Hunter's scouts informed him that Breckinridge had returned with his two brigades, and was holding Rock Fish Gap and the road to Charlottesville. The prisoners taken by Duffie said that a large body of Confederates was coming from Lee's army to hold Lynchbnrg. They also said that Sheridan had been defeated by the Confederate cavalry at Louisa Court-house. What should General Hunter do? If he were to advance directly towards Charlottesville he would encounter Breckinridge, with six or eight thousand, in Rock Fish Gap ; but there were no Confederates to oppose his direct march to Lynch- burg. He decided to make a rapid march to Buchanan, twenty-four miles from Lexington, and thence cross the Bhie Ridge and reach Lynchburg if possible before the arrival of Early. While the army was marching from Lexington to Buchanan two hun- dred Union cavalrymen on good horses were moving from Buchanan across the ridge to Amherst. If they had torn up a mile or two of track they would have rendered great service ; but without doing much damage to the railroad, they turned south-east, reached James River, crossed it below Lynchburg, came to the Southside Railroad, tore up a portion of the track, burned two trains of cars at Concordia Station, turned west, and rejoined Hunter at Liberty, thus riding round Lynchburg. The Union army, the while, was crossing the Blue Ridge. At four o'clock in the morning the reveille was sounded, and the June 15, 1864. , .11 -mi • ^ troops began to wind up tlie mountain. I hose in the rear could see the column far above them, and hear the rumbling of the artil- THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 269 lery; those above could look down upon the long line stretching far awaj. Tlie road was narrow, its windings frequent. Some of the wag- ons were lost by rolling down the almost perpendic- ular clilfs. Gue- rillas lired on the troops from behind rocks. Slow and tedious the ascent, but at night the troops encamped upon the summit. The Union army was march- ing through Liber- ty eastward. The cavalry under Crook was tearing up the rails on the road leading to East Ten- nessee from Liberty to Big Otter Creek, bui-ning the ties and bending the rails. Two hun- dred wagons were leaving Liberty for Lewiston, on the Great Kanawha, guarded by sol- diers from Ohio, June 16, 1864. 270 EEUEEMING THE REPUBLIC. returning home, their term of service ended. In the afternoon the Union cavalry found tlie forces of Imboden and McCauslaud disputing their advance. Hunter was within four miles of Lynchburg. Averill's cannon opened fire upon the Confederates. Crook came to Averill's assistance, charged, and captured two cannon. Through the afternoon the Union June 17, 1864. , ,. , , , ., i , • i i • , soldiers could hear railroad-trains, and when night came, with its stillness, they could hear the people cheering Early's troops, who were being whirled into the city from Charlottesville. During the night the Confederates were constructing intrenchments. The first glimmer of dawn was lighting the eastern horizon when the Union troops were aroused from sleep. A little later the June 18, 1864. ... , ^ /-, i i * -n , • , artillery began. Crook and Averill were upon the right, Duftie upon the left. The pickets began a fusillade, and then came a sharp contest, the Confederates charging but meeting a repulse, some of the Union troops following them to their breastworks, losing two hundred men. General Hunter saw that the opportunity for capturing Lynchburg had passed. His provisions were nearly gone ; the last piece of hard-bread had been eaten. lie had only six ounces of flour per day for the men. "No fires to-night," was the order. The sun went down behind the peaks of Otter, and darkness settled over the valley. Silently the Union troops departed, the pickets remaining till near midnight. General Hunter saw that he could not well retreat down the valley of the Shenandoah ; for if he took that direction, the Confederates, by using the railroad, would be able to reach the valley before him and block his way. He decided to re- treat down the valley of the Great Kanawha. AYhile on the march, the Confederate cavalry under McCauslaud came suddenly upon the artillery- train. ISTo infantry were at hand, and the Confederates cut out three pieces before being repulsed. So many horses had been lost that five other cannon had to be abandoned. Supplies were gone. There was little food in the mountain region. Men dropped by the road-side, weary and faint from marching. "• Hun- dreds of my men are starving," said General Crook. A Union officer wrote thus in his diary : " Started at three this morn- ing and halted about noon, when meat and a little coffee were issued. The boys look so gaunt and are so liuno:ry, it makes our hearts June 27, 1864. , ^^ . , , i -r i n r i £ ache to see them. At the halt I saw two dollars refused for one small griddle-cake." C) The soldiers were without food on one occasion for two days. During r GENERAL CUSTER. THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 273 • the last week of the march they had one ounce of flour only per day, and a little meat. In this movement against Lynchburg the soldiers marched nearly six hundred miles, and suffered bitter hardships, besides fighting three battles. A soldier wrote this to his mother : " Seven days after leav- ing Salem we were in the mountains and woods, not a house within ten miles. We had no bread, no meat, no nothing. The men grew poor and thin. When I looked into a glass for the first time I was startled at the change. I hardly knew myself. My face was black and thin, my eyes large, and of such expression they looked as if they would eat me up.''^*) We have seen that General Hunter was directed to move upon Char- lottesville and Lynchburg. General Grant, with this in mind, directed General Sheridan to move in that direction, destroy the Virginia Central Kailroad, meet Hunter at Charlottesville, and retire with him to the Army of the Potomac. General Sheridan started with two divisions, marching north, crossing the North Anna at Carpenter's Ford, on the road to Trevilian's Depot. General Lee learned of Sheridan's departure, and sent Hampton and Fitz-Hugh Lee with the Confederate cavalry, to see what he was intend- ing to do. When evening came, on the night of June 10th, Sheridan was north- east of Trevilian's. Hampton, with his division, was in Green Spring Yallev, three miles north-west of the depot, and Fitz-Hugli June 10, 1864. -_ t • r-, i • -i f c- • * , Lee at Louisa Court-house, six miles south-east ot it. About half-way between the railroad and Carpenter's Ford was a little store, owned by Mr. Clayton, from which a road ran to Louisa Court-house. Hampton decided to move from Spring Valley to the depot, and thence to Clayton's. Fitz-Hugh Lee was to join him there, and together they would attack the Union cavalry. General Sheridan's men were early in the saddle, moving west. Hampton was also on the move at three o'clock. Just as day was break- insc, Torbert's division came ao-ainst Hampton's. The meet- June 11. 1864. . °' . ... 1 -r. r , -, X- , ^ n ^ ing was in thick woods, Uutler s and i oung s Coniederate brigades being on the main road, and Rosser's on a parallel road farther north. The Confederates had dismounted, and were making a breast- work of fence-rails. General Sheridan quickly decided to send General Custer to gain Hampton's rear. He directed Gregg to fall upon Fitz-Hugh Lee, while Torbert was to confront Hampton. • Custer made his way through the woods and attacked with vigor, capturing Rosser's supply-train, and seizing fifteen hundred of the horses of the men who had dismounted to meet 18 274 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Torbert. Cnster turned tliein over to tlie Fifth Michigan Regiment to take hack to Sheridan ; but Hampton intercepted the escort, recaptured most of the horses, and seized Custer's own headquarters wagon. Most of the escort readied Sheridan, and reported what had liappened. Custer found himself surrounded. He had only four small regiments and four cannon, but fought his way out. The Confederates charged upon Pen- nington's battery and seized one cannon. "I have lost one of my guns,'' said Captain Pennington. "We will see," said Custer. "Charge!" he shouted, and sixty cavalrymen, led by himself, went tearing across the field, cutting down the Confederates ai'ound the cannon. " Here is your gun, take it," said Custer. Through the day the strife went on, Gregg pushing Fitz-Hugh Lee, while Sheridan, dismounting Torbert's men, assailed Hampton's troops behind their breastworks, carrying them, and driving the Confederates back upon Custer, capturing nearly five hundred prisoners. The loss on both sides was very heavy. Hampton and Fitz-Hugh Lee fell back tow- ards Gordonsville. General Sheridan learned from the prisoners that Breckinridge was at Gordonsville. They said that Early was on his way to Lynchburg to head off Hunter. Slieridan's horses were laded : there was little June 12, 1864. , , , -, i i i- ^ i forage to be had, and the supphes oi the country were so ex- hausted that he could not support his troops. As he could learn nothing directly concerning Hunter he decided to rejoin General Grant. AVe have seen that the victor}^ of General Hunter at Piedmont was won on June 5th, that the escaping Confederates fled towards Waynes- boro. It is only a good day's march- from that town to Charlottesville. We can now see that if General Hunter, instead of moving to Staunton after the battle of Piedmont, had vigorously followed the fleeing Confed- erates he would have reached Waynesboro on the next day before the arrival of Breckinridge. Then tearing up the railroad between Charlottes- ville and Lynchburg, he would have been free to move on ; but by turn- ing towards Staunton, waiting for the arrival of a wagon-train, and the tarry at Lexington, enabled Lee to send Early, and thus foil him at Lynch- burg and compel him to retreat down the Great Kanawha. Thus an army of fifteen thousand men was rendered useless for service for several weeks at a moment when, if he had taken the route to Charlottesville the day after the victory at Piedmont, he would have been of inestimable service to General Grant. The time had come for a bold movement on the part of the Confeder- ates. When General Lee sent Early to head ofl: Hunter he contemplated THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 277 a Jarger movement, the menacing of Washington. Hunter was retreating down the vallej of the Kanawha, towards Ohio; there were no Union troops in the Shenandoah. Early had seventeen thousand troops, veter- ans who had been in many battles, and who were inured to hardships, four divisions — Ramseur's, Echols's, Rodes's, and Gordon's — between forty and fifty cannon, and a large force of cavalry, with few Union troops to oppose him. General Early saw that he could choose his own course and made quick preparation. He issued orders to take verv little bas:- June27, 1864. ^ ^^■ ^^ r^ , , , . , gage, compelhng the otiicers to carry whatever clothing they might need. He knew that he would find cattle, flour, corn, and supplies in abundance, and so was not hampered by long trains of wagons. On the 27th he started from Staunton. The roads were in excellent order. Im- boden, with his division of cavalry, swept on in advance, crossing !N^orth Mountain, moving to tear up the track of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad M'est of Martinsburg, burning bridges so that Hunter, when he reached the Ohio, could not be whirled through Wheeling eastward to gain his rear. General Sigel was at Martinsburo^, with a few troops, e-uard- Julv 2 1864 ing the large amount of Government supplies stored in that town. When the Union scouts informed him that Early was on the march, he telegraphed to Baltimore for cars and removed the supplies. When the Confederate cavalry dashed into town they found empty warehouses, no engines or cars to be destroyed, and the Union troops retreating tow- ards Shepherdstown. Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, of Baltimore, command- ed a division of Confederate cavalry, and dashed towards Leetown in jDur- suit of Sigel, but was confronted by Colonel Mulligan, who held him in check till Sigel, with his trains, was on the north bank of the Potomac, holding Maryland Heights. General Weber held Harper's Ferry, and also retreated across the Potomac. To prevent the Confederates from using the railroad bridge, one span was destroyed. When Early's troops attempted to take possession of the village of Harper's Ferry they were driven back by the fire of the Union cannon on Maryland Heights. Sigel had about six thousand men, two veteran regiments, four regiments of militia from Ohio, twenty-five hundred dismounted cavalry, and between forty and fifty cannon. In addition, there was a brigade of cavalry, under General Stahl, in Pleasant Yalley. The Confederate cavalry crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown, moved over the battle-field of Antietain, and dashed into Hagerstown, made a requisition for twenty thousand dollars^ burned a great deal of hay and grain, creating a panic among the people, who collected their cattle and horses and started them in droves north- ward into Pennsylvania. Many of the farmers packed their household 278 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. goods into wagons, and hastened away from tlieir houses. General Early intended to advance towards Washington directly from Harper's Ferry, but could not do it because the Union troops held Maryland Heights. He found every approach swept by the artillery, and was compelled to move north to Sharpsburg and Boonsborough, and then eastward over South Mountain to Frederick. The military authorities in Washington thought that it was only a small raiding party of Confederates. General Grant supposed that after the retreat of Hunter General Lee would recall Early to the defence of Richmond ; when he learned the state of affairs, he offered to send an army corps ; but Gen- " ■■ "' ' eral Halleclc thought that if Grant would send np the cav- alrymen who had lost their horses, they would be all the troops needed. General Grant thought otherwise, and sent not only the dismounted cav- alry but Ricketts's division of the Sixth Corps. The dismounted cavalry were of little account, most of them being sick or convalescents from the hospitals. The troops of the Sixth Corps embarked on a steamer at City Point, went down the James and up the Chesapeake to Baltimore ; for General Halleck was in doubt whether Early was intending to attack Washington or the former city. While the steamboats were on their way np the Chesapeake, Gen. Lew Wallace, in command at Baltimore, sent what few troops he had westward to Monocacy River, near Frederick, as they would be in ^' ^ ' ' position along that stream to confront Early in his move- ments towards either city. The Eighth Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Clendennis, made a reconnoissance to Frederick, and thence along the turnpike towards Middleton. They encountered the division of General Johnson. There was a sharp skirmish, ending in the falling back of the Union troops to Frederick, the Confederates to Middleton. General Wallace had only a handful of troops who had been hastily collected from the forts around Baltimore and along the railroads — twenty- live hundred — many of them soldiers who had enlisted for ' ' ' one hundred days, and who never had been in battle. They were commanded by General Tyler. Soon after sunrise a train of freight cars came from Baltimore bringing a portion of General Ricketts's divis- ion of the Sixth Corps from Petersburg. The cars came to a standstill outside the city; the soldiers, weary with their all-night ride, kindled fires and cooked their coffee, and then marched across fields, threw up breastworks, then were marched to another field. General Wallace kept THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 279 them moving, with the design of deceiving Earlj as to his numbers, hop- ing to delay the advance of the Confederates till the arrival of the whole of Ricketts's division. ('") Gleneral Early was cautiously advancing towards Frederick. There was skirmishing between the cavalry, the Union troops retreating towards the Monocacy, and the Confederates entering the city, helping themselves to boots, shoes, clothing, bacon, and flour. General Early demanded two hundred thousand dollars in money, which was paid him. During the EARLY S MOVEMENT TO WASHINGTOX. day the entire force of Ricketts's division arrived, giving General "Wallace six thousand men and six cannon, against twenty thousand Confederates and forty cannon. The morning dawned, with the little force under General Wallace posted along the banks of the winding Monocacy. The troops under General Tyler held the right of the Union line. Upon no July 9, 1864. •,,.,,,. , o i i, f. j- other rield durmg the war was there such a collection oi odds and ends of regiments marshalled to fight a battle, which might 2S0 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. result in consequences of vital moment to the parties; for if Early slionld sweep this little line of men from their position by such an onset as those same Confederate regiments had made at Chancellorsville under Jackson, there would be no other Union force to oppose his entrance to the capital of the United States. The troops of Tyler were — the Third Regiment of Potomac Home Guards, Eleventh Maryland Regiment, seven companies of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth, three companies of the One Hun- dred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Militia, two hundred and fifty Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Captain Lieb's battalion of one hundred mounted infantry, Cap- tain Brown's company of one hundred Maryland Home Guards, Captain Alexander with three cannon — these, numbering, in all, twenty-five hun- dred, extended from the stone bridge across the Monocacy on the Balti- more turnpike southward, a distance of more than two miles. Only the men of the Eighth Cavalry -had ever been in battle. General Ricketts's line covered another mile, from the railroad bridge south. General Early moved out from Frederick with Rodes's division marching down the turn- pike leading to Baltimore ; Ramseur's division took the road leading to Washington, while Gordon marched through the fields nearer the Potomac River, to cross the Monocacy, turn Ricketts's flank, and win the battle. General Wallace placed a body of skirmishers on the west bank of the river to harass the Confederate advance. AVlien closely pressed, they were to retreat across the wooden bi'idge, which was to be set on fire so that the Confederates should not use it. The Union troops, from their position on the east bank, could see the long lines of Confederates, three times their own number, deploying in the green meadows and trampling down the fields of wheat ripe for the reaper. It was a beautiful spectacle, as the veterans' ranks filed from the turnpike, their battle -flags waving in the summer breeze, the sun- light glinting from their bayonets. So many of them were dressed in blue uniforms captured from the Union army that some of the Home Guards in the Union ranks could hardly be persuaded to fire upon them, confi- dently believing that they were Union soldiers, and not till they saw them fire could they believe that they were Confederates. (") It was a great surprise to Mr. C. K. Tliomas that Saturday morning to find that a battle was to be fought on his farm — to see the men of the Tenth Vermont and Fifty-first New York regiments standing in line of battle around his buildings and beneath his peach-trees. It was a large brick house, and instead of fleeing, Mrs. Thomas and the family remained to cook bread and do what they could for the soldiers, and find shelter in the cellar when the battle began. THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 281 The Confederate cannon sent their shells into the ranks of the Union troops. It was a feeble fire which the six Union guns made to the six bat- teries opposing them. It was half-past ten when the Confederates advanced, and it was a surprise to them when a steady volley was poured into their ranks by the veterans of the Sixth Corps. Their ofiicers had informed them that they would meet only the Home Guards. The volleys were given by the Tenth Vermont and One Hundredth New York, and were so destructive that the Confederates fell back with disordered ranks. Again the Confederates advanced. A Union officer says of the second attempt : " The second charge and repulse was a grand scene, such as made the blood tingle in our veins. It was in marked contrast to Petersburg rifle- pit style of fighting. Here our men had the advantage of position, acting on the defensive, with fair protection, an open field, and a full view. . . . About 10.30 the long wooden bridge at my left over the river was burned by order of General Wallace, to guard against a flank attack upon General Eicketts."('=) A portion of General Ricketts's troops — nearly three regiments — were several miles in the rear. They were sent for, but did not make an ap- pearance upon the field. General Wallace says : " I could probably have retired without much trouble, as the rebels were badly punished. The main object of the battle was unaccomplished — their strength not yet developed." From eleven o'clock till past two in the afternoon the contest went on sharply between the skirmishers. Gordon's division was making its turn- ing movement, fording the Monocacy and marching to gain AVallace's left flank. The Union troops changed position to present a front line to Gor- don, who turned north-east after crossing the stream. It was past three when the white -heat of battle came on between Ricketts and Gordon. Ricketts was obliged to j)ivot the right flank of his division on the Mono- cacy, to prevent Ramseur from crossing. The Confederate artillery on the west bank sent a storm of shells into Ricketts's ranks, partly enfi- lading the line. General Tyler, the while, was resolutely confronting Rodes, who made no great effort to cross the stream, knowing that Gor- don's movement would soon put to flight the Union troops, so few in number, comparatively, to Early's. Wallace, seeing the line could not be held, ordered Ricketts to retire. Rodes made a rush upon the Union troops holding the bridge, several hundred of whom were caj)tured, their retreat being cut off by Gordon. Had they been withdrawn ten minutes earlier they would have escaped. Wallace fell back along the turnpike 282 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. to New Market, tlie Con- federates making no pur- suit in that direction, but preparing to advance upon Washington. The battle was stubbornly fought on the part of the Union troo2)S, who lost nearly two thousand in killed, wounded, and missing. Nearly seven hundred were captured by Early. It is supposed that the Confederates lost nearly one thousand in killed and wounded. The stand thus resolutely made by Wallace when he knew that he was vast- ly outnumbered, and the advantages gained by de- laying Early in advan- cing upon Washington, were incalculable. There was no panic in the ranks of the Sixth Corps as they retreated from the field. Wallace brought off his six cannon. Early had gained a victory, but at great comparative loss. With the break of day, while the birds were singing their morning songs, the Confederate trooj^s were astir, the long colunm moving down the Georgetown turnpike towards the nation's capital. In Baltimore the church bells were clanging, calling the citizens, not to worship, but to the fortifications erected for the defence of the city, Wallace had fallen back to Ellicott's Mills, leaving the road open for Early to march to Washington. The Confederate cavalry under Johnson, who came from Maryland, and who knew all the roads, were sweeping north- ward to Westminster and eastward to the railroad leading from Baltimore to Harrisburg, tearing up the track, capturing mules and horses, and send- ins them south to the fords of the Potomac at Edwards Ferrv, and hasten- ing droves of cattle into Virginia. The Confederates rode north-east of Baltimore, came to the long bridge at Gunpowder Eiver, captured two BATTLE OF MONOCACY. July 10, 1864. THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 283 trains of passenger cars, backed the trains upon tlie bridge, and set bridge and cars on fire. They burned Governor Bradford's liouse. This was done by men who before tlie war were citizens of Maryhmd — a State which had not seceded from tlie Union — who could not plead, as could the people of the Southern States, that they were defending the i-ights of their respective States. The troops wliich destroyed the bridge and cars were led by Harry Gilmor, a citizen of Maryland. At the beginning of the campaign. General Grant, foreseeing that he would need reinforcements in his great contest with General Lee, had ordered the corps commanded by General Emory, which had been a year in Louisiana, to embark at New Orleans for Fortress Monroe. Was it chance alone that brought the troops of that command to Fortress Monroe at the moment when they were most needed ? The steamships transport- ing these veterans reached Fortress Monroe, and were sent up the Poto- mac to Washington. Tlie telegraph, a few hours after the battle of Mo- nocacy, flashed the news to General Grant, who instantly ordered the remaining division of the Sixth Corps to hasten to Washington. I was at City Point when they arrived, after a march of fourteen miles from the trenches. Steam was hissing from the escape-pipes of the steamers lying at the wharves. Without breaking step, the bronzed veterans filed across the gang-planks, the cable was cast off, and the wheels turned and the vessels disappeared down the James. In Washington, on that Sunday, men were hurrying here and there, orderlies and lieutenants riding in hot haste. Gen. C. C. Augur was in command. He issued orders to gather up the convalescents from the hos- pitals, the soldiers on detached service, the marines and sailors from the Navy Yard, the militia, the clerks in the quartermaster's department. These, together with the veteran reserves and the heavy artillerymen, numbered nearly twenty thousand ; but they w^ere widely scattered and could not readily be concentrated. The chances were that Early, by a de- termined assault, would somewhere break through the line of intrench- ment and make his way into the city. Down the James and up the Potomac steamed the vessels bearing the men of the Sixth Corps, reaching the wharves in Washington at the foot of Sixth Street at two o'clock in the afternoon. As the Jiilv 11, 1864. 1 1 1 1 1 T steamers came to the dock tlie soldiers saw a tall man stand- ing there to welcome them — Abraham Lincoln — and they rent the air with their cheers. The great ocean steamer from New Orleans, with eight hun- dred men on board, came in at the same moment. Rested and refreshed, the soldiers marched down the gang-plank and up Seventh Street, amid 284: KEDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. THE DEFENCES OF WASHINGTON. the waving of handkerchiefs from every door, and tlie air ringing witli the cheers of the people, who drew long breaths once more as they beheld the veterans who were to defend the nation's capital. On Sunday morning, after burying the dead at Monocacy and send- ino; the wounded to Frederick, the Confederates started for Washington, marching twenty miles and halting for the night near liockville, the Con- federate cavalry under McCausland having a sharp skirmish with the Sixteenth Pennsylvania and a portion of the Eighth Illinois, the Union troops driving the Confederates. Early had detailed Ramseur's division to guard his rear, and now Sigel's cavalry from Harper's Ferry was pick- ing up stragglers from his ranks. Early saw that he must advance rapidly if he would seize the capital, and soon after daybreak on Monday his troops were moving on. At nine o'clock the Confederate cavalry were at Tenallytown, north of Georgetown ; and the infantry, a little later, look- ing across the fields, could see the white and unfinished dome of the Cap- itol gleaming in the mid-day sun. The day was hot, and Early's men began THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 285 to droop. During a period of thirty days they liad marclied from Cold Harbor to Lynchburg, from Lyncliburg to Harper's Ferry, from there to Boonsborough, from Boonsborough to Monocacy, had fought a battle, and now were at Washington. They had suffei'ed great hardship, and could not longer march under the blazing sun. The Union cavalry fell back, and formed a picket line in front of the fortifications. The men of the Sixth Corps, while marching down the gang-plank, heard the booming of the 32-pounder cannon in Fort Stevens, out on Seventh Street, announcing the advance of the Confederates. Un- der the vigorous fire of the great guns the Confederate skirmishers came to a halt. Fort Stevens and Fort De Russey stood west of Seventh Street, and Fort Slocum east of it. There was a deep, wooded ravine between Forts Stevens and De Russey, with Rock Creek winding through it. The forts M^ere so situated that if the Confederates were to carry either of them it could be swept by the fire of the others. It was two o'clock when the Sixth Corps and the troops of the Nineteenth latided. Two hours later General Wright was in Fort Stevens surveying the ground, and his troops were filing into the fields. General Early's opportunity had gone by. Never was a Confederate army to march triumphantly through the streets, or to fiing out the flag of the Confederacy as an emblem of sovereignty and power above the dome of the nation's capitol. General Early says : " The day was so exceedingly^ hot, even at a very early hour in the morning, and the dust was so dense, that many of the men fell by the way, and it became necessary to slacken our pace. When we reached the fortifications the men were completely exhausted, and not in condition to make the attack. ... I determined to make the assault, but before it could be made it became evident that the enemy had been strongly reinforced. . . . After consultation with my division commander I became satisfied that the assault, even if successful, w^ould be attended with great sacrifice, or would insure the destruction of my whole force before the victory could be made available, and if unsuccessful would necessarily have resulted in the loss of the whole force." ('^) There was a dripping fire from the skirmishers in front of Fort Stevens ; but General Early showed no signs of bringing on a battle. General Wrio-ht, commandino; the Sixth Corps, determined July 12, 1864. . ^, \ . -, n .i • i n to attack. The heavy cannon in the forts sent their shells upon the Confederates in the fields and orchards on the farm of Mr. Rives. General Wright and Abraham Lincoln stood on the parapet of Fort Ste- vens, together with several ladies who had come from Washington in car- 286 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. riages to see a battle. It was two o'clock in the afternoon when Getty's division, commanded by General Wheaton, moved out from Fort Stevens, Bidwell's brigade driving the Confederate skirmishers. The rattling fire deepened into volleys of musketry ; the battle going on till sunset, the Confederates falling back, and during the night retreating to Rockville, signalling their departure by burning the house of Mr. Blair, one of the members of President Lincoln's Cabinet. The Union force at Washington was not strong enough to march out and bring on a pitched battle, nor was General Early disposed to engage in such a contest. He had come to seize the capital, but had been foiled in his efforts. Had he hastened on after crossing the Potomac, instead of lingering at Boonsborough and Frederick, there would have been no battle at Monocacy, and the chances were that he would have been able CONFEDERATES RETKEATLNG ACROSS THE POTOMAC WITH THEIR PLUNDER. to seize the intrenchments. Had he entered the city he doubtless would have committed great havoc, but quite likely, in the end, would have lost his army through the closing around him of Union troops from every quarter. The Confederates were making their way to the fords of the Potomac with a drove of horses and cattle which they had taken from the people of Maryland. It was time for Early to be irone, for had he July 13, 1804. . *^, , , r.. ^ -, TT 111 remained a day or two longer, Sigel and Hunter would Jiave been closing in upon him from the west. Hunter, upon reaching the Ohio River after his retreat down the Kanawha, embarked his troops on steam- boats, ascended the river to Wheeling, and they were on their way east- ward over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The force closing around Early from the west and from Washington was much larger than his own. Had he lingered, it is probable that his army would soon have been scat- THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH. 287 tered to the winds. He had lost heavily at Monocacy and in the engage- ment at Fort Stevens. His troops were weary. He had gathered laro-e herds of cattle and horses, much corn and flour; but he had not brought about what the Confederate Government hoped would be the result of the movement — tlie withdrawal of Grant from Peterdbu rg or the capture of Washington. NOTES TO CHAPTER X. ' ) E. Pond, " Shenaodoali Valley," p. 12. '■') J. S. Wise, Centuvi) Magazine, .January, 1889. 3) Lieutenant-colonel Ship, "Report of the Battle of New Market," p. 7. *) General Breckinridge's Report. ^) J. S. Wise, Century Magazine, January, 1889. ") General Imboden's Report. ^) Colonel Wells's Letter to Governor Andrew, Massachusetts Archives. '*) "History of Thirty-fourth ^lassachusetts Regiment," p. 230. ') Sergeant-major Black, "History of Thirty -fourth Massachusetts Regiment" p. 324. '") Capt. George Davis's Paper read before Stannard Post No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, Burlington, Vt. ") Idem. '■-) Idem. '^) Geu. J. A. Earlj^ "Memoir of the Last Year of the War," p. 58. 288 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. CHAPTEK XI. THE " ALABAMA " AND " KEARSARGE. " IT was on a Sunday morning in August, 1S62, that the Confederate flag was hoisted above the decks of the Alahcuna. In "Marching to Vic- tory " (chaps, ii., iii.), the story of the building of that vessel in England and her departure has been told. Her career as a destroyer August 24, 1862. . ^ , -, . , , ,• ^t ^^ -i i 01 vessels belongmg to the merchants ot JNew l ork and !Rew England began on that Sunday morning, three miles from one of the islands of the Azores. Up to that hour the Alabama had been the British ship Envica. Captain Seinmes stepped upon a gun-carriage, read the commission which he had received from Jeiferson Davis appointing him a captain in the Confederate navy, and then the Confederate flag rose to the peak. "This vessel henceforth is to be called the Alahama^'' he said. The of- ficers and crew uncovered their heads. The flag of England came down, and the flag of the Confederacy floated in the sunshine. ( ' ) Up to that moment the Alahama had no crew. The men 'on board had been shipped for a trip to the West Indies, a reckless set, who cared little what might become of them. Captain Semmes made a speech. Those who might desire to go back to England could do so ; but if they would ship with him on the Alahama, there would be plenty of excitement and adventure ; they would destroy a great many vessels ; there would be no end of plnnder ; they would have prize-money paid them in gold, voted them by the Confederate Congress. Tlie temptation of prize-mone}^ glit- tered in their imaginations, and eighty out of ninety enlisted. This is what Semmes said : " The democratic part of the proceedings closed as soon as the articles were signed. It was the last public meeting ever held on board the Alahama, and no other stump speech was ever made to the crew. When I wanted a man to do anything after this, I did not talk to him of nationalities, liberties, or double wages, but gave him a rather sharp order, and if it was not obeyed on the dojible-quick, the delinquent found himself in limbo. Democracies may do for land, but THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEAKSARGE. 289 rnonarclaes, and pretty absolute monarchies, are tlie only successful gov- ernments at sea."(") Thus, off the Azores, the Alahama began her career, spreading her sails and starting her engines, to destroy the unarmed ships of the North- ern merchants, in order to build a government and establish a nation which should be an aristocracy," with slavery as its foundation, Tlie offi- cers were nearly all from the South, but the men were mostly English, Welsh, or Irish. What was the status of this vessel thus flying the Confederate flag, and how shall she be classified ? Semmes had a commission as captain in the Confederate navy. The Alahama was an English-built vessel ; she never THE "ALABAMA." had been in a Confederate port; her crew were English; her guns were made in English founderies ; her engines in an Englisli machine-shop ; all her supplies were from England ; the powder in her magazine, the shot in lier locker, Avere of English manufacture. She was English built, equipped, and manned. The next day the man upon the lookout aloft sang out : " Sail, ho !" It was the whaling ship Ocmulgee, wliich had captured a whale, and the crew were cutting out the blubber. Little did the men at work think that the neat, new, and trim steamer approaching them with the Stars and Stripes, which had been run up by Semmes, instead of the flag of the Con- federacy, was a privateer. When the Alabama was close upon the whaler 19 290 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. the Stars and Stripes came down, and tlie other went np. No need for sucli strategy, for the Ocmulgee could not have escaped. But it was Captain Senunes's way. In a few minutes all the valuable articles to be found on the ship, together with the crew, numbering thirty-seven, were transferred to the Alabama, and then the torch was applied, and the ship was quickly a mass of flame. The Alabama ran near one of the small islands, landed the captured crew, paroling them as if they had been captured from a ship-of-war. While the prisoners were being sent on shore, the man aloft shouted once more "Sail, ho!" The schooner Stadight, which had just left the port of Fayal for Boston, was passing the island with several ladies on board. The Alabama, \'\kQ. a fox stealing upon a lamb, hoisted the English flag, and ran out to capture the ship. The Starlight, unsuspicious of danger, kept on her course till a gun suddenly flamed. It was a blank shot. The cap- tain of the Starlight, instead of rounding to, thought that he could get within three miles of land, where he would be safe from capture, under international law, and kept on till a shot came across the deck of the schooner. The captain saw that he could not escape. The schooner's liead came into the wind, and the sails flapped against the masts. A few minutes later the captain and crew, numbering seven, were in irons on the Alabama. When the Confederate steamer Sumter was at Gibraltar the paymaster of that vessel went over to Tangier, in Africa, where, at the instigation of the American consul, he was arrested and delivered to the consul, under a treaty with Morocco, who sent him to the United States on the ship Harvest Home, the captain of which put him in irons. The arrest and the action of the captain of the ship were unwarranted. Semmes Avas de- termined to be revenged. He would make those unoffending sailors feel his power ; and not only these, but the crews of several other vessels %vere to be treated as if they were felons, thieves, and murderers. Other ves- sels, mostly whalers, were captured and burned. Whales at certain sea- sons of the year frequent the seas around the Azores, where they feed upon the food brought by the Gulf Stream and other ocean currents. Semmes knew that he would find vessels there, and nearly every day a great black column of smoke rose from a burning ship. Having destroyed nearly all the whaling vessels, the Alahama steered north-west, to burn the ships which were can-ying grain from New York to Liverpool. In six Vv'eeks she destroyed seventeen. He sent the crews to the Azores, and the ships to the bottom of the sea. One of the ships was the Tonawanda, with a large number of passengers, several of whom THE "ALABAMA" AND " KEARSARGE." 291 were women. Senimes did not know what to do. He wanted to biirn the vessel, but could not bring so many women on board the Alahmna, for he had no room for them. He kept the ship until he captured another, and then sent the women and the captured crews to Boston. He says : " There being no claim by any neutral for the cargo, both ship and cargo were a good prize of war ; but unfortunately we could not burn the ship witliout encumbering ourselves with the passengers, and thirty of the sixty were women and children. I kept her cruising with me a day or two, hoping that I might fall in with some other ship of the enemy that might be less valuable, or might have a neutral cargo on board, to which I could transfer the passengers, and thus be enabled to burn her."(=') Captain Semmes experienced great pleasure in seeing the flames leap up the rigging of the noble ships which fell into his hands. The motives which animated him to carry on his work of destruction will be seen in the following quotation from his book : "We captured the whaling schooner Courser^ of Provincetown, Mass. Her master was a gallant young- fellow and a fine specimen of a seaman, and if I could have separated him in any way from the universal Yankee nation, I should have been pleased to spare his pretty little craft from the flames, but the thing was impossible. There were too many white-cra- vated, long-haired fellows bawling from the IsTew England pulpits, and too many house- burners and pilferers inundating our Southern land, to permit me to be generous ; and so I steeled my heart, as I had done on a former occasion, and executed the laws of war."(^) He captured the Brilliant, in regard to which he says: "I was much moved by the entreaties of the master to spare his ship. He was a hard- working seaman, who owned one-third of the vessel. He had built her, was attached to her, and she represented all his worldly goods. But I was forced to steel my heart. He was like other masters who had remon- strated with me — in the same boat with the political rascals who had egged on the war, and 1 told him he must look to those rascals for redress. The ship made a brilliant bonfire, lighting up the Gulf Stream for many miles around. Having been set on fire at night, and the wind falling to a calm, we remained in sight of the burning wreck nearly all night." (^) It was charged upon Semmes that he decoyed ships into his power by thus setting those captured on fire at night, so that other ships, seeing the light, would hasten to the rescue of those whom the sailors supposed were in distress. He denies this in his volume, and says that he never lay by a ship longer than to see her well on fire. 292 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. We are not to forget that the South was fighting for the establishment of a government based on slavery. Captain Semmes carried out the idea practically. One of the captives on the Tonawanda was a negro boy, seventeen years old, owned by a gentleman from Delaware, who was on his way to England, and who had taken the boy along as his servant. RAPHAEL SEMMES. Under the laws of that State, the boy would be free when he was twenty- one. He would also be free the moment he reached England. Captain Semmes knew this, but he took the boy for a waiter. This is his reason : " The little State of Delaware, all of whose sympathies were with ns, had been ridden over rough-shod . by the vandals north of her, as Maryland afterwards was, and was arrayed on the side of the enemy. I was obliged. THE "ALABAMA" AND " KEARSARGE." 293 therefore, to treat her as such. The slave was on his way to Europe with his master. He came necessarily under the laws of war, and I brought him on hoard the Alabama, where we were in want of good servants." (°) Captain Semmes had the power, and acted accordingly. Delaware, instead of giving her sympathies to the South, was loyal to the old flag from the beginning. He wanted a servant and took him. It was the spirit of slavery. Having captured a large number of vessels loaded with grain, and knowing that several United States war-ships would soon be after him, Semmes, who did not want to fight, but only to destroy instead, sailed south towards the AVest Indies, capturing, among other ships, the Wales, from India, on which were several ladies. That, however, did not deter him from setting the vessel on fire. He removed the ladies to the Alc(r hama, making his conduct meritorious from the fact that he permitted them to bring on board their wardrobes. One of the ladies was the daugh- ter of a general in the British army, married to an American gentleman, and had three children. What Captain Semmes would have done had he fallen in with the Kearsarge with these captives on board, we do not know; but he had no desire just then to encounter a w^ar vessel. Off St. Domingo the Alabama captured the Parker Cooke, of Boston. The following, from Captain Semmes's book, shows once more the spirit of the commander of the Alabama: "It was sunset, the twilight hour, when the breeze was dying away, that we applied the torch. As we filled away and made sail I could but moralize on the spectacle. Sixty years before, the negro had cut the throat of the white man, ravished his wife and daughters, and burned his dwelling in the island of St. Domingo, now in sight. The white man of another country was now inciting the negro to the perpetration of the same crimes against another white man, whom he called his brother. The white man thus inciting the negro was the Puritan of New England, whose burning ship was lighting up the shores of St, Domingo. "That Puritan, only a generation before, had entered into a solemn league and covenant to restore to the Southern man his fugitive slave, if he should escape into his territory. This was the way he was keeping his 4. plighted faith. Does any one wonder that the Alabama burned New England ships ?"(') Bitterness and hate grow by what they feed on. AVhen Captain Semmes began the work of destruction, in command of the Sumter, there were some qualms of conscience — an unwillingness and reluctance to take a crew from a ship, strip them of all except the clothes on their backs, and 40/ 294 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. consign a noble vessel to flames. There was so much of the highwayman Jibout the transaction that his better nature revolted ; but as vessel after vessel fell into his hands, the reluctance gave place to an unquenchable desire to burn and destroy. His book was written in 1S6D, four years after the war. Were he liv- ing, it is charitable to believe that he would wish it had never been writ- ten ; but it presents a true picture of the motives, feelings, and actions of the men who attempted to build a nation with slavery for its corner-stone. In December, Captain Semmes made his way from the West Indies westward into the Gulf of Mexico. He had two objects in view — one to waylay one of the California steamers, with the expectation of getting possession of a million dollars or inore in gold ; the other, to intercept the expedition under General Banks, on its way to the Mississippi. Captain Semmes put himself in the path of the California steamers, and waited for his prey. He soon had the satisfaction of seeing a large steamer approaching, but it was steering south instead of north ; it was the Ai'iel, bound to Panama, with a great number of passengers, many of wliom were women and children. Captain Semmes says : " I was very anxious to destroy this ship, as she belonged to Mr. Vanderbilt, an old steamboat captain, who had amassed a large fortune in trade, and was a bitter enemy of the South." (*) He kept the Ariel several days, hoping that another ship would come along to take her passengers, so that he could burn her ; but none came, and he was obliged to let the vessel go on her way. The engines of the Alahama were repaired, and her course was taken across the Gulf to Galveston. The story of the engagement with the Hatteras, one of the block- ading fleet, has already been told (" Marching to Victory," p. 39). After the easy victory over a ship that was no match for the Confederate ves- sel, Semmes entered the harbor of Kingston, Jamaica, landed his prisoners, and repaired his ship. Three English war-ships were there, the officers of which received Captain Semmes with great cordiality^ The Alahama had been built in England, and they had a pride in her. The sympathies of the English ofticers were all on the side of the South. They had not for- gotten that the pride of Great Britain had been humbled when the Coii- stitution, in 1812, sent the Guerriere to the bottom of the sea, and all the other victories of that war, which compelled her to resign her title of " Mistress of the Seas." Commerce has its highway on the ocean as well as on the land. Such a path lies along the coast of Brazil, where the ships sailing to that coun- THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEARSARGE." 295 try, together with those that go round Cape Horn, those that come from the East Indies, and the Cape of Good Hope, find favoring winds and cur- rents. Captain Semmes had destroyed the whalers in the region of tlie Azores, the grain ships off Xewfoundhmd, and now he would carry de- struction to the fleets on this great South Atlantic highway. It would not do for him to remain long at Kingston, for in a few days the IS'orth would know it, and it might be difficult to get away. He sailed eastward. One day's sail brought him into the great highway, where he picked up the ship Golden Rule, which was soon in flames. This his exultant ac- count : " The islands of Santo Domingo and Jamaica were sufficiently near for their inhabitants to witness the splendid bonfire which lighted up the heavens soon after dark. A looker-on would have seen a beautiful picture ; for besides the burning ship there were the islands, sleeping in the dreamy moonlight, on the calm bosom of a tropical sea, and the rakish - looking ' British Pirate ' steaming in for land, with every spar and line of cord- age brought out in bold relief by the bright flame, with the very ' pirates ' themselves visible, handling the bales and boxes of merchandise which they had 'robbed' from this innocent Yankee, whose countrymen at home were engaged in the Christian occupation of burning our houses and deso- lating our fields." (^) The next day the Chastelaine was captured, on the 3d of February was captured the Palmetto, and two days later the Olive Jane and the Golden Eagle. Senmies saw a great many other vessels, but they were of other nations. The man at the mast-head saw not less than seven ships at a time on this great -highway of the ocean. There w^as scarcely a day that an American vessel did not fall into the clutches of the Alahama, followed by the lighting up of the sea. Day after day the work of destruction went on as Semmes made his way slowly towards Brazil, running into the Island Fernando de Noronha, which lies just off the coast. xV i-emarkable peak rises from the sea, and, once seen, is always remembered by sailors. All vessels on the great high- w'ay take their bearings from it. Here Captain Semmes violated the neu- trality laws of nations by taking two of his captured vessels into port. While there, two American vessels came sailing towards the harbor, and disregarding all the laws of nations, he steamed out to capture them and set them on fire. For two months the Alahama hovered along the coast, t?king ten vessels. But it was time for Semmes to be gone, for he knew that a powerful and swift steamer was after him — the Vanderbilt. The course of the Alahama had been well predicted by the Navy De- partment at Washington, and the Vanderhilt was chosen to follow her, 296 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. commanded by Captain Baldwin, who was ordered to hasten to the AVest Indies, and then go down the coast of Brazil and on to the Cape of Good Hope. He was at Martinique on the 28th of February. Rear-admiral Wilkes was in command of the United States fleet in the AVest Indies, and the Vanderhilt was so much nicer than his own ship that he took possession of her, holding her as his flag -ship. There cannot be much doubt that this interference with the plan of the Government enabled the Alabama to go on with her work of destruction. When the Secretary of the Navy learned that AYilkes had interfered with the plan, he was sum- marily ordered home, and had no other important service during the war. Having stayed as long as prudence dictated at Brazil, Semmes steered for the Cape of Good Hope. No need that w^e should follow the Ala- hama in her cruise in the Indian Ocean during the next six months. The Vanderbilt followed to the Cape of Good Hope, but was a month behind, in consequence of the detention of that steamer by Wilkes. The Wyo- nning was in the East Indies, but Semmes carefully avoided her. There were but few shi^JS for him to capture in those distant seas, and he turned back, stopped once more at the Cape, where he was treated with great con- sideration by the English officers, then made his way north, passing the Azores, capturing several vessels and setting them on tire. He steamed into the harbor of Cherbourg, on the northern coast of France. He did not quite dare to venture into an English home port, for possibly he would not be allowed to leave. The Alabama had been built in England ; she had a captain and officers who held commis- sions in the Confederate navy ; but the civilized world regarded England as, in fact, responsible for her. Some of the thinking men of Great Brit- ain, now that the armies of the North were winning victories, were begin- ning to see that a day of reckoning was coming in the future for Eng- land. Semmes intended to have the Alabama thoroughly repaired. The news of her arrival was quickly flashed to Paris, London, and all over Eu- rope, for the story of her exploits had been published far and wide. Opening our maps to Holland, we see the river Scheldt pouring its flood into the ocean through several mouths. A vessel flying the Stars and Stripes — the Kearsarge — was lying in one of the outlets opposite the village of Flushing. Some of the officers were on shore when, looking towards the ship, they saw a signal-flag flutter out at her mast- head, ordering them to return at once. They also saw the flash, and heard the roar of one of her guns, fired as a signal. Arriving on board, they were informed that Mr. Dayton, the American Minister at Paris, had sent a telegram that the Alabama w^as at Cherbourg. A few minutes cK THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEARSARGE." 299 later the propeller began to whirl, and the Kearsarcjc steamed west, with the lowlands of Holland on the port bow, and the white, chalky cliffs of Dover, in England, on the starboard. She steamed into the harbor of Cherbourg, but did not come to anchor, for were she to do so, and the Alahama go out, i\\Q Kecwsarge would be compelled to remain twenty-four hours. Her captain was careful not to be hampered in any way. The Kearsarge was named for a mountain in !New Hampshire, beneath the shadow of which Daniel Webster, the great de- fender of the Constitution was born. Her commander, John A. Winslow, was born in ISTorth Carolina, but, though his State had seceded, he re- mained true to the old flag. The crew of the Kearsarge were seamen June 14, 1864. 1 \ ' /III ^ - k \ r ■ '■ m ,^- -^^. ^jJ-^ ,^:3 , =4 /** 'WaJ^c jrA' ^ ^^"'' m -—^^^^^ ^^B ^^^gg Hi ^r --^Mi . ^'-.-^- .: ^.-r ~^«IIS~^-^ I^E^ -5^ ^ __. ^(S THE "KEARSARGE." who, when the war began, were on merchant vessels, but who had enlisted to defend their country. Backward and forward, now east, now west, the ship moved, with a man up in the foretop looking with his glass into the harbor, patiently waiting for the appearance of the ship which had done so much destruc- tion upon the seas, and brought poverty to so many homes. Captain Winslow determined that the Alabama should not escape from Cher- bourg as she did from Jamaica. But Captain Semmes did not intend to steal away. He could not af- ford to attempt it. He was in command of a ship built after a model prepared originally for an English gunboat. She had stolen away from an English port at the outset ; away from the San Jacinto at Kingston, 300 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Jamaica, another Englisli port. She was armed with English guns ; the great majority of her crew were English. Captain Semmes had been ban- queted by officers of the English uavy in the West Indies, at the Cape of Good Hope, Gibraltar, Singapore, Liverpool, and London. He was re- garded as a hero. Clergymen of the Church of England had made him their welcome guest. Merchants had invited him to grand dinners. He was their benefactor, for through his destruction of the property of Amer- ican merchants they had been able to purchase a great fleet of swift-sailing ships for a song. Through the destruction of so many vessels they had become the world's carriers. The burning wrecks illuming midnight skies on lonely seas, reducing opulent families to beggary, had lighted their paths to fortune. There are times when men must show what stuff they are made of. Such a time had come to Semmes. Were he to steal away now, men who had fraternized with him might in the future pass him by without notice; for outside Cherbourg harbor was an antagonist, a ship almost the coun- terpart of the Alabama in size, armament, and crew. Were he to run awa}', people might think he was lacking courage. More than this, a good many people in Europe were beginning to see that the course pursued by the Alabama was not a manly method of warfare. In social circles, in the club-liouses of London and Paris, men whose sympathies sided with the Korth were likening the conduct of Semmes in waylaying peaceful, defenceless vessels to the bandit who steals upon his victim, or the prowler who robs a house and fires it at night. A ship was a seaman's home ; he had no other. On shipboard only could he obtain bread for himself and family. In burning a ship Semmes might injure the American merchants, but at the same time he was doing griev- ous injury to a great many sailors who were not Americans, who were earning bread for themselves and families by shipping on American ves- sels. Even if Semmes had acted strictly in accordance with the laws of nations, which he had not, his setting men on shore in out-of-the-way^ places, without food for more than a day or two, without clothing, with- out means of any kind to save themselves from starvation — men who were Hot fighting against the South, who were not American citizens — was ab- horrent to the advancing humanity of the age. It was not sufficient for Semmes to say' in excuse that the armies of the North were burning Southern homes. A ship was not like a house on shore. If the house were destroyed the land was still there, and harvests might still be grown and reaped, and there were kind neighbors to supply the homeless and destitute. THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEARSARGE." 301 For the sailor whose ship had made "a beautiful bonfire" there was no sheltering home, no helping hand, no food, no sympathy from the men who had fired their vessels. It is possible that Serames, on his passing the Azores, over the waters where the Alahama began her work of de- struction, experienced a momentary depression of spirits. There is an un- dertone of melancholy in the pages of his book, as if the memories of the past were not altogether satisfactory. He knew that the prospects of the South were waning. Grant had taken Vicksburg ; Gettysburg had been fought. All England knew that the resources of the South were rapidly diminishing ; that the North was redoubling its energies. Men who had been enthusiastic for the South were beginning to see that it was only a question of time when the Confederacy would disappear, and that pos- sibly there might come a time when John Bull would have to make some apology or reparation to the United States for what the Alahama had been doing ; or that possibly the time might come when privateers of other natior.s would be lighting wi tlie ocean with bonfires of British ships. Semmes knew that it would be difiicult for him to get away from the Kearsarge^ eying with sleepless vigilance the narrow entrance to the har- bor. There is no evidence that he desired to steal away. He knew that he must fight or suffer loss of prestige and character. He did not send a challenge direct to Captain AVinslow, but wrote a letter to a gentleman in Cherbourg, saying that after he had made repairs he intended to go out and engage the Kearsarge. The telegraph flashed the information to Paris and London, and those who desired to see the battle hastened to Clier- bourg. Four days passed, in which Semmes was getting ready for battle, sending all valuable articles on shore — chronometers, watches, and gold captured from the vessels burned. The coal-bunkers were filled, to pro- tect the engines. All Cherbourg was buzzing with the news that there ^ was to be a battle which everybody would be able to see. The news was flashed again to Paris and London. Men talked about it in the cafes, and rushed to the cars, which whirled them to Cherbourg. Saturday morning came. The ofiicers of the French navy at Cher- bourg invited Semmes to a dinner-party, together with some of his offi- cers. The talk was of the battle which Semmes informed them he in- tended to fight. He was confident of winning the victory. He would either sink the Kearsarge or add another vessel to the Confederate navy. It is not quite easy to see what grounds Semmes had for his confident expectations. He had never been in a battle save in the attack upon the Hatteras, which was no match for the Aldbamd. He did not know from 302 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. experience the quality of liis crew in battle. He only knew tliey were a reckless, rollicking set, whom he had controlled by his iron will. Quite likely the capture of so many merchant ships without I'esistance led Semmes to overrate his own strength and to underrate that of the Kearsarge. Possibly, also, the contempt which he had for the men of the North, in common with the people of the South, at the beginning of the war, that one Southerner was equal to five Yankees, had its effect. The officers drank their wine, and assured the French officers that they would celebrate the victory on Sunday night at a grand dinner. On the Kearsarge., this Saturday night, the officers were talking of the battle which they expected might be fought, though they did not know what Semmes's intentions might be. They expected it to be a hard-fought contest. There was no boasting ; they were not confident of winning the victory, but they had one resolution — to go to the bottom of the sea before they would surrender the ship to a craft that had done so much damage, and which had the character of a corsair rather than that of a ship-of- war. C") The Kearsarge was ready, and had been throughout the week, with her pivot-guns pointed starboard, shot and shell, grape and canister all piled beside the guns. When Admiral Farragut ran past the forts below New Orleans, he hung his chain-cables in loops along the sides of his ships to protect them. Captain Winslow, more than a year before, hung his spare chains up and down the sides of the Kearsarge., and covered them with light planking, painted like the rest of his ship. His coal-bunkers were not full, and the chains might be some protection to the machinery. Let us look at the two vessels on this Saturday night — one thoroughly English, though officered by Confederates ; the other thoroughly Ameri- can. They are almost exactly of the same size — the Alabama of 1016 tons, the Kearsarge 1031 tons. This was their respective armament : Alabama., six long 32-pounders, one rifled 100-pounder, one 8-inch shell gun — eight guns. Kearsarge., four short 32-pounders, two 11-inch smooth- bore pivots, one 30-pounder rifle — seven guns. Though the Confederate vessel has one more gun than the Union ship, the seven solid shot of the latter, if they could be thrown at the same mo- ment, would be sixty pounds heavier than the eight solid shot of the Alahama I but in the coming contest the Kearsarge would be able to use only five guns, so that the weight of the shot would be nearly equal. Dis- cipline, coolness, precision, were to be factors in a contest where everything else was so evenly matched. Patriotism would also come in. The crew of the one were Britishers, wlio had enlisted for adventure, prize-money, and THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEAESARGE." 303 CAPT. JOHN A. "WINSLOW. loot: tliey cared very little for tlie Confederacy or its flap^; while the men on the other looked np to the flag above them as the brightest banner in the world. They had not enlisted for pay ; they conld make more money catching codfish. They had not enlisted with the expectation of obtain- ing plunder, but to serve their country. Sunday morning. The sunshine falls upon a glassy sea. There is lit- tle wind to ruffle the water. The Kearsarge is off the northern entrance to the breakwater, three miles from land. Her decks have been holy- stoned and washed, the brass- work around the wheel and binnacle rubbed and polished. The crew are in their Sunday, muster suits. They have been inspected. It is ten o'clock, the hour for June 19, 1864. 304 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. religions service. The bell is tolling. Captain Winslow is ready to begin the reading of prayers. " The Alabama is coming !" The man i;p in the foretop-gallant shonts it. The officer of the deck repeats it. The drummer beats to arms. Cap- tain Winslow lays aside the prayer-book and grasps his speaking-trumpet. A moment ago the men were standing reverently in worship ; now they are beside their guns, with jackets thrown aside, ready for action. The Kearsarge turns her bows seaward, but she is not going to run away. Captain Winslow intends that the contest shall be so far from land that the French Government shall not have cause for complaint or inter- ference, and also that the Alahama shall not have a chance to run back to the harbor in case she is crippled. As for the Kearsarge^ she is to go to the bottom, or win the victory. (") Cherbourg harbor is alive with boats. Every fisherman has hoisted the sails of his little craft. The French ship-of-war Couronne is steaming alongside the Alahama to see that she goes beyond the three-mile limit. When it is reached, the Couronne turns about and courteously retires, not staying to be a witness of the contest. The English yacht Deerhound fol- lows the Alahama. Her owner and his family are on board : his sympa- thies are with the South. His children want to see the battle, and he wishes to gratify them. ('^) What a scene along the shore! — thirty thou- sand men, women, and children clustering on the beach or on the house- tops, gazing seaward. The sweet-toned bells up in the cathedral tower are tolling for service, but the priests chant the mass alone. It is almost eleven o'clock when the Kearsarge^ seven miles from land, turns in a circle, and, bringing her bow towards the shore, steers for the Alahanna. There are moments 'when men hold their breath, when their hearts beat like sledge-hammers, when every faculty is at the utmost ten- sion. Such a moment has come to the sailors on the deck of the Kear- sarge. The vessels are three-fourths of a mile apart, when the Alabamii opens fire. Had we been on board the Alahama we should have seen offi- cers wearing their uniforms, and the crew neatly dressed. Every needful preparation had been made for the' contest ; the decks cleared. '' The ship is ready for action, sir," said the executive officer, Mr. Kell, saluting Cap- tain Semmes. " Send all hands aft,'' said the captain, who, standing on a gun-carriage, made a speech to the crew, who responded with cheers. Cap- tain Winslow thought that the Alahama intended to fight the battle at long range. " More steam," was his order, and the Kearsarge surged through the water, rapidly narrowing the distance between the vessels. Ao;ain the cannon of the Alahama flamed. Still no answer from the THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEARSARGE." 307 Kearsarge, whose guns had been loaded with shells the fuses of which Avere cut to explode in five seconds. Nine hundred yards — half a mile — and the 11-inch starboard guns break the silence. Broadside to broadside are the two vessels steaming in circles, each using her starboard guns. The tide drifts westward. A shot carries awaj a rope on the Alabama, and the flag comes down upon the run. The sailors on the Kearsarge regard it as a good omen, and give a cheer. ('^) But the battle had only just begun, and the flag again fluttered in the breeze at the mizzen of the Alabama, whose guns were fired rapidly ; but the gunners, in their excitement, did not take good aim. Kot so the firing of i\\Q Kearsarge. "Take direct aim. Aim the heavy guns below the water-line. Sweep the Alabamans decks with the lighter guns," the in- structions to the gunners. ('*) The men of the Kearsarge watched their sliells as they sped through the air. " That's a good one ! Hurrah ! Give her another like the last ! Now we have her ! Hurrah !" they shouted, and rammed down the cartridges. Eleven o'clock and fifteen minutes. A 68-pounder shell crashes through the starboard bulwark of the Kearsarge, explodes with terrible concussion, wounding three of the men working the aft pivot-gun. The men are car- ried below to tlie surgeon so quietly that those in the forecastle do not know that any one has been injured. Two shots enter the ports, but do no injury. Another shell explodes on board. " The ship is on fire !" is the cry ; but it is quickly extinguished. On board the Alabama Captain Semmes is by the mizzen-mast with his spy-glass, watching the effect of the shot upon the Kearsarge. He sees a shell strike and fall into the water. He does not discover the chain cables which Captain Winslow has hung against the side of the ship. "Use solid shot, Mr. Kell ; the shells fall into the water," (") he says to the executive officer ; and solid shot and shell alternately spin across the water from the guns of the Alabama. The 11-inch shells of the Kearsarge are making fearful havoc the while. Three successively explode, killing and wounding several of the men. The great guns of the Kearsarge, aimed below the water-line of the Alabama, have pierced her sides and the water is pouring in through the shot-holes, and the vessel begins to settle. Captain Semmes sees that the battle is going against him. " Be ready to make all sail possible," his order to Mr. Kell. The decks are strewn witli killed and wounded, and slippery with blood. So many are killed that Mr. Kell directs the crew to throw the mangled bodies into the sea. Sails are hoisted and the bowsprit turned towards the shore. 308 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. " The fires are out, the engine will not work," said the cliief engineer, coming on deck. " Go below, Mr. Kell, and see how long the ship can float," said Cap- tain Senimes. Mr. Kell goes down the gangway into the wardroom, where stands the assistant-surgeon, Mr. Llewellyn, an Englishman. A wounded sailor is lying on the table, and the surgeon is dressing the wounds, when an 11-inch shell crashes through the side of the ship, and table and sailor are hurled across the room. Mr. Kell sees that the water is pouring in, and runs upon the deck. "We cannot keep afloat ten minutes," he shouts. " Cease firing. Shorten sail. Haul down the colors ! It will not do for us to go down with our decks covered with wounded," are the words of Semmes.C") The colors of the Alabama came down, and the Kearsarge ceased firing. Captain Winslow, to prevent the Alabama from reaching the shore, steamed ahead, and was in position to pour in a raking fire. Accord- ing to the report of Captain Winslow, the Alabama again fired. " He is playing us a trick ; give him another broadside," he said, and again the cannon of the Kearsarge sent their shells into the sinking ship. (") " Show a white flag," was the order from Semmes, and the quarter-mas- ter ran up a white flag on the stern. " Send a boat and an officer to the Kearsarge^ and tell them that we are sinking," was the order of Semmes to Mr. Kell, and the quartermaster's mate jumped into the small-boat, the only one not injured, and hastened to the Kearsarge^ while another boat, not badly injured, was lowered, and the wounded placed in it. Lower in the water settles the Alabama. Captain Semmes is at the stern. " Every man for himself," is his last order. The stern is almost to the water's edge. With a life-preserver on, and throwing his sword into the sea, he drops overboard and swims towards the Deerhound, which has been watching the contest and which is steaming up. With a lurch, at 12.24 o'clock, the Alabama goes down beneath the waves. "For God's sake do wdiat you can to save them!" shouted Captain Winslow to Mr. Lancaster, owner of the Deerhound., and the boats of the yacht were quickly lowered, picking up Captain Semmes, Mr. Kell, twelve other officers, and twenty-six men. The boats of the Kearsarge were quickly lowered, and rescued all that could be found — about seventy. The owner of the Deerhound had been requested by Captain Winslow, in the interest of humanity, to save the struggling men, but having picked up Captain Semmes, and nearly all the officers, instead of coming alongside the Kearsarge, he began to move away. THE ''ALABAMA" AND "KEAESARGE." 309 " She is steaming away. Why not send a shot after her ?" said an officer. " Oh no ; she is only coming ronnd. No Englishman flying the flag of the Royal Yacht Squadron would go away without communicating with me," said Captain Winslow. ('^) But his confidence was misplaced ; the Deerhound kept her course, her owner, senseless to the dishonorable act, carried the Confederate offi- cers to England, when by every principle of honor he was bound to remain alongside the Kearsarge. It was a British vessel, manned largely by Englishmen, which had been sunk, and his sympathy for the Confederacy and cha- grin over the discom- fiture of a British - built ship outweighed his better judgment and sense of honor. Very little damage had been done to the Kearsarge. One 100- pound shell lodged in the stern part wdiich, if it had exploded, quite likely would have left the ship unmanageable, and might have resulted in her going to the bottom of the sea instead of the AUibama. One of the Confederate officers, Lieutenant Armstrong, refused to go on board the Deerhoimd, when picked up by a French pilot-boat, but came and personally deliv- ered up his sword to Captain Winslow. In strong contrast to this noble action was the conduct of Mr. Fullam, who, after reporting to Captain Winslow that the Alabama was sinking, Arsen' •ft CiTEr.Bonr. Scale of Miles -4. N MOVEMENTS OF THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEARSARGE," 310 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. asked permission to help save the men, and who promised to return to the Kearsarge, but who, instead, went on board the Deerhound. Captain Semmes had liauled down liis flag, and raised tlie white flag in token of surrender. " Where shall I land you ?" said the owner of the DeerJioimd to Captain Semmes. " I am now under English colors, and the sooner you put me with my ofiicers and men on English soil the better," lie re- plied. (") The Deerhound could not have picked him up except at the request of Captain Winslow ; he could not honorably avail himself of the opportunity to escape ; and his course, together with that of the owner of the yacht, will ever stand in dishonorable contrast to that of Lieutenant Armstrong. One of the crew of the aft pivot-gun of the Kearsarge was AVilliam Gowin, who was wounded. He fell upon the deck, but dragged himself towards the hatch, and was lowered to the surgeon's table. " Doctor, I can fight no more, and so come to you ; but it is all right. I am satisfied, for we are whipping the Alabama. I will willingly lose my leg." There was exultation throughout the United States when the news came that the Alabama was lying at the bottom of the sea; but in Eng- land there was chagrin and mortification among those who sympathized with the South, and who had rejoiced to know that the Alabama was lighting the sea with burning American vessels, thus bringing more com- merce to the ships of Great Britain. When Captain Semmes reached London he was invited to a banquet, received as a hero, and presented with a sword. During the months that the Alabama roamed the seas. Captain Semmes burned fifty ships, released ten on bond, changed one — the Conrad — into a tender to the Alabatna, and renamed it the Tuscaloosa,' one vessel was sold ; making in all sixty-two vessels. It was not merely the burning of the vessels which entailed loss upon the citizens of the United States, but it compelled the merchants to transfer their ships to parties in England, thus driving the American flag from the seas, and giving the commerce of the world into the hands of Great Britain, ISTearly a third of a century has gone by, and the United States, during the period, has not been able to recover what it thus lost through the destruction of ships by this vessel, which the British Government crimi- nally allowed to sail from Liverpool, against the oft-repeated protestations of the Government of the United States. Great Britain has acknowl- edged her culpability by the payment of fifteen million dollars, avrarded by the Conference of Arbitrators at Geneva in 1871, which settled all THE "ALABAMA" AND "KEARSARGE." 311 matters in dispute ; but no court of claims can wipe out the sense of wrong and the indignation engendered in the United States against the Government of Great Britain during the career of tlie Alabama. Not till the Stars and Stripes are seen once more in just proportion in the carrying trade of the world, will the sense of wrong be wholly obliterated from the minds of the American people. NOTES TO CHAPTER XL ( ') Raphael Semraes, "Memoirs of Service Afloat," pp. 566, 409. 464, 459, 465, 524, 535, 566. ( ') Idem. ( 3) Idem. ( *) Idem. ( 5) Idem. ( «) Idem. ( ') Idem. ( «) Idem. ( ^) J. M. Browne, Century Magazine, April, 1886. ('») Idem. (") J. Mcintosh Kel], Century Magazine, April, 1886. ('^) J. M. Browne, Century Magazine, April, 1886. ('3) Idem. C*) J. Mcintosh Kell, Century Magazine, April, 1886. ('5) Idem. ('^) J. M. Browne, Century Magazine, April, 1886. (") Idem. ('^) J. Mcintosh Kell, Century Magazine, 1886. (»'') Idem. 312 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. CHAPTEE XII. FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. WE left the Army of the Potomac resting at Cold Harbor after its repulse and great loss of men in the attemj^t of General Grant to carry the Confederate intrenchments. While the army was thus at rest, while the cavalry under Sheridan was having an ensfagement with the Confederate cavalry, near Louisa Court-house and Trevilian's Depot, General Gillmore and General Kautz were moving quietly from Bermuda Hundred with the intention of seizing Petersburg. General Butler had laid a pontoon-bridge between Bermuda Hundred and City Point, across the Appomattox ; but he had not taken the precau- tion to cover the planks with grass or earth. The night was June 9, 1864. , i .,i i i , n i i i i i calm and stilJ, and wlien tlie cavahy horses and the wheels of the cannon came upon the planks, the trampling and rumbling were heard in Petersburg, and General Wise, who was in command of the Con- federates there, at once comprehended the meaning of it ; that it was a movement for the capture of that town. If seized, it would be a serious blow to Lee, for Wilmington, in North Carolina, was the only seaport wdiich blockade-runners bringing supplies from England could enter, ex- cept now and then a vessel, perchance, might slip into Charlestown. If Petersburg were lost, all supplies must come from Danville, and the south-west. General Beauregard, in front of Bermuda Hundred, had seen the danger. He had only a small force, most of his troops having been sent to Lee after the battle of Drewry's Bluff. Just before the pickets in front of Petersburg heard the trampling of the horses' hoofs on the bridge, Beauregard, at ten o'clock in the evening, sent this to General .Bragg, at Eichmond : "Pickets on the lower part of James Eiver report one steamer towing up canal-boats and pontoons ; also schooners going np heavily loaded, whereas those going down are light. This may indicate future operations of Grant." (') Before the army moved from Culpeper — before the battle of the Wil- derness — Grant had looked forward to the time when he might possibl / ' (' i I FEOM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. 313 be at Petersburg. In his tent at Cnlpeper lie had informed his private secretary of the possible outcome of his movements. When he was on the North Anna he said to those about him, "I feel that our final success over Lee's army is already insured." He was not aiming to take Rich- mond, but to defeat the Confederate army. Up to that time there had been a feeling in the Army of the Potomac that there was no commander under the Stars and Stripes quite able to inaugurate and carry out an aggressive and successful campaign against General Lee, but that feeling was gone ; and though there had been fearful loss of life at Cold Harbor, the soldiers had faith in their general. He had reached the Cliicka- hominy. Orders had already been issued for the sending of ]3ontoons up the James, and Beauregard's pickets had discovered the steamboats ascending the river with a long train of boats at their sterns. The James, below the Appomattox, is a wide, majestic stream, flowing south-easterly to the Chesapeake. Twelve miles below City Point is Wil- cox's Landing, three miles from Charles City Court-house. The river is two thousand one hundred feet wide, and eighty feet deep. This is the point which General Grant had selected, on the report of the engineers, as the place where the bridge of boats was to be placed. It is thirty-five miles from Cold Harbor, and twenty from Petersburg. It was a great problem which confronted Grant. How should he transfer the army, with all its artillery, wagons, and supplies, to the south side of the James with- out exposing it to attack from Lee, who had a very much shorter line, with a railroad by which he could quickly transport his troops ? Would not Lee, as soon as he discovered what w^as going on, transfer enough bri- gades to Bermuda Hundred to overwhelm the small force under Butler? McClellan was much praised for making a change of base from the Chicka- hominy to Harrison's Landing, a distance of ten miles. While doing it Lee pushed down the Charles City road, and attacked him. Would he not do the same now, with the army drawn out upon a thin line ? Would it be possible to withdraw the troops without their being attacked ? If Petersburg could be captured in advance it would greatly simplify the problem. It was to that end that the cavalry under Kautz, and the infan- try under Gillmore, were marching across the pontoon-bridge at Point of Rocks, on the Appomattox, at midnight. Kautz had one thousand five hundred horsemen, and Gillmore three thousand infantry. Had we been in Petersburg that morning of June 9tli, we should have seen a great commotion. General Wise was there with his brigade of two thousand. He called upon the citizens, to take their places in the ranks, and old men and boys were hastening to obey the orders, arming them- 20—2 •r 314: REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. selves witli muskets. The convalescent Confederate soldiers in the hospi- tals were called out to stand guard in the breastworks. In the jail and guard-houses was a motley collection of criminals. The doors were un- locked, and they were hustled out, supplied with arms, and hurried to the intrenchments east of the city. General Wise called those from the hos- pitals his corps of "Patients"; those from the jails, " Penitents." (^) General Beauregard, in front of Bermuda Hundred, learned wliat was going on, and sent a brigade of cavalry, under General Bearing, which came later in the day upon a gallop across the Appomattox, rode through the city, and pushed south-east to meet Kautz. Wise had a bat- tery of artillery under Graliam. The Union force, all told, was not far from four thousand five hundred ; the Confederate, two thousand six hun- dred, with the advantage of position greatly on the side of the Confeder- ates. At seven o'clock in the morning Gillmore, with the infantry, was in front of the Confederate intrenchments. Kautz had gone south-west, and was five miles away. Gillmore examined the intrenchments, saw the sun- light glinting on the Confederate cannon. The Confederate " patients" and "penitents" were marching and countermarching along the breast- works, and he came to the conclusion that they were too strong to be assaulted. It was nine o'clock before Kautz was in position. After a short struggle he turned the Confederate flank, pushed on almost into the town, when Dearing, with the Confederate cavalry, confronted him. At that moment Gilhnore, having heard nothing from the Union cavalry, began his return to City Point, the movement a failure, with nothing attempted, no assault, no manifestation of energy, and the i-esult a complication which made the movement of the army much more difficult than it otherwise would have been, and enabled Beauregard to hold the city, the loss of which would soon have compelled Lee to evacuate Richmond. General Grant had not only the James, but the Chickahominy, to cross. Eight miles from Cold Harbor was Bottom's Bridge. Long Bridge was fifteen miles, Jones's twenty miles, and Windsor twenty-four miles dis- tant, all of which had been destroyed. Two miles below Bottom's Bridge the creek M'hich winds through White Oak Swamp empties into the Chick- ahominy, How to get the army across the two streams, how to get troops to Butler sufficient to hold Bermuda Hundred, how to cover tlie move- ment, were the three features of the problem. The Eighteenth Corps, under Smith, which had come to Cold' Harbor from Butler by York River, was the first to move, going by the same route, marching in the night, having the right of way over everything else. The soldiers reached White House, went down York River, and up the James, before Lee learned FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. 315 of their departure. A brigade of cavalry, under Wilson, crossed the Chickahominy, and moved np the roads towards Richmond. Pontoons were laid, and the Fifth Corps, under "Warren, the Second, under Han- cock, crossed at Long Bridge, Warren following the cavalry. The Sixth Corps marched towards Jones's Bridge, while the long lines of wagons went farther down, to Windsor, crossed the stream, and then made their way towards Windmill Point, all moving like clock-work. It was one o'clock on the morning of June 13th when the pontoons were laid at Long Bridge. A few moments later the cavalry were mov- ing up the road to Piddel's shop, near which three roads June 13, 1864. ,. „ , ,. ■■ -r,. ■, diverge, all leading towards Kichmond. Ihey came upon the Confederate cavalry at the shop, and just at daylight there was the rattle of carbines ; but Warren, with two divisions of the Fifth Corps, was close at hand, which made their way a short distance up the Charles City and Central roads, driving the Confederates. While this was going on, the Second Corps crossed the Chickahominy, and inarched straight on towards the James, paying no attention to the rattle of musketry up by Eiddel's. The soldiers took the long swinging step which carried them rapidly on, and at five in the afternoon were at Wilcox's Landing. At the same hour the Fifth was at St. Mary's Church, covering the movement of the Sixth and Ninth corps from Jones's Bridge. At live o'clock on June 14, 18G4. . ,■ , . . , , the next aiternoon the entire army, with the trains, were on the bank of the James, It was four o'clock that afternoon when the en- gineers, under Major Duane, began to put the pontoons in place. Vessels were anchored above with strong cables trailing from their sterns, to which the boats were fastened. The river was so wide that one hundred and one boats were needed. So well had everything been planned by the engi- neers that at midnight the last plank was in place, and the bridge ready for the crossing. Before it was completed, the Second Corps, under Gen- eral Hancock, began to cross on ferry-boats, and at four o'clock in the morning of the 15th the whole of that corps and four batteries were on the southern bank. When the sun rose on the morning of the 13th the Confederate pickets at Cold Harbor found no men in blue before them. A little later General Lee learned that Grant was advancing upon Richmond south of the Chickahominy. He had no suspicion of the real movement, and sent Anderson's corps down the Charles City road, while A. P. Hill's corps crossed the Chickahominy and moved down to Riddel's shop, but when Hill arrived there he found that the Fifth Corps was no longer there. Little things, quite as often as great things, overturn the best laid 316 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. plans. The wagons of tlie Second Corps had not arrived. General Grant had seen that they could not reach Wilcox's Landing until some hours after the troops. He had issued orders to General Butler to liave sixty thousand rations there for General Hancock, Upon receiving them, Han- cock was to march as rapidly as possible towards Petersburg, to a point where the Norfolk Railroad crosses Harrison's Creek. Hancock had twen- ty thousand men, and the rations would last him three days. But the sup- plies were not there. General Meade, at 7.30 on the morn- ing of the 15th, ordered Hancock to move without waiting for his rations. The signal-oflScer who received the despatch did not im- mediately deliver it, and it was not till 10.30 that the troops began the seventeen -mile march which would take them to their assigned position. This was a serious delay, as we shall presently discover. We have seen the Eighteenth Corps steaming down the York and up the James. It reached its old camp at Bermuda Hundred just as the sun was setting on the 14th. The troops had rested on the steamer, and were fresh and vigorous. General Smith was ordered to move at daylight on the 15th from Point of Rocks, on the Appomattox, following General Kautz, who was directed to start at once, but who did not move till morn- ing. Smith was to seize the intrenchments at Petersburg. He had, with the cavalry, seventeen thousand men. General Hancock had not been in- formed that Smith was to move, which was a serious error. Hancock was moving towards what he supposed to be Harrison's Creek ; but the map was wrong, and he took a road several miles longer than the one he other- wise would have taken. Smith had only six miles to march. "We see him moving south, the colored troops, under General Hinks, marching from City Point. Two miles, and Kautz came upon the Confederates, who fired upon the ad- vancing skirmishers. Two miles farther, and a battery of artillery 023ened fire from behind a breastwork. It was nearly noon before the troops of General Hinks were in position to attack the battery. It was to be the first battle of the colored soldiers, who, a few months before, were in sla- very. It had been no light task to enlist and discipline them. Men who hated them because they were negroes predicted that they would run like sheep the moment they heard the whistling of bullets or the thunder of cannon. They are in the edge of a piece of woods facing west ; before them is a cleared field. On the farther side they see a bank of earth, with four cannon and soldiers behind it. The shells come crash- ing through the trees around them. They do not flinch, but move out of the woods in a compact line. With a yell they rush across the field. B § 3- c^ 3 a 3 =! P o FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. 319 There is a quick limbering up of cannon by the Confederates, the drivers lasliing their horses to a run. Tlie troops rush upon the liindmost, shoot- ing the liorses and capturing the piece. The air resounds witli their tri- umphant shouts. They pat the muzzle of the captured gun, mount the carriage, swing their caps, and make the air ring with cheers. (') They had proved their manhood. Nortliern opposers of the war, who had denounced the enlistment of negroes, were silenced by the exhibi- tion of their manhood at Wagner, Fort Pillow, and Petersburg. By their bravery and discipline they won the respect of the army, silenced their opponents, and accomplished great things for their race. Let us go now into the Confederate lines and take a survey of affairs. At eight o'clock in the morning General Beauregard sent a telegram to Lee, informing him that a deserter had come into his lines June 14, 1864. . , i • c . -r> i with the information that Butler had been reinforced by the arrival of Smith. Beauregard was at Swift Creek, three miles north of Petersburg. He had only Wise's brigade and two regiments of cav- alry, the citizens of Petersburg, and the men from the jail — in all, about twenty-seven hundred men, wipi twenty-two pieces of light artillery and heavy cannon. The entire force under Beauregard south of Kichmond was about six thousand. (') Slaves, during preceding months, had con- structed a line of earthworks, beginning at the Appomattox, north-east of the city, and extending south, then west, round to the river— a line seven miles in length. Wise placed his troops behind the breastworks east and south of the town, leaving those on the south-west for a distance of four miles wholly undefended. Hoke's division, which was at Drewry's Bluff, had been ordered to hasten to Petersburg. It started at six in the morning; the distance was eighteen miles. It reached Petersburg after sunset. General Lee, with his whole army, the while, was on the north bank of the James, his lines extending from Malvern Hill, where he had been defeated in 1862, north to White Oak Swamp, General Beauregard was sending telegrams and messages to him, informing him that Grant was moving in force upon Petei-sburg, Lee did not credit the reports. It was noon when the Union cavalry skirmishers approached Peters- burg, They discovered a line of works two miles east of the city, with a formidable array of cannon. General Smith arrived and reconnoitred. He saw a broad valley, with the Appomattox on the north. East of the city, where he was about to attack, were ravines, ditches, breastworks, and fallen trees. The ground in front was swept by a cross-fire of the artil- lery. General Smith could see few Confederate troops, but more than 320 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. twenty cannon beliind the breastworks opened fire, and he thonglit that with so many gnns in position there must be a large body of troops at hand. It took a long time to look over the ground, and to decide where it was best to attack. He sent Martindale's division towards the Appo- mattox to form the right, placed Brooks's division in the centre and Hinks's on the left, with the cavalry, dismounted, still farther on the left. The Confederate artillery had such a sweep, he decided to mass his own artillery in the centre, and after silencing the Confederate can- non, to send forward a strong skirmish line to capture the works. Heavy artillery -firing was going on against Kautz. Time w'as flying, the day fast waning. It was five o'clock before he had made up his mind what to do, and when the order was given for the artillery to wheel into posi- tion and open fire, it was found that the horses had been sent to the rear to be watered, and it was past six o'clock before they returned. Precious every moment to the Confederates ! Through the day Wise had kept up as best he could an appearance of strength. Hoke's division, which started from Drewry's Bluff at six in the morning, had not arrived. C*) Going down now to Prince George Court-house, four miles from Smith's position, we see General Hancock receiving a message from Grant, who was at City Point, informing him that he must march as rapidly as possible to reinforce Smith. Hancock had been hunting for the railroad crossing at Harrison's Creek, to which he was ordered, but had not been able to find it, because his map was wrong. This was the first intimation he had received that Smith was about to make an attack. He turned towards Petersburg. Birney's division was in advance, and reached Smith just before he was ready to attack. The sun was going down at the moment. The skirmishers met a sharp fire, but worked their way on, rushing at last upon the intrench- ments. The brunt of the fire came upon the colored troops. They did not quail, though more than five hundred were killed and wounded. As in the forenoon, they went resolutely into the fight, and astonished the army by their steadiness under a galling and destructive fire. Five redans were captured, with sixteen pieces of artillery. The colored troops were the first inside the works. They seized four of the cannon and wheeled them upon the retreating Confederates. Three hundred prisoners were captured. At the hour of 8 p.m. no reinforcements had reached the south side of the Appomattox to aid the Confederates in holding the city. Smith had only to press on, make one more determined assault with his whole line, reinforced now by two divisions of the Second Corps, and the Con- GENERAI. GRANT AT CITY POINT. FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. 323 federates would be swept out of Petersburg. Why did not General Smith see that he had come to the suj^reme moment of his life? His troops had not suffered greatly. They had marched only six miles ; had lain upon the ground while the Confederate shells had been hurled at them ; had suffered a tension of nerve, which had made them all the more ready to iinish the victory by sweeping the Confederates into tiie Appomattox. He asked Hancock to relieve his troops while he retired. And so we have the spectacle of thirty thousand Union troops lying down to rest witli less than two thousand five hundred Confederates before them, who had been driven from their outer works, and who were ready to flee once more be- fore a determined advance of the overwhelming force in their front ! The great opportunity went by never to return. Of the failure General Hancock said in his report, written the follow- ing week : " It should have been captured by the Eighteenth Corps, which was directed to assault the town with, I believe, fifteen thousand men ; and certainly with the assistance of the two divisions of the Second Corps, which I offered to General Sujitli just after dark on the 15tli, these two di- visions being massed at Bryant's house, on the left and rear of General Hinks's division, about one mile from General Smith's line. Had I arrived before dark, and been able to have seen the general myself, I should have taken decisive action." (") Great events hang on little things. Whoever studies the history of the war will see it very often. The Second and Eighteenth corps were in front of the Confederate works at Petersburg, the colored June 10, 1864. tit i i • i i i i i /-i troops holding those which tliey had captured. General Hancock was now in command. He had his own corps and the Eighteenth Corps, fully thirty-five thousand men. The !Nintli Corps would be up by noon, and the Fifth before night. What Smith failed to accomplish was now within Hancock's grasp, as we shall presently see. It was a little thing that turned the scale and lost the second great opportunity to take Petersburg. It was the breaking-out afresh of the wound which Hancock received at Gettysburg. For six weeks the commander of the Second Corps had been in the saddle, directing the movements of his troops in the march or on the field of battle. The constant action, the loss of vital force from lack of sleep, the physical and mental strain, had told upon his system, and during the movement from Cold Harbor he had been com- pelled to ride in an ambulance, suffering intense pain. Pieces of bone were, on the morning of this 16th day of June, protruding through the flesh, rendering him incapable of directing the movements of the troops in person to the extent of seeing to the details, as was his custom. 32 i REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. At midniglit lie issued liis orders to liis division commanders to seize all important points at daylight. Instead of moving at that hour, it was past eight o'clock, the sun three hours high, before there was any advance. General Birney was near the house of Mr, Avery, and might have occupied an advantageous position at daylight which at eight o'clock was held by the Confederates. General Egan's brigade moved to the assault of a redoubt behind which at daylight there was not a Confederate soldier. After a sharp struggle it was carried, but the division could make no further advance. It was sent towards the left to reconnoitre. General Meade arrived at noon and assumed command, General Jlancock having been obliged to hand over the corps to General Birney. The Ninth Corps arrived, and the troops at hand numbered nearly fifty thousand. The after- noon wore away before General Meade was ready to attack. It was six o'clock when the three divisions of the Second Corps — Birney 's. Barlow's, and Gibbon's — advanced, supported by two brigades of the Eighteenth and two of the Ninth. They captured three redoubts after a severe strug- gle, which could have been taken at daylight with but little opposition. No censure can be cast upon Hancock, for he was unable to be in the saddle in the morning; but it is plain that his division commanders were dilatory in the execution of their orders. Had Grant demanded of Smitli the utmost energy ; had Hancock set forth the same in his orders to his subordinates, or had Meade ordered a general advance of all the troops at one o'clock, far different, in all probability, would have been the issue of events. General Beauregard, seeing that Grant's movement was wholly against Petersburg, ordered Johnson's division, which was holding the intrench- ments in front of Bermuda Hundred, to hasten south of the Appomat- tox. (') Lieutenant - colonel Greeley, of the Tenth C/onnecticut, was in command of the Union pickets at Bermuda Hundred. It was a bright, moonlight night. His ears were open to every sound, his eye quick to see all that was going on. He could hear a trampling of feet behind the breastworks. Creeping on his hands and knees, he came close up to the Confederate pickets, and could see that the troops were moving away. He crept back as noiselessly as he had advanced, and reported to General Terry. A little later Lieutenant-colonel Greeley was sweeping down upon the Confederate pickets, capturing nearly all of them, then rushing upon the thin line left to hold the breastworks, capturing them, which General Terry at once occupied. (") General Beauregard had concentrated his troops with great vigor on the night of the 15th, had thrown up a line of new intrenchments in the FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. 325 rear of those captured by the colored troops, and had not far from fourteen thousand men by nine o'clock on the morning of the 16th. Through the day the Confederates were hard at work with shovels and axes strengthen- ing the lines which ran from the Appomattox south thi'ee miles to the railroad leading to Norfolk, then west four miles to the Weldon Railroad, then north two miles to the Appomattox River. Two and one-half miles east of Petersburg stood the house of Mr. Shand ; General Potter's division of the Ninth Corps was directly east of it, half a mile distant. It was a larffe house, with a chimney JuiielY, 1864. , , , rn, i i i -, . . ^ ■, at both ends, ihere was a peach orchard around it, with the young fruit forming on its branches. Fifty paces eastward was a ravine iifteen or twenty feet deep, with a little rivulet winding through it. Di- rectly west of the house, about the same distance, was another ravine with a rivulet, both streams running north, and uniting twenty rods distant from the house. A Confederate brigade held this tongue of land, pro- tected by breastworks. They had four cannon by the house. The Union artillery were sending their shells towards it. One of the Confederate offi- cers was playing the piano which stood in the parlor, but suddenly found himself sitting on the floor, the piano-stool having been swept from be- neath him by a shot. He was uninjui'cd, but his playing was unceremo- niously interrupted. It is a mile or more from the house of Mr. Shand to that of Mr. Dunn, north, towards the Appomattox, and the Confederate line ran from house to house. The works had been thrown up in 1862, and the tall pine-trees in front had been felled. During the summer of 1863 the fire had run through the fallen timber, burning the dried foliage and blackening the trunks. We are to think of the Union troops as being drawn up in the edge of the woods a third of a mile east of the breastworks, waiting orders to advance. Solid shot and shell come crashing amid the trees. One of the regiments standing there was the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts, with a boy only seventeen years old in the ranks — Edward Schneider, who was born far away on the head-waters of the Euphrates, where the patriarch Abraham once tended his flocks. His father was a missionary, but had sent his son to the United States to obtain an education at Phillips Acad- emy, in Andover, Mass. A few weeks after the battle of Gettysburg the students of that institution invited me to tell them the story of that great struggle. AVhen I finished my address the boy from the far East came and talked about it. Pie was so greatly interested that he thought about it through the night, and his lesson was not learned in the morning. Day after day he failed in his recitations. He said to his teacher, when re- 21* 326 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. proved : "I cannot study ; I must go to the war. My country calls me," and enlisted as a soldier. He was deeply religious, and had tlie moral courage the first night in camp to kneel before his comrades and silently offer his evening prayer. His messmates respected him all the more, and the next night asked him to pray aloud, and so under his sweet and per- suasive influence they too became religious. His first battle w^as at Nortli Anna, where he was wounded, and sent to the hospital. His soul was on fire, and, without asking leave of the surgeon, lie returned to his regiment. Here he stood, looking across the blackened trunks of the fallen trees towards the Confederate lines, knowing that his regiment was to cross the intervening space and charge the works. The chaplain of the regiment was walking along the lines. "We are going to capture the works, and I mean to be the first one inside," he said. The line moved on. Shells exploded in the ranks. Muskets flashed. There was no faltering. When near the works the boy leaped from the line, mounted the embankment in advance of all others. " Come on !" he shouted, and fell with a mortal wound. He was taken to the hospital. The chaplain went to see him, "Write to my father, and tell him that I have tried to do my duty." He divided his money — $10 to the Christian Commission, $10 to the Ameri- can Board of Missions. "Write to my school-mates and tell them that I die content. Write to my brother in the navy, and tell him to stand up for the old flag, and cling to the cross of Christ." The surgeon bent over him. " Doctor, I am going home. I am not afraid to die. I don't know how the valley Avill look when 1 get into it, but it is all bright now." He broke into singing : " Soon with angels I'll be marcliing, With bright laurels on mj^ brow; I have for my country fallen, Who will care for mother now?" It was a song often sung by the soldiers. Death stole on. Sunday morning dawned, and just as the sun was rising he passed into the light of eternal day. Had he lived a century, he could not have completed life more fully. (/ ) Several attempts were made by a brigade of the Second Corps to carry the position on the evening of the 16th, without success, and night came on with the Union troops in the ravine. They were relieved by Potter's division of the Ninth Corps. The men packed their tin plates and cups in their haversacks, that there might not be any rattling. No one spoke. There were two brigades — Grifliti's and Curtin's— twelve regiments. They made their way into the ravine, and were only fifty-seven paces from the FROM COLD HARBOR TO PP^TERSBURG. 327 ASSAULT OF POTTER S DI- VISION, NINTH CORPS. Confederate breastworks. They were to rush up the steep bank, cross the narrow terrace, leap over the breastworks, and gather in the line of men in gray. Cannon would flame in their faces. There would be a blast of leaden rain. It required nerve and hardihood to niove at midnight silent- ly down the ravine, tlie rising moon throwing its light along the moving column, to take their places, speaking no word above a whisper, to lie upon the ground till the first gleam of daylight appeared on the eastern sky. Fifteen minutes past three was the time fixed. The ofiicers had regulated their watches. The hands stole on to the appointed moment. Up to the hour of midnight the canuonade rolled along the line. After that hour both armies had been -resting. The men in the ravine rose and dressed their ranks, elbow touching elbow, and grasped their muskets with nervous energy. There was no clicking of locks, but each soldier brought his musket to the " charge," With watches in one hand and swords in the other, the command- ers of regiments waited. Their swords waved. It was the signal. The moon was high in the heavens, shining from a cloudless sky. The soldiers caught the gleam of the flashing blades, and moved up the bank. Cannon flashed, men went down, but the lines rolled on, up to the breastwork, over it. " Surrender !" Six hundred and fifty Confederates threw down their muskets. The six cannon were seized, one thousand five hundred muskets and four stands of colors were captured. It was the work of three minutes. ('") During the day Wilcox's division of the Ninth Corps, supported by Barlow's of the Second, attacked near the I^orfolk railroad, and drove the Confederates. Just before night Ledlie's division of the Ninth, com- manded by Colonel Gould, captured a portion of the intrenchmeuts and one hundred prisoners; but having used up all their ammunition, and no troops being sent to their assistance, they were driven out, losing heavily. Nearly all of the Second Corps and Crawford's division of the Fifth were engaged. There was little concerted action on the part of the Union troops. The divisions attacked separately, and at a disadvantage. Gen- eral Beauregard, on the contrary, handled his troops most effectively. He had not far from twenty thousand, but had great advantage of position, behind breastworks, with the trees cut down in front, their branches inter- laced, with here and Ihere a thick growth of brambles. 328 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Genei'al Beauregard saw that lie must reduce his line — make it shorter. He sent his engineer, Colonel Harris, to lay out a new line on the west bank of Harrison's Creek, which rises south of the house of Mr. Shand, and runs north to the Appomattox. The engineer drove a line of white stakes. Shovels were distributed. Silently, at midnight, the main line fell back, leaving only skirmishers in front. The men seized the shovels, and in a very short time a new breastwork was thrown up, and the artil- lery placed in position. (") General Meade was preparing for a grand assault. It was to be made at four o'clock on the morning of the ISth. The whole of Grant's army had arrived. The Eio;hteenth Coi'ps, with the exception of Martin- June 18, 1864. -,,,... '^ . , A • . .1 dale s division, was recrossing the Appomattox to join Gen- eral Butler. Neill's division of the Sixth Corps had taken its place. At the appointed hour, the Second, Fifth, and Ninth corps moved forward, but no musketry flamed from the intrenchments which yesterday were manned by the Confederates, wdio were now behind the new intrench- ments, a third of a mile nearer Petersburg. General Meade was compelled to make new dispositions. Time went by, and with the swiftly flying hours went all chance for taking Petersburg by assault. At seven o'clock the troops of Kershaw's division, and a little later Field's division, of Lee's army, came across the Apjjomattox in the cars, and took positions behind the newly made works. Just after dark on the evening of the 12th of June, General Warren, commanding the Fifth Corps, started from Cold Harbor for the movement towards James River. He was followed by the Second and Ninth. We have seen how Warren crossed the Chickahominy and moved up the Charles City road towards Riddel's shoj). General Grant intended to accomplish two things by the movement of this corps — make Lee think he was about to move upon Richmond from that direction, and at the same time screen the real movement of the army, in both of which he was successful. We have seen the Second Corps making a rapid march to the James, followed by the Ninth, taking the shortest route to Petersburg, with the Sixth takino; the longer route, and the trains makins; a still lon- ger journey. We have seen the Second crossing the James, followed by the Ninth, the Second arriving in front of Petersburg just before sunset on the 15th. Let us see what Lee was doing upon the afternoon of the 17th, at the hour when the whole of Grant's army was near Petersburg. General Beauregard forecast the probable movement. On the after- noon of the Ttli he telegraphed this to Bragg at Richmond : " Should Grant have left Lee's front, he doubtless intends operating against Rich- FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. 331 mond along James River, probably on the soutli side. Petersburg, being nearly defenceless, would be captured before it could be reinforced." The next day Beauregard sent a long letter to Bragg, giving his reasons for believing that Grant was swinging round to the James, and that he would probably attack between Bermuda Hundred and Richmond, and at the same time seize Petersburg. Neither Bragg nor Lee paid any attention to Beauregard. On the 13th, "Warren was south of the Chickahominy, and Lee was hastening from Cold Harbor, through Richmond, and down the Charles City road, to meet Grant's whole army, which he supposed was to advance from that direction. At three o'clock on the afternoon of the 13th Grant was at Bermuda Hundred, giving directions to Butler. On the 15th Lee had his army extending from Malvern Hill north to White Oak Swamp, supposing that Grant's wliole army was before him, when there was only the Fifth Corps, which was getting ready to move to the crossinof at Windmill Point. On the morniny; of the 16th Lee was still there, but the Fifth Corps was well on its way to Petersburg, where were the Second, Ninth, and Eighteenth, already engaged with Beauregard. At 10.30 on the morning of the 16th Lee sent this to Beauregard : " I do not know tlie position of Grant's army. Cannot strip north bank of James River." On the afternoon of the 17th, at 3.30, he sent this to W. H. F. Lee, who was at Malvern Hill: "Push after the enemy, and endeavor to ascertain what has become of Grant's army." Gen. A. P. Hill was at Riddel's shop, just south of White Oak Swamp, where he had been three days, confronted part of the time by Warren and the rest by the Union cavalry. But Warren was now at Petersburg, and the cavalry, by their bold front, had successfully deceived the Confederate commander. At 4.30 on the 17th Lee sent this to Beauregard : "Have no informa- tion of Grant's crossing the James River, but upon your report have or- dered troops to Chaffin's Bluff." At ten o'clock that evening he informed Beauregard that he had ordered Kershaw's division of Anderson's corps to report to him. Kershaw marched to the cars, which whirled him to Petersburg, where he arrived at seven o'clock on the morning of the 18th, while the Union army was moving to assault the new line taken up l)y the Confederates. Had not Beauregard taken his new line, it is probable that he would have been swept out of the position held the day before, and that at the hour of seven Kershaw would have seen him retreating across the Appomattox. Not till the close of the 17th did Lee compre- hend Grant's movement. That it came upon him with great force at last is seen in the haste with which he made his way to Petersburg, where he arrived at 11.30 on the forenoon of the 17th. 332 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. There has been a disposition on the part of tlie admirers of Lee to be- little the part performed by Beauregard, and give undue credit to the Confederate commander-in-chief, but the truth of history will give the honor of holding Petersburg to Beauregard ; and the truth of history will also give to Grant the credit of planning a movement which Lee did not comprehend, and which, had General Smith June 18, 1864. AVERY HOUSE, HEADQUARTERS OF GENERAL "WARREN, IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG. From a war-time Sketch. acted with energy, would have given him Petersburg on the 15th of June, and changed the whole aspect of the war. When it was discovered, on the morning of the IStli, that the Confed- erates had fallen back to a new position, General Meade ordered the army to press forward. The Second Corps very soon became engaged near the house of Mr. Hare. It had only a short distance to advance, while the Ninth Corps had a mile, and the Fifth a still greater distance. The fore- noon passed before the Fifth and Ninth were in position. All the while the Confederate cannon were sending shells upon the Union troops. Gen- eral Burnside, with the Ninth, advanced to the railroad leading from Petersburg to Norfolk, but could not drive the Confederates from an ex- FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG. 333 cavation in wliicli they were sheltered. ISTot till the sun was going clown were the different divisions in position. We are to think of a great uproar of artillery, more than one hundred and fifty cannon on both sides sending solid shot and shell into the opposing ranks. Down in the ravine, through which winds Harrison's Creek, were the men in blue, struggling amid fallen trees to make their way up to the Confederate lines. By the railroad, can- non were flaming in the faces of the men of the Ninth Corps, who worked their way to within one hundred yards of the Confederate intrenchments. Very gallant was the charge of Griffin's division close by the house of Mr. Avery, near which General Warren established his headquarters. I climbed to the roof of the building, through which Confederate shells had crashed. " Do not let them see you use your glass," was the injunction of General Warren, who was sitting on the step of the portico. GENERALS HUNT AND DUANE. 334 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. At my feet were the Union soldiers reclining on the ground ; eastward, screened from the Confederates by woods, were the wagons of the Fifth Corps ; westward, across the storm-swept plain, were the Confederate in- trenchments, bristling with cannon and battle-flags wav'ing above them; beyond were the spires of the city and the winding Appomattox. The Union troops did not retreat, but held the ground already won, went to work with shovels, and when once more the daylight appeared in the east, they were behind a line of works which they would ' hold from that hour to the close of the mighty struggle, ten months later, when the Confederacy would disappear like a bubble in a swirling stream. During the three days' struggle for the possession of Petersburg, near- ly eleven thousand Union soldiers had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. It will never be known how many went down npon the Con- federate side ; but as Beauregard's troops were sheltered behind intrench- ments, the loss could not have been as great. General Grant knew when the sun went down that Lee's army had arrived ; that the intrenchments could not be carried by assault, and that there were long months of weary struggle before him. He accepted the inevitable, and began his plans for the future. Both armies were worn and weary. The innnediate object which Grant had in view, the taking of Petersburg, had not been accom- plished ; but there was no despondency visible in his face. It was nine miles to City Point, his base of supplies. A few days, and the soldiers heard the scream of the locomotive, and a train of cars came into their very encampments, bringing fresh supplies. So the siege of Petersburg began. General Duane, of the Engineer Corps, marked out the lines for the fortifications, and General Hunt, commanding the artillery, selected the positions for the heavy guns. NOTES TO CHAPTER XII. ( ') Alfred Roman, "Military Operations of Gen. P. T. Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 566. ( '-) General Wise, Report quoted by Alfred Roman, iu " Military Operations of Gen. P. T. Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 224. ( ') Author's Note-book, June, 1864. ( *) Alfred Roman, "Military Operations of Gen. P. T. Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 230. ( '") Idem. ( *) Major-general Hancock's Report. ( ■') Alfred Roman, "Military Operations of Gen. P. T. Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 231. ( «) "Military History of Connecticut," p. 611. ( ^) Author's Note-book, June, 1864. (i») Idem. (") Alfred Roman, "Military Operations of Gen. P. T. Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 238. APPROACHING ATLANTA. 335 CHAPTER XIII. APPROACHING ATLANTA. MILITARY law in the Confederacy was very powerful. It not only swept all able-bodied citizens of the military age into the army, but it impressed the slaves of the planters into the service to build fortifica- tions. When General Johnston found that General Sherman would soon compel him to fall back from the strong fortifications which he had erected on Kenesaw, he sent Colonel Prestman, of the engineers, to lay out a new line of fortifications, ten miles south of Marietta, and called npon the slave- holders to send their slaves to construct them, also a strong line of forts, redoubts, and breastworks around Atlanta. So through the last days of June three large gangs of slaves were toiling with picks and shovels, one south of Marietta, a second party along the Chattahoochee River, and the third aronnd Atlanta. (') AVith Sherman's troops closing around Marietta, and threatening Johns- ton's communications, the Confederate commander could tarry no longer at Kenesaw, and retreated once more to the new line of in- Julv 3, 1864. , „ . T T . 1 -, -, trenchments. Tor twenty-six days the two armies had stood face to face around Kenesaw, but this retreat took the Confederate army away from the hills and mountains, and made a flanking movement all the easier for General Sherman. While the cars were bringing supplies to Sherman he was studying his next move. He had no intention of attacking the Confederates behind their breastworks. He would gain Johnston's rear. The Chattahoochee River was swollen by the rains. The only bridge, the one at Roswell, twenty miles np-stream, above the railroad to Atlanta, had been burned. The river was too deep to be forded, and he must lay pontoons. He sent Garrard's cavalry north-east eight miles from Marietta, to the village of Stop-and-Swap. The troopers pressed on to Roswell, burning a cotton- factory, which was making clothing for the Confederacy ; also a paper- mill. The French flag was flying over the building, and the men who were 336 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. July 5, 1864. running the mill said that the property belonged to citizens of France ; Garrard did not stop for that, but set the building on fire. General Davi.s on his march to join Sherman destroyed an irou-foundeiy at Rome. So, day by day the Confederate Government saw that not only were the armies being pressed back, but that the re- sources of the country were rapidly diminishing. General Schofield rode along the banks of the Chattahoochee up to Soap Creek, above Roswell, looking at all the crossings. Garrard's scouts said that there was only one company of Confederate cavalry with a single "^^-^ i^-> "^f THE FISH-TRAP ON THE CHATTAHOOCHEE WHERE GENERAL SCHOFIELD CROSSED. cannon guarding the crossing just above the creek. Schofield saw that a farmer who lived near by had made a fish-trap at that point, and that the water was rippling over the rocks. He also saw that tlie boats for the pontoon-bridge could be put into the creek where the Confederate cavalry could not see them, and that in a few moments a strong force could be put across the river. The place was selected for the crossing. Cox's division and the Army of the Ohio reached the creek. Tlie men marched in silence. No camp-fires were kindled. The wagons with the boats came np, and five hundred men launched them in the little stream. Byrd's brigade was to make the crossing, and the Twelfth Kentucky was to take the lead. While the boats were getting ready Cameron's brigade APPROACHING ATLANTA. 339 was making its way to tlie fisli-trap, half a mile above the creek. The scouts, who crept along the bank of the river, peeping through the bushes saw a Confederate cannon on the other bank. In the camp near at hand some of the soldiers were plajing cards; one was writing a letter to his MAJOR GENERAL SCHOFIELD. wife. He had just written that she need not be alarmed about him, for no Yankees were to be seen anywhere ; they were all down in front of Johnston, and he was just as safe there as he would be at liome. (') While he was writing it the hand on General Cameron's watch moved on to 3.30. Upon tlie instant Colonel Casement, with the One Hundred and Third 34:0 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Oliio, the men wlio ran across the stringers of tlie bridge at Cu]p"'s farm, dashed down the bank by the lish-trap, made their way across the river, and rushed up the other bank. At the same instant the boats, tilled with Kentuckians, shot out from the mouth of Soap Creek into the river. Strong-armed rowers pulled the oars. There was a commotion in the Confederate camp ; the soldiers seized their guns ; the unfinished letter dropped upon the ground ; the cannon flashed, but the next moment the air w^as humming with bullets fired by the advancing Union men. The Confederates fled, carrying the news to Johnston that the Union army was crossing the river. Before night the bridge was completed and Cox's division across tlie stream. Once more Johnston was compelled to retreat. Through the night his troops were on the march across the river. (^) Sherman followed to close in u])on Atlanta, marching east to approach the city on its July 9, 1864. • i o i i i i i northern and eastern sides. Such a movement would enable him to protect the railroad over which he received his own supplies, and at the same time cut the road leading east from Atlanta. General Thomas took position nearest the Chattahoochee, along the north bank of Peach- tree Creek. McPherson and Schofield moved farther east, turned south to destroy the railroad leading east, with the intention of cutting off Johns- ton from direct communication with Lee at Richmond. The intrenchments which the slave gangs had erected for the defence of Atlanta began at the railroad two miles south of the Chattahoochee, ran east six miles to Pea-vine Creek, then turned south and extended to the railroad leading from Atlanta eastward. General Johnston saw that McPherson was separated from Thomas, and was thinking of giving bat- tle to Sherman. Just at this moment General Bragg arrived at General Johnston's headquarters. After his defeat at Missionary Ridge he had been called to Richmond, and had been appointed chief of staff as military Julv 14, 1864. , . ' „ ^^ . '^ \^ • •, 1 T T . adviser to Jefferson Davis. He said tliat he was on ins w^ay to see two other Confederate commanders — Generals S. D. Lee, in the south-west, and E. Kirby Smith, who was west of the Mississippi (^) — to ascertain what reinforcements they could send to General Johnston. He said that Governor Brown, of Georgia, had called for ten tliousand militia of that State to aid in holding Atlanta, and that they would be hurried into the city at once, which was welcome news to General Jolmston. General Bragg did not stay long, for he said that his visit to the army was not official. Jefferson Davis, as has before been stated, did not like General Johnston. Before the Southern States seceded from the L^nion APPROACHING ATLANTA. 341 there liad been a disagreement between them which the President of the Confederacy had not forgotten, though after the defeat of Bragg at Mis- sionary Ridge lie had been compelled to comply with the public demand, and appoint him to command the Army of the West. While the Con- federate army was at Dalton an intrigue was started in Kichmond against Johnston. A Confederate writer says : " An intrigue was commenced at the time he first moved from Dalton, at the very commencement of the campaign, and Mr. Davis only waited a convenient opportunity and an available pretext to put his sinister design into execution." (^) GENERAL HOWAKD S CORPS CROSSING THE CHATTAHOOCHEE. From a sketch made at the time. General Bragg remained but a short time in Atlanta, and instead of going on to Mobile to confer with Gen. S. D. Lee, returned to Richmond. Had we been in the large room in the President's mansion ' ' in which the Confederate Cabinet held its sessions, we should have seen the President and his Cabinet discussing the question of removing General Johnston summarily from command. We are not to think that the members of the Cabinet had personal animosity towards General Johnston, and it is hardly probable that Jefferson Davis allowed his personal difference with him to unduly affect his judgment as Presi- dent ; but the people of the South, the members of the Confederate Con- gress, were disheartened over the falling back of the Confederate army from Dalton to Resaca, from there to Cassville, and successively to Dallas, Kenesaw, Smyrna, and across the Chattahoochee, until at last General Sherman was closing around Atlanta. The newsj^apers were publishing accounts of Confederate victories, and had informed the people that Gen- eral Johnston was only falling back to lead Sherman farther from his base of supplies ; but now that the Union army was across the Chattahoochee, 342 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. there was a tone of discontent and disappointment, and a demand for an aggressive movement on the part of the Confederates. The Cabinet, it is said, favored the removal of Johnston and the appointment of General Hood. It is also said that the President of tlie Confederacy walked up and down the room with his hands behind him in deep anxiety, saying that he doubted the propriety of it. (') Going back to Atlanta, we see General Johnston in his tent talking with Colonel Prestman about the intrenchments around Atlanta. It is ten o'clock at night(') when the telegraph operator liands him this de- spatch from Adjutant-general Cooper at Richmond: "Lieutenant-general J. B. Hood lias been commissioned to the temporary rank of general under the late law of Congress. I am directed by the Secretary of War to in- form you that, as you have failed to arrest the advance of the enemy to the vicinity of Atlanta, far in tlie interior of Georgia, and express no con- fidence that you can defeat or repel him, you are hereby relieved from the command of the Army and Department of Tennessee, which you will im- mediately turn over to General IIood."(*) General Johnston read it, and with a smile handed it to General Lovell, saying, "What do you think of that?"(') Possibly it was not unexpected, for he knew that there was an intrigue going on against him. General Lovell had confidence in General Johnston, and felt that his removal would be a great mistake. He saw Generals Hardee, Stewart, and Hood, and in- duced them to send a petition to Jefferson Davis to continue Johnston in command. A Confederate historian says : " They protested against the change, deputizing General Hood, as a matter of courtesy, to send the pro- test. General Hood sent the despatch, but it was worded in such a way as to carry no force and no effect. Mr. Davis declined to withdraw the order." ('») General Johnston turned over the army to General Hood and sent this despatch to Richmond: "As to the alleged cause of my removal, I assert that Sherman's army is much stronger, compared with that July 18, 1864. „ „ , X , ^ • i i ^ -vt i of iennessee, than Grants compared with that of JNorthern Virginia ; yet the enemy has been compelled to advance much more slow- ly to the vicinity of Atlanta than to Richmond and Petersburg, and pen- etrated much deeper into Virginia than into Georgia." (") General Hood was a brave, bold, energetic commander. He had led his troops in many battles ; he could strike heavy blows. Whether Gci eral Hood was, or was not, a party to the intrigue against General Johns- ton may never be certainly known. He had objected to the policy of falling back, and abandoning intrenchraent after intrenchment, but had APPROACHING ATLANTA. 34:3 opposed the plan of Johnston to give battle to Sherman at Cassville. He accepted the command. One of General Sherman's spies came from Atlanta, bringing a news- paper wliich gave information of the appointment of Hood. General Schofield and General Hood were classmates at West Point. " What sort of a man is Hood ?" was Sherman's question. " He is bold even to rashness, and courageous in the extreme." "His appointment means fight," said Sherman, who sent notice of the change to all parts of the army, and who told the division commanders that they must be always prepared for battle, and that he would like noth- ing better than to have Hood come out and attack in the open ground. (") General Hood had three corps — Hardee's, Cheatham's, and Stewart's, formerly commanded by General Polk. Stewart was on the left in front of Thomas, Hardee in the centre, and Cheatham on the right. Beyond Cheatham, in the intrenchments east of the city, were the State troops of Georgia, under Gen. G. W. Smith. The Army of the Tennessee, with Garrard's cavalry, early in the after- noon reached the railroad leading cast from Atlanta. The soldiers tore up the rails, heaped up the ties, laid the rails on top, and set the July 19, 1864. , ' ^ _„, , ., , ^ ties on nre. When tlie rails were red-hot they bent them double around the trees, so that they could never be used again. While McPherson was destroying the railroad, Thomas was getting across Peach- tree Creek, four miles north of Atlanta, which winds through a deep ra- vine with steep banks. Shoal Creek is a little stream which rises amid the hills near Atlanta, runs north, turns the wheel of Mr. Collier's mill, and just beyond the mill joins Peachtree. Mr. Collier's house is about a quarter of a mile east of the mill, and Mount Zion Church about the same distance west of it, on the road leading south, through Mr. Embury's farm, to Atlanta. General Palmer's division of the Army of the Cumberland was on the right, then came Williams's and Geary's divisions of Hooker's corps, on Mr. Embury's farm, between the church and Peachtree Creek. If we walk now from the left of Geary's line to the mill across Shoal Creek and go up the eastern bank, we come to a piece of woods, in which we find Ward's division of Hooker's corps in reserve. Going a short distance south and east, we find Wood's and Newton's divisions of Howard's corps. -Beyond JSTewton's we come to another little stream — Clear Creek — beyond which, more than a mile from Newton, is Stanley's division of Howard's corps. Off in the south-east, six miles away, are Schofield and McPherson. General Sherman in this movement has divided his army, and Hood be- 344 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. lieves that with snch gaps between Thomas and McPherson and Schofield, and with Stanley so far away from Newton, he can fall upon Newton, roll him back on Wood's division, drive both in confusion down into the muddy ravine of Peachtree Creek, and then sweep Williams, Geary, and Palmer in turn across the creek. Having done this, he will then turn about and fall upon Stanley, thus defeating Thomas before Schofield and McPherson can arrive to assist him. General Hood was a firm believer in what he called the Stonewall Jackson school — to march with a portion of his army and strike a blow in one direction, then turn and give another in an opposite direction. He wanted Johnston to pursue such tactics at Resaca, New Hope, and Kene- saw. He detailed Smith and Cheatham to hold the breastworks in front of McPherson. It was one o'clock in the afternoon when Hardee, with Bate's division on the right, Walker in the centre, Maney on the left, and Cleburne in reserve, moved to attack Thomas, directing the main assault on Newton's division. Stewart at the same time moved towards Zion Church, to strike Williams and Geary. It was nearly four o'clock when Bate's division, marching through a thicket of pines and oaks' along the west bank of Clear Creek, came upon Newton's left flank. At the same moment, south of Zion Church, Stewart w\as riding along his lines, telling his troops that they were to drive Geary and Williams back across Peach- tree Creek. It was very well for him to arouse the enthusiasm of his troops, and tell them how they could put Williams and Geary to rout, but the regiments in blue, stretched across the road and fields, had been in a score of battles. They climbed Lookout Mountain and fought the battle among the clouds. At Gettysburg, at the second Bull Run, Chancellors- ville, and on the Peninsula, they sliowed "udiat stuif they were made of. They were not in the habit of running from a battle. This was Hood's plan : The troops w^ere to advance in echelon by divis- ion ; that is, first Bate's division on the extreme right was to get between Newton's left flank and Clear Creek; then Walker's division, three hun- dred yards in rear, was to march against Newton's centre; Maney's divis- ion was to be three hundred yards in the left rear of Walker's ; Stewart's divisions were to move in the same order. Hood expected that Bate would have little difficulty in getting behind Newton's left flank. The troops were ordered to charge with. the bayonet, give a triumphant yell, and sweep all before them. It was well planned, but General Hood had not correctly calculated the sta_ying qualities of Thomas's men. Instead of getting behind Newton, Bate found that officer quickly changing his line of battle, swinging his left flank back towards the creek, conforming it to APPROACHING ATLANTA. 345 Bate's line, and liolding his ground. Walker and Manej, as tlie}^ advanced, were met by a terrific storm of sliell and mnsketrv. Newton and Wood resisted the onset. Wood came into position, ready to take part in tlie contest. West of Slioal Creek, Stewart's men were rnsliing upon Geary by the mill, and upon Williams near the church. They were met by a remorseless fire. General Thomas was on the north side of the creek, opposite the ravine through whicli Shoal Creek trickles to Peachtree. MAP OF ATIiAIN^TA AND "VICINITY. Scale of Miles He massed several of his batteries, whicli poured a destructive fire upon the Confederates by the mill. It was a terrible slaughter; the ground was quickly covered by the killed and wounded. Not one of the Union divisions yielded their ground. General Hood was in trouble, for a courier brought word that Scho- field and McPherson were attacking Cheatham, and that he must have re- inforcements. Hood was just ready to ]3ut Cleburne into the fight against Newton, but was obliged to send him, instead, upon the run to hold the in- trenchments east of the city. Night came, and the thunder of battle died away. Hood's troops were returning to their intrenchments. They had accomplished nothing, and had lost more than four thousand brave men. 346 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Cleburne liastened out to a hill south of the railroad, two miles east of Atlanta, across which the slave -gang had thrown up a line of intrench- ments. It was an important position, overlooking not only the city, but the ground over which McPherson was advancing. Cleburne's artillery, from that jDOsition, could send their shells into the lines of the Fifteenth Corps. McPherson determined to drive Cheatham from the hill, and directed General Logan to do it, who selected General Leggett's division of the Fifteenth Corps, instructing Leggett to be ready at daylight " " ' ' to make the assault. Leggett formed his division during the night, with Force's brigade on his right, facing the hill, Scott's brigade on the left of Force, and Malloy's in rear of Scott's, to protect the left flank. In Force's command were the Twentieth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first, and Forty- fifth Illinois, and the Twelfth and Thirteenth Wisconsin. The Twelfth Wisconsin had just joined the division with full ranks. Some of the men were new recruits. They knew that Cleburne's division was regarded as one of the best in Hood's army. AVhen Leggett moved to the attack, the division under Giles A. Smith, on his left, was also to advance, to prevent the sending of reinforcements to Cleburne. Tiie sun was rising when the signal was given. Colonel Munson, in command of the skirmishers, advanced rapidly from a belt of timber. The Confederates on the hill looked over their breastworks, and saw the line of skirmishers closely followed by two well-formed lines. "Don't fire a gun until you are inside of the works," was the order of General Force. From the line of breastworks on the hill the storm burst forth. Men dropped from the advancing ranks, which did not for a moment falter, but which moved on up the slope. Then came quick flashes, followed by the bayonet-thrust and pistol-shot. A moment of melee and the veterans of Cleburne's division, who had stood like a wall of adamant in a score of battles, were fleeing down the western slope of the hill, across the little rivulet trickling through the ravine at its base, and up the hill-side beyond to the inner line of intrenchments. It was a bitter mortification to Cle- burne, for from the summit of the hill, which Force had won, the Union cannon would send shot and shell into the streets of Atlanta. The attack upon Thomas at Peachtree Creek had resulted in disaster to Hood, and now Cleburne had been driven from Bald Hill, east of At- lanta. He had lost five thousand men. The Union artillery — Elliott's Eighth Michigan Battery, and the Third Ohio, Williams's battery of 20- pounder Parrot-guns — were sending shells into Atlanta, which was a mor- APPROACHING ATLANTA. 347 tification to Hood. General Wheeler, commanding the Confederate cav- alry south-east of the city, during the day brought word that the rear of McPherson was open to attack ; that there was a large Union wagon-train at Decatur, seven miles east of Atlanta. The roads were in excellent condition, and there was nothing to pre- vent Hood from making a movement in that direction. He decided to leave Stewart and the Georgia militia to hold the lines of intrenchment. VIEW OF ATLANTA, FROM THE UNION SIGNAL-STATION EAST OF THE CITY. From a sketch made at the time. and to use Hardee's and his own corps, under Cheatham, to crush McPher- son. Hardee's corps was the largest in the Confederate army. Hood or- dered the troops to be ready to move at sunset. Hardee's men marched through Atlanta, down the road along the Intrenchment Creek, crossing it at Mr. Cobb's mill, and turned north-east. Bate's division was in advance, then Walker's, followed by Cleburne and Maney. Hardee was to gain the rear of McPherson, turn west, and attack Bald Hill. Cheatham, at the same time, was to attack from the west. His design was to grind to powder the Fifteenth Corps, which held the hill, and the Seventeenth Corps, immediately north of it. 34S EEDEEMING THE EEPU13LIC. General McPherson liad not grown careless by the success that fol- lowed Sherman's movements, but, on the contrary, had become active and vigilant ; during the night he issued an order for the Six- ■ ""' " teentli Corps to move south of the railroad, and strengthen the left of the Seventeenth. At daybreak the Sixteenth was on its march. Going now up to Bald Ilil], we find that the soldiers of Leggett's division had changed the breastworks captured the day before, so that now they faced west, towards Atlanta. When daylight came they discovered that the Confederates had abandoned a part of the second line in front of them, and Malloy's brigade went out and took possession. General Leggett's division faced west, while Gen. Giles A. Smith's division, on his left, faced south. The angle was on the southern slope of the hill. Most of Smith's line was in thick woods. The Fifteenth Corps was north of Bald Hil], Morgan L. Smith's division joining Leggett, then came Harrow's and "Wood's divisions, the last being on the railroad. Going now from the left of Giles A. Smith's division, three-fourths of a mile east of Bald Hill, we come to Morrell's brigade of General Fuller's division of the Sixteentli Corps, which had come down from north of the railroad to be in position to support the Seventeenth Corps. Sprague's brigade of Fuller's division had been sent east to Decatur to protect the wagon-train from Wlieeler's cavalry. Sweeny's division of the Sixteenth Corps was, north of Fuller's, near the raih-oad. The fields around were thickly covered with wagons. Yester-night, before the sun went down, the troops on Bald Hill could see a column of Confederates marching out of Atlanta towards the south. jSi^ow that the sun was rising, they could still see them, infantry and artil- lery, moving in the same direction. Was Hood evacuating Atlanta ? Was the repulse at Peachtree and the driving of Cleburne from Bald Hill so damaging that it was useless for him to attempt to hold the place, now that McPherson's shells were exploding in the streets ? Those who knew Hood best could not quite accept the conclusion that he was abandoning the city. Through the night the pickets of Leggett, down south of Bald Hill, had heard the rumbling of artillery wheels and the tramping of men. General Sherman was at McPherson's headquarters, (") near the house of Mr. Howard, north of the railroad. Lie found that the Con- federates in front of Thomas, as well as those in front of McPherson, had fallen back, but that they were hard at work building intrenchments, which did not look much like evacuation. Thomas's artillery was send- ing shells into the new Confederate line. The air was still, and the boom of the guns came to Sherman's and McPherson's ears as they sat on the piazza of the house. They could hear the pickets firing in front of the APPROACHING ATLANTA. 349 Fifteenth Corps. Tliey v;alked down the road a little distance and sat beneath the grateful shade of the trees. General Sherman spread out liis map and pointed to the positions. They were in rear of Schoiield, whose cannon were also hurling shot and shell towards the Confederate line. The Confederate cannon replied, and a shot came hurtling through the trees near them. They heard a rapid firing of musketry towards the south-east. Sherman took out his pocket-compass to note the direc- tion. " What is the meaning of it ?" he asked. McPherson could not tell, but gathered up his papers and rode away with General Ilickenlooper, Chief of Artillery, Adjutant-general Clark, Inspector-general Strong, Cap- tain Steele, Captain Gile, and Orderly Thompson towards the firing. (") It was near noon, and the pickets out towards Decatur had caught a glimpse of Confederate cavalry advancing from tlie south-east towards the trains and hospitals. The first dropping fire of musketry came from the pickets. As the noise increased, the Sixty-third Ohio, commanded by Colo- nel Welles, of Leggett's division, was ordered in that direction to protect them. On its way the regiment suddenly came upon a line of Confeder- ate skirmishers, the advance of Bate's division. Colonel Welles deployed his men, and the battle began. General Dodge, commanding the Sixteenth Corps, and General Fuller, were eating dinner. They dropped their knives and went out to see what was going on. " The Rebel cavalry must be raiding our rear. Post your regiments to protect our train," said Dodge, as he leaped into his saddle. The firing was becoming every moment louder in the rear, where they did not expect to be attacked. Fuller's soldiers were quickly in line, form- ing on the western edge of a field, and facing east. The Second division of the Sixteenth Corps, nnder Sweeny, was forming at the same moment north of Fuller. A little rivulet rising in the woods runs along the west- ern edge of the field, then turns eastward. Fuller's line was along this stream ; the Thirty-ninth Ohio on the west, the Twenty-seventh next in line. The Sixty-fourth IHinois was on the west bank of the stream, and the Eighteenth Missouri in reserve in rear of the Thirty-ninth Ohio ; the Fourteenth Ohio Battery, Captain Laird, w'as on a knoll farther north ; the Eighty-first Ohio was near the battery. The fields in the immediate vicin- ity were filled with wagons. There was a sudden harnessing of horses, and the trains began to move north towards the raih'oad. The pickets were streaming from the woods, followed by the Confederates of Bate's and Walker's divisions of Hardee's corps. The six guns of Laird's battery 350 EEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. opened lire. The Confederates evidently did not see Fullers regiments, which were partly concealed in the woods. Bat suddenly a line of fire burst forth in front of them. They halted, fell back, rearranged their lines, and once more advanced. They were a quarter of the way across the field. " Charge the battery !" was the word which ran down the Confederate lines. They rushed towards the guns, when suddenly the Eighty-first Ohio, rising like an apparition from the ground, stood before them. With a cheer the men from Ohio rushed to meet the Confederates half-way across the field. Enthusiasm is contagious. In a time of excitement, what others do spontaneously we ourselves are pretty certain to do. The cheer and the action stirred the blood of the Thirty-ninth Ohio. The soldiers of that regiment fired a volley, sprang to their feet, and rushed upon the Confederates of the Sixty-sixth Georgia. The enthusi- asm reached the Twenty-seventh Ohio, and that regiment also dashed across the field. There were no regiments on Fuller's right to oppose the Confederates in that direction, and there was the remarkable scene of the Ohio regiments rushing east, while just south of them the Confederates were pushing past them towards the west. The Sixty-fourth Illinois was armed with Plenry repeating-rifles, with which they could fire fourteen rounds without stopping to reload. It was like the firing of a brigade. The Confederates were commanded by a brave officer, General Walker, who saw^ his line wavering, and brought forward other regiments from the woods. He rode in front of them bareheaded, waving his hat and encourao-ino; his men. The Eio;hteentli Missouri came down at the moment and joined the Sixty-fourth Illinois, pouring in its volleys. The brave Confederate officer fell from his horse, mortally wounded. Hood had lost one of his ablest division commanders. The Confederate troops fell back into the woods, but reformed and advanced once more to strike Fuller's flank. That commander saw that he must change front. There are times when actions are better than commands. Some of his men did not comprehend his order, whereupon he seized the colors of the Twenty-seventh Ohio, planted them where he wished to form his new line, and the regiment came into position upon the double-quick. General Fuller was once the colonel of the Twenty- seventh, and the men gave a cheer and, together with the Thirty-ninth, drove the Confederates once more into the woods. The Sixteenth Corps was holding its ground against Hardee, but there was a wide gap between Fuller and the left of Giles A. Smith's division of the Seventeenth Corps. While Bate's and Walker's divisions were APPROACHING ATLANTA. 351 attacking the Sixteenth Corps, Cleburne and Manej were falling upon Smith. Cleburne's men were smarting under the loss of Bald Hill the day before. It is a noble faculty of the soul that stirs us to regain what we have lost, and bring victory out of defeat. Cleburne's blood was on fire to turn the disaster of yesterday into a victory to-day. JSTever had his troops gone into battle with such determination to win a victory as now. They paid no heed to the line of Union skirmishers in front of them, but brushed them away as you brush aside a spider's thread floating in the air. McPherson had ordered General Blair, commanding the Fifteenth Corps, to send Wangelin's brigade, which was in reserve, to fill the gap between the Sixteenth and Seventeenth corps. It was on the march, but had not arrived. Cleburne was just ready to strike the left of Giles A. Smith's division. It was at that moment that McPherson gathered up his papers, put them into his pocket, and rode south across the railroad with his staff to find out the meaning of the uproar. He came to the wagon-train, and saw the teamsters lashing their horses to a run. "Please stop those teams; they will get up a stampede," he said, and his staff rode away to control the panic-stricken teamsters. One of General Leggett's staff, with his horse upon the run, rode up and saluted McPherson : " General Leggett wishes me to inform you that the enemy are attack- ing him, and he desires orders." " Tell him to straighten his line parallel with this road." The road ran south into the woods, towards the position of Giles A. Smith. Captain Paymond rode in advance, followed by McPherson and Orderly Thompson. In all probability McPherson supposed that "Wangelin was in the position to which he had been ordered, but he was not. He was on the march, but had not reached the ground. They entered the woods, were in a bend of the road, when suddenly there was a volley of musketry and Captain Rajnnond's horse went down. " Halt ! halt ! Sur- render!" was the cry of a hundred Confederates. General McPherson wheeled his horse, lifted his hat as if to salute, but the next moment fell headlong to the ground. Orderly Thompson, swept from his saddle, also fell to the ground. A moment later and McPherson's horse was running wild across the field in front of the Ohio troops. The faithful orderly sprang to his feet and ran to his beloved commander. "Are you hurt, general?" "Oh, orderly, I am!" They were his last words. (") A mo- ment of convulsion, and his heart ceased its beating. The country had lost one of its ablest commanders. The Confederates swarmed around the lifeless body and searched General McPherson's pockets, taking his 352 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. pocket-book and papers. Captain Raymond and Orderly Thompson were marched away as prisoners, and Cleburne's line moved on over the body of the dead commander. It was between twelve and one o'clock. General Sherman was walking up and down the porch of the Howard Honse when one of McPherson's staff rode up with the startling news that McPherson was killed or a prisoner. "Ride to Logan, and inform him that he is the senior ofBcer in the Army of the Tennessee. Direct him to refuse his left flank, drive back the enemy, and hold the hill. Tell him that I will send him all needful reinforcements." The officer reached Logan and informed him that he was commander. Cleburne at that moment was sweeping past Giles A. Smith, whose left regiments had crumbled in part, some of the men fleeing, but others sul- lenl}^ falling back towards Leggett's division. Cleburne intended to anni- hilate Smith and then toss Leggett over against Ciieatham. The death of General Walker had deprived Cleburne of an important ally. More than this, the battery of Captain Laird was sending shells into his flank. The Sixty-fourth Illinois, with their Henry rifles, were doing him great damage. Tlie soldiers of that regiment made a dash and captured forty Confederates of the regiment wdiich fired the volley upon McPher- son. In tlie pockets of one of the prisoners they found McPherson's papers, and among them an important letter from General Sherman fore- casting the Union commander's plans, and about which Slierman had been uneasy ; but it was quite certain that no Confederate officer had seen it, and Sherman breathed easier. ('°) The Sixty-fourth pushed on and recov- ered the body of their beloved commander, which was borne back to the Howard House. The Confederates rallied, and the Sixty-fourth Illinois and Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth regiments in turn were forced back into a thicket ; but their resolute attack had retarded Walker's and Cle- burne's divisions. So stubborn the resistance that ever}' third man in the Twenty-seventh and every fourth man in the Thirty-ninth was either killed or wounded ; but they held their ground till ordered to a new position. In obedience to the last order issued by McPherson, Giles A. Smith endeavored to form his new line parallel with the road, but mvis forced back by Cleburne until he stood back to back with Leggett. Going up now to the top of the hill, to the intrenchment which Leggett had constructed, let us take a look from that position. Looking south along the line of breastworks, we see a part of Scott's brigade, the Seventy-eighth Ohio, nearest the fortification ; then the Twentieth Ohio, which turns a sharp angle, the right of the regiment facing west and the left south-east. APPROACHING ATLANTA. 353 WHERE McPHEUSON FELL. Tlie line is along the western edge of woods, with ca field sloping westward towards a ravine, beyond which is the Confederate line of intrenchments, where Hood's old corps is in waiting to come out and do its part of the grinding up of the Fifteenth and Seventeenth corps. Hood himself is there to see it done. The right flank of Giles A. Smith's division of the Seventeenth Corps joins the Twentieth Ohio regiment. General Force's brigade of Leggett's division is in the fortification on the top of the hill and along the brea^t works. ■23 354: EEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. As we have already seen, the first blow of Cleburne was on the left side of Smith ; but as Cleburne advances, the attack runs down the line to the Twentieth Ohio, as the white foam of an ocean billow rolls against a long reach of sea-beach, striking at last a jutting headland. Tliey who stand at the angle hear at first a ripple and then a roar of musketiy. Onward sweeps the tide, the Confederate soldiers sending out their loud- est yells, their bayonets flashing in the sun, the earth resounding the tread of the advancing liost. The veteran Union soldiers know that there must be a desperate struggle. In an instant they leap over the breastworks, turn about, and face to the south-east, bring their muskets to a level, and fire a volley. The great body of the Confederate column under Cleburne sweeps on towards the hill, while Maney's division swings west of the angle, then turns east to rush upon the Twentieth and Seventy-eighth regiments. In an instant the Ohio troops leap back to the other side of the breastworks, turn about, and deliver their volleys upon Maney, strewing the ground with killed and wounded. Leggett's chief of artillery. Captain Williams, has placed Elliott's battery of Rodman guns between Force's and Scott's brigades, the 24-pound howitzers of Captain Hooper's battery on the top of the hill, and the Third Ohio Battery of 20-pound Parrot-guns on the right of the division. Cleburne's troops rush up the eastern slope of the hill. Then comes a terrible hand-to-hand struiro-le, men firing^ into each other's faces across the breastworks, stabbing each other with their bayonets, beating out each other's brains with the butts of their muskets. Such a melee cannot continue long. Cleburne's men are out of breath with their run- ning up the hill. Their aggressive force has spent itself ; many have been killed or wounded, and the shattered lines fall back into the woods. General Hood was on the breastworks east of the city. He had in- tended that Cheatham, with his own old corps, should rush up the west- ern slope of the hill the same moment that Cleburne attacked, but it was not possible for him to an-ange for exact concert of action. Cheatham started when he heard the uproar, but before he could reach the hill Cleburne had been repulsed. The Confederates under Cheatham rushed up the western slope, but the Union troops leaped back again over the mtrenchments and were ready to receive them. The howitzers, the Hodman and Parrot-guns poured in a terrific fire. Cheatham could make no headway and was easily repulsed. Cleburne was not i-eady to give up the struggle, and re- formed his lines in the woods and again advanced. Once more tlie Union men leaped over the breastworks and faced the east. General Walcott, commanding a brigade in Morgan L. Smith's division of the Fifteenth APPROACHING ATLANTA. 355 Corps, swung liis troops out from the main line nnd delivered a destruc- tive enfilading fire. The hill once more was aflame. Fuller, of the Six- teenth Corps, was opening on Cleburne's rear, whose troops again fled to the shelter of the woods. Over towards Atlanta Cheatham meanwhile had rallied his troops and advanced from the west. The men of Leggett's and Giles A. Smith's divisions once more jumped over their breastworks and fired upon the ad- vancing lines. The soldiers called it practising " Hardee's Tactics." There was humor in tlie remark, for before the war General Hardee pub- lished a volume with that title. This advance of Cheatham was mainly against the Fifteenth Corps. Walcott's brigade, the first north of Leg- gett, had its right flank in a thicket, its left flank on a knoll. The other brigades of Mors^an L. Smith's division were farther east. Smith ordered Walcott to fall back, but General Leggett asked him to remain. "I am ordered," said Leggett, "by Sherman to liold this hill at all hazards, and if yon fall back my flank will be exposed." Walcott saw that it would be better to remfiin where he was. (") We come to the crit- ical moment of the battle. It was four o'clock — possibly later, for men take little note of time in battle — when Hardee's artillery opened fire from tlie south-east, followed once more by an attack on Giles A. Smith, In the morning we saw the Sixty-eighth Ohio, under Colonel Welles, taking part in the repulse of the attack upon the Sixteenth Corps. The regiment had returned, w\as coming down from the north, and was in posi- tion to deliver its fire squarely into the faces of the Confederates. Leg- gett moved Malloy's brigade to face the south, and the 2-t-pound howitzers were turned in the same direction. While Hardee was getting ready to attack, Leggett's men seized their shovels, and in a few moments had a line of breastworks running eastward at a right angle with that on the hill. Hardee had captured two of Giles A. Smith's cannon, had wheeled them, and was firing upon the hill. General Blair, commanding the Sev- enteenth Corps, had his line admirably arranged, and was read_y to receive the last grand assault. The men who had held the hill through the day had no intention of yielding it now, although Hardee was to attack from the south and Cheatham fi-om the north and west. Cheatham's sharp-shooters sheltered themselves behind a house, fired from its windows, picked off the gunners of De Gress's battery, and shot the horses, Manigault's brigade of Confederates was massing behind some buildings. Suddenly they swarmed out, rushed upon the battery, seized the guns, and turned them upon Smith's troops, De Gross went back to Sherman with tears dropping from his eyes. His cannon were first heard 356 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. at Sliiloli, had tlinndered in nearly all the great battles, and he was heart- broken over his loss. The Confedei'ate assault was so vigorous that Smith's and Wood's troops by the railroad were driven from their in- trenchments. General A¥ood hastened to Sherman for ordei-s. "My left is driven in, and my connection with Leggett broken," he said to his commander-in-chief. " Wheel your brigades to the left, advance in echelon, and strike the enemy in flank," was the order, Sherman sent a messenger to Schofield with this order : " Mass your artillery on yonder hill and open fire." Schofield put twenty pieces into position a short distance west of the Howard House, and opened a destruc- tive fire upon the Confederates. Wood's brigades wheeled round from the north-east, coming upon the flank of the Confederates under Manigault. Down by the railroad Logan, with hat in hand, was riding along the line shouting, " Remember McPherson ! Avenge his death ! Don't let the Fifteenth Corps be disgraced !" Going north now, along the line of the Fifteenth Corps, we find Morgan L. Smith's division extending to the railroad. Two cannon of De Gress's battery (A, First Illinois) were near a house by the railroad, supported by the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Regiment. When the battle be- gan in the morning the other regiments of Martin's brigade went npon the double-quick to the assistance of the Sixteenth Corps. They were the Fifty-fifth and One Hundred and Seventh Illinois, Fifty-seventh Ohio, and Sixth Missouri. The withdrawal of these regiments left a weak line at this point near the railroad, north of which was C. R.Wood's division, reaching to Schofield. Sherman's headquarters were in the rear of Wood's at the Howard House. It was late in the afternoon when Cheatham again advanced, rushing upon the battery, overwhelming the regiment in support. The Union lines which a few moments before were disorganized took form once more. Soldiers who for a moment had been fainthearted were themselves again under the magnetism of their coiumander. Martin's brigade came into position, and resolved that the cannon whose thunder had been music to their ears in many battles should be recaptured. Cap- tain De Gress was ruiming along the lines pleading Avith the soldiers to get them back. ('') Sweeny's brigade of the Sixteenth Corps was there to help the Twelfth and Sixty-sixth Illinois and Eighty-first Ohio. The ad- vance of the lines of both brigades was like the rush of a whirlwind that sweeps everything before it. They recaptured the guns, and drove the Confederates in complete rout towards Atlanta. APPKOACHING ATLANTA. 357 While Cheatham was thus being rolled back from his position the rest of the Union troops were giving the final repulse to Cleburne, driving him back into the woods. The sun went down with the guns still flashing. A por- tion of Maney's division of Confederates crept along the intrenchments south of the fort, still hoping that by some sudden movement thej might get possession of the hill ; but Sherman's lines were stronger than when the battle began, while Hood's were terribly shattered. The Union loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was about thirty -five hundred, while the Confederate loss is supposed to have been nearly ten thousand. To the Confederates it was one of the most disastrous conflicts of the war. Walk- er's division never again appeared as a separate organization, but the bri- gades were broken up and distributed to other commands. The battles of Peaclitree Creek and Atlanta, brought on by General Hood, had both resulted in irretrievable disaster to the Confederate cause. (,0 NOTES TO CHAPTER XIII. Gen. J. E. Johnston, "Narrative of Military Events," p. 345. Copy of Letter in possession of the Author. Gen. J. E. Johnston, "Narrative of Military Events," p. 347. Idem, p. 348. E. A. Pollard, "Lost Cause," p. 377. J. W. Avery, " History of Georgia," p. 279. Geu. J. E. Johnston, "Narrative of Military Events," p. 348. Idem, p. 349. J. W. Avery, " History of Georgia," p. 279. Idem. Gen. J. E. Johnston, "Narrative of Military Events," p. 349. "Memoirs of Gen.W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 72. Idem, p. 76. Idem. Account of Orderly A. G. Thompson, in possession of the Author. "Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 78. General Leggett's Account. " Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 8L 358 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. CHAPTER XIY. THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. THE siege intrencliments which were begun by General Grant east of Petersburg consisted of redoubts, connected by lines of parapets with ditches and fallen trees, sharpened stakes, and chevaux-de-frise. When those were constructed, it was intended that they should be held by a por- tion of the army, while another portion should make a movement towards the south-west, to gain possession of the railroads, and attack General Lee wdienever any advantage could be gained. The Second Corps crossed the Ngrfolk railroad and the Jerusalem plank road, which runs south-east from Petersburg, and took position on tlie left of the Fifth Corps. General Meade ordered the movement with the intention of reacliing the Weldon Railroad, which also runs south from Petersburg. Barlow's division was on the extreme left, and within two miles of the railroad. During tlie night the Sixtli Corps came up on the left of the Second, to be ready to move with it. General Lee discovered the change in position, and directed Gen. A. P. Hill to march out from the intrencliments and meet the movement. In years gone by the region had been a tobacco-field, but by long culti- vation the fertility of the soil had been exhausted, and wdiere once the slave-ji'anff tilled the ffroiind stood an impenetrable thicket of June 22, 1864. , f • t ta- i /• i scrubby pmes. It was so dimcult tor the two corps to move connectedly that the Sixth Corps took a road which led past the house of Mr. Williams, separating it from the Second Corps, which was making its way towards the Globe Tavern, which stood near the railroad. It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and tlie troops of Gibbon's and Mott's divisions of the Second Corps were building breastworks, and Barlow's division was on the march towards«the tavern, when Mahone's and John- son's divisions of Confederate troo^DS came through the woods and fell upoi Barlow's flank and rear. The attack was so sudden that Barlow's troop had no time to form. Some were taken prisoner, and the whole command scattered. Mott's division, next in line, retreated before the Confederate THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 361 who rushed upon Gibbon, capturing a large number of prisoners and four cannon. There was little fighting. It was a very successful movement on the part of A. P. Hill, who fell back to his intrenchments with the four can- non and seventeen hundred prisoners. The disaster was keenly felt by the Second Corps, which, through all the war, up to that moment, had not lost a gun. Recovering from the disaster, the Second Corps moved forward in compact order, accompanied by the Sixth, both corps building breastworks about a mile and a half from the railroad, with the picket June 22, 1864. t ,, . , , . ^ Ime well advanced towards it. It was two o'clock on the morning of the 22d that Generals Wilson and Kantz, with five thousand cavalry, started south-west, and reached the AYeldon Railroad at Ream's Station, where they tore up the track. Turn- TEARING UP THE RAILS. ing north-west, the cavalry pushed on to the South Side Railroad, leading west from Petersburg, striking it fourteen miles west of the city, tearing up the rails for thirty miles to Staunton River. General Kantz found the bridge across that stream protected by a strong military force, with cannon, and he could not burn it. The Confederate cavalry under W. II. F. Lee attacked the rear of Wil- son's troops nearly one liurdred miles west of Petersburg. Finding that his provisions were nearly gone, and having committed great havoc along the railroad, General Wilson turned south-east, came to the Weldon road at Stony Creek Station, ten miles below Ream's Station, where he was confronted by a division of cavalry under Hampton. A battle began wliich 23—2 362 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. lasted till ten o'clock at night. General Kantz at midnight started north up the Halifax road, towards Ream's Station. It was daylight before Wilson conld withdraw from his position. Hampton's troops followed him two miles, but the Confederate commander, seeing the direction which Wilson was taking, hastened along another road to cut him off. Kantz reached Ream's Station, and found himself confronted by Fitz-Hugh Lee. Captain Whittaker, with a message to Meade, dashed through the Confederate lines. It was eleven o'clock in the morning when he reached General Meade's headquarters on tlie Jerusalem June 28, 1864. ., i.i •^ n t->?0' r-^ 1 plank road, eight miles irom Keam s Station. General Lee was informed of the situation, and sent Mahone's division to help capture the Union cavalry. Finding themselves cut off from the Union army, Wilson and Kautz destroyed their wagons and caissons, issued all their ammunition, and at noon turned south, along tlie Halifax road, tow- ards I^ottoway River, intending after crossing that stream to move east- ward twenty miles, and then turn north. Before tliey could get away, Mahone and the Confederate cavalry advanced, separated Kautz's division from Wilson's, throwing the rear of both into confusion. Kautz, finding that he could not reunite with Wilson, made a movement which the Con- federates did not mistrust he would attempt — crossed the railroad between Ream's Station and Rowanty Creek. In passing through a swamp liis cannon sunk so deep in the mire that he spiked and abandoned them, but just at dark reached the army. General Wilson the while was pushing south towards Stony Creek, ac- companied by more than one thousand negroes who had left tlieir masters to find freedom, as they hoped, under the Stars and Stripes ; but they could not keep pace with the cavalry and were left behind. Tlie Union troops reached Jarrett's Station on the Weldon road, rested a little while, and then moved on, and came to Nottoway River at Peter's Bridge. They found it partly destroyed, but in a short time trees were felled, stringers put in place, and the bridge made passable. AVhen the last man was over, it was again destroyed, thus foiling Hampton and Fitz-IIugh Lee, who were close behind. On the afternoon of July 2d, Wilson reached tlie Army of the Potomac, having been gone ten days, during which time he had marched over three hundred miles, and destroyed sixty miles of rail- road. Twelve cannon had been abandoned, and fifteen hundred men were missing; most of them liad fallen out of the ranks through the breaking down of their horses, and had been captured by the Confederates. So arduous and fatiguing this march that many of the soldiers fell asleep while sitting in tlieir saddles, and some of them dropped off to sleep in » . V ^^-^M ^m ' IS Hi 1(11 HHf usBtiE«t^loyed in tlie fields, the ISIinety-ninth and One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania and Seventy-third jSTew York, the One Hundred and Eighty-third Pennsylva- nia, Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, and Forty-sixth Michigan, under Gen. Nelson A. Miles, who looked over the ground and led the troops through a ravine, and rushed upon the breastworks, capturing four 20-pound Par- rot-guns and some prisoners. Great the rejoicing in the Second Corps over the success thus attained. The troops tossed their caps in the air, and gave a grand hurrah ! They felt that they had made good the loss of McKnight's battery in the movement towards tlie Weldon Eailroad, The Second Corps moved on to Bailey's Creek, but found that the Confeder- ates had a strong line of works along the western bank, and that the trees had been cut down in front, making a barrier which could not be carried. General Grant arrived, and looked over the ground and saw that nothing could be accomplished, for Lee had hurried a large number of troops across the Appomattox to resist the movement ; not only Kershaw's but Wilcox's and Heth's divisions. Sheridan found himself confronted by 24 370 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Confederate infantry and W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. In a sharp contest Sheridan captured two hundred prisoners. General Grant, knowing that more than lialf of Lee's army was north of the Appomattox, detached Mott's division from tlie Second Corps, and directed it to hasten back to Petersburg, to be ready for an active part if the explosion of the mine was as successful as was anticipated, leaving Sheri- dan and Hancock with two divisions of his corps to make a strong demon- stration at Bailey's Creek ; but when night came they also took up their line of March for Petersburg. All preparations had been made for the explosion. In 1861: science and invention had not discovered that an electric battery might be used for firino^ mines, and Colonel Pleasants was oblio;ed to use sev^- July 30, 1864. ^ ,- n r rp • ^i ^— ^ • r j eral sections of fuse, io insure tlie nring, a tram of powder was also laid on the night of the 29th. General Meade at the outset doubted if the mine could be excavated, but it had been completed. He objected to the selection of the colored troops to lead the assault, although General Ferrero had drilled them with that object in view. He thought that if they were to fail, it would be said that they were putting the colored people in to get killed ; but no such criticism would be heard if white troops were to lead. General Burnside had great confidence in the efficiency of the colored troops. He thought that the other troops had been so long accustomed to shelter themselves under the intrenchments that General Ferrero's troops would be more efii- cient as soldiers. His objections were overruled by General Meade, and it was then decided that lots should be drawn in the selection of troops to lead the assault. The lot fell to General Ledlie's division. (^) Butler's troops were placed in position to open fire upon the Confederate batteries, and the trooj^s of the Second, Eighteenth, and Fifth corps were to be ready. The mine was under the Confederate redoubt held by Elliott's brigade, south of which was Wise's and then Colquitt's ; north of Elliott's were Rawson's and Grade's. These brigades constituted Johnson's division. Hoke's division continued the line to the Appomattox ; Mahone's was on the right of Johnson's, extending towards the Weldon Railroad. On this midsummer morning, at half-past three, just as day is breaking, the fuse is lighted. The troops of the Ninth Corps are waiting. The artil- lerymen are by their guns, ready to open fire. An hour passes, but there is no sign of explosion. Lieut. Jacob Douty and Sergt. Henry Rees, of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, who have excavated the mine, creep into the gallery and find that the fire has gone out ; that the powder laid in the s"^^^' ^S^^t.'' ''4A,r' ^ifv "''^ 1 \'^^;t^ THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 373 trough has beconic damp by tlie thirty hours' exposure. They strike a match, rehght the fuse, and flee from the gallery. Five minutes pass and then there is a trembling of the ground, a rumbling like that of an earth- quake, and a great mass of earth rises in the air, together with timbers, cannon, and men. The explosion has made a crater nearly two hundred feet in length, sixty in width, and nearly thirty deep. The Confederate troops are appalled at the spectacle. A moment later the Union cannon open fire. Ten or fifteen minutes pass before General Ledlie's troops reach the crater. They do not rusli through it, but halt within it, when they should be pushing across the space beyond, to seize the several lines of in- trenchments. Fatal delay ! Confederate batteries soon open upon tliem, and the troops, which for nearly two months have been sheltering them- selves from the fire of the enemy behind breastworks, are loath to advance. Wilcox's and Potter's divisions reach the crater, but are not led by their division commanders, and in a short time there is a mass of men huddled into the excavation and under the breastworks. The Confederates, seeing the Union troops halting in the crater, quickl}" opened a destructive fire. General Beauregard, awakened by the explosion, sent Colonel Paul to General Lee for troops, and then hastened towards the scene, and direct- ed the movements of the troops. (^) A Confederate ofiicer says : " In less than five minutes' time our men recovered from their panic, and we fired rapidly and with great execution. About the same time the battery on the left of the ravine, a short distance in rear of Rawson's brigade, did great execution, and fired about six hundred shots in a short time. The others, in rear and on the right, also did good execution." (") The Confederate batteries poured their shells and canister with great precision into the crater, doing such execution in the halting troops that many of the soldiers began to run. It was half-past seven when the colored troops, under General Ferrero, were ordered forward. None of the divis- ions of the Ninth Corps advanced so bravely. A Confederate writer gives this testimony: "They moved across the open space between the Federal and Confederate lines into, out of, and beyond the crater ; but at this point they broke, under the fierce artillery fire there concentrated upon them, and after having been partially reorganized, broke again, now fleeing in wild disorder into and out of the crater back to General Burnside's lines." (') "We are not to think that the Union troops are doing nothing; on the contrary, a fierce fight is going on as they attempt to force their way along the trenches. "Numbers of them got into the ditch of the gorge line," writes a Confederate historian, " where a hand-to-hand fight ensued ; 24* 374 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. while others, creeping along the glacis of the exterior line, got over the parapet of the main trench. The troops on the right and left fought them from behind the traverses, and from the barricades thrown up at the angles of the trenches ; while the adjacent brigades, from their main parapets, the covered ways and ravines running to the rear, from bomb- proofs, concentrated a deadly fire on such of the Federal forces as were marching across from the river." (') Tiiere is much discrepancy in the reports and accounts of the Union officers in regard to the battle, but for want of prompt and energetic action the opportunity to win a victory w^ent by. General Grant came at nine o'clock, surveyed the scene, saw that every chance of success was lost. " These troops must be immediately withdrawn. It is slaughter to leave them there," he said.(°) General Meade directed the withdrawal of the men, but not till nearly eleven were they back once more in their in- trenchments — not all of them, for more than thirty-five hundred had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, while the Confederate loss was about fifteen hundred. ('") So what promised to be a cheering victory ended in disheartening disaster to the Army of the Potomac, but with exultation to the Con- federates. Though the attempt to break the Confederate lines had ended in failure, there was no letting up of effort and vigilance on the part of General Grant. The Engineer Corps established its posts of observation in tall trees, whence, with their glasses, they could overlook the Con- federate lines ; the batteries and earthworks were made stronger, so that they could be held by fewer troops. Had we been inside the Confederate lines we should have seen General Lee doing the same, that he might have a movable body to be used wherever most needed. NOTES TO CHAPTER XIV. ( ') Alfred Roman, 'Military Operations of General Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 260. { ^) Colonel Pleasant.s' account, "Attack on Petersburg," p. 4. ( 3) Gen. U. S. Grant, "Personal Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 310. ( ^) Gen. A. E. Burnside's account, "Attack on Petersburg," p. 17. ( ^) Alfred Roman, "Military Operations of General Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 263. ( «) Colonel McMaster's Report, quoted, 'Military Operations of General Beauregard," vol. ii., p. 263. { ') Idem, p. 264. ( *) Idem. ( 9) Gen. A. Badeau, " Military History of General Grant," vol. ii., p. 482. (•") Gen. B. R. Johnson's and Colonel McMaster's statements, in " Military Operations of General Beauregard," Appendix to chap, xxxix. engineer's lookout. MOBILE BAY. 377 CHAPTER XV. MOBILE BAY. THE rain -drops falling on the mountains of northern Alabama, and the springs wliicli gargle from their sides, give rise to two great rivers — the Alabama and Tunibigbee — which pour their floods into Mo- bile Bay, an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico, whose entrance was guarded before the war by Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. When Alabama se- ceded from the Union in January, 1861, Governor Moore, of that State, ordered the forts to be seized and garrisoned by the militia. For three years the flag of the Confederacy had floated above their ramparts. Fort Morgan was situated on the main-land and guarded the eastern entrance. It was built of brick, and the walls were nearly five feet thick and mount- ed eighty-six cannon. Outside the fort, in batteries, were twenty-nine ad- ditional guns behind banks of sand. Within the fort was a citadel or stronghold, whose brick walls were four feet thick, with loop-holes for musket-tiring. The fort was garrisoned by six hundred and forty men. Three miles westward of Fort Morgan is Dauphin Island, upon which stood Fort Gaines, also built of brick, in the form of a star, mounting thirty heavy cannon, and garrisoned by eight hundred men. To guard against the entrance of small vessels to the bay at flood tide, lines of piles had been driven by the Confederates across the reaches of shoal water be- tween the forts and the channel, narrowing the passage-way to three hun- dred yards, so close to Fort Morgan that a vessel would be subjected to the fire of all the guns of the fort and the batteries. Six miles west of Fort Gaines was another channel, through which vessels of light draught might enter the bay. It was called Grant's Pass, to guard which the Con- federates constructed Fort Powell, upon which several heavy guns were mounted. While the Union and Confederate governments during the winter of 1863-61: were preparing for the great struggles in Virginia and northern Georgia, wood-choppers were felling trees in Alabama, and floating them down the river ten miles to Selma, hewing them into timbers for the con- 378 EEDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. striiction of an iron-clad vessel to aid in preventing a Union fleet from entering the bay, and for breaking the blockade. When the hull was com- pleted it was floated down the Alabama River to the city of Mobile. The craft was two hundi-ed and nine feet long, forty-eight broad, with slop- ing sides two feet thick, covered with six inches of iron ])lating man- ufactured in the rolHng-mills at Atlanta. A sharp-pointed iron spur pro- jected from the bow below the water — a beak to be thrust into the side of the wooden ships of the Union fleet, should they attempt to enter the bay. The vessel was named the Tennessee^ and carried six heavy rifled Brooke cannon, two of which were pivot-guns that could be fired in any direction, and threw solid projectiles that weighed one hundred and ten pounds ; the other four cannon threw solid shot that weighed ninety-flve pounds. The Tennessee was far more formidable than the Merrimac^ which created such havoc ofi: Fortress Monroe in March, 18G2 ("Drum-beat of the Na- tion," chap. viii.). The steering apparatus was not well planned, and the engines, taken from a river steamboat, were weak ; but aside from these defects, the vessel was more than a match for all the wooden ships of the United States navy. The Confederates had no machine-shops for the construction of powerful marine engines, and the Tennessee^ with her can- non and coal on board, could make only six knots an hour. The vessel drew so much water that not till the cannon were taken out and great flat-boats, called " camels," were fastened to her sides and filled nearly full of water, and the water pumped out, thereby lifting the Tennessee^ could the vessel be taken across the bar below Mobile. It Mav, 1864. . . i i , -n nr ti i was a task requn-nig so mucli labor that not till May did she steam slowly down the bay, and drop anchor on the east side of the channel near Fort Morgan, accompanied by three wooden gunboats — the Morgan^ carrying six guns ; the Gaines, six ; and the Selma, four. Further, to prevent the Union fleet from entering the bay, two lines of torpedoes were anchored between Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. Not much was known by the Government at Washington about the Teyinessee. The newspapers of the South gave no information. Deserters from the army of General Johnston, at Dalton, told great stories about the vessel which some calm night would send to the bottom of the sea the Union fleet blockading the entrance. From the beginning of the war the Confederate sentinels, facing the ramparts of Fort Morgan, looking seaward, could always see the Stars and Stripes flying above the decks of several war-ships. On calm nights they could hear, perchance, the dipping of oars in the water as the adventurous sailors paddled their boats close up to the channel, ever on the watch for MOBILE BAY. 379 any swift steamer built in England, ai'riving from Nassau laden with goods, or departing with a cargo of cotton. Admiral Farragut, after his great service on the Mississippi, was given command of the fleet off Mobile Bay, and after recruiting his health by a visit to New York, hoisted his flag once more above the deck of the Ilarfford^ and began preparations to attack the Con- federate fortifications. In the liglit-draught gunboat Octorora^ accompa- nied by the Itasca, on a clear bright day, he steamed up to Sand Island, and took a look at the fortifications and the Confederate gunboats. Jan. 20, 1864. OFF MOBILE BAY AT NIGHT. "I am satisfied," he said, "that if I had one iron-clad at this time I could destroy their whole force in the bay, and reduce the forts at my leisure, by co-operation with our land force — say five thousand men. "We must have about two thousand Ave hundred men in the rear of each fort, to make regular approaches by land, and to prevent the garrison from re- ceiving supplies and reinforcements ; the fleet to run the batteries and fight the flotilla." (') But he had no iron-clad vessels. Men were hard at work in the ship-yards at Brooklyn constructing a fleet of monitors. A few days later Admiral Farragut steamed up Grant's Pass with the small gunboats, and bombarded Fort Powell. The Confederates replied 3S0 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. with their rifled guns, striking a mortar schooner four times, but only wounding one man. Admiral Farragut wrote this in his journal : " We silenced them in an hour and a quarter, causino; them to Feb. 24, 1864. .... . remain in their dodging-holes until we stopped at sunset. We were four thousand yards off, Ij'ing fast aground, and could get no closer."(°) Admiral Farragut could not carry out his plan for capturing the forts, for want of co-operation on the part of the army. General Canby, in command at New Orleans, had no troops to spare for such an expedition till midsummer. AVhat Admiral Farragut had waited for came at last — four monitors and a division of troops under Gen. Gordon Granger. There were not enouHi troops in invest both forts, and they were landed on All"-. 4, 1864. . . . ° ' Dauphin Island to begin the investment of Fort Gaines. How loyal and noble was tlie man commanding the fleet of war-vessels off the bar of Mobile Bay is seen from the letter which he wrote to his wife on the evening before he was to fight a great battle. " I am going into Mobile Bay in the morning, if God is my leader, as I hope he is, and in him I place my trust. If he thinks it is the proper place for me to die, I am ready to submit to his will in that as in all other things. My great mortification is that my vessels, the iron-clads, were not ready to have gone in yesterday. The army landed last night, and are in full view of us this morning, and the Tecuinseh has not yet arrived from Pensacola. God bless and prepare you, my darling, and my dear boy, if anything should happen to me."(') The Tecumseh arrived, making the fleet complete. Admiral Farragut paid attention to things which might seem to most people to be of little moment. He studied the ebb and flow of the tide, the direction of the winds during the summer day. He noticed that at a certain hour the water was ruffled by a gentle breeze from the west, which would carry the smoke of his guns towards Fort Morgan and envelop it in such a cloud that the Confederate gunners would not be able to take good aim. The sailors had gone up the channel in the night, and secured a torpedo, which he examined ; and he saw that if he went in on the flood tide, the apparatus by which the torpedo Avas to be exploded would be tilted towards the harbor by the swirling current, and would be less likely to explode than if tilted seaward by an ebb-tide. Besides, if the engine of a vessel should become disabled, flood tide would be likely to sweep it into the harbor. As the channel was within two liundred yards of Fort Mor- gan, and two miles distant from Fort Gaines, he would pay no attention ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. MOBILE BAY. 383 to the latter, but pour liis broadside upon Fort Morgan. lie ordered the heavy guns of the port side to be shifted to starboard. The boats of the ship were lowered into the water upon the port side, to be ready for use should they be needed. Bags were tilled with sand and piled against the bulwarks, making a wall of sand four feet in thickness. Admiral Farragut had fourteen wooden ships which he intended to use in passing the forts and fighting the Confederate fleet, leaving six ffunboats outside to maintain the blockade. The vessels were to be SECURING A TORPEDO. coupled, lashed side by side, so that if one, perchance, were disabled, the other would carry both safely past the forts, with the tide setting into the bay. It was to be a procession of ships. This the order : 1. Brooldyii, twenty-four guns. Captain Alden ; Octorora^ six guns, Lieutenant Greene. 2. Hartford, twenty-one guns, Admiral Farragut and Captain Drayton ; Metacomet, six guns. Lieutenant Jouett. 3. Rich- mond, twenty guns. Captain Jenkins ; Port Royal, six guns. Lieutenant Gherardi. 4. Lackcnmnna, eight guns, Captain Marchand ; Seminole, eight guns. Commander Donaldson. 5. Monongahela, eight guns, Com- mander Strong; Kennebec, five guns. Lieutenant McCann. 6. Ossipee, eleven guns, Commander Le Eoy; Itasca, five guns, Lieutenant Brown, 384 EEDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. 7. Oneida^ nine guns, Commander Mullany ; Galena^ ten guns, Lieuten- ant Wells. The Octorora, Metacomet, and Port Royal had side wheels, and sharp sterns as well as bows, so that by reversing the engines they could go backward and forward alike. They were built to navigate rivers, and were called " double-enders." The others were screw steamships. The four monitors were to form a procession by themselves, the Te- cumseh, carrying two guns, leading, followed by the Manhattan with two guns, the Winnebago and Chickasaw four guns each. They Avere to pour their fire upon Fort Morgan till the wooden ships were past it. Admiral Fari-agut intended to lead in the Hartford., but as the BrooMyn had an apparatus projecting from her bow for picking up torpedoes, that ship was permitted to lead the column. The vessels were to steer east of a red buoy, which was supposed to mark the beginning of the torpedoes. The Confederates had placed the buoy in position for the benefit of vessels running the blockade. Admiral Buchanan, who commanded the Merrimac in the battle with the Monitor ("Drum-beat of the Kation," chap, viii.), commanded the Tennessee. He knew by the arrival of Admiral Farragut's ships from Pensacola on the afternoon of August 4th, and by what was going on in the fleet, that the ships would soon make the attempt to pass the forts. He believed that the Tennessee., with two feet of solid timber on her slop- ing sides, plated with seven inches of iron, was invulnerable. He had good reason for believing that she would prove more than a match for all the fourteen wooden ships ; but possibly remembering what took place in Hampton Roads, he stood in some fear of the four monitors, which he could see at anchor under the lee of Sand Island down the harbor. As the fleet, after entering the bay, was to co-operate with the army for the capture of Fort Gaines, signal-officers from the army were placed on the several vessels of the fleet — very fortunately, as we shall see. That he might survey Fort Morgan and the Tennessee once more before going into battle, Admiral Farragut stepj^ed on board the little steamer Cowslip., which made its way well up towards the fort. He was accompanied by Captain Percival Di-ayton of the Hartford. Farragut had just passed his sixty-third year. He was still hale, hearty, vigorous, energetic. He had a kind heart and resolute will. Everybody loved him. He looked at the fort with his glass, and saw that it had been greatly strengthened by the Confederates, who had piled bags filled with sand against the walls. He saw the Tennessee., b'^"g ^^^ ^ huge black turtle in the calm waters be- yond the fort, with the three Confederate wooden vessels near at hand. MOBILE BAY. 385 We are not to think that every man born in the Confederate States fought against the Stars and Stripes. On the contrary, there were notable examples of loyalty. Captain Winslow, wlio sent the Alabama to the bottom of the sea, was from North Carolina. Captain Percival Dray- ton, who stands by the side of Admiral Farragut, was born in South Caro- lina, and showed his loyalty and devotion to the Union in the bombard- ment of the forts at Port Royal, although his brother commanded the Confederates in the forts (" Drum-beat of the Nation," j). 123). Here he is scanning eagerly the forts, the Confederate fleet, the reach of water where with the rising sun of to-morrow he will again render great and honorable service to his country. At sunset the last orders are issued. Every commander knows what he is expected to do. In the fading hours of the summer day a gentle breeze born of tlie sea is wafted inland with the tide. It enters the open ports of the ship, cools the heated air of the wardroom, where the officers are writing letters to loved ones far away. Possibly their hands never again will hold the pen ; that with to-morrow's sunset their voices will be silent evermore. But there is no blanching of faces. Not one of them but would think it a hardship were he to be ordered otherwheres and not take part in tlie battle. Not that they delight in carnage ; not that they thirst for glory, but that they are to sustain the honor and dignity of the flag that was flrst dishonored at Sumter. Duty nerves them ; and so with firm step they walk the deck, look up to the eternal stars in the heavens above them — ready to die, if need be, that the nation may live. "Admiral," said one of the officers to Admiral Farragut, "won't you give the sailors a glass of grog in the morning — not enough to make them drunk, but just enough to make them fight well ?" "Well," replied the admiral, "I have been to sea a good deal in my life, and have seen a battle or two, but I never found that I needed rum to enable me to do my duty. I will order two cups of good coffee to each man at two o'clock, and at eight o'clock I will pipe all hands to breakfast in Mobile Bay." (^) Three o'clock. Day is breaking, and on everj^ ship the boatswains' whistles are piping. " How is the wind ?" Admiral Farragut asks from his berth. " South-west, sir." is the reply from the steward AU2. 5, 1864. c ^ TT ^ -, m, .1, . 01 the Hartford. "Then we will go in tins morning." (^) It is spoken cheerily, as if the day had been selected for a picnic or a pleasant excursion up the bay. After midnight there had been fog, but it was drifting landward and the rising sun would burn it away. 25 836 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. Tlie gunboats selected to accompany tlie larger vessels ran alongside their consorts, and were laslied together by heavy cables. All the top- masts and spars had been left at Pensacola. The sun appeared before the signal to move on fluttered from the main-mast of the Hartford, and then the grand procession, like a brigade of troops at review, moved slowly np the channel, the Brooklyn and her consort leading, and the monitors keeping pace in a procession by themselves a short distance to the left. Six o'clock. The Confederate vessels move from their anchorage into the channel, the Selma on the right in advance, the Tennessee near the red buoy. Two guns break the stillness of the morning, fired by the Tecumseh, and then comes an interval of silence. The fleet is yet too far away for effective work. Ships and fort alike wait. Six minutes past seven. From the barbette and casemates of Fort Morgan, from the batteries on the sand-hills, flames leap forth, and the air is filled with strange screechings as the solid shot and shell stream upon the Brooklyn. And now forts, batteries, monitors, and ships, from stem to stern, are clouds of flame and smoke. In the turret of the Tecuni- seh stands Captain Craven and John Collins, his pilot, looking through the narrow peep-holes in the dome of iron tosvards the red buoy, wdiich from this position seems to be very near the beach. " It is impossible that the admiral means us to go inside that buoy; I cannot turn my ship," said Craven to the pilot. "Starboard the helm!'' lie shouts. (°) It was a sad mistake. The Tecumseh turns her prow westward towards the Tennessee, which has moved in that direction. Her cannon are loaded with sixty pounds of powder and jointed steel shot ; but suddenly, as if a giant Avere atteinpting to lift the monitor, the Tecumseh rolls on one side, and her propeller whirls in the air. A torpedo has exploded be- neath her. Pilot and captain instantaneously attempt to get through the narrow passage leading from the dome. " After you, pilot," are the courtly words of the great-hearted Craven. John Collins and a few of the sailors leap from the turret into the sea, but before the others can reach the deck the vessel disappears beneath the waves. Of one hundred and fourteen men on board, only twenty-one are saved. The smoke was so thick that Admiral Farragut climbed to the main rigging to see what was going on. Captain Drayton, fearing that a sud- den jar might jostle him, sent Quartermaster Knowles to tie him to the shrouds with a rope. (') The pilot, Martin Freeman, was farther up in the main-top, giving directions to the men at the wheel how to steer. The admiral saw the Brooklyn stop and begin to back. "What's the matter with the Brooklyn ? She must have plenty of water there." " Plenty MOBILE BAY. 389 and to spare," is the pilot's answer. (") Down in the hold of the Hart- ford^ where the surgeon is ready to care for the wounded, is aruij Signal- officer John C. Kinney, with his signal-flag. Admiral Farragut has or- dered hiui to remain there during the battle. "Send up a signal - officer ; the BrooUyji. is signalling!" is shouted down the hatchway. Lieutenant Kinney runs up with his flag, waves it in response, and receives the message, " Monitors right ahead." "Order the monitors ahead, and go on," the reply. (') This the ac- count of Lieutenant Kinney. More dramatic the scene as recorded by Admiral Farragut's son : " What is the trouble ?" " Torpedoes." " the torpedoes ! Go ahead. Captain Drayton ! Four bells. Full speed, Jouett !"('") The bells in the engine-rooms of the Hartford and Metacomet tinkled, and the two ships shot ahead of the Brooklyn, taking the lead of the column, passing harmlessly across the line of torpedoes planted beneath, which failed to explode. So the Hartford took her position with the Metacomet at the head of the line. To have halted under the full fire of the fort, with the Selma raking the decks, with the fleet pressing on, would have resulted in disaster. The Hartford is receiving the fire of nearly all the Confederate can- non. The men in tlie fort see the admiral's flag flying above her deck. It will be something to boast of, if they can send her to the bottom of the sea. A shot strikes the foremast ; then one weighing one hundred and twenty pounds splinters the main-mast. Timbers are crashing, shells ex- ploding, men are torn to pieces; but all the while her guns are thunder- ing, sending such a torrent of shrapnel upon the batteries that the Con- federate gunners are compelled to lie down under their breastworks. In the water, struggling for life, are the men who leaped from the Tecumseh. Admiral Farragut sees them. " Send a boat for them, Mr. Jouett ; pick up the poor fellows," he shouts to the captain of the Metacomet. But Captain Jouett has already sent Ensign Nields with a boat. Nields is but a boy, but he bravely steel's the boat, unmindful of the shells bursting around him, or the solid shot screeching through the air, to within a few hundred yards of the Confederate cannon, unfurling a flag, placing it in the socket, so gallantly that the Confederates looking out from the em- brasures of the fort will not fire upon so brave a boy, saving the lives of drowning men.(") He picks up Ensign Zetlich and eight men, takes them to the Oneida, and stands ready to take part in the battle. 25* 390 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. The Brooklyn, by lier backing, is lying across tlie channel, with her bows pointed towards the fort, and the whole fleet is brought to a stand- still, with the cannon of the fort and the Tennessee, Selma, and Gaines doing terrible execution on the ships, one shot cutting off both legs of one sailor, and, as he tlu'ows up his arms, another shot cuts off both hands. In this moment of confusion Admiral Farragut does not lose his head, but with clear comprehension as to what ought to be done, what must be done, issues his orders to go ahead, and the Hartford, with the Metacomet by her side, obeys her helm, passes the BrooMyn, and with full steam sweeps on. A few moments and she is a mile distant from the rest of •the fleet, beyond the reach of the guns in the fort, but alone with the Tennessee and the other Confederate vessels. It was this decision of the moment that brought order out of confu- sion, and the Brooklyn, followed by the other vessels, moved on — each vessel pouring grape and shrapnel into the Confederate batteries — all pass- ing safely except the Oneida, last of the line. A rifled shot exploded in one of her boilers, another in her cabin, cutting the wheel-ropes, a third set the ship on fire. The escaping steam scalded the fireman and coal- heavers, but the engine had still one boiler left and the vessel went on. The sailors put out the fire, new ropes were attached to the wheel, and all the while her guns were flaming. Assisted by the Galena, the Oneida went on as if nothing had happened. Brave deeds w^ere being done in these moments. On the Hartford six men were tugging at a pulley, lifting shells from the hold, when a shell from the fort exploded among them, killing or wounding all six. John Lamson was wounded in the leg and hurled against the bulwarks, but lie would not go below. A few moments later he was once more tugging at the rope. The cannon in charge of Coxswain Thomas Fitzpatrick was disal)led by having its gearing cut away. Seven of his men were killed, and several others wounded, himself among them ; but he had the wounded cared for, repaired the tackling, got a new crew, and once more had his gun in action. On the Brooklyn the rod of the sponge broke in one of the guns, but Coxswain Edwin Price poured powder into the vent and touched it off, thus blowing out the broken part, and went on with the firing. "Right abreast of the fort In an awful shroud they lay, Broadsides thundering away, And lightning from every port — Scene of glory and dread I MOBILE BAY. 391 A storm-cloud all aglow With flashes fiery red — The thunder raging below ; And the forest of flags overhead." Up the narrow cliannel moved the Hartford and Metacomet. Tlie Selma had chosen a position from wliicli her sjuns raked the Hartford from stem to stern, doing great damage. On lier starboard bow were the Gaines and Morgan^ bnt the broadsides of the Hartford were turned npon them, and they moved away, the Gaines in a sinking condition. The Ten- nessee was in motion towards the Hartford^ which attempted to strike tlie iron-ckid bnt failed. Both vessels fired as they passed, the shells of the Tennessee missing their aim, the solid shot of the Hartford making no more impression upon the iron-clad than gravel thrown against a house. Buchanan determined to send the Hartford to the bottom of the sea by thrusting the iron prow of the Tennessee through her side, but Farragut avoided lier thrusts. The Confederate commander then started for the Brooklyn, sending two shots which went clear through the latter vessel, then passed on to the Riclimond, which hurled her shot against the iron- clad, as did the Lackawanna. Captain Strong, of the Monongahela, de- termined to give the Tennessee a blow, but it only turned the iron-clad partly round. The Confederate vessel then sent a raking fire npon the Oneida, wounding Commander Mullany. The three monitors, up to this moment, had remained in front of Fort Morgan pouring in their fire. "Gunboats, chase enemy's gunboats," was the signal from the Hart- ford.n "Ay, ay, sir. Cut the ropes there !" the response of Captain Jouett. The Metacomet swung away from the Hartford, followed by the Itasca, Port Royal, and Kennebec. The fleet was past the forts, and no longer was there need of being coupled ; they were inside the bay, and had only to deal now with the Confederate fleet. The Morgan stranded upon a shoal, but backed off, and ran to find shelter under the guns of the fort. The Metacomet, flying like the wind, was soon pouring her fire upon the Selma, one shot killing the executive otficer and several of the men, whereupon the flag was hauled down in token of surrender. A shell made a great rent in the side of the Gaines, disabling the vessel, which was burned. At nine o'clock, three miles above the fort the vessels of Admiral Far- ragut's fleet came to anchor. The sailors cleared the wreck from the decks and sat down to eat their breakfast. The Tennessee, the while, was lying near the fort, and the officers and men were looking to see what damage, if any, had been done. They saw 392 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. only a few lioles in the smoke-stack, and dents where the Union shot had struck. Admiral Buchanan, believing that the vessel was impregnable, resolved to attack the fleet, first sinking the wooden ships and then engag- ing the three monitors. Admiral Farragut the while was laying his plans to wait till night and then attack the Tennessee under the walls of the fort with the three monitors. ('') "She's coming!" was tlie cry from every Union ship. " Attack her, bows on, full speed !" the order from Farra- gut. The boatswain's whistle rang sharp and clear, piping all hands again to quarters. The Monongahela was the first to strike the Tennessee, receiv- ing two shots, Avhile the shots of the Monongahela only struck and rolled into the water, doing no harm. Not so the bolts from the Chickasaw. THE "SELMA" surrendering TO THE "METACOMET." From a Sketch made at the time. This the story, as told by an officer of the Tennessee : " The 3£onongahela was hardly clear of us when a hideous monster came creeping np on our port side, whose slowly revolving turret revealed the cavernous depths of a mammoth gun. ' Stand clear of the port side !' I sliouted. A moment after a thundering report shook us all, wliile a blast of dense sulphurous smoke covered our port-holes, and four hundred and forty pounds of iron, impelled by sixty pounds of powder, admitted daylight through our side, where, before it struck us, there had been over two feet of solid oak, cov- MOBILE BAY. 39J ered with four inclies of solid iron. It did not come through ; the inside netting caught the splinters. I was glad to find myself alive." (") Down upon the Tennessee came the Lackawanna and the Hartford, striking a fearful blow, each firing every gun of hei- broadside — the shot iyl)^T GAINES 'dauphin I. PELICAN I. THE BATTI-E OF MOBILE BAY. Brooklyn Octoi'ora Hartford Metacomet Richmond Poit Royal Lackawanna Seminole Monoiigaliela Kennebec Ossipee Itasca Oneida Galena Teciimseh, sunk by rorpedo. Manhattan ■ Wooden Vessels. • I Iron-clndu. Iron-clnds C. Winnebairo \ D. Chickasaw ) E. Course of Union Fleei. F. Ram Tennessee 1 G. Morgan , ^^,,,^1 Vessels. H. Gaines | I. Selma J J. Course of Ram. K. Retreat of Reliel W.ioden Vessel.". L. Morgan and G.aines's cnnrse towards Fort Moi'gan. M. Hartford turning out for Hrooklyn to back. N. Course taken by Ram during second attack. O. Ram surrendered. P. Selma surrendered to Metacomet. Q. Formed line ; read prayers. R. Union Fleet anchored. 394 REDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. only denting tlie iron plating. The Lachawanna, in attempting to strike the Confederate craft, came in collision with the Hartford^ ahnost sinking botli vessels. All were ponring in their shot, bnt it was the Chickasaw which followed the Tennessee as the kingbird follows the liawk, sending at tifteen rods solid shot, cutting the rudder-chain of that vessel. The Os- sipee was jast ready to strike her. Admiral Buchanan was wounded. " Well, Johnston, they have got me. You'll have to look out for her now !" his words to Captain Johnston. "I'll do the best I know how,"(") the reply. The shot of the Union cannon had jammed the covers of the fore-and- aft port-holes so that they could not be opened. The smoke-stack of the iron-clad tumbled to the deck, and the furnaces would no longer draw, nor would she obey her helm. None of the guns could be trained upon the Union vessels. Like the blows of a giant's sledge-hammer were the solid shot from the Chickasaio pounding at the stern. "I cannot bring a gun to bear upon them,"' the words of Captain Johnston. " Well, if you cannot do that any more you had better surrender," was the reply of Admiral Buchanan. ('") The iiag-staff had been shot away, but a white flag, hung upon a boat- hook, was raised above the Tennessee. The Ossipee was bearing down at the moment to giv^e another blow. Captain Stevens, in command, saw Johnston standing upon the deck, with the white flag above him. Before the war they were friends; during the conflict the}' had been enemies. This the hail from the commander of the Ossipee: " Hullo, Johnston, old fellow ! how are you ? This is the United States steamer Ossipee. I'll send a boat alongside for you. Don't you know me ?" Captain Stevens meets him at the gangway with cheery words. " I'm glad to see you. Here's some ice- water; I know you are dry. I've something better down in the cabin for you." In the cabin they drink a glass of wine. "Steward, attend to Captain Johnston's wishes." ('") Such the kindness and courtesy to an old friend in the hour of his humil- iation. On tlie Hartford the brave old admiral was standing beside the row of dead, twenty-five in number, with the tears rolling down his cheeks as he beheld their mano-led forms awaitino:; befittino; burial. Three hundred and thirty-five had been killed, drowned, or wounded on the Union ships ; ten killed and sixteen wounded on the Confederate. w O i 3 MOBILE BAY. 397 " Up weut the white ! Ah, then The hurrahs that, once and again. Rang from tliree thousand men, All flushed and savage with tiglit ! "Our dead lay cold and stark, But our dying, down in the dark. Answered as best they might, Lifting tlieir poor lost arms. And cheering for God and right. "Ended the mighty noise — Thunder of forts and ships ; Down we went to the hold. Oh, our dear, dying boys ! Ilow we pressed their poor, brave lips, (Ah, so pallid and cold !) And held their hands to the last ! (Those that had hands to hold.) " Still thee, O woman heart ! (So strong an hour ago.) If the idle tears must start, 'Tis not in vain they flow. "They died, our children dear. On the drear berth-deck they died ; Do not think of them here ; Even now their footsteps near Tlie immortal, tender sphere — (Laud of love and cheer, Home of the Crucified I) "And the glorious deed survives; Our threescore, quiet and cold, Lie thus ; for a myriad lives, And treasure, millions imtold. * (Labor of poor men's lives. Hunger of weans and wives — Such is war-wasted gold.) "Our ship and her fame today Shall float on the storied stream When mast and shroud have crumbled away, And her long white deck is a dream." While this contest was going on near Fort Morgan a fleet of five gun- boats was bombarding Fort Powell, guarding the western entrance to JMobilo Bay at Grant's Pass, and at the same time the troops npon Dan- 398 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. pliin Island, under General Granger, after a long and wearying march through the sand, were closing around Fort Gaines, which was adding to the uproar of the morning by opening fire with its heavy guns. Very little damage was done to Fort Powell by the gunboats, which did not approach very neai' ; but at two o'clock in the afternoon, the Chickasaw^ having made her way across the bay, steaming up close to the fort, opened fire with its' 11 and 15 inch guns upon its eastern face, witli such effect that Lieutenant-colonel Williams, in command of the Confederate garri- son, telegraphed this message to Colonel Anderson, in Fort Gaines : " Unless I can evacuate, I will be compelled to surrender within forty- eight hours." "Save your garrison," (") the reply. The tide was out ; the Union fleet had not yet moved up to prevent the Confederates from making their way in boats to the main-land. Night settled down. It was past ten o'clock, when there came a bright flash, a deep, heavy roar, and timbers, gun-carriages, cannon, shell, and a great cloud of earth rose in the air, to rain down again upon the calm waters. Tiie Confederates had evacuated the fort, lighted a fire con- necting with the magazine, and made their escape. The troops on Dauphin Island had mounted fourteen rifled guns, and were ready to begin the bombardment of Fort Gaines from the west, while the fleet was preparing to assist on the north. °" ' ' ' Anxious to save men from being killed. Admiral Farragut sent a flag of truce to the fort, inviting Colonel Anderson to visit the Hartford for a conference. The invitation was accepted by that ofiicer, who was accompanied by Major Brown. General Granger and Captain Drayton, and other Union officers of the army and navy, were present when the two Confederate ofticers entered the cabin. " Surrounded on three sides by my vessels, and on the fourth by the arn)y, you cannot hold the fort. Submit like a man to the hard necessity, and prev^ent further loss of life," were the words of tlie admiral. Colonel Anderson could not deny that the fort was surrounded, and he appreciated the humanity that dictated tlie demand. Not so Major Brown. "Let us fight it out," he said. "Gentlemen, if hard fighting would save the fort, I M'ould advise you to fight to the death, but by all the laws of war you have no chance to save it," Farragut replied. Major Brown saw that with the Confederate fleet destroyed, with no means of reaching the land, there was no chance for escape, and it was agreed that the fort and garrison should be surrendered the next morning. So Fort Gaines came once more under the control of tlie United States. MOBILE BAY. 599 Aug, 9, 1864. A siunraons was sent to General Page, commanding Fort Morgan, who declined to surrender. The troops were transported from Dauphin Island and landed in Kavy Cove, four miles east of Fort Morgan, thus cntting off the retreat of the garrison. From that point they advanced westward, closing round the fort, throwing up breastworks, mounting twenty- live heavy guns, and placing sixteen mortars in position within five hun- dred yards of the fort. Ten days passed, the shariD-shooters the while keeping up such a fire that no Confederate would show his head above the intrenchments. At daylight the monitors, and all the vessels of the fleet, steamed down towards the fort, and all the cannon on shipboard, to- gether with the mortars and artillery on land, opened fire, continuing it through the day, sending a continuous stream of shot and shell upon the Aug. 22, 1864. ""•guf^W"^ CAPTURE OF FORT MORGAN. From a Sketch made at the time. fortification. The sun went down, but a portion of the guns continued to thunder, a shell setting the barracks in the citadel on fire. AVhen the flames burst forth, once more the cannon of the fleet redoubled their firing. Within the fort the Confederate soldiers were throwing kegs of powder into the cisterns, fighting the flanies, and spiking the cannon. With the dawn of the morning a white flag was flung out above the fort, Mdiose walls had been honey-combed, whose guns had nearly all been disabled, together with sixty of the four hundred men of the garrison. With its surrender, vessels running the blockade could no longer enter Mobile. Once more the Stars and Stripes waved Aug. 23, 1864. 400 EEDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. over the fortification from which it had been removed when Alabama seceded from the Union. The taking of the fort closed anotlier port to the blockade-runners, leaving only Wilmington, Charleston, and Galveston — the last so far away that vessels entering there with supplies from Europe could contribute nothing to maintain the waning fortunes of the Confederacy. NOTES TO CHAPTER XV. "Life and Letters of Admiral Farragut, " p. 303. Idem, p. 393. Idem, p. 405. W. H. Seward, "Diplomatic History of the War for the Union," vol. v., p. 193. A. T. Mahan, "Gulf and Inland Waters," p. 330. Idem, p. 231. J. C. Watson, "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," vol. iv. , p. 406. " Life and Letters of Admiral Farragut," p. 416. J. C. Kinney, "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," vol. iv., p. 387. "Life and Letters of Admiral FaiTagut," p. 416. Gen. R. L. Page, "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," vol. iv., p. 408. " Life and Letters of Admiral Farragut," p. 419. A. T. Mahan, "Gulf and Inland Waters," p. 340. Lieutenant Wharton, quoted by Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, "Battle of Mobile Bay," p. 35. Capt. J. D. Johnston, "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," vol. iv., p, 404. Idem. Idem. Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, "Battle of Mobile Bay," p. 38. FALL OF ATLANTA. 401 CHAPTER XVI. FALL OF ATLANTA. T saulting the Confederate works, made strong bj the gangs of slaves at the outset, and made still stronger by the Confederate troops. General Hood, on the other hand, after the disastrous battles of Peachtree Creek and Atlanta, had no inclination to asi-ain march out from his July 23, 1864. . , , ., , tt • • i i2 i i intrenchments, and assail the Union troops m the open lield. The Union cavalry under General Garrard had destroyed thirty miles of the railroad leading east from Atlanta. There was still another road which must be destroyed before Sherman could cut oft" Hood's supplies — that leading south from Atlanta to East Point, six miles. From that station one line runs south-west to Newnan, thirty-nine miles, and then on to Montgomery ; the other line runs south eighteen miles to Jonesborough^ and from thence to Macon. If these could be effectually destroyed. Hood would soon be compelled to abandon Atlanta. General Rousseau, with a division of cavalry, had torn up a railroad in the south-west, at Opelika, and if the lines of communication could be broken in all directions, the Confederate army would be greatly hampered in its operations. Day and night men w^ere at work constructing a bridge across the Chattahoochee, which w^as completed in six days, and trains of cars arrived from Nashville bringing supplies. General Sherman called his officers together, not to ask them what they thought he ought next to do, but to tell them what he intended to do. They were seated on camp-stools in front of a small house. " I intend to place this army south-west of Atlanta," he said. He had approached the city from the north and east in order to destroy the railroad leading direct- ly eastward, the shortest line of connection with Richmond. He had re- ceived a despatch from General Grant, informing him that the Confederate Government had become aroused at the critical state of affairs around At- lanta, and that possibly reinforcements would be sent from the east to IlDod.(') By moving the army south-west, Sherman would be nearer the 26 402 REDEExMING THE EEPUBLIC. railroad which bronglit liim his own supplies than if lie were to marcli from the position he had ah-eady gained. General Stonetnan, eoninianding the cavalry, presented a proposition that one body of cavalry, under General MeCook, should start from the left flank of the ami}', tear up the track of the railroad leading south-west to Alabama, and then move on to Lovejoy's Station, on the Macon road, and tear up that track. Another body of troops, commanded by Stoneman himself, was to start from the east side of Atlanta, and make a forced march to Andersonville, one hundred and ten miles in a straight line, and liberate more than thirty thousand Union prisoners at that place, who w^ere suffering the horrors of starvation, and dying by the thousand through want of proper food, and from diseases generated by crowding so many men into a small prison-pen. It was a plan which awakened the sympathy of General Sherman and all the officers. If it could be carried out, it would soon return a large number of soldiers to the army ; but beyond that, it would release them from a prison where they were suffering indescribable horrors. The cav- alry of Garrard's division had just returned from destroying the railroad leading eastward, and the division under General Rousseau had arrived from a raid westward. The horses and men of those divisions were so worn that they were not included in the forces selected for these move- ments. The troops commanded l)y Stoneman were about five thousand, those under McCook numbered four thousand. It was a mistake, as we shall see, to divide the troops into two parties. United, and moving to- gether on parallel roads sufficiently near for quick concentration, they would have been strong enough to have met any force that could have been brought against them. We can now see that the plan was faulty in one other respect ; it aimed to accomplish two things : cripple Hood by destroying the railroads, and to release the prisoners. To release tlie pris- oners, the expedition ought to make a forced march and sweep down upon Andersonville as an eagle upon its prey, before there could be any great concentration of Georgia militia or Confederate troops to defend the pris- on. The Confederates would have the advantage of whirling troops by rail to that point, not only from Atlanta but from Charleston and Savan- nah. It was therefore quite doubtful if even nine thousand Union cavalry would be able to overcome the force that would be likely to confront them from behind fortifications. By stopping to destroy long sections of rail- road-track valuable time would be lost. Starting from two points, with a watchful foe before them, and a Confederate cavalry force as large as the two Union divisions combined, was a serious mistake. It would have been FALL OF ATLANTA. 403 "I INTEND TO PLACE THIS AKMY SOUTH OF ATLANTA." far better if tlie expedition had moved as one body, with a single object in view, and that tlie thorough destruction of long sections of each raih-oad. With that accomplished, the cavalry might have returned, and after two or three days' rest, before Hood could have relaid the tracks, the entn-e force with Garrard — a body of twelve thousand — could have made a forced march to Andersonville, with a fair prospect of reaching the prisoners be- fore any large body of Confederate troops could have been concentrated there. We have seen how nearly Kilpatrick came to reaching Eichmond ; 404 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. tlie chances for success in the movement to Andersonville wonkl have been much better if tlie cavaby under Stoneman and McCook had been united, and reinforced by Garrard. McCook was west of the Chattahoochee, and marched down its west bank to Campbellton, crossed on pontoons, made a qnick movement east to the raih'oad leading to Montgomery, striking it at Lovejoy's Station, thirty miles from Atlanta, and toi'e np a section of the track, burned sev- eral trains of cars, destro3^ed the locomotives and five hundred wagons, and captured four hundred prisoners; but the Confederate cavalry were soon upon him, and cars loaded with troops came rolling down from At- lanta. McCook could hear nothing of Stoneman, and made the mistake of attempting to return over the same route by which he had advanced. He was attacked at N^ewnan, and lost his prisoners and nearly six hundred of his men, but rejoined the army. The burning of the locomotives, cars, and wagons, however, was a serious loss to Hood. General Stoneman was at Flat Rock, south-east of Atlanta, and moved east to Covington, crossed the Ocmulgee River, turned south, struck the railroad leading eastward from Macon, and tore up a portion of the track, destroyed seventeen engines and one hundred cars, sent a portion of his troops eastward, and burned a bridge over the Oconee River, and then advanced to Macon. General Hood had discovered the movement, and saw what Stoneman intended to do. The Confederate cavalry were following him. The telegraph summoned troops from every quarter. Stoneman was east of the Ocmulgee, which he must cross before he could enter Macon. He planted his artillery, had a skirmish, fired shells across the river, and then fell back northward towards Clinton. He was more than forty miles from Andersonville, and saw that he could not reach it. He thought himself surrounded, and prepared to surrender, but author- ized his brigade commanders to cut their way out, while he, with seven hundred of his men, held the others in check. We now know that he greatly over-estimated the number of Confederates confronting him. Had he acted with resolution and vigor, it is probable that he would have cut his way through and saved his command. The result, instead, was that General Stoneman and seven hundred surrendered, and that several hundred others were gathered up by the Confederates before the main body reached the army. General Stoneman had been directed by General Sherman first to destroy the railroad leading to Macon, and then move on to Andersonville. He had not done so, but had ridden directly away from the railroad. The damage to the railroads was soon repaired, and General Hood's army did not materially suffer from what had been done. FALL OF ATLANTA. 405 In the Confederate army Lieut.-gen. S. D. Lee was appointed to take command of Hood's old corps in place of Cheatham, who went back to his division. In the Union army General Howard was appointed to com- mand the Army of the Tennessee in place of McPherson, and General Stanley to command the Fourth Corps. General Hooker thought that his experience as commander of the Army of the Potomac and in com- mand of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps at Lookout Mountain and Chat- tanooga, and of the Twentieth Corps during the campaign, entitled his promotion to command the Army of the Tennessee. Feeling himself ag- grieved by the selection of General Howard, he asked to be relieved from the further command of the Twentieth Corps. His request was granted. His troops loved him, and showed their affection for him when he bade them farewell by gathering around him as school-children around a be- loved teacher. His departure from the army marked the closing of his military service. General Sherman began his new movement. The Sixteenth Corps, which had been camping where it fous^ht on the 22d, marched Jiilv ''7 1864 r o » y in rear of the Army of the Ohio, also in rear of the Army of the Cumberland, and came to a road which leads west from the city to a village bearing the strange name of Lickskillet. General Blair, with the Seventeenth Corps, followed the Sixteenth, passed it, and came into posi- tion at Ezra Church. General Hood had anticipated such a movement, and the slave-gangs had been hard at work west and south-w^est of the city throwing up in- trenchments. He determined to fall upon the Seventeenth Corps at the church and crush it. He withdrew Loring's and Walthall's divisions of Stewart's corps from the intrenchments north of the city, and his own old corps under Lee, and brought them out over the Lickskillet road, Lee was to begin the attack at the church, while Stewart and Loring were to strike the Seventeenth Corps from the south, turning its flank. General Sherman saw what the probable movement of Hood would be, and ordered General Davis, with the Fourteenth Corps, to march in rear of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth towards the village of Lickskillet to head oS any possible movement which Hood might make. General Sherman and General Howard were with Logan, of the Fifteenth Corps, at Ezra Church when the Confederates advanced, Logan's troops July 29, 1864. , , , . . _, , ° ^^ ^ had tlirown up intrenchments. The attack was upon Mor- gan L. Smith's and Harrow's divisions. General Howard massed the artil- lery, which opened with a terribly destructive fire. The Confederates advanced bravely, but were cut down by the shot, shells, and musketry. 406 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. They wavered, but were rallied by tlieir officers, and advanced once more only to be hurled back, with Generals Stewart, Loring, Brown, and John- son numbered among the wounded. The Union position was so well chosen, and the Fourteenth and Sixteenth corps so near at hand, tliat there could be but one result — failure to Hood. The loss in Logan's corps was less than six liundred. It will never be known how many Confederates fell, but six hundred and forty-two bodies were gathered after the battle, which, with the usual number of wounded, would make the Confederate loss not far from five thousand. The Confederates had fought bravely at Peachtree, and again east of the city, and now west of it, but had lost heavily and gained nothing. They were discouraged, and in the last as- sault many of them refused to advance. "How many of you are there left?" shouted a Union picket to a Con- federate. "About enough for anotlier killing," was the answer. The soldiers of the Twentieth Corps out on the picket line at a signal rushed upon the Confederate line so suddenly that they captured eight officers and more than one hundred men, and held the ground July 30, 1864. , . , ,i ,i . -, ^. ^ . i which they thus gamed, erecting new breastworks. General Sherman began to extend his line south-west of the city, but the Confederates had large working gangs building breastworks reaching towards Jonesborough. He sent to Nashville for Parrot siege-guns, placed them in battery with all his field artilleiy, and began a bombardment of the city, sending a continuous stream of shot and shell, which riddled the houses, and made it very uncomfortable for the people, who were obliged to live in cellars or in holes in the ground. General Kilpatrick came from the Army of the Potomac to command the cavalry. He tore up several miles of the railroad leading to Macon, but the Confederates soon repaired it, and two days later the cars were running into Atlanta. While Kilpatrick was thus engaged the Confed- erate cavalry under Wheeler moved north-east from Atlanta, crossed the Chattahoochee River, struck the railroad near Resaca, and captured one thousand of Sherman's beef-cattle. Wheeler demanded a surrender of Dal- las, but Colonel Raum, who was there with a small force, held him at bay till Gen. J. E. Smith came with a brigade, compelling Wheeler to re- treat. He burned the bridge across the Etowah River and tore uj) the track, but the railroad men soon had the trains running again. Wheeler continued north, intending to burn the bridge across the Tennessee River and destroy the railroad, so that Sherman would not be able to obtain sup- plies. Jefferson Davis recommended the movement. Wheeler could do FALL OF ATLANTA. 409 but little harm, for the bridges were well guarded. A few days later, when too late to recall Wheeler, Hood found that he sorely needed him. Sherman determined to compel Hood to give up Atlanta, which was a railroad centre, where there were iron-founderies and machine-shops, not bv throwing his troops against the intrenchments, but by leaving a portion '"^'^Aiii i'^\ ^^j^^^^'-^^ '^ .1 >^"«ri EZRA CHURCH. Aug. 13, 1864. of his army at the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee. " It was evi- dent," says General Sherman, " that we must decoy the enemy out to fight us on something like equal terms, or else with the whole army raise the siege and attack his communications." (*) To carry out the plan, the Twentieth Corps was sent back to the Chat- tahoochee River to protect the bridge, the trains, hospitals, supplies, and ammunition accumulated at that point. General Sherman was much pleased with the spirit manifested by Gen- eral Kilpatrick, who had torn up the railroad, and decided to suspend the movement of the army a few days, in order that Kilpatrick might make another movement to strike the railroad near Jonesborough, hoping that it would force Hood to give up the city, and that when the Con- federates evacuated the place he could strike him a damaging blow.(') 26—2 410 KEDEEMING THE KEPUBLIC. Two of GaiTarcFs brigades of cavalry were sent from the east side of the city round to Kilpatrick, who was west of it, and placed under command of that officer. It was after dark when Kilpatrick reached All':'. 18, 1804. , ., , ,i , i i • i i i tlie rauroad. He cut the telegrapli wires, l)urned the sta- tion, tore up three miles of the track, but was then attacked by a body of Confederates, He did not return the way he advanced, but turned north, rode round Atlanta, and rejoined General Sherman. He had caj)t- ured a battery and destroyed three of the cannon, and brought in one as a trophy. He thought it would take the Confederates ten days to re- pair the road, but two days later the Union troops on picket could see the cars rolling into Atlanta, and General Sherman came to the conclusion that cavalry alone could not do much damage to a railroad before they would be compelled to retreat. All of the attempts to permanently destroy com- munications, whether by Union or Confederate cavalry, whether in Vir- ginia or the west, had ended in failure, while tlie hard riding necessary to reach the distant points had resulted in the breaking down of horses and men. General Sherman has this to say of the cavalry movements on both sides : "We saw trains coming into Atlanta from the south, and I became more than ever convinced that the cavalry could not or w^ould not w^ork hard enough to disable a railroad properly, and therefore re- Aug. 23, 1864. - , ° -,.,,. r solved at once to proceed with tlie execution ot my orig- inal plan. Meantime the damage to our own railroad and telegraph by Wheeler about Hesaca and Dalton had been repaired, and Wheeler him- self was too far away to be of any service to his own army, and where he could not do us much harm."(^) General Sherman sent this despatch to General Halleck in Washing- ton : "Heavy fires in Atlanta all da}', caused by our artillery, I will be all ready, and will commence the movement around Atlanta Aug. 24, 1864. , , , • 1 T r. by the south to-morrow night, and for some time you will hear little of us. I will keep open a courier line back to the Chattahoo- chee bridge, !)y way of Sandtown. The Twentieth Corps wnll hold the railroad bridge, and I will move with the balance of the army, provisioned for twenty days." General Sherman was confident that the Confederate cavalry under Wheeler could not seriously interfere with the running of railroad trains. It was soon seen by the Confederate troops that Hood had made a mis- take in sending Wheeler northward into the State of Tennessee, A Con- federate writer says that "it was an irreparable blunder," (*) A Confed- erate has pictured the scene in iVtlanta : " There are excavations in the GEN. JUDSON KILPATRICK. FALL OF ATLANTA. 413 ground, roofed with heavy logs, over wliich is heaped a luonntain of earth. Tlie garden to ahnost every house which does not boast of a celhar has one of tliese artificial bomb-proofs. They are perfectly secure against the shells, and many of them are quite comfortably furnished with beds, chairs, and other furniture. Women and children are huddled together in them for hours at a time, and when the city is furiously shelled at night, the whole community may be said to be underground." (°) The Twentieth Corps was marching north-west, to be the guard at the Chattahoochee. The Fourth Corps, under General Stardcy, was marching south towards Utoy Creek. Garrard's cavalry picketed their 1 iig. - ., . . i^^j.ggg ^j^ j.|^g woods where the Confederates could not see them, and took the place of the departing troops in the trenches. As soon as it was dark on the night of the 26th, the Army of the Tennessee, under the command of Howard, left its trenches and moved south, unseen by the Confederates. When day dawned there was silence in the Union trenches — no bugle- call or rallying drum-beat, no smoke ascending from bivouac fires. The Confederates did not know what to make of it. The Con- Aug. . , 1864. £g^|j,j.,^|.^ artillery opened fire, to see if the exploding shells would not awaken the Union troops. A Confederate writer has peimed this description: "We sprang to our feet and grabbed our muskets, and ran out and asked some one the meaning of it. We were informed that they were 'feeling' for the Yankees. The comment that was made by a private soldier was simply two words — ' Oh shucks !' The Yankees had gone, no one knew whither, and our batteries were shelling the woods, feeling for them. ' 01 1 shucks !' " (' ) Hood's scouts discovered the movement of the Twentieth Corps north- west, away from Atlanta. They reported that Shersnan was retreating. Hood was delighted. He concluded that Wheeler was doing great things in Tennessee. He did not comprehend Sherman's tenacity of purpose, or the meaning of his movement, and telegraphed to Richmond that Sher- man was retreating. (") It is reported that a party of ladies and gentlemen came from Macon to rejoice with their friends over the falling back of Sherman's troops. The Army of the Cumberland took its noonday rest in a beautiful grove of oaks around Shoal Creek Church. General Sherman was there, talking with General Thomas in regard to the movement. ""■ ' "^ ' ■ " It is somewhat hazardous for seventy thousand men to cut loose from their base of supplies and be dependent upon what we can pick up here and there," said General Thomas, as they stood by a fire 414 EEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. wliere a soldier was down on liis knees roasting an ear of corn. General Thomas was very kind to liis troops, who loved and respected him as duti- ful children a kind father. lie talked with them, gave them counsel and advice, but required strict obedience to orders. " What are you doing ?" said General Thomas, addressing the soldier. "Why, general, I am laying in a supply of provisions," said the sol- dier, with a smile overspreading his face. "That is right, my man, but do not waste your provisiqn." The two commanders walked on, but they heard the soldier say, "Good old man; economizing as usual." (°) There was humor in the remark, for there were hundreds of acres of corn near at hand, the ears ripe for roasting. While talking with the sol- diers, they could hear the booming of the cannon of the Army of the Ten- nessee near Jonesborough. When General Hood learned from his scouts what General Sherman was doing, he sent off a large amount of supplies, and had trains of freight ears, with engines tired up, ready for a rapid transfer of troops to any point. General Hardee was near the village of Rough and Tieady, with Lee's corps on his right at East Point. General Hood, with Stewart's corps and the Georgia militia, were in Atlanta, M'hen the cannon were heard at Jonesborough. Logan's corps of the Army of the Tennessee had crossed Flint River and was only a mile from the railroad, and had fallen upon Lewis's bri- gade. "Move at once to Jonesborough," was the order from Hood to Hardee. Lee was directed to follow. "Attack with all force in the morning, and drive the enemy, at all hazards, into the river." ('") If the attack was successful, General Hood intended to bring back Lee's corps the next night to Rough and Ready, to join them with Stew- art's corps and drive Sherman down Flint River, while Hardee was to advance from Jonesborough. (") General Ransom, who had succeeded General Dodge in command of the Sixteenth Corps, was on Logan's right, covering his flank. During the night, the Seventeenth Corps, under Blair, arrived and covered Lo- gan's left. The soldiers could hear tiie rumbling of the trains, and knew that the Confederates were arriving from Atlanta. Howard ordered the soldiers to build intrenchments, and waited for the Army of the Cum- berland. It was three o'clock in the afternoon when the Confederates of Lee's corps advanced to attack Logan and Ransom, making a spirited assault on Ilazen's division, which was easily repulsed, with severe loss to the Con- FALL OF ATLANTA. 41i Aug. 31, 1864. federates. Just after noon, Sehofield, with the Army of tlie Ohio, reached the raih-oad north of Jonesborough, at Rough and Ready. The troops came near capturing a train, but the engineer made his way back to Atlanta with the startling news. Hood, thinking that Sherman was marching north to close in upon the city, and not knowing that Hardee had attacked Howard and liad been repulsed, sent a courier ordering Hardee to march back to Atlanta. Lee thereupon moved north- east to avoid Sehofield at Rough and Ready, and was half-way back to Atlanta before Hood discovered that Sherman, instead of marching to Atlanta, M^as closing upon Hardee. There was but one thing to be done now; he must give up Atlanta and reassemble his scattered troops farther south. He sent word to Lee to * stop where he was till he could join him. While Hood was preparing to evacuate the place, the Four- teenth Corps, under Davis, was moving down the railroad tow- ards Jonesborough to strike Har- dee's right flank. The Confed- erates had thrown up a long line of intrenchments, beginning east of the railroad, running west, crossing it, then turning south on the west side of the village, and again crossing the railroad below the Baptist church, thus enclosing three sides of a quad- positions of the union and confederate rano-le. General Logan was west armies at jonesborough. of the village. General Ransom south-west, while General Davis, with the Fourteenth Corps, was north- west, and General Stanley, with the Fourth Corps, was on his way down the railroad. General Thomas sent an order to Stanley to take position on Davis's left flank. The afternoon was waning, and Sherman getting impatient. He desired Stanley to come round in Hardee's rear, but Stanley was so far away that Davis advanced to the attack without waiting for him. The Thirteenth, Sixteenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth United States Infan- try, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Edie, constituted a brigade in Car- iin's division. Their position was in front of Govan's brigade in the 416 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. Confederate works. Moore's brigade was to support Edie on the left. Estes's brigade of Baird's division was on tlieir right flank, and Morgan's division was beyond Estes's brigade. Going over now into the Confederate lines, we find Govan's brigade of Cleburne's division holding the angle, with Lewis's brigade extending east across the raih-oad, and Granberry's extending from the angle south- ward. It was a very strong position, for the angle was on a knoll, with open ground in front. Hardee's men liad used their shovels and axes to good advantage. Govan liad two batteries near the angle, which sent their shells down into the Union lines. General Thomas's batteries replied. Captain Prescott's battery sent an enfilading fire along the Confederate trenches. • The Union troops came into position while the artillery duel went on. General Baird and General Carlin rode along the line, giving their orders and encouraging the men. It was about one hundred rods from Edie's po- sition to the breastworks, across open ground swept by Confederate can- non. It was five o'clock in the evening of a beautiful summer day, when Edie and Estes moved up the slope towards the breastworks, together with Morgan's division on the west and Moore's on the north. They crossed the open ground, and rushed upon the intrenchments, leaped over the breastworks, and captured a large number of prisoners, driving the Confederates, who rallied and who were joined by a brigade in reserve, and the Union men in turn were driven. But they also rallied, regained the works and held them. The struggle was short and vigorous. Mor- gan's division closed in upon the right, and Moore's brigade on the left. It was like the springing of a net by a pigeon-catcher — a brief but des- perate contest, in which Govan's brigade was annihilated. The number of killed and wounded in Hardee's corps was about twelve hundred, with between eight and nine hundred taken prisoners. The movement of General Sherman had placed the whole of his army, with the exception of the Twentieth Corps, near Jonesborough. It was a compact body, while Hood's was widely scattered, with Stewart's corps and the Georgia militia in Atlanta, thirty miles distant from Hardee's corps; while Lee's corps was about half-way between the two, on its way back to Atlanta. A Confederate soldier has pictured the situation : "We could see the Yankee battle-flags waving on the top of red earth- works not more than four hundred yards off. Every private soldier knew that General Hood's army was scattered all the Avay from Jonesborough to Atlanta, without any order, discipline, or spirit to do anything. We could hear General Stewart in Atlanta blowing up arsenals, smashing FALL OF ATLANTA. 41' things generally ; while Stephen D. Lee was somewhere between Lovejoy Station and Macon, scattering. And here was a demoralized remnant of Cheatham's corps facing the whole Yankee army. . . . We had everything against ns. The soldiers distrusted everything. They were broken down with their long day's hard marching, were almost dead with fatigue and hunger. Every one was taking his own course, and wishing and praying BATTLE OF JONESBOROUGH. to be captured. Hard and senseless marching, with little sleep, half ra- tions, had made their lives a misery. Each one prayed that all this fool- ishness might end, one way or the other." ('^) The pickets of the Twentieth Corps near Atlanta through the night could hear a commotion in the city. They saw the light of burning buildings; then came explosions of shells. General Slocum heard it, and ordered his troops under arms. He was confi- dent that Hood was evacuating the city, and soon after sunrise the men 27 Sept. 1, 1864. 418 REDEEMING THE EEPUBLIC. of the Twentieth Corps, with their banners waving above them, keepinii:; step to the drum-beat, marched through the streets. General Slierinan, twenty miles away, heard the explosion. lie did not know wliat to think of the volleys, and walked to the house of a farmer and roused him from .sleep. "Have you lived here long?" asked the general. " Yes." "Have you heard the cannonade and musketry of the battles around Atlanta ?" " Yes, sir ; and these sounds are just like those of a battle." General Sherman thought it possible that Slocum had been attacked. The sounds died away, but at four o'clock in the morning the explosions began again. Daylight dawned, and the Union troops around Jonesbor- ougli were ready to renew the buttle, but not a Confederate was to be seen. CAPTURE OF CONFEDERATE WORKS AT JONE8BOROUGH. From a war-time Sketch. All had gone. A courier came with a letter from Slocum written in the city. He had entered it unopposed. General Sherman sent the letter to General Thomas, who whistled, snapped his fingers, and was almost beside himself with joy, while the soldiers swung their caps, hurrahed and danced, and made the woods ring with their yells. A courier rode up to the Chattahoochee, and tliis message flashed from Sherman to President Lincoln : " Atlanta is ours, and fairly won." President Lincoln sent it to General Grant, in front of Petersburg, who ordered all the cannon to be loaded with shot and shell, and then at a signal all were flred at once, while the Union soldiers in the trenches yelled and screamed themselves hoarse over the news so joyful to them, so disheartening to the Confed- erates. 3 H Z. H ^-, />V » 1" r Wr'w FALL OF ATLANTA. 421 Had General Sheniiaii known at midnight the true state of affairs within the Confederate lines, it is quite probable that Hood would have found it difficult to reunite his army ; or if General Davis had moved his corps, as he might have done, ou the evening of August 30th, Hardee would have been completely isolated from the other Confederate corps. The troops entering Atlanta found the smoking ruins of the foun- deries, machine-shops, and railroad cars, together with six disabled locomo- tives, a company of woe-begone men and women, and altogether an inde- scribable scene of desolation. Through the night Hood had been makino- a forced march towards the south-east, reassembling the shattered corps of his array at Lovejoy's Station, leaving behind a large number of wounded. Sherman advanced a portion of his troops to that point, but Hood retreated still farther, whereupon Sherman, needing supplies, decided to give his troops a little rest, and the army exultingly marched back to Atlanta. Hood had left twenty cannon, eiglit locomotives, and eighty -one cars which he had not time to remove, loaded with ammunition and supplies. "Atlanta is not taken, nor is it likely to be," were the exultant words of one of the newspapers in Richmond on the 25th of August. ('^) " So much for the removal of General Johnston. . . . The result is dis- aster at Atlanta in the very nick of time when such a victory alone could save the party of Lincoln from irretrievable ruin," were its words on the morning of September 5th. ('^) The loss of Atlanta — a raih-oad centre, with its machine-shops and foun- deries — the retreat of the army under Johnston from Chattanooga, the successive defeats under Hood, with the great losses, cast a deep gloom over the Confederate States, while throughout the Northern States there was great rejoicing. A large number of speculators who \vanted to obtain cotton, and trad- ers who wanted to open stores, had gathered at Nashville, expecting to reap a rich harvest at Atlanta, but General Sherman would not permit them to enter it. More than this, he determined to compel the few peo- ple who were there to leave, giving them the privilege of going South or North as thej'^ might choose. These were his reasons : " I was resolved to make Atlanta a free military garrison or depot, with no civil population to influence military measures. I had seen Mem- phis, Vicksburg, Natchez, and New Orleans all captured from the enemy, and each at once garrisoned by a full division of troops, if not more ; so that success was actually crippling our armies in the tield by detachments to guard and protect the interests of a liostile population. ... I knew, of course, that such a measure would be strongly criticised, but made up my 27* 422 KEDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. mind to do it with the absohite certainty of its justness, and that time would sanction its wisdom." ('") General Sherman sent a letter by flag of truce to General Hood, in- forming him that he would send those who wished to go South, to Love- joy's, with all their goods ; and all the negroes who might desire to go with their old masters. General Hood protested against the measure. These his words : " It transcends in studied and ingenious cruelty all acts ever before brought to ray attention in the dark history of war. In the name of God and humanity, I protest, believing that you are expel- ling from their homes and firesides the wives and children of a brave people." (") Though thus protesting, General Hood consented to send wagons to receive the goods of the people. In regard to the protest General Sherman made this reply : " You style the measure unprecedented, and appeal to the dark history of the war for a parallel. It is not unprecedented ; for General Johnston him- self very ,wisely and properly removed the families all the way from Dal- ton down, and I see no reason why Atlanta should be excepted. . . . You yourself burned dwelling-houses along your parapet, and I have seen to- day fifty houses which have been rendered uninhabitable because they stood in the way of your forts and men. ... I say that it is a kindness to these families of Atlanta to remove them at once from scenes to which women and children should not be exposed. ... I ask you not to appeal to a just God in such a sacrilegious maimer. You, who, in the midst of peace and prosperity, have plunged a nation into war, dark and cruel, who dared and badgered us to battle, insulted our flag, seized our arsenals and forts that w'ere left in the honorable custody of peaceful ordnance sergeants, seized and made ' prisoners of war ' the garrisons sent to protect your peo- ple against negroes and Indians, long before any overt act was committed by the (to you) hated Lincoln Government ; tried to force Kentucky and Missouri into rebellion, spite of themselves ; falsified the vote of Louisiana; turned loose your privateers to plunder unarmed ships ; expelled Union families by thousands, burned their houses, and declared by Act of your Conojress the confiscation of all debts due Northern men for goods had and received. Talk thus to the marines, but not to nie, who have seen these things, and who M'ill this day make as tnuch sacrifice for the peace and honor of the South as the best Southerners among you. If we must be enemies, let us be men, and fight it out as we propose to do, and not deal in hypocritical appeals to God and Immanity. God will judge us in due time, and he will pronounce whether it be more human to fight M'ith s ^ p ^ & t?5 5 S c- O It" > > FALL OF ATLANTA. 425 a town full of women and the families of a brave people at our back or to remove them in time to places of safety among their own friends and people." (") The mayor and some of the councilmen of Atlanta appealed to General Sherman to revoke the order, setting forth the hardship and suffering that would follow its execution. General Sherman admitted that it would cause great suffering. " I have," he said, " read your petition carefully, and give full credit for your statement of the distress that will be occasioned, and yet shall not revoke my orders, because they were not designed to meet the humanities GENERAL SHERMAN'S QUARTERS. /£-, ^t.0. of the case, but to prepare for future struggles, in which millions of good people outside of Atlanta have a deep interest. We must have peace, not only at Atlanta but in all America. To secure this we must stop the war that now desolates our once happy and favored country. To stop war we must defeat the rebel armies which are arrayed against the laws and Constitution that all must respect and obey. . . . You might as well appeal against a thunder-storm as against the terrible hardships of war. They are inevita- ble, and the only way the people of Atlanta can hope once more to live in peace and quiet at home is to stop the war, which can oidy be done by ad- mitting that it began in error and is perpetuated *n pride. We don't want 426 REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. your negroes, or jour liouses, or yonv lands, or anything you have, but we do want and M'ill have a just obedience to the laws of \the United States. . . .When peace conies, you may call on me for anything. Then will I share with you the cracker and watch with you to shield your homes and families against danger from any quarter." ('"*) For ten days there was an armistice between the Union and Confeder- ate armies, during which the people were packing their goods. General Sherman detailed wagons and men to assist them, and gave strict orders against pillaging, and the officers and men did their work very kindl}^ and courteously, delivering them to the Confederate officers and soldiers de- tailed to receive them — thus mitigating in some degree the untold hard- ships and sufferings of the war. (" (.. NOTES TO CHAPTER XVI. "i ^lemoirs of Gen. W. T. Shermai]," vol. ii., p. 85. Idem, p. 103. Idem, p. 104. Idem. J. W. Avery, "History of Georgia," p. 505. Corre.spondeiice of Chdiiexfoa Courier, August 29, 1864. S. R. WatkiiLS, "First Tennessee Regiment," p. 191. " Memoirs of Gen.W. T. Sherman," vol. ii., p. 105. Idem. Gen. .1. B. Hood. "Advance and Retreat," p. 205 Idem. S. R. Watl, 95, 98, 100. Anderson, Mr. (C), 433. Anderson, Robert, Major (U.), 34. Anderson's corps (C), 315. Arniand, Colonel (C), 54. Armstrong, Lieutenant (C), 309. Army of the Cumberland (U.), 199, 208, 215, 231, 254, 343, 405, 413. Army of the James (U.), 140. Army of the Ohio (U.), 199, 208, 215, 231, 236, 336, 405, 415. Army of the Potomac (U.), 73, 97, 133, 199, 208, 374. Army of the Tennessee (U.). 199, 208, 216, 231, 405, 413. Atkinson, Sidney (U.), 151. Audenreid, Major (U.), 13. Augur, C. C, Gen. (U.), 283. Averill, John T., Gen. (U.), 261, 267, 270, 433, 436. Ayres's brigade (U.), 102, 122, 181. Bailey, Joseph, Colonel (U.), 62, 65. Baird, Absalom, Gen. (U.), 416. Baird's division (U.), 17,416. Baldwin, Captain (U.), 296. Banks, N. P., Gen. (U.), 48, 53, 56, 58, 73, 112. 294. Barlow, Francis C, Gen. (U.), 109, 116, 186, 189. Barlow's division (U.), 104, 107, 116, 324, 327, 358. Barry, General (U.), 240. Bartlett's brigade (U.), 102, 181. Barton's brigade (C), 22, 140. Bate, General (C), 239, 244. Bate's division (C), 344. 347, 349. Battery: Arnold's (U.), 109; Battery B. (U.), 56; the Chicago Mercantile (U.), 53; De Gress's (U.), 355 ; the Eighth Michigan (U.), 346, 354; the First Iowa (U.), 240; the First United States (U.), 56; the First Vermont (U.), 56; the Fourth United States (U.), 138; the Fourteenth Ohio (U.), 349; Hooper's (U.), 354 ; Klaus's (U.), 53 ; Mc- Knight's (U.), 369; McMahon's (C), 53; Metcalf's(U.), 119; Nims's(U.), 53, 57; the Ninth Indiana (U.), 56; Pennington's (U.), 274; Prescott's (U.), 416; Simouson's Indi- ana (U.), 244 ; the Tenth Massachusetts (U.), 186; the Twenty-tifth New York (U.), 56; Valvedere (C), 57; William's Third Ohio (U.), 346, 354. Battle's brigade (U.). 117. Battles : Atlanta, 348; Atlanta, siege of, 401 ; Bermuda Hundred, 137; Cold Harbor, 178; Dallas, 240; Drcwry's Bluff, 142; Dug Gap, 213; Ezra Church, 405; Fort Morgan, bom- bardment of, 386; Fort Pillow, 38; Fort Powell, bombardment of, 379. 397; Hano- ver, 157; Hawes's Store, 166; Jonesborough, 414 ; Kenesaw, 254 ; Louisa Court-house, 273'; IMonocacv River, 280; New Hope Church, 232; New 3Iarket, 262; North Anna, 161; Olustee, 22; Paducah, 37; Peach-tree Creek, 344; Petersburg, siege of, 324, 358; Pickett's Mill, 236; Piedmont, 266; Pleasant Hill, 58; Resaca, 214; Spott- sylvania, 100; Totopotomoy, 177; 'Wilder- ness, 86. 470 INDEX. Beard, Colonel (C), 54. Beauregard. P. G. T., Gen. (C), 22, 38; at Weklon, 133; near Petersburg, 141 ; sends message to Jefferson Davis, 142; at Drew- ry's Bluff, 143, 145, 150; at Bermuda Hun- dred, 151; sends despatch to Bragg, 312, 328; sends a brigade to Wise, 314; sends telegrams to Lee, 319; sends troops to Pe- tersburg, 324; advantage of position, 327; reasons for his view of Grant's movements, 331 ; credit due for holding Petersburg, 332; sends to Lee for troops, 373. Beaver, Colonel (U.), 190. Beckwith, General (U.), 200. Bell's brigade (C), 41. Belmont, Mr. (U.), 450. Benedict's brigade (U.), 55. Benning's division (C), 91. Bidwell's brigade (U.), 286. Birney, General (U.), 117, 124, 186. Birney's division (U.), 91, 104, 108, 110, 116, 124, 320, 324. Blair, F. P., Gen. (U.), 208, 243, 351, 355. 405, 414. Blair, Mr. (U.), 286. Booth, L. F., Major (C), 38, 41. Bradford, Governor of Maryland (U.), 283. Bradford, Major (C), 41, 42. Bragg, Braxton, Gen. (C), 17, 73, 133, 203, 207, 312, 340. Bray, Benjamin (U.), 150. Breckinridge, John C, Gen. (C), 158, 163, 262, 265, "267. 274, 444. Breckinridge, Robert J. (U.), 444. Breckinridge's division (C), 190. Breeze, Captain (U.), 48. Brooks, Colonel (U.), 109. Brooks, General (U.). 190. Brooks's brigade (U.), 104, 108, 116, 139, 146. 148, 178, 182, 320. Brough, John, :Mr. (U.), 442. Brow^'n, Captain (U.), 280. Brown, Colonel (U.), 109. Brown. General (C), 406. Brown. Governor of Georgia (C), 221, 258, 340. Brown, Lieutenant (U.), 383. Brown, Major (C), 398. Brown's brigade (U.), 116. Bryan's brigade (C), 182. Buchanan, Admiral (C), 384, 391, 394. Buchanan, James, President (U.), 444. Buchell's cavalry (C), 56. Buckner, Simon B., Gen. (C), 427. Buillet, Judge (C), 446. Burbridge, Stephen G., Gen. (IT.), 427. Burnham. General (U.). 183. Buruside, Ambrose E., Maj.-gen. (U.), at An- napolis, 73; at Washington, 75; at the Wil- derness, 86; at Spottsylvania, 121; at Ok Ford, 162; puts himself under Meade, 164; at Cold Harbor, 186, 190 ; at Petersburg, 322, 366, 370. Butler, B. F., Gen. (U.), at Fortress ]\[onroe, 73, 77; at City Point, 99, 103, 131, 137, 312; receives instructions from Grant, 133; at Bermuda Hundred, 138, 141; declines plan proposed by Smith and Gilmore, 141; at Drewry's Bluff. 142, 146, 150 ; withdraws to Bermuda Hundred, 151; sends troops to Grant, 178; at Petersburg, 370. Butler, Mr. (C), 48. Butler's brigade, (C), 166, 178. 273. Buttertield's division (U.), 220. 232. Byrd's brigade (U.), 336. Byrnes, Colonel (U.). 190. Cabell, Sergeant (C). 264. Cameron, General (U.), 55. Cameron's brigade (U.), 254, 386. Canby, General (U.). 112, 380. Candy's brigade (U.). 232. Canty 's division (C). 208, 212. Carlin, General (U.), 416. Carlin's division (U.), 415. Carney, Joe, Lieutenant (C), 222. Carr. Billy (C), 222. Carriugton, Colonel (U.), 443. Carrol i. General (U.), 122. Carroll's brigade (U.), 110. 117. Casement, Colonel (U.), 339. Casey, David (U.), 193. Casey, Mr. (C), 48. Castleman, John B., Capt. (C), 442, 448. Chambers, John C. , Lieut, col. (U.), 150. Chapman's brigade (U.), 127. Chase, Secretary (U.), 444. Cheatham, B. F., Gen. (C), 257, 405, 417. Cheatham's corps (C), 17, 343, 345, 347, 354, 357. Churchill's division (C), 56. Clark, Adjutant-general (U.), 349. Clay, Clement C. (C), 440, 447. Cleary, W. W. (C), 440. Cleburne's division (C), 17, 236, 344, 347, 351, 354, 357, 416. Clendennis, Colonel (U.), 278. Clingman's brigade (C), 149, 151, 181. Cochrane, John C, Gen. (U.),444. Cole, Edwin (U.), 150. INDEX. 471 Cole, William D. (U.), 150. Collins, John, pilot (U.), 386. Colquitt, General (C), 22. Colquitt's brigade (C), 142, 146, 370. Comstock, Colonel (U.), 98. Confederacy, song of the, 1 ; object of the, 6; dealing in cotton, 47,49; principle on which established, 454. Connecticut Regiment (U.), the Seventh, 22; the Second, 182; the Eighteenth, 263; the Tenth, 324; First Artillery, 366. Cooper, Adjutant-general (C), 342. Corse's brigade (C), 142, 149, 151. Couch, General (U. ), 434. Coulter's brigade (U.), 102. Co.x, Generar(U.), 215, 239, 254. Co.x's division (U.), 336, 340. Craven, Captain (U.), 386. Crawford's division (U.), 86, 102, 110, 158, 181, 327. Crittenden's division (U.), 162, 181. Crook, General (U.), 77, 260, 267, 269, 433. Cruft's division (U.), 17. Curtin, A. G., Governor of Pennsylvania (U.), 434. Curtin's brigade (U.), 326. Custer, George A., Gen. (U.), 25, 29, 178, 273. Custer's brigade (U.), 126, 167, 178. Custis, Mr. (C), 128. Cutler's division (U.), 102, 110, 158, 160, 181. Dahlgren, Ulrich, Col. (U.), 25, 29. Daniel, General (C), 118, 121. Davies's brigade (U.), 126. Davis, General (U.), 336, 405, 415. Davis, Jefferson (C), calls for more men, 4; sends orders to Beauregard, 134; at Drevv- ry's Bluff, 142; appoints Johnston to com- mand of army, 204; removes him, 340; fa- vors movement of Wheeler at Atlanta, 406; views of political aft'airs, 439 ; orders to Colonel Hines, 441; does not comprehend powers at work to defeat the Confederacy, 454, 460. Davis's division (U.), 17, 235. Dayton, Mr., Minister to France (U.), 296. De Bray's cavalry (C), 53, 56. De Gress, Captain (U.), 355. Dearing, General (C), 146, 316. Delaware Regiment, the Second (U.), 116. Denison's brigade (U.), 102. Deviu's brigade (U.), 126, 178, 182. Dickey, Captain (U.), 54, 56. Dodge, General (U.). 208, 236, 349, 414. Dole, General (C), 182. Dole's brigade (C), 110. Donaldson, Commander (U.), 383. Donaldson, General (U.), 200. Douty, Jacob, Lieutenant (U.), 370. Drayton, Captain (U.), 383, 385. Duane, Major (U.), 315, 334. Duckworth, Colonel (C), 34. Duffie, General (U.), 267, 270. Dwight's brigade (U.), 55. Early, Jural A., Gen. (C), at the Wilder- ness, 93; at Spottsylvania, 100, 104, 107; at lheTotopotomoy,177; at Cold Harbor, 181; moving west, 268; at Lynchburg, 270, 274; moves towards Frederick, 278; at Monoe- acy River, 280; moving towards Washing- ton, 282; reasons for giving up assault of Wa.shington, 285 ; in Shenandoah Valley, 433, 487. Echols, John, Gen. (C), 262, 265. Echols's division (C), 277. Edie, Lieutenant-colonel (U.), 415. Egan's brigade (U.), 159, 324. Eliet, General (U.), 50. Elliott's brigade (C), 370. Emory, General (U.), 283. Emory's division (U.), 55. Epps, Dr., 137. Esfe's brigade (U.), 416. Evans's brigade (C), 117. Eweli, General (C), 76, 82, 86, 100, 122, 124. Farragut, Admiral (U.), 302, 379. Featherstone's division (C), 254. Fernald, Corporal (U.), 150. Ferrero, General (U.), 370, 373. Field, Colonel (C), 222. Field's division (C), 102, 182, 328. Fiunegan, General (C), 22. Fish, John D., Capt. (U.), 119. Fitzhugh, Captain (C), 435. Fitzpatrick, Thomas, Coxswain (U.), 390. Floyd, John B.(C.), 410. Force's brigade (U. ), 346, 353. Forrest, N. B., Gen. (C. ), 13,' 17, 30, 41, 43, 429. Forts: Anderson, 34; Darling, 145; De Rus- sey, 285; Donelson,33; Gaines, 377; Mor- gan, 377, 452 ; Pillow, 38 ; Powell, 377 ; Powhatan, 137; Slocum,2S5; Stevens, 285. Foster, General (U.), 369. Franklin, General (U.), 49, 53, 55. Freeman, Martin (U.), 386. Fremont, Charles, Gen. (U.), 444. French, General (C), 10. 472 INDEX. Fullam, Mr. (C), 309. Fuller, General (U.), 349. Fuller's divisiou (U.), 348, 350, 355. Garrard, General (U. ), 236, 248. 258, 401, 410, 413. Garrard's division (U. ), 335, 343. Geary, General (U.), 216. Geary's division (U.), 232, 343. Georgia Regiment, the Si.xt}'-si.\tli (C). 350. Getty's division (U.), 86, 182, 286. Gherardi, Lieutenant (U.), 383. Gib])on, General (U.). 186. 189. Gibbon's division (U.), 104, 108. 110, 116, 324, 358. Gibbs's brigade (U.). 126. Gile, Captain (U.), 349. Gillem, General (U.), 429. Gillmore, Quincy A., Gen. (U.), 21, 133, 138, 141, 149. 312. 314. Gilraor. Harry (C), 283. Gilmore, J. B., Mr. (U.), 460. Gilmore. Major (C). 435. Goodman. Captain (C), 41. Gordon, .James B., Gen. (C). 92, 117. 128. Gordon's division (C). 117, 128, 181, 277, 280. Gorringe, Captain (U.), 61. Gould. Colonel (U.), 327. Govan's brigade (C), 415. Gowin, William (U.), 310. Gracie's brigade (C). 141, 147, 370. Graham, General (C). 314. Granberry. General (C), 239. Granberry's brigade (C), 416. Granger. Gordon. Gen. (U.), 380, 398. Grant, Ulysses S., Gen. (U.), appointed Lieu- tenant general, 68; meets Meade at Brandy Station, 71 ; meets Sherman at Nashville, 72; views of military operations, 73, 199; at Fortress Monroe, 74, 133; at Germania Ford, 81; at the Wilderness, 85; at Spott- sylvania, 97; directs military movements. 104; unfolds plan of campaign, 112; .sends letter to General Halleck, 112; changes po- sition of troops, 123; lays new plans, 153; movements criticised, 161; remarks on his position, 163; sends despatch to Halleck, 164; changes base of supplies. 165; orders Sheridan to move towards Mechanicsville, 166; moves towards Cold Harbor, 167; or- ders Butler to send troops, 178; orders as- sault at Cold Harbor, 186; remarks on the battle, 186; sends letters to General Lee, 196; views of the assault, 197; orders pon- toons sent to the .James, 198; directs Sigel to move up the Shenandoah, 260, 262 ; sends orders to Hunter, 266; directs Sher- idan to move towards Lynchburg, 273 ; sends troops to Halleck, 278; sends Ord to Washington, 282; orders Emory to Wash- ington, 283; difficulty of transferring army to Petersburg. 313, 314; issues orders to Butler, 316, 331; begins the siege of Pe- tersburg, 334 ; plan of siege, 358; at Bai- ley's Creek. 369; .sends Mott's division to Petersburg, 370; failure of plan at Peters- burg, 374; hears of evacuation of Atlanta, 418. Greeley, Horace (U.), 443, 446. Greeley, Lieutenant colonel (U. ), 324. Green, General (C). 53, 56, 61. Greene. Lieutenant (U.), 383. Gregg, David McM., Gen. (U.), 273. Gregg, General (U.). 167. Gregg's brigade (C), 91. Gregg's cavalry (U.), 78, 99, 124. Gregg's division (U.), 25, 126, 166, 182. Griffin's division (U.j, 102, 158, 181. 326, 333. Grover's division (U.), 50. Guthrie, Mr. (U.), 200. Hagood's brigade (C), 134, 137, 139. Halleck, H. W., Gen. (U.), 47, 67, 73, 278. Hallett, Genera] (U.), 167. Hampton, Wade, Gen. (C). 108. 278. Hampton's division (C), 166, 361. Hancock. W. S., Gen. (U. ), commands sec- ond corps of Army of the Potomac, 76; at the Wilderness, 85. 86, 87, 91, 95; at Spott- sylvania,97, 104.107,110, 115,117; marches towards the North Anna, 153; reaches it, 158; his position there, 162; at Cold Har- bor, 184. 186 ; moves towards Petersburg, 315; receives message from Grant, 320; re- marks on Smith's fsulure to attack, 323 ; reaches Bailey's Creek, 369. Hardee, General (C). 342. 344, 355, 414. Hardee's corps (C), 207, 214, 220, 221, 225, 235, 240, 244. 343, 347, 350, 355, 416. Harris, Colonel (C). 328. Harris, Governor of Tennessee (C), 30. Harris, Mr. (C), 451. Harris's brigade (C), 118. Harrow's division (U.), 240. 348. 405. Hascall's division (U.). 239. Hawkins. Colonel (U.). 34. Hawley's brigade (C). 22. Hay, John (U.), 447. Hayes, Rutherford B., Col. (U.), 261. Hazcn's brigade (U.). 236. INDEX. Ilazen's division (U.), 414. Heckmau, General (U.), 138, 140, 147, 149. Heckmaii's brigade (U.), 138, 140, 146. Hetli's division (C). 88, 91, 108, 120, 181, 369. Hickenlooper, General (U.), 349. Hicks. S G.,Col. (U.), 34, 37. Hill, A. P., Gen. (C), 76: at the Wilderness, 82,85, 91, 93; at Spottsylvauia, 117, 118 ; at Cold Harbor, 182; at Petersburg, 358, 361. Hill, Captain (C), 264. Hill's corps (C), 160, 190, 268, 315, 331. Hindman's division (C), 236. Hines, Tiiomas H., Col. (C), 440. Hinks, General (U.), 137, 142, 146, 151, 31G, 320. Hoffman's brigade (U.), 160. Hoke, General (C), 134, 147. Hoke's brigade (C), 158. 163, 182. Hoke's division (C), 146, 149, 319, 370. Holcombe, James P. (C). 440, 447. Hood, John B., Gen. (C), at Resaca, 215, 220; at Cassville, 226; sends message to Jolni- son, 236; falls back to Zion's Church, 254; supersedes Johnston, 342; plan of battle at Atlanta, 343, 344; moves against McPlicr- son, 347; in battle, 353, 354; at Atlanta, 401 ; discovers plan of Stoneman, 404 ; thinks Sherman is retreating, 413 ; orders troops to Jonesborough, 414; orders Har- dee back to Atlanta, 415; collects his army at Lovejoy's Station, 421. Hood's corps (C), 207, 214, 221, 225, 232, 235. Hooker, General (U.), 94, 207, 208, 215, 225, 231, 235, 254, 405 Hovev's division (U.), 215. Howard, O. O., Gen. (U.), 188, 208, 215, 232, 235, 254, 405. Humphreys, General (U.), 85, 92, 102,120, 125. Hunt, General (U.), 334. Hunt, Mr. (U.), 450. Hunter, General (U.). succeeds Sigel, 266; at Staunton, 267; decides to march to Lynch- burg, 268; retreats down Kanawha Valley, 270, 274, 432; moves east from Wheeling, 286. Hunter, Senator (C), 140. Hunter's brigade (U.), 182. Hunton, General (C), 146. Hurlburt, Stephen A., Gen. (U.), 13, 430. 352 ; the Sixty-sixth, 856 ; the Sixty-sev- enth, 53; the One Hundred and Seventh, 356; the One Hundred and Eleventh, 356. Imboden, J. D., Gen. (C), 263, 265, 267, 270, 277, 434. Indiana Regiment (U.), the Forty-ninth, 57; the Sixty-seventh, 53. Iowa Regiment, the Fourteenth (U.), 57. Jackson, General (C), 434. Jackson, Stonewall, Gen. (C), 85, 125, 200, 260. Jacques, Colonel (U.), 460. Jenkins, Captain (U.), 383. Jenkins, General (C), 261. Johnson, Andrew (U.), 445. Johnson, Bradley T.. Gen. (C), 277. Johnson, Edward, Major-gen. (C), 117, 122. Johnson, General (C), 278, 282, 406. Johnson's (Bushrod) brigade (C), 139, 149, 151. Johnson's division (C), 102, 110, 116, 118, 324, 358, 370. Johnson's division (U.), 236, 239. Johnston, Captain (C), 394. Johnston, Joseph E., Gen. (C. j, at Dalton, 17, 73, 199, 209; at the Wilderness, 92; ap- pointed commander of army, 204; neglects to guard Snake Creek Gap, 209; withdraws to Resaca, 211 ; orders artillery to open fire, 216 ; orders troops to Calhoun, 219 ; retreats from Resaca, 221 ; orders troops to concentrate at Cassville, 225 ; consults with officers, 226 ; sends message to Gen- eral Jackson, 231; describes battle of New Hope Church, 232; moves south-west, 235; remarks on battle of Pickett's Mill, 239 ; moving towards Lost iMountain, 243; at Pine Mountain, 244; at Kenesaw, 248; in battle, 254; abandons Marietta, 258; builds new fortifications, 335; retreats across the Chattahoochee, 340; superseded by Hood, 342. Johnston, R. D., Gen. (C), 121. Johnston's (R. D.) brigade (C), 117. Jones, Colonel (C), 232. Jones, William E., Gen. (C), 261, 266. Jouett, Lieutenant (U.), 883, 389. Judah, Henry M., Gen. (U.), 215. Illinois Regiment (U. ), the Eightli Caval- ry, 278, 280, 284 ; the Twelfth, 356 ; the Twentieth, 346; the Thirtieth, 346; the Thirty-first, 346 ; the Forty-fifth, 346 ; the Fiftv-fiffJi, 356; the Sixty-fourth, 349, 350, Kaulfus, Dr. (C). 446. Kautz, General (U.). 134, 137, 140, 142, 146, 151, 314,316, 320,361. Keith, Lawrence M., Col. (C), 181. Kell, Mr. (C), 304, 307. 474 INDEX. Kemper, General (C), 153. Kentucky Regiment, the Nineteenth (U.). 53. Kersliaw's brTgiide (C), 102, 118, 158, 181. Kershaw's division (C), 328, 331, 369. Kilpatrick, Judson, Gen. (U.), 25, 29, 215, 219, 406, 409. Kinney, John C. . Lieut. (U.), 389. Kitching's brigade (U.), 122, 123, 124. Knights of the Golden Circle, 441. Knowles, Quartermaster (U.), 386. L.\iRD, Captain (U.), 349, 352. Lamson, John (U.), 390. Laudram, General (U.), 53. Lane's brigade (C), 117, 120. Le Roy, Commander (U.), 383. Ledlie's division (U.), 327, 370, 373. Lee, Fitz-Hugh, Gen. (C), 125, 273, 362. Lee, GeneraflU.), 53. Lee, JoeP.,Capt. (C), 222. Lee, Robert E., Gen. (C). constancy of army to, 6 ; near Richmond, 25 ; sends flag of truce to General Meade, 29 ; condition of his army, 73, 76 ; at the Wilderness, 82 ; at Spottsylvania, 98, 107, 118, 153; trans- fers troops to Richmond, 103; loss at Spott- sylvania, 116, 124 ; changes position of troops, 121, 122; learns of General Stuart's death, 131 ; receives troops from Beaure- gard, 152 ; at Hanover Junction, 157; at the North Anna, 161; at Cold Harbor, 178; replies to Grant's letters, 196; orders Breck- inridge to come to his a.ssislance, 266 ; learns of Jones's defeat at Piedmont, 267; sends Early west, 268; sends Hampton and Fitz- Hugh Lee to resist Sheridan, 273; design in sending Early west, 274; learns of Grant's movement, 315; position of his army, 319, 331 ; tries to discover Grant's position, 331 ; directions to Hill at Petersburg, 358; sends Mahone against Kautz and Wilson, 362 ; strengthens fortifications at Petersburg, 374. Lee, S. D., Gen. (C), 340, 405, 414. Lee, W. H. F., Gen. (C), 331, 361, 370. Lee's (Fitz-Hugh) division (C). 99, 166, 181. Lcggett's division (U.), 346, 348, 351, 355. Letcher, John, Governor of Virginia(C.), 267, 432. Lewis, .John E. (U.), 193. Lewis's brigade (C), 414, 416. Liddell. General (C), 58. Lieb, Captain (U.), 280. Lincoln, Abraham, calls for more men, 3 ; orders expedition to Jacksonville, 21; ap- points Grant Lieutenant-general, 68; at AVashington, 75 ; meets troops at Wash- ington, 283; at Fort Stevens, 285; receives news of evacuation of Atlanta, 418; criti- cism of, 443, 445, 450; renominated, 445; letter to Confederate commissioners, 447; sends men to confer with Davis, 460. Llewellyn, ]\Ir. (C), 308. Logan, John A., Gen. (U.). at Resaca, 208, 215, 219; at Pickett's Mill, 236; at Dallas, 240 ; at Kenesaw, 254 ; at Atlanta, 346 ; takes McPherson's place, 352; cheers Fif- teenth Corps, 356; at Ezra Church, 405; at Jonesborough, 414. Long, Mr. (C), 450. Longstreet, James, Gen. (C), 18, 76, 82, 86, 182. Longstreet's corps (C), 268. Loring, General (C). 10, 13, 251, 405. Loring's division (C), 405. Louisiana Regiment (C), Crescent, 54; the Eighteenth, 54; the Twenty-eighth, 54. Lovell, General (C), 342. Mahone's division (C), 108, 358, 362, 370. Maine Regiment (U. ), the Fifth, 118; the Ninth, 149; the Sixteenth, 101; the Twen- tieth, 102. Maitland, Mr. (U.), 61. ]\Iallory, Mr. (C), 128. Malloy's brigade (U.), 346, 348, 355. Maney's division (C), 344, 347, 351, 354, 357. Manigault's brigade (C), 355. Marchand, Capitain (U.), 383. Marine Brigade (U.), 50. Martin's cavalry (C), 219. Martindale's division (U.), 178. 182, 185, 320. Maryland brigade (U.), 124. Maryland Regiment (U.), the Eleventh, 280; the Third Regiment of Potomac Home Guards, 280. Massachusetts Regiment (U. ), the Twelfth 102; the Thirteenth, 101; the Eighteenth 102; the Twenty-third, 148; the Twenty fourth. 263; the Twenty-fifth, 151, 193 196 ; the Twenty-seventh, 140 ; the Twen tyeighth, 369; the Thirty-fourth, 266; the Thirty-ninth. 101; the Fifty-seventh, 325. McCann, Lieutenant (U.), 383. McCausland, General (C), 268, 270, 282, 284, 434. McClellan, George B., Gen. (U.), 67, 167, 173, 313, 451. McCook, Daniel, Gen. (U.), 231, 402. McCulloch's brigade (C), 41. INDEX. 475 McGevney, Colonel (C), 223. McGowau, Generate.), 121. McGowau's brigade (C), 118. McLaughlin, Colonel (C), 264. McLean, Lieutenant (U.), 434. McLean's brigade (U.), 236, 239. McMillan's brigade (U.), 55. McPheison, James B., Gen. (U.), commands Sixteenth Corps in attack on Meridian, 18; commands Array of Tennessee, 199 ; at Snake Creek Gap, 209, 211 ; at Resaca, 214; at Cassville, 225; at Pickett's Mill, 235; at New Hope, 240; at Kenesaw, 244, 254; ap- proaches Atlanta, 340, 343; moves against the city, 344; killed, 351. Meade, George G., Gen. (U.), consents to raid on Libby Prison, 25; receives message from Lee, 29 ; meets Grant, 71 ; at the Wilder- ness, 85, 88, 92 ; at Spottsylvania, 97, 103, 108 ; order to Wright, 118 ; disagreement with Sheridan, 124 ; at Cold Harbor, 164, 167, 181 ; issues congratulatory order to Sixth Corps, 184; sends order to Hancock, 316; assumes command at Petersburg, 324; preparations for assault, 328; order to at- tack, 332 ; orders movement of Second Corps, 358 ; consents to mine at Peters- burg, 366; objects to colored troops lead- ing assault, 370 ; orders withdrawal of troops, 374. Memminger, Mr. (C), 128. Mercer's brigade (C), 207. Merritt's brigade (U.), 178. Merritt's division (U.), 25, 99, 125. Metcalf, Lieutenant (U.), 119. Michigan Regiment (U.), the First, 102; the Fifth, 274; the Sixteenth, 102; the Twenty- sixth, 116; the Twenty- seventh, 196; the Forty-eighth, 369. Miles, Nelson A., Gen. (U.), 369. Miles's brigade (U.), 109, 116, 190. Mink, Captain (U.), 160. Minnesota Regiment, the First (U.), 282. Missouri Regiment (U.), the Sixth, 356; the Twelfth, 216; the Eighteenth, 349, 350; the Twenty-fourth, 57. Mitchell, John (U.), 196. Montgomery, Colonel (C), 22. Moor, Colonel (U.), 263. Moore, Governor of Alabama (C), 377. Moore's brigade (U.), 416. Morgan, John H., Gen. (C), 424, 443. Morgan's division (U.), 416. Morrell's brigade (U.), 348. Morris, H. O., Col. (U.), 190. Mott's division (U.), 91, 104, 110, 115, 117, 358, 370. Mouton's division (C), 53. Mower's brigade (U.), 56. MuUany, Commander (U.), 384, 391. Mulligan, Colonel (U.), 277. Munson, Colonel (U.), 346. IMutual Protection Society, 441. Napoleon, Louis, Emperor of France, 47, 441. Navy (U.), 9. Neill, General (U.), 182. Neill's brigade (U.), 110. Neill's division (U.), 328. New Hampshire Regiment, the Fifth (U.), 190. New Jersey Regiment, the Ninth (U.), 140, 148. New York Regiment (U.), the Twenty-first, 118; the Forty-fourth, 102, 111; the Fifty- first, 280 ; the Sixty-first, 116 ; the Sixty- fourth, 116; the Sixty-sixth, 116; the Sev- enty-third, 369; the Eighty-third, 102; the Ninety-seventh, 102 ; the One Hundredth, 281; the One Hundred and Fourth, 101; the One Hundred and Twelfth, 149; the One Hundred and Twenty-first, 118. Newspapers ■ the New York Tribune, 443, 446. Newton's division (U.), 216, 239, 343. Nields, Ensign (U.), 389. Noble, Colonel (C), 54. Northrop, Colonel (C), 181. Ohio Militia (L".), the One Hundred and Forty-ninth, 280 ; the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth, 280. Ohio Regiment (U.), the Seventh, 232; the Twentieth, 352, 354; the Twenty-seventh, 349,352; the Thirty-ninth, 349]^ 352; the Forty-eighth, 53; the Fifty-seventh, 356 ; the Sixty-third, 349; the Seventj^-eighth, 852, 356 ; the Eighty - first, 349, 356 ; the Eighty-third, 53, 54; the Ninety-sixth, 53; the One Hundred and Third, 339; tlie One Hundred and Twenty-third, 263, O'Neil, Lieutenant (U.), 34. O'Neill, Captain (U.), 196. Ord, Edward C, Gen. (U.), 282. Osterhaus, General (U.), 216, 240. Ould, Mr. (C), 140. Owen's brigade (C), 117. Page, R.L., Gen. (C), 399. 476 INDEX. Page's Artillery (C), 117. Palmer, Jolm M., Gen. (U.), 17, 208, 235, 254, 257. Palmer's division (U.), 343. Parson's division (C), 56. Patrick, General (U.), 123. Paul, Colonel (C). 873. Peace Democrats, 3, 5, 439, 442, 445, 447, 451. Pegram's brigade (C), 92, 117. Pendleton, Mr. (U.), 451. Pennington, Captain (U.), 274. Pennsylvania Regiment (U.), the Eleventh, 102; the Sixteenth, 284; the Forty-eighth, 366, 370; the Fifty-third, 116 ; the Eighty- first, 116; the Eighty-third, 102; the Eighty- eighth, 102 ; the Ninetieth, 102; the Nine- ty-fifth, 118; the Ninety-sixth, 118; the Ninety-ninth, 369 ; the One Hundred and Seventh, 369; the One Hundred and Eigh- teenth, 102; tlie One Hundred and Forti- eth, 116; the One Hundred and Forty-fifth, 116; the One Hundred and Forty-eighth, 116, 190 ; the One Hundred and Eighty- third, 116, 369. Perrin, General (C). 118, 121. Perrin's brigade (C), 118. Peterkin, Rev. Mr., 131. Pickett, General (C), 133, 137. Pickett's division (C), 102. 158, 163, 182. Pierce's brigade (U.), 159. Pleasants, Colonel (U.), 366, 370. Polignac, General (C), 50, 56. Polk, Leonidas, Gen. (C), 10, 17, 208, 214, 219, 221, 225, 235, 244. Porter, David D., Admiral (U.),"48, 58, 65. Potter's division (U.), 120, 163, 181, 325, 373. Prestman, Colonel (C), 335, 342. Preston, Colonel (C), 5. Price, Edwin, Coxswain (U.), 390. R.\MSEUR, General (C), 118, 121. Ramseur's brigade (C), 118. Ramseur's division (C), 277, 280, 284. Ran.^om, Robert, Gen. (C), 141, 146. Ransom, T. E. G., Gen. (U.), 53, 414. Ransom's division (C), 147. Raum, Colonel (U.), 406. Rawsou's brigade (C), 370, 373. Raymond, Captain (U.), 150, 351. Red River Expedition, 44. Rees, Henry, Sergeant (U.), 370. Reese, Captain (U.), 219. Reilly's brigade (U.), 254. Rice, James C, Gen. (U.). Ill, 160. Pickett's division (U.), 86, 182, 278, 280, 281. Robinson's division (U.), 86, 102. Rodes, General (C), 118. Rodcs's division (C), 93, 102, 110, 117, 181, 277, 280. Rosecrans, General (U.), 443. Rosser's brigade (C), 273. Rousseau, General (U.), 401. Russell's brigade (U.), 110, 111, 118. Russell's division (U.), 166, 182. 185. Sanders, George (C), 446. Sanderson, Colonel (U.), 443. Scales's brigade (C). 120. Schneider, Edward (U.), 325. Schofield, General ( U. ), at Knoxville, 18; commands Army of Ohio, 199; moves tow- ards Resaca, 208, 214, 219; at Cassville, 225 ; near Dallas, 231, 235 ; near Lost Mountain, 244; at Keuesaw, 254; crosses the Chattahoochee, 336 ; approaches At- lanta, 340, 345 ; attacks, 349 ; receives or- der from Sherman, 356 ; at Rough and Ready, 415. Scott, Winfield S., Gen. (U.), 67. Scott's brigade (U.), 346, 352, 354. Scribner's brigade (U.), 236, 239. Seddon, Secretary (C), 4, 440. Sedgwick, General (U.), 76, 85, 93, 95, 103, 104. Semmes, Raphael, Capt. (C), 288. Sewell, Joe (C), 222. Seymour, Horatio (U.), 450, 452. Seymour, Truman, Gen. (U.), 21, 25. Seymour's brigade (U.). 92. 93. Shaler's brigade (U.), 92, 93. Shaw's brioiide(U.), 56. Shepley, General (U.), 41. Sheridan, Philip H., Gen. (U.), made com- mander of cavalry, 74 ; moving towards the Wilderness, 78 ; reaches it, 86 ; at Spottsylvauia, 99, 103; at the North Anna, 165; moves towards Cold Harbor, 167; at Cold Harbor, 178, 181; disagreement with Meade, 124; orders to division command- ers, 128 ; moves towards Lynchburg, 273; at Bailey's Creek, 369. Sherman, William T., Gen. (U.), at Vicks- burg, 10, 13, 14; escapes capture at Deca- tur, 13 ; at Memphis, 48 ; meets Grant at Nashville. 72 ; plan of campaign, 199 ; gives orders to McPherson and Hooker, 209; views of McPherson's course, 211; at Dug Gap, 213; at Resaca, 215; orders troops to cross Lay's Ferr}', 219; at Cass- ville, 225 ; organizes an engineer corps. INDEX. 477 228 ; moves against Johnston's flunk, 231 ; at New Hope Church, 232 ; moves north- east, 235; at Pickett's Mill, 236; at Dallas, 240 '; advances towards Lost Mountain, 244,248; at Kenesaw, 254; enters Mariet- ta, 258; compt'ls Johnston to fall back, 335, 340; learns that Hood has superseded Johnston, 343 ; consults with McPherson at Atlanta, 348 ; appoints Logan to take McPlierson's place, 352; sends orders to Schotield, 356 ; plan of action at Atlanta, 401; favors plan to release prisoners at Anderson ville, 402; begins siege of Atlan- ta, 405 ; pleased with action of Kilpatrick, 409; sends despatch to Halleck, 410; hears of evacuation of Atlanta, 418 ; enters At- lanta, 421 ; sends letter to Hood, 422 ; re- moves people of Atlanta, 425. Ships: Alabama (C). 47, 288; Ariel (U.), 294; Black Hawk (U.), 48; Brilliant (U.), 291; Brooklyn (U.). 383; Chastelaine (U.), 295; Chickasaw (U.), 384; Conrad (U.). 310; Constitution (A.), 294; Couronne (F.), 304; Courser (U.). 391; Cowslip(U.),384; Crick- et (U.), 61; Dcerhound (B.), 304. 308,309; Eastport (U.),61; Gaines (C), 378, Galena, (U.), 384; Golden Eagle (U.), 295; Golden Rule (ID. 295; Guerriere (B.), 295; Hart- ford (U.), 379, 383; Harvest Home (U.), 290, Hatteras (U.), 294, 301; Hindman (U.),61, 66; Itasca (U.), 379, 383; Juliet (U.), 61; Kearsarge (U.), 293, 296, 301 ; Kennebec (U.), 383, Lackawanna (U.), 383; Lexing- ton (U.), 58, 65; Manhattan (U.), 384; Met- acomet (U.), 383; Monongahela (U.), 383; Morgan (C), 378, Neosho (U.), 66; New EraTu.), 41, Ocmulgee (U.), 290; Octorora (U.), 379, 383; Olive Brancli i^U.), 41, Olive Jane(U,). 295; Oneida (U.), 384; Osage (U)., 58, 61; Ossipee (U.), 383; Palmetto (U.), 295; Parker Cooke (U.), 293; Paw])aw (U.), 34; Piosta (U.), 34; Port Royal (U.), 383; Richmond (U.), 383; San Jacinto (U.), 299; Selma (C), 378; Seminole (U.). 383; Star- light (U.), 280 ; Sumter (C), 290, 293 ; Te- cumseh (U.), 380, 384; Tennessee (C), 378 Thistle (C), 440; Tonawanda (U.), 290, 292 Tuscaloosa (C), 310; Vanderbilt (U.), 295 Wales (U.), 293; Winnebago (U.). 384 AVyoming (U.), 296. Shirk, Lieutenant (U.), 34. Sickel, Colonel (U.), 261. Sigel, General (U.), 77, 260, 262, 265, 277, 284 Skip, Colonel (U.), 263. Sleeper, Captain (U.), 186. Slocum, General (U.), 417. Smith, A. J , Gen. (U.), 429. Smith, Colonel (C), 265. Smith, E. Kirby, Gen. (C), 50, 58, 340. Smith, G.W., Gen. (C). 343. Smith, General (U.), 314, 316, 319. Smith, Giles A., Gen. (U.), 216, 346, 348, 350, 352, 355. Smith, John E., Gen. (U.). 251, 254, 406. Smith, Morgan L., Gen. (U.). 240, 405. Smith, William F., Gen. (U.), 133, 138, 141, 146, 148, 178, 182, 186, 189. Smith, William Sooy, Gen. (U.), 13, 17. Smith's (A. J.) division (U.), 48. Smith's cavalry (C), 38. Smith's (Morgan L.) division (U.), 348, 354, 356. Smythe's brigade (U.), 109, 116 Sons of Liberty, 440, 441, 445, 448. Sprague's division (U.), 348. Stahl, General (U.), 277. Stanley, General (U.), 405, 413, 415. Stanley's division (U.), 216, 239, 343. Stanton, Edwin M. (U.), 67, 71. Steele, Captain (U.), 349. Steele, General (U.). 48, 50. Stevens, Captain (U.), 394. Stevenson. General (C), 214, 216, 220. Stewart, General (C), 342, 347, 405, 4J4, 416. Stewart's corps (C), 343, 344. Stewart's division (C), 216, 232. Stone, Colonel (U.), 54. Stoneman, General (U.X 402. Stoneman's division (U.,, 214, 236, 240. Strong, Commander (U.), 383, 391. Strong, In.spector-general (U.), 349. Stuart, Brigadier -general (C. ), 86, 99, 122, 124, 128, 131. Stuart's brigade (C), 117. Sturgis, General (U.), 429. Sweeney's division (U.), 219. 348, 356. Sweet, J. B., Col. (U.), 448. Sweitzer's brigade (U.), 102, 181, 184. Taylor, Colonel (U.), 240. Taylor, Richard, Gen. (C), 50, 53, 56, 58, 204. Tennessee Regiment, the One Hundred and Fiftv-fourtir(C.), 222. Terry,' General (U.), 324. Terry's brigade (U.), 117. Terry's division (U.), 145, 146, 149, 152. Texas Redment, the Seventeenth (C), 54 Thoburn,"Colonel (U.), 264. Thomas, C.R., Mr. (U.), 280. Thomas, George H., Gen. (U.), commands 478 INDEX. Array of Cumberland at Chattanooga, 17, 199; at Ringgold, 208 ; at Kcsaca, 215; at Cassville, 225; near Dallas, 231; near Ken- esaw, 235, 244 ; at Peach-tree Creek, 340, 343, 345 ; at Atlanta, 348 ; at Shoal Creek Church, 413 ; sends order to Stanley, 415 ; hears of evacuation of Atlanta, 418. Thomas's brigade (C). 120. Thompson, Jacob (C), 440, 442, 448. Thompson, N. P., Gen. (C), 34. 37. Thompson, Orderly (U.), 349, 351. Torbert, General (U.), 178. Torbert's division (U.), 166, 178, 273. Turchin's brigade (U.), 18. Turner's division (U.), 146, 149. Tyler, General (U.), 124. 278. 281. Tyler's brigade (U.), 101, 122. Upton, Colonel (U.), 119. Upton's brigade (U.), 110, 118, 122, 182. Vallandigham, Clement L. (C). 441, 445. 448. 451. Vance's brigade (U.), 53, 54, 55. Vanderbilt. ]\Ir. (U.). 294. Vaughn. General (C), 434. Veatch's division (U.). 216. Vermont Regiment, the Tenth (U.), 280, 281. Virginia Regiment, the Sixty-second (C). 265. Wadsworth's division (U.), 86. 88. 102. Walcott. General (U.). 354. Walcott's brigade (U.), 240. Walker. Colonel (C). 54. Walker, General (C), 121, 350. Walker's brigade (U.), 117. Walker's division (C), 50, 53, 56, 219. 343, 347, 349. 352, 357. Wallace, Lew., Gen. (U.). 278, 281. Wallace, Sergeant (U.), 150. Walthall's division (C), 405. War Democrats, 442. Ward's division (U.), 343. Warren, General (U.), 76. 85, 88. 93. 95. 109, 153. 158. 161. 186. 190, 315. 328. 331. 333. Washburne, E. B., Mr., M. C. (U.). 68, 93,111. Washburne, General (U.), 430. Webb. General (U.). 122. Webb's brigade (U.), 110. Weber, General (U.), 277. Webster. Daniel. 299. Weitzel, General (U.). 146. 147. 149. Welles, Colonel (U.). 349. 355. Welles. Lieutenant (U.), 384. Wharton. General (C), 262. 265. Wheaton. General (U.), 286. Wheaton's division (U.), 118. Wheeler, General (C). 347. 348. Wheeler, Lieutenant (U ), 150. Wheeler's cavalry (C). 207, 239, 248, 406. White, Colonel (U.). 261. Whiting. General (C). 142, 146. 151. Whitney, General (C), 134. Wilco.x's division (U.). 120. 181. 327. 373 Wilcox's division (C), 88, 91, 369. Wilkes, Rear-admiral (U.), 296. Williams. Captain (U.). 354. Williams. Lieutenant-colonel (C ), 398. Williams. Mrs. (U.). 429. Williams's division (U.), 214. 216. 232. 343. Wilson's cavalry (U.), 78, 99, 124, 126, 164, 315, 361. Winslow, John A., Capt. (U.), 299. 301. 385. Wi.sconsin Regiment (U.). the Twelfth. 346; the Thirteenth, 346; the Twenty -third, 53. Wise, Colonel (C), 265. Wise, General (C), 312, 319, 370. Wise's brigade (C), 142, 146. Wofford's brigade (C). 182. Wood's division (U.), 216. 236, 239. 343, 345, 348. 356. Wuods, C. R., Gen. (U.). 216. Wraugelin's brigade (U.). 351. Wright, Colonel (U.). 244. Wright. Horatio G.. Gen. (U.). 104, 109, 118, 122, 182, 186, 189, 285. Wright's division (U.), 56, 86, 92. York's brigade (C), 117. Young's brigade (C), 273. Zetlich, Ensign (U.), 389. THE END. INTERESTING BOOKS FOR BOYS. Published by Harper & Brothers, New York. 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Mildred's Bargain, and Other Stories. Nan. Thk Colonel's Money. Thk Household of Glen Holly. By Lucy C. Lillie. — The Four Macnicols. By Willia.m Black. — The Lo.-;t City ; or, The Boy ExplokeRs in Central Asia. Into Unknown Seas. By David Ker. — The Talking Leaves. An Indian Story. Two Arrows: A Story of Red •and White. By W. 0. Stoodard. — Who Was Paul Grayson? By John Habberton, Author of " Helen's Babies." — Prince Lazybones, and Other Stories. By Mis. W. J. Hays. — The Ice Quken. By Ernest Ingersoll. — Wakulla: A Story of Adventure in Florida. The Flamingo Feather. Derrick Sterling. Chrystal, Jack & Co., and Delta Bixby. By C. K. MuNROE. — Strangk Stories fisom History. By George Cary Eggleston. — Uncle Peter's Trust. By Georgk B. Pekry. — Captain Polly. By Sophie Swett. SAMUEL SMILES'S WORKS. Self-help. — Character. — Thrift. — Duty. — Men of Invention and Industry. — Life and Labor; or, Characteristics of Men of Industry, Culture, and Genius.- 12mo, Clotli, $1 00 eacli. Round the World. Including a Residence in Victoria, aiul a Journey by Rail across Nortli America. Bv a Boy. Edited by Samuel Smiles. — Life op a Scotch Naturalist: Thomas Edward, Associate of the Linn^ean Society. — Robert Dick, Baker of Thurso ; Geologist AND Botanist. — James Nasmyth, Engineer. An Autobiography. Edited by Samuel Smiles. Illustrated. 12nio, Cloth, |1 50 eacli. The Lives op the Stephensons. Comprising, also, a History of the Invention and Intro- duction of the Railway Locomotive. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $3 00. THE STARTLING EXPLOITS OF DR. J. B. QUIES. From the French of Paul CELikRE. By Mrs. Cashel Hoey and Mr. John Lillie. Profusely Illustrated. Crown Svo, Extra Cloth, $1 75. FROM THE FORECASTLE TO THE CABIN By Captain S. Samuels. Illustrated. 12mo, Extra Cloth, $1 50. LBO 14