THE 
 
 PORTRAIT GALLERY OF THE WAR, 
 
 CIVIL, MILITARY, AND NAVAL: 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 
 
 KDITKD BY 
 
 FRANK MOORE. 
 
 u 
 
 VVILTI-I 
 
 OIsT 
 
 NEW-YORK : 
 D. TAX NOSTKAND, PrBLISHEIJ, 192 I3ROADWAV 
 
 1 8 o . 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864. 
 BY Pr. P. PUTNAM, 
 
 In the Clerk s Ofl.ce of the District Court of tho United States, for the 
 Southern District of New York. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Frontispiece. 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, . ^ 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL ORMSBY M. MITCHEL, 
 
 REAR-ADMIRAL THEODORUS BAILEY, . 
 
 40 
 MAJOR-GENERAL NATHANIEL LYON, 
 
 4u 
 MAJOR-GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL, . 
 
 REAR-ADMIRAL ANDREW HULL FOOTE, 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL FREDERICK W. LANDER, 
 
 6- 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ELLIS WOOL, ^ 
 
 BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOSHUA WOODROW SILL, 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL ROBERT ANDERSON, 
 
 MAJOR THEODORE WINTIIROP,, . 
 
 HENRY W. BELLOWS, 
 
 ADMIRAL SAMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT, 
 
 LIEUTENANT JOHN TROUT GREBLE, 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, . 
 
 127- 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL V. S. GRANT, ^ 
 
 GENERAL EDWARD D. BAKER, . 
 
 141 
 MAJOR-GENERAL 0. 0. HOWARD, 
 
 SALMON P. CHASE, 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN POPE, . 
 
 ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS, 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL 0. B. WILLCOX, 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS, 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, 
 
 LIKUTENANT-GENERAI, G. T. BEAUREGARD, 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL SAMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN, 1" 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL Q. A. GILLMORE, 
 
 GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, ... 
 
 WILLIAM H. SKWARD, . 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS, . . 202 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL C. C, WASHBURN, . .209 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK, . 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL II. W. -HALLECK, ... 210 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES S. WADSWORTH, . . 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL LEONIDAS POLK, ...... .228 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 PACK 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ADAMS DIX, . ....... 281 
 
 ADMIRAL D. D. PORTER, . . ...... 235 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS, ...... . 238 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP KEARNY, . . . . . .245 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, ... ... 248 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU,. ... . 253 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL J. E. B. STUART, . ? . 256 
 
 ADMIRAL D. G. FARRAGUT, . . .261 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET, . . .... 265 
 
 JAMES LOUIS PETIGRU, ........ .268 
 
 CHARLES SUMNER, ..... . . 271 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM FARRAN SMITH, . ... .278 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN, . .... 283 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID HUNTER, . . ..... 292 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE STONEMAN, ... .... 296 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS, 299 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN G. FOSTER, . .... 307 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN C. FREMONT, . ..... 311 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK, . ...... 319 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, . . . . . . .325 
 
 EDWIN M. STANTON, . . . ....... 337 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER, ....... 340 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN RODGERS, . . ....... 345 
 
 ADMIRAL CHARLES HENRY DAVIS, 349 
 
ABKAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 PEESIDENTS must first be candidates, and candidates are public property, 
 for all the great purposes of defamation and personal abuse ; when one is 
 named for the Presidency, a large section of the press, and a great portion of the 
 people, find a direct interest in the propagation of whatever may tend to render 
 contemptible the person named, and to make him appear unfit for any position 
 of dignity or trust. Hence the present President is known over a great part of 
 the country as "the baboon," and respectable writers in Europe have lamented 
 the result of universal suffrage in his election ; though perhaps no man ever 
 occupied the same position who in himself and in his personal history was more 
 truly representative of all that is best in the American people. 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born in Hardin county, Kentucky (at a place now 
 included in La Eue county), February 12th, 1809. His ancestors were Quakers, 
 and migrated from Berks county, Pennsylvania, to Eockingham county, Virginia, 
 whence his grandfather Abraham removed with his family to Kentucky, about 
 1782, and was killed by the Indians in 1784. Thomas Lincoln, the father of 
 Abraham, was born in Virginia, and the President s mother, Nancy Hanks, was 
 also a native of that state. Thomas Lincoln removed with his family in 1816 to 
 a district now included in Spencer county, Indiana, where Abraham, then large 
 for his age, assisted with an axe to clear away the forest. For the next ten years 
 he was mostly occupied in this arid other equally hard work on his father s farm, 
 and in this period he went to school a little at intervals ; but the whole time of 
 his attendance at school amounted in the aggregate to not more than a year. 
 He never went to school subsequently. His first experience of the world beyond 
 home was acquired on a flat-boat, upon which he made the trip to New Orleans 
 as a hired hand, when nineteen years of age. The advantages of travel under 
 these circumstances are not great. Flat-boats it is true have been made the 
 centre of a certain kind of free, western romance, and to float down the Ohio and 
 the Mississippi in happy companionship with the "jolly flat-boat man," looks 
 very pretty in a picture ; especially if the picture be well painted, like Mount s. 
 But unfortunately all flat-boat men were not jolly, and flat-boats didn t always 
 float, flat-boat men were not the chosen of the human race, except perhaps for rough 
 ness, and flat-boats had very often to be poled along ; there was much of coarse 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 association for a boy to struggle against, and a deal of hard work to be done. 
 On the other hand such travel is not delusive, it does not permit life to look the 
 least like a holiday affair, nor unfit the wanderer for a sober return to the quiet 
 ness of home. Young Lincoln at the least travelled in a practical American man 
 ner, saw something of the world, and got paid for it. 
 
 Settlers are a most unsettled generation, and in .March, 1830, Thomas 
 Lincoln migrated again ; this time to Macon county, Illinois. Abraham accom 
 panied his father to the new home, and there helped to build a log-cabin for the 
 family, and to split enough rails to fence ten acres of land. From this he has 
 been called the Rail-splitter. Now, to split rails has been a necessary piece 01 
 labor since the days of Milo of Crotona, who was a rail-splitter in his time ; and 
 while that occupation may not qualify a man for statesmanship, the name of 
 Rail-splitter is a better one than Hair-splitter ; moreover, while a man s career 
 and the words he has spoken show his brain to be a good one, it is no harm 
 to him before the people to be able to show a good muscular record. Young 
 Lincoln s flat-boat trip soon proved to be an advantage, and in 1831 he was 
 engaged, at twelve dollars a month, to assist in the construction of a flat-boat, and 
 subsequently in its navigation down the river to New Orleans. He acquitted 
 himself to the satisfaction of his employer, who upon his return put him in 
 charge of a store and mill at New Salem, then in Sangamon, now in Menard 
 county, Illinois. But these peaceful successes were soon lost sight of in the 
 excitement of the Black Hawk war, which broke out in 1832. Lincoln joined a 
 company of volunteers, and was elected their captain, an event which gave him 
 a great deal of pleasure. He served through a campaign of three months, and 
 on his return home was nominated by the Whigs of his district as a candidate 
 for the state legislature ; but the county was Democratic and he was defeated, 
 though in his own immediate neighborhood he received two hundred and seventy- 
 seven votes, while only seven were cast ag ainst him. These indications of 
 personal popularity nattered and stimulated to future effort, and were thus not 
 without their effect upon a young man looking for a career. His next venture 
 was the establishment of a country store, which did not prove prosperous, and 
 which he relinquished to become postmaster of New Salem. While in this position 
 he began to study law, and borrowed for that purpose the books of a neighboring 
 practitioner ; the books were taken at night, and returned in the morning before 
 they could be needed in the lawyer s office. Upon the offer of the surveyor of San 
 gamon county, to depute to him a portion of the work of the county surveyor s 
 office, Mr. Lincoln procured a compass and chain and a treatise on surveying, 
 and did the work. In 1834 he was again nominated as a candidate for the 
 legislature, and was elected by the largest vote cast for any candidate in the 
 state. He was re-elected in 1836, and in the same year was licensed to practise 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 3 
 
 law. From New Salem he removed in April, 1837, to Springfield, and there 
 opened a law office in partnership with Major John F. Stuart. Mr. Lincoln was 
 re-elected to the state legislature in the years 1836 and 1840, and meanwhile 
 rose rapidly to distinction in his profession, becoming especially eminent as an 
 advocate in jury trials. He was also several times a candidate for presidential 
 elector, and as such canvassed all of Illinois and part of Indiana for Henry Clay, 
 in 1844, and made speeches before large audiences almost every day. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln was elected a representative in Congress from the central district 
 of Illinois in 1846, and took his seat on the first Monday in December, 1847. 
 His congressional career was consistently that of one who believed in freedom 
 and respected the laws. He voted forty-two times in favor of the Wilmot 
 proviso. He voted for the reception of anti-slavery memorials and petitions ; for 
 an inquiry into the constitutionality of slavery in the district of Columbia, and 
 the expediency of abolishing the slave-trade in the district ; and on January 16th, 
 1849, he offered to the House a scheme for the abolition of slavery in the district, 
 and for the compensation of slave-owners from the United States treasury, 
 provided a majority of the citizens of the district should vote for the acceptance 
 of the act. He opposed the annexation of Texas, but voted for the loan bill to 
 enable the government to carry on the Mexican war, and for various resolutions 
 to prohibit slavery in the territory to be acquired from Mexico. He voted also 
 in favor of a protective tariff, and of selling the public lands at the lowest cost 
 price. In 1849 he was a candidate for the United States Senate, but was defeated. 
 Upon the expiration of his congressional term Mr. Lincoln applied himself to his 
 profession ; but the repeal of the Missouri compromise called him again into the 
 political arena, and he entered energetically the canvass which was to decide the 
 choice of a Senator to succeed General Shields. The Kepublican triumph, and 
 the consequent election of Judge Trumbull to the Senate, were attributed mainly 
 to his efforts. Mr. Lincoln was ineffectually urged as a candidate for the vice- 
 presidency in the national convention which nominated Colonel Fremont in 1856. 
 He was unanimously nominated candidate for United States Senator in opposi 
 tion to Mr. Douglas by the Eepublican state convention at Springfield, June 2d, 
 1858, and canvassed the state with his opponent, speaking on the same day at 
 the same place. In the course of this canvass, and in reply to certain questions 
 or statements of Mr. Douglas, Mr. Lincoln made the following declarations : " I do 
 not now, nor ever did, stand in favor of the unconditional repeal of the fugitive 
 slave law. I do not now, nor ever did, stand pledged against the admission of any 
 more slave states into the Union. I do not stand pledged against the admission of 
 a new state into the Union with such a constitution as the people of that state may 
 see fit to make. ... I am impliedly, if not expressly, pledged to a belief in the 
 right and duty of Congress to prohibit slavery in all the United States territories." 
 
4: ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 In explanation he said, " In regard to the fugitive slave law, I have never hesitat 
 ed to say, and I do not now hesitate to say, that I think, under the constitution of 
 the United States, the people of the Southern states are entitled to a congressional 
 fugitive slave law. .... In regard to the question of whether I am pledged to the 
 admission of any more slave states into the Union, I state to you very frankly that 
 I would be exceedingly sorry ever to be put in a position of having to pass upon 
 that question. I should be exceedingly glad to know that there would never be 
 another slave state admitted into the Union ; but I must add that, if slavery shall 
 be kept out of the territories, during the territorial existence of any one given 
 territory, and then the people shall, having a fair chance and a clear field, when 
 they come to adopt their constitution, do such an extraordinary thing as adopt a 
 slave constitution uninfluenced by the actual presence of the institution among 
 them, I see no alternative, if we own the country, but to admit them into the 
 Union." Assertions like this should be a sufficient answer to those who pro 
 nounce Mr. Lincoln an abolitionist. The Eepublican candidates pledged to the 
 election of Mr. Lincoln received one hundred and twenty-five thousand two hun 
 dred and seventy-five votes ; the Douglas candidates received one hundred and 
 twenty-one thousand one hundred and ninety votes ; and the Lecompton candi 
 dates five thousand and seventy-one. Mr. Lincoln had thus, on the popular 
 vote, a clear majority over Mr. Douglas of four thousand and eighty-five; but 
 Mr. Douglas was elected Senator by the legislature, in which his supporters had 
 a majority of eight on joint ballot. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln acquired a national reputation mainly through his contest with 
 Senator Douglas, and it consequently excited much surprise when, in the Re 
 publican national convention assembled at Chicago, his name was put forward in 
 connection with the Presidency. Many prominent Eepublicans did not hesitate 
 to declare their further support of the party conditional upon the nomination of 
 Mr. Seward ; but the availability of Mr. Lincoln was persistently urged by those 
 who considered his most prominent opponent too conspicuously committed to 
 the unpopular opposition to slavery interests. The whole number of votes in 
 the convention was four hundred and sixty-five, and two hundred and thirty- 
 three were necessary to a choice. Mr. Seward led on the first two ballots ; and 
 on the third, Mr. Lincoln received three hundred and fifty-four votes, and his 
 nomination was declared unanimous. His opponents for the Presidency in other 
 parties were brought forward in such a manner, that the country was geographi 
 cally divided, and the contest was made almost exclusively sectional. By the 
 extreme course of the Southern press, the sectional feature of the contest was 
 more clearly brought out, and it was forced upon the North that Mr. Lincoln was 
 exclusively its own candidate ; and the disruption of the country was openly 
 threatened in the event of his election. From this it resulted that Mr. Lincoln 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 5 
 
 received at the North a support that he could never have received on his party 
 account, and with three other candidates in the field his popular vote was one 
 million eight hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred and ten. His vote 
 in the electoral college was one hundred and eighty, against one hundred and 
 forty-three for all others ; and the gentleman who had received the largest oppo 
 sing vote, John C. Breckenridge, declared from his place as president of the 
 Senate, February 13th, 1861, that "Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, having re 
 ceived a majority of the whole number of electoral votes, was duly elected Presi 
 dent of the United States for the four years commencing on the 4th of March, 
 1861." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln arrived in Philadelphia, on his way to the capital, February 
 21st; and he there received full and accurate information, through the detective 
 police, of the particulars of a plan for his assassination in the streets of Baltimore 
 when he should reach that city. On the next day he visited Harrisburg, spoke 
 before the legislature of Pennsylvania, and that night returned privately, but 
 not disguised, to Philadelphia, whence he took the regular night train for Wash 
 ington, and, without change of cars, arrived in the capital shortly after six, A. M., 
 of February 23d. He was duly inaugurated on the 4th of March, and upon that 
 occasion he said : " Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the South 
 ern states that, by the accession of a Republican administration, their property 
 and their peace and personal security are to be endangered. There has never 
 been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. Indeed, the most ample evi 
 dence to the contrary has all the while existed, and been open to their inspec 
 tion. It is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses 
 you. I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that I have no 
 purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the 
 states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no 
 
 inclination to do so I consider that, in view of the constitution, the Union 
 
 is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability I shall take care, as the constitution 
 itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws of the Union shall be faithfully 
 executed in all the states." 
 
 For some time previous to the election, resistance to the laws had been de 
 termined upon in the event of Mr. Lincoln s success ; and on December 20th a 
 convention assembled in South Carolina had declared that state out of the Union. 
 During the months of January and February, 1861, the states of Mississippi, Ala 
 bama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, had been also declared out of the 
 Union in a similar manner ; and a congress of representatives from those states 
 had convened at Montgomery, in Alabama, February 6th, had chosen a Presi 
 dent, and proceeded otherwise to organize a new government. Such was the 
 position of affairs at the time of Mr. Lincoln s inauguration. Only a day after it, 
 
6 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 Peter GL T. Beauregard, an officer of the United States army, but involved in 
 the rebellion, was ordered by the rebel President to the command of the forces 
 assembled for the investment of Fort Sumter, and on March 9th, the so-called 
 Confederate Congress passed an act for the establishment and organization of an 
 army. Yet Mr. Lincoln did not entirely despair of a settlement of the trouble 
 without war, and the policy chosen by him, to use his own words, " looked to 
 the exhaustion of all peaceful measures before a resort to any stronger ones." 
 He therefore ^sought only to hold the public places and property not already 
 wrested from the government, and to collect the revenue, relying for the rest on 
 time, discussion and the ballot-box. He promised a continuance of the mails, at 
 government expense, to the very people who were resisting the government, and 
 gave repeated pledges against any disturbances to any of the people, or to any of 
 their rights. Of all that which a President might constitutionally and justifi 
 ably do in such a case, every thing was forborne, without which it was believed 
 possible to keep the government on foot." 
 
 But this was of no avail, and in a little more than a month after Mr. 
 Lincoln s accession to office, Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor was attacked, 
 and " bombarded to its fall." The bombardment and surrender were concluded 
 on the thirteenth of April, and on the fifteenth the President issued his first 
 proclamation by which he called out " the militia of the several states of the 
 Union to the aggregate number of seventy -five thousand, in order to suppress 
 rebellious combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed;" and con 
 vened both houses of Congress in extra session. By subsequent proclamations 
 he declared the complete blockade of all the ports of the United States south of 
 the Chesapeake ; increased the regular army by twenty-two thousand, and the 
 navy by eighteen thousand men, and called for volunteers to serve during three 
 years, to the number of five hundred thousand. " These measures, whether 
 strictly legal or not, were ventured upon under what appeared to be a popular 
 demand and a public necessity ; trusting that Congress would readily ratify 
 them." 
 
 Congress readily did so. Further reference to these affairs was made by 
 the President in his first message to Congress in these noble words : "It was 
 with the deepest regret that the executive found the duty of employing the war 
 power in defence of the government forced upon him. He could but perform this 
 duty, or surrender the existence of the government. No compromise by public 
 servants could, in this case, be a cure not that compromises are not often 
 proper ; but that no popular government can long survive a marked precedent 
 that those who carry an election can only save the government from immediate 
 destruction, by giving up the main point upon which the people gave the elec 
 tion. The people themselves, and not their servants, can safely reverse their own 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 7 
 
 deliberate decision. As a private citizen, the executive could not have consented 
 that those institutions should perish, much less could he in betrayal of so vast and 
 so sacred a trust as these ""free people had confided to him. lie felt that he had 
 no moral right to shrink, nor even to count the chances of his own life in what 
 might follow. In full view of his great responsibility he has so far done what he 
 has deemed his duty. You will now, according to your own judgment, perform 
 yours." 
 
 On the sixteenth of August, 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation 
 prohibiting intercourse with the States in insurrection, excepting West-Virginia 
 and North-Carolina, as well as the parts of States which were loyal. On the 
 thirty-first of March, 1863, he issued another proclamation on this subject, revok 
 ing the exceptions, save only West-Virginia and the four ports of New- Orleans, 
 Key West, Port Eoyal, and Beaufort, N. C. 
 
 The impatience of some of his generals with the toleration of slave property 
 among the rebels, which was used for the maintenance of the rebellion, either 
 directly or indirectly, led them to issue general orders emancipating all the slaves 
 of persons known to be in rebellion within their commands. General Fremont 
 was the first to do this in Missouri, August thirty-first, 1861. The President, 
 believing that matters were not ripe for such a movement, modified his order in a 
 published letter. General Hunter repeated the act in May, 1862, extending it 
 over a region where he possessed no military authority. The President repudi 
 ated his proclamation as injudicious and untimely, reserving to himself, however, 
 the right to take such a step as commander-in-chief when it should become a mili 
 tary necessity. That period was fast approaching. In August, 1862, Horace 
 Greeley, editor of the New- York Tribune, addressed him a letter in the columns 
 of his paper, urging the necessity of taking the ground of emancipation. Mr. 
 Lincoln replied, on the twenty-second of August, in a brief but characteristic 
 letter, in which he avowed his determination to do all in his power for the salva 
 tion of the Union, proclaiming emancipation or not, as should seem to him most 
 advisable for the attainment of that object. The progress of events, however, 
 soon satisfied him of the necessity of such a movement, and on the twenty-second 
 of September he issued a preliminary proclamation, announcing that on the first 
 of January, 1863, he should declare the emancipation of all slaves in the States, 
 or parts of States, which should then be in insurrection, but that he would except 
 in his proclamation all States which should before that time return to their alle 
 giance. The proclamation thus foreshadowed was issued on the New- Year s day, 
 and soon after arrangements were made for the raising of colored regiments. 
 
 While the Border States and such portions of Tennessee, Louisiana, and West- 
 Virginia as were loyal or under the control of the Union forces were specially ex 
 empted from the operations of this proclamation, it was the earnest desire of 
 
8 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 President Lincoln that these States should adopt some plan of gradual emancipa 
 tion, and this desire was manifested by him repeatedly during the year 1862 and 
 subsequently. On the sixth of March, 1862, he sent a message to Congress, re 
 commending the passage of a joint resolution pledging the cooperation of the 
 United States in the way of pecuniary aid to any State- which should adopt a sys 
 tem of gradual and compensated emancipation. On the twelfth of July he 
 solicited and held an interview with the members of Congress from the Border 
 slave States, in which he urged upon them the importance of the measure, and 
 recommended it in his message of December third, 1862. These recommenda 
 tions have taken and are still taking effect. 
 
 The increasing proportions of the rebellion requiring a larger force in the 
 field, Mr. Lincoln, on the first of July, 1862, in accordance with the advice of the 
 Governors of the loyal States, called for three hundred thousand more volunteers 
 for three years or the war ; and on the third of August called for a draft of three 
 hundred thousand more for nine months. In most of the States this second 
 quota was raised by volunteering, and the draft was resorted to for but a few 
 thousands. The time of service of these troops, however, proved too short, and 
 the arrangements for drafting were defective and unequal. Accordingly, on the 
 twenty-eighth of February, 1863, Congress passed a carefully considered conscrip 
 tion law, and in the spring of that year the President gave notice of a draft for 
 three hundred thousand men to serve for three years. There was considerable 
 opposition to the draft, the provisions of which were not well understood at first, 
 and, in some instances, there were considerable riots, but the President wisely 
 insisted on its enforcement, and, in a letter to Governor Seymour, of New- York, 
 assigned satisfactory reasons for so doing. The draft not bringing in a sufficiency 
 of recruits, he called, on the twentieth of October, 1863, for three hundred thou 
 sand more volunteers. 
 
 In a letter, bearing date June thirteenth, 1863, addressed to a committee of 
 Albany Democrats, who had protested against the arrest of Mr. Yallandigham and 
 demanded his release, President Lincoln clearly and satisfactorily defended the 
 principle of military arrests in time of civil war ; and in another, addressed to the 
 Springfield, Illinois, and Syracuse, New- York, Union Conventions, . he justified, 
 with singular ability, the employment of the negro to aid in putting down the 
 rebellion. 
 
j / 
 
 r/ ( < .< ( / I / 
 
 I 
 
WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
 "YTTINFIELD SCOTT was born near Petersburgh, Virginia, June thirteenth, 
 T T 1786 ; was the youngest son of William Scott, Esq., and was left an 
 orphan at an early age. He was educated at the high-school at Eichmond, whence 
 he went to William and Mary College, and attended law lectures. He was ad 
 mitted to the bar of Virginia in 1806. The next year he went to South-Caro 
 lina with the intention to take up his residence- there ; but before he had ac 
 quired the right to practise in that State, Congress, in view of imminent hos 
 tilities with England, passed a bill to enlarge the army, and young Scott 
 obtained a commission as Captain of light artillery. 
 
 General Wilkinson was then stationed in Louisiana, and Captain Scott was 
 ordered to join the army at that point in 1809. In the next year Wilkinson 
 was superseded, and the young Captain then expressed what was a very general 
 opinion, namely, that his late commander was implicated in Burr s conspiracy. 
 For this he was tried by court-martial, and sentenced to one year s suspension 
 from rank and pay. Probably this suspension was a fortunate event ; for the 
 whole of that year was employed in the diligent study of works on mili 
 tary art. 
 
 War was declared against Great Britain June eighteenth, 1812 ; and in 
 July of the same year Captain Scott was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 
 Second artillery, and was stationed at Black Eock with two companies of his 
 regiment. With this force he covered Van Eensselaer s passage of the Nia 
 gara Eiver on the expedition against Queenstown, October thirteenth. Later 
 in the day, when Van Eensselaer was disabled, the command fell upon Scott, 
 who, after a gallant fight, deserted by the New-York militia, and outnumbered 
 Very greatly by British reinforcements, surrendered his whole command, two 
 hundred and ninety-three in all, prisoners of war. 
 
 While a prisoner, he saw the British officers select from the American 
 soldiers taken with him such as appeared to be Irishmen ; and these men, 
 they declared, were to be sent to England as British subjects, there to be 
 punished for treason. Scott then, in the presence of the British officers, as 
 sured the soldiers that the United States Government would not quietly see 
 them suffer, and would certainly retaliate upon British prisoners the treatment 
 they should receive. Exchanged in January, 1813, he immediately made a 
 
10 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
 report of this matter to the Secretary of War. Laid before Congress, this re 
 port originated the act by which the President of the United States was in 
 vested with " the power of retaliation ;" and from prisoners subsequently taken 
 by himself, Scott chose a number equal to the number sent to England to 
 abide their fate. For this purpose he was careful to choose only Englishmen. 
 
 Immediately after the capture of York, Upper Canada, Scott rejoined the 
 army on the frontier as Adjutant to General Dearborn, with the rank of Colonel. 
 He took part in the expedition against Fort George, landed his men in good 
 order, and scaled a steep height in the presence of the enemy, who was finally 
 driven from his position at the point of the bayonet. Fort George was then 
 no longer tenable, and the British abandoned it, having placed slow matches 
 to all the magazines. Only one of them exploded, and from a piece of timber 
 thrown by it, Colonel Scott received a severe wound in the left shoulder. 
 Disaster and disgrace marked the close of this campaign, and for another it 
 was necessary to form a new army. 
 
 In March, 1814, Colonel Scott was made a Brigadier-General, and imme 
 diately thereafter established a camp of instruction at Buffalo, where his own 
 and Kipley s brigades, with a battalion of artillery, and some regiments of vol 
 unteers, were drilled into thorough and accurate discipline. 
 
 Brigadier-General Scott crossed the Niagara Eiver with his brigade, July 
 third, 1814 ; on the fourth skirmished for sixteen miles with a detachment under 
 the Marquis of Tweedale, and that night encamped upon Street s Creek, two 
 miles from the British camp at Chippewa. Between the two camps lay the 
 plain upon which the battle was fought next day. East of this plain was the 
 Niagara River, west was a heavy wood, and on the northern side from the 
 wood to the Niagara ran the Chippewa River, while Street s Creek ran in a 
 similar direction on the southern side. Behind the Chippewa was the British 
 army under General Riall, well provided with artillery. 
 
 About noon of the fifth, a bright, hot summer s day, there occurred a 
 skirmish of light troops in the wood. Some Indians and British militia were 
 there engaged by General Porter, with volunteers, militia, and friendly In 
 dians, and driven back until they came upon the main body of the British 
 army, which was seen to be in motion, when Porter s irregulars broke and 
 fled. Major-General Brown, in the wood with Porter, thus first learned of the 
 British advance ; and Brigadier-General Scott, also ignorant of it, was leading 
 his brigade into the plain to drill. This was at four P.M. Brown hurried to 
 the rear to bring up Ripley s brigade, and Scott s force passed the bridge over 
 Street s Creek in perfect order under the British fire. The action soon be 
 came general. Major Jessup, with a battalion in the wood, for some time 
 checked the enemy s right wing, whereupon the enemy left one battalion with 
 
WINFIELD -SCOTT. H 
 
 him, formed a new right, and continued to advance. The British line was 
 now drawn nearly square across the plain. Opposed was a battalion under 
 McNeill, which faced his right obliquely, and another under Leavenworth, 
 which opposed his left in the same manner. Scott s line, thus formed, and 
 supported by Towson s artillery on the right, continued to advance, fire, and 
 halt, until it was within eighty paces of the enemy, when McNeill s and 
 Leavenworth s battalions, almost simultaneously, charged with the bayonet. 
 This shock was decisive ; the British army broke and fled, pursued nearly 
 to its intrenchments, in complete rout. The American loss was three hun 
 dred and twenty-seven, the enemy s five hundred and three ; while the Amer- 
 cans engaged numbered only one thousand nine hundred, and the British 
 two thousand one hundred. Three of the enemy s regiments, the Royal 
 Scots, the Queen s Own, and the Hundredth regiment, were esteemed the 
 best troops in the British army. 
 
 Much gloom was cleared from the public mind by this battle ; it atoned 
 for many disasters, and the country was taught, when it needed most to know 
 it, that American soldiers, in proper hands, were equal to those whose skill 
 and discipline had been acquired in the hard-fought fields of the Peninsular 
 war. " Brigadier-General Scott," said General Brown in his official report, " is 
 entitled to the highest praise our country can bestow." 
 
 With Scott s brigade still in the van, the American army passed over the 
 Chippewa two days after the battle, and the British army retreated before it. 
 But to mask a movement against Burlington Heights, a feigned retreat was 
 almost immediately made. Should this fail to draw the enemy out, it was 
 intended to use the twenty-fifth of July as a day of rest, and force an action 
 on the twenty-sixth ; but on the twenty-fifth word came that a portion of the 
 enemy s force had crossed the Niagara, and Scott was sent forward to attack 
 the remainder thus weakened. His force consisted of four small battalions of 
 infantry, Towson s battery, and a detachment of cavalry, one thousand three 
 hundred men in all. About two miles from camp he came upon the enemv 
 drawn up in line of battle on Lundy s Lane. No British troops had crossed 
 the Niagara, and Scott was now in front of the same army he had beaten on 
 the fifth, swelled with a heavy reenforcement which had come up unknown 
 to him only the night before. Eetreat must have a bad effect on the force 
 behind him ; to stand fast was impossible, as he was already under fire ; he 
 therefore advanced, determined to hold the enemy in check, if possible, till 
 the whole American army should come up. The battle began a little before 
 sunset, and continued into the night. Major-General Brown arrived upon the 
 field, and assumed command at nine P.M. Then the enemy s right, in an at 
 tempted flank movement, had been driven back with heavy loss ; his left was 
 
12 WINFIEJLD SCOTT. 
 
 cut off and many prisoners taken; his centre alone remained firm, covered 
 by a battery on a hill, which was finally carried by the bayonet. 
 
 Scott received a severe wound in the side early in the night, and at, 
 eleven o clock was disabled by a musket-ball in the left shoulder, and borne 
 from the field. 
 
 For his gallant conduct in these two battles, Scott was breveted Major- 
 General, received a gold medal from Congress, and was tendered a position in 
 the Cabinet as Secretary of War, which he declined in favor of his senior. 
 While yet feeble from his wounds, he went to Europe by order of the Gov 
 ernment, for the restoration of his health and for professional improvement. 
 He. returned home in 1816, and in March of the following year was married 
 to Miss Maria Mayo, daughter of John Mayo, Esq., of Kichmond, Virginia. 
 
 Ordered to the command of the forces intended to act against the savages 
 in the Black Hawk war, in May, 1832, General Scott reached Prairie du Chien 
 the day after the Battle of Bad Axe, which ended the war, and in time only 
 to assist in the preparation of the treaties thereupon made with the various 
 tribes. From the Western frontier, he arrived in New- York in October, 1832, 
 and was at once ordered to Charleston, S. C. Nullification had there agitated 
 the community since the passage of the revenue act of 1828, and in 1832 a 
 State convention provided for resistance to the objectionable law. President 
 Jackson pronounced the resistance thus proposed incompatible with the ex 
 istence of the Union ; and the Governor of the State called out twelve thou 
 sand volunteers. General Scott s duty at Charleston was to examine the forts 
 in the harbor, and strengthen and reenforce them if he deemed it necessary ; 
 and he was ordered to act subordinately to the United States civil authorities 
 in all that he did, but to prepare for any danger. Every part of this duty 
 was discharged with an admirable forbearance and delicacy, which tended 
 greatly to soothe, and did much to allay the angry excitement ; and South- 
 Carolina, thus firmly met, rescinded her nullification ordinance. 
 
 In January, 1836, Scott was ordered to Florida, and opened a campaign 
 against the Indians there, which, from the nature of the country, the climate, 
 inadequate stores, and the insufficiency of his force, proved entirely fruitless. 
 Greater success crowned his efforts against the Creek Indians in the same year, 
 and all went on well until, in July, he was recalled, that inquiry might be 
 made into his first failure. Upon full deliberation, the court of inquiry pro 
 nounced his Seminole campaign " well devised, and prosecuted with energy, 
 steadiness, and ability." Yet he took no further part in the Florida war, 
 though it employed the Government for six years longer. 
 
 Canada became, in 1837, the scene of great political excitement, and all 
 along the northern frontier the American people sympathized with the patriot 
 
WIN FIELD SCOTT. 13 
 
 party over the line, and their sympathy became active. Navy Island, in the 
 Niagara Eiver and within the British line, was occupied by some hundreds of 
 Americans, who kept up communication with the American side by the small 
 steamer Caroline ; and this steamer, while at the wharf on the American side, 
 was cut loose at night by a British force, fired, and sent over the Falls. Great 
 excitement spread through the whole country with the news. General Scott was 
 ordered to the point January fourth, 1838. Through the remainder of the 
 winter he was occupied in the organization of a regular and volunteer force ; 
 but at the same time he exercised everywhere a great influence for peace, 
 and mainly through his noble exertions in this direction the war-cloud 
 passed by. 
 
 Again he was ordered to the Canada line in the next year. Hostile move 
 ments were then on foot in the Maine boundary dispute. Congress had appro 
 priated ten millions of dollars, and authorized the President to call and accept 
 volunteers. British troops were in motion toward the disputed territory ; the 
 Maine militia was ready to move, and correspondence between the two govern 
 ments had come to an end. Yet Scott, from his first appearance, became a medi 
 ator. He was met in a similar spirit on the other side by Sir John Harvey, of 
 the British army, with whom he had had not dissimilar relations in the campaign 
 of 1814 ; and the correspondence begun between the two veterans brought about 
 a peaceful solution of the whole difficulty. 
 
 In June, 1841, upon the death of Major-General Macomb, General Scott be 
 came Commander-in-Chief of the entire army of the United States. 
 
 War with Mexico having resulted upon the annexation of Texas, General 
 Scott was ordered to that country in November, 1846, and reached the Eio Grande 
 in January, 1847. The battles of Palo Alto and Eesaca de la Palma, had then 
 been fought, and the town of Monterey taken. 
 
 General Santa Anna was at San Luis Potosi, with twenty thousand men. 
 Taylor was at Monterey with eighteen thousand, and Scott had with him only a 
 small portion of the force with which it had been arranged that he should act 
 against Yera Cruz. Government, busied only with the attempt to supersede him 
 by the appointment of a civilian to the post of Lieutenant-General, virtually aban 
 doned Scott to his fate. Santa Anna knew that Yera Cruz was to be attempted, 
 and how he would act was doubtful. Scott, in this juncture, drew from Taylor s 
 force enough regular infantry to swell his own force to twelve thousand. With 
 this number he moved forward and invested Yera Cruz March twelfth ; on the 
 twenty-second the bombardment was begun. Arrangements were made to cany 
 the city by storm on the twenty-sixth, but on that day overtures of surrender 
 were made by the Governor, and were completed on the twenty-seventh. Ten 
 days later the army, eight thousand strong, took the road to the City of Mexico, 
 
14 WIN FIELD SCOTT. 
 
 defeated the Mexican army, fifteen thousand strong, under General Santa Anna, 
 at Cerro Gordo, April eighteenth, entered Jalapa the day after, occupied the strong 
 castle and town of La Perote, April twenty-second, and the city of Puebla, May 
 fifteenth. Only thirty -four days had elapsed from the investment of Vera Cruz, 
 and there were already taken ten thousand prisoners of war, ten thousand stand 
 of arms, seven hundred cannon, and thirty thousand shells and shot. 
 
 When he reached Puebla, Scott had left, capable of the march on the City of 
 Mexico, but four thousand five hundred men ; but at Puebla he was detained by 
 negotiations for peace, which proved futile. Meantime reinforcements arrived, 
 and the army, increased by these to the number of ten thousand, again moved for 
 ward August seventh. 
 
 Every practicable road to the city of Mexico, within the valley in which that 
 city lay, was now held by parts of the Mexican army, and fortified with great 
 skill. Contreras, San Antonio, and Churubusco, with ten batteries in all, must 
 of necessity be carried, as they could not be turned, nor with safety left behind. 
 General Valencia held Contreras with seven thousand troops, and twenty-two 
 pieces of artillery, and Santa Anna had twelve thousand men in the woods behind 
 it. After an indecisive action of three hours, August nineteenth, the United 
 States troops stood to their arms all night in roads flooded by heavy rain that fell 
 incessantly, and at daylight on the twentieth carried the place by storm. So 
 rapidly was the latter attack made, that the division ordered to mask it by a 
 diversion had not time to arrive ; and the actual fight lasted only seventeen 
 minutes. 
 
 By the capture of Contreras, Churubusco was taken in flank, and San Antonio 
 in the rear. The troops were immediately moved forward to attack the latter 
 place, when the enemy evacuated it. Churubusco only remained ; its defences 
 were a tete-de-pont on the main causeway, and a convent strongly fortified. After 
 a fierce struggle, both these defences were taken, the tete-de-pont at the point of 
 the bayonet. Upon this day the Mexican loss alone exceeded, by three thousand, 
 the whole American army. 
 
 To the military possession of the City of Mexico, it was yet necessary that the 
 castle of Chapultepec should fall. Molino del Eey and Casa de Mata, dependen 
 cies of Chapultepec, were carried by assault September eighth ; heavy siege-guns 
 were placed in battery September twelfth, and by the thirteenth had made a prac 
 ticable breach in the walls of the Military College, which was stormed the same 
 day. From Chapultepec, Mexico City is within range, yet it still resisted, and two 
 divisions of the army skirmished all day at the city gates ; but the same night 
 Santa Anna marched out with the small remnant of his army, and the City of 
 Mexico lay at the mercy of Major-General Winfield Scott. 
 
 About daylight of the fourteenth, the city council waited upon the General 
 
WINFIELD SCOTT. 15 
 
 to demand terms of capitulation for the church, the citizens, and the municipal 
 authorities ; to this the General replied, that the city was already in his posses 
 sion, and that the army should be subject to no terms not self-imposed, or such as 
 were not demanded by its own honor, and the dignity of the United States. 
 
 Winfield Scott, with his small and heroic army, had accomplished the object 
 of the war ; peace was concluded February second, 1848, and very shortly after, he 
 received from Washington the order, dated previously to the conclusion of peace, 
 by which he was suspended from command, and a court of inquiry was ordered 
 upon charges preferred against him by brevet Major-General Worth. This court 
 consisted of brevet Brigadier-General N. Towson, Paymaster-General, Brigadier- 
 General Caleb Gushing, and Colonel E. G. W. Butler ; thus a paymaster-general, a 
 brigadier of volunteers, and a colonel of dragoons, were ordered to examine the 
 conduct of the veteran commander upon the charge of a subordinate. 
 
 General Worth s charges were, that Scott " had refused to say whether he 
 was the person referred to in a certain army order, and refused to forward charges 
 against him to the War Department." Secretary Marcy virtually admitted that 
 the conduct of the Government needed defence in this matter, by making an argu 
 ment in its support. But the whole country was astonished, and the people did 
 not sympathize with the cold indifference of formality. Scott relinquished the 
 command, and appeared before the court, which sat, first in Mexico, and subse 
 quently in Washington ; but meantime the war terminated, the transactions of the 
 Court were allowed to fall out of view, no decision was ever given, and General 
 Winfield Scott resumed his position at Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the 
 army. 
 
 In June, 1852, Winfield Scott was nominated a candidate for the office of 
 President of -the United States, by the Whig National Convention, at Baltimore. 
 By a great portion of the people, this nomination was received with sincere joy ; 
 but it was reserved for the hero to receive his first great defeat at the hands of 
 his countrymen. 
 
 Government, in 1859, with the desire to confer some additional mark of 
 honor, bestowed upon the gallant veteran the brevet rank of Lieutenant-General ; 
 and to make it the more clearly a personal distinction, and not a mere addition to 
 army grades, the brevet was purposely so framed that it should not survive him. 
 
 When the Southern rebellion began in 1860, General Scott adhered earnestly 
 and uncompromisingly to the Constitution and Government of the United States, 
 with whose history his life was identified, and for whose honor he had ever so 
 consistently labored. With what pain he saw those dear to him for many years 
 fall away from their allegiance, may be conceived ; but he, a son too of that Virginia 
 that has given so many soldiers to the country, felt that he was not so much a 
 Southerner as a citizen of the United States. From the commencement he saw 
 
16 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
 that the true course was to meet the trouble firmly, and his suggestions, made 
 while James Buchanan was still President, were such as, if followed, would have 
 crushed rebellion in its very birth. But they were all unheeded. Twenty-eight 
 years before, and in the same city of Charleston, Winfield Scott had been present 
 at the rehearsal of this drama of secession yet all the experience then gained, 
 was not only not permitted to be of service to the country, but the old soldier was 
 even compelled to abandon to its fate, a brave garrison in an insufficiently pro 
 vided fort. Despite, however, the inactivity forced upon him by weakness or 
 crime, General Scott secured to the Government the possession of Washington 
 City, which it was openly asserted could not be saved, and also secured the safe 
 inauguration of President Lincoln. 
 
 General Scott s experience, and great knowledge of the American people, 
 were of infinite value in the organization of the army destined to act against the 
 rebels. To an early movement of that army he gave a reluctant consent, and dis 
 aster followed the departure from his advice. Many differed with him, honestly 
 no doubt, as to the method most likely to crush the rebellion ; yet every American 
 must bitterly regret that neither his honorable and great services, nor his age, 
 could, upon that point, preserve the veteran from the gross vituperation of an 
 intemperate and ribald press. 
 
 Finally, feeling himself no longer equal to the proper discharge of the import 
 ant duties of his position ; and that the best service he could render his country 
 would be to make room for a younger man, Lieutenant-General Scott retired from 
 the army, November first, 1861. No act of history is marked by more of simple 
 dignity and truth, than this withdrawal of the man who felt that in the decay of 
 age his faculties were no longer equal to the requirements of his country. Upon 
 his conclusion to retire, General Scott wrote thus to the Secretary of War : 
 
 " HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, 
 
 WASHINGTON, October 31st, 1861. 
 
 " To THE HON. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War : 
 
 " SIR : For more than three years I have been unable from a hurt to mount 
 a horse, or to walk more than a few paces at a time, and that with much pain. 
 Other and new infirmities, dropsy and vertigo, admonish me that repose of mind 
 and body, with the appliances of surgery and medicine, are necessary to add a 
 little more to a life already protracted much beyond the usual span of man. It 
 is under such circumstances, made doubly painful by the unnatural and unjust 
 rebellion now raging in the Southern States, of our so lately prosperous and happy 
 Union, that I am compelled to request that my name shall be placed on the list 
 of army officers retired from active service. As this request is founded on an 
 absolute right, granted by a recent act of Congress, I am entirely at liberty to say 
 
WINFIELD SCOTT. 17 
 
 it is with deep regret that I withdraw myself in these momentous times, from the 
 orders of a President who has treated me with much distinguished kindness and 
 courtesy, whom I know, upon much personal intercourse, to be patriotic without 
 sectional partialities or prejudices ; to be highly conscientious in the performance 
 of every duty, and of unrivalled activity and perseverance ; and to you, Mr. 
 Secretary, whom I now officially address for the last time, I beg to acknowledge 
 my many obligations for the uniform high consideration I have received at your 
 hands, and have the honor to remain, sir, with high respect, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " WINFIELD SCOTT." 
 
 In response the Secretary of War wrote as follows : 
 
 " WAR DEPARTMENT, 
 
 WASHINGTON, November 1st. 
 
 " GENERAL : It was my duty to lay before the President your letter of yes 
 terday, asking to be relieved, under the recent act of Congress. In separating 
 from you, I cannot refrain from expressing my deep regret that your health, shat 
 tered by long service and repeated wounds, received in your country s defence, 
 should render it necessary for you to retire from your high position at this mo 
 mentous period of our history. Although you are not to remain in active service, 
 I yet hope that while I continue in charge of the department over which I now 
 preside, I shall at times be permitted to avail myself of the benefits of your wise 
 counsels and sage experience. It has been my good fortune to enjoy a personal 
 acquaintance with you for over thirty years, and the pleasant relations of that 
 long time have been greatly strengthened by your cordial and entire cooperation 
 in all the great questions which have occupied the department and convulsed the 
 country for the last six months. In parting from you, I can only express the 
 hope that a merciful Providence, that has protected you amidst so many trials, 
 will improve your health, and continue your life long after the people of the 
 country shall have been restored to their former happiness and prosperity. 
 " I am, General, very sincerely, your friend and servant, 
 
 SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. 
 "Lieut. -General WINFIELD SCOTT, Present." 
 
 General Scott s request, it was decided in a special Cabinet council, held 
 November first, could not be declined in view of his age and infirmities ; and in 
 the afternoon of the same day, the President, attended by all the members of the 
 Cabinet, waited upon General Scott, at his residence, and there read to him the 
 following order : 
 
18 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
 " On the first day of November, A.D. 1861, upon his own application to the 
 President of the United States, brevet Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott is or 
 dered to be placed, and hereby is placed upon the list of retired officers of the 
 army of the United States, without reduction in his current pay, subsistence, or 
 allowance. 
 
 " The American people will hear with sadness and deep emotion that General 
 Scott has withdrawn from the active control of the army ; while the President 
 and unanimous Cabinet express their own and the nation s sympathy in his per 
 sonal affliction, and their profound sense of important public services rendered by 
 him to his country during his long and brilliant career, among which will be 
 gratefully distinguished his faithful devotion to the Constitution, the Union, and 
 the flag, when assailed by parricidal rebellion. 
 
 "ABRAHAM LINCOLN/ 
 
 General Scott thereupon rose, and thus addressed the President and Cabinet, 
 who had also risen : 
 
 " President, this honor overwhelms me. It overpays all services I have at 
 tempted to render to my country. If I had any claims before, they are all oblit 
 erated by the expression of approval by the President, with the remaining sup 
 port of his Cabinet. I know the President and this Cabinet well. I know that 
 the country has placed its interests in this trying crisis in safe keeping. Their 
 counsels are wise, their labors are as untiring as they are loyal, and their course is 
 the right one. 
 
 " President, you must excuse me. I am not able to stand longer to give 
 utterance to the feelings of gratitude which oppress me. In my retirement I shall 
 offer up my prayers to God for this Administration and for my country. I shall 
 pray for it with confidence in its success over all enemies, and that speedily." 
 
 The President and the members of the Cabinet then severally took leave of 
 the General. 
 
 Upon the same day Major-General George B. McClellan was appointed Gen 
 eral Scott s successor in command of the army, and issued the following General 
 Order : 
 
 "HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, 
 
 WASHINGTON, November 1st, 1861, 
 GENERAL ORDERS No. 19. 
 
 " In accordance with General Order No. 94, from the War Department, I 
 hereby assume command of the armies of the United States. 
 
 " In the midst of the difficulties which encompass and divide the nation, hesi- 
 
WIN FIELD SCOTT. 19 
 
 tation and self-distrust may well accompany the assumption of so vast a respon 
 sibility; but, confiding as I do in the loyalty, discipline, and courage of our 
 troops, and believing as I do that Providence will favor ours as the just cause, I 
 cannot doubt that success will crown our efforts and sacrifices. The army will 
 unite with me in the feeling of regret that the weight of many years and the effect 
 of increasing infirmities, contracted and intensified in his country s service, should 
 just now remove from our head the great soldier of our nation, the hero, who, in 
 his youth, raised high the reputation of his country in the fields of Canada, which 
 he sanctified with his blood ; who, in more mature years, proved to the world that 
 American skill and valor could repeat, if not eclipse, the exploits of Cortez in the 
 land of the Montezumas ; whose whole life has been devoted to the service of his 
 country, whose whole efforts have been directed to uphold our honor at the small 
 est sacrifice of life ; a warrior who scorned the selfish glories of the battle-field when 
 his great qualities as a statesman could be employed more profitably for his coun 
 try ; a citizen who, in his declining years, has given to the world the most shining 
 instance of loyalty, in disregarding all ties of birth, and clinging still to the cause 
 of truth and honor. Such has been the career and character of Winfield Scott, 
 whom it has long been the delight of the nation to honor, both as a man and as a 
 soldier. While we regret his loss, there is one thing we cannot regret the bright 
 example he has left for our emulation. Let us all hope and pray that his declin 
 ing years may be passed in peace and happiness, and that they may be cheered by 
 the success of the country and the cause he has fought for and loved so well. 
 Beyond all that, let us do nothing that can cause him to blush for us. Let no 
 defeat of the army he has so long commanded embitter his last years ; but let our 
 victories illuminate the close of a life so grand. 
 
 " GEOEGE B. MCCLELLAIST, 
 
 "Major-General Commanding U. S. A." 
 
 Eight days later General Scott sailed from New- York for Europe, there to 
 join his family and seek repose from the labor and excitement that, added to his 
 years, had so nearly borne him down. 
 
 President Lincoln, in his message of December third, 1861, to Congress, thus 
 refers to the retirement of General Scott : 
 
 " Since your last adjournment, Lieutenant-General Scott has retired from the 
 head of the army. During his long life the nation has not been unmindful of his 
 merit. Yet, on calling to mind how faithfully, ably, and brilliantly he has served 
 the country from a time far back in our history, when few of the now living had 
 been born, and thenceforward continually, I cannot but think that we are still 
 his debtor. 
 
20 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
 " I submit, therefore, for your consideration, what further mark of recogni 
 tion is due to him and ourselves as a grateful people." 
 
 These words, a noble tribute in themselves, have hitherto called out no 
 response from Congress ; and it remains to be seen what action will be taken to 
 express the full sense of the nation s gratitude toward the great man who has, for 
 so long a period, so faithfully and faultlessly served it. 
 
CKX o VI MITCHELL. 
 
OEMSBT MAOKNIG1IT MITOHEL. 
 
 A MONGr the noble and gallant graduates of West-Point who, at the call of their 
 -L. A- country, abandoned eminent secular positions to devote their lives to her serv 
 ice, there has been none more widely or deservedly known and honored than Orms- 
 by Macknight Mitchel. An accomplished mathematician, thoroughly versed in 
 theoretical and practical astronomy, possessing great powers of oratory, and a 
 remarkable inventive genius, which he had made of great service to the science 
 of which he was passionately fond, and having an energetic temperament, a 
 vigorous, sinewy constitution, and extraordinary executive abilities, he was one 
 of those men who could not fail to make their mark. To his other valuable 
 qualities were added an intense patriotism, a devout and reverent spirit, and the 
 urbanity and polish of manners of the Christian gentleman. 
 
 He was born in Union County, Kentucky, August twenty-eighth, 1810. His 
 parents were Virginians, but had emigrated to Kentucky some years before his 
 birth. Though residing in a fertile section of the State, his parents do not seem 
 to have prospered pecuniarily, though they were solicitous for the education of 
 their children. Young Mitchel early manifested a taste for study ; at twelve 
 years of age he had acquired a good elementary English education, had made 
 considerable progress in mathematics, and had mastered the rudiments of Latin 
 and Greek. 
 
 At this time, in consequence, we believe, of the death of one or both parents, 
 he was thrown upon his own resources. His early school education had been 
 obtained at Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, and he obtained a situation as clerk 
 in a store at Miami, Ohio, with wages at four dollars a month and his board. 
 Not long afterward he was offered a similar but more lucrative situation at 
 Lebanon, and diligently improving his leisure moments in study, he was well 
 fitted to enter the Military Academy at West-Point, where he received an appoint 
 ment as a cadet in June, 1825. His little earnings were expended in his outfit 
 and the expense of meals and lodgings on his journey to West-Point, and having 
 performed the journey, a wearisome one at that day, on foot, he entered the 
 Academy with his knapsack on his back and twenty-five cents in his pocket. 
 The zeal for obtaining an education which led to such sacrifices, and the endur 
 ance of such hardships, was not likely to flag even under the severe discipline of 
 the Military Academy, and we find accordingly that he early took and maintained 
 
22 ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 
 
 throughout his course a very high rank as a scholar. The class was one which 
 contained several brilliant men, among them the present rebel Generals Robert 
 E. Lee and Joseph B. Johnston, but neither ranked so high as the energetic 
 young Ohio backwoodsman. 
 
 He graduated in 1829, and was at once made Acting Assistant Professor of 
 Mathematics, though but nineteen years of age. After holding this post for two 
 years, he was detailed to garrison duty ; but, in 1832, tired of inactivity, and hav 
 ing studied law during his leisure time, he resigned, and was admitted to the 
 Ohio bar at Cincinnati. In 1834, he was elected Professor of Mathematics, Philo 
 sophy, and Astronomy in Cincinnati College, and filled the chair with great ability 
 for ten years. His reputation as a mathematician and an eloquent public speaker 
 far transcended the limits of the college halls, and he was hardly more than thirty 
 years of age when the citizens of Cincinnati were accustomed to boast of him as 
 "their great mathematician and the smartest man out West." In 1836 and 1837, 
 while still performing his duties as professor, he was chosen Chief Engineer on the 
 Little Miami Railroad, and the skilful manner in which he laid out that railroad, 
 the first which connected the Ohio and the lakes, and the substantial style in 
 which he caused it to be built, added materially to the already high estimate of 
 his abilities. He was an attendant, during a portion of his professorship, on the 
 ministrations of the Rev. Lyman Beecher, D.D., in many respects one of the 
 most remarkable men who has filled an American pulpit, and a man whose char 
 acter and powers Mitchel could fully appreciate, and with whom he was in most 
 hearty and cordial sympathy. To the vigorous, burning utterances of the " old 
 man eloquent " he was always an attentive and fascinated listener, and there grew 
 up a lifelong friendship between the two. 
 
 In the spring of 1842 he commenced a course of lectures on astronomy to a 
 popular audience, the first attempt of the kind which had been made in the 
 West, if not the first in the United States. The course, which occupied two or 
 three evenings each week, lasted two months, and a hall capable of seating nearly 
 two thousand people was crowded every evening during its delivery. It was, we 
 believe, at the close of these lectures that he first broached the idea of an Ob 
 servatory at Cincinnati. The idea was certainly a bold one, for there was not a 
 first-class observatory at that time in the United States. Indeed, there were but 
 five of any kind then in existence in the country, and a sixth in process of erec 
 tion. Of these, the Williams College and Yale College Observatories were small 
 and but poorly furnished with instruments, and neither had been in existence a 
 dozen years ; there was also a small observatory at Western Reserve College, 
 Hudson, Ohio, and a better one at Philadelphia, both erected in 1838, and in 
 1840 an observatory had been erected for the first time at West-Point. The Gov- 
 ernnment were at this very time establishing one at Washington. 
 
ORMSBY MACK NIGHT MITCH EL. 23 
 
 Professor Mitchel s plan was to divide the sum necessary for the building and 
 furnishing the Observatory with proper instruments into shares of twenty-five 
 dollars each, and when three hundred were taken up the stockholders were to 
 elect their directors or trustees. He was at this time engaged in teaching six 
 hours a day, but he entered upon his work of procuring subscriptions to the stock 
 with such activity and zeal that in less than a month the whole amount was sub 
 scribed, and Nicholas Longworth, the Cincinnati millionaire, had donated a site 
 for it. One of the first resolutions of the directors, after their election, was to 
 send Professor Mitchel to Europe to purchase the apparatus for the Observatory. 
 He complied with the wishes of the directors, but he would not trench upon his 
 duties to the college. He accordingly left Cincinnati at the close of the spring 
 term, and was absent from the city just one hundred days, during which time he 
 visited Washington to obtain his papers and letters of introduction to eminent 
 astronomers abroad, hastened thence to New-York, from which city he sailed for 
 Havre, and after a rapid exploration of Paris, which satisfied him that there was 
 no refracting telescope there such as he wanted, started for Munich, refusing to 
 delay on the route to see the Lake of Geneva or any other of the points usually 
 visited by travellers, but making all speed to his destination. At Munich he 
 found the lens of the great refractor, which is now mounted equatorially in the 
 Cincinnati Observatory, in the manufactory of the celebrated opticians Merz and 
 Mohler, but the price was ten thousand dollars, three thousand more than his 
 directors had empowered him to expend ; taking the responsibility, however, he 
 made the contract for it, and directed the time, place, and circumstances of its 
 shipment. This done, he hurried on to London, to gain access, for a few weeks, 
 to the Greenwich Observatory as a student. He found Professor Airy, the As 
 tronomer Eoyal, to whom he had strong letters of introduction, most freezingly 
 polite, and evidently determined to grant him no privileges or courtesies beyond 
 those of the most formal character. He was not even invited into the Observa 
 tory. . But the young professor was not to be so easily repulsed. He knew that 
 it was desirable that he should enjoy the opportunity of seeing the methods of 
 observation adopted in the Greenwich Observatory, and he determined he would 
 do it. He accordingly, after some general conversation, in which the English 
 astronomer had been curt even to rudeness, asked Professor Airy s opinion as to 
 the best mode of mounting a telescope. " Go to Cambridge, and you will see my 
 opinion practically embodied in that observatory," was the ungracious reply. 
 After a little further conversation, but without signifying his intention of com 
 plying with the advice thus tendered, Professor Mitchel withdrew. It was late in 
 the afternoon, and the train for Cambridge would start in a few minutes. Calling 
 a hackman, he ordered him to drive him to the station, secured his ticket and was 
 of It was a remarkably fine night, and he well knew that before he could reach 
 
24 ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 
 
 tlie Observatory the directors would be locked in. He made his way directly to 
 the residence of the Professor of Astronomy and asked to see his lady. She 
 proved to be a lady in the best sense of the word, and in ten minutes Professor 
 Mitchel, whose powers of conversation were unequalled, had so interested her in 
 his object that she went to the Observatory and called her husband to come and 
 see him, and asked him to take him into the Observatory, which he readily con 
 sented to do. The whole night was spent in the Observatory, the Yankee pro 
 fessor recording and copying observations in quantities that astonished the Eng 
 lish astronomer. At daylight he was back to the station; and by the time 
 Professor Airy had swallowed his breakfast, Mitchel was at his residence in 
 Greenwich, ready for another interview. The Astronomer Eoyal, supposing that 
 his advice about going to Cambridge had not been taken, was colder than ever, 
 and when Mitchel told him he had been there, he uttered an exclamation which 
 was nearly equivalent to accusing him of falsehood. Mitchel replied by describ 
 ing the Observatory, the telescope and professor there, even to the minutest par 
 ticulars, and then exhibiting his copious records of the night s observations. The 
 Astronomer Eoyal was by this time thoroughly thawed. " This beats any thing 
 I ever heard of," he exclaimed ; then added, as if to make amends for his previous 
 coldness : " You must dine with me to-day." At the dinner-table he was seated 
 by Mrs. Airy, and she was so much pleased with her guest that before the dinner 
 was over she said to her husband : " I have a favor to ask of you that you will 
 take Professor Mitchel into the Observatory, and let him have every facility to 
 perfect himself while he remains." " It is granted on one condition," replied the 
 astronomer good humoredly, " and that is, that while he is in the Observatory he 
 shall keep that tongue of his still." 
 
 The privilege, thus granted, was used up to the last available moment, and 
 when the time came for the sailing of the steamer, the compilation and. extension 
 of the notes he had made sufficed to occupy the voyage. At the commencement 
 of the next term in the college he was at his post, as ready for his duties as if he 
 had but visited one of the lakes or the fails of the Upper Mississippi. On the 
 fourth of July, 1843, the corner-stone of the new Observatory was laid, the vener 
 able John Quincy Adams pronouncing the oration on the occasion. It was not, 
 however, till the autumn of 1844 that its fine telescope was mounted and observa 
 tions commenced. A considerable debt still rested upon it, and an endowment 
 fund was needed for the support of the director. To extinguish this debt and 
 procure the means of endowment, Professor Mitchel, who had resigned his pro 
 fessorship in 1844 to enter upon his duties as director of the Observatory, resolved 
 to deliver courses of lectures on astronomy in the large cities, of the country, the 
 avails of which should be applied to these purposes. His fame as a lecturer had 
 preceded him, and he was everywhere welcomed by very large audiences, all of 
 
ORMSBY MACK NIGHT MITCHEL. 25 
 
 whom were delighted with the clearness and felicity of his explanations of astro 
 nomical phenomena, and the wondrous charm he threw over his subject. At the 
 delivery of these lectures in New-York, an incident occurred within the writer s 
 observation which indicated in the strongest possible manner the charm of his 
 eloquence. He was delivering his course in the old Broadway Tabernacle, and 
 that vast building was packed with an intelligent and deeply interested audience ; 
 it was, we believe, his fourth or fifth lecture, and the reporter of the Herald, which 
 had given verbatim reports of the entire course, was busily at work. The subject 
 of the lecture was the vast extent of the universe ; he had stated, with a vivid 
 ness of description which has never been surpassed, Msedler s theory of a central 
 sun in y Hercules, and had raised his audience to the loftiest pitch of awe and 
 reverence by the suggestion that this central point around which the island uni 
 verses revolved, too remote for mortal eye, even assisted by the most powerful 
 telescope, to discern, might be the special dwelling-place of Jehovah, who had 
 said, " Clouds and darkness are the habitation of my throne," and closed his lec 
 ture by repeating, as he only could do it, the grand, sublime dream of Jean Paul 
 Eichter, as rendered by De Quincey, commencing : " And God called a man in 
 dreams, and said, Come, I will show thee the glories of my House." Up to this 
 moment the busy fingers of the reporter had transferred to paper the glowing 
 words of the speaker, and for the first sentence or two he strove against the sense 
 of grandeur and sublimity which was overpowering ; but at length, dashing down 
 his pencil, he listened, entirely forgetful of his duty in the delight and awe with 
 which he was overwhelmed, and the next morning frankly confessed that his 
 emotion had been too great to permit him to report the concluding portion of the 
 lecture. 
 
 The lectures were entirely successful, and in connection with some donations 
 and legacies, produced a sufficient endowment fund to render the position of direc 
 tor a comfortable one. The next few years were devoted with great assiduity and 
 success to the prosecution of his astronomical discoveries. His mechanical genius 
 here found scope in the invention of instruments for the admeasurement of the 
 parallax of remote stars ; a magnetic clock which should, when connected with the 
 telegraphic wires, give the mean time of the different observatories ; an apparatus 
 for recording right ascensions and declinations by electro -magnetic aid to within 
 one one thousandth of a second of time, and for the measurement with great accu 
 racy of large differences of declination, such as the ordinary method by microme 
 ter could not at all reach. He discovered the planet Keptune, from the calcula 
 tions of Leverrier, before it had been discovered by any other astronomer in this 
 country, and within one or two days after its discovery by Adams in England. 
 He also discovered the exact period of the rotation of Mars, and the companion 
 of Antares or Cor scorpii. He devoted much time, at the request of the German 
 
26 ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 
 
 astronomer "W. Struve, to the re-measurement of the double stars south of the 
 equator, discovered and catalogued by that eminent astronomer, and in the prog 
 ress of this re-measurement made several interesting discoveries. In July, 1846, 
 he commenced the publication of the Sidereal Messenger, the first periodical 
 attempted in the United States, devoted exclusively to astronomy. It was con 
 tinued two years, but finally abandoned for want of patronage. 
 
 But he was too active and energetic to be satisfied with labors which would 
 have overtasked a man of ordinary physical powers. During this period he was 
 for much of the time Engineer in Chief of the Ohio and Mississippi Eailroad, pro 
 cured the greater part of the subscriptions to its stock, and went to Europe and 
 negotiated its bonds. He was also for ten years in command of a volunteer corps 
 in Cincinnati, and at one time Adjutant-General of Ohio. His severer labors 
 were diversified by an occasional lecturing tour and the preparation of a volume 
 of his lectures, a popular algebra, and some other books for the press. In 1859 
 he was offered the directorship of the Dudley Observatory, at Albany, which he 
 accepted, retaining at the same time that of the Observatory at Cincinnati. In the 
 succeeding winter he delivered, in New- York and Brooklyn, a new course of lec 
 tures, on the Astronomy of the Bible," which were subsequently published in a 
 volume. He also prepared a popular text-book on astronomy, for the use of 
 colleges and high schools. His directorship at Albany was fruitful in astronomi 
 cal discoveries. 
 
 Thus useful and honored, contributing to the promotion of an important 
 science, and aiding in the dissemination of knowledge, he might easily have 
 claimed that his services were not needed in the war which all men saw to be now 
 approaching. But he had no disposition to reason thus. When the President 
 issued his call for volunteers, on the fifteenth of April, 1861, no one of the na 
 tion s sons, educated in her military school, sprang forward with a heartier alacrity 
 to draw the sword in her defence. 
 
 At that vast concourse of citizens which met at Union Park, New- York, on 
 the twentieth of April, 1861, among the many eloquent appeals to the people 
 to rise in defence of the nation s insulted honor none were more impressive or 
 produced a more powerful effect on the audience than that which burst from the 
 lips of 0. M. Mitchel. The substance of that address, as taken down by the re 
 porters at the time, has been preserved. It was as follows : "I am infinitely 
 indebted to you for this evidence of your kindness. I know I am a stranger 
 among you. I have been in your State but a little while ; but I am with you 
 heart and soul, and mind and strength, and all that I have and am belongs to 
 you and to our common country, and to nothing else. I have been announced to 
 you as a citizen of Kentucky. Once I was, because I was born there. I love my 
 native State as you love your native State. I love my adopted State of Ohio as 
 
ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 27 
 
 you love your adopted State, if such you have ; but, my friends, I am not now a 
 citizen of any State. I owe allegiance to no State, and never did, and, God help 
 ing me, I never will. I owe allegiance to the Government of the United States. 
 A poor boy, working with my own hands, at the age of twelve turned out to take 
 care of myself as best I could, and beginning by earning but four dollars per 
 month, I worked my way onward until this glorious Government gave me a 
 chance at the Military Academy at West-Point. There I landed with a knapsack 
 on my back, and, I tell you God s truth, just a quarter of a dollar in my pocket. 
 There I swore allegiance to the Government of the United States. I did not ab 
 jure the love of my own State, nor of my adopted State, but all over that rose 
 proudly, triumphantly, and predominant my love for our common country. And 
 now, to-day, that common country is assailed, and, alas ! alas ! that I am com 
 pelled to say it, assailed in some sense by my own countrymen. My father and 
 my mother were from Old Virginia, and my brothers and sisters from Old Ken 
 tucky. I love them all ; I love them dearly. I have my brothers and friends in 
 the South now, united to me by the fondest ties of love and affection. I would 
 take them in my arms to-day, with all the love that God has put into this heart ; 
 but if I found them in arms, I would be compelled to smite them down. You 
 have found officers of the army who have been educated by the Government, who 
 have drawn their support from the Government for long years, who, when called 
 upon by their country to stand for the Constitution and the right, have basely, 
 ignominiously, and traitorously either resigned their commissions or deserted to 
 traitors, rebels, and enemies. What means all this ? How can it be possible that 
 men should act in this way ? There is no question but one. If we ever had a 
 government and constitution, or if we ever lived under such, have we ever recog 
 nized the supremacy of right ? I say, in God s name, why not recognize it now ? 
 Why not to-day ? why not forever ? Suppose these friends of ours from Old Ire 
 land, suppose he who has made himself one of us, when a war should break out 
 against his own country, should say, I cannot fight against my own country 
 men, is he a citizen of the United States ? They are no countrymen longer when 
 war breaks out. The rebels and the traitors in the South we must set aside ; 
 they are not our friends. When they come to their senses we will receive them 
 with open arms ; but till that time, while they are trailing our glorious banner in 
 the dust, when they scorn it, condemn it, curse it, and trample it under foot, then 
 I must smite. In God s name I will smite, and as long as I have strength I will 
 do it. Oh ! listen to me, listen to me ; I know these men, I know their courage, 
 I have been among them, I have been with them, I have been reared with them. 
 They have courage, and do not you pretend to think they have not. I tell you 
 what it is, it is no child s play you are entering upon. They will fight, and with 
 a determination and a power which is well-nigh irresistible. Make up your mind 
 
28 ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 
 
 to it. Let eveiy man put his life in his hand and say : There is the altar of my 
 country ; there I will sacrifice my life. I, for one, will lay my life down. It is 
 not mine any longer. Lead me to the conflict. Place me where I can do my 
 duty. There I am ready to go. I care not where it leads me. My friends, that 
 was the spirit that was in this city on yesterday. I am told of an incident that 
 occurred, which drew the tears to my eyes, and I am not much used to the melt 
 ing mood at all. And yet I am told of a man in your city who had a beloved 
 wife and two children depending upon his personal labor, day by day, for their 
 support. lie went home, and said : Wife, I feel it my duty to enlist and fight 
 for my country. That is just what I have been thinking of, too, said she ; 
 God bless you ; may you come back without harm, but if you die in defence of 
 the country, the God of the widow and the fatherless will take care of me and my 
 children. That same wife came to your city ; she knew precisely where her hus 
 band was to pass as he marched away. She took her position on the pavement, 
 and finding a flag, she begged leave just to stand beneath those sacred folds and 
 take a last fond look on him she, by possibility, might never see again. The hus 
 band marched down the street, their eyes met ; a s} T mpathetic flash went from 
 heart to heart. She gave one shout, and fell senseless upon the pavement ; and 
 there she lay for not less than thirty minutes in a swoon. It seemed to be the 
 departing of her life ; but all the sensibility was sealed up, it was all sacrifice. 
 She was ready to meet this tremendous sacrifice upon which we have entered, and 
 I trust you are all ready. I am ready. God help me to do my duty. I am 
 ready to fight in the ranks or out of the ranks. Having been educated in the 
 Academy ; having been in the army for seven years ; having served as commander 
 of a volunteer company for ten years ; and having served as an Adjutant-General, 
 I feel I am ready for something. I only ask to be permitted to act, and in God s 
 name give me something to do." 
 
 Professor Mitchel s actions were as patriotic as his words. He tendered, at 
 the earliest possible moment, his services to the Government in any capacity in 
 which they saw fit to employ him. At first, however, there was no position which 
 the Government regarded as such as was suited to him, whose worth and abilities 
 they well knew, which was not already filled by some one who, if less capable, 
 could not well be displaced. There were also other obstacles to his immediately 
 entering upon the service. The affairs of the two observatories must be so ar 
 ranged that they could without detriment be left to others ; his business affairs, 
 in which his sons had become interested, must also be placed on a different foot 
 ing ; and last, though by no means least, the companion of his life, who for many 
 years had been an invalid, but had for some months manifestly improved in 
 health, was again smitten down, and this time with mortal sickness, in August, 
 1861, just as all other obstacles were removed and he had accepted the command, 
 
ORMSBY MACK NIGHT MITCHEL. 29 
 
 as Brigadier-General, tendered him by the Government. Her illness was brief, 
 and laying her, who had been the partner of his joys and sorrows for more than 
 a quarter of a century, to rest in the quiet shades of Greenwood, the hero and 
 philosopher buried his sorrows in his heart and went forth to fight the battles of 
 his country. He was first connected with the army of the Potomac, but saw no 
 active service there. He was next assigned to a command in Cincinnati and the 
 country adjacent on both sides of the Ohio Eiver, and soon after was ordered to 
 join the department of the Ohio, under the command of Major-General Buell, 
 and was the first officer to enter Bowling Green, at the head of his brigade. From 
 that city his command, which at this time was a division, marched in the van to 
 ward Nashville. On the capture of that city, he made a forced march toward 
 Corinth, taking with him but a single brigade of his division. He then made a 
 feint of attacking Chattanooga, and having caused the enemy to concentrate their 
 force there, he turned suddenly toward Fayetteville, and making a forced march, 
 seized the railroad midway between Corinth and Chattanooga, and thus broke the 
 rebel line of communication and held the towns along that railroad for a distance 
 of nearly two hundred miles completely under control. Every movement looking 
 to revolt against his. authority, or the insulting of his soldiers, was promptly and 
 sternly repressed. Athens, Alabama, one of the larger towns on the route, had 
 been remarkable for the bitter hostility of its citizens to the Union army, and the 
 command of the rebellious town was assigned by General Mitchel to Colonel, now 
 General, Turchin, an officer of Russian birth of decided energy and ability, whose 
 vigorous measures soon brought the insolent rebels to terms. Complaint was 
 made by some of the rebels to General Buell of Turchin s severity, and the Gene 
 ral, who inclined to the rose-water policy, ordered a court-martial to try Turchin. 
 General Mitchel sustained his faithful and vigorous subordinate, and thereby in 
 curred Buell s displeasure, in consequence of which he asked to be relieved of his 
 command. But the Government could not dispense with the services of so ener 
 getic and faithful a General as Mitchel, and after remaining a short time without 
 a command he was appointed to succeed General Hunter as commander of the 
 department of the South, and entered upon the duties of his office on the sixteenth 
 of September, 1862. The energy which had characterized him at the West was 
 not relaxed in his new field of action. The discipline of his army was greatly im 
 proved ; old abuses were checked, order took the place of disorder and confusion, 
 and the care and management of the freedmen, or " contrabands " as they were 
 popularly called, which had been a difficult problem in that department from the 
 first, was rendered simple and easy by his executive skill. Satisfied that the 
 Government would soon see the desirableness of employing the able-bodied among 
 them as soldiers, he did not deem it wise to forestall its action, but directed his 
 energies to the elevation and improvement of their social and intellectual condi- 
 
30 ORMSBY MAC KNIGHT MITCH EL. 
 
 tion. He encouraged them to adopt the habits and customs of the more intelli 
 gent of the colored people of the North, and to evince their right to freedom by 
 making their conduct worthy of freemen. He caused a model house for a negro 
 family to be built, and then offered to furnish lumber and to pay a premium to 
 those who would build houses equal to this, and in a short time he had a village 
 of good, substantial houses going up for the freedmen, as different as possible from 
 the filthy cabins in which they had previously vegetated, and each with its garden- 
 plot fenced in. He encouraged schools among them, and in every way stimulated 
 their ambition and energies till an observer would have deemed it impossible that 
 the enterprising and manly negroes of Hilton Head could have been the stolid, 
 unimpressible slaves of a year before. 
 
 His activity was equally manifest in military affairs. He believed in con 
 stantly harassing the enemy, and as his force was insufficient for any of those 
 great military undertakings in which he would have most delighted, he resolved 
 to make the best of it in smaller enterprises. An expedition was sent to St. 
 John s Eiver, Florida, which was successful in breaking up several small garrisons 
 of the rebels, in destroying vessels and cargoes which were prepared for running 
 the blockade, and in taking possession of some towns of importance ; another at 
 tacked and destroyed the extensive salt-works of the enemy at Bluffton, thus de 
 priving them of a large portion of their supply of that important article. A third, 
 on a larger scale, was sent on the twenty -first of October, under the command of 
 Brigadier-General Brannan, to Pocotaligo and Coosahatchie Eivers, to burn the 
 bridges and break the railroad communication between Charleston and Savannah ; 
 but this, which General Mitchel had intended at first to command in person, was 
 but partially successful, owing to the plan of it having been by some traitor com 
 municated to the rebels, who had, in consequence, rallied a strong force and forti 
 fied positions where they could repel the attacks of the approaching force ; and 
 though some bridges were destroyed, yet the heavy loss incurred by the attacking 
 force made the expedition practically a failure. 
 
 But in the midst of his usefulness, and with plans for securing the triumph 
 of the Union arms in his department as yet unaccomplished, this brave and ener 
 getic commander was suddenly called to surrender to a relentless and powerful 
 foe. Death came, and with ruthless hand bowed the strong man whom no hard 
 ships could cause to falter, and after a brief illness, laid him in the grave. The 
 yellow fever made its appearance at Hilton Head on the twentieth of October ; on 
 the twenty-sixth, General Mitchel was taken with the disease in its worst form, 
 and died on the thirtieth. His death was perfectly in keeping with his life. 
 Though suffering severely, he was calm and collected and in full possession of his 
 faculties to the last. The Christian s hope, which had sustained him amid all his 
 trials and bereavements in the past, was his stay and support in the trying hour. 
 
ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 31 
 
 "It is a blessed thing," he said to Mrs. Gage, " to have a Christian s hope in a 
 time like this." The great responsibilities of his position were laid aside with the 
 utmost composure, as he felt that the time had come for him to die, and uttering 
 the words, " I am ready to go," and pointing upward when speech failed, he passed 
 away " as sinks the summer sun to rest." In the quiet shades of Greenwood, by 
 the side of her he loved so well in life, the astronomer, patriot, and hero sleeps 
 quietly till the trump of the archangel shall waken his dust to the never-ending 
 life of eternity. 
 
THEODOEUS BAILEY. 
 
 THE achievements of our navy were the pride of tlie nation in the war of 1812. 
 On the outbreak of the present rebellion the people looked hopefully, from 
 the Potomac blockaded and the squadron inactive in Ilampton Roads watching the 
 erection of the enemy s batteries, to a period when it would vindicate its old renown. 
 At length the hoped for period arrived. Foote led off on the Mississippi ; String- 
 ham at Ilatteras ; Goldsborough in Albemarle Sound ; Du Pont at Charleston ; 
 and Farragut at New-Orleans, and then the navy had solved the problem as to the 
 relative value of guns ashore and guns afloat, and proved that if the revolutionary 
 batteries of General Moultrie on Sullivan s Island did drive off a British fleet, it 
 would not hold that therefore the Southern coast could be protected from the 
 American navy. 
 
 Amongst the long list of gallant officers who have added new lustre to 
 this service Admiral Theodoras Bailey has manfully done his share, and de 
 serves something more than a passing notice. He was born at Chateaugay, in 
 Franklin County, on the northern border of the State of New- York, in the year 
 1805. His father, Judge William Bailey, was one of the early settlers of the great 
 northern wilderness, having married the daughter of one of the patentees of 
 Plattsburgh, to which place he soon afterward removed. As a boy, standing on 
 the shore of the lake, Admiral Bailey witnessed McDonough s victory, and saw 
 the pride with which the victors were greeted, and determined that he too would 
 be a sailor. His uncle, General Theodorus Bailey, (a Senator from New- York,) was 
 fortunately able to aid his aspirations, and on the first of January, 1818, at the 
 early age of less than fourteen years, he obtained his first commission. It would 
 be covering too much space to follow him through the twenty-six years of active 
 duty and the various gradations of rank. He twice made cruises around the 
 world, and served under the old flag in every climate and sea, and always with 
 credit, never having become involved in any difficulty with the department, his 
 superiors, or messmates, but earning the reputation of an efficient, enterprising, 
 and faithful officer. At length, on the breaking out of the Mexican war, he was 
 assigned to the command of the Lexington, an old razee, rated as a store-ship, and 
 carried out from the port of New-York to California Captain Tompkins s (regular) 
 battery, and a number of officers of the army, amongst whom were Lieutenants (now 
 Generals) Halleck, Sherman, and Lozier, and a large amount of munitions of war. 
 
COM. THEODORUS BAILEY 
 
THEODORUS BAILEY. 33 
 
 Arriving on the coast, after reporting to the commander-in-chief and discharging 
 his cargo, the Lexington was assigned to duty as a cruiser, and cooperated with 
 Colonel Benton in the conquest and holding of Lower California, capturing San 
 Bias and other places. In this duty Lieutenant Commanding Bailey s zeal and 
 efficiency were complimented by his superiors, and gave great satisfaction. He 
 was soon after promoted to the grade of commander. His next command was the 
 sloop-of-war St. Mary s, in which he again visited the Pacific and cruised for three 
 years. One of the incidents of this voyage was the arrival of the St. Mary s at 
 Panama immediately after the massacre. Captain Bailey took prompt and effi 
 cient measures to protect the lives and property of American citizens in the future 
 and seek indemnity for the past, and closed his correspondence with the Governor 
 in these words : "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your replies to 
 my communications of the twenty-second and twenty-fourth, (April, 1856.) Apart 
 from the announcement of the restoration to the owners of the cannon and arms 
 illegally taken from the steamer Taboga, I must confess they afford me little satis 
 faction. I had expected, when asking for information as to the causes of the 
 frightful occurrences of the fifteenth, that, apart from the immediate origin of the 
 tumult, you would have deemed it due to yourself, as the chief magistrate of this 
 community, to state why and wherefore you undertook the fearful responsibility 
 of ordering your police to fire upon my countrymen, women and children, and to 
 state what steps you had taken to punish the guilty and restore the plunder. Ten 
 days have elapsed since the catastrophe, and I have yet to learn that a single 
 criminal has been arrested, or that any portion of the immense amount of valua 
 bles taken from the passengers and railroad company has been restored. I have 
 yet to learn that your high consciencia de mis deberes i la inteligencia de los 
 grandes intereses que se ligon a la conservacion de esta line de transito universal 
 extended any further than to order an indiscriminate massacre of the passengers 
 over this transit I have yet to discover that when a riot or collision shall take 
 place here between foreigners on the one side and natives on the other, that you 
 recognize any higher obligation on your part than to protect and assist the latter, 
 and to disarm, murder, maltreat, and plunder the former. Is it possible that your 
 Excellency recognizes but one party to a riot, that yon shelter yourself under the 
 philosophic assurance that the fearful catastrophe of the fifteenth instant was the 
 result of elementos tarn hetorogenos como los que forman nuestra poblacion y la 
 emigracion Californiana. This conclusion, I regret to state, affords me little 
 assurance of the safety of the transit for the future, unless your Excellency shall 
 devise some most speedy and efficacious method for rendering these unfortunate 
 elements less heterogeneous hereafter. The police who took part in this horri 
 ble tragedy now guard the lives and property of the transit passengers. The 
 Jendarmeria who, with the same philosophy as your Excellency, deemed it best 
 
34 THEODORUS BAILEY. 
 
 in the late emergency to destroy the foreign element, are the reliable means of 
 protection which your Excellency will furnish us to any extent for the future ; 
 and it no doubt should be a source of gratification that they have, since the fif 
 teenth instant, (the St. Mary s being present,) permitted the passengers and trea 
 sure of the steamers Uncle Sam and Golden Age to make the transit without mur 
 dering the one or plundering the other. I am, with the force under my command, 
 but from eight to ten days removed from my Government, and am therefore 
 bound to submit to their judgment the manner in which the fearful accountability 
 which you have incurred shall be investigated, and to their decision the indemnity 
 which shall be demanded for the past and security for the future ; meanwhile I 
 shall do all in my power to avert any danger that may occur to the transit passen 
 gers, from whatever quarter it may come and under every emergency, without 
 relying on your Excellency s Jendarmeria. In directing my first communication 
 to your Excellency, I had no desire to listen to apologies for certain parties or cer 
 tain acts, but an earnest wish to know what you did toward punishing the parties 
 concerned in this frightful atrocity. I wanted action not sophistry the names 
 of criminals arrested the officials dismissed and some allusion to plunder re 
 stored, not unmeaning phrases or flattery. That I have not been thus gratified I 
 have no doubt arises from the fact that you deem the origin of the affair a suffi 
 cient justification for its frightful conclusion. I shall here take my leave of your 
 Excellency as a correspondent, and shall have the honor to submit your two com 
 munications to my Government, presuming they will not be more satisfactory to 
 them than to me." 
 
 The foregoing letter is inserted to show that Captain Bailey has a talent for 
 correspondence, although a little Jacksonian in style, and that Senor Don Franco 
 de Falnega, Acting Governor of Panama, had cause to be thankful that the writer 
 was only eight days distant from his Government, for the safety of his tawny dy 
 nasty under the frowning batteries of the St. Mary s and with her marines near to 
 his strong places. The character of a man is often better judged by his own 
 letters than the pen of his biographer. This caustic effusion shows the mood of 
 the tough old sailor smarting under a sense of insult to his flag, and burning to 
 redress it, but with his hands tied from redress by a want of authority, of techni 
 cal not of physical power. He evidently applied to this particular Governor the 
 result of his experience of Spanish officials, based upon his old Mexican observa 
 tions, and is more frank than complimentary. 
 
 On the news of the bombardment of Sumter, Captain Bailey, then at Platts- 
 burgh, N. Y., hastened to Washington and asked an opportunity for service. 
 He was at once assigned to the command of the steam frigate Colorado, repaired 
 to Pensacola, then held by the insurgents, and became a terror to the rebels by his 
 restless activity. Finding General Harvey Brown in command at Fort Pickens, 
 
THEODORUS BAILEY. 35 
 
 he cooperated -with him in the operations there planned, and matured the details 
 of an expedition to the mainland and the capture of Barrancas, which for no want 
 of his was not carried out. Seeing a privateer (the Judith) lying at the dock at 
 Pensacola, he planned a cutting-out expedition. The first reconnoissance he made 
 in person, is thus graphically described in a letter from an officer : 
 
 " On the night of the third of August we were sent by the flag-officer into 
 Pensacola harbor to reconnoitre, and if possible capture some of the schooners 
 or steamers of the rebels. We started from the ship as soon after dark as our 
 movements would be obscured and concealed from the numerous glasses and 
 telescopes constantly pointed at us from the forts and works of secessiondom, 
 passed into the harbor with five boats, Captain Bailey, of the Colorado, who com 
 manded, leading in his light gig, without being observed by the rebel forts or bat 
 teries. The night was dark, and after rowing about the harbor and finding that 
 there were 110 vessels anchored off that we could prey upon, we pulled in for the 
 navy-yard, which, tperhaps you have heard, is defended by a strong battery. 
 Treating the rebel sentries hails of boat ahoy, who comes there ? with silent con 
 tempt, we pulled steadily in with the boats. Leaving them off the pier end, the 
 captain went in the slip with his gig to see what could be done ; found a schooner 
 tied up to the wharf by the guard-house and a guard of soldiers mustering on the 
 wharf by her. The long-roll was being beaten, and a general mustering of rebel 
 forces, together with sending up of rockets and a fire-balloon as a signal of attack, 
 we thought it prudent to retire, which we did, with the boats, without a shot be 
 ing fired on either side. "We knew or were informed previously at Pickens 
 that the wharf where we found the schooner was defended by two thirty-two- 
 pounders and two howitzers, but were in hopes to have found the schooner tied 
 up somewhere else than at the wharf immediately alongside of the guard-house, 
 where we could not burn her without lighting up the whole harbor and sacrificing 
 our boats to their point-blank fire. As it was, we gave the rebels a terrible fright, 
 and as we retired we could hear the long-roll beat and see the batteries all lit up 
 from the navy-yard to Fort Barrancas. We do not intend to let General Bragg 
 send all his troops to Manassas with impunity. He must keep at least five thou 
 sand men here to make his position a safe one, for the fleet, the regulars, and the 
 pet lambs are all watching him with deep interest." 
 
 A few nights afterward the boats, under the command of the gallant Lieuten 
 ant Eussell, of the Colorado, went in and burned her at the dock, the Captain 
 being prevented by etiquette from depriving his junior of this chance for distin 
 guished service. From Pensacola he was ordered to the South-West Pass to 
 blockade the mouth of the Mississippi and cooperate with Admiral Farragut in 
 
36 THEODORUS BAILEY. 
 
 the conquest of New-Orleans. The iron-clads were daily expected down the river 
 to attack the fleet, and Captain Bailey made ample preparations and longed for 
 their coming, confident in his ability to fight his ship. At length the order came 
 to cross the bar, and every exertion was made to get the Colorado over in vain, 
 her draught preventing it. Determined not to remain on her inactive, Captain 
 Bailey, although suffering from the effects of a recent surgical operation, asked 
 of Admiral Farragut a command. His services were at once accepted, and most 
 of the guns and men of the Colorado were distributed amongst the gunboats, and 
 her commander hoisted his flag as commander of the Division of the Eed or second 
 division, on the gunboat Cayuga, commanded by Captain 1ST. B. Harrison, as gal 
 lant a sailor and as loyal a Virginian as our navy ever possessed. 
 
 His reports to the Secretary of the Navy tell the story of the fight : 
 
 " UNITED STATES GUNBOAT CAYUGA, 
 
 AT SEA, May 7, 1862. 
 
 " HOK GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy : 
 
 " SIR : Having found it impossible to get the Colorado over the bars of the 
 Mississippi, I sent up a large portion of her guns and crew, filling up deficiency 
 of both in the different vessels, and with my aid, Acting Midshipman Higginson, 
 steward, and boat s crew, followed up myself, hoisting by authority of the Flag- 
 Officer my red distinguishing flag as second in command, first on the Oneida, 
 Commander Lee, and afterward on the Cayuga. 
 
 " That brave, resolute, and indefatigable officer, Commander D. D. Porter, 
 was at work with his mortar-fleet, throwing shell at and into Fort Jackson, while 
 General Butler, with a division of his army in transports, was waiting a favorable 
 moment to land. After the mortar-fleet had been playing upon them for six days 
 and nights, without perceptibly diminishing their fire, and one or two changes of 
 programme, Flag-Officer Farragut formed the ships into two columns, line ahead, 
 the column of the red, under my orders, being formed on the right, and consisted 
 of the Cayuga, Lieutenant Commanding Harrison, bearing my flag and leading 
 the Pensacola, Captain Morris ; the Mississippi, Commander Smith ; Oneida, 
 Commander S. P. Lee ; Varuna, Commander C. L. Boggs ; Katahdin, Lieutenant 
 Commanding Preble ; Kineo, Commanding Eansom ; and the Wissahickon, Lieu 
 tenant Commanding A. W. Smith. 
 
 " The column of the blue was formed on the left and up the river, and con 
 sisted of flag-ship Hartford, Commander R. Wainwright, and bearing the flag of 
 Commander-in-Chief Farragut ; the Brooklyn, Captain T. T. Craven ; the Rich 
 mond, Commander Alden ; the Scioto, bearing the divisional flag of the fleet, 
 Captain H. H. Bell, followed by the Iroquois, Itasca, Winona, and Kennebec. 
 
THEODORUS BAILEY. 37 
 
 " At two A.M. on the morning of the twenty-fourth, the signal to advance was 
 thrown out from the flag-ship. The Cayuga immediately weighed anchor and led 
 on the column. We were discovered at the boom, and a little beyond both Forts 
 opened their fires. When close up with St. Philip we opened with grape and can 
 ister, still steering on. After passing their line of fire, we encountered the Mont 
 gomery flotilla, consisting of eighteen gunboats, including the ram Manassas, and 
 the iron battery Louisiana, of twenty guns. 
 
 " This was a moment of anxiety, as no supporting ship was in sight. By 
 skilful steering, however, we avoided their attempts to butt and board, and had 
 succeeded in forcing the surrender of three, when the Yaruna, Captain Boggs, and 
 Oneida, Captain Lee, were discovered near at hand. The gallant exploits of these 
 ships will be made known by their commanders. At early dawn discovered a 
 rebel camp on the right bank of the river ; ordering Lieutenant Commanding N. 
 P. Harrison to anchor close along, I hailed and ordered the colonel to pile up his 
 arms on the river -bank and come on board. This proved to be the Chalmetto 
 regiment, commanded by Colonel Szymanski. The regimental flag, tents, and 
 camp equipage were captured. 
 
 " On the morning of the twenty-fifth, still leading and considerably ahead of 
 the line, the Chalmetto batteries, situated three miles below the city, opened a 
 cross-fire on the Cayuga. To this we responded with our two guns. At the end 
 of twenty minutes the flag-ship ranged up ahead and silenced the enemy s guns. 
 From this point no other obstacles were encountered except burning steamers, cot 
 ton-ships, fire-rafts, and the like. Immediately after anchoring in front of the 
 city, I was ordered on shore by the Flag-Officer to demand the surrender of the 
 city, and that the flag should be hoisted on the Post-Office, Custom-House, and 
 Mint. What passed at this interview will be better stated in the Flag-Officer s re 
 port. On the twenty-sixth, I went with the Flag-Officer some seven miles above 
 the city, where we found the defences abandoned, the guns spiked, gun-carriages 
 burning. These defences were erected to prevent the downward passage of Cap 
 tain Foote. On the twenty-seventh, a large boom, situated above these defences, 
 was destroyed by Captain S. Phillips Lee. On the twenty-eighth, General Butler 
 landed above Fort St. Philip, under tlje guns of the Mississippi and Kineo. This 
 landing of the army above, together with the passage of the fleet, appears to have 
 put the finishing touch to the demoralization of their garrison. Both Forts sur 
 rendered to Commodore Porter, who was near at hand with the vessels of his 
 flotilla. 
 
 " As I left the river, General Butler had garrisoned Forts Jackson and St 
 Philip, and his transports with troops on board were on their way to occupy 
 New-Orleans. 
 
 " I cannot too strongly express my admiration of the cool and able manage 
 ment of all the vessels of my line by their respective captains. 
 
38 T II EODORUS BAILEY. 
 
 " After we had passed the Forts it was a contest between iron hearts in 
 wooden vessels and iron-clads with iron beaks, and the iron hearts won. 
 
 " On the twenty-ninth, the Cayuga, Lieutenant Commanding Harrison, was 
 selected to bring me home, a bearer of despatches to the Government 
 
 " I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 "THEODOEUS BAILEY, Captain." 
 
 " UNITED STATES STEAM GUNBOAT CAYUGA, 
 
 AT SEA, May 8. 
 " HOIST. G. WELLES, Secretary of the Navy : 
 
 " SIR : I have the honor to inclose herewith a duplicate of the report of 
 Commander Boggs, late of the Yaruna, and attached to my division of the attack 
 ing force. This gallant officer came up to my support when I had more of the 
 enemy s steamers attacking me than I could well attend to. I afterward saw him 
 in conflict with three of the enemy s steamers, and directed Commander Lee, of 
 the Oneida, to go to his support, which he did in a most dashing manner. Com 
 mander Boggs s description of the loss of his vessel I believe to be accurate. I 
 saw him bravely fighting, his guns level with the water, as his vessel gradually 
 sunk underneath, leaving her bow resting on the shore and above water. 
 
 "I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 
 
 "T. BAILEY, Captain." 
 
 Admiral Farragut in his despatch says : " Captain Bailey, on the Cayuga, 
 (Lieutenant Commanding Harrison,) was in advance, and received the most of the 
 fire ; but although the shooting was good, they did not damage his little vessel." 
 Again : "I send Captain Bailey home as bearer of despatches. He has done his 
 work nobly, and that while suffering under an infirmity which required attention 
 and repose." 
 
 After the fleet had passed the Forts, Captain Bailey landed and carried to 
 the City Hall a summons to surrender. On his way he was surrounded by a con 
 stantly swelling and infuriated mob, lost to all sense of restraint, cheering for Jeff 
 Davis and Beauregard, and shouting, " Kill him," " Hang him to a lamp-post," 
 " Don t let him go back alive," and all manner of insults and personal abuse. As 
 he strode sturdily along, accompanied only, by his aid, Midshipman Higginson, 
 of the Colorado, amid the press of the mob, occasionally his hand would be 
 grasped, or a whisper dropped in his ear, " Glad to see you," " Why didn t you 
 come before?", showing the existence of the much-talked of Union element even 
 then and there. Captain Bailey freely admits that for the first time in that infu 
 riated mob he experienced a sense of danger. Once only he stopped to speak, 
 and then throwing them off on either side, he exclaimed : " Why, even Fejee 
 Islanders respect a flag of truce." He reached at last the Mayor s office in safety, 
 the preliminaries were arranged, the city surrendered, the flag restored, and Cap- 
 
THEODORUS BAILEY. 39 
 
 tain Bailey hastened to Washington to lay the good tidings before the Govern 
 ment. There, at New- York, at Plattsburgh, and other places he was received 
 with such demonstrations of popular good will as more than compensated for the 
 hardships through which he had passed, the Mayor, Common Council of the 
 city of New- York, the Chamber of Commerce, and other public bodies uniting 
 in showing him honor. He was soon afterward raised to the rank of Commo 
 dore. In order to afford Mm an opportunity to undergo a second surgical ope 
 ration, he was assigned to the command of Sacketts Harbor. After remaining 
 there a few months, on his urgent application for sea-orders, he was assigned, as 
 Acting Eear- Admiral, to the command of the Eastern Gulf blockading squadron, 
 consisting of some twenty-six vessels, on the coast of Florida, between the squad 
 rons of Admirals Du Pont and Farragut. 
 
NATHANIEL LYON. 
 
 1VTATHANIEL LYON was born at Ashford, Windham county, Connec- 
 _L i ticut, in the month of June, 1819. He was the son of Amasa Lyon, a 
 farmer. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, July 
 1st, 1837 ; was graduated in 1841, and appointed a second-lieutenant in the 
 second regiment of infantry. He served in Florida, in the latter part of the 
 Seminole War, was subsequently stationed for several years at different posts 
 on the Western frontier, and was promoted, in February, 1847, to be first-lieu 
 tenant. Upon the commencement of the war with Mexico, Lieutenant Lyon 
 was ordered to active service in that country. He joined General Taylor at 
 Monterey, and accompanied his regiment when it was detached from the com 
 mand of General Taylor to that of General Scott. He served at the bombard 
 ment of Yera Cruz, and in the battle of Cerro Gordo. In the battles of Contre- 
 ras and Churubusco, he commanded his company, and in the report of the officer 
 who led the regiment on that day was recommended to the special notice of the 
 brigade commander. He also participated in the capture of the city of Mexico, 
 and was wounded by a musket-ball in the assault on the Belen gate. For " gal 
 lant and meritorious conduct" in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco he re 
 ceived, in August, 1848, the brevet of Captain. 
 
 When the war with Mexico was ended, Lyon was ordered to California. He 
 reached that country soon after its acquisition by the United States, and remain 
 ed there several years, chiefly employed against the Indians. The full rank of 
 Captain was conferred upon him June llth, 1851. From California, Captain Lyon 
 was again ordered to the Western frontier, and served in Kansas and Nebraska 
 in the height of the political troubles there. While upon this duty he took great 
 interest in the various questions which divided the people, and became strongly 
 opposed to the position of the Democratic party, though previously he had 
 always believed and acted with it. Several articles written by him during -the 
 summer and fall of 1860, and published in a Kansas newspaper, express his 
 hope for the country in the election of the Republican candidate for President 
 in the pending canvass. These articles are written with manly vigor, and in 
 dicate in every line an earnest patriot and a bold, energetic thinker. 
 
 Captain Lyon was the United States officer in command of the arsenal at St. 
 
NATHANIEL LYON. 41 
 
 Louis, Missouri, when, on May 6th, 1861, the police commissioners of that city 
 formally demanded the removal of the United States soldiers from all places oc 
 cupied by them outside the arsenal grounds. Captain Lyon declined compliance 
 with the demand, and in reply to the charge of the commissioners, that such 
 occupancy was in derogation of the constitution and laws of the United States, 
 required to know what provisions of the constitution and what laws it violated. 
 Thus rebuffed, the commissioners referred the matter to the governor and legis 
 lature of the state. Not long before, the governor of Missouri had authorized 
 the formation of camps of instruction in various parts of the state, and on May 
 4th such a camp had been formed under the supervision of General Frost at 
 Lindell s Grove, near St. Louis. Taken with the action of the commissioners 
 and the general tendency of affairs, Captain Lyon regarded the concentration 
 of this force near him as directly hostile, and on May 10th, suddenly surrounded 
 the camp known as Camp Jackson, with a large force of the state "Home 
 Guards," the then newly organized volunteer regiments under Blair and Siegel, 
 and twenty-three pieces of artillery, planted his guns on the heights around the 
 camp, and sent in to General Frost the following letter : 
 
 " HEADQUARTERS U. S. TROOPS, 
 
 ST. Louis, Mo., May Wth, 1861. 
 
 " GEN. D. M. FROST, commanding Camp Jackson : 
 
 
 
 " SIR : Your command is regarded as evidently hostile toward the govern 
 ment of the United States. It is for the most part made up of those secessionists 
 who have openly avowed their hostility to the general government, and have 
 been plotting at the seizure of its property and the overthrow of its authority. 
 You are openly in communication with the so-called Southern Confederacy, which 
 is now at war with the United States, and you are receiving at your camp from 
 the said confederacy and under its flag, large supplies of the material of war, 
 most of which is known to be the property of the United States. These extra 
 ordinary preparations plainly indicate none other than the well-known purpose of 
 the governor of this state, under whose orders you are acting, and whose pur 
 pose, recently communicated to the legislature, has just been responded to by 
 that body in the most unparalleled legislation, having in direct view hostilities to 
 the general government and co-operation with its enemies. 
 
 "In view of these considerations, and of your failure to disperse in obedience to 
 the proclamation of the President, and of the eminent necessities of state policy 
 and welfare, and the obligations imposed upon me by instructions from Wash 
 ington, it is my duty to demand, and I do hereby demand of you, an immediate 
 surrender of your command, with no other conditions than that all persons sur 
 rendering under this demand shall be humanely and kindly treated. Believing 
 
42 NATHANIEL LYON. 
 
 myself prepared to enforce this demand, one half-hour s time, before doing so, 
 will be allowed for your compliance therewith. 
 
 " Yery respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 " N. LYOJST, Capt. 2d Infantry, commanding troops." 
 
 General Frost, upon consultation with his subordinate officers, found his 
 command unable to resist " the force of General Lyon, and he accordingly sur 
 rendered his whole command prisoners of war. This quick and severe blow at 
 rebellion in Missouri awakened great joy in the hearts of all the Union men in 
 that state, and when, four days later, General Harney arrived at St. Louis and 
 assumed the command there, Captain Lyon was elected to the command of the 
 first brigade of Missouri volunteers. On May 15th, he effected the occupation of 
 Potosi, whence a body of rebels was driven, and also caused in rapid succession 
 several important seizures of war material in various parts of the state. No other 
 United States officer exhibited equal activity in the discharge of his duty. 
 
 By agreement with General Price of Missouri, General Harney committed 
 himself to a course of inaction, and was removed, and General Lyon was thus 
 left in command of the department, May 31st. But Harney s agreement with 
 General Price had contemplated the disbandment of the state troops in arms 
 upon the governor s requisition; they refused to disband, and the governor 
 declared that the interests and sympathies of Missouri were identical with 
 those of the slaveholding states, and that they necessarily united her destiny 
 with theirs, and the legislature passed a military bill, which General Lyon 
 pronounced "so offensive to all peaceable inhabitants, and so palpably un 
 constitutional, that it could be accepted by those only who were to conform 
 to its extraordinary provisions for the purpose of effecting their cherished ob 
 ject the disruption of the Federal government." Lyon therefore announced 
 to the people, by proclamation, that his duty required him to act against the 
 so-called state forces, and he accordingly moved from St. Louis, June 17th, toward 
 Jefferson City, with a force of the Missouri Home Guard Volunteers, and some 
 United States troops. Governor Jackson, upon Lyon s approach, endeavored 
 to impede his march by the destruction of Moreau bridge, abandoned Jefferson 
 City, burning the bridges behind him, and retreated to Booneville. Lyon pur 
 sued in boats up the Missouri river, and on the same day landed four miles be 
 low Booneville, found the rebels posted in the road near that place, immediately 
 opened fire upon them, and drove them from their position. They fell back and 
 formed again in the woods, whence they kept up a sharp fire upon the national 
 forces. General Lyon then ordered a feigned retreat, and when the rebels were 
 well drawn from their cover in pursuit, he opened upon them a severe fire of ar 
 tillery and musketry, and they were dispersed in complete rout. Lyon s force 
 
NATHANIEL LYON. 43 
 
 was about two thousand, and his loss was very small. The rebel force was about 
 four thousand, and their loss in killed and wounded was nearly one hundred. A 
 great many of their men were made prisoners. General Lyon then issued a procla 
 mation from Booneville, in which, after a statement of the facts in relation to the 
 battle, he said : "I hereby give notice to the people of this state, that I shall 
 scrupulously avoid all interference with the business, right, and property of every 
 description recognized by the laws of the state, and belonging to law-abiding 
 citizens. But it is equally my duty to maintain the paramount authority of the 
 United States with such force as I have at my command, which will be retained 
 only so long as opposition makes it necessary, and that it is my wish, and shall be 
 my purpose, to visit any unavoidable rigor arising in this issue upon those only 
 who provoke it." 
 
 General McCulloch, with a large force, was at this time in the south 
 western part of the state, and was soon joined by General Price with some por 
 tion of the Missouri rebels, and subsequently by Parsons and General Eains. 
 Lyon left Booneville to march against them July 3d. His small force swelled 
 as he advanced, and when he reached Springfield, July 20th, he had under 
 his command ten thousand men ; but this force had again decreased to six 
 thousand by August 1st. On that day at five P. M., General Lyon marched to 
 look for the rebels, who were said to be in motion toward Springfield, and 
 not finding them, bivouacked ten miles south of the town. Early the next 
 day the march was resumed, and about noon, at a place called Dug Spring, the 
 rebels were reported in sight. A. halt was ordered, and while a reconnoissance was 
 made, two companies of regular infantry were thrown forward as skirmishers, 
 supported by a company of cavalry. This force encountered a body of about 
 five hundred rebels, and a warm fire was exchanged. The national infantry was 
 hard pressed, when this advanced body of the rebels was entirely scattered by a 
 brilliant charge of the cavalry. The rebels rallied, however, engaged the infantry 
 again, and having received support formed a line to advance, but at this juncture 
 Captain Totteii s artillery was brought to bear, and after a few discharges scattered 
 them for the day. Next morning, August 3d, the march was continued six miles 
 further, but the enemy made no stand, and, unable to bring on a general action, 
 and being out of provisions, and with many of his men ill, Lyon marched his 
 force back to Springfield, which he reached August 5th. Generals McCulloch, 
 Price, Rains, and Colonel Parsons, were then known to be in motion toward Spring 
 field with a combined force variously reported at eight, twenty, and twenty-four 
 thousand men, well-armed and effective. They reached Wilson s Creek, ten miles 
 south-west of Springfield, August 6th, and encamped there. General Lyon, thus 
 vastly outnumbered, and left without reinforcements, saw but little hope for success, 
 and a council of his officers advised the abandonment of Springfield and a fur- 
 
44 NATHANIEL LYON. 
 
 ther retreat : he determined, however, to attack the rebels in their camp, and for 
 that purpose marched from Springfield on the 9th, at sunset, with but little over 
 five thousand men. His force was disposed in two columns. The right or main 
 column comprised four regiments and a battalion of volunteers, five companies 
 of regular infantry, one company of artillery recruits, and two batteries of artil 
 lery, and was commanded by General Lyon in person. The left column was com 
 manded by Colonel Siegel, and was made up of two battalions of volunteers and 
 six field-pieces. The rebel camp stretched along "Wilson s Creek for three miles, 
 and it was intended that the two columns should attack it at nearly opposite ex 
 tremities. Lyon s column encountered the rebel pickets near the northern end of 
 their camp at five P. M., and one of his volunteer regiments was soon warmly 
 engaged with the rebel infantry, whom they drove from an eminence, on which the 
 national artillery was immediately posted and opened fire. Eepeated attempts 
 of the rebels to carry this position were repulsed, and the battle merged into this 
 endeavor on the part of the rebels, until Siegel made his attack in the rear and 
 fired their baggage train, when they desisted from their attempt against the bat 
 teries and the battle was virtually relinquished. 
 
 From the first attack General Lyon had actively assisted and encouraged his 
 men where the fight was thickest, and was thrice wounded. Near nine A. M., 
 when the enemy was about to make one of his several attempts against Totten s 
 battery, the first Iowa regiment was brought up to relieve, in its support, the 
 Kansas first and second. This regiment had lost its colonel, and when Lyon 
 ordered it to prepare to repel the enemy with the bayonet, the men called upon 
 him to lead them. He had been standing by his horse, but now mounted to 
 lead the charge, and gave the word. The rebels did not stand, but delivered 
 their fire and broke. General Lyon was struck by a rifle-ball in the breast. 
 He fell into the arms of his body-servant and expired almost immediately. 
 His fall was not generally observed, and the battle continued for several hours 
 after it. 
 
 Four months after General Lj^on s death, on the 20th December, 1861, the 
 following resolution was introduced into the United States Senate from the 
 House of Representatives, and unanimously concurred in : 
 
 " Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 
 America in Congress assembled, That Congress deems it just and proper to enter 
 upon its records a recognition of the eminent and patriotic services of the late 
 Brigadier-General Nathaniel Lyon. The country to whose service he devoted 
 his life will guard and preserve his fame as a part of its own glory. Second, 
 That the thanks of Congress are hereby given to the brave officers and soldiers 
 who, under the command of the late General Lyon, sustained the honor of the 
 flag, and achieved victory against overwhelming numbers at the battle of Spring- 
 
NATHANIEL LYON. 45 
 
 field, in Missouri ; and that, in order to commemorate an event so honorable to 
 the country and to themselves, it is ordered that each regiment engaged shall 
 be authorized to bear upon its colors the word Springfield, embroidered in 
 letters of gold. And the President of the United States is hereby requested 
 to cause these resolutions to be read at the head of every regiment in the army 
 of the United States." 
 
 Previous to its adoption, however, Senator Pomeroy, of Kansas, delivered 
 an eloquent tribute to the general s memory as follows: 
 
 " Mr. President : The resolutions which have just been read to the Senate were 
 introduced to the House of Representatives by the distinguished member from 
 St. Louis, and passed the House very unanimously. I trust they will in like 
 manner pass the Senate. But to me there is one reason why they should re 
 ceive at least a passing notice. The state of Kansas was largely interested in 
 that battle at Wilson s Creek, near Springfield, and the country and mankind 
 have a large interest in the fame of the immortal Lyon, who fell in that battle. 
 Such a man and such a general is not often found, and very rarely combined in 
 one person. Perhaps I may be pardoned here for saying that I had the pleasure 
 of a personal acquaintance with General Lyon for years ; and it was an acquaint 
 ance formed and matured under the most impressive circumstances. The early 
 struggles for the freedom of our own state were not unlike in their nature the 
 present struggles of the nation. The same questions, to a great extent, entered 
 into the one that now convulse the other. The same interests, passions, and 
 barbarity, so disgraceful to our age and humanity, entered as largely into that 
 struggle as in the present. 
 
 " General Lyon, whose deeds and fame now belong to the whole country, was 
 then Captain Lyon, of the regular army, stationed at Fort Eiley, in Kansas. 
 He had for ten years served the country in that capacity, and without promo 
 tion. He was as true a soldier as ever stood in the line of battle ; a sagacious 
 officer, strict in habit and discipline, and an honest man. 
 
 " His attention to me, on an occasion of great personal fatigue and exposure 
 taking me to his quarters, welcoming me to all his comforts, and then loaning 
 me his own horse, fresh and strong, and taking in charge mine exhausted and 
 worn, were acts of generosity and kindness that I shall never forget. The ele 
 ments of a friendship cemented by unity of sentiment and principle, in an hour 
 of great extremity, are the most enduring attachments of this life. 
 
 " As Captain Lyon, he sympathized with the free state men of Kansas, 
 espoused their cause, and vindicated their rights in the presence of superior 
 army officers and government appointees, who were, even there, as false to their 
 country, to freedom, and to God, as secession itself. He was then, as always, 
 an earnest man, true among the false, faithful among the faithless, devotedly 
 
46 NATHANIEL LYON. 
 
 attached to the Union that he loved, the constitution that he vindicated, and the 
 flag of his country for which he died. 
 
 " Comparisons are odious, and I hesitate to draw them. Still, amidst the 
 general inactivity so prevalent on the Potomac, and so discouraging to live men, 
 it is refreshing to notice that when the order was for Captain Lyon to take and 
 capture General Frost s command at Camp Jackson, the ink was scarcely dry on 
 the order before that work was accomplished. 
 
 " The 10th day of May will be forever memorable in St. Louis as a day when 
 one decisive blow, struck by one decided officer, forever freed that city from 
 subjection to the rebellion. And there she remains to-day a proud monument, 
 her edifices standing in towering magnificence, vindicating that policy, and safe 
 amidst surrounding desolation. 
 
 " One Friday morning in June last, Claib. Jackson, the so-called governor of 
 Missouri, issued his proclamation, declaring war against the United States forces 
 in Missouri. That very afternoon, before the sun went down, General Lyon 
 commenced moving his little army of two thousand seven hundred men upon 
 steamboats, at St. Louis, and was soon under way for Jefferson City, the capital. 
 On the following Sabbath evening, he took possession quietly of that capital. 
 The rebels, governor, and officers, and soldiers, had fled, burning bridges, and 
 spreading destruction in their train. Before Monday morning, he commenced 
 moving a portion of that little invincible army to Booneville, fifty miles further 
 up, where he engaged the enemy and dispersed them, taking the city. Thus, I 
 say, it is refreshing to see that there was one general who could move his army 
 three hundred miles in three successive days, and have a battle and a victory ! 
 General Lyon moved south from Booneville toward Springfield, in the wake of 
 the fleeing rebels, who were retreating into Arkansas. After several successful 
 skirmishes about Springfield, restoring order and quiet, he halted there for 
 reinforcements. On his way there, he was joined by one regiment from Iowa 
 and two from Kansas. 
 
 " And now may I be allowed to pause in my argument a moment to say that 
 these two regiments were only the first generous offerings of our young state 
 to the cause of the country ? But the flower and pride of our young state 
 were in them. These were of the kind of men who spring spontaneously 
 to their arms in an hour of danger. They mustered in as infantry in the 
 month of June, and were ordered immediately into Missouri. Thank God 
 there were no wretched traitors in Kansas left unhung to rise up against 
 their country, and to seek the overthrow of the government. So our troops 
 were ordered into Missouri many of them without one day s notice. The 
 first day s march of one regiment was forty-five miles in twenty-two succes 
 sive hours, without baggage-wagons or ambulances. And before they could 
 
NATHA-NIELLYON. 47 
 
 be provided with clothing or shoes, they were ordered onward and still onward 
 into Missouri ; and when they had joined General Lyon at Springfield, they had 
 marched over three hundred miles ; and one of the regiments had only seven 
 baggage-wagons ! A part of the Kansas and Iowa regiments, under an order 
 from General Sweeney, were marched in two days from Springfield to Forsyth, 
 sixty miles, and had a battle ; and after dispersing the rebels, returned to Spring 
 field in two and a half days ; and during this unparalleled marching, over two 
 hundred of these brave men were entirely destitute of shoes. 
 
 " But the memorable day about which cluster all the interests of that south 
 western campaign was the 10th day of August, 1861. Upon the evening of the 
 9th, as darkness quietly settled down into the valleys, and light lingered blush- 
 ingly upon the hill tops, this little army of five and a. half thousand men set out 
 to meet twenty-five thousand and engage them in conflict. They marched by 
 two different routes all night, and at daybreak came upon the enemy encamped 
 upon Wilson s Creek. Immediately, without waiting on points of etiquette, 
 General Lyon formed the line of battle. And here began, at five o clock in the 
 morning, the conflict of arms more terrible and destructive, according to num 
 bers, than ever engaged men on this continent before. From the beginning to 
 the close, for six and a half hours, the firing was incessant and terrific. At half- 
 past ten o clock the man of all men there the general of all generals in this war 
 fell at the head of one of our regiments, leading them gloriously onward to 
 victory. He placed himself there in a moment, in response to the call of these 
 men as unconquerable as himself. General Lyon had before, that day, been twice 
 wounded, and had one horse shot under him. lie resisted all entreaties for 
 refreshments, willing to hazard every thing himself, anxious only for his men 
 and their cause. He neither faltered nor complained, until the fatal shaft entered 
 the life fountain, and the golden bowl was broken. He thus sunk quietly to 
 rest, amidst the din of battle and the smoke of the contest the Warren of this 
 war. The battle went on, though its leader had fallen. Few of either officers 
 or men knew what had occurred. T he enemy being repulsed, returned with 
 fresh regiments, again and again, but returned only to retreat in confusion, 
 leaving their trail strewn with the fallen. Our troops advanced and took posses 
 sion of the field. The rebels, in fear, now burned their own baggage-wagons. 
 Volumes of smoke rolled up from every side of the battle-field, and concentrat 
 ing above them, hung the heavens in a drapery of mourning. The rebels were 
 receding, and the firing ceased altogether. * 
 
 " Thus ended the 10th day of August, 1861 ; evening shadows, cooling 
 the heat of both sun and fire ; our troops marched regularly to camp. And I 
 now say, in contradiction to much that has been written and said, that that 
 battle was a triumph. It was a costly one ; nevertheless a victory. What other 
 
48 NATHANIEL LYON. 
 
 battle-field was ever won more triumphantly ? I do not allow the fact that there 
 were not reinforcements on hand sufficient to hold that whole country, to detract 
 from the brilliant triumph of our arms that day. It was a battle of five thousand 
 five hundred men against twenty-five thousand ; and a victory of the few over 
 the many ; showing again that 
 
 " Thrico armed is he who hath his quarrel just. 
 
 "The hero of that battle sleeps beside other graves, in his dear native 
 valley. lie has been literally gathered to his fathers. There need be no 
 monument of marble or granite for him. All the way from St. Louis to Connec 
 ticut his remains were honored by tributes of respect from a grateful people. 
 I had the melancholy pleasure of seeing the almost spontaneous gathering of his 
 old friends at Hartford. They honored suitably the noble dead. In that they 
 honored themselves. From Hartford to Eastford, where he now sleeps, the way 
 was all marked by tokens that were becoming to a returning conqueror. The 
 dear old people at home have garnered up his memory ; it shall be to them as 
 endearing as liberty and life." 
 
FKANZ SIGEL. 
 
 NEVER engaged in any battle where the side upon which he fought could 
 fairly claim an unqualified victory ; and never engaged in a separate com 
 mand where he was not compelled to retreat, Franz Sigel yet keeps a sure hold 
 upon public confidence, and a perusal of his career compels the acknowledgment 
 of his thorough soldiership, and his ability as a general. This can only be the 
 result of some real power in the man, for the world and especially our world 
 is too fond of success to overlook disaster ; and unless fully impressed with 
 the conviction that a better chance than he has hitherto had would show a better 
 result, it would not hesitate to cry down the soldier whose only fault has been an 
 utter want of luck, that great constituent of military fame. 
 
 FRANZ SIGEL was born at Zinsheim, in the grand duchy of Baden, Novem 
 ber 18th, 1824. His father held the important position of Kreisumtman the 
 highest magistrate in the county of Bruchsal. Franz received a liberal edu 
 cation, and was graduated from the military school at Carlsruhe, whence he 
 entered the regular army of Baden. Rapid advance is not common in that 
 service, yet the young lieutenant had reached the post of chief-adjutant in the 
 year 1847, and in this perhaps, we may see the benefit of his father s position. 
 But when the revolution broke out in Southern Germany, young Siegel openly 
 sympathized with it and was even said to have been compromised in Struve s 
 premature attempt to revolutionize his native state ; through these difficulties he 
 lost his commission in the Badish army. All Germany was at that period 
 divided upon the great question of a central government with a liberal con 
 stitution, and the cashiered lieutenant at once cast his fortunes with the 
 liberal party. He entered the contest with the natural ardor of a young soldier 
 already martyred in what he believed to be the cause of his country and of 
 freedom. Various journals agitated the cause on the part of the liberals, and for 
 these Sigel wrote earnestly against the government, and in favor of a new one. 
 He thus acquired a considerable influence with the people, and became prom 
 inent among the leaders of the movement. In March, 1849, a preliminary 
 parliament was held at Frankfort, which issued a call for a National Assembly to 
 meet in May, and to submit a plan of government. Disturbances in Rhenish 
 Bavaria anticipated the action of the assembly thus called, and were denounced 
 by the opponents of the liberal movement, as only the trickery of the agitators, 
 
50 FRANZ SIGEL. 
 
 intended to make changes in the government appear more necessary, and to com 
 mit the people in advance to whatever revolutionary measures might be brought 
 forward at Frankfort. Prussian soldiers were immediately marched into Khenish 
 Bavaria. Scarcely had the Prussians moved than the liberalists in the grand 
 duchy of Baden made common cause with those in Khenish Bavaria, and about 
 twenty thousand persons publicly assembled at Offenburg in Baden, passed a 
 series of resolutions, to the eifect that the movement in Khenish Bavaria should 
 be supported, that the constitution voted by the National Assembly should be 
 acknowledged, and that officers in the army should be chosen by the private 
 soldiers. Many soldiers were in attendance, and one of the resolutions that re 
 ferred to them secured their adherance. On the same day the fortress of Kastadt 
 was seized by the soldiers of the garrison, and disturbances broke out at 
 Carlsruhe. By ten o clock that night, the grand duke and his ministers were in 
 full flight, and the state was in the hands of the liberal party A " National 
 Committee" assumed the powers of government. Lieutenant Eichfield was made 
 minister of war, and Lieutenant Sigel became prominent among the young 
 officers whose fortunes were in the movement, and who were ready to organize 
 and lead a popular army. With the state itself there had fallen into the hands 
 of the liberals, seven millions florins in coin, two and a half in paper, and 
 seventy thousand muskets, besides those in the hands of the army. The army 
 numbered seventeen thousand men. Some energetic measures were taken by 
 the new government ; but, in accordance with the revolutionary idea, the army 
 was ordered to choose its officers anew. Doubtless, this was the death-blow of the 
 revolutionary cause, for it virtually deprived the state of its army. Discipline 
 was destroyed, and all organization entirely lost. " Soldiers appeared on parade," 
 says an eye-witness, "in what they had indiscriminately plundered from the 
 stores at Carlsruhe. Shakos, helmets, caps, great-coats, frocks, full-dress and un 
 dress uniforms, all figured in the same ranks Officers and privates, arm-in 
 arm, and excessively drunk, reeled through the streets." Raw recruits rose to 
 the rank of major in a day, and a similar disproportion between service and posi 
 tion prevailed throughout. Head-quarters were established at Heidelberg, and 
 there Lieutenant Sigel arrived May 19th. 
 
 Five days later, a meeting of liberals near the frontier, in Hesse-Darmstadt, 
 was dispersed by the Hessian soldiery, and Lieutenant Sigel was ordered to lead 
 the revolutionary army of Baden across the frontier. Four battalions of the line, 
 with about six thousand volunteers, were reviewed at Heidelberg previous to the 
 march ; and Sigel, as commander of the troops, issued a manifesto, in which was 
 set forth the reasons why he prepared to enter the territory of Hesse-Darmstadt. 
 But Mieroslawski, a Pole, who had been called to the chief command, arrived 
 before the troops moved, and Sigel lost this early chance of distinction. 
 
FRANZ SIGEL. 51 
 
 The revolutionary force, between ten and twelve thousand strong, marched 
 May 28th. On the 1st of June, the " National Committee" was superseded by a 
 " Provisional Government" formed of the same men as the committee had been 
 and Sigel was made minister of war. From that period he necessarily exer 
 cised a controlling influence upon the struggle ; but, though no serious blow had 
 yet been struck, the strength of the cause was gone. Bad counsel had prevailed ; 
 the army was already ruined ; the volunteers who came forward to fight fell 
 into the radical German error, confounded personal with political freedom, and 
 were consequently impossible to control ; and the confidence of the people was 
 lost. Moreover, the leaders themselves appeared to have lost faith in the move 
 ment. Yet, under the administration of the young minister, a far from con 
 temptible resistance was made to the united imperial and Prussian armies. 
 
 Active operations against the revolutionary forces began about the first of 
 June ; and an imperial army, under Peucker, advanced from Furth in two col 
 umns, and came up with the army under Mieroslawski, near Weinheim, on the 
 14th. Mieroslawski attacked Peucker s front and right flank, posted in the vil 
 lage of Grossacken, at six, A. M., on the 15th, and obtained some advantage, but 
 was repulsed, though the battle continued till night. Peucker renewed the battle 
 on the 16th, and suffered severely from Mieroslawski s artillery, but drove the 
 latter from his position. Both sides claimed the victory, and Mieroslawski re 
 gretted his inability to pursue, through want of cavalry ; but each fell back to 
 the position occupied previous to the fight on the 15th. 
 
 Peucker was superseded in command of the imperial army by the Prince of 
 Prussia, who proclaimed the grand-duchy of Baden in a state of war, and that all 
 offenders against military law should be tried by court-martial, and, if deemed 
 necessary, punished with death. Mieroslawski withdrew his forces from his posi 
 tion near Weinheim to Waghausel on the Rhine, whither he was followed by the 
 Prince of Prussia, whom he attacked, June 22d. lie was again beaten, however, 
 and retreated to the upper Neckar and the region of the Black Forest. Sigel, 
 though minister, was present, and took an active part in these battles. After 
 their victory at "Waghausel, the Prussians crossed the Neckar, came up with the 
 revolutionary forces at Ettlingen, beat them again, and drove them across the 
 Murg. Mieroslawski now abandoned the cause and fled, and Sigel assumed the 
 chief command. With his broken and demoralized forces he made a splendid 
 retreat, and reached the fortress of Rastadt without loss of a gun. Here the 
 most considerable portion of the revolutionary army was now left, while Sigel 
 endeavored to rally further resistance in other quarters, and concentrated a force 
 at Salem, in the Badish lake district. But the members of the provisional gov 
 ernment were already fugitives, and Rastadt was invested; and, though some 
 further resistance was offered, it was at best but a guerilla warfare, and was soon 
 
52 FRANZSIGEL. 
 
 abandoned by Sigel, who entered Switzerland, July llth. Driven from the 
 Swiss territory, in common with all other fugitives from Baden, by the decree 
 of the government of the Helvetic confederation, he was compelled to seek a fur 
 ther refuge, and reached the United States in 1850. He took up his residence 
 in New York city, became associated in the conduct of an academy in Market 
 street, and married the daughter of the principal of that academy, Dr. Dulon. 
 He also took an active interest in the volunteer militia organization, and even 
 held the position for some months, under Colonel Schwarzwaelder, of major in 
 the fifth regiment 
 
 In September, 1858, Sigel removed from New York to St. Louis, where he 
 was employed as a teacher in the German- American Academy, when the present 
 war became imminent. Peace had perhaps become ennuyante after ten years, and 
 Sigel immediately "determined, in the event of war, to take an active part. 
 Known as a soldier of experience, he obtained a colonel s commission, and, upon 
 the first call of the President upon the people, he organized a regiment of his 
 countrymen, which, under the designation of the third Missouri, was incorpo 
 rated, May 15th, in General Lyon s first Missouri brigade. This regiment was 
 one of those enlisted for three months. Under Sigel s command, it participated 
 in the seizure of Camp Jackson, where, posted with Blair s regiment, and four 
 pieces of artillery, on the ridge to the north of the rebel position, it guarded the 
 main approach to it, and prevented the possibility of assistance being received 
 by the rebels from St. Louis. This movement was effected with a celerity and 
 precision that spoke highly for the degree of discipline to which the regiment 
 had already attained. After the capture of this rebel force, Governor Jackson 
 was known to be very active in the organization of another at Jefferson City, and 
 General Lyon apprehended that the intention was to make a sudden movement 
 upon St. Louis. He therefore posted the several regiments under his command 
 at the various avenues of approach to the city, to guard against this movement, 
 and also to intercept supplies and munitions of war which it was endeavored to 
 send from St. Louis to the rebel governor at the state capital. In discharge of 
 this duty, Colonel Sigel with his regiment was posted to the west of the city, in 
 Lindall s Grove, and performed efficient service there. 
 
 Just previous to the battle at Booneville, Mo., rebel military organizations be 
 came very active toward the Arkansas border, and Ben M Culloch was known to 
 be in motion with forces for the assistance of Jackson and Price, then at Jeffer 
 son City. Rather to watch, perhaps, than to fight these forces, Colonel Sigel was 
 ordered for active service in the extreme south-western part of Missouri, and left 
 St. Louis with six companies of his regiment on the night of June llth, followed 
 on the next day by the other four companies. Colonel Salomon s regiment, the 
 fifth, was subsequently added to his command, which also included the various 
 
FEANZ BIGEL. 53 
 
 home-guard organizations of the district. Squads of men were detached all along 
 the Pacific railroad, to guard the bridges, and keep open communication ; and 
 from Eolla, the terminus of the road, Colonel Sigel marched his force to Spring 
 field, and thence extended his line of operations westward to Sarcoxie. After 
 the battle of Booneville, and when the forces of Jackson and Price were in full 
 retreat toward the Arkansas border, all eyes were turned toward Colonel Sigel, 
 then the only man in a position to intercept them, and . news from his command 
 was breathlessly expected from day to day. Throughout the state more was 
 likely to be expected from him then than a calm review of his force would just 
 ify ; for his whole command numbered less than three thousand men, and his 
 line of operations was nearly three hundred miles in extent. Yet the bulk of his 
 force was gathered to the west of Springfield, for there was evidently the critical 
 point, and toward that point Major Sturgis pressed hurriedly forward with his 
 Kansas men ; and with his face turned that way, the earnest Lyon hurried the 
 preparations for his march from Booneville. From Booneville, Jackson had re 
 treated to Lexington, and every day contradictory reports of his movements 
 reached Sigel. Now he had formed a junction with Price, with Eains, with 
 Parsons, or with M Culloch, and his force was reported at every number from 
 six hundred to ten thousand. Moreover, this united force was represented at 
 various times to be upon every road by which it could possibly reach the Arkan 
 sas line. Sigel s duty to watch or intercept this body with such a part of his own 
 command as he could have at any one place, was thus no light one ; and still 
 Lyon did not move, and Sturgis was heard from very far away. 
 
 Sigel, with only his own regiment, arrived in Sarcoxie on Friday, June 28th, 
 at five P. M., and there learned certainly that Price, with between eight and nine 
 hundred men, was encamped to the south of Neosho, twenty-two miles west of 
 Sarcoxie; and that Jackson s troops, under command of Parsons, and another 
 body, under General Rains, were to the north, near Lamar. He determined to 
 march against Price, near Neosho, and to attack subsequently those to the north. 
 He accordingly marched from Sarcoxie on the morning of the 29th ; but, on the 
 same morning, the rebel camp at Neosho was broken up, and the troops there 
 stationed fled. Sigel then ordered the battalion of the fifth regiment, at Mount 
 Vernon, under Colonel Salomons, to join him at Neosho ; and as soon as they 
 had arrived, he moved forward, leaving one company in Neosho, and on the 
 evening of the 4th of July encamped on Spring River, one mile to the south-east 
 of Carthage, the county seat of Jasper county. The troops had marched twenty 
 miles that day. Colonel Sigel ascertained that Jackson, with four thousand men, 
 was only nine miles distant, encamped on the prairie. His own force consisted 
 of nine companies of the third regiment, seven companies of the fifth regiment 
 in all nine hundred and fifty men with two batteries of artillery, of four field- 
 
54 FRANZ SI GEL. 
 
 pieces each. With this force he moved, on the morning of July 5th, to attack 
 the rebels. Dry Fork Creek was passed six miles north of Carthage, and after a 
 further march of three miles, Jackson s force was found drawn up in order of 
 battle, on an eminence which rises gradually from the creek, and is about a mile 
 distant. Jackson s front presented three regiments, one regiment of cavalry being 
 on each wing, and the centre being formed of infantry, cavalry, and two field- 
 pieces ; other field-pieces were posted on the wings. The force in this line was 
 computed at two thousand five hundred men. Behind it was a large force in 
 reserve. Colonel Sigel detached one cannon, and an infantry company, to pro 
 tect his baggage, three miles in the rear, and at about nine, A. M., opened fire with 
 his artillery. The fire was promptly answered, and the rebel cavalry moved for 
 ward on his flanks, and threatened to turn them. Notwithstanding this move 
 ment, Colonel Sigel continued his fire until that of the enemy was sensibly weak 
 ened, when he ordered the guns to be advanced. Captain Wilkins, commander 
 of one of the batteries, at this moment announced that his ammunition was 
 exhausted. Both wings were also engaged with the rebel cavalry, and the loss 
 of the entire baggage became imminent. A retreat toward Dry Fork Creek was 
 accordingly ordered ; and at that point, after a junction with the baggage-train, a 
 stand was made for upwards of two hours, and a heavy loss inflicted upon the 
 enemy. Meanwhile, the rebel cavalry had completely surrounded Colonel Sigel s 
 command, and formed a line in his rear, on Buck Branch, a little creek which it 
 was necessary that he should pass. At this point a feint was made toward either 
 flank of the enemy s line, which drew his whole force into the road, and exposed 
 it to the fire of the national artillery. One round was fired, and the infantry 
 charged at double quick, and completely routed these two regiments. From this 
 point the march was undisputed, until Sigel s command reached a ridge to the 
 north of Carthage, on the Springfield road, where the enemy again took position. 
 Here a severe fight occurred, the hardest of the day. The enemy was driven 
 from his position, and the Union force obtained cover in a wood, which rendered 
 the enemy s cavalry for the time useless. After the men were somewhat rested 
 in the wood, the march was continued to Sarcoxie, which they reached at two, 
 A. M., on the 6th. Reliable accounts represented the rebel loss on this day at 
 three hundred and fifty men, while the whole loss in Sigel s command was but 
 thirteen killed and thirty-one wounded. 
 
 Soon after the battle near Carthage, the whole Union force in Missouri sub 
 ject to the command of General Lyon was concentrated at Springfield. While 
 they remained there, the three months for which Colonel Sigel s regiment was 
 enlisted expired, and he began to reorganize it for the war. Inspired by their 
 whole association, and especially by the recent fight, with high admiration of and 
 entire confidence in their colonel, six hundred of his men re-enlisted, and the 
 
FRANZ SIGEL. 55 
 
 regiment was soon filled up by recruits from the neighborhood of Springfield and 
 from St. Louis. When, in the beginning of August, General Lyon left Spring 
 field upon his first march in search of the rebel army, Colonel Sigel accompanied 
 him with a battalion of the third regiment, was present at the Dug Spring skir 
 mish, and returned to Springfield with the general. 
 
 Lyon determined, on the 9th of August, to attack the rebels in their camp 
 on Wilson s creek, and with this purpose divided his force into two columns : 
 the right he commanded in person, and the command of the left was intrusted to 
 Colonel Sigel. Sigel s division consisted of a battalion of the third regiment, 
 under Lieutenant-Colonel Albert ; a battalion of the fifth, under Colonel Salomon 
 only nine hundred men in the two battalions ; six pieces of artillery, and two 
 companies of cavalry of the United States army. It should be remembered that 
 the men of the fifth regiment were on this occasion volunteers in a double sense, 
 as the term of their enlistment had expired eight days before ; and that the third 
 regiment was composed in a great degree of recruits who were imperfectly drilled, 
 and had never been under fire. Moreover, the field-pieces were not served by 
 practiced artillerymen, but by men taken from the infantry regiments. Sigel s 
 command left Camp Fremont, south of Springfield, at sunset on the 9th, and at 
 daybreak on the 10th was within a mile of the south-eastern extremity of the 
 enemy s camp. Here the advance was very slowly and carefully made, and a 
 large number of prisoners was taken before the rebels had discovered the prox 
 imity of the Union forces. Four pieces of artillery were planted on a hill in 
 sight of the rebel camp, a line formed to support them, and when the firing an 
 nounced that Lyon s attack had begun, the four pieces opened a very destructive 
 fire. Under cover of this, the infantry advanced, drove out the enemy, and 
 formed nearly in the centre of his camp ; whereupon the artillery was also moved 
 forward, and, after some minutes, the enemy was driven into the woods in confu 
 sion. In order to render all possible assistance to Lyon s attack, Colonel Sigel 
 now advanced still more to the north-west further, it is said, than had been con 
 templated in the plan of attack and even received a very destructive fire from 
 Totten s battery. Taking a position near a farmhouse, he formed his men across 
 a road that he supposed the enemy would follow in retreat ; and meanwhile the 
 firing in Lyon s direction almost entirely ceased, and it w&s supposed that the 
 attack had been successful. This was the state of affairs at half-past eight 
 o clock, when it was reported to Colonel Sigel by his skirmishers that "Lyon s 
 men were coming up," along the very road which he had supposed the rebels 
 would take, and the infantry and artillery were notified not to fire on men com 
 ing in that direction. Lyon s men were thus momentarily expected, when a 
 strong column of infantry appeared; two batteries simultaneously opened fire 
 on Sigel s men, and the infantry also. Great confusion spread in the national 
 
56 FRANZ SIGEL. 
 
 ranks, and the cry was raised that Lyon s men were firing on them. Order could 
 not be restored in time to avail, and the rebel infantry advanced to within ten 
 paces of Sigel s guns, and killed the horses. Salomon s regiment broke, and 
 could not be rallied ; Sigel s also broke, but was partially rallied, and brought 
 away one gun. Thus repulsed, Sigel could only make the best of his way to 
 Springfield, which he did, and there formed a junction with the other column, 
 learned of Lyon s death, and assumed the command as next in rank. Prepara 
 tions were made the same night for a further retreat, and at daybreak on the llth 
 the whole command moved toward the Gasconade River, which, contrary to ex 
 pectation, was reached without a fight. But before that river was passed, some 
 question as to his actual rank was raised ; and, though it was known that Sigel 
 had then been confirmed a brigadier-general, the fact that he had not received 
 his commission was insisted upon, and the command was assumed by Major 
 Sturgis, of the United States army, who conducted the retreat to Eolla. 
 
 Franz Sigel received his commission as a brigadier-general of volunteers, 
 August 17th. On the 19th he arrived in St. Louis, where he was enthusiasti 
 cally received by his German fellow-citizens, upon whom his recent achievements 
 had made a great impression. He remained in St. Louis several weeks, confer 
 ring with the commander of the department upon the various measures necessary 
 for the march southward of a large force, and left that city to take command of 
 the advance the largest division of Fremont s army then posted at Georgetown 
 and Sedalia. He arrived in Sedalia September 28th, and on October 13th 
 marched from that place for Warsaw, " with sufficient force to open the way ;" 
 passed the Osage at Warsaw on the 16th, and reached Springfield, to the great 
 joy of its inhabitants, October 27th. Sigel s command was at this time in splen 
 did condition. To all the wants and grievances of his men he gave personal 
 attention, mingled with them on the march and in camp, and cheered them 
 through every difficulty. He was consequently a great favorite, and they were 
 enthusiastically eager to follow him in the actual strife. But while the advance 
 still remained at Springfield, General Fremont was removed from the command, 
 his plan of campaign was abandoned, and Sigel with his brigade retraced his 
 steps to Rolla. New measures were now inaugurated. General Hunter assumed 
 the command, and we hear of activity in every part of the state, upon both sides ; 
 and the rebels are roughly handled in several places ; Price again advances to 
 the Osage, and again retires ; but in all these movements we hear but little of 
 Sigel. And thus it continued for the remainder of October, for November and 
 December ; and while all was movement, life, and triumph around him, he fret 
 ted in compulsory inactivity, till it seemed that he was forgotten, or that there 
 was an intention to ignore his past services. From this state of affairs a rumor 
 easily spread that it was his intention to resign his commission, and general 
 
FRANZ SIGEL. 57 
 
 credence was given to it. "For a long time," said one of liis friends, "things 
 have looked as though the intention were to trifle with him. Where he sowed, 
 where he was first in the field and was the first to strike, and while his name 
 rang, like that of Mars, from every German lip throughout the Union, and helped 
 to fill the camps, others are now to reap the harvest." 
 
 General Sigel did indeed feel that injustice had been done to him, and that 
 he had been improperly interfered with in his command. Finally, it appeared to 
 him impossible to retain his position under the circumstances and with a proper 
 regard to his self-respect ; and on the 31st of December, therefore, he tendered 
 his resignation. General Halleck, to whom the resignation was sent, at St. Louis, 
 did not, it is said, immediately forward it to Washington. General Sigel, w r hen 
 informed of this, reiterated the tender, January 14th, and demanded the imme 
 diate dispatch of his letter to head -quarters. He was, however, compelled on 
 January 27th to tender his resignation for a third time, which was not accepted. 
 
AIsTDEEW HULL FOOTE. 
 
 ANDKEW HULL FOOTE was born in New Haven, Connecticut, Septem 
 ber 12th, 1806. His father, Samuel A. Foote, well known in the political 
 history of Connecticut in the early part of the present century, as a member of 
 the legislature and governor of the state, served also several terms in Congress ; 
 and was in 1830 the mover, in the United States Senate, of the resolution com 
 monly known as " Foote s resolution on the public lands," which gave rise to the 
 celebrated debate between Daniel "Webster and Eobert Y. Hayne. 
 
 Young Foote was intended by his parents for one of the learned professions, 
 but exhibiting a strong inclination for a sea-life, he was allowed, in December, 
 1822, to enter the navy as acting midshipman, and made his first cruise in the 
 schooner Grampus, Commander Gregory, which formed, part of the squadron 
 under Commodore Porter, dispatched in 1823 to the West, Indies, to chastise the 
 pirates who infested those waters and preyed upon American commerce. Hav 
 ing participated with credit in this dangerous service, he obtained a midshipman s 
 warrant, and in 1824 joined the Pacific squadron under Commodore Hull. In 
 1827, he passed his examination for passed-midshipman ; in 1830, he was com 
 missioned a lieutenant; and in 1833, he was ordered to join the Delaware, sev 
 enty-four, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Patterson, as flag-lieutenant 
 of the Mediterranean squadron. During his service on this station he visited 
 every accessible place of historic interest, and with a party of brother-officers 
 explored many parts of Egypt and the Holy Land, extending his journey to the 
 Dead Sea and the adjacent regions. In 1838, he was appointed first-lieutenant 
 of the sloop-of-war John Adams, in which he accompanied Commodore Eead in 
 his voyage of circumnavigation, participating in the attack upon the towns of 
 Quallahbattoo and Abuckie, in the island of Sumatra, which had become a noted 
 rendezvous of pirates ; and rendering effectual service to the American mission 
 aries at Honolulu, in obtaining the publication of their defence, and in supporting 
 them against the false charges of the French commander, La Place. 
 
 From 1841 until 1843, Lieutenant Foote was stationed at the Naval Asylum, 
 in Philadelphia, where his efforts were beneficially directed to ameliorate and 
 elevate the condition of the inmates. A consistent advocate, from his youth 
 upward, of total abstinence from spirituous liquors, he had not failed during his 
 
ANDREW HULL FOOTE. 59 
 
 experience of sea-life to observe the demoralizing influence upon sailors of an 
 habitual indulgence in drinking, even when it did not produce intoxication. 
 "Waiving for the time any notice of the plea, so frequently urged, that the severe 
 labors and hardships imposed upon the sailor compel him to resort to grog as a 
 stimulant (which he did not believe, his opinion being that " whiskey-rations are 
 evil, and only evil, and that continually"), he maintained that the case of the 
 retired pensioner differed essentially from that of the sailor on active duty, and 
 that the former would be happier and better without his grog. With admirable 
 address, he prevailed upon many of the " old salts" under his charge to take the 
 temperance pledge, and to the surprise of the incredulous carried out his predic 
 tions to the letter, the institution showing a marked improvement in discipline 
 and order during the period that he was connected with it. The reform thus 
 commenced twenty years ago, by an earnest advocate of total abstinence, has 
 since been extended to the entire service, and in the estimation of experienced 
 persons will greatly raise the standard of its personnel. 
 
 On his next cruise, which he niacle in the frigate Cumberland, in 1843- 45, 
 as first-lieutenant, Foote tested his theory of the benefits of total abstinence upon 
 a sea-going crew, whom he succeeded in persuading to give up their grog. The 
 spirit-room was accordingly emptied of its contents ; and the improvement in the 
 moral as well as the physical condition of the men was perceptible in the high 
 order of discipline soon attained, and which made the Cumberland a model ship. 
 Nor did Lieutenant Foote stop here. Having established sobriety and order in 
 the ship, he directed his attention to the religious instruction of the crew, and 
 delivered weekly a Sunday lecture on the berth-deck, at which nearly two hun 
 dred of the men voluntarily attended. Many of them also took part in prayer- 
 meetings which usually succeeded the lecture. 
 
 Soon after returning home, Lieutenant Foote was ordered to the Charles- 
 town navy-yard, where he discharged the duties of executive officer during the 
 Mexican War, being prevented from participating in that struggle by a species 
 of ophthalmia contracted in Egypt. In October, 1849, he was assigned to the 
 command of the brig Perry, and ordered to join the American squadron under 
 Commodore Gregory on the coast of Africa. The suppression of the slave-trade 
 was the special service assigned to him, and the British squadron cruising in the 
 game waters found no more earnest or efficient co-operator. Several slavers were 
 captured and condemned ; and the trade was, in fact, broken up along a consid 
 erable portion of the coast a result so satisfactory to the American government, 
 that Lieutenant Foote received from the naval department an official recognition 
 of his services. This compliment was doubly earned from the fact that, while 
 engaging in every effort to put down the nefarious traffic in human flesh, he had 
 rigidly kept in view, in his communications with the British authorities, the 
 
60 ANDREW HULL FOOT E. 
 
 great principle of the "War of 1812, maintaining that " the deck of an American 
 vessel under its flag is the territory of the United States, and that no other au 
 thority but that of the United States could ever be allowed to exercise jurisdic 
 tion over it." It is worthy of note also that during this cruise of two and a half 
 years, not a drop of grog was served out to the crew, and not an officer or man 
 was for any lengthened period on the sick-list (although the station is notoriously 
 unhealthy), or was lost or disabled. Lieutenant Foote subsequently embodied 
 his observations and reflections on this cruise in an interesting volume entitled 
 "Africa and the American Flag," which contains a general survey of the African 
 continent in its physical, historical, and social relations, with remarks on the 
 progress of colonization and the blighting influence of the slave-trade. Return 
 ing home in 1852, he was promoted to be a commander, and appointed executive 
 officer at the Naval Asylum, at which post he remained about a year. 
 
 His next important service was on the "Naval Retiring Board," composed 
 of fifteen of the most competent officers of the navy, to whom was assigned the 
 ungracious task of reporting the names of those of their brother-officers who were 
 incapacitated by age or other causes from discharging their duties, in order that 
 their places might be filled by younger and better men. It may be doubted 
 whether the government could have employed a more faithful or conscientious 
 person in this service ; and the fact that President Pierce subsequently reinstated 
 many officers whose incompetency had been reported by the board, in no respect 
 affects the action of Commander Foote and his associates, who simply performed 
 a duty imposed upon them by Congress. 
 
 In 1856, he was placed in command of the sloop-of-war Portsmouth, and 
 ordered to proceed to the China station. Arriving at Canton in October, just 
 previous to the commencement of hostilities between the English and Chinese, 
 he landed an armed force in the city for the protection of the American residents, 
 whom, in view of the threatening aspect of affairs, he advised to remove their 
 property. His boat, carrying the American flag at her stern, having been fired 
 upon from the Canton barrier forts while he was engaged in this duty, he re 
 ceived, after urgent solicitation, permission from Commodore Armstrong, his 
 commanding officer, to vindicate the honor of the flag by attack upon the forts. 
 The Levant was ordered to support the Portsmouth, but grounded in coming up 
 the river, so that the latter vessel was compelled to bear the brunt of the attack 
 alone. Anchoring under a heavy fire at the distance of four hundred and ninety 
 yards from the nearest fort, she succeeded, in less than two and a half hours. 
 in silencing all the forts, four in number ; and on the next day, November 21st, 
 in company with the Levant, she renewed the attack with great effect. A breach 
 having been made in the nearest fort, which was the strongest of all, Commander 
 Foote landed with a force of two hundred and eighty sailors and marines, and 
 
\ 
 ANDRE WHULLFOOTE. 61 
 
 carried the work by assault. Within the next two days the remaining forts were 
 stormed in the face of a galling fire from the enemy ; and on the 24th, the Amer 
 ican flag waved over all of them. The forts were massive granite structures, with 
 walls seven feet thick, mounting one hundred and seventy-six guns, and were 
 garrisoned by five thousand men, of whom upward of four hundred were killed 
 and wounded. The American loss did not exceed forty. This gallant series of 
 actions took place within sight of the British and French squadrons, and greatly 
 enhanced the reputation of the American navy as a ready and efficient vindicator 
 of the national flag. The foreign officers and correspondents of the English 
 newspapers spoke in high praise of the conduct of Commander Foote and his 
 men ; and as the Portsmouth and Levant dropped down the river past the British 
 squadron, the admiral, Sir Michael Seymour, ordered the rigging of the ship to be 
 manned, while the crew greeted the American vessels with loud cheers, and the 
 band played "Hail Columbia" and "Yankee Doodle." The effect of the capture 
 of the forts was, to cause the American flag to be thenceforth respected by the 
 Chinese, and to open the way for the treaty made in the succeeding year by Mr. 
 Reed. Commander Foote subsequently visited Japan and Siam, on important 
 business in behalf of his government, and after a cruise of two years returned in 
 June, 1858, to the United States. 
 
 The outbreak of the Rebellion found Commander Foote stationed at the 
 Brooklyn navy-yard as executive officer, in which capacity he aided in fitting out 
 many vessels of the blockading squadron. In July, 1861, he received his cap 
 tain s commission ; and in the September following he was appointed to succeed 
 Commander Rodgers as flag-officer of the flotilla fitting out in the Western waters 
 to co-operate with the land-forces in opposing the rebels in that part of the coun 
 try. The obstacles with which he had to contend in prosecuting this work were 
 numerous and vexatious ; and in the absence of the means and appliances which 
 are always at hand in the government ship-yards, he was obliged to tax his con 
 structive genius to the utmost in order to keep pace with the public expectation, 
 working day and night with unflagging energy. " The most difficult and ardu 
 ous work of my life," he wrote to a friend several months afterward, "has been 
 the improvising of the flotilla which, under God, has been so efficient in repress 
 ing rebellion, and in protecting loyal interests upon the magnificent rivers of the 
 West. My other acts are more than appreciated this probably never will be." 
 The obstacles were nevertheless overcome with a skill and promptness surprising 
 to all who were unacquainted with the man and with the native energy of his 
 character , and long before active military operations commenced in the West, 
 every one of the vessels comprising the flotilla was completed, and awaiting its 
 crew and armament 
 
 Early in February, 1862, the long-expected advance against the enemy com- 
 
62 ANDEEW HULL FOOTE. 
 
 menced with, an attack on Fort Henry, an important position on the Tennessee 
 River ; and to Flag-Officer Foote was assigned the privilege of opening the cam 
 paign, and of demonstrating the efficiency of the flotilla in whose equipment he 
 had labored so assiduously. His fleet of gunboats, seven in number, of which 
 four were iron-clad, entered the Tennessee River on the 5th of February, with 
 the design of co-operating with a large land-force, under General Grant, in the 
 reduction of the fort ; but the troops not arriving on the ground in season, Foote 
 opened fire, at about noon of the 6th, with the gunboats alone, and after a spirited 
 action of two hours, in which his vessels were pretty roughly handled, compelled 
 the rebel General Tilghman to make an unconditional surrender. About twenty 
 large guns and an immense amount of munitions fell into the hands of the federal 
 commander. The prisoners numbered only about sixty, comprising the remnant 
 of the garrison ; a rebel force of five thousand men, encamped outside the fort, 
 having been dispersed by shots from the fleet during the progress of the fight. 
 The Cincinnati, the flag-officer s ship, was hit thirty-one times ; but the casualties 
 of the fleet, with the exception of the Essex (which received a shot in her boiler, 
 whereby twenty-nine officers and men were injured), were slight. 
 
 Having transferred the fort and prisoners to General Grant, who arrived on 
 the ground an hour after the surrender, Flag-Officer Foote returned to Cairo, and 
 a few days later sailed for the Cumberland River, to assist the land-forces in an 
 attack upon Fort Donelson, a work of great size and strength, mounting many 
 heavy guns on the water-side. At three o clock P. M., on the 14th of February, 
 the fleet moved up to the attack, which for an hour and a quarter was conducted 
 with great vigor on both sides, and would have resulted in the capture of the 
 fort, had not the St. Louis, Foote s flag-ship, and the Louisville, become unman 
 ageable, by having their steering apparatus shot away, and drifted out of the fire. 
 The enemy immediately returned to the guns from which they had been driven, 
 and the remaining vessels were obliged to haul off, somewhat the worse for the 
 encounter. The St. Louis alone received sixty-one shots, and among the wounded 
 was her gallant commander, who was severely injured in the ankle by the frag 
 ment of a sixty-four-pound shot. With no thought of his own suffering, though 
 moving with great difficulty upon crutches, he proceeded up the river in his flag 
 ship immediately after the surrender of the fort to the land-forces under General 
 Grant, took possession of Clarksville without firing a gun, and destroyed the Ten 
 nessee Iron- Works, which had been used for the manufacture of iron plates for 
 rebel steamers. 
 
 After a brief respite at Cairo, Foote sailed down the Mississippi with his 
 flotilla, greatly increased in efficiency by the addition of the mortar-boats, whose 
 construction he had also superintended. The enemy evacuated their strong posi 
 tions at Columbus and Hickman previous to his approach, influenced doubtless 
 
AN DREW HULL FOOTE. 63 
 
 by the wholesome terror which the gunboats (the " iron hell-hounds," as General 
 Pillow called them) had in spired among them ; and on March seventeenth was 
 commenced the famous siege of Island Number Ten. Through all the tedious 
 episodes of that investment Foote remained faithfully at his post ; although, from 
 exertion and excitement, his wound grew daily more painful, until it was with the 
 utmost difficulty he could ascend the deck of his ship. At length, on the eighth 
 of April, the enemy, assailed in front by the flotilla and in the rear by the troops 
 under General Pope, (who, after long delay, had been conveyed across the Missis 
 sippi in boats,) surrendered their works, and the flotilla was at liberty to proceed 
 to new conquests. But so debilitated had Flag-Officer Foote become during the 
 interval, that, in the opinion of his medical advisers, retirement for a season from 
 active service could alone preserve his life. Under these circumstances, he reluct 
 antly applied to the Government for a leave of absence, and early in May turned 
 over his command to Captain Davis in an appropriate address to his men, in which 
 he was several times completely overcome by emotion. 
 
 His return to his home, in New-Haven, was one continuous ovation, and all 
 along the route enthusiastic crowds greeted him with shouts of approval. Public 
 receptions, which he invariably declined, were tendered to him in almost every 
 city through which he passed. " I should be as able to renew the fight with my 
 flotilla," he wrote, in reply to the invitation of a committee of the citizens of 
 Cleveland, " as to be the recipient of your numerous favors ; and I know too well 
 the intelligent citizens of Cleveland to doubt for a moment that they would deem 
 this my paramount duty." A few weeks of rest restored him to health ; but the 
 opening of the Mississippi, which he had so brilliantly commenced, having by 
 that time been so nearly accomplished that the result was in no doubt, he was 
 called to other duties of not less importance, and on the nomination of the Presi 
 dent, which was confirmed by the Senate, was appointed Chief of the Bureau 
 of Equipment and Eecruiting, under the new organization of the navy. He was 
 also, though one of the youngest captains in point of rank in the navy, selected 
 by the President with the entire approbation of the people as one of the seven 
 rear-admirals on the active list authorized by the Act of Congress. 
 
 As his health became more firmly reestablished, the duties of his office grew 
 more irksome to him, and he desired to return to active service. In May, 1863, 
 his wishes in this regard seemed about to be gratified. A change was decided 
 upon in the command of the South- Atlantic squadron, on which was to devolve 
 the siege of Charleston, and the eyes of the Government, as well as of the nation, 
 were turned at once upon Admiral Foote. The position was offered to him and 
 accepted, and, with his usual promptness, he was soon on his way to New- York 
 to make preparation for assuming the duties of his new command. But He who 
 had been his hope and his trust in all the past had determined otherwise. He was 
 
64 ANDREW HULL FOOTS. 
 
 to be called to a higher position, to a more glorious office, than any earthly poten 
 tate could confer upon him. 
 
 He had but just arrived in New- York and taken rooms at the Astor House 
 when he was attacked by the disease which, after two or three weeks of suffering, 
 terminated nis life; So severe was the seizure that the physicians deemed it un 
 wise to remove him, and every attention which Mr. Stetson could bestow was 
 lavished upon the dying veteran. His family gathered around him to minister to 
 him in his sufferings, and pray and labor for his recovery, and nothing was left 
 undone which the tenderest affection could suggest. But the time for his depart 
 ure had come, and no one was more sensible of the approach of death than he, who 
 had so often looked it in the face in the day of battle. And what a spectacle of 
 heroic faith triumphing over the last enemy did he present ! He was calm, 
 thoroughly self-possessed, sent messages of harmony and good-will to his bro 
 ther officers, and especially to Admiral Du Pont, whom he was to have suc 
 ceeded, expressed his satisfaction that his work was done, that he had not now 
 to make his peace with God, and fell asleep, his eyes closing 
 
 " Calmly, as to a night s repose, 
 Like flowers at set of sun." 
 
 Within a year previous to his death two of his children had preceded him to 
 the Silent Land, and his wife, who had watched so tenderly over his dying couch, 
 survived him less than three months. 
 
 His death occurred on the twenty-sixth of June, 1863, and his body lay in 
 state for two days at the Astor House, and was then removed to New-Haven, his 
 family residence, where his funeral was attended by a vast concourse of the most 
 eminent men of the State and nation. 
 
 Thus much for the public services of Admiral Foote. In the peaceful walks 
 of private life he showed the same strict sense of duty, the same energy in all 
 good works, and withal a modesty characteristic of the true hero. Frank and un 
 assuming in his manners, he was noted for his active philanthropy, his unobtru 
 sive piety, and his endeavors to elevate the moral condition of his race ; and he 
 repeatedly vindicated his sincerity in addresses at the religious anniversaries of 
 our large cities. His religion was of too earnest a stamp to be repressed or weak 
 ened by ridicule, and on more than one occasion he publicly showed how deeply 
 it was ingrained in his character. The often-repeated anecdote of his Sunday 
 discourse at Cairo is one which history delights to treasure, and is too characteris 
 tic of the man to be omitted here. He had just returned from the capture of 
 Fort Henry ; and in the fulfilment of a duty, with which, if possible, he never 
 permitted any circumstances to interfere, he attended the regular services at the 
 Presbyterian church in Cairo. The preacher, for some reason, was absent, and 
 
ANDREW HULL FOOTE. 65 
 
 the congregation were about to leave, when Flag-Officer Foote arose and ap 
 proached the desk. At the appearance of the weather-beaten veteran, fresh from 
 his recent victory, " like a servant of the Lord, with his Bible and his sword," the 
 congregation were with difficulty restrained from breaking into applause. He 
 checked them with a look, and, the first murmur of surprise having subsided, 
 offered an impressive prayer, to which he added an extempore sermon. The com 
 mander who, emerging from the smoke and roar of a great battle, could stand be 
 fore the people in the character of a preacher of the Gospel, will be acknowledged 
 a worthy descendant of the "men who fought and prayed" the founders of re 
 ligious and political liberty in New-England. 
 
 The orders of Admiral Foote upon assuming command of the flotilla, enjoin 
 ing a rigid observance of Sunday, and an avoidance, by both officers and men, of 
 profane swearing and intemperance, are conceived in the same spirit which 
 prompted his action on the above occasion, and stamp him as one who believed 
 that religion and morals are not the least effective agents in making good sailors. 
 A strict disciplinarian, he gained, to an unusual degree, the attachment and con 
 fidence of his crews. He had a decided taste for the pure and healthful enjoy 
 ments of life, and what he coveted for himself he had no wish to withhold from 
 others. He always felt a warm sympathy with his men ; he would listen patiently 
 to their complaints, promptly redress their grievances, and knew how to put up 
 with a little superfluous jollity on the part of the youngsters. Even his exertions 
 to stop the sailors grog were so evidently prompted by a desire for their welfare, 
 that the old salts did not dislike him for it. While on the Mississippi, and before 
 the order allowing a commutation of the allowance of grog, he was accustomed to 
 punish intoxication on the part of the sailors in a way which evinced at the same 
 time the kindness of his nature and his tendency to a sort of- dry humor. The 
 drunken sailor was on no account to be deprived of his gill of grog, but he must 
 take it mixed in a gallon of water ! 
 
 Among the popular heroes whom the war has produced no one was more 
 honored or trusted ; and while such men survive in active duty, the early fame of 
 the American navy will be fully sustained. 
 
FREDERICK w. LADDER. 
 
 AT a moment of peculiar peril, tlie nation was called upon to lament the 
 death of one of her bravest chiefs. In the midst of the smoke and tumult 
 of battle, she paused to twine the cypress-leaf with the laurel she had given him. 
 
 Brigadier-General FREDERICK W. LANDER was born at Salem, Massachu 
 setts, in the year 1823. Like Putnam, Stark, and Marion, he was born a soldier : 
 the profession of arms was a passion with him from his youth, and, though the 
 graduate of no military academy, he will be remembered among the very ablest 
 of those great-hearted gentlemen who have made themselves the bulwark of the 
 American republic. 
 
 General Lander s name was first brought prominently before the American 
 people in connection with the exploration for a wagon-road to the Pacific, several 
 years since. By referring to the state papers, it will be seen how admirably he 
 performed his arduous labors. His official report to the department proves him 
 to have possessed fine literary as well as scientific attainments. He would have 
 been a poet of no ordinary power, if he had not been so thoroughly a soldier. 
 
 At the breaking out of the present rebellion, he was assigned by General 
 McClellan, then in Western Virginia, a position on his staff. In Lander s cool 
 daring throughout that successful campaign, particularly at Philippa and Rich 
 Mountain, was the ring of the true metal. The people listened to it with hope. 
 Upon General McClellan s appointment to the command of the army of the 
 Potomac, General Lander accompanied him, and proved an invaluable auxiliary 
 in putting fresh strength into the half-demoralized and dispirited forces. Shortly 
 afterward, the government dispatched him upon secret service ; he accomplished 
 the delicate task with credit to his own discernment, and to the entire satisfac 
 tion of the President. 
 
 On his return from the foreign mission, he was immediately placed in com 
 mand of a brigade in General Banks s division ; and at the affair at Edwards s 
 Ferry, on the 22d of October, 1861, he was for the first time wounded, receiving 
 a musket-ball in the leg while gallantly leading his men. He was no holiday 
 hero. He shared the dangers of the battle with his humblest private. 
 
 The wound was of such a serious nature, that he was obliged to relinquish 
 his command for several weeks. How patiently he endured the mere physical 
 
BRK r. I .KX. ] ,,\.\ 
 
FREDERICK W. LANDER. Q^ 
 
 suffering, and how lie chafed under the galling necessity that kept him a prisoner 
 in a sick-room, when his country needed him so much, is known to those whose 
 privilege it was to nurse him during that dark period. 
 
 In person, General Lander was a type of strength and masculine beauty. 
 Tall of stature, with a countenance that indicated the possession of that impartial 
 integrity and nobleness which we associate with the ancient Greek character, he 
 was warm and loyal in his friendships, but cold and severe to every shape of 
 wrong. His wild frontier experiences had given him something of the impertur 
 bability of an Indian warrior. It has been said that he was insensible to peril. 
 lie was more than that. No eye was quicker than his to detect danger, but he 
 had that lofty moral courage which taught him to scorn it judiciously. His men 
 revered and loved him. The corps which was enlisted in his native city formed 
 his body-guard, and followed him to Western Virginia under a pledge to Mrs. 
 Lander that they would never leave him upon the field of battle. In case of 
 defeat, this devoted band had sworn to die with him. Some four years since, 
 General Lander was married to Miss J. M. Davenport, the distinguished tragedi 
 enne, and a most accomplished lady. 
 
 Before General Lander had fairly recovered from the effects of his wound, he 
 again took the field. He assumed the command of the national forces at Romney, 
 Virginia. A movement on the part of the rebel General Jackson, threatening to 
 outflank his troops, rendered it expedient for him to evacuate the position. It 
 was his fate to give us but one more instance of his indomitable energy and 
 valor. Having discovered that there was a rebel camp at Blooming Gap, he 
 marched his four thousand men a distance of thirty-two miles, and completelv 
 surprised the enemy, capturing no less than seventeen commissioned officers and 
 fifty privates. The general, with one of his aides-de-camp, Lieutenant Fitz-James 
 O Brien, dashed in among them, and demanded their surrender, some two min 
 utes before the Union lines reached the spot. The secretary of war complimented 
 General Lander in the following letter : 
 
 "WAR DEPARTMENT, "WASHINGTON, February 11th, 1862. 
 
 " The President directs me to say that he has observed with pleasure the 
 activity and enterprise manifested by yourself and the officers and the soldiers 
 of your command. You have shown how much may be done in the worst 
 weather and worst roads, by a spirited officer at the head of a small force of 
 brave men unwilling to waste life in camp when the enemies of their country 
 are within reach. 
 
 " Your brilliant success is a happy presage of what may be expected when 
 the army of the Potomac shall be led to the field by their gallant general. 
 
 " EDWIN M. ST ANTON, /Secretary of War. 
 "To Brigadier-General F. "W. LANDER." 
 
68 FREDERICK W. LANDER. 
 
 The knightly exploit, however, was not without its price. The terrible 
 march irritated the wound, which had never ceased to be painful, and brought 
 on a complication of diseases. At Camp Chase, on the 2d of March, 1862, this 
 gallant spirit passed 
 
 " To where beyond these voices there is peace." 
 
 He was buried with all the honors that a sorrowful and grateful nation could 
 bestow. His name will be woven forever with the annals of the land he loved. 
 "History will preserve the record of his life and character, and romance will 
 delight in portraying a figure so striking, a nature so noble, and a career so 
 gallant."* 
 
 Such is the brief story of a man whose love of country was so pure and 
 beautiful, whose heart was so full of all kindly and cliivalric qualities, that, at 
 firesides where he had never been, women wept for him as if he were their 
 brother; and old men said of him, as though he were their son, "LANDER IS 
 DEAD !" 
 
 * General McClellan, in Order No. 86, announcing Lander s death to the army of the Potomac. 
 
 30 
 
^ /- 
 
JOHN ELLIS WOOL. 
 
 JOHN ELLIS WOOL was born at Newburgh, in the State of New- York, in 
 the year 178$. He received, in early life, only a rudimentary education, and 
 for the greater part of his youth was employed as clerk in a store in the city of 
 Troy. Dissatisfied with this condition in life, he began the study of law, con 
 tinued it for one year, and then gave it up. This relinquishment of his first am 
 bition fell just in that period when the country began to prepare for the war that 
 soon ensued with Great Britain, and when Congress stormily debated the increase 
 of the military force. Fired with a patriotic spirit, and an earnest desire to serve 
 his country, Wool s ambition at once sought a more extensive sphere, and, upon 
 the enlargement of the army, he obtained, April fourteenth, 1812, a captain s com 
 mission in the Thirteenth regiment of infantry. He soon after joined the army 
 under General Van Rensselaer, on the Niagara frontier, and there passed the sum 
 mer of 1812 in the drill and discipline of his men, and other technical duties of 
 his rank. 
 
 Captain Wool s command was part of the force in the expedition against 
 Queenstown, and in the brilliant struggle at Queenstown Heights, the young offi 
 cer won his first distinction. After Colonel Van Rensselaer was carried from the 
 field, and previous to the arrival of General Van Rensselaer, the command, for a 
 time, rested with and was held conjointly by Captains Wool and Ogilvie. Wool 
 received a severe wound in this fight, and, by the eventual surrender, became a 
 prisoner of war ; but his gallantry was recognized, and he was promoted to be a 
 Major, and upon his exchange assigned to the Twenty-ninth regiment of infantry, 
 April thirteenth, 1813. Stationed at Plattsburgh, he participated in the success 
 ful resistance offered at that point to the British army under Prevost, and again 
 became conspicuous for his gallantry. He was especially efficient in harassing the 
 march of the British army, and in the various minor struggles that for five days 
 preceded the principal battle on the Saranac. For his gallant conduct in the 
 battle of the eleventh September he was breveted Lieutenant-Colonel. 
 
 In September, 1816, he was appointed Inspector-General of the army, with 
 the rank of Colonel ; in February, 1818, Lieutenant-Colonel of infantry ; and for 
 " ten years of faithful service " he was breveted Brigadier-General, April twenty- 
 ninth, 1826. 
 
70 JOHN ELLIS WOOL. 
 
 In 1832 General Wool was sent to Europe, in Government commission, to 
 obtain information on military matters, and, in the discharge of that duty, tra 
 velled through all of France and Belgium, and was present at the siege and bom 
 bardment of Antwerp by the French. In 1836 he assisted in the removal of the 
 Indians from the Cherokee country to Arkansas, and in two years after was placed 
 in command of the troops posted on the Maine frontier. He was appointed a Bri 
 gadier-General June twenty-fifth, 1841. 
 
 Brigadier-General "Wool, in the war with Mexico, commanded the " centre 
 division " of the United States army, organized to act against Chihuahua, in pur 
 suance of the primary plan of the United States Government to cut off from 
 Mexico its more northerly provinces. Though thus in command of a separate 
 division, General Wool was subject to the orders of General Taylor. Taylor, 
 however, only named the point of destination, and left all beside to the discretion 
 of Wool. His command assembled at San Antonio de Bexar, in Texas, and com 
 prised three thousand men. Washington s battery of light artillery formed part 
 of it. General Wool began his march September twenty-sixth, 1846, and in 
 eleven days reached the Rio Grande, near to San Juan Bautista, better known as 
 Presidio. At that point the river is two hundred and seventy yards wide, and has 
 an exceedingly rapid current ; but a flying bridge, brought with the army, was 
 thrown across, and the whole command, and an immense train of stores, were 
 safely landed on the opposite shore by the night of October eleventh. Thus 
 within the Mexican territory, General Wool published an order, in which he stated 
 that the army of the United States would act only against the Mexican govern 
 ment ; that all who did not take up arms, but remained peaceably in their homes, 
 would not be molested either in their persons or property ; and that all who fur 
 nished supplies would be treated kindly, and paid for whatever was taken. From 
 Presidio the division marched by San Juan de Nava, San Fernando de Rosas, and 
 Santa Rosa to Monclova. The authorities of the latter place protested against Gen 
 eral Wool s advance upon it, and on November third he entered with the army, 
 and took formal possession of the town. Orders were here received from General 
 Taylor for the " centre division " to remain at Monclova until the end of the 
 armistice, and it consequently rested twenty-seven days. Meantime the troops 
 were incessantly drilled, and stores were collected for the establishment of a depot. 
 Two hundred and fifty men were detached to guard the depot, and on the twenty- 
 fourth November the division took up the line of march for Parras, one hundred 
 and eighty miles distant. At Parras it was intended to take the great road from 
 Saltillo to Chihuahua, but, upon its arrival there, the division was held to coope 
 rate, if necessary, with General Taylor, then threatened by Santa Anna, and 
 weakened by the withdrawal of troops for Scott s line of operations. While the 
 " centre division " still remained at Parras, General Taylor learned of an intention 
 
JOHN ELLIS WOOL. Yl 
 
 upon the part of the Mexicans to surprise Saltillo, and massacre the small body 
 of American troops stationed there, and immediately sent word with marching 
 orders to General Wool, and also to General Butler at Monterey. " Wool, who 
 had been marching from Port Lavoca to Parras in search of a battle," says Kipley, 
 in his History of the War, " and who, in his desire of adventure and fame, had 
 only wished to abandon the Chihuahua expedition in order to penetrate, with his 
 single corps, still further south in the direction of Durango and Zacatecas, hailed 
 the news as the harbinger of glory to be acquired. He at once broke up his camp 
 at Parras, and marched with the greatest celerity toward Saltillo, pushing his 
 artillery and cavalry at the rate of forty miles a day." General Butler also hur 
 ried forward ; and General Taylor marched upon Saltillo with Twiggs s division ; 
 and the Mexicans consequently made no attack. From this time, however, the 
 "centre division" was merged into the "army of occupation," and joined General 
 Taylor s command at Agua Nueva, December twenty-first ; and from that time 
 until the battle of Buena Vista was fought, the whole American camp, and the 
 instruction and discipline of the soldiers, were placed under General Wool s com 
 mand and direction. 
 
 Upon the second day after Wool s arrival at Agua Nueva, an incident oc 
 curred to which the subsequent battle gave importance. Accompanied by seve 
 ral gentlemen of his command, and his Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant Irwin McDowell, 
 he rode from his camp at Agua Nueva, December twenty-second, to visit Generals 
 Butler and Worth at Saltillo, and upon his return next day, and while in the pass 
 or narrows near the Hacienda of Buena Vista, he said : " This is the very spot of 
 all others I have yet seen in Mexico which I should select for battle, were I ob 
 liged with a small army to fight a large one." He then described the various ad 
 vantages of the position, and rode on. General Taylor at this time intended, if 
 attacked, to fight at Agua Nueva, and General Butler opposed the wish of Gene 
 ral Wool to form his encampment near to Buena Vista, and even compelled the 
 removal of the camp after it was formed there. General Taylor, however, upon 
 examination, agreed with General Wool as to the advantages of the position at 
 Buena Vista, and when it became certain that Santa Anna would attack with a 
 large army, determined to meet him there. General Wool has thus the honor to 
 have chosen the field upon which the American army was enabled to struggle so 
 gloriously and victoriously. 
 
 General Taylor was at Saltillo on the morning of the twenty-second, and 
 the command of the army fell upon General Wool, as next in rank. He 
 accordingly ordered the advance from camp to the field, and disposed the army 
 in its first order of battle. Previous to the commencement of the fight, how 
 ever, General Taylor arrived, and General Wool again took the command of 
 his own division. But on the night of the twenty-second, by Taylor s return 
 
72 JOHN ELLIS WOOL. 
 
 to Saltillo, General Wool was again left in command of the army, and retained 
 the command for a part of the next day, when the battle was fought. Of 
 the small army in the field on the twenty-second, General Taylor took with 
 him to Saltillo a squadron of dragoons and Colenel Davis s regiment of Mis 
 sissippi riflemen. General Wool was thus left with four thousand two hundred 
 men ; and with this small force he held Santa Anna s army of twenty thou 
 sand in check until General Taylor came up and assumed the command. For 
 "gallant and meritorious conduct" in this battle, General Wool received the 
 brevet of major-general in May, 1848. 
 
 Upon the close of the Mexican war, General Wool was assigned to the 
 command in the Eastern Military Department of the United States, and this 
 position he held until some time alter the present war broke out. Previous 
 to the recent creation of several new departments, his command embraced the 
 States of South- Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. 
 
 When the treasonable agitation began in South-Carolina, General Wool 
 urged strongly the support of Major Anderson, in Fort Sumter, and as early 
 as December, 1860, declared that the surrender of that post would put two 
 hundred thousand men in arms in defence of the Union. During the same 
 month he wrote : " Before South-Carolina can get out of the jurisdiction or 
 control of the United States, a reconstruction of the Constitution must be had, 
 or civil war ensue." . . . He also declared himself as " now and forever 
 in favor of the Union, its preservation, and the rigid maintenance of the rights 
 and interests of the States, individually as well as collectively," and in a letter 
 to General Cass he expressed the desire that "the President would command 
 his services" if he could be of any aid. 
 
 Immediately after the surrender of Fort Sumter, one of those great Union 
 demonstrations that were made all over the country was made at Troy, 1ST. Y., 
 and a great concourse of citizens adjourned from their place of meeting to the 
 house of General Wool, who there addressed them, and in the course of his 
 remarks used these words : "I have fought under the Stars and Stripes that 
 were carried in triumph by Washington, and under which Jackson closed the 
 second war for independence at New-Orleans in a halo of glory. Will you 
 permit that flag to be desecrated and trampled in the dust by traitors now? 
 Will you permit our noble Government to be destroyed by rebels, in order 
 that they may advance their schemes of political ambition, and extend the 
 area of slavery? No, indeed, it cannot be done. The spirit of the age for 
 bids it. Humanity and manhood, and the sentiments of the civilized world 
 forbid it. My friends, that flag must be lifted up from the dust into which 
 it has been trampled, placed in its proper position, and again set floating in 
 
JO UN ELLIS WOOL. 73 
 
 triumph to tlie breeze. I pledge you my heart, iny hand, all my energies, to 
 the cause." 
 
 Yet despite this known devotion to the cause, and the General s great expe 
 rience and capacity as an officer, he was, at a time when the country s great 
 est need was experienced and able officers, kept for several months, through 
 some unaccountable cause at the War Department, in virtual retirement at 
 Troy, and assured that it was done " for the benefit of his health," though 
 he publicly declared that his health had never been better. 
 
 Great dissatisfaction with the course of the Government in this matter 
 was publicly expressed through the newspapers and otherwise, and at length, 
 August twelfth, 1861, the veteran received from the War Department the 
 order to proceed to Fortress Monroe and take command of the forces there. 
 On his way thither he arrived in New- York, August fifteenth, and that night 
 was serenaded at his hotel. In response to the calls of the assembled multi 
 tude, he appeared upon the balcony and spoke as follows : 
 
 " FELLOW-CITIZENS : I thank you for this unexpected honor. Nothing 
 is more gratifying to a soldier s feelings than the good opinion of his fellow- 
 citizens. I do not, however, regard it merely as a compliment personal to 
 myself, but on behalf of my country, my bleeding country, which is now con 
 tending for the most precious of rights. But yesterday we were a great peo 
 ple, commanding the admiration of the world, with an empire extending from 
 the frozen regions of the north to the tropical regions of the south, and with 
 a population of more than thirty-one millions, enjoying a prosperity unparalleled 
 in the history of nations. Every city and hamlet was growing rich, and none 
 so much so as those at the South. But this is not so to-day. And for what 
 reason ? For nothing under God s heavens but because the South wants to 
 extend the area of slavery. Nothing else but that. The only question with 
 you is, whether you will support free speech, free government, free suffrage, 
 or extend the area of slavery. This was the happiest country on the face of 
 the globe a few months since, with a Government more kind than any other 
 in existence, where man could walk abroad in his own majesty, and none to 
 make him afraid. Never sacrifice that Government, but maintain it to the 
 last. I thank you, gentlemen, for the honor you have done me." 
 
 After several patriotic airs were given, another pause was made in the 
 music, cries were renewed for the appearance of General Wool, and he came 
 forward and said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, a few words more ; though I am too hoarse to speak, I have 
 only to say to you, let us have liberty and union, the whole Union, and 
 nothing but the Union now and forever. Good night." 
 
74 JOHN ELLIS WOOL. 
 
 General Wool reached Fortress Monroe two days later, and assumed com 
 mand of the army assembled there. The force was mostly made up of volun 
 teers, and had since the \var began been under the command of Major-General 
 Butler. General Wool immediately began the institution of a more perfect 
 and thorough discipline, and by holding every colonel and line officer respon 
 sible not only for the good conduct but for the efficiency of their respective 
 commands ; by exacting specific reports from them of every thing ; by insist 
 ing upon their being personally acquainted with the facts they state ; and by 
 the infusion of good activity into every branch of the service, he is rapidly 
 fitting the men of his command for any emergency. 
 
BRIG. GEN. J.W. SILL. 
 
JOSHUA WOODKOW SILL. 
 
 IN 1637, there came from Newcastle-upon-Tyne John Sill and his wife Jo 
 anna. They settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their children, Joseph 
 and Elizabeth, born in England, married and died in this country, leaving to their 
 posterity honored and well-loved names. Joseph, the eldest son, distinguished 
 himself in the Indian war of 1676. History tells us he was feared by King Philip 
 and his Wampanoags ; his musket rarely missed its aim, while his daring and 
 courage won for him the confidence of his superior officers. At the close of the 
 war, Captain Sill removed from Cambridge to Lyme, Connecticut. In 1677 he 
 married his second wife, Mrs. Sarah Marvin, of Lyme. From their youngest son, 
 Zechariah, born in 1682, Joshua "Woodrow Sill was a direct descendant. 
 
 " Captain Joseph," of Indian warfare renown, was not the only member of 
 the Sill family who distinguished himself as a soldier. His grandson, Zechariah 
 Sill, was with the American army in the vicinity of Boston, and assisted in erect 
 ing the fortifications on Dorchester Heights during the memorable night of the 
 fourth of March, 1776. Zechariah Sill s nephew, Joseph, son of the Eev. Eichard 
 Sill, of West-Granville, New- York, was the father of the subject of this sketch. 
 He was born in "West-Granville, and there prepared for college. He graduated at 
 Middlebury, Vermont, in 1809, and commenced the study of law, but afterward 
 removed to Philadelphia, entered the law-office of Spencer and John Sargeant, and 
 was there admitted to the bar in 1814. This same ye#r he removed to Chilli- 
 cothe, Ohio, where he settled in the practice of his profession, and has since re 
 sided. He has represented his district in the State Legislature, and held, for seve 
 ral years, the office of District Attorney for the counties of Eoss, Jackson, and 
 Pike. Although fast verging on the limits of fourscore, he still possessed a strong 
 mind, and an earnest, invincible determination never to sacrifice those principles 
 of our Government which were connate with his New-England descent. In 1824 
 he married his first wife, Elizabeth Woodrow, daughter of Joshua Woodrow, a 
 Quaker, of Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio. 
 
 Mrs. Sill was an uncommon woman. Child of the first generation of the pio 
 neer s descendants, she had what was in those days a remarkable love for, and ac 
 quaintance with the English literature of the past century. The graces of her life 
 were not the mere external accomplishments which pass for so much in our time, 
 
76 JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 
 
 but the more real and substantial elements of a Christian character, which sought 
 and loved what was good, true, and beautiful. She possessed great personal 
 beauty. Her eyes were of that lustrous brown which gaze forth from those em 
 bodiments of purity and meekness, the Madonnas of Eaphael. She was indeed 
 
 " No angel, but a dearer being, all dipped 
 In angel-instincts, breathing Paradise, 
 Interpreter between gods and men, 
 Who looked all native to her place, and yet, 
 On tiptoe, seemed to touch upon a sphere 
 
 Too gross to tread 
 
 Happy he 
 
 With such a mother ! faith in womankind 
 Beats with his blood, and trust in all things high 
 Comes easy to him ; and though he trip and fall, 
 He shall not blind his soul with clay." 
 
 Her fourth child, and second son, Joshua Woodrow, was born December sixth, 
 1831. As a boy he was remarkable for his dutiful, filial deportment, and this, 
 united with his childlike love for those at home, formed one of the chief attractions 
 of his mature years. Serious, thoughtful, and retiring, he passed his boyhood in 
 devotion to study under the guidance of his father and other competent teachers, 
 and long before the years of manhood, had mastered many of the more abstruse 
 branches of science, and gained an unusual knowledge of the classics and English 
 literature. The purity and elevation of his tastes, his innate refinement and deli 
 cacy of character, protected him from ill associations. 
 
 In 1849 he was appointed a United States cadet from the Chillicothe Con 
 gressional District. A letter from an army officer in 1850, to .the representative 
 from Eoss County, contains the following: "I have called upon Cadet Sill. I 
 find him a very promising young man. He has just passed a very fine examina 
 tion, and I have no doubt will be head of his class in French and English studies, 
 and very near head in mathematics, near enough to make him head in general 
 merit. You may well be proud of having such a good representative from your 
 district." 
 
 From his entrance at the Military Academy to his graduation Sill ranked 
 among the first scholars of his class. Eigid observance of the requirements of his 
 studies, and natural reserve of disposition, while it protected him from the vices, 
 deprived him of the advantages of general association with other cadets. But the 
 friends he had " he grappled to his soul with hooks of steel." There was nothing 
 of adventure in his cadetship. Some little difficulty threatened him at one time, 
 (about his third year,) by reason of his refusal to testify against a room-mate, but 
 it soon passed over, as such collegiate freaks of honor should. All of his associ- 
 
JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. TV 
 
 ates and classmates, among them Generals McPherson, Schofield, Eobinson, Sheri 
 dan, Tyler, Terrill, and Plummer, affectionately and proudly allude to his studious 
 and successful devotion to every duty. 
 
 In the summer of 1853 he graduated. Chosen for an ordnance appointment, 
 he was stationed at Watervliet Arsenal, West-Troy. Here he passed a quiet, 
 studious life. His unobtrusive modesty, his strict obeyance of orders, his digni 
 fied gentleness to those beneath him, his cordiality and refined courtesy to those 
 friends who were permitted to mess with the officers, won for him the lasting af 
 fection of all. 
 
 In July, 1855, he was ordered to West-Point as one of the instructors. Two 
 years, not pleasant ones, passed. The department intrusted to him exacted all 
 his time, but did not sufficiently interest him or satisfy his desire for progress in 
 scientific attainment. He was thence ordered to Pittsburgh Arsenal, where, for a 
 short time, awaiting orders, he occupied himself with testing and drafting for 
 ordnance. 
 
 May fifth, 1858, he sailed for Washington Territory, to superintend the es 
 tablishment of an arsenal there. His letters during the journey contain much 
 penetrating observation, accurate yet comprehensive, betraying itself in slight de 
 scriptions of the voyage, the cities, harbors, people, products, and, indeed, what 
 ever came within range, of his passing glance. At San Francisco he examined 
 and reported upon the public works. 
 
 In June, 1858, he arrived at Vancouver, Washington Territory, and began 
 careful and laborious investigations, preliminary to the establishment of the arse 
 nal, but the Vancouver Island imbroglio with the British authorities suspended 
 and finally prevented its construction. Sill, however, at General Harney s request, 
 served upon his staff. Before leaving Vancouver, some difficulty occurred be 
 tween the General and Lieutenant Sill. It was purely one of etiquette, and in no 
 wise involved the public interest or Sill s good name. He was court-martialed 
 for writing a letter to Harney s Adjutant, but honorably acquitted. The verdict 
 contained a few words apparently to excuse the preferment of the charge, and 
 upon this pretext the Secretary of War, Floyd, in his order confirming the ac 
 quittal, read Sill a lecture which surprised no one more than the officers who had 
 unconsciously given him the text for it. 
 
 Sill always treated his trial with the utmost reticence and indifference. He 
 never spoke or seemed to think unpleasantly of General Harney, whose treatment 
 to him after the affair continued to be kindly and courteous. The publicity given 
 to the matter by Floyd, and the unjust constructions proclaimed by him, gave 
 some annoyance, but the noble heart of Sill cherished no feeling of animosity 
 even toward Floyd, .who thus shabbily wielded his great office to wound the repu 
 tation of a young lieutenant. As to Floyd God has proven Sill and him by 
 
78 JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 
 
 unerring tests. The eternal record of the one is hero and true man : of the 
 other false traitor. 
 
 In September, 1859, Sill returned East, and was again stationed at Water- 
 vliet, but in the following June he was ordered to Fort Leavenworth. It was 
 here that his long-cherished purpose of leaving the army for a freer and more 
 active career took effect. His discontent with army life arose chiefly from repug 
 nance to the selfish crowding for promotion, and unnecessary self-reproach that he 
 was a comparatively idle incumbent upon the National Treasury. Early in 1860 
 he gave notice of resignation, and received the usual six months furlough. A 
 letter to a friend at the time -shows how distasteful military life had become, and 
 yet how conscientious he was in his desire to enter upon more congenial duties. 
 " My dissatisfaction with army life has been growing so rapidly, that after waiting 
 in vain to secure a more congenial situation, I have at last determined to resign, 
 regardless of consequences. Accordingly, I applied some time since for a six 
 months leave of absence, which has been granted. . . . Your kind offer at 
 this conjuncture has given me more anxious thought than any previous election 
 of a locality and a vocation. The truth is, I hardly dare regard myself as adapted 
 by force of talent, or by long-cherished tastes for other pursuits, * to fill the Pro 
 fessorship of Mathematics. I do not say this from any impulse of false modesty, 
 or that other subtle species of vanity which consists in self-depreciation I speak 
 candidly, having in view the innumerable trials and mortifications of a man who 
 should recklessly stick himself in the wrong place." 
 
 This Professorship he finally accepted, and in September, 1860, went to 
 Brooklyn as Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering in the Brooklyn 
 Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. With how much ability and skill he filled 
 that chair let the "resolutions" of the faculty, instructors, and students of that 
 Institute, adopted by them, testify, f Up to December, 1860, he seems to have 
 
 * He probably referred to Astronomy, Chemistry, or Geology. In all three of these he was 
 more than proficient. 
 
 t " Whereas, The mournful intelligence has reached us of the death of Brigadier-General Joshua 
 W. Sill, Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering in this Institute, who, on the breaking 
 out of the Southern rebellion, relinquished his chair (temporarily, as we trusted) to enter the 
 military service of his country, and fell at the head of his division while gallantly leading it into 
 battle at Stone River, Tennessee, on Wednesday, December thirty -first, 18G2 ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That Professor Sill was one whose conspicuous virtues and refined manners, com 
 bined with ripe erudition and quiet energy, fitted him equally to adorn the walks of civil and 
 military life ; that our association with him has given him a large and lasting place in our esteem, 
 and that we mourn his loss, not merely as an efficient co-laborer and an accomplished instructor, 
 but as a brother and a friend. 
 
 "Resolved, That as we review the record of his brief military life, a life of unremitting toil, 
 welcome hardships, unwavering devotion to duty, wounded at last by the eager immolation of self 
 
JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 79 
 
 thoroughly enjoyed his new life, but the threatening aspect of affairs now greatly 
 disturbed and engrossed him. As the time for his resignation to take effect ap 
 proached, the grave question, whether or not to retract it, was to be decided. Upon 
 the one hand, it seemed quite possible that the country would require the services 
 of all her educated soldiers. On the other, this necessity was but a contingent and 
 doubtful one. Many of the shrewdest statesmen believed that the storm would 
 pass the peril be averted. Sill s apprehensions were alive and awake. But if 
 he withdrew his resignation and the cause of the withdrawal disappeared, he broke 
 up his new plans needlessly and unfortunately. His anxious consideration of the 
 dilemma was at last ended by the advice of reliable and experienced military 
 friends. He perfected the resignation, and wrote to the Chief of the Department, 
 pledging his services whensoever and howsoever they might be useful. That this 
 was no idle pledge, no hollow parade of patriotic intents, was testified by the sub 
 sequent fulfilment. 
 
 It is a somewhat singular commentary upon the confusion and wild suspicion 
 which ruled the hour, that in the newspaper announcement of his resignation, 
 Sill, every fibre of whose heart was devotedly loyal, was confounded with the 
 secessionists. One morning, in the New- York Times, his name appeared at the 
 head of a column of disloyal resignations. The mistake was at once corrected by 
 friends, but Sill s dislike of publicity was so intense, that while thanking them for 
 the kindness, he regretted the publication. 
 
 He remained at the Polytechnic until May, 1861. The condition of the 
 country and his relations and duties to it were the subject of frequent considera 
 tion, yet never from him was heard one word of personal ambition, but on the 
 contrary an extreme repugnance, so far as he was personally concerned, to enter 
 upon the race for distinction and power which the tumult of the times inaugurated. 
 From the beginning, he never wavered in his resolution to devote himself to the 
 cause ; the only question was " when ?" and " how ?" 
 
 The day the Seventh regiment left New- York for Washington Professor Sill 
 dined with a few friends. He was rather silent but pale with suppressed excite 
 ment, his eye lit with a fire never seen there before. The little he said was char 
 acterized by an excessive degree of moderation. He was so possessed by an over 
 mastering but just anger that he scarcely trusted himself to speak. It needed no 
 
 on the altar of country, we find but a firmer ground for faith in the ultimate triumph of the sacred 
 cause of the Union, and a fresh stimulus to zeal in serving those ends at which our beloved asso 
 ciate never ceased to aim, our Country s, God s, and Truth s. 
 
 "Resolved, That we wear in his honor the usual badge a crape upon the left arm for thirty 
 days, and that we will inscribe upon the walls of this Institute some more enduring memorial of 
 his virtues, which may inspire with grateful regard, and incite to noble emulation, the youth of 
 future generations." ...... 
 
80 JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 
 
 spirit of prophecy to foretell that his sword would not long lie idle. His friends 
 expended their power of persuasion to induce him to seek high command, and to 
 volunteer from the great and liberal State of New- York ; but he regarded the ties 
 of nativity more than the hopes of personal aggrandizement and shrank from un 
 dertaking the responsibilities of more than a subordinate position. He resigned 
 his Professorship, and wrote to Ohio, asking for a place in her organization. Un 
 til the reply came, he occupied himself with the discipline of the " Phalanx," a 
 regiment organized under the auspices of the Eev. Henry Ward Beecher. 
 
 Before leaving Brooklyn an unexpected pleasure awaited him. His students 
 presented to him a sword, sash, and belt. His reply to Doctor Eaymond was a 
 most striking contrast to the noisy satisfaction, or extravagant/ humility, which 
 too often characterize such receptions. Its tone is that of unalloyed patriotism, 
 the utterance of a calm, steadfast, unselfish soul unchangeably committed to the 
 cause of GOD and the RIGHT. He reentered the service purely as a matter of 
 duty, upon no mere impulse, with no merely personal ambition after long and 
 deliberate consideration of his power to serve the country, and not for a moment 
 of the opportunity to serve himself. This purpose, conscientiously, unselfishly 
 formed, was thenceforward his sole guide even unto death. 
 
 On arriving at Columbus he was made Assistant Adjutant-General, with the 
 rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, under the State Act. In his interview with the Gov 
 ernor he objected, that this position might keep him from the field, but being 
 assured that he would be assigned to duty on McClellan s staff, he consented to 
 accept the temporary appointment. He was therefore introduced to the Senate, 
 and installed in his new office with honor. But tape and stationery was not the 
 battle-field, for which he felt he had offered his life. Writing to a friend at this 
 time, he says : " If I was somewhat younger I should murmur loud and deep, 
 but how soon does it not become apparent to us that the great lab} r rinthian web 
 of circumstance has surrounded us with its intricate convolutions, and that the 
 true philosophy is to be meek and confiding. . . . How often do I feel 
 grieved and pained by rude contacts and uncongenial associations, the fruits of 
 our disorder and confusion of this time ! What this friction means, what it is to 
 make me, or how to touch others, who can say or guess ? Come fame or dis 
 grace, come humiliation and the loss of the affections which the heart lives upon, 
 it is all beyond our ken or control, though there is a magnificent Beneficence to 
 reveal itself hereafter." 
 
 While at Camp Denison, issuing arms to the Ohio forces, he had many offers 
 of promotion. One from General Cox, giving him the first place on his staff. 
 This he desired to accept, and telegraphed McClellan to this effect, but McClellan 
 answered at once, desiring him not to make the arrangement, saying also : " I 
 need you myself." McClellan s almost immediate promotion to the regular service 
 
JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 81 
 
 disarranged this plan, as none but United States commissioned officers could serve 
 on his staff. By special order, however, Sill accompanied McClellan into Western 
 Virginia as Chief of Ordnance. The following extract from a letter, written after 
 the battle near Cheat Mountain, will show how the first encounter with the enemy 
 affected him : "I joined McClellan at Buckhannon, and proceeded with him on 
 his march to Beverly. It was on this march, as you have doubtless read in the 
 papers, that we first encountered the enemy. . . . You know the result 
 how signally the rebels were discomfited, and with so little loss to ourselves. 
 Their commander, Colonel Pegram, was an old army acquaintance of mine, we 
 having been cadets together at West-Point. I felt more compassion for the fallen 
 foe than I thought it was possible to admit into my composition. But the sight 
 of the bloody field, and the dismal trench where lay piled the forms of so many 
 of God s creatures torn, and mangled, and slaughtered in arms against their coun 
 try, filled me with unspeakable sadness. I observed, too, that their motives 
 seemed to be, in many cases, as truly conscientious as those which rightly animat 
 ed the Northern soldier in this contest for law and order." 
 
 After a glowing description of the glorious scenery around the valley of 
 Beverly, he continues : " How depressing the thought, that this country, which 
 one might have in fancy populated with the hardy, simple, liberty -loving moun 
 taineer, had by its own faithlessness, and in utter despite of loyalty, in complete 
 oblivion of ancestral deeds of merited renown, thrown itself away into the hands 
 of the reckless, privateering traitors of the Gulf States. How inexpressibly sad 
 the decay and evanescence of that glorious attribute of human nature, loyalty to 
 the Bight and Just in civil affairs. . . . You have not seen the Ohio, and can 
 not realize the Spirit of Beauty that seems to plead for respite. . . . Surely 
 the impressions of such scenery cannot be communicated, they must be seen and 
 felt with gratitude and reverence. They belong to us then, and we are richer for 
 evermore. Could but these fierce combatants drink in this sweet intoxication and 
 forget the dreadful mission with which they are charged ! The lovely vale of the 
 Ohio and the secluded dells of the Kanawha must soon witness the never-ending 
 destructiveness of the human race. We too are of the earth earthy, and must be 
 burned out with the implacable passions. It is only our better angels within who 
 love the woodland stream, the perfume of the walnut-tree, the smooth trunk and 
 glossy leaf of the beech, the drooping elm, the fragrance of clover-field and the 
 long billows of the waving grain. . . . It is heaven in us that recognizes Na 
 ture, but we, alas ! poor clay, are quite demoniac given over for a season. God 
 grant this carnival of the Prince of the Air may soon terminate, or we pass 
 away to scenes where we may not be vexed." 
 
 When McClellan was called to the army of the Potomac, Sill organized a re 
 giment, the Thirty-third Ohio, and was commissioned its Colonel July, 1861. In 
 
82 JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 
 
 a letter he thus refers to his appointment: "After a dreary interval of ledgers, 
 stationery, and steel pens, I am once more aroused to activity by the unex 
 pected summons of Governor Denison to take command of a regiment. My sta 
 tion at present is the town of Portsmouth, on the Ohio, where my regiment is 
 concentrating. We shall have work to do of the sternest hue. Our Southern 
 brethren are in for a long resistance, so farewell all sweet sounds and invitations, 
 and let us be made of adamant and steel. . . . Does your faith ever waver in 
 the ultimate success of our arms ? Naturally desponding and skeptical, I have 
 felt at times that the Republic was sick unto death. ... If slavery triumphs, 
 and the prince of darkness be allowed to reign in hemp over our dear America, 
 then indeed we had better pray for our dismissal and die the martyr s death. . . 
 How earnestly my heart echoes the pathetic appeal of Hungary, O America, 
 America ! how can I give thee up ! Oh ! bury me, American mother, in thy 
 broad bosom or be to me a land of freedom. 
 
 In August he writes : " My regiment is not yet full, and I am as occupied as 
 I can afford to be in instilling military elementals into these strong-armed sons of 
 toil. Day after day we go through marches and countermarches, and cheer the 
 monotony by reflections on the progress made, and imagine at times that we may 
 be the proud participants in some glorious victory for freedom and fatherland. 
 . . . To-day we expected a summons to hurry over to Western Virginia, where 
 last accounts are really disheartening. ... I have at times imagined I could 
 leave a name in the historic annals. Bat if fame should become mine, it will be 
 unexpected, certainly unsolicited. . . . The threads of my life I see weaving 
 before me, the web is gliding swift from the hands of the hidden weaver, the 
 colors are, to be sure, sober and neutral. The less we become personal in our 
 views and seek to appropriate, the more beautiful the provision. . . . The 
 pure stream of our being should not be discolored by our own personal and im 
 pure additions. We have nothing to do but expect and thank the present that its 
 satisfactions have still left us the undimmed sight which God intended for us." 
 
 In September other troops were added to his command, and he accompanied 
 General Nelson in his Eastern Kentucky expedition. After Nelson s return, the 
 Thirty-third Ohio was assigned to Mitchel s division, and Sill was placed in com 
 mand of a brigade. This he led in advance of our forces on Bowling Green and 
 Nashville, and in the subsequent operations of General Mitchel in Middle Tennes 
 see and North- Alabama. He displayed such talent and skill in the handling of 
 this brigade that he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. The nomi 
 nation, unsolicited by him, was made upon the reports and recommendations of 
 his superior officers, and was confirmed by the Senate July twenty-ninth, 1862. 
 
 He was at once assigned to the command of the forces stationed at Battle 
 Creek, then threatened with an attack by the advance of the rebel General Bragg. 
 
JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 83 
 
 Writing to a friend at this time, he says : " We are here, not so much for an act 
 ive campaign as to delude the enemy until our commander, General Buell, 
 arrives with his great army from Corinth. We expect him daily. Meanwhile, 
 our enemy is not disposed to brook our presence, and sends rifle-balls at us with 
 uncomfortable precision and frequency. What bloody, unchristian work it is ! I 
 am too womanly myself to become reconciled to it. This is a very frank confes 
 sion, is it not ? But you will at least qualify all your criticisms of my defective 
 nature with the admission that I have no concealments no desire to be known 
 as other than I am. You cannot think what a chord you struck in even casual 
 allusions to my dearest likings, the fascinations of poetry and music, and all the 
 attractions of literature. . . . With a farewell to my household gods, I am 
 now adrift, . . . filled with the conviction which so often oppresses me, the 
 uselessness of essaying to thwart our fate. If the true nobility clad us all like a 
 garment, we should not say oppressed but the heroic virtues of self-abnegation 
 and brotherly love do not grow in a day, still less do they thrive in a period of 
 ease and luxury. This effeminates, and the reaction inevitably follows. As with 
 the individual so with the nation. The rod that chastens, / the bitterness of ad 
 versity, is the matrix of all that is noble or worth preserving in humanity. Such 
 stuff as martyrs are made of is as rare and precious now as in all primitive times. 
 We need to see something of it and the rest will profit." 
 
 When General Alexander McD. McCook was promoted to the rank of Major- 
 Gcneral and to the command of an army corps, General Sill was assigned by Buell 
 to the command of the Second division. This he led with consummate skill from 
 Tennessee against the rebels in Kentucky. His division was on the extreme left, 
 and it was due to his unceasing vigilance and unerring skill that, under the orders 
 of the Major- General, he effected a junction with the remainder of our troops at 
 Perryville, having by an adroit movement eluded Kirby Smith s forces sent to 
 intercept him at Salvisa. During this march he was engaged in a constant run 
 ning fight with the enemy, but so handled his troops as to sustain but trifling 
 losses. His division was then detached to the relief of Nashville. His march 
 thither is one of the most remarkable movements of the war, in the way of suc 
 cessful forced marches for many consecutive days. Arrived at Nashville, he re 
 ceived a most joyful welcome. 
 
 His soldiers almost worshipped him. He treated them as men, as brothers. 
 On the march he would visit the wagon-trains to see that every thing was right. 
 In order to resume his place he was often compelled to pass the troops on a nar 
 row road. As he passed, he would be extremely careful not to hurry a soldier, 
 but would ride very slowly until the way was clear. One of his staff, whose place 
 was in the rear, often heard the soldiers say : " That s the right kind of a Gene- 
 
84 JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 
 
 ral ; lie acts very differently from most others, screaming as they do, Get out of 
 the way, and then ride over us if we do not." 
 
 Upon reorganization of the army of the Cumberland, under General Eose- 
 crans, the command of General Sill s division was given to General E. W. John 
 son.* When Sill s staff murmured at this change, he said : " You must not com 
 plain, for it is right, he is the ranking officer, and the place is due him."f He 
 offered to secure places for them on the staff of Johnson, but they refused and 
 voluntarily remained with him. Sill himself accepted the change in his usual 
 quiet, obedient fashion, grieving only that it parted him from veterans whom he 
 loved and who loved him. General Sheridan was his classmate and warm friend ; 
 he therefore asked and obtained a brigade in his division. 
 
 And now, before the army of the Cumberland moves forward to Murfrees- 
 boro, we pause to note more closely the inner life of our young hero. Under his 
 calm, quiet exterior was a hidden strength which verified the eulogy, that " when 
 occasion required such qualities, he was great without effort and brave without 
 bustle or tumult." Yet the irresistible attraction of his character was not so much 
 his exalted talent, his unaffected reserve and modesty, as his firm Christian prin 
 ciples and high moral aim. His religion was not gloomy and austere, but the 
 emanation of a cheerful trust in our Saviour s atonement. At the age of fifteen 
 he became a member of the First Presbyterian church of Chillicothe. This he 
 did from the impulses of his own heart, without consultation and without ex 
 citement. 
 
 Writing to a friend the year before his death, in referring to the transcendent 
 worth and superiority of Christianity, even if it were merely the guise of a philo 
 sophical theory and did not demand the higher acceptation of the only truth, he 
 says : " It is only the Christian who can steer onward, not bating a tittle of hope, 
 and hating nothing which God has given him for solace and enchantment, yet giv- 
 
 * The Cincinnati Commercial said at the time: "The regret of the Second division at the 
 loss of General Sill is intense and universal. Each man felt that in parting with him he had lost 
 a personal friend. Indeed, there is no individual in the army who stands higher in the opinion 
 of both officers and men than General Sill. His military knowledge and skill, his prudential care 
 and management of the resources placed at his command, his successful accomplishment of what 
 ever task has as yet been assigned him, his exemplary diligence in providing for the wants of his 
 men, his quiet r unassuming, courteous demeanor toward all who approached him, and his deep 
 devotion to the cause for which we fight, these things have won for him the esteem of every one 
 who has made his acquaintance, and have secured for him an honorable reputation among thou 
 sands who have never seen him. Envy herself seems thus far to have spared him, and I have yet 
 to hear a soldier speak disrespectfully of General Sill." 
 
 t Sill s comment that Johnson outranked him is a good military reason for times of peace, 
 when promotion is a kind of century-plant, but no such argument has had much force hitherto in 
 this war. 
 
JOSIIUAWOODROWSILL. 85 
 
 ing up all as me*e circumstance, in prospect of the unfailing source of still greater 
 wonders. Near to this is the idea, it strikes me, which the Saviour s crucifixion 
 forever symbolizes. Who loves nature and its boundless imagery, who loves the 
 heart-ties and clings to them, who loves art and the festival of the imagination, he 
 indeed lives, and may be lives a refined and somewhat spiritual existence. But 
 the culmination of all this we fail to reach. We are so frail as to lose our judg 
 ment before either one of these overpowering influences, and never pass on with 
 white robes to the inner sanctuary where God dwelleth and storeth up experience 
 and vision, beside which life s present blessings must appear unreal and phantasy." 
 
 In writing to one whose trials seemed beyond human endurance, he says : 
 " True, the world is wicked ; but what do we expect life to be, and how should 
 we know the ineffable sweetness of the unspotted vesture of God s innocency were 
 it not for this same dark background of woe and despair ? We can afford to grant 
 the theory of the Dualists, and none the less bravely fight the dread Ahriman 
 because we love Ormuzd the Light Spirit. Do not accuse me of coldness in thus 
 suggesting my mode of slipping along life s dubious ways. I think Emerson saith 
 somewhere : The world is a surface, and we must learn to skate well on it. Why 
 should we allow circumstance to dominate us ? To-morrow s joys will come, and 
 to-day s (fcngers and sorrows will as certainly fade away. . . . We are born 
 to be amused, to sorrow, to desire, to hope, to mourn. . . . Happy he or she 
 who can come forth from all this pandemonium of the world of passion, of narrow 
 views, and earthly aims into that clear air, where its good and evil are seen with 
 discriminating eye, and evil s fearful pall can be raised and understood, and God s 
 everlasting goodness not the less upheld." 
 
 These letters were written during his camp-life, in frank intercourse with 
 friends whose thoughts were in harmony with them. They occupied brief and 
 rare intervals of leisure, and gave expression to the occasional reaction from heavy 
 cares and overwork. Impatience, disappointment, and regret habitually thus 
 found relief, and were never felt by his associates or command in the form of a 
 variable temper, or an inconstant, unreliable administration of his office. In his 
 daily life, only unvarying gentleness in manner and firmness in act were revealed. 
 When at times the overtasked energies seemed about to reject their burdens, he 
 would turn aside for brief communion with distant scenes, happy recollections, 
 and blessed hopes, and then, with new vigor and reinspired devotion, again ad 
 dress himself to his labor in our country s cause. 
 
 No wonder then that Rosecrans has styled him " the gentle and the true," 
 that McCook, in his official report of the battle, asserts : " He was noble, conscien 
 tious in the discharge of every duty, brave to a fault. He had no ambition save 
 to serve his country. He died a Christian soldier, in the act of repulsing the ene 
 my." And gallant Sheridan, the companion of his cadetship, the friend of his 
 
86 JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 
 
 riper years, exclaims : " Poor Sill ! poor Sill ! lie was pure as a vjrgin, immaculate 
 as the angels of heaven." And General W. S. Smith, a comrade in arms who knew 
 him well, flings his whole heart into the tribute he offers to his memory, and closes 
 with the words : "Admirable as an officer of the very finest talent, a soldier gifted 
 with that rare intrepidity which springs from conscious rectitude, an elegant 
 scholar, he was even more distinguished as a warm and devoted friend. His soul, 
 free from earthly stains, has gone to God, and we can but weep who loved him so 
 well." No less warmly speaks General Sheridan s aid : " His loss was deeply felt 
 by the whole arrny. Never was man more beloved by his associates and troops. 
 He was a good General, a brave soldier, a perfect gentleman, and a God-like 
 Christian. Mild, quiet, pleasant, yet firm, energetic, and thorough, beloved by 
 all, respected by all, mourned by all, not one voice raised to revile his name." 
 
 But the order, Onward to Murfreesboro ! sounds throughout the camp, the 
 army of the Cumberland must advance. 
 
 The surface of the country between Nashville and Stone Eiver is undulating. 
 The whole region rests on limestone, which frequently crops out, sometimes on 
 the ridges, again in the lowest ground, and where the rock approaches the surface 
 it is generally covered with a dense growth of cedars. The rest of the surface has 
 been covered with luxuriant forests of deciduous trees. jl, 
 
 On Friday, December twenty-sixth, the Fourteenth army corps, Major-Gene- 
 ral Eosecrans commanding, commenced, in three columns, its march toward Mur 
 freesboro. The right wing, commanded by Major-General McCook, with the divi 
 sions of Davis, Johnson, and Sheridan, moved down the Nashville pike. Onward 
 they marched. They knew that a battle-field was before them, but they knew 
 not just where that battle-field would be. Onward, through the dark and stormy 
 day onward, through thick forests of cedars, where abrupt, rocky bluffs sur 
 rounded them on every side. McCook s advance, under Davis, was the first to 
 encounter the enemy. Skirmishing lasted during the forenoon on Friday, fol 
 io wed -by rapid artillery practice when the opposing numbers or nature of the 
 ground made it practicable. At night General McCook bivouacked in a grove at 
 Nolinsville. 
 
 On Saturday, supposing they would have a heavy force to encounter, as they 
 had received instructions from Rosecrans to press the force of the enemy at Tri 
 une, Sheridan s division deployed over hills and through farms, and formed into 
 line of battle. Although having a superb position, the rebels retired, and at 
 evening the Stars and Stripes waved over the ground the enemy had occupied, but 
 a few hours before. Sunday dawned a bright, sunny day. It was a blessed sea 
 son of rest to the wearied, watching soldiery. Watching the battle-field was 
 still before them they knew not how near. And Monday came with sunshine and 
 warmth, no appearance of winter, no freezing or even frosts at night. Onward 
 
JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 87 
 
 marched the well-ordered right wing of that grand army, onward with occasional 
 rests, till just at dark it struck the Wilkinson pike, a fine Macadamized road, 
 seven or eight miles in length, leading into Murfreesboro. And here Sheridan s 
 division, in which General Sill commanded a brigade, took the advance. As they 
 passed on, most significant indications appeared. The rail-fences for miles on 
 either side were carefully opened at about every third panel, so that cavalry or 
 troops might readily pass. That night they bivouacked in the woods without 
 tents, without fire, even the striking of matches to light pipes or cigars was care 
 fully guarded. "With lowering heavens above them, and the damp earth for their 
 bed, the soldiers slept. 
 
 Tuesday morning foretold a cool, cloudy day. At nine o clock, McCook, 
 with Sheridan still in the advance, moved on the Wilkinson pike. General Sill, 
 to tjie right, with his brigade passed onward through dense cedar thickets, meet 
 ing with such formidable resistance that it was deemed prudent to move Davis to 
 support his right. The enemy, posted in powerful natural positions, defended by 
 rocks and almost impenetrable cedar forests, formed in line of battle just below a 
 bend in Stone River, on the Nashville side. Sill s approach to the rebel line lay 
 through thickets and over pastures, known as Blanton s and Harding s farms, 
 where woods on every side make an irregular, six-sided open space. Onward 
 through the dense cedars, driving the enemy before them ; onward to the open 
 field they went, and there deploying southwardly, crossed the farms, until at 
 evening they had gained the crest of a wooded hill to the south. Thus the com 
 bat and roughness of the country had brought forward Sheridan s division so as 
 to face south-east. The position was faulty ; instead of being parallel with the 
 enemy, our division, on the extreme right, approached them at an acute angle, 
 which would probably have touched their centre, and when the terrific onset came 
 early in the morning the enemy doubled around our line, crushing division after 
 division. 
 
 On the march from Nashville to Murfreesboro, the presentiment of early 
 death, which for many months had clung to General Sill, seemed to him very near 
 realization. Tuesday afternoon, riding in advance of his brigade, he turned to his 
 friend and aid, Captain De Bruin, and said : " Mr. De Bruin, do you know we 
 shall have a severe struggle to-morrow ? we are going to fight thirteen divisions 
 with eight divisions." 
 
 " Well, General," replied De Bruin, " what will be the result ?" 
 
 " I think we will whip them, but many a good officer and soldier of our army 
 will be left upon the battle-field. I do not expect to come out of that fight safe."* 
 
 From this time General Sill never relaxed attention to his brigade. Through 
 the night he took no rest. At midnight he left his bed and called for his horsa 
 Captain De Bruin did the same. The General said : " No, Mr. De Bruin, lie 
 
88 JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 
 
 down and take your rest. You will probably have plenty of work to do on the 
 morrow." 
 
 The night was dark and cloudy but not tempestuous. An unearthly stillness 
 prevailed, and through the stillness and in the darkness Sill rode around his lines, 
 listening to the movements of the enemy. He foresaw the events of the coming 
 day, and therefore ordered the wounded removed to the rear before daylight. 
 
 Cold and gray, through misty falling rain, came sunrise on the last day of the 
 year 1862. Breakfast at dawn was scarcely begun, when through the forests on 
 the right rolled the roar of cannon. Under cover of night, aided by dense fog, 
 the enemy had massed tire bulk of their force close to their pickets, and as the sun 
 came up, down into the valley they swept and dashed into the whole line of our 
 right wing. General Johnson s batteries, Goodspeed s and Edgarton s for the sup 
 port of Sill on the right, were utterly unprepared ; the division of Davis, ever- 
 powered by numbers, was thrown into confusion and obliged to give way. Gene 
 ral Sheridan s division held the left of this line, protecting the right of the centre 
 under Negley. Sill commanded the right brigade, Shaffer the centre, and Colonel 
 Eoberts the left. Thus, when Davis s staunch division retired, Sill received the 
 enemy. He was thoroughly prepared. His gallant brigade met the shock daunt- 
 lessly, and hurled back the enemy with a splendid charge. Shaffer and Roberts 
 were also ready ; they, under steady Sheridan, drove back the foe. Shaffer s bri 
 gade now occupied a sharp angle formed by the opposing lines, and here for a mo 
 ment the conflict raged furiously, for this was the key to Negley s position. But 
 compact ranks and well-served artillery so annoyed the enemy that they again 
 rushed upon Sill. Gallantly he met and repulsed them, gallantly his brigade 
 charged, again the flashing banner of the stars advanced, but Sill in the forward 
 line, encouraging his men and directing the movements of a battery suddenly 
 fell. A Minie-bullet had pierced his left eye and penetrated the brain ! The 
 sun flashed out on a thousand bayonets of glittering steel as onward swept his 
 brigade. His men knew they had heard their General s voice for the last time on 
 earth, and in terrible energy of grief they rushed to avenge his death. In disor 
 der and dismay Withers s rebel division fled, and returned no more that day. The 
 sun flashed out fitting symbol of the glorious dawn into which "the brave, the 
 gentle, "and the true " had entered. 
 
 As his body was borne to the rear, General Sheridan ordered De Bruin to go 
 with the escort accompanying it. It was conveyed to a point near a hospital, 
 where an attempt was made to secure an ambulance, but the rebel cavalry attack- 
 . ing the hospital compelled our men to retire, which they did, having first placed 
 the name and rank of the General on his coat. And thus it was that the body fell 
 into the hands of the rebels. The Murfreesboro Rebel Standard, in its last issue 
 before the Federal army took possession, contains notice of an order that General 
 
JOSHUA WOODROW SILL. 89 
 
 Sill should be interred with " military usages accorded a brave soldier, whether 
 friend or foe," and closed with the words, " the ball passed through his head, his 
 countenance, still handsome, bore the impress of a brave soul." 
 
 But the rebels did not bury him. Let it be remembered in justification of 
 their failure, that the battle was continued until Saturday. Had the victory they 
 so confidently expected crowned their armies, they might have done more honor 
 to themselves in the burial of General Sill. A surgeon of the Twenty-seventh 
 Illinois, while attending the wounded on Wednesday afternoon, was taken prisoner 
 and sent to Murfreesboro. The colonel of his regiment, also a prisoner, died of 
 his wounds. Hearing that General Sill had been buried by the confederates, Sur 
 geon Bowman procured a coffin similar to General Sill s, the same hearse, and the 
 same driver, who took him to the place where General Sill s body had been left. 
 It was in a fence-corner, no grave dug, no detail for that purpose. Too late in the 
 day to go back to town and procure a detail of men, the surgeon, with two faith 
 ful assistants, made a grave, and laid the young General and Colonel Harrington 
 side by side brothers in arms brothers in death. 
 
 This was a funeral of truest military honor ! The very earth vibrating with 
 the tramp of soldiers and horsemen clashing in horrid conflict the roar of a hun 
 dred cannon the requiem for the dead weary captives bending over the grave 
 performing the solemn rights of sepulture ! 
 
 Days passed, and the body of General Sill, recovered by friends, was borne in 
 triumphant procession toward his native home. Every demonstration of respect 
 that civic and military authority could give was accorded by the people of Cincin 
 nati as the funeral cortege passed through that city. And then in solemn pomp, 
 in bitter grief, "the brave, the pure, the true" young soldier was carried to the 
 house of his aged father in Chillicothe. On Sunday, February third, a devoted, 
 loving people attended him to his final resting-place, the peaceful cemetery of 
 his home. Again, all that civic, military, and friendly interest could bring fol 
 lowed him to the grave. And with the calm burial-service of the Episcopal 
 Church they laid him down to rest his cross bravely borne his crown nobly 
 won. 
 
EOBEET A^DEESOK". 
 
 V "V 
 
 Ethe history of the Southern Conspiracy, General ROBERT ANDERSON must 
 iold a distinguished place, being the first federal officer against whom the 
 fatal thought of rebellion took voice in the throat of a cannon ; and though 
 his shattered health has constrained him to play no further part in the tragedy 
 which he opened with such brilliancy, his loyalty to "old glory," his wise cour 
 age and Christian firmness, in that one hour of peril, will ever keep his name 
 honored and revered among the American people. 
 
 General Anderson came from a patriotic and military family. His father, 
 Captain Richard C. Anderson, was the man whose little band surprised an out 
 post of the Hessians at Trenton, on the night prior to the decisive battle of that 
 place an attack which the Hessian commander, Colonel Rahl, then on the look 
 out for Washington, construed to be the whole assault against which he had 
 been warned. General Washington met Anderson retreating with his company, 
 and was very indignant at what they had done, fearing it would prepare the 
 enemy for their advance in force. The result, however, proved the contrary, and 
 Anderson was then complimented on the exploit. Captain Anderson served 
 with Washington throughout the New Jersey campaign. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is a native of the state of Kentucky. The blood 
 of a brave soldier ran in his veins, and displayed itself in his early desire to 
 adopt the profession of arms. Passing over young Anderson s preliminary 
 studies and scholastic successes, we find him, in 1832, acting inspector-general 
 of Illinois volunteers in the Black Hawk War. He filled this situation, with 
 credit to himself, from May until the ensuing October. In the following June, 
 1833, he was made first-lieutenant. From 1835 to 1837 he occupied the respon 
 sible post of assistant instructor and inspector at the United States military 
 academy. He was assigned to the staff of General Winfield Scott as aide-de 
 camp in 1838 ; and in 1839 published his " Instructions for Field Artillery, Horse 
 and Foot, arranged for the Service of the United States" a handbook of great 
 practical value. 
 
 Lieutenant Anderson s services during the Indian troubles were acknowl 
 edged by a brevet captaincy, April 2d, 1838. In July of the same year, he was 
 made assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain, which he subsequently 
 
ROBERT ANDERSON. 91 
 
 relinquished on being promoted to a captaincy in his own regiment, the third 
 artillery. 
 
 In March, 1847, he was with his regiment in the army of General Scott, and 
 took part in the siege of Vera Cruz ; being one of the officers to whom was in 
 trusted, by Colonel Bankhead, the command of the batteries. This duty he 
 accomplished with signal skill and gallantry. He remained with the army until 
 its triumphant entry into the Mexican capital the following September. 
 
 During the operations in the valley of Mexico, Captain Anderson was at 
 tached to the brigade of General Garland, which formed a portion of General 
 Worth s division. In the attack on El Molino del Eey, September 8th, Ander 
 son was severely wounded. His admirable conduct under the circumstances was 
 the theme of praise on the part of his men and superior officers. Captain Burke, 
 his immediate commander, in his dispatch of September 9th, says : " Captain 
 Eobert Anderson (acting field-officer) behaved with great heroism on this occa 
 sion. Even after receiving a severe and painful wound, he continued at the 
 head of the column, regardless of pain and self-preservation, and setting a hand 
 some example to his men of coolness, energy, and courage." General Garland 
 speaks of him as being " with some few others the very first to enter the strong 
 position of El Molino ;" and adds that " Brevet-Major Buchanan, fourth infantry, 
 Captain Robert Anderson, third artillery, and Lieutenant Sedgwick, second artil 
 lery, appear to have been particularly distinguished for their gallant defence of 
 the captured works." In addition to this testimony, General Worth directed the 
 attention of the secretary of war to the part he had taken in the action. He was 
 made brevet-major, his commission dating from the day of the battle. 
 
 In the year 1851, he was promoted to the full rank of major, in the first 
 artillery. It was while holding this rank, and in command of the garrison of 
 Fort Moultrie, that the storm which has so devastated this fair land first gathered 
 strength and broke upon us. 
 
 On the 20th day of December, 1860, the "state of South Carolina declared 
 itself out of the Union. The event was celebrated in numerous Southern towns 
 and cities by the firing of salutes, military parades, and secession speeches. At 
 New Orleans, a bust of Calhoun was exhibited, decorated with a cockade ; and 
 at Memphis the citizens burned Senator Andrew Johnson in effigy. The plague 
 of disloyalty overspread the entire South. In the mean time, while the commis 
 sioners from South Carolina and the plotting members of Congress from the bor 
 der states were complicating matters with a timid and vacillating President, Major 
 Anderson found himself, with less than a hundred men, shut up in an untenable 
 fort, his own government fearing to send him reinforcements. Cut off from aid 
 or supplies, menaced on every side, the deep murmurs of war growing louder and 
 more threatening, the position of Major Anderson and his handful of men became 
 
92 RO.BERT ANDERSON. 
 
 imminent in the extreme. At this juncture of affairs, the brave soldier gave us 
 an illustration of his forethought and sagacity. 
 
 One sunny morning, crowds of anxious people fringed the wharves of 
 Charleston, watching the mysterious curls of smoke that rose lazily from the 
 ramparts of Fort Moultrie, and floated off seaward smoke from the burning 
 gun-carriages. 
 
 On the night previous, Major Anderson had quietly removed his men and 
 stores to Fort Sumter, the strongest of the Charleston fortifications, and the key 
 of its defences. The deserted guns of Moultrie were spiked, and the carriages 
 burned to cinders. The evacuation of the fort commenced a little after sunset. 
 The men were ordered to hold themselves in readiness, with their knapsacks 
 packed, at a second s notice ; but up to the moment of their leaving they had 
 no idea of abandoning the post. They were reviewed on parade, and then or 
 dered to two schooners lying in the vicinity. The garrison flag unwound itself 
 to the morning over Sumter. 
 
 The rage of the South at this unexpected strategic manoeuvre, was equalled 
 in its intenseness only by the thrill of joy which ran through the North. Major 
 Anderson and his command were safe, for the time being, and treason discon 
 certed. " Major Robert Anderson," says the Charleston Courier, bitterly, " has 
 achieved the unenviable distinction of opening civil war between American citi 
 zens, by an act of gross breach of faith." The sequel proved his prudence. 
 Having all the forts of the harbor under his charge, he had, necessarily, the right 
 to occupy whatever post he deemed expedient. He did his duty, and he did it 
 well. His course was sustained in the House of Representatives, January 7th, 
 1861. 
 
 Before the first burst of indignation had subsided, Fort Moultrie was taken 
 possession of by the South Carolinians, and carefully put into a state of defence. 
 The rebel convention ordered immense fortifications to be built in and about 
 Charleston harbor, to resist any reinforcements that might be sent to Major An 
 derson. Strong redoubts were thrown up on Morris and James Islands, and 
 Forts Moultrie, Johnson, and Castle Pinckney, stood ready to belch flame and 
 iron on the devoted little garrison. Sumter was invested : no ship could ap 
 proach the place in the teeth of those sullen batteries. 
 
 On the 8th of April, information having been given by the United States 
 government to the authorities of Charleston, that they desired to send supplies to 
 Fort Sumter on an unarmed transport, they were informed that the vessel would 
 be fired upon and not allowed to enter the port. The United States government 
 then officially advised the insurgents that supplies would be sent to Major Ander 
 son, peaceably if possible, otherwise by force. Lieutenant Talbot, attached to 
 the garrison of Fort Sumter, and bearer of this dispatch, was not permitted to 
 
R B E R T A N D E R S N . 93 
 
 proceed to his post. The steamer Star of the West was signalled at the entrance 
 of the harbor on the morning of the 9th. She displayed the United States flag, 
 but was fired into, repeatedly, from Morris Island battery. Her course was then 
 altered, and she again put out to sea. 
 
 A formidable floating battery, constructed and manned at Charleston, was 
 taken out of dock on the evening of the 10th, and anchored in a cove near Sul 
 livan s Island. About seven thousand troops now crowded the earthworks and 
 forts, under command of General G. T. Beauregard. The report that a fleet lay 
 off the bay, waiting for a favorable tide to enter the harbor and relieve the fort, 
 caused the greatest excitement in Charleston. 
 
 On the afternoon of April llth, Colonel Chestnut and Major Lee, aids to 
 General Beauregard, conveyed to Fort Sumter the demand that Major Anderson 
 should evacuate that fort Major Anderson refused to accede to the demand. 
 On being waited on by a second deputation (April 12, 1 A. M.), desiring him to 
 state what time he would evacuate, and to stipulate not to fire upon the batteries 
 in the moan time, Major Anderson replied that he would evacuate at the noon of 
 the loth, if not previously otherwise ordered, or not supplied, and that he would 
 not in the meanwhile open his fire unless compelled by some hostile act against 
 his fort or the flag of his government. At 3.30 A. M., the officers who received 
 this answer notified Major Anderson that the batteries under command of Gen 
 eral Beauregard, would open on Fort Sumter in one hour, and immediately left. 
 The sentinels on Sumter were then ordered in from the parapets, the posterns 
 closed, and the men directed not to leave the bomb-proofs until summoned by the 
 drum. The garrison had but two days rations. 
 
 At -i.30 Friday morning, fire was opened upon Fort Sumter from Fort Moul- 
 trie, and soon after from the batteries on Mount Pleasant and Cummings Point, 
 then from an unsuspected masked battery of heavy columbiads on Sullivan s 
 Island. It soon became evident that no part of the beleagured fort was without 
 the range of the enemy s guns. A rim of scarlet fire encircled it. Meanwhile 
 the, undaunted little band of seventy true men, took breakfast quietly at the reg 
 ular hour, reserving their fire until 7 A. M., when they opened their lower tier of 
 guns upon Fort Moultrie, the iron battery on Cummings Point, the two works 
 on Sullivan s Island, and the floating battery, simultaneously. "When the first 
 relief went to work, the enthusiasm of the men was so great that the second and 
 third reliefs could not be kept from the guns. The rebel iron battery was of im 
 mense strength, and our balls glanced from it like hail-stones. Fort Moultrie, 
 however, stood the cannonading badly, a great many of our shells taking effect 
 in the embrasures. Shells from every point burst against the various walls of 
 Sumter, and the fire upon the parapet became so terrific that Major Anderson 
 refused to allow the men to work the barbette guns. There were no cartridge- 
 
94 ROBERT ANDERSON. 
 
 bags, and the men were set to making them out of shirts. Fire broke out in the 
 barracks three times, and was extinguished. Meals were served at the guns. At 
 6 P. M. the fire from Sumter ceased. Fire was kept up by the enemy during the 
 night, at intervals of twenty-five minutes. 
 
 At daybreak the following morning the bombardment recommenced. Fort 
 Sumter resumed operations at 7 A. M. An hour afterward the officers quarters 
 took fire from a shell, and it was necessary to detach nearly all the men from the 
 guns to stop the conflagration. Shells from Moultrie and Morris Island now fell 
 faster than ever. The effect of the enemy s shot, on the officers quarters in par 
 ticular, was terrible. One tower was so completely demolished that not one brick 
 was left standing upon another. The main gates were blown away, and the walls 
 considerably weakened. Fearful that they might crack, and a shell pierce the 
 magazine, ninety-six barrels of powder were emptied into the sea ; finally the 
 magazine had to be closed ; the material for cartridges was exhausted, and the 
 garrison was left destitute of any means to continue the contest. The men had 
 eaten the last biscuit thirty-six hours before. They were nearly stifled by the 
 dense, livid smoke from the .burning buildings, lying prostrate on the ground 
 with wet handkerchiefs over their mouths and eyes. The crashing of the shot, 
 the bursting of the shells, the falling of the masonry, and the mad roaring of the 
 flames, made a pandemonium of the place. Strangely enough, but four men had 
 been injured, thus far, and those only slightly. 
 
 Toward the close of the day, ex-Senator Wigfall suddenly made his appear 
 ance at an embrasure with a white handkerchief on the point of a sword, and 
 begged to see Major Anderson, asserting that he came from General Beauregard. 
 
 "Well, sir!" said Major Anderson, confronting him. 
 
 General Wigfall, in an excited manner, then demanded to know on what 
 terms Major Anderson would evacuate the position. The major informed him 
 that General Beauregard was already advised of the terms. "Then, sir," said 
 Wigfall, "the fort is ours." "On those conditions," replied Major Anderson. 
 During this interview the firing from Moultrie and Sullivan s Island had not 
 ceased, though General Wigfall timidly displayed a white flag at an embrasure 
 facing the batteries. Wigfall retired. 
 
 A short time afterward a deputation, consisting of Senator Chestnut, Eoger 
 A. Pryor, and two others, came from General Beauregard, and had an interview 
 with Major Anderson : it then turned out that the officious Wigfall had " acted 
 on his own hook," without any authority whatever from his commanding gen 
 eral. After a protracted consultation and a second deputation, Major Anderson 
 agreed to evacuate Fort Sumter the next day. This was Saturday evening. 
 That night the garrison took what rest it could. Next morning the Isabel an 
 chored near the fort to receive the gallant little band. The terms of evacuation 
 
ROBERT ANDERSON. 95 
 
 were that the garrison should take all its individual and company property ; that 
 they should march out -with their side and other arms with all the honors, in 
 their own way, and at their own time ; that they should salute their flag and take 
 it with them. 
 
 With their tattered flag flying, and the band playing national airs, these sev 
 enty heroes marched out of Fort Sumter. Seventy to seven thousand ! 
 
 Major Anderson s heroic conduct had drawn all loyal hearts toward him, and 
 it was the wish of the country that he should immediately be invested with some 
 important command. He was made a brigadier-general, and sent to Kentucky 
 to superintend the raising of troops in that state. But the terrible ordeal through 
 which he had just passed, and the results of hardships undergone in Mexico, un 
 fitted him for active duty. Since then, General Anderson has resided in New 
 York City. 
 
 A tall, elderly gentleman in undress uniform, leading a little child by the 
 hand, is often seen passing slowly along Broadway. His fine, intellectual face is 
 the index to the genuine goodness and nobility of his heart. Though men of 
 noisier name meet you at each corner, your eyes follow pleasantly after this one 
 Eobert Anderson. 
 
THEODOEE WIFTHBOP. 
 
 THEODORE WINTHROP, who fell in the battle of Great Bethel, Virginia, 
 June 10th, 1861, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, September 21st, 
 1828. He was a lineal descendant of the first John Winthrop, who in 1630 led 
 out from England one of the noblest of the many Puritan colonies, and became 
 himself governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the next genera 
 tion we find the second John Winthrop joining the Connecticut colony, soon 
 raised to its chief magistracy, and in 1665 procuring for her from the crown that 
 charter of privileges which became the herald and nurse of her future indepen 
 dence, and which, in 1688, she held against the threats and baits of the throne 
 and its royal representative. Thus Winthrop died to maintain the rights now 
 and ever supported by his ancestors. It was then the colony against the founder. 
 It is now the country against the state. The one was a protest of a mature 
 daughter against a false and cruel mother : the other is a protest of the head and 
 heart and soul against the hand or foot which would be separated from the nour 
 ishing body of which it is a living member. Later still the family furnished yet 
 another governor, and have in every succeeding generation shared her protection 
 and dignities. 
 
 Major Winthrop s father was Francis Bayard Winthrop, a gentleman of 
 wealth and education, who was graduated from Yale College in 1804, and died 
 at his residence in New Haven in 1841. His mother is a grand-daughter of 
 President Dwight, and a sister of President Wolsey the latter almost a syno 
 nym for scholarship, manners, and a Christianized Roman virtue. Thus Win 
 throp s very name is pervaded with New England virtues and memories an 
 aristocratic name, if one can bring himself to utter a term so fraught with mean 
 ness, pride, and tyranny, so hateful to a Christian republican ; for, in spite of all 
 levelling, social theories, blood is character. The Edwardses, the Dwights, the 
 Wolseys, and the Winthrops, did meet in the antecedent blood of Theodore 
 Winthrop, the soldier, and went to mould and inspire the future hero. We are 
 each the resultant of past forces ; and not only the looks and tones, the habits 
 and traits of our fathers, but their spirit, their sentiment, and their "faith un 
 feigned," leave their invisible, silent deposits in our veins. 
 
 As a boy, Major Winthrop is described as fair and pale in feature, but not 
 
MA I THEOD< >RE WINTHROP 
 
T II E D 11 E W I X T H R P . 97 
 
 sickly, delicate in frame, neat in habits, quick and rather precocious in studies. 
 He entered Yale from the well-known school of Messrs. French, of New Haven, 
 and was graduated with the class of 1848. At first he seemed indifferent to lit 
 erary success ; but about the middle of his course his spirit received a mighty 
 momentum, as if a new soul possessed him. Always highly reflective beyond 
 his years, the thought that he was the eldest son, and must sustain the ancestral 
 honors by his personal character and deeds, together with the solemn shadow of 
 life which falls heavily on every sensible and conscientious youth as he passes 
 on through college, awoke him to the intensest activity. The result of this dis 
 cipline of thought was soon evinced in his sharing the honor, though not the 
 prize, of the senior Berkleian with one classmate, and in his wresting, by severe 
 competition, from another prominent scholar, the Clark scholarship, then for the 
 first time put on a foundation. This contest placed him on perhaps the most 
 honorable list which Yale presents, the " Scholars of the House ;" and was more 
 significant of power, since the ordeal was new. The later " Biennial" had not 
 been inaugurated. 
 
 Soon after graduation, Winthrop, with Eutledge of South Carolina, and oth 
 ers, formed the first class in the " School of Philosophy and Arts ;" a department 
 generously established the year previous, and opening before the youthful scholar 
 a broader range of studies worthy of his best ambition. As the winter wore 
 away, Winthrop s mind proved of a finer grain than had been suspected. He 
 loved metaphysics, and, without remarkable talent for logical inquiry, entered 
 with keen and penetrative sagacity into the vast questions of the infinite, and 
 the unknown, and the phenomenal the vasta semina rerum which will loom up 
 around the chaotic mind of youth. Winthrop seems then to have had a clear, 
 neat, keen intellect, and to have been earnest and tender in spirit, manly in 
 tastes, noble in resolves, high-bred in manners, and showing that poetic refine 
 ment and almost ethereal delicacy of sentiment which usually go with the fine 
 organism of the Saxon. 
 
 But this severe mental work, added to private literary studies, proved too 
 much for his frame. His physicians told him he must travel. Giving up the 
 plans of theology, literature, and law, which he had successively formed in 
 choosing a profession, he embarked in July, 1849, for Europe. By his journal, 
 we find him arriving at London, August 28th ; in Paris, November 23d ; and at 
 Rome, January 9th. With eyes, ears, and pen continually busy, he spends 
 February in traversing eastern Italy, March in Greece, April in northern Italy, 
 and, after tramping in a sturdy pedestrian tour through Germany and Swit 
 zerland, returns to Paris in September. To enter and mingle thus in the 
 historic glories of the Old World, was a privilege longed for from child-hood ; 
 and yet his itineraries show that travel cultured and broadened his. observing 
 
98 THEODORE WINTHROP. 
 
 mind only to sadden it. In London, at the outset of his journey, he writes, 
 "I am half-dead in body and mind;" and at Paris, at its close, he bitterly 
 exclaims on his birth-day, "Life at present offers me no hope." This subtle, 
 pervasive melancholy was due less to disease than the fine- structure of his mind. 
 Nothing can exceed the sufferings of a gifted youth who is conscious of power, 
 yet unable td gauge that power, determine its true field, and realize it in action. 
 He longs to traverse the sea of life where his companions have wandered before 
 him, hearing in the distance its tumultuous waves, each crested with hopes yet 
 dark below, the grave of many projects. Full of allusions to death, he dreads it 
 not. It is the premature decay of mental health, this dying before one has half 
 lived or even begun to live, that cast down his high and regnant soul. In his 
 last years, philosophy, religion, and worldly knowledge, brought him to a " se 
 rene and upper air," which no such fears could disturb. In Greece alone he 
 becomes buoyant and elastic. It was sacred ground, where heroes called to his 
 classic mind from every hill .and stream and valley ; a land pervaded with high 
 resolves, long since made good in history. He, too, could become all he wished ; 
 for, to a true heart, a clear purpose is more inspiring even than achievement. 
 
 In April, 1851, three months after his return, Mr. Winthrop entered the 
 Pacific Mail Steamship Company, at the invitation of W. II. Aspinwall, Esq., 
 whose acquaintance he had made in Europe. His diaries show him still alive to 
 poetry, metaphysics, criticisms ; still wrestling with the problem of the life of 
 the body and the higher life of the soul. In one place he says strongly : " Men 
 die for three reasons; because they have, or cannot, or will not, achieve their 
 destiny. As for me, I would belong to the first class ; but, finding myself in the 
 third, prefer, even with a shock to my pride, to be ranked -in the second, and pray 
 that the fruitless struggle may be soon ended." He fears that he cannot realize 
 a perfect manhood; and yet who would have thought that such pensiveness 
 could underlie so much life, action, and noble feeling ? 
 
 In September, Mr. Winthrop recrossed the Atlantic, to place Mr. Aspin- 
 wall s son and nephew at school in Switzerland, and, after revisiting some of the 
 more interesting portions of Germany, enters upon his old duties in January, 
 1852. The ensuing autumn finds him in Panama, in the employment of the 
 steamship company, and almost well and happy. The tropics, where physical 
 life is most intense, varied, and perfect, is a new world. Every thing invites 
 and promises adventure. The spirit of travel is strong upon him, and he cannot 
 be quiet. Nature speaks, and he is her child, and must ever listen with rever 
 ence and joy to her many voices. After often traversing the Isthmus with the 
 treasure-parties, he returned home by San Francisco. Here the observer, poet, 
 thinker, is busy. The mines of California, the filthy delusions of Utah, sickness 
 at the Dalles of the Columbia, the hospitalities of Governor Ogden of the Hud- 
 
THEODORCWINTHROP. 99 
 
 son s Bay Company, perils from treacherous Indians, the wilderness, the desert, 
 and the mountains, crowd his note-book with thrilling incident and vivid pic 
 tures. These are partly embodied in "John Brent," and a volume of Sketches, 
 yet to be published. 
 
 He returns to the counting-room in November ; but his heart and fancy are 
 still abroad. Accordingly, in January, 1854, with Mr. Aspinwall s consent, he 
 joins Lieutenant Strain s expedition to prospect for a ship-canal among the Sier 
 ras of the Isthmus, and would have perished from hardships had he not wandered 
 from his party and been forced to make his way back to the ship. Eeturning to 
 New York, he began in March the study of law in the office of Charles Tracy, 
 Esq. ; and after his admission to the bar, in 1855, remained with him as clerk 
 another year. 
 
 The following summer finds him travelling in Maine with Church the artist, 
 and under their mutual inspiration he drinks in nature with the soul of a poet 
 and the eye of a painter. He returned to enter the political campaign of 1856. 
 Long since a Eepublican in heart and by scholarship, he canvassed for Fremont 
 in Pennsylvania, entering with all his energies into that conflict between slave- 
 ocracy and liberty of which the present civil war is the bloody consummation. 
 America, to use his own strong words, seemed 
 
 " A noble land to stride athwart and wake 
 
 All its myriads up to noble thought ; 
 Deep sleep of thousand hearts to break, 
 Till great deliverance is wrought!" 
 
 After the issue, he established himself in law at St. Louis ; but the climate and 
 life not suiting, he returned in July, 1858, to find at last his true calling the 
 pleasing, perilous field of literature and authorship. Never did a writer use more 
 conscientious energy. He studied, read, wrote, and. rewrote, mastered botany, 
 and travelled by every method ; so that the thought, the quotation, the style, 
 the features, might be perfect coming ever near the face and heart of his great 
 teacher, Nature. " The March of the Seventh New York Eegiment to Wash 
 ington," and "Love and Skates," two well-known contributions to the Atlantic 
 Monthly, "Cecil Dreeme," "John Brent," and "Edwin Brothertoft," are already 
 published; while a volume of travels is promised but a small portion of 
 the embryo novels, tales, essays, and poems, which shine among his papers. 
 The prelude has become, with his deeds, the whole drama. " John Brent" espe 
 cially abounds in masterly single pictures of scenes and characters ; while all his 
 works are marked by a clear, neat, antithetic style, and sublimed by just, warm, 
 nobly humane sentiments. Here and there we find a broad generalization, show 
 ing that fine philosophy which the deeper novelist always draws from. 
 
100 THEODORE WJNTHROP. 
 
 But, at the fall of Sumter, "Winthrop dropped the pen and grasped the 
 sword. The acts which followed all know. He joined the seventh regiment at 
 New York; marched with it to "Washington; became a member of General 
 Butler s staff, as aid and military secretary, tit Fortress Monroe; land aided in 
 planning the attack on the batteries at Great Bethel, where, on the disastrous 
 10th of June, he fell in the van, his firm wiry form erect, waving his sword, and 
 calling his comrades on into the very jaws of death. 
 
 And yet he did not die, he cannot die. The brave, like the good, die never. 
 He lives destined to be an inspiring historic name of the war. 
 
 But Winthrop s life and death are best sung by himself, in his own poems : 
 
 " March we must, ever wearily, 
 
 March, we will ; true men will be true 
 
 " Mine be a life 
 
 Of struggle and endurance, and a free 
 Dash at the fates which front us terribly I 
 Certain bliss, yet nobler effort still I 
 Grander duties, gemmed with finer joys. 
 He sleeps ! Ah, well ! not on some field 
 Where victor charge and victor shout, 
 Ringing through feeble pulses, pealed 
 As when a falchion smites a shield, 
 And dying hearts, too happy, yield 
 Their life with conquering paeans out 1" 
 
HEE"EY W. BELLOWS, D. D. 
 
 DR. BELLOWS has for many years been quite prominent as a writer and 
 preacher, but of late he has risen to a new and national position as head 
 of the Sanitary Commission, and of course as chief adviser in that great work of 
 saving the health and life of our troops, which is quite as important as leading 
 them to victory. He is still a young man, for one who has accomplished so 
 much. He was born in Boston, June llth, 1814, thus being under forty-eight 
 years of age. He received his early education there, and completed his prepara 
 tion for college at the famous Eound Hill School at Northampton, Massachusetts, 
 while it was under the charge of George Bancroft and Dr. Cogswell. He entered 
 Elarvard College in 1828, and graduated in 1832. Spending the two subsequent 
 years in teaching, part of the time in Louisiana, he returned to Cambridge to 
 study theology at the Divinity School there, and completed his course in 1837. 
 A few months afterward (January 2d, 1838), he was ordained pastor of the First 
 Congregational Church in New York city, where he still continues to labor. 
 His church stood first in Chambers street, where he remained until a new edifice 
 was built for him in Broadway, where Dr. Chapin now preaches ; and in a few 
 years, on account of the rapid change in the centre of residences, the present 
 All Souls Church was erected for him, at the corner of Fourth avenue and 
 Twentieth street 
 
 Dr. Bellows has made his mark upon the age, not only by the boldness of 
 his positions and the fervor of his eloquence, but by prominent acts of executive 
 force. He was the principal originator of the " Christian Inquirer," the Unita 
 rian newspaper of New York, in 1846, and for several years he was chief editor. 
 He was the moving power in the rescue of Antioch College, Ohio, from extinc 
 tion, and in putting it upon a footing of usefulness and hope. He has been 
 known to the country at large, however, by the original and eloquent sermons 
 orations, and addresses, that have been put forth from time to time upon topics 
 of popular interest. A volume of twenty or thirty of these productions will 
 make an important chapter of our literary and social history, as well as an ex 
 cellent illustration of the many-sidedness of the man. The most conspicuous of 
 these were his discourse at Cambridge on the suspense of faith* 1859, and his 
 noted defence of the drama in 1857. This latter was really an act of great 
 
102 HENRY W. BELLOWS, D.D. 
 
 Bravery-; and while" his performance was a profound and brilliant one, its heroism 
 was even more memorable. 
 
 Probably the most careful studies that he has given to the public are his 
 lectures before the Lowell Institute, Boston, on the " Treatment of Social Dis 
 eases," in 1857. These lectures were very patient, practical, and sagacious, and 
 undoubtedly prepared the author for his present task as President of the Sani 
 tary Commission. The organization of this commission was in great part his 
 work ; and they who were with him throughout the first struggle of its friends to 
 secure to it a firm foundation, testify to the boundless courage, versatile talent 
 and practical sagacity, with which he carried his point, and won over to his 
 cause the heads of the nation, and discomfited the red-tape procrastinators who are 
 such masters of the art " How not to do it." His labors for nearly a year in this 
 commission have been very great. He has conducted a large correspondence, 
 given many addresses, had personal interviews with important persons, travelled 
 east, west, and south, to inspect the camps and hospitals in person, and actually 
 rendered the service of a major-general in the corps of militant benevolence. 
 Meanwhile, he has kept his ministerial charge, and maintained the high intel 
 lectual and devotional character of his pulpit labors. 
 
 Dr. Bellows is a versatile man, and, by a necessity of his nature, as well as 
 from the opportunities of his position, he has taken a warm interest in subjects 
 of the most diverse kind. Thus, shortly after astounding the old priesthoods by 
 his defence of the drama before an association of actors, he came out with his 
 famous discourse at Cambridge on the suspense of faith, and alarmed his old 
 friends in freedom and progress with fears lest he were taking the back track, 
 and would be soon at the Vatican, kneeling for the pope s blessing on his peni 
 tent head. But they who look to the springs of his convictions discover the 
 interior unity of the man, and can see that he may be a warm champion of a new 
 and purer Church Universal, and be all the more ready to give the beautiful arts, 
 the drama among them, a place within its benediction. We should, perhaps, be 
 sorry to be obliged to reconcile all Dr. Bellows utterances through a term of 
 years with each other, for he writes and speaks from the spur of the moment," 
 pushing his fiery steed on at full gallop, apparently without looking behind him. 
 Yet it is very remarkable how well his various positions illustrate and complete 
 each other ; and even when he runs counter to himself in appearance, as in his 
 attitude at one time as a teacher of transcendentalism, and again as a champion 
 of an authoritative Church, it will be found, as in his recent volume of sermons 
 of various dates, that his course is cumulative, and that he is travelling over dif 
 ferent parts of the same great domain, and now ranging in the open pasture and 
 now resting in the safe fold. If, however, he had the same power in setting forth 
 and urging a complete system of truth or practice that he has shown in dealing 
 
HENRY W. BELLOWS, D.D. 103 
 
 with specific ideas and measures, he would take a place among the great con 
 structive minds of the age. As yet he has not brought his convictions and 
 powers to bear organically upon his work, and his brilliant thoughts sometimes 
 flash more in lines of impulsive force, like the lightning, than shine together like 
 the constellations. Yet it is not difficult to conceive of him as combining his 
 views, experiences and plans into one method, and bringing his electric power to 
 bear upon some great and permanent work of social or religious construction. 
 He has some great gifts as a religious teacher and organizer ; and if he lives 
 twenty years, he ought to do something to meet the great want of our time, 
 which he has so ably set forth, the want of a broad and effective and truly cath 
 olic church system, that shall be at once generous and strong. As it is, how 
 ever, he has done little in this direction ; and with gifts that in some respects 
 rival Wesley s or even Loyola s, he has been apparently little ambitious of 
 church influence, and depends mainly upon his rare personal power as preacher 
 for the success of his ministry, without any help from the methods of edification 
 and administration which he so powerfully discusses and advocates as needed to 
 unite and strengthen the generous minds of our day. As yet, he talks catholi 
 city, and practises extreme individualism. 
 
 Dr. Bellows is an acute and original thinker, a shrewd observer of men, a 
 lover of the best books, especially of the day, a ready and brilliant writer and 
 eloquent speaker, a cordial friend, a humane and devout Christian. His main 
 gift that marks him above most other men is a certain force of character that 
 gives him direct influence over others. He has contemporaries more learned, 
 more philosophical, more constructive than he, and quite as brilliant in style and 
 eloquent in speech. But no man can carry a given point where enthusiasm and 
 moral power are needed so well as he ; and he has a certain princely quality in 
 his temper and presence that gives him remarkable sway. Were he not emi 
 nently public-spirited, and full generally of humane purposes, his tone might 
 often seem presuming; but in leading movements he rides his hobby or his 
 knightly steed not for himself, but for the good cause of patriotism, or humanity, 
 or faith ; and while the superannuated dignitaries of the faculty, or the staff, or 
 the pulpit, whom he starts from their sleep, may curse him for his insolence, the 
 patriots and philanthropists of the land will honor him as a brave and sagacious 
 reformer, and wish him God-speed in his campaign of mercy and heroism. 
 
 These stirring times have evidently had a decided effect on Dr. Bellows 
 ways of thinking. He has long been a leader in the liberal school of thought, 
 and has given a large part of his life to vindicating the rights of the human soul 
 against ancient prescriptions and priesthoods, dogmas and dignities. In this he 
 has followed in the track of Channing, and sometimes he has approached the 
 
 extreme individualism of Emerson, and tended to slight the power of positive 
 14 
 
HENRY W. BELLOWS, D.D. 
 
 institutions and constitutional laws. Of late years he has been more conserva 
 tive, and since his public position has connected him more closely with national 
 affairs, and shown him the difficulty of carrying out abstract ideas, and the im 
 portance of uniting men as far as possible upon some standard of authority, he 
 has taken a bold stand with the constitutional party. He is now, as ever, an 
 emancipationist, but he trusts mainly in the power of social and moral causes to 
 free the slave ; and, while favoring the rigid enforcement of law against rebe 
 slaveholders, he is for leaving to all loyal states and men their full rights of local 
 jurisdiction under the constitution. 
 
 In person, Dr. Bellows carries dignity and suavity, and has an air of experi 
 ence and age beyond his actual years. At heart, however, he is very young, and 
 can be as merry and amusing as any of the solid old fathers of the Church, like 
 Luther and his compeers, who thought an honest laugh sometimes no unseemly 
 preparation for a sincere prayer. Perhaps the doctor s prayers are the best thing 
 that he does ; and the fair inference is, that if so much unction drops so readily 
 from his lips, there must be a deep fountain within. It is well that he is thus a 
 devout man, and earnest to subdue his will to the Supreme will ; for his temper 
 ament is of the impulsive, commanding kind, such as tends, not from calculation 
 but from instinct, to take the lead, and to submit with great difficulty to any 
 other position. If the army has thus lost a brave and somewhat exacting gen 
 eral, or the Senate a brilliant and imperious leader, the Church has gained a 
 commanding preacher, and humanity a fearless and faithful friend. 
 
SAMUEL FKANCIS DU PONT. 
 
 SAMUEL FBANCIS DU PONT, rear-admiral in the United States navy, 
 was born at Bergen Point, New Jersey, September 27th, 1803. His grand 
 father, Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, well known in French history as a 
 political economist, and a representative in the Chamber of Notables and the 
 States-General, emigrated to America with his two sons, Victor and E. S. Du 
 Pont, at the close of the year 1799. The elder of these resided in the state of 
 New York until 1809, when he removed with his family to the neighborhood of 
 Wilmington, Delaware, of which state his son, Admiral Du Pont, is a resident 
 and citizen. The latter was, in 1815, when but twelve years of age, commissioned 
 by President Madison a midshipman in the United States navy ; and it is an 
 interesting fact that Mr. Jefferson, alluding to the appointment in a letter to his 
 grandfather, expressed the hope that he might live to be an admiral. He sailed 
 on his first cruise in 1817, on board the Franklin, seventy-four, under Commo 
 dore Stewart, and thenceforth for many years performed the ordinary routine 
 duties of his profession, which, owing to the peaceful relations subsisting between 
 the United States and foreign powers, were of no special importance. He, how 
 ever, showed himself an active and able officer, in whatever capacity employed, 
 and saw a fair proportion of sea-service. 
 
 In 1845, being then a commander, Du Pont was ordered to the Pacific, in 
 command of the frigate Congress, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore 
 Stockton, and was on the California coast at the commencement of the war with 
 Mexico. He was soon after put in command of the sloop-of-war Cyane, and, in 
 the varied and difficult service which fell to his lot, acquitted himself with pru 
 dence and gallantry, taking a conspicuous part in the conquest of Lower Cali 
 fornia. Four different commodores commanding on that station testified to the 
 faithful manner in which he discharged his duties, and the secretary of the navy 
 added the unqualified approval of his department. 
 
 Early in February, 1848, Commander Du Pont, while lying off La Paz, as 
 certained that a brother-officer, Lieutenant Heywood, with four midshipmen and 
 a few marines, was beleaguered in the mission-house of San Jose by an over 
 powering force of Mexicans under Colonel Pineda. He immediately sailed for 
 the latter place, landed on the 15th of the month a force of one hundred and two 
 
106 
 
 SAMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT. 
 
 men of all ranks, and, defeating and dispersing the besiegers, who outnumbered 
 him four or five to one, rescued the hard-pressed but dauntless little band of his 
 countrymen. "I want words," wrote Commodore Shubrick, the commanding 
 officer of the station, " to express my sense of the gallant conduct of these officers, 
 but feel that I am perfectly safe in saying that the annals of war cannot furnish 
 instances of greater coolness, of more indomitable perseverance, of more conspic 
 uous bravery, and of sounder judgment." 
 
 In 1856, Du Pont attained the rank of captain, and in the succeeding year 
 was placed in command of the steam-frigate Minnesota, which conveyed Mr. 
 Reed, the American minister, to China. Arriving during the Anglo-French war 
 with -the Chinese, he was one of the first who visited Canton after its bombard 
 ment, and was also an eye-witness of the capture by the allies of the forts at the 
 mouth of the Peiho Eiver. He returned to the United States in 1859, having 
 extended his cruise to Japan and the coast of southern Asia, and. on January 1st, 
 1861, was appointed to the command of the Philadelphia navy-yard. 
 
 The outbreak of the Southern Rebellion found Du Pont on the active list 
 of captains, and with a reputation for professional capacity and fidelity of which 
 the government was not slow to avail itself. As a means of crushing the naval 
 power of the rebels, and cutting them off effectually from supplies, it was early 
 determined to occupy one or more important points on the Southern coast, where 
 the blockading squadrons or cruisers of the government might resort for shelter 
 or supplies, or rendezvous for expeditions ; and to Captain Du Pont was intrusted 
 the selection of such a place. After consultation between Mr. Fox, assistant sec 
 retary of the navy, and himself, the harbor of Port Royal, on the coast of South 
 Carolina, was fixed upon; and during the summer and autumn of 1861, prepa 
 rations for a joint naval and military expedition thither were vigorously but 
 quietly pursued. The land-forces, under the command of General Thomas W. 
 Sherman, assembled at Annapolis, whence on October 21st they were conveyed 
 in transports to Fortress Monroe, to join the fleet of war- vessels under Commo 
 dore Du Pont with which they were intended to co-operate. On the 29th, the 
 whole fleet, numbering upward of fifty sail, weighed anchor and stood out to sea, 
 led by the steam-frigate Wabash, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Du 
 Pont, as commander of the South Atlantic blockading squadron. On the after 
 noon of November 1st, a heavy gale set in, which increased in violence during 
 the night, and raged with fury until the next evening, dispersing the fleet in all 
 directions, and causing the loss of several transports and a quantity of material. 
 On Monday, the 4th, the greater part of the fleet had assembled off Port Royal 
 bar, which lies ten miles seaward, and is about two miles in width ; and the small 
 steamer Vixen was immediately dispatched to find the channel, and replace the 
 buoys removed by the rebels. This having been accomplished early in the after- 
 
SAMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT. 107 
 
 noon of the same day, the gunboats and lighter transports were immediately sent 
 forward, dispersing a fleet of small rebel steamers, under Commodore Tatnall ; 
 and a reconnoissance discovered that Hilton Head and Bay Point, commanding 
 the entrance to Port Koyal harbor, called Broad Eiver, which is here about two 
 and a half miles wide, were protected by works of great strength, scientifically 
 constructed, and mounted with guns of heavy calibre. Fort "Walker, on Hilton 
 Head, at the southerly entrance of the river, mounted twenty-three pieces, many 
 of which were rifled, and was the defence mainly relied upon for the protection 
 of the harbor. The works on Bay Point comprised Fort Beauregard mounting 
 fifteen guns, and a battery of four guns about half a mile distant. 
 
 On Tuesday morning, the 5th, the Wabash crossed the bar, followed by the 
 frigate Susquehanna and the larger transports ; and another reconnoissance, made 
 by the gunboats, satisfied the commodore of the superiority of Fort Walker, against 
 which he determined to direct his chief efforts. Wednesday being a stormy day, 
 the attack upon the forts was deferred until Thursday morning, the 7th. 
 
 The plan was, for the ships to steam in a circle or ellipse between the forts, 
 running close to Hilton Head as they came down the river, and pouring broad 
 sides into Fort Walker ; and, on their return, attacking in a similar manner Fort 
 Beauregard. The squadron was drawn up in two columns, the larger being 
 headed by the Wabash, and at half-past nine in the morning stood into Broad 
 Eiver, and moved up past Fort Beauregard. At a few minutes before ten the 
 action became general, and for four hours a continuous stream of shot and shell 
 was poured upon the rebel forts. The Wabash, directed by Commodore Du 
 Pont in person, was carried by the soundings as close to the shore as possible, 
 the engines working with barely enough power to give -her steerage- way, and 
 proceeded with such deliberation, that but three circuits were accomplished 
 during the fight. At the same time her signals were given as regularly as on an 
 ordinary occasion. Her heavy guns played with terrible effect upon the enemy, 
 and she was herself a prominent target for the guns of either fort. The commo 
 dore estimated that he saved a hundred lives by keeping under way and bear 
 ing in close, and subsequently stated that he never conceived of such a fire as 
 that of the Wabash in her second turn. She also bore in great measure the 
 brunt of the enemy s fire ; as, after the first circuit, the small gunboats took their 
 positions at discretion, and the Susquehanna and Bienville were her only com 
 panions. At two o clock, the enemy s fire began to slacken, and he was soon 
 discovered in rapid flight from Fort Walker toward a neighboring wood. At 
 half-past two, the work was occupied by a party from the Wabash, and on the 
 succeeding morning Fort Beauregard was found deserted by its garrison. The 
 casualties of the fleet were eight killed and twenty-three wounded ; and the rebel 
 loss is supposed to have amounted to between one and two hundred. In the 
 
108 SAMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT. 
 
 hurry of their flight they also abandoned every thing but their muskets. This 
 victory, the most considerable gained since the defeat at Bull Eun, excited uni 
 versal enthusiasm throughout the loyal states, and contributed very materially to 
 restore confidence in the ability of the government to crush the rebellion, as well 
 as to increase the eclat which had attended the naval operations in the war. 
 
 Commodore Du Pont immediately took active measures to follow up his 
 success ; and his fleet has since been busily employed in expeditions along the 
 coast, or in co-operating with the land-forces under General Sherman and the 
 other military officers. During the year that he has commanded the South At 
 lantic blockading squadron, the vigilance of his subordinates has very materially 
 checked the violations of the blockade so frequent in the early part of the war, 
 and numerous captures of valuable vessels and cargoes have added to the re 
 sources of the government. In August, 1862, he was nominated by the President 
 one of the seven rear-admirals on the active list authorized to be appointed by 
 act of Congress. 
 
 Apart from his sea-service, which covers a period of nearly a quarter of a 
 century, Admiral Du Pont has been employed on shore in numerous important 
 public duties requiring the exercise of high professional knowledge and experi 
 ence. He was one of the officers consulted by Mr. Bancroft, when secretary of 
 the navy, in regard to the formation of a naval school ; and a member of the 
 board which organized the academy at Annapolis on its subsequent efficient 
 footing. He has also served on boards convened for the purpose of making 
 codes of rules and regulations for the government of the service, for the exami 
 nation of midshipmen, and similar purposes, and was for three years a prominent 
 member of the lighthouse board, taking an active part in the creation of the 
 present system for lighting the coast. He also performed the unwelcome duties 
 of a member of the naval retiring board of 1855. More important than any of 
 these services, perhaps, were his investigations with reference to the introduction 
 of floating batteries for coast defence, which were embodied in a report esteemed 
 of so much value, that it has been republished separately, and very generally con 
 sulted by officers of the engineer-corps. The late Lieutenant-General Sir Howard 
 Douglas, the chief English authority on the subject, in a recent edition of his 
 standard work on gunnery, has cited its opinions and conclusions with respect, 
 and styles it " an admirable work." The private as well as the public career of 
 Admiral Du Pont is without reproach. " No man," said Mr. Clayton, of Delaware, 
 in the United States Senate, in allusion to his services, " is more beloved or hon 
 ored by his brother-officers in the navy, or more respected as an accomplished 
 officer, sailor, and gentleman. No man living stands in higher repute wherever 
 lie is known." 
 

TKOUT GKEBLE. 
 
 AMONG- tlie events which give a peculiar sadness to the early history of the 
 war, was the ill-advised attempt to drive the enemy from Great Bethel, on 
 the 10th of June, 1861, and especially the fall of the gallant young artillery offi 
 cer, the sacrifice of whose own life on that occasion saved the main body of the 
 attacking force from entire destruction. 
 
 The memory of this brave soldier is now a part of his country s inheritance. 
 His name will hereafter find an honorable mention in every history of the great 
 North American republic. The following brief sketch of his life will show that 
 the deeds which made his end illustrious, even amid defeat, were not the result 
 of chance, but the legitimate fruits of right principles and of long and patient 
 culture. 
 
 JOHN TROUT GREBLE, the oldest son of Edwin and Susan Virginia Greble, 
 was born in Philadelphia, January 19th, 1834 The traditions of the family 
 were all patriotic. His great-grandfather on the paternal side, Andrew Greble, a 
 native of Saxe Gotha, who came to this country in 1742, and settled permanently 
 in Philadelphia, enlisted warmly in the cause of the War of Independence. He, 
 with his four sons, joined the American army, and fought at the battles of 
 Princeton and Monmouth. The ancestors of Lieutenant Greble on the mother s 
 side were from Wales. They settled in Philadelphia in 1689. Though belong 
 ing to the Society of Friends, and professing the principles of non-resistance, they 
 also espoused actively the cause of independence ; and two of them, Isaac Jones 
 and William Major, great-grandfathers of Lieutenant Greble, were in the conti 
 nental army. 
 
 The earliest aspirations of young Greble, so far as they are known, were all 
 in keeping with these early traditions of the family. Though living in a home 
 where all the avocations and interests were peaceful though delicate in physical 
 constitution, and possessed of a singular gentleness of disposition and manners, 
 which followed him through life he yet among his earliest dreams fondly con 
 templated the career of a soldier ; and when the time for decision came, he made 
 a soldier s life his deliberate choice. 
 
 In tracing the history of one who has given to the world proofs of good 
 ness, wisdom, and valor, it is instructive and interesting to know the influences 
 which contributed to the formation of his character. No formative influences 
 
110 JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 
 
 compare with those which cluster around one s home. A man s father, mother, 
 brothers and sisters, beyond all other human agencies, help to make him what 
 he is. No one could have had even a passing acquaintance with young Greble, 
 without feeling an assured conviction that the home which had nurtured him 
 was the abode of the gentler virtues. Next to home, in its influence upon the 
 character, is the school. In early childhood, Greble attended for a short time a 
 private school kept by a lady, where he learned the first rudiments of knowledge. 
 With this exception, all his education, outside of his home, was received in pub 
 lic schools ; first in those of his native city, and afterward in that of the general 
 government at West Point. He entered the Einggold Grammar School of Phila 
 delphia at the age of eight, and remained there four years. At the age of twelve 
 having passed a successful examination, he was admitted to the Central High 
 School. There he remained another four years. Having completed the course 
 in that institution, he graduated with distinction in June, 1850, receiving the 
 degree of bachelor of arts at the early age of sixteen. 
 
 Up to this point, his education had been conducted without reference to a 
 military career. It had been his father s expectation, in due time, to receive him 
 as a partner in his own business ; but when the time for selecting a profession 
 drew near, he was so clear and decided in his preferences, that his parents wisely 
 determined not to thwart him. The decision, when made known, created some 
 surprise in the mind of the principal of the High School, between whom and 
 himself relations of more than usual kindness had grown up. There was noth 
 ing in the appearance or manners of the youth to point him out to the mind of 
 an instructor as one likely to choose the life of a soldier ; there was nothing in 
 his disposition in any way combative or belligerent. He was never known to 
 have a quarrel with a schoolmate. He was gentle almost to softness ; pacific 
 even to the yielding of his own will and pleasure, in almost every thing that did 
 not imply a yielding of principle. His military taste seemed to be the result of 
 some peculiar inclination of his genius, leading him, as if by instinct, to his true 
 vocation. 
 
 The Honorable L. C. Levin, at that time representative in Congress from 
 Mr. Qreble s district, having heard of the young man s desire for a military life, 
 and knowing him to be a youth of fine promise, generously and without solicita 
 tion, tendered him a cadetship at West Point. Having received the appoint 
 ment, he entered the academy in June, 1850, the very day but one after his 
 graduation at the High School. The letter of recommendation which he bore 
 with him to the professors of the academy is thought worthy of record here, be 
 cause it shows the impression he had made on the minds of his earlier instructors, 
 and because he himself always set a peculiar value upon it as comiag from one 
 whom he had learned to love almost as a father : 
 
JOHN TROUT GREBLE. Ill 
 
 "CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA, June llth, 1850. 
 " To the Professors of the Military Academy at West Point. 
 
 " GENTLEMEN : Mr. John T. Greble having been appointed a cadet in your 
 institution, I beg leave to commend him to your kind consideration. As he has 
 been for four years under my care, I may claim to know him well ; and I recom 
 mend him as a young man of good abilities and amiable disposition ; punctual 
 in the discharge of duty, and seldom off his post. In these whole four years he 
 has lost, I believe, but two days one from sickness, and one to attend the fu 
 neral of a classmate. He leaves the High School with the unqualified confidence 
 and respect of every professor in it. 
 
 " Your obedient servant, JOHN S. HART, Principal" 
 
 The career of the young cadet was not marked by any thing worthy of espe 
 cial record. At West Point, as at the High School, his habits were studious, 
 while his amiable manners and soldierly conduct won for him the friendship of 
 his fellow-cadets and of his professors. After graduating with credit in June, 
 1854, he at once entered the army, and was attached to the second regiment of 
 artillery as brevet second-lieutenant. He was ordered first to Newport barracks, 
 and shortly afterward to Tampa, Florida, where part of his regiment was sta 
 tioned, to keep the Seminoles in order. "While there, he made the acquaintance 
 of the celebrated chief Billy Bowlegs. The latter took a great fancy to the young 
 lieutenant, and, in testimony of his admiration, promised him that, in case of war 
 between the Seminoles and the whites, the lieutenant should not be slain by any 
 of his young warriors, but should have the honor of being killed by the chief, 
 Billy Bowlegs himself ! 
 
 The arduous duties detailed to Lieutenant Greble, in scouring the everglades 
 and swamps in search of the Indians, brought on a violent fever. The disease 
 not yielding to medical skill, he was ordered home, with the hope that a change 
 of climate might effect a cure. From the effects of this illness he never entirely 
 recovered. Having remained with his parents for a short time, and before his 
 health was really sufficiently established to justify a return to active duty, he 
 again took charge of a detachment of recruits, and proceeded with them to Fort 
 Myers, in Florida, in March, 1856. He remained in Florida until December of 
 that year, engaged in the same uninviting duties which had already imperilled 
 his health searching swamps and everglades for stealthy and vindictive foes, 
 who were always near, yet never to be seen by a superior force ; hiding them 
 selves in the water, with a leaf to cover the head, or wrapped up in the dark 
 moss of a cypress or live-oak, ready to shoot any unwary white man who might 
 be so unfortunate as to cross their hiding-place. The young lieutenant escaped 
 at length the perils of this inglorious warfare, and was transferred to a field of 
 
 duty less dangerous and of much more importance. 
 15 
 
112 JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 
 
 In December, 1856, at the request of the professors of "West Point, the secre 
 tary of war ordered Lieutenant Greble to report himself at the .post for academic 
 duty. He was made assistant to the Eeverend John W. French, D. D., chaplain 
 of the post, and professor of ethics. It became the duty of the assistant professor 
 to instruct the cadets in international and constitutional law, and in the constitu 
 tion of the United States. He applied himself at once to the task with his char 
 acteristic constancy and zeal. Finding that the confinement and sedentary life inci 
 dent to his new duties were impairing his health, he twice made application to be 
 placed again in active service ; but the request was not granted, and he remained 
 in that position until the end of the term for which he had been appointed, a 
 period of four years. 
 
 The comparatively tame and inactive life at the academy was not without 
 its compensations to the ardent young soldier. In the refined and cultivated 
 domestic circle which graced the home of Professor French, the assistant found 
 congenial society. On the 4th of August, 1858, he was married to Sarah B., 
 eldest daughter of Professor French. Two of the happiest years of his life fol 
 lowed this union. In October of 1860, Lieutenant Greble was relieved from duty 
 at West Point, and ordered to join his company at Fortress Monroe. His wife 
 and children joined him in November. In anticipation of their coming, he had 
 fitted up the homely apartments appropriated to their use, in the casemates of 
 the fortress, with that exquisite delicacy of taste which was one of his prominent 
 characteristics, so that the grim old walls looked quite gay and picturesque when 
 the youthful family were assembled beneath their shadow. 
 
 About this time a circumstance occurred, of no great magnitude, perhaps, 
 but worthy of record as showing Lieutenant Greble s generosity of disposition, as 
 well as his sincere, unostentatious loyalty to the government. An officer, who 
 had been his friend and classmate, had resigned his commission, with the view 
 of joining the ranks of the rebel army. The lieutenant, hearing of this circum 
 stance, sought his friend, and remonstrated with him with such force and ur 
 gency as to induce a reconsideration. But a difficulty existed. It would be 
 necessary for his friend to go immediately to Washington, and perhaps remain 
 for some time attending to this business, and he had not the means necessary for 
 the journey. Lieutenant Greble had himself barely enough for his family ex 
 penses. Nevertheless he determined that want of funds should not ruin his 
 friend, and occasion the loss of a skilled officer to the government. He was fond 
 of books, of which he had a fine collection ; and he was about to add to their 
 number a handsome copy of the " Encyclopaedia Britannica," having already 
 ordered the work. But he now countermanded the order, and, putting the sum 
 which the work would cost into the hands of his friend, saw him off with joy on 
 his repentant errand. 
 
JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 113 
 
 The domestic happiness of Lieutenant Greble was soon to be interrupted, 
 never to be renewed. In April, 1861, the whole nation, at the call of their patri 
 otic President, sprang suddenly to arms. Large numbers of troops were expected 
 at Fortress Monroe, and of course all the quarters would be needed for their ac 
 commodation. Orders were given, therefore, for the women and children to be 
 removed. On the 19th of April, Mrs. Greble, with her two little ones and nurse, 
 left the fortress for Philadelphia. They arrived at Baltimore in the midst of that 
 fearful riot in which the soldiers of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania were fired 
 upon by the mob. All means of conveyance northward being cut off, the unpro 
 tected family made their way westward through Maryland and Virginia to Ohio, 
 and thence, by way of Pittsburg, finally reached Philadelphia in safety. 
 
 On the 26th of May, Lieutenant Greble was detailed with twenty-two regu 
 lars to proceed to Newport News as master of ordnance, and to instruct the vol 
 unteers, who numbered about three thousand, in artillery practice. An officer 
 on General Butler s staff, in a letter written after Lieutenant Greble s death, gives 
 the following account of his conduct at Newport News : 
 
 " I found him with his tent pitched nearest the enemy, in the most exposed 
 position, one of his own selecting, living and sleeping by his gun the gun which 
 he used so faithfully a few hours later. His pleasant, open face, and kind, gentle 
 manner, won me from the first. We exchanged many little courtesies, and I was 
 his guest and the object of his thoughtful and kind attentions. I never met with 
 a more high-minded, honorable gentleman. If, in this rebellion, we met with no 
 other loss, one such man is enough to render it an execration throughout all 
 time. He was intent on robbing war of half its horrors, and was deeply inter 
 ested in and co-operated with me manfully in plans for checking the depredations 
 about the camp at Newport News. In this he displayed a firmness and moral 
 courage that satisfied one of his manly character, and made a strong impression 
 on the general. He spoke of the possibility, even probability, of his speedy fall, 
 with perfect coolness, and seemed entirely prepared to meet all the dangers of 
 sustaining the flag. I need not say to you how proud I should have been to 
 have stood by his side on that fatal day ; to have seconded his efforts ; to have 
 aided his friends in bringing off his body, as I am sure he would have brought 
 mine." 
 
 The following extract from a letter to his wife, written from Newport News, 
 Sunday, June 9th, the very day before his death, shows how calm and serene 
 was his mind in the midst of the fearful excitement around him : 
 
 " It is a delightful Sunday morning. It has a Sabbath feeling about it. If 
 you had lost the run of the week, such a day as to-day would tell you it was the 
 Sabbath. The camp is unusually quiet ; and its stillness is broken by little ex 
 cept the organ-tones of some of the Massachusetts men, who are on the beach, 
 
114 JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 
 
 singing devotional airs. Last Sabbath the men were in the trenches. To-day is 
 their first day of rest. A great deal of work has been done during the past 
 week, under unfavorable circumstances rainy days. With very little additional 
 labor, our whole line of intrenchments will be finished. There is a little trim 
 ming off to be done, and a magazine to be built ; a little earth to be thrown up 
 in front of some h4avy columbiads that have been mounted, and some store 
 houses to be built. But enough has been done to allow the rest to be completed 
 by general details, and to give a chance for drilling. Colonel Phelps has ap 
 pointed me ordnance officer of the post. "We do not fear an attack ; the position 
 is too strong. I hear that Davis has given the federal troops ten days to leave 
 the soil of Virginia. The time is nearly up, but we are not quite ready to move 
 
 away I hope that I may be given courage and good judgment enough to 
 
 do well my duty under any circumstances in which I may be placed. As far as 
 I can see, there is not much danger to be incurred in this campaign at present. 
 Both sides seem to be better inclined to talking than fighting. If talking could 
 settle it by giving the supremacy forever to the general government, I think it 
 would be better than civil war. But that talking can settle it, I do not believe." 
 
 Little did Lieutenant Greble suppose, while writing this letter, that an expe 
 dition was then planning, to move in a few hours, and that he would be sent 
 with it. As ordnance officer of the post, and the only regular artillery officer 
 there, he did not expect to* be ordered on an expedition, leaving the armament in 
 charge of those not qualified to use it if attacked by the enemy. But such was 
 the case. An expedition against Great Bethel had been determined on ; and, 
 although well qualified to take command of it, he was not even made aware of it 
 until a few hours before the order was given to march. When informed of the 
 plan of attack, he said to a brother-officer: "This is an ill-advised and badly- 
 arranged movement. I am afraid that no good will come of it. As for myself, 
 I do not think I shall come off the field alive." 
 
 Unwell and at midnight, and with these gloomy forebodings on his mind, he 
 did not hesitate, but with the promptitude of a soldier made preparations to obey 
 the orders of his superior. The only available guns at Newport News were two 
 small six-pounders, and for these he had no means of transportation. lie suc 
 ceeded, however, in borrowing two mules to draw one of the pieces, and he de 
 tailed one hundred volunteers to draw the other. With eleven regular artillery 
 men to serve the guns, he started off with the rest of the forces on the expedition 
 at night, to attack an enemy of whom no reconnoissance had been made, either 
 in regard to their force or position. 
 
 The particulars of this ill-starred expedition are but too well known, and 
 need not be repeated here. Lieutenant Greble, being considerably in advance 
 of the main body, with one of his guns, heard firing in the rear from the other 
 
JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 115 
 
 gun, which was in charge of his sergeant. Knowing that there could be no ene 
 my there, he galloped back, and found, as he had suspected, our own forces by a 
 fatal mistake firing on each other. He immediately ordered the firing to cease, 
 and when he saw the dead and wounded around him, exclaimed that he would 
 rather have been shot himself than that such a disaster and disgrace should have 
 befallen our arms. The result of this fatal error it was easy to conjecture. The 
 enemy were notified of the approach of the federal troops, and, hastily retiring 
 from Little Bethel, which it was intended to surprise, prepared for a vigorous 
 defence of their works at Great Bethel. 
 
 Order being restored, the attacking party again began to move forward. 
 Lieutenant Greble returned to his gun, which was in the advance with Duryea s 
 Zouaves. As they approached Great Bethel, a concealed battery opened fire 
 upon them. Lieutenant Greble immediately unlimbered his guns, and took 
 position in tl^e open road, about one hundred and fifty yards from the enemy, 
 firing his guns alternately, and moving them forward at each discharge, until he 
 was within one hundred yards of their battery. In this firing, he sighted the 
 pieces each time himself, remaining as cool as if on parade. So accurate and 
 effective was his firing, that he succeeded in silencing all of their guns but one, a 
 rifled cannon. The Zouaves, and Bendix s regiment, by whom he was supported, 
 were lying close to the ground in the woods, waiting the order to storm the ene 
 my s work ; but no general was to be found, to give the order. In the other part 
 of the field our troops had been repulsed, and were in full retreat. It was a 
 critical and awful moment. There, in full view of the enemy, and within a hun 
 dred yards of their intrenchments, stood this young artillerist with his two guns 
 and but eleven men, keeping the entire hostile force at bay, and by his cool intre 
 pidity and skill preventing a general rush upon the retreating ranks. For two 
 whole hours he kept up his fire, and whenever the enemy attempted a sortie, 
 drove them back with a shower of grape. One of his guns, having expended all 
 its ammunition but a single discharge of grape, was ordered into the rear ; and 
 the volunteers, who were to have been his support, were scattered by the enemy s 
 grape and shell, so that he was left with but one gun and five men. Still the 
 brave artillerist held his ground. Seeing the battle virtually lost, an officer went 
 to him and begged him to retreat, or at least to dodge as the others did. His 
 reply was characteristic : "I NEVER DODGE ! When I hear the bugle sound a re 
 treat, I loill leave, and not before. 11 Not many minutes after these noble words 
 were spoken, as he was standing by his gun, a ball from the rifled cannon before 
 mentioned struck him on the right side of the head, when he fell, exclaiming, 
 " O my God !" and immediately expired. 
 
 Thus ended the earthly career of one of the most promising officers in our 
 national service. His death, just at the time when courage, patriotism, and mili- 
 
116 JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 
 
 tary skill were most needed, was a public calamity, and was mourned as such. 
 During the whole of the engagement, his conduct was the admiration of all who 
 saw him. An officer, who was in a position to observe him, remarked : " He 
 kept up during the entire action a galling and successful fire upon the enemy s 
 battery ; and, although grape, shell, and solid shot rained all around him, he was 
 as quiet and gentle in manner and spirit as if in a lady s drawing-room." He 
 never, under any circumstances, was otherwise. 
 
 Upon the fall of ^ieutenant Greble, the guns were abandoned, and the whole 
 remaining force retreated. But Lieutenant-Colonel Warren and Captain Wilson, 
 rallying a few men, placed the body of the brave young officer on the gun which 
 he had served so well, and brought them safely off to Newport News. On reach 
 ing Fortress Monroe, the body was placed in a metallic coffin, which had been 
 procured for the purpose by the officers at the fortress, and was thence sent by 
 boat to his friends at Philadelphia. * 
 
 The narrative of this fatal battle leaves no doubt that Lieutenant Greble 
 deliberately sacrificed his own life to save the lives of a large number of his coun 
 trymen. His practised eye saw at a glance the position of affairs ; he saw our 
 forces defeated and in full retreat, and an exultant foe eager to pursue and cut 
 them to pieces. Once, indeed, they made the attempt. As soon as he saw them 
 outside of their intrenchments, he quickly remarked to an officer of the Zouaves, 
 Now I have something to fire at ; see how they will scamper !" Deliberately 
 aiming his gun at them, loaded with grape, he discharged it full among them. 
 So precise was the shot, that they instantly disappeared behind their intrench 
 ments, and were not seen a second time. Had Lieutenant Greble retreated, or 
 " dodged," as he was requested to do, the effect would have been to intimidate 
 the few troops that remained with him, and to allow the enemy to cut off the 
 retreat. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Warren, who was with him in this action, bears the fol 
 lowing testimony to Lieutenant Greble s conduct : "I was near him during much 
 of the engagement between the two forces, and can testify to his undaunted 
 bravery in the action, and to the skill and success with which his guns were 
 served. His efficiency alone prevented our loss from being thrice what it was, 
 by preventing the opposing batteries from sweeping the road along which we 
 marched ; and the impression which he made on the enemy deterred them from 
 pursuing our retreating forces, hours after he had ceased to live." 
 
 In his pocket was found a paper, written apparently after he had started 
 on this ill-fated expedition. It was scrawled hastily in pencil, and intended 
 for his young wife. It was in these words : " May God bless you, my darling, 
 and grant you a happy and peaceful life. May the good Father protect you 
 and me, and grant that we may live happily together long lives. God give 
 
JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 117 
 
 me strength, wisdom, and courage. If I die, let me die as a brave and honor 
 able man ; let no stain of dishonor hang over me or you. Devotedly and with 
 my whole heart, your husband. What a priceless heir-loom must "that scrawled 
 paper be to the widowed mother and her babes ! A letter, also found in his pos 
 session, ran thus : " It is needless, my son, for me to say to you, be true to the 
 stars and stripes. The blood of Revolutionary patriots runs in your veins, and it 
 must all be drawn out before you cease to fight for your country and its laws." 
 So wrote a loyal father to a loyal son, not many days before that bloody 10th of 
 June. Well might the native city of such a sire and such a son ask as a privi 
 lege that the body of the young hero be laid in state in the Hall of Independence ! 
 Lieutenant Greble was buried in the beautiful Woodland cemetery, to which 
 place his remains were escorted by the city authorities, the faculty and students 
 of the High School, a large body of military and naval officers, and an immense 
 concourse of citizens. The character of this young man stands out so clearly in 
 his life, that it needs no separate delineation. It was thus beautifully summed 
 up on the occasion of his funeral, by his pastor, the Eev. Dr. Brainerd : 
 
 "Few have passed to the grave whose whole life could better bear inspec 
 tion, or who presented fewer defects over which we have need to throw a mantle 
 of charity. In his family circle, in the Sunday-school, in the High School where 
 he graduated, as a cadet at West Point, and as an officer in the service of his 
 country, up to the very hour when he bravely fell, he has exhibited a life marked 
 by the purest principles and the most guarded and exemplary deportment. In 
 his nature he was modest, retiring, gentle, of almost feminine delicacy, careful to 
 avoid wounding the feelings of any, and considerate of every obligation to all 
 around him. Indeed, such was his amiability, modesty, and delicacy of tem 
 perament, that we might almost have questioned the existence in him of the 
 sterner virtues, had not his true and unshrinking courage in the hour of danger 
 stamped him with an heroic manliness. In this view of qualities seemingly anti 
 thetical, we discover that beautiful symmetry in his character which marks him 
 as a model man of his class." 
 
 Among the many official testimonials to the services and the worth of Lieu 
 tenant Greble, none would seem to form a more fitting conclusion to this brief 
 memoir than the following : 
 
 " At a meeting of the officers of the army at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, on 
 the llth of June, the following resolutions were adopted relative to the lamented 
 death of John T. Greble, late a first-lieutenant of the second regiment United 
 States artillery, who was killed in battle at County Creek, near this post, on the 
 10th instant : 
 
 " Resolved, That the heroic death of this gallant officer fills us all with admi 
 ration and regret. Standing at his piece, in the open road, in front of the ene- 
 
118 JOHN TROUT GREBLE. 
 
 my s battery, till shot down, he served it with the greatest coolness and iaost 
 undaunted courage. 
 
 "Resolved, That, while deploring his untimely end, and feeling that his loss 
 to his country is great, and to his family and friends irreparable, still a death so 
 glorious can but tend to lighten the burden of grief to all. 
 
 "Resolved, That, as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, the 
 officers of the army stationed at this post wear the usual badge of mourning for 
 thirty days. 
 
 "Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be furnished to his 
 family. 
 
 "J. DIMICK, Colonel U. S. A." 
 
THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON. 
 
 THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, familiarly known as " Stonewall " 
 Jackson, was born in Clarksburgh, Harrison County, Ya., January twenty- 
 first, 1824. His great-grandfather was an Englishman by birth, and emigrated to 
 the western portion of Virginia, Edward Jackson, grandfather of "Stonewall, 1 
 was surveyor of and represented Lewis County for a time in the Virginia Legisla 
 ture. Jonathan Jackson, father of the General, practised law at Clarksburgh, 
 where he married a daughter of Thomas Neal. He became pecuniarily involved, 
 and when he died in 1827 left his children four in number, two sons and two 
 (laughters penniless. Thomas was at that time but three years of age, and the 
 youngest. He was soon after taken to the house of an uncle in Lewis County, 
 where he remaine^ until the age of seventeen. He labored fcpon the farm in summer 
 and attended school in the winter ; there acquiring the rudiments of an English 
 education. His orphan condition excited the sympathy of the neighborhood, and 
 every assistance was rendered him to carve out his own pathway in life. As a proof 
 of this sympathy he was elected constable of the county of Lewis at the early age 
 of sixteen. At the age of seventeen he set out for Washington on foot to obtain 
 an appointment as cadet in the United States Military Academy at "West-Point, 
 in which he succeeded through the influence of some political friends. He entered 
 the Academy in 1842, and in July, 1846, at the age of twenty-two, he graduated 
 with distinction, was appointed brevet second lieutenant and immediately ordered 
 to report for duty in Mexico under General Taylor. In August, 1847, he was 
 made First Lieutenant of Artillery ; breveted captain "for gallant and meritorious 
 conduct in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco," August, 1848, and brevet 
 ed Major "for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Chapultepec," 
 March, 1849. His health became so impaired by the climate that he was unable to 
 discharge his duties, and, on the conclusion of peace, resigned his commission Feb 
 ruary twenty-ninth, 1852. Upon his return to Virginia, he obtained a professor 
 ship in the Virginia Military Institute, and continued in that position until the 
 breaking out of the rebellion. Soon after entering upon his professorship he 
 married a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Junkin, Principal of Washington College. This 
 lady and her children died, and he subsequently married Miss Morrison, of North- 
 Carolina, by whom he had one daughter, an infant at the time of his death. 
 Upon the secession of Virginia he was commissioned Colonel, and proceeded to 
 
120 THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON. 
 
 . 
 
 Harper s Ferry, there taking command of the small "army of observation " on the 
 third of May, 1861. Upon the approach of his troops Lieutenant Jones, com 
 manding the National forces, evacuated the place, which was immediately occu 
 pied by the Virginia troops. He remained in this position until May twenty- 
 third, when General Joseph E. Johnston arrived and took command. He was 
 subsequently made Brigadier-General, and upon Johnston s retreat from Harper s 
 Ferry to Winchester, induced by the advance under General Patterson, acted 
 as General Johnston s rear-guard, and fought his first battle of the war at Fall 
 ing Waters in June. It was while in command in the Valley, under Johnston, 
 that he organized the First brigade, which at the battle of Manassas or Bull Run, 
 gained the sobriquet, from its leader, of " the stonewall brigade." It consisted of the 
 Second, Fourth, Fifth, Twenty-seventh, and Thirty-third Virginia regiments, was 
 two thousand six hundred and eleven strong, and comprised the flower of the 
 young men in the valley of the Shenandoah. Jackson s was the brigade in advance 
 of Johnston s reinforcements to Beauregard prior to the battle of Manassas, and par 
 ticipated in the engagement of July twenty-first, 1861, first on the left, and, near the 
 close of the conflict, in the centre. It is claimed that the charge of this brigade 
 pierced the Union centre at two o clock in the afternoon, and was the initial 
 cause of the subsequent rout of the National forces, thus forming the turning-point 
 of the contest. General Bee, another brigade commander, at the critical moment 
 when the fortunes of the day seemed wavering, and it was feared that all would 
 be lost by reason of the overpowering reinforcements which were being sent for 
 ward by the Nationals, met General Jackson, and said bitterly : " General, they 
 are beating us back." General Jackson replied, after a moment s pause : " Sir, we 
 will give them the bayonet." Bee galloped back to his command, and called out 
 to his men, pointing to Jackson : " There is Jackson, standing like a stone wall. 
 Let us determine to die here and we will conquer ! Follow me !" The charge 
 was made, and, being supported by reinforcements under Kirby Smith, was suc 
 cessful. During this engagement General Jackson was wounded in the hand. It 
 was this remark of General Bee which gave to the brigade and to its commander 
 the distinctive appellation of " Stonewall," which it and he ever after bore. 
 
 After the battle of Manassas, General Jackson remained with his brigade near 
 Centreville until the early part of October. In September he was advanced to 
 the grade of Major- General, and assigned to the command of the troops in and 
 around Winchester, Va. On the fourth of October General Jackson took leave of 
 his old brigade, concluding his address with the following language : " In the army 
 of the Shenandoah you were the First brigade ! In the army of the Potomac you 
 were the First brigade ! In the Second corps of the army you are the First bri 
 gade. You are the First brigade in the affections of your General ; and I hope 
 by your future deeds and bearing you will be handed down to posterity as the 
 
THOMAS J X A T II A X J A C K S N . 121 
 
 First brigade in this our second war of independence. Farewell !" His brigade 
 was returned to him near Kernstown in November. 
 
 January first, 1862, General Jackson sent an expedition to Bath and Komney, 
 the Nationals falling back before it. The march was attended with the most severe 
 privations ; for the men, deceived by the mildness of the weather on their depart 
 ure, divested themselves of their blankets and overcoats, and were overtaken, 
 thus unprovided, by one of the most severe storms of snow and most intense 
 cold. Notwithstanding these privations and sufferings, Jackson pushed forward 
 and accomplished the object of his movement. He subsequently fell back to 
 Winchester, and remained comparatively inactive during the winter. Owing to 
 a forward movement of the National forces, under General Shields, General Jack 
 son evacuated Winchester March eleventh. He continued his movement up the 
 valley until March twenty-second, when, learning that the Union forces had 
 evacuated Strasburgh, he rapidly retraced his steps, meeting them at Kernstown, 
 two miles south of Winchester, March twenty-fourth. An engagement ensued, 
 which was terminated by the approach of night, and General Jackson failed to 
 regain possession of Winchester. He did, however, succeed in preventing a junc 
 tion of General Banks s command with other forces, which is asserted to have been 
 his main object. 
 
 After this engagement General Jackson retreated toward Harrisonburgh, 
 pursued by the Union army under Banks. With a view of defeating the inten 
 tions of the latter to move upon Staunton, Jackson so disposed of his forces as to 
 bring about an engagement with General Milroy at McDowell May eighth, which 
 prevented his junction with General Banks, and, it is claimed, defeated the in 
 tentions of the latter as regarded Staunton. May seventeenth, General Jackson 
 returned toward Harrisonburgh, and effected a junction with Ewell near New- 
 Market. Thence he moved down the valley, fighting at Front Eoyal on the 
 twenty-third and twenty-fourth, and rapidly pursuing the retreating forces of 
 General Banks through Winchester and Bunker Hill to Charlestown and Hall- 
 town. The pursuit was here checked, and on the thirty -first General Jackson, in 
 consequence of the position of the National forces threatening his line of com 
 munications, again retraced his steps up the valley. June first, General Jackson s 
 outposts were attacked by Fremont near Strasburgh. General Ewell having joined 
 him, Jackson continued his retreat in the evening toward Harrisonburgh. On 
 the sixth, the battle of Cross-Keys was fought, in which General Ashby was 
 killed. He was a most valuable aid to the rebel commander, and his loss was 
 sincerely mourned by him. On the ninth, an engagement took place at Port 
 Republic ; and on the twelfth, Jackson recrossed South Eiver and encamped 
 near Weyer s Cave, where he remained until the seventeenth, when he took up 
 his inarch for a new field of operations the Chickahominy. 
 
122 THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON. 
 
 Thus had the rebel commander swept up and down the Valley of the She- 
 nandoah, alternately retreating from before and pursuing the National forces. 
 Born in the valley, he was familiar with all its paths. He saw from the first the 
 importance that region bore to the success of the rebel cause, and strove his best 
 to preserve it from the possession of the Union forces. In a letter dated March 
 third, 1862, he expressed his military conviction : " If this valley is lost, Virginia 
 is lost," All his plans were laid with a view to securing this important region. 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of June General Jackson reached the vicinity of Ash 
 land, sixteen miles from Eichmond. General McClellan was then within four 
 or five miles of Eichmond. Jackson, on the twenty -seventh of June, made the 
 attack upon Cold Harbor, which was successful in driving in the position of the 
 Federal forces. This engagement resulted in a retrograde movement, in which 
 the famous "seven days battles" were fought. Jackson participated in these 
 and in the battle at Malvern Hills. Immediately subsequent to this, he was 
 made a Lieutenant-General. When General Pope had advanced as far as the 
 Eapidan, and w r as threatening the rebel depot at Gordonsville, Jackson was 
 despatched to check him, and on the ninth of August the battle of Cedar Eun 
 was fought. The rebels remained in position in front of the field of battle until 
 the eleventh, when they fell back to Gordonsville. As soon as Lee satisfied him 
 self that General McClellan was evacuating the Peninsula he put his troops in 
 motion to attack Pope before he could be reenforced. General Jackson led the 
 advance, and the Nationals slowly retired before him. On the twenty-sixth, Jack 
 son reached the vicinity of Manassas, thus gaining the rear of the Union troops. 
 On the twenty-seventh, the battle of Manassas was fought, and the town with all 
 its valuable stores was destroyed. General Jackson, having accomplished this, 
 fell back slowly to within supporting distance of Longstreet. "When he came up 
 an engagement ensued which nightfall terminated. The next day the battle 
 was resumed, the entire rebel army, under General Lee, engaging the whole 
 Union forces. The battle raged the entire day, and at sunset the next day the 
 Nationals were in retreat toward Centreville. Jackson pursued, when an engage 
 ment took place at Ox Eun, (Chantilly,) where the gallant Kearny was killed. 
 That night the Union army retreated within the defences of Washington, and fur 
 ther pursuit ceased. 
 
 General Jackson, upon the subsequent invasion of Maryland, arrived at Lees- 
 burgh September fourth, and on the fifth effected the passage of the Potomac at 
 White s Ford. Thence he pushed on to Frederick City. On the eighth, the 
 rebel army having crossed into Maryland, Jackson was despatched to seize Har 
 per s Ferry, recrossed the Potomac on the eleventh, and on the twelfth invested 
 the place, which was surrendered on the fifteenth. An engagement took place 
 at Boonsboro on the fourteenth, and the battle of Antietam on the seventeenth. 
 
THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON. 123 
 
 On the eighteenth and nineteenth, the rebel army recrossed the Potomac, and thus 
 ended the first invasion of Maryland. The fruits of the surrender at Harper s 
 Ferry were looked upon by the Southern leaders as more than counterbalancing 
 their losses upon the soil of Maryland. 
 
 The month of October was passed by Jackson s corps in the Valley of the 
 Shenandoah ; here it remained until about the first of December, when it was 
 summoned to Fredericksburgh. On December eleventh the National army shelled 
 the town of Fredericksburgh, and the next day the battle was fought, in which 
 Jackson took an active part. After this battle he went into retirement at Moss 
 Neck, where he was engaged during the remainder of the winter and the ensuing 
 spring in the preparation of his official despatches. 
 
 At the battle of Chancellorsville, on the second of May, 1863, General Jack 
 son was mortally wounded, the circumstances of which were as follows : He had 
 ordered A. P. Hill to advance, and himself had hastened forward to view the 
 line of battle. He was in the line of fire from the Federal sharp-shooters, and 
 his position was esteemed so dangerous that one of his staff said to him : " Don t 
 you think this is the wrong place for you ?" He replied quickly : " The danger 
 is all over; the enemy is routed. Go back and tell Hill to press right on." 
 Soon after giving this order Jackson turned and rode back, accompanied by his 
 staff and escort. Hill was making his advance in and on each side of the 
 road, being prevented from the dense wilderness from moving in line of battle. 
 He was instructed to reserve his fire " unless cavalry approached from the direc 
 tion of the enemy." In the darkness, the escort of General Jackson was mistaken 
 for Federal cavalry charging, and the regiments on the right and left of the road 
 fired a sudden volley into them, killing three and mortally wounding General 
 Jackson. The General received a ball in his left arm, below the shoulder-joint, 
 shattering the bone and severing the chief artery ; a second passed through the 
 same arm between the elbow and the wrist, making its exit through the palm of 
 the hand ; a third ball entered the palm of the right hand, about the middle, and 
 passing through, broke two of the bones. He fell from his horse and was caught 
 by an aid, remarking: "All my \vounds are by my own men." The firing was 
 responded to by the National troops, who advanced, charging over General 
 Jackson s body. He was not recognized however, and the Union troops being 
 driven back in turn, he was rescued. He was borne from the field, leaving strict 
 injunctions that the troops should not be told that he was wounded. 
 
 General Jackson remained at Wilderness Eun during the engagement of the 
 next day. Amputation was performed, after which he rallied, and in conversa 
 tion said : " If I had not been wounded, or had had one hour more of daylight, I 
 would have cut off the enemy from the road to United States Ford ; we would 
 have had them entirely surrounded, and they would have been obliged to surren- 
 
124 THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON. 
 
 der or cut their way out they had no other alternative. My troops may some 
 times fail in driving an enemy from a position ; but the enemy always fails to 
 drive my men from a position." During the day he received a note from General 
 Lee, expressing regrets that he was wounded, and congratulating him upon the 
 victory " which is due to your skill and energy." He remained at Wilderness 
 Eun until the third, when he was removed to Guinness s Station, where he died 
 on the tenth. His wounds had progressed favorably, but pneumonia supervened, 
 caused by a fall from his litter, as he was borne from the field, in consequence of 
 one of his bearers having been shot down. 
 
 Just previous to his death he said : "I consider these wounds a blessing ; 
 they were given me for some good and wise purpose, and I would not part with 
 them if I could." Mrs. Jackson was with him in his last moments. She informed 
 him that he was about to die, and his reply was : " Very good, very good ; it is 
 all right !" He expressed a wish to be buried in " Lexington, in the Valley of 
 Virginia." Among the last words which escaped his lips were, " A. P. Hill, pre 
 pare for action !" His remains were taken to Richmond where imposing funeral 
 services were held, after which his body was carried to Lexington for interment. 
 
 The death of Stonewall Jackson was universally mourned throughout the 
 Southern States. His loss was felt to be irreparable, and General Lee expressed 
 the most poignant sorrow at his demise. At the North, his removal was not made 
 the occasion of rejoicing, for even his foes had learned to respect and revere a man 
 who had exhibited such indomitable courage and skill in the conduct of the part 
 allotted to him. He was considered in the light of one who had thrown his whole 
 soul upon an idea, and that idea that his State was in peril, and that he must 
 fight to save it. He gave his services in the beginning of the war for his beloved 
 State, and shed his life-blood upon her " sacred soil." 
 
 Personally, General Jackson was tall, awkward, and, in his movements, con 
 strained and ungraceful. He was absent-minded ; would pause suddenly and fix 
 his eyes upon the ground ; and in riding had a habit of slapping his side and rais 
 ing his arm aloft. He talked little with strangers, and was brief of speech, but 
 never failed to recognize the salute of the humblest person. His military plans 
 were always veiled in mystery ; indeed, it is said that he never told them to 
 any one, not even to his brigadiers and aids. On one occasion he remarked : 
 " Mystery mystery is the secret of success !" General Jackson was an eminently 
 devout man, and on all occasions recognized the interposition of Providence in his 
 successes. He took occasion frequently to appoint periods of thanksgiving and 
 prayer throughout his army. 
 
 His bravery was never questioned. While in Mexico, a battery of the ene 
 my was pouring a storm of shot and shell down a road along which he wished his 
 
THOMAS JO NAT II AX JACKSON. 125 
 
 men to advance. They remained under cover, afraid to venture. Seeing this, 
 Jackson advanced to the road and calmly walking up and down among the plung 
 ing shot and shell, called out coolly : " Come on this is nothing ; yon see they 
 can t hurt me." This coolness on the battle-field did not desert him in after 
 life, and during the war he inspired his troops with the same indomitable courage 
 and bravery. All who had ever been under his command would not hesitate to 
 follow wherever he led. 
 
 From an early period in the rebellion he had looked upon the invasion of 
 the North as one of the surest means of ending the war, and long before General 
 Lee invaded Maryland Jackson seems to have formed a similar plan even with the 
 handful of troops he then had under his command. It is said that when the Po 
 tomac was finally crossed in August, 1862, General Jackson halted his command 
 in the middle of the river and took off his hat while his bands played " Maryland, 
 my Maryland." While in that State, on one occasion the ladies crowded around 
 him and cut every button from his coat. He remarked : " Ladies, this is the first 
 time I was ever surrounded." 
 
 Colonel Ford, a Federal officer who was taken prisoner at Harper s Ferry, re 
 lates the following anecdote : " An orderly rode up while we were conversing, and 
 said to Jackson : I am ordered by General McLaws to report to you that McClel- 
 lan is within six miles with an immense army. Jackson asked: Has General 
 McClellan any baggage-train or drove of cattle ? The reply was that he had. 
 Jackson remarked that he could whip any army that was followed by a drove of 
 cattle, alluding to the hungry condition of his men." 
 
 He was exceedingly modest. The publishers of a Southern illustrated 
 journal wrote to him, requesting his daguerreotype for an engraving and some 
 notes of his battles for a biographical sketch. He wrote in reply that he had no 
 picture of himself and had never done any thing. 
 
 General Jackson wore a sun-browned coat of gray cloth, cavalry boots reaching 
 to the knee, and his head was covered by a cap much faded, which tilted so far 
 over his forehead that he was compelled to raise his chin in the air in order to 
 look under the rim. His horse was an old raw-boned sorrel, who calmly moved 
 about like his master, careless of cannon-ball or bullet in the hottest moments of 
 battle. 
 
 In action Jackson was often impetuous. It is stated that at the battle of 
 Cedar Run his command was pressed by superior numbers so that it was forced 
 back and the day seemed lost. Galloping to the front amidst the terrible fire, 
 he personally rallied his troops, and by his voice and example induced them to 
 re-form. When this was accomplished he gave the order to charge, when, as 
 if inspired by his presence, they obeyed and speedily regained the ground they 
 had lost. 
 
126 THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON. 
 
 General Jackson was a hard student. At "West-Point his lessons were learned 
 only after the utmost mental labor, and few there considered him a bright scholar. 
 He graduated, however, far above many whose tasks had been more easily learned 
 and who it was thought would distance him in the contest for the prize at ex 
 amination. 
 
 When he was a Professor at the Virginia Military Institute he was a martinet 
 in the performance of his duties, and the pupils were led to regard him as a most 
 unreasonable and exacting stickler for useless military etiquette and ceremony. 
 He once continued .to wear a thick woolen uniform late in the summer, and when 
 asked by the professors why he did so, replied that he had seen an order prescrib 
 ing that dress, but none had been exhibited to him directing it to be changed 
 
ULYSSES S. GKAJSTT. 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT was born at Point Pleasant, 
 Clermont Co., Ohio, April twenty-seventh, 1822. His ancestors were 
 Scotch. His early education was obtained at a seminary at Maysville, Kentucky. 
 Through the influence of friends he was appointed cadet at the Military Acade 
 my at West-Point in 1839; he being then but seventeen years of age. Pro 
 gressing steadily in his studies, and graduating with honor, he entered the United 
 States army July first, 18-43, as brevet second lieutenant of infantry. He was 
 assigned to the Fourth regiment, then on duty in Missouri and the Indian terri 
 tory, remaining there until his regiment was ordered to Texas. At Corpus 
 Christi he received his full commission as second lieutenant of the Seventh in 
 fantry, bearing date September thirtieth, 18-15. His regiment joined the army 
 under General Taylor, and participated in the battles of Palo Alto, May sixth, 
 and Resaca de la Palrna, May ninth, 1816. Grant had, however, been detached 
 and rejoined the Fourth regiment the previous November. With this corps he 
 participated in the operations of General Taylor along the Rio Grande and in 
 the battle of Monterey, September twenty-third, 1846. Previous to the surrender 
 of Vera Cruz, the Fourth regiment was transferred to the command of General 
 Scott. Lieutenant Grant took part in the siege of that stronghold and ad 
 vanced with the victorious army to the city of the Montezumas. lie was holding 
 a staff appointment as quartermaster at that time, but was actively engaged in 
 the battle of Molino del Rey, behaving with such gallantry that he was award 
 ed by Congress the brevet of first lieutenant, which he declined. He subse 
 quently was promoted to the full rank of first lieutenant to date from September 
 sixteenth, 18-47. At the battle of Chapultepec, September thirteenth, 1847, 
 with his command, he joined Captain Horace Brooks, of the Second artillery, 
 and by a united movement carried a strong field-work, thus completely turning 
 the enemy s right. For his conduct on this occasion he received honorable men 
 tion in the official dispatches of General Worth, and was rewarded with the brevet 
 rank of captain, to date from the battle, which brevet was confirmed during Janu 
 ary, 1850. 
 
 After the close of the war with Mexico, Captain Grant was stationed in New- 
 York State, with his regiment, which was divided among the forts and defences 
 of the northern frontier and Michigan. In 1852, his corps was sent to the 
 
128 ULYSSES S. GRANT. 
 
 Pacific coast, and the battalion to which Captain Grant belonged was stationed 
 at Fort Dallas, Oregon. While here he received the full commission of captain, 
 dating from August, 1853. On the thirty-first of July, 1854, he resigned his com 
 mission in the army and took up his residence in St. Louis, where he engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits until 1859, when he married and removed to Galena, 
 111., at which place he united in partnership with his father in the tanning 
 business. 
 
 When the rebellion broke out General Grant offered his services to Gov 
 ernor Yates, of Illinois, who appointed him an aid on his staff, and mustering 
 officer of the State volunteers. He retained this position until June fifteenth, 
 1861, when desiring active service, he was appointed colonel of the Twenty -first 
 Illinois volunteers. This regiment was sent into Missouri, and formed part of 
 General Huiibut s force, was subsequently stationed at Mexico, Mo., where it 
 was incorporated with General Pope s troops, and, during the early part of August 
 1861, garrisoned Pilot Knob, and afterward Marble Creek, Mo. August twenty- 
 third he was appointed by the President Brigadier-General of volunteers, with 
 rank from May seventeenth, 1861. General Grant was then placed in command of 
 the post at Cairo, where he was afterwards joined by McClernand s brigade. 
 His department then included the Missouri shore of the Mississippi from Cape 
 Girardeau to New-Madrid. Kentucky, at this time, was supposed to be neutral, 
 and its Governor was anxious that its soil should not be invaded by the troops 
 of either combatants. The rebels, however, perceiving the importance of Colum 
 bus in a military view, seized upon that point and garrisoned Belmont opposite. 
 General Grant at once determined to occupy Paducah, at the mouth of the Ten 
 nessee River, and successfully accomplished his object on the sixth of Septem 
 ber. In answer to a protest from the Governor of Kentucky, Grant called his 
 attention to the occupation of Columbus by the rebels as the provocation for his 
 course. He subsequently occupied Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland 
 River, and thus blockaded the entrance to those important streams, and gained 
 valuable bases for future operations. On the seventh of November General Grant 
 made a movement upon Belmont, Mo., for the purpose of dislodging the rebel 
 troops who had fortified that position, and was successful. The object having 
 been accomplished, he proceeded to withdraw his forces. Large numbers of his 
 command, however, were so busily engaged in reaping the spoils of victory, that 
 reinforcements of the enemy landed and accelerated the departure to such an ex 
 tent that the closing scenes had the appearance of a rout, and as such were con 
 sidered by the Southern leaders. General Grant, however, retired safely, and, 
 under all the circumstances, the battle of Belmont was a victory. 
 
 After Fremont s supersedure by General Halleck, Grant s department was 
 extended, and embraced the southern part of Illinois, that part of Kentucky west 
 
ULYSSES S. GRANT. 129 
 
 of the Cumberland River, and the southern counties of Missouri south of Cape 
 Girardeau. Columbus had by this time December twentieth, 1861 been great 
 ly strengthened by the rebels, and was so situated that an attack from the river 
 was considered impracticable. The Southern troops were also in force in Central 
 Kentucky, occupying Bowling Green as the key of the route to Nashville in 
 Tennessee, and held Fort Henry on the Tennessee and Fort Donelson on the 
 Cumberland. Grant s plans comprised their dislodgment from Columbus on his 
 right and Bowling Green on his left, and with a view to conceal his real destina 
 tion, he first made a reconnoissance in force down the Mississippi to the vicinity 
 of Columbus. Next, with troops under McClernand, he made a movement in a 
 south-easterly direction from Cairo. Then concentrating his forces, he moved 
 rapidly upon Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, and carried the rebel position, Feb 
 ruary sixth, 1862, capturing General Tilghman and staff and sixty men ; the rest 
 of the command having retreated to Fort Donelson. The fleet of gunboats, 
 under Flag-Officer Foote, then passed up the Cumberland River to Fort Donelson, 
 while General Grant, with his command, moved across and invested the fort on 
 the twelfth of February. The fort was garrisoned by twenty thousand men 
 under Pillow, Floyd, and Buckner. General Grant commenced the attack on the 
 morning of the thirteenth, and continued it on the fourteenth and fifteenth, by the 
 night of which he had secured all the commanding positions, and, save at one 
 point, had completely hemmed the rebel forces in. During the night of the 
 fifteenth, the rebel generals held a council of war, when it was determined that 
 it was useless to hold out longer. Generals Floyd and Pillow turned the com 
 mand over to Buckner, and the former succeeded in withdrawing his corps 
 through the unguarded part, and both rebel leaders made good their escape. On 
 the next morning Buckner sent a flag of truce to General Grant, offering to sur 
 render, and asking terms of capitulation. The answer was laconic, and gave the 
 victorious General the appellation which he has ever since borne "Unconditional 
 Surrender Grant." He replied : " No terms other than an unconditional surrender 
 can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works." Buckner 
 was compelled to submit, and immediately surrendered his command, consisting 
 of thirteen thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine men, three thousand horses, 
 forty-eight field-pieces, seventeen heavy guns, twenty thousand stand of arms, and 
 a large quantity of commissary stores. The rebel losses in the siege were two 
 hundred and thirty-one killed and one thousand and seven wounded. The Union 
 loss was four hundred and forty-six killed, one thousand seven hundred and 
 thirty-five wounded, and one hundred and fifty prisoners. The number of pri 
 soners was increased on the day of surrender by a reinforcement which had been 
 sent from the vicinity of Bowling Green. Flag-Officer Foote moved up the river 
 immediately after the surrender, and captured Clarksville. General Buell pushed 
 
130 ULYSSES S. GRANT. 
 
 on from the vicinity of Bowling Green, and on the twenty-third captured Nash 
 ville, Tennessee, with his advance under General Nelson. The capture of Fort 
 Henry and Fort Donelson not only opened the navigation of the Tennessee and 
 Cumberland Eivers, but turned the rebel positions at Columbus and Bowling 
 Green, which were almost immediately evacuated. 
 
 For his victory at Fort Donelson, Grant was made Major-General of vol 
 unteers, to date from the day of the surrender. His district was then extended 
 and denominated the Department of West-Tennessee. General Grant s plans 
 seemed from the outset to have comprehended a theatre of no less magnitude than 
 the entire valley of the Mississippi. Doubtless, had he met with the success he 
 anticipated in his movement upon Corinth, Miss., he would have soon occupied a 
 position in the rear of Yicksburgh which would have placed that stronghold in 
 our possession one year at least sooner than it fell. After the capture of Nash 
 ville, Grant retraced his steps to the Cumberland, and forwarded his troops 
 on transports to Pittsburgh Landing. Corinth was the objective point, for there 
 .the rebels had concentrated their forces under one of their ablest generals, A 
 Sidney Johnston, and it was in a military view a position of great strategic 
 importance. The rebel general perceived General Grant s object, and,with a view 
 to overwhelm him before reinforcements from Nashville could join him, lie 
 moved his forces out of Corinth to attack him at Pittsburgh Landing. The 
 engagement opened on the morning of April sixth, and raged with fearful fury 
 until night. The Union forces had then been driven from the field to the banks 
 of the river, and the protection of the gunboats; but there they held their posi 
 tion, inspired by the indomitable energy of their commander, and rested on their 
 arms for reinforcements. The troops under Buell arrived upon the opposite 
 bank of the river shortly after sunset, and immediately crossed the stream. The 
 next morning the line of battle was formed, and the rebels were driven from the 
 field with the loss of A. Sidney Johnston and fearful slaughter in their ranks. 
 The Union army was so exhausted, however, that but a brief pursuit was made, 
 and the rebels retired within their intrenchments at Corinth. The Union losses 
 in this engagement were one thousand seven hundred and thirty-five killed, seven 
 thousand eight hundred and eighty-two wounded, and four thousand and forty- 
 five missing and prisoners ; a portion of General Prentiss s brigade having been 
 captured. The rebel losses were stated in the official report of Beauregard, who 
 succeeded to the command when General Johnston fell, to be one thousand 
 seven hundred and twenty-eight killed, eight thousand and twelve wounded, and 
 nine hundred and fifty-nine missing. 
 
 While General Grant s expedition was being transferred to the Tennessee, a 
 portion of the navy under Flag-Officer Foote commenced operations, in conjunc 
 tion with General Pope, upon the Mississippi Eiver, at Island No. 10, where the 
 
ULYSSES S. GRA XT. 131 
 
 rebels had taken position after the evacuation of Columbus, Ky. The bom 
 bardment of this place commenced on the fifteenth of March, and continued, 
 with but little interruption, until April seventh, when it surrendered in conse 
 quence of its being flanked by means of a canal which had been constructed by 
 the military engineers. After the capture of Island No. 10, Flag-Officer Foote 
 proceeded down the river to Fort Pillow, which presented another obstacle to his 
 further progress. 
 
 Meantime Grant commenced to reorganize his army, and pushed several im 
 portant reconnoissances to the vicinity of Corinth. General Halleck took the 
 field in person about the middle of April, but gave Grant the command of the 
 centre, which made him next in rank to himself. General Halleck advanced 
 upon Corinth by regular siege approaches, and continued his 1 operations until 
 May twenty-ninth, when the position was evacuated, it being no longer tenable. 
 Fort Pillow was also evacuated on the fifth of June, and on the sixth Flag- 
 Officer Foote, after a grand naval engagement opposite Memphis, received the 
 surrender of that city. General Halleck was called to AVashington as General-in- 
 Chief, on the twenty-second of July, and Grant s command was extended and de 
 nominated the Department of Tennessee. 
 
 The operations during the summer were of but little importance; Grant 
 being employed in reorganizing his army. September nineteenth, a portion of 
 his forces, under General Rosecrans, attacked Price at luka, Miss., and completely 
 routed him. On the third of October, General Grant s position at Corinth was 
 attacked by Van Dorn ; but, after three days fighting, the rebels were compelled 
 to retire after losing heavily in killed and wounded. On the thirtieth of Octo 
 ber, they began concentrating their forces at Ripley, Miss., with the intention of 
 dislodging Grant, but he, by superior generalship, outmanoeuvred them, and pre 
 pared to move his army westward and southward toward Central Mississippi. 
 On the ninth of November, his advance occupied La Grange, and on the second 
 of December, another portion of his troops, under General Hovey, occupied 
 Granada, Miss., where a large quantity of railroad stock was destroyed. Grant s 
 intentions respecting a further movement into Central Mississippi were frus 
 trated by circumstances over which he had no control, and his base of opera 
 tions was transferred to Memphis.. His department then included Cairo, Forts 
 Henry and Donelson, Northern Mississippi and Tennessee, west of the Tennessee 
 River. On the twenty-second of December, his army was divided into four corps, 
 each under an efficient commander, and each operating independently of the other, 
 but all under the supreme direction of Grant. General Sherman, who commanded 
 the right wing of the army, made a movement against Vicksburgh, in the latter 
 part of December, in which he was unsuccessful. 
 
 Early in January, 1863, General Grant assumed the principal direction of the 
 
132 ULYSSES S. GRANT. 
 
 operations for the capture of Vicksburgh. Admiral Porter cooperated with his 
 fleet, and Colonel, afterward General Grierson, made a brilliant foray in April 
 through Central Mississippi for the purpose of cutting the railroad communica 
 tion. Siege operations were commenced against Yicksburgh on the twenty-second 
 of January, and Grant took the field in person on the fourth of February. The 
 bombardment commenced on the eighteenth. Various plans were put in execu 
 tion to accomplish the result desired, among which were the digging of canals to 
 connect the waters of the Mississippi with streams tributary to the Yazoo, so that 
 Haines s Bluff might be taken by a flank movement, and Vicksburgh be ap 
 proached from the north. These plans failed, however. Admiral Porter during 
 the months of March and April succeeded in running several of his gunboats 
 past the batteries at Vicksburgh, and, on the thirtieth of April, passed the bat 
 teries at Grand Gulf, below Vicksburgh, with his entire squadron. General 
 Grant had, by this time, moved his army to the south of Vicksburgh ; and, on 
 the same day, April thirtieth, landed at Bruinsburgh. Thence his march to 
 the interior was rapid and brilliant. The victories of Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, 
 Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, and Big Black River bridge, followed in 
 quick succession; the rebels, under Pemberton, retreating from before the vic 
 torious legions into the defences of Vicksburgh, which, on the eighteenth of May, 
 were closely invested by General Grant. The remainder of that month and the 
 month of June was occupied in prosecuting the siege. On the fourth of July, 
 Vicksburgh was unconditionally surrendered to the Union forces ; thirty-one 
 thousand two hundred and seventy-seven prisoners and a large quantity of artil 
 lery being captured. The National losses in the siege were five hundred and 
 forty-five killed, three thousand six hundred and eighty-eight wounded, and three 
 hundred and three prisoners. General W. T. Sherman was immediately sent in 
 pursuit of Joseph E. Johnston, who was in the vicinity of Jackson, and defeated 
 him, scattering an army already greatly demoralized and despairing. The fall of 
 Vicksburgh accelerated the surrender of Port Hudson to General Banks ; the 
 navigation of the Mississippi was almost immediately restored, and the rebel terri 
 tory literally cut in twain. For this victory General Grant was made a Major- 
 General in the regular army, to date from July fourth, 1863. Having concluded 
 his campaign, he paid a visit to New-Orleans, where he received an ovation from 
 the loyal citizens. While on horseback, attending a review, he fell, and was 
 seriously injured, but as soon as he was sufficiently recovered he commenced his 
 journey northward ; and, by orders of the War Department, reported at Indian 
 apolis. Here he met the Secretary of War, who directed him to assume command 
 of the military division of the Mississippi, with plenary powers. His department 
 embraced the departments of the Tennessee, Ohio, and the Cumberland, and he 
 assumed command on the eighteenth of October. General Rosecrans had incurred 
 
ULYSSES S. GRANT. 133 
 
 the censure of the War Department in conducting the battle of Chickamauga 
 on the nineteenth and twentieth of September, and had been superseded by 
 Major-General Thomas. General W. T. Sherman was placed in command of the 
 Department of the Tennessee, and was then on his way to Chattanooga, with his 
 corps, to reenforce the army there. General Burnside was in command of the 
 Department of the Ohio, with his headquarters at Knoxville, Tenn. The posi 
 tion of affairs at Chattanooga was somewhat critical when Grant assumed control 
 of his new department. The rebels occupied Lookout Mountain and other posi 
 tions commanding Chattanooga and the communications by the Tennessee Eiver. 
 The concentration of large bodies of troops at and in the vicinity of Chattanooga 
 demanded that adequate lines of supply should be opened. General Burnside 
 was threatened by Longstreet, who had been detached from the main rebel army 
 in order to overwhelm the Union forces in East-Tennessee, and all was favorable 
 for an aggressive movement on the part of Grant. On the twenty-third, twenty- 
 fourth, and twenty-fifth of November, he succeeded, by the battle of Chattanooga, 
 in driving the rebels from the commanding positions which they held, and they 
 retreated precipitately through and beyond Einggold, Ga. Reinforcements were 
 immediately sent to the relief of General Burnside, who was being besieged at 
 Knoxville, and on the twenty-ninth of November, the rebels were compelled to 
 raise the siege of that place and retreat in a north-easterly direction on the line 
 of the Virginia and Tennessee Eailroad. Thus General Grant, by the victory at 
 Chattanooga, not only secured a permanent base of operations at that point, but 
 defended East-Tennessee against all assaults by the rebels. The President recog 
 nized the importance of this victory in a letter to General Grant, in which he 
 said : " Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now 
 secure, I wish to tender you and all under your command, my more than thanks 
 my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage, and perseverance with which 
 you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God 
 bless you all." 
 
 Upon the recommendation of the President, Congress passed a resolution of 
 thanks, and voted a medal to General Grant for his great victories, and this reso 
 lution was the first which became a law during the session of the Congress of 
 1863 and 186-1. On the twenty-sixth of February, 1864, an Act was passed by 
 Congress reviving the grade of lieutenant-general, and General Grant was appoint 
 ed to that position by President Lincoln, receiving his commission at Washing 
 ton, March ninth. He has thus obtained the highest honors he as a soldier can 
 desire. His name has been brought forward as a candidate for the Presidency, 
 an event which does not shake his modesty in the least. When the subject 
 was mentioned to him, he remarked that he aspired to only one political office. 
 " When the war is over," said he, " I mean to run for mayor of Galena, 111." his 
 
134 ULYSSES S. GRANT. 
 
 place of residence " and if elected I shall have the sidewalk between my house 
 and the depot repaired." 
 
 General Grant s personal appearance is very unassuming. On the battle-field 
 he wore a huge military coat, a slouching hat, and no insignia of his rank. He is 
 an inveterate smoker and is rarely seen without a segar. When Pemberton had 
 an interview with him, immediately prior to the capitulation of Vicksburgh, Gen 
 eral Grant went aside with him, seated himself upon a grassy mound, and smoked 
 while the details of the surrender were discussed. 
 
 At the close of the first day s engagement at Pittsburgh Landing, General 
 Grant, with a view to rally his men,;rode along the lines with hat and sword up 
 lifted imploring the men to stand but a little while longer, for reinforcements 
 were momentarily expected. And it is due in a great measure to his heroism on 
 that occasion that the fortunes of the day were saved. 
 
 General Grant seems to have so planned his campaigns as to insure success. 
 It is on record that before he commenced his movement to the south of Vicks 
 burgh, the President was undecided as to the feasibility of his plan. After the 
 movement was commenced, the President thought that he should go down the 
 river and join General Banks ; and when he turned northward toward the Big 
 Black, the President feared it was a mistake. "But," he adds, "I now W 7 ish to 
 make a personal acknowledgment that you were right and I was wrong." From 
 the moment that General Grant commenced his movement against Forts Henry 
 and Donelson up to and including the period of his command of the military 
 department of the Mississippi except a brief time when General Halleck was 
 in the field before Corinth he has acted upon plans of his own designing, and 
 to him alone is due the credit of achieving the many victories he has won. 
 
 A man who has attained such a high military position will naturally have 
 some enemies. While he was quietly pursuing his military career he had many 
 influential foes who lost no opportunity to malign him. Now they and their 
 false charges are all swept away. He was accused of being addicted to intemper 
 ance. This was disproved fully, and the President silenced some of his calum 
 niators, on one occasion, by stating that if he knew on what kind of whiskey 
 General Grant got intoxicated, he would send a demijohn to each of the generals 
 in the field if it would make them win such victories as that at Vicksburgh. 
 He exercised the most scrupulous care over his men and lent his official aid to 
 protect them against imposition. On one occasion, after the surrender of Vicks 
 burgh, some of his furloughed men were charged exorbitantly for passage up 
 the river by steamboat men. The General was very indignant, and remarked : 
 " I will teach them, if they need the lesson, that the men who have perilled their 
 lives to open the Mississippi Eiver for their benefit cannot be imposed upon with 
 impunity." 
 
ULYSSES S. GRANT. 185 
 
 The opposition faction at the North received no sympathy from him. When 
 Logan was at home on a furlough, some persons remarked to General Grant, 
 that they thought he had been absent too long. lie replied : "I extended Gene 
 ral Logan s furlough because, while he is in Illinois fighting copperheads, he is still 
 in the field doing his duty." 
 
 On his return up the Mississippi, he responded to an invitation to meet the 
 loyal citizens of Memphis, but declined to speak to the toast given in compliment 
 to him. At a later hour in the evening he appeared upon the balcony of his 
 hotel, and modestly thanked the assemblage for the honor they had conferred 
 upon him. 
 
 General Grant has captured, during his brilliant career, no less than four 
 hundred and seventy -two cannon, and over ninety thousand prisoners more than 
 any other two generals in the whole army. The territory which he conquered 
 has remained in the possession of the Federal arms, if we except the presence 
 occasionally of roving guerrilla bands. The reconstruction of Tennessee, Mis 
 sissippi, and Arkansas will be due to his brilliant military achievements, and 
 when Alabama and Georgia fall into line, General Grant can honestly claim a 
 great share of the honor of their restoration from the thraldom of the rebel rule. 
 
 Upon his promotion, the President assigned to him command of the armies 
 of the United States, relieving Halleck as General-in-Chief. General Grant se 
 lected the field as his headquarters, and proceeded to reorganize the armies for 
 the spring campaign. As this sketch closes, April first, 1864, he is perfecting his 
 plans for a vigorous prosecution of the war and the speedy downfall of the re 
 bellion. 
 
EDWAKD D. BAKEE. 
 
 THE death, of a soldier in honorable warfare, on a well-fought field, is an 
 event so intimately connected with his calling, that the mind is always more 
 or less prepared for the calamity, however sudden may be its approach. Choice has 
 made him " seek renown even in the jaws of danger and of death," and chance 
 holds the scales in which his fate is weighed. But when one who has gained 
 distinction in the peaceful walks of civil life, whose eloquent voice has moved 
 multitudes to enthusiasm or to tears, and who has taken the sword from motives 
 of patriotism only, is cut off in the midst of fame and usefulness, fighting in the 
 ranks of a loyal army, the community receives a shock from which it does not 
 readily recover, refusing for a time to be comforted. Such was the feeling occa 
 sioned by the death of Colonel Baker, who, at the call of a betrayed and threat 
 ened country, forsook his seat in the halls of the national legislature for the field 
 of battle, and there "foremost fighting, fell." 
 
 EDWARD D. BAKER, late a Senator of the United States from Oregon, and 
 colonel of the first California regiment, was born in London, England, on the 
 24th day of February, in the year 1811. His father, Edward Baker, a member 
 of the Society of Friends, was a man of education and refinement ; and his moth 
 er s brother, Captain Dickinson, of the royal navy, was one of the heroes of Tra 
 falgar, where he fought under Lord Collingwood. In 1815, the elder Baker 
 removed with his family to Philadelphia, whence ten years later he made a fur 
 ther migration to Illinois, and settling in the pleasant town of Belleville, in St. 
 Clair county, established there an academy for boys, on what was then called the 
 Lancasterian plan of instruction. Here his son Edward, a handsome and intelli 
 gent boy, received his principal education, giving even then many indications of 
 the brilliant talents he was destined to develop in mature life. Not content with 
 his prescribed studies, he would devour whatever books came within his reach, 
 storing his mind with almost every thing which the wide range of literature em 
 braced. To great industry, energy, and perseverance, he united a memory almost 
 superhuman ; and such were his powers of concentration, that the hasty perusal 
 of a book would enable him to repeat verbatim whole pages of it. Hence the 
 ready and almost inexhaustible fund of varied knowledge which in after-life 
 astonished those who knew the circumstances of his childhood, and which con- 
 
 38 
 
)] 
 
EDWARD D. BAKER. 137 
 
 tributed in no slight degree to his success as a public speaker. As an illustration 
 of the ambition for public life which even then began to stir him, it is related 
 that a friend surprised him one day weeping bitterly over a volume which he 
 was perusing, and asked him what book it was that so affected him. " The Con- 
 titution of the United States," was the reply. " I find that no foreigner can be 
 President, and I am of English birth." 
 
 At the age of eighteen, young Baker removed to Carrollton, in Greene 
 county, where he obtained a deputy clerkship in the county court ; and in the 
 intervals of his office labors applied himself with diligence to the study of law, 
 which he determined to make his profession. Before reaching his majority he 
 was admitted to the bar, after a highly creditable examination, and commenced 
 practice in Carrollton. Possessing a practical knowledge of the details of his 
 profession remarkable in so young a man, he soon showed also powers of oratory 
 which placed him high as an advocate, at the very head of the bar in his circuit, 
 and gave him a considerable reputation outside the courts of law. 
 
 About 1832- 33, a noted revival took place among the Christians or Camp- 
 bellite Baptists in Illinois, under the influence of which Mr. Baker becaftie a 
 convert to the doctrines of the sect. Impressed with the belief that his abilities 
 as a public speaker ought to be employed in the service of religion, he regularly 
 devoted his Sundays, and such other time as he could spare from professional 
 duties, to preaching ; and in this course he persevered for several years, with high 
 reputation as a pulpit orator. 
 
 In 1838, finding Carrollton too limited a field for his forensic powers, Mr. 
 Baker removed to Springfield, then recently created the capital of the state, and 
 immediately embarked in a lucrative practice. Among the many distinguished 
 men with whom he then entered into competition were President Lincoln, the 
 late Senator Douglas, Senators Trumbull and McDougal (the latter now of Cali 
 fornia), General Shields, and Colonel Bissell, not one of whom equalled him in 
 the ready flow, the brilliancy, or the pathos, of his eloquence. In respect to 
 voice, grace of delivery, and the other outward attributes of the orator, he far 
 surpassed all of his contemporaries. These qualities suggested him as an aspi 
 rant for political honors ; and in 1844, having previously held a seat in both 
 houses of the state legislature, he was elected by the Whigs to represent the 
 Springfield district (the only one in the state controlled by that party) in the 
 twenty-ninth Congress, which met in the succeeding year. He was rapidly ma 
 king himself known as one of the leaders of that body, when the Mexican War 
 broke out ; and, unable to resist the fascinations of a military career, he obtained 
 permission from President Polk to raise a regiment in Illinois for the relief of 
 General Taylor. Within two weeks it was recruited, equipped, and on the way 
 to New Orleans, being the first one embarked from north of the Ohio. On the 
 
EDWARD D . BAKER. 
 
 Rio Grande lie was dangerously wounded in the neck, in repressing a mutiny in 
 a Mississippi regiment, and in consequence was unable to participate in the hard- 
 fought battles of Monterey and Buena Vista. 
 
 Having resumed his seat in Congress for a few months, Colonel Baker re 
 joined his regiment before Vera Cruz, and marched with the army under Scott 
 for Mexico. At Cerro Gordo his regiment, which formed part of the brigade of 
 General Shields, took a prominent part in the assault upon the enemy s works; 
 and upon the fall of Shields, severely wounded, Colonel Baker, assuming the 
 command of the brigade, led it forward with a gallantry and dash which greatly 
 contributed to the success of the day, and elicited the warm commendation of 
 Generals Scott and Twiggs, and other high officers. 
 
 The term for which his men had enlisted having expired soon afterward, 
 Colonel Baker returned home in the summer of 1847, and claimed from his 
 friends a renomination to Congress. Being disappointed in this, he removed 
 immediately to the Galena district, which for many years had been under the 
 control of the Democrats, and taking the stump as a candidate in 1848, con 
 ducted an exciting canvass with a vigor and ability surpassing any of his previ 
 ous efforts. The result was, his election to Congress by a large majority. He 
 served through his term, with credit ; but his mind, unsettled by the excitements 
 of military life, was revolving schemes of adventure or political power in the 
 newly-acquired possessions of the republic on the Pacific coast the El Dorado 
 of the West, toward which so many were already directing longing eyes. In 
 1852, he removed with his family to California, whither his reputation had pre 
 ceded him, and, settling in San Francisco, he at once built up a large practice, 
 and by common consent was acknowledged to be the most eloquent speaker in 
 the state. The death of Senator Broderick in a duel, under circumstances which 
 made it certain that a deep-laid plot had been conceived to murder him for his 
 bold denunciations of slavery and the corrupt practices of the administration, 
 afforded a memorable instance of the oratorical powers of Colonel Baker ; and 
 his address, delivered over the body of the deceased, aroused in a vast audience, 
 collected in the principal square of San Francisco, the wildest emotions of grief 
 "Never, perhaps," says one who was present on the occasion, "was eloquence 
 more thrilling ; never certainly was it better adapted to the temper of its listen 
 ers. The merits of the eulogy divided public encomiums with the virtues of the 
 deceased, and the orator became invested with the dead Senator s political for 
 tunes." 
 
 But California was at that time too thoroughly under the control of the 
 Democratic party to enable Colonel Baker, who had become associated with the 
 Republicans, to enter the political arena with any prospect of success ; and in 
 1859, having in the previous year been defeated as Republican candidate for 
 
EDWARD D. BAKER. 139 
 
 Congress in the San Francisco district, he removed to Oregon, and was elected 
 a United States Senator for the term expiring March 4th, 1865. He also stumped 
 the state vigorously for Lincoln in the presidential campaign of that year, and, 
 in consequence of divisions among the Democrats, secured the electoral vote of 
 Oregon for the Eepublican candidate. His eloquent voice was first heard in the 
 Senate-chamber in the eventful session of 1860- 61 ; and his speech in reply to 
 Senator Benjamin, of Louisiana, showed the quality of his genius. " Perhaps," 
 said Senator Sumner, in his eulogy on Colonel Baker, delivered in the Senate on 
 December 10th, 1861, " the argument against the sophism of secession was never 
 better arranged and combined, or more simply popularized for the general appre 
 hension. That speech at once passed into the permanent literature of the coun 
 try, while it gave to its author an assured position in this body." On another 
 occasion, he had a parliamentary contest with Senator Breckenridge, not then 
 expelled from his seat, " meeting the polished traitor everywhere with weapons 
 keener and brighter than his own." 
 
 The outbreak of the Eebellion found Colonel Baker no lukewarm friend of 
 the Union. He threw himself, heart and soul, into the contest ; and at the great 
 Union mass meeting held in New York after the fall of Fort Sumter, his kindling 
 eloquence stirred the multitude like the sound of a trumpet. " It may cost us 
 seven thousand five hundred lives to crush this rebellion," he said ; " it may be 
 seventy-five thousand lives ; it may be seven hundred and fifty thousand. What 
 then ? We have them ! The blood of every loyal citizen of this government is 
 dear to me ; my sons and theirs young men grown up beneath my eye and care 
 are here ; they are all dear to me ; but if the organization, the destiny, the 
 renown, the glory, freedom of a constitutional government, the only hope of a 
 free people demand it, let them all go !" 
 
 Colonel Baker immediately recruited, chiefly in New York and Philadelphia, 
 a regiment of three years volunteers, which, in grateful remembrance of the state 
 where he had passed the last ten years of his life, he called the first California 
 regiment. With this he took the field during the summer of 1861, still retaining 
 his seat in the Senate, and holding under consideration the offer of a brigadier- 
 generalship, and subsequently of a major-generalship, tendered him by the Presi 
 dent ; neither of which he was willing to accept, if it should prove incompatible 
 with his legislative functions. 
 
 The autumn found Colonel Baker stationed with his regiment on the upper 
 Potomac, near Edwards s Ferry, and within the department commanded by Gen 
 eral Stone. On the 21st of October, in obedience to orders from that officer, he 
 led a battalion of his regiment across the river, at Conrad s Ferry, to Ball s Bluff, 
 on the Virginia shore, for the purpose of supporting reconnoissances niade above 
 and below under the general direction of Stone. Here he assumed command of 
 
140 EDWARD D. BAKER. 
 
 all the national troops, about twenty-one hundred in number, which had effected 
 a landing. The butchery of that devoted band, surrounded by an unseen and 
 numerous enemy, is more familiar to the public than the causes which brought 
 about the catastrophe, and which perhaps will never be known. In the midst 
 of imminent danger, Colonel Baker was courageous and collected; and although 
 impressed with a presentiment, which he had expressed on previous occasions, 
 that he should meet his death during this campaign, he spared no effort to en 
 courage his men. At length the enemy showed a disposition to leave their cover 
 in the woods. Colonel Baker ordered his thinned ranks to charge them, and, 
 while cheering on his men, fell pierced by nine bullets. He expired instantly, 
 dying as his generous and self-sacrificing spirit could have wished 
 
 " In some good cause, not his own, 
 
 And like a warrior overthrown 
 
 "Whose eyes are dim with glorious tears 
 When, soiled with noble dust, he hears 
 His country s war-song thrill his ears!" 
 
 His body was recovered, and, after being honored by imposing funeral ceremo 
 nies in "Washington and New York, was conveyed to San Francisco for inter 
 ment. The public mourning along the Pacific sea-board, where he was best 
 known and appreciated, is a sufficient evidence of the regard he had inspired in 
 the hearts of his countrymen. 
 
S.Bi 
 
 GEN .OIJVER HOWARD 
 
OLIVEK OTIS HOWAED. 
 
 THE subject of tliis sketcli was born November eighth, 1830, at Leeds, Maine, 
 near the Androscoggin Eiver. . He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1850 
 and four years after at West-Point, where lie was fourth in his class, the rebel 
 Generals Stuart and Yillipigue being numbers thirteen and twenty-two in it 
 respectively. He early entered into the war, resigning his first lieutenancy in 
 the regular army and his professorship of mathematics at West-Point in June, 
 1861, to become Colonel- of the Third Maine volunteers. He was soon in the 
 front with his regiment, and did good service at the first battle of Bull Eun, 
 where he was Acting Brigadier of the Third brigade of Heintzelman s Third divi 
 sion, and where his brigade took part in the obstinate fighting to carry the hill 
 between the Stone Bridge and Sudley s Springs, from which the rebel batteries so 
 effectively assailed the Union troops who had carried the rebel position at the 
 bridge itself. Colonel Howard s name was mentioned with honor in General Mc 
 Dowell s report of the battle. 
 
 Colonel Howard remained in charge of the brigade, on September third, 
 1861, received a brigadier s commission, and with his command continued in the 
 army of the Potomac until wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, June first, 1862. 
 His brigade was in Richardson s division of Sumner s corps. When the attack 
 was made on Casey s troops on May thirty-first, that corps was on the south 
 side of the Chickahominy, six or seven miles to the rear. The corps was ordered 
 up in haste, and just at nightfall Howard s brigade came into position. In the 
 morning one of his regiments was placed in the front line, while the other three 
 formed the second. Richardson s division bore a large share of that day s fight 
 ing, and French s and Howard s brigades did most of the brave and steady 
 work which repulsed and routed the two obstinate and furious attacks of the 
 battle. General Richardson, in his report, says : " Generals Howard and French 
 could not have been excelled in their dispositions of the different forces under 
 their command, the direction of their fire, and in the moral effect they produced 
 upon their men, and resolute demeanor in cheering and urging them on." In 
 this day s battle General Howard received two bullet wounds in his right arm, 
 which had to be amputated. Scarcely waiting for his wound to heal, he reported 
 again for active service, rejoined the army of the Potomac, and commanded the 
 Third brigade of Sedgwick s division in Sumner s corps at the battle of Antietam. 
 
142 OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 
 
 General Howard s part in this fiercely contested field was not less creditable than 
 at Fair Oaks to him personally, but was less brilliant. Sumner s corps, it will be 
 remembered, went into battle in the forenoon of September seventeenth, General 
 Sumner taking command in place of General Hooker, who was wounded and dis 
 abled. Sedgwick s division went into the fire in advance, was flanked and irre 
 trievably broken. General Howard took the division upon General Sedgwick s 
 removal from the field with three wounds, and labored to rally it, but the fury of 
 the rebel fire was too great, and the troops would not form. General Sumner 
 himself succeeded no better, and the division was necessarily taken off the 
 ground. 
 
 In the reorganization of the army of the Potomac into three grand divisions, 
 after General Burnside s accession to the command in November. 1862, the ri^ht 
 
 O 
 
 division was given to General Sumner, and General Couch took the Second corps 
 in his place. In the rapid march from "Warrenton to Falmouth, which preceded 
 the battle of Fredericksburgh, General Couch s corps had the advance, General 
 Sedgwick s former division, still under General Howard s command, moving as 
 the left of Couch s three columns. 
 
 . About the time of this march, a circular from Governor Andrew reached 
 General Howard, inquiring about the Massachusetts regiments, and asking sug 
 gestions about them. General Howard s answer, besides a deservedly high com 
 pliment to the three Massachusetts regiments in his command, contained a brief 
 recommendation, exhibiting his peculiar direct sense and practical wisdom. It 
 was simply that the regiments should be filled and kept full, as their first military 
 need ; and that all promotions should be based upon good conduct in the service, 
 or, where that will not serve, on seniority. 
 
 On the eleventh of December, 1862, General Howard s division, in the post 
 of honor, led the advance of the army of the Potomac over the Rappahannock, 
 under an ineffective fire from the rebel batteries. One of his brigades, under 
 Colonel Hall, did gallant and valuable service in clearing the streets of Frede 
 ricksburgh, driving out Barksdale s Mississippi brigade after a desperate street- 
 fight, with a considerable loss in killed and wounded on each side. 
 
 The division bivouacked in the deserted streets of the rebel city. During 
 the next day the remainder of the army crossed the river, and the third day, 
 Saturday, December thirteenth, was that of the defeat. In that tremendous con 
 test General Howard and his division were in the foremost ranks, his troops being 
 chosen by the veteran Sumner to support French, who led the first charge upon 
 Lee s lines. At ten minutes before twelve French s divisioa charged, and was 
 met and driven back by a hot musketry fire from behind strong stone walls 
 and breastworks. General Hancock s division went in next, and was in like 
 manner repulsed. At three P.M. General Howard s division was sent in in turn, 
 
OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 143 
 
 but brigade after brigade was fruitlessly flung against the strong works of the 
 rebel army, only to be driven back like their predecessors. The whole division* 
 was thus used in vain, and all Couch s corps having now been employed and de 
 feated, was withdrawn, Butterfield s corps of Hooker s grand division relieving it 
 and maintaining our lines. On this day General Howard s command lost in 
 killed, wounded, and missing one thousand men. The remaining six thousand 
 were, however, untouched in morale or spirit, and as their General rode along 
 their lines on Sunday, when they were momentarily expecting to be ordered into 
 the light again, they received him with cheers loud and long. The battle was 
 not renewed, and on Monday night the army recrossed the Rappahannock. 
 
 At the time of the Chancellorsville campaign General Howard s steady sol 
 diership and trustworthiness raised him to the command of the Eleventh corps, 
 though he and his troops had not, at the time of the battle, been long enough to 
 gether for a proper acquaintance with each other. The part borne by General 
 Howard in the defeat of Chancellorsville was like that in the defeat of Fredericks- 
 burgh, very creditable to his own bravery and soldiership. Howard s position on 
 the day of the battle was strongly intrenched on its direct front, looking south. 
 An attack was made on this front on Friday evening, May first, 1863, but the 
 strength of the works and the commanding positions of General Howard s artillery 
 enabled him to repulse them easily. All through that night confused sounds of 
 voices, wagons, axe-strokes, and military movements were heard off in the woods 
 to the south and west of Howard s line. The only interpretation placed upon 
 these sounds seems to have been that the enemy were cutting a road by which to 
 escape to Gordonsville past our right front But this over-confident theory was 
 terribly refuted on Saturday. On that day, in the afternoon, the enemy were re 
 ported moving "across the plank-road," that is, on a line across Howard s right 
 flank and parallel with a line passing at right angles through the centre of our 
 main position from front to rear. General Howard was at nearly the same time 
 notified from headquarters that the enemy was in retreat to Gordonsville. Just 
 afterward, Sickles, whose corps was well out in the advance to Howard s left, sent 
 to him for support, and he at once prepared to move up and join Sickles s right. 
 Lastly, at this moment, Hooker sent him orders to send Sickles a brigade. This 
 was a sufficiently confused and misleading condition of affairs, and was the more 
 unfortunate because Hooker s order, which General Howard promptly obeyed, de 
 prived him of his best brigade, and his whole reserve, Bolan s ; the length of his 
 line preventing him from keeping back a larger force. He himself took Bolan s 
 brigade to its new position, and hurried back to his headquarters at full gallop, 
 arriving five minutes before Jackson s attack. Two cannon-shot and a tremen 
 dous musketry fire announced the attack of the rebels, and before General How 
 ard could ride to the right of his line the furthest brigade, Yon Gilsa s, a German 
 
144 OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 
 
 one, was totally routed, and he met it pouring back in utter disorder. The next 
 brigade caught the panic. General Devens, commanding the division, was wounded 
 while trying to rally his men. General Schurz s division, posted next, became 
 disordered in its turn. The whole position was effectually lost, three stout Ger 
 man regiments only, xinder Colonel Buschbeck, at the extreme left, standing to 
 their colors and fighting it out until completely outflanked. All efforts to rally 
 the corps entirely failed. General Hooker ordered up General Berry s division 
 of veterans, who took and held bravely a defensible line some distance to the 
 rear, and General Howard quickly rallied a large part of his corps behind Berry, 
 and when the rebels made another attack at midnight was able to bring his troops 
 up in good order and assist in repulsing them. 
 
 In the new line, to which General Hooker withdrew his forces on Sunday 
 morning, the Eleventh corps was given the extreme left, on the Rappahannock, 
 where it strongly intrenched itself, and repulsed several attacks during Monday 
 and Tuesday. During these two days General Howard was constantly under fire, 
 refusing to go out of sight of his front line, and frequently the mark for deliber 
 ate rebel sharp-shooting. While holding this post, he took decisive precautions 
 against any unnecessary repetition of Saturday s misfortune by posting one of his 
 old Fair Oaks regiments, the Sixty-fourth New- York, directly in the rear of 
 Gilsa s brigade, with strict orders to shoot down any man who should run back. 
 In the night of. Tuesday General Hooker recrossed the Rappahannock General 
 Howard had again borne a noble and soldierly part in the front of a battle where 
 the army was defeated without any fault of his. 
 
 Still remaining in command of the Eleventh corps, General Howard accom 
 panied the army of the Potomac in its marches, during June, 1863, after Lee to 
 ward the field of Gettysburgh, and, as at Fredericksburgh and Chancellorsville, 
 was well up in the front. Major-General Reynolds, with the First corps, was 
 first in the advance, and when, on July first, he engaged the rebels beyond Get- 
 tysburgh, on the Cashtown road, in order to support Buford s cavalry, he sent 
 back to Howard, whose corps was next behind, to hasten up. About ten A.M. 
 General Reynolds fell mortally wounded, and the command, after devolving for 
 an hour and a half on General Doubleday, was assumed by General Howard, who 
 reached the field at half-past eleven, and maintained the battle with the First and 
 Eleventh corps until four P.M., when the accumulating rebel force outflanked him 
 and made it necessary to fall back through Gettysburgh to the Cemetery Hill 
 south of the town. General Hancock now coming up and taking command with 
 General Howard, posted the troops so strongly in this very defensible position 
 that no further attack was made that day. The brave fighting of the Eleventh 
 corps during this day relieved it from the unpleasant imputations which had 
 lain against it since its defeat at Chancellorsville. General Howard s own charac- 
 
OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 145 
 
 teristic traits of steady and ready bravery and prudence were also once more 
 conspicuous in the resolute manner in which he held his position beyond Gettys- 
 burgh up to the latest possible moment, and in the coolness, foresight, and skill 
 with which he first fixed on the key-point of the Cemetery, and at the proper time 
 withdrew fighting, occupied his new position and held it against all comers. On 
 the next day, the second, at eight P.M., the Eleventh corps again repulsed a des 
 perate assault upon its position at Cemetery Hill, inflicting immense loss, and its 
 fighting was brave and effective throughout the whole battle. 
 
 When Eosecrans was superseded by Grant, General Howard and his corps 
 were sent, as tried and proved soldiers, to reenforce the army of the Cumberland, 
 and have since formed part of General Hooker s command. After midnight, on 
 the night of October twenty-eighth, General Howard s corps, then encamped 
 under the west slope of Lookout Mountain, repulsed a fierce night attack by 
 Longstreet s corps. In this fight three regiments of the Eleventh corps (Sev 
 enty-third Ohio, Thirty-third Massachusetts, and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth 
 New-York) charged, routed, and drove from their works the whole of McLaws s 
 brigade of two thousand men, making forty prisoners. The brilliant manoeuvre 
 of which this attack was part resulted in the substantial opening of the water com 
 munication of the Tennessee to General Grant s army. In the sharp affair of 
 November twenty-third, which gave us the key position of Orchard Knob, in 
 front of Chattanooga, the Eleventh corps was in reserve. On the twenty-sixth, it 
 was operating along with Sherman against Bragg s right, not effecting any direct 
 advantage, but drawing the rebel troops that way and leaving their centre weak 
 ened for the wonderful charge up the Missionary Eidge, which gave us the 
 Eidge, the position, and the victory. 
 
 A cool exploit of the General here deserves recording. At the time of the 
 repulse of Longstreet west of Lookout, General Howard, in moving across the 
 field with a small cavalry escort, came suddenly upon a body of rebel infantry, 
 answered their hail with "All right !" ordered them to approach, and then so 
 sternly and peremptorily ordered them to surrender that they promptly did so. 
 
 Since the brilliant victory of Chattanooga General Howard and his faithful 
 and veteran corps have remained with the army of the Cumberland, under the 
 immediate command of General Hooker, participating in its various operations ; 
 but these have not, so far, been of a nature to furnish any further history of im 
 portance. 
 
 In closing this sketch, it should be added that General Howard, beside his 
 professional abilities as a soldier, is of singularly pure and upright private charac 
 ter, and a professed and consistent Christian. 
 
SALMON P. CHASE. 
 
 ~1VT~0 public man of the day, the President alone excepted, holds so prominent 
 JL i a position as the present head of the Treasury Department. Occupying a 
 post always one of the most important under our system of government though 
 popularly accounted less honorable than the Premiership the present war has 
 multiplied a thousand-fold the powers and responsibilities of the place, making it 
 palpable that, while military affairs might stumble yet afterward recover ground, 
 upon the successful management of the finances hinged not the war only, but the 
 very existence of the body politic. Hence Mr. Chase has been constantly in the 
 public eye, and his policy has been the object of attention for all classes. 
 Though his public life does not extend through so many years as some, his 
 services have been such as to make his name familiar to his countrymen. Like 
 many of those who have achieved eminence in the West, he is of New-England 
 stock and birth, having been born in the little town of Cornish, New-Hampshire, 
 on the thirteenth of January, 1808. When he had reached his seventh year, his 
 father removed to Keene, in the same State, where he died two years later. At 
 twelve years of age young Chase was sent to Worthington, Ohio, to be educated 
 in the care of his uncle Philander, who was at that time Bishop of the State. His 
 uncle having accepted the presidency of Cincinnati College, he entered that insti 
 tution, but at the end of a year he returned to his former home in New-Hamp 
 shire. In 1824 he entered the Junior class of Dartmouth College, from which he 
 graduated in 1826. In the fall of that year he left his blind mother and his home 
 at Keene, at eighteen years of age, to make his first essay at practical life, friend 
 less and poor, with only the capital of courage and his recent education. He 
 made his way to Washington, provided with a few letters of introduction, and ad 
 vertised in the National Intelligencer for pupils, intending to open a select private 
 school. Not finding pupils, he applied to his uncle Dudley Chase, then a Senator 
 from Vermont, for assistance in gaining a clerkship in the Treasury Department, 
 but his uncle refused to aid him in that respect, and at length, after several 
 months of idleness, he received from a Mr. Plumley the offer of the transfer to 
 him of a flourishing boys school. Accepting this, the success of his first attempt 
 in life was established, and three years after (1829) he was admitted to the bar of 
 the District of Columbia, having read law, while teaching in the interim, with 
 
SALifON P. CHASE. 147 
 
 Hon. "William Wirt, whose son was among his pupils. In the spring of 1830 he 
 returned to Cincinnati, where he has since resided. His practice as a lawyer soon 
 became extensive and valuable, and almost at the outset of his professional career 
 he entered upon the course of consistent and earnest anti-slavery action which 
 made his name widely known. In 1834, he became counsellor of the United 
 States Bank at Cincinnati. In 1837, he acted as counsel for a woman claimed to 
 be a fugitive slave, arguing that Congress possessed no constitutional right to 
 confer upon State magistrates any authority in such cases, and that the act of 
 1793 concerning fugitives was unwarranted by the Constitution, and hence void. 
 In the same year, in defending James Gr. Birney, who was arraigned before the 
 Supreme Court of Ohio, under State law, for harboring a fugitive slave, he an 
 nounced the doctrine which has been commonly held since by the opponents of 
 slavery of all grades in the North, that slavery is essentially local and restricted in 
 its character, and that a slave brought into a free State by the consent of his mas 
 ter cannot be reclaimed by force. In 1838 and 1846, associated with Mr. Seward 
 as defendant s counsel in the famous Van Zandt case, before the United States 
 Supreme Court, he argued the same doctrines more elaborately, maintaining that 
 the clear understanding of the framers of the Government was that slavery was 
 only local ; that by the ordinance of 1787 no fugitive could be reclaimed from 
 Ohio unless such fugitive had escaped from one of the original States ; and that, 
 furthermore, the clause in the Constitution relative to persons held to service or 
 labor was one of compact between the States, and gave to Congress no power of 
 legislation whatever, inasmuch as it had been transferred from the ordinance of 
 1787, where it conferred no such power on the Confederation, and was never held 
 to confer any. 
 
 These and other cases gave Mr. Chase a national reputation, both as a lawyer 
 and an anti-slavery man, and a minute history of his life would be almost a histo 
 ry of the anti-slavery struggle of that period. Shortly after, he began to appear 
 in a wider field, and in 1841 united in a call for an anti-slavery convention, which 
 met at Columbus, Ohio, in December of that year, organizing what was known as 
 the Liberty Party of the State, nominating candidates for office, and issuing an 
 address which was written by him. In 1843, he was a member of the National 
 Liberty Convention, held at Buffalo, and was prominent in its proceedings, al 
 though dissenting from a resolution passed to treat the clause in the Constitution 
 relative to fugitives as null and void. In 1845, he projected a larger Liberty Con 
 vention, which was held at Cincinnati in June. He prepared the address, which 
 gave a historical sketch of slavery in the country, and argued for the necessity of 
 a separate political party to resist its encroachments. In a second convention, 
 two years later, he opposed any general nomination, believing that the agitation 
 concerning the Wilmot Proviso would cause a more general movement in the 
 
148 SALMON P. CHASE. 
 
 anti-slavery direction. The following year he prepared a call for a free-territory 
 State Convention at Columbus, which culminated in the calling of a National one, 
 to meet at Buffalo in August At this Convention, which nominated Martin Van 
 Buren for President, Mr. Chase was a member of the Committee on Resolutions, 
 and the resolutions finally adopted, known as the Buffalo platform, were mainly 
 his work. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Chase first acted with the Democrats, yet supporting General 
 Harrison in 1840, and with the avowed intention of deserting the party whenever 
 it should fall from its anti-slavery position. Later, he was a prominent member 
 of the Free Democratic or Free Soil party, and after 1854 joined the Republican 
 organization formed at that time. His formal entrance to political life was in 
 1849, when on February twenty-second he was chosen United States Senator, 
 receiving the entire vote of the Democrats and of the Free-Soil wing. His formal 
 withdrawal from the Democratic party was in 1852, in consequence of the ap 
 proval of the compromises of 1850 by the Democratic Convention of that year, at 
 which time he addressed a letter to Mr. B. F. Butler, of New- York, in favor of an 
 independent Democratic party. 
 
 In the Senate he continued his persistent hostility to slavery. On the twen 
 ty-sixth and twenty-seventh of March, 1850, he made a speech in opposition to the 
 carefully prepared compromise resolutions of Mr. Clay. He moved an amend 
 ment to the bill to organize New-Mexico and Utah, prohibiting slavery therein, 
 but it failed by a vote of twenty to twenty-five. He also unsuccessfully proposed 
 an amendment to the Fugitive Slave Bill, securing trial by jury, and another 
 which excluded from the operation of the bill persons escaping from States to 
 Territories, and vice versa. In 1854, he drafted an appeal to the people against 
 the Nebraska Bill, which was signed by members of Congress, and on February 
 third he made the first elaborate speech in opposition to the measure. An amend 
 ment of Mr. Douglas, declaring the Missouri restriction inoperative and void, be 
 ing under consideration, Mr. Chase moved to strike out the words that the re 
 striction "was superseded by the principles of the legislation of 1850, commonly 
 called the compromise measures." This was lost by a vote of thirteen to thirty. 
 His next amendment proposed to add to the words, in section fourteen of the bill, 
 " subject only to the Constitution of the United States," the following, " Under 
 which the people of the territory, through their appropriate representatives, may, 
 if they see fit, prohibit the existence of slavery therein ;" but this also was lost 
 by ten to thirty-six. His third amendment, defeated by ten to thirty, pro 
 posed the appointment of three commissioners, residing in the territory, to organ 
 ize it and divide it into election districts, allowing the people to choose their 
 own Governor and Legislature. 
 
 In July, 1855, Mr. Chase was nominated by the anti-slavery men for Gov- 
 
SALMON P. CHASE. 149 
 
 ernor of Ohio, and elected in the fall. During 1857, he succeeded in saving the 
 State from pecuniary loss and the greater loss of its credit by the default of the 
 Treasurer, in whose accounts a deficit of over five hundred thousand dollars had 
 been discovered. The new administration of the State Government was conduct 
 ed with singular prudence and success ; and in 1857 Governor Chase was re- 
 elected by the largest majority ever given in Ohio. In 1859, he was succeeded by 
 Governor Dennison. 
 
 Keceiving the Treasury Department from the hands of General Dix, his im 
 mediate predecessor, in March, 1861, he found the National finances hardly re 
 vived from the exhaustion and paralysis in which they were left by Secretary 
 Howell Cobb. The task imposed upon him was gigantic, and failure in it would 
 have ruined all at the outset. The funds at his disposal were scanty enough, and 
 the credit of the Government was nominal abroad and at the lowest ebb at home ; 
 the depleted Treasury must be immediately replenished to meet the calls of what 
 was plainly to be the most costly war in all history, and it was fortunate for the 
 country that Mr. Chase s name possessed the popular favor. Meeting the direct 
 ing parties of the principal banks in person, he was able to effect from them a 
 temporary and timely relief. The history of his financial administration is too 
 recent to require recapitulation here, but it was plain that a resort to loans and 
 the issuing of Government paper was not a matter of choice at the time. The 
 ability and success with which Mr. Chase has wielded his affairs is everywhere 
 conceded ; his most determined opponents find no fault with his system in itself, 
 but only in his continued adherence to it. The point of difference between them 
 and his adherents is concerning the limit and the time to which the plan of paper 
 issues should be carried. 
 
 Mr. Chase is a man of personal attraction, and has the power of winning 
 friends and avoiding the making of enemies. Being now in his fifty-ninth year, 
 his active political life is nearly closed, in human probability ; but, although he 
 he has held office for a smaller term of years than many others, he has always 
 been in one sense a public man, and has won the position of one of the foremost 
 men of the time. Until recently his distinction was that of an anti-slavery leader, 
 at a period when the popular mind was very impatient of anti-slavery agitation. 
 Hazarding success for his adherence to this principle, he still adheres to it, yet 
 carefully avoiding any alliance with the so-called Abolition party, as when he op 
 posed a resolution declaring the clause relative to fugitives null and void ; and in 
 the Senate he joined the small minority of the anti-slavery part. As with the 
 leaders of the Southern interest in Congress, he made the principle for which he 
 stood superior to his party, and deserted his party for it. He won new honor in 
 each office he assumed, yet his chief distinction is in his administration of the 
 National finances. The record of this will be the record of the crowning position 
 in his useful public life. 
 
JOHE" POPE. 
 
 JOHN POPE was born in the state of Kentucky, March 12th, 1823. His 
 father, Governor Nathaniel Pope, of Virginia, emigrated to Kentucky in the 
 early part of the present century, and, during the infancy of his son, removed 
 with his family to Kaskaskia, Illinois. He was a delegate to Congress from 
 Illinois before its organization as a state, and was subsequently for many years 
 United States district judge, an office which he filled with eminent ability and 
 fidelity. After receiving a careful preliminary education, young Pope was ad 
 mitted in 1838 a cadet in the West Point military academy, where he was grad 
 uated in 1842, standing high in a class which numbered among its members 
 Generals Eosecrans and Doubleday of the Union army, and the rebel Generals 
 Gustavus W. Smith, Lovell, Longstreet, Yan Dorn, and others. In July of the 
 same year he was commissioned brevet second-lieutenant in the corps of topo 
 graphical engineers. Upon the breaking out of the war with Mexico, he was 
 attached to the army under General Taylor, and for " gallant and meritorious" 
 conduct at the battle of Monterey was breveted a first-lieutenant, his commission 
 bearing date September 23d, 1846. For " highly gallant and meritorious con 
 duct" on the hard-fought field of Buena Vista he was breveted a captain, his 
 commission being dated February 23d, 1847 ; and at the conclusion of the war, 
 the state of Illinois testified its sense of the importance of his services by pre 
 senting him with a sword. 
 
 Thenceforth for many years Captain Pope was chiefly employed, in common 
 with other officers of engineers, on the surveying and exploring expeditions which 
 have opened to travel and emigration the vast and comparatively unknown re 
 gions lying between the valley of the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean. In 
 1849, he conducted an expedition into the northern portions of Minnesota, and 
 demonstrated the practicability of navigating the Eed Kiver of the North with 
 steamers, for which service he received a vote of thanks from the territorial 
 legislature. 
 
 After several years service in New Mexico, Captain Pope was, in 1853, ap 
 pointed to command one of the six expeditions organized by the war department, 
 under an act of Congress, to ascertain the most practicable route for a railroad 
 from the Mississippi to the Pacific, and was directed to explore the thirty-second 
 
11 MIX POPE U S A 
 
JOHN POPE. 151 
 
 parallel from Red River to the Rio Grande. His survey, completed in the sum 
 mer of 1854, was stated by Jefferson Davis, then secretary of war, to have been 
 "creditably performed under the most disadvantageous circumstances." In con 
 nection with this enterprise he explored, in 1855- 66, the Llano Estacado, or 
 Staked Plain, in Texas and New Mexico, and made some experiments in Arte 
 sian-well boring, with a view to determine the feasibility of obtaining a supply 
 of water for railroad or other purposes. In July, 1856, he was advanced to the 
 full rank of captain, and during the next three years his time was principally 
 occupied with engineering duties in the "Western military department. 
 
 Obtaining a leave of absence for the year 1860, Captain Pope entered zeal 
 ously into the presidential canvass, and was a warm supporter of Mr. Lincoln. 
 When the clouds of civil war began to gather on the horizon, he was not back 
 ward to proclaim the necessity of vigorous measures on the part of the govern 
 ment to maintain the integrity of the Union ; expressing opinions which, if 
 contrary to the etiquette of the service, as understood by some members of his 
 profession, were nevertheless eminently patriotic, and, amid the positive defection 
 of many of the regular army officers and the apparent lukewarmness of others, 
 were gratefully received by the people of the loyal states. For some severe stric 
 tures on the temporizing policy of President Buchanan, to which he gave utter 
 ance in a lecture on fortifications, delivered in Cincinnati, in February, 1861, he 
 was court-martialled by order of the President ; but by the advice of Mr. Holt, 
 secretary of war, the matter was dropped, the government having matters of 
 graver import to occupy its attention. Captain Pope accordingly resumed his 
 command in the engineer corps, and was one of the officers detailed by the war 
 department to escort President Lincoln to Washington. 
 
 On May 3d, 1861, the President issued a call for forty-two thousand volun 
 teers to serve for three years or the war ; and on the 17th of the month, Captain 
 Pope was commissioned a brigadier-general in that force, and appointed to a 
 command in Northern Missouri, then swarming with secession sympathizers, 
 who, at the instigation of the traitor governor, Jackson, were obstructing railroad 
 travel, and committing depredations on private property. On July 19th, he 
 issued a proclamation to the people of North Missouri, warning them against 
 unlawful combinations, and during the next few weeks prosecuted a vigorous 
 war against bridge-burners and guerillas, who soon discovered that General 
 Pope s department was no place for their operations. After the arrival of Gen 
 eral Halleck at St. Louis, in November, as commander-in-chief of the Western 
 department, General Pope was detailed to active duty in Central Missouri ; and 
 on December 13th, in co-operation with General Jefferson C. Davis, he surprised 
 and captured at Blackwater nearly two thousand rebel recruits for Price s army. 
 Then, marching rapidly upon Shawnee Mound, he succeeded in the brief space 
 
152 JOHN POPE. 
 
 often days in driving the rebel forces completely out of that part of the country. 
 These services, widely and gratefully acknowledged by the public, suggested 
 him to General Halleck as a competent officer to command the army of the Mis 
 sissippi, destined to co-operate, with the opening of the spring, in the general 
 movement of the Western troops against the enemy. 
 
 On the 23d of February, 1862, General Pope assumed command of a well- 
 appointed army at Commerce, Missouri, and a few days later marched upon New 
 Madrid, where a force of ten thousand rebels, under General Jefferson Thompson, 
 was intrenched in a strong position, defended by many heavy guns, and covered 
 by a fleet of gunboats. During a delay occasioned by the failure to receive his 
 siege-guns from Cairo, he dispatched a portion of his force to Point Pleasant, 
 twelve miles below New Madrid, thus establishing an efficient blockade of the 
 Mississippi, and preventing the arrival of supplies to the rebels from below. At 
 sunset, on the 12th of March, the siege-guns arrived ; on the same night they 
 were placed in battery, within eight hundred yards of the enemy s main work ; 
 and at daylight, on the 13th, a heavy fire was opened. The enemy withstood 
 the attack during the day, but on the night of the 13th precipitately abandoned 
 their works, and took refuge on the other side of the river, leaving upward of 
 sixty guns, several thousand small-arms, and equipments, stores, and munitions, 
 of the value of nearly a million of dollars. 
 
 The rebels, however, still occupied Island Number Ten, commanding the 
 river above New Madrid ; and General Pope, being without the means of trans 
 porting his troops to the Kentucky shore, could not immediately pursue his 
 advantage. On the 17th, Flag-Officer Foote, with his flotilla of gunboats and 
 mortar-boats, opened fire upon Island Number Ten from above ; but the work 
 proving of far greater strength than he had anticipated, it became evident that, 
 without the assistance of a land-force, operating on the other side of the river, the 
 siege might be protracted for months. But General Pope had no transports, to 
 cross the river below the island ; and the inundated state of the country rendered 
 it difficult, if not impossible, to march his troops to the vicinity of the flotilla. 
 Availing himself, in this emergency, of the suggestion o^ General Schuyler Ham 
 ilton, one of his generals of division, he ordered a canal twelve miles long to be 
 cut across the neck of land formed by a bend in the river opposite the island, 
 with a view of floating transports down it to his assistance. The work was com 
 pleted within three weeks, and on the 7th of April a number of transports and 
 gunboats passed through. The embarkation of troops at Xew Madrid was com 
 menced on the same day, and on the evening of the 9th ne thousand Union 
 soldiers were landed on the Kentucky shore. The enemy - 1 once surrendered 
 their costly works on Island Number Ten, with an immeLi.-t : mount of material 
 of war ; and Pope, pushing on a division, under General Pame, to Tiptonville, 
 
JOHN POPE. 153 
 
 succeeded in capturing upward of five thousand retreating rebels, including three 
 generals, seven colonels, and several hundred inferior officers, together with an 
 immense amount of spoils. For these successes he was promoted to be a major- 
 general, his commission dating from March 21st. 
 
 Flushed with victory, and with the applause of the country ringing in his 
 ears, General Pope proceeded down the Mississippi, to attack Fort Pillow, but 
 was arrested in his course by an order from General Halleck, directing him to 
 repair with his troops to Pittsburg Landing. Within five days after receiving 
 the order, his entire force was at Hamburg, four miles from Pittsburg, occupying 
 a position on the extreme left of the Union line. He received the command of 
 one of the three grand divisions into which General Halleck divided his army, 
 and showed characteristic activity in the sharp actions which preceded the with 
 drawal of the enemy into his defensive works at Corinth ; succeeding on one 
 occasion, by a brilliant piece of strategy, in capturing a considerable number of 
 prisoners. After the evacuation of Corinth, on May 80th, he pursued the retreat 
 ing army under General Beauregard down the Mobile railroad, securing many 
 prisoners and large quantities of munitions ; and while engaged in this duty, he 
 was summoned by the President to "Washington, and appointed to the command 
 of the " army of Virginia," comprising the combined corps of Generals Fremont, 
 Banks, and McDowell, then stationed along the Potomac, and in front of "Wash 
 ington. These officer^ were all his seniors in rank, but, in the opinion of the 
 President, the exigencies of the service demanded that he should be placed over 
 them. 
 
 Before General Pope could commence the organization of his command, the 
 series of reverses before Richmond, consequent upon General McClellan s trans 
 ferring his base of operations to the James River, brought dismay to the govern 
 ment and people, and rendered necessary an entire change in the plans of the 
 campaign. On the 14th of July, the new general issued an address to his troops, 
 breathing the most ardent spirit of enterprise ; and on the 29th the President 
 having in the mean time decided to remove the army of McClellan from the pen 
 insula he took the field in person, establishing his head-quarters at "Warrenton, 
 Virginia. As the readiest means of diverting the attention of the enemy from 
 McClellan, Pope was ordered to make a demonstration in force upon Richmond ; 
 and immediately a forward movement, which had been preceded by several dash 
 ing cavalry reconnoissances, was commenced by his whole army. Reconnoitring 
 parties crossed the Rapidan River, and pushed forward to Orange Court-House 
 and other points ; and on August 9th, the corps of General Banks fought a well- 
 contested battle with the rebels under Jackson at Cedar Mountain. The latter 
 fell back on the llth, and Pope immediately brought his whole force up to the 
 line of the Rapidan. Under cover of these movements, the army of McClellan 
 
154 JOHN POPE. 
 
 evacuated its position at Harrison s Landing on the 14th and loth, -without mo 
 lestation, and the enemy at once prepared to fall upon and crush Pope before 
 reinforcements could reach him. 
 
 On the 17th and 18th, Pope withdrew his whole army behind the Kappa- 
 hannock, and, being in too feeble force to defend that line, subsequently fell back 
 as far as Warrenton, in the expectation that a portion of McClellan s troops would 
 meet him there, or be within supporting distance. A rebel corps under Jackson 
 meanwhile made a flank movement on Pope s right, and, passing through Thor 
 oughfare Gap, took possession of the old defensive works at Manassas, which 
 Pope supposed had been occupied, in accordance with his orders, by two divisions 
 of McClellan s army. The contrary proving to be the case, Pope marched rapidly 
 in three columns toward Manassas ; and on the 28th, 29th, and 30th, a series of 
 desperate battles was fought, resulting in the discomfiture of the federal forces, 
 who retired across Bull Eun to the strong position of Centreville. The advan 
 tage on the 28th and 29th rested with the federal troops ; and General Pope has 
 asserted, in his official dispatch, that if General Fitz- John Porter had attacked 
 the enemy in flank on the latter day, as he had been ordered to do, Jackson 
 would have been utterly routed before the rebel reinforcements under Lee could 
 reach him. On the evening of that day the junction of the enemy s forces was 
 effected, and the defeat of Pope, confronted on the 30th by superior numbers, was 
 the consequence. The army subsequently retired in good order to "Washington ; 
 and on September 3d, General Pope was at his own request relieved of his com 
 mand having first, in a well-written dispatch, stated what he claimed to have 
 been the obstacles to his success. He also preferred charges of insubordination 
 against three of McClellan s generals, and demanded a court of inquiry, which 
 was granted. At the special request of General McClellan, proceedings were 
 stayed ; and the public are accordingly for the present unable to form a correct 
 judgment with regard to the facts connected with the late battles before Wash 
 ington, and the motives of the principal actors in them. 
 
 General Pope was immediately assigned to the command of the department 
 of the North-west, where he is now engaged in protecting the inhabitants from 
 threatened attacks of the Indian tribes. 
 
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS. 
 
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS. 
 
 A LTIIOUGH the position held by Mr. Stephens in the present rebellion is 
 J.JL but nominal, yet, taking into view the whole of the more than thirty years 
 war which preceded it, he will hereafter be named in connection with Calhoun, 
 of whom he was a faithful follower. For some years he has been in private life, 
 yet he has always been one of the most efficient and sagacious of the representa 
 tives of the Southern policy, and his influence was powerfully though secretly felt 
 in bringing about the issue of the struggle. 
 
 He was born in Taliaferro County, Georgia, February eleventh, 1812, and 
 graduated at Franklin College, Athens, Georgia, in 1832. Choosing and study 
 ing the law, he was admitted to the bar in 1834, and soon obtained a lucrative 
 practice in the town of Crawfordsville, in his native county. In 1836, he was 
 sent to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he exerted himself in secur 
 ing legislative aid for certain internal improvements ; and such was his popularity 
 that he was reflected for five successive terms. In 1839, he went as a delegate to 
 the Southern Commercial Convention, held at Charleston, in which he took a 
 prominent part in the quarrel which then existed between Georgia and South- 
 Carolina relative to a real or supposed conflict between the interests of these two 
 States. Three years after, (1842,) he was chosen State Senator, and while acting 
 in that capacity he was a zealous supporter and member of the Whig party, as he 
 continued to be until the close of the Nebraska struggle of 1854. In 1843, he 
 was nominated for Congress, and although his district was Democratic and his 
 party had previously been in a minority of two thousand, his personal strength 
 with the people gave him the election by more than three thousand majority, and 
 his faithfulness to his section and the popular appreciation of his ability are at 
 tested by the fact that he held his seat as representative in Congress until his vol 
 untary retirement in 1859. 
 
 He was a supporter of Henry Clay in the Presidential canvass of 1844, but 
 was also a prominent advocate of the plan for annexing Texas, in opposition to 
 Mr. Clay and to most of the Southern members of his party in Congress. Upon 
 a motion by Mr. John P. Hale, of New-Hampshire then a Democratic Repre 
 sentative that the new territory of Texas be divided into two equal parts, from 
 one of which slavery should be for ever excluded, Mr. Stephens (January tenth, 
 1845) voted, with but two others from the South, to suspend the rules for its ad- 
 
156 ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS. 
 
 mission. Conjointly with. Milton Brown, of Tennessee, lie wrote an amendment 
 to the joint resolution as finally passed, providing that States which might be 
 formed of the new territory south of the Missouri Compromise line should be ad 
 mitted to the Union with or without slavery, as the inhabitants might determine, 
 but that north of the line slavery should be prohibited. In the following Con 
 gress he opposed the Clayton Compromise, (1848,) but was a leader in effecting 
 that of 1850. He had previously, in 1847, drafted a series of resolutions upon 
 the subject of the Mexican war, which were afterward adopted as a part of the 
 platform of the Whig party. In 1854, although not the formal manager of the 
 Nebraska bill in the House, he was a leader in its support, and by adroitly using 
 his skill in parliamentary law, when, in the Committee of the Whole, he success 
 fully moved that the enacting clause be stricken out, he probably saved the mea 
 sure from defeat, thus cutting off the amendments by which its opponents hoped 
 to destroy it. Upon the dissolution of the Whig party after the first Kansas 
 struggle in Congress, Mr. Stephens became a Democrat, and in 1858 steadily sus 
 tained the Lecompton Constitution. At the close of the Thirty-fifth Congress 
 (1859) he declined to be a candidate for reelection, his health always having been 
 feeble, and he has since taken no active part in political life. At that time he 
 informed his constituents that the country was profoundly quiet, and congratulated 
 them upon that condition, declaring that he saw no danger to the Union or to 
 Southern security under it, to which last (he said) the Union was, and ought to be, 
 subordinate. 
 
 The disturbances following the Presidential election in 1860 called him from 
 his retirement, and he has since made a number of speeches, defending the Union 
 and deprecating secession, until the subsequent spring. November fourteenth, 
 1860, before the Georgia Legislature, he declared his conviction that secession was 
 unjustifiable. In his own words : 
 
 " To make a point of resistance to the Government, to withdraw from it be 
 cause a man has been constitutionally elected, puts us in the wrong. 
 We went into the election with this people. The result was different from what 
 we wished ; but the election has been constitutionally held. Were we to make a 
 point of resistance to the Government, or go out of the Union on that account, 
 the record would be made up hereafter against us." 
 
 On the twenty-second of April following, he made a secession speech at Kich- 
 mond, having been chosen Vice-President of the Confederacy by Congress on the 
 ninth of February, at which time he accepted the office in person. On the night 
 of the thirtieth of April, he made a violent war speech at Atlanta, Georgia, charg 
 ing the responsibility upon the North, and declaring that the South would call out 
 million after million, till the last man fell, rather than be conquered. Should 
 Maryland secede, the District of Columbia would fall to her by revisionary right, 
 
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS. 157 
 
 as Fort Sumter had fallen to South-Carolina, Fort Pickens to Florida, and Pulaski 
 -to Georgia; "and when we have the right we will demand the surrender of 
 Washington, just as we did in the other cases, and will enforce our demands at 
 every hazard and at whatever cost." 
 
 On the eleventh of July, he made an ingenious and persuasive speech to the 
 cotton-planters at Augusta, Georgia, in behalf of the confederate cotton loan. On 
 the sixth of November, he was chosen Vice-President under the Constitution, but 
 his principal labor for the cause has consisted in travelling over the country and 
 delivering public addresses, although for two years past he has lived in seclusion. 
 In the spring of 1861, shortly after his election as Vice-President, he delivered at 
 Savannah the most remarkable of his speeches. As an exposition of the scope 
 and aim of the new Confederacy, put forth by its acknowledged apostle, this 
 speech will be preserved in history, and the following extracts are worthy of 
 record here : 
 
 " The new Constitution has put at rest for ever all the agitating questions re 
 lating to our peculiar institution African slavery as it exists among us the pro 
 per status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause 
 of the late rupture and the present revolution. Jefferson, in his forecast, had 
 anticipated this as the rock on which the old Union would split. He was right ; 
 what was conjecture with him is now a realized fact. But whether he fully com 
 prehended the great truth upon which that rock stood and stands may be doubt 
 ed. The prevailing ideas entertained by him and most of the leading statesmen 
 at the time of the formation of the old Constitution were that the enslavement of 
 the African was in violation of the laws of nature ; that it was wrong in principle, 
 socially, morally, and politically. It was an evil they knew not well how to deal 
 with ; but the general opinion of the men of that time was that somehow or other, 
 in the order of Providence, the institution would be evanescent and pass away. 
 . . . The Constitution, it is true, gave every essential guarantee to the institu 
 tion while it should last, and hence no argument can be justly used against the 
 constitutional guarantees thus secured. . . . Those ideas, however, were 
 fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of the equality of races. 
 This was an error. . . . Our new government is founded upon exactly the 
 opposite ideas ; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great 
 truth that the negro is not equal to the white man ; that slavery, subordination to 
 the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This, our new govern 
 ment, is the first in the history of the world based upon this great physical, philo 
 sophical, and moral truth. . . . Ours is the first government ever instituted 
 upon principles in strict conformity to nature and the ordination of Providence in 
 furnishing the materials of human society. Many governments have been formed 
 upon the principle of enslaving certain classes ; but the classes thus enslaved were 
 
158 ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS. 
 
 of the same race and in violation of the laws of nature. Our system commits no 
 such violation of natural laws. The negro by nature or by the curse against 
 Canaan is fitted for that condition which he occupies in our system. The archi 
 tect, in the construction of a building, lays the foundation with the proper mate 
 rial granite then comes the brick or marble. The substratum of our society is 
 made of the material fitted by nature for it, and by experience we know that it is 
 the best, not only for the superior but for the inferior race. . . . This stone 
 which was rejected by the first builders is become the chief stone of the corner in 
 our new edifice." 
 
 This speech boldly admits what had always been claimed by the North re 
 specting the sentiment of the founders of the republic, and flings the gauntlet to 
 the whole world, openly declaring that the principle of the inequality of races and 
 the natural subordination of the negro must finally triumph, even against the 
 world. 
 
 Mr. Stephens s political life becomes consistent by remembering that he was 
 a champion of Southern interests and policy throughout. While Mr. Mason, of 
 Virginia, was the leader in the Senate, Mr. Stephens for years held a like position 
 in the House, and his rare fitness for that work was conceded. He was a shrewd 
 debater, specious when on the wrong side of the question ; and for sagacity and 
 devotion to the Southern cause no one has exceeded him since Calhoun. His 
 position in 1860 must be interpreted by himself a year later ; and hence it appears 
 that the double charge of cleaving to the Union and then going heartily over to 
 secession cannot be proved upon him. His preference for the Union and his op 
 position to secession were unquestionably sincere, but they must be judged by his 
 remark in 1859, that the Union was, and ought to be, subordinate to Southern 
 security. Thinking the old Union safer and better than any new form, he clung 
 to the old while it was possible. 
 
 The state of his health forbade his taking any active part in the rebellion, 
 but gave him the position of its recognized spokesman, for which he was the fit 
 test man in its territory. He spoke to the world of what the Confederacy was 
 and meant to be ; and to the people, to settle in their minds the ideas on which 
 the revolution was based. The popular trust in him was always high, both as 
 orator and as statesman. In no other way could he have rendered the rebellion 
 so effectual service as with his voice, and it is in this connection that his name 
 will be known in the history of the time. 
 
O. B. WILLOOX. 
 
 ENERAL 0. B. WILLCOX was bom at Detroit in 1823. In 1842, he 
 received an appointment to the Military Academy at "West-Point, gradu 
 ated with honor, being eighth in a very large class, in 1847, and was assigned the 
 position of second lieutenant in the Fourth artillery, no higher grade having been 
 given to any of the graduates of that class. 
 
 Ordered to Mexico, he was connected with Drumm s famous battery, and re 
 mained until the close of the war. He was afterward stationed at Pensacola, 
 Florida ; on the plains of Arkansas ; Fort Washington, Virginia ; Fort Ontario, 
 New- York ; Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania ; and at Fort Independence, Boston Harbor. 
 Here he was called to perform a most signal service to the country, in quelling 
 the famous Burns Riot, and in the performance of the duty assigned him, indi 
 cated the possession of those soldierly qualities of command, eminently fitting 
 him for the discharge of the duties of .those high positions which, in the progress 
 of this rebellion, he has been called . to fill. On that occasion a requisition was 
 made for United States troops at the dead of night. General Willcox (then Lieu 
 tenant) was detailed, and crossing to Boston with his men, led them in the face 
 of that most dangerous enemy, an infuriated mob, with that resolute bravery and 
 prudent forbearance which alone prevented the most terrible bloodshed. To his 
 firmness and prudence on that occasion was attributed the peaceable enforcement 
 of the law. 
 
 After leaving Fort Independence, he performed most disagreeable and ardu 
 ous duty in Texas, and immediately afterward was ordered to the swamps of Flo 
 rida, where he spent a year in the campaign against the renowned Billy Bowlegs 
 and his wily tribe, enduring such privations and exposure that his health became 
 seriously impaired ; and returning in the autumn of 1857, he resigned his com 
 mission, having been ten years in the United States army. 
 
 Possessed of fine literary taste, while in the army he published several works, 
 which were received with great favor. 
 
 In 1858, he was admitted to the bar of his native city, and practised his pro 
 fession there with distinguished success until the breaking out of the rebellion, 
 when he was among the very first to respond to his country s call, and was ap 
 pointed by the Governor of Michigan Colonel of the First Michigan volunteers. 
 
160 0. B. WILL COX. 
 
 Having, " during the interregnum," interested himself greatly in the militia of 
 Michigan, by delivering lectures through the State and before the Legislature, and 
 by perfecting the militia laws, he became so favorably and extensively known as 
 a competent and thorough officer, that upon his appointment, the regiment was 
 enlisted, equipped, and drilled in an incredibly short time, and hastened to the 
 defence of the Capitol, being the first regiment that arrived at the theatre of war 
 from west of the Alleghanies, and, until then, the best disciplined and equipped 
 that had marched into Washington. This was recognized by the Commander-in- 
 Chief, who placed him in the van of the first advance, and Colonel "Willcox, in 
 conjunction with the lamented Ellsworth, took possession of Alexandria, the first 
 hostile city taken in the rebellion, of which he was appointed the first Military 
 Governor, organized its government, and issued his proclamation, which was 
 printed by the men of his command. 
 
 Subsequently he was appointed to the command of a brigade, consisting of 
 the Michigan First, Ellsworth s Fire Zouaves, the Thirty-eighth New-York, and 
 Arnold s battery, and held such command at the battle of Bull Kun. His gal 
 lantry upon that field was conspicuous, and the subject of praise and commenda 
 tion even from the enemy. Although commandant of the brigade, he led four 
 successive charges, in the last of which he received a frightful wound in the right 
 arm from an exploding shell ; his horse was shot under him and fell, and he, faint 
 from loss of blood, was taken prisoner by the rebels, together with two of his cap 
 tains the lamented Butterworth, wounded and since dead, and Withington, who, 
 though unhurt, nobly braved the perils of a Southern prison rather than desert 
 his wounded Colonel and seventy of his men. So severe was the wound of 
 Colonel Willcox, and the consequent exhaustion, that he could not be removed 
 from the field until several days after the battle, when he was taken to Eichmond, 
 sharing with the wounded Captain Bicketts in the kind care of his heroic wife. 
 He was subsequently removed to Castle Pinckney, thence to the common jail in 
 Charleston, and afterward to Columbia and Salisbury, N". C., as one of the host 
 ages for the privateers, where he remained until the general exchange of prisoners, 
 enduring the consequent sufferings and privations, as expressed by one of his 
 fellow-prisoners, " with the fortitude of a brave soldier and a Christian gentleman," 
 and was released from prison in August, 1862, after a confinement of thirteen 
 months. 
 
 Upon his arrival at Washington, after his discharge, he was welcomed with 
 the utmost enthusiasm, and as a recognition of the bravery and efficiency dis 
 played at Bull Bun, as well as the fortitude with which he had borne the priva 
 tions of his long imprisonment, the President immediately promoted him to be a 
 Brigadier-General, with commission to date from July twenty-first, 1861, and 
 granted to him a furlough of twenty days. 
 
0. B. WILLCOX. 161 
 
 So impressed was lie with the importance of a superior force to meet the 
 large armies which the rebels were everywhere putting into the field, that much 
 of the time of his furlough was devoted to inculcating true views of the magni 
 tude of the rebellion, the necessity of large armies, and the encouragement of en 
 listments, and his stirring appeals, both in his native State and elsewhere, con 
 duced largely to the accomplishment of these results. After a brief visit to De 
 troit, where he received a most enthusiastic public reception, General Willcox, ten 
 days before the expiration of his furlough, joined the army of the Potomac at 
 Leesboro, September ninth, taking command of the Ninth army corps, and four 
 days after participated in the battle of South-Mountain, his division leading the 
 charge up the heights, and gaining the crest, driving the enemy off his own 
 ground. On the seventeenth, at Antietam, General Willcox commanded on the 
 right of the attack made by General Burnside s corps, his First division earned 
 the heights to the town of Sharpsburgh. Yielding to repeated orders, the posi 
 tion gained was reluctantly abandoned, and the division fell back near the bridge 
 in perfect order. In this action he had one horse killed and another disabled, 
 everywhere displaying characteristic coolness and courage. 
 
 Early in October, General Burnside having been assigned a larger command, 
 General Willcox took command of the Ninth army corps, which he held with 
 much credit, no man in the army- having greater power to elicit the esteem and 
 enthusiasm of his men, and in this position he led the infantry advance, support 
 ing General Pleasanton s cavalry in the march down the Blue Eidge to Warren- 
 ton. While the army lay there, General Willcox commanded the outer line of 
 defences, and after General Burnside took command of the army of the Potomac, 
 led the march, and was the first to reach Falmouth. 
 
 At the battle of Fredericksburgh, December eleventh, 1862, the Ninth corps 
 held the centre, and did all that well-disciplined troops could to win that fatal 
 day. 
 
 On the fifteenth of January, 1863, General Willcox was relieved of the com 
 mand of the Ninth corps by Major-General Sedgwick, and took that of the First 
 division, but upon the corps being transferred to Kentucky, it again fell to his 
 command. His administration of the District of Central Kentucky, headquarters 
 at Lexington, gave universal satisfaction, and the civil disturbances in Indiana 
 occurring just as the corps was starting for Vicksburgh, he was ordered by Gene 
 ral Burnside to Indianapolis, taking command of the military department of the 
 States of Indiana and Michigan. His tact and ability soon restored quiet, and 
 during the Morgan raid, his prompt action turned the course of that daring rebel 
 from the State. 
 
 Believed from that department, General Willcox again joined General Burn- 
 side, September sixtTi, in the field, near Knoxville, where he commanded the left 
 
162 0. B. WILLCOX. 
 
 wing of the army, and participated in fight at Blue Springs, October tenth ; and 
 when Knoxville was besieged, accomplished the difficult task of retiring with the 
 entire wagon-train of that portion of the army to Cumberland Gap, which he held, 
 doing efficient service in sending out skirmishing parties to attract the enemy s 
 cavalry, three times their number, keeping open communication, and getting 
 supplies. 
 
 Upon Major-General Foster s assuming command in Tennessee, General Will- 
 cox was assigned the Second division of the Ninth army corps, which he now 
 commands. 
 
 In the autumn of 1862, General Willcox was nominated by the President to 
 be Major-General, but the nomination was not confirmed by the Senate, on the 
 ground that the number allowed by law had already been filled. It is now again 
 recommended by the entire Michigan delegation in Congress, as a recognition due 
 to General Willcox for his faithful and meritorious services in the field. 
 
JEFFEBSOUT DAYIS. 
 
 AS the formal and responsible head of the rebellion, although not especially 
 prominent in bringing it about, Jefferson Davis will occupy a marked posi 
 tion in the history of this eventful century. He was born June third, 1808, in a 
 part of Christian County, Kentucky, which now forms Todd County. Shortly 
 after his birth, his father, Samuel Davis, who was from Georgia and had served in 
 the Eevolution in the mounted forces of that State, removed with his family to 
 Mississippi, and settled in Wilkinson County, near the town of Woodville. Here 
 young Davis received an academical education, and at the proper age was sent to 
 Transylvania College, Lexington, Kentucky, which he left in 1824 to enter the 
 Military Academy at West-Point, from which he graduated in 1828, being the 
 twenty-eighth in a class of fifty-three. 
 
 He was appointed brevet second lieutenant, and remained about seven years 
 in the army, during which time he served as an infantry and staff-officer on the 
 north-western frontier during the Black Hawk war of 1831-2. From this he was 
 promoted to be first lieutenant of dragoons, and was employed in that capacity, in 
 1834, in operations against the Pawnees, Camanches, and other Indian tribes. In 
 June, of the following year, he resigned his commission and returned to Missis 
 sippi, betaking himself to private life in the occupation of a cotton-planter. He 
 continued in retirement till 1843, when he began to take an active interest in 
 politics, upon the Democratic side, and in 1844 was chosen a Presidential elector 
 upon the ticket of Polk and Dallas. The following year, he was nominated for 
 Congress and elected in November, his opponent, Patrick W. Tompkins, being 
 also a Kentuckian by birth. During this term in Congress he took a prominent 
 part in discussions upon the tariff, the Oregon question, and particularly in the 
 preparations for the war with Mexico. In July, 1846, while occupying his seat 
 in the House of Representatives, the First regiment of Mississippi volunteers, en 
 rolled for the war, organized by choosing him their Colonel, and he left Washing 
 ton to place himself at their head. The regiment was already on the march for 
 the Rio Grande, but he overtook it at New-Orleans, and led it to reenforce Gene 
 ral Taylor, his father-in-law. In the month of September he was actively engaged 
 in the attack and storming of Monterey, and was one of the commissioners for 
 arranging the terms of capitulation. At Buena Vista, on the twenty-third of Feb 
 ruary, 1847, he bore a distinguished part. His regiment being attacked by a 
 
164 JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
 
 superior force, maintained their ground for a long time unsupported, and Colonel 
 Davis, although severely wounded, remained in his saddle until the close of the 
 action, and was complimented for gallantry by the commander-in-chief in his des 
 patches of March sixth. At the expiration of its term of enlistment, in July, 
 1847, the regiment returned home ; and Davis, who accompanied it, was met at 
 New-Orleans by a commission from President Polk as Brigadier-General of volun 
 teers, but he declined this, on the ground that by the Constitution the militia ap 
 pointments are reserved to the States, and that such appointments by the Presi 
 dent are in violation of State rights. In the following month, he received from 
 the Governor of Mississippi the appointment of United States Senator to fill a 
 vacancy ; and at the next -session of the Legislature, January eleventh, 1848, he 
 was unanimously reflected for the remainder of the term, which expired March 
 fourth, 1851. In 1850, he was reflected for a full term, but being nominated for 
 Governor by the Democratic party in opposition to Henry S. Foote, candidate of 
 the Union party, he resigned his seat, but was beaten by a majority of nine hun 
 dred and ninety-nine a proof of his popularity, for in the " Convention election," 
 two months previous, his party was in a minority of over two thousand. Upon 
 his defeat, he returned again to private life, in which he remained until the Presi 
 dential contest of 1852, when he took the stump in behalf of Pierce and King 
 through the States of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana, and was rewarded by 
 the appointment of Secretary of War. In 1856, he was again elected to the Sen 
 ate, and in the following year took his seat for the term ending March fourth, 
 1863 a term which he did not complete. 
 
 In the Senate he took from the first a position among the prominent Southern 
 leaders, being among the keenest and most sagacious of them all. In the 
 Thirtieth Congress, July twenty-fourth, 1848, he voted for Clayton s Compromise 
 Bill, which established territorial governments for Oregon, New-Mexico, and Cali 
 fornia, and submitted all questions relative to slavery therein to the decision of 
 the Supreme Court. August tenth, the same subject being upon consideration in 
 another form, he voted for Mr. Douglas s amendment, recognizing the Missouri 
 Compromise line as rightfully extending to the Pacific. In the following Con 
 gress, he opposed Mr. Clay s compromise resolutions, and it was in reply to some 
 remarks by him in opposition, January twenty-ninth, 1850, that Mr. Clay made 
 his memorable declaration that no earthly power could induce him " to vote for 
 a specific measure for the introduction of slavery where it had not before existed, 
 either north or south of" the Missouri compromise line, of which line Mr. Davis 
 had expressed himself thus : " I here assert that never will I take less than the Mis 
 souri Compromise line extended to the Pacific Ocean, with the specific recognition 
 of the right to hold slaves in the territory below that line ; and that, before such 
 territories are admitted into the Union as States, slaves may be taken there from 
 any of the United States, at the option of the owners." July twenty-third, he 
 
JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
 
 moved to add to a bill enabling California to form a State Constitution the follow 
 ing : " And that all laws and usages existing in said territory at the date of its 
 acquisition by the United States, which deny or obstruct the right of any citizen 
 of the United States to remove to, and reside in, said territory, with any species 
 of property legally held in any of the States of the Union, be, and are hereby de 
 clared to be, null and void." This was lost by twenty-two to thirty -three. 
 Throughout the long Kansas struggle, and down to the time of the breaking out 
 of the war, he continued upon the same side of the absorbing questions of the day 
 without being specially prominent. As Secretary of War, he proposed or carried 
 out a revision of the army regulations ; introduced the manufacture of the Minie 
 ball ; brought camels into the country ; and earned on some explorations in the 
 western part of the continent. 
 
 The noticeable portion of his life, however, begun soon after the Presidential 
 election of 1860. On December twentieth, of that year, he asked to be excused 
 from serving on Mr. Powell s committee of thirteen to whom was referred so much 
 of the President s Message as related to the disturbed condition of the country, 
 but afterward consented to serve. On the twenty -first of January he took part in 
 the most memorable scene of the winter. In company with the Senators from 
 Alabama and Florida, he took leave of the Senate with a speech, in which he 
 gave his opinion that by the secession of his State his connection with that body 
 was terminated, and reaffirmed the doctrine of the right of secession, which he 
 had long before maintained. The confederate Congress at Montgomery, Alabama, 
 chose him President under the Provisional Constitution on the ninth of February, 
 the day after its adoption, and on the sixteenth of the month he arrived at Mont 
 gomery and accepted the office in a brief address, prophesying peace, but threat 
 ening that the enemies of the South would be made to " smell Southern powder 
 and feel Southern steel." On the second day following, he was inaugurated, de 
 livering a brief inaugural of a general nature. On the seventeenth of April, two 
 days after the first proclamation of President Lincoln, Davis responded by a pro 
 clamation authorizing privateering, and followed up this line of action by ad 
 dressing to Mr. Lincoln, on the sixth of July, a letter relative to the prisoners 
 taken on the privateer Savannah, proposing an exchange and threatening retalia 
 tion. Still deprecating the idea of war, on the twenty-fifth of May he wrote to the 
 Maryland Commissioners, who had been appointed to urge the cessation of hostili 
 ties in order to negotiate, asserting his desire for peace, and his conviction of the 
 right of each State to assume its own control. August fourteenth, he issued a 
 proclamation, warning all persons of fourteen years and upward, owning allegi 
 ance to the United States, to leave the Confederacy within forty days or be treat 
 ed as alien enemies. On the sixth of November, he was chosen permanent Presi 
 dent without opposition, and assumed office under this election on the twenty- 
 second of February, 1862. February twenty-eighth, he vetoed a bill prohibiting 
 
166 JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
 
 the slave-trade, on the ground of the inconsistency of a certain proviso with the 
 Constitution. On the twenty-first of May, he renewed the repudiation scheme of 
 Mississippi upon a large scale, by approving an act providing that all persons ow 
 ing debts to parties in the North should pay the same into the confederate Treasu 
 ry. Shortly after his inauguration, he gave the first hint toward conscription, in 
 a special message, suggesting " some simple and general system for exercising the 
 power for raising armies," and recommending a law declaring that all persons be 
 tween eighteen and thirty -five years, rightfully subject to military duty, be held 
 to be in the service of the confederate States. December twenty-third, 1862, he 
 issued a proclamation on account of the hanging of the rebel Mumford, at New- 
 Orleans, by General Butler, for having torn down the United States flag, in which 
 he pronounced Butler an outlaw, who should be immediately hanged upon cap 
 ture, and that, until he had been punished for his crimes, no commissioned officer 
 taken captive should be released on parole. He further ordered that all commis 
 sioned officers serving under Butler be held as outlaws, and reserved for execution 
 when captured, and that all negroes taken in arms be delivered to the authorities 
 of their respective States. 
 
 The influence and position of Mr. Davis as President of the Southern Con 
 federacy are not to be traced chiefly in his messages and proclamations, which 
 have been numerous. These have been characterized by a certain specious abili 
 ty, especially remarkable in his first messages, which were obviously planned for 
 effect abroad. His message on the seizure of Slidell and Mason, dated November 
 eighteenth, 1861, and his public addresses during the first year of the war were 
 careful attempts at securing the foreign aid which was at first the principal hope 
 of the rebellion. But his later messages are more bitter and desponding in tone. 
 The direction of the military operations on the part of the rebels have been his in 
 general plan, and in his message of February twenty-fifth, 1862, he confesses, 
 after the fall of Fort Donelson, that " events have demonstrated that the govern 
 ment had attempted more than it had power to achieve ;" in other words, that his 
 own plan of defending the whole rebel domain was a failure. 
 
 His health has been feeble, and he has nearly or quite lost the use of one 
 eye ; but he has succeeded in holding the reins with a strong hand. The policy 
 of the Confederacy has been his policy, and its men also his men. And, as his 
 opponents in the Eichmond Congress openly charge, he has retained his personal 
 favorites in service long after they had ignominiously failed, and has never visited 
 the army but disaster has followed him. The task, however, has been gigantic 
 on both sides of the line, and for a man who should combine the traits of shrewd 
 ness, plausibility, foresight, and self-will, with some military experience and pres 
 tige,, it is difficult to see how the rebels could have chosen better, even if they did 
 not choose well 
 

GEORGE GORDON MEADE. 
 
 ONE battle only fought in the North has yet taken place to verify the rebel 
 boast that the war would be on Northern soil. It does not seem possible 
 that there should be another, but there has been one, as if to mark the rule by 
 the notable exception, and the leader of the oft unfortxinate army which won it 
 was sharply called to severe trial. Gettysburgh will be prominent in the roll of 
 battle-fields, and with it will be named GEORGE GORDON MEADE. He was born 
 December thirty-first, 1815, at Cadiz, Spain, where his parents were temporarily 
 residing. His father was a merchant of Philadelphia, Pa,, and for several years 
 after 1800 had held the position of consul and navy agent at Cadiz. Partly 
 through his exertions and influence the territory of Florida was acquired from the 
 Spanish government, by whom he was held in high regard. 
 
 While yet an infant, young Meade was brought by his parents to Philadel 
 phia on their return, and at an early age was sent to the boys school at Georgetown, 
 D. C., at that time kept by Mr. Chase, now Secretary of the Treasury. From this 
 school he was transferred to a military academy at Mount Airy, in the vicinity of 
 Philadelphia, and in September of 1831 entered the Military Academy at West- 
 Point Graduating in the summer of 1835, he entered the army as brevet second 
 lieutenant of the Third artillery, and was ordered to Florida, being saved, by an 
 attack of illness, from being exposed to the "Dale massacre," which occurred in 
 that campaign. On the last day of the year, he became a full second lieutenant, 
 but in October following resigned his position and retired from the service, be 
 coming a civil engineer, in which capacity he was employed on various surveys, 
 public and private. Of these the principal one was the survey of the north-east 
 ern boundary line, then under the direction of Colonel James D. Graham, of the 
 Topographical Engineers. May nineteenth, 1842, he was reappointed to the 
 army, with the rank of second lieutenant of the topographical engineers. Shortly 
 afterward he was ordered to Mexico, and took part in the war, being at different 
 times a member of the staff of Generals Taylor, Worth, and Patterson, and partici 
 pating in the battles of Palo Alto, Eesaca de la Palma, Saltillo, and Monterey, 
 being brevetted first lieutenant for gallantry during the siege of the latter place. 
 At Vera Cruz, as topographical engineer on the staff of General Patterson, he 
 made several important reconnoissances, and selected the site for the naval battery. 
 
168 GEORGE GORDON MEADE. 
 
 At the termination of the siege he returned to the United States, and was soon 
 after presented with a sword by the citizens of Philadelphia. After peace was 
 concluded, he employed himself in river and harbor improvements, and in con 
 structing lighthouses on Delaware Bay, but hostilities being renewed in Florida, 
 he returned to the field in that State, under command of General Taylor. A fort 
 on the western coast of the State still bears his name, given it by General Twiggs, 
 who built it about this time in accordance with his advice. 
 
 The brief war over, he resumed his superintendence of lighthouse construction 
 in Delaware Bay and off the coast of Florida. He became first lieutenant in the 
 summer of 1851, and a captain May nineteenth, 1856, and in the latter year he 
 was ordered to Detroit, Michigan, to aid the National survey of the lakes. On 
 the breaking out of the rebellion he was still at Detroit, but was directed to report 
 at "Washington, and on August thirty-first, 1861, he received an appointment as 
 brigadier-general of volunteers, and had for his command the Second brigade of 
 the Pennsylvania reserve corps, which had been raised and placed under the di 
 rection of General McCall. He assumed his command on the thirteenth of Sep 
 tember, near Georgetown, D. C., and remained during the following winter at that 
 locality, improving the time in drill. In the spring of 1862, the army of the Po 
 tomac advancing to Manassas, the reserves went as one of the three divisions of 
 the First corps, then under General McDowell, and remained with him until they 
 joined McClellan on the Peninsula, after the battle of Hanover Court-House. 
 There they were placed in the Fifth corps, on the right wing, but the actual serv 
 ice of the Second brigade at that period was confined to reconnoissances, some of 
 them important. 
 
 June nineteenth, 1862, General Meade was promoted to the rank of Major in 
 the regular army. Seven days later, June twenty-sixth, the long battle known as 
 the " seven days fight " began with the engagement at Mechanicsville. During 
 this day, Meade s brigade was held in reserve within supporting distance, and 
 though the first brigade was withdrawn when the division fell back to Gaines s 
 Mill, the Second fought well and retired in excellent order, winning the thanks of 
 the officer in command. On the following day, the whole of the reserves were en 
 gaged and held their ground at great odds for three hours, and for his conduct in 
 rallying and directing them during the battle, General Meade was again thanked 
 by General McCall, and was nominated for the brevet of lieutenant-colonel. 
 
 On the twenty -ninth of June, the reserves, having crossed the Chickahominy, 
 were posted at New-Market Cross-Roads, to repel any attack from Richmond. On 
 the following morning they were halted at the junction of the New-Market and Tur 
 key Bridge roads, Meade s brigade being on the right, and the afternoon brought 
 on a fierce engagement, in which the reserves inflicted heavy losses on the rebels, 
 and finally broke their lines by determined bayonet charges, having held them at 
 
GEORGE GORDON MEADE. 169 
 
 bay and prevented them from precipitating themselves upon the exposed column 
 of McClellan. General Meade, in a letter to McClellan, said that " it was only the 
 stubborn resistance offered by our division, prolonging the contest till after dark, 
 and checking till that time the advance of the enemy, that enabled the concentra 
 tion during the night of the whole army on James Eiver, which saved it." Dur 
 ing the fight, General Meade was severely, and as it seemed for a time mortally, 
 wounded, one ball striking his arm, and another entering near the hip-bone and 
 passing around the body. He returned to Philadelphia, but his strong constitu 
 tion recovered in six weeks sufficiently to permit his return. 
 
 On the thirteenth of August, he rejoined the army at Harrison s Landing, 
 and shortly after, when the army left the Peninsula and joined General Pope, the 
 Pennsylvania reserves accompanied it. Beaching Fredericksburgh, the division 
 was ordered, on the twenty-first of August, to join the army of Virginia, then 
 marching from Rappahannock Station to Warrenton, and on its arrival was as 
 signed for the present to McDowell s corps. From the twenty-eighth to the thirti 
 eth, General Meade was actively engaged in the retreat which closed the Pope 
 campaign, in which the division sustained a loss of six hundred and fifty-three. 
 General Reynolds, who then commanded the reserves, writes officially, " General 
 Meade, as heretofore, conducted his brigade in the most skilful manner through 
 out the entire marches and actions ;" and General Pope also says : " The Pennsyl 
 vania reserves, under Reynolds, rendered most gallant and efficient service in all 
 the operations which occurred after he had reported to me. General Meade 
 performed his duty with ability and gallantry, and in all fidelity to the Govern 
 ment and the army." 
 
 In September early, General Meade s command marched toward the section 
 of Maryland into which the rebel General Lee w r as fast advancing, and at South- 
 Mountain the division displayed their old bravery as a part of General Hooker s 
 corps. On the night of the day on which this battle took place, General Meade s 
 troops were again hotly engaged at Antietam Creek for four hours, at the end 
 of which they pursued the flying rebels for three miles. At dawn of the seven 
 teenth, the famous battle of Antietam began in skirmishes by the front of the Penn 
 sylvania reserves, and throughout the day they were in the hottest and bravest of 
 the fight, led and encouraged by General Meade, who had two horses killed under 
 him. General Hooker having been wounded, General Meade took temporary 
 command of his corps, retaining this position until the return of General Reynolds 
 from Pennsylvania. 
 
 In the latter part of October, 1862, the army recrossed the Potomac. Gene 
 ral Meade accompanied it, and on the twenty -ninth of November received the ap 
 pointment of Major-General of volunteers, having been earnestly recommended 
 for this position by General Hooker. In the battle of Fredericksburgh, in Decem- 
 
170 GEORGE GORDON MEADE. 
 
 ber, he was a participant with the reserves, and on the twenty-fifth of that month 
 he was appointed to the command of the Fifth army corps, and accordingly took 
 leave of his old division. For a little time he commanded the centre grand divi 
 sion of the army ; and when General Burnside was succeeded by General Hooker 
 as Commander-in-Chief of the Potomac army, toward the close of January, 1863, 
 General Meade retained command of the Fifth corps, and when the army com 
 menced the movement on Fredericksburgh, that corps went as a part of the right 
 wing, marching a distance of fifty miles in less than three days, including all halts 
 and rests, one of which was for ten hours. Two large rivers had to be crossed in 
 a pouring rain, and the corps forded the Eapidan with its artillery, the men being 
 waist deep. The battle of Chancellorsville opened on the second of May, and 
 when it ended in defeat on the third day after, and the Rappahannock was re- 
 crossed and made good its title of " River of Death," the Fifth corps, after fighting 
 throughout, covered the retreat and guarded the crossing till the army was 
 safely over. 
 
 Soon after came the unexpected and sudden call to the highest position which 
 no general had yet successfully filled. In June, Lee made good, for the first time 
 in reality, the rebel threat of a Northern invasion, moving into Maryland, then 
 across the State, and finally entering and ravaging the border counties of Pennsyl 
 vania, multiplying and spreading his power by the terror he excited. Early on 
 Sunday, the twenty-eighth, General Meade being then at Frederick, Maryland, he 
 was wakened by the messenger from General Halleck, who brought the intelli 
 gence that he had been designated as the successor of General Hooker in the first 
 command. The circumstances under which this appointment was given, and 
 withal the perfect correspondence of the words in which- he announced it to the 
 army with the character of the man and with his previous announcements on vari 
 ous occasions, make it fitting to insert his words here : 
 
 " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 28, 1863. 
 
 " By direction of the President of the United States, I do hereby assume 
 command of the army of the Potomac. As a soldier, in obeying this order, an 
 order totally unexpected and unsolicited, I have no promises or pledges to make. 
 The country looks to this army to deliver it from the devastation and disgrace of 
 a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to 
 undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, 
 and let each man determine to do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence 
 the decision of the contest. It is with just diffidence that I relieve in the com 
 mand of this army an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever 
 appear conspicuous in the history of its achievements ; but I rely upon the hearty 
 
GEORGE GORDON MEADE. 171 
 
 support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of 
 the important trust which has been confided to me. 
 
 " GEOEGE Gr. MEADE, Major-General Commanding." 
 
 The power of the new commander was not to remain long untested. On the 
 thirtieth, he issued to the army a brief and spirited order, requesting all command 
 ing officers to address their men in explanation of the immense issues involved in 
 the coming struggle, soon expected, and closed with these words : " Corps and 
 other commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who 
 fails to do his duty at this hour." 
 
 At the time when he was placed in command, on the twenty-eighth of June, 
 the rebel army under Lee, estimated at one hundred thousand strong, had crossed 
 the Potomac and advanced up the Cumberland Valley. Ewell s corps was on the 
 Susquehanna ; Longstreet s at Chambersburgh ; Hill s between that place and 
 Cashtown. " The twenty-eighth of June was spent in ascertaining the positions 
 and strength of the different corps of the army, but principally in bringing up the 
 cavalry, which had been covering the rear of the army in its passage over the 
 Potomac, and to which a large increase had just been made from the force previ 
 ously attached to the defences of Washington. Orders were given on this day to 
 Major-General French, commanding at Harper s Ferry, to move with seven thou 
 sand men to occupy Frederick and the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 
 with the balance of his force, estimated at four thousand, to remove and escort 
 public property to Washington." On the twenty -ninth, the army was put in mo 
 tion, and on the evening of that day it was in position, the left at Emmitsburgh, 
 and the right at New-Windsor. On the thirtieth, the right flank was moved up 
 to Manchester, the left being still at Emmitsburgh, and the enemy being reported 
 approaching from Cashtown, General Reynolds was directed to occupy Gettys- 
 burgh with three corps. Reaching that place on the first of July, General Rey 
 nolds found Buford s cavalry already engaged, and accordingly moved around the 
 town and attacked with his force, and the battle fairly begun. The first afternoon, 
 the arrival of reenforcements and the junction of Ewell s corps enabled the rebels 
 to outflank our line and force it to withdraw with a considerable loss in prisoners. 
 Early on the following morning, General Meade arrived on the field in person, 
 several corps also arriving during the day, which was spent in repulsing the as 
 saults of the rebels. On the third, the contest was renewed, ending with a final 
 assault upon our left and centre, upon the failure of which the rebels retired to 
 their lines, and the battle was over. The morning of the fifth saw the enemy in 
 fall retreat, their loss having been three guns, forty-one standards, thirteen thou 
 sand and twenty-six prisoners, and twenty -four thousand nine hundred and seven 
 ty-eight small arms. The loss on the opposite side was two thousand eight hun- 
 
172 GEORGE GORDON MEADE. 
 
 dred and ninety-four killed, thirteen thousand seven hundred and nine wounded, 
 and six thousand six hundred and forty-three missing twenty-three thousand 
 one hundred and eighty-six in all. The intelligence of the victory was sent over 
 the Northern States on the fourth, together with that of the surrender of Yicks- 
 burgh to General Grant, breaking the long and horrible suspense by a thrill 
 
 of Joy- 
 Pursuit of the retreating rebels was made on the seventh, and on the twelfth 
 they were overtaken when in front of Williamsport. On the fourteenth, our 
 cavalry advanced on Williamsport, but Lee had crossed the Potomac during the 
 previous night by a ford at Williamsport and a bridge at Falling Waters. Pur 
 suit was then given up, and the army shortly recrossed into Virginia and resumed 
 its former position on the Rappahannock. A fight at Bristow, on the Orange and 
 Alexandria Railroad, on the fourteenth of October ; two engagements on the Rap 
 pahannock on the seventh of November ; Locust Grove on the twenty -seventh, 
 and Mine Run on the thirtieth of November, terminated the work of that year. 
 February twenty-ninth, 1864, General Meade was confirmed by the Senate as 
 Brigadier-General in the regular army, his commission bearing date July thirti 
 eth, 1863. 
 
 Gettysburg!! will always be deemed among the memorable battles of the 
 war. It was the first fought upon Northern soil, and ended an increasing panic 
 and paralysis of several weeks ; and after the danger was fully over, it was clearly 
 seen how narrowly the country had passed its crisis. The nation breathed freely, 
 and then realized how nearly it had been lost, for Gettysburgh lost would have 
 been the loss of Washington and New- York, and the failure of the Union cause, 
 since nothing stood before Lee but the army of the Potomac. For the courage 
 and the faith which resisted the demoralization almost necessarily succeeding so 
 long a succession of failures and so many changes of commanders ; for the faith 
 and spirit which secured a victory to an untried leader in the first week of his 
 leadership ; for the discernment to see, and the heart to fight for, the issues in 
 volved in that one trial, the nation owes the army of the Potomac a debt which it 
 has hardly begun to pay, perhaps not yet to understand. Honor is thus due to 
 the army, but to the leader as well. Under an inferior commander the vigor of 
 the army would have been lost, and though General Meade must divide the honor 
 of Gettysburgh with his soldiers, (as he would wish to do,) he cannot escape his 
 share. 
 

 I 
 
G. T. BEAUEEGAED. 
 
 THE rebel General Gustave Toutant Beauregard, as lie signs himself, al 
 though, ordinary mention has prefixed the additional name of Pierre, was 
 born in the parish, or county, of St. Bernard, Louisiana, near New-Orleans, May 
 twenty-eighth, 1818. His father, James T. Beauregard, was of French extraction, 
 and was an influential citizen in the parish where he resided. Beauregard s 
 mother was descended from an old family of Louisiana, whose ancestors were of 
 Italian origin, as indicated by their family name of Reggio. At the age of twelve, 
 young Gustave entered the school of the Messieurs Jurget in New- York, and at 
 sixteen received an appointment to the Military Academy at West-Point, from 
 which he graduated in 1839, holding the second position in his class. He served 
 with some distinction in the Mexican war, and upon the authority of J. F. H. 
 Claiborne, was publicly complimented in the city of Mexico by General Scott. 
 In Claiborne s biography of General John A. Quitman occurs the following note 
 with Quitman s indorsement : 
 
 " A fortnight after, while our army was within the city, when General Scott 
 was riding with General Twiggs and Smith on the San Cosine road, meeting Lieu 
 tenant Beauregard with Colonel Hitchcock and Mr. Trist, he said in a tone of 
 feigned severity : Young man, I wish to reprimand you, and I wish the whole 
 army was present, but these Generals represent it. Why did you advise me to 
 attack by the west gate ? You now see the consequences ! We have taken this 
 great city and the halls of Montezuma after a few hours hard fighting, and with 
 only a loss of eight hundred men. Be careful in future, sir, of such bad advice 
 to your seniors. " 
 
 On his return from Mexico in 1848, he received a sword from the planters of 
 Plaquemine and St. Bernard, which he wore, thirteen years after, at his disgrace 
 ful success in bombarding seventy starved men in Fort Sumter. In 1853, Presi 
 dent Franklin Pierce, who was his friend and had been associated with him during 
 the former s brief experience in the Mexican war, gave him the appointment of 
 the superintendence over the construction of the custom-house at New-Orleans 
 For this work, says his Southern biographer, he was so admirably adapted that, 
 although millions of dollars passed through his hands during the many years he 
 was employed by the Government on the different forts, at the settlement of his 
 accounts with the sub-treasury, in 1861, the United States owed him one cent. 
 
G. T. BEAUREGARD. 
 
 In 1860, while lie was brevet-colonel of United States engineers, President 
 Buchanan gave him the appointment of Superintendent of the Military Academy 
 at West-Point, but his views of allegiance to the South compelled him to decline, 
 and upon the secession of Louisiana, he resigned his position in the army and re 
 turned to New-Orleans, enlisting there as a private in the Second company of the 
 New-Orleans Guards. In 1860, he married, as his second wife, Miss Caroline Des 
 Chondes, becoming thereby brother-in-law of John Slidell. 
 
 February twenty-sixth, 1861, he was appointed brigadier-general in the rebel 
 army, and on the fifth of March was ordered by Jefferson Davis to take command 
 of the forces at Charleston. He employed his engineering skill and his West- 
 Point instruction in surrounding Fort Sumter with the batteries, on the construc 
 tion of which the little peaceful garrison looked without offering hindrance or re 
 monstrance, and when all were completed, and the Star of the West had been 
 fired upon and driven off, the correspondence relative to the Fort began between 
 Beauregard and the rebel authorities at Montgomery, Alabama. April seventh, 
 he issued an order, and sent a special messenger to Major Anderson, that no fur 
 ther intercourse between the Fort and the city would be permitted. Further 
 notes passed between him and Montgomery until the twelfth, when, by direction 
 from the rebel War Secretary, L. P. Walker, Beauregard demanded of Major An 
 derson that he state the time at which, as indicated by himself in a previous note, 
 he would evacuate, and that he would not use his guns against the rebels, and in 
 case this demand were refused, Beauregard was ordered to open fire. On the 
 morning of the twelfth, he telegraphed that the demand had been refused, and ac 
 cordingly he opened fire at half-past four A.M. The reply of Major Anderson, . 
 however, was to the effect that he would evacuate at noon of the fifteenth, if not 
 previously supplied or otherwise ordered, and that, meanwhile, he would not use 
 his guns unless compelled. Seventeen mortars and thirty large guns, mostly 
 columbiads, opened fire, but the garrison of the Fort, to avert any possibility that 
 the historian or the world should be in doubt as to which side began the fire, 
 quietly breakfasted as usual. They were then divided into three reliefs, each of 
 which was to work the guns four hours, and the Fort opened fire at seven A.M". 
 During the day fires broke out three times in the Fort, and the bombardment con 
 tinued on the part of the rebels throughout the night. The next day, the officers 
 quarters took fire, and the object of making resistance being attained, the flag was 
 lowered and the Fort surrendered about one in the afternoon. On the fourteenth 
 of April, Beauregard issued an order, in which he congratulated the troops under 
 his command "on the brilliant success which has crowned their gallantry by 
 the reduction of the stronghold in the harbor of Charleston," after a bombardment 
 of thirty-three hours. 
 
 About the twenty-eighth of May, he retired from the command at Charles- 
 
G. T. BEAUREGARD. 175 
 
 ton, and on the first of June received the fruits of his success by assuming the 
 command of the rebel army at Manassas Junction. At that time he issued hi?- 
 notorious " Beauty and Booty " proclamation, which was entitled " A Proclama 
 tion to the People of the Counties of Loudon, Fairfax, and Prince William," an. 
 began thus : "A reckless and unprincipled tyrant has invaded your soil. Abra 
 ham Lincoln, regardless of all moral, legislative, and constitutional restriction, has 
 thrown his abominable hordes among you, who are murdering and imprisoning 
 your citizens, confiscating and destroying your property, and committing other 
 acts of insolence and outrage too shocking and revolting to humanity to be 
 enumerated. All rules of civilized warfare are abandoned, and they proclaim by 
 their acts, if not on their banners, that their war-cry is Beauty and Booty. All 
 that is dear to man your honor and that of your wives and daughters, your for 
 tunes and your lives are involved in this momentous contest." 
 
 A letter from Jefferson Davis to him, dated at Manassas, July twenty-first, 
 confers on him the rank of General. A bulletin of the twenty-eighth, signed by 
 Beauregard, with Joe Johnston, is somewhat inflated and bombastic in its tone. 
 His report of the battle of Bull Kun in full was not made public at the time, al 
 though a synopsis of it appeared in the Richmond journals. He states that for 
 some days previous he urged in vain that permission be granted him to order the 
 junction of Johnston s forces with his own, which junction finally carried the day 
 and caused the rout of the National forces. He remarks that the retirement of 
 the rebels from Fairfax immediately previous to the engagement on the eight 
 eenth is the first instance recorded of volunteers retiring before an engagement, 
 with a view of giving battle in another position. The forces under his command 
 he sets down at eighteen thousand on the eighteenth of July, increased on the 
 twenty-first to twenty-seven thousand. The killed on the rebel side he states at 
 three hundred and ninety-three, and the wounded at one thousand two hundred. 
 His excuse afterward rendered to the rebel Congress for the evacuation of Manas 
 sas in March, 1862, was that he lacked, and had been for a long time unavailingly 
 trying to obtain supplies and men. 
 
 On the fifth of March, 1862, he assumed command of the Mississippi army, 
 associated with Albert Sidney Johnston, Bragg, Polk, Pillow, Cheatham, and 
 others. The confederate troops were collected at Corinth, Miss., and on the sixth 
 of April occurred the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburgh Landing. The Federal forces 
 on the Sunday, the first day, numbered nearly forty-eight thousand ; twenty -five 
 thousand from General Buell, and eight thousand under General Wallace, joined 
 them Sunday evening. The loss was estimated at one thousand seven hundred 
 and thirty-five killed, seven thousand eight hundred and eighty -two wounded, and 
 three thousand nine hundred and fifty-six prisoners ; total, thirteen thousand five 
 hundred and seventy-three. The rebel forces were estimated at sixty-three thou- 
 
176 G. T. BEAUREGARD. 
 
 sand ; and their losses at one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight killed, 
 
 , sight thousand and twelve wounded, nine hundred and fifty-nine missing ; total, 
 
 ten thousand six hundred and ninety-nine. On the twenty -ninth of May, Corinth 
 
 ,/ras evacuated in great haste, while the forces of General Halleck were lying 
 
 before it. 
 
 " c ^o September twenty-fourth, 1862, Beauregard was assigned to the command of 
 tke Department of South-Carolina and Georgia. On the sixth of November, he 
 issued an order directing all non-combatants to leave Charleston, "with all their 
 movable property, including slaves," in order " to avoid embarrassments and de 
 lays in case a sudden necessity should arise for the removal of the entire popula 
 tion." On the thirty-first of January, 1863, he issued a somewhat bombastic pro 
 clamation on the occasion of the attempt to disperse the blockading fleet by means 
 of Ingraha m s " musquito " vessels, in which he declared " the blockade by the 
 United States of the said city of Charleston, S. C., to be raised by a superior force 
 of the confederate States, from and after this thirty -first day of January, 1863." 
 This was signed by himself and D. N. Ingraham, but the fleet thus declared to 
 have been dispersed and destroyed quietly returned to its former position almost 
 before the inhabitants of the city were through with their congratulations over its 
 destruction. 
 
 Since that time, Beauregard has remained at Charleston quiet during its long 
 and weary siege. Its elaborate defences have been mostly or largely constructed 
 under his direction, and the city has profited by his engineering ability, which is 
 by no means inconsiderable. His success at Fort Sumter, coming at the time when 
 the South, and South-Carolina in particular, was in the first fever-heat of warlike 
 spirit, gave his name a prestige which it did not altogether deserve. At Charles 
 ton he did only what no man could have failed to do, with such odds in his 
 favor ; but the man who did that was the great military idol for the time. After 
 the battle of Bull Eun his hold on the popular favor had a different basis, for that 
 battle filled the South with the wildest elation, in which they saw justified the 
 old boast that one Southerner could whip five Yankees, and read the sure sign 
 that they had henceforward only to march and give battle in order to conquer and 
 put to flight. But the next nine months failed to bring the advance, and March 
 brought a retirement from the scene of their first triumph ; Beauregard gave place 
 not long after to Lee, and he has sunk to a lower position. He has the wily 
 characteristics which traditionally belong to his mongrel blood. In misrepresenta 
 tion, specious and indefinite charges, and effrontery which almost is unconscious of 
 itself, he is equalled only by Jefferson Davis himself; while for attempts at "fir 
 ing the Southern heart" no one has approached him, and the people of the 
 North give him the distinction of being, of all the rebel leaders and helpers, the 
 most magnificent liar. 
 

SAMUEL P. HEI^TTZELMA^". 
 
 SAMUEL P. IIEINTZELMAN was born at Manlieim, Lancaster County, 
 Pennsylvania, in 1806, of an old family. Although his name indicates 
 German origin, his ancestors had been long in this country. In 1826, at the age 
 of twenty, he graduated from the Military Academy at "West-Point as brevet 
 second lieutenant. Next he became second lieutenant, and was transferred to the 
 Second infantry ; then first lieutenant ; captain in 1833 ; assistant commissary in 
 1836 ; assistant quartermaster and captain in 1838 ; and as captain served in the 
 quartermaster s department in Florida during the Creek war. Twenty years after 
 leaving West-Point in 1846 he was still but a captain. Congress having 
 passed a bill separating the quartermaster s department from the line of the army, 
 he resigned his staff position, and was directly ordered to Mexico as captain in his 
 old regiment, the Second infantry. Having acquitted himself with distinction at 
 the battle of Huamontalo long ago forgotten he was brevetted as major. This 
 was in 1847, and in the following year he was ordered to California and assigned to 
 the command of the Southern District of that State, General Hitchcock being com 
 mander of the department. On reaching the Pacific coast, he found disaffection 
 toward our Government existing among the Spanish population, and the Yumas, 
 Maricopas, and other powerful tribes of Indians, were busy in depredations and 
 murders committed upon emigrants on the plains. In order to put an end to 
 these practices, he was ordered to establish a post at the junction of the Colorado 
 and Gila Eivers, and, in the language of the order, " to take the necessary mea 
 sures to protect American and Mexican citizens from Indian hostilities and depre 
 dations, and compel the Indians to respect American arms by making manifest to 
 them, as much as possible, your power and justice." Toward the close of 1851, 
 he established the post since known as Fort Yuma, but this garrison underwent 
 such suffering that for a time he returned to San Diego. In December of the same 
 year he organized an expedition which, by a rapid march into the hostile conn- 
 try, succeeded, after a brief struggle, in capturing a large body of Indians. Four 
 of the most troublesome of the prisoners were tried by court-martial and shot on 
 the very scene of their capture. Of this affair General Hitchcock thus addressed 
 Major Heintzelman in official dispatches to the War Department : "I congratulate 
 you on the successful termination of the long and tedious warfare with the Yumas, 
 
178 SAMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN. 
 
 the progress of which has been attentively watched from the first. My entire 
 assurance that every measure would be taken by you calculated to secure the ob 
 ject of your presence in that country has been fully realized. No more important 
 service has been rendered by the troops on the Pacific coast than that just accom 
 plished under your direction. The General is persuaded that not only a vast ex 
 penditure both of blood and treasure has been spared the country, but that the 
 peace of the southern part of the State of California has been effectually secured 
 by it." In another place and connection General Hitchcock thus expresses him 
 self: "To the energy, valor, and perseverance of Major Heintzelman, in command 
 of the Southern Department of the State, is due the credit of suppressing what 
 was likely to be a war of long duration." 
 
 From the close of 185, 1 to 1854, most or all of Heintzelman s time was passed 
 at the most distant of all army posts, at the confluence of the Gila and Colorado 
 Kivers, but in 1855 with his family in the Atlantic States. Shortly before the 
 close of Mr. Fillmore s administration, he was nominated to the Senate as brevet 
 lieutenant-colonel, "for meritorious conduct in command of an expedition against 
 the Yuma Indians," but the adjournment of Congress prevented action upon this 
 nomination at that time, and it was not till 1855 that he was advanced from the 
 brevet majority, in which he had done so much for the country and his own repu 
 tation, to the position of major in the First infantry. Following upon this ap 
 pointment came an interregnum of quiet at Newport Barracks, Kentucky, till in 
 1857 he was ordered to join his regiment, which was then serving in Texas under 
 General Twiggs. The difficulty with Cortinas broke out, and that marauder was 
 ravaging the country about the Rio Grande, threatening the most serious conse 
 quences. Major Heintzelman was ordered by Twiggs from Camp Yerde to take 
 ^command of the forces on the Rio Grande. It was not easy to find the enemy 
 and conquer him with only infantry, but he was at last overtaken and compelled 
 to fight. After a severe engagement, Cortinas fled to Mexico, leaving some two 
 hundred dead on the field. It was an effectual and abiding lesson, and on the 
 twentieth of June, 1860, General Scott transmitted the official report of the affair, 
 adding the following comment : " This is a report of a brilliant affair in which 
 Major Heintzelman distinguished himself, as he has often done many years before. 
 I beof to ask a brevet for him." 
 
 o 
 
 In the winter of 1860-61, in the distant solitude of Camp Verde, both officers 
 and men were anxiously looking at the threatening clouds in the Northern hori 
 zon, feeling (as one expressed it) "as if God were dead." The treachery of Gene 
 ral Twiggs surrendered the army in Texas on February eighteenth, 1861,, and the 
 officers and men were paroled. Heintzelman escaped by having taken advantage 
 of the retirement of his lieutenant-colonel to procure leave of absence, and being at 
 Washington in the spring of 1861, he attended the inauguration of President Lin- 
 
SAMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN. 179 
 
 coin. During all the portentous and despairing months that signalized the open 
 ing of the new administration, his acknowledged military ability and sterling 
 loyalty made him the confidential adviser of officers at Washington. In April of 
 that year, he was stationed for a short time at Governor s Island, New- York harbor, 
 and early in May he was ordered to "Washington as Acting Inspector-General. A 
 day or two after the occupation of Arlington Heights, he received a commission 
 as colonel of the Seventeenth United States infantry, the commission bearing date 
 May fourteenth. This regiment was a part of the new addition to the regular 
 army, and was then in process of organization. Heintzelman was assigned to the 
 command of the forces at Alexandria, and at the disaster of Bull Run, on the 
 twenty-first of July following, he commanded the extreme right wing of McDow 
 ell s army. Undisciplined troops as those were, it was necessary to show them an 
 inspiring example ; and accordingly Heintzelman exposed himself freely, taking 
 part personally in every movement, and late in the day of that Sunday, while 
 leading the Brooklyn Fourteenth in a desperate effort to recover the lost fortunes 
 of the field, he was severely wounded by a ball- near the elbow. If he dismount 
 ed, faintness might prevent his remounting, yet he could not consent to leave the 
 field ; so, meeting Surgeon King of the army, he had the bullet removed without 
 stirring from the saddle, then placed his arm in a sling and went on, rallying his 
 straggling troops into the best order he might, and slowly falling back on Alex 
 andria. Toward noon of " blue Monday " he reached his own house in Washing 
 ton, and fell to the floor as he crossed the threshold, having received his wound 
 fifteen hours before, and having sat twenty-eight hours continuously in the saddle. 
 Not long after this trial of his strength and courage, he was made a brigadier-gen 
 eral of volunteers, and in October he was assigned to the command of the left wing 
 of the army of the Potomac, but nothing of moment occurred during the follow 
 ing winter. On the eighth of March, 1862, the army was reorganized and formed 
 into five corps, and Heintzelman took the Third, which consisted of his old divi 
 sion, then commanded by General Hancock, who was relieved in front of York- 
 town, and subsequently by Kearny ; of Hooker s division ; and of the division of 
 Fitz-John Porter. The history of this corps is a history of fighting. About the 
 middle of March, the army of the Potomac embarked for the Peninsula, and 
 Heintzelman s corps was the first to land and the first to advance on Yorktown ; 
 being encamped near the heaviest rebel works, they also furnished most of the 
 working parties of the season. Yorktown having been evacuated, Porter s divi 
 sion was detached from Heintzelman s corps, which was ordered in pursuit of the 
 retreating rebels. On the fifth of May, 1862, Heintzelman fought the fiercely- 
 contested battle of Williamsburgh, General Sumner, his ranking officer, being but 
 slightly engaged. 
 
 The army advanced on Richmond, and after the Chickahominy was crossed, 
 
180 SAMUEL P. HEINTZELilAN". 
 
 Heintzelman s command was doubled, both the Third and the Fifth corps being 
 now assigned to him. The bloody week of battles soon came. The retreat to the 
 banks of the James Eiver began with the repulse at Gaines s Mills, and ended with 
 Malvern Hill. At Gaines s Mills the right of the army received a severe check, 
 and was ordered to commence a flank movement on the James. The rebel opin 
 ion of Gaines s Mills may be gathered from the following extract from an account 
 of the Peninsular campaign, written by a Prussian officer in the rebel service : 
 " Already had two generals of the four hostile brigades been left by their men, and 
 it was believed that all was over with McClellan s entire army, when at this peril 
 ous crisis General Heintzelman appeared with his division, and again brought the 
 battle to a stand. With great ability and gallantry he repulsed the onset of our 
 troops, and at once ordered the organization of the beaten and fugitive brigades. 
 But it was found impossible to restore order to those confused and intimidated 
 masses. They bore their officers along with them, and rushed on in wild disorder 
 and flight. General Heintzelman saw himself compelled to abandon his position, 
 and, like an ox, with head down, ready to receive an attack at any moment, he 
 drew slowly back to the Chickahominy." 
 
 Following this came the seven days fighting. Heintzelman was at Savage 
 Station ; at Glendale, where he was wounded in the leg, but retained his com 
 mand ; at Malvern Hill and others ; and wherever his troops were engaged they 
 fought successfully and well. 
 
 Upon the arrival of the army at Harrison s Landing, its painful retreat being 
 over, Heintzelman was promoted to a Major-Generalship, and when he arrived at 
 Yorktown he was ordered with his corps to report to General Pope in the Depart 
 ment of Virginia. On the twentieth of August he embarked, and on the twenty- 
 sixth his troops were already in position, protecting the railroad to the Rappahan- 
 nock. But a little later, the right of Pope s army having been turned by the 
 rebels and his line of communication having been cut off, Heintzelman was ordered 
 to reopen the line with Hooker s division. The rebels were formed in force at 
 Kettle Run, and were falling back on the plains of Manassas, when they were 
 overtaken by Heintzelman on the twenty-ninth of August, and he immediately 
 engaged them, being then in command of the left wing, and toward the close of 
 the day succeeded in driving them from their first strong position. The thirtieth 
 arrived, and he still held his position, but the centre at length gave way, and he 
 was ordered to fall back on Centreville, as he had fallen back on the same place 
 more than a year previous. On this retreat, a part of General Hooker s com 
 mand General Philip Kearny s division distinguished itself at Chantilly. 
 
 Thereupon Heintzelman s corps marched back to the capital, but when he 
 arrived at Fort Lyon, his former winter headquarters, only about five thousand 
 out of the original twenty thousand men of the old force x>n the Potomac answered 
 
SAMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN. 
 
 to their names ; the rest had melted away in the trials under this fighting General. 
 Not long after, Heintzelman was assigned to the command of all the forts south 
 of the Potomac ; McClellan being in command of the defences of "Washington 
 itself. At the beginning of the Maryland campaign McClellan was succeeded by 
 Banks, and when Banks commenced the organization of his Gulf expedition, 
 Heintzelman succeeded to the defences at Washington, where he still remains. 
 
 The complimentary epithet which shortens the name of General Hooker, in 
 the mouth of the people, into the familiar " Fighting Joe," belongs in at least an 
 equal degree to General Heintzelman. If he has not the dash and impetuosity of 
 the former, he is yet in the completest sense of the word, a fighter. Though an old 
 soldier, whose life was given to the military service in the beginning, it happened 
 that he, as well as too many others, realized the mingled sarcastic humor and pathos 
 of the couplet which says that " the army is hard service, boys promotions very 
 slow." They were slow to him, for in twenty years of hard service he rose no 
 higher than captain. Yet his work in California was of a highly important char 
 acter, and certainly indicated in him an ability for planning for which the present 
 war has as yet given him no opportunity. In this he has not so much directed as 
 executed, and in the fighting positions, and again in the most hotly-contested spots 
 of those, his corps and himself have always been found. History sometimes 
 brings out and emblazons for ever some whom the laurel of the day has never 
 crowned ; and so she will do for Heintzelman, without snatching a single leaf 
 from the leaders under whom he fought ; for, honoring the heads that planned, 
 she will honor also the hands that fought. 
 
 The rough name of this General, and his very appearance rugged, virile, 
 and wiry declare him a soldier trained in all severe and masculine experiences. 
 Perhaps rude in his phrase and little blessed with the set forms of speech ; 
 perhaps not a soldier in the chivalric idea, which, however, hardly belongs to our 
 day. No one would dream of likening him to Philip Sidney, in the qualities 
 which have made the name of the latter a perpetual lingering fragrance in the 
 pages of history, though he did nothing ; nor was Heintzelman gifted with much 
 in common with Bayard, the soldier and likewise the first gentleman in France, 
 although, like Bayard, he was without fear and without reproach. Who does not 
 love and admire a rose for smelling sweet ? Yet who thinks of praising the rose 
 on that account ? Sweetness is an essential characteristic of its life, which it can 
 not avoid or produce. And the graceful accomplishments, the sweet and gentle 
 temper, the courtly and polished manner of Sidney were things which history 
 takes note of in a passing way and marks as illustrative of the original meaning 
 in the term " gentleman ;" yet the world at large knows Sidney only by the cup 
 of water which he denied himself, when wounded on the field, and gave to the 
 soldier who needed it more. There is not that to be recorded of Heintzelman ; 
 
182 SAMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN. 
 
 but it cannot be forgotten how he found a band of music, and with the first 
 notes of the " Star-Spangled Banner " re inspirited, for another charge, our 
 scattered and broken troops at the battle of Williamsburgh, May fifth, 1862, 
 which begun the Peninsula campaign. It was a happy thought of the moment, 
 but was also a touch of nature which might have befitted Sidney or Bayard. 
 The rough soldier whom war had battered and owned all his life, showed here, by 
 a genuine act of the heart, that he was a man still, and would be always. 
 
QUIIsrCY ADAMS GILLMOEE. 
 
 QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE, Major in the regular army and Major-Gene 
 ral of volunteers, was born in the town of Black River, Loraine County, 
 Ohio, February twenty-eighth, 1825. He obtained his elementary education at 
 Elyria, Ohio, but receiving an unsolicited appointment of a cadetship at the West- 
 Point Military Academy, he entered that institution in June, 1845, at the age of 
 twenty, and graduated in 1849 at the head of his class. 
 
 Leaving the Academy, young Gillmore was brevetted a second lieutenant of 
 engineers on the twelfth of July, 1849. July first, 1856, he was promoted to be 
 a first lieutenant ; to a captaincy August sixth, 1861 ; and to a major-generalship 
 in June, 1863. 
 
 During the three years from 1849 to 1852, he was employed as assistant en 
 gineer on the fortifications in Hampton Roads, Virginia ; the following years, 
 from 1852 to 1856, he was in the department of practical engineering at West- 
 Point ; and the remaining five years, till 1861, he passed as agent for the engineer 
 department in New-York City. During his residence at West-Point, he was en 
 gaged in a series of interesting and novel experiments, to determine the breaching 
 power of the various projectiles and the strength ef the various materials for forti 
 fications then in use. In order to record more permanently the results of these 
 experiments, he had recourse to the photographic art, which was at that time in 
 its beginning in this country, and took photographs of the effect of every import 
 ant shot. These experiments are now interesting as showing his preparations, 
 long ago made, for the marvellous achievements in breaching effected on Forts 
 Pulaski and Sumter. 
 
 In October, 1861, he was appointed Chief Engineer to Brigadier-General T. 
 W. Sherman, commanding the Port Royal expedition, and he constructed the 
 present defences of Hilton Head Island, after its capture and occupation by the 
 force under General Sherman. He was subsequently placed in command of the 
 troops on Tybee Island, for the purpose of directing operations against Fort Pu 
 laski, and the breaching of that Fort, and its surrender on the eleventh of April, 
 1862, form the first of the prominent successes by which he is chiefly known. 
 April twenty-eighth, 1862, he was appointed Brigadier-General, but on account of 
 impaired health he was obliged to withdraw from the field temporarily. In Sep- 
 
184 Q. A. GILLMOKE. 
 
 tember, 1862, lie was ordered to the department of the Ohio, and some time after 
 ward was assigned to the command of the military district of Central Kentucky, 
 with his headquarters at Lexington. On the thirtieth of March, in the follow 
 ing year, he fought the battle of Somerset, Kentucky, by which the rebels were 
 totally driven from the central portion of the State. On the tenth of July, 
 being sent to Charleston, he succeeded in effecting a landing on Morris Island, on 
 the south side of the harbor, capturing the rebel cannon and possessing himself 
 of the fortifications on the south side, thus obtaining the necessary preliminary 
 foothold for the conduct of future operations, and accomplishing this important 
 step with a total loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, of only forty. On the 
 twenty-third of August, Fort Sumter was demolished and " crushed into a shape 
 less and harmless mass of ruins" by" batteries located at a distance of more than 
 two miles, which threw their projectiles over the heads of the garrisons of the in 
 tervening fortifications of Wagner and Gregg. 
 
 On the seventh of September, Fort Wagner was taken. To this achievement 
 General Halleck principally refers in his last annual report, in which he uses 
 these words: "General Gillm ore s operations have been characterized by great 
 professional skill and boldness. He has overcome difficulties almost unknown in 
 modern sieges. Indeed, his operations on Morris Island constitute a new era in 
 the science of engineering and gunnery." 
 
 The following temperate and carefully prepared article, which appeared as 
 editorial in a prominent New- York journal, may justly be quoted here as a good 
 resume of these operations : 
 
 " It (the taking of Wagner) was like the bombardment of Pulaski in this one 
 respect it was undertaken without the sanction, and indeed in defiance of all the 
 settled policy and supposed methods of warfare. The difficulties, to a military 
 man, appeared insurmountable, but General Gillmore nevertheless undertook to 
 evade and overcome them. Fort Wagner is located on a broad part of the island ; 
 it can be approached only over a narrow strip of sandy beach, not more than 
 twenty yards wide, and the front which it thus presents to a besieging party is 
 two hundred and fifty yards in length. The difficulties attending its reduction 
 by land approaches, and which are quite novel in the history of sieges, may be 
 thus enumerated : First. The work was not, and could not be, invested ; its com 
 munications with Charleston were open in the rear, and it was therefore of little 
 use to dismount its guns, as the enemy were thus able to keep the armament at 
 its maximum strength and to repair during the night-time the injuries of the day. 
 Second. The entire garrison of the Fort was kept in bomb-proof shelters, and be 
 yond the reach of any kind of artillery. Third. It was (before Wagner taught us 
 better) a maxim of engineering that the besiegers must envelop at least one side 
 of the work by the usual zig-zag approaches, and of a depth sufficient to protect 
 
Q. A. GILLMORE. 185 
 
 the men. To comply with this rule was impossible ; as, if attempted at all, they 
 would have to be dug up the narrow and shallow strip of sand beach, affording 
 but two feet of depth and a front not exceeding one eighth as great as that of the 
 enemy. 
 
 "It is now evident that General Gillmore met these unusual requirements in 
 a manner as simple as it was skilful and bold, and undoubtedly he would have 
 carried out the whole of his original plan, had not a sense of imminent danger 
 caused the enemy to run away from the final assault. The work was approached 
 in the usual method by zig-zag, but limited in depth and length to the shallow- 
 ness and narrowness of the strip of beach. Throughout the progress of the ap 
 proaches, especially as the besiegers neared the Fort, the sap was exposed to direct 
 and flanking fires from sharp-shooters, and from the guns of Wagner throwing 
 grape and canister. The batteries on James Island, with their long-range guns, 
 took our trenches in flank and rear, and those on Sullivan s Island played an un 
 ceasing fire upon the patient and persistent workers in that shallow beach, -until 
 the sap reached so near to "Wagner that these distant batteries ceased a fire which 
 was as likely to hit friend as foe. The ditch of Wagner was reached on the night 
 of the sixth of September. The assault was ordered for the next morning at low 
 tide. We have described the difficulties and dangers of the task. Let us now 
 briefly state the means employed to evade them : 
 
 " First. A calcium light of great power was used to illumine the enemy s 
 works at night. This aided the fire of our sharp-shooters, while it dazzled the 
 sight of those of the enemy, and enabled us to prevent their making repairs. 
 
 " Second. An artillery fire was kept up night and day, throwing shell over 
 the heads of our sappers, thereby keeping the enemy in their bomb-proof shelters. 
 So accurate and terrific was the artillery, especially the mortar fire, that our sap 
 pers repeatedly got out of the trench and looked with perfect impunity into the 
 ditch of Wagner. 
 
 " Third. The trenches were pushed forward by Fort Wagner on the channel 
 front, thereby masking all its guns, and also insuring that an assaulting column 
 would be exposed to no fire except musketry. 
 
 " All these novel conditions were prescribed by General Gillmore, and exe 
 cuted with admirable precision and courage. How well they solved the difficult 
 problem we already know. The simplicity of the method only enhances its merit. 
 Had the enemy further contested our advance, it was intended to put the assault 
 ing column in trenches at nine o clock on the morning of the seventh, and keep 
 up the mortar fire on the Fort, so that the garrison could not emerge from their 
 shelter until the assaulting column mounted the parapet. This assault was to be 
 made on the east, north, and west faces of Wagner by passing the Fort on the sea 
 (or east) face at low water. 
 
186 Q. A. GILLMORE. 
 
 "But when the morning came the enemy were not there. They had no 
 stomach for another fight with the intrepid and resolute foe with whom they had 
 struggled in the ditch and on the parapets in the midnight assaults of the previous 
 month. They left during the night, having previously applied slow matches to 
 the magazine of both Wagner and Gregg, with the intention of blowing them up. 
 This intention our men frustrated. 
 
 "Pulaski, Somerset, the landing on Morris Island, the demolition of Sum- 
 ter Wagner. The greatest is behind. Whatever may be thought of the many 
 deeds which may illuminate the sad story of this great rebellion, the capture 
 of Wagner and Gregg by General Gillmore will be regarded as the greatest tri 
 umph of engineering that history has yet recorded." 
 
 The operations attending the siege of Fort Pulaski, and the longer and yet 
 unfinished siege of Charleston, have an interest aside from their success or failure. 
 They were a series of great experiments upon the strength of building materials 
 and the effectiveness of newly-devised projectiles. Fort Pulaski was built by the 
 most liberal expenditure of time and money, and seemed impregnable so far as 
 any work of brick or stone could be so. Its brick walls were impregnable against 
 old ordnance, but the rifled guns which formed the Tybee Island batteries bored 
 through them in a few hours, and it is very remarkable that General Gillmore had 
 experimented at West-Point, ten years before, upon the very kind of brick of 
 which Pulaski was composed, and hence had but to reproduce, practically and on 
 a vaster and immortal scale, his former almost unnoticed experiments. Indeed, 
 he may be said to have taken Fort Pulaski ten years ago at West-Point. 
 
 These operations were wonderful enough, as illustrating the extent to which 
 improved rifled ordnance will soon revolutionize the old methods of warfare, but 
 the breaching of Sumter is equally remarkable. Setting aside the engineering 
 triumph of erecting batteries in sand marshes, there was exhibited at Sumter the 
 extraordinary spectacle of breaching a fort by guns located at a distance of more 
 than two miles, throwing their shot over the heads of the garrisons of two inter 
 vening hostile forts. But upon Fort Wagner all ordnance had less effect, and 
 consequently some new method of approach must be devised, and it was devised 
 novel and effective. 
 
 The Monitor and the Merrimac furnished the first crucial test of the plan of 
 plating vessels. This demonstrated the resisting power of iron-plating rather than 
 the power of large guns, and the name of the projector of the little turreted 
 " cheese-box on a raft " will be always connected with the new system of ship 
 building. The operations on Tybce and Morris Islands were, in like manner, the 
 first real test of rifled- ordnance upon fortifications, and proved that simple earth 
 is better against shot than either brick or stone. They showed that the smooth- 
 
Q. A. GILLMORE. 
 
 187 
 
 bore gun of small weight and calibre must hereafter be replaced by rifled ord 
 nance, sighted and fired with the accuracy of the rifle itself ; and that earth-works 
 had a more obstinate power of resistance than any other material yet tried. 
 These operations form really the most important and instructive portions of the 
 war, and the time is not distant when they and their author will be rated at the 
 full measure of their value. 
 
EGBERT EDMUND LEE. 
 
 GENEEAL EGBERT E. LEE, the junior officer of that grade in the rebel 
 army, was born in Virginia in 1808, upon the Arlington estates. His 
 father was Harry Lee, the friend and eulogist of General Washington. Eobert 
 received a liberal education, was admitted to the Military Academy at West-Point 
 in 1825, and, on the thirtieth of June, 1829, graduated second in his class. He 
 entered the army as Second Lieutenant of engineers on the first of July, 1829, and 
 was, in 1835, appointed assistant astronomer for the demarcation of the new 
 boundary line between the States of Ohio and Michigan. September twenty-first, 
 1836, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy, and on July seventh, 1838, to a cap 
 taincy. During 1844, he was a member of the Board of Visitors .to the Military 
 Academy, and a member of the Board of Engineers from September eighth, 1845, 
 to March thirteenth, 1848. When General Wool was in command of Mexico in 
 
 1846, Captain Lee was Chief Engineer of that division, and remained in that posi 
 tion during the war. He was brevetted Major, April eighteenth, 1847, for " gal 
 lant conduct at Cerro Gordo ;" Lieutenant-Colonel, August twentieth, 1847, for 
 " gallantry at Contre ras and Churubusco ;" and Colonel, September thirteenth, 
 
 1847, for " gallant and meritorious conduct " at the battle of Chapultepec. In this 
 engagement he was wounded. At the end of the campaign he was again appoint 
 ed, July twenty-first, 1848, a member of the Board of Engineers, and on the first 
 of September, 1852, was made Superintendent of the Military Academy, which 
 position he held until March third, 1855, when he received his full commission of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second cavalry. The regiment was sent to Texas, but 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Lee remained upon his estates at Arlington, and March six 
 teenth, 1861, was promoted to the colonelcy of the First cavalry. On the twenty- 
 fifth of April, 1861, he resigned his commission and joined the rebels. 
 
 It will thus be seen that his promotion was unusually rapid, and the positions 
 assigned him were such as permitted him to lead a life of comparative ease upon 
 the estates which he inherited from his family. He was doubtless a diligent 
 student, and the advantages of a liberal education, together with the positions he 
 has held, have made him the ablest general in the rebel forces. Upon the organi 
 zation of the rebel army, Colonel Lee was made General, holding a commission of 
 
MAI GK\ ROBE] 
 
ROBERT EDMUND LEE. 189 
 
 the same date as Joseph E. Johnston, P. G. T. Beauregard, and Samuel Cooper, 
 ranking third in this list. 
 
 General Lee was assigned to the command in West- Virginia, after the 
 death of General Garnett at Bich Mountain, in August, 1861. His first engage 
 ment was at Cheat Mountain, September twelfth, 1861. He advanced upon the 
 National forces, commanded by General Keynolds, with nine thousand men and 
 twelve pieces of artillery, but was defeated in his manoeuvres and compelled to 
 retire, losing heavily in killed, wounded, and prisoners. His aid, Colonel John 
 A. Washington, was killed in this engagement. This battle was the result of one 
 of General Eosecrans s combinations while operating against Floyd, and Eeynolds s 
 orders were to hold Lee in check while General Kosecrans engaged Floyd. Lee 
 failed in his first engagement in consequence of neglecting the proper moment for 
 making an attack. His plans were submitted to the military authorities at Rich 
 mond subsequently, and he was absolved from all blame for his defeat. After 
 this engagement, General Lee proceeded to the Kanawha region, for the purpose 
 of relieving Floyd and Wise. The former was at Meadow Bluff, and the latter 
 near the Big Sewell. Lee took position with Wise, and held his lines for fifteen 
 days behind strong intrenchments, when finally General Rosecrans, not succeed 
 ing in drawing him into an open field, returned to his old position on the Gauley. 
 Lee made no attempt to follow Rosecrans. General Lee retained command in 
 West-Virginia, but did not again meet the Union forces. He was, in December, 
 transferred from this department, and engaged upon the defences of South-Carolina 
 and Georgia. When Joseph E. Johnston was wounded at the battle of Seven 
 Pines, June first, 1862, he succeeded to the command of the rebel army in Virginia. 
 
 General Lee adopted the plans of his predecessor, and, being reenforced by 
 " Stonewall " Jackson s corps, took the offensive. The initial movements to the 
 seven days battles were planned by Lee, including the demonstration of Jackson 
 upon Cold Harbor. The battle of Malvern Hill was fought under Lee s personal 
 direction. When he was satisfied that General McClellan s army had been with 
 drawn from the Peninsula, he transferred the main body of the rebel army to the 
 vicinity of Orange Court-IIouse, where he so arranged his corps as to employ 
 Jackson and Longstreet in an effort to break the National lines of communication. 
 In this he was partially successful, General Pope making a rapid retrograde move 
 ment in order to secure his lines of retreat. This manoeuvre resulted in the 
 battles of Manassas, August twenty-ninth and thirtieth, 1862, and in the battle at 
 Chantilly, which was fought while the National forces were in retreat for the de 
 fences of Washington. 
 
 General Lee then prepared for the invasion of Maryland, hoping to capture 
 Washington, or at least supply and reenforce his army from that Border State. 
 " Stonewall " Jackson led the advance, and crossed the Potomac near Poolesville, on 
 
190 ROBERT EDMUND LEE. 
 
 September fifth, Lee following immediately after. Jackson diverged to the west 
 for the purpose of investing Harper s Ferry, while Longstreet s and D. H. Hill s 
 corps were placed in position to cover Jackson s operations. These movements 
 resulted in the battle of South-Mountain and Crampton s Gap on the fourteenth, 
 and in the surrender of Harper s Ferry on the fifteenth. General Lee then con 
 centrated his forces upon the field of Antietam to give General McClellan battle. 
 The engagement took place on September seventeenth, and resulted in the defeat 
 of the rebels. Under cover of a flag of truce, sent for the purpose of burying the 
 dead, they withdrew and crossed the Potomac near Shepherdstown. The Na 
 tional army moved into Virginia on October twenty-sixth, when Lee retreated 
 slowly and finally gained a position on the south bank of the Rapidan, where 
 he was about to be engaged when General McClellan was relieved, November 
 seventh. Then the army of the Potomac was removed to Falmouth, and the 
 rebel army occupied the heights of Fredericksburgh opposite. An engagement 
 took place here on December thirteenth, in consequence of an ineffectual effort 011 
 the part of General Burnside to assault the rebel position. The battle of Chan 
 cellors ville, May second and third, 1863, also resulted in a defeat, in consequence 
 of General Hooker attempting to draw the rebel army from within its defences at 
 Fredericksburgh and give battle in the open field. General Lee then planned his 
 second invasion of Maryland, determining to accomplish it before the National 
 forces could recover from their losses. On the thirteenth of June, the rebels ap 
 peared in force at Winchester and Berryville, and compelled the surrender of 
 those posts ; a greater part of the garrison, however, escaping to Harper s Ferry. 
 On the fifteenth, the rebel army crossed the Potomac and occupied Hagerstown, 
 Maryland, while a cavalry advance pushed on and seized Chambersburgh, Pa. 
 The movements of Lee were rapid, and intended to strike at Harrisburgh if possi 
 ble. Greencastle, Scotland, McConnellsburgh, Shippensburgh, Carlisle, and Get- 
 tysburgh, Pa., were visited in turn, and immense stores of goods were obtained 
 by the needy rebels. All public property was destroyed, including the extensive 
 barracks at Carlisle. The army of the Potomac crossed into Maryland in pursuit 
 of the invaders, and the advance entered Frederick on the twenty-first of June, 
 but it was not until the twenty-seventh that the main body occupied the State in 
 force. The disposition of the army was such at that time that the rebels were cut 
 off from retreat, and their various corps were scattered about the country and 
 liable to be attacked in detail. General Lee confessed subsequently that he was 
 so far ignorant of the position of the National forces as to render his situation ex 
 tremely critical. Under these circumstances he recalled his cavalry, and proceed 
 ed to concentrate his army for an engagement. He was then in the vicinity of 
 Hanover, Md., with part of his army at Gettysburgh, Pa. General Hooker was 
 relieved from command June twenty -eighth, and General Meade succeeded him. 
 
ROBERT EDMUND LEE. 191 
 
 The latter proceeded to carry out the plans which had been formed by his prede 
 cessor for the ensuing battle. In the course of his manoeuvres, the advance of 
 the National army, under General Sickles, met a portion of the rebels at Gettys- 
 burgh on the first of July, and an engagement ensued which was the signal for the 
 concentration of both armies. The next morning Lee and Meade had their com 
 mands well upon the field, and the contest was renewed all that day and the 
 next ; the efforts of the rebels being an endeavor to gain possession of Cemetery 
 Hill. Longstreet made a final but ineffectual attempt to obtain this eminence on 
 the third day of the battle, but was repulsed with dreadful slaughter. This ended 
 the engagement, and during that night the rebel army withdrew from the field, 
 and on the fourth of July was in full retreat toward the Potomac. This stream 
 was at that time much swollen by heavy freshets, the pontoon-bridges of the 
 rebelshad been destroyed, and the situation was one exceedingly critical for them. 
 But General Lee proceeded to erect a pontoon-bridge from a neighboring lumber 
 yard, and on the thirteenth of July, while Meade was debating whether or not to 
 give him battle, he safely crossed his army at Falling Waters. The next day a 
 portion of his rear-guard was defeated at this point in a cavalry engagement. 
 
 Thus both Lee s attempts for the invasion of the North proved failures, and 
 resulted in extensive loss of men and munitions of war. In both cases, however, 
 he extricated himself from his somewhat critical situation with extraordinary skill 
 and dexterity. He completely deceived his foe in both instances, and while he 
 was in reality seriously crippled, led him to believe that he was about to resume 
 the offensive. The army of the Potomac crossed in pursuit of the rebels almost 
 immediately, and the cavalry engaged the rebel rear-guard at Ashby s Gap. On 
 the twenty -ninth, however, all pursuit ceased, and the army of the Potomac rested 
 on the line of the Eappahannock ; the rebels taking position on the Eapidan. 
 Affairs were comparatively quiet in both armies until September twelfth, when 
 General Meade drove the rebel forces from Culpeper. The enemy had meanwhile 
 been reduced in strength by the withdrawal of Longstreet to reenforce the rebel 
 army in Georgia. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, however, so strongly were 
 the rebels intrenched that an advance be} r ond Culpeper was considered impracti 
 cable. Two corps were withdrawn from the army of the Potomac September 
 twenty-eighth, which made the strength of each army about equal. October 
 tenth, a skirmish at Eobertson s Ford disclosed to General Meade the fact that the 
 rebels were attempting a bold flank movement for the purpose of getting in his 
 rear. In order to prevent such a catastrophe the National forces were withdrawn 
 so entirely that the scheme of the enemy was completely frustrated. Bristoe s 
 Station was the only engagement which resulted from this movement, and in that 
 the rebels were defeated. The army of the Potomac moved back as far as Manas- 
 sas, when, finding that the rebels had commenced to retrace their steps, it was 
 
192 ROBERT EDMUND LEE. 
 
 advanced, and on the twenty-first rested again upon its old lines on the Rappahan- 
 nock. This movement was one of exceeding boldness, and displayed high strategic 
 skill on the part of General Lee. Its early discovery caused its failure. Novem 
 ber eighth, the army of the Potomac pushed forward across the Rapidan as far as 
 Mine Run, but the season had then so far advanced that further offensive move 
 ments were considered impracticable, and both armies went into winter quarters 
 within their old lines. 
 
 The only movement of importance which occurred was in the early part of 
 February, 186-i, when General Meade, with a view to attract the attention of the 
 enemy from a movement up the Peninsula against Richmond, pushed forward and 
 had a brief engagement beyond the Rapidan. Quiet was resumed, however, in a 
 few days. 
 
 General Lee spent the winter months in endeavoring to provide food and 
 clothing for his army. He made earnest appeals to the Southern people for this 
 purpose, and, in a general order, implored his troops to bear patiently the priva 
 tion of limited rations for the cause in which they were engaged. In considera 
 tion of his services to the country, a number of his friends in the rebel Congress 
 expressed a desire to present him with a house for his family, but he refused the 
 gift, stating that they were comfortably enough off, and that the country and his 
 soldiers needed the money more than he or they did. He was at this time in the 
 receipt of only about one hundred dollars per month, and his family lived in two 
 rented rooms in the plainest manner. Before the rebellion, he was the inheritor 
 of one of the finest places in Virginia, the Arlington estate, and lived a life of 
 luxury. While he was in the service of the United States he was spared many 
 of the unpleasant duties of a soldier s life, but by the rebellion he has not only 
 seen stripped of his patrimony, but in three brief years compelled to rely upon 
 his pay as a general to support his family in the plainest manner. 
 
 General Lee, like " Stonewall " Jackson, has given up all for an idea, and that 
 idea is his State. He has devoted his best energies to her welfare ; sacrificed all 
 that was dear to him for her ; and will go down to his grave a self-sacrificing victim 
 to the heresy of State rights. He has attained a high military reputation and is 
 estimated as second to none in the South as a general. He is an able strategist, 
 bold in his movements and rapid in executing plans well matured. He sometimes 
 makes mistakes, but readily sees the error and extricates himself from the conse 
 quences with singular dexterity. It was undoubtedly owing to him that the two 
 invasions of Maryland and Pennsylvania were executed. The last- was so pre 
 cipitate that Jefferson Davis became alarmed while it was in progress lest it 
 should result in irreparable disaster, and imperatively ordered him to return, stat 
 ing that it was not by his (Davis s) wish that the movement was made. The at 
 tempted flank movement in October, 1863, was a bold advance, and scarcely any 
 
ROBERT EDMUND LEE. 193 
 
 one but Lee would have attempted it. Ilad he succeeded in his plan to get be 
 tween the army of the Potomac and Washington, he would doubtless have at 
 tempted to reenact the scenes of August, 1862, on the old battle-field of Bull Run, 
 and thus have again pushed for Maryland and Pennsylvania, with what conse 
 quences may readily be conjectured. 
 
 General Lee is a very handsome man. He is tall, with broad shoulders, and 
 courteous and dignified in his manners. He never swears, drinks, smokes, or 
 chews . He generally wears a long gray jacket, a high black felt hat, and blue 
 trowsers tucked into a pair of long Wellington boots. He does not wear arms, 
 and the only insignia of his rank are three stars upon his collar. He rides a hand 
 some horse, and is esteemed neat in his dress and person. It is said that he has 
 not slept in a house since he commanded the rebel army in Virginia, and declines 
 all offers of hospitality. He is a religious man, although not so demonstrative as 
 was " Stonewall " Jackson, and is a member of the Episcopal Church. In action, 
 he exhibits bravery but not recklessness. He forms his plans of battle, calls his 
 lieutenants around him and assigns each his post. Then he goes upon the field 
 to witness the strife, and leaves to his immediate subordinates the duty of modi 
 fying any movement which circumstances might render necessary. So completely 
 are his plans generally formed that he seldom has occasion to change them. On 
 the second day of the battle of Gettysburg!! he gave but one order and received 
 but one report. On the third day, when disaster was apparent, he rode anxiously 
 among his troops, encouraging them with cheering words. He spoke to all the 
 wounded men who passed him, and those who were slightly hurt were bidden to 
 bind their wounds and take up their muskets. He remarked to an officer : " This 
 is a sad day for us, Colonel a sad day; but we cannot always expect to gain 
 victories." 
 
 General Wilcox reported the disabled condition of his brigade to Lee, when 
 he remarked cheerfully : " Never mind, General, all this has been my fault ; it is 
 / who have lost this fight, and you must help me out of it in the best way you 
 can." His troops seemed inspired with the utmost confidence in their leader, 
 and, when they passed him, cheered and said : " We ve not lost confidence in the 
 old man ; this day s work won t do him any harm. Uncle Robert will get us 
 into Washington yet." 
 
 The grand secret of General Lee s success, where fortune has vouchsafed it to 
 him, appears to lie in the concentration of his troops. He adopted that plan as 
 soon as he took command of the rebel army in Virginia, and it has scarcely ever 
 failed him. Circumstances may have favored this line of tactics in some cases, 
 but generally it has been adopted as part of the plan of battle without regard to 
 the peculiar situation of affairs. 
 
WILLIAM HEISTEY SEWAED, 
 
 THE Sewards are of Welsh origin. Their first home in this country was in 
 Connecticut. Afterward, about 1740, a portion of the family removed to 
 New-Jersey, and, later, other branches to the Southern States. One of that name 
 was recently a representative in Congress from Georgia. The subject of this me 
 moir belongs to the New -Jersey branch. His grandfather was a prominent actor 
 in the Revolution. His father having received a professional education, as his 
 patrimony, settled in Orange County, New- York, in 1795. The little village 
 which he chose for his home was called Florida. It is in the town of Warwick, 
 about five miles south of Goshen, of which it was once a part. The village, as its 
 name imports, is as beautiful in its landscape as the scenery of the whole county 
 is noble and sublime. * 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD was born in the village of Florida, May sixteenth, 
 1801. His father, Samuel S. Seward, held the office of County Judge in Orange 
 for seventeen years, and was distinguished for more than ordinary business ability, 
 pursuing at the same time his profession as a physician, attending to his duties on 
 the bench and engaging largely in mercantile and manufacturing enterprises. He 
 died in 1849. Beside leaving a large fortune to his heirs, he endowed an academy 
 in Florida with a fund of twenty thousand dollars. His wife, the mother of Wil 
 liam H., was as remarkable for generosity and amiability as her husband was for 
 enterprise and industry. The son seems to have inherited the combined charac 
 teristics of his parents. From childhood he exhibited a love of knowledge, and 
 an earnest inclination and taste for study. Books were his favorite companions, 
 and he ran away to school. When nine years of age, he was sent to Farmer s 
 Hall Academy, at Goshen, in Orange County. There, and at an academy subse 
 quently established in his native town, he pursued his studies until his fifteenth 
 year, w r hen he entered Union College at Schenectady. " Thin, pale, sandy-vis- 
 aged," as he is said to have been, there was perhaps no great promise in his ap 
 pearance, for he was persuaded to enter the Sophomore class, though upon exami 
 nation he was found qualified for the Junior. His favorite studies in college were 
 rhetoric, moral philosophy, and the ancient classics. 
 
 In the year 1819, when eighteen years of age, and while in the Senior class, 
 he withdrew from college, and for about six months was engaged as a teacher at 
 
I I.) ii . Win .11 . S E \\ A H 1) 
 
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD. 195 
 
 the South. Slavery was not altogether strange to him, for he had seen some rem 
 nant of it in his native State and in his father s family even his own nurse had 
 been a negro slave ; yet his experience of life at the South tended to confirm and 
 deepen a natural hostility to that form of oppression. Seward returned to his 
 college and was graduated with high honors. He was one of three commence 
 ment orators chosen by the college society to which he belonged, and the subject 
 of his oration was, " The Integrity of the American Union." Thus, before he had 
 attained the age of manhood, he felt his way instinctively to that cause which was 
 to employ the ripened abilities of his later life. 
 
 Soon after his graduation, Mr. Seward entered the office of John Anthon, in 
 New- York City, as a law student ; completed his preparation with John Duer and 
 Ogden Hoffman, in Goshen, became associated with the latter, and was admitted 
 to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1822. In January of the next year, he took 
 up his residence in Auburn, where he formed a business connection with the Hon. 
 Elijah Miller, whose youngest daughter he married in 1824. By severe industry 
 he soon became possessed of an extensive and successful practice. 
 
 He gave also considerable attention to politics. His father had been an ar 
 dent Jeffersonian Democrat. If the first prepossessions of the son were in favor 
 of that party, the struggle incident to the admission of Missouri into the Union 
 convinced him that subserviency to Southern influence ruled in the Democratic 
 party, and he left it, avowing his unchangeable opposition to the extension of 
 slavery. In October, 1824, at the age of twenty-three, he drew up the " Address 
 of the Eepublican Convention of Cayuga County to the People," which was a 
 prophetic exposure of the origin and designs of the Albany Eegency.* General 
 Jackson s election to the Presidency in 1828 dissolved the National Eepublican 
 party of Western New- York, and thus the only opposition left to the Eegency 
 was the Anti-Masonic organization, and from that party Mr. Seward, in 1830, re 
 ceived the nomination to represent the seventh district in the State Senate. He 
 had in 1828 been nominated for Congress by the Anti-Masons, but with his char 
 acteristic sense of fidelity, he declined, for the reason that he still belonged to the 
 National Eepublican party. 
 
 It was during that year that he presided over a State Convention of Young 
 Men, held at Utica, to advocate the reelection of John Quincy Adams to the Pre 
 sidency. Among this assemblage of young men, remarkable alike for numbers 
 and ability, Mr. Seward was at once recognized as the leading spirit ; and the 
 genius he there exhibited is still vividly remembered. He was elected to the 
 Senate by a majority of two thousand votes, and took his seat in January, 1831, 
 probably the youngest member that ever entered the New- York Senate. 
 
 Against the formidable power of the Jackson party and the Albany Eegency 
 
 * Works of W. H. Seward, Vol. I. p. 51. 
 
196 WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD. 
 
 the opposition was necessarily feeble ; but young Seward fearlessly entered it, and 
 became its acknowledged leader. He took part in all the debates ; supported the 
 common school system, the abolition of imprisonment for debt, and the meliora 
 tion of prison discipline. He was one of the earliest friends of the Erie Eailroad, 
 and supported the Jackson administration in regard to Southern nullification. 
 His first speech was on a militia bill, and he then proposed to substitute for the 
 general performance of military duty the formation of volunteer uniformed com 
 panies, substantially the system now (1864) in use in the State of New- York. 
 During the second session of his term, Mr. Seward spoke in favor of a resolution 
 which declared the necessity of a national bank. His speech was an elaborate criti 
 cism of Jackson s objections to the renewal of the bank charter. This speech, 
 with others of the same nature, concentrated an opposition in the Legislature and 
 among the people, and thus gave rise to what subsequently became known as the 
 Whig party. . In 1833, Mr. Seward visited Europe in company with his father, 
 and travelled through parts of the United Kingdom, France, Holland, Germany, 
 Switzerland, and Sardinia, From those countries he wrote home the series of 
 letters subsequently published in the Albany Journal* 
 
 Mr. Seward was nominated in September, 1834, by the Whig State Conven 
 tion as candidate for Governor of New-York. But the party was immature ; it 
 had not yet won popular confidence, and its young candidate was defeated by the 
 reelection of William L. Marcy. 
 
 Upon the conclusion of the canvass, Mr. Seward resumed the practice of 
 his profession, and in 1836 settled in Chautauque County, as the agent of the 
 Holland Land Company. In this difficult position he established a lasting repu 
 tation as a man of business and as a wise and just arbitrator. In 1838, he was 
 again nominated for Governor by the Whig party, and was elected by ten thou 
 sand majority. Governor Seward s administration was one of great mark in the 
 history of the State. The Anti-Kent Eebellion occurred, and was quelled ; the 
 State, and with it the country, was safely carried through the threatened trouble 
 of the McLeod case, without the loss of honor ; the Erie Cana,l was enlarged ; im 
 prisonment for debt was abolished, and every vestige of slavery removed from the 
 statute-books ; the State Lunatic Asylum was established ; important election re 
 forms were effected, and reforms were also made in prison discipline, in bank laws, 
 and in the law courts. Measures for the more general diffusion of education and 
 to facilitate immigration were initiated. Governor Seward took ground also 
 against the rendition of fugitives from justice in connection with slavery, and 
 maintained his position in a correspondence with the Governor of Virginia in what 
 has since been known as the " Virginia Controversy, "f 
 
 * See Works of W. II. Seward, Vol. III. p. 508. t See Works of W. II. Seward, Vol. II. 
 
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD. 197 
 
 It was during his administration as Governor that Mr. Seward may be said to 
 have laid the foundation of the great Republican party, which twenty years after 
 ward triumphed in the election of Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 Having been reflected in 1840, Governor Seward declined a renomination, 
 and in 1843, upon the expiration of his second term, he retired to Auburn and re 
 sumed the practice of law. For six years he devoted himself with great assiduity 
 to business, and obtained, in addition to an extensive practice in the State courts, 
 a large and lucrative one in patent cases in the National courts, and was thus 
 brought into association with the most distinguished jurists in the United States. 
 During this period he appeared in many celebrated cases, and very conspicuously 
 in the case of the negro Freeman, indicted for the murder of the Van Nest family.* 
 He also pleaded gratuitously the case of John Yan Zandt before the United States 
 Supreme Court, charged with aiding certain fugitives in their attempt to escape 
 from slavery. Hardly less celebrated was his defence of fifty citizens of Michigan, 
 charged with conspiracy, a trial lasting four months. In nearly all these cases he 
 not only gave his services, but in some of them he bore the heavy expenses of 
 the defence. He seems to have derived his rule of conduct as a lawyer from 
 Cicero: " Hoc maxime officii est, ut quisquam.maxime opus indigeat, ita ei potissi- 
 mum opitulari."\ 
 
 In 1848, Mr. Seward earnestly supported the election of General Taylor as 
 President of the United States, and canvassed in his behalf the States of New- 
 York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts. In all his speeches during the 
 campaign Mr. Seward kept constantly in view the principles of the growing party 
 of freedom, of which he had already come to be regarded as the leader. He bold 
 ly announced that the end and aim of that party was to abolish slavery. At 
 the same time, he did not forget to declare, as the first principle in its platform, 
 " our duty as American citizens to preserve the integrity of the Union." 
 
 At this election a Whig majority was returned to the New- York Legislature, 
 and Mr. Seward was, by common consent, named for the vacancy soon to occur in 
 the United States Senate. He was elected by a vote of one hundred and twenty- 
 one to thirty, and took his seat on the fourth of March, 1849, in the Thirty-first 
 Congress. 
 
 General Taylor s administration was opposed by the Southern members, in 
 the apprehension that he would adopt a decided anti-slavery policy. Identified 
 with such a policy, and with the support of General Taylor s administration, Mr. 
 Seward became recognized as the foremost advocate of Government measures. 
 But, for a consistent resistance to the ever-hungry encroachments of the slave 
 
 * See Works of W. H. Seward, Vol. I. p. 409. 
 t " The clear point of duty is, to assist most readily those who most need assistance." 
 
198 WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD. 
 
 power, lie was denounced by it and its supporters as an agitator and a dangerous 
 man. -In the debate on the admission of California, March eleventh, 1850, he 
 spoke thus : " It is true indeed that the national domain is ours. It is true it was 
 acquired by the valor and with the wealth of the whole nation. But we hold, 
 nevertheless, no arbitrary power over it. We hold no arbitrary authority over 
 any thing, whether acquired lawfully or seized by usurpation. The Constitution 
 regulates our stewardship ; the Constitution devotes the domain to union, to jus 
 tice, to defence, to welfare, and to liberty. But there is a higher law than the 
 Constitution, which regulates our authority over the domain and devotes it to the 
 same noble purposes. The territory is a part, no inconsiderable part, of the com 
 mon heritage of mankind bestowed upon them by the Creator of the universe." 
 Mr. Seward has thus been made the author of the phrase, " the higher law." 
 
 Senator Seward took part in all the more important debates, and spoke upon 
 the compromise measures of 1850, on the public domain, on Hungarian affairs, 
 in support of his own resolution of welcome to Kossuth, on the motion to declare 
 the sympathy of Congress with the exiled Irish patriots O Brien and Meagher, on 
 the survey of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, on the fisheries, and various other 
 topics of national interest. Upon the close of his first Senatorial term, in 1855, 
 Mr. Seward was reflected, though persistently opposed by the " American " or 
 Know-Nothing party, to whose doctrines he could in no wise bend, and by the 
 Democratic party, for his desire to restrict slavery. Toward the election of Colo 
 nel Fremont to the Presidency, in 1856, he labored zealously and effectively. 
 With like fidelity he had also supported General Scott in the previous canvass. 
 In an address to the people of Rochester, New-York, made in 1858, Mr. Seward, 
 in reference to the collision between the two systems of labor free and slave 
 in the United States, said : " Shall I tell you what this collision means ? They 
 who think that it is accidental, unnecessary, the work of interested or fanatical 
 agitators, and therefore ephemeral, mistake the case altogether. It is an irrepressi 
 ble conflict between opposing and enduring forces, and it means that the United 
 States must and will, sooner or later, become either entirely a slaveholding nation 
 or entirely a free-labor nation." For this phrase also, "An irrepressible conflict," 
 Mr. Seward has been not less bitterly reviled and contemned than for that other 
 of "the higher law," though like that it contained clearly enough a great truth. 
 
 In 1859, in pursuance of a long-cherished desire, and in search of renewed 
 health and strength somewhat impaired by long and arduous public service, Mr. 
 Seward made a second and more extended visit to the Old World. 
 
 His second Senatorial term expired March third, 1861. Only a short time 
 previous to its conclusion, and when the Southern rebellion had become fully 
 manifest, he boldly entered the contest in these words : "I avow my adherence to 
 the Union with my friends, with my party, with my State, or without either, as 
 
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD. 199 
 
 they may determine ; in every event of peace or of war, with every consequence 
 of honor or dishonor, of life or death." 
 
 It is impossible in so brief a sketch as this, to do justice to the Senatorial 
 career of Mr. Seward. For twelve years he stood forth in the forum of the Senate 
 as the champion of Freedom and Justice, and the advocate of every measure de 
 signed to advance the interests and welfare of the Union. He resisted with great 
 power and eloquence the enactment of the slavery compromises of 1850, and the 
 abrogation of the Missouri Compromise in 1854. He was largely instrumental in 
 bringing California and Kansas into the Union, Free States. The Pacific Eailroad 
 and the establishment of mail communication with Europe and Asia were, to some 
 extent, measures of his own and with which he was prominently identified. His 
 speeches were heard with profound respect in the Senate, while the intelligent 
 portion of the people of the Eepublic read them with instruction and delight. 
 
 As the Presidential election of 1860 approached, it became evident that the 
 slave oligarchy was to be finally dethroned, and the party to which Mr. Seward 
 had devoted his life was to be placed in power. Naturally, the people turned 
 their eyes to him as the Republican candidate for the Presidency. A National 
 Convention was held at Chicago in May, 1860. The first ballot in Convention 
 showed one hundred and seventy -three votes for Mr. Seward, and one hundred 
 and two for Mr. Lincoln, with one hundred and ninety for ten other candidates. 
 On the last ballot, Mr. Seward received one hundred and eighty and Mr. Lincoln 
 the combined vote of the remainder of the Convention, and was thus made the 
 candidate of the Republican party. The States which persistently voted for Mr. 
 Seward were Maine, Massachusetts, New- York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
 California, and Kansas. However much disappointed Mr. Seward s friends may 
 have been, no trace of such feeling was ever betrayed by him. On the contrary, 
 when the canvass seemed laggard and the result doubtful he at once, with his ac 
 customed energy, entered the field as the most eloquent and powerful advocate of 
 the cause and its candidate. His speeches in Maine, Massachusetts, New-York, 
 Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Kansas, dur 
 ing the campaign, roused the people, and insured a triumphant success. Immedi 
 ately after Mr. Lincoln was officially informed that he had been elected President, 
 he tendered the chief place in his Cabinet to Mr. Seward. Every thing of a per 
 sonal nature conspired to lead Mr. Seward to decline any further public service. 
 But it is not in his nature to shrink from a great responsibility, especially from 
 one which he is charged with having himself created. 
 
 On the fourth of March, 1861, he entered upon his duties as Secretary of 
 State. Among his first public acts was an order to the Marshal of the District 
 of Columbia, forbidding the long-accustomed use of the jail as a place for the safe 
 keeping of fugitive slaves. In April, 1862, he negotiated a treaty with Lord 
 
200 WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD. 
 
 Lyons for the suppression of the slave-trade, which was ratified with unusual 
 promptness and unanimity by the respective Governments of the United States 
 and Great Britain. 
 
 In closing a despatch to Mr. Adams, dated April eighth, Mr. Seward says : 
 " I have just signed, with Lord Lyons, a treaty which I trust will be approved by 
 the Senate and by the British government. If ratified, it will bring the African 
 slave-trade to an end immediately and for ever. Had such a treaty been made in 
 1808, there would now have been no sedition here, and no disagreement between 
 the United States and foreign nations. We are indeed suffering deeply in this 
 civil war. Europe has impatiently condemned and deplored it. Yet it is easy to 
 see already that the calamity will be compensated by incalculable benefits to our 
 country and to mankind. Such are the compensations of Providence for the sacri 
 fices it exacts." 
 
 No less distinguished for ability and statesmanship is his satisfactory settle 
 ment of the international difficulty which arose from the seizure of Mason and 
 Slidell, on board the British steamer Trent, by Commander "Wilkes of the United 
 States Navy. 
 
 He has recently submitted to Congress a plan to encourage and facilitate im 
 migration a measure destined probably to be of inestimable importance to the 
 welfare of this country. While he was Governor of New- York, he recommended, 
 as already stated, a similar system, which is now in successful operation in that 
 State, under the direction of the "Commissioners of Emigration." In the Senate 
 of the United States and in the Cabinet he has always maintained broad and 
 liberal views of foreign immigration, while he has never been able to approve of 
 any scheme for the colonization abroad of the colored people of his own country. 
 
 But the time has not yet arrived for a full review of Mr. Seward s course as 
 Secretary of State. That the success or failure of the rebellion depends very 
 much on the wisdom and sagacity with which our foreign relations are treated is 
 as unquestionable as that so heavy a responsibility could not have been intrusted 
 to abler hands. Mr. Seward s previous character warranted what the experience 
 of the last three years has demonstrated. His diplomatic correspondence, which 
 Congress has published, shows something of the work he has performed. Al 
 though his sphere of labor has been almost entirely with foreign governments, the 
 reflex influence of his published despatches upon the people at home has been 
 scarcely less important. He has inspired their confidence in the darkest hours, 
 enlightening their understandings as to the character of the war in all its phases, 
 and stimulated them to renewed and greater endeavors. We can quote here but 
 a few of the remarkable passages which have so affected all loyal hearts. The 
 volumes already published comprise over three thousand printed pages of corre 
 spondence. 
 
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD. 201 
 
 That the nature of the great conflict was well understood by Mr. Seward, 
 even before it broke out in war, is clearly seen in one of his earliest despatches, in 
 these words : " The object of the revolution is to create a nation built upon the 
 principle that African slavery is necessary, just, wise, and beneficent, and that it 
 may and must be expanded over the central portion of the American continent 
 and islands without check or resistance, at whatever cost and sacrifice to the 
 welfare and happiness of the human race." To Mr. Dayton he writes, in May, 
 1861 : " You cannot be too decided or too explicit in making known to the 
 . French government that there is not now, nor has there been, nor will there be, 
 any, the least idea existing in this Government of .suffering a dissolution of this 
 Union to take place in any way whatever. . . . The thought of a dissolution 
 of the Union, peaceably or by force, has never entered into the mind of any candid 
 statesman here." 
 
 After the President had issued his proclamation of freedom, Mr. Seward 
 wrote : " The interests of humanity have now become identified with the cause 
 of our country. . . . It is hoped and believed that after the painful experi 
 ence we have had of the danger to which the Federal connection with slavery is 
 exposing the Republic, there will be few indeed who will insist that the decree 
 which brings this connection to an end either could or ought to have been further 
 deferred." 
 
 In view of prevailing apprehensions of war with France or England, Mr. 
 Seward says : "We do no such injury to our cause, and no such violence to our 
 national self-respect, as to apprehend that the Union is to be endangered by any 
 foreign war that shall come upon us, unprovoked and without excuse. 
 It is indeed a fearful drama which the Almighty Ruler of nations has appointed 
 us to enact. But it does not surpass the powers he has given us to sustain the 
 performance. Not only friendly nations, but human nature itself is interested in 
 its success, and must not be disappointed." 
 
 Mr. Seward has been able, in addition to his public and professional labors, 
 to devote some portion of his time to literary efforts ; among which we may name 
 his Orations on John Quincy Adams, La Fayette, and O Connell, his Addresses at 
 Yale College, Columbus University, Plymouth Pilgrims Celebration, and the 
 American Institute. These, with several discourses on Agriculture, Education, 
 Internal Improvements, etc., have established his reputation as an author and an 
 orator. His Messages to the Legislature while Governor, his numerous speeches 
 in the Senate of New- York and in the United States Senate, and his forensic argu 
 ments, together with the orations, addresses, and discourses just named, and also 
 many of his speeches in the election campaigns of 1844 to 1860, have been pub 
 lished in four large octavo volumes, entitled The Works of William If. /Seward. 
 
GEORGE II. THOMAS. 
 
 AMONG the few officers of the army from the Southern States who, having 
 received an education at the National Military Academy, have remained 
 true to the Union which had reared and educated them the Abdiels of our civil 
 war, 
 
 "Faithful among the faithless found" 
 
 Major-General George II. Thomas deserves prominent and honorable mention. 
 
 He was born in Southampton County, Virginia, July thirty -first, 1816. His 
 father, John Thomas, was of English descent, and his mother, Elizabeth Eochelle, 
 was of that Huguenot stock which in the seventeenth century left country and 
 kinsfolk for the sake of its holy faith. The family was wealthy and influential, 
 and young Thomas received a good education, and at the age of nineteen became 
 deputy to his uncle, James Eochelle, Clerk of Southampton County, and com 
 menced the study of law in his office. From some cause his attention was soon 
 after turned to military life, and having received in the spring of 1836, through 
 the influence of his family, an appointment as cadet at West-Point, he entered the 
 Academy in the following June, at the age of about twenty years. He main 
 tained a fair position as a student in the Academy, graduating twelfth in a class 
 of forty-five, in June, 1840, and receiving at once a commission as Second Lieu 
 tenant in the Third artillery. In November of the same year he joined his regi 
 ment in Florida, where the Seminole war was then in progress. In November, 
 1841, he was brevetted first lieutenant " for gallant conduct in the war against the 
 Florida Indians." In January, 1842, Lieutenant Thomas was ordered with his 
 company to New-Orleans barracks, and in June of the same year to Fort Moiiltrie, 
 Charleston. On the seventeenth of May, 1843, he was promoted to a first lieuten 
 ancy, and in December of the same year ordered to duty with company C, Third 
 light artillery, then stationed at Fort McIIenry, Baltimore. In the spring of 
 1844, he was again on duty at Fort Moultrie. 
 
 On the first indications of a war with Mexico, July, 1845, Lieutenant Thomas 
 was ordered with his company to Texas, to report for duty to General Zachary 
 Taylor. This artillery company and the Third and Fourth regiments of infantry, 
 U. S. A, were the first United States troops which occupied the soil of Texas. 
 
.( (Ri iK H.THOM 
 
GEORGE H. THOMAS. 203 
 
 After marching from Corpus Christ! to the Rio Grande, Lieutenant Thomas s com 
 pany, with one company of the First artillery and six companies of the Seventh 
 United States infantry, were left to garrison Fort Brown, opposite Matamoras, 
 while General Taylor, with the main body of his army, fell back to Point Isabel 
 to establish there a depot of supplies. On the second of May, 1846, the Mexicans 
 invested Fort Brown, and bombarded it until the eighth, when they withdrew to 
 reenforce General Ampudia at Eesaca de la Palma. On the ninth, General Taylor 
 defeated Ampudia at Eesaca de la Palma, and drove him and his army across the 
 Rio Grande, the garrison at Fort Brown contributing to the decisiveness of the 
 victory by pouring a terrible and unintermitting fire of shot and shell into the 
 ranks of the retreating foe as they were struggling in the utmost confusion to 
 cross the river and thus escape Taylor s relentless pursuit. After the evacuation 
 of Matamoras, Lieutenant Thomas was detached from his company, and with a 
 section of his battery assigned to temporary duty with the advance-guard, first at 
 Reynosa, and afterward at Camargo. In September, the main body of the army 
 having reached Camargo, he rejoined his command and marched to Monterey. 
 On the twenty-third of September, 1846, he was brevetted captain "for gallant 
 conduct at the battle of Monterey," and though still a lieutenant in actual rank, 
 commanded company E of his regiment till February fourteenth of the next year. 
 In December, 1846, he was placed in the advance \vith his company, and entered 
 Victoria about New- Year s, 1847, with Quitman s brigade. He participated in 
 the bloody and decisive battle of Bueiia Vista, on the twenty-first of February, 
 and was brevetted major for gallant and meritorious services in that battle. He 
 remained on duty in Mexico till August twentieth, 1848, his company having 
 been among the last to leave, as it had been the first to enter the Mexican terri 
 tory. He was next ordered to duty at Brazos Santiago, and in the following De 
 cember to Fort Adams, Newport, R. I. In July, 1849, he was placed in command 
 of company B of the Third artillery, and soon after ordered again to Florida, 
 where Indian troubles had again broken out. In December, 1850, he received 
 orders for Texas, but at New-Orleans found later orders, assigning him to duty at 
 Fort Independence, Boston harbor. His stay here was short, as on the twenty- 
 eighth of March he was assigned to the post of Instructor of Artillery and Cavalry 
 at West-Point. On the thirty -first of May, 1854, Captain Thomas (he had been 
 promoted to a full captaincy in his regiment in the previous December) took com 
 mand of a battalion of artillery and conducted it by -way of Panama to California. 
 Arriving at Benicia Barracks, he was assigned to Fort Yuma, in Lower California, 
 and arrived at that post on the fifteenth of July, 1854. The next year (July 
 eighteenth) he was promoted to the rank of major in one of the new cavalry regi 
 ments ordered by Congress, and joined his regiment at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 
 early in September. The regiment was ordered on duty in Texas, and Major 
 
204 GEORGE H. THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas remained there four and a half years, being in command of the regiment 
 for three years of the time, and commanding two or three Indian expeditions, and 
 two of geographical explorations, one to the headwaters of the Canadian and Eed 
 Rivers and the other to the headwaters of the Conchas. 
 
 In April, 1861, Major Thomas was assigned to duty at Carlisle Barracks, 
 Pennsylvania, to remount his regiment, which had been dismounted and ordered 
 out of Texas by General Twiggs. Having performed this service, he was ordered 
 to report for duty to General Patterson, then commanding the Department of 
 Pennsylvania, On the twenty-fifth of April, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, 
 and on the third of May following Colonel, of the Fifth United States regular 
 cavalry. From May till August twenty-sixth, he was Acting Brigadier-General 
 under General Patterson and General Banks. On the seventeenth of August, he 
 was .appointed Brigadier-General of volunteers, and on the twenty-sixth of the 
 same month, ordered to report for duty to General Robert Anderson, commanding 
 the Department of Kentucky. 
 
 Arriving at Louisville, September sixth, he was assigned to the command of 
 Camp Dick Robinson, fifteen miles south-east of Nicholasville, K} r . The rebel 
 General Zollicoffer had passed through Cumberland Gap with a considerable force, 
 with the intention of invading and subjugating Kentucky to rebel rule, and Gen 
 eral Thomas was determined to thwart his purposes. He accordingly sent Briga 
 dier-General Schoepf thirty miles south-east of Camp Dick Robinson, to a point in 
 the Rockcastle Hills, with four regiments of infantry and a battalion of artillery, 
 and Wolford s cavalry. General Schoepf s fortified position, which he named 
 Camp Wildcat, was, on the twenty-sixth of October, the scene of the battle of 
 Wildcat, in which Zollicoffer was completely routed and driven back to Cumber 
 land Gap by General Schoepf. Immediately after this battle, General Thomas 
 removed his headquarters to Crab Orchard, and began preparations for an advance 
 into East-Tennessee, but the enemy having assembled a large force in Bowling 
 Green, he was ordered by General Buell, who had just succeeded General W. T. 
 Sherman as commander of the Department of the Ohio, to move with his force, 
 except three regiments, to Lebanon, Ky., and be in readiness for an active cam 
 paign. Zollicoffer was again in the field with a larger and more efficient force ; 
 General Schoepf was despatched to prevent him from crossing the Cumberland, but 
 was unable to accomplish this, though he kept him from attacking Somerset, which 
 he had threatened. Zollicoffer succeeded in crossing the Cumberland with about 
 eight thousand men, and established himself on the north side, opposite Mill Spring, 
 in a strongly fortified camp. General Thomas had made every thing ready for a 
 movement on the thirtieth of December, 1861, and left Lebanon that day, under 
 orders from General Buell to march against Zollicoffer, and dislodge him from his 
 intrenchments if he could not bo induced to come out to fight the combined forces 
 
GEORGE H. THOMAS. 205 
 
 of Thomas and Sclioepf. The roads in that portion of Kentucky, always bad 
 enough in winter, were mucli worse than usual. The tenacious clay so loaded 
 down the teams, the cavalry, the artillery, and the infantry, as to render progress 
 all but impossible. Three miles a day was the utmost which the teams could 
 accomplish. By nineteen days of laborious marching over roads so nearly im 
 passable, General Thonlas succeeded in reaching a point called Logan s Cross-Eoads, 
 ten miles north of Mill Spring, with five regiments of infantry, Wolford s Ken 
 tucky cavalry, Kenny s battery of the First Ohio artillery, and four companies of 
 the First Michigan engineers. Here he halted to await the arrival of two more re 
 giments and to communicate with General Schoepf at Somerset. The preliminary 
 arrangements were made on Saturday, and the forward movement on Mill Spring 
 was to be made on Monday, January twentieth. But the enemy, believing that 
 Thomas had only two regiments at Logan s Cross-Eoads, and that the remainder, 
 disheartened and discouraged ~by the difficulties they had encountered, would 
 not come up, resolved to surprise and overwhelm Thomas at Logan s Cross- 
 Eoads, and for this purpose left their fortified camp at Mill Spring in the after 
 noon of Saturday, January eighteenth, and at daylight the following morning- 
 commenced driving in the pickets of the Union troops. Two regiments, the 
 Tenth Indiana and Fourth Kentucky, were quickly formed, advanced into a wood 
 about half a mile in front of Logan s, and held their position firmly against a des 
 perate assault of the enemy till the Ninth Ohio and Second Minnesota came up, 
 and while these regiments attacked the rebels in front, the Twelfth Kentucky and 
 First and Second East-Tennessee (part of Schoepf s force) advanced on their right 
 and rear. After a desperate contest for half an hour, the Ninth Ohio charged 
 their right with the bayonet, and at the same time the Twelfth Kentucky assailed 
 their left with the utmost fury. The rebels could not withstand the violence of 
 these assaults, and at first retreating slowly, soon broke into a complete and dis 
 orderly rout. Supplying themselves with ammunition, General Thomas s forces 
 commenced the pursuit, intending to storm their intrenchments the next morning ; 
 but fear had lent wings to the flight of the fugitives, and ere the dawn of the 
 twentieth they had escaped across the Cumberland, numbers of them being- 
 drowned by the sinking of the overladen boats. The survivors fled with fearful 
 haste through the deep mud, and still quaked with terror when they had put 
 thirty miles between themselves and their pursuers. Their camp, guns, equipage, 
 supplies, clothing, and every thing were abandoned, and the panic of their flight 
 extended even into Middle Tennessee. Zollicoffer, the rebel commander, was 
 killed in the battle. 
 
 After this battle, General Thomas resumed his former purpose of going to the 
 relief of the loyal patriots of East-Tennessee, and had nearly accumulated a suffi 
 cient amount of supplies for that expedition, when he was again summoned to 
 
206 GEORGE H. THOMAS. 
 
 Lebanon and thence to Munfordsville by General Buell to take part in an assault 
 on Bowling Green, then in the enemy s possession. Before the troops could be 
 assembled in front of Bowling Green, however, the capture of Forts Henry and 
 Donelson had compelled the enemy to evacuate that stronghold, and Nashville 
 also, and General Thomas received orders to proceed with his division to Louis 
 ville, then to take steamers for Nashville. In the subsequent movements of the 
 army of the Ohio General Thomas s division constituted the reserve corps, and did 
 not reach the battle-ground of Shiloh in season to participate in the fight. 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of April, 1862, General Thomas was appointed and con 
 firmed Major-General of volunteers, and on the first of May his division was trans 
 ferred to the army of the Tennessee, and General Halleck assigned him to the 
 command of the right wing of the army, consisting of five divisions. After the 
 evacuation of Corinth by the rebels, his division was stationed along the Memphis 
 and Charleston Railroad, from luka, Miss., to Tuscumbia, Ala,, for its protection. 
 On the tenth of June, he was re-transferred to the army of the Ohio, and about 
 the first of August was ordered to concentrate his command at Dechard, Tenn. 
 From this place he proceeded to McMinnville, Tenn., and took charge of the divi 
 sions of Generals Nelson and Hood. On the third of September, he received 
 orders from General Buell to join him at Murfreesboro, and subsequently at Nash 
 ville. After remaining for a few days in command of Nashville, he received 
 orders to follow, and leaving Nashville on the fifteenth of September, joined Gen 
 eral Buell s army on the nineteenth at Prewitt s Knob, near Cave City, and was 
 made second in command of the army. On the arrival of the army at Louisville, 
 the Government removed General Buell from the command and offered it to Gen 
 eral Thomas, but at his solicitation and that of General Crittenden, General Buell 
 was reinstated. In the battle of Perryville, General Thomas being in command 
 of the right wing, had but a small share of the battle, of which the left wing sus 
 tained the principal brunt: After General Rosecrans assumed the command of the 
 army of the Ohio, or, as it was now designated again, the army of the Cumberland, 
 General Thomas was placed in command of the centre, the Fourteenth army corps, 
 and was still second in command in the army. He remained in Nashville till the 
 twenty-sixth of December, when the army moved forward toward Murfreesboro, 
 and the terrible battle .of Stone River followed. During those eventful days he 
 commanded the centre, comprising the divisions of Rousseau and Negley, and to 
 his judicious movements, his firmness, promptness, and unflinching bravery was 
 due no small portion of the success which finally crowned our arms in that pro 
 tracted and fearful struggle. 
 
 After this battle the army of the Cumberland, materially reenforced, was or 
 ganized into three army corps, the Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first, con 
 sisting of five divisions, Rousseau s, Negley s, Reynolds s, Fry s, and R. B. 
 
GEORGE H. THOMAS. 207 
 
 Mitchell s, and commanded by Major-General Thomas. In the forward move 
 ments of the summer of 1863, the advance upon Tullahoma and afterward upon 
 Chattanooga, General Thomas bore a conspicuous part. 
 
 The occupation of Chattanooga by his corps, and its connection with the 
 battle of Chickamauga, deserve perhaps a little explanation. When General Bose- 
 crans followed Bragg s retreating army from Tullahoma, he had before him two 
 alternatives, a direct attack on Chattanooga by the narrow defile along the rail 
 road and the bank of the Tennessee Bivgr, which could hardly have failed of dis 
 aster, or the crossing of Lookout Mountain by passes twenty and forty miles below, 
 which would effectually flank the stronghold and compel its evacuation. He 
 chose the latter, of course, and Thomas s corps was left in a position where, upon 
 the evacuation of the town by the rebels, it could slip in by the railroad defile, 
 while the other two corps crossed at the passes already named. The appearance 
 of Crittenden s corps in the plain below Chattanooga was the signal for the evacu 
 ation of that place by Bragg s army, and General Thomas immediately moved 
 forward and occupied the town. It was in the attempt to move Crittenden s and 
 McCook s corps toward Chattanooga to unite with Thomas that the sanguinary 
 battle of Chickamauga was fought, and the blunder of McCook in retracing 
 his steps and going back to the same pass which Crittenden had crossed con 
 tributed to the disaster of that battle. In this emergency, Thomas, coming out of 
 Chattanooga and falling upon Bragg s rear, retrieved the fortunes of the battle 
 when apparently wholly lost. To his decisive energy and indomitable bravery it 
 is due that the partial defeat of the nineteenth of September was changed into at 
 least a partial victory on the twentieth, and that while two of the army corps were 
 defeated, the third was triumphant. Amid the tragedy of errors which made that 
 battle disastrous, though the campaign as a whole was successful, there were no 
 blunders to be laid to the account of Major- General Thomas. Throughout the 
 whole fight he moved among his men, conspicuous for his calm self-possession 
 and his clear and seemingly intuitive knowledge of what was to be done at any 
 given moment. It was in consequence of their appreciation of these qualities in 
 him as a commander that the Government, on the twenty-sixth of October, gave 
 him the command of the army of the Cumberland. 
 
 In person, General Thomas is of large frame, fully six feet high and well-pro 
 portioned, with keen blue eyes, and massive but agreeable features, of a sanguineo- 
 lymphatic temperament, and a dignified though quiet deportment. He is a close 
 observer, a sound reasoner, and possesses much of that patient, persevering per 
 sistency of purpose which characterizes General Grant. He is greatly beloved by 
 his soldiers, who affectionately call him " Pap " Thomas. His motions, except 
 when roused to energy by a great occasion, are deliberate, and his escort, who 
 wearied sometimes of his frequent admonition, "slow trot," named him "Old 
 
208 GEORGE H. THOMAS. 
 
 Slow Trot." In action, however, all this is changed; the man, though never vio 
 lent and impulsive, shows an energy of action and rapid powers of combination 
 which indicate that there is no slowness in the movements of that large and capa 
 cious brain. He is modest, and never given to display of his rank or position. 
 His colonel s shoulder-straps were worn long after his promotion to the rank of 
 brigadier-general, and the single star gleamed on his shoulders months after he 
 had attained the rank of major-general. 
 
CADWALADEE O. 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL CADWALADER GOLDEN WASHBURN, one of 
 the participators in the capture of Vicksburgh, and who commanded the 
 troops of the Sixteenth army corps during that memorable siege, is a native of 
 Livermore, Oxford (now Androscoggin) County, Maine, and was born in the year 
 1820. He is the son of Israel Washburn, Esq., who is still living, and is one 
 of a family of seven sons, nearly all of whom have become more or less dis 
 tinguished in public life. He is the brother of Israel Washburn, Jr., ex-Gov 
 ernor of Maine, and for ten years a Representative in Congress from that State ; 
 of E. B. Washburn, Member of Congress from Illinois for the last twelve years ; 
 of Charles A. Washburn, United States Minister Resident at Paraguay ; of Wil 
 liam D. Washburn, Surveyor-General of Minnesota; and of Samuel B. Wash- 
 burn, a lieutenant in the navy. In 1839, and before he was of age, he emigrated 
 to the State of Illinois, and commenced teaching school at Rock Island, in that 
 State, and at the same time studying law with Joseph B. Wells, Esq., afterward 
 Lieutenant-Governor of Illinois. Admitted to the bar in the spring of 1842, he 
 removed to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in the lead-mining district, where he com 
 menced the practice of his profession. With a fine legal mind, great industry and 
 energy, and unquestioned integrity, he at once entered upon a successful business 
 career. In the summer of 1854, without ever having been in public life, he was 
 brought forward as the Whig and Anti-Nebraska candidate for Congress, in the 
 Second District of Wisconsin, to succeed the late Hon. Ben. C. Eastman, and 
 was triumphantly elected. He was reflected in 1856, and again in 1858. During 
 the entire six years he was in Congress, he was associated with his two brothers, 
 Israel Washburn, Jr., of Maine, and E. B. Washburn, of Illinois, a remarkable 
 and unprecedented coincidence of three brothers representing three different States 
 at the same time. In 1860, the demands of his private business compelled him 
 to decline a reelection. In the fall of 1861, he was commissioned as Colonel by 
 Governor Randall, of Wisconsin, to raise a regiment of cavalry. Sacrificing im 
 mense business interests, (for he is believed to be the largest individual land 
 holder in Wisconsin,) he at once entered the military service, and soon brought 
 into the field the Second regiment of Wisconsin cavalry. In the winter of 1862, 
 he was ordered to Missouri, and he accompanied the expedition into South-West- 
 ern Missouri, and through the Ozark Mountains, and was in the advance of that 
 
210 CADWALADER C. WASHBURN. 
 
 celebrated march, of Curtis s army through Arkansas, his command being the first 
 to enter and seize Ilelena, an important strategic point on the Mississippi River. 
 About this time he was promoted from a Colonel of cavalry to a Brigadier-Gene 
 ral, and was made post commander at Helena. In the winter of 1862-3, in aid 
 of General Grant s army, he made a most successful and daring cavalry raid from 
 Helena into Mississippi, dispersing a largely superior force of the enemy, cutting 
 the railroads from Memphis to Grenada, and capturing large military supplies. 
 He was highly complimented for this service in a general order issued by his 
 superior officer, Brigadier-General Alvin P. Ilovey, of Indiana. In March, 1863, 
 he was appointed and confirmed a Major-General. The military forces at Helena 
 having been assigned to General Grant s department, that distinguished officer 
 intrusted Major-General Washburn with the important duty of opening the 
 Yazoo Pass, through which he hoped to attain access with his army into the rear 
 of Vicksburgh, by way of the Yazoo River. This was a work of appalling labor. 
 A crooked, sluggish stream, filled by every conceivable obstruction, such as 
 fallen timber and immense trees, piled one upon another, for miles and miles, the 
 rebels considered it simply an impossibility for it to be cleared out so as to admit 
 of the passage of steamboats. But in that they were mistaken. General Wash- 
 burn brought to the task an iron will and almost superhuman resolution. Labor 
 ing night and day, and using the axe himself like a common soldier, the work 
 progressed before the unrelenting energy of his brave troops. His duty was 
 accomplished, and he received the highest commendation from General Grant 
 He had the pleasure of taking, steamboats loaded with troops through a pass 
 where the enemy did not suppose it would be possible to take even a canoe. The 
 expedition destined for the Yazoo River and the rear of Vicksburgh did not fail 
 through inability to get through the Pass, but from inability to overcome the ene 
 my s batteries at Greenwood. 
 
 Having successfully accomplished the work assigned to him of opening the 
 Yazoo Pass, General Grant ordered General Washburn from Helena to Memphis, 
 to take command of the cavalry of the Department of the Tennessee. From 
 Memphis he was ordered to Vicksburgh, to take command of the troops of the 
 Sixteenth army corps. He was assigned to the extreme right of our position to 
 hold Snyder s Bluff, which was the key to the defence against any attack of Joe 
 Johnston. 
 
 After the capture of Vicksburgh, Major-General Washburn was ordered to 
 New-Orleans, in command of a detachment of the Thirteenth army corps. From 
 there he was ordered to South-Western Louisiana with his command. At the 
 time the rebels made their attack upon Burbridge s brigade, at Bayou Couteau, 
 General Washburn occupied the position to which he had been assigned three 
 miles off. At the sound of the first gun he instantly led forward his entire com- 
 
CADWALADER C. W A S II B U R N . 211 
 
 mand to the relief of Burbridge, who had held the enemy at bay by the most des 
 perate fighting. Attacking with great vigor, General Washburn soon routed the 
 enemy, who had double his force, and drove him discomfited from the field. In 
 December, 1863, he was ordered from Louisiana to Texas with his command, and 
 at the gate of Matagorda Bay he captured Fort Esperanza, a strong rebel work, 
 with all its guns, ammunition, etc. In April, 1864, Major-General Hurlburt hav 
 ing been removed from the command of the Department of West-Tennessee, Lieu- 
 tenant-General Grant ordered General Washburn to that important command, 
 with headquarters at Memphis. His administration has been characterized by 
 great vigor and ability. 
 
 General Washburn is now in the prime of life, forty-three years of age. 
 His home is at La Crosse, Wisconsin, on the Mississippi Elver. As a man of 
 probity and honor, a public-spirited and patriotic citizen, he is universally es 
 teemed ; as a politician and a statesman, he has enjoyed the public confidence to a 
 remarkable extent ; as a soldier, he has shown sound military judgment, unsur 
 passed energy, undaunted courage, and the most lofty devotion to the cause of hi? 
 country. 
 
WIlsTFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 
 
 W INFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK was born at Montgomery Square, in 
 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, February fourteenth, 1824. By the 
 mother s side he comes of a good fighting stock, his maternal great grandfather 
 having served under General Washington, while his grandfather was a soldier 
 both during the Revolution and in the war of 1812. His father, Benjamin F. 
 Hancock, is a lawyer of Norristown, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Young Hancock entered the United States Military Academy in 1840, and 
 was graduated in 1844. Like many of those officers who have most distinguished 
 themselves within the last two or three years, he appears to have given but slight 
 promise of future eminence, for he stood eighteenth in a class of twenty-five. 
 
 Assigned to the Sixth infantry as brevet Second Lieutenant, his first service 
 was in the Indian Territory, on the banks of the Red River, and for some time 
 he was stationed at Fort Washita, then the westernmost of our military posts. 
 When the Mexican war broke out, he became Adjutant to Colonel (the late rebel 
 General) Bonham, in Franklin Pierce s brigade, and on the march to Puebla had 
 several opportunities, at the National Bridge and other points, of showing that he 
 was made of better stuff than his West-Point record seemed to indicate. Arrived 
 at Puebla, he joined his regiment, in which he had now obtained the full rank of 
 Second Lieutenant, and under the command of General Worth began his route 
 toward the capital. 
 
 At the battle of Churubusco he succeeded to the command of his company 
 early in the action, and according to the official reports "behaved in the hand 
 somest manner;" for which, coupled with his gallant conduct at Contreras, he 
 received the next year the brevet of First Lieutenant. He was present at the battle 
 of Molino del Rey and the taking of the City of Mexico ; served for some time 
 under Brigadier-General Cadwalader at Toluca ; was appointed Regimental Quar 
 termaster in June, 1848 ; and remained in the field until Mexico was formally sur 
 rendered at the close of the war. He was then ordered to the Upper Mississippi. 
 From 1849 to 1855, he was stationed in Missouri, as adjutant of his regiment, 
 during which time he married Miss Russell of St. Louis, in 1850, and was pro 
 moted to the full rank of First Lieutenant in 1853. In November, 1855, he was 
 appointed Assistant Quartermaster with the rank of Captain, and attached to the 
 Seminole expedition. For two years he saw active service in Florida, against the 
 
BRIG.-GF.N.W. S. HANCOCK. 
 
WIN FIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 213 
 
 Indians, holding a position on the staff of each of our successive commanders in 
 that campaign General Harney, Major (now General) Harvey Brown, and Colo 
 nel Monroe ; and so acceptably were the difficult duties of his office performed, 
 that when General Harney was ordered to Kansas to make preparations for the 
 Utah campaign, he requested that Captain Hancock might be detailed to assist 
 him. The troops passed the winter in Kansas, and were on their march to Utah 
 in the spring, when intelligence reached them that the expedition had been aban 
 doned. Captain Hancock was ordered to proceed to Fort Bridger, and accom 
 pany the Sixth infantry, as principal Quartermaster, across the plains to Benicia 
 the longest continuous march of troops on record. For the skilful management 
 of his department on this toilsome and dangerous expedition, our young Quarter 
 master received great credit. 
 
 The next two or three years saw Captain Hancock at Los Angelos, in South 
 ern California, employed in supplying, by means of land transportation, some of 
 the more remote military posts on the Colorado Kiver. He was still on this duty 
 when the rebellion broke out in 1861. He had done much to encourage and 
 strengthen the few loyal men of that part of the State, and to baffle the plans of 
 the secessionists who were organizing and arming to take California forcibly out 
 of the Union. The moment the war had actually begun, he offered his services 
 to his native State, but receiving no answer, he applied to the War Department 
 to be ordered East, and was immediately appointed Chief Quartermaster to Gene 
 ral Anderson in Kentucky. Before he could report for duty, however, he was 
 recommended by General McClellan for a higher position, and received, Septem 
 ber twenty-third, 1861, a commission as Brigadier-General of volunteers, with a 
 command, consisting of the Fifth Wisconsin, Sixth Maine, Forty -ninth Pennsyl 
 vania, and Forty-third New- York regiments, in General W. F. Smith s division of 
 the army of the Potomac. All through the winter his men were encamped on 
 the Virginia side of the Potomac, near the Chain Bridge, and so carefully were 
 they drilled, and disciplined, and exercised in reconnoissances and other minor 
 operations, that they have ever since kept up their reputation, through changes 
 of men and changes of commanders, as one of the best brigades in the service. 
 
 On the organization of the army corps, General Smith s division made part 
 of the Fourth corps, General Keyes. During the siege of Yorktown, Hancock s 
 brigade was actively employed, and with Brooks s Vermont brigade, of the same 
 division, fought the battle of Lee s Mills, April sixteenth, 1862. 
 
 During the battle of Williamsburgh, General Smith received orders to send 
 one brigade across a dam on our right, to occupy a redoubt on the left of the 
 enemy s line. Hancock s command was selected for this purpose. He took pos 
 session of the first redoubt, and afterward of a second, and sent for reinforcements 
 to enable him to advance further, and take a third, the possession of which would 
 
214 WIN FIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 
 
 have given him a decisive advantage over a force of the enemy then hotly en 
 gaged with Kearny and Hooker. General Sumner, however, who commanded 
 in General McClellan s absence, felt unable to spare more troops, and in reply to 
 Hancock s repeated messages, sent him an order to fall back -to his first position. 
 The execution of this order General Hancock deferred as long as possible, and in 
 the mean time General McClellan arrived and immediately sent him reenforce- 
 inents. Before they could reach him, however, he had been confronted by a 
 superior force. " Feigning to retreat slowly, he awaited their onset, and then 
 turned upon them, and after some terrific volleys of musketry, he charged them 
 with the bayonet, routing and dispersing their whole force, killing, wounding, 
 and capturing from five hundred to six hundred men, he himself losing only 
 thirty- one men. This was one of the most brilliant engagements of the war, and 
 General Hancock merits the highest praise for the soldierly qualities displayed, 
 and his perfect appreciation of the vital importance of his position." {McClelland 
 Official Report.} 
 
 This affair decided the battle. The rebels retreated during the night. On 
 the following day, General McClellan came to Hancock s camp, and addressed 
 each of the regiments engaged. "Soldiers," said he, "your comrades fought 
 bravely and well, but to you your country owes its gratitude for having fought 
 and won this battle. Williamsburgh shall be inscribed on your colors." 
 
 Soon after this, the whole of Smith s division was transferred to the Sixth 
 corps, newly organized under the command of General Franklin. Hancock par 
 ticipated in nearly all the great battles of the ensuing campaign, everywhere 
 arousing the admiration of the officers and men by his personal gallantry and his 
 impetuosity in attack. In every engagement he justified the praise which Gene 
 ral McClellan had already bestowed upon him, when he described his conduct as 
 "splendid," and "brilliant in the extreme." 
 
 The Sixth corps had not an active part in General Pope s Virginia campaign, 
 but it had the honor of opening the ball in Maryland by the attacks on Sugar 
 Loaf Mountain and Crampton s Pass, in the former of which Hancock was 
 selected to dislodge the enemy from the heights. In the subsequent battle of 
 Antietam, September seventeenth, Hancock was promoted by General McClellan, 
 during the action, to the command of the first division of the Second (Sumner s) 
 corps, in place of General Eichardson, who was mortally wounded. He led this 
 division in the assault upon Fredericksburgh, December thirteenth, where he lost 
 nearly half his men, and commanded it again at Chancellorsville. In the mean 
 time he had been commissioned Major-General of volunteers, November twenty- 
 ninth, 1862. On the tenth of June, 1863, he relieved General Couch in com 
 mand of the Second corps, and was soon afterward assigned by the President to 
 the permanent command of that corps. In the battle of Gettysburg!!, General 
 
WIN FIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 215 
 
 Meade placed the First, Third, and Eleventh corps under his orders, and gave 
 him command of the left centre of the line, where Longstreet s grand assault was 
 80 terribly repulsed on the third of July. Towards the close of the day, General 
 Hancock was severely wounded in the thigh by a musket-ball, but he refused to 
 be taken to the rear, and, stretched on the ground beneath a tree, continued to 
 direct the operations of his command. After his recovery, he employed the long 
 period of military inactivity which followed, in visiting different parts of the 
 Northern States for the purpose of recruiting his corps to fifty thousand men 
 He met with great success, and was everywhere received with enthusiasm, and it 
 was not difficult to obtain recruits for a corps which, up to that time, had cap 
 tured over forty flags and lost over twenty -five thousand men, but had never lost 
 a color or a gun. 
 
 General Hancock retained his command on the reorganization of the army 
 of the Potomac in the spring of 1864, and in the battles of the Wilderness and 
 the subsequent operations of Grant s campaign, fought with even more than his 
 accustomed gallantry. At Spottsylvania Court-House especially, on the twelfth 
 of May, he performed an exploit the fame of which resounded through the coun 
 try. Assaulting the rebel breastworks at daylight, he entered them at a salient, 
 without firing a shot, forced an inner line of intrenchments, captured several 
 thousand prisoners, including a whole division and two generals, brought away 
 thirty or forty cannon, and held his position all day against five desperate at 
 tempts of the rebels to retake it. 
 
HENEY WAGEE HALLECK. 
 
 AN ancestry good, honest, and reputable, removed alike from the dazzling 
 heights of a public career, with its jealousies, hostilities, and temptations, 
 and from the ignominy of a low and obscure birth, may justly be accounted a 
 fortunate circumstance in any man s lineage. This good fortune General Hal- 
 leek enjoys. 
 
 The Hallecks claim as their ancestor Peter Halleck, of Southold, Suffolk 
 county, Long Island, a descendant of the lords of Alnwick Castle, which Fitz- 
 Greene Halleck, a relative of the general, has so finely described. The name in 
 England was originally Hallyoak, and is now written there Halliock, Hallock, 
 and Halleck. In this country the Hallocks and Hallecks both trace their lineage 
 to the same ancestor. Honorable Joseph Halleck, the general s father, settled in 
 the early part of the present century in Western, a small town on the Mohawk 
 Eiver, in Oneida county, a few miles west of Utica, where he married Miss Wa 
 ger, the daughter of Henry Wager, a German, the near neighbor and personal 
 friend of Baron Steuben, who, still hale and hearty, though one hundred years 
 old, has lived to see his grandson commander-in-chief of the armies of the United 
 States. 
 
 In this little town of Western, HENRY WAGER HALLECK was born in 1816. 
 We have been able to learn but little of his early childhood. He is represented, 
 by those who recollect him, as a studious, manly boy, with a decided predilection 
 for mathematical studies. When fifteen or sixteen years of age, he left home, 
 and, after consulting an uncle, then resident at Syracuse, went to Hudson, and 
 commenced a course of preparation for college at the Hudson Academy, entering 
 his name as Henry Wager. The cause of his dropping his last name is uncer 
 tain. After spending nearly three years in the academy at Hudson, where he 
 acquitted himself with honor and reputation as a student, he entered Union Col 
 lege in 1834 ; and the following year, receiving through his uncle s influence a 
 cadet appointment at West Point, joined his class there, resuming his full name. 
 He was somewhat older than most of the cadets of his class, having attained his 
 nineteenth year when he received his appointment 
 
 It is sufficient evidence of his diligence and ability, that in the class of 1839, 
 consisting of thirty-one members, and in many respects one of the most remark- 
 
; br AJLRitdne 
 
 M.VI r,K\ HENRY WAGER HALI.H K 
 
 
HENRY WAGER HALLECK. 217 
 
 able classes which, have graduated at the academy, young Halleck held the third 
 rank. Immediately after his graduation he was appointed second-lieutenant of 
 engineers, without any delay of brevet rank. In 1840, he was assistant professor 
 of engineering at the academy, and in 1841 became assistant to the chief-engineer, 
 General Totten, at "Washington. Soon after, he was assigned to the charge of 
 the construction of the fortifications of New York harbor, in which employment 
 he continued till 1844. In 1841, his " Papers on Practical Engineering, No. 1," 
 were published by the engineer department ; and the same year he prepared a 
 " Practical Tteatise on Bitumen and its Uses." In 1843, Union College conferred 
 on him the honorary degree of A. M. In 1844, Congress published his " Report 
 on Military Defences." 
 
 In January, 1845, he was promoted to a first-lieutenancy, during his absence 
 from the country ; having obtained a furlough and sailed for Europe in the au 
 tumn of 1844, to observe what progress European nations had made in military 
 science. Through the friendship of Marshal Bertrand, he was introduced to 
 Marshal Soult, then war minister of Louis Philippe, and received from him full 
 authority to examine every thing of a military character in France. His inves 
 tigations were extended to several other of the continental powers. Returning 
 to this country in the summer of 1845, he was requested by the committee of the 
 Lowell Institute, Boston, to deliver a course of lectures on the subject of " Mili 
 tary Science and Art." These lectures, which give evidence of high scientific 
 and literary ability, were published in 1846, the author having prefixed an elabo 
 rate introduction on the " Justifiableness of "War." 
 
 The commencement of the Mexican War recalled Lieutenant Halleck to his 
 professional duties. He took part in the battle of Palo Alto, and immediately 
 after that action was sent to California and the Pacific coast, where he served 
 during the war in both a military and civil capacity. He was in the engagements 
 of Palos Prietas, Urias, San Antonio, and Todos Santos. At San Antonio he 
 marched, with about thirty mounted volunteers, one hundred and twenty miles 
 in twenty-eight hours, surprised the enemy s garrison of several hundred men, 
 rescued two naval officers and several marines who were prisoners-of-war, and 
 captured the enemy s flag, two Mexican officers, and the governor s archives, the 
 governor himself barely escaping in his night-clothes. At Todos Santos he led 
 into action the main body of Colonel Burton s forces. When Commodore Shu- 
 brick attacked Mazatlan, Halleck acted as his aid, and afterward as chief of staff 
 and lieutenant-governor of the city. While engaged in these duties, he planned 
 and directed the construction of the fortifications at that place. For his services 
 on those occasions he was breveted captain. 
 
 In 1847- 8- 9, under the military governments of General Kearney and 
 Governors Mason and Riley, Captain Halleck was secretary of state in California. 
 
213 HENRY WAGER HALLECK. 
 
 When the convention met in 1849, to form a constitution for the future state of 
 California, he was one of the leading members of that body and of the drafting- 
 committee, and the constitution was almost entirely his work. It was at his 
 suggestion also that a convention was called, to relieve Congress and General 
 Taylor s administration from the difficulties in which they were involved by the 
 Free-Soil and Pro-Slavery parties of 1849. From 1847 to 1850, Captain Halleck 
 also directed and superintended the entire collection of the public revenues in 
 California, amounting to several millions of dollars, and examined and audited 
 all the accounts before they were forwarded to Washington. The Importers de 
 nied the legality of these collections, and the secretary of the treasury, Honorable 
 Robert J. Walker, doubted their authority; but Captain Halleck was subse 
 quently sustained, in his interpretation of the law, by the Supreme Court of the 
 United States. 
 
 From 1850 to 1854, Captain Halleck served in California as judge-advocate, 
 a member of the Pacific board of engineers, and inspector of lighthouses. In 
 July, 1858, he received his commission as captain of engineers. In August, 
 1854, he resigned his commission, and entered upon the practice of law, for the 
 study of which he had managed to find time during his singularly busy career 
 as a soldier ; and the same year he published a carefully-compiled translation of 
 " The Mining-Laws of Spain and Mexico." His legal abilities soon brought him 
 an extensive and lucrative practice ; and, as the senior partner of the great law- 
 firm of Halleck, Peachy, and Billings, in San Francisco, he was rapidly accumu 
 lating a large fortune, to which his position of director-general of the New Alma- 
 den quicksilver-mines also contribxited. In 1860, he published a translation of 
 " De Foz on the Law of Mines ;" and in December of that year accepted the ap 
 pointment of major-general of militia, and reorganized the militia of California. 
 Early in 1861, he was offered by the governor a seat in the supreme court of the 
 state, but declined the honor. 
 
 In the spring of 1861, he published an elaborate work, on which he had 
 long been engaged, entitled " International Law and the Laws of War," which 
 has received from competent critics the highest commendation. 
 
 Qualities and abilities such as those of General Halleck were too rare in the 
 army of the United States are, indeed, too rare in the army of any country 
 for the nation to spare him from its service in its hour of trial ; and in August, 
 1861, the President, at the suggestion of Licutenant-General Scott, nominated 
 him as major-general in the regular army. He accepted, and his commission 
 bore date August 17th, 1861. Arranging his business as rapidly as possible, he 
 left California about the first of October, and arrived in New York the latter 
 part of the same month. After an interview with the President and General 
 Scott (who had determined to retire from the active command of the army), he 
 
HENRY WAGER HALLECK. 219 
 
 was assigned to the command of the "Western department, and on the llth of 
 November relieved General Hunter, at St. Louis, who had temporarily succeeded 
 General Fremont. 
 
 General Halleck s energy and great executive ability were soon felt in every 
 department of the vast army which rapidly gathered at the "West. Contractors 
 were looked after; bridge-burners and marauders promptly and severely pun 
 ished ; levies made on the property of wealthy secessionists, for the support of 
 the families of Unionists whom they or their friends had plundered; troops 
 raised, equipped, drilled, and sent off to the different points where they were 
 required, in large numbers ; and the people led to feel that they had at the head 
 of affairs a general who fully understood the wants of his department, and had 
 the capacity to supply them. 
 
 On the 20th of November, 1861, General Halleck issued the following 
 
 order : 
 
 "HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI, ST. Louis, November 10th, 1861. 
 
 "GENERAL ORDERS, No. 3.- 1. It has been represented that important 
 information respecting the numbers and condition of our forces is conveyed to 
 the enemy by means of fugitive slaves who are admitted within our lines. In 
 order to remedy this evil, it is directed that no such persons be hereafter per 
 mitted to enter the lines of any camp, or of any forces on the march, and that 
 any within such lines be immediately excluded therefrom. 
 
 " 2. The general commanding wishes to impress upon all officers in com 
 mand of posts, and troops in the field, the importance of preventing unauthorized 
 persons of every description from entering and leaving our lines, and of observing 
 the greatest precaution in the employment of agents and clerks in confidential 
 
 positions. 
 
 "By order of Major-General HALLECK. 
 
 " WILLIAM McMiCHAEL, Assistant- Adjutant General." 
 
 General Halleck was severely blamed for this order. It is hardly probable 
 that, at a later date, when the value of the information received from fugitive 
 slaves was better understood, and the probability of their falling into the hands 
 of the rebels (if driven from our lines) ascertained, he would have issued it ; but 
 at the time when it was promulgated, only nine days after he reached St. Louis, 
 and under the influences by which he was surrounded, he, no doubt, honestly 
 believed it to be necessary, to prevent the enemy from being informed of what 
 was transpiring within our lines. During the latter part of his administration 
 of the Western department, Order No. 3 was substantially a dead letter. The 
 matter was brought up in Congress, and Honorable F. P. Blair, member from the 
 St. Louis district, wrote to General Halleck for an explanation. The general 
 made the following reply : 
 
220 HENRY WAGER II ALLEGE. 
 
 "ST. Louis, , 1862. 
 
 " To Honorable F. P. BLAIR, "Washington : 
 
 " BEAK COLONEL : Yours of the 4th instant is just received. Order No. 3 
 was, in my mind, clearly a military necessity. Unauthorized persons, black or 
 white, free or slave, must be kept out of our camps, unless we are willing to 
 publish to the enemy every thing we do or intend to do. 
 
 " It was a military and not a political order. 
 
 "I am willing to carry out any lawful instructions in regard to fugitive 
 slaves which my superiors may give me, and to enforce any law which Congress 
 may pass ; but I cannot make law, and will not violate it. 
 
 " You know my private opinion on the policy of enacting a law confiscating 
 the slave-property of rebels in arms. If Congress shall pass it, you may be cer 
 tain I shall enforce it 
 
 " Yours truly, H. W. HALLECK. 
 
 The successful progress of the war in the West, and the prompt massing of 
 troops against the strong points of the enemy, which resulted in the capture of 
 Forts Henry and Danelson ; the evacuation of Bowling Green, Columbus, and 
 Nashville, culminating in the bloody and hard-fought field of Shiloh gave the 
 strongest testimony to the comprehensive intellect and extraordinary executive 
 ability of the commander of the Western department. After the last-named 
 battle, he assumed the command of the army in person, and, after a siege of 
 nearly two months, compelled the rebels to evacuate Corinth, and break up in 
 disorder. The capture of Island Number Ten, of Huntsville, Alabama, and the 
 line of the Memphis and Charleston railroad, and finally of Memphis itself, for a 
 time paralyzed the power of the rebels in the West. 
 
 The disastrous result of the attempt to effect a change of base in the army of 
 the Potomac, at the close of June and the beginning of July, 1862, convinced the 
 President of the necessity of having at the capital a general of the highest mili 
 tary skill, who should be capable of performing the duties of commander-in-chief 
 of all the army-corps which were in the field, and who could direct the necessary 
 combinations for efficient and successful warfare, and thus relieve the overtasked 
 officials of the war department, and at the same time bring the war to a more 
 speedy termination. Among the numerous generals in command, none possessed 
 the qualifications needed to the same degree as Major-General Halleck ; and after 
 consultation with General Scott, the President summoned him to Washington, 
 and, by an order bearing date July llth, but not promulgated till July 23d, 1862, 
 assigned him to the command of the whole land-forces of the United States, as 
 general-in-chief. 
 
 General Halleck entered upon his new duties about the 25th of July, and, 
 as soon as possible, visited the camp of the army of the Potomac, at Harrison s 
 
HENRY WAGER HALLECK. 221 
 
 Landing. A survey of the condition of affairs satisfied him of the necessity of 
 the withdrawal of that army from the peninsula, although this involved the rais 
 ing of the siege of Kichmond. He accordingly ordered General McClellan to 
 remove his force (except General Keyes s corps, which was to be left at Fortress 
 Monroe), as speedily as could be done consistently with the safety of the troops, 
 to Alexandria, on the Potomac, seven miles below Washington, the point from 
 which he had embarked for the disastrous campaign on the peninsula. Mean 
 while, he ordered General Pope to advance toward Gordonsville, and threaten 
 Eichmond from that direction, in order to create a diversion which should pre 
 vent the enemy from attacking General McClellan s rear in force. The two 
 armies, once consolidated, could move forward on Eichmond, in connection with 
 Burnside s corps, then at Fredericksburg, with irresistible power. 
 
 The plan was an admirable one, and, had it been carried out as General 
 Halleck designed, must have given us speedy possession of Virginia ; but the 
 delay incident to the removal of so large a force compelled General Pope to 
 retreat north of the Eappahannock ; and, during the subsequent delays and mis 
 understandings, his army was outflanked and compelled to fall back to the forti 
 fications around Washington the junction of the two forces not being effected 
 till after the defeat of August 30th, 1862. 
 
 It is under these circumstances, which will so thoroughly test- the great 
 qualities of a commander, that we are called to leave our record of General 
 Halleck s career : but though the clouds lower more darkly over our country 
 than at any previous period of its history, we feel confident that the man is equal 
 to the emergency ; that his vigorous intellect and his military skill will soon 
 educe order from the present confusion ; and, if his efforts are not thwarted by 
 the incompetency of subordinate generals, we may hope soon to see victory again 
 perch upon our banners. 
 
 In stature, General Halleck is somewhat below the medium height ; he is 
 straight, active, well formed, and his gait and manner betoken the energetic sol 
 dier. His forehead is ample ; his eye a clear, brilliant hazel, of great penetrating 
 power ; and, though his general expression is stern, his mouth indicates that he 
 possesses a vein of humor. He has no fondness for fine clothes, and during his 
 Western campaign was oftener seen in citizen s dress than in uniform. When 
 he appeared in full military dress, he seemed not at ease ; and, though a good 
 rider as, indeed, he ought to be, after his Californian experiences he never 
 appears worse than when in full dress, reviewing his troops. 
 
 The love of order, promptness in dispatching business, and a capacity for 
 comprehending the whole of a subject at a glance, are General Halleck s most 
 marked characteristics. That he possesses some eccentricities, all who know him 
 will readily admit. He is at times brusque almost to incivility ; utterly intol- 
 
222 HENRY WAGER HALLECK. 
 
 erant of bores, whom he dismisses without ceremony ; and neglectful of those 
 little arts by which so many men, of far less calibre, gain popularity. That he 
 scorns to seek, and never won it with his soldiers, who, however, had the greatest 
 respect for his intellectual capacity. His thoughtful pacings in front of his tent 
 at Corinth, with his thumbs in the armholes of his vest, and his felt hat on the 
 back of his head, and inclining upward at an angle of forty -five degrees, were 
 often watched by the soldiers, who always concluded, and generally correctly, 
 that " Old Brains/ the soubriquet by which he was most commonly known in the 
 camp, was solving some new problem, or preparing for some new movement to 
 thwart and confound the enemy. 
 
 These traits show conclusively what is the work to which General Halleck 
 is best adapted. His qualities are not those which win the admiration and rouse 
 the enthusiasm of an army ; he is not, and does not aim to be, a dashing com 
 mander; but his strong common sense, his thorough knowledge of military 
 science and military law, and his comprehensive and grasping intellect, qual fy 
 him, beyond any other man connected with the national armies, to fill success 
 fully, and with signal advantage to the country, the post to which he has been 
 called by the President. 
 34 
 
,i::c, <;!-;x JAMES s WADSWORTH. 
 
JAMES SAMUEL WAD S WORTH. 
 
 TEE subject of tliis memoir was born at Geneseo, Livingston County, N. Y., 
 October thirtieth, 1807. He was descended from an old Connecticut family, 
 distinguished in colonial history, one of whose members, Captain Wadsworth, 
 will be remembered as the patriot who hid the charter of Connecticut in the 
 Charter Oak at Hartford when Governor Andros tried to get possession of it in 
 1G87. Mr. James Wadsworth, the father of the late General, emigrated from 
 Connecticut to Western New-York in 1790, and with his brother William (the 
 General Wadsworth noted in the war of 1812) purchased a large tract of land on 
 the Genesee River, in what is now the town of Geneseo. In time he became one 
 of the richest land-owners in the State. He was a zealous friend of all philan 
 thropic enterprises, "and especially interested in the cause of education, to promote 
 which he is said to have given, in the course of his life, nearly one hundred 
 thousand dollars. General William Wadsworth died a bachelor, and the subject 
 of this notice, being the heir of both his father and his uncle, found himself, after 
 the death of the former in 1844, the owner of an estate of princely magnificence 
 in one of the finest regions of New- York. He had been educated at Harvard and 
 Yale Colleges, and after being graduated with honor, studied law at first in the 
 office of Messrs. McKean and Denniston, at Albany, and afterward with Daniel 
 Webster. He was admitted to the bar in 1833, but never practised, finding in 
 agricultural pursuits and the management and improvement of his estates em 
 ployments much more to his liking. Imitating the public spirit and benevolence 
 of his father, he was not only a generous contributor to schools, colleges, and 
 other humanitarian enterprises, but universally beloved for his private charities. 
 His income was mainly derived from the rental of farms. When the wheat- 
 midge made such ravages in the Genesee valley several years ago, his agents were 
 instructed to settle with his tenants according to the amount of their crops, and 
 not according to the terms of their contracts. More than twenty-five thousand 
 dollars were thus relinquished in a single year, and when his treasurer informed 
 him that, in consequence of these reductions, his bank account was largely over 
 drawn, he replied : "I can stand it as well as these poor hard-working men, and 
 the rents will be released if I have to sell a farm to pay my expenses." 
 
 In one instance, a man who occupied one of Mr. Wadsworth s smaller and 
 poorer farms was reported by the agent as having failed to pay the rent. Mr. 
 
224 JAMES SAMUEL WADSWORTH. 
 
 Wadsworth requested the delinquent tenant to call at the office, and listened to 
 the story of his misfortunes. His crops had failed, a yoke of oxen his principal 
 reliance to do the work on the farm had been lost by an accident, and, in one 
 word, though he had worked hard, every thing had gone against him. Mr. 
 Wadsworth handed him a receipt for the rent and a check for one hundred dol 
 lars. " Go, my friend," said he, " buy you another yoke of oxen and try it an 
 other year, and may God grant you prosperity." The tenant could only stammer 
 out his thanks while with his hard hand he wiped the tears from his eyes. 
 
 At the time of the Irish famine, Mr. Wadsworth sent to Ireland, beside a 
 liberal contribution in money, a thousand bushels of corn from his own granaries. 
 
 He took a particular pleasure in contributing to the support of schools and 
 colleges, and established at Geneseo a free public library, enriched with some 
 thousands of rare volumes. On one occasion, when Martin Yan Buren was his 
 guest, Mr. Wadswortli took the ex-President to the public school in the village 
 of Geneseo, saying : " Mr. Van Buren, I will show you one of the nurseries of 
 republican institutions." Mr. Van Buren made a speech on that occasion, in the 
 course of which he said : " The public school system of New- York must always 
 prosper, while it has such friends as the distinguished citizen whose hospitalities 
 I enjoy, and to whom I am indebted for the pleasure of this interview." 
 
 Though he never held office, Mr. Wadsworth took a warm interest in public 
 questions, and was often a delegate to political conventions. A Democrat of the 
 school of Jackson, he adhered, when the schism in that party occurred, to the 
 radical wing, and was a member of the State Convention at Syracuse in 1847, 
 when he voted for the resolution of Mr. D. D. Field, declaring " uncompromising 
 hostility to the extension of slavery into territory now free, or which may here 
 after be acquired by the Government of the United States." Being chosen a 
 delegate to the National Convention at Baltimore in 1848, he refused, in common 
 with the other " Barnburners," to participate in the proceedings on equal terms 
 with the conservative or "Hunker" delegates. At the Utica State Democratic 
 Convention, in the fall of the same year, he was supported on the first ballot for 
 the nomination of Governor, but withdrew in favor of General Dix. He was 
 subsequently a candidate for elector at large on the Yan Buren and Adams 
 ticket. 
 
 The passing of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and the general course of Mr. 
 Pierce s administration, led to another division of the Democratic party. A State 
 Convention assembled at Syracuse in July, 1856, and Mr. Wadsworth was chosen 
 President. In the course of his remarks on taking the chair, he said : " If 
 Thomas Jefferson were living to-day, he would be driven an exile from his native 
 State, and would not be allowed to migrate to the great domain which he added 
 to the possessions of our country west of the Missouri. ... I had the honor 
 
JAMES SAMUEL WADS WORTH. 225 
 
 to be a member of the convention which assembled in this city prior to the Presi 
 dential election of 1848. That Convention laid, then and there, as one of the 
 corner-stones of the Democracy of New- York, a stone of Jefferson granite oppo 
 sition to the extension of slavery. I see about me the faces of many men who 
 were, with me, delegates to the National Convention which assembled in Balti 
 more in that year ; and I claim that as representatives of the democracy of New- 
 York we proved ourselves true to the great trust reposed in us." 
 
 At the Republican Convention that fall, Mr. Wadsworth, after being sup 
 ported for Governor, was nominated for elector at large on the Fremont ticket. 
 In 1860, he was offered the Republican nomination for Governor, but refused it 
 in deference to the claims of Governor Morgan. " I consider the nomination of 
 Governor Morgan," he wrote, "as due to him for the faithful performance of his 
 duties, and at the same time as the best course to maintain the integrity of the 
 party." In the State Convention he accordingly warmly supported Mr. Morgan s 
 renomination. He was himself made a candidate for Presidential elector, and as 
 such cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. At the beginning of the secession 
 movement the Legislature of New- York appointed him a commissioner to the 
 Peace Conference which met at Washington, February fourth, 1861. He signal 
 ized himself throughout its deliberations by a cordial support of every plan of 
 conciliation to which a Republican could honorably assent, and a stern resistance 
 to every other. 
 
 On the outbreak of hostilities he offered his services to the Government, and 
 was proposed by Governor Morgan for a major-generalship, but he waived the 
 honor in favor of General Dix. When the militia were called out, and the capi 
 tal cut off from regular communication with the North by the outbreak in Balti 
 more, he chartered two ships upon his own responsibility, loaded them with pro 
 visions, and proceeded with them to Annapolis, where they arrived most oppor 
 tunely to supply the pressing necessities of the Government. From that time lie 
 was employed by General Scott in the execution of several delicate and important 
 military commissions. 
 
 At the first battle of Bull Run he served as volunteer aid, with the rank of 
 major, on the staff of General McDowell, displaying great gallantry and coolness, 
 and finally, after having his horse shot under him, seizing the colors of a panic- 
 struck regiment, and calling upon the men to "rally once more for the glorious 
 old flag." Long afterward the soldiers of his command used to tell how, in one 
 of his many efforts to rally the broken troops, he personally led twenty-eight men 
 against the enemy, of whom only four beside himself came back unhurt. After 
 the battle he remained at Fairfax till late the next morning, " to see that the strag 
 glers and weary and worn-out soldiers were not left behind." 
 
 On the ninth of August, 1861, he was commissioned Brigadier-General of 
 
226 JAMES SAMUEL WADS WORTH. 
 
 volunteers, and assigned a brigade in McDowell s division, his troops consisting 
 of the Twelfth, Twenty-first, Twenty-third, and Twenty-fifth New- York volun 
 teers. During the winter he was encamped near Manassas Junction, and he used 
 to express his indignation at not being allowed to move forward and capture 
 that post. 
 
 It is said that, impatient of long inaction, he proposed to the War Depart 
 ment that if it would give him his brigade free from control, and let him light the 
 enemy when and where he wanted to, he would clothe, feed, and pay it, 
 
 In March, 1862, the President appointed him Military Governor of the Dis 
 trict of Columbia, and commander of the forces left for the defence of Washington 
 when McClellan began the Peninsula campaign. It was while exercising the 
 duties of this office that he received the Republican nomination for Governor of 
 New- York, September twenty-fourth, 1862. In his letter to the Hon. Henry J. 
 Raymond, President of the Convention, accepting the nomination, he expressed 
 his cordial approval of Mr. Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation. On the twen 
 ty-seventh, he made a speech in Washington, in reply to a serenade. " We arc 
 in the pangs of dissolution," he said, " or w r e are in the pangs of exorcism. If we 
 would save ourselves, we must cast out the devil which has tormented and dis 
 graced us from the hour of our national birth. We want peace, but more than 
 we want peace we want a country. We want peace, but we want an honorable 
 peace, a permanent peace, a solid peace." 
 
 He was not elected. In the counties west of the Hudson River he received 
 handsome majorities, but the unexpected strength of the Democratic party in 
 New- York and the river counties led to the choice of Mr. Seymour by a majority 
 of ten thousand. In December, having asked for active service, he was assigned 
 command of a division in the Eleventh (Sigel s) army corps. He w r as not present 
 at Burnside s attack on Fredericksburgh, but he took part in the battle of Chan- 
 cellorsville under General Hooker. At Gettysburgh he commanded the First 
 division of the First corps, receiving the first fire of the enemy, and distinguishing 
 himself throughout the engagement by his personal daring and skilful manage 
 ment of his troops. Subsequently he was transferred to the Fourth division of 
 the Fifth (Warren s) corps. On the first day of General Grant s battles in the 
 Wilderness, May fifth, 1864, his division lost nearly a third of its numbers. On 
 the next day, Friday, the sixth, he was ordered to attack A. P. Hill. For more 
 than half an hour the conflict raged fearfully. Success appeared to waver ; and 
 finally General Wadsworth ordered his men to charge. He was answered by a 
 cheer. Spurring to the front, he was in the act of leading them on, hat in hand, 
 when a bullet struck him in the forehead, killing him instantly. 
 
 It had always been the General s habit to ride about the foremost line, and 
 even amongst his skirmishers. He was very cool and collected under fire, and 
 
JAMES SAMUEL WADS WORTH. 227 
 
 though more than half a century old when he took up the profession of arms, he 
 knew well how to handle his division ; how to hold a line of battle ; how to order 
 and lead a charge ; and how to do the plain work, which he liked best. When 
 gray-headed " Pap Wadsworth " rode into the fight, his men knew there was hard 
 work to be done, for he did not like to give up. At Gettysburg!! he showed 
 how much a plucky, tenacious leader can do with a handful of troops in keeping 
 back and making cautious an overwhelming force of the enemy. 
 
 Such qualities of course endeared him to his men, but they loved him still 
 more for the care he took for their comfort. When his brigade was encamped in 
 Virginia, in the winter of 1861, his men had the best of every thing that could 
 be got, frequently " at Pap s expense." " Make out a requisition for extra shoes," 
 he said to one of his officers, while preparing for his last campaign ; " about one 
 pair of shoes for every two men. I think we can get them of the Quartermaster, 
 but I will see to it that at any rate they are got. They will not be heavy to 
 carry, and we shall find the value of them before we get through." 
 
 "I remember," he added, "during the march through Maryland, before the 
 battle of Gettysburg!}, we passed over a tract of country extremely rugged and 
 stony, and I saw not only men but officers walking along with bleeding feet. 
 The men s shoes gave out entirely. It hurt my feelings more than I can tell you, 
 to see the good fellows trudge along so. We came to a town on the line of 
 march, and I, who was riding at the head of the column, spurred ahead to see if 
 there were not some shoe-stores where I could purchase what was needed for the 
 men. All the shops were closed ; the first men I saw were two sitting outside of 
 a closed shop. 
 
 " Are there any shoe-stores in this town ? I asked. They replied, in a 
 gruff way, that they could not tell, there might be and there might not, I told 
 them that I wanted to buy shoes for my troops, who were barefooted. They re 
 plied they guessed I wouldn t get many. 
 
 "At that," said the General, "I got angry. Said I, there are two pairs of 
 shoes at any rate, which I see on your feet. Take them off instantly ! I shouted 
 to them. They were obliged to do it. I went through the town, and took the 
 shoes off every man s feet I could see ; and thus I raised about two hundred pairs 
 in all. One fine old fellow, a miller, whom I met, I did . not deprive of his own 
 pair ; I rode up to him and asked if he had any shoes he could spare me, describ 
 ing the pitiful condition of my men. The old man said : I don t know if there s 
 any shoes in the house or not, but looking down at his feet here s a pair 
 you re welcome to at any rate. I would not let him take them off, but he gave 
 me some from his house. All the rest I stripped." 
 
LEONIDAS POLK. 
 
 THE checkered career of the subject of this sketch possesses some features 
 which the life of no other man. prominent in the Southern rebellion, has 
 yet presented. Educated in the principles of military art and the science of the 
 ology elevated by his talents and energy to the highest of spiritual positions 
 General Polk attained the "painful preeminence" of being the only member of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church who, in the present crisis of our country s his 
 tory, exchanged the bishop s crook for the sword of rebellion ; and forgetting 
 his high calling in the service of the Prince of peace, plunged with devoted 
 energy into all the horrors of war. 
 
 Leonidas Polk was born about the year 1806, at Ealeigh, North-Carolina. 
 He was the son of William Polk. Having received an elementary education in 
 his native State, he was admitted, in 1823, into the Military Academy at West- 
 Point. While there he became a member of the staff of General Worth, and was 
 appointed an officer of the battalion of cadets. In June, 1827, he graduated from 
 the institution, ranking eighth in the class, which numbered among its members 
 the present rebel General Kains, and entered the United States army as brevet 
 Second Lieutenant of artillery. Preferring, however, civil to military life, he re 
 signed from the army in December of the same year, without having been assigned 
 to any regiment in the service. He then began the study of divinity, and having 
 passed through the requisite course of preparation, was duly ordained a clergyman 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He continued to act as a priest till 1838, 
 when he received the appointment of .Missionary Bishop of Arkansas and the 
 Indian Territory south of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes, with a provisional 
 charge of the diocese of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and the mission in 
 the republic of Texas. This missionary see was retained by Bishop Polk for 
 three years, when, in 1841, he was consecrated regular Bishop of the diocese of 
 Louisiana. Twenty years of Episcopal labors followed this appointment, till 
 finally, in 1861, the peacefulness of society was broken by the loud clamors of 
 rebellion, and yielding to the excitement of the times, Bishop Polk determined to 
 enter the service of the confederate States, claiming, however, with singular incon 
 sistency, to retain at the same time the spiritual care of his bishopric. "When," 
 said he, "I accept a commission in the confederate army, I not only perform 
 the duties of a good citizen, but contend for the principles which lie at the 
 
LEONIDAS POLK. 229 
 
 foundation of our social, political, and religious polity." At the solicitation of 
 Jefferson Davis, who had been with him as a cadet at West-Point, the war-loving 
 Bishop accepted the office of Major-General, though he refused the less flattering 
 position of a brigadier, and was assigned a command extending from the Arkansas 
 River, on both sides of the Mississippi, to the northernmost limits claimed by the 
 rebels, which included their encampment at Corinth, the northern portions of 
 Mississippi and Alabama, the whole of Tennessee, and nearly all of Arkansas, 
 having his headquarters at Memphis. During the summer of 1861, he hastened 
 the occupation of Kentucky by the Union troops under Generals Grant and 
 Anderson, in consequence of his encroachments upon her soil. This event was 
 succeeded by the bloody battle of Belmont, and being followed by the capture of 
 Forts Henry and Donelson and the evacuation of Bowling Green and Columbus, 
 all of which places were within his department, he was superseded, and having 
 been made Lieutenant-General, was placed in command of an army corps under 
 Generals A. S. Johnston and Beauregard. In this capacity he participated in 
 the battle of Shiloh, and in the operations at Corinth previous to its evacuation. 
 The department was now placed under the control of General Braxton Bragg, and 
 being appointed to the command of a corps in his army, Lieutenant-General Polk 
 took part in the rebel movement through Tennessee into Kentucky during Sep 
 tember, 1862, and fought at the battle of Perryville on the eighth of the following 
 month. A singular emergency in the course of this engagement gave occasion 
 for a display of his remarkable presence of mind. Finding himself, at one stage 
 of the action, suddenly in the midst of his enemies, he assumed an air of authori 
 ty, and commanding a regiment of Union troops to " cease firing," he passed, un 
 recognized as a rebel officer, through their ranks, succeeded in making his escape, 
 and rejoined his own men, leaving his foes to admire and lament the cool self- 
 possession which enabled him to slip from their hands. At the battle of Mur- 
 freesboro, General Polk commanded the First corps of General Bragg s army, and 
 participated in the struggles at Stone River, which were followed by the retreat 
 of the rebel army to Tullahoma, Alabama, This place they were afterward, in 
 the summer of 1863, compelled to evacuate, in consequence of being outflanked 
 by General Rosecrans. In September of the same year, General Bragg was again 
 confronted by General Rosecrans at Chickamauga, where a bloody engagement 
 ensued, which, in the estimation of the rebel General, might have resulted in the 
 destruction of the Union army had his commands been obeyed. In his official 
 report of the battle, however, General Bragg accused General Polk of disobedience 
 of orders, attributing the failure to his subordinate s dereliction of duty. For this 
 misconduct General Polk was removed from his command on the thirtieth of 
 September, and ordered to Atlanta under arrest. The proud spirit of the warlike 
 Bishop could ill brook such disgrace, but as the rebel President refused to accept 
 
230 LEON IDAS POLK. 
 
 his resignation, General Polk was forced to submit, and after a temporary inac 
 tivity, was placed in command of the camp of prisoners paroled by Generals Grant 
 and Banks at Vicksburgh and Port Hudson. He continued in charge of these 
 troops from the twentieth of November, 1863, till January, 1864, when he again 
 took the field, being appointed in the place of General Johnston to the temporary 
 command of the rebel department of the Mississippi. When that State was pene 
 trated by General Sherman in February following, General Polk attempted to 
 check the march of the Union army by organizing his command into two separate 
 cavalry departments, of which the northern was to be commanded by General 
 Forrest, with headquarters at Como, and the southern by General Lee, with head 
 quarters at Jackson. This disposition of forces seriously interfered with General 
 Sherman s progress, though it did not prevent the accomplishment of his principal 
 design. The obstacles thrown in his enemy s way, however, led General Polk to 
 claim a victory, and drew from him a warm congratulatory order, dated at Demo- 
 polis, Alabama, February twenty-sixth, 1864, in which he thanked his men for 
 their cheerful endurance of fatigue, and their firmness and good conduct through 
 out the campaign. The officers he commended for their skill and judgment, and 
 declared, in allusion to General Sherman s "defeat and rout," as he termed them, 
 that " never did a grand campaign, inaugurated with such pretensions, terminate 
 more ingloriously." 
 
 For some months succeeding these events General Polk remained in com 
 parative obscurity, till called upon to meet again on the fields of Western Georgia 
 his old antagonist, General Sherman, who was making rapid strides into the inte 
 rior of the State. On the afternoon of the fourteenth of June, 1864, General Polk 
 (who commanded one wing of Johnston s army) rode to Pine Mountain in com 
 pany with Generals Hardee and Johnston, and dismounted for the purpose of 
 making telescopic observations of the Union lines. While so engaged, a projec 
 tile from a Union battery struck him on the left arm, about the elbow, passed 
 through his body, and carried off his right arm, producing instant death. 
 
 In person, General Polk was of commanding appearance ; he was tall and 
 erect, with deep-set eyes of a penetrating gray, nose of Roman build, mouth 
 sunken, lips tightly compressed, and hair slightly tinged with white ; his whole 
 countenance and attitude bespeaking the soldier rather than the divine. In 
 language, he was ready, quick, and fluent ; in conversation, affable and courteous ; 
 but it is to be deeply regretted that his mind, imbued with false and dangerous 
 political principles, should have led him to throw off his Episcopal robes, the em 
 blem of spiritual supervision and watchfulness, and, assuming the uniform of a 
 general, devote to an unhallowed cause the military ardor and education of his 
 youth. 
 
GKX . JOHN A m x 
 
JOHN ADAMS DIX. 
 
 JOHN ADAMS DIX, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Timothy Dix, of the United 
 States army, was born at Boscawen, New Hampshire, on the 24th of July, 
 1798. At a very early age he was sent to the academy at Salisbury, from which 
 he was afterward transferred to the academy at Exeter, then under the direction 
 of the celebrated Doctor Abbott, where he was the fellow-student of Doctor Jared 
 Sparks, Honorable John Or. Palfrey, the Peabodys, the Buckminsters, and others 
 who have since acquired a just celebrity for their literary and scientific attain 
 ments. Early in 1811, while he was not yet fourteen years of age, he was trans 
 ferred to a college at Montreal, where, under the direction of the Fathers of the 
 Sulpician Order, he diligently pursued his studies until July, 1812, when, in 
 consequence of the opening of hostilities between the United States and Great 
 Britain, he was compelled to return to his own country. 
 
 After a short term of study at Boston, in December, 1812, young Dix was 
 appointed a cadet in the army of the United States, and was ordered to Balti 
 more, where his father was then in command. His official duties were confined 
 to an assistant clerkship to his father, in the recruiting service ; and he was, for 
 tunately, enabled to continue his studies, under the direction of the able faculty 
 of St. Mary s College, a privilege which he gladly enjoyed. He was, at that 
 time, a master of Spanish, a good Latin and Greek scholar, and well acquainted 
 with mathematics. lie spoke French fluently ; and in every respect he was a 
 highly-cultivated and scholarly young man. 
 
 In March, 1813, while on a visit to the city of Washington, the secretary of 
 war offered him, without solicitation, the choice of a scholarship in the military 
 academy at West Point, or an ensigncy in the army which was then about to 
 take the field. He sel^ited the latter, entered the fourteenth infantry, of which 
 his father was then lieutenant-colonel, and immediately inarched with his com 
 pany to Sackett s Harbor, in New York. 
 
 In June, 1813, while yet in his fifteenth year, he was appointed adjutant of 
 an independent battalion of nine companies, commanded by Major Upham, with 
 which he descended the St. Lawrence, and participated in the perils and hard 
 ships of that unfortunate expedition. 
 
 His father having died in camp, in November, 1813, Lieutenant Dix sought 
 
232 JOHN ADAMS DIX. 
 
 and obtained leave of absence, and returned home for the purpose, if possible, 
 of saving something from the wreck of his father s estate, which had become 
 greatly, and, as it proved, hopelessly disordered, during the absence of the 
 latter in the service of his country. The lieutenant was then but little more 
 than fifteen years of age, and his situation was one of great embarrassment and 
 difficulty. He -had lost his father, by whose prudent counsels he had been 
 guided, and with his mother and nine children all but two younger than him 
 self he was thrown upon the world with no other means of support than his 
 lieutenant s commission. 
 
 In August, 1814, he was transferred to the regiment of artillery of which 
 Colonel Wallach was the commandant ; and under the guidance of that gallant 
 officer he continued several years, pursuing his studies in history and the classics 
 whenever his duties enabled him to do so. In 1819, he was called into the mili 
 tary family of General Brown, as an aide-de-camp ; and his leisure hours were 
 spent in reading law, with a view of leaving the army at an early day. 
 
 In 1825, he was promoted to the command of a company in the third artil 
 lery ; but his health having become impaired, he was compelled to ask for a 
 leave of absence, and visited Cuba, where he passed the winter of 1825- 6. In 
 the following summer, still in search of health, he visited Europe, and made an 
 extended tour through the continent. 
 
 In 1826, Captain Dix married Catharine Morgan, adopted daughter of John 
 I. Morgan, Esq., of the city of New York; and in December, 1828, he retired 
 from the army, establishing himself soon afterward in Cooperstown, Otsego 
 county, New York, in the practice of law. He also entered political life, and it 
 was not long before he became one of the most active and influential members 
 of the Democratic party in the interior of the state. In 1830, Governor Throop 
 called him into the public service as adjutant-general, a post of duty which he 
 filled with honor to himself and singular advantage to the militia of the state. 
 
 In January, 1833, he was chosen secretary of state of New York, and be 
 came, ex officio, superintendent of common schools, a regent of the university, a 
 member of the canal board, and one of the commissioners of the canal fund. It 
 was he who introduced and established school-district libraries; and his codifica 
 tion of the laws and decisions under which the common schools of the state are 
 governed, is a monument to his industry and official integrity. As a regent of 
 the university and a member of the canal boards, he also rendered very efficient 
 services to the state ; and he retired from office with well-earned honors. 
 
 In 1841, Mr. Dix was elected a member of the assembly of the state, from 
 the county of Albany ; and in the struggle which ensued concerning the financial 
 policy of the state of New York, under the leadership of the sturdy Michael 
 Hoffman, he took a very active part. In the extra session which followed, 
 
JOHN ADAMS DIX. 233 
 
 wherein the question of a division of the state into congressional districts was 
 considered, and opposed with great skill and energy, Mr. Dix was again con 
 spicuous ; and in two very able speeches he urged an acquiescence in the meas 
 ure, although at the same time he maintained that the interference of Congress in 
 the matter was unnecessary and unauthorized. 
 
 In the fall of 1842, Mr. Dix went abroad, in consequence of the ill health 
 of his wife ; spending the winter in Madeira, and the following year in the south 
 ern countries of Europe. He returned to America in June, 1844, and in Janu 
 ary, 1845, he was elected a Senator in the Congress of the United States, to fill 
 the vacancy occasioned by the elevation of Silas Wright to the gubernatorial chair 
 of the state. During the succeeding four years he was among the most useful 
 members of that distinguished body ; and, as chairman of the committee of com 
 merce, he rendered very valuable services to his country. During his official 
 term the annexation of Texas, the war with Mexico, the Oregon boundary, the 
 French spoliations, and the right of Congress to prevent the extension of slavery 
 into the territories, were the great subjects at issue ; and on the latter question, 
 especially, Mr. Dix took a decided and leading position, representing with great 
 ability " The Barnburners" or free-soil Democrats of New York. 
 
 In the fall of 1848, Mr. Dix was the candidate of his party for governor of 
 the state of New York ; but, of course, he was not successful, and in March, 
 1849, he retired to private life. In 1853, he was appointed assistant treasurer 
 of the United States, in New York ; but soon afterward, having become dissat 
 isfied with the official conduct of President Pierce, he resigned his office, and 
 went abroad. 
 
 In May. 1860, Mr. Dix was appointed postmaster of the city of New York ; 
 and in January, 1861, when the public danger from the defection of the Southern 
 states became manifest, he was summoned to "Washington by President Buchanan, 
 and on the llth of that month succeeded Mr. Thomas as secretary of the treasury. 
 On the 29th of January, he sent the justly celebrated telegraphic dispatch to 
 Mr. William Hemphill Jones, whom he had previously sent to New Orleans, 
 with orders to save, if possible, the revenue-cutters M Clelland and Cass ; and 
 " If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot!" has 
 since become one of the watchwords of our countrymen in their struggle with 
 their rebellious brethren. 
 
 On the 6th of March, 1861, Mr. Dix retired from the treasury department, 
 returning to his home in New York ; and on the 20th of May, when the assault 
 on Fort Sumter aroused the outraged North, he was called to preside at the im 
 mense meeting of the citizens of New York in Union Square, which had been 
 convened to take measures for the defence of the constitution and the enforce 
 ment of the laws. " The Union Defence Committee," which was organized at- 
 
234 JOHN ADAMS DIX. 
 
 that meeting, and on which so much depended in the earlier days of the struggle, 
 called him to its head ; and, as its chairman, he was one of the most active and 
 intelligent of its members. 
 
 On the 6th of May, he was appointed a major-general in the volunteer ser 
 vice of New York ; and, on the 14th of June, the President appointed him to a 
 similar position in the army of the United States. On the 20th of July, having 
 been appointed commandant of the department of Maryland, he was ordered to 
 proceed to Baltimore, where he established his head-quarters. 
 
 Under his directions, the expedition to the county of Accomac, in Virginia, 
 commanded by General Lockwood, was organized and successfully prosecuted ; 
 and his energetic and vigilant prosecution of his duties was displayed in the 
 complete quiet which prevailed throughout his department. 
 
 In May, 1862, he was transferred to the command of the military depart 
 ment of Eastern Virginia ; and established his head-quarters at Fortress Monroe, 
 Virginia. 
 
 The last civil duty which General Dix performed was as a member of the 
 commission to consider the several cases of alleged treason among the rebel pris 
 oners in the custody of the United States authorities. 
 
 General Dix possesses great energy of character; and he has always dis 
 charged the varied duties to which he has been called, with honor to himself and 
 advantage to the country. 
 
DAVID D. PORTER. 
 
 DAVID D. PORTER js the youngest son of the late Commodore Porter, the 
 distinguished commander of the Essex during the war of 1812, and, after 
 the peace, commander-in-chief for a few years of the naval forces of Mexico. 
 David was born in Philadelphia, and while he was still quite a boy, sailed with 
 his father in 1823 on a cruise against the pirates of the West-Indies. Commo 
 dore Porter had command of a fleet of twenty vessels, with which he prosecuted 
 for some time a most vigorous search after the buccaneers ; but in October, 1824, 
 two of his officers having been imprisoned and otherwise ill-treated at Faxardo, 
 on the island of Porto Rico, he landed a large force and compelled the authorities 
 to apologize. For thus* exceeding his powers he was recalled and suspended. 
 His son entered the service as midshipman in February, 1829, and was ordered 
 to the Constellation frigate, thirty-six, the flag-ship of Commodore Biddle. 
 "With this officer he cruised in the Mediterranean until 1831, and in 1832, after 
 a few months leave of absence, returned to the same station in the forty-four gun 
 frigate United States, the flag-ship of Commodore Patterson. He passed his ex 
 amination in 1835. From 1836 to 1841 he was employed in the coast survey and 
 in several short exploring expeditions. In the latter year he was ordered to the 
 frigate Congress, with the rank of Lieutenant, and after cruising four years with 
 that vessel in the Mediterranean and Brazilian waters, he was assigned to special 
 duty, in the latter part of 1845, at the National Observatory in Washington. 
 For a time during the Mexican war he had charge of the naval rendezvous at 
 New-Orleans, and afterward commanded the coast-survey schooner Petrel. 
 
 The immense passenger-traffic which sprang up about this time between the 
 Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in consequence of the discovery of the California gold- 
 fields, offered the Government an excellent opportunity to perfect its young naval 
 officers in the art of navigation by a little practical schooling on the California 
 steamships. Porter was one of the first to whom a command was given, and in 
 1849 he he left New- York as captain of the Panama, one of the line destined for 
 service on the Pacific side. The passage around Cape Horn was attended with 
 incidents which demonstrated Lieutenant Porter s superior qualifications for his 
 post in the most conclusive manner, and having carried his vessel safely into 
 Panama Bay, he was ordered home to take command of the mail-steamer Georgia. 
 He continued in this employment about three years ; then had about two years 
 
236 DAVID D. PORTER. 
 
 leave of absence; in 1855 took command of the steamship Supply ; and after that 
 was engaged in various duties of no special importance, being stationed for a 
 while at the Portsmouth Navy- Yard. At the time of the attack on Fort Sumter 
 he was under orders to join the coast survey service on the Pacific ; but fortunate 
 ly he had not sailed when the necessity for his services at home became apparent. 
 Through the resignation of disloyal officers he rose, by regular promotion, to the 
 grade of Commander. His first service during the rebellion was with the steam- 
 sloop Powhatan, on the blockade of Pensacola ; but *as soon as the expedition 
 against New-Orleans was planned, he was ordered North and placed in charge of 
 the mortar-flotilla. This miniature fleet, destined to perform such important 
 service on the Western waters, consisted of twenty small schooners, with five 
 steamers to manage them. Each schooner was armed with a single gigantic mor 
 tar, throwing a thirteen-inch shell, and two small guns, and there was a small 
 armament also on the steamers. The bombardments of Forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip, which lasted six days and five nights, (April eighteenth to twenty- 
 fourth, 1862.) was performed chiefly by this flotilla. The position of each vessel 
 was previously marked out for it by officers of the coast survey, and as soon as 
 Farragut was ready to begin operations they anchored close in shore, at the desig 
 nated spots, with their masts and rigging dressed off with bushes, so that they 
 were never actually seen by the enemy during the whole course of the bombard 
 ment. As a consequence of this prudent measure, the flotilla received but little 
 damage. One of the schooners was sunk, but the loss of life was very slight. 
 
 When Farragut pushed up the river with his fleet, Commander Porter was 
 charged with the duty of engaging the Forts so as to draw their fire. Notwith 
 standing the severity of the bombardment and the accuracy of Porter s fire an 
 unusually large proportion of the shells having, as was afterward ascertained, 
 fallen inside the Forts those works were not so much injured as might have been 
 expected, partly on account of the soft and spongy character of the ground, into 
 which the shells often penetrated as much as twenty feet ; exploding at such a 
 depth, they merely upheaved the earth and did little harm. 
 
 After the surrender of the Forts Commander Porter was ordered to Ship 
 Island, but he soon moved up the river again to participate in Farragut s attack 
 on Vicksburgh, opening fire on the night of June twenty-sixth to twenty-seventh. 
 The expedition was a failure, and as the season was far advanced and the water 
 getting low, the fleet returned to New-Orleans. Porter was now sent with his 
 mortar-boats to the James Eiver. In October, he was assigned to the command 
 of the Western flotilla, w T ith the rank of Acting Rear- Admiral, in place of Com 
 modore C. H. Davis, appointed Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. The full rank 
 of Rear-Admiral was soon afterward conferred upon him. 
 
 During the year 1863 he was constantly employed, principally in conjunction 
 
DAVID D. PORTER. 237 
 
 with the land forces. His fleet, now known as the Mississippi flotilla, consisted 
 of more than one hundred vessels, pierced for four hundred and sixty-two guns, 
 and manned by live thousand five hundred men. It took part in the capture of 
 Arkansas Post, January eleventh, in the long series of operations which culminated 
 in the taking of Vicksburgh and Port Hudson, and in several important expedi 
 tions up the White and Red Rivers. It also rendered valuable service in patrol 
 ling the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, and dispersing the guerrillas who 
 fired upon supply steamers and transports. 
 
 Admiral Porter accompanied General Banks on his disastrous expedition 
 against Shreveport in the spring of 1864, and rendered all the service that the 
 nature of the circumstances permitted in extricating the army from their perilous 
 situation. By a sudden fall in the river, he found his vessels caught above the 
 rapids, and they were only saved by the skill and ingenuity of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Bailey, an engineer officer, who floated them over the rapids by building a dam 
 a little way below. In his graphic and well- written report of the expedition, 
 Rear- Admiral Porter paid this officer a very high compliment. 
 
 Admiral Porter is a brother of the late Commodore W. D. Porter, who com 
 manded the gunboat Essex on the Mississippi River at the time of the destruction 
 of the rebel ram Arkansas, and a cousin of Major-General Fitz-John Porter. 
 
NATHANIEL PRENTISS BANKS. 
 
 AS bobbin-boy, machinist, editor, lawyer, and representative, studious, ener 
 getic, and aspiring; as Congressman, and governor of his native state 
 statesmanlike and comprehensive ; as major-general, clear, earnest, and practical 
 the life of JST. P. Banks exhibits a career peculiarly American in every feature, 
 and is well worthy of study by the American people themselves as a "repre 
 sentative life," and also by all who have any desire to understand that riddle of 
 all foreign writers, "the American character." 
 
 NATHANIEL PRENTISS BANKS was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, Janu 
 ary 30th, 1816. Waltham was even then a busy place, and the roar of engines 
 and the whirr of looms and spindles were the familiar circumstances of daily life 
 to its people. Nathaniel was the son of an overseer in a cotton factory ; and 
 when he had years enough a very few suffice he became himself a " bobbin- 
 boy" under his father s direction. Some few months early attendance at a common 
 school had instilled into him, however, a thirst for knowledge ; and all his hours 
 " not occupied in the factory were devoted to the grave and important studies of 
 history, political economy, and the science of government." From the factory 
 he went to the forge, and learned the machinist s trade. Literary aspirations 
 came upon him in connection with the representations of a dramatic company 
 formed among his associates, with whom he played the principal parts with great 
 success ; he lectured before lyceums, temperance societies, and political assem 
 blages ; became editor of the village paper of his native place, and subsequently 
 of a paper at Lowell, in which he advocated the principles of the Democratic 
 party. Through this means he entered somewhat advantageously upon the field 
 of politics, and received an office, under the Polk administration, in the Boston 
 custom-house. For six years he was a candidate for a seat in the Massachusetts 
 legislature, and was defeated every successive year; but in the seventh year, 
 1848, he was elected representative for Waltham. His first speech, delivered 
 February 23d, 1849, was on the presentation of certain resolutions on the slavery 
 question ; and its purport was, that the Democratic party, in the extension of ter 
 ritory, was not influenced by any desire for the extension of slavery. A wide 
 publicity was given to this speech, and the Democrats of Massachusetts were so 
 impressed by it, that Mr. Banks was recognized as a leader in that party. Honors 
 
MAJ. GEN. \.\TI1 1 : R h.\\i\S. 
 
NATHANIEL PRENTISS BANKS. 230 
 
 followed fast. In 1850, lie was simultaneously elected to the state senate by the 
 Democracy of Middlesex county, and to the house by his constituents of Wal- 
 tham. He decided to remain in the house, and was chosen speaker by a large 
 majority on the first ballot. He held this position for two successive sessions. 
 Upon the rolls of the house, for his first year in it, Mr. Banks is entered as a 
 machinist, but in the next year as a lawyer. 
 
 In 1852, Mr. Banks was elected to Congress, by an affiliation of the Demo 
 crats of his district with the American party, or "Know-Nothings." Upon this 
 canvass the American party was very largely in the majority, and Mr. Banks 
 "avowed his sentiments freely and fully." In the summer of 1853, he was 
 chosen president of the convention called to revise the constitution of Massachu 
 setts. Apparently he had been mistaken in the Democratic party, for he soon 
 transferred his allegiance to the new Republican organization. He was twice 
 re-elected to the national House of Representatives, and served in the thirty - 
 third, the thirty-fourth, and part of the first session of the thirty-fifth Congress. 
 He very strongly opposed the Nebraska-Kansas bill, and argued against it that 
 wherever the government obtained the right to acquire territory, there they got 
 the right to control it. Mr. Banks also came somewhat conspicuously before the 
 country by the part he took in the debate brought on by a resolution in refer 
 ence to the society of " Know-Nothings," as to whether or no the pope claimed a 
 temporal power over the members of the Roman Catholic Church. 
 
 Upon the meeting of the thirty-fourth Congress, parties were pretty well 
 broken up and complicated, and a great difficulty \vas found in the choice of a 
 Speaker. For nine weeks the organization of the House was delayed by the 
 obstinacy of party men. Finally, it was determined that the recipient of a plu 
 rality of votes should be declared Speaker; and, in accordance with this rule 
 Mr. Banks was chosen to the position. Mr. Banks presided over the delibera 
 tions of the House with marked ability and fairness; or, in the words of a 
 Southern member, he "stood so straight, that he almost leaned over to the 
 other side." On the adjournment of Congress, a vote of thanks was passed, 
 upon the acceptable manner in which he had discharged the difficult duties of 
 his position. 
 
 In 1856, Mr. Banks was elected governor of his native state, and resigned 
 his scat in the House on the 24th of December. To his new position he did such 
 honor, that he was re-elected in 1857, and again in 1858. During three terms he 
 administered the government of the state of Massachusetts with eminent wisdom, 
 and finally retired from that position crowned with the high respect of his fellow- 
 citizens of all parties throughout the state ; a more striking example than any 
 other chapter of our American history furnishes, of the dignity and honor to 
 which native energy and genius may attain. 
 
240 NATHANIEL PRENTISS BANKS. 
 
 Soon after the expiration of his third gubernatorial term, Mr. Banks deter 
 mined to abandon the field of politics, and with that view removed from his 
 native state to that of Illinois, where he became associated in the conduct of a 
 railroad. In that sphere he continued until the war actually broke out, when he 
 again became "a public man." 
 
 He was appointed a major-general in the United States army, May 30th, 
 1861, and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate on the 3d of Au 
 gust. Major- Generals M Clellan and Fremont were confirmed on the same day. 
 Previous to his confirmation (June 10th), General Banks was ordered to the 
 command of the department of Annapolis, with his head-quarters at Baltimore. 
 In this command he superseded General Cadwallader, who was appointed to a 
 division destined to co-operate with General Patterson toward Harper s Ferry. 
 Upon General Banks s accession to the command at Baltimore, the treasonable 
 element of the population there, while believed to be very active in the further 
 ance of schemes for revolt, was certainly very quiet. Butler had fairly scotched 
 the serpent of secession in that city ; but under the lax rule of Cadwallader, it 
 had revived. Yet the leaders were prudent, and the transference of the command 
 to a new officer was a sufficient indication that the government was dissatisfied 
 with the easy manner in which they had been dealt by, and they became cau 
 tious. But on June 27th they were surprised, and the whole people of the loyal 
 states gratified, by an energetic act of the new commander. At three, A. M., on 
 that day, George P. Kane, marshal of police of Baltimore, was arrested at his 
 house, and imprisoned in Fort M Henry. In explanation of this act, General 
 Banks issued on the same day a proclamation, superseding Marshal Kane and 
 the board of police, in which he said : "I desire to support the public authorities 
 in all appropriate duties .... and in every municipal regulation and public stat 
 ute consistent with the constitution and laws of the United States and of Mary 
 land. But unlawful combinations of men, organized for resistance to such laws, 
 that provide hidden deposits of arms and ammunition, encourage contraband 
 traffic with men at war with the government, and, while enjoying its protection 
 and privileges, stealthily await opportunity to combine their means and forces 
 with those in rebellion against its authority, are not among the recognized or 
 legal rights of any class of men, and cannot be permitted under any form of gov 
 ernment whatever. Such combinations are well known to exist in this depart 
 ment The chief of police is not only believed to be cognizant of these facts, 
 
 but in contravention of his duty, and in violation of law, he is, by direction or 
 indirection, both witness and protector to the transactions and the parties engaged 
 therein. Under such circumstances, the government cannot regard him other 
 wise than as the head of an armed force hostile to its authority, and acting in 
 concert with its avowed enemies." For these reasons, Marshal Kane was super- 
 
NATHANIEL PRENTISS BANKS. 241 
 
 scded and held a prisoner ; and Colonel Kenly, of the first Maryland regiment, 
 was appointed provost-marshal of the city of Baltimore, "to superintend and 
 cause to be executed the police laws." Against this action of General Banks the 
 board of police protested, and pronounced it "an arbitrary exercise of military 
 power, not warranted by any provision of the constitution or laws of the United 
 States." They declared also that there was a suspension of the police law, and 
 that the men of the police force were off duty, and thus in retaliation virtually 
 invited a reign of lawlessness. General Banks, in response to this protest, pub 
 lished a letter of instruction to Marshal Kenly, by which he required him " to 
 take especial notice that no opinion, resolution, or other act of the late board of 
 commissioners, can operate to limit the effective force of the police law, or to 
 discharge any officer engaged in its execution." Yet the police board, though 
 thus superseded and dissolved by the military commandant, "continued their 
 sessions daily, refused to recognize the officers and men selected by the provost- 
 marshal for the protection of the city, and held subject to their orders the old 
 police force, a large body of armed men, for some purpose not known to the gov 
 ernment, and inconsistent with its peace and security." For the preservation of 
 the public peace, therefore, General Banks caused the arrest, on July 1st, 1861, 
 of all the members of the police board, whose head-quarters were found upon 
 examination to resemble "in some respects a concealed arsenal ;" and to antici 
 pate any action of their adherents, he at the same time moved a portion of the 
 force under his command, hitherto encamped beyond the city limits, into the city. 
 On the 10th of July, General Banks appointed a permanent police marshal in 
 the place of Colonel Kenly, and, trouble being no longer feared from the seces. 
 sion plotters, ordered the military occupation to cease, and the regiments to 
 occupy their former positions in the suburbs. Complete tranquillity was thus 
 once again established in Baltimore. 
 
 Major-General Patterson, of the Pennsylvania volunteers, in command in the 
 Valley of Virginia, was honorably discharged by general order, his term of ser 
 vice being expired, on July 19th. On the same day, General John A. Dix, of 
 the United States army, was ordered to relieve General Banks in the command at 
 Baltimore, and General Banks was ordered to assume command of the army 
 under Patterson. His department was designated the department of the Shenan- 
 doah, with its head-quarters in the field. General Banks reached Harper s Ferry 
 and assumed the command of his department, July 25th. This army, when the 
 battle of Bull Eun was fought, had numbered fourteen thousand effective men. 
 But it was composed, in the greater part, of the Pennsylvania volunteers, enlisted 
 for three months, whose terms expired about the period that General Banks was 
 placed in command. He was thus left with only the skeleton of an army, to 
 cover the approach to Washington most favorable for the rebels, and to hold in 
 
242 NATHANIEL PRENTISS BANKS. 
 
 check all that portion of the rebel force which had not accompanied General 
 Johnson to Manassas previous to the battle at Bull Run. 
 
 Immediately on his assumption of the command, General Banks withdrew 
 his troops from Harper s Ferry to the Maryland side of the Potomac, and formed 
 his camp in a strong position under the Maryland Heights, and near to Sandy 
 Hook. There his force was rapidly organized, and increased by the addition of 
 well-disciplined regiments, until it amounted in all to about twenty-five thousand 
 men ; and in this position he continued, still occupied with the organization and 
 discipline of his force, up to the movement into Virginia, in 1862. 
 
 Early in May, 1861, when the President had just called out seventy-five 
 thousand men for three months, and long before the country at large realized the 
 magnitude of the rebellion, Mr. Banks, then a simple citizen of Chicago, expressed 
 a very strong opinion of the inadequacy of the measures taken by the government 
 to put down the revolt. His words then spoken, and subsequently published by 
 the " Chicago Tribune," are as follows : 
 
 " This rebellion cannot be put down by the force which the government has 
 now called out. Seventy-five thousand militia will prove wholly inadequate to 
 restore peace to the country. The government, and, he feared, the people of the 
 loyal states, immensely underrated the strength and means which the rebel chiefs 
 can command. This is a rebellion of the slave-power against a republican form 
 of government. That political element which has been strong enough to rule 
 this nation for fifty years, cannot be reduced to subjection to the constitution by 
 a few regiments of militia. Before this gigantic slaveholders conspiracy can be 
 crushed, it will tax to the utmost the power and endurance of the nation. The 
 people will have to put forth an effort which has no parallel in modern times. 
 He regarded this as the most formidable as well as atrocious rebellion which has 
 occurred since the middle ages. The Sepoy insurrection was no circumstance to 
 it, either in strength or wickedness. The Sepoys did not revolt for the purpose 
 of strangling free government and setting up a slave despotism, as the authors of 
 the secession rebellion have done. 
 
 " The Sepoys were reduced to obedience in a few months by less than eighty 
 thousand British troops. Four times that many will not suffice to crush out the 
 slaveholders revolt against the Union. If he was at the head of public affairs, 
 he would call out five hundred thousand men for the war. He would charter 
 every merchant steamer and ship fit for naval service. As soon as the army was 
 equipped, and prepared to march, he would start one column of one hundred and 
 fifty thousand men from Washington to Richmond. Simultaneously, he would 
 move another column of one hundred thousand Western men down the Missis 
 sippi, to reach Memphis by the time the Eastern army got to Richmond. He 
 would send a division of fifty thousand men from Louisville to Nashville, to 
 
NATHANIEL PREXTISS BANKS. 243 
 
 support and protect the Union men of central and eastern Tennessee, and the 
 mountain country of Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. Before these col 
 umns moved, he would fit out an expedition by sea, and place fifty thousand 
 soldiers aboard the fleet, to hover along the Southern coast from Charleston to 
 Galveston. This would keep the rebels at home in the coast states, as they 
 would be in constant dread of a visit to every port, not knowing where the fleet 
 might land the army. This force on shipboard, Mr. Banks thought, would com 
 pel to remain in their own states four times the men in the expedition. It would 
 be a movable column, which, by the aid of wind and steam, might be off Charles 
 ton to-day, and land at Savannah to-morrow. Hence its power and efficiency. 
 
 " The remaining one hundred and fifty thousand troops he would distribute 
 in divisions at Washington, New York, St. Louis, Baltimore, and other points, 
 to act as reserves and supports wherever the exigencies of the campaign might 
 most need them. He would keep recruiting offices open wherever a regiment 
 had been raised, to fill up the vacancies in the ranks caused by battle or sickness. 
 He would call upon the people to organize a national home guard of half a mill 
 ion men, to take care of traitors in their midst, and to put their shoulders to the 
 wheel for a final effort, if it were found that the first half-million were not able 
 to crush out the foul rebellion." 
 
 " "When asked how he would procure the money necessary to equip and 
 support so vast an army, he promptly replied : Open a national loan, as the 
 Emperor Napoleon did, and appeal to the patriotism of the whole people ; take 
 all sums offered, from the widow s mite up to Astor s millions. The treasury 
 would be abundantly supplied by the subscriptions of the masses. Only let the 
 people see that the government is in real earnest in its purpose to put down the 
 rebellion, and it will not call on Hercules for help in vain. " 
 
 On the eighth of February, 1862, General Banks commenced active opera 
 tions by moving up the Shenandoah Valley, and driving the rebels before him. 
 He had advanced as far as Harrisonburgh, when an order from the War Office 
 directed him to send a portion of his troops to reeenforce McDowell, and to re 
 treat to Strasburgh. The rebels immediately followed him in strong force, but he 
 succeeded in reaching Williamsport without material disaster, on the twenty-sixth 
 of May. 
 
 In June, his forces were consolidated with those of General McDowell, and 
 placed under General Pope ; and, on the eighth of August, General Banks suc 
 cessfully fought the rebels under Jackson and Ewell, at Cedar Mountain, where 
 his persona^, bravery and good management were conspicuous. 
 
 During the second battle of Bull Run, General Banks was stationed on the 
 extreme left of Pope s line, as a reserve. Shortly after the battle, he was ap 
 pointed to the military command at Washington. There he remained until sent, 
 
244 NATHANIEL PKENTISS BANKS. 
 
 in November, 1862, to relieve General Butler in the department of the South- 
 West. He arrived at New-Orleans on December seventeenth, and immediately 
 despatched an expedition to Baton Kouge, which was retaken, and one to Galves- 
 ton in Texas, which met with defeat. 
 
 His future operations up the Teche and Atchafalaya were of such a prompt 
 and energetic character as to cause a most disastrous defeat to the enemy in every 
 engagement. At Bute la Kose the batteries were silenced, one thousand five 
 hundred prisoners taken, besides the salt-works of Petite Anse, and a number 
 of rebel gunboats were destroyed. 
 
 On May twenty-third, 1863, he invested Port Hudson, and placed it in a state 
 of siege, finally compelling it to surrender unconditionally on the eighth of July. 
 Soon after he ordered the enforcement of the enrolment act in his department, 
 and then prepared to accompany his forces into Texas, leaving New-Orleans on 
 the twenty-seventh of October, with a fleet of about twenty vessels accompanied 
 by gunboats. 
 
 On the thirty-first of October, he landed at Brazos Island, and after various 
 successes in other places, Corpus Christi was captured on the fifteenth of Novem 
 ber, and two days after the city of Aransas. General Banks afterward returned 
 to New-Orleans, leaving the forces in Texas under command of General Dana. 
 
 In March, 1864, he recommenced active operations, and on the twenty-second 
 he departed for the Bed Kiver. On the way he landed at Port Hudson, and in 
 spected the negro troops and fortifications. He thence proceeded to Alexandria, 
 where he established his headquarters, and immediately went on to Grand Ecore. 
 
 On the eighth of April, the enemy was encountered in superior force at the 
 Sabine Cross-Roads, and after a gallant resistance the Union troops were repulsed. 
 General Banks was present throughout the fight, and showed his accustomed 
 coolness and bravery. At a council of war, it was decided to withdraw the troops 
 to Pleasant Hill, where General A. J. Smith had arrived. The enemy followed, 
 but on renewal of the battle on the following day, were severely defeated. At 
 this time, the Red River was lower than it had been known for years, and in 
 consequence, it was deemed advisable for the army to fall back without delay 
 upon Alexandria, where it arrived on the fourth of May. Meanwhile the gun 
 boats that had ascended the river were caught by the receding waters and detained 
 above the falls, until, through the remarkable skill, ingenuity, and indefatigable 
 labors of Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, acting engineer of the Nineteenth corps, in 
 constructing a dam, they were released. The army then evacuated Alexandria, 
 and descended toward Simmsport, at the mouth of Red River, whqre General 
 Banks arrived on the sixteenth of May. General Canby also arrived there from 
 Washington to assume command of military operations, and General Banks re 
 turned to New-Orleans. 
 
PHILIP KEAK^Y. 
 
 MAJOE-GENEEAL KEAENY was bom in New- York City, June second,. 
 1815. His father was a descendant of an Irish family long settled in New- 
 Jersey, and his mother a daughter of John Watts, the founder of the Leake and 
 Watts Orphan House. From boyhood he manifested a strong preference to a 
 military career ; nevertheless, in. obedience to the wishes of his family, he passed 
 through Columbia College, and began to study law. By the time he was twenty- 
 two, however, his soldierly propensities got the better of him, and he obtained a 
 commission as Second Lieutenant in the First dragoons, then commanded by his 
 uncle, Stephen Watts Kearny, the conqueror of New-Mexico and California, who 
 died, a brevet Major-General, in 1848. He saw much hard service with his gal 
 lant relative, chiefly fighting the Indians on the Western frontier, and acquired 
 such a reputation as a cavalry officer that about 1838 or 1839 he was sent abroad 
 by our Government to study and report upon the French cavalry tactics. With 
 this object in view he entered the celebrated cavalry school at Saumur, and soon 
 afterward went to Algeria, to witness the operation of the French system in the field. 
 Lieutenant Kearny, however, was not a man who could be an idle spectator of a 
 battle. Joining the First Chasseurs d Afrique as a volunteer, he fought through 
 Marshal Yalee s campaign against the Arabs, was present at the forcing of the 
 passes of the " Gates of Iron," and by several dashing exploits won the cross of 
 the Legion of Honor. He was the idol of his brother officers, who loved him for 
 his companionable qualities and admired his heroic bravery. 
 
 Eeturning home in 1840, he was appointed in November of that year aid-de 
 camp to General Macomb, and in December, 1841, aid-de-camp to General Scott. 
 lie had already, while in Europe, been promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, 
 and in 1846 he became Captain. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he was 
 ordered with his squadron (he had resigned his staff appointment) to Mexico, 
 where his dragoons formed the body-guard of General Scott. Splendidly equipped 
 and mounted, at -their Captain s private expense, Kearny s Horse were the pride 
 of the army, and in several engagements covered themselves with distinction. 
 In the Yalley of Mexico Captain Kearny commanded his regiment, and for his 
 gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco received the brevet of Major. After the 
 latter engagement he pursued the flying Mexicans as far as the gates of the City of 
 Mexico. Here his troops, checked by a heavy fire of artillery, began to waver, 
 
246 PHILIP KEARNY. 
 
 whereupon Kearny daslied forward alone ; the soldiers followed him, and the bat 
 tery was taken. In this affair, for which General Scott bestowed upon him the 
 highest praise, Kearny lost his left arm. 
 
 After the conclusion of peace he was again ordered to the AYestern frontier, 
 and commanded an expedition against the Indians of the Columbia River. In 
 1851 he resigned his commission and went to Europe. In retirement he pursued 
 his professional studies with all his former ardor, associating constantly with mili 
 tary men, and making his hospitable house at Paris the rendezvous especially of 
 such officers of the United States army as pleasure or duty chanced to bring to 
 Europe. There might be met Beauregard, Lee, the Johnstons, Jackson, and 
 others now distinguished in the rebel army. 
 
 When the Italian war began, he joined the staff of the French General Moms 
 as a volunteer aid, was present at Magenta and Solferino, and conducted himself 
 with such gallantry that the Emperor bestowed upon him a second decoration of 
 the Legion of Honor. 
 
 The attack upon Fort Sumter in the spring of 1861 brought him, as might 
 have been expected, immediately to America. He offered his services to General 
 Scott, was received with warmth, and soon after the battle of Bull Run was put in 
 command of a New-Jersey brigade in General Franklin s division of the army of 
 the Potomac. His commission as Brigadier-General of volunteers was dated May 
 seventeenth, 1861. On the organization of army corps, in March, 1862, he was 
 attached to the First corps, General McDowell, but soon afterward he was pro 
 moted to the command of a division in Heintzelman s (the Third) corps, with 
 which he served throughout the Chickahominy campaign. In the battle of Wil- 
 liamsburgh, after Hooker had been for an hour or two struggling against an over 
 whelming force in front of Fort Magruder, Kearny was ordered to his relief. 
 Five guns had already been lost and ammunition was beginning to give out, when 
 Kearny, after a six hours march, succeeded by the greatest exertions in passing 
 Casey s troops and pushing to the front through the deep mud. "He at once 
 gallantly attacked," said General McClellan, "and thereby prevented the loss of 
 another battery, and drove the enemy back at every point, enabling General 
 Hooker to extricate himself from his position, and withdraw his wearied troops." 
 In the battle of Fair Oaks and the famous seven days fight his gallantry was uni 
 versally admired, and soon afterward he was commissioned a Major-General, 
 dating from July fourth. His troops were the first to join General Pope after 
 McClellan was withdrawn from the Peninsula, leaving Yorktown on the twenty- 
 first of August, 1862, and uniting with the army of Virginia at Warrenton Junc 
 tion on the twenty -third. Three days afterward the confederate General Jackson 
 made his celebrated attack upon Pope s rear at Catlett s Station, compelling- the 
 Federal commander to abandon the line of the Rappahannock and fall back to 
 
PHILIP REAR NY. 247 
 
 Manassas Junction. McDowell at the same time was ordered to Gainesville to 
 intercept any reinforcements coming to Jackson by way of Thoroughfare Gap, 
 while Kearny and Reno followed some miles in his rear in order to support him. 
 This movement had the desired effect. Longstreet, who was on his way to join 
 Jackson, was compelled to retire west of the Bull Run Mountains, and Pope 
 pushed on toward Centreville with Kearny, Reno, and Hooker. McDowell joined 
 them here with his main force, and at dawn on the twenty -ninth the battle of 
 Centreville was begun. Kearny fought with the greatest desperation throughout 
 that da}-, and again on the thirtieth, when the corps to which he was attached 
 held the right of the Federal line. Toward nightfall Franklin and Sumner arrived 
 upon the field, but the battle was not renewed, and on the first of September the 
 army fell back to Fairfax Court-House. 
 
 On the evening of that day the enemy directed an attack upon the right of 
 our line, near Germantown, where most of the supply-trains were stationed, their 
 evident intention being to get around in Pope s rear and cut his communications 
 with Washington. Reno s division was ordered to attack their advancing col 
 umns, and Kearny s, though it had been fighting all day, to advance and support 
 Reno. Thus began what is known as the battle of Chantilly. The firing soon 
 became heavy, and General Birney sent word to Kearny that Reno s troops had 
 given way upon his left, leaving a gap which the rebels were hastening to occupy. 
 Telling his orderly and aids to keep back, Kearny rode forward alone, to examine 
 the position himself. He never came back. His men, supposing him a prisoner, 
 engaged the enemy, repulsed them, and covered our retreat until three o clock 
 the next morning, when the train having been wi|hdrawn, they retired in order. 
 A few hours afterward the General s body, shot through by a musket-ball from 
 the hip to the breast, was sent within the Federal lines under a flag of truce. 
 
 The energy and dashing spirit of Kearny, his frequent exposure of his person, 
 and almost proverbial bravery, gave him a reputation as a "fighting general" 
 which lowered somewhat unduly his popular standing as a scientific soldier. He 
 was not only a man of dash, but a skilful tactician and an able strategist. He 
 was a strict disciplinarian, but the idol of his men, and the apparent recklessness 
 with which he rushed into every danger was the means which he deliberately 
 chose to inspirit them. " I am daily and hourly exposed," he wrote, the day be 
 fore his death ; " I do not so expose myself from a spirit of rash folly, but because 
 my men need the example." 
 
BENJAMIN F. BTJTLEK. 
 
 :.lQ 
 
 LITERATURE and Art are the children of Peace. Diplomacy, strategy, 
 and valor, flourish, only in the shadow of turbulent events. It is only 
 amid the angry clashing of antagonistic interests, that such men as tHe subject 
 of this sketch develop and achieve distinction. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. BUTLER was born in Deerfield, New Hampshire, on the 5th 
 of November, 1818. His father, John Butler, who served in some capacity in 
 the War of 1812, was of Irish descent. Young Butler s boyhood was passed at 
 Lowell, Massachusetts, where he attended the High School, preparatory to be 
 coming a student at the Exeter Academy. He graduated with honors at Water- 
 ville College, studied law in the office of "William Smith, Esq., and was admitted 
 to the bar in 1846. 
 
 Butler at once plunged into law and politics, pursuing both with equal 
 ardor, and displaying the adroitness and energy which have always characterized 
 him. He speedily made his mark in Middlesex as one of the prominent men of 
 the county. He espoused the most desperate causes, and became, in court, the 
 leader of forlorn-hopes. His ^Singular fertility in expedients, and success in de 
 fending rather awkward suits, brought him, in time, a more respectable clientele, 
 and he soon won the reputation of being the ablest criminal lawyer in the state. 
 
 In 1853, Butler was nominated for the legislature, and elected ; in 1858, he 
 was elected to the senate ; in 1860, we find him playing a prominent role as dele 
 gate to the Charleston and Baltimore conventions, fulfilling the mission with his 
 usual tact and skill. 
 
 During all these years, the combative lawyer and politician had been taking 
 lessons in "the school of the soldier." Butler had always possessed and evinced 
 a taste for military life. In 1840, he was a private in the Lowell City Guards, 
 now immortalized by their share in the memorable conflict at Baltimore, on the 
 19th of April, 1861. In 1857, he was appointed brigadier-general in the state 
 militia. Destiny was preparing him for his subsequent career. The hour was 
 approaching when his alert brain and strong hand were to be worth untold gold. 
 
 In the month of April, 1861, General Butler was one of the earliest to re 
 spond to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers, keenly appreciating the 
 important aspect of affairs, and not unmindful, possibly, of the opportunity 
 
\\.\.\ GEN BENJ I BUTLF.R 
 
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER. 249 
 
 afforded for military distinction. He eagerly availed himself of it. With a 
 single regiment, the Massachusetts eighth, he marched into Maryland, embarked 
 on board a steamer, made a descent upon Annapolis, then the enemy s country, 
 and held it. The war department immediately created the department of An 
 napolis, extending to within seven miles of "Washington, and including Baltimore. 
 General Butler was installed commander, with the rank of major-general. 
 
 He was equal to the emergency. He strengthened his exposed position in 
 all possible ways, setting his soldiers the ci-devant blacksmiths and jacks-of-all- 
 trades to construct locomotives, build bridges, and make railroads. He took 
 possession of the Kelay House, fortifying himself there with the Massachusetts 
 sixth, tSfe New York eighth, and Cook s Boston battery, controlling the great 
 channel of communication between the insurgents in Baltimore and the rebels at 
 Harper s Ferry. He seized the famous steam-gun, and turned it on the enemy. 
 General Butler then marched into Baltimore, accompanied by the two regiments 
 and the battery mentioned; intrenched himself on the highest point of land, 
 overlooking the whole city ; issued his proclamation of protection to all loyal 
 ists ; arrested traitors ; seized arms and munitions of war ; and rode through the 
 perilous streets at the head of a single company of the gallant Massachusetts 
 sixth, which the mob had so grievously assaulted only three weeks before. His 
 campaign here was a brilliant one in every respect. 
 
 In pursuance of Special Order No. 9, dated at Fortress Monroe, the head 
 quarters of the department of Virginia, August 20th, 1861, General Butler as 
 sumed command of the volunteer forces in that vicinity. While occupying this 
 post, the lamentable affair at Little Bethel, and the more disastrous repulse at 
 Big Bethel, occurred, and General Butler was superseded by General Wool. 
 
 On the 1st day of the following September, the war department " authorized 
 Major-General B. F. Butler to raise, organize, arm, uniform, and equip a volun 
 teer force for the war, in the New England states, not exceeding six regiments." 
 Two days later, the war department authorized him "to fit out and prepare such 
 troops in New England as he may judge fit for the purpose, to make an expedi 
 tion along the eastern shore of Virginia," etc., etc. In carrying out these plans, 
 a series of embarrassing conflicts arose between General Butler and Governor 
 Andrew. Much bitter feeling was generated. Eecruiting was retarded in con 
 sequence, and delay followed delay. This is neither the tme nor the place to 
 more than allude to the unfortunate controversy. 
 
 At length, on the 20th of February, 1862, General Butler left Boston for 
 Ship Island, in Mississippi Sound, at which destination he arrived on the 23d 
 of March, with a force of fifteen thousand men, to attack New Orleans. Leaving 
 Ship Island on the 17th of April, with a portion of his command, he went up the 
 Mississippi, and, after the surrender of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, proceeded 
 
250 BENJAMIN F. BUTLER. 
 
 to New Orleans, which city lie entered with, twenty-five hundred men on the 
 evening of the 1st of May. 
 
 Here General Butler again loomed up as the man for the hour. His execu 
 tive ability, his ready wit, decision, unflinching justice, and, in short, all the 
 peculiar powers of his mind, came into play. That he should have made some 
 false steps, where so many perplexing claims came in contact, does not admit of 
 surprise. No man could have done better, few so well. General Butler s course 
 in New Orleans was, from the first, necessarily a stringent one. He suppressed 
 The Delta and Tlie Bee, for advocating destruction of produce ; arrested several 
 British subjects, for affording aid to the rebels; seized a large amount of specie 
 belonging to the enemy, in the office of the consul for the Netherlands ^ stopped 
 the circulation of confederate paper-money ; distributed among the suffering poor 
 the provisions intended for the support of the Southern army ; levied a tax on 
 rebel sympathizers ; gave care and protection to Mrs. Beauregard, whom he found 
 in the house of Mr. Slidell ; and issued that celebrated and characteristic procla 
 mation respecting active female traitors, which at once extirpated a most annoy 
 ing nuisance.* He found the city demoralized. He shaped order out of chaos. 
 
 * Sympathizers wJth the South claimed to be greatly outraged by tliis order. The English press 
 became eloquently vituperative on the subject ; and General Butler was induced to explain, in a private 
 letter, the motives which constrained him to issue the proclamation. The following is the general s 
 characteristic epistle : 
 
 "HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OP THE GULP, NEW ORLEANS, July 2d, 1862. 
 
 " MY DEAR SIR: I am as jealous of the good opinicta of iny friends as I am careless of the slanders 
 of my enemies, and your kind expressions in regard to Order No. 28 lead mo to say a word to you on 
 the subject. 
 
 " That it ever could have been so misconceived as it has been by some portions of the Northern 
 press is wonderful, and would lead one to exclaim with the Jew, Father Abraham, what these Chris 
 tians are, whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect the thoughts of others! 
 
 "What was the state of things to which the woman order applied? 
 
 ""We were two thousand five hundred men in a city seven miles long by two to four wide, of a 
 hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants all hostile, bitter, defiant, explosive standing literally on a 
 magazine ; a spark only needed for destruction. The devil had entered the hearts of the women of this 
 town (you know seven of them chose Mary Magdalen for a residence), to stir up strife in every way 
 possible. Every opprobrious epithet, every insulting gesture was made by these bejewelled, becrinolined. 
 and laced creatures, calling themselves ladies, toward my soldiers and officers, from the windows of 
 houses and in the streets. How long do you suppose our flesh and blood could have stood this without 
 retort ? That would lead to disturbances and riot, from which we must clear the streets with artillery ; 
 and then a howl that we murdered these fine women ! I had arrested the men who hurrahed for Beau- 
 regard. Could I arrest the women ? No. "What was to be done? No order could be made save one 
 that would execute itself. "With anxious, careful thought I hit upon this: Women who insult my 
 soldiers are to be regarded and treated as common women plying their vocation. 
 
 " Pray, how do you treat a common woman plying her vocation in the streets ? You pass her by 
 unheeded She cannot insult youl As a gentleman, you can and will take no notice of her. If she 
 
 32 
 
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER. 251 
 
 He has been the Government s faithful servant, and his services will link his 
 name for ever with that of the Crescent City. It was a fortunate day for New- 
 Orleans when " Picayune Butler came to town." The people who hate him can 
 hardly help admiring him ! 
 
 General Butler saved the city, not only from its own suicidal madness, but 
 from the dread visitation of that malignant fever which has periodically changed 
 the crowded metropolis into one vast charnel-house. That the yellow-fever would 
 lay the invading Yankees at the mercy of their enemies, was the prayer and ex 
 pectation of every noble son and daughter of the South. One "eminent divine" 
 in. the conquered city was heard to remark, that strong as was his belief in special 
 providential dispensations, that faith would receive a severe, perhaps a fatal shock, 
 if the sickness did not become epidemic in New-Orleans, the approaching sum 
 mer. Fortunately, Providence and the Major- General commanding warded off 
 that calamity. Sanitary science had long interested General Butler. His inves 
 tigations led him to adopt the theory that the yellow-fever is indigenous in no 
 region where there is frost every winter. There is frost every winter throughout 
 the United States. He therefore argued that the yellow-fever is brought from 
 tropical ports. He at once established such rigorous quarantine laws as again 
 brought him in conflict with the testy representatives of "neutral" powers. The 
 fever raged at Nassau, Havana, and other neighboring ports ; but New-Orleans 
 escaped untouched. 
 
 While General Butler was deeply engaged in elaborating plans for the farther 
 benefit of the people of Louisiana, he was abruptly superseded by General Banks. 
 
 speaks, her words are not opprobrious. It is only when she becomes a continuous and positive nuisance 
 that you call a watchman and give her in charge to him. 
 
 " But some of the Northern editors seem to think that whenever one meets such a woman, one must 
 stop her, talk with her, insult her, or hold dalliance with her ; and so from their own conduct they con 
 strued my order. 
 
 " The editor of the Boston Courier may so deal with common women, and out of the abundance of 
 the heart his mouth may speak ; but so do not I. 
 
 " Why, these she-adders of New Orleans themselves were at once shamed into propriety of conduct 
 by the order; and, from that day, no woman has either insulted or annoyed any live soldier or officer, and 
 of a certainty no soldier has insulted any woman. 
 
 "When I passed through Baltimore, on the 23d of February last, members of my staff were insulted 
 by the gestures of the ladies (?) there. Not so in New Orleans. 
 
 " One of the worst possible of all these women showed disrespect to the remains of gallant young 
 Do Kay ; and you will see her punishment a copy of the order of which I enclose is at once a vindica 
 tion and a construction of my order. 
 
 " I can only say that I would issue it again under like circumstances. Again thanking you for your 
 
 kind interest, I am truly your friend, 
 
 "BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major- General commanding." 
 
252 BENJAMIN F BUTLER. 
 
 Considering the success and importance of his labors, the following order relieving 
 him of his command, reads rather coldly : 
 
 WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL S OFFICE, ) 
 WASHINGTON, November 9, 1862. ) 
 
 GENERAL ORDER No. 184. 
 
 BY direction of the President of the United States, Major-General Banks is 
 assigned to the command of the Department of the Gulf, including the State of 
 Texas. By order of the Secretary of War, 
 
 E. D. THOMAS, Assistant Adjt. -General. 
 II. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 
 
 The precise reason of^General Butler s recall has not, up to the present moment, 
 been made known to him. 
 
 On his return home, every city he passed through gavfc him such honorable 
 welcome as is given only to heroes. For a time he reposed in the shade of his 
 laurels. 
 
 General Butler was not, however, destined to remain long inactive. He 
 superseded General Foster at Fortress Monroe, to participate in the present great 
 campaign against Eichmond under General Grant. Which statement brings our 
 brief summary of General Butler s services down to July, 1864. 
 
 As a man, General Butler is of a warm, impulsive temperment, generous, 
 combative, and brusque. As a politician, he is earnest and formidable. As an 
 advocate, he has never ranked with the leaders of the Massachusetts bar, though 
 his success as a criminal lawyer is, perhaps, without parallel. As an orator, he 
 is fluent and effective, but seldom eloquent. He is apt at reading character, and 
 sometimes applies his knowledge with consummate shrewdness. As a soldier, 
 he has evinced many very high qualities : he has undertaken and performed 
 various onerous duties with such eclat, that none but his most ungenerous politi 
 cal adversaries can withhold their commendation. 
 
t 
 
 ~^\A ^L / 
 
 / lUrf^ 
 
LOVELL- HAKRISON ROUSSEAU. 
 
 IOVELL HARRISON ROUSSEAU was born in Lincoln County, Ken- 
 J tucky, in 1820. He is descended from a Huguenot family, who emigrated 
 from France to America after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and settled in 
 Virginia, where his ancestors for many generations resided. By the mother s side 
 he is connected with the Gaineses and the Peiidletons of that State. His father 
 was a first cousin of President Harrison. 
 
 His parents were too poor to give him a good education, and indeed he 
 never went to school after he was ten years old. When he was thirteen his father 
 died, leaving a large family of young*children unprovided for. Lovell, being the 
 eldest son then at home, obtained work on a macadamized road from Lexington 
 to Lancaster. His education had not been entirely neglected. With the help of 
 his mother and sisters he had continued his studies after leaving school, and even 
 begun the study of French ; and now he used to write out his French verbs at 
 night, and when he went to his work in the morning, spread the paper out before 
 him, with a stone upon it to prevent it from blowing away, and learned the conju 
 gations while he beat rock. 
 
 In 1840, he removed to the neighborhood of Louisville, and began to study 
 law. He had no help or direction from any one, and never was asked a question 
 or had a conversation on the subject of his studies until he offered himself to be 
 examined for a license. For about six months he applied himself closely to his 
 books, reading law fourteen hours and history two hours every day. This in 
 tense application brought on a severe sickness, and after several months confine 
 ment he arose from his bed with only five dollars and a half in the world, and no 
 prospect of having more until he could earn it at the bar. He resolved to go to 
 Indiana, thinking he could combine study with practice much sooner there than 
 in Kentucky. He did not know a man in the State ; but having made up his 
 mind to settle at Bloomfield, he started afoot, with all his worldly goods tied up 
 in his cloak and swung over his shoulder. Arrived at his place of destination, he 
 went to the principal hotel, frankly told the landlord that he had no money, but 
 would have plenty some day, and asked if he would trust him. The worthy host 
 consented, and treated his guest so generously then and on many subsequent 
 occasions as to win his lasting gratitude. 
 
254 LOVELL HARRISON ROUSSEAU. 
 
 After a little more study, young Eousseau applied to Judge McDonald for a 
 license. At the end of a long examination, the Judo^e said : " Sir, you are not a 
 
 <^j O v 
 
 lawyer, but you will make one ; I will give you a license, though you do not 
 deserve it." The Judge was not deceived. Mr. Rousseau did make a lawyer, 
 and took a very fair position at the bar from the start. In 1844 and 1845 he 
 was a member of the Indiana Legislature, in which he exerted great influence. 
 Raising a company of volunteers for the Mexican war in 1846, he was commis 
 sioned Captain in the Second Indiana volunteers the same regiment which suf 
 fered so severely at Buena Vista. Captain Rousseau lost more than a quarter of 
 his men, but brought his company in good order off the field, and was highly 
 complimented in the official report of his commanding officer, Colonel Humphrey 
 Marshall. Immediately after his return home, he was elected to the Indiana 
 Senate by an immense majority in a Democratic district, although he had always 
 been a Whig. Before his term of office expired, he removed to Louisville in 
 1849, but his Indiana constituents would not allow him to resign. 
 
 A Kentucky lawyer in those days had need of many qualifications besides 
 a knowledge of the law. If he would defend an unpopular cause, he must be 
 able to stand fire ; for while his professional opponents confronted him in court 
 with Kent and Blackstone, the mob was very apt to assail him outside with bul 
 lets and gunpowder. Mr. Rousseau had all the requirements for such a career, 
 and he still carries in his body a leaden memento of his experience at the Louis 
 ville bar. His defence of the Joyce negroes, indicted for murder, was a striking 
 instance of his readiness to face popular odium and grave bodily danger in the 
 discharge of his professional duty. The intrepid and chivalric spirit which always 
 prompted him to espouse the cause of the weak and friendless, and which, in his 
 subsequent military career, has won for him the sobriquet of "the Bayard of the 
 West," we may be sure was not without its influence over Kentucky juries. It 
 was in jury trials especially and in the management in court of difficult cases that 
 he made his reputation. 
 
 In 1860, he was elected a member of the Kentucky Senate, receiving the 
 nomination of both parties. When the doctrine of neutrality was broached in the 
 Legislature, he strenuously opposed it, holding that Kentucky was in duty bound, 
 as a member of the Union, to put forth all her energies in support of the Govern 
 ment. Being overruled in this, he went to Washington and obtained authority 
 to raise troops in Kentucky. But even the Union men of his State opposed him. 
 " Old friends," said he, " whom I had known well for many years, passed me in 
 the public streets of my own city without recognition, because they had turned 
 traitors and I had remained loyal to the Government of our fathers. This state 
 of things growing worse daily, I finally resolved to speak to no one who did not 
 first speak to me. I walked the streets of my own city as if in a strange town, 
 
LOVELL HARRISON ROUSSEAU. 255 
 
 and little as I love battles and danger, I would prefer fighting a battle once a 
 month to going through what I did in raising my brigade. 
 
 " The leading men of the State who were for the Government met at Louis 
 ville, and, after mature deliberation, resolved that it was impolitic to enlist sol 
 diers here at that time. I was instructed from Washington to act in harmony 
 with the Union men of the State. With much reluctance I abandoned the pro 
 ject of enlisting my soldiers on Kentucky soil, and went to camp Jo Holt, in 
 Indiana. 
 
 Eousseau s two regiments, known as the Louisville Legion, were ordered to 
 Missouri. "And then," said he, "my friends who had rather stood aloof awoke 
 and came forward, and wisely, as events showed, and got the President to coun 
 termand the order. Soon after, Buckner came into the State with his army of 
 double traitors traitors to their State and to the nation and on the memorable 
 night of the seventeenth of September we crossed the Ohio River and marched out 
 under General Sherman to meet them. By some means that ardent desire of our 
 hearts was never fulfilled, but Buckner never came to Louisville." 
 
 For this service he was commissioned Brigadier-General of volunteers, Octo 
 ber first, 1861. Attached to the army of the Ohio, under General Buell, he shared 
 in the battle of Shiloh, where the official reports of Buell, Sherman, and McCook 
 paint his conduct in the most glowing colors, and speak of him as having "won 
 the admiration of the whole army." He took a conspicuous part in the operations 
 which led to the evacuation of Corinth, and in the last skirmish which took place 
 there was hotly engaged within six hundred yards of the enemy s works. Being 
 afterward assigned the command of a division in McCook s corps, he earned pro 
 motion to the rank of Major-General by his gallantry at the battle of Perry ville, 
 October eighth, 1862 ; his commission, which was not made out, however, until the 
 following March, dating from the day of the battle. He commanded a division 
 under General Thomas at the battle of Stone River, December thirty-first to Janu 
 ary second, 1862-3, in his report of which General Rosecrans complimented him 
 as "the ever-ready Rousseau." 
 
 A great part of the interval between this and the following campaign General 
 Rousseau spent in raising a force of mounted infantry, which, as it was supposed, 
 would prove of great service in suppressing guerrilla warfare. He is now in com 
 mand of the Military District of Tennessee. 
 
 In person, General Rousseau is tall, well-proportioned, and athletic. When 
 a youth, his achievements as a wrestler and foot-racer were a theme of admiration 
 for the Kentucky woodsmen among whom he lived, and he still retains his activi 
 ty and power of endurance unimpaired. 
 
JAMES E. B. STTJABT. 
 
 THE subject of this memoir was born in Patrick County, Virginia, about the 
 year 1829. In his youth he gave evidence of many qualities that fitted him 
 for the position he afterward occupied. His father was Archibald Stuart, Mem 
 ber of Congress for a Virginia district, but who died in the year 1854. 
 
 Young Stuart received a good education, and entered the West-Point Acade 
 my m 1850. In 1854, he received a commission as Second Lieutenant in a 
 mounted rifle corps of the United States army. One year afterward he was trans 
 ferred to the First regular cavalry, with General J. E. Johnston as his Lieutenant- 
 Colonel, and the gallant Union Genera Sumner as his Colonel. Under them 
 Stuart fought in the wilds of New-Mexico, now engaging with tribes of hostile 
 Indians, now hunting up hordes of lawless banditti, and ever performing some 
 dashing and fearless exploit. Soon he became noted amongst his compeers for 
 these bold and skilful charges upon a wily and dangerous foe. On the twenty- 
 ninth July, 1857, he was wounded in a severe fight with three hundred braves of 
 the Cheyenne tribe, who were, however, defeated. 
 
 In May, 1861, PresidenfcLincoln appointed Lieutenant Stuart to a captaincy 
 in the cavalry of the United States ; but, in common with many other South 
 ern officers, he declined the appointment and went over to the rebel army, where 
 he w r as made Colonel of a Virginia cavalry regiment. 
 
 In July, 1861, at the first battle of Bull Run, he commanded all the cavalry 
 attached to Beauregard s and Johnston s armies, and did good service to the con 
 federate cause. 
 
 On September eleventh, 1861, Stuart, in command of infantry, artillery, and 
 cavalry, succeeded in routing a Union force at Lewinsville, Va. For this he was 
 highly complimented in a general order by Longstreet and Johnston, and was ap 
 pointed a Brigadier-General. 
 
 In December, 1861, he was at the attack upon the Union forces at Drains- 
 ville, and after this appears to have gone South in winter quarters toward Rich 
 mond. 
 
 In the beginning of the Peninsula war of 1862, Stuart made several cavalry 
 expeditions, culminating in that most famous raid, during June, through and 
 around General McClellan s army. He started from the Richmond lines with a 
 
JAMES E. B. STUART. 257 
 
 force of six hundred sabres and two pieces of artillery, made his way through the 
 Federal outposts, and reached the Pamunkey River beyond. There he destroyed 
 a great quantity of Government supplies, made several captures, and created no 
 small amount of alarm. He then turned round toward the Chickahominy, fully 
 encompassing the Union army, and, after some difficulty as regards crossing the 
 river, finally succeeded in reaching the confederate lines again in safety, with no 
 material loss to his men. Thereupon, he was promoted to the rank of Major-Gen 
 eral in the rebel army, and placed in command of a division of cavalry. 
 
 Barely two months later he was again at work with one of his remarkble ex 
 ploits. On the twenty-second of August, General Pope was at Catlett s Station, 
 Va., with the Union forces, when in the midst of* a heavy storm, Stuart dashed in 
 upon his right flank, penetrated to headquarters, and succeeded in capturing im 
 portant papers, besides taking the private effects and dress-uniform of Pope and 
 several of his officers. In the beginning of the following October, only seven 
 weeks after this exploit, Stuart made a bold dash into Pennsylvania. 
 
 General Lee, commanding the rebel army, then in camp near Winchester, 
 Va., gave Stuart orders to attempt a cavalry expedition into Maryland. On the 
 ninth. of October, Stuart issued an address to his command, enjoining "implicit 
 obedience to orders, without question or cavil, and the strictest order and sobrie 
 ty on the march and in bivouac." He also told his men that the destination and 
 extent of the expedition would be better kept to himself. He then gave an 
 order directing brigade commanders to make arrangements for seizing horses, etc., 
 the property of persons under the United States flag, but that, in every case, a re 
 ceipt was to be given showing such seizure to be for the confederate service. All 
 individual plunder for private use was forbidden. Public functionaries were to 
 be made prisoners, but to be kindly treated ; and all persons in transit to be de 
 tained until his command had passed in safety. 
 
 He started with a cavalry force of one thousand eight hundred men, and four 
 pieces of horse artillery. The expedition rendezvoused at Darksville and marched 
 to Hedgesville, where they camped for the night. At daylight of the tenth Octo 
 ber, Stuart crossed the Potomac at McCoy s, (between Williamsport and Hancock,) 
 meeting with some little opposition from a small detachment of the Federals 
 stationed there. Thence he struck northward till reaching the road to Hagers- 
 town, which he crossed and went on to Mercersburgh, arriving there at noon. 
 Then, after a short rest, he proceeded toward Chambersburgh. What followed 
 there may be best related from an account given by Colonel A. K. McClure, of 
 that city. 
 
 He says that, after ascertaining the rebel cavalry had really crossed the Poto 
 mac, astonishing every one by such audacity, improvised pickets were placed on 
 the several roads by which, as it was supposed, they might enter. Night came 
 
258 JAMES E. B. STUART. 
 
 on ; the rain was pouring down in torrents ; and citizens with muskets were run 
 ning to and fro, without any organization. Presently the clattering of hoofs was 
 heard on the western pike, and in a few moments the rebel advance was in the 
 centre of the town. They bore a flag of truce, and required that Chambersburgh 
 should be surrendered to the confederate forces. 
 
 As there was no Union garrison or soldiers there, Colonel McClure and three 
 other citizens responded, after consultation with their fellow-townsmen. They 
 accompanied the rebel escort back on the road for a mile to where General Hamp 
 ton was found, in command of Stuart s advance. There every respect and cour 
 tesy were shown to McClure and his companions, who, as a deputation from Cham 
 bersburgh, formally surrendered the town. Stuart . and his force soon afterward 
 entered and took possession, but though some eight hundred horses were seized, 
 and public property destroyed to about the value of three hundred thousand dol 
 lars, nothing, of a different kind, belonging to private persons was touched. 
 
 About seven A.M. next day the rebel advance moved on toward Gettysburgh. 
 But, until the whole of his force left, General Stuart remained on horseback in 
 the centre of the town, surrounded by his staff, seeing his orders executed. In 
 one or two instances his men commenced taking private property from stores, but 
 they were immediately arrested by Stuart s provost-guard, and, according to Colo 
 nel McClure, the rebel General left behind him a reputation for being a kind and 
 humane soldier. 
 
 From Chambersburgh Stuart marched toward Gettysburgh, but, on passing 
 the Blue Eidge, he turned back toward Hagerstown for six or eight miles, then 
 crossed into Maryland by Emmittsburgh. Thence they proceeded by Frederick, 
 and, crossing the Monocacy, continued the march all night via Liberty, New-Mar 
 ket, Monrovia, and the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad, cutting wires and tearing up 
 the track. At daylight they reached Ilyattstown, and proceeded thence toward 
 Poolesville, but, at two or three miles off, turned into the woods, and finally suc 
 ceeded in recrossing the Potomac at White s Ford, whence they soon afterward 
 got back to Lee. 
 
 This successful raid of Stuart s naturally gave him a high reputation in the 
 rebel army, and we find him again actively engaged almost directly after his re 
 turn. On the fifth of November he encountered Pleasanton at the Barbee s Cross- 
 Roads, and had a fight with that bold cavalry officer. In December, at the battle 
 of Fredericksburgh, Stuart, with two brigades of cavalry and artillery, covered the 
 flank of the confederate line on the right, and opened a most destructive fire 
 on the advancing Federals. Shortly afterward he crossed the Rappahannock, 
 above Burnside s army, and attacked Dumfries, Va. He then advanced toward 
 Alexandria, burned Accotink Bridge, then passed north of Fairfax Court-House, 
 
JAMES E. B. STUART. 259 
 
 and finally returned to Culpeper, with, two hundred prisoners and twenty-five 
 wagons. 
 
 In March, 1863, Stuart was at the rebel headquarters, in command of all the 
 cavalry, when Mosby made a dashing raid, and succeeded in capturing Brigadier- 
 General Stoughton, of the Union army. He then issued a congratulatory order 
 on the result, in which he speaks of Mosby in terms of high commendation. 
 
 After this, in May, we find that Stuart was sent for to take control of Stone 
 wall Jackson s corps, when he and his immediate successor, General A. P. Hill, 
 were wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville. 
 
 On June ninth he had another encounter with Pleasanton at Beverly Ford ; 
 and on the twenty-eighth, accompanied Lee toward Maryland, but was left to 
 guard the passes of the mountains and harass Hooker s army. This he did with 
 his usual daring and skill, marching in various directions and doing considerable 
 damage. Finally he reached Carlisle, and shared in the battle of Getty sbiirgh, 
 ultimately retreating by the way of Williamsport to the South. 
 
 In October, Stuart again moved forward. He advanced to Madison Court- 
 House, and on the eleventh had an engagement with the Federal cavalry under 
 Buford. Seven days afterward he had a fight with Meade s cavalry, and after this 
 fell back into winter quarters with the rebel army. 
 
 We now come to a period when the daring exploits of Stuart were to have 
 an end. It is well known that at the outset of our present war the advantage of 
 cavalry was not seen as it is now. But Stoneman, Grierson, Kilpatrick, Ouster, 
 Gregg, Torbert, and Sheridan have nobly demonstrated its immense benefit to our 
 armies. The latter General, during the late battles in the Wilderness, (1864,) was 
 detached with his fine body of cavalry to hunt after Stuart s division, who, on the 
 sixth of May, had made a demonstration against our forces. Stuart was encoun 
 tered and driven back. He then hastily made for Ashland Station, on the Frede- 
 ricksburgh Railroad, and across the South Anna River, hotly followed by Sheri 
 dan, whose cavalry succeeded in arri-ving there first and doing considerable damage. 
 Stuart, finding the Union force under Sheridan had passed on toward Richmond, 
 promptly pursued, and, on the morning of May twelfth, at a place called the Yel 
 low Tavern, met a portion of the Federalists under General Wilson and Colonel 
 Gregg. Stuart immediately put out a line of skirmishers ; but, on seeing Gregg 
 with his brigade preparing to charge on his left, he and his staff dashed down the 
 line to form his men. At this moment, Gregg and his gallant fellows came thun 
 dering on toward Stuart, whose well-known person was immediately recognized. 
 Twelve shots, at short-range, were quickly fired at him, while his men were being 
 routed in a short space of time. Stuart, with the bravery that undoubtedly char 
 acterized him, promptly wheeled round upon his assailants and fired six shots in 
 succession. But the last of the shots sent at him struck the left side of hia 
 
260 
 
 JAMES E. B. STUART. 
 
 stomach. Nerving himself, however, he still retained his seat in the saddle, and 
 turned round to seek the protection of his own lines. But, before he reached 
 them, his wound overcame him, and he was helped from his horse by one of his 
 troopers, and thence carried to a place of security. Subsequently he was taken 
 to Richmond in an ambulance, and conveyed to the residence of Dr. Brewer, a 
 relative of his, where at twenty-two minutes to eight o clock that evening 
 he died. 
 
DAVID GLASGOW FABEAGUT. 
 
 AMONG those who have distinguished themselves in the defence of their 
 country against her rebellious enemies, in none has patriotism burned with 
 a purer light or a warmer glow than in Commodore Farragut. Born in the 
 South, connected by marriage with one of the oldest and most influential families 
 of Virginia, surrounded by Southern associations and Southern ties, both of family 
 and property he yet proved faithful and true in the hour of his country s trial, 
 and rising above local influence and passions, and resisting all the temptations of 
 unprincipled ambition, devoted himself with single-hearted zeal to the cause of 
 national integrity and honor. 
 
 David Glascow Farragut was born about the year 1801, in a town situated 
 twelve miles from Knoxville, in East-Tennessee. His father was a Major in a 
 United States cavalry regiment, and was an intimate friend of General Andrew 
 Jackson. The early years of the future Rear- Admiral were passed amid the dan 
 gers and vicissitudes of border-life, where scenes of a thrilling character were not 
 unfrequently enacted, so that while yet a boy he became inured to peril and 
 strife. On one occasion he was rescued from the cruel mercies of an Indian toma 
 hawk only by the heroic bearing of his devoted mother, who kept the red-faced 
 enemies at bay till her husband, with a squadron of horse, caused them to take to 
 their heels. 
 
 A short time previous to the breaking out of the war of 1812, Major Farra 
 gut was called to the command of a gunboat at New-Orleans, and thither he re 
 moved with his family. Here was first formed young David s taste for the navy ; 
 his only brother having received an appointment as midshipman, his emulation 
 to occupy a similar position was instantly roused. His youthful ambition was 
 soon gratified by Commodore David D. Porter, who, pleased with the boy s ap 
 pearance, took him on board his own ship, the far-famed Essex. In a bloody 
 engagement off Valparaiso, between the Essex and the two British sloops, Phcebe 
 and Cherub, the young midshipman distinguished himself by his his gallant be 
 havior, and narrowly escaped with his life, having fallen down a hatchway while 
 executing one of the Commodore s orders. When it was decided to surrender 
 the brave little brig, David was sent to throw overboard the signal-book, lest it 
 should fall into the enemy s hands, the signal-master being missing. Young Far 
 ragut behaved throughout the action with a manly spirit, but when he saw the 
 
262 DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT. 
 
 American colors hauled down in token of defeat he burst into tears, nor did he 
 willingly surrender himself prisoner till, after a pugilistic encounter with a young 
 English " middy," he had secured the possession of a favorite pig, the pet of him 
 self and his fellow-sailors. 
 
 When but thirteen years of age, our hero was appointed master of the Bar 
 clay, one of the British vessels which had fallen as prizes to the Essex. lie was 
 ordered to navigate her from Guayaquil Bay to Valparaiso, convoyed by the 
 Essex, Jr., another prize. This arrangement met with opposition from Captain 
 Randall, the former commander of the Barclay, who was mortified at being under 
 the control of a mere boy, and swore he would not follow the Essex, Jr., into 
 port, and would " shoot the first man who touched a brace." Nothing daunted, 
 the young master issued his orders regardless of threats, and on overtaking the 
 Essex, Jr., reported Randall s conduct, and offered, after an investigation, to show 
 his independence by returning to Valparaiso as prize-master, taking Captain Ran 
 dall as an adviser in navigation, should the Barclay be separated from the other 
 vessels. This he was permitted to do, and accomplished his object without fur 
 ther difficulty. 
 
 On his return to the United States, he was placed by Commodore Porter at 
 Chester, Pennsylvania, under the tuition of one of Bonaparte s Swiss Guards, who 
 gave instruction in military tactics and athletic sports, in addition to the ordinary 
 branches. While at this school the national capital was attacked by the British, 
 and David s old companions, the crew of the Essex, passed through Chester on 
 their way to its defence. Farragut begged hard for Commodore Porter s permis 
 sion to join them, but the request was denied on the score that he was too young 
 for land fighting. 
 
 After a few years of adventurous life, the young sailor was. placed as mid 
 shipman on board the Franklin, a seventy-four gun line-of-battle ship, in 1820. 
 He remained on this vessel till January of the following year, when we find him 
 recorded as being off duty in the city of New- York. Being now twenty-one years 
 of age, he passed his examination in the "Empire City," and was recommended 
 for promotion. His position in the navy remained, however, unchanged till 1825. 
 During the four intervening years, having been ordered on the West-India station, 
 he made an interesting cruise after pirates in the Caribbean Sea, and on his return 
 was finally commissioned as Lieutenant on the thirteenth of January, 1825. For 
 some months succeeding his promotion he remained acting in his new capacity on 
 the India station till transferred to the Brandywine, a forty-four gun frigate, upon 
 which vessel he reported on the first of January, 1826. During the latter part 
 of this year he was ordered to the receiving-ship at Norfolk, Virginia, where he 
 remained till late in 1828. He was then ordered to the sloop Vandalia, .an eigh- 
 teen-gun vessel-of-war, which joined the American squadron on the coast of 
 
DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT. 263 
 
 Brazil, lie remained on this station about two years, when he returned to Nor 
 folk and continued to hold his former position on the receiving-ship during the 
 residue of 1830, throughout 1831 and 1832, and some portion of 1833. He was 
 next ordered to the sloop-of-war Natchez, then stationed on the coast of Brazil, 
 in the capacity of executive officer. On his return to the United States, about 
 the end of 1834, he obtained leave of absence for the enjoyment of an interval of 
 rest He was not again engaged in active public duty till the year 1838, when he 
 was ordered on the West-India station for the second time. He did not remain 
 there long, however, for we find him awaiting orders in the commencement of 
 18-10, and recorded in ordinary at Norfolk on the first of January, 1841. During 
 this vear, on the eighth of September, he was commissioned a Commander in the 
 navv and ordered to the sloop-of-w r ar Decatur, a sixteen-gun vessel. In her, Com 
 mander Farragut sailed on his third voyage to Brazil, joining the squadron sta 
 tioned there. He remained at this post about twelve months, when he was again 
 allowed absence on leave. During 1843 and 1844 he was out of active service 
 awaiting orders, till finally stationed again at the navy-yard at Norfolk, where he 
 remained till 1847. During this year he w r as ordered to the command of the 
 sloop-of-war Saratoga, carrying twenty guns, then stationed on the home squad 
 ron. On his return he took up his old position at the Norfolk Navy- Yard, where 
 he held command second to Commodore Sloat, He remained here till 1851, when 
 he was appointed Assistant Inspector of Ordnance, being second in command 
 under Commodore Skinner. In 1854 a new field of service was opened by the 
 establishment of a navy-yard at Mare Island, near San Francisco, California. 
 Commander Farragut s name having risen, from various causes, thirty-eight de 
 grees on the navy roll since 1843, and now ranking number eighteen on the list 
 of commanders, he was ordered to the chief command at Mare Island, and became 
 Commandant of the new navy-yard. This position he filled with distinguished 
 ability till the year 1858, when, having been commissioned in September, 1855, 
 as Captain of the United States navy, he was ordered to the command of the 
 steam-sloop Brooklyn, a twenty-five gun vessel, forming a portion of the home 
 squadron under Flag-Officer McCluney. Captain Farragut was, however, removed 
 from this command during the month of May, 1860, and the first of January, 
 1861, found him again awaiting orders at Norfolk, where he was residing with his 
 family. With the rebellion, which first reared its head during this year, Captain 
 Farragut, notwithstanding his Southern interests, felt no sympathy, but expressed, 
 with characteristic independence and warmth, his opposition to the course of the 
 Southern people. He resisted all the flattering inducements of his many friends 
 to desert the old flag, and closing his ears to the voice of the tempters, determined 
 to leave with his family the city, in which he had passed so many years and go 
 where he might live in the peaceful enjoyment of his patriotic sentiments. Ac- 
 
264 DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT. 
 
 cordingly, on the eighteenth of April, 1861, the very night before the navy-yard 
 was burned by the rebels, Captain Farragut left Norfolk, and proceeded on his 
 way to New-York. Arriving at Baltimore, he found the railroad northward had 
 been destroyed the day before, and was therefore obliged to complete the journey 
 by engaging a passage for himself and family on a canal-boat. On reaching New- 
 York, he immediately procured a cottage at Hastings, on the Hudson River, 
 where he could leave his family in safety, while he remained ready for action at 
 his country s call. Owing to the death or desertion of some of his associate cap 
 tains in the service, Captain Farragut had risen to number thirty-one on the roll 
 of captains in the navy. His name, therefore, in connection with his past services 
 and his fidelity to the Government, was quickly suggested when the expedition 
 against New-Orleans was fixed upon early in 1862. He was appointed Flag-Offi 
 cer of the fleet, and sailed as Eear- Admiral in the flag-ship Hartford, for the Cres 
 cent City, which surrendered, after a desperate defence, on the twenty-eighth of 
 April. The courage and skill displayed by Commodore Farragut in this memo 
 rable engagement, together with the important results which crowned his success, 
 won for him the gratitude and admiration of a generous people. After the cap 
 ture of New-Orleans, Commodore Farragut continued in command of the "Western 
 Gulf blockading squadron, superintending the attacks along the coast of Texas, 
 and conducting the naval operations on the Southern Mississippi, at Port Hudson, 
 and other points, success alwa} r s following in the wake of the flag-ship Hartford. 
 
GEN. JAM E S LONG SIR K ET . 
 
JAMES LOWGSTEEET. 
 
 THE subject of this sketch was born in Virginia, and entered as a cadet at 
 West-Point in 1838. lie was breveted a Second Lieutenant of the Fourth 
 regular infantry on July first, 1842. In March, 1845, he was appointed to the 
 Eighth infantry; and commanded a light artillery company at Monterey in Mex 
 ico, where he greatly distinguished himself. He was a First Lieutenant in Febru 
 ary, 1847, and acted as Adjutant from June the same year, till July, 1849. 
 
 After the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, he was, on the twentieth 
 August, 1848, made brevet Captain "for gallant and meritorious conduct;" and 
 on the eighth of September following, was brevetted a Major for distinguished 
 bravery in the battle of El Molino del Hey. He also figured conspicuously in 
 the assault on Chapultepec, where he was severely wounded. 
 
 In 1861, when the rebellion commenced, Major Longstreet immediately 
 offered himself to the rebels, and received an appointment under General Beaure- 
 gard. At the battle of Bull Run, July eighteenth, 1861, his brigade covered 
 Blackburn s Ford, and he himself was especially praised by the rebel commander 
 for his efforts on that occasion. 
 
 In March, 1862, Longstreet was with the rebel army, at Winchester, when 
 defeated by General Shields. He then accompanied General Lee to the Penin 
 sula, and commanded the rear -guard in the retreat from Yorktown. At Williams- 
 burgh he vainly tried to arrest the onward progress of the victorious Federals ; 
 and, in the battles that followed, on and about the Chickahominy, he was con 
 spicuous for coolness, bravery, and skill. 
 
 In August, 1862, when the rebel army again moved North, Longstreet was 
 directed to join Stonewall Jackson, which he did, on the twenty-ninth, by passing 
 thorough Thoroughfare Gap. On the following day he shared in the second 
 battle of Manassas Plains, and then accompanied Lee across the Potomac into 
 Maryland, joining in the battle of Antietam. With the rebel army, he then 
 retreated to Winchester ; but, soon afterward, he proceeded to Warrenton, and 
 thence to Fredericksburgh, at which place he commanded the left of the rebel 
 forces in the attack made upon them by Burnside. 
 
 In April, 1863, we find Longstreet investing Suffolk in North-Carolina ; and 
 then again, in May, he is at Chancellorsville with his veteran soldiers. From 
 
266 JAMES LONGSTREET. 
 
 there lie proceeds once more to Fredericksburgh ; then back to Culpeper, and 
 thence with Lee again to Maryland. At the battle of Gettysburgh he was on the 
 right of the rebel army, and opposed to General Sickles. In September, he was 
 sent to reenforce Bragg, in East-Tennessee, and, on the twentieth, commanded the 
 left of the rebel army at the battle of Chickamagua. 
 
 On the eighteenth of October, Grant took command of the Department of 
 Tennessee, the Union army being then at Chattanooga, and the rebel forces on 
 Lookout Mountain. Soon after this, Longstreet was detached from Bragg and 
 sent on an expedition against Knoxville. Orders were, therefore, forwarded to 
 Burnside, who commanded in that department, to hire him away as far as possible. 
 Accordingly, Burnside moved from Knoxville to meet Longstreet, which he did 
 at London, and, after a sharp Contest, the rebels were repulsed. Burnside, how 
 ever, withdrew to Knoxville to fortify his position there ; and Longstreet imme 
 diately laid siege to it, surrounding the city on the eighteenth of November. 
 On the twenty-ninth, reenforced by the troops of Jones, Jackson, and "Williams, 
 he made the assault. In strong force, he charged upon General Ferrero s position 
 at Fort Saunders, but was met by such a murderous discharge of grapeshot and 
 canister, and by Such a steady fire from the Union rifle-pits, that his troops 
 faltered and fell back, and, finally, were repulsed with great slaughter. Gene 
 ral Burnside humanely offered a truce to Longstreet, until the evening, to afford 
 time for removing the wounded and burying the dead. 
 
 The attack having failed, and hearing that Sherman was approaching to join 
 Burnside, Longstreet made a hasty retreat toward Virginia, with the Union troops 
 in close pursuit. At Bean s Station, on December fourteenth, an encounter took 
 place, without any material result ; and Longstreet then proceeded to Redbridge 
 and Bull Gap, where he made a stand, on account of its great natural advantages. 
 
 On the sixteenth of December, General Averill succeeded in cutting off 
 Longstreet s communications with Eichmond by damaging the Virginia and Ten 
 nessee Railroad at Salem, and destroying several depots and wagons with rebel 
 stores. But the rebels succeeded elsewhere in capturing large quantities of Union 
 supplies, which thus counterbalanced it, and enabled Longstreet to subsist his 
 army. In January, 1864, he was heavily reenforced, and again made a movement 
 upon Knoxville. On the route a. partial success over a portion of the Union 
 forces sent to intercept the rebels, enabled him to advance within a few miles of 
 the city ; but, after some short stay in the neighborhood, he was once more com 
 pelled to retreat to the old position at Bull s Gap, with his headquarters at Green 
 ville. Here he remained until, in March, he was ordered to join Lee. 
 
 In the battles of the Wilderness, Longstreet s corps was opposed to the 
 Union troops under Hancock. On Thursday, May fifth, about four P.M., the 
 fight between them began, and continued furiously till night. Hancock, with his 
 
JAMES LONGSTREET. 267 
 
 accustomed daring and skill, making the most impetuous assaults upon his foe, 
 who, however, were veterans of well-trained soldiers, and thus, for a time, drove 
 back the fresh recruits of the Union army. But the indomitable courage of our 
 troops, under Hancock s own cyo and personal encouragement, finally drove Long- 
 street back over a mile. 
 
 Next morning, at daylight, the fight was renewed. Longstreet was reenforced 
 by Lee sending some fresh troops to him, and a part of Burnside s corps was 
 accordingly detached to the assistance of Hancock. But the nature of the battle 
 field was such, owing to the quantity of timber and its accompanying under 
 growth, that the rebels, well acquainted with the ground, had an advantage, which 
 they turned to good account. Occupying a close forest, it was found impossible 
 to dislodge them, and thus Longstreet was able, about eleven A.M., to throw the 
 National forces into some temporary confusion, and drive Hancock back to his 
 breastworks. Soon afterward the rebels succeeded in actually planting their colors 
 inside these breastworks, but not being able to sustain themselves, were soon 
 ejected. The charge of Longstreet was completely overwhelming and crushing. 
 Solid masses of infantry were hurled upon Hancock, line after line, with an im 
 petuosity which nothing could withstand. It was exceedingly fortunate for the 
 whole army that he was checked at the critical period, and driven back with as 
 much precipitation as he came. In this battle, Longstreet was severely w^ounded 
 in the neck or shoulder, and was removed to Lynchburgh for quiet and proper 
 attendance. 
 
JAMES LOUIS PETIQETJ. 
 
 JAMES LOUIS PETIGRU was born tenth May, 1789, at Abbeville, South- 
 Carolina. The place had been settled by his maternal grandfather, Mr. Gi- 
 bert, a refugee from Bordeaux on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He was 
 pastor of his little band, and endured many hardships, ending in exile and disap 
 pointment for conscience sake. Mr. Petigru inherited the same spirit of quiet de 
 votion to principle, and he was of the stuff of which martyrs are made. His 
 father, a man of the quaintest humor, was from the North of Ireland, where the 
 family still resides. His physiognomy, his wit, and mental endowments he derived 
 from his Celtic blood. But he was a universal man. Living in a small commu 
 nity, among the most prejudiced people, there was nothing provincial about him. 
 His opinions, his manners, his ways of thinking were entirely his own. On none 
 of the questions that agitated South-Carolina did he ever share the popular passion. 
 His mind rose far above their delusions, and neither fear nor favor could ever in 
 fluence his judgment. Yet his local attachment was so strong as to keep him all 
 his life at that spot, although from the time of nullification he said he knew there 
 was no State in the Union where he should have so little political influence, and 
 after the rebellion broke out he " regretted every day more and more that he had 
 not emigrated north of the Potomac forty years before." He was the real head of 
 the Union party in nullification. He called the first meeting, consisting of him 
 self and two others. They gathered all that was wise and good in the State, and 
 if the battle with disunion had then been fought out, happy would it have been 
 for the country and for him ; for he would then have seen the triumph of the 
 Constitution, instead of going out in these dark days of anguish, when his bitter 
 lament was, that having come in with the Union he should live long enough to 
 see it broken up. 
 
 His opposition to the political creed of the South was fundamental ; he was 
 a sincere Republican. They are Oligarchists he was a Federalist, and the 
 State Rights doctrine was his abhorrence, though no one would more boldly 
 have resisted any encroachment on the constitutional rights of the States. But 
 he denied that there had ever been the least attempt on the part of the Govern 
 ment to infringe upon the liberties of a State or an individual up to the time of 
 the rebellion. 
 
 The unanimity of South-Carolina, which is her boast, he pronounced the 
 
I ,. PETIG Rl 
 
JAMES LOUIS PETIGRU. 269 
 
 most portentous omen, for he said that in every healthy-minded community dif 
 ferences of opinion must exist, and he regarded a stout minority as the very bul 
 wark of government. His was a passionate devotion to the Union ; what he suf 
 fered in witnessing the dereliction of his people none may ever tell. The very 
 forbearance and respect which his character commanded from his countrymen 
 rendered his position among them more trying to him. Had he faltered or yielded 
 to the force of public sentiment, he would have been as a common man, and he 
 would have been in as much danger of their resentment as any other who should 
 venture not to go all lengths with them. That his moral and physical courage 
 made him easily resist a whole people in arms surprises no one who knew his con 
 tempt for danger, and his indifference to popular applause. But his affections 
 were peculiarly tender, the sufferings which his mad neighbors brought upon 
 themselves wrung his heart, and their affection for him was the only way to win 
 him, had there been a flaw in his virtue. He had to endure the pain of seeing 
 himself deserted by the youths he had trained up, and by the friends of his life 
 time. The men who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him in the nullification 
 times, all fell away, and he heard those he had been accustomed to honor utter 
 sentiments the most atrocious and perverse. Of the young men whose minds he 
 had so often elevated to the contemplation of noble things, not one adhered to 
 him. Nevertheless, to the very last he hoped that when the war should be over 
 the arguments in favor of the Union would address themselves better to the under 
 standings of the young. But no man ever threw himself so unhesitatingly upon 
 his own sense of right, and that satisfied, he abided with entire serenity the result. 
 He was very genial, and his unaffected hospitality is remembered with delight by 
 every stranger who had the least claim upon him. But his modesty was no less 
 remarkable than his great intellect. In the practice of his profession he seemed 
 to court only justice and benevolence, neglecting to reap wealth and careless of 
 renown. His name as a lawyer stands among the foremost in the whole country ; 
 yet he made all his great arguments in a small place, and never appeared before 
 the Supreme Court but once. He never held public office but once, and that was 
 the insignificant place of United States Attorney under Mr. Fillmore, who through 
 Mr. Webster thanked him for coming to the rescue of the Government by taking 
 the office to prevent the suspension of the laws, in consequence of the incumbent 
 resigning under pretence that no man ought to hold an office under the general 
 Government. It was at a moment of one of the ferments in South-Carolina, and 
 every man who coveted the place was afraid to take it then. When the tumult 
 subsided Mr. Petigru resigned. In 1849, he offered for the Legislature of South- 
 Carolina, in hopes of obtaining some hold on his State, but he was not elected. 
 He had sat in the Legislature during the nullification struggle. When that diffi 
 culty was staved off, and the parties dissolved, he disapproved of giving up the 
 
270 JAMES LOUIS PETIGRU. 
 
 organization of the Union party ; and his wise foresight was justified in this. 
 For the vanity of State Rights has blinded and led astray all the men who for 
 merly set their honorable pride in their whole country. 
 
 The poor and the oppressed found in him a zealous and untiring friend. As 
 a lawyer, while exerting the utmost ingenuity to present his client s case in the 
 best light, he was careful never to substitute his own character for any other 
 man s ; but if ever he was tempted to press a claim, and uncompromisingly to ig 
 nore every thing but his client s interest, it was in favor of some poor woman, the 
 victim of a hard system, and most generally not able to pay any thing for his serv 
 ices. The rights of the free negroes he was always defending; he was their 
 champion to whom they always flew as a sure refuge. For the slaves he did not 
 advocate immediate emancipation, but his ideas of slavery were diametrically op 
 posite to the unanimous voice of the South. He considered it a great social and 
 political wrong, and himself did all he could to relieve the condition of those who 
 fell under his hand. He opposed the extension of slavery over one foot of free 
 soil, and would have been glad to see it shut up in the States where it existed, to 
 die a natural death of suffocation. 
 
 He enjoyed the company of the young, and never failed to proclaim to them 
 the dignity of obedience and order. His brilliant wit and friendly humor caused 
 old and young to delight in him. 
 
 In the autumn of 1858 he had been appointed by the Legislature of South- 
 Carolina to codify her laws. The first part of this task he accomplished, and pre 
 sented in 1859-60 to the very delegates who pronounced the famous ordinance of 
 secession. Nevertheless, they reappointed him to go on with the code, and the 
 appointment was renewed the next year. A special delegation was sent to 
 Charleston to receive his yearly work in February, 1863, but he never met them. 
 The illness which proved fatal came to set him free. He met great pain and 
 death with the same firmness that he exhibited in every trial, and the people who 
 despised his counsels, with universal lamentation followed him to the grave. 
 Never was there so complete a triumph of truth over error as the tribute wrung 
 from a whole community of political opponents by the pure virtue of a single 
 man. 
 
 His example is good for all the young, for it shows a man cited as a model 
 of patriotism, without place or power, by the force of character alone, acknow 
 ledged as one of the great men of this revolution. Had he been spared to us, it 
 is believed that the day is not far distant when all eyes in the nation would have 
 turned to him to adjust the differences between the North and the South. 
 
HCXN. CHARLES SUMNER 
 
OHAELES SUMISTEE. 
 
 J3UMNER was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 6th, 1811. 
 His grandfather, Major Job Sumner, was an officer of the Revolutionary 
 army ; and his father, Charles Pinckney Sumner, a lawyer by profession, and an 
 accomplished gentleman of the old school, held during the latter part of his life 
 the responsible position of sheriff of Suffolk county, which comprises the city 
 of Boston. 
 
 At ten years of age, Charles Sumner was placed in the public Latin school 
 of Boston, the best preparatory institution for classical training in New England, 
 and, during the five years that he remained there, gave abundant evidences of 
 industry and ability. Of naturally studious habits, he devoted much of his 
 leisure time to reading history, of which he was passionately fond, and often 
 arose before daylight to peruse Hume, Gibbon, and other favorite authors. At 
 the age of fifteen, he entered Harvard College, where he was graduated in 1830, 
 holding a respectable rank in his class, though one by no means commensurate 
 with his natural abilities. More interested in the general improvement of his 
 mind than in the acquisition of academical honors, he deviated from the pre 
 scribed curriculum whenever it was opposed to his plans or tastes, and pursued 
 an independent course of reading in classical and general literature. Having 
 devoted another year to private reading in his favorite studies, he entered in 
 1831 the Law School at Cambridge, where, under the instruction of Professors 
 Ashmun and Greenleaf, and Justice Story, he acquired a profound knowledge 
 of judicial science. Not content with the information to be gained from the 
 ordinary text-books, he explored the curious learning of the old year-books, 
 made himself familiar with the voluminous reports of the English and American 
 courts, and neglected no opportunity to trace the principles of law to their sources. 
 
 While still a student, he contributed articles to the American Jurist, a law 
 quarterly published in Boston, which attracted attention by their marked ability 
 and learning. Subsequently, he became the editor of this periodical, and it is a 
 fact creditable to his early acquirements that several of his contributions have 
 been cited as authorities by Justice Story. With each of the distinguished 
 jurists above mentioned he was on terms of cordial intimacy; and Justice Story, 
 down to the time of his death, in 1845, was his warm friend and admirer. 
 
272 
 
 CHARLES SUMNER. 
 
 Leaving the Law School in 1834, Mr. Sumner passed a few months in the 
 office of Benjamin Band, in Boston, with a view of learning the forms of prac 
 tice ; and in the same year was admitted to the bar, at "Worcester. He imme 
 diately commenced practice in Boston, where his reputation for learning and 
 forensic ability secured him a warm welcome from the members of his profession, 
 and offers to enter lucrative law partnerships, which he declined, preferring to 
 make no engagements which should interfere with a long-cherished plan of 
 making a European tour. In addition to his large practice, he assumed the 
 duties of reporter of the United States circuit court, in which capacity he pub 
 lished three volumes of cases, known as "Sumner s Reports," and comprising 
 chiefly the decisions of Justice Story ; and during the absence of the latter at 
 "Washington, he filled his place for three winters at the Cambridge Law School, 
 by appointment of the university authorities a significant proof of the estima 
 tion in which his abilities were held. His lectures on constitutional law and the 
 law of nations were prepared with much labor, and greatly enhanced his reputa 
 tion. Amid these absorbing pursuits he found time to edit "Dunlap s Treatise 
 on Admiralty Practice," left unfinished by the author, and to which he added a 
 copious appendix, containing many practical forms and precedents of pleadings, 
 since adopted in our admiralty courts, and an index, the whole making a larger 
 amount of matter than the original treatise. 
 
 In 1837, having in the preceding year declined flattering offers of a profes 
 sorship at Cambridge, Mr. Sumner turned aside from the temptations and emolu 
 ments of professional life, to make his contemplated visit to Europe, where he 
 remained until 1840. Carrying to foreign lands his enthusiasm for his profes 
 sion, he made a special study in Paris of the celebrated Code Napoleon, both in 
 its essential principles and forms of procedure, with which his previous studies 
 in civil law had made him tolerably familiar. In England, where he remained 
 nearly a year, his opportunities for meeting society in all its forms were such as 
 are rarely accorded to American travellers. Bench and bar vied with each other 
 in paying attentions to him ; and in private circles, as well as in "Westminster 
 Hall where, on more than one occasion, at the invitation of the judges, he sat 
 by their side at trials his reception was most gratifying. As an evidence of 
 the impression which his extensive learning and accomplishments produced upon 
 an eminent English jurist, it is related that, several years after his return to 
 America, during the hearing in an insurance question before the court of ex 
 chequer, one of the counsel having cited an American case, Baron Parke (since 
 created Lord Wensleydale, the ablest perhaps of the English judges of the time) 
 asked him what book he quoted. He replied, "Sumner s Reports." Baron 
 Rolfe inquired, " Is that the Mr. Sumner who was once in England ?" and, upon 
 receiving a reply in the affirmative, Baron Parke observed, " We shall not con- 
 
CHARLES SUMNER. 273 
 
 sidcr it entitled to less attention, because reported by a gentleman whom we all 
 knew and respected. 
 
 In Germany, Mr. Sumner made the acquaintance of Savigny, Mittermaier, 
 and other eminent civilians, and of such distinguished characters as Humboldt, 
 Carl Eitter the geographer, and Ranke the historian of popes ; and here, as else 
 where in Europe, he was frequently consulted by writers on the law of nations. 
 At the request of Mr. Cass, then minister to France, he prepared a defence of the 
 American claim in the North-eastern Boundary controversy, which was published 
 in Galignaui s Paris Messenger ; and he also conceived the idea of writing a " His 
 tory of the Law of Nations/ a task which he finally relinquished to Mr. Whea- 
 ton, whom he had consulted on the subject. 
 
 After a brief residence in Italy, where he studied art and general literature, 
 Mr. Sumner returned in 1840 to Boston, and resumed the practice of his profes 
 sion, though to a more moderate extent than formerly, his attention being now 
 much occupied with subjects connected with social and political ethics, and 
 kindred topics. His love of law as a science, however, showed no diminution ; 
 and in 1844- 46, he produced an edition of "Vesey s Reports," in twenty vol 
 umes, enriched with numerous notes, and with w T hat was a novelty in a work of 
 the kind, biographical illustrations of the text. 
 
 Though previously known as a graceful and impressive speaker, it was not 
 until 1845 that the full effect of Mr. Sumncr s oratory was appreciated by a pub 
 lic assembly ; and not until then, it may be added, did the orator exhibit that 
 lofty moral courage which he has since illustrated on innumerable occasions, as 
 the advocate of principles which he believes to be right, in defiance of an ad 
 verse public opinion. On the 4th of July of that year, he delivered before the 
 municipal authorities of Boston an oration on " The True Grandeur of Nations, 1 
 in which he exhibited the war system as the old ordeal by battle, a relic of 
 middle-age barbarism retained by international law as the arbiter of justice 
 between nations ; and portrayed, in contrast, the blessings of peace. The doc 
 trine was not then, and is not now, popular; and, while the enunciation of it 
 gained him warm friends and admirers, others received the speaker s sentiments 
 with distrust or open ridicule. None, however, could deny the persuasive charm 
 of his elocution, the finish and elegance of the diction, and the finely-conceived 
 classical and historical illustrations with which many of his passages were en 
 riched. Justice Story, though dissenting from some of his views, declared that 
 certain, parts of his discourse were "such as befit an exalted mind and an en 
 larged benevolence," and resembled, in their manly moral enthusiasm, the great 
 efforts of Sir James Mackintosh. From Chancellor Kent and other distinguished 
 men he received equally strong tokens of approbation. In England, the oration 
 was republished in five or six different forms, and met with a ready sale. Rich- 
 
274 CHARLES SUMNER. 
 
 ard Cobden, in a letter to the author, called it " the most noble contribution of 
 any modern "writer to the cause of peace ;" and the venerable poet Rogers wrote 
 to him, " Every pu]se of my heart beats in accordance with yours on the subject." 
 His oration before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Harvard University, in Au 
 gust, 1846, entitled " The Scholar, the Jurist, the Artist, and the Philanthropist," 
 excited equal admiration ; and John Quincy Adams offered as a sentiment, at the 
 annual dinner of the society, " The memory of the scholar, the jurist, the artist, 
 and the philanthropist, and not the memory, but the long life of the kindred 
 spirit who has this day embalmed them all." Writing to the orator shortly after 
 ward, on the success of his performance, he observed, in allusion to the approach 
 ing close of his own career : " I see you have a mission to perform. I look from 
 Pisgah to the promised land you must enter upon it." How fully the injunc 
 tion of the aged statesman has been obeyed, Mr. Sumner s life attests. Thence 
 forth he frequently appeared before public bodies and literary associations as the 
 earnest and eloquent advocate of philanthropic measures ; and the two volumes 
 of his " Orations and Speeches," published in 1850, contain noble specimens of 
 national oratory. 
 
 Previous to 1845, Mr. Sumner had kept aloof from politics, his tastes being 
 averse to the rough experiences and demoralizing influences to which the pro 
 fessed politician must too often accustom himself, and inclining wholly to those 
 studies which can be pursued in the peaceful walks of private life. " The strife 
 of parties," to use his own words, "had seemed ignoble to him." He had always, 
 however, borne his testimony against slavery ; and upon the agitation, in 1846, 
 of the question of the annexation of Texas, which involved the extension of 
 slave-territory within the Union, he came promptly forward as an opponent of 
 the measure. His speech on this subject, before a popular convention held in 
 Faneuil Hall, in ^Boston, in that year, is one of the most brilliant and pointed he 
 ever delivered. 
 
 In the autumn of 1845, the Dane professorship of law in the Cambridge 
 Law School became vacant by the death of Justice Story ; and it was supposed, 
 in accordance with the expressed desire of the late incumbent, that Mr. Sumner 
 would be appointed his successor. If that recommendation were not sufficient, 
 the declaration of Chancellor Kent that he was " the only person in the country 
 competent to succeed Story," might have been entitled to some weight with those 
 having the appointment. It was, however, never offered to him a proof that 
 the estimation in which he had been held a few years previous had for some 
 reason declined. The extreme views expressed by him on questions of public 
 interest which had then begun to agitate the community, probably alarmed the 
 conservatism of many who had been his admirers, and weighed against him. It 
 is certain, however, that his social status with a portion of the community thence- 
 
CHARLES SUMNER. 
 
 275 
 
 forth became impaired ; though it may be doubted whether, in the generous sup 
 port which the expression of his sentiments brought him from many to whom he 
 had been previously unknown, he suffered any material loss of position. 
 
 Having once embarked in the crusade against the extension of the slave- 
 power, Mr. Sumner delivered in September, 1846, an address before the Whig 
 state convention of Massachusetts, "On the Anti-Slavery Duties of the Whig 
 Party;" and in the succeeding month he published a letter of rebuke to the 
 Honorable Eobert C. Winthrop, then a representative in Congress from Massa 
 chusetts, for his vote in favor of the war with Mexico. He refused to allow 
 himself to be put forward as a rival candidate to that gentleman in the impend 
 ing election, but supported Mr. Samuel Or. Howe, who was nominated in that 
 capacity, and in a speech, delivered during the canvass, opposed the Mexican 
 war and all supplies for its prosecution. These acts, instigated by a clear con 
 viction of the demands which duty imposed, alienated him from many old friends, 
 and made his position an isolated and in many respects an unpleasant one. He 
 still adhered, however, to the Whig party, with which he had always acted, and 
 as late as September, 1847, was a delegate to the state convention ; but after the 
 schism in the Whig ranks, in 1848, which resulted in the formation of the Free- 
 Soil party, he attached himself to the latter organization, and during the presi 
 dential canvass of 1848 was an earnest advocate of the election of Van Buren 
 and Adams. 
 
 In 1850, the Whig party lost its ascendency in Massachusetts ; and upon the 
 legislature elected in that year, and which contained an opposition majority com 
 posed of Democratic and Free-Soil members, devolved the choice of a Senator 
 in Congress to succeed Mr. Webster. Mr. Sumner, in opposition to his often- 
 expressed wishes to avoid official life, was nominated for the office by the mem 
 bers of his party, Mr. Winthrop being the candidate of the Whigs ; and after an 
 exciting contest, prolonged by his refusal to give any pledge as to his future 
 course, beyond what was implied in his past acts, he was, on April 24th, 1851, 
 elected by a coalition between the Free-Soilers and Democrats. This result, the 
 first substantial triumph of the Anti-Slavery party in Massachusetts, was appro 
 priately celebrated in many places. 
 
 Mr. Sumner s first important speech in Congress was directed against the 
 fugitive-slave law of 1850, which he denounced as unconstitutional, tyrannical, 
 and cruel. On this occasion he laid down the well-known formula that " free 
 dom is national, and slavery sectional," which has since been adopted by his 
 party as their rule of political action. He participated with earnestness in the 
 debates on the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and on the Kansas troubles ; 
 and, upon the formation of the Eepublican party, in 1855- 56, he became, with 
 the great body of the Free-Soilers, identified with it. 
 
276 
 
 CHARLES SUMNER. 
 
 On May 19tli and 20th, Mr. Sumner delivered in the Senate the celebrated 
 speech, subsequently published under the title of " The Crime against Kansas, 
 the most elaborate and masterly of any of his political efforts up to that time, but 
 which greatly incensed certain of the Southern members. It was determined 
 that the man who had so fearlessly and eloquently attacked the institutions of 
 the South should be silenced by force, if arguments were unavailing ; and on 
 May 22d, shortly after the adjournment of the Senate, while Mr. Sumner was 
 sitting at his desk, absorbed in writing, Preston S. Brooks, one of the representa 
 tives from South Carolina, entered the Senate-chamber, attended by Mr. Keitt, 
 also of South Carolina, and Mr. Edmundson, of Virginia, and with a heavy 
 gutta-percha cane struck the offending Senator repeated blows over the head, 
 from the effects of which he almost immediately fell to the floor insensible. The 
 excitement throughout the country, in consequence of this outrage, is too fresh 
 in the public mind to need more than a passing allusion. It became a powerful 
 element in the succeeding presidential canvass, and perceptibly widened the 
 breach between the North and the South. A resolution for the expulsion of 
 Brooks was almost immediately introduced into the House of Representatives, 
 but failed of receiving the requisite two-thirds vote. The severe illness which 
 followed the assault prevented Mr. Sumner from taking any part in the public 
 affairs during the succeeding summer and winter ; and in March, 1857, his health 
 was so seriously impaired, that he was induced, by the advice of his physicians, 
 to make a visit to Europe. Previous to his departure, the legislature of Massa 
 chusetts afforded him a gratifying proof of their esteem and confidence by re- 
 electing him a United States Senator for another full term the vote being 
 unanimous in the senate, and almost so in the house of representatives, contain 
 ing several hundred members. In the autumn of the same year, he returned to 
 the United States ; but his health being still too much impaired to admit of the 
 resumption of his legislative duties, he went abroad again in May, 1858, and for 
 more than a year was subjected to a course of medical treatment, which caused 
 the most acute suffering, but which restored him to his legislative duties in the 
 winter of 1859- 60, in comparative vigor. 
 
 As if to show that the attempt to crush the utterance of his opinions had 
 inspired him to renewed efforts in the anti-slavery cause, his first speech after his 
 recovery was an eloquent exposition of the demoralizing influences of slavery, 
 subsequently widely distributed in pamphlet form, under the title of "The Bar 
 barism of Slavery." He spoke frequently in favor of the Eepublican candidates 
 during the presidential canvass of 1860 ; and, in the memorable session of 
 1860- 61,. maintained a stern opposition to all compromises with or concessions 
 to the seceding states as a means of restoring them to the Union. With all 
 patriotic statesmen, he has urged the vigorous prosecution of the war against 
 
CHARLES SUM NEB. 
 
 277 
 
 the rebellious states, and, as might be supposed from his previous course, is in 
 favor of making emancipation an element in the contest. Emancipation he has 
 repeatedly declared to be the speediest, if not the only mode, of bringing the 
 war to a close; and he justifies that measure on moral, historical, and particu 
 larly on constitutional grounds. One of Mr. Sumner s last great efforts was a 
 speech delivered in the Senate, on January 9th, 1862, on the question of the 
 rendition of Mason and Slidell, which he advocated on principles of international 
 law always previously insisted upon by the United States government. 
 
 In addition to the publications already mentioned, Mr. Sumner has a work 
 on "White Slavery in the Barbary States" (Boston, 1853), expanded from a lec 
 ture ; and an additional volume of speeches, entitled " Eecent Speeches and 
 Addresses" (1856). 
 
 Though past fifty, Mr. Sumner gives little evidence of the approach of old 
 age. His tall and well-knit figure has lost none of its erectness ; and his features, 
 when lighted up by enthusiasm, or during the relaxations of social intercourse, 
 have a youthfulness of appearance which seems hardly in keeping with the 
 gravity supposed to pertain to the senatorial office. In personal appearance, as 
 well as in the luxuriance and elaborate finish of his style, he has been compared 
 to Edmund Burke. "For depth and accuracy of thought," says an eminent 
 British critic, " for fulness of historical information, and for a species of gigantic 
 morality, which treads all sophistry under foot, and rushes at once to the right 
 conclusion, we know not a single orator speaking the English tongue who ranks 
 as his superior. He combines to a remarkable extent the peculiar features of 
 our British emancipationists, the perseverance of Granville Sharp, the knowledge 
 of Brougham, the enthusiasm of Wilberforce, and a courage which, as he is still a 
 young man, may be expected to tell powerfully on the destinies of the republic." 
 
 33 
 
WILLIAM FAEEAN SMITH. 
 
 THE subject of this sketch (familiarly called " Baldy " Smith) was born in 
 Vermont, on the twenty-seventh February, 182-i. In 1841, he entered 
 West-Point Academy, and remained there four years, graduating with distin 
 guished honors. Amongst his classmates were Fitz-John Porter, Charles Stone, 
 and John W. Davidson. 
 
 On leaving West-Point he was brevetted Second Lieutenant in the Topo 
 graphical Engineers, and for nearly two years acted as Assistant Professor of 
 Mathematics at the Military Academy. In 1853, he was made First Lieutenant, 
 and on July 1, 1859, received his commission as Captain. 
 
 During this period he was employed in various surveys of the Lake Superior 
 region, of the Rio Grande, Texas, the military road to California, and in the Mexi 
 can boundary question. 
 
 In 1861, he had the appointment of Secretary to the Light-House Board at 
 Washington, but immediately offered his services in the battle-field when the war 
 broke out. He took command of the Third Vermont volunteers, and on the thir 
 teenth of August, 1861, was made a Brigadier-General. On the twenty-sixth Sep 
 tember, he was in camp, commanding the advance brigade of the Union army, 
 near the chain-bridge on the Potomac, when he ordered a reconnoissance to be 
 made at Lewinsville, where his men were attacked by the rebel Stuart and obliged 
 to retreat. Four weeks later, in company with McClellan and other officers, he 
 proceeded with a reconnoitring party to Flint Hill, about two miles from Fairfax 
 Court-House, and was otherwise engaged on similar service until the famous bat 
 tles of the Peninsula in 1862, where we find him commanding a corps under Gen 
 eral Franklin. Here he distinguished himself for great skill and bravery, and, in 
 July, was promoted to Major-General of volunteers for his services at that time. 
 This, however, was not then confirmed by the Senate, and we find him still under 
 Franklin with the army on its retreat from Harrison s Landing. 
 
 In September, General Smith participated in the battle of Antietam, lead 
 ing Franklin s advance, and by his skilful arrangements doing effective service. 
 In reference to it, the official report of General McClellan says : " The advance 
 was opportune. The attack of the enemy on this position, but for the timely 
 arrival of his corps, must have been disastrous." 
 

 MAJ.GEN \v I- . SMITH. 
 
WILLIAM FARRAN SMITH. , 279 
 
 It appears that, on nearing the field of battle and hearing that one of our bat 
 teries was hotly engaged without supports, General Smith sent two regiments to 
 its relief from General Hancock s brigade. Afterward, on inspecting the ground, 
 General Smith ordered the other regiments of Hancock s brigade, with two bat 
 teries, to the threatened position, and thus saved it. 
 
 After the battle of Antietam, General Smith had command of the Sixth corps, 
 under Burnside, and shared in the disastrous assault of Fredericksburgh on De 
 cember thirteenth. Soon after this, January twenty-third, 1863, he was relieved 
 from his command by Burnside, in an order to that effect, which also included 
 General Franklin and some others of equal note. The cause of this is not well 
 made known, but enough has been seen to show that it was from no military in 
 capacity or want of attention to duty. 
 
 General Smith was ordered to report to the Adjutant-General of the United 
 States army ; and, when the rebels invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania, in July, 
 he was placed by General Couch in charge of the raw troops that had lately come 
 from New- York. His post was opposite Harrisburgh, there to resist any attack 
 made upon that place. When Lee retreated, Smith followed close upon him with 
 about six thousand men, a small number of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery. 
 At Carlisle he encountered and drove back a body of the rebels, following them 
 some distance. He then, with his troops shoeless and living on the country a* 
 best they could, joined the army of the Potomac. 
 
 On September twenty -third, when Hooker was sent to reenforce* Rosecrans, 
 General Smith was appointed to accompany him, arriving at Bridgeport in the 
 early part of October. 
 
 During the operations connected with the battles at Chattanooga he greatly 
 distinguished himself, as the following extracts from the reports of Generals 
 Thomas, Sherman, and Grant will show : 
 
 "November 7, 18G3. 
 
 " The recent movements, resulting in the establishment of a new and short 
 line of communication with Bridgeport and the possession of the Tennessee River, 
 were of so brilliant a character as to deserve special notice. The skill and cool 
 gallantry of the officers and men composing the expedition under Brigadier-Gene 
 ral William F. Smith, Chief Engineer, (and others mentioned,) in effecting a per 
 manent lodgment on the south side of the river, at Brown s Ferry, deserve the 
 highest praise." 
 
 Indeed, the various reports forwarded from the battle-fields clearly show that 
 these successful operations "brought great relief to the army, and saved the coun 
 try the humiliation of seeing the important position of Chattanooga evacuated by 
 our forces." In General Sherman s official report he speaks in the highest terms 
 of the work pknned and done under the personal supervision of General W. F. 
 
280 WILLIAM FAR RAN SMITE. 
 
 Smith. "I cannot," says he, "praise it too highly. I have never beheld any 
 work done so quietly, so well ; and I doubt if the history of war can show a bridge 
 of that extent (namely, one thousand three hundred and fifty feet) laid down so 
 noiselessly and well in so short a time. I attribute it to the genius and intelli 
 gence of General W. F. Smith." * 
 
 In February, 1864, we find General Smith on the personal staff of General 
 Grant, as Chief Engineer. In March he visited Washington, and, on the twenty- 
 third, was confirmed in the rank of Major-General of volunteers. On the thirty- 
 first of March he was assigned to duty with General Butler, and arrived at Fort 
 ress Monroe two days later. Shortly afterward he was directed to organize the 
 troops in that department for new and special service. He made Yorktown his 
 headquarters, having the Eighteenth army corps as his immediate command. 
 
 On the fourth of May active operations commenced, and at dusk of that day 
 the first boat conveying the troops from Yorktown to Fortress Monroe left with 
 General Smith on board. On arrival at General Butler s headquarters, a consulta 
 tion took place, and General Smith then left for Newport News, the various trans 
 ports with the army on board following him. 
 
 To this moment the destination of the troops was a secret, except to the 
 chiefs of the expedition, but now it was evident that up the James River to Rich 
 mond was intended. General Smith, with his accustomed activity, was in ad 
 vance, and with General Gillmore, who had joined the troops, in command of the 
 Tenth corps, skilfully superintended the landing of the men at Bermuda Hun 
 dred, about a mile above City Point. This movement of our army either took the 
 enemy by surprise, or they chose to remain quiescent at the time, for no attempt 
 at molestation occurred. On the ninth of May a movement of the army was made 
 toward Petersburgh, General Smith commanding the right and Gillmore the left 
 in advance. On the eleventh, with a large force, he moved up the Richmond 
 turnpike, encountering the enemy a little above the Bottom Church, and after 
 two successive engagements during the day, drove them back full two miles. He, 
 himself, was constantly in the advance, and numerous stories are told of the hair 
 breadth escapes he had. That night his troops held a position at Proctor s Creek, 
 twelve miles from Richmond, and on the three following days nothing but skir 
 mishing took place. But on Monday, May sixteenth, the enemy, having been re- 
 enforced on the previous evening, and commanded by Beauregard in person, took 
 advantage of a thick fog, and suddenly came upon our advance under Heckman 
 with his brigade. So great was the impetuosity of the rebels, and so unexpected 
 their approach, that our troops \vere driven back for a time, but ultimately suc 
 ceeded in regaining their old position. The fight was very severe, but both Gen 
 eral Smith and General Gillmore were conspicuously seen everywhere amidst it. 
 
 As the principal object of our movements in this direction was other than 
 
WILLIAM FARRAN SMITH. 281 
 
 ostensibly represented, General Smith fell back again to the intrenchments at 
 Bermuda Hundred, and with various encounters with the enemy remained there 
 until the twenty-ninth of May. At that time it was known Grant had come south 
 as far as Hanover Town, on the Pamunkey, and information having reached But 
 ler that Beauregard had detached a portion of his troops to join Lee, General 
 Smith with General Brooks and their commands was despatched in transports to 
 the White House via Fortress Monroe. On the thirty-first May, Smith arrived at 
 the White House, and the following morning received orders from General Grant to 
 join him immediately at Coal Harbor, and take a position on the right of the Sixth 
 corps. This was done at three o clock the same afternoon, and though his men 
 had had a severe march, besides great labor during the two previous days, he gal 
 lantly took them into action immediately on arrival. 
 
 One incident here deserves to be mentioned as evincing the popularity of 
 General Smith amongst the soldiers. It has already been stated that he had for 
 merly commanded the Sixth corps at Fredericksburgh, and now when the men of 
 that corps again beheld him come to their support, great satisfaction was mani 
 fested, and the familiar term by which* he was known, " Baldy," was uttered by 
 many in a kindly way. 
 
 The battle of Coal Harbor resulted in the enemy being everywhere repulsed. 
 At the first onset some of Smith s men got into confusion, broke, and fell back ; 
 but, with characteristic promptitude, he personally arrested their retreat, and 
 drove them to the front, where himself kept continually under fire. It was thus 
 that by his presence, confidence and courage were restored among any of the regi 
 ments that faltered. In the commencement of the action his horse was shot under 
 him, and one of his orderlies wounded in the leg. After the battle his headquar 
 ters were established within so short a distance of the skirmishing line that it was 
 any thing but very agreeable to his staff. 
 
 In this position General Smith remained until Sunday, the twelfth of June, 
 when, it being determined by Grant to cross the James Eiver and join Butler, 
 he was sent back with his corps to White House, and there embarked once again 
 for Bermuda Hundred, where he arrived on the fourteenth. Immediately after 
 ward he was directed to proceed against Petersburg!!, which place he, in company 
 with Hancock and Kautz, assaulted on the fifteenth. 
 
 General Grant had arrived at Butler s and assumed entire command of the 
 forces. In his despatch to the War Office he says : " The Eighteenth corps 
 (Smith s) were transferred from the White House to Bermuda Hundred by water, 
 and moved out near to Petersburg!!. The night of their arrival they surprised, or 
 rather captured, the very strong works north-east of Petersburgh, before a suffi 
 cient force could be got in them by the enemy. . . . Too much praise cannot 
 be given the troops and their commanders for the energy and fortitude displayed 
 the last five days. Day and night have been all the same." 
 
282 WILLIAM F A R R A N SMITH. 
 
 It appears, by accounts from the battle-field, that General Smith and his gal 
 lant corps arrived at Bermuda Hundred on the evening of the fourteenth, and 
 at one o clock in the morning of the fifteenth set out for Petersburgh. Under his 
 command was Hinks s division of negroes, and they are spoken of as having be 
 haved very gallantly in the fight. 
 
 The works taken were of great strength and importance, and General Grant 
 afterward, on riding along the front, expressed himself greatly astonished. Smith 
 evidently was a fighting General, yet, withal, so regardful of his men that he never 
 risked their lives more than he did his own ; and thus "Baldy " Smith was not 
 only much loved, but readily followed. 
 
 On the twenty-first, President Lincoln arrived on a visit to the camp and to 
 General Grant. General Smith was then at Wright s headquarters, and was pre 
 sented to the President afterward, in company with Grant and other Generals, 
 having a private consultation with him. 
 
 On the thirtieth of June, General Smith made a demonstration against the 
 position occupied by what is called the " White House," but was unable to effect 
 the object he had in view, owing to want of sufficient cooperation. A few days 
 afterward he was visited by several distinguished Senators from Washington, and 
 he also hospitably entertained two French officers who had been sent by Napoleon 
 to observe our artillery practice, etc. 
 
 Active operations having now for a time comparatively ceased in front of 
 Petersburgh, and General Smith s health requiring some relief from the incessant 
 labors he had been engag ed in for the past two months, leave of absence was 
 granted him, and, leaving General Martindale in command of his corps, he depart 
 ed for the North via Fortress Monroe. On the thirteenth of July he arrived at 
 New- York, en route for his residence in Orange County. 
 
 General " Baldy " Smith has the reputation of being one of the most skilful 
 engineers in the army, and his coolness and bravery on the battle-field have been 
 frequently commended. His movements are rapid, prompt, and to the purpose ; 
 his judgment sound, and his personal courage of the highest order, while his care 
 ful forethought and consideration for the troops under his command have greatly 
 endeared him to his men. 
 
GEORGE BRUSTTOlSr McCLELLAST. 
 
 GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAN" was born in the city of Philadelphia, 
 December 3d, 1826. He was the son of a physician, and was descended 
 from Colonel McClellan of the Revolutionary army. At the age of sixteen he 
 entered the United States Military Academy at "West Point. In all the studies 
 he maintained the second rank from the outset, and was graduated with the 
 second rank in general merit in 1846. He Avas commissioned a second-lieutenant 
 of engineers, July 1st, 1846. Congress, in the previous May, had authorized the 
 organization of a company of sappers, miners, and pontoniers, and the recruits 
 for this company were assembled at West Point. Lieutenant McClellan was 
 attached to it, and assisted very actively in its drill and practical instruction for 
 duty. Captain Swift and Lieutenant Gustavus W. Smith were his superior offi 
 cers in the company, which sailed from West Point, September 24th. Ordered 
 at first to report to General Taylor, the company went to Camargo, but was 
 thence ordered to countermarch to Matamoras, and move with the column of 
 General Patterson. Captain Swift was left in the hospital at Matamoras, and the 
 only commissioned officers in the company were Lieutenants Smith and McClel 
 lan ; and great praise was bestowed upon them by the engineer officer for the 
 amount and excellence of their work done in this part of the Mexican war. 
 
 From Tampico the sappers and miners went to Vera Cruz, where, until the 
 surrender of the castle, Lieutenant McClellan was engaged in the most severe 
 duties, in opening paths and roads to facilitate the investment, in covering recon- 
 noissances, and in the unceasing toil and hardship of the trenches ; and his work 
 was always done "with unsurpassed intelligence and zeal." Tribute is rendered 
 in all the official reports to the services of this company and the efficiency of its 
 two lieutenants on the march to Cerro Gordo, at Jalapa, and San Antonio. Be 
 fore the battle of Contreras, Lieutenant McClellan had a horse shot under him 
 by the Mexican pickets, and in that battle he served with Magrucler s battery. 
 General Twiggs, in his official report, says : " Lieutenant George B. McClellan, 
 after Lieutenant Calendar was wounded, took charge of and managed the howit 
 zer battery, with judgment and success, until it became so disabled as to require 
 shelter. For Lieutenant McClellan s efficiency and gallantry in this affair, I pre 
 sent his name for the favorable consideration of the general-in-chief." General 
 
284 GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAX. 
 
 Persifer F. Smith, in liis report of all the actions at Churubusco and Contreras, 
 says: "Lieutenant G. "W. Smith, in command of the engineer company, and Lieu 
 tenant McClellan, his subaltern, distinguished themselves throughout the whole 
 of the three actions. Nothing seemed to them too bold to be undertaken, or too 
 difficult to be executed, and their services as engineers were as valuable as those 
 they rendered in battle at the head of their gallant men." For "gallant and 
 meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco," McClellan was 
 breveted first-lieutenant ; and for " gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle 
 of Molino del Rey," captain ; but the latter brevet, through some delicacy toward- 
 others, lie declined to accept. In the battle of Chepultepec he was one of "five 
 lieutenants of engineers" who, in the words of Lieutenant-General Scott, " won 
 the admiration of all about them ;" and for his services on that day he was bre 
 veted captain. He was thus "on duty with the engineer company from its 
 organization at West Point, in the siege of Yera Cruz, and in all the battles of 
 General Scott s march to the city of Mexico." 
 
 Captain McClellan returned with his company, which, reached West Point in 
 June, 1847. In the next year he became its commander, and remained w r ith it 
 until 1851. During this time he translated from the French the manual of bayo 
 net exercise, which has since become the text- book of the service. He superin 
 tended the construction of Fort Delaware in the fall of 1851, and in the spring 
 of 1852 was assigned to duty in the expedition that explored Red River, and 
 also served as an engineer upon some explorations in Texas. 
 
 Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, in 1853, committed to Captain McClellan 
 an important and difficult survey of the Cascade range of mountains on the Pa 
 cific, with a view to the construction of the Pacific railroad. In his report the 
 secretary says : " The examination of the approaches and passes, made by Cap 
 tain McClellan of the corps of engineers, presents a reconnoissance of great value, 
 and, though performed under adverse circumstances, exhibits all the information 
 necessary to determine the practicability of this portion of the route, and reflects 
 the highest credit on the capacity and resource of that officer." Besides the 
 reports descriptive of the region surveyed, Captain McClellan also furnished a 
 valuable collection of "Memoranda on Railways," the result of examinations 
 made into the working of various railroads, to assist in determining the practica 
 bility of roads over the various routes. 
 
 In 1855, McClellan received a captaincy in the first United States cavalry, 
 and in the same year was chosen as one of three officers to be sent on a military 
 commission to Europe. He sailed, in company with Majors Delafield and Mor- 
 decai, in April, 1855, and proceeded to the Crimea and to northern Russia, to 
 observe the war then in progress between Russia, England, and France ; and sub 
 sequently visited every military establishment of interest on the continent and in 
 
GEORGE B R I X T \ M c C L E L L A N . 285 
 
 England. After an absence of two years, the commission returned, and the re 
 sults of Captain McClellan s observations were embodied in a report to the secre 
 tary of war, published in 1857, " On the Organization of European Armies, and 
 the Operations of the War" a work which established the reputation of the 
 young officer as a scientific soldier. 
 
 Upon receiving the offer of an important civil employment, that of vice- 
 president and director of the Illinois Central Eailroad, Captain McClellan resigned 
 his position in the army, January 16th, 1857. His position on the Illinois Cen 
 tral Railroad he held for three years, when he was offered and accepted the 
 presidency of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. This position he held when 
 the war broke out. 
 
 When the state of Ohio began to marshal its forces in response to the Presi 
 dent s call, McClellan was immediately chosen as the citizen of that state most 
 fit to organize the volunteer regiments into an army. That patriotic state has 
 therefore the honor of having brought to the front the man of the time ; though 
 Pennsylvania, through her governor, had also called upon the young captain, 
 but vainly, to head her stout thousands as they were mustered for the war. 
 Ohio s volunteers, thanks to the efficiency of the man chosen to lead them, be 
 came at pnce an army, and were ready to win battles, while those of some not 
 less patriotic states were still raw recruits. On the 14th of May, General McClel 
 lan was appointed by the President a major-general in the United States army, 
 and assigned to the command of the then newly created department of the Ohio, 
 formed of the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, with his head-quarters at Cin 
 cinnati. Here he was still busy in the organization and equipment of the forces 
 mustered in the various parts of his district, when the rebel forces from Eastern 
 Virginia began offensive movements against- the Western Virginians, who were 
 faithful to the Union. Confederate troops occupied Philippi and Grafton, and 
 began to burn bridges ; and on May 25th, General McClellan ordered an advance 
 against them of the first Virginia regiment, stationed at Wheeling, and of the 
 fourteenth and sixteenth Ohio regiments, which crossed the Ohio respectively at 
 Marietta and Bellairc. On the 26th, at night, the rebels fled precipitately from 
 Grafton, and it was occupied by Colonel Kelly of the first Virginia, with his own 
 regiment and the sixteenth Ohio, May 30th. Colonel Steedman, of the four 
 teenth Ohio, occupied Parkersburgh. 
 
 Simultaneously with his entrance into Virginia, General McClellan, in a 
 proclamation to the people of Western Virginia, said : "The general government 
 has long endured the machinations of a few factious rebels in your midst. Armed 
 traitors have in vain endeavored to deter you from expressing your loyalty at the 
 polls ; having failed in this infamous attempt to deprive you of the exercise of 
 your dearest rights, they now seek to inaugurate a reign of terror, and thus force 
 
286 GEORGE ERIN TON McCLELLAN. 
 
 you to yield to their schemes, and submit to the yoke of their traitorous con 
 spiracy Government has heretofore carefully abstained from sending troops 
 
 across the Ohio, or even from posting them along its banks, although frequently 
 urged by many of your prominent citizens to do so. It determined to await the 
 result of the late election, desirous that no one might be able to say that the 
 slightest effort had been made from this side to influence the free expression of 
 your opinion. .... I have ordered troops to cross the river. They come as your 
 friends and your brothers as enemies only to the armed rebels who are preying 
 
 upon you All your rights shall be religiously respected." To his soldiers 
 
 he said: "I place under the safeguard of your honor the persons and property 
 of the Virginians. I know that you will respect their feelings and all their 
 rights. Preserve the strictest discipline : remember that each one of you holds 
 in his keeping the honor of Ohio and of the Union." 
 
 On June 2d, the Union troops at Grafton went forward to Philippi, on the 
 Monongahela, twenty miles south of Grafton, which they reached at daylight on 
 the next day, and attacked and drove out a body of rebels under Colonel Porter- 
 field. Here they were joined, June 20th, by General McClellan, who on that 
 day assumed command in person of the national forces in Western Virginia, and 
 began more extensive operations against the enemy. Meantime the rebels made 
 active preparations to resist. Henry A. Wise, formerly governor of Virginia, but 
 appointed a general in the rebel army, took the field in the Kanawha region of 
 Western Virginia, and, with the usual affectation of patriotism, called upon the 
 people to " come to the defence of the commonwealth invaded and insulted by a 
 ruthless and unnatural enemy ;" while General Garnett, formerly of the United 
 States army, occupied Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain, spurs of the Alleghany 
 range, with ten thousand men. 
 
 General Cox was sent against Wise, and General McClellan advanced in 
 person against Garnett. Beverly, in Randolph county, Virginia, is approached 
 on the north by a road from Philippi, and on the west by a road from Buck- 
 hannon. Laurel Hill is upon the former road, and Rich Mountain upon the 
 latter ; and both roads, at the point where they cross the hills, were obstructed by 
 Garnett s intrenchments. Garnett himself, with six thousand men, was at Laurel 
 Hill, supposing doubtless that, as that point was nearest to Philippi, the attack 
 would be made there. But General McClellan marched from Clarksburg, on the 
 North-western Virginia Railroad, advanced directly toward Beverly by the Buck- 
 hannon road, and thus came upon the position at Rich Mountain. Colonel Pe- 
 gram, Garnett s subordinate, held that place with four thousand men. At the 
 foot of the hill, on the western slope, was a very strong work built of trees 
 felled from the hill-side, filled in with earth, and furnished with artillery. Dense 
 woods encircled it for a mile in every direction, and it could not have been 
 
GEORGE ERIN TON McCLELLAN. 287 
 
 carried from the front without great loss. On the top of the mountain was a 
 smaller work, with two six-pounders. A sharp skirmish took place in front of 
 the lower fort, July 10th ; and on the llth, at daylight, General Rosecrans, with 
 four regiments, was sent around the southern slope of the mountain, to carry the 
 small work above, and take the larger one in the rear. After an arduous march 
 of eight miles, he reached the summit and carried the work, with but small loss. 
 Meanwhile, General McClellan below had cut a road through the wood which 
 surrounded the rebel battery, and had arranged a position for twelve guns, with 
 which to participate in the attack to be made from above ; but as soon as the 
 rebels in the lower fort learned that the fort on the hill-top was taken, they aban 
 doned their work, and fled in every direction. By this action the rebels lost six 
 brass cannon, two hundred tents, sixty wagons, one hundred and fifty men in 
 killed and wounded, and one hundred prisoners. Only six hundred men of the 
 enemy retained any organization, and with these Colonel Pegram retreated toward 
 Laurel Hill. General McClellan, by a rapid march, occupied Beverly. 
 
 Garnett, as soon as he learned of Pegram s rout at Rich Mountain, aban 
 doned his intrenchrnents at Laurel Hill, and retreated toward Beverly ; but the 
 rapid occupation of that place by General McClellan cut off his retreat in that 
 direction, and in great confusion he turned back and retreated toward St. George, 
 in Tucker county, to the north-east of Laurel Hill. Thus ten thousand rebel 
 troops from Eastern Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Sbuth Carolina, were 
 driven out of their intrenchments, with a loss to the Union forces of only eleven 
 men killed and thirty-five wounded. On the 13th, Colonel Pegram surrendered 
 what was left of his command (six hundred officers and men) prisoners, uncondi 
 tionally. 
 
 Immediately upon the retreat of Garnett toward St. George, General Morris 
 was ordered to follow him, and General Hill was ordered forward from Rawles- 
 burg to intercept his retreat. General Garnett, finding himself pressed very 
 closely by the brigade of General Morris, made a stand in an advantageous posi 
 tion at Carrick s Ford, on the Cheat River, eight miles south of St. George. 
 There he was handsomely beaten by the seventh and ninth Indiana and the 
 fourteenth Ohio regiments. General Garnett was killed, his army disorganized, 
 and its whole baggage taken. Thus, by a series of brilliant movements, and in 
 only twenty-four days after General McClellan had assumed the command, this 
 portion of Western Virginia was freed, and the army that lately held it became 
 a demoralized band of fugitives. In recognition of this first considerable success 
 of the war, both houses of Congress, on June 16th, passed a joint resolution of 
 thanks to General McClellan and the officers and soldiers under his command. 
 
 In an address to the " Soldiers of the Army of the West," dated subse 
 quently to these battles, General McClellan said: "You have annihilated two 
 
288 GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAN. 
 
 armies, commanded by educated and experienced soldiers, intrenched in moun 
 tain fastnesses, and fortified at their leisure. You have taken five guns, twelve 
 colors, fifteen hundred stand of arms, and one thousand prisoners, including more 
 than forty officers. One of the second commanders of the rebels is a prisoner, 
 the other lost his life on the field of battle. You have killed more than two 
 hundred and fifty of the enemy, who has lost all his baggage and camp-equipage. 
 All this has been accomplished with the loss of twenty brave men killed and 
 sixty wounded on your part. You have proved that Union men, fighting for 
 the preservation of our government, are more than a match for our misguided 
 brothers. Soldiers ! I have confidence in you, and I trust that you have learned 
 to confide in me. Remember that discipline and subordination are qualities of 
 equal value with courage." 
 
 Three days after the above order was issued, the national army that had 
 been organized near Washington, under the -eye of the veteran cornmander-in- 
 chief, was defeated in the disastrous battle at Bull Run, and returned to the bank 
 of the Potomac in a wild, disordered rout. Startled by this blow, the govern 
 ment first awoke to the great labor to be accomplished in putting down the 
 rebellion. Regiments before refused, and all now offered, were immediately 
 accepted, and it w r as determined to add at least one hundred thousand men to 
 the Potomac army. General McClellan was ordered to Washington, to take 
 command of this new force, and of the departments of Washington and North 
 eastern Virginia. He left Beverly June 23d, and arrived at the capital July 
 25th. His first order to the army was dated July 30th. In that he described 
 the first practice he had observed " eminently prejudicial to good order and mili 
 tary discipline," and plainly declared that "it must be discontinued." Officers 
 and soldiers were therefore strictly forbidden to leave their camps and quarters, 
 except on important public business, and then not without written permission 
 from the commander of the brigade to which they belonged. Washington was 
 thus cleared of an army of loungers ; and officers and soldiers, confined to their 
 camps, found time to learn their respective duties. 
 
 On August 3d, General McClellan s appointment as a major-general in the 
 United States army was confirmed by the Senate ; and on August 20th, by gen 
 eral order, he assumed command of the army of the Potomac, and announced 
 the officers of his staff. Lieutenant-General Scott was retired from active service 
 November 1st, 1861, and on the same day General McClellan was appointed to 
 succeed him as commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States. Both 
 before and after this accession of authority, he labored without intermission, and 
 with noble earnestness and simple purpose, to prepare for a proper discharge of 
 its duties to the great army called out by the government. His many judicious 
 orders in regulation of the actions of officers and soldiers, and the system of 
 
GEORGE BRINTOX McCLELLAN. 289 
 
 frequent reviews that he introduced, rendered it necessary that all should work 
 to keep up with him, and gave some unity to the army. 
 
 After the retirement of the Lieutenant-General, the whole military operations 
 of the country came under the control of General McClellan ; and, though it is 
 not now possible to say how great a share we owe to him of the successes that 
 crowned our arms in the beginning of the spring of 1862, yet by the admissions 
 of the general officers most conspicuous in those actions it appears that they are 
 all parts of one extensive plan of his arrangement. On March eleventh. General 
 McClellan took the field for active operations at the head of the army of the 
 Potomac, and by the special order of the President was relieved from the com 
 mand of the other departments. 
 
 His attention was now given wholly to one object the capture of Richmond, 
 which would lead, it was supposed, to the evacuation of Virginia and to our 
 army, that of the Potomac ; so that henceforth the history of this army becomes 
 the history of General McClellan. To attain the principal object of the campaign 
 of 1862, General McClellan determined, with the President s approval, to trans 
 port his troops to the peninsula stretching between the James and York Rivers 
 in Virginia, and assuming Fort Monroe as the first base, take up the line of 
 Yorktown and West-Point upon Richmond as the line of operations, " Richmond 
 being the objective point." It was also decided to secure the cooperation of the 
 navy, which, by controlling the two rivers, would protect the flanks of the army 
 and provide necessary transportation. In pursuance of this plan, the main body 
 of the army was moved back, on the fifteenth of March, to the vicinity of Alex 
 andria to be embarked. As rapidly as transports could be supplied, the different 
 divisions embarked, followed, on the first of April, by General McClellan himself 
 in the steamer Commodore. On reaching Fort Monroe on the following day, 
 steps were immediately taken for the advance upon the rebel capital, and on the 
 fourth and fifth of April the army took up its line of march for Richmond. To 
 give a detailed account of the progress of the Federal troops would be foreign to 
 our purpose, and more than our limited space will admit. Suffice it to say, there 
 fore, that after a protracted siege of nearly a month, the " historic field " of York- 
 town, where the rebels were strongly intrenched, fell into the hands of the Union 
 forces, having been abandoned by the enemy on the night of the second of May. 
 This was followed by the battle and occupation of Williamsburgh three days 
 afterward, the occupation of West-Point on the York River, and of White House 
 on the Pamunkey. The gradual advance of the army toward Richmond, and the 
 strategical skill evinced by its commander, induced the House of Representatives, 
 on the ninth of May, to adopt resolutions expressive of its thanks to General 
 McClellan for " the display of those high military qualities which secure import 
 ant results with but little sacrifice of life." On the seventeenth of May, the 
 
290 GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAN. 
 
 advance-guard of McClellan s army readied the Chickahominy Eiver, at Bot 
 tom s Bridge, about fifteen miles from Kichmond. The river was crossed dur 
 ing the latter part of the month, and was the signal for desperate efforts on 
 the part of the rebels to drive them from the field. The almost constant suc 
 cession of battles, the ravages of sickness, and the overwhelming numbers of the 
 enemy at length led General McClellan to leave the line of the Chickahominy 
 and establish a new base on the James, in order, as he said, " to save the material 
 and personel of the army." Accordingly, on the twenty -seventh of June, White 
 House was evacuated, and the Union army commenced its retreat, in the course 
 of which it passed through the memorable and bloody battles of the " Seven 
 Days Contest," repelling the pursuing foe in every assault, and reaching Har 
 rison s Bar on the James, in safety, on the second of July. This position was 
 held until the eleventh of August, when the evacuation, ordered in consequence 
 of the rebel advance in the direction of Washington, began, and was completed 
 on the sixteenth. On the twenty-fourth of July, the army reached Acquia Creek, 
 and immediately joined the army of Virginia, under General Pope, for the pur 
 pose of driving back the rebel invaders. Thus finished the Peninsula campaign. 
 It being reported that the rebel army was moving up the Shenandoah Val 
 ley, and Washington being deemed in danger, General McClellan, on his return 
 from the Peninsula, was appointed, on the first of September, to the command of 
 the fortifications at Washington, his jurisdiction being limited to the works and 
 their garrisons. On the seventh, General McClellan left the capital to take com 
 mand of the army in person, leaving General Banks in charge at Washington 
 during his absence. The demoralizing effects of the disastrous campaign under 
 Pope, which followed the return of the army from the Peninsula, were soon coun 
 teracted by the thorough reorganization effected by General McClellan ; the 
 troops were again confident and anxious, under their old leader, to meet the foe. 
 The mass of the rebel army under General Lee, had by this time passed up the 
 south side of the Potomac in the direction of Leesburgh, a portion having crossed 
 into Maryland. General McClellan started immediately but cautiously in pursuit, 
 following the north bank of the Potomac. On the fourteenth of September, the 
 rebel army was attacked at South-Mountain, in Maryland, where Lee had massed 
 his forces. A severe battle, lasting all day, resulted in the defeat of the rebels, 
 who abandoned the field during the night, retreating toward the river. General 
 McClellan speedily followed their receding columns, and on the seventeenth 
 fought his last battle as commander of the army of the Potomac, on the banks 
 of Antietam Creek. This bloody struggle, which lasted from dawn till dark, 
 must be regarded in some respects as indecisive, though the rebel loss far exceeded 
 that of the Union forces. While General McClellan was deliberating what course 
 to pursue, General Lee recrossed the Potomac on the night of the eighteenth. 
 
GEORGE BRINTON M c C L E L L A N . 201 
 
 The Federal cavalry being in a disabled condition and inadequate to a pursuit, 
 the commanding general deemed it best to retain the bulk of the army at Antie- 
 tam. On the sixth of October, he received orders from President Lincoln to 
 cross the river and follow General Lee. Owing to the deficiency in cavalry and 
 the necessary supplies for the men, this order remained unexecuted till the last 
 week of the month. While near Warrenton, in Virginia, disposing his forces for 
 the campaign, General McClellan received, on the night of the seventh of Novem 
 ber, an order relieving him from the command of the army of the Potomac, and 
 directing him to turn it over to General Burnside. 
 
 Before leaving the position he had occupied so long, and the men with whom 
 he had engaged in so many hard-fought battles, General McClellan issued a fare 
 well address, expressive of the love and gratitude he bore toward his troops, and 
 telling them, in substance, that though he now parted from them officially, he 
 was still bound to them by an indissoluble tie, and by the strongest associations 
 which can exist among men the warm sympathies and glowing memories of 
 companions in arms. 
 
M 
 
 DAVID HU^TEE. 
 
 AJOR-GENERAL HUNTER was born in the District of Columbia, and 
 entered as a cadet at West-Point in 1818, where he graduated in 1822, and 
 was made Second Lieutenant of the Fifth infantry on the first of July. 
 
 In 1828, he was appointed a First Lieutenant, and two years after a Captain 
 of the First dragoons. On the fourth of July, 1836, he resigned, but on Novem 
 ber thirtieth, 1841, returned to the army as temporary paymaster. The next 
 year he was made full paymaster. 
 
 At the commencement of the rebellion he was, on the fourteenth of May, 
 appointed Colonel of the Sixth regiment of cavalry ; and, at the battle of Bull 
 Run, as a Brigadier-General, commanded the Second division, under General 
 McDowell, 
 
 This division marched to the battle-field by the Leesburgh and Centreville 
 road, and thence by the Warrenton pike to Bull Run, where it took position at 
 Sudley s Springs. The fight commenced on July twenty-first, and Hunter s divi 
 sion soon entered into the thick of the engagement, but, unfortunately, he was 
 wounded early in the action, and had to be carried from the field. 
 
 On the thirteenth of August, Hunter was made a Major-General, and, in the 
 following month, took command of the forces at Rolla, Missouri, as second to 
 General Fremont. On the fifth of November, General Hunter, as the oldest offi 
 cer on the field, assumed temporary command of the whole Federal army, Gene 
 ral Fremont having been -removed ; and one of his first acts was to express disap 
 proval of the agreement made between Fremont and Price. General Hunter had 
 occupied Springfield, but on the ninth of November abandoned it and moved 
 toward Rolla, there to await the orders of Major-General Halleck, who had been 
 appointed to command the Western department, and who arrived at St. Louis on 
 the eighteenth. 
 
 General Hunter was now appointed to the military division of Kansas, 
 where, on the eleventh of February, 1862, he proclaimed martial law. While in 
 this department he materially aided in the military operations then carried on 
 under General Halleck, who wrote to him as follows : 
 
 " To you, more than any other man out of this department, are we indebted 
 for our success at Fort Donelson. In my strait for troops to reenforce General 
 
MA. I GETS! DAVID HUNTER 
 
DAVID HUNTER. 293 
 
 Grant I applied to 3-011. You responded nobly, by placing your forces at my dis 
 posal. This enabled me to win the victory. Kcceive my most heartfelt thanks." 
 
 On the eleventh of March, General Hunter s department was consolidated 
 with that of Halleck s, and, accordingly, he was relieved, but was immediately 
 appointed to the department of the South. He arrived at Port Royal, S. C., at 
 the end of the month, and issued an order assuming command, and also one of 
 thanks to his predecessor, Brigadier-General Sherman, for valuable services and 
 information rendered. 
 
 On the tenth of April, General Hunter demanded the surrender of Fort Pu- 
 laski from the rebels, and on receiving a negative reply from Colonel Olmstead, 
 the commander, he directed an attack to be made, under the immediate super 
 vision of Brigadier-General Gillmore. Fire was opened upon the Fort, the bom 
 bardment continuing without intermission for thirty hours. At the end of eigh 
 teen hours firing the Fort was breached in the south-east angle, and at the 
 moment of surrender, at two P.M. of the eleventh, preparations had been com 
 menced for storming. In his report, General Hunter gives great praise to the 
 various officers directing the several movements, and he expresses an opinion that 
 " the result of the bombardment must cause a change in the construction of forti 
 fications, for no works of stone or brick can resist the impact of rifled artillery of 
 heavy calibre/ 
 
 On the ninth of May, he issued an order stating that the States of South- 
 Carolina, Georgia, and Florida were, on and from the twenty-fifth April preced 
 ing, under martial law, and added : " Slavery and martial law in a free country 
 are altogether incompatible. The persons in these States heretofore held as 
 slaves are, therefore, declared for ever free." The President, however, disavowed 
 this, on the ground that compensation should attend emancipation. But Hunter ? 
 order elicited the sentiments of many people on the subject, and with regard tc 
 the policy of the Government. 
 
 This induced General Hunter to resign his command, but in a short time 
 afterward he was reappointed to the same department. On the second of June, he 
 left Hilton Head to accompany the expedition against James Island, as planned by 
 General Benham, but he returned in a short time. 
 
 During the period of General Hunter s stay in command of the South, there 
 was not much done in the way of active operations, owing to the small force at his 
 disposal. 
 
 On the twenty-third of April, 1863, Hunter wrote to Jefferson Davis with 
 reference to colored prisoners, and threatened retaliation if they were harshly 
 or unjustifiably treated. In May, he addressed the Governor of Massachu 
 setts, and bore testimony to the general good conduct of the negro troops. 
 He had previously caused the able-bodied negroes from the neighboring planta- 
 
294 DAVID HUNTER. 
 
 tions to be formed into regiments and drilled by competent officers, and he now 
 concluded that they could be made excellent soldiers. 
 
 On the twelfth of June, 1863, General Hunter was relieved from his com 
 mand, and on the fourteenth of November was sent on a tour of inspection through 
 the military district of the Mississippi. 
 
 On the twentieth of Ma} , 1864, he was appointed to relieve Sigel in com 
 mand of West-Virginia, and on the twenty-second arrived at Cumberland, taking 
 up his headquarters in the field. Immediately afterward he issued an imperative 
 order in relation to derelict officers of guards and outposts. The occasion of this 
 was, a cavalry officer on picket-duty had allowed himself to be surprised by the 
 enemy and his command captured. This officer General Hunter discharged from 
 the service, and then publicly announced his intention to show no leniency to 
 future offenders, for " any act of mercy in such cases would be a crime against the 
 whole command put in jeopardy by their negligence or inefficiency." On the 
 other hand, he said that all who faithfully did their duty should be promptly 
 recognized and rewarded." This order was soon followed by another, giving di 
 rections for all superfluous baggage and material to be sent back to Martins- 
 burgh, and the whole army under his command to be kept in such an efficient 
 state that prompt and energetic movements could be made. Strict discipline 
 would be enforced, and all brigade and other commanders would be held responsi 
 ble for any negligence or disregard in this respect. 
 
 On the first of June the enemy made an attempt to check the advance of 
 Hunter s army, but were repulsed, and our forces marched on to Harrisonburgh, 
 which was occupied without any difficulty. On leaving Harrisonburgh, Hunter 
 divided his men into two columns, one taking the direct road to Staunton, and 
 the other to Port Republic. This latter there encountered the enemy, who were 
 driven back, while the first or right column of the army got into an engagement 
 near Mount Crawford with the rebels under General Jones. The fight occurred 
 on the fifth of June, and resulted in complete success to the Union cause. Jones 
 was killed, and Hunter s victory was so complete that, after capturing twenty 
 guns, several prisoners, and a large quantity of stores, he was able, without oppo 
 sition, to enter Staunton, which had been hastily evacuated at his approach. At 
 the same time he effected a junction with Generals Crook and Averill. 
 
 From Staunton Hunter proceeded to Lexington, driving before him a large 
 rebel force of cavalry, and thence taking the route to Lynchburgh by way of Bu 
 chanan. On the seventeenth of June, the enemy made a stand at about four 
 miles from Lynchburgh, but after a fight of three or four hours were forced to 
 continue their retreat. The next day, General Hunter heard of the enemy having 
 been heavily reenforced from Richmond, and finding himself running short 
 of ammunition, with a scarcity of supplies, it was determined in a council of 
 
DAVID HUNTER. 295 
 
 war to retreat. Accordingly, he moved back to Salem via Liberty. At both 
 places the enemy, in force, attacked him, but were repulsed, and this, too, under 
 difficulties that most severely tried both officers and men. Want of food, added 
 to a march over wild and abrupt mountains, and through dangerous passes with 
 forest-clad steeps of great height on either side, taxed the forbearance of all to the 
 utmost limits. Still General Hunter contrived to keep his army together until 
 reaching Meadow s Bluff, where more than a million rations had been left by Crook 
 and Averill a few days previous, under charge of two Ohio militia regiments. 
 Great was the disappointment on finding these militiamen had been driven away 
 by guerrillas, and had taken some of the provisions with them to Loup Creek. 
 Thither General Hunter s forces followed, and at Gauley Bridge was met by the 
 supply-trains he had ordered. Thence, in advance of his command, he reached 
 Parkersburgh, and there, for the first time, heard of the rebel raid into Maryland. 
 Immediately he labored hard to reequip and hurry forward his troops, but the rail 
 way had been greatly damaged by the rebels, and the Ohio had not over two feet 
 of water-depth in it. This greatly impeded the sending on his men in time ; 
 nevertheless, by great exertions, he managed to despatch ten thousand of them 
 before the sixteenth July. 
 
 Meanwhile, however, the War Office had given orders for all his available 
 troops to report to Major-General Wright, and, deeming this virtually a censure 
 upon him, he has now demanded to be relieved of his command, though still 
 actively engaged in directing his forces against the enemy. 
 
GEORGE STONEMAN". 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE STONEMAN was born at Busti, Chautauque 
 County, New- York, August eighth, 1822. His father was a respectable 
 farmer, and one of the earliest settlers in the Western part of the State, to which 
 he removed just after the war of 1812. The son entered West-Point at the age 
 of twenty, and was graduated in 1846, standing thirty -third in a class of fifty- 
 nine. McClellan, Stonewall Jackson, Foster, Reno, and Couch were his class 
 mates, and Stonewall Jackson was his room-mate. 
 
 On leaving West-Point, Stoneman was attached to the First dragoons, then 
 commanded by the gallant Stephen Watts Kearny, and ordered at once to join 
 his company at Fort Leaven worth. He was put in charge of the first wagon- 
 train sent from that post to Santa F6, over what was then called the "Santa Fe 
 trail." The animals nearly all gave out for want of grass and water, and Lieu 
 tenant Stoneman determined to go on ahead to Santa Fe and procure fresh ones. 
 Taking with him one man, he made the journey of two hundred and sixty miles 
 through a country inhabited by hostile Indians and still more hostile Mexicans, 
 in four days ; obtained the animals, returned to his companions, and brought 
 the train through in safety. By this time, however, his dragoon company had 
 started for California with General Kearny, and he was ordered to accompany the 
 Mormon battalion, as Quartermaster, in their celebrated march from Nauvoo 
 through Santa Fe to California. As soon as they reached their destination, in 
 January, 1847, Lieutenant Stoneman joined his company at San Diego, and for 
 the next six years was constantly with it, patrolling various parts of the Pacific 
 territories, punishing hostile Indians, surveying and opening roads, escorting ex 
 ploring parties, etc. 
 
 In 1854, he travelled through Mexico and the West-Indies. The same year 
 he was promoted to be First Lieutenant. Returning to California in January, 
 1855, he became aid-do camp to Major-General Wool, then commanding the De 
 partment of the Pacific, but he did not retain that position long, for having been 
 appointed Captain in the Second dragoons, he joined his regiment, then com 
 manded by Albert Sidney Johnston, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in Septem 
 ber of the same year. The regiment set out for Texas in November, and from 
 that time until the rebellion of 1861, except for about a year and a half, during 
 
GEORGE STONEMAN. 297 
 
 which he travelled in Europe, Captain Stoneman was actively employed in Texas 
 and New-Mexico. 
 
 He was the first to inform General Scott of General Twiggs s treasonable in 
 tentions, and when the Texan commissioners came to him with an order from 
 General Twiggs to turn over to the State authorities all the property under his 
 control, he peremptorily refused to obey. He was in command of Fort Brown 
 when orders were issued for the withdrawal of all the United States troops from 
 the State. Foreseeing that he would have difficulty in getting away if he waited 
 for Government transports, he chartered a steamer to convey his command to 
 New -York. 
 
 In June, he was promoted to be Major in the Fourth cavalry. He served in 
 Western Virginia, as Acting Inspector-General, on the staff of General McClellan, 
 and accompanied his chief to the army of the Potomac after the first battle of 
 Bull Hun. In August, he was appointed Brigadier-General of volunteers and 
 Chief of cavalry. His duties from that time until after the evacuation of York- 
 town were chiefly connected w r ith the organization of his arm of the service. He 
 began the battle of Williamsburgh, and led the pursuit of the retreating enemy 
 with a force of cavalry, infantry, and flying-artillery, pushing them within five 
 miles of Richmond. During the campaign on the Chickahominy his troops were 
 posted on the extreme right flank as a corps of observation. Cut off from the 
 main body at the battle of Gaines s Mill, he first pushed his command to the 
 White House, in order to assist in the evacuation of that depot, and then pro 
 ceeded with all the animals and wagons to Yorktown and Fortress Monroe, re 
 joining McClellan at Harrison s Landing by way of James River. 
 
 During General Pope s Virginia campaign the cavalry was distributed among 
 the different corps, and General Stoneman, after the death of Kearny, took com 
 mand of that officer s division in Heintzelman s army corps. He succeeded to 
 the command of the Third corps when Heintzelman was placed in charge of the 
 defences of Washington. After the battle of Antietam, we find him in command 
 of a division temporarily attached to the Ninth corps, but he was soon once more 
 at the head of the cavalry of the army of the Potomac, and at the time of Gene 
 ral Hooker s attack upon Chancellorsville, in May, 1863, distinguished himself 
 by a daring and successful raid in the rear of Lee s army. Crossing the Up 
 per Rappahannock, fur to the right of Hooker, he divided his force into three 
 columns, one of which under Buford marched toward Gordonsville, another 
 under Averill to Culpeper, while Stoneman himself, with the third, moved 
 straight toward Richmond. He penetrated within the intrenchments of the rebel 
 capital, and there detached Colonel Kilpatrick with a few troopers, who pro 
 ceeded down the Peninsula to Gloucester Point. The main body having ridden 
 entirely around the rebel army, destroying bridges, railroads, locomotives, forges, 
 
298 GEORGE STONE MAN. 
 
 mills, and factories, together with vast quantities of grain, stores, and ammuni 
 tion, and capturing over five hundred prisoners, recrossed the Eappahannock at 
 Kelly s Ford, and rejoined Hooker on the eighth of May, after an absence of 
 about five days. His loss was very slight. 
 
 On the organization of the Cavalry Bureau at Washington in the latter part 
 of July, 1863, General Stoneman was placed in charge of it ; but before the open 
 ing of the next campaign he was again ordered to the field, and assigned com 
 mand of a corps under General Sherman. 
 
WILLIAM STAEKE ROSECEAI^S. 
 
 "TTTILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS was born in Kingston, Delaware 
 f V county, Ohio, December 6th, 1819. His father emigrated to Ohio from 
 the Wyoming valley, in 1808. His mother, Jemima Hopkins, was the daughter 
 of a Revolutionary soldier. His early life was passed in close application to 
 studv, and in his eighteenth year he entered the United States military academy 
 at West Point ; whence he graduated, third in mathematics and fifth in general 
 merit, in 1842. He received the brevet of second-lieutenant of engineers, July 
 1st ; served that year at Fortress Monroe as first assistant-engineer, under com 
 mand of Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. De Russey ; and was ordered to duty at West 
 Point, in September, 1843, as assistant professor of engineering. From August, 
 1844, until August, 1845, he served as assistant professor of natural and experi 
 mental philosophy at the military academy, and in 1845, 46, and 47, in the engi ! 
 neering department as assistant and first assistant professor. He also served as 
 post-quartermaster at West Point for some months. 
 
 In 1847, Lieutenant Rosecrans was assigned to duty at Newport, Rhode 
 Island, to reconstruct the large military wharves destroyed by a storm an 
 appointment regarded as an official recognition of his great ability as an en 
 gineer. Here he remained until 1852, when he was charged with the survey 
 (made under act of Congress) of New -Bedford harbor, Taunton River, and Provi 
 dence harbor. From April till November, 1853, he served as constructing engi 
 neer at the Washington navy-yard, when, on account of ill health, he tendered 
 his resignation to the secretary of war, Jefferson Davis. His resignation was not 
 accepted ; but he was given leave of absence, with the understanding that if, 
 upon the expiration of the leave, the resignation was insisted upon, it would be 
 accepted. In April, 1854, therefore, Lieutenant Rosecrans again tendered his 
 resignation, and retired from the service. 
 
 For the next year he occupied an office in Cincinnati, as consulting engineer 
 and architect ; and in June, 1855, became president of the Canal-Coal Company, 
 . and superintended its work on Coal River, Virginia, where it was engaged in the 
 construction of locks and dams, and in the endeavor to effect slack-water navi 
 gation. This position he relinquished to assume control of the business of the 
 Cincinnati Coal- Oil Company, in which he was directly interested. 
 
300 WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS. 
 
 "When General McClellan was placed at the head of the Ohio volunteers, he 
 appointed Kosecrans acting chief engineer, with the rank of major ; and the legis 
 lature of Ohio soon after created, purposely for him, and with the rank of colonel, 
 the office of chief engineer of the state. Governor Dennison appointed him, June 
 10th, colonel of the twenty-third regiment Ohio volunteers, and in that capacity 
 he went to Washington, and arranged for the payment and maintenance of the 
 troops from his state. 
 
 Colonel Rosecrans was appointed a brigadier-general of the United States 
 army, June 20th, 1861. Placed at the head of a brigade, composed of the eighth 
 and tenth Indiana and the seventeenth and nineteenth Ohio regiments, he parti 
 cipated in the earliest advance into Western Virginia ; was in command at Par- 
 kersburg ; proceeded thence to Grafton, and by Buckhannon, with the other part 
 of McClellan s force to Rich Mountain, where a portion of the rebel General 
 Garnett s force, variously stated at two and four thousand, and commanded by 
 Colonel Pegram, were intrenched at the foot of the hill, on the western slope. 
 Before this position some of General Rosecrans s men had a sharp skirmish with 
 the enemy on the 10th of July, and it was then discovered that their work at the 
 foot of the hill was a very strong one, and was in a position well chosen for 
 defence ; it was also learned that they had a much less considerable work on the 
 summit of the hill. It was therefore arranged that, while General McClellan 
 made his preparations to attack the larger work in front, General Rosecrans with 
 his brigade should reach the rear of the rebels, carry their work on the summit 
 of the hill, and participate from that side in the attack on the main fort. 
 
 In pursuance of this plan, General Rosecrans left his camp at Roaring Run, 
 two miles west of Rich Mountain, at daylight on July llth, and advanced by a 
 pathless route through- the woods along the south-western slope of the mountain. 
 Compelled very often to cut the way, and even to build a road for the artillery, 
 their progress was necessarily slow. Much rain had previously fallen, and the 
 bushes were still very wet ; this, with the cold, and the toilsome march, made 
 the service an unusually severe one. Yet they pressed on, silently and reso 
 lutely, and, after a circuit of eight miles, reached a point on the road in the 
 enemy s rear, at three P. M. Although this movement had been projected as a 
 surprise, the enemy was aware of it, and prepared : yet, after a hard fight of 
 three quarters of an hour, he was driven out, and his position taken. 
 
 This success decided the fortunes of the rebels at Rich Mountain ; for those 
 in the work at the foot of the mountain abandoned their position in the night, 
 and retreated to Laurel Hill. Nearly all the killed and wounded of the Union 
 men at this place were in General Rosecrans s brigade. General McClellan imme 
 diately pushed on to Beverly, to cut off the retreat of the force at Laurel Hill ; 
 while General Rosecrans, passed on the road, followed at leisure: and other 
 
WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS. 301 
 
 portions of McClellan s command went toward Laurel Hill, and followed the 
 retreat of Garnett to Carrick s Ford. 
 
 Immediately after the destruction of the rebel force at Eich Mountain and 
 Laurel Hill, General McClellan began to make active preparations to co-operate 
 with General Cox, on the Kanawha, against the rebels under Wise; but the 
 preparations were delayed by news of the national defeat at Bull Run. McClel 
 lan was ordered to Washington ; and his army, then at Beverly, was counter 
 marched to Webster, a few miles south of Grafton, where he left it, July 23d, 
 and the command of the department of the Ohio devolved upon General Eose- 
 crans. 
 
 Preparations for the campaign on the Kanawha were continued, but they 
 were now retarded by the necessity for the reorganization of the army, which 
 was composed in a great degree of men enlisted for three months. Meantime, 
 head-quarters were established at Clarksburg ; and from that place, on August 
 20th, General Eosecrans issued an address to the loyal inhabitants of Western 
 Virginia. " Contrary to your interests and your wishes," he said, the Confeder 
 ates " have brought war upon your soil Between submission to them, and 
 
 subjugation or expulsion, they leave you no alternative. They have set neigh 
 bor against neighbor, and friend against friend; they have introduced among 
 you warfare only known among savages. In violation of the laws of nations 
 and humanity, they have proclaimed that private citizens may and ought to 
 make war. Under this bloody code, peaceful citizens, unarmed travellers, and 
 single soldiers, have been shot down, and even the wounded and defenceless 
 have been killed ; scalping their victims is all that is wanting to make their war 
 fare like that which, seventy or eighty years ago, was waged by the Indians 
 against the white race on this very ground. You have no alternative left you 
 but to unite as one man in the defence of your homes, for the restoration of law 
 and order, or be subjugated, or expelled from the soil. I therefore earnestly 
 exhort you to take the most prompt and vigorous measures to put a stop to 
 
 neighborhood and private wars Citizens of Western Virginia, your fate is 
 
 mainly in your own hands. If you allow yourselves to be trampled under foot 
 by hordes of disturbers, plunderers, and murderers, your land will become a 
 desolation. If you stand firm for law and order, and maintain your rights, you 
 may dwell together peacefully and happily as in former days." 
 
 General Eosecrans marched from Clarksburg, August 31st, and once more 
 put himself at the head of his army for active operations. On the 10th of Sep 
 tember, he reached the rebel intrenchments in front of Carnifex Ferry, and, after 
 a slight skirmish, succeeded in routing General Floyd, and capturing " a few 
 prisoners, two stand of colors, a considerable quantity of arms," together with 
 some military stores. 
 
302 WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS. 
 
 Soon after this action, lie established his headquarters at Wheeling, and com 
 menced preparations for the campaign that was to be opened in the following 
 spring ; but in March, 1862, on the creation of the "Mountain Department," and 
 the appointment of General Fremont to its Command, General Eosecrans was re 
 lieved from duty in Western Virginia, and repaired to Washington, preparatory 
 to entering the field at the West. 
 
 After the evacuation of Corinth by the rebels, he was appointed to the com 
 mand of the army of the Mississippi, and during the summer, with his headquar 
 ters at Corinth, he employed his troops in strongly fortifying that place. But in 
 the fall he began more active operations, and moved upon the rebel forces, under 
 General Price, south of luka. It was just before dark, on the nineteenth of Sep 
 tember, that he attacked the enemy, and for nearly two hours had a sharp fight 
 with them. The following day he renewed the fight, and compelled them to make 
 a rapid retreat, losing one of their generals, besides two hundred and sixty-two 
 officers and men killed, four hundred severely wounded, and six hundred taken 
 prisoners. 
 
 General Eosecrans now returned to Corinth, which was attacked on the third 
 of October by the rebel General Earl Van Dorn. On the first day s fight our 
 forces were driven from their line of defences into the town, but, on the following 
 day, succeeded in repulsing the rebels and again taking possession of the works. 
 It was here that General Eosecrans again displayed those abilities which ranked 
 him as a brave and skilful commander. The defence made by his troops was 
 most determined and obstinate ; and the after-attack upon the rebels was such as 
 to cause their complete rout, and the loss of an immense number of officers and 
 men, besides leaving behind them more than two thousand prisoners, fourteen 
 stands of colors, two pieces of artillery, three thousand three hundred stand of 
 small arms, and forty-five thousand rounds of ammunition, etc. The rebels were 
 pursued for forty miles, and in such a way, under General Eosecrans s skilful 
 direction, that they were intercepted at various points, losing more men, and hav 
 ing their army completely broken up. 
 
 Soon after this, General Eosecrans was appointed a Major-General of volun 
 teers, his commission dating from March twenty-first, 1862, and, on the twenty- 
 sixth day of October, he was placed in command of the army of the Ohio, reliev 
 ing General Buell. His troops at this time were massed at Bowling Green and 
 Glasgow, Ky., with their base of supplies at Louisville ; but, soon after assuming 
 command, he marched on Nashville, and compelled the rebels to retire from their 
 investment of that place. At this time, all the region of country south of the 
 Kentucky line, and portions of North- Alabama and Georgia wherein the Union 
 army could operate, was formed into the Department of the Cumberland, over 
 
WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS. 303 
 
 which General Eosecrans was appointed commander. Here lie soon had an op 
 portunity for meeting the enemy in full force. 
 
 After the repulse at Nashville, the rebels fell back to Murfreesboro, where 
 they were joined by more troops from the Tennessee Yalley and Chattanooga. 
 These were placed under command of General Bragg, and, on the twenty-sixth of 
 December, General Kosecrans advanced to meet him. On the thirtieth, after some 
 heavy skirmishing by the way, the Union forces reached the vicinity of Mur 
 freesboro, and took up line of battle. At daybreak the following morning, the 
 fight began by an attack on the part of the rebels against our right wing, 
 under General McCook. They succeeded in driving him back with some heavy 
 loss in men and artillery. On the next day the battle was renewed without any 
 success ; but, on the ensuing one, January second, 1868, after some very severe 
 fighting, the rebels were defeated with terrific slaughter. In the afternoon they 
 had attacked our left and forced it to cross to the west side of the Stone Eiver ; 
 but there, a well-directed artillery fire, supported by infantry, met them, and, in 
 forty minutes, inflicted a loss in their ranks of two thousand killed and wounded. 
 General Rosecrans now followed up the advantage. The foe was panic-stricken ; 
 they turned and fled, and the victory was ours. 
 
 On the fifth of January, 1863, General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro, and 
 pursued the enemy toward Manchester, but the pursuit was given up, owing to 
 the difficulty of bringing up supplies and the bad state of the roads. 
 
 Soon after this battle, a joint resolution of Congress was passed, giving thanks 
 to General Rosecrans and the officers and men of his command for their gallantry 
 and good conduct. 
 
 After the battle of Murfreesboro the rebels took position at Shelbyville and 
 Tullahoma, General Rosecrans keeping his men in good order, ready to attack 
 them again directly a decisive blow could be successfully made. Several raids 
 and skirmishes took place, and, on the third of February, an attack was made by 
 the rebels on Fort Donelson, but they were repulsed. The rebels, however, 
 holding all the mountain passes, were able to frequently harass our troops, and 
 thus caused such obstacles in the way of moving forward, that General Rosecrans 
 deemed it the wisest course to remain in position until his communications and 
 supplies were perfectly secure. This produced some dissatisfaction in the War 
 Department at Washington, and a correspondence ensued which was not alto 
 gether free from an unpleasant character. It was deemed injudicious so to delay, 
 with our own army in good condition, and the enemy s known to be materially 
 weakened by sending reinforcements against Grant at Yicksburgh. The Presi 
 dent wrote, saying : "I am very much grieved by your unaccountable delay. I am 
 bound to believe that you, on the ground, are the best judge of what you can do ; 
 but you see how vitally important movement is, and you give me no reasons that 
 
304 WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS. 
 
 seem to me satisfactory." Secretary Stanton telegraphed to the effect that unless 
 a speedy movement took place, the country could not justify his course. General 
 Halleck also intimated that, with every kind wish toward him, it was certain that 
 the reputation of both would be imperilled unless, in accordance with the exigen 
 cies of the service, a forward movement was immediately commenced. To all 
 this, General Kosecrans answered, that he knew what the country needed, and 
 what the army also required. He had never been in the habit of moving into a 
 place until he could be sure of staying there ; and, if he was not competent to 
 command the army, they could remove him ; but, while he did remain in com 
 mand, he must use his own discretion and move as soon as he got perfectly ready. 
 
 The nature of this correspondence naturally caused a great deal of irritation, 
 and General Rosecrans felt exceedingly annoyed, especially as, after having ad 
 dressed a circular letter to all his corps and cavalry generals, he received opinions 
 in reply to certain queries he had put, that it was uncertain about the enemy s 
 force being weakened ; that it was very doubtful if we could then fight a success 
 ful battle ; and that it would be most unwise to advance until the fate of Yicks- 
 burgh was determined. 
 
 At length, on the twelfth of June, General Rosecrans decided to move, 
 though, as it is averred, against the wish of his leading generals, and on the 
 twenty-third his army was in motion. He moved upon the enemy well intrenched 
 at Tullahoma, covered in front by the defiles of Duck River a deep, narrow 
 stream, with few fords or bridges and a rough, rocky range of hills which di 
 vides the barrens from the lower level of Middle Tennessee. Bragg s main force 
 occupied a strong position north of Duck River from Shelbyville, which was forti 
 fied to Wartrace. General Rosecrans determined to make their intrenchments 
 useless by turning their left, and thus compel them to fight on our own ground, 
 or drive them in a disadvantageous line of retreat. By an admirably combined 
 movement he deceived them as to his real plans. Apparently advancing in force 
 upon Shelbyville, he sent the mass of his army on Manchester, and thus turned 
 the right of the enemy s defence of Duck River. Bragg was now compelled to 
 fall back on Tullahoma, hotly pursued by General Granger, who had brilliantly 
 carried Shelbyville. Dispositions were immediately made to turn Tullahoma, and 
 fall upon the enemy s rear ; but Bragg abandoned to us his intrenched camp, and 
 rapidly fell back toward Bridgeport, Ala., pursued as far as practicable by the 
 National forces. 
 
 On the first of July, Tullahoma was occupied by a portion of our army, and 
 thus ended a nine days campaign, which drove the enemy from two fortified posi 
 tions, and gave us possession of Middle Tennessee. The operations of our forces, 
 moreover, were conducted in one of the most extraordinary rainy seasons ever 
 known in that part of the country, and over a soil that had become almost a 
 
WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS. 305 
 
 quicksand. If it had not been for such severe weather, the enemy would not 
 have escaped as they did. As it was, General Kosecrans so successfully, and in 
 such a masterly manner, handled his heroic army, that much credit and praise 
 were deservedly his due. 
 
 After the expulsion of the rebels from Middle Tennessee, Bragg retreated 
 upon Chattanooga, which he immediately fortified, and threw up defensive works 
 at the crossing of the river as far up as Blythe s Ferry. Thither, on the sixteenth 
 of August, General Eosecrans followed him, commencing his advance by crossing 
 the Cumberland Mountains. To command and avail himself of the most import 
 ant passes, the front of his movement extended a distance of over one hundred 
 and fifty miles from Whitesburgh to Blythe s Ferry, and thus threatening the line 
 of the Tennessee River, which was reached on the twentieth of August, and 
 Chattanooga shelled from the north bank on the following day. Pontoon, boat, 
 raft, and trestle-bridges were immediately prepared, and the army, except cavalry, 
 safely crossed the Tennessee in the face of the enemy. By the eighth of Septem 
 ber, General Thomas had moved on Trenton and the gaps on Lookout Mountain, 
 and, with other movements of his army, General Rosecrans so completely deceived 
 the enemy that Bragg again found himself turned, and immediately evacuated 
 Chattanooga, which was peaceably taken possession of by a corps of our forces 
 under General Crittenden. 
 
 General Rosecrans now with the remainder of his army pressed forward 
 through the difficult passes of the Lookout and Missionary mountains, apparently 
 directing his march upon La Fayette and Rome. At this time General Burnside 
 was in possession of all East-Tennessee above Chattanooga, and as it was sup 
 posed at the War Office that Bragg had sent reinforcements to Lee on the Rap- 
 idan, and fearing that General Rosecrans s army might be drawn too far into the 
 mountains of Georgia, where it could not be supplied, an order came to him to 
 hold on where he was, after taking the passes west of Dalton. 
 
 On the twelfth of September, General Rosecrans telegraphed that some in 
 dications were presented of the rebels intending to turn his flanks and cut off his 
 communications, and that it would be advisable for General Burnside to move 
 down toward Chattanooga, and General Grant to cover the Tennessee River, so 
 as to prevent any raid on Nashville. Therefore orders were sent to Generals 
 Grant and Burnside to move forward and connect with General Rosecrans, and 
 he himself received a telegram to that effect, with directions that his army should 
 move to prevent Bragg reentering Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga being turned 
 over to General Burnside on his arrival. 
 
 On the fourteenth of September, General Rosecrans s army was in the passes 
 of Pigeon Mountain, with the enemy concentrating his forces near La Fayette to 
 dispute his further advance. But our troops were so scattered that they extended 
 
.06 WILLIAM S T A R K E R S E C R A N S . 
 
 some forty or fifty miles, and not until the nineteenth were they sufficiently con 
 centrated to be in a position for preventing the enemy getting in advance toward 
 Chattanooga. On the nineteenth, Bragg s forces, now strengthened by troops 
 from Johnston and Longstreet s corps, were slightly ahead, but were encountered 
 at Chickamauga, where a general action soon took place. 
 
 The accounts of this battle are somewhat conflicting, and have not been 
 wholly free from reflections which the brilliant and masterly movements, added 
 to the personal courage of the hero of Stone River, on other occasions displayed, 
 seem to make almost unwarranted. The battle of Chickamauga, though giving 
 fresh proofs of the heroism of our soldiers, and the high bravery of our generals 
 and officers, was a defeat. General Rosecrans retreated into Chattanooga, but the 
 enemy were kept in check from advancing by the determined courage of General 
 Thomas, who, with Generals Granger and Garfield, made a fierce stand against 
 the foe, and in a swift and terrible charge, broke the enemy s ranks, thus enabling 
 us to hold our position, and get the army within the line of defences around the 
 city. 
 
 After General Rosecrans s retreat to Chattanooga, he withdrew his forces 
 from the passes of Lookout Mountain, and these were immediately occupied by 
 the enemy, who also crossed the Tennessee higher up, and thus almost completely 
 cut off the supplies for our army. But on the nineteenth of October, Major- 
 General Grant having assumed command of the three departments of the Ten 
 nessee, Cumberland, and Ohio, now formed into one general command, General 
 Rosecrans was relieved. 
 
 The reasons given for this step, as published, need not be entered into here, 
 more than to say that it was based upon alleged military mismanagement, and cer 
 tain matters in connection with his relations to Mr. Truesdale, whom he had made 
 chief of the army police, and w r hose transactions in various speculations were con 
 sidered of a very ambiguous character. But, whatever the real cause of General 
 Rosecrans s removal, he was not to be long without a command, for in January 
 of the present year he was appointed to relieve General Schofield in the depart 
 ment of the Missouri. On the twenty-ninth of January, he was at St. Louis 
 when the citizens gave a complimentary dinner to General Grant then on a visit 
 there, and in reply to a toast in honor of the army and navy, expressed his firm 
 conviction in the restoration of the Union. 
 
 On assuming his command, General Rosecrans turned his attention to quiet 
 ing the State of Missouri by inducing the farmers to resume the cultivation of 
 the soil, and in a general order he prohibited the exportation of slave labor ex 
 cept for military purposes. He also issued an order requiring all church assem 
 blies, synods, conferences, etc., to subscribe to an oath of allegiance, in conse 
 quence of many ministers and preachers being disloyal in their sentiments. 
 
GEN JOHN G FOST E I , 
 
G. FOSTEE. 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN G. FOSTER was born in Whitefield, New- 
 Hampshire, May twenty-seventh, 1823, his father being Major Perley 
 Foster, who took part in the battle of Plattsburgh, on Lake Champlain, in 1812, 
 while his grandfather was one of the first to join the side of liberty in the Revolu 
 tion of 1776. Thus, John G. Foster was allied by blood to the valor and patriot 
 ism of the country. 
 
 In 1842, he entered the Military Academy at West-Point, where he gradu 
 ated in June, 1846, standing number four in his class. The following month he 
 was brevetted Second Lieutenant of engineers, and, in January, 1847, he was 
 attached to a company of sappers and miners, despatched with General Scott to 
 Mexico. There he greatly distinguished himself in all the battles of that cam 
 paign. On the twentieth of August, 1847, he was made First Lieutenant for 
 gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. At 
 Molino del Rev, in 1848, he was leading a division of a storming party in the ter 
 rible assault on Casa Mata, when he was severely wounded. Two thirds of the 
 entire command were cut down, and Lieutenant Foster narrowly escaped death at 
 the hands of the Mexicans by the timely charge of Cadwalader. For his bravery 
 on this occasion he was brevetted a Captain, with his commission dating from 
 September eighth, 1847. 
 
 After the campaign of Mexico, Captain Foster was ordered to Baltimore, and 
 thence on duty in the Coast Survey Office, "Washington. In April, 1854, he was 
 made a full First Lieutenant of engineers, and, during that year, was Assistant 
 Professor of Engineering at the Military Academy. In 1859, he was appointed 
 Engineer in charge of the forts in Charleston harbor and vicinity, and on the first 
 of July, 1860, was made a full Captain. 
 
 At the commencement of the rebellion, Captain Foster was on duty at Fort 
 Moultrie, then under command of Major (now General) Anderson, and when that 
 place was abandoned, on December twenty-sixth, 1860, Captain Foster remained 
 behind to spike the guns, burn the carriages, and destroy the flag-staff. He then 
 departed, with his remaining men, to join Major Anderson at Fort Sumter, where 
 he shared all the perils of the bombardment until it was evacuated on the fifteenth 
 day of April, 1861. 
 
308 JOHN G. FOSTER. 
 
 Immediately after this, lie was appointed to superintend the construction of 
 fortifications at Sandy Hook, but was soon ordered into active service in the army 
 of the Potomac. In August, 1861, the President made him a Brigadier-General, 
 and in December he was attached to General Burnside s expedition. On the 
 eleventh of January, 1862, this expedition left Fortress Monroe, and arrived at 
 Hatteras, N. C., on the seventeenth. Three weeks afterward, Eoanoke Island was 
 captured by the combined military and naval forces of the United States, and 
 here General Foster greatly distinguished himself. 
 
 On the fourteenth of March, Newbern was attacked by the forces under Gen 
 eral Burnside, who ordered General Foster to advance up the main road, toward 
 the enemy s left. An abandoned breastwork was discovered in the fortifications, 
 and this was at once taken possession of. Other advantages were promptly seized, 
 and the enemy s batteries taken one after the other, the last and most formidable, 
 where the rebels had concentrated their whole strength, by a gallant baj^onet- 
 charge. The rebels then fled across the Trent Eiver, destroying the bridges be 
 hind them, and succeeded in making their escape in the direction of Goldsborongh. 
 General Foster took possession of the town, and the Union victory was complete. 
 
 On the fourteenth of April, Fort Macon, after a heavy bombardment, was 
 taken ; and when, in the latter part of July, General Burnside was ordered to the 
 support of General McClellan, General Foster was left in command of the Depart 
 ment of North-Carolina, with the rank of Major-General, his commission dating 
 from the eighteenth of July, 1862. 
 
 On the thirty-first of October, General Foster left Newborn, on an expedition 
 through the eastern counties of North-Carolina, and by his prompt movements 
 was instrumental in saving the town and forces at Plymouth from destruction, the 
 enemy, hearing of his advance, having made a precipitate retreat, and abandoning 
 the attack they had contemplated. 
 
 In December, 1862, General Foster marched against Kinston, N. C. He 
 left Newbern on the thirteenth, and encountered the rebels at Southwest Creek. 
 After a short engagement, he compelled them to retire, and, on the following 
 day, defeated them again at Kinston, capturing the place. On the sixteenth, 
 he moved on toward Whitehall, and, after a three hours fight, the rebels fell back 
 upon Goldsborough, whither our forces promptly followed, and gave them another 
 defeat. Orders were then given to burn the railroad bridge and destroy the track 
 at that place, and this being effectually done, the expedition returned to Newbern. 
 Four hundred and ninety-six prisoners and nine pieces of artillery were taken, 
 with a loss on our side of ninety killed, four hundred and seventy-eight wounded, 
 and nine missing. 
 
 On March fourteenth, 1863, the rebel General Pettigrew, with a large force 
 of infantry and artillery, made a demonstration on Newbern, but he- was com- 
 
JOHN G. FOSTER. 309 
 
 pelled to abandon the attempt. The following month, the rebels, under General 
 Hill, laid siege to Washington, on the Tar Eiver. The place had only a small 
 garrison and was but slightly fortified, but General Foster immediately exerted all 
 his energies to strengthen the works so as to repel any assaults until reenforce- 
 ments arrived from Newbern to raise the siege. On the fourteenth, General 
 Foster succeeded in escaping from Washington, and arrived at Newbern next 
 day. He immediately prepared an expedition to march for the relief o^the town, 
 but the rebels suddenly raised the siege, and thus rendered it unnecessary. 
 
 In the latter part of May, he sent out an expedition to capture some rebel 
 works at Gum Swamp, which proved successful ; and, in July, another expedi 
 tion was sent against Kocky Mount, on the Tar Eiver, which destroyed the bridge 
 at that place and a large amount of rebel property. 
 
 On the eighteenth of July, Major-General Foster was appointed to command 
 the Department of Virginia, in addition to that of North-Carolina, his headquar 
 ters being at Fortress Monroe. Immediately afterward, he ordered the recruit 
 ment of colored troops and the impressment of colored laborers. At the same 
 time, he apportioned Koanoke Island among the families of negro soldiers. 
 
 On the twenty -eighth, he was relieved by General Butler, and ordered to 
 report to the Adjutant-General of the army. He was not, however, to remain 
 long without an active command. His services were needed on the battle-field, 
 and his own desires led him to seek duty where there was stirring work to be 
 done. 
 
 Accordingly, on the sixteenth of November, 1863, he was appointed to 
 the command of the Department of East-Tennessee, in the place of General 
 Burnside, who had requested to be relieved. He arrived at Cincinnati on the 
 twenty-second, and at Cumberland Gap on the thirtieth, where he was joined 
 by the forces previously sent there by General Burnside to defend that important 
 position. Three days later, at Walker s Ford, two miles from the Gap, a fight 
 occurred with Longstreet s cavalry, and General Foster s troops, in attempting 
 to cross the Clinch Eiver, \vere repulsed, but, on the next day, he drove the 
 enemy back, and went in pursuit. On the seventh of December, he reported, 
 from Tazewell, that the rebels were in full retreat up the valley toward Virginia. 
 
 A few days later, on the departure of General Burnside from Knoxville, he 
 assumed the entire command of the forces in East-Tennessee, and neglected no 
 opportunity of personally visiting and inspecting the movements at the front of 
 his army. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth of January, 1864, General Foster telegraphed that his 
 cavalry, under General Sturges, had met the rebels at Fair Gardens, and after a 
 fight lasting from daylight until four P.M., had driven them back, taking a hun 
 dred prisoners and two of their rifled guns. 
 
310 JOHN G. POSTER. 
 
 Meanwhile the health of General Foster declined. The weather was exceed 
 ingly severe, and this caused his old wound to become very painful. It was still 
 further aggravated by an accident that occurred soon after his arrival at Knox- 
 ville. One day while riding, his horse stumbled and threw him, thus rendering 
 him almost incapable of fulfilling the active duties of his post. Still he perse 
 vered, but finally was compelled to yield, and on the twenty-first of January, an 
 order from the War Office appointed General Schofield to relieve him. On the 
 ninth of February, his successor arrived, and General Foster immediately depart 
 ed for Baltimore, there to recruit his health by a cessation from all official duties. 
 His active mind, however, would not allow him to be idle longer than was com 
 pulsory, and directly he was sufficiently strengthened, he applied for service, 
 and in May was appointed to command the department of the South. He 
 arrived at Hilton Head on the twenty-sixth of May, and relieved General Hatch. 
 
 One of General Foster s first acts after arrival was to order the raising of a 
 regiment of militia in Florida, and to direct that all persons having permits to 
 trade in his department, renew them at headquarters immediately. This order 
 had reference to the host of irregular traders that so frequently hang about 
 camps, and help to defraud the soldier. 
 
 On the first of July, General Foster despatched an expedition on an exten 
 sive scale to carry on movements against the enemy. It consisted of commands 
 under Generals Hatch, Schemmelfennig, Saxton, and Birney, the whole being 
 under General Foster. The troops were embarked in about twenty transports, 
 and on arriving at Seabrook Island a portion were sent on shore. At that place 
 no rebels were discovered, but on visiting John s Island, they appeared in force. 
 More of our troops were landed, and the island was then occupied by us. Gen 
 eral Schemmelfennig at the same time moved on James Island, where there 
 was some severe fighting, but the result was in our favor. A fort was captured, 
 and two guns, the rebels being driven into the woods. In this attack, two col 
 ored regiments of infantry were in the advance. On the second of July, Fort 
 Johnson was unsuccessfully attacked by our troops. Finally, our forces were 
 withdrawn, the principal object of the expedition in enticing the enemy away 
 from other places having been accomplished. 
 
" 
 
JOHN" CHAELES FREMONT. 
 
 THE subject of this sketch was born at Savannah, in Georgia, January 21st, 
 1813. His father was a native of Lyons, and left France for St. Domingo 
 in 1798 ; but the ship in which he sailed, captured by an English cruiser, was 
 taken into the British West Indies, whence the captive made his way to Norfolk, 
 in Virginia. There he taught his native language for a livelihood, and eventu 
 ally married the daughter of Colonel Thomas Whiting, of Gloucester county, a 
 gentleman related by marriage to the family of Washington. 
 
 At the age of fifteen, young Fremont entered Charleston (S. C.) College. For 
 some time he made rapid progress in his studies ; but he fell in love, became inat 
 tentive to his collegiate duties, was frequently absent from his class, and for that 
 cause was finally expelled. From his seventeenth to his twentieth year he was 
 employed as an instructor in mathematics in various schools in Charleston, and 
 as a practical surveyor. In 1833, he was appointed a teacher of mathematics on 
 board the United States sloop-of-war Natchez, and made a cruise of two years 
 and a half in that vessel. On his return, he declined the appointment of professor 
 of mathematics in the navy, was employed as an engineer on the railway line 
 between Augusta and Charleston, and subsequently, and until the fall of 1837, as 
 an assistant engineer upon the preliminary survey for a railway between Charles 
 ton and Cincinnati. Fremont s part of the line lay in the mountain-passes be 
 tween South Carolina and Tennessee. This work was suspended in the autumn, 
 and the winter of 1837 was spent in making, with Captain Williams, of the 
 United States army, a military rcconnoissance of the mountains of Georgia, 
 North Carolina, and Tennessee a work performed in anticipation of hostilities 
 with the Cherokee Indians. In the spring of 1838, he accompanied M. Nicollet, 
 a man of science, employed by the United States government, to the upper Mis 
 sissippi, and served as his principal assistant in the exploration of that year, and 
 also in that of the next year, of the country between the Missouri and the British 
 line ; and afterward assisted in the preparation of the maps and report of the ex 
 ploration. While upon this expedition, he was appointed, February 7th, 1838, 
 a second-lieutenant in the corps of topographical engineers. 
 
 Before Nicollet s maps and report were completed, Fremont was ordered to 
 explore the River Des Moines. After the execution of this service, he returned 
 
312 JOHN CHARLES FREMONT. 
 
 to Washington, and in October, 1841, married Jessie, the daughter of Thomas 
 II. Benton, then United States Senator from Missouri. 
 
 While employed under Nicollet, Fremont had conceived the design of ex 
 ploring the Far West, to facilitate its settlement, and open communication with 
 the Pacific. As the first step toward this great labor, he applied for and obtained, 
 in 1842, an order to explore the Missouri frontier as far as the Wind River Peak 
 of the Rocky Mountains. lie left the mouth of the Kansas River, June 10th, 
 proceeded up the Platte River and its tributaries, through bands of hostile In 
 dians, to the South Pass, which was carefully examined. Thence he proceeded 
 to the Wind River Mountains, the loftiest peak of which he ascended, and on his 
 return reached the mouth of the Kansas October 10th. His report was laid be 
 fore Congress in the winter of 1842- 3. Humboldt praised it, and the London 
 " Athenaium" pronounced it one of the most perfect productions of its kind. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1843, Fremont set out upon a second expedition, 
 from which he did not return until August, 1844. His object in this expedition 
 was to complete the survey of the line of communication between the state of 
 Missouri and the tide-water region of the Columbia, which had never been exam 
 ined or mapped by any geographer; and to explore the vast region to the south 
 of the Columbia the whole western slope of the Rocky Mountains a territory 
 almost unknown. He set out from Kansas City May 29th, and came in sight of 
 Salt Lake September 6th. Eight months later, he reached Utah Lake, the south 
 ern limb of the Great Salt Lake, having completed a circuit of twelve degrees 
 diameter north and south, and ten degrees east and west. In the maps and report 
 of this expedition, the Great Salt Lake, the Utah Lake, the Little Salt Lake, the 
 Klamath Lake, the Sierra Nevada, the valleys of the Sacramento and San Joa- 
 quin, the Great Basin, the Three Parks nearly all then unknown and desert 
 regions, now the homes of multitudes of people were revealed to the world. 
 Nothing in the annals of human adventure can surpass the fortitude with which 
 Fremont and his comrades met the hardships and dangers of this vast exploration. 
 For this service he was breveted first-lieutenant and captain in January, 1845. 
 
 Captain Fremont set out on his third expedition in the spring of 1845. He 
 crossed the Great Basin from the southern extremity of the Great Salt Lake, and 
 reached California in December. From the authorities of that province he ob 
 tained permission to go to the valley of the San Joaquin, where he desired to 
 procure supplies, and to recruit his force. At that time the relations between 
 the United States and Mexico were critical ; and, though the leave was granted 
 for him to continue his exploration, it was almost immediately revoked, and he 
 was peremptorily ordered to quit the country. In the condition of his men, this 
 was impossible ; and General Castro, the governor, mustered the forces of the 
 province against him. Therefore, to be in a better condition to repel any attack, 
 
JOHN CUARLES FREMONT. 313 
 
 Fremont took up a position on the Hawk s Peak, about thirty miles from Mon 
 terey, intrenched it, and with his command of sixty-two men awaited the Mexi 
 cans. Here he remained from the 7th till the 10th of March. General Castro 
 did^not approach, and Fremont abandoned his position, and commenced his 
 marc]}, for Oregon. Several of his men, who desired to remain in the country, 
 were discharged from service on the march. About the middle of May, 1846, 
 when he had reached the northern shore of the great Tlamath Lake, and was 
 within the limits of Oregon territory, he found his further progress in that direc 
 tion obstructed by impassable snowy mountains, and by hostile Indians, who had 
 been excited against him by General Castro ; and Castro, he learned, was still 
 advancing against him ; and that the American settlers in the valley of the Sac 
 ramento were comprehended in the scheme of destruction meditated against his 
 own party. At the same time, a messenger reached him with dispatches from 
 Washington, in which he was directed to watch over the interests of the United 
 States in California, as there was reason to apprehend that the province would 
 be transferred to Great Britain. " Under these circumstances," says Secretary 
 Marcy, " he determined to turn upon his Mexican pursuers, and seek safety for 
 his own party and the American settlers, not merely in the defeat of Castro, but 
 in the total overthrow of the Mexican authority in California, and the establish 
 ment of an independent government in that extensive department. It was on 
 the 6th of June that this resolution was taken, and by the 5th of July it was car 
 ried into effect". . . . and "in the short space of sixty days from the first decisive 
 movement, this conquest was achieved by a small body of men to an extent be 
 yond their own expectations, for the Mexican authorities proclaimed it a con 
 quest, not merely of the northern part, but of the whole province of the Cali- 
 fornias." 
 
 California was thus virtually an independent province, and in the hands of 
 the settler-conquerors, who immediately elected Fremont governor. Upon the 
 arrival of the United States naval forces, under Stockton, Fremont co-operated 
 with them, and his election as governor was recognized and ratified by Stock 
 ton. Subsequently, General Kearney, of the United States army, arrived in Cal 
 ifornia, and claimed authority over the territory, and, as Fremont s superior in 
 the national army, required his obedience to orders. His orders conflicted with 
 those previously received from Commodore Stockton, and Fremont refused to 
 obey them. This brought upon him the enmity of Kearney. Stockton received 
 orders in the spring to turn the command over to Kearney, and that ended the 
 dispute. Fremont, tried by court-martial for his share of the trouble, w r as found 
 guilty of "mutiny," "disobedience of lawful orders," and "conduct to the preju 
 dice of good order and military discipline," and was sentenced to be dismissed 
 
 from the service. The President disapproved the decision of the court upon the 
 
 2t 1 
 
314 JOHN CHARLES FREMONT. 
 
 charge of mutiny, and remitted the penalty ; but Fremont, indisposed to accept 
 " mercy," resigned his commission, and started upon a winter expedition across 
 the mountains, to remove the popular impression that the snow rendered them 
 impassable. His intention was, to go from the Eio Grande to the Colorado, 
 through the Cochatopee Pass ; but, misled by his guide, he encountered a violent 
 snow-storm while twelve thousand feet above the level of the sea. His expedi 
 tion proved disastrous, but he finally demonstrated the existence of the pass, and 
 that the route was practicable. 
 
 Upon his arrival in California, Fremont made his home on the Mariposas, a 
 tract of land, about two hundred miles south-west from San Francisco, which he 
 had purchased in 1847 for three thousand dollars. But he was not allowed to rest. 
 Identified with all the great interests of California, and especially with the endeav 
 or to exclude slavery from its constitution, he was chosen in December, 1849, to 
 represent that state in the Senate of the United States, and was its first Senator. 
 His senatorial career was brief. He had drawn the short term, and the protracted 
 struggle upon the admission of his state left him but two weeks of his first ses 
 sion. In that time he offered bills to donate lands to settlers, to settle land-titles, 
 to grant lands to the state for the purposes of education, to open a road across 
 the continent, and for various other measures requisite in a new state. An attack 
 of the Panama fever kept him from his seat throughout the next session. 
 
 By act of Congress, every claimant of title to land in California was required, 
 at the discretion of the United States attorney -general, to sue for his title in per 
 son before three separate tribunals ; and the attorney-general exercised his full 
 authority in Fremont s case, though his title to the Mariposas was beyond doubt. 
 One of the tribunals was in Washington, and Fremont was compelled to make 
 the journey thither from California. He did so, and obtained his title. Investi 
 gation had demonstrated the mineral wealth of the Mariposas tract ; and, upon 
 the settlement of the title, Fremont was offered one million dollars for it by a 
 London company of capitalists, and one hundred thousand dollars were depos 
 ited with Colonel Benton as a first payment. But Fremont refused to sell, and 
 in 1852 went to Europe to negotiate for means to work the mines. 
 
 He returned in June, 1853, and in August set out to complete at his own 
 expense the survey (abandoned in 1849) of the direct line for the Pacific road 
 to San Francisco. Though this was also a winter expedition, and though the 
 weather was extremely inclement, he found safe passes through a fine country 
 all the way to San Francisco. 
 
 Though previously Fremont had not taken any active share in general poli 
 tics, yet his known sympathy with the principles of the Eepublican party, and 
 his career as a man associated with the great development of the Far West, 
 brought him prominently before the Eepublican national convention which met 
 
JOHN CHARLES FREMONT. 315 
 
 at Philadelphia, June 17th, 1856, and that body unanimously nominated him as 
 the candidate of the Republican party for the presidency. lie was defeated in 
 November by the election of James Buchanan, who received one hundred and 
 seventy-four electoral votes from nineteen states ; Fremont received one hundred 
 and fourteen from eleven states, and his popular vote was one million, three hun 
 dred and forty-one thousand, five hundred and fourteen. In 1858, Mr. Fremont 
 returned to California, made that state his residence, and there gave his whole 
 attention to the management of his extensive Mariposas estate. 
 
 When the Southern disturbance became an open and aggressive war, Colo 
 nel Fremont was in Paris ; but he determined immediately to return home, and 
 reached Boston in the steamship Europa, June 27th, 1861. His arrival had been 
 anticipated by his appointment as a major-general in the United States army ; 
 and on July 6th, upon the creation of the "Western department, he was ordered 
 to the command in it. This department comprised the state of Illinois, and the 
 states and territories west of the Mississippi and east of the Rocky Mountains, 
 including New Mexico, and head-quarters were fixed at St. Louis. 
 
 General Fremont reached his department and assumed the command, July 
 25th. Battles had then been fought at Bboneville and Carthage, and nearly the 
 whole force under Lyon was in and around Springfield, in daily expectation of 
 attack from the large army known to be under M Culloch and Price. More 
 over, the federal army then iir- existence had been originally organized for three 
 months service : its time was now nearly expired ; and in view of this, the rebel 
 forces began to threaten along the whole line of operations in the department. 
 Fremont had thus to hold a department against an active enemy, and had first to 
 create an army. His difficulties were of immense magnitude; but he does not 
 appear to have talked very much about them, nor to have taken the world at 
 large into his confidence, and that caused more trouble still. 
 
 General Pillow, about the first of August, entered south-eastern Missouri at 
 the head of a large rebel force ; and, to meet this, General Fremont immediately 
 organized an expedition of about eight regiments, which left St. Louis August 2d, 
 and moved down the Mississippi to Cairo. Pillow was either alarmed by the 
 force thus prepared to meet him, or his movement had been merely intended as 
 a feint to cover the advance against Lyon in the south-western part of the state, 
 for he withdrew without making any demonstration. Apparently, Fremont was 
 beaten in this whole affair : for, by the actual movement made, he lost Lyon and 
 Springfield; while, if he had moved to the assistance of Lyon, Pillow would 
 doubtless have pressed his demonstration against Bird s Point and Cairo, and 
 those places would probably have fallen into his hands. 
 
 Fremont s appointment as major-general was confirmed by the Senate on the 
 3d of August. On the 13th, he declared martial law in the " city and county 
 
316 JOHN CHARLES FREMONT. 
 
 of St. Louis ;" and at about the same time he began the construction of the very- 
 extensive fortifications contemplated for the defence of that city. By his proc 
 lamation of August 31st, he extended the declaration of martial law throughout 
 Missouri, and " assumed the administrative powers of the state." This was made 
 necessary by "the helplessness of the civil authority." In the same document, 
 it is declared that "the property, real and personal, of all persons in the state of 
 Missouri, who shall take up arms against the United States, or who shall be 
 directly proven to have taken active part with their enemies in the field, is de 
 clared to be confiscated to the public use, and their slaves, if any they have, are 
 hereby declared free men." Against the extension of martial law over the state, 
 Hamilton R. Gamble, who had been elected governor upon the delinquency of 
 Governor Jackson, protested personally to the President ; but the President was 
 disposed to leave the matter with General Fremont, and to " take no step back 
 ward ;" yet by a public order of September llth, the President qualified the slave 
 clause of General Fremont s proclamation, so that it should " not transcend the 
 provisions on the same subject contained in the act of Congress entitled an act 
 to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes. " Very nearly at the 
 same time was first heard the rumor that General Fremont s conduct of affairs 
 in Missouri had not given satisfaction in Washington, and that he was to be. 
 superseded. 
 
 After the battle at Wilson s Creek, and the consequent withdrawal of the 
 national forces from the south- western "part of the state, it was completely over 
 run by the united forces of M Culloch, Rains, and Price, who extended their 
 operations as far north as the Missouri River, and approached St. Louis from the 
 direction of Springfield as near as Warsaw, on the Osage. Extensive prepara 
 tions to rid the state of this invasion were made by General Fremont at St. Louis, 
 and subsequently at Jefferson City ; and for this purpose he finally collected and 
 organized, though somewhat imperfectly, a force of thirty thousand men, which 
 was disposed in five divisions, commanded respectively by Generals Hunter, 
 Sigel, Asboth, M Kinstry, and Pope. This force comprised twenty-five infantry 
 regiments. About five thousand cavalry made up the number, and it was fur 
 nished with thirty-six pieces of artillery. On the 14th of October, the whole 
 force took up its march Asboth s and Hunter s commands from the camp at 
 Tipton, M Kinstry s from Syracuse, Pope s from Boonevillc, and Sigcl s from 
 Sedalia for Warsaw, on the Osage. 
 
 Warsaw was reached on the 17th. There General Fremont halted to build 
 a bridge over the Osage, and passed that stream on the 22d. General Price, with 
 a force fully equal to the national army, retreated before Fremont as he ad 
 vanced ; but the latter pressed on, in the belief that he could overtake Price near 
 the Arkansas line, though his transportation was quite unequal to any very rapid 
 
 f 
 
JOHN CHARLES FREMONT. 317 
 
 movement. Price was reported to have made a stand at Carthage, and Fremont 
 occupied Springfield, October 27th. Price and M Culloch were then certainly 
 not far to the south, with a large force, and a battle became hourly more immi 
 nent. General Fremont devoted himself with intense earnestness to the work 
 of preparation for the fight. Meantime, some excitement prevailed, as the possi 
 bility of his removal was talked over in the army, and rumors were current that 
 it had already takpn place. Fremont could not but be aware of these rumors ; 
 yet he worked on until Saturday, November 2d, when he received from a gov 
 ernment messenger the President s unconditional order for him to relinquish the 
 command to General Hunter. He did so, and left camp at Springfield for St. 
 Louis on the 3d, having previously taken leave of the army in the following 
 farewell order : 
 
 " SOLDIERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI ARMY : Agreeable to orders received this 
 day, I take leave of you. Although our army has been of sudden growth, we 
 have grown up together, and I have become familiar with the brave and gen 
 erous spirits which you bring to the defence of your country, and which makes 
 me anticipate for you a brilliant career. Continue as you have begun, and give 
 to my successor the same cordial and enthusiastic support with which you have 
 encouraged me. Emulate the splendid example which you have already before 
 you, and let me remain, as I am, proud of the noble army which I have thus far 
 labored to bring together. 
 
 " Soldiers, I regret to leave you. Most sincerely I thank you for the regard 
 and confidence you have invariably shown me. I deeply regret that I shall not 
 have the honor to lead you to the victory which you are just about to win ; but 
 I shall claim the right to share with you in the joy of every triumph, and trust 
 always to be personally remembered by my companions in arms." 
 
 On the llth of March, 1862, President Lincoln, having previously ordered 
 a general movement of the land and naval forces of the United States, issued an 
 order relieving General McClcllan from the " other military departments" except 
 the department of the Potomac, and creating the new departments of the " Mis 
 sissippi" and the " Mountain department," assigning the command of the latter 
 to General Fremont. On the first of April, active operations in his department 
 commenced under General Milroy, who compelled the enemy to retreat before him 
 as far as Fort Shenandoah toward Staunton from the west. General Fremont left 
 Wheeling early in May, and after passing through New-Creek he proceeded to 
 Franklin, where he arrived on the thirteenth, his army having come by forced 
 marches to relieve Generals Schenck and Milroy who had been attacked and re- 
 
318 JOHN CHARLES FREMONT. 
 
 pulsed by the enemy. On the appearance of General Fremont, however, the rebels 
 all removed from the neighborhood, and quiet was maintained for ten days, during 
 which time his forces were reorganized and refreshed. At the end of that period, 
 an order came to General Fremont directing him to fall back with his entire com 
 mand to the support of General Banks, and prescribing the route by which he 
 should go. This route General Fremont deemed to be an injudicious one, and ac 
 cordingly took another of his own selection. He left Franklin at six o clock on 
 Sunday morning, May twenty-fifth, leaving behind all the wounded and sick, so as 
 not to impede his progress. The march back over the Shenandoah Mountains to 
 the neighborhood of Strasburgh was arduous and trying in the extreme. The 
 tired troops dropped by the roadside, and slept under the partial shelter of open 
 forests. The next day the rear of the enemy under Jackson was attacked and 
 driven back beyond Strasburgh, General Fremont promptly following, and on 
 the afternoon of the sixth of June, he reached Harrisonburgh. Here the army 
 rested until June eighth, when General Fremont finding the enemy posted at 
 Cross-Keys, moved on and attacked him, compelling his retreat to Port Republic, 
 where he was again encountered, but soon disappeared. This closing the pursuit 
 of Jackson, General Fremont s forces now returned, by way of Harrisonburgh, up 
 the valley and reached Mount Jackson June twelfth, where they encamped. 
 
 On the twenty -sixth of June, the troops under General Fremont were con 
 solidated with those of Generals Banks and McDowell, and placed under command 
 of Major-General Pope. This step was considered by General Fremont as "plac 
 ing him in an inferior position to that he had previously held, and largely reducing 
 his rank and consideration in the service." Accordingly, on the twenty-seventh 
 of June, having asked to be relieved from his command, his request was granted. 
 Late in May, 1864, having received the nomination of the radical democratic 
 party for the Presidency of the United States, he resigned his commission as 
 major-general in the a-rmy of the United States. 
 
MA. I Ci:\ JOHN SF.DGWICK 
 
JOHN SEDGWIOK. 
 
 JOHN SEDGWICK was born at Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut, in 
 1817. lie belonged to a family well known in Connecticut, Massachusetts, 
 and New- York, among whose members were Miss Catherine Sedgwick, the author 
 ess, and Theodore Sedgwick, the distinguished jurist. John Sedgwick, the grand 
 father of the late General, was an officer of good reputation during the revolu 
 tionary war. 
 
 The subject of this sketch entered the Military Academy at West-Point in 
 1833, and graduated twenty-fourth in a class of fifty in 1837. Among his class 
 mates were Generals Benham, (who stood first,) Arnold, Vogdes, Thomas, Wil 
 liams, French, and Hooker, and the rebel Generals Bragg, Mackall, Early, and 
 Pemberton all of whom, except Hooker, were graduated above him. 
 
 He was immediately appointed Second Lieutenant in the Second artillery, 
 and in April, 1839, was promoted to be First Lieutenant in the same regiment. 
 For the next seven or eight years he was employed in no duty which offered him 
 opportunity for special distinction, but he was not long in acquiring a reputation 
 as a zealous and painstaking officer, whose whole mind was devoted to his profes 
 sion, and whose chief ambition seemed to be to make himself master of all that 
 related to the service in its minutest details. 
 
 The Mexican war opened a field for the display of the knowledge he had 
 carefully accumulated during the previous years of peace. At the battles of Con- 
 treras and Churubusco he commanded his company, and won the brevet rank of 
 Captain for his gallant and meritorious conduct. In the engagement of El Molino 
 del Key his behavior was again the subject of special commendation. For his 
 distinguished services at Chapultepec he was brevetted Major, and the official re 
 ports of the attack upon the San Cosmo gate of the City of Mexico make particu 
 lar mention of his gallant behavior. In this last-named action the command of 
 his company again devolved upon him. He received the full rank of Captain in 
 January, 1849, and in March, 1855, was transferred to the First cavalry, with the 
 commission of Major. 
 
 At the time of the Kansas troubles his regiment, of which the late Major- 
 General Sumner was then Colonel, was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, and hav 
 ing been placed by the Secretary of War at the disposal of the Governor of 
 
320 JOHN SEDGWICK. 
 
 the territory, was actively engaged in many of the disturbances. "With detach 
 ments of dragoons, Major Sedgwick was frequently sent on expeditions against 
 one or the other of the hostile parties then in arms against each other, and in 
 after-life he was fond of telling, not without a spice of dry humor, how impartially 
 he discharged his duty dispersing a band of Missourians one day, and imprison 
 ing John Brown the next. In one of the encounters between the troops and the 
 settlers, a young lad belonging to the Free State party was severely wounded and 
 left in the hands of the dragoons. Major Sedgwick, with his characteristic ten 
 derness, took the lad to his own quarters, and nursed him until his wounds were 
 healed. For this act of humanity he was rebuked by Mr. Jefferson Davis, then 
 Secretary of War, and annoyed by a long and unsatisfactoiy correspondence with 
 the officials at Washington. Colonel Simmer s conduct also gave umbrage to Mr. 
 Davis, and led to his being relieved from his command. 
 
 In 1858 and 1859, Major Sedgwick was in command at Fort Eiley, and in 
 1860 at Fort Wise, where he was still stationed at the time of the outbreak of the 
 rebellion in 1861. On the sixteenth of March of that year, he was appointed 
 Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second cavalry, and on the twenty-fifth of April, Colo 
 nel of the Fourth cavalry. His commission as Brigadier-General of volunteers 
 was dated August thirty-first, 1861. His first command was a brigade composed 
 of two New- York and two Maine regiments, in Heintzclman s division of the army 
 of the Potomac, but before the opening of the spring campaign he exchanged this 
 for a division in the Second (Sumner s) army corps. For a short time he had been 
 in command on the Upper Potomac, relieving General Stone. After the evacua 
 tion of Yorktown, his division and the divisions of Franklin, Fitz-John Porter, 
 and Richardson were sent by water to West-Point, on the Pamunkey, and a por 
 tion of his troops participated in Franklin s gallant repulse of the enemy at that 
 place on the seventh of May. At the battle of Fair Oaks, May thirty -first, he 
 probably saved the day. Heintzelman and Keyes had been fighting manfully all 
 the afternoon against overpowering numbers, and were in a most critical position, 
 when Sedgwick, after a severe march of three hours, crossed the Chickahominy 
 by a bridge which the enemy supposed to have been destroyed by a flood, and 
 about six o clock reached the field of battle. Three desperate assaults by the 
 rebels were repulsed, and Sedgwick then in turn attacked, drove them at the point 
 of the bayonet within the cover of a thick wood, and kept possession of the field 
 with all the confederate dead and wounded. On the twenty-ninth of June, during 
 the retreat from the Chickahominy to the James, he repulsed a furious attack of 
 the enemy at Allen s Farm, and in the battles of Savage s Station and Glendale, 
 and other engagements of the seven days fight, he distinguished himself in the 
 most gallant manner. For his services at Fair Oaks he received the brevet rank 
 of Brigadier-General in the regular army, dating from the day of the battle. 
 
JOHN SEDGWICK. 321 
 
 He participated in the closing scenes of General Pope s Virginia cam 
 paign, and afterward marched with his command under McClellan into Mary 
 land. He reached the battle-field of Antietam after the action had commenced, 
 and was ordered to the right of the line to support an attack upon Lee s left. 
 Forming his division in three parallel lines by brigades, he moved the front under 
 a severe fire from concealed batteries, and drove the enemy through a wood. On 
 a hill, however, commanding the exit from the wood was a line of confederate 
 breastworks and batteries, and while his front was assailed by a tremendous fire 
 from these, a strong column of the enemy, having pressed back the Federal bri 
 gade on Sedgwick s left, appeared on the left of his rear. Exposed to a fire in 
 front and flank, which it could not return, Sedgwick s third line gave way in con 
 fusion, and was followed by the second and first, but the personal exertions of 
 their General soon retrieved the disorder. Though twice -vvounded, and faint 
 from loss of blood, he retained command of his division for more than an hour 
 after his first wound, and was finally carried from the field. 
 
 On his recovery, in December, he was nominated Major-General of volun 
 teers, to date from July fourth, 1862, and assigned command of the Ninth corps. 
 He did not reach the army in time to take part in Burnside s attack upon Frede- 
 ricksburgh. During the absence of General Sunnier he was temporarily in com 
 mand of the right grand division of the army of the Potomac. In February, 1863, 
 he succeeded General "Baldy" Smith in command of the Sixth corps, and on the 
 twenty-fifth of the same month his commission as Major-General was ante-dated 
 so as to give him rank from May thirty-first, 1862, the day of the battle of Fair 
 Oaks. 
 
 When General Hooker made his attack upon Chancellorsville, in May, 1863, 
 Sedgwick was placed at the extreme left of the line, with instructions to carry the 
 heights of Fredericksburgh and effect a junction with Hooker in the rear of the 
 town. The enemy had a strong position on the crest of a ridge known as Marye s 
 Heights. Twice the Sixth corps had assaulted it, and it had failed. When the 
 men recoiled under their second repulse, General Sedgwick, who was watching the 
 movement from a commanding position, drew his hat down over his eyes, and 
 striding up to his Adjutant-General, exclaimed, in a low voice but with an energy 
 that was almost fierce : " By heaven, sir, this must not delay us !" He now made 
 the most careful preparations for a third attack. In a council of his subordinate 
 generals he had asked their advice. They thought the position could not be car 
 ried. General Sedgwick heard them in silence, and then quietly gave minute 
 directions for the assault. Three columns were organized all picked men. One 
 was to move part way up the Heights, form in line of battle, and lie down on the 
 left of the Chancellorsville road, under a sudden rise of ground, which protected 
 them from the enemy s fire. The others were to move directly up the hill, side 
 by side in columns by fours, to the right of the line of battle. 
 
322 JOHN SEDGWICK. 
 
 There was a certain point, far up the slope, where the fire from all the rebel 
 works converged. No troops had. hitherto been able to pass.it. The columns 
 pressed steadily on until they reached it, cheering and rivalling each other as they 
 marched side by side ; but when they came within the focus of this terrible fire 
 the leading files began to fritter away, so that although the rear kept moving for 
 ward the front made no progress. At this moment the line-of-battle behind them 
 sprang up from the ground with a shout, and rushed upon the works. The 
 wavering columns plucked up fresh spirit, and all three entered the breastworks 
 together, capturing eight guns and eight hundred prisoners. The whole corps, 
 according to Hooker s instructions, now pressed on toward Chancellorsville. At 
 Salem Heights, five miles on his way, Sedgwick found the enemy in heavy force 
 and strongly posted. He carried the heights by assault, but could not hold them, 
 and meanwhile a strong body of the enemy had regained possession of Marye s 
 Heights in his rear, while it became evident that the main part of Lee s army was 
 interposed between him and Hooker, and was preparing to fall upon him in over 
 whelming numbers. Eesting that night on the field he had won, he sent the next 
 morning (Monday, the fourth) for reinforcements ; but Hooker had now resolved 
 to retreat across the Rappahannock, and replied that he was too far off to afford 
 aid, and the Sixth corps must fall back to the river. The enemy being in the 
 rear, this movement was not effected without difficulty and some hard fighting, 
 but by Tuesday morning, Sedgwick had brought his whole command to the 
 north bank of the Rappahannock, passing the rebels on the flank during the 
 night 
 
 When the army of the Potomac marched to meet the rebels in Pennsyl 
 vania, in the following month, the Sixth corps held the extreme right of the line. 
 Receiving orders to hasten to the battle-field of Gettysburg!!, they made by night 
 a forced march of thirty miles one of the most rapid in the history of the war 
 and reached the field on the second day of the fight, in the heat of the struggle 
 for the possession of the gap left open in the left centre by the misplacing of 
 Sickles s corps. The Third corps had given way ; the Fifth and Second, though 
 fighting manfully, were in imminent danger of being overwhelmed, when Sedg- 
 wick s foot-sore and hungry men, almost exhausted by their thirty-six hours 
 march, appeared in sight. As if fresh from camp, they rushed forward with a 
 shout, and drove back the rebel column in confusion. Foiled in this attack, the 
 confederates made a sudden assault upon the right wing. Sedgwick rapidly 
 shifted his corps to meet them. The battle raged until late at night. At half- 
 past nine the rebels made a tremendous charge, and were finally repulsed. The 
 next day, Friday, July third, the engagement was hot all along the line, and 
 Sedgwick s services were as usual of the most important character. 
 
 During the advance of the army toward the Rapidan, in the autumn of this 
 
JOHN SEDG WICK. 323 
 
 year, General Sedgwick was charged with, the duty of driving the enemy across 
 the Eappahannock and capturing their works at Rappahannock Station, where 
 the railroad crosses that stream. The confederates held one or two formidable 
 forts on the south bank commanding the railroad. General Sedgwick, with his 
 own and a part of the Fifth corps, crossed on pontoons a little farther up the river, 
 and by a gallant night attack, November seventh, carried the works, captured 
 four guns, two thousand small arms, eight battle-flags, a bridge train, and one 
 thousand six hundred prisoners, and compelled Lee to retreat behind the Eapidan. 
 
 Toward the end of the same month, General Meade crossed the latter river 
 and attacked the rebels at Mine Run, but finding it impossible to carry their posi 
 tion with the troops at his command, he withdrew" to his former quarters on the 
 Rappahannock, on the first of December. In this abortive campaign, the troops 
 chiefly engaged were those of Sedgwick and Sykes. 
 
 By virtue of seniority, General Sedgwick commanded the army of the Poto 
 mac during the absence of General Meade, and the permanent command of it was 
 twice offered him but refused. He was unwilling to accept the responsibility of 
 so heavy a trust without the assurance that he would be at perfect liberty to fight 
 when, where, and how he thought best. He was in command at the time the 
 army moved forward in the winter of 1864 to cover General Butler s attempted 
 raid into Richmond by way of the peninsula. 
 
 His important share in the battles of the Wilderness, with which General 
 Grant began his advance upon Richmond in May, 1864, need not be particularly 
 mentioned. On Friday, the sixth, the second day of the fight, his corps was sud 
 denly and fiercely assailed, and one brigade, which had but recently been put 
 under his command, was swept aw r ay and a great part of another destroyed. The 
 whole right wing, and indeed the whole army, was in imminent peril, but Sedg 
 wick, by incessant exertions and personal exposure, rallied his troops and finally 
 repulsed the enemy. In this day s engagement he lost nearly six thousand men. 
 On Saturday and Sunday the fighting was frequent, but less severe. On Monday, 
 the ninth, there was comparative quiet. General Sedgwick rode out to the front 
 of his lines near Spottsylvania Court-House, to superintend the placing of his 
 artillery. A few rebel sharp-shooters had their eyes on the party, and the General 
 was amusing himself at the nervousness which his gunners sometimes manifested, 
 as a rifle-ball whistled near them. " Pooh ! man," he exclaimed ; " they could not 
 hit an Elephant at this distance." A moment afterward, a bullet struck him in 
 the face, penetrating just below the eye ; he fell into the arms of one of his staff: 
 a pleasant smile prept over his face ; he clasped his hands over his breast, and died 
 so quietly that it was not known when he ceased to breathe. 
 
 General Sedgwick was perhaps the best example of the- practical as distin 
 guished from the theoretical soldier which this war has produced. Though by no 
 
324 JOHN SEDGWICK. 
 
 means an illiterate man on the contrary, extremely well informed on almost all 
 subjects lie knew very little of books, seldom read any thing, and, as his stand 
 ing at "West-Point indicates, made no pretence of proficiency in the abstruse 
 branches of military science. Yet in the field he was invaluable. No command 
 with which he was intrusted ever proved too high for him ; and no officer of the 
 present United States army enjoys a more enviable reputation for all soldierly 
 qualities than he possessed among his companions in arms. Though a strict dis 
 ciplinarian, he was universally beloved by his men, who would confidently follow 
 " Uncle John," as they used to call him, into any danger, and almost to certain 
 death. 
 
 He was remarkably quiet and unassuming in manner, but he had a sturdy, 
 independent spirit which would brook no injustice. For all his mild exterior, it 
 was well known that he was not a man to be trifled with. General McClellan, in 
 his oration at the dedication of the West-Point Battle Monument, paid a feeling 
 tribute to the memory of " true John Sedgwick, gentle and kind as a woman, 
 displaying the highest qualities of a commander and soldier, dying as a soldier 
 would choose ! " 
 
 The General was never married. When not in the field, which was seldom, 
 he lived with his sister at Cornwall, on the old homestead which had been in the 
 possession of his family for one hundred and twenty years. 
 
AMBEOSE EYERETT BURNSIDE. 
 
 AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSEDE was born at Liberty, Union county, 
 Indiana, on the 23d day of May, 1824, and was, consequently, in the full 
 prime of his early manhood when the "War for the Union commenced. He is 
 of the old blood that flowed in the veins of heroes at Bannockburn and Flodden 
 Field, and which, in many a hotly-contested battle, has proved the Scotch to be 
 among the best soldiers in the world. 
 
 His grand-parents were born in Scotland, but, removing to America near 
 the close of the last century, settled in South Carolina. Here General Burnside s 
 father was born, educated, and married. Following the profession of law, he 
 acquired an eminent position, and enjoyed a profitable practice. After the war 
 of 1812, the great fields of the West attracted the attention of the citizens of the 
 old states. Mr. Burnside early felt the influence, and in the year 1821 he re 
 moved with his family to Liberty. "We find him honorably and creditably filling 
 the office of clerk, and afterward of judge of the circuit court, in his new home. 
 
 The son, AMBROSE, was carefully nurtured, and received his elementary 
 education in the best schools of the neighborhood. He was admitted to the 
 military academy at West Point in his eighteenth year, and was graduated in 
 1847, in the artillery, the fifteenth in rank, in a class numbering forty-seven 
 members. In the following year .he received a full second-lieutenancy, and was 
 attached to the third regiment of artillery. During his stay at West Point, the 
 war with Mexico commenced ; and immediately upon his graduation, he proceed 
 ed to the scene of action. On his arrival at Yera Cruz, Lieutenant Burnside was 
 put in command of an escort to a baggage-train, and sent into the interior. Al 
 though the route was in the nominal possession of the United States troops, the 
 Mexicans, by a guerilla warfare, which they continually carried on, had suc 
 ceeded in cutting off or disabling several trains that had previously been sent. 
 
 The duty was hazardous, and the post responsible ; but the young lieuten 
 ant carried his small command through without injury, and manifested so much 
 fidelity and skill as to win the commendation of his superior officers. Before 
 the column to which Lieutenant Burnside joined himself could reach the capital, 
 the battles in front of the city of Mexico had been fought, and the war was vir 
 tually finished. He was thus deprived of the opportunity which he desired of 
 participating, to any great extent, in the active operations of the armies in the 
 
826 AMBROSE EVERETT BURN SIDE. 
 
 field. When peace was proclaimed, lie was ordered to Fort Adams, Newport, 
 Rhode Island, and was employed at that post until the spring of 1849. His 
 natural refinement of manner, his urbane deportment, and his frank and manly 
 bearing, gained him many friends, and here he laid the foundation of that re 
 markable esteem with which he is regarded in the state of Rhode Island. 
 
 In the year 1849, he was transferred from the agreeable duty of the post at 
 Fort Adams, and ordered to New Mexico, to join Bragg s famous battery, of 
 which he was now appointed first-lieutenant. It was found that the country 
 was not favorable for the operations of light artillery. Bragg s command was 
 reorganized as cavalry, and Lieutenant Burnside was put in charge of a com 
 pany. The service was very exciting and perilous, but our lieutenant acquitted 
 himself with such coolness and bravery as to receive warm encomium for his 
 conduct. He reached New Mexico on the 1st of August, and immediately went 
 into the field. On the 21st of that month, while scouring the country near Los 
 Vegas, with a force of twenty-nine men, he saw a company of Indians, sixty or 
 seventy -five strong, drawn up at the head of a ravine, prepared to dispute his 
 progress. He immediately determined to attack them ; and, after a single dis 
 charge of their rifles, his men, led by their gallant commander, charged with 
 sabres, and swept the Apaches like chaff before them. In this brief and brilliant 
 engagement, eighteen Indians were killed, nine were taken prisoners, forty horses 
 were captured, and the whole band was effectually dispersed. The commander 
 of the post, Captain Judd, complimented Burnside, in dispatches, in the highest 
 terms, and recommended him for promotion. 
 
 In the winter of 1850- ol, we find Lieutenant Burnside acceptably filling 
 the office of quartermaster of the boundary commission, then occupied in running 
 the line between the United States and Mexico, as established by the treaty of 
 peace negotiated by the two nations. In September, 1851, he was ordered across 
 the plains of the Far West, as bearer of dispatches to the government. It was a 
 duty requiring the utmost vigilance, prudence, and persistence. It was necessary 
 that the dispatches which he bore should reach Washington at the earliest pos 
 sible moment. With an escort of three men one of whom was his faithful 
 negro-servant, who has followed his fortunes for several years with singular devo 
 tion he started on his difficult enterprise. Twelve hundred miles of wilderness, 
 occupied by hostile Indians and wild beasts, lay between him and civilization. 
 He accomplished the distance in seventeen days, meeting with many adventures 
 and hair-breadth escapes upon the way. At one time a party of Indians was 
 upon his trail for more than twenty-four hours, and he only escaped by taking 
 advantage of the darkness of the night to double upon his pursuers. He fully 
 accomplished the object of his mission, and received the thanks of the war 
 department for his efficiency and success. 
 
AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 327 
 
 During his service in New Mexico, lie had found that the carbine with 
 which the troops were armed was a wholly inadequate weapon for the peculiar 
 warfare of the plains. While uporr his journey to Washington, he occupied his 
 mind with an attempt to supply the defect. The result of his reflection and 
 study was the invention of the new breech-loading rifle, which bears the name 
 of its inventor, and seems a perfect weapon. Lieutenant Burnside was desirous 
 that his own country should receive the benefit of his labors, and he offered to 
 contract with the government for the manufacture of the arm. Pending nego 
 tiation, he returned to his former post at Newport. While here, on the 27th of 
 April, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary Bishop, of Providence, a lady of great 
 force of character and of most amiable disposition. 
 
 The expectation of a contract for the manufacture of the newly -invented 
 rifle, and his marriage, decided Lieutenant Burnside to leave the service, and he 
 resigned his commission. Eemoving to Bristol, he built a manufactory, and 
 made all necessary arrangements for completing his business negotiations with 
 the government. Unfortunately for him, the contract was not consummated ; 
 and, after three or four years of struggle and loss, Mr. Burnside became so deeply 
 involved and embarrassed as to prevent any further progress in his adopted occu 
 pation. He was still more embarrassed by the action of John B. Floyd, who 
 became secretary of war in 1857, and found himself compelled to withdraw en 
 tirely from the manufacture -of arms. With characteristic high-mindedness, he 
 gave up every thing which he possessed, including his patent, to his creditors ; 
 and, selling even his uniform and sword, sought to retrieve his fortunes at the 
 West. He went to Chicago, April 27th, 1858, and obtained a situation as cashier 
 in the land department of the Illinois Central Eailroad. His old friend and 
 schoolfellow, Captain George B. McClellan, occupied an honorable position in 
 the same railroad company, and the two soldiers once more made their quarters 
 together. Burnside, limiting his expenses to a certain amount, devoted the 
 remainder of his salary to the payment of his debts ; and when afterward he was 
 enabled to free himself entirely from the claims of his creditors, his unblemished 
 integrity in business was as conspicuous as his former gallantry in the field. In 
 June, 1860, he was promoted to the office of treasurer of the railroad company. 
 
 The intelligence of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and the proclamation 
 of the President of the United States, awakened Mr. Burnside s patriotism, and 
 he felt once more impelled to take the field. His country had given him his 
 education, and he felt that to his country his life and services were due. His 
 residence in Rhode Island had endeared him to the people of that gallant state, 
 and he had already held the highest command of the state militia. When the 
 first regiment of Rhode Island troops was offered to the secretary of war by the 
 governor of that state, it was to him that all eyes turned for the command. He 
 
 25 
 
328 AMBROSE EVERETT BURN SIDE. 
 
 was appointed colonel, immediately closed his desk of business, and repaired to 
 Providence. There he devoted his time to the organization and equipment of 
 the regiment ; and so effectively was the work performed, that on Thursday, 
 April 18th, the light battery of six guns, and one hundred and fifty men, was 
 embarked on board a steamer, and sailed to New York, on the way to "Washing 
 ton. On Saturday, the first detachment of the regiment, five hundred and forty- 
 four officers and men armed, uniformed, provisioned for a three weeks cam 
 paign, and abundantly supplied with ammunition left Providence by steamer. 
 Transferred to the government transport Coatzocoalcos at New York, the com 
 mand proceeded to Annapolis without delay, arriving on Wednesday, April 23d. 
 
 On Thursday morning the troops took up the line of march, and, bivouack 
 ing on the road, reached Annapolis Junction early on Friday morning. Taking 
 cars Jit that point, they went on to Washington, reaching the capital at noon. 
 The light battery, which had stopped at Easton, Pennsylvania, and the remain 
 der of the regiment, arrived at Washington in the early part of the following 
 week ; and twelve hundred Khode Island men, under the command of Colonel 
 Burnside, were thus ready for any emergency. The regiment, under the thor 
 ough discipline of its commander, soon took high rank in the army for character 
 and efficiency. Its camp, located in the northern suburbs of the city, became a 
 favorite place of resort, and was considered a model of its kind. The excellent 
 reputation which the regiment had acquired, was mainly due to the unwearied 
 efforts and the unceasing vigilance of its colonel. In June, the regiment joined 
 General Patterson s column, intended for the reduction of Harper s Ferry ; but, 
 on the evacuation of that place by the rebels, it was recalled to Washington, in 
 anticipation of an attack upon the capital. 
 
 Upon the advance toward Manassas, in July, Colonel Burnside was placed 
 in command of a brigade, consisting of four regiments and a battery, viz. : the 
 first Rhode Island ; the second Rhode Island, with its battery of light artillery, 
 which had reached Washington in June ; the second New Hampshire, which had 
 also arrived in June ; and the seventy-first New York, which had accompanied 
 the Rhode Island troops on the march from Annapolis, in April. Colonel Burn- 
 side had been offered a brigadier-generalship upon his first arrival at Washing 
 ton, but had declined it, on the ground of duty to his own regiment and state. 
 But when it became necessary to organize the army, preparatory to an advance 
 into Virginia, he did not hesitate to accept the post which was now pressed upon 
 him. His brigade was joined to the division under Colonel David Hunter, and 
 with the rest of the army left Washington on Tuesday, July 16th. The division 
 bivouacked at Annandalc, and on Wednesday, with Colonel Burnside s brigade 
 in advance, pushed on to Fairfax Court House. On Thursday, the whole army 
 encamped at Centreville, after a skirmish between a part of General Tyler s 
 
AMBROSE EVERETT BUIINSIDE. 
 
 329 
 
 division and the rebels at Blackburn s Ford. On Sunday morning, July 21st, 
 the army moved toward Manassas Junction. 
 
 In the disastrous battle of Bull Run, Colonel Burnside and his brigade were 
 conspicuous for their bravery and steadiness. They were among the troops to 
 whom that day s events brought no disgrace. Burnside s own regiment showed, 
 by its gallantry and coolness, that its colonel s labors had produced the finest 
 results. The other regiments of the brigade also proved what good soldiers 
 could do in the hands of a brave and able officer. The battery of the second 
 Ehode Island was most efficiently served, and the regiment itself was particularly 
 distinguished for its gallantry. General M Dowell had already complimented 
 Colonel Burnside upon his command, and declared that he should rely upon the 
 brigade in the time of action. Accordingly, in the flank movement toward Sud- 
 ley s Ford, by Colonel Hunter s division, Burnside s brigade took the advance 
 the second Rhode Island regiment, under Colonel Slocum, a most gallant and 
 accomplished officer, leading the column. 
 
 Soon after crossing Bull Run at Sudley s Ford, about half-past nine o clock, 
 A. M., the leading regiment was attacked by the enemy. Colonel Hunter, who 
 was in advance, was wounded very early in the action ; and Colonel Burnside, 
 being in command of the troops till Colonel Porter, who was in the rear, came 
 up, at once led the residue of his brigade forward, and, posting them most advan 
 tageously, succeeded in beating back the enemy s attack, and driving him from 
 the part of the field where he had taken position. Colonel Porter s brigade was 
 deployed to the right, and Colonel Heintzelman s division took post still farther 
 upon the right. Colonel Burnside s brigade, assisted by Major Sykes s bat 
 talion of regulars, stood the brunt of the enemy s attack in complete order for 
 nearly two hours, when, having completed the work assigned to it, with a loss 
 of three hundred killed and wounded, and being relieved by Colonel Sherman s 
 brigade, it was withdrawn to replenish its now exhausted supply of ammunition, 
 and to await orders to renew the contest. But the order which came was not 
 to advance, but to retrea Colonel Burnside at once collected his brigade, 
 formed his regiments in oolumn by the side of the road, waited till the larger 
 portion of the disorganized troops had passed, and with Major Sykes s battalion 
 of regulars and Captain Arnold s regular battery in. the rear, prepared to cover 
 the retreat along the forest-path over which the division had marched in the 
 morning. 
 
 The admirable disposition thus made by Colonel Burnside and Major Sykes, 
 under General M Dowell s direction, contributed greatly to the safety of the 
 broken army in its perilous march through the woods. On emerging from the 
 forest-path, the artillery passed to the front, and the infantry were left unpro 
 tected. The retreat continued in good order till the army reached the bridge on 
 
330 AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 
 
 the Warrenton turnpike, crossing Cub Eun. Near this place, the rebels had 
 brought up a battery of artillery, a regiment or two of infantry, and a squadron 
 of cavalry, and attempted to cut off our defeated forces. They succeeded in ob 
 structing the bridge sufficiently to prevent the passage of many baggage-wagons, 
 ambulances, and gun-carriages, and at this place the greatest loss of cannon by the 
 national troops occurred. When Colonel Burnside reached the bridge, it was in 
 such condition as to preclude the possibility of crossing, and he ordered the men to 
 ford the stream, and rally at Centreville. The scattered forces sought the camps 
 which they had left in the morning, and prepared to pass the night. General 
 M Dowell soon sent orders to continue the retreat to Washington. The brigade 
 reached Long Bridge about seven o clock on the morning of Monday, July 22d, 
 and two hours later entered Washington, in the order in which it had quitted 
 the city on the Tuesday previous. The regiments composing it immediately 
 marched to their respective camps. Colonel Burnside s bearing, in all the expe 
 rience of the day and night, was all that could be expected of a man and a 
 soldier, and he at once attracted the attention of the country to his gallantry, 
 generalship, and skill. 
 
 The term of service for which the first Ehode Island regiment had enlisted, 
 expired on the day before the battle ; but the regiment, having suffered little or 
 no demoralization, was ready to remain longer at Washington, if its services 
 should be required. Colonel Burnside was unwilling to return to Rhode Island 
 till he was assured that the capital was beyond danger of an attack. His officers 
 and men shared his feelings. But the war department had resolved upon a reor 
 ganization of the army, and the three months regiments were all ordered to their 
 homes. The second regiment from Rhode Island, with its battery, was left in the 
 field ; while the first returned to Providence, and was there mustered out of the 
 service of the United States. Colonel Burnside, with his regiment, received the 
 thanks of the general assembly of Rhode Island for the fidelity and bravery with 
 which he and they had performed their duties. Colonel Burnside s services were 
 also recognized by the general government, and he was at once promoted to the 
 rank of brigadier-general, his commission dating August 6th, 1862. 
 
 Immediately upon receiving his commission, General Burnside was sum 
 moned to Washington, to assist in reorganizing the forces in front of the capital. 
 He was employed in brigading the troops as they arrived, and assigning them 
 places of encampment. To his excellent judgment in this respect, and his great 
 executive skill, the efficiency of the army was to a great degree due, in those dark 
 days of the republic. 
 
 Later in the season, several expeditions were projected, to operate at differ 
 ent points upon the Southern coast. The most hazardous and difficult of these, 
 designed to effect a lodgement upon the dangerous shores of North Carolina, and, 
 
AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 
 
 831 
 
 carrying a force into the interior, in the rear of the rebel army in Virginia, to 
 cut off communication with tke South, was intrusted to the genius and ability 
 of Burnside. For more than two months he was indefatigably employed at his 
 head-quarters, in the city of New York, preparing for this important enterprise. 
 The expedition finally set sail from Annapolis in the early part of January, 1862. 
 Fifteen thousand men were embarked upon a large fleet of transports, and, con 
 voyed by numerous gunboats, proceeded to the place of their destination. The 
 route of the expedition lay through Hatteras Inlet into Albemarle Sound. It 
 was a short voyage indeed, but a most perilous one. Cape Hatteras, noted for 
 its storms, is the terror of every mariner whose course lies along the North Amer 
 ican coast. The wintry season added to the dangers of the navigation. The 
 expedition had hardly left the land-locked waters of Chesapeake Bay, when a 
 most terrific storm burst upon the armada with frightful fury. The tortuous 
 and shifting channel leading through the inlet into the sound was to be found 
 and followed in the very teeth of the wind, when the storm was at its height. 
 The inlet itself had been produced by the sea breaking across the narrow spit of 
 sand from which Cape Hatteras projects, and the depth of the channel shifts and 
 changes with the varying influence of the wind and tide. It was found, there 
 fore, that several of the vessels which at New York had been certified to be of 
 light draught, sufficient to pass through the channel, could not be got over the 
 bar. The consequence was, that a large portion of the fleet was in imminent 
 danger of shipwreck. 
 
 For nearly a week the storm continued, and the deplorable situation of 
 affairs seemed to indicate the destruction of the entire expedition at the very 
 threshold of its career. In this most trying crisis, General Burnside s admirable 
 qualities shone forth in illustrious light. It is the universal testimony of all who 
 were connected with this expedition, that the bearing of its brave commander 
 was beyond all praise. He seemed to be omnipresent. . Wherever the troops 
 were to be rescued from their perilous position, wherever the danger was most 
 threatening, wherever encouragement was needed, wherever help was most timely, 
 there always appeared the general ; and, by exertions beneath which any man 
 with a less lofty purpose and a less persistent energy would have sunk exhausted, 
 the expedition was brought to a safe anchorage within Albemarle Sound, and 
 the forces landed in good order. Only a few vessels foundered, and two or three 
 lives were lost by the accidental swamping of a life-boat. Encompassed by perils 
 and threatened with disasters, General Burnside never lost his courage, his hope, 
 and his faith. Buoyed up in the midst of misfortune by his unswerving trust in 
 the care of a superintending Providence, he stood serene and unmoved at his 
 post of duty, and conquered even the elements by an unwearied patience. 
 
 Harassed by the delays caused by the storm, active operations against the 
 
332 AMBROSE EVERETT BURN SIDE. 
 
 .rebels could not at once be commenced. The plan agreed upon by General 
 McClellan arid the authorities at Washington was, to threaten Norfolk by an 
 attack upon the rebel stronghold of Eoanoke Island, before proceeding to the 
 mainland. Every thing was prepared for this initial step by the first of Febru 
 ary; and on the 5th of that month, the troops being embarked on board the 
 transports (and the gunboats, under the command of Commodore L. M. Golds- 
 borough, being ready to move), the whole fleet steamed slowly up toward the 
 entrance of Albemarle Sound. On the 6th, the gunboats entered Croatan Sound, 
 engao-ed the rebel fleet, and bombarded the water-batteries of the enemy on 
 Eoanoke Island. On the afternoon of the 7th, the troops were landed; and on 
 the morning of the 8th, the attack was made upon the key of the position, a 
 battery in the centre of the island. The battle lasted two hours, and resulted in 
 the complete victory of the national forces, which placed in General Burnside s 
 hands six forts and batteries, forty cannon, over two thousand prisoners of war, 
 and three thousand stands of arms. The national loss was thirty -five killed and 
 two hundred wounded. 
 
 Commodore Goldsborough immediately sent a fleet of gunboats up the Pas- 
 quotank and Chowan Rivers, by which the rebel gunboats were sunk, captured, 
 or driven away ; and Elizabeth City, Hertford, Edenton, and Plymouth, fell into 
 the possession of the Union troops. 
 
 These brilliant successes were hailed with the utmost enthusiasm by the 
 people of the North. Following swiftly upon the defeat of the rebels under 
 General Zollicoffer at .Mill Spring, Kentucky, they served to revive the spirits 
 of the loyal men, and to assure them of greater victories to come. By none was 
 the intelligence of Burnside s triumph more gratefully received than by the 
 people of Rhode Island. The general assembly, w r hich was in session, immedi 
 ately voted General Burnside a sword in honor of the victory, and the thanks of 
 the representatives of the people to the officers and men under his command. 
 Massachusetts, through her legislature, expressed her gratitude. The Congress 
 of the United States and the heads of the government acknowledged by their 
 action their sense of the importance of this great success ; and the President 
 nominated General Burnside a major-general of volunteers. The Senate con 
 firmed the nomination on the 18th of March, 1862. 
 
 Meanwhile, General Burnside was not idle. Releasing his prisoners by ex 
 change, in order that the record of Bull Run might be thoroughly effaced, he 
 prepared to make further advances upon the enemy s forces. In. pursuance of 
 the instructions of the general-in-chief, Burnside once more embarked his troops 
 on the 6th of March, and made ready to strike another and more decisive blow. 
 This time it was Newbern that was destined to feel the weight of his loyal hand. 
 On Wednesday, March 12th, the expedition passed the scene of its first disasters ; 
 
AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 
 
 333 
 
 on the morning of Thursday, the troops were landed at the mouth of Slocum s 
 Creek, on the Neuse river, a distance of ten miles south of Newborn ; and, in the 
 afternoon of the same day, a fatiguing march of seven miles, flanked and pro 
 tected by the gunboats in the river, brought them within a short distance of the 
 enemy s intrenchments, passing one or two deserted batteries on the way. Here 
 they bivouacked in the midst of a drenching rain ; and early on the morning of 
 Friday, March 14th, they were roused and prepared to make the attack. 
 
 The battle commenced about half-past seven o clock, and continued for four 
 hours. The enemy was strongly intrenched in batteries and rifle-pits, at least a 
 mile in length, and bravely defended his works. But nothing could withstand 
 the valor and endurance of our brave troops, and the consummate skill of their 
 leader. The contest was decided, as at Eoanoke, by a bayonet-charge, and the 
 rebels fled in precipitate haste. They escaped by means of the bridges crossing 
 the River Trent to Newbern, and retreated in disorder and panic by the railroad 
 to Goldsborough. Our troops were prevented from following by the destruction 
 of the bridges, which the rebels burnt as they retreated. The gunboats and 
 transports were delayed by a dense fog, but, as soon as they came up, carried the 
 troops across to the city. It was too late to overtake the flying foe, and only 
 two hundred prisoners were captured. 
 
 By this success hardly bought, indeed, by the loss of eighty-six killed, and 
 four hundred and thirty-eight wounded all the rebel intrenchments and batter 
 ies, mounting between fifty and sixty pieces of cannon, large quantities of stores, 
 ammunition, arms, tents, and baggage, and the city of Newbern, came into the 
 possession of the victorious and gallant chief. Two steamers, eight schooners, 
 the water-batteries, and a considerable quantity of cotton, were the prizes of the 
 naval portion of the expedition, under the command of Captain S. C. Eowan. 
 The victory was complete, and the intelligence was received with heartfelt joy 
 throughout the North. Some anxiety had been felt lest a part of the rebel army, 
 which had evacuated Manassas the week previous, should march into North 
 Carolina, and intercept Burnside on his way. The enthusiasm was heightened 
 by the relief which his success had given, and the assurance of his safety, which 
 was thus placed beyond question. 
 
 Continued victory seemed to wait upon his steps. General Burnside is a 
 man who knows how to improve his successes ; and as soon as Newbern had 
 been reduced, an expedition was sent to Washington, to occupy that place. 
 Beaufort also became an object for the general s victorious arms ; and on Sun 
 day, March 23d, General Parke s brigade peaceably took possession of More- 
 head City, opposite that town. Fort Macon was immediately summoned, and, 
 upon the refusal of the officer in command to surrender, measures were imme 
 diately taken to force a capitulation. General Burnside repaired to the scene of 
 
334 AMBROSE EVERETT BURN SIDE. 
 
 operations, that lie might personally superintend the investment of the place. 
 Meanwhile, the enemy s forces were concentrating at Goldsborough and Kings 
 ton, threatening the recapture of Newborn. General Burnside did not allow his 
 vigilance to relax in guarding the approaches to either place; and, leaving a 
 sufficient force at Beaufort, he hastened back to Newbern, to fortify that impor 
 tant position. Every arrangement was made to give the foe a warm reception. 
 
 During the time General McClellan was pressed for want of reeenforcernents 
 at Harrison s Landing, General Burnside was directed to take all the available 
 force he could spare, and form a junction with the army of the Potomac, which 
 he did on the eighth of July. In a consultation he had with General McClellan, 
 he advised bringing away more troops from North-Carolina, and, in fact, with 
 drawing all the Union forces from that department ; but after a military confer 
 ence between Generals Ilalleck, McClellan, and Burnside, the latter returned to 
 his headquarters at Fortress Monroe, and on the second of August, his command 
 embarked for Acquia Creek, where it arrived at night of the third. On the sixth, 
 General Burnside destroyed a portion of the railroad near Fredericksburgh, Va., 
 and also a large quantity of stores en route for the rebel army. A few days 
 afterward, he issued a general order strictly prohibiting the seizure of private 
 property by unauthorized parties, and on the twenty-sixth, he formally relin 
 quished the command of the department of North-Carolina, dating his farewell 
 order from Fredericksburgh. He was now attached to the army of the Potomac, 
 and after the battle of South-Mountain pursued the retreating enemy on the 
 Boonsboro road. In the battle of Antietam, he commanded the left wing, but 
 could only hold his ground without advancing. On the twenty-seventh of Octo 
 ber, General Burnside s wing of the army crossed the Potomac, and moved down 
 along the east side of the Blue Ridge in Virginia, and on the thirtieth formed a 
 junction with the forces under General Si gel, operating in the vicinity of Ma- 
 nassas Junction, Va. A week later, General McClellan was relieved from com 
 mand of the army of the Potomac, and Major-General Burnside appointed in his 
 place. At this time, November seventh, 1862, the army was on the south side 
 of the Potomac, with instructions to pursue General Lee by a flank march on the 
 interior line to Richmond. On reaching Warrenton, however, General Burnside 
 proposed ta give up this pursuit of Lee s army, and to move down the north side 
 of the Rappahannock to Falmouth, establishing a new base of supplies at Acquia 
 Creek. This change was not according to what the War Office desired, but it was 
 allowed, with slight modification. He was to cross his army by the fords of the 
 Upper Rappahannock, and then move down and seize the heights of Fredericks 
 burgh. 
 
 General Burnside commenced his movement from Warrenton, on the fif 
 teenth of November, his advance reaching Falmouth on the twentieth, and very 
 shortly afterward the rebel army under General Lee had strongly intrenched the 
 
AMBROSE EVERETT BURN SIDE. 335 
 
 heights ; but the Union troops managed to effect a passage across the river, on 
 the eleventh of December, without serious opposition. Then began the battle of 
 Fredericksburgh, continuing until the fifteenth, and which ended by the with 
 drawal of our forces on that day, after suffering terrible losses. It was a defeat 
 that brought much animadversion upon the authorities, as well as upon General 
 Burnside, until the latter publicly took the entire blame by asserting that he 
 alone was responsible, having acted against the opinions of the President, the 
 Secretary of War, and General Halleck. 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of January, 1863, General Burnside was relieved from 
 his command, but was not long without duty. In March, he was appointed to 
 the department of Ohio, and assumed command on the third of April. lie there 
 attended to the several duties that devolved upon him, and despatched his cav 
 alry and portions of the infantry in various directions to embarrass and destroy 
 the enemy, but owing to the necessity for all spare troops being in the West, 
 where important operations were going on, he was for several months almost 
 stationary. On the fifteenth of July, he deemed it necessary to declare martial 
 law, and some time later, to suppress two newspapers circulating in his district. 
 
 General Burnside s preparations for an active campaign were somewhat de 
 layed by the detachment of the Ninth army corps to reenforce General Grant at 
 Vicksburgh. The necessity, however, of cooperating with the movements of 
 General Rosecrans, compelled him to take the field without waiting the return 
 of this corps. Accordingly, he marched by three different routes toward Knox- 
 ville, occupying Cumberland Gap, Kingston, and other places, and finally forced 
 the rebel garrison at Knoxville to surrender, on the ninth of September. A 
 column of cavalry was, at the same time, sent up the valley to drive the enemy 
 back over the Virginia line. The main body of the army was now ordered to 
 concentrate on the Tennessee Eiver, so as to connect with General Rosecrans, 
 the enemy by some skilful combinations having been driven out of East-Ten 
 nessee. Circumstances, however, prevented this junction. General Burnside 
 continued in the upper valley, and after the battle of Chickamauga, the rebels 
 pushed forward a column to threaten his position at London. There a contest 
 ensued for several hours, and General Burnside then withdrew to Knoxville, 
 which he immediately fortified. The enemy followed up, and commenged a siege 
 on the seventeenth of November. A constant fire was kept up on the lines of 
 the national forces, until the twenty-eighth, when an attack was proposed by the 
 rebels on a small fort mounting six guns, upon a hill near the town, and com 
 manding the approaches to it on that side the river. The attack was made fierce 
 ly, but the rebels were repulsed with severe loss. Meantime the force of General 
 Burnside was closely pressed, and provisions became so scarce that his troops 
 were put on half-rations of bread ; but on the third of December the cavalry of 
 General Sherman, in advance of other forces, came to his relief, and the rebels 
 
336 AMBROSE EVERETT BURN SIDE. 
 
 immediately raised the siege and retreated. Subsequently, at his own request, 
 General Burnside was relieved of his command by General Foster. 
 
 When the army of. the Potomac was reorganized, General Burnside was 
 again placed in command, with the Ninth army corps under his orders. He 
 shared in all the severe battles that followed, meeting with several narrow 
 escapes, and accompanying the army in its movements to Petersburgh, the 
 history of which belongs to the present day. 
 
 General Burnside s characteristics are finely illustrated in every act of his 
 career. He is a man of eminent truthfulness and sincerity. Thoroughly beyond 
 deceit or intrigue, above all jealousy or meanness, open-hearted as the day, and 
 generous even to a fault, his genuine manhood shines through every part of his 
 life. With a quick sense of honor, and the most conscientious regard for truth, 
 he puts to shame all baseness and falsehood. The ways of his life never ran 
 "in the corrupted cm-rents" of the world, but always flow from the purest pur 
 poses to the truest results. With a quick perception of character, he is an adept 
 in the difficult art of governing. He attracts and attaches all who approach him 
 by the powerful magnetism of the simplicity of his character and the manliness 
 of his bearing. He has a gentle heart, a clear mind, a guileless conscience, and 
 a brave soul. A surpassing devotion to duty makes him superior to a wrongful 
 intention. An unwearied energy gives vigor to his acts. An unswerving trust 
 in God adorns his private and public life. Prudent without timidity, brave 
 without rashness, religious without pretence, and wholly engaged in the great 
 cause which has enlisted his powers, General Burnside nobly unites the best 
 qualities of a soldier and a man. 
 
 In the care of his troops, in tender solicitude and untiring labors for their 
 welfare, he is unsurpassed. When in command of his regiment, his sole thought 
 seemed to be for the benefit of the men intrusted to his guidance. He gave a 
 personal attention to all their needs. Always accessible to the humblest private 
 in the ranks, he heard with unexampled patience the most trivial request or 
 complaint, and replied to each with the necessary grave rebuke, the wise counsel, 
 or the hopeful encouragement. In the camp he was a daily visitant to the hos 
 pital, the commissariat, the quarters of the men, that he might know, by his own 
 inspection, the condition and necessities of all. On the road, he always marched 
 on foot, that he might measure the endurance of his men by his own, and inspirit 
 them by his example. In the bivouac, his own quarters were the last to be se 
 lected and the last to be prepared. In the field, his bearing was distinguished for 
 coolness, courage, and self-possession, while his dispositions for battle insured the 
 utmost efficiency of his command. He has carried these qualities to his higher 
 positions ; and thus, by their exercise, he awakens the sincerest enthusiasm, and 
 inspires the most implicit confidence of his soldiers. From the lowest to the 
 highest there is but one opinion and one voice. 
 
EDWIN M. STAISTTON. 
 
 EDWIN M. STANTON was born at Steubenville, Ohio, about the year 1817. 
 After graduating at Kenyon College, he applied himself diligently to the 
 study of law in Steubenville, and rapidly rose to distinction in his profession, 
 which he practised for several years in Ohio. In 1848 he removed to Pittsburgh, 
 Pa., where his energy and excellence as a lawyer soon won for him an exalted 
 position. He here conducted, with signal success, the case involving the Wheel 
 ing Bridge controversy, wherein, for the first time, the brilliancy of his talents 
 received a national recognition. 
 
 With the instinct of a lawyer and the zeal of an American, he had early 
 turned his attention to politics. Though educated as a Whig, he began his 
 career as an ultra Democrat ; and there were few of the leading issues of the day 
 wherein the weight of his opinion did not leave a legible impress. At the 
 commencement of President Buchanan s administration, he was selected to repre 
 sent the Government in an important land case in California. Here again he was 
 successful. He then commenced to practise law at the national capital, and 
 shortly afterward received the appointment of Attorney-General. 
 
 At the close of Mr. Buchanan s term of office, Mr. Stanton withdrew to pri 
 vate life and the practice of his profession in the State of Pennsylvania ; whence, 
 however, at the opening of the battle-year of 1862, he was appointed by Mr. Lin 
 coln to supersede Mr. Cameron as Secretary of War. 
 
 His nomination to this important office was unanimously hailed as a presage 
 of vigor and success by the war-favoring Democratic press. The old partisan lines 
 had remained salient until now, when the new appointment was received as an 
 indication that at last the blatant rebellion was to become acquainted with that 
 desideratum of freedom-lovers, a united North. So soon as his appointment was 
 confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Stanton grasped the reins of his difficult trust with 
 characteristic vigor. 
 
 But one of his primary measures was inspired by humanity, evinced in the 
 issue of the following : 
 
 " This Department recognizes as the first of its duties to take measures for 
 the relief of the brave men who, having imperilled their lives in the military 
 service of the Government, are now prisoners and captives. It is, therefore, 
 
338 EDWIN M. STAN TON. 
 
 ordered, that two Commissioners be appointed to visit the city of Eichmond, in 
 Virginia, and wherever else prisoners belonging to. the army of the United States 
 may be held, and there take such measures as may be needful to provide for the 
 wants and contribute to the comfort of such prisoners, at the expense of the 
 United States, and to such extent as may be permitted by the authorities under 
 whom such prisoners are held." 
 
 Under this Order, the Eev. Bishop Ames and the lion. Hamilton Fish were 
 appointed as Commissioners. 
 
 The splendid success of Fort Donelson closed the winter which had so 
 gloomily set in, and the victorious carnage of Shiloh opened the spring, while the 
 annual swallows were winging northward like harbingers of peace. And in 
 April, 1862, the Secretary of War ordered that the chaplains of every regiment in 
 the armies of the United States should, on " the first Sunday after receipt of the 
 Order, give thanks to the Almighty for the great victories achieved by our armies, 
 and invoking the continuance of his aid." 
 
 He also tendered the thanks and congratulations of the Department to Major- 
 General Halleck, and other generals, and to the armies under their command, for 
 their gallant and meritorious services. 
 
 The acts of Secretary Stanton arc matters of history which must be freshly 
 and indelibly fixed in the minds of his fellow-countrymen. And yet they will 
 appear more vividly when the scroll whereon they are inscribed is further 
 removed from our inspection ; for if the hues of the colorist are brightest when 
 fresh, the yellowing hand of time alone can accord to them that golden tone which 
 bespeaks the impress of the master-hand. But some of the more important meas 
 ures of our subject may be fittingly introduced or sketched, as bearing strongly 
 upon the progress of events. 
 
 Toward the close of the autumn of 1863, we seemed threatened with hostili 
 ties in a quarter unexpectedly remote from that to which we had bent our ears 
 for the boom of rebel guns. A large number of rebel prisoners were then, as 
 now, confined on Johnson s Island, Lake Erie. A conspiracy, or supposed con 
 spiracy, among them, came to light, in which it appeared /that schemes were in 
 operation, in British America, having for their object the forcible release of these 
 prisoners, and the destruction of Ogdensburgh and Buffalo. The information was 
 derived from the Governor-General of Canada, through Lord Lyons, the British 
 Minister at Washington. Secretary Stanton promptly advised the threatened 
 cities and the other lake ports of the information received. While expressing the 
 intention of the Government to use every exertion in case of an attack from Can 
 ada, he did not neglect to recommend and urge the utmost activity and vigilance 
 on the part of the local authorities, at the same time suggesting a course of rigid 
 inspection with regard to the character of all departing and incoming vessels. 
 
EDWIN M. STAN TON. 339 
 
 If our Northern border was really saved from rebel vengeance on this occa 
 sion, much of the credit must be apportioned to the promptitude of our vigilant 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 The peculations of army contractors next engaged his attention. Swindlers 
 on a grand scale usually have a much better chance than their humbler brethren 
 of the thimble-rig and special-confidence school ; but in this instance, one of the 
 former gentlemen, who had been amusino; himself by selling adulterated coffee to 
 
 O 7 , O / 
 
 the Government, was retired to the lonely precincts of the Albany Penitentiary. 
 A similar energy was displayed by the Secretary in almost every thing relating 
 to his Department. 
 
 In his Annual Eeport for the year 1863, the courage, devotion, patriotism, 
 and brilliant achievements of the National armies are feelingly eulogized. As to 
 the war-levying resources of the country, whereas, " at the beginning of the war," 
 he remarks, " we were compelled to rely upon foreign countries for the supply of 
 nearly all our arms and munitions, now all these things are manufactured at 
 home, and we are independent of foreign countries, not only for the manufacture, 
 but also for the materials of which they are composed." 
 
 Another citation that respecting the Military Telegraph deserves to be 
 made. He s&js : 
 
 " On the first day of July, 1862, there were three thousand five hundred and 
 seventy-one miles of land and submarine lines in working order. During the 
 fiscal year, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-five miles of land and subma 
 rine line were constructed, making the total number of miles of land and subma 
 rine military telegraph lines in operation during the year, five thousand three 
 hundred and twenty-six, being a length of line sufficient to girdle more than one 
 fifth of the circumference of the globe. By close estimate, it appears that at least 
 one million two hundred thousand telegrams have been sent and received over 
 the military lines in operation during the fiscal year ending June, 1863, being at 
 the rate of about three thousand per diem. These messages varied in length 
 from ten to one thousand words and upward, and generally were of an urgent or 
 important character." 
 
 Mr. Stanton still presides at the head of the "War Department. At the open 
 ing of the present year, (1864,) some efforts were made to have him removed from 
 the stormy helm he has grasped so firmly. ... Very probably the motive of these 
 efforts was wholly partisan. But few, however, even of the opponents of Mr. 
 Stanton can truthfully withhold from him that respect which is due to prompt 
 ness of decision, vigor of deed, and probity of purpose. And, at the present 
 writing, he is still, very probably, a popular man. 
 
JOSEPH HOOKEK. 
 
 JOSEPH HOOKER was born in 1815, in Hadley, Massachusetts, and is a 
 lineal descendant of Thomas Hooker, the Puritan pioneer who, in 1636, led 
 a band of one hundred settlers through a dense wilderness to found the city of 
 Hartford and the colony of Connecticut. 
 
 His mother, whose maiden name was Seymour, was of Puritan stock also, so 
 that the iron will, unbending fortitude, and bold love of danger and adventure, 
 which characterize the present Major-General, may all be distinctly traced to the 
 genuine Puritan blood that flows in his veins. 
 
 General Hooker manifested from childhood a fondness for study, which was 
 first cultivated at the Hopkins Academy, in his native town, and afterward at the 
 Military Academy at West-Point, where he was admitted as a cadet in his eigh 
 teenth year, and graduated in 1837, ranking twenty-eighth in a class of fifty-one 
 members. He was at once appointed Second Lieutenant in the First artillery, 
 and in November, 1838, was promoted to First* Lieutenant in the same regiment. 
 In 18-41, Lieutenant Hooker was appointed Adjutant at the Military Academy, 
 and the same year Adjutant of his regiment, which position he held until 1846. 
 During the Mexican war, Lieutenant Hooker served for some time with great 
 distinction on General Scott s staff, as Assistant Adjutant-General, receiving for 
 meritorious conduct the successive brevets of Captain, Major, and Lieutenant- 
 Colonel. On the twenty-ninth of October, 1848, he was appointed Captain of the 
 First regiment of artillery, and on the same day resigned his regimental position, 
 retaining, however, his position as Assistant Adjutant-General with the rank of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel. At the close of the war he was ordered to duty in Cali 
 fornia. 
 
 In 1853, he resigned his position as Assistant Adjutant-General, and pur 
 chased a farm in Sonoma County, California, where he remained till 1855, super 
 intending in that year the construction of the national road from California to 
 Oregon, a duty in which he was engaged for a period of two years. 
 
 At the breaking out of the rebellion, Colonel Hooker sailed for the Atlantic 
 coast, reaching New-York early in May, 1861. His services being immediately 
 offered to the Government, he was commissioned a Brigadier-General of volun 
 teers on the seventeenth of May, having his appointment accredited to California. 
 
MAJ GEN JOSEPH HO< >KER 
 
JOSEPH HOOKER. 341 
 
 The brigade to which, he was assigned was composed of the First and Eleventh 
 Massachusetts, the Second New-Hampshire, and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania 
 regiments, all of which became afterward distinguished for cool daring and patient 
 endurance. General Hooker was first assigned to the command of General Dix, 
 in the Department of Annapolis, but was subsequently transferred to General Mc- 
 Clellan s army, and assigned the duty of reducing to subordination the rebellious 
 counties of Prince George and Charles in Maryland. For the accomplishment of 
 this purpose, General Hooker was placed in command of a division, with which 
 he occupied the district without loss of life, disarmed the secessionists, took pos 
 session of the entire peninsula of Maryland, and completely broke up .for the time 
 all communication by way of Chesapeake Bay between Baltimore and the South 
 ern States. 
 
 When the army of the Potomac went to the Peninsula, General Hooker com 
 manded a division in General Heintzelman s corps, which passed through much 
 hard service and lost heavily by sickness and picket-duty in the operations before 
 Yorktown, In the pursuit of the rebels which followed the evacuation of that 
 town, General Hooker s division overtook their rear-guard as they were entering 
 "\Villiamsburgh on the fifth of May, 1862, when a most sanguinary battle ensued, 
 lasting all day, and resulting in the retreat of the rebels during the night. 
 
 General Hooker participated in the battle of Seven Pines and the defeat of 
 the enemy on the first of June, 1862. Being ordered on the second of June to 
 make a reconnoissance beyond the camp, he approached with his division to with 
 in less than four miles of Richmond without serious loss. On the twenty -seventh 
 of June was fought the battle of Gaines s Mills, in the course of which Generals 
 Hooker and Kearny, the two . division commanders of Heintzelman s corps, were 
 sent from the left wing of the main army to the assistance of General Porter, 
 whose men had met with a repulse. Though unable wholly to turn the tide of 
 battle, they succeeded in checking the pursuit by covering the rear of the retreat 
 ing forces, and giving time to the exhausted troops to withdraw in good order 
 from the field. From this time till its participation in the battle of Glendale, on 
 the thirtieth of June, General Hookers division saw but little fighting. On the 
 first of July, however, it took part in the bloody struggle of Malvern Hill, the 
 crowning victory of the "Seven Days Contest." 
 
 On the fourth of July, 1862, "Fighting Joe Hooker," as he was familiarly 
 known by the soldiers, was commissioned Major-General of volunteers, and two 
 days after was ordered to make a reconnoissance in force to- Malvern Hill, which, 
 after hard fighting, was finally gained. 
 
 These transactions were followed by the recall of the main army to Harri 
 son s Landing on the James, when it remained under orders in August to join the 
 army of Virginia under Pope, and repel the rebel advance. 
 
JOSEPH HOOKER. 
 
 On the twenty-seventh of August, 1862, Hooker s division had a severe fight 
 with E well s force at Kettle Run, Virginia, winning the day and inflicting a heavy 
 loss on the rebels. It participated, on the twenty-ninth and thirtieth, in the "bat 
 tles of Centreville and Gainesville ; and, on the first of September, in the short 
 and decisive battle of Chantilly, after which General Hooker was placed in com 
 mand of General McDowell s corps. 
 
 In the battle of South-Mountain, which occurred on the fourteenth of Sep 
 tember, General Hooker commanded the right wing of the Federal army, and gal 
 lantly succeeded in driving the enemy from their position and over the summit 
 of the mountain in great confusion. He held the same command at the battle of 
 Antietam, which was fought three days after, and the active part his corps took in 
 this cno-no-ement is attested by the fact that two thousand six hundred and nine- 
 
 O O *J 
 
 teen of its numbers were reported as killed, wounded, or missing, General Hooker 
 himself being among the wounded. For the distinguished bravery and skill he 
 displayed on this memorable occasion, he was appointed Brigadier-General in the 
 regular army, and received the special thanks of the President for his gallantry. 
 The wound he had received compelling him to leave his command for a short 
 time, General Hooker disappeared from participation in military affairs till as 
 signed the command of one of the divisions of the army of the Potomac by Gene 
 ral Burnside, who had recently been appointed its commander-iii-chief. General 
 Hooker was placed in command of the centre, Generals Sumner and Franklin 
 commanding the other two divisions. His command consisted of the divisions of 
 Generals Birney, Sickles, Humphrey, Griffin, and Sykes, the last being a division 
 of regulars. In the disastrous battle of Fredericksburgh, Hooker s command was 
 held in reserve till the afternoon of Saturday, December the thirteenth, when 
 three of his divisions, comprising General Butterfield s corps, were ordered to 
 support General Sumner s divisions. Generals Humphrey and Griffin were en 
 gaged for several hours, suffering heavy loss, till finally the withdrawal of the 
 National forces to the northern shore of the Eappahannock was ordered, when 
 Hooker s entire division was chosen to cover the rear. Soon after this battle, 
 General Burnside resigned the command of the army of the Potomac, and General 
 Hooker was appointed his successor. 
 
 Under its new commander the army was thoroughly reorganized and purged 
 of many worthless and discontented officers. The winter passed without any 
 severe fighting. In the latter part of April, however, General Hooker made an 
 advance, succeeded in crossing the Rappahannock above Fredericksburgh, and 
 reached Chancellorsville, a point in the enemy s rear. The rebels were not un 
 prepared. By a rapid movement on Saturday, May second, 1863, " Stonewall " 
 Jackson hurled his entire corps of forty thousand men upon Hooker s extreme right, 
 which was composed of the Eleventh army corps, under General Howard. After 
 
JOSEPH HOOKER. 3-43 
 
 terrific fighting, the Union lines were broken, and the right driven back upon the 
 centre. The contest was renewed the following day, but with no decisive result. 
 On Monday all was quiet in the hostile camps, and on Tuesday General Hooker 
 abruptly withdrew his whole force, though the greater part of it had not been 
 engaged. 
 
 In the early part of June, two rather severe cavalry engagements took place 
 at Brandy and Rappahannock Stations, the consequence of which was the bold 
 advance of General Lee northward through the Shenandoah Valley. About the 
 twelfth of June, he crossed the Potomac, followed by General Hooker on the 
 south side of the river, in order to protect the National capital. Before any thing 
 of special moment had occurred, Hooker was relieved on the twenty-eighth of June 
 of the command of the army of the Potomac, and General George G. Meade, one 
 of his corps commanders, appointed in his stead. 
 
 For some months succeeding this event General Hooker remained without 
 a command, but about the first of October was assigned the command of the 
 Eleventh and Twelfth corps, which were sent from the army of the Potomac to 
 reenforce General Rosecrans after the battle of the Chickamauga. On the twenty- 
 eighth of October, he succeeded in capturing a strong position of the rebels on 
 Lookout Mountain, which partially commanded Chattanooga, and on the follow 
 ing night had a severe battle at "Wauhatchee, defeating and routing the enemy 
 with heavy loss. Upon the appointment of General Grant to succeed General 
 Rosecrans in the command of the National forces in the South-West, the army of 
 the Cumberland, under General Thomas, together with the army of the Ohio, 
 under General Sherman, and the forces under General Hooker were merged into 
 one grand army, for more effectual operations against the enemy then in front of 
 General Grant. 
 
 On the twenty-third of November, General Grant commenced a forward 
 movement against the enemy in three columns. His left was under General Sher 
 man, the centre under General Thomas, while Hooker commanded on the right. 
 The column under General Thomas was the only one engaged the first day ; on 
 the twenty-fourth, however, the battle was renewed with increased vigor, and all 
 three columns took part in the fight. General Hooker s position on the rig] it 
 made it necessary for him to move against works that the enemy had erected witli 
 great labor on the north end of Lookout Mountain. Moving up the steep sides 
 of the mountain, he ascended above the region of cloud-land, and there, fighting 
 like the gods of mythology, with the heavy vapors rolling between his forces and 
 the valley below, attacked the enemy s position, carried it by storm, annihilated 
 the rebel left, and made success at that point secure. The troops in the valley 
 before Chattanooga were equally successful, and victory sat triumphant on the 
 banners of the Union. In a congratulatory letter written by President Lincoln to 
 
344 
 
 JOSEPH HOOKER. 
 
 General Grant, after the battle, General Hooker and his command were the subject 
 of special mention. 
 
 In person, General Hooker is tall, finely proportioned, and of commanding 
 presence. His bold and fearless nature amounts almost to recklessness in the in 
 different exposure of his own life on the field of battle. His appearance among 
 his troops is electrifying in its effect, stimulating their ardor and courage, and 
 winning by his gracious manner their attachment and fidelity. 
 
COM J( )ll X RODGE US 
 
JOHN RODGEKS. 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN EODGERS is a native of Maryland, and is the son of 
 Commodore Rodgers, so well .kr^own in connection with the distinguished 
 deeds of the American navy during its early existence. John Rodgers, the son, 
 had all the taste of his father for the sea, and, in 1828, when very young, entered 
 the navy, where he was soon noticed for his ability and zeal. He passed through 
 the usual grades of Midshipman and Lieutenant with great credit to himself, and, 
 for two years, was employed on the Coast Survey, and in boat service against the 
 Seminole Indians. 
 
 In 1852, he was appointed second in command of the Exploring Expedition 
 sent to Behring Strait, under Captain (now Commodore) Ringgold, and when that 
 officer was invalided home, Lieutenant Rodgers took his post, carrying the Vin- 
 cennes farther into the Arctic Regions in that direction, than any vessel had gone 
 before. 
 
 In 1856, he returned, and having been appointed a Commander during his 
 absence, now occupied himself in preparing the charts and report of his expe 
 dition. He was thus engaged, with the exception of a short interval in 1858, 
 when he commanded the Water Witch in the Gulf, until the rebellion broke out, 
 when he immediately applied for active service, and was sent with other officers 
 to Norfolk Navy- Yard, where he was assigned to the difficult and dangerous duty 
 of blowing up the dry dock. This was done with extreme hazard to himself and 
 Captain (now General) Wright of the Engineers, who, with only one sailor in 
 attendance, remained to perform the work. They were not, however, fortunate 
 enough to escape. They had reached the harbor, and were in a small boat pulling 
 away, when a fire of musketry from the shore compelled them to surrender, and 
 they were taken prisoners, but soon afterward released. 
 
 His next appointment was to superintend the creating a naval force on the 
 Western rivers, and here his zeal and activity were displayed to the highest 
 degree. A flotilla of gunboats, and several iron-clads were soon in readiness, and 
 ultimately proved of great service in the naval operations that took place. But, 
 owing to some misunderstanding with General Fremont, then in military command 
 of that department, Commander Rodgers was relieved by Captain (afterward Ad 
 miral) Foote. 
 
346 JOIIX RODGERS. 
 
 On the return of Commander Roclgers, he was appointed to one of the vessels 
 attached to the Port Royal Expedition, and sailed in the Flag-ship Wabash which 
 left Hampton Roads on the twenty-ninth of October, 1861, and, after a severe 
 storm, anchored off the bar of Port Royal Harbor on the fourth of November. 
 Commander Rodgers was then despatched in the gunboat Octorara to make a 
 rcconnoissance, which was successfully done; and, when, on the seventh, Fort 
 Walker on Hilton Head was attacked by the Wabash and other ships of the fleet, 
 he went on shore after the enemy s guns were silenced, and, finding the place 
 vacated, he hoisted the Union flag, the first time it was waved on the rebel soil of 
 South-Carolina. In the modest report of this action given by Commander Rod 
 gers in a letter, he says : " Commodore Du Pont had kindly made me his aid. 
 I stood by him, and I did little things which I suppose gained me credit. So 
 when a boat was sent on shore to ask whether they had surrendered, I was sent. 
 I carried the Stars and Stripes. I found the ramparts utterly desolate, and I 
 planted the American flag on those ramparts with my own hands first to take 
 possession, in the majesty of the United States, of the rebel soil of South- 
 Carolina." 
 
 After this, Commander Rodgers took command of the "Flag" steamer, and 
 proceeded to Savannah River for the purpose of examining it, and ascertaining 
 the condition of affairs on T_ybee Island. In this he was highly successful. The 
 enemy had abandoned the place, and here, also for the first time, the Union flag 
 was hoisted in rebel Georgia. Many night and boat expeditions, on reconnois- 
 sance, followed, under Commander Rodgers s personal inspection, and the inform 
 ation he gained was of material assistance to General Gillmore in the after reduc 
 tion of Fort Pulaski. 
 
 The Flag, needing some repairs, was now ordered North, but Commander 
 Rodgers, desiring active service, requested and obtained an appointment to com 
 mand the gunboat flotilla on James River, Va., during General McClellan s Penin 
 sula campaign. On May the fifteenth, on board his flag-ship the Galena, and in 
 company with others of his fleet, he attacked Fort Darling, without success, but 
 his whole operations were so serviceable to the Union cause, that General McClel- 
 lan in his despatches gave him especial credit. 
 
 Commander Rodgers was, after this, appointed to the Weehawken, and being 
 desirous of testing her qualities at sea, he boldly stood out during a heavy gale, 
 and safely brought his vessel to an anchor in Hampton Roads. He thence proceeded 
 to join the iron-clad fleet in Charleston Roads, and on the seventh of April, 1863, 
 led the van in the attack upon Fort Sumter. At half-past twelve the fleet began 
 to move, the Weehawken having a pioneer raft attached to her bows for the pur 
 pose of exploding torpedoes and clearing away obstructions, but it soon got de 
 ranged and caused some delay. Finally, progress was made, and Fort Morris 
 
JOHN RODGERS. 347 
 
 passed in silence, but on coming near Fort Sumter, tlic guns on every battery 
 around, instantly opened fire. Captain Rodgers, however, nobly stood in liis 
 position until obstructions were encountered of so formidable a nature, that he 
 . deemed it best to move where lie could better attack. The other ships followed, 
 and some confusion arose in consequence of the narrowness of the channel, and 
 the tides. But the light was continued until Admiral Du Pont considered it 
 necessary to draw the vessels off. 
 
 With reference to this attack, General llunter, who was on board a transport 
 with some of his troops to assist, says in a letter to the Admiral : " I confess 
 when the Weehawken first run under Sumter s guns, receiving the casemate and 
 barbette broadsides simultaneously with the similar broadsides from Fort Moul- 
 trie, and all the other works within range, I fairly held my breath until the smoke 
 had cleared away, not expecting to see a vestige of the little vessel which had pro 
 voked such an attack." 
 
 In the month of June, 1863, Admiral Du Pont, having reason to believe that 
 the Atlanta and other rebel iron-clads at Savannah were about to enter "Warsaw 
 Sound by Wilmington River, for the purpose of attacking the blockading vessels 
 there and in tke sounds further south, despatched Captain Rodgers and Com 
 mander Downes from Port Royal Harbor for information. Captain Rodgers 
 departed on his errand, and on the morning of the seventeenth he discovered an 
 iron-clad vessel in the mouth of Wilmington River; also two other steamers, one 
 a side-wheel and the other a propeller. He immediately beat to quarters, and 
 commenced clearing the ship for action. In ten minutes the cable was 
 slipped, and his vessel under steam, and shortly afterward heading direct for 
 the iron-clad, which had the rebel flag flying. The enemy was lying across the 
 channel, waiting the attack ; and Captain Rodgers commenced firing, at the dis 
 tance of three hundred yards. In a quarter of an hour the enemy hauled down 
 his colors, and hoisted the white flag, sending a boat on board the Weehawken to 
 say that the Aljanta had surrendered. She was then aground on a sand-spit, but 
 ultimately got off and brought into Port Royal harbor. She had a complement 
 of twenty-one officers, and one hundred and twenty-four men, including twenty- 
 eight marines. 
 
 With reference to this affair, Admiral Du Pont in his report says : " The 
 department will notice in this event how well Captain Rodgers has sustained his 
 distinguished reputation, and added to the list of brilliant services which he has 
 rendered to the country during the rebellion." In replying to this, Secretary 
 Welles sent an official communication also to Captain Rodgers, wherein he ex 
 presses "unaffected pleasure in congratulating him upon the result" He adds: 
 " In fifteen minutes, and with, five shots, you overpowered and captured a formi 
 dable steamer." He then refers to the various services of Captain Rodgers, and 
 
348 JOHN RODGERS. 
 
 says: "All this is proof of a skill and courage and devotion to the country and 
 the cause of the Union, regardless of self, that cannot be permitted to pass unre 
 warded. To your heroic daring and persistent moral courage, beyond that of 
 any other individual, is the country indebted for the development, under trying 
 and varied circumstances on the ocean, under fire from enormous batteries on 
 land, and in successful encounter with a formidable antagonist, of the capabili 
 ties and qualities of attack and resistance of the monitor class of vessels, and 
 their heavy armament. For these heroic and serviceable acts I have presented 
 your name to the President, requesting him to recommend that Congress give you 
 a vote of thanks, in order that you may be advanced to the grade of Commodore 
 in the American navy." 
 
 Subsequently Captain Eodgers was appointed to the command of the iron-clad 
 Dictator. 
 
A.H Ritctne 
 
 COM. ( II DAVI S 
 
OHAELES HEI^EY DAVIS. 
 
 REAR-ADMIRAL C. II. DAVIS entered the United States naval service 
 from his native State of Massachusetts, on the twelfth of August, 1823. 
 He was made a lieutenant on the third of March, 1831. In 1835, he was at 
 tached to the sloop-ofwar Vincennes, then in the Pacific ; and two years later, 
 we find him assigned to the razee Independence, on special duty. 
 
 His next appointment was as chief of a hydrographic party on the coast 
 survey. He remained in this position from 1842 to 1849, but for some years 
 later, was more or less connected with this service. In 1851, an appropriation 
 was made by the Government for the improvement of Charleston harbor, and at 
 the request of South-Carolina, a commission of navy and army officers was ap 
 pointed to superintend the work in hand. Lieutenant Davis was selected as a 
 member of the commission, in which duty he was actively engaged for three or 
 four years. 
 
 On the twelfth of June, 185-4, he was made a commander, and found special 
 duty, for the two following years, as Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac, at 
 Cambridge, Mass. 
 
 In 1857, he was placed in command of the sloop-of-war St. Mary s, then at 
 tached to the Pacific squadron. Soon after entering upon his new duties, while 
 stationed on the Nicaragua coast, Commander Davis interposed to save from 
 Central American vengeance the notorious fillibuster William Walker. That 
 worthy, after several years of desultory contest, had been driven to the wall at 
 Rivas, and was there compelled to surrender, with the remnant of his followers 
 some two hundred in number on the first of May, 1857. Commander Davis 
 successfully interposed and brought off Walker, with sixteen of his men, landing 
 him at Panama unharmed. 
 
 Commander Davis remained in command of the St. Mary s until February, 
 1859, when he was relieved, and resumed the superintendence of the Almanac. 
 
 The outbreak of the rebellion found him thus peacefully employed. But he 
 immediately resumed active service, being appointed to the Wabash, as Fleet- 
 Captain of the South- Atlantic Blockading Squadron under Commodore Du Pont. 
 His experience and skill were soon brought into requisition in this service. 
 
 The cooperating land forces, under General T. W. Sherman, which had 
 cleared from Hampton Roads on the twenty -ninth of October, having arrived at 
 
350 CHARLES HENRY DAVIS. 
 
 the rendezvous off Hilton Head, S. C., the bombardment of the rebel forts at that 
 point was begun and carried to a glorious termination on the seventh of Novem 
 ber Davis s vessel, the flag-ship Wabash, taking the lead in that series of stormy 
 circlings, whose iron hail struck terror to the rebel cause. 
 
 But, before the commencement of the bombardment, the genius of Captain 
 Davis had been called into important service. All the buoys and other indica 
 tions of the harbor channel having been removed by the rebels, Captain Davis 
 was selected, in connection with Mr. Boutelle, to re-mark the channel, while the 
 fleet lay at anchor outside. The experience and ability of Captain Davis speedily 
 accomplished this difficult duty. It was in the morning when he began, and by 
 three o clock P.M., the channel had been found, duly marked, and a clear passage 
 opened for the fleet. 
 
 When at last our battle-torn standard floated above the strong earthworks of 
 Fort Walker and Fort Bcauregard, Captain Davis must have contemplated with 
 peculiar satisfaction the extent of the rich prize the solid bastions, the long 
 coast-guns, etc. to whose capture his own services had so strikingly contributed. 
 
 Shortly after the reduction of these strongholds, Captain Davis was com 
 missioned by his superior to undertake, not exactly the reduction, but the nulli 
 fication, of a still more formidable rebel port. In order to increase the efficiency 
 of the blockade by placing obstructions in the channel-ways leading to the harbor 
 of Charleston, S. C., the most important of the rebel ports, a fleet of some twenty 
 or thirty old whalers and other vessels was purchased and heavily laden with 
 stone, the intention being to sink them at the entrance of the harbor, which it 
 was hoped would effectually keep blockade-runners at a distance. The plan was 
 matured. The vessels were purchased, laden, and the first detachment arrived off 
 Charleston Harbor on the twentieth of December, 1861. As it was considered 
 necessary that the submersion of the "stone fleet," as -it was called, should be 
 conducted by one thoroughly acquainted with the intricacies of the harbor chan 
 nel, and endowed with that ability and skill which should warrant a successful 
 performance of the enterprise, Captain Davis was selected as one perfectly quali 
 fied for its superintendence. Happily he had, but a few years before, as already 
 stated, been employed on special duty of a scientific nature, at that very harbor ; 
 and singularly enough retributively, we might almost say he had been thus 
 engaged at the desire of the authorities of Charleston itself. It may not be alto 
 gether well to rejoice at the misfortunes of our enemies, but it does afford a cer 
 tain complacency at times to see the devil burn himself with his own brimstone. 
 With what different emotions did the Charleston " chivalry " behold approaching 
 their harbor the Yankee sailor whom they had honored in by-gone days ! 
 
 Quitting the Wabash, Captain Davis hoisted his pennant on the Cahawba 
 steamship, and sailed from Port Royal on the seventeenth of December. In two 
 
CHARLES HENRY DAVIS. 351 
 
 days he arrived off Charleston, and immediately proceeded to place the " stone 
 fleet " in proper position. The channel-buoy had been removed by the rebels, 
 so that a considerable amount of sounding was necessary to determine the posi 
 tion of the channel. This was accordingly done on the following day. The 
 members of the " stone fleet " were then towed to their proper positions. Each 
 vessel was provided with a plug below the water-line, the withdrawal of which 
 would speedily cause her to sink. 
 
 On the morning of the twentieth of December, every thing was in readiness 
 for the burial. The vessels were already defunct, but the obsequies, if imposing, 
 were brief. The plugs were drawn out, the brine rushed in, and one by one the 
 old hulks crazily settled to slumber in the dock-yard of Davy Jones. At half- 
 past ten o clock in the morning, the last one disappeared, and the funeral was 
 over. A good view of the last hours of the stone fleet was obtained from the 
 deck of the Cahawba, which lay just off the bar ; and a correspondent of the New- 
 York Tribune gives a description of the ceremony, in probably a fitter spirit than 
 the above. He says : 
 
 " It was rather melancholy to see old craft, that had weathered so many 
 storms, stripped of their sails, and towed in, one by one, to be sunk. From the 
 position in which the Cahawba lay, there was hardly an opening between the 
 ships. An impassable line of wrecks was drawn for an eighth of a mile between 
 the points indicated. All but two or three were careened. Some were on their 
 beam-ends, some were down by the head, others by the stern, and masts, spars, 
 and rigging of the thickly crowded ships were mingled and tangled in the great 
 est confusion." 
 
 They did not long remain so. Boats were sent to cut away the masts, clear 
 away the sails and gear that floated about T so that nothing might be left of any 
 use to the rebels. For two hours prior to the final sinking of the ships, there was 
 a continual crash of falling masts. Some of the vessels died hard, settling down 
 very slowly. "And," observes the writer already quoted, "it was difficult to 
 believe they were not afloat, and might yet sail away from their dreary fate. I 
 think no one ever before saw the masts of fifteen ships- cut away in the morning. 
 When they were gone, the desolation was almost complete. The picture was 
 more utterly ruinous and forlorn than can be conceived." 
 
 Having accomplished his mission, Captain Davis returned to Port Eoyal. 
 On the twenty-sixth of January, 1862, he took command of an expedition whose 
 object was a reconnoissance up the Savannah Eiver. lie sailed in the Ottawa, 
 accompanied by light-draught steamers and gunboats. A portion of the expedi 
 tion, under Captain Davis, proceeded by way of the Wilmington Narrows, on the 
 south side of the river, while his second in command, Captain C. E. P. Eodgers, 
 pursued another channel. They entered the river at opposite sides, but were 
 
352 CHARLES HENRY DAVIS. 
 
 both arrested in their progress by piles driven in the river. While detained 
 before these obstructions, Commodore Tatnall, of the rebel navy, came down the 
 river from Savannah, with five gunboats, and a fleet of lighters in tow, with pro 
 visions for Fort Pulaski. A skirmish resulted, wherein Captain Davis, over 
 matched by superior force, was compelled to return to Port Eoyal, without, 
 however, sustaining any damage. 
 
 Soon after this, Captain Davis was promoted, and assigned to service in the 
 Department of the "West. 
 
 He assumed command of the Western Flotilla on the tenth of May, 1862. 
 Soon after seven o clock on the morning of that day, while his fleet was moored 
 to the banks of the Mississippi, just above Fort Pillow, the rebel squadron, num 
 bering eight iron-clad steamers, came round the point and opened fire. This was 
 spiritedly returned, and the engagement which ensued lasted about an hour, when 
 the enemy beat a retreat below the guns of the Fort. Commodore Davis was 
 incessantly and actively engaged in the reduction of Fort Pillow. Upon the 
 evacuation of that place by the rebels, he immediately started for Memphis with 
 his gallant fleet, and arrived there on the fifth of June, anchoring a mile and a 
 half above the city. Next morning the rebel rams and gunboats were discovered 
 lying at the levee, and an engagement commenced at five A.M. Who does not 
 remember that glorious morning of victory ? The enemy opened the ball, at the 
 same time keeping well in at the levee, in order to expose the city to the effects 
 of our shot. But they soon discovered that they had no delicate-handed foe to 
 deal with. We gave them iron for iron, with generous interest, regardless of 
 consequences. 
 
 Meantime two of the National rams, commanded by Colonel Ellet, the Queen 
 of the West and the Monarch, steamed past the flag-ship, and drove fearlessly 
 down upon the enemy s line. The rebel steamer General Lovell went down 
 before the charge of the Queen of the West, who, however, did not escape damage 
 herself. The Union gunboats, meantime, continued their destructive fire, which 
 soon disposed of two more of the rebel craft, when the remainder, after a contest 
 of several hours, ingloriously turned, and put on all steam to escape down the 
 river. But Flag-Officer Davis pursued them closely for about ten miles, destroy 
 ing some and capturing others. 
 
 The rebel officers and crews endeavored to reach the shore, but many of 
 them were captured. The victory was complete. Thousands of confident Mem- 
 phians had thronged the levees and wharves to witness the fight. The surrender 
 of the city was, of course, a consequent of the victory. That rendition was form 
 ally made by the Mayor of Memphis, and military possession was immediately 
 taken by the National troops. 
 
 Two weeks after this brilliant affair, while Commodore Davis, with his fleet, 
 
CHARLES HEXRY DAVIS. 353 
 
 still lay ofT the city, he received information that the gunboat expedition up 
 White River had successfully attacked two important rebel batteries, and 
 removed certain obstructions by which the navigation of that stream had been 
 impeded. In reply to Commodore Davis s report, Secretary Welles said : " The 
 intelligence of the continued success of the Navy is most gratifying." 
 
 On the sixteenth of October, 1862, Commodore Davis was relieved of his 
 command, and thereupon proceeded to Washington, where he was made Chief of 
 the Bureau of Navigation. On the seventh of February, 1863, he was made a 
 Bear-Admiral. 
 
 Admiral Davis has been over forty years in the naval service of his country, 
 and in all that time only five years and two months unemployed. 
 
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